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978.201

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1417466

GENEALCGY COLLECTIQH

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3 1833 01103 3641

HISTORY

Richardson County

NEBRASKA

ITS PEOPLE, INDUSTRIES AND INSTITUTIONS

LEWIS C. EDWARDS

With Biographical Sketches of Representative Citizens and
Genealogical Records of Many of the Old Families

ILLUSTRATED

1917

B. F. BOWEN & COMPANY, Inc.

Indianapolis, Indiana

1417466

DEDICATION.

To the memory of the i)ioneers of Richardson county who worked with
earnest purpose and unflinching hearts through tlie trials and privations of
this frontier and to those generous and progressiAe citizens of today whose
loyal support has made its publication possible, this vohinie is respectfully
dedicated.

LEWIS C. liDWARDS.

AUTHOR'S FOREWORD

Extensive efforts have been made fur years liy archaeulogisls and
ethnologists in an effort to recover and preserxe for our i;eneral infcjrnia-
tioii everything tliat it has l)een possible to discover of otlier races of peoples
who have inhabited this eartii. In this great \V(jrk the scientific men of all
countries have been engaged, expending much money, time and energ}- in
tracing the history of races with whom we sustain no kinship or direct rela-
tionship.

We think it equally laudable of us in a more local wa\ to want to know
and try to preserve what little is possible of the story of those wlio have
gone directly before us, not only for our own pleasure and benefit but for
th(ise who will follow.

It was for this reason that the work of preparing the present volume
was undertaken and it was not Ijegun a da\- out of season, for l)ut few <if
the pioneers are still among us and in a short time they tno may have moved
onward.

There are \et among us those who saw Richardson cuunt}' as an
unpeo])led wilderness and who were so charmed with its natural lieautx' as
a land to li\e in that tliey would go no further in search of homes.

They have remained through all the years and have contributed much
toward the steady march of progress which has so changed the land that luit
little remains to remind them of the cinuUr\ the\- once knew as a part <'f
the Great I'lains.

The story of tiie settlement, growth and (le\elopnieni of Richard'-on
county is set forth in tlie succeeding pages. I'^very eft'ort was made to
ascertain the facts in so far as it has been able to cover the ground.

It is desired iierewith to make due and fulsome acknowledgment of
the great kindness and uniform courtesy extended us from all sides in the
preparation of the material used herein.

In this connection we feel under especial oliiigation to Mr. Ch-is. l.oree
for his unfailing courtes}- and kindness. Mis early, wide and intimate
acquaintance and perfect memory of men and e\ents connected with Rich-
ardson L'ounty Histor\- is trul\- marxelous and ha\e been inxaluable to us.

Grateful acknowledgment also is due man\" iiersons wJio ha\-e cu-

triluiltd materially to the progress of the work. Amor.g tiiese are: Jose])h
H. Miles, Governor John H. JMorehead. Arthur J- Weaver. David D. Reavi>.
-Mrs. Thomas J. Gist. H. C. Davis. A. R. Keim. .Mr. and :\lrs. W. II. Keeling.
Drs. C. T. Biirchard and J. A. Waggener. Stipt. D. H. \\'eber, J. O. Shroyer.
Mrs. J. R. Wilhite. Eunice Ha.skins. Dr. E. R. Matthers. and nian\ others
who ha\e given us kindly words of encounigenient.

LIAVIS G. KDWAUDS.

PUBLISHERS' PREFACE

All life and achie\eineiit is t\oluti(iu: present wisiloni cnines fnnii past
experience, and present commercial prosperit}' has come only from past exer-
tion and sacrifice. The tleeds and motives of the men who have gone before
ha\e been instrnmental in shaping the destinies of later communities and
states. The develoj)ment of a new conntry was at once a task and a privi-
legs. It required great courage, sacrifice and privation. Compare the pres-
ent conditions of the people of Richardson county. Nebraska, with what they
were sixty years ago. bVoni a trackless wilderness and virgin land, the county
h;is come to be a center of prosperity and civilization, with millions of wealth,
systems of railways, educational and religious institutions, \aried industries
and immense agricultural and dairy interests. Can an\- thinking person be
insensible to the fascination of the study which discloses the aspirations and
efforts of the early pioneers who so strongly laid the foundation upon which
has been reared the magnificent prosperity of later days? To perpetuate the
story of these people and to trace and record the social, religious, educational,
political and industrial progress of the community from its first inception, is
the function of the local historian. A sincere purpose to preserve facts and
personal memoirs that are deserving of perpetuation, and which unite the
present to the past, is the motive for the present publication. The publishers
desire to extend their thanks to those who have so faithfully labored to this
end. Thanks are also due to the citizens of Richardson county, for the uni-
form kindness with which they have regarded this undertaking, and for their
many services rendered in the gaining of necessary information.

In placing the "History of Richardson County. Nebraska." before the
citizens, the publishers can conscientiously claim that they have carried out
the plan as outlined in the prospectus. Every biographical sketch in the work
has been submitted to the party interested, for correction, and therefore any
error of fact, if there be any, is solely due to the person for whom the sketch
was prepared. Confident that our effort to please will fully meet the appro-
bation of the public, we are. ,

Respectfully,

THI<: I'UBLISHI'.RS.

CONTENTS

Al'TER I— TOPOGRAPHY. GEOI-OGY, ETC., OF RIGHARDSOX
GOUXTY 33

Rolling Prairies of This Section of Nebraska Were an Alluring Feature That
Did Xot Escape the Eye of the Settler in Quest of a Home in the Xew
Country — Streams of F'ine \Vater. the Banks of Which Were Well Tini-
liered — Xative Timber Restored by the Mastery of the Old Prairie Fires
and the Former Aspect of the Country Has Been Changed Thereby —
• Juality of the Soil — Inexhaustive Quarries of Excellent Building Stone —
Trilnitaries of the Great Nemaha River — Description of the Area of the
County — Climatic Conditions and a Scientific Analysis of the Physiographic
Position of the County.

Al'TER II— IXDIAX HISTORY AXU PREHISTORIC TIMES (>3

Pawnees .\ppear to Have Had the Best Claim as the Aboriginal Inhabitants
of the Country Now Comprised in Richardson County — Story of Their ( )ccu-
pane3' and of That of the Sacs and Foxes — Review of the Various Treaties
Under \\'hich the Red Man Gradually Gave Up His Lands — Evidences of
Prehistoric Occupancy Based Upon the Finding of Skeletons and Relics at
Several Points in County — Coming of the Missionaries to the Indians and
Sometliini; of the llabits of Living and of the Religion of the Red Man.

APTER III— -SPANISH EXPLORATIOXS 85

F'irst \\hite Men to Set F'oot on the Land Xow Comprised Within the
Conlines of This County Were the .\dvcnturous Cavaliers of Coronado"s
liand Which Came Up F'rom the .\ztec Country Seeking What They Might
I'ind in the Xorth Country and Who Left a Record of Having Reached
The I'-ortieth Parallel of Latitude, Together With a Report of the Condi-
tions of Life of the Indians at That Time Occupying This Country — Later
\'isit of the I'rench F2xplorers, the Coming of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
the .\cc|uirement of the Louisiana Territory and the Gradual Development
of Settlements Leading Up to the F.ventual Creation of Nebraska Territory
and the Passing of the Kansas-Xeliraska Act.

.\PTER IV— EARLY SETTLEMEXT .\XU EARLY SL-R\I':YS 'W

I'itting Tribute to the American Pioneer, Who Is Descril)cd as a Distinct
Tyi>e Well Qualified to I-^nter Upon the X'eritable Garden of lulen Which
.\waited His .Advent Out Here Beyond the Missouri — Review of Conditions
\\ hich Led to the Immigration Stream in This Direction and Bit of Refer-
ence to the Character and Stock of That Hardy Band Which Sought a Wider
Horizon Here On the Limitless Prairies — Influence of the Missouri River
in Directing Settlement IlitherwanI — l'"our l-'.pochs in Settlement Period —

CONTENTS.

Roster of Pioneers Who Settled Here Prior to 1860. Together With a Brief
Review of Conditions They Faced and the Hardships They Were Compelled
to Undergo While Making Habitable a Place for Those Who Should Come
After — Land Speculation, Claim Jumpers, Jayhawkers, the "Underground
Railroad" and Something Regarding the Various Separate "Colonies" Which
Settled Here, Closing With a Review of the Early Surveys of County, and
a Story of the Iron Monument.

CI1.\PTER V— ORG.\XlZ.\TION OF RICHARDSON COUNTY Hi

Name of County Was Given in Compliment to First Territorial Governor —
Temporary Organization in 1854 Was Definitely Established bj' the Terri-
torial Legislature in 18SS, and the First Election Was Held in This Latter
Year — First County Officers Chosen — Original Boundaries of County — The
Half Breed Tract — First Census and Polling Places — Organization of Pre-
cincts— Legislative .\cts With Reference to the County and the Gradual
Development of a Stable Form of Local Government.

CHAPTER VI— LOCATION OF COUNTY SEAT 1S4

Historian Has Been at Pains to Examine the Official Records With a View
to Determining the Influences Underlying the Long Struggle Which Per-
sisted in the h'.arly Days of the County in the Matter of the Location of the
County Seat and Which hinally Resulted in the Rejection of the Respective
Claims of Archer and of Salem and the Establishment of the Seat of Local
Government at I'"alls City — Vote by Precincts Attesting the Final Choice
of the People — County Buildings and a Word Regarding Early Political
Conditions in the County.

CH.XPTER Vll— ROSTER OF COCNTY OFFICERS 171

In the List Given in This Chapter of Those Who Have Served the People
of Richardson County in an Official Capacity, It Is Gratifying to Note That
Some of the Very /Vblest Men in the County Have Thus Rendered Efficient

Service and That the County Government Has From the Very Beginning
Been Singularly Free From Scandal — Names of Officers, Including County
Clerks, Probate Judges, County Judges, Registers of Deeds, Clerks of Dis-
trict Court, County Treasurers. Sheriffs, County Commissioners, Superin-
tendents of Public Instruction, Surveyors, Coroners, Supervisors, County

Attorneys and the New Commissioners .appointed Under the Recently
Adopted Commission I'orm of County Government.

C ILXPTER Vill— ORt;ANIZATION OF TOWNSHIPS .VND PRECINCTS 190

Here WiU Be Found the Stories Regarding the I'"ormation of the Several
Townships or Precincts Which h'orm Units of Civic Government in the
(General Government of the County, Beginning With Barada. Which Was
Xamed for Old Antoine Barada. One of the Most Interesting and Picturesque
Figures of the Plains Country in the Early Days. Together With an Interest-
ing Collection of Narratives of Incidents Relating to the Early Life of the
County and Personal and Illuminating Reference to Many of Tliose Hardy
I'igures Which Made Possible the -Settlement of This Favored Region —
Topulation Statistics and Sonietlnni; in Relation to Townsites That Early
Were Located lor I'ublie .Mlolnient and Sale.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER IX— INCORPORATION OF TOWNS AND PRECINCTS 215

In This Chapter There Is Set Out in Interesting Form a Mass of Official
Information Taken From the Records of the County and Bearing on the
Original Orders of Incorporation of the Towns and Precincts of the County,
Together With F'urthcr References to the Men Who Were the Foremost
Figures in Such Transactions. With Stories Relating to Many of Them, and
a Brief History of the Various Towns and Villages Which Have F'rom the
Beginning Constituted Valuable Social and Commercial Centers for the Peo-
ple of the Several Communities in the Countj'.

CHAPTER X— SERIES OF FIRST EVENTS 245

Nothing in the History of Any Community Carries More of Interest Than a
Narration of the First Incidents Bearing on the Settlement of Such a Com-
munitj'. and This Chapter Relating to the "Firsts" of Richardson County
Ought to Be Regarded as One of the Most Interesting in the Book, for Here
Will Be F"ound Set Out in Orderly Ai-Vay the Story of the Beginnings ot
Things in This Region Based Upon the Activities of Those Who Were
Among the First of Those Who Dared and Did in the Days of the Beginning
of the Establishment of a Definite Social Order on This Side of tlu
Missouri.

CHAPTER XI— AGRICCLTCRE AND STOCKRAISING _'53

From the Days of the Unbroken Growths of Luxuriant Prairie Grass Which
Covered the Rich Plains Throughout This Region to the Present Period of
llighlj' Developed and Specialized Agriculture Is Not a Far Cry as Meas-
ured in Years, for There Are Those Still Living Here Who Helped to Turn
the First F'urrows in These Prairies, But in the Measure of Results Accom-
plished an Astonishing Distance Has Been Covered, and This Chapter Is
Designed to Present the Story of the Wonderful Development That Has
Marked Agricultural Processes During the Comparatively Short Period in
Which the White Man Has Been in Possession of the Countrj'.

CHAPTER XII-EARLV TRANSPORTATION. NAVIGATION AND RAIL-
ROADS 292

Herein Will Be Found the Story of the Development of the Means of Travel
and Transportation From the Days of the l-tiver Steamboat and the "Prairie
Schooner" to the Present Day of the Transcontinental Steel "Flyers" and
the High-powered .\utomobiIes, Which Latter, in Particular. Are Serving
to Bind Communities More Closely Together and to Bring the Farm Into
Close Communication With the Markets and Social Centers — Interesting
Story of the Old Days of the River Boats and the Great Trains of the
h'reighters Along the Overland Trails of a Day Gone By — First Effort in
Behalf of a Railroad — When the Railroad Reached Falls City — Excursion to
Atchison — Coming of the Automobile and a Comparison With Condition'^
That Existed in the Days of llie Old Overland Stage.

CH.M'TER XIII— SC110(J1,S AXD EDl'C.\TION Mc

In This Chapter Countj- Superintendent Weber Presents an Interesting
Review of the School Activities of Richardson County From the Time of the
County's Early Settlement arid the Humble "Subscription" Schools to the

CONTENTS.

I'lcsent Day of the Highly Specialized School Systtm Comprising the VVcU-
Orsanized Schools of the Cities and Villages and the Equally Well-Organ-
ized Consolidated Schools of the Rural Districts, All Being Operated I'nder
a Definite Plan, \\'ith a View to Securing the liest .\ttain;il)le Kcsults in the
Way of Educating the Youth of the County.

chai'T1-:r XIV— chlrciiI':s oi- riciiardsox couxty i7i

( hurch History of a Locality Is Inseparable From Its Growth and Devel-
opment, the Induence of the Church Being Felt in Every Force That Goes
to Make Up a Prosperous and Moral Community, and in Xo Phase of the
Development of Richardson County Has There Been a Stronger Influence
for Good Than the Church Organizations of the County; a Story of Which,
Together With Many Interesting Incidents Relating to the Religious Ob-
servances of the Pioneers Has Been Compiled Under the Direction of
David D. Reavis and Is Here Set Out for the Information and Inspiration
of the Present Generation and the- Guidance of the Future.

tHAl'TFR XV— XEWSPAPERS OF RlCHAfiDSON COUNTY 404

In This Chapter the Historian Has Presented a Comprehensive and Enter-
taining Review of the Operations of "the Fourth Estate" in Richardson
County and Has Incidentally Preserved for the Edification of the Present
and the Information of Future Generations of Readers Numerous Stories
of the Doings of the Newspaper Editors Who Proved Such Powerful and
Influential F'actors in the General Life of the Community in the Old Days,
and Whose Unselfish and Untiring Efforts in Behalf of the New Country
Worked Such Wonders of Accomplishment in the Way of Assisting in the
Development of the Various Interests of the County at a Time When the
"Getting Out" of a Newspaper Was Very Much More a Pure Labor of Love
Than It Is Today— Veteran Editor's Tribute to the Old-Timers in Local
Xewspaperdom.

CHAI'TFK XVI— PHYSICIANS OF RlCHAkDSOX COUNTY 428

Close and Intimate Relation Borne by the I'amily Physician to the Real Life
of the Community to Which He Ministers Makes Him One of the Most
Vital Factors for Good in That Community, and in the Chapter to Which
the Reader Here Refers the Importance of This Situation Is Clearly Brought
Out, the Medical History of the County of Richardson Being Interestingly
and Entertainingly Reviewed by Doctor Burchard and Doctor Waggener,
Whose Long and Intimate Acquaintance With the Conditions They Portray
Gives to Their Narratives an Informative Importance That Will Be Valued
and Appreciated More and More as the Years Pass.

CIIAI'Tl-.k XX'IU^TIII". r.l-.XCll AXD TllIC P.AR 440

.\o History Is Complete Without Some Specific Reference to the Courts
and Lawyers of the Section That History Seeks to Cover, for to the Bench
and to the Bar Fall a No Unimportant and a No Indecisive Part in the
Development of the Human Progress l"pon Which History Is liased. and
the Development of Social Conditions in Richardson County Has Been Xo
h'xeeption to This Rule, the Courts and the Lawyers Having Played Con-
sijicuous Parts in the Creation of the Splendid Conditions .\mid Which
the I'cople nf This County Today I'ind Themselves. .Ml of Which Is Enter-

CONTENTS.

lAPTER XVlll— I'.AXKS AXD IJAXKIXG 472

During the Pioiieir I'criod in Richardson County There Were Xo Banks and
\'ery Little liankiiii;- lUisiness Done Except Such as Was Conducted by the
I'.arly Merchants. I!ut as Settlement Developed and Communities V^xpanded
the Xecessity for the F.stablishment of Recognized Mediums Through
Which the Credit h'acilities of the Community Might Systematically ( )perate
Led to the Organization of Fn.pcrly Accredited Hanks. Cntil Xow There Is
Xo Appreciable Social Center in the County That Is Xot Provided With
(^ne or More Stal)K- I'inancial Institutions for the Proper Accommoda-
tion of the Community Thus Served, and This Chapter Gives in a Nutshell
tlie Story of the I'reation id" Tliese I'.anking Institutions. Together With a
Statement Relative to the Respective Present Status of Each.

APTER XIX— Mll.nWRV HISTORY 4S7

Though Nebraska Had Not Been Admitted to Statehood at the Time of the
I'.reaking Out <>! the Civil War the Hardy Pioneers Who Had Even Then
I'ound a b'oothold On the Soil Here Did Well Their Part in That Struggle
in Defense- of the Cuion, as the Reader Will Kind Is Made Clear in the
Chapter Here Ueferred to. Wherein Is Set Out the Story of the Participation
of Richardson County in That Struggle, as Well as the Story of Her I'ar-
ticipation in the Subsequent Spanish-American War and in the Present
Great World \\ ar. in Which Latter Supreme Str'uggle So Many of the
Active and Determined Young Men of This County Are Taking Part at the
Time These Words Are Being Written.

APTER XX— I'ALI.S CITY, THE. COL'XTY SEAT 501

In This Chapter There Is Set Out at Informative Length and in an Enter-
taining h'ashion the History of the County Seat of Richardson County E'rom
the Days of Its Inception to the Present Day of Its Important Develop-
ment, With a View to Giving the Reader Some Notion of the Various Steps
in This Process of Development and of Preserving for the Future a Record
of the Same.

.\PTER XXI— Till-: CITY OF IIL"MBO[-DT 53S

The Historian I las Here Set (Hit a Comprehensive Review of the Variou.s
Phases Through Which the Second City in Richardson County Has Passed
in .Vttaining Its I'resent High State of Development, and Has Presented at
the Same Time an Interesting Collection of Pioneer Reminiscences Relating
to Huml)oldt and the Humboldt Neighborhood, With Biographical Sketches
of Many of the l-.arliest Settlers Therein.

.\PTKR XXII — HISTORICAL SKETCH OF DAWSON 561

Beginning With a Story of the First Pre-F"mptors .'Klong the Rich Valley of
the Nemaha, William I'enton Has Presented in This Chapter a Review of
the Beginning and the Development of the Pleasant Village of Dawson and
Has Set Out in That Connection Much Exceedingly Interesting Information
Relating to the ICarly Days of That Xeighborhood.

\pti-:r xxiii— di-:i'CXCt 'I'owxs of richardsox cocxtv _. -^75

The "Ohl-Timer- W ill I'ind Numerous References in This Chapter Relating

to Towns and Townsites That Gave Promise in the Days of the Pioneers

.That Will Revive Many Pleasant Recollections in His Mind of the Days

Gone P.y. for Here .\re Set Out, as Tales That Were Told, the Stories of

CONTENTS.

the De|);irte(l Glories of Such Onc-Tiine Ambitious Sites as Those of Archer.
Yankton. W'innebago, Stumps Station. Shasta, Ehiiore, Cottage Grove, Elk-
ton. Breckenridge, Peora, Springfield. Geneva, Flowerdale, Dorrington. Xora-
ville, Monterey, Meonond. Pleasant Valley, Old St. Stephens, and the Be-
s^inning and End of Arago. Which at One Time Had a Population Right
Around Fifteen Hundred and Which Now Boasts of a Bare Half Dozen
Families.

CHAPTER XXI\— SIDELIGHTS OX COCXTY HISTORY

This Ouglit to Prove One of the Most Interesting Chapters in the Book,
for Here -\re Given at First Hand Xumerous Stories of the Old Days, Pre-
serving the Recollections of the Pioneers With Respect to a Xumljer of the
Most Interesting and Important Events in the Early Days of the Settlement
of the County; a Symposium That Will Prove of Incalculable Value to
Those Who in After Years May Feel Called On to Compile a Later History
of the County.

CHAPTER XX\— SOME PROMIXEXT PIOXEERS

For the Information of the Present Generation There Are Presented Here
a Xumber of Brief Biographical Sketches of Some of the Sturdy Pioneers
Who Helped' to Bring This Region to a Habitable State and Make Clear a
Way for the Enjoyment of the Many Blessings of a Settled Social Order:
Included in This Distinguished Roll Being Such Xames as Those of John

B. Didier. David Thomas Brincgar. Jonathan J. Marvin. Jesse Crook. David
Kinney, Francis L. Goldslierry. David Dorrington, David R. Holt, Thomas

C. Cunningham. James Henry Lane. Fulton Peters. Antoine Barada, James
Robert Cain. Sr., David L. Thompson, DiUard Walker, Mrs. Mary S. Quick.
James I,. Overman and Others.

APTER XXVI— REMIXISCEXCES OF A \\AY1AKER

In This Exceedingly Interesting and Engaging Bit of Autobio.graphy Writ-
ten by the Hon. Isham Reavis in 1909 the Reader \\"\\\ Find One of the
Most Entertaining and Informative Collections of Reminiscences of the Old
Days in Xebraska That Has Ever Been Written, Including References to
the Days Back "in the Beginning of Things" When This Region Was as
Completely Isolated From the World and Civilization as Was Alaska at the
I )i)cniiig of the Past Century.

,\PTI-:R XX\-il— HISTORICAL SKETCHES

Here Are Collected a Series of Valuable Reminiscent Papers From the
Hands of Such Pioneers as David Dorrington. E. H. Johnson, William
Witherow. Jesse Crook, Thomas F. Brown. Isaac Crook. William G. Goolsliy.
J. C. Lincoln. F.lisha Dorian and Antoine Barada Relating to Incidents of llie
Early Days.

APTl'lR XX\II1- MISCELL.WEOUS MATTERS OF IXTEREST __

In This Concluding Chai)tcr There Are Presented, Just as Its Title Indi-
cates. Several Matters of Engrossing Local Interest That Fit In Well to the
(General Scheme of the Book, Covering Details of Pioneer History Xot
1-Usewhere Touched On; Typical Tales of Pioneers Told First Hand and
Thus Informative to a Degree Xot Possible of Attainment by One Who
Has Merelv Heard Them Instead of Having Lived Them.

HISTORICAL INDEX

Adventurous llomcseekcrs 101 .

Agricultural Development 282

Agriculture and Stockraising — 253-291
Alfalfa No Longer an l'"xperiment_ 250

Altitude 3-4

Alumni of Falls City High School, 341
Alumni of Humboldt High School. 351
American Pioneer, a Distinct Type 99

Apple Orchards 265-27(i

Arago Precinct —

Early Settlers from P.uffalo 198

Establishment of 148

Old Pork-packing Plant 198. 055

Population of 211

Seat of Early iMetropolis 429.577

Settled in 1858 198

Arago. the Old Town of-293. 429, 577. 585

Archer Camp Meeting Grove 195

Archer, Old Town of—

Backset in 1856 220

First County Seat 219

First Settler 199

Incorporation of 212

Made County Seat 149

Promoters of 220

Old Cemetery, the 22^

Seat of Government Departs 199

Townsite Vacated 153

When Laid Out loS

Who Laid It Out 578

Ara1)ility of Land 34

Area of County 34.30

Area of the State of Nebraska 97

Auto Enlarges Social Life 289

Automobile, the .i22

Average Size of Farms 01

Awakening of the Farmers 240

Banks and Banking 472-480

Barada. Antoine 252. 7.i5

Barada Precinct —

Boundaries of 190

First Settled by Frencli 190

Old Home of Governor Morehead 192

Old Settlers of 192

Population of 211

Story of .\ntoine Barada 19(1

The King Settlement 192

Bar of Richardson County 440

Base Line Established 12''

Battle with Missouri Bandits 492

Beef Cattle 259

Beginning and End of .\rago 585

Bench and Bar. the 449-471

Bitter County-Seat Feud 169.700

■•Black Land" Farms .>5

lilizzards ___025. 710

"Bloody Flux" l'ro\es l-'.piclemic 110

Bluffton 240

Bohemian Benevolent Association. 118
Bohemian Settlement at Hunilxddt Ho

Bonded Indelitedncss 214

"Boomers" Face Ruin 10)

Boundaries of County 30. 134. 143

Boundary Road, Marking ..f 145

Breckenrid.ge 581

Brinegar. David Thomas 608

Broady. Judge JetTerson H 4.56

Brown. John 113,028

Brown. Thomas F. 721

Bruun Memorial Li1)rary 551

Buffalo's Service to Indians 87

Building Stone Plentiful 34, .i5

Burbank, John A 501, O.W

Burchard. Dr. C. T 428.442

Butler. Gov. David 166.001

(.ain. James Rclicrt. Sr O/S

tharters of N'illagcs 2\2

Chaiitauquas -287

Cluap Land in ICarly Days 202

ClK.lera. Visitation of 443.594

Christmas Day Anioni; IMon'eers 735

Clnirches of Ricliardson County-373-4(l3

City Physicians 44(1

Civilization Restores Timber 33

Civil War, the . 487

Claim "Jumping" in I'arly Days 110

Clerk of District Court 17li. 4()7

Climatic Conditions 01

Coal Formerly Mined in Speiscr — 2(17

Comc-to-Sunday-School Day 299

Coming of the Railroad 295

Commercial Orchards in County-- 25ii
Commodore O'Grady's Shrewd Deal 12(1

Commissioner System Adopted 188

Company D. Fifth Nebraska 50(1

Company ¥.. Fifth Nebraska 494

Completion of First Railroad 303

Conservation of Orchards 275

Contrary Creek 205

Contrast with the I'ast 239

Corn and Wheat Conditions 253

Corn Used for Fuel 287

Coronado's Expedition 8fi

Coroners 183.439

Costly Railway Bridge 239

Cottage Grove 591

County Agricultural Society 205

County Attorneys 189, 4()8

County Bar Association 470

County Buildings l(v4. 507

County Clerks 171

County Coinniissioncrs 181

County Fairs _205. 281

County Insanity Conmiission 44(1

County Medical Society 44(i

County Officers. Roster of-. .171-189

County. Organization 133-153

County, Original Boundary of.. .130-143

County Physicians 44(1

County Seat I'llcction Contested... IijO
County Seat. Location of 1.54-170. .^07. 700

County Seat War 109. 7(!:i

County's Name. Origin i)f 133

Ct.unlv Surveyors 183

County Treasurers 17ij

Courts and Lawyers 449-471

"Crime of Agriculture." the 267

Crook, Jesse.. -103. 106. 169. 205. 246.

250. 561, 625. 650, 671. 715

Crop Conditions Set Out 36-62.254

Cunnin.gham, Thomas C, 6/5

Curriculum .>f Public Schools .»3

Dairying, Live Stock and P..ultry.. 259
Dalbey. J. L. 418

Davidson. Judge Samuel Presley— 455

Dawson Mills, the 121

Dawson. Town of —

Coming of Railroad 563

Karly Settlers of 562

Historical Sketch 561

Newspapers 572

Old Settlers .\ssociation 568

Physicians 436

Population of ■— 213

Schools and Churches .569

\\'hen Surveyed 5(>4. 571

Dean of the Bar 405

Defunct Towns of the County 575

Deserted \'illage of Arago 590

Development of Modern School 327

Didier. John B 114. 6o5

Died Within Sight of Help 028

Disastrous Fires at Stella 230

District .\ttorneys 189

Distressing Railway .Vccident 30 i

District Schools of County i5S-272

District School Teachers .?71

Dividing Line between States 129

Dorian. lUisha 731

Dorrin.gton, Postoliice ..f .5S3

Dorrington, "Cncle" David 518.

011.673.711

Dorrin.gton. William 1'. Oil

Drainage System 34, 58, 276-281

Duel l)etween Lawyers 46^'

Dundy, Judge I'.lmer S 221.452

IHinkard Cdony, the 122

Karly (.-harters ..f \ iUa^e. 212

l-.arlv Indian Histnrv 731

HISTORICAL INDEX.

ICarly Judges of IClection 157

ICarly Legislative .\cts 148

I'^ai-ly Marriage Roonrds 24S

I'arly Political Items 71:-:

ICarly Schools, Crude ICc|iiipnieiit of 32o

I'.arly Settlement of County 99-132

Early Surveys of County 125

ICarthquake of 1866 594

"ICconomy" Measure Defeated 185

Educational i2b-i71

l-:iUton Postoffice 581

IClniore 58(1

ICngineer's Cool Presence of Mind- 316

Epidemic of 1860 110

■■ICvery Man His Neighbor" 288

ICxcursion to Atchison 315

ICxplorer's Mistaken Conclusion 9(1

Extortion of Steanilioat Lines 19/

Falls City High School Alumni 341

Falls City Precinct —

Boundaries of 194

I'-Stablishment of 19i)

Falls of the Nemaha 194

Loree Bridge, tlic 195

Old Indian Village 195

I'opulation of 211

Town of Falls City 190,501

Walnut Creek 195

Falls City Rifle Club 494

Falls City, the County Seat—

P)eautiful for Location 501

Court House \'ictory 162

Creation of County Scat 507

First House in 1^1

Hinton Park 514

Hotels 517

Incorporation of 135

Industrial Concerns 533

In Retrospect 504

In 1870 509

Library Association 521

Modern Improvements 502

Municipal Improvements 503. 528

Naming of _ loo

Newspapers _ 407

Physicians 432

Population of 211.213

Falls City — Continued —

Postoffice 520

Public Schools 336

Secret Societies 518

When Laid Ofif 196

Falls of the Nemaha 194

Farmers Mutual Insurance Company 486

Farmers Union, the 289

Farming and Cattle Raising 253-291

Farming, Methods of 260

Farm Labor. Adequate Supply of„ 261

Farms. Size and X'alue of 262

Father's Heroism Saves Family... 627

Fa\ored Sites of Early Homes 280

Fenton. William 561.003

Fertility and Quality of Soil 34

Fine Future for Farmers 290

Fire Destroys Flour-Mill 229

Fires at Falls City 515

First Bohemian Settlement 116

First Case in County Court 459

First Census and Polling Places 137

First Cluirch in County 373

First Circus at Arago 593

First Commercial ( )rcliard 257

First County ( Xlicers 134.220

First Couple Married 220

First County Seat 149

First Court House 104.507

First Court in Log House 252

First Election in County 134.155,220

First Events, a Series of 245-252

First Flour-Mill in the County— 204. 246

First French Settlement 114

First Funeral in County 247

First Governor's Reception 166

First trrand ]\.\vy 461

First Harvest, the 107

First Homeseckcrs, the 101

First Licensed Ferry 290

First Locomotive \Velcomed ,306

First Mail Carrier and Banker 250

First Mill Dam Authorized 148

First Ne1)raska Regiment 489

P^irst Newspaper in County 404

First Newspaper in Falls 'city._._ 410

First School at F'alls City 33o

First School at Humboldt 349

First School in County 246,355,614

First Settler at Archer Grove 199

HISTORICAL INDEX.

First Settlors of County H'i

First .Steamboat, the 89

First Survey in Territory 125

First \'aluation of Property 139

First White Men to \'isit this Re-
gion 89

First W'oman Mail Carrier 251

Flood of 1858. the 711

Flowerdale .583

Forays with "Jayhawkers" 112.749

Forney, the Rev. John 12.^

Four Eras of Development 101

Franklin Precinct 146

Franklin. Town of .596

Frauds Practiced on Indians 82

Freighting in the Old Days 297

French Explorers Early on Scene. 89

■'Front Door" of County 238

Geneva 218, 582. 597

Geology of County 33-62

Goolsby, Uncle Billy 200,696.720

Grain Farming Takes the Lead 254

Grant Precinct—

Dawson Mills 20()

Elements of Wealth 206

Compliment to General Grant — 205

Population of 211

The Miles Ranch 206.263

Grasshopper Period, the 6.^0

Great American Desert, Solitude of 105

Great Nemaha River 34. 194. 21 IS

Great Plains, the .- .53

"Gretna Green" of Pioneers 220

(irnvcs and Orchards ii. 2bS

. Half-1'.reed Tract, the 125. 1. in

Hamilton, the Rev. William 799

Hardships of Pioneers 104,715

Harrison, Frank .\ 621

Haskins, Miss Eunice 227, 646

Hay Crops 255

Highway of Gold Seekers 95.278

Highways and Railroads 214.292

Historical Sketches 711

Hogs 2S^'

Holt. David R (.74

Homesteaders, the 102,206

Horses 259

Horse Thieves 470

Horticultural Society 258

Howe. Ed. W. 408

Huml)oldt, City of —

As an Early Market 203

Business Interests 538

Churches 387, 539

City Government 539

Distinguishing Features 555

Early Events 543

Early Settlers 540,557

Glimpses of in 1873 544

Lodges 553

Naming of 542

Newspapers 412, 539

Physicians 4.34

Population of 211

Puldic Library 551

Public Utilities 538

Schools 348, 539

Humboldt Precinct-
Boundaries of 217

City of Humboldt 538

Estaldishment of 146

Petition for Organization 217

Hunting the Buffalo 752

Incorporation of Humbcddt 540

Incorporation of Towns 216-244

Indian History 63-84,731

Indians Troublesome 615

Indomitable Spirit of I'ioneers 105

Industrial Statistics 214

Industries at County ,Seal 533

In the Days of the Indians 63-84.731

Inundation of 1858. the 711

Iowa Indiana Reserve (i4

Iowa Indians, Number .if SI

Irish Pioneers, First Ccdony of 119

Iron Monument, the 129

.u, Sewell R
nvkers," the
y-Cake Ridge
Hon. Cass—

170,407,416,705
.112,612,743,749
201

740, 747

HISTORICAL INDEX.

Jones, William M., the Story of 740

Journal of Lewis and Clark 92

Judges of County 173, 181. 408

Judicial Reapportionment 436

"Jumping" of Claims Resisted 110

Kansas-Nebraska Act, the 98. 10(j

Kansas. Territory of 95

Kinney. David 672

Kinsman of Abraham Lincoln 234

Kirk. Abel D. 404

Ladies Research Club 231

Lad Stolen by Indians 191

Land Rentals 61

Land Speculators a Detriment 201

Lane. James Henry 675

Large Farms in County 262

Last County Scat Election 160

Law Cases of Another Day 459

Laws Relating to Drainage 277

Legislative Representation 139

Lewis and Clark Expedition 90

Liberty Precinct —

Boundaries of 203

I'arly Settlers of 204

Population of 211

Subdivided in 1869 203

Village of \'erdon 204

Library at Falls City 521

Lincoln, J. C. 234,248,728

Local Man Constructs Early Auto- 322
Local Nomenclature. Comment on._ 206
Location of County Scat-154-170, 507, 700

Location of Tovvnsites 213

Long, Major Stephen 89

I.oree Bridge, the 195

Louisiana Purchase, the 93

Lynch Law 470,694

Maddox, Margaret M 735

Magnificent View from Salem 235

Mail Delivery and Telephones 215

Mail Routes and Post Roads 638

Maple Grove Cemetery 247

Margrave Ranch, the 264

Mark Twain Has His Say 294

Martin. Charles 115,713

Marvin, Jonathan J 670,708

Medical Profession, the 428

Medical Societies 445

Meek-Davis Tragedy, the 168,651

Memories of Other Days Recalled

225, 236, 282. 603,611

Meonond 584

Messler's Fife Band "Hails the

Chief" 167

Methods of Agriculture 260

Middleburg 208

Miles Ranch, the 263,585

Miles, Stephen B 206.250,298

Military History 487-500

Miscellaneous Matters 73}

Missionaries Early on the Ground 7S

Missionary's Life Threatened 81

Missouri, Territory of 94

Modern District School 328

Monterey 203, 584

Monument, the Iron 129

Morehead, Gov. John H 192

Mortgage Indebtedness 659

"Most Sanguine Hopes Realized"-- 162
Muddy Precinct —

Boundaries of 201

ICast and West Divisions 201

Establishment of 147

Population of 211

Stella and Shubert 202

Municipalities of County 211

Mythology of the Sauk 77

McC.iy, the Rev. Isaac 78

McKesson. Jolm C 592

Native Timljer Growth Restored— 33

"Nebraska," a Poem 99

Nebraska, Origin of Name 656

Nebraska Territory, Creation of— 96, 139

Nemaha Falls, the Town of 218

Nemaha Precinct —

.\bundanee of Stone 209

Colonized l)y Swiss 209

HISTORICAL INDEX.

Xeniaha Precinct — Continued —

Named for River -W

Population of -H

"Rattlesnake" District ^W

Well Watered -^"S

Well's Mills -"9

New Board of Commissioners 1S8

News Items in 1864 421

Newspapers of Richardson Coutny.

404-427

Xims City, the \illagc of 241

Noraville 57.1 .-iH-l

Ohio Precinct-
Archer Grove IW

Estahlishment of 148

First Settlement in County 199

Old Town of Archer 199

Population of -H

Official Directory of 1804 42(1

Old Archer Cemetery 222.22?:

Old Coal Mining Company 252

Old Fair Grounds 205.281

Oldest House in County <W

Old Pork-packing- Establishment _- 198

Old Settlers Association -iti8

Old Settler's Feat of Strength 191

Old Settler's Notion of a "Living".- 204
"Old-Timers in Newspaperdoni"--- 418

Old-Time Teacher's Story .^34

Old Village of St. Stephens 24,=;

"Orcharding," by A. J. Weaver 2o,^

Organization of County l.W-l.^,i

Organization of Precincts 140

Organization of School Districts— .i.^,5

(Jrganization of Townships 190-21.i

Original Boundary of County 1.36. 14.i

Origin of Place Names 200

Otoe Indian Lands 9.1

Overflow Lands, Drainage of 276

Overland Freighting 297

Overman, James L "80

Padonia. Battle of 'i41

Paradise for Nomadic Indians W

Parochial Schools -"0

i>-,,.ii..,. ("iiiinlv 14.5

Pawnees, the — '"

Peora S«-

Pension Surgeons -1-*"

Peters, Fulton 67(i

Physicians at Falls City 4.52

Physicians of Richardson County-- 428

Pioneer Banking Methods 472

Pioneer Exploits 7.i.i

Pioneer Funeral -*-'

Pioneer Mothers, a Tribute to 2'JI)

Pioneer Recollection 225, 23()

232, 603, 611

I'ioneers of Huinl...UU .557

I'ioneers of Kichanls.m County-l()2. 247

Pleasant N'alley ■'^85

Plum Creek Mission, the 84

Population Statistics 211.21.1

Pork Packing in the (^Id Days 198

Porter Precinct —

l-:arly Mail Facilities 203

Establishment of 14*1

Location and llonndaries 202

Monterey ^(^13. 384

Named for First Settler 202

Organization of -1"

Population of -H

Town of Humboldt 203.5.58

i^ostoffices and Post Roads ''<i3

Postoffices in 1864 420

Pottery of Prehistoric Origin 71

Powder River E.xpcdition, the 751

Prairie Fires 33, oH)

Prairies, Appalling Vastness of 105

Prairie Sod, the Breaking of 117,121

Precincts, Organization of 140

Prehistoric Times 0.5-84

Present County Officers 189

Preston, Town of —

In the Old Indian Days 241

Old Shippin.g Point 2-iO

Original Name "Bluffton" 240

Population of ^13

Preston Picnic Grounds 31.i

Primitive Methods of Travel 2):<'^>

Principal Money Crop, the 2.=i4

Probate Judges 172

Products of the Dairy 2.59

Prominent Pioneers '>'>5

Prospective Settlers Impatient ^X'

Prosperity of Farmers -525

(JuacUs and Charlatans 44-4

Quaint Marriage Contract 249

Quality uf Soil .54

Quarries of First-class Stone 3-i. 209

Quick, Mrs. Mary 080

Kailroad Bonds Contriiversy 242 Kural M

Railroads and HiKhways__-_' 214.292 ''^i'"''' ' ''

Railr.iad I'rojects Numerous ,502

Kailr..ad's Completion t'elel. rated- 1()7

In .Steamlioat Days 29.5

Original Residents 2,59

Physicians of 4,5.5

Population of 211

Rich in History 2.5K

Schools and Churches 240

When Laid Out 2.5K

Rural H..me lluilding 284

Railroad Surgeons 440 Sacs and Fo.xes 6.5,19-1

Raper, Judge John llutler 457 Salem Collegiate Institute .5,5(.

Rattlesnake District 210 Salem Precinct —

Rcavis. David D 37,^ Building Stone 20.-

Reavis. Hon. Isham 166, 225, 427. I'.arly Settlement of 20-1

46.5.081 I'.stablishment of 14'-

Recollections of Jesse Crook O.-O First Flour-Mill in County 204

Relating to .\griculture 25,5-291 Settled liy Missourians 205

Relics of a Prehistoric Race 07 \ illage of Salem 204

Religion of the Indians 8,' Salem, Town of—

Religious .\ctivities .57.5-40.1 Conditions in 1857 204

Reminiscences of a Wayfarer 081 l.arly Trading Post 2.54

Richardson. William .\ 9o. 1,5.- Clim'pses into the Past 2.5o

River Towns of the ( )ld Days 29.' lnc,u-p<, ration of 148

Rock Island Highway, the .50(1 Made County Seat 1,50

Roll of the Bar 400 Physicians of 4,57

Roll of the First Settlers— 102 Population of 211

Roster of Company 1"., Fifth Present Status of 2,55

Xe])raska 497 Promoters of 2.5.5

Roster of County Officers 171-189 .Sauk Indians 7o

Rotation of Crops 261 Schocds and l-".ducatioii 326-.572

Rouleau. Charles 110.190.2.58 Scho.d Teacher "Skips" ,5o.5

Rulo Precinct^ Second County Seat l-.lection 155

Boundaries of 19o Second Xeliraska I'axalry 491

F.stablishmcnt of 148 Seimering. F. W. i62

Former Indian Reservation 197 Series of First l".\ents 245-252

Founded by Charles Rouleau 19<] Settlement of County 99-1.52

Order of Court Regarding- 219 Settlers' Claims. Register of 12."

Physicians of 4.5.5 Shasta 57'-'

Population of 211 Sheep 25"

Rulo, Town of— Sheriffs 178. 4o7

I'.cautiful for Location 2.58 Shooting Matches in Old Days 205

Fifty Years .\go 68.5 Shroycr, J. O., Reminiscences of— 2"^!

.'Front Door" of County 23S Sluibert. Town of—

How and Why Named 238 .\dniirah1e for Location 2.',7

Incorporation of 142 Commerce and Industry 237

HISTORICAL INDEX.

Sliubert — Continued —

Many Substantial Homes -'37

I'opulation of 213

Schools anil Churches 238

Sidelights of County History 603

Silver Creek Community 122

Sioux and \Vinnel)a80CS 03

Skalak, Wenzel 117

Slave Auction Broken Up 749

Smith, the Rev. James S 33-1

Social Conditions in Old Days 288

Soil Survey 36-62

Soil, \'arieties of 35

South Fork of Xcmaha 207

Spanish-American War, the 493

Spanish Explorations 8.5

Speculation in Townsites 108

Speiser Precinct —

Ample Water Supply 207

Coal Formerly Mined 207

Early Settlers 207

Establishinent of 146

Old Middleburs 208

Population of _^ 211

Springfield 582

Springs of ExCL-llent Water 20(1

Stage Coaches 301

State Board of Health 441

Statistics Relating to Banks 474

Statistics Relating to Schools 329

Steamboat Days in Richardson 292

Steamboat, First on the Missouri— 89
Stella. Town of —

Coming of the Railroad 321

Commercial and Professional 232

Early Industries 229

First Church 229

First School 228

How and Why Named 231

Interesting History of 227

Newspapers 415

Physicians 439

Population of 213

Public Schools 369

When Incorporated 228

When Organized 227

Story. Stephen __116. 738

Strausville. tlie \illage of 241

St. Stephen- (11,1 'r..w., of .599, C45

St. Stephens Precinct —

ICstablishment of 147

How Named 11(.

Now Part of Barada 193

Old Village of 245

I'etition for Organization of 217

Population of - 211

Postoffice of Williamsville 193

Stumbo, Francis M 619

.Stuml)o, James L 501

Stumps Station 579.598

Subscription Schools 326

Sunday School Association 395

Superintendent of Instruction 181

Supervisors 184

Surgeons in World War 447

Surgery, Past and Present 442

Survey of Soil Conditions 36-62

Surveyors Erect Iron Monument 129

Surveys of Richardson County 125

Swiss Colonists Early on Ground- 209

Tabic Rock, the 621

Taxes Collected in 1857 141

Teachers Institutes 332

Teachers. Wages of 331

Telephones and Mail Delivery 215

Territorial Legislature. Acts of 148

Third County Seat Election 156

Thompson, David L 679

Timlier Growth Restt)red 3.i

Tinker. Hon. (J. J 542

Tisdell, D. A 2M,

Toll Bridge Early Established 251

Topography of County 33-(iJ

Towle, Hon. Edwin S 4()5

Township Sectional Divisions 131

Townships, Organization of 190-215

Towns, Incorporation of .216-244

Townsitc Locations 213

Trackless Wilderness, the 105

Transportation in Old Days 292

Travel by Primitive Methods 2>i'i

Treasurer of County.- 17(i

Treaties with Indians 04,95

Trials and Adversities of Pioneers 105
Tributaries of th<- Great Nemaha— SS

HISTORICAL INDEX.

L- to I'ionci-r
Hanging A\
1 Talc of tl

U
■■L'ikUtht..,,.,,! Railr,.a,l," tlu- 11,?

\accination in Old Days -t4i

Valleys First Attract Settlers ,1.1

\'alues of Farm Lands (il

\erdon, Town of —

Contented Residents 2-44

ICarly Legal Scinahl.lc 24-'

Location of 241

Original Tlat Filed 242

Physicians 4.iiS

Population of 213.242

X'illa.ge Government 242

\icw into Three States 23X

Xillage Charters 212

X'oting Precincts, Kstablisliment of 14(j

\Vages of Teachers 331

Waggener, Dr. J. A 434,441

Walker, Dillard ,y9

Water Power in the Old Days 531

Waterworks at Falls City 530

Wealth of Richardson County 058

Weaver Brothers' Farms.--, 262

XX'caver. Judge .Archibald j 455

Weber. Daniel H 182,326

Welsh Colonists 645

Wlieat anil Corn Conditions 253

Whisky Ruin of Indians 83

Wicked Fraud of Surveyors 690

•\\ ild-Cat" Money 108

Wild Game and Fish 653

Wilhite. Mrs. J. R 608.625

Williamsville 193

Winnebago, the Town of 216, 578

Withee, Francis 633

World War. the 494

Y
Yankton 57o, 597

Z
Zulek. Charles lid

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX

Ahern, John 880

Allemend, Eugene 984

Allison, Cyrus X., D. D. S 1358

Atkins. Martin B. 1411

Atwood, Theodore G. 1172

Auxier. Edward E. 1168

Auxier. Xathaniel D. 1287

Aycrs. Oliver C. 960

Bacon. Alfred G. 1080

Uahr. l->ed 1228

Barlow, Stephen C. 770

Bates, William R. 1237

Bauer, John H. 1398

Baync, Samuel H. 938

Becker, August B. 821

Billings, Lewis M. 951

Bloom. Jacob 1137

Bloom, Joshua 1021

Bobst. Samuel B. 1037

Bolejack. Emery E. 1001

Boose. William R.. M. D 893

Bowers. Emerson L. 1256

Bowers. Impertous M. 1236

Bowker, George 1140

Bowker. Thomas G. 1184

Boyd. Hugh E. 788

Brandow, William M. 1133

Brecht, Conrad 1309

Brecht, Fred 1416

Brecht, Henry 1166

Bucher, Fredrick, Sr. 1052

Burns. James W. 1350

Butler. William F. 1016

Cade, William 1333

Campbell. Xewton C. 1147

Church, Frank E. 1143^.

I lark. Isaac S. - 1220

Colglazier, William S. 1266

Coons. John H. 1032

looper, Orrin A. 1248

Cornelius, Joseph K. 784

loupe. Richard A. 1351

Crook. Guy A. 1383

Crook, John A 1383

I rook. Hon. William H. 1230

CuUen, Joseph W. 1204

Cummings. Edward W. 1213

Cunningham, Thomas C. 901

iJaeschner, Henry 1253

Davis, Henry C. 973

Davis, Jairus S. 1092

Davis, James B. 1123

Davis, Levi L. 864

DeMcrs. Xapoleon 1006

Dennis. Prof. David 971

Deweese. Lena 10(M

Didier, John B 976

Dorrington, David 1284

Dorrington, William E. 1319

Draper, William I. 1063

Duerfcldt. Gustav W. 795

Durl'ee. Edmond J. 1128

Durfee, Edward E 920

Durfee. Mark J. S40

Duryea. Elva J. 1264

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.

l-.asley, Williiim D. 1346

ICbel, Albert 818

l-.els. Hiram E.. D. D. S 982

lulwards, Lewis C. 1353

Kickhoff, Joachim U 992

i:is, Frank . 950

Else, William H 1232

J'.vans, John M, 862

reverts. James S 1339

lalloon, Edwin >76

1-ankhauser. John 957

l'"ellers, Hon. .\ugnstns H. llSt!

Ich. Charles 1067

lonton. William T 1192

I'crgus, Ernest S 1019

I'indlay, John 823

I'-inck, Lonis 1258

I'ischer, Herman A. i:95

I'isher, Chester A 1409

lonts, Roy W., M. D 1345

I'lanklin. Allen 904

l-riend, Morris 1289

l-imk. George 1". 1077

Gandy, George G., M. D 948

(;el)hard, Charley M. 1283

Gerdes, Henry 1259

Gergens. Peter M 871

Gerweck. Wendelin 1321

Giannini, Marino 1194

(.ill.ert, J. Edward 1075

Gird, George 1392

(.ist, Thomas J 1377

Goctz, William 970

Greene, John M.. M. D 875

Gridley. Charles 1! 1096

(irinstead. Koliert E. 1267

Gutzmer. Cieorge 1407

llaeffele, Fred 1134

llanika, -Anthony j. 925

Harden, Emerson A 1224

llargrave. Charles G. 947

Harding, Merrick W. 1251

llarkendorff, I'rederick H. 1365

Harkendorff, John F. 1382

Harrah, Jess R 867

Harris. Isaac W 1200

I larshbargcr, Reuben 879

Hasler, Rev. Paul 1311

Hays, Edward R., M. D 910

Hays. Michael L 1100

Heacock. Hon. Philo S 1360

llebenstreit. Frank A. 1012

Heim, Israel L. 1061

I leim, Jacob S 1034

Heim, John 1087

Heim. Jonathan W, 1085

I leim, Joseph G. 1331

Heim, Samuel F. 945

lleinenian, Fred W. 1294

Iklfenbein, John C. 810

I lellmann, John W. 826

Henderson. Charles G. 1222

Herbstcr, William 1401

Jlessler. Paul 935

Hews. J. Abner 988

Hews. William S. 1182

Higgins. Daniel 1070

Hill. Elijah C, Jr. 1108

Hill, Marshall N. 861

Hill. Reuben J. 997

Hill, Roland M. 932

Hillyard, James S. 944

Hoffman, Rev. John J. 1110

Holland, George W. 1336

Holland. John H. 928

Holt. George P.. 975

Holt. John W. 780

Holt. William R. 891

Horn, Christian 1226

Horton, Joseph O. 1150

Hustead. Charles I... M. D. 900

Hutchins, Warren 1341

llutchings, John H. 1356

James, Richard C. 820

James, William W. 1125

Jenne. William \V. 1117

Jones, Hon. Cass 1185

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.

Jones, William G. 1102

Jorn, Christian A. 1107

Judd, Xorman B. 838

Kammerer, Christian 1176

Kanaly, Jeremiah 829

Kean, David 1026

Keeling, Major William H 1104

Keim, Albert R. 1120

Kelly, James 1362

Kelly, James F., M. D. 851

Kelly, Martin 1247

Kelly, P. J. 1406

Kentopp, William F. 1238

Kirk, Homer D. 1136

Kinimel, Samuel 977

Korner, Wilson S. --•- 843

Kors, George E. 1088

Koso, John H. 954

Kotouc, Frank, Jr. 800

Kotouc.Otto 981

Knight, Ward K.' 898

Kupcr, 1-ienry H. 1164

LcClere. George W. 1219

Lewis, Daniel D. 1000

Lewis, George W. 1095

Lewis. Ellis O. 941

Leyda, W. S. 1315

Lihhee, Elijah T. : 1048

Lichty, John 854

Lietzke, William L. 1400

Linn. Claude M. 918

Lord, Joshua S. 802

Lichty, Samuel 1374

Loree, Charles 816

Lord, Charles A. 1379

Luni, Clyde V. 1216

Lundy, James W. 952

l.yford, Victor G. 877

Lynch. Thomas 11. 1074

McCarthy, Dennis 966

McMahon. Matthew 1244

McMiillen. .Mcxander R. 1179

Maddox, Wilson M. , 845

Madowsc, Christ. 790

Majerus. Jacob 872

Mann, Leonard R. 1146

Marburger, Lewis F. 1139

Margrave, James T. 1387

Marcjrave, William C. 1202

Marsh, Orion O. 1344

Marsh. William S. 1208

Martin, Charles H. 930

Martin, William 1199

Mathers, Edgar R., D. D. S 1082

Maust. Albert 836

Maust. Irvin C. 1338

Mez. Max 1408

Miles, Joseph H. 755

Miles, Stephen B. 1372

Mooncy, John W 1394

Morchcad, Hon. John 11. 1296

Morris, Edward D. 1098

Morrison. Joseph E. 1198

Mosiman. John. Jr 1240

Mosiman. William 1229

Mullen. Barney 1008

Mullen. John C 993

Mun.hy, Patrick F. 1181

Xiemeyer, William G. 1277

Xims, Charles E. 1090

Xims. Frank A. 848

Xims, Joy M. 824

Xitzsche, Frederick E. 827

Xofsger, Louis W. 1047

Xoltc. John H. 1402

Xorton, William e\ 1031

O-Hrien, Father Francis A. 1151

O'Connell, Bryan 1215

Ogle, John ___' 1163

Ogle, Joseph 1072

O'Grady, John 1045

Oswald, William C. 798

Ovcnnan, James 11. 989

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.

I 'age

1171

Cleon 1206

•ercival, William 1306

'cters, Fulton "23

Vtersen, Leroy T.. M. D. 121-

'hillips, Clifford F. 1030

'hilpot, John

850

'hi'.pot, Ralph R. 1131

'ittock, Henry P. 1278

•oilard, Perry — 956

•orr. Leopold 1024

'ower, William S. 104O

'rihbeno, Charles F. 1369

'ril>l)cno, Henry F. 1178

'richard, Leander C. 814

'ntnam. William H 1324

Katekin, Daniel 13. 808

Rcavis, Hon. Charles F. 1367

Reavis, David D. 1218

I'teavis. Hon. Isham 760

Kedwood. William L. 841

Rell. Josiah F. 1042

RevcUe, Benjamin F. 1161

Richardson, John H. 1160

Rickards, Charles H. 859

Rieschick, John W 1335

Rieschick, William 1189

Rieschick. Hon. William F 1245

Rife. William M, 1081

Riky. Bernard 1035

Rik-v. Daniel 804

Riky. Dan J 834

Rilcy. Michael 884

Riley, William 10.56

Ivuegsje, Henry L. 783

Ivnnihaugh. Rev. .\ndrc\v J. 1386

Sailors. Washington 1291

.Sailors, William H 968

Schneider, Charles F 894

Schock, Charles H 940

Schock, Frederick H. 959

Scholl, William 779

Schr.uler, Harry H 1242

Schnlenberg, Matthias

Segrist, Louis J.

Shellenbarger, Leonard G.
Shelly, John R.

,.- 1234
-_ 1270
__ 1404
__ 1303

Shildneck, Charles 1142

Shildneck Family, The 1141

Shildneck, Hiram S. 1141

Shildneck, William 1142

Shubert, .\ustin G. 1010

Shubert, Henry W 757

Shubert, James F. 986

Shubert, Williard M, 995

Siemering, Henry 936

Sinianton, Brevet 1304

Skalak, Wenzel 1348

.Slagle, William E — 1389

Slocum, James L. 774

Smith. Charles 1144

Smith, Julius 912

Spicklcr, Joseph W 998

Spragins, Judge John D. 765

Staver, Hon, Hugh O. 1280

Steele, Edwin F. 1152

Steele, Joseph 1152

Steele, Robert Edwin 1152

Stephens, William L. 933

Sterns, Bernard W 1322

Stettler. .•\lfred 980

Stitzcr, Henry 1156

Stoltz, Charles E. 1114

Stoltz, William F. 917

Strawn, Charles A 1112

Suess, Louis U. 1210

807
792

Tanner. Jacob C. 865

Taylor. George E. 852

Thornton. Charles 11.

Tiehen. Herman

Timcrman. Jason 882

Timerman, Romanc 921

Towlc, Edwin H 1326

Towle, John W 130O

Tvnan, Andrew 856

Lhri, Edward —
L'lmer, Martin D.
L'lmer, Emanuel -

1116
90S
106S

BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX.

N'anilevcnter, Morgan H. 868

Wij^ele, lidward C. 1175

\oii r.ergen. J. Louis 906

Waggener. J. A. 965

W'aKKoner, Riley D. 896

Walil, Samuel 1078

Walkiiis. George 1262

Weaver, lion. Archibald J. 1272

Weaver, lion. Arthur J 1328

Weaver, I'aul B 1413

Weber. Daniel H 1020

Weddle, John F ^_ 1028

W eddle. William M 1054

Weick, Charles F. 1044

Wheeler. James M 888

Wheeler. William H. 786

Wiekham, Ernest . 1368

Wilhite. James R. 1014

Wilkinson, Thomas M. 832

Williamson. Charnock W'. 1363

Williamson. J. Rock 914

Wilson, Frank P. . 1,327

Wilson. Lester C. 1022

Wilson. Millard L., M. D. 768

Wiltse. John 874

Windle. Grant L. 1307

Windle. Joseph 1127

AV'issinger. Jacob F. 1317

Wissler. John E. ... 962

Withee. Francis 1058

Wittwer, Frederick lOSO

W'ixon. John W. 1064

VVuster. Christ 1149

Wuster. Thomas I-'. 927

Wyatt. Henry F. 1312

Y
Vutzy. Josei.h C. D. D. S. 885

Zimmermann, Ernest 1399

Zimmermann, Gust. 1415

Zoeller. llenrv C. 1396

HISTORICAL

CHAPTER I.
Topography, Geology, Etc., of Richardson County.

The rolling prairies of wiiich Richardson county is largely made up, are
an alluring feature which did not escape the eye of the early settler in quest
of a home in this new countr}-. The recurring prairie fires of the period
when it was only inhabited by Indians had retarded the growth of the timber
to a great extent in large portions of the county, and those coming across
the Alissouri were so impressed with the openness of the country that it was
long known as a portion of the Great Plains.

It is traversed from west to east by streams of living water, the banks
of which are well timbered. I'pon the coming of the white man and the
breaking up of the soil, the prairie fire disappeared and the trees thus pro-
tected, together with those set out and planted by the thousands, now give
the country the appearance of a woodland and especially is this noticeable
in and about the towns, rivers and creeks, and farm homes- throughout the
county. Tliis fact is now so prominent, that to the traveler passing through
the country nor to those residing therein, does the w-ord "prairie" have any
significance in a descriptive way and indeed it is no longer used in the vocabu-
lary of the people. The prairie in the old sense is gone forever.

The forest gro\-es are made up of box elder, maple, cottomvood. walnut.
oak, elm, ash, hickory and willow. In tlie east end of the county the Mis-
souri river bluffs ha\-e always been and are today heavily overgrown with
timber, and in later \-ears extensive orchards are replacing cleared portions
and rank in ])roducti\'e cai)acit\- and f|u;dity and f|uantity of fruit with the
liest in the I'nitetl States.

The \-alleys and low lantls adjacent to the streams were the first choice
with the early settler and in the earlier years of less rainfall were most
profitablv worked as farms, but the heavv rainfall of more recent vears has

3-1 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

necessitated extensixe drainage s\stems for relief from overtlows. The
uplands or early prairie farms ha\e proven most valuable for all purposes
and are the most desirable of all and most productive at this time.

Inexhaustive quarries of first-class building stone are available in mam-
parts of the county and of easy access near the surface of the ground. Coal
in numerous places over the county has been found, but never, so far. in
sufficient (juantities to ser\e any great number of the people as a fuel.

The lowest altitude is found near Rulo, in the extreme southeast corner
of the county, w here but eight hundred and seventy-five feet above sea level
is registered. Passing toward the northwest and west end of the county a
gradual and gentle rise is noted.

The county is now eighteen miles wide, north and south, and thirty-six
miles long, east and west at the southern, and twenty-seven miles at the north-
ern boundary, containing in the aggregate in round numbers, five hundred and
fifty square miles, or three hundred fifty-two thousand six hundred acres.
The townships, except in the eastern portion are six miles square and con-
tain thirty-six sections, ^^'ithin this area the land is all tillable, except on
the lowest river bottoms, which is now used as pasture and grass lands. So
it may be stated that there is Init a very small per cent of the land which may
not be utilized.

The Great Xemaha rixer. which traxerses the southern precincts, east
and west, and empties into the Missouri river near Rulo, in its meanderings,
prior to numerous cut-ofifs made by the drainage ditches to shorten it,
was (iiie lunulred miles long. It is now reiluced to less than half that dis-
tance and is fed by numerous small streams from a \-ast watershed. The
Mudd\- creek drains the east precincts, being fed by many small streams and
empties into the Xemaha in Jefferson precinct.

Tlie most extensive valley is that of tne Great Nemaha, which varies
from one to three miles in width and. being the repository for the rich soil of
the uplands, is most fertile.

QfALITY OF THE SOIL.

Tliere is excellent clay for the manufacture of brick, which on account
of the absence of saw timber and the distance from the lumber regions, has
been extensixely used as tlie principal building material and much of the out-
put is in great demand at points outside the state.

The soil of the hills is perfectlv adapted for fruit culture and extensive
iirchanls of apjjle, of all kinds, peaches, i^ear. plum and grapes are success-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 35

fully grown. The soil is a deep black loam from eighteen to thirty-six inches
in depth. The "Ijlack land farm" is a reality the county over and its well-
known richness, after fifty years continuous usage, precludes the necessity
for fertilization so much in vogue in Eastern states. Small grain of all kinds
is raised in al)undance, and farming here is a pleasure rather than a drudgery,
and well it may be, for the soil is easil\- worked, and the farmer has e\-ery
assurance of a crop annually. 14'? ^ilfifi

TRIia-TARlES OF THE GREAT XEjUA>IA RIVER.

The Great Xemaha river, of Richardson county, enters the Missouri
near the southeast corner of the county and traverses its entire length. The
river forks near the center of the county (near Salem), one branch coming
from the Northwest, called the North Fork and the other heading in Nemaha
county, Kansas, called the South Fork of the Nemaha.

Muddy creek comes also from the northwest, running parallel with the
Nemaha, which it enters four miles east of Falls City.

The principal tributaries of the Nemaha and Muddy in this countv are
Walnut, Long Branch, Four-Mile. Rattlesnake, Easley, Sardine, Half-Breed
and Harvey Creeks.

The Nemaha and Muddy are mill streams, and there is timber imi all
the branches. It will thus be seen that Richardson county is the liest tim-
bered as well as the best watered county in Nebraska.

Good limestone for lime and building purposes abounds on the streams
and coal of good quality has in other days been found on the Nemaha and
its tributaries, the latter in quality as good if not better than that mined suc-
cessfully for years in the \icinity of Leavenworth, Kansas.

The county as a whole is most highly improved and has more
good farms and farmers than any county in the state.

.\11 the grains of this latitude flourish here, and it is without a doulit
the best adapted for fruit, which is now being produced on a larger scale than
in any section of the state.

Both spring and fall wheat do well, and it is doubtful if there be a better
corn-growing region \\est of the Missouri. Oats, rye. ]iotatoes and other
vegetables produce finely.

36 RICHAPDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

SOIL' SURVEY OV RICHARDSON COUNTY.

By A. H. Meyer, of the United States Department of Agriculture.
Stewart, and C. W. Watson, of the Nebraska Soil Sii
D. Rice.

DESCRIPTION OF THE AREA.

Richardson county is situated in the extreme southeastern part of Ne-
braska, about fifty-four miles south of the Platte river. It is bounded on
the north by Nemaha county, on the east by the Missouri river, which
forms the state line, on the south by Doniphan, Brown, and Nemaha coun-
ties, Kansas, and on the west by Pawnee county, Nebraska. The county
is approximately rectangular in shape, with one irregular side, its greatest
length from east to west being thirty-six miles and its widtii from north
to south eighteen miles. It has an area of 545 square miles, or 348.800
acres. The northwestern corner of the county is about seventy miles from
Lincoln and the southeastern corner approximately halfway between Omaha
and Kansas City.

The surface features of the upland, which constitutes far the greater
part of the county, are variable, though in general the topography is rolling.
In the southwestern and extreme western parts of the county the drainage
system is intricate and the surface is marked by numerous steep and pre-
cipitous slopes, largely the result of high rock ledges. The steep slopes occur
largely along the stream courses of the Nemaha river drainage system. How-
ever, there are in this section gently arched divides or plains and gently
sloping areas. The remainder of the county, except the bluff zone along
the Missouri river, is gently rolling to rolling, with no abrupt slopes. The
divides are gently sloping to almost flat, and in a few instances attain the
elevation of the original constructional surface of the loess plains. These
topographic features occur mainly lietween the Nemaha and Little Mudd\-
Creek drainage systems, with their best development in Franklin town-
-ship. In the eastern part of the county the upland merges through a nar-
row strip of hilly land into the Missouri river bluff zone, which in some
places is two and one-half miles in width. This strip is characterized by
V-shaped valleys with a depth of about three hundred and fifty feet. The
roughest and most dissected topography occurs in the northeastern and
southeastern parts of the county.

There are some alluvial terraces in the count)", l)ut tiiey are of \ery
small extent and occur onlv in the southwestern section. Thev varv from

RICHARDSON COrNTY, NEBRASKA. 37

five to ten feet above the present flood plain of the streams. The terraces
are flat, benchHke, and uneroded.

The greater part of the first-bottom land occurs along the Nemaha
river and its branches. The Missouri river flows so near the west side of
the valley that there is scarcely any first bottom along the course in this
stream within the county. The surface of the bottom-land areas is level,
except along the Missouri river, where the topography is relieved by low
ridges with intervening depressions, sloughs, and ox-bow lakes.

The upland has an average elevation of about i,ioo feet abo\e sea
level. The highest point, 1,220 feet, occurs in the northwestern part of
the countv. The average elevation of the bottom land is about 900 feet
above sea level and the lowest elevation is about 850 feet. The general
slope of the county is southeastward.

The Missouri river flows along the eastern boundary and receives the
drainage of the entire county. The Nemaha river is the only tributary
of any consequence, and drains practically all the county. It flows in a
southeasterh' direction through the area. The north fork and south fork
of the Nemaha unite at Salem. Muddy creek is an important branch of
this stream. The Nemaha river and its tributary streams are winding and
rather sluggish, and have reached base level. The Missouri river is navig-
able. The streams in this region are not used for power development.

There is a complete system of drainage ways in the county, and adequ-
ate drainage is provided for all sections. Springs are numerous in the
southwestern part of the survey, and on many farms furnish most of the
water for the stock. All the first bottoms are overflowed annually, but
rarely are the overflows of a destructive nature, and the water seldom re-
mains more than twelve hours on the surface of the flood plain. However,
in the season of 1915, a number of destructive floods occurred, and practi-
cally no crops were harA^ested.

The first permanent white settlements in Richardson county were made
in 1855, about a mile north of Falls City, by settlers from Tennessee. The
county was created in 1854, and reorganized in 1855 by the first territorial
Legislature. When first created the county contained a large part of the
area now included in Johnson and Pawnee counties, but within a few years
it was reduced to its present size. Most of the early settlers came from
Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Tennessee, and the New England states. Later
some foreigners, including Germans, Swedes, Welsh, Bohemians, Irish, Eng-
lish and French settled in the county. Less than eight per cent of the popu-
lation, however, is of foreign birth.

RICHARDSOX COINTV. NEBRASKA.

The mean annual rainfall of Richardson county is 32.71 inches, the
highest mean annual precipitation recorded in the state of Nebraska. From
seventy-five to eighty per cent, of the rainfall occurs during the growing
season, from April to September, inclusive. About forty-five per cent, falls
during the months of May, June, and July, with the maximum during
July. December, January and February are the driest months, with a total
precipitation of 2.53 inches.

Most of the rainfall in the summer occurs in the form of thunder
showers, and the precipitation is very heavy within short periods of time,
ranging from one inch to six inches in single storms. Something over
one-half the rainfall of May, June, and July occurrs in quantities of one
inch or more in twenty-four hours. The rainfall in May and June usually
is well distributed, and droughts in these months are practically unknown.
In July the distribution is not quite so favorable, though on the average
rain falls at least once every four days during the months of May, June,
and July. During August and September the precipitation is lighter and
less favorably distributed. Periods of drought, of only occasional occur-
rence, are chiefiv confined to July, August, and September. The average
annual snowfall is about twenty inches. Little snow falls Ijefore December
or after March.

The mean annual temperature is about 53" F. January and February
are the coldest months, with an average temperature of about 27 . July
is the warmest month, with an average of "jf. The lowest temperature
recorded at Dawson and Falls City, Nebraska, is 30^ below zero, and the
highest III" F. The average date of the first kilHng fro.st in the fall is
October 8, and of the last in the spring, April 24. The date of the earliest
recorded killing frost in autumn is September 12 and of the latest in si)ring.
May 27. There is an average growing season of about one himdred and
seventv davs, which is sufliciently long for the maturing of all the ordinary
farm crops.

The winds are prevailingly from the northwest. During the mouths
of June. July, and .\ugust, however, they are mainly from the south and
southeast. Tlie average velocity of the wind at Omaha is about nine miles
per hour. Tn storms winds of thirty to fifty miles per hour are common.
Tornadoes are of rare occurrence.

The relative humidity is quite regular, the average for the vear being

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASK.J

about seventy per cent. The humidity is about seventeen per cent, lower
at eight o'clock in the evening than at nine o'clock in the morning. On the
average there are one hundred and seventy to one hundred and eighty clear
days and eighty to ninety cloudy days during the year, the remainder being
partly cloudy.

The following table, compiled from the records of the weather bureau,
gives the normal monthly, seasonal, and annual temperature at Dawson and
precipitation at Dawson and Falls City.

Xoniial Dioiithly. seasonal, and annual temperature at Dazcsoii ami precipita-
tion at Dawson and Falls Citv, Nebraska.

•Tenn>eratnr

-Preciijitati(

Total
driest .vear

Total
wet. year

Mean.

Abs. ma.\-.

Abs. min

Mean

(1901).

(1902),

°F.

Inches.

Inches:. i

Inches.

December

2£».7

— l.T

0.73

0.53

1.38

January

2S.4

—23

.55

.84

Februaiy

25.8

—30

1.05

.81

Winter

28.0

—30

2.53

1.89

2.22

March

41.3

— 2

1.69

2.08

1.25

52.S

May

63.4

5.17

5.20

5.34

Spring:

52.5

— 2

9.74

S.,S3

7.04

June

72 5

104

4 30

'^40

6 73

July

T7.0

111

4.73

1.22 •

12.51

0 5-/

Summer _

75.4

111

12.95

0.20

22.68

September

69.1

100

3.34

2.31

3.97

October

57.5

3.04

3.89

3.79

42.5

— 8

1.11

1.08

2.70

Fall

56.4

100

— S

7.40

7.28

10.52

Year

53.1

111

—.30

32.71

24.20

4.3.06

Upon the basis of physiographic position, the soils of Richardson county
may be divided into three groups, upland, terrace, and first-bottom soils.
The upland group embraces the Marshall, Grundy, Knox, Carrington, and
Shelby series, and Rough stony land; the terrace group includes the Wau-
kesha series; and the first-bottom group the Wabash, Cass, and Sarpy series
and Riverwash.

Practically all the soils are derived from transported material, except

40 RICIIARDSOX COLNTV. NEBRASKA.

most of the Rough stony land. The upland originallj- was covered with a
thick veneer of plains loess, which has been almost entirely removed by
erosion. Where erosion has progressed enough to give rise to a rolling
topography, as in the eastern part of the county, the loess subsoil as well
as soil is loose and friable. Along the bluff line of the Missouri the loess
has been modified by material blown from the sand and silt bars of the
river. The loess beds vary in color from yellow or pale yellow to light
gray, and are always more or less calcareous and blotched with iron stains.
It is thought by the state survey that the plains loess was laid down in
sluggish waters as outwash from the glaciers to the north.

Only two remnants of the original constructional surface remain, ami
they are located in the northwestern part of the county. Owing lo the tlat
to slightly undulating topography in that section, the clay has not been
carried away by rain waters. Init has Ijeen washed down into the subsoil,
forming a hardpanlike layer.

Below the plains loess lies the upjier or weathered phase of the Kansan
drift, which is very similar to the loess. The material is yellowish brown
or pale yellow to light gray, and is smooth and silty, and contains fewer
lime concretions than the loess. It also contains some sand and « few small
pebbles, which are absent from the loess. In a vertical section there is no
well-defined line of demarcation Ijetween the loess and the weathered drift.
However, the loess has a more decided tendency to weather in perpendicular
walls than the drift. The soil derived from this phase of the drift has a
heavier and more compact subsoil than that derived from the eroded loess.

Below the weathered phase of the drift is the Kansan drift proper.
There is a sharp line of demarcation in color and te.xture between these
two divisions. The upper part of the Kansan drift is thoroughly o.xidized,
showing that it has been subjected to weathering. The Kansan sheet is
distinctly till, and consists of a heterogeneous mass of clay, silt, sand, gravel,
and bowlders. The upper part of the till varies in color from yellowish
brown or brown to reddish brown, and the lower part from light gray t'>
pale yellow, with numerous iron stains.

Below the Kansan drift lies the Aftonian material, which consists largely
of stratified sand and gravel, witli a few bowlders. This does hot occur
as a continuous stratum, but as sand or gravel trains. The material outcrops
west and northwest of Humlioldt and northeast of .Salem. It has given
rise to local sandy spots in the drift soils.

The lowest drift sheet, the Xel)raskan, consi.'^ts of lilue clav, contain-

RJ3E.

WtE.

R I,

ftJ3E.

ff.JfE.

Ili.th.

J6E.

R/7K

RJGE.

R.J7E.

HJ8F.

INTY, NEBRASKA.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 4I

ing smell pebbles and large numbers of bowlders. It is exposed only in
deep-cut banks. It may be seen north of Rulo and also west of Rulo in
the railroad cut.

The loess and drift beds lie on a very uneven surface of bedrock belong-
ing to the Pennsylvania division of the Carboniferous system. In many
places the streams have cut through the loess and drift and exposed large
areas of bedrock. Most of these are in the southwestern part of the county.
In the northern and eastern parts of the county, the mantle of rock is from
fifty to one hundred feet deep, with only local outcrops. The upper layers
of the bedrock consist of well-defined beds of shale and limestone; in places
the shale is wholly composed of clay and in other places it grades into
sandstone. The rocks dip northwestward in the southeastern corner of Rich-
ardson county, then flatten out to near Salem, beyond which they are nearly
level in an east-west section, remaining so to a north-south line just west
of Humboldt. Between this line and Table Rock there is a sharp rise of
the beds amounting to about four hundred feet, and some of the formations
exposed in the eastern part of the county are again brought to the surface.
The most important rocks are the Cottonwood, Falls City, .\spinwall, Tarkio,
Preston, Fargo, Burlington, and Rulo limestones.

The lower limestones named above outcrop near Rulo and in an anticline
southwest of Humboldt. The limestones are of use for building purposes,
and are of value in road making. There are about thirty-five square miles
of bedrock exposed, giving rise to a thin, stony soil, seldom more than two
to ten inches deep.

The terraces .of Richardson county are very inextensive. The ma-
terial forming them consists largely of silt, known in the State of Ne-
braska as valley loess. It was deposited at a time when the streams were
flowing at a higher level. The material was largely derived from the plains
loess and finely divided drift debris.

DISTRIBUTION OF ALLUVIAL.

The main areas of alluvial soils occur along the Missouri and Nemaha
rivers, with small areas widely distributed throughout the county. They
are of recent origin and are constantly receiving additional sediments from
the overflow waters of the streams. The material along the Missouri river
represents waste mainly from the glacial and loessial Rocky Mountain and
Great Plains provinces. The soils along the other streams represent re-
worked and deposited loessial and glacial material.

42 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

The Marshall series includes types with darJi-brown to black surface
soils and a lighter, yellowish-brown subsoil. This series comprises the dark-
colored upland loessial soils which predominate in the prairie region of the
Central West. The soils are characterized and distinguished from those of
the Knox series by the large quantity of organic matter in the surface soil.
The topography is level to rolling. The series is represented in Richardson
county by a single type, the silt loam.

The soils of the Grundy series are dark brown to black to. an aver-
age depth of about eight inches. The soiL becomes somewhat heavier with
depth, more rapidly as it approaches the subsoil. The transition from soil
to subsoil, however, is not abrupt. The upper subsoil is mottled, heavy, and
rather plastic when wet and hard when dry. The mottling consists of
dark drab and yellowish brown. This layer is six to ten inches thick and
passes gradually into material of somewhat lighter color and texture. As
a rule the mottlings are not well defined in the lower subsoil. This series
is derived by thorough weathering from silty material overlying the Kansan
drift. The silt loam is the only representative of this series in the county.

The Knox soils are prevailingly light brown and the subsoil is light
yellow or light grayish yellow. These soils occur mainly in the central
prairie states. They are derived from loessial deposits. The loessial cover-
ing where the Knox series is found is always thick enough to fonn a subsoil
as well as a surface soil, the deeper lying glacial till being far enough from
the surface to have no marked influence on the general character of the
soil. The topography is gently undulating to rolling, and the surface drain-
age is generally good. The silt loam is the only member of the Knox series
encountered in Richardson county.

The Carrington soils are derived through weathering of glacial till,
with little or no modification from loessial deposits. The series is developed
in the central and western prairie region and consists mainly of prairie
soils. The soil generally is black, ranging in some cases to dark brown.
The subsoil is lighter colored, generally light brown or yellowish. The topog-
rapliy is gently undulating to rolling, though some areas are nearly flat.
In Richardson county only the Carrington silt loam is recognized.

The soils of the Shelby series are dark brown to Ijrown ; the subsoil
is a yellow, reddish-yellow or light-brown, tenacious, sandy clay. These soils
are derived from the Kansan drift. Only the Shelby loam is mapped in
Richardson county.

The surface soils of the Waukesha series are dark brown to black,
and the subsoil is yellow. These soils occur in areas of deep glacial drift.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 43

They are derived from water-assorted glacial debris deposited on broad
filled-in valleys or as outwasli plains and terraces. The topograph}- is mainly
flat to undulating. Drainage is good.

The Wabash soils are prevailingly black, ranging to dark brown, and
contain a high percentage of organic matter. The subsoil is brown or brown-
ish gray. These soils occur in the first bottoms of streams in the central
prairie states. They extend for long distances along the Mississippi river.
The material is derived principally from the loessial and associated soils
of the region. The Wabash areas are flat and poorly drained.

The surface soils of the Cass series are dark brown to black. The
subsoil is lighter in color and in texture. These soils are alluvial, and are
most extensively developed in the bottoms along the Mississippi and Mis-
souri rivers and their tributaries. They occur in association with the Sarp}-
soils, occupying, however, areas which are somewhat less well drained, being
subject to overflow. Between the high stages of the streams the drainage
is good.

The soils of the Sarpy series range from light gray to dark brownish
gray or nearly black. They differ from the Wabash soils in having loose,
silty or fine sandy subsoils, distinctly lighter in texture than the surface soils.
The material is alluvial in origin. Owing to their low position these soils
are subject to overflow, although the nature of the soil and subsoil is such
that drainage is thorough to excessive between flood stages of the streams.
In general the topography is flat.

The following table gives the name and actual and relative extent
of each soil type mapped in Richardson county:

Areas of different soils.

Sciil. .Veres. Per Ct. 8oil. Acres. PerCt.

Slielh.v loiini 8.570 2.5 Ciiiriugtou silt lo;iui 162,624 46.5

W:il);isli cla.v 3.136 .9 Wabash silt loam 62,288 19.6

Itiveiwash 1,004 0.5 Marshall silt loam 57.472 16.5

Wtiiikeslm silt loam 1.152 .3 Kough stou.v land 17,408 5.0

Sarp.v very fine sandy loam 960 .3 Wabash silty clay loam 13,568 3.9

Cass <-lay 320 .1 Knox silt loam 12,864 3.7

(Iniiidy silt loam 320 .1 Total 348.800

Sarpy silt loam 2."i0 .1

.MARSHALL SILT LOAM.

The Marshall silt loam is a dark -brown, moderately heavy silt loam,
eight to fifteen inches deep, having a decidedly siuooth feel. It grades through

44 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

a thin brown layer of silt loam, about four inches thick, into yellowish-
brown material, the color changing with increasing depth to yellow. As
a rule the color of the subsoil is uniform, though occasionally the lower
part is slightly mottled with light gray and streaked with rusty iron stains.
The subsoil is open and friable and becomes more so with depth; as a rule
the fourth foot is highly calcareous, the lime occurring chiefly in the form
of concretions. As the color indicates, the soil is high in organic matter.

The depth of the soil is variable, and depends upon the topographic
position. In the flatter areas and on the gently arched divides it is fifteen
to eighteen inches deep, while on the shoulders of hills and along gullies
the depth is only six to eight inches, and often the yellowish-brown subsoil
is exposed. On the lower parts of slopes the soil is darker in color and
deeper, owing to the deposition of colluvial material, and at the foot it is
commonly twenty-four inches or more in depth. Included with this type are
small, narrow strips of colluvial material, occurring along intermittent streams.
Where the Marshall silt loam gives way to the Knox silt loam, small spots
of the latter tj^pe are included. In general, the color of the Marshall silt
loam is lighter where the type adjoins areas of the Knox silt loam.

The Marshall silt loam dififers from the Knox silt loam in having a
higher content of organic matter. It is very difficult to draw a definite
boundary line between the two soils, because of their patchy occurrence
where they unite. In texture and structure the two soils are similar. Both
have the vertical structure and extremely smooth feel characteristic of loess
soils.

The Marshall silt loam occurs as a belt about six miles in width in
the eastern part of the county, running parallel with the Alissouri river bluff.
On the east it gives way to the Knox silt loam, and nn the west to the Car-
rington silt loam.

In general the topography is rolling. Where the type adjoins the Kno.x
silt loam, it is steeply rolling, and where it adjoins the Carrington silt loam
it occupies rather gently sloping divides. In the vicinity of Zion church
and in the area south of Preston the soil has a gently undulating surface.
The drainage is good and the physical condition of the soil is such that it
withstands protracted droughts. Where the slopes are steep there is con-
siderable wash, though less than would be expected on such slopes on ac-
count of the favoral)le texture and structure of the soil. The tyi)e lies
at an elevation of eight hundred and eighty to one thuusand one hundred
and sixtv feet above sea level.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 45

The Marshall silt loam originally supported a thick growth of the prairie
grasses common to this region, but very little of the native sod remains.
Approximately ninety-five per cent, of the type is under cultivation. It
is considered by farmers the best upland corn soil of eastern Nebraska.
About one-half the farm land is devoted to the production of this crop, and
the remainder is largely in wheat and oats, with some clover and timothy
and alfalfa. In average seasons corn yields thirty to forty bushels per
acre, and occasionally as much as sixty bushels. Oats ranks second in acre-
age, and ordinarily yield thirty to thirty-five bushels an acre. The acreage
in wheat is being gradually extended, as the crop has proved very profitable.
Yields of twenty to thirty bushels an acre, and sometimes as much as forty
bushels per acre, are obtained. Clover and timothy and alfalfa are the
principal hay crops, though some millet and sorghum are grown.

In wet seasons clover does well, but in dry seasons it is difficult to get
a stand. In view of this fact, alfalfa is coming more in favor, even though
it does not fit nearly so well in the crop rotation. In favorable seasons
clover yields one and one-half to two tons per acre, while alfalfa yields
three to five tons. Small patches of barley and rye also are produced.
About one-half the corn crop and all the wheat are sold. The remainder
of the corn is largely fed to hogs. The oats and hay produced are chiefly
fed to the work stock. The present tendency on the Marshall silt loam is
to grow less corn, more wheat, and more leguminous crops, and to keep
more live stock. In the vicinity of Shubert there are a number of commercial
apple orchards. The apple does especially well on this type.

At present no definite rotations are followed on this type. The gen-
eral practice is to keep the land in corn from two to three years, oats one
year, and wheat one year, returning the field to corn. Occasionally the
wheat field is sowed either to clover and timothy or to alfalfa. Tenant
farmers pay less attention to the rotation of crops, and often use the same
field for corn or wheat four or five years in succession.

This soil is friable, silty, free from stones, and very easy to handle.
It can be cultivated under a wide range of moisture conditions, without
clodding or baking badly on drying. Though the natural productiveness
of the type is high, it responds readily to good methods of cultivation, ferti-
lization, and the growing of leguminous crops. Only small quantities of
barnyard manure are applied, and no commercial fertilizer is used.

The value of the Marshall silt loam ranges from one hundred ti) two
hundred dollars an acre, depending on location, improvements, and tlie con-
dition of the land.

46 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

The Marshall silt loam is a very productive soil and it is only in cases
where the same fields have been devoted to the same crops for a series of
years that the soil has materially deteriorated in productiveness. Deeper
plowing is needed on most farms, and though the type is high in organic
matter, it is advisable to rotate the cereal crops with leguminous crops e\ery
four or five years in order to keep up the organic-matter content. On steep
slopes where erosion is a serious factor the type should be kept in cover crops
as much as possible. The Alarshall silt loam is well suited to the produc-
tion of apples on a commercial scale, and within reasonable distances from
railroad points this industry might be profitably extended.

GRUNDY .SILT LOAM.

The surface soil of the Grundy silt loam is a dark-brown, heavy silt
loam, about fifteen inches in depth. It passes rather abruptly into a very
compact, plastic silty clay of darb color, mottled with yellowish brown. When
dry the upper part of the subsoil is tough and decidedly granular. Below
twenty-four to thirty inches the color as well as the texture becomes lighter
and the structure is more friable. As a rule the mottlings are not so con-
spicuous in the lower part of the subsoil. The soil is high in organic matter,
and as a rule lime concretions are encountered in the lower part of the sulisoil.
The upper subsoil layer is locally called "hardpan."

This soil is very similar to the extensive areas of Grundy silt loam
mapped in Gage county, Nebraska. It appears heavier than that mapped
in Seward and Polk counties, but not quite so heavy as that in Gage count}-.

The type is very inextensive; it occurs as two small areas in the north-
western part of the county, which extend into Nemaha county. It occupies
a high, slightly undulating divide which undoubtedly represents the original
constructional surface of the loess plains. The type is well drained in
normal seasons. In wet seasons the drainage is somewhat deficient on ac-
count of the hardpan layer and in very dr\' years the soil is rather cIroug!u\-
for the same reason.

The agriculture on the Grundy silt 1( vim is the same as that on the sur-
rounding Carrington silt loam. The land is valued at one hundred and hft\
to two hundred dollars an acre.

IvNOX SILT LOAM.

The surface soil of the Knox silt loam is a yellowish-brown, light-
brown or bufif -colored, friable, smooth silt loam, from six to eight indies

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 47

deep. It is underlain by a bro\vnish-}'ellow or yellow, open, loose, friable
silt loam. Light-gray mottlings and yellowish-brown or reddish iron stains
are frequent in the lower subsoil, and often occur throughout the substratum.
Lime concretions are very common in the subsoil. The soil varies consider-
ably with difiference in topographic position. On the sharp divides and
upper steep slopes a light yellowish gray variation with numerous lime con-
cretions occurs. Where erosion has been very severe, the surface has a
whitish appearance. On the tops of divides or on the lower slopes of hills
and in forested areas the soil is brown, and in places approaches a dark-
brown color. In the timbered areas the color is due largely to leaf mold,
which would soon disappear with cultivation. The soil has a vertical and
open structure, a characteristic of the Missouri river bluff loess. The typical
soil contains very little black organic matter.

The Knox silt loam is rather inextensive in this county, having a total
area of 20.1 square miles. It is confined to the Missouri river blufifs. It
is best developed in the northeastern and southeastern parts of the county.

This soil has an extremely dissected topography and is thoroughly drained.
The valleys are V-shaped, with very steep slopes, and are two to three hundred
feet deep, but steplike slopes are very conspicuous features in some places.
The hills are usually rounded, a characteristic of loess soils. Along the
Missouri river slopes are extremely steep to precipitous. The type is sub-
ject to severe erosion, though since the subsoil is of practically the same
character as the surface soil, the washing away of the surface material does
not greatly change the character of the type nor render it useless for agri-
culture.

Practically all this type originally was forested. The chief growth on
the upper slopes and crests of the hills was hazel brush, sumac, and scrubbx-
bur oak, and in the draws elm, oak, hickory, bitter hickory, basswood, box
elder, ash, and some black walnut, with an undergrowth of hazel brush,
prickly ash, and dogwood. At least fifty per cent, and probablv more of
the type is still forested, though it is slowly being cleared.

Owing to the steep slopes the growing of small grains is impractical)le.
Some oats and wheat, however, are grown where the topographv is more
favorable. Oats constitute the most important grain crop, and are used
largely for feeding work stock. Oats yield an a^^erage of twenty-five bushels
per acre, and wheat sixteen to eighteen bushels. At present corn is the prin-
cipal cereal and is mainly a cash crop. On the lower slopes, and where
there is sufficient organic matter, it does well and vields from twentv to

48 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

forty bushels per acre. On the high crests and steep slopes the growing
corn has a yellowish appearance and makes a stunted growth unless heavily
manured. ^AJfalfa is grown very extensively and promises to become the
leading cash crop. It does well, owing to the thorough drainage and favor-
able distribution of lime. On some farms it is produced extensively, and is
baled and shipped to St. Joseph or Kansas City. Ordinarily alfalfa yields
three to four tons per acre per season. Clover and timothy do well, but it
is difificult to get a sand in dry years. Sweet clover grows luxuriantly on
this type, and is found along roads and in uncultivated fields, but the crop
is not utilized. Apples and small fruits are grown to a small extent. The
type is too far from railroad points for the successful production of fruit
on a commercial scale.

Owing to its dissected surface the type is hard to manage, notwith-
standing its loose structure and favorable texture. As very little live stock is
kept on this soil, very little barnyard manure is applied. Commercial fertil-
izers are not used.

This type is valued at twenty to seventy-five dollars an acre, depending
largely on the proportion of land suitable for cultivation.

For the improvement of the Knox silt loam it is necessary to handle
in with considerable care in order to prevent erosion and gullying. The type
should be kept in pasture as much as possible, the cuhivated areas should
be plowed deeper, and more organic matter should be incorporated with
the soil. Where sufiicient barnyard manure is applied, crops do as well
as on the Marshall silt loam. As the timber is very stunted, the forested
areas should be cleared and used for pasture or seeded to alfalfa. Grass
crops do well, and dairying and stock raising should prove profitable on
this type. With proper attention the commercial production of apples should
meet with success, where transportation and market conditions are favorable.

CARRINGTON SILT LOAM.

The soil of the Carrington silt loam consists of a dark-brown, heav)-
silt loam, eight to fifteen inches deep. In the flatter areas the soil is darker
and approaches a black color. The soil carries a higher j>ercentage of
clay than the Marshall silt loam, and as a result breaks down upon drying
into angular granules instead of a fine powder like the ^larshall silt loam.
The subsoil is a yellowish-brown or liglit-brown, very compact silty clay.
with a decided grayish cast. Below twenty-four to thirty inches the subsoil
is ligliter in color, and the gray appears as light-gray mottlings. In the

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 49

lower part of the subsoil Ijright }-ellowish brown iron stains are common.
In places there is a la\er of material between the soil and subsoil, from
two to four inches in thickness and consisting of a brown, heavy silt loam,
heavier than the surface soil. There is a pronounced difference between
the soil and sulisoil in te.xture, but the change is not abrupt, except in the
flatter areas. The subsoil is moderately plastic when wet, though when dry
it is very hard and compact and difficult td break down between the fingers.
At thirty to forty inches the subsoil is likely to be looser in structure and
lighter in texture. The soil is high in organic matter.

There are a number of patches of heavy soil in the Carrington silt
loam, known locally as "gumbo spots." In these places the soil is a dark-
brown, heavy silty clay loam, eight to twelve inches deep, with a grayish
cast at the surface. The soil has numerous cracks aiid is extremely difficult
to handle. The subsoil is a drab, plastic silty clay, mottled with yellowish
brown. The drab becomes lighter, changing to light gray, and the mottling
decreases with depth. Lime and iron concretions are numerous in the lower
subsoil. Crops do not mature in these spots.

In the gently undulating region in Franklin precinct there is a varia-
tion of this type marked by a "hardpan" layer. This is similar to the fi^f
phase of this type mapped in Gage county, Nebraska. It consists of a dark-
brown, heavy silt loam, twelve to fifteen inches deep, underlain abruptly by
a rather tough. Ijlack clay. The material is extremely difficult to penetrate
with a soil auger and is decidedly plastic. At twent}- to twenty-four inches
the subsoil changes to a drab silty clay. niLittled with yellowish brown. The
lower part of the subsoil is not so compact and heavy as the upper layer.

On shoulders of hills and moderatel\- steep slopes the soil is not so
deep and is usually lighter in color than typical. In places the subsoil is
exposed, but downward along the slopes the soil becomes deeper and darker
in color, and at the foot of the slopes it is a dark-brown to black, heavy
silt loam from twenty to forty inches deep. The type also includes narrow
strips of colluvial material along the intermittent streams. The variations
I if this type are not sufficiently extensive to be shown on the soil map.

The Carrington silt loam differs from the Marshall silt loam in origin,
texture, and structure. The Carrington is a glacial soil, while the Marshall
is a loessial soil, free from stones. The Carrington soil, and particularlv
the subsoil, is heavier than the Marshall silt loam. These soils also differ
in that the Carrington silt loam does not stand up so well in vertical banks
as the Marshall silt Inam. Even with these differences, the tvpes grade
(-1)

50 RICHARDSON COUXTV, NEBRASKA.

into each other so that the boundaries are difficult to estabHsli and are more
or less arbitrary.

The Carrington silt loam is the most extensive t}pe in the county, and
covers about two-thirds of the western upland region. It is more or less
broken with areas of Rough stony land and Shelby loam.

This type is gently rolling to rolling and is thoroughly drained. West
and northwest of Humboldt, where it is associated with the Shelby loam,
it occupies the gentler slopes and the divides. It has a similar topography
in the southwestern part of the county, where most of the steeper slopes
are occupied by Rough stony land. The gently undulating areas are con-
fined to the divide between the Nemaha river and Muddy creek, which
extends from Falls City northwestward into Nemaha county. Other areas
with a gently undulating surface occur south of Falls City. It is only on
the steeper slopes that there has been any serious erosion. With proper
tillage and crop rotation this soil, owing to its rather high organic-matter
content, is very retentive of moisture.

The type originally was prairie. About ninety-five per cent, of it is
now in cultivation, the remainder being in permanent pastures and farm
lots. Corn is the most important cash crop, though a large part of the
corn produced is fed to hogs. About one-third of this soil is in this crop,
and the yields average about thirty bushels per acre, though much higher
yields are obtained with careful cultivation. Oats rank second in acreage
to corn and yield from thirty to forty bushels an acre. The oats are largely
fed to work stock. Wheat is strictly a cash crop, and is receiving increased
attention. Ordinarily, yields of twenty to twentj'-five bushels per acre are
obtained. Clover and timothy are grown more extensively than alfalfa,
though alfalfa is becoming more popular. Clover and timothy do well in
wet years, though in dry years considerable difficulty is experienced in getting
a stand. In favorable years yields of one and one-half to two tons per acre
are obtained. Some timothy and clover are grown alone for seed with very
profitable returns. Alfalfa does well, and three to four cuttings per season
are made, with a total yield of three to five tons per acre. The tendency
on this type is to produce less corn and more wheat and alfalfa and to keep
more dairy cows and other live stock.

A few potatoes are grown, but scarcely enough to supply the home
demand. Some sorghum is produced for sirup. There are only a few com-
mercial orchards on this type; they give profitable returns, though the trees
do not do so well as on the Marshall silt loam.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 5I

The general practice on this type is to keep the land two or three years
in corn, one year in oats, one or two years in wheat, and in every second
or third rotation to grow clover and timothy. The land is usually kept
two or three years in clover and timothy and seven to ten years or longer
in alfalfa.

The four-hitch team is used almost entirely in the preparation of the
seed bed on this type ; gang plows generally are used for turning the soil.
Owing to its stone-free nature, favorable topography, silty texture, and
granular structure, this type is very easy to handle. When plowed too wet
it bakes and clods. Only small quantities of barnyard manure are applied,
and no commercial fertilizers are used.

The price of farm land on the Carrington silt loam varies from one hun-
dred to one hundred and seventy-five dollars an acre. In the vicinity- of
the towns this land is held for two hundred dollars an acre.

On most farms deeper and more thorough tillage of this soil would
prove beneficial. Leguminous crops should I)e grown in order to keep up
the organic-matter content of the soil.

SHELBY LOAM.

The surface soil of the Shelby loam is a dark-brown to brown loam,
with an average depth of about eight inches. The subsoil is a yellowish-
brown sandy clay loam, which becomes lighter in texture with depth. Below
about thirty inches the material is almost yellow. In the northwestern part
of the county and other localities where the Aftonian material is near the
surface, the subsoil is considerably lighter in texture and the surface soil
is often a sandy loam. This variation, however, is too patchy to be .shown
on the soil map. In places the subsoil has a reddish tint, which is due to
the color of the original material and not to oxidation. The content of
organic matter is moderately high. The subsoil contains considerable gravel
and rock deliris. Gravel is usually scattered over the surface, and a few
bowlders are present, though in the most fields these are not sufficiently
numerous to prevent cultivation.

The Shelby loam occurs as small areas scattered throughout the Car-
rington silt loam type. It is best developed west and northwest of Hum-
boldt in the Long Branch drainage basin. The type usually occurs along
the steep slopes between the Carrington silt loam on the higher land and
the Wabash silt loam in the Ijottom land. The drainage is thorough, and
is excessive in local spots where the Aftonian sands lie near the surface.

32 RICT'AKDSOX CorXTV, NEBRASKA.

W'liere the snljsdil is typical the soil withstands dnjtight well. The type is
subject to destructive enision, gullies ten to fifteen feet deep, with numerous
branching laterals, being very common.

The Shelby loam is derived from the Kansan drift sheet, but is more
or less influenced by the w"ash from the silty upland soils. The large bowlders
and pebbles on the surface and the gritty or sandy cla\' subsoil distinguish
it from the Carrington silt loam.

The native vegetation on the Shelby loam consists of the prairie grasses
common to this region. Along the drainage ways a large part of the type
is forested. About forty per cent, of the Shelby loam is under cultivation,
and the remainder is largely in permanent pasture.- with some hay land. Xo
farms are composed entirely of this type. The yields of crops are lower
than on the Carrington silt loam, though the same crops are grown. Corn
yields fifteen to thirty-five bushels, oats twenty to twenty-fi\e bushels, wheat
fifteen to twent}- bushels, and alfalfa two and one-half to three and one-
half tons per acre.

No definite crop rotation is practi.sed on this type. The general meth-
ods are about the same as on the Carrington silt loam. Owing to the steeper
surface and the larger quantity of stony material present, this soil is much
less desirable than the Carrington silt loam, with which it is closely asso-
ciated. When cultivated too wet, the Shelby loam clods and bakes, and
large checks and cracks form. .\ heavv farm equipment is required in
cultivating this type, except in the sand spots. Onl_\- small (|uantities of
manure are applied, and no commercial fertilizers are used Land values
on this t\"pe range from fift\ to ninety dollars an acre.

b'or the improvement of the Shelby loam consideral)le care is necessary
to prexent gullying on the .^teej) slopes. The steeji areas should remain in
permanent pasture or cover crops as much of the time as jiossible. The
content of <irganic matter shoukl be maintaineed by turning under green
crops and growing leguminrius cr<ips.

WAUKKSIIA SII.T l.OAM.

The W'aukesha silt loam consists of a ilark-brown. smooth, friable silt
loam, having an average depth of about eighteen inches. The soil pas.ses
through a brown, heavy silt loam into a brownish-yellow silt loam which
is hea\-ier and more compact than the surface soil. The sulisoil liecomes
lighter in color with depth, lieiiig yellowish in the lower pan. The sul)-
stratuni is oi)en :ind verv triable, and the material in the fourth foot is

RICHARDSON- COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 53

calcareous. The soil section of the Waukesha silt loam is similar to that
of the Marshall silt loam. As the color indicates, the Waukesha silt loam
is high in organic matter.

In extent the ^Vaukesha silt loam is very unimportant, having a total
area of only 1.8 square miles. It occurs as .small, isolated areas along the
streams of the county.

This type occupies distinctly benchlike areas, modified to some extent
by stream erosion. The terraces are from ten to fifteen feet above the present
flood plain. The Waukesha silt loam is well drained and withstands drought
over long periods.

Originally this soil was covered with a luxuriant growth of prairie
grasses. Xearly all the type is now under cultivation to the staple crops
commonly grown in the county. No farms consist entirely of this type.
Corn yields twenty-five to fort)-five bushels, oats thirty-five to forty bushels,
and wheat twenty to thirty bushels per acre. Leguminous crops receive little
attention.

The methods of cultivation, rotation, and fertilization are similar to
those on the Marshall and Carrington silt loams. The productive capacit\'
of this soil has been somewhat impaired by the failure to grow clover and
alfalfa.

The value of farm lands on the Waukesha silt loam varies from one
hundred and fifty to two hundred dollars an acre.

For the improvement of this soil there is a general need for more,
thorough cultivation and the growing of leguminous crops to maintain the
organic-matter content.

WABASH SILT LOAM.

The soil of the Wabash silt loam is nearly black, and to an average
depth (if about twenty inches consists of a heavy, smooth silt loam. This
is underlain by a slightly heavier and more compact silt loam, which usually
is somewhat lighter in color, though it is not uncommon to find little difi'er-
ence in color or texture in the three- foot section. In places, usually along
the edge of the bottoms, the subsoil is a black, compact siltv clav. Lime
concretions and also iron stains are common in the lower part of the subsoil.
In poorly drained situations the lower subsoil usually is gray, mottled with
yellowish brown. A high content of organic matter is characteristic of the
surface soil of this type. In section 24, township i north, range 17 east,
and section ig, township i north, range 18 east, there is a variation of the

54 RTCHARDSOX COl'XTV. NEBRASKA.

Wabash silt loam, characterized by the admixture of large quantities of
sand. Otherwise the soil is similar to the main type. The higher sand
content has given it a somewhat more friable structure.

This type is the most important bottom-land soil in the county and
has a total area of 106.7 square miles. It occupies the first bottoms along
the Nemaha river and its north and south forks, Muddy creek, and along
the smaller streams of the county.

The surface is generally fiat, with only slight topographic relief where
old cut-offs occur. Originally the drainage of this type was poor, but by
clearing and straightening the channels of streams the drainage conditions
have been very much improved. About sixty miles of ditches have been
constructed. Practically all the type is subject to overflow in the spring.

Along the stream channels the type originally was forested with elm,
box elder, willow, cottonwood, ash, linden, hackberry. bitter hickory, and
black walnut, and a large part of this timber remains. Other parts of the
type support a luxuriant growth of marsh grasses. About sixty per cent
of this soil is devoted to the production of staple crops, and the acreage in
cultivation is rapidly being extended. Corn is the dominant crop, and there
are about six acres of corn to one acre of wheat and oats combined. Higher
yields of corn are obtained on this land than on any other soil in the county.
The yields ordinarily range from forty-five to fifty-five bushels per acre, but
with good cultivation in favorable seasons as much as ninety bushels has
been obtained. About one-half the corn is fed and the remainder is sold.
Where this soil has been devoted to the production of corn for a numl^er
of years, and is well drained, wheat does well, producng from twenty-five
to thirty bushels per acre. Wheat, however, is not grown extensively. Kher-
son oats do fairly well, yielding from thirty to forty bushels per acre. The
long-straw varieties are likely to lodge. On farms that do not include
some upland not enough oats are grown for the feeding of work stock.
In well-drained areas alfalfa does well, although very little of this crop is
grown. A large area of the type is hay land and pasture, ^^'ild ha\-
vields from one to two tons per acre. Owing to the fact that this type
affords good pasturage and produces good yields of hay, the raising of
beef cattle has been more extensively developed than on the upland. No
crop rotation is practiced, owing to the high natural productiveness of the
soil. In many cases it is reported that fields have been in corn continuouslv
fi>r ten \ears or longer. Occasionally is corn alternated with oats or wheat.

The flat topography, silty texture, and desirable structure of this soil

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 55

make it very easy to handle. In the spots of heavier material there is a ten-
dency for the soil to form hard lumps when cultivated too wet. No barn-
yard manure or commercial fertilizers are used. The Wabash silt loam
ranges in value from one hundred and twenty-five dollars to one hundred and
seventy-five dollars an acre, depending on location and drainage conditions.
The important problem confronting the farmers on this type is that of
drainage. The installation of a standard drainage system to remove the
excess soil moisture as well as the overflow water is needed. In the better
drained situations ditches would serve the purpose, while in the low, poorly
drained areas tiles should be laid about three rods apart.

WABASH SILTY CLAY LOAM.

The soil of the Wabash silty clay loam is a black silty clay loam, ranging
from twelve to fifteen inches in depth. It grades into a hard, compact silty
clay, which does not smooth out, but breaks into small aggregates when
crushed between the fingers. The subsoil becomes heavier and denser with
depth. At twenty-four to thirty inches the material is lighter in color, being
dark drab, mottled slightly with yellowish brown. The soil as well as the
subsoil has a granular structure, a characteristic of soils consisting largely of
clay. Locally this type is called "gumbo." The soil is very high in organic
matter.

The Wabash silty ciay loam is an extensive bottom-land type. It has a
total area of 21.2 square miles', and occurs in the first bottoms of the Nemaha
river and the north and south forks of this stream.

The topography is flat to slightly depressed. The drainage is very poor,
owing to the impervious character of the subsoil. The type is subject to
annual overflow.

The original growth on this type consisted of slough grasses and water-
loving plants. Most of the type is in hay land and pasture; about 20 per
cent, of it is under cultivation. Corn, wheat, and Kherson oats do well.
except in wet years. Corn yields forty to fiity bushels per acre, wheat about
thirty bushels, with a maximum of forty-five bushels per acre, and Kherson
oats about thirty bushels per acre. This soil is particularly well adapted to
wheat, owing to its heavy texture. In dry seasons a fairly good quality of
wild hay is produced on this tj'pe, yielding from one to two tons per acre,
though in wet years the hay is too coarse to be of much feeding value. In
very wet seasons crops are practically a failure because of the frequent over-

56 RICHARDSON COUXTV. XEBRASKA.

flows. Owing to the abundance of pasturage and ha\-. more live stock is
i<ept on farms of this type than on the upland.

The Wabash silty clay loam is much harder to handle than the Wabash
silt loam. Under favorable moisture conditions it granulates and works up
into a mellow seed bed, but when worked too wet it bakes and forms in-
tractable clods. The type receives no fertilization of any kind. This land
is \ alued at twenty-five dollars to eighty dollars an acre, depending largely on
the drainage conditions.

The establishment of efficient ilrainage b}- supplementing the present
ditches with tiles alxmt three rods apart is necessarv nver a large part of
the type.

WABASH CL.\Y.

The Wabash clay is a black, waxy, plastic clay, fifteen to eighteen
inches deep, underlain by a dark slate colored subsoil of the same texture.
The subsoil becomes lighter in color with depth, and below thirty to thirty-
six inches is gray, mottled with bright yellowish brown. Small iron and
lime concretions are encountered in the subsoil. Both soil and subsoil have
a granular structure and are very high m organic matter. The soil checks
and cracks considerably during periods of dry weather. The AVabash clay is
similar to the Wabash silty clay loam, except that it is heavier in texture.

This type is relatively inextensive, and is confined to the southeastern
part of the county. It occurs in the first bottom at the mouth of the
Xemaha river.

The W^abash clay has a flat to depressed topograph}- and is ver_\- poorly
drained. The type has been provided with several ditches, although addi-
tional laterals are needed to remove the surface water. It is subject to
annual overflows, which usually occur early in the spring. It is sometimes
inundated in the growing season.

The Wabash clay is largely utilized for pasture land. In dry seasons
it furnishes good pasturage, but during wet seasons or when overflows
occur little or no pasturage is available. About one-half the cultivated
area is in wheat, which in dr_\' seasons produces fnun tliirt\- to fort}- bu>hels
per acre. Corn does well, but is less extensively grow n than in former years.
It yields from thirty to forty-five bu.shels per acre. The soil is too rich for
the production of oats. Wild hay yields from one ton to one and one-half
tons per acre. The hay is mainly fed. Most of the stuck raised on this type
consists of beef cattle, few dairy cattle being kept.

This is the most difficult soil in- the county to handle, and ;i lieavv farm

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 57

equipment is required. When cultivated too wet it forms clods, though
under favorable moisture conditions the soil works up into a mellow seed
bed. No fertilizers are used. The value of this land ranges from twenty
dollars to sixty dollars an acre, depending mainly on drainage conditions.

This type requires the same treatment as the \\'abash silty clay loam.
It is greatly in need of drainage.

CASS CLAY.

The surface soil of the Cass clay is a dark-drab to black, sticky clay,
six to ten inches deep. It is underlain by a drab or gray clay, faintly mottled
with brown and rusty brown. In places the mottling is reddish yellow.
Below twenty-four to thirty inches a yellowish-gray mottled with reddish-
yellow ^'ery fine sandy loam is encountered. This t)-pe differs from the
Wabash clay in that it has a sandy subsoil. The soil is high in organic
matter.

The Cass cla_\- is inextensive in this county, having a total area of less
than one square mile. It is encountered in the Missouri river first bottoms.
occurring north of Rulo and in the northeastern part of the county.

The surface is generally flat, with a few meandering sloughs. Owing
to the underlying light-textured material, this type possesses fair drainage.
The sloughs occasionally are inundated.

Practically all this type is reclaimed. It is largely devoted to the pro-
duction i>f corn, wheat, oats, and alfalfa. Corn is by far the most important
crop, and yields from forty to fifty bushels an acre. Oats do fairly well,
but are likely to lodge. Wheat does well, yielding about thirty btishels per
acre. ^ Alfalfa is grown cjuite extensively with seasonal yields of three to
six tons an acre. Owing to the natural productiveness of this soil, the rota-
tion I if crops receives little attention, and the fields usually are planted in
corn until an appreciable reduction in crop yields takes place, when some
small grain crop is substituted for a few years. Corn, wheat, and alfalfa are
cash crops.

This type is difficult to handle, although easier than the \\'abash clay.
A heavy farm e(|uipment is required for thorough tillage. No barnvard
man-iu'e is applied and no commercial fertilizers are used. The Cass clay is
valued at sixt\- dollars to one hundred dollars an acre, depending on the
extent to which it is subject to erosion by the Missouri river.

.\s on all bottom-land soils there is a general need for die practice of
crop rotation on this type.

56 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

SARPY VERY FINE SANDY LOAM.

As it occurs in Richardson county, the Sarpy very fine sandy loam
consists of a light-brown to brown very fine sandy loam to a depth of ten
to fifteen inches, containing an appreciable quantity of coarse silt. This is
underlain by a yellowish-gray, lighter textured very fine sandy loam which
contains but little silt or clay. Below twenty-four inches the subsoil is
mottled with light gra}' and shows bright yellowish brown iron stains. The
low percentage of organic matter is indicated by the light color of the soil.

This type is very inextensive, occurring as small areas in the Missouri
river bottoms. It lies usually about eight feet above the normal flow of the
stream. The surface is generally flat, though marked by slight ridges.
Between stages of high water, the drainage is good; at high stages of the
stream the low areas are overflowed.

The greater part of this type is under cultivation, and is almost entirely
devoted to the production of corn. In seasons of favorable rainfall corn
does well, yielding from twenty-five to thirty-five bushels per acre. Some
wheat and oats are grown. Wheat yields fifteen to twenty bushels, and
oats thirty bushels an acre. Potatoes of good quality are produced on this
soil, though the crop is grown only to supply the home demand. Some
alfalfa is grown and does fairly well.

The Sarpy very fine sandy loam works up into a very mellow seed
bed and can be tilled under any moisture conditions as long as there is no
water standing on the surface. Small quantities of manure are added to
the reclaimed areas; no commercial fertilizers are used. T-and values range
from thirty dollars to eighty dollars an acre.

For the improvement of the Sarpy very fine sandy loam it is recom-
mended that green crops be turned under to increase the organic-matter
content.

SARPY SILT LOAM.

Areas of the Sarpy silt loam are indicated on the soil map b\- inclusion
symljols in the Sarpy very fine sandy loam color. The soil of tlie Sarpv
loam is a light-brown to brown silt loam, twelve to fifteen inches deep, con-
taining a high percentage of very fine sand. The subsoil is a yellowish or
brownish-gray very fine sand>' loam with streaks of coarser as well as heavier
material. The change in color between the soil and subsoil is not marked
In- a distinct line, nlthougli as a rule the lower subsoil i.^ a shade lighter in

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 59

color and streaked with rusty-brown iron stains. The soil is not nearly so
high in organic matter as the Wabash silt loam.

This soil occurs in a single small area east of Rule in the Missouri
river bottoms; it covers two hundred and fifty-six acres.

The type is flat, but owing to its sandy subsoil it is well drained between
stages of high water. It lies about eight to ten feet above the normal level
of the river. Owing to the high water table, it is very drought resistant.

Practically all this type is under cultivation, being devoted mainly to
com. This crop does well, yielding from forty to fifty bushels an acre.
Some alfalfa is grown, and this is a very profitable crop. The value of
land of this type ranges from eighty dollars to one hundred dollars an acre,
depending on the extent to which it is subject to erosion by the Missouri
river.

For the improvement of the Sarpy silt loam the incorporation of
organic matter is needed. Liberal applications of manure should be made.

ROUGH STONY LAND.

The areas mapped as Rough stony land consist of land too stony and
rocky to permit cultivation. The soil is seldom deeper than eight inches,
and over large areas the bedrock is exposed. What little soil has remained
is chiefly a black silt loam to silty clay, underlain by rotten limestone or shale
of the Pennsylvania formation which vary in color from white to red. In
local spots the soil contains some sand and is a loam in texture. Consid-
erable coarse material, such as bowlders and gravel, is scattered over the
surface. It is probable that most of the soil is derived from the bedrock
and not from glacial debris.

Rough stony land is rather extensive in this countv. It occurs as small
areas mainly in the southwestern part of the county, scattered throughout
areas of the Carrington silt loam.

The topography is broken and marked by an intricate drainage svstem.
Along streams the slopes frequently are precipitous. The areas- mapped
include rock blufifs along streams and occasional low -knobs in the higher
lying land.

Along the drainage ways most of the Rough stony land supports a
scrubby growth of bur oak. The other areas support a fairh- luxuriant
growth of the prairie grasses common to the region.

6o . Ricn \RDsoN cnrxTv, Nebraska.

This land is used only for grazing. Beef cattle, mainly Herefords, are
raised, and are sold chiefly in Kansas City and St. Joseph. Land values
range from ten dollars to forty dollars an acre.

RIVERWASH.

Ri\er\vash, as mapped in Richardson count}-, comprises mainlv areas
of mud, silty tiats, and sand bars in the Missouri river. The material is
very light colored and ranges in texture from a clay to a fine sand. A
large part of the Riverwash supports a growth of young willows, and is
in the transitional stage from Riverwash to soil of the Sarpv series.

There are two and six-hundredths square miles of Riverwash in this
county. The surface is only a few feet above the normal level of the river,
and the areas are overflowed with slight rises of the stream. The Riverwash
changes with each overflow and even during the normal flow of the stream
the outlines of the areas are constantly changing. The new deposits are
considerably modified by wind action, and in stormy davs form dust clouds.

SUMMARY.

Richardson county lies in the extreme southeastern corner of Nebraska,
bordering the Missouri river. It has an area of five hundred and forty-five
square miles, or three hundred and forty-eight thousand eight hundred
acres.

The topography varies from gently undulating to steeply rolling or
broken, though most of the area is rolling. The elexation of the county
above sea level ranges from eiglit hundred and fifty to one thousantl two
hundred and twenty feet. The greater part of the area lies between one
thousand and one thousand i;)ne hundred feet above sea level. The general
slope of the county is southeastward. .\11 sections are provided with ade-
quate surface drainage by a complete system of drainage ways belonging
to the system of the Nemaha river, an importaiit tributary of the Missouri.

According to the census nf igjo, Richardson county has a population
of se\-enteen thousand four hundred and forty-eight, of which eighty-one
and three-tenths per cent, is classed. as rural. The principal town is Falls
City, the county seat. The transportation facilities, except in the north-
eastern corner of the county, are gotxl. Tn general, the countx is pro\ided
with excellent dirt roads. Kansas City. St. Joseph, and Omaha are the

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 6l

principal markets. All parts of the count}- are provided with rural mail
delivery and telephone ser\ice and good schools.

The climate of Richardson county is pleasant and is well suited to agri-
culture. There is an average growing season of about one hundred and
seventy days. The mean annual precipitation is about thirtv-three inches,
and the mean annual temperature about fifty-three degrees ¥.

Grain farming is the main type of agriculture. Corn, oats, wheat,
timothy and clover mi.xed, alfalfa, and wild grasses are the principal crops,
ranking in acreage in the order named. The raising of hogs and beet
cattle and dairying are important industries. The farm buildings are sub-
stantial and the surroundings present an appearance of thrift and prosperitv.

Systematic crop n nations are not practiced. On!\- small quantities of
barnyard manure are applied, and scarcely any commercial fertilizers are
used. There is an abundance of farm labnr, but it is hard to obtain efficient
help. Most farms consist of one hundred and si.xt_\- acres, though the
average size is reported in the 1910 census as about one hundred and fiftv-
cit^ht acres. About fifty-three per cent, of the farms are operated b\' the
owners, and practically all the remainder i)y tenants. About ninety-fi\e per
cent, of the area nf the county is reported in farms and of the land in farms
eight\-six ])er cent, is reijorted impnned. The value of farm land ranges
from twenty dollars to two hundred dnllars an acre. Land is rented mainh
by the share SN'stem. Cash rents range frdui aliout three dollars to si.\
dollars per acre.

The county lies almost entirely within the glacial and loessial region,
with only a small area belonging to the River b'lood Plain province. The
.soils of the glacial and loes.sial region are deri\ed from the weathering of
the loess and drift. The loess material has given rise to the Marshall.
Grundy and Knox soils and the drift to the Carrington and Shelby soils.
The second bottoms are occupied b\' the Waukesha soil. The recent deposits
along the streams are classed with the W.abasb, Cass, and Sarpv soils, antl
Riverwash.

Small areas closely iissociated with the drift have l)een formed through
the tlisintegration of the shales antl limestones of the I'enns\l\ani;i forma-
tion. This material is classed with Ri)ugh stony land.

The Marshall silt loam is one of the extensive soil types in Richardson
county. It is well suited U> the production of corn, oats, wheat, and hay.
The utilization of the (irundv silt loam is simila.r to that of the Marsli:dl.

62 RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

The Knox silt loam is chiefly devoted to corn and alfalfa, as it is too hilly
for the production of the small grains.

The Carrington silt loam is by far the most extensive and important
type of soil in the county. This soil, together with the Marshall silt loam,
dominates the agriculture of the county. The Shelby loam and Rough
stony land are best used for pasture.

The Waukesha silt loam is well adapted to corn, oats, and wheat.

The bottom-land soils are best suited to com. though considerable hay
and some wheat and oats are produced.

CHAPTER II.
Indian History and Prehistoric Times.

The Indians, found along the west bank of the Pekitanoui or Missouri
river in this county by the first white men who came up the river as voyagers,
explorers, trappers, or missionaries or across the plains from the southwest
Spanish settlements in New Mexico, who had resided within the present
limits of the county so long that they were regarded as the original occu-
pants of the country, were the Panias, Paunias, or Pawnees. The Pawnee
nation was divided into four tribes, each of which had an Indian name and
a white name : Chau-i, Grand ; Kitke-hahk-i, Republican ; Pita-hau-erat,
Noisy; Ski-di, Wolf. These tribes were each divided into bands and lived
together in groups and kept together on the march. The Sacs and Foxes
and lowas came later and were the only tribes who were here by removal.
The Pawnees appear to have the best claim as the original red Indian inhabi-
tants of this section. They were holding it at the time the Spaniards first
came out of Mexico and appear from records to have been in possession
perhaps for three or four hundred years. They were open prairie dwellers,
and are believed to have drifted into the country from the southwest. The
Pawnees were a very religious people and given much to the ceremonies of
the same; their language and customs marked them as differing much from
other tribes and as a whole never were at war with the white people. They
were distinct from other Indians who, like themselves, were crowded out
of this Missouri river valley country, such as the lowas, Winnebagoes, Sioux,
Sacs and Foxes, all of whom were forced westward from the shores of the
Great Lakes by stronger peoples, and the white settler from the East.

In the interregnum between 1825 and 1827 the United States govern-
ment established tiiese tribes or parts of them in this county. The Sacs and
Foxes, whose homes were on the \\'isconsin and Fox rivers, united in the
early part of the nineteenth century and began a migration to the southwest
and acquired a large territory in Iowa and Missouri. Under a treaty made
between tliem and the government on September 17, 1836, they made an
exchange of tliese lands for territory west of the river. The territory thus
receixed was for the most part in Kansas and north of the Kickapoo river,

64 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

but extended nortli to the Great Xenialia river in this county. By \-irtue of
this treaty tlie lowas. Sacs and Foxes became permanent neiglibors in this
county under wliat was known, until aljout i860, as tlie Great Xemaha
agency. .Anch^ew S. Huglies \\as the first appointed to have charge of this
agency. The lands so held were described as being "The small strip of land
on the south side of the ^lissouri river lying between the Kickapoo boundary
line and the Great Xemaha river, and extending from the ^lissouri and west-
wardly to the said Kickapoo line and the Grand X'emaha, making four hun-
dred sections to l.)e di\-iderl between the said lowas and the Missouri band of
Sacs and Foxes, the lower half to the Sacs and Foxes and the upper half to
the lowas."

By treaty of May 18, 1S54 ( 10 Stats. 1074), the Sacs and Foxes ceded
to the United States all of the country above described, except fifty sections of
six hundred and forty acres each, to be selected in the western part of the
cession. The fifty sections were selected in 1854, having been surveyed and
established by John Leonard, a deputy surveyor.

Under a joint treaty of March 6, 1861, with the Sac and Fnx and Iowa
Indians, all that part of their reservation lying west of Xohart creek and
within the boundary as surve\'ed by Leonard, was to be suld to the govern-
ment, half of the proceeds to go to each nf the tribes. This cession was
sold and the money invested for the Indians.

L'nder the terms of treaties at various times the boundaries of the tribal
lands sufifered changes but the last home of the Sacs and Foxes comprised
lands as follows : Beginning at the intersection of the south line of the Iowa
reserve with Xoharts creek, thence along this line to the south fork of the
Nemaha, or Walnut creek, thence down this creek to its mouth, thence down
the Great X'emaha river to the mouth of X'oharts creek, thence up this creek
to the place of beginning. The lowas retained the lands to the east, which
lay between the (n-eat Xemaha and Missouri rixers. a \cr\- large part of
which was in the state of Kansas.

By authority of the act of Congress of August 15, 1876, ten sections of
the west end of this resen^e were sold with the consent of the tribe, which
was given on January 8, 1877. The sale was made through the land office
at Beatrice and Charles Loree, of Falls City, had local charge of the same,
under direction of the land office.

In IQO-' what was left of the Iowa reserve consisted of ele\en tliousand
six hundred acres, all allotted, and that of the Sacs and Foxes, eight thousand
and thirteen acres, all allotted, except nine liundred and sixtv acres. The
earlier enumeration of these bands by the government places the figure at

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 65

nearly a thousand. These Indians being so long isolated on their small
reservation and separated from other and larger bands of wild Indians,
dropped their roving disposition and were quite friendly with the whites and
ne\er gave trouble to the settlers. But few are left in this county at the
present day.

In i860 a remnant of the W'innebagos, who for a long time had lived
with the Sacs and I'oxes at the Nemaha agency went back to their tribe in
Minnesota. \^'. P. Richardson, Daniel Vanderslice. Major John A. Burbank
and C. H. Norris were in charge of the Nemaha agency during the period
between 1850 and 1867, the latter two being residents of Falls City.

On account of their participation in the Black Hawk War in Illinois and
Iowa, the Sacs and Foxes were taken in hand by the United States govern-
ment and removed to reservations in IMissouri and Iowa first, and later to
this county.

TREATY OF 183O.

L'nder a treat}- witli the various tribes of Sioux and other Indians on
July 15, 1830, at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, a strip ten miles wide between
the Great Nemaha river in this county and the Little Nemaha river in
Xemaha county, being about twenty miles long, was set aside as a reservation
for the half-breeds and mixed bloods of the Omahas, lowas, Otoes and
Yankton and Santee bands of the Sioux family of Indians. The Winne-
bago Indians, who were a branch of the Sioux, at one time occupied a tract
of land in the northeast part of the county having a village on what is known
as Winnebago creek in Arago township, this being within the "half-breed"
strip or reservation. So it is apparent that the Indians found here in 1853-4,
when Nebraska was first opened to white settlers, were, themselves, early
arrivals in this part of Nebraska territory and are not to be taken into account
when an effort is made to discover what people antedated the Pawnees.

The Sacs and Foxes were of the Algonquin family or Eastern Indians
and were distinct from the lowas, Winnebagoes, Omaha and Sioux family
tribes with whom thev were closely associated while living in the Great Lake
region. "The Hand Book of American Indians", a publication of the United
States Bureau of .\merican Etlmology, lias the following to say relative to
the Sacs :

"The culture of the Sauk was that of the eastern or wooded area. They

were a canoe people while they were in the country of the Great Lakes, using

both the birch-bark canoe and the dug-out. They still retain the dug-out,

and learned the use and construction of the bull boat on coming nut upon

(5)

66 RICHARDSON COL-NTV, NEERASKA.

the i)lains. Thev practiced agriculture on an extensive scale. Despite their
fixed abode and villages they did not live a sedentary life together and fish
almost the whole year around. They were acquainted with wild rice, and
hunted the buffalo. They did not get possession of horses until after the
Black Hawk War in 1832, and they did not become very familiar with the
horse and the mule until following their arrival in Kansas after the year
1837. Their abode was the bark house in warm weather and the oval flag
reed lodge in winter; the bark house was characteristic of the village. Every
gens had one large bark house, wherein were celebrated the festivals of the
gens. In this lodge hung the sacred bundle of gens, and here dwelt the
priests who watched over them. It is said that some of these houses were
of the length required to accommodate five council fires. The ordinary bark
dwelling had but a single fire, which was in the center.

"The Pawnees are by many regarded as having attained a higher culture
than the Indians who were placed on reservations. They possessed horses
sooner, and were great buflfalo hunters. Xo Indians, of course, had guns or
horses before the white man came.

PRETIISTORIC.

"But liack and before the Indians whom the white men ever met, were
tribes of men in possession of the Missouri river country, delighting especially
to build their houses on the high bluffs where the eye could have a wide
sweep over the waters and surrounding country. These old house sites are
now hidden from view by the acaimulated dust of centuries and to be seen
and appreciated must be excavated and dug out of the rubbish heap of time,
like buried cities of antiquity."

The articles foinid in these house sites indicate, so archeologists claim,
a higher state of culture and mental development than possessed by the
Indians who occu])ied the ground later. InU were less warlike. Some believe
that there was a large population, while (jthers hold to the belief that the
c()untr\- could not have been thickly settled even along the river bluffs, but
that the settlements endured over long periods of time. It is most probable
that the number was not great, as the means of subsistence was not so easily
1 litained by the early or primitive peoples. They cultivated the soil and
raised crops of some kinds, probably pumpkins, gourds, squash, corn and
I)eans. but as they had no tools with which to cultivate the soil, except bone
ini])lenients, it is unlikel\- they could ha\e worked on an extensive scale.

The)- jjossessed neither horses nor metal tocils, !)ut were hunters, as evi-

RICIIARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 67

• lenced by the fact that many articles used were made of the bones of deer
and buffalo and are found among their remains. They were also fishermen,
as shown by the bone fish-hooks, and living so long on the river they knew
the use of boats and dugouts. They built quite large one-story houses, made
pottery and many kitchen and household utensils out of the clay found on
ihe hills.

One of the seats of this ancient tribe was on the Stephen Cunningham
farm. al30ut a mile north of Rulo, near the old townsite of Yankton in sec-
tions 5 and 8, of township i, north of range No. i8, east of the sixth p. m.
The story of its discovery in December, 1913, is as follows and very inter-
esting :

AN INTERESTING STORY.

A story had been sent out from Rulo some time previous and given wide
])ublicity in the state press to the effect that the remains of a prehistoric race
iiad l)een found near that city. The editor of this work together with Mr.
.\. R. Keim, editor of the Falls City Journal, went to Rulo for the purpose
of making a personal investigation. Arriving there we were directed to the .
farm of Stephen Cunningham about a mile and a half north of Rulo. The
farm at that time was occupied by A. R. Morehouse, a tenant, who was kind
enough to give us every assistance required. The land is adjacent to the
Missouri river and a good-sized creek, which drains the farm and surround-
ing country, empties into the Big Muddy, near the site of the obsolete village
of Yankton, which was located on the east side of the farm, fronting the
river. The village and all traces of it except cellars over which building had
stood ha\e long disappeared, and it is said to have been at its best in the days
when steamboats were numenrus on the river. The creek referred to. at the
]iresent time, has but little water in it, but the waters from heavy rains and
the hack water from the Missouri river, at times when it has been high, have
washed a deep and wide gorge. It is on the south banks of this ravine and
at a distance of about a thousand feet west of a point where it formerly
emptied into the Missouri river, that the find of skeletal remains was made.
The first find of human bones had been made some weeks prior to our visit ;
further recent heavy rains brought more tones to view. When we arrived
at the scene we found quite a quantity of bones lying around on the ground
and were told that the students of the schools at Rulo had visited the scene
and removed many good specimens.

However, as some bones were in plain view protruding from the bank.
shovels were brought and after a little digging two more complete skeletons

68 RICirAKDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

were iinco\ered and plenty of evidence to show that many more might be
found in the wall of the ravine. The skeletons were all found with the head
to the east and at a depth from the surface of the. ground of six or seven
feet and were found embedded in a formation of joint clay, which gave no
evidence of having been distmbed in centuries. A string of white shell beads
were found around the neck of each and all the bones were in a good state
of preservation. The oldest inhabitants of that section were interrogated,
but had no memory of any burial ground located in this spot and no one
could he found who could throw any light on the presence of the skeletons in
such a place. One skull and a number of the bones was sent to the Nebraska
State Museum, where they are now placed on exhibition.

KEPORT OF EDWIN II. BARBOUR.

Professor Barbour made the following report of the receipt and examina-
ti(jn of the skull, tones and shell beads: "I have received and examined the
skull, l^ones and beads recently received submitted for examination. The
shells used for these beads are Paludina dccapitsta, so named because the apex
of the S])ire is truncated, suppressed or "cut off". The Paludinas are fresh
water gasteriwd "shells", which live in lakes and large swamps. The par-
ticular specia which were u.^ed in making these beads had very thick walls
and an inflated bod}- whorl, which gave the shell a rounded appearance, and
the thickness gave the bead strength and lasting qualities. We know of no
other paludina with equally thick walls. The lx)dy whorls are ridged and
ornamented in a pleasing way. . Altogether, these shells seem to have been
wisely chosen by early Nebra.^kans. The apertures of these shells are large
and by grinding or rubbing the shells, presumably on rough stones, a second
hole was made through the body whorl just back of the aperture. Thus, two
openings were made and the shell could be easily strung. The shells are
used very considerabl\- and it may not be over fanciful, perhaps, to imagine
that the necklace may have been graduated much as necklaces of modern
l)eads are graduated, with the larger in front and the smaller ones back.

"Tlie skull and bones appeared to be those of a tvpical Indian. The
forehead is of good size, the frontal eminence well developed, the dome of
the skull large, the face erect, with little, if any, protrusions of the muzzle,
superciliary ridges very reduced and cheek bones of average prominence,
eyes well apart, average cross temples. It appears to be the skull of an
Indian of the higher rather than the lower tribes. The tibia is characterized
by an tinc<imm(inly high crest and pronounced anterior curvature, but this is

PEKHISTOItIC Ol.LA. TNIOAItTHKI ) FOTK JIILKS EAST OF FALLS CITY.

PEEinSTUItlC SKFLL AM) slUM.L-I'.KAI ) XFCKLACK FOTXD XFAU TIIIO OLD
YAXCTON TOWNSITE.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 69

not uncommon. The skull seems to be finely preserved, with mandible in
place and the dentition complete. Even the hyoids may he seen between the
rami of the jaws."

A reporter for the Nebraska Sta.tc Journal interviewed the professor,
after the report was sent out that Spanish coins had been found among the
Indian remains and this reporter made the statement that it was now the
Professor's opinion on re-examination that the skull represented a low type
of Indian. The interview was as follows: "Spanish coins near the place
where a number of skeletons were found may have been brought there by
Coronado, but the skeletons are not those of followers of the Spanish explorer.
This is the decision reached by Professor Barbour of the state museum, after
he had examined for the second time the skull sent him from the recent find
at Rulo. The skull is typically Indian and a low type of Indian at that.
There is not the least possibility that it could be a member of the famous
Spanish expedition, which passed through the country, in the early days of
American discovery and exploration. The examination showed that the
skull had a peculiar triangular shaped bone at the back. The bone is found
almost exclusively in Indian tribes. The professor measured the facial angle
and discovered that it was by far too low for that of the European and even
abnormally low for that of the Indian. This latter does not point to the
fact that the skull is that (^f a specia of mankind lower than that of the
Indian. Rather it shows an individual variation in the particular specimen.
The skull is that of a middle-aged man. This is pr')ven by the fact that the
sutures are well formed and closed. They are not closed tightly enough,
however, to be that of a man in advanced years. In making this observa-
tion the professor pointed out that the sutures remained partly opened until
mature vears, to allow the brain a chance for growth and consequently give
the individual a chance for intellectual expansion. In the ape family the
sutures close early in the life of the individual. As the different races of
mankind become more advanced, sutures close at correspondingly later periods
of Hfe."

Following closely upon the finding of the skeletons mentioned above
came stories of the finding with them of Spanish coins of gold and the .story
created a sensation in this section and was widely commented upon by the
press of this and other states. The story of the "'coins" came from parties
who had visited the scene in our absence and the matter of their having been
"actually found"' in the place indicated was never fully authenticated to our
satisfaction. We saw the purported coins, which, in fact, were not coins
at all, but more in the nature of medals about the size of an American half

■JO RICUAIUJSOX COrXTY. NEBRASKA.

dollar and made of a cheap metal and coated to resemble gold. Upon
examination the\- proved to be emblems of the Catholic Knights of St. George
and l)ore Latin inscriptions. On one side of the coin was a figure of St.
George nicnnted on a horse with a spear in his hand fighting a dragon, and
the words "St. Georgins l<>|uitnm Patronns." On the reverse side of the
coin were the figure of a small sailing ^■essel of the style of the days of
Liilunilius. the rising sun over the sea and the words "In tempestiis Securitas.'"

REASONS GIVEX FOR AGE OF THE FIND.

Hon. R(jbert ]•'. (iilder, of Omaha, a member of the Omaha Jl'orld
Herald staff and field archeologist for the Nebraska State Museum, who
came here at the instance of myself and made a personal examination of the
house -ite and bones and assisted in some excavations while at the scene him-
self, had the following to say:

"I am not prepared to sa\- how old the skeletal parts in the burial are
but believe it would not be stretching the truth to place an age on them of
one thousand five hundred to three thousand years. I find upon analysis
that some of the .skull bones I brought home with me are mineralized to a
very large degree, that practically all their animal matter has been displaced
by mineral matter and that they are very highly mineralized or "fossilized."
Wy reasons for estimating the age of the skeletons are:

I'irst : Uy finding absolutely prehistoric beads closely associated with
the liones. In fact, linding them in place, and highly impregnated or covered
with oxide oi manganese, giving to some of them the appearance of having
real cuticle composed of mineral.

Second: By finding pre-Columbian utensils with the skeletons, viz.,
two scajnila implements, commonly called hoes or digging tools, differing
from the modern bone hoes.

Third: By finding an antler implement, not at all unlikt a terra-cotta
phallus in my possession, not u^ecl liy any Missouri river Indians.

Innirth ; By finding a part of a familiar tlint blade closelv associated
with the bones and other f;imiliar boulders, only found by me in Xebraska's
oldest aboriginal house ruin>. wiiicb certain!}- b;i\e a geological age of from
two thousand to fi\e thousand years.

I have not heard of any iron knives or arrow heads being found as.soci-
ated with the skeletons and it is known that the origin.al Americans had
metal point;- ])rior to metal adornments.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. J\

PREHISTORIC POTTERY FOUND IN RICHARDSON COUNTY.

The beautiful modern towns and cities we live in with their paved streets,
electric lights, telephones, sewers and all modern conveniences, including the
automobile, with -which we can race across the country and enjoy the view
of large improved farms \\ith their beautiful homes, in a way lull us into a
sense of believing it was ever thus and that we were the beginning of all in
what we call a new country. Such conclusions receive a rude shock when
evidence is produced to the contrary and we see that this land was the home
of peoples in the distant past of whom we can know but little. We were
again reminded of this fact in May of last year (May ii, 1916), when a
large olla was found nine feet below the surface in the side walls of a drain-
age ditch on lot No. 8 of the northeast quarter of the southeast quarter of
section 19, township i, north of range 17, east of the sixth princii>al meridian,
which is about three miles cast of Falls City and one mile west of the old
village of f'reston. The place where found is a United States government
tract in the Iowa Indian lands. At this point the Great Nemaha river makes
a loop or horseshoe and a drainage ditch had been built across the neck of
land running east and west. It was found in the south wall of the large
ditch about eight or nine feet below the surface of the ground at the top of
the ditch. This piece of ancient pottery was fashioned by hands that had
long since laid aside the working tools of life; how long since we do not
know.

It has been observed that the making of pottery was not much carried
on by nomadic tribes because of the fragility of the vessels, but found its
highest development among peoples of sedentary habits. The clay used was
mixed with various tempering ingredients, such as sand and pulverized stone,
potsherds and shells ; the shapes were extremely varied and generally worked
out by the hand, aided by simple modeling tools. The baking was done in
open or smothered ovens or fires or in extremely crude furnaces. Many
ollas found in dififerent parts of the country are highly decorated. Author-
ities agree that the tribes of the plains did not practice the art of making
potter}- except in the most simplest forms, but those of the ancient tribes of
the middle and lower Mississippi valley and Gulf states were excellent potters.

The olla above referred to was found in the flood plain of the Nemaha.
It measured eighteen inches in depth and about three feet in circumference
and the top opening was twelve inches. It was found in a sub-soil of clay.
The entire bottom has received many feet of soil deposit brought down from

72 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

flood and overflow, but those best acquainted with the country say that not
more than three or four feet have been added in this way in the past fifty
years they have known the country. The olla was photographed, just as
found by L. C. Edwards, in an upright position, as if it had been sitting on
a floor. A vase similar was found at the Yankton townsite of the Missouri
river bluffs, north of Rulo, but these two are so far as known, the only ones
ever found in Richardson county.

The manner in which the olla chanced to see the light of day and tell a
tale of partly civilized human life, as it existed in the Xemaha valley, long
centuries before the white man saw that tortuous stream's winding course
through the broad flood plain fringed with groves and guarded on either
hand by the rolling, indented hills, was due to the digging of the cut-off
channel for the Nemaha river from the Burlington railroad bridge, a mile
west of Preston, in a northeast course, to cut off a sharp bend and shorten
the stream. The work was done for the drainage district No. i, of Richard-
son county, with a drag line dredge. The line of the ditch was over a tract
of land belonging to the Sac and Fox tribes of Indians and is still owned by
the tribe, being reserved by the government as a mill site, when all the other
lands were allotted. The olla was not exposed l)y the dredge, although it
cut deeper than the position where it was found. The olla was exposed by
the erosion and widening of the ditch by the floods of 19 15 and was brought
so near the slope of the ditch, thus widened, that the action of the frost of
the previous winter or spring after the ice went out, cracked and broke it.
It was not injured by the dynamite used in blasting to any preceptible degree,
but its being found was due to C. G. Buchholz, being in charge of the dyna-
mite gang, blowing the ditch deeper. The location would have been favor-
able for a fishing camp or a permanent home, as it is protected on all sides
by heavy timber and was in a high bend of the river and very seldom over-
flowed. The high bluff, within a few hundred feet, would have furnished a
good lookout and it was at all times accessible from the south, as the high
prairie came right up to the bluff. There was and is a good spring of water
within five hundred feet of this ancient house site. The fact that this olla
was found in an upright position, ten feet underground, is not strange, as
it was supposed to have been the custom of the ancient peoples to whom this
Wonged, to live in large community or communal houses, or at least to have
had one such for community worship or ceremony. Those houses were four
or five feet under ground with the remainder above. There is apparently
three or four feet of fill from the dift'erence in the nature of the soil. The
clay of the Nemaha valley plains originally scoured down when the stream

SinOIJ, NKCK

•:let()x nf.au yan(

; INEARTHED IX RICHAKDSON COUNTY.
BY L. C. EDWARDS AND A. P. KEIM.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 73

was a real river about the time of the ice age ended and the great lake that
occupied the whole south half of Nebraska drained off in this direction.
Since the stream dwindled down to its present size, it has been overflowing,
but not as much as formerly, as within the period of the white man's settle-
ment and the breaking of the prairies and the plowing of the fields soon filled
the narrow, deep stream and caused overflows that carried the suspended
soil out upon the bottom lands and all of these places have been filled up by
the new soil deposits, in many places as much as five feet, since 1870. The
belief is prevalent that any ten years since 1870 have seen as much filling on
an average over the flood plain as was made in one hundred, before the sod
was broken. The olla was brought to Falls City.

PREHISTORIC SHELL NECKLACE.

On January 14, 1914, in company with a party of well-known Falls City,
Nebraska, citizens, I examined a "burial" about one and one-half miles north
of the village of Rulo, Nebraska, in Richardson county, not far north of the
Kansas line. In the party were Rev. James Noble, rector of St. Thomas's
Episcopal church; Lewis C. Edwards, register of deeds of Richardson county;
.V. R. Keim, editor of the Falls City Daily Journal; Robert Rule and Harry
Jenne, Falls City business men, and Col. Charles Marion, a well-known auc-
tioneer of that part of Nebraska.

Several weeks prior to my visit 1 had been informed of the fact that
human bones had been found protruding from the south wall of a ravine,
which had been cut into the hills by rains. As it is a common thing to find
bones almost anywhere in the Missouri valley, I was not especially interested,
but I learned later that "Spanish" coins of a "very ancient date" and many
trinkets of "silver", had also been found with the remains. I decided to
make a personal investigation in l^ehalf of the state museum. University of
Nebraska. As this paper is not intended as an expose of a "plant" of value-
less "junk", it is only necessary to state that the job was a very bungling
affair and has been pretty thoroughly aired through the investigations of Mr.
Floyd Morehouse, a son of the tenant of the farm. It might be stated, how-
ever, before disposing of that part of the matter, that the supposed Spanish
coins were in reality emblems of the Catholic Knights of St. George, on which
were inscriptions in Latin. The fact that Nebraska has had for a year a
statute making such forgeries a crime, was one of the agencies in prevent-
mg a very large traffic in the spurious "relics", planted with what were with-
out question pre-Columbian remains.

y6 RICHARDSON COLNTY, NEBRASKA.

The above article and photos appeared in the March- April, 1914, issue
of "Records of the Past" Magazine, published at Washington, D. C. The
author, Mr. Robert F. Gilder, of Omaha, has kindly consented to the use of
the storv in this History of Richard.son County.

THE SAC OR SAUK INDIANS AS A PEOPLE.

The Indian, like his white brother, had a certain amount of caste or
rank. They were divided into "gentes". They had as many as fourteen
gentes : Trout, Sturgeon, Bass, Great Lynx, or Fire Dragon, Sea, Fox,
Wolf, Bear, Bear-Potato. Elk, Swan, Grouse, Eagle and Thunder. In
earlier periods there seemed to have l)een a more rigid order or rank, both
socially and politically. For example, chiefs came from the Trout or
Sturgeon tribes, and war chiefs from the Fox gens; and there were certain
relationships between one gens and another, as when one acted the role of
servant to another, seen on occasion of the gens ceremony. Marriage was
restricted to men and women of the different gentes, and was generally
attended with the exchange of presents between the family of the pair.

In the case of death, a man might marry the sister of his deceased wife,
or the widow might become the wife of the brother of her dead husband.

Polygamy was practiced, but was not usual ; it was the privilege that
went with wealth and social prestige. A child followed the gens of his
father, but it frequently happened that the mother was given the right to
name ; in that case the child took a name peculiar to the gens of the mother,
Init was yet in the gens of the father. But for this fact the gens of an indi-
vidual could generalh- be known from the nature of the name. The name
is intimately connected with the gens; for example, a name meaning "he
that moves ahead flashing light," refers to lightning, and is a name peculiar
to the Thunder gens. Besides the grouping into gentes, the tribe was further
divided into two great social groups or phratries : Kishko and Oskrash. The
painting color of the first was white clay and that of the second, was char-
coal. A child entered into the group at birth, sometimes the father, some-
limes the mother, determining which group. The several groups engaged
one another in all manner of contests, especially in athletics. The Sauk
never developed a soldier society with the same degree of success as did the
Foxes, but they did have a buffalo society; it is said that the first was due
to contact with the Sioux, and it is reasonable to suppose that the second
was due to influence also of the plains. There was a chief and a council.

_^%.

IXKIAX IMPI.EMEXTS OF WAI! T-XEARTHEn IX I!ICHA1U)S(.\ COTXTY
XEBKASKA. ' ' -^ ' > ■

RICHARnSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. "J"]

As stated, the chiefs came from the Trout and Sturgeon gentes, and the
council consisted of these, the war chiefs, or heads of families, and all the
warriors. Politically, the chief was little more than a figurehead, but socially
he occupied the first place in the tribe. Not infrequently, however, by force
of character and by natural astuteness in the management of tribal affairs,
the chief might exercise virtually autocratic powers. Furthermore, his per-
son was held sacred, and for that reason he was given royal homage.

The religion of the Sauk is fundamentally in the belief in what are now
commonly known as Manitos. The sense of the term is best given by the
combined use of the two words "power" and "magic". The world is looked
on as inhabited by beings permeated with certain magic force, not necessarily
malicious and not necessarily beneficent, the manifestation of which might
produce one or the other effect. Objects in nature held to be endowed with
this force become the recipients of varying degrees of adoration. A child
is early taught to get into personal relation with some Manito by means of
fasting and vigil to secure his tutelary or genus. The Manitos of the Sauk
mythology and religious worship are represented in all nature. They are
human beings, animals, birds, fishes, reptiles, insects, plants, fire, water and
all the elements personified. The mythology of the Sauk is rich with fables
of anthropomorphic beasts and beings. The principal myth is concerned with
the god of life, called Nanaboszo, by cognate tril^es. with die flood and with
the restoration of the earth.

The Sauk had numerous ceremonies, social and religious. Some of
these they still retain. The chief two religious ceremonies still in existence
are the gens festivals and the secret rite of the Midewiwin. or Grand Medi-
cine Society. The gens festival is held twice a year — in the spring, when
thanksgiving, is offered to the Manitos for the new season, and in the sum-
mer after the fields ripen. The meeting of the Midewiwin is generally held
but once a year, during the spring, when a ceremony is conducted by a group
of men and women bound together by vows of secrecy. The society is
entered by initiation and the payment of a fee. and the ceremony is con-
ducted by an elaborate ritual on the occasion of the admittance of a new
member, who takes the place of one who died during the preceding year.

Next in importance to these, are the rites connected with death and
adoption. To express grief for dead kindred, they blackened their faces
with charcoal, fasted, and abstained from the use of vermilion and orna-

RicriARDSON cou:

ments in dress. The Sauk practiced four different methods of burial: ( i)
the corpse was laid away in the branches of a tree or upon a scaffold; (2) it
was placed in a sitting posture, with the back supported, out on the open
ground; (3) it was seated in a shallow grave, with all but the face buried
and a shelter was placed over the grave; (4) there was complete burial in
the ground. The ghost world is said to be in the West, beyond the setting
sun. and thither it is said the people go after death. The brother of the
culture-hero is master of the ghost world, while the culture-hero himself is
said to be at the North, in the region of the snow and ice. The Sauk are
looking for his return, when they believe the world will come to an end, and
they and the culture-hero will go to join his brother. The Sauk was first
known to history in 1650.

— From the "Hand Book of Americans," Bureau of Ethnology, Washing-
ton, D. C.

K.\r<LY INDIAN HISTORY.

The churches, as in these later da}'s, were pioneers in the new country,
and the great work done by these institutions is deserving of the highest
commendation. Viewed in the light of more recent history, as it relates to
the troublesome times encountered by those who would become settlers, it
is almost unthinkable that they should have found men ready and willing
to sacrifice themselves and who would have dared to enter this then deso-
late, unsettled country and spend the greater portion of their lives among
the early Indians of this region. Yet, we have the proof in reports made
by those early missionaries to the missionary boards of the Baptist, Method-
ist, Catholic, Episcopal and Presbyterian churches.

It appears that they were here long in advance of those whom we desig-
nate as the pioneers of the county; The first missions were located to the south
and ea.st, in what is now known as northeast Kansas, but a short distance
south of the Kansas-Xebraska state line. One of these missions is still
maintained in Doniphan county, Kansas. Rev. Isaac McCoy, of the Bap-
tist church, was one of the earliest of these missionaries and was well
acquainted with conditions on the Iowa and Sauk reservations, both of
which extended into this county. He was here in 1839, which, of course,
was long before the erection of Nebraska Territory and found the lowas
at that time to number more than, one thousand, while the Sauks, located but
a little way to the west, had more than five hundred members in the parts of
their tribe occupying this territory. In reports made by him he indicated
that the ciinditi<-)ns of these people were inipro\ing somewhat and that tlie

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 79

general government, under treaty stipulations, was affording them consid-
erable assistance in the building of dwellings and mills ; in fencing and plow-
ing their lands, and in caring for live stock and the building of schools. .\t
this earlv time the Western Missionary Society of the Presbyterian church
had established a mission, which was for a time in charge of Mr. and Mrs.
Ballard. Upon their retirement it was taken over by Rev. \\'illiam Hamil-
ton and Messrs. and Mesdames Irving and Bradley. The assistance ren-
dered by the government to the Indians in the building of houses was great-
ly appreciated and some of the old houses so built were located south of
the Great Nemaha, near Falls city, and the ruins of the same were found
by the pioneers coming- here in the earlv fifties.

The Methodists at this time had a small mission in charge of Reverend
Berryman and the Catholics, likewise, were in the field with a small mission.

KEV. WILLIAM HAMILTON, MISSIONARY.

The Rev. William Hamilton, who was as well known as any of the
early missionaries after coming here in 1837, spent the remainder of his
life in Nebraska.

He was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, on the banks of the
Suscpehanna, West Branch, on August i, 1811, and although his father
was killed by the Indians, while peaceably engaged on his farm, the young
man, upon offering himself as a foreign missionary, requested that he be
sent among the Indians of this country.

After completing his studies at college Mr. Hamilton was licensed to
preach b)^ the Presbytery of Northumberland, in the spring of 1837, and
returned to a seminary to resume studies with his old class. During that
summer he was accepted by the Presb}terian Ijoard of foreign missions as
their missionary, and at the same time was married to Julia Ann N. McGiffin
of \\^ashington, Pennsylvania. He was ordained by the Presbytery of North-
umberland in 1837, and immediately started to his field in the West. He
left Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, October 30, 1837, and reached Liberty Land-
ing on Saturday, November i8th, having been en route nearly a month from
Pittsburgh, and traveled from St. Louis to a point, the present site of Glas-
gow, Missouri, within eighty-six miles from the field to his future labors.
Forty-five miles of this was on horseback to the old agency, nine miles below
East Black Snake Hills, the present site of St. Joseph, Missouri. He reached
this place on the 27th of Deceml^er, and was detained at the agency on

80 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

account of there being no way to make a crossing of the ^Missouri river until
it might freeze.

From the agency at St. Joseph he footed it, while his wife, a little
Indian girl and a white girl in Mr. Ballard's family, rode horseback. The
ice was only strong enough to cross on foot, and they waited until a trader
bought a mule from an Indian, and hiring it and an Indian pony, his wife
rode the mule and the two girls rode the pony, while he took tt afoot. They
had twenty-five miles to go to reach the Indians on Wolf creek, and night
overtook them at Mosquito creek, seven or eight miles from their destination.
As they had intended to get through, no provision had been made ' for camp-
ing out, or for dinner, supper or breakfast. It was very dark and knowing
nothing of the road they camped by that stream, and he spent most of that
night cutting wood that the party might not freeze, having an extra axe in
his saddle bags and succeeded in affixing a temporary handle. The follow-
ing morning they started without breakfast and reached Wolf creek about
eleven o'clock. The water at the ford lacked but three or four inches of
overreaching the pony's back and the bank was very miry; not until four
o'clock in the afternoon did they succeed in gaining the other bank, and all
were wet to the skin. The weather for that time was quite warm or they
might all have perished with cold, as it was the 29th day of December.

Mr. Irving and wife and other missionaries were there in a log shanty,
and they were most kindly received by them and shared their hospitality
until thev could fix up the other end of the log house for their home. Irving-
had a small quantity of flour which he gave to the Hamilton party and with
some corn and beef they were able to get from a trader at Iowa Point, some
six miles away, when it was issued to the Indians, they were able to make
out. Mr. Hamilton walked the six miles on one occasion and ground the
corn on a hand mill, as long as it was prudent to stay, and carried the meal
home on his back. On another occasion he went to Ft. Leavenworth, fifty-
one miles, to take the borrowed mule home, expecting to cross there and go
thirty miles further to St. Joseph, that is, over eighty miles, to get to a
place only twenty-five miles from the mission, and return the same way; but
when he got to the fort the cold of the preceding night rendered the river
impassable on account of the ice. Alxiut sundown, when he was nearly
twenty miles from the garrison, though he know nothing of the distance,
there came up suddenly what would now be called a blizzard, and it seemed
as though he should perish, if he had not had a buffalo robe on his saddle
which a trader, who had traveled with them from St. Louis, when he parted
with them at Fayette, gave to Mr. Hamilton, saying he might need it some

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 8 1

time. The next day he started back, having obtained a sack of flour at the
garrison through the kindness of General Kearney, and arrived at his home
on the third night near midnight, having had to break the ice to cross Wolf
creek. It was February before they were able to get their trunks, and then
in doing so he had to make another trip occupying ten days. During his
absence his wife and Mr. Irving and wife had the pleasure of trying to live
on the siftings of corn meal.

The Iowa Indians at that time numbered some eight hundred souls, and
the Missouri Sacs about five hundred. They were much given to heavy
drinking in those days, when they were able to obtain liquor, and sometimes
the sprees might extend for days at a time, or until they had killed some of
their number, when they would swear ofif, as it was called, for a certain
number of days, but before the expiration of the allotted time some of them
would break over the rule, and then, like one sheep going to water, it was a
signal for all to follow. Mr. Hamilton spent more than fifteen years of
his life among tliem, and Mr. Irving who had kept a diary, claimed that the
Indians had at different times during their drunken sprees, murdered as
many as sixty of their number, while not one of their people had been killed
by any other tribe, though they had killed others. At first they were very
jealous of the missionaries, thinking they had come to trade, and when
told that this was not the object of the party, suggested that they might as
well return home, as they could. see no higher object for their being there.
The Indians, however, in due time became very friendly with the missionaries.

missioner's life threatened.

Reverend Hamilton was once waylaid, as the interpreter had told him,
by the head chief, a very bad man, when he had gone to the mill and was
returning after night. He, however, took a different road when nearing
his home, with no apparent reason, and thus avoided him. The mission-
aries had also been under consideration by the Indians when they were in
a mood to commit murder, but they had crossed the river and shot a white
man living on the bottoms. No-Heart (for whom No-Heart creek and an
earlv village by that name south of Rulo was named), when a little drunk,
told Mr. Irving that the missionaries should not die — a remark not under-
stood at the time — but plain enough when they heard of the shooting on the
east side of the Missouri river. All this happened before the purchase of
the country in 1854. Mr. Hamilton's life was threatened at one time by a
(6)

82 RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

man who had been a blacksmith, the latter drawing a pistol and a bowie knife
on him. The culprit was at a later time burned in Te.xas for the shooting
of a prosecuting attorney in a court room, and confessed at the stake the
murder of several whites and an Indian.

Reverend Hamilton, after enduring the years of hardships among the
Iowa and Sacs at the mission on Wolf river, was transferred to the Otoe
and Omaha mission at Bellevue, Nebraska, in 1853. reaching this latter
place on the 6th of June of that year.

]\Ir. Hamilton, who had spent most of his active life working among
the tribes of Indians in this state, writing on the subject, on May 22, 1884,
had the following to say:

"I could relate many things in connection with the treatment of the
Indians, that ought to make us, as a nation, blush, but it would require a
book to tell all I have witnessed of fraud practiced upon them, and by many
persons; things that I have personally known to be true, would now hardly
be believed. The policy of teaching them English is well enough, but the
idea of driving their ovvii language out of their minds, may do to talk about,
but will not be done in many generations. Even the few who seem to un-
derstand our language as well as we do ourselves (only a few), prefer
speaking their own. Their mode of thought is so different from the English,
and I might sav, from all modern European languages, that it is a great
l)arrier to their acquiring our language perfectly. It must be the work tif
time, and while they are instructed in English, the great truths of the Gospel
must be heard in their own language wherein they were born. With these
instructions in religion and the education of the young, strict justice on the
part of the government should be done them. They ha\-e rights that seem
to have been little respected.

"Although I seemed to offend an agent forty-si.x years ago by saying
the whites would have this country before long, and I could not believe what
he so confidently asserted again and again, that they could not, for it was
set apart forever for the Indians, yet time has shown what he could not then
believe has literally come to pass. When the treaty was ratified, it was not
long until great numbers were seeking a home in what was thought, not a
centurv ago, to be a desert country, and not fit for the hunting grounds of
the Tndian.s. \\'hen I came ^^'est in 1837. most of Iowa was unsettle*.!
and owned b\- the Indians, and the buffalo roamed tn-er it. there being
.1 few settlements on the Mississippi. 1 have seen all of Missouri settled up.
.-ind 1 might sa\ as far smith as Arkansas. When asked in an early day

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 83

how far my diocese extended. I replied, I supposed north to the forty-ninth
degree of latitude, and west to the summit of the Rocky mountains, as at
that time I knew of no other Preshyterian minister within these bounds.
Reverend Dunbar had been among the Pawnees, but had left. The popula-
tion of the United States did not at that time exceed fifteen million of souls.
Now what do we see? Churches and schools all over this then Indian coun-
try and a population of fifty-five millions.

"When I came among the Indians fifty years ago I saw the red man
riding on horseback, and his wife walking and carrying a load, and the little
girls carrying something, and boys, if there were any, carrying bows and
arrows. Before I left the lowas, I saw the v>ife on the horse, and the man
walking. The same may be said of the Omahas. Now, it is quite common
to see the man and his wife riding together in a wagon. Then, the women
packed the wood, often three miles, on their backs — that was in summer :
now it is hauled in wagons, the men generally doing the work, when able.
Then, when not on the hunt, the}- were, when sober, either playing ball or
cards, or some other game ; now they are engaged in farming. True, they
keep up their dances, i. e., the heathen part, but generally take the Sabbath
for them, as they pretend to work on the other days, but they also work on
the Sabbath. It is over thirty years since I left the lowas. and they have
greatly diminished, as have the Otoes and Sacs. Whiskey has been their
ruin.

"The Indians do not worship idols as many heathens, that is, carved
idols or images, but are idolaters in the true sense of the word; but the idol
is more in the mind and they apply the name of god to many things and
ideas — different gods for different things. Wakanda in Omaha, Ponca,
etc. ; Wankanta in Iowa, Otoe, etc. : Wa-ka-tangka in Sioux, which is reall\-
the great or war god; Tanga, Sioux; Tangga, Omaha; Tanra, Iowa, signify-
ing great. Waka is a snake in Iowa and Otoe, and uda is good in Omaha :
perhaps, good snake, as pe is good in Iowa, and peskunya is bad, or not
good: while uda is good, in Omaha, but pe-azhe in Omaha is not good,
showing the pe retained in the negative Great Spirit is introduced, I have
no doubt by the whites, as the only idea of that spirit is the spirit of the per-
son. Moleto, or meneto, is the name of God in the Sac and kindred lan-
guages, and a Sac interpreter told me it meant big snake. The Sac language
is as musical as the Greek. The Winnebagoes use a term for God signifying
the maker of the earth, but also the same nearl\- as the lowas."

84 RICHARnSdX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

lONERS AMONG THE PAWNEES.

In 1834 two Presljyterian workers. Rev. John Dunbar and Samuel Allis,
began work among the Pawnees of Nebraska under the auspices of the
American board, and were later joined by Doctor Satterlee. After some
time spent in getting acquainted with the people and the language, a per-
manent station was selected, in 1838, on Plum creek, a small tributary of
the Loup river, by consent of the Pawnees, who in the meantime had acknowl-
edged the authority of the government. Circumstances delayed the work
until 1844, when a considerable mission and a government station were begun,
and a number of families from the different bands took up a residence adja-
cent thereto. In consequence, however, of destructive inroads of the Sioux,
the ancient enemies of the Pawnee, the mission effort was abandoned in
1847 3nd the tribe returned to its former wild life.

About the year 1835 work was begun by the Presbyterian Board of For-
eign Missions among the Iowa and Sauk, then residing on the Missouri river,
in east Nebraska ( Richardson county that now is ) . Attention was also given
to some others of the removed tribes, and about ten years later a mission
was established among the Omaha and Otoe at Bellevue, near the present
Omaha, Nebraska, where, in 1850, Rev. Edward IMcKinney compiled a small
Omaha primer, the first 'publication in that language. Both missions con-
tinued on down to a modern period, despite the shifting fortunes of the tribes.
Other prominent workers were Rev. Samuel Irvin, who gave thirt\- years of
his life, beginning in 1837, to the first tribes named; and Rev. William Ham-
ilton, who, beginning in 1837, with the same tribes, was transferred to the
Bellevue Mission in 1853, rounding out a long life with a record of a half a
century spent in service. Working in collaboration these two produced
several linguistic works in the Iowa language, published by the ^lission Press,
between 1843 to 1850, besides a collection of Omaha hymns and some manu-
script translations by Hamilton alone at a latter period.

The earliest Baptist worker in the central region was the Rev. Isaac
McCov, afterward for nearly thirty years the general agent in the Indian mis-
sion work of that denomination.

The ]'4)iscopalians appear to have done no work in the interior until
<il)out 18^0. — Prom the "Hand Book of American Indians."

CHAPTER III.
Spanish Explorations.

To no agency other or more than the natural greed that possessed the
early Spanish explorers, do we owe the discovery of what we now know
as Nebraska. There were men in the old world country who, while slow
to believe in the theories of Columbus and slow enough in giving him assist-
ance when most needed, were, however, awakened to the greatest of activity
when stories of the wonders of the New World were brought back b}- the
first expedition. This same spirit possessed the early conquerors of the new
world. Each expedition fitted out brought to western shores adventurers
lired with a desire to investigate the stories told, retold, magnified and dis-
torted to unbelievable proportions. Those, while bearing no semblance
of probability, only served to whet the desires of those who had come. No
manner of privation could stop these early adventurers.

The spirit of the cavalier, fired with the romance of treading strange
paths and communing with strange races of people, whose existence on this
side of tlie planet until those days was absolutely unknown to the world, was
as if at this late date after the world had been, as we believe, thoroughly
tra\erstd. we or some one should happen to discover ways and means of
communication or intercourse with another race of mankind on some other
planet. The existence of peoples in a western hemisphere, not known to be
existent, must have been an event sufficient to fire the imagination of the
then civilized world as had nothing before or since. That its effect was
(if stupendous importance, and so regarded at that time, we have ample e\i-
dence from the record of subsequent events.

The adventurous Spaniard was fired with excitement after the return
of Columbus and efforts were at once commenced to outfit expeditions which
should conquer the new world for the Spanish crown. Of these numerous
expeditions we have neither time nor space here to speak, but must point out
that the same spirit which prompted them, pervaded those of a later time,
who hearkened to the voice of legendary stories reaching their ears from
various sources, telling of famous peoples to the north nf ^Mexico, who had
not been visited by the European. The desire to inxade tlie great tractless

86 RICIIAUnSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

unknown Xorth, led to nn expedition headed by one Francisco \^asquez
Coronado. which in the hght of more subsequent knowledge of the country
traversed, the distance covered, the people likely to have been encountered,
and the climatic conditions and other innumerable obstacles, of necessity, to
be overcome, not to mention their mode of travel, seems to have been more
really Quixotic than any of the many vagaries ascribed to the unbalanced
mind of that mythical gallant in the days of knight errantry, described by
the noted .Spaniard, Cervantes.

It was here that the nature of the early Spaniard manifested itself most
plainly. He had pillaged ever_\- people with whom he had come in contact
in the new world and by the same promptings in a desire for what he
might obtain by force, gave ear to the stories of beautiful cities and peo-
ples of fabulous wealth to be found in the North. Hence it is that he and
his followers were the first to visit the land we now prize as our state.

Gathering aliout him a band of some few hundred of his countrymen on
horseback, together with se\eral hundred Indians with supplies, a start was
made in February, 1540. During that year they journeyed as far north
as the territory now included in the present state of Arizona, where they
spent the winter. In the following spring, in the month of April, the
journe\- was continued on northward. The expedition was a failure and so
foredoomed from the start, if measured by its accomplishment of any of
the purposes originally set forth, for the reason that it failed utterly in
finding any of the fabled cities or peoples, the like of which had been
described to them : but it did succeed, or, at least, a very few survivors of
the original part}- succeeded, in penetrating to a farther point north and
west than had an) exploring party up to that date. In accounts made of the
trip it seems most certain that they reached the fortieth parallel north
degree of latitude (Kansas-Nebraska state line), and by sonnie it is believed
that they may have actually invaded the interior of Nebraska. This being
true, they were the first besides the natives to see what is now Nebraska.
This expedition started out originally from a point about four hundred
miles north of the Cit\- of Mexico and their wanderings covered a period
of two years. 1540 to 1542, and in the path of their travels for the first time
beheld the grandeur of the grand canyon of the Colorado. This great can-
yon, which in these later days is considered the grandest spot in the western
hemisphere, fur its scenic wonders, made but little impression on them as
compared witii what the\- had been led to hope would be found, and they
pressed on tln-Dugh the hot summer months and endured much suffering
and pri\'ation.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 87

DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRY.

Coronado, in writing of what he had found, said: "I have reached
the fortieth parallel of latitude," "The inhabitants are good hunters, culti-
vate corn, and exhibit a friendly disposition. They said that tv^^o months
would not sufifice to visit them entirely. In the whole extent of the prov-
ince, I have seen but about twenty-five villages, and these are built of straw.
The men are large and the women well formed. The soil is the best which
it is possible to see for all kinds of Spanish fruits. Besides being strong and
black, it is very well watered by creeks, fountains and rivers. Here I found
plums, such as I have seen in Spain, walnuts and excellent ripe grapes."

Jarmacillo, one of Coronado's lieutenants, writing at a later time in
regard to the expedition, had the following to say of his observations:
"The country has a fine appearance, such as I have not seen excelled in
France, Italy, or in any of the countries which I have visited in the service
of his majesty. It is not a country of mountains, there being but hillocks
and plains, with streams of excellent water. It afforded me entire satisfac-
tion. I judge that it must be quite fertile and well suited to the cultivation
of all sorts of fruits. For a grazing countr}-, experience proves that it is
admirably adapted; when we consider the herds of bison and other wild
animals, vast as the imagination can conceive, find sustenance there. I
noticed a kind of plum of excellent flavor, something like those of Spain:
the stems and blue flowers of a sort of wild flax, sumach, along the margins
of the streams, like the sumach of Spain, and palatable wild grapes."

FURTHER REPORTS.

Speaking further in regard to this part of the new world those chron-
iclers, who were the first from the then civilized world to see. made report
as follows referring to the buffalo: "These oxen are of the bigness and
color of our bulls, but their horns are not so great. Tliey have a great
bunch on their foreshoulders and more hair on their forepart, tlian on their
hinder part, and it is like wool. They have, as it were, a horse mane upon
their backbone, and much hair and very long from their knees downward.
They have great tufts of hair hanging down from their foreheads, and it
seemeth that they have bears, because of the great store of hair hanging
down from their chins and tiiroats. The males have very long tails , and a
great knol) or flock at the end, so tliat in some respects they resemble the

88 rickai;dsox county, Nebraska.

lion, and in some other, the camel. They push with their horns, they run,
thev overtake and kill a horse, when they are in their rage and anger.
Finally, it is a foul and fierce beast of countenance and form of body.
The horses fled from them, either because they were afraid of their deformed
shape or else because they had never seen them. Their masters have no
other riches, nor substance; of them they eat, they drink, they apparel, they
shoe themselves; and of their hides they make many things, as house shoes,
apparel and ropes; of their bones they make bodkins, of their sinews and
hair, thread; of their homs, maws and bladders, vessels; of their dung, fire;
and of their calves, skins, budgets (buckets), wherein they draw and keep
water. To be short, they make so many things of them as they have need
of, or as many as suffice them in the use of this life."

The party encountered a storm and while the same happened four
hundred years ago, yet in detail it would pass for similar disturbances many
of us have witnessed in our own time : "One evening, there came up a ter-
rible storm of wind and hail, which left in the camp hailstones as large as
porringers and even larger. They fell thick as rain drops, and in some
spots the ground was covered with them to the depth of eight or ten inches.
The storm caused, said one, many tears, weakness and vows. The horses
broke their reins, some were even blown down the banks of the ravine, the
tents were torn, and every di.sh in the camp broken."

The authorities do not positively fix it as a fact that Coronado ever
actually penetrated far enough north to have touched Nebraska, having only
his word for it, and to make that doubtful, the fact that the early explorers
invariably erred from one to two points off, in reckoning or computing the
degrees of latitude. If correct, he undoubtedly, as he said, did reach the
south boundary of our state ; and if in error, as much as indicated above,
he would then have reached central Kansas. In any event, the undertaking
was most wonderful, considered from any angle regardless of the motives
of its prompting. People residing in the vicinity of Junction City, Kansas,
so certainly believe the story of this party's visit to their section of the coun-
try at the time indicated, that in 1902 they erected a monument with suitable
inscriptions for the purpose of commemorating the e\ent.

There are recorded many other and wonderful tales of romantic value
telling of adventurous explorers, who at later dates may have visited the
land of Qui vera, hut they savor so much of the fable that they can have
but little interest of historical value, except for showing the state of mystery
that must have surrounded this unknown region in those shadowy days of
the past.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 89

VISIT OF FRENCHMEN.

Not until nearly two hundred years later do we find an authenicated
case of any visit to this region by the white man, and it is then a party of
Frenchmen under the leadership of the Mallet brothers, Pierre and Paul.
They, like the later exploring parties, made use of the good old Missouri
river as a means of transit and in their description of the trip gave the
length in leagues of the distance between points along the stream from
St. Louis to the northern part of the state of Nebraska, where they appear
to have disembarked and from this point traversed the state, going to the
southwest and on to Mexico. They are said to have been the first white men
to visit the state and they it was who were the first of this race to negotiate
the Platte river and name it. From reports of their visit was obtained the
first really authentic description of the country now included in what is
Nebraska.

Stories told by this party encouraged others to come up the river and
we find that many of the early visitors soon began to carry on quite an
extensive and (to them) profitable trade with the natives, taking their furs
in exchange for cheap trinkets they were able to bring from the East and
from Europe. Manuel Lista was the most widely known among these
early traders so far as this part of the country is concerned.

As soon as the country was acquired by the government from France
tinder what was known as the "Louisiana Purchase," Lewis and Clark
were sent to make an in\-estigation for our government. This famous
expedition was sent out in 1804 and consumed the greater part of two
years on the trip. The various visitors to the West in those days made the
trip up the river in open boats, using oars, and sometimes pulled the lioats
with horses on the shore or by men with a rope attached to the Ix)at. This
method of travel was both tedious and slow.

THE FIRST STEAMBOAT.

The first steamlx)at used on the Missouri river for navigation pur-
poses was that of Major Stephen Long, who was in the government serv-
ice and had been sent West to explore the Platte river and the region east
of the mountains in 1819. This boat, the "Western Engineer," was out-
fitted at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and left that point on its long journey
on Mav 5. 1819. This party went down the Ohio river to St. Louis and

90 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

thence up the Missouri to Council Bluffs. The boat, being the largest and
first of its kind under its own power to make the voyage, was a strange
sight to the simple natives and the smoke emitted from its funnels was
terrifving to them. The party arrived at Omaha, or near the later site of
that city, some time in the month of September of that year. Those people
spent many months among the Indians of the state, then going west to the
mountains. The Major had in his party a number of scientific men who
made a close study of the country and the people.

That the country from the Missouri river west to the mountains at
that period, was regarded as unlikely to ever become of much value for
agriculture, will appear from what he reported to the government, speaking
in this connection: He said: "It, (the country) is almost wholly unfit for
cultivation and of course uninhabitable for people depending upon agricul-
ture for their subsistence."

Major Long and his men proved no Ijetter prophets as to the future
of Nebraska than many who came later; but, being a representative of the
go\ernment, his report was given undue credence and its effect was detri-
mental to this country for many years. However, notwithstanding what he
said, it is a well-known fact that the Indians then living here had in their
crude way succeeded in raising a considerable quantity of vegetable and
cereal crops. The Pawnees, Omahas, Poncas and Otoes were raising a
number of varieties of all the different kinds of corn we now have: besides
they cultivated some fifteen kinds of beans, eight kinds of S(|uash. one of
melons and innumerable other articles of food value.

From what source Major Long drew his conclusions is not clear as the
native had found it ix)ssible and had raised all that was sufficient for his
well being, for centuries before the advent of the white man upon the scene,
and subsequent e\ents ha\e more than proven that the white man could do
likewise.

LEWIS ANn Clark's expedition.

Soon after the acquirement of the Louisiana Territory from the French,
the American government, desirous of having authoritatixe information
relative to the same, commissioned Capt. Meriwether Lewis and C'apt. Will-
iam Clark. l)oth of whom at the time were officers in the United States
army, to set out on an expedition and explore and report on the same. They
were to ascertain the source and courses of the Missouri and determine the
most convenient water route to the Pacific and, incidenth', to gather all pos-
sible information in regard tn tlie new countr\'. Tliev made tlieir wav to

RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 9I

St. Louis, Missouri, and al that place outfitted themselves for the long
journey up the Missouri river. The start on this memorable trip was made
from the above place on May 14, 1804.

P'oUowing is a description of the company and outfit taken from the
journal of Lewis and Clark:

"The party consisted of nine young- men from the state of Kentucky,
fourteen soldiers of the L'nited States army, who volunteered their services,
two French watermen, an interpreter and hunter, and a black servant belong-
ing to Captain Clark — all of these, except the last, were enlisted to serve as
privates during the expedition, and three sergeants appointed from amongst
them by the captains. In addition to this were engaged a corporal and
six soldiers, and nine watermen to accompany the expedition as far as the
Mandan nation, in order to assist in carrying the stores, or repelling an
attack, which was most to be apprehended, between Woos river and that
tribe. The necessary stores were subdivided into seven bales, and one box,
containing a small portion of each article in case of accident. They con-
sisted of a great variety of clothing, working utensils, locks, flints, powder,
ball, and articles of the greatest use. To these were added fourteen bales
and one box of Indian presents, distributed in about the same manner, and
consisted of richly-laced coats and other articles of dress, medals, flags,
knives and tomahawks for the chiefs — ornaments of dififerent kinds par-
ticularly beads, looking glasses, handkerchiefs, paints, and generally such
articles as were deemed best calculated for the taste of the Indians.

"The party was to embark on board of three boats; the first was a keel
boat, fifty-five feet long, drawing three feet of water, one large scjuare sail
and twenty-two oars; a deck of ten feet in the bow and stern formed a
forecastle and cabin, while the middle was covered by lockers, which might
be raised so as to form a breast work in case of attack. This was accom-
panied by two perioques [pirogues] or open boats, one of six and the other
of seven oars. Two horses were at the .same time to be led along the banks
of. the river for the purpose of bringing in game, or hunting in case of
scarcity."'

.\fter a slow and laborious voyage they reached a point opposite to
where the Great Nemaha empties into the Missouri, on the afternoon of
July nth, where they went into camp for a couple of days. (The Great
Nemaha at the present time empties into the Missouri river at a jwint sev-
eral miles north of the spot located liy Lewis and Clark, it having changed its
course in later years, during times of liigh water."

RICHARDSON COl NTV. NEBRASKA.

Till-: COUNTRY DESCRIBED.

The following from the journal of Lewis and Clark, describes what
they found at the mouth of the Xemaha :

"Jul)- 12, 1804 — (Thursday) — We remained here today for the pur-
pose of refreshing the party and making hmar observations. The Nemaha
empties itself into the Missouri from the South, and is eighty (80) yards
wide at its confluence, which is in latitude 39'' 55' 56". Captain Clark
ascended it in a piroque about two miles, to the mouth of a small creek on
the lower side. On going ashore, he found in the level plain several arti-
ficial mounds, or graves, and, on the adjoining hills, others of larger size.
This appearance indicates sufficiently the former population of this country,
the mounds being certainly intended as tombs, the Indians of the Missouri
still preserving the custom of interring the dead on high ground. From the
top of the highest mound a delightful prospect presented itself — the level'
and extensive meadows watered b}- the Nemaha and enlivened by the few
trees and shrubs skirting the borders of the river and its tributary streams;
the lowland of the Missouri covered with undulating grass, nearly five feet
high, gradually rising into a .second plain, where rich weeds and flowers are
interspersed with copses of the Osage plum ; farther back were seen small
groves of trees, an a,bundance of grapes, the wild cherry of the Missouri,
resembling our own, but larger, and growing on a small bush, and the
choke-cherry, which we observed for the first time. Some of the grapes
gathered today are nearly ripe. On the south of the Nemaha and aliout
a quarter of a mile from its mouth, is a cliff of freestone, in which are
\arious inscriptions and marks made by the Indians. The sand island on
which we are encamped is covered with the two species of willow — broad
and narrow leaf."

"July 13. — W'e proceeded at sunrise with a fair wind from the south,
and at two miles passed the mouth of a small river on the north called
Big Tarkio. A channel from the bed of the Missouri once ran into this
river and formed an island called St. Joseph's, but the channel is now filled
up and the island is now added to the northern shore. Farther on to
the south is situated an extensive plain, covered with a grass resembling
timothy in its general appearance, except the seed, which is like flax seed,
and also a number of grape ^•ines. At twelve miles we passed an island on
the north, al)()\e which is a big sand bar covered with willows, and at
twenty and a half miles, stopped on a large sand bar in the middle of the
ri\er, op];)osite a high, handsome prairie, which extends to the hills four or

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

five miles distant, though near the bank the land is low and subject to be
overflowed. This day was exceedingly fine and pleasant, the storm of wind
last night from the northeast having cooled the air."

"July 14th.— \\^e had some hard showers of rain before seven o'clock,
when we set out. We had just reached the end of the sand island, and seen
the o))posite banks fall in, and so lined with timber that we could not
approach it without danger, when a sudden squall from the northeast struck
the boat on the starboard quarter and would certainly have dashed her to
pieces on the sand island if the party had not leai^ed into the river, and with
the aid of the anchor and cable, kept her oft" — the waves dashing over her
for a space of forty minutes, after which the river became almost instantly
calm and smooth. The two pirogues were ahead, in a situation nearly
similar, Init fortunately no damage was done to the boats or the loading.
The wind having shifted to the southeast, we came, at the distance of two
miles, to an island on the north, where we dined. One mile above, on the
same side of the river, is a small factory, where a merchant of St. I-ouis
traded with the Otoes and Pawnees two years ago. Near this is an exten-
sive lowland, part of which is overflowed occasionally, the rest is rich and
well limbered. The wind again changed to the northwest by north. At
seven and one-half miles, we reached the lower point of a large island. A
small distance above this point is a river, called by the Maha (now Omaha
Indians ) , the Nish-na-ba-tona. This is a considerable creek, nearly as large
as the Mine river, and runs parallel to the Missouri the greater part of its
cfiurse, lieing fifty yards wide at its mouth. In the prairies or glades, we saw
wild timothy, lambsc[uarter, cuckleberries, and. on the edge of the river,
summer grapes, plums and gooseberries. We also saw today for the first
time, some elk, at which some of the party shot, but at too great a distance.
We encamped on the north side of the island, a little above the Nishnaba-
tona, having made nine miles. The river fell a little.

"July 15th. — A thick fog prevented us leaving the encampment before
seven. yVt about four miles, we reached the extremity of the large island,
and crossing to the south (side of the Missouri!, at a distance of seven
miles, arrived at the Little Nemaha, a small river from the south, forty
yards wide a little above its mouth, but contracting as do most all rivers
em])tying into the Missouri at its confluence. '■' * *

LOUISIANA PURCHASE.

Because of the con(]uest of Canada in 1760, the province of Louisiana
alone remained to France, Init not for long. On November 3, 17OJ, it was

94 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

ceded to Spain, witli tlie exception of the eastern half, which fell to Eng-
land. The portion west of the Mississippi river, including what is now the
state of Nebraska, was thenceforth for thirty-eight years Spanish territory,
Ijut the Spaniards did not at once assume possession of the same. The east
])ortion taken by the English, passed on September 3, 1783, to the
Unitetl States, following the close of the Re\olutionary War. Later, (ju
October i, 1800, by the terms of a treaty concluded between the Emperor of
France, Napoleon Bonaparte, and the King of Spain, the western part then
under Spanish domination was re-ceded to France. This treaty was con-
firmed by a treaty at Madrid, starch 21, 1801. France, however, sold Louis-
iana Territory to the United States on April 30, 1803, which date was the
first that Nebraska passed officially under the fiag an.d authority of the
American government. An act was passed on Octoljer 31, 1803, l)y the
American Congress authorizing the President to take formal possession (if
the Louisiana Territory and form a temporary government thereof. Auth-
ority from this act vested the powers of government in such person or per-
sons and was to be exercised in the manner the President of the L^nited
States might direct. Amos Stoddard was then appointed as governor of
the new territory, which was known as Upper Louisiana. A later act of
Congress erected Louisiana into the "Territory of Orleans and the District
of Louisiana."

The purchase of Louisiana was negotiated under the administration
of Thomas JefYerson and the price paid amounted to fifteen million dollars.
France received in payment more than eleven million dollars in bonds from
the United States and the remainder of the purchase price was paid In- the
United States to citizens of this country in settlement of claims held b\- them
against the French government. No census of the territory had been taken,
but estimates placed the number of whites as l>eing no more than fifty thou-
-sand. James Wilkinson was appointed governor by President Jefiferson. and
I<'rederick Bates, secretary. St. Louis was made the capital. The judges
were J. Meigs and John P>. C. Lucas. Those, together with the governor,
constituted the Legislature.

TF.UKITORY OF MIS.SOIKI.

On June 4, 18 12, an act of Congress changed the Territory of Louis-
iana to the Territory of Missouri, included in the boundaries of which was
tlie present state of Nel)raska. This act provided for a g<nernor and secre-
tary, together with a Legislature composed of a council and House of Pc])-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 95

resentatives. Under , this arrangement the members of the House of Repre-
sentatives were to be elected Ijy the people and they, the House members,
were to submit the names of eighteen other persons from whom the Presi-
dent by and with the consent and advice of the Senate, would select nine to
serve as a council or upper branch of the Legislature. Judicial power was
vested in superior and inferior courts and justices of tlie peace. The judges
of these courts were selected by the President. On the 19th day of January,
18 16, the Legislature passed a law adopting the common law of England as
the law governing the territory and it so remained until the later davs, when
Governor Richardson was called upon to serve tiie people of Nebraska in
its more limited lx)undaries, and the repeal of the criminal code of this law
by an act of the Nebraska Territorial Legislature, was one of the first
troublesome features with which he had to deal upon his arrival to assume
charge of his new post.

TERRITORY OF KANSAS.

Out of what was known as the Territory of Missouri the new Territory
of Kansas came into being on the second day of March, 1819. Two years
later, on the 2nd day of March, 1821, the state of Missouri was created.
At first the boundary line on the west passed north and south at the mouth
of the Kansas river. In 1836, when the title of the lowas, Sacs and Foxes
was extinguished by a treaty, the boundary lines of Missouri was extended
west to the river, as it now exists. The new addition was known as the
Platte Purchase. On the west side of the river was what we n(jw know-
as southeast Nebraska, Richardson, Nemaha and Otoe counties.

In 1825 the United States government made a deal with the Kansas
Indians, whereljy they got lands held by that tribe l>etvveen the Kansas,
Missouri, Nemaha and Nodaway rivers, and later, in 1834, the Pawnee
Indians relinqui.shed their holding to the government. Their lands were all
located south 'of the Platte river in Nebraska. At aljout the same time most
of the land held by the Otoes and Missouri Indians between the Little and
Great Nemaha rivers passed to the government. In lieu of these concessions
Congress passed an act on June 30. 1834, designating that all of the country
west of the Mississippi, and not within the states of Louisiajia and Missouri
or tlie Territory of Arkansas, should be taken for the purposes set forth
in an act to be Indian country. This included what is now Nebraska.

During the years which followed until the erection of Nebraska as a
territorv, there was a flood of tra\el by gold seekers lured to the I'acilic

96 RICHARDSON COUXTY, NEBRASKA.

slopes, and before them tlie Mormon migratory movement and the niihtary
expeditions. Nebraska Territory lay in the path and must be crossed by all
on the long journey westward. It was the grand highway then as now for
western travel.

•' XEBR.\SKA TERRITORY CRE.\TED.

It required several attempts before Nebraska Territory was finally and
definitely erected by an act of Congress. The first effort in Congress to
make a territory west of the Missouri river was made in 1851, but this
atempt did not get to the voting stage. At a meeting of Congress the fol-
lowing year, 1S52-3, a bill was introduced by \\'illard P. Hall, a member of
the House from Missouri, organizing what should be known as the "Terri-
tory of the Platte," which included much of what is now Nebraska. The
bill was referred to the committee on territories, of which William A. Rich-
ardson, of Illinois, later to be governor of Nebraska, was a member.

Mr. Richardson reported a bill organizing about the same territory- into
a territory which he desired should be known as the "Territory of Ne-
braska". The bill met with strenuous opposition, but finally passed the
house on a vote standing ninety-eight to forty -three, on February 10, 1853.
It went to the Senate, where it also found opposition which prevented its
passage, at that session. When the following Congress convened, on Decem-
ber 14, 1853, Senator August C. Dodge, of Iowa, introduced a bill to organ-
ize the Territory of Nebraska. His bill had reference to the same territory
mentioned in the bills before former sessions of Congress, all of which
contemplated- the Platte river as the northern boundary line. Opposition to
the entry of Nebraska as a territory turned principally upon the question
of whether it should be lawful or not to hold slaves within the new territory.
Those members from the Southern states desired that slave territory be
extended while the Northern members were opposed to it.

During those several years while Congress was haggling over the mat-
ter, prospective settlers were gathering in the border states, desirous of being
allowed to enter the state for the purpose of taking up land for homes.
Tho.se people were restive of the dilatory tactics in Congress and at a meet-
ing held at Bellevue, Hadley D. Johnson, of their number, was selected and
commissioned to go to \\'^ashington to explain their wishes in the matter.
He was received by the committee having in charge the bill and given a
hearing. His efforts in the cause of the settlers so impressed Senator
Douglas that the latter secured the recommittal of the bill. On January 23,
1854, another bill was oft'ered in the Senate, greatly changed in form, which

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 97

passed that body on March 4th of that year. WiUiam A. Richardson, in the
House again introduced a bill, which in its form was very similar to the
Senate measure.

The final vote on the measure, and the one which carried it, was had on
May 24th and the same was approved by President Pierce, May 30, 1854.
The act, as passed, provided that Congress had no jurisdiction over the new
territory as regards the status of slave holding, but granted that the people
of the new territory should have the right and privilege of making laws
suitable to themselves covering this c|uestion.

The new territory thus taken in covered an area of three hundred and
fifty-one thousand five hundred and fifty-eight square miles and extended north
from the fortieth parallel of north latitude (the line between Kansas and
Nebraska) to the British possessions (the line between Canada and the
United States), from the eastern boundary (the Missouri river, dividing
Missouri and Iowa from Nebraska), west to the summit of the Rocky
mountains. On the 28th of February, 1861, the Territory of Colorado was
created and this reduced the area of Nebraska by some sixteen thousand
thirty-live square miles. On March 16, 1867, the Dakotas were formed and
further reduced Nebraska by two hundred and twenty-eight thousand nine
hundred and seven square miles ; and still later a tract of fifteen thousand
three hundred and seventy-eight was taken from Washington and Utah,
but this was later included in some forty-five thousand ninety-nine square
miles, which now forms a part of the state of Idaho. The present area of
the state of Nebraska is seventy-five thousand nine hundred and ninet)-five
square miles.

At the time the Louisiana Purchase was arranged between the United
States and the government of France, in 1803, slavery was a legalized insti-
tution, and many of the residents held slaves. In the treaty ceding the
territory to the United States, Napoleon had incorporated an expressed
stipulation that the inhabitants of Louisiana "Should be incorporated into
the Union of the United States and admitted as soon as possible, according
to the principles of the federal Constitution, to the enjoyment of all the
rights, advantages and immunities of citizens of the United States, and in
the meantime they should be maintained and protected in the free enjoy-
ment of their liberties, property and the religion which they professed."
The effect of this clause was to have much attention in later years when the
Territory of Nebraska was formed and was much debated in Congress when
the matter of slave holding in the territory was before Congress.
(7)

98 RICHARDSON COUXTV. NEBRASKA.

KANSAS-NEBRASKA ACT.

Tliis act passed by Congress in 1854, during the administration of
Franklin Pierce, for the purpose of organizing the Territories of Kansas
and Nebraska. It provided among other things, that the questions of slav-
ery should be left to the people; that questions involving the title of slaves
were to be left to the local courts, with the right to appeal to the United
States Supreme court ; and that the Fugitive slave laws were to apply to the
territories. Further, so far as this region was concerned, the ^lissouri Com-
promise of 1820, which excluded slavery from the Louisiana Purchase north
of latitude 36° 30' north, except from the state of Missouri, was declared
repealed. This measure disrupted the Whig party, most of the Southern
Whigs joining the Democrats, and led to the organization of the Republican
party in 1856. It was also one of the prime factors in bringing about the
Civil War.

CI I. \ ITER IV.
Early Settlement and Early Surveys.

"Now let us climb Nebraska's loftiest hill.
And from its summit view the scene beyond ;
The moon comes like an angel down from Heaven,
Its radiant face is the unclouded sun,
Its outspread wings, the overreaching sky.
Its voice, the charming minstrels of the sky.
Its breath, the fragrance of the bright wild flowers.
Behold the prairie, broad and grand and free —
'Tis God's own garden, unprofaned by man."

— -"Nebraska:" A Poem, 1854.

The unsettled region of southeastern Nebraska presented an attractive
and seductive picture to the pioneers of sixty years ago. The beautiful
and fertile wocxied valleys, the flowing streams, the vast reaches of the
upland prairies — all provided an enticemeent not equalled anywhere else in
this land. The early visitors to the country, from Coronado to the mem-
bers of the Lewis and Clark expedition, were all united in singing the
praises of the region which is now Richardson county, as being a fitting
abode for the industrious white man. The country round about, was a
paradise for the nomadic Indian tribes and the adventurous hunters and
trappers. It was a veritable Garden of Eden, awaiting the advent of the
hardy American pioneers, who would break the way for less venturous settlers,
who were to figure in the development of tlie land. The Missouri river was
an easy and comfortable method of reaching this land of plenty and afforded
transportation for the necessities of life and the meager lielongings of the
first comers and homeseekers to the county.

The earlv American pioneer was a distinct specimen oi humanity, fie
was dififerent from his fellow .-Xmericans in many ways. In Ins veins flowed

lOO RICHAK'DSOX COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

the blood of generations of forbears, who had Hved on the frontier of civiH-
zation and were continuous homeseekers from both choice and necessity.
The pioneer ever had his vision turned to the Westward and dreamed of
wide ranges and far-reaching soHtudes, where he could live free and un-
molested far away from the trammels of civilization. It was his habit to be
moving- onward as each new section became peopled with followers, who
came to reap the benefits of his early hardships and toil in hewing a home
from the wilderness and prairies of the West. To the pioneer of the early
fifties must be given the credit for proving to the world that man could
exist and be comfortable in what was formerly called the "Great American
Desert."

WHERE THE PIONEERS CAME FROM.

The first families to journey to the region which is now Richardson
county, were of the real pioneer class, whose ancestors preceding them
were pioneers for many generations. They were from the state of Ten-
nessee, which had not yet reached its full development and has not done
so to this day. and from Missouri, ^''irginia, the mother of presidents and
the seat of some of the oldest families of the nation, mothered the progenitors
of this pioneer class. The Carolinas,-no doubt, had a share in producing
some of the ancestors of those venturous people who came to the banks of
the Missouri in the early fifties, to found homes and cities for themselves
and children. Their forbears were a restless and ambitious lot, who were
continually, from generation to generation, moving onward to newer fields
wherein to rear their families and find sustenance. From Virginia and
the Carolinas this migration spread to Tennessee and Kentucky. The chil-
dren of the Tennessee and Kentucky pioneers followed the river routes north-
westward to the newer lands. The navigable streams which coursed through
Tennessee to the Ohio, thence to the Mississippi and then up the Missouri
river, afforded a safe and easy means of transportation for their goods and
families.

Beyond certain sections, or more proper!}- speaking, the eastern section of
Nebraska, nature had placed difticulties in the way of the pioneer for founding
homes that to this day have not been fully overcome. Richardson county,
being situated in the basin of the ^lissouri river and its afiluents. made an
ideal place of residence and afforded a certainty of crop raising which the
more western sections of the state do not furnish. Hence, we find tliat
many of the earlier pioneers of this county remained aiKJ here reared fami-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. lOI

lies, who are at present the proud descendants of those who were the real
pioneers of the county.

The first homeseekers in the early fifties chose the breaks of the Mis-
souri and Nemaha rivers for their abiding places and avoided the high
uplands of the fertile prairie section for good and sufficient reasons. The
broken land in the region of old St. Stephens and Archer afforded two things
which the settler must have to sustain life — wood and water in abundance,
without the trouble of digging wells and carting the wood for his fireplace
a long distance. The settler selected the site for his home in the vicinity of
a forest and stream and more often near a gushing spring. He felled the
forest trees with which to build his cabin; game was plentiful in the woods
and fish abounded in the streams. His wants were simple and easily sup-
plied; he was comfortable and well fed. The pioneer and early homeseeker
passed by the marsh lands of the Nemaha and its smaller branch and sought
the high breaks of the southwestern part of the county, where were beauti-
ful and wooded valleys with flowing streams, which furnished ideal sites for
primitive homes. Some of the oldest families of Richardson county, who
are descended from these early pioneers, still reside in Speiser and Hum-
boldt precincts. They have broad acres and comfortable homes and are
prosperous and contented. The high hills and ranges afliord pasturage for
their herds and the wooded valleys afford homesites and areas of fertile,
cultivated land. This hilly country, which embraces the highest points in
the county, bids fair to witness another important development at the present
time. Geologists have stated that oil may be found in the depths of the
ground and capitalists are already drilling for the coveted mineral wealth.
Coal is found in the hills. Altogether, it is a desirable place of residence.

The pioneers who settled the eastern part of the county and made homes
in the Missouri river breaks, were the town builders and took an active part
in the early organization of the county. Their descendants at this day are
among the most prominent of the county citizenry and have accumulated
wealth and position through the foresight of their parents and their t)wn
inherent abilitv, in taking ad\'antage of the opportunities afforded by the
development of a new country.

FOUR EPOCHS IN SETT1,E.ME.\T PEKIOD.

For purposes of classification the settlement of Richardson county may
be divided into four distinct epochs, which include well-defined classes of
settlers. These epochs are as follow :

102 RICHARDSON COUXTV. NEBRASKA.

First. The real pioneer era, which dates from the year 1854 to i860 or
1 86 1. The men who came during this era were the hardy and adventurous
homeseekers, who left friends and relatives and old home ties behind them in
the older states in order to be the first to assist in building up a new state. Too
much credit cannot be given this class, inasmuch as they bore the brunt of the
solitude and the lonesome life and hardships incidental to living in an almost
unpeopled wilderness.

Second. The old settlers, or early settlement period. — The people who
came during the years from i860 to 1869 or 1870, were of a class who
came after the way was broken and while the population of the county
was yet sparse. They traveled overland from the older states and followed
the Missouri river as had their predecessors, found the land inviting and
remained to make a home and grow up with the county. \\^hile these people
are pioneers in a certain sense they can be better classed as "old settlers
of the second era of settlement.'" This era included 1866-1870.

Third. The homesteaders. After the enactment of the Homestead
Law. there was a rush of Civil ^\'ar veterans and people from the
older Middle West states to the county, to take advantage of the free
homesteads provided for in this act. The settlers came from Ohio, Illinois.
Indiana. Kentucky and Missouri during this era and settled upon the uplands
or prairies. The earl\- part of this period was a trying time to all classes
of settlers on account of the dry years. Many settlers and homesteaders
were forced to relinquish their homes and return to old home places. Those
who stayed and fought the good fight, reaped the rewards in later years of
abundant crops and prosperity which followed.

F^nirth. The era of building and development, and permanent settlers,
1 870- 1 890. — The free lands having all been taken up during the homesteading
era, another influx of settlers came to purchase the lands of their predecessors
and make permanent homes in the county. This class came from the older
states to the Eastward and from foreign lands. Many of these came with
funds with which to Iniy their farms and live stock. They were the builders
and developers of the county in a certain sense and the greatest industrial
progress which the c<nint\' has made dates from this influx.

lUCIIARDSON COCNTV PIONEERS.

The following is a list of those whd settled in Richardson county before
i860, as near as can be ascertained :

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO3

FALLS CITY.

1854: Wilson M. Maddox, Fred Harkendorff, Jesse Crook, Mary
Harkendorff. Mrs. Jesse Crook, Mr. William R. Crook. Mrs. J. R. Wilhite,

D. L. Thompson, Elias Minshell.

1855 : Benjamin F. Leechman and family, Lucinda Crook, James
Forney, \\'. H. Keeling.

1856: James Stumbo, G. J. Crook, John Crook.

1857: Frank Crook, J. R. Dowty, Polly Wamsle}-, Chris Wamsley.

1858: W. R. Goolsby, A. P. Forney, Mrs. Rose A. Allison, William

E. Dorrington, Isham Reavis and family, Mrs. Sarah Goolsby.

1859: John Fallstead, William McK. Maddox and family; Mrs. Daniel
Gantt, Anderson Miller, George W. Marsh, Margaret Miller, S. T. Miller,
Ike Allison, Elias Firebaugh.

1855
1856

1857
1858

1859

George Goolsby, A. D. Goolsby, A. H. Sloan.

J. F. Cornell, W. H. Cornell, Lavina Cornell.

C. F. Peabody, Isaac Clark and wife; T. C. Cunningham.

George D. Clark, J. W. Patterson, C. C. Parsons.

W. H. Mark, Emerson Smith, J. M. Dietrich, John Hossack,

W. S. Marsh, R. L. Marsh, T. S. Marsh.

1854: Abner Boyd, Mrs. J. T. Adams, W. H. Whitney.

1855: S. H. Roberts, Joseph Hare, Mrs. W. \\'. Spurlock, daughter
of J. C. Lincoln; S. P. Gist, J. C. Lincoln and wife.
" 1856: W. A. Crook.

1857: William Kinsey, and family: Will Whitney.

1859: Ester Waggoner, H. C. Jemiings, Morris Malone, J. H. Cum-
mings, Stewart Russell.

[856
[858

J. Robert Cain.

William C. Hall. Mrs. Kate Messier.

G. W. Smith, M. H. Van Deventer.

[04 RICH ARnSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

1854: John B. Didier.

1856: Charles Jenkins, Fulton Peters

1855 : Ellis Goolsby.
1859: Daniel Riley.

HUMBOLDT.

1853 : Joseph Zulek, Charles Zulek.

1854: Samuel Bobst.

1857: H. D. Tinker, O. J. Tinker, Edward P. Tinker, Franklin
Fersuson.

1854: Thomas F. Brown, Davis Speiser, Sr.
1856: George Riechers (now of Falls City).

ST. STEPHENS (NOW BAR.\DA TOWNSHIP).

1855 • William R. Cain, and family.

1848: Stephen Story and wife.

Others who settled in the county before i860, were: 1854. Rebecca
T. Edwards, 1855: George Coffman, 1856; J. O. Stout, James Dedrich, Mrs.
A. H. Cornell; 1857, Z. J. Parsons, L. A. Kinsey; 1858, S. J. Harris. James
Clark, William Colerick: 1859, William Parchen. A\'illiam Rieschick; 1858,
J. G. Wist, 1859. Mrs. George Linsicum; 1858, Airs. J. B. Morton; 1859,
Margaret Maddox; 1855, J. C. Miller; 1854, Christian Bobst; 1853, Con-
rad Smith, Rulo; 1855, Mrs. Dan Van \'alkenburg, Rulo; 1854,
C. W. Roberts, Salem; 1856. J. R. Kelley, Salem; 1855, Mrs. Mary A.
Hurley. Humboldt: 1855, Margaret Higgins Edwards, J. F. Shubert; 1859,
Sarah K. Goolsby, Verdon.; 1858, Mrs. Eliza Clark, Verdon; 1858, Mrs. Kate
Thomas; 1855, Isaac Crook, Archer; 1854, Charles Rouleau and Eli Bedard.
Rulo; 1857, Eli Plante, Rulo; 1854, William Level, Archer, and Frank L.
Goldsherry.

IIARDSHIl'S OF THE PIONEERS.

Surrounded as we are in Richardson county today with comforts in-
numerable and attendant prosperity, ,so prodigal that its resources seem ex-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

lOS

haustless, many of us are inclined to scorn the achievements of the pasi,
claiming, as we do, for ourselves the credit for what our county is today.
We would not minimize what is being done nor what has been done, fully
recognizing, as we do, the high standard of the present sojourner here;
but while giving credit in fulsome measure, it is urged that it should not
be carried to the point of forgetting our debt for this heritage from those
who have gone before, and that they are responsible to a very large degree
for the present happy condition.

While we have grown from a few scattered hamlets on the Missouri
river bluffs to a county recognized throughout the state as one among the
very first in wealth and importance, we must recognize that these blessings
are but the ripened fruit from the sacrifices, privations, labor and forethought
of the men, and women, too, who first came to the county and caught the
vision of its possibilities. Through all the trials and adversities common
to that period, their courage stood firm, and their spirit mounted to a vision
that many lived to see in the fulness of its fruition. In the face of all the
seemingly unsurmountable difficulties and obstacles, there was ever among
them an indomitable spirit which did not falter, but was as proud and true
as found in the peoples who liave pioneered any country in the history of
mankind.

It is almost impossible for us of this day and generation, to properly
visualize the foreboding prospect \\hich faced' the pioneer who came here
in the first, second and third decades of the county's settlement. Where
we find paved streets, well-defined roads and good bridges, green fields and
beautiful groves, they saw only pathless prairies and tangled grasses in the
valleys — a part of the center and solitude of the Great American Desert
or great plains. Land was the cheapest thing in sight; its expanse and vast-
ness were appalling. The countrv was one open wilderness, trackless, un-
known, and the home only of the wild animals and aborigines, whose habita-
tion dates back of written history. Where we retire each night in comfortable,
modern homes, protected by an established order of government, at peace
with all mankind, they sought slumber under the starry canopy of Heaven,
beside the trail, or in the dug-out or sod house, never knowing when their
lonely shelter might l>e sought out by the Indian on the warpatli. and their
lives made to pay forfeit for their intrusion. Over the same country that
they viewed from the heavy, ox-drawn, cumbersome wagon in long, weari-
some journey, we speed in high-powered motor, with hundredfold more
radius of travel.' With the telegraph, and the telephone in every house, we

I06 Rl<_HARnSOX COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

are enabled to have instant and personal communication with distant friends.
where they had to wait for weeks and months for the letter l)rought by the
freighter or passing traveler.

But they came ; not because they had been actually crowded out at home
— many leaving comparative comfort behind, and staked their all on the
caprice of a bare, naked chance that they would be able to survive the
rigorous vicissitudes that must come before such a world could be con-
quered. They found arid ands of the prairie and conquered them; they
built towns and villages where before had been a solitude.

WHITE RACE PIONEERS OF CIVILIZATION.

The white race, unlike their brethren of other peoples, ha\e been pre-
eminent from the dawn of history as the pathfinders who have migrated to
the four corners of the globe and traversed the recesses of the darkest conti-
nents in quest of adventure and excitement, with the consequent gain that
has always followed in the wake of their undertakings. The stout hearts
of this pioneering people have braved every danger, overcome every obstacle
incident to travel or climate, conquered the savage wherever found, subdued
the wild beast and the land, and prepared and made safe the sections visited
for the host that followed. Leaving Europe, they played star parts in
bringing dominion over the Americas. Our pioneers were the advance guard
of the great movement, which has now penetrated every part of North Amer-
ica. Those coming here were in advance of their time and because the
title to the lands were still held by the aborigines, had to be restrained
by the government from entering the territory until the spring of 1854.
Those pioneers, many of them, had reached western Missouri a year or two
previous and had taken up temporary residence there, pending such action
by the government as might open the country for settlement to the whites.
The Indian titles under the treaties made many years before were not extin-
guished until 1854, and the act known as the Kansas-Nebraska bill, did
not reach its final stage of passage until May, 1854.

This being the case when the settlers arrived in 1854, they found the
season far too much advanced for the preparation of the land, so necessary
for the successful growing of crops that year. Jesse Crook had taken a claim,
included in which was the land now known as the William Nutter farm, the
east half of the northeast quarter of section 2. of township 1. uortii of
range 16, and had succeeded in breaking up a jiart of it: to be exact, that
part south of the present new home of Mr. Nutter; luit what lie or his few

RICHARUSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO7

neighbors were able to Ijreak that year was very Httle, and the claim is
made by some that not one entire section was brought under the plow that
year. Under such conditions, those who came in that year, not being able
to subsist on what could be produced in the ntw country, were obliged to
rel\- on what they had brought, or were able to obtain, fmm the other side
of the river. The following winter is said to have been mild compared
to what had been expected, and with the coming of spring and the infln.x
of a new crop of settlers, a real, earnest effort was made to break up the
land. This was a tedious, difficult and slow task to be performed with the
farming utensils at hand, but a good showing was made. We, of today,
can scarcely gauge the intense interest that must have been manifest among
those people, who had the honor of putting in the first crop ever attempted
to be raised by white men in this unknown and untried region. But we
know they must have had little time to moralize on what they were doing
as, the while, their interest was quickened by the ever-present wolf of dire
necessity, which stalked their foosteps, and then as now, there were mouths
to • feed. Those people, with scanty stores, who had come long distance.^
from friends or loved ones, expecting to wring an existence from the soil,
watched those efforts with many misgivings; but the season of 1855 was
on its good behavior and all conditions considered, the harvest was ample.
What had been regarded in the light of an experiment, had now developed
into a wondrous reality — the land properly handled had proved, as it has
ever proved, the one Ijest friend to its children. The story of the success
of those who had come, quickly found its way Eastward to those who had
waited for another to open the gate, and they came in ever-increasing num-
bers to try their fortunes in the West. The press of the countr\- was solic-
ited in a campaign made to induce settlement in the ne\\- territory and the
results were effective in the way of inducing many to join in the develop-
ment of the country : but the country was new and large and the settlement
seemed slow to those from the more densely settled section of the East. Land
was cheaj): it seemed like all out-of-doors was lying here awaiting the hand
of the plowman — but the market was not good and money was scarce.

LEGISLATIVE KKLIEF.

It was at this period — in 1856 — that the Territorial Legislature took
a hand and thought to alleviate conditions in a financial way, by the intro-
duction of systems of finance, calculated to make money easier to lie had.

What thev did, if viewed in the light of present conditions, seemetl to

I08 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

have teen the height of folly; but judged from conditions as the\ subse-
quently existed, notably in 1896, when the entire country was aroused over
the nation's finances — the mantle of charity might well be used in considera-
tion of what was done by these embryo legislators, who had thought to
ameliorate the condition of a handful of settlers in the western territory.

This wild-cat money period was initiated by the Territorial AssemJ^ly
meeting at Omaha, in the winter of 1856, where it was arranged for the
establishment of what was known as "banks of issue," which it claimed
would accomplish the ends desired. Six of such banks were soon in opera-
tion and represented one for each five hundred of the population in the
territory at the time mentioned.

Under the charters given, they were allowed pnwer to issue as many
dollars of indebtedness as the circumstances of each individual shareholder
might demand for themselves. This country had not. at that time, progressed
so far as now, in a knowledge of correct financial methods, and the effect
that followed the operations of these banks when they got into business,
seemed at first to have solved the problem, and perhaps to a greater degree
than was anticipated.

Undertakings, previously forestalled for lack of capital, were now under
no such impediment, for money, such as it was, was plentiful. Under this
stimulus, the wildest speculation was indulged in; cities sprang up as if In-
magic — townsites were platted and staked out. Beautifully lithographed
stock shares in these townsite companies were bandied about, and everyone
seemed engaged in boosting for some town which was sure to become the
metropolis. Smooth dealers had agents in other states, where many of these
lots were sold to unsuspecting purchasers at fabulous prices. Every man
who had a claim, became obsessed with the idea that his was the location
for the city of the future and interested himself in getting townsite companies
formed and spent too much of his time in chasing such phantoms, when hv
might better have been employed in looking after the development of his
lands

SPECULATION .\T FEVER HEAT.

The fe\er for speculation in all manner of schemes jiut afloat, possessed
the people of all communities and had the effect of luring men away from
the land, and in such a state of affairs, a less acreage, acconling t" the
population, was tilled than formerly. The b<wm thus occasioned, lunvexer.
was characteristic of similar fluctuating inflations which have visited the stale.
Init was temporary. There were a few far-sighted men in the territory

RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO9

at the time who could forecast the results sure to follow what was happen-
ing, but the}- were so much in the minority that in 1857 the elections of
the fall brought together another legislative assembly, which, instead of
gi\-ing relief, was so thoroughly imbued with the spirit of the times that
more of the wild-cat banks were given charters, and further aid was ex-
tended those fostering schemes for making easy money.

Many new towns were mapped out and more agents were at work selling
stock and lots. A period of the wildest speculation existed around those
paper towns: but the bubble was soon to burst and carry down the usual
crop of fools, ruined and bankrupt. Ruin, poverty and utter desolation
were now the common fare of an entire population which had been seduced
into strange paths in c|uest of easy money.

Those few not enamored by the glittering prospects so temptingly offered
and who had remained with the soil as actual producers, were the ones
best pi-epared to weather the storm. The long, dreary, cold winter of 1858
found the people but little prepared as they had produced little and had
exhausted the supplies they had. During this period a chance offered for
study and reflection and many learned that the new country was more in
need of producers and people to till the soil than of real-estate and town
boomers. The experience thus gained was read into revision and improve-
ment of the banking laws, which have ever proved beneficent to the people
of the state.

The following year was none too good for the real-estate broker and
town-lot hawkers, and they quickly di.sappeared as a class. With their going
a renewed and rightly directed interest was manifest in the work of improv-
ing agricultural conditions, which has since kept a continual flow of gold
inward to the people of the state. Thus, for the first time the boats leaving
for the South bore away cargoes of grain and live stock, which in turn
brought back monev to be used for the further de\elopment of the countr)-.

Right at that time the people became embroiled in one of the bitterest
of contests — that of designating a permanent point for the county seat.
In all new countries might makes right to a far greater extent than in
those more fully systemized. The settlement of the river tier i.f counties,
of which Richardson is the farthest south and of the first, so far preceded
that of the counties King further west, that much of what was endured
here was not repeatetl in the latter.

I lO RICHARDSON COLXTV, NEBRASKA.

From the date of the organization of the count}- in Marcli, 1855, when
Archer was designated as the county seat, there was a brief period of peace,
liut from the following year, when the county seat was removed to Salem,
there was for nearly fifteen years a constant strife, which stirred the people
from one end of the county to the other and the effects of which was felt
in the community for many years.

An act approved by the Territorial Legislature on February g. 1857,
provided for an election to determine the county seat of Richardson county
and appointed the first Thursday of April, the same year, the date of
balloting. The election resulted in the defeat of Falls City and the choice
of Salem as the county seat. The county offices were not, however, moved
to Salem at once, and before their removal an election for a permanent loca-
tion of the county seat had been held, the contestants receiving an equal
number of ballots each, and the election was virtually undecided. Although
the first election had resulted in the choice of Salem, many of the appurte-
nances of the county seat had not been removed to that point and when the
later elections finally determined that Falls City should be the county seat,
they took up their final al^ode in this cit}-.

THE EPIL5EMIC OF 1 86o.

The early summer of i860 was signalized by the advent of the most
fatal and contagious disease which has ever visited the county. This was the
bloodv flux; something resembling acute dysentery. The disease was supposed
to have started at Rulo. having been brought there by emigrants cm smne
river steamer. It was not confined to that town, but spread rapidl\-. untd
only the sparseness of the population prevented a strong likeness to the
scenes of the great plague in London. In Salem as many as sixteen died
fnim this disease in one week, but at the other settlements it was not so bad,
I'alls City having had scarcely an\- cases. In the newspapers of the time, it
was magnified beyond all due proportions, but a careful investigation of
the matter robs it of much of its terror. It was epidemic, and caused many
deaths, yet ran its course rapidly and disappeared so quickly as to leave
little impression on the memory of the busy pioneers.

CLAIM JUMl'ING.

The process of "claim jum]iing."' or obtaining by means at least ques-
tionable, the lands nu which others had made settlement, was frct|uently

RTCriARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. Ill

in practice in 1857. The person who was "jumped." very frequently was
a non-resident, and had simply made a claim as a speculation, intending
to pre-empt if there seemed a probability of rapid increase in the value
of his land, or to allow a lapse if it suited his convenience. Many of those
who built claim shanties to hold the land for them until they could return
with their families from Missouri or points East, returned to find the claim
house demolished and some newcomer fully settled. An apt illustration of
the state of things at that time is the case of Mr. Berry, who came to a
point near Humboldt and located a claim by building thereon a log affair
of legal size. Returning to his former home in Kansas, he loaded his wagons
and started out on his return in the spring of 1858. When near Salem, his
wife became so ill as imperatively to need rest, and Mr. Berry, accompanied
by his son, proceeded up the Nemaha to the location of their claims.

The son's claim was the first visited, and here were found the ruins
of the claim hut and evidences of calm usurpation on someone's part. This
could hardly be called a surprise, for the son was unmarried, and had small
hopes of retaining his claim in any event. Continuing their investigation
in the dusk, which had already commenced, the father and son saw a light
gleaming from the house, which had been put up on the preceding visit.
Without attempting to dispossess the intruders, the Berrys turned to the
cabin of a settler on the next claim, where they learned that a young married
couple had thought the new nest just what they needed, and had taken
possession without the formality of a lease.

It must be remembered that although the Berrys had put up a claim
shanty, they had not a scrap of paper to show in proof of their legal right
to the land. Armed, then, only with the unwritten code of those early days,
voung Berry entered the cabin and demanded of the wife of the "jumper."
she being its only occupant, instant evacuation. This was as promptly re-
fused, and after allowing five minutes for the removal of the household goods.
Berry, with the assistance of a sister, who had joined him, deposited them
in a heap on the ground, just outside the door. This done, the wagons (jf
the settlers were driven up, and the goods unpacked and placed in the dwelling.

At about this time young Berry saw the man whose goods he had so
summarily evicted, stealing along beside a pile of firewood. On reaching
the chopping block he seized tlie ax, which was lying there, and rushed
toward the house, pouring out vile epithets upon his enemies and apparentl)
intending to drive them out again. Young Berry, however, caught up an
old musket, and returned the attack of the ax man with a ba\onet charge.

112 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

It was ancient warfare against the modern — the battle ax against firearms :
and the latter won the day, the intruder being run down and forced to
return and offer an ample apology for his scurrilous language.

Shortly after that young Berry was returning home in the afternoon,
when he discovered the rudiments of an adobe hut on his claim, and near
it was a boy guarding some tools. Inquiry developed the fact that his
enemy was again attempting to gain a foothold on which to get a title to
the land. The boy was dispatched to the owner of the tools with a lucid and
laconic message to the effect that further building on that site would be
unhealthy, and the hint was frankly accepted. In other parts of the county
"claim jumpers" were much more harshly treated, and old settlers could
probably tell many tales of the vindication of innate right, did not the sense
of prudence forbid.

THE JAY-HAWKERS OF 1862.

All through the years of the War of the Rebellion, there were scattered
bands of men who went by the name of "jayhawkers." Those bands were
plentiful enough along the frontier line of the North and South parties, and
although nominally under one flag or the other, had oftentimes a freedom
from allegiance to anyone save themselves that was very convenient. Odier
bands, while fully as freebooting, were strong in their allegiance to their
party. Such a band was raised near the Kansas and Nebraska line early
in the war and made constant forays into the vexed and rebellious Missouri
border. On one occasion, this band, passing eastward through Falls City and
returning to a camp just west of town, were pursued by a force of Union
soldiers, who had perforce acceded to the demands of despoiled Missourians
for redress. Upon the arrival of the Federal troops at Falls City, the camp
of the jayhawkers was in full sight; but while the troops were resting and
giving a hearing to the various charges of the "secesh," who had accompanied
them in the hope of getting extra advantages thereby, the marauders moved
over to the south of the Kansas line. Here no engagement took place, for
the simple reason that the jayhawking party had l)een increased to formidable
proportions and the handful of soldiers were powerless. It is broadly hinted
that the Federalists surrendered with very good grace and without any
needless bitterness, and some old settlers make still stronger statements. The
fact remains that the troops returned peaceably to their (|uarters in IMis-
souri, and that the most serious result of their attack was the depleted larders
of the l^'alls Citv citizens.

HON. JERRY FKNTOX
Dawsdu IMoiieer.

JOHN 1). Sl'KACINS,
rolice JwlKe.

RTCHARDSOX COUXTV, NEBRASKA. II3

At the time of tlieir first occupation of Falls Citv, manv of the most
pronounced Union men felt anything but easy, and undoubtedly there was
considerable danger, as the charges preferred against them by the fire-eating
delegation which accompanied the troops were of the most serious character,
and had they been acted upon by the troops, would have made matters un-
pleasant. Other jayhawking- parties made their appearance from time to time,
and executed their peculiar tactics, but none of these later forays were
prolific of incidents worthy of remembrance. \\'ith the close of the war.
fighting and jayhawking for a living fell into disfavor and later was entireh-
abandoned.

THE "underground" RAILROAD.

Old John Brown, who died just before the war in a futile attempt to
hasten the "good time coming," which had formed so large a part of his
life's hopes, spent a large amount of his time in Richardson county. One
of his stations was located on the blufif near Falls City, and after a time in
the city itself. Many of the older residents ha\e vivid remembrances of
the stalwart old hero and his eccentric ways of bringing sinners to book.
A sample of his quality comes out in strong relief in the simple story of
one of the last trips of his dusky train. On the route a child was born, and,
with the grateful courtesy so natural with the race, was named "John
Brown."' Arriving at the station near Falls City, the refugees were overtaken
by a band of South Carolina rangers, who proposed to reconvey their chattels,
without loss of time, to the galling serfdom of the "sunny South." In this,
however, the proud Southerners reckoned wrongly, for John Brown's force
surrounded them and forced submission to a superior force. What fol-
lowed must have been a sight for the gods and men, f(jr old John Brown,
stepping to the front, deUvered a scathing rebuke for the profanity which
had been so freely heaped upon the colored folks, and then forced the rangers
kneeling, to repeat the Lord's Prayer after him. Then depriving them of
their horses and arms, he started them homeward. It is safe to say that
the Lord's Prayer was fully remembered 1)}' them as the\- plodded wearily
back to the coast, and that "nigger catching" seemed less amusing by half
ere the trip was over.

A little prior to this time, the "nigger catchers" had made a neat specu-
lation out of the avarice of the Indians living nearby. Emancipation was
breathed on every wind that blew from the South to the North, and the
slaves could not wait for that great boon to come. They must reach out
(8)

114 RICTIAUnSON COr.N'TY, NEBRASKA.

and grasp it for themselves. Thus it came about that the exodus of scatter-
ing slaves was nearly constant, and the rewards of their exasperated owners
placed at a high figure. It was hardly profitable for a white man to hunt
negroes, for the whole sport had acquired a bad, in fact a villainous, odor
in the nostrils of the community. Yet, many did not scruple to detain
the fugitives under one pretext or another, until the owners could send for
them, and some even employed the Indian braves, who were familiar with
all the hiding places along the heavily timbered river bottoms, to bring in
captives. On one occasion, Sewall Jemison, the editor of the Broad A.vc,
came upon two parties who were haggling over the price to be paid for a
runaway slave, who stood near them, apparently resigned to his fate. While
the Indian buck was explaining that for so fat and large a prize a liberal
price should be paid, Jemison captured the bone of contention, and sent him
off by a special train of the underground railway. To record a tithe of the
exploits of John Brown and his friends on the northern Kansas trail, through
Brown county to Richardson county, Nebraska, and thence northward, would
require a book of considerable size. Of these daring feats Falls City and
points nearby were oftentimes the theater, but the history of the time so
recent, and yet so old in the life of a Western town, has already drifted
out of the memory of its witnesses, and is written nowhere so fully as in that
ledger whose fast-filling pages are ever unfilled and whose balance sheet
is perfect.

FIRST FRENCH SETTLEMENT IN RICHARDSON COUNTY.

To the French must be awarded the honor of having been among the
very first of the white settlers of the county, and looking backward at this
late date, it seems strange that it should have been so from the fact that
there now remain so few of that nationality in the county and they but the
descendants of those early pioneers.

The first settlement was made in the summer of 1855, when E. H.
Johnson together with William Kenceleur, Charles Rouleau, Eli Bedard and
Eli Plante reached the present site of Rulo, coming thereto from Sioux Cit}-,
Iowa. This party stopped overnight, as they entered the county at the north,
and were guests of John B. Didier, also a Frenchman, who then resided in
what is now Barada township. It is worthy of note that j\Ir. Didier. who had
preceded them as a resident of Richardson county, has outlived them all, and
now at tlie advanced age of more tiian ninety years, is still among us and a
resident of the identical farm on which these early pioneers found him.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. II5

Their visit was made for the purpose of inspecting lands allotted to
their wives under the treaty of 1831, made with the Indians at Prairie du
Chien, Wisconsin. Under the terms of this treaty the wives of these men,
being classed as partly Indian blood or mixed bloods, were entitled each
to a half section of land in what is known as the half-breed tract, in the
east part of the county, along the Missouri.

At the time of their arrival they found but two white men resiiling
here, and they the husbands of Indian women. One of the two was U. X.
DuPuis, the husband of the widow of "White Cloud," the noted old head
chief of the Iowa Indians. "White Cloud," the last and most famous of die
real and regular chiefs of this tribe had died but a short time prior to
the arrival of this party and was interred in the Rulo cemetery, located a
little to the north and west of the village. The other of the two "whites"
was Charles Martin, tlian whom, there never lived a more pict.urescjue or
chivalric character of the old plains and mountains. Martin was a daring
and wonderful hunter, who had spent years on the plains and Western
mountains, before there had been any thought of settlement by the white
people in this section of the country. He was possessed in full measure
of distinguishing traits, which marked him well, even at a period and among
a class of people not at all lacking in great personal courage. He was
remarkable even in his person and appearance and is described like most
of the great plainsman type, tall and straight, like the Indian with whom he
had spent much of his life, and was of commanding figure, Roman-nosed
and keen of eye. In his life on the plains he had spent many years in
the tractless solitudes of the great prairies as a trapper and hunter. In
the late forties he had, while hunting high up in the mountains of Utah,
come accidently upon a camp of an Indian tribe, who had lately lost their
chief in battle with another hostile Indian band, and had captured an Indian
maiden of the enemy people. According to custom with them, the Indians
were at the time engaged in the work of making a sacrifice of the dusky
captive partly to appease the spirit of the departed chief and in retaliation
for the great loss they had suffered. The ceremony, which was of a highly
religious order had been viewed for some time by the hunter at a safe dis-
tance, but when he realized the ghastly significance of it all and saw that
thev really meant to destroy the life of the maiden, who had already been
bound to the pyre, he at once interceded and after much parley succeeded
in effecting her purchase, explaining to them that the ends would all be
served bv her utter banishment from the land, as he would carr\- her away

lid RICIIAUDSOX COUNTV, NEBRASKA.

to an unknown country far from the land of her fathers. In exchange he
gave some ponies and tents he had in his equipment

When the French party of settlers led by Rouleau and Bedard. and
Plante. arri\ed at Rouleau, or Rulo, as it is now called, they found Martin and
his captive, who had but recently journeyed thither and she was his wife.
It is attested b\- those who knew them in the many }-ears that followed.
that she made for him a most estimable helpmate. Martin was one of the
pioneer merchants of Rulo, putting up the first store and engaging in busi-
ness with F. I,. Goldsberry, the latter for many years a prominent figure
in the county.

In the year following — 1856 — this party made permanent settlement
at Rulo and the town took its name from Charles Rouleau, the h>enchman,
and member of the expedition. Rouleau and Bedard had married sisters and
were the chief founders of the city. At that time Stephen Story was the
other I inly wliite settler of the county, e.xcept John B. Didier, known to this
part}- and he was found near the site of what was afterwards the village of
St. Stej.hens founded and named by him.

Tin-: BOHEMIAX SETTLEMENT AT HUMBOLDT.

Alany people of many lands, impelled to leave their old homes through
persecutions and misrule at various periods in their mother countries, have
sought and still continue to seek new and peaceful homes in this land of
the free. But nf all these, few, perhaps have a histor\- so dramatic, e\en
tragical as it has often been referred to, as the Bohemian immigrant.

The first Bohemian to locate near the present site of Humlx)ldt was
Charles Zulek. Leaving his native home with his family in 1854 he came
direct to America, spending the first winter in Illinois. In the winter of
1855 he started west in search of a home, arriving at St. Joseph, Missouri.
in the early days of June. Proceeding thence by Jioat to .\rago. in tiiis
county, where they were attracted l)y the fertility of the country, they
decided to settle. The early hardships of this pioneer family were typical
of all the settlers of that period. It is said that Zulek often walked to St.
Joseph (a distance of seventy miles) for ins iirovisious. carrying them home
on his back. And when the l)urden became too heavy, he divided it, carrying
a part foi- ^ome distance, then returning for the other ])art, and so on until
he reached lionie.

Later, when the homestead law was put into effect, a number of liohemi-
ans came to Xeliniska. I'"irst among them was b'rank Skaiak. who was also

KICIIAKUSUN COUNTY, NEBRASKA. II7

tlie first to take a homestead on the prairie. Skalal< left Bohemia in iS(>5,
coming- West by way of Chicago, where there was a flourishing Bohemian
settement. At St. Joseph, Missouri, Frank Skalak with his farnily took a Ijoat
for Arago, where they accidentally became acquainted with Zulek. On that
day Zulek had come to Arago to secure, if possiljle, a loan to pa\- off an
obligation he was owing a party in Missouri. Being a countryman he imme-
diately secured the loan from Skalak, although they had never met before.
Thereupon, Skalak with his family returned with Zulek to locate in this sec-
tion of the country. Wenzel Skalak, then a boy, now one of the prominent
Ijusiness men of Humboldt, declares that the loan then made was a most
fortunate one indeed, as it was the means of causing- them to locate here.
However, he does not advise so hazardous a method of curbstone banking as
that was.

In recounting- those early clays he related that he hired out to Zulek
for the munificent sum of forty dollars per year, Ijreaking sod barefooted
in grass, waist high, using a twenty- four-inch plow and driving from four
to six yoke of oxen. He had to walk to Arago or \eliraska Cit)- to have
his plow sharpened. Their provisions were also secured at those places.
In 1867 Ruel Nims & Company opened the first store in Humboldt, occu-
pying the old stone store facing the old bed of the Long Branch, a short
distance south of the present business section of Humboldt. Young Wenzel
at once secured a position as a clerk with this firm, receiving five dollars
per month salary. Being an efficient clerk his salary was soon increased to
ten dollars per month, the following year. He afterwards was in the employ-
ment of various firms in the city until he engaged in business for himself,
n(3w owning- the large hardware and implement business on the west side
of the public square in the city. John Wohoun, another pioneer, setlleil
on the prairie with the Skalaks and in\ited their friends (Bohemians) and
soon had a nucleus, from which grew one of the largest settlements of
foreigners in the county. Those who secured homesteads at this time were :
Anton Eis, M. Nemechek, Ferdinand I'idermutz, John Petrashek. \'acia\
Prachal, Vaclav Holechek, Jan Janata, Ferd Blecha, Fr. Xemecliek, Jos.
Musil, Jno. Cizner, and X'aclav Hlavaty. All of these men who braved tlie
hardships of the early pioneer are n(jw dead, save one, b'rank Xeniechek, Sr..
who still resides on the place he chose when coming to the state. The
Bohemian settlement at Hunijjoldt is without doubt the oldest of that peoi)Ie
in the state. One of the chief factors in holding the settlement together was
the organization of a fraternal society known as the C. S. V. S. (Bohemian

Il8 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Slavonic Benevolent Association), which was organized in the United States
but a few years before their coming here. The local lodge was organized
May 31, 1879, with the following charter members: Fr. Novak, F. A. Witt,
Wenzel Skalak, Fr. Hubwa, Vaclav Pracheji, Jos. Hon, Fr. Hon, Jos. Novak,
\'ojta Kohn, Vojta Blecha, Vac. Wiesner, Jas. Blecha, Fr. Hnizda, J. J.
Dvorak, Jos. Rousek, and R. \^ertisaka. But three of the charter members
now reside here and only half of them are still living. The lodge was organized
for fraternal, beneficiary, educational and social purposes. For many years
a Bohemian school was maintained, so that the younger generation might
have opportunity to learn something of the mother tongue and the history
of the great men among the people, the pictures of many of whom adorned the
walls of the homes beside those of Washington and Lincoln, and to whom
they were often compared. A library was also established, from which
Bohemian books could be had free by those desiring the same. In later times
other Bohemian societies were formed among which were the J. C. D.
(Bohemian Ladies Society) and among the young people the Sokols and
Komensky Club; the former, an organization of Bohemian Turners and
the latter, a literary society. The C. S. P. S. is in the most flourishing con-
dition of them all at the present time, having a membership of more than a
hundred and owns its own home and grounds.

Inasmuch as the chief industry of the Bohemian in his native land was
that of agriculture, so it has been here, and they are today numbered among
the most industrious and successful of the farming community here. Vet
all along the Bohemian has been well represented in the business circles of
Humboldt. All are prosperous and well-to-do and more than ordinarily
successful in the various occupations in which they may he found engaged.
All along they have taken a keen interest in the upbuilding of the commun-
ity to which they gave a large impetus for settlement. Although at first,
many of the customs and traditions of the old world were adhered tn, yet
they have now been discarded and even the most typical Bohemian immi-
grant has been transformed into a patriotic, peaceful, contented American.
Although they still cling to their mother tongue, even that is giving wa\
to the language of the new world. It will be, too, only a matter of time
when even this pioneer settlement will lose its Bohemian characteristics
altogether and become thoroughly Americanized. Only the old Bohemian
cemetery in the west end of the county will bear testimony to the fact
that here the Bohemian settler had once found that haven which he sought
and in return gave birth to a newer, happier posterity.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

FIRST COLONY OF IRISH PIONEERS.

Daniel Webster, at the dedication of the Bunker Hill monument, immor-
talized the Pilgrim Fathers for their heroism in the settlement of New
England, but not less worthy of commendation was the love of home and
spirit of lofty independence that animated the pioneers who crossed the
Missouri river half a century and more ago.

Michael Riley and Thomas F"arrell, brothers-in-law, found conditions
in their native land as intolerable as did the "Mayflower' Pilgrims, and the
saine aspiration for freedom and manly independence impelled them to join
in the wake of many thousands of their countrymen who were immigrating
from Ireland in the middle of the last century. After a few years residence at
Salem, New Jersey, they and their equally plucky young wives determined to
go West in quest of homes and independence.

They landed in Richardson county in 1859 practically penniless. From
the first observation of the country they were impressed with its future
possibilities and they wisely decided to cast anchor and grow up with it.
In the meantime they continued to correspond with relatives in New England,
with the result that in the spring of 1867 Bryan Riley and two sons, and
Thomas, Dennis and Nora Fenton proceeded West, on the strength of the
pioneer representation. St-. Joseph, Missouri, was at this period the nearest
point by rail, and after passage on the river steamboat to Aspinwall and a
drive across the boundless prairie, at last the humble but hospitable log
cabin home of Michael Riley was located on the bank of the Nemaha, not
far from the site of the present village of Dawson. On entering the home
of his long-separated brother, Bryan Riley was first awakened to the changed
conditions of Western life: the door of the log house was too low to admit
of a tall man's entrance without making a low bow, and as Mr. Rilev was
of an unbending spirit, he received a bump on the forehead that made him
declare forcibly that he was ready to go back to civilization on the return
steamboat. After breakfast on the following morning and a look through
the yards of fine cattle and fat hogs, not overlooking well-filled smoke
houses and bulging corncribs, the lump on his forehead gave way to a
desire to possess a portion of the rich soil, and after perfecting titles to as
much of it as their means afforded, Thomas Fenton at once returned to
his home in Norwich, Connecticut, to report progress and organize a colonx-
of neighbors and relatives for the following spring.

In the meantime, \\^i]liam Fenton, with Mrs. Brvan Rilev, her son

120 RICHARnSOX COLNTV, NEBRASKA.

and daughter and grandson, M. B. Miller, proceeded \\'est, and landed at
Dawson in June, 1867. The missionary labors of Thomas I~enton. backed
Ijy encouraging letters from those on the ground, resulted in a colony of
about twenty families setting out for the West in April, 1868. They were:
The Ryans, Rileys, Fentons, O'Gradys, Murphys, Clancys, Carvers, and
O'Donnells. besides a number of young people who located in (3maha. Those
old neighbors and relatives and the Rothenbergers and Tiehens constituted
what was termed the Irish settlement, or the Dawson Catholic colony.

The radical change from the New England factory villages to the bound-
less plains of Nebraska caused the young people to feel like Robinson Crusoe
on his island, but the elders of the colony recognized a soil and climate
very like their native Ireland, and like the signers of the Declaration of
Independence, they agreed to stand or fall together. The loss most keenl\-
felt by the younger members was the social life so much accustomed to in
the Eastern factory villages, but even in this matter the Yankee spirit
asserted itself, and spelling schools, lyceunis, etc., were started to dispel the
ennui of frontier life. The inventive genius of the Yankee, coupled with
the native wit of the transplanted son of Erin, found a rich field in the early
days of the little colony and a judicious application of these traits surmounted
many an obstacle that would perplex settlers of greater wealth. As an instance
we may cite the case of Commodore O'Grady. After purchasing his first
eighty acres and a little mule team, he had left for working capital just
five dollars and a shot-gun, with which to provide a house and tide his little
family over until a crop was raised. As an old sailor he had weathered
too many rough seas to be discouraged and he went about putting on as bold
a front as a millionaire. He made a deal with a timber owner for some
old trees that leaned into the river, for the shot-gun, and the timber man
at once went chuckling among his neighbors telling how he had beaten the
sailor out of his gun for the trees that never could be gotten out of the river
bed. It suited the sailor to be taken for a lamb, while making similar deals,
Ijut when the river was frozen over the next winter, he appeared on the
ground with a gang of neighbors with whom he had exchanged summer
work The trees were felled on the ice, and to the surprise of the timber
lords, the "old sailor" with his mules rolled the logs out of the river like
so many empty barrels. The logs were next hauled to a saw-mill and ripped
into himber, that made a plain l)ut comfortable house, in which w;is reared
a family of robust boys and girls, and whose tinited industry while minors,
built up an estate that would excite the envy of an English liaron.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

AN EARLY BREAKING TEAM.

The breaking of the prairie sod was a matter that tested the patience
of the primitive farmers, but after the usual experimenting it was accom-
plished, as in the case of getting the logs out of the river, by the doubling
up of the neighboring forces. Here a description of an earl\- breaking team
may be of interest to those who may imagine the early settlers had nothing
to do but sit and watch their land grow into value. Commodore O'Grady's
little mules alone could no more break the tough sod than a span of goats,
and after all the teams in the settlement were paired, there was no match
for the mules but a yoke of oxen, possessed by the Hon. Jerry Fenton, and
as Hugh O'Grady hated oxen and Jerry distrusted mules, there was no
harmony of action between the team or drivers. At this stage William
Fenton, who had found empoyment in the quartermaster's department in
Omaha, invested his first season's wages in a span of cavalry horses at a
governent sale, and hitching them on in the lead of the mules and oxen, the
latter, recognizing true leadership, struck out in a manner to excite the admi-
ration of the joint-stock company.

The year previous to the arrival of the colony from Connecticut, there
were an equal number of congenial spirits who had moved into the settle-
ment from Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, and Iowa; notably, the Drapers, Lib-
bees, Aliens, Biisers, Bennett, E. C. Hill, Sr., George Smith, I. H. Burr,
H. S. Belden, Ben Miles, and S. C. Barlow. While this aggregation of early
settlers earned the jocular title of a community, "half Irish and half Yankee,"
it is to their credit that from the date of their first ac(|uaintance to tiie
present time they were a unit in everything of a progressive nature.

In the autumn (if 1867 the hearts of the settlers were elated at the sight
of an ox-train heading toward the ford of the Xemaha. Their joy was
caused bv the knowledge that the nnmigrant train consisted of Joshua
Dawson and a son, with material for building a saw- and grist-mill on the
Nemaha. The completion of the mill in 1868 attracted a .store, postoffice
and blacksmith shop and from this date on "Dawson Mills'' on the map
has had as prominent a space as towns of greater aspiration. While the
present village that was platted with the advent of the railroad is officially
styled "Noraville." Xora, herself, would not recognize any reference to the
present village than the good, old-fashioned name of Dawson. The mill
and store afforded the early settlers a convenient center to congregate and
discuss all matters pertaining to public welfare and que.'^tions of a hcrtl law.

122 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

and voting bonds for a railroad through the county created much differ-
ence of opinion.

The breaking up of the land, the building of houses and stables, hum-
ble in their day, and the planting of groves, orchards, and hedges engaged
the time and attention of the early settlers, but they did not lose sight of
the importance of providing the schools and churches for the education and
religious training of their children. In fact, since the date of the first settle-
ment the writer can testify that there has never been aught but a friendly
rivalry among the citizens in their generous desire to keep the Dawson
schools up to the highest standard of excellence. The character and zeal
of the colonist in this respect were subjected to the severest test at a time
when their financial ability was very limited. The first attempted church
edifice was wrecked by a storm, when only partially completed. A vear
later saw it rebuilt and immediately destroyed by fire. A third time it was
built stronger and better and after serving its usefulness it was destroyed
by an electrical storm and replaced by the present substantial brick structure.
But the aged and many youthful members of the colony have long since
pre-empted claims in the silent city on the hill, while a few surviving mem-
bers, who, as romping boys and girls, served an apprenticeship in New Eng-
land factories, are waiting their turn to be ferried across the river. No
doubt many of them fell short of attaining the goal of their highest aspira-
tions, but they came west in quest of homes and independence, and they
succeeded in leaving their children far better equipped to grapple with the
battles of life than they were on landing in Richardson county.

THE DUNKARD COLONY AT SILVER CREEK.

The settlement of people from Illinois and Somerset county, Pennsyl-
vania, four miles north of Falls City, began in 1868, with the arrival of
Francis .Shaffer, C. Forney, J. Johnson, and Philip Meyers. They were soon
followed by Samuel Kimmel, the Lichtys, Pecks, J. ^Meyers and others.
Elder Samuel Stump, who came with his family from Ohio, was (|uite
an acquisition to the colony. He was considered a fearless expounder of
the old Gospel until he died.

At that time these people paid from seven to ten dollars an acre for
this one-hundred-and-fifty-doUar land, and being before the days of either
railroad, there was much tedious hauling to make the needed improvements.
Wiien the frightful drought and grasshoppers came in 1874 the Silver

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

123

Creek community stood the calamity remarkably well and went right on
gaining new citizens from the East.

Any history of that part of Richardson county would be incomplete
without reference to Rev. John Forney. He was not only a builder of the
community, but served faithfully as a preacher and medical doctor for a
great number of people, for a very small consideration.

The school house was built in 1870. For many years it served for church
services, school and literary societies. Many weighty problems of national
importance have been threshed out on this old school house floor, by the
lyceums that met weekly during the winter months.

Silver Creek Brethren church was built in 1878. The cemetery was
laid out years before and the first burial there was in 1870. Most of the old
settlers of the Silver Creek neighborhood have now removed to the city, while
their descendants are occupying the well-improved homes they built. All are
living and dying as American citizens, except Joseph Meyers and family. They
moved to Jerusalem, Palestine, years ago, where nov*' in the hills of Judea,
Uncle Joe and some of his family lie buried. Mrs. Meyers and the other chil-
dren are still living.

FIRST REGISTER OF SETTLERS' CLAIMS.

The claims of the first settlers, together with the dates they settled on the
lands of the United States, on the Great Xemaha river, were as follow :

John O'Laughlin March 22 1854

John Blew March 21 1854

J.icob B. Newton March 29 1854

Francis N. Purkett March 28 _i854

Samuel Crozier March 28 1854

J. B. Key April 29 1854

H. Cleney May 20 1854

Thomas Newton May 20 1854

Meredith Teed June t6 1854

Decatur Putney June i 1854

S. C. Cieamen March 29 1S54

John S. Lumpkins March 27 1854

Joel Heney June 12 1854

James Matthew February 25 1854

Ambrose Howeston June 12 1854

RICHARDSON COrXTV, NEBRASKA.

Pierson Hoiiser June 17

Jespa Adamson June 17

W. C. Forster June 17

A. C. Forester June 17

Francis A. Mc\'ey June 17

Charles W. ^rc\'ey June 17

Robert H. :\Ic\'ey June 17

James T. Davenport July i

Ann T. Hashbarger July i

Christian Bobst \pril 12

Robert T. Archer \pril 12

Jacob Adams \pril 12

Robert L. Turner \pril 12

George T. Bobst ^__April 12

Harry Abrams June 4

Thomas Dragon \iiril 12

A. J. Dragon \pril 12

Joseph Frice April 11

John R. ^Morris \pril 24

B. Frank Leachnian \pril 24

Daniel Picklris May 15

Henry Shellliorn August 2

John T. Williams Vugust 12

denrge W. Cowlev .-August 12

James T. Runels August 19

Gerhom Shellhorn \ugust 19

John Shellhorn \ugust 19

John Lore August 18

Henry G. Lore \ugust 18

Thomas F. Brown July 3

Washington Cobb July 3

Thomas C. Dunken \ugust 10

Merion Kingston September 15 _.

William W. Soper September 15 __

Samuel S. Soper September 15 __

Redmond \\'arren September 16 _.

Winslow L. Soper September 16 _.

Jerr}- P.lair September iG _.

11. Ilonner September 21 _.

RICIIAUDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I25

F. Homier September Ji 1854

J. Onstott S'eiitember 21 1854

Christian Iseley September 18 18^4

John Luginliill ___^ October 3 1854

Peter Luginl>ill October 3 181^4

Christian Luginbill : October 3 1854

John B. Rothenberger Octi)l;er 2S 1854

Harmon Warden Oclolier 2H 1854

Echnond Shellhorn March 3 1855

J. Russell Octo];er 1 1854

EARLY SL'RN'EYS OF RICHARDSON' COUXTY.

The reser\ation known as the Half-Breed Tract, which was set aside
for half-breeds and mixed bloods of the Omaha. Iowa, Otoe and Yankton,
and Santee bands of Sioux, by a treaty concluded at Prairie du Chien,
Wisconsin on July 15, 1830, was surveyed by John C. McCoy, a son of
a Rev. Isaac McCoy, an early Baptist missionary among the Indians, in
1837-38, the former working under directions of his father.

This work was the first surveying done in this territory and preliminar\-
to the movement of the Indians to the above tract. Under the terms of the
above treaty the reser\-ation was located in the east part of this county
and Nemaha county and was bounded on the east by the Missouri ri\-er.
which also was and has always been the boundary lietween the territories
of later states of Missouri and Nebraska.

The north boundary being the Little Nemaha river, in what is now
Nemaha county; the west by a line known as the "Half-Breed line." which
was drawn, starting at a point west, ten miles from the mouth of the Little
Nehama river and running direct southeasterlv to a point ten miles west from
the mouth of the Great Nemaha in Richanlson county, which latter river
formed the south boundary of said reservation.

It was here that a dispute arose after the first survey had been made,
as there was a difference of opinion as to whether the distance from the
mouth (jf the Great Nemaha river west, should be measured in a direct
line from the mouth of the river ten miles west, or whether the ten miles
should be ascertained Ijy following the meanders of the stream.

This difference of opinion did not become a matter of vital importance
until \ears afterward, when, in 18^^ t'le matter of the location of Archer

126 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

as a county seat became a moot question and the jealousies of other [Mjints
desiring the honor, caused an investigation to be made. It was claimed that
if the line were correctly run, Archer would be inside the reservation and
therefore not eligible as a site for a city, much less a county seat, and
the question also involved the right of white settlers- to lands. The dispute
all hinged on the manner of calculating the distance west from the Great
Nemaha river, the ten miles. The new survey was begun by William H.
Goodwin in December, 1856, and was concluded in October of the follow-
ing year.

The Half-Breed or west boundary line, as established bv the first survey
made by McCoy, struck the Great Nemaha at the north quarter section
corners between sections 16 and 17, in what is now known as Jefferson town-
ship, its north point intersecting the Little Nemaha river in Nemaha county,
at about the center of section 15, just east of the city of Auburn, in what
is now known as Douglas precinct.

The change as made by the later survey of Goodwin, moved the Half-
Breed line to the west and its south point of intersection with the Great
Nemaha river was placed in the southeast corner of the northeast quarter
of section 25, in what is now Falls City township. Archer had been desig-
nated by the governor as county seat of this county and might have remained
so until this day but for the change of this line by the early surveyors.

In the interim between the running of the first and second lines, a
number of settlers had come into the country and settled on land which,
like Archer, was efifected by the change of this selfsame line, and hoping
to hold the same, carried the controversy to the halls of the national Con-
gress at Washington.

The following memorial to Congress, passed by the Territorial Legisla-
ture shortly after the abrogation of the McCoy survey, and the making of
another, asked Congress to relieve the settlers who had been surveyed into
the Half-Breed tract, if within its constitutional power to do so.

PREAMBLE AND JOINT RESOIATION.

For the Relief of Certain Citizens of Riehardsoii County.

Whereas, A portion of the inhabitants of Richardson county in lliis
territory, have in good faith, settled upon, and made all the improvements,
many of which are highly valuable that were required by neighlxirhood,
territorial and the L^nited States laws, to enable them lo acquire title to
the same, bv strict conformitv with law, and

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 27

Whereas, Such settlement and improvement was made after the surveys
made by authority of the United States, had determined that their settle-
ment and improvement did not encroach upon, or include any portion of
the public land reserved from sale, or settlement, by reason of any treaty
then known to exist; and,

Whereas, It has since such settlement was made, been ascertained that the
authorized surveys were erroneous, and that the correction of such error, will
include within the boundaries (of the Half-Breed Reservation), a portion
of the lands so settled upon, therefore placing an inseparable barrier to their
acquiring title thereto, by pre-emption or any other known law, and summar-
ily depriving them of their homesteads, taking from them the fruits of their
toil and labor without redress, except the same can be given them by a special
act of Congress, for their relief and believing it to l>e a duty incumbent
upon us, as the representatives of the people, to aid them in obtaining redress
for grievances, which in no wise resulted from any disregard of law on
their part, so far as it may be legitimately within our power, and believing
as we do, that the hardships and losses that must inevitably result to the
inhabitants aforesaid, makes it an imperative duty for our most earnest
effort; therefore, be it

Resolved, By the council and house of representatives of the territory
of Nebraska, that our delegate in Congress is hereby respectfully requested
to present to that honorable body a bill, setting forth the hardships which
must result to a portion of our inhabitants, and to urge the immediate pas-
sage of such bill, for their relief, so far as they may have power to do, and
strict justice to the parties agreed, demand; and be it further

Resolved, That the secretary of the Territory be requested to transmit
a copy of the foregoing preamble and resolution forthwith to our delegate
in Congress.

Approved, February the 9th, 1857. Third session.

The mouth of the Great Nemaha in 1838, at the time when the first
survey above referred to, was made, was located in the southeast part of
section 25, township i, north of range 18, and was likewise at the same
point when the later survey was made in 1856, but in more recent years the
Missouri river broke through an old bed of- the Nemaha at a point further
north and about two miles west of the older point indicated first by Lewis
and Clark in notes of their journey up the river in 1804, and the later survey
of 1838.

The new survev of the Nemaha that was ordered in 1856, was made

1^8 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

over the same ground, from the same point on the ^lissouri, but by some
process extended the initial point of the west boundary of the Half-Breed
tract, two miles further west than did the McCoy survey and about two
and one half miles to the south of that point. The effect of the change
was to push the entire line further west.

The resolution above was sent to the Nebraska delegate in Congress
at the time, Fenner Ferguson, who bad been in the state at the Lime the
later survey was made and he took the matter up and succeeded in having
a bill passed in June, 1858, which settled the matter by readopting the old
or first survey. This action settled the location of the Half-Breed line, but
did not save Archer. It was claimed that some sixty settlers were on the
land in question. A bill, which was passed in 1859, gave the proceeds of
the land between the two lines, to the half-breeds who had not received
allotments, which amounted to about $400 each, as the land was sold at
one dollar and a quarter per acre, the government price for a half section,
as long as the fund lasted.

FIRST SITRVEYS MADE.

The survey and sectionizing of Richardson county, was of the lands of
Nebraska Territory commenced first, for the reason that the initial p(Mnt
of all the surveys of Nebraska lands is located at the southeast corner
of Nebraska, which, likewise, is the southeast corner of the county. This
work was commenced in 1854, the year of the arrival of the first of the
Richardson county pioneers, who arrived here on April 17th, and the surveyors
began their work in the month of November of that year.

The first party sent out by the government were charged with the
work of running the base line west from the Missouri river for a distance
of one hundred and eight miles. The fortieth parallel of north latitude,
the dividing line between the states of Nebraska and Kansas, was designated
as the base line and required to be marked.

The first party arriving at the point where the survey was t<> be com-
menced, went to great pains with the instruments they had at hand and
their knowledge of the business, to locate the exact line r.f the fortieth
parallel. The first thing to be done was to establish the initial point and
mark the same; this was done bv the erection of a large iron monument.

FIRST LOG SCHOOL HOUSE, GRANT rRECIXCT, ERECTED IX 1S65.

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. I29

THE IRON MONUMENT.

A large iron monument was intended to be placed at the exact south-
east corner of the state of Nebraska (which also marks the southeast corner
of Richardson county), but this would have been on the river's edge between
the states of Nebraska and Kansas, and because of the habits of the Missouri
river was not deemed a practical location for a permanent marker, hence
it was placed on the bluff nearly one hundred and fifty feet above and
overlooking the river. It marks a dividing line between the states, and
was placed there under directions made by Surveyor-general John Calhoun,
of the territories of Nebraska and Kansas, at that time located at Wyan-
dotte, near Kansas City, Missouri.

The contract for the erection of the monument had been let to Charles
A. Manners & Company, a firm which had some surveying contracts in the
territories of Kansas and Nebraska. Orders from the surveyor-general,
land office, Washington, D. C, set forth the point at which a monument
should be erected. The matter of officially fixing a spot where the monu-
ment should be placed was given by the land commissioner in the following
language, contained in instructions forwarded to those who were to deter-
mine the corner and erect a monument marking same :

"Your township corner binding on the Missouri river will be the south-
east corner of township or fractional township No. i, north of the base
line of range number i8, and at the intersection of the point on the Missouri
river, a conspicious and enduring monument is to be erected by your deputy.

The first work done in this locality was that of a party in charge of a
surveyor, John P. Johnson, who, with his men, surve3-ed the Kansas and
Nebraska dividing line on the fortieth parallel west for a distance of sixty
miles and they had marked the starting place with a wooden stake sur-
rounded by a pile of stones which they had gathered nearby. The work
done by this party was highly unsatisfactory and had not fulfilled the re-
quirements of the government and Manners & Company had been employed
to go over the work and rectify the mistakes. A party consisting of twenty-
four men in the employ of this company, were sent to St. Joseph, Missouri,
with instructions to get the iron post or monument which had been sent
to that place a year previous and haul it to the point southeast of Ruio
and erect the same on a permanent foundation.
(9)

130 RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

DESCRIPTION OF THE MONUMEN1

The monument is of iron and was cast in the form of a pyramid, meas-
uring fourteen inches square at the Ijase and eight inches at the top and is
seven feet long. It bears on its sides in raised letters the following words
and figures: On the north side the word, "Nebraska," and on the opposite,
or south side, the word, "Kansas," and on the west, "40'' in latitude,"
and on the east, "1854," which represented the year the monument was
erected. The words Kansas and Nebraska run perpendicular with the post,
while the figures of the date are horizontal.

This party arrived at St. Joseph and after loading the monument in
a wagon, hauled it north to a point on the ^Missouri side of the river opposite
from the point where it was to be erected.

There were no ferries in operation in this vicinity at that time and
they must depend upon other means of conveying it to the western shore.
An Indian was found, who owned a canoe and he agreed to take them o\er.
His boat was small and he could take but eight men on each of the three
trips. On the third trip the monument was loaded in for passage and its
weight, together with that of the liien, really overloaded the light bark.
The Indian, however, was skilled in the use of his oars and while the
top of the boat barely missed the water two inches and although the river
was quite rough, yet he succeeded in landing them all safely on the Nebraska
shore, but not before the men, some of whom could not swim and who were
riding astride of the iron monument, had the scare of tlieir lives, fearing
death in the tur1)id and muddy water.

The monument was hauled up to the summit of the bluff and in due
time placed on a firm foundation, where it remained through all the years
until 1890, when David D. Reavis and Fred W. Miller, both of Falls Cit\-.
who were employed in the work of making a resurvey of some lands on
the Io\\ a Indian Reservation, found it lying upon the ground.

.Vfter the first party had completed the work of setting up the monu-
ment, the\- were compelled to wait for some time pending further instruc-
tions, which were not received until June. 1855. \\'hen these were received
it was learned that the\- were to make corrections on the entire base line
as far as it hatl lieen surveyed, wliich they proceeded to do.

Soon after the completit)n of the work of establishing correctly the
l);ise line, work was commenced on making sur\e\s to" the north in Richard-
son cipuntx'. The accurate sur\e\" and markings jjlaced at section corners

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I3I

greatly facilitated the matter of describing the lands taken by settlers. The
orders for the survey instructed that the land be surveyed in divisions or
blocks, six miles square, to be designated a township, and the townships
were divided into blocks one mile square and known as sections, containing
six hundred and forty acres. The townships were numbered beginning at
the northeast corner with number one; on running west six miles the last
section on the west side was numbered six; the one immediately south being
numbered seven, and thence eastward to number twelve, the one immediately
below being thirteen; this sytem of numbering being continued as before
described until number thirty-six was reached in the southeast corner of
each township. The rows of townships from east to west are known as
ranges. The townships run consecutively from a meridian and a base line,
which were first run with great accuracy, at right angles to each other,
forming a cross, the north and south line being a meridian, the east and
west a base line. All lands east of the meridian line are described as range
east; all lands west of the meridian are described as range west. All
lands north of the base line are described as township north ; all lands
south of the base line are described as township south.

From the intersection of the meridian and base line begins a survey.
and also the numbering of the various townships and ranges. I'^ach six
miles square is called a "congressional township," and are numbered from
one up, thus, township number i, 2, 3, etc., south of the base line, and i, 2,
3, etc., north of the base line, and range i, 2, 3, etc., east of the meridian,
and range i, 2, 3. etc., west of the meridian. Each township, or six miles
square, has, therefore, two numbers on its face — a range number and a
township number. Each of these townships is subdivided into thirty-six
scjuares, called sections, and are, as nearly as ma\- he. each one nn'le square.

These sections contain six hundred and fortx* acres of land, except the
north and west sides of the township, which are al\va\s fractional, owing to
the fact that it is impracticable to make a township precisely six miles
square. The surveying of a township always began at the southwest conier
of section thirty-six.

The state line between Kansas and Nebraska is the Ixise line for all
the surveys in these two states; hence the entire state of Nebraska is town-
ship north, while the entire state of Kansas is townshi]> south. The meridian
line for these two states is called the sixth principal meridian, and runs
north from Oklahoma, passing a little east of Wellington, Sumner countv.
and a little west of ^\'ichita, Sedgwick county, and on north through the

13^ RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

state of Nebraska, to a point on the Missouri river opposite Yankton, South
Dakota.

Each section in a township is divided into four equal parts, called
quarter sections, the lines running north and south and east and west
through the center of the section are called the one-half section line, and
at their intersection, in the center of the section by a long-established custom
the section number is placed. Each quarter section contains one hundred and
sixty acres, except the following sections on the north and west sides of
the township, viz: i, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 18, 19, 30, 31. The fractional lots
of either more than or less than forty acres are usually numbered from
I to 4. \'ery frequently they are not numbered at all, and never when
the lot is a full forty-acre tract.

The work of the early surveyors, under the efficient service of Charles
A. Manners, in establishing and correcting the base line, was completed
for a distance of one hundred and eight miles by June, 1856. The work
of carrying the line on west to the summit of the Rocky mountains was
done later, being completed in 1859. In this work were employed at differ-
ent times, Charles A. Manners, N. P. Cook, Jared Todd and William Withe-
row, the latter being a resident of this county. Rulo township, located
in the southeast corner of the county, was the first surveyed, the lines being
run by Meriwetiier Thompson, in the month of September, 1855. the work of
subdividing the township being done by Michael McManus, a resident of St.
Stephens in this county, in June of the following year.

The work of surveying the county was completed, or practicallv so,
by 1858, and Maj. ^^'. H. Keeling, still a resident of the city, was among
those employed in the work.

CHAPTER V.
Organization of Richardson County.

Our county takes its name from that of William A. Richardson, who,
holding a commission from President Buchanan as territorial governor,
arrived in the state on January ii, 1858. Richardson had been a member
of Congress from his home state, Illinois, and with Stephen A. Douglas was
largely identified with the struggles incident to the passage of the Kansas-
Xebraska bill in 1854.

Governor Richardson was appointed to succeed Governor Izard and
arrived at Omaha early in January, 1858, assuming his duties on January
12th. Upon his arrival here he found the Territorial Legislature torn by
factional strife, engendered over a desire among some of the members who
represented a constituency desiring the removal of the capitol from Omaha
to some other place. Immediately upon his arrival he waS confronted with
a joint resolution presented to him by a committee from some seceding mem-
bers who had met at Florence, a suburb of Omaha.

In the resolution it was pointed out that they had been forced to
"Adjourn to the nearest place of safety, by the disorganizing and turbulent
acts of a minority of their own body, aided by the violence of an unre-
strained mob at Omaha, causing well-grounded apprehension as to the per-
sonal safety of the majority and re(iuesting His Excellency to communicate
with the Legislature at this place at his earliest convenience."

The record shows that the new governor was not seriously impressed
with the cause of the "seceders'" and failed to officially recognize them as the
"Legislature." He, however, importuned them to return to the capitol and
guaranteed their personal safety, but the closing date for the session being
near at hand, his friendly overtures were not accepted.

Later, a proclamation was issued by Governor Richardson on August
14, 1858, calling a special session of the Legislature and that body assembled
at Omaha on September 21st of that year.

Governor Richardson held his office only until December 5. 1858, when
he resigned and at once returned to his home state, Illinois, to assist his
friend. Stephen A. Douglas, in his contest against Al>raham Lincoln for the

134 • RICHAKDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

United States senatorship. It came to the knowledge of Richardson that
the national administration was opposed to Douglas and this attitude on
tlie part of tlie government displeased the governor, who cared no longer to
hold an appointive position under it.

Richardson county is the southeast corner county of the state
of Nebraska. It was one of the original eight counties organized in the
territorv. It is now bovmded on the north by Nemaha county, on the west
by Pawnee county, on the south by the line dividing the states of Nebraska
and Kansas, and on the east by the Missouri river. Being one of the first
counties organized in the state it has always been known and numbered as
first in the districts, being from its earliest days the first representative dis-
trict in the Legislature, and first state senatorial district and so numbered in
tlie larger judicial and still larger congressional district.

ORGANIZATION.

As a county it was so ordered by proclamation made by Acting Go\er-
nor Cuming in 1854. which made its organization but temix3rary. The year
following, in 1853, it was reorganized by act of the Territorial Legislature.

FIRST ELECTION.

The first election was held in the county as then (in 1855) bounded,
including part of Nemaha. Johnson, Pawnee and what is still included as
Richardson. At this election but ten votes were cast. But two voting places
were named in the governor's proclamation, at Level's cabin, north of pres-
ent site of Falls City in the woods, and Christian Bobst's cabin, near Cincin-
nati, in what is now Pawnee county. At this election the first re])resenta-
tives to tlie first Territorial Legislature tn he held at Omaha City were
chosen. I. L. Sharp for the council, or upper branch of that body, was
not a resident of the county, Ijut claimed as his home, Glenwood. Iowa, and
Jolm .^. Singleton, wiiose family had not yet crossed to this side of the
ri\er, was honored with election to the House.

KIKST COUNTY Ol- I-IC1:kS CHOSEN.

At the election the following were chosen as officers of the county :
County judge. John C. Miller; county clerk. ¥. L. Goldsberry: county treas-
urer. Louis Mesplais. At this election Salem. Archer and Speiscr were
nruned as the polling places.

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. I35

INCORPORATION OF TOWN OF FALLS CITY.

From the Richardson county records appears the following report of a
meeting of the county commissioners held at Salem, Nebraska, on May 17,
1858:

Saiciii. Ricliardsoii County, ycbraska.

Special Term of County Court. May 17th, 1858.

At a special meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Rich-
ardson county, Nebraska, Territory, began and hdd at their usual place of
holding court in the town of Salem on Monday the 17th day of May, 1858.
Present, Joseph Yount and Arnett Roberts, commissioners.

Now comes into open court, John A. Burbank, Isaac L. Hamby, J.
Edward Burbank and others of the Town of Falls City in said county and
file their petition to be incorporated under the name and style of the Town
of Falls City, which petition reads in the following words :

Richardson County. Territory of Nebraska, ss.

To the Hon., the County Commissioners of the county of Richardson:

We, the undersigned petitioners, citizens of the aforesaid county in the
Town of Falls City, would represent to your honorable body, the utility and
public benefit of the incorporation of said town of Falls City, as located on
the southeast quarter of section ten (10) and the northeast quarter of sec-
tion fifteen (15) in township one (i) north of range No. sixteen (16)
east, for which we ])ray for polity established for local government of the
undersigned, for which we, your petitioners, will ever pray.

And further pra> that John A. Burl^ank, Isaac L. Hamby and J.
Edward Burbank. William W. Buchanan and Alexander Rickard he ap-
pointed as officers for said incorporation.

(Signed) J. E. Burbank, Isaac L. Hamby, John A. Burbank, Alex-
ander Rickard, William W. Buchanan and others.

It is therefore ordered and declared liy the l)oard that all the territory
within the geographical limits of Falls City, together with all the addititon
that may hereafter be made thereto according to law. be and the same is
hereby declared to be a town by the name and style of Falls City. That said
town is made a body corporate and politic and is \ested with all the powers
and attributes of a municipal corporation, under and by virtue of an act of
the Territory of Nebraska approved. January 23. 1856.

And it is further ordered bv the board tliat John A. Burbank. Isaac L.

136 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Hamb\-, J. Edward Burbank, Alexander Rickard and William W. Buchanan
be and are hereliv appointed as trustees for said town and they shall hold
their offices until their successors are elected and qualified.
By order of the commissioneers,

James R. Trammell, Clerk County Court.

By Charles McDonald, Deputy.

ORIGINAL BOUNDARY OF RICHARDSON COUNTY.

Richardson was one of the eight original counties created by the first
Territorial Legislature, which convened at Omaha on January 16, 1855, in
pursuance of a proclamation issued by Acting Governor T. B. Cuming,
designating that city as a meeting place. It is located in the southeast corner
of the state, the line dividing the states of Kansas and Nebraska, or the
fortieth parallel, being its south boundary. Its boundary was defined as
follows :

"Began at the northwest corner of the half-breed tract; thence west-
wardly along the south bank of the Little Nemaha river; thence westerly to
a point sixty miles west of the Missouri ; thence south to the fortieth parallel,
the boundary of the territory; thence east along said boundary to the Mis-
souri river, thence north along the Missouri and west ten miles to the south-
east corner of the half-breed tract; thence northerly along the boundary of
said tract to the place of beginning."

THE HALF-BREED TRACT. ■ '

The necessity for the provision of some place to which the half-breeds,
who were largely the progeny of French adventurers, trappers and traders,
could be assigned, was plainly evident early in the last century. It required
but little logic to show that the lawful son of a Frenchman could not be sub-
ject to the laws governing Indians of full blood, or forcibly amalgamated
with a tribe, nor could the half-Indain assume the full rights of his father.
The half-breeds were a new element in Uncle Sam's cosmopolitan brood, and
special measures were necessary to meet their case. Having decided on a
modified form of reservation for this large class, it remained for the gov-
ernment to select a fitting location for such a grant. It must be remembered
that, at this time, all beyond the Missouri was "the wilderness". When,
then, in 1839, the chiefs of the various tribes and the representatives of the
government met at Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, there was a vast amount

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I37

of land which answered all the requirements of a good reserve, being watered
and wooded, and abounding in game.

The treaty setting aside the lands for the half-breeds in Richardson
and Xemaha counties was made between William Clark, superintendent of
Indian afifairs, and Willoughby Morgan, a colonel of the regular army, with
deputies from the Sacs and Foxes, four bands of Siouxs, the Medawah-
Kantons, Sissetongs, W^ahpetons and Wahpacootah, the Omahas, Otoes and
Missouris, on July 15, 1830. The provisions of the treaty read:

The Omahas, lowas and Otoes. for themselves and in behalf of the
Yankton and Santee bands of Sioux, having earnestly requested that they
might be permitted to make some provision for their half-breeds, and par-
ticularly that they might bestow upon the tract of country within the fol-
lowing limits, to-wit :

Beginning at the mouth of the Little Xe-mohaw river and running up
the main channel of said river to a point ten miles from its mouth in a
direct line; from thence in a direct line to strike the Great Ne-mohaw ten
miles above its mouth, in a direct line (the distance between the two Ne-
mohaws being about twenty miles); thence down said river to its mouth;
thence up with the meanders of the Missouri river to the point of begin-
ning. * * * The President of the United States may hereafter assign
to any of the said half-breeds * * =i= any portion of said tract not
exceeding a section of si.x hundred and forty acres to each individual.

This territory was surveyed in 1857, ^^^ the domain of the half-
breeds thus officially designated, but, before the line was fairly run, it was
condemned as being incorrect, and a new survey ordered. The new line
started at a point some distance farther up the Great Nemaha river, but
preserved the original point on the Little Nemaha. The additional terri-
tory thus given the Indians was of little value, but the new line passing
through the county seat, Archer, forever destroyed that thriving village.
The existence of a county seat on an Indian reserve was an anomaly, and
it was at once removed. Archer had been designated as the county seat in
March, 1855.

FIRST CENSUS AND POLLING PLACES.

The lirst formal census of Nebraska Territory was ordered taken in
1855, for the purpose of making a readjustment of the legislative repre-
sentation. Reports from Richardson county showed a total of two hun-
dred and ninety-nine persons on the enumeration rolls. The census was
taken by deputy marshals Joseph L. Sharp, Charles P.. Smith, ]\Iichael

138 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

I\Iiirphy, E. R. Do\le, !•". W. Synimes, Munsen S. Clark and Charles W.
Pierce. They were empowered to designate suitable places for voting pre-
cincts and also name the judges and clerks of election. The work incident
to the enumeration was commenced on October 24th, 1854, and to be com-
pleted by November _'oth. The voting precincts designated in Richardson
county were two in numlier : One at the house of William Level, with
John Purket, Robert T. Archer, and James M. Roberts as judges ; William
\'. Soper and John A. Singleton, clerks. The second precinct was at the
house of Christian P.obst. with Henry Shellhorn. Henry Abrams, and V/ill-
iam J. Burns, judges; Christian Bobst and W. L. Soper. clerks." The
house of William Level referred to was located north of the present site
of Falls City, while that of Christian Bobst was near the present town of
DuBois in Pawnee county, then a part of Richardson county.

Following the enumeration, notices of an election were distributed among
the people stating that the same would be held for the purix)se of choosing
a delegate to Congress and a territorial Legislature to convene during the
following winter. The election was held on December 12 and Richardson
county cast forty-se\en votes.

The proclamation ordering the census was as follows:

rroclainatioii by the Acting Governor.
Executive Deportment. Xebraska Tern'forx.

October 21, 1854.

An enumeration of the inhabitants of the territory will commence on
Tuesday next, October 24. 1854. under the officers instructed to complete
the same, if possible, within four weeks. Immediately after said census,
notices will be distributed for the election of a delegate to Congress, and a
territorial Legislature, to convene this winter. Said enumeration in the
districts bordering on the Missouri river, will commence one week from the
above date, viz., on Tuesday, October 31st. and simultaneously on that day
in each of said districts. The purpose of this notice is to enable persons
who have removed temporarily from the territory to return in time for
said census, but in no case wall names be enrolled except of actual and
permanent residents of the territory.

Given under my hand at Omaha Citw Xebraska Territory on the 21st
day of October. 1854.

T. B. Cuming.

Acting Governor of Xebraska.

RICUARDSOX COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 139

LEC.ISLATUI-: REPRESENTATION.

Based on a populatidii of two tliousand seven hundred and thirty-two
found by the first census in the Territory of Nebraska, ordered b\- Acting
Governor Cuming, Richardson county was given the following representation
in the first Legislature : One councilman, two representatives.

That session of the Legislature met at Omaha on January 16, 1855,
and was a day fraught with intense excitement owing to the disappointment
of men throughout the territory o\er the fact that the territorial capitol had
not been located in their part of the territory and many had vowed that no
session of the Legislature should be held. The day passed off, however,
without serious friction.

In that session, J. L. Sharp had the honor of representing Richardson
county in the upper branch, or council, as president. In the House the
honor fell to D. M. Johnson and J. A. Singleton. There were thirteen coun-
ciimen and thirty-six representatives, a total of forty-nine members.

EIK.ST VALUATION OF PROPERTY.

From a report of the auditor made in 1855. we learn that the valuation
returned on both real and personal property in Richardson county totaled
the sum of twenty-six thousand six hundred and forty-three dollars.

REPRESENTATION IN TERRITOKIAE LEGISLATURES.

First session — Councilman, J. L. Sharp, president. House, D. M. John-
son, J. A. Singleton. (January 16, 1855.)

Second session — Councilman (no change.) House, A. D. Kirk. Rich-
ardson, W. H. Hoover. Richard.son and Xemaha, jointl)'. (December 18,

Third session — Richardson and Pawnee counties, Charles McDonald.
(January 5, 1857.) House, .\. V. Cromwell, X. J. Sharp.

lM)urth session — (."ouncilman. no change from preceding sessioiL House.
A. v. Cromwell. \\'ingate King, i-lichardson and Pawnee counties. Decem-
ber 8. 1857.

Fifth session— (.'ouncilman, Charles McDonald, I'iichardson and Pawnee:
seat contested by F.. S. Dundy. (Extra .session September _m, 1858.)
House, Richardson and Pawnee, William C. h'leming, A. C. Dean. At this
ses-^ion Governor Richardson, for whom tin's county was named, was then

140 RICHAUDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

chief executive and in his message he called attention to the fact that the
previous Legislature had repealed the criminal code, and the sole method of
procedure then in vogue, was the common law of England, under the pro-
visions of which perjury, forgery and other crimes less than capital, were
punishable Ijy death.

Sixth session — Decemlier 5, 1859 (no change in council). House,
Richardson. Houston Nuckolls, J. E. Burbank and Nathan Meyers.

Seventh session — December 3, i860. Council, Richardson and Pawnee,
E. S. Dundy. House, F. A. Tisdel, A. M. Acton, H. B. Porter.

Eighth session — (No change in council). House. Richardson, L. Allga-
wahr, J. S. Ewing, H. B. Porter.

Ninth session— January 7, 1864. House, Richardson, Lewis Allga-
wahr, J. C. Lincoln, M. ^^^ Breman.

Tenth session — January 5, 1865. Council divided into districts and
Richardson county, nth and represented by J. N. McCasland. House,
Richardson, Oliver \\'. Dunning. F. A. Tisdel, Charles F. ^,^^1lther, E. H.
Johnson.

I^leventh session — January 4, 1866. (Omaha) J. N. McCasland, coun-
cil. House, Richardson, Lorenzo Crounse (later governor), William Parchen,
J. D. Ramsey, John Jay Hart. At this session Hon. E. S. Towle. of this
city, was chosen as assistant clerk of the house.

VOTE ON ADOPTION OF STATE CON.STITUTION.

At an election held in the territory on June _', 1866, upon the adoption
of the constitution, Richardson county voted as follows: For, 503; against,

37 ^■

LTnder the terms of that constitution, provisiun was made for the meet-
ing of the Legislature on Jul\- 4. 1866. M this meeting Richardson cmmty
was represented as follows: House, William I'archen, B. F. Cunningham.
J. M. Deweese, J. T. Hoile.

Twelfth session — January 10, 1867. House, Richardson, G. Duerfeldt.
J. M. Deweese and Joseph T. Hoile.

ORGANIZATION OF PRECINCTS.

Board of county commissioners meeting at Salem on July 6, 1857:
The county commissioners of Richardson county had divided said county

into three precincts and to include, respectively, the following described terri-

torv. to-wit :

RICHARDSON' COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I4I

No. I — Archer precinct contains townships Nos. i, 2 and 3 of ranges
Nos. 16, 17 and 18, in said county.

No. 2 — Salem precinct contains townships Nos. i, 2 and 3 of range No.
15 and the east half of townships No. i, 2 and 3 of range 14, in said county.

No. 3 — Speiser precinct contains the west half of townships Nos. i, 2
and 3 of range No. 14 and townships Nos. i, 2 and 3 of range No. 13 in said
county.

By order of the board of count\- commissioners of said county. F. L.
Goldsbury, county clerk.

The county commissioners met according to law and ordered that there
be three notices for each precinct naming the various officers to be balloted
for at the August election in 1857 in Richardson county, Nebraska Territory.

Ordered that Alexander Rickard, Wingate King and William Goolsby
be and the same are hereby appointed judges of election, at Archer precinct
and Joseph Hare. John W. Brinegar and John Ogden be and the same are
hereby appointed Judges of election at Salem precinct, and John Luginbill,
Henry Abrams and James Cameron be and the same are hereby appointed
judges of election at Speiser precinct. Ordered that notices be given to each
of said judges at least ten days prexious to said election. Court adjourned
until July 6, 1857.

F. L. Goldsbury, County Clerk.

The county commissioners met at Salem, July 6, 1857, according to law,
Joseph Yount being absent, the following business being transacted : The
account of R. W. Furnas was presented for striking two hundred assessors'
blanks for the sheriff of Richardson county — but was not accepted. The
account of W". H. Mann was next presented for services rendered in record-
ing the plat of the road from Archer in Richardson county to Brownville in
Nemaha county. Allowed for said services — $5.00. An account of said
Mann ffir services rendered in writing election notices for Richardson county
was allowed by said commissioners — $6.00.

TAXES COl.I.F.CTEP, 1857.

Samuel Keiffer on behalf of Isaac Crook, county treasurer, presented a
statement of the amount of taxes collected by him for the year 1857, which
was as follows :

Whole amount of county tax $291.91

Whole amount of territorial tax 179-94

Whole amount of school tax 59-98

14^ RICHARDSON COLXTY, NEBRASKA.

The sum of two hundred ninety-nine dollars and ninety-one cents of
county tax was paid over to the court and an order issued to Samuel Keififer
for the sum of fifteen dollars for commission as collector on the part of the
county, the territorial and school tax remaining in his hands.

William Tramwell presented and was allowed by the commissioners
at Salem on January 4, 1857, the sum of seventeen dollars for making tax
list of Richardson ciiunty.

TAX LEVY, 1857.

5 mills on the dollar levied for county.
3 mills on the dollar lex'ied for territory.
I mill for school.
Poll ta.x of 50 cents.

Samuel Keiffer was county assessor of the county in the year 1858 and
was paid for that service the sum of twenty-seven dollars and seventy-tive
cents. The assessment rolls contained three hundred and seventy names.

At a meeting of the county commissioners held at Salem, Nebraska
Territory, on January 4, 1858, a petition was presented by F. L. Goldsbur\-
for a precinct to he called Rulo, with the folldwing result:

TOWX OF RUI.O.

At a meeting df commissioners held at Salem. Xebraska Territory, in
April. 1858. A. D. Kirk presented a petition signed by M. H. W'oodhn and
twenty-seven other citizens of the town of Rulo, praying for a municipal
corporation for said town of Rulo. with the following result:

The court being satisfied that a majority of the taxable inhabitants of
said town have signed said petition praying for such corporation it is there-
fore ordered that the inhabitants within the following boundaries as set forth
in said ])etition to-wit : Beginning at a point on the Missouri river, where
the line dividing sections 8 and 17 strike the same, thence west along said
line to the northwest corner of section t8; thence south to the southwest
corner of section 18; thence east to the Missouri river; thence up said river
to the ])lace of beginning, be and they are hereby declared incorporated as
a body corpcjrate and politic b\- the name and style of the town of Rulo.
Charles Martin, l-:ii Redard. Tames D. Ramsev. .\. D. Kirk and P. B. McCoy

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I43

are herein' appointed trustees for said town vmtil their successors are elected
and qualified.

Eli Bedard, A. D. Kirk and P. B. McCoy were at once appointed judges
of the election, for offices of the said municipal corporation, to be held on
the first :\Ionday of May, 1858.

ORIGINAL BOUNnARIES.

Richardson county was bounded as follows : Commencing at the north-
west corner of the half-breed tract, thence westwardly along the south bank
of the Little Nemaha River, thence westwardly to a point sixty miles west
of the Missouri river, thence south to the fortieth parallel (the boundary
between Kansas and Nebraska ), thence east along said territory boundary to
the Missouri river, thence north along the Missouri river, and west ten miles
to the southwest corner of the half-breed tract, and thence northerly along
the boundary of said tract to the place of beginning.

Precincts. — There shall be two precincts or places of voting in said Rich-
ardson county, viz., one to be held at the house of William Level (a cabin in
the woods, northeast of present site of Falls City), in precinct No. i. The
second at the house of Christian Bobst, precinct No. 2. John Purket, Robert
T. Archer, and James \Y. Roberts shall be the judges of election of the first
precinct, and William \W. Soper and John A. Singleton, clerks of the same;
and Henry Shellhorn, Henry Abranis and William F. Bums, judges of elec-
tion of precinct No. 2, and Christian Bobst and \^^ L. Soper, clerks of the
same.

RICH-\RDSON COUNTY REDUCED IN SIZE.

Pawnee county, which now joins Richardson county on the west, was
made uji from territory contained in the original boundaries of Richardson
county — the latter being originally, sixty miles long east and west from the
Missouri river. The new county, later to be known as I'awnee, was laid off
in 1855 ''ito townships, and sectionized in 1856. At first it contained but
four townshi]xs, or twenty-four miles square. One row of townships was
taken from off the north side later and added to what is now 4<nown as John-
son county.

Christian Bobst, residing southeast of the present site of Pawnee city,
arrived there on the 4th of April. 1854, in company with Robert Turner,
Jacob .\dams and Robert Arclier ( the latter being the man for whom Archer
\illage in this countx" was named). Christian Bdbst. the leader of the party.

144 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

selected the best timber claim probably in southern Nebraska, the northwest
quarter, section 25. township i, range 12, South Fork precinct. Mr. Bobst
erected what was the first dwelling house in that part of Richardson county.
He was appointed probate judge by Governor Izard, in the fall of 1854, for
Richardson county. No lines at that time having been regularly established,
his jurisdiction extended over all the settlements west of the Missouri river.
Joseph Frey, who came the same summer, was appointed justice of the
peace, and Robert Turner, constable, by the same authority. For the first
few years after the territorial government was formed. Pawnee was attached
to Richardson county and for the most part during that period the offices
were lield by men living in tlie eastern part of what is now Richardson county,
wiiich state of affairs was not the most pleasing to the settlement to the
west and had much to do with the early effort to form the new county of
Pawnee. For a considerable time the whole of the country to the west had
to get their mail at the residence of Judge Christian Bobst on South Fork.
An office was established at Pawnee city long before there was any estab-
lished route to supply it, and had to depend on private enterprise for its sup-
ply from Pleasant valley — Bobst's office.

An election was held on the 25th day of August, 1856, for the purpose
of selecting a seat of justice for the new county. Three points were entered
in the contest. Pawnee city. Table Rock and Turkey creek. By some means
the poll books of the election held at Table Rock were not signed by the
officers of the election board, but when the returns were , carried down to
Archer, the then county seat of Richardson county, the county clerk, Neal
J. Sharp, after canvassing the returns, declared the Pawnee city site duly
elected as the seat of justice (county seat) for Pawnee county. This point
was then called "Enon" (Bibical reference.)

Notwithstanding the certificate had been issued by Mr. Sharp in favor
of Pawnee city, the Hon. Judge John C. Miller, probate judge of Richard-
son county, when the matter was brought properly before him, declared such
certificate null and \oid ; that no choice had been legally made, and therefore
ordered that a new election be held on the 4th day of November, 1856. At
this latter election Pawnee city, the present county seat, was chosen. All
accounts agree that the first white men who were ever on what is now the
present site of Pawnee city, formerly a part of Richardson county, were
James O'Loughlan, Charles McDonald and Arthur McDonald. These men
had settled at Salem in this county and visitetl the site on July 20. 1854.
Looking o\er the ground fnim a jxiint of vantage, they espied a large body

JIAS-SAr-<n'IT. CHIEF OF SAC AND FOX INDIANAS AT XFMAIIA FALLS. 1850-7-8

^w_.

JL,

?■ ■ 11

..:.i.=^

■ .-

' j^jp'.^K.J'iW

^^^^

iifi

iT^

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g'^g-.

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FALLS OF THE GREAT NEMAHA, NEAR FALLS CITY.

RICHARDSON COL'NTY, NEBRASKA. I45

of Indians with ponies grazing. They did not make themsehes known, but
withdrew to tlieir homes on South Fork. This was doubtless the first time
white men had ever stood on this ground.

MARKING BOUNDARY ROAD.

From minutes of Ijoard of count}- commissioners. Falls City. August
29, i860.

Falls City, Richardson County, Nebraska Territory.

Commissioners Court, August 29, i860.
Richardson County,
Nebraska Territory, ss:

Having been appointed and commissioned to view and locate a county
road by the county commissioners court of Richardson county, Nebraska
Territory in July, i860,' I proceeded on the 7th day of August, i860, witli
Joseph Broady, surveyor, and F. Bnxady and John Furrow, chain carriers,
and were all sworn as the law directs by .\. D. S. Ayers, a justice of the
peace in and for Richardson county, Nebraska Territory. We then pro-
ceeded with the aforesaid surveyor and chain carriers and J. G. Babcock, for
i^agman. and J. S. Babcock and E. P. Tinker with four yoke of oxen and
plow to mark the road. J. S. Babcock furnished two yoke of oxen and E.
P. Tinker furnished two yoke of oxen.

We then went to the line between sections thirty (30) and thirty-one
(31), town three ( 3 ) , range thirteen (13), in Richardson county, Nebraska
Territory.

Commencing at the west line of said county we proceeded on route
descriljed in said petition to the Nemaha county line, observing all the points
mentioned in petition. The surveyor will make a report of said road. I
find it a good and practicable route. I therefore report favorable to said
road and recommend your honorable body to establish the same.

Oliver J. Tinker. Commissioner.

In the bill of expense for the use of the oxen appears the following
claims :

J. S. Babcock and 2 yoke of oxen $8.00

E. P. Tinker and 2 yoke of oxen 8.00

A. J. Deshazo, County Clerk.
(10)

146 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

ORGANIZATION OF VOTING PRECINCTS.

Clerks Office, Falls City, Nebraska Territory, January 6, 1862.

Commissioners court. Commissioners met pursuant to adjournment.
Present — C. S. Cornell, George W. Scott and Levi Forbe, commissioners,
and George \^andeventer, county clerk.

Ordered that the election precincts of Richardson county be described
and bounded as follows, to-\vit :

l-Vanklin precinct consists of congressional township. No. 3, north, range

13, east.

Porter precinct consists of township 3, north of range 14, east.

Humboldt precinct to be bounded as follows : Commencing at the
northwest corner of congressional township No. 2, on the dividing line
lietween Pawnee and I^ichardson counties, thence south five miles to the south-
west corner of section 30, township 2, range 13, east; thence east along the
section line nine miles to the southeast corner of section 28, in township 2,
north of range 14, east; thence north along the section line five miles, to the
township line, between townships 2 and 3 north of range 14, east; thence
west along the township line nine miles to the place of beginning.

Speiser precinct to he bounded as follows : Commencing at the north-
west corner of section 31, township 2, range 13, east on the dividing line
between Pawnee and Richardson counties, thence south along the county line
to the line between Kansas and Nebraska; thence east along said line, nine
miles, to the section line between sections 33 and 34 of township i, range 14,
east; thence north along the section line to the northeast corner of section
T,!,. township 2, north range 14, east; thence west along section line nine miles,
to the place of beginning.

Salem precinct bounded as follows ; Commencing at the northwest
corner of section 3, township 2, north of range 14, east; thence running
south, along the section line, dividing townships one and two, north range

14, east to the line between Kansas and Nebraska; thence east along said
line to the range line; ijetween ranges 15 and 16, east; thence north along
said range line nine miles, to the northeast corner of section 24, in township
2, north, range 15 east; thence west along the section line to the range line
between ranges 14 and 15; thence north along the range line three miles,
to the township line between townships 2 and 3, nurth; thence west along the
township line to the place of beginning.

Commissioners Court, Special Term, May 14. i860.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I47

Muddy precinct. A petition praying ior a voting precinct to be formed
out of Fails City and Salem precincts. The petition was granted. Said pre-
cinct to be called Muddy precinct and Ixjunded as follows beginning at the
southeast corner of section 13, township 2, north of range 16, east; thence
west on said line to the Franklin precinct; thence north to the county line;
thence east to the range line between ranges 16 and 17, east. William J.
McCord was appointed justice of the peace for Muddy precinct. O. M.
Johnson and E. S. Slagle were appointed constables for Muddy precinct.

Humboldt precinct. A petition was presented on April i, 1861, signed
by A. J. Halbert, Merrit Wells, James Cameron and twenty-two others, pray-
ing that a new precinct be organized in township 2, range T3, bounded as fol-
-lows : Commencing one mile north of the southwest corner of township 2,
range 13, at the Pawnee county line and running east nine miles to the center
or range 14; thence north along the section line to the north line of said
township, five miles; thence west along the township line, nine miles to the
Pawnee county line ; thence south five miles along the county line to the place
of beginning, all of which was granted by the board.

Falls City precinct bounded as follows : Commencing at the northwest
corner of section 19, township 2, range 16, east on the range line between
ranges 15 and 16; thence south on said range line, nine miles to the line
between Kansas and Nebraska; thence east on said line, nine miles to the
section line between sections 33 and 34 in township i, north of range 17;
thence north along the section line eight miles to the northeast corner of
section 28, township 2, range 17; thence west along the section line, three
miles to the range line between ranges 16 and 17; thence north one mile
along the range line to the section line dividing sections 13 and 24, township
2, north range t6, east; thence west along said section line six miles to the
place of beginning.

Muddy precinct bounded as follows : Commencing at the place where
the range line between ranges 14 and 15, east, intersects the county line
between Nemaha and Kichardson counties; thence south along said range
line, nine miles to the section line, between sections 18 and 19 in township
2, north of range 15, east; thence east along said section line, twelve miles
to the range line between ranges 16 and 17, east; thence north along said
range line, nine miles to the county line between NemaJia and Richard.son
counties; thence west along said county line, twelve miles, to the place of
beginning.

St. Stephens precinct bounded as follows: Commencing at a place
where the range line between ranges 16 and 17 intersects the county line,

148 RICHAkDSOX COUXTV. NEBRASKA.

between Xemaha and Richardson counties, thence south along said range
Hne, seven miles to the section line between sections 6 and 7 of township
2, north of range 17; thence east along said section line, to the Missouri
river ; thence up the Missouri river, to the line between Nemaha and Rich-
ardson counties: thence west along said county line to the place of beginning.

Arago precinct bounded as follows: Commencing at the northwest
ct)rner of section, township 2, range 17, east, on the range line between ranges
16 and 17: thence south along range line, three miles to the section line
lyClween sections 19 and 20, township 2, north of range 17, east; thence east
along said section line to the Missouri river, thence up the Missouri river to
the section line dividing sections i and 2 of township 2, north of range 17,
east : thence west along the section line to the place of beginning.

Rulo precinct bounded as follows: Commencing at the northwest cor-
ner of section zy on the section line between sections 28 and 27 of township
2, range 17, east; thence south along said section line, eight miles to the line
between Kansas and Nerbaska : thence east along said line to the Missouri
river: then.ce up the Missouri river to the section line between sections 19 and
30 of township 2, range 18: thence west along said section line to the place
of beginning.

Action of the board of commissioners at a meeting held On October
6, 1862, in response to a petition signed by citizens of Arago and St. Stephens
])recincts, merged the two precincts into one to be known as Arago.

Ohio. — S. J; Harris had the honor of naming Ohio township. It was
he who petitioned to have the township organized to its present boundary
and named it tor his native state, Ohio.

ACT.S OF TERRIIORIAI. I.KGISLATURE, 1857-58.

An act passed and approved on February lo, 1857, authorized Charles
McDonald to erect a mill dam across the north fork of the Grand Nemaha
river, on the northwest quarter of section 22, township 2, north of range No.
14, east of the sixth p. m., Richardson county, Nebraska Territory.

.\n act passed ant! aj^proved at the same session, February 10, 1857, pro-
\idcd for the incorporation of the town of Salem, Richardson county,
Xeliraska Territory. Section I\' of this act provided that "Whenever eight
of the resident householders of said town shall petition the county clerk of
said Richardson county, asking for the organization of said municipal gov-
ernment the said clerk shall fix the time for tlie municipal election, which

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I49

shall not be more than twenty daj's after the petition is presented to him, and
shall appoint three judges of said election, and shall give notice thereof by
posting up notices in three public places in said town * * *."

Section V. At the aforesaid election the legal voters shall elect a town
council consisting of five, who shall possess the qualifications of electors:
Provided, That (the) person receiving the highest number of votes shall be
president until otherwise provided In- law, also a town clerk and marshal,
which election shall be the first organization of the said town, and thereafter
said offices may be abolished or new nftices created as may be prescribed by
ordinance.

ARCHER MADE SEAT OF JUSTICE.

Section I. Of an act passed and approved on March 7th, 1855, entitled
an Act defining the boundaries of counties herein named and for other pur-
poses. (Had reference to Richardson, Nemaha, Blackbird and Dakota
counties.) This act materially reduced the boundary of Richardson county
and contained the following important sentence : "The seat of justice is
hereby located at the town of Archer, in said Richardson county."

An act to provide for the permanent location of the county seat of
Richardson county :

Section I. Be it enacted by the council and House of Representatives
of die Territory of Nebraska, That the Board of County Commissioners, of
Richardson County, Territory of Nebra.ska, are hereby authorized and
empowered to cause an election to be held on the first Tuesday of April, A.
D. 1857, at the different voting precincts in said county, for the purpose of
permanently locating the county scat of said Richardson county. For this
purpose each voter may designate upon his l^allot the place of his choice for
the county seat, and when the votes are canvassed, the place having the
majority of all votes polled shall be the county seat, and public notice of said
election shall be given within thirty days, by the Board of County Commis-
sioners, by posting up notices, in three several places in each precinct in
said count}'. *

Section II. It shall be the duty of said Board of County Commission-
ers to give at least twenty days notice of said election, by causing notices to
be posted up at three different places in each precinct, and the qualifications
of voters, the manner of holding elections and making returns thereof, shall
be in accordance with the statutes of this territory governing elections.

Section III. If no one place has a majority of all the votes polled as
provided for in section i of this act, it shall be the duty of the county com-

ICO RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

missioners of said county, within one month after said election, to order a
special election and give ten days notice thereof, by posting up notices in
three public places in each precinct in said county, at which election votes
shall be taken by ballot between the two highest places voted for at the first
election, and the place having the highest number of votes shall be the county
seat of said county, and notice thereof shall be given as required by section
one of this act.

Section No. IV. Any contest of any election held under the provisions
of this act shall be brought before the county clerk and shall be conducted
and deti.-rmined according to law governing elections in this territory.

Section Xo. W That the county seat of said county be and the same
is herebv temporarily located at the town of Salem, in said Richardson
countv. until said election is held anil determined according to the provisions
of this act :

Provided, that the county commissioners of said county shall become
satisfied that the town of Archer, the present location of the county seat of
said county, is located on and embraced within the limits of the half-breed
Indian reservation in said county.

Section AT. This act to take effect and be in force from and after
its passage.

Approved. February 9, 1857.

An act supplementary to an act to provide the permanent location of
the seat of justice of Richardson county.

Section i. Be it enacted by the Council and House of Representatives
of the Territory of Nebraska, That the seat of justice of Richardson county
be and the same is hereby located at West Salem on the west half of the
southwest y4 of section Xo. (3) three, and the east yi of the S. E. ^4 of
section X'o. (4 1 four in township Xo. (i) one, north of range X^o. (15)
fifteen east in said county.

Section 2. That it shall be the duty of the county commissioners to
remove the records of said county to said place above named immediately
3,frer the taking of efi"ect of this act.

Section 3. That so much of the act to which this act is supplementary
as conflicts with the provisions of this act. be and the same are hereby
repealed.

Section 4. This act shall take efl:'ect and l>e in force from and after the
first day of March. .\. D. 1857.

Approved Fel)ruary 13. 1857.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I5I

The first act to come under this head affecting Richardson county was
that incorporating the "Town of Archer," which was approved on January
25, 1856.

BENCH AND BAR.

Proclamation of acting Governor Cuming, of the Territory of Nebraska,
issued from the executive department of Nebraska Territory on December
20, 1854, assigned "Hon. Edward R. Hardin, assistant justice of the Supreme
Court, to the second judicial district, embracing all that portion of territory
lying south of the Platte river in Nebraska Territory." The proclamation
recited that the appointment was made for the "purpose of administering
justice in the Territory of Nebraska."

An Act to provide for permanent location of county seat of Richardson
county. Approved February 9, 1857.

An Act to establish permanently County Seat, Richardson Countv, bv
vote of the people. Approved October 3, 1858.

An Act to authorize H. W. Summerlad, and George Walther to keep
a ferry across the Missouri at Arago. Approved January 3rd, 1862.

An Act to authorize Felix Kitch, A. P. Forney, and Joshua Murray
to keep a ferry across the Missouri at Rulo, Nebraska Territory. Approved
January 11, 186 i.

They were allowed to charge : For two horses or mules and buggy,
!|5i.oo; for each extra pair, 25 cts; for horse, or mule and rider. 25c; for two
horses or mules, and buggy, 75c ; i horse or mule and buggy, 50c : for horse
or mule led, 25c; loose cattle per head, loc; hogs and sheep per head, 5c:
f(_)otmen, loc; each cwt. of freight loc; lumber $3.00 per i.ooo feet.

An Act to establish and keep a ferry at Winnebago, by Neal J. Sharp
and John Singleton. Approved March 6, 1855.

An Act to Incorporate the "German Sangerbund of Arago"' by F. Kam-
merer, H. W. Sommerlad, J. O. W'irth, H. Volbrecht, Charles F. \\'alther
and L. Allegewahr, had for its object the promotion of artistic taste in gen-
eral and vocal music in particular by the practice and performance of sacred
and secular music. Approved January 9th, 1862.

An Act to Incorporate Arago. Approved January 10, i860.

An Act to Incorporate Falls City. Approved January 13th, i860.

An Act to Incorporate Falls City Library Association, by C. H. Norris.
David Dorrington, H. O. Hanna. George Van Deventer, J. H. Burbank. J.
Edward Burbank, S. H. Schuyler. E. S. Dundy and Jacob Good. Approved
December 21st, 1861.

152 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

An Act to Incorporate Riilo. Approved November ist, 1858.

An Act Supplemental. Approved January 11, 1861.

An Act to locate Road "Little Xemaha River to Kansas Line." Will-
iam Trammel, Louis Misplay and Levi Dodge, empowered to view and locate
road, at or near where military Road crosses same near Dr. Jerome Hoover's
mill, running thence southerly on most direct and feasible route by way of
Maple Grove ford, on Muddy Creek, thence to ford the Grand Nemaha river
below the falls, known as Singleton's Ford, thence to the Kansas line.

Approved January 22, 1856.

An Act to authorize Charles McDonald to erect a mill dam across the
north fork of the Grand Nemaha River in Richardson County," on n. w. %
of Section Xo. 22, Twp. 2, North of Range No. 14. Approved February
10, 1857.

An Act defining the boundaries of counties herein mentioned and for
other purposes. This Act reduced the size of Richardson county to the pres-
ent size and located the county seat at Archer. Approved March 7th, 1855.

An Act to authorize Silas Babcock, to erect mill dam across Long
Branch at "any point within four miles from town of Franklin, in Richard-
son Co." Approved January 6th, i860.

An .\ct to authorize \\^illiam A. TafHemire and Garret N. Martindale
to erect a mill dam across Muddy Creek, Richardson County, on n. w. y^
Sec. 16, Twp. I, N. of Range No. 16. Approved February 11, 1865.

An Act to attach the Counties of Gage & Jones to the Council Districts
composed of Pawnee and Richardson. Approved January 11, 1862.

An .Act to locate road from Brownville to Archer. A. L. Coot, Strander
Fronian. F. G. McMillen, appointed Commissioners to meet in .\rcher. May
1st, 1856. $3.00 per day for time actually employed. Approved January
2nd, 1856.

An .\ct to appoint Commissioners to view and locate a territorial road
from Pbttsriiouth in Cass County to Archer in Richardson County. Will-
iam kakes, Cass County; John Singleton, Richardson County, and Gideon
Bennett, of Pierce County. "The nearest and most practicable route to
Nebraska City, thence to Brownville, to Archer in Richardson County, thence
to the Kansas line by way of the ford on the Grand Nemaha river, known
as the Singleton's ford, having due regard for personal property as well as
ground o\er which road shall pass; to be 30 feet wide; all male inhabitants
between ages of 21 and 43 required to work 2 days each year on road.
Approved, Alarch 14, 1855.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 53

xAn Act to Inc. Town of Salem. Approved February loth, 1857.

An Act to Inc. Town of St. Stephens. Approved November 3, 1858.

An Act to Authorize School District No. 37 to issue bonds for the pur-
pose of erecting High School, $20.00. Approved February 2nd, 1875.

An Act to restore Civil Rights to Joseph Deroin. Approved February
1 8th, 1867.

An x\ct to vacate Block No. 126, Falls City, Richardson County.
Approved February 12, 1867.

An Act to authorize Falls City Precinct, in Richardson County, to issue
bonds to aid in the construction of a court house for Richardson County,
$20,000. Approved February 14th, 1873.

An Act to vacate the alleys in Blks 6, ^2, and 125 Falls City, Richard-
son county. Approved February 9th, 187 1.

An Act to authorize Zachariah J. Parsons to establish a ferry across the
Missouri at Rulo. Approved February 5th, 1866.

An Act extending the time for commencing of a railroad in Richardson
County. St. Louis and Nebraska Trunk R. R. Was to be located so as to
pass through Rulo and Arago.

' An act to provide for the perfecting the probate records of Richardson
County and confirming the same. Approved February 9th, 1871.

An act to provide for selling 10 acres of northeast J4 sec. 16 twp. i
north of Range No. 16 in Richardson county, so as to include the burying
ground situated on said land. Approved June 24th, 1867.

An act to revive the herd law within precincts of Muddy, Porter,
Franklin, Humboldt. Grant. Tibert}-, in Richardson county. Approved June
3rd, 1871.

.\n Act to vacate the townsite of ^Vinnebago. Approved February 5th,
1866.

An Act to vacate the Townsite of Yankton. Approved February lotli,
1866.

An Act tn vacate the Townsite of Archer, in Richardson County.
Approved February 10, 1866.

CHAPTER VI.
Location of County Seat.

We have gone to a great deal of pains to examine the official records
of the county in tracing the various elections on the .matter of locating the
county capital the one eA^ent among all others important in the beginning
of county government. The matter of its location in Richardson county
differs little, perhaps, from that of other counties from the fact, that of the
citizens of a new country, many at the very outset become excited over this
one momentous event from other causes than a desire in getting a point most
advantageous to all as to geographical location. In all new countries the
matter of real-estate values are at once effected and it thus becomes a matter
of pecuniary interest to a very great number of the people. So it was in
our case, as will be seen by following the history of the various contests.
If the historian were confined strictly to the official minutes of the meetings of
the commissioners' court in session at th eearly territorial county seat of
Archer, or that of the later one at Salem, the story told in the minutes would
convey but little information bearing upon the various phases of the elec-
tions. The record made by them is here given, however, for the
purpose of showing that official notice of the various elections was taken
and for the further purpose of showing officially the dates of such elections
and the names of those present on the several occasions, who took part in an
official sense. This we have believed was important in an historical story,
such as this, of what was no doubt the most hotly contested elections ever
held in the county and the ones upon which the turning point in the history
of a very great area of the county was most largely affected.

The official minutes of the commissioners court go so far as to say in
the various instances that "no choice was had between the various contest-
ants," but gave no result in figures throwing light on the result of the canvass
of the votes in a definite sense. Nor do they give any idea of the struggles
in every precinct of the county in the matter of the work done by the friends
and various partisans of the towns entered in the races. This part is left
for others to tell and much of it will never be told, as no record of it is now
available.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

155

That an election for the purpose of giving the people of the county a
chance to make a selection of a town within the county for a seat of gov-
ernment was long expected, and that events had for years been shaping to
that end. is more than proven from the fact that more than one townsite had
been laid out by speculators with an idea single to its availability for just
such a purpose and those sponsoring the same had bended every energy pos-
sible at their command in an attempt to win friends for their particular town.

FIRST ELECTION.

Taken from minutes of board of county commissioners' meeting held
at Salem, Nebraska, Territory on (special term) November 15, 1858:

"Now comes the county commissioners and in pursuance of an act of
the Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Nebraska, entitled an act to
establish permanently the county seat of Richardson county, approved Octo-
ber 3, 1858, it is by said board ordered that an election shall be held at the
several voting precincts of Richardson county on Monday, the sixth day of
December, 1858, for the purpose of determining the choice of a majority
of the voters of said county as to the location of said county seat.

"It is also ordered that in pursuance of law an election shall be held "at
the same time and places to ascertain the choice of a majority of the voters
of said county on the question whether an act passed at the fourth regular
session of the Legislature of the Territory of Nebraska to Restrain Sheep
and Swine from running at large shall l)e enforced in Richardson County."

The following were appointed as judges and clerks of election :

Archer precinct No. i : Ambrose Shelly, Archibald McMillan, ^Vingato
King.

Salem precinct No. 2 : John Cornell, John W". Brinegar, Richard M.
DeLong.

Speiser precinct No. 3 : John Luginbill, Elijah G. Davenport, James
M. Allen.

.Rulo precinct Ni 1. 4 : Charles Martin, John Stone, R. F. Cunningham.

St. Stephens No. 5 : William R. Cain. Jacob Wagoner, Lewis Philip.

Franklin precinct No. 6 : John Corlett, H. B. Porter. William Furrow.

SECOND COfNTV SEAT ELECTION.

Taken from minutes of board of county commissioners held at Salem,
Richardson count}-, Nebraska Territory, December 9, 1858, there being pres-
ent Commissioners F. L. Goldsburv and Arnett Roberts :

156 RICIFARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

"Xow comes the Board of County Commissioners and by them it is
ordered that a second election shall Ije held in the several voting precincts of
said county on Saturday, the 25th day of December, 1S58, for the purpose of
determining the location of the coiuity seat of said county in pursuance of
the provisions of an act of the Legislature of said territory, entitled an Act
to Locate permanently the County Seat of Richardson County, approved
October 3, 1858. there having been no place elected to be the said county
seat at the election on the 6th day of December, 1858, and it is further set
forth in said order that the town of Rulo, St. Stephens, Falls City, and Salem
are to be the four contending points for said county seat, they being the four
highest points voted for at said election on the 6th day of December, 1858."

THIRD COUNTY SEAT ELECTION.

Taken from minutes of county commissioners at meeting held at Salem
• on the 27th day of December, 1858:

"Special Term of the County Court held at Salem on the 27th day of
December, 1858, a petition from the citizens of Archer Precinct praying for
the removal of the voting place from Archer to Falls City, presented and
si^ed by Phillip Breamer and eighty-nine others, of which said prayer was
granted."

A third election on the coiuity seat question was then ordered to be held
on the tenth day of January, 1859, for the purpose of permanently locating
the county seat of Richardson County.

The following named persons were judges of said election to serve in
the different precincts:

Archer No. i : W. AL Maddox, W. King, Isaac Crook.

Salem No. 2 : J. Coffman, R. M. DeLong, T. Greenup.

Speiser No. 3 : J- Luginbill, J. B. Shellhorn, E. J- Davenport.

Rulo No. 4: C. ■Martin, B. F. Cunningham, J. W. Stone.

St. Stephens No. 5 : J. Campbell, F. Chauvin, J. Cowan.

Franklin No. 6 : J. Scott, J. Corlett. A. D. S. Ayers.

The foregoing business was transacted by Commissioners F. L. Golds-
bur\- and Arnett Roberts.

REEATIAK TO BUILDING COURT HOUSE.

Cop\- (if tlie following appears on the minute book of the county com-
missioners, l-'ebruary. 18^9:

RICHARDSON COrNTV, NEBRASKA. 1 57

"Salem. Richardson Coiint\-, Nebraska Territory, February ii, 1S59.

"Know All Men by These Presents:

"That John A. Burbank. }»Iayor of Falls City, on behalf of the corporate
authorities of the Town of Falls City is firmly held and bound to the county
of Richardson and Territory of Nebraska in the penal sum of Five Thousand
Dollars, lawful money of the United States, for the payment of which I bind
myself and successors.

"The conditions vi the above is that if the above named parties shall
erect or cause to be erected upon the public square in Falls City a two-story
Brick or Concrete Court House, Thirty bv Fifty feet in dimensions and to
cost not less than ($3,000.00) Three Thousand Dollars to commence the
same on the First Da>- of A'lay next and to donate the same with the Twenty-
J''our Lots contained in the Public Square to the County of Richardson.

"Provided the County Seat should be located at Falls City by Vote of
the People at coming election and to be held so long as the County seat shall
remain at Falls City and no Longer, then this obligation to be void other-
wise to remain in full force.

"^^'itness M}- fland and Official seal this igth December, 1858.

"John A. Burbank (Mayor.) F. C.
"Attest:

•'S. R. Jamison. Dct. Clk."

locating county seat.

From minutes of county commissioners court held at Salem, Nebraska,
iMarch 7, i860:

The following named persons are api»inted judges of election : Falls
Cit\- precinct, David Dorrington. James Buchanan and E. W. Hutchinson.

St. Stephens precinct, Jacob Wagoner, William R. Cain and L. Allege-
wahr.

Ruk) precinct. Isaac May, A. P. btirney and Joshua Murry.

I'ranklin precinct, H. B. Porter. J. W. Davis and Boyd Reeves.

Salem precinct. Thomas Greenup. S. McDaniel and R. M. DeLong.

Speiser precinct. L. DeWebber, J. Shellhorn and J. Luginbill.

Ordered that there be an election held in the several voting precincts of
Richardson County. Nebraska Territory, according to an act of the Legis-
lature approved January, i860, for the jnu-pose of locating the county seat
of said county, on the Thirst ^Monday in .\pril, i860.

1[^8 RICHARDSON CdlNTV, NEHKASKA.

Commissioners Omrl, April 7, i860. Present. Thomas ]\lclntire and
Charles Cornell.

At an electiim held in Richardson county on the first jMonda}' of April,
1866, for the purixise of locating the county seat of Richardson county. No
place getting a majority of all the votes polled, the board ordered that an
election be held on the i6th day of April, i860, to decide which of the fol-
lowing named places shall be tlie county seat, viz : Salem, Falls City, Rulo
and Arago.

Present, Thomas ]\lclntire and Charles Cornell. At an election held on
the i6th day of April, i860, in Richardson county for the purpose of locat-
ing the county seat of said county. No one place getting a majority of all
the votes polled the board ordered that another election be held on Monday
the 4th of June, i860, to decide which of the following named places shall
be the county seat viz : Falls City and Rulo. they being the two places which
received the highest number of votes at the election held on the i6th of April.

A. J. De.shazo. County Clerk.

PATK OF ELECTION CHANGED.

"Seven petitions were presented asking to change the time appointed for
the County Seat Election be changed from June to an earlier day. The
petitions were granted. The time was changed from the first Monday in
June to Tuesda}' the 22nd day of May."

A. J. Deshazo, County Clerk.

"On to wit: 25th day of b'ebruary A. D. 1859:

"Xow at this day the matter of the contested election for the County
Seat of Richardson county being for determination as between Falls City,
Contestant, and Salem, Defendant. The same having been hereto before
on to wit the 19th day of February A. D. 1859 argued and submitted by
counsel for said parties respectively. And having been considered and duly
weighed. It is considered, determined and adjudged that the judges of
election at the St. Stephens Precinct were not lawfully qualified to hold said
election ^^•herefore in canvassing the votes cast at said election. The votes
cast at said St. Stephens Precinct were properly and of right should have
been rejected. And it is further determined and considered and proved by
evidence produced in said contest and by the admission of parties that more
votes were cast at the Falls City Precinct at .said election in favor of Salem
for Cnunty Seat than were returned by the election Board of said precinct

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 59

also that at least one illegal vote was at said election and at said Falls City
Precinct cast and connted by the election Board of said Precinct in Favor of
said Falls City for County Seat wherefore by reason of the premises afore-
said it appears that a majority of the legal votes cast at said election were
cast in favor of Salem.

"And it is therefore considered adjudged and determined that at an
election held in the county of Richardson and Territory of Nebraska on the
loth day of January A. D. 1859 under the provision of an act of the Legis-
lature of the Territory of Nebraska approved on the 3rd day of October A.
D. 1858 entitled 'a Bill for an Act to establish permanently the County Seat
of Richardson County by a vote of the people' the Town of Salem in said
county was Chosen and is hereby under the provisions of said act adjudged
and determined to be the County Seat of Said County.

"James T. Wright, County Clerk."

The foregoing is taken verbatim from the minute books of the county
commissioners.

The following is taken from official minutes in county clerk's office:
Salem, Richardson County, Nebraska Territory.
County Clerk's Office February 4th, 1859.

Personally appeared before me County Clerk of Richardson County, N.
T. E. S. Dundy in behalf of the town of Falls City wherein they contest the
election for County Seat in Richardson County, Nebraska Territory.

Because the Board of Canvassers refused to count the vote polled at
the St. Stephens Precinct — Second because the said Board of Canvassers
acted erroneously, illegally and without authority of law in rejecting and
refusing to count the votes taken at the St. Stephens Precinct on the loth
day of January 1859.

There being no disposition taken and no witnesses present in behalf
of Falls City, all they asked was that the poll books of St. Stephens Precinct
be taken as evidence in the case which was agreed to and the testimony in
behalf of Falls City was closed.

It was further agreed to by both parties that the matter lay over for one
week for the purpose of the defense procuring further evidence and Satur-
day the 19th day of February 1859 being the day appointed for that trial.

James S. Wright. County Clerk.

l6o RICHARIISON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

FROM OFFICIAL RECORDS.

•Falls City
vs.
Rule.

Before A. J. Deshazo
County Clerk of Richardson County Nebraska
Territory, on the 5th of June, i860.

Contested election Held for County Seat of said County on 22nd May,
1S60.

Now nth August A. D. i860 the above entitled case after having been
continued from day to day for the cNamination of witnesses, taking testi-
monv ect. came up for argument and final disposition. And after examina-
tion of the testimony and the papers in the case, and the law regulating elec-
tions ect. and after hearing the arguments of counsel for the parties, Plfifs.
and Defendants, the Clerk being fully advised in the premises, it is ascer-
tained, considered and determined, decided and adjudged that Falls City
received a Majority of All The Legal Votes polled at the election held in
said county on the 22nd May i860, for the location of the county seat of said
county, under and by virtue of the provision of the act of the Territorial
Legislature, entitled, an Act for the Location of the County Seat of Richard-
son County by a vote of the People, approved 13th January i860.

It is hereby further determined, decided and adjudged that Falls City,
the Plaintiff in this case is the lawful and Permanent County Seat of Richard-
son County aforesaid, it having received a majority of all the legal votes
polled in said county on the 22nd May i860, that being the last election held
for the location of the same, and that Rulo the Defendant, has no lawful
and valid claim to the same, as appears from the law and the evidence in
the case.

This 13th (lay of August i860.

A. J. Deshazo, County Clerk.

LAST COUNTY SEAT CONTEST.

The final effort to cliange the county seat in Richardson county was set-
tled by an election held on October 10, 1871, in response to a petition which
had been presented to the county board of commissioners by citizens of Salem.
In canvassing the county for signers the Salemites represented that thev
wanted to make just one more effort, and that this should be the last. The

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA l6l

petition was circulated in every nook and corner of the county and the parti-
sans of Salem worked as they had never worked before. When a sufficient
number (two-thirds) of the vote, had been obtained, the petition was pre-
sented on August 31, 1871. In arranging for the election, the county board
had decided to be governed in the registrations made for the election of dele-
gates to the constitutional convention in May, and upon a canvass of the
different precmcts it was found that there were 2,421 names registered and
that it would require 1,614 signers to the petition to get the election. The
Salem committee found that they had only 1,587 names and asked until Sat-
urday morning of that week to procure the remainder of what would be
required. The request was granted and Saturday morning they again appeared
with a sufficient number of signatures to bring the total to 1,650. The com-
missioners thereupon ordered that an election be held as requested and desig-
nated as the day, October 10, 1871.

In the intervening days was staged one of the fiercest contests in the
annals of Richardson countv elections. The result was as follows :

County Seat. fllli lllllll^ail

Falls City 77 133 470 33 8 104 11 103 53 ___ 67 3 81 C 17 1171

Siileni 119 23 4 12 100 56 01 26 .31 m 162 157 28 06 26 10.30

Geneva ___ ___ _._ 2 1 — ._ 3

Humboldt ___ ___ 1 __ ___ __ ._

On October 12. 1871, the AU^inaha J'allcy Joiinial, published at h'alls
City, had the following to say, descriptive of the election just held :

"Last Tuesday, Octol^er loth, 1871, was another eventful da\- in the
history of Richardson county. The question for decision was this: 'Shall
the Coimty Seat be Removed from Falls City to Salem?" Under the law it
requires two-thirds of the vote polled to be given to a certain point before a
removal can be effected. In this case Salem was the point, but instead of get-
ting the two-thirds majority, she lacked about seventy-seven votes of getting
half the vote polled.

"This virtuallv settles the question, and leaves l-"alls City as the seat of
government for Richardson countv.

"There was an immense throng of people in town from early on Tuesday
morning until late Wednesdav evening — all extremely an.xious as to the results

l62 RICIIARDSOX COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

of the election, Ijoth in regard to the county-seat (|uestiiin and tlie election of
county officers. Excitement ran very high, I)ut no quarreling, and very little
drunkenness was visible. The election board brought their labors to a close
about daylight on Wednesday morning and the result showed four hundred
and seventy for Falls City and four for Salem in the city on the county-seat
question. By this time there was enough precincts heard from to show a
majority in favor of Falls City. There was rejoicing among the people, and
town property was declared to be worth thirty-three per cent, more than it
was before the result was known, and it was resolved by unanimous consent
that some store boxes should be .sacrificed on Wednesday evening.

"About twenty-five new buildings are now proposed to be built imme-
diately, and business men are looking about them with renewed energ\-.

FALLS CITY CELEBRATES.

"On Wednesday evening a large number of the leading citizens, half-
grown boys, etc., congregated in front of the City Hotel at the southwest
corner of the court house square (Seventeenth and Stone streets, as it is now
known), and determined to have a 'blow out' on a small scale on the pros-
pects of the election and the result of the county-seat vote in particular. So
a huge bonfire was built and enjoyed for awhile when the 'village blacksmith'
turned out his artillery and fired a national salute of thirty-seven guns in
honor of the victory. George Van Deventer, Colonel Burbank and Hon. A.
R. Scott were then called for, in the order of their names, and responded with
appropriate remarks for the occasion. The crowd then dispersed with deaf-
ening cheers for the speakers and for Falls City, the county-seat of Rich-
ardson."

Commenting on the result of the election insofar as it affected the ]5rin-
cipal contestants and the people of the county as a whole, W. S. Stretch had
the following to say in his paper, the Xciiialia Valley Journal, under date of
October 19th, 1871 :

"Our most sanguine hopes and ardent wishes in respect to the county-
seat question are being realized with far greater rapidity than an\- one could
reasonably anticipate ten days ago.

"Salem and Falls City have fought their liattle nobly, bravelw persist-
ently, and the verdict has Ijeen rendered in favor of the latter. The defeated
army accepts the situation and is now willing to let bygones be li>gones and
all join hands and work togetlier for the best interests of the county.

■'Tohn Holt. T- Cass Lincoln, and Doctor Brooke, Salem's most ardent

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 163

workers for ten years past — men who had thousands of dollars depending
upon the issue, and who gave unsparingly of their money, time and energies,
not hesitating to sacrifice personal friendships where they conflicted with their
purpose, we are told, have buried the hatchet forever. There are a few, how-
ever, who are unwilling to let the fire be quenched, but, fortunately, they are
very few in numbers and are to be pitied rather than feared.

"AH honor to Holt, Lincoln, Brooke and others, who have shown the
wisdom and manliness to drop the vexatious and harmful question. They
have come to the conclusion that it cannot benefit Salem, and realize that it
has been a great injury to themselves and the county at large. \Vhen we
realize that these men have been the life and soul of the contest from its
commencement, and that the)' have now alxindoned it and withdrawn their
material support and influence, it will be conceded to be a dead issue by all.

"Falls City holds no grudge against Salem for bringing all her force
and influence to bear upon the vote for county seat, neither should the latter
feel aggrieved at Falls City for equal vigilance and energy in maintaining
what she legally possessed, for to sum up the whole thing, it was only a mat-
ter of dollars and cents between the two towns. We regret, however, that
much was said and done by both parties, which is calculated to irritate and
do great injustice and harm to all concerned. But we are glad to know that
Falls City, while she cannot help rejoicing over the victor}', has no desire to
detract one iota from the merits of Salem, but manifests a disjiosition to
heal the wounds of the late conflict, and lay aside all of those local dissensions
which have proven so disastrous to the development of our county for years
past. She recognizes in the leading citizens of Salem a noble and manly
spirit, and we can assure them and the people of the county generally that
she will in the future, as she has tried to do heretofore, work for the best
interests of the county, and do all in her power to elevate it to that standard
of wealth, prosperity and population, where it should already stand, and ulti-
mately will attain — the first in the state.

"But. however essential it is for us to dwell together in harmony, this
alone will not develop, build up and beautify our country and enrich our
people. We must have mo^e substantial improvements, for without them no
})eople ever have or ever will prosper. We want factories, railroads, county
buildings, improved highways, etc.. and to obtain all of these it require.^-
money and manual labor. We Jlre opposed to the people voting further
count}- aids to railroads, but are very much in favor of ])recinct aid to rail-
roads or any other public improvement or convenience. I'or instance, if a

164 RICIIARnSOiX COl-NTY, NEBRASKA.

railroad should be proposed to run via Falls City north through this county,
we do not think it just to tax Humboldt or Speiser precinct in the west end
to build it : but we think it would be right and proper and highly remunerative
for Falls City, Muddy, Ohio and Barada precincts to render liberal aid to the
project. And we confidently expect that those precincts will be asked to aid
a narrow gauge railroad from Grasshopper Falls northward through this
county before two years elapse.

"W'e believe, too. that the people of Richardson county will be called
before many months to vote a tax for the building of a court house, and
when they are asked to do so. we think it will be for the best interests
of every property-holder and voter of the county to support the measure.
The counties all around us l:ave good court houses, and they look upon
us as penurious and miserly for not providing ourselves with proper public
buildings. Let us not be sneered at any longer, for we are amply able
to afford as good buildings as any county in Nebraska. We have now
as gdod a jail as can be found in the state, and for thirty or forty thou-
.sand dollars on twenty-}ear eight per cent, bonds, we can have as good
a court house. When we have, this county will soon be thickly popu-
lated, and in a few years we can take our stand as the banner county in
the state in point of wealth and population."

COUNTY P.Uir.DINGS.

The first court house erected for that sole use was built in 1863, at a
cost of three thousand dollars. It occupied the center of the public square
in block Xo. 59. the site of the present court house and was built as per agree-
ment I>y the citizens of Falls City made prior to the elections held to determine
a location for the county seat at the time the same was removed from Salem.
It was a frame structure and gave way in the days of the early seventies to
tilt tiieii new and now present building;

On .\pril JO, 1872, a proposition for the issuing of twenty-five thousand
(Inllars in coupon bonds, to be used in the building of a new court house, was
sul)niitted to the county com.missioners in due form. The provisions of the
proposal were that a building of brick and stone, two stories high, and not
less than thirty-six by sixty-six feet on the ground floor and containing two
fireproof vaults, should l)e erected. The bonds issued were to bear ten per
cent interest, which was to be met by an annual special tax. The principal
wa> to be paid in ten years time, the county retaining the right to make pay-
ment at an earlier date if it seemed preferable. In accordance with this

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 165

proposition, the commissioners authorized an election to take place on May
13, iS/2, in the several precincts. At this election the measure failed to
secure a majority, and was lost.

On February 14, 1873, the Legislature passed an act enabling the pre-
cinct of Falls City to issue bonds for the building of a court house of stone
and brick, not less than forty-seven by eighty-five feet, and containing fire-
proof vaults for the safe keeping of the county records.

In accordance with this act, a proposition was submitted to the county
commissioners, who by the provisions of the act were duly authorized, and
I)v them an election was ordered for May 13, 1873. These bonds were to
be in the sum of fifteen thousand dollars, to be payable on ®r before the
expiration of ten years, and to draw ten per cent interest, which was to be
paid 1)y a special tax, to be levied on the first of May, each year. The pre-
cinct decided on the issuing of the bonds by a vote of two hundred and eighty
to one hundred and fourteen. Shorth- after the election, the work of remov-
ing the old court house and erecting the new court house was commenced
under the charge of H. E. Moritz, of Speiser township, president of the
board of county commissioners, and pushed to completion.

The fifteen thousand dollars in bonds were sold for Ijetween eigiUy and
ninety cents on the dollar, and the proceeds used for the new building. The
sale of the bonds did not, however, supply sufficient means to meet the cost
of completion and furnishing of the court house and as much as fifteen thou-
sand dollars were raised for this purpose. Maddox had the contract for the
excavation of the cellar and employed some of the county prisoners on the
job while it lasted. The brick used in the construction were of home manu-
facture, the same coming from the kilns of Mr. Beagle on the banks of the
Nemaha. Rock for the foundation was procured, at what at that time was
known as the Dundy quarries, and now owned by Doctor Minor, south of
the city. These rocks were first class and the quarries still furnish an abund-
ance of building material to this day. The sand used was furnished by Chris.
Hershey and was procured at the Maddox and Brannin farms. Charles
Loree, clerk of the district court at the present time, says that he was busy
in those days hauling wood from his father's timber to the Beagle brick kilns,
where it was used in burning the brick.

In 1882 further improvement was made b\- enlargement and the build-
ing of additional rooms in wings on both the north and .south side of the
main building.

l66 RICirAKDSOX COUNTY, NI

■HE COUNTY JAIL.

The count}- jail is the most substantial structure owned by the county,
being constructed entirely of stone and is located on the northeast corner of
the court house square. It is arranged with the cell houses on the first floor,
while the jailer and family have rooms on the second floor. It was erected
in 1871 at a cost of three thousand five hundred dollars, by J. H. Burbank.

NAMING OF FALLS CITY.

It is saitl that many of those who had to do with the laying out and
building of Falls City desired that it be named Lanesville in honor of one
of its founders, a man by the name of Jim Lane. Falls City, however, was
later decided upon from the fact that on account of a flood which washed
away many of the homes of those then residing at a village on the banks of
the Nemaha named Nemaha Falls, had come up on the higher ground and
they insisted that the vt'ord falls l^e retained because of the name of their
town and from the fact that it had been so named on account of the falls of
the Xeniaha river at that point. Accordingly, Falls City was chosen and has
so remained as the name of the city to this day.

When Joseph Hare arrived at Salem in 1854 he found but two others
had preceded him, S. H. Roberts and John Singleton.

W. T. Stout sold the land on which the town of Falls City is now
located for the sum of fifty dollars. Jim Lane, of the Town Company, was
the buyer.

FIRST governor's FIR.ST RECEPTION.

The first reception to Nebraska's first governor, Hon. David Butler,
who was a resident of Pawnee City, was given by the citizens of Falls City,
soon after he was inaugurated governor and at a time when he was a guest
of Hon. E. S. Dundy, of this city, who was later a United States district
judge at Omaha. Hon. Isham Reavis gave an address of welcome and Doc-
tor Messier was leader of the band that furnished the music.

While on this \'isit the governor issued his first proclamation conven-
ing the state Legislature. Judge Dundy wrote the proclamation and the
governor sign.eil it.

On the (juarter century anni\er>ary of Nebraska's statehood, R. D.
Messier recalled to mind the following interesting incident in connection with
the reception of the governor in Falls City on a visit made while chief

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I67

executive. Pie said "1 am reminded of an interesting little circumstance of
those early days wlien Falls City was a stage station and "Scotty" would
blow his 'orn." ("Scotty" was Scotty Bradford, a driver of one of the
stages owned by Squire Dorrington.)

"I was then a boy, when, walking up Stone street at the old "Dorring-
ton corner." so well known to all old settlers and where now stands the Dorr-
ington Ijlock (at corner of Sixteenth and Stone street) I met Hon. E. S.
Dundy. He stopped and informed me that that night Falls City was to be
honored as a city by the arrival of her hrst governor — the later great and
good Governor Butler. I say great and good, for who ever knew Governor
Butler intimately, but to love him for his big heart and generous nature.

"What I want," said Judge Dundy, "is to know if you can drum up
some music?" I had an old fife and the judge had some drums, so we went
to his little old brick law office and fished them out of the back room and by
procuring a few feet of rope, fixed them so they could be used. Then the
question was, who could beat them. Col. W. A. Presson happening along
volunteered to hammer the bass, and I skirmished around and found some-
one else to beat the snare. We then retired to the suburbs of the city (and
by the way it was not far ) and practiced. \Yt\\. the music was not as fine as
Gilmore's band or Thomas's orchestra, but it was the best the town afforded.

"Six o'clock came and with it the stage and in the stage, the governor.
He was the guest of Judge Dundy. After supper we repaired to the resi-
dence and commenced. The late Flon. Judge Marvin introduced the gov-
ernor and the Hon. Isham Reavis made the speech of welcome. (Here we
must make a little statement.) We as a band thought we were giving the
occasion a rosewood finish with our music, when Judge Reavis apologized to
the governor for ouf poor music on the ground that we were out of practice.

"This was the first reception of the first governor of our great state.
Nebraska has had several governors since but none so good nor any with such
a checkered career."

CELEBRATE RAILROAD S COMPLETION.

At the time the .\tcliison & Nebraska railroad (now owned by and a
Itart of the Chicago, Burlington & Ouincy system), from Atchison to T.in-
coln was completed through to the latter place, a proper celebration of the
event took place at Lincoln. The company ran an excursion from Atchison
to Lincoln and prominent citizens from each of the stations along the line

l68 RICITAUnSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

were invited to the same. Falls City was honored with al)out forty invitations
and the train was scheduled to leave Atchison early in the day and was timed
to reach this station I)y 8 o'clock a. m., but failed to arrive although our dele-
gation were present at the station. Many waited about the station during
most of the forenoon and still the belated train did not put in its appearance.
The delay caused many to forego the pleasure and they returned to their
homes. Among the party was a number of young mothers who with their
babes h?d intended to go, but among them was Mrs. Sarah Schoenheit (now
Mrs. J. R. Wilhite) who changed her mind and decided to stay at home.
The excursion train reached Falls City about noon. Returning to her home
in the bus. she conversed with the station agent and inquired of him if she
might not be able to go on the regular train which would be along about 3
o'clock as she now felt that she must not miss this historic event. The agent
advised her that her ticket could be fi.xed so that it would be acceptable and
with her baby and a small nurse girl she returned in the afternoon and made
the journey, arriving at Lincoln in the evening, but not too late to enjoy most
of the program arranged for the occasion. The Falls City party, who had
gone on the earlier train were much surprised to see her later, but tliey all
joined with the enormous crowd present in Lincoln that evening in making
it an event memorable in the history of that city.

THE MEEK-DAVIS TR.-\GEDY.

In the summer of 1855, a town was surveyed out, about two and one-
half miles northeast of Falls City, which was christened Archer. In the
same year, at a point seven miles west of the site of Falls City, the village of
Salem was platted. At that time Archer was the county seat, so designated
by the Territorial Legislature, and the residents and promoters of the place
felt at first secure in the idea that it would remain so, but a dispute arose
over the location of the half-breed line to the east, which was a boundary line
of land reserved to the Indians. To settle the misunderstanding the gov-
ernment ordered a re-survey for the purpose of making corrections, if the
same were found necessary. The new surveyors found an error, w'hich
caused the line to take in a goodly portion of the Archer townsite. This
condition robbed Archer of any possibility of remaining the county seat at
that time. The residents of Salem, therefore, sent a petition to the Terri-
torial Legislature asking that the county seat l>e removed to that place and
it was accordingly done.

In 1857 the noted F'ree-Soil leaders, Jim Lane, Judge Hunt, Ike Hamby

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 169

and John A. Burbank took a section of land for a townsite, and had it platted
and recorded as Falls City, and began the erection of improvements thereon :
but in 1859 that portion of the townsite lying on the west was vacated by a
legislative act, and was taken up by the town company as individual prop-
erty. Included in the land located originally were the farms of Anderson
Miller and George Roy.

In the same year Jesse and Isaac Crook and others removed their fam-
ilies from Archer to Falls City, giving it quite a little boom, and resulted in
calling the county commissioners together and they were asked to arrange
for the holding of an election for the purpose of again locating the county
seat. This was done and the election was held, resulting in a plurality of
si.x votes in favor of Falls City. In the contest as aspirants for county scat
honors, were Falls City, Rulo, Salem, Geneva and St. Stephens. This elec-
tion took place in the summer of i860. .\t that time Geneva, which was
located in the exact geographical center of the county, was a town of con-
siderable importance, having several business houses and quite a number of
residences, but after the county seat question was settled the town went into
rapid decline, and all that remains of it are two tall trees and traces of cel-
lars, over which the houses stood.

During the years that preceded the final location of the count)- seat at
Falls City, much bitterness between the citizens of the various competing
points was engendered, and many was the rough and tumble firstcuffs that
took place, but nothing of a serious nature happened until on the day of the
election, when Doctor Davis, of Rulo, and a man by the name of Thomas J.
Meek, of Falls City, were killed in the old frame hotel, known as the City
Hotel, and kept at that time by Isaac Minnick. The hotel building was
located on the corner lot on Stone street, now occupied by the three-story
brick building owned by the Richardson County Bank, Holland & Slocum and
Falls City Lodge No. 9 of the Masonic fraternity. The City Hotel was built
by Jesse Crook, who with his wife operated it for a time as a hotel and the
same was later in charge of Isaac Minnick.

TRACEOV DESCRIBED.

The building faced the west on Stone street with a side entrance on the
north side. It was a story-and-a-half building, the stairway leading to the
upper story going ;directly up from the north entrance. It was in the room
at the head of those stairs that Doctor Davis was killed by Meek, and it
was on the stairs that Meek was killed by Doctor Dunn, of Salem, under

170 RICHARDSON COUNTV, NEBRASKA.

the following circumstances : So great was the anxiety of Rulo, and of
Salem, which had joined hands to defeat the location of the county seat of
Falls Citv, that Doctor Davis had been sent to Falls City from Rulo and Doc-
tor Dunn from Salem, to watch the polls and see that no illegal votes were
polled. Mr. Meek had been selected by the people of Falls City for the
same purpose. During the day an altercation ensued between the men, in
which Mr. Meek had been worsted and was forced to retire to repair dam-
ages. He went across the street to the business house of J. Burbank, where
he loaded two re\olvers and prepared to return to the hotel. In the mean-
time. Davis, who had become hurt in the melee, had laid down on a bed, in
the room at the head of the stairs mentioned above. When Meek returned
he w ent to the head of the stairs and began firing at Doctor Davis, who w-as
King on the bed. In the meantime Doctor Dunn came to the foot of the
stairs and perceiving what was going on, drew his gun and began firing at
Meek, one ball piercing his heart and he fell dead. Doctor Davis lived
for a few days after being shot. Having killed Meek, Doctor Dimn went
out and mounted his horse and escaped to Salem. As he went, however, he
was fired at by the editor of the Broad Axe, a Mr. Jameson, who had a
shotgun in his hand, and by another person who had a rifle, but neither of
which hit him. He was never arrested, although he passed through Falls
City a few days afterwards, with a wagon-load of ladies, bound for Rulo.
He was counted a brave, mad man — dangerous with a gun, and the people
"wanted no truck with him.'" Such was the baptism of blood that gave to
our citv the countv seat and started it on its course of advancement.

CHAPTER VH.
Roster of County Officers.

The records disclose that the first officers of Richardson county could
not have been rightly accused of having been attracted to public service for
any reason on account of the emoluments attached thereto, as the first officers
were appointive, and tlierefore temporary, and carried with them but very
little, if anything, in the \\a\' of salary. Yet, as the years went by, tliere
arose the keenest rivalry between candidates, a condition that exists to this
da}".

Ijut, as a review of the lists of those elected will show — some of the
ver\ ablest men of the county have from time to time served its neople in
puljlic capacity, rendering most efficient service and the history of county
government in Richardson county has been singularly free on the whole from
scandal of any kind by those entrusted with public duty.

The first definite record in the court house shows that the county began
its official career with the is.suance of commissions by Acting Governor Cum-
ing at Omaha on January i, 1855.

COUNTY CLERK.

At that time (January i, 1855). Xeal J. Sharp became the lirst county
clerk, which office was combined in this count\- with that of regi.ster of deeds,
b\- appointment. The salar)- in this instance was provided for by fees and
for the first year: so little was done, it could not have amounted to more
than one hundred dollars. Sharp held the office until the spring of 1856,
when he was succeeded by J. C. Lincoln, of Salem. Lincoln served only
until the fall of that same year, when it appears that ¥. L. Goldsbery assumed
charge. In the fall of 1857, William H. Mann was elected to the office and
held the same until 1861, when George \^andeventer, from near Stella, was
the successful candidate at an election held and occupied the office until 1864.

.\t the election in 1864 James Cameron and William Mann were the
candidates. The election was indecisive and James ^^'ard was api)ointed to
act as clerk until the contest might he settled. On March ir. 1865, a deci-

172 RICHARDSON OirXTV. NEBRASKA.

sioii was had giving the office to Mann, ahhough the election boards had
favored Cameron. Mann served continuously until 1870, when August
Falsken was chosen as his successor. Falsken was impeached on July 21,
1 87 1, and Frank Rathen named to succeed him, for the unexpired time.

I'^alsken, however, came back and was re-elected by the people of the
county and served during the term of 1872-73. At the end of this lime
L. A. Ryan was elected and served a term of two years. He was succeeded
as follows : Ruel Nims, two years, W. H. Hay, four years ; George Pearson,
two years; M. W. Musselman, four years: George Marsh, four years: E. O.
Lewis, four years, ending in 1896.

In the year 1886, owing to result of last state census taken in 1885.
the office of county clerk and that of register of deeds, which had always been
together, were now separated and in the fall of that year Charles Loree was
elected as the first to serve as register of deeds. The office remained in the
same room with that of the clerk, however, and the register occupied the
north part of the room next to the vault while the clerk and the commis-
sioners occupied the south and east portion. Charles Loree served as reg-
ister for six \ears, when the population of the county, as ascertained by the
census of 1890, sliovved a falling off (the population required at that time
under the statute for the separate office of register of deeds was 18,003), and.
the office of register of deeds was again merged with that of county clerk and
Mr. Loree, foreseeing the change that was to come, w'isely ran for county
clerk that year and was elected. He served as such until January l. 1S98.
when he was succeeded by George E. Schneider, who served four \ears or
until 1902 and Loree was retained as deputy county clerk.

Following Schneider, J. C. Tanner was elected and served four years.
On January i, 1906, John H. Hutchings, of Falls City, who had been elected
in November, 1905, became county clerk and served four years. He was
followed by George A\'. Morris, who served four years, and he by Ora Marsh,
the present incumbent.

FIRST PROBATE JUDGK.

The man having the honor to be first probate judge was Christian Bol)st,
the father of Samuel Bobst, who is still a resident of Humboldt. The elder
Bobst was the leader of a party of the first settlers in this part of the West.
He was a native of Baltimore, ^Maryland, and was born in that city on Sep-
tember 2, 1802. He and his party came into the country in 1854. in the
month of April, and he located his cabin on the south fork of the Xemaha on

RICHARDSON COl'NTV, NEBRASKA. I73

the iKjrthwest quarter of section 25, township i, north of range 12, on April
4tli. His house was the first erected in what w as later to Ije a part of Pawnee
county; however, at that time, a part of Richardson county.

Christian Bobst receixed the appointment of probate judge from the first
governor of the .Territoi-y of Nebraska, Hon. Francis Burt, in the fall of
1854. with the designation that he was to act for Richardson county, at that
time one of the eight original counties of the state. His jurisdiction extended
over the county as then bounded: comprising territory now included in the
counties of Pawnee, Johnson, Nemaha and Richardson; the south line being
the Kansas-Nebraska boundary to a distance of sixty miles west from the
Missouri river, and the north line being the Little Nemaha river, in what is
now Nemaha county, with the Missouri river as the east line, and on the west
by what was then Tones county. This appointment was made through recom-
mendations of Col. Neal J. Sharp, of this county, who was a memlser of the
first territorial Legislature. Mr. Bobst and the Frey family, also early set-
tlers in that neighborhood, started the town of Cincinnati, long ago dead with
all its founders. When Pawnee county came into being, old Cincinnati was
included in the newer county.

Mr. Bobst was an able and fearless man and made himself conspicuous
in much of the work incident to the formative period in those days of the
pioneers. He and his party came into the state from the south, coming up
through Kansas from Leavenworth, and entering the state near where they
settled and were there when the first settlers entered this more easterly part
of the count) at St. Stephens. For many years all of the residents of the county
got their mail at the home of Judge Bobst.

FIRST COUNTY JUDGES.

A little later, however, when the size of the county was materially reduced
in area. J. O. Miller, of Archer, and the father of Mrs. William M. Maddox,
now a resident of Falls City, was appointed probate judge and is generally
recognized as having the best claims for having been the first judge of Rich-
ardson county; however, the officer was at that time from (1855 to 1875).
known as probate judge. The duties of this office under the early terri-
torial laws were vastly different than now. covering, as the\- did, a much
larger field of importance in man\- ways. Many of the duties of this oftice
have since been distributed to other offices. |. O. Miller held the office niUil
1856.

[74 RICHARDSON ((ILXTV, NEBRASKA.

An act was passed and the same appro\ed by the Territorial Legislature
on February 21. 1855, establishing the office of register of deeds, or recorder
of deeds, as sometimes known, the purpose of which was an office where deeds
conveying real estate are officially made a matter of record for publication.
The office was at first established in the eight counties first to be organized in
the territory and under the law was called the register's office. The office was
established as a fee office, viz., the incumbent depending upon the fees earned
for his salary, and it has so remained. The first persons to hold the office were
appointed

Xeil J. Sharp was the first to serve in this iiuportant office and held it
by appointment from the governor of the territory, Mr. Gumming. He
served from 1855 until 1861, when he was succeeded by William H. Mann.

The first deed to appear in the records of the office appears in book A
at page No. i and was as follows :

Francis X. Purket

to
Ambrose Shelley.
Deed.

I'or and in consideration of the sum uf Two Hundred Dollars paid in
hand, 1 hereby sell and con\-ey, quit-claim, unto Ambrose Shelley all my right,
title and interest to certain of the public lands upon which I now reside situate
upon the Muddy Creek, Richardson County, Territory of Nebraska and
jjounded north l>y the claim sold by John Purket to Joseph Minter — being one
mile east and west and one mile north and south, the creek running through
the claim. The tiiuber on the northwest corner. To have and to hold the'
same with all the improvements thereon.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, the nth day of Nov-
ember, 1855.

Franci.s M. Purket.
Territory of Nebraska,
Count}- of Richardson, ss. :

I liereb\ certif}- that on the 12th day of .\pril, 1855, personally appeared
before me iM-ancis M. Purket known to me to be the identical person whose
name appears on the foregoing deed as grantor and acknowledged the same
to be her \oluntary act and deed for the purposes therein set forth.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. ]-Z,

In testimony whereof I liave hereunto set my name and affixed prixate
seal. No pul^lic seal having )et Iieen provided at Archer, day and date alxive
written. N. J. Sharp,

The record does not show an\- other to hold the office as register of deeds
until the election of Charles Loree in the fall of 1885. The office in the
meantime having been administered in conjunction with that of county clerk.

The national census was taken in 1900 and it was ascertained that the
county had gained sufficient population for the office (18,003) and in igo2
William H. Rieger was elected register of deeds for a term of four years.
He was followed by L. C. Edwards, of Humboldt, who was elected in Novem-
ber, 1905, and served from January 4, 1906, until January 7, 1915 — nine
years. He was succeeded by Norman B. Judd, of Falls City, the present
incumbent, who was elected for a term of four years.

In the register of deeds office as it is conducted in Richardson county
ami throughout the .state, for that matter, is kept a record of all real estate
land conveyances. The earliest records to be found there are dated in 1856
and 1857. Deeds, mortgages, releases, assignments, mechanics liens, wills
and all papers affecting the titles to real estate, are brought to this office and
there copies of same are made in large books arranged especially for that
purpose. In the early days all this work was done with pen and ink in what
is called "long hand" and the work was quite arduous. Exact copies of such
instruments as are offered for record are made and the same properly indexed
that they ma}- be easily found by parties desiring to see the same. The first
books used were small and with but few pages and the indexing was done in
the fore part of same. Later, large books were provided, containing some
se\en hundred pages and books of equal and larger size for indexes. The
method pursued was still to write the copied instrument with pen and ink ; yet,
at a later date a system in vogue in older states, was adopted, of having a por-
tion of the instruments printed on the pages of the records, leaving the
recorder to supply the portion necessary for each individual instrument com-
ing into his hands. Looking back from the present time, it is amusing to
recall that some of the able members of the legal profession of the county
objected to the latter method of using the printed forms, and the officer in
charge in those days went so far in answer to the objectors as to make dili-
gent inquiries from some twenty-five or thirty counties of the state to learn
the custom emploxed. It was found that the counties over the state were
adopting the printed tonus very generally, and this seems to have silenced

176 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

those who would have re(|uired the recorder to continue the antiquated method
of reducing his entire record by the old method of writing the same in long
hand. A later method, and one which has proved a great saving in the mat-
ter of space used and time saved, besides making a much neater record, was
the adoption of the "loose-leaf" system in the office by the writer, while in
charge of the office. The deed mortgage and index records were all changed
to the loose-leaf system and the same is Ijeing adopted in other offices at the
court house, although the same first found favor in the office of the clerk of
the district court. With a loose-leaf system, a wide-carriage typewriter is used
and displaces almost entirely the old long-hand method.

CLERK OF DISTRICT COURT.

For several years after the organization of Richardson county, the duties
of clerk of the district court were performed by the county clerk, and it was
not until the entry of Nebraska in the sisterhood of states and the adoption
of the new Nebraska state Constitution in 1875, that the new office of clerk
of the district court was formed and the duties of its incumbent separated
finally from that of the county clerk.

The first to hold the office of clerk of the district court in Richardson
county was W. S. Stretch, who was appointed in 1875 ^"d '^^Id office until 1879.
He was succeeded as follows: T. C. Cunningham, from 1879 to 188.^;
Charles Loree. 1883 to 1887 — (Loree this year being elected register of
deeds.) Thomas Brannin, 1887 to 1889 (resigned); John L. Cleaver,
appointed to fill vacancy, or until December 10, when he was succeeded bv
C. L. Metz, who served out the remainder of Brannin's term until 1891, when
he was re-elected for four years, or until January i, 1896. Charles L. Metz,
1896 to igoo: G. J. Crook, 1900 to 1904; Charles Loree, 1904 to 1917;
re-elected 1916,- for term of four years.

COUNTY TRE.'XSURER.

The county treasurer's office, which has always been considered as one
of the most important offices in the county was first entrusted to the hands
of Isaac Crook, a brother of Jesse Crook, and one of the very first
settlers of the county. Mr. Crook, coming first, had no precedents to
guide him and the duties at that time were very similar to a practice yet
maintained in some states, where the treasurer is more properly designated as
"ta.x collector." The latter term more fully describes the duties of the first
treasurer, as it was rec|uired of him that he go about the county and per-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I77

sonally meet and collect funds due from the taxpayers. This practice was
later discontinued.

Mr. Crook was appointed in 1856 and continued in office until about
i860. He was followed by D. A. Tisdell, of Salem, who served until 1863.
Others follow in this order : D. R. Holt, 1865 to 1871 ; P. B. Miller, 1871 to
1875; Fred W. Miller, 1875 to 1877; John W. Holt, 1877 to 1882; J. R.
Cain, 1882 to 1886; William A. Greenwald, 1886 to 1890; Jack F. Walsh,
1890 to 1892; George W. Marsh, 1892 to 1896; John H. Morehead, 1896 to
1900; Robert Wyatt, 1900 to 1902; O. E. Zook, 1902 to 1906; Joshua S.
Lord, 1906 to 1910; John H. Hutchings. 1910 to 1915; G. W. Morris, 1915
to 1917; Morris now serving second term.

(12)

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

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RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Year. County Surveyor.
1854—

1855-
1856-

1857-J. J. Lebo [2]
1858— Ml. McManus [2]
1859 — A. J. Cur ranee
i860 — A. J. Currance
1861 — Joseph Broady
1862 — Joseph Broady
1863 — John Gray
1864 — John Gray
1865 — ^John Gray
1866— M. Adam
1867 — M. Adam
1868 — Allen J. Currance
1869 — Allen J. Currance
1870 — Allen J. Currance
1 87 1 — Allen J. Currance
1872 — Ira Beckwith
1873 — Ira Beckwith
1874— Thomas V. Wilson
1875— Thomas V. Wilson
1876— P. A. Tisdell
1877— P. A. Tisdell
1878— Thos. W. Moore
1879— Thos. W. Moore
1880— S. C. McElroy
188 1— S. C. McElrov
1882— J. L. McElroy
1883— J. L. McElroy
1884 — Creighton Morris
1885 — Creighton Morris
1886 — Creighton Morris

1890—
1891-

1892— F. W. Miller
1893— F. W. Miller
1894— R. E. Grinstead
1895— R. E. Grinstead
1896— R. E. Grinstead
1897— R. E. Grinstead
1898— R. E. Grinstead

G. W. Parker

S. S. Keiffer

W. M. Maddox

Henry C. Burnam
Russell Peery
B. M. Nelson
B. M. Nelson
G. R. Summers
G. R. Summers
N. B. McPherson
N. B. McPherson
John Schulenberg
John Schulenberg
\Vm. ^^an Lue
Wm. Van I.ue
A. Miller [12]

A. Miller

B. F. Leechman
B. F. Leechman
M. C. Ryan

M. C. Ryan Chas. Loree

H. H. Pierce Chas. Loree

H. H. Pierce

H. O. Staver

1 84

COCXTV, NEBRASKA.

Year.
1899— R.

1900

1901

1902

1903—
1904—
1905— R.
1906— R.
1907— R.
1908— R.
1909 — R.
1910 — R.
191 i-R.
1912-R.
191 3— R.

1914— R.
191 5— J-
1916-J.
1917— J.

County Surveyor.
E. Grinstead

Rantzma

E. Grinstead
E. Grinstead
E. Grinstead
E. Grinstead
E. Grinstead
E. Grinstead
E. Grinstead
E. Grinstead
E. Grinstead

E. Grinstead

F. Relf
F. Relf
F. Relf

Coroner.

Wm. J. Wells
Wm. J. Wells

J. A. Waggoner
J. A. Waggoner
J. A. Waggoner
J. A. Waggoner
Dr. M. L. Wilson
Dr. M. L. Wilson
W. R. Waggoner
W. R. Waggoner
W. R. Waggoner
George W. Reneker
George W. Reneker
George W. Reneker
George W. Reneker
George W. Reneker

William Rieger
William Rieger
William Rieger
William Rieger
L. C. Edwards
L. C. Edwards
L. C. Edwards
L. C. Edwards
L. C. Edwards
L. C. Edwards
L. C. Edwards
L. C. Edwards
L. C. Edwards
N. B. Judd
N. B. Judd
N. B. Judd

( 2 ) J. .1. I.eho resigned and Michael McManus was appointed to fill out the term.
(12) A. Miller, wlio was regularly elected, did not qualify. Alex Kerr was appointed.

Tlie act creating this office was passed hy the Territorial Legislature
and approved February 21, 1855. and Xeal J. Sharp was appointed as the
first register of deeds of the countw The cjffice was later comliined with
that of county clerk and so remained until 1885, when the population had
increased tn such an extent that the Inisiness was changed to a separate and
distinct office as it liad lieen originally.

SUPERVISORS.

The board of superxisors organized according to law and elected W. \\'.
Abbey, of Falls City, as permanent chairman, the board of county commis-
sioners having surrendered their offices as previously stated.

1886: Alember.s— W^ W. .Vbbey, Samuel Lichty, Falls City: Charles
E. Nims. G. R. Grinstead. Humboldt township and precinct; Leopold Porr.
Speiser; James Johnson, Porter; Joseph McGinnis, Nemaha; Philander Hall,
Salem; John F. Cornell, Liberty; George \\'atkins, Muddy; R. .\nkrom,
Barada ; Francis Shaffer, Ohio ; Jerry Kanaly. Jefferson ; James T. Kinzer,
.\rago; W. H. Rowell. St. Stepiiens. and Charles Cole, Franklin.

COUNTY OFFICERS RICIIAUHSON COrXTV. 101.1

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 185

The first work of the new organization was to make inquiry iiitu the
matter of delinquent taxes, which state of affairs at that time in the count)-
was a pressing ciuestion, and the adoption of a new set of rules.

Samuel Lichty, of the new Ijoard, offered the following resolution,
which was intended as a matter of economy, no doubt:

"Whereas: $300.00 a year has heretofore been paid for the services of
the court house janitor. Resolved, This Board of Supervisors will not allow
any bills for sweeping, attending fires (stoves then being used for heating
purpose in each of the county offices), or furnishing water for any cif the
county offices."

Be it said for the good sense of a Richardson county board of super-
visors that the above resolution did not carry, the vote (if the meniljers
present standing, three for, and nine against.

1888: Hugh Boyd, Rulo; C. C. Sloan, Ohio; W. H. Logan, Falls City;
Leopold Porr, Speiser; Charles B. Gridley, Franklin; Jos. Johnson, Porter;
Felix Kitch, Jefferson ; D. M. Neher, Humboldt ; J. G. ^NIcGinnis, Nemaha ;
I. G. Burr, Grant; Philander Hall, Salem; J. F. Cornell. Liberty; W. H.
Crook, Falls City; Henry Fisher, Arago; Henry D. VVeller, Muddy.

1889: Felix Kitch, C. E. Nims, R. Coupe, Thomas F. Brown. V. A.
Smidi, Robert Lord, Charles Cole. Cyrus Jones ; \Y. PL Crook, Francis
Shaffer, John Cornell, August Buchholz. Henry Fisher, T. R. Jones, J. \\'.
Jones, B. F. :^Iiles.

1890: James Tangney, August Buchholz, Thomas Lynch, B. F. Miles,
Thomas F. Brown, August Xeitzel. J. F. Cornell, W. H. Crook, C. W.
Hedges, J. A. Boyd, Charles Cole, Cyrus Jones, Francis Shaft'er, Robert.
Lord, Richard Coupe. P.- .\. Smith, David Neher, J. W. Jones.

1891 : C. A. Hedge, C. B. Gridley, S. C. Stump, J. H. Smith, of Hum-
boldt; J. W. Jones, Isaac Fisher. B. I-. Miles, C. I'red Cain. Falls City: John
Gagnon, Rulo.

1892: William Stephenson, Speiser; Joseph Boyd, .\rago: W. J.
McCray, Porter; Oliver Fuller, Liberty; j. W. Spicier, Barada: J. H. Smitli.
Humboldt ; T. P. Jones, Falls City ; James Tangney, Jefferson ; Isaac I-'isher,
Nemaha ; John Gagnon, Rulo ; C. B. Gridley, Franklin ; C. A. Hedges, l-'alls
City; J. W. Jones. ^Muddy; B. F. Miles. Grant: Sol C. Stump, Ohio.

1893: R. K. Davis. Humboldt; T. P. Jones, Falls City; Alex McGehie.
Muddy; George Smith, Grant; W. R. Smith, Ohio; C. A. Fledges. Falls Cii> :
G. E. Schneider, Nemaha: C. B. Gridley, Franklin: John Gagnon, Rulo.

1894: J. FI. Smith. Humboldt: Joseph Frederick, Arago; C. A.
Stewart, Salem: W. H. Sailors, Barada: Henry Ebel. Jefferson; G. R. Grin-

l86 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

stead, Humboldt: William Stephenson. Speiser; Oliver Fuelo, Liberty; T. P.
Jones, Falls City: W. J. McCray, Porter; John Gagnon, Rulo; C. B. Gridley,
Franklin ; C. A. Hedges, Falls City ; G. E. Schneider, Nemaha ; A. H.
jMcGehie, W. R. Smith, George Smith. Grant.

1895: Joseph Johnson, William Cade, M. M. Stearns; M. B. Miller,
C. A. Hedges, S. D. Hoffnel, George E. Schneider; Charles Bright, C. E.
Nims. W. R. Smith.

SUPERVISOR DISTRICTS REDUCED TO SEVEN.

Special meeting of the county board of supervisors:

To Ellis O. Lewis, clerk of the Board of Supervisors of Richardson
county, Neljraska.

W^e, the undersigned members of the Board of Supervisors, in and for
Richardson county, Nebraska, request you to notify each member of the
said board and publish notice in some newspaper in said county that a meet-
ing of said board will be had at the court house in Falls City in said countv
and that on the 13th day of .\ugust, 1895, at 10 o'clock P. I\[. for the trans-
action of the following business: "To divide the said county into seven
districts, such districts to be known as supervisor districts, the same to be
numbered from one to seven, to assign one member to each district. To
organize the board, elect a chairman and appoint the different committees."

Jo-seph Frederick. Henry Ebel.

C. A. Hedges. William Cade.

C. A. Stewart. George R. Grinstead.

M. B. ]\Iiller. George E. Schneider.

In compliance with the above request I have hereby called a special
meeting of the county board, .\ugu.st 13, 1895, at 10 o'clock P. M.

E. O. Lewis, County Clerk.

1806: Joseph Frederick ( i) ; Jason Timmerman (2) ; C. E. Nims (3) ;
li. S. Belden (4) : Charles Hedges (5) : R. .\. Wherry (6) ; Frederick \^'itt-
wer (71.

1897: H. S. Belden, Jacob Daeschner, Joseph Frederick. Joseph Glasser,
G. Iv Schneider, Jason Timmerman. R. .\. ^\"herry.

1898: W. J. AlcCray. K. F. Auxier, k. .V. Wherry, Jacob Daeschner,
Joseph I'Vedei'ick. Joseph (ilasser. l-'red. Wittwer.

1899: John Ramsey, W. J. AFcCray, Josepli Glnsser. 1{. E. .\u\ier,
Jacol) Daeschner. ^^■. ^\■. K-nne, I'-mest \\'ickham.

RICHARDSON COINTY, NEBRASKA. 187

1900: John Ramsey, E. Wickham, J.'Daeschner, Joseph Glasser, J. J.
Tanner, E. E. Auxier, J. ^V. Spickler.

1901 : Chris. Madovvse, Joseph Glasser, John ]^Jooney, William
Stephenson.

1902 : Chris. Madowse. Joseph Spickler, Joseph Glasser. W. G. Hum-
mel, J. W. iVIooney, John Hinton, William Stephen.

1903 : G. J. Santo, J. W. Spickler, W. G. Hummel, Joseph Glasser,
John H. Hatchings, John ETinton, C. B. Snyder.

1904 : Charles Santo, Charles Snyder, John H. Hutchings, Joseph
Glasser, John Hinton, W. J. McCray, J. J. Bauer.

1905: John Hinton. W. J. McCray, J. J. Bauer, C. J. Santo, C. F.
Zoeller, Charles Atwood, J. O. Stalder.

1906: John Elinton, W. J. McCray, Joseph Bauer, C. J. Santo, C. F.
Zoeller, Charles Atwood, J. O. Stalder.

1907: Henry Stemmering, W'. J. McCray, Joseph Glasser, J. J. Bauer,
C. F. Zoeller, John Hinton, J. O. Stalder.

1908: John Hinton, William McCray, H. H. Fritz, J. O. Stalder, H.
Siemmering, Henry Zoellers.

1909: Harmon Loennig, R. .-\. Coupe, H. Siemmering, Henrv Stitzer.
EL H. Fritz, W. J. McCray, John Hinton.

1910: R. A. Coupe, Henry Fritz, H. Stitzer, Harmon Eoennig, John
Hinton, H. Siemmering, L. M. Weddle.

191 1 : N. C. Campbell, R. A. Coupe, H. Nutzman, M. ]\IcHouver. John
Elinton, E. M. Weddle, H. Fritz.

1912: M. Sheehan, J. A. Weaver, T. R. Edwards, M. McHouver, X.
C. Campbell, H. Nutzman, R. A. Coupe.

1913: N. C. Campbell, H. Zoeller, Chris. :\Eidowse, H. Stitzer, T. R.
Edwards, M. Sheehan, J. A. Weaver.

1914: C. Madowse, N. C. Campbell. H. Stitzer, H. Zoeller, T. R.
Edwards, I\E Sheehan, J. A. Weaver.

191 5: N. C. Campl)ell, H. W. Wyatt, E. J. Duryea, C. Madowse, T.
R. Edwards, M. Sheehan, J. A. Weaver.

1916: The following members were elected but were not allowed to
take their office on account of change to county commissioner system:
X. C. Campljell, H. Wyatt, J. .\. Weaver, A. Eouchs. E. J. Duryea, Ciiris.
Madowse, Morris Shellenberger. No organization.

1 88 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

COMMISSIONER SYSTEM ADOPTED.

During the fall of 1916 a petition having the requisite number of signa-
tories (resident voters of the county), as required by statute, a proposition
was submitted to the voters at the general election held in the montli of
November, giving opportunity to affirm or negative a change in the form of
county government.

The sujjervisor system, witl: seven districts, had been in vogue since
August 13, 1895, and it was proposed to return to the original commissioner
system of three meml^ers, as had obtained in the Aery early days of the
county.

No proposition ever submitted to the \-oters of the cnuntv had been so
little agitated, nor one where there seemed so little sentiment expressed one
way or the other, among the voters of the county.

It being a national election, the largest vote e\er polled was recorded:

The total official vote polled in the co'.intx- that year

(November. 19x6) was 5-074

Those A'oting in favor of change to commissiuner

system 1.498

Those voting for continuance of supervisor system 1.444

Total of those voters — voting on the proposition ^,942

Total of those not voting on the proposition -.1,^-

jy.lajority in favor of tlie change 54

MEMBERS OF NEW Bt)ARD OF CO.M .MISSIONERS APPOINTED.

Under the law the county judge, count\ clerk and treasurer are con-
stituted a lx)ard to appoint members (;f the board of county commissioners,
the latter to serve initil the next regular election, \\hen their successors will
be chosen by the voters of the county.

l"he following from the official records in the county clerk's office tells
its own stor\- :

"Whereas, at the general election iield in Richardson county, Nebraska,
on the 7th day of November, 1916, the (|uestion of continuance of township
organization form of county government was lawfully submitted to the voters
of the county and a canvass of the votes cast at said election, it was found
and declared that a majority of the votes cast on said (|uestion were against
the coniinuance of tow!ishi]i organization in said county.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IS9

"On January 6, 1917. O. O. Alarsh, amnty clerk: George W. Murris,
county treasurer; and John W'iltse, county judge, met in the county clerk's
office at Falls City, Neliraska, pursuant to law for the purpose of appointing
three commissioners for Richardson county, Nebraska.

"The availability of tlie various candidates for said appointment in the
\arious districts was considered and discussed by the appointive Ijoard, and
tlie following were appointed :'"

1917: Hugh E. JMiyd, Humboldt: Aaron Louchs. Falls City; X. D.
Vu.xier, Verdon.

COUNTY ATTORNEYS.

E. A. Tucker, Edwin Falloon, Jule Schoenheit. Frank Martin. Amos
Gantt, Jaines E. Leyda, Richard C. James, 1916-8.

DISTRICT ATTORNEYS.

John P. Maule, Dan J. Osgood, A. J. Weaver, Isham Reavis.

ROSTER OK PRESENT COUNTY OFFICERS.

Clerk of tlie district court, Charles Loree.

Deputy clerk of the district court, L. C. Edwards.

Sherifif, Dan B.. Ratekin.

Deputy sheriff, Rice McNulty.

County superintendent, Daniel Webber.

County treasurer, George W. Morris.

Deputv county treasurer, l-'rank Smith.

County clerk, Ora Marsh.

Deputy county clerk, Ray Daggett.

County judge, Virgil" Falloon.

Clerk county judges office, Mrs. Lorena Ilumbarger.

Recorder of deeds, Norman B. Judd.

Assistant recorder of deeds, Charleotta P.Ianding.

Surveyor, J. F. Relf.

County attorney, Richard C. James.

District judge, John B. Raper.

County commissioners — (Appointed on the adoption of the commission
system or countv govermnent at the 1916 election) — Aaron Louchs. Falls
Citv; X. D. .\uxier. X'erdon : Hugh Iv Boyd. Humboldt.

CHAPTER VIII.

f iUCANIZATION OF TOWNSTIIPS AND PrECINCTS.

BARADA TOWNSHIP.

liarada precinct, as now constituted, lies in the northeast corner of tlie
c(jiinty, and is one of the very first parts of the countv to be settled. It con-
tains an abundant supply of excellent water and is well timbered. The soil
is very fertile, producing heavy crops of all kinds of grain, grown in this
latitude. For the most part the land lies well.

As in its earliest days, its soil has in the driest years stood the drought
better than any part of the county. At times when other parts of the county
and the lands on the opposite side of the river have been hard hit from this
cause, old Barada has produced a crop. This was particularlv true a few
years ago, when there was bitt little corn grown on account of drought — at
that time Barada produced almost a normal yield.

This township lies mostly in what was formerly known as the Half-
Breed Tract or Reservation, and was first settled by the French and half-
breed Indians, to whom the land was allotted in tracts of three hundred and
twenty acres to each individual who was fortunate enough to have his or
her name on the list.

ANTOINE BARADA.

Antoine Barada, for whom the precinct and village of Barada was named
was among the first white settlers in this part of the county, Firmin Douville
and Zephyr Recontre, the latter of whom lived to be over one hundred years of
age and in the latter part of his life resided in South Dakota and who accom-
panied the famous Lewis and Clark expedition in 1804 on its journey up the
Missouri and west over the Rocky mountains to the mouth of the Columbia
river, near .Vstoria, Oregon, being the first, with Stephen Story and John B.
Didier, to settle in Barada precinct.

Mr. Barada was a most remarkable man in his day and time and was
born at St. Marv's, near Ft. Calhoun, across the Missouri river from Omaha,

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IQI

in 1807, the son of a Frenchman from France, Michael Barada, and his
mother, a full-blood member of the Omaha tribe of Indians. His father,
Michael Barada, was an educated Frenchman, and was employed by the
United States government as an interpreter and served in that capacity in
the making of the famous Prairie du Chien treaty, which was negotiated at
a town in Wisconsin bearing that name and the treaty is known as the Treaty
of Prairie du Chien.

The elder Barada and his wife and young Antoine were stationed at Ft.
Liasr on the Missouri, about two hundred miles north of St. ]\Iary's (above
Omaha). It was here that the lad was stolen from his parents at the fort l)y
a band of Sioux warriors and held in captivit}' at a point some distance farther
west, and a ransom demanded. The lad was recovered some six months later
by his father upon the payment of "two ponies" as a ransom. Upon his re-
turn to the fort with the lad, the father, fearful of repeated abductions, gave
the boy to some soldiers who had promised to take him East, where he would
be educated at the West Point Military Academy. The boy was, accordingly,
taken down the river to Carondolet, south of the City of St. Louis by the sol-
diers, who, however, upon their arrival there and after imbibing freely in
spirits, immediately forgot their high resolves in his behalf and abandoned
him in the streets where, after their departure, he was found stranded and
restored to his aunt, Mrs. Moosac. Later, he was employed in a stone (|uarry
owned by Coates & Whitnell, an English concern. He resided for some time
in St. Louis and was perfectly familiar with the mountain and plain from the
Missouri river to the Pacific coast.

Barada visited this county with a party of Indiains in the year 1816 and
in later years when the first of the pioneers came, they found him here where
he spent the remainder of his life. On his first trip here with the Indians in
1816 they found a drove of elk and deer stranded in the frozen mud on the
banks of the Missouri, near the mouth of the Nemaha, south of Rule, and
which they slaughtered for meat. He made many trips across the plains and
over the mountains. On one occasion he was met by his mother in the
Blackbird hills north of Omaha and she tried in vain to dissuade him from
such travel, but being under contract he continued in service for one year l)e-
fore returning to her. He was a thick, heavy-set man of broad shoulders
and of prodigious strength and is remembered by Richardson county people
particularly for this trait. Many stories are told among those who knew
him best of instances where he lifted great weights and performed feats
demonstrating his great physical prowess. .\t the government arsenal in St.

192 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Louis there remains unto this day a great stone fashioned for a doorsill which
he lifted "clear of the ground." It bears carved on its sides the following
witness: "1700 pounds'' and his name and date inscribed thereon.

Barada died in this county in 1887 and was buried in the Catholic ceme-
tery about a half mile east of the village of Barada, which bears his name.
His sister, Euphraisia, was the wufe of Fulton Peters, another pioneer of
Barada township. He left a number of descendants, the result of his mar-
riage to a French woman, Josephine \'ierhen, who was familiarh- known as
"IMarcelite". He had nine children of whom three are living : Julia ( Provo) ,
at W'althill, Nebraska; Celistia (Kuhn), Rosalia, Nebraska, and Thomas
Barada. also of the Blackbird reservation, north of Omaha.

The French Indians to whom these lands were allotted originally, soon
sold out their holdings to immigrate to points further \\"est. where they
figured for a time in some capacity or another on the very verge of civiliza-
tion.

OTHER OLD SETTLERS.

Among the oldest .settlers of the township was J. L. Stephens, familiarly
known and hailed throughout that portion of the county as "Stephens."'
Jack was "a fellow of infinite jest" and his description of the difficulties of
swine culture in those earh days, must have been heard to be rightly appre-
ciated.

John May was another of the early pioneers who by a strict attention
to business, early secured a competence. In the eastern part of the town-
ship was a settlement of Germans who largely predominate to this day. This
part of the township early had a very neat and substantial Catholic church
erected by the enterprise of Buchholz, Spadth, the Kelleys and other Cath-
olics. In the northern part of the township there was an abimdance of saw
timber, consisting of oak and walnut. There was located a steam saw-mill
by Hiram Browning, who supplied the people of the surrounding country
with a large amount of fencing and frame timlser for houses. In the north-
west corner of the township was what was known as the King settlement,
so called from the fact that Squire J. P. King was the first to commence in
this corner. Here Henry and Milton Shubert produced ten thousand bushels
of corn in one season, about 1870, and in the same season Slocum produced
five thousand bushels. This township has good schools and a progressive
people who are always in the forefront.

The last governor, the Hon. John H. Morehead, began his life in this
count\ in this iirecinct. where for inanv vears he conducted successfullv a

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I93

mercantile business and later Iiecanie the owner of many highly-improved
farms, which he still owns.

Hon. Henry Gerdes, number of the state board of control of state insti-
tutions, spent most of his life in this precinct, where he and his son still have
valuable holdings of real estate.

The apple orchards alone have made this precinct famous throughout
the state, as the (juality raised there always command the highest prices.

ST. STEPHENS PRECINCT.

St. Stephens precinct lies in the northeast corner of tiie county ex-
tending to the Missouri river on the east and the county line on the north.
It has in later years been joined on to Barada and is now so known. The
precinct took its name from the old town of St. Stephens, which no doubt
took its name from the predeliction of some Frenchman for a saintlv name
for a cluster of very rough and ragged hills and bluffs that constituted the
site upon which the so-called town was located. The precinct had a fewer
number of acres than any other precinct in the county.

The surface of the country in this section is quite uneven and a large
portion of the lands being broken and bluffy. This disadvantage was how-
ever counterbalanced by a goodly supply of good hard wood timber and
excellent water. There is a considerable amount of good tillable land lying
in the southwest part of the precinct, on the head waters of the Half-Breed
creek.

The Missouri bottom lands in this precinct amount to several tiiousand
acres and. include timber, swamp and some of the best land in the countv.
The timber is mostly cottonwood, walnut and sycamore. The timber in tlie
early daj's was large and afforded abundant supply of saw logs, which were
rapidly transformed into lumber of the first quality by Sweet & Patterson,
who owned a good saw-mill, to which they later added a grist-mill. The
demand at this point for lumber was great and these early lumbermen were
not able to supply the f|uantity required, yet running their mill to its utmost
capacity.

James Cottier was one of tlie early landholders of prominence, as well
as Gus Duerfeldt. Mr. .Stump, and William Parchen.

The precinct in the early days had a postoffice known as Williamsvillc.
but its market at that time was at Arago.

ig4 RICHARDSON CtlUNT'^;,

FALLS CITY PRFCINCT.

rails Cit_\- precinct is six miles s(|imre, bordered on the south by the
Kansas-Nebraska state line and is sonthermost of the second tier of precincts
west from the Missouri river, and includes some of the most beautiful and
fertile lands to be found in southeast Nebraska.

Nature has dealt most generously with, this localit}^ bestowing upon it
such a combination of her favors as is seldom granted to any section. The
land is smooth, undulating and almost inexhaustible in fertility. An abund-
ance of never-failing stock water, supplied by springs and small streams, is
found almost upon every quarter section in the precinct. A plentiful supply
of good building stone is found on the Great Xemaha river and Pony creek.
In addition to all this, a most beautiful landscape is afforded by a combina-
tion of uplands, broad valleys and beautiful groves constantly presented, to
the eye.

These are some of the general features and advantages of this precinct,
besides which it has many special ones that are deserving of notice. Of these
the most important is the (ireat Nemaha river, which runs entirely through,
the precinct from west to east: its \alley, the most beautiful in the west, is
from one to two miles in width. The lands it embraces are rich, alluvial
flats or Ijottom lands, wet in places, but all susceptible to drainage, and as
corn and grass lands unexcelled by any that the sun ever shone upon.

The Great Nemaha is more than one hundred miles in length, reaching
far into Kansas, with its southwest branches and nearly to the state capitol in
the northwest, draining an immense area of country anil furnishing a ne\er-
failing volume of water.

The Falls of the Xemaha, where the banks and bed of the stream in the
earh- times were formed of stone and where the water had a perpendicular
fall lit four feet over a ledge of rock, gave the name to the precinct as well
as to the city, which we know as Falls City.

The power furnished !\v these falls was used for many years by String-
lield & .Stumbo for a mill.

On the south side of the Nemaha river, and extending to the Kansas
line, is a Iwdy of fine land that once formed a part of the Sac & Fox Indian
reservation, but which was purchased from the Indians and thrown open for
occupation and improvement by the white man. This section now presents
one of the best settled neighborhoods in the entire county.

The Nemaha has two tributaries from the south within the limits of the
precinct. The lirst is Ponv creek, a small creek which empties into the

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

195

Nemaha a half mile below the falls. The land lying between the Pony creek
and the Nemaha is very choice, being mostly second bottom lands of great
richness and beautifully situated. The corn patches, or farms, of the Sac &
Fox Indians were located here. The old Indian village occupied the bluff, or
line plateau, above and south of the Falls of the Nemaha.

The village site and adjacent lands are now corn and wheat fields; and
within a half mile from the spot where the bark wigwams once stood was
later a neat and substantial school house, indicating the intelligence and enter-
prise of this later commmunity.

Below Ponv creek, some two or three miles, the waters tif Walnut creek
flow into the Nemaha. This stream is of considerable size and runs due
north for a distance of seven or eight miles from Hiawatha, Kansas.
Tlie Southern Nebraska & Northern Kansas railroad was, as surveyed, to
run from Hiawatha to Falls City along this valley. The Walnut lands are
generally excellent in quality and among the highest priced lands in the county.

THE LOREE BRIDGE.

At the crossing of the Nemaha near the old Burliank farm, a portion of
which is now owned by James Neeld, and on the main line of travel from
southern Nebraska to northern Kansas was the Loree bridge, a substantial
structure above high water, erected b}' the county at a cost of three thousand
dollars. This bridge was liuilt by Majnr Loree and the mud sills used were
hewn from trees grown in the count}-. One, an oak, was obtained from the
farm of \Villiam Boyd, near Salem, and the other, a walnut, was got from
the Indian reservation east of Falls City, special permission being had from
the government to cut the same. The remarkable fact about these two heavy
timbers, so far as this country is concerned, if judged from the present when
there is hardly any timber in the county which might properly be called "saw-
timber^" is the fact that they each squared eighteen inches on both ends and
were fortv feet long. Imagine the size of a tree at the base which, when
hewn, might .square as above indicated and forty feet in length and the value
i:f either (oak or walnut) at the present-day prices. In placing them, special
block and tackle equipment was brought from St. Joseph, ^lissouri.

The Muddy creek runs through the northeast part of the precinct. What
was known in the earlier days as the .\rcher bridge spanned this stream on
the road between Falls City and Arago. Near the bridge on the .south side
of the Muddy was the old .\rcber caniji meeting gro\e where many revivals
had been experienced and immense c.mcourses had often met: where l-'ourth

196 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

of July picnics and celel:)rations had been -held and man)' interesting events
transpired, tliat will form a part of the unwritten history of this community
and count}'.

Not far from the camp ground was the residence of Isaac Crook, one of
the fust pioneers settlers of the precinct and county, who arrived in 1855 and
who was the first county treasurer.

The lands lying between the ^Fuddy and the Nemaha could not be
improved upon, either as to situation or soil. It is no exaggeration to say
that of the twenty or thirty sections of upland that lie between these two
streams within the precinct, there is not one foot that cannot easily be culti-
\ated.

The town of Falls City is located upon the beautiful ridge that divides
the waters of the (ireat Nemaha river and Muddy creek. Its location is
declared by all who have ever visited it, to be one of the most delightful — the
grounds upon which it is built, sloping gently to the south and commanding
a view of the country for miles in every direction. The to\\nsite was laid
ofif and occupied some time during the summer of 1857 by James Lane, John
A. and J. E. Burbank, Isaac L. Ilamby and others. Among the early resi-
dents and those who have done most to upbuild this town and to advance its
interests and who were its most active citizens, were Hon. E. S. Dundy, Hon.
Isham Reavis, Daniel Reavis, August Schoenheit, David R. Holt. Jesse Crook,
Ed. S. Towle, James Cameron, Anderson Miller, W. M. Maddox, Dr. H. O.
Haniia, David Dorrington and William H. Mann.

LTp until 1870-71 the population had not reached above about seven hun-
dred, l)ut with the coming of the railroad the business interests exiierienced
a boom and the town grew very rapidly. The next greatest period of boom
was in later years, in 1912 and 1913, when the Missouri Pacific Division was
finally located here, when it experienced the greatest boom in all its history
for the same period nf time.

RULO PRECINCT.

Rulo precinct occupies die southeast corner and takes its name from the
city of Rulo. The town was founded by Charles Rouleau, a bYenchman, who
settled on the site of the town in 1855. The town is located on the Missouri
river alx)ut two miles north of the Great Nemaha, and lies on what was
l(irmerl\- known as the Half-Breed tract: consequently, the town and the
land surrciunding it were allotted to and for a long time held by the half-
jjreed Indians and white men who bad married into the Lo family.

RICHARBSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I97

This class of occupants was not particularly distinguished for enter-
prise, if we accept the lively manner in which the}- conducted their real-estate
transactions, frequently disposing of the same piece of land two or three
times, and their very liberal patronage of the dealer in the fluid extract of
sod corn.

For some years this element seriously retarded the progress ant! growth
of this section of our county, but they disappeared before the tide of immi-
gration that was attracted to this \icinity by its many natural advantages.
The town of Rulo contained several hundred (perhaps seven or eight hun-
dred) people prior to the coming of the railroad in 1871 and thereafter rapidly
improved. In the year 1870, just prior to the coming of the railroad, which
was built in from the south on this side of the river, this point handled more
than one hundred thousand bushels of corn. A steam corn sheller was used
for shelling the corn and the grain merchants there had much to complain of
in regard to transportation facilities. One line of steamers had a monopoly
upon the entire carrying trade on the river and practiced extortion in the way
of high freight rates and, like the later and greater railroad monopoly, were
as much displeasing to the shipper, as they carried the grain when they pleased,
witliout reference to the convenience or interest of the shippers. This condi-
tion caused the shippers to pray for the speedy arri\al of the "iron horse,"
which forever (or at least to the present time), has put the boats out of busi-
ness. They felt that the first snort of the iron horse coming from the south
or east, along the valley of the Missouri, would spoil the nice little thing so
long enjoyed by the steamboat men exclusively.

This precinct embraces a very excellent body of land, all of which is now
highly improved. The character of the farm buildings, improvements and
so forth, will compare favorably with those of any other part of the state.

In the early days cheap lumber was obtained from the Rush bottoms just
across the river and from the extensive establishment of Mr. Sprinkle, near
the Yankton townsite north of Rulo. The Great Nemaha river runs through
the southern part of the precinct. The uplands of this valley consist of smooth
undulating prairie, which in most cases slopes gradually doAvn to the bottom
lands of the Nemaha, which are from one to two miles wide. Several small
streams afiford an abundance of water and groves of timber.

A portion of the Sac and Fox and Iowa Indian reservations were located
in this precinct, on the south side of the Nemaha river.

Rulo precinct has grown rapidlv and is one of the wealthv precincts of
the countv.

lycS lUCHARDSON COVNTY, NEBRASKA.

ARAGO PRECINCT.

Arago precinct lies in the central east portion of the connty. and extends
to the Missouri river.

The town of Arago gives the name to the precinct. This town was
founded by a colony of Germans from Buffalo, Xew York, in the summer
of 1858. Owing to its location on the ^Missouri river, where it had a boat
service both up and down that stream, and its other flattering prospects as
a town, the sale of town lots was quite lively. Judge C. H. Walther was
the pioneer merchant of the place, antl there also was at the time Hon. Lewis
Algewahr, who was then running a saw-mill, surveying the township, etc.
Somerland was with the Burchards, Fredericks (Uncle Peter), the Neitzels,
Nutzmans, Stock and Wirth among its citizens. The first and greatest
attempt at a packing house was the pork-packing establishment conducted
at this place, by Mr. Lewis Algewahr. As a grain market Arago stood
second to no other place in the county in the early days. It had dry goods,
drugs, meat market, pork-packing establishment, cooper shop, flour- and
saw-mills, grain merchants, brewery, furniture store, jewelry, blacksmith,
tin, and shoe shops, hotels, saloon, a singer hall, a fine brass band, etc.. etc.,
besides a jolly, good-natured population.

The precinct embraces some very fine land, and is well supplied with
those essentials for farming purposes — timber and good water. The land
in some portions of the precinct is a little rough, but is used as pastures.
The population is now, as in the older days, largely German, as any one
can see not only from the dialect and customs prevailing, but from the thrift
and prosperity exerywhere prevailing.

The German settlement was first commenced by a colony from Buft'alo.
to which we ha\e already alluded as founding the village of Arago in 1858.
Rallying around the little nucleus formed at Arago, the settlement rapidly
extended until it became a large and distinctive element in our population.
Prior to the organization and location of the German colony, there was
some settlement made in this precinct, but mostly from Missouri. The
lands of this i)recinct being altogether on the Half-Breed Reserve, were
allotted to half-breed Indians.

Among the early settlers in this \icinity were Houston Xuckols, Stephen
Story, Steve Lyon Picotte, William R. Cain. Mr. Cain remained on his
farm for many \ears an honored and honorable citizen, Ijut in later years
reniined to balls Citv, where he spent his declining years. Houston Nuckols
has passed from this stage of action "to that bourne from whence no

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I99

traveler ever returns. '" Who among the old settlers can forget Houston
Nuckols and his schemes? How he ruled the limited world in which he
moved; how he carried on his real-estate transactions, much as boys would
swap jack knives, and how, after a few years of active and, in many respects,
successful strife with the world, he at last fell a victim to the fatal cup.
St. Stephens, which was founded Ijy Nuckols and Story, flourished for a
few years as a trading post and ferry crossing the Missouri, but was Anally
absorbed by the more enterprising town of Arago. Many of the pioneers
crossed on this ferry, with its captain, sometimes called "Pap Price."

The precinct made very little progress until the coming of the Germans
from Buffalo, since which time it has improved steadily and rapidly until
at the present time it is one continuous field of highly improved farms.

Winnebago Branch runs through this precinct from northwest to south-
east, and the Half-Breed Branch from the north through the entire length
of the precinct to the south, with many diverging branches that afiford an
abundant supply of water.

The soil, location and exposure of the lands in this precinct are well
adapted to the culture of all kinds of fruit. It must take first rank in this
respect. The precinct is well supplied with schools in the hands of very
competent instructors and as a consequence contains a highly intelligent
class of people. The advantages of soil, water, etc., together with the
energy and enterprise of the people, combine to make it a powerful com-
munity.

OHIO TOWNSHIP.

The first permanent settlement made in Richardson covmty was at a
point now embraced within the limits of what is known as Ohio precinct
or township.

During the summer of 1854 John Level settled at Archer Grove. He
was the first white man who broke the solitude of this beautiful expanse of
prairie wilderness: the first of a population now numbering many thousand
people. He did not have time to sing "Oh! solitude, where are thy charms,"
for he was quickly followed by others and in a few months a settlement was
formed and the town of old Archer laid off at which the seat of government
was at once established.

The Half-Breed Reservation complication which arose about this time
soon ruined the prospects of the new town, the seat of government departed,
and with it the glory of Archer.

But this did not verv much retard the settleiuent of the rich fine lands

200 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

of Ohio township. Prior to the laying- out of old Archer and early in the
year of 1855 Uncle Billy Goolsby located on Goolsby Branch at Goolsby
Grove, where he at once inaugurated a vigorous war of extermination upon
the wolves and wildcats of that section, which he prosecuted as long as a
wolf or wildcat could be started within five miles of the premises, and where
he lived for many years in the possession of one of the most beautiful and
valuable farms in the county. At about the same time or perhaps a little
earlier John F. Harkendorf settled on Muddy creek, near the present crossing
of that stream, known as the Harkendorf bridge. He was probably the
first German settler in the county and a fair representative of that thriving
and prosperous class of our citizens.

These were among the first settlers of the county. In the spring of
1856 the Widow McElroy settled on McElroy Branch and gave name to
that stream. Since that time, each succeeding year, saw an influx of immi-
gration. The settlement of this township was for most part in the ordinary
way, by people from different states and countries. In the northeast part of
the township a settlement of Germans had been formed who, with their
usual industry, rapidly improved their lands.

Within two years antedating 1870 the most important event in the set-
tlement of this precinct was the advent of a large class of Dunkards. They
were sober and industrious in habits, normal and upright in principle and
possessing energy and intelligence and means, which made them ever useful
and desirable citizens.

The natural resources and character of the land entitle it to especial
notice. The soil is the best, being deep, rich and fine. From the location
of the principal stream through the southern part of the township the lands
nearly all lie to the south, causing grass and grains to start earlier than
with any other exposure. It is well watered. The Muddy creek runs
entirely through the southern part of the township. Three smaller streams
empty into it from the north, affording abundant water in every section.
These streams are all fed by unfailing springs of excellent soft water, and
do not dry up in the dryest season. The lands lie smooth down to the
water's edge, there being no bluffs or rough lands in the whole towaiship.
The valley of the Muddy is from one to two miles wide and consists of
first bottom lands. From the Muddy northward the land rises gradually
to the north end of the precinct.

This township is amply supi)lied with good schools and churches and is
one oi the best of the countv.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

MUDDY PRECINCT.

]\Iuddy precinct is at present composed of a single township, witli two
voting places, the one at Stella and the other at Shubert, and for conven-
ience known as east and west Muddy. Formerly it embraced about one-
fifth the area of the entire county, including the Muddy creek for several
miles and all north of that stream to the county line. As at present bounded
it comprises a fine body of land on the north side of the Muddy and extend-
ing to the county line. Sardine branch and several other streams pen*"-
trating it in various directions, afiford to this part of the county an abundance
of good water. The soil, like that of most of the uplands of the county,
is a rich, sand)' loam, well adapted to the culture of corn, wheat, oats, rye,
barley and potatoes. The supply of timber within the precinct is not \ery
good.

The first settlement of this precinct was made as early as 1858. About
this time G. B. Patterson and C. Slagel located on Sardine branch : C.
Van Deventer and the Wilkinson family on "Johnny Cake ridge," and the
Hays family on Muddy creek. A large amount of lands in this precinct
early fell into the hands of land speculators, who proved a curse to the
country and much retarded the early and rapid settlement, holding their
lands until the sweat and toil of the pioneer had enhanced prices and enabled
them to obtain enormous returns upon their small investments. The lands
are now among the best and command the highest prices paid for land in
the county. The land warrants with which they were entered cost the
speculator from seventy-five to eighty cents per acre. Of course the increased
value was owing to the increased value made by the actual occupants, and
it is not strange that all manner of expedients were resorted to. to oblige
the capitalists to pay for a small portion of the improvements in the way
of school houses and road taxes.

The large amount of these speculators' land for a long time accounted
for the light populatiou of this precinct, but in time, like in all the country,
this impediment was swept away and the precinct is now as well settled
as any and as prosperous as the best.

The citizens of Muddy are intelligent and wideawake and have always
taken an active interest in the political and material questions connected
with the history oi our county.

The vote of the precinct has always been counted as being solid for tiie
party of progress. Since the first settlement in 1858, schools have been
maintained in the different neighborhoods of the precinct. In the earlier

202 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

times mail facilities were poorly arranged and mail from this point was
routed to cross the Missouri river and thence was carried north nearly to
the Iowa state line, where it again crossed the Missouri at Aspinwall and
thence to its destination in Liberty precinct.

Muddy is the home of two of the liveliest towns of the county, Stella and
Shubert, the former in the extreme west and the latter in the extreme east
part of the precinct, both having railway connection, the former on the Mis-
souri-Pacific railroad and the latter on the Nebraska City branch of the
Burlington railroad.

PORTER PRECINCT.

Porter precinct, named in honor of Colonel Porter, the first settler in
this locality, is situated in the northwestern part of the county. It contains
thirty-six sections of as fine land as Nebraska affords. There was early a
scarcity of timber in this part of the country, but wherever settlements
were made groves and hedges were planted so this deficiency was not long
felt. The branches of the Little Muddy, a tributary of Muddy creek, waters
the township.

The precinct settled slowly from the fact that large bodies of the land
was held by speculators, who were slow to part with it; but in later times
it got more and more into the hands of actual occupants, who speedily
went to work in a way of making development of the same.

Dr. R. S. Molony, Sr., of Galesburg, Illinois, was the owner of one
of these tracts containing some four thousand acres. This tract was put
on the market in such a way as to prove profitable to the new owners and
convenient to many persons of limited means, who were seeking homes.
The owner, Dr. R. S. Molony, sold alternate sections in farms of eighty
to one hundred and sixty acres on ten years' time at ten dollars per acre,
with ten per cent interest. He rapidly found purchasers for a considerable
portion of his land, and a live, energetic settlement of people was soon formed
in that vicinity. His son, R. S. Molony, a very enterprising young gentle-
man, soon made a fine three hundred and sixty acre farm adjoining this
tract and acted as agent for the sale of the remainder of the land. This
land, which is accounted among the very best in Richardson county today,
and readily sells for more than two hundred dollars per acre, was originally
bought by the senior Molony with school script during war times for the
very meager sum of but a few cents per acre.

One of the very earliest settlers in this part of the county was J. E.
Crowe, who for a number of years carried on farming operations in this

RICHARDSON COUNTV, NEBRASKA. 2O3

precinct on an extensive scale. About i<SCi8 Mr. Crowe sold the s,n-eater
part of his fine tract of three or four thousand acres, and his fine farm,
known and famed in the west end of- .the county as the "Crowe Farm" to
Capt. W. T. Wilhite. who occupied it for many years and was ably assisted
for a time in its cultivation by his brother, Hon. J. R. Wilhite, afterwards
and for many years county judge of the county and now a resident of Falls
Citv. About the same time a brother of Mr. Crowe — John Crowe — opened
a fine large farm in the same neighborhood.

Barney Mullen, James Cornelius and J. Corwin Fergus and E. C. Hill,
Sr.. were early and substantial settlers of this precinct and possessed of
many hundred of acres of the finest land in the precinct, the two former of
whom are still living residents of the county.

The prairie land of this precinct was exceptionally fine and smooth.
The attention of farmers in this locality has heretofore been tinmed largel\-
to the cultivation of wheat, which succeeds well.

The stock both of cattle and hogs of this precinct is of a superior quality,
owing to the enterprise and intelligence of the leading farmers in improving
breeds.

This locality, being remote from market, its growth was for a time
greatly retarded; but this inconvenience was removed by the building of
the town of Humboldt, which immediately, by its rapid growth, supplied
the facilities for buying and selling so essential to successful farming. The
improvements made have been generally of most substantial character and
th*^ precinct is amply supplied with school houses and churches.

The postofifice at Monterev in the early days accommodated the people
with mail facilities but in these later days the rural mail routes supply each
farmer with the mail he receives.

Porter i)recinct is now in the forefront of the precincts of the county,
having as small a percentage as any of unusable lands and is the home of
some of the wealthy and most extensive farmers of the county.

LIBERTY PRECINCT.

Liberty precinct lies immediately north of Salem, and was part of Salem
and Aluddy precincts until 1869, when the county commissioners in revising
precinct boundaries, determined, as far as practicable, to constitute each
township of lands within the county a voting precinct. Thus, Liberty came
into existence and consists of the territory embraced in township 2 of range
No. 15. Eacli township in the county at this time. 1917, constitutes a voting
precinct.

204 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

The precinct occupies the divide between the ^[uddy and Xemaha. The
raih'oad village of Verdon, located in this precinct with the coming of the
Missouri- Pacific railroad in 1882, has grown to be one of the very prettiest
of the towns of the county and has a fine business section, well built up. and
many beautiful homes.

The lands of the precinct are niostl\- uplands, and are very well situated
for agricultural purposes.

The Muddy creek flows through the northern part of the precinct. Some
of the earliest settlements of the county were made in this precinct. Of these
were: Mr. Borden, on the Mudd\-, who came into the precincf in 1855 ; John
and Charles Cornell, who came in 1857: John S. Ewing, William Kinser and
Robert Worley, who settled there in 1858.

SALEM PRECINCT.

Salem precinct is composed of township No. i, range No. 15, and com-
prises some of the choicest lands and one of the oldest settlements of the
county. The town of Salem is one of the first in the county. In the sum-
mer of 1857 there was already quite a village there with stores, postoffice and
blacksmith shop. It is said that one son of Vulcan, who presided over
a pioneer forge at this place, was often complained of by his customers wu'th
having charged exorbitant prices for his work. Upon one occasion one of
them remarked that he "ought to make a pretty good living at such prices for
his work." With a fine blending of humor and impudence he replied: "I
didn't come awa}- out here to make a living, but to make a raise."

-Vmong the early settlers in Salem and pioneers in the mercantile busi-
ness in this county were J. Cass Lincoln and John Holt, who built up one of
the most extensive businesses in the county and were powerful men in the
formative period in this county. The town of Salem is situated in the forks
ot the Great Xemaha river and possesses many natural advantages. It is the
first station west of Falls Cit\- located on the main line of the Burlington &
Missouri River railroad. The first flouring-mill of the county was located at
this point and continued in l)usiness until recent years, when, on account of
the installation of the drainage system, when the waters were diverted, it dis-
continued l)usiness.

Many of the earlier settlers of the county resided at Salem or along the
Xemaha. Among them were: J. C. Lincoln, John Holt, Mr. Pierce. F. A.
Tisdel, Sr., U. .\. Tisdel, .\. |. Currence. Doctor Brooke, Oliver Jennings,

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 205

and of the farmers, A. S. Russell, Washington Whiting, James Billings,
Andrew Ogden and Abner Bo}d.

Alany of the earlier settlers of this precinct were from the adjoining state
of Missouri, and brought with them their customs of that section, one of
which was a weekly shooting match, which usually occurred on Saturday
afternoons, when the adult male population assembled in some grove and
engaged in the manly sport of shooting at a mark with rifles, the prize usually
being a quarter of beef or a plump, fat turkey. These gatherings were invari-
ably jolly and sociable, and sometimes under the exhilarating influence of a
little "old rye," became decidedly lively. During the summer of 1857 those
matters were quite popular; but now, alas, owing to the sad and degenerate
times into which we have fallen, they have totally disappeared, and instead
the 3-oung men play baseball and the older ones talk politics or war, all of
which goes to demonstrate that man is a progressive animal.

All along the bluffs of the Nemaha an abundance of building stone is
found. The lands north of the Nemaha are very fine, reclining to the south
with an undulating surface, a deep, rich soil, and are well improved. On the
south side of the Nemaha are several beautiful streams, with ver}' fine valleys;
Rock creek is the largest of these and its valleys afford some of the most
beautiful situations and richest and most valuable lands in the state.

Contrary creek is another fiiie stream, with a considerable amount of
timber skirting its banks. It was so named by Jesse Crook, a pioneer, who,
on coming to it for the .*irst time, was struck with its apparent contrary course
in its meandering.

The fair grounds of the old-time Richardson County Agricultural Society,
were located near the town of Salem and the fairs which were held at this
beautiful place annually from the very earliest times, were the best attended
in the state and the meetings were looked forward to each year with the
greatest interest. Those annual fairs had an educational value to an agri-
cultural community such as ours, that has been wholly lacking in the modern
meetings which have sought to take their places. Salem precinct with her
manifold natural advantages and intelligent population, has always kept even
with the development of our county and her place as one of our best precincts
will always be secure.

GRANT PKECINCT.

When the lx)ard ui county cunimissioners organized this precinct they
conceived the nol)le and patriotic idea of doing a special honor to the b.ero

206 RICPJARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

of Appomatox, and so they called this little territory of thirty-six sections,
Grant. The names of individuals, more or less distinguished, have been
attached to nine of the fifteen precincts composing the covmty.

These have been most appropriately arranged in groups or pairs as fol-
lows : In the west we find two eminent Germans, Humboldt and Speiser.
In the east two distinguished Frenchmen, Rouleau and Arago. In the center
two celebrated Americans, Grant and Porter. In the northeast a pair of rare
examples of goodness and virtue. St. Stephens and Barada, and in the north-
west the philosopher, who chained the lightning and brought the subtle electric
fluid from the clouds — Franklin.

Notwithstanding that the subject of this article is honored with the name
of the great Ulysses, yet its greatness is not all in its name. It contains an
enterprising community of several thousand people, good soil, water, wood,
stone, etc. It has the elements of wealth and consequent greatness within
itself. The north fork of the Great Nemaha runs through the south part of
the precinct, affording wood, water and a splendid mill site.

The Burlington & Missouri River railroad runs through this portion of
the precinct along the Nemaha Aalley. The company located the depot and
station about a half mile north of what was known as the Dawson Mills,
where one of the best of the smaller towns of the county now stands.

The village is located about half way Ijetween Humboldt and Salem.
The southwest portion of Grant precinct extends to and includes the south
fork of the Nemaha in the vicinity of Miles' ranch. This ranch, or farm,
embraces several thousand acres and was founded by Stephen B. Miles, Sr.. a
wealthy man and one of the older citizens of the county, and is still owned
intact by a .son, Joseph H. Miles, and his sons. Stephen and \\'arren. Mr.
Miles has erected some of the best buildings of the county upon the ranch.
The original owner, S. B. Miles, Sr., made his home nn this ranch for years
and gave his personal attention to its development. There was for years in
the earlier times a good store building containing an extensive stock of goods
in this vicinity, the proprietor of which was Warren Cooper.

This precinct contains a goodly supply of timber situated on the Nemaha
also a good proportion of bottom and upland. The general features are much
the same as in adjoining- townships, with a better quality and a greater (juan-
tity of building stone.

The land, for the most part, except along the water courses, was occu-
pied as homesteads under the act of Congress, and these homesteads, in all
instances have been converted into homes of substantial farmers. School

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 20"

houses have been built and schools are maintained in all the districts. The
first settlements of the precinct were made along the streams, but extended
rapidly to the high prairies or divides.

GRANT, A "DIM-MY-CRAT, AV COORSE."

There was a settlement emljracing a considerable number of families
from the Emerald Isle established in this locality. It was at this settlement
that a son of Erin was accosted on the day following the presidential election
in November, 1868, by a bearer of returns from another precinct with "How
did this preciiTct go?" Pat answered readily, "All right, to be shure." "Yes,
but what do >ou call 'all right' "? "Dim-my-cratic, av coorse." "Well, what
majority did you give?" "Ten majority for Grant, be jabers." The inter-
rogator, thinking that Patrick was getting political matters "slightly mixed,"
passed on with his returns and an jncident of the election, which he thought
would be worth repeating when he reached town.

^^ ith the completion of the railroad and the increased facilities for trans-
portation, this precinct like all others along the line of railwa}.-, received a
new impetus in its development.

The citizens looked forward with anxiety for the coming of the iron
horse and in due time their desires were realized.

SPEISER TOWNSHIP.

Speiser townshi]i is in the extreme corner of the county and is one of
the oldest townships of the county. In its earliest ])eriod it embraced almost
the west third of the present county. The lands are, many of them, very
fine ; the soil rich and well adapted- to the raising of western staples, and
especial!}- wheat and corn, of which large quantities are annually produced.

The south fork of the Nemaha with its tributaries, Easley creek. Four
Mile and other small creeks afford an ample supply of water. It, like most
of the western portion of the county is well supplied with all kinds of the
best building stone. In the earlier years a quantity of good coal was suc-
cessfully mined and supplied the farmers and the people at Humbohlt and
surrounding to\\ns with am])le fuel.

Among the earlv settlers and substantial farmers were: George Gird,
at one time county commissioner : H. Holcombe, Hon. O. P. Dunning, S. M.
Durvea, Peter and John Fankhauser, Jacob Hunzer. J. U. Hunzeker, David
Speiser, Sr., for whom the township was named, and Thomas F. Brown and

208 RICHARDSON COUXTV. NEBRASKA.

Christian Buljst. This precinct has more than kept pace with other portions
of the county in settlement and general improvement.

A large number of Germans and Swiss settled in this precinct along
Four Mile and Dry Branch and the Xemaha, and by their industry and perse-
verance have done much to develop this part of the county.

Middleburg, on the south Xemaha, was the postoffice, presided over for
many years by Uncle Jacob I'^rey, a pioneer, and where the citizens of Speiser
received their mail. The office was in later years discontinued and the place
known as 2\Iiddleburg is no more, except in name.

The people of this precinct are blessed with a number of the best of
country schools, which have always been in the hands of very competent
instructors, and where the young idea is taught to ''shoot."

Speiser has always been an important section of the county and the
people residing there have in all the years, played a leading part in the affairs
of the county.

NEMAHA PRECINCT.

It was most fitting that one of the precincts of the county should bear
the name of the great river which traverses and drains the county from one
end to the other, the Great Nemaha river, mentioned by the first white men
to explore the country, as they passed by on the Missouri and known to the
Indians for centuries before.

Ne-ma-ha is an Indian name and the word belongs to and is a part of
the language of the Omaha Indians of this state. The tribe is now on a
reservation north of the city of Omaha in this state and that city was named
in their honor.

Henry Fontenelle, a descendant of the early French Indian fur traders
and related to the Omaha tribe of Indians, in his writings of the word
Nemaha, says: "Ne-ma-ha": Name of Nemaha river, meaning "Omaha's
river." From this it would seem that the prefix "Ne" before "maha"
indicated the possessive, meaning "river of the Omahas." Whether this
trilje of Indians ever had any connection with this part of the state is more
than we are able to say, but from a perusal of the earliest maps obtainable,
always will be found the name "Xemaha" in reference to the river so well
known in Richardson county.

Nemaha is one of the best watered townships in the count\ . The S<nith
Fork of the X^emaha runs through the entire northern part of the precinct,
and Honev, Rattlesnake, Easley, and Four Mile creeks all empty into the

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 2O9

Nemaha from the south. Portions of the precinct afford very fine farming
land, while some parts are rough, but all can be used for grazing. There is
an abundance of stone in this vicinity, affording cheap and desirable ijuilding
material.

In the early days a flouring and grist mill and postoffice at Well's mills,
accommodated the community of that part of the county with the staff of
life and mail facilities.

The Wells family of that precinct established the mills aliout i860 and
were among the first settlers of that locality. David Barrow was a one-time
proprietor of the mills. Hon. O. C. Jones was one of the early settlers of
that region. There was a population in 1870 of about four hundred within
the limits of the precinct, and about si.\t\- improved places or farms.

COLONIZED BY SWISS IMMIGRANTS.

The many hills, winding streams and sequestered valleys of Nemaha
and Speiser precincts proved an incentive to the rugged and honest moun-
taineers of Switzerland in the pioneer days, and many of them with their
characteristic love of freedom and industry, settled among the hills and
breaks of a wilderness between the Nemahas, where few of the native born
would have cared to undertake the task of making homes. Most of the
dauntless pioneers who first settled along the state line in these precincts
have long since passed to their reward, leaving behind to the younger gen-
eration the legacy of rich homes, nestling in sheltered valleys that would be
the envy of an old world prince.

Among the early settlers of this precinct were the Wittwer brothers,
John and Gottlieb, soon to be followed by their other brothers, Frederick,
David and Christian, and William Wrighton, who came in the late fifties.
The farm homes at that time were few and far between. Middleburg ( in
the edge of Speiser) was in full bloom as a town, with a sawmill owned
by Peter Emeigh and a store run by a Mr. Tindale. The sawmill and store
moved away and left nothing but a postoffice, which, with a town hall used
for dancing and social entertainments, remained for years. The early set-
tlers thought that the\- would always have all the range for cattle that the\
would need, but in a few years the range was fenced into well-improved
farms. Salem was the nearest town, but two or three trips each year had to
be made to St. Joseph for clothing and implements. During the year 1868
the first school district of tlie precinct as organized three miles .s(|uare, known
(14)

210 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

as district No. 70, or the "Rattlesnake District." This district has always
remained as originally laid out. The residents of this district made a "bee"
and built a log school house near its center.

A subscription was taken up for the floor, doors and windows. The
seats and desks were home-made. Charles Nelson taught the first school for
twenty dollars per month and "board around." Twenty pupils were all that
were enrolled. The first school board was composed of John Wittwer, Mr.
Rodgers and William Wrighton. In 1879 the present house was built and
furnished with all modern conveniences. The school population has grown
until there has been as many as eighty in attendance and the teacher's wages
have kept apace until fifty dollars is paid.

In 1873 a church was organized in the old log school house, that has
been well attended ever since, and during the summer of 1895 a new church,
twenty-eight by forty-five feet, was built, which is known as the Reformed
church.

It is impossible at this time to give a complete and accurate list of the
earlv Swiss pioneers of this precinct, but among those prominent and whom
we now call to mind were, besides those enumerated : M. VonBergen, Julius
Schmitt. Gottlieb, John and Fred Marmott, S. C. Duryea, John O. Stalder,
Charles Dankmeyer and Frederick Feldman.

PORTER PRECINCT.

The storv of the organization of Porter precinct is briefly told in the
following minutes copied from the record of the commissioners court :

June ist, 1861. Present: Thos. Mclntyre, C. S. Cornell and Levi
Forbes, commissioners.

The following petition was presented :

Petition.

Petition to organize and establish a Voting Precinct in Township Three
range Fourteen signed by Twenty-six voters was presented to the Board of
Commissioners, said voting place to be at the house of T. Workman and
known as "Porter Precinct." all of which was granted by the Board. —
From page 27 of Minute Book No. i of the records of the county clerk's
office of Richardson countv.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEHRASKA. 211

PRECINCT POPULATION AT DIFFERENT DATES.

1870 1880

Arago precinct, including Arago village (a) i.^45 888

Arago village 364 154

Barada precinct, including Barada village 886 1,207

Barada village 70

Falls City precinct, including Falls City village (b) 1,166 2,819

Falls City village 607 1.583

Franklin precinct 225 677

Grant precinct 515 739

Humboldt precinct, including Humboldt city 605 1,627

Humboldt city 917

Liberty precinct 506 685

Muddy precinct 408 728

Nemaha precinct 404 566

Ohio precinct 622 921

Porter precinct 219 546

Rulo precinct, including Rulo village (b) 1.326 1.418

Rulo village 611 673

Saint Stephens precinct 601 484

Salem precinct, including Salem village 681 1.035

Salem village 3^4 473

Speiser precinct 3?i^ ^^

Note. — (a) Since 1870, parts to Falls City and Rulo. (h) Since 1870,
from part of Arago.

RICHARDSON COUNTY POPULATION AT DIFFERENT DATES.

1855 1856 i860 1870 T874 1875 1876
299 532 2,385 9.780 15,000 15,000 I 1.3-7

1877 1878 1879 1880 1890 1900 19 10
12,223 12.509 13.433 15.031 16,700 19,774 17.774

MUNICIPALITIES.

Villages incorporated bv special act of Territorial Legislature from 1855
until the enactment of general incorporation laws in 1 864-69 :

212 RICItAKDSON COL-XTV, NEBRASKA.

Archer Richardson county January 25, 1856

Salem Richardson county Feljruary 10, 1857

Rulo Richardson county Xoveml)er i. 1858

St. Stephens Richardson county November 3, 1858

Arago Richardsdu county January 10. i860

Falls City Ricliardson county January 13. i860

Reference to the charters of these cities discloses the fact that authority
was jjenerally vested in the city council, consisting of a mayor and three
aldermen ; a recorder, assessor, marshal and treasurer, all electixe officers
being chosen for a term of one year, b\' the voters of the entire \illage, the
powers of these officers iieiug s]jecified in detail. The maxnr was ex-officio
police judge and the marshal, the officer of the court. The powers conferred
were regulation of health, order licensing of various business and entertain-
ments by an occupation tax, establishing of streets and alleys, and the fixing
of penalties for violation, b'unds were raised by selling at public auction by
the marshal of lots upon which delinquent taxes were due and deeds for
same were executed by the marshal or mayor. Under such charters the city
government was allowed ' to lx)rrow money for any purpose and in any
amount, when authorized to do so b\- a two-thirds majority of the legal voters
assembled in a regularly notified town meeting. (General incorporation acts
passed by the state Legislature in 1864 and 1869 made an end of the special
legislation granting municii)al charters to Nebraska cities and villages.
While succeeding .sessions of the Legislature have made many changes in
the laws, yet the early plan of reposing authority in the ma\or and council
has largely remained.

roWXSITKS I.OCATKD KOK riUI.IC .U.I.OTMENT ANO SALE.

Town. Date. .Acres.

.Salem .May 22. 1858 200

Xemaha I'alls June 23, [858 ^00.53

Geneva July 20. 1858 320

Falls City \ug. 16. 1858 320

.\rchcr l'"eb. 25. 183c) -5.>97

LIST OF row xs, crriKs .\xi) villages ix i86().

.Vanie. SectioiL Township. Range.

.\thens 17 2 X. l-:ast of 6th p. ul

.\rago 12 2 .\. i':ast of 6tb p. UL

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 213

Name. Section. Township. Range.

Archer i i X. East of 6th p. ni.

Dawson's Mill 22 2 X- East of 6th p. ni.

Elmore 20 2 X. East (if 6th p. m.

Falls City 10 i X. East of 6th p. m.

Humboldt 3 2 X'. East of 6th p. m.

Long Branch 20 3 N. East of 6th p. m.

Middleburg 25 i X. East of 6th p. m.

Miles' Ranch 33 2 X^. East of 6th p. m.

Mills I I X. East of 6th p. m.

Monond 19 2 X. Ea.st of 6th p. m.

Monterey 17 3 X. East of 6th p. m.

Nohart 34 i X. East of 6th p. m.

St. Stephens i 2 X. East of 6th p. m.

Salem 3 i X. East of 6th p. m.

Wells 31 2 X. East of 6th p. m.

Williamsville 30 3 X\ East of 6th p. m.

POPULATION OF INCORPOR.\TEI) TOWN.S.

Xame. iQio 1900 1890 1880 1870 i860

Arago 154 3^4 I93

Barada village . 118 147 70 886*

Dawson village 340 },22 153

Falls City 3.253 3,022 2,102 1,583 607 473

Franklin 2},-/

Hnmboidt city 1,176 1,218 1,114 91/ 605*

Xoraville village 93

Preston village 122 149

Rulo village 661 877 786 673 611 440

St. Stephens 6or'^ 404

Salem ,^91 533 .S04 47.i 304 ''>94

Shubert village 311 303

Speiser 394

Stella village 430 49'*^^ 399

\ erdon village 406 340 353

^■M'opulatiou of precinct or village not separated by census.

RICIIARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

MUNICIPAL DEBT.

Statement showing bonded indebtedness on ist day of October, 191.

City and

\'illage.

School.

Drainage.

? 1 26, 500.00

$4,508.00

$253,000.00

POPULATION AND INDUSTRIAL STATISTICS.

The total population of Richardson county, according to the 1910 census,
is 17,448, of which 81.3 per cent is reported as rural. The density of the
population is given as twenty-six per square mile. The rural population is
uniformly distributed throughout the county. There has been a slight de-
crease in the population since 1900.

Falls City, the county seat, with a reported population of 3,255, is
located in the southeastern section at a junction of two railroads, and is
a distributing point for farm implements and supplies. Humboldt, Rulo,
Stella, Verdon, Salem, Preston, Dawson, and Shubert are other towns of
local importance. Straussville is a, railroad point. Barada and Nim City
are small inland towns.

Richardson county is well supplied with railroads, few points being-
more than nine miles from a railroad station, except in the northeastern
part of the county, where the greatest distance is about thirteen miles. The
Missouri Pacific (Omaha and Kansas City line), crosses the county from
north to south, giving direct connections with Omaha and Kansas City. The
main line of the Chicago, Burlington & Ouincy from Denver to Kansas
City crosses from east to west, and gives direct access to the markets of
Lincoln, Denver, and Kansas City. The Nebraska City line of the same
system extends northward from Salem and terminates at Nebraska City.
From Rulo the Atchison and Rulo branch extends southeastward into Kan-
sas. The Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific (Horton branch) tnuches the
extreme southwestern corner of the county.

There are many excellent graded roads through the county, including
the Omaha-Kansas City highway. Most of the roads follow section or
land lines. All the roads are of earth, and little attention is given to the
minor roads. The more important highways are dragged as .soon as the
ground permits after each train. There are no toll roads.

Kansas City. St. Joseph, and Omaha constitute the principal markets

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 21 5

for the county. Some dairy products are shipped to Lincohi. Most of the

cattle are shipped to St. Joseph and Kansas City, and some to Omaha. In

the local towns there is a small demand for dairy products, berries, and
vegetables.

Rural mail delivery and telephone lines reach practically all parts of
the county. Most of the public schools are well kept, and are accessible
to all communities.

CHAPTER IX.
Incorporation of Towns and Precincts.

WINNEBAGO.

Taken from mintues of board of county commissioners of Richardson
county, Xebraska Territory, special term, August i6, 1858:

"Xow comes into open court H. Conklin, David W. Thomas, Lafayette
Spears, H. I. Vandal and twenty-three others citizens of the town of Winne-
bago in said county and present their petition praying for the incorpora-
tion of said town and that a police be established for their regulation and
go\erament under the name and style of the Town of Winnebago which
petition is in the following words towit :

"To the Honorable the County Commissioners of Richardson County,
X'ebraska Territory.

"The undersigned petitioners residents and taxables of the town of
Winnebago, Richardson county, N. T. respectfully represent that the said
town is located on the west bank of the Missouri river in said county of
Richardson that the said Town has been well and accurately surveyed and
the lots, streets, alleys, be named numbered and marked and staked off
according to law and that the plat of the official survey duly certified and
acknowledged is a correct representation of the said town. A number of
buildings in the said town have been completed and are now occupied by
bonified settlers therein, and others are now in prospect of erection. We
therefore pray that the town may be incorporated and a police established
for the government and regulation thereof and they will pray, etc.

"(Signed.) H. Conklin, Da\id W. Thomas, Lafayette Spears and
others."

PETITION GRANTED.

"The court Ijeing satisfied that a majority of the taxable inhabitants
of said town ha\e signed said petition it is therefore ordered ami declared
by said court that all the territory within the geographical limits of said

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 21 J

town as sliown and tlesignated 1j\' said plat of said town be and the same
is declared a town by the name and style of the town of Winnebago; that
said town is made a body corporate and politic and is vested with all the
powers and attributes of a municipal corporation under and by virtue by
an act of a legislative assembly of the 'i^rritory of Nebraska, approved
January 25th, 1856, and it is further ordered by the court that Joseph Pecotte,
Paul Pecotte, Levi Dodge, Lewis Philips and Bruno Connoyer Ije and
are hereby appointed Trustees to Organize the First Municipal Government
for said town and to hold said office under their successors are elected and
qualified."

HUMBOLDT PRECINCT.

The first mention found in the records of the county commissioners
about that tract of land now comprising what is known as Humboldt town-
ship was in a petition presented to a meeting of the commissioners by O. J.
Tinker, at their meeting in April, 1858, which was as follows:

"A petition was presented signed by O. J. Tinker and Thirty-Three
others praying that a precinct be formed and established composed of tlie
following territory to-wit :

"Township No. 3 and the North 14 of Town 2, North of Range 13
East and Township 3 North of Range 14 East, and that Beneilict AIc.\tlee
be appointed to the office of Justice of the Peace aiid A. B. Young and
Daniel Shadley be appointed Constables in said Precinct. Ordered that said
Precinct be thus established and certificates of appointment and commis-
sion be issued in accordance with said petition." No name was mentioned
for said precinct.

ST. STEPHENS PRECINCT.

On Tuesday morning at 9 o'clock on .\pril 6, 1858. the county commis-
sioners received the following petition :

"A petition was presented signed b>- William R. Cain and Thirty-
Eight others praying for the establishment of a voting precinct with St.
Stephen for the voting ground. Ordered that St. Stephen Precinct Xo. 5
be established with the following boundaries to-wit:

"Beginning at a point on the Missouri River where the North line
of Richardson county intersects the same; Thence west along said line to the
N. W. corner (^f Township No. 3 North of Range No. 17 E. Thence

2l8 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

South along the Hne dividing Ranges 17 & 16 to the South west corner of
Section No. 18 in Township No. 2 N. of Range No. 17 E. Thence east
along said section line to the Missouri river; Thence up the middle of the
main channel of the Missouri river to the place of beginning; and that St.
Stephen be made the place of voting therein. It is further ordered that
John McFarland be appointed to the office of Justice of the Peace and
Henry R. Price be appointed to the office of Constable for said Precinct."

From records of county commissioners in session at Saleiu. Nebraska
Territory — Tuesday morning, 9 o'clock, July 6, 1858:

The Honorable the County Court met pursuant to adjournment, Arnett
Roberts and Joseph Yount present and acting Commissioners.

Incorporation of the town of Geneva. Now comes into open court
Joseph Embody, Henry Hill, I. W. Davis and others of the Town of
Geneva in said county and file their petition to be incorporated under the
name and style of the Town of Gene\a, which petition reads in the words
following :

"We the undersigiied citizens and petitioners of the Town of Geneva
pray that our Honorable Commissioners of the County of Richardson that
we may be corporated and a place established for their local government.
We wish to be incorporated by the name of Geneva. Geneva is situated
on the Northeast Quarter of Section 22 and the Southwest Quarter of
Section No. 15, Township No. 2 Range No. 15 East of the 6th Principal
Meridian, Richardson County, Nebraska Territory.

"(Signed) Joseph Embody, Henry Hill, I. A\'. Davis, and others."

The prayer of the petitioners was immediately granted, vested with all
the powers under and b}' virtue of an act of the Legislature of the Territory
of Nebraska, apporved January 25, 1856, and the following were appointed
as trustees of the village : Joseph Embody, Henry Hill, Francis M. May.
I. W. Davis and Henry Pilcher, to serve until their successors were duly
elected and qualified.

NEMAHA FALLS.

From records of commissioners of Richardson county, Nebraska Ter-
ritory, in session at Salem, June 7, 1858:

June Term County Court. June 7th, 1838.

"At a special meeting of the Board of County Commissioners of Rich-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 2I9

ardson County, Nebraska Territory, being held at the usual place of holding
court in the Town of Salem, on Monday the /th day of June A. D. 1858,
Present Joseph Yount and Arnett Roberts, Commissioners.

"Being a petition constitution presented for the Town of Nemaha Falls.
Now come in open court. A. I. Deshozo, E. Hamilton. S. T. E. Willis, A. W.
Barnes, Henry Warnecke, I. Hamilton and others of the town of Nemaha
Falls in said county, prayer of their petition to be incorporated under the
name and style of the Town of Nemaha Falls."

RULO PRECINCT.

From minutes of the board of county commissioners meeting at Salem,
Nebraska Territory, April 6, 1858:

"Ordered that the Boundaries of Rulo Precinct Number Four be estab-
lished as Follows : Beginning at a Point on the Missouri River where the
section line dividing Sections 18 and 19 in Township No. 2 North of
Range No. 18 intersects the same; thence west along said line to the center
of Township No. 2, North of Range No. 17 E. Thence South along the
section line to the Great Nemaha River ; Thence down the main channel of the
Great Nemaha river to the Missouri river; Thence up the middle of tlie
main channel of the Missouri river to the place of beginning, and that tlie
town of Rulo be the voting place therein."

ARCHER FIRST COUNTY SE.\T OF RICHARDSON COUNTY.

In almost every new county opened for settlement there are organized
many new towns which, in the minds of the promoters, are destined to
become famous. There are usually multitudes of reasons why each town
should become a metropolis, but these reasons are usually apparent only to
the minds of the promoters.

.\rcher, our first county seat, was the most important of such little
towns in the early days of this county. That it did not prosper and remain
the county seat is due not so much to lack of interest on the part of the people
or to the purely visionary qualifications as seen by the promoters, as to the
Territorial Legislature which, in granting the land for a townsite, located
it upon what was thought to be the Half-Breed Indian Reservation.

Early in 1855 a grant for a county-seat townsite was secured through
the efl'orts of Col. Neil J. Sharp, who had been elected to the Legislature at
the first election held in the territory. December 12, 1855. This tract was

220 RICHARDSON COCXTV, NEBRASKA.

on the east side of the .Miuldy, about three and one-half miles northeast of
the present site of Falls City, in section Xo. 36, township No. 2, north of
range No. 16, in what is now known as Ohio township, and from the town-
site Falls City is easily visible. In the summer of 1855 a townsite company
was organized. Among those taking an active part in starting the new town
were John C. Miller, the father of Mrs. Margaret Maddox, at present (191 /J
a resident of Falls City; Colonel Sharp. AM D. Kirk, Huston Xuckols,
Ambrose Shellcx- and Robert Archer, for whom the town was named. The
affairs of the count} were then in the hands of county officers appointed by
Acting-Governor Cuming during the previous winter and the offices were
purely nominal. The first county election was held in Xovember, 1855, when
John C. Miller was elected probate judge: Col. Neil J'. Sharp, clerk and reg-
ister of deeds : M G. McMullin, sheriff, and, it is believed, Ambrose Shelley,
or Isaac Crook, as treasurer.

GRETNA GREEN OF KANS.A.S.

Wilson AL Maddox and Margaret A. Miller, the daughter of Judge John
C. Miller, were the first couple married after the county seat was established
at Archer, and the thirtl couple to be married in the county. Licenses were
not required then, but marriages were recorded by the clerk and certificates
issued by the judge and officiating minister, if one was present. The counts-
seat became the Gretna Green of Kansas couples, where a license and age
limit were not observed. For a few years the present age limit and license
were not required in this territory.

The little village seemed to thri\e wonderfull\- for a new town in a
sparsely settled country and all went well until early in January, 1856. when
it became known that I)}- \irtue of an early treaty the town was on the half-
breed lands. This treaty was made in 1840. when the Omahas, Otoes and
lowas, who also represented the Santie and Yankton bands of Sioux, asked
that a tract of land be set aside for their half-breeds or mixed-bloods. Will-
iam Clark, superintendent of Indian affairs and Willoughby Morgan acted
for the government, .\mong the rivers designated in this treaty as bound-
aries of the half-breed lands are the Big or Great Ne-mo-haw and Little
Xe-mo-haw, which afterwards become known as the Nemahas. \\'hat a pity
the old Indian names and their true meanings could not lie retained.

The first survey, which pmved incorrect, did not include Archer. Init
liefore it wa^^ hardl)- lucated. a new line was run and though it added little to
the half-breed lands, it took in the townsite. It was the death warrant of

, RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 221

tlie county scat, though numerous efforts were made to save it. Aljel D.
Kirk, prominent here at that time, was sent to Washington, D. C. but his
efforts were of no avail. 1 1on. KUner S. Dundy, then a young man without
money or renown, Init with unliounded ambition, had settled at Archer and
took up the light for the villagers and settlers, whose claims laid in the con-
demnefl tract. He entered into an agreement with them that for two per
cent of the assessed \alue of their property he would go to Washington and
tr\- to save their lands. Right well, too, did he plead their cause, for he suc-
ceeded in getting an act through Congress by which the settlers were per-
mitted to retain the lands they had started to improve. Tn many cases the
settlers would have been better off fmanciall)- to have let their claims revert
to the government, moved their buildings and taken other claims; but most
of the people had a horror of getting away from the river and the timljer
along its banks, out upon the open prairie.

JUDC.E DUNDY.

It might truthfull) be stated that right here was where Judge Dundy
laitl the foundation of his success of later years. When he landed at Archer
his sole possessions were die clothes on his l)ack; a limited — very limited —
nun-.ber of law books in a "satchel", and a fiddle. Clients were few, fees
fewer and small, when they could be collected at all, and Dundy's only equip-
ments for life at that time were, a fine education, a cheerful disposition,
coupled with a keen sense of humor, faith in tlie new country, amljition to
succeed, assets that did not balance well against dollars when pay-day rolled
around — but the stuff that makes a man.

Judge Dundy w^as in every sense a social favorite in the settlement.
Alanv a dance at the hotel in Archer was arranged by him and he seemed
happiest when doing the fiddling. At every social gathering, Dundy, the
future federal judge at Omaha, and his fiddle were on hand. He is remem-
bered in later years as a white-haired but distinguished old man. still fiddling,
alwavs coming down with his heel to mark the time and was watched with
as much admiration perhaps as are the noted violinists of the present day.

Hut, back to .Archer. As soon as it became evident that the townsite
a.uM not be saved, many other towns were started. Falls City was backed
bv most of the Archer residents and many buildings were moved there from
the old town. The house now owned by I'" red Keller, at the corner of
Xineteenth and Stone streets in block No. 2j. was a two-story house built

222 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

and owned by the Goldsberrys at Archer. Perhaps there were others, but
they were destroyed by earh-day fires.

Rulo became prominent because of river advantages; Salem, because of
its central location and because in the meantime several settlers, considered
wealthy in those days, had located there. All the new towns wanted the
county seat and the contest which finally settled between Falls City and Salem
was long and bitter, extending over a period of nearly seventeen years, result-
ing in an enmity which has never been entirely overcome in many instances.

Considerable time elapsed before Archer was entirely extinct. Event-
ually, all the town lots and adjoining land were bought up by Wilson M.
Maddox and Ijecame a part of the old Maddox farm across the Muddy, now
owned by Benjamin Poteet.

The old Archer cemetery still exists, though the remains of the first set-
tlers who were buried there, have in many cases been removed to other ceme-
teries. But many were left and the old-time headstones mark not only
the graves of the loved ones, pioneers young and old, but the graves of hopes
and ambitions and the grave of the first county seat of Richardson county.

INCORPORATION OF ARCHER.

The following petition bearing the date of January 19, 1859, was pre-
sented to the county commissioners at Salem, and the following copy of same
is taken from the minutes of the board :

"To the Honorable the County Commissioners of Richardson County.

"Your Petitioners, residents and legal voters of the town of Archer, Rich-
ardson County, respectfully pray your Honorable body to Incorporate the
said Town of Archer and appoint Five Trustees to form and constitute the
corporate authorities of the said town under and by Notice of the statute
in such cases made and provided and they will pray.

Archer, 19th January, 1859.

"E. S. Dundy, D. F. Thompson, Jolin P. W'elty. J. C. Miller. John S.
Skaggs, Michael Skaggs."

The prayer of the petition was granted by the board on January 27, 1859.

The plat of Archer was filed for record on July 4, 1855. The streets
were named for the founders of the town, Trammel, \\'^hite. Miller, Sharpe,
Shelley, Kirk, Hare, Crook, and Howard. There were one hundred blocks
in the town with an open square in center for court house.

The following taken from pages 50 to 53 of "Deed Record." .\. B,

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

223

and D, in the register of deeds office of Richardson county, shows recorded
plat of Archer as follows :

Plat of Archer, Richardson County, Nebraska Territory, 1855.
"We the undersigned proprietors of the Town of Archer, Richardson
County, Nebraska Territory, have caused to be surveyed and platted the town
of Archer and have set apart the claim upon which the same is located for
that purpose with lots, streets and alleys with out lots and reservations as
designated upon the within platte. July 4th, 1855."

A. D. Kirk,
John C. Miller,
Ambrose Shelley,
N. J. Sharp.

Territory of Nebraska, County of Richardson, ss.

On the loth day of July personally appeared before me Ambrose Shelley,
A. D. Kirk, John C. Miller, and N. J. Sharp known to me to be the identical
persons whose names appear to the foregoing instrument and acknowledged
the same to be their voluntary act and deed for the purpose therein set
forth.

William Trammel, Justice of the Peace.

Territory of Nebraska, County of Richardson, ss.

I, Christian Bobst hereby certify that I have examined the within sur-
vey and platte of the town of Archer and believing that the requirements
of the law has been substantially complied with by the owners of the claim
upon which the same is located do hereby direct the same to be placed upon
record.

Christian Bobst, Judge of Probate.
July loth, A. D. 1855.

All lots are 132 feet Nortli & South by 66 feet East and West. Out
lots show their own size. All streets are 66 feet wide except Hickory and
Sharp which are 99 feet wide. All alleys are i6i/< feet wide. Lots on the
East and West side of the Square are reserved but are the same size of
others. All lines are run east and west and North and South at a varia-
tion north 10', 30" East. I hereby certify that the within platte of the Town
of Archer is surveyed as thereon set forth and that the same is correct with
the exceptions of a few Blocks. July 9th, 1855.

N. J. Sharp, Surveyor.

224 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

.\ line in Block jf) shows the original purchase. Approved and filed the
loth day of July, A. D. 1855.

C. BoBST, Judge of Probate.
I'^iled for recortl the 10th day of July, 1855.

X. J. Sharp, Register of Deeds.
Taken from page 6 of "Deed Record," A, B and D of records of regis-
ter of deeds office, Richardson county.

Ambrose Shelley, et al., to Town of Archer.
Assignment.

Articles of association Archer Townsite Company made and entered into
the 14th day of June A. D., 1855, by and between Ambrose Shelley, John
C. Miller, A. D. Kirk, and N. J. Sharp, all of the County of Richardson.
Territory of Nebraska, the object and purpose of this association is and shall
be to purchase claims for the purpose of establishing the Town of Archer,
the Seat of Justice, for the County of Richardson, Nebraska Territory, and
deal in town lots and lands, in said county. The said Town of Archer is
to be Located upon the prairie tract of land at a stake about 30 rods East
of the South East Corner of a Piece of Brakeing or plowed land extending
80 rods South, east North and west to be 160 rods square said stake being
in the center which is together with the remainder the claim now occupied
by the said Shelley and known as the M inter Claim and the claim now owned
by P. Pollard embracing the mill site near the Indian Ford and Stone Druary
(320) acres on the Muddy Creek the whole containing (600) acres with
the improvements thereon are hereby conveyed by the said Shelley to the
said company for and in consideration of the sum of five hundred and fifty
dollars which sum is to be paid as per agreement.

Ambrose Shelley.
(Signed) John C. Miller.
A. D. Kirk.
N. J. Sharp.
Recorded July 2nd, 1855.

County Commissioners met according to law, November 24, 1856. the
whole Board being present and the following business was transacted. Viz :
Account of Jacob Cofifman for acting as Clerk of election McMahan's Precinct
at the November election of 1856 allowed. $1.50.

C. McDonald Acct. for acting as Clerk of Election in Pawnee County
at the -Vugust election of 1856 — allowed. $1.50.

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 225

N. J. Sharp for extra services rendered as Register of Deeds for tlie
years 1855 and 1856 allowed, $50.00.
Court Adjourned.

F. L. GOLDSBURY, Clk.

The County Commissioners met according to law. January 5th. 1857, the
whole Board being present. The following business was transacted : Peti-
tion of Citizens of McMahan's Precinct for the Appointment of a Justice
of the Peace for said Precinct and recommended J. N. Johnson be appointed.

J. N. Johnson was appointed. Justice of the Peace for McMahan's Pre-
cinct. Account of F. L. Goldsbury presented and allowed for Canvassing
election Pawnee County August 25th, 1856. $1.50.

Acct. of G. W. Miller, allowed $3.15.

Acct. of J. P. Weltz, allowed $1.50.

The oath of Office was administered to J. N. Johnson.

F. L. Goldsbury, County Clerk.

FIRST MEETING AT SALEM OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS.

Salem, N. T., April 6th, 1857.
County Commissioners did not appear e.xcept Arnett Roberts, nothing
done. Adjourned till Court in Course.

F. L. Goldsbury, County Clerk.

A VISIT TO ARCHER.
By Isham Reavis.

On a bright Sunday afternoon last summer, 18 — , while John W. Dor-
rington, of Yuma, Arizona, an old-timer in Falls City, was here on a visit.
he proposed that we go out to Archer, that is to say, where it once stood,
and take a look at the old place. It was agreed and we went. There
were four of us; three have seen the town in its decadency, the other had
seen only its abandoned site, and the cemetery over the ravine to the north,
in which many of its early settlers lie buried. There is nothing in the pros-
pect suggestive of the fact that a town of three hundred people or more ever
stood there or that it had ever been anything but the cornfield it now is.

The cemetery mentioned is now Archer; the once living \illage has
vanished, and is but a memory.

Most people have an unexplainable desire to visit a graveyard, and tlie
(T5)

226 RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

party that went over on that beautiful Sunday afternoon were no exception
to the rule.

I had in mind the fear that the place might have been neglected and
become overgrown with weeds and underbrush. Such things happen some-
times to these places, especially where they are isolated from a town and
left for whoever may be willing, to give them attention and care. In this
case I was agreeably disappointed in my expectations.

We found the cemetery in good presentable order, finely located on
grounds gently sloping to the west and south, with a thick covering of
grass over which the lawn mower had recently passed : there was no sign
of neglect anywhere, but just the reverse.

What interested me most was the community of the dead who lie buried
there. Some have been there — two to my knowledge — for more than half
a century. Dr. B. S. Hutchins was one, McMullen the other. Doctor
Hutchins died in the summer or fall of 1858. I never met him but once, and
then I knew he was going slowly down to his grave, with that fell disease,
consumption. He left a little daughter, ten or eleven years old. who grew
to womanhood in the county and is with us yet, the wife of our respected
townsman, F. M. Harlow.

Passing from one gravestone to another, I found that I had known
all those people when in life, and I regret to say, though I have lived in
the near vicinity of this out-of-the-way God's acre for more than fifty
years, that was my first visit to it. It was like a revival of old acquaintance,
going among those silent heralils, each announcing the resting-place of some-
one I had known in the days of yore : each one of them as I read the names
of the gravestones, w^as present to my mental \isi()n, as I last saw him or
her in life, and the time in which they lived.

W'ith Judge Miller and Doctor Hutchins, I saw the spreading, vacant
prairie again, and the crumbling town they helped to build. The old, van-
ished life and surroundings came back td me like ghnstly xisitations, and
so with all the others.

.\ little to the west on the south side of die creek, is the old camp
meeting ground, where the pious Alethodists of Archer and surrounding
countrv used to repair exery \ear to worship God in one of His first temples,
according to the poet, a ijeautiful grove of }Oung timber, but that, too, is
gone. Without the grove the camping ground could not be located, or at
least we could not do it, and so that, with the shadowy congregation that
worshipped there in the long ago, have become mere misty and confused
memorx".

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

227

We finally stood on the spot wliere the town once was. A plowshare
had passed over it and in all the wide expanse about us, there was nothing
that even whispered of the times when a bustling and energetic people li\ed
there, except the graves of some of their dead.

But what of the others of the three hundred or more ( and that was a
considerable population for a town in those days), who inhabited, hoped,
and wrought here? Gone, in their several and restless wanderings about
the world and out of it, with only the two ladies I ha\e mentioned above,
remaining. The story of Archer is both pathetic and tragic.

TOWN OF STELLA.
By Miss Eunice Haskii

Ancient history of Stella chronicles that the town had its beginning
when, in August, 1881, a public meeting was held at the Muddy school
house in the Tynan- Vandeventer district, where farmers of this locality
and business men from Falls City discussed the proposition of trying to
get a railroad and locate a new town at this point. A proposition was
submitted to the Missouri Pacific Company and a few weeks later the pre-
liminary survey for a road to run from Hiawatha to Omaha was made.
Grading was begun September 6, and finished as far as Stella, November
25. The next month the track was laid and a switch put in. On Saturday.
January 7. 1882, the station building was raised. From a mere switch
Stella began to spread out, and in the fall of the same year there were
twenty-five business firms in the new town. One thing necessary to the
existence of the place was a postoffice and this was moved bodily to Stella
from Dorrington, a star route office which stood on the corners one and
a half miles west.

The first house erected in Stella belonged to D(ictor Livingston and
occupied a prominent position in the middle of what is now Alain street.
It was first built near the present site of the Lutheran church, hut when
the streets were laid out it was moved south onto a lot near the Christian
church. The house was struck by lightning and burned in April, 1S8-'. .Mrs.
Livingston was killed by the same bolt.

The pioneer merchants of Stella were Moore & Higgins, Graham &
l^aslev and Hull & Coldren. John Higgins started the creamery and Xutter
& Knapp were the first stock buyers, Metzger & Fisher the first millers.

228 " RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Nearly all the first stores were located on Second street, which runs south
of the lumber yard, but as the town grew it became evident that Main
street, which runs lengthwise of the ridge on which the town is built, was
a much better location for business houses, and the first merchants either
moved their buildings or built new ones on that street.

The village of Stella was incorporated in 1882 and the first village
board consisted of L. G. Ciphers, chairman ; A. Graham, Sol. Jameson,
John Higgins and G. M. Gates. C. M. Shepherd was clerk and George
Smith, marshal, all of whom are dead or moved away long ago. Mr. Gates
entered the ministry; he resides at University Place, and the past two years
has preached at the Methodist church in Stella, on alternate Sundays.

Tlie school district was organized in October, 1882. H. D. Weller
was moderator; T. W. Moore, director; L. F. Quint, treasurer. Like the
village officers, all are dead, or moved away. The first settlers in the town
sent their children to the country to attend Muddy school in the Tynan-
\'andeventer district, but in those days the Muddy school building was
nearer town than now — located near the J. L. Hay's home, where D. S. Hinds
now lives.

THE FIRST SCHOOL IN STELLA.

The first school in Stella was begun in July. 1884, in the Ferguson
& Coldren hall, and continued with but one week's vacation until the next
June. This hall was then located on the corner, east of the lumber yard.
Later, it was moved to Main street, on the corner north of J^Iartin's store,
and there it was burned with several other buildings in the spring of 1908.
The wife of the Rev. G. M. Gates was the first teacher.

.\ school house was built in 1884, on the hill east of town, on the site
now occupied by C. M. Harrison's bungalow. This school building burned
in the spring of 1889, and the remaining six weeks of the term were taught
Ijy the principal and his wife, Mr. and Mrs. E. W. Lawson, as a private
school in the Christian church.

.\. new building was erected on the site of the burned building, and
school opened in it in November, 1889. In 1898, the school became so
crowded that more space was necessary, and a school building was erected
for the primary department. In 1914 this school building was converted
into a residence by .\lfred Shellenbarger.

In June, 191 3, bonds were voted for a new building, and earl\- in
T914, it was readv for occupancy, and "the bell on the hill" called fi>r the
last time. The new school building is modem, and with equipment and

RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 229

campus, has an approximate valuation of $20,000. The location is at the
north end of Main street. Seven teachers are employed for the twelve
grades. R. A. Clark is president of the school board; ]\Irs. I. L. Callison,
secretary, and E. C. Roberts, treasurer. The other membe*-,. are Mrs. Fred
Gilbert, J. F. Folly and J. F. Weddle. Graduates of the school have reorgan-
ized the alumni, and are endeavoring to build a strong society.

THE FIRST CHURCH IN STELLA.

The Baptist church at Prairie Union was the first religious organiza-
tion in this part of the county. It was organized March 3, 1867. Within
the corporation of Stella the Methodists are the oldest organization and
they began the erection of their church in October, 1882. The edifice was
dedicated on Sunday, August 26, 1883, and the first pastor was Rev. G. W.
Southwell. The next denomination to establish a church in Stella was the
Christian, whose building was dedicated November 25, 1883. The church
was organized by Rev. R. C. Barrow, state evangelist. The Lutherans
organized their church here in March, 1884, and the first minister was Rev.
J. Vy. Kimmel. The Baptist church of Stella, was organized on March
19, 1891. This church is modern in its construction, and on July 15, 1917,
held dedicatory services for the completion of a new modern basement under
the entire building. The Lutheran and Methodist churches each have par-
sonages.

The first flouring-mills were built in 1882 and were owned and operated
by Metzger & Fisher. In 1887 the Metzger & Clark mill burned, a loss
that was a great blow not only to the owners but to the community. .V
new mill was built, however, with the finest of improved machinery and in
1896 this, too, was burned. Jameson Brothers and the Clarks were among
those interested in this mill.

The first elevator in Stella was erected by JamesiMi Brothers in 1882,
and for five years they merely bought and sold grain. In 1888 they enlarged
their plant by adding machinery' for making corn meal. On April 30, 1889,
their plant was destroyed by fire, but they rebuilt immediately on the same
site and moved into their new quarters in July, 1889. Three years later
this mill was sold to the Stella Grain Company and was run as a Farmers
Mutual Elevator for two years.

Then, Jameson Brothers went into a stock company known as the
Stella Corn Meal Mills, and a six-hundred-barrel mill was built at a cost
of $11,000. This mill (burned in 1896), was closed on account of the

230 RICHARDSOX COfXTV, NEBRASKA.

depression of Inisiness in 1894, and Jameson Brodiers leased tlieir former
building from the Stella Grain Company, and operated it until they built
a flour and cnrn meal mill in 1899. This new mill had a capacity of three
hundred barrels, and cost $8,000. About 1902, Jameson Brothers dissolved
]jartnership. The mill was dismantled about 1905, and part of the ma-
chinery shipjied away. Henry Brenner is now the owner of the building,
which he uses fi)r a grain elevator, and which also houses the electric light
plant. John .\. Mayer owns and manages the other grain elevator in Stella.
In iHHj. Stella boasted a waterworks. A reservoir was Iniilt on Main
street, where now stands the Baptist church. Pipes were laid and water
was served to patrons of the works. The old creamery building on the hill
east of town, once did a flourishing business here. It finallv passed out of
usefulness for lack of an active manager.

DISASTROfS KIRKS.

Fire, at dift'erent times, has wrought great destruction in the business
part of Stella. In 1888, several buildings were burned on the corner where
The Press ofiice now stands. Ten years afterward several buildings on the
solid business blocks on the west side of Main street were burned, and in
1903 almost all the east side went up in one smoke.

Stella has a good opera house, erected in 1898 by a stock company —
now owned by R. .\. Clark and managed by A. E. CambUn. The Stella
Telephone Company was organized in 1899, ''^"'^' ser\-es both Stella and
Shubert, with a central station at each town. The lines of the company
extend east as far as the Missouri river. In all, about .seven hundred patrons
are served.

About i8gy, an electric light, heat and in)wer company was granted a
franchise. In 1907, John H. Brenner ol)tained this franchise, installed a
plant, and in the spring of 1908 Stella was electric lighted. In a few years
transmission lines were built and Shubert supplied with current fron> Stella.
In March, 1916, an accident happened to some of the machinery at the light
plant, and the Ihenners <lid not care to go to the e.xi)ense of replacing it.
In the fall, they dispo.sed of their plant to the Nebraska Cas and I-'lectric
Com[)any. of Cle\e!and. ( )hio, with \\'estern headquarters at Omaha. By
January, \')\J. the new owners had rehabilitated the plant and again Stella
and Shubert l>ecanie electric lighted.

Stella has .s])lendi(] sidewalks of brick or cement. bVom the new school
building, or the home of U. .\. I'lark. in the extreme north part of the

RICHARDSON COUNTTY, NEBRASKA. 23I

town, to the Stella cemetery gate, a mile awav, there is a continuous walk
of brick or cement. The cement walk from town to the Stella cemetery,
with a bridge of cement and iron across the little stream in the east part
of town, is one of the big achievements of the community within the past
few years, at a cost of considerably more than a thousand dollars.

At the time this history is written, July, 191 7. Stella and vicinity are
actively engaged in Red Cross work, and nearly two thousand dollars in
money has been subscribed. The officers of the Stella Red Cross auxiliary
are R. A. Clark, president; Dick Curtis, vice-president: ]\Iiss Lucile Harris,
secretary, and J- M. Wright, treasurer.

THE RESEARCH CLUB.

The Ladies' Research Club, organized March 13, 1896, has taken a
leading part and has been a tremendous force for good in the community
for more than twenty years. This club has far outgrown the original pur-
pose of organization, which was to study history and literature. The club
has earned money in various ways to be used for public purposes, such
as the improvement of the city park. Mrs. A. W. Montgomery is president.

The Ladies' Auxiliary of the Stella Cemetery Association has done
nobly during the ten years of its existence. During that time the Stella
cem.etery has been changed from an unkept place to a thing of beauty ;
various improvements and conveniences added to the cemetery: strong,
attractive front entrance gates built, and the cement walk with bridge,
made between town and cemetery. Mrs. Angeline Raper is president. Each
of the four churches has strong, active women's societies, each doing a
good work. Various lodges and other societies flourish in the town. The
Stella orchestra gives its services free to play whenever the occasion demands.

Stella has been a good business town, from the very beginning. The
town and railroad were badly needed by the farmers, and that gave the
place a good start. J. W. Clark, of Covington, Kentucky, was the father
of Stella. The town is named for a daughter. Stella, who is dead; and the
Florence hotel, which he built here when the town fir.st started, was named
for another daughter, also dead.

In 1857, treaties were concluded with the Indians which enabled the
government to sell the land, and by attending these sales Mr. Clark obtained
titles to numerous tracts in this vicinity. He himself never lived here, but
after the town started he sent his son, H. E. Clark, to Stella to look after his
interests. H. E. Clark moved to Kansas City in 1904, and since then his

232 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

brother, R. A. Clark, is the onh' member of the family residing in Stella.
J. W. Clark passed away eighteen years ago.

The original townsite of Stella comprised forty acres. It was four
blocks square, extending from the street south of the Christian church to
the street north of the Lutheran church. The boundaries on the east and
west were the same then as now.

TWO STRONG BANKS.

Stella has two strong banks, The Bank of Stella, owned by Hull and
Ferguson, and the State Bank of Stella, at that time owned by Sweet
Brothers, were purchased by J. R. Cain for a corporation, and both merged
into the present State Bank of Stella in January, 1886. The incorporators
were Sol Jameson, J. L. Slocum, George W. Holland, B. R. Williams, J.
R. Cain and Charles Metz. Mr. Cain is still connected with the bank.
He is the president, and is assisted by E. C. Roberts, as cashier and H.
V. Davis, as assistant cashier.

The Farmers State Bank was organized with fourteen stockholders in
the fall of 191 5, and opened for business in January, 1916. I. L. Plasters
is president; George W. Lambert, vice-president, and J. M. Wright, cashier.
The directors are I. L. Plasters. G. W. Lambert. C. A. Larimore, John
Sayer and J F. Shubert.

The Stella Press was started by Gird Brothers in August, 1882. The
paper changed names a time or two. and had eleven differeent editors during
the first twenty years of its existence. For fifteen years the Stella Press
has been owned and edited and published by Clyde G. Haskins and Miss
Eunice Haskins. The Press had strenuous times until alxiut twenty years
ago, and for a while had to battle for existence with other papers in the
field.

PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS MEN.

Three physicians are located at Stella at the present time: Dr. G. -M.
Andrews, Dr. A. \\\ Montgomery and Dr. George Egermayer. Dr. I. L.
Callison and Dr. E. W. James are the dentists. Dr. J. H. Brey is the veterin-
arian. .\. J. Baldwin and L. R. Chaney are engaged in the real-estate and in-
surance business. E. E. Marr is agent for the Missouri Pacific, and H. T.
Wilson is postmaster. Miss Mabel James has the millinery store, and W.
K. Knight, of Falls City, kcejis his Stella photographer's studio open on
Monday.

HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING. STELLA.

^ :m^ :M ...

it3fe.i

11 m

RESIDENCE STUEET. STELLA.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 233

The Hays lumber yard is managed by Neil Duncan. J. \\'. Curtis, Jr.,
does the town draying, and Amil Moritz keeps the livery stable. John S.
Mann runs the harness shop, as he did in the beginning of things at Stella.
H. C. Frankell sells implements and automobiles, and J. M. Goodloe, in
his garage, and Stine & Freed, in their blacksmith shop, do repair work.

D. C. Allen keeps busy making walks and doing other cement work.

Dishman & TomHnson dispense drugs at the Rexall store ; J. F. Weddle
sells hardware, furniture and implements; C. M. Byrd manages the Farmers
Union Store; J. S. Kimsey is owner of the city meat market and sells ice;
H. W. Wolf still keeps his carpenter shop open; Marion C. Marts does a
big business at his poultry station; W. K. Frankel stays at his jewelry store
when he is not papering and painting; J. M. Loney and E. B. McCann
run the restaurants; E. C. \^erhune and Guy Dodson are the barbers; G.

E. Hansen sells dry goods and groceries ; Joe Wagner is the live stock
dealer. Esburn Wheeler and Ira H. Martin have the big general stores in
Stella. Mr. Wheeler's store is a department business, with a balcony for
furniture and undertaking. Mr. Martin is conducting the business founded
by his uncle, the late W. H. Hogrefe, soon after the town started.

Stella has a splendid modern hotel, centrally located on Main street —
"The Overman,'' built in 1904, by J. H. Overman, the proprietor.

Stella is an ideal small town — clean, well kept and pretty; a good place
in which to live, and to trade; a good market for live stock and grain; near
to the big markets of the west — Kansas City, St. Joseph and Omaha; on
the main line of the Missouri Pacific railway, with good shipping facilities
and good passenger service. It has good schools and good churches: a
healthy place, with good water, situated on a hill rising from the valley of
Muddy creek, where the boys go swimming in summer, and where they
skate and ice is cut in winter. On the route covered by three great automo-
bile highways — the Scenic, between Omaha and Kansas City; the George
Washington, between Savannah, Georgia, and Seattle, Washington, and the
King of Trails between Galveston, Texas and Winnipeg, Canada. Truly,
the people of Stella live in a community that is wonderfully blessed.

,AGE OF SALEM.

The site for the village was chosen by J. C. Lincoln, Thomas Hare and
J. W. Roberts oli the 30th day of January, 1855, and a plat of the original
town may still be found in the first record kept b)- the county commissioners.

234 RICHARDSON COUXTV, NEBRASKA.

where it was recurded. West Salem, which was an addition to the original
town, was laid out to the west on May 14th, 1857, and is now well built up.
The latter addition was surveyed by Joseph B. Nickle and was the property
of Charles McDonald and J. C. Lincoln. In an effort to get the counly .seat
a large portion of the lots in what is known as West Salem was deeded to
Richardson county.

The first village trustees were appointed by territorial authorities as
follows : I*. W. Birkhauser, H. Price. J. X'andervortt and Anson Rising,
with Samuel H. Roberts as mayor.

The first to visit the site of the town were Joseph and Thomas Hare,
John Roberts and John A. Singleton, who, with Jesse Crook, came upon the
scene in 1854 from Missouri, while on a trip of inspection of the new coun-
try with an idea of locating here permanently. These men were at once
pleased with the place from the fact that they found the waters of the ri\er
available to furnish power for mill sites, while the banks of the streams were
at that time heavily wooded with a growth of heavy timber which could be
used for building purposes. The Hare brothers conceived the idea of estab-
lishing a saw-mill to provide lumber for early settlers and soon had machin-
ery on the ground and set up a lumber mill.

The same year J. C. Lincoln, a relative of President Abraham Lincoln,
who greatly resembled the martyred president, arrived and opened up the
first trading post, selling to the Indians and white settlers who came in.
John W. Holt, who was later to play an important part in the business his-
tory of the county, was an early arrival and became associated in the business
with Mr. Lincoln, which firm continued as one of the leading business con-
cerns for more than a quarter of a century.

Salem became early an important factor in county affairs from the fact
that the county seat of government was removed to it from Archer. This
incident attracted many of the early settlers to that vicinity and materially
assisted in making it one of the permanent towns of the county.

J. C. Lincoln was the first to serve the people as postmaster and was
succeeded by John W. Holt,- who resigned the office in March, 1869. The
office was first located in the store building of Mr. Lincoln, while he served.

D. .\. Tisdell was the pioneer hotel man at Salem and remained in the
business for many years and owned a number of the hotels at that place.
The first was built in 1859 and stood on the brow of the hill. It was
destroyed by fire in 1878.

The l""irst Baptist church was the first to be built at Salem and was

RICHAUnSOX COLXTY, NEBRASKA. 235

erected in 1869. At that time they were joined h-v the Presbyterians. It was
located in a prominent site and had a seating cap:icit\- of three hundred. The
first pastor to serve the congregation was Rev. E. D. Thomas.

The Free Will Baptist church was one of the early churches repre-
sented and a church was built in 1868 with Rev. A. Curtis in charge.

The Presbyterian church was organized in 1863 '^y l'^e\- John Lilh and
twenty others.

The Salem Lodge Xo. 21. Independent Order of Odd h'ellows, is one
c>f the oldest and most prosperous of the Odd h^ellow lodges of the count_\-
and was first established on July 9th, 1870, with the following charter mem-
bers: D. H. Hull, X. Snyder, D. C. Simmons, Joseph H. .\llen, G. Hard and
X. Snider.

Lodge Xo. 47, Free and Accepted Masons, was organized on June 26th,
1874.

The Salem of tixla}- is a town of six or se\en hundred inhabitants, situ-
ated on the Burlington & Missouri railroad, se\-en miles west of b'alls C^ity.
.\t this point the railroad branches, the branch forming a short line to
Xebraska City, in Otoe county, to the north, and intervening points. The
depot is located more than half a mile from the business section of the city
and the visitor having entered a conveyance, that makes all the trains, is
driven past the grain elevator and stockyards and along a beautifully shaded
street that leads past the old fair grounds across the iron bridge that spans
the Xemaha, near one of the first mill sites of the county, and thence winds
uj) the long hill and on to the main street of the town.

Along this street are the business houses, being for the most part sub-
stantial brick structures, the fine nati\e building stone having been largely
used in their construction. All lines of business usually found in a thriving,
up-to-date city, are to be found represented there anil represented by a li\e
bunch of business men.

The people of Salem are progressive and enterprising and in the long
vears since the town was founded, it has kei)t |)ace with the growth of the
country that surrounds it. .\bove the tree tops in the valleys, the church
spires ascend to the very summit of the highest hill, two public school buildings
accommodate the sons and daughters of Salem, and capable teachers attend
to the educational wants of the community. It is from this hill that the mag-
nificent view before mentioned is afforded. To the north and northeast the
eve can see for miles and miles.

236 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

EARLY SETTLEMENT OF SALEM PRECINCT.
By D. A. Tisdell.

In 1854 two men named John A. Singleton and William Roberts, took
claims on the south fork of the Nemaha and one Mr. Short took a mill claim
at the junction of the north and south Nemahas, where Salem now stands.
The first election in Richardson county, which then included what is now
Pawnee count)^ was held in the fall of 1854, and John A. Singleton, from
our precinct, was elected to the House of Representatives of the Territorial
Legislature, being the first, with D. M. Johnson, to represent our county in
the Legislature, which convened in Omaha, January 16, 1855. The next
settlers in the precinct were : J. W. Roberts, Thomas and Joseph R. Hare. J.
C. Lincoln and Charles McDonald. The two latter located and laid out the
town of Salem, in January, 1855, J. Cass Lincoln starting a trading post and
Thomas R. Hare erecting a sawmill to supply lumber to the three settlers
who preceded him, and afterwards a gristmill to crack the corn that Single-
ton and Roberts raised to feed McDonald, who was in the real estate busi-
ness and who disposed of corner lots in Salem at fabulous prices to Eastern
capitalists.

West Salem was laid out on May 14th. 1857. This addition, now prac-
tically included in the town, was surveyed by Joseph B. Nickle, and was the
property of Charles McDonald and J. C. Lincoln. (J. C. Lincoln was a
second cousin of President Abraham Lincoln.) A part of West Salem was
donated to the county as an inducement to retain the county seat.

Among the number who settled in the precinct in 1855 were : John and
Weston Ogden, Galliger, Abe Roberts. W. H. Whitney and J. W. Headrick.
Those of 1856 were Mr. Oliver and Green. Additions of 1857 were A. J.
Currence, Lara Hoppes, David and Robert Boyd.

Up to that time nothing unusual transpired outside of the usual walks
of life incident to the settling of a new country. In the spring of 1859 there
was (juite an influx into the precinct. Among those who settled in the pre-
cinct were: F. .\. Tisdell, Sr., and Jr.. J. W. Leverett. J. M. Wa.shburn.
J. R. Brooks, M. D.: \\'illiam Slossen Peres, .\. Tisdell. John Billings, A.
Rising. Levi Wheeler. .\. I-Vitz. Lemmon lioys. H. C. Jennings, and S. \'an-
dervort. The two latter returned to Illinois in the following fall.

Tisdell & Company brought a steam saw-mill with them that was kept
running for several years supplying lumber for the needy. In the winter of
i860 I came to Nebraska and located at Salem on the 26th dav of Februarv.

SOLDIERS' MOXIIMEXT. SHUBERT.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 237

Soon thereafter I bought eighty acres of land adjoining the townsite from
John Billings, and got some of it liroke tlie following spring, with the expec-
tation of bringing my family in the near future and making that my perman-
ent home. The gold excitement in the far West induced me w ith others to
seek our fortune, if possible, among the mountains near Pike's Peak.

TOWN OF SHUBERT.

About sixteen miles due north of Falls City the town of Shubert is
located, and of all the towns in the county this is one of the most important,
from the standpoint of business transacted and general commercial activity.
It is the principal trading point for a wide extent of country, that is not only
well adapted for all kinds of farming and agricultural pursuits, but for stock
raising as well.

Having a most advantageous location, it is not wonderful that there
should have grown here a thriving town of some five hundred people and
tiiat the town should from the first show a degree of progress and a growth
that showed the site to be well chosen and the town to fill a want in that sec-
tion of the country. Those who have built up Shubert to what it is today,
have not only built wisely but they have built well. The town is laid out on a
generous scale, the streets being, very wide, and along the main street are to
be found many business blocks of brick that would be a credit to larger towns.
One thing that impresses the visitor is that nothing seems to be overdone, but
each branch of industry is just sufficiently represented to induce good, healthy
competition, which is the life of trade and hence the very life of the town.
Shubert is fortunate in possessing a class of business men who are not only
progressive and up-to-date, but who are accommodating and congenial. Their
stores are all large and well kept and are stocked with a sufficient variety of
merchandise to meet the demands of an ever increasing trade.

What is true of the business section of the town, as to appearance,
applies to the residence section. There are many substantial homes, whose
appearance stands as evidence of the prosperity of the owners and their pride
in living well and in the appearance and beauty of the town.

The Nebraska City Branch of the Burlington & Missouri Railroad passes
through Shubert and in the course of a }ear immense amounts of stock, grain,
etc., are shipped out. Shubert is also reached by the county telephone lines.

Shubert people may well boast of their public school building, which

238 RICHARDSdN COl'NTV, NEBRASKA.

is a large two-story brick structure and as fine as any in the county. The
schools are kept ever in the front rank, and no teachers but the most compe-
tent are ever employed. In the way of churches the town is supplied with
a number of creditable edifices and all churches are largely attended and
are in a prosperous condition.

One newspaper, the Slmhcri Citizen, is published there by J. L. Dalby,
who is a veteran newspaper man of the county, and his paper has always
championed the best interests of Shubert.

TOWN OF RULO.

The town of Rulo, might well be termed the "front door of Richardson
county." It is located on the eastern boundary of the county on a series
of high hills that overlook the Missouri river and at a point where the old
.^.tchison & Nebraska, now known as the Burlington & Alissouri railroad,
enters the state.

There is much of historical interest connected with the town of Rulo,
and much of the earlier history of the county was formed in the vicinit}- of
this place. It was originally one of the many settlements that were made
along the Missouri river at the time when the flood of emigration first met
the flood waters of this river and rested a moment as it were, before sweep-
ing westward to inundate the great plains that lay beyond and to ulti-
mately sweep away the last vestige of all that was aboriginal and uncivilized.
The land upon which Rulo now stands was originally part of the lands
granted to the wife of Charles Rouleau under the terms of the treaty of
Prairie Du Chien. It is from her that the town takes its name and it
should be so spelled, but time has brought into use the shorter form (^f
spelling.

It was first laid out in 1856 and incorporated in 1859, at which time
l)art nf the lands belonging to Mrs. Bedard, a sister of Mrs. Rouleau, was
included in a plat of the townsite. The location is one that nnist have com-
mended itself strongly to the pioneers, as a better site for a town couUl not
be found. It stands on a cluster of hills from the top of which the eye
may follow the graceful curves of the Missouri river for miles and miles,
and may gaze across the bottom land upon the opposite side until vision
is shut out by the veil of distance. The person standing on one of these
hills may look into three states for he is standing in Nebraska and to the
south loom the hills of northern Kansas, and to the east the spreading flats
of western Missouri.

RIClIARnSnX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

239

The older residents of this county will recall many names that are
closely linked with the history of Rulo. Charles Rouleau, Eli Bedard, E.
H. Johnson, Charles Martin. Eli Plante, F. X. Dupuis and scores of others
have long since gone to their last long rest, but it seems as though their
spirit still dwells amid the familiar haunt of the hills. The earlier settlers
of Rulo came with the various expeditions that set out to explore the mys-
teries of the then unknown West, but who stopped to cast their lots on
the banks of the turbid Missouri. The Rulo of today is a far different
place and the linger of time has so marked it, as it has the whole West.
Many of the descendants of the pioneers still reside there and have shared
m the foresight of their ancestors, who knew a good thing when they saw
it, and founded the town of Rulo.

When the Atchison & Nebraska railroad was built (the first rail of
this road was laid across the Nebraska-Kansas state line on May 12, 1871),
a station was established a few miles west of Rulo known as the "Rulo
Y," and from there a stub line was built to Rulo. But in 1885 the rail-
road company found that this arrangement was unsatisfactory and accord-
ingly a magnificent steel bridge was built to span the Missouri at Rulo and
the line built to connect with what is known as the Kansas City and Council
Bluffs line on the other side of the river. This line connects at Napier,
Missouri, and thus rail connection was had with Kansas City and St. Joseph,
iNIissouri, on both sides of the river. The bridge is one of the largest
spanning that stream. The Missouri at this point is quite treacherous and
the cutting by the current has given the government and the railroad com-
panj^ much trouble and large sums of money have been expended in trying
to curb it. The bridge was more than two years in process of construction
and cost more than a million dollars. The bridge came to be the subject of
warm legal controversy soon after its completion, when it came to be assessed
for taxation. Richardson county wanted it taxed ( i. e., that is. the west half
of it, ) at its value, independent of the other part of the company's roadbed in
the c<junty. The case was carried to the supreme court and in course of time
a decision was rendered adverse to the county, which in efifect allows it to be
taxed the same as other mileage of the railroad in the county. The company,
however, has alwa\s charged an additional sum of fifty cents extra for each
passenger carried over it, and the same is true as to freight, which is burdened
with an extra charge for transport over the structure.

The early days, with their thrilling history, have passed away, and where
lawlessness once reigned in a rough river town of the border, a thoroughlv

RDSON COUNTY, NEBR.'

modern little citv now stands, inhabited by more than a thousand prosperous
and contented people. The town is well built, the business blocks for the
most part being two-story brick structures and occupied by successful mer-
chants, who enjoy a good trade and a patronage that is merited.

The rugged topography lends a peculiar beauty to the town and neat
and comfortable homes nestle in the valleys and on the hill sides, hidden
beneath a veritable forest of trees. Above the tops of these trees the spires
of many churches testify to the religious sentiment that prevails and on
the quiet Sabbath morning the sound of the bells float out on the air that
once bore the red man's war song or the cry of wild animals, succeeded first
by the weird song of the steamboat whistle, followed by the song of civili-
zation, the church bell. Rulo boasts of as fine a public school building as
may be found in the county. It is a large, brick building, equipped with
all the modern appliances and capable teachers are always employed. Rulo
is also a good market, having a large territory to draw from and affording
good shipping facilities. A large grain and stock business is transacted
here and a great deal of all kinds of produce is shipped out.

TOWN OF PRESTON.

The town of Preston was laid out and plattetl on land bordering the edge
of the great Sac and Fox Indian Reservation, which comprised thousands of
acres of land lying in the southeastern part of the county. It was for many
years one of the principal shipping points of the county. Jeft'erson precinct,
in which Preston is located, is one of the most fertile and productive precincts
in the county and the great majority of the products is shipped to the outer
world from Preston. The town is located about a mile south of the point
where the Muddy flows into the Nemaha and six miles southeast of Falls City.
Its existence dates from 1881, when the town was first platted by a man from
Hiawatha as "Bluffton," but as there was at that time another town in the
state having the same name, or one \ery similar, the postal authorities made
objections and the name was changed to Preston.

The construction of the Atchison & Nebraska railroad line marked the
beginning of an era of development and prosperity for the surrounding
country and rendered imperative the need of a station with adequate shipping
facilities, .\round this station the pretty little town of Preston sprang up. A
big elevator was constructed to take care of the grain that was to l>e shipped
while the railroad yards furnished accommodations for the stock raisers who
desired to ship stock to the markets of Kansas City and St. Joseph. The

STREET SCENE AT RT'LO

ST. JIARK'S F,\AX(;i:i.K'AI. LITHKItAX t'lIfltCH, NEAR VERDOX

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 24I

town was very nicely located on the high banks that adjoins the Nemaha bot-
toms on the south and overlooks the rich lands that stretch away on every
side.

The close proximity of the large tribe of Sac and Fox Indians was a
great source of revenue to the merchants of Preston. Here a great portion
of the Indian annuities were paid and spent and the presence of the red man
on the streets was a very common sight.

Preston was well supplied with stores, a bank, an opera house, school
building and many homes as beautiful as might be found in the countv.

NIMS CITY.

This little inland town was located several miles south of the town of
Dawson, in Nemaha township, on the southwest quarter of southeast quarter
of section 17, township i, north of range 14 east of the sixth principal
meridian, by Mrs. Betsey U. Nims. The little place occupies the space of
about one city block and was regularly platted and the same duly recorded.
The plat bears the date of July 20, 1903. Its promoters probably started it
as a rival of a much older little place to the southwest of it, which was known
as Middleburg. The latter had been a little mail station from the very early
days, and was in the same township. Nims City was at its best in 1906-7-8,
and boasted of a church, several stores, a blacksmith shop, barber shop and a
large public hall and hotel. The hall, or opera house, was and is still used
much like a town hall and was a very popular place for many years past for
the young people who desired to gather there in the winter evenings to dance
away the hours. Frank Nims of Falls City, a son of the founder, was the
moving spirit in the place and resided on a farm nearby. Since his departure
and that of others prominent there, the place has not continued to prosper as
formerly.

VERDON.

Verdon is the second station north on the Missouri Pacific line from
Falls City ; Strausville, being the first, and is eleven miles distant. The land
on which stands the village is the southeast quarter of the southeast quarter
of section 10, township 2. north of range 15, east of the sixth prime meridian,
and was patented to William McK. Maddox, under date, September 15, i860.
The land was later owned by Mr. and Mrs. John A. Hall and it was they who
founded the town. The plat, signed by John A. Hall and his wife Julia, was
(16)

24- RICHARIJSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

filed in the office of the register of deeds on February 22. 1S82, at the time
of the building- of the ^Missouri Pacific railroad north and south across Rich-
ardson county. Since the original plat was made a part of the otificial records
of the county a number of additions have been added to the village as follows :
By Joseph H. Meyers antl wife Maggie A., on the west, being a part of the
west half of the southeast (|uarter of section 10, township 2, nordi of range
15, dated November 10, 1884. This addition was surveyed by Creighton
Morris, of Humboldt, on October 6, 1884, and the plat was filed on Noveniljer
12, 1884; and another addition by Miss Camma Hall, being the southeast one-
half of the nortlieast quarter of the southeast quarter, filed on September 1,
1885. This addition was also surveyed by Creighton Morris, October 8,
1 884 : and another by the Lincoln Land Company, on the east side of the town.

The town is beautifully located on a hill overlooking Muddy Creek val-
ley and occupied a most picturesque location. The town has a village gov-
ernment, a board of trustees, constituted as follows : G. C. Goolsby, chairman ;
C. H. Wear, H. J. Corn, trustees: C. G. Humphrey, clerk; H. X. Timmerman.
treasurer, and Frank Waggner. marshal. The population of \'erdon has
been reported as follows, according to the United States government census:
1890, 253: 1900, 340: 1910, 406. The town has electric lights and a good
.-vstem of local telephones, and nearly every line of business is well represented.

There was for a time much uncertainty as to where the town which we
know as Verdon would be located. This uncertainty was the result of the
railroads, or the uncertainty of the location of the railroad. Prior to the
locatiiin of the Missouri Pacific right-of-way. the Republican River \ alley
Railroad Company, which is the Burlington Line, now extending from Salem
to Nemaha City, had surveyed a line from Salem to Nemaha City, by way of
the present line, and had graded the road from the north down to Muddy creek,
just south of the town of \'erdon. As Salem was the trading point of that entire
communit\- in those da\s, the community was anxious that the Burlington be
extended to tap -the main line of the Burlington at Salem. It was at this time
tliat John A. Hall, then one of the foremost men and progressive citizens of
that section, together with other public-spirited citizens of that community,
worked up an interest in the matter and the precinct voted bonds, the proceeds
of which were to be used in the constructiim of a railroad. The line was to lie
run to Salem, but after the l)on(ls were voted the railway company changed
its surveys and turned the road down Muddy creek, from the point where
X'erdon now is located, and ran the line to Falls City by way of the Muddy
vallev and over the divide east of Freeling Switch, which is now. or was,
located on the Missouri Pacitic. |ohn Hall then brouijlit an iniunction siu't.

RICHARDSON COINTV, NEBRASKA. 243

enjoining collection on the I)on(ls. This suit was successful and accounts
for the fact that Liberty precinct was relieved from paying the bonds that
were voted. All the other precincts involved in this action were parties in
the suit and escaped liability for payment on the bonds with the exception
of Muddy, which, in default of appearance, was held and obliged to pay, which
it did. The Republican River \'alley Railway Company's project was then
abandoned; this all being prior to the building of the Missouri Pacific.

The Missouri Pacific then acquired its right-of-way and J. l^^. Houtz, of
Omaha, located the towns on that line. It is alleged that his nnethods of doing
so were by going to different landowners along the proposed line of right-
of-way, and undertaking to work up a contest between them for the location
of the towns on the line. In this way the farmers of one section were
induced to bid against one another. They knew that the\- were reasonably
sure that it was only a cjuestion of time until the Burlington would build a
cut-off from Salem to Nemaha City and knew that the point where Verdon
was afterward located would be the junction between the two roads, but,
nevertheless Houtz got Captain Ewing interested and it is said that the latter
offered thirty acres of land if he would locate the town at a point designated
by him, about two and one-half miles ea.st of the present location of Verdon.
John Hall gave to the Missouri Pacific, or to the representative, J. E. Houtz,
the undivided half of the southeast c|uarter of the southeast (|uarter of sec-
tion 10, township 2, north of range 15, in consideration of the location of a
depot and depot facilities at that point. Besides this he granted a right of
wa\' north through the north half of that section.

August Schoenheit, of Falls Cit\-, was at that time local representatixc
or attorney for the Missouri Pacific and when the townsite was platted he
made a visit to the home of Mr. Hall (near \'erdon) for the puqwse of
making a division of the lots between Mr. Hall and the railway company.
Mr. Hall was away from home at the time and was represented in the division
by his son, Thomas L. Hall, now chairman of the Nebraska state railwa\-
commission, who was familiar with the lay of the ground, and who proceeded
to assist in dividing up the lots. The di\ision was made by each in turn
taking a lot, Mr. Hall taking the first and Mr. Schoenheit the second. This
procedure was continued to the end. The action <jn the part of the younger
Hall was made subject to the approval of his father on his return, and was
later ratified by the elder Hall. In 1883 or 1884 the Burlington jjuilt its line
down from Xemaha City to Salem and established its depot, which location
has remained the same until this day.

This matter becomes interesting from the fact that such methods could not

244 RICEtARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

now be used in tlie location of depots an<l townsites in tlie state of Nebraska.
The state railway commission would not now allow the railroads to become
entangled in real-estate deals and locate the depots and arrange station facili-
ties for their sole satisfaction and profit. The public, which patronizes such
places, is now considered to have an interest and the same is protected by the
commission. In this connection is worthy of note that the commission has
compelled the removal and change of several depots in the state of Nebraska
that had been located by the railroads without taking into consideration the
interest of the community and the traffic in each particular community in
locating the roads, or rather the depots, on account of some real-estate entan-
glement. This was true of Gering, I'^linchville, Gandy and a number of other
places, so it is said.

Verdon is just one of those little centers which serves its own particular
community and is typically representative of a great class of this size towns in
the county and state. There are those who believe that it is much lietter
to have a great number of small towns serving each community, rather than
to have great cities. It tends to better moral and civic conditions in e\ery
respect. It tends to a more economic way of living. It tends to prevent peo-
ple in general from getting the wanderlust. People in the smaller towns are
often happier and more contented than those in the larger cities.

STKAUSVILLE.

Strausville is the youngest village in the county and was laid out b\' its
founder, Gustave Strauss, and his wife on land owned by them and bears
liis name. It is located on parts of the southeast quarter of section 29 and
parts of the southwest cjuarter of section 28 of township 2, north of range
16, Ohio township. The little village, which contains four blocks, was sur-
veyed and platted by M. N. Bair, at that time a resident of Falls City, IVIay i,
1901, but the plat was not filed for record in the register's office at Falls City
until June i. 1912. Straussville has always been quite a grain-receiving station
fur the farmers in that section and boasts of a store and Iilacksmith shop.

FIRST NEWSPAPER PUBLISHED IN SITE OF OLD SI sri;rili:.\S AS IT

FALLS CITY. APPEAKS IX I'.n?.

SCENE IN OLD ST. STEPHENS CEMETERY. liHT. MONF.MEN'J
1S5C AND 1859, STILL STANDING.

CHAPTER X.
Series of First Events.

ST. STEPHENS.

St. Stephens was the first city of Richardson county. In 1861 it was
I lie largest, most flourishing and only town of any conse(|uence in the county.
Today it is known only to the old settlers. Even the precinct which once
bore that name now forms a part of Barada, and twenty years hence St.
Stephens will be known only in the archives of the court house and to the
historian. The townsite was laid out by Gen. Ben F. Loan and Stephen
Story in the spring of 1855, on land belonging to Israel Price. Henry Dukes,
Stephen Lyons and Stephen Story. S. F. Nuckolls & Company conducted
the first store. A A'Ir. Archer kept the first hotel. The late William R.
Cain, of Falls City, built the third dwelling house in town. In 1856 Israel
Price started a blacksmith shop and in the next year J. W. Crane, of St.
Joseph, Missouri, started the second store. During the years 1857, 1858 and
1859, the town grew rapidly, reaching the height of its glory in 1861, at
which time it had two general stores, one kept by Crane & Lewis, and the
other by D. J. Martin ; two saloons, one kept by Henly Price and Henry
Dukes, and the other by George Cooley. Henry Smith was the blacksmith
and Allen Gleason ran the ferry across the ^lissouri river. In 1857 Huston
Nuckolls, Stephen Story and W. P. Loan started a general land office and
in the spring of 1858 they held a public sale of land and town lots. Father
Thomas, as Tie was called, a Baptist preacher, living near Rulo. preached the
first sermon ever preached in the toivn. John McFarland was the first
justice of the peace; Stephen Lyons, the second; William Morgan, the third;
S. G. Lewis, the fourth and William R. Cain, the fifth, who held the office
for eight consecutive years, without an appeal from his decisions. Israel
Price was the first constable. The first school was taught by William Bell
and the second, by William McMurren. The first school board was elected
in 1859, with William R. Cain as president, and for twenty-one years Mr.

246 RICUARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Cain held a position on the school board and only resigned when he removed
to Falls Cit\-. Mr. Cain was the father of Hon. J. R. Cain, president of
the Bank of Stella: C. Fred Cain, now of Miami, Florida, and for years a
merchant of Falls City; John Cain, of Boseman, Montana; Mrs. Laura B.
Ta-vton, of Falls City, and Mrs. James Smith, of Butler, Missouri. The
first postmaster was T. C. Sicafoos. The first doctor was David Whitmire,
and \\ . 1'. Loan, was the first lawyer. The prominent citizens of St. Stephens,
when at the height of its prosperitv. were Aury Ballard, Doctor Whitmire,
J. W. Crain, William M. Morrison, D. S. Phillips, Press Martin, Huston
Nuckolls and W". P. Loan. — "Pioneer Record."

SOME OF THE "iTRSTS."

The first mill in the count\- ;it whicli grist was ground was located at
or near Salem and was built by the Hare boys.

The first white man to settle on the ALiddy was John Harkendorff, who
located there in 1854.

.\. H. Sloan claimed the credit of ha\'ing cast the first vote recorded
in Liberty township.

The Goolsby district in Ohio township had the first public school in
Richardson county. Air. Bartlett was the teacher.

Jane Cooper taught the first school in the "Cupolo" district in a house
later occupied by Reece Williams, as a dwelling.

William H. Crook disputes the generall\- accepted story that the first
school of the county was taught at or near Falls City. He says that he remem-
bers going to a good school in a little log house that stood on the banks of
the creek, a little west of old Archer, Ijefore Falls City was e\er laid off : and
that the second school was taught by a one-armed lady, wh(ise name was
Samuels. He also recalls that she was great on "lickin' and larnin'." She
was a teacher (jf the "old school," who Ijelieved that to "spare the rod was
to spoil the child:" hence, it was a large factor in her method of discipline,
and good traits in the character of Mr. Crook are some of the results of that
first school.

The first electiun in Ohio town.ship was in tlie fall of 1868 at the Goolsby
school house. Twenty-eight Denuicratic and fifty-six Republican votes were
polled.

The first while men to e.xplore the county adjacent to the Great Xemaha
river in Richardson countv were Jesse Crook, Isaac Crook. Tuhn Singleton.

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 247

and W. G. Goolsby. They came over from Missouri and went as far west
as the present site of Salem. The visit was made in 1854.

The Maple Grove cemetery in Ohio township, was located in 1859 ^v
John HarkendorlY, Amos Frank and S. J. Harris, the occasion being the
death of Phelix Misplis, a lad about thirteen years of age.

The first .session of the Nebraska state Legislature that met at Lincoln,
after the removal of the territorial capitol from Omaha, was convened on
January 7, 1869, the four previous sessions having met at Omalia after
the adoption of the state Constitution.

E. E. Cunningham had the honor of being the first to represent Richard-
son county in the first state Senate to meet at Lincoln, and Isham Reavis
was "rtoat" senator for Richardson, Nemaha and Johnson counties at the same
time and place.

The village of Arclier, which became the county seat for a time, was
located in 1855.

David L. Thompson was one of the first white men to enter Richard-
son county with the idea of making it a permanent home. He came in the
early fifties and located at the county seat. Archer, where he was united in
marriage to China M. Miller, a daughter of Judge J. C. Miller, who was the
first judge of the county and who at the time of the arrival of Thompson
kept a hotel and store in the new town. As soon as l'"alls City got fairly
started as a town he came here and made it his home for many years ant!
served for a time as deputy sherifY.

FIRST FUNERAL.

The first religious service which could have been classed in the nature
of a funeral for a white woman in Richardson county, is said to liave been
held for Mrs. Frank Purkett, who, with her child, froze to death during
child-birth. The husband had been drinking heavily and was absent, accord-
ing to reports at the time.

EARLY SETTLERS.

Numbered among the very first settlers of the county was James
Stumbo, who came here in 1856 and was prominent at Nemaha Falls, an
obsolete town on the banks of the Nemaha river, near the present site of
Falls City. He was the father of twelve children, eight sons and four
daughters. His death occurred on January 21, 1894.

T. L. Overman, of Stella, took up his residence at first at St. Deroin

^4?^ KICriARDSON COUXTY, NEBRASKA.

in Xemaha countv, coming to that place in March, 1858. In tlie month
of June of that year Joseph Deroin, an Indian chief for whom the place
was named, was shot by another Indian by the name of James Bedo. Mr.
Overman succeeded in getting many things at a sale of Indian goods, whicli
liad been the property of the chief, and still has them.

FIRST MARRIAGES.

Tlie Falls City, Nebraska, Journal, under date of December 22, 1893,
liad the following to say relative to the early marriages in Richardson
county : ;

"In all probability some marriage contracts were entered into in 1854
and 1855 that were never recorded, and no license was necessary for the
performance of a marriage, and even a law requiring the contract to be
recorded in the register's office was not passed until the spring of 1855. The
contract that appears on the record as of the earliest date is that of Mr.
and Mrs. W. I\I. Maddox, which is given below, although diis was the third
contract filed.

"Below are given some of the first contracts filed, which will be of inter-
est on account of the events of the past that they will bring to the minds
of the older settlers.

"Married, November the 29th. In the year A. D. 1855 By Pharagus
Pollard, Acting Justice of the Peace, of Richardson county, Nebraska Ter-
ritory, Joshua Boyd, of Holt County. Missouri, to i\Iiss Elizabeth Miller,
of Richardson County, Nebraska Territory. Pharagus Pollard, J. P."

Territory of Nebraska,)
County of Richardson, ) ss.

I. J. C. Lincoln, Register of Deeds, of said county do hereby certify
that the above is a correct copy left on file for record in this office.

Given under my hand and private seal (there being no public seal pro-
vided in this county) at this office January 15th, A. D. 1856.

(Sealj J. C. Lincoln, Register of Deeds.

The second instrument recorded showed that on December i6th, 1855,
Pharagus -Pollard, acting justice of the peace, united in marriage, Samuel
Howard and Miss Mary Gallaher, both of this county, at the home of
David Gallaher. This instrument was recorded in the office of register of
deeds, January 15th, 1855.

lUCIIAKDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 249

The tliird instrument was recorded on February 2nd, 1856, in tlie regis-
ter of deeds office and read as follows :

"This may certify that on the Fourth day of October, 1855, I, William
D. Gage, Minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, did unite in the
bonds of matrimony, Mr. W. M. :\Iaddox, of Nebraska City, and Margaret
Miller, of Archer, Richardson County, all in the Territory of Nebraska.
^VILLIAM D. Gage, M. M. E. Church.

Territory of Nebraska,)
Richardson County, ) ss.

I, E. S. Sharp, Dept. Register of Deeds, of said county do hereby
certify that the above is a true copy left on file in this office for record. Given
under my hand and private seal (there being no public seal yet provided
for the use of the county). Done at Archer this 2nd day of Februarv,
A. D. 1856.

(Seal) E. S. Sh.\rp, Dept. Register.

QUAINT MARRIAGE CONTRACT.

The fourth instrument was filed for record on July 7, 1856, and was
something of a curiosity. It was recorded by VV. H. Mann, deputy register,
and read as follows :

"Know All Men By These Presents: That Richard Clinsey and
Perilla Adamson have consented together in Holy Wedlock and have wit-
nessed the same before me, Joseph Friese, a Justice of the Peace for Rich-
ardson County, Nebraska Territory, and thereto have pledged their faith
either to the other, and ha\-e declared the same by their consent, I do declare
that they are Man and W^ife fore\er on and after this Thirteentli day of
March, A. D. 1856.

Joseph Friese, Justice of the Peace.

The fifth instrument was recorded on the same da\' and was identical
in date, phraseology and official signature, except that it proclaimed tlie
marriage of James O. Loughlin and Liddy Adamson.

The sixth instrument was recorded on August 21, 1856, and showed
that Justice Pharagus Pollard had united in marriage on June 20, 1856,
Marcellus Housner and I'olly N. Shelley, both of this county at the house
of A. Shellev.

250

COUXTV, NEBRASKA.

OTHER FIRSTS.

The first couple united in marriage in Lil^erty precinct, was George
Miller and Elizabeth Cornell. The happy event occurred on February i6,
1856, Rev. Wingate King officiating.

Dilliard Walker, who for many years resided near Humboldt, entered
the county in 1855. His wagon was the third to cross the south fork of
the Nemaha in this county. A man named Jemeson and Richard Gird
preceded him.

Stephen B. Aliles, one of the largest landowners in the county at his
death and one of the wealthiest men in the state, was the man who first car-
ried United States mail into Richardson count}-, and it was he who organ-
ized the first bank in the county.

The first school in the county was taught by Mrs. Saunders, on what
was at that time known as the Kirk Branch, a half mile northwest of Archer.
The school was held in the year 1856.

\y. R. Crook assisted in the work of surveying the town of Falls City
in 1857.

The Broad Axe, one of the very first newspapers published in the county,
was for a time printed at the hotel then standing on the lots now occupied
by the Richardson Countv Bank, and owned by Jesse Crook. It was edited
by Edwin Burbank and S. R. Jameson. This was in 1858.

The first court to be held in Richardson county was presided over by
a judge at Archer, at that time the county seat.

B. Frank Leechman, now residing on his farm north of i'^alls Citv. was
the first white child, so far as known, to be born in Richardson county. He
still resides on the farm on which he first saw the light of dav and is one
of the prosperous farmers of the county.

William Level, long since deceased, is deserving of the honor of having
built the first log cabin in the count}-. It was constructed in 1853 on a farm
east of the site of Archer, and the first election ever held in tiie cotmtv was
held in this same cabin.

Jesse Crook w as the first white man to raise a crop of corn in Richard-
son county, and the same was grown on land now- owned by William Xutter,
southwest of Archer in 1855,

FIRST WOiMAX MAIL C.VRRIER.

The honcir belongs to Miss Lydia A. Giddings, a daugliter of Elder C.
W. Giddings, the founder of the town of Table Rock, a town just west of

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 25 1

Humboldt and in Pawnee county, about thirty miles west of Falls City.
Prior to the coming of the Burlington railroad, as it is known today, a mail
route was in operation between Falls City and Table Rock, but the stations
were very much different from those now on the line of the railroad between
the two points, i. e., Falls City and Table Rock, -many of them being men-
tioned in the story. of Defunct Towns of the County in another part of this
work. Miss Giddings was one of the carriers on the route. Later, she
was united in marriage to a man b\' the name of Holmes, and again to a
Mr. John Gere. When last heard from she was a resident of Honolulu, in
the Hawaiian islands, of the mid-Pacific, and her sons. Giles H. and John
N. Gere, Jr., held responsible positions with the government.

Mil. I. AL'THORIZED IN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP.

An act approved January, i860, authorized Silas Babcock, his heirs
or assigns, to erect a mill dam not to e.xceed ten feet high across Long Branch
creek in Franklin precinct, at any point within four miles of the town of
Franklin.

FIRST BABY GIRL BORN.

Julia Tiu-ner was the first girl baby born in Richardson county, but
a later survey left her birthplace in what is now Pawnee county. When
first surveyed Richardson county also included Pawnee county and Cincin-
nati was a young and thriving town near the site of the present village
of DuBois on the Rock Island railroad. It was near this place that the
little lady first saw the light of day.

.\N E.'YRLY' TOLL BRIDGE ON NEM.\HA.

An act of a session of the Territorial Legislature authorized Jacob M.
Davis and A. C. Anderson to establish and keep a toll bridge and ferry
across the Great Xemaha river in Richardson county, at a point within
six miles from its mouth. The rate of tolls or ferriage was limited to
fifty cents per team and wagon : footman or stock, ten cents.

RICH.\KDS0N COl^NTY MINING COMPANY.

One of the first companies organized and incorporated for the purpose
of mining in the county was known as the Richardson County Mining Com-
pany, and was incorporated by an act of the Legislature passed and approved
on February 12, 1866. Those named in the act incorporating the company
were : Peter P. Smith, Charles A. Hergesheimer, William R. Cain, Stephen
Belliles, Alexander St. Louis. They proposed to prospect for coal.

kRDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

FIRST HOUSE IX FALLS CITY.

The first houses in Falls City were in most instances built from houses
formerly doing service at Archer, Winnebago and Yankton, towns which
disappeared from the map. The first hotel, the Union Hotel, occupying
the same location as the present "Union House," was constructed from a
building removed to Falls City from Yankton, by Jacob Good.

Billiard Walker, pioneer, assisted in the building of the First house
erected in Salem, the same being owned by Thomas Hare. Walker also
furnished the lumber and stone for the first church at Salem, known as the
Close Communion Baptist.

Barada precinct, in Richardson county, was named for Antoine Barada,
a well-kno\\n half-breed Indian. It is said of him that he was a man of
unusual strength and fine physical proportions, with features that showed
his Indian blood most unmistakably.

FIRST COURT HOUSE.

The residence of John C. Aliller, known as Judge Miller, located at
Archer, was a double log one story and a half high and one of the finest
homes of the time in this county. At different times it served as hotel,
postoffice and court house.

Isaac H. Jones, for many years a resident of Rulo, settled opposite the
Big Nemaha in 1848, removing to Nebraska seventeen years later.

FIRST CHILD BORN IX LIBERTY TOWNSHIP.

F'rom the family record of Stewart Russell, of Salem, it is learned that
his son, S. A. Russell, was born in Liberty precinct, Richardson county,
February 13, 1858, and from this it is claimed that he was the first white
child born in that precinct.

CHAPTER XL

AGRTCri.TURE AND StOCKRAISING.

Richardson county originally was covered with a luxuriant growth of
prairie grasses, with marginal areas of timber along the streams. The
first settlers located along the edges of first bottoms, where there was an
abundant supply of fuel.

During the first few years vegetables, corn, and wheat were grown for
the subsistence of the family. As claims were permanently located and
conditions became more stable, the farmers began to break the prairie land
for the more extensive production of corn and wheat, with some oats for
stock feed. A wide variety of vegetables was grown. Some hemp was pro-
duced, but this crop was soon abandoned. No clover, timothy, or bluegrass
was grown while the country was agriculturally new. Up to about 1874
the farmers produced spring wheat and corn as their main cash crops, and
some oats, winter wheat, rye, barley, buckwheat, and flax. Very few cattle
and hogs were raised. The yields reported by the early settlers were in
many cases higher than at present, but with poor methods of farming- the
yields soon decreased. The prices of crops were very low and as a result
the farmers generally were poor.

Wheat and corn continued the important cash crops, but within the last
twenty to twenty-five years agricultural conditions have graduall}- improved
and today most of the farmers are thrifty and prosperous. The dairy indus-
try, the raising of hogs and cattle, and the feeding of beef cattle have no
doubt been important factors in this progress, I)ut the impro\ed conditions
are due chiefly to better methods of handling the soil.

In 1879 corn was the most important crop in the county. The 1880
census reports eighty-six thousand seven hundred sixty-six acres in ctjrn and
thirty-one thousand five hundred seventy-nine acres in wheat. Oats are
reported on about six thousand acres, and barley on something over three
thousand acres. Hay was cut from a total of fifteen thousand four huntlred
ninety-two acres. After 1880 spring wheat declined in importance, as
owing to tlie poor yields of this crop it was found more profital)le to grow
corn. The chinch Inig. the grasshopper, and gnnvino; wheal continuously

254 RICHAKDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

on the same land for many }ears in succession were the main causes for the
poor yields of this crop. Hay was an important crop, and some rye, buck-
wheat, and tobacco were grown. The orchard products were vahied at
nine thousand three hundred twenty-eight dohars, and market-garden crops
at fifty-one thousand nine luindred sixty dollars.

By 1890 the area in corn had increased to one hundred fifteen thousand
seven hundred eighty-live acres and the area in oats to twenty-one thousand
eight hundred twenty-six acres. Wheat is reported in the census of 1890
on only ten thousand two hundred and twenty-tliree acres. Hay was grown
on twenty-seven thousand and twenty-four acres. r}e on nearly two tliou-
sand acres, and barley on less than five hundred acres. Potatoes are reported
on nearly one thousand ti\e hundred acres. Market-garden products and
small fruits had a total value of only two thousand and seventy-five dollars.

From 1889 to 1899 there was a steady advance in the acreage of all
the staple crops. In the 1900 census alxjut one hundred and thirty thousand
acres are reported in corn, twenty-nine thousand acres in oats, and twenty
thousand acres in wheat. Of the hay crops, wild grasses, reported on about
eighteen th(jusand acres, tame grasses on about ten thousand acres, and
alfalfa on nearly one thousand acres were the most important. The acreage
in r}e, barley, and buckwheat was small. There were about two hundred
and fifty thousand apple trees in the county, nearh one hundred thousand
grapevines, and about seventy-five thousand peach trees. Of the live-stock
products, animals sold and slaughtered were valued at one million one hun-
dred sixty-seven thousand four hundred and ninety dollars, dairy products
at sixty-five thousand four hundred seventy-four dollars, and poultry at
ninety-four thousand eight hundred ninety-six dollars. From 1899 to 1909
there was an increase in the number of acres of wheat and a decrease in the
acreage of other crops, especially corn.

At present the production of grain is the cliief tvpe of farming in
Richardson county, though dairying and the raising of hogs and other live
stock are important industries. Corn, oats, wheat, timothy and clover mixed,
alfalfa, and wild grasses are the chief general farm crops. The tendency is
to grow less corn and more wheat and leguminous crops.

TliE PKI.XCIPAI. MONEY CHOP.

Corn is by far the most important crop in acreage, and is the principal
money crop. The 1910 census reports corn on one hundred and three
thousand three hundred eightv-six acres. There are about two acres of corn

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 255

to every acre of all other cereals combined, even though the acreage has
declined considerably in the last decade. About one-half the total area of
improved farm land in Richardson county is devoted to the production of
com. The crop is grown on practically all the soil types of the county, but
does best on the Marshall silt loam. The average yield for the county is
about thirty bushels per acre. Reid's Yellow Dent and Iowa Silver Mine are
the most popular varieties. About eighty-five per cent, of the corn is listed,
some is check-rowed, and in a few cases the crop is double-listed. Most of
the corn is sold, though a large part is fed to hogs and beef cattle. It is
the general practice to pasture the corn lands after the ears have Ijeen re-
moved. There are only a few silos in the county.

Oats rank second in acreage to corri, and the area in this crop seems
to be increasing steadily. In 1909 there were twenty-five thousand and
ninet)'-three acres in this crop. Most of the crop is fed to horses and mules ;
the remainder is sold largely in local markets, though some is shipped to
Kansas City. White and Green Russian, Kherson, and Swedish Select are
the principal varieties grown.

The third crop in imiMrtance is wheat. The census of 19 10 reports
twenty-one thousand eight hundred seventy-one acres devoted to this crop.
About 1895 ^^'^^ state experiment station demonstrated the superior qualities
of a variety of Russian winter wheat known as Turkey Red, and this has
almost entirely displaced the spring varieties formerly grown, as it produces
better yields, can be sown in the fall, a time of the year when it does not
interfere with other farm labor, and matures before the .season of dry
weather and hot winds. Wlieat is strictly a cash crop, and most of it is
sold directl\- fr(im the threshing machine to local elevators. Most of it is
shipped later to Kansas Cit\'. A small proportion of the crop is storetl in
farm elevators or granaries, and held for higher prices. Scarcely any wheat
is grown for lionie use. the flour used in tiie county lieing shipped in. Tiie
value of cereal crops is reported in the 1910 census as two million iliree
hundred forty-si.x thousand seven hundred eighty-seven dollars, and of other
grains ancl seeds as ten thousand three hundred forty-eight dollars.

Timothy and clover mixed is the most important ha}' crop It is
re])orted in the census of 1910 on eleven thousand three hundred twentv-
nine acres. During the progress of the survey excellent stands of this croii
were seen, though it is reported that in dry years the crop is not nearly as
good. In dry seasons considerable difiiculty is experienced in obtaining a
good seeding of clover. There arc reported four thousand seven hundred

256 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

ninetv-nine acres in timothy alone, three thousand three hundred and six
acres in clover alone, seven thousand seven hundred and three acres in wild
grasses, two hundred ninety acres in millet and one hundred sixty-one acres
in other tame grasses. Some red-clover seed and timothy seed are produced.
Ordinarily clover yields two to four bushels of seed an acre and timothy,
four to eight bushels. Practically all the hay is fed to work stock and cattle,
with a small part sold in local towns and some hay shipped to outside
markets. Large quantities of hay are imported from the West.

ALFALFA PASSES THE EXPERIMENTAL STAGE.

The growing of alfalfa has passed beyond the experimental stage, and
this promises to become the principal hay crop of the county. In 1909
there were seven thousand seven hundred twenty-two acres in alfalfa. The
crop does well both on the upland and on the well-drained bottom-land soils,
three and sometimes four cuttings being obtained each year, with a total
yield ranging from three to five tons per acre. Most of the crop is fed to
cattle and work stock, and some is used as hog pasturage. Alfalfa hay is not
shipped out of the county, except from a few farms where it is the main
cash crop. It is sent chiefly to Kansas City and St. Joseph, and sells for
twelve dollars to fifteen dollars a ton. The total value of hay and forage
crops is reported in the census of 1910 as five hundred thirty-two thousand
five hundred nineteen dollars.

The less important crops of Richardson county are potatoes, barley,
rye. kafir, sorghum, and buckwheat. Potatoes are reported in the 1910
census on nine hundred forty acres. The production is inadequate to meet
the local demand.

Trucking receives but little attention, owing to the distance from large
markets. Some vegetables are grown on a commercial scale near the cities
and \illages of the county. The 19 10 census reports the value of vegetables
produced in the county in 1909 as eighty-three thousand six hundred eighty-
two dollars.

Most of the farmers have small orchards of apple, plum, peach and
pear trees. These fruits do well when properly cared for, but owing to
lack of care the trees in most orchards are gradually dying and less apples
are produced now than ten years ago. There are several commercial orchards
in the county, mainly in the vicinity of Falls City and Shubert. Though the
blufi" zone of the Missouri river is admirably adapted to apples, it has tew

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 257

commercial orchards, owing to the fact that it is too far from railroad points.
In the vicinity of Shubert the apples are sold through the Central Fruit
Growers Association; in other localities they are sold direct by the producer.
Most of the apples are shipped to points in western Nebraska, Kansas, and
South Dakota.

Apples of the better grades are stored in Omaha for shipment at the
time of greatest demand. The culls are made into cider and vinegar, and
bring from twenty to thirty cents a hundred pounds. Graded apples sell for
an average of two dollars and fifty cents a barrel. The principal varieties
of apples grown are the Ben Davis, Winesap, Jonathan. Mammoth Black
Twig, Missouri Pippin, Grimes, York Imperial, Gano, Duchess, and
Wealthy. There are approximately eight hundred acres in commercial apple
orchards. Only a few pears are produced commercially. The value of all
orchard products, including small fruits and nuts, is given in the 1910
census as fifty-four thousand two hundred twelve dollars. The number of
apple trees is given as one hundred seventy-five thousand one hundred sev-
enty-nine, with about sixty-seven thousand peach trees and about thirty-
five thousand grapevines.

FIRST COMMERCIAL APPLE ORCHARD.

Elias Beaver, who came to Richardson county in the sixties established
the first commercial apple orchard on a farm six miles southwest of Falls
City. Mr. Beaver was a skilled orchardist and the success of his orchards
fully established the fact that very fine commercial apples could be success-
fully grown in this section of Nebraska.

The late Henry W. Shubert was the pioneer orchardist of the northern
part of the county and his son, A. G. Shubert, of Falls City, set out the
first apple trees in that part of the state in an orchard intended for commer-
cial purposes. The success of the Shubert orchards has induced others in
that section to plant orchards. Shubert Brothers have continued the work
started by their father and now have the largest orchard acreage in the
county and probably in the state of Nebraska. Their trees are cared for
scientifically and cultivation of the soil with staple crops is continued until
the trees are large enough to bear commercial crops of fruit.

Allan Franklin, of Barada, established a splendid orchard in Barada
precinct and the work is carried on b\' his sons, who are thorough-going
fruit men and orchardists who have made a pronouncetl and well-paving
(17)

2^» RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

success of the orchard business. The FrankHn orchards present a splendid
appearance at all seasons of the year and the crop outlook in this year
(1917) is gratifying. The fruit from the Franklin orchards commands a
ready sale at high prices.

In 1896 Henry C. Smith established an orchard which has been a pro-
nounced success. Napoleon DeMers has a hne small orchard in the north-
east section of Falls City — and there are many well kept small orchards
scattered about the eastern part of the county. However, it has been dem-
onstrated that the large, scientifically-kept commercial orchard pays best.

Weaver Brothers, A. J. and Paul B. Weaver, have two hundred acres
of bearing orchard, the output of which is sold to the same buyers year in
and year out at top prices. Weaver Brothers planted their first commercial
orchard in 1893 and their success has been well merited. Both A. J- and
Paul B. Weaver are recognized authorities on apple growing in this section
of the country and there is published in connection with this chapter an
address delivered by A. J- Weaver upon fruit growing at the Missouri Valley
Industrial and Farmers Congress in December, 19 14, which is a classic in
itself and ably portrays the methods used and jiecessary for the successful
cultivation of apple orchards. There is shipped from the Weaver Brothers"
orchards each year from fifty to seventy-five cars of select fruit to Minnesota
buyers in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Chicago. The fruit produced in these
orchards each year from fift\- to seventy-five cars of select fruit to
the famous orcliard country of the Northwest and brings equally high prices.
The value of the orchard products produced in the Weaver Brothers'
orchards will range from twenty-five to thirty thousand dollars annually,
and a force of skilled workers are constantly engaged in the orchards which
received the direct supervision of the owners.

HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY.

Henry C. Smith was instrumental in organizing the first Horticultural
Societ}- in the count}" as early as 1872. The first meeting of the society,
with Mr. Smith as secretary, was held in the city hall on September 18
and i<) lit that year. A fine exhibit of fruits, jellies and flowers was made
l:.v the different fruit growers in the ciuuit}- and it was decided to hold
quai^terly meetings of the ^society.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 259

DAIRYING, LIVE STOCK AND POULTRY.

Dairying is receiving increased attention. Most of the fanners keep
dairy cows, chiefly Shorthorn grades. The number of cows per farm varies
from three to ten, with upward of forty on the dairy farms in the vicinity
of Falls City. A few farmers keep no dairy cows. J\Iost of the dairying is
carried on during the summer months, and in the winter not enough milk and
butter is produced for home use. Most of the cream is separated on the farm.
The surplus cream is shipped mainly to St. Joseph, and some is sent to Lin-
coln, Omaha, and Kansas City. The local creamery at Falls City handles
a small part of the cream. Some butter is made on the farms and sold at
local markets. The average price obtained for butterfat in the summer is
twenty-five to twenty-eight cents per pound, and in the winter thirty to thirty-
two cents. The 1910 census reports the total value of all dairy products,
excluding home use, as $124,021. The number of dairy cows on farms re-
porting dairy products is 6,726.

There are some herds of beef cattle, mostly on the farms in the south-
western part of the county, on areas of Rough stony land. The cattle are
mainly of Shorthorn and Hereford bi'eeding, though there are some herds
of Polled Durham. A number of farmers feed one or two carloads of
cattle, obtained from stockyards, with good returns. In other cases a few
head are fattened on the farm each year, and sold when prices are most
favorable. Alost of the beef cattle are marketed in St. Joseph and Kansas
City. The 1910 census reports 19,246 other cattle and 1.219 '^alve^ sold
or slaughtered.

Considerable attention is being paid to the breeding of farm and draft
horses. Nearly every farmer raises one or two colts each vear, and some
as many as six. In this way the farmers supply their own work stock, and
occasionally have a team to sell. The Percheron and Clydesdale are the fav-
orite breeds. About one-fourth to one-fifth of the colts are mules. The
census of 1910 reports a total of 1.848 horses and mules sold.

There are only a few flocks of sheep in the county, though some sheeji
are shipped in from Kansas Cit\- for feeding. There is one large goat
ranch, carrying about one thousand head, in the northeastern part of the
county, on the Knox silt loam. The iqio census re])orts 6.960 sheep and
goats sold or slaughtered.

The raising of hogs is the most important li\-e-stock industrv. Xearh
every farmer fattens from twenty-fi\-e to thirty hogs each year, and some as

26o RICHARIXSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

many as one hundred and fifty. On tenant farms not nearly so many hogs
are kept, which is also true of other Hve stock. Pork production is profitable,
though cholera is prevalent and reduces the profits considerably. Most of
tlie hogs are marketed in St. Joseph and Kansas City, and some in Omaha.
Xearlv everv farmer butchers enough hogs to supply the home with meat the
year round. Poland China, Duroc-Jersey, and Berkshire are the leading
breeds, though there are very few registered herds. According to the 19 lo
census 46,982 hogs were sold or slaughtered in 1909. The total value of
all animals sold and slaughtered is reported in the 1910 census as $1,875,319.
According to the same authority the total value of poultry and eggs
is $240,815. Practicallv ever\- farmer keeps a small flock of chickens, rang-
ing from forty to one hundred and fifty. Most of the eggs and poultry are
handled by the two poultry establishments at Falls City. The dressed chickens
are shipped mainly to Buffalo and New York. About thirty-two carloads
of chickens and ninety carloads of eggs are sln'pped out of Falls City each
}ear.

METHODS OF AGRICULTrRE.

Considerably more attention is paid to the adaptation of crops to the
different soils than ten years ago. The farmers realize that the Marshall
silt loam and Carrington silt loam are best suited to corns, wheat, oats
and grass. They recognize that the Knox silt loam and steep slopes of the
Shelby loam are best suited to alfalfa and for use as pasture. The Wabash
soils are generally recognized as well adapted to corn and less well suited
to the small grains, and the same is known to be true of the other l)ottom-
land txpes. The topography of the Rough stony land makes it suitable
only for grazing.

The stubble land generally is plowed in the fall, either for winter
wheat or corn. Corn land usually is li.sted and sometimes double listed
where the crop succeeds itself. If the field is put in oats, it is either double
disked or the oats are sowed broadcast between tlie rows of corn. \'aria-
tions and modifications of the alwve practices are common. It is necessary
to exercise considerably greater care in the preparation of the seed beds
on the heaxier tvpes of the countv. .\ little barnyard manure is used.
Tt is a])|)lied to corn or as a topdressing for winter wheat. .As a rule the
barn van! is cleaned twice a year, but on many farms a large part of the
manure is wasted. Green manuring is not practiced and scarcely any C(^m-
mercial fertilizers are used. According to the census of 1910,' the total ex-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 261

penditure for fertilizers in this county in 1909 was only six hundied and
twenty-six dollars, only six farms reporting their use.

The fann buildings, especially the houses, usually are well painted and
kept in good repair. There are many large, modern houses in the count}-.
The barns are usually small, but as a rule are substantial and well kept.
Hedge fences, established before the introduction of barbed wire, are com-
mon. Most of these consist of Osage orange. Most of the cross fences
and some boundary fences are of barbed wire, though woven wire is coming
into more general use.

The work stock consists mainly of medium-weight draft horses and
mules. There are only a few gasoline tractors in the county. On most
farms the four-horse hitch is used. The farm equipment consists of gang
or sulky plows, disk harrows, straight-tooth harrows, drills, listers, corn
planters, mowing machines, cultivators, rakes, hay loaders, stackers, binders.
and wagons. Thrashing-machines are favorably distributed for use by the
iarmers in all sections immediately after harvest.

Definite systems of rotation are followed by only a few progress! \e
farmers. The general tendency is to keep the land in corn two or three
years or even longer, following with one year of oats, and from one to
three years of wheat. Occasionally the wheat land is seeded to clover for
two or three years, and then planted to corn. Of late alfalfa is taking the
place of clover, and occupies the land from seven to ten years, or longer.
On farms where there is no permanent pasture, clover and timothy fields
usually are pastured the second year.

There is an adequate supply of farm labor, but it is rather difificult to
secure efficient help. The usual wage paid is twenty to thirtv-five dollars
a month with board and washing. Most of the laborers are hired from
March i to October i or December i, though a few farmers employ labor
by the year, because it is easier in this way to get efficient men. Where the\'
are hired only to October i the laborers are paid additional rates of three
to three and one-half cents a bushel for husking corn. The daily wage for
transient labor during han^est time ranges from two to three dollars per
day, with board. The farmers are beginning to hire married men with their
families, and the owners furnish them with tenant houses, milch cov/s.
chickens, gardens, and fruit. Under this plan the wages range from thirty
to forty dollars a month. Most of the farm work in the countv, however,
is performed by the farmers and tlieir families. The expenditure for la1x)r
in TQOQ was $314,735;.

262 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

ANERAGE SIZE AND VALUE OF FARMS.

Most uf the farms in Richardson county contain one hundred and sixty
acres. There are a few as small as eighty acres, and several ranging from
four hundred to several thousand acres. According to the 1910 census,
about ninety-five per cent, of the area of the county is in farms, and of
the land in farms eighty-six per cent, is improved. The average size of
the farms is 157.9 acres. About fift\-three per cent, of the famis are oper-
ated by the owners and practically all the remainder by tenants. Both the
cash and share systems of renting, as well as a combination of the two, are
practiced, the share system being most popular. Cash rents vary from three
to six dollars an acre for general-farm land, depending largely on the char-
acter of the soil. Under the share system the owner receives two-fifths
to one-half the products of the farm when the tenant furnishes all imple-
ments and stock. Where the land is not so productive the owner furnishes
one-half the work stock and tools and there is an equal division of crops.
In the combination system of cash and share renting the permanent pastures
and lands not used for crops are rented for cash.

The value of farm land in Richardson county ranges from twenty to
two hundred dollars an acre, depending on the nature of the soil, the topog-
raphy, improvements, and distance from railroad points. The lowest-priced
land is in the blufT zone of the Missouri river, and the highest-priced in
the vicinity of Falls Cit\-. In the 19 10 census the average value of farm
land is reported as $80.71.

While there are man\- large farms in Richardson county and some
extensive land holdings the large estates which are farmed under the direct
supervision of their owners are small in number. Among the largest in-
dividual farmers of the county is Weaver Brothers, A. J. and P. B. Weaver,
who own and farm directly over three thousand acres of land located in
Richardson county. The land is farmed according to the latest scientific
agricultural methdds adapted to the land cultivated. .\ small army of men
is em|)l(iyed in the farm work and in this \ear (1917) sixty men are on
the pa\- roll, whicli will exceed $40,000 annuallv. Weaver Brothers market
from fifteen hundred to two thousand head of hogs annually and produce
and feed fur the market over five hundred head of cattle each vear.

RICHARDSON COl'XTV, XEBRASKA.

:he miles ranch.

263

The Miles ranch, located in the vicinity of Dawson, in a southerly di-
rection, embraces a total of five thousand acres of land operated in a body
as one great farm. This famous ranch was established by the late Col.
Stephen B. Miles in 1856 as a place to recuperate the hundreds of horses
and mules used in the mail and stage-route traffic conducted by Mr. Miles
for years by contract with the United States government. It was the first
of the great ranches established west of the Missouri river and is now owned
by Joseph H. Miles, son of the founder.

The Miles ranch house is one of the best-built farm houses in this section
of Nebraska and the materials which went into the making of the residence
were obtained from the forests along the banks of the Nemaha river by
the builder. The Miles house is built entirely of native lumber, cut and
finished on the place ; and everything about the construction of the residence
is of native materials, even to the stair rails, the newel posts and the inside
woodwork, which is of native hardwood. At the time this residence was
completed, in 1867, there were no railroads for transportating material, and
the windows, doors and shingles of the building were transported from St.
Louis by boat and then hauled to the ranch.

One of the finest barns in the country, built entirely of native lumber
and stone obtained on the ranch is found on tlie Miles ranch. This barn
is modeled after the famous Pennsylvania ■type of bank -barn and no nails
whatever are used in its construction. The timbers are morticed and fastened
together with wooden pins. The barn is in a remarkable state of preserva-
tion, notwithstanding the fact that it was Iniilt in 1861 bv the late S. B.
Miles.

Twelve ranch or tenant houses are located on the farm for the housing
of the present tenants, and which were used up to three years ago ( 1914),
for the housing of the many hands who were employed in doing tlie ranch
work. The ranch is equipped with its own private grain elevators and water
system, a stand pipe having been erected which would do credit to a small
town, and gives sufficient pressure to reach the tops of the highest build-
ings. The water supply is obtained from wells and an immense cistern,
having a capacity of two thousand barrels.

Since 1914 the ranch has been in cliarge of Stephen Miles, son
of the owner and the farm lands which are cultivated for tlie raisin"- of

264 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

grain crops have been farmed on the share system. Prior to 1914, the
ranch was ojjerated in an entire body by Joseph H. Miles, the owner.

The ranch proper consists of five thousand acres in all, although ]\Ir.
Miles's holdings in the county total fifteen thousand acres in all. Fifteen
hundred acres of the land is planted jearly to corn and produce from forty
to sixty bushels of corn to the acre, making an average total of over seventy-
five thousand bushels yearly. This year (191 7) there has been harvested
five himdred acres of wheat, which produced from twenty to forty-eight
bushels of grain to the acre, or an average of thirty-five bushels to the
acre, making a total of seventeen thousand five hundred bushels of wheat.
Three hundred acres were sown to oats, which produced from forty to si.xty
bushels to the acre. One hundred acres of barley were harvested, which
gave a good yield. F(3ur hundred acres of tame hay or timothy were cut.
which yielded fifteen hundred tons. The ranch has over three hundred acres
of natural growth timber, which furnishes all the lumber used in erecting
new buildings or .sheds and making repairs. There are fifteen hundred acres
of pasture land. The ranch is bisected by the south fork of the Nemaha
river, which causes the only waste land in the entire ranch. The private
Miles drainage ditch was only recently completed (in July, 191 7). for a
distance of three miles through the ranch bottom lands, at a cost of nearly
twenty thousand dollars.

Three hundred head of fine fat cattle are marketed yearly from the
rancli, all of which are thoroughbred stock such as Hereford. Shorthorn
and .\ngus breeds. From one thousand to fifteen hundred hogs of the
Poland China and Duroc -Jersey breeds are marketed annually. The ranch
has always prided itself in producing only pure bred stock.

THE MARGRAVE RANCH.

Tiie Margrave ranch, consisting of several thousantl acres of land in
the southeastern part of the county and in Brown county, Kansas, was
established by the late W. .\.. Margrave and is operated by the Margrave
Corporation, under the direct supervision of William A. and James Mar-
grave. The shipping headquarters of the ranch are located at Preston and
the ranch proper is located a few miles east and south of Preston.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 265

ORCHARDING.

Address made by Hon. A. .J. Weaver, of Falls City, before the Missouri Valley Industrial
and Farmers' Congress, held at St. Joseph, Missouri, in December, 1914, and later
given before the State Horticultural Association at Lincoln. Nebraska, and printed
in Horticultural journals and widely published as the best article on scientific apple
grovi'ing ever presented in the middle west.

Ladies aud Gentlemen: Bill Nye once said ttiat he was not much of a spealver,
liimself, but that he was a good extemporaneous listener, aud after the interesting and
instructive addresses already made to this congress, I would prefer to continue as a good
listener; and I feel that in attempting your further instruction I am but illustrating
Joseph's dream, that after the feast came the famine. However, as one deeply inter-
ested in the puiposes of this congress, I am glad to join in this wonderful conservation
movement, aud today I want to congratulate St. Joseph uix)n placing at the head of this
movement Col. R. M. Bacheler, who is a real benefactor of your city. For months, when
he should have been thinking of his own business, his own pleasure and comfort, he has
been siJending weary hours for the success of this congress. Such men are never repaid,
only in the consciousness of a public duty well performed. How well Colonel Bacheler's
duty has been performed toward St. Joseph, and the great country tributary to it, the
success of this meeting attests.

CONGRESS REPRESENTATIVE IN CHARACTER.

There is in attendance here, and uix>u this program, representatives of every imiwr-
tant business aud industry in the Missouri valley, from high railroad officials to bankers
and farmers. And we are particularly pleased to learn that the great railroad systems
in the Middle West are interested in the work of this congress. A few years ago the.se
railroads were in politics, and at this time of the year vvere guardians of our I.«gislatures
and were electing our United States senators. Today they are strictly in legitimate busi-
ness. They are sending out demonstration trains for better grain, grasses and live stock,
promoting good roads aud assisting materially in the uplift of agriculture, and in e.\tend-
ing the limits of this empire of wealth and prosperity. The attendance of W. C. Brown,
ex-president of the New York Central Railroad, and the trained experts of the different
railroads, clearly demonstrate that we are entering upon a new era.

ST. JOSEPH, THE NATURAL CENTER.

Repeating what I said to this congress last year, it is proper that St. Joseph, Mis-
souri, should be the center of this new movement in the Missouri valley ; St. Joseph,
the inspiration and life of the early histoiy of the Sliddle AVest, where the first pony
exiDress started blazing the trail westward across the continent ; St. Joseph, the stay
and support of this great valley when reverses and set-backs came, and now the leader
and first on the firing line of this new movement; St. Joseph, full of romance and his-
tory, full of wealth and conservatism, yet as full of real men and progress, combining
enough of the Xew England spirit, the old life of the South, the newer life of the free
West, and the real spirit of the age, to make it the magnificent center of this great agri-
cultural empire. St. Joseph, our banking, live-stock and mercantile center, we thank
you for this congress aud for the hospitality extended to ns.

NATT-RE MAKES THE WHOLE WORLD KIN.

It has been lieautifully sjiid that •'Nature makes the whole world kiu." aud not long
ago, as I looked out of my window from the eighth .story of your beautiful hotel. 1

266 RICIIAKDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

thought how true this was. I saw the smoke rising from a liuiuUetl smoliestacks, rei)re-
senting the industrial life of this city. I saw the smolce from tlie railroad yards and
the great paoking plants of South St. Joseph. I looked back of these and saw nestling
in the wooded slopes churches and school houses and homes. Back of these, for hun-
dreds of miles, I knew extended fertile farms, the basis of all our wealth ; and I thought
how everything went back to nature and the soil and how all these things were dependent
one upon the other. Tour industries would he silent, your railroads would become dis-
used streaks of rust if it were not for these farms surrounding you. On the other hand,
without these great railroads, which are the arteries of commerce and trade, and these
packing plants, which are the farmers market, agriculture would stagnate, in fact it
would never have been born upon these prairies.

AMERICAN PEACE AND EUROPEAN WAR.

Then I contrasted all this peace and progress and prosperity with the conditions
across the water, where half the world is at war, where nation grapples at the throat
of nation, where men are mere pawns of monaix'hs and where human life and property,
by the thousands and tens of thousands, are being daily swallowed up in the terrible
vortex of war.

It is said that Confucius, the great Chinese statesman, once traveled in a distant
part of the empire which was infested with ferocious wild beasts. One day he came
upon a woman weeping bitterly and stopping to inquire the cause of her grief, learned
that her husband had recently been killed by a tiger. "Why," asked the Chinaman, "do
you remain in a province infested with such danger?" "We have a good governuient
here," was the woman's reply. "Behold," exclaimed the sage, "a bad government is
more to be feared than the rapacious tiger." Today in peaceful and prosperous America
we can exclaim with the Chinese sage: "A bad government is more to be feared than
the rapacious tiger." For fifty years every farmer in Europe has carried a soldier on his
back. Today he struggles with the weight of two or three, and next year, or the next,
when this cruel war is over, and the terrible and appalling cost in men and treasure is
reckoned, the load will be intolerable; for his nation, whether victor or vanquished, will
be hopelessly in debt and its citizen, nominally free, will be a tax vassal for a lunidred
years to come.

AMERICA FORTUNATE IN HEB ISOLATION.

America, fortunate in her isolation, doubly fortunate in her form of government
and the genius of her people, thrice fortunate in her wonderful resources of mines and
forests and fields; practically free from debt, with the wholesome inclination to spend
her resources for better homes and better food, for agricultural and other colleges, for
better roads and the hundreds of other things conducing to her happiness and prosijerity.
rather than upon vast armaments and navies ! America, wonderful America I We. a
handful of your peaceful citizens, engaged today in St. Joseph, in quiet conference con-
cerning the pursuits of peace, salute you as truly the "Land of the free and home of the
brave.". The land of the free, because we are free from the military systems of the old
world, and because we, the people, are the real sovereigns, and our public officials our
servants, and not our master.s. The land of the brave, because we are brave enough to be
just to every man beneath our flag, and every nation on earth. Our flag has floated over
Cuba and Mexico, but not for conquest. It is the emblem of iieace on eartli and good
will to men, and when its mission in foreign lands is performed, it comes home with all
the honor and dignity and justice which it took .-iway.

My friends, you will pardon this digression from the sul>ject assignetl nic. but 1 li.ive

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 267

merely mentioued these tbiugs to emiiliusize the traiuiuility miuI prosperity, wbiili we as
a nation are enjoying, and for whicb we should be thankful. In this connection I might
add that this conference represents a territory which iu size and wealth would be an
empire in Europe. Each of its magnificent counties would be a principality. In fertility
of soil, iu climate, in the character and intelligence of its people, the Missouri Valley
country Is the equal of the best of Europe. In population we are deficient, but popula-
tion Is fast increasing and to meet this added responsibility we are iu conference today
as an Intelligent citizenship, to devise the best ways and means for Hie future of our
industrial and. farming activities.

THE CRIME OF AURICULTITRE.

The past is gone, and with it its train of mistakes. One of these was in mining our
soil instead of farming it, in selling its fertility at wholefsale In grain Instead of in con-
centrates of meat. Another was in neglecting clover, alfalfa and the other legumes.
Another was iu allowing out lands to be gullied and washed into the sea. Another was
in trying to produce beef and pork on much coru and little roughage. Another was in
planting orchards, then allowini,' the cattle, hogs and Insects to destroy them. Another
was in raising wheat year after year on the same laud, and then corn, year after year
on the same land. Coburn of Kansas, in referring to the average of thirteen to fifteen
bushels per acre on Kansas wheat land once said. "Men write of the 'Shame of Cities" and
the 'Crime of Society,' but this Is the 'Crime of Agriculture"." These old methods were
sad mistakes, and were indeed costly, not only to the individual, but to the aggregate
wealth of the community. And today we congratulate ourselves and the country that
we are teaching and practicing better ways.

We know now that we nnist farm and husband the land instead of mining It. We
liuow now that if we would preserve the fertlity of the soil, we must handle live stock
and market our crops In the form of beef and ikh-U and mutton. We know now that
clover and alfalfa are as necessary to the life of our laud as red blood is to the life of
our bodies. We know now what nitrogen and humus .ire. and that they are the soil's
capital. We know now that lands which wash away ue\er return, and that ugly ditches,
like ugly wounds, are not only unsightly, but are sometimes fatal. Fields have been
ruined by being gullied and washed to pieces. Xature"s remedy is grass. We know now
that cornstalks in a silo are better for the fanner and his herds than cornstalks in
winter-swept and suow-bound fields: and that we must save this and all other roughage,
if we are to handle live stock successfully on high-priced land. We know now that the
hog is a grazing animal and that alfalfa should be on his bill of fare the year round.
He should not only have alfalfa pasture from April to November, but should be fed
alfalfa hay the rest of the year in racks, the same as cattle. We know that while the
hog is growing we should furnish him with this cheap iirotein ration, but that when he is
fattening on a full feed of coru, .ilfalfa hay should be suiiplementetl with a coueeutrated
protein ration in the form of tankage. Feed a hog all the alfalfa he will eat and at the
present price of corn you cut off tweuty cents on ever.\- bushel. We know now that every
hog-yard should have its cement feeding floor, for every bushel of corn fed on a feeding
floor saves a pound of pork. We know now that lice and worms are the two greatest
enemies of the hog raiser, and that these are easily controlled. We know that the great
hog scourge can be prevented by vaccination, and that the man who proiJerly guards his
hogs need spend no sleepless nights on account of hog cholera. These observations are
made from some cxiierionce in the hog business. Weaver Brothers raise two thousand
hogs every year, and we believe that bogs and alfalfa are the mr>st profitable combina-
tions on the farm.

268 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Yes, we used to tbink that aiiybixly couUl l>e a fanner. We kuow l)etter uow. It
requires as luiR-b or more braius to farm successfully as it does to succeed in any
other business. We used to think that we had to sow and reap like our fathers. We
know better uow. We eveu change our owu methods in the light of our own experience.
We used to think that orchards were planted to grow snialJ. imperfect and .scabby apples.
We know better uow. A new age is here, and, regardless of our (X"cupations, we
should be iu sympathy with it. Xo matter what our'vocation, we are all farmers in
this country, in the sense that it is our one great community business and asset.
Farming is the basis of all wealth, and especially in the Middle West, and we should
doff our hats to the modern, uivto-date farmer, and accord to him the dignity and
worth he merits as one of our most useful citizens.

OBCHABDIXG.

I have been requested to deliver at this session^ a brief address upon orcharding
in the Missouri valley. While I am but incidentally engaged iu raising apples, and
would rather talk about hogs and alfalfa, silos and cattle raising and general conservation
of the soil, yet orcharding, and particularly apple raising, is a great industry in this
section, and if given the s;ime attention as grain or live-stock farming, would become a
notable industry and highly profitable. I make this statement from my own observations
of the orchard business in the Missouri valley, and i)articularly my experience iu
southeastern Nebraska, where Weaver Brothers own and control and operate over
two hundred acres of apple orchard. We produce annually from thirty-five to one
hundred ear-loads of apples, aud sell ou an average more thau twenty thousand dollars
worth of apples each year. These orchards will produce annually a net average revenue
of ten thousand dollars a year or fifty dollars an acre. This takes into consideration
the original investment, the frost damage in occasional years aud unfavorable seasons,
both as to production aud markets. The average orchard in this section and particularly
the small orchard, is not profitable, aud on the ordinary farm may be considered as a
liability instead of an asset. This is because of the failure to properly care for the
same. Success iu the orchard business will come only with proper cultivation, fertiliza-
tion, pruning, .spraying, proiier grading, and reasonable ability to market the crop. In
other words, commercial apple raising is a business and must be handled on business
principles, if it is to succeed. An orchard handled in this way will not only yield a
nice profit, but will afford a great deal of pleasure to the man engaged iu it. The
apples produceil in this section are the equal, if not the superior, iu flavor and quality
of any produced in the United States, and the fruit from sprayed and cared-for oi'chards
is eagerly sought by the buyers for the best city markets.

Fortunately the values of our best apple lands, which .ire the hill or bluff laiiils
adjacent to the Mi.ssouri river, have never been inflated and can be purchase<l from
fifty to one hundred twenty-five dollars au acre. Fpoii this Ii.-isis orcharding Is a
safe business venture, particularly so wheu we consider the inflated values of orchard
land in the irrigated sections, from which points the freii-'lit rate to Minneapolis ami
Chicago is as much per bushel box .-is it is for a tbroc-li\islicl barrel from St. .Joseiili u>
the same markets.

A large fruit dealer from .Minneapolis, who has just returned from the ra<ifii-
coast, and who is familiar with every detail of the .■ipple-marketing bu.siness told me
last September, that the orchardists of the Missouri valley, who es<'aped the expense of
irrigation and the exiiensive long haul, were the masters of the apple situation, and
that all that was uecessju-)- to the highest success was proper methods. I might add
that the highest compliment I have ever had, as au orchardist. was paid uje when this

RICHARnSOX COL'XTY, NEBRASKA. 269

man, iiitrocUioecl uie to two large orclianlists of the Yakima valley, Washiugtou, .as
one of the very few men in the southwest who knew how to raise and pack apples.
These two men, one of them an ex-superior court judge, were in Minneapolis to sell
their crop of Western box apples. I dou't know what success they had, but after a
thirty-miuute conference with the fruit merchant, I sold him thirteen cars of Nebraska
apples, and have in previous years in less time, sokl him as many as thirty cars, and
always at a satisfactory price. Our apples are sold year after year to the same parties,
on the same basis as your grain merchant sells No. 1, No. 2, or No. 3 wheat and corn,
and with no dispute over the grades and quality. liaising apples under these conditions
in the Missouri valley, where natural conditions are almost ideal, makes the business
a desirable one. 1 will now discuss the essentials necessary for the production of good
apples, as practiced in our own orchards.

SPRAYING.

We spray our orchards thoroughly. We siiray three, and sometimes four times
during the season. The first is the dormant spray, before any foliage has appeared,
with either Bordeaux mixture or lime and sulphur. We prefer the lime and sulphur.
We use Bordeaux spray after the foliage appears, as it produces a rusty appearance of
the apple, especially ou the Ben Davis variety. These sprays are used as a fungicide,
controlling all diseases of a foreign nature, such as scab, scale and kindred diseases.
For the dormant spray one gallon of lime and sulphur should be u.sed with twelve to
fourteen gallons of water. Where Bordeaux is used it should consist of four pounds
of copper sulphate, four pounds of lime and fifty gallons of water.

The next most important spraying is what is known as the blos.som spray, which
is a combination of lime and sulphur and arsenate of lead, the arsenate of lead being
the recognized insecticide for all leaf-eating insects, and the one great apple pest,
the codling moth. This sjiray is made by using lime and sulphur diluted, one to
thirty-five, into which is added three pounds of arsenate of lead to fifty gallons of
water. This spray should be applied with a pressure of from two hundred to two
hundred and fifty ix)uuds so that the poison spray will be forced into the calyx cup
of every blossom. The spray nozzles should be attached to the siiray rod with a
forty -five degree elbow, so that every blossom eau be reached from any angle.

The man handling the spray rod is the "man behind the gun." Carelessness and
indifference here may cost an orchardist hundreds of dollars. Every inside and top
blossom should be reached. To do this continuous driving with the sprayer is impossible.
The machine should be stopped at each tree so that thorough work can be done. If the
blossom spraying is not thorough and complete, the apples will be wormy, no matter
how many sprayings you give later. I will briefly explain the reason for this,

The codling moth is of a browni.sh color and about one-half inch in length. It
deposits its eggfe on the bark of the tree and on its foliage shortly after the ]ietals of
the blossom falls. These eggs are white specks about the size of a small pin head.
Tiny worms which hatch from these eggs gradually work their way to the small apples
and through the cal,vx cup mto the apple core. If the spraying has been thorough
this calyx cup is full of poison and the little worm dies from poison food without getting
into the apple.

In this latitude there are generally two broods of these worms, the second brood
appearing in from forty to sixty days after the first. This brood conies from the full-
grown worms surviving from the first. After about three weeks spent in the apple
these survivors come out. seek a biding place and here spin cocoons and change to

lyo

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

a chrysalis. From tbis comes again the codling moth, then the eggs, then the brood
of worms.

In the South, and sometimes here, this operation is repeated a third time, hence
more spraying is necessary in some sections and seasons than iu others. In this latitude
we have been able to control the moth with two poison sprays, one immediately following
the first at the time of the calyx spray. This catches the late bloom and also any of the
earlier bloom missed in the first application.

To spray successfully and economically, the orchardist should provide himself with
a first-class high-power spraying outfit. We use in our orchards seven iwwer machines,
one New Beau machine, with a magueto and six Cushmaus, manufactured in St. Joseph,
Missouri.

PRUNING.

Next in importance iu the care of an orchard is systematic and heavy pruning. Do
not do it all in oue year, but do part of it every year. Keep the tops cut bade, the
center cleaned out and the lower branches cut away, so that the air and sunshine will
be admitted. After doing this have your pruners take stepladders and go around the
tree, thinning the sides of the tree which are liable to become too bushy. This side
trimmiug is very important, a lesson which we have learned within the last few years.
In this connection, however, I would caution the orchardist against cutting away too
many side branches on the south and west. These parts of the tree get enough sun in
any event to properly color the fruit and too much pruning on the south and west
may subject the limbs and trunk of the tree to injury from the hot summer sun. We
keep all water sprouts out of the trees by sending a foreman with eight or ten boys
through the orchard, the last of June each year, and with gloved hands all sprouts
are rubbed off with no injury to the tree, and at small expense.

In pruning leave no stubs as these are a source of infection from disease and borers.
Stubs do not heal readily as the wound is too far from the sap circulation of the tree.
Many orchards have been ruined and are being ruined by the stubs left in pruning.
The limbs should be taken off close to the trunk or at the fork. Paint every wound
at once, that means within two or three days. If you allow the wood to dry and
check you have left an opening for disease, insects and the weather. We have always
used white lead and oil, colored with lamp black, to produce the tree-trunk color.
The last two seasons we used a pruning compound, an asiili.ilt paint, which h.id been
recommended to us, and found it very satisfactory.

We prune only in May and June, and iu any event ncit l;\tcr tli;ni the middle of
July. These are ideal mouths, both for healing and painting. In tlie winter tinii'
wounds cannot always be proni]itly i)ainteil .-ukI :ire siili.i(H-t to the killing ]irncess of
zero weather.

After a tree is put in shai)e and proiwrly triunned, a little work each year will
keep it in good condition. I would urge on every orchardist the necessity of making
pruning secondary only to spraying. AVe have learned that we caiuiot grow both wood
and good fruit on the same tree. We have .ilso learned that fancy ,i|iiiles do not grow
in dense foliage.

Crl.TIV-\TION- AND FERTILIZATION.

As spraying and pruning are the Siamese twins ut' orcharding. «i are culliv.ition
and fertilization likewise twins in the same family
are well colored, fair size and free from worms
but you will have larger apples, more of them an
year by adding proper cultivation and fertilization.

on can grow good

apples

))runing and spra;

ving pr.

inie nearer raising

a croi.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 27 1

We use tlie ordinary disk as soou as the ground is dry and free from frost and tlicii
harrow after every rain. This keeps a dust mulch in the orchard aud conserves all the
moisture. This cultivation should be kept up until the middle of July, even until the
first of August. If there is any sod in the orchard this should be plowed up, and then
the disk and harrow used.

Every bearing orchard should be systematically fertilized. We use the ordinary
barnyard manure every year, where available. When not, we use nitrate of soda and
get even better results. Tliis year we used a carload of nitrate of soda purchased of
Swift & Company, St. Joseph. Some day we expect to have a soil analysis made in all
our orchards aud then supply only those elements in which we are deficient. We have
secured excellent results, however, from the ordinary manure. A few years ago we
manured, heavily, ten acres in one orchard. Since then we have noticed the increased
yield and superior quality to the very tree row. This was the best investment we
ever made in the orchard business.

We contend that by conserving the moisture by cultivation, aud feeding the tree.-i
by fertilization we can raise apples every year, barring loss by frost. We have been
raising apples every year from the same trees for the last three years and if we can
continue this for the next three years, will be quite sure that this continued production
is from proper cultivation and fertilization.

By spraying and pruning, the tree is kept healthy and vigorous; by cultivation and
fertilization, there is enough moisture and strength of soil to set healthy and strong
fruit buds every year.

CURRY THE TREES.

Each spring the hanging bark on the trunk and limbs of the trees should lie removed.
This should be done just before the dormant spray. This clinging bark furuishes a
breeding place for insects, worms and disease. For its removal we use the ordinary
mud currycomb, the surface of which has no sharp points but consists of circular pieces
of corrugated tin. These can be purchased at any hardware store and are the best
things we have found for this work.

DOREBS AKl) C.VNKER.

The old uncared-for orchards in this country are dying as if by an eiiideniic. Some
day we will wake up and find that the only orchards which are left are the commercial
orchards, which have received proiJer ca.re and attention. The flat- and round-headed
borers are doing this deadly work. P^ach sununer we go through our orchards and cut
away all diseased parts, dig out the borers and cvit away the affected part back to
the live wood and bark, disinfect the wouuds with Bordeaux mixture and paint the wounds.

The round-headed borer works in the wood, the flat-headed borer works between the
wood and the bark and keeps killing back the bark. Poor pnining. esiiecially where stubs
.ire left, is responsible for much of the trouble from borers.

There is also considerable Illinois canker in the orchards of this territory, which
esiiecially affects the Ben Davis. The same treatment is recommended and by use of the
Bordeaux spray at the dormant stflte, and the use of lime and sulphur, combined with
arsenate of lead, as a summer .spray, it is claimed that the ravages of this new disease
can lie kept in check. We have thoroughly tried this treatment and in normal years had
fair success, but the last two dry seasons have .shown the weakness of such trees, aud
where a tree is much affected, we recommend its destruction.

The planting of an orchard should be with great care as to distance between the trees
and the selection of varieties. Apple trees should be planted forty feet apart and upon

2.-J2 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

good ricli ground. This will eiwble the trees to develop to good size aud give room for
work iu the orehanl. There is also sutHcieut room to grow crops between the rows during
the productive iieriod, aud thus raise the orchard at small expense.

As to the selections of varieties, 1 would plant one-sixth Winesap, one-sixth Jonathan,
one-sixth Delicious, one-sixth Grimes Golden, one-sixth Blaektwig and one-sixth Ben Davis.
In a small orchard it might be advisjible to increase the Jonathan and Winesjip. but in
a larger orchard I would limit these varieties, on account of their propensity to drop
before the proper packing season. The .separate varieties should be planted in separate
blocks on account of economy in picking and packing.

The figures I have given in this address as to the production and returns of our
orchards are based on the Ben Davis variety, nine-tenths of our trees being Ben Davis, and
we never regretted this proportion, notwithstanding the i)rojudice existing in some sections
against the Ben Davis apple. On account of the serious ravages of Illinois canker during
the last two dry seasons, however, we would not lie enthusiastic about planting too many
of this variety.

The Ben Davis is really .1 high-class commercial apple. The Ben Davis may be an
inferior apple in the East, but in the Jllssouri valley it grows to perfection, attains size
and color, has few superiors as a cooking apple, is a large and regular producer, and
packs, ships and stores better than any apple that we can raise.

The foregoing observations on orcharding are but the essentials of this important
industry. There are many other interesting phases of this business, but I will not discuss
them owing to lack of time. One thing, however, I would emphasize, and that is that
profitable fruit crops are not the gifts of Providence any more than the other crops we
grow.

In conclusion. I desire to say th.-it orcharding in the Jlissouri valley country is but in
its infancy, and that the time will come when the famous orchards tributary to the
.Missouri river will be famed the world over, and their fruit will not only add wealth
to the owners and this section, but will bring health and happiness to iieoples who are
not so fortunately situated as we are.

APPLE ORCHARDS.
From the FalU City Journal. December 12. 1912.

Who had the honor of planting the first fruit tree in Richardson county
has not been recorded in the annals of the pioneers. The presumption is
fair that some of the ox-teams that treked covered wagons into this section
in 1855, holding all the hopes and possessions of the incoming settlers, had
stowed awav some plants, herbs and small fruit trees from the home land.
\\'hile manv of the new homeseekers and makers were from distant states
and lands, tliere were many also from nearby Missouri, sections of wliich had
been settled from thirty to fifty years and already enjoyed some of the
home comforts that come with the possession of a fruitful orchard. How-
ever, after the start was made a few years only were required to find sdine
fruit trees growing near the dwelling house of the thrifty citizens. Of
course, there were those who had been born to the inheritance of a nomadic
and shiftless frontier sort of life, who failed to plant even the cottonwood

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 2-/}^

and box-elder aud seemed to prefer the bleakness of the wind-swept prairie
to the groves and orchards that soon sprang up around the buildings of the
settlers from Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New England. No
thought was given to commercial orchards at that early day. The plaritings
were of a few trees to a very few acres. This land was too remote from
markets to think of anything but trying to supply the needs of tlie planters.
The Germany colony that settled in the wooded hills along the IMissouri
river and founded the town of Arago, in 1858, were impressed with the
idea that where forest trees grew so luxuriantly that fruit trees would also
do well. They had occasion to remark the abundance of wild fruits such
as crab apples, plums, pawpaws, cherries, haws, mulberries, grapes, straw-
berries, gooseberries and many other kinds, and after the first year's expe-
rience in farming in 1859 or i860 sent to Buffalo, New York, from whence
they had come, for fruit trees. The treasurer and general agent of the
Arago colony at the time was Hon. Gust Duerfeldt, Sr., still residing at the
age of eighty-5ix on the farm he settled upon in Barada township in 1858.
It was through him that the trees were purchased from the eastern nurser}'
and he may be regarded as the first fruit-tree agent in the county. A
number of farmers planted small orchards from the trees so obtained, some
of the trees are yet alive and producing fruit, but most of the trees were
of varieties that did not respond to the change in climate and soil and have
long since been displaced for varieties that proved better adapted to the
new situation. While the settlers along the ^lissouri river bluft"s took early
to the planting of fruit trees, the people who were forced to take the open
prairie lands, because all the wooded hills had been gobbled up by the first
comers, were in doubt about trees doing well and because of this doubt
and the high price of the trees and the lack of money were much slower in
starting.

INFLUENCE OF DOWN-EAST FARMERS.

There was not much done towards planting small orchards on these
prairie lands until after the new settlers began to pour in from the country
east of the Mississippi river, about 1870. Then in a few years it was not
difficult to tell the homestead of a man who was born and reared on the
frontier from one of the down-east farmers, who surrounded his buildings
with fruit trees and groves and settled down to grow up with the ccnuitry
and develop its agricultural and horticultural possibilities, while the fron-
(18)

274 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

tier's man liad it in his blood to love cows, ponies, dogs, and herds, and nearly
always had a ramshackled, run down, shiftless, treeless sort of a surround-
ing to his habitation. Between the planting of an orchard and the eating
of fruit therefrom from five to ten years intervened and it was back to old
.Missouri in the neighborhood of St. Joseph that many an early settler went
with a load of corn to exchange for apples before his own began to produce.
This trading of corn and wheat and money for Missouri apples went on
from the settlement of the country to 1880, with this difference, that after
about 1875, the Missourians came with loaded wagons seeking a market
and Init few from this county crossed the Missouri river seeking fruit.
About 1880 the local orchards were able to supply the home trade, but
for some years longer wagon-loads of Missouri apples went through this
c(nmty seventy-five to one hundred and fifty miles west to the newer settle-
ment where fruit was scarce: but after a while the Missouri apples and
the apple wagons disappeared and the Nebraskan who wanted apples came
to Richardson county and, finding all and more than he could carry away,
returned home ladened, spreading the news of a new land of Egypt to
which all might come and be satisfied, with fruit. It was probably this
wagon traffic in apples that attracted the attention and induced some to
plant larger orchards, believing that for many years, and perhaps always,
there would be a market for this fruit in the semi-arid portions of this state.
The farm journals, nursery men, tree agents and agricultural lecturers, at
least since 1875. had persistently preached the planting of trees and orchards.
This free advice had some effect, for there were but few fanns on which
an orchard of some size was not planted, but it was not until about i8go.
or later that rirchards of much size were planted in this county. Then there
was an era of planting, but after several years it was apparent that there
was considerable labor and care necessary to start an orchard: that there
were hail storms, insects, rabbits, mice, weeds and droughts to fight and
guard against and loss of grain crops on the land set apart for orchards,
and the enthusiasm for this method of getting rich quick and without work,
lessened and has never been regained. Then as the orchards grew and
began to come into bearing there was an occasional frost or an unsea-
sonable vear when the fruit was poor, undeveloped, wormy and unsalable.
.-md in the vears when there was a good crop the markets were overstocked
and the pvke was so low that the (Orchard was a burden and many were
tempted to uproot them. :is a few did.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 275

CONSERVATION OF ORCHARDS.

With the muhiplication of bearing trees the insects and fungus enemies
increased and it appeared that the growing of apples was destined to be
an unprofitable business, but just then a new light dawned on the owners
of a few orchards. They had heard of spraying and they took the trouble
of going to see what other orchards had done both East and West, and
were convinced that spraying was necessary to produce salable fruit. The
late Henry C. Smith was one of the first to undertake spraying. Congress-
man Pollard had government experts sent here to demonstrate the benefits.
Slowly the idea soaked in so that now no one expects to raise first class
apples without spraying. Then along came a dry, hot year and notwith-
standing the spraying the fruit was inferior, lacking both size and quality,
then it occurred to Smith that the fruit grower in the arid region not only
sprayed his trees but also cultivated the soil and conserved the moisture.
He acted upon the theory that such a plan might also be of advantage here.
The first year's trial dispelled all doubt. From that demonstration, both
spraying and cultivation have come to be accepted dogma with up-to-date
orchardists. The Weaver and Smith orchards have ))een through very dry
seasons, in both 1911 and 1912, yet the fruit was full}' developed and un-
injured by the drought, whereas the uncultivated orchards in the same lo-
cality produced small, defective apples, although they were sprayed.

But there is still something more that is necessary for rm orchardist
to understand, if he is going to get any profit. He must have the business
capacity to sell his product for what it is worth, for, of what avail is it
to him to prune, spray, cultivate and grow a perfect apple and then sell
it to some scalper at the price of cider apples. Ex}>erience, organization
and a selling combination, among fruit growers in this locality, will take
care of that after a while. It has been said that Richardson countv alone
produced more car-loads of apples than some of the Northwestern states
whose fame is world wide as apple producers. In igii six hundred cars
were shipped out, while TQ12 has a record of one thousand cars. There
are several differences to l)e taken into account in considering the capacity
of Richardson county to produce apples, in comparison with a Northwestern
state that grows its apples under irrigation in favored spots on hill tops
adjacent to deep valleys that drain the frosty air into their recesses and allow
the hill tops to escape harm. The valley lands here are unsuitable as orchard
sites also, but the whole of Richardson countv is in the rain 1>elt and all is eood

2Jtj RICiiARDSOX COUXTY, XEBR.\SKA.

apple land except the rive^valley^. and so far as expansion of the business
is concerned it would be easier for Richardson county to produce tiity
thou?aiid cars of apples in a year than it would for Oregon. Idaho or Utah,
for the acreage in those states that is suited for apples is verv- restricted
because of lack of water and suitable land in juxtaposition.

After it is all said and dtme there is no better place to embark in
the apple business than right here, for the same amount of attention and
care devoted to orcharding will produce as g<X)d an apple as is grown any-
where in the \\'est: then this localir\- has the advantage of nearness to
large markets and less expensive maintenance charges in the way of water,
tax and fertilizer. It is quite as necessar}- to fertilize the soil in an orchard
here as an}-where. if good crops of fruit are to be expected yearly. The
experience of the most successful apple producers show that ^-igorous growth
in the tree can be maintained that way and this vigor is what tells in the
qualitv- and quantity- of the fruit.

The most persistent and difficult to eradicate of all the enemies of
the apple tree is the borer. Sprapng and prmiing help some in the control
of this pest anil danger, but a close examination of each tree is necessarv- to
locate the borer and he must be dug out and the wound treated scientifi-
cally or great injiuA- follows and death results, if the borer is allowed to
work out his life hisior\- in that tree and girdle it. Many imagine that orchards
are subject to other ailments, but the holding of such opinions is the result
of incomplete invesrigati«^. The borer is at the bottom of it when a tree
dies in this counrv- from other than accidental causes.

DR-MXAGE OF 0\"ERFLOW 1_\XDS.

Previous to the digging of the drainage ditches through the rich bot-
ttwn lands of the main stream of the Xemaha river and the nonh and south
forks of the Xemaha. the bottom lands, alth.-ugh the richest in the world,
were unproductive to a great extent: w^.rth ver>- linle for farming pur-
poses, and valued ver\- low in dollars and cents, and were subject to fre-
quent overflow. The old channel of the Xemaha and its two forks is ver\-
crooked and inadequate to carr>- the great volume of water which comes
dow-n the valley in time of hea\-A- rains in the spring and simimer season.
The farmer who trieil to sow a crop did so with the chances against liim.
the .>lds being in favor of the river overflowing and destro\-ing the crop

RICHARDSON COIXTV. NEBRASKA. _'77

before it was ready to harvest. It was to be expected that someone or
group of individuals would eventually undertake to redeem this vast acreage
of appearently worthless land and make it fit for crop production by re-
moving the flood menace through the digging of drainage ditches. The
movement began in 1903, when the first agitation for a drainage ditch was
commenced. Then it was discovered that Nebraska had no laws providing
for incorporating drainage districts, and also that permission had to be
obtained from the federal government in order to incorporate the Indian
lands along the lower stretches of the Xemaha within the district. These
difficulties were overcome, however, and drainage district Xo. i \vas suc-
cessfully undertaken and the ditch pushed to completion. Three drainage
districts Xos. I, 2. and 4. are now in successful operation in Richardson
county, and a second attempt is now being made to revive the defeated
project for drainage district Xo. 3. wliich is intended to drain the overflow
lands of the Muddy river.

HISTORY OF DRAINAGE DISTRICT NO. I.

Drainage district Xo. i Ijegins at the mouth of the Xemaha river,
where it empties into the Missouri, and drains the Xemaha valley as far
as Dawson. The river, before the completion of the drainage ditch, had
a total length of sixty-five miles from Dawson to its mouth. This distance
has been shortened to a length of thirty-one miles, and vast benefit to the
contiguous lands has been noticeable. Fifty-three miles of public highway
were affected and the benefit to the highways has l^een estimated by engi-
neers to exceed seventy-seven thousand dollars. Thirty thousand acres of
rich land are directly affected and drained by the completed ditch. The
fall of the stream as it flows through the new channel has an average of
three and one-half feet to the mile. The project was started at a time when
there were no drainage laws on the statutes of the state v)f Xeliraska. The
promoters of the undertaking, hi i\\ ever, succeded in ha\ing a wise law
enacted by the state Legislature and the work moved onward to a success-
ful conclusion.

The Legislature of Xebraska at the session of 1905, enacted a drain-
age law mi^re comprehensive than any then existing in the statute books
• if this .state. This drainage act. with subsequent amendments, is found in
Statutes of 1907. Compiled Statutes of Xebraska. Chapter eighty-nine, .\rticle
four. Sections one to thirtv->even.

2yti RICtlARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Under the provisions of this statute the owners of about sixteen thou-
sand acres of wet and overflowed lands signed articles of association and
organized themselves into a drainage district with outlines embracing twen-
ty-six thousand acres and presented a petition to the district court of Rich-
ardson county, asking to be declared a public corporation of Nebraska. After
ail the parties whose lands or interests were affected were brought into
court and after proper hearing on all contested matters, the court entered
a decree on the 14th of February, 1906, duly establishing and forming
the organization into drainage district No. i, of Richardson county, Ne-
braska, as prayed for by the petitioners, with boundaries as modified by
the court, and declaring the drainage district a public corporation of the state.

On the 17th day of March thereafter the landowners of the drainage
district assembled at the court house in Falls City, and elected as a board of
supervisors, Daniel Riley, R. E. Grinstead, J. H. Miles, C. F. Pribbeno and
J. P. Mooney, to carry out the provisions of the drainage law and the pur-
pose of the drainage organization. The board qualified and organized by
electing J. H. Miles, chairman, and J. P. Mooney, secretary, and employed
.\. M. Munn, a drainage engineer, to make the survey, maps, plats, esti-
mates, schedules and plans required by section 9 of the drainage act.

In December, 1906, the engineer filed his report with the board and
notice was given to all parties affected as required by section 13 of the act.
and on Fe1)ruary 2, 1907, and subsequently hearings were had upon the
oljjections and claims filed under sections 14 and 15, and upon the con-
clusion of the hearings and the equalization of the assessments on April
27, 1908, the lx)ard levied the same assessments against the land and other
propert}' in the district and certified the same to the county clerk as pro-
vided in section 18. The engineer reported that other lands than those
incorporated originally by the decree of the court would be benefited by
the drainage improvement and these, by a subsequent proceeding in the
district court instituted under the provisions of section 1 1 were added to
the district and notice was also given of the assessments upon these added
lands and a hearing was had thereon.

^^'ithin the limits of the district were found certain lands belonging
to members of the Iowa tribe of Indians and the Sac and^Fo.x tribe of
Indians. Tliese lands could not be taxed under existing laws. To permit
these Indian lands to be reclaimed, the Congress of the United States
enacted a law, ajjproved June 14. 1906, the title being- as follows: ".\n
act to enalile the Indians allotted lands in severaltv within the boundaries

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 279

of district No. i, in Richardson county, Nebraska, to protect their lands from
overflow, and for the segregation of such of said Indians from their tribal
relations as may be expedient and for other purposes." The lands have
all been allotted, and the funds segregated, but the secretary of the interior
has held back fifty-seven thousand dollars belonging to these Indians against
the Indian lands.

When drainage district No. i was established and declared a public
corporation by decree of court, February 14, 1906, the Chicago, Burlington
& Quincy railroad took an appeal to the supreme court from the order in-
cluding its roadbed in the district and making the railroad company an in-
voluntary member of the political organization known as drainage district
No. I. In the supreme court the railroad company assailed the constitu-
tionality of the act under which the district was organized. No such ques-
tion has been raised in the lower court, and when the railroad company
first disclosed its purpose in its brief filed in April. 1907, attacking the
drainage law on that ground, the board of supervisors thought it wise to
suspend active work until the supreme court passed upon the question pre-
sented. On December 7, 1907. the court filed an opinion holding the act con-
stitutional in respect to the points on which it was assailed, but the second
contention of the railroad company that it was not "A necessary party to
the proceeding in the district court to declare the drainage district a public
cor];)oration," was sustained.

Before the landowners organized this drainage district they appealed
to the powers at Washington for expert assistance to determine for them
whether the wet, submerged and overflowed lands of the Nemaha river
could be reclaimed and protected. The department of agriculture sent C.
G. Elliot, engineer in cliarge of drainage investigation, who looked the
situation over and reported that the work was feasible and the valley could
l)e reclaimed at reasonable cost. After the survey by A. M. Munn, the
engineers employed 1)y tlie drainage board, had been reported, the board
called to his assistance C. G. Elliot, expert drainage engineer, who approved
the ])lans and estimates of the engineer in charge of the work. The esti-
mates were lilieral. and the report set out that the works and improvements
formulated and agreetl upmi could l)e constructed safely within the esti-
mates, the total estimated cost being $285,900. The number of acres in
tlie district are as follows : .Sac and Fox Indians, 2,392.72 : Iowa Indians,
378.67; other lands, 26,630.90; total, 29,402.29.

The maximum assessment provided for was nine dollars and seventeen

280 RICTIARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

cents an acre. These lands were assessed for state and count)- purposes
at a valuation of twenty-five to fifty dollars per acre, while the adjoining
uplands were assessed at from fifty to one hundred dollars per acre. In
addition to assessments against the lands the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy
railroad was assessed $16,014; the Missouri Pacific railroad, $3,500; the
county, on its public roads, $18,600, a total of $38,114.

On June 15, 1908, the board of supervisors authorized the issuance
of negotiable bonds to the amount of $260,000 to defray the immediate
cost of the undertaking, the bonds to bear date of June 30, 1908, and to
mature in different years; the first bond being redeemable or reaching ma-
turity on July I, 1913, and the last portion of the issue reaching maturity
on July I, 1927. The bonds were issued by the board of supervisors, who
were as fcillow: Daniel Riley, chairman; J. P. Mooney, secretary; R. E.
Grinstead, J. H. Allies, \\ F. Pribbeno. A. R. Keim, attorney, and A. ]\I.
Munn, engineer.

The drainage ditch was completed in 1913. just five years after the
actual work of dredging was begun. Bonds to the amount of $202,000,
bearing interest at six per cent, were issued. The grand total cost of the
ditch to date has been $297,564.

Thomas Wilkinson, of Dawson, is the present chairman of district
Xo. I, and C. F. Bucholz is secretary. Since the completion of the ditch
many landowners have supplemented the work by ditching and tiling their
own lands as individuals and are reaping considerable benefits from the ven-
ture in the way of increased crop yields. Over one thousand acres of
land in the bottoms are now tile drained and other owners are making
preparations to lay tile for the purpose of more rapidly draining the snil
in time of heav)- rains.

The drainage on the main channel of the Xemaha river has not lieen
a complete success, because of the fact that too much of tlie old channel
of the stream was used. In the further dredging of the south fork of the
Xemaha the district is getting away from this method and is dredging an
entirely new channel, it being noticeable that in places where the old channel
was abandoned entirely it very rapidly filled up and the new stream was worn
deeper I)y erosion, thus making a more rapid current to carry awav the
>uiplus flood waters.

J. H. Miles, owner nf tlie great Aliles ranch in the vicinitv (^f Dawxm.
dredged a continuation of the ditch incori^oralcd in district Xo. r, on liis

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 281

own account through his land on the upper end or terminus of district
No. I. Mr. Miles completed three miles of ditch, which is of vast benefit
to his bottom ranch lands.

DRAIN.4GE DISTRICT NO. 4.

Drainage district No. 4 begins at the terminus of the Miles ditch and
continues to the county hne for a distance of six and one-half miles. This
ditch drains a total of three thousand four hundred acres and the flowing
water has a fall of four feet to the mile and is now in charge of County
Engineer J. F. Relf. The estimated cost of this ditch is fifty-nine thou-
sand dollars. The work in this district is well under way and is being dredged
along plans formulated from knowledge gleaned from the dredging of the
ditch in district No. i. John E. Wissler is chairman of the Iward of super-
visors in this district.

DRAINAGE DISTRICT NO. 2.

Drainage district Xo. 2 extends from Dawson to the county line north-
west of Humboldt and embraces a total of five thousand eight hundred
acres.

COUNTY FAIR AND AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITS.

The Richardson county fair ceased to be an institution in the year
1894. During the long career of the fair and agricultural exhibit it was
easily the most popular institution in this section of Nebraska. The first
fair was organized in 1867 and the fair grounds were laid out at Salem
in one of the most picturesque and beautifully wooded spots in the ^^'est,
along the banks of the Nemaha river. Nature has so endowed this spot,
located just to the east of the town of Salem, that it was a natural recreation
ground shaded with great, natural forest trees and well watered and carpeted
with velvety blue-grass. A splendid race-track, one-half mile in circum-
ference, was laid out, and for years the race meets were exciting and inter-
esting e^•ents in connection with the fair. An impetus was given to the
breeding of racing animals and fine live stock, and many of the old-time
horsemen lired horses which became famous the country o\er for speed
and endurance on the track. The late John ^^^ Holt was one of the prime
movers in the establishment of the county fair; Ralph Andersun served as

282 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

president of the Fair Association for a number of years; many of those
who were prominently identified with the association have gone to their
rewards in the hfe eternal and owing to the lack of recorded data available
concerning the history of the county fair it is impossible to give any very
authentic account of the various fairs which were held for nearly thirty
3ears on the Salem grounds.

The county fair was an institution to which people looked forward
during the year, when, with the crops laid aside and care thrown to the
winds, entire families would gather at Salem for the one great event of
the whole year. Everybody deemed it necessary to attend the fair and there
were hundreds of exhibitors at each annual session. The Salem fair was
— the annual reunion and home-coming meet for the greater part of south-
eastern Nebraska during the heyday of its prosperity. With the coming of
the nineties and the advent of the chautauquas in the' land the popularity of
the county fair gradually waned and the yearly chautauqua has taken its
place. The county fair ceased to exist after 1894 and the chautauqua
then came into its own. The first chautauqua in the county was held at
the Salem fair grounds and soon became an even more popular institution
than the annual fair. Before the popularity of the automobile had reached
such a great height, as high as ten thousand people attended the Salem
chautauqua and a large part of this number lived in tents throughout the
session. Such famous men as Gen. Fitzinigh Lee, General Gordon, Gov.
Bob Taylor, of Tennessee, T. Dewitt Talmage, and Sam Jones, the great
evangelist, were among the attractions during the early years of the chau-
tauqua. Of late years several chautauquas are held in the county each season,
practically every town in Richardson county having its list of attractions
during the late summer season, and it is evident that tlie chautauqua has come
to stay as an established institution. Attempts to resuscitate the county fair
at different times oi late years have not been successful.

AGRICUI.TURAI. DEVELOPMENT OF RICHARDSON COUNTY.
By J. O. Shroyer.

A thousand years ago the Indian recognized these beautiful valleys, the
gently undulating uplands and the sunny hillsides as the land of homes.
The mighty Missouri, the winding Nemahas and the wandering creeks pro-
\-ided wood, shelter and water.

The first wanderers who crossed the desert, paused here on the edge

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. ■ 283

of the great unknown and recuperated their forces before plunging into the
terrors of an unpathed wilderness. The flowing waters, sheltering timber
belts and the luxuriant pasturage recuperated their stock and put energy
into the human heart. When the first real homemaker rafted across the
river and ascended the bluffs of the western shore, he turned his eyes
back toward the Eastern home. He remembered those groves, orchards,
productive fields; he thought of the well-filled granaries, those splendid
gardens and all the comforts of that far-off land. But as he turned his face
to the West the rising sun of that splendid morning dashed a golden glow
over the landscape, the fogs lifted from the valleys of the Nemahas and
drifted off into the azure of a perfect day; the emeralds of the hills and
plains caught a little of the gilt of the sunlight, the darker sombers of
the timber belts lay enticingly winding away, the prairies were dotted by the
golden flowers of the gumweed, the crimson of the phlox, the tawn of
the lily, the purity of the plum and the chokecherry. The wild cucumber
was just clambering over tlie tops of the underbrush along the streams,
and the clematis clung more sturdily to the chosen tree, while the wild
grape flung its flaunting tendrils graspingly towards the swaying bough, put-
ting forth the bloom that should later be followed by the purple fruits of
autumn.

There he saw the deer, antelope, and buffalo; he saw the plover, wild
duck, the honking goose and the everpresent grouse. And as the rising
sunlight began to simmer the ether of the plains, his vision blurred, and in
the optimism of the hour a new and a greater land lay smilingly before him.
He saw the homesteads spring up over the land, he saw the fields of waving
corn, the herds of cattle: he saw the wild fowl translated into flocks of
poultry and, vision of visions, he saw a thousand spires of smoke arising
from tlie firesides of a thousand homes.

Then the development went on, and he beheld the church spires as
they pointed upward, he saw the children playing about the school maid,
as she cared for them and moulded them into characters of worth. He
saw more than corn and wheat, cattle, hogs and fruits; he saw a great com-
monwealth producing sturdv men and women, to go forth building a greater
and a better nation than the world had ever known.

Who was the first man to grasp the plow and urge his strong oxen
across the wild sod and watch the ribbon of chocolate loam that strung out
its productive length as he trailed across a chosen plot of ground? Xo

284 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

man knows; his name is not recorded, bnt the inspiration and example of
his act, the success of his achievement, taught a thousand imitators, and
unawares a great agricultural industry sprang up.

FIRST RURAL HOME BUILDING IN RICHARDSON COUNTY.

Forty years ago we visited one of the real pioneer homes of Nebraska,
it was on the north bank of Porter run, and the owner was a pioneer of
the true type.

He iiad dug out a cavern and walled it with stones from the creek,
a joint of pipe projected through the roof at the north end, a door opened
to the sunny end on the south. In one room they had lived and reared a
family of boys and girls. Far and near it was l^nown as the dug-out of
Tommy Hodkins. The nearby timber provided his fuel, the spring on the
creek the water, the luxuriant grass the food for his oxen, the wild meat
.of the plains his food, supplemented by a little flour or meal transported
in the earlier days from Nebraska City. Few of the children from those
very earliest homes ever stayed to enjoy the fruits of their fathers" exer-
tion and ambition. They inherited the wild instinct of the pioneer ; they
loved the open lands, and the encroachments of the second brigade of settlers
drove them on into the lands of the setting sun. But this type of home
was the first and it was a comfortable retreat from the blasts of winter.

The breaking plow was the first requirement in the way of farm ma-
chinery; it was a long-beamed, low-built affair and had a long curving
mouldlxiard that gently turned the sod and left it in an unbroken ribbon.
It had a standing cutter and a depth-gauging wheel at the end of the
beam. Then came the "grasshopper" plow. It had long rods curved in
mouldboard fashion that turned the sod, and the share was a flat steel
blade that sat ]ierfect1y flat in the furrow and cut a root or stem in parallel
stroke.

T have followed both these plows down the long furrow and ha\e
often sorrowed as they turned a plover nest, with its speckled eggs, (ir
caught a full dozen prairie chicken eggs and whirled them under the sod.
Sometimes it was different when a two-foot rattlesnake came buzzing ui>
with the sod and the driver jumped swiftly over the handles and onto the
lieam to avuid the poison fangs. The little six-inch lizard often left his
tail wriggling in the gra.'ss and hurried off to shelter. The swift, darting
liluerncer glittered in the sun as he sped more swiftK" than an\- reptile and

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 285

disappeared in a nearby clump of redroots or weeds. The redroot was a
familiar weed in those days, and I often heard the judgment of a piece
of ground placed on the number of redroots that infested it. But as a bo)-
I considered them only a plow-duller that forced me oftener to pound out the
clay. They were helped in this by the shoestring, a lowly plant that sent
long, stringy roots through the soil and the sound of their cutting was
disquieting to the driver and discouraging to the team.

The plover were so plentiful that I have often knocked them over
with a handy redroot or the whip I carried to urge the team. The chicken
of the prairies crowed and strutted within a rod of me as I hitched and
began tlie morning work. The quail was more plentiful than today and
many deplore the passing of those splendid fowl of the prairies. I ha\'e
I if ten noted the great green-headed mallards as they sank into some nearby
pool and at noon, while the team rested, it was common sport for the
jiicineer to crawl up to the slough-grass border and with his old shotgun,
drop a couple of the fine birds.

The pioneer had no modern disc and no harrow of sufficient cutting
])ower to pulverize those sods, hence he was compelled to let them rot through
tlie long summer, stopping his plowing on that account about the first of
July or at least by the middle of that month. Then in September, or pre-
ferably .\ugust, he l)ackset the sod, cutting a little deeper and throwing
u|) an inch or so of fine soil on top of the sod. Then with a wooden
liarrow with perfect))- round teeth, he harrowed the field and sowed his
wlieat. broadcasting in the earlier vears and sowing with a hoe-drill later
(in. I can remem1)er the stir the first press-drill made some thirty years
ago.

The big-bcader was the instrument of harxesting. We had three long
lieader-boxes on wagons. These boxes were sitled with house siding, and
luu! tlie oft^ side some two or three feet the higher; and woe be to the driver
who piled tlie wheat too high on the high side, as the whole wagon would
upset w itli ease. This heading-machine was propelled by si.x or eight horses
that walked side by side heliind the machine and pushed it through the
fields, a long sickle cutting the grain that fell on the carrier and was elevated
to the wagon. Tlie Marsh harvester came about 1881. the wire binder a
little later, but it was not :\ success, ai^^^iut few were used ; the Marsh
harvester lasted but a few }ears and was driven from the field in short
order b\- the twine-binder.

286 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

FAVORED SITES OF EARLY HOMES.

Along the ^Missouri bluffs there were nooks and corners among the
hills that afforded sites for some of the tirst pioneer homes. The timber
provided the logs and the old log house of the Eastern states was common
as well as dug-outs in the hills. The hunting was good and helped won-
derfully in the agricultural development, as the sale of furs often was
the largest money income the pioneer had. In those sheltered nooks he
could raise corn and vegetables, and the tobacco patch was no uncommon
sight. The plums, grapes, choke-cherries, gooseberries and wild raspberries
afforded a fair fruitage. The fish was plentiful, but the real agriculture
never started in that locality. Among the native fruits we must not. forget
the pawpaw that appealed to the emigrant from Indiana as no other. There
are still groves of this tree along the bluffs and I have many times dined
on the pawpaw.

Perhaps we should not forget the old water-mills that helped forward
the agricultural progress of this country. They sprang up along the Xemahas
and afforded the pioneer a chance to secure flour and meal at home; here
he could go with his grist some three or four tim.es a year and get his grain
ground. I have often driven to Luthy's mill west of Humlx)ldt. on the
Nemaha, and stayed until my turn came to get a grist ground.

The tree-fringed streams were enticing to the first settlers and alnno
their banks we saw the first homes established. It was not the best land,
but the wood, shade, prdtection and home comfort of these natural groxes
appealed to the settler. And many of the great farms of Richardson count}
still ha\e the home upon the site of one of those pioneer-day spots. \\'hen
the owner found that his land was not so convenient and valuable to
farm, he did not sell the old home, but bought some of the uplands of the
open prairies and adding this to the old homestead, went on with grain
farming on the open land and caring for the stock on the old timbereil
homestead. The Corwin Fergus home, the old Barney Mullen estate and
many other such farms still attest to the wisdom of this plan and are monu-
mental examples of mixed farming that brought comfort and plenty.

The early settler found a Wuti f ul land. Larkspur gleamed in white
and blue: the red phlox of the prairies and the blue phlox of the timber
dazzled the eye : the yellow gold of the gumweed bent beneath the beam
of the old breaking ])l()w and the aster and lily swayed in the winds of
the prairies. .\nd as we led our cows out to the lariat ropes atid tied the

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 287

halter in the swivel, we crunched through thousands of violets. Many a
wind-swept, sun-baked prairie home was sheltered by a wild cucumber or
grape vine.

The first pastures were fenced in the seventies, with barb wire, and
soon afterward farming meant stock raising as well as grain growing. We
planted hedges on our own farm, bringing the seed from the old Illinois
home. The early settler had no money to buy fencing, but could grow the
osage and it was a great advantage to the country ; it shut oft the hot south-
ern winds, tempered the northern blasts of winter and set the landscape
of the prairies in frames of living green. We may deplore the osage hedge,
but it had a wonderful part in the civilization of Richardson county.

Stock growing in those early days was discouraging, but many a settler
soon saw his herd of cattle grow and become valuable. Today we sell our
hogs at fifteen cents a pound. I remember when we bought three splendid
Poland sows for three cents a pound.

I went into a modern farm home the other day. Tlie electric light
plant flashed out and ever}^ room was agleam ; the steam-heating plant in
the cellar gives it an atmosphere of summer all winter long; a splendid
water system sends a stream of liquid all over the Iiouse, and toilets, lava-
tories and every convenience lighten the burden of the housewife and make
the farm home as modern as that in the city. In our early pioneer home we
lived with only a ship-lap siding; the winds swept in the snows of winter.
and I distinctly remember sitting by the stove all day long clad in the heaviest
overcoat I could get hold of. Our barns were forks set in the ground, poles
and brush laid on and all banked with straws and covered with slough grass.
Toda\- our horses stand in barns that are comfortable and commodious.

PIONEER USED CORN FOR FUEL.

Corn was so cheap and coal so high in those early days that the farmer
burned corn, and we have carried in many a bushel of corn and thrust the
big ears into the blaze and saw the kernels crisp, darken, and glow in the
lieat. F.xtravagant? No, it was economy, for the coal was dearer than
the corn.

We raised tliat corn with walking cultivators and it w'as about 1886
betore we bought the first riding cultivators. In those early days we had
one wav of getting a little back from the railroads. Some adventurous
farmer would hie awav in the dead of night and the next morning a couple

288 RICHARDSON COUNTY, N?:BRASKA.

of teams would sweep across a big field of corn stalks and the heavy iron
rail would do the breaking most effectively and quickly. It was strange
how hard it was to discover who got that iron from the railroad premises.
Everyone used it, but no one ever saw it brought into the neighborhood.
It had no owner, but many users. All summer long it lay in the shelter of
a weed patch and only in the dry frosty days of early spring did it come
forth.

Alfalfa came into our agriculture some thirty years ago and it has
largely assisted in the progress and development of the same, but clover
was the first and perhaps the greatest factor in maintaining the fertility
of the virgin soil. It is the great agent of rotation; it is the cheapest fertil-
izer, it is the greatest combined grazing and hay plant.

Many a farm is today growing more grain, hay and stock than it could
have produced in the pioneer days of its virginity. When I read or hear
speakers tell of the wasteful depletion of the soil under the hands of the
.\merican farmer, I am sure that such a condemnation is not upon the
farmers of Richardson county. Great train loads of meat animals, great
warehouses filled with wheat, corn and oats, hundreds of cellars filled with
fruits and vegetables and groaning tables loaded with the best living that
any section of the world knows of, all attest to the tremendous production
of the land today. Richardson county can, and does today, grow more
tons of hay, more bushels of grain, more pounds of meat and more fruits,
vegetables and poultry than at any period in its history. The stability of our
agricultural development and future attainments are increased every decade.

SOCIAL CONDITIONS OF RICHARD.SON COUNTY.

The first wells upon the farms of Richardson countv were bored or
dug and a long tin or galvanized iron pail was wound up at the end of a
rope and the water poured into a half-barrel tub. Today the wind-mills
assisted by the panting gasoline engines throw the pure steams through
piping systems, to every lot, pasture, shed and barn about the premises;
automatically the supply is regulated, it flows into the house and the water
system is as complete as that of a city. Great standpipes hold barrels of
water stored for stock and man. Deep cisterns and convenient tanks com-
plete the arrangements.

The pioneer called every man his neighbor. There was a freedom.
a charitable assumption, an equality and hungering desire for companion-
ship that broke down evcrv barrier of caste and clan.

^ RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 289

The groveless prairies permitted the eye to wander for miles across
the plains and some morning when we saw the white gleam of new lumber
as a shack arose, perhaps many miles away, we knew another friend had
come to our country. Many an evening as I have stood upon some rising
knoll and seen the lights of the little homes flash out across the prairies,
I would count the friends who clustered about those lamps. We met in the
little white school houses and spelling bees "liter-aries," revivals, funerals
and weddings were all well attended.

Our ways of traveling were primitive. If it was not too far we went
afoot, otherwise we used the best we had. Sometimes it was a saddle on
one of the old farm horses, sometimes it was a spring wagon, sometimes
it was the old farm wagon. Then along in the eighties it became common for
the top buggy to appear on the farm roads. About this time we saw the
orchards and groves spring up until they hid the gleam of the evening
lamps; the social life of the old communities became a little more limited,
our neighborhoods a little more narrow. We beheld a little of the unknown
caste begin to grow into the social Hfe.

The grading of the schools threw the interest of the older boys and
girls from the old school house; it no longer was a recognized center of
sociability, it became too circumscribed for the religious life and as few
of them were ever remodeled or rebuilt to keep pace with the community
and farm growth, the agricultural society has been diverted largely to the
villages, towns and cities. Even the country churches felt that progress
had left them sitting by the wayside in many instances. The fact that
fifty per cent, of the faims became the homes of renters also had its effect
on tlie social life; it lost some of the stability that originally characterized
it. But tlie automobile is again enlarging the social life of our county,
permitting the establishment of larger business, educational atid social activi-
ties. The coming together of the rural people is now bringing about a
new era. Cars drive miles to the school, the picnic or the business meetings
of the rural people.

The Farmers Union has come into being and organized agriculture
is now upon us. Numerous local organizations, each composed of from
fifteen to one hundred members, are united in one county organization.
These locals also unite in district organizations that own elevators, stores
smd exchanges: the farmer is demonstrating that he is a business man as
well as a tiller of tlie soil. Tliev ]m\e again enlarged the neiglihorhood
do)

2f)0 RTCIIARnSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

bounds and today these bounds are even wider than in the pioneer days.
The county organization is connected with the state union and through it
to a national organization, in^ twenty-seven states.

By this rural organization, the i,iri:(.,- ■•. !i(hards(in cuuniy have
united into one community, one thousand homes; five thousand farm people
that are working in a solid body for the uplift of the agricultural develop-
ment of the community. This movement being just in its infancy, no hand
may write the tremendous import of the awakening of the farmers of this
rich agricultural land to the possibilities that lie before them. It is causing
them to think and think hard and fast. We can easily predict that almost
every farm home will be reached ; the farmers will solve the social life, the
economic distribution of their products and the soil maintenance far more
efifectively than it has ever been done by entrusting it to outside interests.
Fully conversant with his working power, the strength of his will and the
possibilities of organized effort, the future of this county is contemplated
serenely by the farmer.

If working almost alone, we have reached the climax of the first half
century ; that we see today, as the palatial homes beside our highways attest,
the commodious barns testify and the well tilled fields beside the road dem-
onstrate, how mighty will be the achievements of the united farmers of
the next half century. The tractor turns the stubble with a rapidity and
ease never known; the cars carry the farmer swiftly and comfortable on
his way to pleasure and business; his organization will enable him to secure
just legislation and effectively to study and practice economical distribution
and marketing of his products, build and equip tjie best rural schools in
the world, educate and entertain his children on the farm, extend the social
vision of his neighborhood life and build an agricultural environment sur-
passing the wildest visions of the most optimistic dreamer.

.\ TRIBUTE TO THE I'lONEER MOTHERS.

She buikled the greatest achievement of them all — mother, the archi-
tect of "home, sweet home." With a courage born of the love and hope
of a parent she stepped across the gangplank of the ferry and turning
reverentlv she gave -one last, longing look toward the Eastern horizon, where
far away in the dimming distance lay the home of her youth. Tender and
strong were the chords that bound her to the past.

Perhaps a tear fell into the surging waters as she placed her foot upon

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 2gi

tlie Western sands. But no tear, no tide, no wave of rushing tiood can
e\er wash out the imprint of the footsteps of mother.

Hope, love, ambition for the children and the instinct that bade her
rise above selfishness, were stronger than any chain that ever clanked from
the forge. Upon this hope and love she saw the rising vision of a million
homes.

The past was but a memory, the future a stern Ijut beautiful realit}- ;
the heart of our nation bows reverently upon her hearth-stone. Xot with the
martyrdom of an hour did she lay her life upon the altar of home, but
with an everlasting self-abnegation she faced the blizzards of a score of
years and the droughts of their summers. Self -ambitions and the anticijia-
tion of her youth she gently, but firmly, laid away and drew the curtain
of hope and love before them. Let them lie in the secret place of her heart.
Her God alone knows the sacrifices she made that day. and when the hands
of the recording angel shall write the last record of her life, they will be
emblazoned upon the unsullied page and we shall behold a tremenddus
sacrifice.

She brought the flowers and fruits of that Eastern home and planted
them upon the sun-baked, wind-swept jirairies: she watered and cared for
them, shaded them from the sweltering sun and protected them from the
lilasts of the blizzards until she saw the .splendid groves, the flower-adorned
lawns and the fruitful gardens throwing their shade and colors across the
plain. The footsteps and achieved ambitions of the pioneer mothers ha\e
marked an impress upon our empire that time and eternitv cannot eflt'ace.
Tt shall ever grow grandly and sublimel\- in our appreciation.

The mothers of Nebraska need no towering monuments to remind us
that they lived and loved ; no tablets of bronze or stone, as every fireside
w ithin our domain stands as a tribute to her memory. As the vine entwined
and embowered the home that .she built, her love entwines our lives.

Ungrateful the heart that forgets the pioneer mothers of Nebraska, the
architect^' of "home, sweet home."

CHAPTER XII.
Early Transportation, Navigation and Railroads.

Richardson county, lying- in the southeast corner of Nebraska and first
from the south of the river counties of the state was at once effected by the
vohnne of travel coming up the river from the South and East.

At the time men first began to look "toward Richardson county with
an e}e to making settlement here, no railroad was within hundreds of miles
of it and tlie only means of reaching this country was either by making
the journey hither overland through a wilderness as j^et without well-defined
wagon trails, or up the river by boat. This latter method most appealed to
the early adventurer and many no doubt had journeyed up the river long
before any thought of settlement in this part of the West was entertained.
Bordering on the river was of immense advantage to the early peoples and
caused the river counties to be first choice of the pioneers.

In those days the railroad was by no means a new thing in the older
and more thickly settled parts of the East, but necessity hatl not caused
its extension to any great degree in this direction.

In these days when capital is more easily available, the railroad verv
often goes into the fastnesses of the newer countries in advance of immi-
gration and is the first cause of its settlement ; but in the davs of wliich we
s])eak, the people were pushing out in advance of transportation facilities and
were dependent on the hope that at some future time there might be a rail-
road— but to many, as we of later days know, the railroad was onlv a dream,
which held many of them here.

Being forced to use the river, which was then as now, full of snags
and sand bars and subject to overflow and with the low water stages,
the early navigator was not without his troubles: but under such dire neces-
sity the obstacles were overcome and navigation had reached a high state
of development. In those days the steamboats, both for the carrying of all
kind of freight and passengers, were numerous and while slow and tedious
served remarkably well until at last the coming of tlie railroad made that
mode of tra\el obselete.

The tremendous subsidies in the way of vast land grants by the gov-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

^93

ernment, given as aid to railroad building and intended to stimulate this
■line of industry, coupled with the big profits in the projection and operation
of new lines, had its effect in turning attention to this speedier mode of
transportation to the great detriment of our inland waterways. While
they have in the past and do still receive government aid, the same has
been used for most part in restraining the encroachment of the river and
not with any idea of preserving it as a navigable stream.

In Richardson county, Rulo, Yankton, Arago, and St. Stephens were
river towns and ports of entrance for many of the pioneers who either
remained here or made their way on west into the interior or to tlie moun-
tains. Yankton and St. Stephens were the first points touched by river boats,
which discharged cargoes and the latter had the honor of being the first
point in the county which had a ferry comiecting with the Missouri shore,
and the same was in charge of the elder Stephen Story, who gave the name
to the latter village. Rulo came next, but Arago soon outdistanced all in
position as a port of importance and continued to hold its supremacy until
the coming of the railroad. These cities enjoyed trade from long distances
inland, serving the country for hundreds of miles to the West. Arago, with
its packing house, distillery, saw- and flour-mills bid fair to become quite a
metropolis and was for a time a place of first importance in the county as
neither of the other places in that early day had the same energetic boosters.

At the time of the very early settlement of the county, the only regular
means of communication for mail, passengers and freight with the outside
world, was by steamboat; although later, because of the railroad reaching
Atchison, Kansas, in advance of any rail connection from other directions,
the mail was sent first to Atchison by rail and thence north either by boat
or carriers on regularly established postroads which came via Hiawatha,
Kansas, or Rulo. In tlie matter of river tran.sportation' for all purposes, it
must be remembered that amongst its other disadvantages to the early pioneer
in the way of a dependable convenience, was the fact that during the winter
months it was practically suspended because of the ice in the river for long
periods, when the boats were obliged to tie up until the ice would go out
in the spring.

The better river boats had a capacity for carrying as many as four
hundred passengers and the fare from St. Louis, Missouri, to Rulo or St.
Stephens would range about fifteen or twenty dollars, which, of course,
included meals and state rooms. The culinary department of those boats
was generally in good hands anrl the larder well supplied with the best that
money could Iniv.

294 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

The lengtli of time usually re(|uire(l iu luakin^;- the up trip from St.
Louis to this county was about seven or eight days, equal, if not longer
in length of time, than would be required for modern liners in crossing
the Atlantic in times of peace. Those having had the pleasure of such
journeys in the old days generallv described them as having been quite dull
and e\entless. Such an experience was very aptly described by the noted
Mark Twain in his "Rou,ghing It." when he said:

"W'e were six days in going from St. Louis to St. Joseph. Missouri.
a trip that was so dull and sleepy and eventless, that it has left no more
impression on my memory than if its duration had been six minutes instead
of that many days. No record is left on my mind now concerning it, but
a confused jumble of savage-looking snags, which we deliberately walked
over with one wheel or the other, and of reefs, which we butted and butted
and then retired from, and climbed over in some other places, and of sand
bars, which we roosted on occasionally and rested, and then got our crutches
and sparred over. In fact, the boat might have gone to St. Joseph by
land, for she was walking most of the time, anyhow, climbing over reefs
and clambering over snags, patiently and laboriously, all day long. The
captain said it was a bully boat and all she wanted was more 'shear' and
a bigger wheel. I thought she wanted a pair of stilts, but I had the sa,gacit\
not to say so."

In addition to passengers those boats carried from five hundred to
six hundred tons of freight and the rates were as high as two dollars and
fifty cents per hundred weight on merchandise that would not cost to exceed
fifteen cents per hundred weight in these days. The crews consisted of
from eighty to one hundred men and the value of these boats were estimated
to be nearly fifty thousand dollars each. The river then as at the present
time, was filled with sand bars and it required all the skill of the most
experienced river men to negotiate it in safety to his destination with the boat.

Government regulations concerning river traffic required two experienced
ri\ er pilots on board of each lioat employed as c<5mmon carriers, and they
readily commanded salaries of from two hundred and fifty to five hundred
dollars per month. With the passing of river traffic on the Missouri many
of these well-known river men, such as captains and pilots, were left with-
out opportunitv for further service while many, as in other lines of business,
kft for other fields, where they might continue iu the same line of employ-
ment. Thus it was our pleasure during the month of August iu the year
1916 to meet on the steamer "deorgiana," on the Columbia ri\er. while
making a trip from I'ortland to Astoria, Oregon, and return, one who in

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 295

the old days had been regularly employed on the Missouri boats and it is to
him we are in some measure indebted for first-hand information in regard
to river traffic.

Gambling on the ri\er boats in those days was b)- no means restricted
and furnished means for amusement, which at times provided all the thrills
which might be lacking from other sources, and all early accounts seem to
agree that while tlie "plunger" was as common then as now. the stakes were
as high or higher.

There were lines of boats which might be termed "through" boats
destined to and from certain ports, scheduled for regular and direct service
to and from those places onl}-. while others had longer routes. The boats were
run much as trains nowadays, in that there were "through" boats, and the
local or "slow" boat, which might stop to pick up or discharge freight or
passengers at every stop en route.

FIRST EFFORT IN BEHALF OF A RAILRO.VD.

First in importance of all the drawijacks of this new country as it
was found by the pioneers, was the lack of adequate transportation facili-
ties and the question of finding a remedy was one that occupied the minds
of the people from the beginning. The first official action to be found looking
toward the solution of this then weighty problem may be found in the
territorial statutes, where is recorded the passage of an act by the Terri-
torial Legislature, which was approved on November 4, 1858. This act
was for the purpose of incorporating what was to be known as "The
Missouri River & Nemaha Valley Railroad Company." Section i of this act
named the following well-known pioneer business men and farmers as the
incorporators and moving spirits in the enterprise ; Francis .L. (joldsi^erry.
Archer; Charles Martin, Rulo; Eli Bedard. Rulo; D. T. Easley. Rulo; B.
F. Cunningham, Rulo; S. B. Miles: Joseph G. Ramsey; William Kenceleur,
Rulo; A. C. Lierft. A. L. Currance, Joseph Yount, William P. Loan,. St.
Stephens; William Goolsby, Archer; Jesse Crook, Archer; Samuel Keiffer, J.
Cass Lincoln, Salem ; T. R. Hare, Salem ; Arnett Roberts, Salem ; J. Lebo,
John A. Rurbank, Falls City; Thomas J. Whitney, Christian Bobst. Cincin-
nati; John Frice. F. F. Limming. H. N. Gere, J. P. Sutton. J. C. Peavy,
E. W. Fowler, E. Jordan, and their successors and assigns. The objects
of this act, as stated therein, "was to locate, construct and finally complete
a railroad at, or as near as practicable, the junction of the Missouri and
the Great Nemaha rivers, upon the most eligible route to Ft. Kearney.

296 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

there to unite with any railroad which may hereafter be constructed up
the \'alley of the Great Platte." The capital stock of the company was
to consist of $3,000,000. This road did not materialize.

FIRST LICENSED FERRY, AT AR.AGO.

An act passed by the Legislature and approved on January 3, 1862,
authorized H. \\'. Summerland and George Walther to keep a ferry across
the Missouri river at Arago, Richardson county, Nebraska Territory. They
were allowed to charge the following rates: For two horses, mules, oxen
and wagon, 75 cents; for each extra pair, 25 cents; for each horse or mule
and rider, 25 cents; for two horses or mules and buggy, 75 cents; for one
horse or mule and buggy, 50 cents; for each horse or mule led, 25 cents;
for loose cattle per head, 10 cents; for hogs and sheep under the number
of ID, each 5 cents; for over 10 and under 50, each 3 cents; for over 50,
each I cent; for each footman, 10 cents; for each crate of freight, 5 cents,
for lumber per hundred feet, $1.

NEMAHA RIVER FERRY.

A petition was presented to the commissioners court of Richardson
county on April 3, i860, praying that a ferry license be granted to Daniel
Reavis to keep a ferry across the Great Nemaha river. The said petition was
granted for the term of one year and the following rates for ferriage were
affixed :

One pair of horses or yoke of oxen and wagon 25 cents

Jor each additional span of horses or oxen 10 cents

Man and horse 10 cents

One horse and carriage 15 cents

One Footman 5 cents

Loose cattle per head 3 cents

Hogs and sheep per head 2 cents

The said Daniel Reavis to pay into the county treasury for said license
the sum of two dollars. In addition to the above ferriage fees fifty cents
mav be added when tine river is more than two-thirds liank full.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

OVERLAND FREIGHTING.

297

There was no regular outfitting point for freighting in the early days
in the confines of what is now Richardson county. Alost of this kind of
traffic, either passenger, freight or mail, was carried on from other points
on the river, notably from Atchison, Kansas, and Brownville or Nebraska
City, in this state. Atchison was the principal point and was chosen as
an outfitting point for most of the Salt Lake freighters, because it had
one of the best steamboat landings on the river, and the country lying west
made possible the best wagon road in the country.

Twenty-four miles west of Atchison this road was intersected by an
old overland mail trail from St. Joseph. Leavenworth also had a road
west, over which was planned to run the Pike's Peak express stages in the
spring of 1859. During the period of overland freighting on the plains more
trains left Atchison than at any other point on the river.

The cost of shipping merchandise to Denver was very high, as every-
thing was carried by the pound rather than the hundred pounds. Flour,
bacon, molasses, whiskey, furniture and trunks were carried at pound rates.
The rates per pound on merchandise shipped by ox or mule wagons to
Denver, prior to i860, were as follow: Flour, 9 cents; tobacco, 12I/2
cents; sugar, 13I/2 -cents; bacon, 15 cents; dry goods, 15 cents; crackers,
17 cents; whiskey. 18 cents; groceries, 19'/. cents; trunks, 25 cents; furni-
ture, 31 cents.

It has been said by those who witnessed the tremendous overland traffic

of the late fifties and early sixties, that the people of this generation can

form no conception of the enormous amount of traffic overland there was

in those days. Trains were being constantly outfitted, not only at Atchison,

but at all points on the river. Twenty-one days were about the time required

for a span of horses or mules to make the trip to Denver and keep the

stock in good condition. It required five weeks for ox trains to make

the same distance, and to Salt Lake, horses and mules were about si.x

weeks making the trip, and ox trains were on the road sixty-five or seventy

days. It was the ox upon which mankind depended in those days to carry on

the commerce of the plains. They were the surest and safest for hauling

the large part of the freight destined for the towns and military camps

or srarrisons of the frontier. Xext in importance to the ox, was the mule,

urtji^^l iffw.

because m^were tough and reliable and could endure fatigue. The year

r^fivsiimg tc, 'cm^of the l^ig years nf freighting across the plains,
"f-e parties 'i'."V^V - "

^9^ RICHARDSON COLXTV. NEBRASKA.

It was not unusual to see a number of steamboats lying at the levees
discharging freight, while as many more were in sight either going up the
river from St. Louis or down from St. Joseph. It was very common for
boats to be loaded at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania or Cincinnati, Ohio, destined
for Kansas and Nebraska points and not unusual to see these boats loaded
with wagons, ox yokes, mining machinery, boilers, and other material neces-
sary for the immense trade in the W'est.

A very large part of this traffic West from river points was over
what was known as military roads along the south bank of the Platte. On
these roads could be seen six or eight yoke of cattle hauling heavily loaded
wagons and strings of four or six horse, or mule teams. These formed
an almost endless procession.

BRISKEST PERIOD OF OVERLAND TRADE.

The liveliest period of overland trade extended from 1859 until after
the war in 1865, during which time there was on the plains and in the
mountains, an estimated floating population of two hundred and fifty thou-
sand. The greatest majority of people on the plains produced but few of
the necessities of life, and consequently they must be supplied from the
river points. During the closing year of the Civil Wrt. the travel was
immense, most of the immigration being lured to the mining camps of the
West and Northwest.

Those trails had been used during the Great Mormon exodus to Salt
Lake and by the California forty-niners, in their dash for the fascinating
gold fields. By this time people were beginning to stop in Nebraska and
stake out claims, and to become residents. Among the early-day freighters
and mail contractors and carriers were Col. Stephen B. Miles, later a mil-
lionaire resident of this county and his able assistant, Joel T. Jones, and .
l'"rancis Withee, a freighter, and others. Colonel Miles and his men car-
ried mail from St. Louis to Salt Lake and their experiences, if reduced to
the printed page, would make a good sized volume in itself.

In the vicinity of Sabetha, Kansas, are many graves of travelers, over
the Santa Fe and California trails, who. unable to survive the hardships
of the trip, died and were buried with scant ceremony. In the woods
surrounding Sabetha were many wild plum trees. A\'hen the body of a
fortv-niner was buried, the rest of the train would sit around the while'^ncl
eat plums. As a result a small plum thicket grew up around ev<»--'>it: of
the early-day graves. A well-known resident of that section in

KICII ARDSOX Cf)L-XTV, XKBRASKA. . 299

a distance of sixteen miles from Salietha, he has counted thirteen of such
graves, all of them being directly on the old trail, which has now become a
highway. A few graves are scattered on adjacent farms. A famous one
is on the farm of Matthias Strahm, near Sabetha, which is called the McCloud
grave. McCloud was returning from California, when he was followed and
struck down by an enemy. It was afterward learned that McCloud was
not the party sought by his murderer.

OVERLAXn TRAIN DESCRIBED.

A regular train consisted of from forty to sixty wagons, each wagon
drawn by six or seven 3'oke of oxen. The driver of each team outfit walked
beside the wagon. The wagon boss rode on a pony and took great privilege
with the king's English. Each driver carried a whip over his shoulder
when not in use. The lashes on the whips were fifteen feet long. On either
side of the trails, for many years after the wagon travel ceased, could be
discerned plainly the footpaths made by these drivers. The regular gov-
ernment trains passed over the roads every two weeks ; in addition there
was a multitude of individual freighters. The great trails were sixty feet
wide and perfectly smooth. There were from five hundred to one thousand
tons in a train of fifty or sixty wagons. Wlien the wagon boss had secured
a camping place, the lead team made a circle; then the next team stopped
the front wheel against the front one's hind wheel, and so on until the
forty or sixty wagons were in a circle with an opening of only a rod or
two to leave the highway clear. At night the oxen were unyoked and
turned loose to graze, and regularly employed herders looked after them
until morning. The hind wheels of the wagons were as high as a man's
head, while the front wheels were no higher than those in use on wagons
of the present day. The tires of the wheels were four inches wide.

If there had been nothing other to lure people into the West in the
early days, there was the ever recurring stories of gold to be found in
the Western mountain slopes and these stories became greath' magnified
as they traveled Eastward. The press, too, of those days, was not adverse
to "playing up" the stories and the result was a rush to the mountains.
Such a rush occurred in 1859 when the great Tike's T'eak excitement was
on. There was a continuous stream of jienple, some of whom appeared in
grotesc^ue equipment. Men were on the trail with packs on their bucks, some
pushing carts, and others using every conceivable means of conveyance. In
these parties every man had a pick, spade and pan to be used in getting his

300 RICHARDSON COUNTV. NEBRASKA.

share of the coveted gold. On one occasion during this great rush to Pike's
Peak when the wagons had reached Julesburg, ninety miles from Denver, some
Irishmen were met who had gone out the previous year, but were now
returning empty-handed. They declared that there was no gold to be found,
that the stories circulated to the contrary were all humbug. This statement
caused a stampede Eastward again. Men on this trip declare that they
do not believe that there was a spot of ground on the trail for fifty miles
that did not show where a wagon had turned around and headed Eastward.

Tliis trail is now marked as the Rock Island highway, with the poles
painted with a ring of white and, where wagons with four to six inch
tires, heavy laden, were drawn by fourteen long-eared oxen at a gait ap-
proximating not more than two miles per hour. It is now a national high-
way for the high-powered auto in the hands of the tourists, who ma}'
speed along at forty or fifty miles per houh and negotiate the distance to
Pikes Peak in a couple or three days.

A few of the pioneer freighters still living can recall the gathering
of these immense trains of fifty or sixty wagons, ten to sixteen horses to
the wagon, as they would go into camp on the prairie for the night. The
big circle was made, fires built, horses, oxen or mules tied to the wagon
wheels or turned loose for the night while the party gathered under the
starry canopy of the heavens, to indulge in story or song and the few
straggling settlers of that day, drawn by the spectacle, would hover on
the outskirts, thrilled by the adventures of the traveler pilgrims who had
braved the desert, plain and Indian in quest of gold.

In 1861 a daily overland mail and stage line w-as established from the
river points west to the Pacific coast and with the exception of but a few
weeks in 1862-64-65, on accotint of the Indian uprisings, the service was
continuous for more than five years.

OVERLAND FARES.

The distance by the overland stage line from Atchison to Placerville
was 1,913 miles, and was the longest and most important stage line in
America. There were 153 stations between the above points, located about
twelve and one-half miles apart. The local fare was $225, or about twelve
cents per mile, and as high as $2,000 was frequenth- taken in at the Atchison
office for fare alone. The fare between the river points and Denver was $75,
or a little over 8 cents per mile, and to Salt Lake City, $150. Local fares
ran as higii as fifteen cents per mile. Each passenger was allowed t\vent\-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 3OI

five pounds baggage, and all in excess of that amount was charged for at
the rate of $i per pound. During the war the fares ran as high as $ioo
and $175, or nearly 27 cents per mile.

It required 2,750 horses and mules to run the stage line between
Atchison and Placerville. It required, in addition to the regular supply of
horses to operate the stage lines, some additional animals for emergencies,
and it was calculated that the total cost of the horses on this stage line
was about $500,000. The harness used was the finest that could be made,
and cost about $150 for a complete set of four, or about $55,000 for
the whole line. The feeding of the stock was one of the big items of
expense, and there were annually consumed at each station from forty to
eighty tons of hay, at a cost of $15 to $40 dollars per ton. Each animal
was apportioned an average of twelve quarts of corn per day, which cost
from 2 to 10 cents per pound. On the Salt Lake and California divisions,
oats and barley, grown in Utah, was substituted for corn, but cost about
the same.

The stage coaches used by those lines were manufactured at Concord,
New Hampshire, and their quality made them famous wherever stages were
used. They were built to accommodate nine passengers inside, and one or
two could ride on the box with the driver. Some of the stages were built
with an extra seat above and in the rear of the driver, so that three addi-
tional persons could ride there, making fourteen, with the driver, and some
times an extra man would be crowded on the box, making as manv as fifteen
persons who could ride on the Concord coach without verv much incon-
venience.

The coaches cost about $1,000 each. and the company owned about 100
of them; besides which they were financially interested in about one-half
of the stations, in addition to thousands of dollars worth of miscellaneous
property, at different places on the lines. There was a crew of superintendents,
general and local attorneys, paymasters and division agents, all of whom
drew large salaries.

Those were the greatest stage lines the Western world has e\er known,
carrying passengers, mail and express. They were also regarded as the
safest and most rapid lueans of transit across the plains and mountain
ranges. The investment in the undertaking was huge and the cost of main-
tenance, like that of the railways of later days, gigantic, and the receipts
at the time seemed in keeping with the bigness of the enterprise. }et the
great loss soon to l>e sustained by those thus engaged with the coming

302 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

of the railroad left many of them almost paupers, as their loss was enorm-
ous, the property being rendered practically worthless.

The Oregon trail was the best known of the trails in Xeljraska and the
first. It commenced at Indeijendence, a small town just east of the present
site of Kansas City, Missouri, and cutting across the northeast cnrner of
Kansas, struck the Nebraska state line near the dividing line between Gage
and Jefferson counties. The beginning of this trail in Nebraska was made
in 1813 by a party returning from the mouth of the Columbia river. This
party left no trail that might be followed, but their coming opened up the
way for others who traversed the ground later from both directions.

Father DeSmet, who knew the trail well and had traversed it, had
the following to say in describing a trip made with a compan\- uf Indians
in 185 1 : "Our Indian companions, who had never seen Init the narrow
hunting paths by which they transport themselves and their lodges, were
filled with admiration on seeing this noble highway, which is as smooth
as a barn floor swept by the winds, and not a blade of grass can shoot up on
it on account of the continual passing. They conceived a high idea of the
countless white nations. They fancied that all had gone over that road
and that an immense void must exist in the land of the rising sun. They
styled the route the 'Great Medicine Road of the Whites." " Some of the
wagon trains on these trails were flft\- miles long.

THE COMING OF THE RAILROADS.

During the early .settlement of the county, and in fact, until more re-
cent years, many projects and schemes were formeil for tlie building of
railroads across the cmmt}-, antl several were built — on paper — that ha\c
never to this da>" materialized. .\niong those were the St. Louis
& Nebraska Trunk railway. This road was to run northwest from
I'tulo, passing through Rulo, .\rago and St. Stephens precincts, ;md on to
Brownville and north to Omaha. For the Iniilding of this niilroad the iieople
were to issue to the railroad company $60,800 in bonds. The election to
vote on the proposition to issue the bonds was called for Jul\- (y, iSjj.
at which time the proposition was defeated, and the road \\a-~ ne\er l)uilt.
In the fall of 1875, what was then known as the Midland I'acitic railway.
by some, and by others, the balls City, l>rown\ille X: i-ort Kcarncx railway.
was projected. This road was to run from I'alls City to Xeniaha Cit\ ,
and from there to Brownville and Xcbrask.i City. in order to hel]) the
project along, I-'alls City voted ^jo.ooo and .\lufldy ])recinct, $i_'.ooo. and

^RDSOX COl-XTV

303

grading was commenced. During the grading of the bed, howexer, dissatis-
fied parties got into courts and tlie courts decided that the precincts had
no right to issue the bonds. Those of Falls City were destroyed in open
court by Judge Weaver, but the ones issued by Muddy precinct, for some
rea.son, were declared legal and had to be paid. The grading, however, was
all that was ever done to the road, part of which remains to this daw

Prior to either one of these projects, however, there were a few men
in Falls City, who, looking down through the years, could discern the
magnitude and development of the agricultural and shipping interests of
the county, well believing that so grand a producing county should have a
more rapid system of transportation for its productions than that offered
by the boats on the ^lissouri river, conceived the idea of Ijuilding a road
from Atchison to Falls City, and to continue from here up die vallevs
along the Xemaha with its objective point the city of Lincoln. A company
was formed for this purpose, with the following officers : John Force,
president: F. A. Tisdell, treasurer; J. F. Gardner, secretary; Ishani Reavis,
attorney: with the following board of directors: John Loree, August
Schoenheit, Daniel Reavis, Fdward S. Towle, F. A. Tisdell, D. T. Brinegar
and W. G. Sargent. The road was to be called the Xemaha Valley, Lincoln
& Loup F(irk rail\\ay. The building of the .\tchison & Nebraska rail-
road, however, "filled a long felt want" and the comix-\ny was dislianded.
without doing other business.

MOST IMPORTANT EN'ENT IN THE IIISTOKY OF COUNTY.

Without doubt the most momentous event in the historv of Richardson
county, the one which forever secured its future, which sped up its de-
\eloi)nient and brought a high tide of immigration, extended its commercial
activity, increased the selling value of every foot of real estate within its
Ixjrders, and opened up new homes for thousands of ])eople, who until then
had been awaiting its completion, was the railroad.

It is not necessary here to recite of the years of patient waiting and
hardships incident to the isolation that had gone before, or to dilate upon
the energy expended by those wiio had fought and worked to bring about
the building of the various roads, which had been proposed, Init never l)uilt.
and the consequent disappointment of many connected therewith. It is
rather for us to tell of the road that was built — the glorious consuniniatitm
of years of desire among the then pioneers. They did their part tlie while:
what they did do did not liring the mads they had hoped to see, nor through

30-I RICHARDSOX COl'NTY, NEBRASKA.

the territory they had hoped a road would follow, vet the sum total of all
the agitation did succeed in interesting capital in the building of a road
and that was what the people really wanted.

The first road to enter this part of the state and the one directly in-
teresting to us, was what was then known as the Atchison & Nebraska rail-
road, connecting southeastern Nebraska with Atchison, Leavenworth, and
Kansas City, which cities at the time were already connected by rail with
Mississippi river points and the East. The road is now known as a part
of the Burlington & Missouri, or Chicago, Burlington & Ouincy branch of
the Northern Pacific system.

The Atchison & Nebraska was one of the famous "Joy" roads and
was owned and controlled in Boston, Massachusetts; all of the directors,
except James F. Joy, Detroit, Michigan, and Col. P. T. Abell. of Atchison,
Kansas, were of Boston. This important line of railroad was projected
by Atchison citizens in 1868, Col. P. T. Abell being the prime mo\ er. Atchi-
son county voted $150,000 in bonds, Doniphan county, $200,000, in aid of
the building of the road. These bonds were expended in grading the line
from Atchison to Nebraska-Kansas state line, thirty-eight miles. Brown
& Bier, of Atchison, were contractors and built the road north to the state
line.

Every county along the entire line voted bonds in aid of this great
enterprise. In 1870 the road and its franchise were transferred to Hon.
James F. Joy. who immediately organized a new company. Hon. G. W.
Glick, of Atchison, was elected president of the first organization, which
position he filled with ability for several months, after it had passed into
the hands of Mr. Joy, when he resigned, and Col. P. T. Abell was duly
installed as president of the road. Colonel Abell discharged the duties of
president with distinguished ability. He was a thorough railroad man and
an able legislator, and did as much, if not more, for the organization, and
building of railroads than any man in northern Kansas. His best years
were spent in laboring for the railroad interests of Kansas and Nebraska.

Soon after the franchise was transferred to Mr. Joy, Col. O. Chanute
was appointed chief engineer, Maj. F. R. Firth, resident engineer and acting
superintendent, but Colonel Chanute was soon appointed superintendent of
the Leavenworth, Lawrence & Galveston railroad, and Major Firth received
an appointment as chief engineer of the .\tchison & Nebraska railroad. Al-
though Major Firth was not yet twenty-five years of age, he manifested
ability of one twice his years. E. B. Couch was appointed cashier, and
Henry Deitz, supply agent, both excellent appointments. Soon after the

WII.I) AXIMAI.S AND BIRDS OF THE XOKTHWIOS'

■ RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 305

building of the road commenced, E. L. Bostwick, was made chief carpenter,
which position he occupied while the road was being constructed.

On the 22nd day of September, 1870, the first rail was laid, and on the
loth day of January, 1871. the road was completed to the Nebraska state
line. It was the original intention of the projectors of this company to
follow the west branch of the Missouri river, via Brownville and Nebraska
City, to Omaha, but the inducements of the location were not sufficient, and
they decided on the location of what was chartered as the Burlington &
Southwestern railroad, and the property franchise of this road in Nebraska,
consisting of ten miles ironed and about thirty-five miles graded, were trans-
ferred to the Atchison & Nebraska Railroad Company.

ROAD REACHES FALLS CITY.

Grading was commenced in 1871 between the state line and the Rulo
"Y," where a junction with the Burlington & Southwestern was made. On
the Fofirth of July of that year the Atchison & Nebraska was opened to
Falls City, or at least to a point just east of the city (about a mile), known
as Piersons Point — a point of land jutting out on the bottom^ fifty miles
from Atchison. On the 6th of December following, the road was completed
to Table Rock in Pawnee county, eighty-four miles from Atchison.

Cold weather now set in, and the company deemed it best to suspend
operations until the following spring. Work was resumed about the ist
of April, 1872, and on the 15th of that month the line was open to Tecum-
seh, the seat of justice in Johnson county. In June, Capt. M. AI. Towne
accepted the appointment of assistant superintendent and W. \^'. Rhoads
was appointed acting general freight and ticket agent. Early in August
the road was completed to Lincoln, Nebraska. On the 27th day of the
same month, the first passenger train went through to the Nebraska state
capitol, a distance of one hundred and si.\ and one-half miles from Atchison.

The completion of the Atchison & Nebraska railroad opened up a
country that was unsurpassed from a farming and stock-raising point of
view — a combination of prairie, forest, river and valley. It penetrated a
country hitherto inconvenient to market, thus affording farmers and stock
raisers an excellent opportunity to market their production. It opened
up a business and social intercourse between the business men along and
contiguous to the road and the business men of Atchison and the East.
Their interests were closely identified and they worked earnestly togetlier
(20)

306 RICHARDSON COL-XTV, NEBRASKA.

for the promotion of every branch of commerce and trade. This fertile
country, which had so long been fated to blush unseen and waste its
sweetness on the desert air, was now brought into direct communication
with the rest of civilization. This wedding was formally solemnized
when was heard the whistle of the first iron horse which, with its train,
came roaring up the valley of the Nemaha, and with this invasion the
old West was crowded back farther toward the mountains.

The first great and deplorable accident and the one which caused the
death of the bright young superintendent, Major Firth, who had acted as the
first superintendent and had personally supervised the construction of the
road into this county, occurred at a point between Highland and Doniphan,
Kansas, on June 8, 1872, on the road he had built. He was riding on the
pilot of one of his engines when a bridge gave way and he was crushed
beneath the engine and died within two weeks. He died when engaged in
the faithful discharge of his duty to the railroad company. Immediately
after his death, Maj. F. O. ^^'yatt was appointed chief engineer, which
position he occupied, performing his duties intelligently and faithfully until
the 1st day of December, when lie resigned, and Col. Charles C. Smith was
given his place. Colonel Smith was a practical railroad man in every sense
of the word, and under his efficient management this popular through route
from St. Louis and the South and East to the Union Pacific, in a short
time became a trunk line and a great channel for rapidly increasing traffic
between the North and West and St. Louis. The road was substantially
built for those days of the best material, and the rolling stock was all new
and of the latest improved pattern for the time. Until that time no accident
had befallen any passenger over the line.

The completion of the road to this place came about just in time to
be celebrated jointly with the national holiday on the Fourth of July, 1871.
It must not, therefore, be presumed that the old-time people of this com-
munity did not take advantage of such an occasion to blow ofif some surplus
steam and give vent to their feelings at such a time. It came about in
this wise :

Tuesday, tlie I'ourth of July, was perhaps as favorable a day as
this season has offered — clear and bright, but not "hot"; a cool wind was
blowing all day, and certainly no one could have asked for a better day for
outdoor exercises. Notwithstanding, owing to the uncertainty of the appear-
ance of the locomotive on that day, without which the majority were in
favor of having no celebration, Sheriff Faulkner, of this county, as mar-
shal of the day, organized a procession and marched around town and to the

RICIIARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 3O7

grounds which had been arranged for the accommodation of tlie guests.
As ma}^ be sup])osed, the procession was not large, but- nevertheless interest-
ing, as it was headed by the Falls City brass band in their red, white and
blue-trimmed wagon. The band did well, and was the subject of many
compliments during the day. The orations, readings, etc., by different gentle-
men of this city, were all good, and the public dinner was a success, except
that a few perhaps failed to get their share in consequence of there Ijeing
a larger crowd than was expected, and more than there was provision made
for. .The most interesting part of the program to almost all, was that con-
cerning the excursion party, which commenced at about two o'clock, when,
the people started for the' terminus of the Atchison & Nebraska railroad,
where the excursionists were to stop. At 3 130 o'clock p. m., a whistle
was sounded, and shortly a train made its appearance. There were two
cars, one coach and one flat car, drawn by engine No. i. As soon as the
train stopped the band struck up a lively piece. After which they adjourned
to a grove close by.

Hon. Edwin S. Towle delivered the welcoming address, followed 1)y
Col. P. T. Abell, the president of the road, who spoke ably on the future
prospects of this state and Kansas, the railroad, etc. Judge Ishani Reavis
being called for, made his appearance and delivered a short and appropriate
address. G. W. Glick, later governor of the state of Kansas, was then
uproariously called for; he spoke at some length, and closed by inviting S. S.
Price, of Rulo, to address the assembly, which he did, closing the cere-
monies.

Among the excursionists were Messrs. Abel, Hartford, Quick, Gus
Byram, George W. Glick, Nelson Abbott, editor of the Atchison Patriot:
H. E. Nickerson. Alderson, C. Rohr, Doctor Challis, George Challis, W. W.
Guthrie, David Auld, Adam Bremer, C. H. Phillips, Frank Brier, P. Brown,
of Atchison ; Judge Price, of Troy, and others.

BRILLIANT BALL CLOSES DAY.

What the fore part of the day lacked in the way of agreeable amuse-
ments, certainly the evening and night made up for. At dusk the display
of fireworks was commenced and was kept up until a late hour, also about
the same time the Odd Fellows ball opened in the Journal building, which
owing to the large attendance, good music, the excellent floor and ample
room, was certainly a success. In this connection we may state one remark-
able fact — the lady guests were in excess of the gentlemen, which was

308 RICIIARDSDN COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

contrary to all precedent in Falls City. Heretofore we had expected to see
at least fonr gentlemen to one lady. The (juestion was where did they
come from ? \\'h)-, there were more [jeople here now than we had had
at our last hall: liesides there were people here from all parts of the county
and from Kansas. The hall party took supper, at the cit\- hotel. In this.
Mr. Collins, of that popular house, had an opportunity to show what he
could do' in the way of getting up meals for special occasions, and he took
advantage of it. The supper was CNxellent, and reflected much credit upon
the house, its proprietor and the landlady, under whose personal supervision
the tahles were arranged. Ahout fort\- couples were seated at one time at
the tables.

The railroad was now here, a reality, and writing to Mr. W. S. Stretch,
the editor of the Xciiiaha J 'alley Journal, of Falls City, V. R. Firth, super-
intendent of the Atchison & Nebraska railroad, said: "I have issued an
order to have a long whistle blown half an hour before trains leave Trails
City, so as to gi\e passengers ample time to get to the trains."

In further celebration of the completion of the road, word was re-
ceived here on Thursday morning that it was the intention of the managers
of the Atchison & Nebraska railroad to give a grand free excursion to
Atchison on Friday, the 7th inst. Accordingly on F"riday morning, a large
number of our citizens went to the end of the track near town, and at about
7:30 o'clock a. m., found themselves gliding smoothly along over a Rich-
ardson count}- railway for the first time. Among the part\- were some of
our most prominent business men, wjio intended to see for themselves the
far-famed cit}- of Atchison, and the beautiful country which the new road
opened up. The gentlemanly conductor. Mr. J- Wiseman, did all in his
power to render the party comfortable, and w ith his efficient corps of attaches.
succeeded admirably. The road was one which would compare favorably
with any in the state at that time, being solidly bifilt. well ballasted, and
good bridges, etc.

At 8:10 Rulo was announced, where a large party joined them, swelling
the number to (}ver five hundred persons, .\fler the train had fairly started on
its gratuitous mission, the excursionists formed themselves into small parties
all through the train, where vocal music, jovial conversation, etc.. tended t"
enliven the spirits of the already hapjiy crowd.

.\fter a pleasant four hours ride through the beautiful valleys of the
Xeniaha and Missouri, during which they feasted their e\es upon some of
the nio^t ni;ignificenl scener\ in the wurld. thev arri\ed .al the busy city

RICIIARDSOX COUXTV, NEBRASKA. 3OO

of Atchison. Mayor Smith, in a hriei speech, welcomed them to the city,
and tendered them the hospitahties of the citizens. He closed by introducing
Judge Mills, also of. Atchison, who spoke at some length, of the Nemaha
Valley and the Atchison & Nebraska railroad. Falls City, etc.

Judge Reavis, of Falls City, being called for, said that he had not in-
tended addressing the enlightened citizens of Atchison, and therefore, begged
to introduce his young and eloquent friend, Capt. George \'an De\ enter.
\'an DeVenter was in his element. With his wanton aptitude he jx)rtrayed,
in glowing terms, the rapid advancement of the great West, what it had
been and what it is, and closing with a pleasing compliment to the citizens
of the Nemaha Valley, Atchison and L^alls City. With three rousing cheers
for Atchison, Falls City and the Atchison & Nebraska railroad, the partv
dispersed for dinner.

After dinner quite a number of excursionists procured carriages and
visited various points of interest in the city. The excursionists were uni-
versally treated with great cordiality by the citizens of Atchisnn, who were
undoubtedly a go-ahead and progressive people. They found the citv to
be growing rapidly. Business of all kinds was in flourishing condition,
and they were agreeably surprised at the metropolitan aspect of the citv.

At 3 130 p. m. they started on the return trip, fully convinced that Atchi-
son's prospects for becoming the city of the Missouri river was very flatter-
ing, and that ere long it would command the immense trade of the entire
Missouri \'alley.

The ladies were prettw the gentlemen good natured and the day pleasant,
and all tended to make tlie entire part\- enjoy themselves hugeh-, wliich
they undoubtedly did. Doctor Horn, the genial local of the Patriot, said
that without saying anything in any way detrimental to Atchison, he was
of the opinion that Falls City excelled in handsome ladies. Imt being a
married man he could not accept of many fine opportunities.

Messrs. Dolan & Ouigg, the enterprising wholesale grocers and li(|U(ii
dealers of Atchison, tendered the hospitalities of their large establishment
to the party, who were in no way backward in accepting thereof.

The train consisted of seven coaches and two flat cars, drawn lj\- enginu
No. 12, George Rapp. engineer, and were filled to overflowing.

A meeting was organized on July 7, 1871, l)y the b'alls City delegation
on board the above train on its return trip to that place and the f(illi)\ving
proceedings were had :

3IO RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

On motion of ]\Iaj. John Loree (father of Charles Loree), Judge
Thomas Spragins was called to the chair, and Howard Leland was ap-
pointed secretary. The judge on assuming the chair said :

Ladies and gentlemen of Falls City: We have enjoyed one of those
da)'s that come to a people 1)ut once in a lifetime. A hundred iron roads
ma\- he Iniilt to and through our growing little city, but the same joyous
emotions that have swelled our hearts this day will not come with them.
It is like the first baby in a family — the little stranger is such a stranger.
But do not let me further occupy the time of the meeting. I understand
the object is to express, in some appropriate manner, our appreciation of
the kindness of the ofificers of the Atchison & Nebraska Railroad Company,
and t(i thank them for the many courtesies they have extended to our people
on this occasion. What is the further pleasure of the meeting?

On motion of Charles H. Rickards (the present county assessor of
this county), a committee of three was appointed by the chair to draft reso-
lutions expressing of the sentiment of the meeting. The chair appointed
Maj. John Loree, the Hon. W. M. Maddox and Martin Ryan as said com-
mittee.

^^''hile the committee was absent in the discharge of its dut\-. the meet-
ing was regaled by our young and promising townsman, George \'an De
\'enter. in one of his most happy and telling speeches. The speech cannot
be given here, it would have required a corps of phonographic reporters lu
catch his glowing words as they dropped in rapid succession from his elo-
quent lips. Init those who heard him on that day were slow to forget the
occasion.

The committee on resolutions through their chairman. Maj. John Loree.
made the following report, which was adopted unanimously amid the most
intense enthusiasm :

NVhereas, Through the kindness of Col. P. T. .\bell, the able president,
and Major Firth, the gentlemanly and efificient superintendent of the .Atchi-
son & Nebraska railroad, we Iiave this day en. joyed one of the most delightful
pleasure excursions of our lives, and

Whereas. It is our desire to express more publicly our appreciation
of this mark of their friendly regard as well as to bear testimony to the
abilitv and energy of these gentlemen and their associates, who in the
prosecution and management of the affairs of what in our judgment, is the
most significant enterprise in the Northwest, have furnished their fellow
citizens indubitable evidence that difficulties, however difficult, may still lie
mastered, therefore, be it

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 3II

Resolved, That the thanks of the whole people of the Valley of the
Nemaha are due, and in their name we hereby tender same to the officers
and employees of the railroad for the courtesies extended to us today, no
less than for the immeasurable benefits conferred upon us in the construc-
tion of the iron road in our beautiful valley.

That we hereby pledge our hearty support to the company in the further
construction of the road, and we heartily recommend that every citizen in
the valley, from Rulo to Lincoln, do all that men may do to further the
great enterprise, until the accomplished fact shall be a continuous line of
railwav in our midst which shall reach from sea to sea.

That we never felt better in our lives, and especially are we glad that
we visited Atchison.

That the secretary be directed to furnish a copy of these proceedings
to the local press for publication and that this meeting adjourn with three
cheers for the people of Atchison and the Atchison & Nebraska railway.

Thomas Spragins. president.

Howard Leland, secretary.

RETURN VISIT BY ATCHISON CITIZENS.

On Saturday, July 9, 1871, the myriads of good people of Atchison,
through the kindness of the Atchison & Nebraska Railroad Company visited
our citv on half-fare tickets. They arrived at alx)Ut half-past twelve, and
were transferred to the hotels in buggies, carriages, lumber wagons, and
every other description of conveyances that could be engaged for the oc-
casion. Thev remained in town about two hours, or about long enough to
supply the inner man with something substantial, and then took their depar-
ture for home. Owing to the general "hub-bub" and hurry to get back
to their train for fear of being late, it was impossible for the people here
to get a list of or make the acquaintance of many of them.

But it was observed that there were about five hundred visitors in the
crowd, and an intelligent one, besprinkled with a goodly share of the fair
sex, whose beautiful faces, agreeable manners and elegant attire were the
subject of much admiration among the Nemaha Valleyites. Our hotel men
were unable to get but few of the names registered, though their guests
might be numbered by hundreds. The following registered at the City and
Union Hotels: City Hotel— F. E. Sheldon, C. E. Peck, A. H. Martin, J.
D. Higgins, A. H. Allen, W. S. Thacker, S. Collins, L. E. Gordon, J. Wilson
and ladies, C. E. Gavlord, H. Denton, L. Gilbert, Sarah Riddle. D. Dickerson,

312 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Nancy Riddle, D. C. Hull, \\\ A. Foley, A. A. Parson, ^I. Gerber, F ^1.
Parsons, J. F. Pigin, E. Parson, J. P. Smith, D. S. IMcKinney, \\'. F. Onnis,
C. M. Abbott, M. Utt, J. Wiseman and lady, H. M. McDaus, J. ^f. Idol
and lady, J. Hehn, J. Reisner, W. McKee, E. Shaw, T. J. Ward and family,
H. Barnes, G. \"an Camp and lady, B. Miller, \Y. B. Bull, Judge Mills,
H. B. Horn, Miss Ella ^IcFarland. Union Hotel— \\'. H. Mann, S. \V.
Bivins, B. Teemey, H. H. Wood. W. Straw, M. A. Albright. J. M. Cro-
well, J. Hoke and lady, F. K. Armstrong, Miss Louie Flick, W. S. Good-
rich, Shaw Beery and ladv, P. C. Hugh, ^^lollie Moore, P. T. Abell, Miss
Ahell, L. T. Woolfork, Miss Zull, C. H. Caller, B. W. Forbes, F. ^L
Pierce, G. L. Moore, J- ^^^ Mussey, B. S. Campbell and family, A. T.
Onis. D. C. Jagglers and wife. J- E- Ingles, W. F. Goodrich, C. H. Chass-
ney, Z. Smith, S. Gourner, A. J. Brown, G. H. Rapp, J. C. Dudley, W. R.
Smith, P. Z. Owens, H. :\IcCormick, H. Smith, F. M. A'anner, F. H. Smith,
N. Thomas, J. W. Lincoln, J. Millard, P. T. Abell, Jr.

FIRST TIME TABLE PUT IN EFFECT.

The first time schedule of this road was put into effect during the
week of July 13, 1871, between this city and Atchison. It embraced four
trains a day — two arrivals and two departures. The accommodation train
left Falls City at 7:15 o'clock in the morning and the mail and express at
2 :45 o'clock in the afternoon and the accommodation arrived from the
South or East at i 135 o'clock in the afternoon, and the mail and express
at 7 130 o'clock, night. Parties desiring to visit .Atchison could leave Falls
City at 7:15 o'clock a. m., and return home at 7:30 p. m., giving them three
hours and ten minutes to spend in Atchison at an expense of $4.

FIRST RAILROAD STATION AGENT.

Charles Loree, the present ( 191 7) clerk of the district court, who had
been employed b\- the .\tchison & Nebraska Railroad Company as car ac-
countant in the }ards at .Atchison, although a resident of Falls Cit\-, was
appointed as the first station agent at Falls City and rode the first train in
to arrive at this point. He had his new office for nearly a month, or until
August 1st, in conjunction with that of Dr. H. O. Hanna, who occupied
rooms in a building located on the present site of the Samuel W'ahl &
Company's store at the corner of Fifteenth and Stone streets in block
Xo. loj. In .\ugust. 1871. he bmisht ior himself a desk and took uii

ICHAKDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

313

quarters with Joseph Burbank in the latter's grain office, near the present
site of the BurHngton & Missouri depot and there remained until a depot
which, at the time was under construction, was completed. His office was
the western headquarters of the construction crew of engineers until the
latter moved on further west as the building of the road progressed. No
tickets were received or sold until September and the patrons of the road
were obliged to make settlement with the conductors of the trains. He
served for alx)ut a year, or until the coming of the telegraph, when he
gave the place to another, as he had had no training in the use of the Morse
code and the road at that time had insufficient business to require the presence
or expense of more than one man at this point.

The first noticeable effect of the railroad was to cut rates on the shipping
of produce. In the years immediately preceding, much of the produce of
the farms in this section had either to be hauled to Rulo, .\rago or other
river points for the steamboats, or was taken to Hamlin or Hiawatha in
Kansas, for transportation. Besides the distance that had to be covered
the prices were high. The rate from Falls City to Troy Junction, thirtx-
eight miles, was first fixed at $18 or 9 cents per hundred and to Atchison,
a distance of fifty-five miles, $28 or 14 cents per hundred. At this time
but one freight boat was still doing business — the "Elkhorn." The river
boats had suffered from the first (in 1866), with the advent of tlie railroad's
coming to Kansas and Missouri, and points further south and the further
extension north acted at once to put them out of business that would be
profitable to them.

PICNIC GROUNDS.

At the second crossing of the Xemaha river coming up from Atchison,
and in this county midway between Rulo and Falls City, in point of north-
west quarter of southwest quarter of section 22, township No. i, north of
range 1,7, about a nu'le east of the present village of Preston and east of
the Nemaha river, was a tract of about ten acres of land owned bv the
railroad company. In Augu.st, 1871, Major Firth had these grounds laid
off into one of the finest picnic grounds that could at that time be found
in two states. These acres were heavily covered with natural timber and
the compan\- had them cleared of brush, weeds and rubbish and sowed to
blue grass. .\ fence was built and a broad platform made at the railroad,
an ice house set in the bank of the river, and board tents put up in various
places. This soon became one of the most attractive places in the valley
and peo])Ie came by tlie hundreds from Atchison. Doniphan, Hiawatha and

314 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

all over this county. Many big events took place there and it continued
popular until its beauty was destroyed by the floods and storms in later
years.

The Atchison & Nebraska railroad was completed to Salem by the
24th of August, 1871, and the regular trains all ran west to that place
and connected with the stages for Humboldt, Table Rock, Pawnee City,
Beatrice and Tecumseh and all points north and west.

FIRST DEPOT AT FALLS CITY.

The first railroad depot consisted of five rooms, a freight room on the
west, twenty-nine by thjrty-six feet, a neat little ticket office on the south-
east corner, ladies waiting room on the northeast, and gents waiting room
on the south center — the entire building being thirty by sixty feet, with a
twelve-foot platform all around it, and twelve by one hundred feet on the
front or south side. Two or three hundred yards east of the depot was
a turntable, and about a mile farther east was a water tank, which was
supplied with a wind wheel for pumping water. Burbank & Holt had a
grain warehouse just west of the depot, at which place they bought grain.
Keim & Maust at once built an elevator a few rods east of the depot. Coal
was delivered from Ft. Scott to patrons in Fall City at from thirty to thirty-
five cents per bushel, while wood was selling here at three dollars and a half
per cord.

The Atchison & Nebraska railroad reached Humboldt the first week in
October, 1871, and on Friday, October 6, 1871. the citizens of Humboldt
were given an excursion to Atchison, Kansas.

ATCHISON & NEBRASKA CITY R.\ILRO.\D.

On May 5, 1867, the charter of the Atchison & Nebraska City Railroad
Company was filed in the office of the secretary of the state of Kansas.
The original incorporators of this road were Peter T. Able, George W.
Click, Alfred G. Ottis, John M. Price, W. W. Cochrane, Albert H. Horton,
Samuel A. Kingman, J. T. Hereford and August Byram, all ni whom were
citizens of Atchison, Kansas. The charter provided for the cmistructiun of
a railroad "from some point in the City of Atchison to some point on the
north line of the state of Kansas, not farther west than twenty-five miles
from the Missouri river, and the lengtli of the proposed railroad will not
exceed forty-five miles."

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 3I5

Shortly after the road was incorporated the name was changed to the
Atchison & Nebraska Railroad Company, and under this name subscrip-
tions and bonds, and capital stock were made in Atchison and Doniphan
counties. Atchison county subscribed $150,000, and in addition to the sub-
scription of the county, there were individual subscriptions amounting to
$80,000 in the county. Work was commenced on the road in 1869, and
it was completed in 1871 to the northern boundary of Doniphan county,
three miles north of White Cloud, Kansas. The stockholders of the Atchi-
son & Nebraska graded the roadbed to the state line north from Atchison,
constructed bridges and furnished the ties, after which the entire property
was given to a Boston syndicate in consideration of the completion and
operation of the railroad. This railroad was afterwards consolidated wuth
the Atchison, Lincoln & Columbus Railroad Company of Nebraska, which
railroad had been authorized to construct a railroad from the northern termi-
nal point of the Atchison & Nebraska railroad to Columbus, on the Union
Pacific railroad, by way of Lincoln, and the railroad was completed to
Lincoln in the fall of 1872. This consolidated road was purchased by the
Burlington & Missouri Railroad Company in 1880.

The first railroad built between the Mississippi and the Missouri rivers
was the Hannibal & St. Joseph, which was completed to St. Joseph, Mis-
souri, February 23, 1859, and the new railroad from Atchison connected
with the Hannibal & St. Joseph at the latter point.

RICHARDSON COUNTY PEOPLE ENTERTAINED .\T ATCHISON.

Thursday, June 15, 1882, was a day long remembered by those who
went to Atchison, Kansas, on an excursion and partook of the hospitality
of that generous city, the occasion being the completion of the Missouri
Pacific line through to Omaha.

The morning of that memorable day dawned with threatening rain,
but despite this, those who held tickets were up early and preparing for
the trip. At eight o'clock it began and it looked very much as if the festivi-
ties of the day would be marred, but fortune favored us and by noon the
clouds had disappeared and the sun came forth with such a blaze and splendor,
that those who had taken the precaution to clothe themselves in heavy
apparel regretted the deed.

.'Xt 9:10 o'clock a. m.. the train having on board the excursionists
from the towns farther to the north, drew up at the depot in Falls City
and our delegation was soon seated in the car set apart for tiieir accom-

3l6 RICllAUnSdN "OUXTV, NEBRASKA.

moclation. In a few minutes "all aboard" was shouted li_\- the conductor
and away we whirled. At Hiawatha the train was stopped long entnigh to
take on board their quota of excursionists and the band and once more
the journey was resumed. From Hiawatha to Atchison the train passed
over as fine a country as the sun ever shone upon. Those who gazed out
upon the country for the first time were so charmed with its appearance
that they were mute with astonishment. This road was unlike most of the
roads built early in the West, in that it does not run along the creeks and
valleys, but passes through one of the loveliest and most fertile sections
of the West, along high divides, where the view nn either side is almost
illimitable.

While the excursionists were in the zenith of their pleasure and pre-
paring to make their debut in the cit}-. an accident occurred, which, but
for the coolness of the engineer, the excursion might have been turned into
a funeral. While rounding a curve, the train running about twenty miles
an hour, a cow was discovered standing upon the track. The engineer
knew that to stop would only enhance the danger of a wreck and his only
hope was to knock the cow clear of the track. He acted on this hypothesis
and throwing the valve wide open, the train sprang forward to the accomp-
lishment of his designs. The cow was thrown from the track but the l)ank
being so steep at that point she rolled back just in time to throw the front
trucks of the tender off the rails. The track was instantly sanded by the
cool and nervy engineer, brakes put on and engine reversed and the train
stopped at the very edge of the trestle work of a bridge thirty feet alxive
the bed of a stream. To the coolness of the engineer the lives of the
excursionists were due, and many, if not all, of the party t(^i)k time to give
verbal expression of their sincere appreciation.

While the work of putting the tender on the track w;.s going on the
passengers took occasion to get ofif and stretch themselves. The band akso
came on terra firma and discoursed some fine music, .\fter an hour's
dela\- the welcome sound of "all aboard" was heard and the party was
en route once more for their destination, where they arrived without further
mishap.

N'ISITORS KECEIXE A WARM WELCOME.

.\t the dejjot awaiting their arrival was a large crowd, who had began
to grow impatient at the ncin-arrival of the train, when it came into view.
.\s the train drew up at the station there was such a shout as must have
awakened the iMilated "rush lidttumer" from his noon-dav nap. .Xccnrding

RICHARnSOX COIWTY. NEBRASKA.

317

to instructions of the committee, who had accompanied the train from I'alls
City to Atchison, the party was formed in hne, each town in a hody, and
headed by Col. John A. ]\Iartin and Henry Clay Park, with bands playing,
the procession moved to Apollo Hall, where a banquet awaited them.

The whole city of Atchison was gaily decorated with bunting, ever-
green and other attractive material and presented a very beautiful appear-
ance, which was conclusive evidence that the hosts had spared neither pains
nor mone)- to make the occasion one long to be remembered.

Apollo Hall, at which place the ladies presided, was transformed into
a beautiful banquet room by the tasteful arrangement of decorative mate-
rial; festoons of red and white bunting were gracefully hung along the
walls, the chandeliers were wrapped in evergreens, and long loops of leaves
and flowers crossed each other in every direction and added greatly tf) the
artistic merit of the arrangement. In the center of the floor a magnificent
pyramid of fruits and flowers was arranged, and from this center jjiece
the tables were arranged to form a Maltese, cross — and each table bore
cjuantities 'of tempting viands of the most appetizing- description. Beautiful
bouquets enhanced the beauty of the spread, and at each plate a charming
button-hole bouquet was placed. In the windows were potted flowers in
bloom and all sorts of foliage plants. The ro(jm was ful| of fragrance and
beauty, and made a banquet hall fit for a king.

Covers had been laid for three hundred guests, and as the partv filed
in they were seated at the tables by the ladies in attendance, and were
surprised and delighted wdth the magnificent dinner provided. There were
a number who were not seated at the first tables, because of lack of space,
and these and the Hiawatha band occupied the gallery, at intervals the
band playing beautiful selections to enliven the feast. The ser\ice could
not have been Isetter. A number of ladies were stationed at each table
who quietly, gracefully and hospitably served everything the guests desired.
Room was soon made for the waiting guests and the band in the gallery,
and when all had been seated and pro\ided for, Henry Clay Park, who
acted as toastmaster. or master of ceremonies, introduced i\Iayor King, who
said that in his pfiicial capacity it became his pleasant duty to thank the
guests for their acceptance of their invitations and to extend to them a
hearty welcome. In behalf of the citizens of .\tchison, he extended a warm
and hospitable welcome and greeting.

On behalf of the visiting ])arty, .\. H. Gilmore, of Auburn, Nebraska,
returned the thanks of the \isitors to the mayor and people of Atcliison

3l8 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

for their magnificent reception, and stated that the meeting would undoubtedh-
redound to the material advantage of both sections now connected with
the new railroad.

POSTPRANDIAL PROCEEDINGS.

After the banquet came toasts and responses by Col. A. S. Everst,
of Atchison, Judge August Schoenheit, of Falls City, Rev. Dr. Krohn.
of Atchison, and Webster Wilder of the Hiawatlia World, in the order named.
The responses were short and appropriate and greatly enjoyed by those
present.

At this point a dispatch was read from the Board of Trade at St.
Joseph, Missouri, inviting the excursionists to that place. It was moved that
the thanks of the excursionists be extended to the people of St. Joseph
for their kind invitation, but as they were in good hands it behooved them
to remain, but at some future time a proposition of this kind would be
entertained. The motion was carried unanimously.

Recognizing the fact that it was a day to entertain and not a da)-
to transact business, the business men of Atchison threw all care aside
and devoted themselves exclusively to making their guests comfortable and
happy. The exercises in the evening consisted of a display of the fire de-
partment, Knights of Pythias drill, flambeau parade and fireworks, concert
at Turner Garden Hall and a ball at Apollo Hall, all of which was wit-
nessed and highly enjoyed by the visitors. The only part of the program
that was omitted was the failure of the balloon to ascend, which was due
to an accident overtaking it just at the time it was expected to have gone
up. But there were so many other attractions that the failure of this event
to happen caused but little comment. At 1 1 .^o p. m. the guests took leave
of Atchison and returned by a train which was made up and awaiting
them at the depot.

ST. LOUIS AND NEBRASKA TRUNK RAILRO.\D.

A proposition to vote bonds for the building of this road was suli-
mitted to the voters of Richardson county in the summer of 1872. This
called for the issuance of $22,300 by Rulo precinct; Arago, $25,500, and
$13,000 from St. Stephens precinct. The bonds were to be issued by
September i, 1872, to run twenty years and bear eight per cent, interest.
\Vhen issued they were to be placed in the hands of three trustees and by
them held until the completion of the contract b\- the railroad company.

RirHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 3I9

A provision was stipulated therein, however, that upon the completion of
five miles of grading and bridging, Rulo precinct should give $2,500 per
mile for that portion of the line running through said precinct, and $500
and $1,000, respectivel)^ for the portion of the line in the north precincts
of Arago and St. Stephens. Arago was to give $2,000 and St. Stephens
$1,500 per mile, at the same time, and under the conditions as above cited
for Rulo precinct. The road was to be completed by September i, 1873,
and the election at which the above was submitted was held on July 6, 1872.
The bonds did not carry.

KANSAS AND CENTRAL NEBRASKA.

A railroad under the above title was projected to run from the city
of Leavenworth, Kansas, along the Missouri, north to Rulo and thence to
Arago and St. Stephens. It had been arranged to have a branch line go
west up the valley of the Muddy and on north to Lincoln. This line never
got farther than the most of the paper railroads of those days, but was a
subject for much comment and of great concern to the people of the east
end precincts.

In the fall of 1875, the Midland Pacific railroad, the line now owned
and a part of the Burlington System, from Nebraska City to Lincoln, graded
a roadbed from Nemaha City to Falls City, a distance of twenty-two miles.
For this extension, i. e., from Nemaha City to Fails City, Falls City voted
$70,000 in ]x)nds, on which seventy per cent, was to be paid on the com-
pletion of the grading. Pending the completion of the work, it was decided
by the courts that the precinct could not legally issue bonds, and if they
should issue them, could not be held liable for the payment of either principal
or interest. This resulted in the non-completion of the road. The only
bonds issued were the first installment of those due from Muddy precinct,
amounting to $12,000.

A meeting of the stockholders of the Nenialia \"alley, Lincoln & Loup
Fork Railway was held on February 27, 1869, and John Loree, August
Schoenheit, Daniel Reavis, Edwin S. Towle, F. A. Tisdell, David T. Brine-
gar and \V. G. Sergent were chosen directors for the ensuing year. The
officers of the road were John Loree, president; F. A. Tisdell, treasurer;
J. F. Gardner, secretan^; Isham Reavis, attorney. About March ist of
the same year, John Loree and August Schoenheit, of this road, met with
the directors of the Atchison & Nebraska railwav, and a consolidation was

320 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

agreed upon, after which the Nemaha \'alley. Lincohi & Loup Fork rail-
way disappeared from the records. It was not built.

The Southern Nebraska & Northern Kansas. This railway was proj-
ected in 1870, and was to receive $10,000 in bonds from the county, but
never graded more than one hundred feet of road bed and passed out of
practical existence.

The Kansas & Nebraska Narrow Gauge. This was another of the list
of paper railroads which never amounted to anything but talk.

The Missouri Pacific. On April 26, 1876, the directors of the Mis-
souri Pacific considered a proposition submitted by citizens along the towns
of the proposed line to build a road from Falls City to Plattsmouth, at
a distance of about ten miles from the Missouri river, taking the present
route from Atchison, Kansas, to Falls City, and between Plattsmouth and
Omaha, using the Burlington & Missouri River railroad tracks. A delegation
from Nebraska was present at this meeting and consisted of D. H. Wheeler,
J. A. Horback, T. P. Kennard. J. T. Hoile. S. S. Caldwell. J. G. Klopper
and R. W. Furnace. The report of the road was delivered by Mayor Brown,
and was a rejection of the ofifer made, accompanied by the reasons for such
action too numerous to mention in detail.

In 1881, the Missouri Pacific entered the county at a point a few miles
southwest of Falls City and the road was completed through the county
during the following year.

The Burlington & Southwestern. This road, sometimes called the "Joy"
road, was begun in December, 1869, and built ten miles from Rulo in
order to secure the bonds voted for it, which were due on the completion
of that amount of work. These bonds amounted to $3,500 per mile, and
were exclusive of the land grant to the railroad company. In the spring
of 1870, grading was continued up the Nemaha bottoms and in June of
that year the road was sold to the Atchison & Nebraska railroad, of which
]'. T. Abel was president. Joshua Tracy was vice-president and J. K. Hornish.
superintendent of the Burlington & Southw^estern.

The St. Joseph & Nemaha. The St. Joseph & Nemaha Railroad Com-
pany once made a sur\-ey of a route of a railroad from the mouth of the
Great Nemaha to Tecumseh, in Johnson county, nearly the present route
of the Atchison & Nebraska division of the Burlington, but beyond the
survey, under Fix. -Gov. Robert Stewart, of Missouri. 'nothing was ever done.

Other lines talked of in recent years, and for a time considered some-
what seriously, have been rail cmniection with the Sycamore Springs in

RICHARDSOX COrXTY, NEBRASKA. 32I

tlie south central part of the county; but the one most referred to is rail
connection with the northeast section of the county, where the immense
apple production has attracted so much attention in the last decade.

NOTES ON THE BUILDING OF THE MISSOURI PACIFIC.

The new station located in Porter precinct has been named "Stella,"
after the daughter of Mr. Clarke, the founder of the town and the owner
of the land upon which the town is to be located. Already, preparations
are going on to build soon as the spring opens. The depot grounds and
stock yards are being laid out, and arrangements for the building of a large
elevator. Stella is beautifully located and promises to become quite a place.
Of course the Porterites are happy. — Falls City Xcu's. January 5. 1882.

January 5, 1882 — The Missouri Pacific is now built within six miles
of Carson City, in Nemaha county.

Engineer Wright, who has charge of the first nineteen miles of road
of the Missouri Pacific out of Atchison, spent last Sunday in the city. He
informs us that regular trains will run between Atchison and Omaha bv
the 15th of March. — Falls City Ncws_, January 5, 1882.

The Hall Station boom has petered out. The owner of the lands wanted
to get rich too fast. For instance, corner lots, in his estimation, are worth
$300 and resident lots from $50 to $100. The company did not see it in
this light and moved on to Porter precinct. Lots at this place can be
had at from $5 to $10 each. — Falls City Ncivs, January 5, 1882.

August 3, 1882 — On Saturday, last, we made a flying visit t(^ the
thriving little village of Stella, situated about twenty miles northwest of
Falls City on the line of the Missouri Pacific railroad. There is in the
village about fifty houses all told, including four general stores, two drug
stores, two hardware stores, two lumber yards, two restaurants, cMie bil-
liard hall, one harness shop, one barljer shop, two blacksmith shops, one
grocery store, two meat markets, one photograph gallery, one livery stable,
two physicians, one millinery and dressmaking establishment, and a fine hotel
building just finished. The Gird Brothers have the material on liand, and
will soon issue the first number of a paper to be called Tlic Stella Tribune.
The new station is kept by Mr. J. S. Mason, formerly of Missouri. Mr.
Mason is well liked by the business men of Stella, being pleasant and ac-
commodating. Stella in time will be one of the most important .shipping
stations between Falls City and Omaha. — Falls City News.
(21;)

^22 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

[E COMING OF THE AUTOMOBILE.

The automobile as a means of transportation came I)ut slowly into use
in Richardson county and until tlie last year or two has remained princi-
pally as a \ehicle of pleasure.

The first automobile to make its appearance in the west end of the county
was at Humboldt and appeared in 1898 or 1899 and was owned by Louis
Slama. a Bohemian jeweler, who at the time had a shop in the city and gave
his principal attention to the sale and repair of watches. He was one of the
first to adopt the "safety" bicycle and being of an inventive turn became at
once interested in power vehicles or "horseless carriages'' as they were some-
times called in those days.

Slama built the engine which he used in his first automobile, using steam
as a driving power, and made the entire equipment for his machine with the
exception of the wheels and tires, which he ordered from an Eastern firm.
He worked at spare moments for some months in assembling and perfecting
the entire machine, but when completed it was found to be practical and he
was able to go about the country and negotiated some of the steepest hills and
grades. As compared to some of the gas machines which made their appear-
ance at about the same period his machine was really superior, as the gas
engine at the time had not been so far perfected as now and was not so
generally understood when applied as a power for driving an autmobile. It
is needless to say that his machine, which in general appearance was very much
like the single-seated gas cars comnK)n in tliose days, made a commotion in
the community, ^^^^enever and wherever he appeared he was tlie cynosure of
all eyes and he never lacked for company on his rides about the countryside.

The next machine to make its appearance in Humboldt was owned by
F. \y. Samuel'^on, president of the First National Bank, and was a single-
seated gas-driven auto (single-cylinder type") of the Olds manufacture. The
Tittle machine in appearance looked fine, liut gave Mr. Samuelson more trou-
ble than anvthing he had probalily ever tried to operate. As measured by
the more recent tvpes of machines it lacked much that goes to make a practical
machine f^r country roads, but he had lots of sport witli it and was able
to get about the country to some extent.

Frank Xims and Frank Blakeney, now residents of b~alls City, but in
former times resident of farms in the west end of the county, were the next
to berrme interested in autos. were pioneer owners of machines and contril>
uted mucii in the introduction of antomoliiies in the count}'. The latter re-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 323

maincd ever a lover of the auto and has sold hundreds of them to the farmers
of the county.

Daniel Blakeney, die father of Frank Blakeney mentioned al)Ove, was
one of the first to conceive tlie idea of the commercial value of the auto for
use on the country roads, estahlished the first auto livery in the county at
Falls City and equipped himself with a number of machines. Being faster
than horses he thought to use them on tlie country roads for hauling passen-
gers about the county and solicited the trade ni die traveling salesmen whose
business took them to the smaller towns. The business at that time was not
a success for many reasons, among which principall}- was the imperfection
of the early machines and the lack of good roads. After operating for some
time under these and other disadvantages the business was discontinued. It
must be rememl)ered that this kind of business was undertaken by Mr. Blake-
ney in the very early stages of the introduction of the automobile in Richard-
son county, and die machines he used were the first to make their
appearance here.

The first auto ever to travel the streets of Falls City under its own
power was brought here by a circus and was listed as one of the big exhibits
of the show. The first machine ever owned in Falls City was, like the one
mentioned above, made by a mechanic, ]\I. N. Bair, residing there, and was
as successfully used and proved as much of a curiosity as the one abo\e
referred to.

The ne.xt to own a machine at b'alls City was .\lbert ^laust, wiio liad
his machine in 1905-06 and was much envied 1j\- his friends as he was seen
going about the town. Mr. Maust was engaged in the business of bu\ing of
grain and live stock from the farmers adjacent to the city and soon incurred
the enmity of many of his patrons, from the fact that their teams took fright
as they saw this machine on the countr\- roads. This [jliase of the matter
came to such a pass that there were many who were heard to advocate the
passage of some kind of a law barring the autos from the use of the pul)lic
highways.

Looking backward from the present it seems amusing to remember iiow
greatly wrought up tlie people of those times l)ecanie toward the owners of
autos. From this feeling expression was given in the passage of laws govern-
ing machines on the public highway.

The first machines were hard to sell, as the prices asked for them seemed
highly exorbitant to the farmers and citizens who were accustomed to the use
of horses and like all new things were regarded seriously as impractical.

3-'-| UK IIARDSON COrXTV, Xi:i!RA.SKA.

Tliose who first engaged in the business had trying times in making sales and
were obhged to do a great deal of "demonstrating" to the prospective pur-
chasers, which process resulted in the use of much "gas" of both the vocal
and fluid sort.

The first regular agency for the sale of automobiles in Falls City was
opened by Guy Crook and Peter Frederick, Jr.. who entered the business in
1908, and remained in the business for a year or two. selling many of the
first machines used on the roads in the east part of the county. Their first
sale of a touring car was made to Charles Harkendorf, a farmer, residing
northeast of Falls City. The next machine was sold to Roy Heacock. resid-
ing in Falls City. The physicians of the city who had a large country prac-
tice and had been obliged to keep horses for this purpose, were among the
first to see the convenience, economy and saving of time that would result
if the machines were found able to do their work and each in turn provided
himself with one. It is related of one of the leading physicians who had
been slow to believe in the practicability of the auto tliat, upon being inter-
viewed by one of the above salesmen, he proposed that a "try-out" be made
on one of his worst trips, whicli took him some twenty-five miles from the city
and over the worst roads in the county. If this was done and the machine
found to be reasonably satisfactory he could be regarded as a "prospect."
The trip was made in record time, with the expectation that on the return to
town the sale would be completed, but the Doctor was not yet convinced, or
at least not in so far as tliat machine was concerned, but did soon procure
a machine from other parties.

Automobiles are now owned 1)\ tlie hundreds in all parts of the county
and principally by the farmers, who have found them more useful than they
had dreamed, and their coming and adoption have, as a consequence, awakened
a live interest in the good-roads movement and resulted in great betterment
of the highwavs throughout the county. No machine used by man has been
so universally accepted in so short a time; where a dozen years ago there
were not a half dozen machines in Richardson county, it now ranks third
in tlie state in the number of machines owned per capita.

When in the early stages of the introduction of the automobile it was
seen that the auto had met witli almost instant and universal favor there
were those who believed their purchase on so large a scale would bankrupt
the county, but, in so far as we have been able to learn, there has never
lieen a foreclosure of a mortgage in Richardson county on real estate that
might be traced directly to the purchase of automobiles, notwithstanding the
fact that so manv are owned here. As a matter of fact the farmers of

RICllAKDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 325

Richardson county are prosperous to a degree not known in many sections of
the country and are amply able to bu)- and pay outright for whatever num-
ber of machines they may find necessary to use in their business.

The introduction of the auto-truck is now fast finding its way into the
country districts of Richardson county and is being used for all kinds of
hauling and is greatly appreciated. The same is true in the cities and
villages, where most of tlie horse-drawn dray lines have substituted the auto-
truck and found it much more satisfactory. The stage line has gone and
with it the horse-drawn omnibus, which has given way to the auto-bus
now used in all the towns and most of the villages, much t(i the satisfacti<ni
of the patrons of the same.

CHAPTER XIII.
Schools and Education.

B.v Daniel H. Weber. County Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The request has been made of me that I briefly review the school activi-
ties of this county from the time of its early settlement until the present
time. This is not easily done, because until comparatively recently no com-
plete records were left in this office. Some schools were conducted in what
is now Richardson county as early as the fifties, many years before Nebraska
was admitted to the sisterhood of states. These early schools were largely
subscription schools and were held anywhere where the number of pupils
warranted it. The schools were not authorized and governed Ij}- law . Ijut
were held by common consent. Usually some deserted squatter's cabin was
conscripted or some hospitable settler offered his rude log home for this
purpose. Indeed, many times the school was taught by some married man
iir woman who had obtained the rudiments of an education in the East
liefore embarking upon the journey to the land that Horace Greele}- later
stated spelled "opportunity." Each parent paid his mite in proportion to
the number of pupils attending and the mite wasn't very large. If someone
outside of tlie community was selected as teacher he drew a portion of his
salary, if. we might term the paltry wages salary, by Ijoarding with liis
his various patrons.

CRUDE EQUIPMENT OF EARLY SCHOOLS.

In 1854, there was not a public school in Richardson county, and it
is said bj- reliable parties that Willis Maddox, Fred Harkendorf, AIar\
Harkendorf, Jesse ("rook and family, Dave L. Thompson and Elias Menshall
were the only white persons within the limits of \yhat is now Richardson
county. Instead of listening to the chimes of the school bells and feasting
upon the views of well ordered farms and buildings, these sturdy and fear-
less pioneers were compelled to be contented with the howl of the wolf and
the bark of the prairie dog. The county was peopled with Indians, Init
tlie al)originals lived on amicable relations witli tlie white settlers. Little

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 327

did those early pioneers dream that this count}' would ever be dotted with
farm houses, churches and schools as we find it today. Today we have, a
school for every four or five sections of land and very few pupils have to
trudge over two miles in getting to school. The roads are open and no
dangers beset them on the way. The schools are open from seven to nine
months; the same teacher has charge of the school for the entire year, the
school houses are Imilt comfortably and attention is being paid to sanita-
tion, seating, lighting and ventilation. The equipments are complete. Con-
trast this condition with the pioneer school which was built of logs, the
crevices of which were filled with straw. to keep out some of the wintry
blasts and drifting snows. Shoe boxes were used as desks and soap boxes
as seats. Slate blackboards were unknown, but slates instead of paper tablets
predominated with the pupils. .\ slab or two of fiat boards painted black
sufficed for the board need's of the early teacher. Strange to say, similar
boards are still found in some of our present-day schools. In the early
days the school year was divided into the fall, winter and spring term and
each term had a different teacher. Each pupil furnished his own text-books
and all were of a different kind, which condititm presented many difficult
problems to the early progressive teacher who endeavored to secure anything
like a semblance of uniformity. Unless one actually attended or taught
one of the pioneer schools, it is indeed difficult for the uninitiated to visualize
clearly the many drawbacks of these .schools.

GRADUAL DEVELOPMENT OF THE MODERN SCHOOL.

From 1854 to i860 settlers came to this county very slowly and then
settled near the Missouri river because of the traffic that was wont to ply
up and down this great body of water. It was the only means of trans-
portation, as the nearest railroad was many miles from this county. Gradu-
ally the old superstition of starving to death or being blown away by the
winds if one lived on the prairies was dissipated, and the settlers pushed
farther Westward. From i860 to 1867, in which latter year Nebraska was
admitted to the union a great influx of ix)pulation was seen. Many came to
escape the scenes of the war, others because of the opportunities offered in
a new land. Alx)ut this time, and l)e fore general settlement, schools began
'to be established. As time went on the various school districts were organ-
ized, the early records of which are missing. On other pages appears the
earlv historv of a number of these districts. .\t first all the .school houses

22» RICHAROSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

were of log or sod, but in the seventies and eighties these were displaced
with frame buildings. About 1885 a building boom began to sweep the
school districts. In that year eight new school houses were built at a cost
of $10,000; in 1886, two buildings, at a cost of $11,000; in 1887, three,
at a cost of $2,600; in 1888, four at a cost of $8,500; in 1889, two at a
cost of $7,000; in 1890, three at a cost of $4,600; in 1891, three at $2,060;
in 1892, four at a cost of $3,400; in 1893, six at a cost of $3,400, making
thirty-five new school buildings, costing $82,000 in round numbers, built in
nine years. No information is available as to the number built since then.
A few years ago the people of Stella voted bonds and built one of the finest
buildings in the county, .\bout four years ago Falls City, realizing that
the needs of the pupils demanded another building, erected one of the best
and most costly high schcjol Iniildings in the state. Last year (1916), Daw-
son reconstructed its building, making some imi^rtant and needed change.'^.
A few years ago, Verdon and Shubert each erected a separate room fur
the primary grades. Since I have been superintendent a number of new
buildings have been erected. In 191 5, district No. 31 tore down the old
structure and erected a modern building costing over one thousand dollars.
Last year (1916), districts 8 and 9 of this county and 2 of Nemaha county
consolidated and a splendid four-room brick building, costing over ten thou-
sand dollars was erected, which is pronounced by educators as the best and
most admirably equipped consolidated school in the state. It has a Delco
lighting system, a water pressure system, steam-heating plant and toilets.
Two of the rooms are so constructed that they can be thrown together for
social and community gatherings; a large gymnasium has Ijeen built, and
the school has domestic science and manual training ecjuipment. In every
\va\- the school has been arranged so that it can take its place in looking
alter every need of the pupils of this agricultural center. Twelve grades
will lie Iiandled next \ear, under the supervision of four esj)ecially trained
ami wel!-(|ualifie(l teachers. .\ teacherage. modern in all its equijiment. has
been erected for the needs of the faculty. The district owns six acres of
land and nuich iiractical demonstration work will be done. The principal
owns an automobile and thus has a convenient means of conveyance. A
lecture course will Ije held there next year. Short courses will also lie given
annuall}-. The transportation of the pupils is looked after by three men.,
two of whom transport the pujiils with autonioljiles. \'isitors from all sec-
tions of this county as well as from other counties have called to see this
new departure in education. District No. 80 is erecting a larger and iielter

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 329

building than it had before, the same to cost well over one thousand dollars,
exclusive of the equipment. District No. i, which boasted one of the oldest
and, I might add, one of the worst frame buildings in the count}', was
visited by the Missouri recently, the encroaching waters advising thai a
new building had best be erected on higher ground. Consequently the old
building was razed and a new one was built in the summer of 1917. Dis-
trict Xo. 22 is the name of a new district recently organized in the old
Iowa Indian reservation country southeast of Rulo. and a new eighty-hun-
dred-dollar building was erected there during this same summer. Other
buildings will be erected next year and in the years immediately following,
as a number would be condemned by any building- inspector visiting us.

.SOME SCHOOL STATISTICS.

While we can boast of more and better buildings, and a greater number
and better qualified teachers, yet we cannot boast of any increase in the
school census, between the ages of five and twenty-one. In 1886 we had
6,901 children of school age, and 126 teachers. In 1890, it was 6,8[-|
and 133. In 1893, we had 6,846 school children and 141 teachers. Today
we have barely over 6,000 school children and 175 teachers. In the earl\'
days it was not unusual to find an enrollment of from fifty to eighty. Toda\
the average is not over fifteen and a school with thirty or more is tlu
exception. District No. 20, near Barada, had nearly fifty on its list last
year, but the attendance was very irregular. Districts 53 and 42 still ha\c
verj' good enrollments.

.\t present there are one hundred and ten public school houses in tlic
county and in addition there are four parochial schools. Ninety- four are
frame and sixteen are brick. In 1883 there were 108 buildings \alued at
$145,000; today they are valued at $230,000, of which Falls City alone
claims over $100,000. Text-books are valued at $75,000. At least $350,000
is invested for educational purposes in this count}'.

In 1880 there were two grade schools in the county — Falls City and
Humboldt, this former having eight teachers and the latter four. At present
Falls City has thirty-three teachers, including special experts for manual
training, domestic science, athletics, art, penmanship, etc. Departmental
work is carried on in the seventh and eighth grades. Humboldt has four-
teen teachers and is represented in practically all the departments mentioned
for brails Citv. Roth schools are accredited for normal training work and

:\7,0 RICIIAUnSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

eacli year from live t^i fifteen teachers complete this department of the
work. In 1881 the Rulo school was partially graded and in 1888 the progres-
sive people of that citj- decided that better conditions were necessary. Hence
a fine ten-thousand-dollar brick building was erected, which is even today
sufficiently large for the growing needs of that thriving little city. When
the building was completed the course of study was revised and the course
increased so as to include the work of ten grades. A few years ago the
eleventh grade was added. There is ample room for twelve grades, manual
training, domestic science, etc., whenever the sentiment of the conmiunit}
favors their installation. In point of attendance the school ranks third in
the county. During the past year five teachers were employed in the grades.
In 1885 Salem, Stella and \^erdon were added to the list of graded schools,
each at that time planning to carry nine grades. At that time Verdon and
Stella both built new frame buildings, costing about three thousand dollars
each. \^erdon gradually increased the number of grades until 1916, when the
school was recognized by the state department as a twelve-grade school.
During the past year several attempts were made to vote bonds for a new
building, but each time the necessary two-thirds majority could nut be ob-
tained. Stella grew in grace rapidly and has had twelve grades for a num-
ber of vears. and also l)oasts one of the best and most complete average-
sized school buildings in the state, ^'erd<ln employs six teachers and Stella,
seven. In 1888 Salem built a three-room lirick building which aliuost im-
mediately proved inadequate for the needs nf the school. Since that time
two frame buildings, in different parts of the city, have been commandeered
for the primary and intermediate grades. Several efforts have been made
b\ the citizens to build a new building, but on account of the other heavy
taxes the proposal has each time been defeated. The school now has elevtn
.!L;rades. In 1884 Dawson was added to the list and bit by bit she has in-
creased her course until now she has twelve grades fully accredited. Six
teachers are on the facult\-. Preston and Barada have two-room buildings
and some years carrv nine grades and <nhers ten. Usually two teachers
are employed. It is not known exactly when Shubert became a high .school.
but in 1912, the eleventh grade was installed and a frame building was
])urchased for the primary grades. The citizens of Shubert are progressive.
l)ut are now paying the limit allowed by law for school purposes, so it ma\-
])c a number of years l)efore another grade is installed. Dawson has a
parochial school in charge of Fr. F. \. O'Brien, with three teachers. Rulo's
l)arochial school was not in session last year, but will have two teachers

RKHARnSON COUNTV. NEBRASKA. 33I

next year. The Falls City parocliial .school, under the management of Fr.
J. J. Hoffman, ha.s eight teachers and an enrollment of about one hundred
and fifty. Twelve grades are carried and full credit is given for the normal
training work. It is one of three sch<ools in this county able to secure credit
in this branch. The Dawson and Rulo parochial schools carry eight grades.
C. Merz teaches a German school in Ohio township, under the supervision
of the Lutheran church. Half the instruction is in German and half in
English. On another page will appear the names of the teachers of Rich-
ardson county for the school year 1917-18, also a list of the school officers
fur the same period.

THE PAST CONTRASTED WITH THE PRESENT.

In comparing- the schools of fifty years ago with the schools of toda\-,
one will be startled by the striking changes that have taken place. A perusal
of the lists of early teachers will reveal a large preponderance of men. but
slowly, as the years rolled b\-. fewer and fewer men volunteered their serv-
ices until today, in the rural schools, the proportion is twelve to one in
favor of the women. In fact, last year there were but nine men on the
list and this year the num!)er has diminished to eight, with several of
these eligible for the draft. A number of reasons are ascribed for this.
In tile first place, many young men seem to feel that they are not fitted
by nature to be teachers, especially where younger pupils predominate. I
concur in that view. Others feel that the work is not a man's task and feel
that it savors of housework. Others do not like it because it lacks per-
manency and leaves the individual without much independence. The great-
est objection is the poor wages. While the prices of the necessities of life
have doubled and tripled and then some, teachers wages have hardly been
aft'ected. Ten years ago I received from forty to forty seven dollars and
a half for my services. Today the standard is forty-five dollars to the
lieginner and fifty dollars after one has attained a year of experience. After
that it depends. A man feels that he cannot ec|uip himself for teaching,
work seven or eight months at fifty dollars a month and then be idle four
months. The young women look at the matter a little differently, yinny
of them feel that wages are only of temporary importance and are oiil}
waiting for tardy cupid to get busy. However, there is a trend toward
better wages and the teacher, male or female, who is worth it, will have no

]^^2 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

difficulty in obtaining from sixty to seventy dollars a month. In fact, one
or two rural schools are paymg from sixty-five to seventy dollars now.

In the early days, teachers taught without certificates or without taking
any kind of an examination. Later the county superintendent gave those
who desired to teach an oral examination, which was neither difficult nor
lengthy. \\'. A. Greenwald often tells about appearing l^efore a superin-
tendent, who was under the influence of John Barleycom, and hence was
not in condition to know who was present, let alone ask any intelligent
questions. Greenwald was fortunate and was not asked any questions.
Later, when he failed to receive a diploma, he wrote the superintendent
asking if he had not passed a satisfactory examination. In a few days, he
received his diploma with a statement of apologj' for forgetting to send it
and with a statement that he had passed an excellent examination and wa>
in every wav worthy to be a pedagogue. In the eighties and nineties the
county superintendents gave written examinations and corrected the papers
themselves. So many superintendents were charged with favoritism that
this method soon became unpopular. About twelve or fifteen years ago
the Legislature passed a law requiring that uniform examinations be given
over the state of Nebraska and that the county superintendent should mail
all the pai>ers to the state superintendent for correction, which is now done.
The teachers pay one dollar and a half as an examination fee. Fifty cents
of this goes to the state department and one dollar remains at home for
the institute fund. Three kinds of certificates are issued, first, second and
third. Gradually the third-grade certificates have been outlawed, until last
year there was only one issued in this county. Next year, there won't be
any issued. More first-grade and second-with-honor certificates w'ill be is-
sued than ever before. More teachers are attending summer school than
before. We have a vigorous campaign on for Ijetter teachers and as a result
we have better schools.

Each year an institute covering a week is held for the teachers and
at this time supplies are distributed and plans made and explained for the
year. Instructors who are experts usually are present and assist with the
instruction. The average cost of an institute is about four hundred dollars.
There is considerable agitation in favor of abandoning the week institute
and sul)stituting a one-day meeting with tlie county superintendent. This
will probalily Ije done next year. In addition, several teachers meetings are
usualh held duriu" the vear.

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 333

SOMETHING REGARDING THE CUKKICUI.UM.

Feeling that the study of spelHng had been neglected, 1 inaugurated,
last year, the county spelling contests, on which occasions the best spellers
in the sixth, seventh and eighth grades from each school in the county
gather at Falls City and have a written contest, after which suitable prizes
are awarded. Each time the interest has been excellent. This year I called
all the eighth-grade graduates over the county to meet at Falls City and
receive their diplomas. JMore than one hundred were present and it was
felt that the meeting was worth while. It will be repeated each year. Dur-
ing the fall of 191 7 a writing contest for every pupil in each grade was held.
The Palmer system is being installed and ought to produce excellent results.

Feeling that a uniformity in text-books is desirable, I issued a little
pamphlet containing a list of recommended books. .These were distributed
to the school boards and teachers. The schools are more closely graded
than formerly and a closer check is kept on the work. A course of study
is furnished to each teacher and she is expected to follow it closely.

Most of the schools are supplied with plenty of text-books, which are
purchased by the district. Most of them have an abundance of maps, globes,
charts, etc. Nearly all the schools have single seats and slat blackboards.
A number of schools are purchasing phonographs. Over fifty per cent, of
the schools have a Waterbury or Smith system of heating and ventilating.
District 48, while maintaining its organization, has been sending its pupils
to Falls City for a number of years. Districts 12 and 36, near Humboldt
have been sending their pupils to Humboldt. District 105 closed its doois
last fall and is sending its four or five pupils to neighboring districts.

Each year a school directory is issued giving the names of the teachers,
the kind of certificate held, years of experience and the salary of each. It
also contains a list of the names and addresses of the school officers, a list
of the transfers in force and the valuation of each district, in addition to
the mill levies. During the past two years exhibits have been .';ent to the
state fair and last year this county won a number of "firsts." This vear
(1917), a bigger and better exhibit tlian ever was sent.

In my opinion, the schools are on their way to progress and prosperity.
They have been slow in getting started, but the people are getting more and
more liberal and the school officers are co-operating loyally with the teachers
and superintendent in order to improve conditions. The progress of the

334 RICHARDSON COUNTV, NEBRASKA.

schools during the next score of years ought to be even greater than it has
been during the past twenty years.

HIGH DEGREE OF EDUCATIONAL EFFICIENCY.

Education promotes material prosperity. It quickens the moral and
intellectual life of the people and it leads to higher ideals of living. Rich-
ardson county has for some time taken this view of education. In laying
the foundation for and in developing a great commonwealth, our people
have never lost sight of the value 6f the public schools. Hence, while the
hostile Indians were being driven back, while the raw prairies were bein
broken up and being put into a state of cultivation, and while the onslaughts
of the grasshoppers in the summer and the coyotes in the winter were being
contended with, this ideal of a free education was the beacon light to the
early pioneers of the state, enabling them to see a future citizenship not only
rich and powerful, but enlightened, high-minded and true-hearted. These
early settlers laid the foundations. They fought the first and hardest battles.
But their sons and daughters, who several decades ago took their places, hokl
the same ideals and retain the same zeal for human betterment and happi-
ness. The early settlers gave Nebraska the lowest per cent, of illiteracy.
The present generation is striving to give the state the highest degree nf
educational efficiency. So here's to those who have the destiny of the
schools in hand! May they never swerve from duty and may they ever
be faithful to the trust that is placed in them. Someone has said : "The
ideal teacher is as wise as Solomon, as impartial as a telephone directory,
as untiring as a steam engine, as tender as a sore throat, as patient as a
glacier, as alert as a mongoose, and as rare as a lien's tooth.'"

OLD SCIiOor, TEACHERS EXTKRIENCES.
ISy KfV. JaiiH's S. Smitli

In 1870 the trustees of St. Stephen's school asked me if I would teach
their schools. They said die l)oys had run the tcirnier teachers nff. and that
they would probably give me tnnxble.

I repUed, that I would teach the sciiool on one condition; that the
tru.stees must agree before hand to back me up in what I might do in the
way of discipline. They asked me what I meant, and I said, "If I tell a bo\
to take .his liooks and go home, he must go."

RICHARDSON' COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 335

They finally agreed to stand by me. 1 recei\ed my certificate from ]•'.
M. Williams.

On the first morning of the school I explained the situation to the
school. I inade two rules: i. There is to be no swearing. 2. There
shall be no fighting. Any one too big to l^e whipped will be expelled.

"Now," I said, "3'ou young men can help me if you will. Your example
and influence will be a great help if it is good. Help me."

They did, and I had no trouble until the last day of school. Twn
boys about fourteen years of age made up a fake fight for me to see.
They reasoned, "He has company today, and will not whip us." When I saw
the fight, I told the boys to follow me to the house, which they did, and
I flogged them before the company.

On the way home that evening, John Cain. <ine of the Ijovs, said :
"W'c were not fighting, we did that to see if }-ou would whip us before
company."

On the last day Bob Gentry came to me and said. "The boys are going
to ride you on a rail, as a compliment. The rail will be across the door
as >()U go (Hit." I said: "Bob, will you help me?" He agreed, and I
told him my plans. I was the last one, along with Bob, to go out. When
we got to the door the boys said. "Get on and ride to the wagon." Then
Bob gave the rail a sudden push, the boys fell and I ran to the wagon,
stepped on the hub of the wheel and landed in the wagon before they cbuUl
catch me. Altogether we had a very jjleasant time, with no" "ether trouble
worth mentioning.

TRIP TO GAGE COUNTY BEFORE THE K.MI.RO.VD.

During the year I rode out to Beatrice, in Gage county, on a mule be-
longing to William R. Cain. This trip I was making in connection with my
work as presiding elder of the Methodist Episcopal church and had gone
there to see if I could find a congregation of our people there. The mule
in question was hard enough to catch, even in the stable.

There were scattered settlements on the streams and wide stretches
of wild prairie. On my return trip, when some forty miles from home.
I got off to rest and in my carelessness let the mule get away from me.
Down the road he struck for home and I though I was in for a fort>'-mile
walk. But the mule soon stopped to eat grass and I circled around him
and came up slowly to catch the bridle, the reins of which were dangling.

336 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Jii-^t as I reached for them, the mule jumped away and took oft down the
road for Irome. Again he stopped to eat grass and again I circled around
him and crept up to catch the reins. I made my spring and the mule made
his, but I had him this time. With a great sense of relief I mounted that
mule and stuck to him until we got home.

SALEM COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE.

That the desire for the general dissemination of knowledge took early
root among the sturdy pioneers who were most anxious to establish schools
of the higher order is shown by an act passed by a session of the Terri-
torial Legislature of Nebraska. The act was passed and approved on Feb-
ruary 10, 1857, and was for the purpose of incorporating what was known
as "The Salem Collegiate Institute.'" Section i of the act referred to
named the incorporators as follow : J. Cass Lincoln. John Brinegar, James
W. Roberts, Thomas H. Hare, Charles McDonald, Samuel Keiffer, Jacob
Coffman, Ewing L. Sharp and Joseph Yount.

Section 2 stated the objects contemplated as Ijeing: "To !)uild up
and maintain, in the town of Salem, Nebraska, an institution of learning
of the highest class for males and females, to teach and inculcate the Chris-
tian faith, and morality of the sacred Scriptures, for the promotion of the
arts and sciences." The above-named persons or any five of them were
empowered to constitute a board of trustees.

It is worthy of note that all of the above-named gentlemen were among
the very first settlers of the county, all became prominent in the early affairs
of the county and nearly e\ery one of them later served the county well
in ofificial capacities.

FALLS CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

.\s exemplary of tlie high class of pioneers coming to Falls City it is
with no small degree of pride that we record the fact that one of the first
things considered essential was the establishment of schools suitable for
the education of the young people. In order to do so calletl for great sac-
rifice among the people of that early time because of the lack of funds,
but it appears that as early .is 1858 there was a little scliool on Main street
in the village, taught by a Miss BarnunL

;CII. FALLS CITY.

PIONEERS OF UK'lIAi:

RH HARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 337

The scliool district was organized in 1859, with David Dorrington,
Anderson Miller and Thomas Mclntyre as trustees. F. M. Dorrington
was the first teacher under the new regime, and tatight the first school
during the academic year of 1859-60. The following year the first district
school house was erected a short distance southeast of the court house
scjuare. The new building, although a vast improvement on the various
makeshifts that had been in use previously, was far from an elaborate struc-
ture. It was solidly built and capable of housing far more pupils than
there was any immediate prospect of the town furnishing, but it was innocent
of paint, both inside and out, and its seats were not calculated to afford
Sybaritic pleasures. .\s the only public place where meetings of any sort
could be conveniently lield, it was constantly appropriated for various uses,
varying from the dignity of a court room to the uproarious mirth of some
minstrel performance. Through all these changes the building was still used
for its original purpose until about the beginning of 1875, when it was sold
and the proceeds invested in material with which to build a new and larger
structure. What followed is accurately described by Professor Rich : "Some
wretch, having neither the fear of the Lord before his eyes, nor the wel-
fare of youth at heart, stole all the lumber." Meantime the purchaser of
the old building had removed it to Stone street and put it in the service
of a business house. After nearly a year, during which time the district
owned no school building, the old school building was moved back to its
original place and repurchased by the school board. From 1865 to 1871.
the district school again occupied the building, and shortly after the latter
date it was purchased by W. S. Stretch and converted into a dwelling. In
its new location the remodeled shell, with all its historic memories, for
many years echoed to childish laughter and grief and pleasant teachings.

In the spring of 1870, prior to the final sale of the first school house,
it was decided to erect a new, large and more fitting building. This work
was done in the year 1870-71, at a cost of two thousand five hundred
dollars, Jonathan Spragins being the contractor. The new building contained
two departments, one on each floor, and was opened in the winter of 1871.
immediately after its completion. The principal of the school in that year
was D. O. Howe. Miss ?iIcGlashen became principal of the school, witlt
Miss F. Kingman as assistant, in the fall of 187^. .\t the same time the
school, already too large for its new t|uarters. overflowed into the basement
of the Episcopal church, where a third grade was organized, under tlie

(22^

3^8 KICIIAUDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

charge of Mrs. Olive Kline. Miss AIcGlashen held her position for two
years and was succeeded in the fall of 1872 by John Rickards, who found
it necessary to branch nut, and he created a fourth department, which was
taut,dit in the Baptist church.

In the spring of 1876, !\lr. Rickards resigned and was succeeded b)-
j. \\'. Johnson, who had for some time acted as his assistant, and who
completed the duties of the school year. G. W. Holland was elected prin-
cipal of the school in the fall of 1876, with Miss F. Kingman, Miss Delia
Lemmon and Mrs. Olive Kline as assistants. At the commencement of
their school duties, the building erected in 187 1 was used for all purposes,
but before January i, 1877, the high school and the grammar departments
were transferred to the then partly completed building, later in use for
all grades. During this year the small-pox broke out in a very virulent tyjic
in the town, and instituted a reign of terror that precluded for many weeks
the holding of any form of public meeting. Although fighting against ter-
rible odds, ?klr. Holland accomplished a fair amount of work and left an
enviable record.

In the summer of 1877, I'rof. W. Rich was elected to fill the posi-
tion of principal. At the time of his engagement the school labored under
man\ serious disadvantages, having no properly-finished recitation rooms,
and having greatly disorganized by the necessary irregularity of the pre-
ceding winter. It had, also, been under varied systems, incident to the
frequent change of instructors, who, although able, did not remain long
enough to mould the mixed material into a -specific form. Since the time
of his first election Professor Rich had been returned to his work each
vear up to that time and had been able to raise the standard of acquirement
necessary to a position in the higher classes to an enviable point. The
first-class to graduate under the standard then in force consisted of Miss
Wynona Wardell, Charles r.rahle, I'-llis O. Lewis and Sherman Cameron.
The school at that time had seven departments under the charge of the
following corps of teachers: High school, rrnf. W. Rich, principal; A.
Rus.sell Keim, assistant: second grammar school. Mrs. A. L. Sanderson;
first grammar school. Anna Schuckman ; second intermediate, Mrs. Olive
Kline: first intermediate, Mattie \\'illiams; second jirimary. .\nnie Smith;
first primarv, Hattie Stone.

RICUVKDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 339

CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING.

Falls City having been a live town for the twenty vears prior to the
advent of the railroad, was ripe for further advaneement when this new
method of transportation was brought to its doors and had experienced such
growth the need of substantial and commodious quarters for its school
population was imperative. Accordingly, in the winter of 1874-75, Edwin
S. Towle, at that time representing the county in the state Legislature, pro-
cured the passage of a siiecial act by which the district was authorized to
issue bonds to the amount of twenty thousand dollars, Ijearing ten per
cent., and redeemable in twenty years. On June 30. 1875, shortlv after
the i>assage of this act, a petition signed by Judge .V. J. Weaver, C. H.
Weaver, W. S. Stretch, .\. S. Fulton, C. S. Keim, John Hinton, R. A.
Wherry, J. H. Burbank and H. Leland, was presented to the board of edu-
cation. In accordance with this petition the board called a special meeting
to be held on July 9, 1865, for the purpose of examining the details of
the project and obtaining a vote thereon. After mature deliberation the
ballot of the electors was taken and the measure was carried by almost
unanimous vote, only two persons voting in the negative. The board of
education at once advertised for plans and specifications for the new struc-
ture, and on August 3, of the same year, accepted those furnished by L.
S. Steges & Company, of St. Joseph, Missouri, agreeing to pav two per
cent, of the contract price of the structure to die architects. On Septem-
ber II. 1875, the contract for the erection of this building was awarded
to J. H. Burbank on his bid of nineteen thousand dollars in bonds and work
was at once begun. The foundation and part of the walls were built in
the same year, and during the following season the building was enclosed
and part of the woodwork finished. In the summer of 1877 four rooms
in the west side, the office on the second floor and the stair and hall fixtures
were completed, and all given a single coat of pahit. Here the contractor,
after many disputes with the board, withdrew entirely from the work aufl
the finishing was done by the board, no formal surrender 1)eing made on
one side, or acceptance on the other. The structure was one of the finest
in the city and has been in continuous use every since completion. Tt
stands on the west half of block Xo. 100. between Fourteenth and Fifteenth
streets, and faces west. It stands two blocks east of Main or Stone street
and in the third square south from the court house s(|uare. It is of brick.

340 RTrriAKnsox corxTV, Nebraska.

with stone trimmings and basement of Stone, and is surmounted by a tower
that tends to lighten the lieavy effect.

DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH SCHOOL.

In 1877 I'rof. Wellington Rich was chosen principal and held the posi-
tion until 1883; after him came a number of worthy successors, well within
the memory of most of the younger generation. Falls City has had the
reputation of standing by her school superintendents and of giving them
terms of three to five years and even longer tenure; probably some of them
were retained after they could be used to advantage, for it is a demonstrated
fact that a school teacher, like a preacher, can stay too long in one place. The
public school system has always been a credit to the town. Not infrequentlx
the school building would become crowded and the district would enlarge
its plant. About 1875 the city grew rapidly and the schools had to be
held in rented buildings. At this time Edwin S. Towle represented this
county in the state Legislature and through him an act was passed giving
this district, No. 56, the right to issue bonds for the erection of the Cen-
tral high school building, as noted above. As the town grew, further demands
for room were made and the Harlan street school, with two rooms, was
erected. The town outgrew its three buildings and what was for long known
as the "new" high school buildiiig, at the north end of Stone street, was
erected, bonds being voted for the same. And yet again tlie rooms were all
tilled up and the third ward school building was erected on lots long owned
1)\ the city on South Harlan street. This latter building was built and jiaid
for at once bv a special levy made for the same.

.\t about this time the city found itself again short of room for stu-
dents, owing to the great increase of population, accounted for by the build-
ing of the Missouri Pacific shops and the consequent influx of many new
people. To satisfy the demand for more room a proposition was suli-
mitted to the voters to issue tends for the sum of sixty-five thousand d('llar>
for the building of a new high school Iniilding to he located on the !i>ts in
the blix-k north of the old Central ijuilding. The bonds carried and the
new building, which would lie a credit to any city of the size, was at once
erected by Bohrer Brothers, resident contractors. The work of erecting
this building was commenced in 1913 .ind was lirst occupied by students
in September, 1914.

iKDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. ;^4I

FALLS CITY HIGH SCHOOL ALUMNI.

The Falls City high school has reason to be proud of her graduates.
From 1880 to the present time over five hundred students have graduated.
In 1916 a iew of the old graduates became enthused and met at the high
school and reorganized the Alumni Association, which had been dead for
nearly twenty years; electing the following officers: Virgil Falloon, presi-
dent; Edna Spencer, vice-president; Allan Gilmore, secretary, and Arthur
Chesley, treasurer ; with the following committees : Executive, E. O. Lewis,
chairman; Chester McDowell, Myrtle Yocam, Virgil Falloon and Edna
Spencer. Membership, Alice Yoder, chairman; Andrew Cameron, Josephine
Gehling, C. L. Marts, Mrs. Everett Peckingpaugh, Lulu Crush, Grace Reavis,
Jesse Crush and Charleotta Blanding. Entertainment, Anita Wilson, chair-
man; Mrs. J. F. Leyda, Mrs. E. K. Hurst, David Reavis and Mabel Crush.
Reception, Mrs. L C. Maust, chairman ; May Maddox. J. R. Simanton, Mrs.
C. P. Fordyce and James Jaquet.

Following is a list of the graduates of the Falls City high school by
years :

Class of 1880 — C. J. Grable, address unknown; E. O. Lewis, Falls
Citv; \\'inona Wardell (Mrs. William Jones), Gates, Oklahoma: Sherman
Cameron, deceased.

1883 — Jessie Cameron (Mrs. C. Baker), Los .Vngeles, Cahfornia ; Mary
Campbell (Mrs. McLain). Leadville, Colorado; Grace Keim, deceased; .\n-
nette Newcomer, Des Moines, Iowa; C. B. Newcomer, professor of Ger-
man, Michigan University, Ann Arbor, Alichigan: May Maddox, Falls City:
Delia Meriam (Mrs. Fisher), Omaha; Emma \\ Stump (Mrs. Edwin Fal-
loon), Falls City.

1885 — Anna Clegg, Denver, Colorado; James Hooi>er, Chicago, Illinois:
Josephine Gehling, Falls City ; Nora Wormsley, address unknown ; D. D.
Reavis, Falls City.

1886— George Adams, Walla Walla. Washington; Dr. Will Boyer, Paw-
nee City, Nebraska; Mallie Newkirk, Los .\ngeles, California: .Vddie
Stewart, Vermillion, Kansas.

1887 — .Andrew Cameron. Falls City; John Ewalt, deceased; Nellie Gil-
man, Falls City ; Ralph Kerr, deceased ; Jennie Newcomer, address unknown ;
Blanche Norris (Mrs. I. C. Maust), Falls City: C. F. Reavis, Falls City:
Eva Scott, Falls City; E. H. Towle, Falls City; Grace Yutzy (Mr.s. D. D.
Reavis), Falls Citv: Nettie Wills (Mrs. Shugart). Lincoln. Nebraska.

34- RICHARDSON COUNTV, NEBRASKA.

1888— M3rta Reavis [Mrs. C. F. Reavisj, Washington, D. C. ; George
F. Abbott. Omaha; June A. Abbott, Omaha; .\Hce Cleaver, l-alls City.
IHorence Cleaver, Falls City; Vinnie Coleman (Mrs. W. T. FentonJ, Lincoln,
Nebraska; Agnes Dalbey (Mrs. Tipton), deceased; Fred Farrington, Falls
City; Lillian Farrington (Mrs: E. H. Towle), Falls City: Emma Boose
(Mrs. William Tucker), Techow, Fhanting, China.

1889 — Mamie Cain (Mrs. D. H. McCoy), Sioux City. Iowa; Xettie.
F'orney, Falls City; Lucy Hergesheimer," address unknown; Stella Lock-
ridge, address unknown; Jule Schoenheit, deceased; Edward Thomas, de-
ceased; John Towle, Omaha; Perry Williams, deceased.

1890 — Bert Boyer, Clarinda, Iowa; Frank Clegg, Excelsior Springs.
Missouri; Pauline Falsken (Mrs. A. Albach), Kansas City, Missouri; Susan
Gehling, Falls City; George Newcomer, deceased; Jennie Schuyler (Mrs.
Hill), address unknown; Eva Schock (Mrs. Hollenback), Denver, Colorado:
Ada Stretch (Mrs. Burt Coleman). ?ililes City, ^Montana; H. C. Yutzy.
Albert Lea. Minnesota.

1891 — Minnie Brown, address unknown; Neva Burnham, address un-
known; Sue Cain (Mrs. William Julian), Long Beach, California; Mamie
Cameron (Mrs. S. W. Marvon), Nephi, Utah; Chloe Culp (Mrs. H. F.
Lewis), Hooper, Colorado; Millie Jenkins, deceased; Mollie Moran, Kansas
City, Missouri; Theodora Richards (Mrs. James Mettz), Falls City; Chappie
Snidow (Mrs. Lawrence Wheeler), Falls City:'T. G. Thomas, deceased.

1892 — Mabel Abbott (Mrs. Charles Robbins), LaGrange, Illinois; Nellie
Cleaver, Falls City ; Thomas Coleman, Omaha ; May Day, address unknown :
Philo Heacock, deceased; Lois Keeling. Falls City; Maud Leekins (Mrs. H.
C. Yutzy), Albert Lea, Minnesota: John Martin. Omaha: Elizabeth Miller.
I'^alls City; Grace Saylor, Falls City; Fernanda Godtirnon (Airs. Will S.
Keim), Falls City; J. R. Simanton, Falls City.

1893^ — Valeria Babb (Mrs. Delos Graham), Dawson, Nebraska; Clara
Carney, address unknown; Lucinda Cordell (Mrs. Pennell), deceased; Zeno
Crook, Denver, Colorado; Maud Dorrington (Mrs. H. P. Kauffman). Lin-
coln, Nebraska; Ella Heckler (Mrs. B. Burdick). Durango. Colorado; W'\\\
Hutchings, Wallace, Idaho; Allan May, .\uburn, Nebraska: Clo Powers,
address unknown; Frank Schiable, Falls City: Maud Schock (Mrs. Will
Hutchins), deceased; Nellie Schock. Falls City: Cora Williams, Kansas
City, Missouri; Kit Wilson (Mrs. E. B. Booth), Albuquerque. New Mex-
ico: May VanDuseii. Falls City; George B. Holt, deceased.

1894— Daisy Abliot (Mrs. Charles D. Stanton). Falls City: John A.

RICH \KI)S().\ COrXTY. NKDRASKA. 343

Crook, Falls City; Lillian Dorrington (Mrs. Ed. Fisher.), Falls City; May
Dorrington (Mrs. J. C. Martin), Omaha; Nellie . Downs, Modesta, Cali-
fornia: Grace Keeling, deceased; Iva Kent (Mrs. Oilman. Chaptnan), Berlin,
Xew Hampshire; Ella ^liller (Mrs. John Ward), Tecumseh, Nebraska:
Jessie Morton (Mrs. James E. Leyda), Falls City; Ada Mtissellman, Coun-
cil Bluffs. Iowa; Albert Maust. Falls City; Ina Smith (Airs. T. J. Whitaker),
Falls City; Helen Stretch (Mrs. Ed Morgan), Strausville, Nebraska: Stella
Stretch (Mrs. Mike Sweeny). Golden. Colorado: Walter Thomas, Lawyer,
Omaha; Lawrence Weaver. Spokane, W'ashington ; Jennie Simanton (Mrs.
J. R. Pence), Falls City.

1895 — John Boose. Marrinette, Michigan: Myrta Bowers (Mrs. Jerome
Kiefer), Fahs City; Meda Carney, address unknown: Elizabeth Culp, Los
Angele.s., California; Margaret Custer (Mrs. R. R. Norton), San Francisco:
Nettie Fox (Mrs. C. S. Deaver), Miles City, Montatia: Charles Koehler,
address unknown: C. L. Alarts. Falls City; Pearl Lutz (Mrs. Yoder), South
America: Burton I. Reavis. Falls City; Edgar Thacker. San Franci.'Jco.
California; Verna Wagner (Mrs. Andrew Cameron), Falls City.

1896 — Alice Abbot (Mrs. Charles Ro we), deceased; Jennie Bucher (Mrs.
Clarence Smith), Falls City; Ada Fisher, St. Joseph, Missouri; Fred Keller.
Falls City; George Pickett, Fresno, California: Guy R. Spencer, Omaha:
Samuel Stewart, address unknown; Will Uhlig, Falls City: P. B. Weaver,
Falls Cit)-.

1897 — Anna Crook (Mrs. P. B. Weaver), Falls City; Thomas Elson.
Los Angeles, California; Elfie Foster (Mrs. Thomas E. Snyder), Chicago:
Clare Foster, Falls City: Pearl Beatty. Auburn, Nebraska; Meda Anderson,
address unknown; Edward Holbrook, St. Louis, Missouri; Nellie Holbrook
(Mrs. Charles Ball), Amarilla, Texas: Maud Jessen (Airs. W. A. Stewart).
Okmulgee. Oklahoma: Frankie Fox (Mrs. Charles Hood), Miles City, Alon-
tana: Kathleen Ryan, Kansas City, Missouri; Carrie Stettler, I'awnee City.
Nebraska; Maud Wylie (Mrs. .Mian May), .\uburn. Nebraska; Nellie Yutzy
(Mrs. Frank Uhlig), Falls City.

1898— Florence Boose (Mrs. J. M. Holferty), Pontiac, Illinois: Ada
Bowers (Mrs. F. L. Smith), Omaha: Ina Fergus (Mrs. Fergus). Hutn-
boklt, Nebraska; Zola Jones (Mrs. Simon Davies), South Dakota; Stella
Inskecp, Chicago. Illinois: Pearl Lawrence (Airs. August Unkle). Nickerson.
Nebraska: J<).sephine Graves. Wayne. Nebraska; Lois Spencer. Pierre, South
Dakota: Katherine Thomas, Omaha: Alabel Wilson (Airs. W. R. Boose).
Falls Citv : ATarv Wiltse, Falls Citv.

344 RICHARDSON COUXTV, NEBRASKA.

1899 — Laura Kirkwood (]\Irs. Howard Plumb), Reading, Kansas;
Ariel Mabel Macomber (Mrs. Thompson j, address unknown; Maud Mohler
(Mrs. Jonas Trimmer), Miami, Texas; William Schock, Falls City; Hal
Sowles, St. Joseph, Missouri; Florence Sullivan, Oklahoma.

1900 — Clarence Baldwin, Beloit, Wisconsin ; Clara Boose, Banning, Cali-
fornia; Walter Boyle, Memphis, Tennessee; Delia Gardner (Mrs. W. L.
Turner), Sterling, Colorado; Guy Greenwald, Falls City; Pearl Hartna,
Valley, Nebraska; Edna Holland (Mrs. Ray DePutran), Lincoln, Nebraska;
Minnie Jussen (Mrs. W. E. Kennedy), Okmulgee. Oklahoma; AVill Jenne,
deceased; Maud Maddox (Mrs. C. P. Fordyce), Falls City; Myrtle Pit-
tock (Mrs. W. H. Redden), Burbank. Washington; Weaker Veach, Verdon,
Nebraska.

1901 — Lettie Cain (^Irs. Dr. Von Oven), Spokane, Washington; Ed-
ward Durfee, Farmer, Falls City; Kate Heacock, Falls City; Clara Gagnon.
Falls City; Ralph Jenne, "Falls City; Elizabeth Naylor (Mrs. Thomas Hewitt),
Lexington, Nebraska; Hal Norris, Omaha; Pearl Prater (Mrs. C. E. Pea-
body), St. Joseph, Missouri; Bessie Schock (Mrs. R. L. Moore), Denver,
Colorado; Albert \^igelein, address unknown; Lilah ^^'illa^d, St. Joseph, Mis-
souri.

1902 — Elta Boose (Mrs. D. P. De Young), Mount Claire, New Jersey:
Dr. Harry Burchard, Falls City; Grace Bucher, Falls City; Iva Lowe (Mrs.
Morris), address unknown; Elva Sears (Mrs. E. 1'". N'incent). deceased.

1903 — Arthur Alexander, York, Nebraska; Mallei Greenwald, Falls
City; Beulah Greenwald (Mrs. Lee Huber), Wolf Point, Montana; George
Jaquet, Canada; Miranda Me3ers, Lucknow, China; William Schmelzel, Min-
neapolis, Minnesota; Stella Schock (Mrs. Glenn McMillan), Falls City; Edna
Spencer, State Bank, Falls City: Winifred \\'ertz. Alma. Ncliraska: .Mabel
Whitaker, Colorado.

1904 — Elizabeth Brecht (Mrs. C. C. Davis). l-"alls lity: Meeker Cain
(Mrs. Robert Neitzel), Falls City; Nellie Cain (Mrs. lulwin Hays), I-"alls
City; Guy A. Crook, Falls City; Alice Douglas, address unknown: Maggie
Fergus (Mrs. Fergus), Humboldt, Nebraska; Harry Gardner, deceased: Nel-
lie Emma Hanna (Mrs. Austin Crush), Falls City; John O. Hossack, Omaha;
-Mice Jaquet (Mrs. Fred K. Hauck), Canada; Mabel Lyford (Mr.s. Fred
Brown), Montana: George S. Lyons, Falls City: May Maddov (Mrs. Nathan
Reynolds), Lincoln, Nebraska: Laura Naylor (Mrs. (',. V. Cummins). I-all^
City; Stella Stone. Falls City.

1905 — Lena .\iken, address unknown: Ruth Aiken, address unknown:

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 345

Frank Boose, deceased; Earl Cline, Nebraska City, Nebraska; Jaiiies Coupe,
Omaha; Jacob Greenwald, El Paso, Texas; Fred M. Graham, Buffalo, Wyom-
ing; Mildred Holland, Falls City; Vesta Lively (Mrs. Ben Franklin), ad-
dress unknown; Anna Freshe (Mrs. Peter Toellmerj, Falls City; Kate Mad-
dox. Falls City; Stephen A. Mower, Falls City; Martha Meyers, Pasadena,
California; Una Snidow, Broken Bow, Nebraska; John Taylor, Des Moines,
Iowa; Alice Vogelien, Napierville, Illinois; Florence Wylie (Mrs. Everett
Peckinpaugh), Falls City.

1906 — Ethel Cade (Mrs. R. B. Simpson), Gering, Nebraska; Zetta
Camblin, Falls City; Nettie Cleveland (Mrs. F. B. Hall), Coaticook, Quebec,
Canada; Edna Crook (Mrs. E. K. Hurst), Falls City; Guy Ebersole, Elk
Creek, Nebraska; Reba Eversole, Elk Creek, Nebraska"; Edna Horrocks,
Falls City; Frank Nietzel, Falls City; Leah V. Poteet (Mrs. Earl Carroth-
ers), Falls City; Paul Lloyd Shaffer, Cedar Falls, Iowa; Ruth Schock,
Temple, Texas ; Anita Wilson, Falls City.

1907 — Edith DeMers, Falls City; Grace DeMers (Mrs. James), Oak-
land, California; Jessie Finley, Gordon, Nebraska; Ruth Heacock (Mrs
Kline), University Place, Nebraska; Lucy Lemon, Ravenna, Nebraska; Gert-
rude Lyford (Mrs. Lloyd Shaffer), Cedar Falls, Iowa; Grace Lyford (Mrs.
Fred Graham), Buffalo, Wyoming; Minnie Macomber (Mrs. Ralph Rhoads),
Falls City; Anna Mason. Colorado; Dorothy Morehead, Falls City; Har-
riett Plumb, deceased; Lillie Stump (Mrs. Price), Falls City; Inez Wachtel
(Mrs. Dill Cole), Peru, Nebraska; Dorothea White (Mrs. Judson Hill),
Sioux City, Iowa; Ramona Wilcox (Mrs. Frank Nietzel), Falls City; Harry
N. Cain, Cleveland, Ohio; Sterling A. Falloon, Chicago, Illinois; Bayard T.
Greenwald, Edmonson, South Dakota; James R. Jaquet, Falls City; John
R. Mason, United States Surveying Corps, Mexican border; Dr. Harry J.
Pittock, Alta, California; Lewis F. Rodewald, deceased.

1908 — Helen May Burchanl, Falls City: INIaude Helen Davies, Falls
City: Kathryn Margaret Meliza, Falls City: Ruth Dexter McMillan (Mrs.
George A. Martin), New York City; Dorothy Anna Miller (Mrs. E. H.
Sward). Falls City; Frances Mary Ramsey, Falls City; Nellie Jennings, Mis-
souri ; Oscar Rhoads, Falls City ; Lloyd Blaine Schock, Ft. Clark, Bracket-
ville, Texas: Edgar Schock, Falls City; Lili Belle Vogelien, Evanston. Illi-
nois : Myrtelle Belle Yocum. Falls City ; Mary Alice Yoder. Falls City : Blaine
Yoder, Falls City.

1909 — Blanche Armljrusler, Shubert, X'ebraska; Fannie Dustin Beaver,
St. .\nth(inv. Idaho: Maude Margaret Davis (Mrs. Jack Hutcliins), Conn-

i^'i RK'HARDSKX CnUNTV. XKHKASKA.

cil Bluffs, Iowa: May Edwidge DeMers (Mrs. Slump). Falls City; X'irgil
Falloon, Falls City; Mary Pearl Fields (Mrs. J. Karsten J, Minnesota;
Isham Reavis Gist, Humboldt, Nebraska; Gertrude Alice Gossett, Falls City;
Ra}' Graham, Falls City; Lulu Marie Crush, F'alls City; Fred Herbster.
Kansas City, Missouri; Nellie Myrtle Hossack (Mrs. George ^I. Hall), Falls
City ; Cinderilla Houston, Spokane, Washington ; Anna Wherry Lowe ( Mrs.
Roy Mastin), Seward, Nebraska: Lillus Ruth Lewis, Falls City; Gladys
Mae McDonald (Mrs. Miller), address unknown; Chester H. McDowell,
Falls City; Gertrude McDowell (Mrs. Bert Newall), Falls City; William
Archibald Paxton, Falls City; Hazel White (Mrs. Clyde Wait), Kansas City,
Missouri; Helen Resterer, Goodman, Missouri.

1910- — Elsie Bailey, Minnesota; Loretta Beaver, Seattle, Washington:
Ethyl Bohrer (Mrs. Earl Sullivan), St. Louis; JeanB. Cain, Falls City;
Sadie Daeschner (Mrs. E. R. Riebel), Detroit, Michigan; Edna DeWald
( Mrs. Vernon Mikesell ) , Lawrence, Kansas ; Helen Gagnon, Falls City ;
Florence Gerhardt, Flails City; Mary Jenkins, F"alls City; Ouinton Lively,
Falls City; Emma ]\L-ittill, Falls City; Florence McMahon. Preston. Ne-
braska; Florence Nietzel. deceased; Maybelle Poteet (Mrs. R. G. Wright),
Kansas City, Missouri; Lela Powell (Mrs. James F. Mullin). Falls City:
David Reavis. Jr.. Falls City; Ruth Reavis, F'alls City; Louise Rule (j\Irs.
Lewis Stillwell), Waukon. Minnesota; Gladys Ratekin, address unknown;
Helen Schock, Falls City; Merion Simaton (Mrs. Ried Burchard), Howe.
Nebraska ; Robert Steele, Falls City : Amos Yoder. Falls City ; Ballon ^Van-
ncr. Falls City.

191 1 — Thomas Coupe. Falls City; Faye DeWald (Mrs. ByraiT Ahern ) .
Shubert. Nebraska: Celia Dittmar (Mrs. Chester McDowel). Falls City:
Xenia Gladwell, Falls City; Jeffrey B. Horrocks, Falls City; James W.
Hutchins, Falls City; Robert Mason, Chicago. Illinois; Leon Norris, Lin-
coln, Nebraska; Rinice Nanninga, F"alls City; Lena Raniel, Mason City:
Grace Reavis, Falls City: Flora Shock, Falls City; Bertha Stumbo (Mrs.
Ben Martin), Odell, Nebraska; Bertha Trefzer. Falls City; Laura Trefzer.
Falls City; Ruth. Wilson, Falls City; Priscilla Woodring (Mrs. R. B. Heck).
Falls City.

1912 — Beatrice Bollman. Falls City: Edna Carico (i\Irs. Robert Wil-
liamson), Sabetha, Kansas; Ruth DeMers, Falls City; Nellie Craig. Peru.
Nebraska; James H. Falloon. New York City: Hazel Herzell, Falls City:
Camille Leyda, Crete. Nebraska ; Lucille Leyda. Walla Walla. Washington :
Helen Lvford (Mrs. Richard Dittmar). Hannibal. Mis.souri; Herbert Marr.

RICH \KM)S()N- COUNTV, NEBRASKA. 347

Falls City; Byrd AIcDoiiald, Falls City; Ruth Messier. Falls City: Florence
Parchen, Falls City; Anna Seff,' Sioux City. Iowa; Fred Thompson. Stella.
Nebraska; Bess Wilson (Mrs. F. R. Settle). Kansas City, Missouri; Amanda
Jorn, Verdon, Nebraska.

1913 — Leota Barton, Falls City; Bertha Deurfeldt, Falls City; Jillia
I'^rederick, Falls City; Grace Hays, Lincoln, Nebraska; Marian Horrocks,
Falls City; Elsie Kruse, Falls City; Constance Lyford, Lincoln, Nebraska:
Louise Lutz, Falls City; Mary Lemmon, Falls City; lantha Leyda, Lincoln.
Nebraska; Chester Lippokl, Falls City; Ruth Metzger, Falls City; Frank
Reavis, Ithaca, New York ; Glenn Russ, Shrevesport, Louisiana ; Irene Wacli-
tel, Peru, Nebraska; Martha Werner, Falls City: Ellen Wyler, Tiffin. Ohio:
Cora Zoellers, Falls City.

1914 — Helen Baldwin, Falls City; Eunice Bode, Omaha: Roy Bohrer,
Champaign, Illinois; Ruth Bohrer, Falls City; David Crow, Baldwin, Kan-
sas; Charles Gagnon, Falls City; Helen Gerhardt, Falls City; Anna Mar-
garet Gist, Lincoln, Nebraska; Ina Crush, Falls City; Jesse Grush, Falls
City; Gladys E. Holland. Falls City; Flora Hoselton, Preston, Nebraska;
Rutli Knickerbocker, Falls City; Marie Lichty, Ashland, Ohio; Beachy Mus-
selman, IJncoln, Nebraska ; Alverta Prichard, Falls City ; Arthur Schmechel.
Falls City; Lauretta Sheehan, Falls City; Louis Wirth, Peru, Nebraska;
Loise Young, Falls City.

1915 — Cecil L Bowers, Falls City; Herschel E. Bowers, Lincoln, Ne-
braska; Mildred L. Bowers, Lincoln, Nebraska; Lena M. Brackhahn, Falls
City ; Martha Daeschner, Falls City ; Kate Falloon. Lincoln, Nebraska : Murial
Field, Falls City; Albert Freshe, Beatrice. Nebraska; Helen McGerr. Lincoln,
Nebraska; Bessie E. Harris, Falls City; Richard J. King, "Somewhere on
the High Seas;" Ha M. Loucks, Falls City; William M. Maddox, University
Place. Nebraska; EInora M. Platz, Napierville, Illinois; Emett Prater, Falls
City; Wilbur J. Prichard, Falls City; Nellie W. Rule, Falls City; Martin
R. Scbnute, Falls City : Frances E. Vinyard, Falls City ; Charles P> Whit-
aker, Falls City: Helen G. Whitford. Falls City; Besse Lucile Wyatt (Mrs.
). Salem. Nebraska.

J 916 — Nina Shubert. Peru. Nebraska; Flora Ticknor, Bellevue, Ne-
braska; Ruby Casky. Shubert, Nebraska; Paul Frederick, Falls City; Ethel
Pearson. Falls City: Charlotta Blanding. Falls City; Joe Gagnon. Falls
City ; Wilma Russ, Shreveport, Louisiana ; Esther Abbey. Peru, Nebraska :
Bayard Clark. Lincoln. Neliraska ; Ed Fisher. Falls City; Edna Stalder.
Falls Citv; Mvrtle Dodds. Falls Citv: Iva Wood (Mrs. \\'. T- B. Norris).

34<^ RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Falls City; Syble Bowers, Falls City; Myrtle Xaylor. Falls City; Hildred
Harris, Texas; Matilda Mathews, Falls City; Louise Daeschner, Falls City;
Albert Weinert, Falls City; Florence Lyford, Falls City; Audrey Marion,
Falls City; Arthur Yost, Lincoln, Nebraska; Mable Yrush, Falls City; Alma
Mosiman, Falls City; Helen Kottman, Falls City; Stella Gates, Falls City;
Arthur Chesley, Falls City; Ruth Lichty, Ashland, Ohio; Velma Moss, Falls
City; Fay Hanna, Falls City: Allan Gilmore, Falls City.

TIIEY LET THEIR LIGHT SHINE.

The following advertisement appearing in the Xciiialia rallcy Journal,
published at Falls City, under date of Thursday, August 6, 1874, speaks
for itself :

HUMBOLDT HIGH SCHOOL.

Ric-Iiarclson County, Nebraska.

L. I'. HoyiL A. P...

Mr. A. I'. Uukefer, 1st .Vsst; Miss Martha Hillebert, 2ik1 As%'t; Miss Kate Cox, :ir.l Ass't :

Mrs. Kuel Niuis, lustrumeiital Music. J. G. Cox, M. D., Anatomy

and Physiology Lectures.

CALEXDAIJ.

Fall Term Seirteuiber 7tU. 1.S74.

Winter Term January 4tli, lS7.j.

Tuition, $2.40 per mouth, payalile to the Treasurer- on or before the miildle of the
second week of attendance. Music t-.xtra. l>is<i)unt in case of protractwl illness.

W. W. TruK. Tre.i surer.
Composition and DeclaiiiMtion will be iininTative studies.
X. B. :— For information .iddrcss tli.- Princiiial. llumboklt. Nebraska.

HISTORY OF Till-: 1 K' .M liOI.DT SCHOOLS.

In a history of the Humboldt schools, it is essential, in order to under-
stand the educational development, that consideration first be given to the
type of people who settled in the community. The pioneers, who possessed
themselves of the land here, were, as a rule, intelligent, having been privi-
leged to store their minds with much useful knowledge in their luistcni
homes; many of them were qualified to teach the youth in this new land and
so it was that almost simultaneous with the settlement, came the organi-
zation of the local school.

RICH \UnSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 349

In 1867, the 3ear in which Nebraska was admitted as a state and also
the year that the town of Humboldt was platted, the first school was organ-
ized. O. J. Tinker, together with several others, furnished the three hundred
dollars by means of which the school house was erected.

The one-stoy stone building standing at corner of Second and Nemaha
streets, on lot 8, block 5, original town plat, and used today as a cream station,
is none other than Humboldt's first school, known as the Grant school. It is
a very humble looking building to be sure, but one must look at it with some
reverence, when he realizes how important a part it once played in the life
of the community. It served not only as the school house, but also as a church,
town hall and opera house; in fact, it was used for every kind of meeting
which was held in Humlx>ldt or vicinity.

If we could go back half a century and on a spring afternoon steal a
glimpse through the open window of this school in session we should be sur-
prised to see the ten or twelve pupils seated on an uncomfortable looking
Ijench, which extended continuously along the wall. Above the children's
heads we notice a shelf upon which books and slates are piled; and in the
center of the room sits the teacher at her table, liefore her a small primer
class droning their lesson. There is no need to dwell upon the contrast
l)etween this and our present well-equipped school rooms; however tine
must not underestimate the splendid lessons learned under those former
primitive conditions. During the six years that this building was used for
school purposes, the following teachers served successively: Miss Linn, Ed
Tinker. Dr. Clover, Albert Therwood, Miss Helen Sterns and Uhri Babcock.

Humboldt's rapid progress and her increasing population now demanded
a larger school building. The people recognized this need, and realized,
too. the influence of good schools in attracting to the town a desirable class
of citizens. Accordingly, bonds were voted to the amount of three thousand
dollars, and the second school house was built. This can be identified today
as the Bohemian hall. Two years later an additional two thousand dollars
was voted in order to complete tlie building. Tiiis school, which served
the ci immunity for thirteen years, was a very, great improvement over the
former one. The seats were of the well-known double kind and much
more comfortal)le than the ojtl Iienches. The school was divided into grades,
the high school occupying the up-stairs room. The first superintendent
here was S. V. Boyd, who served from 1872 to 1875, and again from 1877
to 1879. Others who directed the work are: J. D. ^^'ood. Mr. Pomeroy,
Tnm Hitt, T. C. Sniutz and Miss :\rcGlashan.

350 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

During the last few years that this building was used, conditions were
so crowded that a small two-roomed building was erected to house the
lower grades. This was west of the main building. It is today the doul>le
tenement house, facing west on Nemaha street, in block 30, Luther Xim's
addition. The foresight shown in the planning of Humboldt's third school,
the one which to tts is the Humboldt school, is t|uite remarkable. Even with
changing conditions it has met the needs very well indeed. This building was
erected in 1885, at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars — a two-story brick struc-
ture, originally seventy feet by seventy-three feet, ground plan. In 191 3. an
addition was made, extending to the north. This contains two school rooms
below and the gymnasium above.

The year 1886 brought forth the first graikiating class of the Humljokll
high school, a class made up of five graduates. The alumni now number
two hundred and eighty-seven. No records of the earl}- years of the school
seem to be available, except fragmentary information to be found in old
files of the newspapers. The list of superintendents aiid the years of their
service follows: Mr. Chamberlain, 1886-89; ^^r. Leach, 1889-90; George
Chatburn, 1890-92; Mr. Carleton, 1892-93; Mr. Dinsmore, 1893-96; Arthur
McMurray, 1896-97; Mr. Cortelyou, 1897-98; Mr. Jones, 1898-1900; ]\Ir.
Crocker, 1900-02; R. L. Hoff, 1902-11 ; B. A. Burdick, from 191 1. Professor
Chatburn is now head of the department of applied mechanics and machine
design at the University of Nebraska. Mr. Dinsmore has given up teach-
ing and has taken tip banking in Ohio. Mr. Hofif is at the head of the educa-
tional department in Cotner L^niversity.

As a man is known Ijy the lx)oks he loves, and the friends he keeps,
so a community is judged by the character of its schools and the manner
in which they are supported. In this respect Humboldt stands well to the
front now as, in fact, it has always since the' first organization as a school
district. In 191 4 the Humboldt high school was placed upon the accredited
list of the North Central Association of Calleges and Secondary Schools.
This enables a graduate of tliis high school to enter any of the leading
colleges or universities of Wyoming, Indiana, Colorado, Montana. .Michi-
gan, North Dakota, South Dakota, Illinois, Iowa, Oklahoma. Ohio,
Minnesota, Nebraska and Missouri, without taking examinations. Only about
one-fourth of Nebraska's four-year high schools are doing the grade of
work to entitle them to a place on this list.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 351

THOSE WHO HA\'E SAID GOOD-BYE TO II I" M I'.Ol.DT HIGH SCHOOL.

The following is a list of the graduates of the Humboldt high school,
b\- years :

Class of 1886 — Ida Brockman Cornelius, Humboldt; Nellie Gandy
Timmerman, Seattle, Washington ; Lue Hilbert, St. Louis, Missouri ; Cora
Barngrover Boyd, Marquette, Nebraska; Eugenia Linn Perrin, Glenlea.
California.

1887 — Aretas R. Scott, Seattle, Washington; Howard Norton, Lincoln,
Nebraska; Ella Morton Beals, Los Angeles, California; J. M. Joseph, Renton,
Washington; Frank Snethen, Humboldt; Allie Cornelius, Humboldt; A. L
Babcock, North Loup, Nebraska.

1888 — Nellie Matten Brandow, Humboldt; Fred W. Sweeney, Wash-
ington, D. C. ; Carrie Hasness, Omaha ; Elton Nims, San Antonio, Texas ;
Lida Connor, Omaha; Fred Linn, Henderson, Montana; Roxie Lynch
Menzendorf, Lincoln, Nebraska; Claude Filson, Seattle, Washington; Lillie
William.son Metz, Hatton, Washington; Bert Esterbrook, Lincoln,
Nebraska; Homer Howe, Humboldt; Emma Berry Joseph, Renton, Wash-
ington; Ernest Walsh, deceased; Daisy Hilbert Linn. Henderson, ^Montana:
May Daigh Welch, Seattle, Washington.

1889 — Huber Morris, Sacramento, California; Allie Craig Ellis, Los
Angeles, California; Maud Filson Stroble, Nebraska City, Nebraska; Sophia
Uhri Koes, Salida, California; Myrtle Campbell Healey, Omaha; Frank
Novak. Omaha ; Viola Bush Chism, Humboldt ; Edith Miller Voeller.
deceased; Howard Jones, deceased; John Rothenburger, Humboldt.

1890 — Elivin H. Eyerly, Nortonville. Kansas; Lute B. Smutz, St. Lmiis.
Missouri; L. Daisy Eyerly, Nortonville, Kansas; Ella Wilson, Humboldt;
Alonzo C. Tinker, Coldwater, Kansas.

1891 — Ethelyn Glasser, Henderson, Arkansas: llert Kuper, Auburn.
Nebraska; Claude M. Linn, Humboldt; Persa Morris Weaver, deceased;
Lew Marburger, Humboldt ; Edward Wittwer, ^fountain Grove, Missouri ;
Mary Novak Truxaw, Riverside. Iowa ; Benjamin F. Revelle. Humboldt ;
Charles Robbins. LaGrange, Illinois; Lute B. Sweeney, deceased; Ora Tidball
Green, Carlisle, Iowa; Bohumil Wiesner, St. Louis, Missouri.

1892 — Charles Berry, Renton, Washington; Maggie Woods, I'eru,
Nebraska; Ida Wood.s. Peru. Nebraska; Grace Cooper McMurrav. deceased;
Minnie Rothenburger, Falls City, Nebraska.

1893 — Boyd Unkefer, Lestershire, New York; Beratha No\ak.

35^ RICHARDSON COUXTV, NEBRASKA.

Onialia; Ora Wittwer Linn, Humboldt; Frances Dewees Davis. York,
Xebraska; Mary ^^^illiamson Emigh, South Omaha; George Joseph, Ard-
inore. South Dakota; Lester Allen, address unknown; Frances Fry
.McDougall, Xokomis. Saskatchewan. Canada: Hattie Webster Madison. St.
Joseph, Missouhi.

1894 — Lottie Keedwell Patton, address unknown; Mary Strunk,
Hiawatha, Kansas; Susan Revelle Nelson, Mankato, Kansas; Kittie Cor-
nelius. Humboldt; Nellie Cornelius, Hum1x)ldt; Mrgie Hudson Avery,
Humboldt; Bessie Holman Howe, Humboldt; Jennie Butterfield Fergus,
Humboldt; Enid Bewick, deceased; Mary Lionberger Scott. Seattle. W'ash-
ington ; Gertrude fiird Trwin. Lincoln, Nebraska; Onia Fergus Johnston,
deceased; Orma Hull Kline. Lincoln, Nebraska; Nellie CHft Adams. Salem,
Xebraska; Charles Hummel. St. Louis, Missouri; Willard Hawley. San
Francisco, California.

1895 — Celia Revelle, Humlx)ldt: Lydia Reichers. deceased; Ida Morris
Wittwer, Mountain Grove, Missouri; Mary ^Morris Alexander. Dawson.
Ne1)raska ; Rose Novak Dworak. Chicago, Illinois ; George Tucker, Riverside.
California; Ludwig Skalak, Humboldt; Stanle}- Kramer. Tabor, South
Dakota; Charles Bracelin. Minneapolis, Minnesota; Joy Nims, Humboldt;
Delia Segrist Shirley, Humboldt; Mary Frank Tanner, Lincoln, Nebraska.

1896 — Rosa Till, deceased; Logan Cornelius, Humboldt; Ida Hall Gird.
Lincoln, Nebraska; Grace Sansom, deceased; Ray Hummel, Lincoln.
Xebraska; Pearl Hasness, Rathdrum, Idaho; Lottie McDowell Grinstead.
Humboldt; Orin Shrauger, Pawnee City. Nebraska; Mary Loenning Glathar.
Humboldt; Ella Johnston, Beaver City. Xebraska.

1897 — Minnie I'etrashek. Palstell, Montana; lone Norton Wolfe, Car-
son, Iowa ; Grace Xims Brown, deceased ; Rev. Cecil Phillips. Wamego,
Kansas; Claude Fergus, Humlx)ldt; James Ayers. \'erdon. Nebraska; Carey
K. Cooper, Elcentro, California.

1898 — Olin Hawley. .\uburn, Nebraska; Otis Unkefer, Fillmore. Cali-
fornia ; Bessie Cornelius. Huml)oldt ; Myra Shrauger Shallenberger. Stam-
ford. Nebraska; Minnie Clift Williamson. Humboldt; Daisy Morris l'"lliott.
Beaver Crossing. Nel^raska ; Lelia l-'rank Clydesdale, Gaylord, Kansas;
lunula Loennig INIcClintock. Mitchell. South Dakota; Kathryn Bracelin
Dennis. Lincoln. Nebraska; Sue Crawford A\'heeler, Falls City. Nebraska;
(iuy L. Cooper. Huniljoldt; Don Gridley, Diller, Nebraska; Howard Hawlev.
Auburn. Nebraska; Fmil Krasny. La Mesa. California; Archie Hummel.
St. Louis. Missouri.

PROF. C. F. CHAMBEItLAlX AND IVMI
SCHOOLS AT IIT.MI

UrXTENDENT OF

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

353

1899 — John Johnson, Omaha, Nebraska; George E. Lee, Seattle. Wash-
ington: Wayne Coons, Riverside, California; Charles Novak, Humboldt:
Margaret Bracelin, I-incoln. Nebraska; Ida Stalder Porr. Humlioklt : iMiinia
Novak Kotouc, Humboldt; Charles Speiser, address unknown.

1900 — Cass Wells, Vivian, South Dakota: Estella \Villiams(jn Sanford.
Humboldt; Persis Price, address unknown; Ada \'iets Winn, (".rant.
Nebraska; Anna Segrist Colhapp, Humboldt: Elsie Davis, Macon. Missouri:
-Vlwin Tinker. Coldwater, Kansas ; William McDougall. deceased ; Bohumil
Hnizda, Blue Rapids, Kansas : August Burrow, address unknown ; George

A. Hoagland, Humboldt: Florence Hawkins, address unknown: Bertha
Frank Myers, Humboldt ; Mary Hawkins, address unknown.

1901 — Zoe Nims, Humboldt; Helen Weisner, St. Louis, Mi.ssouri :
Grace Williamson Hunter, Humboldt; Matilda Klossner Gingerich. Hum-
boldt; Georgia Gandy. Nokomis, Sask., Canada; Eva Cooper Stanley.
Bremerton, Washington; Grace Colson, Humboldt.

1902 — Fred Riechers, Wichita, Kansas; Viola Houser Walker. Hia-
watha, Kansas; Minnie Hudson Mason, .Salem, Nebraska: Lulu Harding
Smith, Lincoln, Nebraska : Nellie Gandy, Nokomis, Saskatchewan, Canada.

1903 — Otto Kotouc, Huni1x)ldt: Dessie Lee Jacobs, Denver, Colorado:
Myrtle Stratton Craig, Argentine, Missouri; Lois Hummel, St. Louis, Mis-
souri ; Palmer Fisher, Washington, Kansas : George Hummel, St. Louis,
Missouri: Earl Beery, Renton, Washington; Gustav Herr. Humboldt; Rex

B. Craig, Argentine. Missouri; Rudolph Hnizda. Table Rock, Nebraska:
Milton King, Havelock, Nebraska.

1904 — Edward Hodapp. Curtis. Nebraska: Jennie Gravatt Rist, Hum-
boldt; Clara Garver Curl, Guthrie, Oklahoma: A\'ilma \\'right Marshall.
St. Edwards, Nebraska; Georgia Wells Hummel, Nokomis. Saskatchewan.
Canada: Nora Stalder Shrauger, Pawnee City, Nebraska: Maude Tosland
Xofsger, Humlxildt: Ralph Hummel, Humboldt.

1905 — George Petrashek. Waiser, Llaho; Joseph G. ^b)rris, St. Joseph.
Montana: Louise Power Stalder, Humboldt: Anna May Gravatt Miller,
Grand Island, Nebraska: Lloyd Stalder, Hum1x)ldt: Linnie Bemer.t Siiethen,
Humboldt; Fred Arnold, L^rbana, Ohio: Oakley James, Humboldt.

1906 — Garnett Murray, Spokane, Washington; Jessie Draper. Huni-
l)oldt: Herbert Ford, West Duluth, Minnesota. ^

1907 — Delia Oberly Porr, Humboldt; Emma Strauss. Humboldt:
l-lsther Maxwell Rist. Humboldt ; Roxie \\'ells Fankhauser. Humboldt ; Ralph
(23)

354 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

Cleon Beery, Reiiton. Washington: Lillie Oberly Schwertzfeger, Lincoln,
Nebraska; Alary B. Howell, address unknown; Hattie Cooper Travers.
Lincoln, Nebraska; Dell Parsons, Humboldt; Charles Watzek, Hunihcildt;
Patrick K. Walsh, Humboldt.

1908 — Harry Drieljelbies, Warren, Illinois: Wamia Zimmerman, Lin-
coln, Nebraska; Harry Boyd, Omaha. Nebraska: Alvin Porr, Humboldt;
Francis Klossner Eis, Humboldt; Ina Xeher \\'aclitel. Lincoln. Nebraska;
Genevra Lockard Warsham, Kansas City. Missouri; lunest Rist. Humboldt;
Marguerite Linn, Moscow, Idaho; Helen Allen Mann. Humboldt; Harold
Davis, Fillmore, California; Mildred Briggs, Sumniertield, Kansas: Mor-
ence Hummel, St. Louis, Missouri: Madge I'ord Lancaster, Pickrcll.
Nebraska.

1909 — Tom James. Humboldt; Emma Schwass. Humboldt; Nina Snow.
Falls City, Nebraska; Frances Hynek, Humboldt; Ruby Bash Reid, Hum-
boldt; Anna Brier Weber, Russell, Kansas; Vesta Cass. Crofton, Nebraska:
Morgan Walsh. Omaha; Cahert Edwards, Lincoln. Nebraska: lunma ( )rr.
Humboldt.

igio — Daisy Albright Morris, St. Joseph, Montana: Nettie Wozab. San
Francisco. California; Nellie Rist Cernohlavek, Falls City, Nebraska: Hattie
Dorland, Humboldt; Cecil Youngman Puis, Holbrook. Nebraska: I'lorencc
Hosford Faust, Pittston, Pennsylvania; Helen Smith Newton. Hun)boldt :
Alfred Rist, Humboldt; Sam Zimmerman. Lincoln. Xel)raska; lioyd ki>t.
Humboldt: Mittie Gridley Sollenberger. Fairbury. .Xebraska; l'"a\e Sanfonl
Davis, Fillmore California.

191 1 — Zora Marble, Ke.shena, Wisconsin; Rose Hnizda. Humlxildt;
Olga Holechek Biggs, Hiunboldt; Morton ^'oun,t:nian. Humboldt: Rose
Wozab, Omaha; Eleanor Williamson, Humboldt: Lois (Iridley. Humboldt;
Bessie Little, Humboldt; Paule Walsh, Omaha; Ivoy Rist. deceased,

1912 — Abagail Parsons, Humboldt; Harvey M.inn. Humboldt: (.ladxs
Boyd, Humljoldt; Clinton Williamson. Htimboldt ; i-Joss Morris. I luntli. .Idi :
Ellen Cope, Dawson, Nebraska.

1913— Charles Bement, Lincoln, Nebraska: Hazel Ciraxatt. ilunibojdi;
Pearl Kinter, Humboldt; Lillian Butterfield. Humboldt; b'.lsie Smith, liuni-
boldt; Sophia Uhri. Humboldt; Bessie Klos.sner, Huml)i>ldt; Esther i'ricke,
Papillion. Xebrasl^; Oleta Youngman. Salem. Xebraska; Rudolph l"is.
Humlioldt; Roy A\'illiam,son, Humboldt; William Hynek, Hiniiboldt ; Ruth
Hendricks. Humboldt; December Babcock. Humboldt: Marv McKee. linui-
boldt.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 355

1914 — Melvin Ford, West Duluth, Minnesota: Dean Snetlien, lluni-
lx)ldt; Alfred Wissler, Humboldt; Errold G. Bahl, Lincoln, Nebraska: Otto
Petrashek, Humboldt; Arlo Coons, Dawson, Nebraska: Roland Bash, Hum-
boldt: Ransom Davis, Jr., Humboldt; Margaret Griffith, Salem, Nebraska;
Bessie James, Humboldt; Alary Petrashek, Humboldt; Juanita Brown.
Humboldt: \'era Biggs, Humboldt; Gertrude Seits, Humboldt: Hazel
Snethen, Humboldt; Marie Smith, deceased.

THE FIR.ST PUBLIC SCHOOL IN KICHAKUSoX COUNTY.

The first public school in Richardson county was built of logs, each
patron contributing a certain number. It was located a little south of the
present school in district No. 82 and was built in the spring of 1S57. The
first teacher was George Walman, who had recently come from Tcnnes.see.
Fifteen students were enrolled. T. C. Cunningham, now living at Shubert,
and formerly sherifif and district clerk of this county, attended this scho(jl.
as did the six Goolsby children, Lizzie, afterwards the wife of Levi Hitch-
cock, and who died in 1865 ; George, of near Shuliert, and Mark, of near
Falls City; Allan, who died in 1877; Sarah, who married \V. H. Clark and
died in 1882, and Ap, of \^erdon. Alary and Cordelia Misplais returned
with their parents to Illinois, The former was married, but after that all
trace of them was lost. They were the only ones of the entire school who
did not marry and settle in this county. John Harkendorf, another ini])il.
died in 1866. His brother Fred still lives on the old homestead near balls
Cit)'. Sophia, their sister, married A. J. b^alsken and had two children.
John and Charles, now living near Falls City. The abo\e was taken from
an early publication and is presumed to he authentic.

ORGANIZATION OF THE SCHOOL DlSTiacTS.

Previous to the year 1869 the school districts of this county were num-
bered as the road districts later were numbered, viz : beginning at tlie nortlu
east corner of the precinct .afoing- west, south, then east. In the vear i8f«)
they were renumbered and like the sections began at the northeast corner
of the county with No. i, going west to the Pawnee county line, then
east and west alternately to the southea.st corner of the countv at Rulo.
Both the old and the new numbers were at first given until the peojile became
familiar with the new numbers. This latter work of renumbering took
place under the superintendency of F. M. Williams.

i,^(> RU'IIARDSON COUNTY. ^■ ICMRASKA.

District Xo. 3 — In 1866 Mrs. Amanda INlcCabe, then Miss Amanda
Davis, moved with her parents, Mr. and ^Irs. IVIatthias Davis, to the dis-
trict now known as the Ankrom school, or district No. 3. There was no
organization of a district and no school, so Mrs. Mathias extended the
use of her kitchen, which was accepted, and that winter Miss Matilda Winder-
venter taught the school and boarded with Joseph Noel. She had about
twenty pupils. At that time they used slab benches. An old cookstove
was borrowed, and the parents of the children would bring the necessary
wood for fuel. The house was a double log house, weatherboarded, lathed
and plastered and two rooms of frame on the east, one of these was where
the school was held. There was a porch on the west end and a fireplace at
l)oth ends. The house still stands as a relic of earlier times. During the
following year a school* house was built and the district permanently or-
ganized.

District No. 4 — This district was organized in 1867 ^^ith the following
officers : J. P. King, L. K. Barnes, and S. E. Slocum. The first school
district was named King because several of the King family were living
in that community. The first teacher was Miss Phoebe A. Slocum, who
taught in 1867 for twenty dollars and boarded at home. She was followed
by Frank M. King, Mrs. J. M. Wheeler, of Shubert, taught in 1868 and
J. W. Shubert, in 1870. Some of the other early teachers were Miss Mahala
Cooper, P. B. Ruch (now living at University Place), Mrs. L. K. Barnes,
Mary Bagley, Mary Linn, George Cornell, Ben Lorance, Ltiella Ford, Thomas
Hitt, Thomas Ouiggle, A. B. Mutz, Ida Pattison, \\\ E. Slagle. Jennie
Thompson (of Stella), Mollie Scott, Gamma Hall, Anna \^each, Ora Marsh,
Myrtle King and Fannie Harper. One teacher. Miss Olive Clark, died
while in the district. The new school house was built in 1879 and the
name was changed to Walnut Grove. It cost about one thousand dollars.
The largest number of pupils attending at one time was sixty. The wages
ranged from twenty to fifty dollars. It is said that in the early days,
when a school-girl appeared in a program attired in male clothing, the dig-
nity of the patrons was severely shocked. Another incident is recalled of
the early days, when J. P. King, now deceased, was treasurer of the dis-
trict. There were no banks nearer than Falls City and all money had to
be kept in the house. Robberies were common and the white desperadoes
were more feared than the worst Indian. Mrs. J. P. King tells of a white
man, quite respectably dressed, applying for the school one afternoon. Her
woman's intuition warned her that all was not well, so she persuaded !\lr.

RlLUAKDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 357

King to prepare adequately, which he did, in the sight and hearing of tlic
stranger, who asked to remain all night. Next morning he left with a
scowl on his face and his hat pulled well down and forgot to say anything
more about the school. Mrs. King has always been a believer in preparedness
since then. The first Christmas tree ever set up in that part of the county
was displayed at this school house when the second building was completed.
I am indebted to Mrs. J. I'- King and Mrs. ^^'illianl Fish for mucli of the
above information.

District No. 5 — The hrst school was held in what is now known as
district 5 in 1861. School was held in a small house buih and afterwards
deserted Ijy a squatter. Dan Higgins, of Shubert, and three sisters and
two lirothers of Morg \'andevanter were among those attending the lir-^t
school, which was taught by H. D. King, father of E. D. King, now en-
gaged in the automobile business at Lincoln. The salary was about twenty-
five dollars, which was paid by the parents sending pupils to school. Mr.
King boarded with the \arious patrons. No school was held in 1862, Inn
in 1863 Mrs. Louis Turner conducted school in her house. In 1864 Maggie
Vandevanter, now living at Red Cloud, conducted school in Captain Hen-
derson's kitchen. Henry Parch taught in the same school in 1865 at the
same place. In 1866, a school district was organized in Nemaha county,
about one and one-half miles from the county line. Henry Parch taught
this school and in 1867-68 this school was taught liy J. L. Slocum of the
Richardson County Bank of Falls City. District 5 was organized in 18! 17.
but the, school house was not built until 1870, when it was erected a mile
east of the present location. .Charles Pealx)dy taught the school in 1S67.
which was still held in Captain Henderson's kitchen. W. W. James, of
Shul)ert, attended this school. The country was very sparingly settled and
the attendance was small. The first director was J. T. James. In 1868 (n)
school was held in Web King's shanty and the teacher was Mrs. James
Kinton, living near Shubert. In 1870 David R. Jtines. now deceased, donatetl
the ground for the first school house. Mrs. James Kinton taught three years
in succession. The attendance began to increase until 1875, when it was
over si.xty. Other teachers were Miss Rose King, Mr. Schockey, Mr. and
Mrs. Norman Catlin, Whitney Cook, Maggie Penny and Emma Shoutz.
Earlv school officers were J. T. James, Warren Parch, Alexander McGechie.
Charles P>right, J. W. Davis. Web King, D. N. Jones, J. Kinton, Charles
Pond, M. A. Veach and \\'. ^^'. James. In 1884 the district was subdivided.
Shubert was growing in numbers and wanted a school in town. District

35'"^ RirilAKDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

]i)2 was organized Ijy taking sections i and 12 from district 5. At auction
district 5 sold their building to Jenkin James and he sold it to district 102.
It was moved to Shubert and for many years was used as a school room.
Later it was sold to Harvey Harmon and during nearly a score of years
it has been used as a feed store. In 1885 district 5 built a new school house
on the present site, AI. A. Veach donating an acre of ground. The school
is called Pioneer, because of its early history. It is a good building, well
e(|uipped and one of the standard schools of the county. David Jones and
Don Higgins are the sources of information on which this brief history of
district 5 is based.

District Xo. 9 — (By Mrs. P. O. Avery). This district was organized
in the seventies and the first school house was erected in 1875. The hrst
teacher was Hannah Elwell. The teachers who have had charge of the
school are as follow : Hannah Elwell, Creighton Morris, Flora Pool. George
McKean, Henry Poe, Dora Skillman, Perry Ailer. Ina Parker, Allie Craig,
Josie Morris. Georgia Morris, Mary Morris, Daisy Morris, .\nna .\t\vood.
Bell Gavitt. G. M. Fisher, Bell Newcomer, .\lbert Sargent, Ashford Kelle>-,
Harry Lenglebach, Lina Shirley, Lizzie Jones, Emma Beery, Cora Leech,
.Xellie Clift, Ollie Shurtleff, Maud Montgomery, Will Atwood, Xellie Leech,
Pearl Hasness, Allie Hoagland, Rose Beals, Nellie Davidson, Jessie Mc-
Derniot. Mary Wiltse, Helen Allen, Daisy A11)right, Helen Smith, Eva
Spencer, Mary Lutz and Mary Van Campen.

The school house was eventually sold and moved and tiie district was
consolidated with three other districts. Oak Grove. Bratton and Sunnyside.
The consolidated school is called the Bratton Union school and is a fine
brick building erected in 1916. Eleven grades are now taught.

Miss Ina Parker was teacher at No. 9 during the winter of the \er\
se\ere blizzard of January 13, 1886. She was boarding at Grandma Shroyer's.
a good half mile from the school house. She nearly succumbed to the intense
cold, but assistance came before she reached home. The teachers boarded
with Grandma Shroyer, who was loving and motherh- to them nil. the
family all joining her in making the home pleasant for the teacher, 'ilic
dear old lady only charged them one dollar and fifty cents a week fur tiieir
board and sometimes did their washing. The following teachers arc living
in the county: George McKean, Mrs. Mary (Morris) .Alexander. Mrs.
Helen (Allen) Mann. .Mrs. Helen (SmitlO Stalder. Mrs. Nellie 1 Leach i
.\very. Mary ^Viltse and .\lbert Sargent.

District No. 10 — District No. to was org.-inized in 1868 and comprised

KICIIAKDSON COrXTV, NEBRASKA.

359

the nortlnvest quarter of l-'ranklin township. The first school board was
composed of H. M. Preston, Ahner Dolby and J. S. Bowers. The school
house was built in 1870 and is still standing. The first school w^as of three
months duration and was taught by Cornelia Gridley, who received thirty
dollars a month. This was the winter of. 1870-71. The next winter Alpheus
Scott taught a three-months term at thirty-five dollars. The next \\inter,
1872-73, a three-months term was taught Ijy Saxton Chesebro, at fortv
dollars. Then followed .\nna Stewart, at twenty-five dollars. She lived
eight miles away and rode to school on a pony. Xext came August Frank
and Ada Sowle. The latter is now Mrs. C. 1"). (Iridley and is the oni\-
teacher that the district has had, who is now living in that neighborhood.
Mr. Gridley says in his article: "V\^e have had all kinds of teachers, vet
all were good; some for something and some for nothing." Several parts
of the district have been detached at different times. Mr. Gridley savs that
the district has never produced any bright and shining lights, yet he does
not recall that any have ever proved a disgrace. The attendance is now
hardly large enough to make a good-sized family.

District No. 11 — Before the present school house in district No. 11
was built, which was in 1876, school was held in a house about one-half
mile east of where the present building now stands, (^nly one school house
has been built. The first teacher was a Mr. Fowler, who not only was a
good teacher but an excellent practical farmer. George Snoke w'as a be-
ginner at this time and did not know much about farming. Mr. F'owler
assisted with the work and earned free Ijoard and lodging in that way.
The teachers who succeeded him paid two dollars each week for jjoard.
Some of the other teachers were Eva Gentry. Mollie Bratt, Jessie Davis.
Minnie \\'ilson, Messrs. Howley and Carrol, Miss I.ockard, Mrs. Isham.
Uri Babcock, Miss Wells, Georgia Morris, Ida I-'owler, Daisy Halbert,
Anthony Day, Etta Campbell. Ella Mordon. Misses .Vbbott and Alli.son,
Jerome Wiltse, Messrs. Lively and Fisher, Misses Keedwell and Bracelin,
Minnie Clift, Emma Loening, Grace Bain, Nellie Snoke, J. G. Dodds, P. K.
Walsh, Sam Zimmerman, Lois Gridley, Oleta ^'oungman, Gustav Herr,
Emma Staus, Audrey Wileman and Juanita Brown. George Snoke has
kindly furnished most of the above information.

District Xo. 14 — School district No. 14 was organized on June _',
186(5, '\v Supt. I". M. \\'illiams. - Members of the first board were Tolui
Tighe, director; A. j. Fium. moderator, and Reuben Hill, treasurer. The
first school house was built in 1871 and the second in 1890. The iirst

360 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

building was not adequate to the needs of the thstrict. It measured t\vent\-
by twenty-four feet and cost six hundred and sixty-eight dollars. The
building now standing cost one thousand dollars and measures twenty-six
by forty feet. It is one of the best buildings in the county and is 1x"autifull\
located. On August 10, the number was changed from 4. to 14. The list
of earlier teachers follows: Al. E. Linn, Belle Osborne, Helen DeW'ese
(now Mrs. R. R. Draper), Luzetta Bray, L. N. Mills, Helen Burr, Belle
Paterson (now Mrs. John Cornell), W. U. Snyder, Allie Lockard. Annie
Worley, Bettie Wilkinson, Mary Cole, John Davis, A\'. S. Jones, L. A. Sells.
J. M. Evans, L. Wilkinson, Nina Gentry, S. L. Mains, B. F. Cniok, R.
Cully, Anna Smith, C. W. Stratton and F. Stoltz. Those who assisted in
the organization of the first school were John Tighe, Alurtey Tighe. A. J.
Flum, Reuben Hill, George Smith, W. W. Fields and E. C. Hill. All
have passed to the great beyond but George Smith. In 1873 Geurge Smith
was elected treasurer and held the office until 1889. The first school census
in 1869 found thirteen persons of school age in the district. The largest
census ever taken was in 1879, when sixty-nine were enumerated. George
Smith was elected director in 1889 and held that position until 1909, when
he moved to Dawson. He was a school officer for more than forty years.
I'^or many years Mr. Smith was a supervisor and commissioner of this
county. During the past fi au" \ears he has been county assessor. We
are indebted to Mr. Smith for much of the information embodied in this
paragraph.

District Xo. 16 — The first school ever taught within the boundary line
of district Xo. 16 was in a log house one-half mile east of the Cupola school
house. l)y Miss Jane Cooper, in 1862, and another term in 1864. The third
term was taught by Miss Francis McLain, in 1868, in a log house near
Sardine creek. In 1870 A\'. W. Abbey, county superintendent, appointed
John Parker, William Osmon and G. B. Patterson as school officers until
the regular meeting time. In 1871 Francis .Shaw taught a spring term in
a house which stood near the present home of W. S. Mar.sh. On the first
.Monday in .\]iril. in 1872, a school meeting was held at Mrs. Parker's
house, at which time it was decided to build a school house. Mrs. Parker
offered to donate I)\ tlced one acre of land for the school site, which was
accepted and the present site is still used for school purjtoses. It was de-
cided to build a building eighteen by twenty-eight by ten feet, witii a l)elfrv.
eight windows and so forth. The contract for the building was let t<i
diaries lienderson. The hciiise was not completely finished with lath and

KICItAKDSOX COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 361

plaster until 1878. The house cost six hundretl and hfty dollars. Some
of the early teachers were Libbie Conrad, Anna Bagle\-, Mattie Jones. Mis.s
G. A. Lacy, Ida Cornell. Lucinda Marsh, Hattie Wood, Belle Patterson,
Harriett Ruch, Sadie Ross, Flora Huff, Delia Alerriam, H. H. Levey,
Rebecca Cully, C. A. Watkins, Belle Parsons, F. E. Xorthup, Lulu Col-
glazier, George W. Morris, Winnie Watkins and Ora Marsh. This school
can boast of at least two county officers on its school faculty. Li August.
1892. the first school house was blown down during a severe storm ant!
conipletelv destroyed, with most of its furniture. In the same month a
meeting was held and it was decided to rebuild the Ivuilding, making the
new dimensions eighteen by thirty-six by ten feet. G. W. Morris was em-
ployed to build the school house and also was elected to teach the first
school in the Jiew building. This school house is still one of the best build-
ings in the county.

District No. it, — Mrs. George Linsacuni is author of the following state-
ments. District No. 23 was organized in 1862 and the first school Ikusc
was located one mile west of the present location. Mrs. Linsacuni was a
I'jupil of this first school, which was conducted in a log school house. Pro-
fessor Williams, afterwards county superintendent, was the first teacher.
William Parchen was the next teacher. Twelve attended the first school.
A postoffice was estal)lished in this neighborhood and Profes.sor Williams
was the postmaster. The settlement was named Williamsville in honor of
-Mr. Williams.

District Xo. 24 — (By M. A. Arnold). The first school was held in
this district, in 1872. at the home of Henry Nesbit, who resided about three-
fourths of a mile west of the present school house, and a three-months
term of school was taught by Aliss Ella Spickler. The teacher's salary was
raised by subscription at three dollars per pupil and the enrollment was
about fourteen during the first term. The two succeeding terms were of
four months each and were taught at the home of Jacob Arnold. In i87<)
a school house was erected — a frame building eighteen by twenty- four feet,
which was .subsequently sold to Jacob Arnold, in 1876, for twenty-fi\e dol-
lars. This house still stands on a farm one-quarter of a mile west of the
present school house. The new building erected was twenty-six by thirty-
six feet in dimension and co.st to build, six hundred- dollars. It is still
standing. The first school board was composed of the following men :
Jacob Arnold, Henrv Xesbit and Charles Spickler. During the early years
the school terms were from two to four months in length and were held

T,()2 RKIlAR[)Sf)N COTNTV, NEBRASKA.

at any time during the }ear. G. \V. .Marsh, now a resident of Lincoln,
taught this school in 1881. H. M. Lint was the teacher in 1886 and re-
ceived a salary of thirty-five dollars a month for a term of four months.
I'^annie Birdsley taught in 1887; William E. Slagle had charge in 1888;
G. W. Stump, 1889-91; J. R. Reed, 1891-92; George Martin, 1892-93; L
T. Peck, 1893-97; I^- J- D'lnn, 1897-1902; C. E. Benson, 1902-03; Daisy
.\rnold, 1903-04; Nellie Arnold, 1904-05. Others were W. J. Cavin. Vesta
Lively, .Mice Yoder, Marie Dodds, Ruth W^heeler, Tola Wiles. Fred Meinzer
and Mary Kean.

The discipline in the early days was difficnlt at times, on account of the
larger Ixiys wanting to have their own way. The teacher generally settled
the disputes satisfactorly to all, although it was sometimes necessary to call
in the school board. The present district moderator, R. Faller, has held
the office for seventeen years and his father held office three years previously ;
the son taking his father's place upon the latter"s death. George Martin,
who taught here in 1892-93, is now one of the prominent educators of the
state. The site of the school was deeded to the district by Jacob Arntjld and
wife.

District Xo. 26 — The early history of this district "runneth back to the
time that men knoweth not of," for it is not known when the district was
organized, who the first school officers were, when the first school house
was built, nor who the first teachers were. The first record that is known
dates back to 1862, when school was "kept" in an old log- house that soon
liecame too small and in 1864 a new house was built, with two stories, at
a cost of three thousand dollars. At one time there were so many in the
district that desired instruction in Orman that two schools were held. Eng-
li.sh was taught on the first Hour and German on the second. Following are
the names of a number of the earlier teachers: .Mice Walter, Mr. Massock,
Mr. Ginter, W. R. Thorndorf, H. H. Brunstetter, B. V. Cling, J. F. Layson.
.\manda Sellers. J. Plouing, C. F. Cain, Thomas Cain, G. \\. Munson, J. \'.
Anderson, Lizzie Anderson, C. B. .Schaeffer and Mary 1'".. Danner. .\t an
early day Arago was the leadmg point in the county because of its pro.ximity
to the Missouri, in the days of steamboat navigation. Information is not
available as to the time when the present school house was built, flowever.
it must have been many years agn. as the district will soon need a new
building and more e(|uipment.

/district Xo. j~ — This school district was organized on januar\- 14.
i8r)i;. and the following officers were elected: Henr\- I''isrher, directi^r;

HICU VRDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 363

Charles Pribl)eno, treasurer; Maurice Lang-don, mo(lerat(ir. The school house
was built the same year. It measured eighteen by twenty-six feet and cost
five hundred dollars. h'ollowing are some of the earlier teachers: H.
Brunstetter, John Teeter, David Noyes, Mr. Zonhesier, Ellen Raleigh, Emily
Shore, Emma Lawrence, Miss McCowen, Maggie Stewart, Sopliia Gehling,
John and William Leonhardt, Susan Gehling, Mable Abl)ott and Mina Dan-
ner. Henry Fischer, of this district, served in the Nebraska Legislature as
re])resentative in 1885.

Pisfn'cf Xo. 31 — District Xo. 31, in Ohio precinct, was organized in
the vear i8ri9, and the following ofificers were elected: A. B. Foutch, di-
rector; W". H. Mark, moderator; B. C. Zumbrunn, treasurer. In the spring
of 1S70 the school bnard decided to have a school. The building to be used
for the purpose was an old house used jointl}- by this district and district Xo.
yj and was known as the Allison school. It was located one mile south
of where the present building is situated. Charles F. Pealxxly taught several
months in this building in 1870. In April, 1870. the school board decided
to build a school house for district No. 31 only, to be twenty-eight by twenty-
four by ten feet in dimensions, and appointed B. C. Zumbrunn, J. (i. Hein-
zelman and L. D. Cunningham as the building committee. The exact cost
of the building cannot be ascertained, as it was not built bv contract, b'ol-
lowing are some of the earlier teachers : I. W. b\inck, William Jones, G.
C. Waggoner, Mrs. X. E. Pierce, A. LI. Sloan, Mar\- Moore. Senora Cor-
nell, \\'illiam Snyder, INIrs. G. A. Schelhorn, E. E. Shouse, Harriett Ruch,
ITora Huff, G. W^ Stump, Susie iMelvin, S. I'". Smith, Frank Wiser. C.
T. Roberts, N^ellie Long, \\'. H. Carter. Delia Harkins, X'ellie Sloan and
G. I''. Jones. In the year 1874 the district was involved in a little trouble
which was decided in the circuit court. The trouble was with G. C. Wag-
goner, who taught the school without a certificate, but with the understanding
that he would get one. He completed the term without making an attempt
to secure a certificate and afterwards was unsuccessful, whereupon the board
refused to pay his salary. The case was carried to the circuit court and
there was deciiled in fa\-or of the district. Waggoner also sued .\mos Frank
for his salary as preacher. He stole some clothing from J. D. Lorton and
a ])ony from William Aynes and dien "skipjied." In the vear i88y W.
11. .Mark, of this district, was ;i candidate for sheriff .mi the Republican
ticket, but was defeated I)y a few votes. I. \^■. innick, the second teacher
in this district, was afterwards a successful dentist at Beatrice and. in 1888.
ser\ed in the Legislature as state senator from Gage countv. Last \ear

jO-l- RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

the district, feeling that they needed a new building, erected a line new
structure on the same location. It was made modern both in and out and
is a decided credit to the communit}-.

District No. 34 — We are largely indebted to William Fenton for the
following account. School district No. 34 originallv comprised the north-
east quarter of Grant township, including the north half of the present vil-
lage of Dawson. Since then much of its territory has been annexed to
districts 14, 43, 92 and 95. In the fall of 1867 an informal meeting of the
voters of district No. 34 was held at the residence of the Fenton brothers,
where now stands the imposing dwelling oi J. G. Heini. Among the old
settlers present at that meeting were M. L. Libbe, S. C. Barlow, Dennis
Fenton, R. B. and S. A. Allen, M. Riley, :\I. Bennet. lien .Miles and Wil-
liam Fenton. A numl)er of the above are still hale and hearty residents of
Dawson and vicinitw At the annual meeting in 1868 the citizens were
a unit in favor of building a school house. The officers elected were ^^'il-
liam Fenton, moderator; M. L. Liblje, director, and ]\I. Bennet, treasurer.
The location of a site was difficult to agree uiwn and the summer was far
gone before a decision was made. E. C. Hill, with his characteristic pug-
nacity, contended for the geographical center and declared he would die
in his boots before he gave up. The geographical center was found to lie
a duck pond. The committee in charge felt that it had no right to select
a mill by a dam site, so a different lix-ation was agreed upon. The lir^t
school opened in 1869, with S. C. Barlnw as teacher. District No. 34
claims the honor of having had the first school bell in this county. Shmtly
after the school house was built the young people of the conununity pre-
sented a petition to the board, signed by most of the inhabitants of the
district, petitioning the board to allow the .school house to be used for a
dance, the proceeds to be used for a l^ell. .\gainst the opjxisition of .\l. L.
Libbe the request was granted. When the time for the dance arrived the
young people from Richards<)n and several adjoining counties were in at-
tenilance and. as Mr. I'enton says, "I ne\er saw such a nioli in mx life."
Barlow's hou>-e was conscripted for the eniergenc\- to hel|) take care of a
bad bargain. But in the end enough money was on band to buy the best
liell in lirownxille at that time. The bell is gone now and no other informa-
tion is a\ailable upon the subject.

Di.'itrict \o. 42 — District No. 42, of Grant precinct, was organized in
1S68. On the first Monday in 1869 die i|ualitied voters met and elected
ihe fcjllowing: A. Page, director; R. S. Ruth ford, treasurer; Jacob E.

lUCII VRRSON COUNTY, XRRRASKA. 365

Johnson, moderator. In January, 1870, a meeting was held at tlie home
of John Homes for the puqwse of selecting a site for the school house.
This was finally located on H. H. Hunt's property. The school house was
built by subscription and was twenty-six by eighteen by ten feet, and in addi-
tion to the donations cost one hundred and forty-two and one-half dollars. It
was used as a school house for about nineteen years, at the end of which
time it was sold to W. J. Williams, who afterwards used it for many years
as a granary. Mr. Hunt taught the first term of school and was followed
by A. H. and S. W. Sloan, Ellen DeWeese, R. E. Lemmon, John Evans.
A. P. Unkefer, IViiss F. J. Pool, R. E. Grinstead. E. M. Broughton, A. M.
Fowler, Hannah Elwell, Minnie Young, Charles Pool, Emma Young, B.
F. Crook, R. L. Hoff, E. W. Lawsen and S. L Hilbert. A special meeting
was held at the school house in 1888, at which time it was agreed to build
a ne\v school house, forty by twenty-four by twelve feet. It was erectetl
before the close of the summer and cost one thousand dollars. The school
oflficers at that time were J. K. Kelley, A. Page, H. F. Richart, J. A. Kuhl-
man taught the first term in the new school house and was followed by Neva
Ray, W. M. Estes, Nora Gninn, Aggie Richart. Mary Ray, A. P. Unkefer,
Emma Grinstead and Boyd Unkefer. This district still boasts one of the liest
schools in the county.

District No. 44 — District No. 44 was organized in 1870 with John
W. Headrick, Z. H. Riggs and William Lee as members of the first board.
Charles Rinhart was the first teacher and was followed by Reuben Messier,
now of Falls City. Other early teachers were Earl Lemmon, William Steven-
son, Mr. Bissell, Ida Cornell and Mollie Andrews. Only one school house
has been built. Samuel Lee, J. O. Lyons and Douglas Lee attendetl tlic
first school in the district, and reside in the district at the present time.
The school is now named the Chafin school.

District A'o. 46 — District No. 46 was organized on June 30. 1869.
Members of the first board were William Kinsey, N. R. Wickham and
Isaac Clark. In February, 1870, it was voted to build a school house. The
first teacher was Miss Clara Davis. D. D. Houtz and Mrs. Dora Kinnev
Arnold, former teachers, still live in the district. The present school house
was built in 1891. The largest attendance was sixtj^-two at the time Alvia
Kinney was the teacher. In the early days only chalk was furnished. In
the opinion of our contrilnitor, Mrs. Clark, the methods of teaching and
governing were far behind those of today. The teacher usuallv boardet!
witin some family in the district and paid about two dollars a week tor

366 RICIIARDSO.V COVNTY, XEBKASKA.

board. The puorest salary e\er paid was fifteen dollars a month and board.
Following are the names of some of the teachers: Clara Davis, Solomon
Lesley, David James, W. S. Bewick, W. H. Davis, Lida Jones, Jennie
Graham, Mrs. John Abbey, John R. Owens, Maggie Williams, Mary Cole.
Alice Thayer, flattie Ritter, Eva Jarvis, Ida Cornell, Mrs. Lafe Da\is.
Dora Kinney, Alvia Kinney, Alverda Allen, Kate Cminingham, Mary \'an-
dervork, Ada Allen, O. O. Marsh, Linvel Sears, Kate Jennings. D. D. Hnutz,
Alartha King, Ida Kernon, Oueen Chism, Ethel Sailors. Amanda Jorn, iuiid
Colgiazier, Allan Gilmore and Grace Burke.

District Xo. 47 — The first school district organized in this county was
organized before Nebraska was a state. Its first number was 2. afterwards
being changed to 47, thus making it the second oldest school in the count} .
At first embraced all the country from the Nemaha on the south to the
county line on the north and west to the township line l>etween Ohio and
Liberty, including the west half of Falls City. Ohio and Barada townships.
But fifteen pupils were enumerated at first by W. H. Mark. The lirsi
school house was built in 1856 or 1857. each patron contributing a few
logs. The frame work was well covered with sod. It was located on \\".
G. Goolsl)y"s farm. The first teachers were Cyrus Bartlett, G. W. W'altcr.s.
1'. A. Tisdal, !"".. !•",. Cunningham and Ro.sa J. Cooper. .V part of nne term
was taught l)y a man who appeared to be an outlaw, by his actions. He
kept a double-))arrel shotgun with him all the time and at noon would hide
in the brush. Finally someone told him that the officers were after him
and that was the last seen or heard of him. W. A. Campbell, W. H. Mark
and W. G. (loolsby were members of the first school board. .Mrs. C. C.
Parsons taught one term at her own home and one term in a room of A.
W. Frank's building before there was a school house in the district. There
have been two school houses built, the first alx)ut 1867-68 ;uid the second,
in 1880. Among the early teachers were Mahala Cooper. Nellie Rockwell,
luneline Lewis, Melissa Yantiss, D. D. Houtz. Spencer Hammer, Thomas
Wilson, Mary JM-ank, Lesley Lewis, Linnie Frank. James .\nderson, J. W.
Stump, i'.mma Lawrence, Belle Newcomer, Charles Slagle, Rebecca Culle\ .
Charles Melvin, Belle Parsons, H. M. Lint, Maggie .\. Peck, Lula Sloan,
H. J. Prichard and Jincie Finders. E. O. Lewis was living in this district
when he was elected county clerk early in the nineties. John R. Dowty of
this district served in the Legislature and D. D. Houtz was elected county
superintendent while a resident of the district. The enrollment of the school
is now the smallest of any school in the county.

RICHARDSON COLNTV, NEBRASKA. 367

District Xo. 48 — Schoul district Xo. 48 was organized on Alay _'o,
1869, and Ralph Anderson was chosen director; WiUiam Aladdox, moder-
ator, and J. F. Catron, treasurer. But one school house has been built in
the district, and that was built in 1869 at a cost of six hundred and fifty
dollars, size, twenty by twenty-four by nine feet. Ray Taylor taught a
school in this district for a few months in 1861. A decade or more agLi
the attendance dwindled to such a small number that the i)atrons decided
to close the school temporarily and send their children to the l~alls City
public schools. This arrangement proved so satisfactory from every stand-
p(jint that it has been continued and is very likely to continue indefinitely.
The district still maintains its organization and site, but the old school
h(3use is gone. The teachers from 1869 to 1893 were Mary Martin. W.
R. Crook, Isaac Rhine, A. S. McDwell, Emeline Lewis, J. G. Crook, Allie
Fisher, B. F. Crook, Chloe Truesdal, Alia Church, John Hershberger, Ida
Cornell, Frances Kingman, E. E. Brown, Bell Newcomer. Lydia \\'illiams.
May Maddox, Helen TurnbuU, Nora Woniser, Lillie Eichelberger. Maud
X'auDeusen, Jennie Newcomer, Fannie Birdsley, Mamie Hutchings, Nettie
Wills, Dora Richards, Mary Carico and Frank Schaible.

District No. 50 — This district was first known as district No. 2. hi
the spring of 1865 the residents of this district met at Thomas Harpster"s
house and organized a school meeting. Charles Montgomery was elected
director ; Thomas Harpster, moderator, and Paul Augustine, treasurer. A
site was .selected for the schot)l house and the meeting adjourned. The di-
rector reported the pnjceedings to Charles Mann, the county clerk and
acting county superintendent, and he organized the territory represented at
the meeting at district No. 2. The district was three miles wide, north and
S(;utii, and five miles long, east and west, containing about fourteen sections
of land in all. On August 10. 1866, Superintendent Williams notified
Director Kaiser that district No. 2 would thereafter l)e known as district
No. 50. The residents of the district hauled cottcMiwood lugs from tlit
Missouri river bottoms that year and erected the body of the .school house
on the selected spot. But it was never completed and for a time all interest
in the school abated. After the district was divided the building was made
use of by the other district. In May, 1867, a school meeting was called
for the purpose of dividing the district. At this meeting there was a ma-
jority of one opposed to dividing the district, but the action of the district
was rendered indecisive by the director forgetting to vote, i^roducing a tie.
The matter was adjusted in 1868 and the superintendent ai^pointed tlie

^^68 RICIIAKDSOX rni:NTV, NKIiUASKA.

fdllowing officers of the new district : Jerome W'iltsc, director ; Fritz W'acluer
moderator, and William Heater, treasurer. A special meeting was called,
a school tax voted and the [)resent site of the school house selected. Wil-
liam Heater donated Ijy deed one acre of land. Paul Augustine built the
school and ecjuipped it with furniture for six hundred and fifty dollars.
The measurements -were twenty-six by twenty b\- twelve feet. George
Shock was the first teacher, followed by Mr. Noise. Some of the earlier
teachers were Messrs Plumb, l*\ench, Choot, P)rown, Stratton, Daughters.
Lason, Reed, Newcomer, I<"rank Revelle, Albert and Clarence Wiltse, and
Misses Maria Montgomery, Emma Martin, Lambert, Spoonamore, Raleigh,
Jessie Cameron, Emma Lawrence, Long and Carney. The school house
was burned in 1884. .\fter much contention another was built in 1886.
The school today has a splendid enrollment and is a prosperous school.

District No. 51 — J. Kloepfel has kindly given us a few items con-
cerning district No. 51. Augusta Burchard was the first teacher. N. Auxier,
now county commissioner, was one of the early teachers. Will Jones. Wil-
liam Wallace, Charles French, Eva Scott, H. L. Kloepfel and James and
Marv Wiltse were other early teachers. The highest enumeration was one
hundred and six. It is not definitely known when the district w^as organized.

District No. 55 — District No. 55 was organized in 1865. Joe Forney
and Albert Dickison were members of the first board. Austin Sloan was
the first teacher. R. R. Hanna, Mrs. Otto McLane and John Powell at-
tended the first school. Previous to the school in 1865 a neighborhood school
was held and was taught for a few years by the late George Abbott's sister.
The second school house was built in 1872 and the third one in 11)07.
Charles Sloan taught the second school in the district and Messrs. Hamin
and Anderson the third and fourth. The attendance always was good and
the salary paid in the early days was twenty-five dollars. Many of the
earlier teachers boarded with R. R. Hanna's father. In thirt\-five years
R. R. Hanna has missed but a year or two of having served consecutivel\
for that length of time. The school is now called Lakeside.

District No. J^ — Tlie first school in district No. y^, was held for three
months during the w^inter of 1869-70, on the Ransom or Irving place. The
first teacher was Miss Cooper. The school officers w'tere Messrs. Hall, Ran-
som and Pirtle. The second term was for a period of twelve weeks during
the winter of 1870-71, and was taught by .Vbby Dunn, now Mrs. George
Slavton. A part of the Pirtle house was used for the school house. .\t
that time twenty-one pui)ils were enrolled, the oldest being Tom Pirtle and

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 369

llie youngest, Jim Kelly, luich pupil had to furnish his own split-bottom
chair and most of them came to school on horseback. The second school
closed with a dinner and performances on horseback by the boys. The tirst
school house was built in the early seventies. Later it was moved away
and is now used by Jess Shaw as a corn crib. I. Shirley, of Humboldt:
George Saville, of Lincoln ; Lina Shirley, of Lincoln ; lutima Grinstead Hoff ;
Mrs. Anna Smith Wertz, Florence Jones, of Auburn; Sadie and Lula Jones,
of Fairbury, and Maynard Stitzer, of Salem, are prominent citizens who
obtained a portion of their education in district No. jt,. Teachers now
living in the county who have taught here are Belle Smith, Florence Saville,
Ola Crook, Nora Lamerance, Oscar Rhoades, .\udrey Wileman, Grace Ken-
nedy, May Gagnon and Anna McCool. Some of the early teachers were Miles
Jones (later county superintendent), Florence Jones, Pearl French, Mrs.
C. A. Stewart, Emma Boose, Letha Crook, Lula Lawler, Mary Browne,
and Hubert Shirley. The present school house was built in 1887. Mrs.
C. A. Stewart is the only teacher living in the district at the present time.
It has l)een her privilege to have boarded nearly all of the teachers for a
decade or more and she has pleasant recollections of mam- of them.

District No. 76 — (Stella Public Schools). The first school in Stella
was begun in July, 1884, in the Ferguson & Coldren Hall and continued
with but one week's vacation until the following June. A school house
was built during the summer of 1885 on the hill southeast of town. This
structure was struck by lightning in 1888 and a new building was erected
during the same summer. At first only two teachers were employed, but
gradually this number has been increased until at tlie present time there
are four teachers in the grades and three in the high school. In i8yS. the
congested condition of the scIkioI house caused another small building to
be erected on \'ine street for the jjriniary pupils. Realizing that the okl
school house and equipment Avere not a(le(|uate to the growing needs of the
busy little town, bonds were voted a few years ago, and a fine brick builil-
ing was erected, which is one of the finest, most up-to-date and best-e(iuii)ped
school houses in the state. The district is small and the enrollment is not
as large as it should be. In the high school more than fiftv per cent, of
the pupils are non-residents.

District \'(>. yj — This district was organized in iSix). the lirst meeting
being held at the residence of J. S. Ewing. with fifteen voters in attendance.
I. S. Ewing was elected moderator; \\'. D. Price, director, and 10. Coi^jier.
(24)

^iJO KICII ARDSON COUNTY, XEBUASKA.

treasurer. Like must ut the schoul districts, district Xo. ■]■] was formed
from surrounding districts, mostly from the one southwest, known as Fair-
view. There has l:)een but one school house erected, the present one, which
is thirty by twenty-two feet in dimensions and cost six hundred dollars. It
was built in 1872. A new school house is needed now and will probably
l)e built in the near future. The first school was taught by Miss Carrie
Howe in a log house located on the northeast (|uarter of section 13. Other
early teachers were T. L. Lewis, (i. \V. Crouch, B. I'. Chute. A. C. Troup.
Landon Yantiss, D. D. Houtz, Mary Jones, I-'mma Shouse, Linnie I'Vank.
Cammie Hall. Lenora Cornell, B. B. Davis, L. L. Linderman, Julia Smeade.
J. W. .^tump, W. G. Fisher, .Mr. Leively, H. H. I'ugh, J. R. Reed. W.
\'an \\'yrner, Delia Marion, Nettie Wills, Abliie and Susan Melvin, Linnie
Frank, Hoke Simpson, Carrie and Lowell Leslie, Emerson Bowers and H.
B. Kleeberger. The salaries paid the teachers a\'eraged nearly thirty dollars.
Oliver l'\iller. of this district, was supervisor of this county for a number
of years. Somewhere between 1863 and 1869 a postoffice was located
two miles east of here and named Elmore, and shortly afterward moved
near the present location of the school house, and in i86g moved to tlie
log house, where school was first taught and shortly afterward, when \'erdon
started as a town, was discontinued. While the postoffice was held in the
log house, Isaac Cooper was postmaster. The school house was used fm"
public meetings and gatherings of every nature and was in truth the C( im-
munity social center.

District \o. 79 — This district was organized in the early seventies,
exact date unknown. Members of the first board were W. W. Abbey, J..
J. Flitchcock and William Cook. The new school house was built about
twenty-two years ago. Mary Jones, who afterward married Oliver Fuller,
was one of the first pupils. Some of the earlier teachers were John Den-
nings and Emma Lawrence, the latter of whom is now holding a position
in the school for feeble-minded at Beatrice. Tlie attendance has fluctuated,
ranging from eight to sixty. The building is ideally located and is in excellent
repair. It is almost completeh- equipped.

District Xo. 95 — This district was organizetl in 1877. The members
of the school l)oard were William Fenton, Stephen C. Barlow and \\'illiani
Knipe and the first teacher was D. W. James. The first school session
was held in the town hall. A frame school house was built in 1880 and
was succeeded ])y a l)rick structure in igor, the frame building having been
burned in U)00. The first class was graduated frum the high school (Daw-

KICIIAKDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 37I

son), in 1891. Among the prominent men who received their elementary
education in the Dawson schools are ; Dr. Brjan M. Riley, an instructor
in Creighton Medical College; O. W. Belden, an attorney at Lewistown,
-Montana; Dan J- Riley, attorney and banker, of Dawson; Charles J. Allen,
I if Chicago; Dr. H. A. Waggener, Omaha; Dr. W. R. W'aggener, Hum-
boldt; Dr. J. T. W'aggener, Adams, Nebraska; Dr. Walter Draper, Manilla,
Iowa; Willard Thomas, county superintendent of schools, South Dakota;
-May Thomas, educator in Moody Institute, Chicago; A. Edward Thomas,
an educator in Canada; E. E. Barlow, of San Diego, California, and Lillitli
W'aggener, a teacher at Hamburg, Iowa.

District Xo. 99 — Previous to the organization of district No. 99, one
term of school was taught b\- Julia Richards White, in 1879. Her school
room was a little dwelling owned by P. R. Shelly. Soap boxes were used
for seats and shoe boxes for desks. On account of the distance from town
the school was moved to the David Ouinlan place, a quarter of a mile
from Preston. Mrs. Ellen Higgins Rawley taught there two terms, in
1880, and Alma Ouinlan, in 1881. The school district was organized in
1880 and the following otilicers were elected: D. M. Craig, moderator;
.V. J. Cair, director; John P\le, Sr., treasurer. The first school house built
in the district was erected in 1889. It was twenty-four by twenty-eight by
fourteen feet, and cost five hundred dollars. The district soon grew in
pt)pulati(5n and the old building was found inadequate for the needs of
the school. Consec[uently, a number of years ago, a splendid two-room
building was erected on a fine elevated site in the heart of Preston. This
Iniilding amply suffices for all the needs and is a decided credit to the town.
.Some of the earlier teachers were W'inona J(3nes W'ardell, Carlos W'iltse,
llattie Merritt. Mrs. C. A. Brown, Joe Bagnell, Isaiah Kratz, Ada Abbott.
James Martin, Judge Joseph, May Maddox, l^nnia Lawrence, Henrv Lint.
John E. Sullivan, R. H. Langford and Susan C.ehling. P. R. Shellv, of
this district, was a candidate fur state representative in the fall of i88y.
but was defeated i)y ten votes.

DiSTRU'i' stnooi. Ti-:.\c Ulcus.

Tlie district school teachers of Richardson county for the current scho(jl
year ( i9r7-iX), are set out in the following list, by chstricts : District
I. I'.dna Karst;'-', Bessie James; 3, Cdad}s Ray; 4. Cieorge Morgan; 5.
Leta Baldwin; (>, .\nna Sheehan ; 7, Anna Seibel ; 8-<), Principal E. L. Ta\ -
lor, Mrs. 1".. L. Tavlor. \'i\ ian Knight, Willie Davis; 10. Pearl Smith;

2iJJ KICIIARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

II. Juanita Brown; 12. nri school: 13. Nellie Powell; 14, Lucile Chisni ;
1^. Ruby Knickerbocker; 16, Rosa Burr; 17. Hazel Goolsbv ; 18, Florence

Deyo; 19, Helen Whitford. Lulu Bro; 20. ; 21, Elsie

Iniliof ; 22, ; 2t,. Lulu Laukemper; 24, Mary Kean; 25.

Nina Aikman; 26, Nina Landrigan ; 2j. ]. G. Dodds; 28, Minnie Kammerer;
29, Mildred Arnold; 30, Helen Kottnian; 31. Hattie Johnson; 32, C. L.
Jones, Emma D. Christensen, Helen Bradlex-, Lloyd Shildneck. Ma\nie
Byerly, Amanda Jorn ; 33, Ruth Knickerbocker; 34, Josephine 0'Grad\ ;
35, J. H. Judd; 36, no school; 37, D. R. Kuns (Humboldt), H. H. Thiesen.
Josephine Wible, Hazel Burns, Eunice Johnson, H. L. Sterner. Cecylle \\'hite.
Gail Parsons, Hazel Gravatte, Emma Schwass, Hattie Borland, Mary Mc-
Kee, Irene C. Byam, Gladys E. Train, Maline Mortensen: 38. Vera Biggs:
39, Josephine Gaede; 40. lone Rist; 41, Elsie Smith; 42, Helen Gerhardt;
43, Luverne Lesley; 44, Helen Damon; 45, ^Matilda Mathews; 46, Grace
Burke; 47, }tlabel Grush ; 48, no school; 49, Morence Stewart; 50. Mar-
guerite O'Donnell; 51, Mrs. R. Randolph; 52. L. P. Grundy (Rulo), Ruth
Xoyes. Hope Ward, I'^lora Shuck, Helen ]\Iurphy, Agnes Schroeder; 53,
T. F. Weinert: 54. Alma IMosiman; 55, Elsie Kruse; 56, B. H. Groves;
SJ, Jeannette Knepper; 58, Winifred Ryan; 59, A. D. Sargent (Salem).
Maude Lawrence. Hugh Brown, Harriett Horton, Olive Shafer; (')0. Mil-
dred Jorn; 61, Alma Arnold; 62, Theresa Kean; 63, Margaret Kean: 64.
Mrs. F. Eis; 65, Eva Bohl; 66, Faye Gunn ; 67. Zelma Moss; 68, Waldo
Porr: 69, Edna Stalder; 70, Alice Garver; 71. Pearl Kinter; /2, Jessie
Shildneck; y;^, Rebecca Dodds; 74, Leta Meyers: 75, ^Myrtle Dodds: 76.
I., R. Stanley (Stella), Marie Burrus, Fred Thompson. Jennie Thompson.
Jeniiie R. Thompson. AA^aunita Williams, Hazel DeWeese; jy, Edith Brown:
78, Albert Weinert: 79, Emily Burns; 80, Loretta Sheehan; 81, Florence
Epler; 82, Effie Goolsby; 83, Inez Weber: 84. Hanna Kean; 85, Marie

Zentner; 86, Ida Elliott; 87. ; 88, Clara Hoover: !^9.

Bessie Klossner; 90. Rose Klossner; 91, Lillie Brinegar: 92, Elby Boring;
93, Lova Beard; 94, Helen McMahon ; 93. \'. E. Chatelain (Dawson").
Ruth Redfern, Lola Temple. Bessie Little, Rosella Riley. Anna Klima : (/>.
Claude Montgomery; 97. ^Marguerite O'Grady; 98. Grace Auxier: 1^9.
Chauncey Peck, Ethel Pearson; 100, Mabel Beard; 101. Opal Reagan;
102. William Keubler (Shuliert). Helen Parker, Edith Lewis. F.Ita Davis.
Minnie \*. Jones: 103. Floy Smith; 104, Louise Daeschner< 105, no schcoi.
Note; The I-"alls Cit\ teachers, thirty-tour in number, arc not in-
cluded in the above list. — D. H. Weber, superintendent.

CHAPTER XIV

Churches of Richardson County.

compiled by David D. Reavis.

Persecution of sects for their religious beliefs, led to some of the
earliest settlements made in this great republic. In the olden time the
man of God worshiped with his rifle within easy reach, and the parishioner
was the sturdy, but determined settler, who had left the mother country
that he might enjoy the privilege of worshiping God according to the dic-
tates of his own conscience. And so it has been that the church played
such a powerful part in the early history of our county.

In the early settlement of this county the pioneer came to church with
his o.x-team and P>ible, after a week's work converting a desert into a habit-
able ground. The Sabbath was spent in cultivating the soul and holding
the mind and heart in line with the Creator. The preacher's auditors wore
home-spun garments and his pulpit was perhaps a rough hewn slab. His
Christianity was pure and sincere, and his teachings earnest and effective.
The simple prelate of those days gave his services to Christianity, look-
ing only for his reward at the hands of his Master on that day wlien
his life's work was done. The church hi.story of a localit}' is in.separable
from its growth and development. Church influence is felt in business, in
government and educational institutions, and in everything that goes to make
up a prosperous and moral community.

MKTIIODIST EPISCOP.XL CHURCH.

The church history of Richardson county commenced simultaneously
with the coming of the pioneers, as does the history of all such movements.
The first immigration of importance brought many early settlers from An-
drew county, Missouri, in 1856, and among them was Wingate King, spoken
of with great reverence by all who knew him, and who was a Methodist
preacher. He pre-empted a (|uarter section of land near the townsite of
Falls City and immediately organized a church society that held their meet-
ings in the natural groves along Muddy creek. There was such a society
on the old Isaac Crook farm, afterwards better known as the old Martin

farm, and one on the did Catron farm, lately dwned by \\". M. Maddox.
It was here in nature's temples that many prayers were offered by earnest
people for the success of the Union army during the bloody Civil \Var.
Henry T. Davis, that saint of early Methodism in Nebraska, was a notable
figure in camp-meeting days.

There were no church buildings erected in Falls City until 1867. Church
was held in different places. J. R- Cain told me that the first time he attended
church in a building was in Falls City, in i860, accompanied by Mrs. Sarah
Wilhite, in the law office of Isham Reavis. a little old building that stood
near where Lyford's store building now stands — lot i, block 90. Rev.
Kay Taylor was the Methodist minister holding the service. The ]\Iethod-
ists perfected the first religious organization that I can discover in Richanl-
son county. Rev. David Hart was stationed in Archer in 18O5, and moved
the appointment to Falls City. In 1867 the society purchased the groimd
upon which the present edifice stands and erected the first church building
in the count}-. It was a pretentious affair and had a steeple in which a
church bell was to be hung. This bell was the source of much endeavor
and enterprise. Since there was no money in the country, the hardy pio-
neers were determined to overcome all obstacles and immediately set out
on the enterprise of providing the funds for a bell. This was done mostly
by the ladies, who organized the mite society which met regularlx every
week at first one house and another, each one bringing his or her mite
towards the payment of the purchase price of the bell. After a time the
liell was secured, and the raising of it into its place was the occasion of
public interest and rejoicing. ^Irs. W. .M. Mann was one of the principal
workers in this direction and, ujion the occasion -of the tin wedding anni-
versary of Mr. and Mrs. ■\Iann, March 15, i86y, R. S. Towle. in presenting
the present of the evening, said this among other things : "Our church,
which rears its tapering spire towards tlie vault of Heaven was pushed
onward towards completion as much, if not more. l)y your individual efforts
and persistent energy, than 1)y those of any other person. Our festivals
of the past year, around which so many pleasant memories cluster and
linger and \\hicli were mostly conceived in your brain and executed by ^our
hand, have had their fruition in the IkjII which, on e\ery Sabbath da\ . rolls
its deep tones over our prairie homes, ringing the death knell of frontier
barbarism and ushering in the long-wished-for era of the star of empire
;ind religion : besides carrying us back in sjiirit. at least, to the happv Eastern
homes ..f our childhood."

RKIIAKDSON' COL'NTV, NKUKASKA. 373

The first church huikling- was erected during the pasturate of Rev.
W. A. Presson. The succeeding ministers, as 1 remember them, were:
Reverend Pritchard, Lemon. Ma\. Britt. Crosthvvaith, Adams, Sleeth, Slavens,
Hobbs and Gallagher. It was during the second pastorate of the last one
named that the new l)rick church, which stands on the site of the old one.
was erected at a cost of ten thousand dollars, and is one of the most hand-
some and comfnodious church buildings in the city. The corner stone of
the new building was laid in 1892 and the services conducted by Revs. L.
F. Britt and John Gallagher, two of the strongest men in pioneer Methodism
that the state has produced. This first Methodist Episcopal church, which
is the largest congregation in the county, has recently installed an elegant
pipe organ. The church property, including the parsonage, is now valued
at thirty-thousand dollars.

The Ladies' Missionary Society of this church held their hrst meeting
on Sunday evening, July 23. 1876, at eight o'clock, for the purpose of
perfecting an organization. The program for that evening was as follows,
as gleaned from a report of the same appearing at the time and published
in a current number of the FaJls City Press :

Reading of scriptures, Mrs. Rodalxnigh : praxer. D. F. I'iodalKmgh :
reading of minutes. Miss F. Kingman, statement of work. Mrs. Spurlock :
reading piece. Miss L Schock ; speech. Judge Weaver, and remarks. D. F.
Rodabough.

CHRISTIAN cnuRCir.

The First Christian church of Falls City had no real organization prior
to 1876, although there were many members of that denominati(;n living
in the citv. In that vear W. E. Neal moved here frf)m ^Liysville. Kentucky,
and at once .set himself to the task of organizing the adherents of this
denomination into a church society. At the preliminary meeting in the
Odd Fellows hall, which had been rented for the purpose, three persons
were present: Mr. Neal. James Burnham and S. Zimmerman. One week
later a .second meeting was held and at thai time a permanent organization
was effected. This new church, wiiich comprised twenty-lhree members, called
Rev. R. C. Barrow as its first pastor and in a sliort time forty new members
were added to the flock. In the same year, a lot was purchased and a church
edifice was erected at the cost of twenty-five hundred dollars. This building,
which was dedicated in June. 1877, by Rev. J. B. Briney. of Kansas. w;is
remodeled at different times.

376 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

In the spring of 1910 the old editice was torn down to make way for
the new, modern place of worship which is more in keeping with the growth
and opportunities of the church. This building was dedicated on Februarv
5. 191 1, by Z. T. Sweeney, of Xew York City. The building contains thirty-
nine rooms and is adapted to modern methods of institutional work. Jt
contains rest rooms, parlors, dining rooms, kitchen, club rooms and a large
room suitable for gymnasium purposes with shower baths. The entire church
plant is valued at thirty-five thousand dollars. It is especially planned for
a modern Sunday school plant and recent methods of Bible school work
have been adopted. Since the new building was occupied, the growth uf
the church has been most satisfying, and the past year has been the most
successful in the history of the society, more than fifty new members having
been added.

The first pastor was the Rev. Charles Lawrence Wheeler and the official
board to sene in the new church was made up of the following members:
\\'. L. Redwood. T. J. Oliver. J. R. Cain. G. R. Grinstead. M. Meliza. J. L.
Slocum, J. L. Speece. E. L. Sandusky. O. P. Heck. J. E. Leyda. C. H. Marion.
). R. Wilhite. Dr. O. F. Lang. W. J. McCray. I. B. Whitake.

ST. THOMAS EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

\\ork was just begtin by the church in Falls City in i860 when Reverend
Talbot drove over from Nebraska City and held service. In 1867 Re\-.
Thomas Betts was appointed missionary in charge of Falls City. Rulo and
Salem. As Rulo was a river town it seemed to offer better prospects, so
Father Betts took up his residence there and built the St. Peters church.

In 1868 the corner stone of the first church of St. Thomas wa> laid
and Mr. John Lyon was appointed lay reader. On .\i)ril .20. 1871. the
first class of eight [persons was confirmed by Reverend Clarkson. In 1873
the first church was completed and Rev. Francis Burdette Xash took charge.
In 1877 Reverend Xash resigned and was succeeded by Reverend Jones,
who remained about a year, when Reverend Russell, of Tecuniseh. was i)laced
in charge. In 1885 Rev. \N'. V. Whitten took charge, but resigned at the
end of 1886 on account of ill health. The Rev. I. .\. Russell, who suc-
ceeded him. also resigned an account of ill health in 1888. when Mr. \\'hittcn
returned and remained until 1892. He was succeeded by Rev. T. B. Whaling,
who remained only eight months, and was followed by Rev. I. I-^. Baxter,
who remained until 1898. when the Rev. T. Gardner, of Tecuniseh. was
placed in charge. Mr. Gardner resigned in Xovemher. 1899. and Re\ . W'il-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 377

liani Moody took charge. Reverend Aioody was followed by Reverend
Smith," who was followed by Rev. G. L. Neide. He, in turn, was succeeded
by the present rector, Rev. James Nobel.

Tuesday, June i8, 1901, was an important day for St. Thomas Episco-
pal church in Falls City, for it marked the consecration of tlie magnificent
new church, the fruits of the personal sacrifice and united efforts of the
people of the parish and their friends. The church had been for many
years in urgent need of a new building. The old frame structure, which
had done its duty for so many years, had not only become too small, but
was no longer in any wise fitted for its purpose. Realizing the pressing
need for a new church, plans were set on foot to this end and little by little
the fund grew until at last it was of sui^cient size to warrant the beginning
of the new church. The new St. Thomas church stands on the corner of
Fifth and Harlan streets, just south of the old building, and is an im-
posing structure of pressed brick, with a large square tower, rising from
the southwest corner. The style of architecture is beautiful and the sim-
plicity of the whole is just balanced by the beauty arid size of the large
stained-glass windows, each a work of art. The interior of the church is
especially fine. The wood work is finished in hard pine and the walls
elaborately frescoed. The vestry room, the choir, sacristv and all parts
are planned and constructed according to the most approved plans.

The bishop and his assisting clergy arrived in the city on the dav pre-
vious and that evening the order of confirmation was administered to Mrs.
Rawley, A'liss Willie Gilespie, Miss Amilia Lindeman and Miss Meeker
Cain, who were the first to be confirmed in the new church. On the follo\\-
ing day the formal consecration of the church took place. In the morning,
at seven o'clock, holy C(imniunion was celebrated by the rector. Rev. ^\'il-
liam Moody, and at ten o'clock occurred consecration services. .\t that huur
the church was filled and the procession entered at the main entrance, where
it was met by the wardens and vestrymen, and moved up the main aisle in
the following order : Bishops Worthington and Williams, followed by Rev.
Charles Young, Reverend Moore and Rev. Francis White, of Omaha, Rev-
erend Murphy, of Auburn; Reverend Kim, of Tecumseh; Reverend Baxter,
and Reverend Mize, of Salina, Kansas; Reverend Randall, of Hiawatha,
and Re^■erend Dent, of Kansas ; the full vested choir, the wardens and vestrv-
men. The procession halted at the altar and warden A. E. Gantt read tlie
instrument of donation and Bishop \\'illiams, in turn, read the instrument
of consecration. The morning service then proceeded, Bisho]) \\"ortliington

T,jX RUHAKDSOX COUNTV. NEBRASKA.

sa)in,s^ the consecration praters and the morning- ])rayer by Reverend
Baxter. The lessons was read by Reverend Murpliy and Reverend \Vhite
and the sermon was preached by Reverend Young. Holy communion was
celebrated by Bishop NVilliams with Bishop Worthinorton as deacon and
Reverend Moody as sub-deacon. Thus the new church was set aside to the
])urpose for which it was built under the most auspicious circiunstances.

The following pastors have served the needs of the congregation : Rev.
Thomas Betts, Rev. John L\ons. Reverends Xash. Stoddart, Jones. Rus-
sell. Carry, W'hitten, Whaling, Johnson. Spencer. Rev. T. Gardner. Re\ .
William Moody. Rev. (i. L. Xeide and Rev. James Xoble.

liKETHKEX CHURCH.

The Brethren churches of all conferences have about one hundred thirty
thou.sand communicants, which numljer means that more than half a mil-
lion people in this countrx are directly, or indirectly, connected with this
church. The Brethren cliurch at I''alls City was organized in 1897. Its
Sunday school, which is one of the most important auxiliaries of the society.
1)egan with an enrollment of nine and has increased each year until the
enrollment is now two hundred fifty. The church is in a very prosperous
condition and numbers among its members some of the best citizens of
the community. The society enlarged their place of worship during the
summer of 191 5. While the church does not favor a large and expensive
building at the present, it contributes more than six hundred dollars a year
■to \arious missionar\- enterprises. In addition to its church edifice, the
society owns a \ery substantial parsonage. At i)resent the members of the
society number nearl\ two hundred and fifty.

SILVER CREEK liRETIIKEX CIURCII.

The Silver Creek church, which was the first societv of the lirethren
denomination in Richardson countw was organized on Octol)er 16. 1869.
Since this was a rural church, its field for labor was chiefly in the country.
its members being in the main farmers. The first love feast and communion
service was held at the home of U. W. Miller. On March 6, 1885. this
church, by a large majority, voted to separate from the main conference of
the church and became affiliated with the liberal conference, representing
more progressive sentiment in many ways. Since then the church has pros-
pered and is again growing into a strong congregation.

RTCUARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 379

FIRST PUESBYTKklAN CHURCH.

The First I'resliyterian church at Falls City was the second one of tiiat
denomination organized in Richardson county. The organization was effected
in 1866 by the authority of the ])resbytery at Highland, Kansas, which ap-
pointed a committee, consisting of KV\s. J. R. Ramsey. John Lilly and Folder
McCollough, who carried on the work. At this time six persons were re-
ceived into the church and F. C. Coole)- was ordained elder. Reverend
Ramsey was at that time acting as missionary of the Presbyterian denom-
ination in this county and supplied the new organization until his removal
to what was then Indian Territory. Since he took with him the early records
of the society, they were consequently lost, but the records were replaced
in 1 88 1 by Rev. W. W. Howell, the pastor, after much hard labor.

Shortly after the departure of Reverend Ramsey, the church became
disrupted from various reasons and did not until 1871 have an active
existence. In the May of that year a reorganization was effected and Re\-.
A. P. Wood assumed the pastorate of the church, which position he retained
until 1873. From this time forward the church organization w-as kept up
arid the congregation grew, and in 1909 the society decided to abandon its
old frame building, which was erected in 1873 on the corner of b'ifteenth
and Harlan streets, and build its present magnificent place of worship
which stands on the corner of Twentieth and Harlan streets. The work
was begun in May, 1909, and the church was dedicated in the fall of the
same year. The property is now worth twenty thousand dollars.

Several ministers have served this congregation during its existence,
among whom are: Revs. J. R. Ramsey, .\. I'. Wood, J- B. Finskev, F^. M.
Lewis. S. F. Bogn, David Street, W. M. Howell. J. W. I-uItcm. S. P.. Xeilson
and R. Cooper Bailev.

.ST. PAUT.'S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH.

Early in September, 1913, the general synod of the Evangelical
Lutheran church sent its missionary to Falls City, Nebraska, to preach
Lutheran doctrine and, if possible, to establish a mission. Services were
condticted in the Electric theatre. On December 3, 1913. Reverend Kanse,
the missionary secretary, called a meeting of men interested in the work.
At this meeting resolutions were adopted, making the organization perni;i-

380 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

nent. Officers were elected, and a committee was also elected to proceed
at once to purchase lots for a building site.

The committee l)ought lots 13 and 14, in block 9, of Boulexard addi-
tion, on December 13, 1913. The old frame church at St. Mark's congre-
gation at Verdon was then secured and moved to our lots. The building
came through in good condition and, with a number of impro\ ements.
made an excellent place of worship. The church was provided with electric
lights and furnace, was connected with city water, and a cloak room was
built.

The church was dedicated on March 29, 1914, and on the day of dedi-
cation all necessary money was secured and the church stands free of del)t.
Dr. H. L. Yarger, the president of the general synod, was present on that
day and delivered a sermon. A call was extended at this time to Rev.
J. Matthiesen, asking him to serve our church as pastor and missionary.
Reverend IMatthiesen took up his work as the church's first regular minister
on ^lay i, 19 14.

The church today has a modern Sunday school, with an enrollment of
( )ne hundred and five and seventeen on the cradle roll, ^^'e have a church
membership of sixty-seven and a baptised membership of one hundred and
twenty-five. The officers of the church are: Rev. J. Matthiesen, pastor, and
Henry Roesch, Martin Nolte, Andrew Ketter, L. A. JNIeinzer, church coun-
cil. These officers and Rev. W. T. Kashe also acted as the building com-
mittee. The order of services is so arranged that we give the German
members of our church a German service on alternate Sunday mornings.
.V Lutheran league of sixteen members has been active since July.

ST. mark's evangelical LUTHERAN CHURCH.

St. Mark's, formerly known as St. Marien's Evangelical Lutheran
church, had its beginning almost four decades ago. It was early in the
eighties when some of the Lutheran people of this vicinity met every two
weeks in what is known as the Harkendorff school house for worship. But
it was not until 1883 that a congregation was organized, and John G.
1 leinzelman, Sr., Henry Jorn, Sr., and William Oswald were elected trustees.
Under the guidance of their faithful pastor, Reverend Gromish, they soon
realized the need of a church building and a special meeting was called
to deliberate upon the proposition in the June of 1883. In this meeting it
was decided to build a church thirty-six feet long and twenty-f(Xir feet wide.
for which suliscriptions were to ])e received. To look after the construction

RICIIAUDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 381

ct the same, a building- committee was appointed whicli consisted of John
C". Heinzehiian, John F. Harkendorff and A. B. Erenninger. The churcli
was dedicated in the selfsame year.

At the annual church meeting on January 6, 1913, the majority of
those present voted in favor of a new church building, since they realized
that the old place of worship did not afford adequate accommodations for
the rapidly growing congregation. Mr. and Mrs. Falskin were chosen solici-
tors and a building committee was appointed which consisted of the fol-
lowing: August Falskin. Charles Heinzelman, Edwin Friedly, John and
Charles Harkendorfif. After the solicitors submitted a favorable report some
weeks later, the committee immediately took action. The plans for the new
building, drawn by Carl Ruthman, of Falls City, were accepted. Mr. Buth-
man, the architect, superintended the wood work and the Bohrer brothers
had charge of the brick laying. On May li, 1913, the corner stone was
laid, the pastor. Rev. S. de Freese officiating, assisted by Doctor Ludden.
It was at that time that the name of the society was changed from St.
Marien's to St. Mark's. On October 12, 1913, the large and beautiful new
church was dedicated to the worship of God. It is located in the midst of
a prosperous community of farmers and will be a landmark for many years
to come.

During the past thirty years the following pastors have served the
congregation : Reverends Gromish, Neumaker. Miller, Hennig, Mosner.
Beuchner, Jenson and the [)resent pastor, de Freese.

FIK.ST BAPTIST CHURCH.

While other denominations had -gained a strong foothold in the early
days of the city, it was not until December 9, 1873, that the First Baptist
church of Falls City was organized with thirteen constituent members. At
the meeting for the organization of the church. Rev. J. W. Webster was
moderator and Rev. E. D. Thomas was clerk of the council of recognition.
The New Hampshire Confession of Faith was adopted and the church was
admitted and took its place in the denomination as a regular Baptist church
with Revs. E. D. Thomas and .\. J. Jones serving jointly as pastors. Soon
after the organization of the society, it was decided to purchase the un-
finished building of the Disciples church, and a loan of five hundred dollar^
was acijuired from 'the American Baptist Home Mission Societ\ . Thi'-
tran.saction along with some other matters came nearly breaking up the or-
ganizati(Mi. Until 1880 the church struggled on making little progress, and in

3iS2 klCIIAKDSOX COL'NTV, NEBKASKA.

tliat \ear the church Inuldini;' was iiKJved from its lucation near the Central
school to lots just north of the pubhc square. At the same time the mem-
bership was increased to fifty. In 1882 and 1883 dissensions arose between
the members and the pastor and the .society was <hsbanded. The house was
sold and now forms a part of the Ijuilding- which was used for so lont;- Ijy
the Falls City News.

It was not tintil Xo\'eml)er, 1890, that an\" movement was made fur
another organization in this city, but in that }ear ]"". T. Houston and W.
A. Moran and their families from Stanberry, Missouri, settled here and
soon began preparations for another Baptist society. On April 7, 1891.
Rev. T. K. Tyson effected the organization of the new church .societ\' with
the fdllowing constituent members: Mrs. Ellen B. Houston, W. A. Moran,
Mrs. Lizzie Moran, Mrs. Cordelia Gundy, Mrs. Alice Geiger, Mrs. J. .\.
Lawrence, Mrs. Hattie Snidow, Mrs. Nettie Brenzier, Mrs. E. J. Eversole,
Mr. E. Rumsey, Mrs. Josephine Larimore, Jessie Moran and S. Bryan.
During a series of meetings, during July of that year the membership was
increased horn fourteen to seventy-one. In the fall of that year, prepara-
tions were made for the erection of a church buililing. and the present
edifice was completed in the fall of 1892. On .\ugust 23, 1896, the church
was dedicated free from debt, Re\-. M. B. Rariden D. D.. of Omaha, preach-
ing the dedicatory sermon.

The following pastors have served the ct)ngregation : E. D. Thoma>
and .\. J. Jones, 1873-74; .\. J. Jones, May, 1874, to November, 1875:
E. D. Thomas, 1875 to September, 1876; J. T. \\'ebster, 1876-78; B. !•.
Lawler, 187S-1880: W. W. Beardslee, 1880-83; W. A. Biggart. September.
1891, to 1894; L. W. Terry, Lee Hunt and A. K. Myattway, 1896 to May.
i(j03; \\'. \\'. Laughlin, few months in 1903; George L. White; E. H.
Jackson. 1907; C. K. HiUis. George H. Reichel. S. J. Miner and E. B.
\\'illiams.

I'R.MRIK UNION' B.VPTIST ClURCir.

h'or tiftv years Prairie L'nion Baptist church has been rendering \alu-
able service, and is yet in a very flourishing condition. Linked with the
early history of this society are the names of Thomas Higgin and his wife.
Catherine Davis Higgins, who, in an early da\' when there were no meeting
houses and no facilities for public worship opened up their dwelling for
the use of a union Sunday school, the meetings of which were subse(|uentl\-
transferred in a school liouse near Mr. Higgins" home. It was at the latter

RICH \R11S0N' COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 7,83

place on March 3, 1867, tliat the Welsh Baptist church, which later became
the Prairie Union Baptist church, was organized. There is no reconleil
action on the part of the congregation relating to the calling of a pastm-
prior to March 9, 1872, hut it has been learned from some of the older
members that Rev. J- T. James supplied the church with, preaching during
the interval.

At a regular covenant meeting, held on February 28, J869, it was xoted
that, as the membership consisted of both Welsh and I'^nglish, the service^
of Re\-. E. D. Thomas be secured in addition to those of Reverend James,
so that the congregation could have preaching in both the English and
\Vebh languages. On April 9, 1869, at the regular meeting of the year,
it \\as v(ited that the name of the church be changed, and in the place ol
being called the Welsh Baptist church the society was henceforth designated
as the Prairie Union Baptist church. In 1870 some interesting changes
were made in the church. Formerly the Sunday school was undenominational,
but in the April of the year mentioned, it became a P.aptist Sunday school.
Later in the year, in December, at a regular meeting it was resolved to elimi-
nate the clause in the church's constitution re(|uiring members be received
by the laying on of hands. This plainly shows what had been the custom
I if the church in the reception of new members.

.\lmost until 1872 the church had been without a place of worslnp
of its own, but on Xovember 26 of the year preceding it was voted, ai
a business meeting to erect a church edifice, and a board of trustees, which
was to have this matter in hand, consisted of the following: Thomas Flig-
gins, J. D. Jones, B. S. Hart, E. D. Evans and J. P>. Evans. To ac(|uire
funds for this purpose the church applied for loans to the American P>aptisl
Home ^Mission Society for five hundred dollars in .\])ril, 1873. During this
year, the house was inclosed and occupied but not rtnished. Before the
completion of it, the house took fire and was, with great difficulty, saved
from total loss. On August 3. 1874, the new house of worship was formally
dedicated and in the following September the association convened in it.
It was not, however, until February i"], 1879, the church paid one hun-
dred dollars, the balance of its indebtedness on the erection of the edifice.
This old church served the needs of the congregation until September 15.
1905, when it was struck b\' lightning and burned to the ground. Immedi-
ately afterward a committee was appointed to plan for a new building, and
it was decided to erect a new edifice which would cost about three thousand
dollars. The work was begun in Novemlier and cai-ried on throughout

384 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

the winter. It was cnmpleted on August 12. 1906. and detlicated on Septeml)er
12. free from debt, the total cost being four thousand dollars.

During the fifty years of its existence this society has been quite active.
In the history of the church the total number baptised has been two hundred
and ninety-five, the total membership, four hundred and seventy-four; and
the present membership is one hundred and twenty-four. Several pastors
have served the needs of the congregation during its existence; they are:
Rev.s. J. T. James and E. D. Thomas, 1867-72; D. \'. Thomas. 1872-76:

B. V. Lawler. 1876-82; John Powell, 1882-84; T. D. Xewell. 1884-88: J.

C. Lewis, 1888-90: F. C. Bingham. 1890-93; J. W. I'-vans, 1894-97: A. B.
Bohannon. 1897-99: I. D. Newell, 1899-1904; D. L. ]\IcBride, 1904-05:
I'. C Lusk, 1906-09; Samuel Miller, igio-15. and 1*'. H. Teall. 191 5 to the
present time, 1917.

ST. FRANCIS XAVIER ROMAN CATHOLIC CHCRCII.

The first Catholic services were held in I'alls City Ijy traveling priests
from Rulo, the nearest place where there was a regular ijastor. It was not.
how^ever, until 1870 that the St. Francis Xavier church was built. In that
year, the members of the little Roman Catholic society, assisted by many
citizens who, while belonging to other denominations, were Catholic in
the best and broadest sense of the word, erected a church building. The
following year Father Lechleither l>ecanie resident pastor of the new jjari.'^h
and increased the society from its five original members to a substantial
body. On his retirement after a year of service. Rev. J. Hays assumed the
pastorate and held it tor nearly two \ears. and din"iug his term and largel\'
througb his efforts, the parochial residence was erected. His successor.
Reverend Bobal. in his year of residence, continued the work of his prede-
cessor. In 1877 Rev. C. J. Ouinn was installed, after whom came many
good men to serve the congregation.

In 1 89 1 the church bought the Dundy property in the east part of the
city, and there opened the Ursuline convent, which school has been kept in
ojieration almost constantly since its establishment. After acquiring this
sightly property, the eft'ort was at once begun to raise funds which should
be used for the building of a new church which, as it was planned, was to
occupy a site near the convent. The efforts of the committee having this
matter in hands during the >ear that followed were \erv .successful and in
191 1 the society's beautiful church was completed. Father Bex began the
plans for the new church building, but increasing years cau.sed him to turn

KICHARnSON COUNTY, NEIiRAS

3i>5

the work over to a younger man, Rev. J. J. Hoffman, under wliose guidance
tiie edifice was completed. The vaUie of the property now belonging to the
society is estimated at rifty thousand dollas. This is known as Sts. Peter
and Paul's church.

ST. Ann's parish.

By Rev. Paul Hasler.

The first year which records Catholic activity in this vicinity was 1868,
when Berg's cemetery was started two miles east and one and a half miles
north of the present church. St. Ann's church was built in 1885 by Father
Lee. It was so named at tlie request of Anna Lite)-, who donated one thousand
dollars toward the building fund ; the balance, amounting to two thousand dol-
lars, being contributed by the other members. The following are the names of
those old settlers: Miles Kelly, who donated three acres for the church site;
Michael O'Connell. John Ahern, Anthony Ege. Thomas Murphy, John and
James Hanley, Michael Casey, Martin Kelly. \V. B. Wells, John H. Kelly,
John Duser and W. E. Kelly.

-V sanctuary addition to the north side of the church was made in
1896, and during the following year the organ gallery was built. The
name of the church appears for the first time in the official church di-
rectory-of the year 1889, as St. Ann's church in New Barada.

Since the establishment of this Catholic society, it has been served by
several pastors. Father Lee, the builder of the church, was also pastor of
the Falls City church. From that city he attended to the needs of Barada.
and was in charge of the new congregation of St. Ann's church for many
years. From 1889 to 1914 the priests of Dawson were the pastors of this
congregation and lived near Shubert. Besides Father Lee, the following
pastors have served the needs of this church: Rev. William McDonald.
1889 to August 31. 1894; Rev. James H. Conly. 1894 to February 7,
1895: Rev. P. L. McShane, February 15, 1895. to November 23. 1898:
Rev. Thomas Corcoran, 1898 to May 15. 1907: Rev. Bernard Ulbrich,
1907 to January i, 1908; Rev. John J. Loughran, 1908 to September 28,
191 1, and Rev. F. A. O'Brien, 1911 to December 6, 1914.

During Father O'Brien's pastorate, the congregation was attached to
the mission at Salem with Rev. John Kornbrust as pastor, which arrange-
ment, 'however, never went into eft'ect. In December, 1914, the two mis-
sions received a common pastor, Rev. Paul Hasler, who for half a year had
been in charge of Salem missions alone. He, with the approbation of the
(25)

386 RICIIARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Rt. Rev. Bishop Tilien, changed his residence to Shubert, and with the
generous help of the congregation, put up the priest's house, west of tlie
church, in the following year of 191 5.

GERMAN EVANGELICAL CHURCH.

The beginning of Evangelical church societies in this county dates back
to 1866, when the first adherents of that creed settled in this county. Among
the first who moved here were William Meier, Christian Kaiser. Carl
Daeschner and Henry Rieger, and a little later C. Yoesel, John Yoesel and
otliers; all coming from, or near, the same place, Barrington, Illinois. They
all bought land near where Zion church now stands, six miles east of Falls
City. Soon after these people settled in this county, they felt the need of
their religious society for they did not intend to rear their children away
from the influence of their church. Soon they effected an organization and
made inquiries as to the nearest point where thej^ could obtain the services
of a minister. Soon the little band was increased by the coming of 1". and
L. Hilgenfield, John Mohring and wife, L. Rippe and wife and Samuel
.\rnoId and wife, wlio were among the first converts to this church.

The Zion E\angelical church, the first of that denomination to erect a
place of worship in the county, was built in 1871 ; but the first preaching
point 'was at old Arago, soon after the Civil War. Our fellow-citizen,
John Mosiman, who moved here from Indiana, was early identified with the
work of this church, and he was douljtless the oldest memlier of this denom-
ination in the county.

The German Evangelical churclies have largely to date used the German
language, but the demand for English is growing out of a \ery natural
condition, since the public schools are English and the demand of the young
people for this language is a vital question for these churches. There are.
at least, four English Evangelical churches in the county, the nearest one tn
Falls City being Maple Grove church, north of Strauss\ille. Another is the
church society at Barada, which is yet comparatively new but flourishing. A
third such church of this denomination is located at Dawson, which society
owns a good building, has a strong and efficient membership and are able
to be instrumental for much good. .A fourth luiglish Evangelical church
is at X'erdon.

It was not until 1888 that the ministers of the Evangelical Association
liegan to preach in Falls City, serving the appointment in connection with

RICHARDSON COUXTY, NEBRASKA. T^^y

the organized church at Preston, under the charge of Rev. F. Harder, as-
sisted by Rev. J. Rohrig. In the following year Rev. J. R. Nanninga
became the assistant, and in 1890 the appointment was organized into a
mission and supplied with Rev. A. Rodewald as the first regular pastor. Tho
first church building, belonging to this society, was erected in 1892 on a lot
at the corner of Harlan and Nineteenth streets, but this building was en-
larged to its present capacity during the pastorate of Rev. M. Manshardt
in 1907. The following pastors have served the congregation: F. Harder,
J. Rohrig, J. R. Nanninga, A. Rodewald, A. Mattill, W. F. Wolthausen, C.
Brandt, J. Schniidli. M. Alanshardt, P. Schumann, J- R- Nanninga and
M. C. I'latz.

CHURCHES AT HUMBOLDT.

So far as we have been able to learn, the first church organization in
the vicinitv of Humboldt was formed by the Christian denomination. There
had been religious meetings held before any regular organizations were
formed, but the early historian has failed to record where and Ijy whom
the first of these were conducted. The Christian church was organized,
April 15, i860, with sixteen members. O. J. Tinker was its first ordained
elder, and Silas Morphew and A. M. Gentry were chosen deacons. R. C.
Barrows and Thomas Edwards held services for the new organization in
i860 and 1861, and Reverend Mullis then supplied the church for }ears.
The first regular pastor was Rev. William Smith, who began liis labors in
July, 1870. At first the services were held in private homes, the room being
sufficient to accommodate the faithful few but devout members. When tiie
first school house was completed in Humboldt, services were held there by
this mission until 1876, when the society purchased the privilege of wor-
shipping in the Methodist church, which had Ijeen erected in the meantime.

The church building was completed in 1878 at a cost of two thdusand
five hundred dollars. • The buildmg was thirty by sixty-four feet, with an
alcove twelve by two and one-half feet, and had a seating capacitv of about
three hundred. The first regular lx)ard of trustees as elected, May 5, 1884.
were: J. G. Cox, E. P. Tinker, Cyrus Jones, J. K. Cornelius and Charleton
Hall. The first ministers appear in the following order: William Smith,
Roach Parkinson, W. H. Tucker, A. D. Finch, C. W. Elder, James Shields,
E. L. Poston, Robert Jones, O. H. Derry, W. M. .\danis and L. L. Combs.

In very recent years the Christian congregation razed the first church
and, in its. stead, erected a fine large modern church which ranks as one of
the best in the countv-

3'^'^ KICllARDSON COUNTY. Nr:FRASKA.

GERMAN METHODIST EriSCOPAL CHURCH.

Shortly after the organization of the Christian church came that of
the German Methodist Episcopal church. During the first twenty-five
years of its life, it was a mission, served by preachers, who were forced to
divide their time between five congregations. The first date in the record
of this society is i860 Avhen its membership was stated as fourteen. The
first preacher to supply the Humboldt circuit was Rev. J. Lange. He was
followed by Reverends j\Ieke, Meyer, Dreyer, Muelhenbrook, Schatz. C.
Bauer, H. H. Menger, C. Bruegger. E. Schumacher, Fred Unland, J. H.
Mertens, H. C. Schee, G. Bermenter, G. G. Gracsmueck, J. Kracker, F. H.
Wipperman and H. A. Sickman. The present pastor of this con-
gregation is Rev. John Kracker. The first church building was completed
in 1879 and was, at that time, one of the finest churches in the city. Like
the Christian congregation, they, too, have in recent years built an entirely
new church which far out-ranks the early church in size and cost.

ENGLISH METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH.

This church was organized in 1871 and on March 29 of the same year,
the general conference recognizing its needs, appointed Martin Prichard to
preach God's word and build up the society. In 1873 the society built the
first church building in Humboldt, completing the same at a cost of one
thousand four hundred dollars. Since that time, extensive repairs and ex-
tensions have increased its cost to more than three thousand dollars. The.
society built a parsonage on Nemaha street in 1879. whicli building was
later sold and another bought and remodeled. This church, which is one
•of the strongest religious organizations in Humboldt, a few years ago
razed the earlier church and built new a fine large brick structure which
ranks as ne of the most expensive church edifices in the county.

The church at Pleasant View, north of Humboldt, is comiected with
the Humboldt churcli in its religious work and is one of the strongest
country churches in the county. The pastors of the Pleasant \'iew church
in its earlier years were as follow: Martin Prichard, R. C. Johnson. I.. \\'.
Smith, C. W. Comstock, John Gallaher, J. R. Reed, G. H. Wehn. A. Brig-
ham, J. C. H. Hobb. R. Pearson, J. S. Hall. F. ^[. Esterbrook. J. A. Cliapin.
G. W. Hawlev. H. C. Harmon. T. W. Swan and T. K. Maxsfield.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 389

FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.

The I'irst Presbyterian church was organized, June 23, 1871, eight
members constituting the entire roll of communicants. The organization
was the cHrect result of a call issued by A. H. Bratt, C. E. Rice and wife,
P. A. Ninis, John R. Clark and wife, and Mrs. Phoebe McConkey. The
hrst sermon was preached on that date by Rev. George R. Carnoll, at that
time the district missionary of the American Board of Home Missions and
having charge of western Iowa. Nebraska and Dakota.

The meetings of this church, after it was founded, were held in the
school house until December, 1878, when a church edifice was completed
at a cost of two thousand one hundred dollars. Changes and additions were
made to this building, bringing the total cost up to nearly three thousand
five hundred dollars. T'le I)uilding was occupied by the society until Jan-
uary, 1892, when it was sold to James Hnizda and torn down to give place
for his residence. It was located on Fourth street between Central avenue and
lulwartls street. In 1884, during the pastorate of Rev. Joel S. Kelsey, the
church divided, part of the congregation following Mr. Kelsey to the People's
church. This branch had erected an edifice, or rather Mrs. Lydia Bnmn
Woods and the congregation erected one, she contributing the sum of five
thousand dollars for the same, stipulating that the congregation should keep it
in repair and provide it with a pastor without further cost to her and that its
services should be non-sectarian. Services were held here for a short time
by ^Ir. Kelsey. Upon his departure from the city, the church had no regu-
lar pastor, most of the members returning to their former church home.

In Jaiuiary, 1890, Mrs. Woods presented her interests to the Presbv-
terian church, merely requiring the lifting of a small debt then against
it. This was for long, the finest church edifice in the city, costing originallv
nearly nine thousand dollars and having a seating capacity of four hundred.
It remains to this day one of the most active and efficient religious organiz;i-
tions in the county. The pastors of its earlier years were : A. F. Hale.
C. S. Marvin, J. B. Linskea, F. M. Hickok, Joel S. Kelsey, L. D. Wells,
G. G. P>arnes, Lewis Jessup, R. Cooper Bailey, S. H. McClanaghan anrl
Charles C. Meek.

FIKST 1!A1>TI.ST CHURCH.

The First Baptist church of Humboldt came into existence, March 10,
1883. It was organized by Rev. Peter Bolinger, B. F. Lawlor. B. Bedell
and J. C. Jordan. B. F. Lawlor was its first pastor and the church profited

3l)0 RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

much by his good work. During his pastorate the church building
was erected. It was completed in 1884 at a cost of three thou-
sand three hundred dollars. The first board of trustees was composed of
S. C. Bewick. S. Sansom. J. H. Smith, A. H. Coffield, Frank Coons and
William Patton. The ministers who liave followed the first pastor were :
Revs. T. W. Scott. .\. F. Xewcomb. J. T. Wood and J. S. Hadden.

CTU'RCII OF CHRIST, SCIENTIST.

The teaching of Christian Science was first introduced at Huml:)oldt
in 1888. but made but very little progress until June, i8g6, when steps were
taken towards perfecting an organization. The society was formally organ-
ized January i, 1897, in the old school room of the Bohemian Hall, for-
merly the high school. The church, as yet, does not own a building. It
has no pastors and its service, which is conducted by readers, consists of
reading from the scriptures and the text-book of Christian Science. Cyrus
Milam was the first reader and Mrs. Hattie Fraker, the second. The board
of directors is composed of Cyrus Milam, C. S. Bulless and John C. Hoag-
land.

CHURCHES ELSEWHERE IN THE COUNTY.

In the early sixties the German Lutherans built a stone church edifice
in the country, due north of the present site of Humboldt. For more tlran
hft\- \ears this has stood with its spire pointing heavenward, indicating
to tiie weary of heart a haven of rest, and to the traveler the direction for
his journey. It was one of the oldest landmarks of this vicinity, and for
more than half a century its walls echoed the teachings of Jesus Christ, as
interpreted by his devoted disciples. Its first pastor was tlie Reverend Bick-
man.

Tlie bell, which called its band of worshipers together on Sal)batli
day. was cast from the brass of an old cannon captured during the Franco-
Prussian war. in 1870. and was pre.sented to the church in 1874 by Emi^eror
\\'illielm. Before its reception, the congregation had to 1)uild a new belfry
for it. Henry .\lspatch constructed tlie l)elfry and placed the ])ell in posi-
tion. I'or more than a quarter of a centur\- Rev. John Dirks acted as iiastor
of this church. To many Richardson and Nemaha county people tliis oM
landmark was a mecca to wliicli tlic)- journeyed for spiritual comfort.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 39I

PRESBYTERIANISM IN RICHARDSON COUNTY.
By H. H. Oriffiths. of Salem. 1S92.

The first case of organized Presbyterianism in Richardson county, that
is of record, made its appearance at Salem, April 9, 1863, as a result of
the following- action of Highland Presbytery: "At a meeting of the pres-
bytery of Highland, held at Highland, Kansas, September, A. D., 1864, Revs.
J. R. Ramsay and John Lilly were appointed a committee to organize a
church at Salem, Nebraska, if the way be clear."

In accordance with the above action a meeting was called at Salem on
Sabbath, April 9, 1865, when a sermon suited to the occasion was preached
by Rev. J. R. Ramsay. The way being clear in the judgment of the com-
mittee, they proceeded to constitute a church with the title of the "Pres-
byterian Church of Salem," when the following persons were admitted to
membership on certificate: Alar) A. Lilly, Margaret A. \Vashburn. Cor-
nelia S. Lilly, R. R. McCollough, Elizabeth, his wife, and Elizabeth, their
daughter. Those admitted on examination were: G. W. Baker, Elizabeth
P. Baker, his wife, Isabelle Holt, Pelina R. Robertson, and Douglass O.
Lilly. R. B. McCollough was elected ruling elder and, having been pre-
viouslv ordained, was duly installed. Said organization was duly enrolled
on the books of the presbytery, April i, 1865.

Rev. J- R- Ramsay was officiating clergyman until 1868, when the name
of Rev. John Lilly appears, followed by A. F. Wood in 187 1, under whose
administration many members were added. In 1872, J. W. Margrave was
elected an elder to assist R. B. McCollough, the lone officer of the church
up to this time. Rev. D. ¥. Wood's successor was J. N. Young, in 1873.
\ considerable increase in numl)er of membership appears during his labors,
the writer among others joining his fortunes with the struggling church.
In 1872, Rev. Charles S. Marvin took charge of the work in connection
with Humboldt work. Our brick church building was started, enclosed be-
fore January i, 1876, and dedicated, April. 1876. cost of building being
about one thousand eight hundred dollars. .\t this time, there being but
five male members in the church, it needed a "pull and a pull all together"
to accomplish the work of l:)uilding. But the people had a mind to work,
and. nothwithstanding the grasshopper destruction of that year, they com-
pleted the work as above stated.

In tiie fall of 1876. Rev. J. B. Linskea took charge of this and the
Humboldt church, doing faithful and efficient work for one vear; followed

39- RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

early in 1878 l)y Rev. i\ AJ. Hickok, the Mind preacher, who is "so well re-
membered by all who ever met him, being instrumental in organizing Pros-
pect, Bulah and Stella churches, in addition to his regular work at Hum-
boldt and Salem.

In August, 1879, Rev. David Street, in connection with his work al
I'alls City, took charge of the Salem church. It was during this year that
William Marshall and the late James Hearst were elected elders, also H.
H. Griffiths was elected, ordained and, in company with the two above
named were installed elders in the congregation. The prospects of this church
were encouraging about this time. On the 8th of Alarch, 1880, our senior
ruling elder, R. B. McCollough, departed this life.

The first Sabbath in Ma}^, 1880, Rev. John Foy preached his first ser-
mon in Salem church, having moved here from Martinsburg, Ohio. His
ministrations continued about four years, the first two preaching to Bulah
church, seven miles north of Salem and one and one-half miles north and
two miles west of Verdon (Cornell school house), each Sabbath at three
p. m., anrl at Salem at eleven a. m. and seven p. m. The last two years his
entire time was occupied at Salem. His work was faithful, conscientious
and well done. Religious interest was far-reaching and members were added
to the church continually:

During the year 1883, D. A. Tisdel and H. ^\'. Kennon were elected,
ordained and installed elders in this church.

About July I, 1884, Rev. G. W. Borden, a graduate of Union Seminary,
arrived on the ground and at once took up the work laid down by his honored
predecessor, full of enthusiasm, courage and fidelity to the "head of the
church." He at once won the hearts of the people, and was known as the
living epistle of his [jrofcssion. On .\pril 23, 1885, a formal call was issued
to Mr. Borden to become pastor of the church, which he accepted. The
presbytery set September J3, 1885. at seven-twenty o'clock as the time
and the church at Salem as the place where Mr. Borden should l)e ordained
for the full work of the ministry. This work was performed by Reverends
Wells, Thompson and Chestnut, as a committee of the presbyterv, and Mr.
Borden became first ])astor of the Salem church, his predecessors being
stated supplies. This pleasant relationship was abruptly terminated about
January, 1886. b\- the failing health of Mrs. Borden, antl on the advice of
their physician this consecntcd cnuple (|uitteil this field, thereby creatin;^
a \acancy not yet filled.

In .\pril, i88r.. J. S. I'.nyd and J. .\. llanna were accepted as eklers by

RICUAKDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 393

the church. Ahout this time many of the members moved to- other locahties
and states. This and a vacant pulpit soon lessened the influetice of the church
to such a degree that discouragement was plainly visible in every effort.
Rev. W. S. Boyd preached in the church for about six months in 1887,
followed in the fall of 1888 by Rev. H. M. Goodell, who ministered for
us some eighteen months, faithful and diligent in every work. The church
again revived and put forth aggressive efforts and pushed the work to favor-
able results. But again about May, 1890, the church's pulpit was vacated
by the removal of Mr. Goodell to Del Norte, Colorado.

About May i, 1891, Rev. R. T. Bell began in connection with Falls
City \^■ork to suppl}^ our pulpit, preaching each Sabbath afternoon for us and
morning and evening at Falls City. His ministrations were very acceptable
to all the people, but the increase of duties at Falls City compelled him
to Cjuit this work January i, 1892, and devote all his time at home. So
our pulpit is practically vacant again.

Having brought this narration down to 189-', allow me to supply some
omissions, namely, Rev. .\. F. Hale preached for the church for two ov
three months in 1874; J. W. McDowell, a student from Allegheny Seminary,
who preached for the church for four months during vacation in 1886. and
Charles B. Williams, from Princeton, during vacati(Mi in 1890.

On June 30, 1889, Elder James Hearst died, which was a great loss to
the church. During the ups and downs of nearly twenty-seven years this
church has enrolled (ine hundred and fifty names, of which fortj^-four are
now resident members. None of the original members are at present in the
organization, G. W. Baker, to the best of our knowledge, died more than
two years since.

The Prospect church, east of Humboldt, was organized, March 26, 1882.
by George S. Little, synodical missionary for the state. This church was
organized with twenty-five members, and in 1883 erected a building which
cost about one thousand four hundred dollars. Many of the original mem-
bers, retiring from their farms, moved into Humboldt. J. W. Van Emmon
was its first regular pastor, since which time T am unalile to give any history.

The Stella church was organized about the same time with the Pros-
])ect church. Having no building it finally disbanded and merged into other
organizations. The same may lie said of Bulah church which for several
years held fortli at the Cornell school liouse, its members going to other
localities. Upon the removal of the Congregational church into Verdon, the
remaining members of Bulah placed their membership with that organiza-

394 RICirAKDSDX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

tion, which act- is in full accord with the comity policy of the two denomi-
nations, entered into years ago, that neither one will enter territory occupied
by the other, until full)- justified by a plain demand that they should.

Not having access to any records but the Salem church, I am unable
to give in detail progress of the work of each church year after year.

LONG BRANCH SEVENTH-DAY BAPTIST CHURCH.
B.v Uii ai. Babcock, J;iiiu:ir,v 8, 1S;12.

The Long Branch Seventh-Day Baptist church was organized on Long
Branch, about five miles northwest from Humboldt, by Rev. Thomas E.
Babcock, on July 9, 1863. The names of the constituent, or charter mem-
bers were as follows: William S. Furrow. Jonathan Maxson, A. D. S.
Ayers, Lydia Avers, Mary Reeves, Susan R. Furrow, Cecilia \'. Furrow.
Rebecca Pierce, Joshua G. Babcock, Charlotte T. Babcock. John Smally
Babcock, Sarah Babcock. Silas Babcock, Emily Babcock, John W-. Davis.
Amy Davis, Anna Davis, Rhoda Davis, Andrew Henshaw and Wilomina
Henshaw. The first services of the church were held from house to house.

The first and only church was built in 1866 and cost about one thou-
sand dollars. It stood about four miles northwest from Humboldt. Ne-
braska, but in the fall of 1888 the church was moved one-half mile south
and. consequentlv, one-half mile nearer Humlx^ldt. It was then repaired
and looked like a new church. A parsonage had been built on the lot to
which the church was moved a number of years ago.

The first pastor of the church was Rev. Benjamin Clement. .Vfter
his pastorate Uri Martin Babcock, a licentiate, served the church for aijout
two years, supporting himself by teaching school, receiving no salary what-
ever from the church. After this. Rev. Samuel R. Wheeler, who lived
near Atchison. Kansas, served the church as missionary jiastor for a term
I if vear.^. Following this service, Rev. Henry B. Lewis served the church
as a missionary pastor for six months. In the years i88j and 1883. Rev.
John T. Davis served the church as its pastor about ten months. The first
Sabbath of July, 1883. Rev. Darius K. Davis l>ecame pastor and served the
church for about three years. The church then called Rev. Uri Martin
Babcock. the same person wlm had served the church about two years pre-
vious ti> ^^7,^- In the spring of 1887 he came from Dayton, Florida, and
took the pastoral care of the church on the first Sabbath of July, 1887.
and served the church as its pastor for three years at the nominal salary
of one hundred and fift\- dollars from tlie church and one hundred dollars

RICH \RnSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 395

from the missionary society. Afterwards they called him for one year to
serve the church for eighty dollars from the church and one hundred dollars
from the missionary society, which service closed on the July i> 1891.
Since that time he has served the church without any salary antl will con-
tinue to do so until he removes to some other field of labor, which he is
contemplating doing at an early day. There is l)ut one Seventh-Day Baptist
church in Richardson coiuit}- and but one other in the state, it being located
at North Loup, Nebraska. The present membership, all tok!, residents and
non-residents, is seventy-two.

RICHARDSON COUNTY SUNP.W SCHOOL ASSOCIATION.
Dr. E. R. Mathers

The knowledge of earh- Bible school work in Richar(lst)n county has
been greatly obscured by a failure in the keeping of proper records. Be-
cause of this fact it becomes almost impossible to offer exact data on the
organization of individual schools. Early, however, in the seventies the
county \vas fairly well covered by denominational schools or those under
the supervision of the American Sunday School Union. Organizations were
found in Humboldt, Salem, Falls City and several other places, names
of which are not now familiar to our i>eople.

KARI.Y ORGANIZATION.

The need of a co-operative effort was early felt, growing out of which
a call was made for a meeting to unite the various schools in a county or-
ganization. This gathering was held in the INIethodist church of Falls City
on Ni>vember 10, 1875. The registration for the first session shows the
following persons present: Rev. C. S. Marvin. O. J- Tinker, W". D. Bissel
and wife, Mrs. Sarah Nims and I^Irs. H. Gardner, of Humljoldt; George
W. Aloore and Thomas ¥. Brooks, of Unionxille ; William Wrighton, Pleas-
ant \^alley: J. D. Harris, Olive Tree, William Metcalf and P. Hall, of Salem:
William R. Cain, St. Stephens, E. Cooper, J. S. Clark and wife, of North
Star: H. B. Grable, J. W. Maynard, Mrs. T. H. Collins, Rev. D. F. Roda-
baugh, S. .\. Intlton, V. M. Spalding, Rev. F. B. Nash and Rev. I-". Gilbert
of Falls City. This number was increa.sed at the evening session by the
presence of Prof. I. D. Simmons and wife, of Salem; J. P. Pool and .\. J.
Ely, of Pleasant Hill; a Mr. Moore, of Flowerdale, and Mrs. ^^"i!Iiam Wil-
son, Mrs. Doctor Shaw, C. R. Banks and F. C. Grable of Falls Citv.

396 KUIIAUDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

With these thirty-three representative Sunday school workers from over
the county an organization was effectetl with S. A. Fulton as chairman, and
J. W. Maynard as secretary. .\ constitution was formulated and adopted,
calling for an annual gathering of the organization on the second Wednesday
of each October, with a full corps of officers, made up of a president and
a vice-president from each precinct in the county ; a recording and a corre-
sponding secretary, a treasurer, and an executive committee of five members.
Provisions were made that this organization be affiliated, as an auxiliary,
with the State Sunday School Association.

It is unfortunate from the viewpoint of history that the early records
of the Richardson County Sunday School Association have been lost, and
very little of a definite character has been retained until within the past ten
years.

The absence of a definite program for work on the part of the slate
organization as a working inspiration to the county organization did not
bring out the best possible efforts in this county until within recent years.
Much credit is due, however, to a few, untiring, faitiiful workers who kept
the fire alive through these trying years, until the state force mapped out a
co-operative course of work, which put a new purpose and energy into the
county organization. The ^•ision and consecration of such persons as H.
E. Boyd and J. O. Shroyer, of Humboldt; Samuel Lichty and Mrs. J. J.
Cully, of Falls City, and Mrs. J. A. Tyner, of Salem, did much to tide ovei
the critical periods in the association's life.

THE REORGANIZATION.

At the October annual gathering held in the Stella Baptist church,
in lyii, the crisis of the county organization seemed at hand. President
J. O. Shroyer was leaving the state and no one seemed ready to take his place.
As a final solution of the situation Rev. R. Cooper Bailv, then pastor of the
Falls City Presbyterian church, now gone to his reward, consented to accept
the presidency and Dr. 1".. U. :\Iathers, of Falls City, was chosen as secretary-
treasurer.

The spirit of that gathering .seemed to breathe new life into the or-
ganization. Early in November an executive council was called to meet in
the Falls City library Iniilding. The county was di\ided into five districts
an,d arrangements were made for a meeting in each for the purpose of perfect-
ing a district organization. As a result of this constructive work, the as-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 397

sociation came to the 1912 convention in Verdon with a better showing
along ail lines. This gathering was held in the Verdon Congregational
church and was attended by about two hundred delegates. A spirit of progress
and purpose was evident. Because of Reverend Bailey's intended removal
from the state, the association again found itself without a president and
Rev. S. deFreese, of Verdon, was chosen to fill the vacancy, while Dr.
1'^. R. Mathers was re-elected as secretary-treasurer. The year's work con-
sisted, largely, in visiting the various schools of the county and familiariz-
ing them with the possibilities and helpfulness of the organization. As
yet, however, no definite plan was placed before die individual scliools for
a co-operative efifort along Sunday school lines.

October. 1913, found the yearly meeting in session in the Congre-
gational church of Salem, with an aggregated attendance of over four hun-
dred in the three sessions. Doctor Mathers was selected as the new presi-
dent and Dr. C. N. Allison, of Falls City, as secretary-treasurer.

THE NEW PROGRAM.

It was at this gathering where a new and lasting impetus was given to
the county work upon the announcement of the state secretary, ^Margaret
Ellen Brown, that a four years' program of definite work was being mapped
out for all the schools in the state. This program contemplated an effort
on the part of all the schools in Nebraska, to reach a certain standard of
efficiency in four years. The schools were asked to make gains of one-fourtli
for each of the four years on the following standard :

An organized cradle roll ; an organized, recognized teen-age class ; an
organized, recognized adult class; at least two classes using grade instruc-
tion; a home department, organized; an organized teacher training class;
a missionary- superintendent or a missionary committee : temperance sujier-
intendent, or a temperance committee, and at least one won for Christ and
for the church each year. Such a plan was to be used in all Sunday schools.
To those best acquainted with conditions in the comity the .successful termi-
nation of such a program seemed next to impossible, so indifferent were the
schools to the idea of systematic organization.

On Novemlier 28, following the Salem convention, at the invitation of
the new president all but one of the county officers, department superin-
tendents and district presidents met at his home for a conference on present
conditions and to formulate plans for definite work during the year. A
new vision appeared to all those attending this cnnference and a for\^■ar^I

598 RICHARDSO? COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Step in the Richardson County Sunday School Association was apparent.
At the state convention, in June, 19 14, recognition was to be given to
the counties which might ht successful in reaching the first twenty-five per
cent, goal, and Richardson was one of eight ready for such recognition.
The spirit of this co-operative movement was being felt over the entire
county and, when the 1914 convention was held in Falls City, on October
28 and 29, an aggregate of one thousand six hundred persons was present
for the five sessions, making the largest county convention ever held in
Nebraska up to that date. All departments of the organization had been
active and the fifty per cent, goal, scheduled for the June, 1915, state con-
vention, had been reached eight months ahead of time — the first county in
the state to make the second goal point. A ntJtable feature of this conven-
tion was the presence of three-fourths of the ministers of the county, nearly
all of the remaining fourth being out of the county at the time or detained
by sickness. By a unanimous action an earnest invitation was given for
the 1916 state convention to l)e held in Falls City. This invitatinn was
subsequently accepted at the 19 15 state convention held in Broken Bow.
Great enthusiasm was shown in the final effort to gain the 1916 con\en-
tion by the seventeen representatives from the county, whi> traveled an aggre-
gate of ten thousand miles to and from Broken Bow to present the formal
invitation of the state. The Booster Club of Falls City delegated -\tty.
Jean B. Cain as its representative and a special period was granted on
one evening's program for the presentation and showing of Falls City views
by means of the stereopticon. Richardson county went to this convention
with the se\ent\-five per cent, goal gained one j'ear ahead of schedule.

The 1 91 5 county convention was held in the Humboldt Christian churcli
with an aggregate attendance of over one thousand two hundred. The old
officers were re-elected and a spirit of aggressiveness \vas evident. .V strain
of sadness marked a part of the convention in the memorial service held in
memory of the home department superintendent, Mrs. J. J. Cully, who had
jiassed away during the year. Fitting tribute was given to the splendid work
done in her department. Miss Gertrude Lum, suijerintendent of the sec-
ondary department, who was at tlie time in a hospital, was also remembered
in a special way.

Richardson county was becoming recognized over the entire state a-^
the leader in all Sunday school work and man\- calls were made upon its
officers to visit other counties and instruct them in methods of org-ani/.ed
efficiency-. Charts devised to help systematize and check up goal jxiints
as gained, were adopted over the entire state, and many of our ])lans were
eagerly sought and used.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 399

THE STATE CONVENTION AT FALLS CITY.

A ''reel letter" year was 1916. in the county's Sunday school history,
because the one iiundred per cent, goal was reached twelve months ahead of
schedule, and because it was our privilege to entertain for the first time a
state Sunday school convention. Plans had been well worked out in ample
time to assure a royal reception and a satisfactory entertainment to visiting
delegates during the period of the convention, June 19-21. .\ fitting tribute
was given to Falls City's reception in the "open letter" of the Nebraska
Smuiay Scluwl Record, under the date of August, 1916, in part as follows;
"We did have such a great meeting at Falls City: people were so enthusi-
astic, everyone was good natured, Sunday school people always are ; the
local committees did everything so splendidly, that everyone wants Falls City
to have the state convention again just as soon as it would be polite to ask
for it. * * * Falls City did more than the\- promised to do in money, in
printing, for the pageant and everything. We just do not know how to
thank them enough."

Then in the same issue, under the heading, "Falls City Did Xot Fail,"'
the following appeared : "We thought the Broken Bow people had reached
the height of possibilities of extending a cordial welcome and showing hos-
pitality to state convention delegates, but Falls City surpassed everything
we have experienced in this line in a Nebraska state convention. They
had dozens of automobiles labeled "guest car," and these were at the dis-
posal of delegates all the time, apparently. They met all trains. l)rought
all tlie delegates up to headquarters (not just the officers), took them to
their homes, and took them to the station again when the convention was
over. It was simply great. Then those boys who carried the grips, suitcases,
bags and bundles; did you ever see a more willing bunch? I never did.
The local florists, Simanton and Pence, sent two thousand carnations td
head(|uarters to be given to delegates as they registered. The auditorium
and churches were beautifully decorated. Falls City certainly made a repu-
tation for Christian hospitality."'

Though this was the largest convention of Sunday school workers ever
held in Nebraska up to that time, b'alls City found no difficulty in providing
entertainment for all.

COME-TO-SINDAV-SCHOOL DAY.

Stella entertained the county convention for this year on October 19-
20. One of the interesting features of this gathering was the presentation

400 KICIIARnsOX COUNTY. NKBRASKA.

of a I^eautiful new silk flag;, three l:)y five feet, to the Cottier Union sch^^f 1
for having made the best record in point of increased attendance on "Come-
to-.Sunday-School Day," October 8. A united effort was being made over
the entire state to secure a record attendance on that date, and the Richard-
son County Sunday School ,\ssociation had oft'ered a flag to the scIkjoI which,
on that day, would have an attendance showing tlie greatest percentage of
increase as compared with its own average attendance for the past year.
The schools entered heartily into this effort with the result that Richardson
county reported the second largest attendance in the state, the various schools
having reported an aggregate of some six thousand five hundred for tliat
day. Again credit was given to the work in this county by an editorial
in the Nebraska Sunday School Record which stated that the "Come-to-
Sunday-School" campaign in Richardson county was the best example of
a well-outlined plan carried into successful execution ever witnessed in the
state.

NEW OFFICERS.

At the Stella convention Doctor Mathers asked to be relieved of the
duties of president, and Mr. M. E. Ruddy, of Humboldt, was unanimously
chosen to head the county work. To his unusual \-ision and indomitable
energy, the later growth of the county association is largely due, and there
could have been no one in the county chosen who would have measured up
to the standard of leadership outlined and carried into successful execution
by Mr. Ruddy except himself. Because of the unusual efficiency of Dr. C.
N. Allison, as secretary-treasurer, he was asked to remain in his present
position and Mr. J. S. Johnson, of Shubert, was chosen as the vice-presi-
dent. Superintendents of the various departments were selected as follow:
Elementary, Nellie Cleaver, Falls City ; secondary, Mrs. W. F. Veach. Verdon ;
adult. Gertrude Lum. Verdon; home, Mrs. J. E. Culbertson, Humboldt:
teacher training, Rev. H. J. Hill. Humboldt; visitation, Dr. E. R. Mathers.
Falls City; superintendents. Mrs. Luella Ciphers, Stella; missionary, Almeda
Hill, Falls City; temperance, Mrs. Ellen G. Lichty, Falls City, and pastors.
Rev. E. M. Teal. Shubert.

T[|K jrUII.EE CONVEXTIOiX AT OMAUA.

At the Falls Cit\- state convention it had been ;uuu)unced that, since
Richardson county had reached the one hundred per cent, standard of or-
ganized efficienc\-. the challenge was thnnvn out for an effort to maintain that

FALLS MILLS RRIDC

KICHAUIWON COUNTY, NEKRASKA. 40 f

Standard for one year, or until the jubilee convention to be held in Omaha,
June, 191 7, at which time the four years' campaign over the state was to
close. The challenge was accepted by the Richardson county workers and
the effort began in earnest. President Ruddy began early to organize the
schools in the county not only to hold the standard, but to increase the effici-
ency, and to send a large delegation to Omaha by an automobile caravan.
The results justified the splendid work he did, for the standard was not
only maintained but an average increase of twenty per cent, was shown in
all departments. The automobile caravan, composed of some fifty cars and
carrying two hundred and fifty people, made a sensation at the convention.
As trophies Richardson county brought back from this convention, credit
for having the largest cradle roll and home department in the state, a l)eau-
tiful silk flag for the greatest number of miles traveled by delegates in
going to and from the convention, another flag for the largest countv dele-
gation in the state, and the honor of having one of its workers, Dr. E. R.
Mathers, chosen as president of the State Association.

SOME VALIANT SUNDAY SCHOOL WORKERS.

This history would not be complete without the mention of other names
which have had a telling influence in making the organized Sunday school
work in Richardson county what it is at this time. To the efficient, faithful
work of S. H. Knisely has Ijeen largely due the thorough organization of
the adult department in the forty schools of the county. J. L. ^\^n Bergen,
Oscar Leech, H. O. Layson, E. T. Peck, O. P. Veal, and Edward Daeschner,
the district presidents, figured largely in the successful working out of the
many plans of the county organization. Their hearty co-operation in all
methods and advanced steps never came into (|uestion, and what the organi-
zation came to be is largely due to the fact that they stood shoulder to
shoulder with the county ofticers and department superintendents in ad\anc-
ing the work. To the untiring efforts of Florence Cleaver, of Falls City,
is Clue the credit Richardson county holds for the largest cradle roll and
home department in the state.

Richardson county's methods have lieen largely copied over the state
and hold first place in point of efficiency and support of the state organiza-
tion. What her future will be will depend upon the vision of service given
to her leaders and the consecration of effort on the part of Sunday school
friends to help to make this vision real. .
(26)

402 RICIIARnSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

At tlie meeting called for the first organizati<jn of the Richardson County
Sunday School Association on November lo, 1875, the following delegates
were appointed a committee to draft the constitution of the organizati(jn :
Reverend Metcalf, H. B. Grable, William \\^righton. George B. Moore and
E. Cooper. The following constitution was brought in l)y this commutec
and adopted :

.Vitklc 1. Name and Ob.)eot.

Section 1. The Society shall be called the "Kichardsm County Sabbath School
Association," and it shall be auxiliary to the Nebraska State Sabbath School Association.

Sec. 2. The object of the society sliall be to promote the interest of the Sabl)ath
school cause in the county.

Any person may becoi
the annual fee of ten cents,

Article 2. Membershi

Article 3. Officers

Section 1. The officers of this association shall be a presidciil. and for each iireciiict
in the county a vice-president, recording secretary, corresijondiui; .'secretary, treasurer,
and an executive committee of live, of which the president and corresponding secretary,
shall be ex-offlcio members.

Sec. 2. It shall be the duty of the president to preside at all meetings of the siH-icly
and have general oversight of the Sabbath school interest of the county.

Sec. 3. The vice-presidents shall have general supervision of the work in their
respective pi-ecincts and shall make reports of the condition of the Saljbath schools in
their fields at the annual meeting.

Sec. 4. The recording secretary shall keep a true ri^ord of the proceedings of eacli
meeting of the six-iety and co-operate with the other officers in all Sunday school work.

See. 5. The corresiwuding secretary shall hold all needful correspondence for the
society, collect statistics from the several schools iu the county for the state society,
keep a list of the Sabbath schools of the county, with the name and address of each
suiierintendent of each school, and make a report at each amnial meeting.

Sec. 6. The teeasurer shall receive and hold all moneys for the society sub.iect
illscretion of the couiuiittee. i)ay out the s;ime on their order, and make a report at each
annual meeting.

Sec. 7. This society shall meet annually on the second Wednesday in October, at
seven o'clock P. M.. and continue in session during Thursday at such place as may be
agreed upon l)y the society at their annual session.

Sec. 8. The president may. at any time U]ion the writlcn iictiliou of three or more
vice-presidents, call an extra se.ssion of the society to meet at ibe place designated in said
petition, whenever the interest of the society requires it.

Sec. 9. The executive <-ommittee shall arrange the pro;:i.uii for ea<h meelini:. .-md
shall constitute tlie business connnittee of the association.

KICU S.kDSnN COUNTY, N'KBRASKA. 4O3

Sec. 10. Tbe officers of the as.socialiou sli.-iU be elected .luiuially iu such manner as
the convention may decide, except in the case of the corresiwudiug secretary, who shall
lie a permanent officer of the society, and shall be chosen whenever a vacancy may occur,
or whenever the society slinll decide by a special vote to hold such election.

Sec. 11. This constitution may be amended ,it any annual meednir of tlie society
liy a two-thirds vote of the members present.

Respectfully sulmiittcd by .vour committee:

W. Metcalf.
H. B. Gbablk.
G. W. MooRE.
Wm. Wbighton,
E. Cooper.

The constitution wns adopted and the city of Humboldt agreed upon
as a place for the lioldino- of the next annual ineetingf of the society.

CHAPTER XV.

Newspapers of Richardson County.

The first newspaper to make its appearance in Richardson count)- was
pubHshed at Rulo and bore swinging at its masthead as a name. The Ruio
Western Guide. The country was new and the few pioneers residing here
felt that the country was suffering from lack of proper advertising. This
state of mind on the part of the public, together with the other business
and iinancial interests of its promoters, led them to establish the paper.
Those immediately responsible and who fathered the venture were a com-
])any of men associated together as the Rulo Town and Ferry Company,
the founders and promoters of Rulo. Abel Downing Kirk and F. Al. Bar-
rett, the former a lawyer and the latter a practical newspaper man. were
in charge as editor and publishers, respectively. At the end of the iirst
>-ear Barrett retired and his place was taken by Charles A. Hergescheimer.
also a practical newspaper man. who had from the first been an employee
in the shop and who for many years was directly interested in tlie newspaper
liusiness in this county.

The first issue of the Western Guide was dated in 1858 and under
tlie management above referred to it continued to serve the people of Rulo
and the county generally until the beginning of the Civil \\'ar, when changed
conditions brought about by the general depression in the county at that
time did not warrant the expense incident to its publication, hence it was
suspended for a time.

Toward the close of tiie war the paper reappeared. l)ut under a new
n.inie; this time as the Xebrasica Register. Under this title it continued
until 1869, when H. A. Buell became the owner. He continued tiie Imsi-
ness but a little while and then sold it to Dr. Samuel Brooks, who after
nperating it for some time and becoming dissatisfied with business condi-
tions as thev were at the time at Rulo removed his residence and the busi-
ness to Salem, which he thought a more likely place. Here the Register
was published for but a short time and then was landed in the newspaper
graveyard.

Abel D. Kirk, tlie first editor of the first newspaper published in Rich-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 405

ardson county, arrived in the county in 1855 and located at the old county
seat, Archer, where he erected the first store building in the village and
engaged in the mercantile business. In the fall of 1855 he was nominated
and elected, on the Democratic ticket, to represent the people of his district
in this county in the second session of the Nebraska Territorial Legislature,
which then convened at Omaha. He was the leading candidate of the South
Platte for the position of speaker of the council, or House of Representa-
tives as it is now known, and but for his refusal to n'lake certain pledges
he undoubtedly would have been elected. As a member of the various
committees he rendered efficient service on behalf of his constituents at
home. At the second session of the Nebraska Territorial Legislature, several
state banks were established, and he was constituted a special committee
on banks, having their organization in charge.

In 1857 Mr. Kirk located at Rulo and served as postmaster of that
place for a time. While residing there he was appointed aid-de-camp with
the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel on Gen. John M. Thayer's staff, in the Ne-
braska State Militia. He also represented the people of the community be-
fore the war department at Washington, whither he was sent in order to
make an effort to effect a settlement with the Indians and half-breeds of
the east end of the county, during the differences incident to the misunder-
standing over the half breed line, wherein there were Indian lands that
had been settled on by the whites. In 1862 Mr. Kirk removed to St. Joseph,
Missouri, where for many years he was actively identified with the practice
of law. He retired from active business in 1898, when he removed to Long
Beach, California, at which point he died on October 6, 191 5. He was a
man of wide travel and had visited almost every portion of the United
States, from the Atlantic to the Pacific and from the lakes to the gulf.
A close observer, he gained a broad knowledge of men and things, and
was well informed upon all general questions of importance as well as
on matters of local interest.

Born in Bracken county, Kentucky, March 21,, 1826, Abel D. Kirk
was only two years of age when he accompanied his parents to Mason
county in the same state, where he grew to man's estate. He was descendetl
from men of valor and patriotism. His paternal grandfather, Thomas
Kirk, a native of Maryland, served with distinguished bravery in the War
of 1812, while the great-grandfather was a Revolutionary soldier. Grand-
father Kirk removed in an early day to Kentucky, where he engaged in
farming until his death. Thomas Kirk, Jr., the father of Abel D., was
born near Hagerstuwn, Maryland, antl accompanied his parents to the Blue

4nf) RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

(irass state, where he early liecanie ac(]uainted with agriculture. For many
years he operated as a drover, and it was his custom to drive liogs over
the mountains to Richmond. \'irginia. also to trade with the Indian tribes
of Mississippi and Alabama. These journeys occupied the winter months,
while during the summer he cultivated his farm. His death occurred in
February, 1854. The maternal grandfatlier of Aljel D. Kirk, Joseph Down-
ing, was born in Maryland, a descendant of English and Welsh ancestors,
and was a pioneer of Mason county, Kentucky. His daughter, Rebecca,
the mother of Abel D., was born in Mason county, where the greater part
of her useful life was passed. When advanced in years, she moved to
Falls City, Nebraska, where she passed from earth at the age of eighty-
one. Her marriage had been ])lessed by the birth of twelve children, ten
of whom grew to maturity.

At the age of twenty Abel D. Kirk began to teach school, receiving
five cents a day for each pupil, and continued thus employed for nine
months. He then located in Maysville, in Mason county, Kentucky, where
for one year he was employed as a clerk in a clothing establishment, and
later commenced the study of law under Judge R. H. Stanton and Theo
Campbell. In 1850 he embarked in the general mercantile business and
conducted a store there until 1854,. when he removed by boat to Weston,
Missouri. One year later he came over into the then Territory of Nebraska
and settled in Archer, where he erected the first store building in the village
and engaged in merchandising. While the war was raging between the North
and South, Mr. Kirk removed to St. Joseph, in 1862, and for two years
made his home on a farm in old Sparta. Upon that place his wife died,
in 1863, and within tlie following year he moved to St. Joseph to establish
his home permanently. For a few months he served as clerk in tlie office
of the county clerk and also conducted a legal practice in the probate court.
Subsequently he was associated with Judge Tutt for a time, then he opened
an office for the practice of his profession, which he afterward conducted
alone.

In Tazewell county. Illinois. Mr. Kirk married Mary A. Hammett,
who was born in Illinois and died in Nebraska. The second marriage of
Mr. Kirk uniteld him with Helen Donovan, who was born in Brackett
county, Kentucky, and was reared in Sparta, Missouri. She died, in 1863.
leaving one child. Lulu M., who passed from earth when eleven years old.
The third wife of Mr. Kirk was Elizalieth A. Beattie, who was born in
Saline county, Missouri. She and Mr. Kirk were married in Andrew county.
Missouri, in 1865, and their union was blessed by the birth of two children.

RICHAKOSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 4O7

William B., of Glendale, California, and Angeline R., wife of George E.
Mclninch, a prominent citizen of St. Joseph, Missouri. In his religious
belief, Mr. Kirk was identified with the Christian church, and was a worthy
and devoted member of the same.

NEWSPAPERS OF FALLS CITY.

The Broad A.vc was the title first swung to the breeze by a Falls City
newspaper. This paper made its initial appearance in 1858. It was owned
by J. Edward Burbank and the editorial management was in the hands of
Sewel Jamison. Before coming to Nebraska Burbank and Jamison were
the owners of a paper bearing a similar name published in the state of
Indiana. As was customary in those days, and a practice still indulged
in to a great extent by the publishers of country newspapers, the Broad
.Isc bore a "'motto" under the masthead calculated to convey in brief at
once to the reader in a forcible way that the paper had an urgent purpose
in the world. In the case of the Broad A.re the following served the pur-
pose : "Hew to the mark, let the chips fall where they will." "There is
a destiny which shapes our ends, rough hew them as we will." The paper
was independent in order and was evidently a town boomer, because it
soon fell into the hands of Judge Jonathan J. Marvin, who for some reason
changed the name to the Southern Nebras,kan, and moved the paper at
once to the town of Arago, on the banks of the Missouri river, to be used
in the interests of the Arago Town Company, which was anxious to induce
Eastern people to locate there. At this place it was published for a time
in both English and German. The latter for the benefit of the major part
of the Arago people, who were Germans from Buffalo, New York, and
who were being colonized in the new country.

While newspapers were much desired in those days, the publishers did
not find them money-makers, as was evidenced by the fact tliat this paper
passed rapidly through various hands; among those getting "experience"
in this line at that time being: C. L. Mather, G. A. Hill, E. L. Martin,
Metz & Sanderson and H. A. Buel. The English type and equipment at last
passed into the hands of F. Barrett, who moved the plant to Falls City and
for a time published the Times. Later the Times was sold to Scott &
Webster, who merged it with the Little Globe, then being published by Ed.
W. Howe, who later liecame known the country over as the editor of the
Atchison (Kansas) Globe.

The Nemaha TaJley .foiinial first made its appearance as a newspaper

408 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

at Nemaha Cit}- ( Xemaha county), where it was pubHshed in 1857. It was
later moved to Brownville, in that same county, where it was pubHshed
for a short time, in 1867-68, by Blacklnun & Hill. At that time W. S.
Stretch became interested in it financially and it was removed to Falls City,
where it has Ijeen published continuously ever since. While the name has
changed some, yet the title Jonnuil has ever been retained, and the jiajjcr
is now known as the Falls City Journal. Gen. E. E. Cunningham, who
became interested with Stretch in the paper in 1869, was at that time ([uite
prominent as a politician in the state. This management lasted a year or
so, at the end of which time the paper was sold to the firm of Weaver &
Fulton. The Journal has always been a Republican organ and Judge Weaver,
who at that time had his eye on Congress, recognized the value of a pa])er
that would support him.

It was at this time that Frank Barrett recognized die necessity of an
opposition paper and accordingly bought the English part of the paper at
.\rago and brought it to Falls City and published it as the Times. He did
not long remain in charge, but sold the business he had established to Judge
A. R. Scott, Rev. George T. Webster and James Fuson. Judge Scott re-
mained with the firm but a little while, presently selling his holdings to W. T.
Chadwick. The paper did not last long under this management and e\i-
dently suspended.

It was at this juncture that \'a\. W. Howe, who iiad been in the news-
paper business at Golden, Colorado, started the fJttlc Globe here. Mr. Howe
thought so much of the name Globe that he always retained it. later using it
as the name of his paper at Atchison. Prior to 1875 for a time the fJttlr
Globe ceased to be and at that time the Journal went into the hands of .\. L.
Rich and D. W. Hanlin. but in 1875 ^^r. Howe revived the Little Globe and
during that year also secured the Nemaha J 'alley Journal and consolidated
the names of the two publications, calling the new pajier the Globe-Journal.
He did not long keep the Journal, however, Init sold it to Jacol) Bailey.
Under this latter arrangement the papers were entirely in the hands of the
Republicans.

This condition was met In- Wes Spurlock, a leading merchant of Salem,
and Judge Francis Martin, under whose management the Falls City Pres.^
was launched in February. .1875. The mercantile business had charms for
Mr. Spurlock, who is at this present time engaged in the same at Salem,
although he was a practical printer. Judge Martin knew his forte was the
law business and the paper occupied so much of his time that on July i, 1875,
Henrv Clay Davis, the present publisher of the Falls City Xezcs. and George

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 4O9

I'. Marvin, who was the publisher of the Weekly Democrat at Beatrice and
the Democratic postmaster at that point, purchased the paper and after pulj-
lishing the same for about eighteen months sold out to Stephen B. Miles, Sr.
Local politics at that time was at (juite a red heat and Colonel Miles secured
the services of Hon. J. F. Gardner, quite a politician at that time, as the
editor and the paper was so conducted for a period of about six months.
Mr. Gardner was succeeded on The Press by H. C. Davis and Ed. Ford.
The latter remained for a time and then went to St. Joseph, Missouri.

In May. 1877, Ruel Nims, later county clerk, established the Richardson
County Record and managed it until the end of the campaign that year,
which resulted in the election of John W. Holt as county treasurer and W.
H. Hay as county clerk. Mr. Nims conducted the l)anking business in I'^alls
City for a number of years and then went to the I'acific coast, where he
became interested in land speculations and built a town which was called
Cosmopolis. located on the south side of Grays Harbor, west, on the coast,
from Olympia, Washington. It was during the time that Mr. Nims was
publishing the Record that Ed. Howe again started up the Little Globe.
and one of the interesting features about the matter was that the Little Globe
as well as the Record were issued at the Press office, which at that time was
conducted by H. Clay Davis and Ed. Ford. The increasing interest in the
campaign aroused Nims's suspicions of the publishing office, as it was pretty
thick there with three papers, and he equipped an office, for the Record.
After the campaign the Record was published by Col. \V. S. Stretch, who
published it until the following May, when he suspended its publication. At
the suspension of the Record, Colonel Stretch surjirised some of the people
by refunding unexpired subscription and compelling man}- delinquent sub-
scribers to pay up by the aid of the justice courts.

After Davis & Ford had published the Press about a year they retired
from the office and A. J. Reed assumed charge of it. Mr. Ford went with
Mr. Howe, who moved the Little Globe down to Atchison, Kansas, where
they commenced the publication of the Atchison Globe, which paper is still
published at Atchison. Soon after the Press went under the management
of Mr. Reed, some disagreement arose l^etween him and Col. Stephen B.
Miles, who owned the material in the office. Reed having been brought to
the city from Washington. D. C. I)y Mr. Miles, and Mr. Reed purchased
a new outfit, organized a stock company, abruptly stopped the Press and
commenced the publication of the Mezi's. in the spring of 1880. The Press
was ne\er revived. In the fall of 1880 A. J. Reed died and the Xeics was
managed for a short time by Polder T. W. Pinkerton of the Christian church.

4IO RHil ARDSOX COUNTV. NEDRASKA.

liut in January, 1881. the Xcics office was purcliased liy Henry Clay Davis,
the present publisher, who has continued uninterruptedly from that day to
the present time.

I.on M. May and H. C. Davis effected a partnership and took control
of the Journal, hut the partnership did not last long'. Mr. ;\lay being left
in charge by the retirement of Mr. Davis, who started a jo1)-printing office.
In the fall of 1881 T. \V. Peppoon, of Pawnee City, purchased a half
interest in the Journal and assumed editorial charge of that paper, Mr. May
attending to the business management. Presently May sold his remaining
interest to Peppoon and entered the postal service, in which he continued
until his death in 1890. In 1882 Mr. Peppoon took his son Percy into
partnership, which was continued throughout the year 1883, when the son,
Percv Peppoon, retired. The elder Peppoon controlled the management of
the paper throughout 1884 and 1885 and then formed a partnership with
L"\ rus Thurman, which lasted about a year, at the end of which time the\-
sold the paper to W. W. Abbey, who controlled the ownership from 1887
to 1890. During the year 1890 John J. Faulkner, a son-in-law of W. W.
Abbey, appeared as editor. From 1891 to 1894 F. O. Fdgecoml>e was the
owner and editor. It was while publishing the Journal that Mr. Edge-
combe lost the sight of his eyes in a hunting accident in northern Nebraska.
Possibly he was discouraged at the time by this accident, for he sold the
paper to Norman Musselman, who published it during 1895. Musselman
found newspaper life too strenuous and, in 1896, sold out to Judge Francis
Martin, A. J. Weaver and 1"". E. Martin. The free-silver wave came along
and carried Weaver away as a follower of Bryan and he sold his interests
to his partners. Martin & Martin continued in possession from 1897 to
1 899, in which latter year they sold the paper to Allan D. May, Grant
Southard and George W. Marsh, who published it from 1900 to 1903. In
1902 George W. Marsh, who had been acting editor, was unexpectedly car-
ried into office bv a Republican landslide that year and moved to Lincoln
to enter upon his official duties as secretary of state. " After a time this
lirought about another change in the management of the Journal. John
Martin and his brother, Frank E. Martin, regained possession of the paper
in 1904 and continued until 1907, building up in the meantime a large job-
printing business, largely the publication of catalogues, which business arose
mostly outside of the county, and to better take care of this job business
thev desired to move to some nearby city, where help was more readily
obtainable. Council Bluffs. Iowa, was selected and the Journal was put on
the market. It was a slow sale becau.se the judicial fight of 1903. in which

RICIIARDSOX COUNTY, NKBRASKA. 4I I

the Martins had used tlie Journal as a weajx)!! to tight C. Frank Reavis, the
Repubhcan candidate for district judge, had taken away much of the paper's
patronage, which had gone very largely to, an opposition Republican paper,
the Iribnnc. whicli had by this time become a formidable competitor. Many
of the partisan subscribers also had gone. Finally, in 1907, L. J. Harris,
of Omaha, became the owner of the Joiinuil and lie changed the paper
to a daily. He succeeded in increasing the subscription list, but was em-
barrassed by lack of financial support and, in March, 1909, Martin & Martin
took possession of the plant under a chattel mortgage. They sold it on
May 3, 1909, at which time it passed into the hands of A. R. Keim and
Miss Jennie Keim, the present owners and under whose management the
publication has been made one of the strongest country dailies in this part
of tlie state.

In the fall of 1881 G. W. Holton, believing that a third paper was a
necessity at Falls City, moved the Register up from Rulo, but after a short
time sold it out to a company which continued it as the Obscn'er, under the
editorial management of Dr. Stephen Bowers. The third paper did not suc-
ceed as Doctor Bowers thought it should, and after a short time he went
to Buena Vista, California, where he conducted a daily paper with success.
The Observer fell into the hands of John Saxton. an attorney, who con-
tinued the publication of the same under many difficulties and it was finall}'
moved "by him back to Rulo.

It was on the 24th of May, 1885, that Colonel Stretcli started the
Daily Argus, a five-column folio, which he conducted until the time of his
death, July 20. 1885.

The Argils was purchased b}' Davis, who conducted it for some time
The Journal also published a daily during the summer and fall of that year,
but the patronage was not sufficient and liotli were discontinued at tlie ap-
proach of cold weather.

Coming into the possession of the material on which John Saxton had
been running the now defunct Observer, George Gird, of Humboldt, and
J. I.. Dalbey started a seven-column folio paper, independent in politics,
called the Richardson County Leader. This paper had a good patronage
and increased in circulation rapidly, but at the end of three months J. L.
Dalbey withdrew from the firm and soon after purchasing the Stella Tribune
moved to that town. Soon after the retirement of Mr. Dalbey, Mr. Gird
consolidated the Leader with the Humboldt Sentinel, removed tlie latter
plant to Falls Cit\- and published the paper under the name of the Leader-

4f2 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Sentinel; but by bad management the paper lost favor in the community,
and after a career of a few months went to "join the great majority."

\\"\t\\ the advent of the Popuhst party, Jule Schoenheit. recognizing
the need uf a party organ, on February 13, i8qi. started the Xchraska
Plcbian, which he pubHshed for one year, at the end of which time he
sold it to Watson & Kellog, who soon allowed it to go to the newsiiaper
heaven. \Mth the belief that a non-partisan paper would meet with encour-
agement, Joseph Mason started up the Falls City Bazoo with the material of
the defunct Plcbian, November 10, 1892. but after publishing the peeper
for only a few months he suspended and paid back t<i the subscribers all
unexpired and paid-up subscriptions.

The Falls City Tribune, which figuretl in recent \ears as one of the most
influential papers in Richardson county, was founded by T. T. and Ora
Ross, who had for many years Ijeen employed on \arious papers of the cit}-
and county. It made its first appearance in 1904 as a third paper in I~alls
City, there being at that time the Falls City Joiinial and the Falls City \e-aw.
the one a Republican and the other a Democratic organ. Its advent in the
newspaper field fell at a time just prior to a ixilitical upheaval in the county
and it was eagerly seized by a faction of the Republican party, who l)ought
it and used it with intent to further their individual interests politically. It
passed into the hands of what was known as the' Tribune Publishing Com-
pany, and this company was soon able to induce E. F. Sharts, at Humboldt,
to bring his Ihiinholdt Fnter/^risc to brails City and consolidate tiie same
with the Tribune and assume the management of tiie plant. This he did
and the Tribune at once became one'of the most widely read and important
papers of the county. As soon, liowever, as it served, or failed to serve, the
purpose of those of the company politically inclined, they withdrew, selling-
their interests to Mr. Sharts. who soon controlled the major portion of the
stock. He built up and increased the business of the plant and then sold it
to a stranger, who was but little fitted for newspaper work in this field.
After a few months it Ijecame apparent that it had completed its course as a
money-making proposition and it suspended publication.

The Tribune was published in the rear of the building which now occu-
pies lot Xo. 24 in block Xo. ()i. facing Stone street, and it is worth\- of note
that the Tribune was the tirst newspaper in brails Cit\" to introduce mechan-
ical means for type composition. They installed what was known as the
Junior Linotype, which machine at that time ijroved both serviceable and
jjracticable. It was the first typesetting machine brought t<i Falls Citv and
attracted much attention at the time.

RICHARDSON COCNTV, iMCMKASKA. [ I _^

The other newspapers of Falls City have since that time installed mod-
em linotype machines.

THE PRESS OF HrMlSOI.DT.

From the very first days of the town Humboldt has had newspapers
far superior to those of most towns of its size in the state: this condition
no doubt being attributable to the very liberal support always given the
l^ress by the business interests and people of the city and surrounding
Cduntry.

The Hniiiholdt Sentinel appears to have been the first paper published
at Humboldt. Its first issue went to press on the 2nd day of November.
1877. and was fathered by George P. Alonagan, whose outfit had been
brought up the rixer by steamboat from St. Joseph to Brownville, in which
latter place it was used for a time and then was brought to Humboldt. Much
of the material had lieen previously owned by Robert W. Furnas, of Brown-
ville. In the month of January, 1878, David Speiser, Jr., I^ought a half
interest in the business. In the month of April Mr. Monagan leased his
interest in the business to Jacob Bailey, whose connection with the paper
lasted one year, when Mr. Monagan came back. Later Mr. Speiser bought
Monagan's interest and took in his brother-in-law, George Gird, and WW
Ham Gird, a brother. Later Gird removed the Sentinel to Falls City and
consolidated with the Richardson County Leader, published there.

The Humboldt Standard was established by George P. Monagan, in
1 88 J and continued as a Republican paper under his management until
1892, when it was sold to F. W. Samuelson and later passed through the
hands of H. C. Pershing, James Ed. Tracey and Samuel P. Grinstead.
It was sold in 1901 by Mrs. Emma Grinstead to L. C. Edwards, who later
sold a half interest to Oliver Hall. Under this management it was changed
to a Democratic paper and was operated by them until 1906, when Mr.
Edwards was elected county register of deeds and severed his connection
with the paper, leasing his interest to his partner. At ]\Ir. Hall's death,
a couple of years later, Mr. Edwards Iwught the Hall interests and in
a short time sold the entire Imsiness to William C. Norton, the present
owner.

The People's Paper \\as run for a short time by Sylvester Franklin
Wilson, of Nebraska City. This pai)er was published by the State Journal
Comjiany at Lincoln for circulation in Richardson county. This was the

414 RICHARDSON COrXTY, NEBRASKA.

first paper to make its appearance as a Humlioldt ]ia])er, though piil)li^lietl
out of town.

The Fanners ^-lili'ocatc was estaliHshed on July 9. 1S81. and was owned
1)\- Dr. J. L. (jandy. of the Humlxildt Printing Company. It was a farmers
paper. This paper was for a time under the editorial management of G.
Minor, well known to the people of Humholdt in the early days. He was
born in Virginia, in 1815, and came to Missouri when he was twenty years
old and began the practice of law. Coming to Nebraska in 1878 he engaged
in the newspaper business for some time, starting the Xebraska Yeoman at
Salem and later the Fanners Advocate at Humboldt. Minor had been a
member of Congress for eight sessions from the state of Maryland and
had been secretary of the Senate.

The Humholdt Enterprise was for a number of years (its first years),
under the management of I. \L Shrauger and E. F. Sharts. It at first was
known as the Nebraska Enterprise, and was easily one of the best news-
papers in southeast Nebraska at that time. Later it was sold to Mr. Sharts.
who conducted it successfully for a number of years, and then sold it to
Charles Rothenberger, a farmer residing near town, who a year later sold
it back to Mr. Sharts, who again ran it for a number of years, at the end
of which time he sold it to Samuel W. Grinstead, cashier of the State Bank
of Humlx)ldt. Mr. Grinstead at that time also acquired the Standard and
for a time the two papers were owned and operated from the same office.
Later the Enterprise was sold to Hon. William Fenton, of Dawson, who
with his daughter, Miss Mamie, operated it successfully for a time. It
was again sold to Mr. Sharts and remained under his management until
1905, when it was removed to Falls City and consolidated with the Falls
City Tribune and when the latter passed out of existence the Enterprise
disappeared forever. But in all its years at Humboldt it ranked as one of the
leading papers of the city and wielded a wholesome influence for good.

The Humboldt Star was started by Dr. Adolph Blumer, who was not
acquainted with the printing business himself and tlie mechanical part of
the work was very largely looked after by Arthur \V. Gird and the owner's
daughter. Miss .\nna Blumer. The paper was a bright, newsy little sheet, but
did not long survive. The Doctor was a German and not any too con-
versant with the English language, being hardly able to speak it ; and just
what might have prompted him to start a newspaper is not quite clear,
but with the assistance of- Mr. Gird, who was a practical newspaper man,
and Miss Blumer, soon had quite a following, but lack of sufficient support
and strong com])etition served to prevent its getting a firm footing.

RICHARnSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. . 4I5

The Huiiiboldt Leader, which is now one of the leading papers puli-
lished at Humboldt, was launched on its career on May 5, 1896, by Harmon
P. Marble and his wife Myrtle W. Mr. Marble had for a time Ijeen em-
ployed on the Standard, under the ownership of S. W. Grinstead, and upon
resigning from his position there made a visit to Lincohi, where he met
the owner of a defunct paper known as the Pan'iiee Independent and effected
the purchase of the type, presses and material and brought it to Huml)oldt,
and in a short time issued the first number of the [.eadcr. A short time
later the Standard passed into the hands of S. P. Willis and the latter
consolidated it with the Leader. The new combination was known as the
Standard-Leader and under this nam^e grew into a strong paper, having
as a competitor, the Hiiiuboldt Enterprise. Later the Standard-Leader dis-
solved partnership and the former paper passed under the control of George
W. Gird, then to Henry Scheidegger and lastl\- to Lewis C. Edwards, who
continued its publication for five years, at the end of which time he
^old it to its present owner, William C. Norton. The Leader, under the
management of Mr. and Mrs. Marble became widely known as one of the
best weekly and country papers of the state. It is now owned b)- J- j-
Hayden. who is a well-known newspaper man of this section of the state.
and under his management it is a progressive Republican paper.

Some time in 1881 the Hniiiboldt Daily Xezvs, a small sheet, was
started by Sowle & Bloom, two young men, but maintained itself for but
a few months on account of the lack of support.

NEWSPAPERS AT STEF.I.A.

The Press at Stella, considering the size of the town, ranks as one of
the strongest and most prosperous newspapers in the state. Nearly every-
body thereabout "takes" the Press, consequently the subscription list is
a source of great pride to the editors. The Press endeavors to lead in
the constructive thought of the community ; its purpose being to lead and
direct and help to build up, and never to tear down. The paper gives space
freely to promote movements and measures of a public nature, designed
for the good of the town and of the community. The advertising and
job departments of the paper have a steady growth and in both these de-
partments the Press always has more or less out-of-town patronage. I'lspcc-
iallv is this true in school and public-sale work. Schools both in Rich-
ardson and Nemaha counties patronize liberally the job department.

The Stella Press was started by Gird Brothers in 1882 and is now
thirtv-five vears old. During the first few years editors changed frequenth-.

41'. KIllIARDSON COL'.\l\', NEBRASKA.

For fifteen years the paper has been owned ami maintained under the man-
agement of the Haskinses — Clyde G. Haskins and Miss lumice Haskins--
l^rother and sister, who are progressive and energetic, and have made the
Prrs.s- an influential factor in the comnnmitx- in which it circulates.

THE \EKDO\ \EDETTK.

The rcrdon I'cdcttc, the official newspaper of X'erdon, which has always
kept itself in the forefront as one of the newsiest of the country weeklies
of the county, was founded in the month of November, 1883, by T. J. Floyd
who published it until 1885, when he sold it to John Saxton and removed
to Hitchcock countv. where he became rich in the real-estate business. Mr.
Sa.xton published the paper for a year and in 1886 sold it to W. H. Stowell
wh<i published it for a number of years. It is now under the able and effi-
cient management of Charles G. Humphrey, formerly of Pawnee City, who
is a \eteran newspaper man and who, with the able assistance of his wife,
has kept the J'cdcftc up t(j its standard as one of the reliable country
new spa]3ers. having inaugurated man)- impr<ivements since assuming charge.

PAPERS AT RUI.O AXD SALEM.

The Ricliardsoii County Courier was the last newspaper to be estab-
lished in Falls City. This paper made its initial appearance in the month
of November. 1915, an<l was owned by T. T. Ross, who for a few months
was assisted by his brother, Ora Ross. Both these young men had for
vears been emploved in the newspaper shops of the county. The Courier
under this management continued for nearly a year, when it was sold by
T. T. Ross to Harvey Anderson, who removed the paper to Rulo, from
which city the paper has since been issued. Besides the Courier. Mr. Ander-
son also- owns the Kulo Register, which paper is issued from the saint-
office at Rulo.

The Saleiu Standard published at Salen-i, was first established by O.
T. Ross, in 1912. and was later sold to .Mr. Galloway, of Salem, and is
now owned and published by James Reed.

STORY OF THE EOLXDING OF FALLS CITV's FIR.ST NEWSPAPER.
By J. Edwin Burlvink (UiO.i).

In 1855, fifty }ears ago, Sewell R. Jamison, foreman in the office of
tjie Riehniond (Indiana) Palladium, came into my book store in that city
and announced that he was going to start a little newspaper for the boys

RTCIIVRDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 4I7

called "the Broad- Axe of Freedom, or the Grubbing Hoe of Truth. Neutral
in all things, independent in nothing; no pent-up Utica contracts our powers."
He wanted me to write a leader for it. After some hesitation I wrote an
article under the head: "The \\'hig Party Not Dead," stating that the party's
principles were eternal and would always exist.

The little paper was issued at twenty-five cents for three months and
was full of fun and comic almanac cuts, intended for the Ijoys and girls,
who took hold of it with a vim.

After three months Jamison came into my office and announced that
he had promised his patrons an office. So I went to Cincinnati and traded
wild lands for a complete office (outfit of ecjuipment), enlarged it and in
less than twelve months it became one of the leading papers and was an
important factor in the election of Oliver P. Morton as governor of Indiana.
In the following winter I met General Lane, who was stirring up recruits
for the Kansas troubles, and who descrilied the location for a town at the
falls of the Nemaha, in Nebraska.

General I-ane said that a surve\- had been made which, by erecting
a dam above the falls and extending a race to the foot of the proposed town,
would give a forty- foot fall and could be made the Lowell of America.
I then started for Kansas and induced Isaac L. Hamlw (afterward one
of the founders of Falls City), who had a claim on the St. Joseph trail
to California, to locate a town, which we called "Winona." We built a
school house and named it Hamb}- University. I traded some lands, lx>ught
at the sale of Indian lands, for a stock of goods and started a large hotel,
under construction by David Dorrington. But one night the hoodlums of
Highland, a competing store, came and tore down and stole our hotel. They
came back the next day for the sills, but were repulsed by some of the Lane
bovs at the point of a revolver. We had a compau)- of twenty dare-devil,
voung free-state boys, under the charge of Captain Dean. .'\t the first
honest election these boys shouldered their rifles and voted in spite of the
border ruffians. .\t the polls there were quite a number of the pro-slaver\
border ruffians and they opened their eyes when one of our men said, "Stanil
back, boys, and let Captain Dean vote, as he wants to go and take care of
the guns."

After the theft of our hotel I abandoned W^inona and moxed my store-
school house to Falls City and then brought the Broad Axe from Indiana
to help boom the town. .\t the same time there was a newsiiaper imblished
(27)

IfUARDSON COUNTY, NE

by a A1)el DoAvning Kirk, un the Missouri river, cm the half-breed tract,
which tract was settled principalh- by Frenchmen, who had squaws for their
wives. His paper was known as the Rido Western Giiitlc.

OLD-TIMERS IN NEVV.SPAPERDOM.

J. L. Dalbey, of the SInibcrt Citi::cii, is a veteran in the newspaper held
in Richartlson county and belongs to the old school oi editorial writers.
He pu.shes the pen with an ease and grace characteristic of that school,
and has spent the most of his life in the upbuilding of. the countv.

lu assigumg to me tlie task of writing of "Uia-Tiiuers In .NcwsiiMperdimi.'" onr presi-
aent lias left a large latitude hi which I may roam at will and cull from among the many
old-timers In journalism such names as memory may have fastened there; and the
only question now that bothers me Is as to whose uames I shall cull from the .gallant
army of the noble past that present them.selves to me.

You who have lived in southeastern Nebraska will call to lucnioiy the form and
features of that gifted writer aud jjoet laureate, Judge J. .T. ilarviii. whose death occurred
iu Falls City. In the spring of 1805 he purchased from .1. Edwin lUirbauk, a p.-iper that
had been started in Fall City, called the Broad Axe, and after running it here for a time
time under that name re-christened it by calling it the t^outhrrn Xchra-glcaii. It was on
this paper that the latter well-known Ge(n-ge I'. Marvin, of the Jirtitricc Democrat, received
his first lessons in the "art preservative." But Judge Marvin is gone aud his works alone
remind un that he has lived, and

His bent aud shattered form.

That held a heart so pure and warm.
Long since has found repose;

And but the mossy gravestone tells
Where now the dust we loved so well.

Judge Marvin was not only a writer, but he was a poet as well, in the strictest sense
of the term, aud there is not one among us today but who will revere his virtues, try to
emulate his gifts and honor his memory. Peace to his ashes.

As old-timers in newspaperdom we mention tlie names of \V. S. ISlackburn. who gave
life to the Nciiiahn Valleil Joiinial. Liter the 7'(///.s- Citii Joiinidl. lenioviug the same from
Brownville to Falls City in the year lS(iS. W. S. Stretch, one of the noblest Romans of
us all, who fulfilled the measure of his days of usefulness and (hen. like one who wraps
the drapery of his couch about him and lies down to pleas.mt dre.ims. he gave attention
to the Foreman of the I'uiverse, in whose hands are the issues of r>ife aud I>ealh. and
passed away to join tlie silent majority in the charnel house of the dead. But Colonel
Stretch, though dead, yet speaketh; and the good that lie did. the sorrowing he.-irts
that he made glad, the words fitly siwken in season shall be gems in the crown of rejoi<lng
in that day when the graves give ui> their dead.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 4I9

And yet there were other old-timers in that day of the loug past, whose names are
almost forgotten, and are only remembered as we con the history of the past and flnil
them there. Of these we mention Judge A. R. Scott, Rev. George T. Webster. .lames
Fusou, W. Chadwick, A. L. Rich, D. W. Hanlin and Jacob Bailey. These all served their
sentences, of more or less duration, and went out into the world to seek fame in other
fairer fields of promise. In more recent years the old-timers have been more aggressive
in their ideas, more forcible in their way of presenting their ideas of men and measures,
and as a consequence ha\e built up a uewspaiierdom without parallel in the history of
newspapers in the early past. Among these later-day lights of the profession, whose
uames have been indelibly stamped upon the history of the century, we remember Lon JI.
May. J. F. Gardener, A. J. Reed, Ruel Nims, John Saxon, Rev. Bowers and P. W.
I'inkerton. Some of these old-timers are dead and others have gone out from among us
to seek employment in the more (to them) congenial walks of life. In later years we
remember as bright lights in newspaperdom (and they also, in the hurry and bustle and
get-up-and-get of the present day, might be called old-timers), T. W. Pepoon, Cy Thurman.
John Hammond, of Salem Index fame, and George H. Holton, These, like the fornier of
whom we have spoken, served their day and generation aud gave way to younger and
more progressive meu aud women, who have built up our modern pictorial and big-head-
line .ionrualism. Of all the old-timers of forty-five years ago, earlier and later, only
one remains at his p<ist. that we can now recall, and that one is Henry Clay Davis, of
the Falls City Neves; aud an examination of his anatomy will reveal the fact that he is
battleworn and scarred, the effect of hard-fought battles with bis brethren of the craft
in the days gone b,v, over political questions, questions of morals, and questions relating
to less weighty matters.

Thus far we have confined our remarks to men who have given to jonruiilism in
Falls City its life and in.spiration, but there are others. At Humboldt were George Gird.
David Speicer and George P. Monagan, Sr. ; and later on were Ernest F. Sharts. Frank
Harrison and 1. E. Shrauger. At Stella were Kennedy and Gates and Gird. At Verdon
were Saxon and Floyd, and our president, William H. Stowell. These all having earned
a good report — and wealth— and have departed for larger fields of usefulness; and their
places are taken by young, vigorous manhood and womauhood, anxious to fill the niches
well made vacant by their removal.

These men all were worthy of our imitation. They were men of broad and liberal
views, aud while differing from one another in politics, perhaps in morals, were certain
on some questions, on the temperance question particularly, and gave their views frankly,
but firmly, and without any uncertain ring. But while doing this they accorded to those
who differed from them, the right of thoughts and the freedom to express them. In
those old days the counti'y press was a synonym for honesty of pui-pose aud devotion to
truth. Editors and papers were not bought by ambitious politicians, and railroad com-
panies could not control the columns of the country journals for railroad passes.

They were chivalrous; they were charitable; the office was always a haven of rest for
"Weary Willies" of the profession, and a corner in the composing room and a bunch
of exchanges furnished these latter wayfarers a night's repose. If "flush," the wanderer
had a square meal at the hotel or restaurant of the town and if "broke." which was
generally the case, he went home with the editor and ate corn-pone aud potato soup with
him and his family.

The old-timer was the watch-dog of his neighbor's affairs. He kept tab on the
marriages of his community: he laughed with those who were merry, and his tears
of sorrow mingled with those in affliction. Was a man born, he was fli-st to herald the
glad tidings to a slumbering world; and the first to condole with the parents and friends

420 RICHARDSON COUNIV, XKBRASKA.

when :i little one b.-ul Wiiiulered back iifiuin tliioiij.'li llie [H^nrly gntes iiitu the lunm' of
heiinty from whence it ciniie. lie was the friend of all, the foe to none: just nnil sciuar^'
and honest.

AN Ol.n FALLS CITY NEWSPAPER.

Through the kindness of C. F. Cain, of Miami, Florida, tiie writer
recently was made the pleased recipient of an ancient copy of the falls City
Broad .-ixe, which was the first newspaper publi.shed in Falls City, The paper
is seared with age, of a yellowish color, but in a good state of preservation.
It was of the issue of May 14, 1864, and was No. 16 of V^ol. VI., which
shows that the paper had at that time laeen published for si.x years and six-
teen weeks at Falls City. This would indicate that the paper was established
in 1858, the first issue thereof appearing on the 26th of January of that
year. The issue before us is a four page affair of four columns to the
page, the columns being about fourteen inches each in length. At the date
of issue it was published by L. B. Prouty & Company and appeared weekly
the subscription price Ijeing $1.20 per annum, in advance, for one copy, or
five copies to one address, per year, $5.00.

.V Court House Directory appearing was as follows :

ItlCHARDSON COT^NTY DIRECTORY.

Judge Dist. Court Hon. K. S. l>und,v

Deputy Clerk Geo. Van DeventeV

rrobate Judge Hou. Chas. F. Walther

Clerk of Court Rlenze Streater

Sheriff Wilson M. lladdox

County Surveyor Ira J. Beckwith

John I'atton

County Commissioners O. W. Dunninjr

J. R. Wilkes

County Treasurer F. A. Tisdell

Pensions Surgeon H. O. Hanna, M. D.

Ijetters will reach any of the above named officers at Falls City. Nebraska Territory.
Iticliardson County

POST OFFICES IN RICHARDSON COT^NTY. NEBRASKA TERRITORY.

Falls City William Watts. P. M.

Arago Judge Walther. P. M.

Rulo C. C. Coder. P.M.

St. Stephens ^V. II. Maim. P. M.

Archer Tshani Nance. P. M.

Salem .Tohn Holt. P. M.

Middleburg John Gird. P. M.

Ilmnboldt Mrs. L. E. Tinker. P. M.

Franklin • Franklin Fergnson. P. M.

Monterey M. Bremen. P. M.

Monond Jo. Watton. P. M.

.Miles Ranehe \, Pago, P. M.

Klniore T,. B. Proutv. P. M.,

Nohart J. H. Bnvbaniv. P. M.

Riril \ROS()X COUNTY, NKBRASKA. 421

As the paper was published during the Civil War. when rumors were
[jrevalent. the following- is interesting: "Advices from Richmond (\'a. )
represent great distress and wild disorder as prevalent in the towns."

On the editorial page, in an editorial written by Mr. Prouty, the citizens
(it Falls City are taken to task for not providing necessary school facilities
in the following manner under the title of:

GAS ! !
This vill.-iLTo li,-is lieiMi iiotdriinis fur ilu- iiumufac-tinv ><f ;i hii-i;e iinautlty of donicstic

H.vdrauliLS. uaviwitii.n of the Nt-m.-iha. colleges. bi-i.l.i:es, lll,rai-ies, ehurche.s an.l
schools have each had its triiiiniihaiit hour of gassy glory, to he •■iliamloned .as ini|ir;icli-
cahU- to the detriment of the possil>le and the attainable.

It is true in many thiug.s the citizens of this place h.-ivc <lone well. Whenever sonic
liiev.ailing sentiment or interest has united them, their l.-ihois have been heroic, and
invincible. But it must be an immediate and pressing necessity. Schools do not seem
to belong to this class; they are well enough if they grow by legislative aid, and ai-e
l)uilt by public funds, but it in too every day a matter to require much exertion, and our
people, good easy souls, satisfy their consciences with the reflection, that it is the business
of the public and not theirs as individnals.

They concede, in a kind of general way that an intelligent and industrious population
to till lip our beautiful country is desirable, but they do not re.ilize the fact that the
class of people we need will not settle in a community too indolent or ignorant to support
aiKl .sustain good schools, and that some of onr best citizens are <lissa1isfied and want to
remove on this account alone.

There is no excuse for our w.-uit of means.

Uelieved from all war tax. having no need of individual or innni<ipal biumlies to
stimulate patriotism our territory is in better condition tinanci.-illy th.-in ever before in
.ill its history.

Tliere are men enough able and willing to unite .-niil pul up a good school house,
if they saw any money in it —

Hut they are a little uearsigliled ; they see the tive-iciit piece at the tip of the nose.
I)iit .-ire lilind to the dollar at their feet. They are blind to the fact that individual
good is identi<iil with general good: that the welfare of the coinnnmity is the welfare
of all its citizens. They view their interests as separate and apart fi"om that of the
connnunity. and understand no profit save that which is niade off their neighbors.

They cannot see how raiiidly e\ery good settler, every acre of land cultivatefl. every
dollar of additional capital, every additional house or barn or fence built, or tree
planted, adds an actual money value to the possession of every man in the entire county.

Enclosing the public S(]uare with a neat fence, tastefully planting it with trees —
building a school house, no matter how small, if erected with taste, would add an .iclnal
v.Mlue that would be speedily felt in the way of reputation ,ind immigration by every
man in the neighborhood. A good .school house is the IM.MKr>lAT10 WANT (IK Till:
TOWN'. But we don't propose to waste any more gas uimiu the subject now. It <:ui
be built, if not otherwise, by a joint stock company that will pay the stockholders primar-
ily .-IS an investment. But if you good people don't awnt it. and d<m't see it, if you prefer
vour children should be taught no more rational or moral .-unusenients than dihiking

4^^ RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

wliisUy iiiKl sbootiug revDlveis :it e.-K-h other, go ou with your show, Imt iloii"t lo.if
.irouud the corner-s gassiug iihoiit schools, but ooufess that you clout cue a eoiuiueutiil
for all the sc-hools in Christemlom.

The District Court for this county artjourneil ou the 12th inst. We were not in
,ittendance but are iuforme(t that there was a hirge amount of business PUT TllltorCiH.
The Grand Jury it is said, found quite a number of indictments against our L.\W A HID-
ING CITIZENS for various misdemeanors. We have been promised a list of the Imsiiicss
done by the court, which we expect to lay before our readers in our ne.xt issue.

As regards our position on the question of "STATE ORGANIZATION." we will say:
there yet remains time .sufficient for us to exphiin our views. The ••Enabling Act"
[reference to Act of 1861] was not amended; it is for us to elect delegates, the first
Monday in June next, to frame a State Constitution. After we have seen and exaniiiie<l
that instrument, it will be time enough for us to say whether it would be best for us
(the territory) with a iiopulation of some 28.nOO to accept of it. It will depend .-ilto-
gether upon the character of its provisions whether we shall support or (Iciioume it.
(Statehood did not carry until 1n<«7.]

The foregoing statement by the echtor, Air. Prouty. in regard to his
>tand or lack of a stand on statehood at that time, was no doiil)t in-
spired by the receipt of the following communication from one of his sub-
scribers, which was given a place of prominence in the same issue oi the
Hroad .Lvc.

I'or the Broad A(re.

Mr. Editor : As the people will *ioon be called upon to vote for Delegates to frame
a STATE CONSTITUTION would it not be well enough to have some discussion upon
the matter? We caniiot perceive that the Ai-c is taking a very active part "pro or con"
on the subject; it is a subject that involves the interest of the whole people of this Terri-
lor.v. more than any other during our territorial existence. Its importance dem.-inds a
free and full investigation of all the advantages to lie gained in exchanging our territorial
existence for that of a Sovereign State. Or would we be politically and financially losers
by closing out our territorial existence'? THIS IS THE QUESTION. The people should
vote understandingly (and no doubt they desire to do so) and Avonld be glad to have
all the information that <'an be obtained in governing their votes and undoubtedly (hey
look to you as a public journalist for nnich iuforni.-itiou in regard to this matter, and will
expect you to take :\ position, and if your position is well s\islained by goo<l .-uguinent.
tliere is no doubt but what it will have its effect in i-oiitrolliiig the vote of the .■(Uiuty
to a great extent.

State Organization. 1 do not think should be a ptilitic-il measure. Neither should
Office- Seekers, or present Feder.al Offi<-e-Holders who are fearful of losing their presi-nt
positions, have too much influence in controlling our election, but the masses thenis(>lves
should become familiar with this subject and let sound judgment dictate the course to
pursue. Not having a copy of the Bill as passe<I by Congress, but as the Nebraska
legislature, did, at its last session, i>ass a resolution a.skiug Congress to ameutl tlie Hill
then before Congress allowing the people the privilege to vote, when voting for I»elegate
to frame a State Constitution: '•For or Against State Organization." and if this amend-
ment has been made, our fate will be virtually sealed the first Monday in June. There-

KKII ARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 423

tore, it bebooves all wbo have au Interest in the matter, to go to worli earl.v. talk the
matter over freely anil frankl.v. and act for the ]iromotion of the public good.

llelegate.s will have to be chosen, and the county being entitled to five, will give us
iiuite an influence in the convention. Let us have good men to fill the position, and no
doubt we will, as we never lack for candidates from which to make a selection.

RlCH.\RnS0N.

Salem, May 10, 1.SC4.

The Falls City B mad .^.iv at that time (.May, 1864), was with but
one ])Ossible exception (the Rulo JJ'cstcni Guide or the Riilo Register),.
the only newspaper l)eing published in Richardson count}- and for this rea-
son the following becomes interesting from the lack of other means of
advertising ;

CANDIDATES VOU DELKCiATE TO FUA.ME A STATE OONSTITl'TION.— Wc
e.xpect iu our next issue to be able to aunoun<-e quite a number of candidates for that
position. We hope to hear from the different pretincts. before our next issue; let us
have a Large list of candidates to select from. We are entitled to five Delegates.

Aml)ition often puts men to doing the meanest offices — ,is climbing is p(Mformc(l in
the same posture as creeping.

NEWS ITEMS.

ANOTHER MASSACRE.— On the 7th inst., a party of ten men, belonging to the
l'"irst Arkansas Cavalry, herding some public stock near the battlefield of Prairie Grove,
were surprised by 21 of Buck Brown's guerillas. The latter were dressed in Federal
uniform, and pretended to belong to the Thirteenth Kansas. Our men were in a house
at the time, and were called out by their pretended friends, shook hands and conversed
with them. All at once the bushwhackers commenced shooting the men down and suc-
ceeded in killing and mortally wounding all but ofte. who made his escape to tell the
mournful tale.— Fort ,^i)iHli Em.

( From the Omaha h'ciiitbliran »
Cairo. May !lth. 1S(i4. — From Alexandria we learn that the enemy .itt.ickcd (ircen-
ville, a small town opixisite, but were driven I)a<k by the gunboats.
They have driven our pickets at both places sever.-il times.
The Federal forces now at Alexandria is reiM)rted to be 35,000 strong.
The rebel force under Kirby Smith, Jl.igrader and Taylor, is also quite heavy.
A flag of 'truce with .-i demand to surrender was sent to (ieneral Bank.s.
Todav a boat left, but witli wh;it result is not known.

AV.ishiugton, May .Sth, 1S(U.— On Friday an atfcick was made by Eongstreet on our
right, while the Rebel troops under Hill were at the same time hurled against our left
wing, which was coijiposetl of Hanco<k"s and Warren's coins holding the center, engaged
also by desiterate assaults.

Fighting continued with h.irdly any intermission for two days: but .vesterd.-iy
morning, Lee, having comi)letely failed in his oli.1cct, withdrew from the engagement.

42^ RK'IIARUSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

loiiviii.i; the Army of Iho I'utdiii.-ir in imssessicui of tbe battle ^.-loiiud mikI
of killed anil wotinded i-ebels.

New York, M:\y It. ISlU.— Tlie Trihiiiic sa.vs tb.it be e.uniot uiiderta
aii.v iuforuiatiou yet received tb.il (iiaiit has won a decisive vi<tory on tl
nevertheless, as a part of tbe (■.•iniiiaiirn. tbe result of the battle of last \V(
aiioe of final success.

llie Herald says: From all that is known of tbe oiieralions of o\ir ,■
safe to believe tliat we have been successful.

Everywhere south of Richmond, Sutler's oiierations i,'(i mi .idniir.iblx

Washington, D. C. May sth. 1.S(i4.— A midnight siieeial correspondent writiiii; froi
lleadijuarters. Wilderness Tavern. Frid.-iy evening, gives tlie following intelligence i
regard to the great battle of Friday :

Day has closed upon a terribly fought battlefield, .and the .\riiiy of tbe I'otoiiia
lias added another to its list of murderous couflict.s. Lee's tactics, so eiieigetii-all
eniplo.yed at Chaueellorsville and (iettysburg, of throwing his whole army first iipou on
wing, then upon the other, has again been brought to bear; but the Army of tbe rotoioa
has repulsed his tremendous onslaughts, and stands tonight solidly in tlie jiosition i
assumed this morniug.

The first attempt was made upon llancoi-k's division on tlie right, wbicli bad beei
somewhat weakened in nniuliers by tbe battle of yesterday, lint tbe old Seiiaid Coip
nobly stood its ground.

The enemy then burled a superior force upon Sedgwick, and on<-e or twice g.ainci
a temporary advantage, but the little old veterans of this corps nobly r.-illiiNl .and repulse
the rebels with fearful slaughter.

About half past four Lee made a feint upon our wliole line .and then suddenly fe
with his whole force upon Sedgwick, driving him back temporarily: tbe advant.ige w.i
soon regained, and the rebels hurled back with great loss.

Although he had been si.gnally repulsed in all his attacks, notbing but tlie nature n
tbe battlefield prevented it from being a crushing defeat.

Washington. May Kltli. 1S(14.— A ilisjiatch of the Ittb from I'.utler to .staiilou. .say
our oiierations can be summed up in a few words: With I.TIKI eav.ilry. 1 have adv.nicei
up tlie I^'iiinsula. forced the Chickahoniiny ami safely bronglit tbeiii to our iircsent posi
tion. They were colored cavalry and are now holding position as our advaiue towaii
Kichmoud.

Gen. KautS!, with 3,(1(1(1 cavalry from Suffolk, on tbe same day with our uiovenieiit u
James River, forced Rlackwater. burning Uie railroad bridge over Stony Creek, belnx
Petersburg ami cutting in two Reauregard's forces at that point. We have l.uidcd ben
entrenching ourselves, destroying many miles of railroad, and got ,i positinu. whicb wit
Jiroiier supplies, we can hold against tlic irltolc nf Lcr's (iriiiii.

Reauregard with ilie m.iin portion of his command, was left south of tbe cuttiii
of the railroad by Kaut/.. 1 today' whipped that ]iortioii wbicb reached IVteisbur
under Hill, killing, wounding and caiiluring many.

Grant will not be trouliled with any further re-enforcements to Lee from Reann
gawVs forces.

Washington, May lOtb. 1S(i4.— Tbe Army of the Potomac bad
to recuperate. Burnside on Monday began an attack on the loft

RICn ARDSON COUNTY. XKIiRASKA. 425

with .-111 oiic(>iu';i,i;iii;; (U'^'ivo ipf sucwss. Ho b.-id ,-i lijilit tlu> diiy befoiv in wliieli. lo use
Iiis (iwii wiirds :

•'WE WIIII'l'KD OU) 1a»X(4ST1J1:ET. on; AUMY CurLDNX BE IN -MUliE
CHEERFUL COXDITIOX ; ALL THE MEX AUE .SAXCiUlXE OF SUCCESS. AXD
COUNT OX THE I>AY AVHEX WE SHALL IX 'iinU.AU'H EXTER THE REHEL
CAl'ITAL."

Lee iMlcly issiiccl .-ui cmler in ivhitiou to supiilies. in wliicb lie said: coinmimicatiDii
witli Riclunoud linvinj; liccu nit off. it w;is iin|Kissilik' to fiunish liis iiieu \vitli tlicir
reirni.-ir suiiplies.

Hill h;is issneil 110 r.-itious fur three d;iys.

Lee enjciiiis upon liis men the neeessity of cMiitnrlnj,' supiilies fi-oni the Y;inl<ees. Iml
np to tliis moment they h;ive fiiiled to capture a single wagon.

All the battles thus for have heeu a series of attacks and repulses and nmskets
have been almost entirely used an the unevenuess of the ground has rendered artillery
impracticable.

Lee very .ibsnrdly claims a victory when he withdrew from our front and retired
toward Richmond.

Generals Tarbett and Robinson are both wouuded.

(ieneral Se<lgwick w.is sliot through the heart by ;i sharpshooter.

Philadelphia I'enn.. May Kith, 1.SG4.— A special dated last night, says that Me.ide
li.is again moved ou the enemy and liad a brisk fight at Todd"s Tavern.

At night the rebels were retreating on three roads toward Itichiuoud.

On SniKla.v the rebels atlemptiHl to make .•mother stand, but Meade attackinl .and
route<l them.

Disp.itclies tonight contirm their retreat to Xorth Ann Itiver.

Our colored troops were not put into the tight, but held as a reserve with Itniiisido.

The liiillcthi has the following special from W:isliington : (ienerals Warreii .ind
Hancock are in close pursuit of the enemy.

The rebels have been driven from Sjiottsvylvania Court House, and are retreating
toward Cane River.

Xew York. .May lltli. 1S(W.— A Daltou correspondent of the Atltiiilii Rciii.tlcr .ivers
th.-it there has been a greater concentration of Union foiccs in the dirwtioii of Chat-
tanooga than on the I'otonnic.

The IliiUifih I'roi/rcsx contirnis the statement adding that <;rant's inovemeiit on In
IJichmond was but a feint, while on to Atlanta was a re.ility.

A correspondent writing from Xewberne under d.ite of JLiy tSth, says: Yesterday
afternoon tlie rebel ram ■•.\ll(euiarle,". accompanied by a satellite, '"Cotton Plant," and
the army guuhoat, -Hinubsliell." cajitured by them at I'lyniouth. appeared in the mouth
of the Roanoke river. Our gunboats made oft", as if fearful of an encounter, but their
only ob.iect was lo draw the ram out into tlie Sound. Tlie ram followed them jibout
twelve miles, when the gunboats, about seven in nnndter. immediately opened fire, and
a terrific engagement ensue(L lasting from (1 till S o'clock.

During the early part of tlie fight, tlie "Cfltton I'lanf suc<eiMled in making her es<ape.

The ram. tiring rapidly, slowly retreated up the Smind.

The "BombsheU'' was captured with all on board.

"Sas.sacus," having an iron prow, steamed up to full s|)eed and ran into (he ram.
striking abaft the center, but apparently without iutli<tiiig iii.iury. "Sassiicus," how-
ever, was compelled to retire, li.-iving her forward rudder knoi-Ued off. and .-i lnni<lrecl

4^11 RTCHAUnSdX COUXTV, NEBRASKA.

IMHiiul iKirrott sbot fired by the r;iiii. went through her lioiler. Night now settled in
.lud the movement of the rsim conld not be iiecurately discovered. She was closely pur-
.'sned by gunboats, but under cover of darkness .succeeded in gaining entrance into Roan-
oke river, where the gunboats could not venture to follow. She has not been seen
since, but active measures have been taken to capture and destroy her. Reliable reports
from Kin,gston report the rebel ram "Xeuse" higli aground. She draws 7% feet of
water and the river is only 4% feet in depth. The rebels linve for the present aban-
<lone(l it and taken the engine out.

THK UNSEEN GOD.
Ry Annie M. Rurbank.

1 do not know or cannot tell.

The depth.'^ of hearts most near to me.
Some flowers' sweets may not be rea<'bed

Ry every fluttering summer bee.

I sec the rcil cheek of the rose —
I hear the gurgling of the stream —

Rut what lies nested out of sight
I ma.v not even feel or dream.

God holds His secrets to our eyes —
I'resses tlieir beauty to our lips :

And yet we look forth wonderingly.
Nor know tlie depths of our eclipse.

Recause we cannot see. we say

That everywliere 'tis blackest night —

God help us that we do not cast
The ponderous beams from out our si.ght.

GiHl help us that within our souls

We have no bright and piercing st.-ir.

To show us by its chasteued rays
The embryo, good fate cannot mar.

And help us that our hands are weak

And that they fall .so nerveless down-
While flowers unplucke<l lie at our feet.
And our poor brows await their <Towu

No storm tliat does not hide the light.

No snows that do not shelter spring:
No nest of vice but what may hold

Some little liird to soar and sing!

— Roston Tnw llnfi.

RICIIAPDSOX COl'NTY, NEBRASKA. 427

FARMING : — Ik ilarvel says iu his new book, entitled "My Farms" : "If a man
would enter upon the country life in earnest, and test thoroujErhly Its aptitudes and
royalties, he must not toy with it at a town distance: he must brush the dews away
with his own feet. He must lirini.' the front of his head to the business. an<l not
the back side of it.

SALE OF ESTI!AY8.

NOTICE is hereby -ivcii. that on the adth day of Ajiril next |lMi4|, I will sell
to the highest l)idder for cash in hand, at my residence in Winnebago. IMchardson
Count.v, Nebraska Territory, the following desci-ibed jiroperty taken up as estrays.
to-wit : one cow and one steer.

RrSSKLI, It. DlBFKE.

February 17th. lS(i4. (T'rinter's Fee .fl.50.)

NEW (JOODS. .iust receiveil. an.l for sale by I>. K. H( »I/r & ("O.

Isliam Reavi.s and Edwin S. Towle were the only attorney.^^-at-law ad-
vertising their services in the county at the time.

The only business firms in the city advertising in the Bmad Axe were:
Daniel Reavis, who had a general merchandise and grocer\ store, which
was known as the "Postoffice Store" and was located on the west side of
Stone street, between Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets, and D. R. Holt
& Compan}-.

The Broad Axe was published in a log cabin which stood on the
present site of the Flails City State Bank at Sixteenth and Stone streets.

CHAPTER XVI.
PnYsiciAxs ov Richardson County.

MEDICAL IIISTORV OF THE EAST END OF THE COUNTY.
By Dr. C. T. Burchard, uC Falls City.

^lemory harks back to the middle sixties, or the closing days of the
Civil War, \\'hen Nebraska was yet a territory and the only means of trans-
portation were navigation on the ^Missouri river, the stage coach, and the
ox-train leading to Pikes Peak and Denver. My father was one of the
original "tifty-niners," wh(j organized a colony in Buffalo, Xew \'ork, and
finally located in Richardson county. He tarried on his ^^■estern migration
for hve years at Detroit, resuming his journey in 1864.

THE JOURNEY TO THE WEST.

The first lai) of the journey was to Ciiicago without incident; then
from Ciiicago tu St. Joseph. [Missouri. On that part of the journey, which
occurred during tlie Civil XYar, probably at Hannibal or Quincy, the rail-
road company deemed it expedient to place a military guard upon the train.
Then the women and children were remo\ed to the rear cars and the male
passengers and the military guard occupied the forward end of the train.
An accident happened somewhere on the Missouri prairies, which made ii
necessary to hold our train for repairs. We were laid up for several hours,
during which time an old negro woman brought us food which, as I remem-
ber, was a heaping platter of fried chicken that tasted mighty good. Arriv-
ing at St. Joseph. I saw the first example of a well of the "old oaken
bucket" variety, which was a marvel to me.

The last lap of our journey was made on. what I considered at that
time, a palatial steambtiat on the ^Missouri rixer from St. Joseph to Arago.
We landed at .\rago on a bright October forenoon, when 1 was a lad of
eight years, and we and our baggage were hauled by Frederick Lntz to
the hostelry or ta\eru of Nicholas Lippold. Inquiry on the part of m\"

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 429

father revealed the fact that tliere was no vacant house to be had in the
town, but through the kindness of Gust DuerfekU we were provided slielter
at his farm liouse, seven miles in the country, where we remained for six-
weeks.

AN EARF.Y I'lONEER FUNER.\L.

During this period of six weeks, I received an impression which has
remained with me. Mr. Duerfeldt was the cabinet- and cofifin-maker for the
immediate vicinity. I witnessed his making of a cofifin for a child from the
planing of the rough walnut boards to the finished lining of the burial case.
I also attended the funeral, and was shocked to see an ordinary, mud-covered
farm wagon serve as an im]:)ro\-ised hearse.

EARLY ARAGO.

Returning to Arago, after a sojourn of six weeks in the country,
we found shelter in Arago. Arago was then the metropolis of Richardson
county and southeastern Nebraska, boasting at the zenith of its prosperity
a population of some fifteen hundred souls. Arago at that time had a
steam saw and grist mill, a brewery, a distillery, a porkpacking house, sec-
ond largest in the state; two hotels, a shingle manufacturing concern, a tin
shop, operated by J. O. Wirth, father of the present president of the Falls
City State bank; two harness shops, a shoe shop, three blacksniith shops,
operated by August Neitzel, Sr., Valentine Schmidt and William Boellert;
two wagon-making shops, the one operated by Theodore Hoos and the
other by William Boellert; a furniture factory, general merchandise stores,
conducted respectively by F. D. Moelman, Louis AUgewahr. Charles F.
Walther. Peter Frederick, Sr., N. J. Dickson & Co., Patterson, Metz & Co.,
Metz Bros., F. W. Burchard, P. B. Miller, William F. Neitzel and Weixel
& Westheimer; a newspaper called the Southern Nehraskan, whose editor
at one time was N. O. Pierce; also school houses and churches. Houses
were built largely of native lumber, the siding being planed by hand and the
sashes and doors hand-made. It was not an uncommon thing at this time
to see oxen being shod at the blacksmith shops.

TRADE .VT E.\RLY ARAGO.

So extensive was the commerce of this little trading mart that the
arrival and departure of steamboats was almost a daily occurrence, and

430 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

it was no uncommon thing to see some four or five steamboats tied to its
wharf at one time. It is noteworthy that tlie ox-teams heretofore mentioned,
the wagons of which were manufactured m Arago (immense freight wagons
with a capacity of nearly half a carload), were loaded at Arago with
grain, meats and other produce. They formed caravans, comprising a dozen
or more wagons, which took their Western way and connected with caravans
within the semi-civilized zone in and about Beatrice, for it must be remem-
bered that this was during the days of frequent Indiana raids and these
ox-trains were obliged to go in numbers as a protection from the Indians.
Charles Pribbeno, Sr., was an old freighter and won the soubriquet of "Pikes
Peak Charlie." He had for drivers, Fred W. ]\Iiller, Plenry Miller. Charlie
Nitzsche, and others, residents of Arago. Usually two round trips were
made during the year.

My father soon obtained employment in the general merchandise store
of Frederick Zimmerman. After some months, he was appointed general
manager of the Farmers and Mechanics Store at Rulo, but finding the busi-
ness insolvent, he wound up afifairs there and returned to Arago, where
soon after he opened Arago's first drug store. I thus became identified
with the drug business at the early age of ten years, and continued in thai
capacity with some few interruptions until I was twenty. In this capacity
I came in close touch with the physicians of this county, and on this account
I have been requested to make this report.

PHYSICI-ANS OF ARAGO.

Before our arrival at .\rago there had been a resident doctor with a
French nSlne which I cannot remember, for he remained but a short time.
St. Stephens, a mile to the north, supplied the medical wants of Arago for
a time in the persons of Doctors Whitmire and Shepard. Dr. David Whit-
mire came to St. Stephens in 1855 and removed to Rockport, Missouri, in
1866, where he died. Dr. J. T. Shepard came to St. Stephens about 1865
and married Sarah Dixon, sister of N. J. Dixon, who was a merchant in
Arago and who built the west brick building now standing there. He re-
moved to Arkansas City, Kansas, about 1875 ^"^ ^^'^^ last heard of in that
place. To the best of my knowledge, these were graduated physicians.

Dr. Russell Peery came from Peru, Nebraska, in a covered wagtm.
He soon associated himself with my father, F. W. Burchard, in the drug
business, under the firm name of Burchard & Peery. After a few months,
mv father purchased his interest and Doctor Peery departed. The onl\

RIClTAkDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 43 1

trace the writer has of his subsequent movements is that one of his sons.
Matt Peery, became a doctor and was located at Elk Creek, Nebraska.

The next physician to arrive was Dr. C. F. Luja, who came in 1866
and, who was a German physician of high class, educated in Euro])e. He
was young and fully abreast of the times at that date, and he did a valu-
able service to the jjeople of Arago and vicinity, having a widely extended
practice there for many years. He removed to Rockport, Missouri, in 1875.
and returned to Falls City about 1899, where he died in September, 1900.
and was buried beside his wife, Nancy Luja, in Rockport, Missouri. He
had married Nancy Story about 1867, who was a daughter of Stephen Storx ,
of St. Stephens.

Dr. F. P. Seclor arrived in about the year 1868. 1 believe that he
was a graduate of Ann Arbor, Michigan, and came to Arago from Detroit.
At any rate he was a high class physician and gentleman, and has done
service in the Civil War as an army surgeon. He removed from Arago to
Cheyenne, Wyoming, where he was reassigned to military service at the
army post of that place, and afterwards moved to Tampa, Florida. He
was a Mason of high degree.

The next to locate in Arago was Dr. W. F. Conwell, who practiced
there from 1873 to 1879, when he went to the northern part of the state,
linally locating at Neligh, Nebraska, where he now resides.

Doctor Meinhardt was a resident doctor during the fall of 1876 and
the spring of 1877. At that time Dr. George Koenig located in Arago, and
resided there for two years when he retired to a farm about two miles out
of Arago, which he worked, continuing a more or less intermittent practice,
up to the time of his death, about 1912. .

Dr. J- D. Hunter came to Arago from Highland, Kansas, in the summer
of 1875, an undergraduate, practiced for a short time, and then went to
Keokuk, Iowa, where he graduated in 1876. He then returned to tliis
county, locating in Falls City, where he practiced until the time of his
death, which occurred in 1883. He married Minnie Mvers, daughter of
W. H. H. Myers, of Falls City.

Dr. C. T. Burchard went to Chicago, matriculating in Rush [Medical
College in October, 1876. After taking a winter course in 1876-7, and a
spring course in 1877, he returned to Arago on July 4, 1877, for the pur-
pose of spending his vacation. A wide-spread and maligmant diphtheria
epidemic springing up in .\rago and vicinity, he was prematurelv pressed
into service on account of a shortage of doctors, and he continued there
in general practice until October, 1878, when he returned to Rusli Medical

43-^ RICHARDSON COUXTY, NEBRASKA.

College for the winter term, oraduating February -'5. 1879. He returned
to Arago, where he remained until December of the same year, when he
located in Buchanan county. Missouri. In December, 1881, he again re-
turned to Arago, bringing with him his wife, and remained there until
March i. 1884, when he removed to Falls City and has since permanently-
resided there. Doctor Burchard bears the distinction of having- brought the
first fever thermometer, the first hypodermic syringe and the first obstetric
force]5s to Arago, also having done the first tracliei>toniy in that section
of the coimty.

PHYSICIANS AT FALLS CITY.

Prior to my coming to I'alls City in 1884, there resided m l*"alls Cit}-.
Dr. H. O. Hanna, Dr. W". W. Shaw, Dr. J. D. Hunter, Dr. A. B. Xewkirk,
Sr., all of whom had died, and Doctor Wing, Doctor Wood. Doctor Wi>ods
and Dr. W. W. Campbell, all of wholn had recently removed. On my
arrival, the resident doctors were Dr. A. B. Xewkirk. Dr. E. M. \\'ilson.
Dr. J. B. McConnell, Dr. D. W. Campbell. Dr. H. L. Randall, Dr. George
H. Neal, Doctor McCo\-. Dr. C. ^^^ Bryson and Doctor Wesselowsky. .\1-
niost simultaneously with my arrival came Dr. .\. Kellar and Dr. W. H.
Kerr, completing an even dozen resident physicians here about the ist of
-March, 1884. All except myself have since removed or died.

Since that time many have come and gone : Dr. I. M. Houston. Dr.
1\ C. Wiser, Dr. Hannah C. Fleming. Dr. G. W. Parcell, Dr. C. L. Kerr.
Dr. C. C. Keeler, Dr. D. G. Grif^ths, Dr. W^ S. I-ast, Dr. P. W. Hays.
Dr. Emma Lawrence, Dr. C. H. Rush, Dr. W. M. Trotter, Doctor Hazard,
Doctor Hershey, Dr. William J. Wells, Dr. G. C. Paxton. Dr. J. V. Hinch-
man. Dr. Chester Brink, Doctor Johnson and Dr. Airs. Johnson, .\mong the
above mentioned as having died, the following are also known as having
passed to the great beyond : W. W. Campbell. E. M. AMlson. George H.
Neal, W. H. Kerr, I. M. Hou.ston, P. W. Hays and A. Kellar. Doctors Camp-
bell. George H. Neal. A. Kellar. \\\ H. Kerr and P. \\\ Hays left cont-
fortable competencies to their dependents. Dr. H. O. Hanna and Dr. E.
M. W'ilson were regimental surgeons during the Civil War, the former in
the Second Nebraska and the latter in the Seventy-fourth Ohio.

.Vmong those who have mo\ed away and are known to have achiexed
success professionally or otherwise are Drs. A. B. Newkirk and C. W. Bry-
son, who both went to Los Angeles and have there built up substantial
practices. Dr. D. ^^'. Campbell removed to .\tchison, Kansas, about the
year 1886. where he married in .\tchison and Imilt up a sulistantial practice

RICHARDSON COTTNTY, NEBRASKA. 433

and is in very comfortable circumstances. He has been a Burlington surgeon
there for some considerable time. Dr. H. L. Randall, some years ago.
was appointed to the position of surgeon in the Soldier's and Sailor's Home
at Grand Island, and he filled this position with satisfaction until he was
forced to retire by reason of failing health and vision. His wife was matron
of the institution. Dr. G. C. Paxton moved to Idaho some years ago, where
he has attained remarkable professional and financial success. Dr. G. W.
Griffitlis left Falls City, receiving an appointment to the asylum at Lincoln,
where he occupied the position of third assistant. Succeeding in this, he
was appointed superintendent of the Institution for the Feeble-Minded at
Beatrice, which position he has satisfactorily filled to the present time. Dr.
W. S. Fast was ap])ointed superintendent of the Institution for the Feel)le-
Minded at Beatrice, in 1913, by Governor IMorehead. This place he filled
so satisfactorily that the state board of control deemed him eligible for
promotion, and placed him in charge of the Ingleside Hospital for the In-
sane, located near Hastings, in 1916. This in.stitution is the largest of its
kind in the state, and under Doctor Fast, its present management is per-
fectly satisfactory. It was his removal fnmi Beatrice which created the
vacancy which was filled by Doctor Griifiths.

Those practicing medicine in Falls City at the present time are as
follow: Drs. C. T. Burchard, H. R. Miner, M. B. Wilson G. W. Reneker,
\\'. R. Boose, J. M. Greene, H. D. Burchard, E. R. Hays, Sadie Doran.
C. L. Hustead, O. F. Lang, C. V. Fordyce, S. D. & Lee Cowan and H.
.M. Harvey.

PHYSICIANS IN OTHER TOWNS OF EASTERN RICHARDSON COUNTY.

Those known to have practiced in Rulo are the following: Drs. JNIoses
Jeffries, John S. Jones, J. B. Samuels, Neal. Knic, J. G. Walker, J. C.
Shepard, I''. C. Wiser and R. G. Henderson. Doctor Shepard and Doctor
Henderson are located there at the present.

Those known to have practiced medicine in Barada are as follow :
Drs. I. N. Williamson, G. C. Paxton, W. S. Fast, G. W. Reneker, S. A.
Van Osdel, Wiltse, D. D. Leeper, Maust. J. F. Stone and J. H. Blomen-
kamp. Doctor Blomenkamp is the only representative of the profession
in Barada at the present.

Phj'sicians known to ha\e resided in Shubert are the following: Drs.
.\. D. Cloyd, I. C. Sutton, J. F. Stong, W. E. Shook and J. M. Willis.

Doctor Cloyd achieved distinction after leaving Shubert by being chosen
medical director of the Ww)dmen of the World, with offices in Omaha,
(28)

434 KirHARDSON COUNTY, N'EHKASKA.

whicli position he has occupied for several }-ears. Doctor Sutton was verv
successful in a professional and financial wa}' and his friends were legion.
After leaving Shubert, he went to Scotland and England, doing post-gradu-
ate work, and then came back to this country, located a while in St. Joseph,
and later somewhere in California, where he died a couple of years ago.
Dr. W. E. Shook is the present medical representative in Shubert. He
succeeded Doctor Sutton, purchasing his practice. Doctor Shook has l)een
very successful professionally and is universally loved and respected.

Cottage Grove is a rural cross-roads lying about four miles north and
east of Verdon. Besides being known as Cottage Grove, it has been known
by the Flowerdale in the long, long ago, so named by the Doctors Baker.
The doctors known to have been in practice there are the Drs. Baker, father
and son, C. R. Baker and Ira Baker; Doctor Rockell, who resided there in
1867, and Dr. H. L. Randall. There are no medical representatives in
Cottage Grove at present.

MEDICAL HISTORY OF THE WEST END OF RICHARDSON COUNTY.
By Dr. J. A. Waggener.

One of the most interesting women of the early days of the west end
of the county was Mrs. Mary E. (Russell) Quick, who for more than twen-
ty-five years ministered to the sick as a physician and nurse. She was one
of the first physicians in that part of the county. Mrs. Quick was born
near Brooklyn, New "^Ork, .Vjiril 12, 1817, and was married to Simon Quick,
later the first merchant at Elgin, Illinois, September 2^. 1837, at Hamson-
port. Steuben county, Xew ^'ork, and in the spring of 1838 they moved to
Elgin, Illinois. ' In 1854 the family, now increased by five sons, moved
to Stanberry Point, Iowa, where they resided until 1867, when they re-
moved to Humboldt, in this county. She died, April 7, 1895, at the age
of seventy-seven years, eleven months and twenty-five days. She was a
most lovable character and, because of her superior ability and wonderful
strength, rendered a wonderful service to the pioneers of the west end
of the county. She was the most noted of those of her sex who have
ever attempted the practice of medicine in Richardson county and the mem-
ory of her great service lingers still with those residing in that section.

PIIY.SICIANS OF HUMROLDT.

The first physician to locate in Humboldt was Dr. James L. Gandy,
a graduate of Rush ^^ledical College, at Chicago, in 1867, who located at

RICUARnSOX COl'NTV, XETRASKA. 435

Humboldt in 1869 and, in connection with his practice, ran a drug store.
The Doctor had a very extensive practice for a number of years, often
being called into Nemaha, Johnson and Pawnee counties. Several years
ago he retired from practice to devote his time to his extensive real estate
holdings, he being one of the largest landowners in the county. His place
of business is at the northwest corner of the public square and is one of
the oldest landmarks in Humboldt.

Dr. P. F. Patrick, a gratluate of Keokuk Medical School, located in
Humboldt in 1872, where lie practiced his profession until the time of
his death, about 1883. Doctor Patrick was regarded as a very success-
ful practitioner and. at that time, was ranked as one of the foremost sur-
geons in southeast Nebraska.

Dr. J. Russell Morris came to Nebraska in 1879 and located on a farm
near the Pleasant View church and for a number of years did a large prac-
tice at that place. He moved from there to Humboldt about the year 1892
and, from that time until the date of his death, in the year 1913, enjoyed
a very extensive practice.

Dr. J. G. Cox was a native of Kentucky, born in 1814. He received
his literary education at Hanover College, Indiana, and attended the medi-
cal department of the University of Kentucky, at Louisville, in 1851-2.
He practiced one year in Kentucky and in 1853 went to Jacksonville, Illi-
nois, where he was united in marriage to Rebecca Galbraith. In 1869 Mrs.
Cox died leaving three children, Samuel D., Kate M., and Sallie L. In
1872 Doctor Cox came to Humboldt, where, in 1879, he was married
to Hesikiah Cornelius. He was under General Taylor in the Mexican
War and saw service in the battle of Buena A'ista. In the Civil War. he
was assistant surgeon of the One hundred fiftieth Regiment, Illinois Volun-
teer Infantry. He retired and mo\ed to his farm near Humboldt in 1883.
He died in Humboldt in 191 1. Doctor Cox was a man of fine character,
a good practitioner and an honor to the profession to which he belonged.

Dr. A. L. Williamson located in Humboldt immediately after his grad-
uation from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa, in
1883, and continued to practice his profession up to the time of his death
in 1903. Doctor Williamson did a very extensive practice and was regarded
by his patients as one who took great interest in their welfare. He never
was known to turn a deaf ear to the sick and often gave of his time and
skill when he knew that all that he would ever get for his services was
the satisfaction of having done his duty.

Dr. P. W. Hays was another of the very successful doctors to locate

43'' RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

in Humboldt. After his graduation in Jefferson Medical College, Phila-
delphia, Pennsylvania, in 1877, he practiced in Pennsylvania for two years,
when he removed to Humboldt in 1879, where for a numl^er of years he
enjoyed a large practice He then moved back to Pennsylvania, where
he remained for about one year, when a call of the West again Ijrought
him to Nebraska, where he located in Falls City, remaining there in active
work until his death in November, 1896. The Doctor was regarded by his
colleagues as one of the leading members of the profession. He was mar-
ried to Phoebe Unland, and to them were born three children, une of whom
is Dr. E. R. Hays, now of Falls City.

The above named doctors were the ones mostly identified in the early
history of Humboldt. At the present time, there are five doctors engaged
in the practice there, namely, Drs. G. G. Gandy, W. R. ^^'agge^er, C. E.
Nmak, J. A. W'aggener and Leroy Peterson.

PHYSICIANS OF DAWSON.

Dr. J. D. Terry was the first doctor to locate in Dawson, in 1873.
The town was then known as Dawsons Mills, and consisted of a mill and
a postofifice. Dr. Terry remained there only a few months, when he left
for another field. Then came Dr. W. G. Hanlan. who enjoyed a large
])ractice for a time. Imt dissipation got the best of him. and in 1886 he
was killed in a pistol fight by one Frank Clark.

Dr. J. A. Waggener, who is better known to the profession and ha?
a wider circle of acquaintances than any doctor in the county, located in
Dawson in the spring of 1879, where for six years he practiced his pro-
fession, and in connection with his practice operated the first drug store
in north Dawson. In the spring of 1885 he sold his store to Jacob Auch,
and moved to Sumner county, Kansas, where he invested in one of those
"fl\- towns." This was during the boom days of southern Ivansas and it
is needless to say that the boom "busted" and so did the doctor. In the
spring of 1886 he returned with his family to Nebraska and located in
Humboldt, where for four years he enjoyed a good practice. He then was
induced to move to Bern, Kansas, buying the practice of Doctor \Vright,
the only doctor in the town. Here the doctor enjoyed a very large practice
for four years. At that time there were many wide-open \\hiskey "joints"
in the town and. as the doctor had a family of boys, he felt that it would
be better to bring them up in a place where temptations to drink were not
so great. Selling out his business in Bern, he moved again to Dawson,

RICTIAKnSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 437

where he remained until Januarx-. 1907, when he nio\e(l to Humboldt and
bought the j-ractice of Dr. Al. L. Wilson, now of l-'alls City. The doctor's
practice then grew to such proportions that he was no longer able to attend
to it all alone, and he induced his son, Dr. W. R., then located at Blair,
.Nebraska, to join him in partnership. They remained together in the
practice until the fall of 191 5. when he turned tlie business over to liis son
and accepted the unanimous call of the board of state institutions to take
charge of the Soldier's and Sailor's Hospital, at Grand Island, which position
he held until he was forced on account of ill-health to resign. He again
returned to Humljoldt, where he hopes to regain his health. He will then
again enter the ])ractice of his profession to which he has belonged for more
than forty-two years. He has three .sons, all of whom are doctors.

Another of the very successful doctors to locate in Dawson was Dr.
T. H. Emnierson. who located there in about the year 1886. He died in
the year 1894. Dr. A. E. Burgher also located here in 1902, when, after
some ten \-ears of successful practice, he removed to" St. Joseph.

Dr. G. C. Paxton was another to practice in Dawson. He moved to
Falls City from Missouri with his parents in 1868, later graduating from
the medical school at Louisville, Kentucky. He then took a course at the
Nebra.ska State University and practiced at Barada, Dawson and Falls City.
After practicing at the latter place for a number of years, he removed to
Rigby, Idaho, where he has been most successful financially and profes-
sionally. He was reared from a boy in Richardson county.

The doctors doing business in Dawson at the present time are Drs.
W. R. Fonts and Kelly.

PllY.SICIANS OF SALEM.

A history of the doctors who have lived and practiced their profession
in Richardson county would not l)e complete without reference to the late
Dr. John R. Brooke, who located in Salem in the year i860. At that time he
was the only doctor for miles around. The country l>eing sparsely settled,
much hard work was entailed in reaching his patients, for he had to travel
altogether on horseback. In order to reach his patients, he was frequently
compelled to travel thirty or forty miles through snow drifts and bhzzards,
fording creeks and quagmires, often with no hopes of ever getting pay for
his services. Still he did not murmur, but was glad to give of his time
and talents to those in distress. He was a man of fine mental attainments
and possessed a powerful physique, steadfast in his convictions and an

438 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

ardent supportei" of Democracy. In the early history of the state, he was
a candidate on the Democratic ticket for Congressman from this, the hrsi
congressional district. At that time, the district was overwhelmingly Repuh-
lican and, as a consequence, he suffered defeat. His death occurred when
he was over eighty years of age, at Salem, after a residence of more than
forty years, leaving l^ehind him much to l)e recorded in commendation of
a very useful life.

Dr. C. Kinne\- was another of the early practitioners of Salem, wliere
he located in 1871, and for a number of years was regarded as a very
able_ physician. He afterwards moved to Lincoln and engaged in practice
there up to the time of his death, some eighteen years ago.

Dr. J. W. Heskitt located in Salem in 1884 and is still there, where
he had, up to a few years ago, enjoyed a large practice, moving at that time
to his farm. The doctor bears all of the characteristics of the old family
doctor, knowing every person, young and old, living in his district, and
can call them by their first names. He is the father confessor of whole
families and commands more respect from the children than the President
ever will.

Doctor Pollard and Doctor Smith are two other physicians doing busi-
ness in Salem, locating in recent years. Other physicians who practiced in
Salem are Drs. Clinton Day. J- T. Waltemeyer, L. A. Delanney and J. E.
Waller.

PHYSICIANS AT VERDON.

The first doctor to locate in Verdon was Dr. J. T. ^\'ebster who. after
a few years practice there, moved to Emporia, Kansas, where he died about
the year 1886.

Doctor Callison was another to locate there and, in connection with
his practice, operated the first drug store in the town. The doctor died
there several }'ears ago.

Dr. I. M. Houston did his initial practice in Verdon, married the daugh-
ter of Doctor Callison, and afterwards removed to Falls City. Dr. D.
M. King was another to locate there in the early history of the town, and
for a number of vears was the only doctor in the place. He was a soldier
in the Civil War. He died in Verdon a number of years ago.

Dr. I. H. Phillips practiced for a while in Verdon, coming to that
place from Iowa. He married the widow of Ed. Goolsby, moved to Wyo-
ming and later to Seneca, Nebraska, where he now resides.

Dr. D. G. Griffiths i)racticed in ^'erdon. his native town, for a few

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 439

years, coming from there to Falls City, and forming a partnership with
Doctor Houston.

Doctor Thomas and Drs. J. W. Bourne and Geb Hall were other
physicians who practiced in \'erdon. Doctor Hurka is the only physician
located in \"erdon at the present time.

PHYSICIANS AT STELLA.

Dr. J. .\. W. Hull was the first doctor to locate in Stella and was the
first to build and operate a drug store. For a number of years he did
an extensive practice and was regarded as one of the foremost doctors
in the county. He died about the year 19 13.

Dr. B. B. Andrews was another of the leading physicians and surgeons
of that place for a number of years and ranked as one of the leading sur-
geons of southeast Nebraska. Later he moved to Oklahoma and, after
several years residence there, returned to Nebraska, locating in Brownvillc,
where he died in 1915.

Dr. A. W. Montgomery located in Stella in 1898, where he has liad
a very successful practice. He stands high in his profession and, at the
session of the State Medical Association, was elected vice-president of that
body. Also on this occasion he was elected president of the house of dele-
gates and presided over that l)ody.

Besides Doctor Montgomery, there are two otlier physicians in prac-
tice there at present. Dr. G. M. Andrews and Doctor Egermayer.

OFFICE-HOLDING PHYSICIANS OF RICHARD.SON COUNTY.

Since the creation of Richardson county, several of its physicians have
received official appointments or have been elected to office. During the
session of the stale Legislature in 191 7, Dr. George W. Reneker served
as representative in tlie lower house.

CORONERS OF THE COUNTY.

The following physicians have served the county as coroner: Drs.
Russell Perry, 1869-1871 : William J. Wells, 1900-1902; George W Reneker.
1902-1904 and 1913-1917; J. A. Waggener, 1905-1907: Millard L. Wilson.
1908-1910. and W. R. Waggener, 1910-1913.

RICHARDSON COUNTY,

COUNTY PHYSICIANS.

The following county physicians have served : Drs. A. B. Xewkirk.

C. T. Burchard, \\. H. Kerr, F. C. Wiser, W. R. Boose, H. D. Burchard
and C. L. Husted.

CITY PHYSICIANS.

Falls City has had the following city phxsicians : Drs. C. T. Biirciiard.
W. H. Kerr, G. W. Reneker. E. R. Hays. W. S. Fast, H. R. Minor, H. D.
Biircliard and C. L. Husted.

COUNTY INSANITY COMMISSION.

Physicians of the insanity commission of Richardson county, which was
organized July 24, 1873, are: Dr. H. O. Hanna, July 24. 1873-1877; Dr. J.

D. Hunter, 1877-1883; Dr. .\. B. Xewkirk. June 16, 1883, March, 1890; Dr.
H. L. Randall, JNIarch, 1890, September 11, 1893; Dr. F. C. Wiser, September
II, 1893, -November 26. 1897, a"'^' Dr. C. T. Burchard, Xovember 26, 1897,
to present time.

UNITED STATES EXAMINING SURGEONS FOR PENSIONS.

Dr. W. W. Shaw received an appointment as examining surgeon shortly
after the close of the Civil War, which position he filled up to the time of his
death, about the year 1883. The first board of surgeons organized for Rich-
ardson count)- consisted of Drs. E. M. Wilson, D. ^^^ Campbell and C. \\".
Bryson.

Successive surgeons were as follow : Drs. A. Kellar. C. T. Burchard,
J. v. Hinchman, F. C. Wiser, J. A. Waggener, A. P.. C.loyd, G C. Paxton,
C. L. Kerr, P. W. Hays, W^ H. Kerr, M. L. W^ilson and \V. R. Boose.

The present personnel of the toard is Dr. M. E. Wilson, president:
Dr. W. R. Boose, treasurer, and Dr. C. T. Burchard. secretary. It is wortliy
of note that Doctor Burchard has occupied the position of secretary, witli
a brief interval of a few months, since his appointment in 1886.

RAILROAD APPOINTMENTS.

To the l)est of the writer's knowledge. Dr. A. 1>. Xewkirk was the
first surgeon to the Burlington railroad, then called the .Vtchison & Xe-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASK.\. 44I

braska railroad, later the Burlington, Missouri River & Nebraska, and at
the present time, the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy. He resigned his posi-
tion in 1889 and was succeeded by Dr. C. T. Burchard, who has held the
appointment to the present time and is now in his twenty-eighth year of
service.

The Missouri Pacific railroad was built about the year 1881. Its first
surgeon, so far as the writer knows, was Doctor Woods of Kansas Cit\'.
Doctor Woods was succeeded by Dr. D. W. Campbell, who moved a wax
about the year 1886. Dr. C. T. Burchard was then appointed and held the
position for twenty-five years, but was succeeded at the end of that time Iv
Dr. W. W. Trotter, a protege of the chief surgeon at St. Louis. When
Doctor Trotter removed to Iowa, the vacancy thus created was filled by th<j
appohitment of Dr. W. R. Boose, who now holds the position.

COUNCILOR TO THE STATE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

Dr. T- A. Waggener, of Humboldt, about the spring of 19 12 was chosen
a member of the board of councilors by the State Medical Association for
this councilor district, comprising the counties of Richardson, Pawnee, Gage.
Johnson and Nemaha, and automatically became a member of the board
of councilors, which is the high official body in the State Medical Associa-
tion. This is the highest official ix)sition within the gift of the state associa-
tion, with the exception of the presidency. Other councilors for this district
have been Drs. J. W. Bullard and A. B. Anderson of Pawnee City, and
Dr. I. H. Dillon, of Auburn.

STATE BOARD OF HEALTH.

Through the kindness of Gov. J. H. Morehead, Dr. C. T. Burchartl
was appointed a member of the board <;f secretaries to the state board of
health, serving four years from 19 13 to 191 7.

UNITED STATES ARMY.

Dr. C. P. Fordyce, acting surgeon for Company E, Sixth Nebraska
Volunteer Infantry, stationed at Falls City, also occupied the position of
surgeon to the Soldiers and Sailors Home at Grand Island, Nebraska, dur-
ing the years 1913-14-15.

ARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

IN THE MEDICAL PROFESSION.
E.\- Dr. C. T. Burc-hnid.

The conditions prevailing in the pioneer days over iifty years age-
were very trying so far as the doctors were concerned. Travel in the earlier
days was by horseback or on foot and frequently the roads were but trails.
Bridges were the exception and streams usually had to be forded. There
was little fencing and no such thing as section lines. Later as roads were
imprcjved, buggies became practical and were put in use. This is in marked
contrast with the present means of rapid and lu.xurious transportation 1)\
automobile on better roads. When good, permanent roads become uni-
versal and the flying machine is made practical the doctors' millenium. so
far as transportation is concerned, will have been reached.

VACCINATION A HALF CENTURY AGO.

Medical practice a half centur\' ago was in its crudest stage. I remember
vividly the first smallpo.x vaccination that it was my privilege to witness.
On entering the doctor asked the lady for a plate, which he turned upside
down and .spat upon its upturned bottom. He took from his vest pocket
a vaccine scab, which he unrolled from a piece of newspaper, placed in
the sali\a on the bottom of the plate and rubbed it around until sufficient
liquefaction had taken place. He then scarified the vaccine site and com-
pleted the operation in the usual way. A doctor guilty n{ such methods at
the present day would be mobl>ed.

SURGERY: PAST AND PRESENT.

It was also my privilege to witness some few surgical operations. I
have seen amputations made with the crudest instruments, for instance.
•a pair of large, heavy tailor's shears, which were used to sever tones in
place of the usual bone-cutting forceps. I have also seen ordinary meat
saws used for the same purpose on larger bones, in place of the small, neat
saws of the surgeon. I remember seeing a case of fracture of the leg below
the knee being treated by tb.e constant application of ice for a period of
three weeks. It is needless to say that such treatment proved destructive
to the soft tissues. There were immense sloughs in this case and the man
had to suffer amputation to preserve his life.

There has Ijeen a very great change in medical and surgical i)racticc
since then and now. Forty years ago, it was the teaching of surgeons thai

RICH ARnSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 443

there were three cavities of the body which the surgeon must refrain from
entering-, namely, the skull, the abdomen and the knee joint. Through the
discoveries and teachings of Sir John Lister, of England, surgical prac-
tice was revolutionized when he introduced antiseptics into surgical prac-
tice. It was my privilege to witness alwut the first surgical operation per-
formed in Chicago in the spring of 1879, under a constant spray of carbolic
acid solution, done by Prof. Moses Gunn, of Rush Medical College, at
one of his clinics. Since then, rapid changes for the better have taken
place. Finally it was learned that the same results or better ones could be
obtained under aseptic or surgically clean conditions. There is now no
portion of the anatomy which the surgeon does not invade with impunity
so far as fear from sepsis is concerned.

ADVANCES IN MEDICINE.

Along medical lines great advances have also been made. The first of
particular importance I might mention was the discovery of diphtheria
antitoxin. Since this has come into use, diphtheria has lost its terrors.
Numlier of other antitoxins, serums, vaccines and autogenous vaccines,
each having a proper place in the physician's armamentarium, have come
into use. The microscope and X-ray have each played an important part in
securing accurate diagnosis. During the last two decades, the trained nurse
has done nuich to mitigate the doctor's worries and responsibilities.

THE CHOLERA EPIDEMIC .\T ARAGO.

This narrative would be incomplete without the mention of a terrible
epidemic of Asiatic cholera which made its appearance in this county during
the summer of 1867. In the family of John ,Smick, there occurred a sudden
death of a child. Mrs. Smick, being a second wife and the steptuother of
this child, came under suspicion of having poisoned the child. An autopsy
was decided upon, which was performed by Dr. C. F. Luja, assisted by Dr.
Rockwell of Cottage Grove. In a bottle, the contents of the stomach of the
child were placed, which was intended to be sent to St. Louis for analysis.
Ere diis was done a second child died, then Mrs. Smick died and finally Mr.
Smick. These deaths occurred in rapid succession and suspicion was re-
moved from Mrs. Smick. she having preceded her husband, and the anal>'sis
was never made. Simultaneously deaths occurred in dififerent localities,
some in the countrv and quite a number in the towns. I remember that our

444 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

neighlxir, Mr. Melhorn. who lived just across the street from us, was per-
fectly well one evening and a corpse the next morning. He was the father
of Martin Melhorn, who lived in Falls City for a number of years, and was
interested in the real estate business with Henry C. Smith. The scourge
lasted some two months, during which time the dread disease took consid-
erable toll. During this time, my father was in constant attendance at his
drug store day and night.

Much has been accomplished in the way of prevention of disease, espe-
cially during the last two or three decades. There is a very notable falling
of¥ in the ravages of the so-called "summer complaint" of infants and the
summer diarrohea among adults. In the earlier days Richardson county was
a malarious district. Everj^one coming to this county became the victim
of fever and ague, and usually it was not until he had become acclimated
that he l>ecame free from this disease. In all diseases of whatever nature,
malaria played considerable part and no drug treatment proved efficacious
without the addition of quinine. Since then the direct cause of malaria has
been discovered, the carrier of the poison being the mosquito. The same
may be said of yellow fever in the tropics.

WEEDING OUT QUACKS AND CHARL.VTANS.

In the pioneer days of half a century ago, all was chaos so far as mat-
ters medical were concerned. He who proclaimed himself doctor was by
reason of such declaration a doctor. There was no more regulation of his
practice or restrictions imposed upon • him than there was in the sale of
ardent spirits. Hence it was that we had many "quacks" and charlatans in
the so-called profession. Matters continued thus until the year 1881, when
by the enforcement of the provisions of a legislative enactment, all doctors
were required to register. There were three conditions under which they
were eligible for registration : first, the possession of a diploma from a
recognized medical school; second, attendance upon one course of instruc-
tion at a recognized medical school plus five years in practice; and third,
ten years of practice without any college experience. This naturally weeded
out some of the worst examples of so-called doctors.

Ten years later there was another legislative enactment, going into
effect in 1891. This act required all doctors operating under the registra-
tion law to make application for a license to practice medicine, surgery, and
obstetrics. Later, this law was amended so as to provide that all graduates
of medical colleges were required to pass state board examinations.

RICIfARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 445

In the present day, college requirements are much greater than at an\
former time. Many of the better colleges now retjuire the matriculant to
have an academic degree or to have had university education covering at
least two years, so that the time now required graduate a medical man
covers about six years. It is needless to say that the finished jjroduct of
today is much superior to that of half a century ago. Nevertheless, my
experience as a member of the examining board of the state board of health,
or licensing board, if you please, shows that quite a percentage of the
graduates of medical colleges are deficient at the time of their graduation.
State licensure, therefore, forms quite a protection to the public against un-
qualified physicians.

EARLY MEDICAL .SOCIETIES IN THE COUNTY.

Half a century ago, there were no such things as medical societies in
this immediate section of the country. The earliest knowledge I have of
any attempt to form a medical society in this section is that related to me
by my friend and colleague. Dr. J. A. Waggener of Humboldt, who tells
me that in the year of 1879, there was an attempt made to organize a med-
ical societ\' at Humboldt, in which he and a Doctor Patrick were specially
interested. This society was called the Nemaha Valley Medical Society.
In 1879, I rememljer attending the meeting of a medical society. It may
have been the same medical society, or it may have been a society of another
name. This was in Falls City, and I rememljer among those in attendance
were the late Drs. H. O. Hanna, W. W. Shaw, and J. D. Hunter.

The next medical society I remember oi attending was called the
Southeast Nebraska Medical Society. It was supposed to include some
three or four counties in this corner of the state. Dr. A. B. Newkirk being
its organizer. This was in the year 1883. I remember on this occasion that
efforts were made to compel a woman doctor to cease practice on the
grounds that she was not registered. An attorney was employed to prose-
cute the case, but the case never came to trial. It was ridiculed out of court
through newspaper infiuences, largelx- on account of the defendant being a
woman.

Spasmodic eft'orts were made from time to time t(5 start and maintain
medical societies, but these failed for one reason or another, until the \ear
of 1903, when there was organized in Falls City the Richardson County
Medical Societv in affiliation with the State Medical .V.s.socialion. The
state association, realizing the transient and unstable character of local and

44^ RiniARDSOX COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

county societies over the state, deemed it advisable to take the coiint\ asso-
ciations under its wing-. This was true, not only of Nebraska, but of all nf
the states of the union. The state associations were responsible to and in
affiliation with the .\nierican ]\Iedical Association, the great national bod>-
of the United States, so that a member gaining admission to a county med-
ical society automatically became a meml>er of the state association and the
national body.

The charter members of the Richardson Count}- Medical Societ\ at
the time of its organization were the following: Drs. J- A. Waggener, A.
Kellar, F. C. \Mser. L C. Sutton, .\. E. Burgher, R. G. Henderson, Howard
-Marsh, W. S. East, F. A. Kellar, C. T. Burchard, I. X. Williamson, I. M.
Houston, W. H. Kerr, D. D. Leejier, Hannah C. Fleming, M. L. \\'ilson
and J. E. \\'aller. Those suljsecjuently elected to membership are the fol-
lowing: Drs. J. R. Morris, W. E. Shook, J. M. WiUis, Clinton Day, G. M.
Andrews, Chester A. Brink, C. C. Keeler, Edward C. Wittwer. A. W. Mont-
gomery, G. W. Reneker, Thomas, S. A. A^anOsdel. G. G. Gandv. \l. R.
Hays, \y. R. Boose and ^^^ M. Trotter.

KEORG.\NIZ.\TION OF THE lUCIlARDSOX COL'XTY MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.

Up to the spring of 1910 some undesirable members had gained admis-
sion to the society, which caused some disaffection and threatened its dis-
ruption. It was deemed best to permit the society to die a natural death
from nonpayment of dues, thus forfeiting its charter, with the view <^f
reorganizing under a new charter at some future time. This was done
under a new charter on April 9, 191 2, at a meeting held in Humboldt in
the office of Drs. Waggener & \V'aggener, with the following as its charter
members: Dr. J- A. ^^'aggener, president and delegate; Dr. A. Kellar, vice-
president: Dr. W. ]\. Shook, secretary and treasurer: Dr. C. T. Burchard.
Dr. M. L. Wlhon. Dr. \\'. R. Waggener, Dr. C. A. Brink and Dr. .\. \^".
Montgomer\-, censors.

In our pre\-ious experiences in conducting medical societies, regular
licensure had l)een the only ^est for eligibility. Realizing that this test
proved inadequate to the vitality of this societx-. it was resolved that in
conducting the .society in the future, we would make character, integritx
and ethics the test as to eligibility, and the censors were duly instructed to
approve applications only on the applicants who measured up to these re-
quirements. The result is that the cream of the profession has representa.-
tion in this present society. The following memliers ha^'e since been added :

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 447

Drs. R. W. I'^outs, J. T. W'aggoner, A. J. Smith, G. G. Gandy, H. D.
Burchard, C. L. Hustad, C. E. Novak, G. A. Riietter, Leroy Peterson.
E. R. Hays, Hurka, H. R. Miner. J. P. Bishop, J. F. Kelly, Lee Cowan, G.
W. Reneker and C. P. Fordyce. The present official personnel is as fol-
lows: Dr. R. W. Fonts, president; Dr. F. R. Hays, vice-president; Dr. S.
D. Cowan, secretary and treasurer; Dr. A. W. Montgomery, Dr. ^\^ R.
Waggoner and Dr. C. T. Burchard, censors.

THE MEDIC.\L PROFESSION AND THE GREAT WORLD WAR.

This chronicle opens with reference to the Civil \\'ar,'the great conllict
hetween the Xorth and the Smith, which rent the nation in twain, its line
of demarcation being Mason ond Di.xon's line, and which created a breach
that has taken three score of years to bridge. The fates decree that this
history will close widi reference to another war more terrible than any of
the wars which have preceded it, a war in which have been utilized craft on
the sea, under the sea and abo^■e the sea; and on land, engines of destruc-
tion discharging not only shot and shell but poisonous and blinding gases
wliich have prostituted science and taxed the very demons of hell to devise.
This colossal war involves the great nations of two hemispheres, arrayed
as I)elligerents.

The former war, during its prosecution, made great drafts upon the
medical and surgical talent of this, the new world, and the profession nobly
responded. Today the world is making huger drafts on the profession of
all the nations involved, for Europe has been unequal to the exigency. The
deficiencies to some extent have heretofore been supplied by this countrw
and it has been left to America ingenuity to devise a treatment for wounds
in which chlorinated lime has been the basic antiseptic. T refer to the cele-
brated Dakin-Carroll treatment, adopted so far as I know by all the bellig-
erents. At the present time Washington oills for thirty thousand surgeons.
Up to this time the United States has contributed not more than one-third
of its (|uota and it is deemed tjuite jMSsible that the draft or conscription of
doctors may be necessary to supply the remainder. Every city, town and
hamlet has felt the efifect of this drain, and a numljer of physicians of this
county and society have signified their desire and intention of doing thi>
service. Drs. H. R. Minor, S. D. Cowan and O. F. Lang have received com-
missions and will go to I'^rance. Doctor Minor's wife, who is a trained
nurse, will accompanx him to France and serve in the American hospitals.
It must be remembered that the doctors entering the hospital and marine

44^^ RICHARDSON' COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

service must be souikI ])h^•sically and pass a more or less rigid medical exam-
ination. He must lea\e his home ties, his business and his otherwise pleasant
pursuits to take on a duty >e\ere in its requirements and extremely hazardous
in its conduct, requiring the most patriotic self-sacrifice and arduous work.
There is no doubt but the American surgeon will respond to the call and,
when this great, sanguinar\- conflict shall have ceased, when the final curtain
is dropped upon the last tragic act and when the smoke has cleared away, I
.may say with the utmost confidence that the American surgeon will have
conducted himself with dignity, with good American common sense, with
kindness anf! merc\- to his patients, and that he will have proven himself
the [jeer of any of his European brothers. The world will adorn him with
the stamp of its approval and, if one may indulge in imagination or si)ecula-
tion. He whom we are taught to belieye is omnipotent and guideth all
things, we feel sure, will direct His recording angel in a spirit of benedic-
tion to write opposite every name, "Well done, thou good and faithful
servant."

^1^^ '^m

fmmmm.^- WV^M

CFIAPTER XVII.
The Bench and Bak.

Tlie task of writing- a chapter on the bench and bar of Richardson
county is one l)est suited to an individual reared in the atmosphere of law
offices and the courts. For one who is not versed in legal lore and phrase-
ology, to attempt to give an authentic and readable history of the bench and
bar is an appalling task and one from which the writer shrinks. However,
die task has to be accomplished and will necessarily be done by a layman
because of the fact that the talented and able attorney who had been
selected for the task and who would have written a brilliant and enter-
taining chapter upon this very important department of the county's
Iiistory, was called to the bosom of his Creator some months since. With
due apologies to the members of the bar of Richardson county, the writer
will present what facts he has been able to glean from the available records
concerning the courts and lawyers of this county.

To the bench and bar, all acting under an oath of office, is confided
the solemn and sacred trust and duty of vindicating, enforcing and carrying
out the natural, revealed, common and statute laws of the land, which the
sages of the law have defined to be the "rules of action, prescribed by a
superior power, commanding what is right and prohibiting what is wrong."
These rules of action, or law, have for their object the security and welfare
of the nation, state and municipality, as well as of society in the aggregate,
and the personal and property rights of the individual as a component part
of the body politic — the common people. Law is also frequently and aptly
defined as "common sense," and in our opinion, springs from the natural
equity and conception of right in the innermost consciousness of a normal
and well balanced human being, impressed on man by the Creator and finds
expression in multitudinous, complex and often intricate rules of action
laid down in the law now in force, for our go\-ernment. which has Ijeen built
up and taken from the experiences and judgment of the soundest and l>est
minds and hearts of the centuries that have gone before.

However wise, Ijeneficent and just the laws may be. much depends on
the application of the law to existing facts of the case on trial and its proper
(29) .

4."0 RICIIARIXSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

enforcement, to prevent a miscarriage of justice. It must l)e rememliered
that all officers, from the highest to the lowest, are but human, moved l)y
the same passions and prejudices as other men, and subject to the same
liabilit}- to err; so, gentle reader, if you would l^e secure in your full rights
under the law, see that the most available men of integritv, capacity, suit-
able temperament and sciuncl common sense, be chosen to administer and
enforce the law without fe;ir, favor or oppression, always remembering
that where the best results are not reached in lawsuits, the failure can ]k
generally traced to the defects or weaknesses of witnesses, juries, attornex s
or judges, and not to the laws themselves.

THE BENCH.

When on you the law
Places its majestic paw.
Whether in innocence or guilt.
You are then required to wilt.

— Ware.

'i"he "l)ench"' is a designation originally applied to the seat of the judges,
when benches, instead of richly upholstered furniture, on which they now
recline, was in use: and the term "bench'" was applied to the judges collec-
tively, as a distinction from the attorneys and counsellors, who are called
the "bar." Anciently, all, and now, many of the judges in the nations of the
world, were arbitrarily appointed In' the king, prince, power or potentate
governing the realm and held their office during life or the pleasure of their
sovereign: and even now, in our own democratic republic, all federal judges
are appointed l)y the I 'resilient. Judges so chosen are naturallv more or
less subser\'ient to the power that creates them and the common rights of
the peojile are thus greatly endangered; and there ha\e been many instances
w here they have been grossly and arbitrarily denied.

In this free and enlightened nation, where the judges, or "bench." in
all the states are chosen by the ballot of the citizens at their general elec-
tions, and, recently, without regard to political consideration or the intrigue
of political parties or jjoliticians, the common people are supreme in their
ballots and can have an intimate knowledge of the honesty, integritv, cajia-
bilit}- and temperament of the men whom thev ele\ate to these \-erv im-
portant trusts. Few mistakes are made in their selections and when madi;.
the peoj)le stand ready to yield them a cheerful, respectful and courteous
obedience, wiiile appl\ing the law that governs them, which, of necessity.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 45 1

gives them almost autocratic power over their hves, ]jn)perty and Hherty,
subject to review only by a higher court; and in many instances of discre-
tion and weight of evidence, their decision is final and cannot be reviewed
on appeal. An ignorant, a dishonest, a revengeful, an impetuous or a par-
tisan judge is a menace to the rights and privileges of every citizen and it
is a wonder that there are so few instances on record where this autocratic
power has been abused, and for this reason there is a general feeling of
respect and confidence in the judiciary that makes their duties and positions
a pleasant task.

Authentic records bearing upon the early history of the judiciary of
Nebraska are most remarkable for their scarcity. It is a comparativel\
easy matter to establish dates and the leading facts, but details are lacking.
Even the early historians of the state seem entirely to have overlooked this
branch of the state government and to have failed to avail themselves of
the many opportunities at their command for procuring interesting details
from the numerous participants in the proceedings of the courts during
territorial days.

The organic act providing for the creation of the Territory of Nebraska
declared tliat "The judicial pow^r of said territor\- shall be vested in a
supreme court, district courts, probate courts, and in justices of the peace.
The supreme court shall consist of a chief justice and two associate justices,
anv two of whom shall constitute a quorum, and who shall hold a term at the
seat of government of said territory annually, and they shall hold their offices
(luring the period of four years and until their successors shall have been
appointed and (lualified. The said territory shall be divided into three judicial
districts and a district court shall be held in each of said district's by any one
of the justices of the supreme court at such times and places as shall be pre-
scribed 1)v law, and the said judges shall, after their appointments, respec-
tively reside in the districts which shall be assigned them."'

In compliance with this section of the organic act President Pierce on
June 29, 1854, commissioned Fenner Ferguson chief justice and Edward B.
Hardin and James Bradley associate justices of the supreme court. .Acting
Gov. T. B. Cuming made the assignment of districts provided for in the act.
Under this arrangement Chief Justice Ferguson took charge of the first dis-
trict comprising the counties of Dodge and Douglas. Judge Hardin presided
over the second district, comprising all the territory south of the Platte river,
and Judge Bradley took charge of the third district, which emlaraced W'ash-
ington and Burt counties.

The supreme court for the territory of .\e1)raska was organized at Omaha

4^2 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

on February lo. 1855, the court convening in the hall of the House of Repre-
sentatives in the historic old state house which stood on Ninth street between
Douglas and Farnum. Chief Justice Ferguson and Justice Hardin were the
only members of the court present. Under the authority of the organic act.
Experience Estabrook had been appointed by the president as United States
attorney for the territory and J. Sterling Morton was delegated to act as clerk
of the court. These officers were present in court, but no business was trans-
acted beyond adjourning until June, when court convened and the following
attorneys were admitted to practice on motion by Mr. Estabrook : O. D.
Richardson, A. J. Poppleton, A. J. Hanscom, Silas A. Strickland. L. I..
Bowen, A. D. Jones and Samuel E. Rogers. This constituted the only busi-
ness transacted at that term of court and no further sittings were held until
in June, 1857. From this time until the admission of Nebraska as a state
very little of an historic nature relating to the supreme court seems to be in
existence.

The chief justices of the territorial supreme court, following Justice Fer-
guson, were these, the dates being those on which their terms began. Augus-
tus Hall, March 15. 1858; William Pitt Kellogg, May 27, 1861 ; William Kel-
logg, May 8, 1865. The associate justices ^*ere : Edward R. Hardin, Decem-
ber 4, 1854: James Bradley, October 25, 1854; Samuel W. Black, 1857;
Eleazer Weakley, April 22, 1857: Joseph Miller, April 9, 1859; William E.
Lockwood, May 16, 1861 : Joseph E. Streeter, November 18, 1861 : Elmer S.
Dundy, June 22, 1863. The last-named. Judge Elmer S. Dundy, was well
known to Richardson county people of the early territorial days and his ter-
ritory included what is now Richardson count\-. When the territorial supreme
court passed out of existence by reason of the admission of the state to the
Union, the United States district court for Nebraska was created, and Elmer
S. Dundy, an associate justice of the supreme court of the territory, was ap-
pointed by the president to the position of United States district judge for the
district of Nebraska, this territory including all the territory within the con-
fines of the newly-created state. Judge Dund\- held the position until his
death in 1896.

jrnOE ELMER s. DiNnv.

Elmer S. Dundy was born in Trumbull c<iunty, Ohio, on March 5. 1830.
and died on October 28, 1896, in the state of Nebraska, where he had long
l)een a dominant and useful figure. His forbears came from Germany
in the early part of the seventeenth century and settled in eastern Pennsvl-
vania and Maryland. The boyhood of Elmer S. Dundy was spent on his

JUDGE ELJIER S. DUNDY.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 453

father's farm in Ohio and in 1850 the family removed to Clearfield county,
Pennsylvania. Here young Dundy taught school for a number of terms and
became principal of the schools of Clearfield, Pennsylvania. He studied law-
while teaching and was admitted to the bar of his home county in 1853.
He came to Nebraska in 1857 and after remaining at Nebraska City for a
short time he took up his residence in Archer, the first county seat of Rich-
ardson county. Mr. Dundy removed to the new town of Falls City, when ii
was laid out and lived there until his death. He served as a member of the
Council of the Territorial Assembly in 1859 and was re-elected a member
of the Legislature in i860. He continued to practice his profession at Falls
City until 1863, in which year he was appointed associate justice of the
supreme court of Nebraska by President Lincoln. His district at that time
covered nearly one-half of the organized counties of Nebraska and extended
from the Platte river southward to the Kansas state line. Court was iield
twice each year and during the winter months a session of the entire court
was held at Omaha, where the court sat in judgment upon such cases as were
appealed or brought on writ of error from the several district courts. Upon
Judge Dundy's retirement from the bench he practiced law for a year and
was then appointed district judge for the district of Nebraska by Presi-
dent Johnson, in May, 1868. He held this office until his death, Octoljer
28, 1896. Judge Dundy was married in 1861 to, Mary H. Robertson, of
Omaha, and to this union were born four children, E. S., Jr., May, Luna and a
daughter, who died in infancy. Mrs. Dundy and her son, Elmer S., reside
in New York City. Elmer, or Sciopio Dundy, as he was more familiarly
known in Falls City, became the founder of the New York Hippodrome and
of Luna Park in New York Cit}' and is now deceased.

CHIEF JUSTICE MASON AND OTHERS.

In the original state constitution, approved by a vote of the people of
the territory at an election held on June 2, 1866, it was provided that the
supreme court should consist of one chief justice and two associate justices,
each of whom was to receive a salary of two thousand dollars per annum.
It was also provided that the judges of the supreme court should hold the
district courts of the state, and fi^r this purpose the state was divided into
three districts, the first district comprising the counties of Richardson, Ne-
maha, Otoe, Johnson, Pawnee, Gage, Jefiierson, Saline, Fillmore and Nuckolls.
.Vt the time the constitution was adopted William A. Little was elected chief
justice and George B. Lake and Lorenzo Crounse were elected associate

454 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

justices. Tudge Little died before having qualified and Gov. David Butler
appointed Oliver P. Alason, of Nebraska City, to succeed him as chief justice.

Oliver P. Alason, Nebraska's first chief justice, came to Nebraska on
July lo, 1855. taking up his residence in Nebraska City, which continued
to be his home until the fall of 1874. He was born in Madison county.
New' York, in May, 1829, and lived on a farm in that county until 1852.
The following two years were spent in the .South in commercial business and
he then took up his residence in northwestern Ohio, where he studied law,
being admitted to the bar at Norwalk in 1854. He came to Nebraska in the
following year and took an active part in public affairs from tJie time of his
arrival in the new country. He was elected to the lower house of the Terri-
torial Legislature in 1858 and in 1864 took his seat as a member of the
upper house, known as the Council, serving in 1865 and 1866 as president
of that body. He was one of the most active members "i the committee
which framed the first constitution. June 15, 1867. he was a])pointed chi'^f
justice of the supreme court and held that oftice until Januarv, 187J. After
leaving the bench he practiced law until the time of his demise. In the spring
of 1874 he moved from Nebraska City to Lincoln and that [)lace continued to
be his home until his death, August 18. 1891.

Judge George B. Lake was elected chief justice in 187-' and held that
position until a change was made in accordance with the terms of the con-
stitution of 1875, which provided that the members whose term next expired
should be the chief justice during the last two years of his term.

In 1872 Daniel Gantt and Samuel Maxwell were elected associate jus-
tices of the supreme court. Judge Gantt presided over the courts held in
the first district and is best remembered by Richardson county people of that
decade. He was the father of Amos Gantt. later a well-known member of
the Richardson county bar.

The constitution of 1875 did awa\- with the custom which required
the judges of the supreme court to preside at the district courts of the state
and thereafter they devoted their attention solely to the business of the
supreme court. Judge Gantt continued to hold the district courts of the
first di.strict. which included Richardson county, until the adoptiort of the
state constitution in 1875. The constitution made a temporary division of
the state into judicial districts "until amended or changed by law."' creating
six districts, the first district comprising the counties of Richard-^on. John-
son, Pawnee, Gage. Jeflferson, Saline. Thayer, Clay, Nuckolls and I'illmore.
The first judge elected to preside over the first judicial district was .\rchil)ald
J. \\'eaver. of Falls City, elected in 1873. re-elected in 1879. ami who resigned
from the bench in 1883.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 455

JUDGE ARCHIBALD J. WEAVER.

Judge Wea\"er came ti^ Xeliraska and located in Falls Citv in i86g and
immediately began the practice of the legal profe.ssion. He was a member
of the constitutional convention of 187 1, and was elected district attorney
for the first judicial tlistrict in the same year. He was a member of the
constitutional convention of 1875 and was elected judge of the district court
in that same year, being re-elected in 1879, but resigned in 1883. He was
elected a member of the Forty-eighth Congress, and was re-elected to the
h'orty-ninth Congress. He was a man of fine intellect, of great force of
character, untiring energ}-, unimpeachable integrity, possessed of generous
impulses and an attractive jiersdnality. .\ complete biography of Judge
^Veaver is given in the last chapter, or l)iographical section, of this work.

SAMUEL PRESLEY D.WIDSON.

Judge Samuel Presle}- Da\itlson, of Tecumseh, was appointed tn fill out
the unexpired term, upon the resignation of Judge ^\'eaver in 188 J. Judge
Davidson served until 1883 and then gave way to his successor. Judge
Davidson is one of the most distinguished and able lawyers of Nebraska
and has been a resident of the state since 1872. He was born on a farm
in Macon count), Illinois, October 8, 1847. and is a descendant of Scotch-
Irish ancestry who immigrated from the North of Ireland to the American
states after the Revolution, in 1800, and settled in the Carolinas. where
his paternal grandfather, Andrew Davidson, served as a colonel in a South
Carolina regiment during the War of xSi2. Andrew Davidson removed
to Illinois in 1818 and in 1825 took a prominent part in the settlement of
Macon county, Illinois. Samuel P. Davidson was educated in the common
schools of his native county and studied for three years in Mt. Zion (Illi-
nois) Seminar}-. He was graduated at the head of a class of eleven stu-
dents from Lincoln University (Illinois) in June, 1869. While yet a stu-
dent in college he read law under Judge W'illiam F. Nelson at Decatur,
Illinois, and was adnfitted to the practice of law in April, 1870.

Judge Davidson arrived in Tecumseh, Nebraska, then a village of three
hundred inhabitants, on December 7, 1872, and immediatel\- began the prac-
tice of his profession. For the past forty-five years he has practiced law
successfully and is recognized as one of the leading members of the bar
in the state of Nebraska and the Middle West. He has practiced extensi\el\
in all the district courts of Nebraska, the United States courts, the onri

45^ RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

of appeals and the United States supreme court, to which latter tribunal
he was admitted to practice on Alay 14, 1888. He served as judge of the
district court from October, 1882, until his successor was duly elected and
ciualitied. Judge Davidson is one of the honored and highly respected resi-
dents of the adjoining county of Johnson and holds a high place in the
esteem and confidence of the people.

JUDGE JEFFERSON H. BROADY.

In 1883 the tirst district comprised the counties of Gage, Johnson.
Nemaha, Richardson and Pawnee and during the election of that year
Judge Jefferson H. Broady, of Brownville. was elected to preside over the
first district.

Jefferson H. Broady was born on a farm near Liberty, Adams count\-,
Illinois, April 14, 1844, of Scottish descent. When sixteen years old he
entered high school at Payson, Illinois, and was graduated therefrom with
honors. He became interested in politics and 'took a position as writer
and reporter on the staff' of the Springfield (Illinois) Register. He decided
to become a lawyer and witli that end in view entered the University
Law School at Ann Arbor, Michigan, and was graduated from that institu-
tion on March 2y, 1867. In August of 1867, he came to Nebraska and
located in Brownville, where he became a successful law practitioner, prac-
ticing in all the state courts and in the circuit and supreme court of the
United States. Judge Broady"s unswerving integrity and the democratic
simplicity of his manner made him very popular. He represented Nemaha
and Richardson counties in the constitutional convention of 1875. in 1883
he was elected district judge on the Democratic ticket and was re-elected
in 1887. In 1891 he declined the nomination by his party for the post of
justice of the supreme court, preferring to retire from public life and devote
his time and energies to the practice of law. He removed to Lincoln and
resumed the practice of law in that city in 1891.

JUnrCIAT. REATPORTIONMENT OF 189I.

In 1885 the number of judicial districts in the state was increased to
ten and in 1887 two more districts were added and a provision made for
two judges to preside over the courts in the first district. In 1891 the
state was divided into fifteen districts and the following counties were in-
cluded in the first district : Ciage, Jefferson, Nemaha, Pawnee, Richardson

RICHARDSON COUNTV, NEBRASKA. 457

and Johnson. .Judge Jefferson H. Broady and Judge Thomas ApplegatL-
were elected in 1887 and served for the ensuing term of four years.

James E. Bush and A. H. Balacock, of Beatrice, were elected judges
of the first district in 1891 and proved themselves to be able and con-
scientious judges. Both men were very popular on the liench and their
terms were marked for the able manner in which the court business was
disposed of.

John S. Stull, of Auburn, and Charles B. Letton, of Fairbury, were
elected judges of the first district in 1895 -^^^^^ were re-elected in 1899,
serving two terms with distinction and ability.

Judge C. B. Letton, of Fairbury, was born in Scotland, October 25,
1853, ^"^ spent his boyhood in Scotland and England. In 1869 his parents
removed to America and coming at once to Nebraska, they settled on a
homestead in Jefferson county. The future judge became a school teacher
and in 1876 attended the State Normal School, after graduating from which
he took up his residence in Fairbury. He took up the study of law and
after being admitted to practice was elected city attorney. ^Vhen the county-
attorney law was passed he became the first county attorney of Jefferson'
county, holding that office for two terms. In 1889 he formed a partner-
ship with E. H. Hinshaw, which continued imtil 1895, when Mr. Letton
was elected to the district bench. He was re-elected in 1899.

W. H. Kelligar, of Aulnirn, and A. H. Babcock, of Beatrice, were
elected in 1903 and served as judges of the district for one term of four
years.

Judge W. H. Kelligar is one of the best-known attorneys of the first
district. He was born at Summerville, New Jersey, March 2, 1854, and
removed with his parents to Illinois in boyhood. He took up the study of
law after receiving a good common-school education and opened an office
at Pana, Illinois, where he remained for five years after beginning practice,
shortly after his admission to the practice of his profession on June 18,
1878. In 1883 he came to Nebraska and located at Auburn, where he soon
built up an excellent law practice. Following his service as district judge.
Judge Kelligar resumed his law practice as a member of a well-known lirni
of lawyers located at Auburn.

HON. JOHN BUTLER RAPER.

Judge A. H. Babcock died November, 1905, and Hon. John B. Ivapcr.
of Pawnee, was appointed to fill out the unexpired term.

Judge John Butler Raper, of Pawnee City, judge of the first ju(Hcial

45'^ RKIIARDSOX COITXTV. NEBRASKA.

(li'^trict fur the jiast twelve years, is a nati\e-born citizen of Xeljraska and
is a son of Xel)rasl<a pioneers. His father and grandparents were among
the very earliest of the pioneer settlers of his native county and figured
prominently in the civic and political life of their county and state for a
nnnilier of years.

Judge Raper was born on a farm in Pawnee county, Xebraska, October
5. 1861, and was a son of William B. and Mary Jane (Butler) Raper.
natives of Greene county, Indiana. William B. Raper was born in that county
(in October 29, 1832, and died in Pawnee county, Nebraska, December 30.
i<;i4. He was a son of Andrew and Eliza (Christy) Raper, natives of
Kentucky and of North Carolina, respectively. Mary Jane Butler, mother
of John B. Ra])er, was a daughter of John R. Butlei. a nat'\e of Ohio
and Sarah Ann ( Malian ) Butler, born in Kentucky. It will thus be seen
that Judge Raper is a descendant of the best cild American pioneer stock.
Judge Raper's mother was 1)orn in Greene county, Indiana. October 13.
1838, and died on 1^'ebruary 10. 1864. To William B. and Mary Jane
Raper were born two children, Mrs. Frances I. Davis, of Lincoln, Nebraska,
and John B., the subject of this review. William B. Raper later married
I'^lizabeth Jane Coiifey, 1)orn on January 17, 1867, who died in 1890. The
children of this second marriage are Mrs. Grace Moore, of Sheridan, Wyo-
ming, and Mrs. Lillian Easterday, of Portland. Oregon.

Both Andrew Raper and his son, William B. Raper, served in the War
of the Rebellion as members of an Indiana regiment. William B. Raper
and wife, and John R. Butler and family came to Nebraska from Indiana
in 1858 and settled in Pawnee county, where the family has e\er since
been prominently identified with the upl^uilding of the county. ^Ir. Butler
served as a member of the House of Representatives in 1863 and William
B. Raper sejved for three terms in the state Legislature as a member of
the House of Representatives.

John B. Raper received his education in the common schools of Pawnee
City and .studied for one year in the Ft. Scott (Kansas) Normal School,
lie was elected count}- clerk of Pawnee comity in 1885 and served for
four years. In the meantime he studied law and was admitted to the bar
in 1889, after a rigid and thorough cour.se of study in the law office of
Cr. M. Humphrey. He was elected county ;ittorney in 1893 and served for
two terms, .\fter bis jidmission to the bar Judge Raper became associated
with Capt. G. M. Humi)hrey. under the firm name of Humphrey & Raper.
After Captain Humphiey's death he then formed a partnership with H. C.
Lindsa}', now clerk of the supreme court of X'ebraska, under the firm name
of Lindsay & Raper. Judge Raper has also served as a member of tbe

RICIIARnSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 459

school board of Pawnee City and as city clerk. He was elected countv at-
torney in 1904 and in November, 1905, he was appointed to succeed Judge
Babcock. deceased, as judge of the first judicial district. He has served
continuously since then as district judge and is a popular, efficient, learned
and painstaking jurist, who has the confidence and esteem of the members
of the bar and the people of his district.

Judge Raper is a Republican in politics and is affiliated religiously
with the Christian church. He was married at Pawnee City, Nebraska,
on September 17, 1885, to Jennie Albright, a nati\e of Tazewell count}',
Illinois, and a daughter of Daniel Albright, who was Ijorn in Tennessee,
in 182J, and who died on March 11, 1903. The mother of Mrs. Raper
was T-avin.ia ( Atterl)erry ) Albright, who was born in 1827 and who died
in 1867. To "Sir. and Mrs. .\lbright were l)orn the following children:
Wilham 1\, Au.stin, David .\., Irvin, John D., Josephine, .\da, Jennie and
Jacob L. Judge and Mrs. Raper have one child, a daughter, Pauline, born
on August 23, -1886, who married X. \'an Horn, of St. Jo.seph, Missouri,
June 14, 191 1, and has two children, Leonard Hugh, born on May 20. 1914,
and ICIizabeth, March 4, 191 7.

Judge John B. Rayer was' re-elected and Leander M. Pemberton, of
Beatrice, was elected to preside over the western part of the district in
November, 1907. In 1909 another and final change was made in the ar-
rangement of the judicial districts of the state and the foll(iwing counties
were assigned as composing the first district: Richardson, Johnson, Pawnee
and Nemaha counties. Judge Raper was re-elected in 191 1 and again elected
in 1915.

in conclusion, it can well be said that Richardson county has been very
fortunate in the personnel and ability of the judges who have presided over
tlie court. The}- ha\e all been men (jf unimpeachable integrity and possessed
of the highest .'^ense of honor, in addition to l)eing jurists with a profound
knowledge of the law and able to discern between right and wrong, render-
ing their decisions accordingl}-, without fear or favor.

FIRST CASE TRIED IX THE DISTRICT COCRT OE RICHARDSON COUNTY.
As .shown b.v Ihp R.-ciird.s in thr (.fflrr iif the i-leii; of (In- distriol court, in Journal O, at page 7.

Wnni:.MonK & S?!o\v

X. J. Sii.\RP

Civil C.-isi- \,i. I. Niiv. .-,. 1s.-,7.
Trial and N'onlict.
N(.\v ciMiifS tlic plainriirs liy U. C. .lolinsou. their Atldrucy and thv 1 >t-fcn<l;inl l..v
D. L. MoOary and K. IS. Dundy, his attorneys. ;nid .say th.al they ar.' ready for rri;il;

460 RICHARDSON COLtNTV. NEBRASKA.

and by couseut of tlie parties uud by order of the Court the SberifC is ordered to suuiiuuii
six good and lawful men as a jury; wliereupon the sberifi! summoned the foUowiiij:
named i)ersons, viz: 1. Oliver W. Dunning. 2. Daniel Head. ". "SVm. Colprirk. 4.
Wm. W. Buchanan. 5. Isaac Crook. 6. James Buchanan.

Whereupon M'illiam Colerick, one of the Jury, was excused by tlie court, the ii.nlics
agreeing thereto, the jury consisted of the following named persons:

1. Oliver W. Dunning. 2. Daniel Head. 3. William W. Buchanan. 4. I.saac
Crook. 5. James Buchanan, who being duly empaneled and sworn, after bearini; the
evidence upon their oaths say :

"We, the Jury, in the above named case, tind for Plaintiff, verdict for (he amount
of Twenty-One Dollars and Fifty cents together with costs of case.

(Signed) Oliver W. Dunning, Foreman.

It is therefore cou.sidered and adjudged that the said Plaintiffs, Whitemoro & .Snow
recover of said Defendant, N. J. Sharp, the said sum of Twenty-One Dollars and Fift.\-
Cents, and their costs in this suit, as well in the court below as in this court, expended
and that he have therefor execution.

ISHAM KEAVIS AND CIIARLKS H. SWEENEY ADMITTED TO PRACTICE.

On motion of E. S. Dundy. Ishani Reavis and Charles H. Sweeney were duly admitted
to practice law in the several courts of this Territory and having produced satisfactory
evidence to the court of their qualifications and taken the oath prescribed by law it
was ordered that liceu.ses issue to them accordingly.

The following entr\' was made on the appearance docket and shows
that the above case was brought up on appeal from the lower cotirt (page
8 of court docket — civil causes.) :

Whitemore & Snow

vs.

X. J. Sharii

Civ. Xo. 0. Nov. Term, 1857.
Appeal by Plaintiff from a Jiulgnieut by John C. Miller. I'robate
Judge, and Ex-Otticio Justice of the Peace.

The al>o\e shows that the case was first tried before Judge John C.
Miller at the then countv seat of Archer.

I'IRST CRIMINAL CAUSE.

Territory of Nebraska

vs.

David A. Williams

No. 1, Nov. Term, 1837.
Indictment, "I>arceuy"
Nov. 4th, 1857, Defendant arraigned and plead "not guilty." Same .day continued
to next term of court.

RlCFrARDSON COUNTY, N1£KR.\SKA. 461

SECOND CRIMINAL CAUSE.
Territory of Nebraska
vs.
Willi.im Buchauan

Criui. No. 2, Nov. Teriii. 1857.
ludic-tment. Selling intoxicating liquor to an Indian.
April 13tb, 1850. Capias issued for Deft.

FIRST GRAND JURY.

John Hosmer, Elijah Spenser, John Harkendorf, Israel May, John
Coi-nell, O. F. Roberts, M. N. Van Deventer, Thomas Harpster, James N.
Jones, William Henning, John Iliff, C. W. Troy, Wells, Solomon Dewes-
sen, Joseph C. Boyd, O. C. Jones, David Dorrington, Wesley Ogden (from
book O).

NOVEMBER TERM OF DISTRICT COURT, 1857.
Being- a story of the first clay's session as toid by thf official records.

Be it remembered tbat at a regular term of the District Court in and for said county.
begun and held at the town of Salem, on the 3rd day of November. A. D. 1857.

Present.

Hon. Samuel W. Black, Judge.

Mastin W. Riden, Oerk.

Samuel Keifer, Sheriff.

William McLennan, District Attorney.

When the following proceedings were had and done, to-wit :

Ordered that J. W. Roberts be appointed as Tipstave (for this said term of court.)

Ordered that venires for Grand and Petit juries to attend during this session of
the court be summoned by the Sheriff of said county to be and appear before said court
on the 4th inst. at 10 o'clock a. m.

The first matter to come up was the following:

Jas. F. Catron

vs.

Benj. F. Leachman

Injunction.
Now comes D. L. McGary, attorney for Plaintifl'. and moved the court to dismiss
the bill herein; and the Court being advised in the premises it is considered and adjudged
that the said bill be dismissed and that the said jiarties litigant do jiay the costs levied
by each of them respectively, and that executions be issued therefor.
.$4.50 against Complainant
and .75 cts against
Respondent.

WKDNESDAY, NOVlCMnER 4tH. 1S5'

Court met pursuant to adjournment.

462

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

NOVEMDKK 4t1I, ISoT.

Now comes Samuel Keifer, Sbeiiff of said county.
of Tenire Frucias heretofore issued out of this <(iiiit. en

1. Jacob Cofman.

2. George Cofmau.
o. AVilliam Green.

4. Jacob Trammell.

5. James M. Hurn.
0. Jobu Lehman.

T. Jlartiii Oliyer.

s. Mauuel Shrite (.excused liy the court.)

I'tnrns into Court the

a.s follows, to-\vit :

'J.

Josiah Hoppas.

10.

Willis Tyler.

11.

Keubeu Williau

12.

John J. Mulliiis

13.

David Boyd.

14.

John .M. Duniii

15.

John Ogdeu.

Manuel Shrite having failed to ajipear. by order of the court, the Sheriff sunuuoned
Charles JIcDonald to fill the panel, who was thereupon by the court appointed foreuiau of
said Grand Jury. The Panel being thus filled, was composed of the following n.iuied
persons :

1. Charles McDonald, P'oreman.

2. Jacob Cofman.

3. George Cofman.

4. William Green.

5. Jacob T'rammell.
0. James M. Hurn.
7. John Lehman.

S. Martin Oliver.

The foreman and his fellows hav
received their charge fnun the Com
indictments.

Josiah Hoppas.
Willis Tyler.
Reuben Williani.s.
John J. Mullins.
David Boyd.
John M. Dunniver.
John Ogden.

■scribed b
of their

resentments and

John X. Johnstm

Assumpsit.

the next reguhi

Territory of Nebraska

vs.
David A. Williams

lurtietnient tor Larceny.
The Defendant herein having had hearing ofsaid indictment, says he is not gull
in the manner and form therein charged.

Territory of Nebraska

vs.

\Vm. Boyd and Abner Boyd.

Indictment for selling lnto.\icating Li<|n(nn to Indaina.

N.pw cocms Abner Boyd, one of the Defendants (the death of Wm.

of (be Defend.mts being suggested by 1'. C Johnson, his attorney .md

UICHARDSOX COUNTY. NEBRASKA. .\C7,

to dismiss tin- imlictuieiit lierem niul tli.: I'ourt being advised in the iireiiiises, iriMiileil
said motion to tliis extent, viz.: Tlial tbf i-ecognizanee be disibaiged and tbat llic
lu-incipals and sureties of tbe same be released froD" all lialjility thereon.

Territory of Nebraska

vs.

David A. Williams

Indictment for Larceny.

On application of the Defendant, this cause l.s continueil. liis witnesses being alisenl
and defendant beiu;; so ill as not to be able to go to trial, it is ordered that lie enter
into recognizance in the sum of .$800.(10 himself and at least one siiHi<ient s\irety for liis
appearance at the ne.xt term of the court to answer.

The Sheriff of lUchardsou County will discharge Ket'emlanl from nistody im bis
;.'iving' bonds as above directetl before the Probate Judge of llie siiitl County, by wlioni
the bond must be approved, and that the witnesses for the iirosecutiou be held In .fliMi.oo
each to appear and testify:

John S. Boyd, Benjamin F. Cunningham, Marcellus Ho.suer, .Marshall Jones, Cli.irles
Bessia, Charles Cavarzagie, Joseph I-egarde and Hugh Bo.vd acknowledge themselves to
owe and be indebted to the Territory of Nebra.ska iu the sum of due Hun<lred Dollars
each, jointly and severally, to be levied of their resiiective l;iuds .ind tenements, goods .lud
chattels, to be void upon the following condition, to-wit :

I'hat they be and appear before the next term of the District Court iu and for
the County of Richardson and Territory of Nebraska to be Ijegun and held at the town
of Salem, in said county, on the first Tuesday of May A. D.. 1.S58, to tentify on the
l»art of the Territory iu the cau.se wherein the Territory of Nebraska is I'lalntiff and
David A. Williams is Defendant ou the Indictment of Larceny, and that tliey will not
depart from the jurisdiction of said court without leave.

The Defendant herein, having failed to give the boud and st'iurity as herein before
directed it is ordered that he be counnitted to the custo<ly of the Sheriff of said Kichard.sou
County, until the bond and surety be given and approved as before directed.

Wilson M. JIaddox

James F. Miller

Appeal.

Now comes the I'laintifif by Mcl-einian & Mc
feudant by Loan & Dundy, Uis attorneys, au<l pii
order of the court, here come a jury to-wit :

Alex S. Russell, Wni. C. Fleming. Wui. Col
John A. Singleton, Samuel H. Robert.s. John C. I
Jas. Makinson, Jacob Whitmer, who being duly ei
the evidence upon their oath, say :

"That we. the jury, to whom w.is referrei:
Maddox is I'lalntiff .and James F. Miller is Defen<
and Seveuty cents.

(Signed) W.\(.

It is therefore considereil .lud ad.jiidged that the said I'l
Defendant the said sum of .fl(i.7."> .md liis costs iu this suit, ;
,is in this court, exiiended, and that he have therefore execiiti

i-y. his .-ittonieys. a

in.I llie said De-

hcmsclvcs upon tlu

■ county, and by

ck. J. T. Whitney.

lleury Hoppas.

n, Samuel Lehman

. John Thornton,

meleil and sworn a

ud after hearing

le issue joint, wli

ci-ein Wilson .M.

t. find f«v tiK' I'l.iii

itiff. Ten Dollars

4()4 RICnAKDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Now oomes the (Ji-miuI Jury in open Cumt. iinOer cUiiiiie of the sworn lijiilift' and
tUe foreman of the body in the presence of hin fellow jurors make jiresentment of sniidr\-
Bills of Indictment which were thereupon duly file<l by the Clerl;.

T'erritory of Nebraska

vs.

Wm. McDonald

Indictment for Assault with Intent to Connnit jirent Bodily
Injury.
Now comes said Defendant by D. L. Jlc(iary. his attorney, and tiles his motion for
the court to discharge the recognizance of said Deft, by him entered into for his appear-
ance at the Nov. Term A. D. 1S56, of said court, and that Deft, bail be released from
the obligation of said recognizance and that Defendant be discliarged from his further
appearance under said recognizance and the court lieing advised in the premises granted
the motion as prayed for.

Court thereupon adjourned till tomorrow S o'doik A. M.

JUSTIN W. Rn)i:x. Clerk.

The above is a record of the first day's session of the first district
court held in Richardson county, according to the records on file in
the office of the clerk of the district court of Richardson county, no earlier
records now Ijcing availalile.

TIIK liAR OF RICHARDSON COUNTY.

A history of the legal profession of a county has a special interest as
it has a bearing upon the advent and comparative purity of justice. With
the coming of the law naturally comes order, something apart and entirely
inconsistent with the rulings of vigilant committees. To the industry and
intelligence of the legal profession much can be attributed in the upbuilding
of a county.

The legal profession is now and has always been the foremost of all
professions in practical and political life. While the necessity for the service
of lawyers is to be lamented and avoided when possible, as is the doctor, and
dentist, and manv others: yet in times of_ trouble and discord, civil and
Triminal, the lawyer is first sought and his counsel and advice most strictly
followed, on account of the importance of the service and the confidence
of his client in his knowledge, integrity and ability to protect him in hi?
rights under the law. From this profession there have risen to distinction
more eminent and prominent statesmen and leaders of men than from all
the other professions and vocations of life combined, notwithstanding the
fact that the lawyers number a small per cent, of the aggregate population.
Many lawyers of strong, vigorous intellects and natural tact and ability

RICIIAKnSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 465

have won laurels ^nd met with considerable success at the bar without
having had the advantage of other than a moderate school education. These,
however, are the exception to the rule, and it is now practically a recjuire-
ment that they be fairly ec|uipped with a higher education and be learned
in literature as well as in the fundamentals of the law.

Richardson county has long been noted for the exceptionally strong
bar which has been maintained in the county since its earliest inception and
many lawyers from this county have risen to .high places in the land and
have won their way to places of prominence in the legal fraternity of the
state and nation. It will lie impossible in this chapter to attempt to deal
at length with the accomplishments of the many members of the bar, who
have practiced in Richardson county during the past fifty or more years,
but the reader will find that several of them have been mentioned at length
in the biographical department of this work.

The late Isham Reavis was the first attorney admitted to practice in
the district court of Richardson county, his license having been issued by
Judge Miller, of the supreme court of the state of Nebraska, as noted on
a previous page in a copy of a notation taken from the first court record
as found in book O of the official records. Judge Reavis practiced for a
longer time in the courts of the state than any other attorney and attained
a distinction second to no other attorney of his day. He served a term
as federal judge for the territory of Arizona, receiving his appointment
from President U. S. Grant, and then resumed his practice at Falls City.
When his son, C. Frank Reavis, attained his majority and was admitted
to practice he became a member of the firm of Reavis & Reavis. After
the death of Judge Isham Reavis, the firm's practice was continued and its
prestige maintained by C. Frank Reavis, who continued in practice until his
election to a seat in the national house of Representatives in November,
1914. Congressman Reavis was re-elected in 1916.

PRESENT DEAN OF THE I!AK.

Hon. Edwin S. Towle is the present dean of the bar in Richardson
county, Mr. Towle having practiced successfully at Falls City for a long
period of years. Of late Mr. Towle has devoted his time principally to his
inisiness interests in the county, which are considerable.

The late Edwin Falloon was one of the most gifted men of the Richard-
son countv bar in a decade. Mr. Falloon was an able and learned attorney.
(30)

-l-OO RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

whose skill in debate was remarkable and whose knowletlge of the law was
profound.

Judge James R. W'ilhite is one i)t the older memliers of the bar in
active practice, who served a longer period of time as count\- judge than
any other incumbent of the office.

During the eight years in which A. J. Weaver was engaged in tiie
practice of law he made a record as a practitioner, which is second to none
made by the younger members of the bar. Mr. Weaver built up a splendid
law practice and a splendid and honoraljle career was fullv opened to him.
He chose, however, to engage in farming and kindred pursuits and has in
that field made a striking success, which gives him far greater satisfaction
and he is one of the most useful and energetic citizens of Falls City as a
result of his activities in agriculture, horticulture and business pursuits.

ROLL OF THE B.\R, PAST AND PRESENT.

It is a difficult matter to present a complete list of all the attorneys,
who in years past have been engaged in the practice of the legal profession
in Richardson county, but we have knowledge of the following: Isham
Reavis, G. P. Uhl, S. A. Fulton. A. Schoenheit. L. \'an Deusen. T. C.
Hoyt. S. S. Price. F. W. Thomas. J. H. Broady. A. J. Weaver, Sr., Edwin
S. Towle, J. D. Oilman, A. R. Scott. l'>ank [Martin. J. J. ^larvin. \\'. ^^■.
Warden, Clarence Gillespie, lulwin h^alloon. A. F. Cuintt. T. L. Hall. J.

E. Leyda, B. D. Poland, C. V. Reavis, J. R. \Vilhite. H. T. Hull. R. S.
Maloney, I. F. Smith. E. A. Tucker. Charles Loree. Alex Kerr, John T.
Cleaver, James B. Wiltse. F. B. Stevens. F. E. Martin, ^^^ A. S. Binl.

F. A. Prout, \'irgil Falloon. W. S. Stretch, A. 1-:. I'Aans. Paul Weaver,
A. J. Weaver. George W. Holland, I'. R. Martin, William JMoran, John
Wiltse, John Muller, R. S. Molony, Jr.. Jean B. Cain, R. .\nderson, W'W-
liam Mast, W. ^^^ Maddox, T. F. Hall. A. R. Keim. Jule Schoen.heit. F.
Crounse, George \anDeventer. Jacob Bailey. Charles Dort. John Rickards.
■ ""red Hawxby and Henry Sanders.

The prestige and strength of the bar of this county is reflected in the
personnel of the meniliers of the legal fraternity, who are practicing or
are registered in the courts at the present time (igi/). Thev are able
men, who are all practicall}- well read in the lore of their jirofession ami
are men of honor and integrity.

The members of the Richardson county bar at the present time are:
Roscoe Anderson, ]. 1!. C;iin. A. 1-'. lAans, \ irgil I'alloon, |ohn (^agnon.

RIC!fAUnSON CorXTV. NEBRASKA. 467

H. T. Hull, l-'rank Hehenslreit, R. C. James. A. R. Keini, Charles Loree.
John C. Mullen. V. X. Pruut. C. V. Rhillips, C. ¥. Reavis. W. H. Rich-
ards, 1. Iv Smith, -\. J. Weaver. I\iul R. ^^'eaver, J. R. W'ilhite and Juhn
\Mltse.

DISTRICT CLERKS.

.\ \ery important <iffice in connection \\ith the hench and bar of each
county, is clerk of the district court. Xot only should this officer be a person
of intelligence, methodical and of good clerical abilit\- ; liut, as large sums
of money are paid in and disbursed through this office, he should be honest
and capable, with confidence in himself to discharge the manifold duties
required of him by the court and the law, very often crowding" upon him
in the most bewil,dering and complex manner, likely to disturb the e(|ui-
librium of the ordinary person. Richardson county has been very fortunate
in securing capable and efficient and trustworthy district clerks, the present
incumbent, Charles Loree, being one of the most efficient and popular, 1)\
reason of his wide knowledge of count}- affairs and extensive acquaintance
throughout the county and his obliging disposition. The people of Rich-
ardson count\- look upon Charles Loree as a friend and adviser worth ha\-ing.
and it is probable that no public official is more often consulted b\- resi-
dents of Richardson county and asked for advice upon every-day matters
which concern them than iNlr. Loree. A full list of the clerks of the district
court, who have held the office is given elsewhere in the chairter on count)
organization and the official roster of county officials.

What has been said of the clerks of the district court is also true of
the sheriff, who under the direction of the presiding judge, has the genera!
supervision of the court room and of the process and orders of the court.
and who is specially charged with preserving the order and tranquility of
the county, the suppression of crime and the apprehension and safe keeping
of those charged and convicted of crime. Tn this office is recjuired personal
and mora! courage. ])ractical common sense, and a clear and active execu-
tive mind that will insure speedy and intelligent action in pursuing and
arresting criminals and securing the rigid enforcement of all laws, without
fear or favor, with a due regard to the interests of the state, the people
and the rights of the accused. We l)elieve the essential requirements of
this office have been exercised bv the sheriffs who have served the cnunty

4')8 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

since the organization of the state, a list of whom is given in the chapter
on county organization. The present incumbent of the office, D. B. Ratekin,
is one of the most popular and efficient officers who have served in this
important position. Mr. Ratekin perfonns the duties of his office without
fear or favor and has a faculty of doing things required Ijy his office in
such a manner as to satisfy the most exacting. In fact, Sheriff Ratekin
is a born diplomat, who has made good during a most critical time in the
history of the county.

COUNTY ATTORNEY.

Early in the history of Nebraska the present duties of county attorneys
were incumbent on a prosecuting or district attorney for the entire judicial
district, who accompanied the judge on his circuit through the counties and
prosecuted all criminal cases. The county attorney's duties consist in ad-
vising the county and other officers as to their duties under the law, rep-
resenting the county in civil cases and he has charge of all violations of
law and the prosecution of offenders in the courts of the county. The
faithful and efficient discharge of his duties are of the utmost importance
to society, the welfare of the community and the security of the individual
in his personal and property rights. Nearly all the older and leading lawyers
of this bar have served in times past, as county attorney and their efficient
service is largely responsible for the present quiet, orderly, law-aliiding and
law-loving condition of society in this county at the present time. In the
order they have served we name them in the chapter on county organiza-
tion. R. C. James, the present efficient county attorney, is an ideal law
official and is performing the duties of his office in such a manner that
he gives satisfaction to the most zealous advocates of law-abiding and law-
enforcement ideas. William McLennen was the first district attorney to
serve in the first district when organized. He was followed by A. J. Weaver,
John P. Maule, Isham Reavis, Robert W'. Sabin and Dan J. Osgood, who
were styled district attorneys and served in the interim prior to the estab-
lishment of the office of county attorney.

COUNTY JUDGES.

There is no county office so important and so fraught with responsi-
bilit\- as that of county or probate judge. Once in a lifetime all the property
in the county comes under his jurisdiction, and the title thereto is likely
to be affected by his acts and decisions. He has supervision and control.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 469

through his appointed administrators, executors and trustees of the estates
of all deceased persons and those incompetent to transact their own busi-
ness. The unfortunate, imbecile and incorrigible children must be tried and
adjudged as such in his court, and he has habeas corpus jurisdiction to deter-
mine whether anyone is illegally restrained of his liberty and to determine
the custody of children and incorrigibles. It is very essential that his rec-
ords and proceedings be accurate, methodical and lawful and that no error,
by carelessness, may appear on his records to cast a cloud on the title of
the real estate of the county. He should not only be clearheaded, con-
scientious and a practical man of good judgment, but should have a legal
education and a thorough knowledge of the law to insure the fullest protec-
tion to the widows, orphans and unfortunates, as the law contemplates.
Richardson county has been most fortunate in the selection of her county
judges. We may have had some that were lacking in these requirements,
but fortunately no very serious consecpences have occurred. Self-interest
should demand of every elector that the judiciary be kept out of politics
and that they should select and vote for the best and most capable candi-
date for this most important office. Space forbids special mention, but
we give in the chapter on county organization the list of probate or county
judges and the date of the beginning of their respective terms. Quite a
few changes have taken place in the incumbency of the office of county
judge during the summer of 191 7. Judge John Wiltse resigned to resume
his law practice and J. B. Cain was appointed to the office as his successor.
Only recently Judge Cain resigned to Ijecome a member and officer of
Company E of the Sixth Nebraska Regiment, organized for service on the
I'attlefields of France in defense of world democracy. \^irgil Falloon
was appointed as acting judge to succeed Judge Cain and is now capably
filling the office and giving evidence that he is a "chip ofif the old block."

One of the most racy stories of the early bar of southeastern Nebraska
is that of the mock duel between U. C. Johnson, district attorney and Judge
Mason. Like most affairs of this kind, it grew out of a desire of the
legal brethren who practiced upon the circuit to satirize the odd and eccen-
tric points of their fellows. The affair came off at the lower Indian town,
across the Nemaha, south of Falls City, known in those days as Sauktown.
Pistols were carefully prepared by the seconds of the murderous pair, and
at the word both discharged their shots. As the smoke cleared awav, John-
son was seen unharmed, while Mason reeled and fell heavily to the ground.
Without waiting for a careful examination of the "dead" body, Jolinson
was hurried to Falls City and hidden in the house of Wilson M. ]\Iaddox.

470 RICIIAKDSOX COl-NTV, NEBRASKA.

Meantime Mas(Jii had picked himself up, nearly exhausted with repressed
laughter, and more than enough plastered externally, and had returned to
tlie city, where after a time the joke was explained to its victim. John-
son never recovered from the effects of this deception, and shortlv after-
ward removed to Ciiicago, where some years later he died.

ORCANIZATIO.X OF RICII.\RI)SOX COTNTY BAR .\SSOCIATI()X.

A meeting of the bar for the purpose of perfecting an organizatiori
of the Richardson county bar met at the court house in Falls City on the
evening of January ii, 1876. Business was commenced I)y the selection of
S. A. Fulton, as chairman and A. R. Scott, secretary. A committee com-
posed of Messrs. Martin, I'rice and Reavis reported a constitution, which
was adopted. August Schoenheit was elected president: Isham Reavis, vice-
president; S. A. Fulton, secretary, and S. S. Price, treasurer. J. J. Marvin,
E. S. Towle and W. S. Stretch were appointed a committee to present by-
laws at the next regular meeting of the association to be held at the court
house, the first Monday in February.

LYNCII-I-AW IIOR.se THIEVES.

The following taken from the .\. T. Andreas's "Histor\- of Xeliraska,"
published in 1882, harks back to the method employed by citizens of Rich-
ardson countv in the early days when cattle rustling and horse stealing were
enumerated among the other forms of vice with which the pioneer had to
contend in Richardson county :

In the spring of 18.1s tlie ciiiiiiii.il l;iw of tlie 'JVnitcir.v was reiiealed. Tliis was
followed by au outbreak of lawlessness tliroufiliout liii-hanlsoii and adjoininj; (•ouiities
that called for euergetie uieasuies on the part of the people. Aocordiugly .-i vigil.-ince
society of nearly two hundred members was organized, and the work begun of hunting
down those who were availing themselves of t!ie l.ipse of legal punishment to commit
depredations. Horse-stealing was the prevjiiling crime, and to run down horse thieves
was really the main object of the society. At this time Wilson M. JIaddox was sheriff,
and he devoted himself energetically to his task. When caught the thieves were lashed
to the trunk of some sturdy tree and flailed by the members of the committee ai>pointed
for the purpose. As the whips were hickory withes, about an inch and one-half at
the handle, and as each gave a certain number of strokes, the punishment must have
Ijeen quite severe. Men whose feelings had been more than slightly exeivised iiy the
loss of pet animals were not likely to grudge a little muscle in laying on the rod. That
they did not is shown by the fact thjit many of the wliijis curliiig .udund llic lice loft
a welt half an inch deep in the baric of tlie blackoak.

When a thorough drulibing li.id been adininisten^l. llu' siilp.ieci w.is geiU'ially dis-
missed. In aggi-iivateil r;ises. liowcvcr. .-in .-idditioii of .-i <-oat of t;ir and feathers was

RICIIARnSOX COUXTV, NEBRASKA. 4/1

kindly placed ou tlie victim. After sudi treatment tli<' Imrsc tliicf irener.ill.v deLklcil
tliiit Nebraslva soil was not the best for his pnriiose.

In one instance, matters went further than this. One I.e.ivitt. living; southwest of
Falls City, could not he daunted from the tieUl even hy the worst ipunishment tlnis f.ii'
inflicted, and Maddox was set upou his trail, rollowius him into Missouri. Maddo.x
captured one of his partners at a farm house, .ind. shortly after, corrallefl I-eavitt in a
large cornfield. Stationing his men around the field, with instructions to fire when
Leavitt broke cover, JIaddox started into the cornfield to run Leavitt out. When the
chase had led half way across, a guard in the rear discharged his gun. and thereby
called the other guards to him. leaving an escape for Le.ivitt. After losing his man.
Maddox returned to his home, and Leavitt was shortly aftcrw.ird captured iu Iowa
by Jlissouri p.-irties, hut escaped.

When again captured he was brought to St. Stephens, and there tried in tlie iire.>;eMcc
of nearly two hundretl Ijersons. After hearing all the evidence, a \ote of the so<iel\
was taken, and an almost unanimous verdict rendered that he he hanged.

This verdict Leavitt treatwl .-is .-i .ioke. not suppo.sing that the vigilants would go
to extreme measures. He was soon undeceived, for the committee, pinioning liis arms
and chaining his le.gs with harness links, placed him in a wagon .-ind carrie«l him to .-i
hollow about half a mile southwest of the town. Here I^eavitt was made to stand
upon a large box iu the wagon, and the fatal noose i>laced about his neck. The wagon
was then driven away. TTiis occurred about 1 o'cl<x-k p. m.. :ind the body was left
hanging until the same hour on the following day. and then cut down an<l buried just
west of the tree which had served as a gibbet.

Leavitfs fate had a great influence on other marauders of his cl.iss. ;iud. in llic
language of an old settler, "hor.se thieving became unpopular."

Wilson Maddox, who tied the fatal knot, in def.iult of anyone who knew how to
fasten it, but took no part in the execution, was several years later called to account
for his share in the transiiction, but was not even .-irre.sted. None of the other parties
to the deed were ever molested, and it is Iwlieved thiit the inincipal actor has passed
before another Judge, where absolute .instice will surely be awarded him.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Banks and Banking.

During the pioneer era of Richardson ctxint}- there were ikj bank^ and
very little banking business done except such as was conducted by the early
merchants of those days. The history of I)anking in Nebraska properly
begins with the organization of Nebraska Territory in 1854. The country
was then undergoing an era of inflation wliich reached its flood tide in
1857 and then came to an inglorious iinish, for the simple reason that there
was practically very little real money in the territory and nothing in the
way of genuine assets upon which the banks could rest secure. The new
states and territories of the West were a fertile and prolific field for "wild
cat" banks and Nebraska had her share of these banks, which were per-
mitted to issue their own paper money, with little or no assets behind them.
A number of banks were chartered by the state during the second session
of the Legislature in December, 1855, and .\bel Downing Kirk, a Rich-
ardson county pioneer, who erected the first business house in .Vrcher, the
first county seat, and a member of this Legislature, was a member of the
committee which had the establishment of the first banks of the territory
in charge. During the session of the territorial Legislature, held in 1857,
a number of other banks were chartered, which lasted no longer than their
predecessors. Along came the panic of 1857. which practically wipeil out
the greater number of the new banks, their number still further diminishing
until the Civil War era. During 1857 there were four banks in operation
in Nebraska: in 1858 this numlier had been increased to six; the numjjer
diminished to Iiut two banks in 1859 and in 1861 there was Ijut one of the
chartered hanks in operation. Money, which had never Ijeen plentiful in
the territory, became more and more scarce and emigration was checked
and brought practically to a standstill during these years. In 1865 there
were seven banks doing business, this number was increased to twentv-eight
by 1873 and there was no further increase of banking institutions until
the early eighties and after the country had recovered somewhat from the
disastrous panic of 1873. .Since the early eighties there has been a steady
increase in tiie numl^er of banks in the state, along with the great increase
of material wealtli in all sections of the state. The Civil War period brought

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 473

considerable real money into the territory because of the deflection of the
trade route from Kansas-Missouri through Nebraska. Banks were estab-
lished to care for the money needs of travelers and freighters, and monev
became plentiful instead of being a rarity.

BANKING NEEDS OF THE PIONEERS.

Banks were not needed during the pioneer days of Richardson countv,
for the very simple reason that there were very few people who had monev
other than that which they could keep in a strong box at home or carry
about with them. What little banking was done was taken care of bv the
merchants and traders.

For many years after the coming of the pioneers to Richardson count\-
the business in this line was transacted at St. Joseph or Atchison. It
is claimed that- the first to make a move to establish a bank in Falls City
was B. F. Lushbaugh, who came down here either from Nemaha or Otoe
county. His efforts went so far that he liad a room prepared and had
provided the necessary stationery, but for some reason or other the 1)ank
was never opened.

The first bank that did open its doors in Falls City was a private
bank and was located on the site of Peter Kaiser's place, on the west side
of Stone street, between Sixteenth and Seventeenth streets. A small brick
building, the first of the kind to be built on the townsite, was located there
a distance of nine or ten feet back from the present front line of the build-
ings on that street. In this place the Keini bank and, what was later known
as the Keim & Grable bank, was located. At about the same time the Hinton
bank, also a private bank, was opened for business and was located on the
same street, but a few doors from the former. These two pioneer institu-
tions of the kind served for several years the purpose for which they were
established, but unhappily, owing to the looseness and lack of safeguards in
the laws controlling banks in those days and business conditions control-
ling in the country at large at the time they met the fate of many other
institutions throughout the West and were forced to discontinue lousiness.
These banks were established in 1872.

PRESENT BANKS IN RICHARD.SON COUNTV.

Richardson county now has a total of sixteen banks, located as folic .w:
First National Bank, Falls City.
Richardson County Bank, Falls City.

474 RICIIAKDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Ivills City State Bank, I'alls City.
JJume State Bank, Humboldt.
Xational llaiik <>i Humboldt, Humboldt.
. State Bank of Humljoldt, Humboldt.
The Dawson Bank, Dawson.
Bank of Salem, Salem.
Bank of Rulo, Rulo,
V'erdon State I'ank, \'erdon.
Farmers and Merchants Bank, X'erdon.
The State Bank of Stella, Stella.
I'armers State Bank, Stella. -
Citizens Bank, Shubert.
Jv'irmers State Bank, Shubert.
Barada State I'ank, Barada.

The following, taken from the twenty-tifth annual report of the sec-
retary of the state banking board of the state of Nebraska, for 1916, shows
the real-estate and other loans, capital and surplus, net profits and deposits
of the state banks of this county, X(ivenil)cr 17, 1916: Real-estate loans,
$327,912.23: all other loans, $2,093,837.34; capital, $419,500; surplus, $128,-
700: net undivided profits, $30,128.71; deposits, $2,787,997.98.

PIONEER BANKING HOUSES.

C. L. Keini, who was the father of the present editors of the falls City
Journal, A. R. and Miss Genevieve Keini, was one of the pioneers in the
banking business in Falls City. He came here from Pennsylvania, bringing
with him an ample supply of funds, and in the month of Novemljer, 1871,
opened a banking house in a small brick building since torn away to make
room for a larger building and located on the present site of the Peter
Kaisers place, between Sixteenth and Seventeenth streets on the
west side of Stone street. The following spring H. B. Grable became a
partner, and the business was conducted under the firm name of C. L.-
Keim & Com])any and some time afterwards the style was changed to The
Falls City Bank of C. P. Keim & Company. In 1873 these gentlemen Iniilt
the house later occupied l)y them, directly to the north, a twenty- four b\-
sixty feet brick, two stories and a full sized basement, w itii an elegant front,
with large plate glass windows. The front room was al>out twentv-two bv
fortv feet, with a finclv finished and conventientlv designed counter runuinc

RICUARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 475

the I'lill length, and a large fire-and-burglar-proof vault. The private office
in the rear was about twenty by forty feet.

The banking house of John Hinton, late of Luzerne county, I'enn-
sylvania. was opened by Smith & Hinton in the month of February, 1872, in
a large room a few doors to the north of the Keim-Grable bank in a build-
ing, then occupying the present site of the Tefft shoe store and the later
l.>cation of the First National Bank, opened in 1882. In April, 1873, ^If-
Smith severed his connection with the bank and Mr. Hinton continuetl the
business alone until August, when J. ]M. Peabody became the senior partner.
Tn April, 1874, Mr. Peabody also withdrew and for a time Mr. Hinton con-
tinued, as before, alone. The house occupied by Mr. Hinton was a small
frame structure, but was provided with a large lire-and-burglar-proof safe
;md all the other conveniences necessary to an up-to-date banking institution.
He was later joined in the business by James L. Slocum, who until the
present day has continued ever successfully in the l)anking business.

The population of the county in those days was but little below that
of the present time and the two banking houses did remarkably well, with
the exception of the year of the panic — 1873. During the year 1874 the
l)usiness of the two houses was estimated at $700,000, the deposits being
about $550,000.

FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF FALLS CITY.

The First National Bank of Falls City, which has always stood in
the forefront of the leading financial institutions of Richardson county,
was a successor of the banking house of Reuel Nims & Company. More
money than could be furnished by private individuals was necessary to ac-
commodate the large and growing increase of patronage, hence the change
which necessitated the advent in the city of an institution to be organized
as a national bank. The bank was organized just at the time when the line
of the Missouri Pacific Railway Company was entering Falls City. This
railway company had but just completed the work of laying the connec-
ting links which bound in rails of steel the line between Kansas City. Mis-
.souri and Omaha, and opened for business as the second line entering Falls
City. The coming of the road gave birth to the new towns of \'erdon ant!
Stella, besides bringing into closer touch the north part of the county to out-
side markets. Farm values were instantly and very materially effected and
I'alls City's importance as a county seat greatly enhanced.

John Jay Knox, comptroller of the currency in the treasury depart-
ment at Washington, under date of June 30. i88_>. certified that the First

47f> RICHARDSON CdUNTV, XEKRASKA.

Xatidiial Bank of I'alls City, having complied with all the requirements of
law so made and provided was "authorized to commence the business of
banking."' The bank was opened for business about July i. 18S2. The
bank organized with a capital stock of $50,000, with a privilege of increas-
ing it to $200,000, if occasion required. The first officers of the bank were:
President. Stephen B. Miles; vice-president, John W. Holt, ca.shier, Reuel
Nims; assistant cashier, \^an S. Ashman; board of directors, J. Cass Lin-
coln, of Salem ; John W. Holt, and Reuel Nims.

The high standing of the personnel of the founders of this institution,
coming, as they did, after the unfortunate and disquieting expe'rience en-
dured under attempts made by others formerly to engage in this line of
business, gave the new bank the instant prestige which has continued to this
hour making, it one of the leading financial institutions in Nebraska.

The present officers of the First National Bank of Falls City are:
President, Joseph H. Miles; vice-president, Arthur J. Weaver; cashier, J.
S. Lord; assistant cashier. William Uhlig; assistant, G. S. Lyon; directors.
Joseph H. Miles, Arthur J. Weaver, John H. Morehead. P. H. Jussen and
William Uhlig.

The report of the condition of the First National Bank at the close of
business ^lay i, 1917, shows the following:

Bi:SOUBCE.S.

Loans and Discounts $394,989.44

Overdrafts 4.22] .98

U. S. bonds deposited to secure circulation (par value) 50.000.0n

Other bonds to secure postal .savings T.CXMi.on

Bonds, securities, etc., on hand (other than stocks), including

premiums on same 29.404.!i;i! 4S,"i.t;76..35

Subscription to stock of Federal Re.serve Bank. 50 per cent

of subscription l,ll.no.(«i

Furniture and fixtures 3.700.00

Real estate owned other than banking house ijOO.OO

Due from approved reserve agents in central reserve cities 15.305.83

Due from approved reserve agents in other reserve cities 171.556.07

Due from banks and bankers other than above 1.38.571.82

Checks on banks in same city or town as reporting bank 1.380.44

Outside checks and other cash items $518.76

Fractional currenc.v. nickels and cents 269.19 7s3.!)."i

Notes of other national banks 2.420.(Ki

Federal Reserve bank notes ,",0fi.(«i

Lawful reserve in vault and with Federal Reserve Bank (i'.i.:i(i! 1.211

Redemption fund with U. S. Treasurer (not more than 5 per cent

on circulation) 2.."i<Kt.0O 402,288.27

Total $894,214.62

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 477

LIABILITIES.

Capital stock paid lu ^ 50,000.00

Surplus fund 14,000.00

Undivided profits 0.739..56

Circulating notes outstanding C 49.300.00

Due to banks and bankers .$11.5,024.42

Individual deposits subject to checks 330,95.3.70

Certificates of deposit 308,774.4!>

Certified checks 15,500.oii

Postal savings deposits 022.4.") 771.17.J.00

Total ^804.214.02

THE FALLS CITY ST.A.TE BANK.

The Falls City State Bank, while the youngest in years of either of
the banks of Falls City, is one of the leading banks of the county. It \vas
organized in 1895 by Silas P. Gist, of Salem, and William A. Greenwald,
Thomas J. Gist, George Dorrington and William E. Dorrington, of Falls
City, with William E. Dorrington as president: T. J. Gist, cashier; W. A.
Greenwald, vice-president. The bank was organized with a capital of $50,-
000, which in the last few years has been increased to $75,000. The beauti-
ful building in which the bank carries on business was erected in 1894-95
and is one of the most substantial business houses in the county. The
present officers of the bank are: President, L. P. Wirth: vice-president,
G. P. Greenwald; cashier, W. A. Greenwald; directors, E. P. ^VirtI^, W.
A. Greenwald, G. P. Greenwald, S. P. Gist and T. J- Gist.

The official statement at the close of business on Fel)ruary 13, 1917,
shows :

RESOURCKS.

Loans ^404,139.43

Overdrafts 1,225.63

Banking house, etc. Hi,747.66

Cash 192,676.56

.$614,789.28

LIAIill.lTIKS.

Capital stock . $ 75.0(Ki.0O

Surplus and profits 16,747.60

Deposits .519,137.96

Guarantee fund 3.929.69

.$(n4.789.2S

RICIIARDSOX COl-XTV, NEBRASKA.

1805 ¥ II.HIHMIO

1000 ■- 4:{.IUl(i.0O

1005 !l!t,()OU.O0

1010 - 1(!,S,00(UI0

1015 271.(lO(l.(X»

1010 :!(ii.( 1(1(1.1 Ml

THE RICHAKD.^ON COUNTY BANK.

The Richardson County Bank was incorporated and commenced Inisi-
ness in i88o. Its capital of $50,000 was all paid up in cash and it started
in business with ample funds to meet the requirements of the city and
country. As a result its Inisiness has grown since the day it opened its
doors, and each year has seen its business larger than the preceding year.
It now has a capital of $50,000 and a surplus and undivided profits of over
$25,000.

This l.KUik was tirst lucated at 1509 Stone street, hut in 1887 it pur-
chased the corner right south of the court house and erected thereon the
tine and commodious three-story building which it now occupies. Its present
officers have been with it for many years. George \\'. Holland has been
its cashier from the start; J- L. Slocum, its president, came into the bank
in 1882 and has gi\en it his constant attention since that date. J. R. Cain
and \\'. H. Crook, two of its directors, also came into the organization at
about the same time and have been associated with it every since. .\. I".
Schaible, one of its assistant cashiers, came to the bank in i8g6, and I'.. I\.
i'-aker, another of it assistant cashiers, in 1905. It has always been the
policx' of the bank to make as few clianges in its officers or directory as pos-
silile. The result is that each of its (ifficers and directors is well and per-
sonally aci|uainteil with all the citizens of the community.

During the time the bank has been in business it has passed through
three panics, and at all limes was able to furnish assistance to those needing
and deserving help. The bank has always pursued a conservative course
in transacting liu>ines> and as a result, it has had but few losses, and \er\
little litigation. It is today the oldest bank in the county and one of the
oldest in the state, it is what might be called a close corporation, there
being but few stockholders, the large bulk of the stock being owned by its
officers and managers. During the life of the bank it has had but two deaths
in the ranks of its stockiiolders and directors. In 1901 \Villiani Schock,

^ RIC!!ARnS()X COrNTV, NEBRASKA. 479

who had been vice-president of the l)ank, passed away; and in 1905. I'lzra
J£. Mettz, who had lieen its assistant cashier since ]88i. was laid to rest.
Since 1882 J. L. Slocum, J. R. Cain. \\. H. Crook and George ^^'. Hol-
land ha\e been associated together in this bank, a period of thirty-five years.
There is hardl}- a parallel case in the state of Nel^raska. where four men
have been in such close relations for such a long time. When these men
Ijecame associated together they were boys. The years have come and gone
and now old age is beginning t(; show upon them, but they continue to render
assistance in every way to make Falls City "the best place on earth."

The last statement of the bank, at the close of bu-^iness, August _'i.
1917, is hereto appended:

liKSOl'RCKS.

Lojiiis and di.seouuts ' Jfn37.r)i2.1.j

Overdrafts 4.148.7.")

Bonds 31,395.00

Current expenses, interest and taxes paid 70.">.',)3

Banking bouse, furniture and fixtures 7.(i()0.(l()

Casli and sight exclian.^e i'ri2,!Mi:2.12

Itotal ii:it33.824.01

LIABILITIES.

Cajiital stock .f .50.000.00

Surplus and profits 27.119.00

Deposits Sr>t),70r).01

Total .f933,.S24.01

THE I5ARADA STATE BANK.

This bank is operating un.der state charter Xo. 924. The official report
of the condition of the b.'ink at the close of business, Mav 7, 1917, shows:

HliSOVROES.

Loans and discounts .$ o2,0.34.40

Overdrafts _.__ 31G.17

Banking liouse, furniture and fixtures 2.1.")0.00

Current expenses, taxes and intere.st paid 2."i7.7.">

Due from national and state banks .$40.31!t.,S(;

CheclvS and items of excliango 1,817.87

Curreuc.v . 1.700.00

Gold coin 8;!2.."i0

Silver, nickels .-nid cents 224.29 44,9.j4.."i2

Total 1 .f 100.31 2.84

480 RICHARDSON, COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

LIABILITIES.

Capital stock paid iu -•$ 6,500.00

Surplus fund 2.200.00

Undivided profits 788.38

Individual deposits subject to checli $49,451.26

Time certificates of deiiosit 40.779.07 90.230.93

Depositors' guarant.v fund .o93.53

Total nOO.312.84

FARMER.S ST.\TE BANK OF STELLA.

This l);uik is operating under state charter Xo. 1306. The report of
the ciindition of the hank at the close of Inisiness. Aug-iist 21, 1917, shows:

BESOCRCES.

Loans and discounts $60,837.6]

Overdrafts 291.39

Bonds, security, .iudgments, claims 2,000.00

Banking house, furniture and fixtures 5.000.00

Current expeiLses. taxes and interest paid 1.300.80

Due from national and state banks $12,490.05

Checks. Items of exchange 8.50

Currency 866.00

Gold coin 560.00

Silver, nickels and cents 704.13 14.62S.6S

T'otal 1 $90,058.48

LIABILITIES.

Capital stock paid in $15,000.00

Surplus fund 750.00

Undivided profits 1,SS9.C4

Individual deposits subject to check $49,408.30

Time certificate of deposit 22.595.83 72.004.13

Depositor's guariinty fund 414.71

Total $nO,0.->S.4S

FARMERS STATE BANK OF SHUBERT.

A condensed report of the condition of this l)ank. made to the state
l)aikinjj board. Aiig-tist 21, lyij, shows:

KESOUKCES.

Loans and discounts $194.."i67.66

United States bonds lO.OOO.lHi

Overdrafts 1,400.72

Banking house and furniture 3.S75.00

Cash items 108.09

Cash and due fnini hanks 1iC>.1."i7.25

Total $315,1<iS.72

KlCFi \KDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 481

LIABILITIKS.

Capital stock $ 20,000.00

Surplus 8.000.00

Undivided profits (uet) 2,440.73

Deposits 282,474.50

Depositors' guarantee fund 2,193.40

Total .'i:.':!1.-).10S.72

HOME STATE BANK OF HUMBOLDT.

The Home State Bank of Humboldt, of which Claud M. Linn, of that
city, is president, was organized on February i, 1915, by C. M. Linn, Otto
Kotouc, S. M. Philpot. R. R. Philpot, Dr. George Gandy, Edward Uhri.
Louis Stalder and Levi L. Davis. The capital stock was $25,000. The
bank has had a steady and satisfactory growth from the day it opened its
doors for business and is fast forging its way to the front rank of the banks
of the county. It owns its own substantial brick building, which had been
occupied as a banking house from the very early days of the town. It
has lately been remodeled and new and modern fixtures installed. The
deposits now ( 191 7) amount to a total of $300,000, and the total resources
are $335,000. The bank makes a specialty of farm loans and does a general
banking business. The present officers of this institution are: C. M. Linn,
president: R. R. Philpot, vice-president; Otto Kotouc, cashier; Glen D.
Jenkins, assistant cashier; directors, C. M. Linn, R. R. Philpot, Otto Kotouc,
Dr. George Gandy and Edward Uhri. The unprecedented success of this
banking house is very largely due to the personal supervision given it by
the president, Claud M. Linn, who is rated as one of the most painstaking,
shrewd and farsighted business men of the county. This bank is strictly a
home institution, as its name indicates, the capital being held strictly b\-
those who are actual residents of Humboldt and directly interested in the
welfare and upbuilding of that city. A report of the condition of the bank
at the close of business Augu.st 21, 1917, shows:

BESOURCES.

Loans and discounts $210,750.80

Overdrafts 068.08

Bonds, securities, judgments, claims, etc .30.000.00

Banking house, furniture and fixtures 5.000.00

Current expenses, taxes and interest paid 2.212.6-1

Due from national and state banks .$104,009.62

Checks and items of exchange 1,814.35

Currency 6,741.00

Gold coin 515.00

Silver, nickels and cents 1.482.39 114,622.36

Total .i;.36.3,2o9.97

(31)

4^2 NICI1.\R[).S().\ COUN'l^, XKBRASKA.

LIADII.ITIES.

CapitiU stock iiaiil in $ 25,0O(t.0O

Surplus fund 1.500.00

Undivided proHts 3,.S46.G4

Individual deiwsits subject to check $196,.55G.56

Demand certificates of deposit 134.700.95 331,257.51

Depositors' guaranty fund 1.655.82

Total ^6a.25!t.!)7

THE DAWSON BANK OF DAWSON.

The Dawson Bank of Dawson was established in 1887. the organizers
being ]\I. Riley. B. S. Chittenden, Daniel Riley, M. B. Ryan, Thomas Fenton.
Morgan McSweeny and Lawrence A. Ryan, with a paid-up capital stock of
$10,000. The first officers of the bank were: President, M. B. Ryan;
vice-president, B. S. Chittenden; the directors l)eing these and the afore-
mentioned organizers. The present officers are : President, Daniel Riley ;
vice-president, L. M. Ryan; cashier, Dan J. Riley; assistant cashiers, X. T.
and Thomas R. Rilev ; the l)oard of directors, including these officers and
Bryan Riley, Thomas M. Ryan anil T. R. Rilex". The bank statement at
the close of Imsiness, August 21, 1917, shows:

RESOrRCKS.

Loans and discounts $246,458.87

Overdrafts 1,155.46

Bonds, securities, judguieuts. claim.*, etc n,425.00

Banking bouse, furniture and fixtures 3..500.00

Current expenses, taxes and interest paid I 65S.S0

Due from nation.-il and state banks .$ 58.484.711

Currency 2.0SO.(Xt

Gold coin ^- 5..S52.50

Silver, nickels and cents 1.3.")3.S3 67.771.12

Total P2S.;M;;t.25

LIABIMTIES.

Capital sto<k iiaid in .$ 25.000.00

.Surplus fund 26.000.0o

Undivided profits 720.84

Individual deposits sul)je<t to cbeck $206,503.32

Time certificates of deposit 6S.628..">6 27.5.131.8s

Depositor's guaranty fund 2.116.53

Total .|32.S.06tt.-25

RICHARDSON COUNTV, NEBRASKA. 483

THE STATE BANK OF STELLA.

Ihc one figure who stands out pre-eminent among otliers in llic hank-
ing business at Stella is that J. Robert Cain, Sr. He went to Stella in 1886
and bought the Bank of Stella, owned by Hull & Ferguson, and the State-
Bank of Stella, owned by Sweet Brothers, the purchase being made for a
corporation: and Air. Cain has been personally identified with the bank from
that time to the present. The consolidation known as the State Bank of
Stella was (organized in January, 1886, wath the following incorporators:
Solomon Jameson, James L. Slocum, George W. Holland, B. R. Williams,
J. R. Cain, Sr., and Charles L. Metz. The bank was organized with a
capital stock of $25,000 and Mr. Cain became cashier. In July, 1886. the
capital was increased to $30,000 and later was increased to $50,000. Mr.
Cain became president in 1907. The last statement showed capital st(jck,
$50,000; undivided profits, $2,500, and deposits, $250,000. This splendid
lianking house is one of the most substantial in the state and owns its own
brick building, which is nicely furnished. The present otificers are: Presi-
dent, J. R. Cain, Sr. ; cashier, E. C. Roberts: vice-president, J. F. W'eddle :
assistant 'cashier, H. \'. Davis: directors, J. R. Cain, James L. Slocum and
J. F. Weddle.

STATE BANK OF HUMBOLDT.

The formal report of the condition uf the State Bank of Humboldt
at the close of business, August 21, 1917, shows:

EESOURCKS.

Loans and cliseouuts 1238,910.23

Overdrafts 3,589..'i3

Bonds, securities, judgments, olaiuis, etc 5,000.00

Bauliiug bouse, furniture and fixtures 5.800.00

OtUer real estate 0,108.02

Current expenses, taxes and interest paid 3.923.01

Cash items 350.00

Due from national and state banks !|!123,04()..34

Checks and items of e.xchange 04.40 ,

Currency 3,70.5.00

Gold coin 2,995.00

Silver, nickels and cents 1,105.57

Total Cash l__.n31,06G.37

Total .$395,717.00

484 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

LIABILITIEB.

Capital stock paid in ? 50,000.00

Surplus fund 10,000.00

Undivided profits 0.409.90

Individual deposits subject to clieck $178,643.14

Demand certificates of deposit 147,581.00

Total deposits 1 .526.224.14

Depositors' guaranty fund 2,092.99

Total . $305,717.00

THE BANK OF RULO.

This bank is operating under charter No. 354. The formal report
of the condition of the bank at tlie close of business, .\ugust 21. 19 17,
shows :

RESOURCES.

Loans and discounts , $101,174.60

Overdrafts 1.800.47

Current expenses, taxes and interest paid 1,791.00

Cash items 66.93

Due from national and state banks 87.891.47

Checks and items of exchange $ 1,654.62

Currency 2,009.00

Gold coin 3,935.00

Silver nickels and cents—- 1.076.51 8.675.13

Total .$201,399.60

UABIUTIES.

Capital stock paid in $ 20.000.00

Surplus fund 5.000.00

Undivided profits 4.087.25

Individual deposits sub.iect to check $ 99,057.48

Demand certificates of deposits 72.009.94 171.067.42

Depositors' guaranty fund 1.244.93

Total $201,399.60

STATE RANK OF VERDON.

This bank is operating- under charter No. 433. The formal report of
the condition of the bank at the close of business, .August 2\. i()r7. shows:

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 485

BESOURCF.S.

I.oaus ami diswimts $180,000.74

Overdrafts 298.74

Bonds, securities, judgmeuts, claims, etc

Other assets 14,000.00

Bauking house, furniture and fixtures 1,959.50

Other real estate 3,344.69

Current expenses, taxes and Interest paid 2,787.20

Due from national and state banks !g 44,354.69

Checks and items of exchange 1,307.50

Currency 3,059.00

Gold coin 2,225.00

.•Silver. ni<-kels .ind cent* 949.00 51.s00.0O

Total !t!255,lS0.00

LIABILITIES.

Capital stock paid in $ 25,000.00

Surplus fund 10.000.00

Undividetl in-otits 3,418.17

Individual deposits sub.iect to check .$ 72,855.92

Demand certificates of deposit

Time certificates of deiwsit 136,320.21

Due to national and state banks 5,725.25 214,901.38

Depositors" guaranty fund 1,867.41

Total ?255,1S6.0G

FARMERS AND MERCHANTS BANK OF VERDON.

The Farmers and Merchants Bank of \>rdon is operating under state
charter No. 821. A formal report of the condition of the bank at the close
of business, August 21, 1917, shows:

RESOURCES.

Loans and discounts $107,353.03

Overdrafts - 122.34

Bonds, securities, judgments, claims, etc 3,000.00

Banking house, furniture and fixtures _ 4,553.00

Current expenses, taxes and interest paid 4,066.45

Due from national and state banks $37,157.78

Checks and items of exchange 891.86

Currency 3,436.00

Gold coin 410.00

Silver, nickels and cents 020.49 42.817.13

Total .$161,912.85

4^<> RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

LIABILITIES.

Capital stock i)aid in $ IS.000.00

Surplus fuud 5,000.00

Undivided profits 4.n40.."i7

Individual depo.sits subject to cbeck $J3,515.1(!

Time certificates of deposit . C7,915.S0

Due to national and state banks 11,223.06 122,054.02

Bills payable 10.000.00

Depositors' guarant.v fnnd l,31S.2f;

Total .$1Cl,t»12.sr.

A LOCAL INSURANCE COMPANY.

The Richardson Count}- ]""armers Mutual Fire and Tj'glitning Insur-
ance Company was organized in the month of June. 1887. the late Samuel
Lichty having been the jiractical promoter of the same and leader in the
movement that led to the general introduction of sucli companies in the
state at large; for it was he who wrote the bill that was later introduced
in the state Legislature by Henry Gerdes. at that time representing this
district in the lower house, and the enactment of which paved the way for
the organization of mutual insurance companies in Nebraska. 'Sir. Lichty
also organized the Nebraska Mutual Lisurance Company, or Farmers Mu-
tual of Nebraska, which provides fire, lightning and tornado insurance, the
Richardson county company writing its storm insirrance through its present
secretary, Hon. John Lichty, in this latter company. The Richardson com-
pany, which was formall\- incorporated under the laws of the state in i8yi.
and which was originally backed by Samuel Licbtw L W. Harris, Cieorge
-Vbbott and George W^atkins, began business with the aim of eventually
writing $100, ODD insurance, but that figure was jjassed within a few months,
and that company now has more than 1,000 policyholders and has in force
more than $2,750,000 dollars of insurance. It is an assessment company
and the losses are almost so wholly negligible that in 1916 a levy of two mills
covered all assessments against the policyholders. The present officers of
the company are : President, N. D. .\uxier, Verdon : secretary, John Lichtx ,
h'alls City; treasurer, Joshua Bloom, \'er(lon, and directors, besides the
above-named officers, John .\hern, Shu!)ert : ^lartin Nolte, Falls City; S.
H. Knisely, of Falls City; J. .V. Hartman, Rulo: Gus Duerfeldt, Barada;
K. R. Draper, Dawson; John Holechek. HumlK.ldt, and F. F. Fwing, \'er-
don. The offices of the company are kept open at Ivdls City.

CHAPTER XIX.
Military History.

THE CIVIL WAR.

The years between the first settlement nf Ricliardson county, in 1854.
and the breaking out of the Civil War in 1861, constitute a memorable
period in the history of our county. No community was ever organized
under more seeming unfavorable circumstances. From the very moment
that first mention was made in Congress of the opening of this country
for white settlement, up to the time when the Territory of Nebraska was
finally . erected out of the vast country north of the fortieth parallel and
west of the Missouri river a fight was on, and the contest, led at first by
Stephen A. Douglas, was clouded on both sides by an embryo sectional
feeling, at first smouldering, but later to develop into the furies of war
between the states.

The lure that brought men to Nebraska was not gold, nor gas, nor
oil. nor precious gems, nor any of the several causes which, in later days
have, as if b}- magic, suddenly induced great lx)dies of our population to
seek new abodes, where such opportunity might be found and where towns
as modern, if not more so. than those left behind have sprung into exist-
ence almost over night. The heavy black soil of our state, then as now,
was not overlooked by the practical eye of the one from older communities
seeking land for its intrinsic value with a view of locating and following
the call of husbandry. The soil was here and the opportunity for its
development open to the world — a veritable agricultural paradise; but such
an environment was not the all-impelling cause which brought men here —
there was no such a thing as land hunger as we know the term today. It
is. however, true that a large number of i)eaceful. plodding homeseekers.
tillers of the soil, were among the lot, but tiieir number placed them in the
nu'nority prior to i860.

Those were days of brilliant men and Congress never before or since
l)Ossessed an ecjual nunilier of such distinguished statesmen and scholars,
I)ut the all-absorbing topic was human slavery and the long struggle among

488 RICIIARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

tlie people of Kansas and Nebraska was forging a political revolution in •
the thought of the entire country. Men came to Nebraska for the most part
for political ratlier than for business or agricultural reasons. The .settle-
ment of Nebraska, as of Kansas, was an inspired political movement of
partisans.

The dominant political party at the time, swaying .^^tate, church, com-
merce and society in general was the advocate and supporter of slavery.
The opposition party, made up of dissenting factions, as always the opposi-
tion party is, held to the abstract idea of the error of slavery; but the
degree of error and the method by which it should be remedied, varied
from wild conservatism — which would permit its existence, but prevent too
rapid encroachment on free soil, to rabid al)olitionisni. wliich was for ex-
terminating at once and by force, if need be. the iniquity of all iniquities.
With such discordant and unstable materials, the fight was carried on fur
years.

OPENING OF THE PL.A.TTE RIVER COUNTRY.

The bringing into favoralile notice of the rich I'latte river country,
as a region from the Missouri river to the Rocky mountains, received great
impetus during the years following the great rush to California at the time
of the gold excitement. The development of this new section did not
suggest to the powers that were merely the increase of national or personal
wealth; it excited much more the desire and greed for the extension of
political prestige, the success or non-success of which might forecast the
rise or fall of the great tlynasty which had ior its f<Jundation the institu-
tion of human slavery.

Partisans of the two great schools of political thought of the time
were here and played their parts as they did in other and older sections
of both this and our sister state, Kansas, but owing to the fact that Rich-
ardson ciiunty was but sparselv settled at that time, we escaped much of
the turmoil so prevalent in more populous communities, where it mani-
fested itself more forcibly.

Richardson county, while it furnished its full quota of those who fought
in the war has very little as a county to show for the part it played in that
great drama. The principal reason for this may be assigned to the fact
that our population was small: the towns of the county were but hamlets.
Falls City had been incorporated but four years and had fewer tlian a dozen
houses.

RinrARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 489

When the first call came those who wished to enlist in the first rn^li,
which filled the First Nehraska Regiment could, as many did, tramp tti
Nebraska Cit}- to join the companies there, and many crossed to the states
of Missouri and Iowa and some went to Kansas and there enlisted. Of
these Richardson county did not get credit, but at a later time, as the war
continued and when fears were indulged of Indian outbreaks, the Second
Nebraska Cavalry was -formed and contained two companies raised in this
county. These companies were enlisted in 1863 and were known as Com-
pany G. and Company L. They left here on April 10 of that year and
were sent north to Devils Lake, in Dakota, near the head of the James
river, to quell an Indian uprising. The .companies returned in November
and were mustered out. The names of these members of the Second Ne-
l)raska Cavalr)- follow, the list being compiled from the official roster daleil
in December, 1862, the place of residence of all being given as Falls City:

Captain, Oliver P. Bayue, age o7.

First Lieutenaut, Chauncey H. Xorris, age 2(i.

Second Lieutenant, Josepli F. Wade, age 23.

First Sergeant, Samuel R. Stumbo, age 25.

Quartermaster Sergeant, riiillip Bremer, .Mge ."So, reiUiccd to ranks M;i
order of Colonel Furnas.

Quartermaster Sergeant, JosepU Broady, age 30.

Commissary Sergeant, Eduioud J. Shellhorn, age 25.

Second Commissary Sergeant, Klias T. Minshall, age 40.

Third Commissary Sergeant, James Cameron, age 25.

Fourth Commissary Sergeant. George W. Blackburn, age 25.

Fifth Commissai-y Sergeant, Sylvanus N. Duryea, age 31.

Sixth Commissary Sergeant, William J. Powell, af.e 32.

First Corporal, Albert Dickerson, age 27.

Second Corporal, John Croolj, age 29.

Third Corporal, Matthew Moore, age 24.

Third Corporal, Edward Sprague, age 28.

Fourth Corporal, Enoch G. Willit, age 38.

Fifth CoiToral, Pharagus Pollard, age 32, died at Camp Xo. 13, Dak
July 28, 1863.

Fifth Corporal, Abel M. Gifford, age 40.

Sixth Corporal, Andrew J. Bannister, age 28, retlucetl to ranks August 1.

Sixth Corporal, Alexander Grant, age 34.

Seventh Coi-poral, Carrol D. Reavis, age 32.

Eighth Coi-poral, William G. Lewis, age 39.

Farrier, Zachariah J. Parsons, age 34.

Blacksmith, Peter Shellhorn, age 30.

Saddler, Elijah J. Devonport. age 43.

Wagoner, John Dorrington, age 19.

490 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Trumpeter, Lawreuce B. Farral, age 2G. redmoil to ranks.

Trumpeter, Socrates C. Duryea, age 34.

Trumpeter, Lewis J. Iloberts. age 32, rcdiiciMl to ranks.

Trumpeter, Julius Beach, age 31.

Privates — David Allen, age 37; Ertvrard .'^. Allen. I'd; .lacoli Ackernuiu. IS: Daniel C.
Ackerman: Abraham Adkins. ;i.-> : .Tames A. Alford. 3:!; .lacol) .Vdanis. 32: Henry Bean,
32: Julius Beach, 31; Jiilins C. Barada. 2."), desertetl April 1. INC:!; Isaac Buckley. 21:
Maurice Brunette, 43. died at Falls City, January 1!>. Isc,:;; I'hillip Bremer. 3.">;
Jo.seph Broady, 30; Samuel B. Bohst. IS; Andrew J. Bannister. 2S; James Cottrel. 3S;
John T. Cromwell. 21. died from disability, July Id. 18G3; Cieorge Carey, IS, died of
pneumonia at Omaha, February 2, lSt">3 ; Loomis It. Colson. 3."( ; Daniel Cameron. 21. Falls
City, transferred to Company I.. .September 1, 1S(;3; Oeorge Clark. 2.j; John Dni)ris. 21;
David A. Dugger, 20; Socrates C. Duryea, 34. promoted to trumpeter; George W. Daven-
port. 19; ChaiWes W. Davenport. IS. killetl in battle at White Stone Hill, Dakota Territory.
September 3. 1S63: Dumba B. Elder. 32; James M. Early. IS; Oliver Freel. 21; John W.
Freel, 20; Andrew W. Freel. 24; Charles W. Freel. IS; Lawrence B. Farrell. 2(i: Luther C.
Forbes. IS; John Fallstead. 34; Thomas J. Greennii. IS; Alexander (iraut, 34; DaYid Call.
20; Abel H. Gifford, 40; Frank Hamel, 22; John Heastou, 33; Hermon Holconili, 32: Alex-
.luder R. Haining, 41; James Ireland, 20; Charles Jenkins. 31 : Etlmund L. Lane. .•!:'.: Wil-
son Linsle.v. 20; Wilson McKinney. 20; Thomas Marion. 33; D.ivid .Matten. 2.S; Williiim A.
McClain. 2.^: r.iris McCiuire. 10; John McMullen. 31 ; John W. Mills. 23; Mathew Moore.
— ; William Meruard. 21: George W. llcCoy, IS; John S. O'Donald. 30; .Tames O'Longh-
lan, 29; Richard Pickett. 3s ; John Pickett. IS; William C. Penn. is. died at Ft. I'ierre.
Dakota Territory, August :!. isc,:}; John Pendergast. 33. died June 17. 1S63: Jlitchell
Roubidou.x. 21. deserted September 0. 1SG3; Lewis J. Itoberts. :!2 : John R. Rile.v. .3."i :
James R. Riley, .34; Heiiry C. Robertson, IS; David, Robinson. 22; James P. Sinipkins.
21; George W. Seaman. IS; Edgar Sprague, 28; Peter Stephens. 22; Abraham St. Pierre.
23; John Shuler. 20; AVilliani J. Sparks. 24; George Sweetwood, IS; .Tames P. Taylor.
IS; Charles A-elvick, 30; .Tohn E. Van Order, 22. killed in battle at White Stone Hill. Da-
kota Territory. September S. ]S(>2; Lemuel A. Wheeler. 2S: James Wingate. 27: Gilbert
Whitemore. 25; Daniel AVhite. 2(1; Jlitchell Wade. 2.-.. deserted July 1. 1*^63.

Coiiipan.!! L.

Captain. Daniel W. Allison, age 28.

First Lieutenant, John J, Bayne, age 28.

Second Lieutenant, Daniel Reavis, age 31.

First Sergeant, Daniel W. Pierce, age 33.

Quartermaster Sergeant, John C. Pierce, age 37.

Commis.sjiry Sergeant. Addison J. ConistocU.

Commissary Sergeant. Alexander R. Hainiug. age 41.

Second Sergeant. Ambrose King, age 19.

Second Sergeant, Edwin S. Towle. age 21.

Third Sergeant, John W. Rnssell, age 23.

Fourth Sergeant, Edwin S. Towle. age 21, jn-oniolcd to second seigeant.

Fourth Sergeant, Bernard L. Hind, age 35.

Fifth Sergeant. John Vas.ser. age 21, promoted to tlurd sergeant.

Fifth Sergeant. Rol)ert Forbes, age 45.

Sixth Sereeant. Bernard L. Hind, age 3.".. pronioteil to fourth sergeant.

Sixth Sergeant. William 1.. Kirkland. age 2(i.

r<icirARDSOX county, Nebraska. 491

First Coriioral. J.iiiies NiiiK-e. aw V.K

Second Corporal. Williaui L. Kirklaiul, ase 20.

Second Corporal, .Tames Stuiubo, af;e 40.

Third Corporal. .laines Stuuibo. aiio 40, iminioled to second coriioral.

Third Corporal. Daniel JIcLoid. ase I'.i.

Fifth Corporal. .loslm.-i Kinse.v. age :i!», promoted to fonrtli corporal.

Fifth Corporal. Josbna Kinse.v, age 29.

Fifth Corporal. Samuel AV. Simmonds. age 28.

Sixth Coiporal, Samuel W. Simmonds, age 28, ijronioted to tiftL corporal.

Si.xth Corporal, David K. Rogers, age 20.

Seventh Corporal. David R. Rogers, age 20. promoted to sixth corixiral.

Seventh Corporal. George I'oteet. age 2ti.

Eightli Corporal. Abuer M. Rutherford, age 25. reduced to ranks.

Eighth Corporal. .Tacob Coffman, .age .30.

Farrier. Henry W. Ward, age 25.

Blaclismith, John Hanslip, age 26.

Wagoner. John W. Minnick, age 25.

Saddler, Christian Cook, age 40. li.l

Privates — John il. Brooks, age 18; F. Elam Holies. ."!."i: Richard Burcb. .3.j : George
Cox, 19; Jacol) Coflfman. 30; Edward Crigle.v. 28; Daniel Crlgle.v. 2(i ; Joshua Campbell.:!! :
Addison J. Comstock. 28; George Cameron, IS; W. H. H. Cornell. 22: Daniel t'ameroii. 18:
Midiael Collins. 18; Richard B. Cleveland. .-{2; Nicholas Clark, :!n : Cliiistiaii Cook, 4."..
appointed saddler; Jlilton Dickson, 2J): Franklin Dunuegan, 19 ; Robert C. Doue.v, 19:
Doornak B. Elder. 32; Henry Ellis, 21; Daniel Elshire. 19; I.. Elias I'^rebangh. .30:
Tliomas Fletcher. 2:!; Charles Gnnzenhanser. ,34; Thomas J. Goodwin. 3H; Stephen Hunter.
20; William Hobbs, 28; Alexander R. Haining, 41; Joel Hoppes, 40, died of wounds
received at Ft. Antitium, Dakota Territory, March 23. 1803; James Hatfield, 18; Amos F.
Horner, 24: John Honey. 2S; Isaac Holbrook. 27; Earl Hodges, 19, deserted from Thir-
teenth Kansas Regulars, returned; Orrin Ives. 30. deserted JiUy 20. 18(>3; Jacob Kinsey.
42; Basser J. Kerrlck, 21; Ambrose King. IS; Samuel E. Lee. 23; Stephen W. Lyons, 31 :
Francis M. ilarcum, 18; George JIayfield, 34; Hudson M.vers. 21; Andrew J. McDowell.
32; .Tacob P. McClain. 18; Thompson W. Massey, 22; Zachary T. MuUeu. 22: William
W. Morgan. 30; William A. McLean. 22; George AV. Pike. 20; George W. Poteet. 20:
Samuel C. Pitzer, 21; David Rauscar, 28; James C. Rice, 22; James C. Robinson. 28:
John B. Rice. 21; David D. Ross, 28; Abner M. Rutherford. 2."); William P. Stearns, 18:
James Stevenson. 19; Elijah Silencer. 40; Evans Shoemaker. 21; Richard B. Smith. 22:
Henry Schmidt, 27: John Stumbo, IS; Lorenzo Smith. 28; Eli Sampson. 27; ilichael
Schmidt, IS: Jackson Short, 10; Pr.vor J. Short. 19; John Turney. 19; Joseph H. Tesson.
22; Landa J. Thomas. 27; Nicholas S. Vas.ser, 32: Aluaham Vatter, 19; William R.
Woodward, 20; William S. Watson. 19; John Wyatt. IS: Robert Warley. 28: William R.
Whitehead. 18; .Tacob Wing. 20; William T. Weeks. 24; William Young. 20.

SECOND XEBK.\.SK.\ C.\V.\I,RY.

Coinlyany K.

Wilson .McKinncy. age 2<i. residence. Falls City, enlisted October 2.".. lSli2.

C 0)1 if liny H Privates.

492 RICIIARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

FIRST REGIMENT, NEBRASKA VETERAN VOLUNTEER CAVALRY.

Ambrose H. King, age 17, resideuee, I{ichiird.sou couut.v, ii.ilive nf Iiuliaiin. enlisted
aud mustered iu, July 3, IStjl ; deserted. May 11, 1862.

Levi Kinsey, age 24, residence, Kichardsou county, native of Indiana and mustered
iu July 3, 1862; died in liosiiital at Evansville, Indiana, March 18, 1862..

Jacob W. Kinsey, age 23, residence, Ricbardson county, native of Indiana, enlisted
and musteretl in July 3, 1862; re-enlisted November 10, 1863.

Frederick W. Lolmas, age 21, residence, Richardson county, native of New York.
enlisted aud mustered iu July 3, 1861; re-eulisted November 10, 1863; wouuded in .iction
May 12, 1665; mustered in Ainil 30, 18C4; promoted corporal for gallant conduct; received
medal of honor from Congress.

Henry Master, age 18, residence, Richardson county; died JIarch 29, 1862.

William L. Taylor, age 27, residence, Richardson county, native of Tennessee, enlisted
November 10, 1863, mustered in November 3, 1863; died of diseiise at Batesville, Arkansas,
March 24, 1864.

Charles L. Coder, age 21, residence, Richardson county: enlisted and mustered July
3, 1861 ; promoted to corporal Augu.st 1, 1865.

Corporal Francis D. Loucas, age 21, residence, Richardson county, native of New
York; enlisted and mustered July 3, 1861; mustered August 1, 1865.

Corporal Aaron M. Adamson, age 24, residence, Richardson county, uati\e of Iowa :
enlisted and mustered July 3. ISfil ; promoted to sergeant. June 12. 1862.

Cumoanii E.

James R. Fletcher, age 20, residence. Falls City; native of Missouri; enlisted and
mustered April 28, 1864 — June 7, 1804; transferred from Coniiinny C First Rattalion.
Veteran Volunteer Nebraska Cavalry, June 10, 1805.

RICHARDSON COLTNTY MEN B.XTTLE MISSOURI BANDITS.

-Vugust J. Falksken, at one time count}' clerk of this county and later
an inmate of the National Military Soldier's Home at Leavenworth, Kan-
sas, was the author of the following interesting letter which appeared in
a number of the Pioneer Record, published at \'erdon in August, 1894:

Frederick William Falskeu was born iu Prussia, June 2. 1S41. He immigrate<l with
the family to the United States in 1852. Arrived at Buffalo, N. Y., August 29, 1852, and
stayed there until the family moved to Nebraska in April, 1859. They settled on a farm
iu Richardson county and Frederick William worked for his parents until the war broke
out, when he enlisted together with myself, on the 13th day of March, 1862, in Itockport,
Mo., where was raised a company of volunteers in the Jlissouri service. We marched to
St. Joseph, Mo., where the regiment was organized. We came iu as Company C, 5th
Regiment Cavalry, Missouri State Militia. We were obliged to furnish our own horses,
and received $25.00 per month. We were stationed some time in Clay county (Mo.), then
iu Lafayette county at Li>xington. We reached the latter place after Mulligan surren-
dered to Price. We pursued Price and had many skirnnshes. After we had driven him
out of the state we were stationed for a while at Independence, Jacksou county. Mis
souri, and also at Kansas City, .Mo. The main object of our movements w;is to capture

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 493

Qiiaiitrell, the busliwh;icker colonel. 'I'lie Youuger ami James brothers were the leading
officers in this outlaw's comniaiKJ. We had numerous sltirmishes and fights with these
guerrillas at Lone Jacls, Harrisouville, and Liberty, as history shows. As our company
of about eighty were on the scouting party for several days we were attacked by the
enemy with Jesse James and Cole Younger in command, with, it was reported, 250 men.
For the first time we were compelled to retreat and F. W. Falsken was killed near Blue
Springs, Jack.son county. Mo., about twelve miles from camp. The battle was called
"the Blue Cut Fight" and was early in the spring of 1S63. I think on March 17th. When
reinforcements arrived we gathere<l our dead together. Others from Richardson county,
killed in that fight, were Milton Ewing, and a man by the name of Vandeventer. We
lost in all thirteen of that scout. They were all put in good coffins and buried at Inde-
]iendence, Missouri.

BODIES BROUGHT HOME FOR BURIAL.

In 1863, M. H. Van Deventer, of Stella, this county, brought from
Independence, Missouri, where Pennick's regiment was ciuartered, the bodies
of three boys who were killed by the g'uerrillas; Jonas Van Deventer, Gus
Randall and Deb Ewing. The dreary journey homeward of five days was
made by steamboat up the Missouri river, there being at that time no other
means of transportation. The landing was made at Aspinwall, in Nemaha
county, where the sorrowing friends met and cared for their dead, whose
lives were lost in the "Blue Cut Fight."

THE SPANISH-AMERICAN WAR.

The following persons from Richardson county served during the Span-
ish-American War:

Name. Residence. Company. Regiment. State.

Allen. Kdw., Falls Cit.v L 2 Nebraska

Auxier, M. W., Verdon M 1 Nebraska

Coplan, n. J., Dawson H , 13 Nebraska

Coatiiey, E. C, Falls Cit.v D i 2 Nebraska

Donaldson, S. S., Shubert F 33 Wisconsin

Davis, W. H., Salem H 31 Wisconsin

Derstine, B. M., Stella A 7 Ohio

Evans, A. E., Stella F 48 Indiana

Fisher, Mwin, Falls City K 1 Nebraska

Franklin. Joe, Falls City — __ Nebraska

Fisher, R., Falls City C 1 Cav. Illinois

Gilbert, F. L., Stella F 1 • Nebraska

Heffner, Clarence, Falls City E 2 Cav. W.vomiug

Iniler. J. l\. Shubert H 1 Nebraska

Jones, Oeorge, Falls City K 2 Nebraska

James, R. C, Falls City G 1 Nebraska

Mason, Frank, Falls City G 4 . Ohio

494 RICHARDSON COUNl Y. NEBRASKA.

Niiuie. KcsiilciRe. Coiiipiiiiy. Ue^'iiiieiil. Stjitt-.

McKiiisel. L. L.. FmIIs City 1 2 NebiMskii

Moss. A. E.. Fiills City B 1 Nebraska

Xixou. George, Stella C 1 Nebraska

Tool. J. F., Bavada C 3 Nebraska

Foml. C. A., Shubert B 3 Nebraska

IJoss. O. IJ., Falls aty F 1 Nebraska

Wbittne. lioy. .Shubert B 3 Nebraska

Wright. Chainii, Huiubolilt F 1 Nebraska

Waiu'ow. Charles L.. Humboldt h Nebraska

Kluiiier. Fred W.. Humboldt G 4 .Missouri

Volz, I.ouis. Falls City __ Home Gd. Nebraska

Uawley. \V. A. iNavy). Falls City F 3 Miunesola

.'^chmelzel. W. C., Humboldt I ■ 3 Oregou

Gliiies. Lin. Falls City F 1 Nebraska

.Stockman. Price, Falls City F 1 Nebraska

.Sears. (Jeorge. Falls City F 1 Nebraska

Saal. Kmil. Falls Cit.v F 1 Nebraska

Foehllu.ner. Fred. Falls City F 1 Nebraska

Wi.xou. (Jeorge. Falls City - F 1 Nebraska

(Jilliert. Fred, Falls City F 1 Nebraska

StriUfitield. .Sciido. .Stella F 1 Nebraska

Ho.vd. Grant. Falls City F 1 Nebraska

I'atchen. IJoy. Humboldt F 1 Nebraska

l'hil|X)t. Roy (killed in I'. 1. 1. HumltoUlt F 1 Nebra.ska

UICHAKDSON COUNTY IN THE WORLD WAR.

In February, 1917, E. W. Simpson, H. A. Pence, VA D. I-'isher. Dr. O.
F. Lang, Jacob Reed, O. O. Marsh, William Uhlig ^nd C. A. Ikaver met
at the city council rooms in Falls City for the purpose of organizing the
Falls Citv Rifle Club. Dr. O. F. Lang was elected president; Jacob Reed,
vice-president ; C. A. Beaver, secretary, and William L^lilig, treasurer. The
organization grew to seventy-five members and a great deal of practice shoot-
ing was done on the indoor range provided in the basement of tlie Simpson
undertaking parlors.

Shortly after the rifle club was organized there was some talk of trying
to get a company oi the Nebraska National Guard located at l-'alls City,
because of tlie adxantages for obtaining ammunition. Mr. Beaver made
inquiries of .\djutant P. L. Hall, at Lincoln, in March and was informed that
there were no vacancies in eitlier the Fourth or the Fifth Regiments.

When there was some talk of t)rganizing the Sixth Nebraska Regi-
ment after war had been declared against Germany in April. 1Q17, Mr.
Beaver again made intpiiries of Adjutant Hall as to the feasibilitv of or-
ganizing a company in Richardson county and was informed that such

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 495

an undertaking would receive every encouragement from the adjutant's
office. Some bills were printed advertising a meeting to be held at the
county court house for a Saturday in June, and inviting all to attend who
were interested. .Vt this meeting some six or eight young men signified
their willingness to join such a company, but eighty were needed and the
then prospects of securing that number looked more than discouraging.
Adjutant-General Hall suggested sending a regular recruiting officer to Falls
Cit\- and the offer was gladly accepted. First Lieut. Jean Cobbey of the
Fifth Nebraska Infantry was sent to Falls City on the following Monda\
and from that date a real recruiting campaign was started.

The company was organized with C. A. Beaver as captain; Jean D.
Cain, first lieutenant, and Ed. D. Fisher, as second lieutenant. Seventy-
five recruits were secured by Saturday night and the organization of the
company was tlnis assured, the same bemg designated Company E. James
Jacquet. Oliver, Cole, Harry Mosiman, Ed. D. Fisher and C. A. Beaver,
assisted by Lieutenant Cobbey, made the active campaign for the company
during the first week. Recruiting continued slowly for a month, so that
when the company was ordered to mobilize, August 3, 1917, there were one
hundred and five members. These men were given the federal examination,
vaccinated, inoculated against typhoid fever, and mustered into the federal
service to date August 5, 1917. Jacob Miller, Arthur D. Chesley, Guy S. Lewis
and William McDonald were rejected for physical disability and Ed. D.
I-'isher, who was to have been second lieutenant, was rejected by the war
department because of being ever the age limit prescribed for second lieuten-
ants, so that with these rejections the company membership was reduced
to one hundred and one enlisted men and two officers. Robert B. Waring,
of Geneva, Nebraska, attending the training school camp at Ft. Snelling,
Minnesota, was appointed as second lieutenant, but never reported because
of a ruling that no training-camp officers should be assigned with the National
Guard.

The company camped at the city park and used the cit\- auditorium
as quarters for a week, then moved into tents furnished by various citizens
for another week, during which time the chautauqua was held in the audi-
torium. After the chautauqua was over the soldiers moved back into the
auditorium for the remainder of their stay. After mobilization, recruiting
was more brisk and when the company had been in camp a month the numljer
had grown to one hundred and forty-six.

Charles Stanton and James Jacquet started a subscription for the com-
panv mess fund and by August i this fund had grown from various sources

4(/> KKIIARDSON COUNT V, NEBRASKA.

to one thousand one- hundred doHars. The people of Humboldt and vicinity
came down in autos and took the company to Humljoldt for a chicken dinner.
They had also invited Company D, of the Fifth Regiment, down from
.Auburn (Nemaha county), to help entertain the boys. Dinner was served
in the city park or public square. While there both companies put on an
exhibition drill. One week later the citizens of Shubert likewise enter-
tained the members of the company to a chicken dinner. The Humboldt
band was there to help with the entertainment. It rained slightly, sn that
the dinner was served in a hall secured liy the ladies. The companv put on
an exhibition drill at this place.

The membershii) of the local lodges of the Daughters of Rebekah
and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of Falls City, entertained
the company at a banquet given at the Christian church at a later date.
Before their departure the company was also entertained by the ladies of
Falls City and vicinity and also by the members of the Falls City post
of the Grand Army of the Republic and the Woman's Relief Corps.

LOCAL PRIDE TAKEN IN COMPANY E.

Those engaged in the work were given the use of the court room at
the court house, wliere they received recruits who came from every precinct
of the county. It was a busy time of year, as the farming season was
on and every man desiring employment found his time engaged, as did
those of the towns.

Richardson county takes especial pride in the fact that the member-
ship of Company E is made up of the finest young men of the county.
The}- came from all walks of life, many of them leaving the plow; while
others were engaged in farming on their own account and were sure, in
a financial wa\-, to be losers. The same may- be said of others who gave
up well-established business enterprises and good paying positions to answer
their country's call to the. colors.

Prof. C. A. Beaver who had been employed in the city schools at Falls
City for a number of years as an instructor, was honored with a commis-
sion from Gov. Keith Neville, as captain of the company, and Jean B.
Cain, who had lately lieen the recipient of an appointment as acting count}
judge of the county and who, until that time, had been enjoying a very
lucrative law practice, and was, besides, a married man with a wife and
one child, hastened to put aside all other calls and joined the company in
the verv earlv davs of its oreanization. He was honorei' also with a com-

RICIIARnSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 497

mission from the governor as first lieutenant. Mr. Ed. D. Fisher, to whose
initiative the company owes much for its organization, was given the place
of second lieutenant, and it is with regret that it becomes necessary to here
record the fact that upon the final muster , of the company into federal
ser\-ice he was found to be barred by age from holding his place so richly
deserved. He was forty-two years of age; forty Ijeing the limit, hence
he was barred. It is said that this disability might have been overcome had
the matter been taken up at the proper time. However, undaunted, Mr.
Fisher is at the present time busily engaged in the organization of another
company which will become a part of the Seventh Nebraska Regiment, for
which a number of companies have already been enlisted.

ROSTER OF COMPANY E.

Immediately after the company had been mustered into service the men
were mobilized at Falls City and given quarters at the city park, where
thev occupied the city auditorium, a frame structure of large size used for
public gatherings and admirably suited for the present purpose. The names
of the members of Company E, Sixth Regiment. Nebraska National Guard,
follow :

OFFICKRS

Captain, Beaver, Chester A. Received commissiou June 25, 1017.

First Lieutenant, Cain, Jean B. Received bis eouiniission, June 2.j. I'.ilT.

Non-C'ommi)ifii"iie<l Officers.
First Sergeant, Yoiler, Blaine L. Received aiiiidintmciit .Tune ■!'<. lOlT.
Supply Sergeant, Yoder, Amos H. Receiveil .■ipi"''"t'>H'nt .June 2.j, 1017.
Mess Sergeant, Arnold, Ralph U. Received .ippointnient June 2.j, 1017.
Sergeant, Bell, Walter I.. Received apiiointnieiit Aujiust 11, 1017.
Sergeant, Grush, Jesse H. Received appointment August 11, 1017.
Sergeant, Kister, I>ester R. Received appointment August 11, 1917.
Sergeant, Runyou, Robert L. Received appointment August 11, 1917.
Sergeant, Chiu-ch, Smiley H. Received apiiointmout August 11. 1017.
Corporal, Ankrom Judd. Received appointment August 11, 1917.
Corporal, Beasley, Charles F. Received apix>intment August 11, 1017.
Corporal, Bricker, Frank. Received appointment August 11, 1017.
Corporal, Gagnon, Charles F. Received appointment August 11, 1017.
Corporal. Helterbrand, James B. Received appointment August 11. 1017.
Corporal, Horrock.s, .Jeffrey B. Received apixiintment August 11. 1017.
Coi-poral, Johnseu. Umfrey. Receiveil apiioinlmenl August 11. 1017.
Corporal, Long, Frank. Received .-ippointmenr August 11, 1017.
Coi-poral, Lozo, Guy. Received appointment August 11, 1017.
Corporal, Messinger, Claude Jf. Received appointment August 11. 1017.
Corporal. Mosemi, Charles C. Received ai)pointment August 11. 1017.
(32)

49<^ RICHARDSOX COVXTV, NEBRASKA.

Corporal, Rowe, Jess F. IJcceived aiipoiiitnieiit August 11, 1!I17.
Cook, Stump, Stanley F. Keceivetl apixtiutuieut August 4, lit! 7.
Mechanic, Cole, Oliver F. Iteceived nppointuieiil August 4. V.M'i
Bugler, KnifkorlHK-ker. I':ml A. Iteceivwl .•ippoiiitiiiciit August ■

I'll ni !€■■<.

Adams. KilwMril W. F.ulistfd .July 7. T.IU: re|»>nfd August 4. T.I17.
Ailor, Charles JI. Enlisted August 14, 11)17: Veiiorted August 14, i;)17.
Allen, Henry C. Enlisted August 2, 1917 ; reiwrted August 4. 1!J17.
Allen, lialpU A. Enlisted August !>. 1917 ; reportetl August 10. l'.H7.
Allgood, Richard C. Enlisted .June 2.5, 1917; reported August 4, 1917.
Athey, Cloyd B. Enlisted June 2,"). 1917; reported August 4, 1917.
Atwood, Ix)ren F. Enlisted June 2.">. 1917; reported August 4. 1917.
Baker, Richard. Enlisted June 20, 1917 ; reported .August S, 1917.
Beauchanip, Oliver M. Enlisted July (>, 1917; reiKirted August 3, 1917.
Benson. Floyd S. Enlisted July 23, 1917; reported August 4. 1917.
Billings, I.enioyue E. Enlisted June 2.j, 1917; reported August 4. 1917.
Blanchard, Floyd F. Enlisteil July (i. 1917; reportetl August 4, 1917.
Bodkin, William il. Enlisted July 27, 1917; reiwrted August 4, 1917.
Bodle, Frank J. Enlisted Juue 2."), 1917; reported August 4, 1917.
BoUman, Ray 11. I'.nlisted July «, 1917; reported August 4, 1917.
Bourne, Harry E. l^nlisted June 25, 1917; reiwrted Augu.st 4, 1917.
Body, Fred E. Enlisted July 6, 1917; reiiorte<l August 4, 1917.
Brlnegar, AVilliam W. Enlisted August 20, 1917; reported August 2(i. 1
Brobst, Hallie C. Enlisted June 25, 1917; reported August 4, J917.
Brooks. John E. lOnlisted .\ugust 25. 1917; reported .\ugust 27, 1917.
Brooks, Lloyd W. Enlisted August 9, 1917; reported -Vugust 10, 1917.
Burk, (Juy R. Enlisted June 25, 1917; reiwrted .Vugust .S, 1917.
Cavalere, Onofrio. Enlisted August 2.s. 1917; reported .Vugust 29, 1917
Caskey, Claude L. Enllsled Juue 25. 1917; reported -Vugust 3. 1917.
Cheesnian. .Samuel C. Enlisted July 0, 1917; reported .Vugust 3, 1917.
Davies, Lewis W. Enlisled June 25. 1917; reported .Vugust S. 1917.
Davis, Leo X. Enlisteil June 2.5, 1917 ; reported -Vugust 3. 1917.
Deason, Frank L. Enlisled -Vugust 25, 1917; reported .\ugn.st 27, 1917.
Dike, George D. Enlisted June 25. 1917; reported .Vugust 3, 1917.
Ennis, Frank. Enlisted August 23. 1917; reported -Vugust 23, 1917.
Everhart, Ernest S. Enlisteil June 25. 1917; rei>orted -Vugust 4. 1917.
Farley, .John L. Enlisted Jnl.\ 4, V.ni : reported -Vugust 4. 1917.
Ford, John A. Enlisted August i:',. 1917: repnrttKl August 14. 1917.
Eraser, James W. Enli.sted .Vugust in. 1!H7; reported -Vugust lit, 1917.
Gaede, Karl. Eidisted June 25. 1>.I17; reported -August 3, 1917.
Gleasou, Jame.s. Enlisted Jul.x 1, l'.tl7: reported -Vugust 3. 1917.
Gleason, .Sani. Enlisted July 5. 1fl17; ie|K)rted August 3. 1017.
Goddard, Roy. Enlisted .Vugust is. i'.il7; reported .Vugust 24. V.ilT.
Gossman. Henry H. lOnlisted July i:'.. 1917; repiu-ted August 4. 1917.
Harshbarger, Bert .M. Enliste<l June 2S. 1917: leported August 4. 1017
Halbert. Andrew. Enli.sted .VugusI 2ii. 1017: re]iorted August 21. 1017.
Helfenbein, -Vugust F. Enlisted July ::, 1017: repurleil August ."., 1017.
Tlofer. Williaui A. EnllstiMl July (1. llilT: repoilcd August 3. 1017.
IIooviT. James 1.. Kiilisti.,! .luiie 25. 1!M7: reporti'il August 4. 1!I17.

RICHARDSON- COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 499

Hopiw, William W. Enlisted Au^'ust .■{1. 1!(17; reiwrtftl Septeiiibor 1. 1917.
Howard, Earl F. Enlisted June iCi. T.ilT: reported Aiisust 4. 1017.
Huston, Charlie J. Enlisted Aiifiiist 1:.'. 1917: reported Auttust 14. ]!)17.
Hynek. I^tto. Enlisted June 2.j. Ifil7: reported Aufiust 4. 1!n7.
Kelly, Henry t". Enlisted Aufinst ti. ]!I17: reported August 10, 1V17.
Kelly, Marvin \A', PMlsted June 2."), Uil7; reported Angu.><t 3. 1!»17.
Kent, Jack. Enlisted Jnne 25, 1!)17 : reported August 4, ]!)17.
Krause, Otto W. E. Enlisted July 7. 1!»17; reiwrted August 4. I'.n7.
La Kando, Edgar. Enlisted June 2r«. 1!)17: reporte<l August 4. 1!H7.
Law, Leo M. Eiili.sted August .".1. ]'.I17: reported Septeiiilier 1. \UM.
Lepik, Arnold 1". Enlisted August l(i. 1!)17; reported .\ug\ist 1(1. 11)17.
Lessel, George D. Enlisteil June ^.j, 1!»17: reported August .'i. 1!n7.
Lewis, Dewey. Enlisted June 25, 11*17; reixjrted August 4, T,tl7.
Loar, SoUie A. Enlisted June 25, 1!>17; reported August 3. T.>17.
JIartin, John A. Enlisted June 25, ]!H7; reported August 4, 1017.
Mitchel, AVilliaui E. Enlisted August 10, 1917; reported August 10. 1917.
Moritz, John AV. Enlisted July 21, 1017: reiwrted August 4, 1917.
Morris, George R. Enlisted June 25, 1017 ; reported August 3, 1017.
Mosimau, Harry C. Enlisted June 25, 1017; reported August 3, 1017.
Murphy, I'aul JI. Enlisted July 25, 1017 ; reiwrted August 3, 1017.
JleCornjic-k, Ray R. Enlisted June 25, 1917; reported August 3, 1017.
MoXeely, Jaiues B. Enlisted June 25, 1917 ; reported August 4, 1917.
MeQueen, Elvin L. Enlisted August 1, 1917; reported September 1, 1917.
McVe.v, John 1!. Enlisted June 2.5, 1917; reported August 4, 1917.
Xelson, Joseph R. Enlisted July 17, 1017 ; reported August 4, 1917.
Newby, Rex. Enlisted July (i, 1017: reported August 4, 1017.
Niemeyer, Ernest W. A. Enlistwl July 7, 1917; reported August 3. 1917.
Nissen, John. Enlisted July 2, 1917; reported August 4, 1917.
Nixon, Walter AA'. Enli.sted July 2. 1017; reported Augu.st 4. 1017.
Norton, Harry K. lOnlisted June 25, 1917; reported August 4, 1917.
Patton, Murray K, Enlisted August 11, 1917; reported Augu.st 11, 1917.
Parker, Frank L. Enlisted June 25, 1917; reported August 4, 1917.
Parker, George H. Enlisted June 25, 1917; reported August 4, 1917.
Parker, AA'alter B. Enlisted June 25, 1917; reported August 4. 1917.
Portrey. David J. Enlisted Jiuie 25, 1917: reporte<l August 3, 1017.
Ranier, Paul. Enliste<l August 0. 1017: reported August 10. 1017.
Randall, Benjamin F. Enlisted July 24, 1917; reported August 4, 1017.
Xiodger.s, Chester L. Enlisted July 1. 1917: reported August 4. 1917.
Rowe, Luther AA'. Enlisted June 25. 1017: reported August 4, 1917.
Ruubaugh, Arthur L. Enlisted August 17, 1917: reported August 22, 1917.
Sailors, Ben. l^nlisted July 2f;. 1917: reported August 3, 1917.
Sapp, Herman E. Enlistt^l June 2.5, 1917: reported August 4, 1917.
Severns. Henry. ICnlisted June 25. 1917; rei)ortetl Augu.st 4, 1917.
Sconce, Willis \V. Enlisted June 25. 1917; reported August 4. 1917.
Scott, George (J. Enlisted August :'.1. 1917; reported Seiitember 1. 1917.
Snavel.v, Carl AA'. Enlisted July 2. 1017: reported Augu.st 3. 1917.
Soderstadt. Ernst A. Enlisted Jinie 25. 1017; rei)orted August 4. 1917.
Spencer, Kenneth. Enlisted June 25. 1017; rei>orted .\iigust :'.. 1017.
Stump. Lee B. Enlisted August 9. 1017; reported .\ugnst 15. 1017.
Thoni;is. John <). Enlistisl A\ignst 15. 1017: ri'iMirtiHl August Ki. 1017.

500 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Uffner, Earl E. Enlisted August 10, 1017; reported August m. I'.HT.
Weathers, Paul. Enlisted August 15, 1917: reported August 10, 1017.
Wells, Claud. Enlisted June 20, 1917: reported August 4. 1917.
Wenstraud, John F, Reported August 25, 1917; transferred from Suppl.v Co.
Wei-ner, Henry J. EulLsted June 25, 1917; reported August 4. 1917.
West, Lee. Enlisted June 28, 1917; reported August 4. 1917.
West, Samuel A. Enlisted August 15, 1917; reported August 15, 1917,
Whalen, Francis J, Enlisted June 25, 1917; reported August 4, 1917.
Whalen, Lawrence V, Enlisted August 27, 1917; reported August 27, 1917,
Williams, Albert, Enlisted Jul.v 25, 1917: reported August 4. 1917.
Williamson, Lloyd. Enlisted July 21, 1917; reiwrted August 4, 1917,
Wiudrum, Carl H, Enlisted August 27, 1917; reiwrted August 27, 1917,
Winkler, Causia A, Enlisted July 21, 1917; reported August 4, 1917,
Young, Charles A. Enlisted June 25, 1917; reported August 4, 1917.
Zvolanek, James. Enlisted June 25, 1917; reported August 4. 1917.

RICHARDSON CfJUXTY MEN IN FIFTH RECIMENT.

Following is a list of the Richardson county men, wIili are serving
as members of Company D. Fifth Infantry Regiment, Nebraska National
Guard, recruited at Auburn, in Nemaha county, for service in the World
War : Sergeant, William P, Schneider ; corporal, William E. Knobe ; cook,
("ecil R. Zeigler; privates. Worthie H, Blakeney, Merle K. Goble. Rollin L.
Spence, Harlan G. Burger, Homer C. Cline, William J, B. Cook, Ottis Elam.
John T. Foster, Arthur A. Gebhard, Charles E, Hanson, Clarence R, Hart.
Fred .\. Hofer. Clarence I. Houtz, Bryan R. Jones, Albert :\lcllvain. Merl
W. Mettz. Fred W. Norton. Harry E. O'Hern, Clarence S. Peck, Charles
A. Ross, Fred Sample, Hugh E. Sconce, ^'incent T, Sheehan, Lee J, ^^ance
and Henry J. Werner.

CHAPTER XX.

Falls City, the County Seat.

There is no place on the globe more richly endowed by nature than
Richardson county, which is one of the best to be found in the state
of Nebraska, and over all its wealth reigns Falls City, county seat and its
largest and most improved city.

The county possesses an equable and healthful climate, where every
cereal, grain, vegetable and fruit adapted to a temperate zone are grown
in abundance and where the important industry of stock raising is exten-
sively carried on. There are many finely improved farms for the breeding
of blooded horses, sheep, cattle, swine and }X)ultry to be found in the vast
radius tributar\- to Falls City. By reason of its location and excellent
transportation facilities, afiforded by two main lines of railway, the Bur-
lington & Missouri railroad and the Missouri Pacific, it is a most favorable
and convenient shipping point, north or south or east or west, for the vast
amount of grain and stock produced hereabouts and for the proper handling
of which there are several large elevators and good stock-yard accommoda-
tions.

BEAUTIFUL LOCATION.

The city is Ijeauti fully situated on ground which the Maker must have
designed for the seat of the grand little city. This point was not lost sight
of by those who first visited this section and it is related that John A.
Burbank, coming into this section for the first time, direct from the Atlantic
seaboard in quest of a location for a town, for that was his idea in coming
West, stopped over night with James L. Stumbo, the proprietor of the mill
at the falls of the Nemaha, southwest of the present site of Falls City.
During the course of the evening he made known the object of his visit
and stated that he was going on south into Kansas on the following day:
whereupon Mr. Stumbo interceded for this locality, and on the following
morning took his visitor over to the present site of the city and in glowing
language pointed out the great advantages of the land as a site for a city.
His eloquence moved Mr. Burbank, who was not slow to see tliat here was

502 KU'IIAKDSOX COUNTY. XEIiRASKA.

as good a place as could he fnund anywhere and decided at unce to let this
he the site for the town he would project.

Air. Burhank at once set about to give f(inn in a material wav tn the
dream he had cherished, at the same time interesting others in the proposi-
tion, and the result was the banding together of a number of energetic men,
who founded Falls City. Many of the founders lived to see much of the
earlier growth of the city, ])ut not one has lived to see the Falls Cit\ liiat
we of today know-. How wisel\- they chose the location we all know and
from traversing the count) over it is apparent that no better site might have
been found for a city: the natural topography of the townsite makes the
drainage practical.

From the court house one can see the country on all sides within a
radius of fifteen miles. Falls City's prosperity, progress and future pros-
pects are founded principally upon the unsurpassed agricultural wealth on
e\er\- hand, the country yielding in abundance and at moderate cost, all
things necessary to the support of a large and vigorous population. The
city enjoys a steady and healthful growth, with every indication that its
population will be greatly augmented within the next few years and today
presents as fine opportunities for the safe and profitable investment of
capital as any point in the West. Many improvements are being projected
and carried on, preparatory to meeting the new conditions of growtli and
development. The churches have large congregations, and are noted for
the talent and popularity of their ministers as well as for the Christian
zeal of the members. Falls City's educational facilities are far ahead of
the average to be foimd in cities of like population, while in the social circle
there is a large degree of culture and refinement that command the highest
respect and admiration. The business portions of the city always present
a busy and active appearance. The people are hospitable and welcome all
who come witli worthy and honorable motives.

FALLS CITY IX IQI/.

Frior to iy]_*. when tiie city was made u division point of the Mis-
souri Pacific railroad, the county seat of Richardson county differed in no
wise from the ordinary country town. Its growth was practically at a
standstill and things moved along slowly, with little attempt to stimulate
growth or improve conditions in the city. For years previous to 1912 there
was little of moment indicating that the country town would eventualh-

RICIIARDSOX et)UNTY, NEBRASKA. 5O3

take its place among the live municipalities of Nebraska. .Since that time
there has been a wonderful growth, many new additions have been laid
out, new streets have been run east and west, and eight miles of paving of
the jjest construction possible laid, and a splendid sewer system, thirteen
miles in extent, installed. New buildings by the score have been erected
and more are going up constantly. The little city on the banks of the
Nemaha has taken on the airs of a metropolis and is easily the most im-
portant trading center in southeastern Neliraska. Thousands of dollars
have been spent on public Iniildings and civic improvements. A new high-
school building, costing sixty-five thousand dollars has been erected, a splen-
did Catholic church has been erected, a magnificent Christian church has
been built and practically every church building in the city has undergone
extensive remodeling. Several new ward school buildings have been erected
and the citizenship has put forth every consistent efTort to keep pace with
the rapid growth of the city. Many business blocks have been overhauled
or rebuilt and new fronts put in to keep pace with modern ideas of com-
mercialism, until the mercantile establishments of Falls City compare favor-
ably with those of much larger cities. The stocks of goods carried in all
stores are complete and advanced styles of goods are usually to be found
in the well-equipped and up-to-date stores.

MUNICIPAI, IMPROVEMENT.S.

A splendid city park covering thirty acres has come into possession
of the city and has been improved until it is a beauty spot and a general
recreation place for the people of the city and a notable place for civic
gatherings, chautauquas and the like. Vim and push have characterized
the city government and the citizenship since the new era began. The
once sleepy town was awakened in reality and is realizing its opportunities
to the fullest extent. Enough l)road-gauged citizens were found to take the
lead in public enterprise and compel the city to keep pace with its growth.

The electric-light and water plants are owned by the city and are
operated for the benefit of the people of the city without waste or extrava-
gance in management. With the advent of the Missouri Pacific shops a
demand for new homes sprang up from the necessity of housing the hun-
dreds of railway employees, who needed homes in the city. More than five
hundred houses, or residences, ranging in size from modest workingmen's
cottages to handsome modern homes have been built within the last few
vears, anfl the water mains and sewers have been extended to the several

504 RICIIAUDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

new additions whicli ha\e l)een laid out. New railroad depots, modern
in evevy respect, have been built by the Missouri Pacitic and by the Bur-
lington railroads. This year ( 1917) the Missouri Pacific completed one
of the finest depots alonjj the line, with an attractive park laid out around
the liuildin,!,^ and approaches.

EVIDENCES OF CIVIC PKIDE.

As he passes through on the fast railway trains, the traveler is im-
pressed by the appearance of the city sitting upon the hills above the
valley of the Nemaha and if, perchance, his business should call him to
visit the business section of the city, he is further impressed by the fine
appearance of Stone street, which bisects the town north and soutii and
contains the banks and store buildings of a modern character which line
on both sides of the street and he is likely to marvel at the hustle and bustle
which is characteristic of exery day in Falls City. The residence section
is likewise very attractive, the many fine homes, the shaded and parked
streets, lined with well-kept residences, please the eye and no harping critic
can find much to complain about in the general appearance of Falls City.
The work of civic improvement is constantly going on and will, no doubt,
continue until every street in the city is brought up to a modern standard.

The industrial establishments of Falls City are neither many nor large,
the most extensive of these being the Missouri Pacific railroad shops, which
were established in 191 2. The thirty acres of ground occupied by the division
offices and the shops were donated to the railroad b\- the cit\. Fi\e hun-
dred men are employed by this division directly in the shops, this nunil)er
including the trainmen who make their homes in I^'alls City. The monthly
payroll of the railway employees who make their homes here exceeds twenty
thousand dollars, which is a consideraljle item to add to the resources of the
town.

FALL.s CITY IN RETROSPECT.

The gradual ytt rapid growth and improvement of our lixely little
city for the past ten years (1910-1917) is a source of pride and congratu-
lation upon the part of its oldest inhabitants. In 1856-57 Gen. James H.
Lane, of Territorial Kansas fame; John H. Burbank, J. Edward Burbank.
Judge Hunt and .Isaac L. Hamby formed themselves into the Falls City
Town As.sociation, filed their pre-emption under the act of Congress for
town purposes, upon the south half of section 10, and the north half of

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 505

section 15, township 1, north of range 16, and laid it out in town lots,
fifty by one hundred and twenty feet, and divided it into shares for mar-
ket. After most of the shares had been disposed of, patents were issued
In- the government to only one-half of the land originally claimed; that is,
to the southeast quarter of section 10, township i, north of range 16, to
James H. Lane and to the northeast quarter of section 15, township 1,
range 16, to Isaac L. Hamby. The result of this action by the United States
government caused a contraction of the lots to a size of but twenty-tive b\
one hundred and twenty feet, in order to fill up the shares.

FALLS CITY IN 1860.

In the year i860 the city of Falls City consisted of some fifteen or
twenty dwelling houses, a blacksmith shop, operated by Lyman Miller, on
the same lot afterwards occupied by the Globe-Journal office and at the
present time by Peter Riester's furniture store on Stone street in block
91 ; a store, a tin shop, a one-story tavern, then lately purchased bv Isaac
Minnick from W. B. M. Carter; the brick law office of Hon. Elmer S.
Dundy, occupying the lot in block 71, later occupied by the Keim & Grable
Bank and now l^y Peter Kaiser; the printing office of the Falls Citv Broad
Axe (newspaper) on a lot in block 71 on Stone street, now occupied
by the Falls City State Bank; and a shed, twelve by sixteen feet, occupied
by Jim Sperry, for spirituous purposes as a saloon. Courts were hekl in the
little school house, a little balloon-shaped frame pine Ijuilding, squatted on
the prairie by itself in block 101, just west of the present site of the Central
school building. Here before Justice Miller, one of the territorial supreme
judges for Nebraska Territory, was heard the eloquence of Hon. O. P.
Mason. Elmer S. Dundy and Prince Hudgins. m the Moran and Cbthird
murder cases, famous in their day.

FALLS CITY IN 1865.

In 1865 Falls City had enlarged its borders, and the then new Union
House (hotel), a story-and-a-half frame, at the extreme north limit of
the city, had commenced, under Jacob G. Good, to claim and recei\e the
patronage of the traveling public, as one of the l)est hutels in Nebraska;
which reputation it has since well sustained, though the little frame has
liccn raised to three stories and enlarged in everv direction, until the trav-

506 KKHAUDSOX COUXTV, XKBKASKA.

cler of 1865 would ikiw have t<i iiKiiiire where the modest little Uninn House
had its being.

There were hut fnur two-story buildings in the city — the new court
house, now referred to as the "old" court house; the dwelling house of
Hon. Elmer S. Dundy, later known as the Prescott house, which stood di-
rectly west and a little to the north of the court house, fronting to the east
on Stone street, and now (1917) used as a dwelling house and moved
back west to a friMitage on I'hase street: the home of John A. Burbank,
since destroyed by fire, and the Isaac Scuyler house, now the residence of
Hon. Edwin S. Towle. Reavis & Cameron had opened a store in the old
Scuyler tin shop located on Stone street in block 90, now occupied by the
Anderson millinery store just north of the Jenne building. David R. Holt
and Chauncy Xorris were merchandising in the old store of Joseph A. Bur-
bank until January of 1866, when it was destroyed by fire. It was located
just south of the Richardson Coimty Bank building on Stone street, in block
70. J. J. Marvin had resuscitated the old Broad A.vc, on his return home
from the Civil War. under the name of the Soiithcni NcbraskaH, and trans-
ferred it to X. O. Pierce, who was soon afterward appointed postmaster
to su]iersede William W;itts, who held his office as justice of the peace and
postmaster in a little sixteen liy twenty-four feet one-story house located
on lots 21 and 22 in block 68. on Lane street, immediately south of the pres-
ent residence of H. C. Davis. The postoffice was al.so used as the home
of Mr. Watts, the postmaster and his family.

Stone street extended north from the home of E. S. Towle on lots .
0, 10. II and 12 in lilock 103 to the section comers at Twenty-first
and Stone streets, or three blocks north of the court house,
and with scattered houses, consisting of not more than thirty dwelling
houses, while outside of Stone street there were not to exceed fifteen
buildings. Where Morton street now is, from the then site of the soap
factory, where the Burchard store is now located, north to the location of
lilock 30 in the ravine of the Rhine, was a s])lendid straw1)errv patch, where
the good citizens who did not feel disposed to listen to the spiritual teach-
ings of Rev. R. C. Johnson, of the Methodist church, and Rev. \. D
I'vamsex . of the Presbyterian church, who were the only divines resident in
the city, could spend their Sundays in refreshing the outer man. S(juire
Dorrington was the only magistrate in the city and Hon. I'llmer S. Dundy
and Hon. Isham Reavis, then simply "estiuires." were for a number of
years the only resident lawyers. There was no cliurch in tiie cit\-. where
there are now manv.

RIGilARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 507

THE CITY IN 1870.

It was not until 1870 that Falls City began to show the promise of a
rapid and permanent development and prosperity. Before that time the
city had only constituted one ward, with seventy-five or eighty voters. The
city was divided into two wards l)y the city authorities, consisting of J. J.
Marvin, mayor; Jacob G. Good, J. Robert Cain, John Schuyler and Thomas
L. Moss, councilmen, and S. A. I^'ulton. clerk. T'!ither of tlie two wards
now poll many times the total number of votes polled in those days.

In 1865 we could number two dry-goods stores, one saloon, two hotels,
one hardware store, no drug store, no clothing store, no saddler's shop,
one shoemaker, no restaurant, no livery stable (and we have none now in
the old sense, as automobiles have taken their place), but in the interim
between the coming of the first livery stable and the last we had as good
a convenience in that line as found in the West; one blacksmith shop, no
wagonmaker; no provision store, no agricultural store; no banks, no opera
house, no photograph galleries.

CREATION OF THE COUNTY SEAT.

The land which afterwards became the townsite for the present town
of Falls City was first settled upon in 1856 by a company composed of
Col. J. E. Burbank, a paymaster in the regular army; James H. Lane, of
Kansas notoriety, Isaac L. Hamby, and others. The city built very slowly
until i860, when the county seat was removed to this place from Salem,
after a very spirited county-seat fight, which is described elsewhere. Build-
ing was lively from that time untih the breaking out of the Civil War,
and then, like all other Western towns. Falls City suffered from a period
of stagnation, from which it did not recover until 1870, since which time
it has gone ahead steadily.

The city is built on rolling prairie ground about a mile north of the
Great Nemaha river. The court house square being the highest point of
land on the original townsite. the city slopes in every direction from that
center.

THE COL-RT HOUSE SQUARE.

The first court house «as a frame structure erected after the location
of the county seat at Falls City was finally determined. It was built at the
expense of the then residents of Falls City and was afterwards, in 187.2,

50b HICIIAkDSON COUXTY. NEBRASKA.

displaced by the present brick structure. The wooden structure was re-
moved to the northeast corner of the block immediateh south, where it
served the wants of the county as a court house during the construction
of the then new brick court house, which was the pride of the people of
the county for many years, but lately there are heard rumors that it too
should give way to a new and modem building with more suitable con-
veniences for the public. Besides the court h(5use is a large stone building,
at the northeast corner of the block, which is the county jail. The grounds
occupied by the court house are some three to five feet higher in eleva-
tion than the land adjacent and until recent \ears the square was enclosed
by an ornamental iron fence, which has gi\en way to a stone supporting-
wall, which adds greatly to the appearance of the grounds. Having been
built on this prominence and because of its height and the character of
the country the dome or cupola of the building serves as a landmark and
can be seen for a distance of ten miles or more from any direction.

The building is of brick, original size forty-seven by eightv-ti\ e feet,
first story fourteen feet high, and the second twenty-two feet high. The
basement is eight feet in the clear and was arranged with the view to heat-
ing the building by steam, which system of heating was not adopted until
191 5, it having first been heated by stoves and later by furnaces. The
first floor is divided into rooms and vaults to accommodate the various
county officers. The second floor is designed for a court room and offices
for the sheriff, county superintendent and clerk of the district court, the
offices of register of deeds, county judge, county clerk, county treasurer
and county assessor being on the first floor.

Speaking of the court house, the Ncinaha J'allcv Journal, published
at Falls City, under date of Thursday, January i, 1872, had the following
to say:

THE NEW COUKT HOUSE.

The wnlls of the new building are now up anil imiler t-over. and we lielicve tbiil wlicii
the cupola is added to tbe roof, the house will, iu point of beauty, rival an.v t-ourt house
in the state, and for economy in construction it challenges the Western states.

As the building now stands, it has cost .$13..560.26 and it will require from .$15,000 to
$20,000 to fini.sh and furnish it, depending upon the style. * * * If Tails City pre-
cinct has not done her sh.ne toward providiii- her share toward a counly .(imt bouse,
no locality ever did.

The first dflicers tn occupy the now Iniilding were: District judge,
Daniel Oant: district attorney. .\. J. \\'eaver ; probate judge. S. .\. Fulton:
county treasurer. P. V>. Miller: deputy county treasurer. Fred \\". Miller:

RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 5O9

county clerk, Lawrence A. Ryan: sheriff, T. C. Cunningham; deputy sheriff.
G. R. Summers; county surveyor. T. V. AVilson; deputy county surveyor,
.\. J. Currance ; coroner, N. B. McPherson ; superintendent, F. W. \Yi\-
liams; county commissioners, H. E. Moritz, Alfred Page and George W.
Peck.

FIRST FALLS CITY FIRE DKPAKTMENT.

What was known as the Pioneer Hook and Ladder Company Xo. i
of Falls City was organized with fitting ceremony on June 30, 1873. The
"lire laddies" held a parade wearing their new uniforms, and were addressed
hy the mayor, August Schoenheit. The following officers and members
tiien appears on the rolls :

President, George \'an Deventer; vice-president, Charles H. Rickards ;
recording secretary, Oliver W. Brown; secretary, J. P. Holt; treasurer, J.
R. Cain; George E. Powell, foreman; first, assistant, L. C. Gore; second
assistant, George H. Geduldig; honorary members, J- H. Burbank, D. R.
Holt, J. H. Good, Howard Leland and John Hinton. Active members, \V.
J. Ralston, A. C. Jennings, B. Simanton, Bennet Sperry, T. C. Coleman.
J. A. Whitmore, W. M. Maddox, William Gossett, A. C. McPherson, C.
Sheehan, J. H. Franklin, N. McNulty, T. M. Tallman, A. W. Southard, G.
R. Summers, George A. Merrill, Robert Clegg, L. A. Ryan, J. M. Robert-
son, Alex Minnick, A. L. Hofer, William Casey, W^illiam Casey, Jr.. George
A. Bell, A. Lovett and Chris Hershey.

The company moved down the street (Stone street) and assembled in
front of William Giese's art gallery, where they were photographed. Their
uniforms were black caps, red shirts, with white figure "No. i" on breast,
lilack trousers, leather l)elt (black) with "P. H. & L. Co. No. i," printed
thereon. The notable part of the affair was that the equipment used, ladder
cart, ladders, etc., were manufactured almost wholly in Falls City and ren-
dered efficient service for many years.

FALLS CITY, 1 869-7O.

From the XmiKha Valley Juiiniril of August IS, 1S70.

What was Falls City twenty months ago? This question can be easily
answered. It was a village of about three hundred and fifty inhabitants,
with four merchandise firuLs, one harness, one wagon, one I)lacksmith, .'ind
one boot-and-shoe shop, two ordinary hotels, i. e.. the houses were of an
ordinary character — one- church, one sclmol house, one news|)aper. two

5IO kICIIAKDSOX COUNTY, XEIiKASKA.

i^aloo^s, six lawyers and two ddctnrs. Riisiness at this time was very dull.
and the future prospects uf Falls City were indeed gloomy. The Legisla-
ture was in .session at Lincohi, and about this time a bill was passed making
liberal grants of valuable public land for the construction of railroads within
the limits of the state, with a proviso that ten cir more miles distant of
each railroad line should he completed within one year to be entitled to the
benefit of the act. The news of this wise legislative act aroused our busi-
ness men — they resolved to put forth e\ery effort to profit by the land
grant. There were 2,000 acres of land per mile for building a railroad,
but how the road was to be built without money was the great problem
to be solved. The time allowed for securing the land was very short and
something must be done. They at any rate called a meeting of the citizens
for the purpose of having a general talk on the subject. A few speeches
were made and ultini;iteh the plan (jf building a railroad from Rulo up the
Xemaha \'alley, was conceived, and a companx- was organized under the
title of "Xemaha \"alley, Lincoln and Loup P'ork Railroad Companv,'" with
Maj. John Loree. father of our townsman, Cliarles Loree, as its president.
The necessary papers were immediately filed in the state department and
a charter secured. Money was then subscribed and a preliminarv surve\
had. They then circulated a petition for signatures, praying the county
commissioners to call an election on the (juestion of appropriating $215,-
000 in county bonds, to the building of this road. On the 3rd day of
-May the attention of the board of commissioners was called to the matter
and they consented to "put the question."" It was soon apparent that there
was strong opposition to the measure, and that the onlv conceivable remedv
was a thorough and persistent canvass in e\erv part of the countv. .\ccord-
ingly the forces were mustered and operations commenced on a svstematic
scale, each invididual having his particular territory in which to ojierate.
The principal actors in this canvass were Colonel Click, of Atchison, Kan-
sas; Judge Kinney, of Nebraska City, Nebraska; \\'. D. Scott, of Rulo;
Maj. John Loree, I'alls City; August Schoenbeit. Falls City; Fdwin S. Towle.
Falls City; Colonel May, Falls City; S. A. Inilton. 1-alls City; A. J. Weaver,
Falls City, and J. D. (lilman. Falls City. Had it not been for the untiring
efforts of these gentlemen the proposition would have l)een defeated l>v at
least two hundred n;ajorit\, whereas it was barelv carried bv six majoritv.
The bond (piestion settled, the Xemaha \'allc\- Cmnpanv found them-
selves entitled to three thousand five hundred dollars in countv bonds per
mile of ro.id, and to twenty thousand acres of st;ite lands when thev h:id
completed ten miles and put it in readiness for the rolling stock, I'.ut where

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEriRASKA. _-, [ 1

was tlie nidiiev to coinnience the work? was still the harrier. Different
capitalists were asked to advance money, hut none seemed inclined to in-
vest. September came and the friends of the mad had almost lost all
hope of seeing the land grant secured. Some time in this month, however,
Hon. Joshua Tracy, of Burlington, Iowa, come through this county pros-
pecting for a line for a road from Burlington, southwest. He accepted the
franchises of the Xemaha \'alley Company from Rulo to Humboldt, with
a provision that the Nemaha Valley Company might at any time ha\e tlie
use of the Burlington & Southwestern railroad for any distance it might
occup\- their line, should they wish to build their road to Lincoln.

The Burlington & Southwestern Railroad Company then, as a guarantee
of good faith on the part of the people of Richardson county, that the
bonds would be issued according to the' proA'isions of the vote, asked Rulo.
Falls City and Salem to guarantee to each pay to the company $10,000
and acce])t in lieu the county bonds as soon as sufficient work was done
to entitle them to receive that amount, to which each of those towns agreed,
and by the middle of Xiixember work was commenced at Rulo, and the
ten miles was ready for the rolling stock and were accepted by both the
state and county commissioners by the 15th of h'ebruary. This brought the
road within two miles of h'alls City, which, though there was no locomo-
tive on it, gave new impetus to the town. The business men of the place
began io build, and immigration flowed into the town and countv, till Falls
City had more than doubled her population since January, 1869, and now
boasted of three dry-goods houses, one hardware, three drug, and two ex-
clusive grocery stores, one merchant-tailor shop, one church and another
in the course of construction, two hotels, one three-and-a-half story and ba.se-
ment and the other two-and-a-half story — one school house, one livery stable,
two saloons, one harness, one blacksmith, two ])oot-and-shoe, three carpenters
and one wagcjn shop, a furniture store and cabinet shop, two ministers, four
phvsicians and nine lawyers, one newspaper, one confectionery, one sewing-
machine firm, one baker\-, one dealer in agricultural implements, and a bank-
ing h<iuse which will be opened the finst of September. Many new houses
are now in the course of construction and under contemplation. We had
about one hundred mechanics, and seven hundred and fifty of as moral and
intellectual i)eople as could be found in this or any other state. A portion
of these people lived in first-class houses, while the remainder occupy cot-
tages of a neat, comfortable, commodious and substantial character, antl suf-
ficient in every respect to answer all practical purposes.

512 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Taking in consideration tlie beautiful location, her rapid and substantial
improvement with the past eight or nine months, the intelligence and morality
of her inhal)itants. her flattering prospects of being the railroad center of
Xebraska, Falls City certainly offers the greatest inducements to capital and
lab(jr (^f any town in the state — Lincoln not excepted.

The Burlington & Southwestern railroad is now graded from the Mis-
souri river to a point on the north fork of the Nemaha river, eight miles
west of Falls City, and will, beyond any probable doubt, be completed to
Pawnee, thirty-five miles west of this place, by next June.

The Southern Nebraska & Northern Kansas railroad, from Hiawatha
north to Nemaha City, will be built inside of one year, no one we think
has any doubt. This precinct has just voted $10,000 in aid to the enterprise,
Irxing township ( Kansas ) will give twenty-five thousand and Xemaha will
raise the donation about $25,000 — near $2,000 per mile. When these two
roads are completed we can go north, south, east and west by rail.

The Nemaha river and its two forks, and the ]\Iuddy furnish all the
water power necessary for an indefinite number of merchant flouring-mills
and factories of different and extensive character.

A good quality of coal is cropping out of the bank of the Xemaha only
two miles from town.

STORY OF CHANGES IN FALLS CITY IN SIX YEARS.
From the Falls City Press of November 11, IS 75.

Six years ha\c wrought many changes in the appearance of our town
as well as the surrciunding country. Six years ago three merchants did
the business for our town, in pinched-up houses, handling small stocks, and
supplying only a scope of country for a circuit of a few miles round, re-
ceiving goods from St. Joseph by river in the .summer and by wagons in
the winter; now we have twenty most enterprising merchants, doing busi-
ness on a large scale, in well-arranged rooms, and receiving goods by the
carload.

.Six years ago our citizens hauletl luml)er from l'ro\\n\ille and other
places on the river; now Falls City has the largest lunilier tirni outside of
Omaha in the state of Nebraska.

Six years ago the railroad was considered far in the tlistance. now
the gentle voice of the inm horse is heard as he lirings in manufactures
and carries out our surplus of grain and produce, with the assurance of
antidier road within six months, and a third within a year, thus making
l-'alls C'itv the commercial CL'uter of southern Xebraska.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, XEKKASKA. 5I3

Six years ago our grain was ground in a little mill at the l""alls of
the Xeniaha known as Nemaha Falls, run by the Stumbo boys: now a
large and well-appointed mill has taken its place, and two others have
been built in this neighborhood, all doing an extensive merchant and custom
business.

Six years ago there was a narrow road running up the middle of our
street resembling an Indian trail, with grass and weeds growing on either
side, and an occasional horse or team hitched to the fence; now our well-
pa\-ed streets are scarcely able to contain the teams that throng them daily.

Six years ago we had a small blacksmith shop where "Gib" Shockley
\\t)uld shoe your horse, sharpen your plow, mend your wagon or fiddle
for vour dance; now we have three shops employing a dozen men and doing
work in as good style as can be done in any city in the country. '

Six years ago it was considered nonsense to talk of making brick ;
later years have demonstrated the fact that l)rick can be made by expe-
rienced hands, and of a quality excelled nowhere.

Six years ago our houses were all frame ; now we have brick and stone
buildings, with iron fronts and cornices, that are up to Chicago or St.
Louis as to architecture, beauty and convenience.

Six years ago John Hanna and Anderson Miller supplied the people
with beef at their doors ; now we have two of as good meat-market houses
as any town of double the size.

Six years ago our children went to school in a little frame house
eighteen by twenty-four feet, where "Jim"' Rhine wielded the rod; now we
have four large rooms well filled, a good substantial frame building, with
a twenty-thousand-dollar brick under construction.

Six years ago there was but one church in our city; ntjw we have
live edifices and two denominations who hold services in the school house.
.\11 are well attended.

Six years ago "Jake" Good fed the hungry in his little shanty ; now
Jacob boasts of the largest hotel south of the Platte in Nebrasaka. where
tie does his part of the business, while Maj. John Loree, of the Commercial,
serves his patrons in a way that insures a second visit by all who try him.

Six years ago we had no furniture store; now we have large rooms
well stocked at low prices.

Six years ago glass, paint, oil and drugs were handled on a small scale,
l)v our merchant, Cameron ; now Falls City supports three large drug stores,
carrving heavv st(X-ks and doing a good business.
(33)

514 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

There are other changes that these few short years have made, aninii.i;
which are: Avers, the tobacconist; Brill, stationer; two jewelry stores, three
livery stal)les, two harness shops, three barber shops and a tailor shop,
besides many others scarcely thought of six \ears ago, that are doing much
to make Falls City one of the best places in the West.

OPENING OF IIINTON PARK.

The citizens of Falls City had much to celebrate on July 4. 1882. as
many Richardson county people will still remember. It was at this time
that Hinton Park, later to become t>ne of the most noted pleasure resorts
in the county was, after being three years in the course of preparation,
finally opened in a formal way to the public.

The park, which included a very beautiful artificial lake used for bath-
ing and boating, was the property of John Hinton. It contained thirty
acres, thirteen of which contained an elegant grove of walnut trees and
w^as well sodded with blue grass. The balance was devoted to a race track,
stables, lake, etc. The race track was e.xactly one mile in length and one
of the finest in the state. The entire grounds were fenced and comfortal)k'
seats were well distributed about the grove. This playground, located as
it was directly south of the city and near the Nemaha, was long (for nearly
fifteen years') the resort of picnic parties, horse-racing meets, baseball matches,
shooting tournaments, agricultural fairs, political gatherings, religious meet-
ings, etc. The Hinton park was widely known over the corners of the
four border states and was a highly popular resort. It was a purely private
undertaking and a small admission fee was charged for admittance, yet
at all times it was largely patronized by Richardson county people.

Unfortunately, however, its location was its undoing, because of great
overflows and floods in the valley of the Nemaha, which alone, as time
has proven, would have ruined it ; luit its complete destruction was brought
about by a flood and cyclone which so thoroughly damaged the trees, lake,
buildings, etc.. that it was never rebuilt.

On the occasion of its opening, July 4, 1882, more than five thousand
people were present. The day dawned cool and clear and the city along
Stone street was gaily decorated with the stars and stripes and other patrio-
tic emblems, showing that American deliverance from England's tvranny
had not been forgotten in the one hundred and si.x years intervening.

More than three hundred Hiawatha (Kansas) citizens came up on the
then new Missouri Pacific railroad, w'hose passenger trains had just com-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. ■ 515

menced entering Falls City. The Burlington & Alissouri railway brought
hundreds of holiday visitors from White Cloud, Kansas, and intermediate
points on the line. In a monster procession paraded about the city, fully
one thousand wagons, buggies and carriages participated, including one hun-
dred mounted Iowa and Sioux Indians. At the grounds in the park where
the celebration took place the Declaration of Independence was read l)y Hon.
Francis Martin, after which the speaker of the day, the Hon. John L.
Webster, of Omaha, was introduced by Hon. Lsham Reavis, of Falls City.

The amusements of the day included horse racing, a shooting tourna-
ment and a grand parade by a ilambeau clul) in the exening, which latter
was one of the finest exhibitions ever given in the city. This club was
organized under the leadership of William E. Dorrington and was composed
of about forty members. They marched north and south on Stone street
from the Jenne Opera House to the Union Hotel, back and forth amid a
shower of golden and crimson fire, flying rockets and glistening stars, to
the music of the Falls City Cornet Band until the last rocket had floated
heavenward, and lost its fiery tail in the depths beyond.

This was more than was expected of a town of this size at that time,
and brought forth storms of applause from the delighted spectators. This
exhibition alone was worth coming miles to see. The fireworks used in
so brief a time cost more than five hundred dollars. The night was spent
by the young people in dancing at the ojiera house. The success of the
entire program was very largely due to the untiring efforts of Thomas Mc-
Lane. who for more than four weeks had labored incessantly that it might
be a success. Thus ended the one hundred and sixth anniversary of the
nation's independence, as celebrated by the people of Richardson county,
who had very largely journeyed thither.

EARLY FIRE RECORD.

Falls City has been singularly and to a marked degree free from the
ravages of fire. In the early town built largely, or almost entirely of wood,
as were all the towns of the then new West, such exemption had been
exceedingly rare. Nearly every to\\n in the county had chronicled some
"bad fires" which had swept a large part of its business section. On the
night of April 12, 1877, flames were discovered shortly after 11 p. m.
issuing from the rear of a frame building owned by ^Irs. .Anna Reavis
and occupied, on the ground floor, as a flour-and-feed store by Frank Muir
and above, for private purposes. In a very short time, the combustible

5iC) KicirAi;DS()X corxTV, Nebraska.

Iniililing was a mass of lire, and the flames liad communicated t'l six oilier
buildings, which all blazed fiercely.

As the town possessed no fire apparaus other than a suppl\ of ladders
and buckets, the main efforts of the crowd that had gathered were devoted
to saving goods, while they looked at the doomed buildings, powerless to
save them. Many buildings at various points were set blazing by flying
embers, and with difficulty saved, and the office of the Falls City Press
was only saved by the use of ladders and the bravery of the bucket brigade.

Within an hour from the breaking out of the fire the seven buildings
were level with the ground. The losses by the fire aggregated $15,000,
distributed as follows: Mrs. Anna Reavis, $900; F. Muir..$300: Richard
Smith, $600; John King, $200; T. C. Coleman, $600; F. C. Fisher, $200.
and George Ivaiser, $300. L. A. l^yan was the owner of a frame building-
located on the northeast corner of the block facing Stone street, on the site
now used by the V. G. Lyford store. The frame building had been occupied
by James Ralston for a saloon and was destroyed in this fire. On the fol-
lowing morning Mr. Ryan had lumber on the street, near the smouldering
fire, ready for the erection of a new building, but the citv council took the
matter in hand and passed an ordinance prohibiting the further erection of
frame buildings in the business section of the city, and from that dav until
now this ixjlicy has l^een strictly adhered to. The aggregate amount of the
loss is trivial in the light of present-day fires, fmm the same cause, of from
fifty thousand to ten times that amount. Yet the citizens, with the pluck that
was characteristic of the people of those times, set themselves at work at once
to rebuild that part of town in a more substantial wa\'.

FALLS CITY HOTELS.

The first h(jtel erected in Falls City was built from parts of an old
iiouse that had stood near the banks of the Missouri at Yankton, an ob-
solete village about a mile north of Rulo. This was the property of Jesse
Crook and was put up in the winter of 1857-58. It stood on lots 23 and
24 of block 70, facing the west, on the present site of the Richardson County
Bank, just south of the court house. Three rooms downstairs and two
above furnished accommodation for the traveling public. In 1859, before
the house was fairly completed, John Minnick purchased it and soon added
to it a house he had moved from Doniphan, Ivansas. Minnick's opening
of the hotel was jiractically the first, although it had been conducted for a

KICIIAKUSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 51^

few months in the preceding summer by Henry Warneke. The buildiny
enlarged and t)ther\vise remodeled stood for }-ear.s and was known as ihc
City Hotel. During the long feud incident to the location of the county
seat of justice in Falls City it was the scene of many broils and fights, and
in i860 was the scene of the tragedy which ended in the death of Meeks
and Davis, mentioned elsewhere in these pages.

The Union Hotel, the first of that name, was built in 1861 on the
site occupied by the present structure. Uke most of the taverns of its day
it was an insignificant structure, one-and-a-half stories in height and twen-
ty-four bv twenty-four feet on the ground. It had also an L devoted to
the kitchen work. The building used was removed from Winnebago. The
new Union Hotel was built by the same person, Jacob G. Good, in 1870,
on the site of the old hotel. Strictly speaking tlie new hotel was erected
around the old one, and the last work done was the removal of the old
part. The house stantls on the corner diagonally across the street from the
northwest corner of the court house square. It is four stories high and
Has had additions in later \ears. It was originallx' liuilt at a cost of tweht-
thousand dcjilars. It continued under the management of Air. Good until
March, 1882. but since that time has lieen in charge of a number of different
landlords. It is now owned liy Morehead, Weaver & Miles.

The oldest and most centrally-located of the first hotels in -Falls City
was the "Xational" located on the corner of Seventeenth and Stone streets,
the present site of the Richardson County Bank building. The history of
this hotel dates back to the foundation of the town. It was in size liftv
bv sixtv feet, two stories-and-a-half high. It was built in 1859 and was
called the Cit_\- Hotel ])y Jesse Crook, who, in 1868. sold it to Isaac -Min-
nick. In 1870 Minnick & Collins became proprietors and in the same year
T. J. Collins succeeded Minnick & Collins. In 1872 Isaac Minnick & Son
assumed the management, and the year following leased it to Charles H.
Rickards, who changed its name to the National Hotel, and again the same
year leased it to J. W. Minnick, who conducted it for some time.

The Empire House occupied the site now utilized by the H. M. Jenne
shoe store at the corner of Sixteenth and Stone streets on lot 13 of i)lock
70. It was two-stories-and-a-half high, with ground plan of thirty 1)\ fift\-
feet, containing nineteen rocMiis and a liasement, kitchen and dining rooms,
twenty by twenty-eight feet, and was built in the winter of 1870-71 by its
proprietor, S. W. Harden, at a cost of four thousand five hundred dollars.
It continued for many years as one of the popular hostelries of the city.

tICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

FIRST UNDERTAKER AT FALLS CITY.

Ill 1857 David Dorrington, who was then direct from England, opened
up the first undertaking estalihshment in Falls City, a one-room affair with
barely enough room for one man to turn around in. This served as the
manufacturing establishment and sales roonu "Uncle Dave." as he was
known to the old-timers, made the -first coftin out of hand-sawed native
wood, obtained from the timber nearby, in which one of our pioneer citi-
zens, Philip Bremer, was buried. This was in 1857. ^^ ^^''^ the first
Ijurial in the old Falls Cit}- cemetery, just west of the city limits and south
of the present Steele cemetery. Uncle David Dorrington continued un-
interrupted in the business imtil after the coming of the railroad in 1871-
J2, when he sold the business to his son, William E. Dorrington, who became
associated with \\'. H. Stowe. It was this year when the first factory-made
caskets came to Falls City. At that time freight was two dollars per hun-
dred from Cincinnati to Atchison and six dollars per hundred froniAtclM-
son to Falls City. In 1875 Stowe sold his interest in the business to Wil-
liam ]\I. Wilson and the firm, long known to Falls City, of Dorrington
& \\'ilson came into being. Keeping abreast of the rapid advancement of
the town this firm erected a brick building on Stone street, which estab-
lishment was then considered long in advance of any such place between
St. Joseph and Denver. In 1887 David D. Reavis, named for and a grand-
son of David Dorrington, the founder of the business, accepted service
witli the firm of Dorrington & Wilson at the rate of five dollars per week.
In time he became the owner of the business, in which he is still interested
as the senior member of the firm of Reavis & Son. Thus the business has
l)een kept in one family since the laying out of the town in 1857.

SECRET SOCIETIES OF FALLS CITY.

Falls City Lodge Xo. 13, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Falls
Citv, was organized under a dispensation issued on September 28, 1869,
to George P. Uhl, David Dorrington, George Faulkner, L. Van Duesen,
John Loree and Bennett Sperry. The officers appointed at this time were:
John Loree. noble grand: Bennett Sperry, vice-grand: George Faulkner,
treasurer: L. Van Dusen. secretary: George P. L^hl, watchman; Nelson
Snvder, conductor: David Dorrington, inside guard. On December 9. 1869,
dirirter was received and the lodge was regularly organized, with nine charter

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 5I9

members. Up to February, 1882, one hundred and forty-one members had
been enrolled on the record books of the lodge. Some time later another
lodge of Odd Fellows, made up of members from the older lodge, was
organized and is known to this day as Nemaha Valley Lodge No. 36, while
the older lodge disbanded and was merged into the latter organization.

Nemaha Valley Lodge No. 36, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, was
organized under a charter granted to John D. Spragins, W. R. Nelson, T.
C. Cunningham, L. M. May, W. H. Keeling, G. P. Marvin, George V. Uhl,
J. \\'. ]\Iinnick, S. A. Fulton, A. J. Weaver and David C. Barnes. The
organization was effected under the supervision of St. John Goodrich, grand
master, assisted by William Beatty, deputy grand master and W. S. Stretch,
district deputy grand master. The first officers of the lodge were : J. D.
Spragins, noble grand ; W. R. Nelson, vice grand ; L. M. May, right sup-
porter; J. W. Minnick, treasurer; W. H. Keeling, watchman; S. A. Fulton,
conductor, and D. C. Brown, inside guard.

Falls City Lodge No. 18. Knights of Pythias, was organized in June,
1874. .\t that time the lodge had twelve members, among whom were
Judge A. J. Weaver, D. R. Holt, G. R. Summers, George E. Powell, John
F. Lyon, T. C. Cunningham, George A. Merrill and F. W. Miller. After
continuing in good standing for several years, the society gradually fell
apart and, failing to keep up its report of dues to the grand lodge of the
state, was formally disbanded in 1877.

Die Deauche Gelsellschaft was organized by the Germans of Falls City
on December 17, 1877, with a membership of forty persons — all Germans.
The announced objects of the association were to cultivate, develop and
propagate the pure German language, philosophy and character, conducive
to making themselves and their countrymen firm patriots of their adopted
country, and to know and uphold justice and Iibert\-. The society still
remains. It owns its own club house and the rooms liaxe ever lieen scenes
of pleasure and profit to the ever-increasing membership.

Veteran Post No. 84, Grand Army of the Republic. Department of
Nel)raska, was organized on January 19, 1882. and own its own (|uarters,
which are used jointly by the Woman's Relief Corps.

Eureka Chapter No. 5, Royal Arch Masons was organized under tlis-
pensation, August i, 1868. with ten members and the following officers:
J. F. Gardner, high priest; H. O. Hanna, king: J. Y. Hollenbough. scrilje;
J. E. Clifford, captain of the host; ^^'illiam R. Cain, principal sojourner;
R. Williams, royal arch captain ; J. W. Huntington, master of the third veil ;

520 RICIIAUDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

\V. S. Sargent, master of the second veil; John Loree, master of the first
\eil : George W. Morris, treasurer. The society was organized under the
charter, October 24, 1 869, with sixty-nine members and the f ollowings officers :
H. O. Hanna, high priest; J. F. Gardner, king; W. R. Cain, scril)e: J. R.
Cain, captain of the host: George Faulkner, royal arch captain: John W.
Holt, master of the third veil: John Loree. master of the secmid veil: M.
Maddux, master of the first veil: C. B. Scott, treasurer: W. II. Mann,
secretary: B. Hani, guard. The lodge is still in a nidst llourishing con-
dition.

I'^alls City Lodge Xo. 9, Ancient Free and Accejited Masons, was or-
ganized under a dispensation on October 13, 1864, and the following of-
ficers were appointed : H. O. Hanna, worshipful master : Nelson Snyder,
senior warden; W. H. Mann, junior warden: Isham Reavis, secretary: W.
R. Cain, senior deacon : \V. T. Stout, junior deacon ; li. C. Shercr, treas-
urer; J. R. Dowty, t\ler. On June 22, 1865, the lodge was organized under
a charter. .\t this date there were nine members and the following officers:
H. O. Hanna, worshipful master: X. Sn}-der, senior warden: \\\ LI. Mann,
junior warden: Isham Reavis. secretary: K. C. Sherer. treasurer: Charles
B. Scott, senif)r deacon: W. T. Stout, junior deacon; K. C. Cooley, tyler.
This lodge is at the jiresent time one of the most prosperous lodges in the
city and is constantly ha\ing additions to its membership,

;\lt. Sinai Commandery Xo. 8, Knights Templar, was first estal)lishcd
under a dispensation, X'nvember 5, 1877. Its officers were R. A. Wheery,
commander; W. S. Stretch, generalissimo; Charles L. Metz, captain gen-
eral: J. R. Cain, prelate; ]•",. V.. Metz. senior warden: J. R. Dowty, junior
warden; George 1'-. Lowell, treasurer; L. R. L. Stoughton, recorder; J.
L. .Slocum, sword bearer. A charter was granted on May i, 1878, and the
organization under the same was effected on July u. \^y^. the lodge then
ha\ing t\\el\e memliers. The new officers were; R. .\. Wherry, com-
mander; \\'. S. Stretch, generalissimo; C. L. Metz, captain general; J. K.
lain, ijrelate; (ieorge F.. Lowell, treasurer; George M. Xewkirk, recorder:
1'.. !'.. Metz, senior warden; .\. J. Weaver, junior warden: F. \\'. Miller,
standard bearer; J. L. Slocum. -^word bearer; J. W. Holt, warder; J. R.
Dowty, sentinel.

The Masonic l)o(lies own their own hall in the Richardson Count\- I'.ank
block, are energetic, prosperous bodies and have an ever increasing mem-
bership. The Ortler of tlie {•".astern Star, a woman'- branch of the ^b■lsonic
order, was organized on March it, 1874, with sixty-se\en memljers. It is
one of the prosperous lodges of the city at the present time.

CHRISTIAN CIIURCU. FALLS CITT.

AM.S CITY. l.s<is.

I'KE.SBYTIOIUAN CHURCH. FALLS CITY.

UCHAKDSON COUNTY, XliliK

DEDICATION Ol-" FIRST DD

The dedication of the tirst lodge room of the Independent Order oi
Odd Fellows at Falls City took place on Thnrsday, Xovember 4, 1873,
and the event had been widely advertised in the towns to the West. Agree-
able to arrangements the Odd Fellows of this place formed a procession
and marched to the depot, headed bv the cornet band, where they met the
eastbonnd train, with an extra coach loaded with the brotherhood, which
was sidetracked and unloaded. The procession was reformed and with the
addition of the new brothers marched to the new hall located on the west
side of Stone street, Ijetween Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets, where a social
houi was indulged in. with music and speaking, when the train from the
south was announced, and after some little greeting, all went to the feast
w liich had been prepared. There was an abundance of everything and jilenly
of lielj) to serve it. The ladies seemed to spare no pains in making the \ isinn's
enjoy themselves. After dinner Grand Master Zimerer, with tlie assistance
of Doctor Copperthwait, W. S. Stretch. S. A. Inilt(in, W. E. Dorrington.
(ieorge Gedultig and George P. Marvin, ])roceeded to dedicate the temple.
The dedication ceremonies were impressive and instructive, after which the
procession was again formed and marched to the depot, where they met the
Atchison (Kansas) Encampment and m,anv others, with whom they proceeded
to the Methodist Episcopal church where Doctor Copperthwait delivered a
lecture on "The Order, Its Divine Origin and History." The docti>r ably,
and in most beautiful language, showed the true ])rinciples of the order and
their adaptation to every-day walks of life. He dwelt at length on the lo\e
and friendship existing between Jonathan and l)a\itl and portrayed in golden
color': the happiness of the present day, if such friendship existed now.

The ceremonies of the day were closed in the evening by a large dance,
which was given at the new court house, in the court room. At this place
Charles Loree and \\'illiam Custer were employed throughout the evening
.-celling tickets at two dollars and half each to those attending. It is .said
that sixteen set occupied the floor at once, and the music for the occasion
was furnished by the Atchison String Band, which had been imported for
the ex])ress ])urpose. At midnight a supper was gixen b\- Major Loree,
which w;is without a doubt the grandest ban(|uet of the season.

FALLS CITY LIBRARY AS.SOCIATION.

An act was passed by the Legislature and approved on December ji,
1861, incorporating the Falls City Library Association. The incorporators

5^2 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

named in the act were C. H. Xurris, David Dorrington, H. O. Hanna, George
Van Deventer, J. H. Burljank. J. Edward Burljank. S. H. Schuyler, E.
S. Dundy and Jacob Good.

An early effort in the way of a library or reading r()om was made in
1885. This movement was for the purpose of providing a public reading
room, where young people might finds books and magazines. This move-
ment, as were many others, was brought to the fore by the good women of
the city and a meeting of those interested was held at the home of
Rebecca Wilson on Harlan street, in the afternoon of October 16, 1885, for
the purpose of devising ways and means of accomplishing the desired object.
After mature deliberation it was decided to organize a reading-room associa-
tiiin for this purpose: and to effect an organization, a constitution and l)y-
laws were formed and a set of rules formulated. The officers elected at
this meeting were: Mrs. A. J. Weaver, president; Mrs. J. L. Dalbey, vice-
l)resident: Mrs. W. W. \\'ilson, treasurer, and ^Irs. C. W. Earrington, sec-
retary. Rooms were procured in the second story of the Dorrington block,
and it accomplished a wonderful amount of good during more than ten
}c:ars of its existence. It was open for guests e^'ery evening of the week
and on Saturday afternoons, under the supervision of a librarian. The
shelves contained some six or seven hundred volumes of good books and
the reading tables were full of all the latest magazines and newspapers, and
weekly and monthly periotlicals. Miss Ora Lutz was librarian.

LYDIA BRUCN WOODS MEMORIAL LIBRARY.
By Mar.v Hiitchinss-

The history of the ])ublic librar\' moxement in h'alls L'ity is almost a
repetition of that history in many small towns. The work was undertaken
by a band of public-spirited women, who had known the advantages of such
an institution and who believed it was a necessary educational factor in every
(.ommunity. An impetus was given to the movement b\- a series of tem])er-
ance lectures delivered by John B. Einch, which resulted in a desire on the
part of our citizens to provide an attractive room downtown, where the young
people could spend their evenings. A meeting for the organization of the
first library association was held about 1885. at the home of Rebecca
Wilson, 1 5 13 Harlan street. About twelve ladies were present and Mrs.
Martha Weaver was elected president. Committees were appointed to solicit
funds, books and magazines and to secure a room. In ;i few weeks time
about four hundred ])ooks were collected, mosth' gifts from our townspeople,
;ind a room was secured in a building belonging to Robert Clegg on the east

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 523

.side of Stone street, between Fifteenth and Sixteenth streets. This building
bad been used as a station in the days of the "underground railway."

The room was kept open evenings and some afternoons during the week,
and Sunday afternoon and evening till church time. The ladies interested
shared in caring for the library and took turn in acting as librarian. The
reading room was free to all, but an annual fee of one dollar was charged
for the privilege of taking books from the building. Gifts of books and
money were always thankfully received and an occasional "tea" or "social"
was given to increase the library fund. In the course of time it was deemed
wise to have the work in charge of one woman, and JNIrs. C. \V. h'arington
was chosen first paid librarian, with a salary of two dollars a week, the amount
being raised by voluntary contribution and collected by the librarian. Mrs.
I'arington served a few years and was succeeded by Mrs. Elizabeth h'o.x,
w ho made her home with her daughter, Mrs. T. L. Himmelrich.

,\fter a time a room over Mr. Clegg's drug store was used, 1607 Stone
street, an interior room that was lig-hted only by skylight. Still later a
move was made to a smith room over the Richardson County Bank, 1622
Stone street, and its last home as a public lil^rary was in the Dorrington
building, 1601 Stone street, adjacent U> the telephone (jffice. While there the
books were in charge of the telephone girls. B)- this time the books had
l)ecome old and many lost and the remaining ones were given to the high
school. At one time a committee of ladies waited upon tlie city council,
asking for a library levy or appropriation. -\ gift of one Imndred dollars
was voted for library purposes, but was never paid.

The knowledge that Falls City was at last to ha\e a permanent library
building was indeed good news t<> its citizens, when, in 1900, the sum of
ten thousand dollars was wi'led to the city for that purpose by Mrs. Lydia
i'ruun Woods, who had been a resident of this county for some time, making
her home at Humboldt. During her lifetime Mrs. Woods had generously
given libraries to Humboldt and York. While the endowment of the present
li])rarv was given by Mrs. Woods, certain re(|uireinents had to l>e met by
the people of Falls Citv. The site was given by Mr. J. H. Miles and many
other citizens contributed l:)efore the building and sidewalk were completed.
The women's clubs helped by gifts of a clock, pictures and one jiiece of
statuarv, and books and periodicals that have been given each year.

The library is ideally located in the center of the town, but had it
lieen .set back from the street on a larger plot of ground better ventilation
and lighting woukh have been secured. At the time of its erection there
were vacant lots on the west side, but in 1914 a business liouse was iHiilt

524 RICIIARDSOX COUNTY. XEBKASKA.

tliere whicli necessitated a cliange in the interior arrangement of the library.
The iil)rar\ was opened in 1902 with 1.800 vohimes on the shelves.
This number was steadily increased by the addition of fmm 400 t(i 500
each }ear until there are ncjw 7.500 vulumes. besides 342 bound periudical.-
and 480 puljlic documents. The reading room is well provided with current
literature. The will of Mrs. Woods stipulated that at least seventy-live dollars
be spent annuall\- for this purpose. There are now four daily, twenty-one
weekly, and thirty-eight monthly periodicals in the reading room. Some
periodicals are put in by friends of the library. Gifts of books and periodicals
are gladl\- accepted and all bcjoks, wiietlier gifts or ])urchases. must lie ap-
proved l)y the book committee nr the librarian.

The annual fee charged in the beginning was one dollar. Later pro-
vision was made for tift\-cent juvenile readers and, in 1904. the change to
a free library was effected. The l^oard estimated the annual expense antl
asked the cit\ council to make a levy to cover it. The running expenses
of the library are generally met l^y a levy of one and a half mills. The l)oard
has asked for a larger levy several times to meet the additional expenses, such
as paving or remodeling the liuilding. At present the n(3minal fee of five
cents is paid annuall\- li\- those who live within the city limits and one dollar
annually by the country patrons. An exceptiini is made for the children
attending our pul)lic schools, who live outside the city. For this class tlie
annual fee is twenty-five cents. There are at present about fortv country
patrons. One rule that affected the circulation greatl\- was the granting of
the special n(in-fiction cards in 1904. Prior to this time each borrower
could draw only one b<iok at a time. Now any reader who cares for the
same may have two books, provided one is fiction. The privilege of usinii;
all a\ailable material by anyone doing special work is granted as full\' as pos-
sible without interfering with other readers wishing tlie same material.

It ma\' ntit be generally known that the county lioartl or the directors
of any >chool district ma\- contract with the library board for the privilege
of the library for the jieople of such district, upon such terms as ma\- be
agreed by said boards.

The library board, consisting of nine members, is elected by tlie city
coinicil. three being elected each year for a term of tiiree years. .Many of
our public-spirited people ha\e ser\ed and have given of their time and
energy to make the library what it now is. The present board is J. !•",.
Leyda, jiresident : Andrew Cameron, secretary: Mrs. Lillis Abbey. .Mrs. T.
J. Gist. .Mrs. G. X. Holland, !•:. S. Towle. J. H. Ilutdiings, John Lichtv

KICHAKOSOX COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 525

and Harry Pence. J. E. Leytia and K. S. T<n\le have been meniliers con-
tinuously since the Hbrar\- was estal)Hshed.

The office of lil)rarian was filled by Mrs. .\. Ci. \\'anner frnni its open-
ing until she resigned in 1903. She was succeeded by Miss Frances Morton,
who resigned in 1906. Miss Lois Spencer was the third librarian, filling the
position for three years, resigning in 1909, and the present librarian. Miss
Mary Hutchings, was her successor. Misses Edna and Vera Brown had
been able assistants for a number of years. Miss Rosa Trezer is tlie assistant
at present.

The growth oi the library is exidenced by the increase in the circulation,
in the attendance and in the amount of reference work done. The children's
department may be called its special feature. One of the attractions of the
library is the display of oil paintings by our local artist. Miss .Mice Cleaver.
The pictures are changed from time to time, but there is always an interesting
exhibit of her still-life, portrait and landscape work. Some of the subjects
are familiar sights, our own landscai)es and people, while others ha\c been
done in Paris. Wisconsin and Kentucky.

The librar}- is open from 2 to 6 and from 7 to 9 on week days, and
from 10 to 12 on Saturday morning. I'oUowing are a few items frtun the
secretarvs annual report for 191 7. which bay be of interest: bor-
rowers. 1. 000; attendance, 39.420; annual circulation. 3.350; circulation per
day, 1 10; whole amount. $1,840; periodicals. St 10; librarian and assistant.
$650; fuel, $145: binding. $100.

RURAL MAIL SERVICE.

l'"or the country adjacent to h'alls Cit\- rural free delivery routes Xos.
I. 2 and 3, were estal)lished on Jul\' i, 1902, with three carriers at a salary
of six hundred dollars a year. Route No. i is twenty and three-quarter miles
in length. A. E. Stunibo was installed as the first carrier and has made his
daily trips from the .start until the present time ( 1917). Route No. 2 is
tweiit)-five and one-quarter miles in length. Charles Stinebrink was installed
as the first carrier. Route Xo. 3 is twenty-two and a half miles in length. Mr.
Harkins was installed as the first carrier. (])n routes Xos. 2 and 3 the first
carriers served for a few years, since which time others have been in charge.

In the year 1905 the rural mail service was extended to cover the entire
county and the postoffices in other towns in the county were given rural
carriers, whose lines, in conjuncti<in with those of Falls City, serve neari\-
everv farm house in the county daily with mail. On X'ovember 16, 1903.

5^6 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

two more carriers were added to those already esta1)lishe<l at l-'alls Chy
ami with their service two new routes were estahlished. These routes are
known as Xos. 4 and 5. These, like the former, started at a salary ni
six hundred dollars a year.

Route No. 4 is twenty-six miles in length. Willis Voder was installed as
the first carrier. This route likewise has since gone into the hands of other
carriers. Route No. 5 is twenty-eight miles long and Ed Metzger was
installed as carrier, which position he still holds.

The number of pieces of mail handled monthly b\- the rural carriers
out of the Falls City otlfices reaches the grand total of about 54.457.

In recent years the salary has been doubled and the carriers now re-
ceive one thousand two hundred dollars a year.

MAIL DELIVERY E.STABLISHED IN FALLS CITY.

Owing to the increase of population in Falls Cit\', city mail deliver}
was established in this place November 15, 1912, with three carriers. Route
No. I is carried by Dallas Voder, route No. 2 by Sam AlcCrear}- and No.
3 by Herbert Alarr. Since that date Sam McCreary has been promoted
to a position in the postoffice and his place as a carrier substituted by Cleve-
land Stump. The city carriers in Falls City began with a salary of six hun-
dred dollars a year and the same has lately been increased to one thousand
one hundred dollars.

The postoffice at Falls City is in charge of Postmaster Charles C. Davis,
wlu) received his appointment under President Wilson and assumed his duties
aljout a vear and a half after the President took his office. He succeeded
.\aron Loucks, who had held the office temporarily after the resignation
of J. G. Crook, the former postmaster. Mr. Davis has as assistant or deput>
postmaster, Fouis Meinzer; Sam McCreary and Gus Flam, assistants, and
Miss Clara Tanner, money-order clerk. Miss Tanner has held her position
for more than ten years.

NEW POSTOFFICE BUILDING.

The new government postoffice building at Falls City, which was but
recently completed, was begun on April 25, 19 16, by Charles ^\"eitz & Sons
of Des Moines, Iowa, to whom the contract had been let by the national
government. The erection of the liuilding from first to last was under the
direct supervision of A. T. Montgomery, of Des Moines, Iowa, representing
the contractors, and whose able and efficient personal supervision of every

RICHA1U)S0N COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 527

detail of the work accounts in great measure for the superiority of the com-
pleted edifice. E. A. Steece and William H. Horstman were on the ground
as inspectors for the government, the former remaining here until March
15, 1917, when he was transferred to Nashville, Tennessee, and the latter
remaining until July 25, 1917, the date of the completion of the buikhng.
The building is substantial and modern in every particular.

The new postoffice building is situated on the southeast corner of Six-
teenth and Harlan streets. It is built of Caledonian gre}-, rough-texture
brick with Bedford (Indiana) stone cornice and trimmings. It is one story
in height, has massive walls eighteen inches thick, and is thoroughly damp-
proof. The building has a west frontage of eighty feet on Harlan street,
by a depth of fifty-five feet, and is located near the heart of the business
district on a spacious lot, having a frontage of one hundred and twenty-
five feet, by a depth of one hundred and twenty feet, thus giving ample
light and ventilation.

The facade has three-feet semi-circular arched openings of equal size;
the center one being the main entrance, the other two, windows. The
main entrance has bronze lamp-standards of classic designs on either side.
The three openings mentioned light the lobby. The position and size of
the lobby is further expressed on the facade by a slight projection of the
l)rick wall. The postmaster's office is on the left and the money-order and
registry window on the right hand side of the lobby axis, as one enters.

The lobby, which is seventeen feet in height, has the usual money-order,
general-delivery and postal savings windows and the lock boxes. The parcel-
post window is located in the alcove entering on the main axis or lobb\-.
The interior of the lobby is embellished by pilasters and cornice of plaster
of the Doric order of architecture, resting on a grey Tennessee marble wains-
cote. The woodwork is painted a flat greenish-grey, contrasting well with the
white plaster surrounding it. The floor is polished terrazzo, with white
marble chips and grey Tennessee marble borders and is laid off in blocks.
Two elegant hardwood desks, with glass tops constitute the only furniture in
the lobby.

The postma.ster's room is furnished in quarter-sawed oak. Opening into
this room is a concrete vault, with steel floors, in which is located a large
safe for the surplus stock of stamps, money-order blanks, etc. The money-
order and registry division occupies about the same space as the postmaster's
office, and balances the same on the opposite side of the principal axis of
the building. The work room is located in the rear of the building and is
for the exclusive use of carriers and clerks, routing and dispatching mails

526 UICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

ill the cit}- and distant points. This room contains the latest furnitm-e and
equipment to carry on the work of the postal service and is remarkably well
ventilated and lighted. In the basements arc located the boiler room, culd
storage, civil-service examining room, and the carriers' recreation room. In
close proximity to the latter are elegantly .'iiipointed shower Ijaths. lavatories,
with marble wainscot and terrazzo Hoors. and fitted with the latest nickel-
plated plumbing.

The building is heated by steam with a down-draft boiler. \'entila-
tion is carried through the roof to ventilating duck. In the rear of the
building is a mailing vestibule, which can be shut oi¥ from the rest of the
building for receiving and delivering mail without disturbing the main part
of the postoffice. The auto-trucks run on a concrete driveway, which extends
from front to rear, and has a large open space in the rear for parking auto-
mobiles. The total cost of the building, which is fireproof, is $43,195. exclu-
sive of the site, whicli cost $5,600, and is considered the idtimate word in
pi >stoffice equipment.

The building is a product of the new policy die i)resent administration
lias adopted. Previous to this. Congress appropriated money only for post-
offices in the larger cities, leaving the postoffices in the smaller towns to
get along as well as thev could by renting a store or some other building
not adapted for postal service. The gradual growth and civic importance,
however, of Falls City, demanded improved postal facilities and the federal
authorities proceeded with the erection of the building, which now meets
all the needs of the city and neightorhood.

PUBLIC TMr-KCiVEMENTS IN FALLS CITY.

.\ considerable portion of the city sewer improvement is hid awa\ in
the ground in main and lateral sewers that do not make a show or impress
the casual visitor. l)Ut it is a splendid investment, just die same, and will
return dividends in health and usefulness for generations. There are two
main-line sewers, aggregating 35,168 feet, that cost, complete, about $22. 2CX3.
There is a lateral sewer for the alley of nearly every block in town. The
total length of these being thirteen miles and 1.261 feet. The contract
price of this was $45,000.

W^ater mains were laid into some of the newer portions of the town
and many dead ends were connected up in all parts of the city, thus giving
patrons in all parts of the cit\- the benefit of fresh water. The extensions
were into Evergreen Heights. I'.oulevard addition and \\'eaver's two addi-

•AL CIUIM H. FALLS CITY.

STS. I'F.TEK AM) I'ATLS CIHIiCIL FALLS CITY.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 529

tions, and into tlie southeastern part of the city, where many new residences
were built to accommodate the railroads. There were, in all, 17,217 feet
of water mains laid at a cost of $8,000. In addition to furnishing water
for domestic consumption these extensions brought nearly every building
within the corporate limits witliin tlie protection of die fire department, wliich
was an item of considerable importance when it is understood that no Ijuild-
ing worth saving has I)een lost that could have Ijeen saved by the fire depart-
ment.

Four new wells were put down in the old first ward water station. The
wells proved to be gdod and are capable of producing 200,000 gallons of
water in twenty-four hours. The water is forced out of the wells by com-
pressed air into the large storage reservoir haAnng a capacity of 100,000
gallons. The air compressor is operated by an electric motor, the power
being transmitted from the light plant in the city park a mile and a half
away. There is, also, at this plant a large pump operated by electricity that
transfers the water from the reservoir into the mains having the ability to
transfer 30,000 gallons an hour under eighty pounds of standpipe pressure.
The cost of rejuvenating the first ward plant was $3,700. The whole equip-
ment there is new. The steam plant there was abandoned, although there
was a good boiler there, and one that had been condemned, as it was found
that it was cheaper to generate all the power that was needed at the light
plant situated near the ilissouri Pacific depot. This rejuvenated plant is
an efficient one and is operated with more economy than its predecessor.

The improvement of the streets undertaken for 191 2 was largely per-
manent work. A contract was let for the paving of three blocks around the
court house and six blocks on Stone street, which would make a brick street
continuous from Eleventh street to Twenty-first street. This contract was
let to P. A. Johnson, of Kansas City, at $1.93 per S(|uare yard and twenty-
seven cents per lineal foot for curbing. Considerable difficulty was experi-
enced at that time in getting brick that would stand the test. Since the
aijove work was done more than eight miles of the best kind of paving has
l)een laid on the streets of Falls City, connecting both depots with the city
and the business and resident sections of the city. Work during the past
year ( 1917), will connect Stone street east with the Sunnyside greenhouses
in tlie east ])art of tiie city, this latter extension being deemed necessary as
connecting one of the main lines from the east in the direction f)f Rulo with
tiie business section.

The citv government, in iq\2. re(|uired jjrojiertN' owners to build side-
(34)'

530 RICHARDSON" COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

walks aggregating- 8,524 lineal feet, mostly oi cement and concrete. I'lie
city government in order to connect up these new sidewalks built fifty-tdur
concrete crossings at a cost of $1,653.

The City F'ark, which is one of the prettiest in southeast Nebraska,
was purchased in 1907, and was placed under the supervision of the park
commissioners in February, 1909. It cost tlie city originally as follow:

(lri.i;iu:il prii-f nf ^Tciuiul fnmi I';irk CoDiyiiu.v .$ 7,(HXMJ<J

Improveuieuts, iiioliulinj: iron fence, fountain, lanip.s. closets,

walks, etc. 2,785.05

Labor 1,387.05

.Salary of commissiouers 300.00

Incidentals, painting, etc. 225.00

Interest on bonds 925.00

Total $12.022.S7

The park board received to offset this, from earnings from tbe

park itself and don.-itions:

Chautauqua 875.00

Base ball C59.8S

Transfer from park bond fund 711.20

Entertainments 40.85

Hay, rents, etc. 342.43

Sale of bouse to Metz 1,500.00

$3,995.41
Net cost of park to city ( np to 1013) $8,627.46

The present value of the property composed of twenty-three acres, grow tli
of trees, lawns, etc., may be conservatively estimated at not less than fifteen
thousand dollars. The property included in what is now known as the City
Park was formerly the home and grounds of Mrs. Thirsa Roy. The prop-
erty was at first lx)Ught by a company of public-spirited citizens composed of
Messrs. AMlliam A. Greenwald, John Lichty, John W. T'owell, W. W. Jenne
and T. J. Gist, who held the same until the cit\- could arrange legally to take
over die property for park purposes.

FALLS CITY WATERWORKS.

On Saturday, May 7. ib^^y. the citizens of h'alls Chy voted at an elec-
tion to determine by ballut what system of waterworks should be voted for
at a later election. This ctmrse had been determined upon Ijecause the mem-
bers of the city council did ni>t care to assume the responsibility of following
their individual inclination in this particular. Their desire was to voice the
will of the majority, rmd the ballot was the only wa\' in which the matter

RICIIARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 53I

could be clearly expressed. The election was held from tliree o'clock p. ni.
to seven p. m., at the James Casey shoe store, two dotns south of the post-
ofHce on Stone street.

On the evening of 'SUiy i_', 1887, the council passed ordinance No. 100.
This ordinance submitted to the voters of the city the privilege of deciding
by their ballot on the i6th day of June (1887), whether it was their wish
to bond the city for the sum of twenty-four thousand dollars for the building
and maintenance of a system of waterworks. The bonds carried and work
was at once commenced on the construction of the system, which has from
time to time been improved and extended until at the present time the city
h(5asts of as good water and as ample a suiiply as can be found in any
part of southeast Nebraska.

MAYORS OF FALLS CITY.

The first to have the honor of presiding as chief executive of Falls City
was John A. Burbank. He was followed successively l)y Sewell R. Jamison,
David Dorrington, \Villiani Bradford, J. J. Alarvin, Edwin S. Towle, August
Schoenheit, C. L. Keim, Jacob G. Good, George P. Uhl, Robert Clegg,
Thomas Brannin, James L. Slocum, Thomas Brannin, J. C. Yutzy, Wil-
liam E. Dorrington, T. C. Shelley, Robert Clegg, Henry C. Smith, J. J.
Horner, Joseph H. Miles, W. 11. Keeling, G. W. Marsh, P. S. Heacock,
Frank Clegg, Henry C. Barton, G. W. Barrett, W. S. Leyda, W. H. Keel-
ing, W. S. Leyda, John H. Morehead, W. S. Leyda, Roy Heacock and W.
S. Leyda. The latter, Wilber S. Leyda, has served more terms than any of
the mayors of Falls City, and as an official has always taken a very keen
interest in the strict enforcement of the law and ordinances and has labored
unceasingly for the best interests of Falls City.

\AXISHING WATER POWER.

The settlers who came into this country soon after the Territory of Ne-
Ijraska was formed and opened to settlement in 1854, were greatly hampered
by the lack of grist-mills. They found this county well supplied with stream.^
and water-power, but it was some time before a miller came along and put
a dam in any of the streams. In the meantime the settlers went for flour
to the nearest points in Missouri and Kansas, where mills had been estab-
lished. It is believed that a Mr. Horner was the first white man to harness
a stream in this countv for a saw-mill. He built a dam in Muddv creek

53- UICIIARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

.ihout two and one-halt miles northeast of Falls City, alxmt 1858. and oper-
ated a saw-mill for a few years by water power. This saw-mill was on land
now owned by William R. Holt.

The first flour-mill was at Salem on the north fork of the Nemaha river
anil was built by Thomas Hare in 1856, at the same location,' in the southwest
(quarter of section 3, township i, north of range 15, as has been used in all
the }ears until quite recently — just east of the village of Salem. \Mien the
bulir-stones were brought up from the Missouri river to Salem, there was
.sijreat rejoicing throughout the county, even though the first mill did not more
than crack corn for several years. The second mill established was that' of
Merit \\'e!ls on the south fork of the Nemaha, about four miles west of
-Salem. In 1864 the Stumbo mill was opened on the Nemaha at tlie falls
two and a half miles southwest of Falls City. It was the best natural
waterfall for natural waterpower in the county, as a ledge across the stream
about four and a half feet high made a fall and furnished a foundation on
which to build a dam. By the early settlers this was called the "Cowhide
mill,'' as the belts used were made of cowhide with the hair on the same.
Mills multiplied with the growth of tlie county until 1880, when there were
ten water-power mills distributed along the streams that were built in the
\ears. as shown in the following list:

On the Muddy creek — Thacker mill, east of b'alls Citv, 1869: Hinzelman
mill, near \'erdon.

On the Nemaha river — Ilinton mill, east of b'alls City. 1871 : Stimibo
mill, southwest of Falls City, on site of old Nemaha Falls, 1864.

On north fork of Nemaha river — Salem mill. 1856; Dawson mill. 1868:
Wells mill, west of Humboldt. 1873; Sopher mill, at Humboldt, 1875; Lutb.y
mill, near Pawnee-Richardson county line. 1878.

On the south fork of the Nemaha river — Wells mill, about i8()0.

At the time these mills were established they enjoyed a good trade. Tiicir
water-power was sufficient for their needs. After 1870 the county developed
rapidly and the lands were placed under culti\ation and largely in corn and
crops that required the land to l)e plowed and subjected to the action of the
winter frosts and summer rains. The prairie fires disappeared. The timber
along the streams was protected and flourished. Some summer seasons the
rains were torrential in character and carried much soil from the fields into the
streams, which were not open as formerly, but were blocked by mill dams and
the sediment was thrown down behind the dams and raised the level of the
river beds. .\s \ears rolled by the river beds became more clogged as over-
hanging trees fell into the streams with caving banks. Drifts were formed

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 533

which, together with the mill dams, during rainy seasons produced destructive
overflows. At last it came about that the Nemaha and the Muddy were
useless as water-power sites. In some places the river bed, as it existed before
the mill dams were placed in them and the country was farmed, is ten feet
below the present level of the Ixjttom of the stream. The rivers became
clogged sewers. The farms in the valleys were almost ruined by the over-
flows that were caused by them and the mills went out of business because
their wheels were flooded by backwater and filled with mud. The Salem
mill was the last to give up the ghost. There is nu water-power flour-mill
in operation in Richardson county today. There are but two flour-mills now
in the county, and JDOth are situated on a railroad sidetrack, and are operated
by steam. Times change — the water-power mills on streams in this county are
gone never to return. The farm lands in the river valleys are Ijeing re-
deemed and the streams are lieing supplied with new channels free from ob-
struction.

LOCAL INDUSTRIAL CONCERNS.

The industrial concerns doing business in Falls City and employing labor
are the National Poultry and Egg Company; the F'alls City Bottling Works,
established by and operated by the late W. H. Putnam and now operated
by his son, John J. Putnam; the Putnam Glove Factory; the Frills Cit}- Roller
Mills, operated by P. S. Heacock & Son; the Leo Cider Alill, managed b)
Alex Leo ; T. J. Gist ; the Hermes Creamery ; the Southeast Nebraska Tele-
phone Company ; the W'estern Cereal Company, and a poultry concern oper-
ated by E. E. James.

The National Poultry and Egg Company was established in 1910, and
employs from twenty to sixty-five men, according to the season. The amount
of capital invested is fifty-five thousand dolars. The concern is a distribut-
tng center for a number of other stations located in Nebraska, and a vast
amount of business is done through the Falls City plant, which is located near
the new Missouri Pacific dei)ot. The annual business done will exceed two
million dollars.

The Falls City Bottling Works is located near the Burlington depot
and is kept con.stantly in operation supplying the outlying towns with soft
drinks and extracts. The business has met with a striking success under
the management of the late W. H. Putnam and his son, John ]. PutnauL
The Putnam glove factory employs a number of hands in the making of
cotton gloves and is operated by Miss Putnam.

The Leo Vinegar Factory was started in 1906 by .\. Leo. Sr., an expc-

534 KICHARDSOX COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

riciiced ci(ler-\inegar niaiuU'acturer, wIki came liere fruin Alton, Jlliimis.
and looked over the tjround with a view to locating- a cider factory. Ik-
was so impressed with the extent of the orchard industry in northeast Kansas
and southeast Nebraska that he conceived the idea of building a vinegar
factory and tried to interest local capital. Inasmuch as the project was a
new one to local capitalists and something with which diey were not familiar,
he had considerable difficulty in securing financial support. After much
effort, however, he succeeded in interesting a few men, who invested their
money in the venture and have never had cause to regret their action. The
judgment of the veteran cider-maker has proven to have been sound in
selecting an ideal location from which has grown a very important industry.
The first small plant was located along what is known as the Rhine, in block
157, but the business soon outgrew the quarters and a tract of five acres was
purchased southeast of the City Park and a larger plant erected, to which
several additions have since been built, as the growth of the business has
demanded. John Leo, a son of the founder, came to the city and supervised
the erection of the new factory and some time later, the present manager,
Alex Leo, Jr., took charge. Apple -grinding stations have been estab-
lished at Hiawatha, Kansas, and Forest City, ^lissouri, and the factor}- takes
the output of most of the cider mills in this section of Nebraska and Kansas.
The mill serves as a depot for the culls and windfalls of the many orchards
within hauling distance of Falls Cit}-, w^hich otherwise would be wasted on
the groiuid. Hundreds of carloads of apples are shipped into the plant from
northeast Kansas, northern Missouri, southern Iowa and from all points in
this section of Nebraska. The output of this concern in the year 1916,
exceeded one million gallons of the purest apple-cider vinegar, the quality
of which is unsurpassed and is recognized by the government as a pure food
article, the manufacture of which was given a decided impetus upon the
enactment of the pure food laws, which efifectively classified the various makes
of vinegar and placed the grain and spurious imitations of vinegar in their
proper class. The founder, A. Leo, managed the factory for a few years,
and then established another vinegar factory at Odell. Nebraska. After
placing another son in charge of this plant he w-ent West to Pullman. Wasli-
ington, and there built another mill, which he placed in charge of another sdu.
and has now retired to a home in St. Louis, Missouri.

The Peerless Stock-Powder Company was establisheil in 10)04. with .Mr.
E. O. Lewis as manager. Associated with Mr. Lewis are local capitalists.
The capital of this flourishing concern is ten thousand dollars. The number
of men employed, including salcsnien. will nuniber ten. The I'eerless Stock-

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 535

I'owder Company are manufacturers of high-grade condition powders for Hve
stock, stock dip and insecticides, the output of which is sold in Nebraska.
Kansas. Iowa and Missouri, and some shipments have been made to Texas
points. The output lias l)een increased from the first year to over live hundred
per cent, and the total shipments and sales in 191 7 will exceed seven hundred
and fifty thousand pounds. It is a very successful, growing concern, which
has a live and active manager in charge.

The late Philo S. Heacock was one of the pioneers in. the milling and
grain business in Richardson county. He established an elevator at Falls
City in 1876 and gradually widened his operations until he had a chain of
grain elevators to the numl^er of twenty in southeastern Nebraska. In the
spring of 1905 his Falls City elevator was destroyed by fire. In the follow-
ing September Mr. Heacock purchased the Douglas flouring-mill, which was
built in 1902. Since that time the mill has been operated by the Heacocks,
father and son, the senior Heacock being joined liy his son. K. .\. Heacock,
who is now managing the business. Two elevators, the Falls City and the
Preston elevators, are now operated in connection with the Falls City roller
mills. The concern handles over three hundred thousand bushels of grain
annuallv. The P. S. Heacock & Son's flouring-mill has a capacity of one
hundred and twenty-five barrels of flour daily. The mill is operated by
steam power and is fitted with modern equipment throughout, its owners
having constantlv added to the buildings and equipment until it is now one
of the best-equipped flouring-mills in this section of Nebraska. The space
covered bv the buildings and grounds exceeds one and one-half acres and
is reached directly by the Chicago. Burlington & Ouincy railroad. The
payroll of this industry will exceed ten thousand dollars annually and twelve
men are employed in the operations of the milling, grain and coal business
of the concern. The well-known brand of flour, the "Sunflour" is pro-
duced and is consumed almost entirely as a di>mestic product in the kical
territory within direct reach of Falls City.

At this writing (August, 1917) a company has l^een organized with
Falls City and Richardson coimty citizens as stockholders for the purpose
of promoting a company to engage in the manufacture of cereal foods.
under the title of the Western Cereal Company, with a capital invested of
sixty thousand dollars or more. The formation of the company has ]iassed
the initiatory stage and the factory will be installed in the Gehling brewery
building, which has been purchased by the new concern, at a cost of thirty-
five thousand dollars. The company is incorporated and actual operation^

536 KICIIAKD.SON COUXTY, NEBRASKA.

in the manufacturing of cereal foods will Ijc soon under way. lulwin Iv
Durfee is president of the new corporation.

The Monarch Engineering Company, contractors and builders, of Falls
City and Den\er, is a Falls City institution, begun and pushed to a place
of prominence and influence in the industrial world by two young Falls Cilv
men who were born and reared in that city, namely, John A. and Guy A.
Crook. This important concern does an inmiense amount of bridge con-
struction, paving, irrigation-dam work and erection of public buildings. It
was established in 1908 by John A. Crook, who was joined by his brother.
Guy A. Crook, in 191 o. bifty men and upwards are constantly employetl
by the firm, depending upon the amount nf work under construction by the
firm. The construction and building work undertaken by the company is
going on in several states. Much bridge work is being done and has been
completed by them in Oklahoma and Nebraska. Only recently they have
finished three miles of brick paving in Falls City and ha\e done and are
doing a great deal ot county work, such as highway bridges in Richardson,
Xemaiia, Otoe, Cass and Sarpy counties, Nebraska. One of their notable
undertakings was a bridge across the Platte river at Sutherland, Nebraska,
costing $30,000. Another was the bridge across the Elkhorn river at Gretna
in Sarpy county, Nebraska, costing $25,000. They have construction work
going on in Alissouri, South Dakota and Wyoming. The Alonarch Engineer-
ing Company is erecting the new court house at Basin, \\'y(3ming, at a cosl
of $60,000, and are at present building two dams across the Big Horn river
at Moreland, Wyoming. A big go\ernment bridge, costing $26,000 is in
process of construction in their charge, also in Wyoming. Another govern-
ment bridge is being built by them at Salt Fork, Oklahoma, between Noble
and Kay counties. Only recently they have finished a government bridge at
Wyoming in Otoe county, Nebraska. They are erecting t\\o largs bridges
in Calhoun county, Iowa. This concern maintains offices at Flails City, Ne-
braska, Kansas City, Missouri, and Denver, Colorado. At the latter cit\
they purchased, in February, 1917, the Denver Steel and Iron Works, which
are in charge of John A. Crook, the senior member of the firm. This plant
is tlie workshop of the Monarch Engineering Company and contains a cnni-
l)lete structural-steel fabricating plant, machine shop, lilacksmith shop fur
heavy forging and culvert shop.

The l-"alls City Exchange Mills was a l)uilding thirty l)y forty feet, four
>tories high — with four runs of forty-eight-inch l>uhrs and propelled by a
fift\ -two-horse-power turljine wheel. It was built by Levi Thacker in 1870.
and was furnished with ail the improvements of that day at a cost of fifteen

FALLS CmCNEB.

\ lEWS IN FALLS CITY.

MISSOUKI PACIFIC .SHOPS, FALLS CITY

lAVIl) DOKIMNOTON, (INK OV THK FUUXDKUS OF FALLS CITY.

LSHAM ItKAVIS, ON AltUIVAL AT FAl
STONE STREET, AT THl': rUFSFXT ^

ITY. ls.-,s. HFILDLNC; STOOD ON
F THE WANXEl; 1>UT(; STOItE.

RICIIAIUJSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 537

thousand dollars. These mills were situated on the banks of the Great
Nemaha river, almost directl)- south of the town of Falls City.

The Hawk-Eye Mills, by Downs & Son, were established Ijy Stringheld
& Stumbo in the very early days of the county. They had thirty by thirty-
six inch buhrs propelled by a thirty-six-horse-power turbine wheel. The
mills were located at the Great Nemaha falls, about two and a half miles
southwest of Falls City. They enjoyed a good business for many years.

CHAPTER XXI.
The City of Humboldt.

Humboldt is the secinid cit\- in Richardson county in point of popula-
tion and importance, and is Incated near the western boundary of the county
in tlie midst of the most fertile section and is a model city of its size.
Acc<5rding to the last census the population of Humboldt was one thou-
sand one hundred and seventy-six. That the people have the true Western
push and enterprise is at once apparent to the \isitor who makes even a
Hying visit to the town.

Humboldt was incorporated as a town in 1875, Init the visitor would
hardly take it to l)e that old, for unlike so many Western towns it has kept
abreast of the times. Xew Imildings have been erected and there are few
dilapidated places to mar the lieauty and detract from the general good
appearance of the town. Owing to the fact that it is situated in the fairest
farming countrv that the sun ever shown upon, it has natural resources that
have been graduallv brought into play in Ixiilding up the town and con-
trilniting to its prosperitv. It is pre-eminently a city of homes, and the
condition in which they are kept, and the pleasing appearance they present
testify to the fact that the town is inhabited l)y an intelligent and progressive
class of people.

PUBLIC UTILITIES AND BUSINESS INTERESTS.

In the wav of public improvements Humboldt is in the first rank of
towns in its class. It has one of the best waterworks systems of any town
of its size in the state, supplying plenty of pure water, obtained from cool
fresh springs two miles east of the town, which has at a considerable expense
been brought by pipe lines into town. The large standpipe on the hill north
of town furnishes adequate pressure and gives the best of fire protection.
A telephone system is in operation and the net work of wires show that the
convenience of the telephone is generally appreciated by the jieople of llum-

holdt.

Mr. O. A. Cooper, who is one of the most progressive citizens the town
has ever had and who operated the large flouring mill, became convinced
tliat Humboldt needed an electric li.ght plant, so he purchased the necessary

MCHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 539

machinery and installed it in a building adjacent to his mill. In recent years
lie has added to the capacity of the same and extended his lines, furnishing
light and power for many industries of the city, including the large and
well-known brick plant at the edge of town, the creamery, the bottling works,
newspaper offices and automobile garages. Besides the lines have been run
to other villages at a distance, where the light and power are furnished. The
system is well patronized in the city, where the street, business houses and
res'idences are thus lighted.

On the four sides of the square are the business houses, many of them
modern structures of brick and stone, that are a credit to the town. .\11
branches of business are well represented and the stores are large and well
kept. The business men are enterprising and up-to-date and have very mate-
rially aided in the up-building of the town.

SCHOOLS AND CHURCHES OF HUMBOLDT.

The public schools are a source of great pride to the people of Hum-
boldt. A commodious lirick building in the north part of the city accom-
modates the children of schotil age. This building, in very recent years, has
lieen found inadequate and a large addition has Ijeen buih to the same. An
excellent teaching force has always been maintained and the standard of
the work done is very high. There are a half dozen or more churches, all
of them neat houses of worship, where large congregations assemble regu-
larly.

CITY GOVERNMENT AND NEWSPAPERS.

The newlv elected mayor, Herbert \'. Dorland, was born and reared
in the city and his long, active business experience fits him well to administer
to die needs of his people. He is surrounded by an able city coiuicil, who
are pledged to numerous and necessary reforms for the coming year.

The newspaper field in Humboldt is well covered, two papers being pub-
lished there. The Humboldt Standard is edited and published by the
proprietor, William C. Norton, who has spent his entire working years in
that business and has few peers. The Humboldt Leader, published by J.
J. Havdon and wife, also takes first rank among the weekly papers of the
county.

The country adjacent to Humboldt is covered with six rural mail routes,
which thoroughly cover the farming districts for a distance of from ten to
fifteen miles in all directions. Thus this section enjoys a very complete and
efficient mail service.

540

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

EARLY HISTORY OK UrMBOLDT.

Humboldt is located near the junction of a stream called Long Branch
with the Nemaha ri\er, and is beautifully situated on a gentle slope reaching
back from both streams. It is ten and three-quarters miles from the north
line of Kansas and alxjut thirty miles west from the Missouri river. It
was incorporated on December 3, 1873, as follows: "Commencing at a
point on the north bank of the Nemaha river, where the east line of section
10, township 2, north of range 13, east of sixth principal meridian. Richardson
county, Nebraska, crosses the said Nemaha river and running thence north
to the northeast corner of the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter
of section 3; thence west one mile to the northwest corner of the southwest
quarter of the northwest quarter of section 3 ; thence south to the north bank
of the Nemaha river: thence along the north bank of the said Nemaha river
to the place of beginning." S. L. Green, A. R. Nims, E. P. Tinker, William
Af. Patton and J. E. Cmw were at the same time designated as the first
Ijoard of trustees.

EARLY SETTLERS IN THE VICINITY.

The early pioneers of this section, like all others in this country, settled
tirst along the living streams. Those coming took up land along the Nemaha
river, Long Branch and its twin stream, Kirkum Branch. In the vicinity
of the south fork, Thomas F. Brown located in 1854 and was the first
settler. Later settlers in that vicinity, Speiser precinct, were David Speiser,
Sr., the Lionbergers, Uhries, Riechers and a number of ot hers. To the
nortli of Humboldt on Long Branch and Kirkum Branch, the first settlers

were John Scott, John Corlett, B. Furrows, Kirkum anil

Dthers. In 1856 came Benjamin F. Ferguson, John W. Davis, Benjamin

Ball, Smallev and Joshua Babcock, and in 1857, a luuuber of others.

These pioneers located near the Brownville freight road, possibly with the
expectation that at .some future time a town might be founded on the road
in their neighborhood. .\t an early date a town was laid out by Benjamin
F. Ferguson and a warehouse was built, and this projected city was called
"Franklin" in honur of its founder, Init it never got above the importance
of a freight station.

On the Nemaha, near Humlwldt, several families located in 1855, among
wiioui was John Rothenljerger, the first settler, locating three miles east,
and later came O. 1. Tinker, his brother and sons, to whom more than any

EAST SIDE rUULIC StilAlii:. LOOKING SOUTH. HUMBOLDT.

EAST SIDE ri'BLIC SQUARE. LOOKING NORTH. HUMBOLDT.

LOOKIXO EAST OX NORTH SIDE I'lHLIC SQUARE. Hl'MBOLDT.

IJK)UI\(, 1 \v|

KICITAKDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 54I

one Humboldt owes its existence. O. J- Tinker arrived in 1857 and entered
as a farm most of the land which now comprises the townsite. His expecta-
tion was to homestead die land, but the homestead law being vetoed by
President Buchanan, he was obliged to purchase it, paying- two hundred
dollars for the quarter-section of land, upon which now is found the public
sf|uare, which was donated to the city b\' O. J. Tinker as a park, and a greater
numlier of the business houses of the town. His l)rother and his son. K.
v. Tinker, owned the land which is now occupied by the nordi portion of
the town, while the Xims brothers, William. Cliarles and Luther, settled
upon the quarter section which now includes the east end, wliere are now
located some of the finest residences of the city.

BEGINNINCS OF HUMBOLDT.

When O. J. Tinker arrived here. John Scdtt, now deceased, wlio until
a few years ago resided on his old farm a mile away to the north, brought
the newcomer down the Long branch to the later townsite, showed him the
farm and accepted a dollar for his services. This has led to the remark
that "the discovery of Humboldt only cost a dollar." ]\[r. Tinker was
anxious to make his ])lace the nucelus for a new settlement, and soon had
a postoffice located there ( 1867), with his daughter as postmistress and
himself as mail-carrier from Brownville on the Missouri river in Xemaha
county. At that time the duties of looking after the mail were few and
they were obliged to donate their services to hold the postoflfice.

THE STONE STOKE.

In 1867 a store of stone, which still stands, was Jmilt on the banks of
the Long Branch, and was conducted by the Nims brothers. It was called
the "Stone Store." In 1868 Mr. Tinker offered Ruel Xims a deed to twent\-
acres of land, a part of the then established townsite, if he would Imild
a store fronting the public s(|uare. The conditions were accepted and the
second stone store, which was erected on the south side of the s((uare, still
stands, and has been occupied during all the years as a place of business,
and is yet one of the really substantial liusiness buildings of the town. The
Xims brothers went sut of business in 1869 and rented the building to
W. H. Sterns for a year at the rate of fifty dollars per month. During
that same year. Mr. Sterns erected a large frame store building, also on the
Miuth side of the s(|uare. but west across South Central avenue. It was

542 RICIIARDSOX COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

occupied tor years by the Williamson-ratrick drug store. Fellers & Se,i^Tist
furniture dealers, and at this time by Jt)hn Klossner for a harness shop.
The cellar for this building was excavated by William Williamson and
the lumber for the same was hauled from the yards at Brownville by Captain
Enoch. The building material, of course, had been brought to Brownville.
by the INIissouri river steamlx:)ats. The ever-recurring talk about the ex-
tension of the railroad up the \alle\- of the Xemaha caused at this time
the coming in of nian\- newcomers. From 1871 to 1873 '^he growth of
the village was quite rapid, and its future was assured. The Atchison
& Nebraska railroad was jjuilt in 1871 and the expectations of the in-
habitants were realized, Humb(jldt Ijecoming at once one of the most import-
tant trading and shipping points for farm produce west of the Missouri river.

HON. O. J. TINKER, THE FOUNDER OF HU.MBOLDT.

The father of Humljoldt, as it was he who founded the town, came
here in 1857. During the early days he farmed, kept postot^ce. carried
the mail from Brownville, was captain of the home guards during the war.
kept a hotel after the town started, then went into the furniture business,
and finally retired from active trade, living in a convenient part of town
near the public scpiare. Mr. Tinker led an active life and was spared to see
the town he had founded grow to the proportions of a city of the second
class, with its business section entirely Imilt up and firmly established. He
was territorial representati\e, county commissioner, county superintendent,
assessor. cit\- clerk, justice of the peace, and was revereil by all who knew
him.

THE NAMING OF IIUMHOLUT.

The honor for suggesting a name suitable for this city properly belongs
to Edward P. Tinker. He followed his father. O. J. Tinker, who was the
founder of the town, from Iowa in 1858 and assisted the latter in farming
in the new country until the Civil War broke out, when he at once offered
his services to the government, serving in Company C, Fifth Iowa Cavalrv.
He was wounded at Fulaski, Tennessee, by a pistol shot in the arm and
shoulder, in a hand-to-b,-uid encounter while trying, with a .small detachment,
to cut off Hood's rear guard. On his discharge papers his colonel gave
him special mention for gallant conduct in many engagements. It was
while in the service that his regiment, for a time, was quartered at Hum-
boldt. Tennessee, and wliilc there took a great liking to the name. ()n

lUCIIAKDSON COUNTY. XEBKASKA. 543

(ine occasion, while \isiting his parents on furlough, his father expressed
a desire for a name for the new town and the son promptly suggested the
name of the southern town of Humholdt as a suitable one. It met with
instant approval by the father, who at that time was handling the mail
as postmaster and, upon this recommendation, the name was adopted and
serves to this day as the name for one of the most enterprising towns in
southeast Nebraska.

Mr. Edward P. Tinker, now a resident of Coldwater, Kansas, being
requested by mail, recenth- to gi\e his version of the incident, replied as
follows :

"In 1 861-5 I "^^'i* i" I-''it^le Sam's army, and had considerable scouting
to do, and on one occasion we rode into the town of Humlxjldt, Tennessee,
just ajjout sunrise. \\'e (juickly noticed that there \\as a rebel f\a.g floating
over a large hotel. The flag was set at the extreme corner of the building
on a pole twenty feet long and was nailed to the post. Our major called
for a volunteer to take down the flag and I (jfifered my services for the
job. I went up on the roof of the hotel, then climbed the flag pole and
tore off the rebel flag, which I threw down to the ground, where it was
soon torn into small strips and divided among our command.

"There was a detachment of rebel cavalry in the suburbs of the town,
but they got wind of us before we found them, so they got away with small
loss. We remained at Humboldt for several days and got accpiainted with
some of the Humboldt people, so that afterwards, when the cfuestion of a
name for our town in Richardson county came up. I proposed the name
of Humlx)ldt. Father was satisfied with the name, so we named it Hum-
boldt, and we still think of Humboldt as home, though we have manv friends
in our more \\'estern home."

EARLY EVENTS.

The first mayor of Humboldt was William M. I'atton.

The first cit-\' clerk was Albert Sherwood.

The first child bom in the vicinity of Humboldt was Adela Jleck-
with.

The first marriage solemnized was that of ]•". P. Tinker to Ellen llol-
bert in 1864.

The first death in the settlement was that of .\. J. Tinker, a hrdthcr
of O. T- Tinker, the founder of the town.

544

RICHARDSON COUXTY. NEBRASKA.

FIRST MILL.

Tlie first attempt at f^rinding corn and milling flour was made by
W'ilhite & Columbia, wIk) commenced the erection of a mill in 1871. Since,
a man bv the name of ^\'. M. Sopher had commenced the erection of a
mill further up the stream, the former abandoned their project and Mr.
Soper went ahead and completed his mill in 1873.

The first blacksmith .shop was established by S. M. Hillebert. later u< be
postmaster of Humboldt.

The first lumber yard opened for business in die \illage was owned
by F,. r. Tinker.

FIRST TIIANK.SGIVING D.\Y OBSERV.^XCE.

The first public observance of this day was held in 1875. The occa-
sion was memorable from the fact that in the previous year the grass-
hopper plague came upon tlie land and, after destroying utterly the growing
crops, had left their eggs like a set of dragons teeth to spread further de-
struction the following year. Spring came and with it the hatching season,
hence the farmers despaired f)f getting any crops. Luckily, conditions were
against the hoppers that year and they soon left. The farmers were able
to seed the land for the second time and reaped a bountiful harvest. So
when the day set apart for public service in thanksgiving came, they were
present in large numliers and were truly thankful. Business houses were
ckised and the people attended the service at the Methodist Episcopal church
en Jiiassc.

AN EAK1,V GLIMPSE OF HUMBOLDT.

Humboldt is located in the western part of Richardson county, within
four miles of tlie Pawnee county line. It is eleven miles north of the
Kan.sas line, and seven miles south of the north line of Richardson county.
The town is located on the east bank of Long Branch, one of the prin-
cipal tributaries of the north fork of the Xemaha river, and one-half a
mile north of the Xemaha ri\er. It was laid out in the spring of i8f)8.
The land was entered and the town laid out by O. J. and E. P. Tinker.
The first building was erected in the .summer of 1869 by R. Xims. who
started the first store in the tnwn. The village grew very slowly, not more
than a half dozen houses being erected before the railroad was extended

BAND STAND AND FOUNTAIN IN CITY PARK. HUMBOLDT.

'1'

EAST SIDE OF PUBLIC SQUAKK. HIMBOLDT.

UICIIARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 545

tliroitgh the place in 1871. since which time it ha.s built up faster than any
town along the line of the road. It now has between four and five hundred
inhabitants. It has one church l)elonging to the Methodist denomination,
which edifice is also occupied by the l^resbyterians and Christians.

EAUI.Y BUSINESS INTERESTS OF HUMB01,DT.

The Humboldt school house is a large two-story building, forty by
forty-four feet, with three rooms. The town has three general stores, three
drug stores, one hardware store, one harness shop, one shoe store, two
agricultural depots, two millinery shops, two blacksmith shops, one wagon
shop, one carpenter .shop, one barber shop, one furniture store, one billiard
hall, one flouring mill, one livery stable, one photograph gallery, two hotels,
two lawyers, three ministers and five physicians. The country is settled
thickly in every direction around Humboldt with a thrifty, intelligent class
of farmers, and Himiboldt is the principal shipping point on the .\tchi-
son & Nebraska railroad. The town is the center of the finest wheat and
barley growing region in Nebraska. More than four times as much wheat,
oats, barley and hogs have been shipped from Humboldt than anv other
point on the line. Falls City is the only point that in any way equals it as
a corn shipping point. Large quantities of corn are grown in this vicinity,
but the farmers find it more profitable to feed it to hogs and cattle than to
shi]i the raw product.

AN EARLY PRODUCE BUYER OF HUMBOLDT.

The principal grain, produce and stock shipper at this point is J. M.
Norton, whose books show that he has shipped since last August, two hun-
dred and twenty-four carloads of grain, one hundred and seventy-five of
which was wheat and the balance of oats and barley. He does not handle
corn. In that time he had also shipped seventy-four carloads of hogs, and
between forty and fifty tons of produce, such as butter, eggs, bacon, hides
and the like. Mr. Norton is an old Wisconsin grain dealer, and thoroughly
understands the business. He has done business on the Central branch and
at Seneca on the Denver road. He is very popular with the farmers and
is now drawing business to within a .short distance of Seneca. He is
supplying the millers at a number of points in central and southern Kansas
with wheat, for which he is able to pav a little more than it is worth to

(35)

346 RICIfARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

ship to St. Louis, and lie still supplies it to the millers at an advantage
to them. ^Ir. Norton makes his headquarters at the large store of W. H.
Sterns.

AN lilPORTAXT MERCHANT AT HUMBOLDT.

Mr. Sterns has the largest and finest store building on the line of the
Atchison & Nebraska railroad. It is forty-four by sixty feet and three stories
high, with a cellar under the whole structure. What is of more importance,
he keeps it crammed full of goods. The cellar is used for general storage
purposes; and on the first floor can be found everything usually sold in a
country store, such as dry goods, groceries, hats, caps, boots, shoes and
queensware. The second story is used mostly for furniture, of which Mr.
Sterns keeps a fine stock, and the upper story is used as a hall for the
Masons and Odd Fellows, which organizations are in a flourishing condi-
tion at Humboldt. Mr. Sterns is the oldest dealer in the town and is
immensely popular with the people of the surrounding country. He is
one of the most affable gentlemen we have met witli for a long time,
and it is no wonder his store is thronged with customers. He purchases
dry goods from McDonald & Company, in St. Joe, and while we were
in his store he received a large in^-oice from Nave, McCord & Compan)-.
His yearly sales are as large as those of any merchant on the line of the
road. Mr. Sterns is postmaster of Humboldt, and his head clerk, Mr.
E. S. Norton, an old soldier comrade of ours, is deputy postmaster. The
latter is an excellent business man and one of the best boys who ever ate
hard tack in t1ie old Twentieth Wisconsin Infantry.

OTHER EARLY BUSINESS MEN OF HUMBOLDT.

Morrisson & Griffin is an excellent firm of merchants. They have a
handsome store building and keep it filled to its utnaost capacity. They
are honorable dealers and public-spirited citizens, and have a very large
trade with the surrounding country. They keep everything usually kept in
a general stock, and the "stone store" is a very popular resort.

Another one of the live firms of young business men is Cain & Cakl-
well. They have a very full stock of general merchandise and, as they
sell strictly for cash, they are enabled to let their customers have goods
at bottom prices. They are enterprising and shrewd and. widial, very clever
fellows to deal with.

W. M. Patton keei)S a general •-lock of hardware, stoves and tinware

KICllAUnSOX COUNTY. XEUUASKA. 547

— the latter of his own nianufactiire. lie has a haiidsonic stuck and a line
trade, and is one of the lie.st business men in town. His father-in-law.
Mr. R. C. Schofield. attends to the store. The old gentleman is an uncle
of INIajor-General Schofield. of the United States Army.

Ruel Xims & Company is a large grain and stock dealing firm of
Humboldt. They have one of the best warehouses on the railroad and
are excellent men to deal with. They started the first store on the town
site, and are large owners of real estate in the town and vicinity. A
brother of Ruel is the other member of the firm. They rank first-class
among Nebraska's business men.

Captain Enoch keeps an agricultural depot and he deals in all kinds
of farmer's tools, making a specialty of plows made by the Briggs & Enoch
Company, of Rockford, Illinois. The captain served four years in the Civil
\\'ar, and is a hearty, blufif, hale follow, and is just the kind of a business
man we like to deal w-ith.

A. P. Smith is a live Yankee, and has more "irons in the fire" than
any other Smith we know of, black or white. He keeps an agricultural
depot, well stocked with all kinds of farm machinery ; a grocerv. a nursery
and a restaurant. He is a large property owner, and has, perhaps, d<ine
as much to build up the town as any other man in it. His wife keeps
a millinery store and a \ery handsome stock of goods in that line.

S. L. Umstead runs a blacksmith shop. He is a good WDrkman. and
a well-read, intelligent man.

One of the city fathers of Humboldt is Air. O. J. Tinker, who keeps
the only livery stable in the place and is the landlord of the Humboldt
House. He is one of the old-fashioned sort of landlords, such as Dickens
loved to write about. He has a large and commodious house and furnishes
excellent facilities for taking care of man and beast.

Edward P. Tinker is another of the original Jacob Townsends, of
Humboldt. Pie is an extensive dealer in real estate and keeps a large lumber
yard, stocked with everything usually found in such a place. He is ;i
wide-awake, active, and enterprising man, and has an unbounding faith in
the future of Humboldt which, by the way, ho))es to be a point on a north
and south railroad from Xeliraska City. Seneca and To]ieka before man\
years.

H. T. Hull is an active, live, energetic young man recentl\- fmm
the Keystone state. He is opening up a furniture store in that wide-awake,
go-ahead town, brails City. He is a single man and will be a prize for sonic
I'alls Citv belle.

54^ KICIIAKDSOX COLXTY. NEBRASKA.

John Orr and J. R. Shawhan are l)lacksmiths workiiij^" under tlie firni
name of Orr & Sliawhan. Tliey are intelligent citizens and excellent me-
chanics, and their shop is over-run with business.

W. W. Turk is building a new store. He is an experienced druggist
and will shortly open up one of the best drug stocks in town. He is a
good and reliable business man and will soon have his share nf the trade.
His place is on the east side of the square.

Dr. C. ]•-. Rice has a handsome drug store on tlie north side of the
square. He keeps everything in the drug line.

Mrs. M. v.. Gandy keeps a drug store on the west side of the scjuare,
and has a fine trade. Her husband. Dr. J. L. Gandy. is a practicing
physician, and is one of the best known men in the county.

Dr. P. F. Patrick is one of the leading physicians of HumboUlt. He
is one of the liberal, progressive kind of doctors, and is willing to adopt
anv good thing regardless of what school sanctions it. We found the doctor
congenial and companiable. He enjoys life, has a handsome practice, a
pretty baby and a handsome wife.

S. W. Tanner runs the "Island Lilly"" photograph gallery. \\'e saw
some specimens of his work, which are equal to the best we have seen in
any Western city. I\Ir. Tanner is a gentleman to deal with and his galler\-
was crowded with belles and beaux and mother"s pets, all anxious to "secure
the shadow ere the substance fades."" He makes shadow ])ictures. mezzotint
and porcelain, as well as common photos and gems.

J. K. Fretz is a house, sign and carriage painter. He is also a car-
])enter and joiner, and one of the best mechanics in town. The handsome
graining on the Hilbert house was done 1)\- Mr. I'Vetz. and sjjeaks for
itself.

One of the l)est felh^ws in HumI)oldt is S. M. Hilbert, F.sq.. wlio keeps
the Hilbert House in tip-top style. He takes a pride in keeping the best
of everything for his guests and, if there is a better-kept hotel on the .\tchi-
son & Nebraska road, we have not yet found it. At the house we made
the acquaintance of those jolly good fellows, George Ferguson, the railroad
agent and telegraph operator, and Will Hershey, who keeps the only billiard
hall and saloon in town. They are lively boys, and when not otherwise
engaged can always be fount! at their room, "Keno X(). 4."'

W. H. Catlin. not the inventor of Catlin"s fine cut, is the jolly liarkeep.
who sets them up in Hershey"s saloon. He is big and good-natured, tliough
he has a beard that makes him look as fierce as a grand turk.

J. C. Gafl'ord is another of the good boys we met at this place. He

RICIIARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 349

lias cliar<;c of the lars^e Iunil)er yard of Easier. Shearer & Stone at this
place.

At this place we ran against our old friend, D. ^V. Sovvles, who is
one of the l)est meciianics in the West, and ])Ianner of the finest piece of
engineering work in the Big Blue Valley. Time has dealt tenderly witli
him and he is the same frank, open-hearted, good fellow as of yore. "D.
W." is a good soul.

James Cooper keeps the Eagle Restaurant and is always ready to serve
the iiungry with a square meal. He is a useful citizen, though ((uite lame,
and has hosts of friends in Humboldt. He carries the mail to and from
the depot.

Doctors Green and Cox are two of the leading physicians and surgeons
in the Nemaha valley. They are skillful doctors and excellent citizens, and
no men in Humboldt take a deeper interest in the Humboldt high school.
Doctor Green is a graduate of the Chicago Medical college, and Cox is an
e.x-surgeon in the United States army, where he served during tiie "un-
plea.santness." They have a large practice.

E. M. Williams is superintendent of the count}- schools. Botan\- is
one of the branches in which a teacher must be proficient l)efore he can
get a certificate in Nebraska. ]\Ir. Williams does not conduct examinations
clear through tlie .\merican Bora, but passes gentlemen teachers, if they
are thoroughly an fait in the structure and use of the mint julip. LacK-
teachers must have a general knowledge of fruits and flowers, and be per-
fect in the uses of tu-lips.

S. W. Beals is senior of the contracting and building firm of Beals
S: Nims. He has iiuilt more than half the houses in town, and his work
speaks for itself. He is one of the liest and most useful citizens of Hum-
boldt.

L. T. Illingworth is one of the excellent farmers and has one of the
nicest and best farms on Eour Mile creek in all that vicinity.

J. W. L)nch is a young farmer. Init an old settler near Humboldt.
He is a wide-awake chap and one of the live men of his vicinity.

Josiah Frazier, one of our jockey friends, says he has a six hundred
pound short tail pony that can out-run any other pony in Richard.son count\-.

There is a large, lirst-class flouring-mill on the Nemaha, near Hum-
boldt, but on account of Ixid weather and muddy roads we did not visit
it. It is a water-power mill and is said, by those upon whom we can rel\ .
to he as good as any on the north fork of the Nemaha.

The people of Humhcjldt are not newspaper crazy like those in some

530 RICITARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

small towns we know of. Instead of keeping up. in a half-starved condition,
a seven by nine paper of their own, they patronize extensively the Falls
Citv Journal ]>y subscription and job work.

HUMBOLDT HIGH SCHOOL.

The Humboldt high school is in charge of Prof. L. P. Boyd, one of
the best and most thorough teachers in Nebraska. He is a graduate of
Dartmouth College, New Hampshire. A number of pupils from other points
attend his school on account of the superior facilities offered for acquiring
a thorough education. He has two assistants. Mr. O. F. Allen and ]\Iiss
Helen Sterns, who are both accomplished teachers. We did not get the
exact figures, but we learned that there are nearly one hundred pupils in
constant attendance. The school house stands on the highest eminence in
the town and the people of Humboldt are proud of their handsome building.

On the clay we visited the city every business man in Humboldt was
engaged in planting trees in the school house square. A large number of
shade trees have been set out on the streets this spring and, in a few years,
if they are cared for, they will add a thousand per cent, to the beauty
of the town.

GENERAL litl^RESSIONS OF HUMBOLDT.

The ground on which tlie town is built rises gradually from the depot
with just fall enough tn make the drainage perfect and the triwnsite in
maliy respects is one of the prettiest on the railroad. The buildings are
mostly frame and well-painted, and are better than the average buildings
of towns of its age. About the whole place there is an air of thrift, enter-
prise and intelligence that gives a very favorable impression to all new-
comers.

The Long Branch and the Xeniaha are well timbered in lliis vicinity,
and it is only a few^ miles to the coal l)eds on the south fork, in the vicinity
of Cincinnati. The soil is as good as the best in Richardson county, and
an abundance of lime and building stone are found in this vicinity.

A number of fine orchards are started in the vicinity of Tlunibolilt.
and some are beginning to bear. Mr. W. T. W'ilhite. brother of lion,
j. K. Wilbitc, now of Falls ('it\-, raised over three hundred bushels of apples
last year.

Take the town of Humboldt, the surrounding country and the pcoiile
who inhabit it, and we don't believe there is a better region in the .state
of Nebraska.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 55 1

SCHOOLS OF HUMBOLDT.

We have no hesitanc}' in putting the school first as one of the insti-
tutions in which Humboldt has every reason to take pride. ]\'Iany of the
pioneers who first came into this vicinity had had educational advantages
in their Eastern homes and were not slow to establish in the new country
a like opportunity for their offspring. In 1867, the year in which Ne-
braska was admitted as a state and the same in which Humboldt was made
a corporate body, the first school was organized. O. J. Tinker, with the
assistance of others, raised a sum of three hundred dollars, by means
of which the little stone school house which still stands near the corner
of Third and Nemaha streets was erected. It was known as the Grant
school and scholars to the number of ten were first in attendance. The
little building was a kind of a community center and was also used as a
church, town hall, opera house and, also, for the holding of court. It was
used more than six years for school purposes and the following served as
teachers : Miss Linn, Ed Tinker, Doctor Glover, Albert Therwood. Helen
Sterns and Uhri Babcock.

Increasing population necessitated a larger building and one was at once
provided. It can now be identified as the present home of the Bohemian
societies and is known as the Bohemian hall. Among the teachers there
were: Mr. S. P. Boyd, 1872-75 and 1877-79; D. J. Wood and Mr. Pome-
roy, Thomas Hitt, J. C. Smutz and Miss McGlashan acted as superin-
tendents. A smaller building was soon needed and one was erected to
the West. Both of these buildings still remain standing in the town.

In 1885 the present large brick building was completed at a cost of
more than fifteen thousand dollars and a few years ago a large addition was
built, but the accommodations of the present building are hardly adequate
to house the students of that district. The list of superintendents include:
C. F. Chamberlain. 1886-89; Leach, 1889-90; George K. Chat-
burn, 1890-92; Carleton, 1892-93; J. \V. Dinsmore, 1893-

96; Arthur McMurray, 1896-97; George B. Cortelyou, 1897-98; Cliarles
Jones, 1898-1900; George W. Crocker, 1900-02; K. L. HoiT. igo2-ii;
Burdick. 191 1 to the present.

BRUUN .MEMORLXL I'UBLIC LIBRARY.

In 1885 Airs. Lydia A. Bruun, widow of Charles Bruun, wishing to
perpetuate the name oi her liusband among the people witli whom lie had

55^ RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

labored in a way that would jjlease. lienetit and bles.'^ luiniaiiity, conceived
the idea of establishing a public library. Accordingly she at once donatetl
the sum of two thousand dollars for the purchase of books, and in a short
time deeded to the city the building in which the library was located, which
at that time was valued at six: thousand dollars. The I)uilding is of brick,
located in the business section of the city and is one of the l)est in the
city. The use of the books is free to all citizens and the city is onlv
required to levy a fraction of a mill for maintenance, it is one of tlie
institutions of which the city has alwaxs had just reason to feel proud, and
it has always been liberally jiatronized by the public.

F. W. SAMUELSON.

Mr. Frank W. Samuelson, who was born in Jefferson county, Iowa,
and who came to Humboldt in 1873, played a most important part in all
the early history of Humboldt and to his faith and perserevance much of
what Humboldt is today should be credited. The year previous to his
coming to Humboldt he was united in marriage to Hannah Steele at Falls
City. At once, upon his arrival here, he commenced the erection of his
fine residence on Fourth street at a cost of five thousand dollars, which at
the time was the biggest venture in the way of a dwelling house so far under-
taken in the town.

It was during this year that the country was devastated completely of
all its grow'ing crops by the grasshopper scourge and he was ridiculed on
all sides for plunging in a country so new and unsafe. His spirit was
undaunted, however, and in time he proved his faith in the country as
well founded. He engaged in the hardware business and established the
first bank knowMi as the Humboldt Bank in a frame building. He continued
in the banking business and later was the moving spirit in the organization
of the First X'ational Bank, of which he served as president for years. In
1870 Mr. Samuelsoji erected the opera house, wliich seats five hundred
people and later, in, 1878, he constructed a part of die brick building on
the south sfde of the square. His success was rapid and substantial and he
was for many years rated as one of the leading men in the county financially.

CHURCHES OF HU MBOr.DT.

The ciiurches of Humlxildt arc dealt with elsewlicre in this work
in the chapter on Churches of Richardson County.

IRST IIKJH St'HOOL P.fll.DIXG AT HUMBOLDT, NOW OWNED HY THE
C. S. !■. S.. A BOHEMIAN SOCIETY.

LOOKIXC; SOT'TII OX CENTRAL AVEXLE, IirMI'.OLDT.

MRS. SIMON QUICK. I'lONEER PHYSICIAN AT HUMBOLDT.

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 553

LODGES OF HUMBOr.DT.

Humboldt Lodge No. 34, Independent Order of Odd l''ello\vs. was
organized in July. 1872. with twenty-four charter members. At the present
time the lodge is in a most dourishing condition and has commenced tlie
erection of a new building to take the place of the old one destroyed by
fire a few years since. This lodge has always owned its own home.

Humboldt Lodge Xo. 25, Knights of Pythias, was organized on June
2, 1880 with fourteen charter members. It is one of the largest lodges
in southeastern Nebraska and owns a fine Iniilding on the west side of
the public square, which building was erected l)y the lodge a few years
ago.

Humboldt Lodge Xo. 40. Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, was
chartered m June, 1873, with nine members. It has made a steady growth
and owns its own hall. The lodge at this time is one of the largest in the
city and is composed of an active and progressive membership.

C. S. P. S., is a strictly Bohemian society which has very much tlie
same aims as the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. The society was
established in ]\Iay. 1879, with a membership of fifteen. The order lias
grown steadily.

Humboldt Lodge Xo. 5, Ancient Order of United \\'orkmen, was or-
ganized in December, 1882, with a membership of eleven. It has a large
membership throughout all the years and has paid many benefit claims.

William Mix Post Xo. 66, Grand Army of the Repul^lic. was organized
on June 28. 188 r, with fourteen charter meml^ers.

OTHER ORGANIZATIONS IN HLMBOLDT.

The Woman's Christian Temperance L'nion was organized in May, 1888,
with Mrs. Fsterbrook as president. During the \ears of its existence it
has been most active in the temperance m(j\ement and Humboldt was one
of the first of the larger towns in the county to dispense with the saloon.

The Ceska Kapela Humlwldt band was organized in 1884, under the
leadership of Prof. A. Watzek, who had hut recently arrived from Russia,
"where he had been employed in the military l)ands. This superb musical
organization was made up strictly of Bohemians and kept together for years
under its efficient leadership.

The Enterprise band was organized in the spring of 1888, and was
made up of both old and new material. b>ank .\. Hru-rison. at tliat time
the editor of the Enterprise, was the leader.

RICHARDSOX COUNTY, XEHRASKA.

HUMBOLDT CEMETERY.

The eight acres of the Humboldt ceineterx were purchased from E.
P. Tinker in 1871, and is on an eminence overlooking the city from the
west. It is one of the prettiest cemeteries in the county.

NATURAL RESOURCES AND INDUSTRIES NEAR HUMBOLDT.

In the earlier years Humboldt City was well supplied from coal mined
in the south part of Speiser township, about ten miles from town. The
coal was delivered in town to users at from four and a half to five dollars
per ton.

x\ good quality of sand for all building purposes has always been
easily obtainable from a large bank a couple of miles west of town.

From the earliest days, brick for building and paAing purposes have
jjeen manufactured near the city. In the later years, when more modern
methods were necessary, a company known as the Humboldt Brick Com-
pany was organized and, with the necessary capital, built a modern brick-
making establishment about a mile to the west from town, where the annual
output has been large. Brick in large quantities are being shipped daily
to points far removed from the state, and a large number are used by the
Burlington & Missouri Railroad Company. The companv has been highly
successful.

The Hodapp stone quarries, a mile and a half south from the city,
liave long enjoved an envialile reputation for the high grade of building
stone cut there. The stone is a clear white limestone, easily obtainable
and of any size required. Besides these there are numerous other quarries
in easy reacli nf town.

THE STEAM FLOURING MILLS.

The most important institution of this kind is owned by O. A. Cooper
and is located in the south part of town on the Burlington & Missouri
right-of-way, near the depot. The building is four stories high and cost
originally fifty thousand dollars. It was built in 1882 with five runs of
buhrs, but a little later a roller system was put iiL The machinery, with
the elevator in connection, is operated with a Corliss engine of one lumdred
and ten horse-power.

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 555

HOTELS OF HUMBOLDT.

What is known as the Central Hotel was built in 1871 by S. M. Hilbert,
who ran it for a time and later sold it to Luther Nims. It was operated
successively by E. S. Norton, J. W. Minnick, William Sweeney, G. M.
Filson, H. Shurtleff and James Russell, who recently died at Lincoln,
Nebraska, aged one hundred years and seven days. It was for long the
largest hotel in town and cost nearly five thousand dollars.

The Enoch House, the first and oldest hotel of Humboldt, was built
in 1869 by Capt. A. M. Enoch, who operated it for many years, followed
by Miss Maggie E. Ellsworth. It was recently dismantled to give room
for a large, new garage erected by Col. M. W. Harding.

The Filson House, owned by Mayor G. M. Filson on East Third street,
was opened in 1880 and served the people for several years.

The Park Hotel was erected in more recent years and is the leading
hotel in the city. It was built by a company, composed of E. LI. Veits,
E. P. Tinker and others, and is now owned by Dr. J. L. Gandy. It was,
at the time built, one of the finest hotels in southeast Nebraska, but like
other hotels in the county the present demands more than tax its limited
facilities.

DISTINGUISHING FEATURES OF HUMBOLDT.

Towns, like individuals, often have features which distinguish them
from all about them, and it is interesting to note in this connection that
Humboldt is no exception to the rule. To begin with the town, differing
from her sister cities of the county, was laid out or platted in such manner
that the business district is arranged around an open block or "square,"
as it is and has always been called, which area has now the nature of a
public park. Other towns of the county had platted open squares, but the}'
were so left for the site of a court house in the event that the seat of
justice was thrust upon them. Since this was not the case, the court
house blocks were soon built up as were the other blocks. In the
case of Humboldt it was for no such purpose that the square was arranged
for. The idea of a square oi' park had found favor with the founder
of the town, Mr. O. J. Tinker, and his .son, Edward P. Tinker, from the
fact that they had seen towns similarly platted in Eastern states, and in
the case of Humboldt a full lilock containing two acres, was left for this
purpose. No buildings of any kind were ever allowed built inside tlic
enclosed area, the idea being that it should lie left as a park and recciith

556 KICIIAKDSOX COUXTV. NEBRASKA.

a handsome cement bandstand was erected in the center and a fountain
placed nearby. On one of the large posts was placed a marble slab en-
graved upon which is the name of the founder, O. J. Tinker, and follow ing,
the date of the gift to the city. Surrounding the bandstand a grove of
trees planted many years ago furnish shade and the ground is sown to
blue grass, which lawn is niceK kept. Public entertainments of all kinds
are held in tlie park in the summer season. Cement walks, north, south,
east and west, meet in the center, atid benches liave l)een placed for the
comfort and convenience of the people.

XAKROWKST STREET OE 1 1 C M150LDT.

The s<juare was so platted that the center, east and west of its north
and scjuth sides fronts North and South Central avenue, the main thorough-
fare of the town. The scjuare lies between Second and Third streets, which
are cross-town streets, running east and west. The four corners of the
square strike midway of the blocks and have no outlet north and south
direct with btit one exception at the northeast corner, where a street was made
many years ago for con\'enience of parties of the northeast residential dis-
trict, and this street is without a doubt the narrowest street in the count\-.
being but eight feet wide. It continues with the same narrow dimensious
for two blocks to the north, where it connects up with a full width street,
known as lulwards street. The narrow street is one of the most used
of the town. The land so used was donated at an earh- day by the properl\'
owners having lots adjacent, with the stipulation that the city should keep
up the sidewalks.

STOCK INTERESTS AT HUMBOLDT.

In the late eighties and early nineties the horse interests of Hum-
boldt and vicinity were not equaled anywhere in the .state of X'ebraska. The
raising anfl breeding of racing and draft horses was indulged in by many
:md at a profit. It was here that "Maxy Cobb," 2:1^,. king of the turf
at that time, was for a while owned. His full sister was .sold from Hum-
l)oklt for live tlmusand dollars to a leading stock f;irm in the state of
Kentucky. ( )thers were sold for one. two and three thousand dollars.
Among those jjroniinent in the business were Ed Pyle, K. S. Molony, Jr..
Ed Dorland. who ownetl "Calamity Dick" (2538) ; Gus Fellers, Geo. Schniel-
zel. John l\hoads. Joseph Sarback. Spencer Hilbert, Oscar Quick, Henry
Kosenlierger. I. C. Smut/;. I". K. Kentner. Henrv Patterson. C. 1'. Xims.

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 557

}1. T. Hull. The most valuable collection of fashionably-bred trotters owned
in the state were in the stables of Capt. Ed. Pyle, who owned a farm
north of the city. The names of the horses owned by the above men
were as well known to the people of those days as the owners themselves.
The ban placed on racing in many of tlie states in later years brought the
Inisiness into disfavor from a financial standpoint, and the keeping of this
class of horses was discontinued.

The first impetus to the raising of iiigh-grade hogs in this sectinn was
pioneered by W. O. Quick who, in 1874, commenced importing and breed-
ing his herd of I'oland Chinas, later laiown throughout the county. He
carried on the business at his farm a few miles north of Humboldt on
Kirkum Branch. William Brandovv later became an extensive breeder of
tile famous Duroc-Jersey red hogs, which were very popular. Fred L.
Lewis also was one of the most extensive breeders of I'oland China hogs
in southeast Nebraska.

C.\TTLE.

J. W. Gavitt. a well-known old soldier and auctioneer residing north
of Humboldt about eight miles, was the pioneer in pedigreed cattle busi-
ness. His favorite breed was the Red Polled cattle. As a leader in
liigh-graded cattle I)usiness he was followed by Col. AI. A\'. Harding and
Lewis Howe, who had the Polled Angus and Hereford breeds, and E. C.
Hill. Sr.. who had one of the finest Galloway herds in the West.

PIONEERS OF HUMBOLDT. NEBRASKA.

There is presented in this group, pictures of fourteen old gentlemen,
whose ages average eighty years. These are not all the old men in Hum-
boldt, but all who could be got together the day the picture was taken.
Since the photograph was taken a numljer of years ago each and all of
these men have passed to the great I)e\ond.

O. J. TINKER.

(). J. Tinker, the first one of this group to come to Humboldt, was
l)orn in 1812, a native of Ohio, and came to Xel)ra.ska in 1857. As will
be seen by reading the history of Humlioldt. he was the founder of the

5:^8 RICHARDSOX COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

town. Always active and enthusiastic for Humboldt, he has been honored
many times by the people of his home with official position. He presented
the city with the land which is now the l^eautiful park in its center. He
was postmaster, territorial representative, captain of the home guards during
the war, count\- commissioner, county superintendent, town assessor, city
clerk and justice of the peace, besides many places of honor in church and
school. The history of Humboldt is in part, the biography of O. J. Tinker.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN FERGUSON.

B. F. Ferguson was the hrst of this group of old men to come to
Nebraska. He was born in Cayuga county, New York, settled in Ohio in
1837, where he learned and followed the trade of pump-maker. He owned
a full set of pump tools made over one hundred years ago. He moved
from Ohio to Indiana, and then to Illinois, where he lived on a small farm
and kept a grocery store.

He came to Richardson county in April, 1857, and settled in Franklin
township, which he had the honor of naming. Here he engaged in stock
raising and keeping a grocery store. He enlisted in the Second Nebraska
ca\alry at the breaking out of the Civil ^^'ar and. at the expiration of
enlistment, he served in the mounted militia.

J. .M. DFWEESE.

J. M. Deweese was the next oldest in point of residence in Humboldt.
He was born near Glasgow, Kentucky, August 15, 1815, went to Illinois,
near Tacksonville. in 1838, and from there to Iowa in 1844, Avhere he home-
steaded. He came to Nebraska in 1864, and located near Dawson, lived
there until 1884 when he moved to Humboldt. He was married when
he was eighteen years old to .\nn \\'ine. and was the father of ten chil-
Iren, most of whom survived him.

S. S. WHITE.

.S. S. White was born at Stratford, X'ermont, M^y 22. 1815, and when
four years old moved to New York with his parents. In 1835 ^^ enlisted
in the regular army sent against the Seminole Indians. He enlisted in the
War of the Rebellion and served two years in Company G, Seventy-seventh
New York \'olunteers. After his discharge, he remained in New York
three years, then came to Nebraska and t(Jok a homestead seven miles south
of Humlioldt. lie was married I'ebruary 22. 1852, to Marcia Camp.

RICHARDSON- COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 559

BENJAMIN DRAKE.

Benjamin Drake was born on a farm near Trenton, New Jersey, Sep-
tember 20, 1817. He came to Richardson county in 1869 and "bought a
farm four miles east of Humboldt, to which city he moved in 1883. He
was married in 1841 to Ann Reed.

JOHN A. DUPHRAY.

John A. Duphray was born in Franklin, Pennsylvania, December 25,
1814. He came to Nebraska in 1869.

JACOB BOOP.

Jacob Boop was born in Union county, Pennsylvania, in 1825. He
came to Nebraska in 1870 and settled in Porter precinct, nine miles north-
east of Humboldt. He moved to the city in 1896.

WILLIAM CHURCH EISSELL.

William Church Bissell was born June 8, 1810, in Aurora, Ohio. He
graduated from Yale in the class of 1835 and devoted his entire life to
teaching. He came to Nebraska in 1873 and built a dwelling in Hum-
boldt.

CHARLES (JUACKENBUSH.

Charles Ouackenbush was Ijorn in Greenville, New York, October 12,
1816. He has lived in Illinois, Te.xas and Kansas. He came to Humboldt in
1877 and resided there until his death.

E. II. MILLER.

E. H. Miller was born in Ashtalnila county, Ohio, April 29, 1822.
He lived in Michigan and Illinois and came to Nel)raska in 1878, in whicli
year he settled in Humljoldt.

JAMES BRIAR.

James Briar was Ijorn in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1823, and came
to Nebraska in 1882. He was a soldier in the \Var with Mexico, also in
the Civil War.

S6o UICHARDSdX CdUNTY. NEBRASKA.

JAMES SEVERNS.

James Severns was bom in Knox county, Ohio, in 1820. He lived
in Illinois and Missouri before coming to Nebraska.

DR. JAMES G. cox.

Dr. James G. Cox was a native of Kentucky and was born in 18 14.
lie practiced medicine in 1853 at Jacksonville, Illinois. He was twice
married. He served under General Taylor in the Mexican War and in the
C'i\il War he was assistant surgeon in the One Hundred and Fiftieth Illinois
\'ohmteers. He was the first physician in Humboldt.

THE HARMONIOUS COMI'ANIE.

This was a musical organization of which Humboldt was justly very
proud in 1897. It was one of the charter members of the State t'ederation
of Woman's Clubs. The object of the club was the study and practice of
chorus music by the l>est composers. Meetings of the club were held on
each Tuesday afternoon. The "companie" gave entertainments of its own,
and assisted at others and at times appeared at chautauquas in southeast
Nebraska. The officers of the club were : ]\Irs. Belle G. Stemler. president :
Mrs. Cora Ouackenbush, vice-president; Mrs. Delia Shirley, secretary, and
treasurer; Miss Lulu Samuelson, pianist; Mrs. I^Iargaret C. Dinsmore, di-
rector. The members of the club were Mesdames Emma Grinstead, Myrtle
^larble, Estella Hackett. Eva Gore. Allie Powers, b'rankie Tinker, Eva
Harnett, Alfretta Tucker, Dora Bacon, Misses Grace Cooper, Laura Norton.
I'Vankie Dewees. Nellie Clift, Yinnie Coleman and Pearl Unkefer.

This organization was kept together for many years and was the fore-
runner of those which have followed and have kept Humboldt in iirst place
among the towns of the county in the study of music.

S ,

*-«5e«

-4

_a ^

^^*

DAWSOX IX ]S7S^

OI I) VI ( 11

xn SI \l OF

CHAPTER XXII.
Historical Sketch of Dawson.

By William Fenton.

At the annual old settlers picnic it had long been one of the standard
jokes to encourage Uncles Wilson Maddox, Jesse Crook and Wade Whit-
ney to assert their respective claims to the distinction of being the first white
settlers of Richardson county. The matter was finally compromised on the
part of the Old Settlers Association by voting a gold spade to Uncle Wilson
Maddox, and when later on the floods on the X'eniaha began to make trouble
for the farmers. Uncle Wilson was called to explain why he dug the channel
of the river so crooked, he explained that Uncle Jesse Crook, as chainman,
had been sampling so much hard cider along the route that he was respon-
sible for the crooks that are causing a later generation hundreds of thou-
sands of dollars to straighten out.

It would be inviting the discussion of as a debatable question as that
of the famous one of "i6 to i," to assume to say who was the first settler
of Grant precinct, but the arrival of the first pre-emptors along the rich
Nemaha valley was so nearly about the same time that all who settled
previous to the breaking out of the Civil War were entitled to the distinction
of being considered pioneers. In this class should be included the Rothen-
bergers, Honnens, Elys, Schumakers, Kountses, AIcMahons, Warners,
Boyeds, Whitneys and all who settled along the water courses and had secured
possession of the timber along the various streams.

Like Robinson Crusoe in his lonely island, the original settlers along
the Nemaha were prosperous, happy and contented in their isolation. With
plenty of oak rails from their forests they fenced in fields of their rich virgin
soil to raise corn for the hogs and cattle that were permitted to roam at will
over the wide expanse of plain and woodland, ^^^lile it is the laudable
custom at old settlers reunions to extol the pluck that prompted the original
pioneers to blaze their way tlirough what our early school books styled the
"Great American Desert"; yet it is a historical truth that, so satisfied were
the original pioneers who .settled along the valley of the Nemaha with tiieir
happy and prosperous surroundings, that thev would much prefer to con-

'(36)

562 RICirARDSON COUNTY. XEBRASKA.

timie in llieir state of liappy isolation as cattle and timber harons rather than
he cnrtailed by the presence of venturesome neighbors.

At the close of the Civil War many a patriotic Union soldier longed to
settle down to the peaceful pursuit of farm life, and after the grand muster
out in the summer of 1865, not less than fifty of the veterans under Sherman.
Grant and Sheridan established themselves in homes in Grant precinct, and
it is sad to note the fact that oiit of a prosperous G. A. R. Post of forty-
five members that flourished in Dawson's early history, only half a dozen of
frail veterans now survive. Among this group of settlers it is a pleasure
mingled with sadness to recall such familiar names as Belden, Crowe. Miles.
Lair, Ouinlan, Libbee. Page, Clancy. Fletcher. Johnson, Happis, O'Donnell.
Ryan, Smertz and Snethen, who are long since "mustered out," as well as
the survivors of the old guard — Allen, Barlow, Buser, Clancy, Kelly, Libbee
and Scott. \\'ith this group of settlers should be included such well remeni-
l)ered citizens as Tiehens, Smith, W'oods, Williamson, Young. Shockeys, etc.

The next important colony was a group of relatives and neighbors from
Connecticut in 1867 and 1868, consisting of the Fentons. Rileys, Rigans.
O'Gradys. Keims. Murphys, O'Donnells, Rourkes, Sullivans. Carvers and
others. Soon after the completion of the railroad the last, but not the least,
industrious colony of Pennsylvania farmers settled north of town — they were
the Herms, Uhlmars and other relatives. \\'hile the aggregation of early
settlers, constituted a most diversified and cosmoiX)litan population, no com-
munity was ever blessed b}- a more tolerant or amicably disposed set of
neighl)ors. and the grand spirit of fraternity, charity and loyalty that ever
pervaded this band of pioneer ueighbors was never impaired by any lesser
power than that of the grim reaper.

The absorbing topic that occupied the attention of tliose early settlers
was that of a railroad within siome reasonable distance of the settlement;
.'it this time the only way to get in or out of the country was by way of
steamboat to or from St. Joseph, and across the country from any river
landing. The first incident to awaken hope in hearts of the people of a
future town or hamlet was the arrival of Joshua Dawson & Son in the
summer of 1867 with a complete outfit to commence work on a saw- and
grist-mill. A dam and saw-mill were installed early in the fall and massive
oak and walnut logs were at once being transformed into lumber for the
flour-mill, planned to lie raised in the ensuing spring. Tt is needless to
remark that among tlie early inhabitants of Grant township — in fact the
entire county — the D;i\\>on "mill raising" was a red-letter event that will

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 56:;

never be erased from the minds (jf those who deemed it ;ni honor to be
invited to assist at such an important function.

Tlie construction of the grist-mill necessitatetl the services oi a black-
smith, and Dan Tigner was induced by Mr. Dawson to set up in business
in a slab-sided shop on brink of the river near the mill. .Vbtjut this time,
in the spring of 1868. the question of voting bonds for a railroad commence<l
being niildl}- agitated, and the more the subject was discussed among good
meaning neighbors, the more settled each became in his own conviction that
bcmds were all wrong or all right — and so, like the schoolboys' snowball,
the more the question was agitated the more unrelenting the strife between
advocates and objectors, and so continued until at the November electicm
in 1868 the vote in favor of bonds resulted in an overwhelming majority —
and combative neighbors on both sides of the question composed their
divergence of opinions by agreeing that an immediate railroad through the
county would be worth all the cost and contention.

RAILRO.VD COMES.

The voting of bonds seemed to have invited a race anicjng capitalists
for the rich prize to be awarded the first railroad to enter the county, and
while construction was underway on the old Atchison & Nebraska out of
.\tchison, the surveyors were rushing the laying out of the line to Lincoln:
work progres.sed with such gratifying rapidity that during the summer of
1869 the iron horse had worked his way tt) the county seat and everyone
rejoiced that, whether the route led up the north or south forks of the Nemaha,
they would not be far removed from civilization.

For a long time after the bond election in 1868, there was much uncer-
tainty as to which fork of the Nemaha would be selected as the route for the
railroad, but after passing the south fork at Salem everyone recognized
that Dawson's location midway between Humboldt and Salem would entitle
it to a depot, and with the idea of being ready to supply the wants of the
railroad graders, tW'O young men, Knight & Lappeus, established the first
grocery store on the bank of the Nemaha, north of Riley park. With the
opening of the road to commercial traiific, V>. S. Chittenden Jiad shipped in
the needed material for a store and elevator, and for man\ years he was
known and esteemed as Dawson's pioneer merchant.

As there was no suitable ground near the depot for building puri)oses.
the early location of a townsite was delayed at a time when modern town
promoters would be \n\^y booming its real or fancied resources. Earl\- in

564 KICHARDSOX COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

March, 1872, \V. F. Draper was induced to have surveyed into town lots
what is termed Soutli Dawson : the newly created town was recorded as
iVoraville, and Mr. Draper was very insistent it should be so called — in honor
of his wife — but the good old masculine name, "Dawson," liad too strong a
hold on the affections of people to be supplanted by "Nora." In the mean-
time Knight & Lappeus sold their store near the river to William Till, who
soon after was united in partnership with Mr. Oakley and in March, 1872,
they pulled the building up into the new town, and it was the first business
house within the corporate limits of the new village. Dan Tigner's blacksmith
shop was also transferred from the mill yard.

The first hotel was erected and conducted by Chris Warner, who made
the mistake of neglecting a fine farm for a business of doubtful merit. About
the same time M. B. Ryan erecteil a combined residence and store building
and entered into business as the first druggist, in which business he con-
tinned for a generation, and which was conducted in a successful manner
to retain the esteem of his patrons and at the same amass a rich competency.

During 1873 Till & Oakley sold out to John Holt and Ike Mead— with
Mr. Mead as manager. Soon after John Holt's interest was purchased by
Mr. Riley, and under the firm name of Meade & Riley, the business soon
assumed mammoth proportions, and so conducted until a later rearrange-
ment, when Mr. Riley decided to devote his attention to banking interests
and Mr. INIeade accepted the appointment of postmaster.

S. C. Barlow erected and operated the first wagon shop in the building
now occupied by that hustling merchant. Charlie Cooper. Later, Uncle Steve
sold his wagon shop and purchased B. S. Chittenden's stock of goods and
engaged in the mercantile trade — in which in one form or other he may
justly claim the distinction of being the oldest and best known and — if not
the richest — the most highly esteemed business man of Dawson.

John Draper conducted the first lumber yard for W. P. Tinker of
Humboldt, from whom it was taken over b\ \\"i\\ J"'asley. and later by B. S.
Chittenden.

John Hainiali built the Commercial Hotel which, under the popular
management of W. A. Albright and his good wife, had acquired such a
reputation for solid home-like comfort that traveling men were wont to make
Dawson at the end of the week so as to peacefully enjoy the home comforts
of the little hotel over Sunday.

The little village was now so securely established tliat the attention of
town people and friends in the county turned attention to the importance
of a place for public meetings, and lu the order of Odd Fellows is due the

KICriARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 565

donor of erecting the first piiljlic liiiilding that for many \ears served every
purpose of a lodge room, town hall, chnrcli, school and everything of a
public nature; the noble spirit displayed by the projectors of this early
building has never since been excelled by any Christian denomination.

The limited area of the original townsite was soon taken up, and as
human nature was about the same then as now, those who got possession of the
ch.oice building lots were content to see the business district confined to their
own block; as a consequence of this .selfish policy the growth of the town
was retarded at a time when, with the application of the spirit of live-and-
let-live policy, it should have been enjoying a veritable boom. This "dog-
in-the-manger" spirit continued until 1881. when J. H. Hagadorn laid out an
addition, and during the next few years the village made more progress
than in all its previous existence.

D.VW.SON SPREADS.

At this time B. S. Chittenden sold his elevator and grain business to
T. J. Ryan who, the next year, sold out to the well remembered and revered
Morgan ^IcSwiney. Mr. Chittenden then moved his store building from
south of track to the corner at present occupied by Pierson's cafe; it was
the first building in the Hagadorn addition and was used for years in connec-
tion with the lumber yard.

S. C. Barlow, who was ever in the vanguard of each progressive move-
ments, was the first to start the construction of the brick block; his example
was at once followed by M. L. Libbee and Ed. Hanna, and soon after Mr. Chit-
tenden and his son-in-law, J. W. Herlocker, erected adjoining, the magnificent
store rooms, now occupied by L. L. Kinsey & Son, which was conducted as
one of the most extensive hardware stores in the \\'est, until destroyed by
fire in 1890.

John W. Blomis was one of the well-to-do early-day farmers, who was
a live wire in working for the advancement of the young village; he estalv
lished an extensive implement trade that was later taken o\er by J- W. Her-
locker.

Maurice O'Brien was a noted carpenter and builder. He built the pres-
ent blacksmith shop and fitted rooms on the east end for a private residence ;
he next erected for a work shop the Innlding now used by M. J. Byrne as a
cement store room.

Harry Joeckel, S. L. Umstead, A. R. Smutz, E. E. Duryea and Charles
Vander])lus were early-day blacksmiths, while John Klima continued to
handle the wagon department until he built his present (jtiarters.

566 KICIIAKDSOX COfNTY. NEBRASKA.

Judd & Strattun about this time erected a horse barn and engaged in the
breeding and importation of thoroughbred horses. These were upright and
popular young men who conducted an honorable business. Leroy Judd later
purchased Mr. Stratton's interest, and the two brothers continued the busi-
ness until the new barn was built west of the school house, when Leroy went
farming and Norm conducted the business until he sold to Pat O'Grady.

With G. L. Wagner, druggist. Joseph Potter and H. J. Shier, harness
makers. W. S. Allen, drayman. Tom Ryan, shoemaker, Drs. J. A. Waggener
and Harlan resident physicians, E. T. Hanna, pool hall and restaurant and
last, but not least, E. W. Buser as. postmaster, merchant, and, later, founder
and editor of the Xcii.'sl>oy, the town was now so well represented in ever}-
line of business and trade that nothing was lacking but a local bank to facili-
tate the exchange and handling of the rapidly-growing volume of trade.

To meet this requirement a conference of reliable old friends resulted
in the t)rganization of the Dawson Bank, with the following original stock-
holders: Al. B. Ryan, M. Riley, L. .\. Ryan, Thomas Eenton, Dan Riley
and Morgan McSwine\-. M. Riley was elected cashier, which position he
continued to fill with hnncr until the hour of his death, and so conscientiously
devoted was he to the interests of his pet institution that it was often
remarked by observant friends he devoted greater attention to the welfare
of the bank than to his health.

At this stage of Dawson's history it enjoyed the enviable reputation of
i)ei!ig the most progressive little town in the West, but with the completion
of the Union Pacific and Rock Island railroads, fully half its territory was
cut ol'f, which necessitated a trimming of sails to conform with changed con-
ilitions.

In addition to the curtailment of trade by the opening of the railroads
north and south of town, may be mentioned the destruction by fire in iSSu
(if the first mill, that was looked upon by the farmers for many miles as the
most useful and popular landmark in the county. The mill had just l^een
overhauled and ecpiipped with all modern machinery by Riley & Byrne, and
the enterprising proprietors so richly merited the sympathy of the community
in their great financial loss, that a joint stock company was at once organ-
ized, and a fifteen-thousand-dollar mill con.structed, but unfortunately, no
sooner was the new mill completed than it, too, went up in smoke. With
just cause for discouragement the mill was rebuilt on a small scale a fourth
time, and continued to be operated as a nonpaying investment until finally dis-
continued witli tile iligging of the new channel and abandonment of water
power.

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 567

FIRST EFFORT TO BUILD CHURCH.

Until the completion of the Odd Fellows building, already mentioned,
religious services were conducted in the Iliff school house a mile east of town,
;md until the erection of the respective churches, the first floor of the build-
ing— better kno"\vn as town hall — served for every purpose of union church,
public hall, school house and everything of a public nature. In 1879 the
Catholic congregation made the first start at the erection of a little church
liuilding. John Hanna was the builder, and just as he had it fairly inclosed
a storm set in while the congregation was gathering for evening devotion the
la.>t of Mav. and with not less than fifty women and children within the frail
l)uilding, it was blown down — fortunately without serious injury to anyone.
The not year it was rebuilt on a more substantial scale, and was no sooner
completed than it burned down. A third time it was again rebuilt and con-
tinued to stand until the fall of 1898, when, during the progress of an electric
storm, it was destroyed by lightning and made way for the present substan-
tial brick edifice — that in point of cost and artistic grandeur would do credit
to a town many times Dawson's population.

A Catholic parochial school was opened last fall, but it is due to state
in this review it was not started because of any dissatisfaction with our local
])ublic schools on the parts of Catholic parents, many of whom in early days
divided time with pioneer neighbors in the use of a primitive house of Chris-
tian worship; and whose children for a generation have mingled in a spirit
of fraternal harmony in a common school where the most scrupulous care
w as observed to see the rights of the humblest were sacredly respected ; they
conscientiously believe a denominational school in Dawson is an excessive
and unnecessary burden.

The first union Sunday school was organized and conducted by Uncle
Henry Allen in a primitive warehouse near the depot. After the death of
Mr. Allen the good work was continued by the popular village blacksmith,
.V. R. Smutz, who was succeeded b)' E. W. Buser, who in turn has given way
to Joseph S. Hein, who is noted as the most efficient superintendent in the
state. About 1883 the present Evangelical congregation was re-organized,
and during the jjastorate of Reverend Petitte a new church was built on the
liill; the congregation increased in wealth and meml^ers so rapidly, that in a
few years later it became necessary to enlarge it. and it was remodeled and
transferred into the present imposing edifice.

Since Dawson's earliest settlement it has been a fruitful field for the

568 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

growth of fraternal orders: the pioneer order was the Odd Fellows, and
ever\- early-day member was a leader in everything of a progressive nature.
There are also established flourishing local lodges of the Knights and Ladies
of Security, ^lodern \\'oodmen, .\ncient Order of United Workmen and the
Degree of Honor.

A laudable institution intended to perpetuate the memory and self-sacri-
fices of the early settlers is that of the Richardson County Old Settlers Asso-
ciation. .V number of social neighbors congregated at the home of John
Williamson in the summer of 1886, and after a picnic dinner out in the
shaded lawn the pioneer spirit that pervaded the group of old neighbors sug-
gested the idea of making such a social reunion an annual event. The sug-
gestion met a hearty response from all present, and a permanent organization
was effected by the election of a board of trustees with instructions to draft
constitution and by-laws. John Brockman was elected first president and
S. C. Barlow, secretary. The next annual meeting at Mr. Williamson's pri-
vate lawn was so numerously attended that it was decided to hold all future
annual gatherings down in Rothenberger's grove, midway between Hum-
boldt and Dawson ; and for many years after the citizens of Ixith towns united
in making the old settlers' picnic one of the most numerously attended and
popular.

In time the great molj became too imwieldy to properly handle, and as
such annual gatherings began to attract the usual number of undesirable char-
acters, Mr. Rothenberger decided it was time to select a location near some
town that would afford the necessary police supervision. A popular vote on
removal resulted in Dawson's selection as the future headquarters, and Dan
Riley tendered the association the use of his magnificent grove, popularly
known as Riley Park, for future picnics. The progressive young business
men of town at once constructed a cable foot bridge crossing the old Nemaha
channel, this enabling people to enter the beautiful grove a few rods soutli
of the depot. .\ spirited discussion was conducted in the local press last
year as to the manner of conducting present-day picnics ; whether or not the
censure of unfriendly critics was well founded, the incident should serve to
remind 1>oth town officers and Old Settlers Association that nothing in tlic
future should be tolerated within the grounds to afford the least room foi-
any unfriendly critici.sm; this can be done otily by adhering to the simple rules
of the honest earh--day founders by making the annual reunions an occasion
for renewing old-time friendships and a revival of pioneer reminiscences of
a time when all occupied the same plane of equality.

Finally. Dfawson of the present day has no aspiration to be classetl as

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 569

a town of commercial supremacy; but its churches and schools, in connection
with neat cottage homes nestling in well-kept lawns, embowered in clean,
shaded avenues, lends to it the air and comfort of a metropolitan suburb that
tend to make it a haven of quiet contentment and peaceful repose that can
never be experienced in the roar and grind of a commercial metropolis. Many
in youthful ambition have been lured to the cities in quest of fame or for-
tune, but with the disappearance of the gilded veneer their minds and hearts
longingly revert to the honest, old-fashioned home scenes of innocent youth.
In these inspiring home scenes and tender memories Dawson will ever have
more sentimental attraction for the scattered pioneers than any commercial
metropolis.

REPUTATION OF SCHOOLS.

A noted writer remarked that "sweet, indeed, are the uses of adversity" ;
and if adversities are conducive to the calling forth of the latent energies of
a people or community, then the patrons of school district No. 95 have much
cause to be thankful for the "touch of nature that tended to make them all
akin.'' Since the formation of the district in 1878 Dawson schools have
enjoyed a most enviable reputation because of the unanimity of the spirit of
fraternal unity prevading the school patrons, and which happy condition is
party to be accounted for from the fact that it required a united pull
on the part of friends of the school to establish a town district at all, and it
demanded that united and ceaseless energies of the early friends to surmount
the many adversities that beset the little district.

The present-day graduate of our flourishing high school whose "com-
mencement" pathway is bedecked with roses, could not conceive anything so
inspiring or ennobling for the subject of an "oration" as that of the self-
sacrifices made on the part of honest parents to give their children an oppor-
tunity to acquire an education that they were deprived of in their early youth.
The same ties of brotherly love that cemeirts the fraternal bonds between the
comrades of the Civil War, weld in ties of enduring friendship the friends
and founders of our Dawson public schools, that were intended more for
the formation of manly and womanly character than the acquirement of the
frivolous fads and frills of institutions depending on the benefactions of a
Carnegie or a Rockefeller.

The progress of the little boys and girls who entered the primary depart-
ment of the first town school, later on called for a transformation from a
county to a graded sdiool, and during the efficient supervision of Prof. R. L.
Hofif the original Ijuilding was remodeled at considerable expense to conform

570

UICIIARUSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

to the requirements of an up-to-date, regularly graded high school, which,
from the start, took a prominent place among the high schools of the state
for general efificiency. With a high school under the supervision of a most
upright and conscientious educator, the patrons and friends of the schools
congratulated one another that at last every obstacle was surmounted, and
that for the future clear sailing was in store for the devoted friends who
incessantly labored to get the schools on a firm basis.

But unfortunately for their aspirations, with the installment of -a new
heating plant the building through some defect caught fire, just previous to
the Christmas vacation in the winter of 1900, and in a few hours it was a
smouldering ruin. Although the pecuniary loss to the citizens of the district
was no small matter, yet the loss most keenly felt and regretted by all was
the temporary disarrangement to the schools that were a source of pride to
the communit}-. It was a pathetic spectacle, the morning after the fire, to
witness groups of sorrowful children searching the blackened debris for some
little souvenir to serve as a reminder of happy school-day comradeship.

Without one word of censure or repining, an impromptu school meet-
ing was called at the scene of the fire, and by the light of the burning embers
it was unanimously voted to authorize the school lx)ard to proceed at once
and devise the necessary facilities for opening school as soon as possible after
the regular Christmas vacation. At this time the board of education con-
sisted of X. B. Judd, Dr. J. A. Waggener, William Fenton. Joseph and Henry
Heim. and in compliance with the vote of instruction the schools were tem-
porarily installed in the opera house and city hall until the completion of the
present substantial edifice.

While the plain, old-fashioned founders of our town school had no other
aim in view than to pro\ide the facilities for a sound, common-school educa-
tion for their children, that would tend to making of useful and upright citi-
zens, those who compute everything from the standpoint of dollars and cents
can figure for themselves the gain to a home community of a three-years
couist of high school attendance for one hundred and fifty-six students —
the number graduated from the Dawson high school ; not to mention the
incalculable blessings of home environments during the important habit-form-
ing stage of young people's lives.

Nothing hitherto had stirred up such heated contention among the early
.settlers as did the effort to create a town school district; the village being
located in the center of the townshiii — Grant — the formation of a town dis-
trict meant a general rearrangement of the boundary lines of lialf a dozen
.«chool districts, and it required the utmost diplomacy to get many to concede

KICHARDSOX COfNTY. NEIiRASKA. 57I

the needed territory for the contemplated new (hstrict. After a summer of
all manner of conferences and compromises with the outlying districts, tlie
present school district No. 59, was at la.st established, and in the fall 1878,
with William Fenton, S. C. Barlow and E. D. Webb, members of first school
hoard, and hall, and in the year 1880 a commodious two-story four-room
Ijuiiding was occupied for the first time, and it is to the credit of the citizens
that ever since then they were a unit in generously providing every' necessary
e(|uipment, and as a result of such whole-hearted support, the Dawson high
scliool has long enjoved such an enviable reputation among leading educators
tiiat it has come to be considered an iionorable distinction to be one nf its
graduates.

TOWN ()[•' DAW.SON.

About three-quarters of a mile south of town stands the mill from which
Dawson received its name. The building was erected by Joshua Dawson in
1868, who soon after its erection obtained a postal service :uid this postoffice
was naturally known as Dawson's Mill postoffice.

The townsite was surveyed on the 26th and 27th of b'ebruary. i(^/2, and
the plat filed for record in the office of the county clerk on March 4th, 1872,
at II o'clock a. m. The surveying of the site for the village was done by

1. W. Beckwith, a surveyor well known in the county at that time and who.se
ser\ices were also used at Huml^oldt. Tiie site for the city was dedicated by
William F. Draper, who owned the farm in section Xo. 15. t(r\vnship No.

2. north, of range Xo. 14, Iiast. of the sixtii ])rincipal meridian. Dawson
\>as originally named X'^oraville in honor of a daughter of the owner of the
townsite. The name was never legally changed, but the change seems to have
been made first at the time tlie mail was being received as abcwe stated.

The first building, which was erected on the townsite, was used as a
store and was built for \\^illiam Till, and the postoffice was soon moved to
that place. Mr. Till was postmaster for some time and was succeeded liy
T'.. S. Chittenden, who w^as later .succeeded by S. C. Barlow.

The first blacksmith shop was erected by Daniel Tignor, down on the
Kemaha, .south of the village, but was soon removed to the townsite.

In 187S a school wa.s opened, with \\'. D. James as teacher, who was
followed by others.

The first child to see the light of day in Dawson was C. 'i'ill. who was
born in 1873. In 1874 the mother died after a short illness.

The "Warner House" was the first public hostelry and was erected in
1876 bv rhristo])bcr Warner and cost seven hundred dollars. It was run

572 RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBR,\SKA.

until 1878, wiien J- H. Haniia built the "Commercial." which was a more
expensive place. The "Commercial" was later purchased by W. A. Albright.
In 1873 Ed P. Tinker, a resident of Humboldt, started a lumber yard at
Dawson. After the yard had changed hands several times, it passed to B. S.
Chittenden, who operated it for many years.

NEWSl'APER HISTORY.

In the spring of 1888 Dawson was enjoying a marked degree of pros-
perity and was making rapid strides in progi'ess, and the village then was
well represented with all lines of business usually found in a town in Nebraska
at that time, excepting a newspaper. E. W. Buser was at that time engaged
in business and was wideawake to the best interest and advancement of the
thriving village. He purchased the necessary equipment with which to publish
a newspaper and founded the Da7t.'soii Kczi'sboy, which he conducted success-
fully and satisfactorily for a year, when he sold the plant to Arthur Gird,
who directed the destinies of the paper but a short time, when the plant,
together with a number of other business houses, disappeared in smoke.
Nothing whatever of the Dawson Nezvsboy plant was saved, and as little or
no insurance was carried, and as Mr. Gird, unfortunately, had no reserve
fund, he was unable to replace the outfit, consequently for several months
Dawson was without a newspaper when ^Ir. Buser purchased another news-
paper outfit and re-established another paper and in a few months he again
sold out to Henry Scheidegger, who coutlucted the same for a time. William
I'enton then purchased the plant and together with his daughter, Mamie, pub-
lished the Xcwsboy for a period of nine years, during which time they estab-
lished a reputation for their publication as being one of the neatest, best and
newsiest little papers in this part of the state. After the marriage of his
daughter, ]\Ir. Eenton decided that his age and lack of knowledge of the typo-
graphical work in connection with the paper were against him and therefore
sold the plant to a ^Ir. McCoy, who conducted the same for a couple of years,
when it passed out of exi.stence. Mr. McCoy sold the plant to the Morehouse
i)rothers, who were unable to successfully pursue their methods of doing busi-
ness in Dawson, and tlieir sojourn was for but a short time.

Reverend ]\Ir. Wilder, who made the mistake of expounding his personal
\ie\vs through the columns of his paper and ignoring new s features, met with
a great deal of dissatisfaction among hi.s subscribers, and he, too, soon found
himself in the same embarrassing position as his predecessor, and being unable
to secure a buyer he persuaded some of his friends to lend him financial aid

lUCHAKDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 573

and he purccliased the Falls City Tribune and moved the two plants together
at Falls City. It was but a matter of a short time until the Tribune, met the
same fate as did the Nezvsboy — it passed out of existence and the publisher
scon migrated.

For a short time a paper known as the Outlook was printed at Salem
and mailed to Dawson, but the publishers, the Ross brothers, found it more
of an undertaking than tliey had figured on and the Outlook was a very short-
lived paper, and Dawson was without even an excuse for a newspaper for a
period of over two years when Willis Manner, of Fillmore, Missouri, moved
the Ga:;ette plant to Dawson and founded the Dan'son Reporter. He remained
in Dawson less than a year, when he passed on to other fields and the paper
passed into the hands of the present owner, J. H. Harrah, who pursues the
work of getting out one of the best little papers published in the county and
one greatly appreciated by his subscribers and the people generally of Grant
township.

Dawson's real name.

The town of Dawson is well known to the people of Richardson county
and yet, legally, there is no such a town in the county. But time and custom,
together with popular usage, have got in their work and Dawson is as well
known as Falls City, or Humboldt or Stella, and yet if a person went to the
depot in Falls City and asked for a ticket to Noraville, Richardson county,
Nebraska, the agent would tell them that there is no such a town on their
lines. But the fact remains that the real name of Dawson is Noraville and
it has never been legally changed.

In 1 87 1 when the graders of the Atchison & Nebraska railroad reached
that point a town was laid out by W. I. Draper on his farm adjoining the
right of way and it was named Noraville. But today the town is known as
Dawson, and the reason lies in the fact that in 1868 Joshua Dawson had built
a flouring-mill on the Nemaha opposite the present townsite to the south.
Shortly afterward and about the time the town was established, Mr. Dawson
secured postal service and his office soon became known as Dawson's Mills.
When the town was established the postoffice was removed there, but the
name still clung to it — in fact it was only in more recent years that the wurd
"mills" has been dropped and the town known as Dawson.

The Dawson of today is a thriving and prosperous village, located in the
midst of a fine farming country and furnishing a market for a largfe extent
of farming country. The growth and improvement of the town liave been
remarkable in the last few years.

574 KICUAKDSOX COUNTY, NKBRASKA.

Tliere are sever;il iwo-story l)rick blocks that are a (leciik<l credit to the
town and would be to a much larger place. These lousiness houses funiisli
quarters for the merchants who take great pride in keeping their stores models
(jf neatness and completeness. All lines of Imsiness are well represented and
yet nothing is overdone. That the l)usiness interests of Dawson rest upon a
tirm foundation is shown by the fact that there have l)een but very few failures
in the town.

Passing into tlie resilience section of the town. man\ substantial and ver\-
beautiful homes may be found. These are the dwelling places of the men of
Dawson, and here they live contented and happy, and well they may be so.

The people of Dawson take great pride in their public schools, and a
commodious two-story school building furni.shes accommodations for teach-
ers and pupils. Statistics .show that the Dawson schools are thortuighly mod-
ern in their methods and excellent results are produced by a competent corps
of teachers.

Another object to which the iieople point with pride, and justly so, is
St. Mary's Catholic church. When the old editice burned, the people of the
pai'ish determined to erect a church that would be a credit to the town and
furnish them a credita1)le place to worship for years to come. The result <if
their labors took the form of a magnificent l)rick church erected at a cost of
twelve thousand dollars. Tt would be an <M-nament to cities of much larger
si/.e. In the recent past this parish has erected a commodious brick school
Inu'ding near the cliurcli ]iroperty, where the younger members receive edu-
cational advantages.

CHAPTER XXIII.
Dki-unct Towns oi' Richardson County.

Richardson county has had an unusual number of towns, whose sites
are now broad acres upon wliich are raised a variety of crops, or upon
whose rocky hills are raised magnificent orchards and vineyards, whose
projectors confidentially expected that they would become large and important
commercial centers. Many of these have passed from the minds of even
the oldest inhabitants, or have a place only upon the maps of their day.

\Ve have before us a map made by Mr. McManus, sum-eyor, away back in
1856, that gives many of these now defunct towns. The first of these
was a townsite 'Situated below Rulo, at a point on the Missouri river near
the south side of the county and close, called Mt. Roy, here also was a
ferry by the name of Roy's Ferry; both alike have passed away and their
memories are kept green alone upon the face of the old map. Just aliove
Rulo and on a line due east of Archer, then the county seat, was Yankton,
and two and one-half miles farther north was the townsite of Winnebago.
This was two miles below Arago. While old St. Stephens was what we
might say a suburban portion of Arago, but it seems that ^Vrago liad
absorbed the business soul and enterprise of both these towns. Aragci still
remains quite a business center, while both the other towns have passed
away with the years in which they were born. Away up towards the north
side of the county was laid oiif a town ■"christened" as "Sherman," and alxmt
one and one-half niiles northeast of where Barada now is, was a "future
great" called Cabana, but all we know of either of these towns is that their
names appear upon the ancient map. South of Barada, about eight miles,
was Archer, the ancient capital of Richardson county, now desolate and
forlorn. Her walls have been torn down, her houses razed to the ground
and her children apportioned to strange tribes; of her it was written,
"weighed in the balance and found wanting". Where Archer stood, in
all her regal pride, "the queen city" of her day, is now heard the bleat of
the- lamb, the coo of the kine and the merry whistle of tlie farmer boy as
he leisurely drives the cows homeward from the pasture at eventide. From
tJiis old map we nia\- learn, too. that some person who had an eye to business,

576 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

liad laid off a town on the south side of tlie ^Iiiddy, near the old Harken-
dorff farm, or on the Hitchcock farm, about half-way between where Falls
City and Verdon now stand, and called it "Shasta" ; but like the others,
the name is all that remains of the town. Farther to the northwest and
in the exact geographical center of the county, in the early days, was a town
of some little importance, and in the county seat disturbances of 1855 to
i860, Geneva was a rival of the other towns of the county, of no mean
pretentions, but after the location of the county seat at Falls City, it fell
into decay, and now all that marks where the city stood is two small trees
and the fast-filling excavations of some old cellars. And then there was
Cottage Grove, Flowerdale and Dorrington, as well as the old town oi
San Francisco, that have all passed into history as towns that were and
are not, "unwept, unhonored and unsung." There may have been others;
l)ut if so, the map maker failed to put their location upon it.

YANKTON.

Yankton could at one time boast of being the one mining town of
Richardson county. It was located at a point about three miles north of
Rulo, on the banks of the Missouri river, about midway between Rulo and
Arago. It had at one time three general stores, three saloons and one
blacksmith shop.

A bluff nearby caved into the Missouri river, disclosing quite a vein
of coal suitable for all common needs, which was mined until exhausted.
Everyone who would have coal from this mine must perforce be his own
miner.

Armstrong Brothers conducted the principal general merchandise store
in the town and Henry Goulet catered to the wants of those desiring amuse-
ment by the operation of one of the first bowling alleys ever brought west
of the Big Muddy.

Huston Nuckolls was an enterprising real estate agent and Daniel
Brown was the lawyer of the town. He afterwards joined the Confederate
army and no word has been heard of him since his departure to join the
colors of the South. J. H. Davis, who later figured in the great tragedy
resultant from the county-seat fight, in which himself and a man named
Meek lost their lives at Falls City, was the resident physician of the town.
The town also contained a hotel or boarding house.

The village attained the height of its glory in 1857, when it numbered
its population at about two hundred. The Armstrong store building was

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 577

purchased by Judge Elmer S. Dundy, who removed it to Falls City, where
he remodeled it into a dwelling house, which stood on the location now-
occupied by the Cleveland store on Stone street. It was later moved to the
lots immediately west, facing Chase street, and stands there at this time,
being a tenant house. The inhabitants fearing the encroachments of the
river at that time moved to other towns in the county and Yankton was
no more. At this time, however, the Missouri river is as much as a mile
to the east of the old Yankton townsite.

A PIONEER RELIC.
(Taken from Vol. 4, No. 1. of the "Pioneer Record" of July. 1S97.)

C. C. Hollenbaugh handed us one-half of a copy of the Soutlicastcni
Nehraskan, printed at Arago, Nebraska, July 2, 1867, by N. O. Price. It
is a seven-column folio. Its motto is "Independent in all things and neutral
in nothing." A two-column advertisement states that Arago will celebrate
the Fourth of July as has never yet been celebrated in Richardson county.
Orations will be given in both German and English, the festivities to end
in the evening with a grand ball. Its leading editorial is upon the removal
of the state capital from Omaha to Lincoln, and in this article we find the
following in regard to the other state institutions :

"As near as we can find out that county wanted the whole outfit. For
instance, Rulo wanted the penitentiary; Falls City, the deaf and lilind
asylum; Salem, the lunatic asylum, and Arago, the State University."

In another article the beautiful mail system of Arago is described thus :
"Our mails from the south leave St. Joseph in the morning and arrive
(during good roads) at Rulo in the evening of the same day. Rulo is eight
or ten miles south of .\rago. Here it lies all night and starts early in the
morning for the north and passes within a couple of miles of Arago and
stops at Stump's Station, some four miles distant, until the down mail
arrives, when it is brought to town from nine to twelve o'clock at night."

Another article goes after the agricultural society for making an iron-
clad constitution, so that the fair cannot be removed from Salem.

A local states that Judge Elmer S. Dundy arrives on the "Colorado,"
(a steamboat on the Missouri river), from Omaha a few days previous.

Among the professional cards are observed those of Edwin S. Towle.
August Schoenheit, Isham Reavis, and J. J. Marvin, as attorneys-at-law at
Falls Citv: E. F. Grav. attornev at Rulo; James Cameron, notarv public.

(37)

5/8 KicuAiyjsox county. Nebraska.

at Falls City; Adam }ilichaelis. county surveyor, Iiis residence being four
miles northwest of St. Stephens and his postoffice, Arago: Dr. R. Peery. is
physician at Arago ; Dr. C. R. Baker, has his shingle out at Aspinwall ; the
City Hotel at Arago is run by Story & Ogden; X. Lippold is proprietor
of the Union Hotel at Arago; J. J. Good advertises the Union House at
Falls City, and Isaac Minnick is proprietor of the Minnick's Hotel at Falls
City, located on t1ie present site of the Richardson County Rank.

Winnebago was located about three miles south of Arago, but a mile
or two back from the river. It was laid out on land belonging to Joseph
Piquoit, a half-breed Indian. Winnebago at one time had two general
stores, one managed by H. J. Vandall, a son-in-law of Piquoit: a saloon
that did a thriving business, a blacksmith shop and a hotel and boarding
house. This town was settled almost entirely by French, Indians and halt-
breeds: Ijut the dwelling houses, of which there were eighteen or twent\ ,
that were built here, were much better than the average of those of other
towns. George ^layfield was tlie principal carpenter and builder of the
town.

ARCHER.

Archer was located on the Muddy al)out two miles north and east of
the present court house at Falls Citw was at one time the county seat of the
county, but it never had any county Iniildings. or even the foundations for
them. The town 'was laid out by J. L. Sharp, Ambrose Shelley, Joe Yount
and H. Nuckolls. Abe Kirk built the first store and John Welty, the second.
About ten houses were all that were e\er built. A doulile log- house was
used as a hotel and kept by John C. Miller, the first county judge of the
county, who held court at his residence, and who was also postmaster. Tlic
fir.st school taught at Archer was taught by ]\Hss Catherine Samuels, a
one-armed lady. It was a subscription school and composed of the fol-
lowing families of children: Catrons. Millers, Crooks, \Viltse Maddox
and Trammel. T. (". Sic.afoose taught the school in the winter i^f i860. John
John.son was the first doctor who located in the county at Archer in 1850.
Mrs. Sally Dodge, wife of Levi Dodge, being an extra good nurse and
having a good knowledge of herbs, was employed a good deal as a doctor
among the early settlers. Joseph '\'ount ran a saw- and grist-mill. Upon
a re-sm-vcv of tlic Hait'-I'reed tract. Archer was found to l)e located on

lUC 1

lAKDSOX COUNTY. NKP.KASKA.

57«

Indian land, and lliat \v;i

is tile cause of the death of Archer.

'I'he count

records were tlien moved

1 to Salem in 1S37 and that town h

ad the bono

of bein<( tlie cnunty seat

for a short time.

Wl-ST AKCUKR.

West Archer was laid out on forty acres of land about three miles
southwest of Archer, on land later owned by William Maddox. It wa?
platted about the time it was discovered that Archer was on land allotted
to the Indians, in what is known as the Half-Breed tract. Il only consiste<l
of the lionse owne<l and occupied by "Bi.s^"' Parker. At the downfall of
Archer, Falls City spranq- into existence.

.STUMPS .STATION.

Stumps Station, afterwards Williamsville. named in honor of Alf Stump
and afterwards in honor of Prof. F. M. Williams, who was one of the brst
county superintendents of public instruction, was located one mile north
and six miles east of C'ottajje Grove, where the precincts of Barada, Muddy.
Liberty and Ohio C(jrner with each other. It was started as a stage station,
to change horses on the stage line from St. Joseph, Missouri, Rulo, Aspin-
wall. Xemaha City and Nebraska City. The first government telegraph
across the continent lay along this route. It was a government postoffice.
A brick church, of the German Lutheran denomination, was built at this
place. It was the only town in the county where a church was one of the
first buildings and this church is all that remains of the town today. An
unsuccessful effort was once made to hold up and rob the stage between
Rulo and W^illiamsville.

Shasta was a traveling poslofiice for the ccjuvenience of the neighbor-
hood, and changed its name with nearly e\ery administration. It began
its existence in a claim house on the southwest c<jmer of section JO, town-
shi]) 2. range 13, on the south side of the .Muddy, near John C. Hasen-
yager's farm, in the forks of ihc llickorv liranch and the Muddy alxmt a
mile east of Isaac Clark's liome on the !-ibert\ precinct line. .V man b\
the name of Squire .\rnett owned this land at that time and was not ad\erse
to selling corner lots to any who Avanted them and wotdd pay for them. .\s
he found no huvers. no lots were sokl, and no town was laid out. The office

580 RICIlAkDSOX COIXTV. XKHRASKA.

was soon removed to the home of L. B. Prouty, on the John Lewis (father
of our townsman, I'',. O. Lewis), farm, adjoining the Goolsby school house
corners in ()liio precinct, and llie name of Shasta clianged to that of Elmore,
in honor of Elmer S. Dundy, later L'nited States judge in this state. It
was moved from one house to another, as dififerent persons held the high
and honorable position of postmaster, until it finally drifted to Cottage
Grove, where its name was again changed. A graxeyard with a few graves
still marks the townsite of Shasta.

L. B. Prouty was postmaster at Elmore until 1869; then Isaac C(Joper
held the honor until R. M. Zumbrum was appointed, who held the office
until 1876. Mr. Zumbrum had a small drug store in connection with the
office. The salary of the postmaster at that time was only about five dollars
per year. Herman Lutz had the office after Zumbrum. Ben E. Stump, a
brother-in-law of Lutz, xxas deputy postmaster and ran a small grocer)- store
in connection. Upon the death of Mr. Lutz, Mr. Mayfield was appointed
postmaster, who held the office only for one year, when II. L. Merriam
was appointed. About this time Doctor Rockwell had high hopes that
Cottage Grove would soon become a cit}" and Elmore was discontinued
and Cottage Grove established, with Rockwell as postmaster, mail carrier
and proprietor of the Cottage Grove grocery store. After \'erdon started.
Cottage Grove was abandoned.

L. B. Prouty, speaking about the location of a postofhce at Elmore,
years afterward had the following to say : "There were two reasons for
the establishment of a postoffice at our place. First — We had been bring-
ing mail from Falls City since i860, for many i^ersons, some living nortii
of Verdon, thus saving them a trip of twelve miles going and coming.
Second — The Burbanks had a mail route from Leavenworth via Falls City,
without touching the river towns until reaching Nemaha City, and we were
on that route. We even secured through mail keys, but did not get the
locks for the keys. The contractor asked to be relieved from supplying
our office and we gladly complied as it was no sport to change two mails
daily. We received our commission dated July 3rd. 1862. The business
done at this office may be seen from the following reports: For quarter
ending December 31st. 1862, $4.68; June 30, 1863, $10.31. We paid the
route agent $10.31 for the year 1863. The postoffice department received
for the year 1864 the sum of $13.63. Our commission of 60 per cent
amounted to $8.17."

RICIIAKDSOX COUNTY. NKBRASKA. 581

COTTAGE GROVE.

Cottage Grove required tour precincts in which lo Iniild the future
great city, being located on tlie cross roads where Oliio, Barada. Muddy
and Liberty precincts corner with each other, and not all the corners were
occupied. It was located and founded by Doctor Rockwell who kept a
general merchandise and drug store. The city reached high water mark in
population and prosperity about 1881, when it contained twenty-five persons
and had a postoffice kept in a grange store by Herb Howe, who is now ;i
retired merchant, raising lemons in the state of California, for his health
and the fun of it. A blacksmith shop was kept by Oathout Brothers, later
of Shubert. and a Methodist parsonage and some three or four dwelling
houses. When the Missouri-Pacific railroad went through the countv 1
1882 and Verdon was located. Cottage Grove residents moved almost in
a body to where they could see the cars and hear the steam whistle of
progress.

AUTHORIZED TO DAM THE NEMAHA.

An act of the Territorial Legislature appro\ed on January 7, 1861,
autiiorized M. A. Frank, of Falls City "To erect and keep a mill-dam over
and across the Great Nemaha river at the Falls thereof, in the county of
Richardson."

ELKTON PO.STOFFICE.

lilkton postoffice was located at the home of G. B. Patterson, four miles
northeast of Verdon. The oftice was established, named, and Mr. Patter-
son appointed postmaster at the same time that L. B. Prouty was appointed
at Elmore, Elkton being on the same mail route from Leavenworth, Falls
City and* Nemaha. The settlers were so few at that time in the vicinitv
of Elkton that no mail was ever left at the postoffice for distribution although
Mr. Patterson held the keys for a numl)er of years and was ready to act
as ])ostmaster as soon as any mail arrived to be cared for.

BRECKENRIDGE.

Breckenridge was staked out on the farm just southeast of Isaac Clark's,
three miles east and two south of Verdon and three-quarter of a mile
east of Liberty precinct line. This would-be city contained one house Inult
by Frank Goldsburv, and had one doctor and one Frenchman. The doctor

5^~ KICHAKDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

was the Frenclinian and lived in die only residence in the citv. This ambi-
tious Frenchman's name was I'erdin Godfrey. Jim McElrov. a townsitc
surveyor of the county at that time, owned a half interest in this town,
as fees for surveying. One day Godfrey strayed away from iiome across
the Kansas line and was killed hv a cvclone.

Peora was another might-has e-been town. It was located on the farm
later owned by James Hanley, one mile north and a half-mile east of
Verdon. This city, although duly staked out into city lots and named,
never contained but one lone inhabitant, a man b\- the name of Wicks, who
started a grist-mill in the shape of an old-fashioned tread-power corn crusher,
for the benefit of the settlers in the neighborhood.

SPRINGFIELD.

Springfield was platted as a townsite, with bright hope for its future
greatness, in 1856, on the same land that \'erdon now occupies, by Johnson
Sharp and James Trammel. The two proprietors constituted the only inhabit-
ants the town e\er had, except an occasional visit from a wandering red
man or a lost traveler. From the decayed remains of Si)ringfield, \'erdon
took root and sprouted, after a lapse of twenty-six vears.

GENEVA.

Gene\a was located at the exact geographical center of the county one
mile south and ;i half-mile west of Verdon; three hundred and twenty acres
were survexed as the townsite. The demise of this town was the making
of a first-class hog pasture, as some of the finest hogs in the state are now
roaming over the former .streets, avenues and boulevards of this once great
city. Mysteries are the ways of this world. The site for the temple of
justice and court house S(|uare raises some of the best corn grown in the
county.

In die fall of 1S37. Joseph h:nil>ody, Williani Spurl.ick .K: S.ni and
Gh;irles Cornell formed a townsite company and |)re-enipted ;t lialf section
of land for a townsite, as ])ro\ide(l by law, and Joseph Seefoo, the count}'
surveyor, platted the entire half section into town lots, 'i"he two lone trees
that can be seen at a ilistance were jilanted upon the ])roi)ose(l public square.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 583

the re-survey of the Half-Breed tract had left Archer on Indian land and
the county seat had to be moved. Salem and the then new town of Falls City
were the only rivals of any consequence for county-seat honors. Town lots
were given to anyone who would build thereon. Each of the proprietors
built a dwelling house and many others began. A Mr. Pelcher built a black-
smith shop and Josepli Embody built a general store and hotel in connec-
tion. Embody was also postmaster, but the government never established
a route to this place : the mail was brought by private messengers from Salem.
Charles Cornell built the first house in 1857, and the next year the town
reached the height of its glory when it had about thirty inhabitants, with
four complete dwellings, a store, hotel, blacksmith shop, and many founda-
tions for other buildings. The final location of the county seat at Falls
City, was the death of Geneva.

When the votes were counted for the county-seat location, the voters
liad given this place three names, viz: Geneva, the Center, and Section 22,
township 2, range r. The friends of Geneva always believed that if the
voters had been better informed and a little more electioneering had been
done, this town might have won. thus spoiling a splendid farm for a count\--
seat location.

The supposed scarcity of water at this place was another drawback.
The townsite company dug a well fifty feet deep, near the two trees and
found no water, and others dug wells from fifty to seventy feet deep, with
no better success; but now all the farmers in the neighborhood have good
wells only forty feet deep and have ])lenty of \\ater at all seasons of the
year.

FLOWERDALE.

Flowerdale was a tra\eling pustoi^ce, being located at tlic residence
of the farmer who would consent to have the honor of postmaster thrust
upon him. Its last location \\as at the home of H. D. Weaver, three miles
southeast of Stella. Walt Hopper kept a general store nearb}-. When Stella
and Verdon started, the store was moved to \'erdon and the postofiice
abandoned.

DORRINGTON.

Dorrington was another traveling postoffice, for tiie benefit of the neigh-
borhood southwest of the present town of Stella. It was named in honor
of David Dorrington, one of the first settlers of Falls City. The postotlfice
was first located on the northwest quarter of section 14, townsln'p 3, north of

584 KICIIARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

range 14, east of the sixth principal meridian, but it was afterwards changed
to the southwest quarter of section 11, township 3, range 14. east of the
sixth principal meridian. The postoffice was established in 1880; William
Day was the postmaster and also ran a small store in connection, ^^■hen
Stella laid her foundations for a town. Day moved his store to Stella, and
Dorrington was abandoned in 1882.

NORAVILLE.

Xoraville sprang into existence in 1871, as a camp for the Atchison
& Nebraska railroad graders, on the land owned by W. F. Draper, who
laid out a town adjoining the railroad tract and named the town in honor
of his wife, Nora.

In 1868 Joshua Dawson built a mill on the present site of the Daw-
son mill and soon afterwards he succeeded in getting a government postoffice
located at the mill. The postoffice was known as the Dawson Mills, and
when the railroad was built the company named the station the same as the
postoffice, only dropping the word, mill. The citizens a number of years
ago had the town incorporated under the name of Dawson. Now history
and the old settlers alone know of the original town of forty-four acres as
Noraville.

MONTEREY.

Monterey covered one-half of sections 5 and 6, township 3, range 14,
at one time; it is now the farm of S. J. Kleckner. Nathan Meyers laid
out the town and built a log house in \\4iich the postoffice was kept. A
school house was built nearby, but the population of the town never reached
more than three or four inhabitants.

Meonond was at one time a postoffice. established in 1864 at the resi-
dence of J. B. Rothenberger ; afterwards moved to the residence of Thomas
Lynch, one mile west, about midway between Humboldt and Dawson. This
was on the mail route from Falls City to Pawnee city, and the stopping
places were Salem, Miles' Ranch, Meonond, Humboldt, Table Rock and
Pawnee city. This office was only kept up alxiut two years.

kichaudsox county. nebraska. 585

miles' ranch.

Miles' Rancli was another postoffice located at the home of S. B. Miles,
south of Dawson in Nemaha precinct, it being on the mail route from Falls
City to Pawnee city. It was kept up for the convenience of the neighbor-
hood for a few years. Upon the location of Dawson on the railroad, this
office was abandoned and one at Well's mill established at the grist-mill of
that name on the south fork of the Nemaha, near the township line of
Nemaha and Salem precincts. This office was finally moved further to the
south and w^est and was for many years known as Middleburg. The latter
office was looked after by J- E- Frey.

PLEASANT VALLEY.

Pleasant Valley was located in Speiser precinct at the home of Christian
Bobst, \\ho was the postmaster. It is claimed that this was the first post-
office established in Richardson county, as Mr. Bobst settled on his claim
in the fall of 1854 and soon thereafter had the postoffice located at this
point. The exact date of its establishment, or its abandonment, has not
been ascertained, but it was most likely abandoned about the time the
Atchison & Nebraska railroad came up the valley of the Nemaha in 1871.

BEGINNING AND END OF AR.\GO.

A period of business depression during the administration of President
James Buchanan in 1857, which threw out of employment a large number of
working men in Buffalo, New York, was the first cause of the migration to
this county of a party of Germans, who were responsible for the building of
Arago. one of the earliest towns of consequence on the Missouri river. In
those days hundreds of good workmen had been w^alking the streets of
Buffalo. New^ York, hunting for work and willing and ready to accept service
if only fifty cents per day might be had, or anything, so long as they might
continue to hve and support their families.

This condition was not brought about by a strike for higher wages or
less hours, as is often the case in these later days among the workmen of the
larger cities, but at that time trade was stagnated, money scarce and only
trade exchange could be had at the stores in lieu of money.

This state of affairs, .going from bad to worse, had become unbearalile
when Louis Allegewahr. Jacob Wirtner. George Seyfang. Mike Solomon.

586 RICilAKDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Henry Sommerlad, and Gits Duerfeldt, Sr., with about one hundred other
mechanics and other common workmen employed at Cutler & DeForest's, the
largest and finest furniture establishment in the city of Buiifalo at that time,
expecting at any time to join the walking street parade, felt in unison the call
nf the West, and concluded to organize a German Colonization Society for
tlie purpose of buying land on some Western river for a home. To this
end a meeting was called to assemble at Lorenc Gilling's hall, on Genesee
street, in Buffalo, to perfect plans for such a purpose. A company was at
once duly organized and officers, pro tem, chosen. Louis .Mlegewahr was
named president ; G. T. Xessler, vice-president ; Henr}' Sommerlad. secretary
and Gus Duerfeldt, Sr., treasurer, together with a committee, which was
instructed to draft the constitution and by-laws. Thus was taken the pre-
liminary step which had to do with joining together the men who were to
fashion the little city of Arago in the banks of the ^Missouri in the frontier
days.

A week later the society had o\er one hundred menibers and no change
in the |iersonnel of its officers. The company sold shares at fifteen dollars
each, and promised three building lots or a garden lot of one acre near the
new town. Three trustees were elected — Jacob Beyer, George Hollerith and
Jacol) Schue. On September, 1857, a convention was called to elect a land
commission of three men to Iniy land for the company: Louis Allegwahr.
Doctor Dellenbaugh. from Buffalo, and a farmer from Cheektowage town
were elected. The commission went some one hundred miles along the lower
Mississippi river and then came home without buying any land. They were
badly used up by the niosquitos, which were plentiful and very large, not
singing the high ''C' like those at home, but more like that of a Inmible
bee ; a countrv fit (mly for negroes and not white men, they thought.

Early in March. 1858. another convention was called to elect a new land
CDUimission. Louis Allegwahr, Doctt)r Dellenbaugh, of Buffalo, and Will-
iam Krebes. of Chicago, Illinois, were chosen, and a levy to be made of five
dollars im eacli share, was voted.

OKKMAX COLONY ClfOSlC FRKNCII NAME FOR NEW TOWN.

.Vt this convention the names of many of the largest cities of Germany
were suggested as suital)]e as a name for th.e new city in prospect, but all
were voted down. At this juncture the name of the great French traveler
;nid explorer, l)omini(|ue l'"rancois r\rago, was agreed to, and is to this day
tlu- name of the i)recinct in wliicli this village was located, which, strange to

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 587

.say tor some rea.>on when the pustoffice at this point in very recent years was
discontinued and nicned to a point a few miles west, the name, Arago.
ckiiig- to it. while the older village was caused to be officially known as
"l<"aro-o," but it will alvva>s be known as old Arago.

This later commission went north along the Missouri river up to what
was then Nebraska Territory and purchased from Stephen Story, Huston
Xuckolls, Fred Nuckolls and a :\Ir. Hoak. sixteen hundred acres of land in
Si. Stephens precinct (township 3, north range 17. east, Richardson county,
Nebraska), with a saw-mill near the river, a few log houses, six yoke of
o-\en. and log wagons, paying therefor twentj'-four thousand three hundred
dollars. Ten thousand three hundred dollars was paid and a mortgage given
on the land for fourteen thousand dollars at ten per cent for one year. Thev
engaged a surveyor, Cornelius Shubert, who laid out the town of Arago, with
;i Washington and Jefferson park, also ^n open square as a market place.
The first-class lots were thirty by one hundred and thirtv feet, nearly all in
tiie beautiful bottom, as level as the fioor, covered with large walnut, oak, elm
and basswood trees, about one-half mile wide. The second-class lots were
fifty by one hmidretl feet and garden lots on the prairie above and west.
Those people, unacquainted with the vagaries of the Missouri ri^'er, had
platted the best part of their town where in time to come it would be subjected
to overflow and ruin, while that designated as second class was and alwavs
has been out of danger's way.

The first twelve settlers from Bufifalo, New ^'ork, Louis Allegwahr, Geo.
Safewang, Mike Solomon. C. F. Walther, Henry Sommerlad, Louis Kleber,
Henry Sacht, Fred Xitche. August Dorste, William Ziemendorf. Conrad
Klingelhoefer. and Bernard Klingelhoefer, landed at Arago on the 4th day
of July, 1858. -uid hoisted Old Glory on a high tree standing on the bluflf.
'i"lie\- built a warehouse, a dock for boat landing, cut down the high hill to
open a road westward and build homes for themselves.

Nearly every one of these houses was built of native wood, finished later
with pine weather !)oards and pine luml:)er inside. Plenty of large rocks and
sand were found near St. Stephens. Brick was made by F. Smiley in the
town ; other building tnaterial was hauled by steamlj<iat from Brownville,
Nebraska, ^tany settlers came from Bntfalo in 1858 and 1859 to Arago.
At one time six families were living in the warehouse. The first .settlers
came by the ?!annibal & St. Joseph railroad to St. Joseph. Missouri, and
thence by steaml)oat to Arago.

On June 15. 1830. at Bufifalo. New ^'ork. a convention was called to
elect an agent to go to Arago and pa\- the balance due on the l.'unl and also

5oO KICHAKDSOX COIXTY. NEBRASKA.

\<)te<l a levy of live il(ill;irs on each share of stock. August Duerfeldt. Sr..
was chosen for this errand and arrived at Arago on June 23, 1839. from
which place he went on horsei«ck the following day to Salem, the then county
seat of Richardson count}-. Nebraska. At Salem he learned to his surprise
that the mortgage of fourteen thousand dollars had not been placed on record
an<l only three mortgages were on record at that date.

Ste])hen Story, to whom the mortgage had been given, upon Ijeing inter-
rogated in this particular stated that William Mann, the then register of deeds
bad asked him to pay one dollar for the recording of the instrument and
thinking this sum excessive, had not had the mortgage recorded.

BUSINESS IXTKKE.STS.

The timber land on the lownsite was sold for six dollars per acre, and
the prairie land for live dollars per acre, ^klany of the five hundred share-
holders came to Arago and built houses and started business with the saw-
mill. .\ dour-mill was started. Mike Gehling and Henry Sommerlad had
built a brewery; Xemijeck, from Xemaha county, Nebraska, came and built
a whiskey distillery; there were fi\e large stores, one implement house, three
blacksmiths' shops, four saloons, wagon and cooper shop; there was one
doctor, one watchmaker, etc. L. AUeghawr was shipping all kinds of grain,
wnol. etc., and packing hogs, from a few up to ten thousand, in one season.
He later sold the business to I'eter l-'rederick, Sr., who continued it in a
profitable condition for mariy years. Arago being the only hog market in
this county, it required the farmers from Speiser precinct nearly three days
to go to .\rago. Among the buildings of Arago was a fine Evangelical Luth-
eran church, twenty by sixty feet lloor; the Catholic church, a large, two-
story school house, where the students were taught in English and German;
a newspaper, inililished one-half in German, one-half in English; a large
dance hall with a stage, two large hotels, chair factory, owned by P. B, Miller
and 1'.. Siilomon; a lirick )ard owned by Mr. Smiley. Arago had a band of
tvventx- pieces, also a string band and the Deauche Sangerbund, or singing
society. On application. Governor Saunders gave the town thirty-five new
muskets, which Col. John C. Fremont had bought in Germany: these muskets
were for ])rotection against the Indians.

Koselius. in Missouri, furnished the first settlers with pro\isions. The
town c<in)i)any owed him in 1S59 over $800. Flour was from $3 to $4 per
iiarrel; live hugs from S.2 to S3: beef from $1.75 to $2 per' hundred pounds:
ci>rn fn.m 20 to 25 cents: jiotatoc; fr<im 25 to 30 cents per bushel: butter. 10

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 589

cents; coffee, 15 cents; sugar, 10 cents per pound; eggs, 5 cents per dozen.
Corn, rye, wheat, barley and potatoes were sent in two-bushel sacks; oats, in
bushel sacks. I'ork and all kinds of provisions were sent by steamboats.
There were no banks in Arago.

The banks at Buli'alo, New York, paid four per cent interest on deposit
and the people of x\rago paid ten per cent on what they borrowed. By agree-
ment, the people of Arago sent drafts payable at the First National Bank of
Xew York, as fast as they received the money ; the balance of the $6,300 was
paid, $1,000 in gold, the rest in currency.

To the iirst settlers was sent money from Buft'alo by express to St.
Joseph, Missouri, from there the Arago treasurer, H. Sacht, was obliged to
get the same. Later. L. AUegwahr and Peter Frederick, Sr., furnished
money to farmers and citizens. The saw-mill was donated to a man from
Brownville, on condition that he would erect a flour-mill at Arago, and he
Ijecame the owner of and operated both the saw-mill and flour-mill at Arago.
.\rago was growing fast and all business flourishing, some dreaming to get
ahead of Chicago, or at least of the county seat, Salem.

EXODUS FROM AR.VGO.

As soon as the St. Joseph & Council Bluff's railroad on the east side of
the river was Imilt and the company bought the steamboats for ferries, all
business on the Missouri river was at an end, or practically so, and all the
cities and towns along the river went down, as did Arago, and very rapidly.
Some of the business men removed to Falls City, which had now become
more important, to resume their former occupations. Among them were
Michael Gehling, with his brewery; Fred Stock, with his bakery, which he
located at his residence just south of the present location of the Falls City
Xck's office, in block 69 on Harlan street, between Sixteenth and Seventeenth
streets; Otto Wirth, with his jewelry business; Mr. Lange; Mr. Nettlebeck,
with his shoe business; Henry Ruegge, upholstery; Dr. C. T. Burchard, and
August Neitzel, with his monument business. A few to return to their old
homes in the F,ast at Buffalo, were Louis Allegewahr, George Seyfang,
Michael Solomon, Louis Kleber, Antoine Hipshen, and others to scatter over
tlie country; while many of the citizens of that former thriving village wisely
engaged in a "back to the soil movement" and became farmers and, inci-
dentally, if living, are the wealthy members of our farming community, or at
least laid the foundation for the fortunes now enjoyed by their sons and
daughters of todav.

590 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

KAILKOAI) COMlT.KTEn TO FALLS CITY.

The .\tchison & Nebraska railroad being completed to Falls City in
1871, took off a large part of the trade of Arago, which up to that time was
the only real good market in the county. Here the farmer could sell almost
anything he could raise; nowhere else did they pretend to slaughter hogs on
so large a scale. In fifteen years this business had grown to be a big thing
and brought a large trade to the town.

As fast as the railroad cut off the business in Arago, the river did its
part in taking the whole bottom from bluff to bluff, nearly all the first-class
lots having left by river for St. Louis, the gulf, or to make bars to clog the
stream and further impede travel by steamboats.

The distillery, the brewery, the flour- and saw-mill, stores and other tine
liuildings went up in smoke: while some houses were moved to farms or
brought to Falls City. So .Vrago went down faster than it was built up
and onh' one of the old settlers, Mrs. Bajie Saal, remaining, while Mrs.
Christ Strecker. anotlier of the first settlers, resided there until her death a
siiort time since.

POPl'LATION THEN AND NOW.

Louis Allegewahr was the first cily mayor of Arago and C. F. Wallher
was tlie last one. The population of .\rago in its palmiest days aggregated
tlie grand total of from one thousand to seventeen hundred souls. Today.
but si.K families claim a residence on the townsite. In other years the ferry
there made it an important gateway into this county from Missouri and
Iowa; now that has disappeared and the traveler must go either to Rulo or
Brownsville to reach the Xel^raska shore. The beautiful bottom on which
the principal part of Arago was built and grew, has at different times been
entirels- wiped out, only to be later restored by the treacherous waters of the
r.ig Aiiuldx. At this present time the river bank is nearly a mile east of the
hiufl' on which the remaining portions of .\rago stand and the village, tenant-
less, presents onlv a sjiectre of its former self. L^p to very recently an effort
lias been made lo keep some kind of a trading point there; this even has
disappeared and not one single place remains open for public business.

.\rago was backed from the very first by plent\- of money and emigrants:
its growth was ra]>id, but the growth of Arago was the downfall of St.
Ste])hens, which was one mile north of it. During the years 1870-71, Arago
reached the pirmade of its fame and glory, when it became somewhat larger

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 59I

than St. Stephens had been ten years before and more important in many
wavs. The founders of Arago had great hopes for its future greatness.

FIRST TOWN IN COUNTY TO BE INCORPORATED.

Arago was the first town in tlie county to be incorporated as a cit}-,
requiring a special act of the Territorial Legislature to accomplish this fact.
The act was passed and approved on January lo, i860, and the following
territory was included within its limits :

"The whole fractional section No. 12; the southeast quarter of section
No. II and the northeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section No. 13.
all in township No. 2. north of range No. 18, east of the sixth principal
meridian, and situated in the county of Richardson and state of Nebra.ska,
together with all additions that may be made hereafter thereto, according to
law, is hereby declared to be a corporation by the name of Arago, and the
east line of said c\t\ shall extend to the middle of the main channel of the
^Missouri river."

The above citv limits included two hundred and forty acres besides the
whole of the fractional sections. The officers of the would-be city, accord-
ing to the act of incorjxiration. were to consist of a mayor and a l)oard of
six aldermen, an assessor, treasurer, marshal, three inspectors of elections,
clerk, collector of taxes, street commissioner, clerk of markets, cit\- super-
vi.sor, health officer, and other such officers as it may deem advisable. At
the present time the entire population would not be enough to fill the offices
of the ancient village as there are jierhaps less than a dozen all told.

Section No. 26 provided that the council had power to organize lire
companies and provide them with fire engines.

Section No. 30 gave the council power to regulate a system of cartage
and dravage, hacks and omnibuses within the city.

Section No. 41 of the act of incorporation gave the council full control
or" the streets, alleys, wharves, jniblic grounds, square, parks and commons of
the cit\-, and may cause sidewalks to be paved. It required forty-eight sec-
tions of the act to incorporate Arago, while Falls City was incorporated three
(lavs later, January 13, i860, with onlv sixteen sections to its act of incorpora-
tion.

\\'e have dwelt at length on .\rago as typical of thousands of young
western towns that started with bright pros]>ects, but the fates were against
them and their downfall \\as as low as their prospects were bright.

592 RICHAKDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

About seven thousand dollars was expended by the citizens of Arago
during the heyday of its prosperity to make a cut twenty-five to thirty feet
deep on a wagon road through the hill to the west just as Arago is reached.

EARLY E.XPERIENCES AT AUAGO.
By John C. F. M-Resson.

I came to the Territory of Nebraska with my parents in .\pril, 1S64,
from the state of Kansas, where m\- father, Samuel AV. M'Kesson, had been
sent by the conference of the Evangelical church for the state of Iowa. My
father was an itinerant preacher, and our moving anywhere was not specially
for the purposes of settlement, but for the purpose of Ijeing as near and con-
\ enient to such religious charges and missionary work as might be laid out
for him. During the two years previous to moving into the territory, the
lield of his labor was largely marked out for him by a missionary department
of the conference, and in this case was not confined to county or statewide
Ijoundaries. And so, prior to our moving into the territory, father had made
frequent circuits within its boundaries.

We moved to Arago, in Richardson county, on the banks of the Mis-
souri river. It is not now an organized town, having been abandoned and
its place taken by the town of Fargo. Although the town is situated on the
Ijanks of the Missouri river, it had no ferry boat connection with the Mis-
>ouri side of the river. The manufacturing industries were a brickyard, a
shingle saw-mill and a brewery. The town was quite prosperous and pro-
gressive. The bluff had been dug down half for tlie cutting through of
streets, and the ravines were filled and leveled. Besides the manufacturies
and residences, many of them quite respectable wooden structures, the town
supp(5rted a public school, and an Evangelical church, a Catholic church and
school, and several saloons. Not nuich of interest occurs to me during the
first year of my residence at Arago. I remember seeing boats paddle up and
down the Missouri river and stop to load and unload their cargoes of mer-
chandise and to let off and take on passengers. The names of some of these
river boats were the "Denver", "St. Mary's", "St. Joseph", "West Wind",
and "St. Louis". They were of various sizes, some side wheelers, some stem
wheelers, some with single smoke stacks and some with double smoke stacks,
l)ut with all with fog horns whose noise was anything but musical.

It was in this year also that I saw and tasted my first cherries. I accom-
jianied father on a missionary tour into Pawnee county, immediately west.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 593

where we stopped at a house in the country for a noonday lunch. An elderly
man was shaving shingles on a shaving horse under the shade of a cotton-
wood tree. While father was talking with him I was standing close by, and
I pulled his coat-tail and asked him what those little red things were, pointing
to the cherries. He smilingly called the man's attention to my inquiry, and
he stated that they were cherries and good to eat, and for me to climb up and
help myself, which I did.

SCENES AT war's TERMINATION.

In the spring of 1865 the news of the termination of the war and the
victory of the Union army had scarcely reached the territory, until the news
of the assassination of Lincoln was also received. I remember the sorrow-
ful day when men and women congregated in little groups, many of them
with tears streaming down their faces, exclaiming, "President Lincoln is
killed."' His death appeared to be a personal grievance to the people. Shortly
after this, I remember seeing the soldier boys returning. The}' were met by
their parents, relatives and sweethearts with open arms and cheers. Public
receptions were also given them and on one occasion, I remember that a
barbecue was held in honor of their return, at which roast ox was sen'ed,
prepared over a pit improvised for the occasion, of cobble stones, over which
slats of iron picked up from the rear of the blacksmith shop were laid.
Anvils were fired and a general holiday held. The march to the front of
the soldier and his return seemed to create like feelings in the breasts of men.

FIRST CIRCUS AT ARAGO.

It was in this year also that I saw the first circus come to town. Of
course, this was special interest, and I note it here that we may know that the
early settlers were not without this feature of amusement. The menagerie
was not so complete as now, but the performances were of similar character
ti) those in vogue now and were more enjoyed I)y the early settlers, because
in his ordinary life on the frontier, lie had probably seen mountain lions,
wild cats, deer and antelope.

On the day of the circus in a runaway accident, father's leg was broken.
On account of poor surgical treatment in the setting of the bone he was con-
fined to the house, most of the time in bed, during the summer, which was a
\ cry hot one. It was late in the fall before he got to visit, still on crutches,
some of the nearl>\' cliarges.

(38)

594 KICIIARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

The following winter we were visited by my father's brother, John M.
iVrKesson, wiiom he had not seen for twelve years, a physician and home-
steader, adjacent to the tovvnsite of Lancaster, Lancaster county, Nebraska
I now Lincoln). I remember the glowing accounts given bv my uncle of a
prosperous settlement out at Salt creek. This was the first we had heard of
such a place in what, to us living on the Missouri river, was the far interior,
inhabited by the Indian, the buffalo and the coyote. In addition to a pleasant
visit the Doctor held several semi-public meetings — to acquaint the people
with the great promise of the new colony, which had been estabHshed at the
salt basin and the great work which the Lancaster Seminary, which had also
been founded, was doing for the education of the young ladies of the terri-
tor\'. This was offered as an inducement to all those who heard it to flock
t(i the new settlement. Among others this appealed to a widow with a little
girl living in the neighborhood, who a year or more later had an oppor-
tunity to come with us to this new colony, where she found a place to educate
her child and where she also found a home by marrying John Giles, one of
the homesteaders, on the southwest quarter of section No. 26. afterward a
part of the original townsite of Lincoln.

EARTHQUAKE IN RICHARDSON COUNTY.

In the spring of 1S66 an earthquake shock was felt at Arago. The
sjiock was very perceptible, but of short duration. Afy mother and I were
raking up the rubl)ish in the back } ard when we heard a dull sound like the
lieginning of wind or the rushing of waters. We stopped our work and
looking about us and noticed that the board division fence between our lot
and the neighbor's, was wabbling, and then that the house, which was a one-
anti-a-half story building with the gable fronting us, seemed to vibrate about
a foot at the top. The ground beneath our feet, too, seemed to wave, almost
unbalancing us. A woman and two children were engaged in a like occupa-
tion in an adjacent lot to the south. Gathering her children in her arms the
woman started for the house, screaming as she went, "Earthquake! earth-
(|uake!" Xo serious damage came from the shock, practically the only e\i-
ilence of it we could find were the disarranged and nicked dishes in the old-
fashioned, high cupboard.

CHOLERA \-ISITS ARAGO.

Something mi.re fatal and disastrous occurred later in the summer in
iSriO. the dreadful scourge of cholera lireaking out in the little town of

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 595

Arago and neaxly depopulating it. The first death was that of a child five
or six years of age. of the shingle-maker, who died suddenly on Wednesday
and was biiried on I'^riday. On Friday night the infant child of the shingle-
maker died, also suddenly, and was buried on the following Sunday. The
two deaths occurring in the same family and so closely together, aroused
suspicion on the part of the people that they had been poisoned and the father
and mother were arrested. The stomach of the infant was removed and
before its interment on Sunday the body of the other child was exhumed and
the stomach also removed at the cemetery in the presence of the people
gathered there for the biuMal. Both stomachs were to be sent to St. Joseph
for analysis. One of the grounds for suspicion was the fact that the mother
of the infant was the shingle-maker's second wife. On the following Wednes-
day the man died suddenly and on the same night or the next day several
other citizens died in like manner. This changed public sentiment and
aroused the people of the town to the fart that a scourge w^as upon diem.
One very pathetic incident occurred. .V woman, the wife of a Kansas home-
steader, and her two little children were stopping at our house at the time,
and being fearful, father sent a courier to notify her husband to come and
get her. lie came several days afterward, but the night before they intended
to go home the wife and those children died and were buried here. Father
had charge of the services at most of these funerals and mother and I invari-
ably accompanied him. Many opinions were advanced by the people as to
the cause of the malady, among them that the disease was brought there by
someone who got off of a boat.

In the fall of r866 a mercliant in the town named .Mlegewahr built a
temporar\- plant for packing pork on the river Ijottom, not far from the river
During the winter of 1866 and 1867 the hogs were slaughtered here and ihe
jiork packed in drv salt. The packing was not as modern as now, though
the packer had a sure control as the packer of today. The meat was packed
in layers, two men walking around on top, sprinkling a layer of salt and then
;i layer of pork. The intention, of course, was to ship this meat down or up
tlie river where markets might 1ie found in the spring before the hot summer
months. While the packed meat was to be used for the sustenance of the
white men the Indians came in droves and helped themselves by carrying
away all of the offal.

COMINC; T(J TIIIC S.Vr.T li.VSIN.

In tlie spring of 1867 the Kansas conference of the Evangelical church
delegated to father tiie duty of visiting the various outposts of settlement in

596 KICHAKDSON Cf)UNTY, NEBRASKA.

southern Nebraska, among them chiefly the Lancaster colony, on Salt creek,
for the purpose of establishing churches among them.

We drove with a team of ix)nies and spring wagon with a light riding
buggy tied behind and one loose pony following from Arago to Brownville,
from there to Nebraska cit}' and then on to Lancaster, over what was then
called the "steam wagon-road." This road started at Nebraska city and had
Ijeen mapi^ed out and designated through to Palmyra and there forked, one
road leading toward Beatrice and other passing through Roca and Saltillo to
Yankee hill on Salt creek, and from thence west, touching Middle creek not
far from the homestead of James Her, near Pleasantdale. where the road
again forked, one branch leading south to Camden on the Blue, the other fol-
lowing west toward Ft. Kearney. Beside the road this side of Nebraska
city, not far from the J. Sterling ^lorton homestead, the steam wagon was
then standing. It was not a success as a means of transportation and the
project was abandoned.

On this road in 1866 a ]\lormon train of about two hundred and fifty-
live wagons moved westward to a place then called half-way slough, located
two miles south of Emerald and almost a half mile west. While in camp
one of the members of the train force died and was buried on the east slope
of the long hill just after crossing the slough. This grave is now close to the
middle of the east line of the northwest c]uarter of section 34, township 10.
range 5, Middle Creek jirecinct. The land is now owned by Harry W. Lee.

The tu\\n was surveyed liy A. L. Coate. Plat dated March 29th, 1858.
'J'own of Franklin located as follows: Beginning at quarter .section ct)rner tjn
section line between sections 20 and 21 in township No. 3 north of range No.
13 east, and running east one chain and thirty-six links to the west side of
High, thence north, measuring block 4 and First street one chain and twenty-
one links and all other streets the same width.

The town consists of and is laid off and occupies the east lialt uf ilie
northeast quarter of section twenty and the niirthwest ((uarler and the west
half of the northeast (|uarter of section twenty-one in township three, north
of range No. 13, east of the sixth ])rincipa] meridian, in Nebraska Territorx.
containing dn-ee hundred and twenty acres. Dated Marcli 2()th. 1S58.

Franklin h'erguson and Jolni Mcl'hcrson were the projirietors of the
town of iM-anklin ;ind tlic town was named l-"rankiin for tlie former.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 597

YANKTON.

Yankton is situated cm the Missnuri river in Richardsun county, Xe-
()raska Territcjry, nn the west fractional lialf of section 5 in township' No. f,
north of range i8th east and <in the fractional lots east and south thereof.
All of the streets are eighty feet wide, exce])t Broadway, which is one hun-
dred feet. The alleys are sixteen feet wide. The lots are all fifty feet by
•ihe hundred and fifty, except those on the levee. Lots 7 in each I)lock front-
ing the le^'ee are thirty-six feet by one hundred and fifty feet, and lots ^', Q.
10 and II, 12 and 13 in those blocks are forty- four feet front.

The town is laid ofif nortli 22 east at a variation of ten degree^ fiftv min-
utes east.

Located in sections No. 5 and 8, ti;n\nship one north, of range No. 18
east of the 6th P. M. Richardson county, Nel)raska Territory, September
8th, T857.

P. S. : From Articles of Licorporation of the Yankton Town Companv:
•'Know all men that Stephen F. Nuckolls, of Nebra.ska City, Heath Nuckolls,
Henry Goulet, William Cook, Jr., Houston Nuckolls, Leon Conger, Robert
F. Armstrong, A. D. Brown, N. J. Sharp, of the town of Yankton, count}-
of Richardson, Territory of Nebraska, antl Henry Douglas, of St, Joseph,
John W. .Smith, of Atchison county, Missouri, and their associates have asso-
ciated and incorporated themselves together under the name and stvle of the
"^'ankton Town Company.

Know all men by these presents: That we Joseph Fnibodx', b'ranklin
Spurlock, David Spurlock, C. L. Cornell, John Cornell, and A. D. Kirk, Pro-
prietors of the Town of Geneva have caused to be surveyed staked and plat-
ted as a Townsite the North West Quarter of Section T\\ ent\-Two and the
Southwest Quarter of Section Number (15) Fifteen in Towtiship Two, North
Range Fifteen East of the fth Principal Meridian N. T. The streets and
alleys srpiares & as abo\e shown by the plat as drawn and certified by Josiah
Leebo are set apart for the uses and ])urposes therein mentioned.

A. D. Kirk
Joseph Embody
Franki.in Spurlock
David Spurlock
C. S. Cornell
January (jth, 1858. J. Cornell.

51)8 KICIIAKDSDX COUNTY. NKBRASKA.

OTHEU FOKGtITTEN TOWNS.

Ill an earl} day many towns were started in Richardson county that are
no longer more than memory with the oldest inhabitants. The Missouri
river was the only open means of communication with the markets of the
world, and outside of the stage lines and overland trails there were no certain
and permanent lines of travel that called for the existence of towns. Yet
many were started hack from the river in the hope of lieing cliosen the c< lunty
seat or being on the line of the railroad when it came. Nearly every good
location on the west bank of the Missouri river became a prospective town.
Rulo alone remains of the river towns in this county. Here follows a brief
statement from the Pioneer Record of what became of two of the early day
towns.

STUMPS STATION.

Stumps station, afterward Williamsville, named in honor of Alf Stump
and afterward in honor of Prof, F. M. Williams, now living near N'erdon
and who was one of the first county school superintendents, was located one
mile north and six miles east of Cottage Grove, where the precincts of Barada
Muddy, Liberty and Ohio corner with each other. It was started as a stage
station to change horses on the stage line from St. Joseph, Rulo. Aspinwall.
Xemaha Citv and Nebraska City. The first government telegraph across the
continent \s.\ along this route, it was a go\ernment postoffice. A brick
church of the German Lutheran denomination was built at this place. It is
the only town of the county where a church was one of the first buildings
and this church is all that remains of the town today. An unsuccessful
effort was made to hold up and rob the stage lietween Rulo and Williamsville.

Winebago was located about three miles south of Arago, l)ut a mile or
two back from the river. It was laid out on land belonging to Jt)seph
Piquoit, a half-breed Indian. Winebago at one time had two general stores,
one managed by H. J. \'andall. a son-in-law of Pic[uoit : a saloon that did a
thriving business, a lilacksmith shop and a hotel or boarding bouse. This
town was settled almost entirely by French. Indians and half-breeds, but the
dwelling houses, of which there were eighteen or twenty, that were built here
were much better than the average of those of other towns. George Mayfield
was the jirinciprd carjjenter and l)uilder of the town.

KICHAROSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 599

OLD ST. STEPHENS IN IQIJ.

Robert A. Neitzel and L. C. Edwards enjoyed what they say was one of
the most interesting trips they have ever made to the country northeast of
Falls City on Thursday, August 30, 1917. They were accompanied by Mr.
C. F. Cain, the father-in-law of the former, who was at Falls City on a visit
from his home in Florida.

-Mr. Cain was for many years a merchant in Falls City and is a pioneer
resident of the county. He came from Platte county, Missouri, with his
I)arents, William R. Cain and family, in 1855, and settled at St. Stephens,
where he grew to manhood, attending school, farming and later teaching
school in that vicinity. He had not been in the city for a number of years
and desiring at this time to visit the scenes of his early boyhood days took
this occasion to traverse the ground and view the old time places he had not
before visited in thirty years.

The old townsite is located on a high bluff overlooking the Missouri
ri\er about a mile north of the site of Arago, but in reaching it the party went
to die Lee ranch, where they left their auto, being compelled to make the
remainder of the journey on foot, going south. After passing up over some
high bluffs the old cemetery is first reached and there may be found a number
of ancient monuments giving the names of people who had formerly been
residents of the old town. Some of these bear dates of 1855, 1856 and 1859.
When Mr. Lee came into possession of the ra:nch a few years ago, it is said,
lie offered to furnish the material to anyone who might care to fence the
cemetery and keep it free from stock pastured there, but no one has appeared
interested enough to undertake the work necessary aiid hence tlie stock has free
range about the cemetery. Passing on south, from the cemeten,-, some distance
the old townsite is reached. With this, Mr. Cain was thoroughly familiar and
was able to pilot the others to the site of nearly every cabin and business
house which made a part of the old town At every depression which gave
evidence of the cellars of these ancient homes were found brick or rock which
had l)een used in the cellars as foundations or for chimneys and pieces of
window glass and parts of cooking utensils, etc. At some of these places was
still standing cedar trees that had been planted by early residents. .\t one
place was pointed out the site of Doctor Whitmire's home, he being one of tlie
\-ery first physicians to practice in the county, and at another place the site of
the home of the Dixon family, who had come as refugees from Missouri dur-
ing the war. Mr. Cain traced out the old roads and streets, remarking at

600 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

one place that no brass band was ever seen by him to pass that way but there
he had heard many a man "Hurrah for Jeff Davis" during the war ands con-
tinuing, observed that many of the boys of those days were in the habit of
carrying revolvers with them to school. He found the site of tlie old school
house he had attended as a boy and walked about the old time playground,
showing where they had played ball and indicated the spot where the old-
time lx)ys were in the habit of meeting their "ladies fair" and would escort
them home after school hours. The school house had l>een built by Stephen
Story, the founder of the town, and was used for a general meeting house,
for school, church, when there was any held, and as a public hall for all gath-
erings of a public nature.' At another place he found the site of the Crane
& Lewis store where as a boy he had purchased coal oil at a price of sixty
cents per gallon and at another place jiointed out the site of a store, where
for the first time in his life he had seen lemons and said the same had 1)een
hrouglit by a steamer and were sold to the pioneers for one dollar ])er
dozen. After raml)ling over the townsite seeing every point of interest the
part\- went on in southeasterly direction to view the one remaining house on
the site of the old time pioneer village.

OLDEST HOU.se IN RICUARD.SON COUNTY.

This house is located in the south part of the old town and has been con-
tinuously occupied since it was built in 1855 — sixty-two years ago — and is
occupied at this time by Leonard Buckminister and family. It has weathered
all the storms that have visited Richardson county since the coming of the
first pioneers and was a tenanted house when this country was in its infancy
and first known as the Territory of Nebraska, and when the county was but
newly organized under a proclamation l)y the first territorial governor and.
for diat matter, when Air. Cain was in swaddling clotlies as an infjuit of two
nKjntlis. ll was Iniilt liy Alichael McManus, a pioneer deputy surveyor in
the emplnv of the government, who as such, assisted in the first surveys made
in the county, which preliminary was most useful to the early settlers in the
matter <>i determining the locations of corners to the lands they sought to
occupy as homes. Mr. AIcManus surveyed .\rago township in 1856, during
the month of June.

The h(uise stands on an eminence overlooking the Missouri river antl not
a great distance from a large tree on which a culprit of the pioneer days paid
the jienalty with his life for stealing horses from the settlers. The house anil

EAULY son HOU

IIUST COIRT HOUSE IX RICHAUDSOX
COUXTY.

IliOX MOXTMEXT. SOUTHEAST COHXEU
OF KICHAItDSOX COT'XTY. SET BY

(iovERxon IX isr)4.

.DEST IIOfSE IX ItlCHAItDSOX COT'X-
TV. lUII.T IX IS,-,.-,. AT ST. STEl'HEXS.
l'.V THOMAS ik-MAXrS. HAS ISKEX
(K'rri'IEI> CONTIXrALLY. xow r.Y
I.EOXAUI) HrCKMIXISTEU AXI> FAM-
ILY. AND IS KXO\YX AS THE I.ASON
HOME,

KICUARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 60I

its surroundings were of great interest to the visitors and especially so to Mr.
Cain who had known the place intimately from the days of his youth.

Mr. Cain explained that in the old days much of the timber that
now abounds did not obscure the beautiful view that might be had from most
au}^ point in the village and there was presented a long sweep of the Missouri
and the steamboats could be seen for miles up or down the river. The natural
scenery in that vicinity is unexcelled in any part of the county and will be
greatly enjoyed by anyone going there.

St. Stephens was laid out as a townsite by Gen. Benjamin F. Loan (a
brotlier of Mrs. William R. Cain), and Stephen Story, in the spring of 1855.
In September of 1855, Mr. Wm. R. Cain first visited the place and found a
store kept by S. F. Nuckols & Company, Houston Nuckols Ijeing in charge
at the time. A man by the name of Robert Archer kept a hotel, and these
two houses constituted the town. While the elder ~SIt. Cain was there he
was so charmed with the country that he built a log cabin adjoining the town
tract, and in April of the following year, 1856, brought his family and house-
hold goods to make a home. Sometime later this cabin was burned to the
ground by some Indians in the absence of Mr. Cain and family, who at the
time were visiting in Missouri. During that year AVashington Morris built
a house and Israel Price built and opened a blacksmith shop. In 1857 J. W.
Case of St. Joseph, jNIissouri. started another store and during the following
two years the town grew rapidly, reaching its highest growth in 1861, at which
time it had two stores, one kept by Crane & Lewis and the other by D. J.
Martin; two saloons, one kept by Henry Price and Henry Dunkes and tlie
other kept by George Coole}'. Price & Dunkes called their house a grocery
store, but a saloon might have been a more appropriate designation. Henry
Smith kept a blacksmith sho]i, and Allan Gleason was in charge of the ferry
on the jMissouri river. The first sermon ever delivered in the town was given
by Father Thomas of the Ba])tist church of Rulo. The first postmaster was
T. C. Sicafoos. the first doctor was David Whitmire. Some of the citizens
of the place prominent in those early days were Aury Ballard, B. H. Dixon
and his sons. Noah and Ballard: Dr. AMiitmire, J- W. Cain. Wm. M. Mor-
rison, D. J. Phillips. Preston Martin, Houston Nuckols, William P. Loan, a
lawyer, Price & Dunkes, Stephen Lyons and last, but not least, Mr. Stephen
Story, who was the original owner of the townsite, Martin I. Martin, D. J.
Martin & Company, Heath Nuckolls, James W. Hutton, George Mayfield.
Huston Nuckolls, Joseph C. Lewis, (t. \\'. Cooley, James Kinzer, JNIann i\;
Shepard. \Mlliam T. Morris. E. H. Kinzer. George Faulkner. Jasper C

602 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Lewis, Thomas Ashley, Joshua Campbell, W. D. Lamb, Ellis W. Lamb, Isaac
Og-den, William R. Cain and family, B. H. Sliuder, Miller & Borchas, James
I'ritchard, Richard W^illis, E. P. Thompson, James T. Yates, N. D. Thomp-
son, John W. Duskey, Ed Porter Thompson, James Burcham, Noah J. Dixon.
Cyrus Farrington, Mrs. Francis Price, S. R. Twist, John Sellers. W. D.
Lamb. Ephraim Vaughn, Nanc>- A. Brunstetter, Henry Thomas. Mary Ann
Buckminister, F. John Lavson. H. O. Lavson and families.

CHAPTER XXn'.

SiDKLIGlITS ON CoUNTY HiSTOUY.

K.>.!U.Y KirCOLLECTIONS.
By \Villiam Fenton.

The following, written by the Hon. William Fenton, at one time a mem-
ber of the state Legislature and for }ears a prominent resident of Dawson,
appeared in an issue of the "Pioneer Record", under date of Decemlier. 1893.
'and throws light on conditions in the county in an early day.

Accepting a flattering invitation from the historian of the "Pioneer
Record," I proceed to do so withi-ut further preface or apology.

The writer, llmugh something of an old timer, cannot lay claim to being
one of the party with Wiltse Maddox and Jesse Crook, when they dug the
channel for the Xemaha, and from the zigzag joli thev made of it, it is verv
evident a prohil)itioni.st had no hand in the formation of the outlandish liiero-
gl\ phics for water to follow.

The movement for the purpose of keeping green the memory of old
times is a laudal)le rind sacred one. The pioneers had their frailties and
\irtues like otlier mortals, but tliey were the vanguard of an ad\ancing civil-
ization and as sucli tliey are entitled to the respect .and gratitude of a genera-
tion that profited In- their trials and tribulations.

However, it is not the province of an historian to dwell entirely upon
sentimental gush about the hardships and privations of the settlers of the
early fifties. The blood-curdling adventures, the hairbreadth escapes from
hunger, strangulation by bears, decapitation l)y llie Indian scalping knife,
etc., recounted at old settlers' picnics, mostly originate in the lirain of some
dime-novel romancer and are flimsy fictions.

The pioneers of the tlecade from 1850 to i860 were really more fortu-
nate in Ijeing al)le to i)rovidc for themselves with the solid comforts of life,
than were those who followed in the si.Kties ; the former were in time to locate
along the streams that afforded i^lenty of timber for the houses, stables, fences
and fuel. They fenced and farmed the choicest of bottom lands and turned
tlieir fast-increasing herds to roam at will over the boundless prairie. Instead

604 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

of want and misery. tlie\- li\c<l like tlie lords of feudal asi;es and looked with
great disfavor uj)on any encroachments on their domain by the plebians. who
had the temerity to settle on their stock rantjes.

At the clo^e of the war the ,t;;reat tide of immigration set in, and it was
the intrepid spirit and indomitable pluck of this class of settlers that moulded
the future of our young state and made it what it is — one of the most
enlightened and prosperous in the Union. The writer has no wish to speak
aught Imt good of the dead, but the fact should be stated that most of the
original pioneers gave a very cold reception to those who came at this time.

Of the number who settled in 1865 to 1868, many were the followers
of (Irant. Sherman. .Sheridan. T.ogan and the dashing fellows who followed
the fortunes of the starry banner from Bull Kun to Appomatox. These,
with congenial spirits from the loyal states, were not the kind to be appalled
liv the seliish and unchristian attempt to "freeze them out," im the part of,
the timbered proprietors: the effort to do so, however, created a wide diverg-
•ence of opinion Ijetween the two classes of settlers.

To protect themselves from the ravages of roaming herds, the home-
steaders united for the ])assage of a herd law, which was opposed with eijual
zeal by the cattle men, many of whom did not yet know of the passage of the
Homesteatl .\ct, and had the notion they could monopolize the air and the
sunshine as well as the timber and the water.

The Herd Law fight terminated in favor of the homesteaders in 1867,
and Hon. J. M. Deweese was elected a member of the first session of the state
Legislature. The thousands of miles of live hedge in the county, and
innumerable acres of groves surrounding happy homes are monuments to
pro\e what the law had accomplished for the state.

The (juestion of organizing school districts, locating and building school
houses, voting taxes, were matters ujion which the people divided with greater
alacrity than they do on the latest fad of a president.

"CAP- \-riE's" RKCOI.T.IJCTIONS.

l-'roiu Xciinilifi I 'alley .founia!, published by Stretch ^: Cunningham.
Thursday, .\ugust 4. 1870.

I'alls Lily. .Vebraska. July i6, 1870.
lulitor, Ihiily Bulletin:

^'our correspondent finds himself in the stirring little village of I'alls
City today — and when I sa\ stirring. 1 mean all that goes to make full the
term. 1 will speak of jxichardson county.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 605

As you well know, Mr. Editor, there has been so many conflicting- and
erroneous statements regarding- various localities, that it almost seems like
presuming too much on the reading public's credulity, for a fair and impar-
tial history or description of this country, to be read and appreciated. For
that and one other reason, I will only notice a very few of its attractions as
a county.

In the first place its citizens claim for it the geographical center of the
Union, reasoning on the hypothesis that oiu' territorial extension is from the
30th to the 50th degree, north latitude, and from the 67th to the 124th degrees,
west longitude. The southwestern part of the county being 40 degrees,
north, and 95.5. west, is the spot claimed by every town for a hundred miles
west of the ]\lissouri river in northern Kansas, and the same in southern
Nebraska. There is but one question in my mind at present, and that is,
whether the seat of go\ernment will be moved to Falls City, where they
already have nearly one thousand souls, and rapidly increasing, besides being
the center, or whether Leavenworth will be the favored spot. True, you
have in your city nearly 30,000 people, and Uncle .Sam has nearly 6,000
acres of land joining the coqwration on the north; but mind what I tell you,
that nothing short of a long pull, a strong pull, and a pull all together, will
ever defeat b'alls Tity in this little move.

SETTI.FMENT OF THE COUNTY.

In 1854 si.x families crossed the }^lissouri river and commenced the set-
tlement of this portion of Nebraska. Previous to this, however, a few
i'rench had o\ercome the repugnance of color and race, and mingled and
amalgamated with the Indians, b\- which they aided others, or rather opened
up the way through which others might bring civilization, and peacefully
reclaim this section from the vast wilderness which then existed. Since then,
Richardson, as a county, has attracted much attention. Today, I find through
statistics (kindly furnished me by ^Ir. C. C. Smith), that Richardson county
boasts of aI)out 345,000 acres of as gcjod land as can be found in one body
in the United States, all of which is taken up. I find hundreds of farms
in this county whicli would do lionor to Illinois or any of the older states
noted for their cereals. It was my pleasure to meet Mr. Charles Steele,
who, bv the wav, is one of the staunch citizens and farmers of the county,
and who informed me that wheat, oats, rye and barley had never yieliied
more abund;uitl\- th.an the jiresent year, while corn throughout the count}-
i)r(.mised utnisuaih- 1ar<;e.

6o6 RICHARDSON COUXTY, NEBRASKA.

TIMBKR.

It is nut unfreiiucnt in my pcresjrinations, tliat I litar tlie scarcity of
liniber nientidiied as the .^rcat and only objection to holh Kansas and Xel)-
raska. Pnit little argument is necessary to convince such persons that what
a man actuall}- needs is but \er_\- little in comparison with the amount which
he thinks he needs. 1 sometimes meet wooden men — to all such, I recom-
mend the pine regions. The Missouri is belted by a very heavy body of
timber varying from three to six miles in breadth, comprising some of the
\ ery best quality of hard wood. In this county, the Xemaha. Muddy, I'ony
and their tributaries, are skirted by various kinds of valuable hard wood
timber.

CO.\L.

There has not \et been sufficient demands in the immeiliate vicinit\ of
Falls Citv. to induce the investment of capital in mining; although near tiie
southeastern line, line veins of bituminous coal are being worked, from
which the demand is supplied.

I will now ask the attention of your thousands of readers east of the
Mississippi, while I say something for location, improvements, business and
l)usines;i men of the little village of I'alls Citv, which is the capital of ]\ich-
ardson countv. Ten miles west of the ^Missouri river and four miles north
(jf the Kan.sas and Nebraska state line, may be found I'alls City, in one of
the most beautiful valleys it has ever been my good fortune to see. South
of the ti>wnsite, the north fork of the Xemaha. Pony creek and what is
known ;is Muddy, mingle their waters. All of these streams are fringed
with heavv tinilier — to the north, east and west, as far as the eye will extend,
may be seen vast hekls of grain. The small grain is being harvested as fast
as the most modern machinery will accomplish the work, while hundreds of
acres of corn that may be seen, are all nmk and black. I have the first lield
of sickly corn in the vicinity to see.

The Methodist congregation have a house of worship completed, while
the I'-piscojjals ha\e a verv good church contracted for, and the basement
walls are alre.adv up and when finished. I am informed will be used for a
select school.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 607

The citizens have levied a special tax of $5,000 t(j l)uil(l a school house —
this will be finished before next season.

About fifty buildings have gone up since last spring, and nearly as ni;in\
more are under contract.

BUSINESS MEN.

I will now mention a few of the business men it was my pleasure to
meet. In this I must l)e brief, as such a notice as I would like to make
W(.)uld infringe upon your valuable space :

A. Schoenheit and E. S. Towle are engaged in the law and real-estate
Inisiness. I am indebted to both of these gentlemen for the use of their
well-arranged offices and other courtesies.

Alessrs. Holt and Scott have been engaged in the mercantile business
since 1868. They carry one of the heaviest stocks of general merchandise
offered in the city.

Reavis & Cameron are old merchants and enjoy the confidence cif their
numerous customers.

T. C. Coleman conducts the only harness shop in town.

J. J. Mar\in is mayor and I should think from what conversation I had
with him, he is the right man in the right place.

The Billiard I'alace is conducted by A. Kerr, who is genial as the day
is long.

E. K. I.. .Stoughton, having just completed a good two-story frame
Ijusiness house on Stone street, has opened a well-selected stock of piece
goods, in connection with merchant tailoring.

Wilson Brothers are druggists; these gentlemen have the postoffice also.

Smith & Cunningham are real-estate agents and dealers in agricultural
implements.

I met ^Tr. J. H. Burbank, who came to the county in 1858. I found
him '.ery interesting, and would space permit, would take pleasure in nar-
rating the scenes of Falls City as witnessed by iNIr. Burl)ank. Mr. Burbank
disposed of a farm the first of the month, which he had improved, realizing
the neat little sum of ?20,ooo — not bad.

Fulton & A\'eaver are engaged in the law and real-estate business.

Ileyd & ^^'icks have recently opened up a well-selected stock of furniture
and mattresses.

J. G. Giiod, proprietor of the Union House, will open his new hotel,
which is now nearing completion .alxnit the first of next month. 1 think diere

6o8 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

is a good opening at this point for a blacksmith and wagon-maker. Parties
wishing to engage in the kimber business will find this a good location.

J. Schuyler keeps a hardware store.

I go from here to Pawnee city, a distance of forty miles, where you mav
again hear from me. C.\p-a-Pie.

EARLY LIFE IX RICHARDSON COUNTY.
By Mis. J. R. wnhite.

The following very interesting sketch of early life in the county was pre-
[lared by Mrs. J. Iv. Wilhite, now a resident of the city, who was a daughter
of Uncle Jesse Crook, and tells as she rememljers it the story of their coming
into the county in 1855 :

P.. F. T.eechman. still a resident of a farm north of Falls City, was the
first white child liorn in Richardson county. This notable event occurred on
August 18, 1855.

The tirst recorded marriage, that of Wilson M. jNIaddox to JMiss Mar-
garet Miller, occurred at Archer in October, 1855. j\Irs. Maddox is still a
resident of Falls City.

The first minister, Re\-. Hart (Methodist) came in the summer of 1855.

The first school was taught in 1856, by Mrs. Samuels, a one-armed lady.
The scliool liouse was a small log hut near the Muddy creek ; the boys chopped
the wood and built the fires, and the girls swept the cabin and carried the
water from a nearby spring for the use of the school. The school children's
dinner consisted for most part of corn bread and bacon. Wheat flour in
those days was considered a luxury ; the writer remembers an incident where
a family had bought a sack of flour and baked some biscuits for their break-
fast and had sent us children some for dinner, and what a treat it was for us.

The first doctor was a ^Irs. Sallie Dodge, as she was familiarly called.

Uncle Jesse Crook, with his wife and three small children, with a small
colony from Tennessee, arrived on the Muddy creek in this county on the 17th
da\- of April. 1855. ]e>^t Crook in .\ugust. 1854, came over and took up
his claim, and in j-ebruary. 1855. came o\er and made other improvements.
He crossed the Missouri river at sundown, at what was then known as St.
Stei)hens, having his household goods in a wagon drawn by oxen, and in driv-
ing off of the ferrv boat, the wagon upset, throwing most of the household
effects into the Missouri river, there being no landing other than what nature
iiad made. We stopped over night at St. Stephens ; and the next day. April

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 609

17, 1855, Started for and arriveil at our new home, one and one-half miles
northeast from where Tails City now stands.

A PIONKEK CABIN.

We found our cabin with no windows, one door, a stick and clay chim-
ney, completed only about half way the end of the cabin, and with no other
improvements.Those of the men in the party were compelled to sleep in the
wagons while the women occupied the cabin. The cooking was done on the
outside by a camplire. There was nothing to be seen but the wolves, Indians
and vast prairies, and the howling of the wolves was all the music we had.
The Indians were very fond of coming to our cabin and watch us in our work.

When we crossed the Muddy to our new home, the banks were so steep
that ropes were fastened to the end of the wagon boxes and the men held the
otiier end of the ropes to keep the wagons from tipping over forward on the
nxen, in going down the banks of the stream.

The first Fourth of July celebration in Richardson county was held at
Salem on the 3rd. 1856, as the Fourth came on Sunday, and another was held
at Rulo on the 5th, 1856.

The first Fourth of July celebration ever held at Falls City was in 1857,
and General Jim Lane was the orator of the day. Major Burbank ran the
only confectionery stand, and the music for the occasion consisted of a fife
and drum. The exercises were had and the dinner was served under a brush
arbor. Mrs. Jesse Crook and other pioneer women, most of whom have long
since passed to the great beyond, prepared the dinner for the celebration and
the great feature of the occasion was a "war dance" given by the Indians, and
we gave them their dinner for their part of the entertainment.

The Indians were friendly; their reservation was but about three miles
south of Falls City, and was a most interesting place for the white settlers to
visit.

RELIGIOUS SERVICES HELD IN GROVES.

For years we had no church houses, and our religious services were held
in the groves on the banks of the streams and in the cabins of the settlers.
The early people had great reverence ftir religious services and I have known
men, women and children to attend these services in their bare feet.

The first church building (Methodist) to be used exclusively for church
purposes in the county was erected in h'alls City, in 1867, and dedicated that
same year.

(39)

6lO RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Most of the provisions, such as coffee and sugar, flour, etc., was brought
from St. Joseph, ^Missouri, by teams, so that often we "were short of the
necessaries of Hfe. I knew one family who lived for weeks in the winter of
1855 'i"*^! 185^ o" nothing but corn bread and coffee made of corn meal, and
another family who had nothing to eat for weeks but parched corn. The
father of this family went over to Missouri, more than twenty miles through
sleet and snow, two or more feet deep, and returned home with only a ham
of meat for his long journey.

The town of .\rcher was laid out in the summer of 1856, on the east side
of the Muddy creek, and about three miles northeast of Falls City, on gov-
ernment land, by J- L. Sharp and others, and near the claim of Judge Miller,
who had moved thereon the same summer. Judge Miller was the father of
Mrs. Margaret Maddox and her marriage to Wilson Maddox (now deceased )
took place at the home of her father in Archer.

The town of .Archer consisted of one hotel, owned by Judge Miller, two
general stores, kept bv Abel D. Kirk, and John P. Welty — the first men to
engage in the mercantile business in l^ichardson county : one blacksmith shop,
four or five dwelling houses, and two lawyers, William Loan and Abel D.
Kirk. The first county officers were: ¥. L. Goldsbury, county clerk; Louis

Misplais, county treasurer; —- McMuUin, sherift': Judge Miller, pro-

l)ate judge, and Jesse Crook, surveyor.

The townsite of Archer was abandoned in the year 1857, by reason of the
fact that the government survey in the allotment of the land to the Indians
included the townsite.

Isaac Crook, brother of Jesse Crook, located here with his family on or
about April 15, 1856. where his children grew to man- and womanhood, the
father and mother having long since passed to their reward. Isaac Crook
for a number of vears served the countv as treasurer.

Among the many hardships we had to endure in those early days, not the
least was the fighting of prairie fires. \ ery often the settlers would be com-
pelled to turn (Jut and fight the fire demon day and night in order to protect
dieir homes, crops and stock from being totally destroyed, which in very many
instances happened.

• David Dorrington and Mother Dorrington with their children located in
Falls City in Sei)tember, 1857, built their home and made many other valuable
improvements in the citv. and resided here until their death and where their

RICHARDSON COUNTY, N KURASKA. 6l I

cliiklren still reside, i. e.. William E. Dorrington, Mrs. .\nna M. (Dorring-
ton) Reavis, wife of Judge L<ham Reavis, and Kittie L. ( Dorringtoii) Towle.
wife of Edwin S. Towle. William E. Dorrington is the oldest citizen in point
of time, now a resident of I'^alls City. Squire Dorrington as he was familiarly
called, held many important positions in the city — justice of the peace, mem-
l)er of the citv council, memher of tlie sclmol hoard, mayor of the city, and
other important places of trust and responsihility.

WILT.TAM E. DORRINGTON S RKCOI.I.FXTIONS.

David Dorrington and family arri\ed in Falls City from Kansas in
Septemher. 1857, and moved into the house located on lot No. 2 of block Xo.
71. and in the spring built a house on lots ii and 12 of block No. 71.

The first store was run by 1. L. Elamby on lot No. 20, block No. 70, and
a short time afterward William Brooks erected a store building on lot 12 of
block Xo. 90, and occupied it himself and it was run b\- E. \[. Dorrington ; it
was a branch store from his main mercantile establishment at Doniphan, Kan-
sas, moving here just after the "unpleasantness" in Kansas between the Free
Soilers and the border ruffians. Quite a number of the Free Soilers, "Jim
Lane's men," came here, young men full of fun and tight. They naturally
drifted this way.

Isaac L. Hamb}- and J. lulward llurliank laid <'Ut the townsite of Falls
City. Jim Lane and his men on their way to Kansas jn i<^55-56 camped on
the ground now occupied by the coin-t house. The future of Falls City lookefl
so good to Lane that he went into the town compan}-.

Isaac L. Hamby liuilt a house jtist on the brow of the hill (at the foot
of Chase street in the south part of town), just south of the present home of
"Mrs. .Sandusky, on lot 5 or 6, in the block just south of Ninth street on Chase
street. He also built and ran a saw-mill on the five acres now (in 1917)
owned by George Messier in northwe.'^t rpiartcr 15-1-16, near the Leo cider
and vinegar factory, and got water for the boiler from a spring still there ;
the mill was just east of the s]:)ring. Hamby also owned the one hundred
and sixty acres now known as the \'an Duesen land, just south of the old
lownsite. Mr. Hambv sold the mill to T. J. Meeks, who was afterwards
killed in the struggles incident to tlie location of the county seat of justice at
balls Cit>. He was killed in the <)ld Minnick hotel, which stood on the
ground now occupied by the Richardson County Bank, just south of the court
house and facing ."^tone street.

OI2 RICHARDSOX COVNTY. NEBRASKA.

Fir.IIT WHICH KKSUI.TED IX TIIK TRAGEDY.

The tig-lit started hack of tlie Httle hrick law office of Judge Dundy,
which was located on the west side of Stone street on lots g of hlock 71. Meeks
was city marshal and tried to stop a fight that was started by Doctor Davis,
of Rulo, and a Mr. Dunn, of Salem, to break up the election, as Rulo and
Salem were fighting Falls City for the county seat. They forgot that the^•
were up against a hard proposition, as this man Meeks and quite a number
of others were some of Lane's men and would rather fight than eat. Meeks
was hit three times while back of the voting place and went to the house we
used to live in — as we were then living in our new house on lots 11 and 12
(just across the street west from the building at present occupied by the
Harry Jenne shoe store ), and the office was on lot 9 of block Xo. 71, to reload
his gun. He went back to the voting place in the court house square and
found none of the scrappers. He then went back to the Minnick hotel and
Mr. Minnick would not admit him to the bar room as Doctor Dunn was
there. He went around to the side door, (mi the north side of the house,
which was locked while he was on his way around to it. The north door of
the building faced toward the court house. Doctor Davis shot through the
second story window at Meeks. He then knew where they Avere and being a
l)ig strong man he threw his weight against the hall door and burst it open.
.V man employed at the hotel grabbed him and undertook to prevent his ascent
of the stairs, liut he forced his way up and shot Davis. Doctor Dunn stuck
liis gun just under ^ifeek's right arm and shot him clean through. Aleeks
walked to the bottom of the stairs before dropping dead and Davis died four
days later. The last I ever heard of Dunn, he was throwing up dirt around
the soldiers' tents in St. Joseph, having been arrested as a sympathizer at the
Ijeginning of the war. He, however, had no yellow streak in him. for he was
around the countrv for some time after the nuirder.

As I said before some of Lane's men came here and remained until the
beginning of the war and the call of the gun was too much for them and they
all went. A funny tiling happened to one of them — Harry Gilmore — he was
one of Lane's liest lighting men — fighting for Free Soil, yet was colonel in a
l\e])el arm\- from Baltimore, and another, William Buchanan, organized a
company and went to Brownville on a call from there to protect the land office.
A fter the ones organized to rob the land office found them well protected, they

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 613

skipped — Buchanan finding- nothing else to do, decided to come home via
Rush Bottom to see what they could find. Some of the boys not l^eing well
mounted, decided to exchange horses and in some cases forgot to leave their
horses, so they were named "jayhawkers," and tliey sure made a lot of good
Union men out of some radical sympathizers — on coming back home. They
found a few days after that that the folks over the river and some on tills
side, had organized a big crowd to come and make them disgorge; and they
succeeded in getting some soldiers to come with them and when they arrived
at Falls City, and no jayhawkers in sight, they lined up in front of our house
and asked father as to the wherealx)Uts of those whom they were seeking.
He told them the men had gone South, so they started after them and went
down crossing the Nemaha at Bremen's ford, most of them going on to
Padonia, while a few of them went up Pony creek to get the Marcum boys.
The ones going to Padonia put up there for the night and while eating break-
fast in an old store building, the jayhawks came up to the door and windows
and told them to file out and. leave their guns behind them. On coming out
the officers seeing- the Stars and Stripes said he could not fight the flag.
Buchanan told the soldiers they were fighting for the same cause and for them
to get their guns and horses and that they could go whene\er they wanted to,
or that they could stay with them, Init that the others could get back the best
way they could find and ordered them to do that quick. They were glad to
go, but they had a hard time getting home because the Nemaha had got past
fording on account of the heavy rains upstream.

The captain of the jayhawkers sent most of the horses to l""t. Leaven-
worth and the balance of the company came back to live off the folks, whose
sympathies were favorable to the South. After staying- here long enough to
make this part of the country enthusiastically loyal, they went South to become
a part of the Army of the North. I last saw Buchanan in Chicago, where he
was emploved in the secret service of the government early in the spring of
1865. His was a dangerous position and one that took a man of nerve to
fill. .\ brother of our late townsman, D. P. Brannin, was killed in that service.

The first public house or hotel w;is run by Mr. and Mrs. Rickards on the
corner of Sixteenth and Stone streets, on lot 13, of block No. 70, at present
occupied by the Harry M. Jenne shoe store, and later was run liy Aaron Kin-
sey and wife, and uncle of L. I.. Kinsey. who still resides in the county. An
hotel was then built bv Jesse Crook, the father of \\". H. Crook and Mrs.

6l4 KICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEIiUASKA.

J. R. Wilhite. Mr. Crook at that time owned and was living on a farm over
on the Mudd\- creek, a part of which is now owned by Napoleon DeMeres.
Following this was the Union House, built by Jacob G. Good, and is still doing
business under the excellent management of our friend. Adam Vogel.

Following this was the Grable House now known as the National Hotel.
Next in order came the Eating House at the Burlington & Missouri railroafl.
in late years owned and run by Ross Goolsby.

THE FIKST SCHOOL.

The tirst school was run by Miss Darnum. where the Gehling Opera
House now stands, in a building twelve by fourteen, afterward used as a saloon.

The next \\as a house on lot Xo. i, of block No. 70. where the b'rederick
garage now stands.

The third \vas a house now owned and occupied by Caroline L. Hurling,
on lots II and 12 of block 153. at the corner of Eleventh and Chase streets.

The fourth, ^^'e had a school on the site now occupied by the World
Picture Show, lot 23, of block 102.

The fifth. We now had a .school on lot 17, of block 91, and in this room
was held the first meeting called for the purpose of considering measures for
the building of a public school house.

This first building was built on lots 3 and 4. of block No. loi. This
was followed by a tw()-stor\- frame building in the same place. The Ijuilding
was afterwards used as a business college by Professor Barrett on another site
to which it had been removed.

This was followed by the large Ijrick building known unto this day as
the central school building.

FIRST MINISTER IN FALLS CITY.

The first minister we had to gi\e us a sermon w^is tlie Reverent] Taylor
of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he used to give us something to think
aliout. He was strong in going after the men for running open saloons and
gambling liouses on Sunday, smoking, etc. Tie said the only thing a cigar
reminded him of was. "fire at one end and a fool at the othei," and tiie only
use lie had for a man of tliat kind was to stand him up in a corner.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 615

INDIANS TROUBLESOME.

In the fall of 1862 the Indians became very hostile in the northern
part of the state, near Decatur, and up through that part of tlie country.
The government having its hands full in the South, there was a call for
volunteers from the west to go out and look after the Indians. The second
company vi'as called for, so they started to raise a company here, and through
the eflforts of J. W. Dorrington, Captain Bain and some others the ranks were
soon filled and it was known as Company G, Second Nebraska Cavalry.
Each man of the company had to furnish his own horse and the government
was to pay for the use of them. The company went to Omaha and remained
there for some time.

A little later another company was organized and went into service as
Company L of the same regiment. When it was found that they were not
going out on the campaign until spring, David Dorrington went to Omaha
with quite a number of requests to have the two companies stationed here
and. after some hard work, the order went forth for each company to go
to their own town and take up quarters until ordered out in the spring. Mr.
Dorrington had told the captain of the companies that just as soon as the
order came to pull for home, there was talk of sending each company to a
different place from the one they had come from. The order was obeyed
and die companies did not get away any too soon, for, just as they had
crossed the Platte river, another order came for them, but the orderly could
not get across the river as the boys had left one or two men to hold the boat
until the companies could get scattered for home. They certainly scattered,
as only about one-half came in as a company; the remainder got lost and did
not lind Falls City until several days afterward, and did not find it then until
they went home to find the direction to Falls City.

Some of the lx)ys resided several miles south of Falls City. They did
not play much soldier that winter. From three to five and six of tlie b(i\s
would go together to the home of a family in Falls City and get leave to stop
there by furnishing their rations and a girl to help tlie lady of the house with
the work. There were plenty of girls in town at that time who were glad
to play their part, and the reader can rest assured that times were lively enough
that winter. We had three or four dances each week and many other kinds
of amusement and entertainment. The g(jvernment was ver\ liberal witli
the rations for the soldiers. The amount furnished five men, properh han-
dled, would make a living for a dozen. Father was c|uarterniaster and for

6l6 RICHARDSON COl \TY, XEBRASKA.

this reason I feel that I speak with a first-hand knowlediije of the situation
in this respect. We bought all the hay, all the beans, and nearly all the fat
cattle within fifteen miles and for beans we went as far west as Pawnee City
and as far east as St. Joseph ; in fact, all our merchandise had to be hauled
from St. Joseph. ^lissouri, that winter, and the same cijudition obtained most
of the summer. Sometimes shipments would be made on the river to Rulo or
St. Stephens and the haul was made from those places. In the early winter of
1862 David R. Holt took three teams to St. Joseph for the purpose of bring-
ing goods home. When we got to Elwood on this side of the river, near
that place, we were informed by the ferryman that no crossing could be made
for the reason that the city was in the hands of the Confederates. On look-
ing to the opposite side we noted that a large gun was pointed in our direc-
tion, so we made no attempt to cross that night, but arranged to stay over
in the town. The next morning we beheld a change in the presentment of the
picture we had seen the previous evening. The Union men were now in
charge and we at once crossed and loaded the wagons, but it took us some
two or three days to obtain the supplies we sought. _ During this time it had
turned cold and the ri\er filled with ice and we could not cross. We then
started north on the INIissouri side of the river, going through the towns of
Savannah, Oregon, and Forest City to White Cloud, but the ice was not
strong enough for our teams and the loaded wagons, so we \\alked over and
left the teams on the other side until morning, when David Dorrington gave
a man ten dollars to bring them safely to this side. The horses were first
led across alone and the goods brought in small portions on sleds, while the
empty wagons were brought last. Finally across and reloaded we recom-
menced the journey and landed safely in due time at our homes in Fails
City. From the foregoing it can be noted that the journey was not like what
might happen in these clays of the fast-moving trains, when the trip miglit
be made in a couple of hours at most any time of year.

BRICK SCHOOL HOUSE ERECTEO.

It wa> at alxiut tiiis time that i"alls Citv made such a good showing that
we had to rent the basement of the St. Thomas Kpisco])aI church (the old
church) for school purposes and then built the two-story frame building that,
was hardly completed when the present brick school house, known as the
"Central" had to be cnntracted tor t<' accommodate the ever-increasing' num-
ber of students.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 61/

The contract was let to John H. Burhank and the rock work was put up
by John Gehling, of St. Joseph. He did all the carving on the door and
window caps. This building was only partly finished until 1877-78.

In the daj's near the close of the war we began to make many improve-
ments. W'e began to farm as they did in Missouri. Our old friend, Robert
Harlow, father of Ferd M., of this city ; Bob and Rice and three girls, Uncle
Thomas Moss and Jim and Will, and William L. Paxton and family, the
latter having a large family of boys, James, William, Thomas, Samuel, Galen
C, Charles, and a number of daughters, were all here. We all put in some
wheat, oats, etc. When it came time for cutting they all joined together and
dug up from somewhere an old reaper and "she" was a good one, the frame
work for the reel was made of timber and oak^ about six inches scjuare. I
know it took one blind horse, two blind mules, and one mule with only one
good eye to pull it at that time. Horses and mules with good eyes were not
to be had in tiie country and we did not think of having a sound horse at the
time. Such an equipment would hardly be used by the poorest of Richardson
count}- farmers today, but we managed well with it and saved the crop and
were very thankful to be thus well equipped, as what we had was much bet-
ter than many others could boast of at that time.

Our old friend Harkendorf, the father of Fritz Harkendorf, residing
north of Falls City, built a house that season of lumber, which was sawed out
by hand. They dug a pit — one man Ijelow and one above — and used a whip-
saw. At this time many people began to arrive in the country, including
Judge Van Dusen, Mr. Messier, father of Adolph ; Jake. Doctor and Mrs.
Albert Norris. Their brother. Chaimcy, later of Table Rock, had been here
for some time as he was merchant here in the early days and also an officer
in Company L, Second Nebraska Cavalry.

At the election relating to the choice of a county seat for Richardson
county the following judges and clerks were appointed for the district:

Xo. T. — Archer: Ambrose Shelly, .\rchibald McWillianis and ^\"in-
gate King.

Xo. 2. Salem: Charles Cornell. John W. Brinegar and Richard M.

DeLong.

X'o. 3. — .Speiser : John I,uginbill, F.lijah G. Davenport and James .\1lcn.

Xo. 4. — Rulo : Charles Martin, John Stone and B. F. Cunningham.

X^o. 5. — St. .Ste])hens: W^illiani R. Cain, Jacob \\'agncr and Louis
Phillips.

Xo. r>. — Franklin: T'>lm Corlett. H. B. Porter and \\'illiain Inirrow.

6l8 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

The road to Archer m tliose days did not follow section lines as now.
hut started from the old hotel at the Richardson County Bank corner on
Stone street, at the southwest comer of the court house square, and run
northeasterly across the court house grounds and passed the First ward water
works plant and down the hollow through block No. i and the Joseph Portrey
place to the east and on over to the Jesse Crook farm, now owned h\- William
Xutter in the east half of the northeast one-quarter of section 2, township i.
north of range 16, east of the sixth principal meridian, and across the Muddy
to Archer. ^Ve used to go there to attend the Good Templars' lodge and
tiie dancing and "bussing" bees, ^^'e used to have many parties at Jesse
Crooks and at the home of his brother, Isaac Crooks.

By an act of the county commissioners at their meeting held at Salem
the 27th day of December, 1858, the voting place was moved from Archer
to Falls City. The third election on the count)- seat was held on the loth of
Januarv, 1859. The following were named judges:

No. I. — Archer: W. M. Maddox, Isaac Crook and Wingate King.

No. 2. — Salem : J. Cofifman, R. M. DeLong and J. Greenup.

No. 3. — Speiser: J. Luginbill. J. Shellhorn and J. E. Davenport.

No. 4. — Rulo : Charles Martin. B. F. Cunningham and J. W. Stone.

No. 5. — St. Stephens: A. D. S. Ayers, J. Scott and J. Corlett.

On June 21st. i860, the board of county commissioners met. Present:
Charles Cornell. Thomas Mclntyre. By an act of the Legislature approved
in i860, to locate the county seat at Falls City, the commissioners declared
Salem no longer the county seat and instructed that the books and papers
lielonging to the county be moved to Falls City. .\nd then l)egan the tug
of war to settle permanently the location of the county seat, a more extended
;iccount of which is told in another part of this volume.

W'e used to have some very enteqjrising merchants at aliout this time.
P)eing in one of the stores one day. a lady came in and asked for some calico.
The merchant without getting off tlie counter reached over on the shelf and
took down the only piece he had. She asked the price : it was twenty-five
cents per yard: she told him it was too much. He immediately put it 1)ack
with the remark: "She can lay thar and rot before I will sell it for less."
His little son came in a little later and said : "Pop, niarni wants two pounds
of sugar." He replied: "Tote yourself home, sonny, and tel! yer ma T liain"t
only one-half pmmd in the store."

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 619

FRANCIS M. STUMP.O TELLS A STORY.

Francis M. Stuiiibo, who was born in Cass county, Iowa, 1842, and who
came to this county with his parents when but fourteen years of age, in 1856,
was as well posted as any now living on the history of the Sac and Fox Indians,
who occupied lands near Falls City. His parents settled at the Falls Mills, or
Nemaha Falls, an obsolete village on the banks of the Nemaha, just southwest
of the present site of Falls City. At the time of their arrival here they found
the Indians and had them as their nearest and only neighbors. Air. Stumbo
grew to manhood among these very Indians and acquired a conversational
knowledge of their language. Having Indian boys as his only companions,
lie spent much of his time in their lodges and learned their mode of life. Speak-
ing of their ceremonies he saAS :

I was on such friendly terms with the Chief Mas-sau-quit as a boy that he
always addressed me as "son"; though not formally adopted as a member of
the tril^e, I practically made my home with them, sleeping in the teepees with
the Indian boys, and was not excluded from any of the many ceremonies, which
were generally of a religious nature and, in fact, I seemed a favorite with the
people.

Among the rites practiced by those of the Sauk people residing at the
reservation here, I remember their "green corn dance," which was indulged in
supplication to the Great Spirit, invoking a good result for the crops, and the
"buffalo dance," wliich preceded the big hunt; but the greatest dance was the
"scalp dance," in celebration of \ictory in battle. Some times this dance might
cover a week's duration.

Here at Sauktown. as it was called, near Nemaha F'alls, the tribe's head-
((uarters, they had a council house, large enough to accommodate several fires ;
and, upon one occasion, in making ready to receive a visit from their friends
the "Otoes," who were located at that time further west and on the Blue river,
near VVymore — I was present. The members of the tribe had gathered in the
council house in the form of a circle and were addressed by Mas-sau-quit, the
chief, who inquired as to what each might volunteer to contribute as a token or
present to the visitors. Each was supposed to make some sort of a donation,
I)oth in the wa)- of provisions for the feast, which was to be held in their honor,
and something, besides, as a token of esteem for the visitors. The donor was
allowed to designate later which of the visitors was to receive the presents. A
committee of three was ajipointed to take charge of whatever was given.

The chief commenced at the head of the circle and interrogated each in

620 KICHAKDSOX COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

turn a< to wliat they might \v;int to give, finally addressing me thus: "Son,
what will yon f^ive?'" I answered, stating that, I was only a boy and did ni.>t
ha\e \ery much, but would give two half-grown dogs, a sack of flour and a
hog. At this Mas-sau-quit stopped me, saying "that's enough." The gifts,
which could l^e. were brought to the council house and stored therein. The
feast was held in the council house and participated in by the Sauks and their
visitors, at which the l)est feeling prevailed.

SAUKS KETUKX \I.SIT TO OTOES.

One evening at a date somewhat later in the fall. Mas-sau-quit sent an
Indian boy for me and upon my appearance before him he said, "Son, we are
to visit the Otoes ; do you wish to go with us ?'" I readily assented, knowing it
would be great sport, and he inquired as to whether T had a mount. I told
him that T had one at home, but that it was oitt on the range and that I would
go at once and get it. To this he objected, .saying that it were l>etter for -me
to remain with them during the night, as they would start before dawn and
that a horse would be provided. He called a ^Mexican, then living with the
tribe, and ordered some ponies brought up and told me to make a choice. T
indicated a beautiful spotted pony which had not been broken, and he ordered
the Mexican to try it out. This was done and I rode the puny with the band
on the trip.

We arrived in due time at the lodges of the Otoes and enjoyed ourselves
^■ery nuich and were feasted as we had feasted them. They had provided pres-
ents ior us and the same were distributed as we stood in the form of a hollow
S(|uare on the prairie.

An old squaw led a line sorrel ])ony int(i the open space and announced
th:a it was to ])e a present for the little white boy. Our chief, Mas-sau-quit
told me to accept the horse and tie it to a small tree at one side of the gathering.
This I did. and returned to m\ place in the line. Later, ari Indian lad brought
in another sorrel pony, which was given to me also. The next, an Indian
maiden, came into the square leading a Ijeautiful pony, having a silver colored
mane and tail. This she signified should also be mine, but at that moment an
old s(|uaw apjiroached her and whispered something which seeined to displease
her greatl}-. She thereui)on led the pony a short distance from the company,
though in plain view of the council, and jerking a dagger from the folds of her
dress slashed the horse across the throat.

This act of the Indian girl was so apparently out of keei)ing with the spirit
of the occasion, that it created no little excitement for the time, but was

UICIIARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 62I

adjusted later when tlie same maid again appeared with anotlier pony whicli
was given me in lieu of the one she had just killed.

Besides the ponies I also received a fine silver-beaded blanket, or bufifalo,
which I afterward sold for one hundred and fifty dollars: a bow and quiver
and a pair of fine moccasins.

I brought the presents home with me and on our arrival here, Mas-sau-
(|uit said to me, "Now. son, see what you have; you gave little and have
received much. That is our custom, we always try to give more than we
receive."

There \\ere about five chiefs here — sub-chiefs or police — but j\Ias-sau-
(|uit was the head of the tribe. He did not speak English, l^ut was accounted
an orator in his way.

MASCOT .\GAINST INJURY.

When I left to join the Seventh Kansas Cavalry during the Civil War,
L hief Mas-sau-quit presented- me .with an elalx)rate belt, which he insisted
that I should ahxays wear when in battle, sa}ing that if I did so I would
never be injured. The belt, which I treasured very highly, was later stolen
from me at Columbus, Kentucky. \Miile on a furlough home, I met my old
friend, Mas-sau-cjuit, and he noticed at once that the l>elt was gone and when
1 told him what had become of it, he said that it was too bad the same had
Ijeen taken, but that it would never do the one taking it from me any good
as he would ])e sure to get killed wearing it.

Ouack-a-ho-sa was the medicine man of the Sauks here. He was the
prelate and always before eating gave a sacrifice. If he ate meat or bread,
he would always take a small ])ortion of eacli and liurn the same as a sacrifice
to the Great Spirit.

The Sauks here moukled their own IniUets. I have often seen the
s(|uaws go out and he gone for a half a day's trip up the Nemaha and on
their return would bring lead or metal, but T never knew from whence they
got the same. They would melt it up and there seemed but little dross in
it. It appeared as if they had taken tomahawks and cut it out.

HE OLD TABLE ROCK.
By Frunk A. Harrison.

The "Table Rock" was the stone from which the town. Table Rock,
(located in what is now Pawnee county, but what was formerly a part of
Richardson countv, and but alxiut two miles west of the jiresent west bound-

622 RICIIARDSOX COL'NTY. NEBRASKA.

ai-\ of this county) derived its name. About a mile and a half east of Table
Rock, in a romantic locality on the side of a wooded bluff, stood the old
nmnument. and in the earlier days of the county it was the spot to which all
settlers and visitors made pilgrimages, a very "blarney stone." to which all
paid tribute — not by kissing, but by carving their initials on its surface, or
on the face of some large boulder lying near by. Here old John Brown,
"whose soul is marching on," made many visits, and those of us who were
here twenty years ago, still saw his name carved on the rock, the date,
"1856," being still readable. About the year 1880 some vandal scratched out
llie name and the date to make room for his own scrawl.

The rock \\as photographed by a wandering artist about thirteen years
ago, and only two copies are known to be in existence. Since the rock is gone,
these pictures are highh' prized. As seen by the first settler some forty years
ago. the rock was shaped like a low-set goblet, flat on top, and measuring
about ten feet across its surface. On top was a stone table, standing on four
legs, about eighteen inches. How the table came there no one knew, but the
old table rock was alwa}'s thought to have been a religious altar or watch
tower of the early Indian tribes. This is quite probable, as in the two holes
in the rock near the top were found bits of charred wood and bones — evi-
tlentlv the remains of superstitious orgies. About 1861 the table on the top
of tile rock disappeared, and in a few years later a stroke of lightning threw
down one side of the rock. In 1892 it became top heavy and shaky on its
one leg and it now lies scarred and broken on the hillside — a fallen monarch,
indeed.

The locality where the table rock stood is still a weird and beautiful one.
Strange and giant rocks stand about, hiding t-heir heads among the branches
of the oaks, while on the face of each boulder is carved the name of many a
curiositv seeker. The place is lieing fitted up for a park, and is a favorite
spot for ])icnics, where the romantic maidens and lovesick swains wander
about the shaded nooks, or while awa\- the time boat riding on the Nemaha,
which flows near by.

A J.EGEND OF TA15LE ROCK.

Hn-a- ti MiuldcniiKj Lover Ovcrthrciv an Empire.

(The following romantic legend, directly relating to Table Rock, was
published in the .-Itehison (Kansas) Daily Champion in 1877. and repul)lisiied
in Boston's Immigration Guide in 1878. )

Manv centuries ago — in f;ict, long anterior to the conquest of Mexico

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 623

by Cortez — the Aztecs inhalMted the valley of the Nemaha and adjacent coun-
ti'}'. They were a happy and prosperous [leople and were far advanced in
civilization. It is not known when they first took possession of the valley,
but the traditions preserved by the Pawnee Indians (who are descendants of
the Aztecs,, as is well known to every student of history) would seem to
indicate to the pioneers of that fertile part of Nebraska that they planted
their standard long centuries before the occurrence of the romantic incident
which we are about to relate.

We have said the Aztecs were far advanced in civilization. The state-
ment will appear more plausible when we say that they were unexcelled in
the arts and sciences. Their architecture was grand and marvelous. Tower-
ing castles of granite and lordly palaces of marble dotted city and plain.
Except that these piles were on a larger scale, we have no doubt (judging
from ruins that have been exhumed in various places) that they somewhat
resemble the Alhambra in architectural design.

The Aztecs were doubtless attracted to this valley by the richness of its
soil. They tilled this soil and such was its exceeding fertility that in time
they became as we have described them.

It was a religious custom of the Aztecs to sacrifice a beautiful and
chaste maiden every year to their idol. This was done by burning her on a
high granite altar or table, after bleeding her to death. It was believed by
the people that if they failed in this duty, that the idol would be so incensed
as to destroy them. In accordance with this custom, a maiden was, once upon
a time, chosen by lot, and duly sacrificed upon the high altar. The maiden
thus sacrificed had a lover — a nobleman and one of the most astute of Aztec
statesmen. At the time of the sacrifice he was in a distant part of the empire,
attending to weigiit\' state affairs, and not until his return did he learn who
had been sacrificed. And then his sorrow was pitiful to behold. He cried
aloud and tore his hair in a perfect frenzy of grief. But, finally, he became
calm and apparently reconciled. He went out, with a melancholy face, it is
true, but he made no demonstration of grief. However, he was not the
same man after this. He took no part in state affairs, and was seldom seen
at court, where he had formerly been a favorite. He sought the companion-
ship of the peasantry, witli whom he was always found in close consultation.

REBELLION.

One day the news was brought to the lunperor that the peasantry, headed
by Pueblo, the melancholy nobleman, iiad arisen in insurrection. When his

624 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

imperial majesty heard this, he ordered his generals to go fortli and seize
the rebels, and bring them before him when he would condemn them to
death. The generals went forth, but returned empt}-handed. They repre-
sented that the rebels were organized into a great army, which could not be
put down in a day. Then the Emperor called together a mighty amiy, and.
putting himself at the head of the same, sallied forth to meet the rebels.
The opposing armies met just outside the walls of the capitol (the capitol
stood where Pawnee City now stands) and before the battle commenced the
I'.mperor sent a truce, and asked parley with Pueblo, which was granted.
I'ueblo met the Emperor half-way between the two armies. The Emperor
w as the first to speak. "Oh ! Pueblo, formerly my most devoted servant, why
hast thy rebelled against thy sovereign ? Speak." "Oh, sire," answered Pueblo,
"thou hast asked why I have rebelled against thee, and it is fit that I should
answer thee. 1 rebel against thee because thou hast sacrificed the light of
my e3-es, the joy of my soul, the maiden \vhom I loved, to the idol. Oh, sire.
I have sworn to destroy every city, hamlet, and hut in this beautiful valley
;md leave but one single relic of its present grandeur. Oh, sire, I have spoken."
After this parley Pueblo and the Emperor returned to their places at the
head of their respective armies.

We shall not attempt to describe the battle, for it dift'ered little from
other battles of that age. It was fierce and the slaughter on both sides ter-
rible, but at last Pueblo's army was compelled to flee. After the defeat of
Pueblo's army the Emperor offered amnesty to all rebels who would lay down
their arms and return to peaceful pursuits. And nearly all of Pueblo's army
accepted the offer. This was almost a deathblow to Pueblo, for he was com-
pelled to flee the country. But he did not give up in despair ; after a .short
exile he returned and sowed the seeds of another insurrection. Before long-
he raised another army, but again he was defeated. This time he was taken
prisoner by the Emperor's army, and, along with his bravest generals, con-
demned to death. The}- were publicly executed near the sacrificial altar.

THE SEQUEL.

This altar is what is now known as Table Rock. Then it was supported
by two massive stone columns and was some twenty feet high. Now it has
fallen, one of its columns having given away after a service of so many cen-
turies. This altar was the only structure sacred to Pueblo. On it his beloved
had died, and by it he had sworn that it should last longer than the Aztec
nionarchv. TTe swore bv the blood of his Ijeloved that had stained the altar

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 625

that it should last long after every vestige of the former greatness of the
Aztecs had been swept away from the valley. Before his execution he ex-
horted his followers to remember his oath. He exhorted them to kill the
followers of the Emperor, and sack and burn the cities and villages. After
the death of Pueblo a sort of guerrilla warfare was commenced against the
government by small bands of desperate men. Cities were suddenly sur-
prised, and then were sacked and burned. These depredations increased to
such an alarming extent that many people were panic-stricken and fied the
country. They drove the enemy out of the valley toward the southwest.

After the conquest the rebels finished the work of demolition they had
commenced. Castles, palaces, and huts alike were town down and the debris
buried in deep trenches. After this the people became nomadic and worth-
ies*^. Having been reared as warriors they had no taste for civil pursuits.
They lodged in tents and fed on wild game, which was. as it is now, abundant
in the valley. They never tried to improve their condition. On the contrary
they became worse and worse, tmtil they finally degenerated into the savage
Pawnee of the present day. A copper plate covered with ancient hieroglyphics
^\'as recently found in the fallen column of Table Rock, which Prof. Pierre
Vulierre, of the Paris University, has succeeded in translating, and kindly
furnished Professor Pangburn with a translation. This tablet is now in the
possession of C. Foote, passenger conductor of the Atchison & Nebraska
railroad, and from it we have been enabled to gather some of the facts set
forth in the foregoing narrative.

.V visit to Table Rock will repay anyone, but more particularly the lover
of romantic history. None can look upon the time-worn altar and not medi-
tate upon the great devotion of Pueblo. No one can think of Pueblo and not
wish there were such lovers nowadavs.

REJriNISCENCES OF SOME .SEVERE WINTERS.
By Mrs. .J. R. Wilhite.

In April, 1855, I, with my parents, Jesse Crook and wife, moved to
wiiat was then the neighlxr.rhood of old Archer, located about two tniles north
of Falls City in the southwest quarter of section No. 36. of township No. 2,
north, of range No. 16. of Ohio township. It was not until that fall that an
attempt was made to start a townsite, which they called Archer, consisting
of a little hotel of logs, three or four log hou.ses, a postoffice and store, which

(40)

626 KICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

.tjrew lo larger proportions later. There were only a few families there at
that time, mostly French, and a few Indians.

I'rom St. Stepiiens, in the northeast corner of the county, down t<j
Archer, the cnuntr\- was a vast unbroken prairie and anything but a bright
future greeted us on our arrival. The sufferings and trials of some of the
settlers that year are pitiful to relate. The country lieing new, and having
little to do with, our existence that winter depended a great deal on the killing
of game, and some parched corn we had saved up. No vegetables had yet
been raised, and those wanting meat were forced to go to Missouri, a distance
of fifteen miles. The unfortunate ones who were not blessed with a team
or horse were forced to struggle through the long, trying winter, as best they
could, with the kind of assistance their neighbors were able to give. Thanks-
giving time and from then to April, the ground was never free from snow,
rhis winter was particularly a hard one. and we had nothing to do with, and
the lianl sleet and crusted snow made it almost impossible for travel. The
cattle could not stand on it and we depended almost exclusively on the oxen
for moti\"e iK>wer at that time.

My father, Jesse Crook, in c(3mpany with another man, named Samuel
Howard, started out for A.ndrew county, ^Missouri, with their team to get
supplies of meat and groceries. They killed hogs, dressed them and threw
them in the wagon like logs of wood, and started home. They had just
crossed the ^lissouri river at St. Stephens, when they were overtaken l)y a
blizzard and could not see their wax. My fatiier started out on a horse to
try to break a road for the team as the lilizzard by this time was worse than
e\er. ]\Ir. Howard abandoned the team and started out on foot alone. He
got as far as the mouth of the Muddy, when he was so nearly frozen he gave
up to die. Just then he heard a dog bark and the tinkle of a bell and he knew
that an Indian camp must ])e close at hand, as the Indians always kept bells
on their ponies. \\'ith a little renewed energy he struggled across the frozen
ri\er. and was taken in by the Indians. His boots were frozen on his feet,
riiey cared for him that night, giving him food and shelter, but his feet were
l)adl\ frozen and he was laid up all the winter suffering with them. The next
da\-, ha\ing failed to retum home, his friends and neighbors started out in
search of him. The team and wagon were found and they learned from a
man named Hughbank that a white man was taken by the Indian camp. So
he was found and taken in by his friend, Jesse Crook, and cared for that
winter.

IN CdUNTV, NliBRASKA. 627

A family, !)\- the name of Dudson, residiiit;' near Salem, !i\ed for three
weeks that winter on little besides parched corn. They were among the un-
fortunate ones, having no horses, and the heavy snows had almost completel\
blockaded them from any outside help. Realizing that starvation was ine\-
i table, the father started on foot from Salem and struggled his way clear
through to Missouri for meat and carried a ham of meat that distance on his
shoulder. He was nearly dead when he again reached home, but his heroic
effort was the only thing that saved his little family from actual starvation.

Another incident that [ now recall to mind was that of John Hoitt ami
wife, who resided in a little claim shanty on what was later known as the
John R. Smith farm near b'alls City. The neighbors had not noticed smoke
coming from the chimney of their little home for three days and fearing some-
thing was wrong- went to the rescue. They were found in bed, nearly frozen
to death, and had had nothing to eat for the three days and no fuel in the
house. They were carried from the house to that of a neighbor, where, with
kind assistance, they were able to survive the winter.

.\nother memorable incident that hapi>ened during the year 1856 and
remembered by many of the early pioneers, was that of ^Ir. Tones and his
son. Some time in the early part of November, 1856, Mr. J^ones and his son.
Lirus, started out from their home near Mound City, Missouri, with a sleigh
loaded with their household effects. Their intention was to locate on a claim
on the Xemaha in this county, just west of what we know as Pearson's Point,
a little east of the present I'alls Cit)-. Tliey had intended to stop over night
w ith his son-in-law, Charles Robertson, who then lived one-half mile east
of what is now known as the Pearson cemetery, east of Falls City. It was
after nightfall when they reached the place and found to their disappointment
that tlie son-in-law had moved away. A terrific blizzard was upon them, and
being already fatigued and cold from their long, tiresome trip, it was useless
to tr\ to proceed any further. Of course the cabin was cold, there was no
fuel <ir stove and nothing to eat. Unable to tight for existence, they were
found so badlv frozen in the morning that they both died from the effects,
the father dying one week later, while the .son survived a little longer. They
w ere the first white people to die in the neighborhood, and they were buried
near Pearson's Point. This was the beginning of what we now know as
Pearson's Point cemeterv.

RICIIARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

DIED WITHIN SIGHT OF HELP.

Another sad experience during the winter of 1855 was that of Martin
Rutherford. The snow was very deep, and it was bitterly cold, and he had
started back home, as he lived near Barada, on horseback. Finding the road
could not be traveled by his horse he got ofif and tried to walk. The ice and
snow soon became too much for him. Weak with the cold and the plodding
thn^ugh the snow, he crawled on his hands and knees, perceiving a little house
nearby. By a great effort he finalh' managed to reach the door of the cabin,
but died before anything could be done for him.

The winter of the early sixties brought forth many renewed hardships.
Cattle froze in their sheds and food was scarce. Many days we trapped game
for food, by stacking the corn in ricks to tempt the quails and prairie chickens.
The snow was so deep the women could not think of doing any work out of
doors without high top boots. Having no place to store the winter's supply
of meat, the hogs were stood up on their hind feet l^y the chimney on the
outside of the house, and whenever we needed meat, we would take an axe
and chop off as large a piece as we wanted, just as we would chop a piece of
wood. My brother, W. H. Crook, then a small lx)y, had a number of calves,
whose horns and ears were frozen off, and to keep them alive he put them
in the cellar and cared for them all winter.

Many times during the winter of 1863 and 18^14, the children would
climb out of tlit upstairs windows and play in the snow, as it had drifted as
high as the top of tlie house.

People in this day of modern advancement and the conveniences we now
have, little realize the hardships endured by the pioneers of this county, and
it is those wIki lia\e gone through all these struggles who can fully appreciate
the comforts nf a wiirm and comfortable home.

JOHN BKOWN S L.\ST \"ISIT TO RICHARDSON COUNTY.

L. B. Prouty, wiio liad the lionor of presiding as postmaster at Elmore,
a l)ygone postal station. ](Kated near the i)resent site of Strausville and per-
haps forgotten by most of our people, had tliis to say of tlie last visit of John
Brown :

"1 saw and conxerscd with John l:5rown, of Ossowattomie, the last time
he went tiirough Ridiardson county, which was but a short time before the
llari)er's l-'erry episode. His companions said that the old man was losing
his mind, i)Ut that tliev intended to .stick to liim to the last, which they did."

RICUARnSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 629

The first school alonq- the Aliukh' in this county was taught by Charles
Cornell at his house.

Jacob Koffman was the first settler to locate in Liberty precinct, and he
came in 1855.

LARGE TREE.

One of the largest trees grown in the county was on a farm six miles
west of Salem. The farm at one time was owned by George Marsh. It was
a Cottonwood and measured twenty-seven feet in circumference. During the
World's Fair, the owner, Mr. Marsh, was offered seventy-five dollars for it.
delivered at the railroad at Dawson, by the World's Fair commissioners, but
owing to the fact that IMr. Marsh was not possessed of any means of moving
the tree the offer was declined.

WHY NEBRASKANS ARE CALLED "LUG-EATERS."

There are many versions for the cause of the application of this un-
pleasant "cognomen," which all agree originated in territorial days and lin-
gered until the state assumed respectful size in point of population and wealth.
The one, however, which seems most plausible came about, it is said, from the
visit of an Easterner who arrived here during the ravages of the "grasshopper
period," and who, on his return, upon being asked as to conditions in the
territory made reply substantially as follows :

"Oh, everything is gone up out there. The grasshoppers have eaten the
grain up, the potato bugs ate the 'taters up, and now the inhabitants are eating
the bugs to keep alive." This statement got to the newspapers of the time and,
like now. they made much oi it and the name of bug-eaters.

FIRST NKWSPAI'ER IX FALLS CUrY.

L. B. Prouty, who arrived in the county in 1857, was the publisher for
a time of the Broad Axe. the first newspaper issued from an office in Falls
Cit\-. He was later postmiister at Elmore Station, near V'erdon in this county.

KAKI.V SETTLERS L\ UICUARDSOX COUNTY.

David T. Brinegar came to the state in 1855 and took up a homestead
near the present town of SaleuL Mr. Brinegar was a public-spirited man and
served the county on the board of supervisors and was the first treasurer of
the countv fair, which was held for nianv vears annnallv at SaleuL

ereiicf

)re\eiite<l the sho

\. C. (■

■ais, lone; known

1 there

n iS5().

630 KKIIAkDSO.X COl'N'TY. NEBRASKA.

Joshua (i. lialicdck. a pioneer of the west end of tlie county, settled there
in 1N57. in the year iSO^ there was much political rivalry near the town
of Table i\ock and he was present on one occasion when trouble arose from
a faction of so-called L'opperheads and Republicans. It is said his ])ersonal
)tiiis{ of one I'.iirke. of the Copperhead faction,
as one of the ieadins farmers near Humboldt,
etlle

The memory of the grasshopper visitation calls to mind a page of hi.—
tory filled with gloom and, looking backward from this distance, it seeni^
like a nightmare, but its actual presence was realistic enough to those here
at the lime, and filled the land with foreboding. The hoppers which caused
the trouble were not the common green or yellow kind st) numerous and
apparently harmless in these days, but were the Rocky mountain grasshop-
pers, with slender bodies, light grey wings and enormous appetites. Their
home was far to the west on the high plains and foothills of the mountains;
there they lived, fed and raised their young. In the dry \ears when food
i\as scarce at home they assembled and flew a\\ay in great swarms to the
South and East. They migrated for hundreds of niilc^. ofttimes tra\eliiig
at night, if it was moonlight and the weather warm. In tho^^e journev s they
were known to alight and after a feed and rest might resuine tlieir trip on
the following day.

Between the years from 1857 to 1875 .some part of the state had a visit
from these unwelcome guests. Nearly a dozen of such visits are recorded
in the time mentioned, but the really great invasion anil the one that cast a
l)light on this county, came about the 20th of July, 1874. There were untold
millions of them coming in great clouds which darkened the sun and the
vibrations of their wings made a sound resembling the roar of an approach-
ing storm, followed by the deep "hush" as they descended to earth to devour
the growing crops. Incredible as it may seem tt) us, it is said that on alight-
ing in the fields of corn they filled the rows between the corn to a depth of
from five inches to a foot. The corn croj) disappeared as if by magic in a
single da\'. Where there had been grven fields at break of day. giving ])roni-
ise of a bounteous crop, there were but stumjis at nightfall co\ered with
hungry hoppers. They gnawed holes in carpets and ruined whatever they
touched. The\- followed the smaller vegetation into the earth and devoured
the roots. It was thought when the i)ests had gorged themselves the\- would

KICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 63 1

leave, but not so, they burrowed intt) tlie earth and tilled the holes with eggs
to hatch later and cause more trouble. The farmer stood helpless and awed
by the strange phenomena, which he was so powerless to combat. It amount-
ed to a deluge; it was like, in effect, to the devastation spread Ijy the tornado,
as the blight of a drought, no force could stay its movement.

The condition of the settlers became acute and many were faced with
actual starvation and those who could, were glad to make their escape from
the country. In such forced departure nnich land was either abandoned (jr
sold for almost nothing. Those who stayed the winter through saw dark
days with little hope ahead for the coming year, because of the uncertaint\-
made known to them by the fact that the soil was impregnated with eggs
winch would bring forth another crop of hoppers.

The year 1875 was one long to be remembered in Richardson county.
It is known as the "grasshopper year.'" In the month of May of tli;it year,
the pests hatched out, and settled down on the standing grain of all sorts antl
made a clean sweep of it. Coming as it ilid, it was particularly unfcirtimate
from the fact that the county, like nian\- other sections, had not full\- recov-
ered from the after effects of the war and had made Init \ery little material
progress during that period. The loss of tlie fanner's crops, then in growing
conrlition, spelled ruin to many of the farmers. By the middle of the second
day they had performed their mission leaving the fields as bare as ;i desert.

When the scourge was at its worst the country became aroused to such
a pitch that a mass meeting was held at the court house to devise ways an<!
means to combat tlic further evil that would come from the young hoppers.
The meeting took jjlace on June 5di and was called to order at three o'clock
in the aftern(jon by C. C. Smith. Kev. D. 1*". Rodabaugh was present and
made a speech urging the necessity for getting new seed immediately to
replant the devastated fields. He was followed b\- other speakers, among
whom was August Schoenheit. who ])resented a motion providing for a com-
mittee who should address the county board of commissioners, with a \ie\\
to induce them to suspend the collection of taxes for si.x months. The com-
mittee was composed of August Schoenheit. Kdwin S. Towle and Joseph
Afevers. After the resolutions were adopted, a committee, composed of
?2dwin S. Towle, A. L. Rich, Joseph Meyers, C. C. Smith and Warren Hutch-
ins was appointed with instructions to get into correspondence with the
state and national authorities in an effort to get relief. .\ copy of the reso-
lutions .adopted was sent to the governor at Lincoln.

632 RICIFARDSOX COUNTY, NEBR<\SKA.

CATHOLIC CHURCH TAKES ACTION.

On the day following, June 6th, the members of the Catholic Church
throughout the county held a mass meeting in this city to take action on the
matter and get a general report of the condition in the county. Such a state
of destitution existed universally, that a resolution was adopted sending
Rev. J. A. Hayes East in an endeavor to raise supplies.

A committee on correspondence composed of L. A. Ryan, James 1".
Casey and John F. King, of Fails City, and Patrick and James Murphy, of
Barada precinct, was appointed. The condition was such as to warrant the
adoption of the following resolution : "That we appeal to the charity of all
persons, irrespective of creed or nationality, for any assistance that they nia.\
be pleased to contribute to relieve the suffering in Richardson county." In
accordance with the instructions of the meeting, Reverend Hayes departed
for the East on July 9th.

A special meeting of the county cominissioners was called on July 9
for the purpose of considering the best method of providing relief for the
farmers of the county. On this occasion speeches were made by George
Faulkner, William R. Cain, C. C. Smith, W. P. Page, Judge Dundy and
others. Judge Dundy pointed out that in his belief the commissioners were
without authority to remit or suspend the collections of taxes as had been
proposed, and urged that relief might have to come from some other source,
if the same were to be done legally. Accordingly, subscriptions were taken
up. Mv. Faulkner gave three steers; Mr. Rickards, fifty dollars: Joseph
Meyers, mortgages on an eighty-acre tract, and Judge Dundy offered eighty
acres of land and money, if the same were needed.

While every effort was employed to obtain relief, both locally and from
the outside, those affected were improvising every means possible to combat
the plague and save the fields from further ravages. Districts were set off
in sections of the county and every available man volunteered his services to
give assistance. Many methods were devised, but the most effective seemed
to be the use of kerosene. The liquid was placed in large shallow tin tanks,
which were pulled either liy horses or by men through the fields and soon
became filled with the hoppers. The kerosene .seemed most effective in kill-
ing the pests, from the fact that almost instantly upon coming in contact w ilh
it death ensued. Rut in spite of all heroic measures brought to bear, the situ-
ation attained its worst in the almost complete ruin of the growing crops.
Their departure, liowever. was as >iulilon and unexpected as their coming.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 633

and the people were surprised one morning to see the vast army arise and
wing their way into the distance, never to return. Crops were at once re-
planted and because the season was favorable, the outcome in the fall was not
so bad and gave reason for universal rejoicing among the people.

Stories of the work of the grasshoppers were as numerous as the yarns
of a sailor, and as unbelievable — but at the time it was no laughing matter
among the people.

During the grasshopper scourge, the visitation of which spread distress
and despair over the county in 1876-77, Judge J. J. Marvin, of Falls City,
penned the following lines:

THE GRASSHOPPER RALLY.

We are coming, Uuele Samuel, three hundred billions more,
To divest your fertile lands, from the mountains to the shore.
We have whet our hungry bills and greased our supple thighs,
yVe are bound to eat whatever across our pathway lies.

We are not the sous of sea cooks, that made King Pharaoh m.ul.
But you bet your bottom dollar, we are just three times as bad ;
We've been studying progression, since the i>yramldal age,
And loftier heights and broader fields, our efforts now engage.

We left the land of Palestine, as soon as we heard the news.
That the Bible gave the privilege to those lank and hungry .Tews,
On whose grain we relied and expected to be fed
That they might roast our tiny carcases and tuiii them into bread.

FRANCIS WITMEE, PL.\INSM.\N.

Francis W'itliee. a plainsman, tells the following story:
I crossed tlie Missouri river and landed at Brownsville the afternoon of
June 27th, 185S. I was fourteen years old the following November and
was born in the state of Ohio. I accompanied my father, stepmother, her
mother and my brother, George, six years my senior. We liad been living
in Iowa, and were fourteen days on the way, stopping two days with friends
in Wayne county. The trip was made with five yoke of oxen, and seven
head of loose cattle, which were driven by myself.

My father had been reading from time to time in tlie .Vi'tc York Trib-
une of the proceedings in Congress at W^ashington. about the Kansas-
Nebraska bill, which became a law in 1854. The passage nf this bill occu-

6^4 KICItARDSON COLNTY. NEBRASKA.

])ied much space in the paper at that time; the land coming in for entrv
and pre-emption and treaties witli the Indians were discussed fullv. and tliis
lerl my father to come to this state to cast liis lot. But after paying the
ferryman at Brownville he had left only one dollar and seventy-five cents
in money. The ferry fee at that time was one dullar for the wagon and
team, and ten cents a head for the lnose cattle, wliicli meant tlmse driven
and not hitched to the wagon.

My stepmother had a sister li\ing near Brownville. and to her home
w'e went and stayed one month. Tiien a little log cabin was rented for four
dollars per month, and most of the rent paid hy team work for the owner.
The log cabin was sixteen by eighteen feet, and this seemed to have been
tile prevailing size in those days.

I helped break prairie for ten breaking seasons, and in one .season until
late in the fall. I worked only in the breaking season, and in the ten years
helped to break, or broke alone, altogether one thousand acres. I made my
home with my father for twelve years after coming to Neliraska. W'e l>egan
l)reaking prairie the first fall we came here. An eighteen-inch Tiskiliwa
rod plow was used, and instead of trucks we used a gauge wheel rec|uiring
two persons to <iperatp. one to drixe the five yoke of oxen and tlie other to
hold the plow, and I took my turn doing botli. Many people used different
kinds of trucks, which were to liold the ]j1ow stead}-. The truck was fastened
to the beam in front, and when used, one man could manage the ])low.
I'lenty of breaking plows of various makes were for sale at Brownville.
They were worth from one dollar to one dollar and twenty-five cents an
inch: consequently, an eighteen-inch plow was worth eighteen dollars. The
l)rice for breaking prairie fluctuated with different seasons, from two dol-
lars and a half to three dollars. It was customary often to break twenty-five
acres of prairie for a good }'oke of oxen, valued at seventy-fi\e dollars. It
often took much longer for us to get our pay than it did to do the work,
as the times were hard. Saying that money was scarce, would be i)Utting it
mildly. In the fall of 1858 my father bargaineil widi C. E. L. Hohus to
break one hundred and twenty acres of prairie for sixty acres of land near
Xemaha City, on the Missouri river. Myself and father broke ninety-five
acres, gave Holmes a yoke of oxen and l)oth parties called the deal square.
.My father traded two yoke of oxen and a wagon for eighteen acres north
of the sixty acres alread}' acquired; then he traded the hou.se on this tract
for a yoke of oxen. Later, he traded two yoke of oxen and a wagon f(.)r
sc\enty-seven acres of land, southwest of Xemaha City and alMiut five miles
north of the present village of Stella. This seventy-seven acres is a farm

UICIIARDSOX COUXTY. NEBRASKA. 635

that sold two or tliree years ago for at one lumdretl and two and one-lialf
dollars per acre. My father traded after a while this seventy-seven acres
for the balance of the fractional section where was located his land near
Xemaha City, there being- al^out one hnndred and sixty acres in the frac-
tional section. To make this trade even, my father ga\e two yoke of oxen
and broke ten acres of land.

CROSSING THE PLAINS.

1 made three trips across the phuns with freighting outfits, October i.
1862, in company with my brother, George, Artemus Armstrong, and Joe
and Jim Coker. I went from Nemaha to Nebraska City to "whack bulls" to
Denver. We remained at Nebraska City for ten or twelve days, waiting for
freight to arrive on a steamboat. Thomas I'itzwater. from southwest of
Brownville, near Bracken, was the wagon "boss." The wages for the men
were twenty dollars per month for the round trip, or thirty-five dollars per
month if discharged at Denver. Myself and brother and three of our friends
took the thirty-five dollars per month proposition. We paid eight dollars each
to ride in the return wagons from Denver to Nebraska City, clubbing together
and lioarding oursehes: slept at ranches, occa.sionally in a stable, and ;i few
times were out on the prairie at night. .\t that time beyond Kearne\- all
prairie was called "sand hills."

On this trip the train consisted of tiiirteen wagons, with six voke of
oxen to each wagon. - The freight carried was powder, fuse. Hour. whiske\-.
drugs, quartz, mill repairs and cast-iron plows. Forty-seven days were re-
ipiired to make the trip from Neliraska Cit\- to Denver and sixteen days for
the return.

The freight wagons were ponderous, weighing two thousanddne hundred
|)ounds, and were on tiie "wide track." They were four inches wider than
the ordinary farm wagons of today and were longer at the top than at the
bottom b\- two feet. Tlie bottom length was twelve feet.

On this first trip two bosses killed a buffalo at fifty-mile post, a name
which indicated that that point was that distance from Kearney. This was
near Mallaley's ranch, a place known to all freighters. We took with us
as much of the bufifalo meat as we could pack on a mule — perhaps two hind
quarters. At another time on this trip Fitzwater, the wagon boss, tradeil
a side of bacon for a buffalo ham. The younger generation sometimes
believes the freighter feasted on all kinds of fresh lueat and wild game as
they crossed the plains. l)ut this is erroneous. Cured meat was carried with

636 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

the other provisions of the freighters and the two incidents cited above are
the only times I recall of having fresh meat when freighting.

The ranch business in those days usually was a place that dealt a good
deal in the supply of hay and whisky. Some kept clothing, canned goods
and other supplies. The ranchers got hold of cattle with lame feet from
the freighters, and did a "swapping" liusiness wath these cattle, when tlie
animals had recuperated. Our train ranched cattle that were disabled, tak-
ing a receipt from the rancher, who either later had to turn the cattle over
to the owner or to make good to him their losses.

PAID IN GOLD DUST.

On my first freighting trip 1 was paid at Denver, in gold dust, at six-
teen dollars per ounce. I disposed of the dust in Denver to speculator Jews
at a value of fifteen dollars in greenbacks for an ounce of gold dust. 1
remember that on one of the trips a man bought some meat and had ten
cents due him, and tlie ten cents was paid him in gold dust of that value,
actual weight of it being made. Later, the man traded the gold dust for
a pipe valued at twenty-five cents. Again the gold dust was weighed, and the
weight this time made it have a value of fifty cents, different scales at tlie
different times being used.

I freighted to Jtdesburg, Colorado, in the fall of 1864. T. S. Sloan,
of Nebraska City, was the wagon boss, and there were tiiirty-four wagons.
The start was made with eleven five-yoke teams and twenty-three six-yoke
teams, which means there were three hundred and sixty-six head of cattle to
transport tliis train. This was a hard trip. Snow fell for twenty-four hours
on October 23 and -'4, when tlie train was just east of W'ahoo creek, in
Saunders county, on the old government trail. Returning in Decemljcr.
myself and fellow fre'ighters were caught in a blizzard between Salt creek
and Stevens creek, near where is now the Nebraska State penitentiary, on the
"steam wagon road." \\'ages were better than on the first trip — two dol-
lars per day or sixty dollars a month, for the round trip; or one hundred
and ten dollars a month with discharge at Jule.sburg. One dollar in gold
at that time was worth two dollars and a lialf in greenbacks.

The last freighting trip I made was in the year i8()6, when I went to
Denver with (Overton Brothers, of Nebraska City. Twenty-one six-yoke
teams were in this train. Tlie wagons were loaded with sugar, canned
goods, ca.-icd litjuors. candles and nails. The candles were made in St.
Louis. The nails and heavy stuff were placed in the bottom of the wagons.

RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 637

and the candles and other light stuff placed on top. The teams left Nebras-
ka City on September 14th and arrived there on the return trip on Thanks-
giving Day. The wages on this trip were one dollar per day or forty-fi\e
dollars per month, discharge in Denver.

In my trips across the plains we left the cattle in winter quarters on
the range. We came back with mules to haul our "grub" and blankets.
We had to walk most of the way. On the Julesbui-g trip we left our wag-
ons there and five of the 1x)ys took the cattle farther up the river to Moore's
ranch. After they got the cattle to the ranch, Watts, the boss herder ; Elias
Bills, of Wayne county, Iowa; John Coen, of Springfield, Illinois, and Jolin
R. Martin, bushwhacker, of Missouri, were killed in an Indian fight, and
tlie cattle scattered. Alex Street, of Nebraska City, was the owner of the
cattle — about three hundred and seventy-five head — and it cost him ten
dollars to get them rounded up. All were found but seventeen head.
Although the Indians caused all this blooshed and trouble, they didn't want
the cattle, but it may be they killed one or two.

By the spring of 1863, my father by actual survey, had only fifty-five
acres left of his one hundred and sixty-acre farm, the rest having been swal-
lowed up in the Missouri river. The part that was left Ijetween Nemaha
City and Brownville was traded for two hundred acres two and one-half
miles northwest of where Stella is located, and to get a full half section,
one hundred and twenty acres were broken for the necessary one hundred
and twenty acres, and we came to this land to live, thus I have a continuous
residence of nearly half a centuiy on the same farm. The house built by my
father in 1864, was taken down in the fall of 1907, to be replaced by a new
house, in which w as used some of the lumber from tlie old house. When I
first came to my new home the nearest neighbors were three miles and a
lialf distant. I was a member of the school board in my district for fort\
five vears.

INDUCEMENTS FOR .SETTLEMENT.

An impetus was given to settlement in Richardson county by a change
in the land laws. In the year 1854, a settler could take one hundred and sixt\
acres and after living on it for six months, could buy it from the United
States for one dollar and twenty-five cents i)er acre ; this was called a pre-
emption. In 1863, the homestead law went into effect. Under this a settler
could take one hundred and sixty acres and have it free by living upon it for

6^58 RICUAKUSON roUXTV. XKBRASKA.

live years. In 1873 the timber claim act was passed. Under it out could f(et
one hundred and sixty acrees by planting ten acres of it in trees and takintj
care of it for eight years. All three of these laws were in force from 1873
to 1891 and under them a settler could, in a few years, get four hundred and
eighty acres of land. The land in this county, however, was taken up \cry
uarly and hut little of it was left fwr the operation of the later land laws.

.MAIL KOUTKS AND I'OST ROADS.

One of the very necessary conveniences in a new coiuUry is some kiml of
a mail service that those coming may have communication with home, and
the absence of it was no small drawback to the early pioneers of Richardson
county.

Those hrst U> arrive found this part of the West without local mail
facilities, from the fact that prior to that time in 1854 the whole country
west of the Missouri was "Indian country," and had not been opened to
settlement. Nebraska at this time had but just been erected as a territory.

The first mail routes to cross what is now officially recognized as a part
of Richard.son county, were estal)lishe(l by an act of Congress passed on the
3d day of March, 1855, just one year after the first of the pioneer settlers
took up their abode on the banks of Mudilv creek in section 36. of Ohio town-
ship.

This first route, so important to the people in this part of the then terri-
tory, .started from Oregon, in Holt count}-, Missouri, to Ft. Kearney on the
Platte river, by way of Stephen Story's ferry in section 1, .\rago township,
on the Missouri river, between the two Xemahas, to Francis X. Purkett"s, on
the Muddy creek, near Archer; thence to John A. Singleton's on the (ireat
Xemaha; thence west to the home of Christian Bol)st. tin the Creat X'emaha.
in the northwest (|uarter of section ..'3. township 1. north of range i_'. but
now included in wliat is known as .South b'ork precinct of I'awnee countx'.
\'nv i|iiite a long iicriod the entire west end of Richardson, now known as
I'awnee countv. received mail at the residence of Judge Christian Bol)st on
the South b'ork of the Xemaha. l-'rom th:it place the mail was later carried
to what is now Table Rock by ^^rs. Lydia Holmes, nee Giddings, a daughter
of b'lder C. \\'. Ciiddings, the founder of Table Rock. She was the first mail
carrier in that \icinity and is now at an advanced age, a resident of Kansas
City, Missouri. This route continued on from the P.obst home to Marysville
on the I'lue river in Kansas.

.\nother route established at the same time was north from the Xeni.-dia

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 639

Indian agency, just south uf the Xebraska-Kansas state line iu Kansas, north
by way of Stephen Story's hume at the ferry, in what is now section i of
Arago township, and on to Brownville, Nebraska City, Omaha City, Winter
Quarters, Black Bird Hills, and thence north to the mouth of the Niobrara
river.

On August 18, 1856, a route was established Ijy act of Congress from
the Missouri river at St. Stephens, by way of Archer and Salem, west to
Christian Bobst's and on to the Big Blue in Gage county.

^Another mail route was established by an act of Congress on June 14,
1858, from Brownsville by way of Nemaha City, Nemaha county, to Archer.
Ohio township ; Falls City, Falls City township ; Monterey. Porter township :
Salem, Salem township; Pleasantville, South Fork precinct, Pawnee county,
just west of Speiser township. Richardson county, and Pawnee City to Table
Rock.

.\nother route was established to Nemaha City, Nemaha county, by way
of Salem in this county and Archer and on to Topeka, Kansas.

Another was Brownsville south by Peru and Nemaha Cit\- in Nemaha
county, to St. Stephens, St. Stephens precinct in this count\' and Winnebago
in Arago township, Yankton, Rulo township, one and one-half miles north of
the present village of Rulo and on to St. Joseph, Missouri. It will be
observed that the towns mentioned on the line in this county were all towns
located on the banks of the Missouri river.

Another was Archer, Ohio township: Gene\a, Liberty township, and
Shasta in Ohio township.

.Another was from St. Stephens to Archer.

THK FIRST POSTMASTER.

The honor of being the first postmaster of Falls City must Ije assigned
to John H. Burbank, who was succeeded by C. Norris. Following Mr.
Norris the following have served: William Watts, N. O. Pierce, J. J. Mar\ in,
John Wilson, George Van Deventer, M. .\. Frank, George E. Dorrington,
W. Riley Crook, L. A. Ryan; E. J. Holbrooke, Irvin Maust (as bondsman to
succeed Holbrooke, who had died). Asa Hollebaugh, Ellis O. Lewis. G. J.
Crook, Aaron Loucks (as bondsman who succeeded Cr(X>k, resigned), and
Charles C. Davis, the present incumbent now serving on tlie second ^•ear of
his term.

The fir.st postoffice was on lot 21. of block 70. near the public square,
and none of the latter places of holding the office liave lieen more than the

640 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

length of a square from the same place. The second office was on lot 22, in
block 68, the third in the old printing office, where later the Tarpley &, Com-
pany store was housed, and the fourth in the store of Reavis & Cameron, lot
12, block 71 ; its subsequent locations have been in Judge J- J. ^larvin's house,
lot 20, block 91 ; lot 11. block 58. and lot 22, block 70, where it occupied a
building on the west side of the second lot from the south side of the block.
It was removed in the month of Juy of the present year (191 7), to the new
federal building on lots 19, 20. 21, 22. 23 and 24 of block 92.

EARLY CAMP MEETING IN RICHARDSON COUNTY.

Away back in the history of Richardson county, before Falls City was a
I)lace of an}' considerable commercial importance, when Archer was a flour-
ishing town — when the county was comparatively "a howling wilderness,"
and Stephen B. Miles, Sr., David R. Holt and Uncle Isaac Crook and a few
more of the "early birds" were the leading spirits at camp meetings and
dances, there were many events transpiring, that in themselves were very
simple and ridiculous, but yet, when called to mind, cannot fail to provoke a
smile on the placid faces of some of our old residents.

In those days a prominent divine, named Chamberlain, was holding a
camp meeting in a pleasant grove on the banks of the babbling Muddv creek,
south of Archer, and, in order to make his arrangements complete, he
appointed Uncle Isaac, a marshal. One day the flock so departed from the
primitive style as to mingle together during preaching, and this not agreeing
with the exquisite tastes of the divine, he reminded them that it was usual
for the ladies to occupy the seats upon one side of the aisle and the gentlemen
on the other. Uncle Isaac, as marshal, thought it was his duty to second the
motion, and accordingly arose, and with all the gravity of a judge pro-
nouncing a death sentence upon a culprit, said, "Yes, the preacher is right, so
he is: sitting together puts bad notions in your heads, it does, so it does.'"

At the same meeting, one night, while a number of penitents were
around the altar, and the minister was putting forth his best licks, David Holt
drove up with a highly respectal)le lady in his bugg}-, and took his stand near
the altar, so as to hear and see distinctly without alighting. During the
service the minister saw some laughing, which he doubtless inter[)reted as
scoffing, and became somewhat indignant, and with his finger pointed lo the
couple in the buggy, made some strong remarks, whicli Mr. H<ilt construed
as ill-timed, whereupon lie dismounted from the buggv and started for the

JOHN H. BURBANK.

lUCIIARDSOX COUNTY, XEBRASKA. 64I

offender, who, anticipating the object of David's approach, fled for the brush,
and managed, by the aid of brush and darkness, to evade his pursuer until
tired out, when he withdrew. In the meantime Uncle Isaac dismissed the
meeting for the evening. HoU declined a private apology to the lady, whom
he deemed highly insulted, and the minister was the next day required to
make a public apology or sacrifice his scalp. He chose the first alternative,
and was permitted to continue his revival unmolested.

INCIDENTS CONNECTED WITH THE BATTLE OF PADONIA.
By Jerome Wilte, Sr.

In June, 1861, William Buchanan had his headquarters in a tent near
the Harkendorff place, north of Falls City. I lived west of Falls City, until
the middle of August, and then moved to Rulo precinct. Several horses had
disappeared from different places that were owned by Union men, and it was
evident that the cause of the Union had not been advanced by it. The people
of the surrounding country determined to assist the Missourians and regain
their property.

Bill Buchanan crossed the Nemaha at the falls and placed some of his
spoils under guard there and had a large wagon load of flour left in a large
covered wagon, secreted in thick brush. He then moved on toward Padonia,
a small village south of Falls City. The aggrieved ones of Missouri and
Nebraska followed him, accompanied by a few soldiers. At the falls they
captured the jajhawker guard and what they guarded and hunted up the load
of flour. Guards were left with these things and men placed as patrols.
Then, the aggrieved parties proceeded to Padonia and captured the jay-
hawker's supper and applied it to their own use, and slept. In the morning
the scene underwent a change. Drury Easley, Charles Martin. E. H. Martin
and others from Rulo, arrived at the grounds in time to station themselves
among the plum bushes and witness the procedure. They returned home
with their arms and ponies. Easley said the soldiers betrayed the citizens
and helped the jayhawkers.

The guards at tlie Nemaha Falls, and the patrols, when they heard of the
outcome of the meeting at Padonia. consigned what they had left to the
waters of the Nemaha. They drove up the south side of the Nemaha with
the wagon, intending to cross the river at Salem, but the jayhawkers pursued
them and the men in the wagon threw out sack after sack of flour, a< the\
were going to lighten the load, until it was all scattered, and did not return

(41)

642 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

the wagon to Mr. Alinnick until evening of the next da)'. Eli Plante said of
the affair that he and Joshua Murray and Charles Hergesheimer brought the
great battle to an end.

l-IRST THRESHING MACHINE IN SOUTHEAST NEBRASKA.

Theodore Hill, a merchant of Brownville and a brother of Louis Hill, of
Falls City, brought to Nemaha county, the first threshing machine sold in this
district. He also shipped the first wheat by steamboat out of Nebraska to
St. Louis. The threshing machine was purchased in i860. It is believed to
be the first one brought to Nebraska.

^^'illiam Rieschick, Sr., now a resident of Falls City and one of the
earliest pioneers of Richardson county, says that in 1863 he got a threshing
machine from Buffalo, New York. This, he says, was the first threshing
machine with a twenty-two-foot stacker in Nebraska.

Mr. Rieschick says that 1863 was a poor year for threshing machines as
nearly all the spring wheat was destroyed by chinch bugs. His machine
threshed about three bushels to the acre, was busy from morning till evening,
and made from seven dollars to eight dollars per day. The machine went
all the way from Arago on the Missouri river, westward to Pawnee City, a
distance of about fifty miles. Mr. Rieschick made about four hundred and
forty-nine dollars tliat season. He employed two hands and a team. In 186-1
he collected one thousand one hundred dollars for threshing. The next year
he sold the machine. The price for threshing was seven cents per bushel for
wheat and five cents per bushel for oats. In recent years the price for thresh-
ing has been five cents for wheat and three cents per bushel for oats, but for
many years previously it was as low as four cents for wheat and two cents
for oats.

VISIT OF SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE MORTON.

Department of Agriculture.
Office of the Secretary.

\\'ashington, D. C. April 3, 1894.
Mr. ^^'. H. Stowell,

\'erdon, Nel:)raska.
Dear Sir:

Convey to the pioneers of Richardson county, who remain on this side

of the "great majority," the assurances of my sincere and affectionate regard.

Perfectlv well I remember mx first \isit to Archer, tlie then countv seat

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 643

of Richardson count}-, in 1855, to attend a political meeting at the house of
the County Judge Aliller. Then for the first time in my life I saw sweet
potatoes grow upon Nebraska soil. They were the largest that I had ever
beheld, and from that time to this I have never seen sweet potatoes as big as
were those at Archer in 1855.

Among the persons prominent in territorial affairs, who were present at
the meeting, I recall Joseph L. Sharp, Hiram P. Bennet, Bird B. Chapman
and Napoleon P. Giddings — all of whom have passed away, except Judge
Bennett, who is a prominent lawyer in Denver, Colorado. Few of the partici-
pants in that meeting remain in Richardson county.

Cicero said of death: "Some men make a womanish complaint that it is
a great misfortune to die before our time. I would ask what time? Is it that
of nature? But nature indeed has lent us life, as we loan a sum of nidney,
only no certain day is fixed for payment. What reason then to complain, if
she demands it at pleasure, since it was upon this condition that we receive
it?'" Respectfully }-ours,

J. Stert.inc, Morton.

The above letter addressed to W. II. Stowell, editor ni the I-'umccr
Record, appeared in its issue bearing date of Alay, 1894.

official niRECTORY. 1866.

From Vol. i. No. 25, of the Southern Xcbraskan. (liy J. C and X. O.
Pierce) published in Falls City, under date of August 28, 1S66. we take the
following official directory for Richardson county :

Judge of the district court, Hon. E. S. Dundy ; probate jutlge, Hon. C.
F. Walther; county treasurer, D. R. Holt; county clerk, W. H. ^Nlann; sheriff,
J. AT. Siglin ; prosecuting attorney, J. J. Marvin ; county surveyor, A. Mich-
aels and O. W. Dunning; county commissioners, William R. Cain and H. E.
Moritz; school examiners, J. J. Marvin, D. R. Holt and F. M. Williams.

POSTOFFICES AND POSTJM A.STERS, I 866.

Falls City, X. O. Pierce; Rulo City, W. D. Searles: Arago, C. I".
Wahher; St. Stephen, W. H. Mann; Flmore, L. B. Prouty; Salem, J. C. Lin-
coln; Miles Ranche, B. W. Page; Aliddleburg, S. C. Duryea; Monond, Joseph
Watton; Alonterey, L. M. Bremen; Long Branch, Frank Ferguson; Hum-
boldt, I.ucelia Tinker.

044 KICHAKnSOX COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

RULO CITY OFFICKRS, 1868.

Mayor, W. D. Searle; city clerk, E. II. Johnson; treasurer, James Hos-
forJ; marshal, J. W. Stanton; aldermen, W. D. Scott, J. Shaft. William
Smith, D. T. Easley, A. P. Forney and Hugh Boyd.

From the Nebraska Register, published by C. -\. Hergesheimer. at Rulo,
under date of August 13, 1868, we find the following county directory:

District judge, O. P. Mason; district attorney, Isham I'ieavis; probate
judge, William Van Lue; county treasurer, D. R. Holt; county clerk, W. H.
JMann; sherifY, George Faulkner; county surv-eyor, A. J. Currence; coroner,
H. Burnam; school superintendent, J. B. Masalsky; school examiner, J. J.
Marvin; county commissioners, Jacob Shaff. George Gird and H. F.. Moritz.

THE FIRST MAIL.

The fir^t mail to reach l'"alls City under contract, was l>rought liy the
route over which Ste[)hen Ij. Miles, Sr., had supervision. In fact. Colonel
Miles wa sawarded the contract for the first United States mails carried in
the West. He began as early as 1852 with a contract to carry the mail from
Independence, Missouri (adjoining the present Kansas City), to Salt Lake
City, Utah. It required exactly one month to make the trip. In 1853 he
was given the supervision of the mails between this place and St. Joseph Mis-
souri, and out to what is now known as Beatrice, Nebraska. As part pay
for this lalxir, Mr. Miles accepted what was called "mail grant land," con-
sisting of a section of land at intervals. Ry this means he acquired title to
considerable land, and as the government wasn't particular and Mr. Miles had
good judgment, the result was he made good selections, which proved the
foundation of the vast Miles fortune. Mr. Miles located his home in Grant
precinct, Richardson count}, in 1856. was a resident of the county until his
death and was accounted one nf the wealtiiiest men in the state. Mr. Miles
employed a large number of men and a huge equipment in the business of
carrving the mail and continued to operate under the contracts held until
1868, when he retired from the business.

STORY BY AN EARLY" SETTLER.

AN'illiam R. Cain, of Falls City, who was the father of our townsman,
Hon. J. R. Cain and Mrs. Laura P.. Paxton, and who was among the first to

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 6.|5

settle in the prosperous town furnished the following- description of the place
as he remembered it after a lapse of thirty years :

St. Stephens was laid out as a townsite by Gen. Benjamin F. Loan and
Stephen Story in the spring of 1855. In September of the same year I
visited the then new town consisting of one store kept by Stephen Nuckols &
Company; Houston Nuckols was in charge; a man by the name of Robert
Archer kept a hotel; at that time these two houses constituted the town.
When I was on this visit I was so charmed with the country that I built me a
cabin adjoining the town tract, and in April, 1856, I landed in St. Stephens
with my family and household goods. During that year Washington Morris
built a house and Israel Price built and started a blacksmith shop. In 1857
J. W. Crane, of St. Joseph, started another store; during 1857-8-9 the town
grew rapidlv, reaching its highest growth in 1861, at which time it had two
stores, one kept by Crane & Lewis, and the other by D. J. Martin ; two saloons.
one kept by Henley Price and Henry Dunkes, the other was kept by George
Codle}-. Price & Dunkes called their house a "grocery store," but saloon was
the I)est name. Henry Smith kept a blacksmith-shop ; Allen Gleason kept the
ferry on the Missouri river. In the year 1857 Houston Nuckols, Stephen
Story and William P. Loan started a general land agency, dealing in land and
town lots. In the spring of 1858 they had a pulilic sale of land and town lots
in St. Stephens. At this sale Duke Wheeler bought the land that he settled on
the same vear. The first sermon that was preached in the town was given
liy old Father Thomas, of the Baptist church, who then li\e(l at Rulo. The
Hrst justice of the peace was John McFarlen. the second, Stejjhen Lyiins. the
third, William Morgan, the fourth, S. G. Lewis, the fifth. William R. Cain,
who held the ofifice for eight consecutive years and turned it oxer to his suc-
cessor without ever having an appeal from his judgment. Israel Price was
the first constable. The first school was taught by William Bell; the next by
William McMurren. In 1859 the first school board was elected with ^^'. R.
Cain, president of the board, who held an office on the school board for
twenlv-one vears without a single break and refused to ser\e only when lie
ino\ed to Falls City.

In 1858 Lewis Aliegewahr and Henry W. Sonieriadd were sent out \ve.~t
Ijy the German Emigrant Association of Buffal(j. New "S'ork, and located tlu-
town of Arago one mile below St. Stephens on the ri\er.

The first postmaster, as I remember, was T. C. Sicafims. the rlrst tlncinr
was David Whitmire. later a resident of Rockport. Missouri. \mong tin-
prominent citizens, wlicn it was in its prime, we mention tlie names nf Anry

646 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NKBRASKA.

Mallard, B. H. Dixon and his sons, Xoali and Ballard; Dnctor Whitniire, J-
W. Crain, William M. Morrison. D. J. Phillips. I'ress ;Marvin. Houston
Xuckols, W. P. Loan, a lawyer; Price Dunkes. Stephen Lvons. S. K. Twist
and Stephen Story, the original owner of the townsite.

STORY OF THE PROSPERITY OF A STl'RDY WELSH COLONY.

By Eunice Haskin.s. of the .S(eH« Prms.

Xo colony in southeastern Xebraska ever played a more important
l)art in the development of a new country than did the Welsh, who came
to Richardson county from Pomeroy, Ohio, in the tirst three or four years
following the Civil War, settling in a community known as Prairie Union.
northea.st of where is now located Stella, and about ten miles west of the
Missouri river. Preceding the Ohio Welsh there came here from Wisconsin
three Welsh families, David Thomas and David Higgins. who came together
in 1859. and Daniel Davis who came in 1863. The \\'isconsin Welsh made
the entire journey by ox-team. They at once began to prosper and were
most enthusiastic over the new country. Reports by Mr. Pliggins or ?^Ir.
Davis were sent to a Welsh paper (Drych) printed in Xew York, and it was
the reading of these reports liv the miners of Pomeroy that led to the coming
here of the Ohio Welsh. A colonv of thirteen families settled within a
radius of five miles in the territory east of Prairie Union, a number of others
at Salem and some at Brownville.

When Daniel Davis started irom Wisconsin tifteen dollars represented
his entire amount of cash; he had provisions for the journey, a yoke of oxen
and a pair of cows. He died on the morning of July 4, k^oq. and left an
estate valued at se\enty-five thousand dollars. I-'or forty-six years Mr. Davis
lived continuously on the same farm.

There was a big colony of Pomeroy Welsh, who had come o\er from
the old countr\' to work in the coal mines. As they had been here but a
comparatively slKjrl time they did not enlist in tlie t'ixil \\'ar, as did their
American neighliors. so many of whom were away from home that the miners
were paid higher wages than usual. During any time of idleness they dis-
cussed opportunities for investment in land and the best place to go. Alex
McGechie. a .Scotchman, and some of his Welsh friends, from returning sol-
diers heard wonderful stories of the country about Chattanooga and Lookout
Mountain, in Tennessee, and made a journey of investigation, but decided that
section was better adapted to nu'ning.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 647

Rev. John T. James was an important personage in bringing the settlers
to Nebraska from Pomeroy. He and Caleb Reese came to investigate in Sep-
tember, 1865, and contractetl to buy six hundred acres of land at five dollars
an acre. Reese and his family moved to Nebraska that same fall, taking up
their residence at the old river town of Aspinwall, where soon after he was
shot and killed at dusk one evening by a couple of drunken soldiers on their
way to Ft. Leavenworth. They stated they had mistaken him for a wolf.
Mrs. Reese gave up her contract for the large tract, but bought and resided
tin a quarter section in the Welsh settlement. She died a few years ago in
Oklahoma. The wife of Reverend James was largely responsible for his
western movement, as she had lived on a farm in the old country. She died
in December, after his purchase here, Init following her wishes to bring the
sons up on the farm, he moved here the next summer.

Within the very next few years there came from Pomeroy the following
twelve families, making many in the settlement from the same place : 1 )a\ id
N. Jones, Alex McGechie, John I\l. Lewis, Richard IMorris, Jonah Jones,
Edmund Williams, David N. Jones, David R. Jones, Samuel l>rim})Ie,
James Evans, Robert Roberts, David Phelps, and John Owens. All were
Welsh except Mr. ^IcGechie. The trip was made by water, as Pomeroy was
on the Ohio, and .\spinwall in this state was made the landing point. At the
time Mr. McGechie and others came, six weeks were spent on the boat.
During two weeks of this time the boat was laid up on a sandbar, and three
times on the journey the cargo was unloaded.

Of the above men named there is but one survivor today, Alexander
McGechie, of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, who was ninety years of age in
April, 19 1 7. Mrs. John M. Lewis, who, at tlie age of eighty-five, died at
her home in Shubert in 1915, was the last surviving woman of the pioneers
who founded the settlement. David N. Jones, the last surviving head of a
Welsh family among the settlers, died in 1909 at his home seven miles north-
east of Stella. He was born in Wales in 1832, came to America in i8_:;7,
and had lived continuously on the same farm since 1866.

These pioneers prospered and their families were an honor to the cimii-
munity. Most of them, perhaps all, were of a devout religious nature ; any-
way two Welsh churches were founded in this community, Prairie Union and
Penuel ; the latter, during its e.xistence, lieing about two miles northeast of
the former. The homeseekers were cpiiet, peace-loving men. They stuck
together like a band of brothers, helping each other until new machinery made
the necessity less. Alex McGechie. to the southeast of the settlement, and
Sam Brimble, to the northw est, walked manv and nianv a time througii tlic tall

648 UICIIARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

wet grass in the morning to do a clay's binding of grain, ;uid tlie same mav
be said of other settlers.

These early pioneers kept attracting other Welsh people from Ohio.
Among these were A. E. Evans, who had formerly been postmaster of
Shubert, who moved west to be near his son, John M. Evans, cashier of the
Farmers' State Bank of Shubert; while he had another son, \V. L. Evans, whd
was then siiperintentlent of Nemaha county. Among the colony who set-
tled at Salem was Miles Jones, at one time superintendent of public instruc-
tion in this county. Another was A\ Nance, a \enerable rivernian at Brown-
ville.

Thomas Higgins was a devout and pious man. It was his dream that
there should be a Welsh settlement in this community and that a \\'elsh
church be founded. The coming of the Ohioans made his dream come true.
At first, Sunday school was held in his residence, and as soon as the Higgins
school house was built it was a place for holding Sunda\- school and religious
services ; and ne.xt was Prairie Union church, built in the early seventies.
Prairie Union was organized as a Welsh Baptist church, l)ut as the younger
people grew up it became English, and, although a country church, is toda.\-
one of the strong Baptist churches of the state. Prairie Union in itself is
quite a settlement. In 1904 the church was struck by lightning and burned
and a year later a modern church was dedicated in its place. The church
has stained-glass windows, is furnace heated and has its own lighting plant.
There is a nice parsonage on an acre or two of land, a school and a cemetery,
all within a short distance of the church, also the sexton's house. The ceme-
tery is beautifully located and admirably kept. The parsonage is ahvays
i)ccupied by a minister. The community is bright intellectually and the young
people have always had the privilege of excellent schools. A number of these
pioneers and their sons helped to build a farmers' elevator at McCandless
Siding so as to have a point nearer than Shuljert or Xemaha to market
their grain.

Rev. John T. James was instrumental in organizing the \\'elsh Baptist
church at Penuel, that organization being later than that of Prairie Union.
lUit with the passing of the activity of the elder W'elsh this church became nn
more. The church is no longer standing, but the cemetery is maintained and
at the death of Reverend James his body was interred therein.

The roads at first were scarcely more than a trail or path and often
the grass was tall and wet. or the path was filled with dust; yet Mrs. Eliza-
beth Higgins t^nce recalled that it was a custom of the young ladies to go

KICIIARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 649

barefoot a part of the way to church if they walked in suniiner, carrying
their shoes and stockings so as to protect them from the dust or dew. Once
she liad a silk jacket of which she was very proud. She recalls that on
one of these trips it was ruined by a grasshopi>er that alighted on her back
and ate a hole in the jacket. Her first Fourth of July in Nebraska was
spent at Hillsdale, where a big barbecue was held, attended b\' the settlers
from far and near.

path and often the grass was tall and wet, or the path was filled with dust ;
yet Mrs. Elizabeth Higgins recalls that it was a custom of the young ladies
to go barefoot a part of the way, carrying their shoes and stockings so as to
protect them from the dust or dew. Once she had a silk jacket of which she
was very proud. She recalls that on one of these trips it was ruined by a
grasshopper that alighted on her back and ate a hole in the jacket. Her first
Fourth of July in Nebraska was spent at Hillsdale, where a big liarljecue was
held, attended by the settlers from far and near.

Mrs. Higgins was sixteen years of age when she came to the count)- and
she and her chum, Miss INIaggie Jones, later Mrs. William Wilkinson, of
Lincoln, were the oldest girls in the settlement, and accordingly were very
popular; in fact they were the belles of the territory. INIrs. Higgins until her
marriage three years later was her father's housekeeper. Corn bread and
sorghum were the staple table food. Once she needed soda and was com-
pelled to go to the home of David R. Jones, a distance of more than a mile,
to borrow the same. On the way she saw two Indians coming on ponies. She
was badly frightened and tried to hide in the tall grass. Thev saw her, but
only grunted as they passed. She saw strapped on the saddle of each a half
hog with the hair still on. They had just raided some farm and were making
way with the stolen property. Singing schools provided social diversion in
the early days. These were held at the Higgins school and there gathered
many of the pioneer young people, the outgrowth of these meetings being
the marriage of many of the young people who met there.

There was a large grove on the farm of Reverend James. The Indians
had been in the habit of holding councils at this place and camping there and
had taken ever\- precaution to protect the same from fires. Along most of tho
streams, now covered with a good growth of timber, in those early days of
the Welsh settlement there was not a tree, owing to the very frequent prairie
fires.

650 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NKBRASKA.

SOME EARLY EXPERIENCES.
By Jesse Crook.

Having visited Richardson county in 1854 and explored the Nemaha
west as far as Salem and the Muddy to some extent, I returned with the
others of the party to ^^lissouri (Andrew county), where we spent the win-
ter. In the spring of 1855 I returned to this county with my family and
located a claim north of Falls City, the place where William Xutter now
resides. I built a log cabin, fenced forty acres of ground and put out a
garden of about an acre, all enclosed in the old-fashioned stake-and-rider
fence. J\Ir. Leechman lived to the north and west, on the ]\Iuddy, on what
was and is still known as the Leechman place, now occupied by Frank and
Thomas Leechman, the former being the first white child born within the
confines of Richardson county. 'Sir. Harkendorff lived up on the bank of
tlie creek later the home of Mr. Fritz, and a man named Robinson lived on
what is known as the Cain place. This was in the spring of 1855, and we
\vere the first people to settle in this county. The elder John Rothenberger
came into the county that year and settled east of the later location of Hum-
boldt, adjoining the farm where has been held for many years the old settlers
picnic. The younger John Rothenberger and Joseph Watton were little
cliildren. and he brought them with him. ^ly claim was the first claim in
the county. -1 built the first log cabin on a claim. The Iowa and the Sac and
I'ox Indians were very numerous in this section at that time, tlie reservation
being just south of the town at that time.

Ambrose Shelly, John Miller. Wilts Maddox and myself located tlie town
of .Vrcher, and laid it out in lots and blocks. It became necessary to survey
the Sac and Fox reservation again, as the lines were gone. In running the
new lines it was found that the ^lissouri river had cut in alxuU two miles at
one place, and as that was the eastern lioundary it threw the west line two
miles further this way at that point, which took the town of .Archer into tlie
reservation and we had to aliandon the site. Before that time we had had
two terms of court there. Judge Black having held one term in 1855 and one
in 1856. When the town of Archer was abandoned the county seat was
located temporarily at Salem and the next term of court was held there. The
ccnmty seat was maintained at Salem three months pending the election to
permanenth- locate it. The first election was held and Falls City won it.
Tudge Dund\ announced that lie would go to Salem and bring the county seat
l)ack with him. luit when he readied diat place, he learned th.at tlic county

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 65I

clerk, a man by the name of DeShazo, liad absconded the night before and
with him had gone the county records, so Mr. Ehindy could not get them.
On his return here we put up an entire ticket, sherifif, clerk, legislators and
all, held an election and elected everyone of them. When our men went U>
the Legislature the}- had another date arranged for a county-seat election and
at that election Falls City was again victorious.

It was during one of these elections, or on the day one of them was
held. April i6, i860, that Thomas J. Meek and Jesse M. Davis were killed,
the double tragedy .occuring at my hotel located on the site now occupied liy
the Richardson County Bank. I had built a hotel, where I kept boarders,
and the shooting occurred there. Meek resided here, Davis was from Ruld
and Dunn was from Salem and all were watching the election at this place.
It was held at a little brick house owned by Judge Dundy, on the west side of
Stone street, between what is now Sixteendi and Seventeenth streets in block
Xo. 71. During the afternoon Ab Boyd, who had been drinking heavily,
went up to Da\is, who was a one-armed man, and grabbed his hat and pulled
it down over his e}es. Davis got mad and pulled his gun and tried to shoot
Boyd. Meek grabbed Davis b}- the arm and took the gun away from hitu
and then Mr. Holbrook gave Davis his gun (all the men in town that da\
seemed to have guns), and instead of shooting at Boyd, Davis began to shoot
at Meek with Holbrook's gun and ]\Ieek to shoot at Davis with his own gun.

They emptied their guns at each other and Davis was shot in the hip.
Davis started to run and Meek stooped down and picked up a large-sized
rock and hurled it at him. He dodged and reached down and picked up a
board that had lieen used to play ball with (as a bat), and knocked Meek
down. Davis went from there over tc) my hotel and went up stairs to bed.
Meek went up street and procured two re\dlvers and came over to the hotel
after Da\-is. He walked up stairs, kicked open the door and began to shoot
at Davis who was in bed. I saw Dunn running up the stairs with a gun in
his hand. He .shot Meek once and JXTeek fell to the floor. Dunn stepped over
him and Davis said, "Doctor, if you don't do something for me I am a dead
man." Dunn made no reply, but stooping down, broke the rung from a chair,
and with it in his hand walked down the stairs and started for Salem. He
reached there safel\- and was ne\er ])r()secuted for his ]iart in the tragedw

652 KICHAKDSOX KHXTY. NEBRASK.'

AX HISTORIC HLM TREE.
By F. W. S.ini.Tins.

Aly attention has been called to an elm tree on which it is said the fanitiu-
explorers, Lewis and Clark, might have carved their name- while makini; llic
ascent of the ^Missouri river in 1804.

I wish to state that the existence of this tree in i\k northeast corner of
the count}- is a fact. It stands about three-ciuarters of a mile south of the
"Indian Cave" in Barada township. I know whereof I speak, as the tree stootl
on my father's land and is standing there at this time; however, the land has
changed ownership several times. I was born near this historic tree, within
a stone's throw of the same, nearly forty years ago, and have played under
its cooling shade many a time. ]\Iy father acquired the land on which llu-
tree is located in the year 1877, the year in which I was born.

;\Iy father came to Nel)raska in the fall of 1865 from Louisiana, I'ike
county, Missouri, settling near this tree and the Indian cave and at once ?-ct
to work to build a cabin. He returned to ^lissouri to bring his family, but
on his arri\-al there found my mother too sick to make the journey and the
trip was delayed until the following spring, at which time, after selling their
household effects, they made the trip to St. Joseph by rail and from that point
came the remainder of the way up the river on a steamljoat, landing at the
old historic town of St. Deroin, in the southeast corner of Xemaha county.
They arrived at this latter place on the 8th day oi Ma\. 1866. The land my
father had Iwught was heavily timbered and father was emplo\ed at first in
the w(jrk of clearing and making the land ready tor cultivation. This w;i>
slow and hard work, but father pei'severed and in time wa^ rewarded for liis
many hardships with the o\ynership of more than one thousand acres of
Nebraska land, all located in Richardson county. He retired from the land
in 1893, removing to the village of Barada, where he died in 191J, at the
age of se\enty-ninc years. He was born in Hanover, Germany, in 183^

The elm tree in (|uestion was found growing; in a secluded spot by my
father when he llr-t came to Xel)raska and he found the carxings on the tree
and iron s|)a\\]s and pins and also a bor>eslioe which was nailed on the tree.
irmly imbedded and grown over. l)eing
•aid that the Indians came often to visit
om them that the markings had been made
dways greatly interested in the tree,
diameter across the 'itump. I often
in bis lifetime.

These were nexer reim

ved a

111 are ti

completely out of sight.

father s

this particular tree an<l

le hea

rd from

by Lewis and Clark ai

d the

seeme(

ft is now standing. an(

i- se

en feet

heard my f;itbcr tell tlic

s;,M-v

of ibctr

KICHARDSOX COUNTY. NEP.RASKA. 653

I'lONEEKS CAPTURE MONSTER CATFISH.

The IMornions of Utali erected a monument to the memory of the sea
gulls on the temple grounds at Salt Lake Citj-. So far as is known this is
the only monument in the world which has been, dedicated to such a purpose
and the reasons for Iniilding such a monument takes one back to the pioneer
days of the settlement of the JMormon state. The crops planted by the early
Mormons were threatened with extinction by a pest of insects, grasshoppers
probably, and great flocks of sea gulls attacked them and ate the pests so fast
that enough of the crops were saved and the Utah pioneers were thus enabled
tn sustain themselves while building up their state.

A parallel to tiiis is to be found in tiie earl\- history of Richardson couii-
t\-. whereby the streams furnished sustenance to the early pioneer.s. j\ monu-
ment could be erected to the memory of the vanished game which abounded
in the wooded portions and on the plains of southeastern Nebraska. The succu-
lent catfish should be given the credit for playing a great and important part
in keeping alive the families of the pioneers. The catfish was not only a
staple article of food for the pioneers, but the oil extracted from his tlesli
furnished light for the old-fashioned lamps used in the pioneer homes.

William E. Slagle, a pioneer of Barada, whose father and grandfather
settled in this county as early as 1859, is authority for the statement that die
pioneers used the oil from the catfish caught in the ^lissouri river for illum-
inating purposes. He is also authority for a very interesting fish story, wiiich
is without a parallel, and tells of the great size of the catfish caught in those
earh' days when tiie great river and streams swarmed with fi.'-b and the woods
abounded in game. Mr. Slagle says:

Hirain Slagle, my father, could uot liave lived iu ^:iellal•(l^«)lJ louiit.v .nul siiiiiKirtoil
lii.s family had it uot been for the abundance of wild game and lisli. Kvei'.v few clays he
would go hunting and lay in a supply of venison, wild geese and ducks, which were very
lilentiful. The young iieople living now.-idays cannot imagine how the early pioneers
livwl in this county in the most meager and primitive manner. For three .vears after
settling in the timber we had uo cook stove in our rude ciliiM. Mother cooked .ioliimy-
cike on a sidllet laid on the hot coals of the fireplace.

She also made llap.lacks in a larger .skillet, laid tl.it on tlie hot <(..ils. (lur Iioiled
diiuiers were cooked in a large kettle suspendwl from iron rods directly over .1 ro.-irin:/
fire. Father did not own a cookstove until I was about three .years old. when lie
managed to buy one at a sjile of some settler's household effects.

We used the old-st.vle grease lamps, filled with oil obtained from rendering tlie
fiesh from catfish caught in the Missouri river. >[nny of the fish caught by the earl.\-
settlers were of large size. Father caught a great many on trot lines baited with frogs
and minnows. One Sunday when ,1 cam|i-nieetiiig was in progress uj) the river aways.

654 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

a steamboat Lad passed, 5;i>in^' uii lln' livci-. MUd father riniiliKk'cl. in the afteiiioin].
it was a good time to ttike a look at bis fish lines, it bein^' the <ase that catfish seemed
to "bite" better after a steamer had passed, rather thau at auy other time. Upon
attempting to haul in the line he found it to be more than he could possibly hanillc
alone, and he returned to shore, where he secured the assistance of two other men.
The three men went out to where the lines were stretched and father hauled in an
immense fish while the other two men held dowu the opijosilc side of the boat to lieeii
it from caijsizing, on account of the weight of the monster fish. Large gaff hooks were
necessary to haul the fish into the boat. After some difficulty the liig tish was landed
on the shore; father took a stake from a stake-aud-rider fence, thrust the stake through
the gills of the fish which was theu carried on the shoulders of the two men, the
mobster's tail dragging on the ground. This great fish actually measured nine inches
Ijetween the gills. Father had uo4»scales with which to weigh his catch, but after it
was dressed he managed to weigli the meat with his hand steel-yards and found th.ir
the weight of the meat alouc was :i little ukuv tlian one hnndi-ed iiounds.

TRULY A HUNTKRS PAR.\DISE.

Charles Loree is authority for further information concerning the great
value of the catfish as a means of assisting the early pioneers in maintaining
hody and soul together. The catfish oil was rendered in a typical pioneer
manner. The flesh of the fish was cut up and placed in a large-mouthed glass
jar, or bottle; a cord tied around the neck of the bottle and the bottle, with
its contents, hung up in a tree so that it would be fully exposed to the heat of
the sun. The heat would gradually fry out the oil from the flesh of the fish
and a \ery pure product would be the result. The oil was used for a variety
of purposes such as to grease the lx)ots of the entire fatnily, oiling or greasing
the harness, and to oil the gun locks: the oil also being considered a fine
specific for rheumatism and sore throat.

Southeastern Xebraska of the sixties and early sexctities was truly a
hunter's paradise. Wild geese and ducks abounded in the ponds and lakes of
the Nemaha valley. Mr. Loree states that the valle)- land of tiie Nemaha was
at that time a succession of small lakes and ponds and millic^is of ducks and
geese fre(|uented the waters and it was an easy task to kill any number, run-
ning into the hundreds; the birds were so plentiful and tame that they could
be caught or killed widiout difficulty. Herds of deer and antelope fed on the
higher ground and venison was a staple article of meat in every home. The
number of prairie chickens were countless, as were <|uail. b'verybody wen-
fur cajis and coats made from the skins of wild animals killed on bunting
fotavs. In the early seventies, as the country began to be settled up the

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 655

game also became less plentiful and gradually disappeared before the advanc-
ing hosts of civilization. As grain crops were grown and grain fields became
more extensive the squirrels made their appearance, feeding t)n the grain,
and have ever since remained.

PORK PACKING IN AR.\.GO IN 187O.

I think that the development of the agricultural resources of this count)-
cannot be explained in any shorter or more definite way than by stating the
actual amount of stock raised yearly for market, and as I am desirous that
the people of Richardson county should know the facts by which I judge of
the present development of our county and its future prospects, I give you
the following statistics of my pork-packing business.

Seven years ago [prior to 1870] I connnenced packing pork in Arago.
on a small scale. Hogs were then scarce, and of a very poor breed — hardly
any susceptible improvement took place until about three years ago [prior
to 1870] when I was agreeably surprised at the improvement of die breed, and
consequently the weight, in comparison with former years. This season
[1870] the qualitv and (|uantitv of hogs was a great and surprising improve-
ment on last year and the year before that, and I believe the quality was as
good as can be found in any section of the \\'est, and the (|uantity as large,
in proportion io population, as in any other county west ')f the Mississippi.
During former vears the vield of hogs in this county was from 500 to 1,000
head — this year I salted 2,500 head (independent of the hogs I bought in
Missouri and packed in St. Joseph), which averaged 228 pounds net, which
is a better average than I have seen or heard of from any other source. To
this number may be added 500 hogs sold in Aspinwall ( Nemaha county ) ,
and 500 more, packed bv the farmers themselves, making in the total 3,500
hogs fattened in this count}-. Taking the average weight of the hogs packed
by me, 228 pounds, at 9 cents per pctund. this county has realized from the
hogs prepared for market, $70,875. This is an increase of at least 500 per
cent, in hogs in value. For the encouragement of our fanners to improxc
their stock, last fall I offered and awarded the following premiums : $20.00
to the person having the ten best hogs, $10.00 to the 6 best hogs, and $5.00
to the person having the best hog :

656 KICIIARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Herman Tielien, 10 hogs. 3.306 pounds $20.00

J. R. Wilkes. 6 hogs, 2,433 pounds 10.00

J. R. Wilkes, 1 hog, 540 pounds 5.00

M. Rhine, had 10 hogs weighing 3,264 pounds.
F. Kitsh had 10 hogs, 3,127 pounds.
L. Rihlje. 10 hogs, weighing 3,035 pounds.
I. Kloepfcl. 10 hogs weighing 2,282 pounds. All net weight.

These hogs were principally Chester and Suffolk, mixed with the old
stock. J. R. Wilkes, Esq., desen-es credit for the importation of the pure
Chester White. The old stock is ahout e.xtinct, and next fall, our stock will
undoubtedly 1)\- an improvement upon the last crop. I am of the opinion
that the raising of hogs will pay better than anything else in this country, and
I advise and solicit our farmers to pay particular attention to the improvement
of the stock of hogs, and the raising and fattening of them for market.

We have at this time as good a quality of horses, cattle and hogs, as can
lie found in any section of the country, and we have the grass, hay and grain
to feed them, and feed them well. And the united eft'orts by our farmers to
improve the stock, and to raise enough to consume the grain at home, with
proper attention to shelter and food, will cover every hill with a drove of
good cattle and horses, and the barnyard with plenty of fine fat hogs. Then
welcome prosperity will be visible at every farm and enjoyed by every occu-
pant.

NEBRASKA BOUNOARIES.

Nebraska takes its name from die Nebraska river, generally known a>
the Platte. The word is of Indian origin and signifies "shallow water."'
The earliest recorded exploration of the region now constituting Nebraska
was made in 1739 when Frenchmen followed the Platte to its forks in the
West. In 1804 the United States government expedition under Lewis and
Clark passed up the Missouri river, which forms the eastern and northeastern
boundary of tlie state, returning in 1806. The first settlement was made in
1807, when Emanuel Lista. a French fur trader, built Ft. Lista, near die
])resent site of Ft. Calhoun. Other trading posts, as well as military posts,
were estal)Hshed from time to time, but very few settlers came to this region
until about the middle of the century.

The area now known as Nebraska was originally a part of the \ast

KICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 657;

Louisiana region, whicli was ceded by France to Spain in 179a. receded to
France in 1800. and purchased by the United States in 1803. The area now
forming the state belonged successively to the District of Louisiana ( 1804-
05), the Territory of Louisiana (1805-12), the Territory of Missouri ( 1812-
34), and the "Indian Country" (1834-54).

In 1854 the Territory of Nebraska was organized from the section of
the Indian Country lying between the fortieth and forty-ninth parallels and
extending from the Rocky mountains to the Missouri and White Earth rivers.
It thus included, in addition to the area of the present state, territorj' now
forming portions of North and South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming and Colo-
rado. In 1 861 the area of Nebraska was greatly reduced by the organization
of Dakota Territory, which extended westward to the Rocky mountains,
and of the Colorado Territory, in which was included what had been the
southwestern corner of Nebraska. In the same year, however, territory was
added to Nebraska by the extension of the western boundary to the thirty-
third meridian from Washington (approximately the iioth from Greenwich).
In 1863 Idaho Territory was organized, with boundaries including that part
of Nebraska lying west of the twenty-seventh meridian from Washington
(approximately tlie one hundred and fourth from Greenwich) and the Terri-
tory of Nebraska was left with substantially the same limits as those of the
])resent state.

In March. 1867, Nebraska was admitted into the Union. In 1882 n
small tract of land, formerly a part of Dakota, lying south of the forty-third
parallel and between the Keya Paha and Missouri rivers, was added to
Nebraska, since which time there have heen no changes in the boundaries of
tile state.

The population of the state in 1910 was placed at 1,192,214. Compared
with the population of 1,066,300 in 1900, this represented an increase during
the decade of 125,914, or 11.8 per cent. During the same period the total
population of the continental United States increased twenty-one per cent.
The rate of increase for the population of the state during the preceding
decade, 1890-1900, was only three-tenths of one per cent.

Nebraska was organized in 1854 and was enumerated separatelv for the
first time at the federal census of i860. During the thirty years from i860 to
1890 the growth of Nebraska was very rapid, although some doubt has been
cast on the accuracy of the returns of 1890. The ])opulation of the state

(42)

658 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NKBRASKA.

increased more than four-fold during the decade of 1860-70, about tlircc and
two-third times during the decade 1870-80, and a little more than two and
one-third during the decade 1880-90. 'I"he absolute increase for this tt-.irtx-
year period was 1.033.815. During the twenty years since t8i)o the ])Oim-
lation of the state, according to the census, has increased 129,558, or (inl\
12.2 per cent.

During every decade from i860 to 1890 the rates of increase for the
state were very much higher than the rate of increase for continental United
States, the population of the state being more than thirty-six times greater
in 1890 than it was in i860, while that of continental United States had about
doubled. Since 1890, however, the population of the United States lias
increased much more rapidly than that of Nebraska, the rate of increase for
the country as a whole during this period being 46.1 per cent., as against
12.2 per cent, for the state.

Nebraska has ninety-two counties. The population of these counties
range from 981 in Hooker county, to 168,546 in Douglas c<iunty.

The total land area of the state is 76,808 square miles. The average
number of persons to the square mile in 1910 was 15.5: in 1900 and 1890
it was 13.9 and 13.8, respectively. The average number ])er square mile for
continental United States, as a whole, in 1910 was 30.9. Tlie density of po])-
ulation of Richardson county is 26 jier s(|uare mile.

.\SSE.SSABLli WEALTH OF RRI1ARD.SON COLXTY IX I916.

The aggregate assessable wealth of Richardson county ( 1016) is divided
among the towns and townships of the count}' as follows:

Ton.'nships. Pcrsomd

Speiser $249,570

Humboldt 327.980

Franklin 296.355

.Vemaha 144.095

Grant 436.365

Porter 435,810

Salem 293,600

Liberty 391,920

I'^ast Muddy 238.750

Muddy (West) 186,920

I'^alls City 359.-65

Real Estate

Total

$1,275,150

$1,524,660

1,389,140

1,717. i-'o

I .^9.^.775

1,992.130

1,472.850

1,616.945

1,522.125

1,958,41)0

1,672,580

2,108.390

I. -'54.370

1,547.970

1,684,705

2,076.625

854. T. 50

1.092.900

827,465

1,014.385

1.752.865

2,112.130

KICHAUDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 659

'ro-u-it.\iiips. f'crsoiuil Real /istatr Total

Ohio 503.855 t.624.J95 2.138.130

Barada 619.225 2.129. 190 2,748,415

Jefferson 360,345 i.i 11.785 1,472,130

Rulo 374.555 918.595 1.293.150

-Xragd 151.625 1,510,030 1,661,655

Total $28.075. _'45

Toziiis

Preston $ 24.035 $ ■^9-^^5 $ S3.26o

Barada 53.225 3-'..=;oo 85.755

Falls City 1.3/1.415 -'.554.ii5 3.925.53"

Humboldt 423.070 676.470 1.099.540

Rulo 117.675 169.IJO 286.785

Salem 134.560 113.325 248.885

Stella 269.565 228.085 497.^'5"

Verdon 182.745 171. 210 353.<H3

Dawson 169,180 166,185 335.3'>5

Shuhert 182,170 163.860 346.030

(irand t<jtal $35,308,000

JJz'cstuck Az'crac/c per head

Horses $80.00

Cattle - 49.82

Mules 84.20

Sheep 6.28

Ho-s 15.48

The report of the register of deeds for January i. 1915. showed that
there were filed for record during the year just past 306 farm mortgages {<<
the anioiuit of $1,065,578.81. of which 251. aggregating $832,225.39 had
been satisfied, with Init one proceeding in foreclosure; town and citv mort-
gages hied, 205. to the amount of $199,622.38, of which. 135 had been satis-
fied, aggregating $113,298.05. with eight foreclosures chattel mortgages,
504 t.) the amount of $308,041.74. of which 261 were satisfied, aggregating
$164,922.03.

66o KICIIARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

1916 — Farm mortgages. 299, to the amount of $1,661,740.29, of which
253 had been satisfied, aggregating .$747,329.92; town and city, 169, amount-
ing to $154,984.27, with 167 satisfactions aggregating $148,436.39 — fore-
closures, six: chattel, 574. amounting to $404,569.42, with 341 satisfactions
aggregating $284,020.63.

1917 — Farm mortgages. 281, to the amount of $1,113,775.74, of whicli
278 were satisfied to the aggregate of $905,778.94, with one proceeding in
foreclosure; town and city, 173, to the amount of $191,538.69. of which 143
were satisfied to the aggregate of $121,750.09. with twelve proceedings in
foreclosure; chattel, 645, to the amount of $527,027.35. of which 355 were
satisfied to the aggregate amount of $329,094.84.

GLOWING TKIULTE TO NE1!K.\SK.\.
l-.y ('. V. Reavis.

Perhaps I am biased because 1 was born there, Init to me Nebraska
does not mean just a part of God's footstool that has been bounded and
mapped and given a name. The real Nebraska is not to l)e expressed in fer-
tile fields and wide reaches of land. If all that you know of Nebraska can be
told in bushels of grain and numljers of live stock; if the Nel)raska within
vour heart is a thing exclusively of dollars and cents, then you do mn know
the Nebraska that I know, nor do you love the Nebraska that I love.

The real Nebraska is an environment, an atmosphere, within which are
being reared a manhood and womanhood as fine and sweet and wholesome as
the unpolluted streams of the mountain. True, the fields and the valleys, the
grain and die stock are es.sentiai to the product, but they are the means — not
tlie end.

You ask nie for a tribute to Nebraska. W'iiat greater one can 1 give
than die men and the women of its }esterday who luiilded for today, unless it
be the men and women of today who, with earnest i)urpose and clean hearts,
unsoiled by intimate contact with the idleness and profligacy of our time. l)uil(l
for the security, for the tomorrow of tlie republic and the race.

They are the state.

Congressman C. ¥. Reavis was born in I'^alls City on September 5. 1870,
and at present ( 191 7) is serving his second term as representative in Congress
from the first Nebraska congressional district, which includes Richardson,
f'awnee, Johnson, Xeniaha, Otoe. Cass and Lancaster counties.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 66l

RICHARDSON COUNTY S RART IN IM I'KAC HMENT OF GOVERNOR liUTLER.

Nebraska's first experience with a governor of the people's choice, after
being admitted into the Union as a sovereign state, was one long to be remem-
bered. There were usual opportunities to play to favorites in the location of
the state capitol and the public institutions, in the handling of the school funds
and the leasing of the school lands. The settlers were of pioneer stock, nearly
all were poor but were willing to get ahead in the world and kept an eye-
open for the main chance. The politicians especially never let opportunity
knock at their door, but went out in the road to give her the glad hand and
save her that much trouble, but they were ready to knock on one another, f < ir
there was not room nor places and honors and salaries enough to go round.
Prosperity was not as pronounced then as now and office-seeking filled many
with a consuming desire. Butler's first term had not expired before backbit-
ers, traducers and jealous politicians began to assail his record and question
his integrity. Politically. Richardson county was a strong factor in public
affairs at that time. Her public men were strong characters and have left an
imprint on the history of the state. One of them has told, the story of the
inception of the impeachment proceedings. Cunningham. Dundy and Fulton
are well remembered by all the citizens of this county whose residence ante-
dates 1880. The following story appears in a \-olume of Nebraska histor\-
recently published.

Eljenezer E. Cunningliam in tiie following letter to the editor oi'luills
C'ilV Jminial. dated at San b'rancisco. January 6. i()0^. throws additional
light on this most turbulent period of tlie state's history.

I enclose a .sernij of iiaiier whkli lias ivniaiiu'd iu iii.v ke»'|iiii.i; for tliirt.v-fonr years.
It is in the well-kuown hand-writing of (ho late .Tiidse H. S. Dund.v. and was the first
move made in proceedings which ended in iniiieaclnnent .and reniovjil from office of the
state of Xebi-iislva's first governor. As its liistor.v has never been told .nid nia.v prove
of interest I will relate it.

Thronghont the summer of IsKi. and prioi- t(. ilw iiieciinf: of flic i;e|>alili<an state
convention, charges of fraud and .speculation weic made dally by the Roman Ilcrulil.
and other Democratic papers. a.gainst Gov. David lUitler .-ind his associates in the
hoard of commissioners, iu <'onnection with loanini: school funds and the ssde of Lincoln
lots, and contracts for erecting jiuhlic buildings at the new state c.iiiitiil. 'I'liese charges
were believed by many Democratic cilizens. ;ind by not a few Kepublican.s. and of the
number who feared the ch.-irges might prove true were .Tudge Dundy .Miid the writer.

.Indge I>nndy and myself were chosen as delegates to represent Kichardson county
;it the Keimblicnu state <<mvention of ISTO. whhli met in the new cipital biulding
at lancoln. Covernor Hutler was a candidate before Ihe convention for re-noniination
and his principal competitor was Col. Kobt. W. Kurnas. of Neniidi.-i rouiity. At lli.if
time the people of Itieliaidson and .Vi-niali:i eoimties were s(r.iiiiin:: evi-ry nerve lo

■<t Uk-hiirdsoii's votf foi

I'.utler. noniin:

e Jiulse iiiul I returned t

) tbe Tielienoi- I

belpetl to will.

1 was i-e-elet-ted li. the

tate Seii:ite. aii<

It of the Senate. I'.iitler

of conise. was

0^^2 RICHAKD.SIIN CorXTY, XF,BR.\SK.\.

sec-nre a railroad. 'I'lie l;i<-liai-<lsoii <-oiinl,v peopl*' were iiitterly opijosed to I'lirnas,
lielieviug his sueeess would prove fatal to a railroad tbrougli Jtieliardsou eount.v.

When tbe state eonventiou assembled Dundy and I were tbe only delegates wbo
atlendert. and we beUr tlie proxies of tbe other ilelesates from Kichardson. AVe did
not feel at liberty to support Kurnas, on aeeouiit of local interests and feelinfj. and we
feared to see IJutler renoniinateil. tlierefore we east I be vote of l;i<b,irdson county for
."'auiuel Ma.xwell. of Cass i-ounty. After several ballots witboul a elioiee. Maxwell's

strength began to fall away, siinie votes goinir to Furnas and s e to Bntler. Finally

Dundy and I were rednc-ed to the extremity ot choosing between tbe two leading
candidates, and we east Uiehardson's vote for I'.utler. nominating liini. When tbe
"ouventiou adjournetl tl
over tbe victory we bai

At the fall election 1 was re-elected to the state Seii.itc. anil when Ibe Legisl.iturc
met was ehoseii president of tbe Senate. I'.utler. of course, was re-elected governor.

During tbe winter of l.s7(i-71, I roomed with Judge Dundy, or rather we roomed
together at the old Tiebeuor House. After tbe senatorial election was over tbe war
on Butler and his associates was renewed with ten-fold fury. One evening in our
rooms at tbe TlcheJior. there being present besides Duiwly aiul myself. 'I'om It. Steven.son.
.1 lawyer and former state senator from Nebraska City, and S. A. l'"ulton. a young
lawyer of Falls City, the Kutler charges were discussed at length !ind tbe four Keiaib-
licaiis present were agreed tliiit an investig.-ition of tbe charges was rw|uired, in the
interests of the Itepublican party .'is well :is tbe state. 1 was the only member of tbe
I.egi.sl.iture pre.sent :iiid I requested Dundy to draw a .loint resolution providing for an
iuvestig.itioii. Tbe enclosed jiaper with its enisiires and interlineations was tbe result.
After it bad been com])leted it Wiis cojiitsl (by either Sleveiison or Fulton — my recollei-
tiou is that it was by Ibe latter!— tbe .Judge very natunilly not wishing to be known
ill the matter. A copy was jib-iced in tbe hands of each member of tbe House, introduced
and fllially adopted by both bouses, with amendments. 1 piesuiiie. .-iiid the result of the
investigation was resolutions of imiieachmeiit.

After the first <'opy was made I .asked .Tudge Dundy to .illow nic to lake the oiigin.il
paper, which reiiiiest was granted. :ind it has remained in my pos.<<'ssion since. Now tli,it
Ibe .Tudge is gone I see no li:irm in making the facts known and giving tlie |iaper to
yon, that it may find a place ;inioiig other scraps of e.-irly bistoiy in case you deem
it of sufficient value.

I underst.-md Tom Steven.son is lonu since dead, tli.it Fnllon is i.ut of ibe st.ile :iiiil
maybe under the sod. .iiid 1 am inobahly the only one living of tbe four who were in
the room where this incident bad its birlli. it lias .seenieil to nii> that there was :i

.sort of retributive .histb'e in tbe

fact tli.it tbe two wlio g

ive tile casing votes wliicl

made Rutler tbe nominee of the

Republican i.arty should

have li.-id something to d<

with the a<-tion which in a measn

•e ivi.aired their niist.ik.-

and that of the Kepublicai

part.v.

•'Concurrent resolution provid

lig for the :ippoiiitliienl ot

a coiniiiillcc to iiivestigat.

the official acts and doings of tbe

commission apiM,int.Ml by

he Legislature of this stati

(to kK'ate the seat of government

md provide for the erw-tb

n of i)ublic buildings and t<

.sell the unsold lots and blo<-ks oi

the town site of I.incoli

and to locate and ere<-t :

.state university and .state lun.itic

asylum.)

••Whereas, As it is currentl\

reported tlirongboiil tli.'

state and pilbli<-ly cbargei

in <-ertain prints of this state, tl

.•It tli'e <'ommissioners ;iii|

linle.l ito loc.itc the seat

have violateil the trusts repost><l i

n tlieiii by exceeding the

lUtboiity given tlieiii nude

the laws by wlii.li tbcy were ci

e.iled. .111(1 by engaging

II cei't.'iiii s]>(H'iil:ilioiis am

frattds:

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 663

"And, whereas, We ileem it Imt just tlJiit if tliese i'U;irj;e;s are false tliis (■(Piumissioii
sliduUl have the oiJiwrtuiiit.v of viudieatiuy; themselves before the Legislature auil iieople
of this state, ami therefore be it resolvetl liy the r>egislature of the state of Nebraska,
that a committee of two on the jiart of the Senate to be chosen by the Senate, and three
on the part of the House to be chosen by the House, be and are hereliy aiipointed to
investigate the offlcial acts and doings of the aforesiiiil couniiissioii. .-ind that said t-oui-
niittee have ix)wer to send for persons and jiajiors. and that tliey be directed to uiake
reiwrt of their investipition to the Legislature at its present session."

PIONEER POSTOFFICES AND PO.ST ROADS.

Some of the first mail routes were established through this county in
1856 by act of Congress. An act of Congress passed in June, 1856. estali-
lished one of these routes west from the Missouri river between the Little
and Great Nemaha rivers, by way of Archer and Salem, and westwarfl to
the Big Blue river, in Gage county.

On March 3. 1855, a mail rotite was establislied from Oregon, in Holt
county, Missouri, to New Ft. Kearney, on the Platte river, by way of Steph-
en Story's on the Missouri river at St. Stephens (just north of the later
site of Arago ) ; and another which served the following .early post offices
between the Nemahas, at Mr. Purkett's, on Muddy creek, just north of the
present site of I'alls City, and at John .\. Singletom's, near Rulo, on the
Great Nemaha. .\t the same time a route was established from the Nemalia
Indian Agenc\'. in Kansas Territory, to the moutii of the Niobrara river,
iti the north part of Nebraska Territory.

By an act of Congress passed and approved June 14. 1858. a route was
established starting at Brownville and coming south into this county and
ser\ing Archer, Falls City, Monterey, Salem, Pleasantville and Pawnee
Cit_\-, to Table Rock: Nemaha City z-ia Salem, to points in Kansas: Brown-
x'ille 7'ia Nemaha City, Winnebago. St. Stephens, Yancton and Rulo. to St.
Joseph, Missouri : .\rcher to Geneva and Shasta, and St. Stephens to Archer.

Dudley Van Valkenburg. now a resident of Rulo: William H. Crook,
now a resident of l-'alis City, and William E. Dorrington. now a resident
of b'alls City, were carriers on some of these routes. Jesse Crook, of Falls
City, and O. J. Tinker, of Humboldt, "were also carriers on the early routes.
David Dorrington and Stephen B. Miles were well-known mail contractors
in the earlv days and many of the early routes were served under their direc-
tion. Mr. Miles was perhaps the best known of any. as his contracts not
onlv covered routes in this county, but for man\- years he operatetl one of

664 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

the longest routes in the coimtn-, extending from Independence, ;Missuuri,
to Salt Lake City, Utah. Joel T. Jones, for inany years a resident of Hum-
boldt, M'as employed by Mr. Miles and for man}' years \\as engaged in the
work of transporting mails from Missouri points across the plains to Salt
Lake City, Utah. Mr. Dorrington's service in this connection was of lesser
extent, covering, as it did, routes northward on the river from Kansas to
Richardson county and extending over some of the routes in this county.

William H. Crook relates, in telling of his experience, that he com-
menced the work when a lad not more than twelve or fourteen years of age,
although the requirements listed sixteen years as the minimum. He carried
mail from Falls City to Arago and St. Stephens and says that one day after
arri\ing at St. Stephens he had the pleasure of seeing a herd of many thou-
sands of cattle cross the Missouri river at that place. The cattle had been
lirought up from Texas, being driven tiie entire distance and were being-
taken to points in Iowa. The drivers had desired to have them ferried over
the river, but were unable to agree with the ferrymen on the price and had
ordered the herders to remove their saddles and prepare to swim the vast
herd. This was done and some of the herders took the lead with their
horses while others urged the cattle into the water. The current was swift
and in mid-stream carried the cattle down stream and caused the body of
swimming cattle to sjjread out in crescent .shape. The herd probably nmn-
bered ten thousand and the sight of so great a number crossing at one time
made an impression (in the yeuthful mail carrier he has never forgotten.

A NEW STAGE LINE IN 187O.

The postotifice department has established a daily mail service between
ihis ])lace and Craig Station. j\Iissouri, z'ia Arago, and awarded the contract
to Dudly Van \'alkenburg, of Arago. and D. W Stephenson of this place.
This puts Falls City and the enterprising town of Arago in daily communi-
cation, besides furni.shing shorter, better and more reliable connection with
trains on the Kan.sas City, St. Jo.seph & Council Bluflfs railroad than here-
tofore established. IMessrs. Van \'alkenburg and Stephenson, the gentle-
manly ])roprietors of this line, will run a daily coach in connection with both
the up and down trains and at I'alls City with the tlaily stages for Rulo,
.Salem, I'awnee City, Hiawatha and Hamlin. — Vvnm the Xciiiaha I'dllcy
Journal. Falls City, October 6, 1870.

CHAPTER XXV.
Some Prominent Pioneers.

JOHN B. DIDIER, PIONEER.

The distinction of being the oldest living pioneer of Richardson connt\ ,
without question, belongs to John B. Didier, of Barada precinct, who ma\
also have a claim as just, covering southeastern Nebraska. He came to this
locality, settling on his farm in section 3, in township 3, north of range 16,
sixty-three years ago, or in 1854, when it was only a vast stretch of wild plains,
inhabited only by Indians and wild animals. There were a few others who
came to this county as early, but they have long since died. He has lived to
take part in the many wonderful changes here and talks interestingly of the
early days and hardships incident thereto. Mr. Didier is a native of France,
where he was born on December 25th, 1827. He was a son of Prof. John
B. Didier. a man of learning and for many years a professor in the schools
of France.

The younger John B. Didier grew to manhood in his nati\e land and
there received a good education. He crossed the Atlantic in a sailing ^■essel
in 1847 '^''"1 located in the city of Cincinnati, where he was emplojed as a
clerk in a large store for a time. In 1849 he came to St. Louis. Missouri,
carrying with him a letter of introduction to one of the leading merchants
there at that time. He was given a position by this firm for whom he worked
for a year, when he was sent among the Indians of Missouri, with whom he
traded for a year. In 1852 he was sent to take charge of a store owned b\
the firm on the Xorth Platte, tliree miles south of Ft. Laramie, Wyoming,
which store was established l)v P. Chouteaux, one of the most prominent mer-
chants in St. Louis in the early days.

Later, on account of trouble with the Indians, the post was discontinued,
but not until a battle took i)lace between the LTnited States soldiers and an
immense band of Indians. The soldiers were nearly all exterminated as the
odds were greatly against them, there being only fortv-seven of the soldiers
against some three hundred of the redskins. All of Mr. Didier's assistants

dot) RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

fled from the post at the first sign of trouble, he alone remaining, notwith-
standing the danger. He considered his first duty was to guard the prt)pert\
of his employers and, returning, reported the loss of the store, for which
the company was later reimbursed by the government in the sum of thirt\-
se\en thousand dollars. After settling up with the company he left St. L(;uis
some two months later, coming to St. Joseph, Missouri, on a steamboat, and
from there made his way overland to Richardson county, where he took one
hundred and twenty acres of land, which place still constitutes his home. It
was wild land, upon which no white man had ever trod and to be of service
had to be cleared and broken up and in due time made into the well-
improved, comfortable and productive home he now enjoys in his declining
years. He had no neighbors and endured all the privations incident to life
on the then frontier, when neighbors were few and trading centers remote.
His closest trading point was St. Joseph, Missouri, which he must reach l)y
an overland journey and as he says, when he came to it there was but one place
nn the townsite and that owned by a fellow Frenchman, Joseph Kobidiiiu.x.
where he could obtain supplies, the latter being the founder of what is now a
metropolis. Mr. Didier was six years in the county before he saw a steam-
boat on the Missouri and seventeen years before the railroad made its appear-
ance in the south part of the county. He has remained on his place continu-
(lusly until the present time, w-itnessing all the changes, the erection of
Xebraska as a territory, the first attempt at a county go\ernment. the
scramble and Ijitter fight of fifteen years' duration over the location of the
county seat, which embittered many of the early settlers for years afterward,
the use of oxen in the fields in this county, the cradle for harvesting the
grain, the coming of the steamboat, the i)rairie schooner, the railroad, the
building up of towns and now the automobile and aeroplane. He left his
native home twenty-three years before the war of 1870 and has lived to sec
it again engaged in a death grapple with its ancient enemy, Germany. He
has resided as long continuoush- on one farm as any man in the state and.
in fact, was one of the first white settlers in Richardson county.

Mr. Didier was married in Brownville. Nebraska, in 1855 l)y Judge
Whitney, to Marie Pineau. a half-breed Indian maiden, the daughter of Louis
Pineau. a French-Canadian, who was a post trader at Ft. Laramie, where his
death occurred. The death of Mrs. Marie Didier occurred in 1908. She was
the mother of eight children. Mr. Didier is now in his ninetieth vear, and
is still hale and hearty, having lived an abstemious and ui)right life — one
calculated to lead to longevit\-. He is widely known throughout the countv

UICHARDSnX COrNTY, NEBRASKA. 66/

and his record is that of a pubHc-spirited, industrious and honorable citizen.
Politically, he is a Democrat, but he had never sought puiilic office or leader-
ship, being content to live quietly in the Barada hills he loved so well.

mOIER WITNESSED INDIAN BATTLE.

Besides being the oldest living pioneer of this county, John B. Didier
can lay claim to being the last of those still among the living who witnessed
the Indian fight at Ft. Laramie in territorial days.

The clash between the soldiers and the Indians occurred on August lyth.
1854, and was the result of a dispute which arose over a lame cow, whicli
was the property of some Mormon immigrants, a large numl)er of whom
thronged the Oregon trail en route to Utaii at that time.

The Indians, who were a jiart of the Brule, Ogallala and Miniconjon
Sioux, numbering between a thousand and fifteen hundred, were encami)cd
.south of Ft. Laramie, between the trading posts of the American l<"ur Com-
pany which at tliat time was in charge of James Bordeaux and that of 1'.
Chouteaux, Jr., & Company, which was in charge of John B. Didier.

In relating the storw Mr. Didier says the Indians, with whom he was on
the best ofterms. claimed that the animal in question had strayed from the
immigrant train and hatl wandered into their camp, where it was killed b\
one of tlie young members of the tribe. The owner of the cow, a ^lormon,
upon learning what had liappened, at once appeared at the post at I'l. Laramii.-
and calling upon the commandant in charge, made claims for tlie loss of
the cow.

On the following day. lirevet Second Lieutenant J<jiin Crattan appeared
at the Chouteaux trading post wuth, as Mr. Didier says, a company of forty-
two soldiers belonging to Comixmy G of the Sixth Regiment of Infantry,
having with them twn liowitzers and small arms, and were on their way to
demand satisfaction from the Indians. Mr. Didier. well knowing the dis])o-
sition of the Indians, pleaded with the officer to desist from attack, pointing.;
out how greatlv the Indians outnumbered his little band. The undertaking
seemed foolhardy to Mr. Didier. and he says he can explain it in no other
way than that the officer and his men were drinking, or might have been
under the influence of liquor. He incpn'red, a.sking Grattan, what he intended
to do, and the latter re])lied that he "was going to give the Indians h — 11."
Mr. Didier says he knew it would be suicide for the soldiers and adxised as
nuich. but was powerless to interfere.

A demand was made upon the Indians to surrender ui> the members of

t)68 RICUARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

the tribe responsible for_ the kilHng of the cow, which they as promptly
refused to do. Receiving this reply, the howitzers were brought into pla\
as well as the small arms, resulting in the killing of one of the Indians. If
the demonstration had been planned to cower the Indians, it failed most
signally of that purpose, for they at once fell upon the small detachment in
force and in a few moments the entire band was wiped out with one excc])-
tion, and this one shortly after succumlied to his injuries.

Word of the extermination of the soldiers was quickly carried to the
fort, and a lone messenger was at once dispatched to the trading posts, advis-
ing those in charge to repair to the fort for protection, as it was thought the
Indians would kill and pillage the French traders. Mr. Didier received the
message, but like the other French traders, from long association, had no fear
of violence from the Indians. He says they did appear at his post witliin
a short time and helped themselves to whatever they cared to remove, but in
no way molested his person.

'Sir. Didier was an eye-witness to the tight from first to last and says it
was most unnecessary and should never have happened ; that the soldiers
bungled the affair badly, and that from his conversation with the Indian
chiefs the affair could have easily Ijeen settled without resort to arms, if the
soldiers \M)ukl have accepted remuneration for the dead animal and not have
tlemanded that the Indians guilty of the slaughter and theft be turned over
to them. In tliis jiosition he is borne out in a similar report made by the other
French trader-;. It is not recorded that the Mormon ever got any return for
the c<>w, whicii had been tiie cause of so nuich trouble and the loss of so many
lives.

n.WID THOMAS BRIXEGAR, PIONEER.

David Thomas Brinegar came to Richardson county in May, 1855, from
Holt count}-, ^Missouri, which is just east and across the ^Missouri river, anil
pre-empted a fractional one hundred and sixty acre tract one and one-halt'
miles southwest of where the village of Salem was later built. He paid the
United States land office, in due time, one dollar and twenty-five cents per
acre for the farm, on which he has made his home for the past sixty-two
vears. There were very few settlers in Richardson county when Mr. Brine-
gar crossed on the ferr\- at St. Stephens in the northeast part of the count} .
How few there were was established by the vote for members of the Terri-
torial Legislature in the fall of 1834, when John A. Singleton was elected.

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 669

receiving five votes to four cast for Mr. Piirkett. Quite a number of settlers
came during that summer and each succeeding year, until the war broke out,
which shut off all immigration from the east. However, there were a num-
l)er of Missourians who came across the river to get away from the bush-
whackers and war troubles on the east side of the river, and many of these
remained as settlers.

The first settlers came scantily supplied with farming tools, having usu-
ally a breaking plow and a single shovel corn plow. Mr. Brinegar was no
e.xception to this rule. He broke his land with an ox team, which was the
motor power used almost universally. His house was built of logs, cut from
timber along the Great Nemaha river, which bordered his farm. Shortly.
Thomas Hare located a saw-mill on the North Fork of the Nemaha river
at Salem and sawed clap-boards from walnut and oak logs which were used
to build houses and especially for roofing, instead of shingles, of which there
were none. The first crop attempted was corn ; the second year some spring
wheat was sown, but there was no inducements to go extensively into wheat,
as there were no threshing machines in the county and the grain had to be
threshed by flails. There were no railroads and no markets and the settlers
had to make a journey of about forty miles to Missouri to get their wheat
ground into flour. The good water po\ver at Salem was soon utilized to crack
corn and make a rough meal in a primitive sort of mill. This saved the set-
tlers many weary trips to Missouri. The early-day farmer had his troubles
with dry weather and chintz bugs, both of which appeared to be indigenous.
The chintz bugs were more discouraging than the drought. They ate up the
wheat and then moved into the corn field. Mr. Brinegar, like all the first
settlers, took bv preference a liberal slice of river-bottom land, which yielded
better crops at that time than upland.

In August, 1867," about the highest flood that came down the Xemaha
since the settlement notified the farmers of the danger of the river bottom
farming. This flood was brief in its stay and did almost no damage to the
growing corn, which was far advanced in its development. There was very
little monev in circulation and especially during the war period, from ^H6\
to 1865, and the farmers swapped, traded and bartered and managed to
get along, as their wants were restricted to absolute necessities. During the
war coffee was not obtainable, and parched rye was used as a sulistitute, l)ut
there w-as very little hiuiger or suffering among the settlers, as, notwithstand-
ing the drought and bugs, plenty was raised to supply the needs and there
were thousands of prairie chickens and other small game and a few deer, hut

670 KICIIAIillSOX l(ll\T\'. XKIiUASKA.

no buffaloes or jack-rabbits. The liist jaek-rabln'ts came to tlie country after
farmers started to raise red clover and tiuKjthy and blue .t^rass. perhaps fif-
teen years after the settlement. Coyotes ran in dnnes and were a great
annoyance to stock raisers: wild turkeys were along the Missouri river and in
the timlier, and a few were along some of the other streams, w here there was
brusli. After i860 the acreage of wheat increased and William Rieschick, a
(jierman farmer, of Arago township, brought in a threshing machine in iNf)^.
This enctntraged the growing of more wheat. The crop that year was poor,
making only three to five bushels per acre. This was on account of dr\
weather and chintz bugs. Mr. Brinegar sold his first wheat that year at one
dollar and ten cents ])er bushel at Sabetha, Kansas, to which point a rail-
road had been built.

There was no railroad built into the county until iSjr. hence the farm-
ers had to drive their stock to the Missouri river and ferry across to the .Mis-
souri side, where there were older settlements and luore established busine^;-.
Mr, Brinegar and a brother sold aljout sixty head of three-and- four-year-old
steers at two and one-half cents per pound, and drove them about sixty nu'les
to a Missouri buyer. He drove the hogs on foot to .\rago. where he sold
tliem to Peter Frederick. ,Sr., who ran a ])ackiug house. He recei\ed
one dollar and ninety cents ])er hundred on foot in 1872. .\nother \ear.
before that, he drove his hogs to White Cloud, Kan.sas, and crossed on the
ferry there and sold to a Missourian. who was engaged in meat packing,
receiving twcj dollars and fifty cents per hundred, after they were dressed.
Schools were started in the town of Salem about 1857.

Mr. Brinegar was born in Boone county, Missouri, September 25, 1835.
.md is now approaching his eighty-.second birthday and is (|uite strong and
vigorous. He has resided in this county continuously since his first arrival
in May, 1855, except for one trip he made across the plains to hunt for gold
in the Pike's Peak region in i860, remaining only part of a year. He was
married three times and is the father of five children, two sons and three
daughters, who are li\'ing. He was a justice of tiie peace in Salem tov.n.ship
for about forty \ears and also served as constable. He ser\ed as member
of the county Imard of supervisors from Salem townshi]).

JON.\THAX J. .\rAR\IN. TIONKER.

Jonathan J. Marvin was born near tlie ])anks of tlie St. Lawrence river,
in St. Lawrence county. .\ew ^'ork. on the _'3rd day of September. iHjj.
When he was about four years of age his father died, at Hammond. St.

lUCHAlUJSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 67I

Lawrence county, New York, of Ijlack fever, and his nintlicr returned with
lier son to her former home at St. Alhans, Vermont. In tlie fall of 1S37
young Marvin was sent to a French college at St. Hyacinthe, in what \\a>
called Lower Canada. While there the insurrection commonly known as the
Patriot or Papineau war ensued, and battles of St. Charles and St. Dennis
were fought and he saw from the college groinids at St. Hyacinthe the flames
of the burning town of St. Dennis twelve miles distant. In 1844 he gradu-
ated from the University of Vermont at Burlington. In 1846 he received
a diploma as a lawyer, signed by Chief Justice Royce, and came West to the
lead mines of Wisconsin, where he was elected county clerk and district
attorney and county judge of Lafayette county for several terms. In 1859
he remo\ed to Richardson county, Nebraska, and in i860 was elected mayor'
of Salem. He volunteered in the Twenty-fifth Missouri Volunteers to serve
in the L'nion army and served three years at the front. In May, 1865. he
returned to Richardson county and in the fall resuscitated the old Bnnul
.Axe. which he published under the name of the Soiifhcni Xcbrasl,\7ii. at
I'^alls City. In the fall of 1865 he was unanimously chosen as county attor-
ney of Richardson county and soon thereafter was appointed postmaster of
Falls City, which position he held for three years and resigned. He was
mayor of Falls City for two years and held tlie pftsition of justice of the
peace at I''alls Cit}- for over ten Acars.

JESSE CROOK.

Jesse Crook, whose name more than any other is associated with the
first settlement of Richardson county and who opened the first farm anil
raised the first crop of corn grown on tlie banks of the Muddy, in this countv,
by a white man, was born in W'hite county. Tennessee, Se|)teml)er 12, 1820.
At the age of twenty, in 1846. he was united in marriage to Eliza Whitakcr
dnd in a few \ears ti:e\- began their pilgrimage to the far West in a wagon
drawn by three yoke of oxen. To them, in the first years of their married
life, were born three children: John, the eldest, n<iw dead: Mrs. J. R. \\ jl-
hite and W. R. Crook, both residents of this city.

IMiey arrived at Newark, in .\ndrew county, Missouri, in 1852, where
be left his family and the following summer ( 1853) in company with several
friends, made a crossing of the ^lissouri near the present site of White Ckiud,
Kansas, and struck boldly out on a trip to visit this then unexplored region.
They followed the Nemaha as far west as Salem and while on this visit liv
took a claim near the later site of .\rcher on land now owned 1)\' William

(i-JZ KICHARDSON fOUNTY. NEBRASKA.

Nutter. The following year, together with a few other families, he crossed
into Nebraska to make his permanent home. He resided on this farm six
years, during which time Falls City came into being and he then rented his
land and came to town, where he erected the first hotel in 1858 which was
known as the Crook or City Hotel. This hotel stood for years on the present
site of the Richardson County Bank, just south of the court house and faced
Stone street as does the bank. He successfulh' conducted the hotel for about
three years, when he again returned to his lands and spent several years
improving the same. He returned to the city in 1864, where he spent the
remainder of his days. During his life he had been the owner of some t\vent\-
thousand acres of Nebraska soil, taken altogether. He purchased ten thou-
sand acres of the Sauk resen-ation, having bought it from the government
under sealed bids of from one dollar and a quarter to one dollar and forty
cents per acre.

DAVID KINNEY.

David Kinney, whose death occurred at his home near X'erdon in i8yi,
was one of the interesting pioneers of the county. He arrived at Salem in

1857 and began working at his trade as a carpenter. Among his first jobs
was that of making a colifin for Mrs. Betsey Borden, and building the Salem
l)ridge across the Nemaha, under Thomas Hare, contractor. Avho at that time
lived in a cabin in the bend of the Muddy, due west of the postoffice at \'ei-
don. The next year, in 1858, he built the Stumbo mills and dwelling house,
southwest of Falls City, near the falls of the Nemaha river. The mills were
owned and operated for many years by the Stumbo boys. In the spring of

1858 he staked out his home before the government surveyors had surveyed
the land. In 1869, when Liberty precinct was formed. Mr. Kinney's house
was the voting place and the first election held there was for the purpose of
voting bonds for the Atchison & Nebraska railroad. There were but about
eighteen or twenty voters in the precinct at that time. Afterward, the Wick-
ham and Fairvievv school house was made the voting place and when \'erdon
was started, it was moved there. For a sliort time during 1862 his house
was made the postofiice ami llie mail carriers left the pouches there, Init the
kevs to open them were never sent on and so the postoffice had to l)e dis-
continued.

FRANCIS I.. COLnSBERRV.

Francis L. Goldslierry was born in Mason count\-. Kentuck}-. in 18,^3.
and came to Nebraska in 18^5. In the month of July. 1856, at the general

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 673

election he was chosen for county clerk of Richardson county. William 11.
Mann being at that time first elected as register of deeds; the one previous in
this office was Neil J. Sharp, who had been appointed by the governor when
the county was first designated and boundaries formed. In 1858. Mr. Golds-
berry was elected county commissioner of Richardson countv.

In 1856 Archer was not only the county seat but the most important
business point in the county, boasting two or three stores, a hotel or two,
and several mechanics' shops. Here Mr. Goldsberry entered the mercantile
business with Abel Downing Kirk, but soon afterward formed a partnershiji
with Charles Martin, at Rulo, in a general assortment store under the firm
name of Martin & Goldsberry. He was a large shareholder in the townsitc
of Rulo, and the proprietor of several hundred acres of land, now very valu-
able. He removed from Rulo to Salem, and thence went South, and was for
several years engaged in the mercantile business in Cincinnati, Ohio, and
Covington, Kentucky. He returned to Richardson county from Kentuckv,
and established a meat market which he operated for a number of vears.

D.WID DORRINGTON.

David Dorrington, during his lifetime, was the oldest resident pioneer
of Falls City, one of the first to take up an abode on the townsite, was born
in England, January nth. 1812. In 1842 he moved to the state of New
York, where he resided until 1857, when he removed with his family to
Falls City, Nebraska, where he spent the remainder of his life. Esquire Dor-
rington was one of the first justices of the peace elected in Falls City precinct.
At that time the Sac and Fox Indian Reservation on the hills directl}- south
of the Falls City townsite, on the south side of the Nemaha and Sauk town,
their principal village, where their grand sachem, Massauquit, presided, was
in plain sight of the village of Falls City. White maidens frequently became
enamored of the dusky chieftains, and white men were very frequently capi-
vated by the charm.> of the maidens of the forest, and it became the duty of
the Squire to tie the golden knot, and ease the heartaches, which he did in his
usual brief manner, satisfactory to all the parties concerned.

The Squire was for a number of years mayor of halls Cit\-, and nobly
performed his part toward making tlie scattered hamlet of i860, the thrifty
and promising city of later years. The surveyors had no more than set the
stakes marking the townsite, when he arrived and in the histtiry of the city
until the day of his death both he and his estimable wife i)]ayed major parts.

(43)

6/4 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

In all the days of the county-seat struggle, covering a period of more than
lifteen years, while the people of the county were harrassed by the strife
which tore asunder early friendships and embittered the i>eople, he stood firm
for his city and was tireless in its behalf. In the days of the Civil War, when
sectional strife was apparent on all sides, he remained and was ever loyal to
the government. His wife, a heroine of those dark days, was a diligent
worker and is said to have given aid to many of the slaves who were being
rushed through this section on the way to freedom in the North. They resided
at the corner of Sixteenth and Stone streets on lots 9, 10, 11 and 12 of block
71, and to the west of their home were located the barns used to house the
horses and coaches engaged in carrying the mail. This place was, it is said,
often used as one of the stations of the underground railroad and between the
evening and morning, slaves were brought and secreted for a time and then
hurried on North to freedom. Mr. and Airs. Dorrington were of the strong
characters of the early days in Falls City and their good work will alwajs be
remembered 1iy the people of this city.

DAVID K. HOLT.

David R. Holt was born in Platte county, ]\Iissouri, March 22, 1842,
and later moved to Andrew county, Missouri, where he lived imtil April 7,
1850, when he came to Salem, Richardson county, Nebraska. In January,
1863. he engaged in the mercantile business in Falls City in partnership witii
C. B. Scott. In 1864, Scott sold out his interest to C. H. Xorris and the firm
continued in business until 1866. when their store and goods were destroyed
by fire.

In No\ ember. 1865, Mr. Holt was elected county treasurer of Ricliard-
son county and ser\ed si.K }ears. In the spring of 1866 he was appointed
Indian trader (jn the Iowa and Sac Reservation, which position he continued
to hold for six years. In 1867 he resumed the mercantile business in Falls
Citv, in partnership with C. B. Scott; he bought Scott out in 1870 and con-
tiiuied the business until the great mercantile panic in 1873. Mr. Holt's
trade was very extensive and he sold more goods than all the otlier stores in
the count}-. He built the first brick block and opened the first opera house
in Falls Citw Mr. Holt later served terms as deputy comity treasurer under
lolm W. Holt and I. R. Cain.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 675

TIlll.MAS C. CUNXIXGIIAM.

Thomas C. Cunningham was born in Marion county, Missouri, in 1843.
And when about four years old moved to Lee county, Iowa. In 1857 he left
Iowa and came to Richardson county, Nebraska. In i860 Mr. Cunningham
made a trip across the plains to California, during the Pike's Peak gold excite-
ment, and remained there engaged in mining until 1862, when lie returned
and enlisted in the Fifth Missouri State Alilitia and served in that regiment
until he was mustered out in 1863. Soon thereafter he re-enlisted in the
Twelfth Regiment, Missouri Cavalry, United States \'olunteers, and served
imtil the close of the war, when he returned to Richardson county, and settled
upon the old homestead eight miles north of Falls. City. In the spring of
1870, Mr. Cunningham located in Falls City and engaged in the livery, busi-
ness. In 1873 '""^ ^^'^s elected sheriff of Richardson county and re-elected in
1875. In 1878 he was appointed clerk of the district cnurt for this countx
and in 1879 was elected to the same ofifice for a term of fmu- years.

JAMES HENRY LANE.

One of the most interesting and picturesque characters connected with the
history of Falls City, in the days of its infancy and who later became a na- ,
tional figure in the dark days preceding and during the Civil \\'ar, was James
Henry Lane, familiarly known as "Jim" Lane, the noted Kansas Abolitionist.
He was born at Lawrenceburg, Indiana, on June 2. 1814. He attended the
schools of his native state and at an early age was admitted U> the bar. Anions;
the many honors coming to him were, the command of a brigade at the battle
of Buena Vista in the Mexican War, colonel of the Fifth Indiana Infantry-
Regiment; lieutenant-governor of his home state (Indiana) in 1848; member
of Congress in 1853. At the erection of Nebraska and Kansas as territ(iries
he came West to Kansas in 1853 and immediately Ijecame prominent and \\as
a member of the executive committee of the constitutional convention.

Lane was active with John Brown in the business of running fugitixe
slaxes North on the famous underground railroad and, one of the stations
lieing in the heart of tlie hamlet of I''alls C^ity, was a fre(|uent \-i>iitor there.
He was officiallv connected with David D. Dorrington and others as the
townsite company which laid out b'alls City and is named as mw of tiic
founders, but his activities among the .slaves kept him in Kansas most of the
time, where he was elected to the United States Senate in iStC'i. Owing to his

6yh KICIIARDSOX CorXTV. Xi:i!R.\SKA.

activities as above indicated he was iiidicteil tor liigii treason and never took
his seat, but became a fugitive from justice. He was elected a second time
as senator, but joined the army instead. .\t the time of the famous Ouantrill
raid and the Inirning of I^wrence, Kansas, he was there and barely escaped
with his life. His stormy career ended at Leavenworth, Kan.sas. where he
committed suicide in 1866.

GeneralLane was the orator of tiie day at a celei)ration liel<l at Salem in
1856 and performed the same service to the people who celebrated that day in
I'alls City in 1857 and on the same dav at Xemalia l-'alls. near I'alls City.

FLI.TOX PETERS.

One of the most interesting characters in Richardson county and one
who has real claims to being classed as a pioneer of Richardson county and
the state of Nebraska, is Fulton Peters, who is a veteran plainsman and a
present resident of Barada precinct in this county. He was born in Bavaria,
Germany, April 27, 1835, and was a son of Francis and Mary Peters, natives
also of Germany, where they grew up, married and made tiieir home until
1838, when they brought their family to America, locating at St. Louis. Mis-
souri, where their son, Fulton, was reared, attended school and learned hi^
tratle of ship carpenter. He helped build the ferry. "Carondelet."' which was
"subsequently transformed into a gun-jjoat for use in the Union navy during the
Ci\il War, being the first unit that formed the famous •'.Mosquito I'leet."
Inilton Peters continued to follow his trade in St. Louis until 1807. but he
came to Richardson county. Nebraska, in 1856. to locate land, moving in
1858 on the place he had entered, but after a year's hard work improving the
land he went back to St. Louis and did not return to his land, here to make a
permanent home until 1870. During the Civil War he worked in the govern-
ment navy yards, under an oath of allegiance, and received five dollars per
day for his work. He has lived on hi.> farm of one hundred and tweiUy acres
in Barada precinct for a period of forty-.seven years and lias carried on a
general farming and stock raising business.

Mr. Peters was married in 1856 to Fuphrasia liarada. a sister of
Antoine Barada, a half-breed Indian, after whom Barada precinct was named.
Mrs. Peters was born in 1837 in St. Louis, and her death occurred in 1888.
Her brother, .\ntoine Barada. was taken from the Omaha Indians when a boy
and brought to St. Louis, where he was reared, and where he married a
l-'rench woman. In 18;:; lie \\;is notitied tliat he was entitled to a tract <if

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 677

land in the half-l)reed tract or reservation in this county and he came u>
Barada precinct, Richardson county, deveh^ped his land and si)ent the rest of
his life, dying in 1887. He was one of the hest known of the early pioneers
and when a boy visited this county with a party of Indians in 18 16.

Politically, Mr. Peters is a Democrat. He has filled minor township
offices and is a Catholic. Mr. Peters crossed the plains in 1853, from Kansas
City to Ft. I.aramie. Wyoming, in fact he made three trips in all across the
great \\^estern plains — one to Salt Lake City, Utah, and one to the Salmon
river district in Idaho in 1854, with a train of one hundred and five wagons,
taking the short cut-ofif by way of I'acific Springs on tlie Platte river and
Green river in the mountains. He built a boat which he used in crossing that
stream. Some members of the party became dissatisfied and started to
Oregon, but when only ten miles away the deserters were attacked by the
Indians or Mormons and many of the party were killed, the survivors return-
ing to the original wagon train. A new party was sent out, which chased the
maurauders, but the camp was attacked the second night following and the
cattle was stampeded. Mr. Peters, with twenty-five men followed the stock,
overtook them and turned them back. The train was again attacked on Green
creek mountain on Snake river, at a time when the party was divided, part of
them having been sent to rescue another party of whites that had previously
been attacked by the Indians. Mr. Peters and his band drove off the Indians
and then took charge of the immigrants and their supplies, helping them to
get to the settlement, the train finally reaching Walla Walla, Washington.
At Baker City, Oregon. Mr. Peters engaged in mining for some time, finally
returning to Nebraska. In 1873 he made a trip to the Black Hills, in com-
pany with Antoine Barada, Frank Goolsby and William Ankrom, of this
county. They made the trip overland to the Black Hills and started mining
there, but on account of the hostile Indians of that country they were com-
l)elled to give up their prospects and return home, escaping the savages bv
strategy. The\- Inn'lt a big fire at the camj) to deceive the iuilian.^ and stole
quietly away during the night, arriving at Buft'alo Gap tiie following morn-
ing, their return trip homeward from this point being uneventful.

In 1883 Mr. Peters went to Blackbird, Nebraska, to locate on land which
the Barada family was entitled to, but failed to get possession, after one
year's effort, even carrying the case to Congress. Some members of tlie
family proved up on their rights U) portions of the land, but others, perhajjs
equally as well entitled to it. have failed. Mr. Peters worked on the Ohio
and Missouri & Pacific r.-iilroad. when it was being built, contracting for a

678 RICHARDSON- COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

portion of the work. He was nearliy when the memorable Gasconade disaster
occurred. He also worked on the construction of the Gascf«nade bridge of
the Missouri Pacific railroad.

Mr. Peters is well preserved for a man of his age and is une of the well-
known and honored citizens of Richardson county, in which he has lived to
see many of the great changes since he first traversed its wild prairie more
than sixty years ago.

JAMKS ROIJKKT CAIN, SK.

ft is safe to sa) that James Iv. Cain, Sr., enjoys as large an acijuaintance
as any man in Richardson county today. He was born on December 29.
1843, 'i^ Platte county, Missouri, and came with his parents, William R. Cain
and wife, to this county in 1856, when a lad of thirteen years, landing at
St. Stephens. The family settled at St. Stephens, where Mr. Cain attended
school, and later spent five months at the Camden Point Academy in Mis-
souri. After completing his education he started out in the world to make
his own way. He was employed on the farm in Arago township until 1865,
when he made a freighting trip across the plains to Denver with oxen. After
his return he was employed in the county clerk's ofifice at Falls City for six
months and later was employed in a store at Rulo as a clerk. For a year
afterward Mr. Cain followed the furrow on the farm, finallv returning to the
counter for a few months at Arago.

David R. Holt was elected county treasurer at this time and Mr. Cain
was employed by him for six years. Wliile thus employed he made a com-
plete set of abstract books (complete up to that time), of the lands of the
county. Tn 1873 he clerked for a clothing firm in balls Cit\- for a few
months and then went into a general merchandising business in partnersiiip
with George \A'. Powell at b'alls City. In a short time Mr. Cain bought out
the interest of his partner and continued the business alone for about a year.
Tn 1880 he sold a half interest in his business to D. R. House and after an-
other year Mr. House bought his interest. Mr. Cain was elected county
treasurer in 1881, and was re-elected in 1883. Three years later be went to
Stella and bought the Bank of Stella, owned I>y Hull & Ferguson, and the
State Bank of Stella, owned at that time by Sweet Brothers, the purchase
being made for a corporation, and for the past thirty-one years Mr. Cain
has been actively connected \vit1i the management (^f the bank and to his
untiring energy and good judgment it has easily become (MIc of the foremost
institutions of its kind in the c<>unt\. He was married to Miss Martha K.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 679

Kirk, on March i8, 1867, at Covington, Kentucky. On January 9, 1882, his
wife died, leaving three children, Mrs. Robert McCoy, now of Sioux City,
Iowa; J. Robert Cain, Jr., of Omaha, and Mrs. William Julian, of Long
Beach, California. In August, 1883, Mr. Cain was married to Miss Lettie
J. Ingram, at San Jose, California. They have five children. Ingram,
Nellie May, Harry N., Jean B. and Julian.

Mr. Cain was director and cashier of the Bank of Stella, a director of the
Richardson Count}- Bank of Falls City, and at one time president of the
Farmers State Bank of Shubert, in all of which he was and is a stockholder.
He makes his home in Falls City, where he has one of the most comfortal^le
dwellings in the city. He is a thirty-second-degree Mason and has filled
every station in the lodge, chapter and commandery, besides serving a term
from June, 1881, to June, 1882, as grand master of ]\Iasons of the state of
Nebraska. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United ^^^orkmen.

nAvin r.. Thompson.

David L. Thompson died at his home in Falls City on November 29,
j8c)4, of erysipelas, caused by rheumatism. Mr. Thompson was one of the
first white men ever to see Richardson county. Fie passed through here in
the early fifties and finally located at Archer in 1858, where he married China
-M. Miller, a daughter of J. C. Miller, the first judge of the county, and who
at that time kept a hotel and store at the new town, on December 8, 1855.
On October 16, 1892, he was married to Mrs. Emma Thomas, wdio survived
Inin. When l"'alls City started as a town, Thompson was one of the first
t(i l(jcate there. For many years he had l)een deputy .sheriff of the county,
having charge of the jail and prisoners. George Thompson, his only son
tliat grew to manhood, was killed by the cars on July 24, 1894. As an
ofticer of the law he was fearless and always reliable, and as a citizen he was
kind and generous.

nn.r.AKi) wai.kf.r.

Dillard Walker died at liis home near Humboldt, Nebraska, of heart
di.sease on April i i, 1895, aged sixty years. .Mr. Walker claimed the dis-
tinction of being the third man to drive a wagon Ijetween the forks of the
tlie two Nemahas in 1855. He helped to raise the house in Salem building
tlie first churcli at Salem, the Missionary Baptist. .\ wife and children sur-
\ i\ed him.

68o UICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

>rRS. MARY S. OUICK.

.Mrs. Mar\ S. Ouick. of Hum1)olclt. died at her lionie. Sunday, April.

7. . aged eight\-ei,tjht years. Mrs. Quick with her Iiushand settled in

Hnmholdt. in 1867, and for twenty-five years she was one of the leading
physicians in that vicinity. Old age finally compelled her t<i (|uit the practice.

JAMKS I.. OVERMAN.

James L. Overman, for many \ ears a resident at Stella and who died in
that city on Decemher 28, 1894, at the age of seventy yearly, was one of the
])ioneers. In 1858 lie became a resident of St. Deroin, a station just north
of the Richardson county line, where he operated a ferry and many of the
pioneers of this county landed r]n Nebraska soil from liis ferry.

CHAPTER XXVI.

Reminiscences of a Wayfarer.

By Hon Isli;im Ri-!i\is. Wiitti-n in lliii'i.

On as fair a day in May as ever shone upon the workl. and at alx)ut the
not;*- of high twelve in the year of grace, 1858, I. stepped from the deck of a
Missouri river steanihoat. to the soil of Nebraska. In those days the most
ra]Md and comfortable mode of travel, when the objective point could be reached
in that way, was by steamboat. It happened so in my case. I took passage
at Ouincv, Illinois, on the good boat "Hannibal City", plying on the Missis-
sippi between St. Louis and St. Paul, and landed at St. Louis the next morn-
ing. From there I took passage on the Missouri river packet, called the
"Rowena," for St. Joseph, Missouri. There were thirty or forty passengers
for up-river points, but mostly for Kansas and Nebraska, all of whom with
one single e.xception. were young men less than thirty years of age. At
Leavenworth we were reshipped to another river boat by the same line called
the "^^'ar Eagle" — the Missouri river was alive with boats in those days —
and completed our \-oyage on that craft. At St. Joseph, those who Avere left
of the passenger list, took passage on a more humble vessel, the "Wattosa,"
name<l ])erhaps for some mighty Indian brave somewhere, and on the day
following, I, with another, was put ashore as before stated, at the town of
Rulo in the Territorv of Nebraska. While yet upon my journey and while
passing from one boat to another I somehow felt in touch with home and the
state of m\- nativity; but as I stood on the bank of the fast-flowing river,
and saw tine steamboat that had borne me there, cast ofT her moorings an,l
.slowly float out into the stream to resume her voyage northward against the
turbid flood of the ]\lissouri. an indescribable feeling of lonesomeness came
over me. which I shall never forget. Eor the first time I realized what it
was to break oft' the associations of a lifetime. When the little tramp steamer
left me at the Rulo landing to churn its way through tlie muddy waters of the
river, apparently too thick with mud and sand to swim in, and not thick
enough to walk on, every tie that bound me to the old life and the old home —
long ago broken up and its members scattered, with all the sacred memories
that cluster around them, were severed once and forever.

682 RICIIAKUSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

NEBRASKA ISOLATED FROM THE WORLD.

That tliL' situation may be better understood, it is proper in this connec-
tion to say, that lifty years ago Nebraska was as completely isolated from
the world and civilization as the land of the "]\Iidnight Sun", in Alaska, was
at the opening- of the past centur\-. There was not a railroad withm
iiundreds of miles, and with no communication East except by the river that
was frozen up half the year, and navigable for boats for only about three
months of the year, in the later spring and early summer. But desixindency
would not do and calling up the old resolution that impelled me to make the
start, gathered my gripsack and with the words of the great English poet
tloating through my mind:

"And whatever sky's a1x>ve me.
Here's a heart for every fate,"

turned m\- face to the town on the hillside, and to the unknown future, and
my life in Nebraska had commenced.

My companion on the voyage from St. Louis, and who formed the excep-
tion in point of age among the passengers I have mentioned, was none other
than Joseph Tesson, well known to the older residents in and about Falls
(, ity and I\ulo, and who had debarked with me from the "Watossa," accom-
panied nie up town, and being acquainted with some of the people there,
kindly invited me to take dinner with him at the house of one of his friends,
a William Kenceleur. Aly acquaintance with j\[r. Kenceleur, .so happily
L(jmmenced that day, continued unbroken until the end of his life.

I was anxious to go on to Falls City, which, I was told, was about ten
miles west, that afternoon, but Tesson and Kenceleur both thought, as I
was intending to make Richardson county my future residence or some point
in it, and as Kulo was its most important town, I had better stay over the
afternoon, and sec the town and get acquainted with the people and go out
to Falls City tlie next day. On consideration, I concluded to do so. and we
sailed fortli for the purpose. \\'hat struck me as most singular was the fact
that ever\ tiling about it was new. There was not an old house in it, and
there seemed to be about a hundred — all of them, as I learned, had been
built within two }ears, and most of them within a very few months. Nor
was there an old man or woman among its people, nor any who were much
l)ast middle age. Everybody was young, the town was young, the territory
was young, and the youth of spring was upon everything around them, in
its greenest g;irh.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 683

RULO AS I SAW IT FIFTY YEARS AGO.

Having concluded to stop over and see the town, we went out on the
streets to begin the rounds. I think this statement needs some explanation,
for if stepping into the immensity of all outdoors, means going- out on the
street, we certainly did that. There was nothing in sight to indicate the
existence of a street, alley or other municipal thoroughfare, in the whole
\illage, unless the spaces between the houses were such, in which case, as the
liuuses had fallen out among themselves, and to have set up in separate terri-
t()r\- of their own, the town must have consisted mostly of all streets, which
of course, coukl not lie. Grass grew everywhere, except in the traveled
jiaths made here and there, by foot passengers, among the dwellings and
places of business. There was certainly enough of such highways, and as
nt) two of the houses were built within fifty feet of each other, the footpaths
branched ofY in all directions, and in all shapes from a straight line in places,
to \\indings in and out like the trail of a snake in a dusty road. We first
visited a store kept l\v Martin & Gold.sberry. The senior member of the firm
was a Canadian Frenchman, while his partner was the same Frank Golds-
l)erry, who not long ago resided in Falls City, and is remembered by most
of the present residents. The next person whom I remember to have met
was A. D. Kirk, a lawyer by profession and one of the early settlers of
Richardson count}-. He was one of the representatives in the first Terri-
torial Legislature, held in the winter of 1855. JMr. Kirk had his law office in
the store of his brother-in-law, Goldsberry, though from the surroundings
1 was not impressed with the notion that his law business was very extensive.
The next prominent citizens of the town whom I met were Eli Bedard and
Charles Rouleau, both of whom had I)een instrumental in the building of
Ivouleau. The town possessed the most mixed population I have ever seen
in a town of its size. There were a great number of idle people about the
streets, who were neither I'Vench. Indian or American, but were in fact a
iiKJiigrel race, compounded of the blood of all three, whom the general gov-
ernment had designated as half-breeds, and for whose benefit the reservation
lietween the Xemahas had been set apart by treat}-. They were a new and
strange people for me, differing in every physical characteristic from all
anthropological classifications I had ever seen. In their relations with the
government they were clas.sed as Indians, and }et, the efTect of the treaty
assigning them l.-nids in severalty, would be to make them citizens.

684 UICIIAliDSOX eOlXTV, NEBRASKA.

FALLS CITY.

Thf da}- following my advent intu Kulu was Sunday, but nevertheless I
must continue my journey to Falls City. For that purpose I went out after
breakfast to the Goldsberry store to see aljout getting a conveyance for the
trij). There was none to be had on any terms — in fact there was none to be
had at all and there was nothing for it, but that I must do the distance on
ftiot. While at the store I made the acquaintance of several gentlemen.
whom i had n<it met the day before, among them wa> Felix Fitch, Hugh
Boyd. E. H. Johnson and Thomas Tostavin, the young surveyor, who iiad
surveyed and platted the town, and who told me he Mas al)out to enter uix)n
the survey of an addition likely to be made to it, by Mr. Kenceleur. They
ail tried to dissuade me from going to Falls City. They said it was an
■■abiilition hole," "Jim Lane town," and other names of designation, which
i thougiit betrayed an unfriendly disposition toward the town on the prairie.
They further stated that it would never amount to anything l)ecause it was
too far from the river and had no timber about it, and nothing to induce
population, etc. I rejilied that I must go, for I expected to meet a friend
there, at whose instance I had come to Nebraska, and I jjrepared for the
start. Tile failure to get a conveyance was embarrassing, but all the .same
1 must go. notwithstanding they told me there was no road and only a path
here and there, wliich if followed, would probably take me out of my course,
and l)esides. I would find a tlense covering of high grass to walk through
that w I mill be both tedious and tiresome. However, one of their number
accompanied me to the highest point west of town, fnmi wliich Falls City
could be seen in the distance, and pointed out such landmark- as were \isible,
and they were few, to guide me.

There was but one house betw een Kulo and Falls City and that belonged
to Joesph I'^orney, who is still living and a citizen of Falls City. The house
was located in the vallev west of the Muddy. T was told to keep the Xemaha
river on the south in sight and go straight we-t as much as ])0ssible. The
i'orney house was not visible from that point and the Xemaha. indicated
only liy a fringe of timl)er stretching along the valley, was the only reliable
l;ui(lniark and that was not always in sight. F was told, further, that just
before I would reach the Muddy. m\ course would take me into the valley
of the Xemaha. This direction was correct and when after lalwrious walk-
ing 1 reached tlie Muddy. I found the ruins of ;i mill that somebody had
started, to build ;ui(l scnu'lioiK else had tried to burn. T w.-dked across the

UIClfARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 685

creek on a few of the charred timbers that still remained and bej'ond it. to
near the residence of Mr. l-'orney. I encountered a morass of at least half a
mile in extent. Splashinjj through that as best I could, I came to the Fornev
residence and applied for 'further information as to my course to Falls City.

MISSKD TlIK WAV.

At that ixjint the town was in\-isible and in fact remained so until I got
10 within a mile or so of it. After I left the Forney place I missed mv
course and w-andered over to the north till I came in sight of a house, that
of E. T. Minshail, as I afterwards learned, in the valley of the IMuddy, and
then I knew I was far out of my course, for I had been told that Falls City
was located on the high ground overlooking the valley of the Nemaha river
and tiiat stream 1 already knew was on my left hand and miles away to the
south. I also saw from that point, the site and remnants of the old town of
.\rcher. on the north side of the Aluddy. From there I turned to the south-
west and shortly discovered the place of my destinati<jn.

At first on my lonesome tramp that day, it was a positive pleasure to
look out on the wide expanse of prairie, as green as an emerald and arched
liy a sky as blue as an amethyst, stretching away into the distance, vast,
vacant and silent. 1 was on the edge of the great plains I had heard and read
s<i much al)out — tiie land of the Indian and the buffalo, those restless nomads
of these solitary wastes, and of the wild deer and the antelope.

There was not a tree or bush in sight, save on the Xemaha and along the
smaller streams, and nothing whatever that suggested the presence of man,
until 1 reached the l-"orney house on the Muddy and that of Mr. Minsliall,
further up the stream.

.\fter a long and wearisome walk. co\ering at least twelve miles through
a tangled mimic wilderness of grass, I arrived at Falls City some time in the
afternoon.

There was a log house st.nnding about where the jMaddox Ijlock .-tands
now. to the west, opposite from the present site of the court house, in which
a man by the name of N'an Lew and his good wife kept a kind of a boarding
liouse. They were formerly of Elmira, New York, and my friend, who had
induced me to come to Nebraska, was .stopping with them. As the\' were
e\])ecting me some arrangements had been made for my entertainment, for
which I was. indeed, thankful. The house was what would be called a storv
and a half high, iiut had not a yard of plastering in it. nor a smear of paint on
any part of it. nor for that matter was there such in or on any house in town.

(>S() KICIIAUDSOX COUXTV. XJiBKASKA.

In speaking of Kulo I have said that everything appeared to he new. hut
in Falls City everything appeared to he old. except the people. Most of the
houses were huilt of second-hand lumjjer, hrought over from the wreck of
old Archer and Yankton, and made into six or eight sliacks. or excuses for

innises. and this was l^^lls City as T saw it that day in tlie long past.

The intluences that silently control the movements and destinies of pei)-
ple are not always palpahle to the senses, nor exist as facts confessed in
consciousness, hut permeate the s<jcial fabric in all its multitudinous ramifi-
cations, felt exerywhcre and seen nowhere, like the wind that bloweth where
it listeth.

I know why I came to h'alls City, but I do not know why I stayed, any
more than I know who will be President of the United States a hundred
\ears hence. Somebod)- must stay in the little hamlet, or it would cease to
exist, and why not I as well as others.

h'alls City was not much to look at that (juiet Sunday afternoon. There
were four houses on the west side of Stone street and one small carpenter
shop located where the Gehling Opera House now stands. On the other
side, diagonally across the street, where the Richardson County Bank building
is located. I saw a pile of newly-sawed walnut lumber, which I was told
Jesse Croiik. who li\ etl on a pre-emption claim north of town, was intending
to put into a hotel; and below that was a double-logged house, veneered witii
bii;irds. In one of these, John A. Burbank had a kind of general store, and
the other was used as a dwelling for his family, consisting of his wife and
little girl, less than two years old. That same little girl is now the wife of
Judge Kibby, the pre.sent governor of the Territory of Arizona, while the
wife and mother, as brave and true a Christian woman and refined lady as
the good God ever sent into this sin-ljedeviled world to bless it. has been at
rest, these many, many years.

S(iUtb of the Burbank building, on the corner of the same block — where
Jcnne's shoe store nnw is (lot 13, block Xo. 70) — there was another boarding
house kept b\ one Alexander Rickard. He and his family had come up frcmi
Kans.'is witli den. Jim Lane, together with several umnarried young men, all
ni whom had l)een retainers and followers of that famous l-'rce State leader
down there, to help him build a town in Nebraska. .About midway in the
next block south (west side of l)lock No. 91), a man named W. W. Buchan;ui
had put a one-stor\ house, probably twelve by sixteen feet in diameter, and
was occupving it witii his family, consisting of his wife and three or four

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 687

cliildien. His brother, James Buchanan (not the President), was hving <>n
the quarter section directly east of the townsite, to wit, the southwest quarter
of section ii, township No. i north, of range No. i6, east of the sixth
principal meridian, and later in the season built the house now owned by
Benjamin Poteet. It was built of walnut lumber, and is just as good after
the wear and tear of half a century, as it was on the day it was finished for
occupation. It is standing today and is occupied. Still further to the south
(in block No. 134 on lot 13), Isaac L. Hamby had his residence. It was a
shade better than the other residences in the town. He was one of the town
proprietors as well as proprietor of one of the largest families in the town,
and a saw-mill at the lower end of the town, near the present Missouri
Pacific station and city electric light plant. There were two or three other
houses in process of construction, east of Stone street, and one on the street
west, in block No. 153, that had just been built by Wingate King, long a resi-
dent here, and at that time the owner of a pre-emption claim, on the north-
west quarter of section .No. 15 — i — 16, originally part of the land selected
for the site of Falls City, but was dropped when the town company came to
enter the land and pa\- for it under the laws of Congress providing for the
location of towns on the public lands. In another of the Ikjuscs west of Stone
street, Squire Dorrington and his family resided, lot 12. block No. 71. An-
other building was standing on the west side of Stone street in block No. 90,
south of the carpenter shop abo\^e referred to; it was a boarded veneered
structure and in which one William M. Brooks had a store of general mer-
chandise, and which Fred Dorrington, a young fellow of about twenty, was
managing for him. Just across the street below it in block No. 103, was a
hole in the ground perhaps fifty feet scjuare, and walled up with cobble stones,
upon which ^Ir. Haml>y had told me he intended to erect a hotel that would
rival the best west of the [Mississippi. It was another of his impossible
.schemes. Tliis unsiglitly scar on the surface of the earth remained a monu-
ment to the foil)- (if its projector for four years. Afterwards Doctor Hanana
Ijuilt a residence thereon and later it Ijecame the site for the Hue store building
of Samuel W'ahl.

The town companv consisted of James H. Lane, John i\. Burbank. J.
Fdward Burbank, a Judge Hunt, of Doniphan, Kansas, and Isaac L. Hamliy,
I have just been writing al)Out. Lane and Hunt never became citizens of
Nebraska: all the others did.

The townsite was selected, .surveyed and platted in the summer of 1857.
Ijut its articles of incorporation were not made a matter of reconl until April.
1858, about twenty days before my arrival.

688 KICHARDSOX COTXTY, NEBRASKA

FIRST SUNDAY SCHOOL IN FALLS CITY,

The house I inenti( med as built In Mr. Wingate King", in block Xu. 153.
is still standing (in iqij) and in the same place. Xo alteration in shape or
otherwise has been made, and it stands precisely as it was built and it has
stood for more than lialf a century, while every odier structiue then in town,
has long ago disappeared or been remodeled. I like that old house for other
reasons than its great age. and particularly for certain associations with it.
The house was new but not occupied, and it was suggested by Mrs. Burbank
and Mrs. \'an Lew that we get all of the children in town to attend there
on next Sunday and organize a Sunday school. I think that was in the early
days of Jime, and as anything in the shape of a diversiim would relieve the
dreary sameness, 1 readily fell in with the proposal. I have no distinct recol-
lection of the nimiljer of these little human "mavericks" we rounded up for
the occasion, but we got some, probably ten or a doze'i. and the function was
pulled off, I suppose, in regulation order.

There was n(j church building in town, and the little hduse was inipro-
\ised for such public worship as chanced to come our \\a\-. Wingate King
was something of a preacher and held forth, now and then, and always in
the little house, and always with a great deal of fervor. He has been dead
fiir more than thirt\- years and the g'ood women who organized that Sunda\-
school have faded from the world : while those bright-e) ed little urchins who
lisped the old story, old with the ages, but as young as eternal spring, under
the roof of this meager and neglected habitation, have drifted away to grow
did, (ir die. as God has willed, in other places. But our ancient substitute
for a church still remains, solitarv in its loneliness and littleness, like some-
thing forgotten I)y the wayside, the last of the old town in the day of its
small things.

THE DEATH OF ARCHER.

Falls City was made possible b\' the death of old Archer, not perhaps
li\ tlie process the Greeks called metempsychosis, by which it was believed by
ilieni. and by T>rahmin philosophers in an older age, that the soul of one
dying would pass into the liodv of one about to be born — in other words, in
tlie transmigration of souls, l)ut from the fact that .\rcher had become un-
tenable as a site for a town and the Falls City location afforded better facil-
ities for the ])urpose. Certain it is, there was a pt-etty large transmigration
of s(iuls vn toot and otherwise, from the wreck beyond the Muddy to the
new town to the south.

RIC[IARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 689

Archer was laid out as a town liy a man by that name on what he sup-
pcised to be pubhc lands of the United States, shortly after the erection of the
Territorial government, in the fall of 1854.

The western line of the Half-Breed tract, a body of land between the
two Nemahas, that had been reserved for the half-breeds and mixed bloods
of certain Indian tribes, as then located, was about one and a half miles east
of the site of the proposed town. That line had been surveyed and estab-
lished several years before, and was known as the "McCoy line."

After Congress had created the Territory of Nebraska, a move was made
to have the treaty of Prairie du Chien, made in 1830, under the provisions
of which, among (jthers, the reservation was made, executed, l)y allotting the
land in severalty among the benficiaries named in the treaty. To that end
the Indian officer caused a census to be taken of the half and mixed bloods
of the tribe named, which were, as I now recollect without consulting the
records of the Yankton and Santee Ijands of Sioux, the Omahas, Otoes and
lowas.

\\'hile this was going on, some enterprising land graljber, or may be
several of them, induced the authorities at \\'ashington to cause a resurvey
of the boundaries of the reservation, and the mischief was done. Bv the
provisions of the treaty, the boundaries of the reserved tract were to be
ascertained by surveying ten miles up each river, from its confluence with the
Missouri, to points thereon, and then by a straight line between these points,
which woukl mark the western boundary, while the Missouri would form
the eastern. The McCoy survey was made by following the river in its
sinuosities, which was the only way a sensible and fair surveyor could execute
tile calls of the treaty. When thus made, the western initial point on the
(ireat Nemaha was located about the mouth of the Muddy, and a line drawn
from that point to a like point ten miles west of tlie mouth of the Little
Xemaha, left .\.rcher about a mile and a half west of it.

The new survey \\as made on an entirely different basis of oi)eration.
Instead of following the meanderings of the river, the surveyor, whoever he
was, started at the mouth (or somewhere thereabouts) and ran a straight
line up the vallex', to a ])oint ten miles west, \\'hich moved the initial ix)int on
the Great Nemaha for the line to a corresponding point northwest on the
l.ittie Xemaha, about four miles further west; and when the line was run it
located Archer on the Half-Breed tract. That gave the half-breeds a slice
out of the public domain, four .sections wide and some thirty miles long.
Not a bad land gral).

(44)

6t)0 RICIIARDSCJX COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

SURVEY A FRAUD.

Uf course, tliat survey was a fraud and a wicked one, and though it
failed of success in the end, it nevertheless ruined Archer, and wrecked the
iiopes and plans, as well as the fortunes, of many worthy people.

This occurred some time in the latter part of 1856, and at the session
of the Legislature that convened shortly thereafter in 1857, the final death-
hlow was given Archer by the removal of the county seat, located there by an
act of the lirst Territorial Legislature in 1855, to Salem, seven or eight miles
further west.

Charles ALicDonald. a citizen of Salem, and a member of the Legislature,
introduced a bill providing, with apparent delicacy, that if the commissioners
of the country should ascertain that Archer was in fact located on the Half-
Breed tract, they would at once move the ct)unty otitices to the town of Salem:
and immediately afterwards, without awaiting developments under the tirst
bill, he introduced another, removing the county seat bodily, and at once,
from Archer to Salem. Both bills were probably passed the same day, as
the record shows that they were both approved on the same day. That was
"the mcist unkindest cut of all." as those people of Archer were largely
instrumental in electing AlacDonald to the office, the powers of which he used
for the destruction of their town. From that hour Archer was lost.

The most prominent of the men living there at that time were John C.
Aliller. Ambrose Shelly, William Level, W. W. Maddox, John Welty, A. D.
Kirk, l'"rank Goldsberry, William P. Loan, and a greater number of other
persons than I have space to name here. They were all involved in the wreck
and injured correspondingly.

Kirk and Goldsberry went to Rulo, which had been started the year
Ijefore: Loan went to St. Stephens, another town on the Missouri, some miles
aljoA-e Ruld, but as I recollect, he passed most of his time at the house of
\\'illiam R. Cain, his brother-in-law. who was then engaged in opening a
farm in the near vicinity. William R. Cain was long a leading citizen in
this part of the country. The others wandered off in one direction or an-
other, and to one place or another, but most of them to that land starward.
It was a cruel thing to destroy that young community, and especially when
no substantial benefit accrued to anybody or to any locality.

Three years afterward, that same Legislature, by the same arbitrary
] lower, passed another act to take effect in the same month of the year and
almost on the same day of the month, removing the county seat from Salem,
;uid locating it at l'"alls Citv.

RICIIAUnSOX COUNTY, NKP.KASKA. 69I

Judge Miller was probably the hardest hit of them all. lie was among
the first settlers, and had invested his all in the town and expected to reap
the reward of a frugal and economic life in the anticipated prosperity of the
town and the country. He had his family about him; was the first probate
judge of tlie county, with every prospect of holding it as long as he desiretl
it. i'lUt in an evil hour everything was swept away, and he was a ruined man
in his old age. It broke his spirit and probably shortened his life. He died
in i860, and is buried with others of his family in the cemetery near where,
the old town stood. One of his daughters, Mrs. W. M. Maddox, is still a
citizen of Falls City. She was married to Captain Maddox irom her father's
hou.se at Archer in the year 1855.

In a previous place I mentioned the rivalry between the town at the
falls and I'"alls City, and will now tell what came of it. The Hamilton
brothers and their associate, Sackett, were young men and natives of Ohio,
and full of energy and the enthusiasm of youth, but wholly unacquainted
with the West, and especially the climatic conditions of Nebraska. The\-
associated the water fall in the Xemaha with the idea they liad of what such
a power would be worth in their old state, and without hesitation concluded
that it would I)e the verv place to found the future manufacturing town of
the countr)-. The surroundings were certainly pretty to look at, and the
conditions appeared favorable to the success of the schemes conjured up in
the minds of those boys, but who, before the summer waned, were to learn,
like all the children in the family of man, that the'-e is a great He out in the
world and things are not always what they seem to I'e.

The\- naturally argued that there l)eing an abundance of water in the
river, flowing <i\er a Ijed of solid rock, and then pitching down between five
and six feet, a permanent foundation was thus furnished for mills or other
estalilishments for manufacturing purposes.

FOlintt OK JlTf.Y CKLEI'.R.M-ION.

lutrly in June we concluded to hold a l-'ourth of July celebration, and
our friends at Xemaha Falls heanl of it and deternn'ncil to have one, also.
Tiie\ strove to outdo us at every ix)int and in everything.

Tliere was no shade of any kind in town, no grove, nor tree, nor an\
ol)ject that would cast a shadow of sufficient extent to cover twenty people.
S<T we made one on the court house s(]uare, by setting posts in the ground
with |)( les across, upon which we put boughs of trees cut in the iVemaha
timber and liauled up for this pur])ose. In that w;i\- we ni.-ide an arbor shad\-

692 RICIIAKDSOX COL-XTV, NEBRASKA.

;ind snug, under whicli a company <\i three jr four lunulred stron!4- could i^it
:i;^l escape the glare of a fierce July sun blazing- ai)o\e tlieni.

A beef, as they called a slaughtered specimen of the Injvine tribe, was
provided tt) l)e roasted for the refreshment of the people, and other pro-
visions were made for the entertainment and comfort of the crowd that was
expected to attend, but where it was to come from was a mystery to me.
It-turned out. however, that tliere were more jjeople in the country that I
thought for. They came from all o\er the county and we had a crowd of
several hundred people. A band of Indians in full nati\e costume were
secured to perform their traditional war-dance, under the auspices of their
chief headsman. I'o-to-ko-mah. He was a fine specimen of physical manhood.

Another and (juite an unexpected one in that brand new community,
was a kind of mixed band of music under the leadership of Jim Dye. con-
sisting of five or six persons and as many horns and fiddles, who played all
the staple patriotic tunes, and then some, and furnished music for the dance
that night at Jesse Crook's new hotel building on the Richardson County
Bank corner, lots 23-24, of block No. 70, then enclosed and nearing com-
pletion. They enlivened the scene greatly and added to the general festi\it\
in a way possible only through the instrumentality of music, that wizard of
the soul, the soother of the sorrowful, parent of jxjetry and religion, the
cliarm of which has lingered on earth since the dawn of the eternal morning
when the stars sang together the "Te Deum of the spheres, in glad acclaim
of creation finished.'"

And now a word about the people who came that da\ to hel]) us cele-
l)rate the annual recurrence of the day dear to all Americans. They are
before me n(nv as I saw them then, brave men and women, some of whom
had crossed wide ri\ers and wider states, to come to tliis new and virgin land
to subdue the wilderness, to work hard antl li\e harder, to Iniild comfortable
homes f<ir themselves antl families, to ojien farms, to rear cinn-ches and school
houses. They came in all shapes and manners of transportation: Some on
horseback, some in wagons, drawn by horses; some by a single horse, and I
remember one fa.nnly. consisting of paterfamihas. his wife and two daugh-
ters, in a wagon drawn 1)\- a voke of cattle, with a strapping young fellow on
foot driving them.

'I'he old peojjle were seatetl on chairs smoking their pii)es. ;uid seemed to
enjov themseKe?-, while the girls were smarted up in new calico frocks and
riblions in profusion, witli Ininches of elderberries stuck in their hair as
especial ornaments. The costumes of the ])eople were just as grotesque and
\;iried as tlieir means of transportation. Nobody .seemed to have on any-

KICIIAKDSON COl'NTV, X KBKASKA. 693

thing new, except tlie dresses of the younger females (jf the party and ihey
were in most part of cahco. No two men had coats, vests and pantalo(jns
of the same cut, fashion or material, and all api)€ared to have Ijeen in service
a long time, nor were there any two hats of the same fashion or any fashion.
.\'e\ertheless, their meeting with each other and their families were of the
most friendly character. It is sufficient for the matter ip hand, that we
executed the common intention and celebrated in the usual way. Someone
read the old Declaration of Independence, and I made them a .sophon:oric
speech, in which I liave little doubt, a great deal of spread-eagle nonsense
alxnuided, but it was a boy's effort, delivered in jierfect recognition of the
solemn occasion and, whether well or ill performed, did its office, and that
was enough. The Indian war-dance followed, and then the public dinner
consisting mo.stly of beef and bread: but the interesting part of it to me
was to watch the Indians take their refreshment. Have any of the readers
seen an Indian — 1 mean a regular blanket Indian, fresh from the wild —
from the plains — eat? Well, if they have not, they have missed something.
.\ native Indian, and they are all alike, as I know from actual observation,
never eats but one thing at a time. Give him meat and bread, and he will
eat the meat first, ;uid then perform the same office with the bread. They
never -eat the.se two articles at tlie same time, ft was a new and amusing
experience to me, anil I watched the process with close attention.

Our friends at the falls had their celebrations also, and Judge Dundy
made a speech for them, and in that particular outshone ours on the bills; in
all other particulars ours was the best and pleased the people most.

There have not been any other celebrations at Nemaha Falls, and for
the following reason; .Mxmt three weeks afterwards there came upon the
country one of those sudden rainstorms, with which the people of this region
are familiar, and within twelve hours thereafter the whole Neiuaha valle\ ,
from bluff to bluff, had become an inland sea. 1 have seen many floods in
the \alle\- since, but I have never seen one that I thought equalled that. In
that case the settlers were all driven out, many of them running narrow risk
of drowning along with their families. Much of their live stock was drowned,
and all of their imjirovemcnts were destroyed.

Rut what (jf our rival tt)wn at the falls? When the flood had subsidcti
the town was fnund to have gone with it, and the future manufacturing center
of tile countrx had ceased to exist. Most of the people in the valley came

604 lUCIIARDSlIX COLXTY. XEIiKASKA.

to I'alls City, and never went back. Stumbo foreclosed his mortgage on the
townsite, bought the land at sheriff's sale, along with the ghost of the de-
parted village, and the story of the once-boasted municipality of the future
was closed forever.

The flood in the Xemaha valley was a revelation to the people. No one
appeared to hav(? any idea that the stream was subject to such freshets and
tlie prestige of the bottom land over those on the high ground, suffered
materially. There has never been any considerable farming in the valley of
the Nemaha east of Salem. .Mxmt tlie time this flood occurred, some law-
less persons, either the same night, or the night before, relieved several of
the people of their horses, and fled with them into Kansas. As soon as the
word got about and a party could be organized for pursuit, Wilson M.
.Maddox, young ^^'illiam Goolsby, son of William G. Goolsby on the Muddy,
and some others constructed a raft of some kind, crossed over to the south
bank of the Nemaha, and pursued the thieves until they captured four per-
sons, they believed to have been engaged in the depredations and returnetl
with them to Archer. No attention was paid to territorial lines or the law
of L'ongress regulating extradition of fugitives from justice, escaping fro: ,
one territory or state into another, but regardless of all of these the pur-
suing party I have mentioned captured their men and brought then^ into
Nebraska for punishment. To that end word was passed through the neigh-
borhood, and nearly all, if not all, the leading citizens in the vicinity assembled
at Archer to consider what .should be done in the way of ascertaining the
guilt of the jiersons accused and also to take order in the matter of their
])iinisliment. Tliere was no criminal code in the Territory at the time.

jrix;!-: i.yxcii holds court.

Two of those parties hearing that there was a lawyer at Falls City sent
word to me to come over to Archer. I did so, and listened to their story
and became convinced that at least twf) of the parties were not guilty and so
informed Mr. ]\laddox. and those he had called to his assistance in the neigh-
borhood. It is a fact everywhere true in the West at that time, that the
])eoi>]e held in greater detestation the offence of horse stealing than they did
;in\ other of the whole calendar of crime. I shall give the name of but one
of the [larties .ucused. as it is possi])le the others may have some friends in
tlie country and I h;ive no (lisiK)sition to wound their feelings by what I here
relate of the disagreeable incident in which they were in no way involved.
anil wliicii may have been a mistake from the beginning. The man whom

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 695

I thought to be guilty, without any doubt, was nanied Sam Thomas. He
was a young man of bad repute and had been in the Kansas troubles from
their inception, and it seems had graduated in the art of horse stealing. He
was certainly an adept. There was no particular organization of a court
such as is known to be presided over by his honor, Judge Lynch, or requiring
a committee of inquiry like a trial by jury, but the people consulted and
talked among themselves and with me very freely, very candidly, and they
finally l^ecame satisfied that I was right as to two of the party, let them ofif,
but the other two, the one besides Thomas, were condemned to be whipped
— fifty lashes for Thomas and twenty lashes for the other one. This was
my first appearance in any court in Nebraska, and it was about as revolting
an experience as anybody could care to undergo.

I had heard and read of Judge Lynch's court, but had never seen it in
operation. I had also heard and read much of the mobs, disorders and
unlawful assenil>lage, the ostensible objects of which were to administer
summary punishment for infractions of the law, without waiting for the
regularly constituted authorities to take action in the premises; but this was
the first of the kind that had come under my observation, and in fact, it was
the last of the kind.

There was nothing violent in the conduct of tlie men assembled on this
occasion, and those of the men present whom I remember, I knew to be then
and for the rest of their lives afterwards, as good citizens as any orderly
members of the community to be found anywhere. They talked the matter
over very seriously and in the light of the circumstances surrounding them
and their property. At that time there was no law or code, nor other public
iJDjtection for life or property in the commonwealth of the Territory, and
thev were left without any protection from depredations of this character.
Up to that time there had never lx;en but one court held in the county, and
there was not another one until in March, 1859. It looked like a cruel piece
of business, and it was dissociated from the idea of punishment for lawless-
ness. The victims were bared from the waist up, their feet tied together,
and their hands securely tied to the wheel of a wagon, with their bodies
slightly bent over while receiving punishment. In the case of Thomas it was
arranged for five men to give him ten lashes apiece, and in the administration
of the punishment I had an excellent opportunity to judge of the nature of
the men who inflicted the punishment. The instrument of torture was a green
hickory withe, probably four feet in length and a half an inch in diameter at
its thickest part. This terrible weapon, in the hands of a strong man, applied
with his full force to the naked back of a human body, was a sight I hope

696 RICHAllDSON CUUNTV. XEBRASKA.

iK'\er til >ce again whilt I remain in the world. 1 refrain from giving a
particular description of tlie strokes as they were applied to those unfortu-
nate men. Tlie remembrance is too horrible to put on paper.

.Some of the accounts I had read of man's inhumanity to man in the
darker ages of the wOrld, came vividly before my imagination. The instru-
ments of torture that man's cruelty to his fello\\s have in\'ented — the thuml)-
screw, the boot, the breaking on the wheel, suggested themselves to me while
this terrible ordeal was in progress of enactment before my eyes.

.Vmong the five who administered punishment to Thomas, one of them
whose name I will not mention, touched the poor, writhing, quivering, tor-
tured body .so lightly that a ily woukl not have been destroyed by any of the
strokes. This man was not loud in his profession of religion, if, indeed, he
made any profession of tlie kind at all, nor was he demonstrative in any way
touching the comfort and well being of those about him, but the whole nature
of the man was laid l)are to me in the mode in which he pretended to whip
that outcast. The criminal was a lawless man and all that, but at the same
time he was a human being with the image of his Creator stamjied upon him,
and it was consideration for the Being Who bore that image, and not the
horse thief, that controlled the strokes of the whip in the hands of the man
1 refer to. The next man to the fore and the last of the detail, was a certain
Mr. Wright, whom I had seen about Falls Citj- during my brief residence
there, and whom I liad frecjuently observed at public religious services, where
he was prominent in all that went forward, and withal rather loud in his
devotions, so loud, indeed, that I became possessed of some doubt of the
sincerity of his professions. He was one of a specific "kingdom-come" class
that are to l)e found wherever men are found on the earth, who arrogate to
themselves the whole autiiority of reforming the world, without taking into
account the probable unimportant fact that they themselves need about a>
much reformation as anybody else.

At the call of the master of the ceremonies he stepped forward, took
the instrument of torture, and with his whole force laid it across the back of
the already bleeding and maimeil victim, each stroke being harder, if possible,
than the one preceding, until I'ncle W illiam (ioolsby, his eyes flashing with
uncontrollable anger and indignation, caught the hand of the miirderous
monster and wrenched the whip from his grasp, saving, ".Stop, you brute,
there is enough of this," ;ind throwing it on the ground ordered the man
untied. In the hush that fell upon the infuriated company, concerned for the
safety of their property rights, and for the good order and well being of
the communitv .at large, at tin's >u(lden as>ertion of that feeling of mercv that

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 69"

distiiit,aiishes the civilized from the savage, that one "touch of nature that
inakes the whole world kin," there was produced among them a strange
commotion, confused and nndelinable, but as potent as though each had heard
the voice that once declared and is always declaring, "Blessed are the mer-
ciful, for tliey shall obtain merc)." The feeling produced in me has ne\er
passed away. The balance of that gruesome function was i)er formed in a
kind of a perfunctory way, and all departed feeling, I little doubt as I felt,
that the less of such exhibitions among the people the better it would be for
the general public morality. ]^>om that day to this, mob law has but once
been resorted to in this county.

One man liad !)een hung but a few days l>efore at St. Stephens for the
same offense, but it was the last. Some years later some three or four road
agents of the kind I lia\ e describetl were hanged by a mob at Table Rock in
Pawnee county.

FIRST FUNERAL IN F.'iI.LS CITV.

Before the summer waned and the wcjods along the river to the soutii
took on the russet and golden hues peculiar to the autumnal season, some-
thing happened in our little out-of-the-way community — something that al-
ways occurs in the haunts of men all over the world — one of our people died.
It was the first visitation of the grim mon.ster, death, to the new town, ami
it was all the more sad because of the fact that the one to go was a little
girl of ten (»r twelve years af age. who had through all the long summer
weather. l)een a patient sufferer from some lingering disease, which, with n(3
medical assistance at hand — there was no doctor in town nor in the county
for that matter — had liaffled ever\- effort of loving parents and the kindness
of humane neighbors to stay its slow but deadly work of destruction of the
frail life in a frailer and wasting lx)d\-. and on a quiet Sunday morning,
when far-off' church bells in other lands were calling the people to hear the
oft-told story of another life, another death, and triumphant resurrection,
the little one ceased from ann)ng the living, and the mysterious purpose of
her existence on earth was accomplished.

Death under any circumstances, and at all times, is a very sad and sor-
rowful aff'air. but when we reflect that it is just as natural for persons to
die. as it is for them to be born and live, we must conclude that it is quite
as necessary in the eternal economy as any other inevitable condition. .\11
the other persons besides myself, William I-^. Dorrington, then a lad of but
ele\en years, and John Mdvvard Burbank, who lived in the town or assistetl
in those humble obse(|uies of that little child of the wilderness, have them-

6()S lUCHAKIlSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

selves gone the way whence they, too, will not return. She was the daughter
of Isaac L. Hamby, a gentleman whom I have mentioned several times in
these memories and who lived in a cheap and illy-constructed house, or
rather a shanty, that stood on lots 13 and 14, of block No. 134, at the corner
of Ninth and Stone streets, on the corner south of the National hotel. The
house was no better, nor for that matter very little worse, than the dwellings
of most of the people in the town, but it was anything but a comfortable
hal>itation for people in good health, and certainly no place for a person with
a lingering disease, where every hour was an eternity of suffering. It was a
mere shell, with no foundation under it and no plastering, or partitions,
except some brown sheeting stretched across, dividing the inside space into
two compartments or rooms, and that was all the privacy for the family,
afforded by it. The winds, and they were sometimes a gale, and the rain,
ran riot about and through the rude structure, with its thin coating of cotton-
wood boards that the sun had warped out of shape in many places, leaving
ample space for the elements to enter without hindrance. There was no tree
or shrub, no front yard, or garden; nothing but the boundless sea of prairie,
stretching away in all directions, the distant horizon and the blue arch of
lieaven overhead. The furniture was in keeping with the poor appointments
everywhere, only the commonest for the necessary use and notliing for orna-
ment or c<;)mfort. for the occupants.

This was poverty, but not the kind of poverty that accompanies squalor,
liith, drunkenness, destitution, hunger and dirt, to be seen in the slums of
the overcrowded tenement districts of the great cities, but poverty of means
10 utilize the superabundance of nature, that was everywhere going to waste
because of the want of such means. This has been characteristic of the
frontier on this continent for three hundred years. The pioneers have always
l)een poor in diat sense, but in .sober truth, they were the richest people on
the globe — teeming with a wealth of courage and hope, stalwart empire
l)uilders, who made present conditions possible, including that splendid spirit
of intellectual emulation now rife among good people, many of whom can
sport a good automobile.

PEOPLE NOT nTFFERENT THEN.

The people were probably no dift'erent from what they are now. but in a
way 1 can hardl>- explain, they sliowed their sympathy for the liereaved family
liy little acts of kindness, so delicately administered, as to make them appear,
when recalled at this distant day, totally unlike anything of the kind to come

klCHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 699

under my observation, before or since. The surroundings, no doubt, and the
fact that it was the first death to occur in the town, coupled with the further
fact that the Httle child had to be put away in a lonely grave by itself on
the wide, silent prairie, had much to do with it, but the impression was pro-
duced just the same, and has never been removed. The arrangements for
the funeral were very simple and of the most primitive and inexpensive char-
acter, as of necessity they had to be. Squire Dorrington, who was a skilled
mechanic, made a coffin out of some green walnut boards — there was no
seastmed lumlicr to he liad--an(l carried it on his shoulder to the house of
nidurning.

The good wonion uf the town were there in force and among them they
CI instructed an olil-fashiuned shroud of the best material to be had in the
market, and it w as like e\erything else, of the rudest description ; and having
clotlieil the worn and wasted little body with that last garment of all living,
it was tenderl)- ])laced in the coffin upon which a few wild flowers, some
friends had gatiiered on the prairie, were laid, and thus the bier of the iirst
lit tin.' dead of this community stood confessed.

We buried the little one on the following afternoon, but with scant
ceremonials. There was no minister of the gospel of any persuasion in the
town at the time, and therefore, no services of a religious nature was had
at the house, but it was decided liy some of the good ladies, Mrs. Van Lew
and Mrs. Burbank, who were members of the Episcopal church, that the
ser\ice for the dead prescribed in the prayer book of that denomination,
should be read at tiie grace, and I was asked to perform that duty, which I
f\\d as best I could. There was no cemetery, Init we started one that da}- on
a school section, just west of town, a kind of no-man's land, or Tom Tidler's
ijround, and it grew from year to year. The land was purchased from the
state by authority of an act of the Legislature, and a regular cemetery asso-
ciation was formed, and for several years all the dead of our people were
l;uried there. As neither soil nor the location was best suited for the purpose,
another site was procured to the north of the old one, and on the highest
ground in the neighborhood, which Joseph Steele, the owner, donated under
certain conditions, and it has come to be the chief burial ground for the
cit\ and one of the most beautiful of all the resting places for the dead in
the whole state.

During the half century that has elapsed since that day, I have attended
many funerals and witnessed many sorrowful scenes in connection with
them, but I have seen none that impressed me as that did. It seemed to me
a cruel thing to bury her in the solitary waste, alone in the brooding silence

700 klCIIAKDSO.N COUNTY. XliBRASKA.

of iiiighty nature, llicre tu remain forever, to be tirst neglected, and then
forgotten. I was \ounger then and more impressionable, perhaps, on that
account, but be that as it may. 1 shall never live long enough to get away, in
thought at least, from that humble funeral procession, formed on foot, fol-
lowing the two-horse lumlier wagon in which reposed all that was mortal nf
ijue t)f those little ones, whom the Master said was typical of the Kingdom;
nor will I ever get away from that strange feeling of sadness, witli which 1
scattered a handful of cold earth on the cofHn below, and pronounced the
words nf the ritual: "Earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust."

TIIK COL'XTY SEAT FIGHT.

The summer of 1858 came to an end as all terrestrial things do, shading
itself into the autumn and the autumn into winter, and then the snow antl
the blizzard, and the storm of a heated — yes. red-hot county-seat fight that
lasted for man\' a \ear after.

As remarked in a former paper, the renunal of the seat of county .gov-
ernment. b\ act <>i tile Legislature, from Archer to Salem, was not at all
.satisfactory tu the ])eople, and the demand that the Legislature provide fur
the submission of the (juestion to a vote of the people, was general throughout
the county. It would doubtless have been attended to b\- the preceding Legis-
lature which met at Omaha in the winter before, viz., 1857 and 1858, but for
the fact of the split that occurred in that body, by which one faction mo\ ed
up to Florence, an old Mormon town, while the other remained in Omaha. 1
b;i\e heretofore mentioned this circumstance, and it is sufticient to sa}' that
neither faction was the legal lawmaking power, and no law was made. The
one. however, that we elected in 1858. and convened in October following,
l)y proclamation of the governor, passed an act empowering the commis-
sioners of the county to call an election for the purpose of choosing a ]ier-
manent seat of government, by the vote of the people.

The law pro\ided that in the first election every town in the county could
be a candid.-ite for that honor, but if no one of them should receive a inajority
of all the votes cast, the commissioners should call another election, and only
the four towns receixing the highest number of \otes at the first election
la.s'Uiiiing that tliere should be more than four contestants for the place),
could be voted for at the next, and if none of them should receive a majority,
then the two highest wa> to l)e .selected as candidates in the third and last
election, which would, of necessity, end the contest. By the terms of the act,
the elections were t'l lie called in (|uick succession, anil were, in fact, held in

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. yoi

the tnonth of Decemljer. Tliere were several candidates. Rtilo. Wimieljago,
\'aiikton, St. Stepliens. Archer. I'alls City. Salem. Geneva, Middleburg. and
inavhe some other ])oints. hut as only the four highest could be voted on at the
second election, the others are unimportant. The first battle was to be one
of the four, and to win out must be one of the two in the last heat and the
highest, in the nutnber of votes: in other words, the winner must take all the
tricks. It was l''alis litv's hour of trial, and though she took all the tricks
,uk1 came out ahead in the final and last election, she was later deprived of
tlic fruits of her \ ictorv In- a so-called contest of the election, which by
statute, was heard and decided In the county clerk, who proved to be an
unfair and dishonest ofticial. who held against Falls (^ity and gave the county
seat to Salem, notwithstanding die proofs sliowed that a clear majority of
the votes had been c;ist for Falls City.

EFFORTS RENEWED.

It was easy to see thai the election had settled nothing, and that the
whole contro\ers\- would have to be submitted to the arbitrament of the
ballot again, and under circumstances controlled by safeguards that would
IK it onlv evoke from the people their untrammeled expression on the subject,
but would see to it, that that expression was not thwarted by trickery and
dishonest officials. The battle had been a hard one. and though tricked out
of Dur success, wc were bv no means subdued, and preparations for a renewal
of the contest with greater vigor than ever, were at once set on foot.

There are n^t manv in life today who remember that first bout in our
iMunty-seat figlit. I can call to mind less than half a dozen people who par-
licijiated in it. and as some of them will probably see what I here say about
ii. I will take it as a favor if they will intlicate any inaccuracy of .statement
they may observe in my version of tiie facts, and rest assured that all proper
corrections will be promptly made.

And now let me indulge in something of retrospection. To bring before
nu mental vision tlie times, the scenes and the principal actors in that long-
l)ast struggle fur lucal ])olitical su])reniacy. i must bring back the vacant
C'.iiutrv. aljnlisli tiie court hou.-^e. the prosi)erous towns, the railroads, the
>lilcnili(l farms, with their comlortal)le dwellings, barns and rural improve-
ments tliat mark the intervening years of progress; think away the fine church
buildings and the school houses, public roads and bridges, of iron and stone:
resurrect the dead and reinstate the wild waste and wilderness — things of a
d.iy that is dead, for in no other way can I present what 1 have in memory.

•JOi. RICHAKDSOX (.OIXTV. NEBRASKA.

lilurred and faded as they are. by the lliglit of so many years; that what I
write may become intelHgible to others. Tlie conditions were very primitive
and the surroundings e.xceedingly poor, but everybody was full of energy.
\im and hope, and the coming county-seat scrimmage was something looked
for. I'alls C ity, a little hamlet of six or eight hovels that looked like they had
run away from sumewhere and got lost on the prairie, had some fifty or sixty
])ei)ple h\ing in it tliat spring, and had .something like one hundred and fift\'
w lien tlie hght opened. When it became known that the act had passed
authorizing the people of the comity to .settle the county-seat question in the
mode I have mentioned, a council of war was held, noses counted and our
general resources in the way of votes taken into account. We had many
friends on the INIuddy and its affluents — the McElroy, Goolsby and Sardine
l)ranchcs: (piite a good number on the north and south forks of the Neiuaha.
and on L(jng Branch in the northwest part of the county. There was but
one \oting place west of Salem: it was on the south fork of the Nemaha
and not far from tlTt west bnundary of the county, at the house of David
Speiser. Tliat \oting place had always retained the name and the country in
the .southwest part of the county is now known as Speiser township. It was
arranged that some of our people should attend that poll, and as it had no
candidate — and as it was the only sulxlivision of the county that had not —
we expected a good vote for Falls City, as all the people in the west end voted
there and the field was a good one to labor in. William Simpkins, who lived
cm tlie Xemalia just above the falls and who was the owner of a team of
ll<|^^e.s and a wagon, Jesse Crook and myself, were detailed to .go to Speiser
for work nil election da}".

Simpkins furnished tiie transportation and our election committee fur-
nished all the rest. It was extremely cold weather and we were forced to
make the trip In- easy stages, and t<i that eiul we left Falls City the day 1)efore.
went by the wa\' of Salem, where we procured a supply of electioneering
ammunitidii. which we carried in a jug, and thence by the way of North Fork,
intending to i)ass the nio;ht at the house of John Rothenberger, a well-to-do
(ierman settler and a warm friend of our town. Mr. Rothenberger lived on
the niirth side of the river, at a point a few miles west of the present town
(if Dawson, and 1 believe his son of the same name. John F-iothenberger. is
now the owner of the old homestead, b'nim .Salem we traveled Ijetween the
Xemahas. and to get lo ^[^. I'Jothenlierger's we had to cross the river, which
we could not do with the team becau.se the river was hard frozen and the
hanks were so steep as to make it dangerous to try to take the horses over.

It was dark when we reached the jilace for the cn^ssing and as there was

UUII.\kh-ii\ COUNTY. NKliKASKA. 703

an ((1(1 l'j,i4 stable on the south bank of the river, we put the horses in it and
after feeding with corn we had in the wagon for the purpose, we prepared
to cross over to Mr. Rothenberger's house, which stood not far from the
river. Crook and Simpkins, lx)th much larger and heavier than myself, got
1 i\er all right, but when I made the attempt and had reached about the middle
(if the stream the ice bn^ke under me, and I went down.

.\N ICE BATH AND ITS SEOUEL.

I threw out ni\ arms and caught the firm ice on each side and by a
(juick muscular exertioii of my arms succeeded in throwing my body out of
the water and on to the ice. I never could determine how I did it, but as I
was \oung", acti\e and a light weight, my quick movements prevented any
serious consequences. An\'how I got out of the river and over to the north
side in double quick time, but my clothing was thoroughly soaked with water,
and before I got to the house, short as the distance was, every rag on me was
frozen as stifif as a board.

Mr. Rothenberger and his excellent family welcomed us to his hospit-
able roof and, ascertaining my predicament from the cold bath I had just
been treated to, a suit of Joe Watton's clothes was furnished me and a room
l)ro\ ided in which to make the change, when the young ladies, and I think
there were tliree of them, took mine to the kitchen fire, where they were dried
and ready for use in the morning. I have never been more kindly treated,
and 1 don't remeniljer of a time when I needed it more. But I have a sequel
t(T relate in connection with that fall in the river which I will attend to
l)resently.

We passed an agreeable night with our friends and after a hearty
breakfast in the morning we went over to Speiser precinct and put in an
actixe day among the voters, assisted by Mr. Rothenljerger, Joseph Watton
and some others from Ixith forks of the river. Long Branch, Easley creek and
other points, and when the votes were counted Falls City had received a ver\-
comfortable majority. When the votes of the county were canvassed, Falls
City was found to be not only one of the four for the next race, but had
received the highest number of any of them, though short of a majority of
the whole. The high towns were Falls City, Salem, Rulo and St. Stephens,
and about two weeks later another election was held with those named as
candidates. In that election Rulo and St. Stephens fell out, and the final tilt
occurred l)etween Salem and Falls City, with the result about stated. What
followed as a consequence of that election contest and the unfair decision

704 KICHARDSOX COUNTY. XEBRASKA.

lit the county clerk who heard it. will be detailed in my next paper, but just
now I have something- to record as a l<ind nf addendum to the ludicrous cir-
cumstances of my falling; through the ice on that freezing December night,
tift\- years ago.

It was, I think. al)out twenty years afterwards, and when the episode
had passed from my recollection — 1 was engaged hi the trial of a cause in
our district court. .\ly client was defendant in a suit for damages com-
nn'tted by trespassing animals on the growing crops of the plaintiff. Among
the witnesses for the plaintiff (who was Herman Tiehen, an extensive land-
owner, west of Salem, and, until his decease, one of our most valuable cit-
izens), was a lady whom I learned was Mrs. Tiehen, but whom I did not
recognize as an} one whom I had ever seen. I was given an opportunity to
cross-examine the witness and did it something like this:

"You are, T believe, the wife of the plaintiff'."

The witness said "Yes," but the manner of saying it accompanied with
tile amused and quizzical way she looked at me, was somewhat puzzling. I
|)ut another (|uestion, when she broke into a pleasant laugh, saying, "You
know me." .She e\idently thought T was pretending not to know her, which
was an error, for at the moment 1 had not the slightest notion that I had ever
seen her anxwbere. Then, \\ith a still more amu.sed manner. "You haven't
forgotten the night you fell through the ice on the Xemaha, and I and my
sisters dried your wet clothes by the kitchen fire? You know me." The old
experience came back to me in a flash. I was back in the infernal river again,
;ind what was more, I was in a consideral)ly worse t'l.x, for I was being
laughed at by everybocly in the court house. The crowd had got on to the
ridiculous figure 1 cut scrambling out of the river, wet to the skin, my clothes
freezing on nic. and I making a bee line for the house and a fire. Entering
into the spirit of the fun that was then rampant around me I said, "Yes, I
rememl)er, and you arc a daughter of Mr. Rothenberger. It has been a long
time since 1 saw vou. and I certainlv did not know you as ]\Irs. Tiehen."

A\'ell. the incident passed off' very pleasantly, but I must say in all candor
that I was never so liadl\- sold in the whole course of my life.

rouxTV-SKAT sriuccn.K (.OXTINUES.

With the close of the year 1858, our first Ixittlc for the county seat came
to an entl, that is. so f.ir as the three elections I have heretofore described,
were concerned. I'>ut we were not entirely through with the struggle.

Our friencU at Salem were not satisfied with the result, and proceeded

•;YK VIKW of IIT-.MB(»r.I»T. XKB., IX

itliwt'st limirtfi- Sectidu :

ly Lewis and t'larU in ISI14
sixteen ami nne-lialf feet ii

■ six feet a

KRIIAKDSON COLXTV. N' KLSKASKA. 705

to institute pruceediiigs to contest our right to the majority that the final
poll gave Falls City. In the above I stated that the proceedings were held
liefore the county clerk.

In that I was in error: it was before the probate judge of the county,
w ho resided at Rulo, where he transacted most of his official business, but he
sat at Salem, the county seat, to hear the election contest. I have before
said that a very bitter {>olitical prejudice was entertained against Falls City
by the people of lx:ith Rulo and Salem, and it was a fact pretty generally
recognized at the time, that the probate judge as an individual, shared in
that prejudice to a very great extent. So much, indeed, as to render him
unht to hear the case, as it was out of the question for him to do so and
render an impartial judgment. But we were powerless to help ourselves
and the show had to go on.

Dan McGary, the leading lawyer of Brownville, was employed on behalf
of Salem, while Falls City was represented by Elmer S. Dundy, who became
a permanent resident of Falls City on his return from the Legislature, and
myself. The trial lasted the greater part of the month of January, much
delay being caused by Dundy having the ague, and an adjournment was
necessary about the same time every clay to allow him to undergo his usual
shake and spell of fever. It was not a comfortable experience, but he stood
it like a hero, and when not freezing with a malarial chill, or burning up with
the resultant fever, he put in his best licks for Falls City and fought man-
fully for the right of his client. But who can fight blind, unreasoning pre-
judice? Nobody that anybody has ever heard of.

Well, we fought it out as best we could, and lost, of course. A consid-
erai)le number of our people attended the trial from time to time, and as the
town was not well supplied with a public hotel, and most of Nebraska towns
at the time were in tlie same fix, we were generously and comfortably enter-
tained at the home of IVIrs. Oliver, a widow lady, and the mother of Mrs.
Joiin \y. Holt, presently residing in this city. T remember Mrs. Holt as a
spriglitly little miss in those days.

TIIK BUOAl).\XK, FALLS CITV's FIR.ST XKWSPAI'KR.

In the month of December, 1858, or somewhere about that time, J. E.
Hurbank and Sewel R. Jameson started a newspaper at Falls City. It was
called The Broad Axe, and was a .sort of a continuation of one they had
operated at Centerville, Indiana, the former residence of tiie Burbanks and

(45)

706 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

tlie Jamesons. They had a small hand press and some type, and Jameson
being- a practical printer, the enterprise was set on foot to help Falls City,
and to amuse, if not instruct, the people in this part of the new political com-
munity of Xebra.ska. At the same time A. D. Kirk started one at Rulo,
which he called The Rulo Western Gnufc, and it was not long before a fierce
newspaper war broke out between them of a grossly personal character.

From a dog tight to a newspaper war, or any other conflict, great or
small, in which prowess, valor, grit and gallantry may l)e displayed, the
.sympathies of the partisan zeal oi the Anglo-Saxon are sure to be enlisted,
and if he can in any way get into die row himself, lie will Ije all the better
])leased. The newspaper controversy — principally alxnit nothing — between
those papers, ultimately drew the people i)f the two towns into it, and the
sentiment of place hatred between them, became intensely bitter and remained
so for manv vears afterwards. The ancient wars between the old Scottish
clans were no more vengeful in the hearts of their people, than it. was among
the inhabitants of these two hamlets, whose rivalry had an immediate respect
only to which could show the greater population, and in time to come be
selected as the seat of government of the county.

I have already told in another paper in this series what followed the
election in April, i860, which finally resulted in giving the county seat to
Falls City, and I need say no more under that head.

The row between the Broad Axe and the Rulo ll'estcrn Guide was like
most other shindies of the frontier, ridiculously absurd, senseless in its conduct
and superbly indecent, not to say tlownright obscene, in the general matter
contained in both. The public taste being in keeping with the low vulgarity
indulged in b}- those paper-wad champions, rather relished the weekly showers
<if mud and filth tliey threw at each odier. as in the public estimate the battle
of the rival towns was supposed to hn involved in the issue — and. besides,
they liked the fun. In all essential respects the contest was not unlike a sim-
ilar one recorded by the inimitable caricaturist, Charles Dickens, in the "Pick-
wick Papers." over an election at Fatanswill. between Pott, of the Eatuns-
zi'ill Ga::ette. and Shirk, of the Eataiunvill ludepeiideiit, but I lack the powers
of description in a sufiicient degree to present these Nebraska inky belligerents
and their tem])est in a teapot, as the great Englishman pictured the two
Fatanswill social scabs, and clothed them with his own mantle of deathless
fame.

The wrangle l)elween the pioneer newspapers of this county was, how-
ever, a verv liainilc^s ;ittair, l)ut l)eing the first, is endtlcd to mention in these

klCll.\KD.SON COUNTY, XEBKASKA. 707

])ai)ei"s. llie editors tlieiiiselves were not bad fellows, but were very different
in tenii)eranient, tastes and mental makeup. Of course, nothing in this world
can last forever, and the storm of paper pellets spent itself in the course of a
few months, i)rincipally for the reason that both editors retired from their
posts, and the war-cry died out for a time, to be renewed by others on the
tripods, more fierce than ever, till the county-seat question was settled, when
the Guide faded out of existence and was heard of no more.

THE .\XE COXTIXL-E.S TO CHOI'.

The Broad Axe, however, lingered along for ten years or more, and
like a river I have seen in the mountain districts of the Pacific slopes, would
sink out of sight in spots, to reappear further on, and continued that desul-
tory, intermittent sort of existence, until by some process of newspaper metem-
psychosis, it passed into another under a different name, and this, the first
of its kind, of long-time liappy memory, followed the Guide to the shadowy
land of dead newspapers.

The -roll of its editors brings before me many faces familiar in recol-
lections; faces of men who in another time, were co-pioneers on the Western
border, and j)articipants in laying the foundations of the present great and
prosperous state of Nebraska. Sewell \i. Jameson, its first, retired soon after
its establishment, to take the office of receiver of public moneys in the land
office at Brownville, which place he held for a time, with no particular credit to
himself or an3'1x)dy else. T shall not attempt to write his biographv. It is
rdready written in the lost li\es of th;it mighty liDst of tiie dead from a social
custom, sanctioned, or at least permitted liy tiie laws of socalled Christian men,
and the story of one of those is, in all essential respects, an exact duphcate of
all i)i the others. In a lonely grave on the hillside near Hrownville and over-
looking the broad sweep of the Missouri, as it rolls its unsightly, muddy floods
steadily down to the sea, rests all that was mortal of that young man, once of
high hope, of good intellect and good intentions, but of no more account now
to the busy throngs of the living, than the senseless clods that cover the frail,
wasting body, beneath them. "What is man, that thou art mindful of him, or
the son of man, that thou \isitest him," when man himself is neither nnndful
of his kind nnr merciful to it. but is even cruel in liis disposition to forgetful-
ness and neglect. .\lr. Jameson was succeeded in tlie Broad .-l.ve 1)\- a tramp
printer named Ir\ing, a xoung man with some aljility and :i fair cducalion. l)ut
the social custom mentioned had laid its withering hand nn him early in the
race. ;uiil failure was written against the enterprise from the st.irt. However.

JOH KICIIARDSOX (OLXTY, X F.ItU ASKA.

he ran the paper at inter\als for a \car or two. and then tlirew it up and left the
country. The next to take hold of the A.vc, was a farmer named L. I J. I'routv.
who li\ed out on the Muddy near Joiin R. Dowty's present farm. .Mr. I'routy
had learned the printer's trade when a boy, and was well ecjuipped for the l)usi-
ness of a country editor. Anyway, lie took up the job some time in 1861 and
held it down until 1865. or thereabouts, and was succeeded by Norman J'ierce,
from somewhere in Kansas, who was a better printer and a Ijetter editor than
an\ of his predecessors. About the time that Arago was assuming great
importance as a growing town, and its leading citizens induced I'ierce to move
the Axe down there to help boom the then metropolis on the river. He did so,
and operated the paper there for several months, but with little profit to himself
or the town. Norman liked beer too well, and there was an unlimited quan-
tity constantly on tap and within reach, and as much of his ads and subscrip-
tion were paid in that kind of currency, the editor did what he could with
getting away with at least what he considered his share, and it finally got
away witli tlie ne\\spa])er business itself, and the office was brought back to
I'ails L'ity. Tiie i)ress and material belonged to Jameson and Burbank. and
t]ie\- allowed any i)erson who would unflertake the job of ]>rinting a pajier.
lo use them without cost, hoping someone would make a success of it and
l)uy them out. This 1 think, took place, but it was tiear the decade of i860,
but as I am not writing of that time, the fact is not important at this moment.
The next and the last of the Broad A.vc editors, was Judge Jonathan
Janits Marvin. I have it in my mind that he took charge of the office about
the \ear 1866. but I cannot be accurate as to the time, as I have no data at
hand b\- which to fix it. liiU it was somewhere thereabouts. .\s run l)y him
it was a different paper to any ])reviously published in the town. I'irst.
liecause it was free from all personalities, and was devoted to tlie ])ul)lica-
tion of the cm-rent news of the day, interspersed with articles on literar\'
subjects at interv;ds. that lo\ ers of the higher order of literiiiure would be
delighted with, in a new country as this was then: books of th.' belles-lettres
kind were scarce indeed. Second, because Judge Marvin was the most
;iccomplishcd classical scholar then in Nebraska, or that has e\er been in it
since for that matter, and the products of his pen were marvels of style
and elegance, such as are never met with in the ordinary roug'! and tumble
country publications.

KRUAUnSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 709

IDCK MARVIN IN Tl

Me had been educated in one of the Canadian colleges, l)Ut himself was
a native of the state uf Vermont, and chose the law as his profession in life,
studyino- in the otitice of his grandfather. Judge Janes, who had been chief
justice of tile supreme court of that state. He came of a great race <,f
lawxers, but 1 was alwaxs of the opinion that he made ;i nnstake in trying
to be <ine himself. 1 suppose there is some place in the world for every nian
who has tiie mfsfortune to t)e born into it, but sometimes, and generall}' a
good many times, the wrong man gets into the \\ rong place, and failure, or
at least, incomplete success follows, for which the man himself is held
responsible and unjustly so. To me it appeared that Judge ^lavvin with his
great attainments and splendid poetic fancy, for he vvas a p(>et in every fibre
of his nature, should have been on the editorial staff of some literary maga-
zine of the higher order, where his powers of critical analysis, equal in
grasp to Poe or VVillis, could have had full play and the world of letters
would have been enriched by the circumstance.

Untoward fate ordered his life otherwise, and it may be that I am mis-
taken, though I hardly think so, but I am ver\- certain that he was out r,f his
rightful element trying to practice law in a rude frontier communit\-. or
indeed in any other, as his tastes and natural instincts fitted hnr. for a field
of operation widely different from the ]nigilistic contentions of a legal
forum.

1 have no ai)ology to offer for what I have said of ;i m.-i:^ ivhoni in life
1 a.lmired and respected, and in whom I .saw wh.-it I know many others did
not see — an intellectual giant that fate had enabled pigmies to bind, as the
l.illiputs bound a < nillixer. with fetters woven of their ignorance and narrow
])rcjudices. mere threads of gossamer, but in combination of a social order
as foreign to his nature as he was foreign to it. was sufificiently powerful to
iireak his spirit and hold him in its Iirutal clutch with a tenacity of death
itself. He was among them but not of them, and they killed the aspirations
of a spirit too lofty for vulgar appreciation, and the pearl he cast before the
human swine of his environment, shared the fate predicted for all such.

Such was the man who had editorial charge of that first newspaper
enterprise in our city, during the last year of its existence, until it was swal-
lowed up by one on a larger scale, but not of superior character. Inoffensive,
modest, and retiring, its editor quietly went about his duties harming no man,
but doing the best he could for the town and its ]ieople, and whether that was

/lO lUClIARDSOX COUNTY, NKBKASKA.

much ur little, it was done in kindness, and with a view only to the betterment
<if his fellows, and the community in which he lived. He was a citizen of
Xehraska for thirty-two years, most of which time he lived in Falls City, and
if he ever by word or deed placed a thorn in any man's breast I never knew
it, and I think I knew him as well as any other. He gathered little gear in
the shape of this world's goods, but he accumulated something better, some-
thing he could take with him out of the wilderness — ideas, the only com-
modity man can possess that has real value. From 1865, when he came
h(jme from ser\ ing his country in the army during the Southern \\'ar, until
1891, he went out and came in with his neighbors hereabouts, in peace and
harmony: grew old on these streets, and died, regretted by all.

CHAPTER XXN'II.
Historical Sketches.

THE INUNDATION OF 1858.
By David Doirington. Falls City.

Myself, wife, and son, William E. Dorrington, then known as Ebenezer,
were the oldest permanent residents of Falls City, having resided here con-
tinuously since September 7, 1857. There were other settlers here at the
time of our arrival, but they have either died, left, or removed transiently to
return again. Falls City was not at that time a place of much importance.
Archer then being the only settlement of any consequence in this section of
the country. The old pioneers labored under discouragements, and had to
endure hardships and privations, in comparison with which the late grass-
hopper depredations were but a trifle. Among the most noted occurrences of
this kind was the inundation, freshet or flood, of 1858, being the longest
continued and heaviest fall of rain, the most rapid and extended swelling of
tlie streams and rivers, that this county has experienced in the last twenty
years.

On the 1 2th day of July, 1858, the rain commenced falling, and there
was a continued fall of rain for ten or twelve days, until the Nemaha and
its tributaries burst over their banks, and inundated all of the bottomland of
the county. The bridges on all of the streams were swept away, and Falls
City left isolated and cut off from connection with the rest of the
county. The Nemaha and its branches swelled to such an extent that the
l)ottom farms were covered w'ith water, the fences carried away, and the
farmers and tlieir families compelled to leaxe tehir inundated homes in .^^kift's
or 1)\- swimming.

The country was full of distress ; half naked and starving families
crowded into tlie little settlement of Falls City, until our provisions were
exliausted, and want stared us in the face. Our little stock of flour, corn,
meal, groceries, etc.. had become so small that there was necessity for imme-
diate action, and citizens held a meeting, appointing James Buchanan and
myself a committee to obtain supplies from the East. Mr. Buchanan and

712 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

myself started ott upon our mission, but when we arrived at the Muddy, tliis
side of Archer, we found the liridge swept away, and the creek impassable.
Upon the other side of the creek, just above the dam — as there was an old
mill there at tliat time — I first saw the lion. Elmer S. Dundy, then residing
at Arciier. with wlmni ever since I have had a continued acquaintance and
friendship. We hailed liim, and wished him to take our money and obtain
our su[)plies from the river towns; he constructed a raft and undertook to
cross the Muddy, just below the site of the old bridge, near where Henry
Warneka was afterwards drowned, but the freshet increased to such an
extent, that his raft was swept over the dam, and the judge had to swim
over the creek to join us on the other side.

The judge procured the supplies for us and forwarded them immediately.
Our county was then very sparsely settled, but a A'^ery great amount of property
was destroyed, and it is still vi\idly remembered by all of the old settlers of
the county, 'i'he liottom between Falls City and the Xeniaha. was so deeply
overflowed that for months Sewell R. Jamison and others ran a canoe between
1^'alls City and Sauktown, which they called the "Sauktown express," and
which was run for the purpose of borrowing flour and provisions from tlie
Indian settlement, south of the Xemaha. There are other interesting facts
in regard to this fre.shet, which I do not now recollect, but presume I have
said enough for the purpose of the present introductory sketch ; hoping that
my fellow pioneers will follow with their recollections hereafter.

The foregoing was written on July 28, 1875.

KULO TWENTY YEARS AGO.
By E. H. John.son.

In the summer of 1855. ^^'illiam Kenceleur, Charles Rouleau, and Eli
Bedard, Kli Plant and m\self, left Sioux City for the southeastern portion
of Nebraska then known as the "Half-Breed Tract," lying along the Missouri
ri\er, to the width of alxiut ten miles, between the Great and Little Nemaha
rivers, for the purpose of locating some claims, under the treaty made at
Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, in 183 1, allotting three hundred and twenty
acres of land each, to certain half-breeds or mixed Indians, on this reserve.
To allotments ujjon the tract, the wives of Rouleau and IVxlard and Ken-
celeur were entitled liy virtue of the treaty.

This section of the country, was then in its primitive State, inhabited by
Indians ;md a few (■"renchmen. who were married to squaws or half-breeds,
there being no improvements, except occasionally here and there, an Indian
corn field.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 713

There were but two white men in this vicinity, both Frenchmen; Charles
Martin, a Canadian, an old mountaineer and a man of great historical knowl-
edge, who hat! just come in from Salt Lake City, with a herd of cattle and
mustang ponies, and who was then living near where Rulo now stands in an
Indian lodge or teepee, with a Piute squaw for a wife, and one for a servant.
The other was F. X. DuPuis, a Frenchman, living in a lodge with a squaw,
the widow of the great Iowa chief, White Cloud, then deceased.

Charles ilartin was a most remarkable man, both as to appearance and
character; he was tall and straight, with a spare face, long Roman nose, small
grey eyes, and dark curly hair that fell upon his shoulders in ringlets ; he was
an excellent horseman and an experienced hunter; his disposition was warm
and generous to a fault, afifectionate, and trusting everything to his friends.

FUTURE WIFE RESCUED FROM DEATH.

The manner in which Martin secured his wife, savors a little of the
romantic, and may be of interest.

Upon one of his hunting expeditions in the wild Indian country among
the mountains, where no white men except the French fur trader, pioneer
and trapper had ever ventured, ^lartin came across a wild tribe of Indians,
who had lately lost one of the chiefs in battle with a neighboring tribe, in
which they had taken captives from the enemy. By the Indian customs, when
the chief was killed in battle, if any of the enemy had been taken captive,
one of their number was to be immolated to appease the spirit of the dead
warrior. \\'hen Martin came into the camp, he found that the Indian tribe
was about to perform the funeral ceremonies of their deceaserl chieftain,
and had erected a funeral pyre over his remains, upon the top of which, bound
and expecting to be burned as a victim, sat a beautiful Indian maiden, between
twelve and fourteen years of age. The heart of the honest trapper was
touched, and calling the chiefs of the nation together, he offered them a
couple of tents or teepees and a couple of horses, in all valued at about two
luuidred dollars, to ransom the girl. The ransom was accepted, and the
trembling maid, clasped in the arms of the hardy pioneer, became after the
Indian fashion, his bride. She made him an excellent wife, being a neat
housekeeper, good cook, and well skilled in all the arts taught to Indian girls:
of tiiis there was proof in the gay buckskin suit she made for IMartin, deco-
rating it tastefully with beads and other Indian ornaments ; a part of this suit
afterwards came into the possession of Wilson H. Maddox. a pioneer of I'alls

714 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

City. Martin was very fond of his wife and only survived her a year or two,
slie dying in 1859.

One of the first stores started in Nebraska was put in at Rulo by Martin
and his partner. F. L. Goldsl)erry, under the tirm name of Martin & Golds-
berry.

In the summer of 1855 we located the present townsite of Rulo and of
the Rulo mill site now occupied by Thacker S: Davis, on the Muddy near its
mouth.

From the time we left the north line of Richardson county, until we
struck the Kansas line, a distance of about twenty miles, we saw^ but one
cabin, and that was the house of Stephen Story, where his present residence
is, west of St. Stephens. There teing no roads or bridges, we were obliged
to follow Indian trails, as near as possible, to ensure us a means of crossing
the creeks on our route.

In the year 1856. Kenceleur. Bedard, Plant and myself, moved down
and brought with us. Joshua Murray, James Kenough and two other men,
and built a cabin near the north end of the now Muddy bridge, and commenced
work on the Muddy mill at Thacker & Davis's present site. After the saw-
mill was in running order and prior to the grist-mill being attached, it was
destroyed by fire, the work of an incendiar}-. We w-ere obliged to get all
of our provisions from. the east side of the Missouri river, eight or nine miles
from our v.'ork, and pack it on horses.

Game was quite plenty, considering tlie numl)er nf nning Indians that
w ere scattered over the tract.

Rr.STINC ri.ACE OF WHITE CLOUD.

Upon the townsite of W'innebago there was then a Winnebago Indian
village. Iowa Indians were camped in large numbers, all along the river, and
near the northwest corner of the townsite of Rulo, was a very important
burying ground in which rests the great warrior and head chief of the lowas.
White Cloud, in all the glory of his station.

In the fall of 1856 we commenced the survey of Rulo: and in the spring
of 1857, Major Stark, United States army, came on the reserve at a point
.low known as Aspinwall, to issue certificates of allotment to those entitled
tn the lands.

In the }ear 1N57 we cast our first votes, numbering twenty-three, for
county otficers. ;it the nld town of Archer, voting for our old and esteemed
friend, \\'. H. .Mann, for countv clerk.

KICIIARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 715

The Riilo JJ'cstcni Guide, the first paper printed in Richardson county.
was estabhshed by the Rulo Town and Ferry Company, under the manage-
ment of a man by the name of Barret, who was succeeded by A. D. Kirk
and Charles Hergesheimer as editors.

In the year 1859. the Indian agent having completed his mission on the
reserve, withdrew his presence, and left us to the mercies of the white man.
by whom we were received with friendship, attached to the balance of the
county and introduced to and allowed the privilege of paying taxes like other
men. which blessing we have not as yet been deprived of.

The foregding was written on August 11, 1875.

PIONEER HARDSHIPS.
By WiHiam Witlierow.

I moved in March, 1854, from. the place now called Mariette, in Holt
county, Missouri, opposite St. Stephens (in this county), to a claim I had
taken during the preceding February, up on what is called "Rattlesnake."
in this county.

About the loth of March, 1854, I arrived at my claim with my family,
we liaving been two or three days on our route and having to make a crossing
over the south fork of the Nemaha in order to reach our destination. That
spring I broke ten acres of land, and put in corn for myself, with four yoke
of three-year-old steers, which I took from Henry Abrahms to break for their
work; I also broke ten acres for Doctor Macey, about four miles down the
stream, on a farm afterwards occupied by George Kelley, who was killed by
David Rogers.

My claim was located on Rattlesnake creek, so called from a large den
of rattlesnakes l:)eing killed upon it by a company of (iennans and Swiss,
among whom were the \\'ittwers and Jacob Spring; Spring, a Swiss, was
my nearest neighbor.

About the first of November. 1854. Spring and myself went to Savannah,
Missouri, for provisions. Before our return a severe storm came up; we
undertook to recross the Missouri river at Amazonia (near St. Joseph), but
were prevented b}' the high wind, ice and snow ; we expected to get over the
river at St. Stephens but could not on account of the storm, and were com-
pelled to leave our cattle and wagons in ^Missouri and cross in a canoe to the
coal banks above ^'ankton fa mile and a quarter above Rulo in Richardson
coiint\i. where a man named Level was then living, passing the floating ice

7l6 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

and breaking our way where the ice hatl closed up. and pax ing- a man a dollar
for ferrying; us over in his canoe.

.\t Level's home we obtained refreshments, and up(«i leaving, Mr. Spring
got a full grown cat — cats then being scarce and valuable in this new country
— and put it in a sack and placed the .sack in his bosom to shelter it from the
storm in crossing the bleak prairies through the deep snow.

A CATAISTKOl'IlK.

After wc had toiled ahjng against the cold wind, so strong that we had
to turn our backs to it to hear each other, to a point upon the high prairie
abo\e where Joseph Forney now resides, I heard a muttering from Mr.
Spring, who was exhausted, and declared he would not face the storm any
longer, and we were bound to die, and he showed me the cat he had carried
in his bosom frosen stiff and hard. I encouraged him to proceed and we
went on. At one of the points near the old Joe Burb.nnk place, where Ben-
ianu'n liowers" farm now is, we disco\-ered a light in the Crook settlement,
and arrived at Isaac I'rooks'. hungry and half frozen. Here we refreshed
ourselves and passed the night. The next day we continued our journey
through the dee]) snow until we reached our homes at night. It was six
weeks before we could cross over our cattle and provisions, and Spring was
fortunate enough to bring home two cats, which, with their progeny, suc-
ceeded in ridding the country of mice. In that six weeks we had pretty hard
diet, boiled corn, a little pork, soiue dried squashes, potatoes, and turnips we
ha<l raised the season before, but no flour or groceries of any description.

In the spring of 1855 I sold my claim upon Rattlesnake and moved up
.and locatetl a claim on I'.asley creek, near the claim of Jacob Fre^•. in what
was later Speiser precinct.

The winter of 1H55-6 was terribly severe. .\ little before Christmas a
iicax y sleet fell u])on a deep snow, and crusted it over, and it was almost im-
|)ossil)lc to traxcl with teams and we were unable to get to the mills to have
any grain ground, l-'or three weeks we had to subsist princi])ally upon boiled
honn"n\- and \cnison. deer I)eing very plentiful and not able to escaj^e from
the groves or run from the dogs on account of the ice and crust.

Tile troubles of m\ German friends in making hominy aft'ordetl me con-
siderable aiuu>-enK-nt, as thev did not understand the process, and could
neither get tlie hull oli' the corn nor the lye out of it. and as a result they
manufactured a ma>^s of \ello\v ^tnff. which the\- could not eat, and l.niked

uicirAKnsox county, Nebraska. 717

like most anytliing- Imt Iioniiny. ]My wife and Mrs. Morrison, an elderly lady
from Missouri, before the three months had expired, taught them the mystery
of hulling the corn and sjetting- out the lye.

DIED FROM EXPOSURE.

M the commencement of this storm we sent Samuel Bright, a German
frdui Savannah, Missouri, to Salem for groceries for our families, and he
w.is overtaken and lost in the storm, remaining in the wilderness on Honey
creek all night, getting into the creek several times, and filling his boots with
water; when he arrived at home, both of his legs were frozen to such an
extent that tiefore he died they came off at the top of his lx>ots : his death
took ])lace upon the night before Xew ^'ear. We were notified of his death
1)\ Jacob Spring, antl I, living four miles off, being the nearest neighbor, gath-
ered as many of my neighbors as I could find, amounting in all to seven, to
assist in burying him. As I was accustomed to the use of a needle, I was
assigned to the dut\- of making his shroud, while the rest, the weather being
extremelv cold, took their turns at digging his grave, and making the coffin.
Tilt frost was .so deep that they could only make his grave four feet deep,
.md then did not succeed in piercing the frost. The coffin was made of
puncheons and old boards, as there was in those old pioneer times no better
material to l>e provided; but I have no doubt that the spirit of my departed
friend is as well and as happy as if he had been buried under the domes of a
cathe<lral, with the richest casque to hold his remains. On our return from
the funeral three of those engaged in the burial were badly frozen; Uncle
James Morrison had his nose badly frozen and Jacob Frey and James
-\loran barely escaped the loss of their ears. Aside from this exceedingly
cold weather during six weeks, we had not much to regret on account of our
\enison and homin\- diet, for in the spring all were fat and enjoying the best
of health.

COUXTkV IN .\ SHROUn OF MOURNING.

In the summer of j8Ao I sold the farm I had made on Easley creek to
(ieorge (iird. and removed to Rulo, and while there, sickness was prevalent
all along the Nemaha, and deaths were occurring every day from the bloody
flux, which seemed almost to be incurable. In the neighborhood of Salem alone,
there were sixteen deaths in one week from the epidemic. I carried several
c<irpses from Rulo to Salem for interment within a short time, and the whole
countr\- seemed to be in a shroud of mourning.

/lO KICIIARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

In aiiutlicr story appearinj^ in this series of articles by pioneers, niv
friend, Uncle Thomas F. Brown, speaks of the killing of David Hudgins. 1
was acquainted with all the facts connected with that murder, and carried
tile l)ody of Hudgins home to his family. Mr. Brown unintentionally makes
a mistake in saying that David Moran killed Hudgins. Stephen Moran, a
twin brother of David Moran, was the person who comiuitted the act, and
was arrested, tried and acquitted. David Moran, a gentleman in everv re-
spect, lived upon Hackberry Ridge in Andrew county. Missouri, while Stephen
was a neighbor of mine.

The foregoing was written on .September 2. 1875.

PIONEER TRIP IN 1854.
By Jesse Criiok, of PaUs, Cit.v.

On the Jt)th da} of August. A. D. 1854, \\'illiam Goolsby, Faragus
I'ollard, William Koberts, John .A. Singleton, John Crook, James Goolsby,
Simmerly and Short, whose first names I do not now recollect, and myself
started from Fillmore, Andrew county, Missouri, to make a tour through this
then uninhabited region. We crossed the Missouri river, into Indian terri-
tory, then lielonging to the Iowa Indians, near what is now called Iowa Point,
and took our dinner upon Indian lands. A\'e then cut out a road for our
teams, up the branch to the site of the present town of Iowa Point, and
struck through the prairie by the old Iowa mission. That night we camped
near the waters of what is now known as \\o\i river. The next day we
pursued our iounie\- o\er the iirairie, seeing wolves and deer in abundance
and fre(|uently coming across elk horns and occasionally finding buffalo heads.
The grass was tall and the vegetation rank and the soil as rich as was ever
seen. The same da\ we crossed a beautiful stream, apparently adapted to mill
])urposes, and a large walnut grove and named this stream Walnut creek,
wiiich name it now bears. We uncoupled the team and packed the wagon
over the creek. We then traveled in a northwesterly direction about ten
miles, until we came to another small stream upon whose banks a drove of
Indian ponies were grazing: to this stream we gave the i^resent name of Pony
creek.

This l)eing soon after the ratification of tlie treat\- with the Indians,
there was no white settler or inhabitant in the country. There were no
bridges, no roads or jjatlis. excei)t a very few Indian trails. About five miles
northwest of i'on\- creek we came to the headwaters of ;i branch which had

RICirARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 7I9

a large l)0(ly of tinil)ei- on it. We went down this creek a couple of miles,
near to its mouth, and found a little spring seeping out of the bank where
we camped for the purpose of getting good water that night and the next day.

CONTRARY CREEK.

1 told the boys that I would take a little walk and look at the timber. I
followed the stream about half a mile down to its mouth and it was \'ery hard
to follow, for which reason we, called it by its present designation, Contrary
creek, I having stated to the boys upon my return to camp, that it was the
most contrary creek I had ever seen. Contrary creek empties into a larger
creek, upon whose banks, immediately before it emptied into the south fork
of the Nemaha, were steep bluffs of rock. We named the stream Rock creek,
which name it still bears. In my travels on foot I went over the south fork
of the Nemaha and to a high bluff, upon the top of which was a monument,
twelve or Hfteen feet high, laid up by the Indians, of loose stones. I climbed
up to the top of it and looked around. From there I saw another river in a
northeasterly direction running from the northwest and flowing into the
Nemaha.

Upon m\- return to camp we took our horses and, crossing die Nemaha,'
we came to the river I had seen from the monument, and followed it to its
junction with the main river, which the Indians had already named the
Nemaha: we called it the north fork of the Nemaha. Two of our company,
John A. Singleton and \\'illiam Roberts, took claims for farming purposes
on the south fork of the Nemaha; Singleton's claim was the farm now owned
by Eugene Boyle, on whicli there was then standing over one hundred acres
of fine timber. Another of our party. Short, took a claim for a mill-site at
the junction of the two Nemahas ; and Singleton and Roberts staked a claim
adjoining Short's for a townsite, upon a piece of land covered with a red-
oak grove, filletl with hop vines and innumeraijle weeds, where the town of
Salem now stands. .Vt this place we left Singleton, Roberts and Short,
upon their claims, w ith the team, and crossed tlie north fork of the Nemaha
on horseback. We traveled up the ncjrth fork on the east side. William
Goolsby, Faragus Pollard, James Goolsby, John Crook and myself took
claims at intervals, on the east side of the north fork of the Nemaha river.

After staking our claims we turned pur course, started for home and
came to a branch where there was a small grove with deer in it ; this we
named Deer creek, by which name it is still known, and took our dinner there
where John ("rook now resides. \A'e held a council to decide upon which

J20 KICHAKDSOX COIXTY, NEBRASKA.

ri/ute to piirsuc upon our return (supposing that we were over fifty miles
west of the Missouri ri\er, when we really were within Init fifteen miles of
it.) We then left the Nemaha valley, and struck for the Missouri, aiming
to keep the river in sight, so as not to be beyond the reach of water and
camped for the night in a hickory grove upon a small stream, where our
slumljers were disturljed at intervals until day, by the screams of the wild
cat. This branch we named Wild Cat, near the mouth of whicli is the farm
of J. 1'". Harkendorff. The next morning we went about half a mile north,
to a large creek where 1 fell <M my horse in crossing and got wet. and we
called the stream Soak creek, but it is now known as the Muddy.

From the Muddy we pursued our journey, in a northerly direction, over
the prairie and dividing ridge, often becoming bewildered and half lost, for
al)0Ut five miles, when, to our astonishment, we discovered the river bluffs
of the Missouri at no great distance. Here we struck an Indian trail and
followed it through ravines and over the hills, to an Indian trading post, in
a little log house on the banks of the Missouri, kept by a Frenchman or half-
breed of the name of Deroin, where St. Deroin now stands. By firing our
revolvers we succeeded in arousing a man and a woman on the Missouri side.
who came over in a small boat and took us over, taking one horse at a trip.

On April 17. 1855, I removed my family to a claim on Muddy creek,
about a mile north of the present site of Falls City, and abandoned my claim
on the Xemaha. Here I started the first prairie farm in the vicinity. The
country was full of wolves, deer and wild turkeys, and fish was so abundant
in the small streams, that we could kill them with clubs. The first male child
Itorn in the settlement was Frank Leechman (still residing on the same farm
north of Falls City in 1917.) The first election held in what is now Richard-
county was at a log house in a grove lielonging to a man named Level, in the
fall of 1834, when there were about ten votes polled. The candidates, some
of them, resided in other states. C"ol. J. F. Sharp was elected to the Senate
(or council), as it was then called, from what is now Richardson, Pawnee
and parts of both Nemaha and Johnson counties, resided then at Glenwood,
Towa, and John A. Singleton, elected to the House of the Territorial Legis-
lature, had a family in Missouri.

I could gi\f more items that might be of interest, but space precludes.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 73I

UP THE NEMAHA IN 1854.
By Thomas F. Brown.

On August 18, 1875, Mr. T. F. Brown contributed the following:
Coming from Caloway county, Missouri, in June, 1854, I met with John
liudgins, Phelan Belan and Darius B. Ferguson, residing in Andrew county,
.Missouri, who intended to make a trip west into the Indian territory. We
crossed the Missouri river at a point near where Amazonia now stands, into
the Indian territory, and into what is now Doniphan county, Kansas. We
tra\'eled up the lx)ttom through weeds, seven or eight feet high, and timber,
making our journey hot and uncomfortable, until we came across a spring-
gushing out of the bank or verge of the rolling prairie. Near this spring
there has since been a townsite laid out called Smithtown. At this spring
wo refreshed our weary frames and camped a little north of the present site
lit Troy Junction. As we were dismounting we ran into a flock of wild
turkeys, and shot one of them, whose bones we had the pleasure of anatom-
izing for our e\ening repast. We brought our bread with us, and had our
tin cups swung to our belts, and when we wished for a cup of coffee, we put
our cups filled with water, over the blaze of the fire, and dropped in a pinch
or t\vo of ground coffee. The next day we came to the California trail from
St. Joseph, Missouri, and followed it until we came to the Iowa farm, or
mission. Mr. Irwin, the preacher at the mission, advised us to explore the
Wolf river country, but stated that there was an Indian reservation in tliat
region l)elonging to the Mississippi Sacs.

.MOTIIER OF FIRST WHITE CHII.O BORN IX RICHARDSON COUNTY.

Upon examining the W'oU River countrx", we were delighted with it, but
afraid to select any claims on account of the uncertainty of the location of
the reserve. We then followed the California trail until we came to the
Xemaha, just south of the Nebraska 'line, where we camped for the third
night. Here we found a small log cabin belonging to a man by the name
of lieals, from Pennsylvania, who had a wife and one child. Out on the
divide about twenty-five miles southeast of the Nemaha, we met a covered
wagon belonging to an old gentleman by the name of Davenport. In the
wagon was his family, his daughter — the widow Hershberger. afterwards
Mrs. Leachman. to whom came the honor of being the mother of the first

(46) •

/2'2 KICJIAKDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

white child liurn in i\ich;irdson county; his son, Lewis Diivenixirt. afterwunl--
a merchant in Nebraska Cit)-, and others.

]\Ir. Davenport made a claim about two miles below this point, and died
there that fall. His widow married a man by the name of Clifford, who in
the winter of 1858-59 killed a young man who was working; for him, in a
fight, upon his claim near the Hay's bridge, in Muddy precinct, where C.
Van Deventer later resided. His wife frightened by the aft'ray, ran out
upon the prairie and perished in the snow in a vacant cabin near the stream
called Whiske\ run. not far from the David Ouinlan farm. In the fall of
1859. tlie grand iur\- at the session of the district court held at Salem in
September, found an indictment against Clifford for murder. Daniel
Hudgins and myself were members of the grand jury. Upon his return
home towards liasley Creek, Hudgins got into a personal affray with David
Moran, and IMoran cutting his throat, he died in a few minutes.

At the camping place near the Beals' cabin, we were annoyed and
deprived of our rest bj' innumerable mosquitos, which troubled us so much
that though we held our heads over the smoke, we could not get rid of them.
Here Belan and Hudgins left us for the high prairies, expecting to escape the
mosquitos. but returned in about an hour saying that they were worse on the
prairies tiian in the l)ottom. They wished us to move our camp, but w'hen
we refused, the\ left I'^rguson and myself, and we saw nothing more of
them during the trip. The next da\ we proceeded up the Xemaha to explore
the country, and came across a man In- the name of Newton, who, with his
family, li\ed in a cabin al)Out five miles this side of the present site of Seneca,
Kansas, and at a point where a townsite was afterwards surveyed, called
Central city.

"spying the land."

Newton went with us up the Nemaha, and we passed the crossing from
J't. Leavenworth to Kearney, and looked over the country beyond where
Seneca now stands, Iwt did not select claims, as the soil was too sandy and
sterile to suit us, though the timber was excellent. Upon the high prairie at
this point an Indian boy, about fourteen or fifcteen years of age. came to us
on foot, walking very fast, with his blanket around him. and his bow and
arrow to shoot game for his subsistence. He was on the trail of a band of
Pottawatomies who had passed about four or five days before, on their route
t(j Minnesota. AA'ith no food but what he could procure with his bow and
arrow, he pursued and overtook the band Iiefore they reached their destina-
tion.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 723

We tlieii retraced our steps and pursued our course down the Nemalia,
l)elo\v where we had first struck it, and found settlers near where Cincinnati
(in Pawnee county, near Du Bois), or Fries' mill now is located, to-wit ;
loseph P'ries, Christian Eobst and Robert Turner, who were living in cabins
with their families, where they had been for a month or two.

We came down about three miles (in the present confines of Richard.son
count\ ). where we found a man by the name of Henry Alirams, in camp
with his family, with a cabin partly erected.

A1)out a mile from there I took a claim, blazed the trees and laid a
foimdation for a cabin on the first clay of July, 1854, on the farm where I
now reside and during the summer I erected a cabin, near where I had laid
the fnunda.tion. being the settler farthest east upon the Nemaha.

In the fall. Abrams and myself put up a hundred tons of hay and brought
over and wintered al^out forty or fifty head of cattle.

Late in the fall, we struck for the Missouri river to see it we could find
any settlers. We discoveretl no signs of a settlement until we reached the
claims of Singleton, Roberts and .Short, where Salem now stands.

In a grove, north of the after-site of Archer, and upon the farm where
\V. -M. Maddox now resides, we came to a log cabin of a man named Levels,
who liveil there with his two wives and a large family of children.

Game was very plentiful, especially turkeys and deer: fisli in the streams
were so tame that you could kill them with clubs as they ran_ between your
legs in the water, some of them two or three feet long.

In the spring of 1855. I enclosed one hundred acres upon my farm, and
broke twenty acres, .\bout July. 1855. the settlement having extended
towards the east part of the county. T liroke land in the neighborhood of
.\rcher. wliere now are the farms of ^^'illiam Maddox. Isaac Crook. Jesse
Cniok and \Mlliam Goolsbv.

EARLY POLITICAL ITEMS.

On August 26. 1875. -^t''- Tsaac Crook wrote the following:
In 1856 I resided in .\ndrew county, Missouri. .-\.t that time there was
great excitement among the poe])le, in regard to Kansas and Nebraska, and
frequent meetings were held, in which it was firmly resolved by the large
Jandholders and slaveholders, that K;insas should belong to the South, wliile
thev were willing to give u]^ Xeliraslca to tlie North, :is Iieing a colder and

7-^4 UICHAKDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

more sterile country. Tor this reason, apprehending trouble in Kansas, I
relinquished my idea of settling there, and about the tenth day of April, 1859,
moved over to Nebraska. The next day I paid fifty dollars towards the erec-
tion of a bridge at .Vrcher.

\Mien I arrived here the follcjwing- were the county officers, being the
first elected in Richardson county, to-wit : John C. ?\liller, probate judge ;
1'". L. Goldsberry, county clerk; Lewis Misplais, county treasurer, and

McMullin, sheriff. There were but two election precincts in the county,

Salem and Archer.

The first court held in Kichardson county was convened at Archer, then
county seat, at Judge ^filler's large log cabin, whicli served as court house,
jail and tavern, all in one.

Archer was at that time quite a lively little place. Kirk and Goldsbern,-
and John P. W'elty kept stores, and there were two hotels and a blacksmith
shop here, besides a number of dwellings. 1 resided near Archer, and through
court time had to keep a public house, and entertained a large number of
suitors, witnesses and jurors; and for this purpose butchered and brought
()\ er from Missouri, in bacon, sixty fat hogs^ which I had to keep out under
the sheds on acc^^amt of my house being filled with boarders. My wife, one
night, cut upon a large ham, which was covered with bran, and the next
morning the ham was missing. My wife and Jesse Crook's wife followed
the trail, by the bran, through the brush, until it struck an Indian trail on
the prairie. I followed the trail until I came to a neighbor's house, where I
discovered two of my hams hanging up. I said to the man of the house:
"Jim, have you got a shot gun? I want to borrow one; the Indians have
been stealing my meat, and I mean to kill them when they come again.'' He
turned pale and said he had no gun. I told him I would lx)rrow one from
\\ illiam Gool.sby. I returned home and had no further trouble from stolen
hams.

Our county ofiicers exercised jurisiliction over what are now Richardson,
i'awnee and Johnson counties, there being at that time no settlements of
consequence west.

In the f.-all of 1856, James H. Lane and his men. on their route to central
Kansas, where the troubles were commencing between the Free State and
Southern men, passed and stopped several times with their arms, ammunition
and artillery. They buried some of their military supplies on Pony creek.
south of the later site of I'alls City. They purchased from me, at good prices.
one thousand pounds of bacon, twenty sacks of flour and a wagon load of
apples which I bad brought from Missouri. .\ week or two before their

UlCIIARUSOX COLXTV. XKUKASKA. 725

lirst arrival, spies came to my liouse frnm both sides, reconnoitering, and
as thev knew I was from Missouri, lioth Xorthern and Southern men wanted
to know what I was doino- (,ver here, hut I gave them evasive answers to their
(|uestions.

PRICE OF A LIFE.

.\s James H. Lane was frequently at my house, and in my company
traveling through the country, and boarded at Rickard's house, about a quarter
of a mile from mine, I was ofifered ii\-e thousand dollars by a company of
men in Missouri, when 1 was over there purchasing sujjplies if I would cause
Iiis death. I told them I would not kill a man for anything, and the\
replied that his death would save the lives of thousands of others.

In the fall of 1856 there were ninety-eight votes polled in the county, there
being Init few legal voters.

In the fall of 1857. I ran for county treasurer against jNIisplais and
McDaniel, and was elected, three hundred and forty votes being polled. W.
H. Mann was selected county clerk: Samuel Keefer, sherifif, and Joseph Yount.
.\rnett Roberts and George Coffman. county commissioners. There were
then three election precincts — Archer, .Salem and Speiser.

Tn that year the sheriff collected the taxes, but the next Legislature
changed the law and made it the duty of the treasurer to go into every pre-
cinct two days every year, giving ten days' notice by posters in each precinct,
of the time of the collection therein.

In the fall of 1858 the taxes were as follows: County tax, three mills
on the dollar: territorial tax, two mills; county school tax, one mill; making a
total tax of six mills on the dollar. My tax that \ear was thi-ee dollars, upon
the same amount of property, excejit real estate, now taxed at from fifty
dollars to sixty dollars.

SAl.E.M ISKCOMKS CorXTY SEAT.

The half-I)reed line was run in the winter of 1857 and the coimty seat
removed from .Archer to Salem, u])on this account. Judge Miller resigned
his office and l->(|uire Trammel was appointed probate judge, and he and
.Mann, the countv clerk, removed their offices to Salem, where the county seat
remained until iSfio, when it was removed to Falls City, where it now is,
there being ;i spirited contest and several hotly-fought elections upon the
subject.

in the fall of 1851; 1 was re-elected county treasurer. The prairies had

■J2G KICIIAkDSdX lOL-NTV, NKIJKASKA.

lifc'ii rapidly settletl up and the pcipulatiiin increased largeh'. S(i tliat there
were nver eight iuindred votes polled. Vi\ opponent was Samuel K. Roberts.
of Srdem. and Israel Ma\ . of Rulo, but I received as many votes as both of
iheni. W. H. .Mann and Samuel Keefer were re-elected countv clerk and
sheritif. The taxes remained the same, with the exception of a small road tax.

Colonel -Mclntyre and Shellhorn were elected county commissioners. The
election precincts were l\ulo. St. .Ste]ihens, ]-"alls C'itv. Salem. Speiser and
l-ranklin.

just before my second election, in the collection of taxes. I went into
ditterent neighborhoods, where there were several widow women who had
grown sons and sons-in-law. I gave each of them a tax receipt free and upon
the ensuing election, their influence was strong in my favor, I getting everv
vote in their resjiective \icinities. After tliat. not lieing a candidate. I was
not so liberal and forgot niv fair friends.

At this time we had two weekly newspapers lately started in the county,
the i\ii\o ll'csfc-ni Guide, at ivulo. and the Hroad J.iv, at Kails City.

Tn the fall of \H()\. V. .\. Tisdell, Sr.. succeeded me as county treasurer.
I not being a candidate for re-election.

Il.\l) TIIKIK OKITC'KS I.V TllEIi; HATS.

In the early \ears of the county, the clerk's otifice was held at the county
se.it. but the treasurer and probate judge had their offices in their hats, pockets
and some crann\- in their dwelling houses, .\bout twelve years ago. \\'illiam
(ioolsby and myself and some townspeople, used to go out about six miles
north of this place to hunt wolves, on a trip of alx)Ut six miles square or more,
and thought that when my grazing land gave out that I would herd my horses
and cattle here, as there seemed no prospect of it ever being settled. About
a week ago I ^vent over the same tract, and t(T m\- surprise, found it one
succession of lanes running through rich farms, upon which were substantial
barns and fine old-fashioned Dutch houses.

All of our old ))ioneers were u|ion their arrival here, very jioor. but
changed their circumstances for wealth and plenty, in most cases.

PIOXEER HUNTERS LIFE.
B.v Wniiam (!. <!o<ilsl).v.

Mr. William G. Goolsby contributed the following on September q. iHy^ :
T accomp.anied Jesse ("rook upon bis first tri]) thr(^ugh this coimtv. in

UlCUAKDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. "^2"/

August, 1854. when the country was uninhabited and I do not think it neces-
sary to give a narrative of that journey, as the incidents related in that sketch
are correct in all material particulars. As stated by Mr. Crook, I then took
a claim upon the north fork of the Nemaha, but I became sick while up near
Salem and was in poor health until my return to Missouri, and left in such
[)oor conceit with Nebraska that I firmly resolved to abandon my claim and
never visit it more; but upon the return of health I became once more anxious
for the adventures and perils of pioneer life.

Accordingly, in February, 1855. I raised a band of seven men, among
whom was Jesse Crook, and we equipped ourselves thoroughly for the purpose
of revisiting the range of our expedition of the summer l^efore. We crossed
the Missouri river on the ice, and spent eight days in Nebraska. In the spring
of 1855, I returned with Jesse Crook and helped him break his farm.

In October, 1855, I bought from Jesse Crook, the claim upon which I
made a farm and now reside. On the 23rd day of March, 1856, I removed
my family to my claim. That spring and summer game of everv kind was so
])Ientiful, that I sent word to an old hunter friend of mine. Doctor Impey, in
Andrew count)-, Missouri, to come over and bring his greyhounds. He was
so Inisy that he could not come, but sent word for me to come over and get
the dogs. I went over, and the Doctor calling in his dogs, six in numljer,
hade me choose. I refused to take the privilege, and he selected out two of
the finest I have ever seen and gave them to me. With the assistance of these
(l<igs on my return to Nebraska, I supplied the neighlx)ring settlement with
\enison, and made such inroads upon the wolves, wild cats and coons, that I
ric<|uired through southern Nebraska the name of the "old wolf hunter." In
one half day my hounds brought in seven deer, and there were many more in
sight, but I would not let them run any longer,

w.\i LS "iwpkked" with hides.

For two winters I employed myself solel\- in furnishing wood and feed,
and in hunting. In the \\ inter of 1856. Broadus Thompson and another gen-
tleman from St. Joseph, Missouri, visited my residence. I had two large
log cabins, the sides of which were lined clear around with hides of e\'ery
description. The next morning they took a look at the deer, wolf, wild cat,
coon and other skins which comprised my principal assortment, for that winter
I took a sled full of hides of wild animals to St. Stephens, our principal market
place, besides selling three times as many to Burbanks and other fur traders
at mv own house.

JJH KICHAKDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Mr. TlKimpscii. un liis return to St. Joseph, published an account of his
trip in the St. Joseph Gazette, occupying over two cokimns. In this article
lie described the amount of venison I had on hand, the array of skins I dis-
plajed and the se\en dogs which accompanied . me on my expeditions, and
stated that on their visit here he and his comrade had got lost upon the prairie
surrounded by wolves and would have l>een destroyed by them, if it had not
been for my opportune appearance \\'ith ni}' dogs. There was some romance
in Thompson's story, but it was a fact that there were multitudes of wolves
thronging" the prairies in every direction. Harkendorff, Misplais and myself,
were the only settlers in the region, and from my house to Nemaha city on
the Missouri river, was one unbroken iuuiting ground, haunted only by wohes.
I used to call it my hunting ground, never expecting to see it settled, and calcu-
lated upon it as my stock range in the future, as mentioned by Isaac Crook
in his sketch. Xow it is a succession of rich, well-cultivated farms.

At Salem, when I came there followed by my dogs, I was often asked 1j\-
Mr. Hare, as to how in the world I found it possible to feed so many dogs ;
I used to reply with a laugh, that "I would not have a dog which could not
ii1)tain feed for himself."

I had a log cabin twehe by fourteen, which I fre(iuently had full for
uKjnths from floor to roof with venison, and was never without it for years.
To my neighbors I gave away venison — a ham at a time and never thought
of charging them for it. The Crooks would frequently come over to my cabin
on horseback and carry away a sackful at a time. In the winter of 1856 deer
were more plentiful than ever, and I frequently saw droves of fifteen or twenty
feeding together on the l:)0ttonis. One day another man and myself standing
together, counted at one time, five gangs of deer on the prairie in sight; wild
turkeys, prairie chickens and all other kinds of game were abundant. For the
lirst two years Muddy creek was filled with fish ; since that time they have been
more scarce. I often heard the women tell of catcliing tish in the creek where
thev were washinp.

KARI.V IIISTOKY OF SAI.EM.
By J. C. Lincoln.

On September 22, J 875, Mr. J. C. Lincoln wrote die following:
Salem being one of the first of the early settlements made in Richardson
county, Nebraska, one word from tb.is locrdity may not be out of place. The
precinct of Salcni. now consisting of town one, range fifteen, east of the sixth

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 729

principal meridian, upon the Jirst organization of the county, comprised about
two-thirds of the present county — of Richardson, there then being only two
election precincts in the territory at present constituting our county and a por-
tion of Pawnee and Johnson counties to-wit : Archer and Salem. There are
now fifteen precincts in Richardson county alone. The first settlement made
in this precinct was by Thomas R. Hare, J. W. Roberts, John A. Singleton, in
the summer and fall of 1854, they taking claims upon lands that year opened
by the general government to actual settlers. Mr. Hare purchased his claim,
one hundred and sixty acres, with the mill privilege at Salem, on the north
fork of the Xemaha, for fifty dollars, from a man by the name of Short, men-
tioned in another story in this series by Jesse Crook, as a man accompanying
him on his tour through this region in 1854. In 1855 Thomas R. Hare erected
his grist- and saw-mill at this place, upon the claim purchased from Short,
which he subsequently entered; the water power proved excellent, and the
property has been improved from time to time and enhanced in value, and the
mill property with two acres of land, sold last spring (in 1875) for fifteen
thousand dollars.

SIRVEVED TOWNSITE OF SALEM.

In March, 1855, I located here and, associated with J. \V. Roberts and
Thomas R. Hare, laid out and surveyed the town of Salem on the site where
it now stands. It had much the appearance of a wilderness at that time, and
we were compelled to burn ofif the grass and weeds, which were from two to
three feet high, before we could complete our survey.

In May, 1855. I erected a store house and commenced selling goods at
this place, it Ijeing the first general assortment of goods brought into this
county.

Tlie first load was hauled for me from FiHmore, Missouri, in Andrew
county, l)y Jesse Crook, and I gave him a pony for his services, which he
afterwards sold to the Indians for sixty dollars in gold. At first, white cus-
tomers were scarce, but the Indian trade sustained me until the immigration
of 1856, which gave new life and impetus to trade, and business revived, and
has continued good ever since, giving evidence that the selection Was a gooil
nna as a business point. The old store building still stands and has been occu-
pied u]) to this time as a place of business — a monument to our early settlement.

In the spring of 1855, there were some claims made, but few actual set-
tlers, in the western part of the county. To the best of my recollection there
were not over three or four resident farmers within fifteen miles west of Salem.
The early settlements were usually made along the streams, the object of the

730 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

pioneers ljein<,' to secure hottdin lands and tiinl)er as a specialty, thev believing
Uiat uur upland prairie was non-productive, fit alone frir grazing;, and would
furnish for all future time, one boundless and extensive field of pasture that
never could be cultivated. A few years of practical farming has shown what
errors men are liable to make in regard to the resources and worth of a new
country. The soils of our uplands stand unequaled in fertility, and the most
desirable and valuable locations are to be found upon the very land that our
earliest settlers refused to occupy. While prairie lands have increased in
\alue. from year to year, timber lands have decreased in this respect, selling
lowi-r at the present time than they did ten years ago.

SALEM CREATED A CITY.

Salem was organized as a city, with Samuel H. Roberts as mayor, in
i<S56. The same season the first sale of lots was made and the price ranged
from fifteen to forty dollars. The lots sold at that sale are now all improved
and man} of them have either good substantial business houses or valuable
residences thereon.

The first house over the north fork of tiie Nemaha at Salem, was built in
'857 by Thomas R. Hare. In the spring of i860, a bridge was undertaken to
l)e made over the south fork of the Nemaha, under the supervision of a man
In- the name of McPherson, to be paid for by public subscription ; the bridge
gave way when nearly completed, and one of the carpenters employed in its
erection, James Sperry, fell with the falling arch and broke his arm. Later,
a new iron bridge has been erected by the county near the same place.

The town of Salem is an old one in the history of our county : its progress
has l)een slow, yet it has increased, and continues to increase, in improvements,
population and wealth, though far behind the improvement of surrounding
countr\-. which is a true indication of its healthy condition as a place of busi-
ness, and a site for substantial investments.

Our early settlement suffered many inctjn\eniences and hardshi))s as an
incident of pioneer life, which I have not opportunity at present to relate.
We obtained our supplies, particularly provisions, from Missouri, and fre-
i|uently with great ditficulty. Some of the details of our trials from high
waters, overflows and inundations, have been truthfully stated by other articles
in this .series, therefore I shall not endeavor to give thein in detail, but simply
Iiear witness, so far as my memory serves me, to the truth of the sketches
already transmitted to you l)y early pioneers.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 731

EARLY INDIAN HISTORY.
By Elisha Dorian.

( )n September 30, 1875, l^-Hs'ia Dorian contributed the following:

Although the migrations and proceedings of the Indian tribes of this
\iciiiity may not be considered a part of the history of Richardson county,
tiiey certainly have intimate connection with it. At your request I will give
y.in a brief sketch of incidents in my early career, and my knowledge of the
early history of Indian tribes occupying territory in this county and the country
adjoining. I have pas.sed all my life among the lowas, except two years in
the IvHstern states.

! was born in March. !<S_'c), nn the north fork of the Platte river in
XAbraska, north of Vt. Kearney, at a temporary trading post kept by my
father, Martin Dorian, a b>ench fur trader. At that time, tlie pioneer traders
.imong the wild tribes of Indians, then hunting and roaming through this then
.ilniost unknown country. Iniilt their temporary shanties or trading posts for
the w inter, at different points, to furnish the Indians goods in exchange for
fin-s and hides, obtaining their supphes from time to time from their main
]iosts on the Missouri river, Cabany's and Sarpy's, who in their turn were sup-
plied from St. Louis. Caliany's post was near the Yellow Bank, a few miles
iiortli of the si)ot where the city of Nemaha, in Nemaha county, adjoining
Kichardson on the north, now stands. Peter Sarpy, an old French pioneer
;uk1 fur trader had a post on the site of the present town of P.ellevue, Sarpy
coiintv. Nebra.'ika, and there was also an Indian mission at tiie same place.

In 1836 I was seven vears okl, luy father sent me to the mission school
at St. Toseph, Missouri, one hundred and fifty miles south of my home. For
si.\ \e;irs I remained at school, a jiart of tlie time in Pennsylvania

Tile lowas. Sacs and 1'oxes crossed over the Missouri river, from P.uch-
an.in county, Missouri, in 1837. and kxated upon Wolf river, near the present
town of Highland. Doniphan county. Kansas, where they remained until the
fail of '854. Frank Whitecloud was our head chief, and under his command,
fascinated bv strange adventures and constant warfare, attended by buffaki
hmits and war dances, of this kind of life, I entered the warpath against the
( )mahas. in 1843, under Whitecloud. and remained upon the plains and prairie
wilderness until 1847: experiencing all the vicissitudes, thrills and adventures
of ,1 wild Indian life. P.efore entering the warjjath T served as interpreter

732 KICltAKDSdX roUXTY. NEBRASKA.

umlcr .\Jaiur Richarclson for nearly one \ear. but on account of mv youth and
inex])erience I resigned that position.

In 1854 the lowa.'^. Sacs and Foxes remmed from Wolf river to their
present reservation in Xebra.ska and Kansas, and that year the two Indian
villages of Nohart and Sauktown were built in Richardson county. Xohart.
where there is now a postoffice and a small Indian village, is the Iowa agency,
and was named for their head chief, Nohart.

On the 6th day of May, 1847, I started on a visit to the Eastern states,
stopping in the principal cities, especially New York. Philadelphia and Wash-
ington and returned to Kansas upon the 15th day of August A. D. 1848.

In July. 1S59, I was appointed Indian interpreter for the lowas by Alajor
Daniel \ anclerslice, the agent, which post I have filled ever since, being reap-
jiointed l)y ^lajor John A. Burljank, of Falls City, Nebraska. July i, 1861.

The account of the iinmdation of 1858. given by .Squire Dorrington in
another article of this series was correct, though it did not effect our reserva-
tion to any great extent. The highest water uix)n our territory was in 1843,
when the whole ctnnitry in southern Nebraska and northern Kansas was
flooded to a greater degree than ever known before, or since.

Since my earliest knowledge, Moless has been the liereditary head chief
of the .Sacs and Foxes of Missouri, which he still remains. Petoken. died in
T867 311(1 Mas-sau-quit. in 1859; they were both chiefs of marked ability and
perhaps possessed of brighter intellects than !Moless. but they were not heredi-
tar\- head chiefs.

There arc two classes of chiefs in our tribes, hereditary and appointetl.
Our first head chief within my memory was Whitecloud who died in 185 1.
and was buried near Rulo, in our most noted burying ground, as mentioned
bv iv H. John.son in his sketch. He was head chief by hereditary right and
possessed the affection and confidence of his trilje to a very high degree.

Xohart, ;dso hereditary chief, was his successor until his death in 1863,
when La-gar-ashe was appointed head chief by Major P>urbank, Indian agent,
and is still in that office. To-hee is second chief of the lowas .and ^fo-hee.
third ciiief.

\-'nr sunic c.-inse. or combination of causes, which is difficult correctly to
define, nur tril)es ha\e diminished and dwindled away, instead of increasing-
fur the la>t twenty \ears.

In i8t4 there were between four and five hundred Towas on the roll at

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

733

tlieir agency in this county: now they number only two hundred and twenty.
Tlie Sacs and Foxes of Missouri mustered over three hundred; todav
there are onlv about ninety left.

PIONEER EXPLOITS.
By Antoine BMi-ada.

The following was contributed to the pioneer series on October Ji, 1875 :

Gentlemen : I see that )'OU are soliciting sketches of early times, from
the old pioneers and settlers of Richardson county, and although I am not one
(if the earliest actual settlers, as a pioneer, I probably explored the wild and
uninhabited territory as early as any white man living.

1 was born in 1807, at Carodelet, south of St. Louis, Missouri, where I
was reared. My parents were of French descent, and coming from Louisiana,
were called Creoles. Though raised in the suburbs of what is now a large
cit}', and receiving every advantage of education, and enjo}ang every luxury
of civilized life, the adventures, sports, perils and hardships endured by a
|)i(ineer, presented strange attractions and fascinations for me.

In 1816, when only nine years old, I entered the employment of the North-
w estern Fur Company at St. Louis, Missouri, and traveled in a northwesterly
direction to the mountains. That winter, in company with some Indians, I
camped within the limits of our present county upon our journey westward.
( )ne day we went out upon a hunt and found a drove of seven hundred elk,
which we drove down upon the ice of the Missouri river at the mouth of the
Xtmaha, near where Rulo now stands, anfl slaughtered them. From the
venison and elk meat procured in this manner we made our winter's provisions.

i'^or man\- \ears [ traveled back and forward through the wild country, to
ni\ home near St. I-(iuis, enjoying the excitement of a pioneer hunter's life,
sometimes being in tlie compan\- of accomplislied gentlemen as well as of our
wild Indian guide.

I have all iny life been very fond of hunting, and the sports of the chase
and the wilderness were my chiet pleasure, and have been accounted for man\-
>ears as an excellent marksman and most successful hunter.

In 1830 in company with a b'rench physician, who l)elonged to our party,
r started out upon a hunting expedition, and as we arrived at a spot just alx)ve
where Nebraska cit}- now stands in Otoe county, we came across a buffalo,
and after a vigorous and exciting chase fur miles we succeeded in killing him.
when ,a strife ensued 1>etween the Doctor and nivself as to who should have the

734 UlCirAKDSD.V CdlXXV, XEliKASKA.

lungue ut' the Inittaln. thai lieint^ considered a particular dehcacy ; and I came
our victorious.

The oldest pioneer e\'i)lorer of tliis countr\ is /epli\Te Rencontre, wlio
al a very advanced age is now living in Dakota Territory, and I came next.

In 1856 I settled u]>on my present farm upon the precinct named after
myself — Barada precinct in Richardson county. Nebraska, lying between St.
Stephens and Muddy precincts, and north of Ohio precinct, comprises town-
ship 7,. north of range 16, east of the sixth principal meridian.

inkST SICTTIJCK OF ISARADA PKKCINCT.

I'irmin Douville was the flr.st settler in the precinct and I was next. \\'hen
1 look around me and see the smiling farms, expensive dwelling houses and
comfortable homes that deck the prairies of Richardson county, I can hardly
realize that it is the same territory I explored in 1816. At that time the whole
region was designated upon the maps as the Great .\merican Desert, in the
then -Missouri Territory, and it was supposed that it was entirely unfit for
cultivation, while it now rivals, and even surpasses, in the amount and quality
of its productions, the most fertile of the Eastern states.

I have before spt)ken of Zephyre Rencontre as being the oldest living
pioneer through this tract of countr\-. He passed through here and accom-
panied Lewis and Clark on their tour of discovery to the Pacific ocean. His
children drew land from the government as half-breeds in this county, where
he resided for several vears.

CHAPTER XX\'III.

MlSCELLANEOL'S MaTTEKS OF INTEREST.

EARLV CHRISTMAS DAYS.
By Margaret M. Maddox.

Tlie writer has been asked to write recollections of Christmas in the early
(lays of this county, old Archer in particular. To a younger person this
might seem a \er}' small task, but to a lady almost eighty-three years old.
with sliaky hands and shaky memory, it is quite an undertaking, and, except
for those who have grown up in our own town wit1i our own chiklren, I
would hardly at this time undertake such a task.

T came with my father's family to Richardson county in March, 1S35.
There was nothing much here of importance except breaking prairie, building
our log houses, and home work in general until midsummer, w4ien my father,
John C. Miller, with the Xuckols brothers. Colonel Sharp and son, Johnson,
Robert Arclier and others formed a town cimijiany and laid out the town of
.\rcher.

Father began building a big hotel, or tavern, as it was called then.
Building material, like everything else to make a comfortable home, was
hard to get and the house was built largely of hewed logs. We moved into
the unfinished structure in the month of September. At the same time Al)el
D. Kirk was building a little log store Iniilding, afterwards stocking it w ith
groceries and general merchandise. Tliis was a great convenience to us all,
Ijecause we had had to go to Missouri for everything in that line. While
liuilding, some of the famil\- camped on the ground to look ;ifter die work-
men, others staved on the claims to do the gardening, make the butter, raise-
chickens and turkeys that were to grace the tables, and feed the hungry ones
at our first Christmas in Nebraska.

On the 4th of October, 1855. I was united in marriage to Wilson M.
Maddox and went to Nebraska City to reside. Therefore, my first Christ-
mas in Nebraska was not spent in this county. We had a very pleasant
Christmas, although we had no picture shows and theatres, but made our own
amusements. W^e had nice dances occasionally, several lodges, societies of
ditiferent kinds, tem])erance organizations, .ill considered social events tiien.

/^b RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

Christmas day we liad dinner with Rev. D. \\'. Gage and faniih-. old
friends of ours, Reverend Gage having performed the ceremonv at our wed-
ding. My brother's family was also i)resent. Besides a wonderful roast tur-
key we had leaked catfish, the largest I ever saw cooked. It weighed twenty
pounds and was browned and cooked to a turn, .\mong other good things
we had a splendid plum pudding, such as only Aunt Sally Gage could make.
We had a delightful time at Gage's, but to make the day more eventful, there
was a Christmas wedding at our house late in the afternoon, when friends of
ours, Melvina Blount and AMlliam Pound, came from Sidney, Iowa, to be
married. To insure future prosperity the bride must wear something worn
by a former bride, so she was arrayed in my wedding dress. A crowd of
friends came in the evening and we had wh.'it we tliouglit was a royal good
time.

We passed our lirst winter in Neljraska City and moved tjack to Archer,
in this county, the ist of May. 1856. and went on our claim. William H.
Mann was here; soon the Goldsljerrys came from Kentucky, also Mr. Frank-
lin and John Kirk. They and se\eral other families liegan to build and it
looked much l)rig]iter and homelike.

COOKING ox A LARGE SC.VLE.

Then the Kansas troubles began, and old John Brown and Jim Lane, of
later national fame, were continuously passing through to the north and back
again, which kept up a constant excitement until late in tlie fall. With my
parents keeping the la\ern I often liad to go and help mother cook for tluec
or four huntlred of these men at a time. The_\- sent a man ahead and when
the word came cverybod}- got bus\-. They killed bee\es, hogs, chickens, pre-
pared the best vegetables, everj'thing in abundance, for these men wanted
the l)est and were willing to pay well for it.

Cold weather set in early tliat year. It was se\erel\ cold, hut 1 do not
recall but one big snow before Cln'istmas. In those da\s we did not make
such a big festival of Christmas as we did tlie I'ourtli of July and holidays
that came in warmer seasons, because it was pretty severe riding across tlie
prairie in the biting cold and tlie settlers were not \ery close logetlier.

That year fatlier made a liig dinner at the tavern and all the people
residing in Arciier were invited. We did not have many social functions in
those days, nor many places where the ladies could "dress up," and Mrs.
Goldsberry proposed that we make this dinner a real society affair, just as
tliough we were back in a civili/ed country. in>^tead of a frontier -eltlemeni.

klCTIAl^nsON COUNTY, NERRASKA. 737

Accordingly all were <lressed in their liest hih and tucker, the ladies in their
hest black silk dresses — or whatever color they might have happened to he.
and even the men did not object to dressing up in their Sunday best. I was
down helping mother, but work or no work, 1 managed to change to mv one
best dress, a black silk, of course.

If we did not have the fresh cranberries, celery and fruits of today, we
had plenty of all that was available, for father would have the best. Our
dinner included turkey, roast pork, spare ribs, baked squash, and sweet pota-
toes, such as we seldom raise now, all such vegetables as could be stored for
winter, pumpkin and mince pies, a big steaming plum pudding, a real old-
fashioned pound cake, the "kind mother used to bake." There was little
formality. Dinner was placed on the long table and the various dishes were
l)assed. Everybody ate heartily and seemed to enjoy what they had. My
mother was considered an excellent cook in those days.

About four o'clock in the afternoon most of the unmarried folks started
for St. Deroin, to the northeast, in the edge of Xemalia C(iunty, to a dance,
or ball, as it was then called, at Heath Xuckols. They had a two-horse
wagon, plenty of Iniffalo robes and blankets. It was twenty degrees Ijelow
zero and when the\" got home about noon the next da}- they wer-e almost
frozen.

Then came the news that Archer was on die half-breed tract. Huston
-Xuckols recei\ed the word first and before letting it be known to others, sold
his big drugxstore building to father at a big price. Tliis with other losses
in the townsite almost ruined father tinanciallx'. He never rec(ivered from
the shock of those troubles. His health was completeh" broken.

Widi the f.all <if .\rcber, many little towns sprang up and all were after
the county seat, and such a struggle followed as you may never ha\e beard.
Why, looking l)ack on it now after more than sixt\- years, it seems that if
the people had tried to remove the national ca|)itol from Washington to San
l'"rancisco, there could have been no uKjre strife, fighting and bloodshed.
according to the number of people, than there was o\er moving the county
seat of Richardson county in those days.

The Christmas of 1857 we also spent at .\rcher, but I took little part in
the festivities, as m\ first little boy was but a few weeks old at the time. We
l)assed other Christmas days there also, and T remember that after judge
Dundy came, he was instruiuental in getting u]i big dances .it the tavern,

(47) ' ' ^'

738 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

which had been moved into the Xuckols store Ijuilding. Judge Dundy was
ahvays one of the chief tiddlers and JuHna Hutchins, later Mrs. Ferdinand
Harlow, was one of the youngest and prettiest girls present.

With my family growing up and living most of the time on the farm,
several years intervened before I passed a Christmas in Falls City, or (.)ne
that has fastened any particular incident on my memory, thougli.I know that
after the town was fairly started, it at once became the central meeting place
for all the county folks and many were the big dances and social affairs.
Sometimes we had a grand Christmas tree and it seemed like nearly every
citizen in the town was present. Such entertainments as we pioneers had at
Christmas we had to plan and provide for well in advance, and there was
great pleasure in the anticipation of such events. I sometimes think we
enjoyed them more fully and the memory of them lingered longer with us
than do such affairs now, when amusements are more plentiful. I recall little
that was exciting or unusual,. but hold many pleasant memories of gather-
ings of friends of the early Christmas days in Richardson county.

MAJOR STErilEX .STORY.

The honor of having been the first white settler of Richardson couiitx ,
lias a number of claimants, and while there may have been others who coulcl
have pointed to the fact that they had visited Richardson county or this por-
tion of the great \\'est at an earlier period, there seems to have been none
who coud have been classed as settlers at a time antedating" the arrival of
Stephen Story. It appears that he came alone first and took up a permanent
abode on the banks of the ^Missouri, at a point where was the later site of
St. Stephens in St. Stephens precinct, a part of which now joins Arago pre-
cinct, and it must be remembered that the St. Stephens precinct spoken of,
which was in the nortlieast corner of tlie county, has now been joined bodily
onto what is known as Barada. The south row of sections of east Barada.
or St. Stepliens precinct, w ere in later years joined to Arago precinct and it
was in the most eastward of this tier of sections that he took up a home. His
liome was about a mile north of the later site of Arago \illage.

Major Story was born in the state of Vermont on January 8, 18 10, and
passed away after a brief illness of pneumonia at his home in Rulo in tliis
county, January 27th, 1882, at the age of seventy-t\Vo years. At the time of
his death he was the oldest white settler in tlie state of Nebraska. The par-
ents of Mr. Storv moved from W-rniont to Montreal, C;uiad;i. in 1812, where

UICHARDSOX COUXTV, \ liDKASKA. 739

tliey made their home for nearly twenty years and where lie hecame acquainted
with Joseph Robidoux, ^^•ith whom he made a number of trips, the latter car-
rying on an extensive tirade with the Indians of the northern territory. His
wanderings led him Westward and he made his way to tliis county in 1S4-I
and located himself near the site of the latter town of St. Stephens, whicli he
founded, named and made his home for a number of years and where lie
erected the first cabin for himself. The Indians, who had but a short time
before been moved to reservations in this county, bothered him to such an
extent that he returned to St. Joseph, Missouri, and there enlisted in the
army sent to Mexico and where he was wounded in the battle of Monterey.
On account of this disability he was discharged and made his way to Cali-
fornia with the gold-seekers in "forty-nine." Tiring of the gold e.xcitemcnl.
which had not proved profitable to him, lie was seized with a longing for his
old home and returned to St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1850, and thtn came back-
to St. Stephens, where he resumed habitation in his old caliin and built a
ferry which he operated on the Missouri river for many years, at that place.
Here he was found running the same by the first pioneers who entered Rich-
ardson county with an idea of making it their home and it was his ferr\
which brought them across to the Nebraska shore. Here the first .five fami-
lies, so often spoken of, crossed to Nebraska. He, together with Gen. I!en-
jamin F. Loan, who was the brother of a well-known pioneer lady, Mrs.
William R. Cain, started the town of St. Stephens in 1857 and he later sold
a portion of his farm to a company of Germans from Buffalo, New Y^rk,
wlio started the rival town of Arago, one nn'le south of St. Stephens.

Tlie coming of the steam ferry operated at many points later on the
-Mi-snuri river displaced the methed he hatl in use and he then retired to his
farm in section ir, township No. 2, nortli, of range Nn. 17, where he resided
until 1879, when he mo\ed to Rulo tn make In's home for llie remainder of
Ills life.

He was united in marriage in 184^) to .Mrs. I-llizaljeth Robidoux, a half-
breed Indian, then the widow of his old friend, Ferron Rol)idoux. From
this unitjn thirteen children were born, of whom but three are li\ing : Ste])hen
Story, Jr., of Rulo; John Story, of Hiawatha, Kansas, and ]\lrs. I'eter Mur-
phy, residing southeast of Falls City. Mrs. Story was l)orn in tlie vicinitv of
Council Bluffs, Iowa, in 1823, anti died at tlic Jionie of her dangjiter, bv her
former marriage, Mrs. Dudley Van Valkenburg, at i\ulo, on December r.
1900. Mrs. Van Valkenburg, who is still li\ing, was born on the site of St.
Joseph, Missouri, a city founded by her paternal grandfatlier, Joseph Robi-
doux. She and her first liusband, l''erron Roliidoux, entered a claim on tlie

740 KICIIAKDSIIX CorXTV. XKP.KASKA.

Mte of St. JMScpli. ;iii(l she figured as <<ue <>\ tlie early pirmeers ni Ridiardsuii
CI unity, li\iiig with her parents at St. Stephens when the first pioneers ;ir-
rived. and has .spent her life as a resident of the county.

Major Stephen Story was a true type of the pioneer, noble and genemus.
whole-souled and hospitalile U< the last degree, lie lavished a princely for-
Uine in deeds ut kindness and charity, and received in return hut meager
gratitude.

While, in the very nature nf things, the experiences of the early pio-
neers of this section of Xehra.ska must have followed pretty closely along the
same general lines — for all necessarily had much the .same difficidties to face
— there \\ere certain outstanding cases which deserve more than mere ])a>s-
ing mention in a work covering the history of this county and in a general
Avay the history of this section of the state. It manifestl\- would he impos-
sible, within the limits of an ordinary volume, to gi\e anything like a proper
review of all such cases and the slor\- which follows and which contains so
many interesting j)oints relating to pioneer da}s, is presented as perhai)s
typical of many such stoiies that could be related by the survi\ ing pioneers
of Richardson count}'. The late William M. Jones, who was past one hun-
dred years of age at the time of his death at his home in the precinct of Rulo.
was a typical pioneer, as is his son. the Hon. Cass Jones, who is still li\iug
in that precinct, and the story of the difficulties and hardships they faced
u])on making a settlement in this state back in territorial days ought to be
illuminating to those of the present generation who can have no ade(|uate con-
cei)tiou of what real "pioneering" meant to that bra\e band which brought
.about the development of the great state of Nebraska.

William .\1. Jones was a \"irginian, born in the \icinity of I'lue Springs,
in the historic old county of Tazewell, in the Old Hominion. in the fall of
I Si 2, and was but three years of age when his father moved to Jackson
countv, Ohio, juick horses being use<l to Ir.ansport the family's household
effects. In this latter comity the father look up :\ tract of "Congress land,"
made a house of logs and went to farming. .Xmid these pioneer conditions,
William M. Jones li;ul little opportunity for effective schooling, but lie became
.1 practical farmer and e;irly de\elo])ed the true i)ioneering instinct. .\t nine-

RICIIARDSOX CUINTY, XEUUASKA. 74I

teen _\ears of ;ijie lie married and started tarmini;- for himself, his pldwin^-
being done with a wooden plow made by himself, utilizing for this purpose a
large hickory stump for a plowshare. When the point of the plow, l^ecame
dull he sharpened it with a draw-knife. .\ml)itious to have a larger place
where he could i-aise li\e stock and engage in farming on a more extensi\e
scale, William .M. Jones three years later emigrated to Illinois, which was
then beginning to be developed, and settled in l*'ult(V.i count)', in the western
part of that state, establishing his home on a farm near the Illinois rivei",
where he took a "s(|uatter's" claim to a (|uarter of a section of land. lie
built a log house on that place and there lived for ll\e years. Me fenced in a
considerable tract of land and engaged extensively in the raising of live
st(3ck. In 1840 he sold his place for seventeen hundred dollars, taking notes
for the same. The purchaser shortly afterward took adxantage of the bank-
ruptcy law and Mr. Jones received nothing for his farm except one horse
and a yoke of cattle.

At that time the great Territory of Iowa was be.ginning to be settled
up 1)}- farmers, as land could be bought from the go\ernment for little more
than a nominal price, and Mr. Jones decitled to move up into the Territory
and make a new .start. In 184.0 he took up ;i claim to a ipiarter of a section
of land in Johnson county, in the Territory- of Iowa, and settled on the same,
starting his farming operations with three yoke of cattle. In e cows, one
horse and si.x hogs, which he drove through from Illinois. In preparation
for the trip through to the new land Mr. Jones made a wagon constructed
wholly of wood, there being neither nails, bolts nor iron of .-my kind in its
makeu]). l'"or this purp<ise Mr. Jones utilized ;i large sycamore tree, cross
sections of the bole of which furnished the wheels for this hnnl)ering veliicle.
The creaking of the>e wooden wheels could be heard o\er the prairie f<ir a
'ong distance and it was no uncommon occurrence, during the journey, for
Indians to come riding up over the ])rairie to liml out wh;it made such a
noise. Tiiese in(|uisitive aborigines ofi'ered no molestation to the emigrants,
however, for Mr. Jones had lived long enough among Indians to know how-
to get along with them. In their new Ikmuc in Iowa the Jones's neighbors
mostly were Indians. There was plenty of wild game in that region and the
family fared well, so tar as keeinng the larder supi)lied. .Mr. Jones did well
enough in his stock-raising operations and remained there for ten \ears, or
n.ntil 1830. in which )ear he sold his i)lace foi- ele\en hundred dollars, .gold,
and mo\ed to ('ass county, in the southwestern- part of b>wa, where l.e
engage<l in the milling business, paxing se\'en hundred dollars, gold, for a
s;iw- and grist-nn'll.

74- RICIIARD.SON COLXTV, XEP.KASKA.

PAINFUL EXPKRIEXCt; IN NEBRASKA.

For several years Mr. Jones continued engaged in tlie milling business
in Iowa, with the help of his sons doing a good business; but in 1856 his
pioneering "fe\er" prompted him to make another move in the direction of
the frontier, so he sold his mill property for seven hundred dollars, receiving
two cows as "boot," and started out for the farther Northwest, settling west
of Sioux City. It was on the afternoon of March 10, 1856, that Mr. Jones
crossed the Missouri river on the ice with his family, household goods, two
hundred dollars in gold, sixty head of cattle, two horses and three yoke of
oxen. The night after he crossed the river, the river hmke up and the ice
went out.

It was in Dakota county, in the northeastern part of the then Terri-
tory of Nebraska, that William M. Jones entered upon his fourth pioneering
experience. He entered a tract of government land, built a log house and
started farming, with the expectation of engaging extensively in the raising
of live stock. - He had been told that Nebraska was a good cattle country,
but where he was the blizzards in the winter froze his cattle, and the high
winds made high drifts of the snow. The second winter he was there the
snow was so deep and the blizzards so fierce that all of his cattle froze to
death, except one yoke of oxen. This discouraged him and he decided to
move. With that end in view he sold his land for one hundred dollars and
moved south to Leavenworth county. Kansas, on the Missouri river, and
settled on the Delaware Indian Reserve, where he stayed from the spring of
1858 to the fall of 1859. making rails during the winter months.

Texas was then considered to be a very desirable state, especially for
settlers who wished to raise cattle, as the winters were mild, grazing good,
and land plenty and cheap. IMany sayings were current among the people
as to its fertility and productiveness, one of tliese sayings, which Mr. Jones
often repeated to his family, being that fritter, a kind of pancake tlien con-
sidered a luxury, grew on the trees. o\er the lioney ponds, and wJien the\'
got there they would only have to shake the trees, when the fritters would
fall in the honey and they could pick tliem out with sticks and eat tlieni. He
found, however, tliat the ponds were covered with green scum and alxuinded
with tad])oIes. frogs, alligators, mosquitoes and snakes.

COT tdl.l) UECKPTION IN TEXAS.

Mr, Jones took a good bunch of l)rood mares to Texas with iiim. hoping
to raise horses on a large scale, and probably would have succeeded had the

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 743

times been favorable, but that was in 1859, just before the breaking out of
the Civil War, the South even then expecting and preparing for war. and
feeling against Northern men was very bitter. The year after Mr. Jones's
arrival in Texas the campaign for the Presidency between Lincoln and Doug-
las was agitating the whole country, and the South was badly wrought up
against all men from the North. The Texans got down on Mr. Jones;
railed him an Abolitionist and warned him to leave the country, unless he
would cast his lot with the South. This he would not do, and accordingly
made preparations for leaving the country with his horses. On the morning
he was to start, about twenty-five Texans came to him and told him they
would not allow him to take the horses out of the country, but they offered
to trade him Texas cattle and oxen for his horses. They took away the
guns and revolvers owned by Mr. Jones and his sons, and they had to do as
they said. Mr. Jones lost money on the trade, as horses were high there and
cattle very cheap, but he could not help himself. He was glad to get away
on any terms. He then had a bunch of about one hundred head of cattle.
This was in the fall of i860. In returning north the Joneses went west and
made a circuitous route through the western part of Texas and Indian Ter-
ritory, so as to avoid the more thickly settled, parts of the country, and also
to be among the Indians, with whom tliey always got along well. Cass Jones
had learned and could speak the Indian language.

Mr. Jones went back to Leavenworth county. Kansas, and bought a claim
of one hundred and sixty acres on the Indian Reservation from an Indian,
for one yoke of oxen. This gave him all the land he desired on which to
graze and fatten his cattle, as he could use all the Lulian land he wanted for
grazing. The Indians made the best of neighbors.

THREATENED BY "jAYHAWKERS. "

Mr. Jones soon found that while he had been away in Texas, times had
changed in Kansas. The war had begun, and sectional feeling had been
wrought up to a high pitch by John Brown and his adherents. He lived
close to the Missouri river, and small bands of Rebel sympathizers, called_
"Jayhawkers," frequently came over the river at night and roamed unmo-
lested through his locality, stealing horses, cattle, and everA^thing they wanted,
making life unsafe and sometimes killing people. He lived too far from Ft.
Leavenworth, it being twenty miles away, to receive protection from the
soldiers there, as by the time the soldiers were given warning the Reliels
would recross the river witli tlieir plunder into Missnuri. Tiierefore. as soon

/44 inc llAKDSdX tOLXTV, NEBUASKA.

as liis cattle were tat lie suld them w the .-'ildiers at the ti)rt and prepared to
leave. He had jjeen plowing corn all of one day. and had jnit up his team
and was waiting for supper. He had laid down near tlie kitchen door, being
tired, and had fallen asleep. He was awakened by hearing the sharp com-
mand, "Surround the house!" Mr. Jones asked the intruders what the\-
wanted, and they answered they were going to kill him. There were twent\
Missouri "Jayhawkers" in the gang. They said he was an .\holitionist. and
took him and his sons Charles and Cass, down to a creek where they lied
their hands behind them, and the captain in command of the gang told his
men to take the lariats off their hor.ses. and hunt up a good liml) to hang
their captives on.

There was a house nearb}- in which w as \\hisk\- iov sale and the captain
and his gang went there and helped themsehes, so that nearlv all of them
were soon drunk. One of the men, however, slipped around to where the
Joneses were tied and told them not to be afraid, as the gang was too drunk
to hunt up a limb to hang them on. They were kept there until morning,
when they were untied and taken back to their home. Here the "Jay-
hawkers" took five horses, one cow and calf, two yoke vi cattle, all tiie house-
hold bedding, all the Hour and meat and warned Mr. Jones to leave the coun-
try within ten days. Charles and Cass Jones at once went to Leavenworth to
enlist in the Union army. Charles was not accepted as a soldier because he
had asthma, but Cass Jones, then twenty years of age, enlisted in Compan\
I, Second Kansas Cavalry and served in the war for three years, the first
part of his service being in Kansas and Missouri, where he had many opjxn-
tunities to be revenge<l on the "Jayhawkers."

ANOTHER I'lOXKEKl.Vt: EXI'ERIKXCE.

.\s soon as possible, William M. Jones got out of liie country and came
up into the Territory of Nebraska, stopping a few miles north of Rulo. in
Richardson county, where he found a number of families preparing to make
the journey to Oregon on the I'acibc coast. lie became impre-^e<l with the
many advantages it was said would be foun<l there for settlers and he decided
to join the jiarly. In the winter of iS(>2 he made preparations for the jour-
ne}' and in the spring of iS'),v when he started on the journey to Oregon, he
had two wag(jns, each drawn by two yoke of o.xen. and one yoke of cow-.
the latter to furnish milk on the journe\.

Seven families left Rulo looelher. and at .Xebraska City they were
joined Iiv ti\e more f;imilie>. each famil\- h.aving a wagon, drawn bv oxen.

klCllAKUSD.V COLXTV. XEl'.KASKA. 745

riie} traveled across the prairies and muuntaiiis until arri\ing at l'"t. Laramie
in \\'yoming. There tiie Indians were hostile and it was not consideretl safe
to go any further until a larger number of wagons were congregated together.
When fifty wagons had gathered, a guard of about twent}- soldiers under a
lieutenant was furnished them and they were allowed to proceed on their
journey. They had plenty of flour and meat to last them until the\ reached
Oregon; they also secured some game along the mute, such as deer, anteloi;e.
elk and wild turkeys, but did not have any buffalo meat, as they >,-iw fin!\
three buffalo during the whole journey.

The party had no trouble with the Indians, as there were so many wag-
ons together the redskins were afraid to attack diem. Hut when tJiey reached
the Snake river, in Idaho, an incident occurred diat made them think the\
might have some trouble with the Indians. \\'hile they were camped there
waiting to be ferried across the river, an old Indian rode right into their
corral of wagons, riding a government horse and using a government saddle.
He offered to trade the horse and saddle for one box of gun caps. They did
not trade for the gun caps, as 'they were afraid the Indians might attack them
if thev could secure ammunition, as there were aliont one thousand Indians
camped near. The next day they crossed the Snake ri\er on a ferryl».)at that
would hold only one wagon and a yoke of oxen. The ferryman charged one
dollar for each wagon. He was kept there b\ the government and was fur-
nished a guard of soldiers. The stock was forced to swim the river.

Mr. Jones arrived at his destination on October lo, 1863, and settled
about fifteen miles southeast of Portland, where he purchased one hundred
and sixt\- acres for two hundred dollars, .splitting enough rails during the
winter to pav for the land. The land was heavily timl)ered and had to be
cleared l)efore it could be ])lanted to crops. Mr. Jones commenced to clear
his land of timber and the first year jjlanted eiglit acres to crops, his fam-
ily lixing on wild game and what they could raise. The climate was miM,
but from September to May it rained nearly all the time and much of tlie
time it was foggv. All the little streaius at this time of the year were ruti-
ning brooks of cool, clear wiater, but at other times in the year diey were
drv. It was cold enough at night during this season often to snow, the tree
tops being covered with snow in the morning, but the snow would lie all
luelted by noon.

r.ACK TO XF.HRASKA.

Mr. Jones was ilisappointed in the countrv. it beitig no country for
.stock; an.l the climate was so dift'erenl from what he had been u-^e<l to, that

746 RICIIARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

he did not stay there long. In the spring of 1865 he sold his land, cattle and
wagons, for two hundred and forty dollars and bought ponies and pack sad-
dles, and started back for the east. With him were about thirty men in the
outfit, most of them being cowboys and miners.

The journey back to Omaha required one hundred and twenty days. Mr.
Jones reached Omaha in the fall of 1S65. There he worked during the win-
ter in a stone quarry and at getting out rails over on the island in the Mis-
souri river. In the spring of 1866 he again moved to Richardson county, and
settled about three miles north of Rulo. on the banks of the Missouri river,
where he and his sons, Charles and Cass, bought a half section of land from
a squaw man, paying for the land eight hundred and sixty head of ponies
and one pair of fine horses. On this land he and his sons settled, his son
Charles on the west of the land he kept for his own; his son Cass on land
north of him, and his son Stephen on land east of him : his son Lewis buying
and settling on land near Salem. On that tract Mr. Jones built a log house
in which he lived for many years before he liuilt a frame house.

LIFE AMONG THE INDIANS.

The country was then a wilderness. It was covered with brush and
timljer. An Indian trail passed just back of where Mr. Jones built his house,
Indians passiiig every day as they roamed back and forth over the country.
The region was inhabited by a mixture of Indians, French and lialf-breeds.
There was a steamboat landing at Rulo, and the town of Rulo was about one
mile west of the river, the intervening space being farm land. On the river
bank at the landing were warehouses for the storage of freight, as all trans-
portation of freight to this region then was by way of the Missouri river.
There were a few stores at Rulo, the storekeepers depending for business in
a great measure on the trade of the Indians, wlio weie paid an annuity twice
a year by the government.

Frenchmen had come to this locality some years Ijefore to trap wild
animals for their fur and to trade with the Indians. Some of them had mar-
ried Indian s()uaws, which gave them a right to the land of the Indians they
had married, and this land they could sell to settlers. The Indians lived in
teepees, or buckskin tents, stretched over poles : four or five families in a tent
and three or four tents in a comnuniily. They were constantly roaming
around over the country in c|uest of game and liiey lived by hunting, fishing
and begging. .\ little canrp of them wcnild be in one place for a few days
and then be gone, and otlier Indians wduld cunie and go. They liatl ponies

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 747

and dogs, the latter they kept for food in times of stress. W'iien their annu-
ities were paid them, they would generally have a "big time." They would
buy a steer, cut it up and cook it in kettles, have a feast and a big dance. The
merchants would get the most of their annuity money for blankets, calico,
sugar, coffee, ammunition and guns. Whisky was "bootlegged" to them,
the "bootleggers" thus getting a good share of their annuity.

DEATH OF CENTENARIAN.

When Mr. Jones started to break the prairie on his land, two squaws
came and sat down on an Indian graxe and would not let him plow over it.
He farmed this land until he was eighty-eight years old, doing most of the
work himself, as he was always an active, liealthy, vigorous man and never
sick. When eighty-eight years old he sold his farm to his son Lewis, and
he and his wife retired, though continuing to make their home on the place.
^Irs. Jones died at the age of ninety-nine years, eight months and fourteen
days. Mr. Jones survived for some years and was well past one hundred
\ears of age at the time of his death. He had always voted the Whig or
Republican ticket, his first Presidential \ote being cast for General Jackson.
He never missed voting at a Presidential election and voted for twenty Pres-
idents.

THE STORY OF CASS JONES.

Cass Jones was only fi\e years of age when iiis father moved to Iowa
and he went to school at Iowa City. When liis father bought the mill in
Cass county, Iowa, he took an active part in that undertaking and later
accompanied his father to Dakota county. Nebraska, and later to Dallas
county, Texas, returning thence to Leavenworth county, Kansas, as set out
above.

On May 5, 1861, Cass Jones enlisted in Company I. Second Kansas Cav-
alry, to serve six months. His regiment went from Kansas to Springfield,
Missouri, where the Union forces were concentrating under General Lyon.
Just at dusk on the night of August 9, 1861, the regiment left Springfield,
with about five thousand soldiers under General Lyon, and on the next day
they attacked twice their number of Rebels at Wilson's creek. General Lyon
rode a large white horse and was a conspicuous mark for Rebel sharpshooters,
who were in the large scrulioak trees. In leading a bavonet charge General
Lyon was killed. Cass Jones was near enough, to him to see him fall from
his horse. The regiment liad been dismounted and formed the sccimd line

J4'^ KUIIAKOSDX CUV STY . X ICr.RASKA.

nf tile cli;ir,i;ini( hiixe, tlic Sdldiers clinihins;- u]) nicks, croucliiiii; bcliiiul stumps.
;ui(l doiiiii' all the ririno- tliey omid. The Rebels siirnjuiuled llieni and the
re^nineiit attain iii< united their horses and made several eliarties in order lo
break through their opposing ranks. During the fourth (.barge Ceiss Jones's
liorse was killed. 'Jlie animal reared way ui). ga\e a big juni]) and fell dead,
rolling over, and Mr. Jones was pinned under his horse. A mule driver who
was retreating with a load of ammunition, passed close enough to hear iiim
call and he stopped his team and came and lifted the dead horse and pulled
him out from under the horse. His riglii hip was dislocateil. his right shoul-
der severely injured and his jaw broken, the latter wouiul being inflicted b\
the hilt of his saber striking him as he fell. He hopiied on one foot, and
with the help of the driver got to the wa.gou just in time lo escape Ijeint;
trampled by his own re.giment which came galloping back from its charge
on the Rebel lines.

Mr. Jones was taken to the tent hosi)ital in the held on the wagon, where
three surgeons put his hip joint in place. That night he was taken back to
Springfield in an anilnilance. There he remained about two months or until
he was suf^ciently recovered to .go to Leavenworth and rejoin his regiment.
His term of enlistment having expired, lie was discharged on .\ovember iN.
iSOr. .Shortly afterward, and as soon as lie was well enough, lie re-enlisted
in the same conipaii}' and re.giment. \\hicli was being reorganized under llie
three-years call for troops. The i-egiment marclied into Missouri, .going to
Ralei.gh.

While guarding a supply train, ihrou.gh liea\y timber on the way to
Ivaleigh, the supply train was captured by the. Rebels at Lone Jack. .Mvmt
two hundred of the re.giment, which lia<l dismounted and sent their horses
back out of lire, were ca[)ture(l. as the Reliels got between them and the rest
of tiieir regiment and cut them off. .Mr. Jones was among those captured.
The_\- were disarmed and driven to the rear just like a dro\e of cattle. While
going through hea\y timber Mr. Jones jumiied o\er a hi.g tree that had been
cut down and hid under a big limb, the other piisoners ;in<l the Rebel guards
])asMng b\ without liis being discovered. He laid under the tree until dark
and then started back through the timber, not daring to take the road, for
fear of meeting Rebel ])ickels. and was out all that night, the next day and
the second night, without any food, so hungry and tired he could make but
slow i)rogress. On the third morning be espied a negro cabin in a hollow

RICUAKnsoX COUNTY. N Kl'.UASKA. 749

and went td the dcMir. A hi-;- negTn wnnian ga\c him a big- ]jiecc of corn
bread and meat and tuld him ti> ,i,'-et away (|uick nv the l\ebels would get him.
While gettini,' over a rail fence on the third ni.<,dit he startled a lot of hogs,
which ran grunting, making a big noise that set a ]Kick nf hounds to barking.
He thought lie was sure to be discovered and he got out of that locality as fa.st
as he could in tiie dark. He ran down a hill and at tlie bottom, in a corn field,
stepped on a man who must have been hiding there. This man jumped ui)
and ran up the hill he had come down, and Air. Jones ran up the opposite
iiill as fast as he could. It was hard to tell wlio was the worse scared. The
next morning, Mr. Jones noticed tracks of shod horses in the road, and
knew the}- were L'nion arm_\' horses, as the Rebel horses were not shod,
."^ocn he saw blue-coated soldiers on the road. He went to tlieni and the\-
ti Ilk him into cani]). wliere he rejoined his regiment.'

While o\'er in .Missouri the}' learned there was to be a sla\e auction.
They went up to the crowd, to see what was going on. Their sergeant who
\v;is one of the snldiers in the s(|uad. said to the sheriff: "".Vin't it about time
thi^ auctioning of niggers was stopjied ?" The sheriff', without comiileting
the .sale, took a young negro girl out of die gr<iup of slaves, put her on a
horse behind him and galloped off'. I'our of the .squad of soldiers took after
liim, overhauled him and made him bring the girl back, making him dismount
and help the girl oft' the horse. The sheriff' immediately disappeared. The
negro girl was told to go where she pleased and not to consider herself a
slaxe an}- more.

Mr. Jones's regiment was coiitiiniall}- scouting around the countr}- pro-
tecting citizens from the .gangs of "Ja}-liawkers" who ri-iamed the countr}-
])i!laging from houses and murdering L'nion men.

They also foraged for provisions. One day wliile on a foraging ex])e-
dition, in a part of the country where ])ro\isions were ])lent}-, Mr. Jones l)eing
in the rear of the column of troops, he saw a smoke house oft' the road at the
foot of a hill. He went over there, slid off his horse and was investigating
the contents of the smoke house when a big darkey woman appeared at the
door, just as he had taken do\\n what appeared to be a big corn shock. He
had just made the disco\ery that the corn shock was full of sausage, when
the negro woman wanted to know what he was doing there and began kick-
ing him out. Some of the're.st of the soldiers were there by that time and

750 RICIIAI-iDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

commenced making fun of him when they saw the negress kicking him, hut
as soon as tliey learned there was sausage in tlie corn shocks that hung uj- in
tlie smoke house, tliey soon cleaned them out.

.WERTKD .\ TRIPLE HANGING.

The regiment marched to Ft. Smith, Arkansas, and then to Ft. Scott,
Kansas, the journey occupying several days. At Ft. Scott they catnped se\-
eral days and then marched into Missouri again, as the James and Younger
gangs of "Jayhawkers" had been killing men there. They camped on White
river, being after "Jayhawkers" all the time. While there word came that
at a town about sixty miles ofif they were going to hang three men, whom
the Rebels had charged with stealing negroes. As the hanging w-as to take
place the next morning, there was not much time to lose, if the rescue of the
men was to be attempted. Colonel Thayer secured permission to call for
\olunteers for the rescue, and sixty cavalry men, of whom ^Iv. Jones was
one, volunteered for this service. They started about five o'clock in the
afternoon, galloped all night in the dark, and reached the town just a little
before daylight. They divided into three squads, and came in on the town
from as many directions at sunrise and surrounded the jail. Colonel Thayer
ordered the jailer to open the jail door. At first he refused, but soon opened
it and the three men were brought out of jail. They were shown the scaf-
fold where the}- were going to be hung on that very morning, and then the
soldiers tore down the scaffold. They took the men back to camp with them,
confiscating Rebel horses for them to ride and to replace some of their own
horses which had gi\-en out

The command reached White river on a very hot day and manv of the
soldiers at once stripped and went in sw imniing. in the stream, which was
about sixty feet wide. A Rebel army was on the other side and some of the
Rebel soldiers were in swimming at the same time on their side of the ri\er.
The opposing- parties talked with each other and traded sugar for tobacco.
.\s soon as the Union officers found out w-hat was going on they ordered the
soldiers out of the river. That night the Rebels retreated, but they were not
followed. The Kansas cavalry then marched to Osceola, Missouri. This
was in the spring of 1863. \\'hile they were camped there a w-ell-to-do Rebel
asked for a soldier to guard his house and property. The colonel of a New-
Jersey regiment furnished him a guard of one soldier. During the night this
soldier was killed while in the house, a deed which so infuriated the New
Jersev soldiers that they burned the house and all the houses in the town,
except one. where lixed a I'nion man.

lUCJIAKriSOX COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 75 1

AN EXPERIENCE WITH SMAIXPOX.

While camped near Raleigh, Missouri, Mr. Jones, with eight other sol-
diers, caught the smallpox from a Jew suttler, whom he went to see about
underclothing. A few days after this exposure he was taken sick, and his
whole mess of eight soldiers caught the smallpox. An old building was
utilized for a hospital, and an old man and woman took care of them until
they recovered, and a guard kept persons away. Their hands were tied to
boards, so that they could not scratch themselves.

Mr. Jones presently was promoted to the position of sergeant-major of
the regiment. The command shortly afterward marched towards Lexing-
ton, Missouri, where the Rebels had besieged the Union forces. They did
not reach there in time to prevent the surrender of the place and the capture
of the Union soldiers, but they pursued the retreating Rebels and rescued all
their prisoners. They requisitioned every horse and all Rebel conveyances
they could find to replace their horses that had broken down in the pursuit
and to let the tired Union soldiers ride in on their way back. They returned
to Ft. Leavenworth, where the regiment was filled up with new recruits
from the North. Mr. Jones was assigned as a body guard, with two soldiers,
to accompany him, of Adjutant General Bell and the^' went with the latter
to St. Louis, where they stopped but a few days, and then took a l:)oat and
steamed up the Mississippi river to St. Paul, where they stayed all winter,
General Bell being attached as a staflf oflicer to General Sibley's command.

In the spring of 1864 they started on a campaign against the Indians.
They went to Turtle Mountain, in North Dakota, on the Yellow Medicine
river, having small brushes with the Indians on the way,; went on to Ft. Rice,
on the Missouri river, in North Dakota, and ran the Indians across the river.
Mr. Jones and his two soldiers, acting as a body guard to General Bell all the
time. While on their way back, they were joined by the Second Nebraska
Cavalry and other troops, under General Selby, and at his own request Mr.
Jones was transferred to Company I, Second Nebra.ska Cavalry, as he wanted
to .see more service than he was having with General Bell. The regiment
soon returned to Sioux City, Iowa, and there he was discharged on Novem-
ber iR. 1863.

THE I'OWDEU RIVER EXPEHITION.

At Sioux City the Powder River expedition was being organized, and
Air. Jones hired out to the governnient as a wagonmaster. The troops com-
prising this exjjeditinn were the 'I'welflh Missouri Cavalry, and there was a

train of fifty-six wagons to carry their supplies and amnninitinn. Mr. Junes
was bired at one liundred dollars a month and had charge, witJi two assist-
ants, of this wagon train, luicli wagon was drawn liy six mules. Tiie
messes comprised six teamsters, wlio cooked their own meals. When march-
ing across the prairie, the wagon train traveled in two columns, so as not to
he .strung out too long. The Indians kept out of the way. hut c<inl(l he seen
at a distance watching them. They marched up the Missouri river to F"t.
Pierre, South Dakota, and then crossed the country to the northwest to Pow-
der river. X(^rth Dakota.

ENORMOrS HF.RDS OF lU" KFWT.O.

Tile huftaJo on the prairie were so thick that the_\' looked like a cloud
when they were moving and stirring up the dust. A curious thing was that
they all fed facing one way. The expedition often marched through the
herds and sometimes they would stampede and come close to them. Details
of soldiers every day would kill enough of them to supply the expedition with
huffalo meat, furnishing all die meat needed while crossing the ])Iains. Mr.
Jones went out one day after huffalo and rode right up to a hig one, as he
rode alongside of him shooting him in the small of the liack. I'he huffalo ran
a little further and then fell down in a piece of marsliy ground. A lieutenant,
one of the party, got oft' his Imrse, as he did not wani to ride his Jiorse on
the marshy ground ior fear of miring, and went up to the l)uft'alo on foot
;ind shot the animal in the head, hut the huffalo's head was so hard that the
hall did not penetrate. The huffalo got up on his feet and showed fight, which
frightened the lieutenant, who threw down his gun and ran for his hor.se and
mounted. As the huffalo came out of the marshy ground Jones shot him
hehind the foreleg, but as he .did not drop, another shot was fired at him
which brought him down. Antelope and elk were also very plenty and fur-
nished their (luota of food.

The partv had to he always on the alert iuv Indians, as every once in a
while they would see redskins off in the distance watching the expedition, but
as the Indians rode fleet ponies they were harder to get than the huffalo and
other game. The Indians always vanished soon after they were seen and
before they could be attacked, .so that the party had hut few fights with them.

When there was a nrospect of a fight with the Indi.ans, the wagons were

STONK STREET, FALLS CITY IN 1866

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 753

corralled in a circle, with the mules turned in so that they could not be
stampeded, and the troops would form on the outside of the corral. Some-
times at night the mules were kept on the inside of the corral of wagons;
this was when there was danger of their being stampeded while grazing at
night by the Indians^, but at other times they were put outside of the corral.
Sometimes they would be chained to the wagon wheels during the night and
turned loose early in the morning to graze under care of a guard. ^Vhen
there was not too much danger the mules would be herded and allowed to
feed at night. If the Indians could at any time have stampeded the mules,
the expedition would have had to be abandoned, as there would have been no
way to transport the supplies needed b>* the soldiers.

There were no roads to follow. But scouts would go ahead picking out
the best way to go. They had two Indians as guides. In crossing the moun-
tains sometimes forty mules would be attached to one wagon, as the way was
so steep and rough. Many of the creeks had steep, deep banks, that had to be
cut down before wagons could cross; at other times streams would be fol-
lowed up to their source before they could be crossed. At rocky places cross-
ing was very difficult.

The expedition followed up the Missouri river into Wyoming and Mon-
tana, and returned by way of the Platte river, as far as Kearney, Nebraska.
Mr. Jones was paid off at Kearney and then went to Leavenworth, Kansas,
and stayed until he rejoined his father and his family at Omaha in 1864. He
came to Richardson county with his father and brothers in 1866 and bought
one hundred and sixty acres of land of the Indians, a few miles north of
Rulo. and went to farming and he has lived there ever since. Mr. Jones was
a member of the House of Representatives in the Nebraska state Legislature
during the sessicjns of 1903 and 1907.

STONE .STREKT, F.M.I. S CITY. l86().

The picture is a drawing made from an okl picture now in the posses-
sion of Mrs. W. H. Keeling, of Falls City, who got it from, her father.
Anderson Miller, now deceased. The original was made on a tintype and
was taken on Stone street in 1866. Every effort was made to secure a cut
direct from the original tintype, and some very good copies were secured:
liut owing to the faded condition, such copies could not be successfully used
for making a newspaper or book cut. Consequently, the above drawing,
jirepared by Da\i(l D. Reavis. was made and is here re[)roduced, and ha\ing

(48)

754 RICHARDSOX COUXTV, X F.BI; \.SK.\.

compared the original tintyiie with the photographic copies of the same,
which were made, it is claimed that tlie picture ahove is a perfect rejiro-
duction of the original, but has tJie advantage of being much more distinct
and is enlarged several times.

Tlie luu'lding on the left is a view >ji the old Aiinmck IJoiel. which was
located where the present Richardson County Hank now stands, facing-
Stone street and directly south of the court house. The old hotel was for
many years the political and social center of the little \illagc. Xo old resi-
dent of l'"alls City can speak of the "good old times" without repeated ref-
erence lo the old hotel. The building was erected b_\- Jes'^e Crook in i85() and
was at first known as the "City Hotel!" The building next to it was the old
Joe Burbank store, whose chief clerk was George E. Dorrington, later a
resident of Yuma. Arizona.

The tirst building on the opposite side of the street was the newspaper
office of the old Broad A.vc, which had a somewhat precarious career and
was edited at 'different times by Ned Burbank, Judge Dundy. L. B. Prouty,
and others of the then prominent citizens. The old building was situated
on the lots immediately .s(Wth of the First National Bank and now. in i<)i7.
occupied by the Tanner hardware store. The next is the little brick law
office of Judge Dundy, afterwards United States district judge for Nebraska,
these lots were later occupied by what was known as the Keini & Grable
Bank and at the present time by Peter Kaiser's place of business. The iirst
little brick law otifice was the only brick building in the city and was the
pride of all the hardy pioneers wdio called Falls City their home. The next
building, the chimney of which can be seen through the trees, was the home
of Daxid Dorrington. familiarly known as Scjuire Dorrington. This home-
stead was situated where the building now occupied by th.e P'alter clothing
store. Charles P. Hargrave and Peter Bacaco's candy kitchen stand. The
building adjoining the Dorrington homestead was the law othce of lion.
Isham Reavis. and this building was jointl\' constructed by Isham Reavis
and Attorney August Schoenheit. and was considered very pretentious in
those days. This building occujjied the site across the street to the south,
now occupied by the V. .G. Lxford store on the corner <M' what is now
Sixteenth and Stone streets. The old "White Saloon" c<inies next and
imiuediately beyond the saloon is the residence of James R. Cain. Sr. The
building farthest down the street was the palatial residence of Doctor Hanna.
which stood I in the corner of the next block to the south at present occupied
h\- the .Samuel ^^'ahl mercantile establishment, h'ifteenth and .Stone streets.
This residence was the llnest in the state at the time and w,i> i)ointed out to
die occasional visitor as a sight of great interest.

BIOGRAPHICAL

JOSEPH H. .MILES.

Joseph H. Miles, president of the l'"irst National Bank of Ealls Cit\,
president of the State Bank of Rulo, proprietor of the great [Miles ranch
in the vicinity of Dawson and the owner of mvich other land in this count) .
for years regarded as one of the leading hankers and stockmen in Nebraska,
is a native of the old Kexstone state, but has been a resident of Nebraska
and of Richardson county since 1862, and spent his boyhood days in this
county on the great ranges of the early days, having thus been a witness
to and a participant in the development of this region since pioneer days.
Mr. Miles was born at Delta, in York county, Pennsylvania, December 15,
1850. and is a son of the late' Stephen Boyd and Hannah (Scarborough)
.Miles, the former a native of that same county, and the latter a native of
the state of Maryland. E.xtended mention is made of .Ste]ihen Boyd Miles
elsewhere in this work.

Joseph H. Miles was reared on the Miles ranch and from boyhood
was accustomed to tlie free life of the range. During the Civil War ])eriod
he was in attendance at St. Benedict's College at Atchison, Kansas, and in
1865 pursued his studies in Highland University, later (1866-1868) attending
the school at Peru, Nebraska, in the neighboring county of Nemaha, which
school was raised to the rank of a normal school in 1867. Upon the com-
liletion of his education he returned to the home ranch and was there actively
engaged with his father in the cattle business until 1872, when he went to
St. Louis and perfected himself as a telegraph operator, a vocation in which
he then engaged, finally becoming a train dispatcher, and was continualh
engaged in railroad .service until 1880. He then embarked in the mercantile
business in Rulo, tliis count\-. where he marrietl in 1882. Two years later,
in 1884, he became engaged in connection with his mercantile 1)usiness, in
the banking business at Rulo in association with his, father. Tn 1888 he
sold his store and devoted his attention to the bank and his live-stock interests
on the ranch and was tlnis occujiied until i8(>o. In that \ear he went back

756 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

with his father to his birthplace at Delta, Pennsylvania, and they organized
the Miles National Bank of Delta. In 1891 he became cashier of the First
National Bank of Falls City, with which institution he has Ijeen connected,
as a member of the board, of directors, from the time his father, Stephen
Boyd Miles, established the bank in 1882, and was elected jjresident of this
bank in 1903. He is also interested in the State Bank of Rulo and in addi-
tion to his banking interests continues to give much of his personal attention
to his extensive land interests. He operates the original Miles ranch of
six thousand acres in the neighborhood of Dawson; besides which he owns
other valuable tracts in Salem, Speiser, Nemaha and Grant townships, a
total of about ten thousand acres in all, his sons, Stephen B. and Warren
C, assisting him in tlie management of his various land holdings.

After the death of his father in 1898, Mr. Miles was made executur
of the large estate left by the old banker and ranchman and considerable
time was consumed in finally and definitely closing the trust. A vast amount
of litigation ensued as a result of relatives and heirs-at-law starting a contest
to break the will left by Stephen Boyd Miles, which provided for the disposi-
tion of an estate valued at over one million dollars. Attracted by the possi-
bilities of rich fees, lawyers from St. Fouis, Omaha. Fincoln, Kansas City
and F"alls City, took part in the effort to break the will, l>eing actuated by
a desire to win a contingent fee of forty per cent, of tlie amount secured if
they succeeded in breaking tlie will. The celebrated Miles will contest was
liegun in 1899 and occupied a period of twelve years. .-X host of lawyers-
took part in the contest only to meet with disappointment in the final outcome.
The case was brought up in the supreme court of Nebraska five times and
was finally disposed of in 191 1, the validity of the will matie i)y Stephen
I'oyd Miles being upheld in the final decision given in favor of Joseph FT.
Miles and otiier ])eneficiaries whom the father recognized in his will.

Mr. ]\liles has e\-er taken a warm intere.st in the growth and dexelopnient
of his home town and county, and among his numerous acts of pul)lic sjiiril
was his presentatitju to the cit\- of the ground occupied l)_\- the pu1.)lic lil)rary
of Falls City. He !» a Democrat, as was his father, and has for years taken
an active and influential interest in county and state politics. He has been
interested in county politics to the extent of assisting his friends to elec-
tion to public office, an assistance whicJT has always been given whole heartedh
and without stint. He attended the Democratic national convention which
nominated ^^'illiam Jennings r>r\an for the presidenc\- in Chicago in 1896.
ruul was also a delegate to tiic succeeding convention of his party held at
Kansas City in T()oo. To local ci\ic aft'airs Mr. Miles has I)een equally
attentive and has served two terms a mayor of Falls L'ily. occupying the

KICIIAUDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 757

executive chair in 1893 and again in 1897. Fraternally. 'Sir. Miles is affili-
ated with the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Ortler of Odd Fellows,
the Royal Highlanders, the Improved Order of Red Men, and the Benevolent
and Protective Order of Flks. He became affiliated with the Knights of
Pvthias in 1875 and is a memlier of the grand lodge of that order for the
state of Missouri.

On January 31, 1882, at I-iulu, Air. Miles was married to Sue A. Easley,
who was born at Rulo, this county, a daughter of Drury T. and Mary
(Thomas) Easley, natives of Virginia and pioneers of this comity, the father
of Marv (Thomas) Easley having been one of the earlx- Baptist ministers
at Rulo. To this union six children have been born, namely: Mrs. Mabel
Meyer, of Los Angeles, California; Stephen B., of Falls Cil\, who is man-
aging the Allies ranch; Joseph T., who died in 1912; ^^'arren C, who is
li\ing on a section of the Miles land in Xemaiia township; Ivlna. who is
at home with her parents, and Mrs. Sue Adele Dulin, of T.ns Angeles.

HFXRA' ^^^ shubfrt.

Among the early pioneers of the northern part of Richardson county
few, if an)-, are held in better rememlirance dian is the late Henry W. Shuliert,
wh.o was one of the first settlers in that part of this county and on whose Land
the town of Shubert w;is laid out when the railroad was surveyed through
that section. He not only was one of the first settlers in northern Richard-
son county, Init he became one of the substantial farmers and stockmen
thereabout and an extensive landowner, owning lands in thi^ county and in
the neighboring county of Nemaha. He was the pioneer orchardist of Rich-
ardson county and set out the first commercial fruit orchard in the state of
.Vebraska. lie built up a fine homestead place in the Shubert neighborhooil
and his children and grantlchildren are worthily carrying on the work he
started so admirably here back in pioneer days.

Henry W. .Shubert was a Kentuckian, born in Badi counl\- in the old
Blue (irass state. June _'. 1834, son of John and Rebecca ( Shrout ) Shuliert,
also nati\-es of Kentucky, the former I)orn in 1806 and the latter in iSio.
John .Shubert was the son of Nicholas and l*lHzabeth ( Me}-er ) .Shubert, natives
of rierm;in\-. the former Ixirn in 1780 and the latter in 1785. who were
])ioneers in Kentucky and whose last days were spent in Alason county. Illi-
nois, the latter <lying there in i860 and the former in 1870. There were four
brothers who came fnjm Cermany about the same period, of whom John

75<> KICIIARDSdX CCHXTV. XKHKASKA.

Slnihert \\;l;~ one. I.ouis Slniliert was another wlin was the ancestor of the
Sluiberts of theatrical fame, jolin .Shnhert was trained as an iron moulder
in iiis youth and wnrkecl at the trade fur a number of years. Tic was mar-
ried in i8-'N and in 1835 built a llat1)oat at the headwaters of the Lickinfr
ri\er in Kentucky and with his family and household goods floated down that
stream into the Ohio and thence to the landing at Madison, Indiana, where he
flisembarked and then pushed on eighteen miles into the wilderness, where
he hewed out a home in the woods, .started a farm and presently also started
a country store. I'here he remained until 1843, '^vhen he disposed of his
interests there and mo\ed by covered wagon o\er into Illinois, where he set-
tled on a farm in .Macon county, reniaining there until iS^j^, when he and
his Avife joined their sons, who had meanwhile settled in Nebraska, and spent
their last days on a farm in the neighlwrhood of Shubert, in this county. John
Shubert dying there in i87«) and his widow in 1883. They were the parents
of eleven children of whom nine grew to maturity, those besides the subject
of this memorial sketch being as follow: Rachel, widow of T. Harmon, of
this countv; l-llizabeth, wife of George Vanlandingham, of the neighboring
county of Nemaha; Mrs. Mary A. ■Vanlandingham, deceased: Eliza Jane, who
died at the age of eighteen years; Jairies .M., who became a substantial pioneer
farmer of this count)- and who met a tragic death in March, 1882, by being
tin-own from a wagon when his team of horses ran away in the vicinity of
r.rownville; jolni W"., who also became a pioneer of this county and who is
now living retired at Spokane. Washington ; .William ^I., another Kichard-
.'(in count} pioneer, now living retired at Shubert, and Rebecca, also living at
Shubert, wife of Charles I'ond. a veteran of the Civil ^^'ar and one of the
pioneers of this county.

■ Henry W. Shubert was but a lialje in armswhen his parents moved down
tile river, changing their place of residence from Kentucky to Indiana, and he
was but nine years of age when they nioved from the latter state over into
Illinois and settled on a farm in Macon county, wh.ere he grew to manhooil.
He had little schooling when a l)oy. He heljied to build the first school house
ill the neighl)orliood of his lionie and was a good student, becoming a ver_\'
well-informed man tlirough wide reading and much study at home, h'rom
i83() to 18(10 he opei-ated a grain sei)ar,-itor and corn-sluUer iii connection
with his general farming. In the meantime, in the spring of 185S, he mar-
ried and in 18(13, .-ittracted by the |)ossibilities then opening to settlers in the
then Territor\ of .Vebraska, came out here and bought the northeast cpiarter
of section 3 in tlic |)recinct of Barada, in Richardson county, that tract then
being a i)arl of the I hdf-breed Kc-ervation, i)aving two dollars and hftv cent^

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 759

ail acre for tlit- same. The next year he put out a crop ou that place, but
range cattle ate the crop and he then spent the next year splitting rails with
w hich to fence the place. In the meantime he had taken up additional land,
over the line in A'emaha county and on this latter tract had erected a log-
cabin in preparation for the removal of his family to the new home in the
wilderness. He then returned to Illinois and settling up his affairs there
returned here with liis family and established his home in this state, where he
spent the remainder of his life, one of the active and influential pioneers of
the northern part of Richardson count}-. When the Burlington railroad was
sur\ eyed through this county a station was located on Mr. Shubert's land and
was given his name, which it still bears, the thriving village of Shubert hav-
ing grown up there. As he prospered in his farming and stock-raising opera-
tions Mr. Shubert added to his holdings until he became the owner of seven
hundred acres of hue land and was accounted one of the most substantial
resitlents of that part of the county. He l>rought his father and mother out
here in 1873 and gave them forty acres, on which they spent their last days,
liis Ijrothers also became well established and the .Shubert family tlius came
to have a most important part in the development of that region.

In 1884 Henry M'. Shubert became associated with the Lincoln Land
Company and in tiial cnnnection did much valuable development work here-
about. On his iiome place he set out extensive fruit orchards and was the
pioneer orchardist of Nebraska and was the first apple grower to use a spray-
ing machine ami also the first grower to pack apples in barrels for shipment.
Mr. Shubert's career was not always favored with successes, however, as he
had many vicissitudes during his active life in this county. During 1886 he
suffered the loss of jjractically all of his hogs and cattle because of hydro-
phobia contracted from a shepherd dog, which was afflicted with the dread
disease. In later years he lost a coiisideralile fortune because of a bank
failure wherein he had served as bondsman for the bank officers.

This noted pioneer gave away to his children practically all of his estate,
when old age crept upon him, and was widely known for his great liberality
to his friends and acfiuaintances. He was known- never to have forced a col-
lection in instances where he had loaned money or given assistance to his
neighbors in time of need. He took a ])ride in assisting new comers to his
neighbors in gaining a foothold and many settlers have cause to bless his
kindness of lieart and generosity, h'or a period of thirty-five years prior
to his death, 1 ienr\ \^^ Shubert suffered from an incurable cancer, but
uncomplainingly and smilingly pursued his way and did the things which he
deemed were iust and right in tlie e\-es of the world. He was a meniber of

76c KICIIAKDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

the Christian church, a P^ree .Mason, and a Repubhcan in poHtics, ever taking
a warm interest in church, lodge and political affairs, as became a man of
position and standing. He died at his home in this county on April 19, 1909.
Henry W. .Shubert was twice married. On May 7, 1858, in Illinois he
was united in marriage to Mary Griffin and to that union seven children were
born, namely: John D., of Shubert: M. Fannie, wife of E. F. Burson. of
Shubert; M. Etta, wife of J. L. Speece, of Falls City; Arthur M., a farmer
and orchardist, of Shubert; J. Franklin Shubert, banker and orchardist, of
Shubert; Henry W^alter, a merchant of Ottawa, Kansas; Austin Grant, a well-
known real estate dealer and farmer of Falls City. The mother of these chil-
dren died suddenly while riding in a carriage on the highway between her
home and that of J. P. King, on New Years Day, 1881, her last born child,
Austin Grant, less than two years of age, being held in her arms at that time.
In 1883, 'Mr. Shul^ert married, secondly, Mary Skeen, daughter of S<iuire
.-V. D. Skeen, one of the pioneers of Nebraska and a former resident of Neb-
raska City, and to that union was b(irn one son, Leon Willard, whose mother
(lied on Januar\- i, 1917.

HON. ISHAM REAVIS.

It has been given to but few men to have left behind ilit-ni an imperisli-
able recortl such as that of the late Judge Isham Rea\is, whd was one of
the ])ioneers of P^alls City, a jurist nf exceptional ability and renown; a
lawyer of profound learning, a pleader of exceptional force, and a strong
man who lived and carved out a career during an age when strong and sturd\-
'-•haracters were necessary to create a state. Judge Reavis was a member of
the first Legislative assembly of the, new state of Nebraska and distinguished
himself and reflected credit upon his constituency by his able service in behalf
of his adopted state: and further distinguished himself as an associate justice
of the supreme court of the Territor\ of Arizona. As a practitioner in
the courts of Neliraska antl in the supreme court of the nation; he was for
years a ]M-ominent figure in legal circles; lieing a man of exceptional learning,
he was likewise endowed with literary ability of a very high order and. had
he so chosen, could have gained renown as a writer and essayist. While
a versatile individual and blessed with sujjcrior mental endowment which
caused those who knew him best to class him as a genius. Judge Reavis
attained high rank as an attorney and jurist: he was for manv years the
dean of the Riclianlson coun(y bar. and was uni\ersally recognized a> a

(r>-?~t-^^c^

G7L.

j€,

KICHAKDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 7OI

peer among that famous group of lawyers which shed hister ami fame upon
Richardson county during the formative and creative period of this county's
history. It is probable that in the whole state of Nebraska he had no superior
as a legal light, and his high standing at the bar was maintained during
a period of time extending over half a century.

Isham Reavis was born on January 28, 1836, on a farm near Beards-
town, Illinois. He was the youngest son of a large family born to Isham
and Mahala Reavis, both of whom were memljers of old Southern families,
the former a native of North Carolina and the latter of Virginia, but reared
in Kentucky, members of whose families fought in the Revolution. Judge
Reavis came of the old stock of pioneers who were home builders and creators
of new communities in the Middle West and Western country, so that it
was entirely natural that he. himself, should decide to cast his fortunes in
the newer countrv to the westward of his birthplace. He remained on the
farm imtil his father's death, when he was a lad of but nine years. He
attended the common schools and the Beardstown schools and was a student
in Illinois College at Jacksonville until compelled to leave the college on
account of his mother's death. He then returned to Beardstown and began
the stud\- of law in the office of .\l)raham Lincoln. Apropos of this venture,
a letter from Mr. Lincoln to Isham Reavis is one of the valued relics on
exhibition in the Nebraska Hi.storical Society's exhibit. This letter is in
replv to one regartling Mr. Reavis's contemplated study of law, written
by Mr. Lincoln in 1855, and is full of characteristic advice given to the
young man by the great emancipator. Isham Reavis applied himself dili-
gentl)' to the study of law until 1858, when he was admitted to the bar
in Illinois. His ambitions and an inherent craving for the life of the frontier
led him to the West and in May, 1858, he came to the little settlement,
surrounded on all sides b\- open prairie, the one-year-old Falls City, ;nid
while his life's labors were centered here for fifty-six years, he watched the
hamlet de\elop into a thriving little city in one of the richest districts of the
Missouri valle}-. The story of the hardships and privations of those early
days, of the ambitions, the hopes, the disappointments, the achievements of
those who laid the foundation of this later-day prosperity, are told in this
volume; and through it all Isham Reavis was in the thickest of the fight
and he lived to see the visions of his earlier years materialize. Nothing
more fittingly describes the appearance of the frontier country of sixtv vears
ago than the first installment of Judge Reavis's "Reminiscences of a Way-
farer,"' which appears in this work.

Judge Reavis immediately Ijegan the practice oi law in the little prairie
\illage and took an active and influential part in the political matters of

702 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

the day. hi> intluence lieing felt in the community and state in all matters
affecting the ])ul)lic welfare. Jn the year 1867 he was appointed district
attorney for the hrst judicial district of the new state of Nebraska and served
in this capacity for two years. He was elected a member of the state Senate
in 1868 and served in the first state Legislature during the ensuing winter
and spring. In 1867 he was elected to the post of district judge and. in
1869, he was appointed by President Grant to the position of justice of
the supreme court of the territory of Arizona, which position he filled for
four years, at the end of which time he resigned and again resumed his law
practice at Falls City. Judge Reavis practiced in practically all the courts
of Nebraska and was frequently a pleader before the United States supreme
court at W^ashington. During his day, it is probable that no man was better
known nver the state than Judge Reavis and perhaps no other lawyer has
t'igured in more remarkable or celebrated cases. The deadi of this esteemed
]/icineer citizen occurred on JMay 8, 1914.

At the November election of 1868, Isham Reavis was elected senator
from what was then called the third senatorial district. That Senate was the
first one elected in the state after the adoption of the state constitution and
was conip(5sed among others of such capable man as Guy C. Barton. W'W-
liam F. Chapin, E. E. Cunningham, Charles H. Gore and Thomas J. Majors.
The city of Lincoln at that time contained alxiut one thousand souls and
was about one third the size of Bnnvnville. During the session of 1869
the senatorial contest between Tipton, McCann, ^larquette and David Butler
was the absorbing interest and passion. The great heat engendered by the
contest thrust all else aside and involved the entire state. Town lots in the
city of Lincoln as well as other considerations were freely offered as pay
for the support of some of the candidates. It seemed that it was the desire
of the powers that were to make Butler senator if possible, at any cost.
He had l)een the successful Republican candidate for governor the fall before
the meeting of die Legislature, against no less formidable a candidate offered
1)\- the Democrats, than J, Sterling Morton, and was ambitious to follow
Ins star of destiny to greater places of honor and trust. He seemed to be
the likely and l<\gical man for the honor. He was also from Pawnee county
and these many considerations were urged upon the Richardson county dele-
gates for votes for Butler. The Richardson cc)unt} men, however, were
in.structe<l by their county conventions to vote for rijiton and in spite of
all temptation- and contrary personal predilections, voted for and helped
make Thomas W. lipton. tiie first L'nited States senator from the new state
of Nebraska.

During this session of the Legislature the public lands for internal im-

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 763

provements were disposed of to assi.>t in tlic building of railroads. The
state was full of railroads on paper and there was not enough land in the
state to pay for half of the construction necessary'. To provide for the
proper expenditure of this money, Mr. Reavis introduced a bill to provide
for the expenditure of the money accruing from the sale of the pulilic lands,
where it would do the most and lasting good, and lie of the greatest benefit
to the state. Three railroads were selected, and possibly a fourth, as bene-
ficiaries of this fund when they should comply with the prerequisites to
show good faith. The Midland Pacific, now owned l)y the Burlingt(tn System
and running from Xel)raska City to Lincoln, was one of tliose roads; the
.Vtchison & Xel)raska railroad was another one. now owned -1)\- the liur-
lington and running from Atchison to Lincoln; the Burlington & Missouri
River railmad was annther in Xel)raska. running from Plattsniouth to l"t.
Kearney.

It was at this session of the Legislature that Senatdr Keavis intro-
duced a bill appropriating money to the Lincoln .Monument Association. This
association was in jjrocess of building the monument for our martyred Presi-
dent in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Springfield. Illinois, and it was the desire of
Mr. Reavis to ha\e our state represented in the construction of that beauti-
ful edifice. One of the senators from Nemaha county introduced an amendment
to strike out tlie words "Lincoln Association" and insert "Xebniska Soldiers
Association." In reply to the member's remarks introducing this amend-
ment. Senator Reavis had this to say :

Mr. CUiiiriii:m: — I ivjiivl cxcctHliiiiily that tlic .WMilioiii.ni tnnii Xciii.-ilia .■iiiiiit.v Iims
seen tit to offer this iuin'iiiliiiciu. In my .iiiiluiiicMt iiothiii;; (nuld lie iiior,. ill-tinicil ;iii<l
out of place thiiu ji iiroiiositloii «( tliis cliMi-.-ictci-. His cxiihiii.-itioii iii.-iy lie satisfactory
to tlie members on this iloor who h.ivo licanl it: hut, sir. thffc .-uv thnso outside of these
w.ills who will doubt while the ;;eutleinjin prote.sts. Tlie bill under ((iiisidei-atidii .aiipro-
pi-i:ites — should it beeonie a law — one thousand dollars to aid an assori.ation of very
respectable iudivldu.als. ainou;; them which .-ire some of the stall's of the I iiion. in build-
iUR a monument over the grave of Abraham Lincoln. The jienlleui.iii moves to strike out
••Lincoln Association" and insert ••Xel>rask;i Soldiers^ .Vssociation." The .•imendmenl. if
iidopted. will destroy the bill iind defeat .-i measure th.-it counnends itself to the heart
■ if every patriot in this broad land of ours. It will do more. If |.erslsted in il will compel
senators to discriminate between the soldiers who were slain in battle .ind i>uv -cmmI old
President who w:is murdered in Washiufiton.

Sir. I do not want the time ever to come when I .shall be compelled either .•is a
legislator or otherwi.se to make such discrimination. 1 would rear a monument to the
memory of each, tall enough to be seen over the hilltops of all the centuries. 1 am .-it .-i
loss to know why the gentleman offers this ameiulment. Does he think the fallen heroes
of tlie rebellion are in danger of being forgotten? If he does 1 am bound to believe he
has less confidence in the people, to say nothing of the survivors of si.\ hundred bloody
biittle tields of the slavery war than I h:ul snpiiosed him to iios.sess. The soblier.s— (!od

764 RlCn NKDSO.N COUXTV. NEBRASKA.

bless them — will take care of the luoiuory of their lost couirailes, whether they receive
assistance from associations or legislatures or not. Jlouuineutal piles are but the physical
manifestations of the love we bear the deported who sleep beneath, and shall it be said
of Nebraska that she had uot love enough in her young Jieart to pla<-e one slab in the
marble etlifit-e that is to stand like a ghostly sentinel by the side of the great patriot's
grave, while time shall grow old with the agesV

For my.self, I desire to appropriate money enough for the iniiiioso iiuMitiontMl in tlu'
bill, to give Nebraska — the youngest member of the federal family — a rcsiicctable position
in this magnificent and praiseworthy enterprise. The gentleman need have no fears that
the fallen soldiers of Nebraska will receive less attention on account of this bill. Sir.
they are being attended by those that "drank from the same canleen"" — by thosi' that
loved them in life — that love them in death, and who revere the lofty patriotism that
impelled them to take arms iu defense of the best human government that was ever ni.-ide.
In the court house square at my own home, stands a beautiful ni.irble shaft. It was
lilaced there by the members of two companies of Nebraska soldiers in memoriam of
the dead of both. On its smooth surface is engraved the names of the "lost boys in
l)lue"; when and where they died; whether killed iu battle or carried away by disease:
and the names of the companies at whose instance it was erected. All honor to the
warm-hearted, generous citizen .soldiery who did the noble deed. It is the spontaneous
offering of the companies in arms whose march is ended forever and there, sir, it will
stand long after this generation shall have passed away and the memory of those whose
names are chiseled on its smooth surface shall have otherwise faded from the world.
For these and other reasons I oppose the amendment and hope it may l)e withdrawn.

The amcndnicnt was withdrawn, the bill passed and Uie appropriatiini
allowed to langnish in the treasury until it became null and unavailable. IMany
years afterward, in the year 1880, Judge Reavis had (jccasion to visit his
old home on the Sangamon river, near Springfield. He visited the Lincoln
monument that hatl been recently completed, and having an added interest
in the building b\- reason of his successful efforts in having Nebraska repre-
sented in the erection of it he made the cemetery a visit. The surprise
lliat came to him when he found that the money appropriated by Nebraska
in 1869 was not used or gotten from the state treasury at all is spoken of
in his reminiscences, together with his immediate effofts in having the nionc\-
re-appropriated and forwarded to the custodian of the immortal septilchre
for the use. benefit, Ijeautification and maintenance of the tomb, thus finally
placing Nebraska among the hst of donors. A distinction which would
have been lost to the honor of the state whose capital bears the immortal
President's name. Init for his interest and efforts in memory of the one
man who lived upim this earth but to bless it, whom he reallv loved and
worshiped — .\braliam Lincoln.

On May 19. 1864, Isham Reavis and .Vnna Dorrington were united
in marriage in I^alls City. Anna Dorrington was a daughter of David and
Anne Dorringinii, who were well-known ])ioneer residents of Richardson
ouinly. lM\e chilihvn were Imrn nf this marriage, as follow: ^Mrs. Anna

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 765

(Reavis) Gist, of Falls City; Isham, Jr., deceased; David Dorrington Reavis,
of Falls City, concerning whom a biography is given in this volume; Charles
F'rank Reavis, meml^er of Congress from this district, and Burton Isham
Reavis, of Falls City. All of the living children are residents of Falls City,
and it was a source of supreme happiness to Judge Reavis that he lived to
rear and educate his family and to see them take honored places in the life
of the community of which he was one of the distinguished creators. Mrs.
Reavis taught for a time in the first school established in the county.

For over half a century Judge Reavis v\as an honored member of the
Masonic order and was the last of the charter members of Falls Cit}' Lodge
X(j. 9, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. The Masons attended his obsequies
in a body as also did the Ricliardson County Bar Association, augmented
by the entire bar of Pawnee and Nemaha counties and members from Otoe.
Johnson, Gage and Adams counties, who were associated with Judge Reavis
in the State Bar /Association.

Judge Isham Reavis did his work nobly and well and left to his family
a splendid heritage of deeds which will live long in the hearts and minds
of those who knew him best. He gave the best that was within him to the
business and social life of the city, county and state and achieved a place
of prominence and renown which will live through the years to come and
which entitles him to a place among the leaders of the great commonwealth
which he assisted in creating. His was a worthy life, his many years having
I)een filled witli usefulness and the accomplishment of things wnrtli while.

JUDGE JOHN D. SPRAGINS.

judge John D. Spragins, police judge at l"~alls City, an honored veteran
of tlie Civil ^^'a^, justice of the peace in and for Falls City, also engaged in
the insurance Imsiness in that city, of which he is one of the pioneers, is a
nati\e of Illinois, Imt has Ijeen a resident of Nebraska ever since the summer
of 1869, when he came out here and settled at Falls City, then a village of
but two hundred :uid fifty inhabitants. He was born on a farm three and
a iialf miles north of Galena, in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, December 21,
1N40. son of Thomas and Louisa (Langlois) Spragins, both of French descent,
tlie former a native of \'irginia and the latter of Illinois.

Thomas Spragins left ^'^rginia in the days of his young manhood, in
jS_>7, and came AX'e-it, 1)ecoming one of the early lead miners at Galena. Illi-

766 UTcriARnsox county, nkhraska.

iiois. He was niie of ihc party led by ^[oiisieur Dul)U(|ue that crossed tlie
Mii-sissippi river and laid (Hit the tnwn that later developed into the present
city of Dnhu(|iie. That part\' was nui nut hy the Indians, hut later DulniijUL^
returned with a stron<>er party and the Indians were dispossessed of that
tract fc never, the town thereafter being peaceably settled. Thomas Spra,Q;ins
married I.nuisa I.anglois. who was born at St. Charles, Illinois, daughter of
( iabriel I.an,i;lc)is. a l-'renchman, who later was kille<l in the l'«1ack Hills while
'■n an expedition in Jiehalf uf the American Fur Companw In 1S44 Thomas
Spra.Siins mo\'ed tn the Apple l^iver mines in I'.liz.abeth. Jo Daviess connty.
where' he made his hdUie niUil 1869, in which year he came to Nebraska and
settled at i'alls City, where his last days were spent, his death occurring there
in 1883. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, of whom the
subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birdi, the others being as
fi)tl<jw : J. \\ . .S., wild went on farther West and spent his last days in Cali-
fornia; i'lmmas I"., who l)ecame a pioneer in Montana and there spent his
last (lavs: Mrs. l.nuisa Itatchehler. now living at I'rairie du Chien, Wiscon-
sin: Mrs. Julia C. Cnudwin. who died in Milwaukee: Mrs. Annie E. Miller,
(if Diilnth. Minnesota, and Mrs. \'irginia 1". Crowley, also of Duluth.

John I). Spragins grew u]) in Jo Daxiess count}-, lllinoi-. and from the
days of his boyhood was trained in the wa\s of the mines, becoming an expert
miner, and was engaged in working in the mines when the Civil War broke
out. In Augn.st. i86i-. he enlisted for service as a member of Company K,
l"(irt\-hfth Regiment, Illinois \'ohinteer Infantry, and went to the front ^vith
that command, C(jntinuing in .service until the close of the war. being mustered
out on Jnl\- ij, 1865, with the rank of first lieutenant. During this long
l)eriod of service Judge Spragins participated in eighty distinct engagements,
including some of tlie liotte^t battles of t'.ie war. including forty-eight da\'S
at tlie siege of \icksburg. during which historic siege his ability as a miner
l)roved very serviceable, he having there had ch;u-ge of a detachment of saj)-
])ers and miners, whose hazardous task it was to mine under the Confederate
forts and blow them uy. On one of these expeditions the Judge was trapped
with three others in his own mine, the reliels having been successful in blow-
ing np tlie eiUr;incc to the mine, and before he and his men were able to dig
liienisehcs ou.t tiiey were ;dmost overcome bv the deadly mine "damp." .-\fter
the fall of \icksbnrg lie was cm |)ro\-ost-guard dut\- in the citv from Jul}- 4
to October -'-| and thence on down Rlack river, going on to Meridian, Missis-
sippi, lighting exei} <la}-. ami at Canton, Mississippi, entered upon the task
of destroxing the railroad. te;iriiig up twcnt}- miles of track and de.stroynig

RICIIAKDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 767

twentv-three locomotives and other rolling stock, .\fter this expedition the
Judge was given a \'eteran furlough home. After some hazardous experi-
ence, on his return, he rejoined his regiment at ^^icksburg and proceeded on
to Huntsville, Alabama, and thence to Chattanooga and then on the march
through Georgia. .Vfter the battles of Resaca and Carterville, his regiment
was detailed to guard the l^ttawa bridge and from there went on, taking part
in numerous battles including Kenesaw Mountain and Marietta and was then
detailed to guard the bridge near the Chattahoochie cotton mills, burning that
bridge when Atlanta fell and then returning to Marietta. Just as the army
was starting on the march to the sea the Judge was seized with a severe attack
of rheumatism and was turned back, that having been his last fighting. He
remained on sick leave until he joined his regiment at Louisville; after the
close of the war, the command proceeding thence to Chicago, where it was
finally discharged. Among the other battles Judge Spragins participated in
max be mentioned, as among the hottest, Ft. Henry, Ft. Donelson, Savannah.
I'iltsburg Landing or Shiloh, Holly Springs, Thompson's Hill. Clinton, Ra\-
mond. Jackson, Champion Hills and the Black River and on tn A'icksburg.
His command was in action almost continually and, as noted alxive, he was an
active partici])ant in eighty distinct engagements.

Upon the completion of his military service John D. Spragins returned
to Illinois and in June, 1868, at White Oak Spring, Wisconsin, was united in
marriage to Lydia Frances Friend, who was born in Pennsylvania, daughter
of George and T'riscilla (Harrington) Friend. The next year, in August,
1869, the Judge and his wife and their four-months-old son came to Neb-
raska and located at Falls Cit\-. then a promising village of about two hun-
dred and fift\- inhabitants. He there became engaged as a building contractor
and three years later engaged in the livery business, continuing engaged in
that line for three years, at the end of which time he began manufacturing
wagons and buggies and was thus quite successfully engaged until 1884,
when he sold his establishment and went out to Hayes county, Nebraska,
where he homesteaded a tract of land with a view to establishing a home
there and "grow up with the country." The Judge has little to say regard-
ing diat homesteading experience, the disastrous experiment in pioneering
being sunrmed up in his terse phrase that he "saved himself, but lost fi\e
thousand dollars." Upon the failure to realize his plans as a homesteader,
the Judge returned to Falls City and there engaged again in wagon-making,
later moving to Straussville, Richardson county, but after a sometime resi-
dence there returned to b'alls Citv. where he since has made his liome. In

768 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

Xovember. 1005. hi- was electetl justice of the peace in and for Falls City
and in April. i(jo6. he was elected city police judge, both of which magis-
terial offices he still holds. In addition to attending to his magisterial duties
Judge Spragins is engaged in the insurance business and is doing very well.
The Judge formerly was a Republican, but in the memorable campaign of
1S06. became one of the ardent supporters of \\'illiam Jennings Bryan and
lias since remained a Democrat. He is an active member of the local post of
tlie Grand Army of the Republic and is a Mason and an Odd Fellow, taking
an earnest interest in the affairs of these several organizations. Judge and
Mrs. Spragins have a pleasant home at Falls City and have ever taken an
interested part in local good works. They have one son, George W. Spragins,
whoAvas born in Illinois in April, 1869. and is now a traveling salesman for
the Oliver Chilled Plow Company. He married Grace Jack and has one
cliild. a son. GiAen .Spragins.

.MILL.VRD LEWIS WILSON. M. D.

Dr. ?klillard Lewis ^^''ilson, of Falls City, Richardson county, and one
of the best-known physicians and surgeons of this part of the state, a resi-
dent of this county since he enfered upon the practice of his profession in
1896, is a native son of Nebraska and has lived in this state all his life. He
was born on a ])ioneer farm in the immediate vicinity of Nebraska City,
November 26, 1866. son of Enoch and Eunice (Jarrett) Wilson, die former
of whom was Ijorn in the neighboring state of Iowa and the latter in the
old state of X'irginia. and who were married in Missouri. Enoch Wilson, a
life-long farmer, ser\ed as amemlier of the state militia, the Union Home
Guards, during the Civil ^^'ar. In 1864 lie settled on a farm just north of
Nebraska City and there made his home until a few years ago, when he
retired from the farm and moved into Nebraska City, where he is now
living in the seventy-seventh year of his age. He was the father of ten
children, eight of whom are living. Three sons of Enoch AA'ilson are physi-
cians. Dr. S. S. ^Vilsn^, of Nebraska City; Dr. J. S. Wilson, of Johnson.
Nebraska: Dr. .M. L. : and an attorney. Judge \\'. W. A\"ilson. Nebraska City;
.\ndrew. Xebraska City: Airs. Dora Delzell, Peru, wife of Prof. W. N.
Delzell. of Peru Normal: Donna, wife of Prof. J. W. Crabtree, ])resident
Normal school. River I'alls, \N'isc(nisin. and Delia, at Nebraska City.

Reared on .n farm. Dr. M. L. \\'il>(in received his earlv schoolinq- in the

MILI.AIil) L. WILSON. If. D.

KICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 769

public schools, supplementing the same by a course in the State Normal
School at Peru and thus admirably equipped by preliminary study entered
the medical department of Cotner University at Lincoln and was graduated
from that institution in 1896, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. In
that same year the Doctor established an office for the practice of his jwo-
fession at Humboldt, in this county, and after his marriage the next year
estabhshed his home there, remaining there fur eleven years, at the end of
which time, in 1907, he moved to Falls City, where he ever since has been
very successfully engaged in practice. The Doctor has well-appointed offices
in the Wahl building and has ever kept abreast of the wonderful modern
advances being made in his profession. In 1905 he took a post-graduate
course at the Chicago Polyclinic. He is affiliated with the Richardson
County Medical Society, the Nebraska State Medical Society, the American
Medical Association, the Nebraska State Eclectic Medical Society and the
National Eclectic Medical Association and to the affairs and deliberations
of these various learned societies gives his thoughtful and earnest attention.
Doctor Wilson is a Democrat and has ever given a good citizen's attention
to local political affairs. He served for one term as coroner of Richardson
county and has in other ways done his part in the public service. Dr.
W'ilson is president of the local board of pension examiners. Fraternally,
he is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of
Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, besides various fra-
ternal insurance associations, and in the affairs of all of these organizations
takes a warm interest. Doctor and Mrs. Wilson have a very pleasant home
in Falls City and take a proper interest in the general social and cultural
activities of their home town.

It was in 1897, ''* Essex, Iowa, that Dr. Millard L. Wilson was united
in marriage to Elfrida Eugenie Ruth Osterbolm. who was born in the
kingdom of Sweden, February 15, 1875, daughter of Peter Emanuel and
Anna (Schubert) Peterson (now Osterholm), who left their home at Brans-
torp, in their native .Sweden, and came to this country with their family in
the summer of 1881 and settled at Essex, in Page county, Iowa, where Mr.
Osterholm engaged in the jewelry business and where he spent the remainder
of his life, his death occurring there on April 20. 1906. His widow sur-
vived him for nearly- five years, her death occurring on December 3, 191 1.
Her. Grandfather Schubert was born in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, of
German parentage. He was a sympathizer with the cause of the "Little
Corporal" during the time of the Napoleonic Wars and became attached

(49)

770 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

to tlie staff of Napoleon's great field marshal, Gen. Johan Bernadotte, ac-
companying- the latter to the Scandinavian peninsula when Napoleon
created him king of Sweden and Norway, with the title of Carl XIV, and
there Schnljert fell in love witli a lovely Swedish girl, married her and
established his lionie in Sweden, ]\Irs. Wilson therefore being a great-grand-
daughter of one of Napoleon's favored soldiers of fortune. To Peter
Kmanuel Osterholm (Ijorn Peterson) and wife eleven children were born,
of whom six are still living, those l)esides Mrs. Wilson being as follow :
August, who is engaged in the implement business at Essex. Iowa; Dr. Martin
Osterholm. Ph. D., professor of modern languages in the University of
Heidelburg at Tiffin, Ohio; William, who is in charge of the efficiency de-
l)artment of the great Deering works at Chicago : Elmer, who is employed
in that same department, and Mrs. IMiilip Schorr, of Ottumwa, Iowa.

STEPHEN CONLEE BARLOW.

Stephen Conlee Barlow, an honored \eteran of the Civil War, one of
the real "old timers" of Richardson county, one of the founders of the village
of Dawson and for years actively identified with the aft'airs of that village,
one of the leading merchants of the place and in other ways interested in the
business life of the community, now living comfortably retired in that
village, is a native Hoosier, .i fact of wiiich he has never ceased to be proud,
l>ut has been a resident of this county since the days of the close of the Civil
War and has therefore seen tliis region grow from its original wilderness
state to its present flourishing condition as one of the richest agricultural
communities in the great state of Nebraska. He was born on a farm in
Shelby county, not far southeast of Indianapolis, the capital of the state of
Indiana, January 15, 1842, son of Lewis and Ruth (Bishop) Barlow, both
natives of Kentucky, but pioneers of Indiana, both having moved up into
the Hoosier state with their respective parents in the days of their youth,
the Barlows and the Bishops both settling in Shelby cminty in pioneer days.
There Lewis Barlow and Ruth Bishop grew up and were married, establish-
ing their home on a farm in that county and there ciuitinuing to make their
residence until 184O, wlien they came West and settled in Polk county, Iowa,
at a point six miles east of the present center of the city of Des Moines, back
in territorial days. There Lewis Barlow built a log house and started farm-
ing, presently building a log .additidn to that house and in tiiat addition

KICHAKDSON COUNTY, NEBKASKA. 77I

starting a country store. As others presently settled in that neighborhood, the
store being the center nf the social life of the settlement, he laid out on his
place, with the store as the center, the tnwnsite of Rising Snn, now a nour-
ishing suburb of the city of Des Moines. He had to haul his merchandise
up the river trail from Keokuk, then being the nearest extensive trading
point. He gave to his new town of Rising Sun a plot for cemetery purposes
and after his death in 1858 his body was laid away in that burying ground.
He and his wife were members of the Christian church and their children
were reared in that faith.

Stephen C. Barlow was four years of age when his i)arents moved from
Indiana to Iowa and he was sixteen when his father dieil. He remained there
assisting in the affairs of the store and of the farm until the Civil War broke
out and on July 4, 1861, enlisted for ser\ ice as a member of Company E.
Fourth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and at the end of that term of
enlistment, three years, re-enlisted, at Woodville, Alabama, and served until
his final discharge, at Davenport, Iowa. August 23, 1865. having served for
four years and six weeks. The Fourth Iowa was raised at Council Bluffs
and went to the front under Gen. Granville M. Dodge, coming down the
ri\er. It was on this trip that Air. Barlow got his first view of the beautiful
valley of the Xeniaha. When the boat carrying the soldiers reached Brown-
\-ille the peojjle of that \icinity turned out cii masse and gave them a rousing
reception. Air. Barlow's first test under fire was at the battle of Pea Ridge,
.Vrkansas. and his last battle was that fought at Bentonville, North Carolina,
this latter battle having been fought after Lee's surrender. He participated
in the siege and capture of Vick.sburg and in the battles at Arkansas Post,
Chickasaw Bayou, Jackson, Champion's Hill, Lookout Mountain and Mis-
sionary Ridge, and then on with Sherman's army in the .Vtlantic campaign,
the battles at Resaca and Dallas, and at the fall of .\tlanta was in the
seventh and final charge and hand-to-hand fight which effected the capture
of DeGrasse's great battery. When General McPlierson was killed he was
within tw^o hundred yards of the spot. He then went on with the army on
the march to the sea and thence north after the taking of Sa\annah ; wit-
nessed the burning of Columbia and fought Johnston's ,Hrni\- all the way
through the Carolinas. the struggle culminating in the final l)attle at Ilen-
ton\ille. .Mr. Barlow then went on with his command to Washington,
where his regiment was accorded the honor of leading the (irand Review
down Pennsylvania avenue, l-'roni Wa.shington the regiment was sent to
Louisville :uid while at the latter place Mr. Barlow secured a thirty-days
furlough which he spent in \isiting his wife and her folks out here in

//-' RICHAKDSOX COrXTY, NEBRASKA.

Richardson county, he having married after lie joined tlie army. Rejoin-
ing his regiment at Louisville he presently returned with that command tu
Iowa and was finally mustered out at Davenport.

Upon tiie completion of his military service Mr. Barlow returned to
his home in Iowa and there remained a year, or until the fall of 1866.
when he came to Nebraska, his wife's father, Ira Draper, and family being
among the pioneers of Richardson county, \V. F. Draper, his brother-in-law.
having entered the tract of land now covered by the village of Dawson.
Air. Barlow drove through, crossing the river at Brownsville, and settled
on the Stratton farm on the site oi the old county seat of deneva. where
he remainetl for a year, at the end of wliich time he took a homestead one
mile north and a mile east of the present village of Dawson and there
established his home and proceeded to develop his place. He helped Iiis
brother-in-law, W. F. Draper, lay ofY the townsite of Dawson and there
started a wagon shop, which he operated in addition to his farming work.
;md after the death of his wife in 1877 moved his family to the village.
He built a new shop at the point now occupied by Cooper's store and operated
the' same for four years, at the end of which time he .sold it and then started
a restaurant. Meantime he had married again and after operating the
restaurant for a year he sold it and Ixiught Chittenden's store, built an
addition to the store building, enlarged the stock and continued in busi-
ness there until the spring of 1883, when he sold to Allen Brothers and
tlien erected a l)rick store building and started a hardware store, which four
years later he traded for property in Humboldt. He then opened a gen-
eral store and continued operating the same until his retirement fourteen
}cars later. Xot content to live retired, he presently started another store,
but two years later sold that place and retired from business permanently,
being now. to use his cnvn expressive iihrase. "the jiresident of the "Xexer
Sweat Club'."

Mr. Barlow is an ardent .schoolman and was one of the fir.-.! members
of the school board in the Dawson district, a position which he occupied
continttously. with the exception of one year, for thirty-three years. The
first school in Dawson was started in a hall where the Stiles drug store is
now located, and the school board presentl\- erected a frame school build-
ing and after that structure was destroyed by fire, a brick jjuilding, Mr.
Barlow having charge of the construction of the same. 'Sir. Barlow was
present at the first Old Settler's meeting held in Richardson county and
for twenty-five years thereafter held the post of director of ceremonies
of tliose meetings, having charge of the ])latforni and program of the two-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. "J-JT,

days meetings which liave lieen so memora])le a feature of the social life
of the "old timers" of this county all these years. When the local cemetery
association was organized in 1890 he was elected president of the same and
has ever since held that position. For seven years he was manager of the
Dawson-Nemaha Telephone Comjiany and in numerous other ways has done
well his part in the development of the \illage which he helpetl to lay out
back in the days of the beginning- of things in that part of the county. For
many years Mr. Barlow was an ardent Republican, but of late years lias
been inclined to be somewhat independent in his political affiliations. He
was (ine of the organizers of the local post of the Grand .Vrmy nf the Repub-
lic at Dawson, whose roster came to carry the names of forty-seven veterans
of the Civil War, of whom Init four now remain, those licsides Mr. Bar-
low being F. W. Bu.ser, R. B. .Mien and E. T. Levy. When Mr. Barlow
came to this county Indians still were numerous hereabout and wild game,
including deer, was plentiful. He has seen these primitive conditions changed
to the present well-ordered and highly-developed state of things that marks
this region and there are few, if any, of the old timers of this section who
have a more vivid recollection or more distinct impressions cif the early days
than he.

Stephen C. Barlow has lieen twice married. On .March 4, 1864, lie
was united in marriage to Ruth Dra])er, whose l)rother, W. V . Draper.
as noted abo\e, was the original owner of tlie townsite of Dawson, and
to that union four children were born, namely : Eugene W^illiam, who was
killed while herding ponies : Louis Henry, a successful ranchman at Gillette,
W^yoming; Elvon Eldred, of San Diego, California, and .\da Celia, wife
of the Re\-. C. F. Heim, of Eddyville, this state. The mother of these chil-
dren died in 1877 at Hays City, Kansas, while on her way to the mountains
with her husband, seeking a change of climate for the ])enetit of her health,
she then being thirty-one years of age, and on June i. 1878, Mr. Barlow
married Frances ^Marrium Ingram; wlio was bom in Ross county, Ohin,
January 9, 1862. daughter of Jeremiah and Mary Jane (Wilson) Ingram,
also natives of Ohio, who came to Nebraska in 1869 and settled near Daw-
son, where the latter died in 1872. Jeremiah Ingram remained in this
county for years "afterward and then went to Oklahoma, where he died in
1913. To this second union ten children have been Irorn, as follows: Thomas
Coulee Barlow, a noted musician, now living in the state of \A^ashington,
who ser\ed as a soldier during the Spanish-American War, serving for tlircc
years in the regular army, went to the Philippines as a Red Cross nurse
and has trax'eled all over the world: ]Mar\- Ethel, who married William Heim,

lUXTY. XEBKASKA.

a railroad telegraph operator, now living at Phoenix, Arizona ; Charles
Arthur, a traveling salesman of Seattle, Washington; Stephen Francis, a rail-
road train dispatcher, of Vancouver, Washington; Florence May, wife of
Ora Barnwell, a telegraph operator in Arizona; Mrs. Leona Ruth I'rice,
who lives on a farm near Hastings, this state; Elma, wife of Prof. Abraham
Lawrence, Jr., principal of the high school at Brownville, this state; Mrs.
Evangeline Ortl, of Sheridan, Wyoming; Ralph McKinley Barlow, in the
United States naval service, and Esther Loverne, who is still in school.
The Barlows are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church and ha\e
ever been active in local good works, Mr. and Mrs. Barkiw for many years
having been helpful in promoting all agencies having to do with the advance-
ment of the common welfare in their home town and in the communit)- at
large. Mr. Barlow has been a member of the local lodge of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows since the year 1877 and has ever taken a warm
interest in tiie affairs of that organization.

J.VMES LL\ES SLOCUM.

James Lines Slocum, president of the Richardson County Bank of i'alls
L ity, former mayor of that city and a large landowner in Richardson county,
is a native of the old Keystone state, but has been a resident of the West
since he was ten years of age and of this county since he was twenty-one.
lie was horn on a farm in Linesville, Crawford county, Pennsylvania, De-
ceiuher i, i84-j, son of Samuel E. and Mary V. (Line) Slocum, the former
:i natixe of \ermont and the latter of New Jersey.

Samuel I'".. Slocum. who became a resident of this county in 1865 and
wiiiise last da_\s were spent in Falls City, was Ixirn in the state of \'ermont
I in January j, 1815, a son of Samuel Slgcum, who w'as born in Rhode Island
and the greater part of whose active life was spent as a sailor on the high
seas. Samuel Slocum was a cousin of Commodore Perry, the hero of the
decisive na\al battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812, and for years
he served as first mate on a sailing vessel. LTpon his retirement from the
sea lie ukkIl- Ins hume- with his son, Samuel \\. Slocum. and died in the
\icinity of .^hnhert, Xehraska. in 1865, shortlv after coming here with his
-oiT. when the latteT settled in this count\-. Samuel F,. Slocum went to
rennsylvania. where, in I.ines\ille, in Crawford count\-, he married ^lary
\'. Line, who wa- born in 1 'l.iinlield. .\"ew Terse\-, in 1817. a daughter of

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 775

.\mos Line, who was born in that same state in 1774 and who had emigrated
to northwestern Pennsylvania early in the days of the settlement of that
part of the state and had pre-empted a tract of land where the town of
Linesville (named in his honor) now stands and where he spent the re-
mainder of his life, his death occurring there in 185 1. After his marriage
Samuel E. Slocum established himself on a farm in the neighborhood of
Linesville and there his wife died in 1851, leaving five children, of whom
the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being
as follow : Mrs. Mary Cornelia King, living at Shubert, this county, widow
of John P. King, who died in December, 1916, at the age of eighty-three
years; Mrs. Phoebe A. Storm, now living at CHnton, Oklahoma, widow of
George L Storm; George L., a retired farmer, now living at Stella, this
county, and Rachel, deceased wife of Warren Hutchins, of Falls City. In
J 855, about four years after the death of his wife, Samuel E. Slocum' emi-
grated with his family to Iowa and bought a farm in Clayton county, that
state, where he remained for eight years, at the end of which time, in 1863.
he went up into Minnesota, where he farmed for a couple of years and then,
in 1865. came down into Nebraska and settled in this county, in the vicinitv
of Shubert, where he spent the remainder of his life, an honored and useful
pioneer citizen. Upon coming here Mr. Slocuili bought a tract of unim-
proved land in the neighborhood of Shubert and proceeded to improve and
develop the same and as he prospered he added to his holdings there until
he became the owner of two hundred and forty acres. On that place he
lived for eight \ears, at the end of which time he moved down to Falls
City, adjoining which city he also owned a farm, and spent the rest ffi his
life there, making his home with his sons, his death occurring in 1906, he
then being past ninety-one years of age. Mr. Slocum was an earnest Meth-
odist and helped to build the church of that denomination in Falls City.

As noted above, James L. Slocum was ten years of age when he came
West with his father and he was about twenty-one when he came to Rich-
ardson county with his father from Minnesota in 1865. From the davs
of his boyhf)iid he was a valued assistant to his father in the labors of the
farm and he continued farming with his father until his marriage in 1874
when he located at I'alls City and there engaged in the grain business, erect-
ing a grain elevator at that place. In 1882 he disposed of his elevator and
became connected with the Richardson County Bank, of which institution
he was made president and has ever since occupied that position, long hav-
ing been recognized as one of the leading bankers in this part of the state.

7/6 RICIIARDSOX COUXTV. NEBRASKA.

For several years Mr. Slocum also was president of the State Bank at' Stella
and he still retains an interest in that bank and is a stockholder in several
other banks hereabout. In addition to his extensive banking interests Mr.
Slocum has made considerable investments in farm lands and is the owner
of several improved farms in this county, his holdings in that line aggre-
gating more than three thousand acres. Mr. Slocum is a Republican and
has ever taken an active interest in local political affairs, but the only public
office he has held \vas that of mayor of Falls City, an executive position he
occupied for two terms and during which period he did much to advance
public improvements in the city.

It was in February, 1874, that James L. Slocum was united in mar-
riage to Ida v.. Hoops, who was Ijorn in Pennsylvania in October, 1852.
• laughter of George P. Hoops, a pioneer of Richardson county, who died
in 1886. To that union three children were born, Jennie, who died at the
age of six years; Mary S.. wife of H. M. Jenne, merchant, of Falls City,
and Carrie, wife of B. K. Baker, assistant cashier of the Richardson County
Bank, who has a daughter, Virginia, and who makes her home with her
father. The mother of these children died in February. i()i2. Mr. Slocum
is a member of the Christian church and is treasurer of the local congre-
gation of that church. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the local lodge of
the Ancient l'"ree and Accepted Masons and takes a warm interest in Masonic
affairs.

i:d\\i\' faij.oox.

The late Edwin {•'alloon. df Falls City, who at the time of his death in
the spring of 1917 was the dean of the Richardson county bar and who
had for years I)een one ni the leading lawyers in easrern Nebraska, was a
native of the Duniinion nf Canada, but liad been a resident of this country
since the days of ills early infanc}' and of l-'alls City since 1882. continu-
ously engaged in the practice of his profession in that cii\- iDr a period of
thirty-five years. He was born in the city ni Monireal. the commercial
metropolis of the Dominicjn of Canada. July 26. 1853. son of James Hugh
and Marianne (Brazier) Falloon. also natives of Canada, the former born
at Peterboro and the latter at Quebec, who later came to the United .States,
the former spending his last days at Athens. Ohio, .ind the latter, at the
home of her son in Falls City, this county.

James Hugh I'all.Mni was the sou d Ji'hn Fall.)..u and wife, the latter

^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^'^^l

^m\

^^^^^^^m

C^ihi^u^ii^^J^i^^

VIRGIL FAI.LOON,

RICriARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. JJ-J

of whom was a Keller. John Falloon was born iti [rcland, of Scottisii
descent, and was little more than a lad when he came to this country and
settled in New York state, where he presently married. His wife was of
Dutch stock, a member of an old family in New York. After their mar-
riage they went to Canada, where John l-'alloon ])ecame a farmer and \\heie
he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives. Reared on a farm.
James Hugh Falloon was early apprenticed to a carjienter and in due time
became an expert builder, with particular reference to l)ridge construction.
From the days of his lx>yhood he evinced an unusual .aptitude for math-
ematics and was apparently a natural draftsman and designer. Upon com-
pleting his trade he l)egan in a modest way as a contracting builder in his
native province in Canada and it was not long until he found himself able
to "swing" extensive contracts, particularly in the way of liridge building
and public buildings, and he became highly successful. Aflcr his marriage
he made his home in Montreal until in August, 1853, when he came with
his family to the United States and located in Belmont counly, Ohio, where
he continued his contracting business. Meanwhile he had accumu-
lated forty thousand dollars or more and with this as a \\orking capital his
success in this country was rapid and he engaged in general contracting and
bridge building on an extensive scale throughout the Ohio \'alley. doing a
great deal of bridge Iniilding for railroads. In 1854 he located at \Mieeling
and there constructed the first suspension bridge across tiie (3hio river, the
same connecting Wheeling and Bellaire. He also built a suspension bridge
at Petersburg, \'irginia. Later he made his permanent home at Athens.
Ohio, and there spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring in
1886. His widow survived him about seven years, her last days being spent
in the home of her son, the subject of this memorial sketch. ;it l'"alls City,
where she died in 1893. James H. h'alloon and wife were the parents of
ten children, eight sons and two daughters, of whom but three now sur-
vive, James Fahoon. of California: Arthur h^alloon. of Ohio, and Albert
h'alloon, of hlorida.

I'.dwin Falloon was but an infant, liardly a month old, when his par-
ents moved from Canada to Ohio and he grew to manhood in that state,
completing his schooling- in the Ohio University at .\thens. He had earl\
given his particular attention to the study of law and in 1880 was admitted
to the bar. Two years later, in 1882. he came to Nebraska ;nid located at
Falls City, where he opened an ofiice for the practice of hi> profession and
where he spent the rest of his life thus engaged, one of the i)est-known
and most successful lawvers in eastern Xebraska and at the time of his

■/■JV, RICHAIU3SOX COUNTY. NEHKASKA.

death nii March _'<S. 1917, the president of the Richardson county bar,
anKing tlie members of which he was always lield in the highest respect.
A[r. Falloun was a natural student, a scholar of mde learning, a forceful
])leader before the court, a gentle moralist and philosopher, high-minded and
tolerant in his views of men and principles, and in manv ways perfnmied a
distinct service for the community in which for thirt\-five years he liad
walked uprightly. His law library contained more than twenty-three hun-
dred volumes and was one of the most carefully selected libraries in the
state. This library, now cherished by his son and successor in the prac-
tice, is contained in a specially-constructed room in connection with the law
office and ^Ir. Falloon took much pride and pleasure in his books. Mr.
i-'alloon was a Democrat and was for years recognized as one of the leaders
I if that j)arty in this section of the state. The only public office he ever
held was that kA county attorney, in which he served for two terms, 1887-88
and 1893-94. Fraternally, he was affiliated with the local lodges of the
Masons, of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the encampment of
the same, of the Knights of Pythias, of the Benevolent and Protective Order
of Elks and of the Fraternal Order of Eagles, in the atTairs of which organ-
izations lie took an earnest interest.

In 1886. about four years after taking up his residence in Falls Cit\-.
iulwin Falloon was united in marriage to Emma \ . Stump, who was born
in this county, daughter of Alfred Stump and wife, pioneers of this section
of Nebraska, and to this union five children were born, namely: Sterling,
who is now engaged in the wholesale business at Indianapolis; \'irgil. a
lawyer at balls City: James, a salesman, now living in New York City:
Kate, who is a student in the Nebraska State University at Lincoln, and
i-ern, a student in the Falls City high school and a menilier of the class of
1918. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Faloon has continued to make
her home in the lieautiful suburban residence in the northwestern part of
the city, in the preparation of which Mr. Fallotm took so much pleasure in
his home-making days and in the enjoyment of which he ever delighted.

X'irgii l'"aIloon was born at b'alls Cit_\' on Alay 30, i8t>i. and was grad-
uated from tile high school in that cit\- in 1901;. He then entered Ohio
Cniversity at Athens, his father's alma mater, and was graduated frcmi the
s.'uvie witii tiie degree of Bachelor of Arts, in 191.V having taken the four-
years Course in three \ears. He then gave his attention to the study of law
under the able precejitorship of his father and after his admission to the
bar in December. h)1(i. became associated with his father in practice, -uc-
cecding to that practice upon liis latiier's death ;dxiut tlu'ce niontii> later.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 779

\irgil Falloon is a Democrat, as was his father, and. fraternally, is affili-
ated witli the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and with the college fra-
ternitv. Phi Delta Theta.

WILLIAM SCROLL.

William Scholl, proprietor of an excellent farm of two hundred and ten
acres in section 31 of the precinct of Barada, this county, is of European
birth, a native of the grand duchy of Baden, but has been a resident of this
country since 1882 and of Richardson county since 1885. He was born on
October 19, 1866, son of Simon and Christina (Klonig) Scholl, also- natives
of Baden, the former of whom, a farmer, born there in 1828, spent all his
life in his native land, his death occurring in 1904, and the latter of whom is
still living there, now in the eighty-fifth year of her age. Simon Scholl and
wife were the parents of three children, of whom the subject of this sketch
is the only one who came to this country, the eldest of the children having
died in infancy and the youngest of whom, his sister, Airs. 'Sla.ry Rothardt,
is still living in Baden.

Reared on the home farm in his native Baden, William. Scholl received
his schooling there and when sixteen years of age, in 1882, came to the United
States and for two years thereafter was engaged in working on a farm in
New York state. In 1885 he came to Nebraska and began to work as a farm
hand on a farm in the precinct of Arago, in this county, receiving a wage
of twenty dollars a month. In 1888 he rented a tract of land and began to
farm for himself. He married in the fall of 1892 and in 1894 bought the
farm on which he is now living and on which his wife was born, and has
ever since resided there. Since taking possession of that place Mr. Scholl
has made numerous important improvements on the same including the erec-
tion of a' new dwelling house and two barns and the planting of an orchard
of three hundred trees. The first barn he built was destroyed by fire in 1913
and he erected a better one in its place. Air. Scholl gives considerable atten-
tion to the raising of live stock in addition to his general farming and is doing
\ery well. He is a Democrat and has served as a member of the school board
(if district Xo. 2^.

Air. Scholl has been twice married. On October 22, 1892, he was united
in marriage to Caroline Hartmann, who, as noted above, was born "on the
farm on which Air. Scholl is now living, in 1874, a daughter of Leopold and
Soi)liia Hartmann. natives of Germany, who came to this state from Wiscon-

jSo KICIIAUnsoX COUNTY. XF.nKASKA.

sin ill iSjj and Ijecaiiie pinneers of Kiclianlsoii county. Mrs, Caroline Sclioll
died in 1904, leaving- two children, a son and a daughter. William and Sophia,
and in 1905 Mr. Scholl married Anna Scholl. who was horn on a pioneer
farm in the precinct of Arago. in this county, daughter of l-'red and Marv
(Heilmann) Scholl, natives of Germany, the former of whom was born on
March 16. 1850. and the latter, .\pril iS. 1857, who were married in their
native land and remained there until in April. 1881, canie U) this countr\ and
proceeded on out to Nebraska and became residents of this county. I'red
Scholl was a stonemason and after coming here worked at that trade until
1886, in which year he bought a farm in the precinct of Arago. In 1901 he
liought the farm on which he is now living in that same precinct and there
has made his home e\er since. To him and his wife have been borne nine
children, four of who \<ere born in the old country. Those besides .Mrs.
Anna Scholl are as follow: Mary, deceased: Bertha, who married H. b'ritz
and is now deceased: b'redia. wife of H. Fritz, living near X'erdon. this
county: Fred, who is living in Arago precinct: Henry, who is farming the old
home place; Katherine and Ida, who are at home with tiieir parents, and
Emma, deceased.

To A\'illiam and Anna (Scholl) Scholl have been born four children.
Elias, Fred, Emma and lulna. Mr. and Mrs. Sclioll are members of the
Lutheran church and take a proper part in church works, as well as in other
neighborhood good works, helpful in promoting movements designated to
advance the common g<iod thereabout.

JOHX WHITl-: HOLT.

The late lion. John. White Holt, of b'alls City, former state senator
from this district, former treasurer of Richardson count\% former president
of the b'irst National Bank of Falls City and for years one of the leading
landowners and stockmen of this county, was a native of the neighboring
state of Missouri, but had I)een a resident of this count\ since pioneer davs.
ha\ ing come over here from Holt county, ^lissouri, in 1857, to engage in
busiiics- at Salem and while thus engaged erected the first grain elevator at
that pl;ice. I Ic later engaged in farming and stock raising, was elected state
senator and later count\ treasurer: later liecame engaged in the banking
busines.-, in connection with liis other interests, and was for many years
president of the b'irst Xatioiial r.ank of l-'alls City, occnining that positiiiU
at the time of his death on Tunc 1^1, 101 r.

wi-

KICIIARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 7»I

John White HoU was born in Boone county, Missouri, November 17,
1834, son of the Hon. David R. Holt, a pioneer of that county, after whom
Holt county was named, who was born in Tennessee on November 8, 1803.
and who died at Jefferson City, Missouri, December 6, 1840, while serving
as a member of the Missouri General Assembly. His widow, Isabella
( \\ hite) Holt, who was born in Washington county, Virginia, November
12. 1806, sur\i\ed him for man}' years, her death occurring at the home of
her son. tlie sul)ject of this memorial sketch, at Salem, this county. April 20.
iNfsi). slie then lieing sixty-three years of age.

K'eared in IJoone count}, Missouri, John W. Holt receiveil his schooling
in the earh' subscrijition schools ccjnducted in the n.eighljorhood of his home
and at the. age of sixteen, ten years after his father died, the larger
part of the responsibilitv of maintaining the home fell upon his shoulders.
.\t nineteen years of age he became a member of the mercantile firm of
(iilmore. Holt & Company at Fillmore, Missouri, and in 1857. when twenty-
three }ears of age, disposed of his interest there and came over into the then
Territor}- of Nebraska and in association with J. C. Lincoln, a second-
cousin of Abraham Lincoln, engaged in the general mercantile business at
Salem, this countv. under die Hrni name of Lincoln & Holt, that firm erect-
ing the first grain elevattjr at Salem and in Richardson county. On account
of failing heahh Mr. Holt disposed of his mercantile interests in 1872 and
was thereafter extensively engaged in the live-stock business until his election
to the office of county treasurer in 1878. when he moved to Falls City,
where he ever afterward made his home. Previously, in 1876 and 1877. he
had served that district as a member of the upper house of the Nebraska
Legislature and had become recognized during that service as one of the
most active members of the Senate. For two terms ^Ir. Holt served as
treasurer of Richardson county and in 1882 was elected vice-president of
tlie lirst X.-itional P.ank of Falls Cit}-, of which institution he was one of
the org.-tnizers and leading stockholders: later served for one year as acting
casliier of the l)ank and in 1897 was elected president of the bank, a position
he lield until his death in 191 1. In addition to his other interests Mr. Hoh
for vears was one of the leading breeders of Shorthorn cattle and Berk-
shire iiogs in this part of the state and took an earnest interest in the live-
stock business. He also was a large landowner and was accounted one of
the foremost citizens of Richardson county, ever helpful in promoting such
.agencies as were designed to advance the common welfare herealxwt. He
was a Democrat, a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and a Knight

Jii2 KICIIAKDSOX COUNTY. \1£BRASKA.

Templar Alasun, ever taking a warm interest in political, church and lodge
affairs.

John W. Holt was four times married. On Septemijer ii, 1855, he
was united in marriage to Mrs. Caroline Atkins, of Andrew county, Mis-
souri, who tlied, leaving one child, a daughter, Carrie H., who married
Edward P.. Loughridge, of Lincoln, this state, and who died on Decemlxr
20, 1915, at Los Angeles, California, leaving two sons, Erne.st F., of Lin-
coln, and Donald H.. who is living with his father at Los Angeles. On
August 24, 1859, Air. Holt married Alvina Spence, also of Andrew count\.
Missouri, who died not long afterward, without issue, and on May 8, 1863.
he married Ellen Oliver, of Salem, this county, who bore him two children,
now deceased, and who died on January 15, 1869. On November 8, 1869,
2\Ir. Holt married his deceased wife's sister, Amanda M. Oliver, also of
Salem, \vho survi\'es him, and to that union four children were born, namely :
Amanda M., who was I^orn at Saleni on May 21, 1871, and who died at the
age of lifteen years. August 20, 1886; Nellie, July 11, 1872, who died in
1893. at the age of twenty-one years; George Brooke Holt, November 3.
1874, who married Grace Gossett and died at his home in l'"alls City un
Mav 19, 1912, leaving a widow and one son, John William, now eighteen
years of age, and William Robinson Holt, December 7, 1876. now engaged
in the mercantile business -at Falls City, who married Eva Giannini, of Falls
City, and has rme child, a daughter, Nellie Lee. now ( 1917) aged sixteen
years.

Mrs. Amanda. ( Oliver ) Holt, who since the death i)f her husband has
ciintinued to make her home at Falls City, where she is very comfortably
situated, is a nati\e of the old Hoosier state, born in Miami county, Indiana.
January 29. 1847, a daughter of Robert and Ellen (McCoy) Oliver, natives
of \'irginia, who had settled in Indiana, moving thence, in 1855. to Mis-
souri, .'ind thence, the f(illowing year. 1856. to the then Territory of Ne-
iiraska. settling on a pioneer farm just west of the village of Salem, in this
county, where the\' remained for a year, at the end of which time they
uKived into Salem, where Mr. Oliver spent his last days, his death occurring
about a year later. July 20. 1858. He was born on February 28, 1806. and
was thus lifty-two years of age at the time of his death. His widow .sur-
vived him for many years and her last days were spent at the home of her
daughter. Mrs. Holt, at Falls City, where she died on April 2},, 1884. She
was born on Seiitember 28, 1807, and was thus in her seventy-fourth year
at the time of her death. Robert Oliver and Ellen McCoy were married on
.M;i\- iS. i,S20. .-md to that union were born eight children, of whom Mrs.

KICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 783

Holt is now the only snr\ivor, the others having been as follow : John,
who died on April 4, 1847; Airs. Sarali Ann Lyon, who died on April 14.
1848; Jared, who died on June 15, 1850; James, who died on April 19,
1858: FJleazer, who died on July 18, 1858; William R., who died on Novem-
ber 24, i860, and Mrs. Ellen Holt, who died in 1869, as set out above.

HENRY L. RUEGGE.

Henry L. Ruegge, one of Richardson county's best-known old settlers
and pioneer farmers and the proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and
sixty acres in the precinct of Arago, where he and his wife are living in quiet
comfort in the pleasant "evening time" of their lives, is of European birth,
but has been a resident of this country and of Richardson count^■ since he
was twenty-five years of age, having come here with his parents Ijack in
territorial days, and has thus been a witness to and a participant in the
development of this section of Nebraska since the days of the pioneers. He
was born in what is now the Prussian province of Hano\er, German)-,
November 9, 1838, Hanover at that time having been an independent king-
dom, and grew to manhood in liis native land, learning there the trade of a
wagon-maker, and was engaged there working at that trade until the sum-
mer of 1863, when he came to this country with his parents, Hans Henry and
Wilhelmina (Starke) Ruegge. The Ruegges left their native land on August
31, 1863, and were seven weeks making the voyage across the water. Upon
their arrixal in the United States they came on out to the then Territory of
Nebraska and Hans Ruegge bought the quarter section on which his son,
Henry L. Ruegge, has ever since made his home, in the precinct of Arago,
this county, the family settling there. Henry L. Ruegge broke the land with
oxen and gradually got the place under cultivation. After his marriage in
1869 he established his home there and has ever since made that his place
of residence, one of the l)est-knf)wn pioneer farmers of that section of the
county. Hans Ruegge and wife were the iiarents of nine children, six of
whom grew to maturity.

On Eebruary 4, 1869, Henr\- L. Ruegge was united in marriage to
Sophia Hoose, who was born in I^russia on September 4, 1S50, and who was
but three years of age when her parents, George H. and Mary M. (\\^alder )
Hoose, came to this country in \S=,t,. Upon coming to this country George
H. Hoose settled on a farm in St. Joseph county. Indiana, not far from the

Temijlar Mason, ever taking a warm interest in political, clmrcli and lodge
affairs.

John \V. Holt was four times married. On September ii, 1855, he
was miited in marriage to Mrs. Caroline Atkins, of Andrew county, Mis-
souri, who died, leaving one child, a daughter, Carrie H., who married
Edward B, Loughridge, of Lincoln, this state, and who died on Decemlx?r
20, 1915. at Los Angeles, California, leaving two sons, Lrnest F., of Lin-
coln, and Donald H., who is living with his father at Los Angeles. On
.\ugust 24. 1859. Mr. Holt married Alvina Spence, also of Andrew county,
Missouri, who died not long afterward, without issue, and on May 8, 1863.
he married Ellen Oliver, of .Salem, this county, who bore him two children,
now deceased, and who died on January 15, 1869. On November 8, 1869,
]\[r. Holt married his deceased wife's sister, Amanda M. Oliver, also of
Salem, who survives him, and to that union four children were born, namely :
Amanda M., who was born at Salem on May 21. 1871, and who died at the
age of fifteen years, .\ugust 20, 1886; Xellie, July 11. 1872, who died in
1893, at the age of twenty-one years; George Brooke Holt, November 3,
1874, wlio married (irace Gossett and died at his home in Falls City on
-May II), 191 2, leaving a widow and one son, John A\'illiam, now eighteen
vears of age. and ^^'illiam Robinson Holt. December 7, 1876, now engaged
in the mercantile liusiness -at l""alls City, who married Eva Giannini, of Falls
City, and lias one ciiild, a daughter, Nellie Lee, now ( 1917) aged sixteen
years.

.Mrs. Amanda. ( ()li\cr ) Holt, who since the death of her husband has
continued to make her home at Falls City, where slie is very comfortal^ly
situated, is a native of the old Hoosier state, born in ;\Iiaiui county, Lidiana.
January 29, 1847, '' ilaughter of Robert and Ellen (McCoy) Oliver, natives
of X'irginia. who liad settled in Indiana, moving thence, in 1835. to Mis-
souri, .-md thence, the folknving year. 1856. to the then Terrhory of Ne-
braska, settling on a pioneer farm just west of the village of Salem, in this
county, wliere tliey remained for a year, ;it tlie end of which time they
moved into Salem, wliere Mr. Oliver spent his last days, his death occurring
about a year later. July 20, 1858. He was born on February 28, 1806, and
was thus tifty-tw(i \ears of age at the time of his death. His widow sur-
vived him for many years and her last days were spent at the home of her
daughter. .Mrs. Hoh. at Falls City, where she died on April j^^. 1884. She
was born on .September 28, 1807, and was thus in her seventy-fourth year
• It the time of her death, i^obert Oliver and l-'.llen McCoy were married on
.May iS. i.S2(). .-ind to tli;it union were born eight children, of whom ^Irs.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. yHT,

Holt is now the only survixur. the others having been as follow : John,
who died on April 4. 1847: .Mrs. Sarah Ann Lyon, who died on April 14.
1S48; Jared, who died on June 15, 1850; James, who died on April 19,
1858: Eleazer. who died on July 18. 1858; William R., who died on Novem-
ber 24. r86o, and Afrs. Kllen Holt, who died in 1869, as set out above.

HENRY L. RUEGGE.

Henry L. Ruegge, one of Richardson county's best-known old settlers
and pioneer farmers and the proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and
sixty acres in the precinct of Arago, where he and his wife are living in quiet
comfort in the pleasant "evening time" of their lives, is of Eiu'opean birth,
but has been a resident of this country and of Richardson county since he
was twenty-five }ears of age, having come here with his parents back in
territorial days, and has thus been a witness to and a participant in the
development of this section of Nebraska since the days of the pioneers. He
was born in what is now the Prussian province of Hanover, Germany,
November 9, 1838, Hanover at that time having been an independent king-
dom, and grew to manhood in his native land, learning there the trade of a
wagon-maker, and was engaged there working at that trade until the sum-
mer of 1863, when he came to this country with his parents, Hans Hemy and
\\'ilhelmina (Starke) Ruegge. The Ruegges left their native land on August
31, 1863, and were seven weeks making the voyage across the water. Upon
their arrival in the United States they came on out to the then Territor)- of
Nebraska and Hans Ruegge bought the quarter section on which his son,
Henry L. Ruegge, has ever since made his home, in the precinct of Arago.
this county, the family settling there. Henry L. Ruegge broke the land with
oxen and gradually got the place under cultivation. After his marriage in
1869 he established his home there and has ever since made that his place
of residence, one of the best-known pioneer farmers of that section of the
county. Hans Ruegge and wife were the jiarents of nine children, six of
whom grew to maturity.

On Februar)' 4, 1869, Henr\- L. Ruegge was united in marriage to
Sophia Hoose, who was born in Prussia on September 4, 1830. and who was
but three years of age when her ]>arents, George H. and Mary M. ( W'alder )
Hoose, came to this countrx- in 1833. Upon coming to this country George
H. Hoose settled on a farm in St. Joseph county. Indiana, not tar from the

j84 KICIIAKDSOX COLNTV, XEISKASKA.

city of South Bend, and there remained until in August. 1864, when he came
with his family to the then Territory of Nebraska and settled on a farm in
the precinct of Arago. in this county, where he and his wife spent the
remainder of their lives. George H. Hoose was born on May 2, 180J, and
died in April, 1892, and his wife was born on March 6. 1809, and died in
1882. They were the parents of eleven children.

To Henry L. and Sophia (Hoose) Ruegge nine children lia\e been born,
namely: Theodore, deceased; August, deceased; ^lary, wife of D. Ramsey,
living near Nims city, this county : Henry, a farmer, of the precinct of Arago :
Minnie, wife of Edward Schuler, of Ohio precinct; Dorothea, deceased:
Julia, wife of J. Hartman ; Augusta, who is the housekeeper at tlie old home
place, and Sophia, also at home. The Ruegges attend the Lutheran church
and have ever taken a proper part in the general good works and social
activities of the community' of which they have been residents since pioneer
davs.

JOSEPH KELLEY CORNELIUS.

It is a line thmg to see a man who has come down to the autumn of his
\ears. after life's trying vicissitudes, and find that his nature has not been
embittered but still retains its sunshine and serenity, as has been the case
with Joseph Kelley Cornelius, one of the venerable and honored pioneer cit-
izens of Richardson county, who is residing at Humboldt. He was born in
Henry count}-, Kentucky, June 20, 1830, and is therefore eighty-seven years
old at this writing { 1917). He is a son of Isaiah Cornelius, who was born
in England. August 26, 1795, and died I\Iay 6, 1866. The latter's father,
Matthew Cornelius, immigrated from England to America in 1796. locating
at Philadelphia. Pennsylvania, where his son Isaiah was reared. He was
liound out until he was twenty-one years of age as an apprentice. After
his marriage he bought a farm, but not being a man of robust health he
engaged in the lighter occupation of school teaching, also he was a minister
of the gospel. He came West in an early day and his death occurred in the
state of Missouri. His family consisted of ten children, of which number
Joseph K.. of this sketch, was fifth in order of birth, and the only one now
living. His wife was Elizabeth Holmes before her marriage.

Joseph K. Cornelius received a common school education in Kentucky.
When twenty-one years old he went to Illinois, where he engaged in farm-
ing about nine years. In the spring of i860 he came to Richardson county

JOSEPH K. CORNELIUS.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 785

Nebraska, locating in I'orter precinct, five miles east of Humboldt, when
settlers were few and the vast plains were the domain of red men and wild
beasts. He got a tract of three hundred and twenty acres direct from the
government, for which he paid as low as ninety cents per acre. He pur-
chased land warrants. He began life in typical pioneer fashion, put up a
small log cabin, and broke the virgin sod. However, his health being frail
he drove oxen on the plains for some time in 1862, southwest of Denver,
Colorado. His health improving he worked a while as a driver and freighter
1)etween Denver and Laramie, Wyoming, during the summers of 1863 and
J 864. There were twenty teams in his outfit, and once, while on his last
return trip from Leavenworth to Fort Union, New Mexico, while encampeil
near the Arkansas river he encountered a band of hostile Indians, a fight
ensued, and although soldiers were only a half mile awa}- they did not help.
-Mr. Cornelius was at the rear of the wagoti train when the savages fired at
hinv, but missed, killing an ox. Before the fight was over it was found that ten
white men and two negroes had been killed and several wounded. .Ml the}
liad of value was stolen and carried away by the raiders. The Lidian.s
finally went away, fearing the soldiers. Bert Edwards, a young man in the
party of teamsters, was killed. Al Edwards was also scalped, as was a boy
named Magee, and a man named ^^'addell, who was lying sick in one of the
wagons, was killed and scalped. It seems that Captain Davenport, with
forty soldiers, well armed, was nearby, but for some reason, possibly fear-
ing the Indians, the captain left tiie wagon train to its fate. Air. Cornelius
had a number <if narrow escapes from death. Just after liis last trip he
was sick at h'ort J.ea\'enworth for two weeks.

After his career on the plains. Mr. Cornelius returned to his farm in
Richardson count\, which he developetl and improved, operating it success-
fullv from 1865 to 191 1. Prospering through good management and close
application he added to his original holdings until he had a total of eight
liundred and eighty acres, all of which he still owns. He farmed on an
extensive scale and raised large herds of live stock annually for the markets,
in fact; he ranked among the most progressive agriculturists in the south-
eastern part of the state for a period of over a quarter of a century. Having
accunmlated ;i liandsome conipetenc\- and on account of ad\-ancing age he
retired from acti\e work in if»i 1 and moved to Huniljoldt, where he owns
an attractive modern lionie, and here he is living comfortabl}-, surrounded
by all that goe-i to make life eas\- ;inil pleasant, enjoying a well-earned respite
after a long life of industry.

C50)

786 RICMARDSOX COUNTY, XEBKASKA.

Mr. L'i)rnelius was married on I^ecember 5, 1866, to Maria Tighe, who
was horn in Ireland in 1840. She is a daughter of Murtaugh Tighe, who
brought his fainil\- t<i America from Ireland; he first lived in Illinois and
later located in Richardson count}-, Nebraska, in the spring of 1865.

The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius:
.\l[iheus r... who lives on the homestead in Porter precinct; John M. is a
ranchman in Canada; X'ellie is at home; Kittie is also a member of the
family circle; Logan is farming a part of the home place in Porter precinct,
and P.essie is at home. There are seven grandchildren.

Politically, Mr. Cornelius is a Republican, but he supported Woodrow
\\^ilson in the general election of 1916. He is a member of the Christian
church. He has always assisted in any movement having for its object the
general upbuilding of his precinct and county, and his personal reputation
lias ne\er lieen assailed. He owns several hundred acres of land in Canada.

WILLIAM H. WHEELER.

William H. Wheeler, one of the well-known farmers of die precinct of
East Barada, this county, li-ving on the old homestead of one hundred and
twenty acres in section 33 of that precinct, was born on the farm on \\hich he
now lives and has lived there all his life. He was born on .November 11,
1859, ^ son of Henry Duke and Malinda (Buchanan) \\'heeler, the former
a native of Kentucky and the latter of Missouri, who liecame pioneers of
Richardson county and here spent their last days.

Henry Duke ^A'heeler was born in Mason county, Kentucky, Januar\'
24, 1830, son of Levi and Mary \Mieeler, the former a native of Germany,
born on February 14, 1787, and the latter, of Ireland. Levi Wheeler was a
soldier of the War of 181 2 and was a well-to-do- farmer in Mason county,
Kentucky, where Henry D. Wheeler grew to manhood. When the Mexican.
War broke out, Henry D. \\'heeler, though then little more than a boy,
enlisted for service as a member of Company E, Third Kentucky \'oIunteer
Infantry, and served with that command tmtil mustered out at Louisville at
the close of the war. He later came West and on August 2, 1855, was mar-
ried, in Holt county, Missouri, to Malinda Buchanan, who was born in that
county on April 24. 1838. her parents having been among the very earliest
settlers of that region. Immediately following his marriage he came across
the river and bought a half section in the Barada half-breed strip in this

KICICARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 787

county, paying for the same nineteen hundred dollars to 11 use Knuckles.
There was a log cabin on the place at that time, but no other improvements
of any consecpience, and the white neighbors were few and far between.
Indians still being in dominant numbers therealx>ut at that time. ]\Ir.
Wheeler set about clearing his land and getting the place read\ for cultivation
and had done considerable development work before 1861, in which year he
returned to his old home in Kentucky to take care of his aged and invalid
mother. After her death, about 1863, he returned to his home in this county
and here he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on July 21, 1870,
he then being about six months past forty years of age. He was one of the
most active and progressive pioneers of that section and was the organizer
of school district No. 25. His widow survived him many years, her death
t)ccurring on April 19, 191 5. she then lacking but a few days of being seventy-
seven years of age. They were the parents of five children, of whom the
subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being Dora.
who died when seven years of age ; Lawrence, who is engaged in the insur-
ance business at Falls City; Mrs. Mary E. Riley, of Dawson, a l)iographical
sketch of whose husband is presented elsewhere in this \olume, and James,
deceased.

William H. Wheeler was not yet eleven years of age when his father
died and as the eldest son of the family the responsibilities of the home farm
early fell upon his young shoulders and he always has made his home on that
pioneer place, having thus participated in the development of the same since
territorial davs, one of the best-known of the native sons of Richardson
countv of the first generation on the plains. On the tract of one hundred
and twentv acres of the old home that he inherited he made extensive
and substantial improvements and he and his family are very comfortalily
and very pleasantly situated there. Mr. ^Vheeler is a Democrat and has ever
given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, but he has not been par-
ticularly active as a political worker.

On July 30, 1882. ^^'illiam H. Wheeler was united in marriage to
Amanda Brinegar, who was born across the river in Holt county, Missouri,
I*>bruary 20, 1867, daughter of .Andrew J. and Emily ( Rusk) Brinegar,
natives of Kentucky, who died when she was a child and she was reared by
an uncle, David Brinegar, one of the pioneers of Richardson county, who
came over here in the fifties and who is still living here, now a resident of
.'^alem. Mr. and Mrs. \\'heeler have six children, namely: Ralph, who mar-
ried Jennie Marsh, of Des Moines, and has three children. Tillie, Virgia and
Phvllis .\.: Rutli. who married William McGowan, of Halley, Idaho, and has

788 RICIIAKDSdX COLXTV, NEBRASKA.

line child, a daughter, Helen Rutli ; Susan M.. who is a telephone operator
in the exchange at Falls City, and Bryan. Hiram and Lila. at home with their
parents. The W'lieelers have a \ery pleasant hoiue and have ever taken an
interested part in die general social activities of tlieir liome community,
lielpful in many ways in promoting mnvements having to di> willi the advance-
ment of tlie t;eneral welfare thereabout.

HUGH E. BOYD.

A public-spirited and successful man of affairs of Humboldt is Hugh
I",. Bo\d, well known throughout Richardson county. He was born in
Knox count}-. Ohio. August 8. i86_'. and is a son of John S. and Phoebe
( McWilliams ) Boyd. John S. Boyd was bom in Greene county, Pennsyl-
v.mia, in 1823. and there spent his childhood, being twelve years old when
his parents. John and Anna ])oyd, brought him to Knox county. Oliiu. the
faniilv locating on a farm near Martinsburg, and there by hard work and
])crseverancc the\- developed a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres
from tlie wilderness and tliere continued to reside until 18S8. when the
lather of the .--uliiect of this sketch came \\'est and located at Salem. Xe-
hraska. busing eightx acres on which he engaged in farming until he re-
tired from active life. Ifis ileath occurred in Salem in* 191J at the advanced
age of eighty-seven years. His parents were natives of Greene county.
I'ennsylvania, where tliey grew up. married and established their home.
Thev were both of Irish descctU. There were three brothers of the l'.(iyd
•familv to emigrate from the "auld sod" in colonial days, one i>f them locat-
ing in \'ew ^■ork. one in I'ennsxlvania and one in N'irginia. The mother
of the suliject of ibis sketcii was born near Martinslmrg. Ohio, about i8_'6.
and ber death occurred in 1011. She ;dso reached a rijie old age. To Jolm
S. I'.ovd and wife li\e children were l)orn, namelv : Mr-. I.ydia Huston,
who live- m .^alem. .\el)raska: Joim W. makes liis liome at Ml. X'ernon.
Oliio: l>;oben i- deceased; \\'illiani B. lives at Salem, this state, and Hugh V..
of tliis sketch, wlio was fourti) in order of birth.

Join, S. I'.oyd. father ,>f llugli !".. Boyd, was a s<.ldier during the fivii
\\,ir, having enlisted on Senlenilier 10. |8()4. in t"omp;uiy 1. One llundretl
and h\.rty-Second (^Juo \"<ilunieer Infantry. He was promoted to the rank
of corpond. After servini; one hundred days he was honorablv disch;irged.
December 1;. 1864. Altlioviob the term of his enlistiuent was .short he saw

RICflARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 789

considerable service in the Shenandoah valley, Virginia, on the Peninsula
and in the operations of the federal troops on the James river and around
Petersburg and Richmond. His company especially distinguished itself at .
the battle of Monocacy Junction. Maryland. July 3(5. 1864, iii which his
company was entitled to national thanks.

Hugh F.. r?oyd was reared on a farm and lie attended the district
schools and the high school at Martinsbnrg. Ohio, also an academy. lie
came \\'est in 1882 and was employed in the Hour mills at Salem. Nebraska,
having diarge of the mill in 1S83 and 1884. He then took a position as
assistant cashier in the Bank of Salem, where he remained until ^Sqj. when
he came to Falls City, Richardson county, and was connected with the store
of Gist, Greenwald & Company until 1902. when he took tip his residence
at Humboldt, and was assistant cashier of the State Bank of Humboldt
until 1904, when he returned to Salem and engaged in mercantile pursuits
until 1906. then formed a partnershi]) with \'. (i. L\ ford at Humboldt.
In iqi2 he again turned his attention to banking and was assistant cashier
of the National Bank at Humboldt fcjr one year. Since 1913 he has tie-
voted his entire time to the Building and Loan -\ss(iciation and the City
Mutual Telephone Company, being manager of each, also secretary of the
former. The pronounced success of these companies has been due very
largely to his excellent management and close application. He also has other
affairs and is owner of \aluable city property at Humboldt, and owns a half
section of land in the Kiowa valley, Colorado, within thirtv-five miles of
Den\er. Two hundred acres of this land is planted to Ijeans ; Fred Boyd is
now in charge of this farm.

Mr. Boyd was married on Hecember 12. 1887. to l'",lizal>etii A. Rouse,
a daughter of Joseph and Marinda ( Kice ) l\ouse, both natives of luigkmd.
The father was born., March 13. 1813. came to .\meric;i when xoung and
devoted bis active life to farming in Winona county. .Minnesota, where he
settled in 185O, and there liis death occurred. l'"ebruar\ 10. 1895. Tlie
mother of Mrs. Boyd was born July 7. i8j0, and died, Feljruary _', 1900.

Three children liave i)een l)orn to Mr. and .Mrs. I'oyd, namely: Harry,
an electrician, lives in Des Abiines, Iowa: ( iladys. who was graduated from
the Humboldt high schor)l, is now teaching in the second grade: b'red M.,
who has charge of his father's farm in Colorailo.

Mr. l>o\d is an independent voter. On Junar\- (>. \t)i/. he was ap-
jjointed couiUy commissioner, which position be is holding to the satisfac-
tion of all concerned, braternally. he l)elongs to Podge .\o. 40, Ancient

KICIIAK-DSdX lOr.NT^'. .VliDK.VSKA.

• and Accepted ^[asons, of wliich lie was at one time master: lie also
n,<,'s to the Ancient Order of United ^\■orknlen. of which he was at
time a tru-tee in I.ods^e N'o. 5. He and his family are members of

he i'resl)

CHRIST. MADOWSE.

Christ. Aladowse, former connty commissioner, proprietor of a Sue farm
of two hundred and ten acres in sections t,- and 33 of the precinct of Barada
and of seventy acres in section 4 of the precinct of Arago. owner of a thresh-
ing-rig W'hich for years he has been operating in that part of the county and
also a well-known stockman, giving his particular attention l(] the lireeding of
Missouri jacks of tiie "Mammotli"' variety, is a native of the state of Illinois,
but has been a resident of this county since he was nineteen years of age,
having come here as a boy in the spring of 1883 to make his home with an
uncle, Hans Koso, one of the pioneers of Richardson county, Imt two weeks
later began to make his own way and has ever since been doing well, long
having been recognized as one of the substantial farmers of that part of the
county in which he lives. He was born on a farm in Eflrngham county. Illi-
nois, July 4, 1864. son of Joseph and Sophia (Koso) Madowse. natives of
(lermany, the former a ]\lecklenbiuger. who were married in this country.

Joseph Madowse was born in 1834 and was about fifteen years of age
when he came to this countrx- in 1841) and located in the neighborhood of
Chicago, where he began to work as a farm hand, later locating in Effingham
county, Illinois, and married Sophia Ko.so, of McHenry county, Illinois, who
was but a girl when she came to this country with her parents, and there he
spent the rest of his life engage<l in farming, his death occurring in 1869.
He was the father of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch was
the second in order of birth and one of whom died in infancy, the others being
Anna, wife of F. P. Finck". of the precinct of Arago. this county, and Mrs.
Marv I<"npy, of Effiingham county, Illinois. The widow Madowse married
John Percival and to that union six children were born: George, of Effing-
ham county, Illinois: \\'illiani, of liarada precinct, this county, and a biog-
raphical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume; Fred, of
I'^ffingliam county, Illinois: Sojihia, wife of I. Baile}', of Coles county, Illi-
nois: Mrs. Sadie Reugge, of the inecinct of Arago, this county, and one who
died in infancy.

C"hrist. Madowse was onl\' four \ears of age when his f;ither died. He

RIC?IARDSO\ COUNTY, NEBRASKA. jgi

received his schooliiiti" in the local schools of Effingham county. Illinois, and
in h'ebruary, 1883. he then being but nineteen years of age. came to Nebraska
to make his home with his maternal uncle, Hans Koso, who had a farm twelve
miles northeast of Falls City. Young Madowse arrived at Falls City on
February 23 of that _vear with thirty-five dollars in his pocket and lost little
time after his arrival in starting for the home of his uncle, walking out to the
Koso farm twelve miles away. It was the first time he had ever been away
from home and after he had proceeded on his lonely walk for some miles he
realized that he was dreadfully homesick. He looked back toward the town
he had just left and longed for his home in Illinois. He quenched his thirst
in a small pool collected in a horse track in the highway and trudged along,
arriving in due time at the home of his uncle. He remained there, however,
but two weeks, at the end of that time securing employment on the farm of
Fred Zorn, at a wage of sixteen dollars a month. A year later he rented a
farm and started to farm for himself, "keeping batch" for three years, at the
end of which time his sister, Mrs. Mary Fopy, began keeping house for him
and this arrangement continued until his marriage in the fall of 1891. In the
meantime Mr. Aladowse bought a tract of one hundred and twenty acres of
timber land in the precinct of Barada, paying for the same fourteen dollars
an acre, and proceeded to clear and develop the same. Presently he bought
a threshing-rig. operating the same by horse power until he later bought a
tractor engine, and the proceeds of that venture went far toward keeping up
the payments on his land, which he paid out in ten years. For twenty-three
years Mr. Madowse continued operating his threshing-machine in season and
became one of the best-known operators in that line in the county. He also
gradually enlarged his landholdings and now, as noted above, is the owner
of two hundred and ten acres in sections 32 and ^^ of Barada precinct, where
he has his home, and of seventy acres in the adjoining section 4 of Arago pre-
cinct, his place including ninety acres of natural timber, which he has retained.
In 1907 Mr. Madowse liegan on a somewhat extensive scale the raising of
pure-bred Shorthorn cattle and in that line has done very well. He also for
some time has given considerable attention to the breeding of jacks and has
two "Mammoth" jacks and two jennets of excellent strain and has done much
to promote the raising of mules in his neighborhood.

On October 23, 1891, Christ. Madowse was united in marriage to Mary
Ruegge, who was born on a farm in the precinct of Arago. this county, in
March, 1873, daughter of Frederick and Dora (Hoose) Ruegge. natives of
Germany and pioneers of Richardson county, who are still living in Arago
precinct, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Minnie, born

79- RICHARDSON" COrXTV. NEBRASKA.

on July i6, 1894. Mr. and Mr.s. Madowse are members of the Lutheran
church, as is their daughter, and Mr. Madowse is a menil^er of the board of
deacons of tlie same. He is a RepubHcan and for years lias given his earnest
attention to local political affairs. In 1903 he was elected a member of the
board of county commissioners from his district and held that office for two
years. In 191 2 he was again elected county commissioner and was re-elected,
holding the office on his second period of service for four years. In 1903 he
was elected a member of the schonl Imard for his local district and has held
that position ever since, doing much for the advancement of the cause of
education there. Tlie Madowses liave a very pleasant home and have ever
taken an interested part in tlie general social activities of their home neigli-
borhood. helpful in advancing all good causes thereabout.

HERMAX TIEHEN.

The late Herman Tiehen, who at the time of his death in the spring
of 1911 was one of the best-known i)ioneers and most substantial land-
owners of Richardson county, a resident of the precinct of Salem since the
middle sixties, was of European birth, but had been a resident of this
country since 1851. He was born in the kingdom of Hanover on Julv 15.
1829. a son of Herman and Angeline Tiehen, both of the well-to-do rural
class, the former of whom died in i83(), his widow surviving imtil 1884.

.U the time of his father's death Herman Tiehen was i)ut seven rears
of age and his boyhood was spent in helping his mother. He attended
school until he was fourteen and then became a farmer and herdsman, re-
maining thus engaged until he was twenty-one years of age. bv which time
he had saved enough money to pay his passage to America, the great new
land across the water on which his mind had long been set with a steadfast
pur[)ose there to try to create a better station for himself than he could
hope to attain in his native land. In 1851 he set sail for Xew Orleans, pay-
ing ;i j)art of his ])assage by labor on the vessel, and upon his arrival .at
the southern pnrt set out l)y river for .St. Eouis. but In the time he had
reached St. Genevieve. Missouri, his meager funds had been reduced to
forty cents and he could go no farther liy l)oat. At St. Genevieve he secured
employment at gruljbing stumps at a wage of twenty-hve cents a day and
his board and worked through the winter at such employment. The fol-
lowing spring he began working for a farmer at a wage of eight dollars a

^'^^IMH^ sLA^'^^''^

em.

j^^^.^^tJ^

J-ie!ijL4^^

RICIIARDSOX COUNTY, XEBK.VSKA. 793

month ami was thus engaged until 1853, when he and five companions
started from St. Genevieve with six yoke of oxen and a wagon laden witii
supplies. iKjund for the gold fields of California. Upon his arrival in tlic
gold fields Mr. Tiehen had no difificulty in finding employment and in three
years spent there managed to save three thousand dollars. In 1856 he-
returned by way of the Isthmus of Panama and presently made his wa\
liver into the then Territory of Nebraska and bought a tract of government
land in Otoe county, eight miles southwest of Nebraska City. Erecting
baciielor quarters on that tract, he settled down there and began developing
and impro.\ing his place, living a bachelor life there until 1863, when he
married (me of the pioneer maidens of the Humboldt neightorhood in this
county and two years later moved down into Richardson county and estab-
lished Ills home on a farm in the precinct of Salem, he and his wife begin-
ning liousekeeping there in a one-room log house. Three years later when
llie first linnber brought up the ri\er for this county to Aspinwall arrived,
he bought lumber for a frame house and hauled the same over to his farm
•md there erected ;i comfortable house, which, with ample additions and
imprijvements from time to time, served him as a place of residence the
rest of his life. From that original quarter section in the precinct of Salem
-Mr. Tiehen gradually increased his land holdings, as his operations pros-
])ercd, until he became the owner of nineteen hundred acres of land and at
the time of jiis death was accounted one of the wealthiest men in Richardson
count}-. -Mr. Tieiien was a Democrat and ever gave a good citizen's atten-
tion to local ci\ic afl'.'iirs, a -strong factor for gootl in the pioneer days of
this coimt}'. but never was a seeker after public office. He was a menil>er
of the Catholic church, as were all his family, and did much to extend parish
activities in the earlv da\s of St. Herman's parish at Salem, and upon the
occasion of the erection of die fine new church at Salem contributed twenty-
live iiundred dollars to the building fund. During the later years of his
life .Mr. Tiehen lived comfortably retired from the active labors of the
farm, in full enjovnient of the ample rewards earned l)y his long life of
well-directed industry, bis death occurring on March 4, 191 t, he then being
in the eight\->ieconil \ear of bis life. His widi:»w, who still survives him,
continues to make her home on the old home place, where she is very com-
fortably and \ery tileasantly situated, one of the best-known pioneers of
that section of Richardson county.

Ft was on Januarv 16, 1863. that Herman Tiehen was united in mar-
riage to Catherine .\gnes Rotlienburger, who was born in the neighboring

794 RicnARnsox corxTV. xeisraska.

state of ^lissouri on April 21. 1842, a daughter of John and Wilhehnina
(Neiters) Rothenburger, wliu later Ijecame early settlers in the Nemaha
valley in this county and were long accounted among the foremost pioneers
of the Humboldt neighborhood. John Rothenburger was a native of France,
l)orn on June 2-j, 1807. In 1840 he came to the United States, landing at
tlie port of New Orleans, and in that same year made his way up the river
to Missouri, where, a year later, he married Wilhelmina Neiters, daughter
oi pioneers of that state. In 1854 he came over into Nebraska Territory
with his family and making his way up the Nemaha valley, settled on land
which later came to be a part of the Humboldt settlement. When he
entered upon possession of that tract there was no neighbor nearer than
eighteen miles distant and the situation for the pioneer family seemed
lonely and bleak, indeed. \\'hile Mr. Rothenburger was building a shanty
' on his claim he was surprised by the approach of a small band of hostile
Indians. Hastily gathering his family in the wagon he lashed his horses
into a run and sped across the prairie ahead of the redskins, making his
way in .safety to the river, twenty-two miles away. There he remained for
a couple of months, by which time the hostiles had been driven out of this
section, and he then returned with his wife and seven children to his claim,
where he completed the erection of his shanty and established his home.
he and his wife spending the remainder of their lives there, Mr. Rothen-
hurger's death occurring on February 2, 1884, he then being eighty years
of age. The pioneer farm on which he settled back in -1854, one of the
first settlers in Richardson county, is still in the possession of the family,
one of the ^■aluable farm plants in that i>art of the county. Mr. Rothen-
burger raised the first crop of barley shipped from Rulo in this county.

Catherine Agnes Rothenljurger was twelve years of age when she
tame to this county with her parents back in pioneer days and she grew
up on the home farm, thoroughly familiar with all the details of pioneer life
and subject to the hardships and privations of the same, and was living
tlu-re at the time of her marriage to Mr. Tiehen in i86,v To that union
sexen children were born, namely: Minnie, born in 1864, who died in in-
fancy: John, l)orn in 1867, now a resident of Salem, this county; Mary,
born in 1870, wife of William McDougall, of Falls City; Anna, who died
in childhood: Catherine or "Katie," born in 1875, who is at home with her
mother; William, born in 1880, now a resident of Falls City, and Agnes,
born in 1885. Mrs. Tiehen has been a resident of Richardson county since
pioneer days and is the second oldest pioneer of this county. Her recol-

RICHARDSdX COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 795

lections of the incidents of the early times here are clear and distinct and
her narratives of the events of those days form some most interesting and
inft)rmative sidelights on conditions here in the days when this region
was being claimed for civilization.

GUSTAV WILLIAM DUERFELDT.

Gustav William Du^rfeldt, proprietor of "Catalpa Lane Farm," a tine
place of two hundred and ninety acres in sections 30 and 31 of the precinct
of F>arada, one of the best-known and most substantial farmers and stockmen
in that part of the county, manager of the Barada Exchange, a branch of the
Southeast Nebraska Telephone Company, vice-president of the Barada Bank,
former assessor of his home precinct and for years actively interested in the
general affairs of that community, was born in a log cabin on the farm on
which he now lives and which he now owns and has lived in this county ail
his life, with the exception of some years spent at Helena, Montana, in the
early nineties. He was born on June 21. 1864, a son of Gustav C. and Louisa
(Parchen) Duerfeldt, natives of Germany, who were married in the city of
Buffalo, New York, and who later became pioneers of Richardson count}',
where their last davs were spent, useful and influential residents uf the pre-
cinct of Barada.

Gustav C. Duerfeldt was Ixirn in the kingdom of Prussia on December
II, 1826, and was twenty years of age when he came with his father, Gusta\-
Duerfeldt, and the fi\e other children of the family, the mother having died
in her native land, to the United States, the family settling in the city of
Buffalo, New York. Of these six children Gustav C. Duerfeldt was the eld-
est, the others being as follow : Bernard, who later went to the gold fields
of California, where he was known to have sa\ed a considerable quantity of
gold dust and was ready to return to his home in New York, but was never
afterward heard from, it being the presumption that he was murdered for his
gold ; Paulina, who married a man of the name of Smith and is now deceased :
Mary, who married F. Haller and is also deceased: Fred, who served as a
soldier of the Union during the Civil War, going to the front with a New
York regiment, was with Sherman to the sea and who later became a pioneer
farmer in the precinct of Barada, this county, where his last days were spent,
and whose old army musket is still preserved in the family, and Charles, who

79^ lUCIIARDSOX COUXTV. NEBRASKA.

also came to this county and tor some time was engaged in the butcher Inisi- —
ness. but later moved tu a farm in Xemaha countv, where he spent his last
days.

Having been trained as a cabinet-maker in his native Prussia. Gustav C
Duerfeldt easily found employment in a cabinet shop at Lluffalo upon his
arrival in that city in 1 846 and was engaged working in that one shop f< ir
fifteen years, or until he came to this county in 1861. In the meantime he had
married, in Buffalo. Louisa Parchen. who also was born in Gennany, Mav
26. 1837, and who was but sixteen years of age when she came to this coun-
try with her parents, and upon his arrival in this countv in October, 1861, he
bought a farm in section 3 of the precinct of l^arada, the place now owned Ijv
the subject of this sketch, erected a log cabin on the same, that old log cabin
still standing on the place, a priceless souvenir of pioneer days, and there
established his home, one of the earliest settlers of that section, and there he
spent the remainder of his life, a substantial farmer, his death occurring there
on January 17, 1913. His first trip to Nebraska was made in 1858; when he
came as treasurer of the Bufifalo colonx" in oi-der to pav oil a mortgage on
land purchased in Arago precinct by the colony. He carried with him $4,200
in o-old, which was worn in a belt made In- his wife, and -which he guarded
day and night. His wife had preceded him to the gra\e about eighteen 3'ears,
her death having occurred in 1895. They were the parents of twelve chil-
dren, of wJiom the subject of this sketch was the sixth in order of birth, the
others being as follow : George, deceased : Bernard C, of Barada ; Mary, wife
of the Rev. W. T. Grpmmisch, of Detroit, Michigan; Gustav. who died in
early childhood: Paulina, deceased: \\'illiani, deceased : Louisa, deceased:
Bertha Af. and Lla E.. twins, the former of whom is the wife of William Zur-
brick, a farmer living near \'erdon, this count)-, and the latter the wife of
Elmer E. Butler, of Hebron, this state; Henry G., a druggist at Spokane,
Washington, and Edward C, of Herrick, South Dakota.

R'eared on the farm on which he was born in the precinct of Barada.
Gustav \\'. Duerfeldt received his schooling, in the schools of that neighbor-
hood and from the days of his boyhood was a valued factor in the labors of
improving and developing the home place, remaining there until he was
twenty-five years of age, when, in 1889, he went to Helena, [Montana, to work
for his brother in the e.stabli.shment of the H. X. Parchen Drug Company and
while thus engaged took a commercial course in a night school. He later
became engaged with the street railway con-ipany at Helena and during the
years 1891-93 was en-ii)loye(l as a conducii>r and motorman and also as assist-
ant engineering in the electric railwa\- sliojis there. Tn the meantime, in the

KICHAItDSOX COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 797

fall of 1892, he married at Helena and not long afterward returned tu his
old home in this cuiinty and has ever since resided there, now being the
owner not onh' of the old home place, but of some additional land, his farm
comprising two hundred and ninety acres of excellent land in sections 30 and
31 of the precinct of Barada, known as "Catalpa Lane Farm," one of the
best-kept and most profitably cultivated places in that part of the county.
Ever since taking charge of that place in 1894 Mr. Duerfeldt has given con-
siderable attention to the raising of live stock and annually feeds several car-
loads of cattle and hogs. He also has given attention to the general business
affairs of his home community and has long been regarded as one of the most
public-spirited "hustlers" in that section. In 1905 he became a stockholder
and a member of the board of directors of the Southeast Nebraska Telephone
Company and is now manager of the Barada branch of the same. He also
is a member of the board of directors of the Barada Bank, of which he became
a stockholder in 1906, and is now second vice-president of the same, at times
acting as president. . Mr. Duerfeldt is a Republican and for years has given
his earnest attention to local political affairs, for thirteen years serving as
chairman of the Barada precijict Republican committee. In 1906 he was
appointed assessor of that precinct and held that position for three years. He
also has served as a member of the school board for eleven years and in odier
wa\s has contributed of his time and energies to the public service.

On November 10, 1892, at Helena, Montana, Gustav \\'. Duerfeldt was
united in marriage to Elizabeth C. Adami, who was born in that city on
I-'el)ruary 19. 1873. daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Knipper) Adami.
natives of Germany, and to this union four children have been born, namely :
Bertha M., who was graduated from the Falls City high school and from the
State Normal School at Peru and is now a member of the teaching corps of
the Falls Citv schools ; Pearl A., a graduate in music, who is now a teacher
of music, and Clifford and Laura. The Duerfeldts have a very pleasant home
at "Catalpa Lane l-'arni" and have ever gi\en proper attention to the general
social and cultural activities of the community in which they live. They are
members of the Lutheran church and attentive to local good works. Mr.
Duerfeldt is a memljer of the church council, practically succeeding his
father in that position, who was an elder and one of the builders of the
church. 'Sir. Duerfeldt has been a member of the local .lodge of the Inde-
pendent Order of Odd h'ellows at h'alls City since i89_'. is a charter member
of the Barada lodge of the Woodmen of the World, organized in 1805. and
takes a warm interest in the aft'airs of both of these organizations.

798 lUCHAKD.SON COUNTY. .NEBRASKA.

WILLIAM C. OSWALD.

William C. Oswald, a substantial retired fanner of Richardson county
and an homu'ed \eteran of the Civil War. now living- in I'^alls City, is a
Saxon, born in the kingdom of Saxon_\- cm May j8. 11X43. a sun of William
and Christina Oswald, the former of whom died in his native land in 1870.
his widow later coming- to this country, her last days being >])ent in Cedar
county, this state, where her death occurred in 1909.

It was in 1858 that William C. Oswald came to the United States,
he then being but fifteen years of age. It was his intention to join kins-
folk in Wisconsin, but upon landing at the port of New York he was
without money to complete his journey and he accepted an offer of an
Ohio farmer who was seeking "hands" and went to Spring-field, Ohio, in
the neighborhood of which place he began working for his employer at a
wage of four dollars a month, which after some months was increased to
six dollars, -\fter some months of this employment he had saved enough
money to pay his fare up into Wisconsin and he made a visit to his kinsfolk
there, but not liking conditions in that then" pioneer country he returned
to Ohio and was working there when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted
for service on September 7, 1861, as a member of Company H, Forty-fourth
Regiment, Ohio \'olunteer Infantry, attached to the Army of the Cumber-
land, and with that command served for three }-ears, receixing his dis-
charge on October 12, 1864. after which he returned to Springfield. Ohio,
and in the following November cast his first vote, voting for Abraham Lin-
coln for President. He then re-enlisted as a \eteran and was attached to
Company H, Eighth Ohio Cavalry, with which command he sen-ed until the
close of the war. In November, 1865, Mr. Oswald made another visit
to his kinsfolk in_A\"isconsin, but in the following April returned to Ohio.
He was unable to get work there, however, and decided to come West,
having heard much of the possibilities that awaited young men out here
in the plains country. He headed for Leavenw-ordi and after working a
month there hired out as a freighter, joining a caravan of twenty-two
wagons, each ha\ing five yoke of oxen, headed for Nebraska City. L'pon
arrixing at this latter point he gave up his job as a "bulhvhacker" and hired
out to a farmer near Union, with whom he worked, imtil in the fall. He
then returned to Lea\enworth, a three-days trip by horseback, and got
his trunk, which he expre-^seil to Nebraska City and then rode back to
die latter p(jint, another three-daxs horseback trip. During 1867 Mr.

■ lUCIIARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 799

Oswald worked in the French settlement at Julian, on the line between Otoe
and Nemaha counties, and while thus engaged went over into the adjoining
county of Johnson and exercised his soldier's right by filing on a liomestead
tract near Tecumseh. The next spring, 1868, he went over to liis home-
stead and in three da^-s had a dugout constructed there and felt quite well
equipped for establishing a home. In July he married and he and his wife
began their housekeeping in that Johnson county dug-out. During the first
years of their residence there their crops were very poor and for fourteen
years they faced continual hard times, but finally things began to brighten
up a bit and the grinding poverty of those "lean years" was never felt
again. When Mr. Oswald began farming on his own account on his home-
stead tract he had no team and while proving up his claim worked out
elsewhere whenever he could, though maintaining his residence on the home-
stead, his sod shanty there serving as a shelter for himself and wife until
they presently could see their way clear to the erection of a small house.
Besides his lack of a team he was further handicapped by a serious injury
to one of his arms and side sustained during the delirium of an attack of
typhoid fever suffered while in the army. He finally got a team. howe\er.
but both horses presently died and he had the further ill luck to lose two
other teams in quick succession, so that it was seven years before he finally
got forty acres of his homestead under cultivation. In 1882 Mr. Oswald
sold his homestead tract for twenty-five hundred dollars and came down
into Richardson county, where he bought a quarter of a section of land two
miles east of Salem, paying for the same forty-five hundred dollars, this
transaction entailing a considerable debt, but he had a succession of good
crops and paid out in good time. He built on that place a new house and
farm building and otherwise improved the same and there made his home
for ten years, at the end of which time, in 1892, he rented the place and
moved to Falls City, where he and his wife have since made their home and
where they are \-ery comfortably situated, enjoying in comfort the rewards
of their trying days on the farm as pioneers. Mr. Oswald is a Republican
and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has
not been a seeker after public office.

On July 31, 1868, William C. Oswald was united in marriage tu
Christina Hasenyager, who was born on a pioneer farm near Warrentown.
Missouri, November 21, 1850, a daughter of John C. and Louisa ( BrinkmanJ
Hasenyager, natives of Germany, who settled in Missoin-i upon coming tn
this country and wlm nii~>ved over into Nebraska during war times, and to
this union six chililren iiave 1ieen born, namely : \\'i]liam C, a farmer.

8oO RICHAK1>SI)X COrXTV. NEBRASKA. '

of Edison, this state, who inanied Emma Adams and has three chiUh-en.
John, Ruth and Fred; Ellen M., who married Dorsey Will, of Falls City,
and has two dauj^hters. Mrs. h'lorence Deitrich and Grace; Carrie, who mar-
ried Ross Will, a farmer, living three miles west of Falls City, and has
five children. Pearl, Myrtle, Orville. Evelyn and Rohert : Frederick W'.. now
.1 resident of Buffalo. Wyoming: John, a photographer at Falls City, and
Eillian, also a photographer in her home town. The Oswalds are mem-
hers of the German Lutheran church and take a proper interest in church
affairs. Mr. Oswald is an active member of the local post of the Gran<l
Army of the Republic and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that
patriotic organization.

FRANK KOTOUC. TR.

The name Kotouc has lung l)een one of the best known in the western
pi^irtion of Richardson county, and it is a name that has stood for enter-
prise, public spirit and good citizenship in general. One of the best-known
members of the faniil\' is Frank Kotouc, a member of the firm of Kotouc
Ijrt)thers, dealers in drv goods, clothing, furnishings, shoes, groceries, etc.,
at Humljoldt. lie was born on September 20, 1875. ^t Jitkov, Bohemia,
and he is a son of l'"rank and Mary (Hon) Kotouc. The father was born
on October 25. 1839, at Ransko, Bohemia, where he grew up, resided until
TX74, when he removed to Jitkov. and engaged in business until 1882. when
he brought his family to the United States, where he followed the trade of
harness-maker, l)ut in the old country he was a merchant. Hv had two
children when he came to America, and he .settled with his family at Hum-
lioldt. Xel)raska, where he soon became prominent in local affairs. He
helped to organize the Bohemian school, in which school he taught for about
twenty years, working at his trade the meanwhile, giving one day out of
each week to the school work. He retired from active life in 1902. He
w;is a menilaT of the C. S. I\ S. Bohemian Lodge from 1882 until his
death, which occurred on Deceml)er 25, i()i6. He was a son of Joseph and
.\iina ( Kuzicka I Kotouc. wh<i lived and died in Bohemia. The mother of
the >ubject of this sketch was born on .\pril 24. 1850. in Hermanuv-Mestec.
Bohemia, and her death occurred on September 12. lyi.V These parents
were married on June 15. 1S72, at Kruoembnrk. Bobeciiia. They attended
the Evangelical Lmheran church. Their faniilv consisted of the following

FRANK KOTOUC, JR.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 80I

children: Frank, the lirst, died in infancy; Frank, the second, subject of
this sketch; Lute B.. who is manager of the Kotouc Brothers store at New
Ra)-mer, Colorado, married Emma Novak, and they have one child, a
daughter; Milton, the first, died in infancy; Milton, the second, lives in
Humboldt, and is a partner with his brothers in the store; Otto, who is
cashier in the Home State PJank of Humboldt, married Camille Cernik, and
the\- have two children.

Frank Kotouc, Jr., of this sketch, was six years old when his parents
Ijruught him to Humboldt, Nebraska, and here he grew to manhood and
attended the public schools. Before leaving school he began working at
the Standard Printing Company's office, receiving fifty cents per week for
his work. He remained with that firm until in- May, 1893, when he began
clerking in a general merchandise store, but he soon began working for
Morris Friend in his general store and a few months later he took a posi-
tion with R. W. Coleman, with whom he remained until Mr. Coleman sold
out, after which, he worked for J. W. Housek, a merchant, during the year
1894, when he went to work for the E. L. Crane Jewelry Company. In
October, 1896, in partnership with his brother. Lute B., he opened a new
store at DuBois, Nebraska, starting on a small scale, carrying only an
eleven-hundred-dollar stock. This proved to be a fortunate venture and
the business gradually increased, and they maintained a store there for eight
years. They erected the first brick building at DuBois and did much to
iKJOst the town. Then, in 1906, they sold out and, in partnership with R. E.
^Vatzke, opened up "The Famous Store" in Humboldt, which they operated
four years, then sold out to Mr. Watzke, after which the Kotouc brothers —
Frank, Lute B. and Milton — started their present business, with a capital
stock of fifteen thousand dollars. They piuxhased a brick building in Hum-
lioldt, which they remodeled and repaired extensively, including the installa-
tion of an elevator, the building, when completed, costing ten thousand
dollars alone. The business was very successful from the start and they
have enjoyed a large and growing trade all the while, many of their cus-
tomers coming from remote parts of tlie country. They carry a large and
carefully selected stock of dry goods, clothing, furnishings, shoes and gro-
ceries. Their store would be a credit to a town much larger than Hum-
boldt. It is one of the most popular stores in Richardson and adjoining-
counties, for their customers know that they will never fail to be treated
with courtesy and honesty. In 1916 the Kotouc Brothers opened a branch
store in New Ravmer, Colorado, which has had a rapid and satisfactorv
(51)

602 UKHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

growth under the management of Lute Kotouc. These brothers also own,
beside their stores, four hundred and eighty acres of vaUiable land in Weld
county, Colorado, which they expect to put under a high state of cultivation
and improvement. They also own their store building in New Raymer, and
considerable city property in Humboldt, Nebraska.

P'rank Kotouc has remained unmarried. Politically, he is a Demo-
crat, but is inclined to vote independently. Fraternally, he belongs to the
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, also the blue lodge and the Eastern
Star. He is not a member of any church, but attends and contributes to
various denominaticjns.

JOSHUA S. LORD.

Joshua S. Lord, cashier of the First National Bank of Falls City, a
substantial landowner of Richardson county, former treasurer of the county,
former representative from this district in the Nebraska General Assembly
and for years actively identified with the political and business affairs of
this county, is a native of the state of Illinois, but has been a resident of
Nebraska and of this county since he was three years of age and has thus
been a witness to and a participant in the development of this part of the
state since pioneer days. He was born on a farm in the immediate vicinity
of Rushville, Illinois, November ii, 1865, son of Joseph and Anna (Boyd,)
Lord, the former a native of England and the latter of Illinois, who became
pioneers of Richardson county and here spent their last days.

Joseph Lord, who was born in 1828, remained in his native England
until he was sixteen years of age, when, in 1844, he came to this country
and proceeded to Illinois, where he became a farmer and where he presentl}-
married Anna Boyd, who was born in that state in 1830. daughter of pioneer
parents. In 1868 Joseph Lord became attracted to the possibilities then
open to settlers in the new state of Nebraska and disposing of his interests
in Illinois came out here with his family and bought a partly-broken tract
of land in this county, a portion of the old Indian Reservation, three and
one-half miles southwest of Salem, and there established his home. He
proceeded to improxe and develop that tract and had a well-improved farm
when death put a stop to his endeavors on February 10. 1874. His widow
sur\i\ed him many years, her death occurring on the old home farm in
1902, she then being seventy-two years of age. They were the parents
of twelve cliildren. sc\en sons and li\"c daughters, of whom the suliject

RICHARDSON COL'NTV. NEliRASKA. 803

of this sketch was llie tenth in order of birth, tlie others being James.
Frances, WilHam and Ehzabeth, now deceased : Robert A., a retired farmer
now living at Oklahoma City ; Mrs. Sarah Ellen Clark, of Oklahoma : Joseph
and Josephine, twins, the former of whom is a farmer south of Salem, this
county, and the latter the wife of J. D. Harris, of Salem; Amanda INI.,
widow of Herl Moore and the owner of an extensive ranch in this state;
Charles A., who is engaged in the automobile business at Lincoln, and is
one of the largest automobile distributors in this state, and Thomas, a well-
to-do farmer living in the vicinity of Peru, in the neighboring county of
Nemaha.

Joshua S. Lord was but a small child when he came to this county frum
Illinois with his parents and he was but nine 3'ears of age when his father
died. He was reared on the home farm in the precinct of Salem, recei\ing
his schooling in the neighborhood schools, and remained on the farm with
his mother until 1883, when he turned his attention to business lines and
became a druggist. He married in 1884 and later took a course in pharmac\-
and in 1889 engaged in the drug business on his own account, at Salem and
was there very successfully engaged in that line until 1903. In tire mean-
time he had been giving considerable attention to local political affairs and
in 1904 was elected, as the nominee of the Democratic party, to represent
this district in the state Legislature, thus being one of the se\en Democrats
who served in the Nebraska House of Representatives in the memorable
session of 1905. In the fall of 1905 ^Ir. Lord resigned his legislative otficc
in order to accept the nomination for the office of county treasurer. He
was elected to that office and his course in administering tlie affairs nf
the county treasurer's office proved so satisfactory tliat lie was re-elected
in 1907, the Democratic county convention having re-nominated him by
acclamation, and he thus served for four }ears as county treasurer, one
of the most popular officials in the court house. Meantime, Mr. Lord had
taken up his residence in Falls City and upon the completion of his term of
official service he was elected, in 1910, cashier nf the First National Bank
of Falls City, succeeding Governor Moorehead in that position, and has
ever since been thus engaged, long having been recognized as one of tlie
leading bankers in this part of the state. In addition to his banking interests
Mr. Lord has a fine farm of three hundred acres in Salem precinct, a part
of which is the old Lord homestead place, and takes niucli interest in the
management of the farm.

In 1884 Joshua S. Lt)rd was united in marriage to l-^ii/.a T. Boyd. <<i
Salem, who was born in Forest City, Missouri, daugliter of S. A. and

N04 RICilARDSOX COUXTV, NEBRASKA.

Arniinda Boyd, both now deceased, who were early settlers at Salem, and
to this union three children have been born, namely : Vera, born on No\em-
ber 15, 1887, who married Russell A. Hiatt, of Morrell, Kansas, and died
on November 10, 1916, leaving a six-year-old daugliter, Jean; Harold,
born in 1892, who married Vera M. Watson and is now living on his father's
farm in Salem precinct, and Mildred 'Si., 1895, a graduate of the Falls
City high school, \vho is at home with her parents. The Lords have a
very pleasant home at Falls City and take an interested part in the general
social and cultural activities of their home town. Mr. Lord is affiliated
W'ith the Independent Order of Odd I-'ellows and takes an active part in tlie
affairs of that fraternal organization.

DANIEL RILEY.

Daniel Riley, one of the real "old timers" of Richardson county as
well as one of the Ijest-known and most substantial farmers of this part of
the state, is a native of New Jersey, but has been a resident of this county
since he was four years of age, having come here with his parents in the
spring of 1859, the Rileys becoming pioneers out here eight years before
Nebraska was admitted to statehood, this region at that time being under
a territorial government. He was born in New Jersey, thirty miles south
(if the city of Philadelphia, January 6, 1855, son of Michael and Mary
(O'Crien) Riley, both of whom were born in County Tipperary. Ireland.
the f( inner in 1826, and the latter in 1830, but W'ho were not married until
after they came to this country, ^Michael Riley having come to this side of
the Atlantic in 1847 and Mary O'Brien having come in 1851.

Michael Riley and Mary O'Brien were married in 1853 and made their
home in the state of New Jersey until the spring of 1859. W'hen they came to
Nebraska Territory, landing at Rulo on April 3 of that year, having come
b\- rail to St. Joseph and thence up the river to Rulo. At the latter place
tlK\ secured an ox-team and a cart and drove west over the plains to a
point three miles west of \"erdon, in the precinct of Liberty, this, county.
-Michael Riley having jirocured from an old Mexican soldier at Brownville
the latter's warrant to a quarter of a .section of land indicated in that pre-
cinct. On the old tdwnsite of Geneva he bought a small house which he
nicned ontu his claim and there established his home, he and his wife and
three sons and his brother-in-law. Thiimas I'arrell and wife and son, making

MK. AM) MUS. DANIEL RILEY

RICHARDSON COUNTV^ NEBRASKA. 805

their domicile there together. Two weeks later that humble abode was scat-
tered over the plains by a tornado, but the pioneers gathered up the scat-
tered boards, got together a bit of new lumber and reconstructed their house,
a one-room affair, and in that modest abode the two families dwelt togetlier
for three years. .Vt that time there was an abundance of wild game, while
the prairie ponds were tilled with iish, so the pioneers had no lack of food
while they were getting their. start as farmers. People had a happy way of
taking things "easy" in those days and they suffered very little, even though
the markets at Brownville and Nebraska City were far distant and supplies
sometimes ran short. ^Michael Riley had two yoke of oxen and broke up
his land without delay, soon getting the same under cultivation. He kepi
his tirst farm until 1864, when he sold it and bought a tract of one hundred
;in(i twenty acres southwest of Dawson, where he lived until the spring of
1884, when he bought a piece of land two miles and a half northeast of
the village and there he spent the remainder of his life, dying on October 16,
1884. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, of whom tlie
subject of this sketch was the first-born, the others being as follow: James,
\\ho died in Omaha in 1907, at the age of iifty years; William, who lives'
on the old home place northeast of Da.wson; Bernard, who was born in
April, 1861, the first of the famil\- liorn in this county anil a biographical
sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume; Michael, who is
farming the place on which his father died, northeast of Dawson; Mary,
wife of M. J- Clancy, of Dawson, and Annie, born in 1870, who died in
the spring of 1871. The mother of these children died August 21, 1858.

Having been but four years of age when he came with his parents to
this count)-, ])ractically all of Daniel Riley's active life has been spent here
Tuid there is probably not another man in the county who has a wider ac-
quaintance hereabout than he, for he has been a witness to and a participant
in the development of this region since pioneer days and has kept up his
acquaintance with that development from tlie earliest dawn of his childisii
recollection. He was reared on a typical pioneer farm and as a lad did
his .share in the development and improvement of that farm, but he also
found much time for fishing and hunting and his recollection is that there
was mighty good fun for a boy on the free range in those days. The first
school he attended was a subscription school started by Harry Cornell two
• miles northwest of Verdon, the rate of tuition being five cents a day for
each pui)i!. He attended that school one month, in 1863. ;it the end of
which time Cornell became ill and the school was aban(lone<l. Tn i86q he

8o6 RICHARDSON COCXTV, NEHRASKA.

had another chance to go to school in a httle log school house not far away
and there he received two more months of tuition. In that same year a
log school house was put up in section 24 of Grant precinct, the first school
opened in that precinct, and he entered that school, which was presided over
b\- ]\Iollie Pool. He attended school intermittently there until 1868, in
which year the site of the school was changed to the top of the hill near the
present village of Dawson and there he received some further tuition. In
those days, of course, there were no free text-books, each pupil bringing his
own books, and Mr. Riley recalls distinctly the transaction by w^hich he
acquired his first arithmetic, trading for the same one mink skin, while
t(jr his first spelling-book he gave a skunk hide.

Continuing to assist his father and his brothers in the labors of im-
proving and developing the home farm, Mr. Riley remained at home until
1878, when he rented a tract of land and began farming on his own account.
He saved a little money and in 1879 bought a "forty" north of Dawson, in
the north half of the northwest quarter of section 11, paying eight dollars
an acre for the same, but he did not improve the same, finding his efforts
more profitably engaged elsewhere. In 1885 he bought a tract of two hun-
dred and fifty-eight acres in section 21, paying fifteen dollars an acre for
the same, and this he proceeded to improve and develop until he has made
it one of the most productive farms in tlie county. As his affairs pros-
pered Mr. Riley gradually added to his holdings until now he is the owner
uf eight hundred acres of as good land as there is in Richardson county,
four hundred and forty acres of which surrounds his beautiful home in the
l)ottom lands of the Nemaha. On that place he has expended twenty thou-
sand dollars in tiling and ditching and his neighbors agree that he raises
ihc finest corn in that community, his land producing from sixty to seventy
bushels an acre. His residence is of modern construction, with hardwood
lloors and up-to-date conveniences, and his ample barns and other farm
l)uildings are in keeping with the same, his farm plant being one of the best
e(|uipped in this region of fine farm plants. ^Ir. Riley is a Democrat and
lias from the days of his boyhood given his ck)se attention to local political
affairs, but \rd> not been a seeker after pulilic office, thougli himself a real
inlluence in local politics.

On Xovcniiier jo. kjI-'. Daniel Riley was nnitcil in marriage to Mrs.
Alary l'"lizalietli ( Wheeleri Whitney, who was born in the precinct of
■liarada. this county, Xovenibcr 24. 1862. a daughter of Henry Duke and
Alalinda 1 Unchanan I \Miecler, natives of Kentucky and Missouri, respect-
\\v\y. who canie to Xcliraska in i8;<) and who returned to Kentnck\- during

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 807

war times, but came back here in 1866 and resumed their place on their
home farm in Barada precinct, where they spent the remainder of their
Hves, the former d}ang in 1870, and the latter on April 19, 1915. Henry
D. Wheeler fought in the Mexican War and Mrs. Wheeler was the only
Mexican War pensioner in this county at the time of her death. They
were the parents' of five children, of whom three are living, Mrs. Riley
having two brothers, William H. Wheeler, who is living on the old home
place in Barada, and Lawrence Wheeler, of Falls City, who is also the
owner of a farm in that precinct. Mary Elizabeth Wheeler grew to woman-
hood on the farm on which she was born and on March 11, 1880, was
united in marriage to John Whitney, who was born in Missouri, a son of
Wade Whitney and wife, who later came to this county and became pioneers
(if Grant precinct, John Whitney and Daniel Riley thus being schoolmates
and playfellows in their boyhood days. John Whitney, who was born on
August 2, 1854, died on May 6, 1901, he then being fifty-one years of age.
He left two children, Claude, who is farming his mother's place, the Whit-
ne}' farm in sections 24 and 26, and Guy, who is farming in section 20 of
Grant precinct. Mr. and Mrs. Riley have a very pleasant home and take
a proper part in the general social activities of their home community. They
are members of the Catholic church and take an earnest interest in parish
affairs, as well as in the general good works of the neighborhood in which
thev live. Mr. Riley is a liberal subscriber to the Red Cross movement and
has purchased Liberty Bonds, as evidence of his patriotism.

CHARLES HENRY THORNTON.

Charles Henry Thornton, well-known commercial photographer at Hum-
Ijoldt, was born on a farm near St. Joseph, Michigan, October 17, 1868, son
of John M. and Jane (Brady) Thornton, natives of England, who in 1874
moved to Iowa and located at Stanton, where they conducted a hotel for
three years, at the end of which time they located on a farm that Mr. Thorn-
ton liad bought near there; later settling on a farm near Conway, Iowa, where
they remained for three years, or until 1880, when they came to Nebraska
and settled on a farm in Seward county, remaining there until 1891, in which
year they moved to Sheridan, Wyoming, where their last days were spent.

Charles H. Thornton was six years of age when his parents moved from
Michigan to Iowa and was twelve years of age when they came to Nebraska.

60» RICHARDSON CorXTV. NEBRASKA.

He grew up in Seward county, and remained there, farming, until the spring
of 1893, ^vhen he bought a farm in RawHns county, in western Kansas, and
for three years trie', to farm there, but was compelled to give it up on account
of the continuous drought. He then returned to Nebraska and was for a
time engaged in farming near Peru, later taking employment on a ranch in the
vicinity of Concordia, Kansas, where he remained for four years, during
which time he began to turn his attention seriously to tlie art of photography,
presently opening a photograph studio at Auburn and was engaged in that
business there until the fall of 1904, when he moved to Humboldt On Sep-
tember I of that year he opened a studio at Humboldt and has ever since
been engaged in business at that place, long having been recognized as one
of the leading photographers in this part of the state. Mr. Thornton has a
well-equipped studio and has built up a fine business, the high character of
his work recommending it widel}' to discriminating patrons hereabout.

In 1899 Charles H. Thornton was united in marriage to Grace Elliot,
of Auburn, this state, and to this union two children have been born, sons
l)oth, Dale, born in 1905, and Leland, 1915. Mr. and Mrs. Thornton are
members of the Christian church and take a proper part in church work, as
well as in other community good works and in the general social activities
of their home town. Mr. Thornton is a Deinocrat, and, fraternally,- is affili-
ated with the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the
Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, in the affairs
of all of which organizations he takes a warm interest.

DANIEL B. RATEKIN.

13aniel U. Ratekin, sheriff of Richardson county, former mayor of
Rulo and who at the time of his election to the office of sheriff in 1914 was
engaged in the automobile business at Ealls City, is a native son of this
county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in the imme-
diate vicinity of Rulo on October 2, 1881, a son of William L. and Mary
Ann (\'aughn) Ratekin, natives of Ohio, who came tn tliis county in 1864
antl the latter of whom is still living at Rulo.

\Mlliam L. Ratekin was born in 1S34 and grew to manhood in Ohio,
where he was married. During the early part of the Civil War he served
as the driver of a commissary wagon in the Eastern Division and in 1864
came A\'est and proceeded by steamer to Rulo, where he landed and where

WIKI, li. UATEKIX.

RICHARDSOX COTXTV, NEBRASKA. 809

he made his permanent home, buying a tract of eighty acres of raw land
a half mile west of that then bustling river town, establishing his home on
the same and there he spent the remainder of his life, living to see the land
for which he paid five dollars an acre increase many fold in value. A
few years before his death he retired from the active labors of the farm
and moved to Rulo, where he died in 1907 and where his widow is now
living, she being now about seventy years of age-. They were the parents
of ten children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the last-born, the
others being as follow: Marion, now living at McFarland, California;
Jacob, who died of mountain fever in Colorado years ago; Julia, now de-
ceased, who was the wife of J. F. Vaughn; John, who is now living near
Delta, Colorado; Alary, wife of Frank Wilhoit, of Centralia, Kansas; Ida,
wife of E. \y. Coupe, of the precinct of Rulo. this county; James W., a
farmer in that same precinct; William F.. now a resident of California, and
]\rinnie, wife of George Goodale, of Rulo.

Reared on the home farm in the vicinity of Rulo, Daniel B. Ratekin
received his schooling in the schools of that place and remained on the farm
until he was twent}'-one \ears of age. when, in 1902, he engaged in the
transfer and coal business at Rulo and after his marriage two years later
established his home there. Not long after taking up his residence in Rulo
Mr. Ratekin \\as elected assessor, a position he held for three years. He
later was elected school treasurer and he also held that office for three
vears. In 191 J he was elected mayor of Rulo and it was during his admin-
istration that the Rulo electric Hght plant, said to be one of the best plants
for a town of that size in the state of Nebraska, was installed. Upon the
completion of his term of service as mayor Mr. Ratekin moved to Falls
City and there engaged in the automobile and general garage business, as
a member of the Ratekin, Wolfley & Ball Company, and was thus engaged,
as manager of that concern, when he was elected sheriff of Richardson
county in 1914. So satisfactory did Sheriff Ratekin's services prove in this
important public capacity that the Republicans of the county renominated
him in 19 16 and he was re-elected by the largest majority ever givffli a can-
didate for public office in Richardson county and is now serving his second
term in the sheriff's office, one of the most popular and painstaking officials
in the court house.

It was on- September 15, 1904, that Daniel B. Ratekin was united in
marriage to Minna A. LaBlanc, who was born at Rulo. this county, October
27. 1S85, daughter of 'SL J. and ^Mary F. TPerkins) LaBlanc. natives, re-

8lO RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

spectively, of Canada and [Missouri, and early settlers at Rulo, who were
the parents of three children, one of whom died in infancy, J\Irs. Ratekin
having a sister. Mrs. Bessie Scott, living at Lexington. Missouri. Sherifif
and Mrs. l\atekin have one cliild, a daughter. ^lary H.. Ijorn on October 27,
IQO^.

JOHX C. HELFEXBEIX.

John C. Helfenbein, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and ten
acres in section 22 of the precinct of Arago, this county, was born in that
precinct and has lived there all his life, having thus been a continuous resident
of Richardson count}' since territorial days. He was born on February 22,
1866, son of John and Lena (Buck) Helfenbein, natives of Germany, who
were among the earliest settlers of this county and whose last days were spent
here, the former living until June 10, 1912, he then being in the eighty-fourth
year of his age. His wife had preceded him to the grave about four years,
lier death having occurred in 1908, slie then being seventy-nine years of age.
They were the parents of four children, namely: Mrs. Amelia Klink, of
Missouri; August, deceased; John C, the subject of this sketch, and Ernest.

John Helfenbein, who was an honored veteran of the Civil War, was
born in Hessenstadt on September 22, 1828, and had come to this country in
the days of his young manhood, settling in Illinois, where he remained until
1858, when he came over into the then Territory of Nebraska and located at
the site of the old village of Arago, first county seat of Richardson county,
lielping in the construction of the first house that was erected at that historic
point. He bought a tract of land in the immediate vicinity of Arago, broke
the soil with an ox-team and there farmed for a good many years, later
moving to the southern part of the_ precinct, where he and his wife spent
their last days. During the Civil War John Helfenbein served valiantly as
a member of Company B, Fourth Missouri Cavalry, with whicli command
he enlisted on March 13, 1862, and with wliich he served until his final dis-
charge c#i March 22, 1865. During this ser\ice he nearly lost his life, receiv-
ing a serious wound when three horses fell on him during a desperate cavalry
scrimmage. Some years before his death Mr. Helfenbein wrote an interest-
ing narrative relating lo his experiences as a pioneer of Richardson county
and as a participant in the frontier warfare carried on out liere during the
Civil War period, which narrative has so mucli of historical interest that it is
presented below :

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 8l I

"I came to the jM-esent site of Fargo, formerly Arago, Nebraska, in
1858. At that time there were no buildings of any kind at that place. Dur-
ing the following three years twenty-three families arrived and proceeded to
erect dwelling houses and such otlier structures as they needed in a wild
country.

"When the Civil War broke out there was on the opposite side of Arago,
across the Missouri river, a small village called Marietta, which had a post-
office, school house and a horse-power saw-mill. The Rebels raised the
rebel flag at Marietta. We at Arago raised the Union flag; the flags being
but one mile apart. The Rebels and those who sympathized with them threat-
ened to come to Arago and pull down the Union flag and burn every house,
but they never did. On March 13, 1862, I, with twelve others, went to Forest
City, Holt county, Missouri, where we enlisted in Company B, Fourth Regi-
ment, Missouri Cavalry. We remained three weeks in the vicinity of Forest "
City, scouting in Atchison, Holt and Nodaway counties: also pulling down
rebel flags and taking them to headc]uarters and compelling them to swear
allegiance to the Union.

"On April i, 1862, our regiment met at St. Joseph, Alissouri. wiiere we
entered on police duty, also scouting throughout Andrew, Buchanan and
Platte counties. From there we moved to Kansas City, Missouri, and were
camped there fourteen days, scouting in Lafayette, Johnson and Jackson
counties. We lost two men of our company by Ouantrell bushwhackers on
Blue river, at Westport. From there we marched to Greenfield, thence to
Springfield and tlien to Granby, Missouri, where we met the Rebels and
fought them. \\'e killed two and took seventeen prisoners. Then we went
• to Neosho, Newtonia and ;\'It. Vernon ; thence back to Springfield. From
tiiere we were ordered to Lone Jack to reinforce the First Iowa, whicli liad
Iiad an engagement with the Rebels commanded by Cofifee and Range. W^e
were in the saddle for twenty-seven days, during which time we scarcely
found any food, either for man or beast. The Rebels lost one barrel of sugar,
which we were fortunate to get and which was doled out to us one cupful a
day as long as it lasted. On June 21, 1862, we espied some cabbage in a
garden, to which we helped ourselves. We also found one barrel of molasses
and three pieces of bacon, of which our dinner consisted. On June 27 we over-
took the Rebels at Neosho and captured tlieir cannons, after wliich tliey
retreated.

"We participated in the battle of Xewtonia, }iIissouri, September 13,
1862, and at Cassville, September 21. 1862. Before we went into the
engagement at X'ewtonia, Kelly, our major, made something like tlie follow-

Ol2 RICHARDSON" COl"N7^'. NKBRASKA.

ing speech: 'Soldiers: Again you are called upon to advance on the
enemies of your country. The time and the occasion are deemed opportuiie
by your commanding general to address to you a tew words (tf confidence
and caution. Your movement being in co-operation with <ilhers. it is of the
utmost importance that no effort .should be left unspared to make it success-
ful. Soldiers, the eyes of the whole country are looking with anxious hope
to the blow you are about to strike in the most sacred cause that ever called
men to arms. Remember your homes, your wives and your children. ;ui(l
l)ear in mind that the sooner your enemies are overcome the sooner you will
be returned to enjoy the benefits and blessings of peace. Bear with patience
the hardships and .sacrifices you will be called upon to endure. Have con-
fidence in your oflicers and in each other. Keep your ranks on the march and
on the battlefield, and let each man earnestly implore God's blessing and
endeavor, both by his thoughts and his actions, to render himself worthy of
the favor he seeks. With clear consciences and strong arms, actuated by a
high sense of duty; fighting to preserve the government and the institutions
handed down to us by our forefathers — if true to ourselves victory, under
God's blessing, must and will attend our efforts.'

"At Hunts\-ille, Arkansas, three liundred of our men niatle battle on
twent_v-fi\e sheep in a forty-acre jiasture. The sheep were all killed, nf
course ; no prisoners taken. At Fayetteville we captured a goose, which, after
being equally divided, we prepared for dinner by immersing in a pot of hot
water ; each his portion according to command. \\"e participated in the battle
of White River, then we spent two days on Osage Mountain. On December
2, 1862, we surprised the Rebels on Horse creek, between ¥t. Scott, Kansas,
and Greenfield, Missouri, capturing ninety-three horses and saddles and all
their firearms. On April 7, 1863, we marched to Sedalia, ^Missouri, and were
compelled to swim the Grand river, which was then bank full and about a
half mile in width. From 1863 to i8()5 we were pursuing Ouantrell ;ind
Jesse James, spending many nights in the forest trying to capture Jesse when
he would be going courting his sweetheart at Dover, Lafayette county. On
.August 21. 1863, we captured a man of Ouantrell's command who confessed
to ha\ing killed a woman and throwing iier and her bab\- into a burning build-
ing at Lawrence, Kansas. He was court-martialed and shot. On October 13.
1863, we fought Joe Shelby at Arrow Rock. On Octol)er 2^, 1864. wc
fought General Price at Jefferson City. Missouri, and pursued liim to Rluc
river, near Kansas City. In this engagement we lost our captain, .\lvin P.lair.
My fastest riding was l)etween the P>lue ri\er and Lexington, where 1 was
commissioned to carry a dispatch through the enemy's lines. 1 was ]iin-sued

RICHARDSON COUMTY, NEBRASKA. 813

by them, but succeeded in getting away. We participated in numerous other
bushwhacker skirmishes not necessary here to mention."

John C. Helfenbein was reared on the pioneer farm on which he was
born, in the precinct of Arago, and grew up there thoroughly famihar with
pioneer conditions of Hving. He received his schooling in the district schools
of that neighborhood and from the days of his boyhood was a valuable factor
in the labors of developing and improving the home place. He later began
working as a fann hand, at a wage of fifteen dollars a month, and in 1884
he and his brother August began fanning together, an arrangement that con-
tinued until his marriage in 1892, after which he bought an eighty-acre farm
in the precinct of Ohio and tliere established his home, remaining there until
1896, when he sold that place and Ijought his present farm of one hundred
and ten acres in sej:tion 22 of Arago precinct, where he has since made his
home and where he and his family are very comfortably and very pleasantly
situated. Since taking possession of that 'place Mr. Helfenbein has built a
new house and barn, planted an orchard and made other substantial improve-
ments, now having one of the liest farm plants in that part of the county.
In addition to his general farming he has devoted considerable attention to
the raising of high-grade stock and has done very well. Mr. Helfenbein is a
Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political
affairs, but has not been included in the office-seeking class.

On April 21, 1892, John C. Helfenbein was united in marriage tn Mary
Aliller, who also was born in Arago precinct, December 30. 1870, daughter
of Jacob and Lena (Gebhard) Miller, the former an Alsatian and the latter a
native of the city of New York, who became pioneers of Richardson count\-
and here spent their last days. Jacob Miller was born in the then Frencli
province of Alsace on Septeml)er 25. 1834, and was ten years of age when
he came to this country with his parents in 1844. the family settling in Erie
county. New York, moving thence in 1855 to Fond du Lac. Wisconsin, where
he remained until 1859, when he located in St. Charles county, Missouri. A
year later, in the spring of i860, he came over into the then Territory of
Nebraska and settled in this county, becoming engaged in farm labor in the
neighborhood of Williamsville. In the fall of that same year he leased a lialf
section of land from a Mr. Pickard, in Arago precinct, seven miles nortli-
east of the present city of Falls City, and that winter split rails and built a
log cabin, which is still standing. Mr. Miller was thus engaged in develop-
ing his pioneer farm when the Civil War broke out and on June 13, 1861.
enlisted at Omaha for service in the Union army and went to the front as a
member of Company B, First Regiment. Nebraska \V>lunteer Infantiy. witli

8l4 RICHARDSOX LULXTV. NKBRASKA.

which he served until mustered out at ( )nialia nn August 23. 1864, and <hu-
ing which service lie participated in numerous imiwrtant engagements, includ-
ing the battles of Shiloh, Cape Girardeau and Clarington. Upon the cum-
pletioii of his militar\- service Mr. Miller returned to this county and in 1865
bought the quarter section he had leased and after his marriage in 1870 estab-
lished his home there, remaining there until 1886, when he moved to Sheridan
county, this state, but a year later he returned to his home farm and remained
there until the fall of 1903, when he retired from the farm and he and his
wife moved to Falls City, where both spent their last days, the latter dying
on September 9, 1906, and the former on January 3, 1917. It was at Barada.
this county, ]\Iarch 17, 1870, that Jacob Miller was united in marriage to
Magdalena Gebhard and to this union nine children were born, those besides
Mrs. Helfenbein, the fourth in order of birth, being Henry F., of Happy,
Texas; FredA\\, who is operating the old home farm:^Irs. .\nna Zorn, uf
this county; ]\Irs. Ida Bertram, of Minnesota; Mrs. Ella Gerlt. of tliis coun-
ty: -Mrs. Lizzie Hunker, also of this county; Mrs. Minnie Bertram, of this
county, and Mrs. Louisa Zorn, who died on February 12, 1912.

To John C. and Mary (^liller) Helfenbein four children have been born.
Lena, August, Edna and E;-nest. The family are members of the Evangelical
Lutheran church and take a proper part in church work, as well as in tlie
general good works and social activities of the- community in which they live,
helpful in promoting all movements having to do with the advancement of
the common welfare thereabout.

LEAXDER C. PRICHARD.

Leander C. Prichard, one of the best-known farmers and stockmen of
the precinct of Arago, this county, and the owner of a tine farm of one hun-
dred and fifty acres in sections 4 and 5 of that precinct, is a native of the old
Blue Grass state, but has been a resident of this county since 1880 and has
consequently been a witness to and a participant in the wonderful develop-
ment made in this section of Nebraska during the past thirty-five or forty
years. He was born in Boyd county, Kentucky, January 15, 1854, son of
William and Caroline (Newman) Prichard, both natives of that same state
and members of prominent families in the northeasiern part of Kentucky,
the former liorn on June 9, 1827, and the latter, about 1830. The Pricharcls
are an old familv in the I'nileil States, tlie first of the name to come to this

RICMARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 815

country having been \\'illiani Prichaid, who came over from Wales in 1744
and established his home on this side, the famil)- becoming plantation owners
and persons of substance. William Prichard, father of the subject of this
sketch, was of the same family as Dr. Lewis Prichard, the Charleston (West
Virginia) capitalist and philanthropist, whose various beneficences have made
his one of the best-known names in the field of philanthropy in this country.
Both William Prichard and his wife spent their last days in Kentucky. The}'
were married on March 15, 1853, ^"^ were the parents of six children, of
whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born, the others being Columbus,
deceased; James, deceased; Laura, deceased; Virginia, who married H. yi.
Bloss and is now deceased, and Robert, wdio is still living in Kentucky. The
mother of these children died on January 10. 1881, and the father survived
until February 12, 1906.

Reared on the home farm in northeastern Kentucky, Leander C. Prich-
ard received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and finished his edu-
cation at Marshall College, Huntington, West Virginia, and early learned at
his father's forge the blacksmith's trade. In 1880 he came to Nebraska and
bought his present farm of one hundred and fifty acres in sections 4 and 5 of
the precinct of x^rago, where, after his marriage in the following spring, he
established his home and has ever since made that his place of residence, he
and his wife having one of the pleasantest homes in that part of the county.
Mr. Prichard not only has a comfortable home, but an excellent farm plant
and ranks among the progressive farmers of Richardson county. He has
given considerable attention to the breeding of hogs, a former breeder of
Poland China stock, but for the past year or two giving his attention to
Duroc-Jersey stock, and has done very well. Politically, he is a Democrat,
and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, l^ut has not
been a seeker after public office.

On February 21, 1881, Leander C. Prichard was united in marriage to
Laura L. Vaughan, who was born in Lawrence county, Ohio, January 24,
1864, daughter of Abraham and Sarah (Prichard) Vaughan, who came to
Nebraska in 1865 and the former of whom died in ]\Iay of that same year,
two months after having established his family on a farm in this county.
Abraham Vaughan was a native of the old Dominion, born in Wayne count}-,
Virginia, now included in West Virginia, May 12, 1822, "and his wife was
born in Lawrence county, Kentucky, May 4, 1823. After their marriage
they made their home in Uiwrence county, Ohio, and in 1864 ]\Ir. \'^aughan
came to the then Territory of Nebraska and entered a tract of land in this
county, returning then to Ohio for his family and bringing them here in

8l6 RICIIAKUSO.V COLXTV, NEBRASKA.

the early spring of 1865. Two months later, in May, he died, leaving his
widow with six young children and the pioneer farm to look after. She
bravely faced many hardships in getting things going and rearing her chil-
dren, but she kept the family together and lived to see them well established,
her death occurring on July zy, 1898. Mrs. Prichard was the youngest of
the children born to her parents and was but a babe in arms when she was
brought to this county back in territorial daj-s. She thus has seen the gradual
development of this region since pioneer days and has ever taken a hearty
interest in the same, contributing well her part to the general social and
cultural activities of the community in which slie has lived since the days of
her infancv.

CHARLES LOREE.

Charles Loree, clerk of the district court and old settler of Richardson
county, is probably the most widely known official of Richardson county and
it is probable that he is personally acquainted with more people in southeast-
ern Nebraska than any other living citizen. This wide acquaintance is favor-
able and Mr. Loree is distinctly popular with the rank and file of Richardson
county citizens. His geniality, obliging and kind disposition, wide knowledge
of county affairs, have for years made of him a marked figure in the official
and political life of his home county. He has been a resident of Richardson
county for the past fifty-two years, over forty }-ears of which have been
spent in some official capacity. Charles Loree commenced his career in
Nebraska as a fanner boy in 1866, and has filled many positions of trust in
die service of the people since that year. He has witnessed the transforma-
tion of a boundless prairie into a great state and taken an active part in the
upbuilding of a great county. He was born at Lebanon, \^'arren county.
Ohio, March 19, 1852, and was a son of Dr. John and Elixabeth Loree,
natives of the old Buckeye state.

Dr. John Loree was born in Monroe, Butler county. Oliio, in 1818 and
died at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1902. He was a son of Hezekiah and Elizabeth
( Boggs) Loree, the former of whom was a native of Cape ^lay. New Jersey,
and the latter was a native of Virginia. Hezekiah Loree was a son of Jasper
Loree, who was descended from Colonial ancestry, of French origin. The
mother of Charles Loree was of German descent and was lx)rn at Miamis-
I)urg, Ohio, in 1832 and died in i()ii. The grandmother of Charles Loree
died at Falls City in 1875 at the advanced age of eighty- four years. The

CHARLES LOREE.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 817

Boggs family un his father's side are of Irish descent. It will thus be seen
that Charles Loree is a scion of amalgamated American stock, the best of
which is a result of the melting pot of the nations of the world which is con-
stantly taking place in America. Dr. John Loree was a medical practitioner,
who was proprietor of the Loree Ohio Liniment Company, which had its
headquarters at Cincinnati, Ohio. During the Civil War he served in the
capacity of Indian agent for the United States government and had charge
of the Cheyenne and Arrapahoe Indians. He was commissioned a major
under Gen. James Craig. In 1865 Major Loree purchased a farm located
two miles from St. Joseph, Missouri. He traded this farm in the following
autumn for one thousand acres of land within two miles of Falls City, Neb-
raska. Following his entrance into Nebraska* he promoted the Nemaha
X'alley, Lincoln & Loop Fork Railway Company, now the Burlington and
Missouri, or a division of the Burlington railway system, and served as presi-
dent of the new railroad, making his headquarters at Lincoln, Nebraska, in
tlie meantime. He later returned to Cincinnati and died there. The children
of John Loree were as follow: Marie Frances, who resides in Falls City:
Charles, subject of this review; Warren, living at Long Beach, California,
and Harry, of Lincoln, Nebraska.

Charles Loree received his education in the school^ of Liberty, Indiana,
Richmond, Indiana, and St. Joseph, Missouri, later attending the district
school of Falls City. He also pursued a commercial and bookkeeping course
in the Normal school at Peru, Nebraska. He first came to Richardson county
in September of 1865, and then came here to remain permanently in 1866.
l-'or several years he followed farming and then became a clerk in a dry-
good> store for four years. Following this he established a real-estate busi-
ness and founded the first bonded abstract company in Falls City, which he
is CI inducting successfully at the present time, in addition to his duties as
clerk of the district court. He was appointed to the post of deputy county
clerk in 1875 and served for two }'ears ; served as precinct and city assessor
of l-'alls City for live terms: filled the office of clerk of the district court:
served four years as countv clerk : followed this position by six years service
as register of deeds: was then elected count}' clerk for two years, following
which he conducted his abstract business for two years, and is now serving
his fourteenth term as clerk of the district court. The continuity in which
Mr. Loree has held office in Richardson county is the best evidence of his
efficienc\', abilitx' :ind ]io]iularit\' with tlie ]ieople of tlie countv. In addition
(52)

»IO RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

to his Other activities, Mr. Loree is a ineinber of tlie Ricliardson county bar,
having' been admitted to the practice of law in 1883.

Mr. Loree was married on February 16, 1882, to Aliss Emehe Lange,
who was born in Wi.sconsin, April, 1857, and is a daughter of Frederick and
Caroline J.ange, natives of Germany.

Politically. Charles Force is a Democrat of the "old school" of
democracy, although he has progressed with his party and taken an active
and influential part in the affairs of the Democratic party in Richardson
county and Nebraska since he cast his first vote. He has taken part in every
state convention held in Nel^raska since statehood was established and served
as the chairman of the Democratic executive committee in the county in
1916. Fraternally, he is afiiliated wMth the Independent Order of Odd Fel-
lows; the Knights of Pythias: the ^Modern Woodmen of America; the Royal
Highlanders; the Benevolent and Patriotic Order of Elks; the Fraternal
Order of Eagles ; the German Society, "Deutsche Geschellschaft" ; the Inde-
pendent Order of Red Men, of which society he has filled the exalted oftice
of grand sachem of the Neliraska tribes.

ALBERT EBEL.

Albert Ebel, one of the substantial farmers of the precinct of Arago in
this county, owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres in section 16 of that
precinct and former clerk and former treasurer of his home precinct, was
born at St. Joseph, Missouri, August 15, 1873, son of Henry and Elizabeth
(Kohler) Ebel, w^ho became pioneers of Richardson county and here spent
their last days.

Henry Ebel was a native of Germany, born in the town of Grabow,
February 5, 1844, and grew to manhood in his native land, there learning the
trade of carpenter and remaining there until he had attained his majority,
when, in 1865, he came to the LTnited States and proceeded on out to the
then Territory of Nebraska and settled in this county, later going to St.
Joseph, Missouri, where he began working at his trade, and where he was
married on October 22, 1872, to Elizabeth Kohler, a native of the Republic
of Switzerland, born on April 5, 185 1, who had accompanied her parents to
this country, the family settling at St. Joseph. In the meantime Henry Eliel
had entered a small tract of land in the precinct of Jefferson, this county, and
after awhile returned here and for a time made his home on that farm, later

I4ICIIARI)S0N COUNTY, NEBRASKA. S19

moving- to Atchison, Kansas, w here lie worked at his trade for three years, at
the end of which time lie returned tu his farm in this county and settled down
to improve and develop the same, and here he spent the remainder of liis
life, hecoming one of the substantial farmers of that part of the countv.
He died on December 13, 191 1, and his widow survived him but one dav
more than seven months, her death occurring on July 14, 1912. They were
the parents of six children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-
born, the others being as follow : Charles, a farmer in Brown countx*.
Kansas; Mrs. Lizzie Caston, of Jefferson precinct, this county: Airs. Lena
Hartman, of the precinct of Rulo; Mrs. Henrietta Zimmerman, of Jefferson
precinct, and Henry, who is farming with his brother, Charles, in Kansas.

Reared on the home farm in Jefferson precinct, Albert Ebel received his
schooling in the local schools and from the days of his boyhood was a valued
aid to his father in the labors of developing and improving the home place
and has continued farming ever since, now the owner of a fine farm of two
hundred acres in section 16 of the precinct of Arago, which he bought in 1907
and on which he since has made his home, he and his family being very
comfortably situated there. Li addition to his general farming Mr. Ebel
gi\es considerable attention to the raising of live stock and is doing very
well in his operations. Politically, he is a Republican and for fifteen years
has been a member of the school board. He also served for two years as
precinct treasurer and three years as clerk of the precinct and in other ways
has done his part in the public service of the community in which he has lixed
since the days of his boyhood.

On February 0, 1899, Albert Ebel was united in marriage to 'Slavy
Hunker, who was born in Osborne county, Kansas, September 10, 1875,
daughter of Jacob and Mary ( Meier) Hunker, who became residents of
Richardson county in 1877 and here spent the remainder of their li\es.
Jacob Hunker was born in Wittenburg, Germany, October 12, 1837, and in
1867 came to this country and located at Horton, Kansas^ in the vicinity of
which place he began farming and where, in 1868, he married Mary Meier,
who was born at Glallfelden, in Zurich, Switzerland, December 24, 1850. Xot
long after his marriage Jacob Hunker moved to Osborne county, Kansas, and
there remained until he came to this county and here established his home in
1877, becoming a substantial farmer in the precinct of Arago, where he
remained until his retirement from the farm and removal to Falls City, where
his last days were spent, his death occurring thei^e on February 14, 1915.
His wife had died many years before, her death occurring on December 18,
1880, a little more than three vears after the familv settled in this countv.

820 KICriARDSOX COLXTV. NEBRASKA.

To Albert and Mary (Hunker) Eljel fi\e children ha\e been born, Amos,
Walter, Louis, Elsie and Alma. -Mr. and Mrs. Ebel are members of the
Lutheran church and take a proper part in clunch work as well as in the
general social activities of the comniuiiity in \\']iicli tliev live.

RICHARD C. TAMES.

Richard C. James, one of the best-known attorneys-at-law at Falls
City, county attorney for Richardson county and a veteran of the Spanish-
American War, is a native of the old Blue Grass state, but has been a resi-
dent of this state since he was a child. He was born at Maretburg, in Rock-
castle county, Kentucky, October 14. 1879, son of Lafayette and Margaret
(Lewis) James, natives of that same state and the former of whom was a
school teacher. Mrs. James died in 1881 and Mr. James died in the follow-
ing j'ear.

Thus left an orphan wlien he was three years of age, Richard C. James
was taken in charge 1j}- his maternal uncle, John Lewis, who then was
living in Illinois and who later entered a claim to a tract of land in Holt
county, this state, and there established his home. On that homestead farm
of his uncle Richard C. James lived until lie was fourteen years of age,
when he began tu make liis own way in the world. As a means of com-
Ijjeting his schooling he secured the position of janitor of the high school
ijuilding at Dunbar, going to school there during the winters and working
on farms during the summers, and was graduated from the high school in
1895. During the winter of 1895-96, he then being but seventeen years
of age, he taught school and in the following spring entered the University
of Neljraska at Lincoln and was pursuing his studies there when the Spanish-
-Vmerican War broke out in 1898. He enlisted for service as a private in
Company 1). I'irst Regiment, Nebraska X'olunteer Infantry, and with that
command was sent to the Philippine Islands, taking part in die campaign
al>out .Manila and in the defeat of Aguinaldi-'s army. At the battle of
( hiingua in iN(,(; M,-. James were severely wounded and was later sent back
to the United States in a hospital ship, afterward being nnistercd out with
his regiment at San I'rancisco.

Upon lieing mustered out of the service Mr. James returned to Xe-
bra^ka and resumed his studies in the State University, from the classical
department of which he was graduated in 190J, with the degree of Bachelor

lUCUARDSOX COIXTV, XEBRASK A, 8^ t

of Arts. He tlien entered the l;i\v department of the university and was
graduated from the same in 1904, in which year he came to this county and
opened an office for the practice of his profession at Humboldt. In the
fall of that year he was elected count}- attorney autl moved his office to
h'alls City, the county seat. So satisfactory did his .services in that impor-
tant official capacity pro\e that he was re-elected in 1906 and continued to
serve as county attorney until Januar\- i, 1909. In the spring of that year
Mr. Tames moved to Omaha and was there engaged in the practice of his
profession for a year, at the end of which time he returned to Falls City
and resumed his practice in that city, which ever since has been his place of
residence and \\here he has done \ery well, being now one of the best-
known lawyers in this part of the state. In 1916 Mr. James was again
elected to the office of county attorne\- and is now serving his third term in
that capacity. He is a tirm advocate of law enforcementXiLhis vigorcy^a
prosecution of violations of the liquor law made him man\- friends througli-
out the county. Mr. James is an ardent Democrat and is regarded as one
of the leaders of that party in Richardson county. He is a member of the
-Methodist Episcopal church and, fraternally, is affiliated with the Masons.
the Knights of Pythias and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
and in the affairs of these several organizations takes a warm interest.

^Ir. James were married on .\pril 28, 1917, at Falls City, to Mrs.
Leona (Garrett) Lyon, a widow, and daughter of James H. Garrett, county
superintendent of schools of Hooker county, Xebraska. a ]50sition which
he has held for a number of vears.

AUGUST B. BECKER.

August B. Becker, one of Arago precinct's substantial landowners and
one of the most progressive farmers of Richardson count}^ owner of more
than three hundred acres in his home precinct and the proprietor of one of the
best-kept farms in the eastern part of the county, his home being a bit over
nine miles northeast of Falls City, is of European birth, but has been a resi-
dent of this country and of Nebraska since the days of his young manhood,
and has done* well in his operations since his arrival here back in 1876, in
what was regarded even then as pioneer days. He was born in the grand
duchy of Baden on P"ebruary 27, 185 J, son of William and Elizabeth (Redel)
liecker. also natives of Baden, tlic former born in i8i() and the latter in

0-22 RICHARDSOX COUXTV, NEBRASKA.

1822, who came to this country in 1878, their elder cliildren having preceded
them here, and settled on a farm in the precinct of Arago, this county, where
they spent the remainder of their lives, the former dying in 1892 and tlie
latter in 1895. William Becker was a knifesmith in his native land, but after
coming here became a substantial farmer. He and his wife were the parents
of seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order
of birth, the others being as follow : Prof. William Becker, teacher of Ger-
man in Eden College at St. Louis, Missouri ; Herman Becker, a farmer in the
vicinity of Verdon, this county: Mrs. Mary Reschke, of the precinct of Arago:
Mrs. Lydia Reschke, of the precinct of Jefiferson: Charles, who is still living
in his native land, and Mrs. Anna Schroedel, of Washington county, Illinois.
Reared in his native Baden, August B. Becker received his schooling
there and there learned the trade of knifesmith, becoming a skilled and effi-
cient cutler. He remained in his native land until he was twenty-four years
of age, when, in 1876, he came to this country, coming over on the sailing
vessel "Moss," which was only two weeks in making the voyage. His objec-
tive point was Nebraska, he having been in previous correspondence with
others from Baden who had settled in Richardson county, and when he
arrived in this county his slender supply of cash had been reduced to twenty-
five dollars. For a time after his arrival here Mr. Becker worked as a farm
hand and then rented a farm in Arago precinct and was engaged in farming
during the period of the grasshopper scourge on the plains, a not very encour-
aging experience to a newcomer. He bought his present home farm in 1884
and after his marriage in the spring of 1879 he established his home on the
farm and has ever since been engaged in farming and stock raising, long
having been regarded as one of the leading farmers and stockmen in that
part of the coimty. Mr. Becker now owns a very well-improved farm of
one hundred and ninety-five acres in section 16 of the precinct of Arago and
is also the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres in section
25 of that precinct. He has a fine house and an excellent farm plant, situated
about the center of his home place, and he and iiis family are very pleasantly
and very comfortably situated there. The Lutheran church and cemetery
are located on his farm. IMr. Becker is a practical farmer and an extensive
breeder of Shorthorn cattle and has done very well in his operations. He has
taken an interested part in the general civic affairs of his home community
ever since acquiring citizenship here and for some time served as a member
of the local school board. He and his family are members of the Evangeli-
cal Lutheran church and take a proper part in church work, as well as in other

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 823

neighborhood good works and in the general social activities of their liome
community.

On April 17, 1879, August B. Becker was united in marriage to Lydia
Sholl, who was born in New York on December 21, i860, daughter of Philip
and Lizzie (Kolsch) Sholl, natives of Germany, who came to this country
in 1847 ''"•^ to Richardson county about 1862, becoming substantial pioneers
of this county. To Mr. and Mrs. Becker thirteen children have been born,
namely: Philip, who is the owner of an eighty-acre farm in section 32 of
Arago precinct; August, also a farmer in that same precinct; Heniy, who is
now a resident of the state of California ; Ludwick, of Arago precinct ; Lydia.
who is at home; Ida, now living in Illinois; William, of Kansas City, Mis-
souri, and Anna. CIn-istina, Otto, Albert and John, at home, and Bernard,
deceased.

JOHN FINDLAY.

John Findlay, a well-known stockman and farmer, living in Porter
precinct, Richardson county, was born on October 6, 1865, in Somerset
county, Pennsylvania, the son of Hiram and Christena (Stinley) Findlay,
the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Germany, who settled
in this county about forty-two years ago.

When Hiram Findlay came to Richardson county he settled in Ohio
precinct, two miles north of Falls City, remaining there until 1881, when
he bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 12, Porter pre-
cinct. This land was raw prairie and he set to work to reclaim it and
presently had a portion of it under crops, at the same time dealing in live
stock. As he went along he made extensive impi-ovements on his holding
and continued farming to the end of his life. Christena (Stinley) Findlay
left Germany when a child of four years old. Mr. and Mrs. Findlay
became the parents of the following children: Mrs. Blair, deceased; John,
Harvey, living on West Muddy precinct; William, who lives in Porter
precinct; Frank, living in Porter precinct; Frank, living in Porter pre-
cinct; Evora, the wife of J. Waller and lives at Nemaha, this state; Mrs.
Laura Miles, living in Dawson, Nebraska, and one who died in infancy.
The parents were members of the Lutheran church and the children were
reared in that faith.

Tohn Findlay, the subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm and
was ten years old when he came to this county with his parents. At the

824 RICHARDSON COUXTV, NEBRASKA.

age of twenty-three he began working- for himself and rented land for one
year, at the end of which time he bought his present farm. The land
was broken but there were no improvements. He carried out all necessary
improvements and now has his place well cultivated and he has prospered
in his farm work and also as a breeder of Duroc-Jersey hogs.

On October 27, 1891, John Findlay was united in marriage to Laura
Gunnison, daughter of Aquilla and Mosell (Peck) Gunnison, natives of
New Hampshire and Wisconsin, respectively, who came to Nemaha and
settled in an early day. To Mr. and Mrs. Findlay the following children
have been born : Frank, who lives in Nemaha ; ]\Irs. Evelyn Werth, resid-
ing at Cedar Ra])ids. Iowa, antl John. Jnseph and Edwin at home with their
parents.

Mr. Findlay, his wife and children are members of the Lutheran church.
He votes independently in political affairs, but has never been a seeker after
ofifice. He is a member of the Ancient Order of United \\'orkmen at
Stella, Nebraska.

JOY M. NDIS.

One of the most progressive of Richardson county's younger farmers
and stockmen is Joy N. Nims, of "Cardinal Stock Farm," Humboldt, a
man whose motto seems to have ever been to do promptly and well what-
ever was worth doing. He was born at the town where he still resides,
September 10, 1877. He is a son of William Nims, who was born June
21, 1843, and died on June 6, 1909. The latter was a son of Luther
X'ims, a native of New York state, and he was a son of Ruel Nims. Luther
Nims emigrated to Waupun, Wisconsin, and there William Nims was born.
The last named came to Nebraska in 1867, and here, in partnership with his
brother, Ruel, opened the lirst store in Humboldt, Richardson county, under
the iirni name <if Ruel Nims & Company. The first year they were in busi-
;ie^s they hauled their goods from St. Juseph, Missouri. Luther Nims also
located at Humboldt, building one of the first homes in the town, .also built
the Central Hotel, the first in Humboldt. The slmic store building which
Ruel Nims & Company erected here is" still standing. They continued in the
mercantile business here until the early eighties, at which time they went tn
Gray's Harbor, Washington, where they opened a mercantile establishment
in 188 ,v Returning to Richardson county in 1886, A\'illiain Nims engaged
in farming south of Humboldt, hut made his home in the village. Li 1897

5V\ , Y V^^VyV.^^^

RICIIARnSON COINTV, NEBRASKA. f<_>5

he went to California and again launched out in mercanlile pursuits. He
bought and sold bankrupt stocks of goods in (Dregon and Washington, mak-
ing his headquarters at Portland. His death occmred in Seattle. Washing-
ton., in 1909.

The mother of the subject of this sketch was known in her maidenhood
as Sarah A'. JNIorden. She was torn in Canada, September 19. 185 1; was
married m 1874 and died, April 30, 1897, in Humboldt, leaving three chil-
dren, namely: Joy M., of this sketch; Grace, a graduate of Leland Stanford
University, who was the wife of Prof. J. G. Brown, a member of the faculty
of Leland Stanford University, of Palo Alto, California, died in 1916; Lee.
born in i88r, died in 1903 in Portland, Oregon.

Jo}- ;\I. Xims brought the bodies of his father and brother back to Huni-
i)oldt for interment in the family lot in the local cemetery. He received
a common-school education and graduated from Leland Stanford Universit}-
of California in 1905 with Bachelor of Arts degree and he was associated
wiih his father in all his undertakings. He has been very successful, as a
genera! farmer and stock riiser and now owns a finely improved and pro-
ductive farm of three hundred and twenty acres in Richardson county, known
as the '"Cardinal Stock Farm," south of Humboldt and adjoining the city.
On his place is to be found two complete and substantial sets of buildings —
one mile south of town. In connection with general farming he is a l>reeder
of pure-ljred Poland China hogs of the big type. He keeps an average drove
i)f two hundred head, and has raised and marketed as high as four hundred
head annually. He is one of the best-informed hog raisers in the county and
has splendid success with tiiem. Owing to their superior qualities he finds a
very ready market for his swine. Everything about his place indicates good
management.

Mr. Xims was married on December 10. 1913, to Effie Richards, whu
was Ijorn at Tdue Springs, Nebraska, where she spent her childhood and
attended school. She is a daughter of J. T. and Mary (Parsons) Richards,
who are now residents of Humboldt. Mr. Richards was formerly engaged
in the hotel business, but is now farming. Mr. Nims' mother was a charter
member of the Methodist Episcopal church at Humboldt. She came to Hum-
lK)ldt in 1867 and established the first millinery store in the village.

Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Nims, namely: Richrnd
W., born December 26, 1914, and Lee, born May 25, 1916.

Politically, ^Ir. Xiius is a Republican but is inclined to be independent.
l<"raternallv, he bekings to tlie \\'oodmen of the World.

826 RldtARnSOX Cf)l"NTV, NEBRASKA.

TOHX WILLIAM HELLMAXX.

John William Hellmann, well-known and substantiaf farmer and stock-
man of Richardson count)^ proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred and
forty acres in section 22 of the precinct of ^\rago and of a quarter of a section
of land in Alorris county, Kansas, is of European birth, but has been a resident
■of this country and of Richardson county since he was seventeen years of
age. He was born on a farm in the vicinity of Osnabruck, capital of the dis-
trict of that name, in the then kingdom of Hanover, April 4, 1866, son of
Christ and Mary (Nolte) Hellmann, also Hanoverians, who came to the
United States with their children in 1883 and proceeded on out to Nebraska,
arriving in Richardson county on August 5 of that }-ear. About three years
after his arrival here Christ Hellmann bought a sixty-acre farm in the pre-
cinct of Arago, there established his home and there he and his wife spent
the remainder of their lives, influential pioneers of that section of the county.
Christ Hellmann was born on July 13. 1833, and died on December 17, 1901.
His wife was born on November 6, 1828. and died on November 27, 1899.
They were married on December 19. 1863. and were the parents of three
children, of whom the subject of this sketch was tlie first-born, the others
being Mary, wife of H. Zimmerman, of the precinct of Arago, and Anna,
deceased.

As noted above, John William Hellmann was seventeen years of age
when he came from his native Hanover with his parents in 1883 ^"d settled
in this county. As the only son of the family he was a valued assistant to his
father in the labors of developing and improving the home farm in Arago
precinct and at the same time, during the winters, thoughtfully pursued his
studies in the district schools of that neighborhood, supplementing the same
by a further course in the high school at Faljs City, preparing himself for
teaching, after which he taught school and in 1893 began teaching school in
the district schools of this county and was thus engaged until 1898, mean-
while continuing his farming operations during the summers on a farm he
had rented and after 1898 gave his whole attention to the farm. On July i,
1900, Mr. Hellmann bought the northwest quarter of section 22 in the pre-
cinct of Arago and after his marriage in the following October established
his home there and has ever since resided on that place, that quarter section
having been the nucleus of his present well-improved and profitably cultivated
farm of two hundred and forty acres in that section. In 19(6 Mr. Hellmann
sold an "eighty" of his landholdings in this county and bought the southwest
quarter of section iq. in Parker townshiji, Morris county, Kansas, which

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 827

he is beginning to develop in admirable shape. His home fann plant is
arranged widi a view to the greater convenience and efficiency of manage-
ment, his operations being carried on in accordance with modern methods of
agriculture. He is a Republican and has ever given his thoughtful and intelli-
gent attention to local civic affairs. From 1892 to 1900 he served as clerk
of the precinct of Arago, was also for some time justice of the peace in and
for that precinct and has also ser\cd as assessor and as overseer of highway
construction.

On October 10, 1900, John William Hellmann was united in marriage
to Elizabeth Redeker. also a Hanoverian, born near the city of Osnabruck on
April 13, 1874, and who was but nine years of age when she came to this
country with her parents, Herman and Katherine (Kahle) Redeker, in Sep-
tember, 1883, the family settling in Atchison county, Missouri. Herman
Redeker and his wife are still living over in Atchison county, residents of the
\^"estboro neighborhood. Mr. and Mrs. Hellmann have five children, Carl
and Walter, who are students at St. Paul Lutheran College at Concordia.
i\Iissouri, and Minnie, \Mlliam and Fred. The Hellmanns are members of
St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran church and ;\Ir. Hellmann is the present
secretary of the congregation, both he and his wife taking an active interest
in church affairs, as well as in the general good works and social activities of
the community in wliich they li\e and to wliose welfare tiiey are so de\'oted.
Mr. Hellmann has one of the finest private libraries in his section of the
county. He is a constant reader and student, who keeps abreast of the times,
and keeps himself well informed on literary and educational matters.

FREDERICK E. NITZSCHE.

Frederick E. Nitzsche, proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred acre,
in section 23 of the precinct of Arago and one of the best-known residents of
that part of Richardson county, is a native of the great Empire state, but has
been a resident of this county since he was two years of age, with the excep-
tion of four or five years in the latter eighties and early nineties spent in home-
steading in Logan county, Kansas. He was born in the city of Buffalo, New-
York, August 30, 1856, son of Frederick and Augusta Nitzsche, natives of
the kingdom of Saxony, the former born on January 21, 1820, and the latter,
June 21, 1823, who were married in their native land and in 185 1 came to
the ITnited States, locating in tlie city of Piuft'alo, where they remained until

<S^<S KICIfARDSON COLXTV. XEBRASKA.

1858, in which year tliey came to the then Territory ut Xeliraska and settled
in the old village of Arago, in this county.

Upon locating at Arago, the elder Frederick Xitzsche l;ecame engaged
as a freighter, hauling freight by ox-teani from the river landing to the stores
in Arago, and continued to make his home in that village until 1871, when
he settled on a farm in the precinct of Arago, the place now owned by the
subject of this sketch, and there spent the remainder of his life, becoming a
well-to-do farmer. Upon taking ix)Ssession of that farm he established his
liome in a log cabin there and that humble abode served as a place of family
residence until 1882, when he erected the substantial farm iiouse which still
serves as a place of dwelling tliere. He and his wife were members of the
Lutheran church and helped to organize a congregation of that communion
at old -Vrago about 1868. ^Irs. Nitzsche died on September 20, 1871, and
Frederick Nitzsche survixed her many years, his death occurring on June lo,
1910, he then being past ninety years of age. They were the parents of eight
children, of whom the sul)ject of this sketcii was the fifth in order of birth.
One of the sons, Ciiarles Xitzsche, ran away from home to join the Union
■Avmy during the Cixil \\'ar and went to the front with a -Missouri regiment.
During- his service he was captured by the enemy and served for five months
in Andersonville prison before being exchanged.

As noted above, Frederick E. Nitzsche was but two years of age \\hen
his jiarents came to this county back in territorial days and he grew to man-
hood in the village of Arago and on the home farm in that vicinity, receiving
his schooling in the little old log school house at Arago. He was a valued
assistant in the labors of helping to develop the home farm after the family
settled there in 1871 and after his marriage in the spring of 1883 established
his home there and ))egan to farm the place on his own account, renting the
same from his fatiier. In 1887 he entered a homestead tract in Logan count}',
Kansas, and nuived to the same, making his home there until 1892, when he
sold out and returned to the old home place in this county. In 1911 he
bouglit from the other heirs their interests in the home farm and has since
owned the same, a well-improved and profitably cultivated tract of two hun-
dred acres in section 2t„ where he and his family are \ery comfortably situ-
ated. Li addition to his general farming, Mr. Nitzsche has given consider-
able attention to the raising of live stock and is doing very well.

On March 29. 1883, h'rederick K. Xitzsche was united in marriage to
Louisa Bickel, who also was born in the city of Buffalo. Xew York, June 29,
1865, daughter of George J. and Anna ( Miller ) Bickel, natives of Germany,

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 829

and who was 1)iit a child when her parents came West and became pioneers of
Richardson county. George J. Bickel died here in 1876 arid his widow is
still living in this county, now a resident of Falls City, in the eighty-fourth
year of her age. Mr. and Mrs. Nitzsche have nine children, namely : Arthur
E., now a resident of Grand Island, this state; Rena, wife of H. Brinegar, of
Rulo, this county: George, of California, and Katherine, Martha, Louisa,
Fred J., Gertrude and Leonard, at home. The Nitzsches are members of St.
Paul's Lutheran church and have e\er taken an interested part in church
work, as well as in other neighborhood good works and in the general social
activities of the community in which they live. Mr. Nitzsche is an independ-
ent Republican and gi\es a good citizen's attention to the general political
affairs of his liome countv, an earnest advocate of local sood Government.

JEREML\H KANALY.

Jeremiah Kanaly, a well-to-do landowner and retired farmer and merch-
ant of Richardson county and one of the best-known men in the county,
now living at brails City, where he has a splendid home, is a native of the
great Empire state, but has been a resident of this county ever since he
was thirteen years of age, with the exception of two years spent rather
disastrously in the neighboring state of Kansas homesteading back in the
old grasshopper days. He was born in New York state on January 15, 1853,
son of Robert and Mary (Dillon) Kanaly, natives of Ireland, who later
Iiecame residents of this county and whose last days were spent in the \illage
of Rulo.

Robert Kanaly was born on August 23, 18 17, and his wife. Alary Dil-
lon, was born in 1820. They were married in their native Ireland and then
came to the United States, locating in the state of New York, where they
remained for a few years, at the end of which time, in 1855, they moved
to the state of Illinois, where they remained until 1866, in which year
they came to Nebraska and located at Falls City, thus having been among
the earliest settlers of that place. Robert Kanaly was a blacksmith and he
opened a blacksmith shop at Falls City. He and his wife were earnest
members of the Catholic church and the first mass ever said in the parish
(if l-'alls City was celebrated at tlieir l;ome in th.e fall of 1867. a priest from
Rulo lieing the celelirant and several families ]iresent, the Kanalys, the two

{^30 lUCIIARDSOX CdUNTV. XKURASKA.

Farrell families and the famil\- uf Georj,re Roy being among those now-
recalled. In 1869 Robert Kanaly moved with his family to Rulo, where
he opened a blacksmith shop and in the neighborhood of which place he
presently bought a farm, he continuing to run his blacksmith shop and his sons
operating the farm. Robert Kanaly and his wife spent their last days at
Rulo, his death occurring on May 14, 1892, and hers, August 9, 1901. They
were the parents of seven children, of whom four grew to maturity, those
besides the subject of this sketch being John, of Rulo; Patrick, who died at
the age of twenty-one, and Martin, who is farming on his well-kept place
one and a half miles north of Rulo.

Jeremiah Kanaly was but three years of age when his parents mu\cd
from New York to Illinois and he was thirteen when they came to this
county and settled at Falls City. There he continued his schooling and upon
the family's removal to Rulo he helped on the farm until he was eighteen
years of age, meanwhile continuing his schooling, and then began to WDrk
for himself as a clerk in a grocery store at Rulo. After eighteen months
of that form of experience he started a grocery store of liis own at Ruin
and was thus engaged in business there until 1874, when lie went over
into Phillips county, Kansas, and entered a homestead but the grasshoppers
came along and ate things up faster than he could raise them, placing an
effectual damper on his ambitions as a farmer, and he gave up the home-
stead after two years of unprofitable struggle and returned to Rulo, where
he again engaged in the grocery business and remained tlius engaged until
1881. when he sold his store and ]>()ughl a farm southeast of Falls City.
Tile quarter section lie l)ought at that time was wholly unimproved and
lie set to work to improve and develop the same, presently having one
of the best-improved and most profitably cultixated places in that part of
the county, every building, every tree and every shrub on the place haxing
been looked after by himself. As he prospered in his farming operatiiMis
Mr. Kanaly added to his holdings until he now owns seven hundred anil
thirty-four acres in three farms, one of one hundred and lifty-four acres ;
one of one hundred and six acres and another of four hundred and eighty
acres, thus l)eing accounted one of the iiK^st substantial landowners in the
county. In 1903 he retired from tlie farm and moved to Falls City, where
he built a fine residence and where he and his family are now living, very
comfortably situated. During Iiis residence on tlie farm Mr. Kanaly held
variotis precinct offices, such as supervisor and as a school director in tlie
precinct nf Jeft'er.son and has ever gi\eii bis earnest attention to the general

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. Sj [

political affairs of the county. He has seen this region develop from pioneer
days to its present high state of progressive development. At the age of
seventeen he helped in the construction of the old Burlington & Missouri
River railroad and after he moved on the farm, when the Missouri Pacific
road was being built out this way, he worked as a teamster in the con-
struction of that road. He and Samuel M. Philpot, formerly of Humboldt,
were pals from boyhood, having clerked together, homesteaded together
and gone broke together. Though Philpot was a Presbyterian and a Repub-
lican and Kanaly a Catholic and a Democrat, their political and religious
differences, e\'en in the days long gone when such differences were more
acute than they are now, never had any disturbing effect on the perfect
cjuality of the fine friendship that bound them together. Another of Mr.
Kanaly's activities in the early days of Rulo was the handling of the bvrik
of the pine lumber that was brought up the river for the establishment of
the first lumber yard in Salem. He thus very properly may be regarded
as one of the real old timers of Richardson county and he has a wide
acquaintance throughout this part of the state.

On January lO, 1875, Jeremiah was united in marriage to Elizabeth
Murphy, who was born in Iowa on January 16, 1856, daughter of Michael
and Ella (Tobin) Murphy, natives of Ireland, who settled in Iowa upon
coming to this country, later, in 1870, moving to Kansas and settling in
Nemaha county, where they lived until 1875, when they came up into Rich-
ardson county and further and fitting mention of whom is made elsewhere
in this volume. To this union nine children have been born, namely : Rob-
ert, who is living on a farm three miles north of Falls City; William, who
is farming the old home place in the precinct of Jefferson; Elmer, who
is on the Miles ranch; John, a farmer, of Wessington, South Dakota; Thomas,
who is on the home place ; Lawrence, of Wessington, South Dakota ; Frank,
who is connected with the plant of the Ford Motor Car Company at St.
i'aul, Minnesota: Helen, wife of Frank P.ucholz, of Falls City, and Alfred
who is at home. Mr. and Mrs. Kanaly have thirteen grandchildren, in
whom they take much delight. The Kanalys are members of the Catholic
church and have ever taken a warm interest in parish aft"airs. Mr. Kanaly
contributed very material assistance in the erection of the fine Catholic
church at Falls City and has also done his part in promoting the general
good works of the community, helpful in many ways in advancing the gen-
eral welfare of the community of which he has been an active member since
the days of his boyhood back in pioneer times.

STi2 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

THO^IAS M WILKINSON.

It is not the kind of work, but the kind of spirit with which it is done
that dignifies and exalts human service. This is a thought that should put
heart into every worker, put cheer into his service and fill him with a large
degree of satisfaction in doing the work that nature seems to have, in a way,
appointed for him. Thomas ]\I. ^^'ilkinson, one of the most extensive farm-
ers and stockmen in Richardson county, is a man who gets satisfaction out
of his daily tasks. He was born on March 27, i860, in ^Metcalfe county,
Kentucky, being the first child born after the organization of that county.
He is a son of William and Nancy B. (Hughes) ^Wilkinson. The father
was born in ^\'est \'irginia in 1814 and died in 1890. The mother was born
in Kentuck\- in 1821 and died in 1893. She was a daughter of Jesse and
]\Iary (Roundtree) Hughes, both natives of Virginia. William and Nancy
IS. Wilkinson were the parents of nine children, namely: John D. is
deceased; Robert G. lives at Orvin, Nebraska; Julia is the wife of Charles
Henderson, of A'erdon, Richardson county; AA'illiam M. lives in Beatrice,
tliis state; Bettie, who married Charles Brown., is deceased; Thomas M., of
this .sketch; Charles lives at Haddani, Kansas; Gilbert is deceased; Laura is
the wife of Ldward Tracy, an attorne}- at A'ictoria, Texas. William Wilkin-
son, the father, was a son of AMlliam Wilkinson, a native of Virginia, from
which state lie moved to Kentucky in an early day, about 1825, where they
took charge of a [ilantation. on which they carried on general farming and
tobacco raising and there they spent the rest of their lives, and there the
father of the subject of this sketch grew up. married and made his home
until 1865, when he removed with his family of seven children to St. Joseph,
-Missouri, reaching there about the middle of .\pril of that year. A few
ninnths later the faniih- came on to Rulo, Nebraska, traveling up the Mis-
souri river l)y boat. There tliey bought a team and drove to the. present site
of A'erdon. l.il>crt\- precinct. ^^'illiaIn \\'i!kinson bought one hundred and
sixty acres in Liberty precinct and liy hard work and ])erseverance he developed
;i good farm from the raw prairie land, l)uilding first a small rude house, but
later made excellent improvements on his place. He first rented the. land
where the ])resait town of \'erdon now stands, and in 1866 bought a farm
of one hundred and sjxtv acres for which he paid five hundred dollars. He
broke ten acre; of it witli oxen, which, to a Kentuckian. looked like quite a
large field, for he w.is of tlie old Southern type that wanted little more than
a home and a li\ing. Howexer, he was a good business man and .succeeded.

RICHARDSON COL'NTV^ NEBRASKA. 833

becoming well established here. He helped to organize the first district
school of Libert}- precinct. His nearest trading post was Brownville for
years, which furnished a poor market for his products. He raised sheep in
large numbers and in the fall of the year, after the annual shearing, would
haul the wool to Oregon, Missouri, and sell it or exchange it- for dress goods
from which his wife made most of the clothing for their children. Soon
after he established his home in this locality, now over a half century ago,
Indians, sometimes numbering as many as five hundred in a band, would visit
his home and often steal much of his belongings. But when he would come
liome and find them there he would not be long in driving them off his place.
The Indians continued to linger in Richardson county until 1880.

Thomas M. Wilkinson assisted his father to develop the home farm in
Liberty township and lived at home until he was twenty-one years old. He
received such educational advantages as the pioneer schools afforded, remain-
ing in school until he was eighteen years old; and then entered college at
Peru, Nebraska, pursuing a general course. After finishing his education he
returned home and engaged in farming until his marriage, in 1886, after
which he went West and took up a homestead of "one hundred and sixty acres
in Box Butte county. Nebraska, and also took up a tree claim and pre-empted.
l"or some time he engaged in the cattle business there on an extensive scale,
fencing sixteen sections for grazing purposes, not however without notifying
the government of his act and of his willingness to remove the fencing upon
its request. During his residence in Box Butte county he became owner of
eight hundred and eighty acres and had a lease of three school sections. He
l)ought and shipped cattle in large numbers to feeders. Selling out in 190 J
he returned to Richardson county and bought the ranch he now owns, which
consists of nine hundred acres in Grant and Nemaha townships, and he has
l)een very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser and feeder on an
extensive scale. He feeds about one hundred head of cattle annually and
])roduces over four carloads of hogs annually. He lived on his farm until
iqio, when he moved to Dawson, where he has since resided, owning a fine
home there. His land is well improved and under a high state of cultivation.
Mr. Wilkijison is a stockholder in the telephone and electric light companies
at Dawson, also the Farmers Union and local grain elevator. He is a
director in the telephone company and takes an active interest in local public
affairs and aids in all movements having for their object the general welfare
of his town, precinct and county. Politically, he is an independent Repub-
lican. He is a member of the Evangelical church and he belongs to the Inde-
(53)

834 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

]3endent Order of Odd Fellows. Air. Wilkinson has oiveii evidence of his
love of country by a liberal purchase of Liberty bonds and donated to the
Red Cross movement. He is chairman of drainage di^rict No. i.

Mr. AVilkinson was married on March 6, 1886, to Arminta Triggs, who
was born in Richardson county, where she was reared and educated. She is
a daughter of Isaac and Lucinda (McGinnis) Triggs, natives of Ohio and
Kentucky, respectivel}-. Her parents came to Richardson county, this state,
and here they were married and established their liome and reared a family
of four children.

To Mr. and ]Mrs. Wilkinson five children were born, named as follows :
Roy. deceased; Edna, the wife of Guy Snethen and they live in Grant pre-
cinct on the ^^■ilkinson ranch.; Ethel, the wife of H. Auxier and they live in
Grant i)recinct, and Laura and .\lice, both at home.

DAN T- RILEY.

Dan J. Riley, cashier of the Dawson Bank of Dawson, this county.
was born in that village and has lived there all his life with the exception
of about eight years- during which time he was engaged in the practice
of law at Omaha, i-eturning to Dawson in 1908 to take the place of his late
father in the bank. He was born on July 7, 1875, son of M. and Bridget
(Ryan) Riley, natives of Ireland, who had come to this country with tlieir
respective parents in the days of their cliildhood, the families settling in
Connecticut.

M. Riley was born in August, 1848, son of Bryan Riley, and he grew
up in Connecticut, remaining there until 1867, when lie came to Nebraska
and settled on a farm in Grant precinct, this county, one of the first settlers
in that precinct. When the Dawson townsite was laid out he moved to
that place and there engaged in the lumber business, shortly afterward
taking up the general mercantile business there, as a member of the firm
of Mead, Riley & Company, which presently was succeeded by the firm
of Mead & Riley, Mr. Riley later becoming sole proprietor. In 1887 he
assisted in the organization of tlie Dawson Bank and was made cashier and
active manager of the same, the affairs of the bank being carried on in his
store, but in the early nineties the bank outgrew the store and he thereafter
devoted his whole attention to the bank, which in 1895 erected its present
.substantial bank building, and Mr. Riley continued serving that bank as

RICHARDSON CULNTV, NEBRASKA. ,S35

cashier and manager nntil his death in April, 1908. From the days of' the
very beginning of Dawson M. Riley was one of the most actixe and influen-
tial factors in the affairs of that flourishing village and in addition to his
extensive commercial and banking interests took an earnest interest in civic
affairs, having served as a member of the town board, as a member of the
school board and as village treasurer. He was an earnest member of the
Catholic church and helped in the erection of four churches of that com-
munion in Dawson, the first church erected by the Catholics there having
been destroyed by fire, the second destroyed by a cyclone and the third
destroyed by fire. To M. Riley and wife five children were born, namely :
Dr. Bryan M. Riley, now located at Omaha; Dan J. Iviley, the subject
of this biographical sketch- Mary E., Nelle T. and Tom R., of Omaha, the
latter of whom is president of the Bank of Florence.

Dan J. Riley grew up at Dawson and upon completing the course in the
high school there entered St. Mary's College, from which he was graduated,
with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, in 1896. Thus admirably ec^uipped
by preparatory study, he entered the law department of Nebraska State
University and was graduated from that institution in 1900. In that same
year he opened an office for the practice of his profession at Omaha and
remained there until after his father's death in 1908, when he was elected
cashier of the Dawson Bank and returned to his home village to take his
father's place in the bank and has ever since been thus engaged, one of the
best-known bankers in Richardson county. As noted above, the Bank of
Dawson was established in 1887, the organizers being M. Riley, B. S.
Chittenden, Daniel Riley, M. B. Ryan, Thomas Fenton, Morgan McSweenex-
and L. A. Ryan, with a paid-in capital of ten thousand dollars. The first
officers of the bank were as follows : President, M. B. Ryan ; \'ice-president,
B. S. Chittenden; cashier, M. Riley, the directors being these officers and
the others named in the above list. The present officers of the bank are
as follow: President, Daniel Riley; vice-president, L. M. Ryan; cashier,
Dan J- Riley; assistant cashier, Tom R. Riley, the board of directors includ-
ing these officers and Bryan Riley and Thomas M. Ryan. The bank state-
ment in ^larch, 1917, revealed the bank's condition at that time as follows:
Capital, $25,000; surplus, $26,000, and deposits, $280,000.

In 1911 Dan J. Riley was united in marriage to .Virna Rush, of Omaha,
and to this union two children ha\e been born. Nan and Michael Rush.
Mr. and Mrs. Riley are members of the Catholic churcli and take an inter-
ested part in parish affairs, as well as in the general good works of liie
communitv and in tiie social and cultural activities of tlieir liome town.

i^T,(> RICIIARU.SOX LUINTV, XEBRASKA.

Air. Riley is a Republican and served as postmaster of Dawson from 1896
to 1900 and for three years was secretary of the State League of RepubHcan
Clubs. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus and (jf the Benevolent
and Protective Order of Elks and in the afifairs of both of these organiza-
tions takes a warm interest.

ALBERT AL\UST.

Albert Maust, dealer in grain and live stock at Ealls City, proprietor of a
string of prosperous elevators hereabout and an extensive landowner in
Richardson county, was born at Falls City and has lived there all his life.
He was born in a house which still stands two doors south of the Union
Hotel on July 27, 1876, son of Elias A. and Savilla (Miller) Maust, pioneers
of this county, both of whom were born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania,
and who are still living at Ealls City, which has been their place of residence
since 1870.

Elias A. Maust, an honored veteran of the Civil War ;Hid for many
years one of the leading citizens of Falls City, was born on a farm in Som-
erset county, Pennsylvania, March 2^, 1839, son of Abraham and Magdaline
( Longenecker) Maust, the former of whom was born in that same county
in 1793 and the latter in 1795. Abraham Maust was a grandson of Jacob
Mast, a native of Switzerland, who came to this country in Colonial days
and settled in western Pennsylvania, where he reared a family of four sons
and two (laughters. The name in the next generation gradually came to
be written Maust and has so continued, llie immigrant, Jacob Mast, was
a member of the Mennonite church and the family, which is now strongly
represented in western Penns\lvania, has ever maintained the tenets of that
simple faith. Abraham Maust became a farmer in Somerset county and
there spent his last days, liA'ing to the great age of ninety-one years, eleven
months and five days, the last sixteen years of his life being spent in suffer-
ing and in total blindness. He was married in 1817 to Magdaline Longe-
necker, who was one of the nine children born to Peter Longenecker and
wife, also Mennonites and natives of Somerset county, and to that union
were born fourteen children, nine sons and five daughters. The mother of
these children died in 1854 and Abraham Maust later remarried, but thai
second union was without issue.

Reared on ■ the liome farm in his native countv in western Pennsxl-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 83/

vania, Elias A. Maust received his schooling in the scliools of that neigh-
horhood and from tlie days of liis hoyhood was a vahicd assistant to liis
father and his l)rothers in the labors of improving and developing the home
place, and was living there when the Civil War broke out. On October 24,
1862, he enlisted for service in Company K, One Hundred and Seventy-
first Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and with that command
served until it was mustered out ten months later. 1/pon tlie completion
of his military service he returned to his home in Somerset county and
after his marriage there in the fall of 1865 continued to make his home
in that county, engaged in farming there for two years, at the end of whicii
time he came \Vest and located at Waterloo, Iowa, wliere he remained until
1870, when he came down into this part of Nebraska and became engaged
in farming in the vicinity of Falls City. A year later he left the farm and
moved to the then promising village of Falls City, where he erected a grain
elevator, the first to ht erected in this section of the state, and engaged in ■
the grain Ijusiness. He presentl}- extended that business by adding coal and
live stock to his line and it was not long until his business operations were
extending over a broad field, and he continued actively engaged in that line
of business until his, eventual retirement. In 1891 he erected a handsome
modern brick house one block east of Stone street and h,e and his wife are
now living there. It was on November 2/, 1865, that Elias A. Maust was
united in marriage to Savilla Miller, who also was born in Somerset count}',
Pennsylvania, July 27, 1849, daughter of Moses W. and Catherine (Liven-
good) Miller, and to this union three sons have been born, the subject of
this sketch, the youngest, having had two brothers, one of whom, Irvine
C. ;Maust, dealer in coal and ice at Falls City, is still living, and the other
of whom, Norman, died in his first year.

Following his graduation from the Falls City high school, Albert ]\Iaust
attended the Nebraska' State University for tliree years and then began
buying grain for his father and brother and was thus engaged for five or six
years, or until his father's retirement from business, after which he remained
associated with his brother in the business until 191 1, when he began buying-
grain and live stock on his own account and has prospered in that line,
now having four elevators, one at Falls City, one at Straussville, one at
\'erdon and one over the state line, in Reserve, Kansas. In addition to his
extensive grain and live-stock interests Mr. Maust is the owner of fifteen
or twenty houses in Falls City and has a valuable tract of sixty acres of
land a<ljoining the city, for wliich he recently paid f\ve hundred dollars an

H^S RICHARIXSOX COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

acre. Mr. Alaust is a Republican and has given considerable attention tf'
local political affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office.

On April 30, 1905, Albert -\Iaust was united in marriage to Xancv
Bryant, who was born at Adrian, Missouri, in 1886, daughter of Reuben
and Marguerite (Cooper) Br^^ant, also natives of Missouri, who are now
living at Drexel, that state, and to this union three children have been born.
Maggie, who died in infancy: Ruth, born on July 2, 1910, and Albert, Jr.,
May 23, 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Maust have a very pleasant home at Falls
City and take a proper part in the general social activities of their home town.
Mr. Maust is a Mason, affiliated with all the branches of that ancient order,
and is also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and
of the Knights of Pythias and in the affairs of these several organizations
takes a warm interest.

XORMAX BENTON JUDD.

Norman Benton Judd, register of deeds for Richardson county, former
county assessor and formerly and for years one of the best-known horse
breeders in this part of Nebraska and a substantial farmer of the Dawson
neighborhood, is a native of Illinois, but has been a resident of this county
since 1882 and may therefore very properly been regarded as one of the
old settlers of Richardson county. He was born on a farm in Marshall
county, in the north central part of Illinois, Marcli 8, 1851, son of John
and Jane ( Brciwn ) Judd, tlic former of whom was a native of the North
Carolina and the latter of Peimsylvania, wliose last days were spent on
that farm.

John Judd was 1>orn in Asheville, North Carolina, in June, 1825, a
son of Thomas and Nancy (Darnell) Judd, natives of that same state,
who moved to Marshall county, Illinois, in 183 1, and settled on a tract of land
they secured from the government and there spent the remainder of their
lives, u.seful and influential pioneers of that section. Thomas Judd dying
in 1S50. Tlie Judds are of English descent, the father of Tliomas Judd
having lieen an I'jiglisliman w iio settled in .\<irth Carolina ujion coming
to this country. Jolm Judd was the fourth in order of l)irdi of the
ten children. ti\c sons and ti\e daughters, liorn to his parents and he was but
six )ears of age when the family settled on the pioneer farm in Illinois.
There he grew to manhood and married Jane Brown, who was born in
Fayette county. Pennsylvania, in iSjj. daughter of Charles Brown and

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 839

wife, the latter of whom was a Forsythe, natives, respectively, of Pennsyl-
vania and of England, who moved from Pennsylvania to Illinois about
1830, also settling in Marshall county. After his marriage John Judd estab-
lished his home on a farm in that county and there he and his wife spent
the remainder of their lives, his death occurring in 1889 and hers in 1891.
They were the parents of three children, the subject of this sketch having
an elder brother, Leroy Judd, now living at Lincoln, this state, and a sister,
Mrs. Theresa Galbraith, of McCallsburg, Iowa.

Reared on the home farm in Illinois, Norman B. Judd received his
schooling in a little log school house in the neighborhood of his home, the
school terms at that time being limited to twelve weeks in the year. From
his boyhood he was a valued assistant to his father in the labors of the farm
and remained at home until his marriage in 1871, he then being somewhat
under twenty years of age, when he began farming on his own account,
renting land in his home county, and there he continued farming until
1882, when he came to Nebraska and located at Dawson, this county,
where he became engaged in the breeding of horses and soon had one of
the best-established stables in this part of the state. Mr. Judd was the first
man to bring into Richardson county pure-bred Clydesdale and English
Shire horses and with this substantial type of sires he was soon success-
ful in working a real revolution in the strain of horseflesh for general heavy
draft and farm-purpose animals and the farmers of the county have often
expressed to him their gratitude for the measures he thus early took to stock
this region with these very desirable t3'pes. For twenty-two years Mr.
Judd was engaged in horse breeding at Dawson and he made his home
there for twenty-five years, or until 1907, in which year, as the nominee of
the Democrats of Richardson county, he was elected county assessor. Upon
entering upon the duties of that important office ^Ir. Judd moved to Falls
City, the county seat, where he since has made his home. He served as
assessor for five years and in 1915 was elected register of deeds, which
office he now occupies, one of the most popular officials about the court
house. Mr. Judd is a Democrat and has for years been looked upon as
one of the leaders of that party in this county. For twenty-two years he
served as a member of the school board in Dawson district and during that
long period of faithful service did much to advance the interests of the
schools of that progressive little village. Mr. Judd is a member of the
Ancient Order of United Workmen, has held all the offices in the lodge
with which he is affiliated and for fifteen years was "financier" of the same.

Norman B. Judd has been twice married. On February 8, 1871, he

840 RICHARnSOX COrXTV, NEBRASKA.

was united in marriage to Cliarlotte Stratton, who was born in Indiana
and who died in 1881, leaving two cliildren, William O., who is now engaged
in the hardware business at Atchison, Kansas, and !Mrs. Ethel M. Crocker,
of Omaha. On May 8, 1884, two years after coming to tliis county, Mr.
judd married, secondly, Alice McAvoy, who was also torn in Indiana. ;Mr.
and ;\Irs. Judd are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take
a proper interest in church work, as well as in the general good works of
the community at large.

MARK T. DURFEE.

;\Iark J. Durfee, the proprietor of a tine farm of one hundred and sixty-
six acres in section 28 of Arago precinct and one of the best-known farmers
and stockmen in that part of the county, was b'orn in Rulo precinct and has
lived in this county all his life. He was lx)rn on January 12. 1874, son of
Edmond J. and Delia ( Carr) Durfee, the former of whom, a native of Iowa
and a pioneer of Richardson county, is still living, now a resident of Falls
City and furtlier and fitting mention of whom is made elsewhere in this
volume.

When nine \ ears of age Mark J. Durfee met with a serious accident
whicli interfered much with his schooling. He stepped in a hole in a plank
fliKir and so seriously injured his left leg that for nine years he was crippled,
.1 i)art of that time being spent in a hospital at St. Joseph. He grew to man-
hood on the home farm near the Alissouri river and in time became a farmer
on his own account, renting a farm. His father gave him eighty acres of
land, he having previously bought an adjoining eighty and a little more, now
moving a well improved and profitably cultivated farm of one hundred and
sixty-six acres. In 1912 he erected his present handsome residence and he
and his family are "very comfortably situated. For years Mr. Durfee was
an extensive lireeder of Shorthorn cattle, but of late years has not done so
much in the way of live stock, giving his particular attention to grain farming.

On February 8, 1900. Mark J. Durfee was united in marriage to Edna
E. iJc\\"ain, who was born at Rulo, this county, Ma\- 23, 1884, daughter of
Edgar E. and Martha (Marcum) ^IcWain, natives, respectively, of New
York and of Missouri, pioneers of Richardson county, the former of whom.
a cririienter and farmer, died in 1906, at the age of forty-five years, and the
latter nf wimni is now living witli her son. Olin McWain, in the Rulo neigh-

Ml!. AM) MUS. .MAKK J. DIKFEK

RICUARDSOX COrXTV, NEBRASKA. 84I

horhood, and to tliat union were born seven children, Clarence, Gertrude.
ICverett, Ethel, Li la, Harold and RajMiiond. The mother of these children
died on October 2t,, 1916. Mr. Durfee is an "independent" in his political
views. He takes an active interest in the agricultural affairs of this section
and is a member of the Farmers Union and of the Central Protective Associa-
tion, in the affairs of which iireanizations he takes a warm interest.

\MLLIAM L. REDW^OOD.

William L. Redwood, of Falls City, manager of the Home Building
and Loan Association of that city and actively engaged there in the real estate,
loans and insurance business, is* a native of the neighboi-ing state of Iowa,
but has been a resident of this county since he \vas four j^ears of age, and
has therefore been a witness to the development of this region since pioneer
days. He was born on a farm in Clay county. Iowa, March 9, 1875, son of
Stewart L. and Mary K. (Stutson) Redwood, who became pioneer resi-
dents of Richardson county and the latter of whom is still living, a resident
of Falls City, where she is \-ery comfortably and veiy pleasantly situated.

The late Stewart L. Redwood, an honored veteran of the Civil War
and for years One of the best-known and influential residents of Richard-
son county, was born in New York City on December 14, 1844, son of William
R. Redwood, who was of English descent, and who Carried a lady of Eng-
lish birth. Stewart L. was reared in the \icinity of the metropolis, where
he was living when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted for service in
1863 ^s a member of Company A, Eighth Regiment, New York Volunteer
Infantry, and with that command served until the close of the war. Upon
the completion of his military service Mr. Redwood completed his schooling
and then for a time was engaged as a clerk in a drug store, but presently decided
to come West and "grow up witli the country." He proceeded on out to
Iowa and in Clay county, that state, exercised his soldier's right to home-
stead, entering a tract of land in that county, upon which he established
his home after his marriage which took place shortly after he had located
there. There he remained until 1878, in which year he disposed of his
holdings in Iowa and moved to Texas. He did not remain long in the
latter state, however, presently moving thence to Missouri, but he found
conditions there no more to his liking than he had found in Texas and
in 1879 he came over into Nebra.ska and settled on a farm in the pre-

842 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

cinct of Speiser. this county, later moving to another place in the precinct
of Nemaha, on which later place he remained until 1907, in which 3'ear
he retired from the farm and moved to Falls City, where he spent the
remainder of his life, his death occurring there on August 31, 1916. Dur-
ing his residence on the farm in this county Mr. Redwood had been develop-
ing a quite extensive real-estate and loan business and after his removal
to Falls City devoted his time in great part to that line. In addition to
his land holdings in this county he was the owner of land in Kansas and
in Gage county, this state. Politically, he was a Democrat, by religious
persuasion an Episcopalian and, fraternally, was affiliated with the local
post of the Grand Army of the Republic and with the local lodge of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Since his death his widow has con-
tinued to reside in Falls City, where she .has a very pleasant home. She
was born, Mar}- K. Stutson, at Flint, Michigan, December 21, 1851, daugh-
ter of Lester P. Stutson, who later moved to Iowa, where she was living
at the time of her marriage to I\Ir. Redwood. To that union two childr-en
were born, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Eleanor M., who is
making her home with her mother in Falls City.

William L. Redwood \\as but a child when he came to this county
with his parents and he grew up on the home farm receiving his schooling
in the district schools in that neighborhood and in the higli school at Falls
City. From the days of his boyhoi;>d he was a valuable assistant to his father
in the labors of devaloping and improving the home place and also early
became interested with his father in the latter's real-estate and loan under-
takings. When the family moved to Falls City he gave his whole attention
to this business and since his father's death has been carrying on the busi-
ness alone, having built up a valuable connection in that line, becoming
line of the well-known real-estate, loan and insurance agents in this part
of the state. IMr. Redwood also is manager of the Home Building and
Loan Association of Falls City and in that connection has done much to
advance the building interests of his home city. He is a Republican and
has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has
not been a seeker after public office. In addition to his business interests
Mr. Redwood is the o\\ner of an eighty-acre farm in this county and some
city property, besides stock in the State Bank of Falls City, and is accounted
as one of the city's progressive and public-spirited citizens.

On October 2, 1901, \\"illiam L. Redwood was united in marriage to
Lucy M. Bacon, of Middleburg, Xemaha precinct, this county, daughter of
Asa Bacon, a former well-known resident df this countv, now living in

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 843

Woodson county, Kansas, and to this union have been born four daughters,
Agnes, Flora, Irene and Alice. Mr. and Mrs. Redwood have a very pleas-
ant home at F'alls City and take a proper part in the general social and cul-
tural activities of their home town and of the community at large. They
were members of the Christian church and Mr. Redwood was a member of
the executive committee of the local congregation when the present splen-
did edifice of the Christian church was erected at Falls City. He is a
member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and
takes a warm interest in the affairs of the same.

WILSON S. KORNER.

The late Wilson S. Korner, for years one of Richardson county's best-
known and most substantial landowners, grain buyers and merchants, who
died at his home in Falls City in the summer of 191 3, an honored veteran
of the Civil War, whose widow is still living at Falls City, was a native
of the old Buckeye state, but had been a resident of this county since 1871
and was therefore very properly entitled to be regarded as one of the old
settlers of the county. He was born on a farm in Seneca county, in the
north central part of Ohio, May ^ 18, 1844, son of Levi and Elizabeth
(Stout) Korner, natives of Pennsylvania, the former born in L^nion county
on January 8, 1813, whose last days were spent in Ohio, the former being
past sixty years of age at the time of his death. Levi Korner was twice
married and by his second wife, Elizabeth Stout, ^^■as the father of four
children, of whom the subject of this memorial sketch was the eldest.

Reared on the home farm in Seneca county, Ohio, Wilson S. Korner
received his schooling in the schools of his home neighborhood and was
li\'ing there when the Civil War broke out. When" eighteen years of age,
in 1862, he enlisted for service in the Union army and went to the front as
a private in Company D, Thirty-fourth Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry,
and with that conimand served until the close of the war, receiving his
discharge on July 3, 1865. During that period of service Air. Korner par-
ticipated in some of the bloodiest battles of the war, including those of the
siege of Vicksburg, Lookout Mountain, Mission Ridge, Chanc^llorsville and
Chattanooga, and for stMue time was a prisoner of war, detained in Lil)b\-
Prison.

Upon the completion of his military service Wilson S. Iviirner returned

844 RICI[ARI>SO\ CorXTV. XKRRASKA.

to his home in Ohio and was ihere married in December, 1866. After liis
marriage he continued farming there until in February, 1871, when he
came to Nebraska and estabhshed his home in Richardson county, he hav-
ing previously bought a C|uarter of a section of land one and one-half miles
west of Falls City.' He improved that farm, set out a grove and there remained
until the year 1876, when he moved to Falls City and became engaged as
grain buyer for the Heacock Milling Company, later engaging in the hard-
ware business in that city and in this latter enterprise continued successfully
engaged until a few years before his death, his death occurring in Falls
City on July 2, 1913. During his later years he served as president of tlie
Southeastern Nebraska Telephone Company. Mr. Korner ^\■as a Republican,
a Methodist and a ^lason. He had become a Mason in the lodge at Belle-
vue, Ohio, during the days of his young manhood and never transferred his
membership from the same.

On December 16, 1866, Wilson S. Korner was united in marriage tn
Adaline Schock. who was born in Sandu.sky county, Ohio, April 17, 184(1,
daughter of \\'il]iam and Sarah (Heater) Schock, wlio were married on
February 9, 1843. William Schock was born in Union county, Penns\l-
\ania, February 21, 1821, and died at his home in I'alls City, Nebraska,
November 2/, 1901. He was a successful farmer in Ohio and in 1875
retired "from farming and came to Nebraska, thereafter making his home in
Falls City and spent his last days at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Korner,
at Falls City. He became a substantial landowner in Richardson count} .
served for some time as vice-president and later as president of tl:e Richard-
son County Bank and was a member of tlie l)oard of directcn-s of tlie local
cemetery association from the time of its organization until his death. He
was a member of the Methodist church and took an active interest in local
charity \vork. His wife was born in Union county. Pennsylvania, Sep-
tember 6, 1824, and died at Falls City on Januar\- 12. 1893. They were
the parents of eight children, of whom Mrs. Korner was the third in order
of birth, the others being as follow : Elizabeth, widow of N. Stewart, li\ing
near Seneca, Kansas ; George W., of Falls City ; Charles, deceased ; Amanda,
wife of R. A. Stetler. of Long Beach, California: Mrs. Ida Holland, further
mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume: William A., a substan-
tial farmer (if the precinct of Falls City, this county, and Lincoln, deceased.

ToWil'snn .^. and Adaline (Schock) Korner one child was born, a
daughter, I'.thel. who married H. Morrow, now of Charlotte, North Caro-
lina, and has one child, a daughter, Lucretia, born in 1903. Both the Korner
aufl the Schock families have preserved a chronological histor\- of the resjiec-

RICHARDSON COUNTV, NEBRASKA. 845

tive families, dating- back in Germany and in Switzerland to royal lines.
Mrs. Korner is the owner of four hundred and eighty acres of land in
King county. Kansas, and two modern houses in Falls City. She is an
active member of the Methodist church and of the local corps of the \\'oman's
Relief Corps, as well as a member of various clubs and social societies
in Falls City and has for years been one of the most influential workers
in the social and cultural activities of that city, helpful in many ways in
promoting movements designed to advance the common welfare.

WILSON MEEKS MADDOX.

The late Wilson M. Maddox, who died at his home in Falls City in Janu-
arv J4, 1903. antl who for years was one of the most prominent citizens of
that place, a well-to-do merchant, an honored veteran of the Ci\il War, former
sheritY of Richardson county, a former deputy United States marshal, a
member of the Nebraska territorial Legislature back in 1854-55 and one of
the real pioneers of this state, was a native of the old Buckeye state, but had
been a resident of Nel)raska since back in the middle fifties and had conse-
quently seen this state develop from its original wilderness to its present
highlv-developed condition. He and his wife were the first couple married
in the region now comprised within the bounds of Richardson county anil
his widow, who is still living, an honored resident of Falls City, has many
a thrilling tale to tell of con(litif)ns here back in the days of the Lidians and
of the unbroken plains.

Wilson ]\1. Maddox was born in Hillsboro. Highland county, Ohio,
-August 5, 1825. a son of Michael and Frances ( Schoolmaker ) Maddox.
natives of Virginia, who UK^ved to Ohio in 1800 and who later moved with
their family from Ohio to Indiana in 1837. The Maddox family is one of
the olde,st families in America, the first Maddox to come here having been
a member of the second colony of Pilgrims that settled in New England in
1621. Wilson M. Maddox was but a boy when his parents moved from
Ohio to Indiana and in the latter state he grew to manhood and married Mary
I'lount, who died shortly afterward. In 1853 he sold his farm in Indiana and
moved to Pella, Iowa. In 185-I he came West and located at the then frontier
town of Nebraska City, which at that time was becoming a promising river
town. Mr. Maddox was a man of energy and push, had received a good
education and upon locating in the frontier town immediately began taking

846 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

;in active part in public affairs. In that same year he was elected a member
of the first Nebraska territorial Legislature and served in the session of that
year and in the session of 1855, doing well his part in the then initial legis-
lative affairs of what then was a vast territory extending from the Territory
of Kansas to the Dominion of Canada and to the Rockies on the west, which
in 1854 had been created a territory as distinctive from all that vague and
almost wholly unexplored region theretofore known as the Indian country.
In 1856 he moved to Richardson county. INIr. Maddox had given consider-
able study to the law and for some time after settling in Nebraska City and
later after coming down to tliis county, was admitted to the bar in 1871, and
practiced law, becoming one of the best-known and most influential residents
of this country in the pif)neer days. He took an active part in the work of
the upbuilding of Nebraska City and as a real-estate agent did a valuable
work in helping to locate homesteaders throughout this state when the tide
of immigration presently began definitely to set in out this way. In the fall
of 1855 he married, secondly, in the village of Archer, the first county seat
of Richardson county, but continued to make his home in Nebraska City
until the following May, when he came down the river and pre-empted a tract
of land near the home of his wife's father, Judge Miller, a member of the
Archer townsite company and the first probate judge of Richardson county,
and estal)!ished his home there, remaining on the farm, to which he added
other land, until after the close of the war, when he moved to Falls City,
where he spent the remainder of his life.

In 1862 ^^'ilson ^l. ^laddox enlisted for service in the Union armv as a
member of the Fourth Missouri Cavalry and was made a lieutenant of his
company, which was mustered in at St. Joseph, and with which he served for
a year, principally on cavalry outpost duty, at the end of which time, on
accoimt of physical disability, he resigned his commission and returned home,
as noted above, moving to Falls City in 1865. For a number of years there-
after Mr. Maddox was engaged in mercantile business and was then elected
sheriff of Richardson county in 1864, in which capacitv he served for two
years. He later was appointed deputy United States marshal for this district
and in that capacity served for two years, in the meantime continuing his
law practice and also continuing engaged more or less in the trading and real-
estate way. In 1871 he was again chosen a member of the Legislature. Mr.
Maddox finally engaged in the hardware business at Falls City and continued
thus quite successfully engaged until his retirement in 1893. He died at his
home in that city on January- 24, 1903, lieing then past seventy-eight vears
of age. Mr. Maddox was ;l niem1)er of die Methodist Episcopal church, as

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 847

is his widow, and was an active Freemason, having joined the Masonic order
Jjefore his enlistment in the army, and was a charter member of the first lodge
of Freemasons organized in Richardson county. He took an earnest interest
in both church and lodge affairs and was ever helpful in all local good works,
doing much in his long and active life to promote the interests of his home
town in a religious, social, commercial and cultural way.

As noted above, Wilson, M. Maddox and his wife were the first white
couple married within the present precincts of Richardson county. It was on
October 4, 1855, that Mr. Maddox was united in marriage, at old Archer,
first county seat of Richardson county, to Margaret A. Miller, the ceremony
being performed by the Rev. W. D. Gage, a clergyman of the Methodist
Episcopal church at Nebraska City, whose daughter had married a brother
of Mrs. Maddox. Mrs. Maddox, who is still Hving at her pleasant home in
l'~alls City, is a native of Kentucky, born in Knox county, that state, Febru-
ary 4, 1835, daughter of Judge John C. and Eliza1>eth (Campbell) Miller,
the latter of whom was born in that same county, not far from Cumberland
Gap. Judge John C. Miller, one of the eariiest and most influential pioneers
of Richardson county, was a native of South Carolina, born in 1804. He
was married in Kentucky and continued to make his home there until 1845,
when he came West with his family and settled in Lafayette county, Missouri;
later Jie settled at Rockport, Atchison county, Missouri, moving thence, in
1855, across the river into the then newly created Territory of Nebraska and
settling on a tract of land he had pre-empted at the site of what presently
came to l)e the first ciumty seat df tliis county. He was a member of the
.\rcher tnwnsite company, lielped lay out the town, which long since has lost
its place on the map, ami was the first probate judge of the county when
Richardson count\- presently was organized as a civic unit, and for years
tciok a prominent part in the early affairs of this county, further mention of
which is made in the historical section of this work. One of his daughters,
-Mary, married the first sheriff of the county, Elias McMullen. Judge Miller
and wife were the parents of twelve children, those besides Mrs, Maddox
being as follow: Mrs. Harriet C.atron. deceased; James F., Union veteran,
deceased; George \V., deceased; ]\Iary K., wife of Will Maddox, deceased;
Mrs. China M. Thompson, deceased; William S., who is now Hving in Okla-
homa; Robert O., who died in 1916; Clay, Sarah and Laura, who died in
infancy, and John J., who served in the Union army and died in the service.

To Wilson M. and Margaret A. (Miller) Maddox six children were
bom, namely: Frances E.. wife of John W. Powell, of Falls City; May,
who is now at liome : Mrs. Anna L. Crum. of Montpelier, Indiana; Zillah,

S^S RICHARDSON- COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

wife of George Dietsch, of Hastings, this state; Oscar H., of Missoula, Mon-
tana, and Grace, who is at home with her mother. Mrs. Maddox has a very
pleasant home at Falls City and is quite comfortably situated in the beautiful
"evening time of her life." She has five grandchildren and one great-grand-
daughter, Mrs. I'owell having one child, a daughter, Lela, who married James
Mullen and has a daughter, Marjorie Frances; Mrs. Crum, one daughter,
Floss; Mrs. Dietsch, one daughter, Margaret, born in Falls City, and Oscar
H. Maddox, two sons, \\^ilson M. and James Frederick. Though now in
the eighty-third year of her age, Mrs. Maddox is vigorous mentally and
ph\sically and retains vivid recollections of the pioneer days hereabout, she
ha\ ing Ii\ed here since the days when this w-as practically all Indian country.
.She was nineteen years of age when she came here with her parents back
in territorial days and she recalls having ridden over the country from old
Archer west to the present limits of the county, without seeing a house
throughout the trip. She rode horseback from Archer to Salem to go to
church and often took long horseback trips attending camp meetings; but,
despite the romantic glamor in which the memory of those distant days of
the free days of the open range and the wild life of the plains is set, she
is quite content to do her riding in an automobile nowadays, and rejoices as
she rides abroad to note the amazing progres!^ which has been made in all
ways throughout this region since she came here, a pioneer lass from the hills
of her native Kentuckv.

FRANK A. NTMS.

Not too often can we of the present generation revert to the lives of
the sterling pioneers who, by their heroic courage and self-sacrifice, paved tlie
way for our own modern civilization, making possible our fine farms and
thriving towns. One of these sturdx' men in Richardson count)', who is
deser\fing of special attention here, is Franlc A. Ninis, now living in retire-
ment in his cosy home in Falls City, after a life of successful endeavor of
forty years in this locality.

^ilr. Xims was born in W^aupun, Wisconsin, August 17, 1863. He is a
son of John and Betsey (Bacon) Nims. The father was born in 1829, and
was a son of Luther Nims, whose death occurred in 1864 ^t the age of thirty-
nine years. John Nims was one of the early settlers of Waupun. Wiscon-
sin. His death occurred in New York state while on a visit to his old home.
His wife was a native of Cattaraugus county, New York, and was of English

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 849

descent, her ancestors having come to America in Colonial days. Betsey
(Bacon) Nims was born on January 8, 1831, and died March 10, 1912, in
Falls City, Nebraska. She was a daughter of Leander and Sarah (Hilbert)
Bacon, natives of the state of New York and early settlers in the vicinity of
Waupun, Wisconsin. After the death of John Nims, his widow moved with
her only child, Frank A. Nims, of this sketch, to Crawford county, Pennsyl-
vania, the mother teaching school there several years; then moved to Ohio
in 1867 and taught one term in Ashtabula county, where her father, Leander
Bacon resided. Leander Bacon had sold out in Wisconsin and had located in
Ashtabula county, Ohio, where he operated a large dairy farm and manu-
factured cheese. Airs. Nims assisted him in the manufacture of cheese for
some time. In 1874 she and her son came to Nebraska, seeking a new loca-
tion. Two )'ears later they located in Richardson county, buying a farm in
Xemaha precinct, where the mother made cheese for the market for a num-
ber of years, the son, Frank A., taking care of the herd of cattle which they
kept on the home place. He was thirteen years old when they built a com-
fortable residence on the place, also made other improvements. They were
successful in their farming and dairying operations, and when he became of
legal age the son took charge of the farm, which consisted of four hundred
acres of good land. They sold two hundred and forty acres, keeping the
west one hundred and sixty acres. One hundred and sixty acres were sold
to AVillard Burgett and eight}^ acres to Walter Colson. Part of the remain-
ing quarter section of land became the site of the village of Nims city. j\Ir.
Nims continued active farming with uniform success until September 8, 191 1.
He raised cattle on an extensive scale; he also raised good horses. He
remodeled his dwelling, making it both convenient and attractive.

Mr. Nims was married on September 8, 1884, to Etta Archer, who was
born in Nemaha county, Kansas' a daughter of Jerome Archer and Althea
fWestcott) Archer, natives of Pennsylvania. They were early settlers in
Xemaha county. Kansas. Jerome Archer came to Kansas in 1859 and died
in January, 1915. Airs. Archer, who resides in southern Kansas, was born
September, 1842.

Politicallv, Mr. Nims is a Republican and fraternally he belongs to the
Knights and Ladies of Security, the Fraternal Order of Eagles and the Ger-
man Hall. He has lived to see Richardson county developed from a wild
state, a vast, little-improved plains country to its present-day prosperity and
wealth and he has plaved well his part in this great transformation.
(54)

850 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

JOHN PHILPOT.

John Philpot, well-known farmer and poultiynian at Humboldt and
a resident of this county since iS"/, is a native of Ohio, born on March
ij, i860, son of I^ubert and Susan (\\'est) Philpot, also natives of that
state, who came to Nebraska in 1882 and settled on a farm two miles
south of Humboldt, where Robert Philpot died in 1899. John Philpot
was the fifth in order of birth of the nine children born to his parents, the
others being as follow: James, also of Humboldt; S. M., a former well-
known lumberman of Humboldt, now deceased; Mrs. Belle .Vdams, of Ohio;
Hugh, who died on his farm six miles north of Humboldt and whose widow
is still living there ; William, a carpenter at Humboldt ; Mrs. Tina Craw-
ford, of Montana; Mrs. Lizzie Cope, of Humboldt, and Charles, who died
at the age of twenty-one years.

When John Philpot was seventeen }ears of age he left his home in
Ohio and came West, locating in Richardson county, where he has lived
ever since, with the exception of three years spent in Colorado. It was
in 1877 that he arrived here and upon his arrival he began working as a
farm laborer and was thus engaged until his marriage in 1886, when he
rented a farm and began farming on his own account, remaining on that
[)lace until iQO'), when he b(night an eighty-acre farm northeast of Hum-
boldt and lived there until he traded that place for a twenty-acre tract
adjoining the city, where he since has made his home. In 1914 he erected
a handsome residence there and he and his family are very comfortably
situated. In addition to his general farming Mr. Philpot for some years
gave ])articular attention to the raising of live stock and did quite well in that
line. Since taking up his residence at the north edge of town he has given
much attention to the raising of poultry, with particular reference to the Rose
Comb and Brown Leghorn varieties and has built up quite an extensive
poultry concern there. He and his nephew, Ralph R. Philpot, have latel\-
engaged in the fence-post business on quite an extensive scale, utilizing grown-
up hedge timber for this purpose, and have developed quite a profitable
business in that line, also doing (|uite a business in cordwood. Mr. Philpot
is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political
affairs, but has not been a seeker after public ofifice.

In 1886 John Philpot was united in marriage to Anna Leatherman, wlio
was born in Indiana in 1866, daughter of ^^"ashington and Useba (Sinford)
Leatherman, the latter of whom died in Indiana, Washington Leatherman
later coming to Nebraska and settling in Richardson count}-, his daughter.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 85 1

Anna, keeping house for him here until her marriage to Mr. I'hilpot. Mrs.
Philpot has three brothers, Edward, now living in Colorado; Fred, who is
eng;iged in the live-.stock business in Indiana, and Daniel, now a resident of
Dunavant, Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Philpot have six children, namely: May,
who married Frank Fergus, of the precinct of Porter, this county, and
lias three children, F'rank, Earl and ^largaret; Iva, who married Archie
Yarling, also of Porter precinct, and has one child, a daughter, Bernice;
Fay, who married Laurence Oberly, also of Porter precinct; Effie, wife
of Paul Moritz, of Porter precinct, and Tlielma and Enid, who are still at
home with tlieir parents. The Philpots are members of the Presbyterian
church and take a warm interest in the various beneficences of the same,
as well as in the general good works and social activities of their home
town and the community at large. Mr. Philpot is a member of the local lodge
of the Modern W'oodmen of America and takes an active interest in the
affairs of the same.

JAMES F. KELLY, M. D.

Dr. James F. Kelly, well-known young physician of Dawson, is a native
of the city of Boston, biit is a product of the West, having been reared and
educated at Omaha. He was born at Boston on February i, i8gi, while
his parents, residents of Iowa, were in that city. His father, John Kell}-,
was reared in Ireland and when a young man came to this country, in the
earlx eighties, and made his way to Des Moines, Iowa, where he presently mar-
ried and made liis home. During the Cleveland administration he became
connected with the postal service, with headquarters at Omaha, and it was
wliile thus engaged that he returned East with his wife, and made a stay of
one \ear in Boston, Massachusetts, during which residence the subject of
this review was born. John Kelly died at Omaha on February 14, 1892, and
his. widow is now living in Iowa. She was born, Margaret Meade, in the
-tate of New York, daughter of John Meade, a native of Ireland, who came
to this country, locating in New York and moving thence to Iowa, homestead-
ing a tract of land in Johnson county in 1850 and becoming a large land-
owner.

Reared at Omalia, James F. Kelly received his early schooling in tiie
parochial schools <if that city, supplementing the same by a course in the
Creighton high school and university. He then entered Creighton Medical
College and was graduated from that institution in 19 15. Upon receiving his

852 RICHARDSOX CUUXTV, NEBRASKA.

diploma Doctor Kelly received the appointment as an interne in St. Joseph's
linspital at Tacoma. ^^'ashington, and was later made an interne in St. Joseph's
hospital at Omaha, thus receiving some excellent practical experience in the
practice of his profession before actively engaging in that practice. On August
1, 1916, the Doctor located at Dawson, where he opened an office for the prac-
tice of his profession and where he already has built up an extensive practice,
lie is a member of the Richardson County Medical Society and of the Neb-
raska State Medical Association and in the deliberations of these bodies takes
an active interest. Politically, the Doctor is a Democrat, but on local issues
is inclined to be "independent." He is a member of the Catholic church and
takes a proper interest in parish affairs, while, fraternally, he is a member of
the Knights nf Columbus and of the medical Greek-letter fraternity. Phi Iota
Sigma.

GEORGE E. TAYLOR.

The late George E. Ta\ior, for \ears one of the Iiest-known and most
substantial farmers of Arago precinct, this county, and an honored veteran
of the Civil War, who died in 191 _', was a native of Illinois, but had been a
resident of this section of the country since 1868. He was born on a farm
in the neighlaorhood of ^lason City, Illinois, February 28, 1843, son of Jesse
and Mary (Harding) Taylor, and was the eldest of the ten children born to
that parentage, eight sons and two daughters. Jesse Taylor was a native
of Illinois and his wife was a native of Virginia. About 1885 thev came to
this county and located at Rulo, where their last days were spent.

George E. Ta\i()r was reared on the home farm in the vicinity of Mason
City, Illinois, and was lixing there when the Civil \\'ar broke out. lie then
l)eing eighteen years of age. One day in 1861. not long after the first call
for volunteers, lie dro\c to town witli a load of wheat, completed the business
transaction and then went to tlie recruiting station and enlisted his services
in l)ehalf of tlie Uninn. He went to the front as a member of Company F.
i'lighth Illinois Regiment. \'olunteer Infantiy. and with that command served
until he \\as honoralil}' discharged following a serious wound received at the
battle of Sliildli. I'rom the battlefield at Shiloh he was removed to a camp
hospital, whenct. .ifter he had recovered sufficiently to endure a transfer, he
w;is removed to his home In hi> ])arents, who had come after him.

Cpon the completion of iiis military service George E. Taylor remained

KICHARDSON COl'NTV. NEBRASKA. S53

on the home farm in Illinois until 1868, when he came out to this part of the
country and bought a tract of three hundred acres of land one mile north of
Hiawatha and proceeded to improve the same, making the town his place of
residence. He later traded that farm for property in Rulo. this county, and
while living there, in 187 1, was married, presently selling his town property
and moving to the farm in section 36 of the precinct of Arago, on which
lie spent the remainder of his life. Ijecoming a substantial and well-to-do
farmer, his death occurring there on February 10, 1912. Mr. Taylor was an
active member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic, in the
affairs of which patriotic organization he took a warm interest and was also
,1 memlier of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

On ]\ larch 19. 1871, not long after coming to this count}-. George E.
Taylor was united in marriage to Sophronia Elshire, who was born in Madi-
son county, Indiana, JNIay .4, 1848, daughter of Ephrahn and Maria ( Hoppes )
Elshire, also natives of Indiana, who were the parents of eight children, of
whom ]\Irs. Taylor was the third in order of birth. Ephraim Elshire came
to Xebraska with his family in i860 and settled on a brush-land farm in the
precinct of -\rago, this county, where he built a log cabin, broke up his land
w ith oxen and established his home, exentually prospering so largely that he
became tlie owner of a tract of four liundred acres of choice land in that pre-
cinct. In the division of the Elshire estate Mrs. T.iylor became the owner of
two hundred and fort}' acres of that farm, which she still owns, l.iesides her
home farm of five hundred and ten acres in section 36. Ephraim Elshire,
who Nvas born in 1820, died at his home in this county on ]\Iarch 14. 1897.
His widow survived him a little less than a year, her death occurring on
February 7, 1898. She was born in 1823. For some time after coming out
to this ]iart of the country Ephraim Elshire was employed as a freighter on
the old trail from St. Joseph to Denver, in the company of such other well-
known plainsmen as James Hosford, Eouis Philliiis and Charles Gagnon, also
of Rulo.

To George E. and Sophronia tFJshire) Taylor were I)orn six children,
namely: Airs. Bertha Rickard, of I'ittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Mrs. Gertrude
Kanal}-. wife of Martin Kanaly, a farmer, of Falls City, this county; Mrs.
Jessie Keobrich, of .\tchi.son. Kansas: Edward Taylor, of Cleveland, Ohio:
Fred Taylor, of Falls City, and George Ta}lor, who is managing the home
place for his mother. Mrs. Taylor is a member of the Alethodist Episcopal
church, as was her huslxmd, and has ever taken an active part in the good
works lit tile community in which she has lived since pioneer days.

S54 RICHARDSOX COLXTV. NEBRASKA.

fOHX LICHTY

John Lichty, of I-'alls City, secretary and manager of the Richardson
County Farmers Mutual lure and Lightning Insurance Company of Falls
City and former representative from this district to the Xehraska state Legis-
lature, is a native of the old Keystone state, but has been a resident of this
county since 1870 and may therefore very properly be regarded as one of
the "old settlers" of Richardson county. He was born in Somerset county,
Pennsylvania, April 21, 1851, son of Solomon and Mary (Meyers) Lichty,
both natives of that same state, of Pennsylvania-Dutch stock, who emigrated
to Illinois in 1856 and settled on a farm in Carroll county, that state, where
they spent the remainder of their lives.

John Lichty was Imt five _\ears of age when his parents mo\-ed from
I'ennsylvania to Illinois and in the latter state he grew to manliood. reared
un a farm and receiving his schooling in the public schools. There he con-
tinued to reside until he was nineteen years of age, when, in 1870, he came to
Nebraska, having borrowed one hundred and fifty dollars \\ith which to makt
the trip to Falls City and enable him to look about a bit with a \iew to getting
a Xebraska farm. He was so well pleased with conditions here that almost
immediately after his arrival here he bought a small farm in the precinct of
( )bio, eight miles northeast of Falls City, [jroceeded to dcvchip the .same and
after his marriage in the fall of 1873 established his h mie there. I'rom the
very beginning of his farming operations in this county Mr. Lichty ))rospered
and as he did so gradually added to his land holdings in < )hio precinct until
lie became the owner of a well-improved arid profitably cultivated farm of
ri\e hundred and twenty acres there, and there he made his home uiUil his
retirement from the active labors of the farm and remo\al in J 900 to Falls
C ity, where he has since made his home and where he and his wife are very
comfortably situated. Since his retirement Mr. Lichty has disposed of his
old home farm to his children, but is still the owner of eighty acres in the
])recinct of Barada. of two hundred ,ind fifteen acres in Brown county. Kan-
sas, and a fine bearing apple orchard of thirt\-liv'? acres. Mr. Lichty is a
Bryan Democrat and an ardent supporter of the X^eliraska "drys," an earnest
ad\iicate of stale-wide ])rohibition. in 1000, the \ear of his removal to Falls
City, he was elected to represen.t this district m the Xel)raska General
.\.-.sembly and in the session of 1901 re'idercd admirable service in the House,
one of the committees on which he served having been the important com-
niittee on judiciary. He and his wife are members of the Brethren church
ruid have e\er gixen their earnest attentii^n to conununity good works.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 855

It was on November 13, 1873, a'jout three years after his arrival in this
county, that John Lichty was united in marriage to Ann Ashenfelter, who
was born in Illinois, a daughter of Josiah and Margaret Ashenfelter, natives
of Pennsylvania, who had settled in Illinois and who afterward cr.me to Neb-
raska, and to this union six children have been born namely : Albert H.,
who was graduated from Ashland College, later took up the work of the
Young Men's Christian Association, in which work he displayed such marked
aljilit}' that he was rapidly advanced and is now the state secretary of the
Young Men's Christian Association in the state of Ohio, with ofifices in Colum-
bus; Lillie Alverta, a professional nurse, who is the wife of C. \\'. Stump, of
Hastings, this state: Frank S., who now owns and operates the old home-
stead farm in Ohio precinct; Daniel J., who died at the age of three years;
Guy C, who is farming in the precinct of Barada, and Esta Marie, now a
student in Ashland College (Ohio), a member of the class of lyiS.

It was in 1916 that John Lichty became secretary of tlie Richardson
County Farmers Mutual Fire and Lightning Insurance Company, succeeding
his brother, the late Samuel Lichty, to that position. He had for years had
an active interest in that company and since taking up his secretarial duties
has been virtually office manager of the concern, one of the best-established
local mutual insurance companies in the state. This company was organized
in June, 1887. the late Samuel Lichty having been the practical promoter of
the same and a leader in the movement that led to the general introduction
of such companies in this state, for it was he who wrote the bill that was
introduced in the Legislature by Representative Gerdes, then representative
from this district, and the enactment of which paved the way for the organ-
ization of mutual insurance companies in Nebraska. Samuel Lichty also
organized the Nebraska Mutual Insurance Company, which provides fire,
lightning and cyclone insurance, the Richardson county company writing- its
storm insurance, through its secretary, John Lichty, in this latter company.
Later a company of retired farmers in Falls City and property owners there
organized the Dwelling House Mutual Fire Insurance Company of Nebraska,
for the purpose of insuring city dwellings, barns and private residences
against loss by fire, and Mr. Lichty also writes insurance for this company,
which has many patrons tliroughout the county. The Richardson count}'
company, which was formally incorporated under the laws of the state in
1891, and which originally was backed by Samuel Lichty. I. \Y. Harris,
George Abbott and George Watkins, began business with the aim of eventually
writing one hundred thousand dollars in insurance, but that figure was passed

856 RICHARDSON COUNTV. NEBRASKA.

within n few months and the company has now more than one thousand
policy holders and has in force more than two milhon seven Inmdred and fiftv
thousand dollars of insurance. It is an assessment company and the losses
are so almost wholly negligible that in 1916 a levy of two mills covered all
assessments against the policy holders. The present officers of the company
are as follow: President. N. D. Auxier, of Salem; secretary, John Lichty:
treasurer, Joshua Bloom, of "\'erdon, and directors, besides the above-named
officers, John Ahern, of Shubert; Martin Nolte, of Falls City; S. H. Knisley,
of Falls City; J. A. Hartman, of Rulo; Gus Duerfeldt, of Barada; R. R.
Draper, of Dawson: John Hollecheck, of Humboldt, and F. E. Fwing. of
\'erdon.

AXDRFW TYNAN.

During his long and active career in this county there were few men
better known in this part of Nebraska than was the late Andrew" Tynan,
veteran plainsman, "bull-whacker", pioneer merchant, farmer, stockman and
politician, who died at his home in Stella in the summer of 1912, and there
iiave l)een few liereabout whose names are held in better memory than his.
A native of Ireland, he came to this country alone as a poor, ignorant boy
of thirteen and by his own indomitable energy rose to a position of influence
in the community in which he settled in pioneer days and attained a degree
of financial competence that mtist JKne been beyond the wildest dreams of
tlie inunigrant lad who left his natixe Kilkenny and faced the shores of the
new country on this side the Atlantic back in the forties. Big, generous and
whole-hearted in his operations, he did on a large scale what he had to do
and was successful in his various undertakings, leaving a handsome estate
to his family, and his widow, who is still living at Stella, very comfortably
situated in the pleasant "evening time" of her life. Unable to acquire an
education in his youth. Andrew Tynan took the time out of his busy life,
after he was grown, to school himself in all the essentials of a common-
school education and there was no more ardent champion of the cause of
good schools in Richardson count}- than was he. An equally ardent tem-
perance advocate he was a tireless worker in the anti-liquor cause and the
.saloon in Nel)rask-a had no more fearless opponent than he, his influence and
activities in that behalf doing much for the cause of temperance in this part
of the state. Generous to a fault, he was ever open-handed in his contribu-
tions to all worthy local causes and when solicited for subscriptions to

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. X^J

charitable objects simply gave money outright, if the object appealed to his
sense of fitness. Originally a Republican, Mr. Tynan later became a Demo-
crat and for years was t)ne of the leaders of that party in this county and a
familiar figure and a power in cbunty, district and state conventions. Though
often importuned by his friends in the part}^ to accept nominations to office,
he invariably declined to be so considered and was not an ofiice holder, believ-
ing that his influence in behalf of good government and better citizenship
could better and more effectively be exerted from the ranks, and it is undoubted
that he did exert a fine influence in the cause of right and justice in the com-
munity he had seen develop from pioneer days. A plainsman in the old days
of the overland freighters, he became thoroughly familiar with conditions out
here in the days of the old wagon trails and the open plain and there were
few men of that old, interesting and picturesque group that were better or
more widely known than he, so that at the time of his passing in the summer
of 1972 there was sincere mourning in many a heart among the old settlers
hereabout.

Andrew Tvnan was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, March 8, 1833.
and he remained in liis native land until he was thirteen years of age, when,
in 1846. he set out alone for this country, landing in due time a friendless
lad at the port of New York. In that city and in a suburb thereof he
remained for some little time, working at such jobs as his hand could find to
do. until he hafl earned enough money to bring him out to the great ^^'est
countrv of whicli he had heard so much and which his unerring instinct told
him was the place in which to develop the talents he felt inherent within him,
and he made his wav to Iowa, locating at Winterset, in Madison county, that
state. In the vicinity of that place he found employment as a farm hand at
a wage of twelve dollars a month and there remained for several years,
managing out of his wages to save about one hundred dollars a year. He
tlien, in the late fifties, came over into the then Territory of Nebraska and
located at Xemaha, where he presently became engaged on a freighting crew
and for some \ears thereafter \\-ns thus engaged, becoming one of the best-
known plainsmen on the old overland trails to Salt Lake, Denver, and New
Mexico. As an associate of Francis Withee, the fainous plainsman and
freighter, Mr. Tvnan had many excitiiig and interesting experiences and in
after years his tales of those days never failed to gain the interested atten-
tion of the younger generation. After some years of this form of experience,
Mr. Tvnan decided to settle down and with that end in view became engaged
in the mercantile business at Peru, in association with E. ^V. Holly, and from

858 RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

the beginning of that undertaking was very successful and while living there
was married in 1868. In the meantime he had invested in a tract of land
in the precinct of Muddy, in this county, and when presently his life in the
store became unbearably irksome for him — his old open life on the plains
having spoiled him as an in-door man — he left the store and in 1875 settled
permanently on [lis fami in this county, with which he had kept in touch for
years and on which he had already seen to the making of many substantial
improvements. Upon locating on the farm Mr. Tynan made other and more
extensive improvements and it was not long until he had there one of the
best-developed farms in Richardson county. He also engaged extensively in
the raising of cattle and as his operations in this line increased added to his
land holdings until he became the owner of seven hundred and twenty acres
I if land and was accounted one of the well-to-do men of this section of the
state, leaving, as noted above, a fine estate at the time of his death on June
5, 1912; his death occurring at his home in Stella, to which place he had
moved at the time of his retirement from the farm in 1897.

Oil October 8, 1868, Andrew Tynan was united in marriage to Eleanor
Jennie Richardson, who was torn in the state of Pennsylvania on April 9,
]846, daughter of' Samuel and Eleanor (Hastings) Richards, natives of that
same state, and of old Colonial stock, of English and Irish descent, with a
strain of German on the paternal side. Mrs. Richardson died in Pennsylvania
in 1849, her daughter, Eleanor Jennie, then being but three years of age, and
Mr. Richardson died in Indiana in 1858, the daughter, Eleanor Jennie, thus
being left an orphan at the age of twelve. For awhile thereafter she lived
with her maternal grandparents in Pennsylvania and later with her father's
people in Indiana. The latter later came to Nebraska to pioneer it out liere
and Eleanor Jennie Richardson was living here at the time of her marriage
10 Mr. Tvnan. To that union were born four children, namely: Eleanor,
who married A. R. ^IcMulIen, a substantial farmer living east of Stella, and
lias three children, Richard, Joseph and Philip: Rol^ert A., a well-known
stockman of the precinct of Muddy, who married Delia Harden and has three
children, Robert A., Jr., Catherine and Eugene; Bessie, who married William
C. Parriot, of Lincoln, this state, and has two children, Dorothy and Tynan,
and Fay, who married Dr. D. A. Hewitt, now of Ritzville, Washington, to
which union 'two children were born, daughters both, Elizabeth and Eleanor,
the latter of whom is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. McMullen also had another
ciiild, now deceased, a daughter, ^Mildred. . Andrew Tynan was reared a
Catholic and was a faithful adherent ni tliat faith, but was lil)eral in his
religious views and ])ermitte(l his wife to direct the religious training of her

RICHARDSON COl'NTY, NEBRASKA. ' 859

children, who were thus brought up in the faith of the Methodist church.
A[r. Tynan was a I^'reemason and took an active interest in the affairs of that
ancient order. Mrs. Tynan is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church
at Stella and has for years taken an active part in the work of the Missionary
and Aid Societies of that church, as well as in the general good works of the
community and was an able co-laborer with her husband in helping to promote
ail proper agencies for the advancement of the general welfare of the com-
munity in which tlic\- began to take their part Iiack in pioneer days.

CHARLES H. RICKARDS.

Charles H. Rickards, assessor of Richardson county, an honored veteran
of the Civil War, an old plainsman with many an interesting tale to tell
of the early days hereabout, a resident since 1871 of Falls City, where he
formerly was engaged in the lumber business and who, in addition to his
ser\-ice during the Civil War, spent three years in the government emplo}'
in Cuba following the Spanish-American War, is a native of the old Buckeye
state, but has been a resident of this part of the country ever since the
completion of his service as a soldier at the close of the Civil War. He was
born on a farm in Adams county, Ohio, September 6, 1845, son of Henry K.
and Martha (Neil) Rickards, natives of Maryland, who settled in Adams
county, Ohio, where the mother died in 185 1. The father later married
again and in 1865 moved to LaSalle county, Illinois, where he settled on
a farm and where he spent the remainder of his life.

Reared on a farm in Adams county, Ohio, Charles H. Rickards received
his schooling there and was living there when the Civil War broke out. In
July, 1862, he then lacking two months of being seventeen years of age,
but being a strong, husky boy, he enlisted for service as a member of the
Seventh Ohio Cavalry and served with that command until the close of
the war, being mustered out on July 5, 1865, with a record of never having
missed a day of service during all that three years of strenuous military
activity; nor was he ever wounded or ill during that time. Mr. Rickards
began his service with tlie \\'estern Army under General Thomas and under
th;it command ])arlicipated in the 1)attle of Nashville after g'oing with Sher-
man til .\tlanta. \fter Citneral Lee's surrender he was appointed one of
the detail of twelve suldiers that took the infamous Henry A\'irtz. superin-
tendent of .\n(lcrsiin\ille iirisun. to DaltDU. where he paid mi the gallows the

86o • RICHARDSON' COINTV. NEBRASKA.

penalty for his excessive cruelty to the Union soldiers confined in the stockade
at Andersonville under his administration. After the Atlanta campaign Mr.
Rickards was sent with his command, still under (general Thomas, after
Hood, following the latter 's army to the Mississippi and tinence, on the Wil-
son campaign, through Alabama and Georgia, to Macon, wlierc the commawt!
was stationed when tlie war closed.

Upon the completion of his military service ^Iv. Rickards came west and
took service as a teamster and a government wagon-master at Leavenworth
and was tlnis engaged on the plains for three years, during which time he had
numerous skirmishes with the Indians, on one occasion the redskins getting
away \\itii one hundred mules that were under his charge. He then became
associated with Creighton in the building of the Union Pacific railroad, trans-
porting supplies, and was engaged in that capacity for two years, during'
which time he also had consideralile trouljle with the Indians. He then became
engaged with his lirother in bu}ing cattle in Texas and in 1871 located at
Falls City, where he engaged in the lumber business and was thus engaged
until 1885, when he sold his establishment to W. D. Easley. Upon the out-
Iireak of the Spanish- American War, Mr. Rickards received an appointment
ill tlie (|uarterniaster's department and for three years thereafter was stationed
in Cuba, in go\-ernment employ. In ii)Oi he returned to Falls City and there
was appointed manager of the local plant of the Chicago Lumber Company,
but after awhile relinquished that position and became engaged in the real-
estate liusiness, which he is still following quite successfully. In the fall of
1916 Mr. Rickards was elected assessor of Richardson county and is now-
serving in that important official capacity. ]\Ir. Rickards is an ardent Repul>
lican and has ever given his earnest attention to local political affairs, long
liaving lieen regarded as one of the leaders of his party in this county. He
is an acti\e niemlier of the Porter Post No. 84, Grand Army of the Republic
and has for years taken a prominent part in the affairs of that patriotic
organization, b'ratcrnally. he is afiiliated with the Masons and the Knights
of Pythia- and in the affairs of those Ijodies likewise takes a warm interest.

On May 7, 1S70, Charles H. Rickards was united in marriage at Carth-
age. Missouri, to Philena Ford, who was bom in Middleton, New York,
daughter of b'llmer S. Ford and wife, and who died in November. 1890, at
the age of forty-five years, leaving six children, namel\- ; Joseph Elmer, now-
living at Phoenix. Arizona; Merrill Ogden, of St. Louis, Missouri; IMaude
Alice, wife of R. !•„ Wherry, of Kansas City, Missouri; Raymond L., of
Cleveland, (^'lio; Israel (".., of Salt Lake City, and Charles H., Jr„ of Denver,
Colorado.

RICHARDSON COUNTV, NEBRASKA. 86l

MARSHALL N. HILL.

Marshall N. Hill, well-known and prosperous farmer and breeder of
Shorthorn cattle, living in Porter township, this county, was born on Decem-
ber 28, 1861, at Ontario, Canada. He is the son of Elijah C. and Arcosh
(Kallerstine) Hill, natives of Ontario, who settled in Richardson county
in 1865, and who endured all the hardships of the pioneer period. Elijah
C. and Arcosh Hill were the parents of twelve children, six of whom are
deceased, the others being Roland, who lives at Greeley, this state; Reuben,
J., of Porter township; Marshall N., the subject of this sketch; Elijah C, Jr..
further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this work; Mrs. Martha Van
Vleet, of Crete, this state, and Grant, who lives in Cameron, Montana. Li
the sketch of the life of Elijah C. Hill, Jr., in this work, there is set forth
in detail an interesting account of the life oi his father, Elijah C. Hill, Sr.,
from the date of his arrival in Nebraska in 1865 up to recently, and the
reader is referred thereto, the life of the old pioneer being a veritable human
document.

Marshall N. Hill, the subject of this sketch, was reared amidst pioneer
conditions in Richardson county and was educated in the district schools of his
neighborhood. When twenty-one years old he started out for himself and
rented land frum iiis father and is now renting land from Carl Van Vleet,
his nephew. x"\t the commencement of his activities he had a credit bal-
ance of three dollars and twenty-five cents in his cash account. When a
boy he herded cattle on the prairie and in this way got his first start. He
is now the owner of upwards of one thousand acres of land. He also iiiherited
several acres of land. Mr. Hill improved a homestead farm in the state of
Washington, which he sold out in 1907 and invested in six hundred and
forty acres of land in Canada. In 191 7 he commenced the breeding of Short-
liorn cattle and at present has some choice strains of that well-known breed.
He has also a high-grade lot of Poland China hogs and on all his agricul-
tural activities he brings sound experience and modern methods to bear.

On July 5, 1896, Marshall N. Hill was united in marriage to Mary
Etta Prilliman, born at Andersonville, Indiana, the daughter of Peter Pril-
liman and wife, who lived in the state of Washington when she married
Air. Hill. To Mr. and Mrs. Marshall N. Hill three children have been
horn, namely: Curtis James, Ruth and Hazel, who are living at home with
their parents. Other children died in infancy. In political affairs Mr. Hill
vote* the independent ticket. He has never been a seeker after political

office, preferring- lu devote his time and energies to his extensive land and
stock interests. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fllows.

Mr. Hill relates an interesting incident of his boyhood days. He remem-
bers that in the early morning of August 3, 1874, a terrific hail storm sprung
up which destroyed eleven acres of corn his father had planted and which
was about to tassle, but was all ruined by the hail. The hail came not alone
in the ordinary form, but also in large pieces of ice. It cut through three
thicknesses of shingles, broke out windows on the northeast of the house
and killed a hog. In the course of its onward fury it pealed the bark from
trees and broke down hedges. It extended over an area five miles in width
and about eleven miles in length. I\Ir. Hill, though a boy at the time,
has a vivid recollection of the ravages of the storm. A neighbor had been
(Jut working when it came along and was badly injured about the head.

JOHN M. R\-AXS.

John Al. I'Aans, president of the Farmers State Bank of Shubert and one
of the best-known and most progressive citizens of the northern part of Rich-
ardson count}-, is a native of the old Buckeye state, but has been a resident of
Xebraska since 1885, in which year he came to this county and became engagetl
as a school teacher. He later engaged in merchandising and not long after-
ward became engaged in the banking business and has ever since been thus
engaged, a period of nearly a quarter of a century, during which time he has
become hue of the best-knoivn bankers in this part of the state. He was bi^rn
on a farm in Gallia county, Ohio, August 28, 1862, son of Evan L. and Eliza-
beth ( Rees) Evans, both of whom were born in that same county and who are
now living at Shubert, in this county.

I'Aan L. l^'.vans was born on Noxember _:;, 1S40. on the same farm on
which his son was born and is a son of Da\-id and l-'Uen ['".xans, who came
lo this country from their native Wales in 1823 and bought land in Gallia
county, Ohio, the patent for the I'A-ans land there bearing the signature of
Andrew Jackson, then President of the United States. On that pioneer farm
on which he was born l^an I. J-lvans grew to manhood and after his mar-
riage established his home on the place, continuing to live there, his house
being within one hundred yards of the 1-iouse in which he was born, until he
and his wife came to this county in 1905, in order to be near their children,
and have since n-iade their home at Shubert. Mrs. I-lvans also was boiti in

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 863

Gallia county, Ohio, in 1S42, in the neighborhood of the Evans home, a
daughter of John and Ellen Rees, who came to this country from their native
Wales and settled in Ohio in the early twenties. To Evan L. Evans and wife
were born five children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born,
the others being as follow: Wellington L., assistant cashier of the Farmers
State Bank at Shubert; Mrs. I. A. McDowell, of Hiawatha, Kansas; ]\Irs.
A. S. Hartsook, of Gallia county, Ohio, and David L., who died in that count\-
at the age of twenty-five years.

John M. Evans was reared on the home farm in Gallia county, Ohio,
and completed his schooling in the old Rio Grande College in that county.
He then taught school for a couple of years in his home county and in 1885
came to Nebraska, locating at Stella, and for two 3'ears thereafter was engaged
in teaching school in this county, in the meantime becoming employed in the
store of W. R. Wyatt at Stella. Seven years later he became engaged in
business at Shubert as a member of the mercantile firm of Colglazier &•
Evans, and two years later was made cashier of the Farmers State Bank
of Shubert, a position he occupied for twenty-one years, or until his election
on January i, 191 7, to the office of president of the bank, which responsible
position he now occupies. In the meantime Mr. Evans had become a land-
owner and is still the owner of a half section of land in North Dakota. He
recently sold his farm of one hundred and twent\- acres in tlie Shubert neigh-
l^orhood. Politically, Mr. Evans is a Republican and has ever given a good
citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has not been an ofiice seeker.
He is an active, energetic and progressive business man and in his capacity
as a banker has done well his part in the development of Shubert during his
many )ears of residence there. The Farmers State Bank of Shubert was
organized in 1895 by Warren Hutchins, J. L. Slocum, J. R. Cain, I. W.
Harris, Dr. J. A. W. Hull and J. M. Evans, with a capital of $12,500, which
lias since been increased to $20,000. A recent statement of the bank's condi-
tion showed that it had a surplus of $8,000 and deposits to the amount of
$240,000. The present oflficers of the bank are as follow: President, J. M.
Evans: vice-president, J. R. Cain; cashier, G. S. Hutchins; assistant cashier,
W. L. Evans, and the al:tove nfiicers and Warren Hutchins and L. L. Jones,
directors.

Mr. Evans has 1)een twice married. In 1886, in Ohio, lie was united in
marriage to Martha E. Norman, who died at her home in this county in 1893.
On April 15, 1896, Mr. Evans married Godie R. Richardson, daughter of
J. H. Richardson, a well-known and sul)stantial farmer who lives southeast
of Shul)ert, in tlie precinct of Barada. Mr. and Mrs. Evans have a very

864 RICHARDSON" COUNTY^ NEBRASKA.

pleasant home at Shubert and take a proper part in the general social activ-
ities of their home town. They are members of the Christian church and
^h. Evans is clerk of the same. He is a member of the local lodge of the
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Stella and takes a warm interest in
Masonic affairs.

LEVI L. DAVIS.

By close application and able management Levi L. Davis, now living in
retirement in his pleasant home in Humboldt, became one of the leading agri-
culturists of Richardson county, where he has long been rated as a good
citizen in the best sense of the word. He was born on September 9, 1846, in
Dekalb county, Illinois, and is a son of Albert and Martha (Robinson) Davis,
both natives of Canada, where they spent their earlier- years and from there
came to the States to establish their home, being among the early settlers in
Dekalb county, Illinois, where they became well established through their
industry.

Levi L. Davis was reared on a farm in his native county and state ajid
there worked hard during the crop seasons. During the winter months he
attended the common schools. He was married in Illinois on March 18,
1869. .The following year he came to Nebraska and settled on the farm
owned by C. ^i. Hummel, located in Franklin precinct, Richardson county.
His wife was known in her maidenhood as Jennet L. Sterns, and she was
• born, Januar\ 19, 1847. ''i l^ekalb county, Illinois. Her death occurred at
Humboldt, Nebraska, September 21, 1907.

\M-ien Levi L. Davis came to Richardson county his worldly possessions
consisted only of four horses, a few household goods and five dollars in
money. He \\ent to work earnestly and prospered with advancing years.
Soon after t:d<ing up his residence here he bought one hundred and sixty
acres, ior which he paid only ten dollars per acre, going in debt for most of
it. The ]ilace had been but little improved, being only partly broken and
onl\- a nulc log house stood on it: but Mr. Davis eventually had all the land
under a hit^li state of cultivation. He weathered the grasshopper ^^ears with-
out being seriouslx' damaged. Six \cars later, in 1876, he sold his first farm
and i)ought three hundred and twent\- acres, buying quit-claim deeds. He
later erected a large, commodious dwelling on this farm. He now has two
farms of three hundred and twenty acres each in the home place, which is
well improxed in every respect. He also owns two farms of one hundred

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 865

and sixty acres each. He finally became one of the most extensive and most
successful farmers in Richardson county, handling large numbers of live
stock of all kinds from year to year. He remained on the farm until in July,
19 1 5, when, having accumulated a comfortable competency for his old age,
he removed to a fine modernly-appointed home in Humboldt, in which town
he is a stockholder in the Home State Bank, also a director in the same.

Politically, I\Ir. Davis is a Republican and has always been more or less
active and influential in local public affairs. He has held various precinct
offices, including that of treasurer of P'ranklin precinct.

The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Davis : Everett, who
lives in Lincoln, Nebraska; Royal, in Waterman, Illinois; Ruby, at home;
Hazel, the wife of R. D. Hicks and they live in Lincoln, Nebraska; Pearl,
the wife of Frank Reynolds, of Simpson, province of Saskatchewan, Canada,
anrl the)' have three children, namely: Lee, Lucille and Doris.

Mr. Davis is deserving of a great deal of credit for what he has accom-.
plished unaided, having started out in a very unpromising environment but
he forged ahead despite of obstacles.

LACOB C. TANNER.

Jacob C. Tanner, former county clerk of Richardson county and one
of the best-known and most progressive merchants in Falls €ity, was born
in the city of St. Joseph, Missouri, but has been a resident of Falls City since
he was fifteen years of age, having come over into this state with his parents
from Missouri in 1884. He was born on March 30, 1869, son of Jacob J.
and Caroline (Ruegge) Tanner, both of European birth, the former a native
of Switzerland and the latter of Hanover, who became prominent residents
of Falls City and the latter of whom is still living there.

Jacob J. Tanner, who died at his home in Falls City in 1906, was born at
Schafhausen, in the republic of Switzerland. October 27, 1842, and when
fourteen years of age. in 1856, left his native land and came to this country,
locating at St. Joseph, Missouri, where he was engaged in the manufacture
of wagons with the firm of Tanner Brothers and was there thus engaged
when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted for service as a member of the
First Regiment, Nebraska Volunteer Infantry, joining that command at
Omaha, and in 1863 was advanced from the rank of a private to that of
(55)

866 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

corporal. Upon the completion of his military service he returned to St^
Joseph, where he resumed work at his trade as a carriage-maker and where
he presently married, making his home there until 1877, when he moved to
(lallatin, Missouri, where he became engaged as a contractor in railroad ties
and a manufacturer and shipper of walnut lumber. In 1880 he transferred
his mill to Hamilton, Missouri, where he was engaged in the same line until
he had practically exhausted the avarlable timber in that belt, after which, in
the fall of 1884, he moved to Falls City and there established a hardware
store, which he conducted for a couple of years, or until 1886, when he sold
that store and engaged in that city in the agricultural-implement business and
was there thus engaged until his death in 1906. Mr. Tanner was a Repub-
lican and had served the public as a member of the city council and as a mem-
ber of the board of supervisors. He was a Mason and a member of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His widow, Caroline (Ruegge) Tan-
ner, who is still living at Falls City, was born in the kingdom of Hanover,
December 25, 1847, ^"d was ten years of age when she came with her par-
ents to this country, the family proceeding on out to Nebraska and settling
in Richardson county, later moving to St. Joseph, Missouri, where she was
living at the time of her marriage to Mr. Tanner. To that union seven chil-
dren were born, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born, the
others being as follow : Albert A., now a resident of Lincoln, this state ;
Clara M., assistant postmistress at Falls City; William H., of Omaha; Walter
W., who is clerking in his brother's hardware store at Falls City, and two
daughters, who* died in infancy.

As noted above, Jacob C. Tanner was fourteen years of age when his
parents located at Falls City. He had received schooling at St. Joseph, at
Gallatin and at Hamilton and after his arrival at Falls City attended school
there for a year. He then took a course in the Commercial Business College
at St. Joseph and was engaged as a clerk in his father's hardware store at
Falls City when his father sold the store to Crook & Company. Young Tan-
ner continued as clerk and bookkeeper for the latter firm for twelve }'ears.
In the meantime he had been giving his close personal attention to local poli-
tics and became recognized as one of the active young workers in the Repul>
lican ranks. In 1901, as the nominee of that party, he was elected countv
clerk and served in that capacity until 1905. In this latter year he was
nominated by his party as the candidate for county treasurer, but was defeated,
the campaign of that year going against the Republicans. In 1906 Mr. Tan-
ner bought his present store and has since Ijeen engaged in the hardware busi-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 867

ness, also in the general plumbing and heating business, and has done very
well, being recognized as one of the leading merchants of the city.

On October ii, 1898, Jacob C. Tanner was united in marriage to Sophia
A. Lange who was born in this county on December 23, 1867, daughter of
Fred Lange and wife, natives of Germany and early settlers at old Arago, in
this county, and to this union has been born one child, a daughter, Helen E.,
Ijorn on July 19, 1902, now in high school. Mr. and Mrs. Tanner have a
pleasant home at Falls City and take an interested part in the city's general
social activities. Mr. Tanner is a member of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, of the Knights of Pythias and of the Royal Arcanum, and in the
affairs of these several organizations takes a warm interest.

JESS R. HARRAH.

Jess R. Harrah, former editor and proprietor of the Dazvson Reporter,
one of the liveliest village newspapers in this part of the state, is a native son
of Nebraska and has lived in this state all his life. He was born on a pioneer
farm in the neighboring county of Pawnee on F'ebruary 15, 1886, son of
John and Neva A. (Smith) Harrah, natives, respectively, of Indiana and
Illinois and both of Scotch-Irish descent, who are now living at DeRidder,
in Beauregard parish, Louisiana.

John Harrah came to Nebraska in 1870 and was married in this state.
Upon coming out here he homesteaded a tract of land on Turkey creek, in
Johnson county, at a time when there were very few settlers in that part of
the country, his house at that time being the only one between Tecumseh and
the Otoe Indian reservation. He built up a good farm there and then sold
it and moved to Pawnee county, where he built up another farm and sold
the same to advantage and moved down into Kansas, where he remained
about six years, at the end of which time he moved to Minnesota, where he
remained until the fall of 1904, when he returned to Nebraska and located
in Richardson county, remaining here until June i, 191 5, when he moved to
Louisiana, where he and his wife are now living, as noted above.

Jess R. Harrah was nine years of age when his parents moved to Kansas
and he was fifteen when they moved to Minnesota, he thus receiving his
schooling in three states. When the family came to this county in 1904 he
became engaged in farming, but later took up newspaper work at Burchard.
over in Pawnee county, and presently bought the Burchard Times, which he

868 RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

pulilished for two years, at the end of which time he sold that paper and
returned to Richardson county, locating at Dawson, and on December 15.
1914, bought the Dawson Reporter, which he recently sold. After taking
possession of the Reporter Mr. Harrah made numerous important improve-
ments in the paper and added quite materially to the equipment of his plant,
having had one of the best-equipped village newspaper plants in this part
of the state and published a very sprightly newspaper, the circulation of which
liad l)een largely increased under his able editorial direction. 'Sir. Harrah
also is a photographer of much skill and takes delight in the finished products
of his camera. JMr. Harrah sold the Reporter on June 6, 1917. and is now
engaged as a contractor and builder.

On June 7. 1906, Jess R. Harrah was united in marriage to Lena M.
Gerber, of Hiawatha, Kansas, and to this union have been born four children,
\Varren, \^ernon, Chauncey and Bernice \'iral. Mr. and Mrs. Harrah have
a pleasant home at Dawson and take a proper interest in the general social
and cultural activities of their home town and the community at large, help-
ful in many ways in promoting such movements as are designed to advance
the common welfare.

MORGAX H. A'AXDFA'EXTER.

The Hon. Morgan H. V'andeventer, former representative in the Legis-
lature from this district, former member of the board of commissioners for
Richardson county, one of the real pioneers of this section of Nebraska, an
extensive landowner and one of the first settlers in the precinct of ]\Iuddy
in the northern part of the county, a resident of the town of Stella since 1888
and formerly and for more than forty years actively engaged in the live-
stock l)usiness in this county, now living practically retired at his pleasant
home in Stella, is a native of the old Hoosier state, a fact of which he never
has ceased to be proud, but has been a resident of Nebraska since 1859 and is
thus very properly entitled to be accounted as one of the real "old-timers" of
this section. He was born on a pioneer farm in Carroll county, a little to the
west of the north central section of Indiana, September 9, 1836, son of
Christopher and Elizabeth (Baum) Vandeventer, of Dutch stock, the former
a native of the state of New York and the latter of Ohio, who left Indiana
in i860 and came to the then Territory of Nebraska, settling in this county,
where their last days were spent.

Christopher Vandeventer was reared in New York state and when twenty-

JIORGAN H. VANPEA-EXTER.

RICHARDSON COUNTV, NEBRASKA. 869

one years of age, in 1822, went to Indiana, where he married EHzahetli
Baum and later settled on a farm in the vicinity of Delphi, in Carroll county,
one of the early settlers of that county. There he and his wife reared their
family, remaining there until the spring of i860, when they came out here
and settled on a tract of land which their son, the subject of this sketch, had
pre-empted the year before in this county and here they spent the remainder
of their lives earnest pioneers of Richardson county. They were the par-
ents i)f ten children, Isaac, George, Jonas, Morgan, Ira and Jane (twins),
Margaret, Matilda, Reuben and John, all of whom save the two first named,
the elder sons, came to Nebraska in i860. The first-named, Isaac Vande-
venter, served as a soldier of the Union during the Civil War, a member of
an Ohio regiment, and George and Jonas Vandeventer served as members of
the Fifth Missouri in that struggle l^etween the states, the latter losing his
life in the service.

Morgan H. \'antleventer was reared on a pioneer farm in Intliana and
remained there until he was past twenty-two years of age, when, in the spring
of 1859, by the general agreement of the family, he came West with a view
to picking out a home place in the then new country. After a bit of pros-
pecting he decided that this section of the then Territory of Nebraska ofl:'ered
exceptional ad\'antages for settlement and he pre-empted a tract near Prairie
Union in Muddy precinct, this county. He built a one-room cabin on the
l)lace. a structure sixteen by eighteen feet in dimension, and made some other
preparations there fur the coming of the family and then traded his gold
watch to an Indian for a pony and rode back to Indiana, arriving safely at
Delphi, where he was able to give a good account to the family of the progress
of his mission out ^^'est. The family straightway began to make prepara-
tions for the long trip and in the spring of i860 drove through to this county
and took possession of the place that had been made ready for them the sum-
mer before. At that time there were but five other families in Muddy precinct,
the Ouinlans, the Hays and .\ndy Tynan on the Muddy and E. P. Pattison
and the Stouts on Sardine creek. For the children of these families the first
teacher was pioneer Cunningham, who conducted a school two or three months
a year in that settlement for some little time. The \'andeventers settled
down into their new home without much discomfort and soon were well estaii-
lished. the parents having had previous experience in pioneering in their
younger days back in Indiana and were thus quite able to make the best of
the situation. When the Civil War broke out the three elder sons of the
family being away at the front, Morgan H. Vandeventer, the next son, became

SjO RICHARDSON' COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

the practical mainstay of the pioneer home and had to stay at home to keep
things going, but he aided in the organization of a company of Home Guards
and received from Governor Nance a commission as an officer of that com-
pany. During this period of service it was his painful duty to drive over to
Independence, Missouri, and bring back to this count)- the bodies of three
of the boys who went out from this section and were killed in battle, these
soldiers having been his brother Jonas, A. Ewing and George Randall, and
the bodies of Jonas V'andeventer and George Randall were buried in Prairie
Union cemetery, Ewing being buried in the orchard of the Ewing homestead.
After his marriage in 1862 Morgan H. Vandeventer established his home
on a farm near Prairie Union, he having in the meantime become-the owner
of two farms in that vicinity, and there he lived until the spring of 1869,
when he moved to the place he long afterward occupied, the northeast quarter
of section 29. on Muddy creek, where in 1870 he erected the largest house in
the precinct. That farm he improved in excellent shape and as he prospered
in his operations added to his land holdings until he became the owner of four
hundred and forty acres. Along in the middle se\enties Mr. Vandeventer
became actively engaged in the live-stock business and it was not long until
he was one of the best-known stockmen in this part of the state. For more
than forty years, or up to the time of his retirement from general business
affairs in the spring of 1916, he continued engaged in the live-stock business
and for seven years of that time operated in association with Ben Morgan at
Salem. In the summer of 1888 Mr. V^andeventer left the farm and moved
to Stella, where he engaged in the mercantile business in partnership with
J. H. Overman and was for seven years thus engaged, in addition to looking
after his other interests. Mr. Vandeventer is a liepublican and for three
years (1870-72) served as a meml:)er of the board of county commissioners
from his district and as chairman of the Ijoard signed all the bonds issue<l by
this county as a bonus for the building of the old Burlington & Missouri
Ri\er railroad through this county. In 1890 he was elected representative
in the Legislature from this district and served with distinction in the House
during the session of 1891. Mr. Vandeventer is a member of the Christian
church and for fifteen years or more has been serving as an elder in the same.
F"or more than forty-two years he has been a member of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows and is the bearer of one of that order's medals issued
tt> members who have been identified with the order for more than forty years.
He first became a memlier of the lodge at Salem and when a lodge was raised
at Stella he transferred his memljership to the latter. This latter lodge was

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. iSjI

presentl\- merged with the lodge at Falls City, but after awhile had its charter
restored and Mr. Vandeventer has since been affiliated with the Stella lodge,
for many years one of the most active members of the same, as he is one of
the most venerable. Despite the fact that he is now in the eighty-first year
of his age, Mr. Vandeventer retains much of his aforetime vigor of mind and
body and continues to take a warm interest in current affairs.

Mr. \'andeventer has been twice married. In January, 1862, about two
years after coming to this county as a permanent settler, he was united in
marriage to Sarah Jane Brown, who also was born in Indiana, a step-daughter
of John S. Hughes, one of the pioneers of this section, and to that union
four children were born. John Albert, who is now living at Longmont, Colo-
rado; Burl J., who is now a resident of Jewell county, Kansas, and Walter
J., born on September 17, 1866, who is now the owner of two hundred acres
of land in this county and is also cultivating the old home farm in section 29,
and Charles, who died at the age of seven months. On December 24, 1886,
Walter J. Vandeventer was united in marriage to Keturah Mason, a daughter
of T. J. Mason. Mrs. Sarah Jane Vandeventer died in December, 1890,
and on December 12. 1891, Mr. Vandeventer married Miss Lois R. Lynn,
who was born in Illinois, a daughter of Seaman Lynn and who died on Jan-
uary 26. 191 5.

PETER M. GERGENS.

One of the most up-to-date farmers of Franklin .precinct. Richardson
county, is Peter M. Gergens. who was born in Ross county, Ohio, December
26. 1861. He is a son of Jacob and Appalonia (Frick) Gergens. The
father was born in Germany, but when about five years old his parents
brought him to America, the family locating in Ohio in 1834. There he
spent his boyhood and finally came West, in 1864, locating in Nemaha county,
Nebraska, where he remained about fifteen years: then located in Richard-
son county, in 1879, near \^erdon, engaging in general fanning there until
he retired from active life, moving to the village of Humboldt, where his
death occurred in 1905, at the age of seventy-six years. His widow siu'-
vived until 191 2, dying at the age of seventy-four years. To these parents
thirteen children were born, three of whom are now deceased.

Peter M. Gergens was about three years old when his parents brought
him to Nebraska and here he grew to manhood and attended the public
schools, remaining at home until he was twenty-two years old, when he

0/2 RICHARDSON COLXTV, NEBRASKA.

started in life for himself as a farmer by renting land. He bought his present
excellent farm in section 23, in Franklin precinct, on September 6, 1895. The
place consists of three hundred and forty acres. It had only a small house
and barn on it when he took possession. He went to work with a will and
has by his perseverance and close application developed one of the Ijest
improved and most productive farms in his locality. He has built a modern
twelve-roomed dwelling, around which he has set out a large number of
valuable trees, orchard and shade. He has made a specialty of handling
large numbers of grade stock from year and year, and no small portion of
his annual income has been derived from this source.

Air. Gergens was married on February 9, 1888, to Anna Reynolds,
who was born in Bureau county, Illinois. She is a daughter of Isaac and
Martha (Lockard) Reynolds, who removed from Illinois to Nebraska in
1882 and now live at Humboldt, Richardson county.

Three children have been born lo Mr. and Mrs. Gergens. namely:
Florence, the wife of John Iliff, and they live on a farm near Humboldt;
Raymond, married February 14, 1917, to \'era Treaster. and lives on a
farm in Porter precinct, and Warren, who is the youngest.

Politically, Mr. Gergens is a Democrat and has long been more or less
active in public affairs. He is now serving on the school board of his dis-
trict, having been a director of the same for a period of eighteen years.
Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern AVoodmen of America. He
and Mrs. Gergens belong to the Methodist Episcopal church.

JACOB :\IAJERUS.

The late Jacob Majerus, who at the time of iiis death at his home in
Falls City in the spring of 1914, was accounted one of the most substantial
landowners and retired farmers of Richardson county, was of European birth,
but had been a resident of this country since 1868, in which >ear he came
to Nebraska and became a pioneer of the Rulo neighborhood, later moving
to Falls City, where his la.st days were spent.

Jacob Majerus was born in the grand duchy of Luxemburg on June 5,
1840, and there grew to manhood. In 1868 he came to the United States and
came on out to the then new state of Nebraska and located in this county.
He bought a farm in the vicinit}- of Rulo, over in the eastern part of the
countv. and after his marriage two vears later estaljlislied his home there.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 8/3

Six \ears later lie bought a half section of land in that same neighborhood
and on that latter place lived for twenty-two years, or until 1898, when he
retired from the farm and he and his wife moved to Falls City, w-here the
latter is still living. Mr. Majerus l^ecame a \ery successful farmer and as
he prospered added to his holdings until he became the owner of nine hun-
dred acres of land, a part of which lay in the adjoining counties of Brown
and Nemaha, over the line in Kansas, besides his home place in Falls City,
which carried with it three acres and nine lots in the eastern part of the city.
]\[r. Majerus was a Democrat and was a member of the Catholic church, as
is his widow, and their children were reared in that faith. Jacob Alajerus
died on April 28, 1914.

On ^[arch 31, 1870, Jacob Majerus was united in marriage to Elizabeth
W'ilker, who was born at Buffalo, New York, December 11. 1851. daughter
of \\'illiam and Agnes (Sanders) Wilker, both of whom were of European
liirth. born in the kingdom of Prussia, but who were not married until after
their arri\al in this country, their marriage taking place in Buffalo, New
^'ork. where thev remained for some time, later moving to Delphos, Ohio,
where tHe}- made their home until 1865, in which year they came out to the
then Territory of Nebra.ska and settled on a farm in the timber, in the neigh-
borhood of Rulo, this count)-. The farm that \Villiam Wilker bought there
was partlx- improved and had on it a log cabin in which he established his
himie, the family living in that humble abode until he presently was able to
erect a more comfortable house. William Wilker died at Rulo in 1888 and
his widow survived him for more than fifteen years, her death occurring in
1904. Elizaljeth Wilker was about fourteen years of age when she came
w ith her parents from Ohio to this county and was living here when she mar-
ried ^Ir. Majerus. To that union twelve children were born, namely : Magda-
lina, who died at the age of five years: John Joseph, who died in infancy;
Margaret, who married John E. Tangney and is now deceased; Mary, wife of
John E. Sullivan, a real estate dealer and stockman at Effingham, Kansas;
.Vnna, who died at the age of seven months: John J., a farmer, living two
miles east of b'alls C\t\ ; Theodore, a farmer, living near Rulo ; Henry, who
is farming the old home place near Rulo: Jacob, who was drowned while
swimming in the ]\[uddy river in 1908: Helen, wife of John C. Mullen, a
well-known lawyer at Falls City: Mrs. Anna Krieger, living on a farm east
of Falls Citv, and Catherine, wife of Elmer Niery. now living in California.
Mrs. :\Iajerus also has an adopted daughter, Christina, daughter of her
deceased daughter, Margaret, and who is now a Sister in the convent of ^ft.
St. Scholasticas at .\tchison, Kansas.

8/4 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

JOHN WILTSE.

The Hon. John Wiltse, judge of the county court for Richardson county
and one of the best-known lawyers in this part of the state, former mayor of
Falls City and a substantial landowner and stock raiser of this county, is a
native son of Richardson county and has lived here all his life. He was born
on a pioneer farm in Jefferson precinct on January 2, 1876, son of Jerome
and Mary L. (Wahl) Wiltse, natives of New York state and pioneer settlers
in Richardson county, the former of whom is still living, a resident of Falls
City since his retirement from the active labors of the farm and a biograph-
ical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume, together with some-
thing of a genealogical character relating to the Wiltse family in this country.
Jerome \\'iltse and his wife were the parents of eleven children, nine of
whom are still living and further reference to whom is made in the sketch
relating to their father.

Judge Wiltse is a twin, his twin brother, James Wiltse, now a resident
of Lincoln, where he is engaged in the real-estate business. The judge
received excellent training for his judicial position, having been for some
years prior to his elevation to the bench a practicing attorney at Falls City.
Reared on the home farm, he su])plemented the course in the district school
in the neighborhood of his home b\- a course in the Falls City high school
and then began teaching school, to which useful calling seven of his brothers
and one sister also applied themselves in the early days of their successful
careers. For ten years he taught in the schools of Richardson county, mean-
time continuing his labors on the farm during the summer seasons, and during
all that period gave much of his leisure time to tiie'study of the law, complet-
ing his studies under the preceptorship of Clarence Gillespie. He was
admitted to the bar in 1904 and opened an office for the practice of his pro-
fession at Falls City, the county seat, where he ever since has been located.
In iQii he was elected city clerk of Falls City and in 1913 was elected mayor
of the city. To this latter office he was re-elected, resigning the office to enter
upon the duties of judge of the court following his election to that important
office in 19 15. During Judge Wiltse's incumbency in the mayor's office many
important public improvements were carried to completion in Falls City,
including the considerable extension of pavements and the installation of tlie
street lighting and sewer system, which was completed during his term. Judge
Wiltse is the owner of more than three hundred acres of land in this county
and is extensively engaged in the live-stock business in association with his

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 873

brother. Clarence C. Wiltse. The judge is a Republican ant! has for year?
taken an active part in the political affairs of the county, long- having been
looked upon as one of the leaders of his party in this county.

On May 15, 1904. Judge Wiltse was united in marriage to Elsie M.
Peck, who was bom in the precinct of Ohio, this CQunty, May 23, 1879, a
daughter of George \V. and Sarah (Maust) Peck, natives of Somerset county,
Pennsylvania, who came to this county in 1869 and the latter of whom is still
living, now a resident of Falls City. For five or six years prior to her mar-
riage Mrs. Wiltse was engaged as a teacher in the schools of this county.
The judge and his wife have four children, namel\- : Lawrence G., born on
February 21. 1905: John H., September 6, 1906; Homer G., February 27,
1909. and Virgil J., June 27, 1912. Judge and Mrs. Wiltse are members
©f the Methodist church and the judge is a member of tlie board of stewards
of the same. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the local lodge of the Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows and is vice-grand of the same.

JOHN M. GREENE, M. D.

Dr. John M. Greene, of Falls City, one of the best-known physicians
and surgeons in this part of the state, is a native son of Nebraska, but was
reared in the state of New York and did not return to his native state until
some years after he had begun the practice of his profession. He was born
on a pioneer homestead farm in Saunders county. September 9, 1874, son ot
Isaac and Emma J. (Kilner) Greene, pioneers of that section, v.ho later
returned to their native state of New York and there spent their last days.

Isaac Greene, an honored veteran of the Civil War, was of old Colonial
stock, a descendant of General Greene of Revolutionary fame. He was born
and reared in New York state and was living there when the Civil War broke
out. He enlisted for service as a member of Company B, Fourteenth New
York Artillery, and with that command went to the front, ser\'ing from the
spring of 1863 until the close of the war, and was present at Lee's surrender
at .Appomattox. During this period of service he was a participant in c^ne
of the most hazardous and destructive cliarges of the entire war, his regiment
having been a part of the command that was flung into the deadly "crater"'
at the battle of Petersburg and he was one of the twenty men that escapetl
alive from that terrir)le cauldron of death. He was captured by the enemy,
but soon afterward succeeded in effecting an escape. His lirother. Tiiomas

876 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Greene, ilied in the service just before the fall of Petersburg. Mr. Greene
saw mucli actix e service along; the Potomac and in the Virginia campaign and
came out <it tlie war a seasoned veteran. Upon the compleiion of his mili-
tary service lie returned to his home in New York, where he presently
married and shortly afterward came to Nebraska and took a homestead farm
in Saunders county and there established his home, but the grasshopper
visitation in that section during the year 1873 so discouraged him that he
presently gave up his homestead there and moved over into Butler county and
entered on a quarter section, the present site of David Git}', which he not
long afterward sold and then returned to New York, settling at ^ledina,
where he engaged in the manufacture of parlor furniture and was thus
engaged until his retirement from business at the age of fifty-nine years.
His wife died there in Januar}-, 1895, at the age of forty-seven years, and
he survived until in January, 19 15, he being sixty-eight years of age at the
time of his death.

Having been but a child when his parents returned from Nebraska to
New York, Doctor Greene received his early schooling in the schools of
Medina, in the latter state, supplementing the same by a course in the prepara-
tory academy in connection with Cornell University and in the normal school
at Brockport, New York, and then entered the medical department of the
University (if New York, from which he was graduated in 1898. Thus
admirabl) equipped for the practice of his profession. Doctor Greene opened
an office at ]\Iedina, New York, and was there engaged in practice for a year,
at the end of which time he returned to his native state of Nebraska and
opened an office at Plattsmouth, where he remained for three \ears and dur-
ing which time he took a post-graduate course in the medical department of
the Uni\ersit>- of Louisville. He then moved to Manley, Nebraska, where
he remained a couple of years, at the end of which time, in the spring of
1906. he moved to Salem, this county, wdiere he remained until his removal
to Falls City in 1908. In the meantime, in 1904, Doctor Greene had taken
a second pnst-graduate course, specializing in surgery at the New York Poly-
clinic. He also has on numerous occasions taken special study at Mayo
Institute and has become widely recognized as one of the leading surgeons
in this part of the state. The Doctor has handsomely appointed offices in the
Richardson County Bank building and keeps constantly abreast of the won-
derful modern advancement that is being made in his profession. In 1914
he was apjjointed city physician and served for two years.

On Ndvember 10, 1904, Dr. John M. Greene was united in marriage at
Plait'^miiutb. this state, to Dorotbv ^^'ehrbein, of that citv, daughter of Will-

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. Sy7

iam Wehrbein and wife, the former of whom died in 1896. and to this union
had been born one child, a daughter, Eleanor, born in [906. The Doctor
and Airs. Greene are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take a
proper interest in church work. They have a very pleasant home at Falls
City and have ever taken an interested part in the general social and cultural
activities of their home town, helpful in promoting all good causes. Doctor
Greene is a Knight Templar and a Royal Arch Mason, generalissimo of the
local commandery and high priest of the local chapter, has been a member of
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for more than twenty-one years and
ill the affairs of these orders takes a warm interest.

VICTOR G. LYFORD.

Victor G. Lyford, one of the leading merchants and business men of
Falls City and president of the board of- regents of the Nebraska State Uni-
versity, is a native of the state of Illinois, but has been a resident of this state
since 1891 and of Falls City since 1899, when he engaged in the mercantile
business in that city and has ever since been thus engaged, now the pro-
prietor of the largest store of its kind in Richardson county. He was born
at Neponset, in Bureau county, Illinois, August 16, 1859, son of Joseph and
Josephine ( Hinman ) Lyford, the former a native of the state of New Hamp-
shire and the latter of Illinois, who were the parents of eight children, five
of whom are still living. The mother of these children, who was born in
Groveland, Illinois, in 1836, died in 1870 and the father afterward married
again and to that union six children were born, five of whom are still living.
Joseph Lyford was born at Canterbury, New Hampshire, November 31, 1828,
son of Joseph and Caroline (Dow) Lyford, and was about eight years of
age when his parents came West and settled in Illinois. There he was reared
on a farm and later engaged in the mercantile business at Neponset, where
he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1900, he then being seventy-
two years of age. The Lyfords are an old Colonial family, the first of the
name in this country having been an Episcopal clergyman, who came from
England in 1627 and settled in New England, where the family is still widely
represented.

Reared at Neponset, Victor G. Lyford was made familiar with the details
of the mercantile business from his boyhood, the foundation for his success-
ful career having- been laid in his father's store when a boy. Upon com-

87" RICHARDSON COLXTV, XEBRASKA.

pletiiig the course in the schools of his home town he entered the Methodist
College at Abingdon. Illinois, and after his graduation from that institution
studied law in Chicago and in 1883 was admitted to the bar. In that same
year he came to Nebraska and for a few months thereafter was engaged in
the practice of law with A. R. Talbot at Lincoln, luit finding the law not t<i
his liking presently returned to his old home town in Illinois, where he engaged
in the mercantile business, operating a general store, and where he remained
for six years, at the end of which time he disposed of his interests there and
returned to Nebraska and started a store at Humphrey, up in Platte county,
where he remained for eight years, or until 1899. when he sold out there and
moved to Falls City, where he opened a general merchandise store with a
ten-thousand-dollar stock of goods and where he ever since has been suc-
cessfully engaged in business, now having the largest store in the dry goods,
women's ready-to-wear line, carpets and groceries line in the county. Upon
locating at Falls City Mr. I.\ford rented a store room fifty by one hundred
feet, on Stone street and there remained until 1901, when he moved into his
present commodious quarters, where "he carries well-stocked lines in the four
departments represented in his store. In addition to his extensive mercan-
tile interests ^Ir. Lyford has given close attention to the general business
affairs of his home town and is president of the Leo Cider and \"inegar Com-
pany of Falls City. He is a Republican and has given earnest attention to
local political affairs, has served as a memljer of the local .school toard and
is president of the board of regents of the Nebraska State University.

On September 24. 1885, during his residence in Illinois, Victor G. Lyford
was united in marriage to Florence N. Willits, who was lx)rn at New Boston.
Illinois, a daughter of William and Mary (Alyea) Willits, natives of Indiana
and both of whom are now deceased, and to this union six children have been
born, namely : Mabel, who married Fred M. Brown, of Lewiston. Montana,
and has two sons, Lyford and Philip: Grace, who married F. M. Graham,
of Buffalo, ^^'yoming, and has two sons, Robert and Frederick; Gertrude,
who marrietl Lloyd Shaffer, of Cedar Falls, Iowa; Helen, wife of Richard
P. Dittmar. of Hannibal. Missouri, and Constance and Florence, who are now
students of the Nebraska State L'niversity. The Lyfords have a very pleas-
ant home in Falls City. Mr. Lyford having bought and remodeled along mod-
ern lines his present hhndsome residence at a cost of eight thousand dollars,
and have ever taken an interested part in the general social activities of their
home town. Mr. and Mrs. Lyford are members of the Methodist Epis-
copal church and Mr. Lyford is president of the board of trustees of the

RICHAKOSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 8/9

same. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient
Order of United Workmen and the Modern Woodmen of America and in
the affairs of these several organizations takes a warm interest.

REUBEN HARSHBARGER.

Reuben Harshbarger. well-known breeder of thoroughbred, registered
Shorthorn cattle, owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land in section 5
and one hundred and twenty acres in section 6, all in Porter precinct, this
county, was born on November 26, 1858, in Stephenson county, Illinois. He
is the son of William and Sarah (Cauble) Harshbarger, natives of Pennsyl-
vania, descended from Pennsylvania-German stock, and Avho were early set-
tlers in the state of Illinois. They came to Nebraska-in 1871 and located on
section 7, Porter precinct, Richardson county, and establishe<l themselves on a
farm, which they improved' and developed, andhere they engaged in farm-
ing for the rest of their lives. William Harshbarger died on his farm in
i8c)i, at the age of seventy-eight; his wife died in 1892, at the age of eighty-
three. William Harshbarger and wife were the parents of nine children,
namelv : Samuel, John, Simon. Frank and Margaret, all deceased ; Henry,
who lives in "Porter precinct; Ira, living in Humboldt; Reuben, the subject
of this sketch, and Mrs. Lizzie (Ray) Sites, of PIumlx)ldt.

Reuben Harshbarger began doing for himself at the age of nineteen.
He ciMiimenced by renting land at the low figure of fift}- cents an acre on
the land known as the John Rausch farm, in 1876. He also rented land
for one-fifth of the crop; he was renting in all for a jjeriod of four years.
In 1880 he made his first purchase of land in Porter precinct, at sixteen
dollars an acre, working the tract for four years. He then sold out and
spent the next four years in Kansas. In 1889 he bought one hundred acres
in section 6, Porter precinct, at thirty-five dollars an acre. His next pur-
chase of one hundred acres was also in section 6, for which he paid sixty
dollars an acre, and his final purchase consisted of eighty acres, part of the
present home place, paying eighty dollars an acre for the tract. This land
is now held to be worth one hundred and .seventy-five dollars an acre, at
least. Following his settlement in 1889 on section 6, Mr. Harshbarger. with
commendable enterprise, carried out ■ substantial improvements on the hold-
ing. He has lived on the farm in section 5 since 1910, and on this farm
also he has incurred considerable expense in laying out improvements. In

88o RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

addition to his labors on the farm, Mr. Harshbarger has, since 1905, been
engaged in breeding thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle, holding private and
annual sales, the desire to obtain some of his choice strains being keen
amongst buyers and top prices are usually paid him. x\t the present time
he has fifty registered cattle of highest quality and since the beginning he
has been successful along that line.

On January 14, 1879, Reuben Harshbarger was united in marriage
to Clara Metz, who was born in Stephenson county, Illinois, on July 10,
1858, a daughter of Thomas and Rebecca (Andrews) Metz, natives of North-
ampton county, Pennsylvania, of Pennsylvania-German stock. They were
early settlers in Illinois and came to Nebraska in the spring of 1876 and
settled on the farm which Mr. Harshbarger now owns. Thomas Metz died
in 1886 at the age of seventy-six years and his wife, who survived him for
several years, died in igoi, at the age of eighty-one years. To ^Ir. and
Mrs. Harshbarger two children have been born, namely: Verna, who mar-
ried Roy Trimmer, of Porter precinct, and they are the parents of three
children, Herbert, who died at the age of three years; Cecil and Dale; and
Jesse L., living on the old home place, who married Ethel Williams and has
two children living, Gladys Evelyn and Forrest, and one, Joseph Reuben,
who died at the age of two years.

Mr. Harshbarger is a supporter of the Democratic party, but has never
been a seeker after public office, preferring to devote his time to his agri-
cultural interests. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen and of the
Woodmen of the World.

JOHN AHERN.

One of the progressive agriculturists and honored citizens of Richard-
son county of a past generation, was the late John Ahern, whose sterling
Celtic blood made him a man of man}' commendable personal traits. He was
born on August 17, 1836, in Limerick, Ireland, and when eight years old
his mother brought him to the United States, the voyage across the Atlantic
in an old-fashioned sailing vessel requiring many weeks. They first located
in Albany, New York, where he grew to manhood and attended school.
Leaving there he came to Galesburg, Illinois, where he was married in 1858
to Ellen Donovan, who was born on November 25, 1835, and her death
occurred at Shubert, Nebraska, June 13, 19 12.

MR. AND MRS. JOHN AHERN.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. »»I

During the Civil War Mr. Ahem was employed in a hay press at Gales-
burg, later removing to Elmwood, Illinois, where he remained until 1866,
when he came to Richardson county, Nebraska, buying a farm in East Muddy
precinct, one mile south of Shubert, and, by close application and persistent
effort he developed a good farm and established a comfortable home. By
good management he prospered with advancing years and added several other
good farms to his holdings, at one time owning seven hundred and ten acres
of valuable land in this county, also fifteen hundred acres in North Dakota.
He engaged in general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale, becom-
ing one of the leading general agriculturists in Richardson county. He was
a man of rare executive ability and foresight, and, being a close observer
and a wide miscellaneous reader he kept fully abreast of the times in scien-
tihc farming and stock raising. Before his death he deeded his lands to his
children, giving each an excellent start in life. He was a splendid example
of a successful self-made man, for he came to Nebraska a poor man, and by
his own honest and industrious efforts forged to the front, accumulating a
handsome competency, in fact, was one of the wealthiest men of his county.
He endured the usual hardships and privations of pioneer life on the fron-
tier and after the first year here would have sold his home farm for two
dollars and fifty cents per acre and moved to a new country, but Mrs. Ahern
discouraged such a course, prevaiHng upon him to remain here, believing in
the future development of the country. It was her desire to rear her sons in
the country, far removed from the disagreeable influences of cities and towns.

To John Ahern and wife the following children were born: Charles,
deceased; John, living in Barada precinct; Alfred, Thomas, Mary Ellen and
Bessie, all on the home place; William, farming near Shubert, Nebraska;
Edward and Walter, both on the home place. They all own valuable farms
in Richardson county. Alfred is a fruit grower, owning a fine eighty-acre
orchard of well-selected fruit. He is owner of the well-known A. G. Shubert
fruit farm. These children were all given good educational advantages.

Politically, Mr. Ahern was a Democrat, but was never especially active
in public affairs, nor a seeker after political office. He belonged to the
(^atholic church and assisted in building St. Ann's church. His death occurred
on November 6, 1913, at the age of seventy-seven years, after a long, useful
and honorable life of which his descendants may well be proud. All of the
.\hern children were liberal contributors to the Red Cross fund, and Alfred
Ahern invested in Liberty bonds, thus showing their love of country.

(56) ' . . . ^;

882 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

JASON TLMERMAN.

Jason Timerman, a former member of the board of county commission-
ers for Richardson county and one of the best-known and most substantial
farmers of the precinct of Porter, now Hving retired. in the pleasant village
of Stella, is a native of the great Empire state, but has long been a "West-
erner" since he was three years of age and a resident of Nebraska since he
was twenty, having come to this county with his parents in 1869, the family
.becoming pioneers of the precinct of West JMuddy. He was born in Jefferson
county, New York, March 7, 1849, son of Jacob and Rosina (Flanders)
Timerman, who emigrated with their family from that state to Illinois in
1852 and who remained in the latter state until 1869, when they came out
to Nebraska and settled on a quarter-section farm in the precinct of West
Muddy, in this county, where they spent the remainder of their lives, Mrs.
Timerman dying seven years later, her death occurring on May 12, 1876,
and Mr. Timerman surviving until January 4, 1900, he being seventy-nine
years of age at the time of his -death. Jacob Timerman and wife were the
parents of thirteen children, of whom the subject of this sketch was sixth in
order of birth, the others being as follow : John, a veteran of the Cixil War.
who is now living at Neodesha, Kansas ; Mrs. Amy Bartlett, deceased, who
was the wife of a Civil War veteran; Amos, who enlisted for service as a
soldier of the Union during the Civil War and was killed in the battle of
Atlanta, Georgia; Romaine, who also was a soldier of the Union during the
Civil War, now deceased; Sydney, another veteran of the Civil War, now a
resident of North Platte, this state; Nelson, who is engaged in the hardware
business at Verdon, this county; Mrs. Ellen Shuck, deceased; Mrs. Emma
Shuck, of Guide Rock, this state; Frank W., who is living on the old home
place in the precinct of West Muddy; Mrs. Hattie West, who died at Guid?
Rock: Lydia, who died in infancy, and Carrie, wife of J. E. Gilbert, of Stella.

.As noted above, Jonas Timerman was but little more than a babe when
his parents moved from New York state to Illinois and in the latter state he
grew to manhood. During the progress of the Civil ^^'ar he attempted
several times to enlist and get to the front to join his four elder brothers and
his brother-in-law, and in this patriotic endeavor had the sanction of his
father, who was glad to have sons to serv-e in so noble a cause, but his youth
was against him, he having been but si.^een years of age when the war closed
and his pleas to enter the service were invariably rejected by the recruiting
officers. When the family came to this county in 1869 Jason Timerman

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 083

entered upon the task of helping to improve and develop the home place, his
father having bought an unimproved farm in West Muddy, and presently
bought an "eighty" in the neighboring precinct of Porter, going in debt for
the same, and after his marriage in the following summer (1880), estab-
lished his home on that eighty, he and his wife beginning their housekeeping
in very humble style in a little house fourteen by twenty feet in dimensions.
He gradually paid off the debt on that place and ten years later bought an
adjoining "eighty", which he also improved and developed in fine shape and
it was not long until he had there a splendid farm, well improved and highly
cultivated and one of the most comfortable homes in that part of the county,
his quarter section long having been recognized as one of the best farms in
that neighborhood. There Mr. Timerman continued to live, actively
engaged in farming and stock raising, until 1905, when he retired from the
active labors of the farm and moved to Stella, where he has since made his
home and where he and his wife are very comfortably situated. Mr. Timer-
man is a Republican and has held township and county offices, having for
some time served as assessor of his home precinct, for one term as a member
of the board of county commissioners from his district and for twelve years
as a member of the school board. He and his wife are members of the
Lutheran church and he is a member of the local lodge of the Ancient Order
of United Workmen, to which he has belonged for more than thirty-two years
and which for seven years he served as financier.

On August 15, 1880, Jason Timerman was united in marriage to Frances
Otto, who was born in Germany on January 23, 1855, and who was but a
babe in arms when her parents, Henry and Anna (Lambert) Otto, in that
same year, came to this country and settled in Outagamie county, Wisconsin,
where they remained until the spring of 1866, when they came to Nebraska
and settled in. the precinct of Muddy, in this county. There Mrs. Otto died
in the fall of 1876. In 1880 Mr. Otto went to Kansas, where he spent his
last days, his death occurring there in 1884. To Mr. and Mrs. Timerman
one child has been born, a son, Ona H., who was born on October 8, 1881,
and who died on May 8, 1906, at Los Angeles, leaving a widow, who is now
living at Orange, California. Ona H. Timerman was a graduate of the
L'niversity of Nebraska and was for some time an instructor in the university,
the youngest instructor on the staff of three hundred in that institxition. He
later was elected county surveyor of Richardson county, the youngest person
ever elected to that office in this county. Declining health forced him to
seek a change in the climate of Los Angeles and he died in that city, mourned
by hosts of warm friends in this county and in other parts of Nebraska.

884 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

MICHAEL RILEY.

Michael Riley is one of four brothers extensively engaged in farming
and cattle raising in Richardson county. He is the owner of four hundred
and eighty acres of choice land in sections ii, 14 and 22, Grant precinct,
where he farms on a large scale and raises an excellent strain of the well-
known Polled Angus cattle. He is the son of pioneer parents, Michael and
Mary (O'Brien) Riley, and was born on September 14, 1863, in West
Muddy precinct, this county.

His parents, Michael and Mary Riley, came from New Jersey, where
the)- were married in 1853, to Nebraska, coming on to Rulo, this county,
in 1859. They made the trip by ox-team from Rulo to a point within three
miles of Verdon and there Michael Riley secured one hundred and sixty
acres of land. He bought a small house which he moved on to his claim
and here he and his family and his brother-in-law, Thomas Farrell, and the
family of the latter made their home together. At the end of a couple of
weeks his little house was uprooted by a tornado and they immediatelv set
to work to reconstruct it, getting additional lumber for the purpose. With
two yoke of oxen Michael Riley commenced the task of breaking his land
and soon had it in a state of cultivation. He sold this holding in 1864 and.
bought one hundred and twenty acres near Dawson, where he lived until
1884, at which time he bought a tract of land northeast of Dawson, where
Michael Riley now lives, and there spent the rest of his life. Michael and
Mary Riley were the parents of seven children, namely: Daniel, of Grant
precinct; James, who died in Omaha in 1907; William, living on the old
home place in Grant precinct: Bernard, the first of the family born in this
county, lives in Dawson: Michael, the subject of this sketch; Mary, who
married M. J. Clancy, of Dawson, and Annie, who died in 1871. The elder
Michael Riley was born in 1826 and came to this country in 1847; his wife
was born in 1830 and came to America in 185 1. They were natives of
County Tipperar}'-, Ireland, and were married in this country. They were
members of the Catholic church.

Michael Riley was educated in the district schools of his neighborhood,
after which he helped his father on the farm. He was twenty years old
when his father died and he then took charge of the home place. Ten years
later his mother died and he then bought out the other heirs to the one
hundred and sixty acres of the home place, and here he has since been en-
gaged in general farming and cattle raising, now being the owner of four

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 885

hundred and eighty acres of land. In 1914 he built a modern house,
equipped with steam heat, gas lights and hot water, at a cost of six thousand
dollars, and here he and his family are comfortably situated. In 1907 he
built a cattle barn and carried out other valuable improvements. In 1905
he commenced breeding Aberdeen Polled Angus cattle and in this line, as
in his farming, he has met with much success, his Aberdeen cattle fetching
good prices on the market. Hard work and thrift have been large factors
in his success.

On November 29, 1899, Michael Riley was married to Ellen Fenton,
who was born on March 25, 1870, at Norwich, Connecticut, the daughter
of Jeremiah and Katherine (Calnan) Fenton. To Mr. and Mrs. Riley four
children have been born, as follow: Mary, born on August 10, 1902, who
is at home; Joseph and Paul, who are deceased, and Michael J., born on
October 20, 1908. Mr. Riley and his family are members of the Catholic
church and he is a member of the Knights of Columbus.

. JOSEPH C. YUTZY, D. D. S.

The Hon. Joseph C. Yutzy, of Falls City, doctor of dental surgery,
now retired from active practice of his profession, a pioneer of his profes-
sion in southeastern Nebraska, an honored veteran of the Civil War, former
representative in the Legislature from this district, former mayor of Falls
City, formerly and for twenty years a member of the school board in that
city and in other ways identified with the civic and general affairs of this
community since his arrival here back in the seventies, is a native of the old
Keystone state, but has been a resident of Nebraska for the past forty years
and has therefore been a witness to and a participant in the development of
this region since pioneer days. He was born on a farm in Somerset county,
Pennsylvania, March 24, 1843, son of Daniel and Magdalena (Brennaman)
Yutzy, natives of Germany, whose last days were spent in that county.

Daniel Yutzy was born in 1802 and was reared in his native land, and
remained there until he was twenty-one years of age, when, in 1823, he
came to the United States, working his way over as a sailor, the passage
requiring eleven weeks, and settled in Pennsylvania, where he began work
helping to dig the old Pennsylvania canal at a wage of fifty cents a day.
He eventuallv settled in Somerset county, where he married and established
his home on a farm, becoming a substantial and well-to-do farmer and a

886 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

man of influence of his community. He was twice married. His first wife,
Anna Brennaman, a native of Germany, who had come to this country with
her parents when a girl, the family settling in Pennsylvania, bore him six
children, three sons and three daughters, Mary, Catherine and Enoch, de-
ceased; Samuel, a resident of Pennsylvania and of Florida; Joel, who con-
tinues to live near the old homestead, and Anna, wife of Jonas J. Beachey,
living near Grantsville, Maryland. The mother of these children died and
Daniel Yutzy then married his deceased wife's sister, Magdalena Brenna-
man, who was born in 1816 and who was but six years of age when her
family came to this country, and to that union also were born six children,
of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the
others being as follow: Jeremiah, deceased; Elizabeth, deceased; Lydia,
deceased; Mrs. Barbara Beall, of Sandpatch, Pennsylvania, and Dr. Simon
M. Yutzy, of Ann Arbor, Michigan, a former instructor in the medical
department of the University of Michigan at that place. The mother of
these children died in 1863, at the age of forty-seven years. The father
survived until 1882, he being eighty years of age at the time of his death.

Joseph C. Yutzy grew up on the home farm in Somerset county, Penn-
sylvania, a valued aid in the work of improving and developing the same,
and was living there when the Civil War broke out. On August i, 1862,
he then being nineteen years of age, he enlisted for service in Company C.
Fifty- fourth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and with that
command went to the front and remained in the service until mustered out
at the close of the war. He participated in the battle of Gettysburg and at
the battle of New Market, Virginia, May 15, 1864, was seriously wounded,
being shot through the right arm and the left leg. and while thus disabled
was taken prisoner by the enemy. In the July following, his wounds then
being far from healed, he was transferred to Libby Prison and thence,
after a while, to Belle Island and thence, in the fall, to Salisbury Prison,
where he remained, still suffering terribly, until his exchange on February
22. 1865. Upon his exchange he was taken to Wilmington, North Carolina,
and thence by transport to Annapolis, where he was given a berth in the
barracks and where he was cleaned up, trimmed up and made well again
and given proper clothing. He was then given a thirty-day furlough and
arrived home on March 18, 1865. There he suffered a relapse, due to his
weakened condition, as a consequence of the terrible suffering he had under-
gone, and for a time it was thought he could not recover. His furlough
was extended for thirty days and while he was thus laid up his regiment

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 887

was captured by the enemy and held prisoners until the surrender of Lee
not long afterward. He presently joined his regiment at Annapolis and
there received his honorable discharge, the command being mustered out of
the service at that point. Upon the completion of his military service he
relumed home and resumed his studies in school, later beginning to teach
school, and was thus engaged for two years, spending his summer vacations
in the study of dentistry under the preceptorship of Dr. W. C. Hicks, at
Myersdale, Pennsylvania. In the fall of 1867 he married and settled down
to the practice of his profession at Myersdale.

For twelve years Doctor Yutzy remained in practice at Myersdale and
then, in 1878, he came West looking for a likely place to locate in this then
new country. Among the places he investigated was Falls City and so well
pleased was he with the outlook here that he decided to remain, a decision
he never has had cause to regret. Upon taking this decision the Doctor
returned East for his family and without loss of time established his home
in Falls City, continuing there in active practice until a stroke of paralysis
on November 26, 191 5, compelled his retirement. Doctor Yutzy built up an
extensive practice, having been one of the real pioneers in his profession in
this part of the state and is widely known throughout this whole section.
The Doctor is a RepubHcan of the "standpat" type and from the very be-
ginning of his residence in this county took an active part in local civic
affairs. He represented this county in the Nebraska state Legislature for
two terms, served one term as mayor of Falls City and for twenty years was
a member of the local school board, in all his service in behalf of the public
giving of the best that was in him for the common good.

Doctor Yutzy has been twice married. It was in October, 1867, in Penn-
sylvania, that he was united in marriage to Sarah E. Beane, to which union
seven children were born, namely: Charles, a skilled musician, who is now
operating a moving-picture theater at Lebanon, Indiana ; Grace, wife of D. D.
Reavis, of Falls City; Henry Clay, who is engaged in the railroad service
at Albert Lea, Minnesota ; Anna Dickinson, who died at the age of six years ;
Elizabeth, who also died at the age of six: Nellie, wife of Frank Uhlig, a
farmer of this county, and Philena, wife of Frank R. Wilson, of Wash-
ington, D. C. The mother of these children died in 1886 and on May 24.
1888, Doctor Yutzy married Mrs. Kate (Quinn) Boyle, widow of Basil
Boyle and the mother of three sons, Langdon E. Boyle, now a resident of
San Francisco, California; Basil T. Boyle, of St. Louis, a traveling sales-
man, and Walter S. Boyle, of Memphis, Tennessee. Mrs. Yutzy was born

ceo RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

at Leavenworth, Kansas, a daughter of Andrew and Maria Quinn, natives
of Ireland and early settlers at Leavenworth. Doctor and Mrs. Yutzy have
a pleasant home at 1609 Lane street. Falls City, and have ever taken a
proper part in the general social and cultural activities of their home town.
The Doctor is an active member of the Grand Army of the Republic, in the
affairs of which patriotic organization he ever has taken a warm interest
and is past commander of the local post, having been the first commander
of the same. He became an Odd Fellow back in Pennsylvania in 1871 and
is past grand marshal of the grand lodge of that order in this state, having
been a representative to the grand lodge from his local lodge for ten years.
He also is a Mason and a member of the local lodge of the Knights of
Pythias and in the affairs of all these organizations took a warm interest
and still continues that interest, though now unable to continue the active
participation in the affairs of the organizations that he delighted in during
his years of physical activity.

TAMES M. WHEELER.

The late James M. Wheeler, of Shul^ert, who for many years was one
of Richardson county's best-known pioneer farmers, an honored veteran of
the Civil War, former treasurer of the precinct of Barada and former mayor
of Shubert, who died in the fall of 1903 while returning home from the
national encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic at San Francisco,,
was a native of the great Empire state, but had been a Westerner from the
days of his childhood, his parents having moved to Wisconsin when he was
about five years of age, and had been a resident of Nebraska and of Rich-
ardson county since 1866, having settled here in the spring following his
discharge from the army in the fall of 1865. fTc was born in the state of
Xew York on September i, 1839. son of Cargill and Abigail (^.^'ebste^)
Wheeler, natives of that same state and representatives of old colonial fam-
ilies, who came West in 1845 and settled in Wisconsin, where they spent
the remainder of their lives, influential pioneer residents of Greene county,
that state.

Having been l)ut a child when his parents moved from New "S'ork to
Wisconsin, James 'SI. \Mieek:r grew to manhood in the latter state, familiar
with pioneer conditions in a new country, and was living there when the
Civil War broke out. .\t the first callto arms in .April. 1861, he enlisted

JAMES M. WHEELER AND FAMILY.

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 8»9

the First Wi'sconsin Cavalry, with which command he served for more
his services in behalf of the Union and went to the front as a member of
than four years, or for some months after the close of the war, being finally
mustered out in the fall of 1865. During this long period of service Mr.
Wheeler saw much active service, was a participant in many of the bloodiest
and important engagements of the war and was a member of the squad
that captured Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of
America, at the close of the war. He was mustered out with the rank of
sergeant. Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Wheeler re-
turned to his home in Wisconsin and early the next spring came over into
the then Territory of Nebraska with an army comrade, John Spencer, and
bought a quarter of a section of land in the half-breed strip in the precinct
of Barada, in this county, paying for the same one dollar and fifty cents an
acre. Upon establishing his ownership to the tract he returned to his home
in Wisconsin and in Novemlier was married, returning straightway with
his bride and their small worldly possessions to this county. There was
no house on the tract, which was wholly unimproved, and during their first
winter here Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler made their home in a little old aban-
doned blacksmith shop. In the meantime Mr. Wheeler bought twenty acres-
of timber land and during that winter cut out logs with which to construct
a log house and in the spring his neighbors helped him put up a dwelling
place, fourteen by sixteen feet in dimensions, built of these logs. This rude
cabin had a dirt floor and the roof was of such loose construction that the
moonbeams shone through and the rain poured in, but the occupants of this
rude abode had high faith in the outcome of their pioneering and looked
with cheerful hearts to the future when they should have a better home and
all the comforts of life. Mrs. Wheeler had been a school teacher back in
her old home and after coming here taught school for some time, in order
to help things along, at the same time keeping up her simple household
tasks — for housekeeping was not a greatly complicated undertaking in the
homes of the pioneers — and with the proceeds from her first term of school
bought the first cow and calf the Wheelers owned. There were few white
people in that neighborhood at that time, but what were there were good
and kind and the young couple did not feel entirely isolated from the world.
In that little log cabin, which gradually was made more secure against the
invasion of the elements, their children were born and they lived there for
quite a number of years, or until they finally erected a more commodious
and comfortable dwelling. Mr. Wheeler was a good farmer and as he
prospered in his operati(Mis added to his holdings until he became tlie owner

890 RICHARDSON COUNTY^ NEBRASKA.

of a half section of land in this county, a quarter of a section in Oklahoma
and a couple of building lots in Shubert. In January, 1899, Mr. Wheeler
retired from the active labors of the farm and moved to Shubert, where
they erected a beautiful cottage and where Mrs. Wheeler is still living. ]\Ir.
Wheeler was a Republican and for some years during his residence on the
farm served as treasurer of Barada precinct and later served as mayor of
Shubert. He was a Mason and a member of the Grange and for years was
one of the most active members of the local post of the Grand Army of
the Republic. In 1903 he and his wife went to the coast on a visit to their
daughter, at Eugene, Oregon, and to attend the national encampment of
the Grand Army of the Republic at San Francisco. Upon returning from
San Francisco Mr. Wheeler got off the train at Granger, Wyoming, to buy
some refreshments and without premonition dropped dead on the station
platform, his heart apparently having suddenly succumbed to the strain
which the long trip and the variation of his ordinary routine of life had
exerted upon it. That was on September 4, 1903, and the body was brought
back to this covmty for interment. Wr. Wheeler and Mr. King broke the
ground for the soldiers' monument at Prairie Union and their names headed
the list of subscribers to the fund for the erection of the same, and in 1912
Mrs. Wheeler and Mrs. King continued the work and finally secured the
erection of the monument.

It was on November 16, 1866, in Green county. Wisconsin, that
James M. Wheeler was united in marriage to Almira A. Foote, who was
born in Erie county. New York, April 2, 1845, daughter of Charles Giles
and Caroline (Pyncheon) Foote, the former of whom M-as born in that
same county and the latter at Attica, in Genesee county, same state. Charles
Giles Foote was a son of Lewis Foote. In 1855 he left New York state
with his family and moved to Green county, Wisconsin, where he estab-
lished his home, the family being joined there the next year by the daughter.
Almira, who had remained behind at her old home in Erie county to teach
school for another term there. In the fall after her arrival in Wisconsin
she was married to Mr. Wheeler and came out to this county, where she
ever since has lived, one of the best-known and most highly respected pion-
eers of the northern part of the county. To Mr. and ]\Irs. Wheeler three
children were born, Flora Belle, Charles Cargill and Mary Maude. Flora
Belie Wheeler has been twice married and is now living on the old home
place in' the precinct of Barada, which her husband. Henry Fishburn, is
operating. By her first marriage she had one son, Guy O. Smith, who was
reared by Mrs. Wheeler and who at the age of seventeen years enlisted in

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 89I

the navy, received his discharge four years later as an electrician and is
now a railroader in Kansas. Charles Cargill Wheeler was accidentally
drowned in the brook that flows through the Wheeler farm when he was
but a toddler, one year and seven months of age. Mary Maude Wheeler,
who married Curtis Downs and is now living at Los Angeles, California,
has three children, Mrs. Madge Myrtle Hart-Pendleton, who has one son,
Byron Hart, by her first marriage; Mrs. Zenith Frisbie, who has two chil-
dren, Lavelle and Adelbert, and Mrs. Lois Albertson, who has one child, a
son, Harry.

WILLIAM R. HOLT.

William R. Holt, one of the best-known and most influential business
men at Falls City, proprietor of an extensive hardware, plumbing and heat-
ing establishment in that city and formerly and for years one of the best-
known breeders of high-grade live stock in Nebraska, is a native son of
Richardson county and has lived here all his life. He was born at the vil-
lage of Salem, in the precinct of that name, December 7, 1876, son of the
late Hon. John W. and Amanda M. (OHver) Holt, who were the parents
of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch, the last-born, is now
the only survivor, the others having been Amanda, Nellie and George. A
memorial sketch of the Hon. John W. Holt appears in this volume.

William R. Holt's youth was spent in Falls City, and his schooling in
the public schools was completed in the schools of this city, to which place
his parents had moved from .Salem in 1878. He supplemented that course
by a year's schoohng at St. Benedict's College at Atchison and a two-years'
course in a business college at Lincoln, after which, in 1896, he entered his
father's bank, the First National Bank of Falls City, and for eighteen
months thereafter was engaged as a clerk in that institution. In 1898, some
months after his marriage, he bought a farm one mile west of Falls City
and there established his home, being engaged in general farming and stock
breeding until his retirement from the farm in 1912 and removal to Falls
City, where he has since been engaged in business. During his residence on
the farm Mr. Holt gave particular attention to the breeding of Berkshire
hogs, in which plvise of farming he had been interested from the days of
his bovhood, and soon became recognized as one of the leading stockmen
in that line in the state. He was equally successful in breeding pure-bred

892 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Shorthorn cattle and his exhibits at numerous county and state fairs ever
attracted much attention among breeders. In 1903 he made an exhibit of
his stock at the Iowa state fair at Des Moines and in that same year exhib-
ited at Lincoln, Topeka, Hutchinson and St. Louis. The next year he
showed at Des Moines, Sedalia, Lincoln, Topeka, Hutchison and Kansas
City, and in 1905-08 continued this circuit, with St. Joseph included, while
in 1906 he took the prize for the best-bred sow exhibited at the Tennessee
state fair at i^Iemphis. Mr. Holt is a meml>er of the Berkshire Association
and though not now giving so much of his personal attention to the stock
business continues to take a warm interest in the affairs of that association.
Upon moving to Falls City in 19 12 he engaged there in the hardware,
plumbing and heating business and has a well-equipped establishment in that
line. He owns a farm of one hundred and sixty-three acres north of Falls
City and has a half interest in a farm of two hundred and eighty acres in
the northwestern part of the county and has not abandoned his interest in
agricultural matters. Politically, Mr. Holt is a Republican and takes a good
citizen's interest in local civic affairs, but has not been a seeker after public
ptlfice.

It was on June i, 1897, that William R. Holt was united in marriage
to Eva Giannini, of Falls City, who was born in Atchison county, Missouri,
daughter of Marion and Linda (Seymour) Giannini, natives, respectively of
\'irginia and jNIissouri, who came to this state from Missouri in 1884 and
located at Falls City, where Mr. Giannini was engaged in the bus and bag-
gage transfer business until his death in 1915, he then being past sixty years
of age. and where his widow is still living. To this union one child has
))een bom, a daughter, Nellie Lee, born on February i, 1901. Mr. and Mrs.
Holt are members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Holt is an elder of
the local congregation. They have a very pleasant home at Falls City and
take a proper part in the general social and cultural activities of their home
town, ]\Irs. Holt being a member of several of the leading clubs of the town,
in tlie aft'airs of which she has long taken a warm interest. ]\Ir. Holt is a
Mason and a member of the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows, of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and of the Royal Arca-
num and in the affairs of these several organization? takes an active interest.
.\s one of the leading merchants of Falls City he gives his earnest attention
to the general business affairs of that city and has long been helpful in pro-
moting such movements as are designed to advance the common welfare
iiereabout.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 893

WILLIAM RUDOLPH BOOSE, M. D.

Dr. William Rudolph Boose, one of the best-known physicians and
surgeons in this county, a practitioner at Falls City since 1905, is a native
of the old Keystone state, but has been a resident of Falls City since he was
two years of age. He was born at Salisbury, Pennsylvania, April 11, 1874,
son of William and Margaret (Turner) Boose, both natives of that same
state, of sterling old Pennsylvania-Dutch stock, the former born in 1846
and the latter in 1845, who are now living at Falls City, where they cele-
brated their golden-wedding anniversary on January 17, 1917, the occasion
having been made one of much felicitation and congratulation on the part
of their many friends in that city and throughout the county, where they
have resided since pioneer days.

William Boose was about thirty years of age when he came out to
Nebraska with his family with a view to establishing his home in this the
rapidly developing section. That was in 1876, and he established his home
on a farm six miles southwest of Falls City, where he remained until he \va>
forty-nine years of age, when he retired from the active labors of the fan
and removed to Falls City, where he and his wife are still living. To them
eight children have been born, of whom the subject of this sketch was the
third in order of birth, the others being as follow: Louis A., deceased; Mrs.
Dr. Emma J. Tucker, a missionary, now stationed at Technow, China; the
Rev. John H. Boose, a Presbyterian clergj'man, now engaged in the min-
istry at Marinette. Wisconsin; Mrs. Florence Holferty, of Pontiac, Illinois;
Clara, of Banning,. California; Mrs. Elta B. Young, of Montclaire, New
Jersey, and Frank, deceased.

Doctor Boose was well prepared by preliminary study for the practice
of his profession. Upon completing the course in the Falls City high school
he entered the University of Nebraska and was graduated from that insti-
tution, with the degree of Bachelor of Science, in 1899. He then entered
Rush Medical College at Chicago, and was graduated from that institution
in 1904, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Upon receiving his diploma
he was appointed an interne in the Englewood Hospital at Chicago and after
a year of very valuable practical experience returned home and opened an
office for the practice of his profession in his home city and has since been
thus engaged in that city. The Doctor has well-appointed offices in the
Richardson County Bank building and has built up an extensive practice.
On the occasion of Falls City being made a railroad division point in 191 1

894 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

he was appointed a division surgeon for the Missouri-Pacific railway system
and is still serving in that capacity. He served for one year as city physi-
cian and in 1906 was appointed to the position of county physician, and
served for eight years. Politically, the Doctor is a Democrat and has ever
given a good citizen's attention to local public affairs.

In June, 1908, Dr. ^^'illiam R. Boose was united in marriage to Mabel
F. Wilson, of Falls City, daughter of Robert P. and Adaline Wilson, old
residents of that city, and to this union two children have been born, Helen
Adaline and William Rudolph. The Doctor and Mrs. Boose are members
of the Presbyterian church and take 'a proper part in church work and in
the general social and cultural activities of their home town, helpful in many
wa\-s in promoting such movements as are designed to advance the common
welfare. The Doctor is a member of the locaF Masonic lodge and takes an
active interest in Masonic affairs. He also is affiliated with several fraternal
insurance organizations and gives his helpful attention to the same.

CHARLES F. SCHNEIDER.

Charles F. Schneider, one of the well-known and substantial farmers
in the southwestern part of this county and the proprietor of a well-improved
and profitably cultivated farm of ninety acres in the precinct of Nemaha,
is a native of the old Buckeye state, but has been a resident of this county
since the days of his infancy, with the exception of three years spent in the
railway service in Ohio and the time spent in college in Indiana. He was
born on a farm in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, July 20, 1873, son of George
and Mary (Kate) Schneider, the former a native of Germany and the latter
of Ohio, born of German parents, who later became pioneer residents of
this county and here spent their last days.

(ieorge Schneider, born in 1833, was a blacksmith in Ohio and in 1866,
at the time lands in this part of the country were Ijeginning to attract set-
tlers in large numbers, he came out to Nebraska and bought a tract of land
in-the precinct of Nemaha, in this county, believing the same to be an excel-
lent iuAestment, but without the expectation of making his residence on the
same. In 1874 his health began to fail and under advice to seek a dift'erent
climate he moved with his family to his land in this county and here estab-
lished his home, becoming early recognized as one of the influential farmers
of that section. There he spent his last days, his death occurring on Decern-

RICHARDSON COUNTV, NEBRASKA. 895

ber 26, lyio, he then being seventy-seven years of age. His widow sur-
vived for about four years, her death occurring in 1914, she then being
sixty-seven years of age. They were the parents of five children, of whom
the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth, the others being
as follow : Rev. Jacob U. Schneider, a minister of the Evangelical Lutheran
church, now stationed at Evansville, Indiana; George E. Schneider, former
clerk of Richardson county, now a resident of Hemingford, this state; Mrs.
George E. Garver, who lives on the state line in Nemaha precinct, and Mrs.
Katie Windrum, of that same precinct.

As noted above, Charles F. Schneider was but an infant when his par-
ents came to this county and he grew to manhood on the home farm in the
precinct of Nemaha, receiving his early schooling in the district schools of
that neighborhood. This schooling he supplemented by a course in \'al-
paraiso University at Valparaiso, Indiana, after which, when twenty-one
\ears of age, he became a telegraph operator and was thus employed for
tiiree years in the service of the Cleveland, Lorain & Western Railroad in
Ohio. Under the close confinement of that form of service his health began
to fail and he abandoned telegraphing and returned to the freer life of the
farm and has since continued to occupy the old home place, where he and
his family are \ery comfortably and very pleasantly situated. In addition
to his general farming Mr. Schneider has given considerable attention to
the raising of high-grade live stock and has done very well. In his political
affiliation he is a Denwcrat and gives a good citizen's attention to local civic
affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office.

On August 16, 1896, in Ohio, Charles F. Schneider was united in mar-
riage to Sarah Dumermuth, who also was born in Tuscarawas county, that
state. February 23, 1874, a daughter of Jacob and Magdaline (Zimmerman)
Dumermuth, natives of Switzerland and of Ohio, respectively, the former
of whom died in Ohio on January 6, 1912, and the latter of whom, torn on
Tune 23, 1838, is still living in that state. Jacob Dumermuth and wife were
the parents of eight children, of whom Mrs. Schneider was the seventh in
order of birth, the others being as follow: Mrs. Ladrach, of Ohio; Miss
Salome Dumermuth, of New Philadelphia, Ohio: Albert S., of that same
]ilace; Louis G., deceased; William J., of Strausburg, Ohio, and Mrs. E. G.
Livengood. of Tuscarawas county, that state.

To Charles F. and Sarah (Dumermuth) Schneider four children have
been born, namelv : Raymond J., born on Septemlaer 6, 1898: Bertha S..
June 22. 1900: Ruby M., September 8, 1909, and Grace M., August 8, 1913.

896 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

The Schneiders are members of the Reformed church and take a proper
part in church work, as well as in the general social activities of their home
neighborhood. IMr. Schneider is a member of the Masonic lodge at Sabetha,
Kansas, and takes a warm interest in the affairs of the same.

RILEY D. WAGGONER.

Riley D. Waggoner, one of Richardson county's most substantial farm-
ers and stockman and proprietor, in jointure with his wife, of a fine place
in section 10 of the precinct of Arago, besides the owner of a large tract of
land in Cherry county, this state, was born in a hewed-log cabin on a pioneer
farm over the river in the neighboring county of Holt, in Missouri, and has
lived in this region practically all his life, a resident on his present place since
1883. he and his wife having settled there shortly after their marriage. He
was born on January 8, 1852, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Yount) Waggoner,
natives of Tennessee, who were the parents of eleven children, of whom the
subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth and four of whom are
still living. Jacob Waggoner was married three times and his last wife bore
him four children, of whom two are still living.

Jacob Waggoner was born on a plantation in the neighborhood of Nash-
ville, Tennessee, March 22, 1823, a son of John Waggoner and wife, the lat-
ter of whom was a Brown, natives, respectively, of North Carolina and
Tennessee and whose last days were spent in the latter state. When about
eight years of age Jacob Waggoner came ^^^est with his three uncles, Solomon,
Daniel and David Waggoner, and grew to manhood in Missouri, where he
married Elizabeth Y'ount, who was born in Tennessee in 1822 and who had
moved to Missouri with her parents, the family settling in Holt county. After
his marriage Jacob Waggoner established his home in a hewed-log cabin in
Holt county and there resided until 1856, when he came across the river and
became one of the pioneers of this county, buying a farm in the vicinity of
the old settlement of Archer. A year later he sold his place and returned
to Missouri, but in 1858 he came back to Richardson county. Two years
later, however, in i860, he returned to Missouri and there spent the remainder
of his life. His first wife, tlie mother of the subject of this sketch, died on
April 21, 1868, and he survived for more than twenty years, his death
occurring on Februarv 21, 1889.

Riley D. Waggoner received his schcKiling in the schools of Holt county

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 897

and of. the old precinct of St. Stephen in this county. When twenty-one
years of age he began farming on his own account and after farming for a
few years in Holt county, Missouri ; he then went to Leadville, Colorado, and
prospected for three years in the mining region, becoming one of the dis- •
coverers of the Aspen mining section at the head of Roaring Forks. Return-
ing home he married in 1882 and located on the farm on which he is now liv-
ing, he and his wife having bought that place on January 17, 1883. This is
a fine farm of one hundred and seventy-seven acres in sections 10 and 2 of
the precinct of Arago, and. the place is well improved and profitably culti-
vated. In addition to this place, Mr. Waggoner is the owner of eight hun-
dred and forty acres in Cherry county, this state, and is quite well circum-
stanced. Mr. Waggoner has vivid recollections of pioneer conditions here-
about and recalls the days when as a boy of seven he followed three yoke of
oxen, dropping corn from a sack slung over his shoulder, working early and
late helping in the improvement and development of his father's farm. The
habit of early rising acquired in those days has stuck to him all his life and
live o'clock in the morning, winter and summer, sees him "on the job" even
to this day. In those days, Mr. Waggoner recalls, corn bread was the staple
article of diet, very little wheat bread being used hereabout at that time, and
the children of the family being treated to white bread on Sundays only. He
recalls the time when he sold his hogs for two dollars and fifty cents a hun-
dredweight, corn for seventeen cents and wheat for forty-five cents, hauling
to the markets at Preston and Falls City. Mr. Waggoner is a Democrat and
has served the public in the capacity of school director of his local district.
On January 10, 1882, in this county, Riley D. Waggoner was united in
marriage to Martha J. Anderson, who was born in Holt county, Missouri,
September i, 1857, daughter of John R. and Jane (Bowman) Anderson,
natives of Tennessee, the former born on November 11, 1819, and the latter,
July 18, 1818, who were married in Montgomery county, Indiana, to which
county their respective parents had moved in pioneer days. About 1844 John
R. Anderson and his wife came West and settled in Holt county, Missouri,
where they remained until 1863, in which year they moved over into Richard-
son county and here spent the remainder of their lives. John R. Anderson
became one of the most substantial landowners in Richardson county, the
owner of six hundred acres of fine land in the precinct of Arago, besides
land in the vicinitv of Falls City and over in Missouri. He also at one time
owned the old Union House at Falls City, the hotel at that time being known
(57)

898 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

as the Minnick House, which he bought from Minnick. Mr. Anderson died
on May 17, 1879, and his widow survived him for many years, her death
occurring on September 29, 1900. During the last thirty years of her Hfe
she was Wind. John R. Anderson and his wife were the parents of nine
children.

To Riley D. and Martha J. (Anderson) Waggoner four children have
been born, namely: Jessie L., wife of Edward Durfee, a biographical sketch
of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume; Pearl, who married George
L. Vaughn, of Arago precinct, and has two children, Elmo and Imo; Daniel
B., who is living on his father's ranch in Cherry county and who married
Mary Elam, daughter of Mansford Elam and wife, of this county, and Ruby
D., who married Albert Burke, of Falls City, and has one child, a daughter.
Ruby. Mr. and Mrs. Waggoner have ever taken an interested part in the
general good works and social activities of the community, which they have
seen develop from pioneer days.

WARD K. KNIGHT.

Ward K. Knight, well-known and up-to-date photographer at Falls
City, was. born and reared in the city of Cleveland, Ohio, but has been a resi-
dent of the West since he was eighteen years of age and of Falls City for
the past seventeen or eighteen years. He was born on October 6, 1874,.
son of George H. and Frances A. (Kimball) Knight, natives of New York
state and of New Hampshire, respectively, and both representatives of old
Colonial families and of Revolutionary stock. George H. Knight located
at Cleveland in 1868, after a trip West, engaged in the confectionery busi-
ness there and was thus engaged at the time of his death in March, 1892.
In August of that year his widow and her son, the subject of this sketch,
came to Nebraska and located at Beatrice, later moving to Falls City, where
they now reside, Mrs. Knight making her home with her son in the latter's
beautiful home on "The Boulevard" in the north end of the city.

Upon locating at Beatrice in 1892 Ward K. Knight became employed
in a photograph gallery in that city and there learned the details of modern
photography, becoming a very skilled artisan in that line. On January 8.
1900, he moved to Falls City and there bought a photograph gallery that
had been in operation in an upstairs establishment at the comer of Stone
and Seventeenth streets. Upon taking possession of that establishment he

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 899

immediately made numerous improvements in the way of modern and strictly
up-to-date equipment and it was not long until the admirable quality of his
work l>egan to attract wide attention hereabout. As the demands of a dis-
criminating public grew he gradually added to his equipment until he now
has one of the best-appointed photograph galleries in this part of the state
and is doing a fine business. In June, 1913, Mr. Knight established a branch
gallery at Stella and has since devoted one day in each week (Monday) to
the photographic needs of the people of that enterprising village. Mr.
Knight has given considerable attention to the general business affairs of
the city and is a stockholder in the Falls City State Bank. He is a Repub-
lican and gives a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, though not
a seeker after public office.

On September 4, 1961, Ward K. Knight was united in marriage to
Lydia May Peck, who was born on a farm in the precinct of Ohio, this
county, June 18, 1880, daughter of Urias and Mary A. (Miller) Peck,
natives of Pennsylvania and the latter of whom is still living in this county.
Urias Peck was bom in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in 1852, son of
Elias Peck, who came to Nebraska with his family in the spring of 1873
and settled in this county, where he spent the remainder of his life, his
death occurring here in April, 1909, he then being ninety-three years of age.
Urias Peck was twenty-one years of age when he came to this county and
some years later he returned to his old home in Pennsylvania and on Sep-
tember II, 1878, was there married to Mary A. Miller, who was born on
October 17, 1855. He had already acquired an excellent farm in the pre-
cinct of Ohio in this county and after his marriage established his home on
that farm and there spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on
January 11, 1897. He was 'the father of six children, two of whom, Robert
Milton and Ruth, are deceased, Mrs. Knight having three brothers living.
Henry Clav Peck, a farmer in Ohio precinct; Frank Peck, who is engaged
in the draying business at Verdon, this county, and William K. Peck, who
is farming the old home place in Ohio precinct. The mother of these chil-
dren later married Ephraim Peck, of Ohio precinct, and is still living there.
The Pecks are members of the Church of the Brethren and have ever taken
an active part in the good works of their home community.

To Ward K. and Lydia May (Peck) Knight three children have been
born, two sons and a daughter, Frances Mary, born on July 21, 1902, one
son died in infancy, April 7, 1907, and Herbert Ward, July 6. 1909. The
Knights have one of the finest homes in the city, located on "The Boule-
vard." and' take a proper part in the social and cultural activities of their

900 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

home town. Mrs. Knight also is a skilled photographer and is of much
assistance to her husband in his artistic work. She is a member of the local
lodge of the Rebekahs and takes much interest in the affairs of the same.
Mr. Knight is a prominent Odd Fellow and a member of the encampment
of that order, as well as of the Rebekahs and is also a member of the Royal
Highlanders.

CHARLES LUKE HUSTEAD, M. D.

Dr. Charles Luke Hustead, of Falls City, one of the best-known young
physicians in that city and who is now serving as county and city physician,
was born at Linn, in Washington county, Kansas, July 12, 1884, son of
Silas D. and Caroline (Shepley) Hustead, natives of Iowa, the former of
whom was the son of Silas D. Hustead, a native of Virginia, and the latter
a daughter of Massachusetts parents, Doctor Hustead thus being of sterling
old Virginia and New England stock. The Husteads moved from Iowa to
Kansas in 1881 and settled at Linn. Silas D. Hustead was first a farmer
and then engaged in the restaurant business, later becoming engaged in the-
grain business and was thus engaged until his "retirement in 1912 and re-
moval to Falls City, where he is now living.

Doctor Hustead received excellent scholastic preparation for his pro-
fession. Upon completing the course in the high school at Belleville, Kan-
sas, he taught school a couple of temis and then took a course in a commer-
cial college at Omaha, meanwhile pursuing his medical studies, and then
entered the medical department of Creighton University, from which he was
graduated in 1912, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Upon receiving
his diploma Doctor Hustead opened an office for the practice of his profes-
sion at Rapid City, South Dakota, but three months later, not finding things
to his liking there, moved to Falls City, opening an office there in August,
191 2, and has since been engaged in practice in that city. The Doctor has
well-appointed offices and has built up an extensive practice. He is a mem-
Ijer of the Richardson County Medical Society, a member of the Nebraska
State Medical Society and of the American Medical Association, in the de-
liberations of all of which organizations he takes a warm interest, and keeps
fully abreast of the wonderful advances that are l>eing made in his profession
these days. In May, 1914, Doctor Hustead was appointed city physician
for Falls City and in June, 1915, was appointed county physician and in
1916 was reappointed city physician. He is the district examiner for the

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 9OI

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company of New York and the local examiner
for the Mutual Life Insurance Company of St. Paul, the National Life
Insurance Association of Des Moines and the Mutual Life Insurance Com-
pany of Kansas City. He is an active member of the Falls City Rifle Club,
a patriotic organization whose practice is under the direction of officers of
the United States army. Doctor Hustead is a member of the board of reg-
istration having in charge the registration of all Richardson county young
men subject to military service in the Great War.

In 1913 Dr. Charles L. Hustead was united in marriage to Rosa L.
Kretzschmar, of Omaha, daughter of F. H. Kretzschmar and wife, and to
this union has been born one child, a son, Charles Luke, Jr. Doctor and
Mrs. Hustead have a pleasant home at Falls City and take a proper interest
in the general social and cultural affairs of their home town. The Doctor
is an independent Republican and, fraternally, is affiliated with the Masons,
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order
of Elks, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Woodmen of the World
and the Central Protective Association, in the affairs of all of which organ-
izations he takes a warm interest.

THOMAS C. CUNNINGHAM.

Thomas C. Cunningham, an honored veteran of the Civil War, former
sheriff of Richardson county, former clerk of the district court and a substan-
tial retired farmer of the precinct of Liberty, now living at Shubert, is a native
of the neighboring state of Missouri, was reared in eastern Iowa and has
Ijeen a resident of this county .since the spring of 1857,' when he and his
elder brother came out here and located a pre-emption claim northwest of
Falls City, where their parents later located. He was born on April 28,
1843, ^ s<^" of William F. and Sarah A. (Wilson) Cunningham, who in the
fall of that same year moved from Missouri to eastern Iowa, where they
remained until they came to Nebraska in 1858 and became pioneers of this
county.

William F. Cunningham was born in Pennsylvania in 1808, a repre-
.sentative of the third generation of his family in this country, and there
received a university education, preparing himself for teaching. He later
went to New Orleans, where he opened a private school, but the contact with
the institution of slaverv in that citv became so unbearable to him that he

9°^ RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

presently left there and came on up the river and located in Missouri, where
he established a school and where he married, but his ardent Abolition views
soon convinced him that Missouri was no place for him and in the fall of
1843 h^ moved with his family to Lee county, Iowa, where he was made
principal of the town schools and where he established his Rome, remaining
there until in 1858,- when, as noted above, he came over into Nebraska and
settled on a farm seven miles northwest of Falls City, which his sons had
entered there one year before. On that farm his wife died in 1863 and he
afterward returned to Iowa and years later went to live with a son in Cali-
fornia, where he died in 1892, he then Ijeing eighty-four years of age. It
was during the early period of his residence in Missouri that William F.
Cunningham met and married Sarah A. Wilson, who was born in Kentucky
in 1820, a representative of the third generation of her family in this coun-
try, and whose parents had moved from Kentucky into Missouri. To that
union were born six children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the
third in order of birth, the others being as follow; Ebenezer E., a pioneer
of Richardson county, who later went to California, where he has since
resided, living in South San Francisco; Mrs. Sarah A. Cook, of Topeka,
Kansas; Cyrus, who died in 1877; Lorenzo Dow, who is now living at
Scottsville, Kansas, and Alonzo, of Chase county, this state.

Reared in a college town in eastern Iowa, to which place his parents
had moved from Missouri when he was but an infant in arms. Thomas C.
Cunningham's boyhood was spent amid refining influences and he still re-
calls that he never saw a drunken man until he came to Nebraska, his first
sight of a man under the influence of liquor having been gained at a shooting-
match held at Salem back in pioneer days, one of his neighbors having won
the day's prize, a quarter of beef. The "refreshments" for the occasion
consisted of whisky set out in gallon buckets into which the settlers freely
dipped with tin cups, with the result that there was much drunkenness. Mr.
Cunningham's abhorrence of liquor was further strengthened on that occa-
sion and he has always remained a temperate man. It was in the month of
Mav. 1857, that Thomas C. Cunningham, then just past fourteen years of
age, came over into the- then Territory of Nebraska with his elder brother,
Ebenezer K. Cunningham, and helped the latter make the initial improve-
ments on a tract of land he had pre-empted in the precinct of Ohio, this
count}-, aliout seven miles northwest of Falls City, the place on which their
parents settled the next }ear, and he helped to build up that pioneer farm.
In i860 he "hired out" with a freighting outfit at Nebraska City and was

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 9O3

for a year thereafter engaged in freighting along the old overland trails
across the plains to the Rockies, the other end of the freight line being at
Central City, and was thus engaged when the Civil War broke out. In
March, 1862, he then being but eighteen years of age, Mr. Cunningham
enlisted for service in the Union army and went to the front as a member
of Company C, Fifth Missouri Cavalry, with which command he served
until mustered out on June 22, 1863. He straightway re-enlisted, as a
jnemljer of Company D, Twelfth Missouri Cavalry, and with that command
served until finally discharged on March 9, 1866, nearly a year after the
close of the war. In the early part of his service Mr. Cunningham was
mainly engaged in scout duty, one of his early engagements having been at
the battle of Tupelo, Mississippi.- During a later engagement about one
liundred miles south of Nashville he was taken prisoner by the enemy, but
twenty days later made his escape by night and was able to rejoin his com-
mand at Nashville. In the summer of 1865 the Twelfth Missouri Cavalry
was sent West to take part in the campaign against the Indians and on that
service Mr. Cunningham took part in the battle of Powder River. In the
fall he was stationed at Ft. Laramie, and from there went to Julesburg on
the Platte river trail and from there to Ft. McPherson, thence to the Solo-
mon river county in Kansas, returning to Ft. McPherson, and was finally
mustered out in April of 1866.

Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Cunningham returned
to the home farm in the precinct of Ohio, this county, and for some little
time thereafter was engaged in farming, but he presently went to Falls
City, where for four years he was engaged in the livery business. In the
fall of 1873 li^ ^v^s elected sheriff of Richardson county and served in that
office for four years, that being at a time when the duties of sheriff here were
of a somewhat more strenuous character than at the present day, and to his
record as plainsman, soldier and Indian fighter he added the further record
of a most efficient officer of the law and a terror to evil-doers hereabout.
On January i, 1878, Mr. Cunningham was appointed clerk of the district
court for this county and served for two years under that appointment. He
then was elected to the same office and served as an elective officer for four
vears. serving as district clerk for six years, during which time he added
further to his record as a painstaking and capable public officer. In the
meantime, in 1875, Mr. Cunningham had married and upon the completion
of his term of public office he went to his quarter-section farm northwest
of Verdon, in Liberty precinct, established his home there and there re-
mained until his retirement in 191 2 and removal to Shubert, where he since

904 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

has made his home, one of the best-known pioneers of Richardson county.
Mr. Cunningham still owns his farm of one hundred and sixty acres north
of A'erdon and the same is in a fine state of cultivation and improvement,
some of his neighbors being good enough to say that it is the best farm in
the neighborhood. Mr. Cunningham was reared in the Presbyterian church
and, politically, was for years an ardent Republican, having cast his first vote
for Abraham Lincoln in 1864, while fighting in Alabama, but in the mem-
orable campaign of 191 2 joined the Progressives and voted for Theodore
Roosevelt, while in 1916 he voted for Woodrow Wilson, thus attesting hh
indorsement of the administration in that difficult period. For governors of
Nebraska he has voted for every Republican nominee from David Butler
to A. L. Sutton.

On May 5, 1875, Thomas C. Cunningham was united in marriage to
Mrs. Mary Jane (Boston) McElroy, a widow, who was born in Platte
county, Missouri, December 25, 1850, daughter of Granville Boston and wife,
ijatives of Kentucky, -and who died on October 13, 1899, leaving four chil-
dren, one son by her first marriage, Oscar L. McElroy, now a resident of
California, and three daughters by her second marriage. Pearl, now living
at St. Joseph, Missouri; Mrs. Nellie M. Stump, widow of Ouentin Stump,
who has a son, Robert, and Caroline, who married Leroy E. Edwards, of
Shubert, and has one child, a daughter, Lucile.

ALLEN FRANIvLL\T.

Allen Franklin, retired farmer and orchardist of Barada precinct and
one of the best-known pioneers of Richardson county, is a native of the
state of Illinois and has been a landowner in this county since 1868. He
was born in Woodford county, Illinois, September 9, 1843, a son of Jared
D. and Cynthia (Hinshaw) Franklin, natives of Connecticut and of Ten-
nessee, respectively, whose last days were spent in Illinois. Reared in his
native state, Allen Franklin remained in Illinois until he was past twenty-
two years of age and then, in 1866, came West and settled in Kansas with
a view to becoming a permanent resident of the Sunflower state, but two
years later, in 1868, he came up into Nebraska, being induced to come by
his father, who had located in Nebraska, and bought a tract of land in the
precinct of Barada, in this county, and in 1870 left his Kansas prospects
and located on his Richardson county land, proceeding to improve and de-

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 9O5

velop the same, and after his marriage in 1872 established his home there
and has ever since made that place his home, one of the most substantial
pioneer residents of that part of the county.

About twenty years ago Mr. Franklin began to recognize the possi-
bilities connected with the culture of apples in this region and in 1900 and
1 90 1 he planted his present extensive orchard, the same long having been
regarded as one of the best and most carefully tended orchards in this part
of the state. Mr. Franklin is the owner of a fine place of one hundred and
twenty acres and ninety acres of this is covered with an apple orchard, the
output of which, in 1916, when there was only a forty-per cent crop, ex-
ceeded fifteen carloads of apples, two hundred barrels to the car; these
shipments being only the select fruit, the culls and less desirable fruit being
turned into the cider-mills which are operated on the place. The products
of the Franklin orchard are marketed through the Fruit Growers' Asso-
ciation, of which Mr. Franklin and his sons are members, and the apples
are all sold before leaving the orchard, the high grade of the products ever
bringing the top of the market. The choice varieties of apples raised on
the Franklin trees include "Black Lucks," "Virginia Beauties.'' "Ganos" and
the "Ben Davis." In recent years Mr. Franklin's son^;. Rolla and Lee
I'Vanklin. have been managing the orchards, operating under the firm name
I if Franklin Brothers, and the admirable appearance of the orchard plant
is ample evidence of the close care they give to the same. A motor truck
is used t(i c'in\ey the barreled fruit to the shipping point and during the
seastjn a small army of pickers are employed on the place. Though now
practically retired from the active labors of the place, the elder Franklin
continues, during the springs and summers, to give his earnest attention to
the trees whose growth he has watched with prideful interest and is widely
recognized hereabout as an authority on scientific apple culture. He also
<i\\ns a farm in Louisiana and he and his wife spend their winters in that
state or some other point in the Southland, returning to the old home place
with the coming of the spring and the return of the apple blossoms.

In 1872, in this county, Allen Franklin was united in marriage to Marv
b31!en Spickler, who died in 1875, leaving one son, Jared D., who was acci-
dentally drowned in this Missouri river when nineteen years of age. In
1877 Mr. Franklin married Alice Margaret Mitchell, who was born in Illi-
nois on February 20, 1857, daughter of William and Mary Mitchell, and
to this union six children have been born, namely: Leonora, who married
John -XtimaiTn,- living -three and one-haif miles northwest of Verdon, and
lias four children, Gladys, John Allen, Millicent and Vernell : Richard Rolla,

906 RICHARDSON COUXTV, NEBRASKA.

of the firm of Franklin Brothers, orchardists, who married Katie Crouch
and lias four children, Marian Alice, Mabel, Richard R., Jr.. and Xancy
Thelma : Benjamin George, a homesteader and ranchman of Montana, who
married Vesta Lively, of Falls City, and has two children, Robert Benjamin
and \'ernell; .\nna. who is at home: L. Lee, also at home, a member of
the firm of Franklin Brothers, orchardists, and Myron C, of Stella. Mr.
and Mrs. Franklin are members of the Church of Christ at Barada and
take a warm interest in church work, as well as in the other good worka
and general social activities of the community of which they have been
residents since pioneer days. Mr. Franklin is a Republican, though reserving
his right to vote independently on local issues, and has served as director
of his local school district and has in other ways done his part in advancing
the general interests of his community.

JOSEPH LOUIS VON BERGEN.

Joseph Louis \'on Bergen, one of the best-known and most substantial
farmers in the southwestern part of the county and the proprietor of a fine
place and a beautiful home set in the timbered valley of the Rattlesnake in
section 27 of the precinct of Nemaha, was born in that immediate vicinity,
in a house just across the creek from his present residence, and has lived
there all his life. He was born on February 12, 1871, son of Melchoir and
Katie (Troxell) \"on Bergen, both of whom were born in the republic of
Switzerland and whose last days were spent in this county, of which they
were honored pioneer residents, having settled here in 1869.

]\[elchoir Von Bergen was born in the canton of Bern on July 3, 1834,
and remained in his native Switzerland until he was twenty-seven years of
age, when, in 1861, he came to this country and settled in Illinois, where
he farmed for a year, at the end of which time he went to Ohio, where he
engaged in the manufacture of cheese and where he married Katie Troxell,
who was born in Switzerland on June 11, 1842, and who was but an infant
when her parents came to this country in 1843 ^nd settled in Ohio. Melchoir
Von Bergen did well in his cheese-making enterprise in Ohio and remained
there until 1869, when he decided to come West and become a Nebraska
farmer. Upon coming here he bought two hundred acres of land along
Rattlesnake creek in the precinct of Nemaha, in this county, and there estab-
lished his home, he and his wife spending the remainder of their lives there.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. QOJ

Mr. Von Bergen was an excellent farmer and as he prospered in his under-
taking he added to his holdings until he became the owner of six hundred
and forty acres and was accounted one of the most substantial and influential
farmers in that part of the county. He was a Republican and gave close
attention to local civic affairs. He and his wife were active members of the
Reformed church and ever took a proper part in local good works. Melchoir
\'on Bergen died on October 3, 1912, and his widow survived him less than
a year, her death occurring on March 28, 191 3. They were the parents of
seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order
of birth, the others being as follow: Emma, deceased; Katie, deceased:
Mrs. Lizzie Feldman, of Sabetha, over the line in Kansas; Ella, deceased;
Edward, deceased, and Frederick, deceased.

J. Louis Von Bergen was reared on the home farm on the timbered
banks of the Rattlesnake and received his schooling in the pioneer schools
in that neighborhood. From boyhood he was an able assistant to his father
in the labors of the home farm and has always been a farmer there. Upon
the division of the homestead he received his share and later purchased half
of the estate. To this he has added until now he is the owner of six hun-
dred and forty acres, the greater part of which land he rents out. The home
farm in section 27, where he makes his home, has two sets of buildings on it
and his two other farms are also well improved. His home place is one of
the most picturesque spots in that part of the country. He has a fine -resi-
dence and he and his family are very pleasantly situated, indeed. In addi-
tion to his general farming and stock raising, Mr. Von Bergen gives con-
siderable attention to the general business affairs of the community and is a
stockholder in the First National Bank of Humboldt. Politically, he is a
Democrat and takes a warm interest in local political affairs, but is not a
seeker after public office.

On December 10, 1907, J. Louis Von Bergen was united in marriage
to Amanda Fankhauser, who was born in the precinct of Speiser, this county,
daughter of John Fankhouser and wife, pioneers of that precinct, and to
this union three children have been born, Ruth Laverne, born on October
18, 1908; Ralph Louis, October 24, 1912, and Doris Lorene, August 10.
1916. Mr. and Mrs. Von Bergen are members of the Reformed church and
give their earnest attention to the various beneficences of the same, as well
as to the general good works of the community and also take an interested
part in the community's general social activities, helpful in promoting all
agencies designed to advance the common welfare.

908 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

MARTIN D. ULMER.

INIartin D. Ulmer, one of Richardson county's best-known and most
progressive farmers and the proprietor of a fine place of a quarter section
in the precinct of Grant, is a native of the old Keystone state, but has been
a resident of this county since 1884 and has thus been a witness to and a
participant in the development of this region during the past thirty years
and more. He was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, September 13.
1861. son of JMartin and Catherine (Shaefer) Ulmer, both natives of that
same county and both of German descent, the latter of whom became a
pioneer of Richardson county and here spent lier last days, having come here
as a widow in 1884.

Martin Ulmer was the son of Leonard Ulmer, a native of Germanv. a
son of Leonard L'lmer, Sr.. who was a son of Thomas Ulmer. The junior
Leonard, the first of his family to come to this country, married ]\Iarie
Stump in his native land and in 1804 came to the United States, settling in
Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, where he and his wife established their
home and where they reared their family. Their son. Martin Ulmer, grew
to manhood on the home farm in that county and there married Catherine
Shaefer, a daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth (Guinter) Shaefer, also
natives of Germany, who had emigrated to the United States in 1804 and
had settled in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, neighbors to the Ulmers.
After Jiis marriage Martin Ulmer established his home on a farm in his
native county and there spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in
1870. In 1884 his widow disposed of her interests in Pennsylvania and
with her children came to Nebraska and settled in this county. She bought
a' quarter of a section of land just across the highway from the farm owned
by the subject of this sketch and which he bought at the same time, and
there she lived until 1894, when she moved to Dawson, making her home
with a son and daughter, her death occurring in 1903, she then being seventy-
five years of age. She was the mother of five children, those besides the
subject of this sketch being Henry (deceased), Israel, of Dawson, this
county; b'manuel. of Grant precinct, and Sarah E., of Dawson. Emanuel
Ulmer married Sarah Heim and has six children, Mary, Norman. Edna.
Walter, Reuben and Nelson. Mary Ulmer married Charles Wuster and has
two children, Orville and Miriam. Norman L'lmer married Merdeth Miller.
Reuben Ulmer married True Stratton and has one child, a daughter, Evelyn.

.As noted above, it was in 1884 that Martin D. Ulmer came to this

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 9O9

county, accompanying his widowed mother from Pennsylvania. He bought
a quarter of a section of land in the precinct of Grant, the place he' ever since
has occupied, right across the road from the quarter section his mother
l)ought. When he bought the place it had but slight improvements on it. a
little one-room house, a tumble-down barn and a decrepit corncrib, but he
went to work with energy and it was not long until he began to get results,
soon having one of the best-improved farms in that neighborhood and he
ever has made a point of keeping his place up to standard. His fine resi-
dence occupies a commanding site on a beautiful rise and the surrounding
grove of evergreens and the adjacent vineyard lend picturesqueness to the
spot. The large barn and well-ordered farm buildings are in keeping with
the central establishment, the entire farm plant bearing the unmistakable im-
print of its owner's progressive and up-to-date methods of doing business.
L'pon buying that place Mr. Ulmer found it necessary to incur a consid-
erable indebtedness, but he soon got that paid off and has prospered in his
operations. In addition to his general farming he has paid considerable
attention to the raising of high-grade live stock, with particular attention to
Black Angus cattle and Poland China hogs, and has done very well. He
and his sister now own the farm their mother- formerly owned and rent the
same to advantage. Mr. Ulmer is a Democrat and has ever given a good
citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has not been a seeker after
public office.

On December 5, 1893, Martin D. Ulmer was united in marriage to
Sophia Heim, who also was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, July
19, 1868, daughter of Jacob G. and Regina (Gross) Heim, natives of Penn-
sylvania, who came to this county in 1874 and settled on a farm one mile
north of Dawson, becoming early recognized as among the most substantial
and influential pioneers of that neighborhood. Jacob G. Heim, further and
fitting reference to whom is made elsewhere in this volume, died in April,
1 9 14, he then being eighty-two years of age, and his widow is still living
in this county, now making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Emanuel
Ulmer. Mr. and Mrs.* Ulmer have had three children, Erma, born on May
22, 1896, who is a graduate of the Dawson high school class of 1913, and
who is still at home; Wallace H., born in 1903, who died in 1904, and Mil-
dred, born on February 15, 1909. The Ulmers have a very pleasant home
and have ever taken an interested part in the general social and cultural
activities of their home neighborhood and of the community at large, help-
ful in many ways in promoting agencies having to do with the advancement
of the common welfare. Mr. Ulmer was reared a Baptist and Mrs. Ulmer

9IO RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

is a member of the United Evangelical church, both taking a proper part in
neighborhood good works. Every memljer of this family has contributed
liberally to the Red Cross movement and Mr. Ulmer has shown his patriotism
in- buying Liberty Bonds.

EDWARD R. HAYS, M. D.

Dr. Edward R. Hays, of Falls City, one of the best-known physicians
in Richardson county, is a native son of this county and has lived here all his
life. He was Iwrn in the village of Humboldt on June 15, 1885, son of Dr.
Peter \\'illiam and Phoebe (Unland) Hays, the former a native of Penn-
sylvania and the latter of Illinois and the latter of whom is still living, now
a resident of Falls City.

Dr. WiUiam Peter Hays, a pioneer physician of this county, was born
in Pennsylvania on January 13, 1848, a son of Peter Hays, a native of Ger-
many, whose last days were spent at Kittaning, Pennsylvania. He received
his medical education in Jeflferson Medical College at Philadelphia and in
1877 came to Nebraska and located at Humboldt, where he married about
three years later and where he was engaged in practice for fifteen years, at
the end of which time, in 1892. he moved to Falls City, where he spent the
rest of his life, his death occurring there on November 2, 1897. He was
a successful practitioner and had a wide acquaintance throughout this and
neighboring counties. It was in 1880, at Humboldt, that Dr. P. W. Hays
was united in marriage to Phoebe Unland, of that place, who was born at
Beardstown, Illinois, November 28, 1862, daughter of the Rev. Fritz and
Nancy (Wagel) Unland, pioneers of Richardson county, who had settled in
Humboldt in the early seventies. The Rev. Fratz Unland was a Hanover-
ian, born at Osenbriick, near Hanover, in the kingdom of that name, August
16, 1829, who emigrated to this country in the, days of his young manhood
and settled in Illinois, where he presently married Nancy Wagel, who was
born at Lexington. Kentucky, in 1834, and whose mother. Phoebe (Todd)
Wagel, was a first cousin of Mary (Todd) Lincoln, wife of President Lin-
coln. In the early seventies he came with his family to this county and
located at Plumboldt, where he spent the remainder of his life, an earnest
minister of the German Methodist church, his death occurring on May J 2.
1906. His widow survived him a little less than a year, her death occurring
on .April i. 1907. The Rev. Fritz Unland was the pioneer minister of his

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 9II

faith in this county and for a long time the only one. Upon coming out here
there was no formal place of worship for the people of his faith and until he
presently was able to secure the erection of a German Methodist church at
Humboldt he was compelled to hold services in the private homes of his
parishioners. To Dr. P. W. and Phoebe (Unland) Hays three children were
born, the subject of this sketch having two sisters, Emma, wife of Julius
Ruegge, manager of the Towle Lumber Company at Falls City, and Grace,
who is now a student in the State University. In IQOI the mother of these
children married Amos Gantt, of Falls City, who died in January, 19 14, leav-
ing one child, a son, Ray Gantt. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Gantt
has continued to make her home at Falls City, where she is very comfortably
situated.

Edward R. Hays was about seven years of age when his parents moved
from Humlxildt to Falls City and in the latter place he grew to manhood.
Upon completing the course in the high school there in 1902 he entered Kan-
sas City College and after a two-years course there, preparatory to completing
his medical studies, he entered Ensworth Medical College at St. Joseph, Mis-
.souri, and was graduated from that institution in 1906. Upon receiving his
degree Doctor Hays returned to his home county and opened an office
for the practice of his profession at Dawson, where he was engaged in prac-
tice for four years, at the end of which time he moved to Omaha and was
there engaged in practice for two years or more, or imtil 1913, when he
returned to Falls City and opened an office in his home town and has ever
since been successfully engaged in practice there. The Doctor has a well-
appointed office at Sixteenth and Stone streets and has built up an extensive
I)ractice. He is a member of the Richardson County Medical Society, the
Nebraska State Medical Association and the American Medical Association
and keeps fully abreast of the wonderful advancement being made in his pro-
fession these days. In [911 he took a post-graduate course at the Chicago
Polyclinic and in the Post-Graduate School at Chicago and in 1912 took a
further and valuable course in the Mayo clinics at Rochester, Minnesota.
Doctor Hays is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to local
political affairs, an ardent advocate of good government.

On July 7, 19 1 2, Dr. Edward R. Hays was united in marriage to Nellie
M. Cain, of Falls City, daughter of J. R. Cain and wife, the former of whom,
an old settler of this county, who came here in 1856, was for thirty years in
charge of the bank at Stella and who is now living retired at Falls City.
Doctor and Mrs. Hays are meml>ers of the Episcopal church and take a proper
interest in church work and in the general social and cultural activities of

912 RICHARDSON COUNTV, NEBRASKA.

their home town. The Doctor is a Mason and is also affihated with the local
lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks, with the Knights and Ladies of Security and with
the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and in the affairs of these several organizations
takes a warm interest.

JULIUS SMITH.

The record of a man like the late Julius Smith, a successful agricul-
turist and widel}-known public official and honored citizen of Richardson
county, is well worth preserving on the pages of local history, for it con-
tains many lessons of value to the youth just starting out on life's serious
activities. Mr. Smith was born, March 5. 1837, in Germany, a son of Carl
Smith, where his parents lived and died, his father having taught school
there for a period of fifty years in his home town. When fourteen years
old Julius Smith immigrated to America, landing in New Orleans, Louisiana,
in the spring of 1852, and soon thereafter, in April, he started north in
search of employment, ascending the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, land-
ing at St. Joseph, Missouri. He worked out as a farm hand in that locality
during the summer months and in the winter time attended school. In 1856
he came to Richardson county and was a partner with his brother, Charles
Smith, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. In tlie spring of
1868 he moved to a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Nemaha town-
ship, only fifty acres of which had been broke and there stood a small, rude
house on the land, but little other improvements. He went to work indus-
triously and in due course of time had developed a productive and well
improved farm, building a comfortable stone house, which was destroyed
in the tornado of October 15, 1877, which swept the valley of Rock creek
in which lay the Smith farm, which was almost completely devastated, all
buildings, fences, trees being demolished and killing a horse, cattle artd hogs
and sweeping the chickens away, the Smith place being in the direct part of
the great hurricane. Charles Smith, the ten-year-old son of the subject of
this memoir was killed, and in fact, all of the family, with the exception of
Rosa Smith, were injured. But Julius Smith was a man of indomitable
courage and energy and, nothing daunted, he set to work at once to replace
the buildings and restock his farm, building another good home, by the
help of his neighbors. It was the first, and in fact, has been the only
storm of cyclonic proportions, to visit southeastern Nebraska. Mr. Smith

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 9I3

-was a man of sound judgment and wise foresight, as well as a man of
industry and progressive ideas, and he prospered with advancing years, be-
coming one of the leading general farmers and stock raisers of his precinct.
He added one hundred and sixty acres on the southeast of his home place,
making a total of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land. It is
one of the most desirable farms in the county and the home is an attractive
and commodious one in the midst of beautiful surroundings.

Julius Smith was married on November i6, 1862, to Rosa Lee Oakes,
who was born, November 28, 1845, i" St. Louis, Missouri. She is a
daughter of Nicholas and Margaret (Schmitt) Oakes, both natives of Ger-
many, from which country they came to America while single and were
married in St. Louis. Mr. Oakes died in 1845, after which his widow
married John Schmitt, who moved with the family to Illinois and in the
spring of 1854 removed to Brown county, Kansas, where his death occurred.

To Julius Smith and wife the following children were born: Lizzie,
born on February 5, 1864, married Daniel Kelly, lives in Omaha and they
have three children, Charles, Earl and Ellen; Maggie, born on September 15,
1865, is the wife of Charnock Williamson, a farmer of Nemaha precinct,
and they have three children living, Floyd, Robert and Loring; Charles,
torn on November 3, 1867, was killed in the storm mentioned in a pre-
ceding paragraph; Rosa L., born August 10, 1869, is the wife of Lambert
Whitney, a farmer of Nemaha precinct, and they have two children, Ralph
and Edith; Ellen, born on March 30, 1871, is the wife of George Cade, who
lives near Ottawa. Kansas, and they have five children, Charles, Lila, Cecil,
Harold and Margaret; Laura, October 27, 1872, is the wife of Frank Mor-
ton, a farmer of near Bern, Kansas, and they have one child. Pearl; Julius
E., December 17, 1878, died when four years old; Wilham E., May 29,
1883, lives near Fairbury, Nebraska, married Ethel Emmert, and they have
three children, Caryl, Opal and Monte; Mabel C, November 30, 1886, is
the wife of Elmer Sowder, a farmer of Nemaha precinct, and they have one
child, John Julius; Isaac F., March 20, 1889, married Ora Crook, and they
live on the Smith homestead, and they have one child, Beulah I-ee. Mrs.
Rosa Lee (Oakes) Smith still lives on the home place. , She is a member
of the Reformed church.

Politically, Julius Smith w^is a Democrat and was active and influential
in local party affairs. He was elected representative from Richardson
countv to the Nebraska Legislature in 1892 and again in 1896, thus serving

' (S8)

914 - RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

two terms in a manner that reflected much credit upon his ability and in-
tegrity and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned, irrespective of party
alignment. He made an excellent record and accomplished much for his
home locality and the state in general, making his influence felt for the good
of the masses. He introduced a number of important bills. He kept well
posted on current topics of the day and could discuss intelligently any theme
of importance before the people, being a miscellaneous reader and a close
observer. He was a man of high ideals, upright in all his dealings with his
fellow men, a good neighbor and citizen in the best sense of the terms, and
when he was called to his eternal rest on June 20, 1907, at the age of seventy
years, deep and lasting regret was felt throughout his locality.

J. ROCK WILIJAMSON.

J. Rock Williamson, an honored veteran of the Civil War, former sheriff
of Richardson county and a substantial retired farmer now living at Hum-
boldt, is a native of the old Keystone state, but has been a resident of this
county since 1882 and is one of the best-known men in the county. He was
born at Duncansville, a village adjacent to HoUidaysburg, the county seat
of Huntington (afterward Blair) county, Pennsylvania, January 11, 184 1,
son of Joshua and Mary (Neff) Williamson, the former a native of that same
county, of Welsh descent, and the latter, of Hagerstown, Maryland, a daugh-
ter of the Rev. Jonathan Neff, a Dunker preacher, of German descent.
Joshua Williamson was a smith and wagon-maker and was thus engaged at
Duncansville for twenty-five years, at the end of which time, in 1852, he
moved to Illinois, bought a farm in Boone county, that state, and there spent
the remainder of his life, his death occurring there in 1876.

Having been but eleven years of age when his parents moved from Penn-
sylvania to Illinois. J. Rock Williamson completed his schooling in the latter
state and there grew to manhood on the home farm and was living diere when
the Civil War broke out. On August 7, 1862, he enlisted for service as a
member of Company G, One Hundred and Fifth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer
Infantry, of which company his brother. Capt. Samuel Williamson, was com-
mander, and served with that command until the close of the war, being dis-
charged on June 7, 1865, after a service of two years and ten months. This
company was known as the Nash Guards, the first commander being Capt.
John B. Nash, a brother-in-law, who went into camp at Dixon, Illinois.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 915

Another brother, Thomas E. \A'iUiamson, was a member of the company.
In the fall of 1862, shortly after he was mustered in, Mr. Williamson was
sent from Camp Douglas, at Chicago, to Kentucky, his command being aligned
there on the Frankfort pike to oppose the advance of Confederate forces north.
Thence he was transferred to Ft. Negle}^ where he was engaged in garrison
duty for a year and during which time he was compelled to spend some time
in a hospital at Louisville on account of a serious attack of dysentery brought
on l>y drinking unwholesome water and suffered so severely from the effects
of that attack that his system never wholly recovered from the same. Upon
leaving the convalescent camp he was detailed as a sergeant of the secret
police and was thus detailed until July 4, 1864, when he rejoined his regi-
ment. He participated in the battle of Peach Tree Creek, took further part
in the Atlanta campaign and marched with Sherman from Atlanta to the sea.
Once while on this march he was detailed with two others to forage duty and
was returning through the woods from a nearby smokehouse laden with hams
and other provender, when he encountered a party of ten rebels. With prompt
presence of mind he told his two companions to join him in such a yell as they
never had uttered before and the three thus set up such a commotion that the
astonished "Rebs" evidently thought an entire regiment of "Yanks" was bear-
ing down upon them and incontinently took to tlieir heels, leaving the foragers
a clear way back to camp with their much-needed plunder. Mr. Williamson
was present at the fall of Savannah and also proved himself an able forager
there. After Savannah he marched with the army up through the Carolinas,
took part in the fight with Johnston's army at Goldsboro and was wounded
in the left shoulder at the battle of Averysborough ; thence on to Richmond
and from there to Alexandria and thence into the City of Washington, where
he participated in the Grand Review at the close of the war, and after a week
in camp at Bladensburg was sent back with his regiment to Chicago, where he
was mustered out.

Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Williamson entered a
business college at Rock Creek, Illinois, and was graduated from the same
with the honors of his class in 1867. He then went to Chicago and after a
brief stay there came West, at St. Joseph taking a boat for Ft. Benton, pro-
ceeding thence to Helena, Montana, where he became employed in a clothing-
store at a salary of one hundred dollars a month and his board. After a
month of that sort of service, however, he had enough of it and started work-
ing on a ranch; but a couple of months later helped his employer move to
Diamond City and set up a boarding house. He later was employed in the

9l6 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

mines and remained there until 1869, when he returned to Illinois, by way
of Omaha, in which city he made a stay of some little time. That fall he
went from his home in Illinois back to his boyhood home in Pennsylvania
and was there married. In the spring of 1870 he returned to Illinois and
located at Cherry Valley, where he remained for a year, at the end of which
time he returned to Pennsylvania and there opened a general store, remain-
ing engaged in business there for four years. He then spent a couple of
years as a fireman on the Pennsylvania railroad, was promoted to the post
of engineer and in that latter capacity continued in the railway service for
six years. In 1882 Mr. Williamson decided that he had had enough of rail-
roading and would prefer farming. With that end in view he came to Neb-
raska and Ijought a farm of eighty acres, just east of Humboldt, in this county,
and settled down to fanning. In 1896 he was elected sherifi of Richardson
county and served in that capacity for one term of two years, being the first
incumbent in that oiBce after the completion of the new jail. During that
period of public service Mr. Williamson made his home in Falls City, the
county seat, but upon the completion of his official term he returned to his
farm and there continued to reside until 1913, when he retired from the farm
and moved to Plumboldt, where he and his wife are now living and where
they are very pleasantly situated. Mr. Williamson is an ardent Republican
and has for years been regarded as one of the leaders of that party in this
county.

On August 12, 1869, at Duncansville, Pennsylvania, J. Rock William-
son was united in marriage to Margaret Jane Funk, who was born in that
village on April 16, 1848, daughter of James and Susan Funk, also natives
of Pennsylvania, the former of whom was a merchant and an extensive man-
ufacturer of lime, the proprietor of the largest kilns in Pennsylvania, mak-
ing a specialty of glass-making lime and ballast for railroads. Mr. and Mrs.
Williamson have four children, namely : Alice Alpha, who married Charles
E. Barngrover, of Denver, and has three children, Victor, Marguerite and
Perry; Mrs. Gertrude Anderson, of Omaha, who has one child, a daughter,
Laura Jane; Mrs. Mary Major Emigh, of Omaha, who has six sons, George
Rock, Guy and Wayne (twins), Nicholas, William and Donald; and Guy C,
a farmer, of Elwood, this state, who married Minnie Clift and has three chil-
dren, Margaret, Dale and Inez May. The Williamsons are members of the
Methodist Episcopal church and have ever taken a proper part in local good
works. Mr. Williamson is a past commander of the local post of the Grand
Army of the Repulilic at Humboldt, William Mix Post No. 66, and since

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 917

1898 has served as officer of the day of that patriotic organization. He is
past master of the local lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons,
having been master of the lodge in 1890, and is also a member of the local
lodges of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and of the Knights and
Ladies of Security, in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes ;i
warm interest.

WILLIAM F. STOLTZ.

Among the well-known and progressive farmers of Porter precinct,
Richardson county, is William F. Stoltz, owner of three hundred and twenty
acres of land of prime quality in section 35. He was bom in Lycoming
county, Pennsylvania, on October 20, 1878, the son of William and Mary
(Ulmer) Stoltz, also natives of the same county and state. William Stoltz
was a son of Jacob Stoltz, a native of Germany. Mary Ulmer was the daugh-
ter of Isaac Ulmer and wife.

William Stoltz came from Pennsylvania to Richardson county in 1886
and located between Dawson and Stella, where he bought one hundred and
sixty acres of raw prairie land. He moved his family to the farm in the fol-
lowing spring. William Stoltz was born in 1847 and died on March 20,
191 5. His wife, Mary Ulmer, was born on May 31, 1849, ^"*^ died on Janu-
ary II, 1901. They were the parents of the following children: Charles
E., Jacob F., who lives in Aurora, Illinois; Isaac H., of Onago, Kansas;
Samuel, who lives in Chicago; William F., who lives on the home farm; Ezra
W., of Jerome, Idaho; Daniel, who died in 1878; Martin, who died in 1896,
and Mrs. Clara Bobbitt, who lives in Jerome, Idaho, and Hattie, who lives in
Porter precinct. Of these children, Charles E. was educated in the Richard-
son county schools and Jacob was graduated from the Stella high school and
the University of Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Stoltz were married on June 22,
1869.

William F. Stoltz, the subject of this sketch, was seven years old when
his parents came to this county from Pennsylvania. He attended the district
schools and later went to the high school of Stella. When he had completed
the latter course, he attended the Lincoln Business College. Thus equipped
by preparatory training he began working for himself. He started to work
as a farm hand in 1901 and continued for one year, and in 1902 he rented
his present farm from his father and from his maternal uncle, Daniel Ulmer.
In 1908 he bought one hundred and sixty acres of excellent land and later.

9Io RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

when the estate was settled in 1916. he bought out the other heirs. In 1905
he erected a substantial well-planned house and here he and his family make
their home, comfortably situated.

On October 2, 1904, William F. Stoltz was united in marriage to Effie
Tolly, daughter of R. J. and Julia (McQueen) Tolly, natives of Illinois.
Mr. and Mrs. Tolly were among the early settlers of Richardson county and
are now living near Stella on a farm. Mr. and Mrs. Stoltz are the parents
of one child named Carroll, born on September 21, 1905. Mr. Stoltz and
his wife are members of the Baptist church, of which they are liberal sup-
porters and in the activities of which they are earnestly interested. Mr.
Stoltz is a Democrat, but has never sought public office.

CLAUDE M. LINN.

Examples that impress force of character on all who study them, are
worthy of record in the annals of history wherever they are found. By a
few general observations the biographer hopes to convey in these lines some
idea of the personal characteristics and importance to the locality of Claude
M. Linn, president of the Home State Bank of Humboldt, Richardson county.

Mr. Linn was born, February 27, 1873, in Pawnee county, Nebraska.
He is a son of James L. and Martha (Oviatt) Linn, natives of Tazewell
county, Illinois, and HardiA county, Iowa, respectively. They came to
Pawnee county, Nebraska, in 1870, and took up a homestead tw^o miles west
of Table Rock and there they became very comfortably established through
their industry and perseverance. After farming for some time the father
engaged in mercantile pursuits in Table Rock, handling lumber and grain, in
partnership with a Mr. Cooper, under the firm name of Linn & Cooper.
Later, in the earlv eighties, this firm built the first flouring-mill in Humboldt.
Richardson county, moving to that town in 1882. operating a flour-mill
and lumber and grain business. Finally, he dissolved partnership with Mr.
Cooper, Mr. Linn taking charge of the lumber business and Mr. Cooper
managing the mill.

James L. Linn was active in public affairs, and a staunch Republican.
He served a term in the state Legislature from Pawnee county, and later was
elected state senator from his district, which embraced Pawnee and Richard-
son counties. He served two terms, and made a most commendable record.
His death occurred in 1891. His widow is now living in California. To

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 9I9

James L. Linn and wife six children were born, named as follows : Mrs.
Eugenia Perrin, who lives in California; Fred R., in Montana; Claude, of
this sketch; Mrs. Florence Grinstead, Ray L. and Mrs. Georgia Unkefer, all
live in California.

Claude M. Linn received his education in the Humboldt high school. He
began his business career when eighteen years old, working in his father's
lumber yard, with whom he remained until the latter's death, then took charge
of the business which he continued to conduct until 1902, when he turned his
attention to the grain and milling business, in partnership with O. A. Cooper,
under the firm name of Linn & Cooper. In October, 1907 they dissolved
partnership, I\Ir. Cooper taking charge of the mill and Mr. Linn the grain
elevator, which he is still operating, together with a chain of seven others, all
located in southeastern Nebraska, except one in western Nebraska and one in
western Kansas. He also owns a farm of two hundred and fifty acres west
of Humboldt, which he looks after personally, and makes a specialty of rais-
ing hogs and cattle.

The Home State Bank of Humboldt, of which Mr. Linn is president,
was organized on February i, 1915, by C. M. Linn, Qtto Kotouc, S. M. Phil-
pot, R. R. Philpot, Dr. G. G. Gandy, Edward Uhri, Louis Stalder. L. L.
Davis and Henry Schwass. The capital stock was twenty-five thousand dol-
lars. The bank has had a steady and satisfactory growth and is doing a
large business. It owns its own substantial brick building, the old First
National Bank building, which has been remodeled and new and modern fix-
tures installed. The deposits now (1917) amount to a total of three hun-
dred thousand dollars, and the total resources are three hundred and thirty-
five thousand dollars. The bank makes a specialty of farm loans and does a
general banking business. The present officers are Claude M. Linn, presi-
dent; R. R. Philpot, vice-president; Otto Kotouc, cashier; Glen D. Jenkins,
assistant cashier; directors, C. M. Linn, R. R. Philpot, Otto Koutoc, Dr. G.
G. Gandy and Edward Uhri. The splendid success of this sound and popular
institution has been due very largely to the able and honest management of
its president, who is regarded throughout the community as a man of excep-
tional executive ability, foresight and integrity.

Mr. Linn is also president of the Humboldt Brick Company, which was
established in 1909, the capital stock of which is forty thousand dollars. It
is equipped with all modern appliances and has a capacity of fifty thousand
brick daily — building and paving brick, made in gray and other shades. The
output now covers a wide territory in Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming, Montana,
South Dakota and other states. Brick from this plant have been used in

920 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

many notable buildings, including the foundation work of the government
building in Falls City, the State University buildings at Lincoln, the Burling-
ton railroad round-house and shops at Havelock, Nebraska. Thirty men are
constantly employed, with a pay-roll amounting to two thousand dollars a
month. The pronounced success of this important concern has also been due
to the enterprise and keen business acumen of Mr. Linn. Ix)uis Von Bergen
is vice-president; L Shirley, secretary, and W. Skalak, treasurer.

There is a practically inexhaustible .shale deposit, over ninety feet deep,,
on Mr. Linn's farm, which makes his land very valuable.

Mr. Linn was married in 1894, to Ora Wittwer, who was born on the
home farm southeast of Humboldt, and there she grew to womanhood and
was educated in the local schools. She is a daughter of Gottlieb Wittwer.
one of the successful farmers and respected citizens of Nemaha precinct.
Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Linn, namely: Claude
M., Jr., assisting his father in business, and Donald, now attending school.

Politically, Mr. Linn is a Republican and is active in party affairs. Fra-
ternally, he belongs to the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Chapter-
and Commandfry at Tecumseh, Nebraska, also the Ancient Arabic Order of
Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Lincoln. Personally, he is an obliging and
companionable gentleman.

EDWARD E. DURFEE.

Edward E. Durfee, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and seventy-
foiu" acres in section 28 of Arago precinct, this county, and one of the liest-
known stockmen in Richardson county, was born on that farm and has spent
all his life there, with the exception of the time spent in high school at Falls
City and in the State University of Missouri. He was born on January 11,
1882, son of Edmond J. and Maria L. (Montgomery) Durfee, the former
of whom, a native of Iowa and a pioneer of Richardson county, is still living,
now a resident of Falls City, and further and fitting mention of whom is
made elsewhere in this volume.

Reared on the home farm, the place on which he is now living, Edward
E. Durfee received his early schooling in the district schools of that neigh-
borhood and supplemented the same by a course in the Falls City high school,
from which he was graduated in 1901. He later, during the years 1903.
1904 and 1905, attended the Missouri State University at Columbia, taking;

EDWARD E. DLIRFEE AND FAMILY.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 92 1

there the courses in law and agriculture, and upon his return to the farm
began to build up a business as a breeder of pure-bred live sto.ck, in which he
has met with much success, long having been regarded as one of the most
successful breeders in this part of the state, his spring and fall sales of fine
stock being largely attended and the products of his well-equipped stock farm
bringing excellent prices, his specialties Ijeing Shorthorn cattle, Percheron
horses, mules of the "Mammoth" type and Poland China hogs.

On August 26, 1903. Edward E. Durfee was united in marriage to Jessie
Waggoner, a graduate of the common schools and a student of shorthand in
the business college at Falls City, who also was born in the precinct of Arago,
this county, March 9, 1883, daughter of Riley D. and Martha (Anderson")
Waggoner, pioneers of that precinct, who are still living there and further
and fitting mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume. To this
union six children have been Ixirn, namely Marie, deceased, and Opal, Agnes,
Blanche, Eugene and Martha. Mr. and Mrs. Durfee are members of the
Methodist Episcopal church and take an interested part in church work, as
well as in the general good works and social activities of their neighlxirhood.
Politically. Mr. Durfee is a Democrat; and, fraternally, is affiliated with the
local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Highland-
ers, in the aflfairs of which organizations he takes an active interest.

ROMANE TTMERMAN.

The late Romane Timerman, who was an honored veteran of the Civil
War and one of the best-known and most substantial pioneer farmers in Rich-
ardson county and who died at his home in the precinct of East Muddy in the
spring of 1916, was a native of New York state, but had been a resident of
this county since the spring of 1869, having come here shortly after his mar-
riage in Illinois and thus was accounted one of the pioneers of the northern
part of this county. He developed a fine farm in East Muddy precinct and
his widow is still living there, very comfortably situated.

Ronjane Timerman was born on December 24, 1844, and was but a child
when his parents, Jacob and Rosina Timerman, further and fitting mention of
whom is made elsewhere in this volume, they having been pioneers of Rich-
ardson county, moved with their family from New York to Illinois and in
this latter state he grew to manhood and was Hving when the Civil War broke
out. He and three of his brothers enlisted and went to the front, he going

922 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

out as bugler for Company B, Ninth Illinois Cavalry, with which command
he served until the close of the war, participating in manj' of the most notable
battles and engagements of the war. Upon the completion of his military
service Romane Timerman returned to his home in Illinois and was there
married in January, i*86q. In the following April he and his wife, with tlie
others of the Timerman family, came to Nebraska, driving through with
household goods and other chattels sufficient to set up housekeeping and get
a start on a pioneer farm, crossing the river at Brownville and coming on
down into Richardson county, settling in the precinct of West Muddy, it not
being long until the Timermans became one of the best established families
in the northern part of the county. Romane Timerman was a good farmer
and he prospered in his operations from the very beginning, gradually adding
to his holdings there until at the time of his death he was the owner of a fine
farm of two hundred and forty acres on which he had a very comfortable
home and one of the best farm plants in that section. ^Ir. Timerman was a
Republican and ever took a good citizen's interest in local political affairs, but
was not an office seeker, being content to reserve his activities to his home
and farm, in which he took much pleasure and delight. He was an active
member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic at Stella and
took a warm interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization. Mr. Timer-
man died on May ii, 1916, and his widow is still living on the old home
place, which has been her home since pioneer days.

On January 20, 1869, at Geneseo, Illinois, Romane Timerman was united
in marriage to Caroline Luckcuck, who was born near Buffalo, New York.
April II, 1850, daughter of William and Eliza (Heathridge) Luckcuck.
natives of England, who later became residents of Illinois. Both William
Luckcuck and his wife were reared in the city of London and they were mar-
ried in Westminster Abbey, an unusual distinction. After their marriage
they came to the United States and settled in the city of New York, where
they reared a large family and where Mr. Luckcuck was engaged in the mer-
cantile business. He later moved to Buffalo and then bought a large tract
of land in Erie county, New York, and engaged in dealing in imported horses.
He remained there until i86o, when he moved with his family to the state
of Illinois and there spent the remainder of his life, the owner of a ferge tract
of land in Henry county, Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Timerman were born
four children, three sons and one daughter, namely: George H., who is the
proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres in the vicinity of
Stella, this county; Charles, who is at home, managing the home farm for

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 933

his mother; Louis, a farmer of the precinct of West Muddy, who married
Rosa Workman and has two sons, Dale and Louis, and Ida Belle, who died in
infancy. Mrs. Timerman is a member of the Baptist church and has ever
taken an. interested part in church work, as well as in the general good works
and social activities of the community of which she has been a residenf since
pioneer days, and has done much to help promote various agencies designed
to advance the common welfare thereabout.

FULTON PETERS.

A sturdy \eteran plainsman and early pioneer of Richardson countv is
Fulton Peters of Barada precinct. He was born in Bavaria, Germany. April
-7-'i83S. He is a son of Francis and Mary Peters, natives of Germany,
where they grew up, married and made their home until 1839, when they
brought their family to America, locating in St. Louis, Missouri, where their
son, Fulton, was reared and attended school, and there he learned the trade
of ship carpenter. He helped to build the ferry "Carondelet," which was
subsequently transformed into a gunboat for use in the Union navy during
the Civil War, being the first unit that formed the famous "Mosquito Fleet."
Fulton Peters continued to follow his trade in St. Louis until 1867, but he
came to Richardson county, Nebraska, in 1856, to locate land, moving on to
the place he had entered in 1858. After a year's hard work improving the
land he returned to St. Louis and did not return to his land here to make his
permanent home until 1870. During the Civil War he worked in the gov-
ernment navy yards, under an oath of allegiance and received five dollars per
day for his work. He has lived on his farm of one hundred and twenty
acres in Barada precinct for a period of forty-seven years and has carried on
general farming and stock raising.

Mr. Peters was married in 1856 to Euphrasia Barada. a daughter of
Anton Barada, a half-breed Indian, after whom Barada precinct was named.
Mrs. Peters was born in 1837 in St. Louis, and her death occurred in 1888.
Her father, .'Knton Barada, was taken from the Omaha Indians when a boy
and brought to St. Louis, where he was reared and where he married a
l'"rench woman. In 1854 he was notified that he was entitled to a tract
of land in the "Half-breed Reservation" and he came to Barada precinct,
Richardson county, developed his land and here spent the rest of his life,
d>ing in 1887. He was one of the best known of the early pioneers here.

9^4 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Peters: Frank
lives in the Omaha Reservation at Walthill, Nebraska; Amil, Walter, Mrs.
Mary Saviors and ]\Irs Josephine Mitchell, all live in the Omaha Reserva-
tion; Jacob is farming south of Barada, Richardson county; Mrs. Margaret
Rockwell is the v.idow of Edward Rockwell and makes her home in Indian-
apolis, Indiana.

Politically, Mr. Peters is a Democrat and has tilled minor township
ofirices. He is a member of the Catholic church.

Mr. Peters crossed the plains in 1853. from Kansas City to Ft. Lar-
amie, Wyoming : in fact, he made three trips in all across the great western
plains — one to .Salt Lake City, Utah, and one to the Solomon river, during
the gold excitement period. He started to the Solomon river district in
1864, with a train of one hundred and five wagons, taking the short cut-of¥
by way of Pacific Springs on the Platte river and Green river in the mgun-
tains. He built a boat which he used in crossing that stream. Some mem-
Ijers of the party became dissatisfied and went to Oregon, but when onlv
ten miles away the deserters were attacked by the Indians, or Mormons,
and many of the party were killed, the survivors returning to the original
wagon train. A new party was sent out which chased the marauders into
the fastnesses of the mountains. But the camp was attacked the second
night following and the cattle \\ere stampeded. Mr. Peters, with twenty-
iive men followed the stock, overtook them and turned them back. The
train was again attacked on Green Creek mountain or Snake river, at a
time when the party was divided, part of them having been sent to rescue
another party of whites that had previously been attacked by the Indians.
Mr. Peters and his band drove (jff the savages and he then took charge of
the immigrants and their supplies, helping them to reach the settlement,
the train finally reaching Walla Walla, AVashington. At Baker City, Oregon,
.Mr. Peters engaged in mining for some time, finally returning to Nebraska.
In 1873 he made a trip to .the Black Hills, in company with Anton Barada,
1'". Go(jlsby and William Ankrom. They made the overland trip to the
Black Hills and started mining there, but on account of the hostile Indians
of that country they were compelled to give up their prospects and return
home, escaping the savages by strateg}'. They built a big camp-fire to
deceive the Indians and stole quietly away during the night, arriving at
Buflfalo Gap the following morning, their trip from there on home being
uneventful. In 1883 Mr. Peters went to Blackbird, Nebraska, to locate on
land which the Barada family was entitled to, but failed to get possession,

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 925

after one year's efforts, even carrying his case to Congress. Some mem-
iiers of the family proved up on their rights to portions of this land: but
others really entitled to it, have failed.

Mr. Peters worked on the Ohio & Missouri Pacific railroad, when it
was being built, contracting for a portion of the work. He was nearby
when the memorable Gasconade disaster occurred. He worked on the con-
struction of the Gasconade bridge of the -Missouri-Pacific railroad in 1855.

Mr. Peters is a well-preserved man for his age and is one of the well-
known and honored citizens of Richardson county, in which he has lived
to see and take part in many great changes since he first traversed its wild
prairies over sixty years ago.

ANTHONY J. HANIKA.

In a great general farming locality like Richardson county, immense
numbers of cattle, hogs and other live stock are raised annually, which gives
rise to an extensive business in the buying and shipping of stock to the
markets. Among those who follow this line of endeavor here is Anthony
J. Hanika, of the village of Shubert.

Mr. Hanika was born in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin, June 28,
1857. He is a son of Herman J. and Catherine (Lash) Hanika, both
natives of Austria, in which country they grew to maturity, but did not
marry until they came to America, which was in the year 1856. Herman
J. Hanika was the son of wealthy parents, and it was not .the custom for
the better classes to nmrry among the poorer classes, but his romance with
Catherine Lash began when they were young and in order that he might
marry her, a poor girl, they immigrated to the New World. They estab-
lished their home in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin. Mr. Hanika took uji
the trade of blacksmith at Fond du Lac when there were but three houses
in what is now an important city. A year and a half later he went into
the timber and bought forty acres, which land was covered with hardwood
maple and other valuable timber. He cleared the land and built a* log
cabin, working hard and undergomg the usual hardships and privations
incident to pioneering in the rigid northern climate in that state. He soon
iiad crops growing and continued farming there until the fall of 1866, when
he sold out and moved to Nebraska, buying two hundred acres about three
miles from Arago, one hundred and sixty acres of prairie and forty acres

926 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

of timber: it had been partly improved. He ])rought four thousand dollars
with him, which would have been regarded as a fortune to most early set-
tlers. He knew very little about farming and stock raising. He began
developing his new farm, but droughts and grasshoppers broke him up and
he lost his farm and surplus money. At that time he had ten children. But
he was a man of courage, and, nothing daunted, he made a new start, going
to work at his trade. He finally was able to purchase two hundred acres
in Barada precinct which he still owns and where he was very successful
as a general farmer. His children were named as follows: Theresa is
the wife of John H. Kelly, of Barada precinct; Mary is the wife of A. M.
Palmer, of Barada precinct: Adolph died in Thurston county, Nebraska;
Elizabeth died in Barada precinct; Herman, Jr., lives in Barada precinct;
Frank lives in Hartington, Cedar county, this state : Catherine died in in-
fanc) : Mrs. Lydia Shaw li\es in Lebanon, South Dakota; John lives on the
home place: ^fargaret is the wife of Edward Frederick, of Falls City, and
Anthony J., of this sketch. The father of the above named children was
born on Jul\ 11, 1829, and is therefore at this writing eighty-eight years
old. His wife was born on August 20, 1836, and died on January 24, 1905.
Anthony J. Hanika was nine years old when his parents brought him
from \\'isconsin to Richardson county, Nebraska. He remembers well the
hardships of the family at the time of his father's failure. Although but a
boy he was working out by the month and turning over his earnings to his
father tn help in the support of the family, while he was getting a new
start on rented land. The subject of this sketch had little opportunity to
obtain an education. When twenty-one years of age he began life for him-
self : by hiring out as a farm hand he saved enough of his wages to buy a
wagon- and team, then rented his emi>ioyer's farm, "^e continued farming
on rented land until 1891. In [8q8 he bought eighty acres of unimproved
land. He lived for some time on his father-in-law's place and farmed his
own land until he could get it properly improved, build a house and other-
wise get it in shape to live on. After moving to it he continued to reside
there until in .\ugust, 1910, when he moved to a beautiful home in Shubert.
He has succeeded as a general farmer and stock raiser through his per-
sistent eiTorts and good management and is now owner of a valuable and
well-impn.\ed farm of four hundred acres in Barada precinct, also three
hundred and twenty acres in Texas, his wife owning equal parts of the
land. Mr. Hanika has bought and shipped live stock for many years, making
his headrjuarters in Shubert and he has been very successful in this field of
endeavor. He ships aliout one hundred and fifty carloads of stock to the

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 927

markets each year. He is an exceptionally good judge of all kinds of live
stock and is one of the l^est known stockmen in the countv.

On February 14, 1884, Anthony J. Hanika was married to Emma Cath-
erine Lundy, born on October 6, 1865. in Barada precinct, Richardson county.
She is a daughter of Ebenezer Lundy, a pioneer settler in this locality, mention
of whom is made in the sketch of J. W. Lundy, which appears elsewhere in
this work. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hanika : Lula,
the wife of Thomas Davis, of West Muddy precinct, and they have two
daughters, Jessie May and Ruth Louise; Laurence, the next child, died in
191 1, at the age of twenty-five years; Olive is the wife of C. S. Weddle, of
Barada precinct ; August, on the home farm, married Marvel Lewis, and they
have one child, Austin J., and Jessie, living at home, is now attending high
school.

Politically. Mr. Hanika is a Republican. He belongs to St. Anne's
Catholic church at Barada.

THOMAS F. WUSTER.

Thomas F. Wuster, one of the best-known and most substantial farmers
in the precinct of Grant, this' county, was born in Lycoming county, Pennsyl-
\ania. January .24, 1878, son of Christ and Martha (Marquard) Wuster,
wlio came to this state in June, 1879, and became pioneers in Porter precinct,
this count}-. Further and fitting reference to the \Vuster family in this county
is made elsewhere in this volume.

Reared on the home farm in P'orter precinct, he having been but two
years of age when his parents settled there, Thomas F. Wuster received his
schot)ling in the schools of that neighborhood. He began working out at
the early age of eleven years and worked constantly from the time he was
fourteen years of age. In the spring of 1900 he began farming for himself.
I'Or (jue }ear he rented the Strunk farm and then in 1901 he bought his pres-
ent place of a quarter, section in the precinct of Grant and there established
his home and has ever since resided there, he and his family being very com-
fortalily situated. His house, built in 1908, is one of the best in that neigh-
borhood and the general farm buildings are in keeping with the same, the
place being looked upon as one of the best-improved farms in that part of
the county. In addition to his geiieral farming Mr. Wuster gives consider-
able attention to the raising of live stock, with particular reference to sheep

928 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

and hogs. He has a flock of more than one hundred and twenty head of
.sheep and in 1916 fed more than four hundred head of sheep for the market.
■ On iJarch 7. igoi. Thomas F. Wuster was united in marriage to Mar-
garet Heim, who was born on a pioneer farm in the precinct of Grant, this
county, May 31. 1880, daughter of Jacob G. and Regina (Gross) Heim,
prominent and influential pioneers of this county and further and extended
reference to whom is made elsewhere in this volume, and to this union seven
children have been born, namely: Minerva, born on December 28, 1901 :
Ruth, November 6, 1903; Frederick, July 3, 1905: Dorothy, December 31.
J906; Joseph. September 11, 1909; Milton, July 18, 1912, and Dwight, April
2;^, 19 16. Mr. and Mrs. Wuster are members of the Evangelical Lutheran
church and take a warm interest in church affairs, as well as in the general
good works of the community in which they live, helpful in many ways in
promoting such agencies as are designed to advance the common welfare
thereabout. Mr. Wuster is independent in his political views, prefering to
keep himself free to vote for the most competent candidate for public office
without regard to party affiliations. He not only is a progressive and wide-
awake farmer, but a public spirited citizen and tries to do his part in advanc-
ing the interests of the community of which he has been a resident since the
davs of his earlv childhood.

TOHX H. HOLL.WD.

John H. Holland, a veteran of the Civil War and one of the real old-
timers of Richardson county, a substantial farmer and landowner of this
county, now living retired at Stella, where he has made his home since
1908, is a native of Illinois, but has been a resident of this state since the
days of his young manhood, having come out here almost immediately after
completing his service as a soldier of the Union at the close of the Civil
War. He was born on a farm in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, December 2/.
1844. son of Thomas and Hilary (Hamilton) Holland, natives of England,
who were married in their native country and then come to the United
States, settling in Illinois, where they spent the remainder of their lives.
Thomas Holland was born in 1804 and died on October 8, 1892, at the
great age of eighty-eight years. His wife had long preceded him to the
grave, her death having occurred in 1850. They were the parents of ten
chilflren, of whom the subject of this sketch was the sixth in order of birth.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 929

the Others being as follow: Ann, who is now living at Elizabeth, Illinois,
widow of James Ransom; Mrs. Elizabeth Cook, also of Illinois; Ralph, of
Essex, Iowa; Thomas, deceased, who served in an Illinois regiment in the
Civil War; Edwin, of Elizabeth, Illinois; Mary, wife of J. B. Williams, of
Emmetsburg, Iowa; George, of Pawnee Rock, Kansas; William, of Eliza-
beth, Illinois, and Enoch, deceased, who was the first of the family to pass
away.

Reared on the home farm in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, John H.
Holland received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and from the
days of his boyhood was an active factor in the labors of improving jfnd
developing the home' place, and was living there when the Civil War broke
out. In February. 1865, he then being but little past twenty years of age,
he enlisted at Elizabeth, Illinois, for service in the Union army and went to
the front as a member of Company A, Fifteenth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer
Infantry, and with that command joined Sherman's army in its triumphant
march up from Savannah and through the Carolinas and Virginia to Wash-
ington, but necessarily saw little active service, as the war came to an end in
the following April. Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Hol-
land returned to his home in Illinois and in the spring of 1866 came West
and for a time was engaged in freighting between Council Bluffs and Red
Oak, Iowa, later coming on over to Omaha, riding the old stage coach thence
from the' Des Moines river. At that time, as Mr. Holland recalls, there
were many of the old-timers out this way who were l^ecoming pessimistic
enough to declare that land out this way would neyer amount to anything
and that efforts here were being wasted, but he had confidence in the out-
come and determined to become a fixture in the new country. For several
years after locating at Omaha Mr. Holland was employed in the timber,
cutting ties and posts for the railroad, and also farmed for a year in that
vicinity; but in 1873 came down into Richardson county and bought a tract
of school land in section 36 of the precinct of Porter, paying for the same
twelve dollars an acre, and settled down to improve and develop the same,
setting out trees and an orchard, and by the time of his marriage in 1880
had a very comfortable home there. After having improved that place in
admirable shape Mr. Holland went over into western Kansas, where he
homesteaded a tract of land and there made his home for fourteen years,
at the end of which time he returned to his quarter section in this countv
and there continued to reside until 1908, when he retired from the farm and
moved to Stella, building there a modern house, one of the large residences
(59)

930 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

of that town, and there he and his wife have sitice made their home, very
comfortably and very pleasantly situated. Mr. Holland is a Republican and
has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, for some time
having served as a member of the school board.

On February 8, 1880, some years after coming to Richardson county,
John H. Holland was united in marriage to Mary F. Crook, who was born
on a pioneer farm in the neighborhood of Salem, this county, April 3, 1863,
daughter of John and Martha J. (Thomas) Crook, early settlers of that
community, and to this union have been born four children, namely: Oscar
L.,.a salesman, now living at St. Ix)uis; John T., district salesman for the
Republic Rubber Company, of Little Rock, Arkansas; Myrtle, wife of
William M. Veal, who is operating the old Holland home farm, and Flor-
ence, at home, who was graduated from the Stella schools, later studied
music and is now teaching music at Stella. The Hollands are members of
the Evangelical church and take a proper interest in the work of the church,,
as well as in the general good works of the community.

CHARLES H. MARTIN.

One of the most progressive farmers of Barada precinct, Richardson
county is Charles H. Martin, who was born May 14, 1863, in Fremont county,
Iowa. He is a son of John I. and Rachel (Reeves) Martin, both natives of
Illinois, where they spent their earlier years, but came to Iowa in pioneer
times. John I. Martin, who was born on June 12, 1839, is a son of Isaac
Martin, who settled at Tarkio, Missouri, about 1844, later moving to Fre-
mont county, Iowa, thence to Richardson county, Nebraska, in 1866, settling
near what is now the Falls school house. Isaac Martin bought a farm one-
mile north of Falls City, of Jesse Crook, for which he paid only five dollars
per acre. John I. Martin paid only three dollars and twenty-five cents per
acre for his land, which he improved and there reared his children, and he
made his home in Richardson county many years, but finally moved back tO'
Iowa. He spends his winters in California, and the rest of the time with
his sons in Richardson county. The wife of John I. Martin was born on
December 11, 1840, and died on December 15, 1908. To these parents the
following children were born: Sarah Alice, born in Iowa, May 16, 1861,
died August 9, 1863; Charles Herny, of this sketch; Elza, born June 11.
1866, lives at Hotchkiss, Colorado; Mary Florence, October 16, 1867, died

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 93I

at Howe, Idaho, April 5, 1914; Delia Maria, April 21, 1870, died August 18,
1871 ; Joseph Wesley, October 12, 1872, lives at Paona, Colorado; Susan
Nellie, June 24, 1872, died August 10, 1879; John Ambrose, May 12, 1877
is the present postmaster at Barada, Nebraska; Mrs. Clara Lulu Stephens,
January 25, 1879, lives in San Diego, California, and Mrs. Ella Sayre, wife
of Harvey Sayre, was born on October 28, 1881, and lives at Hotchkiss,
Colorado.

Charles H. Martin spent his boyhood in Richardson county and he
received a common-school education here and in Fremont county, Iowa. He
first attended school in his grandfather's home, taught by his aunt, Mary Mar-
tin, who later married Isaac Ryan. He also attended the old Maddox school.
He remained with his parents on the farm until he was twenty-two years
old. in 1885, when he began farming on his grandmother's place, now owned
by William Nutter. After living there two years he moved to a farm in
Barada precinct, where he spent three years, then moved to Colorado, in 1890,
where he engaged in farming until 1896, having pre-empted forty acres, also
bought forty acres. He carried on farming there by irrigation and prospered
and lived there until 1897. It was a new country and he endured many hard-
ships. It was thirty-five miles to the nearest railroad, and prices for all house-
hold supplies were very high. On account of his wife's health he sold out
and returned to Nebraska and secured the farm he now owns, consisting of
eighty acres in Barada precinct, on which land he has erected an attractive
new home and has made other important improvements. It is well located
one mile north of the village of Barada. He also owns a good farm of one
hundred and sixty acres in Barada, precinct.

Mr. Martin was married on March 4, 1886, to Addah Dakota Butler,
who was born on May 24, 1866, in Vermilion county, Illinois. She is a
daughter of Ephraim Porter and Minerva J. Butler, who are mentioned in
the sketch of W. F. Butler, appearing elsewhere in this volume.

The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Martin : Alta
Ruth, born on January 11, 1887, is the wife of Philip Markt, of Oregon,
Missouri, and they have four children, Morris Henry, Bernice, Merrill and
Adeline; Grace Elfie, October 14, 1889, is the wife of Roy Dunn of Falls
City, Nebraska, and they have four children, Fern, Dale, Delpha May and
Alelvin Henrv, December 5, 1896, is working with his father on the home
farm.

Politically. Mr. Martin is a Republican. He served as precinct com-
mitteeman of Barada precinct for several years. He is a member of the
Ancient Order of United Workmen and belongs to the Evangelical church.

932 RICHARDSON COUXTV, XEBRASKA.

ROLAXD .M. HILL.

Tliough for some years past a resident of Greeley county, Roland ^I.
Hill, a substantial farmer and landowner of that county, has never lost in-
terest in the affairs of Richardson county, in which county he was reared,
back in pioneer days, and it is but fitting that there should be included in
this volume of history and biography relating to Richardson county, some
mention of the part he formerly took in the affairs of this county, together
with a biographical sketch.

Roland M. Hill is a native of the Dominion of Canada, born in the
province of Ontario, September 28, 1858, son of E. C. and Arcosh (Kal-
lustine) Hill, who were the parents of twelve children, three of whom were
born on September 28. When Roland M. Hill was seven years of age his
parents came from Ontario to Nebraska and settled on a pioneer tract in
the precinct of Grant, in Richardson county, where they established their
home, influential and useful pioneers of that part of the county, further and
fitting mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume in a biographical
sketch relating to E. C. Hill, Jr., who is still living in this county. On that
pioneer farm Roland M. Hill grew to manhood, receiving his elementary
schooling in such schools as the district was able to provide in those da\s,
and in 1881, some little time after he had attained his majority, he entered
the State Normal School at Peru and was in attendance at that institution
for two years. He then returned to the home farm and was engaged in
farming there until 1888, in which year, he meanwhile havmg learned the
art of railroad telegraphing, he was appointed night operator at the station
at Humboldt and was there thus engaged for eighteen months, at the end of
which time he was transferred to the office at Saltillo, where he remained as
operator from the spring of 1891 to the spring of 1894. Mr. Hill then left
the key and for a year thereafter was again engaged in fanning, but in
August, 1896, he resumed his old employment as a railroad telegraph oper-
ator and was assigned to duty in the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy station
at Violet. Not long afterward he again was sent to the station at Saltillo
and there he remained until late in the fall of 1897, when he was transferred
to the Lincoln division and was thereafter for four years stationed at Horace.
During the time he was looking after the railroad's interests at Horace he
also was engaged in buying grain for the Central Granary Company. In
1901 Mr. Hill was transferred to the station at Wolbach, but fifteen days
later was given charge of the station at Bra>i:on, in Greeley county, where

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 933

he remained until in Xovember, 1907, when he resigned his position with the
railroad company and went to McCook, in the neighborhood of which place
he was for. four years thereafter engaged in farming a tract of land his
father owned there. In the meantime he had bought a ranch of his own in
Greeley county and in time located on the same and has since made that
his place of residence, having developed a fine bit of farming property there.
In addition to the quarter section he owns in Greeley county Mr. Hill is the
owner of a quarter of a section in Grant precinct, this county, a part of the
Hill estate, and one hundred and eighty acres in the neighborhood of
AlcCook, a part of his father's estate there, also one hundred acres in Can-
ada, part of his father's estate, and is doing well in his general farming and
stock-raising operations.

On December 24, 1895, Roland ]\I. Hill was united. in marriage to Mrs.
Nettie Decamp, of \^esta, this state, a widow, and to this union eight children
have been born. Vera, Roland M., Annis, Ruth, Warren, Lyle, Grace and
Leali. Mr. Hill is a Republican. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and takes a' warm interest in Masonic
affairs.

WILLIAM L. STEPHENS.

William L. Stephens, farmer, of Barada precinct, Richardson county,
was born on December 17, 1861, in Nemaha county, Nebraska, near the
line between that county and Richardson county and only two miles from
his present home. He is a son of John L. and Elizabeth (Rutledge)
Stephens. The father was born in 1833 and died in 1899. He was a
native of Maryland, and was a son of Jeremiah Stephens, who was of
Scotch descent. Elizabeth Rutledge was born in 1838 and died in 1892.
She was a daughter of William Rutledge. In 1857 John L. Stephens made
the long journey by rail and steamboat from Maryland to northwestern
Missouri, locating near Sonora. In the spring of 1858 he came to Nemaha
county. Nebraska, locating on a farm in the southeastern part of that county.
In 1863 he settled in section 3, Barada precinct, Richardson county. He
was a typical pioneer, and lived in pioneer fashion. During the old freight-
ing days he owned teams and a complete outfit for hauling and frequently
sent them across the great plains. He bought land in the "Half-Breed Reser-
vation," which he improved and engaged in general farming and stock rais-
ing there a number of years. His family consisted of four children.

934 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

namely: Anna, who was the wife of George Marsh, is now deceased;
George, who died in infancy; Wilham L., of this sketch, and Ella, who mar-
ried Will Casey, is deceased. George Marsh, mentioned above, who served
as county clerk two terms and as county treasurer two terms of Richardson
count)', also served two terms as secretary of state of Nebraska. He now
makes his home in Lincoln, this state. He has long been prominent in
public affairs.

William L. Stephens grew up on the home farm in Nemaha county and
he attended the early-day schools. He has devoted his life to agricultural
pursuits. He owns one hundred and eighty acres in Beddo Creek valley,
where he located in pioneer days. In fact, he has made his home in the
same place for a period of fifty-four years. Years ago his father built a
substantial brick house, which is now surrounded by evergreens. His home
is modern in its appointments and the surroundings are attractive. He is
only forty-five minutes from Falls City, and, all in all, has no desire to quit
the farm and spend his declining years in town, as so many farmers are
doing nowadays. His father erected the first brick house here in 1873,
and in 1914 the subject of this sketch built an addition, remodeled and mod-
ernized the entire home. He has been very successful as a general farmer
and stock raiser.

Mr. Stephens was married on March 28, 1900, to Lena Georges, who
was born on July 12, 1866, on a farm adjoining that on which Mr. Stephens
was reared. She is a daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth (Baker) Georges,
both of French extraction. They were pioneers of Richardson county. The
father was born in France, where he resided until 1851, when he came to
America, locating first in Buffalo, New York. In 1854 he came to Rich-
ardson county, Nebraska, and established the future home of the family,
becoming one of the successful pioneer farmers here. He was born on
May 20, 18 19, and died October 23, 1901. His wife was also bom in
France and she crossed the Atlantic with friends, the trip requiring fifty-six
days. After living in New York for three years she came West. Mr. and
Mrs. Georges were married in 1857. They Ixiught land in the Indian reser-
vation in Richardson county and there developed a good farm on which
they spent the rest of their lives.

Politically, Mr. Stephens is a Republican. He and Mrs. Stephens
belong to the Brethren church. He is well and favorably known over the
county, which he has lived to see develop from a wild prairie country to
one of the best improved farming localities in the state.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 935

PAUL HESSLER.

Perhaps the oldest and certainly one of the best-known harness dealers
in southeastern Nebraska is Paul Hessler of Falls City, Richardson county,
who was born in Buffalo, New York, November 7, 1855. He is a son of
Gottlieb T. and Louisa Hessler, both natives of Austria, where they grew
up and where the father learned the cabinet-maker's trade which he followed
for some time in the city of Vienna. He immigrated to America in 1853,
and followed his trade in Buffalo, New York. He removed to Richardson
county, Nebraska, April 15, 1870, locating in Arago precinct on a farm three
and one-half miles west of old Arago. Here he developed a good farm and
continued in agricultural pursuits for the rest of his life, dying on October
29, 1889. His family consisted of six children, five of whom came to Neb-
raska ; they were named as follows : Charles, now living in Seattle, Wash-
ington: Paul of this sketch; Mrs. Emily Evans of Norton, Kansas; Edward
is engaged in truck farming near Kansas City, Missouri; George lives at
Cashion, Kingfisher county, Oklahoma, and Mrs. Carrie Stackhouse, in Tona-
wanda, .New York.

Paul Hessler spent his boyhood in Buffalo, New York, where he attended
the public schools and there learned the harness-maker's trade, beginning his
apprenticeship in July, 1869. He came to Nebraska in 1870, but returned to
Buffalo in the fall of 1873. where he spent three years, returning to Nebraska
in July, 1876. After working at his trade in Falls City for three months he
turned his attention to farming, which occupation he followed four years;
then went to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he followed his trade four years,
after which he again took up farming for another four years, then located in
Falls. City and has since devoted his attention to the harness business. His
present business was first established in the year 1886 by Joe Bateman. He
was joined on January i, 1888, by Mr. Hessler, of this sketch, who bought a
partnership. On May 20, 1889, Mr. Hessler bought his partner's interest
and has since conducted the business alone, making a great success. By
industry and good management he has increased the business from five thou-
sand dollars a year to thirteen thousand dollars a year. He is not only a
highlv skilled workman, but is a man of sound business judgment and execu-
tive ability. His customers are to be found all over the southeastern part of
the state. He has occupied the same quarters at 171 1 Stone street since June
29, 1890. He employs three efiicient harness-makers. His stock of goods
ranges in value from five thousand dollars to eight thousand dollars. That

93^ RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

he has dealt with his scores of customers in an honest and courteous manner
is indicated by the fact that many of his best customers have been with him
since the early years of his business career in Falls City.

Air. Hessler was married on April 19, 1886, to Anna Schimpf, who was
born in Buffalo, New York, in September, 1855. She is a daughter of Emil
Schimpf and wife, both natives of German3^ To Mr. and Mrs. Hessler one
child has been born, Gertrude, who was reared and educated in Falls City
and is still at home with her parents, the family residence at Alain and McLean
streets being an attractive one and known for its genuine old time hospitality.

Politically, Mr. Hessler is a Republican. Fraternally, he belongs to the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
Rebekahs, Encampment and other subordinate lodges. He has always done
his share in boosting his home city and is regarded by all as one of its best
citizens.

HENRY SIEMERING.

Henry Siemering, former member of the board of county supervisors
of Richardson county and a well-known and substantial retired farmer,
owner of a fine farm of a quarter of a section of excellent land in the pre-
cinct of East Barada, now living in Barada village, where he and his family
are very comfortably situated, is a native of the neighboring state of Mis-
souri, but has been a resident of this county since the days of his early
childhood, having come over here with his parents in 1866, and has thus
been a witness to the development of this region since territorial days. He
was born in Pike county, Missouri, the scene of John Hay's "Pike Count\-
Ballads," and the home of Jim Bludso and other lx)ld and adventurous
spirits of an earlier day, December 26, 1863, son of Henry and Lizzie
(Wyland) Siemering, the former a Hanoverian and the latter a native of
the state of Illinois, who came over into the then Territory of Nebraska in
1866 and settled in Richardson county, where both spent their last days, the
latter dying in 1888 and the former surviving until July 19, 1912. After
the death of his first wife the pioneer Henr\- Siemering married again and
his widow is still living in this county, now a resident of the village of
Barada.

The senior Henry Siemering was born in Hanover, Germany, on
January 8, 1833, and was twenty vears of age when he left his native land
and came to this country, landing at the port of New Orleans after a voyage

HENRY SIEMERING.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 937

of ninety-three days. Upon his arrival there he found employment in that
city, but in 1854 came up the river and located at St. Louis, where he
learned the cooper's trade, later moving up into Pike county, Missouri,
where he engaged in the cooperage business, making flour barrels, and where
he remained until in May, 1866, when he came over into the then Territory
of Nebraska with his family and bought a farm of eighty acres in the Barada
half-breed strip, in this county, and there established his home, building a
log house and settling down to improve and develop the tract. It was a
timber tract on which he settled and it was no small task to clear the same,
but he soon had a clearing and it was not long until he was well established
on his pioneer farm. As he prospered in his operations Henry Siemering
added to his holdings until he became the owner of live hundred acres of
valuable land in diat precinct. As one of the pioneer settlers of that part
of tlie county he helped organize the school district and in other ways was
helpful in the development of the early interests of the county. He was a
.member of the Lutheran church and did his part in the organization of a
church in the neighborhood of his home. The senior Henry Siemering
was twice married, his first wife, Lizzie Wyland, who was born at Peoria,
Illinois. January 2, 1842, dying in 1888. He married, secondly, Emma
Kuker, who is still living, a resident of the village of Barada, and that union
was without issue. By his first marriage he was the father of twelve chil-
dren, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth,
the others being as follow: John, died in infancy; William, of Stillwater,
Oklahoma: Josephine, now deceased, who was the wife of VV. H. Lemon;
Alary, who was the wife of J. Dodson and who died in Montana; Rosa,
deceased; Louisa, deceased: Emma, deceased; Fred W., a farmer, of Barada
jirecinct : Charles, deceased : Louis, of Mound City, Missouri, and Mrs.
S(jphia Lietzke, of Barada precinct.

As noted above, the junior Henry Siemering was but three years of
age when his parents came over into Nebraska and settled in this county and
he grew to manhood on the ])ioneer farm in Barada, receiving his schooling
in the schools of that neighborhood. From the days of his boyhood he was
a valued assistant in the labors of developing and improving the home place
and lie remained at home until his marriage in 1887, he then being twenty-
three years of age, when he rented a farm and began farming on his own
account. In 1897 he bought a c|uarter of a section of unimproved land in
section 30 of East Barada precinct, built a house and barn on the same and
made other improvements and there continued to make his home, success-
fully engaged in general farming, until his retirement from the active labor.s.

938 RICHARDSOiV COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

of the farm in 19 16 and removal to the village of Barada. where he has a
comfortable home and sixteen lots. Mr. Siemering is a Democrat and in
1895 ^ind 1896 was elected assessor of his precinct. In 1899 he again was
elected assessor and in 1907 was elected a member of the board of county
supervisors from his district and was re-elected to that office at the next
election, thus holding office on the supervisors board for four years.

On March 24, 1887, Henry Siemering was united in marriage to
Miiwiie Kuker, who was 1x)rn in the precinct of East Barada, this county,
April 3, 1868, a daughter of Louis and Emma (Buchmann) Kuker, natives
of Germany and pioneers of this county, and to this union eight children
have been born, namely : Mrs. Emma Gerdes, of the precinct of Barada :
Charles H.. who is farming the home place: Mrs. Lulu Sailors, of the pre-
cinct of East Barada; Amanda and Ella, deceased, and Edwin W., Lizzie
and Arthur J., at home. The Siemerings are members of the Lutheran
church and have ever taken an interested part in church work, as well as in
other local good works and in the general' social activities of their home
community

SAMUEL H. BAYNE.

It is alwa\s a^ badge of honor to have served our great country during
the crisis of the early sixties, in preserving the Union, and we, of this
generation, should show every mark of respect such a veteran as Samuel H.
Bayne, now living in retiranent in Falls City, Richardson county. He was
born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, June 3, 1836. He is a son of Robert
Bavne, whose birth occurred in the city of Philadelphia in 1800, of German
descent, his ancestors having come to America in Colonial times ; the original
spelling of the name was Behn. The death of Robert Bayne occurred at
the age of sixty-two years: he was a shoemaker by trade. He moved from
the Quaker City, in 1840, to Newark, Delaware, where his death occurred
in 1862, his death being due to fe\er and exposure while on a visit to an
army camp in Virginia during the Civil War. His son, Nathaniel, was a
soldier in the Federal ranks and the father had gone there to aid him, the
son having been taken prisoner and escaped. The grandmother of the sub-
ject of this sketch lived to be ninety-eight years old. His mother, who was
known in her maidenhood as Anne Duncan, was born in Philadelphia in
1804 and died in 1874 in Wilmington, Delaware. She was a daughter of
William Duncan, who was of Scotch descent, and who was the keeper of

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 939

the Sandy Hook lighthouse in an early clay. To Robert and Anne (Duncan)
Bayne nine children were born, eight sons and one daughter, named as fol-
low : Robert, who was an officer in the Fortieth New York Regiment, ^^ol-
unteer Infantry, during the Civil War, is deceased; James, deceased; Mary
A., deceased; Samuel died in infancy; Samuel H., subject of this sketch;
John died when young; Nathaniel, who was a soldier in the One Hundred
and Eighteenth Volunteer Infantry (the Corn Exchange Regiment), is de-
ceased; Joseph died when young, and William, who died when twenty-six
years old.

Samuel H. Bayne spent his boyhood in his native city and there at-
tended the public schools. When eighteen. years old he left home and went
to Galena, Illinois, where he clerked for his brother, James, in a grocery
store. Later, James Bayne moved to Warren, Jo Daviess county, Illinois,
accompanied by the subject of this sketch.

Mr. Bayne of this review was married in 1858, to Mary A. Vandervort,
who was born February 8, 1841, in Erie, Pennsylvania. She was a daughter
of John and Charlotte Vandervort, of German descent, and came to Illinois
in 1854. After his marriage Mr. Bayne located in Warren county, Illinois.
On July 6, 1862. he enlisted in Company H, Ninety-sixth Illinois Volunteer
Infantry, and was sent with his regiment into Kentucky and while there
was taken sick and on that account was honorably discharged at Franklin,
Tennessee, on May 26, 1863. He was with the Army of the Cumberland.
He returned home after his experience as a soldier and continued to reside
in Warren, Illinois, until the spring of 1867, when he moved to Salem,
Nebraska, and opened a general merchandise store, engaging in business
there successfully for a period of thirty years, building up a large and lucra-
tive trade with that town and surrounding country as a result of his sound
judgment, perseverance and honest dealings. He was one of the pioneer
merchants at Salem. Upon leaving there in 1897 he moved to Falls City,
Richardson countv, and retired from the active duties of life. For a period
of twenty years he was vice-president of the Bank of Salem.

To Mr. and Mrs. Bayne one child was born, Mrs. Emma Moore, who
lives in Falls City, and has two children living, Mrs. G. W. Daggett, of Lin-
coln, Nebraska, and Ernest J. Moore, of Little Rock, Arkansas. The latter
is a painter and decorator. Mr. Daggett is a motorman on the traction line
at Lincoln, but formerly he was agent for the Chicago. Burlington & Ouincv
Railroad Company at Dawson. Nebraska, which position he held for a num-
ber of years. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Daggett,
namelv: Winnie Gene, Christine, and an infant."

940 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

Politically, 'Sir. Bayne is a Republican. He has been a Mason for a
period of fort}-four years, and has been a member of the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows for a period of forty years. He holds membership with
the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He is a member of Porter Post,
Xo. 48, Grand Army of the Republic, at Salem. He has always been re-
garded as a good citizen in every respect and enjoys the friendship of a
very wide circle of acquaintances both at Salem and Falls City.

CHARLES FI. SCHOCK.

A well-known and highly honored citizen of a past generation in Falls
City, Richardson county, was the late Charles H. Schock, a man who led
an upright and honorable life and was rated at all times as a good citizen,
in all that the term implies. He was born near Bellevue, Ohio, July 19.
1848. He was a son of William and Sarah (Heater) Schock, both natives
of Ohio, but of Pennsylvania-German stock. Their family consisted of eight
children, named as follow: George W., of Falls City, Nebraska; Mrs.
Elizabeth Stewart, of Vermillion, Kansas; Mrs. Adeline Korner, of Falls
City. Nebraska; Charles H.. of this sketch: Mrs. Amanda Stetler, of Long
Beach, California; William A. is engaged in farming in Richardson county;
Mrs. George W. Holland lives in Falls City. Nebraska, and Lincoln, who
died when sixteen years old.

The Schock family came to Nebraska in 1868 and settled on a farm
east of Falls City. There the father prospered, growing wealthy through
close application and good management. Charles H. Schock was twenty
years oi age when the family moved to Richardson county. After working
on the home place for five years he began farming for himself, investing in
land four and one-half miles southwest of Falls City, owning one hundred
and sixtv acres of very productive land, which he brought up to a high state
of improxenient, living there for a period of eleven years. He then moved
to Ivills City in 1892. He also owned a good farm of one hundred acres
near Salem. He continued to reside in Falls City until his death, which
occurred on July 5, 1902. He had been very successful as a general farmer.

Politically Mr. Schock was a Republican and was active in party affairs.
He attended the Methodist church. Fraternally, he was a member of the
Independent (^rder of Odd Fellows and the Royal Highlanders.

Mr. Schock was married on April 12. 1881, to Katie Melhorn, who

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 94I

was born April 30. 1857, in Indiana. She is a daughter of Andrew and
Mary (Streasner) Melhorn. botli natives of Germany, where they spent
their earHer years, finally emigrating to America. After living in Indiana
for some time they came to Nebraska in 1865, locating in Arago precinct,
living on a farm many years near the village of Barada. Their family con-
sisted of six children, namely : Sarah, the wife of George A. Schock, of
Falls City, Nebraska : Katie, widow of Charles H. Schock of this memoir :
John died when eight years of age; George and Herman were both killed by
lightning at the same time; Martin lives in San Diego, California.

Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Schock, namely: Mattie,
wife of Mark Tefft, a merchant of Falls City, Nebraska, and they have one
child, Kathleen, whose birth occurred on January 12, 1914; Stella is the
wife of Glenn McMillan, a druggist of Falls City. Mrs. Tefft is a member
of the social circle of the Methodist Episcopal church and the Woman's
Club of Falls City.

Mrs. Katie Schock built a beautiful home on Stone street. Falls City,
in 191 1, where she still resides. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church.

ELLIS O. LEWIS.

A man of sound business judgment and recognized integrity is Ellis O.
Lewis, manager of the Peerless Stock Powder Company of Falls City, Ne-
braska. He was born on March 2, 1861, in McHenry county, Illinois. He
is the son of John Lewis and his wife, Rebecca Fitz- Randolph Lewis, the
latter of whom is a direct descendant of Robert Fitz Randolph, who served
as a private minute-man in the Middlesex New Jersey militia during the
Revolutionary War. Robert Fitz Randolph also served for a time in a
Pennsylvania regiment commanded by Col. William Cook and was present
at the battle of Germantown.

John Lewis and his wife were lx)th born near MeadA'ille, Pennsylvania,
and were married in Illinois in 1858. In 1863 the family moved from Illinois
to Newton, Iowa, and in 1869 moved to Richardson count}', Nebraska, and
in Octoljer of that year settled in Ohio township, six miles northwest of
Falls City. He was among the early pioneers and, by hard work and per-
severance he developed a farm from the wilderness and after many hard-
ships, established a comfortable home for his family. Ellis O. Lewis thus
grew to manhood amid primitive conditions, sharing the burdens of life on

942

ICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

tlie Western frontier. He found plenty of hard work to do in helping to
establish the family home in the new country. He remembers helping to
raise corn and shelling it. then hauling it to St. Stephens, where he sold it
for thirteen cents per bushel. He also tells of building "breaks" to catch
the grasshoppers during the years of that plague and fattening pigs on the
insects. He helped to fatten hogs which his father sold for three and one-
half cents per pound.

Mr. Lewis, of this sketch, studied awhile under D. D. Houtz, one of
the first teachers in Richardson county, then attended the high school at
I'alls Lit)', taking a three years' course, graduating in 1880. being thus a
inemljer of the first graduating class there. In the fall of that year he entered
Nebraska State University, taking the course in civil engineering and grad-
uating in 1884. He became a member of the first fraternity that graduated
from that institution — the Phi Delta Theta.

Thus exceptionally well equipped for life's duties in those early days
in this section of the West. Mr. Lewis began teaching, assuming the duties
of principal of the Verdon schools, also taught at Rulo, Richardson county,
and at Reserve. Kansas, giving eminent satisfaction as an educator. He was
elected clerk of Richardson county in 1890 and, discharging his duties in an
able manner he was re-elected in 1892, serving four years. Upon leaving
the office in 1894 he turned his attention to the real estate business which he
followed with success until 1899, in which year he was appointed postmaster
at 1^'alls City by President William McKinley. He discharged his duties
in a manner highly acceptable to the people and the authorities until 1904,
then turned his attention to the manufacture of what has since become known
as one of the most reliable stock powders and stock dips for live stock on
the market. The Peerless Stock Powder Company was established in 1904
bv Falls City people and Mr. Lewis purchased an interest in the business in
Januarv. 1904, and took over the management. He at once began remodeling
the plant, making a number of changes to better the output, inventing a
better formula. By careful management and wise discrimination, close
application and honest dealings with his customers he has increased the busi-
ness from year to year until it has long since found a ready market over a
large territory and its prestige has been growing daily. The annual output
at this writing, in 191 7, will reach nearly one million pounds. Four of the
leading live stock states of the Union are covered largely by the products
of this company and used by stock feeders. Large quantities are consigned
each week to various points in Nebraska, Iowa. Missouri and Kansas. The

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 945

business is increasing materially each year. Two expert employees in the
manufacture of dip and stock powder are used in the factory all of the time
and others when the business requires it. This company also employs from
six to ten men as traveling salesmen on the road. Associated with Mr.
Lewis in the business are J. H. Miles, A. J- Weaves. J. H. Morehead and
Jacob Marmet.

In December, 1883, Mr. Lewis was united in marriage to Eva E. Miller,
of Lincoln. Xebraska. she being at that time a student at the State Univer-
sity with Mr. Lewis. She is the daughter of Elder Jason G. Miller, a prom-
inent pioneer of Nebraska, and who was one of the men who helped lav
out the state capitol at Lincoln.

The union of Mr. and Mrs. Lewis resulted in the birth of four children,
namely; Theron E., who lives in the city of Omaha and who is a member
of Company D, Fourth Nebraska Regiment, Volunteer Infantry ; he saw
service on the Mexican border in 191 6 and is an electrician by trade. Ralph,
the second son. is an employee of the Peerless Stock Powder Company as
factory foreman. Ruth, the only daughter, is a graduate of the Falls City
high school. She has also pursued a four years' course in the University
Conservatory of ]\Iusic at Lincoln. Nebraska. She is an accomplished musi-
cian and a successful music teacher. Ruth Lewis now has the data and will
join the Daughters of the American Revolution. Don. the youngest of the
children, is an employee of the Peerless Stock Powder Company and is an
expert in the manufacture of stock dip, insecticides and stock remedies used
extensively by farmers in preserving their stock and making them more
thrifty.

Mr. Lewis has long been a potent factor in local public affairs. He is
a Republican, a member of the progressive wing of that party. He belonged
to the state central committee in 1896. 1912 and 1916. He was assistant
secretary of the .state Senate in 1885,. 1887 and 1889. While a member of
the above named committee he served on the executive committee. He filled
these responsible positions in a manner that reflected much credit upon him-
self and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned. He took a leading
part in making Falls City a dry town, and campaigned Richardson county
during the fight between the wets and drys in 1916; in fact, he helped to
make the state of Nebraska dry. He has long been a relentless foe of the
liquor traffic and has done a most commendable work for prohibition. Fra-
ternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and was a dele-
gate to the national camp of this order. in Toledo, Ohio, 1914; he also be-
longs to the Royal Highlanders. He attends the Presb\-terian church.

944 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

]\Ir. Lewis is a born leader of men; he is _ aggressive, educated, well
informed on all important topics of the world, familiar wnth the world's
best literature; he is a man of keen business acumen and executive ability,
and he takes an abiding interest in the general progress of his city and
community, and his honesty and probity of character have never been ques-
tioned.

JAMES S. HILLYARD.

One of the most widel\- and favorably known manufacturing firms of
Ealls City, Richardson county, is that of Hillyard & Son. Mr. Hillyard, of
this review, was born on August i, 1865, in Caldwell county, Kentucky. He
is a son of Thomas L. and Nancy (Hart) Hillyard, the former a native of
Kentucky and the latter of South Carolina. William L. Hillyard, the
paternal grandfather of the gentleman whose name initiates this sketch, was
born and reared in Kentucky and was a son of Alexander Hillyard, a native
of V^irginia and an early pioneer settler of Kentucky, where he settled in the
year 1816 on a large Revolutionary land grant, which was handed down to
his children. William L. Hillyard was a strong Union sympathizer and did
not believe in slavery on any. terms. Thomas L. Hillyard was born August
27, 1840, and died March 14, 1913. His wife, Nancy Hart, was born in
1841 and died in 1868. leaving two cliildren, James S. of this sketch; and
Mrs. Belle McGough, of Caldwell county, Kentucky, in which county the
father of these children lived and died, spending his active life in agricul-
tural pursuits.

James S. Hillyard grew to manhood in his native county and was edu-
cated in the public schools. He left home in 1881. making his own living i'
Kentucky for three years. In 1884 he came to Phillips county. Kansas, and
in 1886 located in Gage county, Nebraska, where he followed farming for
five years. In 1891 he moved to Pawnee county, this state, where he engaged
in farming three years. In September, 1895, he located in Falls City, where
he began working at the carpenter's trade which he followed for four years
then began contracting on his own account, purchasing the Johnson factory,
which he has greatly improved, including the installation of modern machin-
ery. It is located at 1619 Chase street. He has admitted his son, Fred, and
they are engaged successfully in the manufacture of window frames, door
frames, screen frames and all work for buildings, being general manufac-
turers of wood work. The factory was established in 1913. They turn out

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. ^ 945

first-class work in all lines, and emplo)- a number of highly-skilled workmen.
Mr. Hillyard followed contracting for a period of fourteen years, erecting
dwellings, barns and other buildings throughout Richardson county, including
many of the largest and most modern building.s in this part of the state. Some
of the leading citizens of the county gave him the contracts for their resi-
dences, including that of John Towle, just west of Falls City. In one year he
"built two large residences for W. R. Holt and one each for A. J. Spofiford.
John Ross. T. T. Ross and T. J. Whitaker.

Mr. Hillyard was married in 1888 to Mary McCurry. who was born in
Green count}', Tennessee. She is a daughter of Joseph McCurry. who settled
in Gage county, Xebraska. many years ago and there became well established
on a farm. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hillyard:
Fred, born July 25, 1890, is engaged in business with his father; he was mar-
ried on April 9, tqio, to Emma Stradter. of Humboldt, Richardson county,
and they have one child, Harry, horn on March 15, 191 1. Charles, second
child of the subject of this sketch, was born on Deceml^er 25, 1891, died on
September 17, 1906; Thomas, February 21, 1894: Mabel, May 25, 1896, and
Nellie, November 25, 1902.

Politically, Mr. Hillyard is a Republican, but is inclined to vote inde-
pendently. Fraternally, he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America,
and, religiously, he belongs to the United Brethren church. He takes a deep
interest in promoting the general welfare of his city and county.

SAMUEL F. HEIM.

Among the extensive and prosperous farmers of Richardson county must
be included Samuel !■". Heim. of GraiTt township, owner of seventeen hun-
dred and si.xt}' acres of excellent farming land, three hundred and twenty
acres of which are located in sections 10 and 16, in Grant township, and four-
teen hundred and forty acres in Hitchcock county, this state. He was born
on \ovember 17. rS59, in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and is the son of
Jacob G. and Regina (Gross) Heim, who were also born in the Keystone state
and to whom further and more detailed reference is made in another part
of this work, in the course of a sketch relating to Joseph G. Heim, a brother
of the subject of this sketch.

Jacob G. Heim. who came to Xebraska in 1874, was lx)rn in Pennsyl-
(60)

946 RICHARDSON COCNTY, NEBRASKA.

vania on June 15, 1832, the son of Gotleib and Margaret ( Steiger) Heim,
who came to America from Germany about 1808. Up to the time of his
retirement a few years before his death, Jacob G. Heim was actively engaged
in operating his farm of four hundred acres in section 15, Grant precinct, in
which he was the pioneer settler of the Pennsylvania colony. He was mar-
ried to Regina Gross, who was born on July 13, 1825, and is now in her
ninety-second year. Jacob G. and Regina ( Gross ) Heim were the parents
of eleven children, four of whom are deceased, the others Ijeing Joseph G..
who lives in Dawson, this county; Mrs. Sarah Ulmer, who lives in Grant
township; Samuel F., the subject of this sketch; Jonathan W. ; Rebecca, the
wife of Jacob Heim: Sophia, who married Martin D. Ulmer, and Margaret,
who is the wife of Thomas Wuster, and all of whom are living in Grant pre-
cinct, this county. The father of these children died in 1914 and his widow
now lives with her daughter, Mrs. Sarah Ulmer.

Samuel F. Heim was in his fifteenth year when he came with his parents
to Nebraska, arriving on June 11, 1874, and remained at Rulo for a brief
period of three weeks with some friends and on July 3, moved with his par-
ents to Grant precinct. His first employment in Richardson county was herd-
ing cattle on the plains and farming. Some time later he obtained his first
tract of land from his father, who had purchased a half section in Grant
township, and Samuel F. Heim began farming operations on his own account.
As he prospered in his farming work, he continued to add to his land hold-
ings and is now the owner of seventeen hundred and sixty acres of prime
tillage and fattening land. On his holdings, generally, Mr. Heim has effected
some very extensive improvements and has set out an excellent grove of
trees"and an orchard and in the latter is engaged in fruit-growing, the prod-
uce being sold and shipped in large quantities. Mr. Heim has been one of
the Richardson county farmers who has helped to reclaim the prairie and
convert it into well-cultivated fields and pasture lands.

On February 14, 1889, Samuel F. Heim was united in marriage to Eliza-
lieth Heim. who was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, and is the
daughter of John J. and Rosa (Heim) Heim, who were the parents of seven
children, all of whom are now living. John Heim and wife now reside m
section 10. Grant township. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel F. Heim are the parents
of six children, namely : Mrs. Luella Clark Belden, residing in Montana ;
Mrs. Adah F. James, who lives in Porter precinct; Tillie, who married Fd.
Richards, living in Porter precinct ; Melvin, Mary and Richard, at home.

Mr. Heim is a supporter of the Republican party, but has never held

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 947

public office. He and his family are members of the United Evangelical
church, and are liberal supporters of its various activities. In 1916 Mr. Heini
installed throughout his home and barns a Delco electric system, using the
lights in the home and the outbuildings; also using the electric system for
pumping water, washing and many other purposes.

CHARLES G. HARGRAVE.

Charles G. Hargrave. well-known clothing merchant at Falls City and
proprietor of clothing stores also at Wymore and Kearney, this state, is a
native of the neighboring state of Iowa, but has been a resident of Nebraska
since 1892, when he became engaged in the clothing business at Wymore;
moving to Falls City in 1900. He was born at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, son of
Thomas E. and Mary (Pyle) Hargrave, the former of whom was born at
Richmond, \^irginia, and the latter at Steuben\'ille, Ohio, both of old Colonial
stock, the Hargraves having been represented in this country since the days
of the Pilgrim Fathers. Thomas E. Hargrave, who was a son of Lemuel
Hargrave and wife, natives of Virginia, was reared at Richmond and there
trained to the dry-goods business. In 1854 he came West and located at
Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, where he engaged in the dry-goods business and where
he and his wife spent their last days, the former dying on December 1 1, 1897,
at the age of sixty-eight years. His widow survived him for more than
seventeen years, her death occurring on February 4, 191 5, she then being
seventy-seven years of age. They were the parents of seven children, those
besides the subject of this sketch being as follow : Mary V., who is buyer
for a dry-goods firm at Kaufman, Texas ; Mrs. J. L. Wilson, a widow, of
Salt Lake City: Thomas, who was a clothing merchant at Wymore and at
Kearnev, this state, and who died in 1913; Miss Etna Hargrave, of Salt
Lake City, and two who died in infancy.

Reared at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, Charles G. Hargrave received his early
schooling in the schools of that city and supplemented the same by a course
in Howe's Academy, which he entered in 1875. From the days of his boy-
hood he had been made familiar with the dry-goods business in his father's
store and upon completing his schooling entered the store and was engaged in
Imsiness with his father until 1892, in which year he came to this state and
became engaged with his brother, Thomas P. Hargrave, in the clothing busi-
ness, the brothers establishing stores at Wymore and at Kearney, a connection

94^ RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

which continued until the death of the younger brother in 1913. In 1900
Charles G. Hargrave established a clothing store at Falls Cit}- and has since
made that city his home, at the same time continuing to carry on the business
of his stores at Wymore and at Kearney, and has long lieen recognized as
one of the leading merchants of the city.

On January 20. 1897. at Chicago, Illinois, Charles G. Hargrave was
united in marriage to Jessie Roper, who was born in that city, daughter of
Mr. and Mrs. Howard Roper, the former of whom was a Chicago banker,
and to this union one child has been born, a son, Thomas E. Hargrave, who
was born at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Hargrave have a very
pleasant home at Falls City and since taking up their residence there have
taken an interested part in the general social and cultural activities of the
city. They are members of the Episcopal church and, fraternally, Mr. Har-
grave is affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

GEORGE G. GANDY, M. D.

There is no royal road to success in the medical profession, those who
achieve laurels in the practice of the same being compelled to lead lives of
strenuous endeavor, after laying well a broad and deep foundation. Real-
izing this at the outset of his career. Dr. George G. Gandy, of Humboldt,
Richardson county, has left no stone unturned whereby he might advance
himself and he has achieved success in his chosen vocation, while yet a young
man.

Doctor Gandy was lx>rn on January 3, 1880, in Humboldt, Nebraska.
He is a son of Dr. James L. and Mary ( Ott ) Gandy. Dr. James L. Gandy
was born near Clarksburg, Virginia, in 1844. He is a son of Dr. William
O. Gandv, also a native of Virginia, who moved to Indiana, where he prac-
ticed medicine for many years, later settling in Iowa. Thus the subject of
this review descended from a long line of physicians, and therefore evidently
possessed much natural ability in this line. His father, who is now living
retired at Humboldt, studied medicine with his father, and during the Civil
War he enlisted in the Union army hospital service. He returned home and
completed his medical course at Rush Medical College, Chicago, graduating
with the class of 1867. He had previously pursued a medical course at
.\nn Arbor, Michigan, in the State University. He began the practice of
his profession in White Cloud, Iowa, and in 1869 began practicing at Table

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 949

Rock, Xeliraska. later coming to Humboldt, Richardson county, where he
built up a large practice, ranking among the leading local doctors of his day
in this county. His wife, ;\Jary Ott, was torn in 1848, in Indiana. To these
parents seven children were born, two of whom are now deceased, and four
daughters and one son living.

Dr. George G. Gandy received his early education in the Humboldt
public schools, began studying medicine when but a boy under his father,
and later entered Ensworth Medical College at St. Joseph, Missouri, from
which institution he was graduated in 1902. In the spring of that year he
entered the Chicago Polyclinic Institute, where he studied for some time.
He began the practice of his profession at Covington, Oklahoma, where he
remained two years, then in 1904, came to his home town and has since
maintained his office in Humboldt and has had splendid success as a general
practitioner, soon taking his position among the leading medical men in
southeastern Nebraska. He took a post-graduate course in Allgemine
Kraunken Hause (Hospital) in Vienna, Austria, in 1910. He attended
clinics conducted by the famous Doctor Lorenz and others of the most noted
medical men and instructors of the old world. He also pursued a course at
Westminster Hospital, London, England, in the samfc year. He traveled
extensively in Europe while abroad and was a spectator of the famous Pas-
sion Play at Oberammergau, Bavaria, which play is given every ten years.
He has one of the best equipped offices in the state, which is located in the
Park Hotel building. His furnishings and equipment are all modern and
have been collected at great expense. He has the only real X-ray machine
in southeastern Nebraska.

Doctor Gandy was married in London, England, September 6, 1910,
to Clementine Rousek. a daughter of J. W. Rousek, who was also touring
Europe at the time, with relatives, and Doctor and Mrs. Gandy finished a
tour of the continent together. She was a daughter of J. W. Rousek, a
deceased merchant of Humboldt, Nebraska. This family, like the Gandvs,
have long been well and favorably known in Richardson county.

Doctor Gandy is a member of the Richardson County Medical Society,
the Nebraska State Medical Association, the American Medical Associa-
tion and is a life member of the American Medical Association of Vienna,
Austria. He is a director in the Home State Bank at Humboldt. He has
remained a deep student of all that pertains to his profession, thereby keeping
well abreast of the times. He is a man of engaging personality, obliging,
.sympathetic and of unquestioned integrity.

950 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

FRANK EIS.

One of the most enterprising general farmers and stockmen of Ricli-
ardson county is Frank Eis, of Humboldt precinct. He came to us from a
foreign clime and, seizing upon the superior opportunities offered here, has
made a success of his life work. He was born in Chotebor, Bohemia, April
20, i860. He is a son of Antone and Mary (Zulick) Eis, natives of Bohemia,
where they grew up, married and established their home. Seven children
were born to them, namely: John, living retired in Humboldt, Nebraska;
Mrs. Mary Schwab, deceased; Mrs. Fannie Watzek, living in Humboldt,
this state; Mrs. Lizzie Kubick, who lives in Clay Center, Kansas; Frank, of
this sketch; the rest of the children died in early life. The parents of these
children immigrated to America in 1869, the voyage across the Atlantic
requiring thirty-three days, and in December of that year established their
future home in Richardson county, Nebraska. They drove from St. Joseph.
Missouri, in a sled, on Christmas day, and located on land in Speiser town-
ship, a mile west of the present Eis homestead, the father buying eighty
acres for which he paid the sum of one thousand dollars. He built a stone
house, containing only one room and when spring came he broke the prairie
sod with oxen. His nearest market was Brownville, Nebraska. He endured
the usitai hardships of life on the Western frontier, but being a hard worker
developed a farm and had a comfortable home in due course of time, con-
tinuing general farming until his death, which occurred in 1899, at the
advanced age of eighty-three years. His wife had preceded him to the grave
in 1892 at the age of seventy-six years.

Frank Eis spent his childhood in Bohemia, being nine years old when
the family came to the United States. He attended the common schools
for some time in Humboldt township, Richardson county. He helped his
father with the general work on the home farm until he was eighteen years
old, then, desiring to further his education he entered the Humlxildt high
school, where he studied for some time, then began clerking for the Nims
Brothers in their general store in Humboldt. He continued working in
Humlwldt for sixteen years, then worked with his brother, John, on a farm.
He l)ought his present farm in 1889 and has been very successfully engaged
in general farming and stock raising on the same place, which excellent and
well-improved farm consists of four hundred and eighty acres. He built
a large modern home in 191 5, which is equipped with electric lights, bath,
sewer, furnace and hot and cold water fixtures, and is one of the most de-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 95 1

sirable and attractive dwellings in the county. He also has substantial barns
and other outbuildings. Everything about his place denotes thrift and good
management. He drove three yoke of oxen to a plow, breaking wild prairie
in his boyhood. H^e has been a hard worker all his life.

Mr. Eis was married in 1889, to Mary Petrashek, who was born in
Toledo. Ohio. She is a daughter of John and Marj^ (Skalak) Petrashek.
both natives of Bohemia, from which country they came to America about
a half century ago, and located in Richardson county, in 1867. Both are
now deceased. Three children have been born to Frank Eis and wife, named
as follows: Frank. Jr.. Rudolph, and Arthur, all at home.

Politically, Mr. Eis is a Democrat. He was reared in the faith of the
Catholic church. Fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of
America, and the C. S. P. S. Bohemian lodge.

LEWIS M. BILLINGS.

Another enterprising young farmer of Humboldt precinct, Richardson
county is Lewis M. Billings, who was born in Adair county, Iowa, September
18, 1878. He is a son of John and Sophia (Meliza) Billings, the subject of
this sketch being their only child. The father was born in Iowa, where he
grew up, married and spent his life, dying there* in 1879 at the early age of
twenty-eight years. His widow subsequently married James M. Trimble,
and one child was born to their union. Sophia Meliza was bom in Indiana
and died in 1898 at the age of forty-seven years.

Lewis W. Billings was but a child when his father died and he grew
up on the farm of his. stepfather and he received his education in the district
schools, al.so the higli school at Humboldt, Nebraska, later took a course in
telephone engineering in the International Correspondence Schools at
Scranton, Pennsylvania. He worked at the telephone business for nine
years at Table Rock, also at Omaha, Nebraska, holding a position in the
Union depot in the latter city for the Markell dining car system. I^ter,
he was employed by the Hammond packing plant at south Omaha, in the fire
department. In 19 13 he came to Richardson county and bought his present
farm of eighty acres in section 18. Humboldt precinct, and here he has since
been engaged in general farming, specializing in high-grade Poland China
hogs. He has made many improvements on the place.

Mr. Billings was married on June 10. 1903. to Lydia E. Rist, who was

952 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

born on August 25, 1881, in Richardson county, and here she was reared
to womanhood and educated. She is a daughter of Christian and Emma
(Hunzeker) Rist, natives of Berne, Switzerland, from which country they
came to Richardson county, in pioneer days and here became well established
through their industry. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Billings,
Lxjreene, whose birth occurred March 7, 1912.

Politically, Mr. Billings is a Democrat. He has served as assessor of
Humboldt township. He attends the Christian church.

In the spring of 191 7 Mr. Billings embarked in the thoroughbred poultry
business with G. J. Cernohlavek as partner, the firm being known as the
"Banner Poultry Farm." Many up-to-date poultry and brooder houses were
built; also a modern hatchery of ten thousand-egg capacity. The "Banner
Poultry Farm" breeds all of the popular breeds of chickens, as well as Belgium
hares and Carneaux pigeons. It is one of the best equipped poultry farms
in the state.

JAMES WILLIAM LUXDY.

James W. Lundy, one of Barada precincts well-known and substantial
retired farmers and stockmen, now living at Shubert, where he has a very,
pleasant home, is a native of the neighboring state of ^Missouri, but has been
a resident of Nebraska since he was five years of age, his parents having
settled on this side the river in 1863, becoming counted among the most
substantial and useful pioneers of the half-breed strip in the precinct of
Barada. He was born in Johnson county, Missouri, T^Iarch 4, 1858, son of
Ebenezer and Paulina (Chapman) Lundy, pioneers of Richardson county,
whose last days were spent here.

Ebenezer Lundy was born in Grayson county. \'i'rginia, in 1832, son
of Samuel Lundy and wife, also Virginians, and was early trained to the
trade of stonemason. He married Paulina Chapman, who was born in
Butler county, Kentucky, on September 20, 1835, of colonial ancestrv.
Tracing a lineage back to "1676. An ancestor owned Lundy 's Lane, of Rev-
olutionary fame: Benjamin Lundy, the great abolitionist, was another fa-
mous ancestor. After his marriage he settled in ^Missouri, remaining there
until 1862, when he came over into the then Territory of Nebraska and
became engaged on the construction of the bridge across the Missouri at
Nemaha City. While thus engaged he bought a tract of land in the Barada
half-breed strip in this county, just on the county line, and there estab-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 953

lished his home. There was a log cabin there and in that humble abode he
and his family made their home until after awhile, when lumber became
more plentiful, he erected a frame house. By that time he had one of the
best-developed farms in that neighborhood and was recognized as one of
the leading pioneers of the strip, helpful in many ways in promoting the early
interests of his home precinct^. There he and his wife spent their last days,
the latter dying in June, 1902, he surviving until in June, 1909. They were
the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the
last-born, the others being Emma, wife of A. J. Hanika, of Shubert; Mrs.
Mollie Stotts, of Shul>ert, and Efifie, wife of Daniel Lewis, a well-known
farmer of the precinct of Barada.

As noted above, J. W. Lundy was but tive years of age when he came
with his parents from Missouri to Nebraska and he grew to manhood on
the home farm in Barada precinct, familiar from boyhood with the life of
the pioneers of the sixties, and his youth was given over largely to herding
cattle on the jilains. He received his schooling in the local schools that
c|uickly were organized in his neighborhood and remained at home until he
\\as twenty-one years of age^ when he became engaged as a herder on the
Jolin P. Smith ranch in Pawnee count}' and was thus engaged for a year,
at the end of which time he resumed farming and was thus actively engaged
until his retirement in 1913. He was married in 1884 and in 1886 his
father gave him an "eighty," three miles west of Barada, where he estab-
lished his home, continuing to develop and improve that place until he had
one of the best-improved farms thereabout. To that tract he added an
adjoining "forty" and when his father's estate was diveded he received an
additional "eighty," and bought other land, thus being now possessed of three
liundrcd and thirty acres. of fine land in the precinct of Barada. one of the
best farming regions in Nebraska, besides eight acres in the town of Shubert.
and has a half section in Texas— six hundred and fifty-eight acres in all..
In addition to his general farming Mr. Lundy gave considerable attention
to the raising of live stock and did very well in his operations. On Jan-
uary I, 1 91 3. he retired from the farm, bought a fine home in Shubert and
there he and his wife have since been living, very comfortably situated. Mr.
Lundy is a Democrat and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local
civic afifairs, but has not l>een a seeker after public ofifice.

On March 26, 1884, J. W. Lundy was united in marriage to Emma
Barker, who was born in Nemaha county, this state. March 8. 1868, daughter
of Henry and .\manda (Davis) Barker, natives, respectively, of Missouri

954 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

and of Iowa, who were married in Nebraska and became well-to-do resi-
dents of Nemaha county. Henry Barker was a son of William Barker and
wife, who came over into the then Territory of Nebraska in the early
sixties from Missouri, and Amanda Davis was a daughter of Mathias Davis
and wife, who became residents of the Territory in 1865, coming over here
from Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Lundy have four sons, namely: Louis Lundy,
who married Minnie Lehan and is now living in Idaho: Dr. Fred Lundy, a
practicing physician of Seattle, Washington, who married Ruby Leedam
on December 2}^, 1916: Ray Lundy, who married Nellie Bucholz and is liv-
ing on the old home farm in Barada precinct, and has an infant child. Glen
Lugene. and Clark Lundy, also on the home farm, who married V'era
McDowell and has one child, a son, William Ervin. J. W. Limdy is a
member of the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of
the Ancient Order of United Workmen and of the Degree of Honor and
in the afifairs of these several organizations takes a warm interest.

JOHN H. KOSO.

^Vhen John H. Koso came over into this county from Missouri in the
spring of 1899 and bought the farm on which he is now living in East
Barada precinct some of his new neighbors were good enough to tell him
that nobody had ever been able to make a living on that place and that he,
too, would be starved out, which was not very encouraging for a new set-
tler. However, Mr. Koso did not starve: and, not only that, but he has
added to his land holdings, is free from debt and besides developing a fine
farm plant on his place has been able to make other investments. All of
which simply goes to show that there may be different ways of getting re-
sults, for Mr. Koso certainly has been successful where others seemed to
have failed, and is now accounted one of the substantial farmers of the
northeastern part of Richardson county.

John H. Koso was born at Solon Mills, McHenry county, Illinois, in
1858, son of Joseph and Sophia Koso, both of European birth, natives of
the grand -duchy of Mecklenburg, who were the parents of three children,
and the latter of whom was married three times, being the mother of eleven
children in all. When John H. Koso was two years of age his father died
and his childhood was spent in the households of his uncles. John Koso and
George Sutton. When sixteen years of age, in 1874. he left Illinois and

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

955

came over into Nebraska to make his home with Peter Thelk in this county,
working- for him and attending the Lutheran school in the neighborhood of
the Thelk home, and remained there for three years, during which time
he learned to speak and to read German. In 1877 he returned to Illinois,
where he learned the cooper's trade and where he remained until 1883. in
which year he returned West and in the vicinity of Thayer, Kansas, became
employed as a farm hand and continued thus engaged until his marriage in
the fall of 1885, when he rented a farm and began fanning on his own
account. In December, 189.4, Mr. Koso disposed of his interests in Kansas
and moved over into Gentry county, Missouri, where he bought a farm of
iifty-eight acres and where he remained until the spring of 1899, when he
sold his Missouri farm and came over into Nebraska, arriving in this county
on April 5 of that year with his household goods, his live stock and nine
hundred dollars in cash. This sum he applied on the purchase of seventy
acres in section 27 of the precinct of Barada, a tract that had had several
previous owners, and there established his home and proceeded to improve
and develop the place. Despite the fact that neighbors told him he would
starve on the place, as others, they said, had done, Mr. Koso went right
ahead with his farming operations ajid soon found himself on the way to
prosperity. He planted an orchard, built a new barn and made other im-
provements on the place; in 191 1 bought an adjoining "forty" and in 1913
bought another similar tract to the east, and now has a well-improved and
profitably cultivated farm of one hundred and fifty acres in sections 27 and
28. By 1913 Mr. Koso had his land all paid for and has since been able
to extend his investments in other directions, thus conclusivelv refuting the
doleful predictions made by his neighbors when he took possession of his
present fine home place less than twenty years ago.

On October 15, 1885, John H. Koso was united in marriage to Alice
Elliott, who was born at Watson, Illinois, February 2, 1865. daughter of
Sanford and Frances (Field) Elliott, natives, respectively, of Kentuckv and
of Illinois, who later moved from Effingham, Illinois, to Livingston county,
^lissouri, where they spent their last days. Sanford Elliott and wife were
the parents of seven children and one of their sons, Milton Elliott, was a
soldier ' of the Union during the Civil War, having run away from home
when fifteen years of age to enter the service. Mr. and Mrs. Koso have
seven children, namely : Orin, who is a farmer in Barada precinct : John,
also a farmer in the precinct of Barada; Mrs. Efifie Brooks, of the precinct
of Falls City, and Hance, Mary, Ouentin and Augusta, at home. The Koso

956 RICHARDSON COUXTV, XEKRASKA.

f;iniil\ liave a very pleasant home and liave ever taken an interested part
in the <reneral social activities of their home community. Mr. Koso is a
Ivepublican and. fraternally, is affiliated with the local lodge of the Modern
Woodmen of America, in the afifairs of which he takes a warm interest.

TERRY POLLARD.

A man like Perry Pollard, of Htimboldt precinct, Richardson county,
who makes a specialty of raising a superior grade of live stock, does an
inestimable amount of good in his locality. His specialty, as is well known,
is that of breeding fine Poland China hogs in connection with his general
farming pursuits. He was born on his present farm, August 14, 1861, and
he is a son of Pharagus and Sarah ( Crook ) Pollard, pioneers of this section
of Nebraska.

Pharagus Pollard was born in Tennessee about 1830; he came with Jesse
Crook to Richardson county, April 5, 1855, locating near Falls City; he
later owned various farms until he bought the one owned by his son, Perry,
on which he established his permanent home. It was wild prairie land, but
he broke up the sod, working with oxen for some time, and put it under
cultivation, and built a log cabin on the place. He endured the usual hard-
ships of those who essay a life on the frontier. After coming here he
engaged to dig wells for a numljer of the settlers in order to get money with
which to carry on general farming. He was a soldier in the Civil War,
having enlisted in Company G, Second Nebraska Cavalry, at Falls City, and
went to the front as corporal. He made a brave and efficient soldier and died
while in the service of his country, of sickness. He was a son of Jesse
Pollard, a nati\e of North Carolina, who in later life came to Richardson
county, to live with his son, Pharagus. Sarah Crook was born in \\^hite
county, Tennessee, January i_', 1831. She spent her latter years among her
children, living to advanced age, her death occurring on February 12. 19 17.
She was a member of the Christian church. Her family consisted of seven
children, only one of whom is now deceased.

Perry Pollard was reared on the homestead in Humboldt precinct; in
fact, he has never lived anywhere else. He worked hard when a boy and has
kept the place well improved and under a fine state of cultivation. He owns
two hundred acres of the homestead and has made a success as a general
farmer and stock raiser. He began breeding Poland China hogs in 191 5

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

957

and has now a fine herd, his hogs finding a very rea'dy market owing to their
snperior quality : he has always raised a standard bred hog.

Mr. Pollard has remained unmarried. He belongs to the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows. He is president of the Farmers Union, of which he
was one of the organizers. It now has three hundred members and it has
proven to be an excellent thing for the farmers of this district, and they are
able to get better prices for their products, some of which are now stored to
await the best season in which to sell. Politically, he is a Democrat.

The following children were born to Pharagus and Sarah Pollard:
Jesse A., who lives in Phillips county, Kansas; Isaac N.. living on the home
place: Christopher Columbus lives in Humboldt. Nebraska; Elizabeth J. is
the wife of J. A. Kunze. and they live in Rosalia, Kansas: Andrew J.,
deceased: Perry S.. of this sketch, and Eva. wife of St. Clair Ray, lives in-
Humboldt.

TOHN FANKHAUSER.

Speiser township, Richardson county, has no more painstaking tiller
of the soil than John Fankhauser, who hails from that splendid little republic
in the Alps, Switzerland, from whence so many of our good citizens have
come. He was born there on February 3. 1842. aiTd is a son of John U.
and Barbara ( Rothenbuhler ) Fankhauser, natives of Switzerland, where
they grew up and married, but emigrated with their family to America in
1847. locating in Fulton county, Ohio, where they remained until 1864,
when they came to Richards county, buying the farm on which their son.
John, now resides in Speiser township. There they started life in typical
pioneer fashion, building a log house and breaking the virgin sod of the
plains with oxen and horses. Two years later the log house was replaced
with a lietter frame dwelling, also a barn was built at that time. The father
succeeded by perseverance and farmed here until his death in \o\ember,
1873. at the age of sixt\-one rears. .\s he prospered he added to his original
holdings until he owned four hundred acres. His wife was l)orn in 1806
and died in 1874, aljout two months after the death of her husband. They
were parents of six children, two of whom are now deceased.

John Fankhauser was five years old when his parents brought him to
America. He grew up on the farm and attended the district schools only
three months of a year, attending school in a log cabin. He came to Rich-
ardson county a few months preceding the rest of the family, his father hav-
ing sent him here to look up a new home and to buy land. When a boy

958 RICHARDSON COL'XTV. NEBRASKA.

he worked in the timber 'a great deal. He worked hard helping his father
develop the farm in Speiser precinct, and remained at home until 1872 when
he married and took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in Hum-
l)oldt precinct, where he farmed until 1877. when he moved to his present
farm, having traded his homestead to the rest of the heirs for the old home
place. His farm consists of two hundred and twenty acres, in section 15.
He also owns two hundred acres in section 10, one hundred and twenty acres
in section ir, and one hundred and eighty-scA-en acres in section 14, all in
Speiser precinct. He has managed well and has met with a larger measure
f)f success than falls to the lot of the average farmer. He is a man of sound
judgment and wise foresight. He engages in general farming and stock
raising on an extensive scale. He and his brother, Peter, worked the home
place about two years. In 191 1 he erected a modern ten-room house, which
is nicely furnished and in the midst of attractive surroundings. He also has
four substantial cattle and horse barns and everything about his home place
denotes good management and prosperity. He has for many years fed cattle
for the markets extensively one or two carloads each year. He is a good
judge iif live stock, especially cattle and no inconsiderable portion of his
annual income is derived from the judicious handling of live stock.

Politically, the subject of this sketch is a Democrat, but he has ne\er
aspired to public office. He belongs to the German Reformed church.

Mr. Fankhauser has been twice married, first, in 1869. to Magdalene
Oberly. who was born in Switzerland. Her death occurred in 1885 at the
early age of thirty-three years. This first union resulted in the birth of nine
children, namely: Elizalieth, deceased; Magdalene, the wife of \\'illiam
Stalder of Speiser precinct: Mary, the wife of Ferdinand Stalder, of Hum-
boldt precinct: Minnie, deceased; Henrietta, the wife of Alfred Stettler, a
farmer, of Speiser precinct: Christena is the wife of Charles Porr, of Speiser
precinct: Mrs. Amanda \'on Bergen, of Xemaha precinct; Sarah, who mar-
ried Joe \\'ittwer. is deceased, and Rosa li\-es in the town of Humboldt.

The second marriage of Mr. Fankhauser was celebrated on February 11,
1886, when he espoused Elizabeth I.euenlierger. who was born on October
12. 1862. in Switzerland, from which country she came to America in 1883,
locating in Richardson county, with her three sisters. Ten children have
been ijorn to this second union, namely: l^lizabeth, the wife of Alfred
Kanel. of Speiser precinct: F'rederick. living in Humboldt precinct; William,
at home: I.clia. the wife of Alfred Guerber and they live in Oregon; Elmer,
Caroline. Raynirmd'R.. Helen. Arthur D. are all at home; one child died in
infanc\'. unnamed.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 959

FREDERICK H. SCHOCK.

One of the most enterprising of the younger merchants of Falls City,
Richardson county, is Frederick H. Schock, who was bom on May 31, 1882,
in the above named town and country and he has preferred to remain in his
native state, believing that Nebraska offers better opportunities than he could
find elsewhere. He is a son of (ieorge A. and Sarah (Melhorn) Schock,
whose family consisted of six children, rive of whom died in infancy, the
subject of this review being the only one now living. The birth of the father
occurred on January 4, 1850, in Seneca county, Ohio, at the town of Flat
Rock. He is a son of Charles and Susan (Arnold) Schock, whose family
consisted of eleven children. Charles Schock was born near Georgetown,
Pennsylvania, in 1819 and died in 1875. He devoted his life to general
farming. His wife, Susan Arnold, was also a native of Pennsylvania, from
which .-^tate she went to Ohio when young and there was married. Her
birth Dccurred in the year 1828 and she died in 1884. Charles Schock and
wife were members of the Evangelical church.

George A. Schock, father of the subject of this sketch, was reared on
the home farm and received a meager education in the early day schools.
When a young man he learned the carpenter's trade, but later turned his atten-
tion to railroading, which he followed for seventeen years. In 1882 he
canie West and located at l-'alls City. Nebraska, where he followed his trade
a> carpenter until his retirement. George A. Schock and Sarah Melhorn
were married on October 2, 1881. The latter was born in Elkhart county.
Indiana. April 16, 1854.

Frederick H. Schock, familiarly known as Fred, grew to manhood in
i'"alls City and there received his education in the public schools, graduating
frt)m the high school with the class of 1898. After leaving school and decid-
ing upon a career as m£rchant he began clerking in the store of Cleveland
Brothers, general merchants. Eater he went to Salem and then to Nebraska
City, where he remained in the same kind of employment until in January,
1909, when he returned to Falls City and opened up a ready-to-wear store.
iJy careful and judicious luanagement he was successful from the start and
has succeeded in building up a large and growing trade, carrying a complete
line of goods and there is no more modernly appointed or attractive store in
southeastern Nebraska than his. His patrons are drawn from a wide terri-
tor_\-.

Mr. Schock was married on June 13, 1908, to Sue Pfann, a native of

960 RICHARDSON- COUXTV, NEBRASKA.

Germany and a daughter of John and Susanna (Fanclar) Pfann, natives of
Germany from which country they came to Nebraska about the year 1887.
locating at Nebraska City, the father following his trade of carpenter. His
family consisted of sixteen children, thirteen of whom are still living. Three
children have been born to Fred H. Schock and wife, named as follows :
Wilbur, whose birth occurred on July 17. 1909: Robert, born January 29.
1913, and Jack K., the last born.

Fraternally, ]\Ir. Schock is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America. He belongs to the Presbv-
terian church, in which he is an elder and is active in church affairs.

OLIVER C. AYERS.

The name of Oliver C. Ayers, a leading agriculturist of Xemaha pre-
cinct and one of the most influential men in public affairs in southeastern
Nebraska, is too well known to the people of Richardson count}^ to need an\'
formal introduction to the readers of this history. He was born on August
3, 1871. in Tompkins county, New York, and is a son of Nathaniel and
Sarah (Ellison) Ayers. The father was born in 1827 and died in 1897;
the mother was born in 1836 and died in 1907. Their family consisted of
three children, namely: Oliver C, of this sketch: William lives in the state
of Washington, and James has charge of the telephone system at Verdon,
Nebraska. The father, Nathaniel Ayers, was a descendant of an old Amer-
ican famil}-, dating back to 1692, when the first Ayers emigrated from Scot-
land to our shores, locating in New Jersey. The subject of this sketch,
whose grandfather was Elias Ayers, is the seventh generation of the Ayers
proper in this countr\', the name having originally been "Eyer." Nathaniel
Avers engaged in farming in the state of New York.' He left the old home-
steatl in 1881 and came to Richardson county, locating in Nemaha precinct,
where he prospered through close application and good management, be-
coming owner of four hundred acres of valuable land, on which he carried
on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. He made many
improvements on the land, including the building of a commodious resi-
dence and numerous large barns and other buildings.

Oliver C. Ayers spent his early boyhood on the home farm in New
York. He received his education in the public schools. He assisted his
father with the general work on the farm after the familv moved to Rich-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 961

ardson county, finally buying out the home place and continued general
farming operations along the lines inaugurated by his father, introducing
such various new methods as have been consistent with modern ideas of
scientific farming and stock raising, and he has been very successful in all
departments. He has kept the land not only well improved but has pre-
vented the wearing out of the original fertility of the soil. He is a good
judge of live stock and annually prepares large numbers for the market.
His modern home was built in 1914. It has electric lights and furnace heat.
There are two sets of buildings on his fine farm, which is second bottom land.

Mr. Ayers was married on March 23, 1898, to Olive Smith, who was
born on March 9, 1876, in Nemaha precinct, Richardson county, where she
grew to womanhood and was educated. She is a daughter of Charles and
Lucinda (Lockwood) Smith. The father was born on March 19, 1840, and
died in January, 19 16. The mother was born in 1850, in the state of New
York. Charles Smith was a native of Germany. Lucinda (Lockwood)
Smith, who is still living in Nemaha precinct, is a daughter of Joseph and
Theta (Martindale) Lockwood, of New York state, who finally moved to
Michigan, thence to Alinnesota and were early settlers in Richardson county
Mr. and Mrs. Smith were married in 1868. Charles Smith was a soldier
in the Union army during the Civil War, serving with the troops in Mis-
souri. He came to Nebraska in 1865 and pre-empted land. He enlisted in
February, 1862, in Company G, Fifth Missouri Cavalry, and was honorably
discharged, June 22, 1863. He joined the Grand Army of the Republic
in 1883. He took an active interest in public affairs and served a term in
the Nebraska Legislature in 1899, being elected on the Republican ticket.

To Charles Smith and wife the following children were born: Fred,
who lives on the home place ; Mrs. George F. Funk lives near Dawson ; Olive,
wife of Mr. Ayers of this review; Mrs. Bennett Stalder lives near Salem,
Nebraska; Mrs. F. C. French lives in Lincoln, this state; and Frank, who
died in 1912. A brother of Charles Smith, Peter Smith, lives near Dawson,
Richardson county.

Mr. and Mrs. Oliver C. Ayers moved to Falls City in April, 1913, but
returned to the farm in 1914.

Politically, Mv. Ayers is a Republican and he has long been regarded
as one of the leaders of his party in Richardson county. In the fall of 1912
he was elected as representative from the third district to the state Legis-
lature, and he made a most commendable record in that body during the
(61)

962 - RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

session of 1913. He was appointed a member of the following committees:
Agriculture, drainage, live stock and grazing, and asylums. He introduced
three excellent bills; one providing for a county farm demonstrator, on peti-
tion of five per cent of the freeholders, which bill was passed; another was
to prevent seining in Nebraska and boundary streams by holders of general
fishing license; the third was to put the waters of the Missouri river at the
mouth of Nebr^ka streams imder control of the state game warden.

Mr. Ayers is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and
he and Mrs. Ayers belong to the United Brethren church. Mr. Ayers was
one of the promoters and original stockholders of the Dawson and Nemaha
Telephone Company. He was elected a director in the same in 1902, the
year the company was organized. Personally, Mr. Ayers is an obliging and
public-spirited gentleman, who is regarded as a man of the highest ideals.

TOHN E.- \MSSLER.

The little republic of Switzerland has sent large numbers of her enter-
prising citizens to America, where they have been quick to fall in line with
our institutions, the two governments being very similar, and they have also-
not been long in obtaining good homes in our vast land of unlimited oppor-
tunities. One of this number in Richardson county is John E. Wissler,.
farmer and stock raiser of Speiser precinct. He was born in the Canton
of Berne, Switzerland, April ly, 1850. He is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth
( Rufenacht) Wissler, both natives of Switzerland where they grew up and
were married. They immigrated to the United States with their family in
1883. The father was born in 1809 and died in 1886 at the age of seventy-
seven years, at the home of his son, subject of this sketch; the mother was
born in 1819, and died in 1892. They were parents of the following chil-
dren; Robert, living in Spesier precinct; Mrs. Lizetta Schindler, who lives
near Nebraska City; Mrs. Eliza Neuenschwander lives near Bern, Kansas r
Mrs. Mary Friedley died near Humboldt, Nebraska; Gottfried and Ernest
both live near Pawnee City, Nebraska; Mrs. Sophie Stuckenholz died at
Julian, Nebraska ; Mrs. Emma Stalder lives at Humboldt. Richardson county,
and John E., of this sketch.

John E. Wissler grew to manhood in his native land and was educated
in the common schools. He immigrated to America in 1870, when twenty
years old, coming direct to Ricfiardson county, Nebraska. He had no money.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 963

neither relatives or friends here, but had grit and courage and was willing
to work. He came out to Four Mile creek and worked for Sam Bentler for
six months for fifteen dollars per month, receiving eighteen dollars per month
for his work during the next six months; he also worked for a Mr. Parli in
Pawnee county on his big ranch for one year, at a wage of one dollar
per day ; also for a Mr. Flannigan and Bob Scott, caring for cattle. He was
economical and saved his earnings until he had four hundred dollars with
which he bought a team and tools : he then rented land adjoining his present
farm, two hundred and forty acres in all, which he operated, keeping "batch"
the meantime. Later, he got married and bought a place near the Reformed
church, living on this farm for twenty years, when he sold out and purchased
his present farm, in 1895. He has made many important improvements,
replaced the house which was burned on the day he contracted for the farm,
with a modern new dwelling, also put up granary and other outbuildings and
remodeled the barn. The place consists of two hundred and forty acres of
rich bottom land along the Nemaha river. He has been very successful as a
general farmer and stock raiser, having started out with nothing and by his
own efforts forged to the front ranks of fanners in the southeastern part of
the state. He makes a specialty of raising thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle,
breeding them for his own use for the past twenty-one years. He sells about
forty head annually. He feeds all the grain grown on his place to his own
live stock. In 1916 he sold some of his grain, the first he has marketed for
thirty years. He is also a breeder of Poland China hogs, the big type
thoroughbreds. Owing to their superior quality his fine stock all find a
ready market at fancy prices.

Politically, Mr. Wissler is a Democrat. He served as assessor of
Speiser precinct. He was elected chairman of drainage district, No. 4, in
1915, which position he still holds, and he has done a very commendable
work in this connection. He is a member of the Reformed Lutheran church.

Mr. Wissler was married in 1873 to Mary Lugenbill, a daughter of John
Lugenbill, a native of Switzerland, from which country he came to Rich-
ardson county, Nebraska, in 1854. He had previously established the family
home in Andrew county, Mis.souri, where his daughter, Mary, was born in
1854, the first white girl in Richardson county. She grew to womanhood in
Richardson county and received a common-school education in the pioneer
schools here. Gottlieb Wealthy, brother-in-law of John Lugenbill, assisted
in surveying southeastern Nebraska and induced John Lugenbill to come.

Nine children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wissler, named as follows:

964 RICHARDSON C0I:NTV, NEBRASKA.

Fred, farming three miles south of the homestead; John, farming near
Bethany creek ; Lizzie is the wife of Henry Hunzeker and they live five miles
east of Pawnee, Nebraska; Etta is the widow of Carl Lynch, but her first
husband was Sam Hunzeker; William lives at Bern. Kansas; Mrs. Magda-
lena Hunzeker lives six miles east of Pawnee ; Mrs. Mary Griflfith lives a mile
and a half east of Bern, Kansas, and Rudolph and Charles are both at home.

John Lugenbill, father of Mrs. Wissler, was one of the earliest pioneers
of Richardson county, and his daughter, Mary, divides honors with Mrs.
Judge J. R. VVilhite, of Falls City, of being the oldest pioneer woman, in
point of years of residence, in the county ; they lx)th came to the county about
the same time — sixty-three years ago. John Lugenbill was a hardy home-
steader, enduring the privations and hardships incident to life on the frontier,
when neighbors were few and the country was still the domain of the red
man. When President Buchanan signed the bill requiring pre-emptors to
pay one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre for their land, Mr. Lugenbill
was compelled to take the inheritance money and savings of his children to
pay for his title. His family spent the winter of 1854-5 in direst poverty,
living in a log shack, without comforts and very little provisions. Once
wiule he was logging in the winter time the Indians, stole his only team of
oxen and drove them away. Taking his gun he trailed them through the
snow as far as Brownville, Nebraska. \\'hich was a long journey up the river.
He overtook the red men and compelled them to give the cattle back to him.
He persevered and managed well and prospered with advancing years, finally
becoming the owner of three thousand acres of good land in Richardson
county, being one of the leading farmers of his county and an influential
citizen in the early affairs of the county. "He was able to leave his family in
\ery comfortable circumstances. It was such sterling characters as he who
redeemed the West and made possible the present-day prosperity and happi-
ness of the people of the great plains country.

The southwestern corner of Richardson county in which the Swiss colony
settled is a rich, picturesque country of valleys and hills, timbered along the
streams. The valley in which the Wissler family lives is one of the most
fertile in the world. During the past few years a great drainage ditch has
been constructed, which straightens the course of the Nemaha river, and
thousands of acres of excellent overflow land will now be made to yield
abundant crops.

The daughters of the Lugenbill family learned to spin wool and weave
it into cloth and made the clothes of the family.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 965

J. A. WAGGENER.

The name of Dr. J. A. Waggener, of Humboldt, has long been a house-
hold word in Richardson county, where he is the oldest practicing physician.
He was born on October 6, 1852, in Burksville, Kentucky. He is a scion
of a fine old Southern family, being a son of Louis A. and Sarah Elizabeth
( Alexander) Waggener, both natives of Kentucky, where they grew up,
were married and established their home. The father was a well-known and
influential man in Cumberland county, serving as sheriff for a period and as
county clerk for a period of twelve years. Albert G. Waggener, paternal
grandfather of the Doctor, also served as sheriff of that county, he and his
son. Louis A., holding office in that county for a period of fifty years in all.
The Doctor is the oldest of a family of eleven children, all of whom are
living at this writing, namely: Mrs. Mattie Nunn, living in Santa Anna,
California; Airs. Julia Gannon, in Bakersfield, California; James M., of
Astoria, Oregon; Mrs. Alverta Wagner, making her home in Harris, Mis-
souri; Mrs. Ella Dewease, of Oklahoma; Mrs. Lizzie Smith, Mrs. Ora Davis,
Samuel Tilden and Jennie, all four reside in Kentucky; Mrs. Nannie Judd,
in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Dr. J. A., of this sketch.

Doctor Waggener was reared in his native state and he received his earlv
education in the pulilic schools of Cumberland county, later attending the
Louisville College of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, from which institution
he was graduated in 1876. In the fall of 1878 he came to Nebraska, locat-
ing at Dawson, Richardst)n county, where he practiced for a period of twenty-
five years, then located in Humboldt, where he has since resided. He has
enjoyed a large and lucrative practice ever since coming to this county and
has been very successful as a general physician. In October, 1915, he was
appointed head physician of the Soldiers Home at Grand Island, which posi-
tion he held for fifteen months, at the end of which time he returned to Hum-
boldt and resumed practice. He has found time to keep well informed on the
])rogress that has been made in the various phases of his profession since he
left college.

Doctor Waggener belongs to the American Medical Association, the
Nebraska State Medical Society, the Missouri Valley Medical Society and
the Richardson County Medical Society. Politically, he is a Democrat of
the old school and has been active in public affairs, taking an interest in
whatever tends to promote the general welfare of his county. He served as
coroner of the same for two terms, from 1896 to 1900, inclusive, giving

966 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

eminent satisfaction to all concerned. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights
of Pythias, the Ancient Order of United AVorkmen and Knights and Ladies
of Security. He has filled all the chairs in the local lodges of the last two
named.

Doctor W'aggener was married on March 12. 1878, to Anna Grinsted. a
native of Kentucky, and a daughter of G. R. Grinsted, now a resident of
Falls City, Nebraska, having moved with his family to Richardson county in
March, 1878. For many years he engaged in farming, but is now spending
his old age in retirement. The following children have been born to Doctor
Waggener and wife: Dr. Hewitt A., a practicing physician in Omaha, Neb-
raska: Dr. William R., practicing medicine at Humboldt, Richardson county,
and is a graduate of Creighton University; Dr. John T., also a graduate in
medicine from Creighton University, is engaged in practice at Adams, Neb-
raska: Lillith, who is a graduate of the State Normal school and the State
University at I-incoln, Nebraska, is engaged in teaching at Hamburg, Iowa.

Personallv, Doctor Waggener is a man of genial and companionable
disposition, upright in all his dealings with the world and merits the high
esteem in which he is universally held.

DENNIS McCarthy.

The late Dennis McCarthy, former street conimissioner of Falls City,
for more than thirty years proprietor of a successful transfer business in
that city and the owner of considerable valuable real estate there, was a native
of the Dominion of Canada, but had been a resident of this county since the
days of his boyhood, having come here with his parents, after a brief resi-
dence in Iowa, in 1870, the family first settling at Salem, later settling in
Falls City and becoming substantially established there. Dennis McCarthy
was born on March 22, 1859, and was but a child when his parents, Dennis
and Mary (Delaney) McCarthy, natives of Ireland, moved from Canada tu
Iowa, and was a little past eleven years of age when they came to Nebraska,
arriving in Richardson county on May 6, 1870.

Upon coming to this county the elder Dennis McCarthy located at
Salem, but presently moved thence to Falls City, where he ever since has
made his home, one of the best-known men in that city, now making his
home with the widow of his son, in the eightieth year of his age. He and
his wife, the latter of whom has been deceased for years, were the parents of

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 967

five children, those besides the subject of this memorial sketch, the last-born
being as follow : ^Irs. Mary Kennedy, who is living on a farm in the Barada
neighborhood ; Margaret, who married William Murphy and is now deceased ;
John, who is living at the McCarthy home in Falls City, and Patrick, deceased.

As noted above the younger Dennis McCarthy was just past eleven years
of age when he came to this county with his parents in 1870 and he grew up
at Falls City. He early began business there for himself, starting a transfer
line, which business grew and developed until it became one of the estab-
lished enterprises of the city. As he prospered in his affairs he invested in
farm lands, which he later sold to advantage, investing the proceeds in city
real estate, and eventually became quite well-to-do. When his health began
to fail him in 1914 he sold his transfer business, after having been success-
fully engaged in the same for more than thirty years, and. thereafter lived
practically retired until his death, which occurred on April i, 1916, he then
being one week past fifty-seven years of age. Mr. McCarthy was a Demo-
crat and for years took an active part in local political affairs. For several
years he served as street commissioner and in other ways did his part as a
good citizen toward promoting the best interests of his home town. He was
a member of the Catholic church, as is his widow, and took an active part in
parish affairs, a generous contributor to the support of the church. Fra-
ternally, he was affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and with the Knights
of Pythias and in the affairs of these two orders took a warm interest. He
had hosts of friends in and about Falls City and there were many sincere
mourners when he was called-^rom -the scenes of worldly activity.

On January 30, i8go, Dennis McCarthy was united in marriage to Mary
Murphy, who was born in the village of Rulo, this county, September 8, 1867,
daughter of James and Mary (Burns) Murphy, natives of Ireland and early
settlers in this county, whose last days were spent here. James Murphy was
born in 1837 and Mary Burns was born in 1847. They grew up and were
married in Ireland and then came to this country, locating at Chicago, whence,
two years later, they moved to St. Joseph. Missouri, presently coming thence
up the river to Rulo. where they established their home. James Murphy
was a stone mason and for years was the leading contractor in that line in
this county, having built most of the stone bridges in the county in an early
day. He also became the owner of a good farm in the vicinity of Rulo and
was accounted a well-to-do citizen.. His death occurred in February, 1909.
He was twice married, his first v.ife, Mary Burns, having died in 1875, after
which he married Ella Sullivan, who died in 1897. ^Y his first marriage
Mr. Murphv was the father of five children, of whom Mrs. McCarthy is now

9DO RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

the only survivor, the others having been Ehzabeth, Frances, Michael and
Anna. To the second union eight children were born, namely: Edward,
who died on July i, 1916; Elizabeth, who is at home on the old home farm in
the neighborhood of Rulo; Lawrence, also at home; Josephine, wife of John
Sells, of the precinct of Rulo; Helen, a teacher in the schools of Rulo; Mrs.
Agnes York, of Liberty, this state; Julia, who died in infancy, and Patrick,
at home. The first home of the Murphys in this county was a little log
house constructed of logs cut by Mr. Murphy himself and for the first winter
or two after the family settled down in that humble home they had to tack
sheets and blankets up along the walls to keep the snow from sifting in.
Despite the apparent discomfort of this way of living, the family were happy
and contented and off the "forty" raised plenty to eat.

To Dennis and Mary (Murphy) McCarthy were born three children.
Marie, born on November 21, 1891, who married A. J. Finn, a skilled
photographer, of Jefferson, Iowa, and lias one child, a son, Cyril; Cyril,
March 22, 1893, who is now engaged in the Eldorado oil fields, and Helen,
February 13, 1903, who is pursuing her studies in the convent in Falls City.
Since the death of her husband Mrs. McCarthy has continued to make her
home in Falls City, where she is very comfortably situated, having a delight-
ful home at 922 .Stone street. She is an earnest member of the Catholic
church and has ever given her devoted attention to local parish affairs, help-
ful in promoting good works. She is a member of the local branch of the
Daughters of Isabel and takes a warm interest in the affairs of the same.

WILLIAM H. SAILORS.

The late William H. Sailors, who died at his home in the precinct of
Barada on December 5, 1909, and who for many years was one of the best-
known farmers of that precinct, was a native of the old Hoosier state, but
had been a resident of Richardson county since pioneer days, he and his
wife and those of their children who were born in Indiana, having come
here in the spring of 1870. He was bom on a farm in Rush county, Indiana.
April 9. 1837, son of Washington and Asenath (Scott) Sailors, natives of
that same state, members of pioneer families in that part of Indiana, and
who were the parents of eight children, of whom the suliject of this memorial
sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being as follow: John,
deceased; James A., who was a soldier of the Union army during the Civil

JIR. AND MRS WILLI \M H. SAILORS,

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 969

War, having served for three years as a member of the Second Indiana
Cavalry; Scott, deceased; Mrs. Mahala AUison, deceased; Andrew, now a
resident of Hitchcock county, this state; Lot G., a resident of Bancroft,
this state, and George, of Hitchcock county.

Reared on the home farm in Indiana, WiUiam H. Sailors grew up
there a practical farmer and after his marriage in the fall of i860 estab-
lished his home on a farm in Wabash county, Indiana, remaining there until
the spring of 1870, when he came with his family to Nebraska, arriving in
this county on March 8 of that year. Upon his arrival here he bought a
tract of land in the precinct of Barada and there established his home, thus
being a resident of this region at the time of the destructive visitation of
grasshoppers some years later. Conditions of living were pretty hard for
some time thereafter, but he presently began to prosper and as he. prospered
he gradually, added to his land holdings until he became the owner of more
than se\en hundred acres of land in Barada precinct and was long accounted
<ine of the most substantial farmers and stockmen in that part of the county.
He also took an active part in local civic affairs and was f(ir some time a
member of the board of supervisors, giving to the public service his most
thoughtful and intelligent attention. He was an active member of the
Christian church and he and his wife were ever interested in local good
works, helpful in promoting all agencies having to do with the advancement
of the common welfare in the community in which they lived. William H.
Sailors died on December 5, 1909, and on May 20, 1915, his widow left the
old home farm and moved to the village of Barada, where she is now living.
She is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of excellent land in sections
18 and 19 of Barada precinct.

On October 25, i860, in Grant county, Indiana, William H. Sailors
was united in niarriage to Mary E. Miller, who was born in Fayette county,
that same state, February i8,- 1845, ^ daughter of George W. and' Harriet
(Bloomheart) Miller), the former a, native of the state of Virginia and the
latter of the state of New York, who had moved to Indiana with their re-
spective parents in the days of their youth and had there grown up and
married. George W. Miller was the son of Andrew and Elizabeth Miller,
natives c^f ^'irginia. and his wife was the daughter of Daniel and Clarissa
(Gilmore) Bloomheart, natives, respectively, of Holland and of the state
of Xew York. George W. Miller was born on April 5, 181 7, and died in
1903. His wife, al.so born in 1817, preceded him to the grave many years,
her death having occurred in 1857.

To William H. and Marv E. (Miller) Sailors were born fourteen

970 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

children, namely: James T.. of Barada precinct; Melissa, who married R.
.\nkrom and is now deceased: \\'ashington. a Barada precinct farmer and
stockman and a biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this
volume: Harriet, deceased; John H., of Barada precinct; Benjamin, de-
ceased; Clara, deceased; Omer. of Barada precinct; Ida, wife of \Mlliam
Percival, also of the precinct of Barada and a biographical sketch of whom
is presented elsewhere in this volume: Lot, deceased: Fred, of Cedar county,
this state; William, deceased: Pearl, deceased, and Otis B.. of the precinct
of Barada.

\YILLIAM GOETZ.

William Goetz. a well-known farmer of the precinct of East Barada,
was born on the farm on which he is now living and which he owns and has
lived there all his life. He was born on August 6, 1869, son of Anton and
Amelia (Veager) Goetz, both of whom were of European birth, who be-
came pioneers of Richardson county and here spent their last days, substantial
pioneers of the Barada tract.

.\nton Goetz was born in the grand duchy of Baden in 183 1 and was
l>ut a lad when he came to this country with his parents, the family settling
in the citv of Buffalo, New York, where he grew to manhood and where he
married Amelia Yeager, also a native of Baden, Ijorn on October 15, 1832,
who had come to this country with her parents, her family also settling in
Buffalo. Almost immediately after their marriage, about 1858, Anton Goetz
and his wife came to the then Territor}- of Nebraska and settled in the old
precinct of St. Stephens, now known as Barada, in this county, where they
established their home on a pioneer farm. The first log cabin was destroyed
l)y fire, but they erected another and proceeded with their development work
and in time had a well-established home and a profitably cultivated farm.
During the early days of their residence there the Indians still v^-ere numerous
hereabout and the aboriginals frequently found hospitable shelter on their'
farm in their wanderings to and fro. Anton Goetz was a good farmer and
at the time of his death was the owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres.
He died in 1888 and his widow survived him for many years, her death
occurring on September 27, 1905, she then being nearly eighty-five years
of age. Thev were members of the Catholic church and their children were
reared in that faith. There were five of these children, of whom the eldest
died in infanc\- and of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 97I

order of birth, the others being Cecelia, of Falls City; Mrs. Amelia Fred-
erick, also of Falls City, and Bertha, a landowner in Barada precinct and a
neighbor of her brother, William.

William Goetz has always lived on the farm on which he was born and
on which he now makes his residence. Reared there, he received his school-
ing in the neighborhood schools and from the days of his boyhood was a
valued assistant in the labors of developing and improving the home place,
forty acres of which he inherited after the death of his father. He later
bought from his mother an adjoining "forty" and now has a well-kept and
profitably cultivated place of eighty acres, on which he and his family are
very comfortably situated. Mr. Goetz is a Democrat and is a member of
the local lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America.

On November i6, 1899, . William Goetz was united in marriage to
Louisa Faller, also a native of this county, born in the precinct of Ohio on
September 10, 1877. daughter of William and Caroline (Hartbauer) Faller,
now living at Falls City, and to this union has been born one child, a son,
William A. Goetz.

PROF. DAVID DENNIS.

The life of an educator is, of necessity, one of self-sacriticing devotion
to the upbuilding of character and the preparing of future citizens to make
their lives an era of usefulness and to be of some benefit to their respective
communities. Many successful individuals can conscientiously attribute
the surmounting of difficulties which beset their^paths in the upward- climb,
to the teachings and precepts of their former instructors. Prof. David
Dennis, deceased, principal of the Falls City schools, during the years 1888
and 1889, was a zealous teacher \\'ho left his impress upon the life of the
community where he taught the young, .\lthough a resident of Fall^City
for but a few years, he is well remem1)ered for his good works. Later, he
espoused in wedlock a daughter of a distinguished citizen of F"alls City and
his children reside in Falls City at the present day.

David Dennis was born in Beaver Run, Sussex count\ , Xew Jersey,
March t6, 1859. He was self-made and self-educated, perforce, on account
of circumstances, working his way through Oberlin College, Ohio, becoming
a student of the college in 1883 and graduating therefrom in 1888 with the
degree of Bachelor of .\rts, later receiving the degree of Master of .\rts.
He began teaching at the early age of sixteen years and followed this useful

9/2 RICHARDSON COUXTV, NEBRASKA.

profession for a number of years, mounting successively to higher positions
as he gained experience. During 1888 and 1889 he served as principal of the
Falls City schools. From this city he was called to take charge of the
academy at I 'ark City, Utah, an institution established by the Gentiles of
Utah and supported in their interest as against Mormonism. After three
years of ser\ice at Park City he advised the abandonment of the academy
and suggested that Mormonism could best be fought in its great stronghold.
Salt Lake City. From 1892 to 1894 he taught successfully in the seven-
teenth wartl and Br\ant schools, Salt Lake City. At the time of his death
lit pneumonia at Salt Lake City on June 25, 1894, he was princnpal of the
Bryant school. He liad planned to give up his educational work and return
to Falls City and engage in business, but death intervened.

Professor Dennis was married at Falls City, Nebraska, on July 9, 1S91,
to Miss Ruth ^I. A\'eaver, a daughter of the late Judge Archibald J. and
Martha -\. Weaver, an extended review of whom is given elsewhere in this
volume. To this union were born the following children : David, born ]\Iay
17, 1892. married Miss .\lma Barton, and is a farmer and fruit grower near
Falls City, and Ruth M.. wife of \^'alter J. Lewis, of Pasadena, California,
mother of one child. Evelyn Louise. The mother of these children resides
in the old Weaver home at Falls City with her mother.

Professor Dennis was a deeply religious man and was a member of the
Congregational church. His crowning virtue was his religious character,
concerning which his pastor. Rev. Clarence T. Brown, of the First Congre-
gational church at Salt Lake City said at the time of his death : "He had
a profound veneration for the truth and he was ever on the alert to tind it.
He represented a very high type of Christianity. The firmness of his faith,
combined with the generous hospitality of his thought, .put him among the
leaders of the church today. * * * But his work as a Christian was not
confined to the church. He believed profoundly in applied Christianity ; and
as a^eacher, citizen and man. he did apply his Christianity to such good pur-
pose that no one could mistake it.'" Professor Dennis lived to make others
happy and as much as possible to do good to all men. Just before he left
Park City, Utah, to take up his work in Salt Lake City, he ascended one
of the mountains with his pastor. Rev. Mr. Hunt, and looking down upon
the city, remarked, "I wonder if any life has been sweetened or made better
by my liaving lived here." In his home especially did the goodness of his
heart and sterling qualities shine. He was in every sense the true husband
and the tender, loving father.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 973

Concerning Professor Dennis's work as an educator the following tribute
appears in the superintendent's report of the work done in the Salt Lake City
schools during 1894 : "On the day before the close of the schools, after his
work for the year was practically completed, David Dennis, principal of the
Bryant school, was attacked with illness and in ten days from that time his
earthly career was ended. Thus for the second time within two years we
have been called upon to mourn the loss of one who had earned a high place
in the ranks of the profession and in the esteem of his co-laborers and the
public. David Dennis was in every sense a man possessed of marked natural
ability. He had, under difificulties which tested his worth, given to himself
the benefit of a broad, liberal culture. His opinions always commanded
respect and his words, wherever spoken, carried with them persuasiveness and
force. He was a man of fine convictions, unswerving fidelity to truth as he
saw it, of noble aspirations, of pure life. Though so early called to lay
tlown his life's work, he did not live in vain; all whom his influence touched
are better and nobler because he lived." .

HENRY CLAY DAVIS.

Henry Clay Davis, editor and publisher of the Falls Cify Xczvs and one
of the "wheel-horses" of the Democratic party in this part of Nebraska, was
ixjrn at Glasgow, over in the neighboring state of Missouri, April 5, 1850,
sun of James and Euphemia (Wilson) Davis, the former of whom was born
at Georgetown, D. C, in 1804 and the latter in Kentucky, in 1810. James
Davis, who was a blacksmith, was married in Kentucky and later moved to
Missouri, locating at Glasgow, where he remained until 1877, when he came
to Nebraska and settled at Falls City, where he and his wife spent the
remainder of their lives, his death occurring in 1884, he then being eighty
years of age, and hers in 1887. They were the parents of three children, of
whom the subject of this -sketch was the last-born, the others being Mrs.
Lena Ware, now residing near Kewannee, Illinois, and' Mrs. Ella Buckham,
deceased.

Reared at Glasgow, Henry Clay Davis received his schooling in the high
school and in Pritchard Institute there and at the age of seventeen, in 1867,
began his newspaper career in the office of the Glasgow Times, then under
the ownership and editorial direction of Col. Clark H. Green, where he learned

974 RICHARDSON COL'NTV, NEBRASKA.

the elementals of tlie newspaper business. Two years later he went to St.
Louis and there continued his newspaper experience in the office of the St.
Louis Republic, presently going thence to Hamburg, Iowa, where for six
months he was employed in his Ijrother's store; at the end of that time
becoming connected with the Hainbiiri^ Tiiu.cs, which newspaper, after his
marriage there in the summer of 1870, he leased and continued to operate the
same until the close of 1871, when, he moved to Falls City-aiid on January i.
1872. entered the office of the Falls City Journal. Mr. Davis remained con-
nected with the Journal until 1875, in which year he became identified, in
association with George P. ]\Iar\in, with the Falls City Press, an association
that continued for eighteen weeks, at tlie end of which time they sold the
pajier to Col. G. B. Aliles, but for a year thereafter continued to get the paper
out for Colonel Miles. The paper then was sold to J. R. Reed, who con-
ducted it until his death in 1879, Mr. Davis meanwhile retaining his con-
nection with the paper, and in 1880 Mr. Davis bought the Reed interest and
has ever since been actively identified with the paper, the name of which ■Mr.
Reed had changed from the Press to the Ncivs, under which latter caption
it ever since has been published, under Mr. Davis's capable direction, long
having been recognized as one of the leading newspapers in eastern Nebraska.
Mr. Davis is a Democrat and the editorial columns of his paper reflect his
opinions on local political questions in a no uncertain manner, the veteran
editor for many years having been regarded as one of the leaders of his
party in the state of Nebraska. The Falls City Neivs is a semi-weekly paper
of wide circulation throughout tlie territory it covers and is a power for good
in the community.

On June 2y. 1870, Henry C. Davis was united in marriage, at Hamburg,
Iowa, to Frances L. Dalby, who was born at Montezuma, that state. May 2,
1854, and who died at Falls City on November 20, 1910, leaving four chil-
dren, namely : Charles C. Davis, postmaster of Falls City and part owner
of the .Yews; Clyde W. Davis, who is associated' with his father in the publi-
cation of the Xe^vs; Mrs. Bessie Lee Schmelzel. of St. Paul, Minnesota, and
;\lrs. Maude Hutchins, of St. Paul, Minnesota. ' Mrs. Davis was an active
memljer of the Methodist Episcopal church and was ever eager in good
works. Mr. Davis is affiliated with the local lodges of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Improved Order of Red
Men, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Royal Highlanders and some other
fraternal associations and in the affairs of all takes a warm interest.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 975

GEORGE B. HOLT.

The late George B. Holt, who died at his home in Falls City on Ma)' 19.
1912, and who had, previous to his retirement from business in 1909, been
one of the best-known merchants in that city, was a native son of Richardson
county and had lived here all his Hfe. He was born at the village of Salem
on November 3, 1874, son of the Hon. John White Holt, a pioneer of this
county, former president of the First National Bank of Falls City, former
state senator, former county treasurer and for many years one of the leading
citizens of Richardson county, further and fitting mention of whom is made
in a memorial sketch presented elsewhere in this volume.

Upon completing the course in the high school at Falls City, George B.
Holt supplemented his schooling by a course in the Nebraska State Uni-
versity at Lincoln and then engaged in the shoe business at Falls City, con-
tinuing thus engaged until he sold his store in 1909. Upon retiring from
business he continued to make his home in Falls City and there died, as noted
above, in the spring of 1912. He was a Republican, a member of the Meth-
odist church and, fraternally, was affiliated with the loxral. lodges of the Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Benevolent and Protective Order
of Elks, ever taking a warm interest in political, church and lodge afifairs.

On July 20, 1897, George B. Holt was united in marriage to Grace
Gossett, who was born in Falls City, daughter of William and Nancy
(Mitchell) Gossett, the former of whom was born in Indiana in 1841 and
the latter, in Tennessee, in 1852, and who are now living in Falls City, well-
known pioneers of this county. William Gossett came to this county as a
young man back in the late fifties and became engaged here as a building con-
tractor, building some of the first houses in Falls City and vicinity. He mar-
ried Nancy Mitchell, who had come here with her parents, who accompanied
the family of "Uncle" Jesse Crook, in 1S53, when she was little more than
an infant, and had here grown to womanhood. To that union were born
five children, namely: Myrtle, who married Frank Clegg, a son of Robert
Clegg, a pioneer of Richardson county, and is now living at Kansas City;
Grace, who after the death of Mr. Holt married. August 16, 1916, B. F.
Streeter, of the local offices of the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company; Frank,
of Falls City ; May. deceased, and Gertrude, of Kansas City.

To George B. and Grace (Gossett) Holt one child was born, a son, John
W. Holt, born on June 12. 1899, who is a member of the class of 1918, Falls
City high school.

976 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

JOHN B. DIDIER.

The oldest pioneer of Richardson county, if not the oldest in south-
eastern Nebraska, is John B. Didier, of Barada precinct, who came to this
locality sixty-three years ago, when it was only a vast stretch of wild plains,
inhabited by Indians and wild animals. He has lived to see and take part
in many wonderful changes here and talks interestingly of the early days
and customs.

Mr. Didier was born on December 25, 1827, in France. He is a son of
Prof. John B. Didier, a man of learning and for many years a professor in
the schools of France. Fie and his wife, Anna, grew to maturity in France,
where they were married and made their home until 1848, when they immi-
grated to America, living the first year in Cincinnati. Ohio, and later in
New Orleans, Louisiana, then returning to France, where they spent the
rest of their lives.

John B. Didier grew to manhood in his native land and there received
a good education. He crossed the Atlantic in a sailing vessel in 1847, located
in the city of Cincinnati, where he clerked in a large store for a while. In
1849 he came to St. Louis, Missouri, carrying with him a letter of intro-
duction to one of the leading merchants there, for whom he worked one
year, when his employer, Choteau, sent him among the Indians of Missouri,
with whom he traded for another year. In 1852 he was sent to take charge
of a store on the North Platte, which .store was established by P. Choteau,
one of the best-known merchants of St. Louis in the early days. But later,
on account of the Indian troubles, the post on the North Platte was closed.
A battle took place nearby between United States soldiers and an immense
band of Indians, but the soldiers were nearly all killed, as there were only
forty-seven against three hundred Indians. All of Mr. Didier's assistants
fled from the post, he alone remaining, notwithstanding the danger. He
regarded it as his first duty to protect the property of his employer. Re-
turning to St. Louis he reported t"t>^ loss oi tl^e store, for which his company
got damages in the sum of thirty-^ne thou/,and dollars from the govern-
ment. After settling up with the cohjpany he left St. Louis, two months
later, coming to St. Joseph on a steamboat, and from there came overland
to Richardson county. September, 1854. where he took up a homestead of
one hundred and twenty acres, in what is now section 3, Barada precinct.
It was wild land, but he went to work with a will, cleared and broke up the
sod and in due course of time bad a well improved and productive place

,TC)II.\ 1!. 1>II>IER.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 977

and a comfortable home. He endured the hardships and privations incident
to Hfe on the frontier, when neighbors were few and trading centers far
remote. He has remained on this place continuously to the present time,
perhaps as long as any man in the state has lived on one farm — sixty-three
years. In fact, there is no doubt but that he was the second white settler
in Richardson county.

Mr. Didier was married at Brownville, Nebraska, in 1855, by Judge
Whitney, to Mary Pino, a daughter of Louis Pino, a French-Canadian, who
was a post trader at Ft. Laramie, where his death occurred. The death of
Mrs. Mary Didier occurred in 1908. She was the mother of eight children,
named as follows : Henry lives in South Dakota ; John lives in Jackson,
Nebraska; Paul is deceased; Peter died in Kansas; Mrs. Mary Deroin lives
in Kan«as ; Mrs. Cecilia Longkar lives in South Dakota ; Mrs. Myrtle Last
lives on the home farm, which her husband is operating, and they have two
children, Albert and Harvey.

Mr. Didier, who is now in his ninetieth year, is still fairly hale and
hearty, having lived an abstemious and upright life — one calculated to lead
to longevit}'. He is widely known throughout the county and his record is
that of a public-spirited, industrious and honorable citizen. Politically, he
is a Democrat, but he has never sought public office or leadership. Reli-
giously, he is a Catholic.

SAMUEL KIMMEL.

Samuel Kinimel, one of the real old settlers of Richardson county and a
^\■ell-to-do retired farmer and stockman who has for many years past made
his home in Falls City, where he and his wife are' very comfortably situated,
is a native of the old Keystone state and became a resident of the state of
Illinois when about seventeen years of age, but has been a resident of this
county since 1870 and has therefore been a witness to and a participant in
the development of this region since pioneer days. During the days of grass-
hoppers, hot winds and panics in the seventies he had a mighty hard time
of it keeping his belongings together here, but affairs presently took a turn
for the better and he prospered largely, having been able to retire on a com-
petency when he was fifty years of age.

The Kimmels are an old American family, having been represented on
(62)

978 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

this side of the water since the middle of the eighteenth century. Michael
Kimmel, the progenitor of this branch of the Kimmels, was born in the
ancient kingdom of Saxony in 1662. He had three sons, Jacob, Philip and
Valentine, who spent all their days in their native land. Philip Kimmel, born
in 1695, had six sons and two daughters. These six sons came to the Amer-
ican colonies about 1750 and established themselves on this side. One of
these six sons, Jacob Kimmel, born in 1725, settled in Pennsylvania and there
reared eight sons, Abraham, Jacob, John. Solomon, Ludwick, Otto, Michael
and Jonathan, the latter of whom was born in his father's old age. This
Jonathan Kimmel, born in Pennsylvania in 1798, married Susan Meyers and
had six sons and two daughters, Michael, Josiah, John, Daniel, Noah,
Jonathan, Mrs. Mary Walker and Mrs. Susan Gashorn. The first-born of
these sons, Michael Kimmel, born in Pennsylvania in 182 1, married Nancy
Lichty and had six sons and two daughters, John, Samuel, Jonathan, William.
Ephraim, Tobias, Marie, who died in infancy, and Elizabeth. The mother
of these children died in 1862 and Michael Kimmel married his deceased
wife's cousin, Sally Lichty, and to that union three children were Ixirn, one
son and two daughters, David, Susan and Hattie. In 1865 Michael Kimmel
left his old home in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and moved with his
family to Illinois, where he settled on a farm and where he spent the
remainder of his life.

Samuel Kimmel. second son of Michael and Nancy ( Lichty) Kimmel,
was born in .Somerset county, Pennsylvania, August 20, 1847, and was seven-
teen years of age when he moved with his father to Illinois, in 1865. There
he married in 1869 and in that state he continued farming until in the fall of
1870, when he and his wife came to Nebraska and settled on a farm in the
precinct of Ohio, six miles north of Falls City, in this county. For that
farm, a quarter of a section of land. Mr. Kimmel contracted to pay twenty-
five hundred dollars. One half of this sum he paid in cash and gave a mort-
gage on the land for the unpaid balance. He built a house on the place and
proceeded to try to improve and develop ^he farm, but at the end of eleven
years, with grasshoppers, drought and the panicky times of that period,
he found himself worse off in a financial way than he was when he began
his operations. He not only had been unable to pay the interest on his mort-
gage, the accrued interest thus having Ijecome more than the principal, but
he was otherwise involved in debt and was unable to see any way out. He
tried to give the farm back to the mortgagee, but the latter would not accept
it and advised him to "stick to it." Thus unable to let go, Mr. Kimmel did
"stick to it." and it was well he did so, for presently things began to turn

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 979

the Other way and, beginning in 1882, prosperity overtook him and has ever
since kept right alongside of him, he long ago having reaped the reward for
the many "lean years" he suffered during the early days of his residence here.
With a succession of bountiful crop years in the eighties Mr. Kimmel began
to branch out in his operations, engaged heavily in the live-stock business and
enlarged his land holdings until he became the owner of eight hundred acres
of fine land in the vicinity of his original quarter section. He had long
before determined to retire when he was fifty years of age and he found
himself in the happy position of being able to do that very thing even before
he had reached that point of life. He gave to each of his two children a fine
farm and in i8g6 he and his wife moved to Falls City, erected a beautiful
house on Stone street and have ever since lived there, enjoying the ample
rewards of their earlier years of toil and privation. Both are remarkably
well preserved, mentally and physically, and find much joy and zest in living.
They are great readers and keep up-to-^ate and abreast of the times. Mr.
Kimmel still enjoys keeping a sort of a supervisory eye on the old home
farm, which he frequently visits, and sometimes takes a hand in the work
himself just to show that he hasn't forgotten how.

As noted above, it was on December 5, 1869, in Illinois, that Samuel
Kimmel was united in marriage to Hattie Peck, who also was bom in Somer-
set county, Pennsylvaiuia, February 12, 1850, a daughter of Jonas and Frances
(Saylor) Peck, who moved from Pennsylvania to Illinois in 1867 and in the
latter state spent the remainder of their lives. To that union four children
have been born, one son and three daughters, namely: Edwin M., born on
July 31, 1875, who in 1895 married Amelia Ruegge and has three children,
Gladys, Esther and Edwin S. ; Eva Ada, November 14, 1873, who married
H. J. Prichard and has two children, Allie and Wilbur; Vivian, who died in
infancy, and Verne E., who also died in infancy. Edwin M. Kimmel and
his sister, Mrs. Prichard, were given" farms by their parents and have well-
established homes in the precinct of Ohio, both Mr. Kimmel and Mr. Prichard
doing well in their farming and live-stock operations. Samuel Kimmel was
reared a Republican, but upon the organization of the Populist party espoused
the cause of that party and was an active adherent of the same until the
memorable campaign of 1896, when he became an ardent champion of Will-
iam Jennings Bryan and has ever since remained a stanch Bryan Democrat.
He and his wife are members of the Brethren church and take a proper
interest in the affairs of the- same, .Mrs. Kimmel,. particularly, being quite
active in church work and in the other good works of the community at
large.

980 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

ALFRED STETTLER.

One of the enterprising farmers of Speiser precinct, Richardson county
is Alfred Stettler, who was bom on October 4. 1869, in Switzerland, and,
like all our citizens who hail from that small but superb republic across the
sea. he has proven to be a most desirable addition to Nebraska. He is a
son of Gottlieb and Magdalena Stettler, who lived and died in Switzerland.
They were honest, hard-working people.

Alfred Stettler spent his boyhood in his native land and there received
an education in the common schools. When seventeen years of age he left
Switzerland and started on the long journey to the interior of America. He
arrived in Sabetha, Kansas, with but ten dollars in his pocket. He worked
out as a farm hand for some time, earning only one hundred and twenty
dollars a year, but he saved his wages and soon got a start as farmer, rent-
ing land for some time. Working hard and managing well, he finally had
enough to pay for a farm of his own, and in 1907 bought the well-impro\-ed
and productive farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Speiser precinct,
where he still resides. He paid the sum of ninety dollars an acre on an aver-
age, paying eighty dollars an acre for eighty acres and one hundred dollars an
acre for forty acres. He has added many excellent improvements on the
same and has been successful as a general farmer and stock, raiser. His
modern eight-room house was built in 1912. It has a furnace and a lighting
system. He also built a large new barn.

Mr. Stettler was married on December 18, 1901, to Henrietta Fank-
hauser, who was born on March 4, 1876, in Speiser precinct, Richardson
county, where she grew to womanhood and attended the district schools.
She is a daughter of John and Magdalina Fankhauser. both natives of Switzer-
land, but they grew up in the United States, where they were married. The
John Fankhauser was five years old when he came to the New \\"orld in 1847.
He is now seventy-four years old. Magdalina Fankhauser was three years
old when her parents brought her to America. Her death occurred at the
early age of thirty-three years. Three children have been born to Alfred
Stettler and wife, namely : Lauretta Ella, born on August 27, 1903 : \'erna
Lucia. May 4, 1906, and Norma Magdalene. August 6, 1915.

Politically. Mr. Stettler is a Democrat, but is inclined to vote inde-
pendently. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fel-
lows of Humboldt, also the Ancient Order of United ^^'orkmen. He belongs
to the Reformed church.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 981

OTTO KOTOUC.

One of the most promising of the younger business men of Richardson
county is Otto Kotouc, cashier of the Home State Bank at Humboldt. He
was born in Humboldt. Nebraska. April 22. 1885, and here he has become
well established in the industrial world at an age when most men are just
getting fairly started on their careers. He is a son of Frank and Marie
(Hon) Kotouc, both natives of Bohemia, the father born on October 25,
1839, and died on December 25, 1916; the mother was born on April 24,
1850. and her death occurred on September 13, 19 13. They grew up in their
native land, where they were married and made their home until 1882, when
they immigrated to America, locating at Humboldt, Nebraska, where the
father learned the trade of harness-maker. He had engaged in the grocery
business in his native country. After coming to Humboldt he worked for
his brother-in-law, John Klossner, who owned a large harness-making estab-
lishment there, being employed by him for a period of sixteen years ; he then
retired from active life. He was a member of the Bohemian Reformed
church. His family consisted of four sons, namely: Frank, a merchant at
Humboldt; Lute B., who also operated a store in Humboldt for a number
of years, but is now in New Raymer, Colorado, conducting a store for the
Kotouc Brothers; Milton is a member of the mercantile firm of Kotouc
Brothers in Humboldt, and Otto, of this sketch, is the youngest.

Otto Kotouc grew to manhood in Humboldt and there attended the pub-
lic and high schools, graduating from the latter with the class of 1903. He
then entered the State University at Lincoln, where he pursued a literary
course, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1908. In the fall
of that year he was elected representative to the state Legislature from Rich-
ardson county, being the youngest man ever elected to this important office
from this county and one of the youngest to serve in that body from any
county since the state was organized. But the excellent record he made dur-
ing the session of 1909 proved the wisdom of his selection; indeed, he gave
such eminent satisfaction to his constituents that he was re-elected in the
fall of 1910, and served with distinction during the session of 191 1, doing
much for the general good of his county and state. He served as chairman
of the insurance committee, and was also a member of the ways and means
committee and the judiciary committee.

Mr. Kotouc entered the banking field in 1909, in the State Bank of Hum-
boldt, as assistant cashier, the duties of which position he discharged with

9o2 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

fidelity and promptness until 19 15, when he helped organize the Home State
Bank, of which he has since filled the position of cashier to the eminent satis-
faction of the stockholders and patrons of the bank, the prestige of which
sound and popular institution he has done much to increase. He also con-
ducts an insurance business with Glenn D. Jenkins, under the firm name of
Kotouc & Jenkins.

Mr. Kotouc was married on August 29, 1912, to Camille Cernik, who
was born at Ord, Nebraska. She is a daughter of Joseph and Louise Cernik,
both natives of Bohemia, from which country they came to America many
years ago, locating at Ord. this state, where Mrs. Kotouc grew to woman-
hood and was given good educational advantages, and there her father engaged
successfully in. mercantile pursuits, but is now living retired there. To Zklr.
and Mrs. Kotouc two children have been born, Otto Kotouc, Jr., whose birth
occurred on June 15, 1913, and Marie Louise, lx)rn on March i, 1917.

Politically, Mr. Kotouc is a Democrat and one of the leaders of his
party in southeastern Nebraska. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic
order, and is now holding the office of postmaster in the blue lodge of the
•Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He is also a member of the Knights
of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member
of the Acacia Fraternity and Phi Beta Kappa of the State University. He
attends the Methodist Episcopal church.

PHRAM E. FELLS, D. D. S.

Dr. Hirani E. Eells, of Falls City, one of the best-known and most
successful dentists in this part of the state, is a native of the neighboring
state of Iowa, but has been a resident of this state since leaving college,
having begun his practice at Auburn, moving thence to Wayne and thence,
in 1912, to Falls City, where he has since been engaged in the practice of
his profession. He was born on a farm in Johnson county. Iowa. B'ebruary
22, 1873, son of Nathaniel E. and Susan Harriet (Huss) Eells. natives of
Ohio and both of old Colonial stock, the history of the Eells family in this
country going back to the days of the Pilgrim Fathers, the first of the name
to come over here having been Samuel Eells, who came from the north
of England in 1628 and settled in Massachusetts Colony.

Nathaniel E. Eells, an honored veteran of the Civil War, as noted
above, was a native of Ohio, bom in 1839. and was but two years of age

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 983

when his parents, Nathaniel E. Eells and wife, emigrated to the then Ter-
ritory of Iowa in 1841 and settled in Johnson county. There he grew to
manhood and was living there when the Civil War broke out. In .August.
1 861, at Iowa City, he enlisted for service as a member of Company G.
Twenty-second Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and with that regi-
ment served for a period of nearly four years, or until it was mustered
out in July, 1865, the war then being over. During this service he was
seriously wounded at the battle of Winchester. He took part in the siege
of Vicksburg and to his regiment was accorded the honor of being the
first to enter the fallen city on that memorable Fourth of July in 1863,
when the stubborn defense of that key to the .South was broken. Upon
the com.pletion of his military service Nathaniel E. Eells returned to his
home in Iowa and shortly afterward married Harriet Huss, who also was
born in Ohio and whose parents had become Iowa pioneers. He estab-
lished his home on a farm in Johnson county and there remained until in
May, 1873, when he moved with his family to a farm in the neighborhood
of Bedford, county seat of Taylor county, Iowa. There his wife died in
1897 and he thereafter made his home with his children until his death in
1910. There were five of these children, four sons and one daughter, of
whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others
being as follow: The Rev. Melvin Hoyt Eells, a clergyman of the Meth-
odist Episcopal church, now living in Kansas; Dr. Linden Eells, a dentist,
of Auburn, this state; John H. Eells, a farmer, of Nevis, Minnesota, and
Efifie, deceased.

Hiram E. Eells was reared on the .home farm in Iowa, receiving his
elementary schooling in the local district schools, also two years in a normal
college, and for two years taught school during the winters, continuing to
work on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age, when he entered
the dental department of the University of Iowa and after a year there
entered the College of Dental Surgery at Chicago, from which he was
graduated on April 3, 1898. During his college career Doctor Eells spent
his vacation selling books and thus provided the funds with which to com-
plete his college course. Upon receiving his diploma the Doctor came to
Nebraska and opened an office for the practice of his profession at Auburn,
where he remained for five years. He then spent a summer otherwise
engaged and then located at Wayne, where he was engaged in practice for
five years, meanwhile spending two summers on vacation in Dakota. On
Januarv i, 1Q12, he located at Falls City and has since been engaged in

984 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

practice in that city. The Doctor has a well-appointed office, equipped with
all the modern appliances for dental surgery, and has built up a splendid
practice. In 1916 he built a fine new home, between Nineteenth and
Twentieth streets on Crook street, and there he and his family are very
pleasantly situated.

On October 3, 1900, Dr. Hiram E. Eells was united in marriage to
Stella Spurgin, of Barney, Madison county, Iowa, daughter of Williani
Spurgin and wife, and to this union three children have been born, Lois
E., born on Septemljer 14, 1902; Berkley E., July 7. 1907, and Nathan O.,
March 13, 1913, the latter of whom is the thirteenth living grandchild of
the late Nathaniel E. Eells. Doctor and Mrs. Eells are members of the
Methodist Episcopal church and take a proper part in church work, as
well as in other local good works, and in the general social and cultural
activities of their home town. The Doctor is a member of a number of
fraternal orders and in the afifairs of which organizations he takes a warm
interest. Pohtically, he is "independent" and gives his thoughtul attention
to local governmental affairs.

EUGENE ALLE^IEND.

Eugene AUemend, one of Richardson county's best-known and most
substantial retired farmers, a resident of Stella since 1890, in which year he
retired from the active labors of the farm, is a native of France, but has
been a resident of this country since he was eighteen years of age and of
Nebraska since 1864, thus being very properly recognized as one of the
pioneers of this section. He was born on May 16, 1836, and was about
eighteen years of age when his parents, Nicholas and Frances (Bernard)
Allemend, also natives of France, left their native land with their children
and came to this country in 1854. the family locating in Chicago, where the
father died a few years later. The Widow Allemend and her children then,
in 1859, moved to St. Louis and there she spent her last days. Nicholas
Allemend and wife were the parents of four children, of whom two still
survive, the subject of this sketch having a younger sister, Mrs. Lenora
Jacko, a widow, now living at San Francisco, California. He had two elder
brothers, Justin and Frank, now deceased.

As noted above, Eugene Allemend was but eighteen years of age when

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 985

he came to this country with his parents and during the time he hved in
Chicago he worked there as a cook. Upon his removal to St. Louis in 1859
he began working there and in December, 1863, was married in that city.
. The next summer, in August,- 1864, he came to Nebraska and bought a small
tract of land in Aspinwall precinct, Nemaha county, just northeast of Stella,
and there established his home, settling down as a farmer. Though Mr.
Allemend suffered a little privation and hardship during the early years of
his pioneering here, as did most of the early settlers of this section, he kept
pushing- ahead and it was not long until he began to see his way clear to the
development of a fine piece of property surrounding his home. In addi-
tion to his general farming he early began giving considerable attention to
stock raising and as he prospered in his operations added to his holdings
until he came to be regarded as one of the leading landowners in that part
of the state. Mr. Allemend is now the owner of six hundred and forty
acres in his old home tract, besides a nearby "eighty" in that part of the
county and two hundred and twenty acres over the line in Nemaha county,
all in Aspinwall precinct, and is accounted one of the most substantial citi-
zens of Richardson county. For years he gave much attention to the raising
of high-grade draft horses and also kept a trotting horse, "MacMahon,"
that became more than locally famous and that he kept until the animal's
death at the age of thirty-three years. In 1890 Mr. Allemend retired from
the active labors of the farm and moved to the village of Stella, from which
place he since has directed his extensive farming interests. He built a fine
residence there and he and his family are very pleasantly situated. Mr.
Allemend has taken an active interest in the general development of the com-
munity in which he settled back in pioneer days and has done much to pro-
mote the advancement of that community along all proper lines. Politically,
he is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local
civic affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office.

On December 28, 1S63. at St. Louis, Eugene Allemend was united in
marriage to Adale Deculle, also a native of France, born in the city of Paris.
December 13, 1844, who left there with her parents in 1849 for the United
States, the family settling in Illinois and later locating at St. Louis, where
she was living at the time of her marriage to Mr. Allemend. To this union
seven children have been born, namely: One, who died in infancy; Emil,
deceased; Eugene, deceased: Mrs. Georgette Monnett, who lives over in-
Nemaha county : Mrs. Leona Timermann, of North Platte, this state : Frank,,
of Nemaha countv. and Mrs. Grace. Martin, wife of a merchant at Stella.

9^6 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

JAMES FRANKLIN SHUBERT.

The Hon. James Franklin Shubert, of Shubert, banker, orchardist and
land agent and former representative from this district to the Nebraska state
Legislature, cashier of the Citizens Bank of Shubert, president of the Brown-
ville State Bank of Brown ville, a member of the board of directors of the
Farmers State Bank of Stella and one of the leading fruit growers and most
ardent orchardists in Nebraska, is a native son of Richardson county and
has lived here all his life. He was horn on a pioneer farm, the site of the
present thriving village of Shubert, in the precinct of Barada, November 4,
1870, son of Henry W. and Mary (Griffin) Shubert, pioneers of this sec-
tion of Nebraska, both now deceased and further and fitting' mention of
whom is made in a memorial sketch presented elsewhere in this volume,
relating to the late Henry W. Shubert, after whom the village of Shubert
was named and who was for years one of the most active and influential
factors in the development of that part of the county.

Reared on the home farm at Shubert, James Franklin Shubert re-
ceived his early schooling in the schools of that district and completed the
same by a course in the high school at Auburn. From the days of his
boyhood he was an active factor in the labors of developing and improving
the home place, which his father " developed into one of the finest estates
in this part of Nebraska, and early began to give particular attention to
the great orchard industry which his father had created there, the elder
Shubert long ago having been recognized as the pioneer in that industry
hereabout, he having established the first commercial apple orchard in Rich-
ardson county. It was along in the eighties that Henry \V. Shubert started
his initial orchard, a plant of about three hundred trees, and in the nineties
began to develop the same on a large scale, the venture then being made
commercially profitable, he by that time having about three hundred acres
covered with bearing trees, the great orchard being tended scientifically and
in accordance with the most approved methods of modern horticulture.
Upon the retirement of his father from this business, J. F. Shubert assumed
the direction of the same, having meantime become recognized as one of
the most expert pomologists in the state, and has continued to develop and
extend the orchards until he is now the owner of two hundred acres of
bearing orchards in the vicinity of Shubert and is operating with others
who plan to extend their operations by planting an additional thousand
acres in apple trees. Mr. Shubert is now the largest individual orchardist

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 987

in Richardson county and has made of that industry a commercially profit-
able affair, annually shipping as many as four hundred carloads of apples,
for which he receives the top of the market, Nebraska apples having gained
great favor wherever introduced. Mr. Shubert is a member of the Central
Nebraska Fruit Growers' Association, in the affairs of which' he takes an
active interest, and is also a stockholder in the Loess Land and Orchard
Company, which was organized in 1914 for the purpose of buying lands
for other purposes. In addition to these interests, besides his large banking-
interests, he is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred acres, to the culti-
vation of which he gives his personal oversight.

As noted above, Mr. Shubert's banking interests are represented in
Brownville, Stella and Shubert, he being president of the Brownville State
Bank, which he organized in 1914, with a capital stock of $15,000, and a
member of the board of directors of the Farmers State Bank of Stella, but
it is to the affairs of the Citizens Bank of Shubert, which he was mainly
instrumental in organizing and of which he is the cashier and office man-
ager, that he gives his close personal attention. The Citizens Bank of
Shubert, locally known as "The Bank of Good Service," was organized by
T. F. Shubert' A. M. Shubert, H. E. Williams, E. C. Riggs and Robert
Ivutler, and was opened for business on January 2, 1908, in an old building
which since has been torn down and supplanted by a handsome new bank
building, with modern fixtures and all the latest appurtenances of an up-to-
date banking office. A recent statement of this bank shows its capital to be
Sicooo, surplus, $5,000, and deposits, $110,000. The present officers of
the bank are as follows : President, H. E. Williams ; vice-president, A. M.
Shubert : cashier, J. F. Shubert, and assistant cashier, L. \\'. Shubert, with
these officers and E. C. Riggs and Robert Kutler as the board of directors.
In addition to carrying on a general banking business the bank also con-
ducts a fire and life-insurance business and has a flourishing farm-loan
department.

On March 12, 1896, James Franklin Shubert was united in marriage
to Leona Athey, of Macon county, Illinois, a daughter of Milton Athey,
who spent his last days in Shubert, and to this union one child has been
born, a daughter, Nina M., born on December 12, 1896, who was graduated
from the Shubert high school and later, in 19 16, from the Falls City high
school and is now a student in the Nebraska State Normal at Peru. The
Shuberts have a very pleasant home at Shubert and take a proper interest
in the general social and cultural activities of that place. Mr. Shubert is a
Republican and has served, at one time or another, in nearly all the local

9»» RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

public offices, serving on the town board and on the school board, and in
1907 represented this district as a member of the House of Representatives
in the General Assembly of Nebraska. He is a Royal Arch and York Rite
Mason, a memljer of the local lodge at Shubert and of the chapter and
commandery at Falls City, and is a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of
Xobles of the Mystic Shrine, affiliated with Sesostris Temple at Lincoln,
and takes a warm interest in Masonic affairs. He also is a member of the
local lodge of the Woodmen of the World.

T. ABXER HEWS.

A thrifty farmer of Franklin precinct, Richardson county, is J. Abner
Hews, who was bom September 2, 1872. He is a son of Sanborn S. Hews
and wife, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Both parents
are deceased, the mother dying when the subject of this sketch was a boy.
J. Abner Hews spent his childhood on the home farm, a half mile east of
\ erdon, Richardson county. He attended the district schools, but his edu-
cation was limited as he was compelled to go to work when only ten years
of age, working three years for his board. When fourteen years he got his
board and clothes, .\bout this period his father remarried and he lived with
the elder Hews until he became of legal age. Upon the death of his father
he rented the James Gavitt farm and land of John Holman. He farmed
with his brother in Nemaha county, from 1895 until 1904. He managed
well (luring that period of nearly ten years and saved enough to purchase a
place of his own, buying ninety acres of land in Franklin precinct, Richard-
son county, for which he paid seventy dollars per acre. In 1907 he sold out
to H. G. Mehlin, receiving the sum of nine thousand six hundred dollars.
He then purchased the farm he now owns, for whith he pard the sum of one
hundred and ten dollars per acre. His place consists of one hundred and
si.xty acres of excellent land, in section 2^. Franklin precinct. He keeps it
in fine tilth and under a high state of improvements; he has erected a new
barn, fifty-eight by sixty feet, also has another good barn, but smaller. He
is erecting an attractive new residence in the fall of 1917. He makes a
specialty of raising Duroc-Jersey hogs, marketing about two hundred annually,
also keeps a large number of Shropshire sheep and a good grade of cattle.

;Mr. Hews was married on February 12, 1901, to Phoebe Legg, a native
of Missouri, born there on December 12. 1876. She came with her parents

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 989

to Richardson county when young, the family locating in Humboldt. She is
a daughter of Lewis Legg, who brought his family to this county in the
eighties.

Politically, Mr. Hews is a Democrat and is an admirer of William J.
Bryan and his doctrines. He has forged his way up from a very unpromis-
ing start and is therefore entitled to the easy circumstances in which he now
finds himself while still in the prime of manhood. He takes an active inter-
est in whatever makes for the general good of Franklin precinct and Rich-
ardson countv.

JAMES HARVEY OVERMAN.

James Harvey Overman, well-known veteran hotel-keeper at Stella,
this county, former postmaster of that village, formerly and for years en-
gaged in the mercantile business tliere and since pioneer days one of the
leading factors in the development of the town, is a native of the old
Hoosier state, a fact of which he never has ceased to be proud, but has
been a resident of this section of the country since the days of his early
infancy, having come out to the neighboring state of Iowa with his- par-
ents in the spring of 1852. he then being but an infant in arms, and one
year later, in 1853, came to Missouri. He was born in Glark county,
Indiana, not far across the river from the city of Louisville, January 10.
1852, son of James L. and Mary (Dailey) Overman, both of whom were
born in that same county, members of pioneer families in southern Indiana,
and who later became pioneers of this region, their last days being spent
at Stella.

The Overmans are of Dutch stock and the family has been repre-
sented in this country since Colonial days. James L. Overman's father,
whose wife was an Amick, became early settlers in Clark county, Indiana,
where James L. Overman was born on February 15, 1824. His father died
about six years later and he early l^egan working on his own account, learn-
ing the cooper's trade. On December 29, 1845, ^^ married Mary Dailey,
who also was born in Clark county. Indiana, May 16, 1819, member of a
pioneer family in that section of the Hoosier state, and there made his home
until 1852, when he came West and settled in Iowa, one year later settling
in Missouri. In 1858 he moved over to St. Deroin, on the river, just at
the southeast corner of Xemaha county, where he began operating a ferry,
at the same time setting up a small cooperage establishment, and was living

99° RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

there when the Civil War broke out. Previous to the formal declaration
of war. huwever. in March, 1861, he had enlisted as a member of the local
company of Home Guards, for service against the "bushwhackers," and
was later transferred to Company D, Fifth Missouri Cavalry, with which
command he served for sixteen months, that command doing effective serv-
ice against the guerillas that caused so much trouble in Missouri and througli-
out this section. Later James I,. Overman was engaged in the cooperage
business at St. Joseph and at Amazonia, where he established a cooperage
shop, but after awhile returned to St. Deroin and there remained until
1S84. wlien he moved to Stella, this county, where he spent the remainder
of his life, his death occurring there on December 28, 1894. His widow
survived him nearly .fifteen years, her death occurring at Stella on Feb-
ruary 4. 1909. They were the parents of four children, of whom the sub-
ject of this sketch was the last-born, the others being Kate, widow of Peter
Fraker. of Stella; Andrew M., who enlisted for service in the Union army
during the Civil War and whose fate thereafter was unknown to his family,
and Arabella, of Stella, widow of J. M. McCollough.

As noted above, James H. Overman was but an infant when his par-
ents came West and he was about six years of age when the family, on
March 6, 1858, settled at St. Deroin, this state; the state at that time, how-
ever. l>eing under a territorial form of government. He consequently has
been a witness to and a participant in the development of this region since
pioneer days and one of the recollections of his childhood is of the burial
at St. Deroin of the old Indian chief, Joseph Deroin. He received his
schooling in the primitive schools of his boyhood days and when seventeen
years of age began clerking in his brother-in-law's store at St. Deroin. In
July, 1871," Air. Overman began clerking in a store at Severance, Kansas,
and was there engaged in business until 1874. He then returned to St.
Deroin and clerked in the store of A. J. Ritter until March, 1879. In 1877
he was appointed postmaster at St. Deroin under President Hayes, serving
until 1879, having previously served as deputy postmaster. In 1879 he
moved to C'orning. Missouri, and was there engaged in business for about
three years, at the end of which time he came to Stella. Soon after the
townsite was laid out at Stella, this county, in February, 1882. he opened
a store at that place, in June, 1882, and has ever since resided there, with
the exception of ten months spent conducting a hotel at Humboldt. Mr.
Overman -was appointed postmaster of -Stella' on January, 1898, by Pres-
ident McKinley, and on April 27, 1904, was reappointed postmaster by
President Roosevelt, and was reappointed by President Taft, serving until

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. QQI

October i, 1916. His life has been practically devoted to merchandising-
and hotel-keeping and he. now has a well-appointed and modern hotel of
twenty-three rooms at Stella, one of the best-known and most popular hos-
telries in this county. Mr. Overman's hotel at the corner of Main and
Third streets is of brick, three stories in height and is equipped in accord-
ance with modern demands for the greatest degree of comfort on the part
of the traveling public. Mr. Overman is a stanch Republican and has for
years been looked upon as one of the leaders of that party in Richardson
county.

On March 24, 1878, James H. Overman was united in marriage to
Lucinda Marie Thomas, who was born in Putnam county, Missouri, daugh-
ter of Elijah P. and Samantha Ann (Hillis) Thomas, natives of Kentucky
and Indiana, respectively, who became pioneers in Missouri. Elijah P.
Thomas was born at Maysville, Kentucky, February 11, 1827, son of John
and Margaret (Harmon) Thomas, the former of whom was born in Ken-
tucky about I7C)5 and the latter in Champaign county, Ohio, not far from
Urbana. John Thomas was the son of Solomon Thomas, a \'irginian by
birth and a soldier of the patriot army during the Revolutionary War, his
father, Solomon Thomas, Sr., having been a Welshman who came to this
country in Colonial days and settled in Virginia. John Thomas was a
farmer and miller and served as a soldier during the War of 1812. He moved
from Kentucky to Missouri and died in Scotland county, that state, at the
age of eighty years. His wife died in Putnam county, that state, she also
reaching a ripe old age. Elijah P. Thomas was married at Knoxville,
Iowa, Septeml^er 15. 1853, to Samantha Ann Hillis, who was born in In-
diana on March 18, 1833, daughter of Dr. J. D. B. .and Lucinda (Stearett)
Hillis. Dr. J. D. B. Hillis was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, January
10, 1810, and his wife was born in the vicinity of Urbana, Ohio, in 1813.
Doctor Hillis served in the Civil War as surgeon in a Wisconsin regiment,
and served as state senator in Iowa — a capable man.

Mr. and Mrs. Overman are members of the Church of Christ (Scientist)
and take an earnest interest in the affairs of the same. They have no chil-
dren of their own, but reared to womanhood a niece of Mrs. Overman,
Mary Palmer, who was educated in the schools of Stella and who on Sep-
tember 22. 1895, married George W. Harris, who is now engaged in sheep
raising at North Yakima, Washington. Mr. Overman is a member of the
local lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and in the afifairs of
that organization takes a warm interest.

gg2 RICHARnSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

JOACHIM H. EICKHOFF.

A well-known farmer and breeder of Duroc-Jersey swine, is Joachim
H. Eickhoff, of near Falls City, Richardson county. Mr. Eickhoff was born
on January 15, 1870, in Mecklenburg, Germany, and is a son of Joachim
and Dora (Godeman) Eickhoff, natives of Germany, where they grew up,
were married and established their home imtil they emigrated to America.
Their family consisted of eight children, two of whom are deceased.
Joachim Eickhoff was born in 1844 and died in 1912. He and his family
remained in Germany until 1874, when they immigrated to America, locating
in Richardson county, Nebraska, where the father worked out as a farm
hand for a time, after which he rented land on the Baker farm. By his
industry and hard work he succeeded in establishing a comfortable home in
this county. He retired a few years prior to his death, locating in Falls
City, where he spent his last days, living in comfortable retirement from
the income of a tine farm of two hundred and forty acres near Falls City.
His widow, who still lives on the home place in Ohio precinct, was born in

1845-

Joachim H. Eickhoff. of this sketch, was nearly four years old when
his parents brought him to Richardson county. Here he grew up on the
home farm and assisted his father in the general work about the place. He
received his education in the district schools. When twenty-five years old
he rented land until 1901. when he bought a farm near Shubert, Nebraska,
which he sold in 1908 and bought his present farm of two hundred and
fort\- acres in section 4, of Falls City precinct, and he also owns land in
section 9. He has made many important improvements on the place and is
carrying on general farming and stock raising successfully. He devotes
considerable attention to orcharding, his fine orchard now^ embracing forty-
five acres, thirtv acres of which he himself set out. He has a good variety
of commercial apples and knows how best to prepare them for market, ship-
ping them in car lots to Western markets. . He is a scientific farmer, keeps
well read in regard to all phases of modern methods, reading the latest gov-
ernment bulletins and the best farm journals. He has for years been a
successful breeder of Duroc-Jersey hogs, holding private sales of his stock,
for which he never fails to receive fancy prices, owing to their superior
quality. In 19 14 he bought a fine thoroughbred Belgian stallion, imported,
for which he paid the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, when two years old.
He has a pleasant home and surroundings, large and convenient barns and

RICHARDSON COUXTY, NEBRASKA. 993

DUtlniildings, everything about liis place denoting thrift and good manage-
ment as well as good taste. He has also been a feeder of cattle for many
\ears for the markets.

Air. Eickhoff was married, April 18, 1895, to Emma Eichsteadt, who
was born on August 27. 1873, in Germany. She is a daughter of John and
Sophia (Siemon) Eichsteadt, who came to the United States in 1884, locat-
ing in Richardson county, Nebraska, where diey engaged successfully in gen-
eral farming. Mr. Eichsteadt is now living in retirement in Falls City.

To Mr. and Mrs. E.ickhoff eight children have been born, namely: Airs.
.Minnie Ottobek, of Falls City precinct, Richardson county; Elmer lives at
home: Laura, l-'ranlc. Clara, Joachim, Jr., Robert and Esther are also all
at home.

Politically, Air. Eickhoff is a Democrat but \otes independently. He
holds membership with the German Lutheran church. He is regarded as
one of the progressive and useful citizens of his precinct, where his honesty
and neighborly ways have made him a host of friends.

JOHN C. AIULLEN.

John C. Alullcn, city attorney and city clerk of ]'"alls City, president of
the Falls Cit\- Boosters' Club, chairman of the Democratic central com-
mittee of Richardson county, secretary of the local bar association and one
of the best-known lawyers in this part of the state, is a native son of
Nebraska and has lived in this state all his life. He was born at O'Neill,
county seat of Holt county, July 3, 1886, son of James and Emily (Clancy)
Mullen, natives of Kingston, Canada, of Irish descent, the former of whom
was born in 1849 and the latter in 1851, who are still living, prominent and
long-time residents of the city of O'Neill. They were married in Canada
and then came to Nebraska, homesteading a farm in Holt county, in the
immediate vicinity of O'Neill, in 1880, where they remained ten years, at
the end of which time, in 1890, the}' moved to the neighboring village of
Page and were there located until 1907, when they moved back to O'Neill
and have since made that their place of residence. For many years James
Alullen was activel>- engaged in the live stock business in Holt county and
did very well. He and his wife are members of'the Catholic church and
their children were reared in that faith. There are nine of these children,
(63)

994 RICIIAKDSON COL'XTV, NEBRASKA.

all (jf wIkhii are li\in,s;, those besides the subject of this sketch being as
fnllow : Arthur, who is engaged in the practice of law at Omaha; Robert.
a lawyer at Alice, Texas; James, a ranchman at Cardwell, Montana; Mrs.
John O'Donnell, of Norfolk, this state; Mary, a teacher in the normal
school at Peru, this state; Helen, who is at home; Sister Mary Januaris.
of the order of St. Dominica at Sinsinawa, \\'isconsin, and Sister Mary
Roslyn, of that same retreat.

L'pon completing the course in the public schools (if his home town,
John C. Mullen studied two }ears at Creighton University at Omaha and
then for two years, 1906-07, taught school. He then entered the Universit}'
of Xebraska at Lincoln and upon completing a C(nirse there in 1908 entered
the law department of the university, from which he was graduated in 1912.
In that same \ear he opened an office for the practice of his profession at
Falls Cit}' and has e\er since been thus engaged there, having established
his home in that city after his marriage there in 1914. Mr. Mullen is an
ardent Democrat and is now serving as chairman of the county central
committee of that party. On April 18, 1916, he was appointed city attor-
ney and (in January 30. 1917, was appointed city clerk, in both of which
important public capacities he is now serving. Since entering" upon the
practice of his profession at Falls City Mr. Mullen has done well there and
is now the secretary of the local bar association, in the affairs of which he
has taken an earnest interest ever since becoming a member of the same.
He is regarded as one of the real "live wires" of his home town and is
doing good work in behalf of the promotion of the interests of the city
as the president of the celebrated Falls City Boosters' Club, ever active in
promoting an\' proper movement looking to the advancement of the city's
interest in a material way-

On May 13, 191 4, John C. Mullen was united in marriage to Helen
Majerus, who was born in Falls City, daughter of Jacob and lilizabeth
(W'ilker) Majerus, the former of whom is now deceased, and to this union
one child has been born, a son, Gerald, born on .\ugust 13, 1916. Mr. and
■Mrs. Mullen are members of the Catholic church and take a proper interest
in parish atTairs, as well as in the general good works of their home town
and in the general social and cultural activities of the same. Mr. Mullen
is the present e.xalted ruler of the local lodge of the Benevolent and Pro-
tective Order of F.Iks and is the financial secretary of the local council of
the Knights of Columlms. in the affairs of both of which organizations he
takes a warm and active interest.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 995

WILLI A RD M. SHUBERT.

Williard M. Shuhert, retired farmer now living in the village of Shu-
bert. was born in Mason county. Illinois, January i", 1851, a son of John
and Rebecca ( Shrout ) Shubert, who came to Nebraska in 1877 and settled
in this county, where the\' spent the remainder of their lives. John Shubert
was l^orn in Kentucky on September 4, 1807, and his wife was born in that
same state on June 11, iSio. .\fter their marriage they located on a farm
in Mason county, Illinois, where they remained until 1877, when they came
out to Nebraska and became pioneers in the northern part of this count},
tlieir last da\s being spent there, John Shul^ert dying on January i, 1880,
and his widow sur\-iving until Ajiril i"/. 1885. The\' were the parents of
twelve children, of whom nine grew to maturity, those besides die subject
of this sketch being as follow: Airs. Rachel HarnKjn, deceased: ]Mrs. Eliz-
ai-eth \'allandingham, deceased: Henry W., on whose land the village of
Shubert was laid out and a memorial sketch of whom is presented else-
where in this \olume; Mrs. Alar)- Anne V'allandingham, deceased; Eliza
Jane, deceased: James, deceased: John W., now a resident of Canada, and
Mrs. Rebecca Aime Pond, of Shubert.

Reared on the home farm in Mason county. Illinois, VVillard M. Shu-
bert remained there until he was eighteen years of age, when he came to
this state with C. A. Pond, arriving here on October 20, 1869. He became
engagetl at farm labor, helping ti> break and clear land, and after awhile
rented a farm from his elder Ijrother, James M. Shubert, and was thus
engaged until the time of his marriage in 1883, when he bought a quarter
of a section of improved land three and one-half miles northeast of Shul>ert,
paying for the same forty-five dollars an acre, and there established his
home, he and his wife remaining on that place for about fifteen j-ears, or
until their retirement from the farm on October 9, 1897, and removal t(^
Shubert, where they have since made their home, owning there the hand-
somest residence in the town and nne of the finest in the county. During
his active farming Mr. Shubert farmed five hundred acres and did very
well, gradually increasing his holdings by the purchase of an adjoining
"eighty" and the purchase of a section of land over in the western part of
the state. Since his retirement Air. Shubert has sold all his land, in 191 5,
having received one hundred and lifty dollars an acre for his original quarter
section that he !:)ought for forty-five dollars an acre, and has invested his
money in aitpmved securities, including stock in the Citizens Bank of Shu-

1)96 RICHARDSON COfNTV, NEliKASKA.

liert and the State Hank of Stella. Jle and his wife are extensive travelers
and are living in comfortable enjoyment of the rewards of their years of
industry on the farm. They spend their winters in Florida or at Hot
Springs and make frequent trips to the coast, enjoying life to the utmost.
Mr. Shubert is a Republican and he and his wife are members of the local
lodge of the Degree of Honor.

On April i6. ]883. Willard J\I. Shubert was united in marriage to
Mary Ankrom, who was born in Blackford county, Indiana, April i6. 1863,
and who was not yet three years of age when her parents, Rhinehart and
i'-lizabeth (Bugh) .Xnkrom, left Indiana with their family and came to
Nebraska, settling in this county in March, 1866. Rhinehart Ankrom was
born in Greene county, Pennsylvania, August 27, 1827, and his wife was
born in February 4, 1832, in Perry county, Ohio. After their niarriage
on February 15, 1850, they settled on a farm in Blackford county, Indiana,
and there remained until they came to Richardson county in the spring of
1866. Upon coming here Mr. Ankrom bought a tract of land in the half-
breed country in the precinct of Barada, four and one-half miles east of the
present town of Shubert, and there established his home, he and his wife
spending the remainder of their lives there, her death occurring on Jan-
uary 17, 19 1 2, and his on October 5 of that same year. Twelve years
before they had celebrated their golden-wedding anniversary at their old
liome in Barada precinct, all their children and grandchildren in Nebraska
i)eing present, there being at that time eighteen grandchildren. Rhinehart
Ankrom and his wife were the parents of eleven children, eight of whom
grew to maturity, namely: \\'illiam. who died on February 17, 1912; Rob-
ert, of Barada precinct: Barney, also a farmer in tliat same precinct; Jesse,
also a Barada farmer: ^lary, wife of ■Mr. Shubert; Mrs. Elizabeth Shafer,
of Barada precinct; Mrs. Lvdia Bucholz, of Falls City, and Mrs. Cloella
Slagal, a widow, of Shubert.

Mrs. Shubert recalls ^•ividly the privations ^^■hich she and the mem-
bers of the Ankrom family underwent during the early pioneer days. They
had few luxuries; sorghum was used for sweetening instead of sugar; wheat
Ijread was served on the table on Sundays and when company were present.
The daughters of the Ankrom family learned to cut wood and work in the
fields when necessary. They spun and wove their own wool for the gar-
ments worn by members of the large family and also made their own
clothes. Mrs. Shubert could harness and drive a team as well as her
lirothers and made a good "hand" on occasion. When the familv would

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 997

go visiting they would all crowd into a big wagon and go jolting across
countr\- \ ia the nearest direct route to their destination and the "visit" would
probalily last over night, the family returning the next day. "Going to
church" was an occasion and required the whole day to go and return home,
the family taking along their lunches in baskets. The Ankrom boys would
cut wood which they hauled to Falls City and traded for the winter's supply
of shoes : hats, etc., were obtained in similar manner. Of spending money
such as the youth of the present day is supplied with unstintedly, the chil-
dren of this pioneer household had little or none. On holiday occasions
such as the Fourth of July, if they had a "nickle" or twenty-cent piece to
spend, it was deemed a great plenty.

REUBEN J. HILL.

The Hill family have been represented in Richardson county since thai
sturdy old pioneer, Elijah C. Hill, Sr., came to this part of Nebraska in
1865 and here laid the foundations of the future fortunes of himself and
the members of his family, among whom is the subject of this sketch. In
a biographical notice of Elijah C. Hill, Jr., in another part of this work,
there is set out in detail an account of the father who came from Ontario,
Canada, and settled on a homestead tract in this county, and to that account
the reader is referred for further particulars in that connection.

Reuben J. Hill, the subject of this sketch, was born on July lo, i860,
in Ontario, Canada, and is the son of Elijah C. and Arcosh (Kallerstinej
Hill, also natives of the same country. They were the parents of twelve
children, six of whom are deceased, the others being Roland, who lives at
Greeley, this state; Reuljen J., of Porter township; Marshall N., a farmer
and stockman, who lives iiT Porter precinct; Elijah C, Jr.; Mrs. Martha
\'an \'leet, of Crete, this state, and Grant, who lives in Cameron, Montana.

Ueuljen J. Hill was reared amidst pioneer conditions on his father's
farm, which the latter settled on in 1865, when he came to this county.
R. J. Hill was educated in the district schools of his home neighborhood and
when still a boy, he learned the barber trade. In 1882 he opened a barber
siiop in .Stella and in 1883 established another branch of the same business
in Humboldt and continued to operate there for some years. In 1908 he
settled in Porter precinct, where he is the owner of one hundred and thirty
acres of ])rime farming land and also rents one hundred and ten acres

99^ RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

of land, making two hundred and forty in all. On this land he is actively
engaged in general farming and has met with considerable success.

Mr. Hill was married in 1883 to Nora Belle Harper, who was born in
Metcalfe county, Kentucky, the daughter -of Wilson Harper and wife, also
natives of Kentucky. To Air. and Mrs. Hill two children have l:)een born,
namely: John M., who lives in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and who is an expert
window dresser and show-card writer, and Mrs. Hulda Arcosh Williamson,
who is the mother of two children, George Samuel and Lois. Mr. Hill
is a supporter of tiie Republican party, but has never sought public office.

JOSEPH W. SPICKLER.

Joseph W. S[)ickler, of Shul>ert, former member of the board
of county sujjervisors for l^ichardson county, a well-known and well-to-do
farmer, owner of a tine farm of four hundred acres in the precinct of East
Muddy, and formerly and for years extensively engaged in the live-stock
business at Shuliert, is a native of the neighboring state of Iowa, but has
l)Ltn a resident of this county since he was eleven years of age, having
come here with his parents back in pioneer days. He was born at Daven-
port, Iowa, May _><;, 1856, son of Samuel and Sabina (Selvert) Spickler,
natives of Pennsyhania, who became pioneers in Iowa, later moved to
Illinois and thence to Nebraska, settling in this county in 1867, spending
the remainder of their li\es here, the former dying less than ten years after
conn'ng here and the latter surviving for many years thereafter.

Samuel Spickler was born in Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, in 18 12.
and there grew to manhood. He married Sabina Selvert, who was born
in that same county on January 28, 181 8, and continued to make his home
there tmtil 1852, when he moved to Davenport,* Iowa, later moving to Rock
Island count}, Illinois, where he remained until the fall of 1867, when he
came to Nebraska with his family, arriving here on October 4 of that year,
and settled on a farm one and one-half miles .south of the present village
of Barada, the nearest trading point at diat time having been St. Deroin.
When the Spicklers '-ettled on that pioneer farm there was but one house
lielween their ])laoe and I'alls C'it}' and that was the old Ralph Anderson
place. Previous to bringing his family out here Samuel Si)ickler and two
of his sons had created "bachelor quarters'" on the place and had a house and
some other imjirovements in readiness before returning to Illinois for the

RICUARnSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 999

rest (if the family. Tliey clrnve acros.s country in a covered wagon and
cros.-^ed the river at Brownville. The first crop raised on the place con-
sisted of three acres of corn, one acre of potatoes and one acre of cabbage.
The potatoes sold for one dollar and twenty-five cents a bushel and the
cabbage at ten cents a head. Samuel Spickler was a good farmer and an
earnest pioneer citizen. He helped to organize the local congregation of
the Church of God at Barada and he and his wife did much toward the
early success of that church. He was a Republican and took a proper
part in the early civic activities of the community during pioneer days.
Samuel Spickler died at his home in the vicinity of Barada in 1875, less
than ten years after settling in this county, and his widow survived him
many years, her death occurring on November 16, 1907, she then being past
eight}--nine years of age. They were the parents of nine children, of whom
the sul)ject of tliis sketch was the seventh in order of birth, the others being
as follow: Charles, deceased; Elizabeth, wife of Theodore Harris, of Rosa-
lie, this state: Mrs. Sarah Dilenbeck, of Geneseo, Illinois; Mary E., who
married A. Franklin and is now deceased; Ann Martha, who married M.
Davis and is now deceased; John .S., of Ft. Calhoun, this state; Mrs. Alice
-Mien, of Rosalie, and one who died in infancy.

.\s noted above, Joseph W. Spickler was eleven years of age when he
came to this county with his parents and he grew to manhood on the home
farm in the vicinity of Barada, remaining there until he was twent^^-one
\ears of age, when, in 1877. he rented a tract of land and began farming
on his own acc(^unt, remaining thus engaged until 1882, in which year he
bought a farm one mile south of Barada, in section 12, and there built a
house and barn and set out a grove of cottonwoods and an orchard, and
after his marriage in the summer of the year following established his
home there and continued farming that place for nine years, completing
his payments on the same in six years. In 1891 he sold that farm and
moved to Shubert, where for four years he was engaged in the live-stock
l;usiness. In the meantime, in 1892, Mr. Spickler had bought a tract of land
in western Nebraska, but later traded the same for a part of the fine farm
of four hundred acres in sections i and 12 of the precinct of East Muddy,
which he now owns, and which he operates from his home in Shubert. Mr.
Spickler is a Republican and in 1891 was elected a member of the board of
county supervisors from his district. He later was elected to the same
ofiice and served a second term, 1901-02, ever giving his thoughtful atten-
tion to the consideration of public affairs.

On Tulv 30. 188;^, Joseph ^\'. Spickler was united in marriage to

lOOO RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASK.V.

Henrietta Gaston, wlio was born in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, November
II, 1861, daughter (if Merrinian and Mary (Wheaton) Gaston, natives
of Indiana and of I'ennsylvania, respectively, who later moved to Iowa
and thence to ■Missouri, where the former died, the latter some time later
moving to Rapid City, South Dakota, where her last days were spent. To
this union three children have been 1)orn, Effie, who is at home with her
parents; Beulah, who married T. Hill, a Shubert druggist, and Joseph
Oeath Spickler, at home. ^Ir. and Mrs. Spickler are members of the
-Methodist Episcopal church and have ever taken a proper part in church
work, as well as in the general good works and social activities of their
iiome town and of the community at large, and have been helpful in many
ways in promoting movements designed to advance the common welfare
thereabout.

DANIEL D. LEWIS.

Daniel D. Lewis, farmer of Barada precinct, Richardson county, was
born on March 8, 1871, in Xemaha county, Nebraska. He is a son of John
M. and Margaret (Hopkins) Lewis. The father was born in Wales, Decem-
ber 25, 1816, and died August 27, 1904. The mother was born on August
15, 1831, and died September 25, 1915, at the advanced age of eighty-four
years. These parents were married in Ohio and they came to Nebraska in
1866, settling in Xemaha county, where they engaged in farming until late
in life when they retired from active work and moved to the town of Shu-
bert, where they died. They were parents of the following children: David
lives in Nemaha county; John lives in Kansas; ]\Irs. Anna McGechie lives
in Oklahoma; Joseph lives near ^'erdon, Richardson county; Thomas lives
in Kearney, Nebraska; Margaret and Louis live in Peru, Nebraska; Daniel
D., of this sketch, and Nellie, deceased.

The gentleman whose name forms the caption of this sketch was reared
on the home farm in Nemaha county and there lie attended the district
schools. He liegan life for himself in 1893, and farmed on his own account,
but on the home farm for two 3'ears; then engaged in mercantile pursuits at
Shubert for one vear, and then moved to his present farm of two hundred
acres in Barada jjrecinct, Richardson county. He has made many improve-
ments and has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser.
He has sixtv acres of timber. His home in is the midst of attractive sur-

RICriARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. lOOI

roundings. ijeing almost in the center of a quarter section. He also has an
excellent young orchard. He raises a good grade of live stock for the
market.

Mr. Lewis was married on February 21, 1894, to Effie Lundy, who
was Ijorn April 8, 1875, in Barada precinct, this county, and here she grew
to womanhood and attended the common schools. She is a daughter of
Ebenezer Lundy and wife, mentioned in the sketch of J- ^^^ Lundy, a sketch
of whom appears elsewhere in this work.

To Mr. and Mrs. Lewis eight children have been born, namely; Guy
Sutton, born on February 20, 1896, is at home; Dewey Ebenezer, July 14,
1898: Daniel D., October 6, 1900; Effie Marie, Octolier 18, 1904; John
Samuel, April 28, 1909; Opal, October 19, 191 1; Lela May, May 29, 1914,
and \ola Belle, October 25, 1916. Guy Sutton and Dewey E. Lewis are
members of Company E, Sixth Nebraska Infantry Regiment, enlisted for
service in the great war. This company was organized in Richardson
county.

Politically, Air. Lewis is a Republican. He served as township clerk
in Barada township for two \ears. He is a member of the Woodmen of the
World and the Christian church.

EMERY E. BOLEJACK.

Emery E. Bolejack, cashier of the Barada State Bank of Barada and
the proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred acres in section 14 of the
precinct of Barada, this county, was born in that precinct and has lived in
this county all his life with the exception of some years spent as a tele-
graph operator in the ser\ice of the Burlington railroad and later as a
rancher in Blaine county. Fie was born on February 23, 1870, son of
James A. and Lucinda (Barker) Bolejack, the former a native of North
Carolina and the latter of Missouri, who became pioneers of Richardson
county and the latter of whom is still living, now a resident of Shubert.

The Bolejacks' are an old family in America and have lieen represented
in the Carolinas since Colonial days, the first of the name in this countr\-
having l)een a Frenchman of the name of Bolejacque, who settled in North
Carolina and there established his family, the family name later Ijeing Angli-
cized to its present form. Tames A. Bolejack was born at Moravian Falls.

I002 RICHARDSON COINTV, NEBRASKA.

in Wilkes cuuiu} . Xortli earoliiia, July 19, 1832, son of William Bolejack
and wife, the latter of whom was a Doss, natives of that same state, who
were the parents of ten children, of whom James A. was the third in order
of ))irth. In 1^5-' William Bolejack came West with his family and set-
tled on a farm in the vicinity of Lexington, Missouri, where he died in
1858. He was Ijorn in 179S. His widow, who also was born in 1798, sur-
vived him about two }ears, her death occurring in i860. James A. Bole-
jack was about twenty years of age when he came West with his parents
in 1852 and he helped develop the home farm in Missouri and during the
years 1856 and 1857 was engaged as a freighter on the old trail between
St. Joseph and Sante Fe. In 1856 he married and in i86j came over into
the then Territory of Xel)raska with his family and settled on a farm in
the precinct of Barada. this count}', where he made his home for forty
\ears. or until his retirement and removal to Shubert. where his last days
were spent, his death occurring there on August 4, 1902. For years during
the earlier period of his residence in this county he maintained a black-
smith's forge on his place and did much accommodation work for his
neighbors in that line, the work of die farm largely being carried on by
iiis sons. He and- his wife were among the organizers of the Christian
church in Barada precinct and in the village of Shubert and he was an elder
of the cluirch. His widow, who still survives him, now a resident of Shu-
l)C'rt, was 1)orn Lucinda Barker, on a pioneer farm in Lafayette county,
.Missouri, December 14, 1832, a daughter of William and Mar\- (Barker)
liarker, natives of Kentucky, the former born in 1804 and the latter in
1805, wJio were married in that state and then moved to Missouri, where
tiiey estalilished their home and where they spent the remainder of their
lives, William Barker dying in 1878 and his widow surviving until 1890.
■]"lie\- were the parents of ten children, of whom Mrs. Bolejack was the
fourth in order of birth. To James A. and Lucinda (Barker) Bolejack five
children were born, of whom the subject of this sketch was the last-burn,
the others being ^^'illianl H., deceased; Mary, deceased; Mrs. Belle Harper,
of Shul)ert, and Lee I'oiejnck, a well-known farmer living in the precinct
<if Barada, near Shubert.

I'jiiery I'.. Bolejack was reared on the home farm in the iirecincl of
]'.;:.rada, receiving his schooling in the schools of district No. 4, and when
twenty-one years of age went to Nemaha City, where he learned the art of
telegraphw In 1892 he was placed in charge of the station at Hemmingford.
in the enii)liiy of the Burlington railroad, and remained as telegrapher there

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IOO3

until in Se|)teniher, 1893, when he was made agent for the same company
at Dunning and while thus engaged there hecame the owner of a ranch
of four hundred and eighty acres in that vicinity, in Blaine county, and
engaged extensively in the raising of cattle, having as many as two hundred
and fifty head of cattle on his ranch. In 1903 Mr. Bolejack resigned his
position as agent for the railway company at Dunning, sold his ranch and
returned to' Richardson county, shortly afterward entering the Verdon State
Bank at \'erdon, as assistant cashier. In May, 1906, meanwhile having
ac(iuired an excellent working knowledge of the banking business, he left
Verdon and moved to Barada, where he organized the Barada State Bank,
was made cashier of the same, built the building in which the bank is now
located and has ever since been cashier of the bank, one of the best-known
bankers in Richardson county. The Barada State Bank, of which John
Moorehead is the president, has but ten stockholders, was organized with
;i capital of .'156,500 and now has a surplus of $3,000. In addition to his
banking interests Mr. Bolejack is the owner of a fine farm of two hundred
acres in section 1.4 of the precinct of Barada and gives his personal atten-
tion to the management of the same. He gives considerable attention to
the raising of live stock on the place and has an excellent farm plant there,
all the operations of the farm being carried on in accordance with up-to-
date methods. Mr. Bolejack is a Republican and has ever given earnest
attention to local ci^■ic afl'airs. During his residence at Verdon he served as
treasurer of the precinct and since taking up bis residence at Barada has
served as a member of the local school board.

On July 17, 1893, I'-mery E. Bolejack was united in marriage to Ella
Murph\-, who was born at Marvsville, Kansas, December 13, 1871, a daugh-
ter of Thomas T. and Xellie ( Ouinn ) Murphy, natives of the Dominion
of Canada, who after their marriage located in Kansas, but later came up
into Richardson county, where their daughter, Ella, was reared. Mr. and
Mr^. liolejack have seven children, Harold, Raymond, Dale, Marvin, Ralph,
I'earl and John. Dale Bolejack, the third son, is now a student at St. Ben-
edict's College at Atchison, Kansas, where he is studying with a view to
entering the jiriestbood of the Catholic church. The Bolejacks are mem-
iiers of the Catholic church and take a proper ]iart i;i parish affairs. Mr.
B(jlejack is a member of the local council oi the Knights of Columbus and
of the local lodge of the Woodmen of the World and in the affairs of both
of these organizations takes a warm interest.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

LENA DEWEESE.

Aliss Lena Deweese, owner of one of the model small- farms in the
precinct of Grant, this connty, and one of the progressive leaders of the
social activities of that community, was born in Prairie City, Iowa, daughter
of the Hon. Joel W. and Rebecca (Ryan) Deweese, who later became resi-
dents of Lincoln, the capital of this state, where their last days were spent.

The Hon. Joel W. Deweese, an honored veteran of the Civil War, a
former member of the loM-a state Legislature and for years one of the
best-known and most influential lawyers at LiiKoln, in which city he died in
1907, was a native of the state of Illinois, torn on a farm there on Septem-
ber 17. 1843, son of James M. and Anna (Wyne) Deweese, natives of
Kentucky, who moved from Illinois to Iowa in March, 1844, becoming
pioneers in the latter state, where they maintained their residence until
1863, in which year they came over into the then Territory- of Nebraska
and settled on a farm a mile west of the present site of the town of Daw-
son, becoming useful and influential pioneers of that community. On that
pioneer farm James M. Deweese made his home until late in life, when he
retired and moved to Humboldt, where he spent his last days in comfort-
able retirement, his death occurring there in 1896. This branch of the
Deweese family is one of the oldest families in America and is descended
from a Deweese of Huguenot stock who came to this side from Holland
in 1689, locating in New York and going thence, in 1690, over into Penn-
sylvania, where he established his home. He had three sons, two of whom
remained in Penns\lvania, the other settling in \'irginia. I'rom this Yir-
ginia branch tiie Dcweeses in this county are descended, members of that
taniilv having made their wav from \'irginia into Kentucky following the
Ivevolutionary jjeriod, and in Kentucky James 'SI. Deweese was born.

Joel W. Deweese was but an infant, about six months of age, when
his parents moved from Illinois to Iowa and he grew to manhood on a
farm in .Marion county, that state, receiving his early schooling in the
schools at Pella, the neighboring village, and was living there when the
Civil ^^'ar broke out. On August 15, 1862, he then being under nineteen
\ears of age, he enlisted for service as a member of Company G, Twenty-
lliinl l'!egiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was mustered in as a cor-
poral in that KJumiand on August 22 following. On December 19, 1862.
he was promoted to the rank of sergeant and continued to serve with thai
command until tiie close of the war, being mustered out at Harrisburg

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IOO5

Texas, July 26, 1865. During this period of military activity, Mr. Deweese
participated in the siege of Vicksburg and went thence down the Mississippi
to New Orleans, thence to Berwick, Louisiana, thence into Texas; then on
with the Red River expedition, later taking part in the battle of Spanish
Fort and in the capture of Mobile, besides taking part in numerous other
engagements and skirmishes.

Upon the completion of his military service, Joel W. Deweese returned
liome and after finishing his work in the Iowa College, entered the Law
College at Iowa City and was in due time graduated from the same. After
his marriage in 1869 to Rebecca Ryan, a sister of Judge Robert Ryan, of
Iowa, also a veteran of the Civil War, he established his home at Prairie
City, Iowa, where he was engaged in the practice of his profession until
1879, when he came to this state and located at Lincoln, engaging in prac-
tice in that city as a member of the law firm of Marquette, Deweese & Hall,
attiirneys for the Chicago, Burlington & Ouincy Railroad Company, and
upon the death of Mr. Marquette became head of the firm. Mr. Hall pres-
entlv withdrew to engage in private practice and Mr. Deweese then asso-
ciated with himself in practice Frank Elmer Bishop. In the meantime
Fred Deweese, Mr. Deweese's younger son, had been completing his law-
studies and upon being admitted to practice became associated with his
father in the Lincoln office. During Joel W. Deweese's residence in Iowa
lie had served one term as a member of the Iowa state Legislature and
upon coming to this state also took an interested part in political affairs,
thmigli ne\-er again a seeker after public office. He occupied a high place
at the l)ar of this state and spent his last days in practice at Lincoln, his
death occurring there on September 2, 1907. His widow, who was born
in the state of New York on December 16, 1846, survived him less than
two years, her death occurring on March 19, 1909. They were the parents
of four children, the subject of this sketch having two brothers, Wilford
Deweese, of Stamford, this state, and Fred Deweese, a well-known land-
owner of Grant precinct, this county, and a sister, Mrs. Julia Lundin, of
Seattle, Washington.

During the time he was engaged in the practice of law in association
with his father at Lincoln, Fred Deweese suffered a mild physical break-
down and believing the free, open-air life of the farm would prove beneficial
to his health came down into Richardson county, where his grandfather had
lived in pioneer 'days, and he and his brother and their sister Lena bought
;i tract of land in the Dawson neighborhood, in the precinct of Grant. In

1006 RICriAKD.SON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

i()To, the \ear after the death of her mother, Miss Lena Deweese dosed
her home in L.incohi and joined her brothers in this county. She straight-
way fell in love with the life of the farm and decided to remain here per-
nianentl) and to that end made her arrangements accordingly. She is the
owner of a fine farm of eighty acres in the precinct of Grant and has done
much to beautify and improve the place. Xot long ago she caused to be
erected there a new seven-room house of modern construction and is ver\-
pleasantly and comfortably situated. Miss Deweese completed her school-
ing in Illinois ("ollege at Jacksonville, Illinois, and at the Nebraska State
Universit} and has traveled extensively. During her college days she was
an active member of the Delta Gamma. Sorority and continues to retain an
earnest interest in the affairs of that organization of college women. She
is a member oi the Christian church and a member of the local Kensington
Club, and takes a warm interest in church and club work and in the general
religicnis. social and cultural activities of the community in which she lives,
helpful in manv ways in promoting such agencies as are designed to advance
the coninidu welfare thereabout.

NAPOLEON DeMERS.

The business of fruit growing is both a profitable and pleasant one to
those who like the outdoors and are willing to he vigilant and persevering.
Une of the best-known horticulturists of Richardson county is Napoleon
De.Mers of near b'alls City. He was born in Quebec, Canada, October 28.
iSCjO. and is a son of Frank and Edwidge ( I.avigne) DeMers. The father
was a native of Canada, where he grew up and was married, removing to
I'all Ri\er, Massachusetts, about 1872. He was a baker by trade and there
conducted a large bakery, keeping five or six delivery . wagons. He re-
turned to Canada about 1878 for the purpose of schooling his children. Ik-
later came to Jefferson county. South Dakota, where his death occurred
about 1903, at the advanced age of eighty-four years. His wife also was
a native of Canada; her death occurring in Minneapolis, Minnesota, about
1908, at the age of sixty-six. Twelve chiklren were born to Frank Dealers,
and wife, nine of whom grew to maturity, and five of ihem are living at
this writing, namely: I'hilip, a homesteader in Montana; ^disael. who lives
in Canada: Raphael, in North Dakota; Airs. X'irginia Garon, in Big Lake,
Minnesota, and Napoleon, of this sketch.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IOO7

X.-ipuleoii DfMers received his education in the parochial schools and
tlie Br()therhot)d C^dlege. with his brother, Raphael. He learned the bar-
l.er's trade at St. Hyacinthe. Canada, where he worked two years, then
went 1(1 Richmond, Canada, where he assisted his father in his bakery for
tliree years. His parents then moved to Sioux City, Iowa, where he worked
at the barber trade awhile, later owned a shop at Elk Point, South Dakota,
but returned to Sioux City, Iowa, in 1876, where he remained until 1880,
when he sold his shop there and came to Falls City, Nebraska, and started
a barl)er shop, which he conducted with his usual success until 1908, wlien
he turned his attention exclusively to his farm, to which he had moved in
1904, but had continued operating his shop. He owns thirty-three acres in
balls Cit\ precinct, eight acres being in orchard and the balance in alfalfa
and general farm crops. He also keeps a "large number of hives of liees.
He set lint all his trees and has a fine assortment, his excellent apples finding
a \ ery read}- market owing to their superior quality. He also deals in
liiiultry. specializing in the Rhode Island Red single-comb chickens and he
lias Iniiit u]) (|uite a demand for them. He has made many important ini-
])i(i\enienls on his place, costing in all about five thousand dollars. Noth-
ing but cornstalks could be seen on the land when he purchased it in 1900.
He lias a comfortable modern home and numerous convenient outbuildings.
He has l)een a diligent student of government bulletins and of the best books
ijv experts on orcharding, poultry raising and bee culture and has therefore
become well informed in all these lines, making a pronounced success of
each.

Air. IJeAIers was married on April 28, 1886, to Emma Downs, who
wa.^ born bniuar\- 17, i860, at Glenwood, Iowa. She is a daughter of Ben-
jamin S. and Catherine ( Goben) Downs, natives of Virginia, where they
spent their earlier years. After living in Iowa for some time they came
to Richardson county, Nebraska, in the early days and here became very
comfortably established through their industry. Benjamin S. Downs was
born in 1818, was reared on a farm in Virginia, w-ent, when a young man.
U) Ohio, where he was married, at the town of Alt. \^ernon. He subse-
<|uentl\- brought his family to Alills county, Iowa, where he engaged in the
milling business. In 1871 he moved to Falls City, Nebraska, and leased
the Falls mills, which are no longer in operation. He continued in the flour-
milling l)usiness until his death, which occurred in 1877. His wife was
born in the Old Dominion in 1829 and her death occurred in 1913.

Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Napoleon Deilers, named
as follows: (irace, who was graduated from the State Normal at Pern.

1008 RICHARDSON COUNTY, N' KBRASKA.

Xcliraska, after vvhicli she taught school for some time in Humboldt, Rich-
rirdson county, and later in Fresno, California; she is now the wife of H. C.
lames and they live in ]\Iodesto, California; Edith, the second child, was
tjraduated from Falls City high school and the Peru State Normal, later
leaching school for some time in Falls City and Richardson county, but is
now living at home; Mary, third child in order of birth, was graduated from
tlie' Falls City high scliool after which she followed teaching until her mar-
riage to Guv Stump, a farmer of near Falls City. Ruth, youngest of the
lamilv. also recei\eil a good education and is now engaged in teaching in
district school No. Si.

Politically, Mr. Del\(ers is a Republican. He has long taken an active
interest in public affairs, and while living in h'alls City was a member of the
city council. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fel-
lows and the Royal Highlanders, being a charter member of the last named
li^dge in !*'alls City. He holds mtmliershi]) in the Catholic church, in the
faith of which he was reared.

B.\RXEY MULFEN.

Barney Mullen, one of the best-known and most substantial farmers of
the northern part of Richardson county, an honored veteran of the Civil
War and one of the real pioneers of this county, is a native of the old
Buckeye state, born in the vicinity of Urbana, in Champaign county, Ohio,
December 22, 1836, a son of John and Sarah F. Mullen, natives of Penn-
sylvania, and the parents of three children, of whom the subject of this
sketch was the last-born, and the only present survivor, the others ha\ing
been James, who died in California, and Mrs. Maggie Higgins, also de-
ceased.

Bereft of his parents 1)y death in his early childhood, Barney ]\lullen
was taken in charge b\- a neighbor, Mr. Jones, and at the early age of ten
\cars practically began to take care of himself, working on a farm. He
received a common-school education in Ohio and in 1856, when about tweiity
\ears of age. went to Illinois, where-he liegan working on a farm for a
farmer of the name of Beggs. in the immediate vicinity of Ashland, in Cass
countv, that state. In i860, while working there, ]\Ir. Mullen purchased
from Billy Goodpasture, who had been out here in the then Territory of
Nel)raska, the pre-emption right to a quarter of a section of land in Porter

\RNEY MULLEN.

RICHARDSON COl'NTY, NEBRASKA. IOO9

precinct, this county, and he came out here and entered upon possession of
the same. A log cabin had been erected on the place, the farm being about
six miles west of the present village of Stella, and he established his quarters
there and started in to break the land and improve his place, farming with a
team of oxen. When the Civil War broke out Mr. Mullen returned to Illi-
nois and at Virginia, in Cass county, that state, enlisted on September 3,
1861, as a private in Company C, Sixth Illinois Cavalry, and with that com-
mand served until some time after the close of the war. receiving his dis-
charge at Nashville, Tennessee, December 16, 1865. During this period of
service Mr. Mullen was a participant in some of the most strenuous engage-
ments of the war, including the battle of Nashville, the siege of Ft. Hudson,
at the mouth of the Red river, and was a participant in the expedition from
LaGrange, Tennessee, to Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and in numerous other
engagements and skirmishes, the Sixth Illinois Cavalry ever giving a good
account of itself.

Upon the completion of his military service Barney Mullen returned
to his farm in this county and resumed here the pursuits of peace, presently
getting his place under cultivation and in such a state of general improve-
ment that he considered it fitting to ask some one to share the place with
iiim and in December. 1868. he was married and established his permanent
home. It was not long until Mr. Mullen found himself prospering and as
he prospered lie added to his holdings until now he is the (jwner of ten
hundred and eighty acres of excellent land including a half section over in
the neighboring counl\- of Pawnee, l-'rom the very beginning of his opera-
tions here Mr. Mullen gave considerable attention to the raising of cattle and
hogs and has for many years done a large business in live stock. As a
contrast between conditions in the early days of his stock raising and those
that obtain today, he recalls that in his early days out here on the plains he
sold corn for ten cents a bushel and hogs for three dollars a hundred at
the tiien nearest market, Brownvillc. and thought he was getting a fair price
for his products. On April it. iqi". he sold a carload of hogs on the St.
|<iseph market for sixteen dollars and ten cents a hundred. I\lr. Mullen is
a Ivepublican and has ser\ed his communit\- in a public capacity as a school
director and in other minor local offices. He is a Mason of more than forty
years standing, having been a charter member of the local lodge of the
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Humboldt, and is a charter member
of the Nebraska ]Masonic \"eterans' Association at Omaha. He helped to
organize the old Farmers and Merchants Bank of Humboldt and was a
(64)

lOIO KICirAKDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

iiienii)er of the board of directors of the same until it ceased to do business.
On December 8, 1868, Barney Mullen was united in marriage to Susan
M. Hays, who was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, September
_', 1847,. and who was but ten years of age when her parents, George L.
and Julia (Ambrose) Hays, also natives of Pennsylvania, came to the then
Territory of Nebraska from Taylor county, Iowa, and settled on a pioneer
farm one mile south of the present village of Stella, among the ver}- earliest
settlers ni the northern part of Richardson county, where they spent the
remainder of their li\t.s, earnest pioneers and useful and influential resi-
dents of that section. To .Mr. and Mrs. [Mullen three children have been
born, James L., w Iio is now engaged in the lumlier business at Shreveport,
Louisiana: bVank. deceased, and Benjamin G., who is looking after the
management of the old home place.

AUSTIN GRANT SHUEERT.

Austin Grant Shubert. a well-known dealer in real estate, insurance and
farm loans and the owner of a fine stock farm northeast of that city, is a
native son of Nebraska and has lived in this state all his life. He was born
on a pioneer farm just over the line in Nemaha county, in the immediate
vicinity of the present village of Shul)ert, .\pril 12. 1879, ^"d last-born of
the seven living children of Henry W. and Mary E. (Griffin) Shubert,
pioneers of that section and further and fitting mention of whom is made in
a memorial sketch relating to the late Henry \\'. Shubert, presented else-
where in this volume, wlierein is set out at some length something of the
genealogy of the Shuberts and of the history of that prominent pioneer family
in this part of Nebraska. IJenry \\'. Shuliert, a Kentuckian, came to Neb-
raska from Illinois in 1865 and settled in the neighborhood of what is now
the thrixing- village of Shubert, that village having been established on his
land when the railroad was built through that section. Fle jjecame an exten-
sive landowner in that section and as a meml)er of the Lincoln Land Com-
pany took a ])roniinent part in the early development of this part of the slate.

Reared at Shubert, Austin C^i. Shul:iert grew to manhood well trained in
the ditilcult \ocation of farming, fruit growing and stock raising and to the
latter jjhase of farming gave his close attention from the days of his vouth.
.\ustin Grant Shubert was ileprived of a complete education on account Lit
poor eyesight when a I)oy, \t the age of fifteen years he accompanied his

RICHARnSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. lOIl

father on several extensive tours of the United States, the experience of
which he treasures to this dixy. Among these is six months spent in the
Southern states, mostly in southern Arkansas; also one year spent in Cali-
fornia. These travels were made at the age when he, to use his own
expression, was full of "pep". He had a great many experiences which at
that time were amusing, but in later years found to be useful in his deahngs
with the world ;it large. A practical knowledge taught by experience gained
b\- working at odd jobs in all classes of employment and business, has been
of great assistance to him in his negotiations with different classes. He
returned- with his father to Xeniaha, Nebraska, about 1895 '^^^ being the
eldest of two boys, he was then the main assistance to his father in develop-
ing the fruit business. He was the operator of the first spraying done and
the first barreling and packing of apples in Nebraska, under the supervision
of his father.

In the i)lanting of the extensive orchards by H. W. Shubert, Austin G.
Shubert took a very "active part from the beginning. At that time he was
too }-oung to do much manual labor, but was just large enough to drive a
team and haul the trees from the nursery. These trips were made daih
during the planting season, to what was regarded at that time as a prominent
nursery located eight miles away. This sketch is given to show that Austin
(t. Shuliert is certainly a pioneer fruit man of Nebraska.

I-ater, Mr. Shubert gradually developed a fine stock farm, making a
specialty of registered Shorthorn cattle and Duroc- Jersey hogs. He has a
well-improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres, five miles northeast of
Falls City and though now giving the greater part of his attention to the
extensive business he has developed in the city, continues to give his personal
attention to his live-stock interests and still keeps fifteen or twenty of the
finest Ijrodd sows in the state of Xebraska. A recent newspaper story relat-
ing t<i ]Mr. Siiubert, and which is riclily indicative of his business activity and
hustling methods, fits in Aery aptly in this connection, as follows: "j\fr.
Shubert rises early and goes t<i his farm and back before Falls City is ready
for business. For instance, a few days ago, it is learned that this man went
out to his farm and got back and made a trade with a man from out of town
before the laisiness places were ready to do business. His quick decision and
short interviews win men of decision and business acumen. He is a minute
man. lie can tell you immediately what is what. There is nothing in him
of the long-drawn-out drone of the scheming, tricky 'trader. He is open
and aboveboard with any liusiness proposition that would be approved by any
good business man in the county. He has worked up-stream and this has

DSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

developed strength and energy. He seems not to be one of the cheap kind
(if men that occasionally brag about their business success. Although he has
a record of selling more farms than any other Falls City real-estate agent,
he never advertises it. Some men are always anxious to let the newspapers
known their Inisiness of selling a farm ; this man never." It was on December
I, 191 5, that Mr. Shul^ert bought out a somewhat run-down real-estate busi-
ness at Falls City and he has had phenomenal success in that line, in con-
nection with which he also does an extensive business in insurance and farm
loans, and is regarded as one of the real "live wires" in local business circles.
On December 15, 1901, Austin G. Shubert was united in marriage to
( ;race P. Couer, who also was born in Nemaha county, daughter of Lucian
Couer and wife, pioneers of that county, and to this union two children have
l)een born, Inna May and Moras Lvndle. Mr. and Mrs. Shubert are mem-
ijer's of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran cluu-cli and take an earnest interest in
cliurch work and in the general good works of the community. !\Ir. Shubert
is a Republican and for eleven years during his residence on the farm was
committeeman for the precinct of East Muddy. He is a member of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and both he and his wife are members
iif the Daughters of Rebekah, and he also is affiliated with the local lodges
(if the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Woodmen of the World
and the Knights and Ladies of Security, in the affairs of all of which organ-
izations he takes a warm interest.

FRANK A. HEBENSTREIT.

1-rank A. Heljenstreit, of the law lirm of Phillips & Hebenstreit at
lalls City and one of the best-known and most energetic young lawyers in
Richardson county, is a native of Wisconsin, Ijut has been a resident of
Nebraska ever since he tlnished his college work and entered upon the
practice of his profession, having been located at Omaha for some time
])revious to taking up his residence in Falls Cit\. He was born at Shulls-
liurg, V.'isconsin, April 12, 1891, son of Andrew and Catherine (McCarten)
Hebenstreit, the former of whom was born at that same place and the latter
at Kendall, Wisconsin, and who are still making their home at Shulk-^burg.

Andrew Hebenstreit was born in 1863, a son of Vitus Hebenstreit and
wife, who came to this country from Prussia in 1862 and settled in Shulls-
liurg, Wisconsin, where \'itus Hebenstreit l^ecame employed in the lead

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IOI3

mines, later becoming engaged in the barber business, and where he and
his wife reared their family and spent the rest of their lives. Andrew
Hebenstreit grew to manhood there and for a time followed his father's
vocation as a barber, but later became engaged in the banking business and
was actively connected with the Farmers and Merchants Bank of ShuUs-
l)urg until his retirement from active business, though he still continues a
meml)er of the board of directors of that bank. He married Catherine
McCarten, who was born at Kendall, Wisconsin, in 1869, and who also is
still living, and to that union were born three children, the subject of this
sketch ha\-ing two brothers, an elder, Anton Hebenstreit, a civil engineer,
now residing at Toledo, Iowa, and a younger brother, Austin, now a med-
ical student at Creighton Uni\-ersity.

Upon completing the course in the public schools of his native town,
Shullsburg, Frank .\. Hebenstreit, in 1910, entered tlie Universit}' of Wis-
consin and after a two-years' course there entered the law department of
Creigiiton University in 1912 and was graduated from that institution in
1915, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. In that same year he opened
an office for the practice of his profession at Omaha and was there thus
engaged for eight months, or until January i, 19 16, when he formed his
present partnership with Clifford F. Phillips and has since been engaged in
practice at Falls City, under the firm style of Phillips & Hebenstreit, which
tirm has an excellent and rapidly growing practice, both young men having
created a distinctl\- favorable impression upon the community during the
comparatively short time they have resided here. Mr. Hebenstreit is a
Democrat and since taking up his residence in FaHs City has given his
thoughtful attention to local civic affairs. During the campaign of 1916
lie served as the chairman of the Falls City Wilson Club and in that con-
nection did some excellent work in behalf of his party. He and his wife
are earnest members of the Catholic church and take an interested part in
parish affairs, as well as in the general social and cultural activities of
their home town. Air. Hebenstreit is affiliated with the local council of
the Knights of Columlaus, with the local lodge of the Benevolent and Pro-
tective Order of l^'lks, with the Knights and Ladies of Security and college-
fraternity. Delta Theta Phi, and in the affairs of all these organizations
takes a warm interest.

On February i, 191 7, at Omaha, Frank A. Hebenstreit was united in
marriage to Irene Helen O'Neill, daughter of John and Margaret O'Neill,
of that city. Concerning that happy nuptial event the Omaha Bee had the
following to say: "The marriage of Aliss Irene O'Neill, daughter of A'Ir.

IOI4 KICIIARDSON COl'NTV, XKISRASKA.

aii.l Mrs. John O'W-ill. t.> Mr. F. A. Hchenstreit, of Falls City, Nebraska,
son of ;\Ir. and Ah>. \nilre\v Hebenstreit, of Shullsburg, Wisconsin, was
solemnized on Tbursday morning at seven o'clock at Sacred Heart church,
the Rev. Father Judge officiating. Miss JNIargaret O'Neill, sister of the
bride, was maid of honor, and the groom's brother, Mr. Austin Heljenstreit,
of Shullsburg, Wisconsin, acted as best man. The out-of-town guests were
as follows : Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Hebenstreit and Mr. Austin Heben-
streit, of Shullsburg, Wisconsin; _Mr. and Mrs. Gerald Dalton and daugh-
ters, Margaret and Mary, of Washington, Nebraska, and Mr. T. A. Fahey,
of Fremont, Nebraska. The couple left for a honeymoon trip and will be
at home after March i at Falls City, Nebraska."

JAMES R. WILHITE.

Judge James R. Wilhite, an honored veteran of the Civil War, former
judge of the court of Richardson county, former police judge and former
city attorney of F'alls City and a practicing attorney in that city since his
admission to the bar in 1877. is a native of Illinois, but has been a resident
of Nebraska since 1865, having settled here almost immediately upon the
completion of his militar\- service at the close of the war. He, was born on a
farm in Morgan count}-, Illinois, March 21, 1845, son of George Washington
and Nancy (Wilhite) Wilhite, natives of Kentucky, the former of whom
was a son of Humphre\- A\'ilhite, a native X'irginian and of Bavarian descent.
George W. aud Nancy Wilhite were the parents of six sons and two daugh-
ters, the subject of this sketch having hail a brother, William T. Wilhite,
who came to Nebraska in i860 and later went to the Pacific coast, where he
spent his last days, his death occurring at Los Angeles, California, on January
29, 1914. It was in October, 1831, that Geoi'ge W. Wilhite moved from
Kentucky to Illinois. Pie settled on a farm in Morgan county, that state,
and there remained until 1886, when he and his wife moved to Wichita,
Kansas, where the latter died in September, 1888, in the seventieth year of
her age. George A\'. U'ilhite later made his home at Falls City, where his
last da\s were spent, his death occurring there on July 8, 1903, he then being
just past ninet} \ears of age, he having been born on Januarj^ 18, 1813.

Reared nn tlie home farm in Illinois, James R. Wilhite received his"
early schooling in the schools df that neighborhood and from the days of
his boyhood was a \alued aid to his father in the labors of developing and

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IOI5

impro\ino- the farm. Though liut sixteen years of age when the Civil ^^'ar
broke out, he enHsted. in April, 1861, for service in Company E, Fourteenth
Regiment, Illinois \'(ilunteer Infantry, and with that command served until
his discharge, .\])ril 23, 1864, on a physician's certificate of disability, two
serious wounds recei\ed in the battle of the Hatchie River having incapaci-
tated him from further ser\ice. During that period of service Judge Wil-
hite participated in simie of the most stirring engagements of the war, hav-
ing been present with iiis regiment at the battles at Ft. Donelson, at Shiloh
and at Corinth, besides numerous minor skirmishes and engagements. At
the notable battle of the Hatchie -River, Mississippi, in which more than
forty thousand men were engaged, he was wounded in the left arm and in the
thigh, injuries which left him practically incapacitated in a physical way for
two \ears thereafter. Nine months after receiving these wounds he received
his final discharge and returned home to recuperate.

Upon regaining something of his normal strength, James R. Wilhite
came out to the then Territory of Nebraska, landing at Brownville on August
27, 1865, and at Nebraska City, in the neighboring county of Otoe, obtained
a job as a "bullwhacker" on the Denver trail and was thus engaged until the
fullowing January, during which time he became familiar with the life of
the plains and had many interesting experiences. Determining to make his
permanent home in Nebraska he then settled in this county, purchasing a
tract of land in the precinct of Porter, where he began farming and where he
remained until in .Ma\-, 1S73, when he left the farm and located in Falls City,
where he ever since has made his home, a period of more than forty-four
\ears. During the time spent on the farm Judge Wilhite had not been
neglecting the studies that had been broken off when he entered the army as
a 1jo\- and he presently turiied his attention seriously to the study of the law.
Upon locating at Falls City he continued his law studies in a more systematic
fashion and in 1877 was admitted to the bar, and opened an office there for
the practice of his profession. In that same year he was elected justice of
the peace in and for Falls City precinct and served in that important magis-
terial capacity for two years, serving also as police judge during that same
period. In November, 1879, he was elected judge of the county court and
served for fnur )ears in tliat ca]iacit\', afterward serving two other terms
of four years each in that same capacity, these latter periods of service cover-
ing the years 1892-96 and 1902-06. In 1910 Judge Wilhite was appointed
city attorney of Falls City and in that capacity served for one year. The
Judge is an ardent Republican and for years has been regarded as one of the
leaders of that party in this county.

lOlO RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

In October. i8y8, Judge James R. Wilhite was united in marriage tn
Mrs. .Sarah K. (Crook) Schoenheit, who was born in Tennessee on Mardi
_', 1849, ''"<^1 ^\li*J ^\'^s '^"t six years of age when she came to Nebraska with
her parents, Jesse Crook and wife, and settled in Richardson county, the
L'rooks. who arrived here on April 17, 1855, being the third family to settle
in this county. Jesse Crook entered a tract of land at a point one and one-
lialf miles north of what later came to be the county seat of Richardson
county and there established his home, becoming one of the suljstantial
pioneer farmers of this count)-. Sarah E. Crook grew to womanhood on
that pioneer farm and married Augustus Schoenheit, a former prominent
attorney at b'alls Cit\ , who .died, leaving his widow and three sons, now
deceased, and a tlaughter, Mrs. Sallie McKee, the latter of whom is now liv-
ing in Colorado. Judge and Mrs. Wilhite have a jjleasant home at Falls City
and have ever taken an interested part in the general social and cultural acti\-
ities of their home town. Judge Wilhite is a member of the Christian church
and Mrs. Wilhite is an Episcopalian. The Judge is a charter member of
the local post of the grand Army of the Republic and has for years taken an
earnest interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization.

WILLIAM I'RAXKLIN BUTLER.

William I'ranklin Cutler, a well-known merchant at Barada and a sub-
stan.tial landowner in the precinct of that name, is a native of Illinois, but
has l>een a resident of this comity since he was twenty years of age, having
come here with his parents in 1871). He was born in a village in Vermillion
count}-, Illinois. Decemljcr 8. iS^r,, son of Epliraim P. and Minerxa J.
(McCarthy) Butler, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Illi-
nois, who became pioneers of Richardson county and here spent their last
days.

l'4)hraim 1'. Butler was born on September 2, 183 1, and was but three
years of age when his parents, Asa and Catherine (Porter) Butler, moved
from Kentuck\ in 1834 and settled in Illinois, where they spent the remainder
of their lixes As;i Butler \vas born in \'irginia in 1806 and his wife also
was born in the Old Dominion, in that section of the state now comprised
in West \ irginia. in 1805. L^jon moving to Illinois Asa Butler pre-empted
a tract of lantl in F.dgar conntv, but later moved to \'ermillion countv. In

^Xn MRS. WILLIAM F. BUTLEU.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. Id 7

addition to being a practical farmer he was a skilled blacksmith and operated
a pioneer blacksmith shop and also made wagons. He died in November,
J 876, and his widow survived him more than twenty years, her death oc-
curring in 1S98. The}- were the parents of nine children, of whom Ephraini
1'. was the first-born, the others being as follow: William F., deceased;
.Mrs. Ellen .Vdams, a widow, of Georgetown, Illinois; Elizal>eth, deceased;
Walker T., of Sidell, Illinois; Samuel F., of Georgetown, Illinois; Catherine,
deceased; Rosa, deceased, and one who died in infancy. Ephraim P. Butler
was early trained by his father to the trade of wagon-maker and followed
th;it trade all his life, working at it long after he came to this county. On
June 22, 1858, in Carthage. Missouri, he married JMinerva J. McCarthy, who
was burn in Edgar county, Ilhnois, April 2.4, 1837, a daughter of EHjah
-McCarly, who moved to Missouri in 1857 and died in that state in "the fol-
lowing year, .\fter liis marriage Ephraim P. Butler continued to make his
home in Illinois until 1879, \vhen he came with his family to Nebraska and
settled, at l'~alls Cit\ , moving thence a year later to Barada, where he estab-
Hslied himself as a wagon-maker. Though starting in a small way he
prtsentl)' began doing a good business and as he prospered invested in land
and became the owner of a fine farm of three hundred and sixty acres in
ihe jjreciiict of Barada. He died on May J3, 1904, and his widow sur-
vived for a little less than three years, her death occurring in March, 1907.
riiey were memljers of the Baptist church and their children were reared
in that faith. There were four of these children, of whom the subject of
this sketch was the first-born, the others being Elmer E., of Heljron, Ne-
braska; .\ddah. wife of Charles Martin, a landowner in section 10 of the
[)recinct of Barada, and Clellie, wife of M. AI. Hendricks, als<j a landowner
in Barada precinct.

As noted above, \\ iliiam V. Butler was about twent\- \ears of age when
he came to this county with his parents in 1879 and he worked on his father's
farm until after his marriage in 1883, when he rented a farm and began
farming on his own account. In 1898 he bought a farm in section 19 of
Barada precinct and set about improving and developing the same, onlv
ai)out fort)- acres of tiie place having been improved when he took posses-
sion. Among these improvements made by Mr. Butler was the setting out
of an orchard of ten acres. In 1908 Mr. Butler retired from the farm and
moved to Barada, where he bought the Lloyd Mitchell store and has since
been engaged in Imsiness at that place. In 1910 he built his present suli-

lOlS KlCflAKDSON COVNT^', XEBKASKA.

stanlial store Imildin.t;" and is doing an extensive business, his store being
well stocked and conducted along up-to-date lines. Mr. Butler still owns
his farm of two hundred and fifty acres in the neighborhood of Barada and
is recognized as one of the substantial citizens of that part of the countv.
He is a Republican and gives his earnest attention to local political affairs.

On March 15, T883, ^^'ilIiam F. Butler was united in marriage to Ella
Underwood, who also was born in \'ennillion county, Illinois, December 16,
TS63, daughter of Harrison S. and Klizalieth (Gebhard) Underwood, the
former of whom \\as l)orn in X'irginia, a son of John and Drusilla Under-
wood, of \''irginia. wlici was one of the organizers of Vermillion county,
Illinois. Achilles Morgan, her great-grandfather, settled in Vermillion
county in 1822, and the latter in Illinois, and to this union six children have
l)een born, namely: .\sa J-"... who was graduated from die Nebraska State
Normal School at Peru and is now teaching at Hmitley, this state, mar-
ried T'earl ]\Iorgan at .Minden, September 18, 1007. She died at Huntley.
Nebraska, April 2t,. 1017, leaving five children. Norvall, Joy, .\sa E.. Ivan
M.. and Nellie Irene : Kittie, who married Guy Sailors, a clerk in the store
at Barada, and has two children, Howard and Lois; Lela, wife of Doctor
Dloomenkamp, of Barada, and has one child, William Lawrence; Harley D.,
married August 11, 1915, to Helen Bolejack, who is farming, and Nellie and
Emma, at home. Mr. ;md Mrs. Butler are memljers of the United Evangelical
church and have ever taken a proper interest in church work and other neigh-
borhood good works. Mr. Butler is a member of the local lodges of the
.\ncient Order of United V.drkmen and of the Woodmen of the World and
takes a warm interest in the affairs of these organizations.

The Underwood family had its beginning in America with the coming
ti) this country from England of William Underwood, who became a col-
imist in 1637. His .son, William Underwood, settled in Virginia in 1680,
and it is from that line that Harrison S. Underwood was descended. Har-
rison S. Underwood, son of John and Drusilla Underwood, was born on
.August 25, 1832, and died on January 22, 1870. His wife, Elizabeth, was
horn on August 25, 1837, and died on July 3, 1898. They were the parents
(1I three children, Mrs. Butler having a sister, Mrs. Emily A. Williams, who
was li(irn on FelM-uarv 15, 1858, and who is now living at Bloomington,
Illinois, and a brother, Lincoln A. Underwood, born on May 6, i860, who
is now living at San Francisco, California. I\Irs. Butler also is descended.
on the maternal side, from the old colonial \'irginia family of Morgans.

RICHARDSOX COUNTY, XEDRASKA. IOI9

ERNEST S. FERGUS.

A careful and enterprising farmer of I'orter precinct, Richardson county,
is Ernest S. Fergus, who was; born in that vicinity, on a farm three and
nne-half miles southeast of his present home, July 11,-1872. He is a s6n
of James Corwin and Frances (Forgey) Fergus. The father was born in
1846 and died on February 13, 1905; the mother was Ixjrn in 1841 and died
on March 9, 1906. These parents grew to maturity in Ohio, where they
were married. Shannon Fergus, the paternal grandfather, was an early
settler in the old Buckeye state. James C. Fergus first came to Nebraska in
1869 ^"'1 selected a farm in section 29, Porter precinct. Richardson county,
then returned to Ohio and married there in 1871. Returning with his family
to Richardson county he applied himself closely to the management of his
farm and prospered, in fact, he accumulated a fortune as the result of his
rare ability in a business wa\-. He became the owner of one thousand two
hundred and forty acres of good land, all in Richardson county, with the
exception of three hundred and twenty acres in Pawnee county. He had
the foresight to see a great future for the state of Nebraska and he in-
vested all he had in land, which was cheap in those days. He farmed on
an extensive scale- and handled live stock in large herds. He was one of the
leading citizens of the county in his day. Politically, he was a Republican,
and he belonged to the Presbyterian church. He served during the latter'
part of the Civil War, having enlisted in 1864 in Company B, One Hundred
and Forty-seventh Ohio \'olunteer Infantry, serving until the close of hos-
tilities in the Army of the Potomac. He fought in the battles around Rich-
mond, Virginia.

Ernest S. Fergus was reared on his father's farm, where he was an
apt pupil under his able father in general agricultural affairs. He attended
the public schools of his community and the Humboldt high school, after
which he took up active farming-, remaining with his parents until he was
twenty-four years of age; he then began life for himself. Most of his
present farm was inherited from the estate; however, he has added one
hundred and sixty acres, in section 24, Franklin precinct. The one hundred
and sixty acres, his part of the homestead, lies in section 18. He moved to
his present home in 1896. He has a commodious and attractive residence
of ten rooms; he also has a large barn- and many other convenient out-
buildings. He carries on general farming and stock raising and is very
successful.

Mr. Fergus was married on March 10, 1897, to Jennie May Butter-

1020 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

lield. who was born in York couiily, Xeljraska. She is a daughter of George
and Carrie Butterfiekl, a well-known old family in Humlx)ldt, where thev
still reside. The following children have been born to Ernest S. Fergus
and wife, namely: Thelma, born on January 5, 1900, is now attending
Humboldt high school, class of 1918; Mabel, April 22, 1902; Fern, July 18.
1913, and Ernest Harlan, January zt,. 19 16.

I'olitically, Mr. Fergus is a Republican but is not active in party affairs
and he now votes independently. Fraternally, he belongs to the Modern
A\^oodmen of America.

DANIEL H. WFBER.

Prof. Daniel H. Weber, .superintendent of schools for Richardson county,
is a nati\e of the neighboring Sunflower state, but has Ijeen a resident of Neb-
raska since the davs of his childhood. He was Ijorn on a farm in Afarshall
county, Kan.sas, Fel)ruary i-'. 1887, son of Daniel and Priscilla (Wolfgang)
Weber, natives, respectively, of Germany and of Pennsylvania, the latter of
Pennsylvania-German stock, born in i860, who are now living in Gage
county, this state.

Daniel Weber, Sr., was liorn in 1854 and was fourteen years of age
when he came to this country with his parents in 1868, the family tirst locat-
ing in Illinois, where they lived for two or three years and then, in the early
seventies, moved to Kansas and settled in Marshall county, where they
remained until 1889. when they came to this state and located in Gage county,
where Daniel Weber, Sr., is now engaged in railroad work.

Daniel H. Weber \\as but two years of age when his parents moved
from Kansas t)ver the line into Xel)raska and he grew to manhood in Gage
county. From his earliest youth he was a diligent student and at the age of
eighteen, in 1905. began teaching school at Barnston, in his home county, and
was thus engaged at that place for three years, later teaching for two years
in the vicinity of Beatrice, in the meantime continuing his studies in Wesleyan
University at University Place, Lincoln, and at the Peru Normal School and
was graduated from the latter institution in 1910. Before receiving his
diploma he bad been called to the superintendency of the schools at Shubert,
this county, and \\as there engaged in that capacity for five years, or until
his election, in 1914, to the office of superintendent of schools of Richardson
county. During his Hrst term of office in that incumbencv Profes.sor \\'eber

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 102I

ifave s^-) main- evidences of his fitness for the position that he was re-elected
and is now serving his second term, continuing to give his most earnest and
whole-hearted attention to the interests of the schools of the county. In his
political affiliation Professor Weber is a Democrat and has ever given his
thoughtful attention to civic affairs.

On December 25, 1912, Prof. Daniel H. Weber was united in marriage
to Lillian Hiatt, of Shubert, a former teacher in the schools of this county
and a daughter of J. A. Hiatt and wife, of Weeping Water. Professor and
Mrs. Weber are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Fraternally,
he is affiliated with the local lodges of the Masons, the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America and the Woodmen of the
World and in the affairs of all of these several organizations takes a warm
interest.

JOSHUA BLOOM.

Joshua Bloom, well-known and substantial farmer of Muddy precinct,
this county, proprietor of a fine farm in section 22 of that precinct, a suc-
cessful cattle breeder and treasurer of the Richardson County Mutual In-
surance Company, is a native of the old Buckeye state, but has been a resi-
dent of Nebraska and of Richardson county since he was nineteen years
of age, h;iving come here in 1884. He was born on a farm in Mahoning
county, Ohio. May 17, 1865, son of Jacob and Clementine (Swartz) Bloom,
who later came to Nebraska and settled in this county and further and fitting
reference to whom is made elsewhere in this volume.

Reared on a farm in Ohio, Joshua Bloom early became a practical
fanner and a self-reliant workman. Upon coming to this county in 1884
he began working in the neighlx)rhood of Falls City and later rented a
tract of land north of \'erdon and began fanning on his own account. In
the fall of 1894 he married and in 1902 bought the first "eighty" of his
present farm in section 22 of the precinct of Muddy and proceeded to de-
\el()p and improve the same, building a house and barn, setting out trees
and Ijringing the place up to a high state of cultivation. Pie later bought
,'in additional "eighty" there and now he and his wife are the owners of a
line place of two hundred and forty acres. They remodeled their house
in i<)09 and are now very comfortably and very pleasantly situated. Mr.
Illooni has made a specialty of the breeding of Shorthorn cattle and is doing
very well. In addition to his farming operations he has al.'^o given attention

1022 KICilAKIlSOX COUXTV, NEBRASKA.

lo t!i€ general business affairs of the communitj' and for some time has
been serving as treasurer of the Richardson County Mutual Insurance Com-
pany, in the affairs of which he takes an active intere"*.

(In Sei)tember 6. 1894, Joshua Bloom was united in marriage to Lillie
-M. Weaver, who was born on a pioneer farm in the precinct of Muddy, this
count)-, daughter of Jesse and Emma R. ( Kroh ) Weaver, natives of Penn-
svlvania, who were married in Illinois and about 1874 came to Nebraska
and settled in Richardson county, where their last days were spent. I\Ir.
and Mrs. Bloom have two sons, Bernard and Myron, both of whom are at
Imnie. Tlie\ are memljers ni the Christian church and take a proper interest
in chnrcli work, as well as in the general good works and social activities
of the community in which they live. Mr. Bloom is a Democrat and is
now ser\ing as a memljer of the school board in district 16 and as overseer
of road district No. 4. He is a memljer of the local lodges of the Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Woodmen of the World, becom-
ing a charter member, and takes a warm interest in the affairs of the same.

LESTER C. WILSON.

The name of the kite Lester C Wilsun will long be remembered in
Richardson county, for all those wlio knew him say he was an industrious
and puWic-spirited citizen, who stood well among his neighbors and friends
during his long residence in I'ranklin precinct. He was born on December
4, 1861, in Marion county, Iowa. He was a smi ui Lilierty and Kitty (Wil-
son) \\'ilson, natives of Illinois, from which state tliey moved to Iowa, where
thev spent the rest of their lives.

Lester C. Wilson attended the public schools in Marion county, fowa,
and remained in iiis native state until in 1880, when he came to Nebra.ska,
and here he was married on h'ebruary 27, 1884, to lunma Shrader, who was
born on July c). 1865, in l\ush county, Indiana. She is a daughter oi Henri-
C. and .Martha M. (Overheiser) Shrader. Mr. Shrader was born on Janu-
ar\- 17, 1832, and died on January 14, 1907. His wife was born on April
17, 183-', and dieil on March 16, 1880. She was a daughter of George Over-
heiser, who was a son of John Casper antl .Mary (Near) Overheiser, who
were parents of twenty-one children. George Overheiser was a grandson
of Conrad and Mary ( Stor\ I Overheiser, and was born in O*sego county.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO23

New York, August 21, 1804, and he died in Indiana in i86j. In 1826 lie
married Elizabeth Storms, a daughter of Peter and Dorcas ( Ballard) Storms.
She was a granddaughter of Thomas and Acenath Ballard. She was Ijorn
on June 30, 1807, in New York state, and died in Indiana in i860. In 1838
he moved to Indiana, settling first in Fayette county; later moved to Han-
cock CduntN and finally to Blackford county, that state. His family consisted
of tiiirteen children, namely: Belinda, born on December 18, 1827; John P.,
NoveniI)er y, 1828; Mary, July 26, 1830; Elvira. March 25, 1832; Martha
M., April 17, 1833; Henry S., January 2, 1835; Alanson, June 2, 1836; Ann
H.. March 16, 1838; Charles, February 15, 1840; Willard B., November i.
1841; (]eorge il., January 21, 1843: Sarah E., Alarch 6, 1845; Keturah,
A])ril 20, 1847.

Henry C. Shrader went from Rush county, Indi;ina, to Rockport, Mis-
souri, arriving there on March i, 1868. He crossed the river into Richard-
son county and l)ought fort_\- acres north of Rulo, and three miles east of
Barada. and lived there seven years. In 1875 he moved two miles nearer
Barada onto the prairie; then moved to Barada. He experienced the hard-
ships of the three grasshopper years, from 1871 to 1873, inclusive, when his
family nearly starved to death. He moved to Stella, Nebraska, in 1882.
His family consisted of the following children : Ida, the wife of W. D.
I-'lmore and they live in Nemaha township; Belle lives in Chicago: Harvey
li\es at I^rcjken Arrow, Oklahoma; John also resides at Broken Arrow;
Willanl and Alice are both deceased, and Mrs. \\'ilson.

After their marriage Le.ster C. \\'ils()n and wife settled in FrankHn pre-
cinct, Uichardson county, in 1884, at FrankHn Center, living on a farm there
six years: then moved two miles east of that place, where they spent two
years. In i8g2 they bought one hundred and twenty acres, half a mile north
of the present Wilson homestead, and there Mr. Wilson made a number of
impro\ements, remodeling the d\\elling house, dying soon thereafter, on
December 28, 1899, at the age of thirty-seven years and twenty-four flays.
After his death Mrs. Wilson moved to the town of Humboldt, where she
spent three vears, sold (nit and bought a cheap tract of land in Butler count}-,
Kansas, but not liking that country as a place to live, .she returned to Kich-
ardsoii county in 1906 and bought her present farm of eighty acres in Frank-
lin precinct, which place she has managed successfully. She has an attractive
home and good outbuildings, and everything about the place shows thrift
and good taste. She has a rich bottom land farm, well improved and under
a high state of cultivation. Her only child. Opal P., is the wife of B. W.

I024 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Stt-rns, a farmer of l'"raiiklin precinct, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere
ill this vohime.

I'dlitically, Lester C. Wilson was a Democrat. He belonged to the
Ancient Order of United Workmen. He was a member of the Methodist
l'"piscnpai church, of whicli Mrs. Wilson is also a member.

LEOPOLD PORR.

There is a large element of foreign-born citizens in Richardson county,
most of whom came here in pioneer days, with little or no capital. Here
i.hey have found comfortable homes and have developed one of the fine
agricultural sections of the West. Of this number the name of Leopold
I'orr, fanner and stockman, of Speiser precinct, should be mentioned. He
was born in the Rhine country of Bavaria, Germany, August 31, 1835. He
is a son of Leopold and Elizabeth (Hoffman) Porr, and is the eldest of a
family of four children, the names of the other three being, Katherine, who
died in St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1858; Charles, who died on December 16,
1 916, and Elizabeth, wife of Henry Lueck, of Jackson county, Kansas, and
her death occurred on November 25, 1907. The father of the above named
children was born in Germany in June, 181 1, and he was killed in a runaway
in 1879. He grew up in his native land, married there and on March 7, 1857,
he left his native land for America, and settled in Andrews county, Missouri,
but three months later came to Richardson county, pre-empting one hundred
and sixty acres, the present liome of the Porr family. The family made their
l^rst trip to this farm from Missouri on foot, selected their future home,
and moved their houseluild effects Iiere with an ox-team, which they also used
to break up the prairie sod. Tiiey started in the usual pioneer manner,
built a .small log cabin, twelve by fourteen feet, with a dirt floor, which the
family lived in for two years, then the father built a larger one, which still
stands. They worked hard and in due course of time had a good farm and
a comfortable home. Their nearest markets were St. Joseph, Missouri, and
P>ro\vnville, Nebraska, whither they hauled wheat, bacon and other products
I if the farm, which were usually exchanged for wearing apparel. They
received very low prices for their grain and meat and there was often no
market for butter at any jirice, so they sometimes gave it away or dumped it
into the Missouri river. On June t, 1857, Leopold Porr, Sr., took out his
fust naturalization pajiers and in 1862 received his second papers. He

LEOPOLD rORR.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I025

worked hard, lived frugally and endured the hardships of frontier life as
well as his neighbors. For some time he herded cattle on the plains. He
did his farm work with oxen, having no horses. The nearest grist-mill
was at Salem. He came near losing his life by drowning in the river, which
had become swollen by rains while he was at the mill at Salem, accompanied
by his brother.

Leopold Porr, Jr., subject of this sketch, grew to manhood in Germany
and was educated there; he was twenty-one years old when he came to
Richardson county. He was married on February 8, 1872, to Minnie Guyer,
who was born on May 31, 1853, "ear Davenport, Iowa. She is a daughter
of Jacob and Barbara (Zimmer) Guyer, natives of Germany, from which
country they came to Richardson county, this state, in 1856.

To Mr. and Mrs. Porr six children were born, namely: Otto L., who
lives near Sabetha, Kansas; Sophia, keeping house for her father; Henry,
deceased; Ernest F., who lives in Speiser precinct, Richardson county; Frank
R., operating the home place, and Alvin A., who lives on a farm in Speiser
precinct.

Mr. Porr, of this sketch, has devoted his life to general farming and
stock raising and he is owner of a well-improved and productive farm of
four hundred and forty acres, in sections 15 and 16, Speiser precinct. He
has always kept high-grade live stock, making a specialty of Hereford cattle.
He has managed well and worked hard and has met with success all along
the line. Politically, Mr. Porr is a Republican. He has been a member of the
German Reformed church since 1849.

In 1862 Mr. Porr took a load of wheat to Leavenworth, Kansas, for
the soldiers at the army post, making the trip with Ulrich Beutler, taking
forty bushels for which they received ninety cents per bushel. The snow
was so deep that they had to remain at Lancaster, Kansas, a few days
before they could resume their journey, waiting for the snow to melt. They
returned by the Kickapoo Indian reservation, and there they camped on
account of the cold. Upon their return trip home they had hard work keep-
ing from freezing to death. During the period of the Indian troubles in
the West, Mr. Porr assisted in organizing a company for the protection of
Richardson county. One morning he started out with Peter Stephen on
a scouting expedition and encountered a party of over five hundred hostile
red men, who gave chase. They finally surrounded him but did not harm
him.

Mr. Porr has a clock in his possession which the family brought from
(65)

I026 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

the old country, in the saiHng vessel that took fifty-six days to cross the
Atlantic. The clock was made for Grandfather Porr; it is ten feet high
and eighteen inches across. Although it is two hundred years old, it still
keeps good time, and has been in constant use ever since it was made, and
has had no attention by clock repairers.

DAVID KEAN.

David Kean, one of Richardson county's well-known and substantial
farmers and the proprietor of a fine farm of a quarter of a section in the
Dawson neighborhood in the precinct of Grant, is a New Englander by birth,
but has been a resident of this county ever since he was fourteen years of
age, with the exception of two years during the time of the grasshopper
plague back in the middle seventies, when the family was compelled to return
East to await the return of normal conditions. He was born in the state of
Connecticut on June 15, 1859, the eighth in order of birth of the ten children
born to his parents, Thomas and Bridget Kean. natives of Ireland, and the
former of whom died in Connecticut in 1869.

After the death of her husband the AMdow Kean maintained her home
in Connecticut until 1873, when she disposed of her interests there and with
six of her children, Thomas, James, Ellen, Elizabeth, Sarah and David, came
to Nebraska and settled in this county. She bought a quarter of a section of
raw prairie land in the precinct of Grant, this county, the place now occu-
pied by the subject of this sketch, and there enlisted her home; but the next
year, 1874, when the grasshoppers came and took everything in sight she
returned to Connecticut with her family and remained there until 1877, by
which time things out here were beginning to resume their normal aspect,
when she returned here and resumed her place on the farm, the cultivation
of which she successfully directed. Years afterward she went to California
to make her home with her daughters, who meanwhile had gone to that state,
and there she spent her last days, her death occurring in 1903, she then being
in the eighty-second year of her age. Before her death her son, David Kean.
bought from her the home place which meanwhile he had helped to develop
into one of the best farms in that neighborhood and on which, after his mar-
riage in 1883, he had established his home, and he ever since has resided
there, he and his family being very comfortably and very pleasantly situated.
The Kean place is situated just three miles northeast of the village of Daw-
son and Mr. Kean has created there one of the best farm plants in the east

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO27

central part of the count}-. Mr. Kean also owns fifty acres a half mile east
of Dawson. He is a Democrat and from the days of his boyhood has taken
an interested part in the political affairs of his home county and has filled
various precinct offices at one time and another.

On January 28, 1883, David Kean was united in marriage to Mary A.
Fenton, of this county, who was born on October 5, 1863, in Virginia, a
daughter of Jeremiah and Catherine (Callan) . Fenton, natives of Ireland,
who came to this country in the fifties and settled in Connecticut, later mov-
ing to Virginia, where they were living when the Civil War broke out. Suc-
cessfully resisting an attempt to force him into the Confederate army, Jere-
miah Fenton escaped back to Connecticut and in 1867 came from that state
to Nebraska and settled with his family on a farm in the precinct of Grant,
in this county, early becoming recognized as among the most influential
pioneers of that section. In 1878 he was elected a member of the state
Legislature from this district and in other ways gave his service to the new
commonwealth back in pioneer days. His brother, William Fenton, also
served as a member of the Legislature from this district years ago. William
T. Fenton, a brother of Mrs. Kean, is warden of the state penitentiary. Mr.
and Mrs. Kean have twelve children, a family of which they are justly proud,
namely: Bridget, who is keeping house for her bachelor brothers on their
farm northwest of the old home place; Jeremiah, a farmer, in the neighbor-
hood of his father's farm, whq is married awd has three children; Thomas
F. and Joseph, who are farming the old Clancy farm, northwest of the home
place; David, also a farmer, who is married and has one child; WiUiam £.,
who is farming with his brother, David, a mile and a half northeast of town ;
Katie, who is at home ; Emmet, a farmer ; Hannah, at home, a teacher in the
home district. No. 34; Mary, also a teacher, teaching the Arnokl school, dis-
trict No. 24; Leo, at home, and John, who is attending school at Dawson.
Thomas, David, Joseph, William and Emmet have all registered for service
in behalf of their country in the great war.

The Keans are members of the Catholic church and have ever taken an
earnest part in parish affairs, as well as in the general goc;d works of the
neighborhood and in the general social activities of the community in which
they live, helpful in many ways in advancing the common interest thereabout.
Mr. Kean is a member of the local lodge of the Knights and Ladies of Secur-
ity and in the affairs of that organization takes a warm interest. Mr. Kean
is serving as vice-president of the local Red Cross chapter and has taken a
very active part in the organization and raising of funds. Every member of
his family has joined the Red Cross society.

f028 RICHARDSON COUXTV, XEBRASKA.

JOHN F. \\^EDDLE.

John F. W'eddle, vice-president of the State Bank of Stella, a well-kiKnvn
merchant of that thriving little city, a successful dealer in hardware and
furniture there, and a well-to-do landowner, is a native son of Richardson
county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm not
far from the county line in the precinct of East Muddy on October 15, 1875,
son of Lewis M. and Martha E. (Fleener) Weddle, natives of Indiana, who
became early residents of this county and the latter of whom is still living
here, one of the honored pioneers of Richardson county.

The late Lewis M. Weddle, an honored veteran of the Civil War and a
former member of the board of county commissioners of Richardson countv,
was 1x)rn in Indiana on October 6, 1843, and as a young man went to Illinois,
where he engaged in farming and where he was living when the Civil War
broke out. He enlisted his services in Wialf of the Union and not long
after the completion of his military service came west with his family and
settled at Nebraska City, remaining there until about 1873, when he came
down into this part of the state and settled on a farm in section 15 of East
Muddy precinct, this county, where he established his home and where he
spent the remainder of his life, one of the most useful and influential pioneers
of that part of the county. Lewis M. Weddle was a good farmer and as his
affairs prospered he added to his holdings until he became a considerable land-
owner in the northern part of the county. He gave considerable attention to
the raising of live stock and in the height of his efforts in that direction was
accustomed to keeping seven hundred or eight hundred head of cattle on his
place. Politically, he was a Democrat and but a few years before his death
had served a term as a member of the board of county commissioners from
his district. Fraternally, he was a member of the local lodges of the Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons at Nemaha City and of the Ancient Order of
United Workmen and of the Woodmen of the World at Shubert, and in the
affairs of these organizations took a warm interest. He was a member of
the Christian church and took a proper interest in church work, as well as in
the general good works of the community, and was helpful in advancing all
movements designed to promote the common welfare hereabout. Lewis M.
Weddle died on November 24, 1915, and Mrs. Weddle also is dead. They
were the parents of eleven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was
the seventh in order of birth, the others being as follow. William M.. a
farmer and landowner in section 15 of East Muddy precinct, this county;

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO29

Selnioii, of Quincy, Illinois; Mrs. Sarah Elizabeth Brisby, of East Muddy
precinct ; Mrs. Allie Lewis, of Aspinwall township, in the neighboring county
of Xemaha; James A., a farmer of the precinct of East Muddy; Mrs. Lenora
Colglazier, of Falls City; Walter J., of Hemingford, this state; Oscar E., of
East Muddy precinct ; Lawson W., now a resident of the state of Wyoming,
and Mrs. Gertrude Harris, of East Muddy precinct.

Reared on the home farm in East Muddy precinct, John F. Weddle
grew up there and from boyhood was familiar with pioneer conditions, his
boyho(xl recollections preserving many interesting incidents of the early days
in that part of the county. He received his schooling in the schools of dis-
trict No. 84 and district No. 103 and from the days of his boyhood was a
valued assistant in the labors of improving and developing the home place.
\\hen eighteen years of age he began farming on his own account, renting a
tract of ground from his father, and after his marriage in 1892 established
his home on the farm, continuing to make that place his home until his retire-
ment from the farm in 191 1 and removal to Stella, where he since has made
his home and wliere he and his wife are very pleasantly situated. Upon
moving to Stella Mr. Weddle bought the J. W. Vaught hardware and furni-
ture store and has since been conducting the same, doing very well in his busi-
ness venture, and has built up an extensive hardware business there. For
some time Mr. Weddle had been a stockholder in the State Bank of Stella and
in 19 16 was elected vice-president of the same, which position he still occu-
pies. In addition to these holdings he is the owner of a well-kept farm of
eighty acres in section 15 of East Muddy precinct,- a part of the old home
place. Mr. Weddle is a Democrat and for four years during his life on the
farm served as treasurer of his home precinct.

On November i, 1892, John F. Weddle was united in marriage to Effie
M. Weaver, daughter of H. D. and Martha (Shafer) Weaver, natives,
respectively, of Pennsylvania and of Illinois, who became pioneers of Rich-
ardson county, the former of whom is now deceased and the latter of whom
is still living, making her home at Stella, and to this union was born one
child, a daughter, Ruby Fayette, now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Weddle have
a very pleasant home at Stella and take a proper part in the general social
activities of their home town, helpful in promoting such agencies as are
designed to advance the common welfare. Mr. Weddle is a Mason and a
member of the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of
the Modern Woodmen of America and in the affairs of these fraternal organ-
izations takes a warm interest.

1030 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

CLIFFORD F. PHILLIPS.

Clifford F. Phillips, of the law firm of Phillips & Hebenstreit at Falls
City, secretary of the famous Falls City Boosters' Club, secretary of the
Republican central committee of Richardson county and one of the best-
known young lawyers in this part of the state, is a native son of Nebraska
and has lived in this state all his life. He was bom at Beatrice on March
17, 1890, son of John Thomas and Mary Lillian (Tice) Phillips, the former
a native of Virginia and the latter of Ohio, who are now living in Beatrice,
where Mr. Phillips has a fine business.

. John Thomas Phillips, who was born in 1859, was fifteen years of age
when he accompanied his parents from Virginia to Ohio and in the latter
state he completed his schooling and grew to manhood, becoming an expert
plasterer. There he married Mary Lillian Tice, who was born in Ohio ii)
1864, and in 1885 he and his wife came to Nebraska and located at Beatrict,
where Mr. Phillips began working at his trade, presently becoming a gen-
eral contractor in that line and has ever since been thus engaged there. He
and his wife have three children, those besides the subject being another
son, James Tice Phillips, who is the general auditor for the Oahu Railroad
and Land Company at Honolulu, Hawaii, and a daughter, ]\Irs. Hazel
Steinmeyer, of Beatrice.

Reared at Beatrice, Clifford F. Phillips completed the course in the
high school there and then took a course of collegiate work at the Univer-
sity of Nebraska in preparation for the further study of law and thus
equipped by preliminary study, entered the law department of the University
of Michigan at Ann Arbor, from which he was graduated in 1914. Upon
receiving his degree Mr. Phillips returned to Beatrice and was there en-
gaged in the law office of Hazlett & Jack, acquiring practical experience m
the practice of his profession, until in May, 1915, when he located at Falls
City and there opened an office for the practice of his profession, practicing
alone there until in January, 1916, when he formed his present partnership
with Frank A. Hebenstreit, under the firm name of Phillips & Hebenstreit,
which firm is enjoying a constantly increasing practice, both young men
having distinctly "made good" during their comparatively brief residence
in that city. Mr. Phillips is a Republican and his activities in behalf of the
interests of that party provided so effectual a recommendation to the leaders
of the party in this county that he was made secretary of the Republican
county central committee and is still serving in tliat capacity. From the

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO3I

very beginning of his residence in Falls City he demonstrated his capacity
for active service as a "live wire" and in May, 1916, he was elected sec-
retary of the Falls City Boosters' Club and has since done excellent service
in behalf of the promotion of the city's interests along all lines.

On March 26, 191 5, Clififord F. Phillips was united in marriage to
Kathryn Justesen, of Council Blufifs, daughter of Peter Justesen and wife,
of that city, and to this union has been born one child, a daughter, Ellen
Jane. Mr. and Mrs. Phillips are members of the Presbyterian church and
take a proper part in church work and in the general good works of the
city, as well as in the social and cultural activities of the community, help-
ful in promoting all worthy causes hereabout. Mr. PhiUips is a Mason and
a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and in the afifairs of
these two popular fraternal orders takes an active interest.

WILLIAM C. NORTON.

Under the able management of William C. Norton, the Humboldt
Standard is wielding a potent influence for the general good of the people
of Richardson county, for he is a man of progressive ideas and unques-
tioned public spirit.

Mr. Norton was born, December 21, 1869, at Evansville, Wisconsin.
He is a son of John T. and Delphine (McMillan) Norton, natives of New
York state, where they spent their earlier years, later moving to Wiscon-
sin, and in 1874 came to Richardson county, Nebraska. The father devoted
his active life to the grain and live-stock business, in which he was success-
ful. His death occurred on September 26, 1916, at the age of eighty years.
His wife died on November 7, 1907, at the age of fifty-eight years. Three
children were born to John T. Norton and wife, namely: Charles M., who
lives in Humboldt; William C, the subject of this sketch, and Mrs. Laura
M. Campbell, who resides at Hastings, Nebraska.

William C. Norton was educated in the common schools and in the Hum-
boldt high school. When thirteen years of age he began learning the printer's
trade in the office of the Standard and has since been connected with that
paper, with the exception of twelve years, when he was employed in city
printing offices. He returned to Humboldt in December, 1908, and took
charge of the Standard, which he has improved in various ways, brightening
it up from a mechanical standpoint and increasing its circulation. The

1032 RICHARDSON COUXTY, XEBRASKA.

Standard is well edited and its columns set forth each week the best of the
local and general news. It is recognized as a valuable advertising medium.

On ;May 3, 1896, ]\Ir. Norton was married to Sue IM. Willis, of Hum-
boldt, a daughter of S. P. Willis, who is now a resident of Colorado. To
Mr. and Airs. Norton two children have been born, Harry K., born on
November 2, 1897, ^"^ Delphine, October 12, 1901.

Mr. Norton is a Democrat and is active in the support of his party. He
has served as city clerk of Humboldt. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights
of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of .\merica and the .\ncient Order of
United ^^'orkmen. He belongs to the Presliyterian church.

JOHN HARDEN COONS.

Among the successful farmers and stockmen of Porter precinct, this
county, is John H. Coons, owner of the east half of section 28, that precinct,
containing three hundred and' twenty acres of prime land. He was born
on March 11, i860, in Sangamon county, Illinois, and is the son of Benjamin
Thomas and Hannah E. (Smith) Coons, both of whom were twice married.

Benjamin T. Coons, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in
Morgan county, Illinois, on April 11, 1826, and died on December 15, 1916.
He was the son of Martin Coons, a native of Lexington, Kentucky, who
in an early day became a settler of the state of Illinois. Benjamin T.
Coons came to Richardson county in 1869 and in the following year bought
a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of and near Stella, Muddy precinct,
paying for the same two thousand one hundred dollars. He farmed on this
land for the rest of his active life until he retired about 1892. He was
generally recognized as a successful farmer and stockman. In addition to
his work on the farm, he was also interested in the cause of education and
served on the township school board for several years. He was a member
of the Baptist church and a liberal subscriber to its upkeep.

Benjamin T. Coons was married twice. His first wife was Martha
Smith, and to that union two children were born, namely : Mrs. Alargaret
Thompson, deceased, and Mrs. Nancy Creed, who lives in Humboldt, this
state. By his marriage to Hannah E. Smith, sister of his first wife, he
became the father of nine children as follow : William, who lives in \\'eb-
ster county, this state; John H., Mrs. Mary Dawson, also living in Webster;
Mrs. Laura Creed, living in Humboldt, this state; Louise, also living in

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO33

Humboldt; Charles, deceased; George H., in Frankfort, Kansas; Mrs. Pearl
Jones, deceased, and one that died in infancy. By her former marriage to
Dow RobiiKon two children were born, James H., living in ^^'ebster, Nebraska,
and a girl who died when young. Dow Robinson was a native of Illinois;
his parents were born in Kentucky. Mrs. Hannah (Smith) Coon's parents,
James Smith and wife, were natives of Morgan county, Illinois, and came
to Pawnee county, Nebraska, about 1S82 and lived there for the remainder
of their lives.

John H. Coons was nine years old when his parents came to this state.
He attended the Hays district school and later assisted his father on the
farm; he also worked one year for M. E. Quinlan, an old settler. In 1882
he started doing for himself by renting land, working in this way up to
T884, when he went into the livery business at Stella. He then, from 1886
to 1892, rented land in Nemaha county, and in 1892 he bought his present
farm, which was the homestead of a Mr. Smith, from Hagerstown, Mary-
land, later owned by Alex Coleman. At the time Mr. Coons bought the land
from Fredrick ]\Iarquette, some improvements had been efifected on it. Since
it has come into Mr. Coons' possession he has made further extensive improve-
ments and has set out a large grove of trees, which adds considerably to the
general appearance of the place. In addition to his farming activities he
is also engaged in breeding and feeding of live stock, and in this line, as
in his general farming, he has met with a large measure of success.

On March 9, 1886, John H. Coons was united in marriage to Llevellyn
Rosenberger, a daughter of Absalom and Elizabeth (Smith) Rosenberger,
natives of \^'est Virginia and Illinois, resijectively, who were early settlers
of the state of Iowa and who came to Richardson county in 1884, both
dying at a later date while living with Mr. Coons. Absalom Rosenberger
was born in December, 1826, and died in 1890. His wife was born in 1830
and died in 1907. To the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Coons no children
have been born, but they have adopted two children, namely : William JNI.
Rife, a sketch of whom appears in another part of this work, and Arlo H.,
now a private in Company A, Fourth Nebraska Infantry Regiment, enlisted
for service in the great war.

;\lr. Coons has always given loyal support to the Democratic party,
but on certain occasions he is an independent voter. He has served his town-
ship as road overseer for the past six years and in other ways served his
township and county. He and his wife are members of the Methodist church.
He is a member of the Farmers Union and is president of the Dawson dis-
trict of that organization.

1034 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

JACOB S. HEIM.

Another member of the Heim family who is a prominent farmer of
Richardson county, is Jacob S. Heim, owner of one hundred and sixty
acres of fine farming land in the northeast quarter of section 8, Grant pre-
cinct. He is a native of the Keystone state, having been born in Lycoming
county, Pennsylvania, on July i6, 1866. He is a son of John J. and Rosina
(^Heim) Heim, and has been a resident of this part of Nebraska since he
was sixteen years old.

John J. Heim, also a native of Pennsylvania, was born on July 2,
1847, "1 Lycoming county, that state. He continued to live there for thirty-
five years, at the end of which time, in 1882, he came to Grant precinct,
Richardson county, and bought one hundred and sixty acres of land, which
he at once proceeded to cultivate. As time went on he prospered in his
farming operations and later added to his land holdings. He owned the
place on which his son, Jacob S.. now lives, and he is now living retired
on the Israel L. Heim place; his wife, who is somewhat older than he is,
also li\es on the same place. To John J. Heim and wife the following
children were born : Elizabeth, who married Samuel Heim, of Grant pre-
cinct, this county; Jacob S., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Anna Stoltz,
who lixes in I'orter precinct; ^Irs. Mary Stratton, who lives in Brownville,
this state: Israel L., of Grant precinct, on the old Heim homestead; ^^'ilIiam,
who lives in Phoenix, Arizona, and Lucy, wlio married \\\ Draper, Manila,
Iowa.

As stated above, Jacob S. Heim was sixteen years old when he came
with his parents to this county in 1882. I''or a period of five years he at-
tended the Dawson district schools and on leaving school he worked for
his father on the farm for several years, or up to the time of his mar-
riage. He then moved to his present farm of one hundred and si.xty acres,
which he Ijought from his father. On this land he has made manv val-
uable improvements and in 1914 built a modern house at a cost of fifty-
five hundred dollars, and which is one of the most substantial residences in
Grant precinct. It is equipped with furnace, hot and cold water, gas lights
and other features that go to make up a comfortable home. In 1907 he
erected a substantially built barn, thirty-two by thirty-eight feet, and in
other ways has kept abreast of re(|uirements making for efficiency in his
farming operations.

On March 17, 1892, Jacob S. Heim was united in marriage to Rebecca

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO35

Heim, who was born in L3'Coming county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of
Jacob G. and Regenia (Gross) Heim, further mention of whom is to be
found in a sketch relating to Joseph G. Heim, of Dawson, which appears
in another part of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Jacob S. Heim are the parents
of two children, namely, Verna, who was graduated from Dawson high
school in 191 3 and now living with her parents, and Elma, who attends
the district school.

Mr. and Mrs. Heim and their children are members of the United
Evangelical church and are earnest attendants on its services. Mr. Heim'
is a warm supporter of the Republican party and is now serving on district
No. 92 school lx)ard. and has been treasurer of the same since 1901, his
interest in educational affairs being generally recognized throughout the
county.

BERNARD RILEY.

One of the oldest native-born residents of Richardson county is Bernard
Riley, who, after a successful and very active career as a general farmer is
now living in retirement in Dawson. He was born, April 12, 1861, in West
Muddy precinct, this county, laeing the first white child born in that precinct
that is now living in Richardson county. He is of Celtic descent, and a son
of IMichael and Mary (O'Brien) Riley. Michael Riley was born in Ireland
in 1826, but left his native land when a young man, crossed the Atlantic in
an old-fashioned sailing vessel in 1847 ^"d took up farming in the state of
New Jersey. In 1859 he penetrated to the interior of our continent, locat-
ing in Richardson county, Nebraska, having made the long trip to St. Louis
on the railroad, and from there by steamboat up the Missouri river to Rulo,
Nebraska, from which ])lace he drove out to the land on which he located in
West ^luddy precinct, buying one hundred and sixty acres for which he paid
eight hundred dollars. He set to work in usual pioneer fashion, built a log
cabin and turned the wild prairie sod with a team of oxen and soon had
crops growing. His nearest market was Brownville. This was still the
domain of the Indians, but they never molested him, the "Jayhawkers" giv-
ing him far more trouble than the red men. -Later in life he recalled man}-
interesting incidents of that primitive period here. He took one of his first
crops of wheat to Brownville, for which he received two dollars and fifty
cents per bushel, and with the proceeds bought his first high-wheeled wagon,
for which he paid one hundred and ten dollars. Once, during the winter

1036 RICH.\«DSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

following the close of the Civil War he drove a number of fat hogs, in com-
pany with his neighbors, who also took along their porkers, a 'distance of
twenty-five miles to Aspinwall, Crawford county, Iowa. A severe snow
storm overtook them while on the way and the hogs began piling up and the
men had hard work saving their swine. The blizzard was so severe that
large fires had to be built to keep the drovers from freezing. Michael Riley
became a successful farmer, owning a good farm two and one-half miles
northeast of Dawson, where he died in 1886. His wife, Mary O'Brien, was
born in Ireland in 1830. She worked hard helping her husband get a start
in the new country and for some time she kept a boarding house, feeding the
graders who worked on the Burlington railroad when it was being built
through this county and later fed the train crews. Her death occurred in
1894. Both these parents were members of the Catholic church. They
helped organize one of the school districts in Grant precinct, where they set-
tled after the close of the Civil War. Their family consisted of seven chil-
dren, namely : Daniel, who lives on the old homestead in Grant precinct ;
James is deceased: \\'illiam lives in Grant township; Bernard, of this sketch;
Michael lives in Grant township: Mrs, Mary Clancy lives at Dawson, this
county, and Anna, who died in infancy.

Bernard Riley grew up on the home farm, and, like all pioneer boys,
found plenty of hard work to do. He attended the early-dav district schools,
then studied at the St. Benedict College, Atchison, Kansas. He and his
brothers remained on the old farm for a number of years. In 1890 he began
working in the flouring-mill at Dawson, and later was manager of the mill
for a period of seven years. He then went to western Nebraska and operated
a cattle ranch in Duel county. After selling out there he went to Cherry
county, this state, and continued in the ranching business for eight years, after
which he returned to Dawson, where his family had remained during his
absence in the western part of the state. He owns a valuable and well-
improved farm of four hundred and eighty acres near Dawson, eighty acres
in ^^'ashington county, Kan.sas. and one hundred and sixty acres in Canada.
He managed w ell and has made a pronounced success as a farmer and stock-
man. He built bis present attractive home in Dawson in 1906. It is of
brick veneer and contains seven rooms and stands on a hill in the east part
of town. It has all modern improvements. Mr. Riley is a shareholder in
the local electric light and telephone companies.

.Mr. Riley was married in August, 1901, to Mary Riley, a daughter of
Daniel :md Kllen ( Rvan) Rilev, both natives of Ireland, from which countrv

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO37

they came to America in tlieir earlier career and located in Richardson count\-.
Their daughter. Alary, was born in .September, 1869. in Grant township,
where she grew to womanhood and was educated, her parents owning a good
farm a mile east of Dawson. Her father is deceased, but her mother, aged
seventy-eight years, is living with Mr. and Mrs. Bernard Riley, of this review.
Three children have been born to Bernard Riley and w-ife, namely: Michael,
Ellen and Mary, all at home.

Politically, Air. Riley is an independent Democrat. He belongs to the
Catholic church. He is well known throughout the countv.

SAMUEL BOOK BOBST.

Richardson county bears the prideful distinction of having within its
borders and claiming as one of its best-known and most honored citizens
the oldest continuous resident of the great state of Nebraska. When, at the
annual meeting of pioneers of Nebraska held at Lincoln on January 10 and
II, 191 7, the large cake which is usually prepared as an award of honor to
the state's oldest surviving pioneer was presented to Samuel Book Bobst, of
Humboldt, there was general rejoicing throughout this county and Mr. Bobst
was made the recipient of the unanimous congratulations of this whole com-
munity, for the honor that had come to him was well merited. Not only is
Mr. Bobst the premier pioneer of Nebraska, but his father was the first judge
of Richardson county and was the first postmaster m the region now com-
prised within the bounds of this county, he having "kept" the postoffice at
Pleasant A^aliey on the old trail, back in the middle fifties, during the time
of the very beginning of a social order out here on the then frontier of
civilization.

Samuel Book Bobst, a well-known and well-to-do building contractor at
Humboldt, an honored veteran of the Civil War and from the days of his
boyhood actively identified with the interests of this state, is a native son of
the old Buckeye state, but has been a resident of Nebraska since he was ten
}ears of age, having come here with his parents in the year in which the vast
territory theretofore known as the Indian country became formally recog-
nized by the government as Nebraska Territory, extending from Texas on
the south to Canada on the north and to the Rockies on the west. He was
born on Alarch 28, 1B44, at Rushville, in Fairfield county, Ohio, son of Chris-
tian and Sarah (Book) Bobst, natives, respectively, of the state of Pennsyl-

1038 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

vania and of the state of Maryland, who had located at Rushville. where
Christian Bobst engaged in the mercantile business and also became a farmer
and landowner. In January, 1854, Christian T^obst disposed of his interests
in Ohio and determined to establish a home out here in the then Indian
country. The trip with his family was long and toilsome, but was finally
accomphshed and the pioneer "pitched his tent" in a favored section in the
southwest corner of what later came to be organized as Richardson county,
on the Pawnee county line, and there established his home. He pre-empted
a tract of land, paying for the same one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre,
and put up a log cabin on the same and there installed his family. That old
pioneer log caljin, which occupies a spot just over the line in Pawnee county.
is still staniling and remains an object of much interest to the present genera-
tion. Nebraska Territory was set apart by the government in that year and
Christian Bobst was appointed first judge of the district and was also appointed
postmaster, the postoffice established in his little log cabin being given the
pleasing name of Pleasant ^'alley. The first election held in this district and
over which Judge Bobst presided, was held at Archer and there were but
nineteen votes cast at the same. The Indians still were numerous hereabout
at that time, Ixit wefe friendly and displayed no inclination to give the set-
tlers trouble. St. Joseph was the nearest market in those days and the chief
subsistence of the pioneers was cornmeal and game, of which latter there,
happily, was no end, and Mr. Bobst still recollects the great sport he had
hunting out here in the days of his boyhood, when game, of a wide variety
was so common that his youthful prowess with a gun was easily rewarded.
Judge Bobst was just beginning to see his way clear to the development of a
fine piece of property on his pioneer farm when death brought his labors to
a close in 1859, five years after his arrival here. He left his widow with
three children in her care, the subject of this sketch then having had a brother,
Robert, who was killed at Blue River, Missouri, during the Civil War, while
serving as a member of the Second Colorado Regiment, and a sister, Martha,
who married William Emigh and is now deceased, Mr. Bobst now being the
sole survivor of the twelve children born to his parents.

As noted above, Samuel B. Bobst was ten years of age when he came out
here from Ohio with his parents and he has been a resident of Nebraska ever
since, now the dean of the pioneers of this state. • He had begun his school-
ing back in Ohio and when a school presently was established in tlie neigh-
borhood of his home, upon the coming of other settlers to that section, he
entered that school. A week later, however, the pioneer school house was
(lestroved bv fire, and that ended the "term." He later entered Professor

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO39

^rclvinse}"* school at Pawnee City, but when the Civil War broke out he
lost interest in schooling and on November i. 1862. he then being but eighteen
years of age, he enlisted for service as a member of Company G, Second
Nebraska Cavalry, and with that command went to the front, continuing with
the same until his discharge on December 14, 1863, his term^of enlistment
being at an end. He straightway re-enlisted as a member of Company G,
Sixteenth Kansas Cavalry, and with that command served until the close of
the war, the greater part of that service having been scout duty in Kansas.
Missouri and Arkansas and in the campaigns directed against Price and
Ouantrell. Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Bobst returned
home and resumed his place on the farm, at the same time turning his atten-
ti(Mi to carpenter work and in 1872 entered the employ of the Atchison & Neb-
raska railroad and was engaged in building depots and section. houses along
the line o{ that road until the line was taken over by the Burlington. In
1873 he married and settled at Firth, on the line between Gage and Lancaster
counties, where he became engaged as a Iniilding contractor and there remained
for about six years, or until 1878, when he moved over to Sterling, in John-
sun county, and was there further engaged in contracting until 1881, when
he came back to his home county and located at Humboldt, where he ever
since has been very successfully engaged in the general building and con-
tracting line, one of the best-known building contractors in Richardson county,
^fr. Bobst is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to
political affairs, 1nit has not been a seeker after public office. He is a past
commander of William Mix Post No. 66, Grand Army of the Republic, and
has for years taken an active part in the affairs of that patriotic organiza-
tion. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the local lodges of the Ancient Free
and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of
United A\orkmen and takes a warm interest in the aft'airs of these organ-
izations.

It was on December 7, 1873, that Samuel Book Bobst was united in
marriage to Susan Plummer, who was l)orn at Piqua, Ohio, May 10, 1858,
daughter of James and Maria ( Judkins) Plummer, the former a native of
Kentucky and the latter of western Virginia. Mrs. Plummer died in 1869
and the next year, 1870, James Plummer and his four daughters, Susan,
Emma, Luella and Fannie, came to Nebraska and settled near Firth. Emma
Plummer married David F. Stewart and is now deceased. Luella Plummer
married Charles Ross and is now living at Goodland, Kansas, and Fannie
Plummer married Charles Feldcamp and is now living at Chicago. Mr. and

1 040 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Mrs. Bobst have one child, a son, William E., born on September 21, 1876.
William E. Bobst, a traveling salesman, now living at Spencer, Iowa, married
Amber Silverstoff and has one child, a daughter, Jnanita, now nine years of
age.

WILLIAM STEELE POWER

Tiie name of William Steele Power, one of the leading agriculturists
and stockmen of Richardson county, needs no introduction to the readers of
this history, for his long and useful life record in Richardson county speaks
for itself. He was born on March 12, 1842, near New Bloomfield, Perry
county, Pennsyhania. He is a son of John and Sarah (Steele) Power. The
mother was a sister of Joseph Steele, a pioneer of Falls City, whose grand-
son, Robert Steele, lives on the old Steele home place near Falls City. John
and Sarah Power were natives of Pennsylvania. He was born in 1802 and
died in 1862; she was born in 181 1 and died in 1882. Mr. Power, of this
sketch, is of Scotch Presbyterian stock. To John Power and wife eight
children were born, an equal number of sons and daughters, namely: Mrs.
Harriet Bailey, living in Spokane, Washington; William S., of this sketch ;
John and Chester, living in Humboldt, Nebraska; Charles, who died at
Humboldt in 191 1, and his widow is living on the home farm near there.

William S. Power grew to manhood in his native state and attended the
common schools and the old Wyoming Seminary in Pennsylvania, being
a classmate of Mrs. Martha Weaver, of Falls City. He remained in the
East until 1870, when he made his first trip to Falls City, Nebraska, spend-
ing two years there, during which time he helped haul lumber from Brow n-
\-ilIe for the Steele dwelling. In February, 1864, he enlisted in the Union
army for service in the Civil War, ajid served until in August, 1865, in the
signal corps, having been assigned to the department of West Virginia. He
was in many dangerous positions and performed his duties very faithfully
and ably. He carried messages to General Sheridan at the battle of Win-
chester, where Sheridan made his famous ride and turned defeat into victory,
which ride has been immortalized by the poem of Thomas Buchanan Read.
Mr. Power also served under Sheridan at the battle of Cedar Creek, Vir-
ginia, also at New Market and Piedmont, also at Hunter's Raid at Lynch-
burg. He was also with the army in its raid throughout the Shenandoah
\'alley.

After his career in the army Mr. Power returned home and operated

. * * * '

VjS^iESJ-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO4I

the old home place for a period of fourteen years, being at the head of
the family. In 1880 he came to Nebraska again and settled on the farm
he now owns in Humboldt precinct, which consists of two hundred and
forty acres. He has a productive and highly improved farm, one of the
most desirable in the precinct. His large attractive home was built on a
commanding height, overlooking the beautiful Nemaha Valley. He also
owns a good farm in western Nebraska. For two years after he purchased
this farm he lived in the old Hull House, erecting his present home in 1882,
living in a rude shack while it was being built. He has been very success-
ful as a general farmer and stockman. In his partnership with his brothers
he has long been engaged in buying and shipping live stock. They are the
most extensive dealers in live stock in Richardson county, and they handle
more sheep than any other firm in Southeastern Nebraska. They handled
over twenty thousand head of sheep in the spring of 1917; they sell most
of their sheep to feeders and sometimes have as many as ten thousand sheep
on hand at one time. They do business under the firm name of Power
Brothers.

Mr. Power was married on January 15, 1880, to Edith Sands, who
was born on April 26, 1862, near Bloomfield, Perry county, Pennsylvania.
She is a daughter of Ephraim P. Sands, who was born in Pennsylvania, in
183 1, and died February 3, 1865. He served during the Civil War in the
One Hundred and Eighty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, while in
the .serxice. According to Captain Woodruff of Company E, in which he
served, Mr. Sands was a brave and efficient soldier. His wife, Susan
Slade, was born in 1833, and died on April i, 1904. They were parents of
five children, namely: John M., who died October 7, 1866; Clement P.
lives in Halifax, Pennsylvania; George Hayes makes his home in the West;
Edith, who became the wife of Mr. Power, of this sketch, and William E.,
wlio died in 1864.

The following children have been born to William S. Power and wife :
William Hull, born on October 8, 1880, lives on the home place and married
Hallie Vaught, and they have four children, William, Leonard, Loree and
■Charles. George D, Power, born on October 14, 1888, lives in Oregon,
married Maude Goolsby, of Dawson, Nebraska, and they have two children,
Sarah Edith and Zella. Irene, only daughter of the subject of this sketch,
died in 1890 at the age of eight years.

Mrs. Power was left an orphan when quite young, and she was clothed,
(66)

I042 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

educated and cared for by the state of Pennsylvania at the Soldiers Orphans
Home at Loysville, Pennsylvania' until she was sixteen years of age.

Politically, Mr. Power is a Democrat. Although always a very busy
man he has found time to take an interest in public affairs, serving one
term as justice of the peace, also as a member of the school board in his
district. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of Pythias at Humboldt,
and he is a mernber of William Mix Post, No. 66, Grand Army of the Repub-
lic, and was adjutant of the post for a period of fifteen years. He has
always stood ready to aid in any movement having for its object the general
welfare of his precinct and county, throughout which he is known as a man
of true public spirit and unswerving honesty.

JOSIAH FRANK RELF.

Josiah Frank Relf, public surveyor of Richardson county and one of
the most widely recognized drainage experts in this part of the state, is a
native of the neighboring state of Missouri, but has been a resident of Neb-
raska since he was eight years of age and of Richardson county since he was
twelve. He was born on a farm in the immediate vicinity of Maysville,
county seat of Dekalb county, Missouri, March 21, 1881, son of Thomas A.
and Sarah (Peniston) Relf , natives of the state of Indiana and both of Eng-
lish descent, the former a son of Josiah Relf, who was born in England.

Thomas A. Relf was married in Indiana and remained there until 1879,
when he came west and settled on a claim near Edmond, Norton county, Kan-
sas. In 1880 he moved to Missouri and settled on a farm in the vicinity of
Maysville, in Dekalb county, presently moving from there to Neosho
county, Kansas, whence, in r888, he came with his family to this state and
located at Brownville, in Nemaha county, where he remained until 180,:;, in
which year he moved down into Richardson county with his family and set-
tled on a farm in the vicinity of Salem. There Mrs. Relf died in 1904 and
Mr. Relf shortly afterward went to Columbus, Kansas, in the neighborhood
of which place he is now living on a farm. To him and his wife the follow-
ing children were born: Charles Walter, a farmer, living near Columbus,
Kansas: Mrs. Nellie Otta Mullen, of Mountain Park, Oklahoma: Josiah
Frank, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Rosa Mullen, living near Harrison,
Arkansas; William, a farmer near Columbus, Kansas; Benjamin, a farmer

RICHARDSON COUNTY/ NEBRASKA. IO43

in that same vicinity, and Sarah and Goida, who are at home with their
father.

Josiah F. Relf was about twelve years of age when he came to this county
with his parents and he grew to manhood on the home farm in the vicinity
of Salem, from the days of his early boyhood an able assistant to his father
in the labors of improving and developing the home place. His schooling in
his early years was neglected and he did not enter the eighth grade of the
high school at Salem until after he was twenty-one years of age, when he
began to recognize the importance of acquiring a higher education. After
going to school there for three years he entered the state normal school at
Peru, with a view to fitting himself -for teaching, and was in attendance there
two )ears, working his wa)^ through school by doing chores for residents of
that town and by working in a brick yard for his room and board. During
his school vacation he became engaged as a solicitor and in this line did so
well that he earned enough money to carry him through the College of Civil
Engineering at the State Universit}-, which he entered in 1907. During the
years iQio and 191 1 he worked as an engineer and in 1912 finished his course
at the university and was graduated as a civil engineer. Following- his
graduation he was employed as deputy county surveyor of Lancaster county
and late in the summer of that same year was appointed to fill an unexpired
term in the office of the county survcN'or of Richardson county, performing
his duties in that connection so faithfully and so admirably that he was elected
to that oftice in 1914 and was re-elected in 1916, therefore now serving what
may really be regarded as his third term in that important office. During
his college course Mr. Relf specialized in drainage work and has come to be
looked upon as an expert in that line of engineering. He assisted in putting
through the h\g drainage project in Nemaha county in 1912-13, drainage
district No. 3, at the same time having charge of drainage district No. 4,
Richardson county, and is now in charge of drainage district No. i, this
countv, doing an excellent work in extending the drainage system of this sec-
tion of the state.

In March, 1910, Josiah F. Relf was united in marriage to Ida May
Stevenson, of Lincoln, this state. Mr. and Mrs. Relf have a pleasant home
at Falls City and take a proper part in the general social and cultural activities
of their home town. They are members of the Presbyterian church and take
an earnest part in church work and in the general good works of the com-
nuinitv. Mr. Relf is a Republican and has given his thoughtful attention
t(i local political affairs since the days of his boyhood.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

CHARLES F. WEICK.

Charles F. Weick, former treasurer of the precinct of Arago, this county.
and one of the best-known farmers and stock breeders in that part of the
county, owner of a fine farm in section 5 of Arago precinct, where he and
his family are very comfortably situated, is a native of Germany, but has been
a resident of Richardson county since he was eleven years of age. He was
born in Baden, Germany, on March 14, 1869, son of Karl and Elizabeth
(Dast) Weick, also natives of Baden, the former born in 1838. who came
to this country with their family in 1880 and proceeded on out to Nebraska
and settled on a farm in the precinct of Arago, later moving up into the pre-
cinct of Barada, where Karl Weick bought a farm and established his home,
but did not live long to take part in the development of the place, his death
occurring there in 1883. His widow is now living in Cheyenne, Wyoming,
in the seventy-eighth year of her age. Karl Weick and wife were the parent.^
of six children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born, the
others being Louise, who married J. Werner and is living near Salem, this
county ; Albert, now a resident of Laramie, Wyoming : Max. also of Laramie :
Emma, wife of H. Ahlers, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, and Henry, deceased.

As noted above, Charles F. Weick was but eleven years of age when he
came to this countr}' with his parents and settled in this county. He com-
pleted his schooling here and on account of the death of his father so soon
after locating here, much of the responsibility of looking after the afifairs of
the farm early fell upon his youthful shoulders, he being the eldest of the
children. After a time he rented a farm and began farming on his own
account and in igoo bought his first farm, the well-kept tract of ninety acres
in section 5 of Arago precinct on which he is now living and where he has
made extensive improvements. This farm has the advantage of having on
it fifteen acres of natural timber and is one of the desirable tracts in that
.section. In 1911 Mr. Weick began breeding horses and has done very well.
He makes a specialty of Percherons and has done much to improve the
strain of horse flesh throughout the county. He paid seven hundred and
fifty dollars for one of his stallions, the three-year-old "Champion 110978".
bred in Iowa, and has won several first prizes at oiie time and another at the
Falls City horse shows. He also is a breeder of Shorthorn cattle and Poland
China hogs and his herd leaders are registered animals. Mr. Weick is a
Republican and for four years served as treasurer of his home precinct.

On October 18, 1894, Charles W. Weick was united in marriage to Min-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO45

nie Ruegge, who was born in this county on May 23, 1871, daughter of Fred
W. and Dora ( Hoose) Ruegge, natives of Germany, who are now living in
the precinct of Arago, this county, and to this union four children have been
born, Fred, Edith, Elmer and Laura, all of whom are at home. The Weicks
are members of the Lutheran church and take a proper part in church work
and in the general social activities of their home community. Mr. Weick
is a member of the local lodge of the Woodmen of the World at Barada and
takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization.

TOHN O'GRADY.

John O'Grady, one of Richardson county's best-known and most pro-
gressive farmers and the proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred and forty
acres in the Dawson neighborhood in Grant precinct, is a New Englander by
birth, but has been a resident of this county since he was six years of age,
his parents having settled here -in 1870. He was born in Connecticut on
April I"], 1864, son of Hugh and Margaret (Connor) O'Grady, natives of
Ireland, who had come to this country with their respective parents in the
days of their youth, both the O'Gradys and the Connors settling in Con-
necticut. Hugh O'Grady became a sailor and followed the sea for twelve
3'ears. Hugh O'Grady and Margaret Connor were nifirried in Connecticut
and after their marriage continued living in that state until 1870, when they
came to Nebraska and settled on a farm in the neighborhood of that on which
the subject of this sketch now lives. Hugh O'Grady was a good farmer and
developed a fine piece of property out of the uncultivated tract he bought
upon coming out here. His wife, who was born in 1839, died in 1899 ^"^
he still survives her, now making his home at Dawson. He was born in 1838.
He and. his wife were the parents of twelve children, eight sons and four
daughters, four of whom were born in Connecticut and the remainder in this
county, namely : John, the immediate subject of this biographical sketch ;
Frank, of Dawson ; James, who is in business in Dawson ; Hugh, who is farm-
ing over the line in the neighboring county of Brown, Kansas; Mary,
deceased ; Mrs. Kate Riley, of Dawson ; Patrick, a farmer, of Grant precinct ;
Daniel, deceased ; Nellie, deceased ; Joseph, a farmer, living at Dawson ;
Margaret, also of Dawson, and Dominick, a farmer, also living in Grant
precinct.

Having been but a child when he came to this county from his native

1046 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Connecticut with his parents, John O'Grady grew to manhood on the home
farm in the vicinity of Dawson, receiving his schooling in the local schools,
and remained on the home farm, a valuable assistant to his father and brothers
in the labors of developing and improving the same, until his marriage in
1888, when he rented a farm and began farming on his own account, remain-
ing on that place until 1898, when he bought a quarter of a section of prac-
tically unimproved land, part of his father's place, in that same neighborhood
and there established his home and has ever since made that his place of resi-
dence. As he prospered in his undertakings he added an adjoining "eighty"
and now has a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres and one of the best
farm plants in the Dawson neighborhood, the excellent manner in which the
place is kept up testifying to the progressive and up-to-date methods adopted
by the owner. Mr. O'Grady has erected a handsome, modern residence on
his place and his ample barns and other farm buildings are in keeping with
the same.

On April 23, 1888, John O'Grady was united in marriage to Johanna
Clancy, who was born on a farm in the immediate neighborhood of Dawson,
this county, May 2, 1871, a daughter of Patrick and Johanna Clancy, natives
of Ireland, who upon coming to this country located at Salem, New Jersey,
where they remained until in January, 1871, when they came to Nebraska
and settled on a farm in this county, pioneers of the Dawson settlement, and
developed a fine piece of property there. Mrs. Clancy, who was born in
1843, ^i^d o'^ that farm in September, 1903, and Mr. Clancy, who was born
in 1840, survived until in March, 1913. They were the parents of eight
children, those besides Mrs. O'Grady, the third in order of birth, being as
follow: Mrs. Margaret Zimmerman, of Lincoln, this state; Mrs. Mary
O'Grady, of Dawson; Mrs. Kate O'Connell, living on a farm near Dawson;
Michael, deceased; Mrs. Nora Cummings. of Grant precinct: Alice, deceased,
and Nellie, deceased.

To John and Johanna (Clancy) O'Grady ten children have been born,
namely: Mary, who died at the age of eighteen months; Anastacia, wife
of Michael Tiehen, a farmer, living south of Dawson; Hugh, a farmer of
Grant precinct ; Josephine, a teacher in the public schools of this county, now
teaching a district school south of Salem, and Patrick, ^Michael, Margaret.
Daniel and Bernard, who are still at home. The O'Gradys are earnest mem-
bers of the Catholic church and take an interested part in parish affairs, as
well as in the general good works and social activities of their home com-
munity. Mr. O'Grady is a Democrat and takes a proper interest in political

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA, IO47

affairs, but has not been an office seeker. He is a member of the local council
of the Knights of Columbus at Falls City and takes a warm interest in the
affairs of that organization.

LOUIS W. NOFSGER.

Louis W. Nofsger, one of the careful tillers of the soil in Nemaha
precinct, was born in Speiser precinct, this county, May 6, 1888, a son of
Jacob and Rosa (Spahr) Nofsger. Jacob Nofsger was born near Spring-
field, Ohio, December 25, i860, and there he grew to manhood and attended
school. He came to Nebraska about 1882, and bought a farm in Speiser
precinct, Richardson county, which he operated imtil Itis death in 1905,
during which period of nearly a quarter of a century he was ranked among
the leading general farmers of his vicinity. He was a Democrat, a member
of the German Reformed church, and belonged to the Modern Woodmen
of America. His widow, also a native of Ohio, was born on January 15,
1862, is still living, now making her home at Humboldt, this county. The
following children were born to Jacob and Rosa Nofsger: John, who lives
in Humboldt, Nebraska; Emma, who married Otto Gergelman, and is now
deceased; Fred, who lives in Humboldt; Louis W., the subject of this
sketch ; Samuel, who is farming in Speiser township, and Elizabeth of Hum-
boldt.

Louis VV. Nofsger was reared on the home farm and received his
education in the district schools. He began farming for himself in 1912
on rented land and, in 191 5, he bought his present farm of one hundred
and sixty acres in section i, Nemaha precinct and has become well launched
in his life work while yet a young man, giving promise of eventually ranking
among the best farmers of the county. He has made a number of improve-
ments on his place, including the erection of a modern home and a good barn.
In connection with general farming he raises graded Shorthorn cattle.

On February 28, 1912, Louis W. Nofsger was married to Pearl Seitz,
who was born on October 21, 1887, at Humboldt. She grew to womanhood
and was educated in the common schools of Humboldt, and in the Peru
State Normal, after which she taught school. She is a daughter of Samuel
and Arminda (Holder) Nofsger, natives of Illinois and early settlers of
Richardson count\-, who are both now deceased. Two children ha\e been

1048 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

born to Mr. and Mrs. Nofsger, Howard Louis, deceased, and Wiliiia K..
whose birth occurred on May 14, 191 5.

Mr. Nofsger is a Republican, but is not a biased partisan, being inclined
to vote independently. He and Mrs. Nofsger are members of the United
Brethren church.

ELIJAH T. LIBBEE.

Elijah T. Libbee, one of the real "old-timers" of Richardson county,
an honored veteran of the Civil War and a substantial farmer, proprietor
of a well-kept farm of one hundred and thirty acres south of Dawson, in
the precinct of Grant, where he has made his home for more than jialf a cen-
tury, is a native of the great Empire state and was reared in Illinois, but
has been a resident of this county since 1865, having come out here in terri-
torial days. He was born on a farm in Allegany county. New York, Februar\^
27, 1842, son of Truman L. and Martha Amelia (Angel) Libbee, natives,,
respectively, of Vermont and England, who were married in Steuben county,
New York, and later moved to Allegany county, same state, where they
remained until 1855, in which year they moved to Illinois and settled on a
farm in Schuyler county, that state.

Truman L. Libljee remained in Illinois until 1864, in which year he
moved with his father and mother to Utah, but two years later left that ter-
ritory and came to Nebraska, settling in this county. He pre-empted a tract
of land in section 22 of the precinct of Grant and proceeded to improve and
develop the same, remaining there until 1876, in which year his father died
and he returned to LTtah, where he remained with his widowed mother
until her death. He then returned to this county, but after a sometime
further residence here, retired from the farm and moved to Minneapolis,
Minnesota, where he spent his last days. He and his wife were the parents of
four cliildren, the subject of this sketch having had two brothers, Marshall, a
veteran of the Civil War, now deceased, and All>ert, now living at Lansing.
Michigan, and a sister, Mrs. Martha White-Berry, who died in 191 5. Mar-
shall Libbee also was a pioneer of Richardson county and his last days were
spent at Dawson.

Elijah T. Libbee was about thirteen years of age when his parents moved
from New York to Illinois and in their state he grew to manhood, receiv-
ing his schooling in the schools of Schuyler county, and was living there
when the Civil War broke out. On October 14, 1861, he enlisted for service

ELIJAH T. LIBBEE.

RICHARDSON COUK'TY, NEBRASKA. I049

as a member of Company D, First Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Infantry,
the engineering regiment of the Army of the West, and served with that
command until his discharge, on a physician's certificate of disability, in a
hospital at St. Louis in May, 1863. Mr. Libbee was in the engineering
service and served in Missouri, Tennessee and Mississippi, during that periotl
of service having participated in the siege of Island No. 10, the battle of
New Madrid, the siege of Corinth and in tlie campaign through Mississippi.
At Memphis he was taken ill with lung fever and for five months was con-
fined to hospital there, later being transferred to the hospital at St. Louis,
where he presently received his discharge.

LTpon the completion of his military ser\ice Elijah T. Libbee returned
to Illinois, where he was married in the spring of 1864. He continued to-
make his home there until 1865, when he and his wife came to the then Ter-
ritory of Nebraska and settled on a farm on the north side of the Nemaha
river, in the neighborhood of the present town of Dawson, this county. A
year later Mr. Libbee moved down to the south side of the river, entered
there the tract of land on which he is now living and has ever since lived
there, a period of more than fifty-two years, during which time he has seen
this region develop from its wilderness state to its present highly-jorganized
and prosperous condition as one of the most thriving agricultural regions irt
the West. It did not take Mr. Libbee long to get his land under cultiva-
tion and he had a good start there before the days of the grasshopper visita-
tions that discouraged so many of the later settlers. He has continually added
to the improvements on his home place and has long had one of the well-
kept farms in that part of the county, though his active participation in
the labors of the farm in recent years have been mainly confined to a directing
capacity. Though now well past seventy-five years of age Mr. Libbee retains
Iiis physical vigor to a remarkable degree and still reads without the artificial
aid of glasses. He is a Republican, his first vote having been cast for Abra-
ham Lincoln, and ever since coming to this county has taken an earnest
interest in local political affairs, but has not been a seeker after public
ofiice. He is an active member of the local post of the Grand Army of the
Republic at Dawson, taking a warm interest in the affairs of that patriotic
organization, and is also afliliated with the lodge of the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows at that place, one of the oldest Odd Fellows in that part
of the county.

On April 3, 1864, in Schuyler county, Illinois, Elijah T. Libbee was
united in marriage to Mrs. Nancy Emily Davis, who died in 1895, at the age
of fiftv-three vears. To that union eleven children were born, as follow : Mrs.

1050 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Mina Warren, who lives east of Barada in this county; Mrs. Adella Hogue,
who lives south of her father's place in Grant precinct; Mrs. Amanda Pool,
hving east of Barada; Levi, who is now hving in the state of Wyoming;
]\Iarion, a resident of the state of Washington ; Mrs. Emma Ingram, who, with
her husband, continues to hve on the old home place ; Willis, deceased ; Fred,
who is at home : Burt, of Elkhorn, this state, and two who died in infancy.
Marion Libbee, now living in Washington, was a member of Colonel Bryan's
regiment, the famous Third Nebraska, during the Spanish-American War
and with that regiment saw service in Cuba.

FREDERICK WITTWER.

The late Frederick ^\'ittwer, an honored veteran of the Civil War and
at the time of his death at his fine farm home on Spring creek, in the precinct
of Xemaha, in 1909, one of the most extensive landowners in Richardson
county, v.as a native of the republic of Switzerland, but had been a resident
of this country since he was eleven years of age and of the West since the
davs of his young manhood, having come out here before the days of the
Civil War, he and his brother, Gottlieb, having been among the earliest set-
tlers in the precinct of Nemaha in this county. After serving for more than
three vears as a soldier of the Union during the Civil War Frederick Wittwer
returned to this county and after his marriage in 1868 established his perman-
ent honie on Spring creek. Since his death his widow has been making her
home at Salem, where she is very comfortably situated.

Frederick Wittwer was born on April 3, 1840, and was eleven years of
age when his parents, John AVittwer and wife, left their home in Wermiss,
Switzerland, and came with their family to this country in 185 1, locating in
Tuscarawas county, Ohio. There Frederick Wittwer grew to young man-
hood, remaining there until the late fifties, when he and his brother, Gott-
lielj Wittwer, came West with a view to establishing themselves as farmers in
the then Territory of Nebraska, which at that time comprised all the former
Indian country from the Territory of Kansas north to the Dominion line and
west to the Rockies. They liked the appearance of things in this county and
took o\er a ciuarter of a section of land on Spring creek, in the precinct of
Xemaha, paving down on the purchase price of the same the not extravagant
sum of fifty dollars and assuming obligations for the balance, and were
engaged in improving and developing the place when the Civil ^^'ar broke

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO5I

out. On April 5, 1862, Frederick Wittwer enlisted for service in the Union
army as a private in Company G, Thirteenth Regiment, Kansas Volunteer
Infantry, and with that command went to the front, serving until the close
of the war, and received his final discharge at Little Rock on June 26, 1865,
a period of service covering something more than three years and two months,
during a part of which time he was attached to the commissary and transport
service as a mule driver. Mr. Wittwer participated in the chase of Price's
command through Missouri and Arkansas and he was in several of the most
notable engagements of the campaign in the Southwest, including the battles
of Westport and Cape Girardeau. His brother, Christian Wittwer, also was
a soldier of the Union, serving in an Ohio regiment, and was a participant
in the great battle of Shiloh.

Upon the completion of his Anilitary service in the summer of 1865
Frederick Wittwer returned to this county and here resumed the pursuits of
peace, engaging actively in the work of developing his land on Spring creek.
After his marriage in the spring of 1868 he established his home on Spring
creek and as he prospered gradually added largely to his holdings until he
presently came to be recognized as one of the leading land speculators in this
county and a citizen of much substantial worth, at the time of his death he
and his wife owning four hundred and eleven acres in their home farm, five
hundred and forty acres four and one-half miles west of Salem and three
thousand one hundred and thirteen acres in Greeley county, this state, besides
other interests of a valuable character. Mr. Wittwer was originally a Repub-
lican, but- later espoused the cause of the Democrats and for years took an
active part in local politics, for some time serving as assessor of the precinct
of Nemaha, as a school director and in other local capacities, ever doing his
duty as a good citizen. He was a member of the German Reformed church,
as is his widow, and was an active participant in local good works. He was
an active member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic and
ever took a warm interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization. Diu"-
ing the great land rush into Oklahoma in 1889 Mr. Wittwer joined the "race"'
and came out with a fine quarter-section claim. * He died at his home on
Spring creek on January i, 1909, being then in the sixty-ninth year of his
age, and not long after his death his widow moved to Salem, where she is
now living. In the spring of 1916 she sold one of her farms and then divided
the estate among her children, though retaining in her own right five hundred
and forty acres of land. Mrs. Wittwer is a very capable manager and is
(|uite well circumstanced.

It was on April 19, 1868, that Frederick Wittwer was united in mar-

1052 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

r'ui'^e t(i ]\rary Ann Stalder, wlio was born in Fulton county, Ohio, on July
.^o. 1S51. a (laughter ot Jacol) and Mary Ann ( I'^ankhauser) Stalder, natives
lit the re])ul)lic of Switzerland, who left their home in Bern and came to this
c(n!ntry. settling in Ohio, where they remained until in March, 1865, when
they came to Nebraska with their family and settled on a farm ten miles west
of Salem, where the)' spent the remainder of their lives, substantial pioneers
of that community. To Frederick and ]Mary Ann (Stalder) Wittwer were
born fourteen children, namely : Edward, a substantial farmer of the pre-
cinct of Nemaha; \A'^illiam, of Las Lunas, New Mexico; Charles, of Nemaha
precinct; Mrs. Rosa Porr, of that .same precinct; Henry, now a resident of
Kansas; Joseph, of the precinct of Nemaha; Hiram, of that same precinct;
Peter, a resident of Greeley county, this state; Isaac, of Council Bluffs, Iowa;
Louis, of the precinct of Nemaha; Elizabeth, a professional musician, who is
now making her home at Los Angeles, California; Rachel, a teacher in the
schools of North Platte, this state ; Salome, who is at home with her mother
at Salem, and \"iola, who received her education at Brownell Hall College
at Omaha and is also at home.

FREDRICK BUCHER, Sr.

l->edrick Bucher, -Sr., one of Richardson county's most substantial
ranclimen and the proprietor of a fine place of more than six hundred acres
in the old Middleburg section of Speiser township, is a native of the republic
of Switzerland, but has been a resident of this country and of this county
since tS8i and has done exceedingly well since entering upon his farming
operations here. He was Ixjrn in the canton of Bern on August 23, 1849,
son of i'redrick and Mary Bucher, also natives of Switzerland, who spent all
their lives in their native land. Fredrick Bucher was a miller, as was his
father befure him. and the old mill is still Ijeing operated there, now under
the direction of his other son, John.

Reared in his native Switzerland, Fredrick Bucher grew up to the life
of the mill and became an expert miller. In 1871 he married Louise Mar-
mett, also a native of Switzerland, born in 1847. and after his marriage con-
tinued working in the mill and presently became manager of the same, operat-
ing it for five years, at the end of which time it became necessary for him
t(j give way to his brother, who is still operating the mill, and look for
another place. Seeing no opening there to his liking he decided to come to

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO53

the United States and make a new home in the West, regarding which he had
heard much as the land of opportunity. Disposing of his interests in
Switzerland he came to this country in 1881, arriving here with about four
thousand dollars, and si.x months later bought the place on which he is now
living and where he has lived ever since, never having had cause to regret
the decision that prompted him to come to Nebraska.

Upon coming to this county Mr. Bucher looked about a bit and on
December 9, 1881, bought two hundred and forty acres of land owned by
George Gerdes, who was then keeping the postofHce at "Middleburg", in
Speiser township and who had erected on the place a small frame house. In
that house Mr. Bucher and his family settled down and proceeded to develop
the farm. It was necessary for Mr. Bucher to assume somewhat of a debt
on taking possession of the place, but he had a stout heart and had no doubt
of his ability to discharge the obligation. From the very beginning of his
operations there he was successful and it was not long until he was able td
liegin enlarging his land holdings, and this he kept up until now he is the
owner of six hundred and twenty-two acres, one of the best-kept ranches in
that part of the county, his eldest son, Frederick, now being the practical
manager of the ranch, Mr. Bucher some time ago having practically retired
from the active labors of the place. He has a fine eleven-room house on the
place, a great improvement over the little postoffice building in which he first
had his home there, and his great barn and extensive hay and cattle sheds,
together with the other impro-\-ements of the place are in keeping. In 1898
Mr. Bucher made a trip back to his old home in Switzerland on a visit to his
brother and sisters, but was quite content to return to his home in Richard-
son county and is equally content to spend the rest of his life in this country.

Mr. and Mrs. Bucher have two sons, Frederick and John Alfred, and a
<laughter, Louisa, the latter of whom is at home. The brothers own a quarter
of a section of land in this county and a ranch of fourteen hundred acres over
in Phelps county and are doing very well in their operations. Frederick
Bucher married Lucy Hunzeker and has six children. Gertrude, Leo, Erold,
Margaret, Frederick and Marie. John A. Bucher married Sophia Eis and
lias one child, a son, Raymond. The Buchers are members of the Reformed
church and take a proper part in church work, as well as in the general good
works and social activities of the community, helpful in all proper ways in
advancing the common welfare of the neighborhood in which they live. Mr.
Bucher is a Republican, but votes independently in local politics, and ever
since becoming a citizen of this country has given his earnest attenti(in to
political affairs.

I054 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

\MLLIAM AI. WEDDLE.

William >.I. W'eddle, one of the best-known farmers and stockmen of
the precinct (jf East Muddy in this count}-, is a native of the old Hoosier state,
but has been a resident of Nebraska since he was nine years of age, having
come here in 1872 with his parents from Illinois, to which state they had
moved from Indiana some years previously. He was born on a farm in the
vicinity of Xashville, in Brown county, one of the most picturesque regions
in all Hoiisierdom, November 19, 1863, son of Lewis M. and Atartha A.
( Meaner ) ^^'eddle, both of whom were born in that same county, who became
pioneers of Richardson county and here spent their last days, the former
dying at the home of his son, the subject of this sketch, in the fall of 1915.

Lewis M. \Veddle, an honored veteran of the Civil War, \\'ho became
one of the most substantial pioneers of Richardson county, was born in Brown
county, Indiana, October 6, 1842, and spent his lx)yhood on a farm. On
February 5, 1863, at Nashville, the county seat of his home county, he mar-
ried Alartha .\. Fleener and established his home on a farm in Brown county.
The next year, in August, 1864, he enlisted for service in the Union army
during the Civil A\^ar and was honorably discharged in 1865. The next
year, in 1866, he moved with his family to Vennillion county, Illinois, and
remained there until 1872, when he moved to Nebraska and located near
Nebraska City. After the drought of 1874 he came down into Richardson
county and located near Shubert, in which ser.ticn of the county he spent the
remainder of his life. At first he lived northeast of Shubert, but about a
quarter of a century ago he moved to the farm cast of Stella, where his son.
the subject of this sketch, now resides, and six years later moved to Shuliert.
In that village his wife died in 1908' and he afterward made his home with his
son, Williaiu 'SI. Weddle, in whose home he died on November 24, 1915.
His body was interred in Prairie Union cemetery with Masonic ceremonies.
-Mr. W'eddle had been a Mason since 1875. He also w-as a member of Ancient
Order of United ^^'orkmen and of the W^oodmen of the World and was a
member of the Christian church. Mr. Weddle took much pride in his family
and each child received a substantial inheritance. He was especially proud
of tlie little people of the family, tlie grandchildren and great-grandchildren,
and made himself one of them, taking them about with him and spending
long hours in \ isiting with them; during the later years of his life, for their
enjoyment, e\er having about him a liberal supply of candy and other
•'goodies.'" During the grasshopper invasion of 1875 ^I''- ^Veddlc gladiv

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO55

would have abandoned his land prospects here and would have moved back
to Illinois if he had had money enough to pay the freight on his small belong-
ings, but he was compelled to "stick it out" and it is well that he did, for he
presently began to prosper and he prospered largely, between 1876 and 1900
being regarded as one of the most extensive shippers of live stock hereabout,
many times shipping train loads of cattle at a time. During his later years
he turned the management of his farms over to his sons, but continued to the
last to give considerable personal attention to the large mule-breeding industry
he' had built up and which his son, William M. Weddle, is still carrying on
with much success. Mr. Weddle gave his earnest attention to local civic
affairs and for some time served as county supervisor from his district. To
Lewis M. \\'eddle and wife were born eleven children, all of whom are still
living and of whom the subject-of this sketch was the first-born, the others
being as follow: Selman, of Ouincy, Illinois; Sarah, wife of George Brisby,
of near \'erdon, this county; Mrs. .Mmeda Lewis, north of Shubert; James
A., southeast of Stella: Lenora, wife of Fred Colglazier, of Falls City; John
F., of Stella; Walter J. and Oscar E.. of western Nebraska; L. \\'alkup,
residing southeast of Stella and Gertrude, wife of Samuel Harris, also living
scjutheast of Stella, all of whom were with their father during the last week
of his illness and were all present at his funeral.

.\s noted above, William M. Weddle was nine years of age when his
parents came to Nebraska and he completed his schooling in the Walnut
(irove school in the precinct of Barada. From thje days of his boyhood he
was an able assistant to his father in the labors of improving and developing
the home place and when twenty-one years of age began farming on his own
account on one of his father's farms up in Nemaha county, but in 1897 moved
to the farm of twn himdred acres, a part of his father's estate, where he is
now living and where he ever since has made his home. He has made many
substantial improvements on that place and has one of the best farm plants
in the neighborhood. !'"or years .Mr. Weddle has given special attention to
the breeding of mules and has done much to improve the strain of that valu-
able and hardy stock hereabout. Mr. Weddle is a Democrat and has ever
gi\en a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has not been a
seeker after public office. He is a memlier of the local lodges of the Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Modern Woodmen of America and
of the Ancient Order of I'nited Workmen and in the aft'airs of these several
organizations takes a warm interest.

On September i. 1884, William M. \Veddle was united in marriage to
L\dia .\. Doman. who was born in Louisa county, Iowa, third in order of

1056 ' RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

birth of tlie eleven children born to John H. and Martha E. (Matthews)
iJiiinan, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Illinois, who
came to this county in the spring of 1877 and continued to make their home
iiere until their retirement from the farm and removal to Bonesteel, South
Dakota, where they are now living, Mr. Doman being now (191 7) seventy-
six years of age and his wife, seventy-two. Mr. and Mrs. Weddle have
three children, Lillie ]\I., wife of Charles Hall, of the neighboring county of
Nemaha: Charles S., of the precinct of Barada, and Anna L., who was born
in 1907. The W'eddles have a very pleasant home in East Muddy precinct
and take an interested part in the general social activities of their home com-
munit}-.

WILLIA^r RILEY.

W'illiam Riley, extensive landowner and cattle breeder, may be classed
among the pioneers in this part of the state of Nebraska, having lived here
since the year after his birth, and by his industry has raised himself to be
one of the substantial farmers of Richardson count}-. He was born near
Salem, New Jersey, on September 2y, 1858, the son of ^Michael and IMary
(O'Brien) Riley, who landed at Rulo, this county, in 1859 ^"^1 who were
pioneers here for eight years before Nebraska was admitted to the Union.

Michael and Mary (O'Brien) Riley were married in 1853 in New
Jersey and came to Nebraska Territory in 1859, coming on to Rulo, this
■county. They travelled by ox-team from the latter place to within three
miles of Verdon, in Liberty precinct, and there Michael Riley secured a
quarter section of land, having previously obtained a warrant from an old
Mexican soldier, giving the right to enter the land. He bought a small house
which he moved to his claim and here he and his wife and three sons and
liis brother-in-law, Thomas Farrell, and his wife and son made their home
together. This house was destroyed a couple of weeks later by a tornado,
but the scattered boards were gathered and with the addition of some new
lumber they rebuilt the house. !^Iichael Riley had two yoke of oxen and
proceeded to break the land, soon having the same under cultivation. He
sold out in 1864 and bought one hundred and twenty acres near Dawson,
where he lived until 1884, when he liecatue the owner of a tract of land
northeast of Dawson and there spent the rest of his life. Michael and Mary
Riley were the parents of seven children, namely : Daniel, who lives in
Grant precinct: James, who died in Omaha in 1907: William: Bernard, the

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO57

first of the famil\- born in this county : Michael, who is farming the ptace on
which his father died; Mary, who married M. J. Clancy, of Dawson, and
Annie, who died in 1871. The parents of these children were boni in
County Tipperary, Ireland, the former in 1826 and the latter in 1830 and
were married in this country, where Michael Riley came in 1847 ^""l
Mary O'Brien in 1851.

William Riley came to Richardson county with his parents when an
infant of six months. He attended the district schools of his neighborhood
and after finishing school, worked as a railroad section hand at Dawson for
about one year. At the end of this period he helped his father on the farm.
He and his brother worked together until the estate was settled, when he
became heir to one hundred and sixty acres of prime land, on which there
was only a small house. In 191 1 he built a modern house of nine rooms,
neatly painted white, and finished throughout with all conveniences necessary
to domestic comfort. He also built a cattle, horse and hog barn, and every-
thing around his farm is in excellent condition. Mr. Riley carried out the
erection of all these buildings and effected the improvements at considerable
cost ; he set out a large grove of trees and planted evergreens on the north
side of the buildings, which add much to the beauty of the farm. He is now
the owner of five hundred acres of land, forming the home place, in section
13, Grant precinct: he has eighty acres in Liberty precinct and one hundred
and twenty acres in Nemaha precinct. In addition to his farming activities
he is engaged in raising Aberdeen Polled Angus cattle and has some choice
strains of that breed.

William Riley has been twice married. In 1885 he was united in mar-
riage to Johanna Fenton, a daughter of Jerry Fenton, and who was born in
Virginia and died on July 22, 1889, aged twenty-three years. To this union
two children were born, who died in infancy. On March 8, 1907, Mr.
Riley was married to Katherine Kelly, daughter of Martin and Nora
(O'Neil) Kelly, natives of Ireland, where her father was born in 1828 and
died in 1902. His wife was born in 1858 and died on May 30, 1900. They
were married in \^'isconsin and came to Richardson county in 1879, set-
tling in Ohio precinct, where they spent their last days. They were the parents
of nine children, as follow: Martin J., living in Liberty precinct; Mary
Ellen, who married J. J. Tangney and lives in Kansas City, Kansas; James,
of Liberty precinct; Katherine, who is the wife of the subject of this sketch;
Bridget, living on the old home place; Anna Nora, living in Ohio precinct
and keeping house for her brothers: Elizabeth, who married W. T. Cully
(67)

1058 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

and lives near Friend, this state, and John and Miles, living on the old home-
stead in Ohio precinct. No children have been born to Mr. Riley's second
marriage, but he and his wife have adopted two children, John and Mary
Donnelly, who are cousins. Mr. Riley and his wife are members of the
Catholic church and are active in all church affairs. Mr. Riley is a supporter
of the Democratic party, but has never been a seeker after public office. He
is a member of the Knights of Columbus and of the Farmers Union, and
in the affairs of these organizations takes a warm interest. Mr. Riley has
given evidence of his love of country by purchasing liberally of Liberty
Bonds and contributing to the Red Cross.

FRANCIS WITHER.

In the historical section of this work there is set out in most interesting
fashion Francis Withee's own story of "Life on the Plains in Early Days,"
and there is therefore no necessity at this point for an enlargement of the
details of that adventurous period in the life of the "old-timer" whose name
forms the caption for this biographical sketch. Suffice it to say that Mr.
Withee, who is one of the real pioneers of Richardson county, as well as one
of the best-known men in the county, for three years after coming here
acted as a freighter and "bull-whacker'' on the plains, his last trip from Neb-
raska City to Denver being made in 1866. During that period he had many
stirring adventures and came to be as familiar with conditions on the plains
as any one of that courageous band whose activities in this region in the early
days of the settlement of the plains and the mountain country, created one
of the most interesting and picturesque incidents in the history of the United
States. Mr. Withee is a well-read man of keen intellect and the diary he
has kept for many years is a veritable epitome of the history of Richardson
county and this adjacent region and a most valuable contribution to the annals
of the great state of Nebraska, whose development he has watched from the
very beginning and in which development he has done well his part.

Francis Withee, former justice of the peace in and for the precinct of
Porter, former assessor of that precinct, the proprietor of a farm of one
hundred and sixty acres in the vicinity of Stella and one of the real "old
settlers" of Richardson county, is a native of the old Buckeye state, but has
been a "Westemer" since he was three or four years of age and a resident
of Nebraska since 1858, he having come across the river from Iowa with his

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO59

father in that jear, the family setthng on this side in the then Territory of
Nebraska, which at that time comprised all that wonderful stretch of country
from the Territory of Kansas north to the Dominion line and west to the
Rockies. He was born on a farm in Aurelius township, Washington county,
Ohio, November i6, 1844, son of Ephraim and Deborah E. (Grant) Withee,
natives of the state of Maine, and the former of whom later came into Neb-
raska by way of Iowa and here spent his last days.

Ephraim Withee was born at Norridgewock, in Somerset county, Maine,
Mai-ch 6, 1810, a son of Nathaniel and Lydia (Fairbrother) Withee, both of
old New England stock, the former of English descent and the latter a daugh-
ter of a Scotsman who came to this country and married a girl of the old
French-Acadian stock, a member of one of those unhappy families of
Acadians who were driven from their pleasant homes in Acadia (Nova
Scotia) down onto the inhospitable coast of New England; an incident so
feelingly narrated in Longfellow's "Evangeline." Reared in Maine, Ephraim
Withee there grew to manhood and married Deborah E. Grant, who also was
lx)rn in Maine, in 1816, daughter of Samuel Daniel and Abigail (Bickford)
Grant, both natives of that same state, members of old New England fam-
ilies, of Scottish descent. After his marriage Ephraim Withee moved to
Ohio, in 1838, and settled in Washington county, that state, where he settled
on a pioneer farm and where he remained until 1848, when he disposed of
his holdings there and came West, via steamboat route, settling in Lee county,
Iowa, where he followed saw-mill work and teaming. Two years later, in
1850, he moved with his family to \^an Buren county, same state, but not
finding conditions on the farm there to his liking, presently moved to Bona-
parte, in that county, and thence to Croton and later to Keosauqua, same
county, where he presently found himself "getting ahead" in the way of cat-
tle and other possessions. There he remained until 1858, in which year he
moved across the state of Iowa and on across the river into the then Terri-
tory of Nebraska, settling on a Missouri river "bottoms" farm in Nemaha
county between Nemaha county and Brownville, and where he established his
home, one of the early settlers of that section. He remained there until the
spring of 1864, when he traded what the river's encroachments had left of
his "bottoms" farm for the north half of section 12, town 314, later organ-
ized as Porter precinct, this county, assuming a considerable obligation of
debt as "boot," and moved down here, arriving on May 2, 1864, and estab-
lishing his home on the northwest quarter of the above section; he and his
sons proceeding- to improve and develop the same and at the same time tak-

ro60 RICHARDSON COUXTY, NEBRASKA.

iiig contracts to "break" other land thereabout in exchange for acreage, receiv-
ing an acre of land for each acre broken up for cultivation. There Ephraim
Withee remained until in the early spring of 1871. when he left the farm and
moved up into Nemaha City, where his death occurred six weeks later, May
16, 1871. Ephraim Withee was thrice married and was the" father of six
children, of whom but two grew to maturity, the subject of this sketch and
his brother, George Withee, the latter of whom years ago left this count}^ for
the coast and died and is buried at Portland, Oregon. The mother of these
children died in Iowa in 1852 and Ephraim Withee later married Elizabeth
Williams, after whose death he married Ann Hillyard, who survived him
and who later remarried.

As noted above, Francis Withee was but four years of age when his
parents moved from Ohio to Iowa and he was thirteen when he came over
into Nebraska with his father in 1858. Inured to pioneering from the days
of his childhood, he grew up hardy and competent, accustomed to the wild,
free life of the plains, and on October i. 1862, he then being a month or more
under eighteen years of age, began the life of a freighter, "bull-whacking"
across the plains, and followed that hazardous and adventurous occupation
for three years, making his last trip from Nebraska City to Denver in 1866;
interesting incidents in which period of his life are entertainingly set out in
his own story of "I,ife on the Plains in Early Days," presented elsewhere in
tlris work. Upon abandoning the life of a plainsman Mr. Withee settled
down on the home farm in the precinct of Porter and was a valuable aid to
his father and brother in the development of the same. After his marriage
in the spring of 1871 he settled down on the old home place and has con-
tinued to make that his home to this day, one of the best established farmers
in the northern part of the county. Upon their father's death George Withee
took the east half of the Withee half section and Francis later became owner
of the home quarter section, which he improved in admirable shape and on
which now, in the pleasant "evening time" of his life, he is very comfortably
situated. During his boyhood Mr. Withee was an ardent "Know-Nothing."
his father having been one of the most active supporters of that "American"
party ; but upon the fonnation of the Republican party became affiliated witli
that party and has ever since been an ardent Republican, for many years one
of the leaders of his party in this county. For one term Mr. Withee served
as justice of the peace in and for the precinct of Porter and was for many
years assessor of that precinct, assessing the same fourteen times, a record
of incumbencv in that office there. He also has served as school director and

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO61

during the taking of the thirteenth census was the census enumerator for his
home precinct.

On April 5, 1871, Francis Withee was united in marriage to Mary Eliza-
beth Elmore, who was born in Morgan county, Illinois, October 13, 1848,
and was reared in Cass county, same state, daughter of Darius and Mary
(Young) Elmore, who settled in Nebraska in 1868. To this union four
children have been born, namely: Jessie, who is at home; Luella F., who
married E. W. Clift, of Humboldt, this county, and has three children, Ethel
Doris Lee, Warren and Harold Eugene; Ephraim, born on January 4, 1880,
who died on July 2, 1915, and Joe Henry, born on March 8, 1882, who is
operating the home farm. The Withees have a very pleasant home and have
ever taken a proper part in the general social activities of their home com-
munity, e\'er helpful in promoting such agencies as have been designed to
advance the general welfare. Mr. Withee has been a Freemason since June
19, 1880, on which date he became a member of Oak Lodge No. 29, Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons, at Nemaha City, and is a charter member of the
lodge (No. 105) of that ancient order at Stella, in the afifairs of which he
ever has taken a warm interest. He also is a member of the local lodge of
the Ancient Order of United Workmen at that place.

ISRAEL L. HEIM.

Israel L. Heim figures among the best and most enterprising members
of the farming community in Richardson county. As a breeder of thorough-
bred registered cattle Tiis name is known outside the limits of his home county,
many breeders of Aberdeen Polled Angus cattle attending his private sales
to obtain some of that choice strain for breeding purposes. He was born c»i
October 26, 1873, in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, a son of John J. and
Rosina (Heim) Heim, also natives of the Keystone state, the former born on
July 2, 1839, and now living with his son, Israel, on the old homestead, and
the latter born on August 8, 1838, who came to Richardson county in 1882.

John J. Heim settled on a farm in this county now owned by his son,
Israel, and continued actively engaged in farming up to the time of his rietire-
ment. He is the son of Jacob and Regina (Steiger) Heim. Jacob Heim
came to this country from Germany when eleven years old, in 181 7, with his
father, also named Jacob, a native of Germany. Regina Steiger Wcis born
in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Leonard Steiger, who was

I062 RICHARDSON COUXTY, NERRASKA.

born in Germany. Rosina Heim, mother of the subject of this sketch, was a
daughter of Christian Heim, who married Rosina Wagner. He came to
America when eighteen years old, in 1817. John J- and Rosina Heim were
the parents of seven children, namely : Elizabeth, who married Samuel
Heim, of Grant precinct; Jacob, who lives one mile north and one and a half
miles. west of his brother, Israel L. ; Mrs. Anna Stoltz, who lives near Hum-
lx)ldt; Mrs. Mary Stratton, living in Brownville: Israel L., who lives on the
home place; William, who lives in Arizona, and Mrs. Lucy Draper, living in
Manilla, Iowa.

Israel I-. Heim was educated in the schools of Dawson and after com-
pleting his schooling he remained on his father's farm, a valuable aid to him
in the work of cultivating the land. He subsequently bought the farm from
his father and had the house, which was built in 1899, remodeled in 1913
and is now modern in every respect, amply surrounded by shade trees and
evergreens. His farm of one hundred and sixty acres is located in section
10, Grant township, and is well improved and in excellent condition. In
19 1 2 Mr. Heim began breeding Aberdeen Polled Angus cattle and has some
splendid specimens of thoroughbred registered stock. He has a herd of ten
cows, headed by the thoroughbred, "Dinsmore Lad," bought from L. H.
Howe, of Humboldt. He sells much of this stock to cattle breeders at private
sales. He also raises thoroughbred Duroc-Jersey hogs, of which he ships
about a carload annually.

On October 4, 1899, Israel L. Heim was united in marriage to Gertrude
Draper, who was born in Iowa, on January 16, 1878, a daughter of William I.
and Isabelle (Talboys) Draper, who came to Nebraska in 1879, settling in
Richardson county. In a sketch appearing in another part of this work
relating to William I. Draper (Mrs. Heim's father), more extended and
fitting reference is made to the Draper family, who were originally of Eng-
lish descent. To Israel L. and Gertrude (Draper) Heim the following chil-
dren have been born: Theodore, born on July i, 1901, now attending Daw-
son high school; Rosina, March 14, 1903, and Lucy, March 23, 191 1.

Mr. Heim is a supporter of the Republican party, but reserves the right
to vote independently as occasion demands and has never been a seeker after
public office. The Heim family are members of the United Evangelical
church and warm supporters of the same. Mrs. Heim is a graduate of the
Dawson high school and taught school for some years. She was assistant
principal of the Dawson high school for one year and also taught in the dis-
trict schools of Humboldt. Mr. and Mrs. Heim are cultured and refined

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO63

people, who take much interest in the cultural and social activities of the
coniniunitx- in which- they live. Their modem home is furnished with taste,
everything- betokening- excellent judgment.

WILLIAM L DRAPER.

William L Draper, a farmer, now living in Grant precinct, east of Daw-
son, who has been all over the states in search of experience, was born on
January 2, 1850, in Warren county, Iowa, a son of John M. and Rebecca
(Stanton) Draper, natives of Kentucky and Tennessee, respectively. John
M,. Draper was the son of John Draper, a native of Virginia, whose ancestors
came from England. Tradition has it that the original members of the
Draper family came from England in an early day and settled in Virginia,
the Carolinas and the East.

John J\I. Draper was born in 1820 and died in February. 1868. His
wife, Rebecca (Stanton) Draper, was born in June, 1826, and died in July,
1913. She was a daughter of Richard Stanton, of Tennessee. The parents
of John M. Draper migrated to Indiana in the thirties of the last century and
settled in Marion county, Indiana, and were among the pioneer settlers of
that part of the Hoosier state. In 1847 John M. Draper settled in Warren
county, Iowa, where his son, William I., was born and reared. In 1862
John M. Draper enUsted for service in the Civil War and became a member
of Company D, Thirty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry. His death was
caused by a kick from a mule; his death ensued thirteen days later, and he
was l)rought home for interment in February, 1863. John M. and Rebecca
(Stanton) Draper were the parents of six children, namely: Mrs. Ruth
Hunt, who died in Iowa in 1875; Mrs. Rachel Flesher, who lives in Oregon;
William I., the subject of this sketch; Eliza, deceased; Mrs. Cora Jenkins,
who lives in Cooper county, Missouri, and Mrs. Virginia Porter, who died
in 1915 in Kansas City, Missouri. Following the death of her husband, Mrs.
Rebecca Draper left Iowa in 1867 and some time later married Daniel Fox,
and still later, moved to Missouri, where she died.

William I. Draper left Iowa in 1867 and started out to see the United
States, traveling all over the countn,' to the Pacific coast and doing all kinds
of work that offered. During the course of his travels, extending over a
period of ten years, he gained considerable experience in worldly afifairs and
finally drifted back to Iowa. Following his marriage in 1877, he came to

1064 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Richardson county in 1878 and rented a farm for two years, at the end
of which period he bought eighty acres of land in section 12, Grant precinct;
there were no improvements on the holding. Mr. Draper proceeded with-
out delay to put his land into cultivation and presently built a house, success
attending all his efiforts. He lived on this farm from April 18, 1881, until
his removal to his present home, near Dawson, on March 13, 1904. He
added to his original eighty acres, finally getting together one hundred and
ninety-eight acres. He sold his original place recently and bought the east
half of the northeast quarter of section 13, and is now the owner of one hun-
dred and ninety-eight acres, all in one tract.

On February 21, 1877, William I. Draper was united in marriage to
Isabelle Talboys, who was born on July 8, 1856, in Great Barrington, Massa-
chusetts. She is the daughter of Thomas and Anne (Vose) Talboys, natives
of the city of Birmingham. England, who emigrated from that country U^
Iowa in an early day. Mr. and Mrs. Draper are the parents of six children,
namely: Gertrude, wife of Israel L. Heim, further mention of whom is
made in another part of this work, in a notice of the life of Mr. Heim;
Walter E., a practicing physician, living at Manilla, Iowa, since 1906, a
graduate of the Medical College of Sioux City, Iowa; Tida, who married
Alfred Swanson, a railroad engineer, who lives at Sioux City, Iowa; Mrs.
Orra Swi.segood, who lives near Verdon, this county; Arta, who married
John Parriot, lives at Elwood, this state, and John, a student in Kansas Citv
V'eterinary College. Mr. Draper is a Republican, but votes independently as
occasion requires ; he has never been a seeker after public office.

JOHN W. WIXOX.

John W. Wixon, an honored veteran of the Civil War and one of the
best-known pioneer farmers of this section of Nebraska, who has been living
retired in the pleasant village of Stella since 1891, is a native of the great
Empire state, but has been a resident of the West since he was fourteen
years of age and of this state since 1869, coming over here from Iowa, he
previously having been a resident of Illinois and of Minnesota, a soldier
from the latter state and a member of the famous First Minnesota, which
bore the tragic record of having lost the largest percentage of its numbers
of any regiment engaged in the Civil War. He was born in the state of
New York on December 28, 1839, a son of \A'illiam L. and Eleanor (Finch)

JDHX W. WIXOX.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO65

Wixoii, the fcirmer of whom was Ixirn in that same state, a son of Seth
Wixon, a soldier of the War of 1812, whose father, of EngHsh descent and
a member of an old Colonial family, was a soldier in the patriot army during
the Revohitionary War. Eleanor Finch also was born in New York state,
a daughter of Robert Finch, of Scottish descent.

\\'illiam L. Wixon left New York state with his family in 1855 and
moved to Bureau county, Illinois, where he was engaged in farming until
1859, when lie moved to a farm near the city of Springfield, in that same
state, and there remained imtil the fall of i860, when he moved to Minne-
sota, where his death occurred in the following year. He and his wife were
the parents of ten children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the
fourth in order of birth, the others being as follow : Mrs. Rosella White,
a widow, now living at Moscow, Idaho; Edward H., deceased, who was a
veteran of the Civil War, a member of the Thirty-fourth Illinois Infantry ;
;\Irs. INIarilla H. Lawton, deceased; William L., deceased, who also was a
veteran of the Civil War. and member of the Fourth Minnesota Infantry;
Olive, deceased; ?^Irs. Josephine Wood, deceased; Mrs. Emily E. Clark, of
Minneapolis, ^linnesota; Frank L., deceased, and Mrs. Ida May Copeland,
deceased. It will be noted by the above that two of Mr. Wixon's brothers
also were soldiers of the Union during the Civil War and it also is worthy
of iKjte that all his ))rothers-in-law also served as soldiers in behalf of the
L'nion during that great struggle between the states.

John \\'. Wixon was about twenty years of age when he went with his
fatlier to Minnesota from Illinois and was living there when the Civil War
iM-oke out. Upon President Lincoln's first call for volunteers on that fateful
(lav in Ajiril, 1861, he responded to the call to the colors and on April 19 was
enrolled as a member of the First Regiment. Minnesota Volunteer Infantry,
and on May 22 re-enlisted for the term of three years, going to the front as a
meml)er of Company H of that regiment, and with that command served
until his discharge on a physician's certificate of disability, following his par-
ticipation in the battle of Gettysburg, in which the First ^linnesota immortal-
ized itself in the great charge, an attack of fever succeeding that engagement
incapacitating him from further immediate active service; but in September,
1864, he re-enlisted as a member of the Fourth Illinois Cavalry and with that
command served for some months after the close of the war, receiving his
final discharge at Houston. Texas, October 13, 1865. During all this long
period of service and participation in some of the bloodiest and most stirring-
battles and engagements of the war, Mr. Wixon was wounded but twice,
receiving a l)ulk't wound in the hip at the first battle of Bull Run and later

I066 RICHARDSON' COUXTY, NKBRASKA.

a bayonet thrust in the foot during a cavalry charge. Among the other bat-
tles besides Bull Run and the great battle of Gettysburg, above mentioned,
ill which Mr. Wixon participated may I)e mentioned Balls Bluff, the second
battle of \\'inchester, the Peninsular campaign, Yorktown, Williamsburg,
White Oak, Seven Pines, Fair Oaks, Gaines' Mill, the seven-days fight to
Malvern Hill, Harrison's Landing, along the Chickahominy, Antietam,
Fredericksburg and Mary's Heights. During the later period of his service,
while engaged with the Fourth Illinois Cavalry, he served mainly in Arkansas
and in Te.xas and was in the battles at Shreveport and Brownsville and on
the expedition up the Rio Grande to Eagle Point.

Upon the completion of his military service, John W. Wixon went to
his old home in Bureau county, Illinois, but presently went from there to
Henry county, same state, where in the spring of 1867 he was married. The
next year, in 1868, he moved from Illinois to Iowa and a y.ear later came
to Nebraska, arriving at Brownville on June 7, 1869. He bought a farm in
Nemaha county and established his home, remaining there until 1891, when
he retired from the active labors of the farm and moved down into this county,
locating at Stella, where he ever since has made his home and where he is
very plea.santly situated. Mr. Wixon's farming operations prospered and he
has become an extensive landowner, the possessor of two hundred and forty
acres of fine land in the precinct of Porter, this county; a quarter section of
excellent land near Geneva, in Fillmore county, this state, and another quarter
section in Chase county, this state, and is very well circumstanced. Air.
AVixon is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local
political affairs. During his residence in Illinois he served for a term as
township assessor. He served for one term as constable in Nemaha county
and for three terms as a member of the town teard of Stella. Mr. Wixon is
an active member of McKinley Post, Grand Army of the Republic, at Stella,
in the affairs of which patriotic organization he has long taken an earnest
interest, and is a member of the local lodge (No. 105) of the Ancient Free
and Accepted Masons, in the affairs of which organization he also has taken
a warm interest.

Mr. Wixon has been twice married. On April 27, 1867, in Henry
county, Illinois, he was united in marriage to Elmira Benson, who was born
in that county on August 4, 1850, daughter of Frederick Benson and wife,
who later came to Nebraska and became pioneers of Nemaha county, and to
that union were born seven children, namely : Alvin J., now a resident of
Colorado; George E., a veteran of the Spanish-American War, having served

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASK \. IO67

as a member of the First Nebraska Regiment during that struggle, and who
is now farming two miles north of Stella; William L., who is farming his
father's old home farm; Frederick G., now a resident of Omaha: Airs. Ida
Sayres, of Stella: Samuel D., a farmer at Ashland, this state, and Daisy May,
deceased. The mother of these children died in 1905 and in 1907 Mr. Wixon
married Mrs. I.aura A. Keyes. a widow, who died in December, 191 5.

CHARLES FELT.

Charles Felt, a well-known building contractor at Shubert, this county,
and the owner of a half section of land in Colorado, one hundred acres of
which he personally placed under cultivation some years ago, w^as born on a
farm in Allen county, Indiana, June 2, 1852, son of Peter and Alma
(Cline) Felt, natives of Germany, who were married in their native land and
then came to this country, settling on a farm in Indiana, where their children
were born and reared. There were seven of these children, of whom four
are still living, the subject of this sketch having three sisters still living.
Peter Felt, who spent his last days on his farm in Indiana, was married twice,
and by his second marriage was the father of four children. His second
wife, Mrs. Weber, had three children by her first marriage.

Reared on a farm Charles Felt remained at home until he had attained
his majority, when he went to the neighboring city of Ft. Wayne and there
engaged at work at the carpenter's trade, continuing thus engaged at that
place until 1879, when he went to Illinois, there married and in 1881 he came
to Nebraska and settled on a farm in the precinct of Muddy, in this county,
he and his brother, Peter, renting a farm there. When the town of Shubert
was started the next year he moved to that place and there resumed work as
a builder, acting as foreman on the erection of three of the largest business
buildings in the town, besides other work there. In 1888 he returned to Ft.
AVayne, Indiana, but in 1891 came back to this county and resumed his build-
ing operations at Shubert. In 1909 he went to Colorado and hoiiiesteaded a
half section of land in Yuma county, that state, and proceeded to improve
and develop the same, remaining there until 19 14, by which time he had one
hundred acres of the place under cultivation. He then returned to Shubert,
where he again resumed building operations and has since Ijeen thus engaged,
one of the best-known building contractors in that part of the county. Mr.

I068 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Felt has gi\en proper attention to the civic affairs of his home town and for
some time served as a member of the city council.

(3n August 4, 187Q, Charles Felt was united in marriage to Lucetta
Shubert, who was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, April 5, 1864, daughter
of James and Lucy (Stanley) Shuljert, who became pioneers of Richardson
county and further and fitting mention of which family is made elsewhere
in this volume, and to this union three children have Ijeen born, .Sophia C,
who died at the age of fourteen years; Mary E., wife of L. Sayres, of North
McAlester, Oklahoma, and Eliza E., wife of Louis Brisby, a farmer living in
the precinct of Muddy, southwest of Shubert. Mr. Felt is a member of St.
John's Lutheran church and Mrs. Felt belongs to the Christian church, and
both take an interested, part in church work, as well as in the general good
works of their home town and the community in general. Mr. Felt is a
member of the local lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America and takes a
warm interest in the affairs of the same.

EMANUEL ULMER.

Emanuel Ulmer, one of Richardson county's well-know'n and progressive
farmers and the proprietor of a fine farm in the vicinity of Dawson, in the
precinct of Grant, is a native of the old Keystone state, but has lived in this
county since 1881 and has therefore watched the wonderful development
that has been made in this region since pioneer days. He was born in
Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, March 8, 1856, son of Martin and Catherine
( Shaefer) LHmer, Ixjth of whom were born in that same county, of Ger-
man parentage, and the former of whom died there in 1870, leaving his
widow with a considerable family of children. In 1884 she came to Neb-
raska with her \-ounger children and established her home on a farm in Grant
precinct, this county, in the neighborhood of the home her elder son, the sub-
ject of this sketch, had established there two or three years previously, and
there she spent tiie remainder of her life, her death occurring in 1903. Else-
where in this volume there is set out somewhat more at length something of
the history of this pioneer widow and her family, together with some details
of the genealogy of the Ulmer family, and to that reference the attention of
the reader is resjiect fully invited in this connection.

Having been Init fourteen years of age when his father died, Emanuel
Ulmer earlv began to "hustle" for himself and grew up earnest, sober and

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO69

self-reliant. He was trained as a farmer and in the fall of 1881 canie to
Xebraska with a view to establishing his home on a farm out here in the
]:)eautiful valley of the Nemaha, of which he had heard much from other
Peniisylvanians who had settled here earlier. He bought a tract of land
from Jacob Heim, a Lycoming. county (Pennsylvania) man, who had settled
here in 1874 and had made heavy investments in farm lands, and after his
marriage a few months later to one of Mr. Heim's daughters, established his
home ot: that farm and has ever since made his residence there. For the
unimproved quarter section he originally bought he paid three thousand dol-
lars and as he developed that place and prospered in his affairs he gradually
added to his holdings until he became the owner of four hundred acres of
line land, but has since sold a quarter section to his sons and now holds but
two hundred and forty acres, his original home quarter section and an
"eighty" to the south. He has two houses on his home fann and excellent
farm buildings, the entire farm plant being operated along modern and up-to-
date lines. In addition to his general farming Mr. Ulmer has given con-
siderable attention to the raising of live stock, with particular reference to
Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs, and has done very well, long ha\-ing
been regarded as one of the most substantial farmers in his neighborhood.

On December 29, 1881, just a few months after coming to this county,
Emanuel Ulmer was united in marriage to Sarah Heim, who also was born
in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, July i, 1858, daughter of Jacob and
Regina (Gross) Heim, natives of that same county, who came to Nebraska
in 1874 and became early recognized as among the most influential and use-
ful pioneers of the Dawson neighborhood. Elsewhere in this volume there
is set out at considerable length something of the history of the Heim family
in this county, together with biographical sketches of several members of the
family. Jacob Heim, the pioneer, died at his home in Grant precinct in
April, 1914, at the age of eighty-two years, and his widow is now making
her home with Mr. and Mrs. Ulmer.

To Emanuel and Sarah (Heim) Ulmer six children have been born,
namely: Mary, who married Charles E. Wuster, of Porter precinct, this
county, and has two children, Orville and Miriam; Norman, who married
Merdeth Miller and lives on the farm adjoining that of his father: Edna, who
is at home; Walter, who is attending the Evangelical College at Le Mars,
Towa, and Reuben, who is farming with his brother, Norman, and who mar-
ried True Stratton and has one child, a daughter, Evelyn, and Nelson, at
home. Mrs. LHmer antl the children are members of the L^nited Evangelical

lO/O RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

church and iNJr. Uhiier, who was reared a Baptist, attends the same, the family
taking a proper part in all neighborhood good works, as well as in the general
social activities of the community in which they live. Air. Ulmer is a Demo-
crat, but on local issues is inclined to cast his vote independent of party lines,
preferring to recognize personal fitness rather than party allegiance as a
qualification for office. Mr. Ulmer is a contributing member of the local
chapter of the Ked Cross Society.

DANIEL HIGGINS.

Daniel Higgins, one of Richardson county's well-known and substantial
retired farmers and the proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred and forty
acres two and a half miles northwest of Shubert, who has been making his
home in Shubert since 1910, is a native of the great Empire state, but has
lieen a resident of the West since he was five years of age and of Nebraska
since he was eleven, and has thus seen this region develop from pioneer days.
He was born on a farm in Cattaraugus county, New York, July 16, 1848,
son of Thomas and Catherine ( Davis ) Higgins, natives of Wales, who became
pioneers of Nebraska and here spent their last days.

Thomas Higgins was born in 1818 and when twenty years of age, in
1838, came to the United States from his native Wales and settled in New
York state. In Oneida county, that state, he married Catherine Davis, who
was born in 1816 and who was but three years of age when her parents came
to this country from Wales. After their marriage Thomas Higgins and his
wife made their home in Cattaraugus county, New York, where they remained
until 1854, in which year they came West and located in Wisconsin. Five
years later, in 1859, they came over into the then Territory of Nebraska and
settled in Nemaha county, not far from the Richardson county line, where
they estaljlished their home, among the early settlers of that section, and
there they spent the remainder of their active lives, Thomas Higgins dying
at Stella in 1885 and his widow surviving until 1892. They were the parents
of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order
of birth, the others being as follow: Mrs. Anne Richey, deceased; ]\Irs.
Elizabeth Hart, who died at Cleveland, Oklahoma; Mrs. Mary ^^'ilkinson,
who died in Oregon ; David, John and ^\'illiam, also deceased, and Mrs.
Margaret Edwards, of Shubert.

As noted above, Daniel Higgins was eleven years of age when he came

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. lO/I

to Nebraska and he grew up on the farm, sturdy and strong, herding cattle,
driving oxen to the plow, breaking prairie sod, hauling rails, building fence
and engaging in the numerous other tasks incident to the development of a
pioneer farm, and remained at home until his marriage in 1873, after which
he established his home on a part of his father's farm in Nemaha county,
where he lived for two years, at the end of which time he moved onto the
old home place and was there engaged with his father in farming until the
latter's retirement and removal to Stella five years later, after which he con-
tinued to farm the home place until the distribution of the estate in 1892,
when he moved onto his own farm of one hundred and sixty acres two and
a half miles northwest of Shubert, to which he added eighty acres of the
old home place which he purchased, where he continued actively engaged in
general farming and stock raising until 1910, when he retired from the active
labors of the farm and moved to Shubert, where he and his wife have since
lived and where they have a beautiful modern bungalow in the southern part
of the town.

On January 23, 1873, Daniel Higgins was united in marriage to Lucy
A. Christy, who was torn in Greene county, Illinois, August 11, 1850, daugh-
ter of Henry C. and Electa (Corey) Christy, the former a native of Kentucky
and the latter of \'ermont, who became pioneers of Nebraska in 1870 and
here spent their last days. Henry C. Christy was born on December 5, 1825,
and was but a child when he moved with his parents from Kentucky to south-
ern Illinois, where he grew to manhood. There he married Electa Corey,
who was born on May 3, 1825, and who was but nine years of age when
her parents moved from Vermont to Greene county, Illinois. After his mar-
riage Henry C. Christy continued to make his home in Illinois until 1870,
when he came with his family to Nebraska and .settled on a farm one mile
north of Shubert, in this county, a few years later moving to a farm four
miles northeast of the village, over the line in Nemaha county, and there he
and Ills wife spent the remainder of their lives, the latter dying on February
4, 1912, and the former, twenty-one days later, February 25, 1912. They
were the parents of eight children of whom Mrs. Higgins was the second in
order of birth, the others being as follow : Mary Elizabeth, of Barada pre-
cinct ; John, of Shubert ; Joel, of Guide Rock, this .state ; Ervin, also of Guide
Rock; Mr.s. Martha Crozier, also of Guide Rock; Mrs. Anna Fish, of Barada
precinct, and Leonard, of Shubert.

To Daniel and Lucy A. (Christy) Higgins nine children have been bom.
namely: Cora, a trained nurse, who is now taking a post-graduate course in

10/2 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

New York City; Jennie, also a nurse, who is in New York with her sister;
Mrs. Lydia Callison, who died in 1912; Mrs. Maude Haskins, who Hves on
a farm north of Stella and has one child, a son, George, born on November
9, 1913; Carey T., who married Myrtle Williams and is farming the old
home place; Grace, a stenographer, now employed in Chicago; Mabel, who
died at the age of twelve years; Joseph, an automobile salesman at Lincoln,
this state, and Blanche, who is now a student in the Nebraska State Uni-
versity at Lincoln. The Higginses are members of the Baptist church and
have ever taken an interested part in church work and in the general good
works and social activities of the community. Mr. Higgins is a Republican
by traditional affiliation, but is a warm supporter of the Prohibition move-
ment and has done much to advance the cause of temperance in the com-
numity in which he has Hved since his boyhood days, back in pioneer times.

JOSEPH OGLE.

Among the prosperous farmers and stockmen of Grant township may
be reckoned Joseph Ogle, owner of tlu"ee hundred and twenty acres of prime
land on his home place in section 2, and also owner of one hundred and sixty
acres in Kimball county, this state. In addition to his farming activities he
is also an extensive breeder of Hereford cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs. He
was born on March 31, 1849, in Fulton county, Illinois, the son of John and
Keziah (Burgess) Ogle.

John Ogle was born in Cumberland, Ohio, and in 1873 came to this
state and bought land in Franklin precinct, five miles north of Humboldt,
where he was engaged in farming up to the time of his death in 1878 at
tlie age of fifty-seven years. His wife, Keziah (Burgess) Ogle, was born in
the state of Pennsylvania. She died in 1870 at the early age of thirty-six
years. They were members of the United Brethren church. To John Ogle
and wife ten children were born, two of whom are deceased, the others
being Mrs. Hattie Davenport, a widow, living at Augusta, Hancock county.
Illinois; Noah and Mrs. Anna Marble, also Hving at Augusta, Hancock
county, Illinois; Jolin M., who resides near Harwood, Missouri; William
O., in Colorado ; James, wlio lives near Humboldt, this county, on the old
home place, and Mrs. Mary Brown, a widow, living at south Sioux City,
this state.

Joseph Ogle, tlie subject of this sketch, was twenty-three years old

Jilt. AND MRS. JOSEPH OGI.E,

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO73

when he came to the state of Nebraska, wliere lie farmed witli liis brother-
in-law for one year, at the end of which period he returned to Illinois and
was first married in that state in 1874. He returned to Richardson county in
the spring of 1874 and purchased the farm on which he now resides, paying
for the same six dollars and fifty cents per acre. The land was all raw
prairie and wholly unimproved. Many friends of Mr. Ogle declared that
lie was "crazy," and informed him that failure would follow his venture.
Nothing daunted, however, he set to work to clear the land and plant
crops, and success attended his efforts from the very beginning, his indus-
try enabling him to pay outright for the land in the short space of three
years and then had a proiit from his labors. Since becoming the owner of
his present holdings, Mr. Ogle has made many extensive improvements and
is generally regarded as one of the most substantial farmers in Grant precinct.
In addition to his work on the farm he is also engaged in breeding high-grade
Hereford cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs, and has I^een equally successful in
these lines. He also owns ten acres of valuable land near Titus, Florida.

Joseph Ogle has been twice married. In January, 1874, he was united
in marriage to Luretta Swisegood, who was born in Hancock county, Illi-
nois, and died in 1906 at the age of forty-nine years. To this union seven
children were born, namely: John, who lives south of Dawson, this county;
Mrs. Anna Cross, who lives in Healy, Lane county, Kansas; Marcellus,
deceased; Mrs. Lena Roscoe, of Clay Center, Kansas; Susan, deceased; Ray,
who lives in Kimball county, this state, owner of an entire section of land,
and Pearl, who died when Hiree years old. On May 5, 1908, Mr. Ogle
was married to Hattie May Grady, who was born in Beardstown, Cass
county, Illinois, a daughter of William Alonzo and Harriette (Hickle)
Grady, natives of Ohio. Mrs. Grady is deceased and is buried at Hum-
l)oldt. She was born near Chillicothe, Ross county, Ohio. Mr. Grady was
born near Zanesville, Ohio, and now resides at Vermont, Fulton county,
Illinois.

Mr. Ogle is a Republican and throughout his long residence in Richard-
son county has always taken an active interest in all matters appertaining
t(j the public welfare. In all that concerns educational affairs he has been
especially active. In that connection he has served on school district board
No. 34 for fifteen years and in other ways has given of his time and ener-
gies for the advancement of all movements designed to advance the public
good. His wife is a member of the Methodist church at Humboldt, becom-
ing affiliated with this denomination when thirteen years old. Mr. and
Mrs. Ogle are memliers of the Humboldt Chapter of the Red Cross.
(68)

10/4 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

THOMAS H. LY.\XH.

Thomas H. Lynch, automobile salesman, of Humboldt, where he is also
owner of eighty acres of good land, which he formerly operated, was born
on January 4, 1871, on the farm which he now owns, and he has spent his life
in Richardson county. He is a son of John M. and Harriet (Brandow)
Lynch. To these parents nine children were born, named as follows : Free-
man lives in Sioux City, Iowa; Thomas H. of this sketch; Burton is deceased;
Mrs. Daisy Smith lives in Custer county, Nebraska; Samuel lives at Yellow-
stone, Montana; Carl is deceased; Claude is living in Oregon; he is a twin
of Carl; Clyde lives in Nemaha county. Kansas; and Edward lives in Du Bois.
Nebraska.

John M. Lynch, the father, was born in 1844 near Indianapolis, Indi-
ana. He was a son of Thomas S. and Lavina (Frazier) Lynch, natives of
Ohio and Tennessee, respectively, the former born on November 26, 1818, and
the latter, December 14. 1817. They spent their lives on a farm and came to
Richardson county. Nebraska, in 1868, settling on the farm now owned by
B. Frank RcA-elle in Humboldt precinct, where they endured the hardships
incident to life on the western plains at that period. Thomas S. Lynch
donated an acre of land for the purpose of establishing a cemetery, in which
he and his children and relatives have been buried. The postoffice in this
part of the county was also conducted on the Lynch farm for about five years
or more, the place being known as Lynchburg. The stage that made the long
trips into the West stopped there four times a week. Thomas S. Lynch was
one of the first county commissioners in Richardson county. He was active
and influential in early-day afi:"airs here and did much toward the general
upbuilding of the locality. He was not only a man of industry, but of sound
judgment, public spirit and intelligence. His death occurred on July 24.
1902. His wife died on December 10, 1905. His family consisted of seven
children, named as follows: John M., father of the subject of this sketch,
was the eldest, and was born on September 24, 1839. and died on April 7,
1895 ; !^Irs. Sarah Allen is deceased ; Joseph is deceased ; Mrs. Minnie Unkefer
is deceased; William lives in Oregon; Alice, wife of Chester Powers, lives
in Humboldt precinct. Richardson county, and Mrs. Emma Grinsted lives in
Lincoln. Nebraska.

John M. Lynch, father of the subject of this sketch, was a soldier in
the Civil War, having enlisted in Company H. Seventy-sixth Indiana V'olun-
teer Infantry, at Indianapolis ,and served three and one-half years, seeing

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO75

iinich hard service in the South. He was an excellent soldier and received
an honorable discharge. His wife, Harriet Brandow, was born in Rock-
ford, Illinois, May 6, 1848, and she died on November i, 1891. She was a
daughter of Moses and Phoebe (Woods) Brandow. Further mention of
her family may be found in the sketch of William Brandow, appearing on
another page of this work.

Thomas H. Lynch of this sketch, was born and reared on the home farm
where he worked when a boy, and he received his education in the public
schools at Lynchburg, where his father taught seven years. When eighteen
years old Thomas H. Lynch began farming by renting land. He finally
bought out the other heirs to the home place and became owner of the old
homfestead which he kept well improved and farmed for six years, then, in
1905 moved to Canada and took up a homestead, remaining there until 1913,
when he returned to Humboldt, Nebraska, and has since been engaged in the
automobile business. By his industry and honest dealings he has built up a
large and growing business, handling standard makes of machines.

Mr. Lynch was married on Jiine 22.', 1892; to Gertrude McCormick, who
was Ixirn in Whiteside county, Illinois. She is a daughter Of George
McCormick and wife, natives- of Illinois, where they grew up, married and
established their home. Mrs. Lynch came to Humboldt, Nebraska, about
1890, her sister, ]Mrs. Nettie Schlotterback, having located here previously.
To Thomas H. Lynch and wife one child has been born, Mrs. Fay Carsch,
whose birth occurred in 1896. :''■■•"■

Politically, ]\Ir. Lynch is an independent voter. Fraternally, he belongs
to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Knights of Pythias at
Humboldt.

J. EDWARD GILBERT.

J. Edward Gilbert, one of the well-to-do retired farmers of Porter pre-
cinct and the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in that
precinct, now living at Stella, is a native of the state of Illinois, but has been
a resident of Nebraska since he was twenty years of age. He was born, jn
Henry county, Illinois, January i, 1858, son. of Osborn and Elizabeth (Bart-
lett) (iilbert, the former a native of the state of New York and the latter of
Illinois, whose last days were spent in the latter state.

0.sborn Gilbert was born in 1827 and was. but a boy when, his par^lits,
Joseph and Nancy Gilbert, left New York and settled in Henry county^i HU-

1076 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

nois, tlius having been among the pioneers of that county. There he grew tt^
manhood and married EHzabeth Bartlett, who was born in that state in 1830,
daughter of pioneer parents, and who died in 1864. To that tinion were
born five children, one of whom died in infancy, the others besides the sub-
ject of this sketch being as follow : Mrs. Marian Stafford, now deceased ;
Mortimer, a well-known farmer of Porter precinct, this county, and Mrs..
Addie Allen, of Iowa. Following the death of the mother of these children
O^born Gilbert married Fannie Grant, who was born in Henry county, Illi-
nois, and who died in that county in 1902, she then being past fifty-one years
oi age. To that union were born five children, namely : Bert, of Oklahoma ;
Mrs. Mary Wickwire, of Colorado ; Mrs. Lizzie Moore, of Missouri ; Charles,
of Oklahoma, and Claude, whose present address is unknown to his kinsmen
in this county. Osborn Gilbert died at his home in Illinois in 1897, at the
age of seventy years. -,

:• J. Edward Gilbert was reared on the hotiie farm in Henry county, Illi-
nois, and received his schooling in the neighborhood schools. He early began
working for himself and when twenty years of age, in 1878, started out with
a party of government surveyors and was engaged for some time in helphig
tp rim the lines in western Nebraska. During this experience he became so
greiatly taken with the possibilities of development in this state that in 1880
he bought a quarter of a section of land in section 14 of the precinct of
Porter, in this county, and after his marriage in i§82 established his home
there, having previously boarded with the famil}- of Fr.ancis Withee. Between
the time of taking -possession of the place and his marriage Mr. Gilbert had
done much to develop his place, had built a comfortable home, planted trees
and broke the ground and it was not long after becoming established there
until he had one of the )>est-improved farms in that section and was doing
right well in his operations. Some years ago Mr. Gilbert retired from the
active labors of the farm and he and his wife are now living at Stella, where
they are very comfortably situated. Mr. Gilbert is a Republican and for
some time served his local district as a member of the school board.

On December 25, 1882, about two years after settling in this county,
J. Edward Gilbert was united in marriage to Carrie M. Timerman, who was
born on January 7, 1865, daughter of Jacob and Rozina (Helligus) Timer-
man, pioneers of Riciiardson county and further and fitting mention of which
family is made elsewhere in this volume, and to this union four children have
been born, namely: Earl, a farmer in the precinct of Porter, who married
Sarah West and has one child, a daughter, Erma, born on May 16, 1916;
Bertha, who married Take Hinkle, of Stella, and has two children, Zelma

RICHARDSON COUNTY^ NEBRASKA. IO77

and Darrel: Ray, who married Mona Ankrom, and Dorothy, who married
Herbert Morris, of the precinct of Porter. Mr. Gilbert is a member of the
local lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America and Mrs. Gilbert is a mem-
ber of the Royal Neighbors. They have a pleasant home at Stella and take
a proper interest in the general .social activities of their home community.

GEORGE F. FUNK.

George F. Funk, a substantial and well-known farmer of Grant town-
ship, where he owns two hundred and forty acres of prime land in sections
28, 29, 32 and 33, was born .on February 17, 1862, in Hancock county, Illi-
nois. He is the son of Isaac and Mary (Fuhrer) Funk, the former of whom
was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, in 1831, the son of Isaac and Anna
( Schrauger) Funk, natives of Pennsylvania, who were of the farming class;
they settled in the state of Illinois in an early day and continued to reside
there up to the time of their deaths.

Isaac Funk, father of the subject of this sketch, came to Richardson
c(junt}- in 1888 and bought the farm now owned by his son, George F., effect-
ing many valuable improvements and setting out a grove of trees. Here he
carried on general farming with considerable success up to the time of his
death in 1892. His wife. Mary (Fuhrer) Funk, was born in Hessenstradt,
Germany ; she is the daughter of John and Margaret Fuhrer, also natives of
Germany, who immigrated to the United States and settled in Hancock county,
Illinois, where they lived and died. Mrs. Mary Funk was torn about the
year 1839; she is now living with a daughter. To Isaac Funk and wife the
following children were born : Mrs. Ella Strunk, who lives at Humboldt,
this county; Mrs. Emma Strunk, living at Hiawatha, Kansas; George F., the
subject of this sketch; Henry, who lives in Clyde, Kansas; Mrs. Mary Corn-
stock, of Ft. Scott, Kansas; Joseph, living in New Mexico; Mrs. Katherine
Triggs, who resides in Grant township and is the owner of one hundred and
twenty acres of land, and Montgomery, of Enid, Oklahoma.

George F. Funk was reared on the farm and attended the district schools
in Illinois. Some time following his arrival in Richardson county, he started
for himself, working as a farm hand and continued so engaged up to the
time of bis father's death, when he acquired his present holding of two hun-
dred and forty acres, buying out the interests of the other heirs. He is now
engaged in general farming and has met with considerable success.

1078 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

On October 20, 1898, George F. Funk was united in marriage to Nellie
Smith, daughter of Charles and Lucinda (Lockwood) Smith, a sketch of
whom appears elsewhere in this v,olume. Mr. and Mrs. Funk are parents of
two children namely : George a.nd Charlie, who are living at home with their
parents. Mrs. Funk, who was born in Nemaha township, is the mother of
two children by a former marriage to Jacob Triggs. These children are
Joseph and Lee, the former in Lincoln, this state, and the latter with Mr.
Funk.

In politics, Mr. Funk is a Democrat, but has never been a seeker after
public office. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows,
the Ancieiit Order of United Workmen and of the Knig-hts and Ladies of
Security, and in the affairs of these two organizations he takes a warm inter-
est. Mrs. Funk is a member of the United Brethren church.

SAMUEL WAHL.

Samuel Wahl, one of the best-known and most energetic business men
in Falls City and the proprietor of a well-stocked department store there,
dealer in general merchandise, dry goods and clothing, is a native of the
old Keystone state, but has been a resident of Nebraska since 1870 and
has consequently seen this county develop from pioneer days. He was born
at Salisbury, in Somerset county. Pennsylvania, June 25, 1848, son of Chris-
topher and Barbara (Smith) Wahl, well-known residents of that community.
who were the parents of six children, of whom the subject of this sketch
was the fourth in order of birth, the others being as follow : Casper, who
is still living at Salisbury; Mrs. Margaret Rumiser, who is also living in
her old home county ; Henry, who served for three years as a soldier of the
Union during the Civil War, a private in the Fifty-fourth Regiment, Penn-
sylvania Volunteer Infantry; John, deceased, and Franklin, deceased. Chris-
topher Wahl, the father, was born in Germany. He came to this country
about 1830 and settled in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, where he engaged
in the milling business and where he spent the rest of his life, his death
occurring in the eighty-third year of his age. He was twice married. After
the death of the mother of the children above mentioned he married Mary
Home, also a native of Germany, and to that union were born four sons,
Albert, of Myersdale, Pennsylvania ; Harvey, who is engaged in the cloth-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1079

ing business at Falls City, and Rufiis and A'lartin, of Myersdale. Pennsyl-
vania.

Reared at Salislmry, Samuel W'ahl received his schooling in the little
red school house there, going to school about four months a year during his
boyhood, and earl}' began working on his owm account, working at farm
labor, cutting wood and the like and presently learned the shoemaker's
trade, at which he worked for about three years, or until December, 1868,
when he came West and stopped in Lee county, Illinois, where he began
working as a farm laborer and where he remained until in January, 1870,
when he came to Nebraska and stopped at Falls City. During the first
years of his residence in this county Mr. Wahl worked as a farm hand and
in the second year he took a contract to break prairie sod, receiving for that
strenuous task three dollars and twenty-five cents an acre. He spent the
year 1873 with a government surveyor's outfit in western Nebraska and in
1874 returned to Falls City, where he began clerking in the shoe store of D.
H. Ballard. The next year that store was bought by Miller & Moore and
its business was extended to include clothing and men's furnishings. Mr.
Wahl continued as a clerk in that store until 1882, when he formed a part-
nership with F. J. Allen and bought out the store of Crook & Towle, which
was operated under the firm name of Samuel .Wahl & Company until the
death of Mr. Allen in 1886, since which time Mr. Wahl has conducted the
business alone, the oldest merchant in continuous business in the city of
Falls City. He has a well-stocked store and has an extensive and con-
stantly growing business, long having been regarded as one of the leading-
business men of southeastern Nebraska. In 1902 he moved his store to its
present location, having built the splendid store building there the year
before, and has since occupied that building, three stories and a basement,
fifty-two by one hundred and fourteen feet in dimensions, where he carried
a well-selected stock of groceries, clothing, women's ready-to-wear garments
and dry goods, arranged on the departmental plan, the best-equipped store
in this part of the state. In addition to his store Mr. Wahl is the owner
of a fine brick residence in Falls City and is very well circumstanced. He
is a member of the local lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted [Masons
and has for years taken an active interest in the affairs of that order.

On June 2^. 1886, Samuel Wahl was united in marriage at Falls
City to Emma Murray, who was born at Wittenburg, Pennsylvania, in 1859,
and who had located at Falls City in 1884, and who died in May, 1903,
leaving four children, George, an electrician, now residing at Kansas City;

I080 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Clifford, wlio was farming near Ovala, Colorado, and is now a member of
Troop C, First Colorado Cavalry, United States Army; Roy, at home with
his father, and Lloyd, also at home.

George Wahl married Celia Quiet, of Kansas City, and has two children,
Samuel and Julian. Clifford Wahl married Fern Kessler, of Hiawatha.
Kansas, and has one son, Keith Rodney.

ALFRED G. BACON.

One of the most progressive farmers and upriglit citizens of a past
generation in Nemaha precinct, Richardson county, was the late Alfred G.
Bacon, a man whose name is worthy of perpetuation on the pages of local
history. He was born on December 23, 1844, at Dayton, Cattaraugus count)-.
New York. He was a son of Leander and Sarah Ann (Hilibert) Bacon, also
natives of the last named county and state, each a representative of old
colonial families, members of which were active in the pioneer affairs of their
locality. Alfred G. Bacon grew to manhood in his native state and there
attended the public schools. He was married in his native state on June
12, 1866, at Clear Creek, Cattaraugus county, to Ann Augusta Frisbie, who
was born on September 30, 1847, in the above named county and there she
grew up and attended the common schools. She was a daughter of Charles
and Mandana (Bailey) Frisbie, both of whom were born and reared in the
state of New York. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Bacon moved to A\'is-
consin and in partnership with his brother, Frank, operated a grist-mill
during the year 1867; he then moved to Pennsylvania, where he was employed
in the oil fields. In 1871 he came West, locating on a farm in Nemaha town-
ship, Richardson county, Nebraska, purchasing three liundred and sixty
acres of land. He started here in a small way, living for some time in a
small two-roomed house, which was destroyed by fire on August 11, 1881.
He then built the substantial Bacon homestead, a large and attractive dwell-
ing. He added to his original holdings from time to time and became one
of the prosperous farmers and stockmen of the county. He devoted his atten-
tion exclusively to liis large agricultural interests until his death, which occur-
red on August 12, 1896.

Constant Bacon settled in the same neighborhood as did the subject of
this memoir, but later moved back to his old neighborhood. Mrs. Betsy
Nims and Mrs. Calista Blakely. sisters of Mr. Bacon, also came to Richard-
son countv at the same time as did the Bacons.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO81

The following cliilflren were born to Alfred G. Bacon and wife: Etta
Belle, now deceased, was the wife of William Clark, and she left five chil-
dren, Dora, Jessie, Percy, Roy and Dorothy; Roy has enlisted in the United
States regular army at Corrallis, Oregon ; Estella is the wife of Charles
Eaton, a farmer of Nemaha precinct; Sadie M. is the wife of Austin Ewer
and they live in Summit, Idaho; they have two children, Floyd M. and
Glen. Mrs. Ina M. Sims, deceased wife of Otis Sims ; Uno G., deceased ;
Archie B., at home; Grace A., the widow of Robert Butler, deceased, and
she has three children, Ina, Wenneth, and Harry, deceased.

Politically, Mr. Bacon, of this .sketch, was a Republican, and fraternally,
he belonged to the Indq^endent Order of Odd Fellows at Humboldt. He
took an active interest in the affairs of his community and was regarded as
a good citizen in every respect.

WILLIAM M. RIFE.

A careful and energetic farmer of Franklin precinct. Richardson county..
is William M. Rife, who was born in Madison county, Iowa, September
18, 1877. He is a son of Jackson and Mary C. (Rosenberger) Rife, nativtts
of Ohio and Illinois, respectively. The mother was born in 1851 and died
in 1886. She was twice married. Her second husl^and was J. S. Mann, of
Stella, Nebraska, who was a harness maker by trade. To their union one
child was born. Sibyl, who lives at home. To the union of Jackson and
Mary C. Rife two children were born, namely: Charles, who died when
seven years old, and William M., the subject of this sketch. Jackson Rife
was also twice married. The mother of the sul)ject of this sketch came to
Nebraska in 1884.

William M. Rife was seven \ears old when his mother died. His
guardian was John H. Coons, who lived near .\uhurn and now resides in
Porter precinct, and with whom he made his home until he was twenty-one
years old. He had received a common-school education. Upon attaining
his majority Mr. Rife went to Kansas City, Missouri, where he worked for
three months in a brass foundry, then came to Richardson count^■, Nel)raska.
and engaged in farm work for two years. He then traveled by buggy and
horse to Iowa where his uncle. L. D. Miller, resided, and there he engaged
in farming two years, and during that period was married. .\ ^ear later
he returned to Richardson county and bought a farm of one hundred and ten

I082 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

acres in Franklin precinct which he still owns. He has carried on general
farming successfully and kept his place well improved. He has a pleasant
home and everything about his place denotes thrift and good management.
]\Ir. Rife erected an attractive modem- home in 1908. He is at this writing
running a transportation route, an auto truck for the purpose of taking
the children in his district to the consolidated schools of his precinct, which
was one of the first to organize consolidated schools in Nebraska.

Mr. Rife was married on September 3, 1902, in Iowa, to May Frances
McDonald, who was born in Ohio. She is a daughter of Frank McDonald.
Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Rife, namely: Enid, now
(1917) thirteen years old; Lois, nine years old; and Hazel, six years old.

Politically, Mr. Rife is a Democrat, but is inclined to vote independently.
He attends the IMethodist Episcopal church. He is always on the right side
of movements having for their object the betterment of conditions in his
localitv.

EDGAR R.WDOLPH MATHERS. D. D. S.

Dr. Edgar Randolph Alathers, of Falls City, one of the best-known and
most successful dentists in southeastern Nebraska and late president of the
Richardson County Sunday School Association, is a native of the old Buckeye
state, but has been a resident of Falls City since beginning the practice of his
profession in 1899. He was born at Bucyriis, in Crawford county, Ohio.
June 23, 1863, son of the Rev. William and Charlotte F. (Randolph)
Mathers, the latter of whom is still living, now a resident of Tiffin, Ohio.

The Re\'. William Mathers was born in Pennsylvania in 1822, of Scotch-
Irish ancestry, and early turned his attention to the ministry of the United
Brethren church, becoming an "old-time" circuit-riding- preacher in the towns
and cities of northeastern Ohio, for sixty years remaining actively engaged
in the calling that was ever dear to his heart. His first sermon was preached
at Osceola, Ohio, and he celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of his entrance
into the ministry at that place, the occasion being one of much congratula-
tion on the part of his hosts of friends throughout that part of the state.
P'or fifty years he had maintained his home on a farm eight miles northwest
of Bucyrus and there his last days were spent, his death occurring there in
September. 1915. His widow, who was horn in 1830 in Morrow county.
Ohio, is now living at Tiffin. Ohio. She is a member of the old American

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I083

family of Randolpli, the ancestry of which traces hack in unl:)roken descent
to the days of Charlemagne.

Edgar Randolph Mathers was reared on the home farm and from the
days of his boyhood was a close student, his schooling in the local schools
being supplemented by the prudent instruction of his scholarly parents. He
was prepared for college and then entered Otterbein University at Wester-
ville, Ohio, from which he was graduated with the degree of Bachelor of
Arts, in 1889. He then taught school for one year, at the end of which time
he took up the work of the Young Men's Christian Association, with which
in the meantime he had become quite familiar, and was made general secre-
tary of the local branch of that association at Hamilton. Ohio. Three years
later he was made secretary of the college department of the Young Men's
Christian Association at Cincinnati and for three years looked after the col-
lege men of that city, resigning his position there in 1896 to take up the
systematic study of dental surgery, to which he had been giving some atten-
tion. In pursuance of this design he entered the Kansas City Dental College,
from which institution he was graduated in 1899, with the degree of Doctor
of Dental Surgery, and on April i of that year opened an office for the prac-
tice of his profession in Falls City, where he ever since has been located.
From the very beginning of his practice in Falls City Doctor Mathers has
done well and he has made some valuable investments in lands in Texas and
in the state of Washington. He is an active member of the Nebraska Dental
Society and for years has taken a warm interest in the affairs of that organi-
zation.

Doctor Mathers is a member of the Brethren church and has for years
taken a leading part in the affairs of the local congregation of that church,
for seventeen years acting as superintendent of the Sunday school. For
three years he was secretary and treasurer of the Richardson County Sun-
day School Association and then for three years served as president of that
association, resigning that position in the fall of 19 16. During tliese six
vears of Doctor Mathers' incumbency the Richardson county association
grew from "zero" in the estimation of Sunday School workers to a place
as one of the foremost county organizations in Nebraska and in recognition
of the Doctor's valuable service in that connection he was elected recording
secretary of the Nebraska Sunday School Association in June, 1916. 'A'ision
and inspiration are allied terms, and both come only when there is a true
purpose to do the will of the Master," is the declaration of Doctor Alathers.
and this is the keynote to the wonderful success he attained as leader of
the Sundav school forces of this county during his incumbency as executive

1084 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

of the local organization. In this connection, it is but fitting to present here
the following "Impressions of the Richardson County Convention,'' writ-
ten by George G. Wallace, of Omaha, chairman of the state executive com-
mittee, for the Nebraska Sunday School Record in June, 191 5:

The Ru-lijiwlson comity .Sunday school convention, ^^■hk•h I was privilegevl to attend,
impressed lue inunensely. These impressions were made deeper l)ecause of my louj;
acquaintance with the conditions in ttiat- county and knowledge of- the rather indiffer-
ent attitude of the people toward religious activities and the seeming difficulty In the
past of getting them together. But there wjis an evidence of a great revolution in
religious sentiment and of the keenest kind of interest in not only Sunday school
work, hilt in all deiwrtments of the work of the Kingdom, and a delightful fellowship
that 1 have seldom seen equaled in a long experience. There was a "keeping step" and
systematic action that is seldom equaled.

This remarkable success in organizing the Siniday school forces of Richardson
county is largely due to the capable officers who have been serving the past two
or three years. There are few presidents like Doctor Mathers, and he is ably assisted
by the other officers. They all seem to have caught the vision of the possibilities of
organizing Sunday school forces.

I wish other counties, either nciirbj' or farther away, might send reprsentatives
to Falls City to study their methods, and if possible, get some of these Richardson
county workers to go to their convention and tell them of their success and how it
was attained. As for myself. I shall never forget the impressions made upon me
by this splendid convention and the tine organization it represented.

Doctor Mathers is a member of the executive board of the State Sunday
School Association and on account of the prestige attained by this county
in the work of the Sunday schools of the state, the state convention of the
association was held in Falls City in 191 6, a meeting that will long be
memorable among the Sunday school workers of this county. In its issue
of January, 191 5, the Nebraska Sunday School Record carried a biographi-
cal sketch of Doctor Mathers, together with a personal appreciation of his
services in the Sunday school work of tlie state, from which the present
l)iogra]iher takes the libert\- to ()uote the following excerpts:

For nearly sixteen years he has engage<l diligently in the practice of dentistry
in Falls City, meeting with signal success. Doctor Mathers has more than he can
do. His skill, honesty, and above all, his absolutely clean character, are characteristics
that have made possible his success.

In the midst of his rapidly growing business he never forgot his duty to the
church of his choice, and was and is still ready to do anything for the extension of
the Kingdom. He is gifted in leading in song. He has been in county Sunday school
work for four years— one year as treasurer, two years as secretary-treasurer, and one
year ago he was prevailed upon to become the county president.

The condition of the work was anything but bright, but with his wonderful vision
of the Sunday school work, and with his executi^■e ability, he was able to make it
what it is today. Throughout the year .iu.st pa.st he kept in touch with every phase
of the work, ofttinies at the sacritice of his business and home life. But he has

RICHARDSON- COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 10^5

the satisfiietiou of kiiowini; that the county of which he is president stiinils at the
very top in organization. He displayed a wonderful ability to perform the vast
amount of work connected with his program of the office. He was made to see that
there was no one in the county that could do the work as well as he through the
coming year, and in spite of the sjicrifiee that it will mean to him, he consented to
remain at the helm for another year. Under his able direction there is every evidence
that the work will continue to be more and more efBcient.

Ill Ma)-, 1893, Dr. Edgar R. Mathers was united in marriage to Ella
A. Savior, of Falls. City, a daughter of Simon and Lydia (Alyers) Savior,
natives of Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and early settlers of Richardson
county, the former of whom is now deceased and the latter of whom is still
making her home in Falls City, and to this union two children have been
born, Lydia Gertrude, born in 1898, and Edgar Saylor, 1902. Doctor and
Mrs. Mathers have a very pleasant home at Falls City and have ever given
proper attention to the general social, religious and cultural activities of
their home town. The Doctor was reared a Republican, but of late years
has been inclined to be independent in his political views, with a strong lean-
ing toward the Prohibitionists, and is an active worker in the temperance
cause in this county and throughout the state. He has a well-appointed
office in the Falls City State Bank building and keeps fully abreast of modern
advances in dental surgery, his office being equipped with the most up-to-date
appliances for the successful practice of his difficult profession. Upotr the
declaration of war in April, 191 7, the Young Men's Christian Association
of this country assumed new burdens and responsibilities and Doctor Mathers
became at once one of the foremost figures in the prosecution of this work
in Nebraska. He is a member of the executive committee on war work
for the Young Men's Christian Association's efforts on behalf of the Ameri-
can soldiers enlisted for service in the war with Germany and is giving
his most intelligent attention to the important duties thus entailed upon him.

TONATH.\N \V. HEIM.

Jonathan- W. Heini is another of those Richardson county farmers who
have come to this part of Nebraska from the old Keystone state and who
have Ijecome owners of land on extensive scale. He lives on a farm on which
his father settled in July, 1874, containing eighty acres of land in sectimi
15, Grant precinct, and is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres in
.section 10 and another tract of eighty acres west of Henry Helm's iilace.

I086 RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

He was born on August ii. 1861, in Lycoming county, I'ennsylvania, a
son of Jacol) G. and Regina (Gross) Heim. natives of the same county and
state, who settled in Richardson count}- in 1874.

When Jacob G. Heim settled here he bought eight}- acres of land on
which his son. Jonathan W., now resides. He proceeded at once to prepare
the ground for crops and was in a fair way to make a success of his work,
when in common with the other settlers he suffered from the plague of grass-
hoppers which visited Nebraska in 1874. The first year spent on his new
holding was a hard one; in addition to the grasshopper pests, it turned out
to be a dr}- year and vegetation did not thrive. He also suffered the loss
of two children. His courage, however, did not desert him and by perse-
verance and industry he prospered, later buying another half section of land.

Jonathan W. Heim was about twelve years of age when he came with
his parents from Pennsylvania to the state of Nebraska. He was educated
in the district schools and in Dawson, this county. He helped his father
on the farm and later bought one hundred and sixty acres of land from
his father. On this tract he commenced farming operations on his own
account and meeting with a fair measure of success, he added to his hold-
ings liy the further purchase of eighty acres. Some time before his father's
death he bought out the home place, the father having gone to reside in
Dawson, and here ever since he has continued to make his home. The house
in which he resides is nicely situated back from the road on a hillside, with
a nice grove of walnut trees in the rear. The house and outbuildings are
all in excellent condition. By his thrift and industry Mr. Heim has been
in a position to pay cash for all his land.

On December 26, 1894, Jonathan W. Heim was united in marriage to
Louisa Shafer. who was born on October 20, 1872, in Lycoming county.
Pennsylvania, a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Heim) Shafer, who now
reside in Canada, just across the border eight miles west of Buffalo. They
formerly lived in Nebraska and later went to the western portion of this
state. Some time later they went to Dickerson county, Kansas, and remained
there for a number of years and in the late nineties moved to Iowa, going
from there to the old home place in Pennsylvania. bVom the latter place
thev moved to Canada, across from Buft'alo. about three miles from Lake
Erie and now reside in a settlement among his church people, the Brethren
in Christ. ^Ir. and Mrs. Heim are the parents of seven children, namelv :
Mattie M.. Howard John. Pearl Mary, Wesley Laurence, all at home; Clar-
ence Walter, who died at the age of three years: Arthur \\^illiam and Edith

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO87

Viola, botli at home. Mr. and Airs. Heim and family are members of the
United Evangelical church and take a proper interest in all church matters.
Mr. Heim is a supporter of the Republican party, but has never been a
seeker after office.

JOHN HEIM.

The late John Heim, who for more than a generation was a well-known
and well-to-do farmer of Dawson, Richardson county, was a native of the
old Keystone state, which he left and came to Nebraska in 1881 and farmed
in this county for the remainder of his life, or up to the time of his death
in 1 91 6. He was born on July 18, 1836, in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania,
the son of Christian and Rosina (Wagner) Heim, natives of Germany, who
came to the United States in an early day.

John Heim left Pennsylvania in 1881 and on coming to Richardson
county settled on a farm north of Dawson. His first investment in land
was one hundred and sixty acres, on which he carried out many necessary
improvements and planted to crops. Later, he added a further tract of one
hundred and sixty acres and still later he bought eighty acres of prime land,
all lying in Dawson. He met with considerable success on these different
parcels of land and was regarded as an enterprising and modern farmer in
his methods, and at the time of his death on April 14, 1916, his passing was
a source of much sorrow to his many relatives and friends throughout this
and neighboring counties. Mrs. Heim's son-in-law, Henry W. Heim, is now
the owner of the old home place on which John Heim- originally settled; the
eldest son, Jonas A. Heim, owns the other one hundred and sixty acres and
Mrs. Heim is in occupation of the eighty acres on the site of which the
United h-vangelical church and cemetery are located.

John Heim was united in marriage on April 2~, 1861, to Alargaret
Heim, wlio was l)orn on Deceml)er 31, 1843. '" Lycoming county, Penn-
sylvania, a daughter of Jacob and Regina ( Steiger ) Heim, natives of Ger-
many and Pennsylvania, respectively. To John and Margaret Heim, eight
children were born as follow: Rosa; Regina, Jonas A., Christian F.. Martha,
who died in infancy; MaHnda, Bertha, whodied in infancy, and Alma. Of
these children, Ro.sa became the wife of Joseph G. Heim, of Dawson; Regina
married Henry W. Heim and has seven children, Lottie, Charles, Martha,
Paul. Harlan. Jessie and John, and Lottie married Clyde Iliff and has two
children, Harlan and Enid; Charles married Pearl Klima and lias two chil-

1088 RKHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

dreii. Anna Martha and nene\ieve: Alartha is the wife of Artlmr KHmar
and has one child, \'irginia. Jonas .\., a fanner near Dawson, married Ida
Emerson and has four children. Linden, Edna, Waldo and Marie. Chris-
tian [•'.. of Eddyville, this state, married Ada Barlow and has two children,
Margaret Ruth and Ellen; Malinda, who married Bert Judd. of Dawson,
and has two sons, John H. and Delbert, and Alma, who was the wife of
William James and was the mother of one child. Alma. Mrs. Heim has
seventeen great grandchildren.

The late John Heim was a member of the Dunkard church while living
in Pennsylvania, and was a consistent supporter of th.at orgauization. Tn
politics he was a Republican, but had never been a seeker after public office.
His death was the occasion of general regret in this and neighboring coun-
ties, where he was well known and esteemed.

GEORGE E. KORS.

A farmer of Franklin precinct, Richardson county, who is deserving
of his success, is George E. Kors, who was born on April 7, 1863, at Beards-
town, Illinois. He is a son of Henry Frederick and Margaret (Feihl) Kors,
both natives of Hanover, Germany, from \\hich country they immigrated to
America when young and spent the rest of their lives in Illinois. To them
the following children were born: Lydia, deceased; Theodore, deceased;
Carohne, deceased; Mary, the wife of C. C. Unland, of Humboldt, Nebraska,
(died March 15, 1917 ) : Amelia was the wife of L. C, Hackman and died
on February 20, 191 2; Luther L., making his liome in Beatrice, Nebraska,
and George E. of this sketch, who is the youngest. By a second marriage
Henry F, Kors had two children, Mrs. Kate Boyd, deceased, and Henry
Frederick, deceased.

George E. Kors was reared in Illinois and there received a limited edu-
cation in the public schools. He moved to Nebraska in September, 1885, and
rented land in Richardson county until 1894 or for a period of nearly ten
years, then bought a farm and has since made a comfortable living. It was
hard for him to get a start. He was only eighteen months old when his
father died. His mother later remarried and he left home to work his own
way in the world. When he married he was in debt for his eighty acres
which he had previously purchased. The first money he earned after coming
to Nebraska was twenty dollars in gold, which James .\twood paid him for

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO89

one month's work. He now owns a well-improved and producti\-e farm of
one hundred and sixty acres, on which he has resided since. In March, 1908,
he remodeled the dwelling, making it modern in every respect, including
the installation of a Delco lighting system. He has also erected a new barn,
fifty by fifty-six feet, and has one of the most attractive farmsteads in
Nebraska. He engages in general farming and stock raising, always handling
a good grade of live stock. Mr. Kors' place is named "Highland Farm,"
because of its excellent location on a high plain ; near his homestead being one
of the highest points in Richard.son county. A magnificent view overlooking
many square miles of rich and fertile territory, may be obtained from the
farm home.

Mr. Kors was married on November 29, 1894, to Mary Ellen Hinners,
who was born, November 21, 1863, in Cass county, Illinois. She is a daugh-
ter of Henry and Matilda (Benidt) Hinners, both natives of Germany.
They spent their earlier years in the providence of Hesse-Cassel, Germany,
finally immigrating to the United States, and established their home in
Illinois, where the father died in 1876, while still a young man. ]\Irs.
Hinners married Henry Hinners, who died in 191 5, and she makes her home
with her daughter, Mrs. Kors, of this sketch. The following children were
born to Mr. and Mrs. Hinners: Peter, living in Beardstown; William, also
living at Beardstown, Illinois ; Rose, the wife of R. T. Wilson and they live
at Rising City, Butler county, Nebraska ; Mary Ellen, wife of Mr. Kors, sub-
ject of this review : Henry, who resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota : Albert, '
who lives in Illinois, and Edward, in Beardstown, Illinois, and is farming the
Hinners home place.

Mrs. Kors came to Richardson county in 1894 and Mr. and Mrs. Kors
lived for some time on the farm of Mr. Kors' brother-in-law, a three hun-
dred and twenty acre farm located two miles east of where their own farm
is now located, and moved to their home place in 1908. Since that time Mr.
Kors has made many improvements on the farm, which now ranks among
the most desirable in the precinct. He also owns one hundred and sixty acres
in Scott county, Kansas, and one hundred and sixty acres in Hitchcock count}',
Nebraska. He has worked hard, managed well and is eminently entitled to
the success he has attained. His wife, who is a woman of sound judgment,
has been of much help to him ; in fact, he attributes the major portion of his
success in a financial way to her. as he has always followed her counsel and
advice in important matters.

To Mr. and Mrs. Kors the following children have been born : Elmer
(69)

logo RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Hinners, born September 22. 1895: Ralph Dewey, May 19, 1897; Veda M.,
September 27, 1899, and Mabel Margaret, May i, 1901. The two sons are
assisting their father on the farm and the two daughters are attending Hum-
boldt high school, (1917).

Politically, Mr. Ivors is a Democrat. He is a director in school district
No. 93, serving his third term. Fraternally, he belongs to the Ancient Order
of United Workmen, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, the Bankers Life of Lincoln and also carries accident
insurance in the Travelers' Insurance Company. He and Mrs. Kors are
members of the Methodist Episcopal church of Humboldt, of which denom-
ination he has served as trustee and treasurer of the building committee.

Henry Frederick Kors, a half-brother of George E. Kors, was a son
of H. Frederick and Marie (Henninghouse) Kors (the latter having been
the first wife of the father of the subject of this review). He was born at
Beardstown, Illinois, December 2, 1846, and died on February 21, 191 7. He
was prominent in Cass county, Illinois, where he served as circuit clerk and
recorder.

CHARLES E. NIMS.

There is much of interest and incentive in the life history of a man like
■the late Charles E. Nims, former mayor of Humboldt, Richardson county,
for he had been successful in his chosen field of endeavor and always .ranked
with the best citizens of his community. He was born, September 27. 1841.
in Burlington, Wisconsin. He was a son of Luther and Hannah (Yost)
Xims, lx)th natives of Pennsylvania, where they grey up and were married,
but moved from that state to Wisconsin in pioneer days, remaining in the
Badger state until 1867, when they came to Nebraska, locating at Humboldt,
buying land which now forms a part of the townsite on the east side.

Luther Nims was born at Middlesex, Ontario county. New York, Octo-
ber 24, 1809. He was a son of Ruel Nims. who was Ijorn on December 6,
1786, and who died in 1881, at the age of ninety-five years. Tlie death of
Luther Nims occurred on June 13, T893. His wife. Hannah \'ost, was
born in Erie county, Pennsylvania, April 3. 1810. and died on .\ugust 14,
1894. These parents were married on January 14, 1833, and to them the
following children were Ixirn : Alexander. l)orn on October 14, 1833, who
lives in Kansas City, Missouri: John Henry, born in Ohio on April 4, 1835.
who died in Wisconsin during the Civil War: I,uther Bingham, born in

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. ICQ I

Pennsylvania on March 8, 1837, who lives in Cosmopolis, Washington; Ruel,
born in Pennsylvania on January 10, 1839, now deceased; Charles E., the
subject of this sketch; William Nelson, born on May 6, 1843, at Waupon,
Wisconsin, where the Nims family settled in 1844; Mary, who married a
Afr. Hilibert and whose death occurred on February 23. 1880; Julia Alvira,
born in Waupon, Wisconsin, July 17, 1847, who married a Mr. Sweeney
and is now deceased; Marilla Aurelia, born in Waupon, Wisconsin, April
26, 1849, who died while living in the state of Washington, and Emma,
who died when ten years old.

Charles E. Nims, of this memorial review, grew to manhood on the
farm and attended the early-day schools during the brief winter sessions for
a few years. Toward the latter part of the Civil War he enlisted, October
10, 1864, in Company G, First Regiment, Wisconsin Heavy Artillery. He
was on duty in the forts near Alexandria, Virginia, and was one of the
extra guards at the time of Lincoln's assassination. He was honorably
discharged on June 26, 1865.

Mr. Nims was married at Waupon, Wisconsin, February 4, 1864, to
Isaljelle Landon, who was born on May 14, 1846, at Margaretville, New
York, a daughter of Luther and Deborah (Carpenter) Landon, both of old
New York families, who moved to Wisconsin in pioneer days, arriving
there in October, 1841, and took up a homestead. The family lived in that
State until in the seventies, when they removed to Kansas, but later returned
to the state of New York, where Mrs. Nims's parents died, the father
passing away about the year 1892.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Nims lived in Wisconsin two years,
then went to Minnesota and bought a farm in the German settlement in
Steele county, in 1867. There they prospered, principally by raising big-
wheat crops. They came to Nebraska in 1871 and Mr. Nims bought forty
acres from his father, adjoining the town of Humboldt, in Richardson county,
for which he paid the sum of ten dollars an acre. Later Mr. Nims bought
eighty acres more there and operated that farm until 1909; then built two
beautiful dwellings in the eastern part of the town. He has also bought
eighty acres in another part of this locality, which he sold for a profit. He
owned at one time two hundred acres. He sold his home farm in 1908 for
one hundred and ten dollars an acre, and later sold forty acres for one
hundred dollars an acre. Mr. Nims died on April 30, 1917.

Politically, Mr. Nims was a Republican. He served as county super-
visor three terms of two years each, giving eminent satisfaction to all con-
cerned. He also served as a member of the Humboldt school board for sev-

I092 RICHARDSON COUXTY, NEBRASKA.

eral years, also tliree terms as mayor of Humboldt, being regartled as one
of the best mayors the town ever had. During his administrations he did
much for the general public improvement of the vicinity. He was a mem-
ber of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he served as steward for
a number of years, and also as trustee. Fraternally, he belonged to the
Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and was a Mason for more than forty
years and was a past master of the local lodge. He belonged to William
Mix Post No. 66, Grand Army of the Republic and had served as commander
of that post.

.,.,, To Charles E. Nims and wife the following children were liorn : Mrs.
Delia I. Saunders, who lives in Kansas City, Missouri; Elosia Mabel, who
died in infancy; Newton L., who died in infancy; Elton L., now a real-
estate agent, in San Antonio, Te.xas ; Alabel Zoe, who was graduated from
the State University at Lincoln with the degree of Master of Arts and is
now teaching in the high school at Billings. Montana, and Mrs. Anna Fav
Holman, who lives on a farm north of Humboldt and has two children.
John Charles and Helen Elizabeth.

JAIRUS S. DAVIS.

Before giving in detail the life record of the subject of tiiis sketch,
it is the desire of the biographer to trace his interesting genealogy, which
goes back to illustrious personages in Great Britain many centuries ago.

The Davis family traces descent from Alfred the Great and the King
of Wales. Prominent in America during colonial wars and the Revolution,
were some of the Davis ancestors. One of the founders of the state of
Ohio was Daniel Davis, who felled the first tree cut by a settler west of the
Ohio river. There have been many distinguished members of the family
in various walks of life. Though of ancient standing in Wales, the name
of Davis, originally David, scarcely appears in English annals before tlic
Norman conquest. Modified in various forms it has produced many family
names, some of which are among the commonest in use, but Davies or Davis
are perhaps the best known today. The lineage goes back to the year A. D.
843, to Rodhori Wawr, King of Wales. Owen Davis, at present a promi-
nent representative of the family in England, is seventeenth in direct descent
from King Edward TT, and thirty-second from Alfred the Great. The

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO93

Lord Mayor of London in 1676 was Sir Thomas Davies, who was knighted
b)' King Charles IL

The first American progenitor of the family was Capt. Delor Davis, who
came to our shores from England in 1634. Soon thereafter he married
Margery Willard, who came over with her brother Simon on the same
ship with Captain Davis. After their marriage they located first in Scituate,
in the old colony. Some portion of his life Delor Davis lived in Concord,
where he had lands granted him in 1659. He was a carpenter and sur-
veyor and held the office of constable for a long time. He was one of
the grand inquest of the Plymouth colony, in 1645, ^""i ""^ of the petitioners
for Groton, but probably never lived there, spending most of his life in
Barnstable. His daughter Ruth married Stephen Hall, and among their
descendants were Capt. Stephen Hall, a distinguished citizen of Boston ;
Chief Justice Eustis, of Louisiana, and Chief Justice Isaac Parker, oi Massa-
chusetts.

Another early settler was Samuel Davis, whose son Asa married Lady
Jane Moreby, who was related to the family of George IH. Another emi-
grant was Meredith Davis, who was born in Wales about 1690, and was a
descendant of the royal Welsh line of Meredith David. He landed in
Maryland in 1720. Descendants of Isaac Davis, a great grandson of Delor
Davis, may claim membership in the societies of Colonial Dames or the Sons
of the Revolution, for Isaac Davis was a lieutenant in a Massachusetts
regiment in that war. Members of the family also served in the early
colonial wars. Edward Davis was captain of a militia company in, the
French War, taking part in the relief of Ft. William Henry. The patriotism
of Capt. Daniel Davis induced him to sacrifice his own property for the
public good during the Revolutionary War, in which he served as captain.
After the war he joined the company of Ohio Associates, which made a
settlement in Ohio in 1788. Being desirous of doing something of which
his posterity could speak with pride he cut the first tree felled by a settler
west of the Ohio river, as stated in a preceding paragraph. This being a
buckeye or horse-chestnut tree the incident gave to the state the name which
it still retains — the Buckeye state. With his son he participated in the perils
of Indian warfare until the coming of Gen. Anthony Wayne in 1784, when
he settled down to the peaceful pursuits of life and helped found the insti-
tutions of the .state. Among the many men of this old family who dis-
tinguished themselves in public affairs in America was John Davis, who
was four times governor of Massachusetts and United States senator several

I094 RICHARDSON COL'XTY, NEBRASKA.

terms. George Bancroft, the well-known historian, had Davis blood in his
veins, as did also Leon Gardner, the builder of Ft. Saybrook, which he held
through the Pequod troubles. In 1639 he purchased from the friendly
Indians the island now known as Gardner's Island, just east of Long Island.
His grandson, John Gardner, in 1609, was intrusted with much treasure
by the notorious Captain Kidd, who remained some time in the vicinity
of Gardner's Island, and when he departed he left Mr. Gardner a large amount
of gold and silver and jewels. Gardner was ignorant of the character of
his visitor, and when the great pirate was arrested he surrendered the prop-
erty to the governor of Massachusetts Bay. Among heirlooms still in the
Davis family is a Bible printed in 1606, which was brought to America in
the same vessel with William Penn, the founder of Pennsylvania. The
family has an attractive coat-of-arms.

Jairus S. Davis, the immediate subject of this sketch and proprietor
of the J. S. Davis Land Company, of Humboldt, this county, was born on
November 19, 1858, in Shelby county, Ohio. He is a son of Jacob M. and
Mary Jane (Furrow) Davis. The father, who was a native of Ohio, was
a son of Calvin Davis, a native of Virginia. The family is of Welsh and
Irish descent. Grandfather Davis was of Scotch-Irish blood.

Jairus S. Davis was reared on the home farm northeast of Humboldt,
where his parents settled on a farm in pioneer days. He was educated in
the common schools and remained on the farm until 1881, when he began
working at the trade of blacksmith and wagon-maker, working five years
for the firm of Anderson & Company, at Humboldt, for which firm his
brothers, Alonzo and. James B., also worked, both being blacksmiths In-
trade. In 1886 Jairus S. began operating a wagon shop of his own. In
1888 he went to Hodgeman county, Kansas, where he proved up on a home-
stead, in 1 89 1. After a protracted spell of illness he returned to Humboldt
and in the spring of 1892 moved to Chase county. Nebraska, and took up
a pre-emption claim, remaining there two years, selling out his holdings
in 1894 and returning to Humboldt. He here engaged in the land business
two years. From 1896 to 1901 he was in business in this line in Humlxjldt
with James B. Davis, his brother. He went to Elk Creek, Nebraska, where
he engaged in business for four years, then operated a hotel at Virginia,
in Gage county. Nebra.ska. for two years. He then moved to Lincoln, this
state, where he was employed by the Lincoln Transfer Company for three
and one-half years. In 1908 he engaged again in the real-estate business,
establishing an office at Hum1x>ldt, but for two years dealt principally in
farm lands, handling annually thousands of acres in Nebraska. Texas, South

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. lOQj

Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, Kansas and Canada. In 1909 he estab-
lished the J. S. Davis Land Company, which has grown rapidly under his
able management until now a very large business is conducted. The firm
makes a specialty of farm loans. Mr. Davis owns valuable property in
Humboldt and residence property in Lincoln.

Mr. Davis was married in September, 1883, to Alice C. Snyder, a
native of Missouri, and a daughter of Philip and Mary Snyder, early set-
tlers of Missouri, who later established their home at Humboldt, this county.
To Mr. and Mrs. Davis three children have been born, namely : Lula R.,
who is at home; Mamie, the wife of Dan M. Haney, manager of Mayer
Brothers shoe department, Lincoln, Nebraska, and Mrs. Bertha Hodges, of
North Platte, this state. Politically, Mr. Davis is an independent voter.
He belongs to the Knights of Pythias and to the Knights and Ladies of
Security.

GEORGE W. LEWIS.

The late George W. Lewis, a well-kncywn retired farmer, of this county,
who died at his home in Shubert early in 19 14, was a native of Illinois
and had been a resident of this state since 1877. He was born on a farm
in Menard county, Illinois, January 5, 1835, son of William and Elizabeth
Lewis, natives of Kentucky, who had settled in Menard county, Illinois,
in 1833 or earlier and who had later moved to Mason county, same state,
where George W. Lewis grew to manhood and became a practical farmer,
and where, in the spring of 1861, he married Elizabeth E. Mowder and
established his home on a farm there, remaining there until the spring of
1877, when he came with his family to Nebraska and bought a half section
of land five miles northeast of Shubert, half of the tract lying in Richardson
county and half in Nemaha county. He built his house on the Nemaha side
of the line and early became recognized as one of the leading farmers of
that .section, developing there a fine farm. He also bought a quarter of
a section of land near Aspinwall, in Nemaha county, and at the time of his
retirement fnom the active laljors of the farm in 1894 was regarded as
one of the substantial farmers of this region. Upon retiring he moved to
Shubert, where he had a very comfortable home, and there he spent the
remainder of his life, his death occurring on January 18, 1914. He was
a member of the Baptist church, as is his widow, and was a Democrat in

I09'> RICH.IRDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

his political affiliation. Fraternally, he was affiliated with the local lodge
of the Woodmen of the World.

It was on March i6, 1861, in Illinois, that George W. Lewis was
united in marriage to Ehzabeth E. Mowder, who was born in that state on
July 12, 1841, daughter of Joseph and Judith (Stroup) Mowder. natives
of Pennsylvania, who became pioneers of Illinois, and to that union five
children were born, Hiram Allen, Florence May, Fannie B., Albert M.
and George Walter, three of whom are still living. Hiram Allen Lewis
died in 1896. Florence May Lewis married Ernest C. Riggs, a substantial
farmer living one mile east of Shubert, in the precinct of Barada, and
has three sons, George Burton, Howard, who recently enlisted in the L'^nited
States army, and Louis. Fannie B. Lewis married Ethelbert L. Berry, also
of Barada precinct, aixl has four children, Cloyd Bryan, Roy Wayne, Beulah
and Albert. Albert M. Lewis, who was born in 1868, died in 1904, leaving
a widow and three sons, Lawrence Glenn, Ralph Allen and Carl Nelson.
The mother of these sons, who before her marriage was Mary A. Weddle,
daughter of L. M. Weddle, is now living in Nemaha county. Her youngest
son, Carl Nelson Lewis, recently enlisted in the L^nited States army for
service in the war against Germany. George Walter Lewis, who is living
on a farm two and one-half miles northeast of Shubert, married Mamie
McCumber and has eight children, Corrine, Marvel, ^'elma. Edna, Alberta,
Dorothy, Georgia and Guy Walton. Since the death of her husband Mrs.
Lewis has continued to make her home at Shubert, where she is very pleas-
antlv and verv comfortablv situated.

CHARLES B. GRIDLEY.

General farming and sheep raising have claimed the attention of Ciiarles
B. Gridley for many years in Franklin precinct, where he has become well
established through his industry and good management, like many other
Easterners who have cast their lot with the people of Richardson county.
He was born in Richfield, Connecticut, March 26, 1842. He is a son of
Lyman and Lois (Alfred) Gridley. Lyman Gridley was born in Connecti-
cut, in May, 1800. and there devoted his life to farming, dying there at a ripe
old age in 1877. He was a son of Silas and Elizabeth (Benton) Gridley.
Silas Gridley was born about 1 758, and..died about 1838; he was -a. soldier of
the Revolutionary War. He had four sons. Lois Alfred, mother of the

^^^m-

RICHARI»SON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. lOQ/

subject of this sketch, was Ijorn in Connecticut in 1803 and died in 1901.
thus lacking only two years of attaining the century mark. To Lyman
and Lois Gridley eight children were born, Charles B., of this sketch,
being the youngest reared.

Charles B. Gridley was reared on the home farm in his native state
and there he attended the district schools, also spent three months at Wil-
berham Academy. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-one
years of age; he then began life for himself by buying a farm, but later sold
out and came West, making the trip as far as Illinois by railway ; he then
bought a team and drove overland to Richardson county. He began life
here in typical pioneer fashion, built a small house of cottonwood and
worked hard transforming the wild prairie sod into a productive farm. His
nearest market was Bi-o'wnville. He procured his present farm in 1866,
and he has thus spent a half century on this place and in this respect per-
haps his record is not surpassed by many in this section of the state. He
took an active interest in the upbuilding of his community where he has
been well known and influential since the days of the first settlers. This
country was still tlie domain of the red man when he came here and the
Indians had a well-beaten trail across the northern end of his farm, but
they never molested him in any way. He has a well-improved and pro-
ductive farm of three hundred and twenty acres in section 9, Franklin pre-
cinct. He has been very successful as a grower of general crops and live
stock, specializing in sheep raising, keeping large herds from year to year.
His place is located six miles northwest of Humboldt. He helped organize
school district No. 10. Politically, he is a Democrat, and he has been active
in local public affairs ever since coming here. He has served as assessor
of his precinct and was one of the first members to be elected on the county
board of supervisors. He has also served as township treasurer and justice
of the iieace, discharging his duties in each in a most commendable and satis-
factory manner. He has long been a member of the Methodist Episcopal
church here and is a trustee in the same.

;\Ir. Ciridley is of the ninth generation since the Gridleys settled in
America. His grandfather, Silas Gridley, was a soldier in the Revolution-
ary War. enlisting in 1776. The Gridley family came from England to
ihe New World in Colonial days.

Charles B. Gridley was married on December 19, 1875, to Ada H.
Sowle, who was born in Pennsylvania. She is a daughter of D. W. and
Elizabeth (Hosford) Sowle, natives of the state of New York. The family

lOyy RICHAKUSON LOUNTY, NEBRASKA.

tiiially came west and located at Oketo, Kansas, and there tlie fatlier of Mrs.
Gridley followed the carpenter's trade, also practiced medicine.

Six children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Gridley, namely : Cory-
don, who lives in Jefferson county, Nebraska; Elizabeth, who was the eldest
child, is deceased; Nellie is at home; William is at home; Mrs. Millicent Sol-
lenburger lives in Belleville, Kansas : and Lois is the youngest child.

^Ir. Gridley has lived to see and take part in the great changes that
ha\e been noted in southeastern Nebraska during the past fifty years and he
talks interestingly of the early times here and of the later transformations.

EDWARD D. MORRIS.

One of the best known farmers and live stock breeders in Nemaha town-
ship, this county, is Edw'ard D. Morris, who was born on September 2~.
1865, in Wales, a son of Evan and Elizalxth (Davis) Morris. Evan Morris
was born on December 25, 1844, in Wales, and there spent his boyhood.
He emigrated to x\merica in 1868, locating on a farm just east of \'erdon.
in this count}-, buying eighty acres, which he improved and farmed for
nine years, then sold out and bought his present' farm. When he first came
West to look for a location he deposited his money in a bank in Falls City.
The bank failed and he lost nearly all he had, but he had paid enough down
on his land to hold it. He i^ersevered and worked hard, finally paying it
out. He became a successful farmer, always keeping a good grade of cattle
and sheep, hogs and horses, and made a specialty of raising sheep. He was
an influential man in his precinct and was familiarly known as "Uncle
Evan." He is now making his home in Wyoming among his children.
His wife was born in Wales on Septemlier .26, 1844, and her death occurred
March 25. 191 7. These parents were members of the Congregational church.
Ten children were born to them, all in Nebraska, with the" exception of the
eldest, the subject of this sketch, six of these survive at this writing, tho^e
besides Edward D., being as follow: Anna, who lives near Gillette. Wyom-
ing; Elizabeth, who also lives there; Thomas, who is farming in Nemaha
precinct, this county; John, who lives at Gillette, Wyoming, and I'-vert. who
lives near Billings, Montana.

Edward D. Morris was three years old when his parents brought him
to the United States. He grew to manhood in Richardson county, worked
hard on the home farm when a Ixiy during the .summer months, and in

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IO99

the winter time he attended the district schools. The lirst schoul he attended
was taught in a residence near the village of Verdon. Later lie was a stu-
dent in the rural schools of Salem township. He remained on the home
place until he was twenty years old, when he began working out as a farm
hand and laborer. He farmed for Stephen B. and Joseph Miles for a period
of eighteen years, operating one of their farms near Bern. Kansas. In
1912 he took charge of his father's farm, which he purchased and here he
still resides. The place consists of one hundred and sixty acres in section
I. Nemaha precinct. He has made many improvements on the place and
is carrying on general farming and stock raising successfulU'. He built an
attractive modern home in the spring of 191 7, his old residence having
been destroyed by fire. He is a breeder of Poland China hogs, having
engaged in this business since 1897. His fine hogs find a very ready market
whenever offered for sale, owing to their superior quality and he has cus-
tomers all over this section of the country. He holds sales at his home
twice a year, in the spring and fall.

Mr. Morris was married on February 18, 1885, to Martha B. Harvey,
who was born, reared and educated in Richardson county. She is a daughter
of Oliver J. and Martha (Lorton) Harvey, natives of Jackson county, Mis-
souri, and early settlers of Richardson county, where they became very
comfortably established on a farm through their hard efiforts.

Two children have been Iwrn to Mr. and Mrs. Morris, namely : Ed-
ward, Jr., assistant cashier of the Citizens Bank at Sabetha, Kansas, and
Anna, who is the wife of Earl C. O'Roke. professor in the University of
Wyoming at Laramie. Mr. and Mrs. Morris have also taken three children
to rear from the New York Children's Home: Pearl, now ( 1917) thir-
teen years of age; Arleen, twelve, and Oran, eleven.

Mr. Morris is a Republican, but is inclined to vote independently. He
was a member of the school board during his residence in Kansas and
has served in a like capacity in his home district in Nemaha precinct dur-
ing the past nineteen years. He is a memljer of the Presbyterian church
at Bern, Kansas. Fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of
America at Salem, and formerly belonged to the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows. He has always been known as a good law-abiding citizen.
When twenty-one years old he took out naturalization papers. He has
lived in Richardson county nearly fifty years, during which period he has
seen "wondrous changes come over the face of the land" ; has lived to
see the wild prairies transformed into a superb farming country, dotted

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

with churches, school houses, thriving towns and the happy homes of men.
He talks interestingly of the days when he helped to break the virgin prairie
sod with oxen, when he bound grain after the old-fashioned reaper and
lived the simple life of a pioneer.

:\nCHAEL L. HAYS.

The splendid success which has come to Michael L. Hays, for many
years one of the progressive men of affairs of Richardson county, but now
a leading lumljernian of the city of Lincoln, is directly traceable to the
salient points in his character, for lie started in life practically at the bottom
of the ladder, which he has mounted with but little aid from any source,
although meeting with the usual obstacles that confront most men of affairs
who have ambition.

Air. Hays was born on November 17, 1850, in Westmoreland county,
Pennsylvania. He is a son of George L. and Julia (Ambrose) Hays.
George L. Hays was born in Pennsylvania and there grew up and devoted
his activities to farming. He remained in his native state until 1855, when
he moved to Taylor county, Iowa. After remaining there two years he
moved, in 1857, to Nebraska, and became a pioneer in Richardson county,
enduring the usual hardships and privations incident to life on the western
frontier. He developed a good farm from the raw prairie, breaking up
the sod with oxen, the team with which he drove his prairie schooner over-
land from Iowa. He settled in W^est Muddy precinct. Only fifteen acres
of the place ha<l Ijeen -brokfrn arxt a rude -dwelling had been built. Its
former owner had taken up the land as a homestead and proved up on it.
The nearest market at that time was Brownsville, a distance of twenty
miles. George L. Hays and his wife became owners of three hundred
and twentv acres. By hard work and perseverance he prospered with ad-
\ancing vears and became very comfortably established, ranking among the
leailing farmers oi his precinct. He brought liis land up to a high state
of imprwement and cultivation, erecting thereon a splendid group of build-
ings and there he engaged in general agricultural pursuits and stock rais-
ing on an extensive scale until his death, which occurred in 1864. His
widow >ur\ived until about 1871. To these parents nine children were born,
as follow: George, Jr.. Mrs. Mary McDonald, Louis, John, Jesse. David.
all now deceased: Susan, the wife of Barney Alullen, a sketch of whom

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I lOI

appears elsewhere in this work; Michael L., the subject nf this review, and
Louise, who li\es at Lawton, Oklahoma.

Michael L. Hays was five years of age when his parents moved from
Pennsylvania to Iowa, and was seven when they came to this county. He
grew to manhood on the home farm and, like the sons of all pioneers,
found plenty of hard work to do in assisting his father develop the home
place in West Muddy. He received his early education in a pri\ate school,
as the opportunities for attending public schools in those early days of the
West were exceedingly limited. By wide miscellaneous home reading and
by actual contact with the world he has become a well-iaiformed man along
general lines. He continued to work on the home farm until 1883. having
purchased the place about 1870. He made extensive improvements on the
place, kept it under a splendid state of cultivation, and was successful as
a general farmer and stock raiser. However, desiring another field for
the exercise of his talents, he left the farm in 1883 and moved to Stella,
where he purchased a lumber yard, which he conducted until 1885. when
he sold out and engaged in the drug business there until 1895, in which
year he resumed the lumber business and has retained interests in a lumber
yard there ever since. In 191 7 he located in Lincoln, and is now presi-
dent of the well-known and rapidly growing Hays Lumber Company, which,
under his able and judicious direction, has taken its place in the front ranks
of lumber companies in this state. The company owns and operates six
)-ards, located at the following Nebraska towns : Stella, Shubert, Syracuse,
Crete, Hebron and Dewitt. The general offices of the firm are in Lincoln,
at No. looi Terminal Building. All the retail yards are doing a very satis-
factory business, carryng large stocks of all kinds of lumber and building
material.

Mr. Hays married Mattie McDowell, who was born near Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, a daughter of Samuel and Mary (Weller) McDowell, natives of
Pennsylvania and early settlers of Nebraska, having located on a farm in
Muddy River precinct, Richardson county, where they became very com-
fortably established as a result of their close application and good manage-
ment. Mrs. Hays grew to womanhood on the farm and was educated in
the district schools and in the Brownsville high school. Prior to her mar-
riage she taught in the district schools for a number of years.

To Mr. and Mrs. Hays two children have been born, one of whuni
died in infancy. Herbert Hays, the son, whose birth occurred on October
II, 1888, was educated in the public schools of Stella, in the Omaha high

I 102 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

scliool and at Colgate College, at Hamilton. Xew York, and also studied
in the University of Nebraska. He made an excellent record as a stu-
dent, and thus exceptionally well equipped for his life work he turned
his attention to the lumber business at Stella, and became secretary, treasurer
and general manager of the yards of the Hays Lumber Company there.
He discharged his duties as head of the yards there in an able, successful
and highly satisfactory manner until January, 191 5, when he went to Lin-
coln, where he has held an official position with the company ever since.

Herbert Hays was married on January 26, 1916, to Evelyn Beaumont,
who was born in Perkins county, Nebraska, a daughter of C. H. and Grace
(Nash) Beaumont, both natives of Connecticut, but who are now residing in
Lincoln, Nebraska, where Mr. Beaumont is engaging in the banking busi-
ness.

Michael L. Hays and his family belong to the Baptist church. His
wife was first married to Arthur Walsh, and a daughter was born to that
union. Marguerite, who is now Mrs. Harvey Hogreve. Mr. Hogreve is
now manager of the yards of the Hays Lumber Company at Hebron. He
formerly lived at Stella. He is a member of the company and a stockholder
in the same: Michael L. Hays is a man who has always borne a reputation
for unswerving honesty, industry, public spirit and pleasing personality, and
has a host of friends wherever he is known.

WILLIAM G. TONES.

A highly respected citizen and successful agriculturist of Richardson
countv during the generation that has just passed, who is deserving of a
place in local history was the late William G. Jones, of Humboldt. He
was l)urn on Alarch 30,. 1828, at Steuben, Oneida county, New York, a
son of William G. and Grace (Griffith) Jones, lx)th natives of Wales, from
which countr)- William G. Jones, Sr., emigrated to New York and was
there married. William G., the subject of this review, was reared in New
York -State, and there on January 20, 1857, was married to Elizabeth J.
Owens, who was born on August T9, 1837, at Remsen, Oneida county.
Xew "S'ork. Her family and the Jones family were later neighbors. Eliza-
1-eth I. Owens was a daughter of Evan Owens, who was born in 1799
in Wales, from which country he came to America with his parents in
1800, and here he spent the rest of his life, dying at an advanced age

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I IO5

in 1884. He married Honorah Smith, who was horn at Remsen, Oneida
county, New York in 1808. Her death occurred in 1850. Ten children
were born to Evan Owens, nine by his first wife, named as follow: James,
deceased; Charles, who lives in New York; John, deceased: Elizabeth J.,
who became the wife of William G. Jones; Mrs. Martha Brown, who lives
in New York state; Mary Ann, deceased; Hannah, deceased; Evan. Jr.,
who lives in Sugar Grove, Illinois, and Smith, deceased.

William G. Jones, the subject of this sketch, and wife moved from
New York to Kane county, Illinois, in 1857. They purchased a farm and
continued to reside there until 1880, when they sold out and came to Ne-
braska, buying a farm in Porter precinct, this county, for which they paid
only eighteen dollars an acre. The same land is now worth two hundred
dollars an acre. Mr. Jones brought the place up to a high state of improve-
ment and cultivation and made a success as a general farmer, the place now
being one of the most desirable farms in the precinct; being not only excep-
tionally productive, but well equipped with timber and running water. Mr.
Jones continued to reside there until in November, 1903, when he pur-
chased a beautiful home in Humboldt, where he also made many important
improvements. He had been a gpf)d ma'nager ant} a hard worker while on
the farm and he was thus enabled to spend his declining years in the midst
of plenty and in lionorable retirement. He accumulated two hundred and
ninety-six acres of valuable land in all.

To \\'illiam G. Jones, Jr., and wife the following children were born:
Frank, whose birth occurred at Sugar Grove, Kane county. Illinois, Feb-
ruary 23, 1858, and who died on June i, 1903; Herbert, born at Sugar
Grove, Illinois, December 3. i860, who lives at Colorado Springs. Colorado.
where he has been employed by a grain commission firm since 1892, and
Grace, who was graduated from the State Normal school at l^eru. Ne-
braska, taught school successfully in Richardson county for a number (if
years, including three terms in the Humboldt schools, and now looks after
her father's estate, which she is managing with ability and success. Her
mother was also a school teacher for some -time in the state of New York
and was a well educated wf)man for her day and generation.

Politically, Mr. Jones was a Rei)ublican, and was active and infiuential
in public affairs. He held the office of county commissioner in Kane
county. Illinois; however, he never cared for public office, being primarilv
a home man, best contented when by his own fireside, and was alwavs kind,
thoughtful and indulgent to his familv. He and his familv attended the

II04 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Presbyterian church. He was a man of friendl\- and helpfnl nature and
upright character.

The death of Mr. Jones occurred on Februarj- 25, 1907. when lacking
about a month of his seventy-ninth birthday. Five weeks before his death,
on January 20. 1907, Mr. and Mrs. Jones celebrated their golden wedding
anniversary, the day being devoted to a reception and dinner to scores of
their country friends, and the evening being devoted to receiving. the city
people from 7:30 to 9:30 P. AI. More than two hundred invitations were
issued and many very fine presents were received by this estimable couple.

MAJOR WILLIAM H. KEELING.

In a history of Richardson county, Nebraska, special mention should
be made of Major William H. Keeling, now living in retirement in Falls
City, after a successful career. His army record is one of which his family
and friends may well be proud, for he performed his duties nobly in assist-
ing to save tlie L'nion a half century ago. He was born on ^larch 18, 1835.
in Vermont, near the Canadian boundary. He is a son of Henry and Nancy
( Hill ) Keeling, natives of Canada and Vermont, respectively. The mother
of Henry Keeling was a Revolutionary pensioner, who, when ninety-six
years of age, made the long journey from Rockford, Illinois, to Connecticut.
The family is of pioneer New England stock, dating back to the year 1635.
Henry Keeling left Vermont in 1836 and went to New Orleans, Louisiana.
He became a sailor, following the sea in a sailing vessel until 1855, then came
to Amboy, Illinois. He bought the land warrants of American soldiers who
had served in the Mexican war, and entered a vast tract of land near Amboy.
engaging in fanning there on an extensive scale; but he had sold all his land
prior to his death. He sold one hundred and sixty acres to a brother of
Charles Dickens. The mother of the subject of this sketch died when he was
a child. He remained with the rest of the family in Vermont when his father
went to New Orleans. It was not long until the latter became a sailing master
on the Gulf of Mexico, where he remained for a number of years.

William H. Keeling spent his boyhood in his native state and there
attended the common schools and the academy at Bakersfield, \'ernionl. He
began working at the printer's trade, but in 1853 joined his father in New
Orleans. In April, 1855, he entered the employ of the L'nited States gov-
ernment, and was a member of a surveying corps at Leavenworth. Kansas,

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I lOS

one season. He then clerked in a grocery store at Leavenworth until the
spring of 1856, following which he entered the employ of an immigration
company in eastern Iowa for one year. He followed surveying in Louisiana
a year, and in 1858 went to Houston, Texas, where he was associated with
a family that were relatives of William H. Taft, later to become President
of the United States, remaining with that household until i860. He planned
to go intcf business in the South, but sickness overtaking him, he returned to
the old homestead, later coming to St. Louis, where he worked awhile, going
to eastern Iowa in 1861, where he recruited for the L'nited States army. He
was offered a commission of lieutenant-colonel of a regiment of volunteers,
but declined, preferring to i-emain with the Thirteenth Regiment of the regu-
lar army, which he did until 1867. He has been known as "Major" Keeling
for fifty years. He has three commissions, two signed by President Lincoln
and one by President Johnson. His first service was at Jefferson barracks,
St. Louis, but from 1862 until the close of the war he was under Gen. Will-
iam T. Sherman in his famous Southern campaigns, and he was for a time
a member of Sherman's staff, temporarily as quartermaster. He had auth-
orit\- as lieutenant to use Sherman's name in performing his duties in his
official capacity. He is one of only two living survivors entitled to "head-
(juarters badges" of the military division of the Mississippi commanded by
Gen. \\\ T. Sherman. He was admired by his comrades and trusted by his
officers, known to all as a brave and efficient officer. He served in many
important engagements and campaigns. On May 6, 1866, having remained
in the regular army aftei' the close of hostilities, he was sent from Ft. Lea\en-
worth to Montana, as quartermaster in charge of a vast amount of govern-
ment supplies carried on several steamers, arriving at his destination on July
iith of that year. He built the military post at the mouth of the Judith
river in Montana, known as Camp Cooke. He also selected the site of Ft.
Shaw. He retired from the service in 1867, after a most commendable record,
receiving an honorable discharge. He came to Falls City in 1868 and on
September 5th of that year engaged in the general merchandise business with
Maj. J. E. Burbank, until the fall of 1872, when he was appointed army post
trader for the United States government at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas. He
held this position until the spring of 1886, when he returned to Falls City,
wher he had retained some business interests during his absence at the fort,
and here he again entered actively into mercantile pursuits. It was a partner-
ship business until in January. 1888, when he conducted the store alone for
five years or until 1893.
(70)

II06 RICHARDSON COUXTV, NEBRASKA.

Major Keeling had rare experiences on the western plains in the early
days of the "wild and woolly West," and he recalls many interesting remin-
iscences of those times. He mingled much with the Indians, was a friend to
them and in turn was beloved by them; he had great influence over them.
\\'hile in Montana they called him "The man that shakes hands and gives
ns bread and meat." He and General Sherman remained warm friends until
the latter's death.

Major Keeling was married three times: first in 1S63. to Abbie E.
Dunham, of Almoral. Iowa, who died in Alay, 1866. This union was with-
out issue. On January 3. 1868, he married for his second wife, Eliza E.
Hoyt, whose death occurred on April 5, 1891, leaving two children, Lois H..
who lives at home, and Taylor, who lives in Montana and is married and
has one child, Lois Harriet. The Major's third marriage took place in Ju'v,
1897, when he espoused Mrs. Zaida (Miller) Strech, of Falls City, widow
of one of the first editors of the Falls City Journal. She is a daughter of
Anderson Miller, an old settler of Falls City, and was born near Savannah.
Missouri. Anderson Miller, her father, was born in Indiana, but moved from
that state to Hancock county, Kentucky. He married Lucretia Crane, a
native of New York state and the representative of an old family there. She
was born in 1825 and died in 191 1. Anderson Miller was born in 1825 and
died in August. 1916, having reached an advanced age. They were married
in 1853 3"<i fi''''^ moved to Missouri, locating near Savannah; then returned
to Indiana, but later moved back to Missouri, and in 1859 came to Richard-
son county, where there was but a handful of houses at Falls City. They
secured eighty acres, which is now covered by the city and is a part of the
original survey of the town. Mr. Miller devoted liis entire active life to
farming, specializing in fruit growing, maintaining a large orchard and was
one of the most successful horticulturists of this locality. He was well
known and highly respected throughout the count}-. His daughter, Zaida
Miller, first married H. S. Strech in 1872. He was for a number of years
publisher of the Falls City Journal and his death occurred in 1885. ^^ ^^r.
Strech and wife three children were born, namely: Mrs. Ada Coleman,
living in Wyoming: Helen, the wife of J. L. Morgan, of Strahsville. Rich-
ardson county, and Mrs. Stella Sweeney, who resides at Golden, Colorado.
To Major Keeling and his last wife one child has been born, William M.
Keeling, who is at tlnis writing attending tlie military school at Kearnev.
Xebraska.

Politically. Mr. Keeling is a Repul^lican and lie lias long been active- and
influential in party atifairs. He has served as mayor of Falls City three ditlei-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I I07

ent terms, during wliich he did much for the general welfare of the com-
munity, discharging his duties in a manner that reflected much credit upon
his business ability, his public spirit and high sense of honor. Religiously,
he belongs to the Episcopal church. He is a member of the Grand Army of
the Republic, and has served this order as district commander. He is one
of the most substantial and progressive citizens of Richardson county and is
a man of excellent personal qualities, being well informed and an obliging,
companionable and upright gentleman, who is highly esteemed by all who
know him.

CHRISTI.AN A. JORN.

Christian A. Jorn, contractor of Verdon, this county, was born in
Hanover, Germany, January 7, 1864, a son of Christian and Melasina
( Siebrecht) Jorn, who were natives of Germany, where they grew up, mar-
ried and established their home. They were parents of twelve children,
only four of whom are living at this writing, namely: Mrs. Louise Well-
housen, who lives in Hesse Cassel. Germany; Mrs. Christena Ihsen. who lives
in Hanover; George, who lives in Decatur, Kansas, and Christian .\., the
subject of this sketch.

The gentleman whose name heads this review grew to manhood in
his native land and there attended school. When a young man he learned
the trade of cabinet maker. He left his native land in 1880, coming to
Nebraska and setthng in Arago, where he followed his trade; and in 1883
moved to Verdon, where he has since made his home, with the exception
of five years spent in iJecatur county, Kansas, where he was a pioneer. He
has been one of the leading builders in the county for over thirty years, erect-
ing town and farm houses, barns and public buildings all over this part of
the county. He is also a designer, which art he learned in his native land.
He is a student of modern architecture and has kept well abreast of the
times in all that pertains to his calling. He is owner of five valuable resi-
dence properties in \'erdon, and also owns two vacant lots there. In IQ15
he erected a modern bunagolw, equipped with hot and cold water, furnace
heat, gas lighting, etc., designed and built by himself, and it is one of
the choice homes of its type in the county.

On October 16, 1898, Mr. Jorn was married to Emma Schrader, who
was lx)rn in Illinois, February 8, 1872. Mention of her family is made in
the sketch of Harry H. Schrader, appearing in another portion of this

I108 RICHARDSON COL'NTV. NEBRASKA.

volume. To Mr. and Airs. Jorn f<jur children have been born. Mildred.
Mabel, Alma and Georgia, all at home. Mr. Jorn is a Democrat, is presi-
dent of the \^erdon high school board and has for some time been deeply
interested in the welfare of local schools. Fraternally, he belongs to the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to the Ancient Order of United
Workmen. He belongs to the Lutheran church.

ELIJAH CURTLS HILL, JR.

Elijah C. Hill, well-known stockman and farmer, of Grant township.
Richardson county, owner of two hundred and fifty acres of land, sixty acres
of which he farms, was born on the farm on which he now resides on April
7, 1867. He is the son of Elijah C. and Arcosh (Kallerstine) Hill, who were
the parents of twelve children, six of whom are deceased, the others being
Roland, wlio lives at Greeley, this state; Reuben J., of Porter township; Mar-
shall N., further reference to whom is made elsewhere in this work; Mrs.
Martha Van Vleet, Crete, this state, who recently married Perry M. Talle>-,
and Grant, who lives in Cameron, Montana.

The following interesting facts are gathered from the Falls City Journal,
published on the occasion of the anniversary of the fiftieth year following the
arrival in Nebraska of E. C. Hill, Sr. :

"In 1865 E. C. Hill, Hving in the province of Ontario, near London,
Canada, heard and hearkened to the call of the great West. He gathered
such possessions as were his and started for the homestead country, which he
understood was j^eyond the Missouri river. Somehow or other the name
'Nebraska' loomed large l>efore him and l^eckoned him on to the promise of
a new and free home, the gift of the great republic on whose borders he was
born and had lived up to that time. It was the 19th day of April, 1865, tliat
he arrived in Nebraska.

"It was to celebrate this event that his neighbors and old-time friends
met at his farm, three miles north of Dawson, on the 19th of April, 191 5, at
a twelve o'clock dinner, there to rejoice with him that the fifty intervening-
years had brought to him and his such a wealth of friends and fullness of life
and success in the effort to build a home upon and from the fruitfulness of
tlie virgin soil of Richardson county.

"E. C. Hill was born in the province of Ontario. Canada, on December
2. 1832, and is now in liis eighty-tliird year. On September 19, 1856, he

ELIJAH C. HILL. SR.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IICX)

married Aliss Arcosh Kallerstine. On April 19, 1865, he arrived in Nebraska.
On March 26, 1866, a home was established on the one hundred and sixty
acres of land entered as a homestead north of Dawson. From this modest
start Mr. Hill's possessions have grown until his farm, including the original
homestead, comprises one thousand and forty acres, three miles north of
Dawson. . . . But these broad acres do not comprise all his land hold-
ings, for he owns a section of land near McCook,' Nebraska, and a section
of land in Saskatchewan, Canada.

"Mr. Hill is distinctly a farmer and stock raiser and his success has
come by giving close attention to the details and much study to the planning
for the harvest before the seed was committed to the soil. ... In 1875
the grasshoppers ate up the early crops and later the same year a severe hail
storm wiped off the face of the fields what remnants the hoppers had over-
looked. ... At that time Mr. Hill had a family of eight to feed and
it was no easy task to keep the wolf from the door. . . Following the

plow for seventy-two years has given him a close acquaintance with the mys-
teries of nature and the evolution of life as manifested in the growth of
crops, the development of live stock and the procession of the seasons.
He lias never held any political or military positions. In politics he
is a Republican and his church affiliations incline to the Baptists. He is a
Mason." Mr. Hill died on April i, 1916. Mrs. Hill was born on October 6,
1829, and died on October 17, 1906.

E. C. Hill, Sr., was the first farmer in the state of, Nebraska to intro-
duce and breed the famous Polled Angus cattle, of which he was a very exten-
si\e breeder. With some fine specimens of his stock he won a good many
prizes at various cattle shows and his Polled Angus breed were in much
demand outside the confines of his home county. He was a member of the
Polled Angus Cattle Association, tlie Farmers' National Congress and the
Corn Belt Meat Association, in all of which organizations he took an active
part, his ripe experience in all matters appertaining to the breeding and care
of cattle being widely sought.

Elijah C. Hill, the subject of this sketch, attended the district schools of
Grant township and th^ Humboldt high school. When twenty-one years of
age he began working as a farm hand in his home neighborhood. ~ After a
year's experience at this work he commenced clerking in a confectionery store
and thus continued for about nine years. He then decided to go into the
business on his own account and started a confectionery store, which he oper-
ated for a period of seven years, meeting with considerable success. He then
moved to Dawson, where lie also carried on the confectionerv business for

mo RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

two years. In 1904 he moved out to the place which was the original home-
stead and began farming. He was his father's overseer on the holdings until
the, death of the latter.

On October 11, 1896, Elijali C. Hill, Jr., was united in marriage to Mary
A. Murphy, who was born at Seneca, Kansas, the daughter of Thomas and
Ellen E. (Quinn) Murphy, both of whom were natives of Canada. Mr. and
Mrs. Hill are parents of two children, namely : Marguerite, who is now in
a convent in Falls City, this state, and Aileene, who is also in a convent at
Falls City. Mr. and Mrs. Hill are earnest members of the Catholic church
and liberal supporters of the same, ever ready to assist in all matters tending
to the welfare of the church. Mr. Hill is a member of the Knights of Col-
umbus and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and in the affairs of
these organizations he takes considerable interest. In politics he is affiliated
with the Republican party. By the terms of the will of the late E. C. Hill, he
was made executor of the large estate left by his father and is ably managing
it. He is continuing the breeding of thoroughbred Polled Angus cattle. He
has only recently added some registered thoroughbred stock to the Hill herd.
Mr. Hill has contributed liberally to the Red Cross movement and is a mem-
ber of the local chapter of the Red Cross.

REV. JOHN J. HOFFMAN.

The Rev. John J. Hoffman, pastor of the Catholic church of Sts. Peter
and Paul at Falls City, is of European birth, but has been a resident of
this country since he was eighteen years of age and of Nebraska since
1889. In June, 1895, the year of his ordination to the priesthood, he was
appointed to the parish of Rulo, later l>eing transferred to Bellwood and
thence, in 1910, to Falls City, where he since has had his residence and
where he has performed a notable work in behalf of the parish over which
he has spiritual direction.

Father Hoffman is a native of Lu.xemberg. born in the grand duchy
of that name on October 3, 1871, son of John J. and Catherine ( Concimiu i
Hoffman, the latter of whom was of Spanish parentage. The elder John
J. Hoffman, who was a native of Belgium, was a manufacturer in Luxemlierg
and late in life moved over into Germany, where he spent his last da)s.
Until he was nine years of age the younger John J. Hoffman received his
schooling in his native Luxemberg and he then was sent to an academy in

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. II II

the vicinity of Liege, in Belgium, where he recei\ed a scholastic train-
ing about the same in scope as that comprised in the American high school
course, after which he entered the ancient University of Treves, perhaps
the oldest institution of learning in what is considered to be the oldest
city in Germany. Before completing the collegiate course there he came
to America and located at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he entered the
high school, with a view to rounding out his acquaintance with the English
language. It was in 1889 that Father Hofifman came to this country, he
then being eighteen years of age. After a year of high school training in
English he entered upon the prescribed course in theology and philosophy,
in preparation for the service of the church, to which he had consecrated
his life, and after three years of such study in Milwaukee entered St.
John's Universitv, in Minnesota, where, in 1895, he was ordained to the
priesthood.

Immediately following his entrance upon Holy Orders, Father Hoff-
man was given charge of the Catholic parish at Rulo, this county, and
he remained there for five years, doing a good work. In 1900 he was
transferred to the parish at Bellwood, in Butler county, this state, and there
he remained ten years, at the end of which time, in 19 10, he was given charge
of the church of SS. Peter and Paul at Falls City, a charge which he
since has faithfully administered, long having been regarded as one of the
leading clergymen of his communion in the eastern part of the state. It
was in May, 1910, that Father Hoffman entered upon the duties of his
priestly office at Falls City and not long after becoming settled there he
took up the work of parish improvement and in a remarkably short period
of time had a movement on foot that resulted in the erection of a new-
church edifice and parish house, the same being provided for at a cost of
fifty-two thousand dollars. Since then Father Hoft'man has made addi-
tional improvements, in the way of furnishings and decorations, costing
no less a sum than thirteen thousand dollars; the total expenditures on
parish improvement during his pastorate thus totaling about sixty-five thou-
sand dollars, a notable work when it is considered that the parish contains
but one hundred and twenty-five families. Not only in a material way has
Father Hoft'man advanced the interests of the parish of Sts. Peter and
Paul since assuming the pastorate of the same, but equal progress has been
made in a spiritual way and all departments of the work of the parish are
reported progressing admirably. In the historical section of this volume,
in the chapter relating to churches of Richardson county, there is presented

RICHARDSON COUNTV. NEBRASKA.

an admirable picture of the church, school and parish house which will
give the reader a definite idea of the fine bit of church property owned

by the i)arish of Sts. Peter and Paul.

CHARLES ALFRED STRAWN.

Charles Alfred Strawn, former justice of the peace in and for the pre-
cinct of Speiser, an honored veteran of the Civil War and one of the best-
known pioneer farmers of Richardson county, proprietor of a fine farm in
Grant precinct and the owner of other land in Speiser precinct, is a native
of the state of Illinois, but has been a resident of this county since 1866,
the year in which he came out here and entered a claim. He was born on
a farm in Franklin township, DeKalb county, Illinois, February 13, 1843,
son of Abner and Sarah (Hart) Strawn, natives of Canada, the former of
whom was born in 1812 and the latter in 1824, who became ])ioneers i>t this
county and here spent their last days.

Abner Strawn was the son of Joab Strawn, who was born in Pennsyl-
vania, of Pennsylvania-Dutch stock, and who had moved to Canada in the
days of his young manhood and had married and reared his family there."
Abner Strawn married in Canada and in 1842 mo\ed to Illinois, locating
on a farm in Franklin township, DeKalb county, where he reared his family
and where he resided until 1867, when he disposed of his interests there
and came to Nebraska, settling on a farm seven miles south and west of
Humboldt, in Speiser precinct, later moving to a farm four miles southeast
of Humboldt, where he spent his last days, his deatli occurring there in
1900. His widow survived him for nine years, her death occurring in
191 1. They were the parents of five children, of whom the subject of this
.sketch was the first-born, the others being as follow : Mrs. Mary Jane
Backus, of Brown county, Kansas, died in 1888; William ].. of Lamar.
Colorado; Frank, deceased, and Thomas, deceased.

Charles A. Strawn grew to manhood on the farm on which he was
born in Illinois, receiving his schooling in the neighborhood schools, and was
living there when the Civil War broke out. On August 7, 1862, he then
being nineteen years of age, he enlisted for service at Franklin, Illinois, as
a member of Company G, One Hundred and Fifth Regiment, Illinois Volun-
teer Infantry, and with that command served until the close of the war, receiv-
ing his final discharge at Chicago on June 17, 1865. The One Hundred and

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. III3

Fifth Illinois participated in some of the most stirring battles and engage-
ments of the war and during all this strenuous service Mr. Strawn was
wounded but once, a spent ball glancing off one of his ribs while fighting
Wheeler's cavalry at Lawtonville, during the Carolina campaign, February
13, 1865, the wound laying him up for several days. During that battle
he was in the advance guard and was lying in a ditch at the side of the road
awaiting the enemy's advance when the buHef\struck him. He was all
through the Atlanta campaign, took part in the taking of Atlanta, having
previously fought in the battles at Resaca, Cassville, New Hope Churchy
Kenesaw Mountain and Peach Tree Creek, and then went on with Sherman
to the sea and took part in the capture of Savannah, crossing the Savannah
river in a row boat on the cold and stormy New Year Day of 1865. With
the great army he then proceeded on up through the Carolinas and after the
battle of Lawtonville, mentioned above, participated in the battle of Averys-
boro, March 17, 1865, and then, on March 19, the battle of Benton viHe,
the last engagement of that division. Mr. Strawn then participated in the
Grand Review at Washington and witli liis regiment was mustered out
in that city, later reporting at Chicago for final discharge.

Upon the completion of his military service Charles A. Strawn returned
to his father's farm in Illinois and the next year, in 1866, came out to
the then Territory of Nebraska with a view to entering a claim and estab-
lishing a home in the new country. He drove through by way of Council
Bluffs, entering Richardson county via Table Rock, and after a bit of pros-
pecting located his claim in section 21. town i, range 13, which later came
to be organized as the precinct of Speiser. He then returned home and on
the following New Year Day married and straightway returned here with
his bride, employing a man to drive him and his wife out from St. Joseph,
the trip being made through a foot and a half of snow. He erected a Cot-
tonwood shanty on the place the next summer, 1867, and in that humble
abode, with unbattened chinks and no ceiling, he and his bride began their
housekeeping operations. To his original claim Mr. Strawn presently added
two and one-half acres of timber land, paying for the same sixty dollars an
;icre and adding forty acres to his homestead. On that pioneer place lie
lived until 1888, meanwhile improving and developing the same in fine
shape, and then traded the two hundred acres for the old Bowman liome-
stead quarter section in Grant township on which he is now living and
where he ever since has made his home, long having been very comfortably
estaljlished there. Mr. Strawn has a well-kept and well-improved farm and
is looked upon as one of the substantial i)ioneer farmers of that community.

I I 14 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

He is a Republican and has ever taken an earnest interest in the general
political affairs of the county, and has served Speiser precinct in the capacity
of justice of the peace, as a school director and as constable. He is an
active charter member of the William Mix Post, No. 66, Grand Army of
the Republic at Humboldt, in the affairs of which patriotic organization he
has for years taken a warm interest, and is also affiliated with tiie local
lodges of the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Order of United Workmen,
the Knights and Ladies of Security and the Fraternal Order of Eagles.

Mr. Strawn has been twice married. On January i, 1867, in Illinois,
he was united in marriage to Emily J. Young, who was born in that state
on February 2.2, 1849, a daughter of John and Emaline (Morris) Young,
and to that union four children were born, namely: Mrs. Rosa West, who
is living on the old home place; Sherman, who died in infancy; Emory M.,
now a resident of Los Angeles, California, and Laura, who died at the age
of five years. The mother of these children died on September 5, 1876,
and in March, 1877, Mr. Strawn married Mary Houser, who was born in
Monroe county, Pennsylvania, January 30, 1853, and who died on December
II, 1910. To that union were born eleven children, five of whom died in
infancy, those who grew to maturity being as follow : William G., who is
farming the home place; Mert and Bert, deceased; Mrs. Ella Bemis, of
Speiser township; Charles Alfred, Jr., who is on the home farm, and Alice
A., who is her father's housekeeper. The Strawns have a pleasant home
and have ever taken an interested part in the general social activities of
tlie conimunitv.

CHARLES E. STOLTZ.

Charles E. Stoltz, for years a well-known and successful farmer, living
in Franklin precinct, this county, has recently disposed of his tine farm
consisting of one hundred and sixty acres of prime land, all in an excellent
state of improvement; however, he is still the owner of forty acres of land
in Texas, in the irrigated section of the Rio Grande. He was liorn on
April 27,. 1870. in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, the son of \\'illiam and
Alary (Ulmer) Stoltz, also natives of tiie same county and state. \\'illiani
Stoltz was a son of Jacob Stoltz, a nati\e of Germany. Mary Ulmer was
the daughter uf Isaac Ulmer and wife.

William Stoltz came to Richardson county from Pennsylvania in 1886
and located between Dawson and Stella, where he bought one hundred and

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. III5

sixty acres of raw prairie land. He moved his family to the farm the
following spring and began the task of clearing the ground for culti\ation.
William Stoltz was born in 1847 aaul died on March 20, 1915. His wife,
Alary Ulmer, was born on Alay 31, 1849, ^"^1 died on January li, 1901.
They were the parents of the following children: Charles E., the subject
of this sketch; Jacob F., who lives in Aurora, Illinois; Isaac H.. of Onaga,
Kansas; Samuel, who lives in Chicago; WiUiam F., who lives on the home
farm; Ezra W.. of Jerome, Idaho; Daniel, who died in 1878; Martin, who
died in 1896; Mrs. Clara Bobbitt, who lives in Jerome, Idaho, and Hattie,
who lives in Porter precinct. Of these children, Charles E. was educated
in the Lycoming county schools, Pennsylvania, and Jacob was graduated
from the Stella high school and from the University of Nebraska. Mr.
and Mrs. William Stoltz were married on June 22, 1869.

Following his education, Charles E. Stoltz assisted his father in build-
ing up a home and continued in this way up to the time of his marriage
in 1893. In the latter year he rented his father's farm for four years and
later bought out the home place, subsequently selling it. In 1904 he moved
to Dawson and for two years was engaged in the hardware and imj)le-
inent business and then sold out. In 1906 Mr. Stoltz bought an improved
farm near Holdridge, Phillips county, this state. He was the second man
to pay fifty dollars an acre for land in that locahty, and sold his holding
at an enhanced price of seventy-five dollars an acre. He then moved to
Franklin precinct, this county, and bought the farm, which he vacated about
twelve months ago, paying one hundred dollars an acre for the same in
1908. This tract of one hundred and sixty acres he parted with in 1916,
obtaining one hundred and seventj-live dollars an acre for the land.

On February 9, 1893. Charles E. Stoltz was united in marriage to
Anna Heim. who was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, on February
II, 1869, daughter of John J. and Rosina Heim, also natives of that state.
Further mention of this branch of the Heim family will be found in another
])art of this work in a sketch relating to Israel Heim. Tc Mr. and Mrs. Stoltz
four children have been born, as follow: Esther, born on June 25, 1895; Iva,
December 2j. 1900; Carl, December 30. 1904, and Mildred, October 20,
1908.

yiv. Stoltz is a Democrat, l)ut has never sought public office. He is a
member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Modern Woodmen, and in the
affairs of both organizations he takes a warm interest. He and his wife
and family are members of the United Evangelical church.

RICHARDSON COUNTV. NEBRASKA.

EDW.XRD UHRI.

The name of Edward Uhri of Humboldt, needs no introduction to
tile readers of this book, since he has long l)een active in the affairs of
Richardson county, and is one of our leading- farmers and business men.
He was born on May 14, 1864, on his present farm, being the scion of
a pioneer family ; in fact, his birth occurred in a corn crib, his parents, John
^fatthew and Barbara (Lutz) Uhri, having started in life here with little
of this world'"s goods. The father was born in Germany. April 19, 1823,
and died on Juh i, 1904. The mother was born in Baden. Germany. Feb-
ruar\ 4. 1827, and died on February 8, 1886. They grew up in their
native land and crossed the Atlantic together and were married at New
Orleans, Louisiana, March 28, 1849. Later, in 1855, they ascended the
Mississippi and Missouri rivers by steamboat to St. Joseph, Missouri, and
drove over from there to Richardson count}-, where they took up a home-
stead, a part of which is now included in the place belonging to the subject
of this sketch. Here they endured the usual privations and hardships in-
cident to pioneer life, Ixit through hard work and perseverance succeeded
in l)ecoming well established. For some time they occupied the same house
with the Speiser family. St. Joseph was their nearest market. This was
still an Indian domain, but the red men were friendly and never molested
the settlers. They once, while Mr. Uhri was on a trip to St. Joseph, came
to Mrs. L^hri for food and she divided her supply of meal with them. To
Mr. and Mrs. John M. Uhri the following children were born: John, who
lives in Speiser precinct; George, deceased: Mrs. Carrie Stecker, who lives
in Colorado: .\ugust. who makes his home in Denver: Edward, the subject
of this sketch, and Mrs. Sophia Case, who lives in Colorado.

Edward Uhri grew up on the home farm, where he worked hard when
a boy. He attended the district schools and the Humboldt schools, remain-
ing with his parents until he was twenty-three years old, when he rented
land from his father. He bought his first land in 1890 from his father,
and went in debt nine thousand dollars. He managed well and graduallx-
increased his holdings until now he owns five hundred and forty acres of
excellent land in the vicinit\- ni Humboldt, which is well improved and under
a high state of cultivation. Here he carries on general farming and stock
raising on an extensive scale. Part of his land lies in Spei.ser township.
He engaged also in the automobile Intsiness in 1912 at Dawson, and now
has a .garage at Humboldt. He also sells gas tractors and is interested in

II20 RICHARDSON COINTV. .NEBRASKA.

HighlaiKler> the Benevolent and I'mtective Order of Elks, and last, hut
not least, the Booster Club, of Falls City. He has been very successful
in a business way, being a man of rare soundness of judgment and execu-
tive ability. His public spirit has ne\er been questioned. He has done
much to increase the prestige of his home city and to make it a good place
in which to li\e. f^ersonally. he has the confidence and respect of all who
know him. being a man of obliging and genial manners and unciuestioned
integrity.

.ALBERT RUSSI-:LL KELM.

Albert Russell Keim, editor and proprietor of the l-'alls City Jounuil.
one of the best-known newspaper men and lawyers in eastern Nebraska,
former judge of the probate court of Richardson county, former police
judge of Falls City and for years one of the leaders of the Republican
party in this countv, is a native of the (jld Keystone state, but has been
a resident of Nebraska and of this county since he was twelve years of
age and has therefore been a witness to and a participant in the develop-
ment of this region practically since pioneer days. He was born near the
village of Stoyestown, in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, February 22.
1859, son (jf Christian Livengood and Amanda Corday (Will) Keim. both
natives of that same county, who later l^ecame useful and influential pioneers
of this county, the former of whom spent his last days in l\'ills City, his
widow dying while on a visit at Ft. Collins, Colorado.

The Keims are of the old Mennonite, .\mish or Dunker stock, so largely
represented in the hill country of southwestern Pennsylvania and have been
established as a family in this country since early Colonial days. Johannes
Keim. believed to be the- first of the name in .\merica. was in P'ennsyl-
vania prospecting for a location in 1698. He returned to Germany and
came back with his wife to remain in 1707, settling in Berks county, Penn-
sylvania. His son, John Keim. was horn in Oley. Pennsylvania, in 171 1.
This John Keim is supposed to l)e the father of Peter Keim, born in
Berks county. Pennsylvania, who was the father of six sons and two daugh-
ters, among whom was numbered Nicholas Keim, born in that same countx
on February 2. 1768, and who died in Somerset county, .same state. October
18. 1830. Nicholas Keim was married three times and was the father
of twenty-four children, among whom was Jonas Keim. born in .Somerset
countv on March 11. i8ov who married Sarah Livengood and had twelve

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

children, among whom was numbered Christian Livengood Keim, the fatlier
of the subject of this sketch. Jonas Keim was for years a leader of the
Dunker people in his community and for some time represented that dis-
trict in the Pennsylvania Legislature. He also served as associate judge
of the court and was a man of extensive affairs, his principal activities
being noted in the cattle business and farming, and at the time of his death
was rated to be worth in the neighborhood of seventy-five thousand dollars,
a considerable fortune for that time and place.

Christian Livengood Keim, son of Jonas and Sarah (Livengood) Keim,
was born in Elklick township, Somerset county, Pennsylvania, December
i6, 1829, and grew to manhood there, following his father's line as a cattle
buyer and drover, doing an extensive business in that line. After his mar-
riage in 1857 he established his home in his native county and was living
there when the Civil War broke out. He was reared firm in the faith
of the Dunker church, which faith forbids the taking up of arms, and
though an ardent sympathizer with the cause of the Union did not enlist
for service in the army, rendering his service to the cause by furnishing
cattle for the use of the army. While on one of his quests over the line
South to deliver cattle to the United States army he was captured by the
enemy and was for fi\-e months a prisoner in Libby Prison, though a non-
combatant. He also operated a farm, flour-mill, tannery and distillery at
Pine Mills, in Somerset county, Pennsylvania. This he sold about 1869
and came West to seek a new location. He was favorably impressed witli
Nebraska and bought a farm near Falls City. During 1869 and 1870, he
was engaged in selling land located in Thayer and Nuckoll counties, Ne-
braska, which he had entered at the United States land office, paying two
dollars and a half an acre for that within the railroad grant and one dollar
and a quarter an acre for that outside of the two-mile limit ; this he sold at a
good profit in Pennsylvania. When Congress, in 1870, required six months
residence on the land to pre-emptors this business was cut off and, in 1871,
Christian L. Keim with his family came to Falls City, where he built a
residence at 1903 Stone street. In that same year or in the next vear he
established the Falls City Bank.

What with the crop failures due to the dry years and the grasshoppers,
together with the general panicky depression of that period, this pioneer
bank was doomed to failure and, in 1877, was compelled to close its doors,
Mr. Keim, as well as some others, losing quite heavily in the crash. Upon
the failure of this bank Mr. Keim engaged in cultivating a farm not far
(71)

1122 RICHARDSON COl'NTY, NEBRASKA.

from Falls City, until his death, June 30, 1883. His widow and children
continued to operate the farm until 1907 when it was sold at one hundred
and twenty-five dollars an acre, that being the highest price paid for a quarter-
section tract in Richardson county up to tliat date, for agricultural pur-
poses. The widow moved to Falls City in the spring of 1908 and on
August 8, 1908, while on a visit at Ft. Collins, Colorado, died unexpectedly,
being at the time past seventy-three years of age.

It was on December 8, 1857, in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, that
Christian L. Keim was united in marriage to Amanda Corday Will, who
was born in that same county on February 14, 1835, ^ daughter of John
and Nancy (Scott) Will, and to this union were born eight children, of
whom the subject of this biographical sketch was the first born, the others
being as follow : Carrie Alwilda, born near Stoyestown, Pennsylvania ;
Mary Martha, born near Stoyestown, who died at Falls City, this county,
January 3, 1886; Grace Greenwood, lx)rn near Stoyestown, who died at
Falls City on May 6, 1890; John Brown Keim, torn near Stoyestown,
who married, at Enid, Oklahoma, Kate x\lford and has one child, a son.
Jerome; Jennie S., born near Stoyestown; Will Seward Keim, born at Falls
City, who married there, Fernanda R. Godfirnon, to which' union six chil-
dren have been born, John, who died in infancy; Paul, Grace Corday, Will
Seward, Mary Aletha and Martha, the last-named of whom died on June
17, 191 5, and Clement Leroy Keim, Inirn at Falls City, who died on Novem-
l)er 22, 1881.

Albert Russell Keim was twelve years of age when his family came
from Pennsylvania to this county in the spring of 1871, arriving at h'alls
City on May 5 of that year. The family came by rail to Hiawatha and
thence up here by stage, the trip proving a great adventure for the boy,
Russell, who still vividly recalls the incidents of the journey out into the
then frontier country. He completed the course in the public schools of
Falls City and then entered the State University at Lincoln, from which
he was graduated in 1881, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Ui)un
leaving college Mr. Keim was employed as assistant principal of the high
school at Falls City, and was thus engaged for two years, later ser\ iiig
for a time as principal of the high school at Brownville. In the meantime
he had been giving his leisure time to the study of law and, in 1887, was
admitted to the bar and opened an office for the practice of his profes-
sion at Falls City, where he has ever since been actively engaged in practice,
though of late years his chief attention has been given to his newspaper.
During the legislative sessions of 1895 <i"d 1899 ^Ir. Keim served as as.si.>it-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I I 23

ant secretary of the state Senate; in 1901 he was again assistant secretary
of the Senate, and in 1903 served as secretary of that hody. In the fall
of 1895 he was elected judge of the probate court and served in that office
for two years, 1896-97. Previously he had served as justice of the peace in
and for the precinct of Falls City and as judge of the Falls City police
court. Judge Keim is an ardent Republican and has served his party as
chairman of the county central committee and as a memlier of the state
central committee.

On May 3, 1909, Judge Keim took charge of the plant of the Falls City
Journal, the former proprietor of which had "gone broke," and entered
upon the somewhat difficult task of reviving the newspaper; after some
years of earnest and laborious efifort restoring the paper to a self-supjiort-
ing basis and putting it on a substantial financial footing, having made
it one of the leading daily newspapers of eastern Nebraska and of the
wide territory it serves. By prudent and enterprising direction Judge Keim
has built up the Journal's circulation to a point exceeding two thousand
and by his direct and independent attitude in the conduct of his editorial
columns has made the paper a power of usefulness in the community. Tlie
Journal has an up-to-date and well-ecjuipped plant, and is recognized among
newspaper men as one of the strong newspapers of the state.

JAMES B. DAVIS.

The present popular and efficient postmaster at Humboldt, James B.
Davis, is well known in Richardson county, where he has long maintained
his residence and where he has won the respect of all who know him. He
was born at Jackson Center, Shelby county, Ohio, March 21. 1862, a son
of Jacob M. and Jane S. (Furrow) Davis, both natives of Ohio. Calvin
Davis, the paternal grandfather, was a native of Virginia, of Welsh de-
scent. He was an early settler in Shelby county, Ohio. Jacob M. Davis
devoted his active life to farming. He came to Nebraska in 1864, and
located on the prairie three miles northwest of Humboldt, developing into
a good farm a practically wild piece of prairie land. He moved to Kansas
in 1883, and later went to the Pacific coast, locating in the state of Wash-
ington, where he spent the rest of his life, dying in Julv, 1912. His wife
had preceded him to the grave in 1874. They were parents of the fol-
lowing children : E. A., of Tonkawa, Oklahoma ; J. S., of Lincoln, Ne-

1 124 RICHARDSON COCiVTYj NEBRASKA.

braska, who is engaged in the real-estate and loan business in Humboldt;
James B., the subject of this sketch; L. M., who lives near Castle Rock,
Oregon; Mrs. Rebecca Knight, who lives in Taft, Oregon, and Mrs. Flora
Beck, who makes her home at Kelso, Washington.

On June 20, 191 7, James B. Davis had rounded out just fiftj- years
in Richardson county. During this long period he saw the county develop
from practically a wild prairie to its present high state of prosperity, with
its fine farms and substantial towns. He grew up on the home farm and
was educated in the common schools. He left home in 1882 when twenty
years old and began learning the blacksmith's trade. He then engaged
in the saloon business for a period of twenty-seven years, selling out on
May I, 1910, after which he conducted a garage for two years. He then
served as mayor of Humboldt two years, then farmed for a while. He
owns thirty acres of rich land at Humboldt. He was appointed postmaster
on August 23, 1916, for a term of four years and is now filling the office
acceptably both to the department and to the people. Politically, he is a
Democrat. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of Pythias lodge, which
he joined twenty-five years ago. He is past chancellor commander of Hum-
boldt Pythians and is a member of the grand lodge of Nebraska, having
represented Humboldt lodge in the sessions of the grand lodge, of which
he has been a member for fifteen years.

On December 27, 1897, Mr. Davis was married to Lorena Kline, who
was born October 10, 1865, in Perry county, Pennsylvania, a daughter
of Stephen and Olive (Steele) Kline, and who was three years old when
her father died in 1868. Mrs. Kline later came to Nebraska and settled in
Richardson county in 1872, joining the Steele family, she being a niece of
Charles, Joseph and John Steele. She taught school at Falls City for a
period of twelve years, and taught for two years at Stella, and two years
at Humboldt. She at one time made a long visit in Pennsylvania among
old home friends and scenes. She spent her last days in Humboldt with
Mr. and Mrs. Davis. Her death occurring in August, 191 2. Two chil-
dren were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kline: Lorena, wife of Mr. Davis, and
Charles, who died in youth.

During Mr. Davis's incumbenc\- as mayor of Humboldt he did much
for the general improvement of the town. It was then that the splendid
concrete band stand and fountain in the city park was built. It was erected
in honor of O. J. Tinker, who gave the park to the city. During his adminis-
tration tlie waterworks plant was connected with the springs two and one-

KICUARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 1 25

half miles northeast of Humboldt, which furnish what is regarded as pos-
sibly the best water in the state, its analysis showing that it is ninety-nine
per cent pure, and which provides an unfailing water supply for the town.
The splendid sewer system which Humboldt possesses was installed during
his administration, through Mr. Davis's energ\- and persistence. This sys-
tem is imique, inasmuch as it was built by private subscription.

WILLIAM W. JAMES.

William W. James, one of the best-known and most substantial retired
farmers of the northern part of this county and the proprietor of a fine
farm of two hundred and forty acres in the precinct of East Muddy, who
since 1907 has been making his home at Shubert, where he and his wife
are very comfortably situated, is a native of Wales, but has been a resident
of this country since he was five years of age and of Nebraska since he
was nineteen. He was born in South Wales, January i, 1848, son of Evan
and Mary Ann (Thomas) Watkins, the former of whom died in 1849, the
subject of this sketch then being but an infant. The Widow Watkins later
married John T. James and her son by her first marriage has ever since been
known by the name of James instead of Watkins.

In 1854 John T. James left his native Wales with his family and came
to the United States, proceeding to Pottsville, Pennsylvania, a short time
later moving to Pomeroy, in Meigs county, Ohio, where he remained until
1865, in the spring of which year he came out to the then Territory of
Nebraska and bought a tract of land in the precinct of East Muddy, in this
county, returning then to his home in Chicago with a view to bringii-ig- his
family out here to settle on the farm. Before these plans could be carried
into effect his wife died in December, 1865, and was buried in Ohio. Not
long afterward, in 1866, Mr. James brought his children out here to the
farm he had bought the year before and there established his home. In
1867 he married Margaret Griffith, who died in December, 1868. and in
1871 he married Elizabeth Jenkins, who remained his helpmate until death,
both dying in the same month, in February, 1906. John T. James developed
a good farm in East Muddy precinct, ISecoming the owner of three hundred
acres cjf excellent land, and there spent his last days. By his first wife, mother
of the subject of this sketch, lie was the father of five children, namely:
Mrs. Elizal)eth Higgins. who died in 1914; Jacob T., who died in 1913;

1 126 RICHARDSON COUNTY', NEBRASKA.

Mrs. Helen Matthews, also deceased; Benjamin, of Sunnyside, Washing-
ton, and John, who was killed by a horse in his youth.

Upon coming out to Nebraska with his stepfather in 1866 William W.
James entered heartily upon the labors of helping to develop and improve
the home place and there remained until after his marriage, when, in 1870,
he began farming for himself, investing the proceeds of his share of the
sale of his father's old farm back in Wales in the purchase of a farm of
three hundred and seventeen acres adjoining that of his stepfather in East
Muddy precinct, paying for the same four dollars and fifty cents an acre,
land now worth from one hundred and fifty to two hundred dollars an acre.
On that place he established his home and there he and his wife continued
to reside, prospering in their operations, until 1907, when they retired from
the farm and moved to Shubert, where they have since made their residence.
Formerly Mr. James was a Republican but later became a Democrat and on
local issues has long voted independently. For some time he served as assessor
of his home precinct and in other ways has contributed of his time and
energies to the public service.

On December 7, 1869, William W. James was united in marriage to
Elizabeth Jones, also a native of Wales, born on August 17, 1849, slaughter
of Jonas and Mary Ann (Evans) Jones, who came to the United States in
1853 and settled at Pomeroy, Meigs county, Ohio, remaining there until
1869, when they came to Nebraska and settled in Aspinwall precinct over
the line in the county of Nemaha, not far from the James place. Jonas
Jones, who was born in 1837, died in February, 1903. His wife, who was
born in 1826, had preceded him to the grave about nine years, her death
having occurred in 1894. They were the parents of twelve children, of
whom seven are still living, those besides Mrs. James being as follow : Mrs.
Sarah Taggart, of Trout Lake, Washington; Lance, of Shubert, this county;
John, who is farming in Nemaha county; Morgan, also a Nemaha county
farmer; Mrs. Margaret Lambert, of Kearney, this state, and Mrs. .\nna
Williams, of Nemaha county.

To William W. and Elizabeth (Jones) James seven children have been
born, namely : Mrs. Mary Gillilan, of Auburn, this state, who has one child,
a son, James; Edward, of Stella, who married Laura Armstrong; Arthur
W., who married Anna Hellwig, formerly of New York, and is now located
at Prescott, Arizona; Mrs. Ella Holmes, of Lincoln, this state; John, who
died at the age of ten years; Ella, who died at the age of six years, and
Lela, who died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. James are members of the Bap-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I 1 27

tist church and liave ever taken an interested part in church work, as well as
in other neighborhood good works. Mr. James is a member of the local
lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and takes an active interest
in Masonic affairs.

JOSEPH VVINDLE.

There are, naturally, in a great grain country like southeastern Nebraska,
a large number of elevators, and one of the best known in Richardson
county is that owned and conducted bj^ Joseph Windle at Salem, where he
is also engaged in farming and the live-stock business.

Mr. Windle was born on October i, 1847, in Shenandoah county, Vir-
ginia, a son of William and Mary (Kretzsinger) Windle, both natives of
Virginia, the father born in 1807 and the mother, in 1810. They grew up
in their native state and were married there, establishing the family home
on a farm in Shenandoah county. In 1855 they removed to Ogle county,
Illinois, where they spent the rest of their lives on a farm, the father dying
in 1878 and the mother in 1874. They were members of the Lutheran
church. Ten children were born to them, two of whom are now deceased,
Joseph Windle being the seventh in order of birth.

Joseph Windle was eight years old when his parents moved to Ogle
county. Illinois, and there he grew to manhood on the farm and attended
the ptiblic schools. In the fall of 1872 he came to Nebraska and for a num-
ber of years rented land in Liberty precinct, Richardson county, where, in
1883, he bought a farm of eighty acres, which he operated until 1892, when
he sold out and moved to Salem, where he has since resided. He had bought
the Salem grain elevator in 1890 and has conducted the same ever since. He
also has bought and shipped live stock in large numbers from Salem during
the past twenty-five years. Although during this period he has been busy
with his elevator and live stock business, he has also continued farming,
owning a valuable place of seventy-two and one-half acres near the Burling-
ton depot at Salem.

Mr. Windle was married on March 2, 1872, to Anna Belle Price, who
was born in Pennsylvania on July 2, 1850, a daughter of George and Rebecca
Jane (Cornelius) Price, the latter a native of Pennsylvania and the former
of Germany, from which country he came to Pennsylvania when a child and
there spent the rest of his life. Seven children have been born to Mr. and
Mrs. Windle, namelv : Mrs. Hattie A. Mettz, deceased: Fred R., who is

I 128 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

engaged in the grain commission business at St. Joseph, with the Garnell-
Windle Grain Company; Oliver P., who is engaged in the hve-stock com-
mission business in St. Joseph, Missouri; Grace, deceased; Joseph E., who
is engaged in the lumber business in Salem, this county; Dean K., who is
connected with the bank at Wymore, this state, and \\'ayne, who is oper-
ating an elevator at Fortescue, Missouri. Mr. Windle is a Democrat and
has served as a member of the school board. He and Mrs. Windle belong
to the Congregational church.

EDMOND J. DURFEE.

Among the real "old-timers" of Richardson county there are few who
are better known throughout the county than is Edmond J. Durfee. a retired
pioneer farmer of the precinct of Rulo, who is now living at Falls City,
where he and his wife are very comfortably situated in their pleasant home
at 20I2 North Fulton street. Air. Durfee has been a resident of Nebraska
since the spring of 1859 and has consequently lieen a witness to and a
participant in the development of this region since territorial days, few
men now living in the county having a more thorough acquaintance with
the conditions that confronted the pioneers here back in the latter fifties
and early sixties than has he, and when in a reminiscent mood he is a verit-
able "mine of information" on matters relating to the early settlement oi
this part of the state.

Edmond J. Durfee is a native of the neightering state of Iowa, born
at Black Hawk on March 7, 1849, a son of Edmond and Caroline \i. (Clark)
Durfee, both -natives of the state of New York, who became pioneers of
this section of Nebraska back in territorial days and here .spent the remainder
of their lives, honored and useful pioneers of Richardson county; thougli
the former did not live long to continue the useful work upon which he
had entered upon coming to this region, his death occurring at \\'innebago
on January 19. 1861, but a few years after coming here from tlie state of
Iowa. He was born in New York on Septemljer 3, 18 15, and was therefore
but forty-five years of age at the time of his death. His widow survived
him many years. She continued to make her home in tliis countv after
her husband's death and died at Salem on January jo. 1901. She was
born, also in the state of New York, on August 12. 1822, and was therefore
in the seventy-ninth year of her age at the time of her deatli. Edmond

i:dmoxd j. durfe

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I 1 29

Durfee and his wife were the parents of five children, of whom the subject
of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others having been
Russell K., ^lary A., Celia and Louis. Russell K. Durfee was born in
^Missouri, September i, 1836, and died at his home at Winnebago, this state,
June 25, 191 7. Mary A. Durfee was born at Ft. Des Moines, Iowa, March
2-/, 1 85 1, and was but a child when she came to Nebraska with her parents,
in 1859. She married J. R. Babbitt and was the mother of four children,
James Babbitt, Sylvia Babbitt, Mrs. Gay Sisco, of Burchard, and Charles
Babbitt. Mrs. Babbitt died at her home in Rulo on February 26, 1890. Celia
Durfee was born in Iowa on October 28, 1856, and was about three years
of age when her parents came to Nebraska. She married Jefiferson Gentry,
of Salem, this county, and has four children, Daniel, Clarence, Albert and
Lloyd. Louis Durfee was born at Winitehago. this state, Octoter 14, i860,
and is now living in the state of Minnesota.

The senior Edmond Durfee was a millwright and builder by vocation
and for some years after moving from New York state to Iowa followed
that vocation in the latter state. In 1857 he and Louis Darvean, Jarvis
Durfee, his brother, and E. H. Johnson came over from Iowa to the then
Territory of Nebraska to build a mill for Charles Rulo and erected the first
mill to be built on the Muddy. That pioneer mill, which occupied the site
of tlie present mill at that place, was successfully operated for a time and
then was accidentally destroyed by fire. Upon completing the Rulo mill Mr.
Durfee. accompanied by Louis Darvean and Bruno Cornearry, went to
Winnebago on the Missouri river, where they erected a mill for a man of
the name of Pecot, who was doing an extensive business there, and at that
place Mr. Durfee died in 1861, as noted atove. In 1859, two years after
he came to Nebraska, Edmond Durfee moved his family from Iowa to
Nebraska, driving through from Iowa in a covered wagon drawn by a yoke
of oxen, and arrived at Winnebago on May 10 of that year. After his death
the family home was established in Richardson county and, as noted above,
here liis widow spent her last days.

lulmond J. Durfee was but ten years of age when he came to Ne-
braska with his parents in 1859 and he completed his schooling in the primi-
tive schools of Richardson county. He was reared on a farm and early
l)ecame a i)ractical farmer. .After his marriage, in 187 1, he for four years
made bis home on a bottoms-land farm in the precinct of Rulo. where he
had a rather disastrous experience. He improved that bottom-land farm,
spentling upwards of- sixteen-hundred dollars upon the same, and then traded
it for a span of horses and two pigs, because of the fact that tlic treacherous

II^O RICHARDSON COrXTV, NEBRASKA.

and ever-hungry Missouri river was encroaching on the land and carrying
tlie soil awav. It began to look as though the river worild carry away all
of the farm, so Mr. Durfee traded it off for what he could get. In 1874
he "hired out" to John R. Smith and worked for Mr. Smith for three years,
at the end of which time he rented the Smith farm and farmed the same
for one year. He next rented a place three miles north of Rulo. for three
years, and used his savings to buy a farm eight miles northeast of Falls
Citv, in the precinct of Arago. That place, a tract of three hundred and
forty acres, he brought up to a high state of cultivation and development.
He also engaged quite extensively in the raising of cattle and soon became
recognized as one of the most progressive and substantial farmers in the
eastern part of the county. In 1904 Mr. Durfee retired from the farm and
moved to Falls City, but afterward returned to the farm and there con-
tinued to make his home until 191 1, in which year he returned to Fall>
Citv, where he has since made his home, having a tidy bit of property there
in addition to his valuable farming interests. Mr. Durfee is a Democrat
and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, having
for years served as a member of the school district in his old home district
in Arago.

Mr. Durfee has been thrice married. On June 2, 1871, he was united
in marriage to Cordelia A. Carr, who was born in 1855 and who was but
eleven years of age when her parents, Eli and Catherine Carr. came to
Nebraska and settled at Rulo in 1866. To that union were l)orn two chil-
•dren, Edmond, who died in infancy, and Mark J., born on Januar\- u.
1874, near Rulo, and who is now residing ou a farm eight miles north-
east of Falls Citv. The mother of these children died in [879 and on
Tune 8, 1880. at Rulo. Mr. Durfee married ]\laria L. Montgomery, wlm
was born at White Pigeon, Illinois. October 4. 1849, and who came to
Nebraska with her parents, Charles and Elizabeth (Jones) Montgomery,
in 1863. To that union were born two children, Edward E., Ixirn on Jan-
uarv II, 1882, on the farm eight miles northeast of Falls City, where he
still resides, and Amantha, who died in infancy. On March i, 1906, Mr.
and Mrs. Durfee left the farm and moved to Falls City, where Mrs. Durfee
shortly afterward was taken ill and where she died on the 27th of that
same month. After this bereavement Mr. Durfee returned to the farm and
there made his home with his son. Edward E. Durfee and family, until
November 28, 1910, on which date he was united in marriage to Tsabclle
Elshire, who came to this county with her parents, Epiiraim and Maria
h'Jshire, in i860, the familv settling at Kulo. After bis last marriage Mr.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA, 113^

Durfee again established his home in Falls City, where he and his wife are
now li\'ing.

Edward E. Durfee, who is now managing his father's place in Arago
precinct, where he makes his home, was united in marriage on August 26,
1903, to Jessie L. Waggoner, who was torn on a farm twelve miles north-
east of Falls City, in this county, March 9, 1883, where her parents. Riley
D. and Martha J. (Anderson) Waggoner, still reside. To this union six
children have been torn, Maryee, Opal, Agnes, Blanche, Edward and Martha.
The first-named of these children, Maryee, born on J'^ine 17, 190-I.. died on
March i. 19 14.

RALPH R. PHILPOT.

One of the most enterprising of the younger generation of business
men of western Richardson county is Ralph R. Philpot, a lumber and coal
dealer in Humboldt, where he was born, February 14, 1884, and he has been
content to spend his life in his native town. He is a son of Samuel 'Si. and
Winnie A. (Moon) Philpot, an old and highly esteemed pioneer family of
this section of Nebraska. The father, Samuel Morrow Philpot, was born
in Columbiana county, Ohio, January 22, 185 1, and died on November 22,
1916, when nearly sixty-six years old. He came to Nebraska in 1868. first
locating at Omaha, where he resided for about a year. He then went to
Rulo and for two years he held a position in a bank and general store, later
taking a position with a lumber company at Salem, where he lived until
1874, when he moved to Humboldt. Mr. Philpot brought with him into
the West a rugged and strong physique, indomitable energy and full measure
of honesty, industry and courage, ancV was thus well fitted for the hardships
that confront the pioneer. During these early years he laid the foundation
upon which he builded a business of considerable magnitude.

Samuel M. Philpot was a son of Robert and Susan (West) Philpot.
The mother was born August 5, 1826, in Carroll county, Ohio, and she and
Robert Philpot were married in 1847. Soon thereafter they moved to
Nebraska and settled on a farm one and one-half miles south of Humboldt,
where they spent the rest of their lives, his death occurring on February
28, 1897. She passed away on April 2, 19 15, at an advanced age. Thev
were parents of the following children, namely: James \\'., S?nuiel M.
(father of the subject of this sketch), Mrs. Belle Adams, of Lisbon, Ohio;
Mrs. Tina Crawford, Hugh D., John R., William H., Mrs. E. S. Cope
and Charles P. Seven of the nine children survive, and all li\e in Hum-

I 132 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Ijoldt. except Mrs. Adams, and Mrs. Tina Crawford, the last named making
her home in ^Montana.

Samuel M. Philpot was married on February 22. 1875, to Winnie A.
Moon, to whom four children were born, one of whom died in infancy.
The second son, Gurney, was accidentally drowned in Maloney lake near
Humboldt, on Decoration Day, 1892. Ralph R., the subject of this sketch,
has a brother, Harry, who now lives at Circle City, Montana. The mother
of these children is living- in Lincoln, Nebraska. Samuel M. Philpot was a
Presbyterian, as were his parents before him. He joined the church at Hum-
boldt, February 18, 1875, and was made an elder in the same, January 26,
1890, which position he tilled most efficiently until his death. Broadminded
on the questions of municipal report, he was called upon to serve the city
of his residence both as its mayor and as a memljer of the council at dii¥er-
ent times, and he was almost a life member of the school board and of the
library board, in the affairs of which he always took a deep interest. He
was also a member of the Masonic lodge, the Order of the Eastern Star,
the Degree of Honor and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

Ralph R. Philpot was educated in the Humboldt schools, later attending
a business college in Lincoln. Nebraska. When but a boy he began working
with his father in the lumber business, becoming a partner with him in 19 10,
and upon the death of the elder Philpot the son, with his brother Harry and
their mother, took full charge of the business which has since been con-
tinued with ever-growing success, under the active management of the broth-
ers, Ralph R. looking more specifically after the management of the lumber
yard at Humboldt. They also own a yard at Burchand, this state. Their
yard at Humboldt is the largest in southeastern Nebraska. A stock of
lumber and coal is carried tber€ aggregating- in value nearl)'- twenty- thousand
dollars on an average, and a large territory is supplied from this yard.
Ralph R. Philpot is also a shareholder and vice-president of the Home
State Bank.

On Decem1)er 7, 1909, Ralph R. Philpot, of this review, was married
to Edith Finch, who was born in Arapahoe, Nebraska, a daughter of R. J.
Finch, a banker and merchant and one of the leading men of affairs of
that place. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Philpot, namely :
Robert F., .Adelaide, and Samuel G.

Mr. Philpot is a Republican and is now serving as a member of the
local school lioard and city council. He is a member of the Knights of
Pythias and of the Presbyterian church. He is a man of sound judgment
and business acumen, public spirited and of unquestioned integrity.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I 1 33

WILLIAM M. BRANDOW.

William M. Brandovv, one of the real "old settlers" of Humboldt pre-
cinct, the proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and twenty acres in
the neighborhood of Humboldt, is a native of the Dominion of Canada, but
has been a resident of Richardson county since he was twenty years of
age, having come here in the spring of 1869, and has consequently been
a witness to and a participant in the development of this county since
pioneer days. He was born on October 16, 1849, son of Moses and Phoebe
Brando w, who became pioneers of this county and here spent their last
days, the former dying in 1891 and the latter in 1892.

Moses Brandow was born in Canada, in 1814, and was one of three
sons born to his parents, who left the Catskill region of New York state
and moved over into the Dominion. There Moses Brandow grew up and
married, later moving to Illinois and thence, in 1865, to Iowa, where he
remained until after his children had grown up and had come out here and
established a home, when he and his wife rejoined them and here spent
the remainder of their lives. Moses Brandon was a car]:>enter and did
much carpenter work in the western part of the county. He and his wife
were the parents of four children, the subject of this sketch having had
three sisters, Harriet, who married John Lynch and came to this county
from Iowa in 1868 and died here in 1892; Mrs. Angeline Elliot, a widow,
now living in Denver, and Mrs. Emma Ray, now living in California. John
Lynch, referred to above, was the son of Thomas H. Lynch, the pioneer
postmaster at Lynchburg, on the old Revelle place in this county.

William M. Brandow was but an infant when his parents moved from
Canada to lilinois in 1850 and he was about fifteen years of age when
the family moved from that state to Iowa. He grew up in the latter
state, living there until the spring of 1869, when he and his two sisters,
Mrs. Elliot and Emma, and the former's husband, Frank Elliot, drove over
into Nebraska, arriving in this county at ten o'clock in the morning on
May I, eight days from Prairie City, Iowa, with a load of two thousand
pounds of household and other goods on their wagon. On September i
following, Mr. Brandow made liis location on his present farm of one
hundred and sixty acres in Humboldt precinct and was shortly afterward
joined there by his parents, wlio made their home with him thei-eafter, and
he did not marry until some time after the death of his parents. Mr.
Brandow built his first suljstantial house in 1872 and rebuilt the same in

I 134 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

1901. He has improved his farm in excellent shape and has long been
looked upon as one of the substantial farmers of that neighborhood. He
i.s a Republican in his political views and has held township offices, doing
well his part in the public service.

On December 25, 1894, William Isl. Brandow was united in marriage
to Xellie INIadden, who was born in this county on October 8, 1872, daugh-
ter of Da\id Madden and wife, pioneers of Richardson county. ^Ir. and
Mrs. Brandow are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take
a proper interest in church work and in other local good works. Mr.
Brandow- is a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd
Fellows at Humboldt and a member of the Knights and Ladies of Security,
in the aft'airs of which organizations he takes a warm interest.

FRED HAEFFELE.

Fred Hneft'ele, proprietor of nearly two hundred acres of tine land in
the ]jrecinct of Arago, one hundred and twenty acres in section 28 and
seventy-nine acres in the adjoining section, 22, and one of the best-known
breeders of live stock in Richardson county, is a native of the Badger state,
but has been a resident of this county since he was twenty years of age, having
come here with his parents in 1883. He was born on a farm in Fond du Lac
count\-, Wisconsin, October 19, 1862, son of Fred and Susanna (Schmidt)
Haeffele, who came to this country in the spring of 1855 from Germany and
after some years of residence in Wisconsin came to Nebraska and settled
in Richardson county, becoming substantial pioneers of Arago precinct.

The elder Fred Haefifele was born in southern Germany on February 5,
1827, and there grew to manhood. In the spring of 1855, he came to this
country, leaving his native land in March of that year and bringing with
him his sweetheart and her parents and the other members of her family,
seven in all, paying the passage of the family, and in May of that same year
the part\- arrixed in Wisconsin, their objective point upon taking passage
for this country, and on July 4 following he and his sweetheart were married
in Fond du Lac county, Wisconsin. She also was born in southern Germany,
]\Iarch 8, 1834. After his marriage Fred Haeffele established his home on a
farm in Fond du Lac county and there continued to make his home until
in the spring of 1883, when he disposed of his interests there and came to
Nebraska, arriving in this county about the middle of March. LTpon his

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 135

arrival here he bought a farm in tlie precinct of Arago, estabhshed his home
there and there spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on
July 2, 1900, that date lacking but two days of being the forty-iifth anni-
versary of his marriage. The elder Fred Haeffele and his wife were the
parents of eight children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth
in order of birth, the others being as follow : Susan, who married Charles
Hartman and is now deceased; Mrs. Minnie Zimmerman, of Falls City;.
Henr}', of Falls City; Mrs. Katherine Hartman. of the precinct of Arago;
Mrs. Louisa Scheitel, of the precinct of Jefiferson; Charles, of Falls City,
and Albert, of Jefiferson precinct.

The junior Fred Haeffele was twenty years of age when he came to-
this county with his parents in the spring of 1883 and his labors proved a
valuable factor in the work of developing the home farm during the first
two years of his residence here. After his marriage in the fall of 1885
his father gave him a team, a wagon, harness and certain essential imple-
ments of farming and in the following spring he rented a farm three miles
north of Falls City and began farming on his own account, his undertaking
proving so successful that in 1891 he was able to buy a farm of eighty acres,
two miles east of the county seat. There he farmed for four years, at the
end of which time, on account of the failing health of his wife, he sold his
place and moved to Falls City. In 1896 he bought his present farm in sec-
tions 28 and 22 of Arago precinct and began to make extensive improve-
ments on the same, among these improvements being the removal of the
house and barn from the center of the farm to the east-and-west road, and
has for years been very comfortably situated there. In addition to his gen-
eral farming, Mr. Haeffele has been an extensive breeder of live stock, his
specialties being Durham cattle and Percheron horses, and he has done very
well in his operations, having been thus engaged since 1904.

Mr. Haeffele has been twice married. On Octoljer 22. 1885, he was
united in marriage to Emma Wulf, who was born in Iowa on April 19,
1867, a daughter of Henry and Dora ( Hahn ) \A'ulf, natives of Germany.
who later became pioneers of Richardson county, where the former spent his
last days and where the latter is still living, now a resident of Falls City.
Mrs. Emma Haeffele died in May, 1897, without issue, and on May 27, 1900.
'\\x. Haeffele married Hattie Bertram, who was born in the jjrecinct of
Arago, this count}-, October 29, 1881, daughter of Adolph and Mary (Graff)
Bertram, the former a native of Germany and the latter of the state of
Indiana, who came to Nebraska in territorial davs and settled in Arasjo

I 136 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

precinct, this count)-, where they Hved until their retirement from the farm
and removal to Falls City, where they are still living, well-known pioneers
of Richardson county. To this second union seven children have been born,
Esther, Ernest. George, Walter, Dorothy, August and Llovd, all of whom
are living save the last named. Mr. and Mrs. Haeffele are members of the
Evangelical Lutheran church and take a proper part in church work, as
well as in the general good works and social activities of their home com-
munity. Mr. Haeffele is "independent" in his political views.

HOMER D. KIRK.

Homer D. Kirk, treasurer of the village of Rulo, justice of the peace
in and for the precinct of Rulo and actively engaged in the insurance and
farm-loan business in his home village, was born there and has lived there
all his life. He was born on Septemlier 26, 1886, son of George D. and
Martha ( Hurn) Kirk, the former a Kentuckian and tlie latter a native of
the neighboring state of Kansas and who is still living at Rulo.

George D. Kirk was born at Murphysville, in Mason county, Ken-
tuck}-, in 1847, son of Washington Kirk, also a native of that state. When
twenty-one years of age, in 1868, George D. Kirk came to Nebraska and
located at Rulo, where he spent the rerhainder of his life. For some years
he served as assistant postmaster of that village and was also for years
justice of the peace in and for his home precinct. He engaged in the insur-
ance business and built up a profitable connection in that line, remaining
thus engaged until his death on September 4, 1906, the business since then
being carried on by his son, the subject of this sketch. In 1877 George D.
Kirk was united in marHage to Martha Hurn, of Rulo, who was born at
F"t. Leavenworth, Kansas, October 11, i860, daughter of Gentry and Susan
Hurn, who settled in Rulo in 1868, arriving there by steamer. Gentry Hurn
was born in Missouri and his wife was hi^rn in \'irginia. He was one of
the original "forty-niners," having gone to California over the old Santa
Fe Trail in the early, days of the gold di.scovery on the coast, and was later
employed by the government at Ft. Leavenworth. Upon coming to this countx"
in 1868 he engaged in farming in the vicinity of Rulo and there spent his
last days, his death occurring in 1907, he then being seventy-seven years of
age. Mrs. Kirk is still living at Rulo. She and her husband were the parents
of nine children, of whom six are still living, namely : ^Irs. ^lamie Brown,

HOMER D. KIRK.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. II37

of Falls City: ]\Irs. Jennie Robertson, also of Falls City; Homer D., the
subject of this biographical sketch ; Mrs. Pauline A'IcFrye, of Rockford, this
state, and Max and Forrest, of Rulo.

Homer D. Kirk was reared at Rulo and completed the course in the
Rulo high school in 1902. Upon leaving school he engaged in the insurance
business with his father and upon the latter's death in the fall of 1906 he
succeeded to that business and has since been cjuite successful conducting the
same, most of the leading companies for which he is writing insurance being
the Royal of Liverpool, the Hartford Fire, of Hartford, Connecticut, and
the National Security Fire, of Omaha. Since taking over the business Mr.
Kirk has added farm loans to the same and in this latter line also has done
quite well. He is a Republican and is serving now as treasurer of the vil-
lage. In November, 1916, he was elected justice of the peace and is still
serving in that magisterial capacity.

On October 2, 1916, Homer D. Kirk was united in marriage to Ruth
Gonnley, who was born at White Cloud, Kansas, and whose mother, Mrs.
Mary E. Gormley-Miller, is now conducting a boarding house at White
Cloud, Kansas. To that union one child has been born, a son, George
Homer, born on June '27, 1917. Mr. and Mrs. Kirk attend the Methodist
church and take a proper interest in neighborhood good works, as well as
in the general social activities of their home town. Mr. Kirk is a member
of Aerie No. 49, Fraternal Order of Eagles, at St. Joseph, and takes a
warm interest in the affairs of that organization.

TACOB BLOOM.

A stranger viewing for the first time "Evergreen Heights Farm", in
Falls City precinct, this county, would at once conclude that its owner, Jacob
Bloom, was a man of industry and good taste, for everything about the
place is well kept.

Mr. Bloom was born on January 30, 1863, in Mahoning county, Ohio,
a son of Jacob and Clementine (Swartz) Bloom. The father was born in
Germany in the year 18 12, and when about a year old his parents brought
brought him to America, the family locating in Ohio among the pioneers
and there he grew up, married and established his home in Mahoning county,
where he was a cooper b\' trade. His death occurred in 1877. His
(72)

1 138 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

second wife, Clementine Swartz, was born in 1839, near Ft. Wayne, Indiana,
and her death occurred in 1902. His first wife, whom he married in early
life, had no children. He was a member of the German Lutheran church.
Eight children were born to the parents of the subject of this sketch, namely :
Franklin M., who lives in Youngstown, Ohio; Katherine. the wife of Joseph
AIcDermott, of Ellsworth Station, Ohio; Jacob, the subject of this sketch;
Joshua, a farmer near Verdon, this county ; Solomon, a carpenter at Verdon ;
Airs. Cora Cook, who lives in Alliance, Ohio; George, who lives at North
Lima, Ohio, and Victor, who lives at Elsworth Station, Ohio.

Jacob Bloom was but a lad when his father died and he started out to
make his own living when but fifteen years old. His father was a poor man
and left a large family for the widow to rear. Jacob earned his own board
and clothes from the time he was seven years old and had little chance to
obtain an education. He continued to work out as a farm hand until he was
twenty-one years old, when he came West, in 1884, and rented land in this
county for ten years. In 1895 he bought a farm five and one-half miles
northwest of Falls City. He made many improvements on the place, includ-
ing the building of a good barn, and there he engaged in general farming
for ten years, at the end of which time he sold out afid bought eighty acres
near Verdon, on which he built a house and made many other improvements.
Selling out in 1907, he moved to Falls City and worked for an implement
store a year and a half, then bought a hardware store which he operated
for a year, trading it for his present farm, which contains one hundred and
twent}' acres, in section 9, and here he has made a success as a general farmer
and stock raiser. Mr. Bloom makes a specialty of breeding Shorthorn cat-
tle, which find a very ready sale, owing to their superior quality. The leader
of his fine herd is "Gardenia's Villager No. 485957". He started his herd
in 1912 and it is now well advertised. At stated intervals he holds public
sales on his place and the same are always largely attended. His farm was
quite extensively improved by its former owner, W. R. Holt. The home is
modern, being equipped with a furnace, hot and cold water and electric lights.

On December 18, 1890, Mr. Bloom was married to Cora Weaver,
who was a daughter of Jesse and Emma Rebecca (Kroah) Weaver, bnth
natives of Pennsylvania, from which state they removed to Illinois when
young and there they were married. In 1873 they came to Nebraska and
tought a farm fifteen miles northwest of Falls City. Both Mr. and Mrs.
Weaver are now deceased. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bloom,
a daughter, Minnie, who married Ralph Burgner and has one child, Mary C.

Jacob Bloom is a Democrat, but is inclined to \ ote independent!) . hra-

KICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 I39

ternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to the
Ancient Order of United Workmen. He and Mrs. Bloom are members
of the Brethren church.

LEWIS F. MARBURGER.

By industry and fair dealing Lewis F. Marburger has built up a good
business as a merchant in Humboldt. He was born, July 23, 1873, at Dubuque,
Iowa, and is a son of George F. Marburger, born in 185 1 at Canal Dover,
Ohio, and whose death occurred in 1904. The father of George Marburger
was a native of Germany, from which country he came to America in the
early sixties and served in the Civil War as a Union soldier. After the
war he located in Iowa. He bought leather from U. S. Grant at Galena,
Illinois, before the war, the future General and President having been engaged
in the tanning business there for some time. Five generations of the Mar-
burger family have been engaged in the leather and shoe business. George F.
Marburger, father of the subject of this sketch, learned the shoemaker's
trade at Bellevue, Iowa. He came to Nebraska in 1878 and located a shoe
shop at Humboldt, his son Lewis being then only live years old. George F.
Marburger was married, while living in Iowa, to Sarah Chase Scoville,
who was born in the state of New York in 1855. Her father served in the
Civil War. Three children were born to George F. Marburger and wife,
namely; George, deceased; Frank, deceased, and Lewis F., the subject of
this sketch.

Lewis F. M-arburger was educated in the public schools and was gradu-
ated from the Humboldt high school in 1891. He learned the shoemaker's
trade under his father, whom he succeeded in business, conducting a well-
equipped repair shop, and he is now proprietor of the oldest established
business in Humboldt. He built a new store in the fall of 191 3 and in it
installed modern fixtures. He still does a large shoe-repairing business, but
his main business is his store, in which he carries a large stock of shoes,
rubber goods and hosiery. The business was originally established in 1879.
Shoes and boots were made from the raw material for many years in this
shop. In 1889 a stock of footwear was added to the business, father and
son working together until the former's death in 1904. since wliicli time
the subject of this sketch has conducted the establishment alone. He lias
increased the business in various ways and his fine new brick building, whicli

II40 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

now stands on the old site, would be a credit to any town in this section
of the state, being one of the most substantial and attractive buildings in
Humboldt.

In 1887, Mr. Marburger was married to Bertha Borland, whose death
occurred in 191 1, leaving three children, namely: Willard, now (1917J
seventeen years of age, who is attending high school; Lee, fifteen years of
age, and Harold, nine. In August, 1914, Mr. Marburger married Nellie
Snoke, a daughter of C. M. Snoke, of Humboldt, and to this union one child
has been born, a son, Charles, whose birth occurred on March 3, 1916.

Mr. Marburger is a Republican, a member of the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows and a member of the Presbyterian church. During his long
business career in Humboldt he has done much in the way of promoting the
general upbuilding of the town.

GEORGE BOWKER.

The late George Bowker, who at the time of his death in 1904 was
the president of the Bank of Rulo, at Rulo, this county, and for many years
had been one of the leading factors in the development of that part of
the county, was a native of England, but had been a resident of this count\-
since pioneer days, having come here in the fall of 1857. He was born
at Buckworth Lodge, Huntingdonshire, England, May 13, 1835, son of
Thomas and Rebecca (Burnham) Bowker, and was reared in his native
country, after completing his schooling becoming employed in a grocer}-
store, and remained there until he was twenty-two years of age, when, in
1857, he came to this country and after a short stay in Bradford county,
New York, and at Elmira, diat state, came out to the then Territory of
Nebraska and in the fall of that year bought a tract of land in the vicinity
of the landing where the village of Rulo later arose and Ijefore long became
recognized as one of the leading landowners and cattletnen in that section.
During the Civil War Mr. Bowker ser\-ed in ^863-64 as commissary clerk
in the (|uartermaster's department of the United States army at Ft. Kearney.
When the First National Bank of Rulo was organized he was one of the
active factors in that organization and when that institution was re-organized
as the Bank of Rulo in 1890 he was made vice-president of the same and
was later raised to the position of president of the bank, a position he held
until his death. In a biographical sketch relating to his nephew. Thomas

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I I4I

G. Bowker. now vice-president of the bank, there is set out a liistory of this
bank, further mention of which also is made in the historical section of this
work. George Bowker was for some years during the early part of his
residence here interested with Stephen B. Miles in government mail contracts,
his operations including lines in Missouri and Texas. In i8q6 he was
united in marriage to Addie Woodford, of Rulo, who survives him. Mr.
Bowker was a membei of Orient Lodge, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons,
at Rulo, and after his death on December 31, 1904, his body was accorded
full Masonic honors.

THE SHILDNECK FAMILY.

The Shildneck family has long been well established in Richardson
county, throughout which they are well and favorably known, and they are
among the leading citizens of Salem and vicinity.

Hiram S. Shildneck, now living in retirement at Salem, was born
in Frederick county, Maryland, June 23, 1841. He is a son of William
and Massa (Guidan) Shildneck, whose family consisted of nine children,
six sons and three daughters, only two of whom are now living — Hiram
S., who was seventh in order of birth, and Mrs. Mary E. Moser, a widow,
who lives in Washington county, Maryland. William Shildneck was a
tanner by trade, and lived all his life in Maryland, dying there at the age
of eighty-three years. His wife was also a native of that state, where she
lived and died.

Hiram S. Shildneck grew to manhood in Maryland and there attended
the public schools, remaining at home until 1862, when he moved to Illi-
nois and settled in Ogle county. At Polo, that state, he enlisted, in January,
1865, in Company F, Eighteenth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
but the war being nearly over he did not see much active service. He was
mustered out and honorably discharged at Ft. Steele, Little Rock, Arkansas,
where he was stationed several months. After the war he returned to
Illinois and bought a farm, which he improved and operated until 1886, in
which year he came to Nebraska, buying a farm in Liberty precinct, Rich-
ardson county, which was -well improved, and there he farmed until 1903,
when he sold out. His place consisted of two hundred and forty acres of
valuable and productive land, and the price he received was one hundred
dollars an acre. In connection with general farming he was a breeder of
Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. He was one of the successful

1 142 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

farmers and stockmen of the county. Having accumulated a competency
and old age coming on he retired from active life in 1903, moved to
Salem, where he built a commodious residence and has there continued to
reside to the present time.

On February 16, 1866, Hiram S. Shildneck was married to Mary F.
Hammond, who was born in Virginia, in 1844, a daughter of Philip and
Lydia (Kretzsinger) Hammond, both natives of Virginia, where they grew
up and married, later moving to Illinois. They had only the one child, Mary
F., who married Mr. Shildneck. Four children w^ere born to Hiram and
Mary F. Shildneck, namely : Flora, who is the wife of Charles Frederick,
of Almena, Kansas; William P., who is engaged in the hardware business
at Salem; Mrs. Bertha E. Schrader, who lives in Richardson county and
who is mentioned in a separate sketch in this work, and Charles, who is
engaged in the hardware business in Salem. Hiram S. Shildneck is a
Prohibitionist, a member ol the Ancient Order of United Workmen and a
member of the Congregational church.

William and Charles Shildneck, mentioned above, started in the hard-
ware business in Salem in 1903 and they have built up a large and growing
business. They carry a complete line of hardware, implements and furni-
ture. Their first store was destroyed by fire in 1910, and they then erected
their present substantial and modern brick building, forty-five by ninety feet.

William Shildneck was l)orn on September 29. 1869, in Ogle countv.
Illinois, and there he spent his boyhood and attended the public schools, later
attending the high school at Holton, Kansas. He grew up on the home farm,
where he worked during the crop seasons. When a young man he worked
for the Burlington Railroad Company as agent at Salem and in various places
in the West for about twelve years. For the past fourteen years he has
devoted his attention to the hardware business.

On August 5, 1895. William Shildneck was married to Nellie M. Long,
a daughter of William P. and Hettie J. (Eshelman) Long, natives of Penn-
sylvania, where they grew up and were married. In the fifties thev removed
to Illinois, becoming early settlers in Ogle county, where they remained until
1872, when they came to Nebraska and located on a farm in Richardson
county. Mr. Long died here in 1912 at the age of sixty-nine vears. His
widow is now living in Brown county, Kansas, at the age of seventy years.
Four children have been born to A\'illiam Shildneck and wife, nanielv : Carl
H., Lloyd P., Jesse W.. and Paul R.

Charles Shildneck was born in Ogle cou!\ty, Illinois. September 19,
1880, and was reared on the home farm, where he worked when a bov,

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. II43

and he received a common-school education. He engaged in farming until he
entered the hardware business with his brother in Salem, in 1903. In
1907 he married Josie Hinton, a daughter of John Hinton and wife, early
settlers of Richardson county. To this union two children have been born,
Cleo and John.

FRANK E. CHURCH.

One of the farmers of Franklin precinct, Richardson county who fol-
lows twentieth century methods is Frank E. Church, who owns a well-
improved and productive farm of two hundred and seventy acres on which
he carries on general farming and raises large numbers of cattle and hogs,
forging to the front rank in his locality during his residence there of twenty-
five years on the same farm.

Mr. Church was born on February 26, 1870, in Wisconsin, a son of
Joseph and Sarah (Rood) Church. The father was born in 1844 and
died on March 25, 191 1. The mother, who was of English descent, was
born in Canada in 1851 and died on February 4, 1904. In 1880 Joseph
Church and family emigrated to Nebraska and settled on a farm east of
Dubois, Pawnee county, and in the spring of 1889 settled in Franklin
precinct, Richardson county, on land a part of which is now owned by
Frank E. Church. The family of Joseph Church numbered six, only two
of the children now surviving, Frank E., and Mrs. Mary Standerford, who
also lives in Franklin precinct, Richardson county.

Frank E. Church grew up on his father's farm, where he worked when
a boy during the summer months, in the winter time attending the district
schools, and when but a boy turned his attention to farming. He rented
the farm he now owns for a while, then purchased it in 1894. He has added
many improvements, including the erection of a large modern residence,
also good barns and other buildings. He has managed well and has suc-
ceeded.

On November 10, 1892, Mr. Church was married to Mary ^"a^ie^,
who was born in Richardson county, October 5, 1871, and was reared in
her native locality and attended the public schools. She is a daughter of
John and Martha (Alott) Vanier. The father was born June 17, 1833, in
Pennsylvania, from which state he removed to Ohio with his parents when
young and there he grew to manhood and married. In November, 1858,
he removed to Nebraska, locating in the southwestern corner of Richard-

I 144 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

son county, being one of the pioneers there. He developed a good iarm
from the wild prairie and continued to reside there for a period of forty-
two years or until 1900, when he moved to Dubois, Pawnee county, where
he lived for nine years. He now lives with his daughter, Mrs. Church,
being now (1917) eighty-four years of age. His wife, Martha Alott, was
born in 1834 and died on November 9, 1905. To John Vanier and wife
the following children were born : George, who lives in Dubois, Nebraska ;
Oscar, who lives in Fairbury, this state; Mrs. Susan Brinker, who lives
in Colorado Springs; Mary, wife of Mr. Church, and Jacob, who lives in
Kansas City, Missouri.

Four children have been born to Frank E. Church and wife, namelv :
John, who lives on the farm east of his father's, married Leona Rue, and
has one child, Virgil Leonard; Earl, who is teaching school near Lincoln,
in Seward county, and who was married, June 11, 1917, to Anna Heacock:
Vernon, who lives at home, and George, who is attending school at Frank-
lin Center. Mr. Church votes independently, preferring to cast his ballot
for the best man rather than for the party.

CHARLES SMITH.

The late Hon. Charles Smith, former representative from this district
to the Nebraska General Assembly, an honored veteran of the Civil W'ar,
and during his life one of the best-known and most substantial farmers in
Richardson county, the proprietor of a fine farm in the precinct of Nemaha
and for years actively identified with the interests of this section of the state,
was of European birth, but had been a resident of this country since he
was fifteen years of age and of this county since he was eighteen. Born in
Germany on March 19, 1840, he remained there until 1855, in which year
he came to this country with a married sister and settled in Missouri, coming
thence in 1858 to Nebraska and settling on a farm on Honey creek, in the
precinct of Nemaha, this county, he and his brother, Julius Smith, farming
the place in partnership for some years, at the end of which time be bought
his brother's interest in the farm and thereafter developed it alone. During
the progress of the Civil War Mr. Smith enlisted for service in Company
(}, Fifth Missouri Cavalry, and with that command rendered valiant ser\ice
in behalf of the presen'ation of the Union, he having from the day of his
anival in this country given himself wholeheartedly to his adopted country.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I I45

After his marriage in the spring of 1869 Charles Smith established liis
liome on his farm in Nemaha precinct and it was not long until he came
to be regarded as one of the leading farmers in that part of the county.
.\s he prospered he added to his land holdings until he became the owner
of a fine farm of five hundred acres, which he had improved and developed
in admirable shape, and there he spent his last daj's. his death occurring on
January 15, 1916, and his widow is still living there, retaining her interest
in three hundred and ninety acres of the estate. Mr. Smith was an ardent
Republican and ever gave his earnest attention to local civic affairs, one of
the recognized leaders of his party in this county. In 1898 he was elected
to represent Richardson county in the Legislature and during the session of
1899 rendered admirable service in behalf of his constituents and of the state
at large in the House. He was a member of the Evangelical Lutheran
church, was one of the active workers in the ranks of the local post of the
Grand Army of the Republic at Sabetha, Kansas, and was afifiliated with
the lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at that place, in the
affairs of all of these organizations taking a warm interest.

On March 11, 1869, Charles Smith was united in marriaige to Lucinda
Lockwood, who was born in Allegany county, New York, January 16,
1850, daughter of Joseph and Theda ( Martindale) Lockwood, natives of
that same state and members of old Colonial families, the latter of whom
was a granddaughter of Sheldon Holbrook, a soldier of the Revolution and
a large landowner in New York. The Lockwoods left New York in 1853
and moved to Michigan, settling at Chasaning, in Saginaw county, where
they lived for eleven years, or until -1864, when they moved to Minnesota
and settled on a farm in the neighborhood of Alma City, where they remained
two years, at the end of wiiich time, in 1866, they came down into Nebraska
and settled on a farm in the precinct of Nemaha, in this county, becoming'
substantial pioneers of that community. Later, Joseph Lockwood and his
wife moved to Mitchell. Kansas, where their last days were spent.

To Charles and Lucinda (Lockwood) Smith were born nine children, of
whom five are still living, as follow : Nellie, wife of George F. Funk, a
farmer, living three miles southwest of Dawson, this county; Olive, wife
of Oliver C. Ayers, of Nemalia precinct, a biographical sketch of whom is
presented elsewhere in this volume: Helen, wife of Benjamin Stalder. of
Salem precinct; Ardie, wife of C. Foy French, of the city of Lincoln, and
Fred, living on the old home place, which he is successfully farming, who
married Carrie Brougher and has four children, Gertrude, wife of Lloyd
Keim; Charles, Zuella and Villas. All of the Smith children received excel-

I 146 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

lent schooling and in their younger days all were for a time engaged in
teaching school in this county, the family ever having taken an active and
useful part in the general social and cultural activities of the communitv.
Mrs. Smith is a member of the United Brethren church and has for years
been among the leaders in all good works in the community in which she has
lived since pioneer days and the development of which she has witnessed
and aided since the days of her girlhood.

LEONARD R. AIANN.

Leonard R. Mann, farmer and live-stock Ijuyer, living, in Humboldt, is
one of the native sons of Richardson county who has appreciated home
opportunities and has been content to stay her-e. He was born in Humboldt,
November 12, 1877, a son of Lewis C. and Mary (Cox) Mann, the former
of whom was born in Randolph county, Indiana, June 6, 1848. Lewis C.
Mann devoted his life to the live-stock and butcher business. He spent his
early life in the East, coming to Nebraska in 1870 and locating at Humboldt,
where he bought and shipped cattle and hogs to the markets, spending the
])alance of his life there, dying on May 17, 1910. He was one of the best-
known stockmen in the northwestern portion of the county, and took an
active interest in local public affairs, serving as a member of the city council
at Humboldt at different times, and did all he could toward the general upbuild-
ing of his community. He became o^\^er of considerable property in Hum-
boldt. He was a member of the Christian church there and leader in the
same for many years. He belonged to the Ancient Order of United Work-
men. His wife also was born in Randolph county, Indiana, in 185 1, and
is now living at Humboldt, Nebraska. To these parents nine children were
born, five of whom are living at this writing.

Leonard R. Mann was reared at Humboldt, where he attended the
pulilic schools. He worked in the butcher business with his father until
igo2, when he liegan buying live stock on his own account; in fact, he has
been buying stock since he was thirteen years old. Through long years of
practice and also a ])ronounced natural ability in that line, he has become
one of the best judges of live stock in the county. In 1910 he bought, in
l)artnership with Walter Legg, a farm of one hundred acres, which partner-
ship existed until 1913. when Mr. Mann bought eighty acres of the place in
Franklin precinct, since which time he has devoted his attention to general

RICHARDSON" COUNTY, NEBRASKA. II47

farming there, although maintaining his residence in the town of Humljoldt.
He has also continued buying stock for the market.

Mr. Mann was married on November 17, 1909, to Frances M. Little,
a daughter of Oliver T. and Elizabeth (Pollock) Little, natives of Conners-
ville, Indiana, and of Red Oak, Iowa, respectively. They were early settlers
in Pawnee county, Nebraska, where they engaged successfully in agricul-
tural pursuits until retiring from active life. They now live in Humboldt.
^ Mrs. Mann was born at Pawnee City, Nebraska, and there she grew to
maturity and received a good education in the public schools, graduating
from the high school, and later was a student in the State University of
Nebraska. After coming to Humboldt she became associate editor of the
Standard, the duties of which position she discharged with abihty and
credit for a period of three years. She was with that newspaper six years
in all. She is a woman of high educational attainments and a writer of
much natural ability. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Mann has been blessed
by the birth of one child, Frances Marjorie, lx)rn on October 26, 1913.

NEWTON C. CAMPBELL.

The enterprising merchant, Newton C. Campbell, of Humboldt, has
succeeded because he has had courage and perseverance and has been willing
to follow the Golden Rule in dealing with his fellow men. He was born
on OctolDer 15, 1855, in Lasalle county, Illinois, a son of Abel and Eliza
(Woodward) Campbell, who were parents of fourteen children, five sons
and two daughters of whom are still living, Newton C. having been the
tenth in order of birth. Abel Campbell was born on November 28. 1809,
in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, where he spent his earlier years. He moved
to Illinois about 1852, presently locating at Streator, that state, and in 1872
took up his residence at Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he made his home with
one of his sons for five or six years, at the end of which time he went to
Templeton, Iowa, where his death occurred in 1894. He spent his active
life as a farmer. He was reared a Quaker, but gave up that faith when he
married. He was a man of deep religious convictions and an active church
worker. The mother of the subject of this sketch also was born in Fayette
county, Pennsylvania, in 1813, and. died in 1897. She worked hard assist-
ing her husband rear their large family, often sewing until far into the night,
making clothes for them.

I 148 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Xeutiiii C. Campbell was reared on the farm and received his educa-
tion in the district schools and at Streator. Illinois, .\fter leaving school
he clerked in a clothing store there for two years. He came to Nebraska
in 1876 and worked as a farm hand in the vicinity of Table Rock for four
years, receiving sixteen dollars a month, later two hundred dollars a year. He
began farming for himself in 1880, and in 1891 bought a farm of one
hiindred and twenty acres in Franklin precinct. Richardson county. Sell-
ing out there in 1894, he moved to Huniljoldt precinct and bought eighty
acres, which he operated until 1900, in which year he sold out and moved
to the town of Humboldt, where he bought a partnership in the Watts grocery
and queensware store. Four j-ears later he bought his partner out and has
since been conducting the business alone. He has been very successful and
has built up a large and growing trade. He carries an extensive and care-
fully selected stock of staple and fancy groceries and a fine line of queens-
ware, about a six-thousand-dollar stock. His store is modern in its appoint-
ments, neat and well arranged.

On February 26, 1880, Mr. Campbell was married to Parmelia Fellers,
who was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Philip and
Katherine Cortlelia (Puever) Fellers, both natives of Pennsylvania, who
came to Nebraska in 1878 and located on a farm two and one-half miles
from Table Rock. There the death of the father occurred in 1879, at the
age of fifty-five years, and his widow is now making her home with the
subject of this sketch. She has reached the advanced age of eighty-seven
years, ]\Irs. Campbell is a member of the Methodist church and an active
worker in the same. She is a member of the local lodge of the Daughters of
Rebekali and of the Degree of Honor. The union of ]\Ir. and Mrs. Campljell
nas been without issue.

Mr. Campbell is a Republican, He was elected a member of the Hum-
boldt city council in 1904, serving for two years, and in 1909 he was again
elected to the council, serving until 191 1, when he was elected county super-
visor, the duties of which office he discharged in an able and faithful manner
until 1917. when the office was discontinued. In 191 1 he was appointed
chairman of the county board, which position he held for six years. Tn all
these offices of trust he has been painstaking and worked for the general
good of the public, making a record that was satisfactory to all concerned.
J-'raternally. he belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order
"i (Jdd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a member of
tlie Methodist church, of which he is a trustee, and is an active worker in
the same.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I I49

CHRIST WUSTER.

Another foreign-born citizen of western Richardson county who has
been successful in our land of man}' opportunities and has been enabled to
retire from active life is Christ Wuster, of Dawson, Grant township, this
county. He was born in Germany, May 13, 1848, a son of Christ and
Rosanna (Likes) Wuster, natives of Germany. The father was born on
December 14, 1821, and died on February i, 1885. The mother w-as born
on February 19, 1823, and died in January, 1888. They were parents of
nme children, eight of whom are living.

The Wuster family remained in their native land until 1851, when they
immigrated to America, locating in Pennsylvania, in which state the parents
spent the rest of their lives, and there their son Christ, Jr., grew to manhood,
attending the common schools, and for several years worked on a farm
in Lycoming county. After his marriage he came to Nebraska in 1890. and
located on a farm four miles north of Dawson, in Porter precinct, paying
ten dollars an acre for his land, which he improved and tilled with success
until 1904, becoming one of the leading general farmers and stock raisers
of Porter precinct. He then retired from active life and moved to the
village of Dawson, where he bought a home and there he has since resided.
While on the farm he made a specialty of breeding Shorthorn cattle.

On September 25, 1873, Mr. Wuster was married to Martha Marquardt.
who was born on January 31, 1850, in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania.
She is a daughter of Fred and Rosanna (Keiss) Marquardt, both natives
of Germany, from which country they came to America with their respective
parents and located in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, the father being only
ten years old when they crossed the Atlantic. They grew to maturity in
the old Keystone state and were married there. Mrs. Martha Wuster was
reared and educated in her native state. The following children were born
to Mr. and Mrs. Wuster: Anna, who is the wife of Walter Kirk and they
live on the Wuster home farm in Porter precinct; Charles, who is also living
on the home place; Clara, wife of Charles Perry, now living in California:
Henry, who lives in California ; Thomas Frederick, who lives on a farm one
mile north and one-half mile east of Dawson; David E., deceased; John .\..
who lives in California, and Mrs. Mary Dillon, also of California.

Christ Wuster, Jr., deserves a great deal of credit for what he has
accomplished since coming to Nebraska, for he then had but si.x hundred
dollars. He went in debt for his farm of three hundred and twent\- acres.

I I 50 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

but worked hartl and managed well and success eventually crowned his efforts.
Fcjr several years he hauled his wheat to Salem Mills and exchanged it for
flour. He lived in the old log cabin on his land for some time, or until he was
able financially to build a better residence. There was considerable native
timber on his land, and he got from his own woods most of the lumber
with which to build his barn and other buildings. There was an apple
orchard on his place, which for some time was the only one in Richardson
county. This orchard brought him large returns, his apples being in great
demand at fancy prices. Politically, he is a Democrat. He and Mrs. W'uster
belong to the Evangelical church.

JOSEPH O. HORTON.

Joseph O. Horton, well-known farmer and live-stock breeder of Salem
precinct, is one of the representative citizens of Richardson county. Like
many of our enterprising men he hails from the Hoosier state, having
been born at Bedford, Indiana, March 7, 1854, a son of John and Cynthia
Ann (Peters) Horton. The father was also born in Bedford, Indiana.
October 6, 1817, and died on March 11, 1885. He devoted his life to farming
and in 1857 moved to Iowa county, Iowa, where he remained until 1873.
when he went to Van Buren county, that state, and his death occurred near
Birmingham. Iowa. He was married four times. Three children were born
to his first union, one to his second and two to his third, the fourth union being
without is.sue. The subject of this sketch was born to the second wife,
Cynthia Ann Peters, who was born in Indiana and who died in 1854. The
other children were as follow : George, a Union soldier during the Civil
War. who was killed in the battle of Corinth, Mississippi, October 4, 1864,
while serving as a member of the Seventh Iowa Volunteer Infantry; John
M., who lives in California; Henry, deceased, and Mrs. Sarah Gilbert, who
was killed ))y being run over by an automobile in Kansas City, Missouri.

Joseph O. Horton was reared on the home farm and attended the
district schools in Iowa. He left there when a young man and went to
Illinois, where he worked on different farms; also worked as a farm hand
in Iowa, receixing eighteen dollars and later twenty dollars a month, and
worked two \ears on one farm. Saving his earnings, he bought a team
and went ti) Mahaska county, Iowa, where he began farming for himself
on rented land. He also lived a while in Guthrie county, Iowa. In 18S3

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. JI5I

he moved to Hutchins county, South Dakota, where he took up a homestead,
on which he hved until 1887, wheii he sold out and moved to Mills county,
Iowa, where he hought one hundred and sixty acres. In 1896 he came to
Nebraska and bought his present farm in Richardson county, on which
he has made extensive improvements. It contains three hundred and forty
acres in section 5 of Salem precinct and section t,2 of Liberty precinct. In
connection with general farming he is a breeder of Percheron horses and
pure-bred Poland China hogs. At this writing he has a fine tsandard-bred
Percheron stallion and an excellent jack.

On September 24, 1884, Mr. Horton was married to Bessie \\"allace,
a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Jarnes Wallace and wife, natives of
Ohio, where they grew up and were married. They resided in that state
until about 1867, when they moved to Ola the, Kansas. Eight children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Horton, namely: James W. and Benjamin
F., both of whom live in Salem township and are there engaged in farming;
Robert A., John O. and Dean, all at home; Harriet, who is teaching school
in Salem, and two daughters who died in infancy. Mrs. Horton has been
twice married, her first husband having been George Woodward, by whom
she had one child, a son, the Rev. George W. Woodward, who is a minis-
ter in the Presb\-terian church at Broadwater, Nebraska. Mr. Horton is a
Republican. He is a member of the local lodge of the Ancient Order of
United Workmen.

FATHER FRANCIS A. O'BRIEN.

I-'ather l'"rancis A. O'Brien, the genial and earnest priest of St. Mary's
church, Dawson, Grant precinct, is doing a good work in the western part
of Richardson county. He was born on April 30, 1879, in Watertown,
M.issachusetts, a son of Peter and Elizabeth (Geraughty) O'Brien. Peter
O'Brien was liorn in Ireland in 1852, and there also occurred the birth ot
his wife. They grew up in their native land, attended school and were mar-
ried there, later immigrating to New England, when Peter O'Brien was
twenty-five \ears old, locating in ^^'atertown, Massachusetts, and there he
has since maintained his home. His wife passed away in 1892. when about
forty years old. To these parents seven children were born as follow:
William, deceased ; Mary, keeping house for the subject of this sketch :
Joseph, engaged in mercantile pursuits near Boston, Massachusetts: Eliza-
beth, at home with her father in Watertown, that state: ^^'i!liam. also at

I 152 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

home; Anna, the youngest, is still a member of the famil\- circle, and
Francis A., of this review.

h'ather O'Brien grew to manhood in \Vatertown, Massachusetts, where
he attended St. Patrick's school up to the ninth grade; he then eiitered
the Watertown high school, from which he was graduated with the class
■of 1898, later entering Boston College, from which institution he was
graduated in philosophy and the classics with the degree of Bachelor of
Arts, in 1902. In September, 1902, he entered St. Meinrad Seminary, at
St. Meinrad, Indiana, and was ordained to the priesthood there on June
17, 1905. Soon thereafter, in July of that year, he was assigned as assistant
priest to the St. Theresa Pro-Cathedral, in the city of Lincoln, diocese of
I-incoln. After remaining in this latter charge four years and nine
months he was transferred to St. Vincent church at Seward, Nebraska,
after which he took charge of the Mission at Utica, this state. On October
I, 191 1, he took charge of the Dawson parish, where he has since remained.
He has fifty families in the church at Dawson, and there is also a parochial
school, good work being done in each.

JOSEPH STEELE.
EDWIN F. STEELE. ROBERT EDWIN STEELE.

Joseph Steele was one of the pioneer settlers of Richardson count)',
-who came to this locality in 1857 and invested in a tract of land in the
vicinity of Falls City, which is still owned by his descendants. He was
a man of fine character and was widely known for his sterling qualities
and attainments. He was born at Hanover, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania,
on February 9, 1809, and was a son of Joseph Steele, of Scotch-Irish
ancestry, whose father, Peter Steele, settled with his family in the Wyo-
ming valley in 1778. Peter Steele was a younger son of the Steele family
of Scotland, which was prominent in the early wars for Scotch liberation,
loyal to their country and their religion, and suffering the persecution which
the Covenanters received under Charles II.

The mother of Joseph Steele, pioneer of Nebraska, was Sarah Ran-
som, who was a daughter of George Palmer Ransom, son of Capt. Samuel
Ransom, a member of Washington's staff, killed at the battle of Wyo-
ming. George Palmer Ransom was a member of his father's company,

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I 1 53

and though but fourteen \ears of age, fought so bravely in this battle
that he was recommended lay General Washington for promotion as a reward
"for braver}' on the field of battle." He was afterward made colonel of
a regiment under Washington.

Joseph Steele's early education was obtained in the country schools
of the period, supplemented by instruction from private teachers. His early
ambition was to become a lawyer and he studied for this profession under
his brother, Judge Steele, at Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania. During the course
of his law studies he joined a surveying party which had secured a con-
tract to survey Susquehanna, Lackawanna and Luzerne counties, in uhich
counties he afterward acquired large and valuable holdings. He bought
and sold this land to such good advantage that he decided to continue in
this business, making a practice of placing much of this land under culti-
Aation before disposing of it. It was thus he began his successful farming
career.

In 1852 Joseph Steele came West with the intention of investing in
land, and visited a brother, then living in Missouri. Although he was
a Democrat and loyal to the principles of that party, he was a pronounced
"anti-slavery" advocate and could not reconcile himself to the idea of settling
in a slave state such as Missouri was at that time. He decided to come
farther West into Kansas and Nebraska and joined a party of Eastern men,
who were making a tour of those territories. They traveled by horse over
eastern Kansas and Nebraska, their guide taking them to the new settlements
of Archer, Table Rock, and onward to the present site of Omaha. His
next trip to Nebraska was made in 1855, after Richardson county was
organized, with Archer as its coimty seat. While on this trip he located
land in Richardson and Nemaha counties, bought land in Kansas and ^lis-
souri, and then returned East, where he married Margaret Fisher, at Beloit,
\\'isconsin. In 1857 he came again to Nebraska and bought eight hun-
dred acres of land, the northeast quarter of section 14 and the northwest
<|uarter of section 13. being part of this purchase. He decided definitely to
take up farming as a permanent vocation and to cast his lot with the new
territory of Nebraska; and, accordingly, sent his brother, Charles Steele,
to this county to superintend the erection of a dwelling" on the land in
section [4 of I^'alls Cit\' precinct. The lumber for this home was transported
by lioat from St. Joseph to Rulo and from there hauled to Falls City. This
house is still standing, in a good state of preservation, and is owned by
his \oungest son. Joseph C. Steele. To this home Joseph Steele brought
(7.0

II54

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

his family in April, 1865. At the end of six years Joseph Steele erected
the residence on the northwest quarter of section 13, where he lived, and
was engaged in farming and stock raising on a large scale until his death.
November 27, 1887. This farm was inherited by his son, Edwin Ferris
Steele, and is now owned by his grandson, Robert Edwin Steele.

Joseph Steele was a man of fine public spirit, but being of a very
retiring disposition he vyould never permit his name to be put up for public
office, preferring to lend his stanch support to the candidate he personally
favored than to fill the office himself. He and his devoted wife worked
hard for every good thing that would advance the interest of their home,
city and community, and he contributed liberally to the building of all
churches erected in Falls City during his life time, and was especially inter-
ested in the Methodist Episcopal church, of which Mrs. Steele was a mem-
ber. He experienced all of the hardships of pioneer life, including drouth
periods and grasshopper scourges. He contributed generously to funds raisett
to defray the expense of the destruction of these insects and for the support
of his less fortunate neighbors, who suffered because of drouth and loss of
crops destroyed by grasshoppers. His heart and purse were ever open to-
the cry of the needy and his giving was as unostentatious as were all the
good deeds of his life. He was "a' broadminded, generous-natured man.
His donation of Steele Cemetery, a tract of thirty acres of land to be used
as a public cemetery, stands as a splendid monument to his idea of public
spirit and liberality. In all of the affairs of his life he maintained a very
high sense of honor and integrity of purjxise, and it was said of him that
his word was as good as his bond.

Joseph Steele was married to Margaret Fisher at Beloit, Wisconsin.
January 15, 1855. To this union were born the following children: JMlwin
Ferris Steele, Joseph Charles Steele, Hannah F. Samuelson, Sarah Steele,
and Margaret Steele, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood on the
home place. At this date there are seven grandchildren and one great-grand-
child among his descendants.

Mrs. Joseph Steele was a daughter of Jacob I'isher, whose family were
early settlers of New Jersey and among the first settlers to enter the Wyo-
ming valley after the Revolutionary War. Her mother. Hannah .\dams,
was of New England birdi and a member of the famous .\dams family to
which John Adams, President of the United States, belonged. Mrs. Steele
was born on December 23, 1821, and departed this life on December 14,
1901. She was a woman of strong character, devoted to her family and
her home and loval to her church. She endured the hardships of pioneer

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. II55

days with strength and fortitude, doing much kindly missionary wurk, and
was well-known to the various tribes of Indians, who traveled the highway
which led past the Steele home as, "White-Mother Good to Indian." Her
heart was ever warm to those in need, whom she served with Christian
love and tenderness.

Edwin Ferris Steele, eldest son of Joseph Steele, was born near VVilkes-
barre, Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, on September 5, 1857. He accom-
panied his parents to Richardson county in 1865, residing with them in
the first home, in section 14, and in the second home, in section 13. He
attended the schools in Falls City until he entered the University of Ne-
braska, in 1875. His earnest desire was to Ijecome a lawyer and he pur-
sued his studies to that end, but through force of circumstances was com-
pelled to abandon his idea of entering the legal profession and devote his
attention to farming. He inherited the homestead from his father and em-
barked upon a successful fanning and stock-raising career. He maintained
a keen interest in the political affairs of his day, and enlarged his intel-
lectual horizon by continued wide reading, which made him a well-educated
man. Edwin Ferris Steele was married in May, 1888, to Mary E. Abbey,
daughter of W. W. Abbey, a prominent farmer and business man of Rich-
ardson county. Their children are Robert Edwin and Mary Elizabeth Steele.
Edwin F. Steele died at his home on October 17, 1903, honored and re-
spected by all who knew him. Mrs. Mary E. Steele died on November
9. 1895. Following the death of his wife, E. F. Steele was married on April
14, 1896, to Katharine Diven, of Casey, Iowa, this union being without issue.

Robert Edwin Steele, third in line of the Steele family in Nebraska,
was born on August 12, 1889, at the Steele homestead, where he now re-
sides. He grew to manhood on the homestead, and after graduating from
the Falls City high school he entered the University of Nebraska, in 191 1,
and there pursued the full agricultural course, graduating with honors in
191 5. Immediately after the completion of his college course he engaged
in culti\'ating the home farm and has followed faithfully in the footste])s
of his forliears in this respect. The appearance of the Steele homestead is
evidence of the thorough care which is bestowed upon it by the owner, who
is engaged in general farming and stock raising, on a large scale, on the
f(jur hundred acres comprising this tract. Mr. Steele has turned his atten-
tion to the breeding and raising of dioroughbred stock, with unfjualified
success, and has become witlely known as a breeder of Duroc-Jersey swine,
holding semi-annual ])ul)lic sales of his tine stock at Iiis farm. He also

ri56 RICHARDSON COl-NTY, NEBRASKA.

liandles large numbers of sheep, the output of which has topped the market
at St. Joseph on several occasions.

Mr. Steele is a Republican in his political views. Init is inclined to vote
independently. He is a member of the Presbyterian church and is affiliated
with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

HENRY STITZER.

Henry Stitzer, former member of the board of county commissioners
for Richardson county and one of the best-known and most substantial
farmers in the precinct of Salem, where he has a fine home, is a native of
the old Keystone state, from which so many of the sterhng pioneer citizens
of Richardson county came, but has been a resident of this county since
1886, he and his wife having come here immediately after their marriage
in that year. He was born in Berks county, Pennsylvania, Jnly 12, 1858,
son of Augustus and Catherine (Bridechum) Stitzer, both of Dutch stock
and members of old families in the Pennsylvania-Dutch settlement, who
spent all their lives in their native state, substantial and well-to-do farming
people in Berks county. Augustus Stitzer and his wife were the parents
of fourteen children, of whom ten grew to maturity and of whom nine
are still living, four having died in infancy, those besides the subject of
this sketch being as follow : Augustus, who still lives in Pennsylvania .,
Mrs. Catherine Nunemocher, also of Pennsylvania; John, who is engaged
in the retail meat business at Falls City, this county: Mrs. Rachel Conrad,
of Pennsylvania; Emmet, who died in 1916; James, of Pennsylvania; Mrs.
Sarah Diehl, of Pennsylvania, and Charles and Mary, of that same state.

Reared on the home farm in Berks county, Pennsylvania, Henry Stitzer
received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and remained at iiome
until he was twenty-one years of age. when, in 1879, he went to Illinois
and was for seven or eight years thereafter engaged in farming in Ogle
county, that state. There he was married in the spring of 1885 and he and
his wife straightway came to Nebraska, in 1886, and settled in Richardson
county, the first winter of their residence here being spent on the Conkliu
place. They then spent a year on the Dowell place and were afterward
located on the Miles ranch for eleven years, at the end of which time Mr.
Stitzer sold his farming equipment and moved to Salem, where lor four
years he was engaged in the hardware business. He then bought a (|uarter

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. II 57

of a section of land in the precinct of Salem and moved onto the same,
resuming the life of a farmer, and there made his home for a year, at
the end of which time he bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty
acres in that same precinct and has ever since made his home there, with
the exception of three years spent in the automobile business at Salem,
returning to his home farm on February i, 1914. In addition to his well-
improved farm in Salem precinct Mr. Stitzer is the owner of a quarter of
a section of land in Texas and a tract of five acres in California. He has
an excellent farm plant and one of the pleasantest home places in his neigh-
borhood, the house being surrounded by a fine grove and ornamented with
numerous evergreens of old growth. Mr. Stitzer is a Democrat, though
inclined to independence of party on local issues, and has served the county
as a member of the board of county commissioners from his district for
two terms, 1908-10 and 1912-14. He also served for ten years as school
director in his district and has served as town clerk and in other local public
capacities.

On March 5, 1886, in Ogle county, Illinois, Henry Stitzer was united
in marriage to Martha Snyder, who was born in Pennsylvania, April 10,
1861, a daughter of Jacob and Rebecca (Kesselring) Snyder, natives of
that same state, who moved to Illinois in 1864 and in April, 1893, moved
from that state to Nebraska and settled on the farm now owned by Mr.
and Mrs. Stitzer, in Salem precinct, this county, where they spent the re-
mainder of their lives, Mr. Snyder dying there in October, 1903, he then
being eighty-two years of age, and his widow surviving until in February,
1910, she being eighty-five years of age at the time of her death. In
her younger days Mrs. Snyder had been accustomed to ride iw ox-wagons,
but in her latter years found a much better mode of transportation in the
automobile of her son-in-law, Mr. Stitzer, enjoying greatly the swift and
comfortable motion of the modern car as in contrast with the lumbering
and comfortless ox-wagons of her earlier days. Jacob Snyder and his wife
were the parents of ten children, of whom : Mrs. Stitzer was the eighth
in order of birth, the others being as follow : George, who is now living-
in Caldwell, Idaho; John, of Kansas City, Missouri; Mary, now deceased,
who was the wife of E. R. Crush; Fannie, who died at the age of twenty
years; Edward, now a resident of California: Mrs. Sarali Crush, of Falls
City, this county; Charles, now a resident of Texas; James, of Edgar, this
state, and G. Lee, of Texas. Both the Snyders and the Kesselrings are of
Swiss stock, both of Mrs. Stitzer's grandfathers having been born in Switzer-
land.

I 158 RICHARDSON COrNTV. NEBRASKA.

To Henry and Martha (Snyder) Stitzer three children have been born,
Maynard, assistant cashier of the bank at Salem, who married Ethel Thomp-
son, daughter of Amos Thompson and wife, and has one child, a son. Glen :
Clarence, a farmer of Salem precinct, who married Hazel McDowell, daugh-
ter of George McDowell and wife, and has one child, a daughter, Dorman
Lee, and Vincent, born on October 7, 1899, who is at home. The Stitzers
are members of the Congregational church at Salem and take a proper part
in church work, as well as in the general good works and social activities
of the communitv in which tliev live.

HON. AUGUSTUS H. FELLERS.

One of the best-known business firms of the western part of Richard-
son county is the furniture and undertaking establishment in the town of
Humboldt, of which the Hon. Augustus H. Fellers, former mayor of that
city and former representative from this district to the state Legislature,
is a member. Mr. Fellers was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, June
27, 1 85 1, and is a son of Philip and Catherine (Plulver) Fellers, who
were the parents of nine children, only two of whom are now living, Augustus
A. Fellers having a sister, Mrs. Parmelia Campbell.

Philip Fellers was born at LTpper Red Hood, Dutchess county, Xew
York and was a son of Philip Fellers, also a native of the state of Xew
York. In an early day the family moved to Pennsylvania, and in 1877
part of the family came to Nebraska, the parents of the subject of this
Veview settling on a farm in Pawnee county. Before leaving Pennsylvania
Philip Fellers had followed teaming, but he devoted the latter part of his
life to general farming, becoming the owner of one hundred and sixty acres
in Pawnee county. His death occurred in 1879, at the age of fifty-one
years. His wife, Catherine Plulver, was Ixjrn in Poughkeepsie, New York.
Deceml)er 25, 1829. She is still living, in her eighty-eighth year, making
her home with her daughter, Mrs. Parmelia Campbell, at Humboldt.

Augustus H. Fellers was reared on a farm and when a boy worked
hard during the crop seasons, attending the public schools during the winter
months, in Pennsylvania. Remaining in his native state until 1877. he came
with the rest of the family to Nebraska and purchased a farm of one hundred
and twenty acres two miles west of the town of Humboldt, in this county.
The place was slightly improved and a log cabin had been erected on it.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I 1 59

Mr. Fellers began improving at once in a general way and the cabin gave
way to a comfortable five-room, story and one-half frame dwelling; out-
buildings and fences were also put up and he soon had the land under an
e.xcellent state of cultivation. He dealt in live stock to some extent and
in those days bought hogs as low as two cents a pound. Mr. Fellers con-
tinued farming with success until 1882, when he sold out and moved to the
town of Humboldt, where he bought out a furniture store and has since
been in partnership with J. C. Segrist, their partnership continuing with
mutual pleasure and success for a period of thirty-five years and is, there-
fore, not only well-established, but widely known in the southeastern part
of the state. They have built up a large trade with the surrounding coun-
try and carry a stock of general furniture that would do credit to a town
much larger than Humboldt. The fact that they have dealt with their
scores of customers in a uniformly honest and courteous manner is indicated
from the fact that many of their present customers have been trading with
them for a quarter of a century or more.

Mr. Fellers is a skilled embalmer, having been graduated from the Lin-
coln Embalming School at Lincoln, and the firm has for years been doing
an extensive undertaking business. Mr. Fellers is owner of forty acres
of good land one mile north of Humboldt. Credit is due him for promoting
the present excellent telephone system of Humboldt. It was he who called
the first meeting for the purpose of organizing a telephone company and
he remained a leader in the some, becoming one of the largest shareholders
of the company, and very ably and satisfactorify filled the offices of man-
ager, treasurer and director until the organizers and first stockholders sold
out to the present owners.

On July 4, 1874, Mr. Fellers was married to Mary J. Banks, of Luzerne
county, Pennsylvania, where she was born, reared and attended school,
a daughter of James Banks and wife, the former of whom was born in
Ireland, from which country he emigrated to the United States in early
life, and located in Pennsylvania, where he married a native of that state.
To Mr. and Mrs. Fellers three children have been born, namely : John,
who lives in Elk Creek, Nebraska; Miss Jennie, at home, and Mae, the
wife of C. K. Cooper, of El Centro, California.

Mr. Fellers is a Democrat and has long been regarded as one of the
leaders in his party in southeastern Nebraska, where his influence for the
good of his party has been potent. He has been elected to the city council
of Humboldt three times, serving six years in all, and was mayor for two
terms. He has done much for the general good of his home town, both

Il6o RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

in a business and civic way, ever being alert to its best interests and general
welfare. In 1901 he was his party's choice for representative to the state
Legislature and was easily elected. Serving as a member of the twenty-
seventh General Assembly, he made a most commendable record, winning
alike the plaudits of his constituents and members of other political parties,
for he labored toward the general good of his countv and vicinity. One
of his more conspicuous acts was to introduce a "contest bill" for the
benefit of the Legislature, the provisions of which have discouraged defeated
candidates from contesting elections. Fraternally, Mr. Fellers is a memlier
of the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a member of the Methodist
church and a liberal supporter of the same. He is a well informed man
on current topics and keeps well abreast of the times.

JOHN H.VRRISOX RICHARDSON.

One of the old settlers of Barada precinct, Richardson county, is John
Harrison Richardson, now living in retirement. He was born on Octoljer
24, 1840, in Yorkshire, England. He is a son of ^\'illiam Richardson,
who was a miller by profession, and who left England in 1842, immigrating
with his family to Toronto, Canada, where he operated a wind-mill, the only
one in Toronto at that time, and there he spent the rest of his life, dying
there in 1859. His wife was Mary Morly, a Scotch lady, who.se death
occurred' at the home of the subject of this sketch in 1903.

John H. Richardson went to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1854. and worked
at die carpenter's trade for nine months, then returned to Toronto, Canada,
where he continued his trade, following the same there until the spring of
1861 ; then located in Chicago, where he continued at carpenter work until
1870. During the Civil War he worked for the United States government
at Mound City. Illinois, as a ship builder. In 1870 he came to Xebraska
and bought a farm. After the great fire in Chicago in die fall of 1871
he returned to that city and resimied his trade, obtaining eight dollars per
day as foreman for a contractor. He is a highly skilled mechanic, one of
the best carpenters ever known in this county. Besides a carpenter, he is
a millwright and machinist, and built his own home and barns. He has
invented a steam engine, which provides for a cylinder twenty-eight inches
in diameter by thirty-two inches in length, which can be cut in half and
yet give the same power, the friction thus being reduced. He has had his

JOHN H. RICHARDSON.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I161

engine patented and is getting his appliances under way at this writing,
confidently expecting to revolutionize steam power. He is building an engine
along these lines, which he will use on his own farm. It is a fifty-horse-
power machine and will weigh about three hundred pounds. Mr. Richard-
son is owner of two hundred and sixty-three and one-third acres in Barada
precinct and has lived on this place continuously since coming to Richard-
son county in 1870, with the exception of nearly three years spent in
Chicago, which city lie left on account of his health. He has brought his
farm place up to a high state of improvement and cultivation. He first
lived in a ca1)in there, hut later Ijuilt his present commodious ant! attractixe
home. Only twenty acres of his land had been broken when he took pi)s-
session. Two-thirds of the land is now in grass and hay land. Owing
to his advanced years he does not raise as large grain crops as formerly.
Mr. Richardson was married on November 12, 1864, to Lucy A.
Howe, wh(i was born on March 18, 1841, in New York. She is a daughter
of John L. and Cynthia (Delano) Howe, natives of New York, where they
grew up and married, arid from there they moved to Illinois in 1855, living
on a farm near Chicago for two years. They came to Nebraska in 1870,
locating on a farm in this count)-, where they remained until 1894, when
the\- UKjxed t(i California, and there ^Ir. Howe died in 1899. His wife
died there in 1896. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Richardson: Herbert, who is at home: Goldie, the wife of John M. Evans,
a banker, of Shuljert: ]\Irs. Nellie Gibson, who now lives at home, and has
one daughter. Gladys, and Blanche, who died when fourteen years of age.
l\^!itically. 'Sh. Ricliardson is a Republican. He belongs to the Congre-
gatVinal church.

bp:nj.\min fr.\nklin revelle.

Contented to remain in his own locality, Benjamin b'ranklin Revelle.
of Humboldt precinct, this county, has succeeded as a general farmer and
stockman because he has understood local conditions from the first and
therebx- has not been delayed in adjusting himself to his surroundings, like
a man is who takes up farming in a new country.

Mr. Revelle was born on the old Revelle homestead, three miles west of his
present farm, April 2, 1869, son of John E. and Mary E. (.Vrendell) Revelle,
early residents of Humboldt precinct. The father -was born on December 23.
1830, at Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He devoted his earlv life to farming and

I I'lJ RICHARnSON COINTV, NEBRASKA.

later engaged in mercantile pursuits in St. Louis. He went to Christian county.
Illinois, about 1862. and in 1865 came to Brownsville, Nebraska. In the
spring of 1866 he took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres.
During the Civil \\'ar he enlisted in the Union army, but never saw service.
The homestead which he selected in section 17. Humboldt precinct, is now
owned by Jacob Schultz. John E. Revelle l)egan life here in typical pioneer
fashion. His first house was built of cottonwood timjjer, hauled from Browns-
ville. He had made the trip here from Illinois in a covered wagon. In
due course of time he had good crofjs growing on what was wild prairie
.sod when he came here, and he remained on the place the rest of his life,
dying in 1904. He became one of the influential men of his neighborhood
and played well his part of the early drama of civilization here. He helped
organize the Methodist church in his vicinity.

On May 8, 1856, John E. Revelle was married to ^lary E. .\rendell.
who was born in Alabama, February 12, 1838. Her death occurred in 1894.
To this union twelve children were born, namely: Henry T., deceased;
John A., who lives at Webber, Kansas; Mary J., deceased; James ^[.. who
lives in Canada ; Mrs. Pearle E. Albin, who lives on a farm near Dawson ;
Benjamin P., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Sarah E. Trimble, a widow,
who lives at Humboldt and has one child, J. Mildred; Mrs. Lucinda E.
Carsh, who lives at Humboldt: Elijah, deceased; Mrs. Susan I. Nelson,
who lives at Mankato, Kansas; Celia B., who lives in Los Angeles, California,
and Lewis W., deceased.

Benjamin F. Revelle was reared on the home farm and lie attended
the rural schools, later the Humboldt high school, from which he was gradu-
ated with the class of 1891, after which he was a student in an Omaha
business college. He taught in the district schools in southeastern Nebraska
for a period of eight years. In 1899 he abandoned the school room and
turned his attention to farming, having previously purchased forty acres,
to which he later added more land, all of which he operated until 1903.
when he sold out. In 1907 he Ixnight his present farm' of one hundred
and sixty acres in section 24, Humlx)ldt precinct. He has made manv
important improvements on the place, which was first homesteaded in 1867 bv
Thomas S. Lynch, who built a good stone house, utilizing for that purpose the
rocks on the place, and also built a barn of the native timljer in 1870. The
Lvnchburg gchool house was first built on this farm, and formerly a postoflicc
stood on the place. One acre was set aside for the community cemetery. Mr.
Revelle raises a large number of live stock, specializing on high-grade Short-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I 163

horn cattle and Poland China hogs. He is unmarried. He votes the Repubh-
can ticket, but has never been active in public affairs. He is a member of the
Farmers Union and of tlie Moflern Woodmen of America.

JOHN OGLE.

One of the painstaking farmers of Richardson count\- is John Ogle,
of Nemaha township. He was born in Grant township, this county, October
3, 1875, on a farm west of the village of Dawson. He is a son of Joseph
Ogle, who was born, in 1852, in Illinois, where he spent his earlier years,
removing with his family to Nebraska in 1873 and locating on a farm in
Grant township, this county, where he has since resided, making a success
as a general farmer. He purchased his present farm north of Dawson in
1877. Joseph Ogle was married to Luretta Swisegood, who was born in
Illinois in 1853. Her death occurred in Novemljer, 1906. To Joseph Ogle
and wife seven children were born, namely : John, the subject of this
sketch; Anna, wife of Walter Cross, living in southern Kansas; Susie,
deceased; Lena, wife of A. N. Rusco, of Clay Center, Kansas: Stella,
deceased; Ray, who lives in Kimball county, Nebraska, and Mary, deceased.

John Ogle was reared on the home farm, where he worked hard when
a boy, and received his education in the district schools of Grant precinct.
He remained with his parents on the farm until he was twenty-three years
old, when he began farming for himself, renting a farm from his father
from 1898 to 1905, in which latter year he lx)ught eighty acres, which lie
improved. He purchased another eighty in the fall of T916. and now nwns
the old home place and another place just south of the road. He is a suc-
cessful general farmer and stock raiser, and his land is all well improved
and under a high state of cultivation. He has a pleasant home, which is
located on a high knoll overlooking the beautiful Nemaha valley. A good
orchard adjoins the home on the north. He has two large barns, one of them
a large, modern structure, built in 191 5. Mr. Ogle is a breeder of Short-
horn cattle and has a fine herd. He also operates a dairy and milks on an
average of ten cows, shipping his cream to St. Joseph. He also handles
on an average of two hundred and fifty head of Duroc-Jersey hogs, and
ships two carloads of hogs to market each year.

Mr. Ogle was marrie<l in 190 to Fredericka Bruhn. who was born in
Germany, .\ugust i. 1879. a daughter of Frederick and Sophia ( Scharjiies )

1 164 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Bruhn, also natives of Germany, where they grew up and were married.
They emigrated to America from Mecklenburg-Schwerin in 1883, locating
in Chicago, Illinois, where they resided five years. In 1888 they came to
Nebraska, locating on a farm five miles northeast of Verdon, in this county,
but moved to Xemaha precinct in 1905. Mr. Bruhn was born in 185 1 and
his wife was born in 1855. To Mr. and Mrs. Ogle four children have been
born, namely : \\'ilma, born on January 2, 1902 ; Edmund, .\ugust 9, 1903 :
Forrest, Marcli 9, 1912, and Joseph, December 25, 1916.

;\Ir. Ogle is a Republican. He belongs to the United Brethren church.
He has worked hard, managed well and has succeeded, now ranking among
the leading farmers of his locality.

HENRY H. KUPER.

It would be hard to find within the borders of Richardson county a more
progressive farmer and stockman than Henry H. Kuper, of Humboldt. He
was born, November 21, 1862, in Illinois, a son of Herman and Catherine
(Gerdes) Kuper. The father was born in Germany, from which country
be came to America when about fifteen years old, accompanied by his brother
John, and settled in Illinois. He was born about 1834 and died about 1909,
after devoting his active life to general farming. It was in the summer of
1865 that he came to Nebraska, driving overland from Illinois in a covered
wagon, bringing his family, having only two children at that time. He settled
in the northwestern part of this county, buying one hundred and sixty acres,
on which he built a log cabin, later a house of cottonwood lumber. He broke
up the sod with o.xen, fought prairie fires and underwent- the privations and
hardships incident to such a life on the western frontier. He later in life
was heard to remark that the only things of interest to see when he settled
there were Indians and long-horned cattle. But he worked hard and succeeded,
notwithstanding the dry years and the grasshopper plagues. It was quite a
different cmintry to that he had left in Illinois and he wanted to return
there, l)ut liis ciiildren helped him develop the new farm, plant trees and
otherwise make the place a comfortable spot on whicli to reside. There were
no cliurches to attenti and towns were far away. They hauled their hogs
twenty-eight miles to market, after butchering them, the nearest meat market
being Brownville. His wife was also disheartened, having no associates,
nothing but plenty of hard work. But they stayed and later neighbors came

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I 165

and they helped organize the Lutheran church in Xemaha county, just across
the Hue from their farm. Finally, with better surroundings and good crops
they became reconciled to the new country. The mother of the subject of
this sketch was a native of Holland, born near the German border, in 1837.
There she grew up, leaving her native land when eighteen years old, coming
to America with a brother, and settling in Springfield, Illinois, where she
met and married Mr. Kuper. Their union resulted in tlie birth of seven chil-
dren, named as follow: Mrs. Mary Cordes, deceased: Henry H., the sub-
ject of this sketch; Mrs. Margaret .Sasse, of Diller, Nebraska; Ilert. who
lives in Orban, this state ; Hiram H., who makes his home in Thomas, Okla-
homa; Mrs. Anna Grief, who lives in Kansas, and John, who lives in Diller,
Xebraska.

Henry H. Kuper was three years old when his parents brought him to
Richardson county and he grew up on the farm here, working hard when a
boy, as did all boys in pioneer days. He attended the early-day schools, about
two and one-half miles southeast of the old home place, at one of the first
school houses built in this county. Later he was a student in the German
Lutlieran school. When twenty-three years old he rented land from William
Preston, and in 1878 his father bought one hundred and sixty acres in Frank-
lin precinct, the place being unimproved. To this place Henry H. Kuper
removed, making extensive improvements, building an excellent dwelling and
a good barn. It was one of the best houses in the locality, for he intended
to remain there indefinitely, but in 1906 he sold out and bought his present
farm at Humboldt, on which he has made all the improvements now to be
.^^een there, including a modern eight-room house. The place contains one
hundred and fiftv-one acres, seventy-one acres of which are within the city
limits of Humboldt. He also owns three hundred and fifty-six acres in
Hitchcock county, Nebraska. He also formerly owned three hundred and
twenty acres in Franklin precinct and considerable land in Pawnee county,
this state. He has not only carried on general farming successfully, but for
the past twenty-one years has been a breeder of Shorthorn cattle, and has
made exhibits at state fairs at Lincoln, also at county fairs. He received
second prize on his fine stock at the state fair in 1907, and took first prize
at all county exliibits wherever he showed his stock that year. His herd leader
is an imported animal, "Scottish Sentinel No. 353283,'' bred by T. B. Earle,
at ,\berdeenshire, Scotland, and was purchased by Mr. Kuper from Ex-
Gov. A. C. Shellenl^erger, of Elma, Nebraska. At one time Mr. Kuper owned
two fine imported bulls and four high-grade imported cows and at that time

Il66 RICHARDSON COINTV, NEBRASKA.

was the only breeder in the state to own so many head of imported live
stock of that kind. He was also for some time a breeder of Poland China
hogs. He is regarded as one of the best judges of cattle in southeastern
Nebraska and his fine stock always find a ready market at fancy prices,
owing to their exceptionally high quality. He is now buying and raising
stock for sales, and holds public sales about twice a year. He has large antl
up-to-date barns, silos and other necessary equipment for properly caring
for his stock.

On October 30, 1895. Mr. Kuper was married to Olive A. Keiser, a
daughter of Ximrod and Mary E. (Martin) Keiser, natives of Pennsylvania
and Illinois, respectively. Nimrod Keiser was a carpenter by trade, but also
devoted much of his life to farming. He came to Nebraska in an early day
with his family, locating in Pawnee county, where Mrs. Kuper was born.
She grew up on the farm and received a common-school education. Four
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kuper namely: Elsie, who was
graduated from the Humboldt high school with the class of 191 7, and
Ila, Mvron and Loren, all at home.

^Ir. Kuper is a Democrat, and served as assessor of his township at one
time. Fraternally," he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. He
was reared in the Lutheran faith but now attends the Christian church.

HENRY BRECHT.

.\ widelv-known farmer and stockman of this county is Henry Brecht,
of Falls Citv precinct. He was born on July 24, 1866, at Waterloo, Ontario.
Canada, and is a son of Carl J. and Susan (Herdle) Brecht. The father
was born in Baden, Germany, in 1826, and there spent his boyhood and
attended school. When about twenty years of age he came to America,
locating in Bufifalo, New York, where he worked at the wagon-maker's
trade and was married. Later he moved to the province of Ontario, Canada,
where he followed his trade and also engaged in farming for ten years.
On November 14. 1867, he came to Nebraska, locating on a farm in Jeffer-
son precinct. Richardson county. His brother Bernard had previously home-
steaded a farm in the northwest corner of that precinct and upon the death
of the brother. Carl J. Brecht bought the farm and there became well estab-
lished, although he was a poor man when he reached this county and for
some time lived in a log cabin, which he built himself. He continued to

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I l6~

farm until his death, which occurred in 1877. His wife, Susan Her'dle, was
born in Germany in 1835, and her death occurred on January 9. 1903.
She was about twelve years old when her parents brought her to America,
locating in Buffalo, New York. Nine children were born to Carl J. and
Susan Brecht, namely: Charles J-, deceased; Conrad, a retired farmer, of
Falls City, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Mrs. Caroline
Fenske, who lives in Hoskins, Wayne county. Nebraska; Fred, Mrs. Mathe-
rine Kruse and Peter M., all of Falls City ; Mrs. Elizabeth Schmechel, a
widow, who lives at Hoskins, Nebraska, and Henry, the subject of this
sketch, who was the fourth in order of birth.

Henry Brecht was reared on the home farm, where he worked hartl
during the summer months, in the winter time attending the district schools
in Jefferson precinct. He assisted his brother in conducting the old home
place until 1894, when he liought sixty acres near there, where he farmed
on his own account. In 1902 he bought two hundred acres near Rulo, built
a barn and made other improvements there and farmed there until 1910, when
he sold out and bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in
section 13. of Falls City precinct, southwest of the old homestead. He
also owns eighty acres in Jeiiferson precinct, making two hundred and forty
acres in all. The former place had no improvements when he came here,
but he now has one of the best improved farms in the locality. He has
built a modern eight-room house, with basement, and also has a number
of large and convenient outbuildings. He is engaged in general farming
and stock raising and breeding, specializing for the past five years in Ijreed-
ing Poland China hogs and Shorthorn cattle, and finds a ver}- ready market
for his fine stock, owing to their superior quality. He has applied himself
assiduously to his work and has managed well, being recognized as one of
the leading general farmers of his precinct.

On Decemljer 20, 1894, Henry Brecht was married to Amelia Ruegge.
who was born in this county on July 27, 1872, a daughter of Henry and
Margaret (Thomas) Ruegge, both natives of Germany, from which country
they came to America, proceeding on out to Nebraska and settling many
\'ears ago in Richardson county, where they liecame well established through
their industry. Mrs. Ruegge is deceased and Mr. Ruegge lives in Falls City,
aged seventy-two years. Mrs. Brecht was reared in her native locality and
there attended the common schools. Two children have been born to Mr.
and Mrs. Brecht, namely: William J., now (1917) twenty years old, who
is assisting his father on the home farm, and Anna Margaret, miw twelve
veal's old.

I 1 68 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Mn Brecht is a Democrat and has served as a member of the local
hoard. Fraternally, he belongs to the Royal Highlanders and to the Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows. He holds membership in the First Pres-
liyterian church at Falls City. He is well and favorably known throughout
his locality and supports all movements having for their object the general
good of the precinct and county.

EDWARD E. AUXIER.

Edward E. Auxier, president of the Farmers and [Merchants Bank of
\'erdon, a well-to-do farmer and stockman, owner of eighty acres of land
forming the home place in section 7 of Liberty precinct, this county, and
also holding land in the precinct of Grant, making three hundred and eighty
acres in all, is a native of the old Blue Grass state, born in Johnson county,
Kentucky, April 28, 1864. He is a son of Nathaniel and Hester (Mayo)
Auxier, who were the parents of thirteen children, as follow : Samuel,
deceased; George W., deceased; Julia, wife of James Cooley, of Preston-
burg, Kentucky; Mrs. Martha Hager, of Missouri; Mrs. Minta Friend,
deceased; Andrew J., deceased; Louise, who died in infancy; Edward E.,
the subject of this biographical sketch; Nathaniel, a biographical sketch
of whom appears elsewhere in this volume, and John David, who was killed
in the battle of Salt Works, Virginia, during the Civil \\'ar. George W.
Auxier also served as a soldier during the Civil ^^'ar and was wounded
during the course of an engagement in Tennessee. Andrew J. Auxier be-
came a prominent attorney and served two terms (until 1882), as common-
wealth's attorney in his home district in Kentucky. He was appointed mar-
shal of that district by President Arthur and held that position until 1884.
in which year he was nominated by the Republicans of that district for
Congress, but was unable to overcome the strong Democratic majoritx'. In
1886 he was elected district judge and was occupying the bench at liie
time of his death in 1892. Nathaniel .\uxier, father of these children, was
a farmer. He was born in Johnson countw Kentuck\-, in 1812, and died
in 1866, when PMward E. Auxier, the subject of this sketch was but two
years of age; tlie latter thus Ijeing left orphaned indeed, for his mother had
died at the time of his birth in 1864, she then being forty-eight years of
age. It should be ntited that the children above enumerated are not set
out in tlie respecti\e order of their birth. Hester (Mayo) Auxier was born

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. II69

in Jackson county, Kentucky, a daughter of Lewis Mayo, a man of broad
education and a school teacher. Lewis Mayo was a son of Jacob Mayo,
who was appointed clerk of the Floyd county (Kentucky) court in 1800.
The Mayos had emigrated from Fluvanna county, Virginia.

The Auxiers are an old Colonial family, the first of the name in this
country, Samuel Auxerre, a Frenchman, having come here with his family
in 1755 and established his home in the then colony of Pennsylvania. His
descendants now are numerously represented in various parts of the country.
The original name, Auxerre, in some cases has been corrupted to Oxer,
but the greater part of the large connection in this country now spell it
as it is seen at the head of this sketdi. Sometime between 1755 and 1775
Samuel Auxerre (Auxier) moved with his family from Pennsylvania to
the colony of Virginia and was living th^e at the time of the outbreak
of the Revolutionary War. His five sons, Simon, Michael, George, Abrani
and Samuel enlisted their services in behalf of the patriot cause and ren-
dered valuable service during the long struggle for the independence of
the colonies. The last-named of these sons, Samuel Auxier, was too young
to enlist at the beginning of the hostilities, but when fifteen years of age
took his place in the fighting line and served until the end of the war, later
moving to Kent".cky, where he spent the rest of his hfe. His eldest brother,
Simon, also established his home in Kentucky. Michael Auxier pushed on
into the western part of Kentucky, where he died at the advanced age of
one hundred and four years. George Auxier settled on the Kanawha river,
in what is now West Virginia, and Abram Auxier pushed on into what
then was known as the great Northwest Territory and settled in the Wabash
country. Michael Auxier, the centenarian, had been scalped by an Indian
in \'irginia in the days of his young manhood and is said to have been
"the only bald-headed Auxier ever heard of."

Samuel Auxier, the youngest son of the French immigrant, married
in Virginia, July 15. 1779, Sarah Brown, a daughter of Nathaniel and
Ann Brown, and in 1791 moved with his family to the Kentucky country,
settling at Blockhouse Bottom, in what is now Johnson county, on the
Big Sandy, where he established his home and where he spent the rest of
his life, his death occurring there about 1802 as the result of injuries
received by falling ofif a horse. It was he who erected the blockhouse which
gave the name to Blockhouse Bottom and some of his descendants are still
living on the land granted him there in payment for his services during
the Revolution. He was a man of the true pioneer tvpe and was an Indian
(74)

I I/O RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

fighter of renown, it having been he who restored to her family Jennie
Miley, the white woman who had been held for years as a captive by the
Indians, who had taken her from Virginia into the Kentucky countr)'. Samuel
and Sarah (Brown) Auxier were the parents of the following children:
Nathaniel, born in June, 1780; Nancy, July 20, 1782; May Barbara, Felj-
ruary 7, 1784; John; Daniel; Samuel, August 7, 1791; Enoch, February
22, 1795, and Frances Amelia, March, 1800. After the death of her hus-
band about the year 1802, Sarah Auxier married Jesse Kelly, who died
in service during the War of 1812. She then married John Phillips, who
died in 1835. In 1843 Sarah applied for a pension as die widow of Samuel
Auxier, basing her application on his services as a soldier of the Revolu-
tion. She was torn on January 16, 1765, and lived to be ninety-one years
of age. •

Samuel Auxier, 3rd, sixth son of Samuel and Sarah Auxier, grew
up on the home farm in Kentucky and in 181 3 married Rebecca Phillips,
by whom he had eleven children, Nathaniel, John B. (major in a Kentucky
regiment during the Civil War), Jemima, George W., Sarah, Joseph, Samuel,
Rebecca, Martha, Arminta and Henry J. The first-born of these children,
Nathaniel Auxier, married Hester Ann Mayo, as noted in the introduction
to this, and was the father of the subject of this sketcli.

Deprived of both his parents while still an infant, Edward E. Auxier
was reared by his elder brothers and sisters until he was sixteen years
of age. He received his schooling in the district schools and also in local
"subscription" schools and for four years after leaving school was engaged
in teaching in his native state. In 1885 he came to Richardson county
and located in Ohio precinct with a brother, Nathaniel, further reference
to whom is made in another part of this work. Edward E. Auxier taught
school for two years in the Deerfield and Schuyler districts, -this connt\-.
and also taught near Rulo. In the fall of 1887 he bought his present farm
of eighty acres and in 1888 he moved on to same. .\t different times he
purchased other tracts and now owns three hundred and eighty acres. Tliere
were no improvements on the place at the time he took it over and he
was compelled to live in a small house. In 1895 he erected a substantial
house, which he later had remodeled and converted into a comfortable mod-
ern home and here he and his wife reside.

On February 13, 1887, Edward E. Auxier was united in marriage
to Lucy A. Prichard, daughter of Joseph and Caroline (Compton) Prichard.
natives of Kentucky, who. in 1865, came to Richardson county and settled
in Arago township. Joseph Prichard died in 1914. at the age of seventy-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. II7I

seven years. His widow is now living in Falls City and has reached the
good round age of seventy-eight years. They were the parents of eight
children.

To Mr. and Mrs. Edward E. Auxier six children have been born,
namely: Mabel, who married G. H. Rice and lives in Paintsville, Ken-
tucky; Homer J., who lives in this county and married Ethel Wilkinson,
daughter of Thomas Wilkinson and wife, of Dawson; Grace, who lives
at home with her parents, was graduated from the Verdon high school
and is now a teacher of the Harris district school; Ethel E., at home, who
teaches school in Ohio precinct; Edward J., in high school at Dawson, and
Ray, also in high school at Dawson.

In addition to his farming activities, Mr. Auxier has been breeding
Poland China hogs for the past twenty years and has been very successful
in this line. In 1906, when the farmers and Merchants Bank was organr
ized at Verdon, Mr. Auxier became a stockholder and in the same 3'ear
was elected president of the bank, which position he still retains.

Mr. Auxier is an ardent Democrat and gives close attention to the
public interests of his precinct and the county generally. In 1897 ^^^ was
elected county supervisor and was re-elected in 1899, holding office until
1901. During this period of service he was chairman of the board for
three years, giving thorough satisfaction to his colleagues. Mr. and Mrs.
Auxier and family are members of the Congregational church and generous
supporters of its upkeep. Mr. Auxier is a member of the Ancient Order
of United Workmen and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at
Verdon, and to each of these organizations he gives much attention.

JAMES R. PAGE.

One of the best-remembered citizens of a past generation of Nemaha
township, this county, whose name is deserving perpetuation on the pages
of local history, was James R. Page, who passed from earthly scenes nearly
a score of years ago, but whose influence is still operative for good in the
locality whose interests he labored to promote in every legitimate way.

Mr. Page, who devoted his active life to agricultural pursuits, was born
on September 8, 1862. and died on May 28, 1898, while still in the prime of
life and usefulness. He came from Missouri to Nebraska with his parents
when young in years, locating in Richardson county. In 1888 he was married

117-^ RICHARDSON COLXTV, NEBRASKA.

to Nancy Ellen Amos, a native of Pennsylvania and a daughter of John B.
and Amanda T. Amos, also natives of the old Keystone state, where they
grew up, were married and established their home. Remaining in Pennsyl- "
vania until 1869 they migrated to Nebraska and settled on the place where
Mrs. Page now resides, ^Ir. Amos developing it from a wild state to one of the
best farms in Nemaha township, and there he and his wife spent the rest
of their lives. The father died in 1890, but the mother survived until
1907, reaching an advanced age. To Mr. and Mrs. Amos eleven children
were boi'n, five of whom survive at this writing, namely : Mrs. Laura
Hedrick, of Idaho: Mrs. Emma Taylor, a resident of Seneca, Kansas; John
T., living near Seneca, Kansas; Mrs. Florence Frey, of near Derby, Kansas,
and Mrs. Nancy E. Page.

Four children were born to James R. Page and wife, namely: W'ittie.
who married Mamie Lugenbill, and lives in Speiser township: Rilla. wife
of Earl Simmonds; Burt, deceased, and James R., deceased.

James R. Page and wife lived on the Amos homestead for three years
after their marriage, and in 1891 they moved to a farm in Speiser town-
ship, where they lived fifteen years, at the end of which time they returned
to the the old Amos farm. Mrs. Page is now owner of both these fine farms.
They each contain one hundred and sixty acres and are well improved
and productive. She has shown herself to be a capable business woman and
is overseeing a general farm and live stock business in a successful manner.
An excellent grade of stock of all kinds common to the locality is kept
and her acres are well tilled. The Amos homestead, although now one
of the oldest farms in the county, has been so carefully managed that it is
just as productive as it was four decades ago. Mrs. Page attends the United
Brethren church, which her Inisbatid also attended during his lifetime.

THEODORE G. ATW OOD.

Among those who came from the Atlantic coast country to the rolling
prairies of Nebraska to establish a home and have succeeded in the newer
land is Theodore G. Atwood, of Franklin precinct, Richardson county. He
was born at Trenton, New Jersey, February 3, 1865. He is a son of James
and Mary (Cole) Atwood. The father was born in Birmingham, England,
in 183 1, and there he grew to manhood and attended school. In 1855 he
set sail for our shores, locating in the state of New Jersey, where he worked

JAMES AND MARY ATWOOD,
IA.\1 AND FERMELIA STRIXGFIELD.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 173

out as a farm hand. In 1869 he came to Richardson county, Nebraska,
setthng on a farm east of the town of Humboldt, remaining there until he
could erect a dwelling on his own land, having purchased a tract of virgin
soil in section 11, Franklin precinct. His first house was sixteen by twenty-
four feet. He also built a .«mall stable, dug a well and broke up the sod,
improving the land as he could. He set out a number of trees, having the
oi>ly grove of cottonwoods between his farm and Brownsville, Nebraska.
While he worked on the farm his wife would often walk to Humboldt for
provisions, a distance of six miles. She also was a native of England and
came to America a short time after Mr. Atwood came to the United States.
She was seven weeks crossing the Atlantic, in an old-fashioned sailing
vessel. Her death occurred in September, 191 5, at the advanced age of
eighty-two years. James Atwood followed her to the grave a few weeks
later, dying in October, 191 5. also at a ripe old age. They were a highly
esteemed pioneer couple of this county, where they worked hard and endured
many hardships to get a start, but spent their declining years in comfort
as a result of their earlier efforts. Nine children were born to them, namely :
William, who lives in Brqokfield, Missouri ; Charles, who lives in Hum-
boldt precinct, this county; Ellsworth, deceased; Theodore G., the subject
of this sketch ; David, deceased ; Mrs. Anna Wilkinson, who lives at Auburn,
Nebraska; Emma, deceased; George, deceased, and Benjamin, who lives in
Franklin precinct, this county.

Theodore G. Atwood was reared on the home farm and attended the
district schools at Hazel Dell school house. Like all pioneer boys he worked
hard. He herded cattle on the un fenced prairies when only nine years
old, both winter and summer — on the wild grass of the prairies in summer
and in the cornfields in winter, usually remaining at his post with the cattle
from sunrise to dark. He herded cattle about six years, and when twenty-
three years old began farming for himself, renting the place he now owns, his
father buying the farm later. Young Atwood became heir to one hundred
and sixty acres, and later bought two hundred acres. He also, in his earlier
career, worked in the coal mines and smelters in Colorado, spending three
years in that state. Returning to Richardson county he has since devoted
himself to general fanning and stock raising in which he has reaped grati-
fying results, owning now three hundred and twenty acres in sections 12
and 13, Franklin precinct. His place is well improved and he has a com-
fortable home and such outbuildings as his needs re(|uire. He handles
large numbers of live stock.

Mr. Atwnod was married in 1897. to .\nna Stringfield, who was born

I 174 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

at Falls Mills, south of Falls City, Nebraska, where she grew to woman-
hood and attended school. She is a daughter of William and Parmelia
(Brown) Stringfield, natives of Kentucky and Illinois, respectively, and
early settlers in Nebraska, who established their home in Richardson county.
The}^ maintained their home on a farm south of Falls City for many years,
but are now living in Holt county, this state. The father is a veteran of
the Civil War. L. H. Stringfield, grandfather of Mrs. Atwood, operated
the Falls Mills in early pioneer days. He was a local preacher of the
Methodist church in the early days of Iowa and Nebraska. He was born
near Mammoth Cave, in Kentucky, and was married to Malinda Moore in
1827. He moved to Pettis county, Missouri, in 1843 when Georgetown was
the county seat. In 1853 he removed to Sidney, Iowa. After residing
in Sidney for one year he moved to a farm near Glenwood, Iowa, and there
entered land costing one dollar and twenty-five cents an acre. Born with
the restless spirit that ever characterized the people of the western country,
he once more moved westward, this time to the falls of the Nemaha river, in
Nebraska, in March of 1863. There he built a mill rigged to saw lumber
and grind corn and received in payment a half interest in fifteen acres of
land which included the mill site. This mill was afterward turned into a
flouring-mill and was operated by Stringfield & Stumbo successfully for
several years. Stumbo passed away and Mr. Stringfield died near the falls
in 1869, being then fifty-nine years of age. His wife died near Stella in
1896, at the age of eighty-five years. L. H. Stringfield was the father of
fifteen children, six of whom are still living, namely: C. C. Stringfield,
the eldest, lives on a ranch in western Kansas, and is eighty-nine years old;
C. W., the youngest of the family is cashier of a bank in Idaho and is si.xty-
three years of age; Mrs. Mary Phipps lives in Nebraska City and is aged
seventy-three years : Sarah, wife of Rev. L. F. Britt, lives in Chicago and is
aged seventy-one years ; John W. lives in Los Angeles and is sixtv-one years
old.

\Y. H. Stringfield was born on September 30, 1840, in Edmondson
county, Kentucky, and moved with his parents to Missouri in 1843, and
thence to Iowa in 1853. He drove a team of six yoke of oxen for the
freighting firm of White & Marshall, of Leavenworth, in 1859, to Denver,
Colorado, returning to Iowa in i860. H. W. Stringfield enlisted in Com-
pany A, Fourth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, on September 4, 1861,
and served for a period of four years and twenty-eight days. He was
engaged in many battles and skirmishes in which his company participated
in ]\Iissouri and Arkansas and around to Jackson, Mississippi, and from

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I 1 75

Jackson to Birdsong Ferry on Black river. His company was a part of
the Fifteenth Corps under Sherman. He fought during the siege of Vicks-
burg and was then engaged in continuous fighting between Vicksburg and
Black river. After the war Mr. Stringfield came home to the Nemaha
Falls, in October, 1865, and was married to Parmelia Brown on July 4,
1867. Mr. and Mrs. Stringfield now live at Ewing, Nebraska.

To Mr. and Mrs. Atwood three children have been born, namely :
Loren, Forrest and ]\Iargaret, all of whom are at home. Mr. Atwood is a
Democrat, but has not been an aspirant for political office.

EDWARD C. VOGELE.

. Edward C. Vogele, one of the progressive young farmers of the precinct
of Barada and the owner of a fine place of one hundred and twenty acres in
section 23 of that precinct, was born on the farm on which he now lives
and has lived there all his life. He was born on February 12, 1884, son
of William and Augusta (Schibe) Vogele, pioneers of that section of the
county, both of whom are now deceased.

Both William Vogele and his wife were of European birth, natives
of the kingdom of Wurtemburg, the former born in 1833 ^"d the latter
in 1845, who were married in the city of Bufifalo, New York, in 1864, and
three years later, in 1867, came to the then new state of Nebraska and settled
on a farm in the Barada strip in this county, where they established a
comfortable farm home and where they spent the remainder of their lives,
William Vogele dying in 1912 and his widow in February, 1913. They
were memliers.of the Lutheran church and their children were reared in that
faith. There were eleven of these children, of whom the subject of this
sketch was the last-born, the others being as follow : William, now a resi-
dent of California; Charles, also of California: Albert, of Oklahoma; Anna,
deceased; Barney, of Minnesota; Lena, wife of P. Voltz, of Oklahoma;
August, of Oklahoma; Henry, a farmer of Arago precinct, this county;
Robert, who is farming near Rulo in this county, and Rudolph, of Minne-
sota.

Edward C. \'ogele was reared on the farm on which he was born,
receiving his schooling in the neighborhood schools, and from the days of
his boyhood was a valued aid in the labors of the home place. After the
death of his father he inherited eighty acres of the home farm and has since

I 176 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

bought an adjoining "forty," thus giving him a farm of one hundred and
twenty acres, on which he has made vaKiable improvements and which he
has brought up to an excellent state of cultivation. In addition to his general
farming Mr. Vogele has given considerable attention to the breeding of
horses and since 1915 has also been an extensive breeder of mules and is
doing very well in his operations.

On December 24, 1907, Edward C. Vogele was united in marriage to
Katherine Blieholder, who was born at McCook, this state, and to this union
four children have been born, Gladys, Helen, Grace and Edwin L. Mr. and
Mrs. Vogele have a very pleasant home and have ever taken an interested
part in the general social activities of the community in which they live. Mr.
Vogele is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to local civic
afifairs.

CHRISTIAN KAMMERER.

The Kammerer family, of which the gentleman whose name forms the
caption of this sketch, is a well-known and respected representative, have
been known in Richardson county since the early pioneer days, known as
industrious, law-abiding citizens.

Christian Kammerer, who is farming in Falls Cit\- precinct, was burn
on October 30, 1868, in Arago precinct, this county, a son of Karl H. and
Christina (Roesch) Kammerer. The father was born, July 10, 1831, in
Baden, Germany, where he grew to manhood and made his home until
1868, when he crossed the ocean to America, the trip across the Atlantic
requiring two weeks in a sailing vessel, landing in New York City. lie
then came by sail to St. Joseph, Missouri, thence by steamboat up the Mis-
souri river to Arago, in the neighborhood of which place he bought raw
land, eighty acres, for which he paid three dollars an acre. He built a
frame house from the native Cottonwood timber, and began life there in
true pioneer fashion, farming there for ten years; then sold out and went
to Nuckolls county, Nebraska, where his death occurred in 1896. He was
married in 1858 in Germany, to Christina Roesch. and to their union seven
children were born, namely : Christina, who married August Seover and is
deceased; Elizabeth, widow of P. Warner, who is now living at Deweese,
Nebraska; William, who makes his home in Los .Vngeles, California; Karl
H., who lives at Flats, Nebraska; Philip, who lives at Deweese, Nebraska;
August, who lives in Germany, and Christian, the subject of this sketch.

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RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 11/7

The mother of the foregoing children died in 1870. The second marriage
of Karl Kammerer took place in 1873, to Wilhelmina Last, a native of
Germany, which country she left for America in the spring of 1873. She
is now living in Deweese, Nebraska. To this second union nine children
were born, namely : Anna, who married Clarence Ranck, editor of publi-
cations at Shenchow, Hunan, China, where he was sent by the Evangeli-
cal Missionary Society, and has two children, a son and a daughter, both
born in China; Mrs. Lina Kahsea, who lives in Arapahoe, Nebraska; Albert,
who lives in Vermillion, South Dakota; Otto, deceased; Mrs. Elvenia Class,
who lives in Reserve, Kansas; Paul, Emma and Edward, all living in
Deweese, Nebraska, and Martha, who lives in Los Angeles, California.

Christian Kammerer was reared on the farm and attended the early-
day di.strict schools. When twenty-one years old he Ijegan working as a
farm hand. In 1894 he began renting land at Preston, Nebraska, and in
1898 bought his present farm of ninety-three acres in sections 24 and 25.
Falls City precinct. He also owns eighty acres in Jefferson precinct, making
one hundred and seventy-three acres in all. He is carn,'ing on general
farming and stock raising, making a specialty of Poland China hogs. There
was only a log cabin on the place when he came here. In 191 5 he built
a modern and commodious home, which he equipped with a hot-water heat-
ing plant, electric lights, etc., and he has also built an up-to-date barn and
other convenient outbuildings. Mr. Kammerer has made exhibits of corn,
wheat, oats and eggs at the farmers institutes at Falls City. He has a
productive and well-kept fann, fifteen acres of which is still in native timlier.

On February 13, 1896, Mr. Kammerer was married to Louise Hart-
man, who was born. March 27, 1871, in Wisconsin. She is a daugliterof
Frederick and Wilhelmina (Hoffeins) Hartman, natives of Germany, who
came to America on the same ship which carried the parents of her husband
to the new land. They located in Wisconsin, where they lived until 1882.
when Air. Hartman came to Richardson county, Nebraska, his first wife
having died in Wisconsin. His second wife is now living on the dd heme
place, seven and one-half miles northeast of Falls City, where iiis deatii
occurred many years ago. ^Irs. Kammerer was eight years old wlien her
father brought her to Richardson county, and here she made b.er home with
her sister. Mrs. John Brecht. until her marriage. Four children ha\e been
liorn to Mr. and Mrs. Kammerer. namely: Milton. Edgar. Alice E., and
Lester L.. all at home.

Politically, Mr. Kammerer is an independent voter. He l)elongs t<) the
German Lutheran church. He has been a member of the school board in

I 178 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

district No. 55 for the past sixteen years. He has an interesting collection
of Indian relics gathered from his farm, including canes, axes, spear heads,
etc.. among which is one of the largest stone axes in the county.

HENRY F. PRIBBENO.

Henry F. Pribbeno. proprietor of a fine farm of four hundred and
fort}- acres in section 24 of the precinct of Arago, this county, was born
on that farm and has lived there all his life. He was born on January i.
1 87 1, son of Charles and Caroline (Thompson) Pribbeno. both of European
birth, the former born in Prussia and the latter in Norway, who became sub-
stantial residents of this county and here spent their last days.

Charles Pribbeno was born in 1846 and remained in his native Prussia
until the days of his young manhood, when he came to the United States
and after a sometime residence in Wisconsin went to the mining regions
of the West and staked out a number of silver-mining claims. About the
year 1865 he came to the then Territory of Nebraska and settled in Richardson
county, engaging in freighting from the river lamling at Arago over the
plains to Colorado and other points West. In the meantime he bought a
tract of land in section 24 of Arago precinct and after a while established
his home there, becoming one of the most substantial farmers and most
extensive stock feeders in that section, remaining there until his death. His
wife, who was born in June, 1841, and who was but a girl when her parents
came to this country from Norway, died in 1909. Charles Pribbeno and wife
were the parents of seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was
the fifth in order of birth, the others being as follow : Charles, of Preston,
this state; Sophia. Emma and Sophia (second), who died in infancy: Mrs.
Anna Ernst, a widow, living at Preston, and William, deceased.

Reared on the farm on which he was bornj Henry F. Priljbeno received
his early schooling in the district schools of Arago and supplemented the
same by a course in Campbell College at Holton, Kansas. From the days
of his boyhood he had been a valued aid in the labors of developing and
improving the home place and after leaving college he settled down on the
home farm and began farming there on his own account, renting land from
his father. After his marriage in the spring of 1896 he established his
home there and in 1902 bought the home place from liis father and has
since continued to own and operate the same. Mr. Pril)l)eno has a well-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I 1 79

cultivated place of four hundred and forty acres, in addition to his general
farming giving considerable atention to the raising of Shorthorn cattle, and
is doing very well in his operations. Since taking possession of the farm
he has made numerous substantial improvements and his farm plant is now
one of the best in that part of the county.

On April i6, 1896, Henry F. Pribbeno was united in marriage to Eliza-
beth Werner, who also was born in the precinct of Arago, February 6, 1876,
daughter of Ernest and Caroline (Miller) Werner, who are now living
retired in Falls City* and to this union the following children have been Ixjrn :
CaroHne, Fred, ' Esther, Anna, Elsie, Mary (deceased), Ruth, Emma
(deceased), Walter and Florence. Mr. and Mrs. Pribbeno are members of
the Evangelical Lutheran church and take a proper part in church work, as
well as in the general good works and social activities of the community in
which they live. Mr. Pribbeno is an independent Republican. Fraternally,
he is affiliated with the local lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America and
takes an active part in the affairs of the same.

ALEXANDER RANKIN McMULLEN.

Alexander Rankin McMullen, one of the most substantial and progres-
sive farmers and stockmen of the northern part of Richardson county and
the proprietor of a fine farm of four hundred acres in the precinct of Muddy,
two miles east of Stella, and of one of the finest farm residences in this
county, is a native of the old Keystone state, but has been a resident of
Richardson county since the days of his young manhood and has done
well his part in the labors of developing the northern part of the county.
He was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, December 6, 1862, son of
Dr. Thomas and Rebecca (Swan) McMullen, both natives of that same state
and the latter of whom became a pioneer of this county, where her last
days were spent.

Dr. Thomas McMullen was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, in
1828, a son of Alexander McMullen, of Scottish descent, who had come
to this country from the north of Ireland and had settled in western Penn-
sylvania. The Doctor married Rebecca Swan, a daughter of the Rev. Samuel
Swan, one of the most influential men in that part of the state, and for
years was engaged in the practice of his profession at Greenville. Pennsyl-
vania, where he died in 1884, ^t the age of fifty-six years. He and his

fl8o RICHARDSON COrNTV, NEBRASKA.

wife were the i)arents of eleven children, eight of whom are still living,
the three eldest heing deceased, the survivors, hesides the subject of this
sketch, the fourth in order of birth, being as follow : Elizabeth Morehead,
of Tarkio, ^Missouri; Genevieve Blanche, also of Tarkio; James Wallace
;\IcMullen, of Loveland, Colorado; Dr. Charles Bell McMuUen, a member
of the faculty of Tarkio College; Richard Bard McMullen, also of Tarkio;
]\Irs. Jeannette Beatie, of the precinct of Muddy, this county, and Jessie Poe
McMullen, formerly a secretarj' of the Young Women's Christian Associa-
tion, and now a teacher in the high school at Tarkio. In 1884, following
the death of her husband, Mrs. Rebecca McMullen came out to Nebraska
with nine of her children and entered upon possession of a tract of four
hundred and eighty acres of fine land in the precinct of Muddy, this county,
which Dr. Thomas McMullen had previously purchased, he having made
some excellent investments in this state, and here she spent the remainder
of her life, her death occurring on November 17, 1908, she then being
seventy-three years of age.

Alexander Rankin McMullen was reared at Greenville, Pennsylvania,
A\here for years his f?^ther was a practicing physician, and completed his
schooling at Elders Ridge Academy. He was twenty-one years of age
when he came to this county with his mother and the others of the family
and upon him fell the management of the farm which had been left to his
mother, and there he continued to make his home until his marriage in
1893, when he established his home on his present place two miles east of
Stella, where in the summer of 1903, he erected a commodious new modern
house, one of the finest farm residences in Richardson county. Mr. McMul-
len is the owner of four hundred acres of land and has two other houses
cm his place for the use of his farm help. Near his home he has a fine apple
orchard of ten acres and in the care of these trees takes much personal
interest. For }ears Mr. McMullen has been a breeder of live stock and
formerly gave much attention to the feeding of cattle for the market, in
the height of his activities in that direction his operations in live stock reach-
ing twenty thousand dollars annually, and he long has been recognized as
one of the most substantial farmers and stockmen in the northern part of
the county. Mr. McMullen is a Republican and has ever given a good
citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has not been a seeker after
public office. He was reared a Presbyterian, but he and his family are now
attendants at the Lutheran church.

On June 14, 1893, Alexander Rankin McMullen was united in marriage

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. IISl

1.0 Nellie Tynan, who was born at Peru, this state, daughter of Andrew
Tynan and wife, pioneers of this part of Nebraska and further and fitting
mention of which family is made elsewhere in this volume, and to this
union four children have been born, namely : Mildred, born on ]\Iay 3,
1897, who died on June 9, 1915; Richard Andrew, December ^9. 1903. and
Joseph Rankin and Philip Bard, twins, August 24, 1906.

PATRICK F. MURPHY.

The general appearance of Patrick F. Murphy's farm in Falls City
precinct would indicate that a man of thrift and good management was at
the helm there. Mr. Murphy was born in Clinton county, Iowa, February
3, i860, a son of Michael and Ellen (Tobin) Murphy. Michael ^Murphy
was born in Ireland about 1820. but left that country when young with his
parents, the family locating in Canada, later coming to Iowa. In 1872 he
came to Nemaha county, Kansas, and established his home in Richmond
township, one mile and a half west of Seneca. He lived there about five
3-ears, then came to Richardson county, locating on a farm northwest of
Falls City, in Barada township, and there he engaged in farming and made
numerous improvements until 1880. when he bought land in the southwestern
part of Jefferson precinct, where he farmed until his death, which occurred
in 1885. His wife was also born in Ireland, alx)ut 182 1. Her death oc-
curred in 1880. They were members of the Catholic church. To these
parents twelve children were born, eight sons and four daughters, of whom
Patrick F., of this sketch, was the ninth in order of birth, the others being
as follow: Edward R., a veteran of the Civil War, who now lives in Seneca,
Kansas; Mary J., who married P. Casey, and is now deceased ;. Thomas F.,
deceased ; James, who lives in Moberly, Missouri ; Ella, wife of John Draney,
of Seneca, Kansas; John, who lives in Oklahoma; Lizzie, wife of Jerry
Kanaly, a retired farmer and extensive landowner, now living retired in
Falls City; Michael D., who lives in Oklahoma: Robert, wlio lives in Falls
City; Margaret, wife of Mat. Kanaly, of Edmond, Oklahoma, and \\'illiam,
deceased.

Patrick F. Murphy was reared on the farm and he attended the district
schools when a boy. He remained at home with his father until the latter
retired from active life in 1885, when the son traded for his present farm
of one himdred and sixty-three acres in Falls City precinct. He has made

Il82 RICHARDSON COUNTV, NEBRASKA.

many improvements here and has carried on general farming and stock
raising. !Most of the original buildings on the place were demolished by
a tornado. Mr. Murphy is a Democrat and has served as a member of
the local school board in district 94. He belongs to the Catholic church
and, fraternally, holds membership in the Knights of Columbus and in
the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

^Ir. ilurphy was married on February 16, 1885, to Hannah Moran,
who was born, July 10, 1862, in Canada. She is a daughter of John and
Mary (Barrett) Moran, who moved from Canada to Missouri and later,
in 1870, to Nebraska, and settled on a farm in the vicinity of Rulo, this
county. The father later bought land near Preston. He and his wife are
both now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Murphy eleven children have been
born, namely: ^^Irs. ]\Iary Stump, who lives in Texas; Thomas, who lives
in Falls City ; Paul, Alice and John, at home ; Leo, deceased ; Grace, deceased ;
William, a student in St. Benedict College at Atchison, Kansas; Vera, at
home ; Ruth, who is in a convent in Falls Citv, and Bernice, deceased.

WILLIAM SANBORN HEVVS.

No more progressive and scientific agriculturist could be found in west-
ern Richards(in county than William Sanborn Hews, of Franklin precinct.
He was born on the old Hews homestead just east of Verdon, in this county,
a son of Sanborn Smith Hews, who was born in 1828, near Trenton, Ontario,
Canada, of Scotch parentage, and who died in 1895. His wife was Alida
Longshore, born in 1828, who died in 1880. Their children were named as
follow: Joseph, David and Samuel, all three of whom died in Richardson
county; \\'illiam S., the subject of this sketch; Mary Margaret, who died
in Iowa, and Abner, who is engaged in farming in Franklin precinct, this
county.

Sanborn S. Hews grew to manhood in Canada and when a young man
went to Ogdensburg, New York, and was married in St. Lawrence county,
that state, in 1850. He later moved to a farm near Wilwaukee, Wisconsin,
where he resided fifteen years, or until 1865, when he moved to Newton.
Jasper county, Iowa, and purchased a farm. In 1868 he came to Nebraska
and bought one hundred and sixty acres east of Verdon, in Richardson
county, which he improved and on which he built a comfortable home.
After his wife's death he moved to Falls City and engaged in the drug-
business a while, but several years later he returned to farming.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I183

William S. Hews received a common school education, but he left school
wnen only twelve years old and went to work on the place he now owns,
at a wage of eight dollars a month, remaining there three years ; then worked
on another farm, but later worked here again for two years. In 1892,
when twenty-two years old, he began farming for himself, operating a
farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Franklin precinct for two years.
He then rented the Gavitt farm for sixteen years, during which period he
saved enough money to buy his present farm of one hundred and sixty
acres in section 13, Franklin precinct, and has made many important im-
provements on the same. He has a large modern barn, good hog house
and other outbuildings such as his needs require. He has a commodious
eight-room house, with bath and other up-to-date conveniences. An exten-
sive evergreen windbreak is also to be seen on the place. Mr. Hews has
been very successful as a general farmer and stockman, having forged ahead
by hard work and perseverance, starting from the bottom with nothing.
One thing that he is proud of is that his great-grandfather, Joseph Hews,
of North Carolina, was one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Mr. Hews is a Democrat, but has never sought the emoluments of public
office.

On December 30, 1896, William S. Hews was united in marriage to
Minna McDougall, who was born in Porter precinct, this county, May 25,
1873, and who was reared in Humboldt, where she attended school. Her
father was an earl3^-day plainsman, having come West in the late fifties.
In 1859 he bought land in Porter precinct, this county, and there developed
a good farm through hard work and perseverance. During the Civil War
he served in the Fourth Iowa Battery, taking part in a number of engage-
ments. After his war service he taught school at Monterey school house
for three terms. For some time he engaged in freighting with J. K. Cor-
nelius and also with Elmore Crow. Mr. McDougall was born in Indiana
on January 2, 1841, and his death occurred on January 11, 1908. He was
in the army three years, and served for some time as regimental clerk. He
was an excellent penman. He crossed the plains three times. His wife,
Hattie Barnhart, was born in Ohio, June 2, 1846, and is now living in Hum-
l)oldt. The McDougall family moved to Humboldt in 1875, ^"d there Mr.
.McDougall engaged in business the rest of his life. His family consisted of
hut two children, Miima, wife of Mr. Hews, and William, who died in
1912. .Mr. McDougall was a memlier of the local post of the Grand Army
of the Republic.

I 184 RICilARDSOX COLXTV. XEBKASKA.

THOMAS G. BOWKER.

Thomas G. Bowker, vice-president uf the Bank of Kulo. at Rulo. tliis
county, one of the large landowners of that part of the county and for year^
actively identified with the affairs of that community, is a native son of
Richardson county and has lived here all his life. Pie was born at Rulo
on i\ugust 25. 1872, a son of Thomas B. and Margaret Bowker, natives
of England, who were married in Canada and who came to Nebraska in
1859 and located at Rulo, wliere they spent the remainder of their lives, the
latter dying there in 1874. wlien the sul)ject of this sketch was but two years
of age.

Thomas B. Bowker was trained to the railway service in his youth
and in Canada was an agent for the Grand Trunk Railroad. His younger
brother, George Bowker, further mention of whom is made elsewhere in
this volume, had come down to this part of the country in 1857, becoming
a large landowner in the eastern part of Richardson county, and about
three years afterward he moved down here from Canada to participate in
the advantages which seemed to he Ijeckoning the earnest, energetic, pio-
neering type of men. Upon his arrival here Thomas B. Bowker bought a
tract of land in the neighborhood of the landing at Rulo and began farming
and cattle raising, taking an active part in the work of the early develop-
ment of that region. When the railroad came out this way he took part
in the christening ceremony when the road was completed and when the
station was established at Rulo he was made the first station agent and con-
tinued acting in that capacity for some years. Thomas B. Bowker died
in 1889. leaving three children, the subject of this sketch having two sisters,
Mrs. Alice Lewis, of Pennsylvania, and Margaret, who makes her home
with him at Rulo.

Reared on the home farm .in the \ icinity of Rulo. Thomas G. Bowker
received his early schooling in the schools of that place and completed the
same in Christian Brothers College at St. Joseph. Uix)n leaving college he
returned to the farm and was there successfully engaged in farming until
1903, when he became bookkeeper in his uncle's bank at Rulo and upon the
tiie death of his uncle the next year was made vice-president of the bank
and has since occupied that position, one of the best-known bankers in this
part of the state. In addition to his interest in the Bank of Rulo Mr.
Bowker is the owner of seventeen hundred acres of land in the precinct
of Rulo and has long been accounted one of the most substantial citizens of
that part of the county. Politically, Mr. Bowker is a Democrat and gives

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I I85

a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has not been a seeker
after public office. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and
takes a proper interest in neighborhood good works, helpful in many ways
in promoting the best interests of that community.

The Bank of Rulo had its origin in the old First National Bank of
Rulo, which was established on March 30, 1887, by S. B. Miles, John W.
Holt, F. O. Edgecombe, J. H. Miles, George Bowker, Clarence Gillespie,
P. H. Jussen and F. Godfirnan, F. O. Edgecombe being the first cashier.
In September, 1891, that bank was succeeded by the Bank of Rulo, with
S. B. Miles as president; George Bowker, vice-president, and B. F. Cun-
ningham, cashier. The present officers of the bank are as follows : Presi-
dent, J. H. Miles; vice-president, Thomas G. Bowker; cashier, W. J. Cun-
ningham. The bank statement of ]\Iarch, 191 7, showed that the bank,
capitalized at $20,000, had deposits of $182,000.

HON. CASS JONES.

In the historical section of this volume there is set out at considerable
length the interesting story of the adventures of the late William M. Jones,
who died at his home in Rulo township, this cotmty, in 1913, and of his son,
the Hon. Cass Jones, the subject of this biographical sketch, both of whom
played an important part in the work of settlement during the early days
of the establishment of a social order throughout this part of Nebraska, and
it will therefore not be necessary to go into detail here in settling out some
of the trials and hardships suffered by the Joneses in getting a start in the
new country back in pioneer days.

Cass Jones, an honored veteran of the Civil War, former representative
from this count}- to the Nebraska General Assembly and one of the best-
known and most substantial of the pioneer residents of Rulo township,
owner of a fine farm of four hundred acres there, is a native of the state of
Illinois, but has been identified with the development of the state of Nebraska
frcjm the days of his young manhood, and there are few men in this section
of the state who have a wider or more intimate acquaintance with pioneer
conditions hereabout than he. He was born on a farm in the vicinitv of
St. Augustine, in Fulton county, Illinois, October 28, 1840, son of William
M. and Rebecca (Morris) Jones, the former a Virginian and the latter a
(75)

Il86 RICHARDSON COL'NTV. NEBRASKA.

native of the state of Pennsylvania, who were married in Ohio, later became
residents of Illinois and still later, pioneers of Nebraska, early settlers of
Richardson county, where both spent their last days, honored and influential
residents of the Rulo neighborhood.

William M. Jones was born on a farm near Blue Springs, in Tazewell
county, Virginia, September 6. 1812. His parents al.so were born in \^irginia.
the father of Scottish descent and the mother of German descent. When
he was but three years of age his father emigrated with his family from
\'"irginia to Ohio and took up a tract of "Congress land" in Jackson county,
in the latter state, buih a log house on the tract and there established his
home. In that pioneer home William M. Jones grew to manhood, taking
advantage of such schooling as offered in those days in that vicinity, and
became a practical farmer. On August i, 1832, he then being but nineteen
rears of age, he married Rebecca Morris, who was born in Pennsylvania
on January 28, 1810, but who had also been reared in Jackson county, Ohio,
her parents having moved there from Pennsylvania when she was but a
child, and after his marriage rented one of his father's farms and established
his home, living there for three years, at the end of which time he decided
to have a home of his own in the wider stretches of the new country tlien
being developed farther to the west. With that end in view, accompanieil
by his wife's father and two brothers, he moved to Illinois and took a sciuat-
ter's right to a quarter of a section of land in Fulton county, in the western
part of the state, near the Illinois river. There he built another log house
and settled down to the lot of a pioneer prairie farmer; but in 1840 dis-
posed of his interests there and moved with his family to Iowa, making
the trip in a wagon he made for himself, using a large sycamore tree for
the purpose. The wheels of this rude vehicle were four-inch cross sections
of the bole of the sycamore and there were neither bolts, nails nor iron of
anv kind in the wagon, the same being made entirely of wood. Upon his
arrival in Iowa, William M. Jones pre-empted a quarter of a section of land
in Johnson county, in the eastern part of the state, and with the tliree yoke
of cattle, five cows, one horse and six pigs he had brought with him frtjni
Illinois began farming on another pioneer farm. Ten years later, in 1S30,
he sold that place for eleven hundred dollars in gold and moved to Cass
county, in the southwestern part of Iowa, where he bought a saw- and grist-
mill and a dwelling house, paying for the property seven hundred dollars
in gold. There he continued in the milling business for several years ancf
with the help of his sons did a good business, remaining there until 1856, in
which vear he disposed of his mill and came to the then Territory of Nebraska,

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 1 1S7

settling on the west bank of the Missouri river, in Dakota county, wliere he
entered a tract of government land and again started "pioneering.'" During
the second winter of his residence there all his cattle save one yoke of oxen
were frozen to death and he decided that such a place was not fitted for human
habitation. Selling his land for one hundred dollars he moved south, settling
on the Delaware Indian reserve land in Leavenworth county, Kansas, where
he remained until the fall of 1859, when he emigrated to Texas, expecting
there to engage in the business of cattle raising. But he found a cold i-ecep-
tion in Texas, the feeling at that time existing tliere against Abolitionists
being expressed in such A'igorous term by the Texans that in the fall of
i860 he was glad to get away on any terms, and he returned to Leavenworth
county. Kansas, where he traded a yoke of oxen to an Indian for a quarter
of a section of land and began grazing cattle. But even there he was doomed
to further disturbance, for the "Jayhawkers" made it so unpleasant for
him. stealing his horses and cattle and threatening his life, that he again
felt it necessary to move and as soon as possible got out of the county and
came farther north, settling a few miles north of Rulo Landing; in this
county. There he found a few families preparing to make the long-join-ney
to the Pacific coast and in the spring of 1863, with seven other families,
started for Oregon, arriving there, after innumerable hardships, in October
of that same }'ear. Mr. Jones purchased a quarter of a section of land about
fifteen miles southeast of Portland and there once more settled down to a
job of "pioneering," but conditions presently began to prove disappointing
and in the spring of 1865 he sold out and came back to Nebraska. He
spent the winter at Omaha and in the spring of 1866 returned to Richard-
son county, where he and his sons, Charles and Cass, bought a half section
of land from a "squaw man" and settled oh the banks of the Missouri, about
three miles north of Rulo. There William M. Jones continued farming
until he was eighty years of age, doing most of the work him.self, for he
always was a man of much physical vigor and of enormous powers of
resistance. When eighty years of age he sold his place to one of his sons
and he and his wife then retired from the active labors of the farm, though
continuing to make their home on the place, and there Mrs. Jones died on
October 12, 1909, she then being ninety-nine years, eight months and four-
teen (lays of age. \^^illiam M. Jones survived his wife until February li,
1913. he then l)eing past one hundred years of age. He and his \Vife were
the parents of nine children, Phoebe, Charles. Henry. Cass, Margaret, Rachel.
Lewis, Louise and Stephen, and at the time of his death W^illiam i\I. Jones

Iie» RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

had six living children, twenty-eight grandchildren, fifty-four great-grand-
children and five great-great-grandchildren, a patriarch indeed.

. Cass Jones was but five years of age when his parents moved from
Illinois to Iowa and in the latter state he received his schooling, going to
school at Iowa City, county seat of his home county there. When his father
engaged in the milling business in Cass county, same state, Cass Jones became
an active assistant in that enterprise and remained with his father during
the latter's subsequent move to this county and later to Kansas and thence
to Dallas county, Texas, from which place the family, as Northern sympa-
thizers, were run out, as noted above. When the Civil War broke out Cass
Jones was twenty years of age and on May 5, 1861, at Leavenworth, he
enlisted for service as a member of Company I, Second Kansas Cavalry,
to serve six months. During the battle of Wilson's Creek, Mr. Jones's horse
was shot from under him and he was pinned beneath the fallen animal, his
right hip being dislocated, his right shoulder severely injured and his jaw
broken. After two months spent in the hospital at Springfield he rejoined
his regiment, but his term of enlistment having expired he was discharged,
November 18, 1861. Shortly afterward, he by that time having sufficiently
recovered from his injuries to re-enter active sen-ice, Mr. Jones re-enlisted
in the same company and regiment, which was being reorganized for the
three-year service, and resumed his place at the front; presently being pro-
moted to the rank of regimental sergeant-major and later assigned as a body
guard to Adjutant-General Bell, a staff officer in General Sibley's command.
Later, at his own request and with a desire to get into more active service,
Mr. Jones was transferred to Company I, Second Nebraska Cavalry, and
with that command served until his discharge, November 18, 1863. at Sioux
City, Iowa.

About the time of the completion of his military service, the Powder
River expedition was being organized at Sioux City and Cass Jones took
service with that expedition, under the employ of the government, as a
wagon-master, and participated in that notable expedition until its comple-
tion, being finally paid off at Kearney, later rejoining his parents and his
family at Omaha; remaining there until the spring of 1866, when tlie family
returned to Richardson county and settled a few miles north of Rulo, where
Mr. Jones has ever since made his home, and where he and his family are
very comfortably and very pleasantly situated. Mr. Jones has done well in
his farming operations and has increased his original farm holdings of a
quarter of a section of land until he now has a fine farm of four hundred

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I189

acres. He is an active Republican, as was his father, and during the sessions^
of the Nebraska Legislature of 1903 and 1907, served the people of Rich-
ardson county as representative. Mr. Jones also has served as school di-
rector in his district for ten years or more and for eight years was road
supervisor. He has been a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons since 1864 and is one of the charter members of Trego Post. Grand
Army of the Republic, at Rulo.

Mr. Jones has been twice married. On March 25, 1869, he was united
in marriage to Amanda E. Mowery, who died on March 8, 1888, and is
buried in the Lutheran church burial grounds, a few miles west of the
Jones home. On December 30, 1896, at Oregon, Missouri, Mr. Jones mar-
ried Caroline Matilda Keil, a daughter of Carl and Augtista (Belute) Keil,
natives of Germany and early settlers in Missouri. Carl Keil died at St.
Louis when his daughter Caroline Matilda was but an infant and his widow
was afterward twice married. She was the mother of eight children, seven
by her first marriage and one by her last marriage. Of these children,
three daughters are still living, Mrs. Jones having two sisters' living in
Holt county, Missouri. Mr. Jones has six children, namely: Harlan Jones,
of Anadarko, Oklahoma; William Jones, of that same place; Elston Jones,
a well-known resident of the Rulo neighborhood; Mrs. Bessie Bochman,
who lives on one of her father's farms north of Rulo, and Miss Mina Jones
and Mrs. Effie Vogel, who also live near their father's place. Mr. Jones has
fourteen grandchildren.

WILLL\^I RIESCHICK,

William Rieschick, a well-known retired pioneer farmer of Richardson
county and a substantial landowner of the precinct of Arago, now living at
Falls City, where he has made his home since 1905, is of European birth,
I)orn in a village in Germany on June 2, 1831, but has been a resident of this
country since he was twenty-five years of age and of this county since 1858.
having come here in territorial days, and has thus seen this region develop
from the days of the open plains. He was the fourth in order of birth of
the eight children, five sons and three daughters, born to his parents, John
Frederick and Johanna (Barden) Rieschick, also natives of Germany, who
spent all their lives in their native land. Of these eight children, all save one
came to America and here reared families, but all are now dead with the

I 190 RICHARDSON COLNTV, NEBRASKA.

exception of the subject of this sketch and his Ijrother, Adolph Rieschick,
'the latter of whom is a resident of McCook, this state.

Reared in his native village, William Rieschick there learned the caljinet-
niaker's trade and became a highly-skilled craftsman in that line. He served
for tvyo years and six months in the army and then, in 1856, he then being
twenty-five years of age, came to the United States, Buffalo, New York,
being his destination. Upon his arrival in that city he had but one dollar left
of ,the not oyerly large fund with which he started, but he had no difficulty
in s^ecuring, work at his trade and lost little time in settling down to work,
his first wage being one dollar a day; but as he was a skilled workman this
wage presently was increased to one dollar and seventy-five cents a da>-.
Not; long afterward, however, on account of the general business depression
noticeable alx)ut that time, wages were cut and Mr. Rieschick decided that the
thing for him to do was to come out to the then new West and "grow up
with the country." With that end in view he came to the then Territory
of Nebraska in 1858 and was so charmed with the view upon his arrival at
old Arago that he determined here to make his permanent home. As Mr.
Rieschick says: "When I arrived at Arago in the springtime and looked
out over the bluffs overlooking the vast plains of Nebraska, grass covered
and dotted with flowers, I beheld the most beautiful view my eyes ever looked
on.": And in all the years that have elapsed since then he has not changed
his opinion of this region gained on that first distinctive impression. Upon
his arrival here Mr. Rieschick found plenty of calls for his service as a car-
penter and builder and he l>egan working at Arago and at other points through-
out this county and over the river in Missouri, much of his pay for services
rendered being made in hogs, chickens and cattle, he and his eldest brother,
who had accompanied him, buying a small tract of land and stocking the same
with the live stock thus obtained. It was in April, i860, that the Rieschick
brothers moved on to that little farm of thirty acres. Among the live stock
they had received were seventeen hogs, but as there was no feed for the hogs
file animals wandered off and did not return until fall, when the crops had
matured, liy which time there had been a c]uite noticeable increase in the
drove. On that place Mr. Rieschick and his brother remained for seven
years. By this time William Rieschick had become the owner of a team
of horses and had paid down two hundred dollars on an "eighty" of his
own in the center of the precinct of Arago, also trading in on the same a
town lot in the old town of Arago whicli had come into his possession, and
decided to marrv and "settle down." In 186; he married and established

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. II9I

his home on that "eighty," having meanwhile made considerable initial
improvement on the same, declaring: "I'll make my living here or die!"
Needless to say, he did not die and it is equally certain that he prospered,
for he long has been recognized as one of the covmty's most substantial land-
owners. During the first years of his farming Mr. Rieschick, in common with
most of the pioneers of this region, felt the eflfects of "hard times," and he
still recalls that at one time the price of farm produce had fallen to such
a point that he had to give three dozen eggs for a box of matches, but those
depressing days presently passed and he l^egan to see his way clear to the
competence for which he had left his native land and journeyed out here to
the great Western land of opportunity. In 1869 Mr. Rieschick 1x)ught an
adjoining quarter of a section of land, paying for the same eight dollars an
acre, and when his sons had grown to the point of being able to care for
land for themselves he bought an additional tract of four hundred and forty
acres, paying for the same fifty dollars an acre, and he recalls that he found
it much easier to pay for this last tract than it was to pay for his original
"eighty." On that farm Mr. Rieschick continued to make his home until
1905, in which year he retired from the active labors of the farm and moved
to Falls City, where he and his family are very comfortably situated, hav-
ing a beautiful home surrounded by an orchard at the end of Sixteenth
street.

In 1865 William Rieschick was united in marriage to Varina Hunzeime,
who was born in the republic of Switzerland in 1844 and who was but ten
years of age when she came to this country with her parnets in 1854, and
to this union six children have been born, namely: August Wilhelm, who
died at the age of twenty-three years ; Amiel William, who died at the age
of two years and three months; John W., a substantial farmer living four
miles north of Falls City; the Hon. William F. Rieschick, a farmer living
one mile east of Falls City and who is the present representative from Rich-
ardson county in the Nebraska state Legislature; Albert W., who is farming
the old home place in the precinct of Arago, and Amelia Varina, who is
at home with her parents. Mrs. Rieschick is a member of the Lutheran
church and her children attend that church. Upon attaining his citizenship
here Mr. Rieschick affiliated himself with the Republican party, but in the
memorable campaign of 1896 joined his political fortunes with those of
William Jennings Bryan and has ever since been an ardent Bryan Demo-
crat. For two years during his residence on the farm he served as precinct
treasurer. Mr. Rieschick has never lost his interest in woodworking and

119^ RICHARDSON COUNTV. NEBRASKA.

has in his home some rarely beautiful specimens of his craftsmanship, includ-
ing a combination bookcase and desk, made of walnut, which is generally
regarded as the finest piece of work of its kind in Nebraska and wliich
Air. Rieschick holds as a priceless possession.

WILLIAAI T. FEXTOX.

Nebraska has been especially fortunate in the cliaracter and career of
her public men. In every section have been found men l>orn to leadership,
men who have been able successfully to discharge the duties of official posi-
tion because of their sterling qualities and force of character. It is profit-
able to study such lives, weigh their motives and hold up their achievements
as incentives to greater activity and higher excellence on the part of others.
These reflections are suggested b}- the career of William T, Fenton. ex-
sheriff of Richardson county and the present warden of the Nebraska State
penitentiary at Lincoln.

Mr. Fenton was born in this county on October 2. 1872, a scion of an
honored old pioneer famil}' of this section of the state, being a son of Jerry
and Catherine (Calnan) Fenton. The father was born in Ireland in 1830
and there spent his boyhood, immigrating to America when seventeen years
old, being accompanied by his mother, four brothers and one sister. The
family located at Richmond, \^irginia, where they remained until in the
sixties when they came to Nebraska, locating on a farm near Dawson in
Richardson county. Jerrj' Fenton and Catherine Calnan were married
before leaving Virginia, prior to the breaking out of the Civil War. He
developed a good farm in Richardson county through close application and
perseverance and established a comfortable home here. He continued
general farming and stock raising successfully on his farm of one hundred
and sixty acres until about five years prior to his death. He died in 191 4, at
the advanced age of eighty-four years. He was an influential man in his com-
munity and helped organize nearly all the schools of the Dawson neighbor-
hood. He was active in the Catholic church and was the only trustee of the
church in his vicinity. The mother of the subject of this sketch was also
born in Ireland, the date of lier birth being 1838. She came to \'irginia
with her parents when seven years old. To Jerry an.d Catherine Fenton
twelve children were born, five of whom are deceased : those li\ing at ibis
writing being as follows: Mrs. IMary S. Kane of Dawson: Mrs. Ella I-tiley.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I ' 93

also of Dawson; Thomas F., who hves at Reedley. Cahfornia; Robert E.,
who Hves at Haddam, Kansas ; Mrs. Catherine Carr ; Mrs. Nora Ryan, who
makes her home at Dawson, and William T., the subject of this review.

No doubt one of the potent contributing causes of the success and pop-
ularity of William T. Fenton has been his Celtic blood, for people of this
strain are everywhere noted for their courage, fortitude, perseverance and
pleasing personal traits. He grew to manhood on the home farm in Rich-
ardson county, where he assisted his fatlier with the general work during
crop seasons, when he became of proper age. In the winter time he at-
tended the district schools. He remained at home until 1894, when he went
to California and worked for a fruit company two years. He then returned
to Nebraska and for two years operated a hardware and implement store
in the village of Dawson, then sold out and engaged in general farming
and stock raising, witli very gratifying results, near there until 1906. In
that year he was elected sheriff of Richardson county on the Democratic
ticket, and he continued to discharge the duties of the office in a faithful,
al)le and highly acceptable manner until 191 3, when he resigned in order
to assume the office of warden of the state penitentiary at Lincoln, in Janu-
ary of that year, having been appointed to this responsible position by Gov-
ernor Morehead. He had made his home in Falls City for seven years,
but early in 1913 moved to the city of Lincoln, where he has since resided,
and has gi\en eminent satisfaction to all concerned as warden. He under-
stands his work thoroughly and has instituted many reforms and has everv-
thing about the prison under a superb system ; in fact, it is said to be one
of the best managed penitentiaries in the United States. Since he took
charge he has kept the grounds and Imildings in good repair and every-
tliing is in ship-shape at all times. He has established a large greenhouse
and he has done much to Ijetter the general conditions of the prisoners. He
is a man of tact, executive ability, prudence and caution; kind, but firm, and
is always faithful in seeing that the laws and rules of the institution are
strictly obeyed. He is popular with all his associates and is evidently the
right man in the right place.

.Mr. I'^enton, in partnership with e.x-Governor Morehead, owns a fine
farm in Lancaster county, Nebraska, of two hundred and eighty acres. At
one time he and his l)r()ther. the late Jerry P. Fenton, owned fi\e drug stores
in the cit\- of Omaha.

On .Vpril 9, 1902, Mr. Fenton was married to Vinnette M. Colman,
who was born at Falls City, where- she grew to -womanhood and was edu-
cated, being gradnated from the high school there, and taught school for

I 194 RICHARDSON COINTV, NEBRASKA.

5onie time at Falls Cit\ and at Dawson prior t(; her niarrias<e. She is a
(laughter of Thomas and Anna (Ryan) Colman, who were early settlers in
Richardson county. Mr. Colman. a veteran of the Civil War. was a har-
nessmaker by trade. His death occurred in Falls City in 1876 and his
widow is now making her home with Mr. and Mrs. I'enton. Two children
have been .torn to Mr. and Mrs. h'enton, namely: Helen Ruth, born in
1903; and Bryan, 1905.

Mr. Fenton is a Democrat and has long been an influential worker in
his party, as was also his father. The latter was elected representati\ e t<i
the Legislature from Richardson county in the early days here. Fratern-
allv, the subject of this sketch is a memlier of the Knights of Pythias, the
Benevolent and Protective Order of I<^lks, the Higlilanders. the Ancient
Order of United Workmen and the Knights of Columbus. He belongs to
the Catholic church.

MARIXO GIANNINL

During the many years of his residence in F'alls City there were lew
men there who were better known or who took a, more active interest in
the work of promoting the city's best interests than did the late Alarino
Giannini, a Virginian and a veteran of the Confederate Army, who came to
this state from Missouri, in 1883, and engaged in the "bus business at F'alls
City, where he spent the remainder of his life, one of the most iiiifuential
citizens of tliat city, his death occurring there in the fall of 191 5. Mr.
Giannini . became quite successful in his business affairs and left his family
quite well circumstanced. His widow is stilt making her home at l*"alls City,
where she is very comfortably situated.

;\Iarino Giannini was born in the city nf Richmond, X'irginia, January
2, 1850, son and youngest of the thirteen children born to Marino and
Mahala (Hamlet) Giannini, the former a native of Italy and the latter of
Virginia. The senior Marino Giannini was born in Tuscany and in 1820
left his native Italy and came to the United States, landing at the port of
New York, presently proceeding thence to Philadelphia and thence, after
some time, to the city of Richmond, where he became a pros])erous and
wealthy merchant and shipper, an extensive skne owner and the owner of
two large sailing vessels engaged in the o\erseas trade. During the Civil
War these vessels were captured as bkx-kade runners and were burnetl.
It was not long after taking up his residence in Richmond that Marino

RICHARUSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I I95

Giannini married Mahala Hamlet, wlio was born in that city, of luiglish
descent, and their children were reared in that city. The father nf ihe.-c
children died just before the close of the Civil War, he then being si.\t\-
three years of age, and his widow survived him for exactly nine years, her
death occurring in Missouri on Deceml>er 20, 1871, her youngest sun, the
subject of thi smemorial sketch, having provided for her a home at Milton,
m Atchison county, that state.

The junior Marino Giannini was reared at Richmond and was gi\en
excellent educational advantages in his youth. When thirteen years of
age he succeeded by a ruse in enlisting for service in the army of the Con-
federate States of America and served with that army for eighteen montiis,
or until the close of the Civil War. Two of his elder brothers, Franklin
P. and Ferdinand Washington Giannini, were serving in the army of Gen.
Robert E. Lee and his youthful ardor sought service in the .same army, but
on account of his tender years he was unable to enlist at home ; hence he
slipped away and in company with a fifteen-year-old kinsman succeeded in
getting into an Alabama regiment, serving until the close of the war as a
member of Company C, Forty-sixth Regiment, Alabama \'olunteer Infantry,
and was afterward an active member of Camp Grace No. 472, United Con-
federate veterans. Too small to pass the mustering oificers on an open
lield, young Marino stood. on a stump underneath the window of the recruit-
ing oflfiice and thus seemed to the eye of the officer in charge of proper
size for army service and he was gladly accepted. He then eagerly signed
the enlistment roll and as there was no outside objection raised , he was
retained in the ranks- even after his patriotic subterfuge had been discovered
Ij}- the officers and he made a good soldier.

Upon the completion of his military service Marino Giannini returned
to his home at Richmond, only to find the family slaves gone and the
family fortunes sadly reduced. His mother put him inta ftc^cuioke College
and following his graduation there he traveled witb an elder brother for
for some time in the South and later went to New York City, returning
thence to Richmond, from which city, accompanied by his mother, he then
came West and located at St. Joseph, IMissouri, w-here he became engaged
as a clerk in the Merchants Hotel. A year later he w-ent to Milton, Mis-
souri, where he made a home for his mother, and not long afterward
returned to Richmond to receive his share of the family estate. With
the fund thus secured he l)ought a farm in the vicinity of Milton, where
his mother died in 1871. Shortly afterward, in February. 1872. he married

ri96 RICHARDSON" COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

Edna Williams, who died in 1875, leaving two children, and in February.
1878, he married Linda Seymour, of Milton. In 1883 Mr. Giannini dis-
posed of his interests in Missouri and came over into Nebraska, locating at
Falls City, where he was engaged in the employ of the Chicago, Burlington
& Ouincy Railroad for six years, at the end of which time he bought the
'bus line in that city and for some time operated the same quite success-
fully : then selling it and buying the Werring creamery, which he operated
for three years, after which he sold it and bought bad< the 'bus line, which
he continued to operate for years thereafter. Mr. Giannini also made con-
siderable investments in farm lands and city property, but when the "hard
times'' came on in the middle nineties he lost heavily and was compelled
practically to begin all over again. He was again successfyl, however, and
at the time of his death on September 27, 191 5. was regarded as one of
the well-t<i-do citizens of Falls City. Mr. Giannini was a Democrat and
erer since becoming a resident of Falls City had taken an active part in
political afYairs. but always declined to accept the proffer of nomination to
public office. He was one of the county seat's most active and progressive
business men and his influence in the way of promoting civic improvements
was for years one of the leading factors in the development of the town,
the paving of streets and the creation of the "White Way" having been
largely due to his insistent advocacy of such improvements. Mr. Giannini's
father was a Catholic, but his mother was a Baptist and he and the other
children of the family were reared in the latter faith. He afterward became
a member of the Cuml^erland Presbyterian church, but during his residence in
Falls City attended the Baptist church, of which his widow is a member.
He was an active Mason and a member of the Benevolent and Protective
Order of Elks, and was a member of several beneficiary orders, such as
the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Royal Arcanum, the Legion
of HdUor and the Modern \\'oodmen, and took an earnest ]iart in lodge
work.

It was (in I'ebruary j8, 1878, that Marino Giannini was united in mar-
riage to Linda Sevmour, who was Imrn at Milton, Missouri, Se]Jteml)er
26, 1858, a daughter of Leander and Elizabeth (Beck) Seymour, pioneers
of that section of Missouri and both of whom are still living. Leander
Sevmour. a cousin of Horatio Seymour, twenty-fourth governor of New
York and candidate for President of the United States against General
(irant. was born in Erie, Pennsylvania. February 5, 1830, a son of John
antl Lnvica ( Eakm ) Sevmour. both members of old Colonial families, the

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. II97

former of whom was a grandson of Dr. John Sexmour. uf Litchtield,
Connecticut. John Seymour's father w^as a manufacturer of carriages and
his son, Leander, acquired a very strong leaning toward the manufacturing
arts, becoming an unusually skilled artisan. Though his main field of activ-
ity was that of a millwright, he was an expert in the field of mechanics
and could make a watch, a sewing-machine or most any ?ort of a machine,
and upon moving out to Missouri in pioneer .days not only was active in
the erection of mills, but made the first plows manufactured in northwestern
Missouri, and has always been looked upon as a real genius in the mechanical
arts. Though now long past the traditional "three-score-and-ten" stage of
his life, Mr. Seymour retains to a remarkable degree his physical vigor and
is still able to read without glasses. His wife, Elizabeth Beck, was born
on March 31, 1838, and is descended from the Parsons and the Howells,
of English descent and formerly large landowners at Salisbury, Raleigh
and Berne, North Carolina. To Leander Seymour and wife six children
were born, of whom Mrs. Giannini was the third in order of birth, the
others being as follow: Franklin, who is at the old home in Missouri with
his aged parents; Lydia, who married Andrew Jackson Carmen, a Civil
War veteran from Ohio, and is now living at Downs, Kansas ; Wilson,
a well-to-do retired farmer, now living at Fairfax, Missouri: Leander, Jr..
of Stewartsville, Missouri, and Mrs. Mary Simpson, of Hiawatha, Kansas.
By his first marriage Mr. Giannini was the father of two children.
Mamie G., wife of John F. Martin, a traveling salesman, of Falls City,
and Ferdinand W., a successful farmer living in the neighborhood of Barada,
this county, who is married and has two children. B\- his marriage to
Linda Seymour Mr. Giannini became the father of five children, namely :
Eva, wife of William Robinson Holt, a well-known merchant of Falls Cit\- :
Rufo Orden and Royal Byron, twins, now deceased: I^aura G., wife of
A. E. Speer, of Falls City, and Lloyd Seymour Giannini. of Fargo, North
Dakota, who married Elizabeth Neal, daughter of George H. Neal, and
has two children, Neal Marino and Isabel. Since her husband's death
Mrs. Giannini has continued to make her home in Falls City, where she
is very pleasantly situated. She is a member of the Ba[)tist church, as
noted above, and has for years taken an interested p;irt in cinirch work,
as well as in the general good works and social and cultural actixities of
her home town. For more than fourteen years she has been one i)f the
leading members of the Sorosis Club and is also a member of the locall\-
influential Women's Club, in the affairs of both of which (^rgam'zations
she takes a warm interest.

1198 RICHARDSON COl-NTV, NEBRASKA.

JOSEPH EDGAR ^rORRTSOX.

Joseph lulgar Morrison, one of the well-known and substantial farmers
of Salem precinct, this count), the t)wner of the northwest quarter of
section 25 of that precinct and the proprietor of one of the best farm
plants in that part of the county, is a native of the neighboring state of
Kansas, born in Brown county, that state, September 7, 1870, a son of
Joseph and I^izzie (Shafifer) Morrison, pioneers of that county, whose last
days were spent in this county, they having come here in 1881.

Joseph Morrison was born on a farm in the immediate vicinity of
Louisville. Kentucky. April i, 1829, a son of Robert -Morrison, also a
native of Kentucky, and his wife, Lizzie Shafifer, was born in Maryland
in 1834. After their marriage they made their home in Illinois until the
early sixties when they went to Wisconsin, remaining there until 1865,
when the\- moved down into Kansas and settled in Brown county, but later
moved to St. Joseph, Missouri, where they remained a couple of years, at the
end of which time they moved over into western Kansas and remained there
until the fall of 1881, when they came to RichanLson county. Joseph Mor-
rison bought a farm of eighty acres in this county and here he and his
wife s])ent the remainder of their lives, both dying in 1912. They were
members of tlie Methodist church and their children were reared in that
faith. There were nine of these children, of whom the subject of this
sketch was the eighth in order of birth and of whom six are still living.

Joseph E. Morrison received his schooling in the common schools and
was reared to a life of farming. After his marriage, when twenty-one years
of age. he began farming on his own account and in 1901 bought his present
farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 25 of the precinct of Salem,
this county, the northeast quarter of that section, and straightway began
extensive improvements on the same, including the erection of a fine, modern
eight-room house, with bathroom, hot and cold running water, electric lights
and the like; admirable farm buildings and other improvements, creating
there one of the best farm plants in that part of the county, and there he
since has made his home. Mr. Morrison is a Democrat and has ever given
a good citizen's attention to local political affairs. l)ut has not l)een a seeker
after office. Fraternally, he is afifiliated with the local camp of the Modern
Woodmen of America at Salem and takes a warm interest in the afifairs
of that organization.

On Septemlier 23. 1891, Joseph E. Morrison was united in marriage

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

[90

lo Linnie Eakins, 'who was born in Iowa on June 17, 1872. daughter of
Thomas and Juha (Barnes) Eakins, natives, respectively, of Ilhnois and of
Ohio, who settled in Brown county, Kansas, in 1879, later moving to
Sahetha, where Thoinas Eakins spent his last days. His widow is now
living at Steele City, Kansas. Mrs. Morrison died in 1908. She was the
mother of six children, namely: Mr5. Zelma Zellers, of Jefiferson precinct..
this county: Robert, who is farming near Shubert: \^era. who is at home
with her father: ]\label. deceased; Warren, at home, and Vvc. also at home.

WILLI.\AI MARTIN.

William Martin, extensive landowner in the states of Nebraska and
South Dakota, is a native of Illinois, born in Aurora, that state, on October
8, 1854, and has been a resident of Richardson county since he was four
years old. He holds a portion of his land in partnership with his sister,.
Catherine, the farms being located at various points. Five hundred and
sixty acres are in Richardson county: six hundred and forty in Brown
county. South Dakota; one hundred and sixty in Nemaha county, this state,
and the homestead of one hundred and twenty, entered by William .Martin.
Sr.. on October 30, 1858.

William Martin. Sr., was a native of Nova Scotia and was born of
Irish parentage, who settled in Canada in an early day. William Martin
emigrated from Nova Scotia to the United States in 1848, arriving at
Chicago, and going thence to Aurora. Illinois, where he worked as a well
digger for some time. In 1858 he drove to this part of the country with
two yoke of oxen and two cows. He was accompanied by his wife, who
liefore her marriage to Mr. Martin was Catherine Doyle, and three sons
and three daughters. The long journey into Nebraska occupied one month,
and on his arrival he pre-empted one hundred and twenty acres of land in
Nemaha county, .\bout nine years later his wife i^re-empted forty acres.
^^'illiam Martin cleared his land and in due course liad it ready for cultiva-
tion and continued the life of a farmer up to the time of his death in 1862.
at the age of fiftv-five years. William and Catherine (Doyle) Martin
were the parents of six children, of whom William, the subject of this
sketch, was the fifth in the order of birth, the others l)eing James, who
died in 1914 in Porter precinct: Mary, deceased; Catherine, born in 1845.

I200 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

who housekeeps for her brother, U'illiam : John, out in the \\'est, and Anna.
vvlio died at the age of two years.

Wilham, James and Catherine Martin made their home together up
to the time of the death of James, who died in 1914. They began on
the home place, which contains one hundred and sixt}- acres and farmed
that land on partnership terms. William Martin continued to add to his
land holdings, paying a price per acre which varied from sixty-five dollars
to one hundred and seventy-five dollars, which latter figure was the pur-
chase price of the last tract bought just north of Humboldt. During his
farming career Mr. Martin has bought upwards of two thousand acres of
land and is regarded in the county as an excellent judge of land. He carried
out extensive improvements on each of his holdings, and his last purchase
is now considered to be worth two hundred and fifty dollars an acre. From
small beginnings he has gradually increased his holdings and is now a pros-
perous farmer. Mr. Martin is a Republican, but has never sought public
ofiice. He holds, membership in the Modern Woodmen of .\merica.

ISAAC W. HARRIS.

The late Isaac Harris, of Libert)' precinct, was one of the real "old
settlers" of Richardson county, having come to this county and made a
settlement as early as 1873. During his career in this county he handled
live stock on an extensive scale and becam.e one of the most widely and
favorably known men of southeastern Nebraska ; honest and upright to a
fault in all of his dealings, and was recognized as an expert judge of live
stock. His interests in county affairs were wide and were of such a varied
character as to indicate the broad-gauged citizenship of the man himself.

Isaac W. Harris was born in the old Buckeye state, on August 20,
1846, and was a son of J^cob Harris and Mary A. (Shurts) Harris,
natives of New Jersey. He was reared to young manhood in his native
state and migrated to Nebraska in 1873, settling on the land owned by his
son Guy, in Liberty precinct. He early engaged in the cattle and live-stock
business on an extensive scale, and. having faith in the eventual develop-
ment of the country and confidence in the ultimate future of tiiis section of
Nebraska, he investeil heavil\- in Richardson count}- hind, accumulating
over sixteen hundred acres of fine farming and grazing land. His skill as a
live-stock judge and dealer was generally recognized and he was regarded

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

as having few equals in this part of the state when expert judgment of
Hve-stock was required. His death occurred on Novemljer 30, 191 5. Gen-
eral regret was felt throughout the community and wherever he was known
at the loss sustained by his departure from this earthly realm.

Isaac Harris's activities were not restricted to his agricultural inter-
ests and in many other ways he gave evidence of commercial enterprise.
He helped to organize the Farmers' Mutual Insurance Compan)- and was
president of that company at the time of his death. He was a stockholder
in the State Bank of Stella and in the Bank of Shubert, and was also inter-
ested financially in the State Bank of Hum|>oldt and in the State Bank of
Omalia. For a considerable period he was vice-president of the Stella
Bank and a director of the other three banks in which he was interested,
and in all of these undertakings took a keen interest and brought a ripe
experience to bear in shaping the policy of the banks with which he was
identified.

Isaac Harris was married in Illinois, in 1869, to Rosa Hassler, who
was born in Bureau county, Illinois, on January 29, 1849; She preceded
her husband to the grave by about ten months, her death occurring on Jan-
uary 28, 1915. Mr. and Mrs. Harris were ever helpful in all neighbor-
hood good works and in all efforts making for the good of the people among
whom they had so long resided. The following children were born to
Isaac and Rosa Harris, namely: Mrs. Caroline Clark, of Stella, tliis county;
George W., who lives in Yakima, Washington; Bert L., also living in
Yakima; Guy,- who is farming in this cottnty; Olive and Lucile J., living
Avith their brother Guy on the home place.

Guy Harris was reared on his father's farm, having been born on
March 22, 1876. He was graduated from the Stella high school and later
attended the State Normal at Peru, this state. At the age of eighteen he
began to work for himself and put out a crop of wheat and corn. He sold
the \\'heat for seventy-five cents a bushel and the corn at fourteen cents,
and with the proceeds paid his way through school. For some years after-
ward he was in partnership with his father and brother Bert, and thus con-
tinued until 1905, when Guy Harris took over his brother's interest in the
farm. At the death of his father, he acquired the home place of two hun-
dred and ninety acres and has since bought other land. He is the owner of
eight hundred acres of land, the home place in section 6; one hundred and
sixty acres in the southeast corner of section i. Grant precinct; one hun-
dred and sixtv acres in the southeast quarter of section 9, Porter precinct,
(76) '

1202 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

and across the international border in Alberta. Canada, he is the owner of
eight hundred acres of land. In addition to his extensive land holdings.
Mr. Harris is heavily interested in hog and cattle raising. He feeds on an
average about one thousand hogs annually and in some years has fed up to
five hundred head of cattle, and is generally recognized as one of the most
prosperous farmers and stockmen in this part of tlie state. His sisters.
Olive and Lucile, are partners with him in all his farming operations.

WILLIAM C. MARGRA\'E.

William C. Margrave, president of the \\'illiam A. ]\Iargrave Company,
one of the leading ranch corporations in eastern Nebraska, the company's
extensive corporate holdings comprising the estate of tlie late William A.
Margrave, who for years was one of the best-known ranchmen in this part
of Nebraska, or in the adjoining section of Kansas, was born in the neigh-
boring county of Brown, in Kansas, and has lived in this part of the coun-
try all his life. He was born on June 27. 1876. son of William A. and
Margaret R. (Rubeti) Margrave, the former a native of Illinois and the
latter of Kansas, and the latter of whom is still living, now a resident of
Hiawatha, Kansas.

William A. Margrave, founder of the great Margrave estate, now
being operated by his heirs under the corporate title of the William A.
Margrave Company, with headquarters at Preston, this county, was born
on a farm in the vicinity of the city of Peoria, Illinois, ]\Iay 1. 1H43.
and was fifteen years of age when he came out into this part of the country
with his parents, James W. and Elizabeth (Hopkins) Margrave, from Illi-
nois in i860, the family settling at Hiawatha, Kansas, where James W.
Margrave became a farmer and miller, and where he spent the remainder
of his life, his death occurring there in 1888. He was born in the state
of Kentucky on August 16, 1814. His widow survived him about four
years, her death occurring on May 21, 1892. They were the parents of
eight children, of whom William A. was the fourth in order of birth.

As noted above. William A. Margrave was about fifteen years of age
when he came to this part of the country with his parents, in i860, and
he grew to manhood on the home farm in Richardson county, becoming
thoroughly familiar with pioneer conditions hereabout. He early began
operating on his own account and from tlie first his operations were sue-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I2O3

cessful, early becoming recognized as one of the most successful traders
in land and cattle in this section. After his marriage he established his
home on his ranch in the vicinity of Preston, this county, and gradually
enlarged his holdings until he became the owner of several thousand acres
of land covering that section and reaching down to Reserve, besides lands
in Sheridan and Cherry counties, this state, and was one of the most exten-
sive dealers in and graziers of cattle, horses and mules in this part of the
country. William A. Margrave died on July 31, 1906, and his widow sur-
vives him, now a resident of Hiawatha, Kansas. She was born. Margaret
R. Rubeti, in the neighboring county of Doniphan, Kansas, in 1848, and
at the age of three years was left an orphan. She was reared in the house-
hold of S. M. Irvin and in time became a teacher on the Indian reserva-
tion, and was thus engaged at the time she married Mr. Margrave. To
that union were born five children, one of whom, a daughter, died in infancy,
the others being Julia, wife of George W. LeClere, storekeeper on the
Margrave ranch in Jefferson precinct; William C, the subject of this bio-
graphical sketch; James T., of Preston, vice-president of the Margrave
corporation, and Earl I., of Gordon, secretary and treasurer of the corpora-
tion. After the death of William A. Margrave his sons continued to oper-
ate the ranch property, their aim being to carry out their father's plans
with regard to the estate as closely as possible, and with that end in view
presently incorporated the business under the name of the William A. Mar-
grave Company and have since been conducting the business under that
corporate style, the officers being as above named, the subject of this sketch
Ijeing the president of the company. The local station of the Margrave
Company in Jefferson precinct, this county, carries a thousand 'fiead of
cattle and on the ranches in Sheridan and Cherry counties there are two
thousand head or more.

William C. Margrave received his schooling in the old Indian, school
on the reservation, in the school in Lost Creek district, in the public school
at Reserve and in Hiawatha Academy and early began his active connec-
tion with his father's extensive and growing ranch activities, as the eldest
son proving a valuable factor in the development of the greait property
of which he is now the general manager and with the development of which
he has been actively identified since he was twenty years of age. In addition
to his interest in the family corj^oration Mr. Margrave is a member of the
Ixtard of directors of the Morrell & Jones Bank at -Hiawatha, and is the
owner of two hundred and sixty acres of land in Kansas, eighty acres of
which is an allotment from the government, through his mother's claim

RICHARDSON COUNTV, NEBRASK.'

on the reservation lands. Mr. Margrave is a Repuljlican and has e\er given
a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, bnt has not been an office
seeker. In 1916 he erected a fine new, modern residence of twelve rooms,
with hot and cold rnnning water in the same, the house being electricall\-
lighted from a private power plant on the place, and he and his family are
very comfortably situated.

Mr. Margrave has been twice married. In 1897, when t\vcnt\-one
years of age, he was united in marriage to Mary Waller, who also was
born in Brown county, Kansas, daughter of Cornelius and Marth.i Waller,
natives of Kentucky, who settled in Kansas about 1857, and to this imioii
three children were born, Howard, who is in high school at Hiawatha, and
Julia and Martha, at home. The mother of these children died on April
28, 1908, at the age of thirty-one years, and on June i, 1910, Mr. Mar-
grave married Ida Pribbeno, who was born in this county on September 15.
1 886, daughter of C. F. Pribbeno, a member of one of the old families of
Richardson county and further and fitting mention of whom is made else-
where in this volume, and to this union two children have been born, Helen
and William A. Mr. and Mrs. Margrave are memljers of the Methodist
Episcopal church at Preston and Mr. Margrave is one of the trustees of the
same.

JOSEPH W. CULLEN.

One of the well-known and loyal citizens of Richardson county is Joseph
W. Cullen, of Verdon, now living in retirement after a long and successful
career as a general farmer. He was born in Mifflin county. Pennsylvania.
April 3, 1840, a son of George and Susan (z\llen) Cullen. The father was
of Scotch descent and probably was born in Scotland. He spent his earlier
years in Pennsylvania, moving to White county, Indiana, in 1852, where
he established his permanent home on a farm. He was born in 1804 and
died in 1882. His wife died about 1848, at the age of forty-five years.
To these parents nine children were bom, all Jiow deceased but the subject
of this sketch, who was fourth in order of birth.

Joseph W. Cullen spent his childhood in Pennsylvania, being twehe
years old when his parents moved to White county. Indiana. He attended
the old-time district schools and worked on the farm when a boy. He re-
mained in Indiana until the breaking out of the Ci\il War. On June 4.
1861, he enli.sted in the Twentieth Regiment, Indiana \'olunteer Infantry,

JOSEPH W. CULI^EN.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I205

and saw considerable hard service in the South, taking- part in numerous
engagements in Virginia, North Carolina and other states, among them Ijeing
Hatteras Island, North Carolina, his first engagement. After this battle
he was encamped near Fortress Monroe. His regiment witnessed the great
battle between the "Monitor" and the "Merrimac" at Newport News, fol-
lowing the sinking of the "Cumljerland," and the "Congress." His regi-
ment then went to Norfolk and then joined McClellan's army at White House
Landing on York river; thence to within six miles of Richmond, where they
dug trenches and cut timber for barricades ; took part in a skirmish on June
J5, 1862; captured a fort, but being unsupported, retired again, the regiment
losing very heavily. They then took part in the Seven Days Battle and Har-
rison's Landing engagement; next the Peninsular campaign; next to Man-
assas Junction; from Rappahannock by forced march, thence to Centerville;
witnessed great disorganization of the army; retreated and fought at Chan-
tilly. General Kearney was killed there, Gen. Robt. E. Lee sending the body
of General Kearney to the Union lines under a flag of truce, and presented
Kearney's horse to his widow. The regiment then retreated to Alexandria;
thence to Washington; served in Virginia until marched through Maryland
to Gettysburg, July i, 1863. Engagements: Glendale, June 30, 1862; Mal-
vern Hill, July I, 1862; second Battle of Bull Run: Chantilly, Waterloo,
Fredericksburg, Cedarville. Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wapping Heights :
suppressed July riots in New York City in 1863; Orange Grove, Mine Run,
November 29, 1863; Petersburg, Virginia, and the Battle of the Wilder-
ness. Mr. Cullen was honorably discharged at Indianapolis. Indiana, July
24, 1864. After his career in the army he resumed farming in Indiana,
where he remained until 1868, when he came to Nebraska and bought a
farm where the town of Auburn now stands, in Nemaha county. In 1870
lie came to Richardson county and bought one hundred and sixty acres of
raw land in ]\Iuddy precinct, which he broke himself and made general im-
provements. He set out five acres of orchard and a grove of cottonwood
trees, which however, finally died, and he then planted two acres of walnut
trees which are thriving. He erected a pleasant home and convenient out-
buildings. The farm is well located, two miles north of Verdon. He sold
it some time ago and is now living retired from active life. He is owner of
a half block of city property in Verdon, and is a shareholder in the Farmers
and Merchants Bank there. While on the farm he made a specialty of
handling high-grade live stock, and was a well-known breeder.

Mr. Cullen has been twice married, first, in December, 1865, to Mary
Jane Hickman, who was born in Ohio. Her death occurred in 1888. Eleven

I206 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

children were born to that union, namely : Mrs. Rosa Belle Xanderventer,
who lives in Long Mount, Colorado; Earl, deceased; Ferdinand, who lives
in Holtxounty, Nebraska; William T., who lives in Idaho; George M., who
als.o .lives in Idaho; Ethel E., wife of T. Griffiths, of Greenleaf, Idaho;
Ernest E-., deceased; Herbert L., who lives in western Nebraska; Oliver J.,
deceased; Walter F., who lives at Page, in Holt county, Nebraska, and Bertha,
deceased. On December i8, 1892, Mr. Cullen married Mrs. Ella Jane
(Steplienson) McClain, a native of Missouri, and to their union one child
w^s. born, Edith M., wife of, Guy Schley, of Verdon.

Politically, Mr. Cullen is a Democrat. He was formerly a member
of the,. Grand, Army of the Republic, and was commander of the local post
until the charter was surrendered. It was known as the George Vantlerventer
Post. He belongs, to the Ancient Order of United Workmen and to the
Congregational church.

CLEON PECK.

Cleon Peck, assessor of the precinct of Ohio and one of the best-known
and most progressive farmers of that part of Richardson county, is a native
son of this county and has lived here all his life, having been born on
the farm, a part of which he now owns, in Ohio precinct, October 2, 1881,
son of George W. and Sarah (Maust) Peck, natives of Pennsylvania, who
became pioneers of Richardson county and the latter of which is still living
here one of the best-known and most highly esteemed pioneers of the precinct
of Ohio.

George W. Peck was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, May 16.
1841, a son of Elias Peck, who also became a pioneer of Richardson county,
and Was reared in that county. He was united in marriage in Pennsylvania
to Sarah Maust, who also was born in that state on .\ugust 4, 1844, and
in the fall of 1869 he came out to Nebraska and bought a farm in the
precinct of Ohio, in this county, made arrangements for the erection of
a house on that tract and then returned to Pennsylvania for his family and
came back here, establishing his home on his farm, where he continued to
make his home until the spring of 1906, when he retired from the farm and
moved to Falls City. His death (Occurred on September 13. of that same
\ear. tJeorge W. Peck ijecame a successful farmer and stockman and he
and his wife gave their children every advantage in the way of schooling.
both being ardent advocates of higher education. Mr. Peck was a Repul)ii-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 120/

can and for four years served as a member of the board of county com-
missioners from his district. He was a member of the Church of the
Brethren, and gave material assistance to the erection of the church of that
denomination in his home precinct. His widow is still living in this county.
They were the parents of ten children, of whom the subject of this sketch
was the ninth in order of birth, the others being as follow : Felicia, deceased;
Mrs. Margaret Miller, of Waterloo, Iowa; Elias, a farmer, of Ohio precinct;
Milton, who died in infancy; Lloyd, now a resident of Reserve, Kansas;
Mrs. Lorena Humbarger of Falls City; Charles, who died in infancy; Elsie,
wife of Judge John ^^'iltse, of Falls City, and Mrs. Edith Kindig, of Holmes-
ville, this state.

Reared on the home farm. Cleon Peck received his early schooling
in the district schools in the neighborhood of his home and supplemented
the same by a course in McPherson College, in which institution practically
all of the Peck children finished their schooling, all becoming school teachers
with the exception of the subject of this sketch and his youngest sister.
Cleon Peck passed the examination for teachers and received a certificate
to teach, but never used it. A year after his return from college he became
a partner of his father in the operation of the home farm and, in 1912,
bought from his mother the eighty-acre tract of the old home place on which
he is now living, at the same time farming one hundred and sixty acres of
the home place. Mr. Peck is a progressive and up-to-date farmer and is
doing very well in his operations. He is a member of the Farmers Union
and of the C. P. A., in the affairs of which he takes an active interest.
By political inheritance and on national issues Mr. Peck is a Republican,
but on local issues reserves his right to an independent vote. In 1916 he
was elected assessor of the precinct of Ohio and is now serving in that import-
ant public capacity, giving to the duties of that oflfice his most intelligent atten-
tion.

On January 22, 1908, Cleon Peck was united in marriage to Ella Way,
who was born in this county on November 12, 1883, but was reared in Thayer
county, this state, a daughter of Henry and Clara (Daniels) Way, natives,
respectively, of Ohio and Kansas, who are now living in Thayer county,
this state, where Mr. Way is a large landowner. Henry Way came to Ne-
Ijraska from Illinois, and was here married to Clara Daniels, who was born
in Kansas, but who lived in Illinois until she was thirteen years of age,
when she returned to Kansas. After his marriage Henry Way made his
home in this county until 1884, when he moved to Thayer county, where
he has developed large farming interests. Mr. and Mrs. Peck have two

I208 RICHARDSON COINTY, NEBRASKA. ,

children, Glenn, born on February i/, 1909. and Eugene. October 5. 1911.
They have a very pleasant home and have ever given their interested atten-
tion to the general social activities of their home community.

WILLIAM S. MARSH.

William S. Marsh, one of the best-known pioneer farmers of the pre-
cinct of East Muddy, this county, an old plainsman and an honored veteran
of the Civil War, now living practically retired, is a native of the Badger
state, but has been a resident of Nebraska since territorial days, having come
to this county with his parents in 1859, he then having been but a 1x)y of
fourteen years. He was born on a pioneer farm in Lafayette county, Wis-
consin, February 11. 1845. son of Elijah S. and Delilah (Horner) Marsh,
natives of Ohio, the former born in 1821 and the latter in 1825, who were
married in that state and later became pioneers of Lafayette county, W^is-
consin, living there imtil 1850, when they moved to Saline county, Missouri,
living there eight years, and then settled near Rockport, Atchison county,
Missouri, where they remained until in March, 1859, when they came over
into the then Territory of Nebraska and settled on Long Branch, north of
Humboldt, in this county. Six months later Elijah S. Marsh bought a
farm adjoining the Stephens place in the precinct of Barada and there estab-
lished his home and became a substantial farmer and stockman. When the
Civil War broke out Elijah S. Marsh enlisted in behalf of the Union as
a member of Company D, Fifth Missouri Cavalry, and with that commantl
served for eighteen months. He lived to Ije past eighty years of age and
died at Lincoln, this state, while on his way to Iowa on a visit, his death
occurring on June 27, 1902. His wife had preceded him to the grave less
than a year, her death having occurred at her home in this county on August
9, 1901. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom the subject
of this sketch was the first-born, the others being as follow : James S.,
who also was a veteran of the Civil War, having served as a member of
Company K, Forty-eighth Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Infantry; Jolin T.,
who is living with a son of W. S. Marsh on the old home farm in the pre-
cinct of Barada; George W.. now a resident of University Place, near Lin-
coln, this state; Alcana, who married C. F. Peabody and is now living in
the state of Washington ; Hiram, whose last days were spent in Saline
county, Missouri; Josepli, who died in 1876 and is buried in the Barada

MK. AM) MRS. WILLIAM S. MAK8H.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. \ JCHJ

cemetery ; Richard L., who is living on the farm adjoining that of his brother,
Wiiham S., on the north; Mrs. Lucinda Davis, deceased; Mrs. Emma Boat-
man, of Nemaha county, tliis state, and Mrs. Margaret Chamberlain, of
Eugene, Oregon.

As noted above. William S. Marsh was but fourteen years of age when
he came to Ricjiardson county with his parents from Wisconsin and his
youth was spent on the hoine farm in Barada precinct, growing up there
thoroughly familiar with pioneer conditions. On March 7, 1862, he then
being less than a month past seventeen years of age, he enlisted his services
in behalf of the Union and went to the front as a member of Company D,
Fifth Missouri Cavalry, with which command he served for eighteen months,
being chiefly engaged in chasing "bushwhackers," his most important engage-
ment during his cavalry service having been that of the battle of the Charitan
river. He then on August 15, 1864, enlisted as a member of Company
K, Forty-eighth Regiment, Missouri Volunteer Infantry, and with that com-
mand served until the close of the war, the principal part of that service
being rendered in Missouri and Tennessee. Upon the completion of his
military service he returned home and in the fall of 1865 took service with
a freighting outfit and for two years was eiigaged as a freighter across
the plains to Julesburg and F't. Kearney, liis l^rothers James and John also
being thus engaged. Upon leaving the plains Mr. Marsh resumed his place
on the home farm and in 1868 Ijought the farm of eighty acres on which
lie is now living, in the precinct of East Muddy, and proceeded to develop
and improve the same, estaljlishng his home there after his marriage in the
fall of 1870, and has ever since continued to make that place his home,
now lixing practically retired from the active labors of the farm. Mr. Marsli
is an ardent Republican and has ever given his earnest attention to local
civic affairs, for twenty years serving as director of his home school district.
He is an active member of the local post of the Cirand .Army of die Republic
at Shubert, in the affairs of which patriotic organization he has for vears
taken a warm interest, and is also affiliated with the local lodge of the .\ncieiit
Order of United Workmen at that place.

On November 20, 1870, William S. Mar.sli was united in marriage to
Lillie Calvert, who then lived on the farm adjoining the Marsh place in
the precinct of Barada and who was torn at Hiramslnirg, Ohio, .\.pril 4,
185,3, a daughter of Hiram and Rachel (Frazier) Calvert, natives of Penn-
sylvania, the former born in 1804 and the latter in i8t6, who became pioneers
of Richardson county and here spent their last days. Hiram Calvert, after
whom the town of Hiramsburg, Ohio, was named, was a descendant of the

I2IO RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

famous Cecil Calvert (Lord Baltimore), of Maryland. In 1864 he came
to this county with his family from Ohio and settled on a farm adjoining
the Marsh place in Barada precinct, where his wife died three years later,
in 1867. He survived until 1891. They were the parents of two children.
Mrs. Marsh having a brother. William Calvert, now a resident of Gold Hill,
Nevada. Mr. and Mrs. Marsh have four children, namely: Ora O. Marsh,
present county clerk of RichartJ.son county and a resident of Falls City;
William Earl Marsh, who is fah?,iing the old Marsh homestead place in
Barada precinct; Mrs. Josephine RaV, whose husband, Elmer Ray, is now
operating Mr. Marsh's farm, and who has four children, Gladys, Russell,
Helen and Warren, and George Roy, no\\' a resident of Lewistown, Mon-
tana. The ^Marshs have a very pleasant f(ome north of ^'erdon and have
ever taken an interested part in the general Jocial activities of the community
in which they live, helpful in many waysr in promoting causes having to
<lo with the advancement of the common good thereabout.

LOUIS. M. SUESS.

Louis M. Suess, one of the substantial farmers and landowners of the
precinct of Arago, this county, and former justice of the peace of that pre-
cinct, was born on a pioneer farm in that precinct and has lived there all
his life, his present home being not far from the place of his birth. He
w-as born on June 8, 1866, son of August and Catherine (Werner) Suess,
pioneers of Richardson county, and the former of W'hom is still living here,
now a resident of Falls City.

August Suess was born in the \illage of Graben. near the city of
Karlsruhe, capital of the grand duchy of Baden, and grew to manhood
there, learning the trade of tailor. In 1857 he came to this country and
after spending a short time at Chicago came West, in i860, and for some
time thereafter was engaged as a farm hand in Holt count}-. [Missouri,
presently coming across the river and buying a tract of land, a quarter
of a section, in the precinct of Arago, in this county, for which he paid nine
hundred dollar?-. In 1861 he married Katrina M. \\erner. also a native of
Baden, born in the village of Graben, and who was a daughter of one of
the earliest settlers in this section, and after his marriage established his
home in the old village of Arago, going across the river to Corning to work.
A \ear later he moved onto his farm and proceeded to break the soil with

KICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 121 I

an ox-team, presentlj^ getting the place under cultivation. It was about
1861 that August Suess bought that pioneer farm and he lived there until
his retirement from the farm many years later and removal to Falls City,
where he is now living at the age of eighty years. His wife died in 1907,
she then being fifty-seven years of age. They were the parents of six chil-
dren, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the
others being Philip E., born in 1862, now living at Centerville, Kansas;
August, born in 1864, who died in that same year; Henry, born
in 1868, died in that same year; Mrs. Louise K. Poitner, born
in 1880, now deceased, and Mrs. Mary Daeschner, of Falls City, born
in 1873. August Suess took an active part in the development of his section
of the county in pioneer days and during and after the Civil \Var period
served as a member of the local militia. He was a good farmer and became
a substantial landowner.

Louis M. Suess was reared on the farm on which he was born, re-
ceived his schooling in the neighborhood schools and became a practical
farmer. Until his marriage, in the spring of 1890, Mr. Suess remained
on the home farm and after his marriage he rented a farm and began
farming on his own account, becoming quite successful in his operations.
He later bought a bit of land, afterward inherited another piece of land
and in 1916 bought from Ernest Smechel the farm on which he is now
living in section 31 of Arago precinct and where he and his family are
verv comfortably situated. He is now the owner of two hundred and si.xty
acres, owning land also in sections 10 and 16 of that same precinct. Mr.
Suess is a Republican and has, even from the days of his boyhood given
his earnest attention to local political affairs. For twc years he served as
assessor for his home precinct, for three years was justice of the peace in
and for that precinct and has also served as a member of the school board,
to the duties of these several public offices ever giving his faithful and
intelligent attention.

On April 8, 1890, Louis M. Suess was united in marriage to Julia
Schindler, who was born in western Missouri in July, 1866, a daughter
of John and Zelia (Velenia) Schindler, natives, respectively, of Germany
and of Switzerland, who were the parents of five children, one son and four
daughters. Years ago John Schindler left Missouri and went West, where
he spent his last days. His widow is still living, now a resident of Omaha,
this state. Her son, Conrad H. Schindler, is a farmer in Ohio precinct,
this countv. To Louis M. and Julia ( Schindler ) Suess have been born

1212 KICHARDSCIN COINTV. NEBRASKA.

tliiee suns. August, Paul and Ernest, wlio are helping in the direction of
their father's farm lands. The family are members of the German Evan-
gelical Lutheran church and have ever given proper attention to church
work, as well as to other neighlxirhood good works and the general social
activities of their home community.

LEROY T. PETERSEN, M. D.

One of the most successful of the younger physicians of Richardson
countx . is Dr. Leroy T. Petersen, of Humboldt, who. knowing at the outset
that success in medicine, one of the most exacting of the professions, was to
be gained only by close application and untiring perseverance, has left no
stone unturned whereby he might become properly equipped for efficiency
in his chosen life work. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska. February 15,
1885. He is a son of Soren T. and Margaret Petersen, natives of Denmark
and Germany, respectively. The father emigrated to the United States
in 1868, establishing his home in the city of Omaha, where he dealt success-
fully in real-estate business. His death occurred there in 1912. His widow
is now living with her daughter in Portland, Oregon. The Petersen family
moved to Oregon in 1894, and there they continued to reside until in 1907,
when they moved back to Nebraska.

Leroy T. Petersen spent his early lx)yho.od in Omaha, where he attended
the public schools. After going to the Pacific coast he studied in the Uni-
\ersity of Oregon, at Eugene, for two years. Then the family moved to
McMinnville. Oregon, and there he continued hi.s studies in the academy,
also studied at the McMinnville College, from which institution he was
graduated with the Degree of Bachelor of Science in 1906. Upon returning
to Omaha, the following year, he began his medical course in Creighton
L'niversity, where he made an excellent record and was graduated widi
the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1912. After practicing his profession
in Omaha a short time he decided to further equip himself for his professional
duties before settling down to permanent practice: consequently he went
to Europe in 1913. making a tour of the continent and studying at the
medical clinics at Menna and other cities, being under some of the most
eminent medical authorities of the world. Returning to Nebraska in De-
cember, 1913. he located at Humboldt, where he has since engaged in
general practice. He succeeded from the start and now enjoys a large

RICHARPSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. JI2I3

and lucrative patronage and stands high in the medical profession of south-
eastern Nebraska. He has remained a close student of all that pertains
to his profession and therefore keeps well abreast of the times.

Doctor Peterson was married in May, 1913, to Emma Kretzschmar.
of Omalia, where she was reared and educated. To this union a son has
been born, Leroy T., Jr., whose birth occurred on March 29, 1915. Doctor
Petersen is a Republican. He belongs to the American Medical Association,
the Nebraska State Medical Society and the Richardson County Medical
Society and is also a member of the local lodge of the Ancient Free and
Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the ^^'orld and
the Knights and Ladies of Security.

EDWARD W. CUMMINGS.

Edward W. Cummings, one of the substantial and progressive farmers
of Richardson county and the owner of a fine place in the precinct of Grant,
is a native son of Nebraska and has lived in this state all his life. He was
born on a pioneer farm over in the adjoining county of Pawnee on Octo-
ber 25, 1872, son of Patrick and Nora (Kenton) Cummings, natives of Ire-
land and pioneers of this section, and the latter of whom is still living.

Patrick Cummings, who was born in 1844, was but a lad of fifteen
when he came to this country and settled in Vermont. There he grew to
manhood, remaining there until he was aljout twenty-three years of age.
when, in 1867, he came to the new state of Nebraska, this state having been
admitted to the Union in that year, and settled in Pawnee county. After
coming out here he married Nora Fenton. who also was born in Ireland, in
1837, and who had come to this country with her mother when a girl, the
family first locating in Connecticut, whence they came to Nebraska and
became pioneers of this section of the state. After his niarriag<> I'atrick
Cummings established his home on a farm in Pawnee county and there
developed a fine bit of property. On that farm he spent his last days,
his death occurring there in 1890. His widow still survives. They were
the parents of five children, three of whom are still living, the suljject
of this sketch having a brother, T. P. Cummings, of Dawson, this county,
and a sister, Mrs. Catherine Walsh, of Pierre, South Dakota.

Edward Cummings was reared on the home farm in Pawnee county,
growing up there familiar with pioneer conditions on the plains, and received

I2I4 RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

his early schooling in the district schools of that neighborhood, supplement-
ing the same by attendance at St. Mary's College for three terms. From
the days of his boyhood he was a valued assistant to his father in the labors
of developing and improving the home farm and has always been a farmer.
He became the owner of his first farm in 1897, the year of his marriage,
he then being twenty-four years of age. and continued a resident of Pawnee
county, farming his place there, until 1905, when he sold that farm and
moved over into Richardson county and bought his present farm in the
precinct of Grant, where he has since made his home and where he and his
family are very pleasantly and very comfortably situated. In addition to
the well-improved ^quarter section on which he makes his home, Mr. Cum-
mings is the owner of another farm, a tract of one hundred and eighty
acres, in the Nemaha bottoms south of Dawson, and is recognized as one
of the well-to-do farmers of the Dawson neighborhood. He is a Republican,
but in local elections is inclined to take an independent view of the issues
involved, reserving his right to vote for the man instead of the party.

On September 8, 1897, Edward \N. Cummings was united in marriage
to Xora Clancy, who was born in Jewell county, Kansas, January 17, 1878,
daughter of Patrick and Johanna (O'Brien) Clancy, natives of Ireland
and early settlers in Kansas, who later came over the line into Nebraska
and settled in this county, where their last days were spent. Patrick Clancy
was born in 1840 and Johanna O'Brien was born in 1841. With their
respective parents they came to this country in the days of their childhood
and were reared in New Jersey, where they were married. In 1875 they
came West and settled in Jewell county, Kansas, where they remained until
in February, 1878, when they came up into Nebraska and located on a
farm in the jirecinct of Grant, in this county,- where they -prospered and
where they reared their family, remaining there the rest of their lives.
Mrs. Clancv died in 1904 and Mr. Clancy survived until February, 1913.
They were the parents of five children, those besides Mrs. Cummings being
as follow: Mrs. ^largaret Zimmerman, of Lincoln, this state: Mary, wife
of James (^'Gracly, of Grant precinct, this county; Johanna, wife of John
O'Grady, of that same precinct, and Mrs. Kate- O'Connell, wife of Bryan
O'Connell, of that same precinct.

To Edward W. and Nora (Clancy) Cummings one child has been born,
a son. Patrick, who died on October 3, 1915, at the age of fifteen vears.
Mr. and Mrs. Cummings are members of the Catholic church and take a
proper interest in parish affairs, as well as in tlie general social activities

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

and good works of the community in which they live. Mr. Cummings is
a member of the Dawson council of the Knights of Cohmibus and takes
a warm interest in the affairs of that organization.

BRYAX O'CONNELL.

Bryan OConnell, substantial and prosperous stockman and farmer,
owner of two hundred and ten acres of prime land in section 21, Grant
township, was born at Chicago, Illinois, on March 11, 1866. He is the
son of Michael and Margaret (Maloney) O'Connell, natives of Ireland,
born in County Clare, that country, the former in 1825.

Michael O'Connell left the Emerald Isle when he was about twenty-one
years old and on arriving in the United States, went on to Chicago, where
he lived up to about 1865. In the latter year he moved to Wisconsin, where
he resided until 1875, in which year he came to Richardson county. His
first purchase of land in this state was a tract of one hundred and sixty acres
near Shubert. The nearest market places to his farm were Falls City and
Brownville. In common with other early settlers he suffered from the ravages
of the grasshopper plague. After these pests had winged their final flight,
his farming operations prospered and he gradually added to his land hold-
ings, owning for some years before his retirement four hundred and forty
acres of choice land. To Michael and Margaret (Maloney) O'Connell eight
children were born, three of whom died in infancy, the others being Patrick,
deceased; Thomas, who lives in Greeley county, this state; Bryan, the sub-
ject of this sketch; Mrs. Margaret Hanley, a widow, living in Sioux county,
this state: Mary Ann, -who -married J. Ahern, lives in Shubert, and Mrs.
Sarah Ramsey, living in Greeley county. Mr. O'Connell retired about twenty
years ago from the active labors of the farm and moved to Spaulding, this
state, where he is now living with his children at the advanced age of
ninety-two years. His wife, whom he married at Buffalo, New York, died
in 1904, having reached her seventy-eighth year. She was a member of the
Catholic church, as is her husband, and their children were reared in the
same faith.

Bryan O'Connell, the subject of this sketcli, was nine years old when
liis parents came to Nebraska from Wisconsin. He attended the district
and public schools at Shubert. After leaving school he helped his father
with the work on the farm and when he was twenty-six years old he rented

I2IO RICHARDSON COIXTV, NEBRASKA.

land from his father, who later ga\e him eight}' acres. This tract he
iinpro\ed and fanned for five years, at the end of which time he sold out
and bought his present farm of two hundred and ten acres in Grant township,
which was all improved, and here he is engaged successfully in general farming
and stock raising. He has built a cattle barn and feeds cattle and hogs during
the winter season.

On November 26. 1894, Bryan O'Connell was united in marriage to
Katherine Clancy, who was born in Jewell county, Kansas, daughter of Pat-
rick and Johanna (O'Brien) Clancy, natives of County Tipperary. Ireland,
who were married at Salem, New Jersey, and later went to Kansas and then
to Nebraska, where they continued to reside up to the time of their deaths.
To Mr. and Mrs. Bryan O'Connell four children have been born, namely:
Marguerite, a graduate of the Convent of the Immaculate Conception at
Hastings, this state, and now teaching in school district No. 20: Patrick, now
attending Dawson high school, and Josephine, who attends the convent school
at Dawson, and Michael, at home with their parents. Mr. O'Connell and
his wife and children are members of the Catholic church. He is also a
member of the Knights of Columbus.

CLYDE V. LUM.

Clyde v. Lum, is one of the successful lumber dealers of southeastern
Nebraska. He was born on August 28, 1877, near Perry, in Boone county,
Iowa, and is a son of George and Laura (Shepard) Lum. George Lum
was born in Oswego county, New York, October 15, 1836, a son of Ransom
Gehiel and Chloe (Abbott) Lum, natives of New York. He devoted his
active life to farming and business. When a young man, in 1854, he went
to Iowa with his two brothers and settled in Boone county. During the
Civil War he enlisted in Company D, Second Iowa Cavalry, seeing much
hard service and taking part in a number of important campaigns in the
South. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged, having been
in the service three years and three months. After the war he returned
to Iowa and there continued farming until August, 1880, when he came
to Nebraska, locating in Liberty precinct. Richardson county, and soon
thereafter began dealing in lumber at Verdon, continuing in that business
alone until 1903 when his son. Clyde \^ Lum, was admitted to partner-
ship, and they built up a large and satisfactory business. The elder Lum

ME. AND MRS. GEORGE LUM.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 121/

Avas a charter member of the local lodge of the Ancient Order of United
Workmen. He helped organize and start the \"erdon roller mills, and con-
tinued in business there until his death, which occurred on February 24,
1914. He was one of the influential men of his community.

George Lum was married in Iowa, Decernber 17, 1865, to Laura E.
Shepard, who was born in Geneseo, Livingston county, New York, Novem-
ber II, 1848, a daughter of Chauncey K. and Laura (Bristol) Shepard,
natives of Connecticut and Indiana, respectively. Chauncey K. Shepard died
in New York in 1853, and his widow and children removed to Michigan and
thence to Iowa. Mrs. Shepard came to Nebraska with Mr. and Mrs. Lum
and died here in 1895. Mrs. Lum is still living at her old home in Verdon.
Her father,. Chauncey K. Shepard, vyas born .in 1804 ^nd her mother was
bom in 181 1, a daughter of Norton and Nancy (Stevens) Bristol, the former
born in 1786 and the latter in 1784, who were married in 1808. Norton
Bristol was. a son of x^bel Bristol, who was a son. of Aaron Bristol, who
was a son of Eliphalet Bristol and wife, Esther Peck. Eliphalet Bristol
was born in 1679 and died in 1757. Abel Bristol was a soldier in the
patriot army during the Revolutionary War, a private in one of the New
York regiments, under Capt. Elijah Bostwick. To George Lum and wife
live children were born, namely : Fred, deceased ; Gertrude, who lives in
Verdon with her mother; Clyde V., the subject of this sketch; Harry, who
is also at home in \'erdon, and Roy, who resides in Dodge City, Kansas.

Clyde V. Lum was reared on the home farm in Liberty precinct, and
received a common-school education at Verdon. He later studied at Doane
College at Crete, Nebraska, and also took a course in the Gem City Business
College at Quincy, Illinois. Thus well equipped for a commercial career
he l)egan working in his father's lumber yard at Verdon ; in fact, he had as-
sisted his father in the business all along during his school days, as time
permitted. In 1903 he became partner with the elder Lum and he now
owns one-half interest in the business, which he has done much to make
a pronounced success. A large and carefully selected stock of all kinds of
house-building- material is carried, commonly found in up-to-date lumber
yards.

Mr. Lum was married on November 25, 1916, to Echo Ratclifl:, of
Stratton, Nebraska. Politically, he is a Republican, but is inclined to vote
independently. He is a member of the school board at Verdon. Fraternally,
he lielongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He attends the Con-
gregational church.
(77)

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

DAVID D. REAVIS.

David D. Rea\'is, head of the firm of Reavis & Son, funeral directors
and dealers in furniture, at Falls City, and one of the best-known and most
enterprising business men in that city, was born in Falls City and has lived
there all his life, with the exception of a period during the days of his young^
manhood spent in proving up a homestead claim in Arizona. He was Ixjrn
on December 19, 1867, son of Judge Isham Reavis, for years an honored
resident of Falls City and further and fitting mention of whom is made
elsewhere in this volume.

Reared in Falls City, David D. Reavis received his early schooling there
and upon completing the course in the local high school entered the Uni-
versity of Nebraska, pursuing there the literary course. When twenty-one
years of age, in 1889, he went with his maternal uncle, John W. Dorrington,
to Arizona, the uncle having a ranch there; and while there entered a claim
to a homstead tract, which he "proved up" and then, in 1891, returned to
Falls Cit)' and was married there in that year. Upon his return to Falls
City, Mr. Reavis became.^ engaged there in the furniture and undertaking
business, taking over the old establishment that had been founded by hfs
grandfather, David Dorrington, in i860, and has ever since been engaged
in that business, of recent years having in association with him his eldest
son, David D. Reavis, Jr.. the firm doing business under the name of Reavis
& Son, one of the best-known firms of its kind in eastern Nebraska. In
addition to his business interests in Falls City, Mr. Reavis is an extensive
landowner, continuing to own his Arizona tract, besides which be lias a
farm of two hundred acres twelve miles north of Falls City and another
farm a mile west of the city, to the general management of all of which
places he gives considerable of his personal attention. Mr. Reavis is a Re-
publican and has rendered public service to the community as a member of
the school board and as a member of the city council, representing his ward
in the latter body during the years 1912-14, a period of great develop-
ment for Falls City, for it was during that term of the council that the
city put in the general sewer system and started on its era of paving.

On March 4, 1891, David D. Reavis was united in marriage to Grace G.
Yutzy. who also was born in Falls City, daughter of Dr. J. C. "S^itzy, furlher
and fitting mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume, and to this
union five children have been born, namely: David D., who completed his
schooling in the University of Nebraska and is now associated with his

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I2I9

father in the furniture and undertaking business, under the firm name of
Reavis & Son; Grace, who also completed her schooling in the University
of Nebraska and is now engaged as a member of the excellent teaching
corps of the Falls City high school; Anna, who was graduated from the
Illinois Woman's College at Jacksonville; Joseph C, who was graduated
from the Falls City high school with the class of 191 7, and Nellie, who
was born in 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Reavis are members of the Methodist
Episcopal church and take an interested part in the affairs of the same. Mr.
Reavis is a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar, affiliated with the
blue lodge, the chapter and the commandery at Falls City, and is a member
of the grand chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of the state of Nebraska, present
grand master of the second veil. He also is identified with the local lodges
of the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the
Modern Woodmen of America and takes an active interest in the affairs of
all of these organizations. The Reavises have a very pleasant home at Falls
City and have ever taken an interested part in the general social and cultural
activities of their home town.

GEORGE W. LeCLERE.

George W. LeClere, storekeeper on the great Margrave ranch in the
precinct of Jefferson, this county, was born at Great Bend, countv seat
of Barton county, Kansas, January 12, 1865, son of John B. and Julia
( Breuno ) LeClere, who were born on the Sioux reservation in Iowa and
both of whom were of French and Pottawattomie descent. John B. LeClere
and his wife were the parents of eight children, of whom but two are
now living, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Frank LeClere,
living in Pottawattomie county, Kansas.

Reared on a farm in the vicinity of Great Bend, George W. LeClere
received his schooling in the schools of that place and when twentv-two
years of age began to work on his own account as a farm hand. Later
he became heir to a quarter of a section land in Pottawattomie county,
and after a while sold the same and, in 1892, came to Richardson countv
and settled on the Indian reservation in the precinct of Jefferson. The
next year he married and began clerking in the Margrave Company store
and has ever since been connected with that establishment, one of the best-
known business men in that part of the county.

In 1893 George W. LeClere was united in marriage to Julia E. Mar-

I220 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

grave, who was born on June 2. 1871. daughter of William A. Margrave
and wife, the former of whom was the founder of the great Margrave
estate, now controlled by his heirs under the corporate name of the William
A. Margrave Company, and further and fitting mention of which family
and the extensive ranch interests it controls is made elsewhere in this volume,
jn a biographical sketch of William C. i\Iargrave, president of the ]\Iargrave
Company and eldest brother of Mrs. LeClere. To Mr. and Mrs. LeClere
four children have been born, namely: Ruby, a son, at home; Marguerite,
who is in school at Baldwin, Kansas : Walter, who is in high school at
Hiawatha, and Stewart, deceased.

ISAAC S. CLARK.

The late Isaac S. Clark, who at the time of his death, in the fall of
1897, was recognized as one of the most substantial pioneer citizens and
one of the real "old settlers" of the Verdon neighborhood in this county,
was a native of the great Empire state, but had been a resident of this
county practically continuously since the spring of 1857, and had thus
been a witness to and a participant in the wonderful development of this
region since the days of the early pioneers. His widow, who is still living
on the old home place in the immediate vicinity of Verdon, is now the oldest
settler in the precinct of Liberty, in this county, and her recollections of
events in relation to the days of the pioneers hereabout are vivid and dis-
tinct, her memories of those days making her a veritable "mine of informa-
tion" regarding the early history of this county.

Isaac S. Clark was born at Holland Patent, in Oneida county. New
York, March 28, 1824, the tenth in order of birth of the thirteen children
born to Asa and Polly (Shear) Clark, both of English ancestry and members
of old New England families, who had become early established at Hol-
land Patent. Reared on his father's farm. Isaac S. Clark completed his
schooling in the local academy and in the Whitesboro high school, and
remained at home, working the paternal farm "on the shares," until he
was twenty-five years of age, when, in 1849, he went South and at Mobile,
Alabama, became engaged in the daguerreotype business in association with
his brother-in-law, L. C. Barnes, and was thus engaged for eight years, at
the end of which time failing health impelled him to seek a new home in
the then far West; and in the spring of 1857 he came out here into the

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 22 1

then Territory of Nebraska, which at that time comprised all of the former
Indian country from the Territory of Kansas to the Dominion line on the
north and to the Rockies on the west, and entered a claim to a quarter of
a section of land near the present site of the village of Verdon, in the pre-
cinct of Liberty, this county, paying the government one dollar and twenty-
five cents an acre for the same, that tract now being one of the best-improved
and richest farms in the state of Nebraska. Upon making his location here
Mr. eiark bethought him that it would be fitting to ask a partner to share
his pioneer home with him and he returned to his old home in New York,
and in March, 1858, married there his old sweetheart and returned straight-
way to his claim out here on the plains and he and his wife established
their home. About four years later, meanwhilfe having started things going-
all right on their place here, Mr. Clark and his wife returned to New York
and became there engaged in business with his brother-in-law, Gharle.s J.
Coates, and was thus engaged for three years, at the end of which time
he returned to his home in this county and here spent the remainder of' his
life, becoming very successful in his farming and other operations. He
was one of the promoters of the ^'erdon State Bank and held a considerable'
' block of stock in the same, also having other interests hereabout, and at
the time of his death on October 12, 1897, was accounted one of the mt)sf
substantial citizens of the Verdon neighborhood. In 1864 Mr. Clark had
joined the Baptist church and was a faithful worker in the same, for years
serving as a deacon. He was an ardent temperance worker and in other
ways contributed of his time and his energies to the advancement and
upbuilding of the community of wTiich 'he had been so active a personal
factor since pioneer days. In 1858, the year after Isaac S. Clark had entered
his claim here, his brother, George W. Clark, came out here with his family
and pre-empted a tract of land with a view to establishing his home here
on the plains, but died in October of that same year, leaving a widow and
an infant son, the latter of whom, George Denison Clark, now a resident
of Jefferson county, this state, was born on September 9, 1858. George
W. Clark's widow, who was born in Oneida county. New York, daughter
of Alvin Dennison and wife, died in Kansas in 1870. Her son, George

D. Clark, married Georgia Alice Lacy, daughter of George and Louisa
(Lamberton') Lacy, of Missouri, and has three children. Lacy D., George

E. and Flo.

It was on March 3, 1858. in Oneida county. New York, that Isaac S.
Clark was imited in marriage to Eliza S. Coates, who was born in that
county on June 11, 1838, a daughter of Eliphalet and Eliza (Jackson)

1222 RICHARDSON COINTV, NEBRASKA.

Coates, both members of old New England families, the former a son of
Eliphalet Coates, of Connecticut, who had moved over into the timber
country in New York state and has there hewed out a homestead in the
forests of Oneida county. When Mr. and Mrs. Clark came here to make
their home in 1858 they were accompanied by William Henry Coates, a
brother of Mrs. Clark, who filed on a claim in this county and here remained
until 1863, when he returned to his old home in New York state and there
very successful engaged in the dairy business, remaining there the rest of
his life, his death occurring on August 15, 1900. He was born on Februarv
9, 1828. Mrs. Clark was but a little past twenty years of age when she
came out here on the plains as a bride in the spring of 1858 to make her
home amid pioneer conditions and she has seen this region develop from
its primitive state, the habitation and abiding place of the aboriginals, to
its present highly cultivated and prosperous condition and has done well
her share in the development of the social and cultural life of the com-
munity which she has watched grow up from the days of the very beginning
of a social order out here; she now being, as noted above, the oldest con-
tinuous resident of Liberty precinct. Mrs. Clark was reared in the Baptist
Missionary faith and has always taken an interested and useful part in local
church work and in other local benevolent work and is held in high esteem
throughout the whole Verdon neighborhood, as well as wherever she is
known throughout the county.

CHARLES G. HENDERSON.

"Charles G. Henderson, one of Richardson county's real "old settlers"
and the proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred and eighty acres in the
vicinity of Verdon, who is now living retired in that pleasant village, had
his first acquaintance with Nebraska back in 1856, but did not become a
permanent resident of this county until 1865: since which time he has been
a continuous resident of the county and has, therefore, seen all the various
phases of the development of this region since pioneer days. He was born in
the state of New Jersey on September 23, 1833, and is now the sole sur-
vivor of the family of six children, three sons and three daughters, bom
to his parents, Charles and Mary (Maple) Henderson, natives of that same
state, who spent all their lives there.

Charles G. Henderson was the second in order of birth of the children

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 223

born to his parents. He received his schooling in his native state and early
learned the use of tools in their relation to the building trades and even as
a boy was regarded as a proficient carpenter. When sixteen years of age
he left home with a view to working at his trade in the cities farther West
and at the same time deriving such benefits in the way of broadening his
horizon as would come from travel. To this end he made his way to Cleve-
land and after working there for some little time went to Chicago, later
working in other cities in Illinois and then pushed his way on to St. Louis,
where he spent one winter and then, in the spring of 1856, came over into
the then Territory of Nebraska and looked about in several of the towns
and settlements that had made a start in the eastern part of the Territory,
but not finding work at his trade as brisk as he had looked for returned
to St. Louis and later went down into Kentucky, where he worked at his
trade for about six years, or until after the close of the Civil War, when,
in 1865, he came back into Nebraska and settled in this county, buying
from Schoenheit & C^ook, for eight hundred dollars, a tract of land not
far north of the present site of the village of Verdon, a discouraged settler
in that vicinity readily selling to Schoenheit & Crook his pre-emption right
to the claim. Upon taking possession of the claim of eighty acres, Mr.
Henderson proceeded to improve and develop the same and by the time
of his marriage, in the summer of 1868 had made considerable improvements
on the place and was able to see his way clear to the development of a fine
bit of property there. After his marriage he established his home on the
place and continued making improvements until he came to have there
one of the best-improved farms in that part of the county, though, in com-
mon with others of the early settlers, he suffered some serious drawbacks
in the days of the grasshoppers, and the hot winds, and hog cholera in
the seventies and early eighties; but he persevered and as he prospered he
added to his holdings until he now has two hundred and eighty acres of
land that he regards to be the best land in Nebraska, bar none. In 1901
Mr. Henderson retired from the active labors of the farm and he and his
wife moved to the village of Verdon, where they since have made their
home and where they are very pleasantly situated. Mr. Henderson is a
Democrat and a warm admirer and ardent supporter of President Wilson,
but during the past four state elections has voted the Prohibition ticket, for
years having been an earnest advocate of the cause of the state-wide pro-
hibition of the liquor traffic in this state.

On August 18, 1868, Charles G. Henderson was united in marriage
to Julia Wilkinson, who was born in Kentucky on January 20, 1853, and

1224 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

who was but a child when her parents, William Wilkinson and wife, came
to Nebraska and became pioneers of Richardson county, and to this union
two children have been born, a son, Dr. Robert Henderson, who married
Carrie Staver and is now practicing his profession at Rulo, this county,
and a daughter, Mrs. Harriet Dodderer, who has two children, Hattie
and Marion, and is now making lier home with her parents at Verdon.
Elsewhere in this volume there is further and fitting mention of the Wilkin-
son family, one of the pioneer families of Richardson county, and the atten-
tion of the reader is respectfully invited to a perusal of the same for furtlier
particulars regarding the pioneer parents of Mrs. Henderson, and of the
part they took in the development of the community in which they settled out
here at an early day in the settlement of this region. Mr. and Mrs. Hender-
son are members of the Congregational church at Verdon and have ever
taken an interested part in the various good works of the community of
which they have been a part since pioneer days. Mr. Henderson once owned
eighty acres of the townsite of Verdon and practically gave it to a poor
inan for whom he felt sorrv.

EMERSON A. HARDEN.

One of the well-known farmers and stockmen now living in retirement
at Verdon, this county, is Emerson A. Harden, who was born on November
25, 1 841, in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, a son of Simmons W. and Mar-
jorie M. (Taylor) Harden. The father was born in October, 1814, in
Bradford county, Pennsylvania, where he was reared on a farm, remaining '
in his native state until 18^5, when he went to Buchanan county, Iowa,
and engaged in the hotel business at Ouasqueton. While he was living there
the Civil War came on and he enlisted in the First Iowa Cavalry and saw
considerable service in the south, taking part in many engagements in differ-
ent states. He was honorably discharged and mustered out at the close of
the war. He returned to Iowa in 1867 and sold his farm, removing to
Nebraska and buying eighty acres east of Falls City. He made the trip
here in a wagon. There was only a log cabin on the place he bought and
the place had been improved but little. After living on the farm two years
he started a hotel at Falls City, known as the Harden House, but later sold
out and went to Leavenworth, Kansas, where his death occurred at the
Soldiers' Home, on May 3, 1904, he then being at the advanced age of

MEliSOX A. H.UtKEX.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1225

eighty-eight years and seven months. His wife was born in Pennsylvania
in 1822, and died in 1887 in Falls City. To these parents the following
children were born: Emily, who is living in St. Joseph, Missouri, widow of
Sidney Adams, a veteran of the Civil War; Emerson A., the subject of this
sketch; JNIinerva, who lives in Los Angeles, California, the widow of James
Kendall, and Allan, who was a cavalry soldier in the Civil War and was
killed while in service, near Little Rock, Arkansas.

Emerson A. Harden was fourteen years old when his parents moved
to Iowa and there he attended school and worked out as a farm hand until
the breaking out of the Civil War, during the progress of which he enlisted
three different times, but was rejected each time. He enlisted at the first
call, but the quota being full he was rejected; his second enlistment was m
the First Iowa Cavalry, rejected; third enlistment was in the Thirteenth
Regular Regiment, and he was rejected on account of bad eyesight.

In 1863 ^Ir. Harden began freighting from Iowa to Boulder, Colorado,
often driving cattle to that country, a trip requiring three months. He
took the tirst train of provisions to one of the big mining camps in the
vicinity of Boulder. It was a hazardous business, as the Indians not infre-
f|uently destroyed the outfits of freighters. There were usually twenty-two
wagons in his train and four yoke of oxen to a wagon. ISIules were some
times used instead of oxen. Mr. Harden relates many interesting experi-
ences of the early days in the West.

Mr. Harden came to Nebraska with his parents and rented land from
Charles Steele, south of Falls City. In 1870 he bought wild prairie land
in Liberty precinct, which he broke, planted to crops and improved in a
general way, erecting good, comfortable ))uildings. set out an orchard and
other trees and here he has since resided, successfully engaged in general
farn>ing and stock raising. He endured many hardships and privations at
the start, passing through the droughty and grasshopper years, when all
crops were destroyed; but he kept at work and managed well and is now
tlie owner of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable and productive
land in Liberty precinct, and also owns land in Texas and Oregon. In
1887 Mr. Harden began breeding Percheron and Clydesdale stallions, also
?tandard-bred trotting horses. He often exhibited his fine stock at the county
fairs and drove his trotters at the racing grounds at Salem and Falls City.
He continued breeding f(M- many years and his stock always brought fancv
prices, owing to their superior qualities. He also fed live stock in connection
with general farjning, .preparing. f orinarket on an average two hundred head
of cattle and one hundred and fifty head of hogs annually. Having accumu-

1220 RICHARDSON COINTV, NEBRASKA.

lated a competency, Mr. Harden retired from active life in 1904 and has
since been living quietly in the village of \'erd<:in, where he owns an attrac-
tive home, equipped in up-to-date fashion.

On December 11, 1868, Emerson A. Harden was married to Katherine
Bowers, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of Benjamin and Harriet H.
(Rubendall) Bowers. Mr. Bowers was a native of Pennsylvania, and was
an early settler in Ohio. He came to Nebraska in 1867 and engaged in
farming in Richardson county until his death in 1887, at the age of seventy-
nine years. His wife died on February 10, 1882. They were parents of
thirteen children, Katherine, who married Mr. Harden, being the seventh
in order of birth. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Flarden.
namely: Allen E., a ranchman in the state of Washington: Carmelita, de-
ceased: Delia, wife of R. A. Tynan, a son of one of the early settlers of
West Muddy precinct, tliis county, and Clyde, who lives in Garfield county.
Nebraska, and is now serving as treasurer of that county.

Mr. Harden is a Democrat. He helped organize school district No.
32, in Liberty precinct, and was a member of the board for several years.
He helped build the Congregational church at \'erdon, and attends services
there.

CHRISTIAN HORN.

Christian Horn, one of Richardson county's substantial farmers and
stockmen and the owner of a fine farm of four hundred and eighty acres
in the precinct of Barada, is of European birth, but has been a resident
of this country since he was twenty-four years of age, having come to
America in the summer of 1872, and after working at Buffalo, New York,
for two or three years, went to Idaho and was there engaged in mining
for five 3'ears, at the end of which time he returned to the old country,
but two years later came back to America and settled in this county, which
has been his place or residence ever since, with the exception of a year
spent in Oregon some years ago. He was born in Holstein, a province of
Prussia, February 26, 1848, son and only child of Christian C. and Augusta
(Stuhr) Horn, natives of that same province, who spent all their lives in
their native land.

Reared in Holstein, Christian Horn remained there until he was past
twenty-four years of age and then, on June 27,. 1872. left his native land
for the United States, arriving in this country after a voyage of two week^,

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

1227

with about fifty dollars in his pockets. He proceeded to Buffalo, New-
York, where he became engaged working in a packing-plant and was there
thus engaged for about three years, at the end of which time he started
for the western mining country and in 1875 began working in the mines
and quartz-mills in Idaho. He also did considerable prospecting and ac-
quired an interest in a mine, his five 3'ears of experience in the mining country
netting him sixty-five hundred dollars. Early in the year 1880 .Mr. Horn
returned to his old home in Holstein and there he remained about two years,
at the end of which time he came back to the United States and proceeded
on out to Nebraska, arriving in Falls City in November. 1881. During
the following winter he worked in the Allgewahr packing house at Falls
City and in May, 1882, bought the southeast quarter of section 28 in
the precinct of Barada, this county, and after his marriage the next month
established his home there. When he took possession of that farm the
only improvements on the place were a log cabin and a hay stable. He
improved the place, including the planting of an acre of orchard, and there
made his home for ten years, at the end of which time he sold the farm to
advantage and after looking about for six months bought the place on which
he is now living in that same precinct, establishing his home there on
February 26, 1892. In 1900 Mr. Horn had an attack of what he called
"mountain fever" and began to long for the farther West, so lie went to
Oregon, with the expectation of probably making his permanent home there,
but after a year returned to his home in this county and has since been
quite satisfied to remain here. Mr. Horn now has a fine farm of four
hundred acres and one of the best farm plants' in' Barada precinct, includ-
ing a fine bearing orchard of two acres and many up-to-date improvements.
In addition to his general farming he has given considerable attention to
the raising of hogs and has done quite well in that line.

On March 7, 1882, at Falls City, Christian Horn was united in mar-
riage to Emma Springe, who also was bom in the province of Holstein.
Prussia, March 20, 1861, daughter of Henry and Ernestine fRohlfs) Springe,
who spent all their lives in their native land. She had come to this countrv
early in 1882. proceeding on out to Nebraska and locating in Falls Citv.
where .she married Mr. Horn. To this union have been born nine children,
namely : Mrs. Anna Stine Fehr, who lives near Stella, this countv : Louise,
who is at home; Henry, who is farming in Barada precinct; Augusta, who
married Mortimer Zentner. a farmer living near Shubert, this countv;
Emma, who is engaged in the millinery business at Sargent, in Custer county.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

this State; William, of Barada precinct; Minnie, deceased; Walter, deceased,
and Theodore, who died at the age of eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Horn are
members of the Lutheran church. PoHtically, Mr. Horn is an "independent."

FRED BAHR.

Among the surviving pioneers of Richardson county there are few
better known than Fred Bahr, who started here as a farm hand back in
1868, and has long been regarded as one of the most substantial landowners
in the county, having been very successful in his farming and live stock
operations, the owner of eight hundred and sixty acres of choice land in
Richardson county, the most of which is located in the precinct of Barada.
where he has a \'ery pleasant home.

Fred Bahr was born in Germany, near the Austrian line, in May, 1852,
a son of Fred and Rosina Bahr, and there he spent his youth, remaining
there until he was sixteen years of age, when, in 1868, he came to this
country and proceeded on out to the then new state of Nebra.ska, and here
became engaged as a farm hand, continuing thus engaged for several years,
at the end of which time he rented a tract of river-bottom land and began
farming on his own account. He was successful in that inftial operation
and presently bought a tract of eighty acres in Barada precinct, this county,
and that became the nucleus of his present extensive farm holdings in that
precinct. As he continued to prosper he gradually bought other tracts, gen-
erally buying in small lots, as he was able to do, and he is now the owner
of eight hundred and sixty acres of land and the proprietor of one of the
best-improved farms in Richardson county, the buildings making up his
great farm plant in Barada precinct resembling a small village. Mr. Bahr
began in a small way, breaking his first land with an ox-team and estalv
lishing his first home in a log cabin, a wide contrast to his present fine
home estabhshment. During the more active period of his operations Mr.
Bahr was for years actively engaged in the raising of live stock, shipping
in car-load lots. Ijut of late years has not given so much attention to the
cattle industry. As his children married and made homes for themselves he
settled them on his lands and the family has ever worked closely together,
the mutual interest thus having been admirably and profitably preserved.
During the early days, in addition to gradually extending his own interests,
Mr. Bahr was able to be of help to many of the new settlers in his part of

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 1229

the county and there is no pioneer of that section, who is held in higher
esteem than he. Mr. Bahr is a Repubhcan and once was honored by his party
by the nomination for representative from this district in the state Legisla-
ture, but was defeated for election by one vote.

In 1876 Fred Bahr was united in marriage to Wilhelmina Finck, who
also was born in Germany, in 1856, a daughter of Fred Finck and wife,
who came to the United States in 1864 and who became residents of Rich-
ardson county. in 1872, and to this union eleven children have been born,
namely: Fred, who is farming in Muddy precinct; John H., of Barada
precinct: Richard and Alvin, at home; Edward P., of Muddy precinct;
Louise, wife of Fred Wertz, of Barada precinct, and Sophia. Henry, Louis,
Ida and Ernest, deceased. Mr. Bahr was reared as a Lutheran and in the
early days of his residence here religious services were held in his house,
before the Lutherans had organized a local congregation and established a
formal house of worship.

WILLIAM MOSIMAN.

William Mosiman, one of the best-known and most substantial farmers
and stockmen of the precinct of Jefiferson, this county, and the proprietor
of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 5 of that precinct,
is a native son of Richardson county and has lived here all his life. He
was born on a pioneer farm in the precinct of Arago on March 26, 1872,
son of John and Katherine (Mertz) Mosiman, well-known and influential
pioneers of that part of the county and further and fitting mention of
whom is made elsewhere in this volume.

Reared on the home farm, William Mosiman grew to manhood there,
receiving his schooling in the local schools of that neighborhood, and for
two years after attaining his majority continued working for his father. He
then, in 1895. rented land and began farming on his own account, remaining
on that place until his marriage in 1897, when he Ixnight the farm on
which he is now living, the place on which his wife was reared, and has
there ever since made his home, he and his family being very comfortably
situated. Since taking possession of that quarter section Mr. Mosiman
has made many substantial improvements on the same, including the remodel-
ing of the house, the erection of a new barn and the setting out of an
extensive grove, his place being well improved and profitably culti\ated.
When he bought that farm !\Ir. Mosiman became engaged somewhat e.\ten-

127,2 RICHARDSON COUNTV. NEBRASKA.

his father in the hardware business; Guy, who is a partner of his brother
John in the contracting business; Mrs. Edna Hurst, whose husband is con-
nected with the Crook brothers in the contracting business, and Ehza, who
was graduated from the Falls City high school with the class of 1917.

WILLIAM HENRY ELSE.

\\illiam Henry Else, who departed this life some years ago, was one
of the real old settlers of Richardson county, and one of the best respected
men of Barada precinct; his was a long life of usefulness and ceaseless
endeavor, the best years of which life were spent on the battlefields of
the South fighting in defense of the Union during the great Civil War. The
late William Henry Else was born on a farm in Logan county, Ohio, August
4, 1839, and when ten years of age his parents removed to Mahaska county,
Iowa, and became pioneers of that county. There William H. Else was
reared to young manhood and married to Zilpha Gearhart on January i,
i860. The young couple had hardly got settled down to housekeeping and
were caring for their first child when the Civil War broke out and the
call came from President Lincoln for volunteers to put down the rebellion
of the Southern states. Mr. Else responded and the young couple broke up
their newly-made home, thereby placing patriotism and love of country above
all other considerations. Ingrained in both of them was a sacred love
of free institutions and the desire to serve their country. Mr. Else enlisted
in .August, 1861, and became a member of Company H, Eighth Regiment,
Iowa \^olunteer Infantry, which was organized in ]\Iahaska county. He
was mustered into active service in September, 1861, and served until honor-
ably discharged from the service in October, 1864. His regiment participated
in many great battles and sieges, in all of which he was present. Among
the engagements in which he fought were those at Corinth, Island Xo. 10,
Mission Ridge, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain and the siege and capture
of Vicksburg. A Bible reposing in his breast pocket saved his life during a
battle, the bullet which would have caused his death glancing off the Bible,
which he religiously carried all through his arduous service. While her
husband was absent during his war service Mrs. Else invested his pay, which
he sent home regularly each month, in a tract of eighty acres of uncleared
land in ^lahaska county. L^pon his return home the young couple at once
>et t(i \\i irk to create a home upon this wild land. They bought a small house

WILLIAM H. KLSE.

MRS. ZII.I'HA OEARHART ELSE AND CHILDREN

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 233

and after moving the house to its new location, they had but thirty-five
dollars remaining. During the first winter Mr. Else worked at a saw-mill
for one dollar a day, walking five miles night and morning to his place
of work. This money he gave to Mrs. Else, with which to buy a cow. Thus
equipped they began to carve out their fortunes and endured many hard-
ships until success at last crowned their efforts. Many times during the
wee small hours of the morning, and while the children were sleeping in
their beds, Mr. and Mrs. Else would sally forth and pick blackberries during
the summer season so as to have fruit delicacies to serve to the harvest
hands during the day.

There came a day, however, when the West beckoned and called to them
and, in 1877, they sold their Iowa land and came to Richardson county. Here
they bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Barada township. This
place had been practically abandoned by its owners during the grasshopper
years and was partly broken up and improved, with a small shanty erected
by the homesteader. They went to work with a will and, being ambitious,
eventually had a comfortable home and buildings and increased their land
holdings to two hundred and eighty acres. They had the satisfaction of
seeing their later years crowned with success and were able to live com-
fortably and have many of the luxuries of life.

To Mr. and Mrs. Else were born the following children: William
Wilson Else, of Shubert, who is a landowner in Richardson county; Elmer
Ellsworth Else, of Shubert, who has had two children, Charles Wilson,
who was accidently drowned at the age of twenty-four years, and Nellie
Grace, who was drowned with her brother, at the age of fourteen years;
Mrs. Clara Mav Krug. who lives at Shubert and has three children, Harry,
who married Emma Boatman and has one child, Russell Max; Clyde Krug,
and Bernice, who married John Lewis and has one child, John Vernon.

Mrs. Zilpha (Gearhart) Else, mother of the foregoing children, was
born on May 10. 1843, '" Floyd county, Kentucky, and is a daughter of
Benjamin and Mary (Hale) Gearhart, natives of old Kentucky, who removed
to Mahaska county, Iowa, in 1845. Shortly after their removal to Iowa,
Benjamin Gearhart was employed in the woods in cutting fence rails at a
wage of twenty-five cents a hundred. During this occupation he became
ill with the fever which was the bane of the early settlements of the Iowa
backwoods and died. Tlie widow later married a Mr. Shoemaker and died
in California.

William Henrv Else died on Tanuarv 2, 1902, and his passing was
(78)

1234 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

sincerely inourned by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He was
a man of sterling worth, who in later years suffered severely from the
privations which he underwent while serving his country. He was a member
of the Baptist church and was religiously inclined. He was an ardent Repub-
lican and took an active interest in county and state poHtics, although he had
no ambition to hold office. Mr. Else was a charter member of Shubert Post,
Grand Army of the Republic, and always took a keen interest in the affairs
of his favorite order. Mrs. Else is a member of the Baptist church and is
a liberal contributor to religious works and to charitable undertakings. She
is one of the charter members of the Shubert ^\'oman"s Relief Corps ; is
active, despite her years ; keeps abreast of the times, and is progressively
inclined.

■ MATTHIAS SCHULEXBERG.

Matthias Schulenberger, proprietor of the store at "Mattsville," in sec-
tion I of the precinct of Ohio, this county, and of the farm of fifty-seven
acres surrounding the same, is a native of the old Empire state, but has
been a resident of this county since he was nine years of age, having come
here with his parents in 1865, and has thus been a witness to the develop-
ment of Richardson county since pioneer days. He was born in Erie
county. New York, July i, 1856, son of John and Barbara (Walter) Schulen-
berg, both of European birth, the former a Prussian and the latter an
Alsatian, who became pioneer residents of this section of Nebraska and
here spent their last days.

John Schulenberg was born about 1840 and was about fourteen years
of age when he came to this country from his native Prussia with his parents,
the family settling in New York state, where he learned the carpenter and
cabinet-making trades, at which he worked practically all the rest of his
life. He grew to manhood in the state of New York and there married
Barbara Walter, who was born in the Alsace-Lorraine country of Europe
about 1842 and who was twelve years of age when she came to this coun-
try with her parents, the family settling in New York state. After his
marriage John Schulenberg continued to make his home in New York until
1865, when. he came with his family out to the then Territory of Nebraska,
proceeding by steamboat from St. Joseph to the old landing of Arago. in
this county. He rented a farm in the immediate \ icinit\- of Rulo ami
there settled with his family, starting a bit of farming, but giving his

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I235

chief attention to his work as a carpenter. Four years later he bought the
farm now owned by his son Frank, six miles north of Falls City, paying
for the same twelve dollars an acre, and there established his permanent
home, spending the rest of his life there. When he took possession of
that place there was a house, a mere shack, and a barn on it and he made
extensive improvements on the place, set out three acres of orchard and
planted a sizable grove. During the early days of that community John
Schulenberg was one of the most active builders thereabout and built numer-
ous churches and school houses and many dwelling houses. When the old
county seat town of Arago was deserted and practically abandoned, it was
he who moved most of the houses to Fargo. He was a Democrat and
served for one term as coroner of Richiardson county. He died on Decem-
ber 19, 1 89 1, and his widow survived him for ten years, her death occur-
ring in 1 901. They were members of the Catholic church and their chil-
dren were reared in that faith. There were five of these children, of whom
the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being
as follow: John, of Sidney, this state; Joseph, deceased; Mrs. Barbara
Lahmer, deceased, and Frank, who is farming the old home place in the
precinct of Ohio.

Matthias Schulenberg, as noted above, was but a boy when he came to
this county with his parents in 1865, and his schooling was completed in
the district schools of this county and at St. Benedict College at Atchison,
Kansas. His young manhood was spent in helping to improve and develop
the home farm. Upon attaining his majority he began to work on his own
account and presently rented a farm and after his marriage in 1881 estab-
lished his home on the same, remaining there until 1883, when he bought
ninety-three acres in section i of the precinct of Ohio, where he is now
living, and later bought an adjoining tract, still later selling the east part
of his place, retaining the fifty-seven acres which he still owns. In 1907
Mr. Schulenberg left the farm and moved to Barada, where he erected a
building and engaged in the saloon business, continuing thus engaged in that
business there until 191 1 in which year he moved that building onto his
farm, put in a stock of general merchandise and has since been conducting
a store there, his place becoming locally known as "Mattsville," and is
doing quite well in a mercantile way, his store being a great convenience
for the people of that neighborhood. Mr. Schulenberg is a Democrat and
has served the pubUc as a member of the local school board. By religious
persuasion he is a Catholic, in which faith he was reared.

On February 7, 1881, Matthias Schulenberg was united in marriage to

1236 RICHARDSOX COUNTV, NEBRASKA.

Caroline Portrey, who was born in this county in i860, a daughter of
Joseph and Mary (Stepich) Portrey, natives of Ohio and early settlers b"f
Nebraska, the former of whom is still living, a resident of Falls City, afM
to that union five children were born, namely : John, who is farming in
the precinct of Arago; Joseph, who is farming in the precinct of Ohio;
Mrs. Catherine McNulty, of Falls City; Gustave, the fourth in order of
birth, and Adam, who is helping his father.

IMPERTOUS M. BOWERS.

One of the most enterprising young farmers of Liberty precinct is
Impertous M. Bowers, who is also known throughout Richardson county
as a buyer of live stock. He was born on the old homestead in the above
named township, August 29, 1873, a son of Daniel and Emeline ( Becken-
hdpt) Bowers. The father was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania,
May 13, 1833, and died on May 23, 1901. In 1872 he came to Richardson
county, Nebraska, and purchased a tract of partly improved land in Liberty
precinct, where the family still resides. There he spent the rest of his life
engaged in general farming and stock raising, feeding large numbers of
cattle and hogs, becoming one of the leading farmers of the county and
a man of influence. His wife was born in Stark county, Ohio, and her
death occurred in 1881. To these parents six children were born, namely:
Mrs. Ada L. Nulk, deceased: Lois, wife of Fred Heineman. of V'erdon. a
sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Emerson L.. a farmer and
stockman of Liberty precinct, a sketch of whom appears on another page
of this volume; Impertous M., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Myrtle Kiefer,
who lives at Hot Springs, South Dakota, and Oliver H., who lives at h'alls
City.

Impertous M. Bowers grew up on the home farm and attended the dis-
trict schools. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age
and then began working out as a farm hand. Five years later he began
farming for himself and presently bought his present farm in Liberty pre-
cinct, the same consisting of one hundred and three acres. He does not
farm on a very large scale, preferring to devote much of his time to buying
and shipping live stock, in partnership with his brother, Emerson L. Bowers,
and has been feeding cattle for a period of thirteen years — alx)ut three car-
loads a year. He and his brother also buy and ship apples in large (luantities
each autumn.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I237

Mr. BoAver.s was married on February 24, 1901, to Minnie Cooper, who
was born in Atchison county, Missouri, a daughter of Hicks and Sophia
(Scheele) Cooper, the former a native of Missouri and the latter a native
of Germany, from which country she came to America when young, and
to this vmion three children have been born, Ralph, Fern and Charline.
Mr. Bowers is an independent voter. Fraternally, he belongs to the Modern
Woodmen of America. ■ ■•'■

WILLIAM ROBERT BATES.

William Robert Bates, a successful cement contractor and coal dealer
at Falls City and one of the most active and progressive business men in
that city, is a native of Germany, but has been a resident of this country
since the days of his infancy. He was born on February 13, 1882, son
of William Robert and Etta (Kessler) Bates, also natives of Germany, who
left their native land in 1884 and came to the United States, proceeding
from the port of New York to Illinois, where they presently settled on a
farm in the immediate vicinity of Bloomington, where they spent the rest
of their lives, the subject of this sketch being left orphaned at the age of
thirteen years by the death of his parents.

Thus seriously handicapped in the race of life William Robert Bates
faced the tasks before him with resolute courage and from the days of his
boyhood began doing for himself, working as a farm hand, as a teamster, as
a phmiber, as a bricklayer or at any work his hand found to do, meantime
pursuing his studies by private reading as best he could, with an earnest
desire to gain more of an education than his limited opportunities for school-
ing in the days of his boyhood had permitted. After he was twenty years
of age he bought a set of books, being advised and instructed by a student
friend, and set himself so diligently to the task of mastering the contents
of the same that he presently acquired a pretty good general education. Dur-
ing this time he was traveling quite a bit, securing employment at one place
and another and this further broadened his knowledge. In January, 1907,
Mr. Bates arrived at Falls City and for two months thereafter was engaged
in work as a farm hand in that vicinity. He then, in 1908, took up cement
contracting in a small way and has since been thus engaged on his own
account, having been successful from the very beginning of his endeavors
in that line and has come to be regarded as one of the leading cement con-

1238 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

tractors in this part of the state. During this time he has on various occa-
sions worked in partnership, but is now carrying on his extensive business
alone. In 191 5 he added a coal yard to his cement works and in this latter
line also has been successful. Mr. Bates has made a specialty of the con-
struction of hollov^f tile silos and has erected many of these substantial struc-
tures throughout this section of Nebraska and over the line in Kansas.

On April 28, 1915, William Robert Bates was united in marriage to
Ann O. McCool, who was born at Salem, this county, daughter of Albert
A. and Roseatte (Clark) McCool, the former of whom was born in Guthrie
county, Iowa, and the latter in this county, daughter of pioneer parents.
Albert A. McCool came to this county from Iowa forty-five years ago and
engaged in the hardware business at Salem, where he married and established
his home. Mr. and Mrs. Bates have a pleasant home at Falls City and
take a proper part in the general social activities of their home town.

WILLIAM F. KENTOPP.

William F. Kentopp, of Falls City, one of Richardson county's best-
known ■ and most substantial retired farmers and landowners and a United
States game warden, attached to the department of agriculture, with parti-
cular reference to the preservation of migratory birds, is of European birth,
but has been a resident of this country since he was sixteen years of age and
of Richardson county since 1881. He was born in the vicinity of the city
of Berlin on February 15, i860, son of John and Catherine (Rater) Ken-
topp, both natives of West Prussia, the former born on May 9, 1828, and the
■latter, September 26, 1826, who came to this county in 1882 and the latter
of whom is still living here, making her home with her son, the subject of
this sketch, at Falls City. The year after establishing himself in Richardson
county, William F. Kentopp sent back money to his parents with which to
pay their passage to this coimtry and he provided a home for them in this
county, John Kentopp spending his last days here, his death occurring on
January 10, igio. His widow still survives him and is living with her son
at Falls City, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. She has four chil-
dren, the subject of this sketch having a brother, August Kentopp. a farmer,
living near Verdon. this county, and two sisters, Mrs. Amelia Edlinger, a
widow, living in Berlin. Germany, and Mrs. Augusta Shup, of Chicago,
Illinois.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I239

Upon completing the course in the common schools of his nati\e land.
William F. Kentopp, in 1876, he then being sixteen years of age, came to the
United States, and for three years thereafter was engaged in working in
the coal mines at Alilesdale, in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and later, for
a season, as a farm hand in that vicinity, in the meantime acquiring a prac-
tical working knowledge of the English language and saving the neat sum
of six hundred dollars-. With the determination to invest this sum in West-
ern land he started West in 1881, his objective point being Falls City. Be-
tween St. Louis and Atchison the train on which he was traveling was held
up b}- train robbers and he was reheved of his "roll," the bandits leaving
him in possession of but a meager supply of small change, enough to pay his
carfare from Atchison to Falls City and fifty cents over. He offered to give
this remaining half dollar for transportation up to the home of a friend in
Ohio precinct, where the village of Straussville now stands, but was taken
out without charge and thus had a half dollar with which to begin opera-
tions in a new land.

Nothing deterred by this appearance of adversity, Mr. Kentopp set-
tled down to begin all over again and through the kinclness of friends was
enabled to rent a tract of land and set up in farming in the precinct of Ohio.
The next year he sent for his parents and the year following, in the spring
of 1883, returned to Pennsylvania and was there married. In 1888 he bought
a quarter of a section of land in Ohio preeinct, this county, built a new house
and other farm buildings, including one of the finest dairy houses in the
state of Nebraska, the same surrounding a remarkable fine spring, and it
was 'not long until he began to be counted among the leading farmers and
stockmen of that part of the county. As he prospered in his agricultural
operations Mr. Kentopp added to his holdings until he now is the owner of
three hundred and twenty acres of fine and well-improved land in Richard-
son county, a quarter section in section 30 of Ohio precinct and an adjoining
quarter section in section 25 of the precinct of Liberty, his eldest son, John
Kentopp, now farming the latter tract. Mr. Kentopp remained on the farm,
actively engaged in farming and stock raising, until 1912, when he retired
and moved to Falls City, where he bought a comfortable modern residence
on Stone street and has since made his home there. His wife died there in
191 5 and his eldest daughter is now his housekeeper. Mr. Kentopp has
for years given particular attention to the preservation and conservation of
the game resources of Nebraska and of this section of the Middle West and
in 1909 was appointed a special game warden for this state. In 191 3 he was
appointed traveling game warden for Nebraska and in 19 15 received the

1 240 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

appointment of I'nited States game warden, under the direction of the de-
|)artment of agricuhure, with special jurisdiction in the matter of the preser-
vation of migratory birds and still occupies that position, giving his close
personal attention to the duties of that important office. Mr. Kentopp is
a member of the Lutheran church and has ever given proper attention to
church work and other neighborhood good works. Fraternally he is affili-
iated with the Falls City lodge of the Knights and Ladies of Security, having
transferred his membership in that order from the lodge at \'erdon to that
at Falls City upon his removal to the latter place, and is the oldest surviving
member of the Verdon lodge. Politically, he is a Democrat.

On May i, 1883, in Somerset county. Pennsylvania, William F. Kentopp
was united in marriage to Pauline Strauss, who was born in Germany
in 1858, a daughter of John Strauss and wife, and who died, as noted above-
in Falls City in 1915. To that union were born eight children, the first
two of whom were born in Pennsylvania, the others in Richardson county,
namely: Mrs. Anna Boatman, a widow, who is keeping house for her
father at Falls City ; Mrs. Catherine Harkendorf , of tlie precinct of Ohio ;:
John, a well-known and progressive young farmer of that same precinct;
Charles, who is an automobile salesman at Falls City; Fred, a fanner of
Ohio precinct; Emil, who is engaged with his brother Charles in the auto-
mobile business at Falls City; William, a farmer of Ohio precinct, and
Edward, who is a machinist in the Kentopp garage at Falls City.

JOHN MOSIMAN. JR.

John Mosiman. Jr., memlier of the firm of Werner, Mosiman & Com-
pany, dealers in farm implements and automobiles at Falls City, a member
of the city council and chief of the volunteer fire department of that city,
is a native son of Richardson county and has lived here all his life. He
was born on a pioneer farm in the precinct of Arago, nine miles northeast
of Falls City, December 28, 1874, a son of John and Catherine (Mertz)
Mosiman. both of whom are of European birth, the former a Swiss and
the latter a Swabian. who are now living comfortably retired in Falls City,
wliich has been their place of residence since 1898.

The elder John Mosiman was born in 1835 and he remained in his
native Switzerland until he was twenty-one years of age, when, in 1856,
he came to this country and proceeded on out to Indiana, locating in the

JOHN MOSIMAX. JI{

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 24 1

vicinity of Bluffton, in that state, where he married Catherine Mertz, who
was born in Swabia in 1839 and who had come to this country in 1855.
After his marriage John Mosiman established his liome on a farm in the
vicinity of Bhififton and there remained until 1867, when he came to Nebraska
with his family and settled on a farm in Arago, which he proceeded to
improve and develop, and on which he made his home until in April, 1898.
whe4i he traded that tract of one hundred and sixty acres for a farm iii
Brown county, Kansas, and then retired from the active labors of the farm
and moved into Falls City, where he and his wife have since made their
home. To them ten children have been Ixjrn, of whom the subject of this
sketch was the fifth in order of birth, the others being as follow : Airs.
Christina Kammerer, of Morgantown, West Virginia: Fred, of Falls City;
Mrs. Mary Reynolds, of Falls City; William, a farmer, living live miles
northeast of Falls City; Louisa, who died at the age of seventeen years;
Mrs. Katie Bauman. of Scio, Oregon; Mrs. Anna Heiser, who is living on
her father's farm across the line in Kansas; Mrs. Ida Johnston, of Superior,
this state, and Henry, of Falls City.

The jimior John Mosiman was reared on the liome farm in the precinct
of Arago, receiving his schooliiig in the schools of district No. 28, at old
Arago Center, antl from boyhood was a valued aid to his father in the
labors of improving and developing tlie home farm, remaining at home until
after his marriage in 1898, when he began farming on his own account and
was thus engaged for three years, at the end of which time he left the
farm and moved to Falls City, where he entered the employ of G. D. Bici,
grocer, who a year later sold his store to Johnson brothers. Mr. Mosiman
continued with the latter firm for six months and then engaged in the sale
of agricultural implements, wagons and carriages, later adding to this line
the sale of automobiles, and has done very well. The present firm of Werner,
Mosiman & Company is made up of Ernest Werner, father-in-law of Mr.
Mosiman, John Mosiman, Jr., and Edward Yoesel. The business was estab-
lished in 1904 on a modest scale, but by fair methods of dealing has grad-
ually expanded until now it carries an investment of thirty-five thousand
dollars and is doing an annual business exceeding that sum. The firm carries
the goods of the Moline Plow Company, the Canton Plow Company, or
the "P. & O." line, and the International Harvester Companv's line, besides
automobiles and accessories, and is one of the best-known dealers in these
lines of goods in this part of the state. Mr. Mosiman is an "independent"
Republican and during his residence in Arago precinct served for two vears
as assessor and was for one vear census enumerator. He has been ciiief

[242

ICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

of tlie volunteer fire department of Falls City for the past six or seven
years and for the past two years has been councilman from his ward in
the city council.

On February 24, 1898, John Mosiman, Jr., was united in marriage to
Sophia Werner, who also was born in the precinct of Arago, a daughter
of Ernest and Carolina (Miller) Werner, who are now living in Falls City,
where Mr. Werner is engaged in the business above set out, head of the
firm of Werner, Mosiman & Company. Mr. Werner is of European birth,
a native of the grand duchy of Baden, but has been a resident of this country
since the days of his young manhood. His wife was born in the city of
Buffalo, New York. They came to Nebraska in i860 and settled in Arago
township, where they lived until their removal to Falls City. Mr. and Mrs.
Mosiman have five children, Elizabeth, Theodore, George. Elmer and Naomi.
The Mosimans are members of the Evangelical church and take a proper
interest in church work. Mr. Mosiman is an Odd Fellow and a member
of the Modern Woodmen and in the affairs of these organizations takes
a warm interest. He is a public-spirited, energetic business man and is
prompt to help along any movement having to do with the advancement
of the common good in his home town and throughout the county at large.

HARRY H. SCHRADER.

Harry H. Schrader, a well-known stockman and farmer of Liberty
precinct, Richardson county, owner of one hundred and fifty acres of land
in section 23, was born on February 28, 1874, in Cook county, Illinois.
He is the son of John J. and Mary (Rammin) Schrader, natives of Germany
and for many years residents of this part of Nebraska. To their marriage
the following children, all of whom are living, were born : ]Mrs. Emma
L. Jorn, of Verdon; Harry H., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Anna M.
Hoffman, who lives in Council Grove, Kansas; Amelia, who married J. W.
Dow, and is living west of Salem, this county, and John B., of West Muddy
precinct, this county.

John J. Schrader was born in Mecklenburg, German}-, on December
15, 1842, and is now living at Verdon, this state. He left his native land
when about nine years old with his mother. He went to Cook county,
Illinois, in 1875. He had previously married Mary Rammin on March 2.
1 87 1. When John J. Schrader settled in Richardson county he l)ought a

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 1 243

farm for which he paid twenty dollars an acre. He 1)nilt a small shack
to live in and a slough-grass shed for a barn. Later, and as his farming
operations prospered, he built a better house. In addition to his work on
the farm, he raised high-grade hogs, in which he traded extensively. In
1903 he sold the farm to his son, Harry, and moved to A'erdon, where he
now lives.

John J. Schrader's wife, Mary (Rammin) Schrader, was also a native
of Germany, born in Berzerec, March i, 1842. She left her native land
when about fifteen years old and on coming to this country lived in Chicago,
Illinois, with her- sister, Mrs. Zorn. Mrs. Mary Schrader died on January
5, 1907. She shared with her husband the hardships of pioneer days in
this part of the state, when crops and every green thing suffered from the
depredations of the grasshopper plague. John Schrader paid a dollar a
bushel for corn, hauling the same from Falls City. He and his wife were
members of the Evangelical church, which they helped to organize at Verdon.
John Schrader enlisted for service in the Civil War, in an Illinois regi-
ment, at Chicago and served for about twenty months.

Harry H. Schrader was reared on a farm and attended the district
schools and later the high school at Verdon. When twenty-one vears of
age he rented land from his father and two years later, with the help of
his father, he bought the fented land lying about three miles west of Verdon.
He farmed this land for about four years and then brought his present
farm. In 1911 he erected a thirteen-room house, equipped with all modern
accommodations, including electric lights, steam heat, hot and cold run-
ning water in all the bedrooms, the entire cost amounting to seven thou-
sand dollars. The bank barn built by his father in 1895 i* '" "^e. Mr.
Schrader is a thoroughly practical farmer and stock breeder, the stock
being of the highest grade.

On December 20, 1900, Harry H. Schrader was united in marriage to
Bertha E. Shildneck. who was born at Polo, Illinois, daughter of Hiram
and Mary (Hammond) Shildneck, natives of Maryland and \^irginia, respec-
tively, early settlers of Richardson county, who came here from Illinois about
1867, are now living at Salem. Mrs. Schrader's father was a soldier of
the Civil War, for wiiich service he enlisted in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs.
Schrader are the parents of one child, Mary Pauline, born on May 5, 1902.

Harry H. Schrader is a Republican and is a warm supporter nf that
party's principles. He has served on the school board for twelve years
and has been superintendent of roads in his district and in other ways has

244 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

served the pul^lic, always working for the best in the general interest. He
and his wife are members of the Congregational church at Salem and he
acts as trustee of the church, rendering valuable assistance in that capacity.

MATTHEW McMAHON.

One of the well-remembered and highly esteemed citizens of Richard-
son county of a past generation was the late Matthew McMahon, who was
born in the province of Ontario, Canada, September 15, 1842. He was
a son of Morris and Catherine (Grady) McMahon, both natives of Canada,
where they spent their lives on a farm, in Ontario. They were parents of
seven children.

Matthew McMahon grew to manhood in Ontario and there attended the
public schools and was married. He left there in 1873 and located in
Clark county, Wisconsin, where he spent a few years. In 1880 he came
to Nebraska, locating in Jefferson precinct, Richardson county, where he
bought a farm of one hundred -and sixty acres, wiiere his widow still resides,
and there he spent the rest of his life, engaged successfully in general farm-
ing. He built a house, which he later remodeled and added to, also made
other important improvements. Politically, he was a Democrat. He belonged
to the Catholic church.

^Ir. McMahon was married on April 22, 1873, to Ellen Condon, who
was lx)rn on December 2^, 1851, on a farm in Canada, where she grew
to womanhood and attended school. She is a daughter of Joseph and Mary
(Sheehan) Condon, who were parents of six children, Mrs. McMahon being
the second in order of birth. She is a woman of rare business ability and
is managing her farms in a very satisfactory manner. She owns one hun-
dred and sixty-eight acres in Jefferson precinct, eight acres of which is
in natural timber, and also owns one hundred and sixty acres of good land
in Hand county. South Dakota.

Nine children were born to Matthew McMahon and wife, as follow :
Maurice, who is unmarried and is farming on the home place; Mary, who
also lives at home: Catherine, who is teaching school at Bufifalo, Wyoming;
Ellen N., who married Fred Oswald and hves at Bufifalo, Wyoming; Joseph
[., who was born on July 25, 1884, and who died on December 4, 1910;
P'lizabeth, who is teaching school in Hawkins, Nebraska; Ann, the wife of
William Murphy, a farmer of Dawson, this county; Helen, who was gradu-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

'-4d

iiated from the Falls City high school and is now engaged in teacliing in
this county, and Cecil, who lives at home. These children were all burn in
Jefferson precinct, Richardson county, except the three eldest, who were born
in Clark county, Wisconsin. Mrs. McMahon and children are all members
of the Catholic church.

The death of Matthew McMahon occurred on July 6. 19 13. He was
a man of progressive ideas, public spirited and of exemplary character.

HON. WILLIAM F. RIESCHICK.

Hon. William F. Rieschick, representative from this district to the
Nebraska state Legislature and one of the best-known and most substan-
tial farmers of the precinct of Falls City, owner of a quarter of a section
of fine land in section 2 of that precinct and one of the leading breeders
of live stock in that part of the county, is a native son of Richardson county
and has lived here all his life, thus literally having "grown up" with the
county, a participant in its development since pioneer days. He was born
on a pioneer farm in the precinct of Arago on September 10, 1872. son
of William F. and Verena (Hunzeker) Rieschick, pioneers of this county,
who are now living retired at Falls City and further and fitting mention
of whom is made elsewhere in this volume.

The elder William F. Rieschick is of European birth, born in the
city of Wittenburg, in Prussian Saxony, June 2, 183 1. He grew to man-
hood in his native town and remained there until he was twenty-five year^
of age, when, in 1856, he came to the United States and began to work
at his trade as a cabinet-maker at Buffalo, New York. There were three
others of the Rieschick brothers in this country and one of these. Adolph
Rieschick, was sent West into the then Territory of Nebraska to pick out
a location for a farm, the brothers deciding that their best course in the
new land would be to settle on a farm in the then new West. Adolph
Rieschick came to Richardson county and located a tract in the precinct of
Arago and when his brothers joined him here in 1858 they found him ill.
He presently recovered, however, and when the Civil War broke out he
enlisted for service and served as a soldier of his adopted country. He
is now living at Red Willow county, this state. When the elder \\'illiam
F. Rieschick arrived in Richardson county in 1858 his slender stock of funds
was reduced to the almost irreducible minimum of seven dollars, but lie iiad

1246 RICHARDSON COUNTV, NEBRASKA.

a Stout heart and it was not long until he Ijegan to see his way clear to
the development of a fine piece of property here. For his first "eighty"
he paid four dollars and seven dollars an acre, one portion of it being
held to be more valuable than the other, and in due time he became a con-
siderable landowner, continuing to make his home on his original tract until
his retirement from the farm in 1902 and removal to Falls City, where he
and his wife are now living in comfort in their old age. It was after
coming to this county that William F. Rieschick married, his wife being
a member of one of the pioneer families of Richardson county. She was
born, \'erena Hunzeker, in the republic of Switzerland, June 10, 1843, ^"'l
came with her parents to this country, the family first locating in Ohio and
then coming over into the then Territory. of Nebraska and settling in the
neighborhood of Humboldt, this county. To William F. and Verena (Hun-
zeker) Rieschick were born six children, of whom the subject of this sketch
was the fourth in order of birth, the others being as follow : August,
deceased; Emil, who died in infancy; John, who is living four miles north
of Falls City; Albert, who is living on the old home farm place in Arago
precinct, and Amelia, who is living with her aged parents in Falls City.

Reared on the home farm in Arago precinct, the junior William F.
Rieschick received his early schooling in the district schools of that neigh-
borhood and supplemented the same by attendance at the Western Normal
at Lincoln and in the normal school at Shenandoah, Iowa, and for two years
taught school, being engaged as principal of schools at Nodaway, Iowa.
In 1897 he began farming, in association with his father, and in 1906 bought
the farm of one hundred and sixty acres, in section 2 of the precinct of
Falls City, on which he since has made his home and where he and his
family tire -very comfortabh- situated. Mr. Rieschick has his place improved
in admirable shape and has long been regarded as one of the leading farm-
ers and stock breeders in that part of the county. He has for years given
his particular attention to the breeding of Shorthorn cattle and Poland
China hogs and is a member of the Poland China Breeders Association.
He freciuenth' has exhibited his hogs at the state fair and in 1907 won second
in the spring-pig class. Mr. Rieschick is a Democrat and has for years
given -his thoughtful and earnest attention to local civic affairs. In 1914
he was elected to represent this district in the Legislature and thus served
the district in the thirty-fourh session of the Nebraska General Assembly,
during that session presenting a bill and securing the passage of the first
law on the Nebraska statute books regulating the growth of hedges along
the public highways of the state. In 1916 Mr. Rieschick was re-elected to

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I247

represent the first district and served with distinction in the House during
the thirty-fifth session. For twelve years he has served as a member of his
local school board and has served as a member of the township board in
the precincts of Ohio and Falls City, for six years his attention having been
thus occupied.

On ]March 6, 1899, William F. Rieschick was united in marriage to
Catherine Werner, who also was born in the precinct of Arago, this countv,
in October, 1879, a daughter of Martin and Sophia (Hofer) Werner, natives
of the republic of Switzerland, and pioneers of Richardson county, the
former of whom is now a guard at the state penitentiary at Lincoln, and
to this union four children have been bom, Earl, born in 1900, who died
in September, 1901 ; Daurena, born in August, 1902: Ruth, 1906, and Cathe-
rine, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Rieschick have a very pleasant home and take
a proper part in the general social activities of their home community. Thev
are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Rieschick is a
member of the board of trustees of the same.

MARTIN KELLY.

^Martin Kelly, one of Richardson county's best-known farmers, pro-
prietor of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 19 of the
precinct of Barada, and one of the leading swine breeders in this part of
the state, is a native son of Richardson county and has lived here all his
life. He was born on the farm on which he now lives on January 14,
1879, son of Miles and Mary (Holloran) Kelly, prominent pioneers of
that section of "the county ^nd further •and' "fitting "meTrtion of whom is made
elsewhere in this volume.

Reared on the farm on which he was born, Martin Kelly received
his early schooling in the school in district No. 88 and supplemented the
same b}- a course in a business college at Falls City. When twenty-one
years of age he began farming for himself in association with his brother,
Daniel and, in 1905, he bought from the heirs of the family estate the
(|uarter section of the old home place on which he is now making his home
and which he has greatly improved since taking possession of the same.
ha\ing built several new and substantial farm buildings, erected a silo, re-
modeled the house and barn and set out an orchard. For some years Mr.
Kelly has made a specialty of the raising of registered Duroc-Jersey hogs

1248 RICHARDSON COINTV, NEBRASKA.

and is an active member of the National Breeders" Association in the affairs
of which he takes a warm interest. His hogs are of the "Defender"' type
of Duroc-Jerseys and all are registered, his frequent public sales of hogs
attracting much attention throughout this part of the state, and he has done
much to improve the strain of swine raised hereabout, many farms having
been profitably stocked from his well-known herd.

On September 5, 1896, Martin Kelly was united in marriage to Mary
^IcMahon, who was born in Marshall county, Kansas, a daughter of Peter
and Rachel (Hufif) McMahon, who are now living at Beattie, Kansas, and
to this union have been born six children, Catherine, Lillian, Margaret,
Lticile, Florence and Miles Paul, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly are members
of the Catholic church and take a projfer interest in parish affairs. Mr.
Kelly is an active member of the local council of the Knights of Columbus
and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization.

ORRIN ALONZO COOPER.

Orrin Alonzo Cooper, miller and grain buyer of Humboldt, this county,
having been a resident of Nebraska since the days of his young manhood,
or since 1869, can rightly be classed as one of the "real old settlers" of
his neighborhood. Like scores and hundreds of others who are now leaders
in the commercial and industrial life of southeastern Nebraska, he began
his career in Nebraska, with no capital other than his own strength and
ambition to get ahead. Mr. Cooper has succeeded in carving out for himself
a leading place among the commercial men of Richardson county and is an
undoubted leader in this section of the state. The large establishment oper-
ated l)y him at Humboldt, consisting of a flourishhig flouring-mill. an exten-
sive grain and live-stock business, an electric-light and power company, and
an automobile business, are in themselves substantial evidences of ability,
energy, and shrewd business capacity oi a high order.

O. A. Cooper was born at Conquest, Cayuga county. New York, Novem-
ber 18, 1849, and is a descendant of German ancestry. He is a son of
Henry Cooper, born in New York, of German parents, on ^lay 3, 1827,
who moved to Branch county, Michigan, in 1853, and who came to Nebraska
in 1869, and made a settlement on a farm nortii and west of Table Rock,
in Pawnee county. He died at his home in Table Rock on April 18, 1900.
The mother of O. .\. Cooper was Phoebe Jane Wendover before her mar-

^-^Ad/yi CL IL^trCr^uU]^

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I249

riage with Henry Cooper, and was lx)rn in Cayuga county, New York,
April 5, 1829, and departed this Hfe on Stepember 15, 1912. Henry and
Phoebe Cooper were the parents of the following children: Orrin Alonzo,
the subject of this review; Mrs. Clara Lane, of Table Rock, Nebraska;
William, a resident of Wymore, Nebraska; Bernard H., of Beaver City,
Nebraska ; Lafayette, of St. Joseph, Missouri, and Mrs. Sadie Redman, of
Denver, Colorado.

Orrin A. Cooper received his education in the country schools of Branch
county, Michigan, whither his parents had removed in the year 1853. After
the removal of the family to Nebraska in 1869, he attended school in his
home neighborhood in Pawnee county for a time and assisted his father
in the development of the home farm near Table Rock for a period of four
years, after which he began his own career as a grain buyer, in the employ
of I. M. Norton, at Table Rock. Mr. Cooper was the first live stock and
grain buyer at Table Rock after tlie Atchison & Nebraska railroad was
built to that city. He was in Mr. Norton's employ for about two years
and then purchased the business and operated it for one year, under the firm
name of Cooper & Norton. After this he operated the business under his
own name for one year and then formed a partnership with J. L. Linn. The
new firm of Cooper & Linn bought grain and established a lumber yard at
Table Rock and continued to operate the same for two years. During this
period Mr. Cooper made a trip to the Indian Territory as a partner with
William McClure and for one season he and Mr. McClure were buving
cattle from the Indians of the territory and shipping them northward. Mc-
Clure & Cooper were the first authorized buyers of cattle in the Indian
territory, receiving their authority direct from the federal government. After
one season's operations among the Indians, Mr. Cooper disposed of his
interest in the business to Mr. McClure and returned to Table Rock. Shortly
after his return home, he and Mr. Linn purchased the Hulsey elevator at
Humboldt and, in 1876 he took up his permanent residence in that city
and took charge of the elevator business. A company was formed under
die firm name of Linn, Cooper & Fellers, and a lumber yard was established
and operated for two years, in connection with the grain and live stock busi-
ness. At the end of this time, Messrs Linn and Cooper bought out Mr.
Fellers and a partnership was formed with Mr. L. B. Brinson, in the grain
business, and the new firm proceeded to erect a two-hundred-barrel flouring-
mill. This mill was run under the name of Linn, Cooper & Brinson for
about a vear, at the end of which time Linn and Cooper purchased Mr.
(79)

1250 RICHARDSON COINTV, NEBRASKA.

Brinson's interest and the milling, grain and lumber business was run alter
that by Linn & Cooper for five years. The firm of Linn & Cooper extended
their operations and built a chain of elevators to care for their rapidly increas-
ing business and this partnership continued until i8qo, when it was dissolved,
JNIr. Linn taking over the lumber business and Mr. Cooper taking the milling,
grain and live-stock business. Mr. Cooper then conducted the entire busi-
ness under his own name until 1893, '^ which year he formed a partner-
ship with C. M. Linn, a son of his former partner. They operated the
flouring-mill and a chain of fourteen grain elevators until 1907 under the
tirm name of Cooper & Linn. This partnership was then dissolved, Mr.
Linn taking charge of the grain elevators located outside of Humboldt and
Mr. Cooper taking over the mill and other Humboldt property. Since that
time he has been running the business under the name of O. A. Cooper &
Son. The Industrial concerns under Mr. Cooper's management at the present
time are the Humboldt steam mills, an electric-light and ix)wer plant, which
supplies the cities of Humboldt, Dawson and Table Rock with light and
power; an artificial ice manufacturing plant, and an automobile business,
including the agency for the Buick automobiles. The average number of
men employed in these various industries is fifteen. Their importance to.
the city of Humboldt and the western part of Richardson county cannot
be overestimated, and the various industries themselves serve as monuments
to the tireless energy and excellent business management of the ownft- and
manager. Mr. Cooper is a director in the electric-light plants located at
Table Rock and at Dawson. Mr. Cooper is also an extensive farmer, owning
several hundred acres of land in Nebraska and Kansas, and is personally
farming one hundred acres adjoining Humboldt ; in fact, he has been a
farmer all his life.

Mr. Cooper has been twice married. On July 4, 1875, at Table Rock,
Nebraska, he was united in marriage to Calista Ellen Merrifield, and to
this union the following children were born; Mrs. Grace (Cooper) Mac-
Murray, deceased; Cary K., of El Centro, California; Mrs. Eva (Cooper)
Stanley, of Coronado, California; Guy L., of Humboldt, and Mrs. Ena
(Cooper) Seabury, of Omaha, Nebraska. The mother of the foregoing
children was born in Benton county, Iowa, September 25, 1858, a daughter
of W. P. Olive (Spracklin) Merrifield, who were parents of two children,
Lydia and Calista Ellen. Mrs. Calista Ellen Cooper died on October 20,
1905, and on June 18, 1907, Mr. Cooper married Mrs. Minnie Akers. a
daughter of Solomon G. and Louisa J. (Avitts) Spracklin.

Mr. Cooper is politically aligned with the Republican party and served

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

as mayor of Humboldt for a period of seven years. For a period of forty
years he has been a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, hav-
ing joined the order in 1877. He is affiHated with the Presbyterian church.

MERRICK VV. HARDING.

Merrick W. Harding, of Humboldt, one of the best-know;n and most
successful live-stock auctioneers in Nebraska, a well-to-do retired farmer and
stockman of Richardson county and the proprietor of an extensive garage at
Humboldt, where he also is engaged in the sale of automobiles and where
he has extensive real-estate and banking interests, former vice-presid,ent of
the First National Bank of that city and for years one of the most progres-
sive and public-spirited "boosters" of that place, is a New Englander by
birth and grew to manhood in Illinois, but has been a resident of this county
since the spring of 1878 and has consequently been a witness to and a par-
ticipant in the wonderful development that has marked this region during
the past forty years. He was born at Lime, Grassy Hill, Connecticut, April
3, 1857, son of Christopher and Maria (Edison) Harding, both members
of old New England families, who in 1872 left their native state and moved
to Belvidere. Illinois, where Christopher Harding engaged in the grain busi-
ness and where lie spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring there
in 1915.

When Merrick W. Harding was but a child his parents moved frorp
Lime to Saybrook, Connecticut, and there he was attending a military sch(?of
when they moved to Illinois. His schooling was completed at Belvidere and
u])on completing the course in the high school there he began teaching school
and \\as for three years thus engaged. When he reached his majority, in
1878, Mr. Harding came to Nebraska with a view to "growing up with the
country," and in May of that year he bought a quarter of a section of land
at the north edge of the village of Humboldt, paying twenty-three dollars
an acre for one "eighty" and thirty dollars an acre for the other. He straight-
way set about improving and developing that place and after his marriage
in 1880 established his home there and further proceeded to beautify and
improve the tract until he presently came to have one of the real show places
in Richardson county, every tree and shrub on the place having been set
out by his own hand. As he prospered in his operations Mr. Harding grad-
ually added to his fami until he had a fine farm of two hundred and eighty

1252 RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

acres, all but forty acres of which he sold in the spring of 191 7 for fifty
thousand dollars, and has since been making his home in Humboldt, where
he has one of the handsomest homes in the city. Not long after beginning
his farming operations here Mr. Harding began the breeding of pure-bred
Shorthorn cattle and continued that line for fifteen years, after which Jie
took up the breeding of Angus cattle and for twenty-one years continued
that line, during that time coming to be known as one of the best stockmen
in the state. Not long after he took up the cattle line he became engaged
as a live-stock auctioneer and has ever since answered the growing demands
upon his time in that direction, for years having been recognized as one of
the most successful live-stock auctioneers in the West, conducting sales at
Omaha, Kansas City and at many points throughout this state. During the
more than thirty-three years in which Mr. Harding has been engaged as an
auctioneer he has missed but three engagements and these on account of
unavoidable circumstances. In addition to his extensive farming and live-
stock interests, Mr. Harding also has been for years actively identified with
the business interests of his home town and has been one of the most potent
factors in the development of Humboldt. Upon the organization of the First
National Bank of that city he was the principal stockholder and for some
years acted a^ vice-president of the concern and owned the building in which
the bank was located. He also was one of the prime movers in the organiza-
tion of the State Bank. Besides the First National Bank building he has erected
seven other business buildings in the city and as one of the promoters of the
Odd Fellow building was able to insure the constrviction of that building on
the admirable site it occupies. Mr. Harding years ago bought a tract of
eighty-four acres on the eastern edge of town and successfully subdivided
the same. He also has laid out other additions to the town and in other
ways has proved himself one of the most progressive and public-spirited
"boosters" in Richardson county. He has done much in the real-estate way,
having bought and sold a great deal of land hereabout, and sold the first
tract that ever brought two Inuidred dollars an acre in that part of the county.
During ^the past six or seven years Mr. Harding has traveled extensively
and has thus seen the majority of the most interesting points in this country.
In the spring of tqij he erected a large brick garage, fifty by one hundred
and ten feet in dimensions and with a large storage capacity, at Humboldt,
and thus has been aljle to extend his flourishing automobile business, he hav-
ing for some time held the local agency for four of the country's best-known
cars. Mr. Harding is a Republican, with "independent" leanings, but has

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I253

never been a seeker after public office, his own extensive private affairs hav-
ing kept him too busy for that form of service.

On January 14. 1880, in lUinois, JVterrick W. Harding was united in
marriage to Medora L. Bridgeford, who was born at Millersburg, that state,
daughter of Oh'ver and Ehza (McLane) Bridgeford, natives, respectively, of
Indiana, and to this union three children have been born, Grace, who died
on June 16, 1904, at the age of twenty-four years; Edna, who died on
August 17, 1905, at the age of twenty years, and Brooks B. Harding, born
on August 9, 1896, who is now a student at the Nebraska State University
at Lincoln. Mr. and Mrs. Harding have a very pleasant home at Hum-
boldt and have ever taken an interested part in the general social and cultural
activities of their home town and of the community at large, helpful in many
ways in prompting movements having to do with the advancement of the
common welfare. Mr. Harding is a member of the local lodges of the Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Modern Woodmen of America
and in the affairs of these organizations takes a warm interest.

HENRY DAESCHNER.

Henry Daeschner one of Richardson county's best-known and most
substantial retired farmers and stockmen, and the proprietor of a fine farm
of two hundred acres in sections 28 and 29 of the precinct of Jefferson,
now living at Preston, is of European birth, a native of the grand duchy
of Baden, but has been a resident of this country since the days of his
infancy and of Richardson- county • since - he .was- abeut -fifteen. »years of
age, hence may be very properly regarded as one of the real "old settlers"
of this county. He was born on July i, 1851, and was about a year old
when his parents, Charles and Susanna (Dauchler) Daeschner, left their
native Baden with their family and came to the United States, settling in the
vicinity of Dundee, in Kane county. Illinois, where they established tiieir
home on a farm and where they remained until the year 1863 when they
came to the then Territory of Nebraska and located in this county, where
they spent the remainder of their lives, useful and influential pioneers of
Richardson count)^

Upon coming to this county, in 1865, Charles Daeschner bought a
tract of unbroken land in the precinct of Jefferson and with the aid of his

1254 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

sons proceeded to develop and improve the same, it not being long until
he came to be regarded as one of the best-established farmers in that sec-
tion. On that pioneer farm he and his wife continued to make their home
until about 1900, when they retired from the farm and moved to Preston,
where they spent their last days, occupying the house now owned and occupied
by Richard Daeschner, Charles Daeschner dying there in 1905, at the ad-
vanced age of eighty- four years, his' widow surviving him about three years,
her death occurring in 1908. She was born in 1825. Charles Daeschner
and wife were members of the church of the Evangelical Association, the
local congregation of which they helped to organize, and their children were
reared in that faith. They were, the parents of eighteen children, of whom
thirteen grew to maturity, namely : Mrs. Nannie Myers, of San Antonio,
Texas; Charles, now deceased; Jacob, who served as a soldier of the Union.
a member of an Illinois regiment, during the Civil War and who is now
deceased ; Christian, deceased ; HenrA% the subject of this biographical sketch ;
John, deceased; William, a minister of the Evangelical Association, now
stationed at Post Oak, Texas; Frederika, of Jefferson precinct, this county:
Katherine, wife of William Zoellers, of Jefferson precinct; Frank, of Hia-
watha, Kansas; Mrs. Sophia Schinner. of Holton. Kansas; Mrs. Mary
Kaiser, of Weiser, Idaho; August, present superintendent of schools at Del
Norte, Colorado; Edward, a blacksmith at Falls City, this county, and
Gideon,' of Coffeyville, Kansas. The Daeschners in America maintain a
regularly organized family association and keep the family history up-to-date,
ciir'rent' hfevisions and additions to the genealogical record being made at the
antiual reunibrrs of the family which are largely attended, the league being
represented by numerous famihes in this state and in Texas. Colorado and
Idaho, there also being' corresponding members in some of the other states.
As noted above, Henry Daeschner was little more than an infant when
his parents came to this country from Baden and his youth was spent on
the home farm in the neighborhood of Dundee, in Illinois, his schcxjling
being received in the schools of that place. He was about fifteen years of
age when he came with the family to Richardson county in 1865. and he
grew to manhood on the home farm in Jefferson precinct, thoroughly fa-
miliar with pioneer conditions hereabout. When twenty-one years of age
he began farming on his own account, renting a farm, and shortly after
his marriage in the fall of 1875, bought his first land, an "eighty" in
Jefferson precinct, where he established his home. He was living there
when ■ the scourge of grasshoppers swept over this region. During that

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I255

period Mr. Daeschner, in common with other pioneers of this section, saw
some pretty hard times and still retains recollections of having to pay fifty
per cent, interest on money tor rowed to tide him over the critical period,
but he persevered and presently began to see his way clear. As he prospered
Mr. Daeschner -gradually added to his land holdings until he became the
owner of a well-improved and profitably cultivated farm of two hundred
acres in sections 28 and 29 of Jefferson precinct, which he still owns, and
on which he continued to make his home until in 1916, when he retired
from the farm, his wife having died in 1908, and moved to Preston, where
he is now living with his son, the Rev. Richard T. Daeschner.

On October 5, 1875, Henry Daeschner was united in marriage to Eliza
Ivaiser, who was born in the neighborhood of Chicago, in Cook county,
Illinois, September 11, 1856, and who was about eight years of age when
her parents, Christopher and Eliza (Jahn) Kaiser, came to the then Terri-
tory of Nebraska, in 1864, and settled in Richardson county. Christopher
Kaiser and his wife were natives of Germany and upon coming to this
country first settled at Dundee, Illinois, later moving to Cook county, that
same state, where they remained until they came to this county and cast
in their lot with the pioneers of this section of Nebraska. To Henry
and Eliza (Kaiser) Daeschner five children were born, Richard T., Edwin
G., deceased; Tosia, deceased; Alma L., wife of the Rev. A. E. Kurth,
a minister of the gospel now stationed at Weatherford, Oklahoma, and
Sadie S., wife of the Rev. E. D. Riebel, also a minister of the gospel, now
stationed at Buchanan, Michigan. The Rev. Richard T. Daeschner, first-
born of the children of Henry Daeschner was born on the home farm in
the vicinity of Rulo on August 20, 1877, and on September 7, 1910, was
united in marriage to Elma Beckenhauer, who was born at West Point,
this state, January 15, 1886. He was graduated from Northwestern Col-
lege at Naperville, Illinois, with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy,
and was later ordained as a minister of the Evangelical Association and
is now engaged in special work in the service of that association. Mrs.
Eliza K. Daeschner died at her home in the neighborhood of Rulo on May
12, 1908. She was an earnest member of the Evangelical Association, as
is her husband, and was ever faitliful in local good works. Mr. Daeschner
is a Republican and formerly and for years was a member of the school
board in his old home district, ever giving a good citizen's attention to
local civic affairs and helpful in many ways in promoting movements having
to do with the advancement of the common welfare.

1256 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

EMERSON L. BOWERS.

A leading farmer and stockman of Liberty precinct, this county, is
Emerson L. Bowers, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, June 26, 1870, a
son of Daniel and Emeline (Beckenhopt) Bowers. The father was born
in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, May 13, 1833, and died on May 23,
1901. The mother was born in Stark county, Ohio, and her death occurred
in 1 881. Daniel Bowers lived in his native state during his earlier years.
He came to Nebraska in 1872 and bought land in Liberty precinct, this
county, on which memliers of his family still live. The land had been only
partly broken and on it stood a small house. He worked hard and in
time had the land well improved and under a fine state of cultivation. He
built a comfortable home and here he spent the rest of his life, becoming one
of the leading farmers of this section of the county, and an influential
citizen. In connection with general farming he raised a great deal of stock,
feeding most of the grain the place produced to his stock, in fact not
much corn has been hauled away from the farm since 1877. A year
or two previous to that date he sold two thousand bushels at twelve cents
a bushel. As late as 1896 he bought three thousand bushels for thirteen
cents a bushel, and in 191 7, his son, Emerson L.. bought twenty-two thou-
sand bushels of com, for which he paid from one dollar and ten cents
to two dollars and twenty cents a bushel.

Six children were born to Daniel Bowers and wife, namely: Mrs.
Ada L. Nulk, deceased; Lois, wife of Fred Heineman, of \'^erdon. Liberty
precinct, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Emerson L..
the subject of this sketch : Impertous I\L, a fanner and stock buyer of
Liberty precinct, a sketch of whom will lie found on another page of this
volume; Mrs. Myrtle Kiefer, who lives in Hot Springs. South Dakota,
and H. Bowers, who lives at Falls City.

Emerson L. Bovvers was reared on the home farm and attended tiie
public schools in Verdon. from which he was graduated: later attending
a business college in Burlington. Iowa. In 1892 he turned his attention
to the live-stock business, which he has followed ever since. He 'and his
brother, Impertous M. Bowers, ship thousands of head of cattle and hogs
from Richardson county to the markets annually. They have been in partner-
ship fo*- many years and are among tlie best-known buyers in southeastern
Nebraska.

In 1902 Emerson L. Bowers bought the home place, on which he has

RICHAKDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 257

made extensive improvements, and has been very successful as a general
farmer, stockman and apple dealer. The farm contains four hundred and
fifty acres. He feeds from thirty to forty carloads of cattle and hogs annually.
There is a large spring on the place, one of the best in the county, which
will water twenty thousand head of stock. He has modern and substantial
imprfnements, everything about his place denoting thrift and good man-
agement He spent three thousand dollars in constructing cement water
tanks. The place is fenced hog tight and a large portion has been seeded
to alfalfa and lilue grass. The place is admirably located for a atock farm,
lying along what was known as the old Deer Creek branch, nine miles
northwest of Falls City. In the early days a tender and nutritious grass
grew along this stream and deer would come from long distances to crop
it, and here '.he pioneers would hunt for tlieir veniswi, which eoiTstitirted
the major portion of their meat for some time, until they could raise their
own meat and get their farms started. In those days the Bowers farm
was one of the favorite camping grounds of the Indians, who often amused
the children f>f the settlers by their customs, and it was a constant source
of wonder for the Bowers children to visit the Indian camps and watch
tlie red men.

Mr. Bovvcrs has a large and well-kept orchard of standard varieties '
I if fruit for this latitude. In 1913 he shipped twenty-five carloads of apples
from his orchard to Minneapolis, Minnesota. At one time he received the
highest price e>er paid for apples in that market. During the past five
years he has sold apples in July. He has sixty acres in orchard, which he
■et out in 191 1. His feed lots cover eight acres. He is a shareholder in
the Omaha State Bank.

On November 18, 1894, Mr. Bower was married to Myrtle Simmons,
a daughter of Columbus and Sophia (Carr) Simmons, natives of Illinois,
in which state they spent tlieir earlier years, coming to Nebraska in 1871,
locating on a farm two miles west of Verdon, in Richardson county. Mr.
Simnidus was Ijorn in Pike county, Illinois, February 3, 1849, and after
devilling his active life to farming died on February 22, 1910. His wife
was l)oni in Ohio, July 24, 1849, ^"^ died on May 10, 191 1. To these
parents two children were born: Myrtle (wife of Mr. Bowers), who was
Ijorn on .\]n[\ 17, 1873, in Liberty precinct, this county, where she grew
to womanhdod and received a common-school education, graduating from
the X'erdon high school, and Cephas D. Simmons, who is now living in
JManchester, Kansas.

Four children liave been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bowers, namely : Her-

1258 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

schel. who was graduated from the schools of X'erdon and Falls City and
is now (191 7), a student in the State University at Lincoln; ^Mildred, who
attei'ded the local schools, and is now also a student in the State University ;
Percy, at home, and Janice, also at home. Mr. BovvRrs belongs to the
BencAolent and Protective Order of Elks at Falls City. He is a member
of the National Stock Growers Association. He holds membership in the
Congregational church.

LOUIS FINCK.

Louis F^inck, proprietor of a well-kept farm of one hundretl and sixty
acres in section 18 of the precinct of Arago. this county, was born on
that farm and has lived there or in that neighborhood all his life. He
was born on January 17, 1874, a son of Fred and Sophia (Tilk) Finck,
natives of Germany and pioneers of this county, further and fitting men-
tion of whom is made elsewhere in this volume.

Fred Finck was a Mecklenburger. Ixjrn on January 12, 1830, and grew
to manhood in his native land, becoming a wagon-maker. Upon coming
to this country he settled in Illinois, but in pioneer times came to Nebraska
and settled in Arago precinct, this county, having lieen here at the time of the
Indian uprising. He bought a tract of land in that precinct and there devel-
oped a good piece of property, remaining there the rest of his life, his death
occurring on July 14, 1893. He and his wife were the parents of seven
•children, of whom five are still living, those besides the. subject of this sketch
being Wilhelmina, who married Fred Bahr and is now living at Barada:
Fred P. Finck. a farmer of Arago precinct; John, of Barada precinct, and
Mrs. Sophia Neimeyer, of the precinct of Ohio.

Reared on the home farm in Arago precinct. Louis Finck received his
schooling in the little old log school house which did .service in that neigh-
borhood during the days of his boyhood, and from the days of his early
youth was a valued aid in the labors of developing and improving the home
place and has always l^een a farmer. He was married when twenty-one
years of age and then rented a part of the home farm and began farming on
his own account about three years later buying the farm on which he is now-
living and where he ever since has made his home, one hundred and sixty
acres of the old home place. Since talcing possession of that place Mr.
I'inck has made extensive improvements in the wa\- of building new build-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I259

ings and remodeling old ones and now has a well-iniproNcd farm and a well-
kept farm plant.

Mr. Finck has been twice married. In 1895 ^e was united in marriage
to Alvine Litzke, a daughter of Henry and Adaline (r>omke) Litzke,
natives of Germany and residents of Richardson count}-, further and fitting
mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume, and to that union one
child was born, a son, Henry, who is at home, a valued aid to his father in
the work of the farm. Following the death of Mrs. Alvine Finck, ^Ir. Finck
married. September 13, 1901, Emma Jordin, who was born in the neighbor-
ing state of Missouri on May 19, 1874. daughter of Henry and Dora ( Kol-
man) Jordin, who are now living in the precinct of East Barada. this count}-.
Mr. and Mrs. Finck have a pleasant home and take a proper part in the
general social activities of the community in which the}- live and in which
Mr. Finck has lived all his life.

HENRY GERDES.

In examining the life records of self-made men it will invariably be
found that indefatigable industry has constituted the basis of their success.
True, there are other elements which enter in and conserve the advance-
ment of personal interests — such as perseverance, discrimination and mas-
tering of expedients; but the foundation of all achievement is earnest, per-
sistent lalx)r. It seems that Henry Gerdes, a member of the board of com-
missioners of state institutions, formerly a leading agriculturist of Rich-
ardson county and a former representative from this county in the state
Legislature, now a citizen of the city of Lincoln, realized this fact when a
boy and it has had much to do with .shaping his subsequent career.

Henry Gerdes was 1x)rn on December 22, 1855, in McHenry county.
Illinois, a son of William and Hannah (Fricke) Gerdes, natives of the
kingdom of Holland, the former of whom was born on May 7, 1820, and
died on December 20, 1904. When a young man William Gerdes immi-
grated to America and located in Illinois, where he married. He lived in
McHenry county, Illinois, for a number of years and later resided in Van-
dalia, that state, where his wife died. Two of his daughters also died
there. He married his second wife in 1862 and during the latter part of
that year started for Nebraska, crossiiig the river at St. Stephens on Decem-
ber 18. They were anxious to get across and into a new country on account

126o RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

of the border ruffians and bushwhackers, who were active in that section
of the country during the Civil War. The family was delayed on account
of floating ice in the river. After getting safely across they started for the
home of August Fricke, who had preceded them a week for the purpose
of looking up a location for the two families. William Gerdes was bring-
ing his family and household goods, together with soine of the belongings
of yir. Fricke. in five covered wagons. Mr. Fricke had found a hut for
himself, and he, Mr. Gerdes and his father-in-law cut logs that winter with
which to build log houses tlie following spring, l>efore time to put out crops
for the following season. These families located in Arago precinct, Rich-
ardson county, William Gerdes thus having been among the earliest pioneers
of this county. He and his family endured the usual privations and hard-
ships incident to life on the western plains at that early day, when settlers
were few and trading posts were far remote. He developed a good farm and
established a comfortable home by hard work and perseverance and became
one of the substantial and influential citizens of the eastern part of the county
in that early period of the county's history, and here he spent the rest of his
life and was buried a short distance from his home. Three children were
lx)rn to his first marriage, namely: Martha, deceased; the next child, a
daughter, died in infancy, and Henry, the subject of this sketch. To his
second marriage ten children were born, as follow : Mrs. Caroline J. Koso,
a widow living in Barada precinct; Mrs. Minnie J. Bolinger, a widow, who
makes her home at Grand Island, Nebraska; William, who lives at Morrill,
Kansas; Mrs. Mary Parchen, who lives in Falls City, where her husband
is engaged in the clothing business; Julia, wife of Edward Frauenfelder, of
Verdon, this county; Emma, who lives in Falls City, the widow of Charles
Scoby; Mrs. Amw Egner, -wiio li^'€* -in-Brown- coimty, Kansas ; Fred,
deceased : John, who is engaged in farming in Arago precinct, this county, and
Sophia, wife of H. Vogle, of Arago precinct.

Henry Gerdes was seven years old when he made tlie overland trip in
prairie sch(X)ners from Illinois to Richardson county, and he grew to man-
hood on the homestead in Arago precinct, where, like all pioneer boys, he
worked hard when he liecame of proper age. He helped develop the farm
from the wild prairie sod and in the winter time he attended the primitive
country schools in that vicinity. As a young man he l^egan farming for him-
self in that precinct and then rented land in Ohio precinct, and lx)ught eighty
acre of land with but two hundred dollars for his first payment. In 1888 he
sold this farm and Ijought land one-halt mile north of Barada and improved

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I261

it, and by close application and perseverance became very successful as a gen-
eral farmer and stock raiser, continuing- with gratifying results until 1907,
when he moved to Falls City, residing there until 1913, when he moved to
Lincoln, where he has since made his home. He is owner of two hundred
acres of valuable and well-improved farming land in Barada precinct and
also considerable well-located city property in Falls City. He was one of the
organizers of the Barada State Bank of Barada, has been a heavy stock-
holder in the same ever since and is now vice-president and a member of the
board of directors of the same. The pronounced success of this sound and
popular institution has been due in no small measure to his counsel and
influence.

On February 17, 1880, at Falls City, Henry Gerdes was married to
Mary Buchholz, who was born in St. Joseph county, Indiana, a daughter of
August and Johanna (Rife) Buchholz. The father was born in Baden, Ger-
many, April 20, 1834, and his death occurred on October 7, 191 1. He left
his native land when seventeen years old came to .\merica and worked as a
farm hand until 1853, when he went to Indiana, in which state he was mar-
ried in 1858. He had learned the cooper's trade when young and this he
followed in Indiana, in which state he continued to make his home until 1865,
when he came to Nebraska, being among the early pioneers of Richardson
county, and here he became a leading- farmer, owning seven hundred acres of
excellent land in Barada precinct. He carried on general farming and stock
raising on an extensive scale there until 1895, when he retired from active
life and moved to Falls City, where his death occurred. The moUier of Airs.
Gerdes, who was known in her maidenhood as Johanna Rife, was bom on
August 15, 1838, in Wurtemburg, Germany and she died on Alay 11, 191 7.
She was nine years old when she left her native land with her parents, the
family crossing the Atlantic for America. They located in Indiana.

Mrs. Gerdes was born on January 20, 1859. and is the eldest of a family
of thirteen children, nine of whom are living at this writing-. She was edu-
cated in the public schools of her community and was reared on the home
farm, where she worked hard when a girl, both in the home and in the
fields. To Mr. and Mrs. Gerdes tv,'0 children were born, namely : Ada. born
on December i, 1880, who married Cleon Peck on February 11. 1906. and who
died on June 1 1 of that year, just four months to the day after she became a
bride, and Conrad Gerdes, who was born on August 10. 1884. and who now
lives on his father's farm in Barada precinct. These children were reared on
the farm in Ohio precinct and both received good, practical educations.

Henrv Gerdes is a Democrat and he has long been an active and influ-

1202 KICHAUnSOX COUXTy, NEBRASKA.

ential worker in his party. He was a leader in this county in the old Farm-
ers' Alliance party. In 1 890 he wa.s elected representative to the Legislature
from Richardson county, being the only successful candidate of that year on
the local Democratic ticket. This would indicate that he was popular in his
locality and had the confidence of the people. While in the Legislature he
did much for the good of his county and the state, his selection to that respon-
sible post proving the wisdom of his constituents, to whom his record was
highly pleasing in every respect. He introduced the famous farmers' mutual
insurance bill, which became a law in 1891. He made such a splendid and
commendable record during his first term that he was re-elected in 1892 and
served with equal fidelity and ability in the session of 1893. He was returned
in 1896 and served in the session of 1897 and again in 1905, 1909 and in
191 1, serving in all but six terms in the Legislature. He helped elect W. V.
Allen United States senator. He has held numerous local offices, such as
that of chairman of the township Iward. and served as a member of the city
council of Falls City in 1908. He is at this writing a member of the board
of commissioners of state institutions, and was one of the first to be appointed
to a long term (six years) on this board, his appointment having been made
in 1913. He was lioiininated % Governor Mof^head and was elected by the
state Senate. He has discharged his duties in this connection in a prompt,
able and painstaking manner. He is an obliging, well-informed and compan-
ionable gentleman, whom it is a pleasure to meet.

GEORGF WATKLNS.

George Watkins. retired farmer, now living at the village of Verdon,
is one of the i)ioneers from the Buckeye state who found excellent oppor-
tunities in Richardson county, and accordingly took advantage of them. He
was born in Lorain county, Ohio. June 10, 1841. He is a son of Jared and
Lura (Wood) Watkins, both nati\es of Vermont, where they spent their
earlier years, but came to Ohio in an early day, locating their future home
in Lorain county, where they engaged in general farming. Their family con-
sisted of eleven children, three of whom died in infancy and only three of
whom survi\e at this writing. George Watkins is the youngest of the
family.

George Watkins was reared partly on the home farm in Ohio and he
attended school only twenty montlis. In tlie spring of 1852 he moved with

RICIfARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 265

liis parents to Clayton county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming until
f^yi, in which year he came to Nebraska and bouglit two hundred acres of
land in sections 2^ and 26, in East Muddy precinct, Richardson county,
whicli land he still owns. He moved to the farm in April, 1872. There he
carried on general farming and stock raising, specializing as a breeder of
Shortliorn cattle, finally retiring from active life in 1909 and moving ta
Verdon, where he has since resided. He made extensive improvements on
the land. When he came here he had but little capital, but he managed well
and eventually became one of the substantial farmers of his precinct, not-
withstanding the fact that he was handicapped by being crippled from his
eighth year.

On February i, 1865, Mr. Watkins was married to Sarah Jones, wha
was born on March 28, 1844, in Iowa, a daughter of James and Elizabeth
( I*"rancis) Jones, natives of Virginia and Xew York, respectively. They
came to Richardson county in 1874, and spent the rest of their lives on a
farm in Barada precinct and in Verdon. To Mr. and Mrs. \A'atkins five
children were born, named as follow : Carl A., who is mentioned at length
in the following paragraphs: MaJjel, the wife of Sherman Colglazier, who
lives on a farm in Liberty precinct, this county, and uwho is mentioned else-
where in this work ; Winnie, the wife of L. Watkins, of Auburn, Nebraska ;
Homer, wlio is farming in East Muddy precinct, this precinct, this county;
and Roy, who is farming in Barada precinct and lives in Barada. Politically,
.Mr. Watkins is an independent voter. Fraternally, he belongs to the Ancient
I'Vee and Accepted Masons.

Carl A. Watkins, who was Ijorn on January 2, 1867, in Iowa, grew up
1)11 the home farm in Richardson county, and attended district school No. 80,
in Barada precinct. When first starting out in life for himself he taught
one term of school. He worked out as a farm hand for two years and later
rented land in Barada precinct and in East .Muddy precinct. In 1900 he
bought eiglity acres in the latter precinct, which place he improved and later
sold, in 1906. and bought his present farm of one hundred and forty acres
in section 29, of Liberty precinct. He also owns eighty acres in section 31
of Barada precinct. He has kept the place well improved and under a fine
state of cultivation. He built an attractive home and a great deal of fencing.
In connection witli general farming he has engaged in live-stock raising,
l)reeding Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs, having secured the excel-
lent lierds his father owned when he retired from active farming.

.Mr. Watkins was married on June 21, 1900, to .\lilMe Bennett, who

1264 KICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

was horn in Ohio, a daughter of George and Lucinda (Chapin) Bennett,
botli natives of Massachusetts. Mr. Bennett is now making his home at
Verdon with his daughter, Mrs. Loren Corn. Mrs. Abbie W'atkins died on
October 11, igoi, and on January 21, 1907, Mr. Watkins married Mrs.
Jennie (Horstman) Mayfield, a native of Iowa and a daugliter of AVilliam
Horstman and widow of S. M. Mayfield, 1)y whom she had four cliildren,
namely: Clarence, who Ii\es in Hot Springs, Arkansas; Lester, who is farm-
ing in Barada precinct, tliis county; Vivian, who lives in Falls City, and
Alma, deceased. By his first wife Mr. Watkins had two children (twins), a
son and a daughter, Ernest and Edith, torn on October 4, 1901. Politically,
]\Ir. Watkins is a Democrat. He is a member of the Christian church.

ELVA J. DURYEA. ■

Elva J. Duryea, a well-known automobile salesman of Dawson, this
county, also engaged in merchandising at Xims City, this county, was born
on a farm in Speiser precinct, this count>-, September 5, 1865, a son of
Sylvanus N. and Celestia (Claus) Duryea. Sylvanus Duryea was born in
183 1 in Brooklyn, New York, and died in 1877. He was a soldier in the
Civil War. He came to Nebraska, in 1854, making the trip from Penn-
sylvania in a covered wagon, drawn by oxen, bringing his wife and household
goods. He reached his goal on the wild western plains with only three dollars
in money, and he had little of this world's goods. Besides his wagon and
oxen he had only a few pieces of furnishings for his home, a shotgun,
a cow and a dog. The cow had traveled so far that its feet got sore before
it reached Nebraska and Mr. Duryea cut the tops off his boots and bound
them about the cow's feet to protect them. He settled on a claim on Easley
creek. Speiser precinct, this county. Their neighbors were few and far
between and they endured many hardships and privations. The mother
sent back East for some money which she had eamed teaching school, and
applied it on tlieir claim. They built a rude log cabin and began improving
and breaking up the raw land, by perseverance and very hard work tliey
developed a good farm. .At the second call for volunteers for service in
the C\\i\ \\^ar, ^Ir. Duryea enlisted at Falls City, but he was not long in the
service, being sent home on account of sickness. He was found lying on the
prairie and some of his company started to make preparations to bury him,
believing that he was d\ing, l)ut he revived in a few hours. Upon his re-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I26S

covery he rejoined his company and remained at the front until the close of
the war, becoming a brave and etificient soldier. He was promoted for
bravery and became first sergeant in his company. During his absence in
the army he left his wife with neighbors on the south fork of the Nemaha
river. She lived in a log cabin with her two eldest daughters. After the
close of hostilities Sylvanus Duryea returned to his claim and farmed there
until his death. He also was a contractor and bridge builder, building several
bridges in this county. Politically, he was a Republican and took an active
interest in public affairs. He was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist
church. His wife was born in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in 1832, and
her death occurred in 1886. Six children were born to Sylvanus N. Duryea
and wife, namely: Mrs. Nellie Macumber, of Falls City; Mrs. Desdemona
Jenkins, who lives in California; Elva J., the subject of this sketch; Walter
E., who Hves in Nemaha county, Kansas; Mrs. Grace Nuttle, deceased, and
Alice, also deceased.

Elva J. Duryea, who is probably the oldest living native-born citizen
in Richardson county, was reared on the old homestead in Nemaha precinct.
He worked hard when a boy, as did all sons of pioneers, and helped break
up the sod and develop the home farm. When a boy he herded cattle on
the plains a great deal. He received a good education in the early-day
district schools, and in Campbell University at Holton, Kansas, working his
way through college, working all day for his board, and has supported him-
self since he was twelve years old. For sonie time he worked as a farm hand,
and finally bought out the heirs to the home place, which he operated until
1892. in which year he engaged in the blacksmith business at Dawson, fol-
lowing that vocation until 1901, when he returned to farming in Nemaha
precinct; but in 1903, he turned his attention to mercantile pursuits at Nims
City, starting a general store there, which he still operates, enjoying a large
and growing trade. Mr. Duryea was a patron of the automobile from the
first and owned one of the first four machines in Richardson county. He
\\as one of the first machinists of the county to do repair work on auto-
mobiles. In 191 3 he moved his tools to Dawson and began repairing and
selling automobiles, in partnership with Edward Uhri, which partnership
continued successfully until 191 5. since which time Mr. Duryea has been
engaged in the business alone. He handles the Overland car and has built
ui) a very satisfactory business in this line.

On ]">bruary 2, 1887. Elva J. Duryea was married to Amelia P.acon.
a native of Richardson countv, wliere she grew up and attended school. She
(80)

1266 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

is a daughter of Elmer and Sarah (Johnson) Bacon, natives of Pennsylvania,
who settled in this county after the Civil War. Mr. Bacon and four of his
brothers were soldiers in the Civil War, all serving in Pennsylvania regi-
ments. Eight children have been born to Elva J- Duryea and wife, namely :
Myrtle, the wife of Robert Haushan, of Nemaha precinct; Seth M., man-
ager of the Nims City store owned by his father; Lloyd, manager of his
father's garage at Dawson; Earl, who is working in the store at Nims
City; Cecil, a machinist, who works in the garage at Dawson, and Chester,
Dale and Donald, who live in Nims City.

Mr. Duryea is a Republican and was elected county commissioner in
1915. He has also served on the local school board. He belongs to the
Ancient Order of United Workmen.

WILLIAM SHERMAN COLGLAZIER.

Among the citizens of Richardson county who originally came from the
Hoosier state is William S. Colglazier a farmer of Liberty precinct, who was
born in Washington county, Indiana, March 31, 1867, a son of John N. and
Sarah (Combs) Colglazier. The father was born in \\"ashington county,
Indiana, October 30, 1844, and is now living in Florida. He grew up in his
native county, attended school and married there, and engaged in farming in
that county until 1870, when he came to Nebraska, locating on a farm near
Verdon, Richardson county, buying eighty acres. This place is now owned
by H. P. Kelly. Here he engaged in farming until 1885. John N. Col-
glazier was twice married, the last time in 1915, to Mrs. Beck, a widow. By
his first wife he was the father of the following children: Lulu, wife of M.
Jones, a farmer, living on a farm north of Shubert, this county; William S.,
the subject of this sketch ;, Minnie, who married L. Jones and is now deceased,
and Fred, a hardware merchant of Falls City.

William S. Colglazier spent his boyhood on the farm in Richardson
county, having been but three years of age when his parents brought him
from Indiana, and received a common-school education. He began life for
himself when seventeen years old, farming on rented land until 1907, when
he lx)ught his present farm, which was unimproved. He built a house, barn
and other outbuildings, set out trees and made extensive improvements in
general. The place consists of one hundred and sixty acres in section jo.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I267

In connection with general farming he raises Shorthorn cattle and Poland-
China hogs.

On December 24, 1892, Mr. Colglazier was married to Mabel P. Wat-
kins, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of George and Sarah (Jones) Wat-
kins, mention of whom is made in the sketch of Carl A. Watkins on another
page of this work. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Col-
glazier, namely: Harold (deceased), Doris, Enid, Mildred, Minnie, Sarah
and .Arden F. Doris married Clair Brown and lives in Liberty precinct.
Mr. Colglazier is a Republican. He l^elongs to the Modern Woodmen of
America, and he and Mrs. Colglazier are members of the Christian church.

ROBERT E. GRINSTEAD.

There is no positive rule for achieving success, and yet in the life of the
successful man there are always lessons which might well be followed. The
man who gains prosperity' in any vocation is he who can see and utilize the
opportunities that come in his path; an example of this type of man being
Robert E. Grin stead, formerly representative from this county to the state
Legislature and one of the leading citizens of Richardson county, but now
living in honorable retirement in the city of Lincoln, after an exceptionally
successful career as a general agriculturist.

Robert E. Grinstead was born on April i, 1840, in Glasgow, Barren
county, Kentucky, and is a scion of a sterling old Southern family. He is
a son of Philip W. and Angeline (Jones) Grinstead. Philip W. Grinstead
was also a native of Glasgow, Kentucky, where his parents located in pioneer
times in the old Blue Grass state. The date of his birth was 1808. There he
grew to manhood and devoted his active life to farming and surveying. He
owned a large plantation in the South and prior to the Civil War owned a
small number of slaves, but was not of the slaveholding class, and abhorred
slavery. He was loyal to the Union and during the war formed a company
of Home Guards of which he was elected captain. He was killed in his own
home in 1863 by a Confederate soldier and while he lay wounded to death
the home was harrassed and threatened by Rebel soldiers encamped nearby,
his son, Robert E., remaining in hiding. He was an ardent admirer of
Abraham Lincoln and was loyal to the President to the last. Although a
small slaveholder, he believed in the policies of Lincoln. He was an exten-
sive stock raiser. He was a son of Philip and Lucy (Hooker) Grinstead.

1268 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

natives of Virginia. Lucy Hooker was a daughter of Thomas and Sarah
( Guy ) Hooker and she attended school with Henry Clay in \'irginia and was
always interested in the career of the great Kentucky statesman. Angeline
Jones, mother of the subject of this sketch, was bom in Barren county, Ken-
tucky, in 1812, a daughter of John and Polly (Young) Jones. She grew
up, attended school and married in Kentucky. Her death occurred in 1890
on the old homestead, where she had lived for a period of fifty years.

Fourteen children were born to Philip W. and Angeline Grinstead, as
follow; William E., a retired merchant, of Louisville, Kentucky; George R..
a retired farmer of Falls City, Nebraska ; Emily, who married Thomas Depp
and is now deceased; Robert E,, the subject of this sketch; Dr. C. T. Grin-
stead, a physician of Glasgow, Kentucky, who was a soldier in the Civil War,
was wounded in the battle of Stone's River, Tennessee, and who rose to the
rank of lieutenant before being mustered out of the service of the Union;
Mrs. Laura E. Shirley, who lives with her daughter in Horton, Kansas :
Capt. J. P. Grinstead, who was a soldier in the Mexican and Civil Wars and
who died at Salem, thiscotinty; Judge V. H. Grinstead, an attorney, who
lives at Liberal, Kansas; Mrs. Mary L. Stephens, deceased; Mrs. Hattie G.
Harlin, who lives at Davy, Nebraska ; Mrs. Betty C. Murray, who makes her
home in El Paso. Texas; Mrs. Belle Nolan, deceased; Samuel, deceased, and
one child, Mary, who died in infancy.

' Robert E. Grinstead was reared on the home farm in Barren county.
Kentucky, where he worked hard when a boy. He attended school in a log
cabin and in 1864 cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, having been one
out of thirteen in^ his county to vote the Republican ticket in that year. He
always regretted his lack of educational opportunities in his youth and, seeing
the need of a high school at Summershade, Kentucky, he erected a building
there in 1876 to be used as a high school. The same year he was elected to
the state Legislature from the county in which he then lived. He introduced
a bill to alx)lish the manufacture and sale of liquor within one mile of the
school house which he had built, and it l)ecame a law, and today there is not
a saloon in Metcalf county, Kentucky, his w-ork against the liquor traffic
there in the early days having thus had a far-reaching effect. He lias always
been an ardent Prohibitionist and has done much for the cause.

As a boy Robert E. Grinstead learned surveying under his father and
in i860 became county surveyor of Metcalf county. Kentucky. He had sur-
veyed thdusands of acres for the public domain. About 1876 he went to
Texas. From there he intended to go to southern Kansas, but a friend
advised him to go to southeastern Nebraska, for the blue grass grew better

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 269

there. This was inducement enough and he removed to Richardson county
and I)ought a farm south of Dawson, but later moved four miles south of
Humboldt, where he made some extensive improvements, including the set-
ting out of a fine grove of catalpa trees and pecan trees and Chincopin oak>.
the first of the kind in the state. He also planted Ohio blue ash trees. Grow-
ing on his farm are the only pecan trees in Nebraska. Hard maple trees
which he planted are now yielding sap. He also set out other varieties of
trees. He became one of the leading farmers of that locality and also handled
large numbers of live stock. He took an active interest in public affairs and
was soon a leader in his party in this section of the state. Tn 1882 he was
elected representative to the Legislature from Richardson county on the
Republican ticket and was one of the leading members of the sessions of 1882
and 1883, doing much for the good of his county, as well as for the general
good of the state. He was also several times elected county surveyor of
Richardson county. He surveyed the Iowa Indian Reservation in Nebraska
and Kansas for the government, into forty-acre tracts and re-established the
southeast corner of the state of Nebraska. He was regarded as one of the
most expert surveyors ever in this section of the United States, was one of
the five men appointed to survey the drainage ditch in Richardson county
and became its drain commissioner, acting superintendent of all the work on
this ditch, which was quite an extensive undertaking. As a public servant,
Mr. Grinstead always performed his work in an able, faithful and conscien-
tious manner, in a way that rejected much credit upon himself, and to the
eminent satisfaction of all concerned.

In 1 89 1 Mr. Grinstead moved to Salem, where he continued to reside
until 1 91 5. when he moved to Bethany, Nebraska, and in 1916 he located in
Lincoln, where he now resides. In partnership with his son, Philip, and son-
in-law, Prof. R. L. Hoff, he owns a ranch at Alliance, Nebraska, containing
twenty -nine hundred acres in all and known as the "Black Root Ranch." He
is vice-president and treasurer of the company; his son is president, and
Professor Hoff is secretary. They operate this great ranch on an extensive
scale, and are raising great quantities of grain and live stock, besides main-
taining a large dairy herd.

On December 28, 1865, Robert E. Grinstead was married to Fannie
Pool, who was born on November 22, 1840, near Edmonton, Kentucky, a
daughter of John and Eliza (Wren) Pool, natives of \^irginia. and to this
union five children have been born, namely: Philip W., formerly a teacher
in the Fremont, Norfolk and Salem schools, now an attorney of Louisville,
Kentucky, who married Irene Reed, a native of Kentucky ; Pool, who is now

1270 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

deceased, who was at one time owner and editor of the Salem (Nebraska)
Index, the Morrill (Kansas) News, and the Wathena (Kansas) Star, who
died in St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1912; Robert, former surveyor of this county,
for twenty years a soldier now a major in the United States Army, stationed
at Syracuse, New York, and who during the Spanish-American War was
captain of a company in the Twenty-third Infantry, being promoted to the
rank of major of the Fiftieth Infantry Regiment; Emma, wife of Prof. R.
L. Hoff, of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Dr. Wren J. Grinstead. who is a profes-
sor in the State Normal School at Richmond, Kentucky. Dr. Grinstead was
graduated from the Kenton State University with the degree of Bachelor of
Arts, and received the degree of Master of Arts from the State University
of. Kentucky, and the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the State Uni-
versity at Madison, Wisconsin.

The history of the Grinstead family shows that they have been inclined
toward professional life, especially those of the last two generations, and they
are playing well their parts in their respective walks of life. The children of
the subject of this sketch received excellent educational advantages.

Fraternally, Mr. Grinstead is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted
Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. He
is a man of fine personal characteristics, has become well informed as a result
of .wide miscellaneous home reading and close observation and has a host of
friends wherever he is known.

LOUIS J. SEGRIST.

It matters little what vocation a man may select as his life occupation
as long as it is an honorable one. If he is an honest, upright man, courte-
ous in his intercourse with his fellow men, and possessed with the average
amount of energj^ and business sagacity, he is bound to make his business
a financial success. Louis J. Segrist, formerly a resident of Richardson
county, but now owner and manager of the Lincoln Tire and Repair Com-
pany, in the city of Lincoln, evidently possesses the above mentioned require-
ments.

Mr. Segrist was tern in Richardson county, this state, April 25. 1875,
a son of J. C. and Susannah (Simon) Segrist. The father was born on
February 21, 1847, in Bremen, Germany, from which country he came to
America when young and is now living at Humboldt, this county, where he

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 12/1

is engaged in the furniture busniess, in partnership with A. H. Fellers.
He was twelve years old when he left his native land v/ith his motlier
and stepfather, who located in Illinois. In the fall of 1874, J. C. Segrist
came to Nebraska and began farming in Porter precinct, Richardson county,
where he resided until 1882, when he left the farm and moved to Hum-
boldt, where he has since resided. His wife was born in Maryland, July
5, 1849. To their union eight children were born, three of whom are
now deceased; the five living, besides Louis J., the subject of this sketch,
who is the eldest, being as follow : Delia, wife of I. Sheirley, a merchant
of Humboldt; George who lives in Sioux' City, Iowa, a salesman for the
packing plant of Swift & Company, Chicago; Anna, wife of E. C. Colhapp,
of Lincoln, a clerk for a clothing company, and Mrs. Mabel Beurstetta, a
widow, who also lives in Lincoln.

Louis J. Segrist was reared on the home farm in Franklin precinct,
this county, and assisted with the general work of the farm when be became
of proper age. He received his early education in the district schools there.
As a young man he engaged in farming for himself, renting the home
place from his father for nine years. He continued general farming and
stock raising successfully until 1904, when he bought out the M. R. Linn &
Son lumber yard at Humboldt, continuing in that line with very gratifying
resuhs until 1911, when he turned his attention to the automobile business,
becoming associated with the Slama & Davis Company. On April 17, 19 14,
he moved to Lincoln, where he bought out a tire and repair business at
124 South Fifteenth street, which he is now conducting under the firm name
of the Lincoln Tire and Repair Company, carrying a large and complete
stock of tires and tubes, and does a large business both in the sales and
repair departments. He was also one of the organizers of the T. & H. Oil
Company of Ottawa. Kansas, and is vice-president of the company, which
is a very thriving concern, this venture having met with great success.
Sixteen wells are in operation, producing large quantities of oil. It is a
one-hundred-thousand-dollar corporation. Mr. Segrist also owns one thou-
sand acres of valuable land in South Dakota, Nebraska, Wisconsin and
Kansas, besides property in the city of Lincoln. He is a man of rare busi-
ness acumen and foresight, possessing sound judgment, perseverance and
courage. He is also a man of sound business principles, honest and straight-
forward in all his dealings with his fellow men.

On Januarv 12, i8g8, Louis J. Segrist was married to Fannie May
Reynolds, who was born in Princeton, Illinois, a daughter of I. M. Rey-
nolds of Humboldt. Her mother is now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Segrist

127- RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

two children have been bom, Dale and George, both at home with their
parents.

Mr. Segrist is an independent voter. While living at Humboldt he
served as a member of the city council for many years, and while living on
the farm in Franklin precinct, he served as precinct treasurer. He is a
genial and companionable gentleman, who makes and retains friends wherever
he goes.

HON. ARCHIBALD JERARD WEAVER.

The deeds of truly successful men live after them; a life filled with
usefulness and which has been devoted to the accomplishment of something:
worth while to a people is one which never dies. Although several years
have elapsed since the departure of the late Judge Archibald Jerard Weaver
from the midst of earthly things — he yet lives in the hearts and minds of
those who knew him. His career as a jurist and statesman left an impres-
sion upon the historical annals of Richardson county and Nebraska which
time can never efface and which is destined to endure as long as the state
itself. His life work was crowned with success; well educated, vigorous,
a strong man mentally and physically, he made his advent into this growing
community at a period when statesmen of his type and mold were needed
to assist in shaping the destiny and guiding the activities of tlie common-
wealth in the right direction. As a member of the constitutional conven-
tions of 1871 and 1875, hs S^""'^ evidence to his constituents that he was
possessed of ability of a high order, and while still the presiding judge of
the first judicial district of Nebraska, he was called by the people of his
district to represent them in the halls of the national Congress, as tlieir
representative. Here he displayed statesmanship of a pronounced order
Death called him at the zenith of his career, while still in the prime of his
useful life. Judge Weaver set an example of right living, uprightness of
achievement, and progressiveness which has been emulated by his progen}-.
This niemoriam will serve to commemorate for all time to come the story
of the life and deeds of this illustrious Nebraskan.

Archibald Jerard Weaver was bom at Dundaff, .Susquehanna county.
Pennsylvania, April 15, 1843, and was a son of Abram \\'eaver, a native oi
Germany, who left his native land when a youth and settled in Pennsylvania,
there marrying Chloe Coddington, who bore him six children, Andrew J-,
Arvilla, Amanda, Ann, .\l>rafn and .\rchibald T- The senior Abram Weaver

...<^^^,A.^^ ^ ^

RICHAUDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I273

died in 1845 ''"^ the bereaved mother was left in poor circumstances, with
six children to rear to manhood and womanhood. The early life of Archi-
1)ald J. Weaver was thus one of hardship and penury and he knew not the
luxurious upbringing of the younger generation of the present day. When
a small boy he earned his way by doing chores and hoeing potatoes, while
attending tlie village school. After his father's death he made his home with
an elder brother for several years and was generally industrious, wiltingly
performing the tasks allotted him in return for his "keep" and schooling.
By the strictest economy he saved his small earnings and came into pos-
session of a colt which, \Chen sold, assisted materially in defraying his
expenses at Wyoming Seminary, at Kingston, Pennsylvania. While a stu-
dent in the seminary his roommate was Doctor Sprague, the present head
of ^Vyoming Seminary. He and the future instructor were in the habit
of plaving boyish pranks upon their schoolmates when opportunity afforded
and the mood seized them. One of these practical jokes, which the judge
loved to relate at a later day, was occasion of "watering" the supply of
milk, the bovs doing this by milking the seminary cow and then filling the
milk pail with water. They enjoyed very much the complaints of the student
body because of the weak condition of the beverage. At this famous school
Archibald W'eaver met tlie girl who was destined to play an important part
in the molding of his later matured life, in the person of Miss Martha A.
Myers, a student in the seminary,' daughter of one of the oldest and most
influential families of the Wyoming valley. A warm friendship ripened
into love, which later culminated in a happy marriage. Mr. Weaver studied
for three years in Wyoming Seminary and, upon a vacancy occurring in
the facultv through the resignation of a professor, he was tendered the
position and filled the post for three years.

Archibald J. W^eaver's ambition was to become a lawyer, and in keeping
with this laudable desire he entered the law office of Henry HoA^t at Wilkes-
barre, Pennsylvania. His preceptor later l)ecame governor of Pennsylvania.
.\fter studving for some months under the tutorship of Mr. Hoyt he entered
Harvard Law School, studied one year and again resumed his studies with
.Mr. Hoyt. He finally returned to Harvard University from which he was
graduated in due time and, in January, 1869, was admitted to the practice
of law in Boston. Massachusetts. His intention at the time of his admission
to practice had been to locate in Boston, and there practice his profession.
The ladv he married in 1867. however, and the fact that a brother-in-law.
Charles Steele, had located in Nebraska, had their influence in deciding iiis
later course in favor of coming to the great West and there growing up

1274 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

with the new country. The wisdom of this decision was justified by subse-
quent events and the entrance of the future judge almost immediately into
the civic and political life of the young state of Nebraska was prophetic
in its significance, and Richardson county and Nebraska were made richer
by his coming. The party crossed the country by railroad to St. Joseph,
Missouri, thence by steamboat to Rulo, Nebraska, from which river point
they drove to Falls City in April of 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver were
both impressed with the wonderful natural beauty of the country through
which they rode and were likewise pleased with the evident richness of the
country — a fact which later induced Mr. Weaver and his wife to invest
in Richardson county farm lands, thus laying the foundation for the present
fortunes of the family. The future judge bought a farm at Falls City and,
during his first summer he suffered much from fever, but estabhshed a law
office in the embryo city situated upon the prairies north of the Nemaha and
success seemed to come to him from the start. Being gifted with a winning
personality and his powers of leadership impressing themselves upon the
people of the growing community he was selected as a member of the con-
stitutional assembly in 1871, just two years after his advent into the county.
He distinguished himself at the sessions of this assembly and a year later
was elected district attorney, a position which he held for two successive
terms. In 1875 he was again a member of the state constitutional con-
vention and did excellent work in behalf of the people of the commonwealth
in assisting in framing wise and beneficent laws for the government of
coming generations. His next official preferment was that of judge of the
first judicial district of Nebraska, a position which he held for two terms in
succession, resigning his high office to take a seat in the Congress of the
nation, having been elected representative from diis district in 1882. During
his term in Congress Judge Weaver was a member of the important com-
mittee which framed the interstate commerce law and provided for the
commission which has played such an important part in the regidations of
the vast interstate commerce which has developed in these latter decades.
He was re-elected to Congress in 1884, his official term of office expiring in
March, 1887. Not long after this he was seized with pneumonia and died
on April 18, 1887, after a few days illness.

On September 10, 1867, Judge Weaver was united in marriage to Martha
A. Myers, and to this union the following children were born, namely :
Archibald J., who died at the age of two years; Harriet Blanche, who died
at the age of four years; Mrs. Ruth M. Dennis, widow of Prof. David X.
Dennis, of New Jersey, who was principal of tlie Falls City high school

RICI[ARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 275

and who died at Salt Lake City, Utah, while engaged in educational work,
and left two children, David,, an orchardist, of Falls City, who married Alma
Barton, and Ruth M., wife of Walter J. Lewis, of Pasadena, California, and
mother of one child, Evelyn Louise; Arthur J. Weaver, banker and farmer,
of Falls City, who married Maude Hart and is the father of four children,
Maude Harriet, Dorothy Jane, Arthur, Jr., and Ruth Jean; Lawrence ^L,
Spokane, Washington, orchardist in the Yakima valley, who married Lydia
C. Crowell and is the father of seven children, Polly, a graduate of the
Spokane high school; Persis, Mary Elizabeth, John, Margaret, Robert and
Priscilla, and Paul B. Weaver, an extensive farmer, lawyer and orchardist,
of Falls City, who married Anna Crook and is the father of seven children,
Bennett, Archibald Jackson, Mary, Martha, and Lawrence, Christobel and
Doris.

The mother of the foregoing children, Mrs. Martha A. (Myers) Weaver,
was born in Kingston, near Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania; .April 25, 1841, a
daughter of Madison F. and Harriet Mj-ers. Madison F. Myers was born
on February 24, 1810, and died on August 2, 1859. His wife, Harriet
Myers, was born on December 10, 1807, and died on May 2, 1889. They
were united in marriage on May 23, 1833. Both of Mrs. Weaver's parents
were members of old American families. Madison F. Myers, her father,
was born at Utica Mills, Maryland, a son of Michael Myers, who was a son
of Michael Myers, a native of the Rhine province, Germany, who emigrated
to America in 1760. Michael Myers, the first, became a squire in the new
country of his adoption and was a prominent and energetic figure in the early
life of the region where he made a settlement. He had four sons, Lawrence,
Philip, Henry and Michael. Philip Myers married Martha Bennett, born
in Rhode Island, a daughter of Thomas Bennett, a famous patriot and
Indian fighter of pre-Revolutionary days. It is recorded in the annals of
the Wyoming valley that Thomas Bennett, together with his son, Andrew,
and a Mr. Hammond, was captured by a band of savage Indians, with whom
the settlers of the Wyoming valley were in almost ceaseless \\-arfare for many
years. They were taken far into the fastnesses of the wilderness and were
bound in the camp of the Indians and held for possible torture and a slow
lingering death, in keeping with the tastes of their savage captors. In tlie
evening after their captors had feasted and were lying gorged and stupidh'
asleep before a blazing campfire, Thomas Bennett succeeded in loosening his
bonds, killed the guard with a spear and used a gun and a tomahawk on
the others. Hammond seized an ax lying within reach, laid about him lustily,
and Bennett and Hammond in less than two minutes, killed all of the Indians

1276 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

excepting two or three who managed to make their escape, although severely
wounded. The tale of Thomas Bennett's mighty prowess has survived to
this day and is yet told about the firesides of his descendants in the Wyo-
ming valle\'. The members of the Myers family alike distinguished them-
selves in the long struggle with savage red men, and even the women were
noted for their bravery in those fearsome times when the lives of the white
settlers were unsafe. Andrew Bennett, son of Thomas Bennett, fought in
the War of 1812. Michael Myers II, married Elizabeth Fonts. He ami
Lieutenant Lawrence Myers and Philip Myers both served in the Revolu-
tionary War on the Maryland line and fought at the battles of German-
town. Lawrence Myers, after settling in the Wyoming valley, served as
a state deputy sheriff for some years. The children of Madison F. and
Harriet Myers were as follow : Martha Josephine, deceased ; Elizabeth,
born on September 8, 1836, who died on October i, 1836; Thomas Jeffer-
son, deceased ; Miranda, who came to Falls City, the wife of Charles Steele,
an early settler of Richardson county, and who died on February 27, 1890,
an artist and landscape painter of ability, who gave painting lessons to the
people of Falls City; Philip, who died on February 13, 1878, at the age
of thirty-eight years; Martha A., widow of Judge Weaver, subject of this
memorial review; John Summerfield, who died in infancy; Frederick B.,
who died on January 16, 1906, in Pennsylvania; William P., who died on
January 17, 1905, at Falls City, and Jennie Lind, who died on March 9,
1854. Mrs. Martha A. Weaver resides in the home place of the Weaver
family in Falls City and is a remarkably well preserved and intelligent woman,
who takes a keen interest in affairs of the day and loves to dwell upon
the reminiscent and tell of the by-gone days when she and her young
husband came to Falls City to began life in the great and growing Western
country. Mrs. Ruth Dennis, her daughter, makes her home with Mrs.
\\'eaver. In her younger days the literary ability of Mrs. Weaver found
frequent expression in poetical composition of real merit. Mrs! Weaver, in
the course of several years, wrote many interesting and expressive poems,
which are contained in a \nlume and are indicative of decided literarv
talent.

The late Judge Weaver was a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted
IVIasons and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows He practiced the
Christian virtues and was a thoroughly honest, clean-living individual, who
was possessed of a force and strength of character and dominating will
power which elevated him to the front ranks of his fellow citizens soon

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

after his advent into Falls City. He was a forceful and convincing public
speaker, who carried his audience by the clearness of his diction and the
force of a strong personality. Being a scholar and student he was gifted
with the power to express his thoughts clearly and forcibly.

WILLIAM G. NIEMEYER.

William G. Neimeyer, proprietor of a well-kept farm of one hundred
and twenty acres in section 24 of the precinct of Ohio, this county, was born
in that same precinct and has lived there all his life. He was born on Novem-
ber 4, 1869, son of William and Dora (Kuphe) Niemeyer, natives of Ger-
many, who came to Richardson county about 1866, becoming pioneers of the
east central part of the county, and here spent the remainder of dieir lives,
their last days being spent in Falls City.

Upon coming to this county the elder William Niemeyer first settled in
the precinct of Arago, but presently moved over to the neighboring precinct
of Ohio and there established his home in a log cabin, one of the real pioneers
of that part of the county. He broke up his land with oxen and during the
grasshopper scourge made a fight against the insect pests by constructing
large pans, partially filled with coal oil, which he dragged through the fields
scooping up the "hoppers," which were thus destroyed by their immersion
in the oil. He was a good farmer and became one of the well-to-do land-
owners of that section. .After their children were all married and "doing
for themselves," he and his wife retired from the farm and moved to Falls
City, where he died in 1908, eight or nine years after his retirement, his
widow surviving him for three or four years. They were the parents of
four children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of
birth, he having an elder brother, Charles, of East Muddy precinct, this
county; a sister, Alvenia, wife of Gustav Leopold, of Falls City, and another
brother, Henry Niemeyer, of the precinct of Ohio.

Reared on the farm on which he was born, William G. Nieiueyer receixed
his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood and from the da\s of his
boyhood was a valued aid to his father in the labors of improving and devel-
oping the home place, remaining at home until his marriage at the age of
twenty-five years, when he established his home on the place on which he is
now living, renting the same from his father, and at the death of the latter
became inheritor of the same. Mr. Niemeyer has made extensive and sub-

1J~S RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

stantial improvements on his place and has an excellent farm plant, his tract
of one hundred and twenty acres being well improved and profitably culti-
vated. He has a pleasant home and he and his family are very comfortably
situated.

In 1893 William G. Niemeyer was united in marriage to Ida Batrum,
who also was born in this county, in 1873, daughter of Albert and Paulina
(Hepfinger) Batrum, natives of Germany and early settlers in Richardson
county, and to this union seven children have been born, Ernest, Rosa, Her-
man, Amelia, Henry, Emma and August. The eldest daughter, Rosa, mar-
ried Charles O'Hara and is now living in South Dakota. Amelia married
Jacob O. Zimmerman and lives at home. The Niemeyers are members of
the Evangelical Lutheran church and take an .interested part in church work,
as well as in other neighborhood good works and in the general social activi-
ties of the community in which they live. Politically, Mr. Niemeyer is a Dem-
ocrat.

HENRY P. PITTOCK.

The late Henry P. Pittock, who far many years was successfully engaged
in the restaurant business at Falls City and who died there in 1910, was a
native of England, but had been a resident of this country since he was
eighteen years of age. He was born on March 14, 1858, at Deal, in Kent,
son of William E. and Elizabeth (Hicks) Pittock, also natives of England,
the former of whom later became a grocer in the city of London and who
spent their last days in that city. William E. Pittock and wife were the
parents of six children, of whom three came to this country, those besides the
subject of this memorial sketch to come here having been Mrs. Emma Lass,
who died in Galesburg, Illinois, and Mrs. Mary A. Parsons, who is now
living at Ouincy, in that same state.

Reared in his native England, Henry P. Pittock received his schooling
there and remained there until he was eighteen years of age, when he came
to this country to make his home with his sister in Illinois. Not long after-
ward he went to Salina, Kansas, and attended school, going from there to
Seneca, Kansas, where he learned the baker's trade and where he remained
until 1874. in which year he came up into Nebraska and engaged in the res-
taurant business at Falls City. He married the next year and established his
home in Falls City, where he spent the rest of his active life, a successful
business man. In addition to his restaurant business, Mr. Pittock also con-

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 1 279

ducted an extensive gardening business in the vicinity of Falls City. He was
a member of the Methodist church, as is his widow, who still makes her home
at Falls City and was a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows. His death occurred at Lincoln, Nebraska, on January 7,
1910.

On INIarch 14, 1875, about a year after locating at Falls City, Henry P.
Pittock was united in marriage to Alice C. Elwell, who was born at Knox-
ville, Illinois. March 17. 1855, daughter of Abraham and Martha (Elwell)
Elwell, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Ohio, who later
became residents of this county and the latter of whom is still living here,
making her home with her widowed daughter, Mrs. Pittock. Abraham Elwell
was born in Union county, Indiana. May 18, 1827, son of Abraham and
Esther (Coomes) Elwell, natives of New Jersey, the former of wholn was
born in Salem county, that state, August 5. 1790, and the latter, in that same
county. May 28, 1797. The .senior Abraham Elwell died on his farm in the
vicinity of Knoxville, Illinois, March 12, 1880, and his widow survived him
a little more than seven years, her death occurring on that same farm in July,
• 1887. The junior Abraham Elwell was reared on a farm and on February
28, 1849. at Columbus, Ohio, was married to Martha Elwell, who was born
on a farm in the neighborhood of Dayton. Ohio, December 18. 1831, daugh-
ter of John H. and N^ancy (Smith) Elwell. natives of New Jersey, the former
born in Salem county, that state, in 1797, and the latter, January 3, 1806.
Both John H. Elwell and his wife died in Ohio in i860, the death of the
latter occurring on September 24 of that year. After his marriage in Ohio,
Abraham Elwell moved to Indiana and thence to Illinois. In 1859 he, in
compan\- with several other young men, started overland by ox-team for
Pike's Peak and the gold country of the West, but when he reached Nebraska
City he decided that he had had enough of the trail and made up his mind
to seek a home in the Nebraska country. With that end in view he came
south and in Richardson county traded his oxen and outfit for eighty acres
of land one mile east of the present site of Falls City, Salem then being the
county seat, and in the latter village he received the deed to his land. He
tlien returned to his home in Illinois, where he remained until 1868, in which
year he returned to this county with his family. Upon his arrival here he
sold his original "eighty" and bought a tract west of Salem, the place on
which his daughter, Mrs. A. L. Stettler, now lives, and there established his
home, becoming a substantial pioneer farmer. He later became the owner
of a quarter section of land near Chester, now owned -by his son, J. E.
Elwell; an "eighty" near \'alley Falls, Kan.sas, and eight building lots in

Ij8o KICHARDSOX county, NEBRASKA.

Falls City. Mrs. Pittock now owns the Kansas "eighty," besides her com-
fortable home in Falls city. Abraham Eiwell died on August 9, 1909, and
his widow is now making her home with her daughter, ^Mrs. Fittock.

To Henry P. and Alice C. (Eiwell) Pittock five children were born,
namely: \Mlliam E., now a resident of Maiden, Massachusetts; Asa E.. now
a resident of Alaska; Mrs. Elizabeth G. Thompson, of Scotts Bluff, this
state; Mrs. Myrtle A. Heddon, living near Burbank Washington, and Dr.
Harry J. Pittock, a graduate of the Falls City high school and of the Omaha
Medical College, who is now practicing his profession at the State Hospital,
Hastings, Nebraska. Mrs. Pittock is a menilier of the IMethodist church and
has for years taken an earnest interest in church work, as well as in other
local good works.

HON. HUGH OUIGLEY STAVER.

In the memorial annals of Richardson county there are few names held
in better memory than that of the late Hon. Hugh Ouigley Staver^ one
of the pioneers of this county, an honored veteran of the Civil War, former
representative from this district in the Nebraska Legislature, for years one
of the leading farmers and stockmen of the precinct of Salem and at the
time of his death at Salem on September 6, 1897, coroner of Richardson
county. Captain Staver had a very comfortable home at Salem and his
widow is still living in that city, ojae of Richardson county's Ijest-known
old settlers and highly esteemed pioneers.

Hugh Ouigley Staver was born on a farm in Pine Creek township,
Clinton county, Pennsylvania, May 3, 1837, and was of German stock. He
grew to manhood in his native county, receiving his schooling there, and
remained at home until after he had attained his majority, when, in 1859,
he located at Freeport, Illinois, where he was living when the Civil War
broke out. On April 11, 1861, at Freeport, Mr. Staver enlisted in response
to the President's first call for volunteers to suppress the rebellion of the
Southern states and went to the front as a private in Company A. Eleventh
Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. At the end of the tiiree-months service
he re-enlisted in that same command and served with the same until in
November, 1863. Upon receiving his honorable discharge he enjoyed a
month of respite from arms and then on January 8, 1864, re-entered the
service and was appointed first lieutenant of Company K. Sixth Regiment,
United States Heavy Artillery (colored), was soon promoted to the captaincy

HON. HUGH Q. STAYER.

MRS. ELLEN r. STAYER.

RICHARDSOX COUNTY, N"EBRASKA. I20I

of the same, and continued with that command until finall_\- nnistered out
in 1867. During this long period of service Captain Staver served under
Generals Grant, Prentice, Logan, Gresham, McPherson, Sherman, Canb)'
and Howard and participated in some of the most important battles and
engagements of the war, including those of Ft. Henr)-, Ft. Donelson, Cham-
pion's Hill and Shiloh, and received wounds at Ft. Donelson and at Shiloh.
He was regarded as a brave and excellent soldier and officer and had the
respect and confidence of his superior officers and the admiration and loyalty
of his men. ,■ ,

Upon the completion of his military service Captain Staver returned
to Illinois, bought a team and outfit and in that same year drove over into
the then territory of Nebraska and bought a quarter-section of land in section
I of tlie precinct of Salem, in this county, at the same time buying a nearby
tract of timber land, and after his marriage in the following February estab-
lished his home on that farm, remaining there until his retirement from the
active labors of the farm in 188S and removal to the village of Salem, where
he spent his last days in comfortable retirement. Captain Staver was a good
fanner and a successful stockman and developed a fine piece of property
in Salem precinct, his place being widely noted as one of the best-improved
farms in the county and much admired by reason of its fine hedge fences,
productive orchards and general appearance of thrift, the well-kept farm
plant displaying many evidences of the good taste of its owner and his wife.
Captain Staver was ever a loyal Republican and from the very beginning of
his residence in this county was regarded as one of the leaders of that party
in this part of the state. In 1884 he was elected to represent this district
in the state Legislature and served with distinction in the House during
the session of 1885, in his service in the general assembly making a splendid
record, becoming widely known throughout the state. In 1887 he removed to
Salem. In 1891 the captain was appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of
coroner of Richardson county and by successive re-electrons was retained in
that oifice until his death in 1897.

On February 6, 1868, but a few months after his arrival in Richardson
county. Captain Staver was united in marriage to Ellen P. Tisdel, who was
born in the neighborhood of Madison, in Lake county, in the northeastern
part of Ohio. March 24, 1850, daughter of Thomas A. and Lois Day (Gill)
Tisdel, the former a native of the state of Connecticut and the latter of Mass-
achusetts, and both of whom died before their daughter, Ellen, was three
years of age. Thomas A. Tisdel and his wife were both of old New England
(8[)

I2»2 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Stock. The first of the Tisdels in this country came from Lancashire, Eng-
land, and settled in Connecticut, about the year 1700. Thomas A. Tisdel
was born in Wellington, that state, September 13, 1809, and his wife, Lois-
Day Gill, was born at West Springfield, Massachusetts, January 24, 1820.
After their marriage they located on a farm in the vicinity of Madison,
Ohio, not far from the shores of Lake Erie, and there Thomas A. Tisdel
devoted the remainder of his active life to farming and stock raising, his
death occurring there on October 5, 1852. His widow survived him a little
less than a month, her death occurring on November 3 of that same year.
Thus bereft of her parents before she was three years of age, Ellen Tisdel
was cared for in the household of her brother-in-law, James Leverett, and
it was thus that when nine years of age, in 1859, she came to the then terri-
tory of Nebraska with the Leveretts and became a pioneer of Richardson
county. The family made the last stage of their trip by steamer to Rulo
and then drove over to the Salem settlement, where they established their
home. At that time Indians still were numerous hereabout and the friendly
redskins took a warm interest in the little "pale- face" girl from the East
and were openly complimentary in their remarks regarding her beautiful
hair. Ellen Tisdel continued her schooling here, attending the early "sub-
scription" schools, until she was twelve years of age, when she returned
East with the Tisdels and completed her schooling in Madison Seminary
and at Willoughby Collegiate Institute, in Lake county, Ohio, and then began
teaching school. After teaching a couple of terms in her native state she
taught a term in Wisconsin and then in the fall of 1867 returned to Salem,
this county, where she was living at the time of her marriage to Captain
Staver.

To Capt. Hugh O. and Ellen P. (Tisdel) Staver eight children were
born, namely: Aline, deceased; Flora, who married Wilson \'incent and is
now living at Albuquerque, New Mexico; Edith E., wife of Leon Barnes,
of the precinct of Salem, this county; Walter T., of Lincoln, this state;
Carrie Louise, wife of Dr. Robert Henderson, of Rulo, this county; Ruth,
deceased; Hattie B., deceased, and Mrs. Lena G. Dowell, who is living with
her mother at Salem. Mrs. Staver is of Revolutionary descent and for some
time was one of the active workers in the local chapter of the Daughters of
the American Revolution at Falls City. Captain Staver was an active mem-
ber of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic and ever took a
warm interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization. He was a Mason
and was also affiliated with the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias, taking
an active interest both in Masonic and Pythian affairs.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 283

CHARLEY M. GERHARD.

The well-known .stock breeder, Charley M. Gebhard, of Liberty precinct,
near Vernon, this county, is also one of our enterprising farmers. He was
born on December i8, 1862, in Indiana, a son of Adam and Mary (Coons)
Gebhard, who were the parents of ten children, the subject of this sketch being
the sixth in order of birth. The father was born in Germany, from which
country he immigrated to America when young, locating first in Indiana,
where he remained until 1864, when he moved his family to Nebraska, set-
tling in Arago precinct, this county. He later bought raw land in Barada
precinct, which he improved into a good farm. He had learned the carpen-
ter's trade in the old country, and he cut his own logs to build a cabin. He
went through the usual pioneer hardships, but eventually became very com-
fortably established through his industry, the log cabin giving way to a sub-
stantial dwelling in due course of time. Here he spent the rest of his life,
dying in 1901, at the age of eighty years. His widow died in 1903. at the
age of seventy-three years.

Charley M. Gebhard grew up on the farm, working hard w'hen a boy,
like all sons of pioneers, and he attended the old-time district schools in
Barada precinct. He remained with his parents on the farm until he was
twenty-one years of age, when he began work for himself, engaging in gen-
eral farming. In 1904 he purchased his present home farm, which then had
no improvements except a house and barn, neither being very valuable. The
place is now highly improved and on it now stands a modern home and num-
erous substantial outbuildings. Mr. Gebhard owns three hundred and twenty
acres in all, the home place consisting of one hundred and sixty acres in
section i. Liberty precinct. He owns eighty acres in section 18 of Ohio pre-
cinct and eighty acres in section 12 of Liberty precinct. In connection with
general farming, which he has conducted on an extensive scale, he has been
engaged in breeding live stock since 1887 — horses and mules. He has been
a breeder of the famous "Mammoth" jacks, also a breeder of Belgian and
Percheron horses. He formerly kept imported horses, keeping one Belgian
horse nine years. At this writing he has three stallions, five jacks and five
jennets. His fine stock is greatly admired by farmers and stockmen, owing
to their superior qualities, and he has built up a large and lucrative business.

On October 6, 1886, Mr. Gebhard was married to Ella Bauer, a native
of Illinois and a daughter of John and Mary (Kuckock) Bauer, and to this
union six children have been born, namely: Caroline, who died in infancy;

1284 KICHAKDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Mrs. Mary B. Friedly, who lives in Ohio precinct: Minnie, the wife of Fred
Allison, of Liberty precinct, and John, Brj^an and Ferdinand, at home. Polit-
ically, Mr. Gebhard is a Democrat, He belongs to the Lutheran church.

The parents of Mrs. Gebhard were natives of Germany. Mr. Bauer was
born on October 12, 1827, and died in 1906. He left his native land when a
young man and immigrated to America. After spending some time in
Illinois he made the overland trip in a covered wagon to Nebraska, locating
on raw land in Ohio precinct, Richardson county, where, through his industry
and perseverance he developed a good farm and established a comfortable
home. He had married in lUinois. His wife was torn in February, 1834,
and died in 1881, To these parents tifteen children were liorn, eight of
whom are living at this writing.

DAVID DORRINGTOX.

In the memorial annals of Richardson county there are no names held
in better remembrance than those of David and Ann Dorxington, the first
persons to establish a home on the site of Falls City when the townsite was
laid out in 1857 and who have ever been cherished in the affectionate remem-
brance of the people of that place as "the father and mother of Falls City."
Da\id Dorrington was a building contractor and in that capacity performed
a ^•ery substantial service in behalf of the new town in the early years of its
development. He was an energetic, public-spirited citizen and from the very
beginning of his residence at the site of the present county seat exerted his
-energies toward the fullest possible development of the place. For seven-
teen years, or until the accomplishment of the purpose of the villagers, he led
the fight to have Falls City made the county seat and lived to see his pet
project adopted by the people of the county. He was the third mayor of the
town and also held other local offices, in the performance of his public duties
ever preserving a high sense of his obligation to the community and doing all
in his power to promote the l^est interests of tlie community. Intensely
opposed to tlie institution of slavery, he was an ardent "Free-soiler" and
upon the organization of the Republican part}- attached himself to that party
and ever after remained a devoted and earnest advocate of the principles of
the same. Forceful, aggressive and tireless in the advocacy of these prin-
ciples, it is undoubted that he contributed more than did any other one person
toward swinging Richardson county's vote to the Republican column in

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 285

1859. and he after held his place as one of the factors to be reckoned with in
the political affairs of the county. Of the true pioneer type, David Dorring-
ton possessed those distinctive personal qualities so essential to those who
seek to subdue the wilderness and to lay the foundations for the coming com-
munity life, and these c|ualities were permanently impressed upon the com-
munity of which to tliis day he is recognized as having been the "father."

No less potent and forceful influence in the pioneer comnumity in the
days of the beginning of a social order hereabout was that exercised by Ann
Dorrington, wife of David Dorrington, whose beneficent ministrations among
the settlers endeared her to all within the ample radius of those ministrations.
"Mother" Dorrington, as- this gentle and cultured woman still is remembered
bv survivors of the pioneer band in this county, was a woman of refined
cultural development of the same. Possessed of considerable knowledge of
tastes and brought to the new community much that contributed to the early
the simpler forms of the healing art and possessed also of a deeply sympa-
thetic nature, she was a veritable "mother in Israel" in the pioneer neighbor-
hood and for years ministered ably to the sick and dying — no reasonalMe dis-
tance being too great to deter her on these calls of mercy across the open
prairie. Provided with a simple stock of medicinal agents and armed with a
stout walking-stick for protection in possible case of need, "Mother" Dor-
rington visited the bedsides of the ailing pioneers, taking cheer and comfort
wherever she went. She was no less an ardent Abolitionist than was her
husband and in the days just preceding the outbreak of the Civil War the
Dorrington stable, standing apart from the house, was one of the most help-
ful "stations" on the "underground railroad" then in active operation through
this part of the country, while during the sixties many a w'ounded slave
received food, shelter and raiment from her generous hand and was helped
on his flight North. Before coming up into Richardson county the Dorring-
tiins had for a time made their home down in Doniphan county, Kansas. One
evening while "Mother" Dorrington was sitting alone in her cabin door she
was approached by a travel-worn man who appealed to her for protection
from the Aengeance of a tnob which he said was pursuing him. He assureil
her that he was innocent of the crime charged against him by his pursuers,
1nit that it would be death to him if they overtook him. and asked her to
provide him a hiding place. Convinced of the truth of the man's tale, Mrs.
Dorrington gave him shelter and promised him her frail protection. In a
short time the refugee's infuriated pursuers arrived at the Dorrington cabin
and demanded to know of Mrs. Dorrington if a man had passed that way.
"No," she replied. Not convinced by this answer, the men dismounted and

1286 RICirARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

advanced with a view to entering the house and searchint; the premises.
Seizing a kettle of boihng water that happened to be "handy," the intrepid
pioneer woman stood in the doorway an^ cried : "I will scald the first man
that attempts to cross my threshold!" Recognizing that her words were not
a mere idle threat, the men discreetly withdrew and the hidden fugitive pres-
ently was enabled to go on his way rejoicing. Another instance of "Mother"
Dorrington's courage, stoutness of heart and intrepidity of spirit may be
cited. At the time the "Jayhawkers"' were threatening to Ijurn the village
the situation seemed sufficiently serious to warrant the removal of the women
and children to a point of greater security, but Mrs. Dorrington stoutly
declined to be thus sent away, declaring that where her husband and sons
were, there she would stay.

Da^'id Dorrington was a native of England, born in Hertfordshire on
January ii, 1812. He received his schooling there and became a skilled
carpenter and joiner, later locating at Hatfield, the country seat of the ancient
family of the Cecils (Burleigh), and for some years thereafter was engaged
as the head of the mechanical force engaged in remodeling Cecil hall and
the mansion house. In the fall of 1839 he married and in 1842 came to
the United States, locating at Whitesboro, in Oneida county. New York,
where he continued his vocation as a building contractor until the year 1857,
when he came West and settled in Doniphan county, in the then Territory
of Kansas. In that same year he heard of the platting of the Falls City
townsite, not far to the north of where he had settled, and on September
7, 1857, he arrived at the townsite, the only visible evidence of which at
that time was the location stakes, and proceeded to erect a dwelling house
on the place, thus becoming the first householder in the now progressive
and populous city of Falls City. It was not long until other settlers became
attracted to the townsite and as the first carpenter on the ground, Mr.
Dorrington presently had his hands full of contracts. He not only was
extensively engaged in the building way, but he became an investor in farm
lands and was more or less active in other pursuits having to do with the
development of this region and was early recognized as one of the leading
men in this section of the then Territory of Nebraska. As noted in the
introduction to this sketch, Mr. Dorrington was elected third mavor of
the town and in other capacities represented the people in an official wa\',
and was particularly active in his participation in the movement that even-
tually led to the establishment of the county seat at Falls Citv. He had
become an Odd Fellow in 1844, while living in Xew York, and was one

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 287

of the movers in the raising of a lodge of that order in Falls City, having
been a charter member of Falls City Lodge No. 13, Independent Order of
Odd Fellows, which was instituted on September 28, 1869. Both Mr. and
Mrs. Dorrington spent the remainder of their lives in Falls City, ever use-
ful and influential citizens of that place. "Mother" Dorrington died on
June 26, 1879, and her husband survived her two days more than two
years, his death occurring, on June 28, 1881.

On September 15, 1839, at Middlesex, England, David Dorrington
was united in marriage to Ann B. Wood, who was born in Essex county,
England, and to that union were born six children, namely: Frederick M.,
who died at Alliance, Nebraska, January 28, 1903; George E., who died
in 1910; John W., whose last days were spent at Yuma, Colorado; Annie
M., widow of Judge Isham Reavis, of Falls City; William E., a retired
banker, of Falls City and Kittie E., wife of^Edwin S. Towle, of Falls City.

NATHANIEL D. AUXIER.

Nathaniel D. Auxier, county commissioner, farmer and stockman, owner
of two hundred and eighty acres of excellent land in sections 26 and 35,
Liberty precinct, this county, was born on June 21, 1861, in Johnson county,
Kentucky. He is the son of Nathaniel and Hester (Mayo) Auxier, to
whom thirteen children were born, namely: Samuel, deceased: George,
deceased: Julia, who married James Cooley, of Prestonburg, Kentucky;
Mrs. Martha Hager, Missouri; Mrs. Minta Friend, deceased; Andrew,
deceased; Thomas, deceased; James B., deceased; Mrs. Angeline Layne,
deceased; Louise, who died in infancy; Edward E., further reference to
whom is made elsewhere in this work; Nathaniel, the subject of this sketch;
and John David, who was killed in the battle of Salt Works, Virginia.
George was also a soldier in the Civil War and was wounded in the course
of an engagement in Tennessee.

The elder Nathaniel Auxier was a farmer and continued so engaged
up to the time of his death at the age of fifty-three years. He was born in
Johnson county, Kentucky, in 181 2 and died in 1866, when the subject of
this sketch was five years old. Mrs. Hester (Mayo) Auxier, born in Jack-
son county, Kentucky, died when forty-eight years old, her death occurring
at the time her son, Edward E., was born in 1864, and when Nathaniel D.
was three years old.

1288 RICHAKDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Nathaniel D. Auxier, who was but an infant when liis father and
mother died, was reared on a farm with his elder brothers and sisters
and was educated in the district schools of his native state. When . he
had reached the age of twenty years, in 1881, he came to Richardson county
and worked out for two months near Rulo. He taught school for a period
of six years in this county, for one year in Kentucky and one year in
Missouri. In 1887 Mr. Auxier Ixaught eighty acres of land northeast of
Verdon. Having improved the tract he continued to operate the same for
nine vears and then sold out in 1896. In the latter year he bought one
hundred and twenty acres in section 18, Ohio precinct, which he fariued
for ten years and sold in 1906. He then acquired his present farm of two
hundred and eighty acres in sections 26 and 35, Liberty precinct. Since
the purchase of this land Mr. Auxier has made considerable impro\ements
and is engaged in general fanjiing in which he has been quite successful,
his agricultural methods being modern in all essential features. In addi-
tion to his farming operations he is also engaged in the breeding of Poland
China hogs, and, as in his farming operations, he is equally successful in
his hog raising.

On October 24, 1883, Nathaniel D. .Ku.xier was united in marriage to
Pheribe Prichard, daughter of Joseph and Caroline ( Compton ) Prichard,
natives of Kentucky, who in 1865 came to Richardson county and settled
in Arago township. Joseph Prichard died in 1914, at the age of sexenty-
seven years. His widow is now living in Falls City and is now in her seventy-
eighth vear. They were the parents of eight children.

To Mr. and Mrs. Auxier four children have been born, as follows:
Walter T., a graduate of ^'erdon high school and now engaged helping
his father on the farm: Elmer E., now living on the south eighty acres
of his father's farm, married Edna Griffith and the\" are the parents of
one child, a daughter, Alice; Maude, who died at the age of three \ears,
and Ruth, at home, who was graduated from Salem high school.

Mr. .\uxier is affiliated with the Democratic party and has jjeen a
consistent supporter of that party's principles for many years. Since Jan-
uary, 1917, he has been serving as county commissioner and in other ways
he is interested in the welfare of his precinct and count}-. He is a niemlier
of the Christian church and has been elder in the same for some \ears.
He also holds membershij) in the Ancient Order of United Workmen and
in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at \'erdon and takes a keen interest
in these fraternal organizations.

RICHARDSON COl'NTY, NEBRASKA. 1 289

MORRIS FRIEND.

\\'hene\er an attempt is made to write the history of a successful enter-
prise or the worthy career of any man it has been found that abiHty, backed
by energy and push, has been the^basis of it all, and this fact cannot fail to
impress itself upon the writer of history proper or that branch which con-
sists of the biograpliies of tiiose wlio have achieved sufficient distinction to
make the record of their lives of interest to the public. Morris Friend, for-
merly one of the enterprising citizens of Richardson county, but now lixing
in honorable retirement in the citv of Lincoln, after a very successful Inisi-
ness career, owes his success in life to his own fighting qualities — fighting-
ability that overcomes obstacles.

Morris Friend was born on February ii, 1859, in Alsace-Lorraine, a
son of Simon and 'Slary (Levy) Friend. The father was Ijorn in Alsace-
Lorraine. France, October 24, 1826, and his death occurred on March 24.
1899. The mother was torn on January i, 1829, and died on February 8,
1898. She was also a native of France. There these parents grew to matur-
ity, attended school and married. They made their home in .\lsace-Lorraine
until 1886, when they immigrated t(i America and located at Humboldt, this
county, hut removed to Lincoln in 1889. The father lived in retirement after
coming to America. To Simon Friend and wife nine children were born,
seven of whom are living at this writing. Only two of them came with their
parents to Nebraska, the other living children having preceded them to the
L'nited States. They were named as follow: Charles, who died in Europe
in infancy: Mrs. Babette Spear, who died in Bennett, Nebraska; Sarah, who
lives in Lincoln: "Sirs. Nannie Sarbach, who lives in Nebraska City; Morris,
the subject of this sketch: Pauline, who makes her home in Lincoln: Mrs.
Mathilde F'rosh. who lives in Lincoln ; Gus, also a resident of that city, and
Mrs. .\lyne Levy, a resident of Hastings, Nebra.ska.

Morris Friend spent his boyhood in his native land and there received
his education. He immigrated to America in 1876, coming on west to .\tch-
ison, Kansas, where he clerked in the general mercantile establishment of his
uncle, L. Friend. He soon mastered the various ins and outs of this line of
endeavor and in 1880 came to Nebraska and engaged in the general merchan-
dise business for himself, at Humboldt, this county, in partnership with .\lbert
Weiman, with whom he remained two years, at the end of which time he
formed a partnership with Joseph Sarbach, his brother-in-law, later buying
the latter's interest and continuing the business alone until 1893, when lie

I290 RICHAKDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

sold out and moved to Lincoln. He had been successful as a merchant and
built up a large and satisfactory trade with the people of Humboldt and vicin-
ity, always carrying an extensive and carefully-selected stock of goods. His
store would have been a credit to a much larger town.

Upon locating in Lincoln, Mr. Friend turned his attention to a new line
of business, directing the affairs of the Beatrice Creamery Company, of which
he was the organizer and of which he was secretary for a period of fifteen
years. Under his able management and perseverance this venture proved to
be quite successful. He first devoted his time principally to the egg and pro-
duce business. He is still a stockholder and director of the creamery, but
retired from active life in 191 1, having accumulated a handsome competency
through his earlier years of business, having proven to be a man of sound
judgment and keen foresight. These qualities coupled with honesty, prompt-
ness and courtesy in dealing with his many customers, brought a large meas-
ure of material success and at the same time won the respect and good will
of all with whom he came in contact. He owns a large acreage of valuable
farm lands in Wyoming, Texas and Lancaster county, Nebraska, and is
also a shareholder in a number of important corporations.

On January 19, 1886, Morris Friend was married at Atchison. Kansas,
to Minnie Frank, a native of that city, where she grew up and attended school.
She is a daughter of Leon and Matilda (Kohn) Frank, the former of whom
was born in Bavaria, Germany, April 24, 1827, and who died on April 9.
1907. Mr. Frank grew up in his native land and there attended school and
continued to reside until 1848, in which year a large number of his country-
men came to the New World, he being one of them. He located first in Phil-
adelphia, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in the mercantile business. He
came West in i860, and settled in Atchison. Kansas, in pioneer days, and
there he engaged successfully in the mercantile business until 1893, when he
returned to Philadelphia, where his death occurred. His wife, Matilda Kohn.
was born in Wurtemburg. Germany. March 7, 1835, ^"<i she grew up and
was educated in her native land. Her death occurred in Philadelphia on
April 5, 1912.

Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Friend, namel\- ; Mrs.
Gertrude Gugenheim. who lives in Lincoln, where her husband is engaged in
the clothing business, and Victor E. Friend, who lives at home, and is a
sales manager for the Nebraska Material Company. Both children received
excellent educational advantages. After passing through high school they
attended the State Universitv. Morris Friend owns a commodious and mod-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 29 1

ern home at 1845 E street, Lincoln, and also a valuable business lilnck at P
and Tenth streets.

Mr. Friend is an independent voter, and has never been a seeker after
political honors, preferring to devote his attention exclusively to his large
business interests and to his family, being best contented when b\- his own
fireside. Therefore, he has never been much of a clubman, but is a member
of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, in which order he has attained the
thirty-second degree. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias and to the
Inde[)endent Order of B'nai Brith. He has been a member of the Reformed
church for twenty-four years, and is president of the board, and active in
church affairs. He has always been a liberal supporter of the church. He is
also charitably inclined, giving freely of his means to worthy causes, but
always in a quiet way, avoiding publicity as much as possible. He has been
treasurer of the local charity organization for the past fourteen years. He
was one of the organizers of the Richardson County. Association of Lincoln
and has been president of the same since its organization. He is a member
of the Lincoln Commercial Club, of which he was formerly a trustee and
director. Mrs. Friend is an active worker in the Women's Club of Lincoln.
They are both well known and popular in the best circles of Lincoln.

WASHINGTON SAILORS.

Washington Sailors, one of Richardson county's best-known and most
substantial farmers and the proprietor of a fine farm of more than three
hundred acres in the precinct of Barada, is a native of the old Hoosier state,
but has been a resident of this county since he was five years of age and has
thus been a witness to and a participant in the development of this region
since pioneer days. He was born on a farm in Wabash county. Indiana,
April 14, 1865, son of William H. H. and Mary E. (Miller) Sailors, both
natives of that same state, who later became pioneers of Richards(Mi county,
where the former spent his last days and where the latter is still living, now
a resident of the village of Barada.

William H. H. .Sailors also was born in Wabash county. Indiana. Ajiril
9, 1837, son of George W. and Asenath (Scott) Sailors, natives of Penn-
sylvania and pioneers of Indiana, the former of whom died in Indiana in
1852, the latter some years afterward coming to Nebraska, her last days
being spent in the western part of this state. George W. Sailors and wife

1 _'<)_' RICHAknsOX COrXTY, NEBRASKA.

were tlie parents of eight children, of whuni ^\■iHia^l H. H. was the second
in iirder of Ijirth, the others being as follow: John T.. deceased; James A..
now a resident of Sioux county, this state, an honored veteran of the Civil
\\ar and who served for some time as a prisoner in the dreadful Confederate
prison pen at Andersonville, Georgia; Winfield S., deceased: Mahala. who
married ;M. Allison and is now deceased; Andrew J., of Hitchcock county.
Nebraska; Lot G., of Thurston county. Nebraska, and George ^^^, of Hitch-
cock count}-.

Reared on a pioneer farm in \\'abash county Indiana. \\'illiam H. H.
Sailors there grew to manhood and married Alary E. Miller, who was born
in the Cunnersville neighborhood in Fayette county. Indiana, February 12,
1843. daughter of George \Y. and Harriet ( Bloomhardt) Miller, pioneers
of that county, who were the parents of nine children, of whom Mrs. Sailors
was the second in order of birth, the others being as follow : Daniel, a vet-
eran of the Civil War. now deceased ; William T., also a veteran of
the Ci^il \\'ar: Benjamin, who also served in behalf of the Union
during the Civil War and is now living in Lincoln county, Kansas;
Clara, who married J. Henderson and is now deceased; Hulda, wife of F.
Saare. of ^\■ichita, Kansas; Margaret, deceased; Lincoln, deceased; Florence.
deceased, and one w-ho died in infanc}-. Early in the spring of 1870, William
H. H. Sailors left Indiana with his family and came to Nebraska, arriving in
Richardson county on March 8 of that year, and settled on a farm in the
precinct of Barada, where he established his home and was beginning to see
his way clear to the development of a fine bit of farm property there when
the grasshopper scourge swept over this region like a blight. He then would
have gladly suld bis place and got out of Nebraska, but there were no buyers
at that time and he was compelled to "stick it out," which was a fortunate
thing for Iiini, for presently the plains began to smile and his operations pros-
pered greatly. As he prospered he added to his holdings until he became the
owner of seven hundred and twenty acres of land and was accounted one of
the leading farmers and stockmen in that part of the county. Mr. Sailors was a
stanch Republican and from the very beginning of his residence in this county
took an active interest in local civic affairs for .some time sending as a mem-
ber lit the board of county supervisors. He was a member of the Christian
church, as is his widow, and also took a proper part in church work and other
local good works. William H. H. Sailors died on December 5, 1909. and
his widow is now making her home in the village of Barada, where she is
verv pleasantly situated. They were the parents of fourteen children of

RICHARDSOX' COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 293

whom the subject of thii sketch was the third in order of birth, the others
being as. follow ; James T., of Barada precinct; Melissa, who married Robert
Ankrom and is now deceased; Harriet, deceased; John H., of Barada pre-
cinct; Benjamin, deceased; Clara, deceased; Omer, of Barada precinct; Ida,
wife of William Percival, also of the precinct of Barada; Lot, deceased; Fred,
of Cedar comity, this state; William, deceased; Pearl, deceased, and Otis B.,
of the precinct of Barada.

Washington Sailors was not quite tive years of age when he came to
this county with his parents in the spring of 1870 and his youth was spent on
the pioneer home farm in the precinct of Barada, where he grew up thor-
oughly familiar with conditions that confronted the pioneer farmer here on
the plains. After his marriage at the age of twenty-one years he rented a
tract of land from his father and established his home on that purtiun of the
old home place, where he has ever since continued to make his residence and
where he has developed one of the best farm plants in that part of the county.
In 1901 he bought a quarter section in section 9; when the estate was divided
he inherited an "eighty," and he has added further to his holdings until now
he is the owner of three hundred and nineteen acres of well-improved and
profitably cultivated land in sections 22 and 9. He has a modern, nine-room
house, a barn sixty-six by seventy feet in dimensions, and the other impro\e-
ments on the place are in keeping with the same. Until 1894 Air. Sailors
gave considerable attention to the raising of li\e stock, liut has since then
given his chief attention to general farming and is doing very well. He is a
Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has
not been a seeker after public office.

On March i, 1887, \\'ashington Sailors was united in marriage to Ava-
lena Prine, who was born in the vicinity of Indianapolis, in Alarion c mnty,
Indiana, daughter of James P. and Frances (Richard.son) Prine, the former
a native of the state of Pennsylvania and the latter of Marion count\ . Indiana,
who came to Nebraska about 18S1 and settled in Barada precinct, this county,
where their last days were spent. James P. Prine and wife were the parents
of five children, those besides Mrs. Sailors, the third in order of birth, lieing
George B., of Adams county, this state; Emery B., of Pawnee county; Will-
iam H., of Adams county, and one who died in infancy. To Washington
and Avalena (Prine) Sailors have been born eleven children, all of whom are
living save the eighth in order of birth, who died in infancy, the others being
Guy, who is clerking in a store at Barada, and Harry, Ray, Frances, Ben-
jamin, Ruth, Rena, Emery, Laura and Nettie. Mr. and Mrs. Sailors are

12()4 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

members of the Christian church and their cliildren have been reared in that
faith, the family taking a proper part in church work, as well as in other good
works and in the general social activities of their home communitv.

FRED W. HEINEAIAN.

Fred W. Heineman, manager of the Alaust Elevator Company, also
farmer and live-stock buyer, who resides at Verdon, this county, was born
on July i8, 1861, in the principality of Waldeck, Germany, a son of Daniel
and Louise ( Kahn) Heineman, also natives of that country, where they grew
up, married and established their home. They were parents of seven children,
namely: IVIinnie, the wife of L. Schaffer, of Auburn, Nebraska: Henry, who
lives on a farm a mile west of Verdon: Frederick W., the subject of this
sketch; Charles H., a contractor, of Falls City: Louise, the wife of William
Crouch, of Liberty precmct, this county; Lewis, who also lives in Liberty
precinct, and Mary, the wife of F. Bailer, of Exeter, Nebraska. Daniel
Heineman. father of the above-named children, was born in Waldeck on
November 18, 1824, and died on February 20, 1903. He left his native land
in 1864, bringing his family to the United States, locating in Chicago : later
moving to Carroll county, Illinois. About the time of the close of the Civil
War he enlisted in the Union army, but never saw service. He was a stone-
mason by trade and followed that vocation for a livelihood throughout his
active life. -He came to Nebraska in 1872, locating near Falls City, where
he continued working at his trade, later moving to Barada precinct, where his
sons were farming. About 1887 he moved to Liberty precinct and his death
occurred on the place now owned by Henry Heineman. The mother of the
subject of this sketch was born in 1830 and died in 191 3. She and her hus-
Ijand were members of the Lutheran church.

Fred W. Heineman was three years old when his parents brought him
to America. He was reared on the farm in Richardson county receiving his
education in the district schools, and has always engaged in farming. He
purchased his first farm about 1895, paying fifty dollars an acre for the same,
and is now owner of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable and pro-
ductive land, one hundred and sixty acres in section 1 1 and one Inindred and
sixtv acres in section 16 of Liberty township. He has been quite successful
as a general farmer and stock raiser and his land is under a high state of cul-
tivation and improvement. He has always been regarded as an exceptionally

RICHAKDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I295

good judge of live stock and has bought and shipped stock to the markets for
many years. He is also manager of the Maust elevator at Verdon, which
does a large annual business. Besides cattle and hogs he has also raised a
good many horses from year to year. He moved to Verdon in 1910 and in
February, 19 17, began managing the elevator for the Albert Maust Elevator
and Live Stock Company.

Mr. Heineman is a Democrat and has served on the town board of Ver-
don. He belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. He was married on
August 17, 1886, to Lois Bowers, a daughter of Daniel Bowers. She was
born near Canton, Ohio, in 1868, and came with her parents to this county
when young. Mention of her family is made in the sketch of her brotheiv
E. L. Bowers, appearing elsewhere in this work. Four children have been
born to Mr. and Mrs. Heineman, namely : Meta, the wife of F. Porr, t f
Humboldt, this county, and Gorman, Roy and Keith, who are at home with
their parents.

HERMAN A. FISCHER.

Herman A. Fischer, proprietor of a well-kept farm of eighty acres in
section 18 of Jefferson precinct, this county, is a native of Germany, but has
been a resident of Richardson county since he was seven years of age. He
was born on November 4, 1875, son of Fred and Wilhelmina (Schmundt)
Fischer, also natives of Germany, the latter of whom is still living, now a
resident of Falls City, and who were the parents of six children, of whom two
are still living, the subject of this sketch having a sister, Mrs. Hulda Peters,
who is living in the precinct of Falls City. Fred Fischer was born in 1843
and grew up as a carpenter, working at the latter trade in his native land
until the year 1882, when he came to the United States with his family and
proceeded on out to Nebraska and settled in Richardson county. For some
time after coming here he rented land, on which he engaged in farming, but
after a while became owner of a farm of his own in Liberty precinct and at
the time of his death in 191 1 was the owner of a fine farm of two hundred
acres. His widow is now making her home in Falls City, where she is ver)-
comfortably situated.

As noted above, Herman A. Fisclier was but seven years of age when
lie came to this county with his parents in 1882 and he received his schooling
in the local schools in the neighljorhood of his new home, remaining at home
and assisting his father in the work of the farm until he was twenty-six

Ijy6 . KICHAKDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

years of age, when he rented a tract of land and began farming on his own
account. The next year, in 1903, he bought a quarter of a section of land
from his father in the precinct of Liberty and began to improve and develop
the same. After his marriage in the spring of 1902 he established his home
there and continued to farm that place until 1913, when he sold it and bought
his present farm of eighty acres in section 18 of the precinct of Jefferson,
where he since has resided and where he and his family are very pleasantly
situated. Mr. Fischer has erected on his place a handsome seven-room farm
house, a substantial barn and a fourteen by t\vent}-eight hollow-tile silo, and
in other ways has improved his farm in excellent shape, having now an admir-
able farm plant. He also has some excellent live stock and is doing quite
well in his operations.

On March 27, 1902, Herman A. Fischer was united in marriage to
Alarie Gaede, who also was born in German}-, January 5, 1875. and who came
to this country in 1891 with her parents, Fred and Eliza ( Germer) Gaede.
the family coming on out to Nebraska and settling in Richardson county.
[Mrs. Fischer's mother died here in 1898, at the age of forty-two years. Her
father is still living in this county, past sixty-three years of age, the owner
of a farm of one hundred and twelve acres in Jefferson precinct. Mr. and
-Mrs. Fischer have four children, \'erna, Florence, Celesta and Reuben. They
are memljers of the Evangelical church and take a pro[)er interest in cliurch
work. Mr. Fischer is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attentinn to
local political affairs.

HON. JOHN HENRY ^lOREHEAD.

Ex-Gov. Jiihn Henry Morehead began his career in southeastern
Neliraska as a country school teacher and farm hand. From this humble
beginning he worked his way upward and forward to a iX)sition of dis-
tinction excelled bv few men in this land of opportunity. Coming to Ne-
liraska in the earlv eighties, after having been seized with the "Western
fe\-er." Ins life has been one of ceaseless energy, finally resulting in having
bestowed uitrm him the highest honor within the gift of the people of his
adopted state, that of chief executive of the great state of Nebraska. While
gr\ ernor of the state his conduct of state administrative aft'airs was such
as to reflect credit upon the people whose vote placed him in the office:
and his administration goes down in history as one of the ablest and best

RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I297

which the ])eople of Nebraska have enjoyed since statehood was conferred
upon them. His knowledge of men, his desire to give the people the best
administration w ithin his power, his proverbial honesty of purpose and pro-
nounced abilit\- of a high executive order, enabled him to make an enviable
record as an able executive, whose every act indicated that he had the wel-
fare of the commonwealth at heart. "From the Hills of Barada to the Gover-
nor's Chair,'" might be made the title of an interesting story for the inspira-
tion of future generations of Richardson county young men.

Governor Morehead was born on a farm in Lucas county, Iowa, Decem-
ber 3, 1 861, and is a son of Andrew and Frances (Cooper) Morehead, who
were pioneer settlers in that section of the Hawkeye state. Andrew More-
head was a native of the old Buckeye state, born in 1822. He was reared
to young manhood in Ohio and soon after his marriage he migrated to
Lucas county. Iowa, and purchased a farm, upon which he resided until
1864, after which he spent a year in Ohio, returning t<j Iowa in 1865 and
residing upon his land there until his death in 1889. Andrew Morehead
became a leader among his neighbors and the people of his section of Lucas
county, and filled the office of justice of the peace during his long resi-
dence in his adopted state. He was descended from old Scotch-Presbyterian
stock, liut upon locating in Iowa he became identified with the Christian
L^nion denomination. In politics, Andrew Morehead was a Democrat. Seven
children were born to Andrew and Frances Morehead, as follow : Charles,
wJin is residing in the old home town of the family at Columbia, Iowa;
Mrs. Elizal)eth Dorrell,- deceased ; Ludlow Morehead, a retired farmer living
at Barada, this county; William Morehead. a resident of Jefferson, Iowa;
John Henry, the subject of this review; Mrs. Mary Duckworth, a widow
living at Des Moines, Iowa, and Mrs. Lavina Smith, a resident of Garden
Grove, Iowa. The mother of these children, Mrs. Frances Cooper More-
head, was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, April 3, 1829, a daughter of
Liulk)w ("'loper, a native of Xew York, and an early settler in Ohio, who
fought in the \Var of 181 2. She was descended from an old American
family, her grandfather having fought in the army of independence during
the Revolutionary War. Four brothers of Mrs. Frances Morehead fought
in defense of the Union during the Civil War.

John H. Morehead was reared to young manhood on his father's farm

in Lucas county, Iowa. In common with the children of the neighborhood,

he attended the district school, walking a distance of two miles, the length

of the school term varving during the winter from four to six months.

(82)

1298 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

The little frame school house which the future governor attended was typical
of the times and was furnished with slab benches fitted with pegs for support
and no desks such as came at a. later day. To this school he trudged daily
during the cold winter months and secured such education as was obtainable
in the primitive educational mill. After the district school, in keeping with
the desires of his ambitious parents, he attended a select school at Knox-
ville, Iowa, until he attained the age of seventeen years, then attended a
business college at Shenandoah, Iowa. Thus equipped and blessed with a
good, strong constitution and body he set out for the West in search of
fortune and imbued with the desire to make his own way in the world.
His original intention had been to locate in western Nebraska, but having
friends in Nemaha county, he tarried there for a while in order to make them
a visit. His visit lengthened into a protracted stay and he obtained employ-
ment, teaching school in winter for a time and working as a farm hand in
summer for a few years, in Nemaha county, the adjoining county to the
north. After his marriage in 1885, he located in the town of Barada, in
Richardson county, and engaged in the mercantile business with a small
stock of goods and plenty of energ\- to make a success of the business.
This town proved to be a splendid location for the store and, during the
ten years in which Mr. Morehead was engaged in conducting his general
store at that place the business grew and he managed to lay the foundation
for his subsequent considerable fortune. He invested his surplus in farm
land and branched out into the handling of live stock — a lousiness in which
he is still engaged, his first modest investments in land having been increased
to a total of several hundred acres of land in Richardson county. His
farm, just west of Barada, and which has Governor Morehead's personal
supervision, is one of the most producti\e farming plants in Richardson
county. The love of the soil and of mother nature having been deeply im-
bedded in his soul when a youth he maintains a keen and abiding interest in
agricultural affairs and devotes the greater part of his time and energy to
agriculture and stock raising since retiring from the governor's chair, early
in 1917. Governor Morehead is interested in banking, having been one
of the organizers of the Barada State Bank, of which concern he is presi-
dent, and he is also a director of the First National Bank of Falls City.

Governor Morehead became interested in politics not long after his
advent into Richardson county and the first civic office which he held in
the county was that of town clerk of Barada. which he filled, as well as
serving as town treasurer. He was elected county treasurer on the Demo-
cratic ticket in the fall of 1895, '^"'^l ^^'^^s re-elected to this office in 1897.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1299

In the year 1899 he became cashier of the First National Bank of Falls
City, and while filling this position he served one term as mayor of the city.
His entrance into state politics was signalized by his election, in 1910, as
state senator from the first district. His colleagues gave definite recogni-
tion to his ability by placing him in the position of president pro-tem of the
Senate Upon the death of the lieutenant-governor of Nebraska, in 191 1,
he became lieutenant-governor of the state, in accordance with a provision
of the state constitution. In November, 1912, Mr. Morehead was the candi-
date of liis party for the governorship, and was elected to the office by a
substantial majority. So popular with the people, was his conduct of the
affairs of his high office that he was re-elected to the governorship in 1914-
Upon the near expiration of his second term of office, in 1916, he was peti-
tioned liy twenty thousand citizens of the state to become a candidate for
a third term, but he declined. Very few men have been twice elected gov-
ernor of the state and Governor Morehead was the first executive in many
years to succeed himself — a fact which is the most substantial proof extant
of his successful administration. During his administration the board of
control for state institutions was established and was placed in. working oper-
ation with splendid success.

Governor Morehead's ability to judge men and their qualifications came
in good stead while performing his duties as chief executive of Nebraska,
and he made a record for appointing men of pronounced ability as heads
of the different state institutions, which excels that of any preceding gov-
ernor. The men whom he has appointed to state positions have, in prac-
tically every instance, proved their fitness and ability by zealously attending
to their duties in the interests of the whole people. His record as governor
of Neljraska speaks for itself and future historians will place stress upon
tlie fact that John H. Morehead gave his state an able and conscientious
administration, and that he proved himself worthy of the great trust placed
in him by liis fellow citizens.

On I'eliruary 14, 1885, John H. Morehead was united in marriage to
Minnie Weisenreder, and to this union have been born two children, Dorothy
I,ee Morehead, a graduate of the University of Nebraska and a memljer
of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and Edwin J. Morehead, a
student in the law department of the State University. Mrs. Minnie More-
head was born in Aspinwall, Nemaha county, Nebraska, and is a daughter
of Edward and Minnie Weisenreder, the former of whom was born in
Gernianv and the latter, in Missouri, a daughter of Gemian parents. The
members of the family worship at the Presbyterian church in Falls City.

]300 J<KI1AKI)S(1.\ COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Governor Morehead is affiliated fraternally with the Independent (Jrder
of Odd I'^llows, the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protec»s--e
( )r(ler nf Elks and with tiie Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, being a
nieniliers also of the local comniandery, Knights Templar, and of the Ancient
Arabic Order of Xobles of the Mystic Shrine. Governor .Morehead takes
;l keen interest in local civic affairs, and is ever ready to lend his snpport
tti any ni<j\ement having the welfare of the people and their achancenient
for its oliiect.

JOHN WEBSTER TOWLE.

Signal achievement on the part of the individual is \v(jrthy of specific
and honorable mention; when that achievement is the life work of a native
son of Richardson county of pioneer stock it is well worthy of inscription
in the annals of this county. John Webster Towle, civil engineer and suc-
cessful business man and captain of industry, of Omaha, Nebraska, was born
and reared in Richardson county and received his inspiration for accomplish-
ment far beyond the ordinary during his boyhood days spent here, while
this county and country were developing into the present prosperous section
of the great Middle West. Mr. Towle has made a name for himself in the
most difficult of vocations and is recognized as an engineer of pronounced
ability and attainments. He has become a notable figure in the business
world of his adopted city. Through all of his successes however, he has
never lost his regard and affection for home folks and his native city and
county, and still considers Richardson county as his home.

John W. Towle was born at Falls City, Nebraska, August 28, 1872,
and is a son of Edwin Sargent Towle, dean of the Richardson county bar
and one of the best-known pioneer residents of Falls City. Elsewhere in
this volume a complete^biography of Edwin Sargent Towle is given. The
paternal grandparents of John W. Towle were Samuel S. and Marie (Steph-
ens) Towle, natives of New York state. The Towle family is a very old
American family, the early records showing that one Re\'erend Batchelder,
a minister, founded the town of Hampton, New Hampshire, as earl)' as
1632. Philip Towle, a direct ancestor, who was from England, settled in
Hampton, New Hampshire, in 1640. Members of the Towle family lived
for many years in the towns of Hampton, Chester, and Candia, New Hamp-
shire. They emigrated from New Hampshire to Clarkson, New York, where

JOHN W. TOWLE
EDWIN S. TOWLE

E. H. TOWLE

MRS. E. S. TOWLE

JOHN W. TOWI.E.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I3OI

the grandparents of John W. Towle were born. Edwin S. Towle, father of
the .subject of this review, was born on ]\Iarch 13. 1843, '^^ Mishawaka,
Indiana, whither his parents had emigrated from New York and had become
sul)stantial residents of the community. From Indiana he came to Nebraska
and has since been closely identified with the growth and up-building of
b'alls City, one of the honored and respected pioneer citizens of the commun-
ity and for years actively engaged in the practice of law in the courts of
Richai"dson county and Nebraska. Edwin S. Towle here married Kittie
Love Dorrington, daughter of David and Ann B. (Wood) Dorrington, natives
of Watton, England, who immigrated to America and first settled in New
York where Mrs. Kittie L. Towle was born on January 27, 1849, at Whites-
town. David Dorrington was likewise a pioneer settler of Richardson county,
and further and fitting mention of him and Mrs. Dorrington is made else-
where in this volume. Edwin S. and Kittie L. Towle are the parents of
two sons,- namely: Edwin H. Towle, of Falls City, concerning whom a
biography is herein presented, and John Webster Towle, subject of this
review.

John W. Towle practically grew up with the village and town of Falls
City and he received his primary education in the public schools of his native
city, graduating from the high school in 1889. He then spent a year in
preparatory studies at the Highland (Kansas) University and entered Cor-
nell Uni\ersity, Ithaca, New York, from which famous seat of learning he
was graduated with the degree of Civil Engineer in 1894. After his gradua-
tion he returned to his home city and remained here until 1897. On July
I of that year he took up his residence in Omaha where he has become
actively identified with the business interests of the city. He served as city
engineer of Falls City from 1894 to 1897 and was acting county surveyor
of Richardson county from 1895 to 1897. He became general western agent
for the Canton Bridge Company in 1897, and remained with that concern until
1900. He then embarked as bridge contractor and builder on his own account
and was thus engaged until 1906 at which time he organized and became
president of the Western Bridge and Construction Company, serving in that
capacity until 191 1. In the meantime, Mr. Towle had extended his activi-
ties and had become connected with various industrial corporations, being
an official and stockholder of the following important concerns: President of
the Omaha Steel Structural Works ; president of the Nebraska Bridge,
SuppK and Lumber Company; vice-president of the Concrete Engineering
C<>mpan\-; vice-president of the Independent Lumber Company; president

RICHARDSON TOUNTY, NEBRASKA.

of the Omaha Structural Steel Bridge Company and president of the Towle
Realty Company. After the great qxlone of 1913, which devastated a large
portion of the residential section of the city of Omaha, Mr. Towle was
selected by the relief committee and placed in charge of all reconstruction and
rebuilding operations necessary to restore the devastated sections of the city.
He had supervision of the erection of over seven hundred buildings.

On September 3, 1894, John W. Towle was married to Naomi F. Everts
of Geneva, Illinois, and this union has been blessed with three children as
follow : Marion Ruth Towle, born on July 5, 1895 ; Naomi Everts Towle,
October 6, 1896, and Everts Sargent Towle, April 23, 1903, who died on
April II, 1904. The mother of these children was born at Geneva, Illinois,
March 19, 1873, and is a daughter of James S. and Meta (Warner) Everts,
the former of whom was born in 1844 a"d died in 1908, the latter having
been born in 1848 and departed this life in 1900. They were the parents
of two children, Ruth M. Everts, born on May 6, 187 1, at Geneva, Illinois,
and Naomi F., wife of John W. Towle. James S. Everts organized and
developed the famous "Louieland Farm," which was located southwest of
Falls City and was noted the country over. Further and appropriate men-
tion of Mr.. Everts is made elsewhere in this history.

Mr. Towle takes an active and influential interest in affairs political and
is aligned with the Progressive Republicans. He served as a delegate to the
national conventions of his party held in 1912 and in 1916. He is aflfiliated
fraternally with the Omaha Lodge of Elks and the Alpha Tau Omega — his
college fraternity — and is a member of the following professional societies :
The Omaha Technical Society; the Nebraska State Society of Engineers,
and the Cornell Civil Engineering Society of New York. He is a memljer
of the First Methodist church of Omaha and is at present serving on the
board of trustees of that church.

Although the activities and career of this successful native son of Rich-
ardson county has called him to the Nebraska metropolis, his heart and mind
is still with Richardson county, where he has farming interests which occupy
his attention, and he has always considered this as his permanent home. His
recreations are mainly confined to tennis and golf, and during his college days
at Cornell played on the 'Varsity baseball team and took considerable interest
in other college athletics. Mr. Towle has given evidence of his patriotism
and deep love of country by offering his services to his country as an officer
in the Engineering Corps, for active service in the great World War, and
is expecting a call to Washington at any time.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

JOHN R. SHELLY.

1303

John R. Shelly, postmaster at Preston and for years a well-known mer-
chant in that thriving village, is" a native of the old Keystone state, but has
been a resident of this part of the country since the days of his boyhood, he
having come out here with his parents when he was about nine years of age.
He was born in Montgomery county, Pennsylvania, July 7, 1867, son of
Philip and Lavina (Shutt) Shelly, both natives of that same state, who later
became pioneers of Richardson county and both of whom are still living.

Philip Shelly was born in Bucks county, Pennsylvania, in December,
1843, a son of Christian Shelly, also a native of Pennsylvania, a farmer, who
spent all his life in his native state. Philip Shelly grew up in Pennsylvania
and there married Lavina Shutt who was born in Montgomery county, that
same state. In 1876 he came West with his family and was for some time
thereafter engaged as a farmer and stockbuyer at Hamlin, Kansas, remaining
there until 1880. in which year he came up into Nebraska and started the
townsite at Preston, in the precinct of Jefferson, this county, building the
first store building in that village, and also bought a farm at that site. Mr.
Shelly was made the first postmaster of Preston and continued holding that
office, engaged at the same time in the general merchandise and drug busi-
ness and in the buying and selling of live stock, until his retirement from
business in 1896. He is now living at Sterling, this state, and his wife is
making her home with her youngest daughter at Denver, in Miami county,
Indiana. To Philip Shelly and wife were born nine children, of whom the
subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth and the first-born of
whom died in infancy, the others being as follow: Katherine, deceased;
Martha, wife of Henry C. Zoeller, a well-known and substantial farmer and
stockman of Jefferson precinct and further and fitting mention of whom is
made elsewhere in this volume ; Christian, of Boise, Idaho ; Fred, of Gordon,
this state; Robert, deceased; L'illie, deceased, and Mrs. Lavina Myers, of
Denver, Indiana.

John R. Shelly was about thirteen years of age when his parents settled
at Preston and he finished his schooling there and there grew to manhood,
working on the home farm and clerking in his father's store. When twent\-
one years of age he began farming on his own account and after his mar-
riage in 1893 established his home on the farm and there continued to reside
until 19 10, when he retired and moved to Preston, where he since has been
successfully engaged in the general merchandise business, one of the best-

1304 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

known merchants in that part of the county. In igio Air. Shellv was com-
missioned postmaster of Preston and has since held that nffice, an office his
father formerly and for years occupied. He is a Repuljlican and has ever
given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs.

On August 15, 1893, John R. Shelly was united in marriage to Louisa
Pyle, who was born on a pioneer farm in the neighborhood of Falls City, this
county, August 2, 1870, daughter of Elbridge and Mary (Painter) Pyle,
natives of Illinois, who came to Nebraska in 1870 and settled in this county,
becoming pioneers of the precinct of Jefferson, where Mrs. Pyle spent her
last days. Mr. Pyle is now living at Preston. Mr. and Mrs. Shellv have
four children, Evelyn, who is at home; Lucile, wife of G. L. Waggoner, of
Wymore, this state, and Irvin and Byron, at home. The Shellys have a very
pleasant home at Preston and take an interested part in the general social
activities of the village and of the communit}- at large. Mr. Shelly is a mem-
ber of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd. Fellows at Rulo and
of the Falls City lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and
in the affairs of both of these organizations takes a warm interest. In addi-
tion to his mercantile interests at Preston, Mr. Shell}- is the owner of a quar-
ter of a section of well-improved land in Blaine county, this state, and is
quite well circumstanced.

BREVET SIMANTON.

To succeed as a floriculturist requires not only infinite care and study,
but also peculiar natural al)ility. As a rule it is only those with aesthetic
tastes who follow this delightful occupation. Such a man is Brevet Sinian-
ton, now living in honorable retirement in Falls Cit}-, this county. He was
born on February 16, 1847, in Erie county. New York, a son of Robert ami
Eunice (Wing) Simanton, whose family cbn.si.sted of eight children, the
subject of this sketch being now the only survivor. The father was Ijorn
about 1800. Flis parents were natives of Holland, from which country
they immigrated to America in an early day. settling in Penns\ Ivania. Robert
Simanton was a tanner by trade, also a harness-maker and trunkmaker,
but he was operating a saw-mill near Buffalo, New ^'ork, at the time of his
death, which occurred in 185 1. His wife, Eunice Wing, was born at Cape
Cod, Massachusetts, in 1808 and died in 1892. .She was a daughter of
Andrew M. and Betsey (Hatch") Wing, both natives of Massachusetts.

Brevet Simanton went with his mother to St. Joseph county, Indiana,.

RICItARDSOX COUNTY. NEBRASKA. 1 3O5

in 1855, and there attended school. In iS68 he came to Xeljraska and
located at Falls City, where he followed the painter's trade, which he had
learned before leaving Indiana. He became quite expert and continued his
trade in Falls City until 1887, when he turned his attention to horticul-
ture, raising fruits and vegetables ; later starting a greenhouse as a side line,
on a small scale, his. first buildmg being only eleven by tjj'enty feet. As his
business prospered he later built an addition twenty by thirty-six feet, then
another of forty by eighty feet dimensions. He made a pronounced succesa
in this line of endeavor and enjoyed a trade for a distance of one hundred
luiles on both sides of the railroad, each way from Falls City. Having by
his thrift and good management accumulated a comfortable competency he
retired from active life in 1915. When he first landed in Falls City he had
but two dollars and fifty cents in money. He was succeeded in business b\-
his son, John R. Simanton, to whom he sold out. in partnership with the
latter's brother-in-law, Harry A. Pence, and these two gentlemen are now
carrying on the business on a more extensive scale than it was formerly
conducted, under the firm name of Simanton & Pence. '".Sunnyside Green-
houses."

On June i, 1871, Brevet Simanton was married to Helen 'SI. Bald\Mn,
who was born in Montpelier, Indiana, a daughter of John C. and Rachel
(Waugh) Baldwin, natives of Vermont, and to this union the following
children have been born; Edwin B., who lives in Arizona; John R., who
lives in Falls City; Mrs. Jennie S. Pence, who also lives in Falls City, and
Marion, wife of T. R. Burchard, who lives on a farm in Xemaha county,
Nebraska. Politically, Mr. Simanton is a Republican. Fraternally he belongs
to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a Civil War veteran,
having enlisted in 1864 in the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Indiana
\'olunteer Infantry.

John R. Simanton, mentioned in preceding paragraphs, was Ijorn at
I'alls City on September 5, 1874, and there he grew to manhood and attended
the public schools, graduating from the high school in 1892. He has always
worked with his father, whom he has succeeded in the greenhouse business
and is making a pronounced success. He was married in 1901, to Ethel
Minnick, who was born in Calker City, Kansas, a daughter of Robert
and Sarah R. (Ireland) Minnick, who were early settlers of Richardson
count}-. ]\Ir. and Mrs. John R. Simanton have two daughters. Sarah and
Ruth. Politically, John R. Simanton is a Republican and, fraternallw he
belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ro\al High-
landers.

[306 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

WILLIAM PERCIVAL.

William Percival, proprietor of a fine farm in sections 22 and 23 of
the precinct of Barada. this county, is a native of the state of Illinois, but
has been a resident of this county since he was eighteen years of age, having
come here as a farm hand in 1891, and has gradually worked his way up to
his present well-circumstanced condition. He was born on a farm in Effing-
ham county, Illinois, January 15, 1873, son of John and Sophia (Koso) Per-
cival, both of whom were of European birth, the former a native of the city
of Manchester, England, and the latter of the grand duchy of Mecklenburg-
Schwerin, whose last days were spent in Illinois.

John Percival was born on June 28, 1835, and remained in his native
England until about 1861, when he came to this countrv and not long after-
ward enlisted for service in the Union army during the Civil War. serving
until his final honorable discharge, after which he located in Effingham county,
Illinois, where in the early seventies, he married Mrs. Sophia (Koso) Ma-
douse, of that county, widow of Joseph Madouse and mother of Christ.
Madouse, a well-known farmer of the precinct of Barada. this countv. and a
biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume. After
his marriage John Percival continued to make his home in Effingham county.
Illinois, and there spent his last days, his death occurring on May 18. IQ03.
He and his wife were the parents of six children, those besides the subject
of this sketch being George, of Effingham county, Illinois; Fred, of that same
county; Sophia, wife of I. Bailey, of Coles county Illinois; Mrs. Henry
Ruegge, of the precinct of Arago, this county, and one who died in infancy.

Reared on the home farm in Illinois, William Percival received his
schooling in the schools of that neighborhood and remained at home until he
was eighteen years of age, when, in 1891, he came to Nebraska and began
working as a farm hand in Richardson county, receiving a wage of sixteen
dollars a month, and was thus engaged until 1894, when he bought three
horses and some other equipment and rented a farm in the precinct of Ohio,
this county, and began farming on his own accotint. The next year he mar-
ried and continued farming with such success that in 191 1 he was enabled
to buy his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres in sections 22 and
23 of the precinct of Barada, where he has since made his home and where
he and his family are very comfortably situated. Since taking possession of
that place, ]\Ir. Percival has erected a fine new modern residence, and an
ample barn, and has made other substantial improvements on tlie place, his

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I3O7

farm plant now being one of the best in that part of the C(junt\-. Of late
years he has been giving considerable attention to the breeding of Chester
AMiite hogs and is doing very well in his operations.

On September 5, 1895, William Percival was united in marriage to Ida
Sailors, who was born in the precinct of Barada, this county, ilav 16, 1872.
daughter of William H. Sailors and wife, pioneers of Richardson count\- and
further and fitting mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume, and
to this union seven children have been born, Alfred, Elmer, Elizabeth, Rov,
Fern, Theodore and Clark, all of whom are at home. The Percivals have a
very pleasant home and take an interested part in the general social activities
of their home community. They are members of the Christian church and
give proper attention to church works, as well as other neighborhood good
works, helpful in promoting all agencies designed to advance the common
welfare of the community in which they live.

GRANT L. WINDLE.

Grant L. Windle, laundryman at Falls City and proprietor and man-
ager of one of the best-equipped steam laundries in this part of the state,
is a native of Illinois, but has been a resident of Richardson count) since
he was four years of age, having come here with his parents back in pioneer
days. He was born on a farm in the immediate vicinity of the town of
Polo, in Ogle county, Illinois, September 12, 1868. son of ^^'illiam and
Susan V. (Baker) Windle, natives, respectively, of Virginia and of Illinois,
who later came to Richardson county and here spent their last days, honored
and useful pioneer residents.

William Windle was born at Woodstock, Virginia, in 1843. ^"d was
but a child when his parents moved from there to Ogle county, Illinois,
wliere he was reared on a farm and where he was living at the outbreak
of the Civil War. He enlisted for service as a private in the Fortv-sixth
Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and with that command went to
the front. At the battle of Shiloh Mr. Windle was shot through the breast,
the bullet striking just above the heart. When he was able to endure the
journey he was furloughed home and after lying in a hospital for several
months was given his discharge, but upon recuperating from his wound
he re-enlisted and served until the close of the war. Upon the completion
of his military service Mr. Windle returned to Ogle county and there, in

I.^nS RICIIARDSOX COrXTV, XEBRASKA.

1866, married Susan \'. Baker, who was horn in that county in 1841. After
his marriage he estabHshed his home on a farm in Ogle county, in the
immediate vicinity of Polo, and there remained until the spring of 1872,
when he bought a farm in the precinct of Liberty, in this county, and moved
his family out here onto an unbroken prairie farm and here established his
permanent home. He lost little time in bringing that raw prairie farm
under cultivation and it was not long until he came to be recognized as one
of the leading farmers in that part of tlie county. In addition to his general
farming he paid considerable attention to tlie l)reeding of pure-bred Short-
horn cattle and in that line did \er\' well, bis stock for twenty years being
widely known among exhibitors at the county fairs hereabout. Mr. Windle
was an ardent Republican and an active member of the local post of the
Grand Army of the Republic. He died in 1901 and his widow survived
until 191 3. Both are buried in the Steele cemetery at Falls City. They
were the parents of nine children, those besides the subject of this sketch,
the first-born, being as follow: Lillian G., wife of C. H. Heckler, of
Wakomis, Oklahoma; ^Lirl)le, wife of X. A. Morgan, of Center, Colorado;
Edna I., wife of D. \\'. Griffith, of X'enlon, this countv; Charles A., of
Salem, this county; Frank E.. of \A'akomis, Oklahoma; Bert O.. of Dur-
ango. Colorado, and two who died in infancy.

As noted above Grant L. Windle was four years of age when his
parents settled in this county, in 1872, and he grew to manhood on the
home farm in Liberty precinct. He received his schooling in the local
schools and remained at home, a valued assistant to his father in the labors
of developing and improving the home place, until he was twenty-four
years of age, when he rented a farm and for a couple of years thereafter was
engaged in farming on his own hook. He then, in 1894. recognized the
need of a steam laundry in Falls City and in partnership with Wesley
Brooks, started such an establishment there, about three months later becom-
ing sole proprietor of the same, and has ever since been engaged in that
business. As the business developed ^Ir. Windle has continued to add
to his equipment and to his facilities until now he has one of the best-estab-
lished and best-equipped steam laundries in this part of the country. When
he started in business his plant, which was located in a dwelling house,
consisted of a steam washer and extractor, a shirt ironer and a home-made
drver. In May, 1895, his father erected for him a building more ser\ iceable
for his laundry and after that Iniilding was destroyed by fire in 1908 he
erected his present commodious and well-arranged building, equipping the
same w ith a complete and up-to-date plant.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I3C»9

On August 3, 1898, Grant L. Windle was united in marria.i^e Id Clara
Culp, who was born in Brown county, Kansas, daughter of Joseph and
Charlotte (Hersey) Culp, natives, respectively, of Ohio and of Canada,
who came up into Richardson county from Kansas about, i860 and here
Joseph Culp, who was a well-known stock buyer, spent his last da\s. His
widow is now living- at Hooper, Colorado. Mr. and j\lrs. ^^'indle have one
child, a daughter, Thelma, born in 1900. They are members of the Cliris-
tian church and take a proper interest in community good works. 3.1r. \\'indle
is a Republican and has served as a member of the city council. He is
affiliated with the Masonic lodge and with the Elks lodge and takes a warm
interest in the affairs of both of these organizations.

CONRAD BRECHT.

Conrad Brecht, retired farmer, now living at Falls City, where he and
his wife have made their home since moving from their farm in the pre-
cinct of Ohio in 1905, is a native of the Dominion of Canada, but has
been a resident of Nebraska and of this county since he has ten years i)f age,
his parents having settled here in 1867, the year in which Nebraska \\as
admitted to statehood, and he thus has been a witness to and a participant
in the development of this region since pioneer days. He was born on a
farm in Waterloo county, in the province of Ontario, Canada, March 22.
1857, son of Carl J. and Susan ( Hadley) Brecht, natives of Germany.
who became pioneers of this county and here spent the remainder of their
lives.

Carl J. Brecht was born in the grand duchy of Baden in 1826 and \\a^
there trained to the trade of wagon-maker. When he was about twent\-
years of age he came to this country and Ijegan working at his trade at
Buffalo, New York, where he married Susan Hadley, also a native of
Germany, born in 1835, and who was but twelve years of age when she
came to this country with her parents. Not long after his marriage, I'arl
J. Brecht moved up over the line into Canada and located in the cnuntv
of Waterloo, province of Ontario, where he engaged in farming and als^
continued more or less engaged in working at his trade as a wagonmaker.
remaining there for about ten years, or until the fall of 1867, when he
returned to the States and settled in the then new state of Neliraska, the
state just having been admitted to the Union in that year, the date >>i his

I.yO RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

arrival in Richardson county being October 14, 1867. His brother, Bernard
Brecht, had previously purchased a tract of land in the northwest cornet
of the precinct of Jefferson and after his death Carl J. Brecht bought the
place .and there he continued to make his home, developing and improving
the farm, until his death ten years later, in 1877, one of the best-known
pioneers of that neighborhood. His widow survived him many years, her
death occurring on January 9, 1903. They were the parents of nine chil-
dren, eight of whom grew to maturity, namely: Charles J., deceased; Con-
rad, the immediate subject of this biographical sketch; Mrs. Caroline Fenske.
of Hopkins, this state; Harry, a well-known stockman of Falls City pre-
cinct; Fred, of Falls City; Mrs. Catherine Kruse, of Falls City; Peter
M., living retired in Falls City, and Mrs. Elizabeth Schmechle, a widow, of
Hoskins.

As noted above, Conrad Brecht was ten years of age when he came to
this county from Canada with his parents in the fall of 1867 and he grew
to manhood on the home farm in the precinct of Jefferson, completing his
schooling in the district schools of that neighborhood and from the days
of his boyhood proving a valuable factor in the labors of developing and
improving the home farm. When twenty-one years of age he rented a farm
from his mother, his father having died meanwhile, and three years later
bought a tract of sixty acres in the precinct of Jefferson, which he proceeded
to improve and on which he established his home after his marriage in 1882.
He later bought an adjoining "eighty" and continued farming that place
until 1892, when he sold it and bought a tract of two hundred and forty
acres in section 25 of the precinct of Ohio and moved onto the same, mak-
ing extensive improvements on this latter place and there enlarged his opera-
tions in the wa\- of raising Hve stock. Mr. Brecht later bought an adjoin-
ing "eight v'" in section 36 and is thus the owner of three hundred and twenty
acres, a half section, of excellent land and has brought the same up to a
high state of development. In 1905 he and his wife left the farm and moved
to Falls City, where they have a fine home, but he continued to give his
personal attention to the farm until his definite retirement from farming in
191 2. though he continues to hold his old home farm. Mr. Brecht is a
stockholder in the State Bank of Falls City and is also a shareholder in the
Springfield Mnegar Company of Falls City and has other investments of
a profitable character. He is a Democrat and has for years given his
thoughtful attention to local political affairs, but has not been a seeker after
public office.

It was on January 26, 1882, in the precinct of Jefferson, this county.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I3II

that Conrad Brecht was united in marriage to Augusta Schmechel, who
was born in West Prussia, Germany, April 21, 1862, and who was nine
years of age when she came to this country with her parents, John and
Justine (Tesnier) Schmechel, who settled in the precinct of Jefferson in this
county, in the early seventies, becoming substantial pioneer residents of that
part of the county. John Schmechel was born in Prussia on December 12,
1837, and died at his home in this county on July 23, 1907. His widow
is now living at Falls City, past ninety years of age, one of the oldest resi-
dents of Richardson county. She and her husband were the parents of eleven
children, of whom but four grew to maturity. To Mr. and Mrs. Brecht
five children have been born, namely : Frank, who is living on the old home
place in Ohio precinct and who married Rosa Bertram and has one child,
Evelyn Pauline: Mrs. Anna Schindler, also living on the home farm and
who has one child, Wilbur Conrad ; Elizabeth, wife of Charles C. Davis,
postmaster of Falls City, and who also has one child, a daughter, Katherine ;
Caroline, now deceased, who was the wife of James Stewart and who had
one child, Clyde Conrad; and Alfred, battalion sergeant-major on the staff
of Major Herman in the artillery section of the ammunition train with
lieadquarters at lola, Kansas, and who in the fall of 1917 was transferred
to the training camp at Ft. Sill, Oklahoma. Mrs. Brecht is a member of
the Presljyterian church. Mr. Brecht is a member of the local lodge of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and both he and his wife are members
(.f the Daughters of Rebekah and of the Royal Highlanders.

RE\'. P.\UL H.\SLER.

The Rev. Paul Hasler, pastor of St. Ann's Catholic church in Barada
precinct, this county, is a man whom everybody knows and esteems in that
portion of the county, where he is doing an excellent work. He was born
at Muensterberg, province of Silesia, Germany, and he is a son of Joseph
and Bertha (Voegel) Hasler, both natives of Germany, where they g:rew
uj), attended .school and were married. The father was a tradesman in
Muensterberg and he is still residing there.

The subject of this review grew to manhood in his native land and
studied there at the College of Holy Cross in Silesia, also at the Seminary
of St. Gabriel, near Vienna, .\ustria. He came to America in August, hk''
and studied at St. Mary's College, Cincinnati, Ohio. Thus well prepared

1^12 RICHARDSON- COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

for liis chosen life work he was onlained in 1910 at Colunihus, Ohio. Soon
thereafter he came to Nebraska antl took charge of the churches of Gilead
and Alexandria, near Hebron. He was later chaplain of St. Thomas's
Orphanage, at Lincoln, Nebraska, for one year. He came to Salem. Rich-
ardson county, in July, 1914, and has since had charge of St. Ann"s church
and the Salem church. Father Hasler has proven to be an industriou,> and
conscientious worker, is popular among tlie members of his parish and has
greatly strengthened the work of the churcli since coming here. He is a
scliolarly man, unassuming :uid of genial atldress.

HENRY E. WYATT.

Henr}- E. W'yatt, a prosperous farmer and live stock Ijreeder of l''alls
City precinct, is a native-born citizen of this county, a son of old pioneer
residents, who has found Richardson county a good enough place in which
to spend his life, and has seen no need to wander from the land of his
birth in search of opportunities — there being sufficient inducement for him
to remain in his home county and here become a very successful agri-
culturist.

Mr. W'yatt was born on a farm one mile east of P'alls Citw Nebraska,
July 13, 1868, on the old Wyatt homestead ui)On which his father settled
in the year 1859. He is a son of Charles and Rebecca ( Eorney ) \\'\act.
the former of whom was a native of England and the latter a nati\e of
Ohio. Charles Wyatt was born at Sheffield, England, in 1837 and spent
his earlier years in his native land, emigrating to America in 1857 and.
after a residence of a short time in Illinois, he came to Nebraska in 1859.
He bought a farm of eighty acres just east of Falls City, and erected thereon
a small frame house, fourteen by sixteen feet in dimensions and at once
set about improving and breaking up his land. His method of transporta-
tion from Illinois was by oxen, driving the long distance. He also used
oxen in breaking up his land for cultixation during the first year of his
residence here. A few years later lie joined one of the "gold rushes"' to
California and remained employed in the gold mines of the western coa>t
countrv until 1865, when he returned home and settled down to farming
his land. He remained engaged in his farming activities until death claimed
him on January 9, 1879. The mother and children resided on the home
farm until it was sold in April, ic^oi.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I3I3

Charles Wyatt was married to Rebecca Forney in 1867, and this union
was blessed with a family of three sons and two daughters, namely : Henry
E., the subject of this review; Mrs. Mary E. Perry, who died at Hop Bot-
tom, Pennsylvania ; INIrs. Martha Fisher, who lives in Falls City precinct ;
William, who lives in Jefferson county, Kansas, and Joseph, who is engaged"
in fanning near Efifingham, Atchison county, Kansas. The mother of these
children was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, November 26, 1845," and
was a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Brenniger) Forney, who became
pioneer settlers of the Western country. She died on April 22, 1905.

Joseph Forney, father of Mrs. Charles Wyatt, was born on May 19,
1824, in Ohio, and there married Mary Brenniger of Tuscarawas county,
Ohio, in 1851. Soon after his marriage he joined a party of immigrants
who were going to the Western country for the purpose of founding homes
in the new and rich lands of the unsettled prairie regions. The party
made the long journey down the Ohio river by boat and thence up the
Mississippi and Missouri rivers. Severe spring storms weakened the struc-
ture of the steamer which was conveying this party of hardy adventurers
and the boat was wrecked near the site of St. Joseph. The entire party was
forced to land and lived in the open in hastily constructed camps for some
time. The exposure was very hard on the weaker members of the party
and cholera broke out in virulent form. Many died, among them being
the little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Forney. This was a sad culmination
to the long and arduous journey of six weeks which had been tinged with
bright expectations of a home in the new lands which they were seeking.
After much delay they again secured a steamboat, which conveyed them up
the Missouri and they made a landing near Oregon, in Holt county, Mis-
souri. Not long after landing, Mrs. Forney died as a result of the exposure
and hardships to which she had been subjected. Joseph Forney made a
home for his children in Holt county and in 1854 married Louisa Jane
Coon, who had come to Missouri from Richland county, Ohio, in comi>any
with a brother-in-law and his family, she walking almost the entire distance
because of the heavily loaded condition of the wagons which carried her
brother-in-law's effects. In the fall of 1855 this pioneer couple came to
Nebraska and settled on a farm east of Falls City, where Mr. Forney pros-
pered and became well-to-do, and one of the influential men of this county.
For a number of years the Forney home was the only residence between
Falls City and Rulo and the home was used as a meeting place for the
(83)

1^14 RICHARDSON COUXTY, NEBRASKA.

Methodist people of the vicinity, both Mr. and Mrs. Forney being stanch
members of the Methodist denomination. Sunday schools and revivals were
freciilently held in the Forney home. Mr. Forney traded a great deal with
the Indians and was well liked by them until an incident occurred which
caused the wild denizens of the wilderness to shun the Forney home for a
long- time. Once while on a trip to St. Joseph, Mrs. Forney contracted measles
and was left at the home of an Indian. Measles naturally broke out among
the red men and their families in a few days, and they became so frightened
that they refused to go to the Forney home for a long time, believing that the
evil spirit had in some way placed a curse on the place and its occupants.
Mr. Forney lived to be eighty-six years old and his wife attained the age
of eighty-one yearn. Both are historic characters in the annals of Richardson
county.

Henry E. Wyatt, subject of this review, was reared to young manhood
on the Wyatt home farm east of Falls City, assisted with the work of the
farm and attended the district school during the intervals between crops.
He cultivated the farm for his mother until 1894 and then rented the land
on his own account, keeping it well improved and the soil up to standard
by judicious rotation of crops. In 1906 he bought his present farm, the
old Ewalt place, in section 16, just west of Falls City, which consists of
eighty-two acres in Falls City township. This place is well improved, with
a nice residence and good buildings, and is within sight and easy walking
distance of the city. In connection with his general farming activities.
Mr. Wyatt makes a specialty of breeding Jersey cattle and Poland China
hogs, a departure which he began in 1895 ^"d is carrying on very success-
fully. In addition to his thoroughbred hogs and cattle. Mr. Wyatt keeps
a fine flock of White Rock poultry.

On January 11, 1903, Henry E. Wyatt was married to Sallie Whitaker.
who was born in Putnam county, Tennessee, April 23, 1868. Further men-
tion of the Whitaker family will be found elsewhere in this volume. Two
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt, namely: Bessie, who
was graduated from the Falls City high school and is at home with her
parents, and Jennings, also at home.

Mr. Wyatt is a Democrat and is more or less active in local political
affairs, being one of the leaders of his party in Richardson county and
having filled several offices. He served as road supervisor and as chairman
of the Falls City precinct board and in 19 14 was elected to the ofifice of
county supervisor, which position he held until the county goverment was
changed so that a board of county commissioners succeeded the supervisors.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I315

He discharged the duties of these official positions in a faithful and accept-
able manner. Fraternally, ^Ir. ^\'vatt belongs to the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He and Mrs.
Wyatt are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

W. S. LEYDA.

\\\ S. Leyda. mayor oT Falls City and a well-known cigar manufac-
turer of that city, is a native of the old Buckeye state, but has been a resi-
dent of Nebraska since he was a boy and of Falls City since 1889, in
which year he moved down from Weeping Water, where he had been
engaged in railroad service, and engaged in the mercantile business, presently
embarking there in the cigar business and has ever since been engaged ^s
a manufacturer and jobljer in that line, at the same time giving his atten-
tion to local civic affairs, and is now serving his eighth successive term
as mayor of the city, to which office he was re-nominated by acclamation
at a mass meeting in the spring of 19 17.

As noted above, Mayor Leyda is a native of Ohio. He was born
on a farm in Vermillion township, Ashland county, that state, April 5, 1864,
son of Reuben K. and Catherine fSharpe) Leyda, both of whom also were
born in Ohio and Ixith of Pennsylvania parentage, the former a son of James
Leyda. of Irish descent, whose wife, a native of New York, was of Colonial
descent. The Leydas have been farmers as far back as their history in
this country is known to the present generation of the family. In 1881
Reuben K. Leyda left Ohio with his family and came to Nebraska locating
on a farm four miles north of Weeping Water, in Cass county, where he
made his home until his retirement from the active labors of the farm and
removal to Falls City, where he spent his last days, his death occurring
there on October 23, 1910, he then being seventy-six years of age. His
wife had preceded him to the grave more than nine years, her death having
occurred in March, 1902. They were the parents of four children, sons all,
of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth the
others being Tracy, a farmer, living near Murray, in Cass county: John
M., a lawyer at Plattsmouth* and James E., a lawyer at Falls City.

W. S. Le\da was seventeen years of age when he came to this state
with his parents and brothers and settled in Cass county. He had received
excellent schooling in his Ohio home and upon his arrival here became

I316 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

engaged as a school teacher in Cass county, as also did his brothers, and
for three winters was thus engaged, meantime assisting during the summers
in the labors of developing and improving the home farm. He then entered
the railway service and for three years was employed as cashier in the office
of the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company at Weeping Water, at the same
time giving his leisure hours to the study of law under the preceptorship
of Harvey Travis, an attorney-at-law at Weeping Water. In December,
1889, Mr. Leyda's services were obtained by the clothing firm of Herman
Brothers, of Lincoln, to take charge of a clothing store operated by that
firm at Falls City and he moved to that city and for three years was engaged
in operating that store; after which, in 1892, he engaged in that city in the
retail cigar business and was so successful in that line that on January i,
1898, he extended the business to include the manufacture of cigars and
a general jobbing trade in that line and has ever since been engaged in that
business.

Mayor Leyda is a Republican on state and national issues, though he
ever has held himself independent on local issues, and from the days of his
boyhood has taken an interest in political affairs. Upon locating at Falls
City he entered into the political activities of the town and the coimty and
not long afterward was elected city clerk, a position he held for two terms.
He then was elected assessor and held that office by successive re-elections
for four terms, after which he was elected mayor of the city and has been
retained in that office ever since, now serving his eighth consecutive term
of office as mayor of the city. During this long period of administrative
service Mayor Leyda has been mindful of the needs of the city and his
administration has been marked by many substantial evidences of the pm-
gressiveness and public spirit of the chief executive and his council. Among^
the permanent improvements thus made, reference may be made to the
thorough system of concrete sidewalks, the effectual method of letting paving-
contracts, the inclusive extension of the city sewer system and the installa-
tion of boulevard lights on Stone street, the beautiful "White Way" of Falls
City, this latter very marked improvement having 1>een completed and the
"White Way" illuminated on September 27, 1912. During the winter of
1916-17 the high price of coal prompted Mayor Leyda to ask the council for
permission to buy coal for distribution at actual cost to such deserving
applicants for fuel as were unable without painful sacrifices to pay the mar-
ket price for coal. This movement was indorsed by the council and the
Mavor was thus enabled to relieve a measure of the distress that many in

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I317

the city otherwise would have suffered during that long and trying winter.
It was also through his initiative that the local board of associated chari-
ties was organized in that winter and a "tag day" inaugurated, whereby
five hundred dollars was raised for the relief of the more immediate cases
of distress among the poor persons of the city.

On November 15, 1895, W. S. Leyda was united in marriage to Mrs.
Ada A. (McMillan) Ammerman, a widow, of Medina county, Ohio, and
daughter of James McMillan and wife, and to this union four children
have been born, twins, deceased ; Lucilla, who was graduated from Lincoln
University and is now a teacher in Whitman College at Walla Walla, Wash-
ington, and Camille, also a graduate of Lincoln University, who is now a
teacher in the high school at Crete, over in Saline county, this state. Mayor
and Mrs. Leyda have a pleasant home in Falls City and have ever taken an
active and an interested part in the general social and cultural activities of
their home town. They are attendants on the services of the Methodist
Episcopal church. The Mayor is affiliated with the local lodges of the
Knights of Pythias, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent
and Protective Order of Elks, the Modern Woodmen of America and the
Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is high in the councils of Pythian-
ism and is a member of the supreme lodge of that order representative from
the grand lodge of the order for the state of Nebraska.

JACOB FRANKLIN WISSINGER.

The county farm has never had a better superintendent since Richardson
county made provisions for its aged and indigent citizens than it now has in
the person of Jacob Franklin Wissinger. He v\'as born on September 21,
1847, in Washington county, Maryland, a son of Solomon B. and Lillian
(Myras) Wissinger. The father was born in Frederick county, Maryland,
in 1804, and his death occurred on March 18, 1897. He was a farmer and
wood-chopper. He was also handy with tools and made wagon spokes, axe
handles and other articles of a similar nature. His parents were natives of
Germany. He was twice married. His first union, which was with Lillian
Myras, resulted in the birth of two children, namely : George, deceased, and
Jacob F., the subject of this sketch. His last marriage was with Mrs. Eliza-
beth Asterdauch. and to their union five children were born, namely: Mrs.
Ellen Baker, who lives in Wisconsin ; Mrs. Drusev Baker, who lives in Mar\^-

13 18 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

land; Samuel, who was next in order of birth; Joseph, who lives in Wash-
ington county, Maryland, and Scott makes his home in Ogle county, Illinois.

Jacob F. Wissinger was reared on a farm and attended the district
schools. When twenty-one years old he left home and began working on a
farm in Illinois. In 1883 he came to Nebraska and worked on the farm of
John Timmerman, in Richardson county, for five years ; then he married and
rented land until 1902, when he bought one hundred acres in Barada precinct.
He made many improvements on the place, remodeled the buildings and
farmed there successfully until 1914, when he took charge of the poor farm
at Salem at a salary of twelve hundred dollars a year and the use of the land
— one hundred and twenty acres. The place was badly run down when he
assumed charge of it, but he has now brought it up to a high state of improve-
ment and cultivation and is raising good crops of all kinds common to this
locality. He has replaced tlie old fences and gates with new ones, remodeled
the buildings and made a general clean-up, being untiring in his efforts to
make the place sanitary and healthful, as well as inviting and attractive. He
has put up some new buildings of a minor nature and has set out a good
orchard, doing the work himself, the county paying only for the trees. He
has given eminent satisfaction in this work and anyone looking over the place
can readily see that a man of good judgment and industry has its manage-
ment in hand. He sold his own farm in 191 5, but still owns six acres in
Falls City.

On May 7, 1891, Mr. Wissinger was married to Mary Schultz, who was
born on July 21, 1867. in Vermillion county, Illinois. She is a daughter of
Peter and Juhanna (Hoss) Schultz, both natives of Germany, from which
country they came to America when children, with their respective parents,
the families locating in Ohio and Indiana. Peter Schultz was a coal miner.
He died in 191 5 at the age of seventy-five years, havnig made his home with
the subject of this sketch during the last twenty-three years of his life. His
wife died on February 10, 1912, at the age of sixty-nine years. Five children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wissinger. namely : ^^"alter, who is at
home; Ella, the wife of C. Wissinger, of Falls City: Scott, at home; Julianna.
who also is with her parents, and one child who died in infancy.

Mr. Wissinger is a Democrat and has served as a member of the school
board and as road "boss." Fraternally, he has been a member of the Inde-
pendent Order of Odd Fellows for thirty-three years. He also is a member
of the Modern Woodmen of America, a charter memljer of the lodge at
Salem, which he joined twenty-six years ago.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. ^3^9

WILLIAM E. DORRIXGTON.

William E. Dorrington, former mayor of Falls City and a retired banker
of that city, now actively engaged there in the real-estate business, a member
of the J. W. Dorrington Company, which is interested in large tracts of
land in Arizona, is a native of the great Empire state, but has l)een a
resident of this region since the year 1857 and of Falls City since the
year of the establishment of the townsite there, his father, the late Daviil
Dorrington, having been the first householder on the townsite. William
E. Dorrington was born at Whitestown, New York, September 22, 1847,
son of David and Ann B. (Wood) Dorrington, natives of England, and
was not yet ten years of age when his parents left New York in the spring
of 1857 and came West, settling in Doniphan county, in the then Territory
of Kansas. In the fall of that same year the townsite of Falls City was
laid out and David Dorrington came up here from Doniphan county and
established his residence on the townsite, his family joining him there in
the following spring. David Dorrington was a building contractor and
from the very beginning of his residence there took an active part in the
labors of developing the new town and the country adjacent, both he and
his wife becoming such influential factors in the early development of the
place that they are still known in affectionate remembrance hereabout as
"the father and mother of Falls City," as is set out at some length in a
memorial sketch relating to this useful pioneer couple presented elsewhere
in this volume. William E- Dorrington was the fifth in order of birth of
the six children born to his parents, the others being as follow : Fred
M., who early began to operate a store for William Brooks at Falls City,
later was engaged for several years in teaching school, then went to Platts-
mouth, Nebraska, where he engaged in the mail and stage business, his
death occurring at Alliance, Nebraska, in 1899; George E., who made his
home in the new village of Falls City until 1861. when he went to Chicago
and entered the employ of the McCabe packing firm and was thus employed
for several \ears, at the end of which time he returned to Falls City and
was there employed for about twenty years as express agent, later becoming
traveling passenger agent for the Missouri Pacific Railroad, some years
later going to Arizona, where he died in 1910; John W., who for some
time after coming to this region assisted his brother in conducting a mail
route and stage line and in 1862 enlisted for service in the Union army,
a member of the Second Nebraska Cavalry, and at the close of this service

I3'0 RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

went to Plattsnioiith, where he resumed his activities in the stage route,
going thence to Lincohi when the latter place was laid out and remaining
there until 1869, when he went to Arizona as a clerk under Judge I sham
Reavis, of the United States court, and there became a large landowner,
remaining in Arizona until 191 5, when, after a visit to Falls City, he, with
Mrs. Isham Reavis, returned to Arizona, and from there made a trip to
Honolulu, where he died, September 18, 1916; Annie M., widow of Judge
Isham Reavis, of Falls City, and Kittie L., wife of Edwin S. Towle, of
Falls City.

As noted above, William E. Dorrington was ten years of age when
his parents established their home in the new town of T'alls City and there
he spent his boyhood. When a school was organized there he entered the
same, but later entered the school at Plattsmouth and after a year there
took a two-years course in the school at Peru, that later became elevated
to the status of a state normal school, following which he entered Chicago
University and upon completing the course there accepted the position of
station agent for the old Atchison & Missouri River Railroad Company
at Falls City, following Charles Loree, who was the first agent for the
company at that place, and occupied that position during the years 1871
and 1872. He then engaged in the furniture and undertaking business at
Falls City, in association with Mr. Stowe, who a year later sold iiis interest
to W, ;M. Wilson, and was thus engaged until 1894, in wliich }ear he disposed
of that interest. In the meantime Mr. Dorrington had been giving his
attention to various other business interests in Falls City, notable of which
was his connection with the State Bank at that place, of which institution
he was for foiir years president. _Since retiring from the banking busi-
ness Mr. Dorrington has been chiefly interested in the extensive real-estate
undertakings of the J. W. Dorrington Company, Arizona lands being the
principal interest of this company. Mr. Dorrington also for years has
taken an earnest interest in the general civic affairs of his home community
and has long been accounted one of the leaders in the Republican party in
this part of the state. As a member of the city council he for some years
rendered a valuable service in behalf of the promotion of the general in-
terests of Falls City and when later he was elected maj'or of the city he
gave his most thoughful and intelligent attention to the important duties
of. that office.

Mr. Dorrington has been twice married. In 1873 '^^ '^^'i^ united in
marriage to Emma A. Stowe, who was born at Binghampton, New York,
and who had come West with her parents, M. A. and E. A. Stowe, in 1868,

WILI.IAJI E. DORRIXGTOX.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I32I

the family settling at Hiawatha, Kansas, and to that union fi\e children
were born, namely: Mrs. Maude Kuffman, of Lincoln, this state; ^h>. May
Martin, of Omaha; Lillian D., wife of Lieut. E. D. Fisher, of Falls City,
an officer of Company E, Sixth Nebraska Regiment; Ann D., wife of E.
P. Hyson, manager of the Omaha Cold Storage Company, and John \\'..
a well-to-do ranchman in Montana. Mrs. Emma A. Dorrington died in
1900 and in 1905 Mr. Dorrington married Emma W. Wherry, who was
born at Wilmington, Ohio, daughter of Joseph and Phoebe Wherry, who
located in Falls City in 1898 and who are now deceased.' Mrs. Dorrington
is a member of the Christian church and Mr. Dorrington is a member of
the Methodist Episcopal church. They have a very pleasant home in Falls
City and take an earnest interest in the general social activities of the coni-
munitv, helpful in promoting all good movements.

WENDELIN GERWECK

Wendelin Gerweck, one of Richardson county's substantial retired farm-
ers and the owner of nearly four hundred acres of excellent land in the
northeastern part of the county, is of European birth, but has been a resident
of this country since the days of his young manhood and of Nebraska since
1883. He was born in Bichig, amt of Bretten, in the grand duchy of
Baden, on July 5, 1858, one of the twelve children born to Ambrose and
Katherine (Gerweck) Gerweck, both natives of that same country, the former
born in 1820 and the latter, in 1828, who spent all their lives in their natixc
land, the latter dying in 1872 and the former in 1880.

Reared in Baden, Wendelin Gerweck remained there until he was twenty-
three years of age, when, in 1881, he came to this country and for a year
or more thereafter was engaged working as a farm hand in New" Jersey.
He then, in 1883, came out to Nebraska and located in Richardson county,
beginning work as a farm hand on the farm on which he now lives and
which he has owned for years. For three years he worked there, cutting
brush and doing other development work, and then rented a tract of land
in the precinct of East Barada and after his marriage in 1888 established
his home there. In 1894 he bought the tract of two hundred and thirt\-
acres on which he is now living retired, in section 30 of the precinct of
East Barada, built a house and barn on the same and has since brought
the place up to a high state of development and cultivation. He has an excel-

I3-- KICUAKDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

lent farm ])lant and a good orchard and lias long been accounted one of the
well-to-do farmers of that part of the county. In addition to his home farm
ilr. Gerweck owns a cjuarter of a section of fine farm land in section i8 of
the adjoining precinct of Arago and is quite well circumstanced.

Mr. Gerweck has been twice married. In 1888 he was united in mar-
riage to Alary Harner, who also was Ijorn in the grand duchy of Baden, at
Odenheim. in the amt of Bruchsal. and who died without issue. Some
time later lie married Anna Koestel. who was born on June 25, 1875,
at Odenheim. amt Bruchsal, Baden, and who died, leaving eight
children, namely: Louisa, wife of C. Finck, of Ohio precinct; Albert, of
the precinct of Arago; Katherine, wife of J. Cox, of Verdon; Edith, wife
of L. Bauman, of Arago precinct; Joseph, on the home place; Amelia,
wife of Alex Schultz, of Ohio precinct ; Anna, at home, and Anton, on the
home farm. Since 1915 Mr. Gerweck has lived practically retired from
the active labors of the farm, his sons looking after afYairs on his two
farms. He is a member of the Catholic church, as was his wife, and their
children were reared in that faith. Politically, Mr. Gerweck is an inde-
pentlent Democrat and has ever given proper attention to local civic afifairs,
but has never been particularly active as a precinct worker jn the political
field.

BERNARD W. STERNS.

Among the most painstaking and energetic of the younger generation
of farmers in Richardson county is Bernard W. Sterns, of Franklin pre-
cinct. He was born, April 16, 1882, -on -the place where he now lives,
a son of Mandron M. and Eliza (Green) Sterns. The father was born
in January. 1844, in New York state, where also occurred the birth of the
mother in April, 1845. They moved to Illinois with their respective parents
and there they grew up, married and made their home until they moved
to .Mi><iiuri and emigration .set in strongly later to Nebraska, making the
JDurnex- tn Richardson county, in 1872, and taking up their residence nn
land in l-'ranklin precinct where, through their perseverance and good man-
agement they dexeloped a good farm and reared their children, four in
numlier. as follow : Walter D. and Floyd B., both of whom live in Cherry
county, Nebraska; Clara E., the wife of John Cornelius, now living in
Canada, and Bernard \\'., the suliject of this sketch.

Bernard W. Sterns grew up on the homestead here and attended the

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1323

common scliools in his vicinity and in the town of Humboldt, later taking
a course in a business college in Lincoln. He has always lived on the home
farm, which he has kept well improved and well cultivated and has made
a success as a general farmer and stock raiser. The place, which belongs
to his father and mother, contams two hundred and eighty acres.

Mandron AI. Sterns, the father of the subject of this sketch, is the
son of Newton and Lucy (Hatch) Sterns, natives of Vermont and New
York state, respectively. The Sterns family is of English descent, the earliest
ancestor in America coming to New England in early Colonial days — in
the year 1630. Newton Sterns was born in 1810. He was a son of Daniel
and Elizabeth Sterns, who located in New York state in 1818. Newton
Sterns moved to Stephenson county, Illinois, in 1845, and there maintained
his home until 1871, when he came to N-ellfaska and located at Humboldt.
He had already become well-to-do and lived a retired life after coming to
Richardson county. His death occurred in 1893. His wife had preceded
him to the grave in 1873. They were parents of the following children:
Mrs. Olive Miller, deceased; Mandron Mason, father of the subject of this
sketch; Jeannette, the widow of L. L. Davis; Wallace and ^^'atson, twins,
the former of who died in Wyoming in March, 1917, but the latter died
in 1878, and Mrs. L. M. Sterns, who lives in Humboldt.

Mandron M. Sterns, after making a comfortable competence in Rich-
ardson county, homesteaded a tract of land in Cherry county, Nebraska,
and now spends his winters in California. He celebrated his fiftieth wed-
ding anniversary on February 28, 191 7, his marriage having occurred in
1867. He has seven grandchildren, namely: Floyd Sterns, Jr., born on
March 30, 1903; Stevens Sterns. December 19, 1904, and Bernardine Sterns,
191 1, children of Floyd B. Sterns; Bessie May Cornelius, born. May 15.
1909, and Joseph Mandron Sterns, October 19, 1910, two children of John
and Clara E. (Sterns) Cornelius, and Ural Sterns and Eula Sterns, chil-
dren of the immediate subject of this sketch. Mr. and Airs. Alandron
AI. Sterns have recently bought property in Humboldt and will make their
future home in Humboldt.

Bernard W. Sterns was married on November 26, 1907, to Opal T.
Wilson, who was born in Richardson county. Nebraska, where she grew
to womanhood and attended school. She is a daughter of Lester C.
and Emma (Schrader) Wilson, natives of Indiana. The mother was a
daughter of Henry C. Schrader, who settled at Barada, Nebraska, in 1868,
among the pioneers. Henry C. Schrader built one of the first residences
at Stella, Nebraska. Lester C. Wilson lived in Iowa when a \oung man.

13-4 RICHARDSON COUNTY. NKBRASKA.

He was born on December 4. 1862. and died on December 2Q, 1899. His
wife, Emma, was born in 1865. and came with her parents to Nebraska
in 1868. and here she and Mr. Wilson grew to maturity and were married.
Mrs. Wilson has lived in Richardson county over fifty years.

Two children have been born to Bernard W. Sterns and wife, namely:
Ural, whose birth occurred on Octolier 11, 1910, and Eula, Februarv 13.
1914. Politically, Mr. Sterns is a Republican. He has traveled extensivelv
over the United States. He attends the Methodist Episcopal church with
his familv.

WILLIAM H. PUTNAM.

A name well known to the people in southeastern Nebraska is that of
the late William H. Putnam, former proprietor of the Falls City Bottling
Company. He was born in Gloversville, New York, October 5, 1849. a
sou of Hollis McKinstry Putnam and Charlotte (Lobdell) Putnam. The
father, who was of English descent, was born in Albany, New York. The
mother, who was of French descent, was born in Canada. Ludwig Putnam,
the subjects' paternal great-grandfather, was a brother of Gen. Israel Putnam,
of Revolutionary fame, and during- the War of 1812 he was killed and
scalped by the Indians by the order of the British. Ludwig Putnam had
also fought in the Revolutionary War. He was one of a family of thirteen
children, eleven of whom were boys, and all were soldiers in our war for
independence, seven of them taking part in the famous Boston tea party
and in the battle of Bunker Hill. Hollis M. Putnam, mentioned above, was
a tanner by trade. He spent his early life in New York state, migrating
to Chicago in 1859, and there served on the police force. He finally moved
to Salt Lake City, Utah, where he spent his last days at the home of hi>
daughter and died there. His widow survives at this writing, making her
home at Knoxville, Iowa. To these parents six children were born, namely :
William H., the subject of this sketch; Joseph, who lives in Minneapolis.
Minnesota; Jennie, now deceased, who was the wife of Arthur Rauhos, of
Salt Lake City, Utah; Charles, who lives in Chicago; George, who lives in
Minneapolis; and Mary, the wife of Frank Wells, of Knoxville, Iowa.

William H. Putnam spent his childhood in New York state, being ten
vears old when his parents brought him to Chicago, where he remained until
1874. He received a public school education and upon leaving Chicago
went to Kendall county, Illinois, where he worked as a farm hand; then

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 325

rented a farm in Lee county, that state; then moved to FiUmore county,
Nebraska, in 1900. He had bought a splendid farm there the year previous.
He owned a number of good farms, getting options on them and selHng out
at a profit. His judgment was never at fauh in this line and he prospered.
In 1899 he purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, for which he
paid the sum of five thousand dollars, and he sold it later for eleven thousand
dollars. He sold out in Fillmore county in the fall of 1905, with the excep-
tion of one farm, which he sold in 1908. Upon leaving that county he came
to Falls Cit}' and went into business, also invested in real estate here, becoming
the owner of five valuable residence properties. He also was proprietor of
the Falls City Bottling Works, which factory he purchased in 1905. He
erected for it in 1912 a large and substantial two-story concrete building
and installed much new and modern equipment. He manufactured soda
water and all kinds of soft drinks and extracts and carried on an extensive
trade, building up a prosperous and growing business over a wide territory,
supplying Falls City and surrounding towns in Nebraska, Missouri, Kansas
and Iowa, and since his death the factory is still maintained. Five thousand
dollars was invested in the business. Every effort is made to keep the
products uniformly pure, every bottle being thoroughly sterilized before fill-
ing. Owing to failing health Mr. Putnam retired from the active manage-
ment of the plant on February i, 1917, turning the business over to his son,
John J. Putnam. In 1915 Mr. Putnam began operating a glove factory in
the building adjoining his bottling works and this concern is also prospering
and growing in prestige. It is known as the Putnam Glove Company. Seven
skilled workmen are constantly employed. The factory is operated In Mr.
Putnam's daughter, Charlotte Putnam.

William H. Putnam was married in Chicago, in 1872, to Catherine
McNally, who was born, in Ireland, from which country she came to the
United States when a child. She was born in 1847. The following children
were bprn to Mr. and Mrs. Putnam: William Henry, manager of the
Madison-Kipp Lubrication Company, at Madison, Wisconsin; Charles, who
is engaged in merchandising in Chicago; John ].. who is manager of the
Falls City Bottling Works, and Charlotte, who is managing the Putnam Glove
Factory. Mr. Putnam died on April 5, 191 7.

Politically, Mr. Putnam was a Democrat; fraternally, he Ijelongecl to
the Modern Woodmen and to the Knights of Columbus. He was a member
of the Catholic church. He was a business man of rare foresight and sound-
ness of judgment and had been successful in whatever he turned his atten-

I3-^> RICHARDSON' COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

tion to, long having been regarded as one of the most pubhc-spirited citizens
of Fails City, which he had done much to promote and advertise. He was a
pleasant man to meet and his personal reputation was unassailable.

EDWIX HERMAN TOWLE.

Edwin Herman Towle. well-known lumber dealer at Falls City and
secretary and manager of the Southeast Nebraska Telephone Company of
that city, was born in Falls City and has lived there all his life, long having
been recognized as one of the leading factors in the general business life
of that city. He was lx)rn on September 19, 1869, son of the Hon. Edwin
Sargent and Kittie L. (Dorrington) Towle, pioneers of Falls City, who
are still living there and further and fitting mention of whom is made
elsewhere in this volume under a biographical sketch relating to the Hon.
Edwin Sargent Towle, first mayor of the city of Falls City, a member of
the Nebraska constitutional convention, former speaker of the House in
the Nebraska General Assembly and for years one of the most influential
business men in southeastern Nebraska.

Reared at Falls City, Edwin H. Towle was graduated frum the high
school there in 1887, and then entered Northwestern University at E\ans-
ton, a suburb of Chicago, from which he was graduated in 189.2. Upon
completing his schooling Mr. Towle returned to Falls City and there became
engaged in the lumber business as a member of the Towle Lumber Company
and since 1901 has been manager of the affairs of that company. In 1906
he became connected with the Southeastern Nebraska Telephone Companv.
in the capacity of secretary and manager of the same, and has since occupied
that position, attending to the affairs of the telephone company as well as
to his own extensive lumber interests. This telephone company was organ-
ized on -April i, 1895, as the Falls City Telephone Company, and was re-
organized on May i, 1906. as the Southeast Nebraska Telephone Companx,
with eighty-four stockholders and with a capital stock of $68,666, the present
officers of the company being as follow : President, Joseph F. Frederick ;
vice-president, Aaron W. Loucks; treasurer, \\'. E. Dorrington; secretarv '
and manager, E. H. Towle, and directors, besides the above officers, Joseph
H. Miles, Arthur J. Weaver and Thomas H. Gist. The operations of
the Southeast Nebraska Telephone Company cover Richardson county and
the company owns all toll lines in the county, together with exchanges at

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 13^7

Salem, Verdon and Barada. It is equipped with the latest appliances for
expeditious service, has nearly two thousand subscribers, employs thirty-
three persons and has an annual payroll in excess of twenty thousand dollars.

Mr. Towle is a Republican and from the days of his boyhood has
giyen his earnest attention to local political affairs. For two \ears he
served as police judge of the city of Falls City and for some time served
as city civil engineer, in that latter capacity having had charge of the first
systematic paving in the city in 1910. He is a member of the Methodist
Episcopal church and, fraternally, is affiliated with the Masons and with
the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, in the affairs of which organ-
izations he takes a warm interest.

On December 9, 1897, Edwin H. Towle was united in marriage to
Lillian M. Farington, of Falls City, a daughter of C. ^^'. and Marv Faring-
ton, old residents of Falls City, and to this union two children have been
born, Mary D. and Edward S.

FR.A.NK P. WILSON.

Frank P. -Wilson, farmer and stockman of Falls Citv precinct, this
county, was born on the old homestead in that vicinit}- on Januar\- 22,
1882, on the farm which he now owns. He is a son of Robert P. and
Adaline (Gardner) Wilson. The father was born in Wilkesbarre. Penn-
sylvania, December 29, 1845, and died on June 13, 1894. He moved to
Mt. Vernon, Ohio, with his parents when young and his father and mother
spent the rest of their lives in that state. Robert P. Wilson came to Ne-
braska in 1872 and, in Richardson county, bought a tract of school land
which he transformed by hard and persistent work into the present well-
improved and productive farm. There was an old frame house on the
land, which had been used for a vinegar factory, and he li\ed in it for
some time. The present comfortable Wilson home was l)uilt in 1893 and
contains ten rooms, being located in the midst of pleasant surroundings.
'Sir. Wilson made extensive improvements in various ways and set out
about eight acres of orchard and a grove of shade trees. He owned one
hundred and sixty acres, forty acres of which now belong to his daughter,
Mrs. Mabel Boose. His wife, Adaline Gardner, was born in Union count) ,
Indiana, November 26, 1846, and her death occurred on Januar\- 14. 1^13.
To them two children were born, Frank P., the subject nf tliis sketch.

l.^-'>> KICHAUDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

and Mabel, wife of Doctor Boose, of Falls City, a sketch of whom appears
on another page of this work. The ancestors of Ixjth Robert P. Wilson
and wife came to America in the "Mayflower" and thus both sides of the
house date back to our earhest Colonial history. Frank P. Wilson has in
his possession a pewter mug which has been handed down since the year
1620.

Frank P. Wilson was reared on the home farm and attended high
school in I'alls Cit\. He has always lived on the home farm, which he
has kept well improved and under a high state of cultivation. He owns
one hundred and twenty acres in section 16, and has made a success as a
general farmer and stock raiser.

On October 11, 191 1, Frank P. Wilson was married to Jesta Houck,
a daughter of John and Elnora (Tipton) Houck, natives of Ohio, where
they spent their earlier years. They came to Brown county, Kansas, in
1884, and two years later established their home in Richardson county,
Nebraska. Mr. Houck has devoted his life to agricultural pursuits, but is
now living in retirement in Salem, this county. Mrs. Wilson was born in
Gallia county, Ohio, January 21, 1881. She was reared on the farm and
was educated in the public schools and in the Hiawatha (Kansas) Academy.
Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wilson, namely: John R..
Francis P., Stella W., and one who died in infancy, unnamed. Politically.
]\Ir. Wilson is a Republican. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows, and his wife is a meml:>er of the Baptist church.

HON. ARTHUR J. WEAVER.

Hon. Arthur J. Weaver, vice-president of the First National Bank of
Falls City, is a native son of Nebraska and a scion of an old American
family, whose for1;)ears were pioneers in the famous Wyoming valley of
Pennsylvania. His career in his native county has been such as to deserve
approbation and to reflect credit upon his ancestry and himself. Having
served the people of Richard.son county in the halls of the state Legislature
and taken an active and influential part in the civic, commercial and agri-
cultural development of the county, his ix)sition as one of the real leaders
of the community is assured and definite. Primarily, Mr Weaver is a
farmer and he and his brother are probably the most extensive orchardists
and stock growers in southeastern Nebraska. Weaver brothers rank as the

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 329

most successful fruit growers in the state and have extensive land holdings,
which are managed ably and successfully. Mr. Weaver was born in Falls
City, November i8, 1873, and is a son of Judge Archibald J. Weaver,
deceased, and IMartha A. Weaver, residing in Falls City. His father was
one of the prominent and outstanding figures of the early civic and politi-
cal life of Richardson county. He filled the office of judge of the district
court with such pronounced ability that his constituents elected him repre-
sentative from the first Nebraska district in the national Congress. Extended
mention of the life and activities of Judge \\'eaver are given elsewhere
in this volume.

Arthur J. Wea\-er received his primary education in the public schools
of his native city and pursued his preparatory course in Wyoming Seminary,
at Kingston, Pennsylvania, from which institution he was graduated in
1892. He then entered the University of Nebraska and was graduated
therefrom with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1895. Continuing his
studies in the law department of the university, he received the degree of
Bachelor of Laws in 1896. As as student, athlete and orator he took first
rank while in the university. He served as manager of the Nebraska football
team and was influential in having the first football coach installed in a
seat of learning west of the Mississippi river. His activity in athletic sports
elevated, or was influential in advancing, the athletic standing of Nebraska
Universit\-. He attained renown as an orator and for two years in succes-
sion made the opening and closing addresses in the interstate college debates
in which his alma mater participated. His team won the debate presided
over by William J. Bryan in May, 1896. Following his admission to the
bar he practiced law successfully for eight years in his native city and built
up an extensive practice. He served three terms as city attorney, was elected
to represent Richardson county in the state Legislature in 1898 and sen-ed
during the session of 1899. During this session he introduced and secured
the passage of the bill providing for the permanent location of the state
agricultural exposition at Lincoln, and served as a member of the judiciary
and other important committees. He was elected to county attorney in 1900
and served for two years. He became a member of the city council of
Falls City in 1910 and served as an active member and president of that
body until 1916. It was during his incumbency in this office that the great
improvements in Falls City, such as paving, sewerage, and the like were
undertaken and completed, Mr. Weaver occupying tlie important post of
chairman of the finance committee during this period.
(84)

1330 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Mr. Weaver's farming and financial interests now occupy the greater
part of his tirne and attention. As vice-president and manager of the First
National Bank of Falls City, a position which he has held since 191 2, his
place in the financial world is an important one. He and his brother, Paul
B. Weaver, operating under the natne of Weaver brothers, own and manage
over three thousand acres of land in Richardson county, two hundred acres
of which is in producing apple orchards. Weaver brothers' orchards prob-
ably produce more high-grade commercial fruit than any other orchards in
the state, their output exceeding fifty to one hundred carloads annually. The
orchards are famous for the high standard quality of the fruit shipped. Two
thousand hogs are raised and marketed annually from their stock farms.
Five hundred cattle are raised and fattened for market on their ranges and
in their feeding sheds. The payroll of this extensive agricultural plant ex-
ceeds one hundred dollars a day to the hands employed, or more than fort,\-
thousand dollars annually. Mr. Weaver is associated with fonner Gov. John
H. Morehead in farming, orcharding, stock raising and timber interests in
Nebraska and other states. Mr. Weaver, with others, organized the National
Bank of Humboldt and later sold it. He is a member of the State Horti-
cultural Association and served as vice-president of the Farmers industrial
congress held at St. Joseph in 1913 and 1914, at which meetings he delivered
addresses. Although frequently called upon to speak before various import-
ant gatherings held in important cities of the country at different times he
has been forced in most cases to decline because of the press of business
affairs. In 1897 Mr. Weaver was married to Persa ]\Iorris. of Humboldt.
a graduate of the Nebraskan Wesleyan University, who died in January.
1906. Mr. Weaver was again married. September 2, 1908, to ]\Iaude E. Hart,
of White Pigeon, Michigan, daughter of Capt. B. F. Hart and Harriet
Hart. Captain Hart served as captain of a Michigan volunteer regiment
during the Civil War. At the time of her marriage. Mrs. Weaver was en-
gaged as a teacher in the public schools of Falls City. Four children have
blessed this union, namely: Maude Harriet, born on September 14, 1909;
Dorothy Jane. July 11, 1911: Arthur, Jr., November 19, iqi2. and Ruth.
November 22, 19 14.

Mr. Weaver is a Republican, has generally taken an active and influen-
tial interest in the affairs of his party and has served on the Republican
state committee has a meml>er from the first senatorial district. The mem-
bers of his family attend the Presbyterian church, with which religious de-
nomination they are affiliated. He is a Knight Templar and Scottish Rite
( thirtv-second degree) Mason and a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 33 1

Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and is also affiliated with the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and various
fraternal insurance orders. Mr. Weaver is a native Nebraskan, who saw
opportunity in the development of his native county and state, grasped it,
and with decided ability and characteristic energj^ achieved a striking success,
proper note of the achievement of which is deser\'ing a place in the annals
of his native county, to which he is intensely loyal.

JOSEPH G. HEIM.

Joseph G. Heim, of Dawson, this county, is a man of varied attain-
ments in the agricultural life of the community in which he resides. As a
farmer, breeder of cattle, hogs and sheep, as well as fruit growing, his
life may be described as a busy one. He was born on March 9, 1857, in
Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, the son of Jacob G. and Regina (Gross)
Heim, also natives of that same county and state.

Jacob G. Heim was born on June 15, 1832, in Pennsylvania, the son
of Gotleib and Margaret (Steiger) Heim, who were natives of Wurtemburg,
Germany, and who came to the United States about 1808. Jacob G. Heim,
who followed the occupation of farming all his life, came to Nebraska in
1874. He located on section 15, Grant township, this county, and bought
four hundred acres of land. His first experience in this place was somewliat
unfortunate, as he lost the whole of his first year's crops, the grasshoppers
eating every growing thing on his land. This experience, however, was
not repeated and he continued to farm with much success up to the time of
his retirement. A few years before his death he moved to Dawson : later
he moved to the farm home of Emanuel Ulmer and died there in 1914.
His wife, Regina (Gross) Heim, a daught.er of Joseph and Christena (Ulmer )
Gross, was born on July 13, 1835, and is now living with her daughter,
Mrs. Sarah Ulmer, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. Her parents
were also natives of Lycoming county, Pennsylvania. Jacob G. and Regina
Heim were the parents of eleven children, four of whom are deceased, the
others being Joseph G.. the subject of this sketch: Mrs. Sarah Ulmer. who
lives in Grant township ; Samuel F. ; Jonathan W. ; Rebecca, the wife of Jacob
S. Heim ; Sophia, who married Martin D. Ulmer ; and Maggie, who married
Thomas Wuster, and all of whom are living in Grant township, this county.

Joseph G. Heim came to Nebraska with his parents in 1874, he then

1^3- RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASI-CA.

being seventeen years of age. In 1882 he rented land from his fatlier and
in 1884 he bought his first farm in section 10, Grant precinct. The tract
was all unimproved and he set to work to bring it into a state fit for culti-
vation. He built a substantial house, put up three barns and set out ten
acres to an orchard for fruit growing, in which he has been very successful,
selling his fruit locally and shipping large quantities. He is regarded as one
of the most progressive fruit growers in this part of the state.

Mr. Helm's entire acreage in sections 10, 26 and 27, in Grant town-
ship, amounts to two hundred and forty acres of choice land, all of which
with the exception of the portion set out to the orchard, is operated for
general farming purposes. He is an extensive breeder of Holstein cattle
and Duroc-Jersey hogs and has an excellent strain of pure-bred Shropshire
sheep, several of which he keeps for breeding purposes. For several years
Mr. Heim has been a member of the Shropshire Breeders Association of
Lafayette, Indiana. In all his varied lausiness activities he has shown much
enterprise and sound judgment.

On December 22, 1881, Joseph G. Heim was united in marriage to Rosa
Heim, daughter of John and Margaret (Heim) Heim, who came to Rich-
ardson county in 1881, the year of their daughter's marriage to JNIr. Heim.
John Heim is dead and his widow is now living on the farm in section 15,
Grant township. Joseph G. Heim and wife are the parents of six children,
namely: Mrs. Bertha Shively, of Calloway, this state; ]\Irs. May Belden, of
Grant township; Emerson, who lives on the homestead in Grant township;
Olive and John, both deceased, and Alice, who is attending high school.
The Heim family are members of the United Evangelical church and are
active in all its good works.

Mr. Heim is a Republican and gives active support to that party, though
sometimes voting the independent ticket. For two years he acted as town-
ship assessor, giving general satisfaction in that office. He was elected to the
Dawson school board about twenty, years ago and has been an active worker
on the board during that time, serving as president of the board for several
years. In 1892 Mr. Heim became superintendent of the Sunday school
attached to the United Evangelical church at Dawson, and has continued
since in that capacity. He increased the membership of the classes from
twenty-five to over two hundred, thus giving evidence of his zeal on behalf
of the Sunday school. He is also a trustee of the church. In June. u)i6.
Mr. Heim moved to Dawson, where he built a luodern and well-e(|uipped
bungalow and where he and his family are c<imfortalily situated.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I333

WILLIAM CADE.

The late William Cade, one of the pioneers of Richardson county and
former member of the board of county commissioners, an honored veteran
of the Civil War and a well-to-do retired farmer, who died at his home in
Falls City in 1908, his widow still residing in that city, was a native of the
old Buckeye state and later a resident of Iowa, but had lived in this part of
the country since pioneer days, having- settled in Washington county, Kansas,
in 1870, coming thence in 1880 up into Nebraska and locating in the pre-
cinct of Nemaha, this county, one of the pioneers of that section of the county,
and remaining there until his retirement in the fall of 1892 and removal to
Falls City, where he spent his last days, one of the best-known citizens of
Richardson county.

William Cade was born in Ohio on February 9, 1834, and in childhood
was left an orphan, being thereafter compelled to "hustle" for himself. As
a young man he came West and began to work as a farm hand in Iowa,
where he was living when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted for service
as a member of Company H, Thirty-sixth Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry,
and with that command served for three years, participating in some of the
most notable battles and engagements of the war, but was never wounded
nor taken prisoner. Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Cade
returned to Iowa and was there married early in 1867, continuing to make his
home in Iowa until 1870, when he and his wife and their two small children
came over to this part of the country and settled on an unbroken tract of
land south of Hanover, in Washington county, Kansas, where they remained
for ten vears. Upon settling there they threw up a sod shanty on the plain
and there established their home, continuing to use that humble habitation
as a place of residence until presently Mr. Cade sold a team of horses and
thus secured funds with which to erect a small frame house. That sod
sliant>- had a plank floor, however, a luxury not enjoyed by all the early
settlers of the plains country who had their "day of small things" in this
primitive sort of a home. During the second year of their residence in
Kansas the season was so dry that Mr. and Mrs. Cade came over the line
up into Nebraska and took employment on the construction of the Burlington
& Missouri River railroad, then making its way across through this county
lietween Salem and Dawson, Mr. Cade using his two teams and Mrs. Cade
taking- care of boarders in a shack. At the end of the season they returned
to their homestead in Kansas with money enough to tide them through the

1334 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

winter. During the grasshopper visitation in that section Mr. Cade's corn
crop was devoured, but he had some reserve wheat in store and with this
he fed his cattle, thus managing to get through that period of hardship that
destroyed the hopes of so many Kansas and Nelaraska homesteaders. In
1880 Mr. Cade sold his Kansas farm to advantage and moved over the line
into Nebraska, buying a tract of two hundred and forty acres, a quarter of
a section and an "eighty" in the precinct of Nemaha, east of Mins City, in
Richardson county, building a house and barn on the "eighty." There he
continued to live, improving and developing the place, until failing health
necessitated his retirement from the farm, and on October, 1892, he moved
to Falls City, where the rest of his life was spent. Upon retiring he sold
his land in Nemaha precinct and invested in land in Osborne count}-, Kansas,
which investments turned out very well, his widow now being the owner there
of one thousand acres of excellent land, divided into four farms of two
hundred and fifty acres each, which are managed by her sons. Mr. Cade
was a Republican and ever took an earnest part in local civic affairs, for some
time having served as a member of the board of county commissioners.
He was an active member of the local post of the Grand Arm}- of the Repub-
lic at Falls City and took a warm interest in the affairs of that patriotic organi-
zation, and after his death on December 31, 1908, his remains were laid away
with the full honors of the post, his surviving comrades paying their last
formal tribute of respect to his memory at his graveside.

On February 21,' 1867, at Keosauqua, Iowa, William Cade was united in
marriage to Margaret Elliot, who was born in Scotland, Februar\- 21, 1846,
daughter of Robert and Margaret Elliot, also natives of Scotland, who came
to the United States with their family in 1852 and after a sometime residence
in the state of Ohio moved to Iowa, where they established their home. To
William and Margaret (Elliot) Cade five children were born, namely : George,
a farmer, of Franklin county, Kansas, who married Ella Smith; Eva, wife
of Alfred Dowell, of Council Bluffs,. Iowa; William, a farmer, of Osborne
county, Kansas ; Mrs. Ethel Simpson, of Gering, this state, and Walter, who is
now living in the West. Mrs. Cade has a very pleasant home in Falls City and
her granddaughter, Laura Cade, is now making her home with her. She is
a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the various beneficences of
which she has for many years taken an active interest, and is also a member
of the local corps of the Woman's Relief Corps, in the affairs of which she
continues to take an active interest. As one of the pioneers of the plains
she has many vivid recollections of the days of hardship and privation through

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I335

which the pioneers passed, but in reviewing those days through the mists of
the years that have since passed she does not hesitate to declare that they
were happy years, despite the physical discomfort that attended the manner
in which the pioneers were compelled to live, and despite the poverty of
their means.

JOHN VV. RIESCHICK.

John W. Rieschick, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and twenty
acres in section 22 of tlie precinct of Ohio, and one of the best-known farmers
and stockmen of that part of Richardson county, a prize corn grower and an
active member of the Poland China Record Association, was born in the
neighboring precinct of Arago and has lived in that neighborhood practically
all his life. He was born on April 14, 1870, son of William and Verena
(Hunzeker) Rieschick, pioneers of this county, who are now living retired at
Falls City and further mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume.

Reared on the farm in which he was born in Arago precinct, John W.
Rieschick received his early schooling in the district schools of that neighbor-
hood and supplemented the same by a course in Ritner's Commercial College
at St. Joseph, Missouri, from which he was graduated in 1891. Thus qualified
for a mercantile career he went to Buffalo, New York, in which city his
father had for a while made his home after coming to this country, and was
there engaged as a clerk in a grocery store for eighteen months, at the end
of which time he returned to the home farm in this county, and was there
engaged in helping in the improvement and development of the home place
until his marriage in the fall of 1898, when he established his home on his
present place in the precinct of Ohio. At that time he bought forty acres
and as he prospered in his undertakings bought an adjoining "forty". He
later inherited a similar tract and is thus now the owner of one hundred and
twenty acres of fine land in section 22, in addition to which he is farming
an adjoining "eiglity," and is doing very well. Mr. Rieschick is one of the
best corn farmers in Nebraska and is the winner of the 1915 first prize at
the state corn show for the best ten ears of corn in the amateur class. About
1903 he began to go in for the breeding of high-grade live stock and has
done well in that line, his specialty being Shorthorn cattle and Poland China
hogs, and he is a member of the Poland China Record Association, in the
affairs of which organization he takes an active interest. He also is giving
considerable attention to the raising of -Barred Plymouth Rock poultry.

1336 RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Since taking possession of his farm Mr. Rieschick has made substantial
improvements on the same, including a large and modern dwelling house,,
a fifty-by-sixty barn, a modern hay and cattle barn and an ample machine
shed, and has one of the best farm plants in that part of the county.

On October 2.^, 1898, John W. Rieschick was united in marriage to
Emma Hahn, who also was born in Arago precinct, April 25, 1876, a
daughter of Henry and Dora (Doeman) Hahn, the latter of whom was
born in that same precinct, a member of one of Richardson county's first
families. Henry Hahn came to this county from Germany, married here
and became a substantial farmer of the precinct of Arago. Mr. and Mrs. Ries-
chick have six children, Anna, Elsie. Walter, Dora, Hilda and Carl. They
are members of the Lutheran church and take an interested part in church
work, as well as in other neighborhood good works and the general social
activities of the community in which they live, helpful in promoting all
measures having to do with the advancement of the common welfare. Politi-
cally, ]\Ir. Rieschick is a Republican and has ever taken a good citizen's
interest in local civic affairs.

GEORGE \\'. HOLLAND.

George W. Holland, cashier of the Richardson County Bank of Falls
City and for years one of the most substantial and influential citizens of
this county, former member of the city council at Falls City, an extensive
landowner and in numerous ways identified with the more substantial inter-
ests of this community, is a native of the neighboring state of Iowa. Init
has been a resident of Falls City since the days of his young manhood. He
was born in Lee county, in the extreme southeastern corner of Iowa, June
13, 1852, son of the Rev. Benjamin and Mildred (Patton) Holland, natives
of Ohio and both representatives of old Colonial families and ancestors of
whom, on both sides, rendered valuable service to the colonies during the
War of the Revolution. The progenitor of this branch of the Holland
family in America was a meml>er of the company which accompanied Lord
Baltimore to the colony which was granted him over here. He settled on
the Isle of Wight, in Chesapeake Bay, and established his home there, his
descendants in the present generation forming a numerous famih-, witlely
scattered throughout the LTnited States. The Rev. Benjamin Holland was
a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, who left Ohio in 1843 and

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 337

came West, settling in Lee county, Iowa, where for j-ears he was active as
a circuit rider and where he and his wife spent their last days, useful and
influential residents of that community. They were the parents of nine
children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the last-born.

Reared in Iowa, George W. Holland completed his schooling in the
Iowa Wesleyan University at Mt. Pleasant, from which he was graduated
in 1876. In that same year he was called to Nebraska to take the position
of principals of the schools at Falls City and for two years was thus engaged.
He then returned to Iowa and at Ottumwa began the study of law and
presently was admitted to the bar and entered upon the practice of his
profession at Osceola, where he remained for two years, at the end of
which time, in 1880, he returned to Falls City, where he married and where,
in that same year, he assisted in the organization of the Richardson County
Bank and was made cashier of the same, a position he ever since has occupied,
^Ir. Holland's activities as a banker at Falls City thus having covered a
period of more than thirty-seven years, during which time he has come to
be regarded as one of the leaders in financial and commercial circles through-
out this part of the state. In addition to his extensive banking interests,
;\Ir. Holland is the owner of land in Harvey and Cof¥ey counties, Kansas,
and has other valuable interests hereabout. He is a Republican and has
ever given his earnest personal attention to local civic afifairs, but the only
public offices he has held have been as a member of the city council and as a
member of the city school lx)ard, in both of which capacities he has ren-
dered valualjle service to the public, doing well his part in extending and
ad\ancing the interests of the city of which he has for so long been one of
tiie most vital factors in a business way.

As noted above, it was in 1880 that George W. Holland was united
in marriage in Falls City. His wife, who was Ida S. Schock before her
marriage, was horn in Ohio, a daughter of William Schock a^id wife, now
deceased, who came to Nebraska from Ohio in 1874 and became early and
prominent residents of Falls City. Mr. and Mrs. Holland have three daugh-
ters, Mrs. R. L. DePatron, a graduate of the Nebraska State Universitv.
wiio is now living at Lincoln; ]\Iildred, also a graduate of the State Uni-
\ersity, and Gladys, who is now a student at the L^niversity. The Hollands
are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and have ever taken an
earnest part in church work and in the general good works of the community,
as well as in tlie general social and cultural activities of their home town.
Mr. Holland is a Knight Templar and Royal Arch Mason and has for
vears taken a warm interest in local Masonic afifairs.

1,13^ RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

IRVIN C. MAUST.

Through perseverance and good management, Irvin C. Maust, of Falls
City, has succeeded in building up a large trade in the coal, ice and wood
business. He was born. May 15, 1868, in Myersdale, Somerset county.
Pennsylvania. He is a son of Elias A. and Savilla (Miller) Maust, natives
of Pennsylvania, the former of whom was 1>orn on March 23, 1839. and
the latter. July 2-j, 1849. ^^r. and Mrs. Maust are pioneer residents of
Richardson county and Falls City and the elder Maust was engaged in the
grain and live stock business for many years. Further and fitting mention
of them is made elsewhere m this volume. Irvin C. Maust was associated
with his father in the grain and live stock business in Falls City from 1892
to 1905 under the firm name of E. .\. Maust & Son. In 1905 his father
retired and Albert Maust was taken into the firm under the name of Maust
Brothers, which lasted until 191 1, when the firm dissolved and I. C. Maust
has since conducted the business alone.

Irvin C. Maust was three years old when his parents brought him to
Nebraska, in 1871, establishing the family home in Falls City, where he
grew to manhood and attended the city schools. When fifteen years old he
began working in the L^nion Hotel as porter, later engaged in various kinds
of work, including employment for some time in a general store. He
later located at Manley, Nebraska, in the elevator business and there bought
grain on an extensive scale until 1892, when he returned to Falls City and
in association with his father engaged in the coal, ice and wood business,
which he has since followed, and has enjoyed a good trade from the start,
which has increased constantly. He keeps a large yard and barn and
handles these three commodities in Ijig quantities. From time to time he
has invested in good real estate and now owns considerable valualile prop-
erty in Falls City.

Politically, Mr. Maust is a Democrat and he has long been more or
less active and influential in party affairs. He served as a member of the
city council several different times, from 1903 to 1908, always looking
out for the best interests of the people in his vicinity and for the general
upbuilding of Falls City. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows, also the Encampment, the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons, the Kniglnts Templar, and the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks.

On May 18. 1892. Irvin C. Maust was married to S. Blanche Norris.

JAMES S. EVERTS.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1339

who was born in Falls City, January 27, 1872, and is a daughter of Benja-
min F. and Mary L. (Whitmore) Norris, the former of whom was born
on February 12, 1846, and the latter, October 19, 1849. ^^^- '"^"^^ ^Irs.
Norris were parents of live children, four sons and a daughter. Three of
the Norris boys are railway engineers, and another son. Jacob C. is a real-
estate agent, located at Hardin, Montana. Mrs. Maust was graduated from
the Falls City high school, and also was graduated from the Campbell
Normal School at Holton, Kansas. She taught school in the public schools
of Falls City for five years prior to her marriage. She is associated with
j\Ir. Maust in their business.

JAMES SAMUEL EVERTS.

Few names are held in better remembrance hereabout than tliat of the
late James Samuel Everts, who became a resident of Richardson county
in 1881 and whose influence in the agricultural life of this region is still
reflected from many angles, that influence ever having been exerted in behalf
of the promotion of better methods of farming and stock raising. The
famous "Louieland Farms" en which Mr. Everts made his home for many
years and which he brought up to a high state of development, bespeak the
excellence of the methods he brought to bear on the development of that
place. It also is undoubted that he did much — perhaps as much as any other
man in this section, to improve the strains of live stock throughout this
part of the country and thereby laid the whole agricultural community <>f
this region under a debt of gratitude which will not be forgotten. Upon
retiring from "Louieland Farms" Mr. Everts moved to Omaha, where he
became engaged in business and where he spent his last days, his deatli occur-
ring there in 1908.

James Samuel Everts was a native of the great Empire state, having
Ijeen born at East Otto, in Cattaraugus county. New York, March 25, 1844,
son of Samuel Charles and Ruth (Barrett) Everts, the former a native of
the state of Vermont and the latter, of Massachusetts, whose last days were
spent at Geneva, Illinois, Mrs. Ruth Everts dying there on May 9. 1856.
She was born at Pittsfield, Massachusetts, in 1809, and was a member of an
old Colonial family, as was her husband. The latter was born in \ermont
and died on August 6, 1888. To him and his wife were born fi\e children,
of whom the subject of this memorial sketch was the last-born, the others

1340 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

being as follow: Charles, born on October 5, 1828; Cornelia, May 14, 1833;
Louis H., April 14, 1836, and Francis, June 11, 1841. The two elder of these
brothers served as soldiers of the Union during the Civil War.

James S. Everts spent his youth on a farm near Geneva, Illinois, and
there received his schooling. He was well trained in the ways of practical
farming and in 1881 came to Nebraska and became a partner in the opera-
tion of the great "Louieland Farms," a tract of eighteen hundred acres four
miles southwest of Falls City, in this county, where he established his home
and where he remained until the spring of 1893, when he retired from the
farm and for a few years thereafter was engaged in the map business; but
later returned to Falls City and after a brief residence there went to Omaha,
where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring there in January,
1908. At the time of his death he was a stockholder in and vice-president
of the Nebraska Bridge Supply and Lumljer Company, of Omaha. Upon
coming to Richardson county, Mr. Everts brought with him not only the best
live stock, but an accurate knowledge of the most scientific methods of farm-
ing and stock raising and it was not long until the work he was doing on
"Louieland Farms" began to attract general attention hereabout, his stallions,
in particular, becoming famous all over southeastern Nebraska. Mr. Everts
was instrumental in organizing the Southeast Nebraska Fair Association
and for years was president of the same. His horses, cattle and hogs were
widely exhibited at local fairs throughout this part of the country and at the
Nebraska state fair at Lincoln and were always among the prize winners. Mr.
Everts was a Republican, but did not give more than the average good citi-
zen's attention to local political affairs, preferring to give his attention to
the affairs of his farm and such other interests as he was developing mean-
while. He and his wife were members o the Congregational church.

James S. Everts was married at Geneva, Illinois, near which place he lived
on a farm, to Marietta Abbott, who was born at that place on August 7.
1848. daughter of Allison and Marietta (Warner) Abbott, who were the par-
ents I if two children. Mrs. Everts having had a brother, Hiram Emery
Abbott. To Mr. and Mrs. Everts were born two daughters, Mrs. Ruth
Marietta Storrs, born on May 6, 1871, and Naomi Frances, March 19, 1873,
wife of John \\'. Towle. of Omaha. Mrs. Everts died on x\ugust 14, 1900.
Mr. Everts was always loyal to Falls City and his old friends in this county
and even after leaving here delighted to return to the scenes of his earlier
activities and renew old acquaintances. For many years he was a member
of the famous Falls City Gun Club and took much pleasure in the activities
of that organization.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I34I

WARREN HUTCHINS.

W'arreii Hutchins. Ijanker and retired farmer, now living at l-'alis City,
and one of Richardson connty's most substantial pioneer citizens, is a native
of the old Buckeye state, but has been a resident of this county since pioneer
days and therefore has seen this region develop from its wilderness state to
its present high state of development along all lines. He was born on a farm
in Ashtabula county, Ohio, October 8, 1844, son of Avery ]\I. and Sarah
(Cleveland) Hutchins, the former a native of the Dominion of Canada and
the latter of the state of New York, both of old New England stock and
of Revolutionary descent, who later came to Nebraska and settled in this
count}', where their last days were spent.

Avery J\L Hutchins was born at Hatley, in Stanstead county, Quebec,
January 12, 1809, son of Amos Hutchins and wife, natives of Maine, who
had settled there after their marriage. Amos Hutchins was a soldier in the
patriot army during the Revolutionary War and his father was the captain
of a company during that struggle for the independence of the colonies. For
service rendered in the army Amos Hutchins was given a grant of land in
the Western Reserve in Ohio and returned from Canada to settle on the same,
establishing his home in Ashtabula county, Ohio, where his son, Avery i\I.,
grew to manhood and married Sarah Cleveland, who was born in New York
state in 1810, also of Revolutionary parentage and whose parents likewise
had settled on a land grant in Ashtabula county, in the Western Reserve. In
1856 Avery M. Hutchins left Ohio with his family and moved to Clavton
county, Iowa, where he settled on a pioneer farm, which he developed and
on which he continued to make his home until 1869, '" which year he came
to Nebraska and bought a farm in the precinct of Barada, this cijunty, where
he established his home and where he spent the remainder of his life. His
wife died on that pioneer farm in 1879 and he survived her for more than ten
years, his death occurring on October i, 1890. They were the parents of hve
children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born, the others
being as follow: Lovica, deceased; Lovica, second, who married J. A.
Clark and died in Minnesota ; Lucia, who married W. J. Reymish and lives at
Liberty, in Gage county, this state, and Adella, wife of Edward Rogers, of
Lj-on county, Iowa.

Warren Hutchins was twelve years of age when his parents moved from
Ohio and in the latter state he completed his schooling. Being the only
son in the familv he was an able assistant to his father in the labors of the

134- KICIlARDSfiN COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

farm and wlien he was twenty-five years of age accompanied his father to
this state and settled in the precinct of Barada. Soon after coming here
he secured a farm of eighty acres of his own in that precinct and after his
marriage in 1874 established his home tliere. Though he had much faith
in this country from the day of his arrival and from the very first was able
to discern the immense possibilities that awaited the courageous and ener-
getic pioneer, that faith was severely shaken during the days of the grass-
hopper visitation and there were times he wished he could sell and get out,
but he stuck to it and presently began to prosper and it was not long until
he was looked upon as one of the leading farmers in that section. As he
prospered he gradually added to his holdings until he became the owner
of more than eight hundred acres of excellent land, including a tract of a
lialf a section over in the adjoining county of Nemaha. In 1903 Mr. Hutch-
ins retired from the farm and he and his wife spent the following winter
in California. They then returned and established their home in Falls
City, where Mrs. Hutchins died a year or two later and where Mr.
Hutchins continues to reside, being \ery comfortably situated there.
In addition to his extensive agricultural interests, Mr. Hutchins has
for years Ijeen actively identified with the banking interests of this county.
From the date of its organization he was a member of the board of directors
of the Richardson County Bank of Falls City and is still interested in that
sound old financial institution. From the date of its organization until
Januarv i, 191 7, he served as president of the Farmers State Bank of Shubert.
in which he still retains an interest, and is also a stockholder in the State
Bank at Stella. Politically, Mr. Hutchins is an "independent" and has ever
given his thoughtful attention to local civic affairs, but has not been a seeker
after public office. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent Order of
Odd Fellows and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and in the
ai¥airs of these organizations takes a warm interest.

On February 5, 1874, Warren Hutchins was united in marriage to
Rachel E. Slocnm, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1851 and who was
a sister of J- L. Slocuni, a biographical sketch of whom, presented elsewhere
in this volume, gives details of the Slocum family, one of the pioneer fami-
lies of Richardson county. Mrs. Hutchins died in 1905, leaving four chil-
dren, namely: Guy S. Hutchins, cashier of the Farmers State Bank of
Shubert, who married Clara Shafer and has two children. Hazel and Harlan :
Sarah, wife of I. N. Lyon, of brails City, proprietor of an extensive ranch
in W'voniing: Ethel, wife of John W. Rol)erts, who is connected with the

RICHAKnSON COUNTY, NERRASKA. 134;^

work of the department of agriculture at Washington, D. C, his duties,
having special reference to the forestry and fruit section of that department,
and James, born on March 17. 1893, who died on February 5, T912.

ROV \y. FOUTS, AI. D.

One of the mot promising of the younger physicians of Richardson
county is Dr. Roy W. Fonts, of Dawson, who is also well-known in busi-
ness circles there. He was born in Davis county, Iowa, May 10, 1885, a son
of Allen R. and Elizabeth (Mitchell) Fonts. The father was born, December
20, 1863, a son of Jesse and Elizabeth (McCullough) Fouts, natives of
Indiana and early settlers of Davis county, Iowa, where they spent the rest
of their lives and where their son, Allen R. Fouts, still makes his home on
a farm. The mother, who was born in October, 1867, is a daughter of
Thomas and Martha (Pickler) Mitchell, also natives of Indiana and early
settlers of Iowa, where they spent the rest of their lives. Nine children,
seven of whom are still living, were born to Allen R. Fouts and wife, the
subject of this sketch being the second oldest in order of birth.

Soon after lea\ing college Doctor Fouts began the practice of medicine
and there he attended the common schools, and later a business college at
Bloomfield, that state, from which he was graduated in 1902. He then taught
school five terms, but, although he was making a success as an educator, he
decided that his true bent lay in another direction and in 1905 he entered
the Keokuk Medical College at Keokuk, Iowa. Later he studied at the
College of Physicians and Surgeons, Chicago, Illinois, from which institu-
tion he was graduated, June 3, 1909, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine.

Soon after leaving college Dr. Fouts began the practice of medicine
at Olds, Iowa, but on August i, 1909, he moved to Dawson. Richardson
county. Nebraska, where he has since engaged successfully in general prac-
tice, devoting considerable attention to surgery.

Doctor Fouts was married on Xo\ember 13, 1903, to Edna T. Johnson,
who was born in Davis county, Iowa, a daughter of U. G. and Ella I Jolin-
son) Johnson, natives of Iowa and Missouri, respectively. Three children
have been born to Doctor Fouts and wife, namely: Xenia Aileen, Eowell \^'.,
and Leon G. The last two named are twins.

Politically, Doctor Fonts is a Democrat. He was former])- ;i member of
the town coiuicil of Dawson, also served as ma^'or. has been iiresident of

1,^44 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

the local board of education for the past six years and has done much for
the general good of the town. He is a member uf the Richardson County
Aledical Society, the Nebraska Medical Association and the American Medi-
cal Association.

ORION OLE MARSH.

Orion Ole ^larsh. the efficient and capable county clerk of Richardson
county, is a native born Nebraskan and a son of one of the oldest Nebraska
pioneers, his parents having settled at old St. Deroin, on the banks of the
Missouri river, in 1859, at a period when this now almost forgotten river
village was in the heyday of its prosperity and was an important steamboat
town. Mr. IMarsh was born on a farm near A'erdon, in Richardson county,
November 18, 1871, and is a son of William Sumner and Lillie Lucretia
Marsh, who still reside upon their farm in Muddy precinct and are counted
among the most respected and oldest pioneer residents of this county. The
senior Marsh is a veteran of the Civil War, born in Wisconsin, a son of
Elijah S. and Rachel (Calvert) Marsh, both of whom were descended from
old American families. Besides Orion O. Marsh the other members of the
family of William Sumner Marsh are as follow : William E. Marsh, of
Shubert. Nebraska ; Mrs. Josephine G. Ray, of Verdon, Nebraska, and George
Roy r\Iarsh, of Lewistown, Montana. Further and fitting mention nf William
Sunnier Marsh is made elsewhere in this volume.

Orion O. Marsh was reared on a pioneer farm in Richardson county
and received his early education in the district schools, followed By a course
of study in the Verdon high school. He Ijegan teaching school when twenty
years of age and taught a total of one hundred and thirteen months in the
schools of his native county, varying the time with farming activities. 'Mr.
Alarsh taught school during the winter months and followed farming during
the summer months, thus keeping himself diligently employed during the
entire year. He further fitted himself for the teaching profession by a course
of study and training at the State Normal at Peru, and continued teaching
successfully until 1908, in which year he decided to devote his attention
entirely to farming. The lure of tlie school room was too strong for him.
however, and he again taught a term of school during the winter of 191 3-14.
Mr. Marsh has been a continuous resident of Richardson county since his
birth, with the exception of seven years spent in Chase comity. Nebraska,

UlilO.N O. MARSU AND FAMILY.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I345

in developing a Kinkaid homestead claim. He is interested in farming and
is the owner of seven hundred and seventy acres of Western lands.

Mr. Marsh's teaching experience gave him a wide and favorable acquaint-
ance throughout the county and he made many warm and steadfast friends.
It was only natural that a man of his abilities and attainments should take
an active part in civic and political matters and he served as assessor of
Muddy precinct for eight years in succession. In November of 1914 he
was nominated as the candidate of the Republican party for the ofhce of
county clerk and was successful in the election. He was re-elected to this
important office in 1916 and his conduct of the duties of this important office
has been eminently satisfactory to the people of the county regardless of
political affiliations, he being recognized as a very capable and obliging county
official. In addition to his official duties Mr. Marsh is serving as a member
of the local exemption board, which has charge of the task of examining the
young men conscripted for the selective draft army, which is being raised
to fight the battles of the free peoples of the world in Europe.

On June 18, 1908, at Lincoln, Nebraska, Mr. Marsh was married to
Ellen Elizabeth Thomas. One child has blessed this marriage, namely:
Harper Thomas Marsh, who was born on December 28, 1909. Mrs. Marsh
was born at Corning, Adams county, Iowa, February 18, 1877, "^^^ edu-
cated in the State University at Lincoln, Nebraska, and has been a successful
teacher in the public schools of Richardson county, she having taught a total
of one hundred months in various schools in Nebraska. She is a daughter
of David L. and Eleanor I. (Jones) Thomas, tlie former of whom was
born in Cardiganshire, Wales, March 9, 1849. When three vears of age
he was brought to America by his parents, the family settling in Wisconsin,
where he was married to Eleanor I. Jones, who was born at Spring Green,
Sauk county, Wisconsin, March 30, 1858. The Thomas family removed
from Wisconsin to Iowa in 1875 and resided in that state, engaged in farming,
until 1879, when they came to Nebraska. They were successfully engaged
in farming in Richardson county until 1903, when Mr. and Mrs. Thomas
removed to Lincoln, Xeiiraska, where they now reside. A most notable
accomplishment on their part is the rearing of a family of well-educated
sons and daughters as follow : Mrs. Ellen Elizabeth Marsh; Prof. David
E. Thomas, a graduate of the Urtiversity of Nebraska and of Yale University,
who received the degree of Bachelor of Arts from the University of Ne-
braska, the degree of Bachelor of Divinity from Yale, and the degree of
Doctor of Philosophv from Chicago Universitv, and who spent three years
(85)

1346 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

as a member of the faculty of the college at Le Mars, Iowa, part of which
time he served as president of the college, and is now serving his fourth year
as professor at Edmonton College, Alberta, Canada, and is acting president
of this college during the present year; H. May Thomas, teacher of English
in the Moody Institute, Chicago, Illinois; John Willard Thomas, county
superintendent of schools at Sisseton, South Dakota; James Lloyd Thomas,
a teacher and farmer living at University Place, Nebraska; Margaret G.,
deceased; Mrs. Merle (Thomas) Rice, a missionary in India, who has spent
three years in the service of the missions department of the Christian de-
nomination, and Dwight P. Thomas, senior at the State University at Lincoln.
Nebraska.

Mr. Marsh is affiliated fraternally with the local lodge of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows at Falls City. He also is a warm supporter of religi-
ous works, and Mrs. Thomas is a member of the United Evangelical church.
Mr. and Mrs. Marsh take an active part in social affairs in Falls City and
have a liost of friends and well wishers, who esteem them for their mimy
good qualities. Their home, at 1902 ^Morton street is a pleasant and hos-
pitable one. and there tlieii" friends and acquaintances are always warmly
welcomed.

WILLIAM D. EASLEY.

"Through struggle to triumph" seems to be the maximum which holds
sway with the majority of people ; that is, those who attain to a successful
goal at all, must find it after arduous effort, and though it is undoubtedly true
that many fall exhausted in the conflict, a few, like William D. Easley, by
their inherent force of character and strong mentality, rise above their environ-
ment and all which seems to hinder them, until they reach the heights
to which they originally aspired.

Mr. Easley, who is now living in honorable retirement in tlie city of
Lincoln, was for many years one of the progressive merchants, lumlier tleal-
ers and representative men of affairs in Richardson county, Nebraska. He is
a scion of a sterling old Southern family and his birth occurred in Halifax
county, Virginia, February 11, 1853. He is a son of Albert L. and Eliza-
beth (Ballon) Easley, both natives of \'irginia also, the latter of whom, born
in 1826, died in 1889. The father was born in Halifax county, in March,
1 81 2, and there he grew to manhood, attended school and married, continu-
ing to reside in the Old Dominion until in October. 1868, when he mo\ed

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 347

to Nebraska with his family, settling on a farm near Rule, in this county,
Ijeing among the pioneers of that locality, and there he engaged successfully
in general farming for many years. About 1884 he moved to Falls City,
where his death occurred in 1888. He had spent his last 3'ears in retirement.
He became well and favorably known in the eastern part of Richardson
county and was influential among the early settlers there.

To Albert L. Easley and wife five children were lx)rn, namely : Mrs.-
Susan Carter, who resided in Kansas and is now deceased; William D., the
subject of this review; Mrs. Alberta Jones, who lives in Boulder, Colorado;
James, deceased, and Sally B., the wife of A. B. Wanner, a druggist of Falls
City.

William D. Easley spent his early boyhood in Halifax county, Virginia,
being fifteen years old when his parents brought him to Nebraska. He
grew up on the farm in this county and, like all sons of pioneers, worked
hard assisting his father develop the homestead near Rulo. He received his
early education in the rural schools of his district and began his business
career as a clerk in a general merchandise store at Rulo in 1869, when only
sixteen years of age. He continued there until 1872, when he went to
Colorado, where he clerked in a store six months, then went to Pawnee,
Nebraska. In 1877 he engaged in the lumber business at Humboldt, Ricliard-
son county, and was there thus engaged until 1886, when he bought the lum-
ber yard at Falls City, which he operated until 1904, when he went to Kansas
City, Missouri, continuing the lumber business . there until 1909. He has
lived in most of the towns of Richardson county and is well known through-
out southeastern Nebraska. While at Rulo he hauled lumber from that town
to Salem, before the days of railroads in eastern Nebraska; a lumber yard
having been established at Salem prior to the coming of the Chicago, Burling-
ton & Ouincy Railroad.

Mr. Easley was very successful in the lumber business, every phase
of which he soon mastered and he kept well abreast of the times in all that
pertained to his chosen line, being not only a close observer but a wide reader
of the lumber journals and periodicals published in the interests of lumber
men. He is a man of sound judgment and foresight and of industrious Iiabits.
He is one of the best-known lumbermen in the state of Nebraska ami also
up and down the Missouri river for a great distance. He is living in Lincoln
and is not actively engaged in business at this writing. He located in that
city in 1909 and was successfully engaged in the lumber and coal business
there until 19 16.

On May 30, 1876, in Pawnee county, Nebraska, Mr. Easley was married

1348 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

to Alice C. Wheeler, who was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania. She
is the fifth child born to Ephraim and Lucindia (Fellows) Wheeler, who
came from Pennsylvania to Nebraska in 1866, taking up a homestead four"
miles southeast of Pawnee City, and who were among the early pioneers of
Pawnee county. They developed a good farm there through hard work
and perseverance and there they spent the rest of their lives, both dying many
years ago at Table Rock. Mrs. Easley was reared on the home farm and
attended the early-day schools. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Easley has
been without issue.

Mr. Easley is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at
Falls City. Politically, he has never been very active in pubHc affairs,
further than to do his duty as a good citizen. He is a man of obliging and
genial disposition and makes and retains friends without effort.

WENZEL SKALAK.

The colony of Bohemians that settled in Richardson county has benetited
alike themselves and us, for they have made good citizens in every respect,
have helped develop this semi-wild section of our vast republic and estab-
lished comfortable homes through their industry. One of this number who
is deserving of special mention in this volume is Wenzel Skalak, a well-
known business man of Humboldt. He was born at Sokolec, Bohemia, April
25, 1852, a son of Frank and Elizabeth (Pohanka) Skalak, also natives of
Bohemia, where they grew and were married. The father came to Richardson
county, Nebraska, in 1865 and settled four miles south of Humboldt, built a
log cabin and broke up the virgin prairie sod with a team of oxen. He worked
hard to get a start in the new country and as the years passed became well-
established and the possessor of a good farm. His nearest markets were
Brownville and Arago. He bought his bacon and flour at Nebraska City.
He sold hogs as low as two and one-half cents per pound and corn for ten
and fifteen cents per bushel. He paid fourteen dollars and fifty cents an
acre for his homestead rights. When he came here he had three hundred
dollars which he loaned to a stranger who was in trouble, owing a debt
of three hundred dollars. The man then helped him locate a good home-
stead. Mr. Skalak lived with his family in an old saw-mill a while when
he first came. During the grasshopper years, he had hard sailing. He set
out a large cabbage patch and he covered some the plants with old hats

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 349

through wliich the insects ate their way and destroyed the cabbage.
He had ten acres of wheat which he cut with a cradle and bound into
sheaves by hand, threshing it by horsepower. He followed this method for
several years, or until the latter sixties. He lived in a log cabin fifteen years.
He spent the rest of his life on his homestead, as did also his wife. To
these parents three children were born, namely: Wenzel, subject of this
sketch: Mrs. Rosalia Prachejl, a widow living at Fairbury, Nebraska, and
Frank, a farmer in Humboldt precinct, Richardson county.

Wenzel Skalak spent his childhood in Bohemia, being thirteen years old
when his parents brought him to Richardson county, Nebraska. He attended
the common schools, and helped his father develop the home place, working
hard, as did all sons of pioneers. He also worked out as a farm hand at
a salary of forty dollars a year until 1867, when he began clerking in a
general store, owned by Ruel Nims, who had the first and only store in
Humboldt for some time. In 1880, Mr. Skalak began working for William
Stearns, and several years later started a mercantile business for himself in
partnership with E. A. Loper, handling clothing, boots and shoes. Later,
he was in partnership with G. A. Walch. Selling out the clothing business,
he formed a partnership with H. H. Scott, with whom he conducted a hard-
ware store for seventeen years at Humboldt. In 1904 he opened up his
present store in partnership with C. W. Atwood, which they conducted to-
gether until 1907, when Mr. Skalak began his present hardware store and
implement business. He carries a large and well-selected stock of hardware
and implements, all kinds of farming machinery, also plumbing and heating
apparatus. He has built up a large and lucrative business, his trade extend-
ing all over the western part of the county. He is also a stockholder in
the Humboldt brick yard, the creamery company and the local telephone
company. He is also owner of three hundred and twenty acres of good
land in Butler county, Kansas, in the oil fields, and of one hundred and
eight-five acres at Crab Orchard, Nebraska.

Mr. Skalak was married to Frances Radek, who was born on June 25,
1857, in Kuklik, Bohemia, and there she spent her girlhood, emigrating to
America, with a friend, in 1875, she came to Humboldt, Nebraska, where
she worked as a domestic for some time. To Mr. and Mrs. Skalak five
children have been born, namely: WiUiam, who is working with his father
in the store; Ludvik, in partnership in business with his father; Evan, a
farmer near Dubois, Nebraska, and two children who died in infancy.

Politically, Mr. Skalak is a Democrat. He has served as a memlser of
the city council of Humboldt. He has l^een one of the principal promoters

1350 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

of the local telephone company, being for some time chairman of the board
of directors, and he is now vice-president of the company. He is also vice-
president of the compan\- that operates the brick plant at Humboldt, and
is a director of the same. Fraternally, he is a member of the local lodge
of Ancient Free and Accepted :Masons. :\Iodern ^^'oodmen of America.
C. S. B. S., and the Bohemian lodge. He was reared in the Lutheran faith.

JAMES \Y. BURNS.

The Old Dominion has sent many of her industrious citizens into
Nebraska to help reclaim the great plains and among these is James W.
Burns, farmer and stockman of Liljerty precinct, Richardson county. He was
bom in Rockbridge county, Virginia, September 5, 1853, ^'^^ i^ '^ ^on of
Thomas H. and Lucy (Crockett) Burns. The father was born in Virginia
about the year 1806 and his death occurred in 1869. He grew up in his
native state, in fact, lived and died there. He was overseer in an iron foundry
for many years. All the children born of his union with Lucy Crockett are
deceased but James W. Burns, the subject of this sketch. After the death
of his first wife he married Ellen Obenchain, to which union two children
were born, one of whom is living — Dillie, wife of William Kemper, who
makes her home in Botetourt county, Virginia. Thomas H. Burns's first
wife, Lucy Crockett, was born in Mrginia, where she was reared and spent
her life, dying in 1859. She and her husband were both members of the Bap-
tist church.

James W. Burns grew to manhood in \'irginia and received a common-
school education. He assisted his father with the work on the home farm
during his boyhood and young manhood. In 1870 he went to Lafayette
county, Missouri, where he worked out by the month as a farm hand. Li
1878 he came to Nebraska and rented land in Arago township, Richardson
county. In 1884 he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres in western
Kansas. Selling out there in 1889. he moved to \'erdon, this county, and
in 1892 bought his present farm in Liberty precinct, which was unimproved.
He set out trees, built fences, a house and barn and in due course of time
had the land under excellent cultivation. The place consists of one hundred
and sixty acres, in section 20. In connection with general farming he has
always kept graded Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs.

Mr. Burns was married on December 18, 1881, to Nellie L. Bennett, a

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 35 1

daughter of George W. and Sarah L. (Everet) Bennett, early settlers of Ohio,
from which state they later moved to Wisconsin in the early days there, and
finally came to Richardson count}-, Nebraska, from Minnesota, Mrs. Burns
being born in the last-named state, on December 29, 1863. The following
children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Burns : William A., who lives in
Salem precinct; Charles E., who lives in Porter precinct; Ira C, who lives
in Liberty precinct; Clara L., wife of W. Schultz, of Liberty precinct; Harry
T., who lives in Porter precinct; Emily K., who was graduated . from the
Verdon high school and is teaching in the. district schools; Amos Schley,
who enlisted for ser\-ice in the United States army on July 4, 1917, a member
of Company D, Fifth Nebraska Infantry; Nellie A. and Anther C, the two
latter of whom are at home; Ella E. is deceased, and one died in infancy.

Politically, Mr. Burns is a Democrat. He has served as road overseer
in his community, and was a member of the school board in his district for
a period of twenty-one years. Fraternally, he is a member of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows and of the Woodmen of the World. His wife belongs
to the Knights and Ladies of Security. They are members of the Methodist
Episcopal church. They have worked hard and finally achieved marked
success in agriculture.

RICHARD A. COUPE.

The old Empire state has contributed many of her most enterprising
sons to the great West and they have played a very important role in the
development of the same. One of this number in Richardson county, Ne-
braska, who is deserving of special mention is Richard A. Coupe, one of
the leading farmers and cattlemen of Falls City precinct. He was born
in Utica, New York, June 9, 1855, a son of James and Jane (Latus) Coupe.
The father was born in Lancashire, England, in 1812 and there he spent
his earlier years, emigrating to the state of New York in 1844, where he
died in 1861, after devoting his active life to general farming. The mother
was also born in Lancashire, England, in 1814, there she grew to woman-
hood and came to America about 1844, locating at Utica, New York, where
she and James Coupe were married. Her death occurred in 1867. Twelve
children were born to them, seven of whom are living at this time, namely:
Ellen J., who married John O'Brien, deceased; Mary L., the widow of
John Roscoe, living in L^tica. New York; Elizabeth, deceased; Henry F.,
who lives in L'tica, New York: Thomas A., a drv goods merchant at Utica,

1352 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

New York; James F., a lawyer in Utica, that state; Joseph B., deceased,
whose family lives in Effingham, Kansas, but at one time lived in Ricliard-
son county, Nebraska, where he filled the office of county judge for three
terms; Margaret A., deceased; Richard A., of this sketch; Sarah, who lives
in New Orleans, Louisiana, and is a sister of charity, one of the volunteers
at the hospital for lepers, known as Sister Cyril; two children, who died in
infancy.

Richard A. Coupe grew to manhood in Utica, New York, where he
received a common school education. He came West in 1878, locating at
Rulo, Richardson county, Nebraska, and, in the following year, took up
his residence in Falls City precinct, where he soon engaged in stock raising,
fie rented land about two years, and in 1882, bought one hundred and
sixty acres near Wymore, Nebraska, which land he improved and sold in
1887, then moved to McCook, this state, where he conducted a meat market
until 1892. In that year he returned to Richardson county and bought two
hundred acres in Falls City precinct, his present farm, and here he has since
been successfully engaged in general farming and stock raising. He has
made many important improvements, remodeling the dwelling throughout,,
and from his home may be obtained one of the finest views in the locality.
Falls City being within the range of vision. He has appropriately named
his place "Pleasant View." He has prospered by good management and
persistent industry, and has added to his original farm until he now owns
two hundred and forty acres in section 27, Falls City precinct. He also
owns five hundred and forty acres of good land in Anderson county, Kansas.
He is a breeder of Poll Durham cattle and Poland China hogs, being in
partnership with his sons, under the firm name of R. A. Coupe & Sons.
They began breeding thoroughbred cattle and hogs in 19 14. Mr. Coupe
has been a very extensive and successful cattle feeder, feeding from five
hundred to one thousand head annually, which he ships to the Kansas City
market. In 1885 he engaged in the butcher business at Falls City, continu-
ing the same several years.

Mr. Coupe was married on November 24, 1885, to Mary M. King,
who was born on December 14, 1863, in Canada. She is a daughter of
John and Catherine (Simmer) King, natives of Canada, from which coun-
try they came to Richardson county, Nebraska, in 1867, settling eight miles
north of Falls City, where they developed a good farm from the vngin
prairie and there spent the rest of their lives. Mrs. Coupe was a child when
her parents brought her to this county, and here she grew to womanhood
and attended school. To ]\Ir. and Mrs. Coupe ten children have been born,

^^^-tuH^

CyUVCUdL

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I355

as follow : James F., a field man for the Twentieth Century Farm Journal,
published at Omaha, Nebraska; Nellie, the wife of Thomas Kanaly, living
in Jefferson precinct, Richardson coiuity; Henry A., is a live stock commis-
sion merchant in Kansas City; Thomas, George L., John B., Catherine,
Elizabeth, Mary and Richard, all at home.

T'olitically, Mr. Coupe is a Democrat. He was elected county supervisor
in 1908, which office he held two terms in a highly acceptable manner.
Fraternall}', he belongs to the Knights of Columbus and the Royal Arcanum.
He is a member of the Catholic church.

LEWIS CLIFFORD EDWARDS.

The early environment, education and training of Lewis Clifford
Edwards, author of this history of Richardson county, have peculiarly fitted
him for the task of writing and compiling a history of his own county,
for he is a true lover of history trained in the newspaper field, a student
of archaeology, a delver into the wonders of the past qnd a seeker after
knowledge of what has happened in the years gone by. Mr. Edwards was
born in a typical Nebraska pioneer cabin and was reared amid pioneer sur-
roundings during his earlier years. He is self-made and self-educated and
has worked his way into a position of confidence and esteem in which he
is held by his fellow citizens of Richardson county. He is modest, withal,
and in writing this history, his sole aim has l^een to present such a work to
the people of his county as will endure for all time to come as an authentic
and reliable record of the important happenings in this county, since the
advent of the first pioneer to the present time. The writer is certain that
he has succeeded, and the work, with its contents, speaks for itself.

Lewis Clifford Edwards was born, September 28, 1878, on a farm
located one and a half miles south of Glen Rock, Nemaha county, Ne-
braska, in a typical frontier cabin built of stone and hewn logs. He is a
son of Andrew Jay and Elvira Belle (Houchins nee Mullins) Edwards,
natives of Ohio and Indiana, respectively. Andrew Jay Edwards was born
at New Lisbon, Columbiana county, Ohio, September 9, 1835, and was left
an orphan by the death of his father in 1840 and that of his mother in
1845. The parents of Andrew J. Edwards were of Welsh descent.

Andrew J. Edwards was reared by an uncle, James Amnions, who took
the orphan boy to South Bend, Indiana, and gave him a home with his

1,^54 RICITARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

family. Here he was reared to j'oung manhood and responded to his coun-
try's call for men, during the first year of the Civil "War, enlisted and was
enrolled as a member of Company B, Forty-eighth Regiment, Indiana \'olun-
teer Infantry on December 15, 1861. He was given the post of first sergeant
of his company and, later during his service, was transferred to the Union
Veteran's Reserve Corps and was stationed at Washington, being one of
se\'enteen men who were taken from Jefferson barracks, St. Louis, and placed
on duty at Washington, D. C, to perform clerical work on account of sick
disability. Thus Mr. Edwards was employed as a scribe in the War Depart-
ment until he was mustered out of service in August, 1865. The Forty-
eighth Indiana Regiment, which was organized at Goshen, Indiana, in 1861,
fought at Ft. Donelson, February, 1862, and was at the siege of Corinth,
Mississippi, in Alay, 1862. It then joined in the pursuit of General Price and
fought at the battle of luka, September, 1862, where one hundred and sixteen
of its number were killed out of four hundred and twenty engaged. In
October of that year, it took part in the second battle of Corintli, under
General Rosecrans, and later joined Grant's army, with which it pushed
to the rear of Vicksburg and took part in the skirmish of Forty Hills, 'Slay
3, 1863. Later in that month, it participated in the battle of Raymond.
Mississippi, on the 13th, and at Champion Hills on the 14th, where it lost
thirty-three killed and wounded. On May 22, 1863. it took part in the
assault on Tunnel Hill and the Vicksburg forts. The regiment re-enlisted
as a veteran organization in January. 1864, at Huntsville. Alabama, and later
the\- were on duty at Carterville, Georgia, until they joined Sherman's
armv on its march from Atlanta to the sea. Following the capture of
Savannah, they took part in the campaign through the Carolinas to Raleigh,
thence to Petersburg, Virginia, and on to Washington, from which city
they were transferred to Louisville, Kentucky, and mustered out on Jul\
15, 1865. Andrew J. Edwards was transferred to the A'eteran's Reserve
Corps on September 22. 1863, and re-enlisted on June 23, 1863, for tliree
years additional service. While a member of the Veteran's Reserve Corps,
he served with various companies and detachments and received a furlough
in January, 1865.

During the last vear of the war. he came to Nebraska and located at
Omaha, where he was employed as driver on various stage lines for some
vears. He was then employed in the construction of the Union Pacific
railroad and was stationed at Ft. Laramie, Wyoming, for some time. Upon
his return to Nebraska, he was again employed on mail and stage lines run-
ning out of Omaha and served as driver on the east side of the Missouri

RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I355

river. He made his residence in Otoe county for some years and, after
farming in Nemaha county, Nebraska, for some years, he located at Hum-
boldt, Richardson county, in 1885. He died at Humboldt on November
15, 1906. Mr. Edwards was a member of the Presbyterian church.

Andrew J. Edwards was married, firstly, at Three Rivers. Michigan,
to a Miss Kauffman, who died leaving him one child, Mrs. Cora Edwards-
Tyler, of Sterling, Nebraska. His second marriage occurred in Atchison
county, Missouri, in 1875, with Mrs. Alvira Belle Houchins nee ]\Iullins,
who was born on April 19, 1849, in Crawford county, Indiana, a daughter
of Lewis Clasby and Elizabeth (Hume) Mullins, natives of Lexington,
Campbell county, Kentucky. Lewis C. Mullins was born, September 26,
1815, and was a son of Lindsey and Millie (Sutherd) IMuUins, natives of
Virginia, and members of old American families. The Mullins family came
to Nebraska and made a settlement here in i860. Mrs. Elizabetli (Hume)
Mullins was a daughter of John Gray Hume. The Mullins family is of
Scotch descent. To this second marriage of Andrew J- Edwards were
born children as follow: Gila J., of Humboldt, Nebraska; Lewis Clifford,
subject of this review; Warren C, of Dawson, Nebraska: Calvert T.. a
resident of Lincoln, Nebraska; Marcia, wife of Hark Bradley of Dawson,
Nebraska, and Jesse Lee, who died in Nemaha county, Nebraska.

Lewis C. Edwards received his education in the public schools of Glen
Rock and Humboldt, Nebraska. He served an apprenticeship in a photo-
graph gallery at Humboldt for a time, and then entered the office of the
Humboldt Standard in 1890. Here he learned the trade of printer and was
next employed in the office of the Hmnboldt Enterprise, under E. F. Sharts.
He was also with the Hmnboldt Leader under H. P. Marlile for some
time. His ambition had been to become the proprietor of a newspaper
and he realized his ambition by purchasing the Hmnboldt Standard in 1901.
He operated this newspaper for a period of five years, later being associated
with Oliver Hall, under the firm name of Edwards & Hall. In November,
1905 Mr. Edwards was elected register of deeds for Richardson county
and assumed office on January i, 1906. At the expiration of his term of
four years, he was re-elected and served for five years, making nine years
in all in this important office. In November, 1916, he was a candidate on
the Democratic ticket for state senator and carried his home county b\- a
large majority, his name being written on the ballots 1)y his friends, altiiuugh
Mr. Edwards made no active canvass for the ollice. In January. 1917, he
was appointed deputy clerk of the district court uniler Charles Liiree and
is now filling this position.

1356 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Mr. Edwards was married at Nebraska City on September 28, 1909,
to Jessie Paxton, who was born at Chaml>ers, Nebraska, a daughter of
Dr. Galen C. and Laura B. (Cain) Paxton, of Falls City, the latter of
whom is a daughter of William R. Cain and wife, pioneer settlers of Rich-
ardson county. Dr. Galen C. Paxton is a son of William L. Paxton, also
a pioneer of Richardson county. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs.
Edwards, a daughter, Betty Isabelle, born, March i, 191 1.

Mr. Edwards is a Democrat in his political affiliation and is one of the
recognized leaders of his party in Richardson county. He and Mrs. Edwards
are members of St. Thomas Episcopal church of Falls City. He is fra-
ternally affiliated with Nemaha Valley Lodge No. 34, Independent Order
of Odd Fellows, Falls City Lodge No. 9, Ancient Free and Accepted ]\Ia-
sons. Eureka Chapter No. 5, Royal Arch Masons, and the Royal High-
landers. Mr. Edwards has pronounced literary talent and is a lover of
history, he with others having made some valuable researches along the
banks of the Missouri river, in this county, and have unearthed various parts
of skeletal remains, beads, and the like, which have been pronounced by
high autliorities to he remains of a prehistoric race which once lived in
this section.

JOHN HENRY HUTCHINGS.

John Henry Hutchings, well-known business man and farmer, of
Falls City, is a native son of Richardson county and has lived here all his
life. He was born on a farm, east of Falls City, January 12, 1872, a
s^m of George and Eliza (Sleight) Hutchings, natives of England, the
former born in 183 1 and the latter in 1836, who came to the then terri-
tory of Nebraska from Illinois in 1864 and settled on the farm in section
J, Falls City township. George Hutchings developed a good farm there
and became a well-to-do and influential pioneer of Richardson count}-. He
was endowed with an intellectual nature, and, in this pioneer society, his
greatest interest was in its moral and intellectual development. He died
in 1890 and his widow survived him more than ten years, her death occurring
in 1901. They were the parents of seven children who grew to maturity,
of whom the subject of this sketch was the sixth in order of birth, the
others being : Elizabeth, who married F. W. Thompson and died in western
Kansas in 1906; Kate, who married W. P. Jones and is now living in Nuckolls
county, Nebraska; George F., of Kansas City: ]\Iary. who is the librarian of

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1357

the city library at Falls City; Anne, who makes her home with her sister,
Mary, and William S., of Wallace, Idaho.

Reared on the home farm east of Falls City, John H. Hutchings com-
pleted his schooling in the Falls City high school and remained on the farm
until his removal to Falls City in 1905. In the meantime, during the years
1903-04, he had served as a member of the board of county supervisors
from his district, and in 1905, having been elected county clerk, moved to
Falls City to take charge of that office and for the better prosecution of the
business interests he had developed. In 1907 he was reelected to the office
of county clerk, serving two terms, at the end of which term of service
he was elected county treasurer and served in that capacity for five years,
1910-15. Since that time he has been devoting his attention to the varied
business interests he has developed in and about Falls City, with residence
at 2213 Stone street. Mr. Hutchings is the owner of a fine farm of about
four h'undred acres, two and a half miles east of Falls City, and of farms
in Kansas and Oklahoma. He also has oil lands which have been success-
fully producing for the past three years, and he is one of the Falls City
business men who are taking steps to ascertain if there be oil deposits in
this county. With this aim they have spent considerable time and money
in securing oil and gas leases on several thousand acres of land in the western
part of the county. The reluctance of farmers to lease their land has delayed
the test, but the company expects to begin drilling in the fall of 1917.

In 1909, Mr. Hutchings, in connection with others, laid off the Boule-
A-ard addition to the city of Falls City, and later laid off the Hutchings
and Maust addition, a tract of forty acres, situated two blocks west of
Stone street, and there built a number of houses, graded the streets and
otherwise improved the addition. Mr. Hutchings is a Democrat and has
for years been regarded as one of the leaders of that party in this part of
the state. He is, at present, .serving as a member of the city council and,
in addition to his further public service set out above, has in other ways
contributed of his time and his energies to the advancement of the common
welfare.

On June 29, 1909, John H. Hutchings was united in marriage to Mary
Emily Davies, who was born in Pennsylvania, December 2;^, 1882, a daugh-
ter of Rev. Enoch Israel and Maud (Kirby) Davies. Reverend Davies
was born in Wales in 1853 and entered the ministry of the Presbyterian
church. He died in 1903, while pastor of the Presbyterian church at Teciun-
seh, this state. Maud (Kirby) Davies was lx>rn in Pennsylvania in 1849.
She is a descendant of Revolutionary families, among them the l^otter

1358 RICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

and Strickland families, and thniugh the latter the descent is traced from
the Plantagenets, of England. Mrs. Hutchings graduated from the state
university at Lincoln, taking an A. \l. degree in 1904, and was for some
time, prior to her marriage, engaged in teaching in the high schools of
Falls City. Nebraska, and Passaic, New Jersey.

]\Ir. and Mrs. Hutchings have two cliildren, John Henry, Jr., born,
June 23. 1912, and Sarah Eliza, born, January 13, 1915. Mr. and Mrs.
Hutchings are luembers of the St. Thomas Episcopal church of Falls City
anil take a very active interest in church work, Mr. Hutchings having been
a member of the vestry of this parish since attaining his majority. Both
Mr. and ]\Irs. Hutchings are actively interested in the general good works
and social and cultural activities of their home city. Mr. Hutchings is a
Knight Templar and a member of the local lodges of the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows and the Royal Highlanders. As a progressive business man,
he has done much to advance the general business interests of his home
town and has long been regarded as one of the "real live wires" of the
citv.

CYRUS NORTON ALLISON, D. D. S.

One of the best-known and most successful of the younger dentists
of Richardson county is Dr. Cyrus Norton Allison, of Falls City, who was
born. September 11, 1879. on a farm near Florence. Kansas, a son of Alson
N. and Elizabeth (Brandon) Allison. The father was born at Marietta.
Ohio, in 1839. and died in 1912. He was a son of Hugh Allison, a scion
of an old American family. Elizabeth Brandon was born about 1853 and
died in 1890. Alson N. Allison devoted his life to farming, but when he
came west aliout i860, was for some time engaged in freighting from
Omaha. Nebraska, to Fort Laramie, Wyoming. He had a dangerous job
for nnich of this long route was through a hostile Indian country, which
was alsc} infested with highvi'aymen ; hence, as a rule, only men of courage
undertook such work. Mr. Allison also engaged in freighting to Denver,
Colorado, and to the states of Montana and New Mexico. He owned his
own mules and complete outfit, which he used in this work, and, after
spending several vears at it, followed gold mining until about 1870. He
took up a homestead near the present site of the city of Bozeman, Montana,
lived on it two vears and dien moved to Kansas, where he took up a home-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 359

Stead, a mile and a half southwest of Florence, in Marion county. Tiiere
he developed a fine stock and fruit farm and spent the rest of his life. He
was serving as township trustee at the time of the grasshopper plague and
had charge of the relief work there.

The following children were born to Alson N. Allison and wife : Louisa
Belle, the wife of J. M. Kilburn, who lives on a farm adjoining the old
home place near Florence, Kansas'; Ida May, a stenographer and bookkeeper
for the Illinois Thresher Company, at Sycamore, Illinois; Thomas Walter,
farming on the home place in Marion county, Kansas; Myrtle Lusanna,
deceased; Dr. Cyrus N., of this sketch; Mrs. Cora Elizabeth Orr, living in
Loveland, Colorado, and Luther Devin, who is engaged in the grocery busi-
ness at Greeley, Colorado.

Doctor Allison, of this review, was reared on the home farm where he
worked when a boy. He received his early education in the public and high
schools at Florence, Kansas, and then spent three and one-half years in the
Kansas Agricultural College, at Manhattan, from which institution he was
graduated in 1901 with the degree of Bachelor of Science. Deciding that
he preferred a professional career, he gave up the idea of scientific farming
and entered Central Dental College at Indianapolis, Indiana, where he spent
his first year, and then studied during his secimd and third year at the
\\'estern Dental College, Kansas City, Missouri. During the years 1903 and
1904. he practiced his profession in Oklahoma, under state license. He
completed his course in 1905 in the last named college, receiving the degree
of Doctor of Dental Surgery. Soon thereafter he located in Falls City,
Nebraska, where he has since engaged in practice, building up a large clien-
tele of the best people in this locality. He has a modernly equipped office
in the Richardson County Bank Building. His work is first-class in ever\-
respect and he keeps well up to date in his profession.

Doctor .\llison was married in August, 1903, to Leonora D. Eggen, of
Manhattan, Kansas, who took the course in domestic science in the Agricul-
tural College of Kan.-as. She is a daughter of J-ames Collier Eggen, a well-
known citizen of Manhattan. To the Doctor and wife one child has been
born — Loren, whose birth occurred July 12, 1909.

Politically, Doctor Allison is an independent voter. He belongs to the
Presbyterian church and is active in church affairs, especially Sunday school
work. He was for three years secretary of the Richardson County Sunday
School Association and he has been superintendent of the Falls City Sunday
schools for the past nine years. His work has been very effective in this

1360 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

connection and we reproduce the following tribute to him which appeared in
The Nebraska Sunday School Record, in its issue of January, 191 5:

Di-. C. N. Allison, secretary-treasurer of the Kicliardsou Couuty Sunday School Asso-
ciation, is a product of Nebraslca's neighbor, the Sunflower state. It is none to his
discredit to know that he was reared under environments which brought him to his
majority before witnessing the presence of the open saloon. The force of character
manifested in his life today proves the value and influence of early training and proper
moral surroundings.

Doctor Alli.son siient much of his early uianhuod in high sc'hool and college work at
Manhattan, Kansas, before entering upon his professional career, which, in a measure,
explains his efficient service in the field to which Itichardson county has called him.
Busy as has been his professional life as a dentist, he has for a number of years given
much time and energy in Sunday school and church work as Sunday school superin-
tendent, and as a member of Falls City Presb.neriau CTkii-Ch Session.

He is now entering upon his second year of service as secretary-treasurer, unani-
mously rechosen because of his careful, iwinst.ikhii.' methods of work.

Any county may well consider itself fortun.itc in tindiug one so well-fitted as Doctor
Allison for this important position. By nature modest, by training efficient, he. in his
quiet, unassuming way, renders much valuable service with no thought of plaoiug himself
in the limelight of public praise. May we have many more like him.

Dr. Allison is an elder in the Presbyterian church. Fraternally, he
belongs to the Royal Highlanders.

HON. PHILO S. HE.\COCK.

In the memorial annals of Richardson county there are few names held
in better remembrance than that of the late Hon. Philo S. Heacock, of Falls
City, former representative from this district in the Nebraska General Assem-
bly, former mayor of Falls City and for many years actively engaged in the
grain, coal, live-stock and milling business in that city, where his death
occurred on December 19, 1916, he then being seventy-three years, five rnonths
and thirteen days of age. His widow is still living in that city.

Philo S. Heacock was a native of the Dominion of Canada, born at
Delta, in the province of Ontario, July 6, 1843, but had been a resident of
Nebraska ever since he was twenty-five \ears of age. When cjuite a young
man, he left Canada and went to Illinois, where he remained until 1869.
in which year he came to Nebraska, driving across the prairies of Iowa by
prairie schooner and crossing the Missouri river at Nebraska City, which
was then a thriving river town. He proceeded thence to Johnson county,
where he located on a farm and where he remained about seven years, at
the end of which time, in 1876, he moved down to Falls City, where he
built a grain elevator and where he ever afterward was successfully engaged
in the grain, live-stock and coal business, to which, in later years, he added

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I361

the business of milling. From the very beginning of his business career in
Falls City, he was ever regarded as one of the leading business men of
Richardson county, as well as one of the most active and influential factors
in the development of the county's interests along all proper lines. It was
not long after Mr. Heacock became engaged in the grain and live-stock
business at Falls City that he began expanding that business, and from that
time to the day of his death was recognized as one of the heaviest shippers
from Falls City over the Burlington. At one time he owned and managed
about twenty elevators on the Burlington line, but of later years had cut
down the number of his elevators and had been giving more attention to the
manufacture of flour, having bought the Douglas mill after his elevator at
Falls City was destroyed by fire some years ago. In 1880 Mr. Heacock
was elected to represent this district in the Legislature and he served during
the sixteenth and seventeenth sessions of that body. He also served as mayor
of Falls City for one term and in other ways gave of himself unselfishly to
the public service, ever helpful in promoting an}- movement designed to
advance the common welfare. He was an earnest member of the Presby-
terian church and, at the time of his death, was an elder in the same, an
office to which he had been ordained in 1905. He had a brother, Albert
Heacock, formerly a resident of Falls City, now living at Alberta, Canada ;
two sisters, Mrs. Ida Fredenbaugh and Mrs. E. A. Barnes, of Toronto,
Canada; another sister, Mrs. David Beatty, of Pony Sound, Ontario, and
a fourth sister, Mrs. Emma Stevens, of Chicago, Illinois.

Mr. Heacock was twice married; the first time, in Canada, to Isabella
Beatty, who died leaving two children, Jessie, who died in Canada in 1884,
and Philo, who died in Falls City in 1892. In 1882, at Falls City. Mr.
Heacock married secondly, Florence Thome, of that city, who was born
at Ottawa, Illinois, and to that union four children were born, namely:
Bess, wife of V. R. Gould, of Omaha, Kate, Roy A. and Ruth, who are
still at home with their mother in Falls City. The Heacocks have a very
pleasant home and have ever given proper attention to the general social
activities of their home town, helpful in promoting all local good works and
in advancing such movements as are designed to promote the common wel-
fare.

Roy A. Heacock, who is now managing the extensive interests and
properties left by his father and operating the mill and the coal business
in behalf of the familv, was born at Falls City on March lo, 1886. He
(86)

I_^62 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

cninpleted his schooling at the University of Nebraska in 1905 and then
became actively connected as a partner with his father in the business the lat-
ter had built up at Falls City. For the last six years of the elder Heacock's
life, he had been a practical invalid and thus much of the weight of the
management of the business fell upon the shoulders of the younger Heacock.
who thus became practical manager of the mill and the other interests of
liis father. Since the latter's death, the son has continued to conduct affairs
as before and is continually extending the operations of the mill. Mr.
Heacock is one of the most energetic and public-spirited business men in
Falls City and takes an active part in the general affairs of that city. He
is a Mason and a member of the local lodge of the Benevolent and Pro-
ttctive Order of Elks and takes a warm interest in the aft'airs of both of
these orders.

JAMES KELLY.

James Kelly, a farmer and stockman of Liberty precinct, Richardson
county, and the owner of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres of
choice land in section 18, was born on November i, 1870, in Manitowac,
Wisconsin, the son of Martin and Nora ( O'Neil) Kelly, well-known farming
people.

Martin Kelly was boni in Ireland in 1829. At the age of twenty ^ears
he left his native land, in 1849, the year of the memorable famine in Ireland,
and came to the United States, there being a general exodus from the Emer-
ald Isle about that time. On arriving in this country he went on to Wisconsin
and settled on a farm, which he later purchased, and continued to live there
until 1879, when he came to Richardson county, continuing his farming opera-
tions until the time of his death in 1902. He was married to Nora O'Neil.
also a native of Ireland, who was born in 1834 and who died in 1898. Tlie>
were married in Wisconsin and were the parents of the following children :
James, the subject of this sketch; Martin, who lives in Liberty precinct; Ellen.
the wife of J. Tangney, and lives in Kansas; Katherine, who married \\'illiam
Riley, of (irant precinct; Bridget, who lives with her brother. John; Nora,
living with her brother. Miles; Mrs. Lizzie Cully, who lives near Lincoln.
Seward county, this state; John and Miles, farmers, of Ohio precinct.

On coming to Richardson county in 1879, Martin Kelly bought a farm
in Ohio precinct and as he prospered in his farming operations, developed
and improved his land and became one of the substantial farmers of his

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I363

neighborhood. He and his wife were hnmely people and were earnest members
of the Cathohc church, in the faith of which tlieir children were also reared.
Their deaths, separated by a few years, were generally regretted throughout
the community.

James Kelly, son of the worthy couple whose lives have just been noticed,
was nine years old when he came with his parents to Richardson county and
was educated in district school No. yj. On leaving school he helped his
father in the work of the farm. In 1906 he bought his present farm of one
hundred and sixty acres, which he is operating successfully. In addition
to his work on the farm, he is also engaged in handling Duroc-Jersey hogs
and well-bred Shorthorn cattle, and has been equally successful in these lines.
In 1916 Mr. Kelly built a substantial modern house, etiuipped with all mod
ern conveniences and is lighted throughout with gas.

On October 10, 191 1, James Kelly was united in marriage to Elizabeth
Joyce, daughter of John and Mary (Cleary) Joyce, natives of Wisconsin.
Mr. and Mrs. Kelly are the parents of two children, daughters, Eleanor,
born on February 21, 1914, and Elizabeth Mary, July 25, 1917.

Mr. Kelly is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to local
affairs, but has never been a seeker after office. He and his wife are members
of tlie Catholic church and are interested in all neighl)orhood good works.
Mr. Kellv is a member of the Knights of Columbus.

CHARNOCK W. WILLIAMSON.

One of the leading farmers of Nemaiia precinct, Richardson countv,
is Charnock W. Williamson, who was born near Lawrence, Kansas, Octol)er
7. 1859. He is a son of Robert and Maria (Cade) Williamson. The father
was liorn in Coshocton county, Ohio, INIay 5, 1830, and died in 191 2. He
left Ohio about 1858, going to Iowa, later moving to Missouri. In i860
he went to Kansas, but moved back to Missouri, but in 1861 went to Kansas
again. In June, 1865, he bought the farm on which the subject of this sketch
resides in Nemaha township and moved here at that time. He built a small
house and began improving the place in a general way. He carried 011
general farming and fed large numbers of cattle, having ])lentv (U' range
on the prairies at that time. He became one of the most successful farmers
of the county, owning at the time of his death seven hundred acres, which
he divided among his cliildren. He was well known and held in liigh esteem.

'3'''4 KKllAkDSdX COLXTV. NKBRASKA.

He was a son of Henry Williamson and wife, the latter of whom was a
JIaxton, natives of Ohio, where they lived and died. The mother of the
suhject of this sketch was born in Maryland, July 2, 1828, and her death
occurred in 1910. She was a member of the Presbyterian church. Robert
Williamson was a pioneer in three .states. He bought his first land in Xe-
b'.aska from the government, paying one dollar and twenty-seven cent^ an
acre for the same. It was part of an Indian reservation. He paid for his
farm by hauling lime about forty miles from A\'hite river. He used ox-
teams to break up his land. He endured many hardships, including the
grasshopper years, but he was a man of courage and by perseverance won
out. His wife made all the clothes for the family for several years, spinning
the cloth herself. To these parents five children were born, namely; Mrs.
Martha Runyon. who lives in Xemaha precinct, this county; Samuel, who
lives in Durant, Oklahoma; Lucinda, the wife of C. L. Lynch, of Sabetha,
Kansas; Charnock VC., the suljject of this sketch, and Robert K., who lives
on a farm in Xemaha precinct.

Charnock W'. Williamson grew to manhood on the home farm, where
he worked hard when a boy, assisting his father develop the place and culti-
vate the general crops. In the winter time he attended the local schools in
district X'^o. 71. When a young man he herded cattle on the plains a great
(leal. In 1884 he began farming for himself on eighty acres which his father
gave him and also on rented land. He later purchased a part of the estate.
He is now owner of two hundred and forty acres of excellent land in section
36, Nemaha precinct. He has made all the improvements on the same, and
now has a comfortable home and a good group of outbuildings. He set
nut a large orchard some year^ ago, which was destroyed by a storm, but
he planted another and now has an excellent orchard on his north eighty.
He is a breeder of Shorthorn cattle. He raises a large quantity of grain
each year, much of which he feeds to live stock.

Mr. \\'illiam.son was married on October 30, 1884, to Maggie Smith,
who was Ijorn in Richardson county, where she grew to womanhood antl
was educated in school district Xo. 71. She is a daughter of Julius and
Rosalee Smith, a .sketch of \\hom appears on another page of this vt)Iume.
h'ive children have been 1)orn to Mr. and Mrs. Williamson, named as follow:
h'loyd, who is farming in Xemaha county, Kansas; Robert, who is farming
in Salem precinct, this county; Dottie, deceased; Elva, deceased, and Loring
is at home. I'oliticalK-, Mr. \\'illirun,si)n is a Democrat. He belongs t<i the
Independent ( )nkT of ( )il(l h'ellows and to the Modern AX'oodmen.

UICIIAUDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1365

FRKDERICIv H. HARKKXDORFF.

Frederick H. Harkendorff, proprietor of a well-kept farm in section jy.
Ohio precinct, and one of the best-known and most progressive young farmers
and stockmen in that part of the county, is a member of one of the very
first families in Richardson county, his grandfather, John F. Harkendorff.
having come here in 1854 and settled on a pre-emption claim on the Muddy
river at a time when there were but three other white men within the con-
fines of what is now Richardson county. Two of these earlier comers were
horse thieves whose careers not long afterward were cut short at the end
of ropes, the not-uncommon fate of their ilk in those days.

John F. Harkendorff, the pioneer, and his wife, Mary (Kephandt)
Harkendorff, were natives of Germany, who left their home in Mecklenb'urg-
Schwerin with their family in 1852 and, after a nine-weeks voyage on a
sailing vessel, reached the shores of America, and proceeded from port on
out to Illinois, settling in Jackson county, that state. Two years later, they
pushed on West into what then was the great territory of Nebraska, just
created that year from what formerly had been somewhat indefinitely known
as the Indian country, and settled on a tract of land lie had |)re-empted on
the banks of the Muddy, about where the village of Straussville now stands
in this country. As noted above, there ^yere, at that time, but three other
white men in the territory now included within Richardson couiitv, two of
these being- horse thieves and the other a real settler. It was al)Out this time
that Jesse Crook, the Goolsbys and t)thers of the early colony of Tcn-
nesseeans .settled here. John F. Harkendorff put up a log cabin on
his claim and, with the oxen which had drawn his covered wagon, family
and household goods over from Illinois started in to lireak the sod and
develop his farm. He and his family were always on friendly terms with
the Indians, who were then present in large numbers hereabout, and when
he got a start with his herd of cattle the Indians bought his surplus cattle.
The scrupulous fidelity with which the Indians observed tlieir part in the
transactions was proof to the pioneer that his red neighbors were inher-
ently honest, for when they had no money with which to |)av for the cattle
they would leave with him ponies double in value the amount of their pur-
chase as a pledge against the time of the government's periodical payment
to the Indians. The Harkendorffs were an earnest, |)eaceable familv and
were not much bothered by the horse thieves, only one of their horses
being stolen during those early days when horse stealing was all too com-

1366 KRHAKDStlX COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

mon. On that piuiieer farm and on their later farm in Ohio precinct. John
V. Harkendortt and his wife .spent the remainder of their hves, rearin.t;
their family and developing a fine piece of farm property, useful and influ-
ential pioneers and good neighbors. The old log cabin in which they began
their residence in this county is still standing, one of the most precious
relics of the jiioneer days to be found within the whole confines of the
county.

Fred J. Harkendorff, sun of John b". Harkendorff and wife, was born
on March 11. 1841. and was eleven years of age when he came to this
country with his parents and about thirteen when they came from Illinois
to the then Territory of Nebraska and settled in this county. His youth
was spent on the pre-emption claim on the site of the present village of
Straussville. and be then moved with the family to the farm in the precinct
of Ohio on which the subject of this sketch now lives. There he grew to
manhood and, after his marriage, established his home, remaining there
imtil 1903 in which year he retired from the farm and moved to Falls
City, where he spent his last days, his death occurring there on November
3. 1913, and where his widow is now living, past sixty years of age. She,
Mary C. Hasenyager, was born on a farm ten miles from St. Louis, Mis-
souri, daughter of John . Hasenyager and wife, who became pioneers of
]\ichardson county and substantial residents of Ohio precinct. Fred T. and
Mary C. (Hasenyager) Harkendorff were the parents of seven children,
of whom the subject of this sketch was the sixth in order of birth, the
others being as follow: John, a farmer, of Ohio precinct; Anna, deceased;
?klary, wife of 1'. W. Wittrock. of the precinct of Ohio; Charles, of that
same precinct ; William, deceased, and Louisa, who died in infancy.

Frederick H. Harkendorff was born on the farm on wliich he is n<iw
living, in section 29 of the precinct of Ohio. July 11. 1889. and has lived
there all his life. His early schooling was received in what is still known
as the Harkendorff school in that precinct, and he supplemented the same
l)y two vears of attendance at the Falls City high school and attendance
for two terms at the business college in that city. From the days of his
boyhood, he had lieen a valued aid in the labors of developing and improv-
ing the home place. .Several vears before his father's death, he was given
eighty acres of the home farm, including the home place, and has ever
since farmed tlie same, establisliino lijs lidnie there after his marriage in the
s])ring of KjIJ. In addition to his own farm. Mr. Harkendorff is farm-
ing adjoining land and is n(i\v successfully cultivating tliree hundred acres

KICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I367

of land. In addition to his general fanning, he is giving considerable atten-
tion to the raising of live stock and is doing quite well.

On April i8, 1912, Frederick H. Harkendorff was united in marriage
to Freida Lentzsch, who was born at Craig, Missouri, daughter of the Rev.
C. H. and Elizabeth (Haartje) Lentzsch, natives, respectively of Germany
and of Indiana, who were the parents of six children, of whom Mrs. Harken-
dorfif was the fifth in order of birth. She was reared in Missouri and there
received schooling both in the German schools and the English-speaking
schools. Mr. and Mrs. Harkendorff have two children, Erwin and Alma.
They are members of the German Lutheran church at Falls City and take a
proper interest in church work, as well as in the general good works and social
activities of the community in which they live. Mr. Harkendorff gives a good
citizen's attention to local civic aft'airs. but is "independent" in his political
views.

HON. CHARLES FRANK REAMS.

Charles Frank Reavis, m.ore familiarly known as Frank Reavis, son
of Judge Isham and Annie M. Reavis, was born in Falls City on September
5, 1870, and has lived all of his life as a resident of the city of his birth.

Mr. Reavis is a graduate of the Falls City high school and attended
the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illinois, for one vear. He studied
law in the office of his father, the late Judge Isham Reavis, and was admitted
to practice in March, 1892. Immediately upon his admission to the bar,
he entered into the practice as the law partner of his father under the firm
name of Reavis & Reavis, which partnership relation continued until the
death of his father in the spring of 19 14.

Mr. Reavis was married in June, 1895, to Myrta L. Abbey, daughter
of W. W. and Azelia Abbey, widely known and universally beloved pioneers
of Richardson county. Two children have been born of this marriage.
Lieut. Charles Frank Reavis, Jr., and John Wallace Reavis.

Mr. Reavis is both a York Rite and a Scottish Rite Mason, and is
fraternally connected with the Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Pro-
tective Order of Elks, the Modern Woodmen of America and the W^oodmen
of the World. He affiliates with the Methodist church.

He was elected county attorney of Richardson county in 1894 and
was defeated for re-election in 1896. In 19 14 he was elected to the Sixtv-
fourth Congress to represent the first congressional district of Nebraska
and is now serving his second term to which he was elected in 1916.

1368 RICHARDSON COLXTY, NEBRASKA.

ERNEST WICKHAM.

Fruit growing is lx)th pleasant and profitable lo the man who loves
nature and is willing to devote his closest attention to the work. One of the
successful fruit growers and gardeners in Richardson county is Ernest
^^'ickham, of Salem precinct. He was born, December 14, 1867, on his
present farm, being a son of James and Eliza ( Barrow^ ) Wickham, pio-
neers of the county. The father was Iwrn in Tuscarawas county, Ohio,
December 18, 1833, and his death occurred in 1905. He spent his earlier
years in the Buckeye state, coming to Richardson county, Nebraska, in 1867.
settling in Salem, where he engaged in the fruit business until his death.-
He was a soldier in the Civil W'ar and took part in many important engage-
ments and was with the army that marched under General Sherman from
Atlanta to the sea. He and Eliza J. Barrows were married in i860. She
was born in Linn county, Iowa, in February, 183 1, and is now making
her home in St. Petersburg, Florida, at the advanced age of eighty-six years.
To these parents seven children were born, named as follows : Mrs. Clara
A. Bohrer, who lives in Florida, and whose husband is deceased; Blanche,
the wife of C. A. Hassen3'ager, who lives in Bern, Kansas; James E. and
Olive both living in St. Petersburg, Florida; Bertha, wife of Drew McCulley,
living in Chicago, Illinois; Una, the wife of F. Fitch, of St. Petersburg,
Florida ; and Ernest, of this sketch, w-ho was fourth in order of birth.

Ernest Wickham was reared on the farm and he received a common-
school education, including one year in the Salem high school. After teach-
ing one year, he went to Florida, where he worked as a telegraph operator
for nine years, then returned to Salem, Nebraska, and took up the fruit
business with his father. They shipped as many as one hundred and twentv-
seven carloads of fruit in one year. He owns thirty acres of rich and well-
improved fruit land, on which he has seven acres of strawberries and rasp-
berries. In 1913 he began growing the "ever-bearing" l^rand of strawberries,
which he has since made a spe'cialty. He has made horticulture a special
study for many years and is one of the best-informed and best-known men
in his line in southeastern Nebraska. In 1904 he began in the printing busi-
ness and he was editor of the Salem Index until the building burned in 191 1,
whereupon he discontinued that line of work, although he had been ver\
successful in the same and made the Index one of the popular and influential
newspapers in Richardson county.

-Mr. Wickham was married in Deceml^er. 1888. to I-'annie B. Butler,

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 369

a daughter of N. F. and Fannie Butler, natives of I'ruitland Park, Florida,
but Mrs. Wickham was born in South Carolina. The following children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Wickham: Roland, who was graduated
from the Salem public schools after which he spent three years in the normal
school at Peru, Nebraska, and is a civil engineer, living at Atlanta, Georgia ;
Mary, who was graduated from the normal school at Peru and is now
engaged in teaching at McCook, Nebraska ; Faye. who is attending the normal
school at Peru at this time (May, 191 7) ; John, a student in the Salem high
school, and Kenneth and Vernon, both at home. These children have been
given excellent educational advantages and are making a splendid start in
life.

Politically, Mr. Wickham is a Democrat, and is now assessor of his
township and formerly was a member of the county board.

CHARLES F. PRIBBENO.

Charles V. Pribbeno, of Preston, one of Richardson county's most exten-
sive landowners, the owner of nearly three thousand acres of land in this
state and in the neighboring state of Kansas, is a native of Wisconsin, but
has been a resident of this county since he was about four years of age
and has therefore been a witness to and a participant in the development
of this region since pioneer days. He was born in the city' of Madison,
capital of the state of Wisconsin, June 27, 1859, son of Charles and Caro-
iline (Thompson) Pribbeno, the former a native of Germany and the latter
of Norway, who became residents of Richardson county in 1863 and here
spent the remainder of their lives, useful and influential pioneers of the
precinct of Arago and of the village of Preston, where they both died.

Charles Pribbeno was born in the city of Berlin on June 3, 1837. and
was seventeen years of age when he came to this country and located in
Madison, Wisconsin, where he presently engaged in the butcher business.
There he married Caroline Thompson, who was born in the kingdom of Nor-
way on June 17, 1831, and who was but a girl when she came to this
country. It was in 1858 that Charles Pribbeno was married and after his
marriage he remained in Wisconsin until i860, when he went to Pike's
Peak, Colorado, where he became a mine owner. In i86j he came l)ack
East, driving through by ox-team, and decided to locate in the then Terri-
torv of Nebraska. He settled in Richardson count v and for several sum-

1 3/0 RICHARDSON- COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

niers following was engaged in freighting to Denver and other joints
West, at times going on to Salt Lake City. He would freight corn, corn-
meal and cured pork across the plains with two or three big freight wagons,
three yoke of oxen to each wagon, and sometimes would sell out in Denver,
at other times going on to Salt Lake City to dispose of his stuff, returning
with a load of furs and bufifalo robes. During this period of his career the
elder Pribbeno gained the apt soubriquet of "Pike's Peak Charley," which
name persisted among his friends as long as he lived, and so accustomed
did he become to the name that he seemed to prefer to be thus addressed
than by his real name. In 1863 Charles Pribbeno moved with his family to
the then Territory of Nebraska and settled in the precinct of Arago, this
county, renting die farm now owned there by his son, Henry Pribbeno, a
l)i(igraphical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume, on that
farm getting a start as a farmer and stockman on which he gradually improved
until he eventually became one of the leading farmers in that part of the
county and the owner of eight hundred acres of land. There he and his
wife lived until their children were grown and married, after which they
retired from the active lalxjrs of the farm and turned the home place over
to their son Henry, afterward taking a trip to Spokane, Washington, on a
\isit to their daughter, Mrs. Anna Ernst. Six months later they returned
to this county and bought a house in the village of Preston, where they
si)ent the remainder of their days, her death occurring on March 28, 1909,
and his, ^March 4, 1917.

Reared on the home farm in Arago precinct, Charles F. Pribbeno
received his schooling in the schools of district No. 27 and remained at home,
a valued aid in the labors of developing and improving the home place,
until he was twenty-two years of age, when he married and bought an "eighty"
in section 27 of Arago precinct, the start of his present extensive land hold-
ings. This place had on it a little twelve-by-fourteen house, plastered with
vellow clav. the house having a seven-by-fourteen lean-to made of common
boxing, the side wall of which was five feet high, which was used as a
kitchen. While Mr. Pribbeno tlien could only buy eighty acres, his father
paving i)art cash for him for the same, he assuming a mortgage at eight
per cent interest for the balance, lie was able to rent one hundred acres on
the side, giving one-half the crop for rent the first year, and his start there-
fore was made more as a renter than as an owner. Years ago Mr. Prib-
lieno found himself in possession of a mortgage claim on tlie land of a dis-
couraged liomcsteader in Chase county, this state, and took a couple of

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I37I

carloads of cattle out there to "range" the same. While there he hought
land in that county and has since enlarged his holdings there until he has
a considerable ranch in that county, grazing three hundred head of stock
on the same. Air. Pribbeno never lived on that ranch over two months at
any time, the place now being operated by his sons, who also have farmed
six hundred acres each year for the last ten years. In addition to his land
holdings in Chase county Mr. Pribbeno is the owner of four hundred acres
in Labette count>-. Kansas, three hundred and twenty-se\en acres in Cofifee
county, same state, and two hundred and ninetv-seven acres in tlie pre-
cincts of Arago and Jefferson, this county, two thousand nine hundred
and two acres in all, the greater part of which is well improved and profit-
ably cultivated. In 1892 Mr. Pribbeno engaged in the mercantile business
at Preston, but after six years and fifty days in the mercantile business
traded his store for a bit of land in CofYee county, Kansas. After two
years he bought the store building and a bankrupt stock of goods in for
cash and resumed the mercantile business, continuing to operate the
store for eighteen months, at the end of which time he traded the buildings
and stock of goods for the Labette county (Kansas) farm' and has since
given his attention to his land interests. He has owned and built several
houses in Preston and now owns a modern home in the southern part of the
village, where he and his family are very comfortably situated. The home
farm of two hundred and fifty acres adjacent to the village and the one
hundred acres he is still renting on the side, receive Mr. Pribbeno's im-
mediate attention, his two younger sons having charge of the same. Air.
Pribbeno is a Republican and has ever . given a good citizen's attention
to local civic affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office, though
for ten years, consecutively, he served as a member of the drainage board
in district No. i.

On September 23, 1880, Charles F. Pribbeno was united in marriage
to Mary E. Zoeller, who was born at Buffalo, New York, September 26,
1858, daughter of Charles and Ernestina (Closa) Zoeller, natives of Ger-
many, who settled in Richardson county in 1864 and both of whom are
now deceased, and to this union eleven children have been born, two of
wiion^ died in infancy, the others being as follow: Mrs. Laura Pfiuni.
of Chase county, Nebraska; Edward G., whojs on Mr. Pribbeno's ranch
in Chase county; Ida. wife of William C. Margrave, president of the WU-
liam A. Margrave Company, ranchers, and a biographical sketch of whom,
together with a history of the late ^^'illiam -\. Margrave and his extensive

I_^7- KICHAKDSdX COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

land devel(Ji)meiit umlertakings. is presented elsewhere in thi> volume; i'Llnier
C. of Chase county; Howard H.. of Coffee count}-. Kansas; Anna L.. at
home: Mrs. ilary ^NI. Frasier. of Chase county, and William H. and Charles
\\'.. at home. The Pribbenos are members of the Evangelical Association
and take an interested part in church work, as well as in the general good
works and social activities of the Preston neighlxirhood. helpful iti promot-
ing all worthy causes thereabout.

STRPHEX ROVD MILES.

Stephen F)0}d Miles, who though departed from this life this many
years, left an impression upon the early pioneer history of Richardson
county and Nebraska, which will long figure in the historical annals of the
county and state. He was prominently identified with the early formation
of the state and was a leader in that picturesque epoch of the old stage
coach and overland mail route days. Xo man in his day was more activel\
identified with the industrial development of this section of X'^ebraska than
Mr. Miles. He had the distinction of having established the first great
stock ranch in the western part of the state of Xebra.ska, which ranch is
being conducted at the present time by his son. Joseph H. Miles.

Stephen Boyd Miles was born on January 9. i8jj. anil was a scm of
Thomas and Sarah (Boyd) Miles, natives of York county, Pennsylvania.
where Stephen Boyd Miles was lx)rn. Thomas Miles was a son of Joseph
Miles, who came to the American colonies from Liverpool. England, in
1732, and became a well-established landowner in York county, Pennsylvania,
where his famil\- is still honorably and substantially represented. Josej)!!
y.I\\es was a soldier, who fought during the American Revolution.

\\'hen the development of the Great West began. Stephen B. Miles
became interested in the ])ossibilities presented by the opening up of what
had previously been known as the great American desert, and securetl from
tlie United States government the contract for carrying the mails from
rndependence, Missouri, to Salt I^ke City, Utah. He undertook this mail-
route in the early fifties and remained with it for some years. The schedule
time of the stages operated -by Mr. Miles was thirty days each wav. The
distance between Independence and Salt Lake Cit}' was twelve hundre<l and
fifty miles b\- stage road, and the drivers usually dro\e six horses or the
^ame numl)er of mules to the stage. The Indians were often rather trouble-

RTCHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 373

some, especially when first the Sioux and the Cheyennes were on the warpath.
The late Joel T. Jones, of Humboldt, and his two brothers were in Mr. Miles
employ for some years on this and other routes. For several years Mr.
Miles was engaged in the mail contract business, his routes covering all
sections of the \\'estern country, including Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and
Texas.

In 1856, Mr. Miles secured a tract of several thousand acres of land
in what is now the neighborhood of Dawson, this countv, to be used as a
suitable place for the recuperation of the large numbers of horses and mules
required in the mail service. This tract, whereon he made his home, was
the nucleus of the present great Miles ranch, one of the most complete
agricultural plants to be found in the West and which was the first great
ranch to be established west of the Missouri river. Mr. Miles made his
home on the ranch to the time of his death.

At the close of the Civil War, Mr. Miles secured his Texas mail con-
tract and retained the same for a period of four years, at the end of which
time, in 1871, he retired from the mail carrying enterprise and engaged
extensively in the cattle industry, bringing cattle in great herds from the
Texas ranges and feeding them on his ranch in preparation for shipment
to the Chicago markets. His son, Joseph H. Miles, was an able and com-
petent assistant in this work, and made the long trips to and from Texas in
charge of the herds of cattle brought from the Southland for fattening
on the ranch. It was not long until the Miles ranch and its products became
known far and wide among the cattlemen of the West, its area being
increased until it comprised six thousand acres in one body.

From the very beginning of his residence in Nebraska, Stephen Bovd
Miles took an active and influential part in the civic afifairs of the new
and growing country, and for many years was one of the leaders of the
Democratic party in this section. In 1859 he was appointed on an inter-
territorial committee of four members from the state of Nebraska and four
members from Kansas to meet at Lecompton, Kansas, for the purpose of
arranging for the creation of a new state, whose northern boundarx- should
be the Platte river and \\hich would be Iwunded on the south l)y the Kaw .
The deliberations of the committee were rent in twain over the (juestion of
slaverv and, after a stormy session at Lecompton, the joint committees dis-
agreed and nothing came of the movement which then passed into history.

Mr. Miles also took an active part in the general business affairs of tlie
new countrv, and was a stockholder of the old National liank of St. J.ouis,

1374 KICIIARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

which failed during the Civil War period. In 1872. in association with
William Nichols, of St. Louis, he organized the Commercial Bank
of St. Louis, and in i88_' he organized the First National Bank
of Falls City and continued as its president until his death. In 1884
lie organized the Bank of Rulo at Rulo, Nebraska, later changed to the
State Bank of Rulo, and remained president of the latter institution until
his death. He had ever retained a warm interest and affection for his old
home town back in Pennsylvania, and in 1890, he returned there and estab-
lished the ililes National Bank of Delta, becoming president of the same.
Joseph H. Miles, his son. Ixcanie cashier, and bought h\< fatiier"s interest
in the bank in 1894.

Stephen B. Miles departed this life on October 30, 1898. His death
marked the passing of one of the strong and historical figures of Richardson
county and Nebraska. He was essentially a builder, whose creations stand
to this day as monuments to his enterprise and industry. He builded solidly
and substantially, as few men of his day and time have done.

Mr. ^liles was reared in the Presbyterian faith and ever took a proper
interest in benevolent works, his purse being open in time of need or distress
U> his fellowmen, but he was not an active churchman. He was a member
of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and took considerable interest
in lodge work and affairs, though his business activities seemed more im-
portant to him than the social diversions of life.

SAMUEL LICHTY.

One of the best-remembered citizens of a past generation in Richard-
son county, who is deserving of having ^is life-record perpetuated on the
pages of local historv, along with other sterling characters who have made
this one of the banner counties of Nebraska, was the local Samuel Lichty.
He was b(jrn, September 29, 1847, in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, a son
of Solomon Lichty and wife. When young in years, he removed with his
parents to Carroll county, Illinois, and in March, 1875 came to Falls City,
Nebraska, and engaged in the banking business with John Hinton. He
made his first visit to Nebraska in 1869, when he purchasetl land, .\fter
several years residence in Falls City, he withdrew from the banking busi-
ness and purchased a farm, two and one-half miles northwest of Falls
Citv. where he resideil until 1902, when he sold out and moved back to

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1375

Falls City. He had been equally successful as a farmer as he was a banker,
and by his industry and judicious management accumulated a handsome
competency. He was also successful in other lines of endeavor, notaljly
the insurance business. It was due to his efforts that the Legislature uf
Nebraska, during its session of 1887, passed an act permitting the organi-
zation of farmers mutual insurance companies, and the following year he
organized the Richardson County Mutual Insurance Company. He became
its secretary, the duties of which responsible position he discharged with
ability and credit until his death; in fact, it was very largely due to his
efforts that the undertaking proved to be successful. In 1897 'i"d 1898
he served as deputy state insurance inspector.

Mr. Lichty was active and influential in public affairs, for he served
to the satisfaction of all concerned in the offices of school director, road
overseer and as a member of the county board of super\'isors to which he
was elected in 1886, serving two years. In his earlier life he was a Repub-
lican, but when the Farmers Alliance was organized in 1889 ^^ joined it
and was either a Populist or Prohibitionist. At one time the taxpayers
demanded that the county wards and county officials be investigated, so Mr.
Lichty was chosen chairman of the investigating committee. He was a
director and a member of the Dwelling House Mutual Insurance Company,
and was a charter member of the Nebraska Mutual Insurance Company.
He was an able adjuster, a successful insurance writer, careful and honest
in ail his work. He was always a great admirer of William J.
Bryan and was a Free Silver Prohibitionist. While deputy insurance
inspector, he e.xposed the methods of the insurance department as practiced
by his chief, whereby, it was alleged, a wholesale graft was practiced, the
Federal and other insurance companies being the victims. Whereas, the
law provided for five dollars per da}' and expenses for inspecting insurance
companies in Nebraska the examiners habitually charged the companies from
one hundred dollars to two hundred and fifty dollars for services and, it
was charged, pocketed the proceeds. Mr. Lichty secured evidence of the
graft which he presented before the state Legislattire for investigation. His
action raised quite a furor, and for his work in this line he was dismissed
from office by his superior on Feljruary 10, 1899. Governor Poynter took
a stand on the (|uestion and thus the work of the subject of this sketch
as a reformer resulted in the accomplishment of much good, liis actions
being heartilv endorsed by the law-abiding ])ef>ple of the state. Init it was

I37f> RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

by no means pleasing to the i>oliticians. He was also cominended by the
Ijest people for refusing to accept railroad passes, or in any way placing
himself under obligations to corp()rations or anyone asking favors they
were not entitled to.

Mr. Liclity was an active member of the Brethren church and assisted
in every department of church work. h"or a number of years he was secre-
tary and treasurer of the National Home Missionary Society of that church,
and gave up the duties of the same only when compelled to do so on account
of failing health.

The following is self-explanatory:

•"i"(i Wbmn 'I'iii.s JIa.v Coiue, Greetings:

•'At the natioual conference of the Brethren church, met at Dayton. Ohio, August
31, 1913, following the resignation of Bro. Samuel Lichty of Falls City, Nebraska, as
.'secretary and treasurer of the Missionary Boara of the Brethren church, the following
resolution was onlei-eil incorporated in the regular resolution of the conference.

•Thar wi' most heartily and lovingly express our fullest aiiproiiation in behalf of
Samuel L!<hty in his ureat and effective work as secretary and treasurer of the Mis-
sionary Board of the Brethren church and commend his succes.^ful .idiiiinistration to his
successor.

"By the order of the same conference, the copy has lieen herewith prepared and
signed and sealed by the officers of the said conference for presentation to Samuel IJclity
for personal preservation.

J. L. GiLLiN, Moderator.

(Se-^l) Dvoli, Belotf, Secretary."

Mr. Lichty was charitably inclined and known as a liberal and cheer-
ful giver to all worthy causes. He always advocated giving to charity
work and the missions, and was a frequent contributor of interesting and
forceful articles on this subject to various publications.

Mr. Lichty was first married to Olive Ransom on March 26, 1876, in
Carroll county, Illinois. To this union two children were born, namely :
Ransom, who lives in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Mrs. C. A. Marsh, who lives
in Denver, Colorado. The death of Mrs. Olive Lichty occurred on Decem-
ber 22, 1896. The second marriage of Mr. Lichty occurred on January
27, 1898, when he espoused Ellen Gnagey. of Milledgeville, Illinois. She
was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, July 29, i860, and is a daugh-
ter of Joel and Catherine ( Fike ) Gnagey. The father was born on Febru-
ary 9, 1836, in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in the old family homestead
there, his parents having been pioneer settlers in that section of the Keystone
state. He is still living and is remarkably well-preserved for one of his
a(l\anced years. He has long been engaged in the ministry of the Brethren
church and is still filling the pulpit occasionally at Alyersdale, Somerset county,
Pennsvlvania. To Mr. Lichtv and his second wife one child was borii, Ruth.

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 377

wlio is, at this time, a student in Ashland College, Ashland, Ohio, where
she is making an excellent record.

The death of Samuel Lichty occurred on December 15. 1915, at the
age of sixty-eight years. He had lived a successful, useful and highly com-
mendable life, deserving of the high esteem in which he was held wherever
he was known.

THOMAS T. GIST.

Thomas J. Gist, secretary, treasurer and manager of the Leo Cider and
X'inegar Company at Falls City, former vice-president of the Falls City
State Bank, former deputy county treasurer and for years actively identi-
fied with the general commercial and industrial afifairs of Falls City and
of Richardson county, is a native of the neighboring state of ^Missouri, but
has been a resident of this county since he was four years of age. He was
horn at Tipton, May 2, 1863, son of Silas P. and Margaret (Black) Gist,
natives of Kentucky and Tennessee, respectively, who were the parents of
seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order
of birth and the first-born of whom died in infancy, the others being as
follow: Phoebe, who married W. A. Greenwald, of Allentown. Pennsyl-
vania, and is now deceased: Luella, deceased: William, deceased; Samuel,
deceased, and Ray, who is vice-president of the Humboldt State Bank of
Humboldt, this county.

Both Silas P. Gist and Margaret Black were orphaned when children,
both being reared by kinsfolk. They were married in Kentucky, and in
i860 came west and settled on a farm in the immediate vicinity of Tipton.
Missouri, where they remained until 1867, the year in which Nebraska was
admitted to the si.sterhood of states, when they came over into the new
state and settled on a farm in the neigliborhood of Salem, in the precinct of
Crant, in this county. Two years later they left the farm and moved into
the village of Salem, where Silas P. Gist engaged in the grain and live-
stock business. Later he extended his operations to include the general
mercantile business and. from the very l)eginning of his residence in that
village, became (^ne of the most active factors in the development of the
same. For the past thirty-five years he has been engaged in the banking
business, president of the Bank r>i Salem and president of the State Bank
of Humboldt, and. despite the fact that he is now past eighty-two years of
(87)

137<^ klClIARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

age, still takes an active part in the business affairs with which he so long
has been connected. His first wife died in 1913, at the age of seventy-two
years, and at the age of seventj'-eight he married again.

As noted above, Thomas J. Gist was but four years of age when his
parents moved over from Missouri into this county and he grew up at
Salem, supplementing the elementary education he received in the schools of
that village by attendance for a year at the Nebraska State University. In
1880 he became engaged, in association with his father, in the mercantile
business at Salem, remaining there until 1886, in which year he received
the appointment as deputy treasurer of Richardson county and for four
years thereafter was engaged in performing the duties of that office, residing
during that time at Falls City, where, in 1888, he married. Upon the
completion of his service in the court house, in 1890, Mr. Gist resumed the
mercantile business and was thus engaged until 1893, when he helped to
organize the Falls City State Bank and was made vice-president of the same.
Mr. Gist continued actively engaged in the banking business until 191 1, when
he was made secretary-treasurer and general manager of the Leo Cider
and Vinegar Company, and has since given his undivided attention to the
affairs of that flourishing concern, though retaining his stock in the bank
and remaining a member of the board of directors of the same. Mr. Gist
is a Democrat and, since the days of his boyhood, has given his earnest
attention to local civic affairs. In addition to his service in the county
treasurer's office years ago, he has given several years of service to the
city as councilman from his ward. He was first elected to the city council
in 1901 and served for four years thereafter and again in 1915 he was
elected to the council, during all that period of service giving his best
attention to city affairs.

It was on September 5, 1888, that Thomas J. Gist was united in mar-
riage, at Falls City, to Annie Reavis, who was born in that city, daughter
of Judge Isham and Annie M. (Dorrington) Reavis, the former a native of
Illinois and the latter of New York, who were among the most prominent
of the early settlers at Falls City and the latter of whom is still living there.
Judge Isham Reavis, who was for years one of the most influential men in
this part of the state, died in 1914. To Thomas J. and Anna (Rea\is)
Gist, four children have been born, namely: Isham Reavis, a graduate
of the Nebraska State University, who is now assistant cashier of the State
Bank of Humlwldt: Silas Frank, who isr engaged in the manufacture of
vinegar at Springfield. Missouri : Annie W.. who is now attending the Nebraska

KKIIAKDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1379

State University, and J-:iizabeth W., at home. Mr. and Mrs. Gist are meni-
Ijers of the Methodist Episcopal church and the former has been a member
of the official board of the same for the past thirty years. He is a Royal
.Vrch Mason and a member of the local lodge of the Ancient Order of
United Workmen and in the affairs of both of these organizations takes
a warm interest. Mrs. Gist long has been an active participant in the club
life of the city, doing much toward the extension of the cultural activities
of the community, and is widely known in the work of women's clubs
throughout tlie state. She received her education in the Illinois Women's
College, of which educational institution she is a graduate in the classics
and music, and a member nf the board of regents. For the past twenty
years Mrs. Gist has served as pipe organist for the Methodist Episcopal
church. Mrs. Gist was president of the State Federation of Women's
Clubs from 1910 to 19 13, and she served as state secretary of the General
Federation of Women's Clubs from 1913 to 1915. Her ability as an organ-
izer and public speaker is recognized and her active interest in aft'airs affecting
the advancement of women in public spheres of usefulness has been con-
siderable. Mrs. Gist is a member of and was the first regent of Reavis-
Ashley Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and, at pres-
ent, is filling the post of state chairman as a member of the national com-
mittee of the organization. For the past twenty years she has served as
])il/e organist at the Methodist Episcopal church.

CHARLES A. LORD.

All do not reach the heights to whicli the}- aspire, but some by per-
severance and courage make stepping-stones of their adversities and finallv
attain the goal sought. But as a rule long years of struggle must necessaril)
precede any accomplishment of important magnitude. Such has been the
history, briefly stated, of Charles A. Lord, successful automobile distributor,
now living in the city of Lincoln, but formerly one of the enterprising busi-
ness men of Shubert, this county.

Charles A. Lord was born on March 21, 1868. in Rushville, Illinois,
a son of Joseph and Anna (Boyd) Lord, the former a native of England
and the latter of Illinois, who became pioneers of Richardson county and
here spent their last days.

Joseph Lord was born in 1828. He grew to manhood in England

l.V^O KICItAKDSON COITNTY, NEKRASKA.

:inil there attended school. In 1844, when twenty-five years of age. he
cniigrated to America, coming on West to Ilhnois, locating on a farm, and
soon thereafter he married Anna Boyd, who was born in that state in
1830. Her parents were pioneers there. Mr. Lord continued to operate his
farm in Illinois until 1868, when he removed to Nebraska, settling in Rich-
ardson county, buying land that had been only partly improved. It was
in the old Indian Reservation, three and one-half miles southwest of Salem,
and there he established the future home of the family. He worked hard
in developing his land into a good farm, making e.xtensi\e improvements
in the way of buildings, etc., and there he continued farming and stock
raising until his death in 1874. His widow survived him many years, dying
in igo2 on the old homestead, at the advanced age of eighty-two years.
To these parents twelve children were born, seven sons and five daughters,
namely : James, i*" ranees. W^illiam and Elizabeth, all deceased ; Robert A.,
a retired farmer, who is now making his home in Oklahoma City; ^Irs.
Sarah Ellen Clark, who also lives in the state of Oklahoma; Joseph and
Josephine, twins, the former of whom is engaged in farming south of
Salem, Richardson county, and the hitter, now !Mrs. Harris, living in the
town of Salem; Mrs. Amanda M. Moore, a widow and the owner of exten-
sive ranches in Nebraska; Joshua S.. cashier t)f the First National Bank
of Falls City, a landowner of Richardson county and formerly representa-
tive from this county to the state Legislature, who is mentioned in a separ-
ate sketch in this volume; Charles A., the subject of this biographical re-
view, and Thomas, who is a properous farmer near I'eru. in Nemah;i county.
Nebraska.

Charles A. Lord grew to manhood on the home farm, where lie worked
wlien a boy during the crop seasons, attending the tlistrict schools in the
winter time — Rock Creek. No. •J2, in Salem precinct. Later he was a stu-
dent in the liigli school at Salem. He left school in 1.S88 and learned the
barber's trade, which he followed in Salem twelve years. In 1001 he l)ought
a hardware and furniture store at Shubert, this county, to which be added
implements, harness and an undertaking business. lie took a course in
embalming in a school in Omaha, receiving a first-grade certificate in looJ.
He conducted his various business interests in Shubert with very satisfactory
results until lyio. wlien he sold out and remoxed to Lincoln, where lie
turned his attention to the automobile distributing business and has con-
tinued in this line to tlie present time with ever-increasing success. .Mr.
Lord is agent for the Hudson automobile in the South l'l;itte territory and

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I38I

for the state of Nebraska and the northern part of Kansas for the Lexing-
ton and Harroun cars. He maintains one of the finest and most modern
exhibit rooms in Lincohi, occupying the first floor and basement of tlie
Eag-le building, at 230 North Twelftli street. He distributes one thousand
automobiles annually, thus making him the second largest distributor in
the state. He understands every phase of the business in which he is now
engaged and has met with pronounced success from the first. He also is
a stockholder in the l)ank at Elk' Creek, Nebraska, the Orpheum Theater
building, the Platner-Yale ^Manufacturing Company, both of Lincoln; owns
two hundred and twenty-five feet of business blocks on ( ) street. Lincoln,
and also a fine fruit farm near Peru, Nebraska, containing forty acres of
apples and pears. He erected his present well-appointed and magnificciu
residence in Lincoln at a cost of forty thousand dollars. ]\Ir. Lord is a
man of rare business acumen and foresight and has been very successful
in all his undertakings. He is one of the substantial and progressive men
of affairs of Lincoln, where he is well known and influential in industrial
circles.

On December 2j, 1891, at Salem, this county, Charles A. Lord was
married to Nellie Malone, who was born at Salem, a daughter of Morris
and Anna (Young) Malone, the father a native of Ireland and the mother
of Illinois. Mr. Alalone came to America when a young ni;ui. He was
a butcher and merchant and engaged in these lines in .Salem, Nebraska,
from 1870 until his death in 1902, he then being fifty-three vears of age.
He was a well-known and influential citizen there and one of the leaders
in the Democratic party in his precinct. After his death his widow married
Edward Graham, a farmer of Salem. In 1904 diey moved to Shubert,
and there her death occured in 1907. at the age of fifty-nine vears. Her
second union was without issue antl only one child. Nellie, was born lo
her first marriage.

Two children have been l)orn lo Mr. and Mrs. Lord, namely; Gladxs
M., who was born at Salem, where she spent her girlhood and attenile<I
the public schools, including high school. She also studied at the Shubert
high school until 1910, then entered the Lincoln high school. She then
took a course in the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, from which she was
graduated in 1916. The second child born to Mr. and Mrs. L^ni, a daugh-
ter, died in infancy.

Politically, Mr. Lord is a Democrat. He belongs to the Benevolent
and Protective Order of Elks and has also been a ni^imber of .several ether

)INTV, NEBRASKA.

l(Hlj,'es. Personally, he is a man of tine attrilmtes, being honest in all his
business transactions, helpful and obliging in his dailv associations with
the world, and a comjianionable and genial gentleman whom it is a pleasure
to meet.

JOHN' K HARKKXDORFF.

One of the well-known and respected farmers and stockmen of Ohio
precinct, Richardson county, is John F. Harkendorfif, who was born on
March 3, 1869, in the locality where he still makes his home, having Ijeen
contented to spend his life in his native community. He is a son of Frederick
J. and Mary C. (Hasenyager) Harkendorff. brederick J. HarkendorfY.
who was a son of John F. Harkendorfif. one of the early pioneers of Rich-
ardson count}-, was born on March 11, 1841, and was thirteen years old
when he came to this county from Illinois with his parents, before Ne-
braska was admitted to the Union. His youth was spent on the pre-emption
claim on the site of the present village of Straussvile. He later moved
with the family to the farm in Ohio precinct, on which Frederick H. Harken-
dorff, brother of the subject of this sketch, now lives, where he grew to
manhood and where, after his marriage, he established his home, continu-
ing general agricultural pursuits there until 1903. when he retired from
active life and moved to Falls City, where he spent the rest of his life,
dying there on November 3, 1913. His widow is still living there. She
was lx)rn on a farm ten miles from St. L(niis, iVIissouri, and is a daughter
of John Hasenyager and wife, who were among the pioneer settlers of
Richardson county, locating on a farm in Ohio precinct. Seven children
were born to Frederick J. and Mary C. Harkendorff, namely: John 1'"..
the subject of this sketch; Anna, deceased: Mary, wife of F. W. Wittrock.
of Ohio precinct; Charles, of the same precinct; William, deceased; Fred-
erick H., a farmer of Ohio precinct, a sketch of whom appears on another
page of this work, and Louisa, who died in infancx".

The jiaternal grandparents of the above-named children were John b".
;ui(l Mar\- ( Kepbandt ) Harkendorff. The\- were natix'es of (iermany. and
there the\" grew up, were married and made their bonie in Meckleniiurg-
Scbwerin until 1852, when they emigrated with their famil\- to America,
the \'oyage requiring over two months. They came on West to Illinois,
settling in Jackson county, but two years later left that state and came
to Richardson countv. Nebraska, settling on the banks of the Muddy, about

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 383

where the village of Straussville now stands. There were then hut three
other white men in what is now Richardson county, two of these being
horse thieves, and trading posts were many miles remote, so tlie family
endured many hardships and privations, but they persevered and established
a comfortable home as a result of their industry.

John F. Harkendorff, subject of this sketch, grew to manhood on the
home farm, and he attended the common schools. He rented land and
worked for his father until he was twenty-three years old. He then rented
seventy- three acres. He bought ^his present farm about 1904, and now
owns a valuable and productive farm of one hundred and sixty acres in
section 30, and one hundred and si.xty acres in section 26, Liberty pre-
cinct. His land is all well improved and under a high state of cultivation.
He has a new modern, commodious home and numerous convenient out-
buildings, and has been very successful as a general farmer and stock
raiser.

On March 23, 1892, Mr. Harkendorff was married to Louisa M. Bauer,
a native of Arago precinct, this county, where she grew to womanhood and
attended school. She is a sister of John Bauer, a citizen of Richardson
county, and of whom a sketch will be found on another page of this
volume, containing the history of the Bauer family. Two children have
been born to John F. Harkendorff and wife, namely: \\'illiam H. and
Edward J., both at home with their parents. Politically. Mr. Harkendorff'
is a Republican. He belongs to St. Mark's Lutheran church and is a trustee
of the same.

JOHN A. AND GUY A. CROOK.

Crook Brothers, John A. and Guy A. Crook, of Falls City, founders
of the Monarch Engineering Company, which had its origin and main offices
at Falls City, with offices in Kansas City, Missouri, and Denver, Colorado,
are native sons of Richardson county and are grandsons of the fir.st perma-
nent pioneer settler of Richardson county, the late Jesse Crook, concerning
whom there is a full account elsewhere in the historical section of this
\oIume. Under the energetic and capable management of these young men
the Monarch Engineering Company has risen to become an important an.d
prosperous concern and a vast amount of bridge construction, city paving,
irrigation-dam building, and public building work has been done under
their supervision. During the less than ten years which tlie firm has been

1384 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

operating, or since 1908, its activities have constantly increased and in this
year (1917) they purchased the Denver Steel and Iron Works in order
to facilitate the material supply part of the construction work in which thev
are engaged.

John A. Crook, senior member of the Monarch Engineering Compan\ .
was born in Falls City, April 9, 1879, and is a son of Hon. \\\ H. Crook,
well-known hardware merchant of Falls City. John A. Cnwk received his
education in the public and high schools of Falls City and studied in the
State University. He pursued an engineering course with the International
Correspondence School, of Scranton, Pennsylvania, and was first employed
with the Canton Bridge Company, of Omaha, as structural and construc-
tion engineer for two years, 1898-1900. He returned to Falls City in 1900.
entered the employ of the John Gilligan Bridge Compain- and remained
with this concern until 1908. He then established the Monarch Engineering
Company, being joined by his brother, Guy A., in 1910. In October of
1 9 16 tlie magnitude of the business growth of the concern required that lie
locate in Denver, Colorado, where he has charge of the Denver Steel and
Iron W'orks and looks after the company's Western operations.

Mr. Crook was married in 1900 to Miss Minnie Dalbey, of Coin, Iowa,
a daughter of George W. Dalbey. Two children have blessed this union,
namely: Constance, aged thirteen years, and John A., Jr., deceased.

Mr. Crook is a member of the Ancient Free and .Vccepted Masons and
has taken all degrees in Masonry up to and including the thirty-second
degree, having taken both the York and Scottish Rite l^egrees. He is also
affiliated with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

(ni}- A. Crook, junior memljer of the Monarch Engineering Company,
was born June 9, 1885. in Falls City, and is a son of W. H. Crook, con-
cerning whom an extended biography is given elsewhere in this volume. Mr.
Crook received his early education in the Falls Cit\r public and high schools.
after which he entered the University of Nebraska and was graduated fruin
the engineering department of the same in 1908, with tiie degree of Civil
luigineer. Following his graduation he was engaged in the automobile busi-
ness in Falls City for a period of two years. He then l^ecame a partner
with his l)r()ther in the ^Monarcli Engineering Company and has assistetl
materially in Iniilding up this important concern to the position which it
now enjoys.

Mr. Crook was married on April 18. 191 1. to Miss IHorence Harman,
a daughter of J. S. and Sadie Harman. of Tecumseh. Nebraska. Twn

2 ,-

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RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I385

children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Crook, namely: Wiiliam IT.,
born on Angust 15, 191 3. and Gny A.. Jr., September 9, 1914.

Mr. Crook is affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted ]\Iasons
and is a Scottish Rite or thirty-second degree Mason. He also is a member
of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

MONARCH ENGINEERING COMPANY.

The Monarch Engineering Company, contractors and builders, of Falls
City and Denver, is a Falls City institution begun and pushed to a place
of prominence and influence in the industrial world by two young Falls
City men who were Ijorn and reared in Falls City, namely, John A. and
Guy A. Crook. This imixjrtant concern does an immense amount of bridge
construction, paving, irrigation-dam work and erection of public buildings.
It was established in 1908 by John A. Crook, who was joined by his brother,
Guy A. Crook, in 1910. Fifty men are constantly employed by the firm
and upwards of that number, depending upon the amount of work under
construction by the firm.

The construction and building work undertaken by the company is
going on in several states. Much bridge work is being done and has been
completed by them in Oklahoma and Nebraska. Only recently they ha\'e
finished three miles of brick paving in Falls City, and have done and are
doing a great deal of county work, such as highway bridges in Richardson,
Nemalia, Otoe, Cass and Sarpy counties, Nebraska. One of their notable
undertakings was a bridge across the Platte river at Sutherland, Nebraska,
costing thirty thousand dollars. Another was the bridge across the Elkhorn
river at Gretna, in Sarpy county, Nebraska, costing twenty-five thousand
dollars. They have construction work going on in Missouri, South Dakota
and Wyoming. The JVIonarch Engineering Conii>any erected the new court
house at Basin, Wyoming, at a cost of sixty thousand dollars, and are at
present building two dams across the Big Horn river at \\'^oreland, Wyo-
ming. A big government bridge, costing twenty-six thousand dollars, is
in process of construction in their charge at Umatilla, Oregon. Another
go\ernment bridge is being built by them at Salt Fork, Oklahoma, between
Noble and Kay counties. Only recently they have finished a government
bridge at Arapahoe, in Fremont county, Wyoming. They also are erectin--
two large bridges in Calhoun county, Iowa.

This concern maintains offices at Falls City, Nebraska; Kansas Cily.
Missouri, and Den\er, Colorado. .\t the latter city they ])urchased in I''eb-

I ^86 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

ruarv, 1917. the Denver Steel and Iron Works which are in charge of John
A. Crook, the senior member of the firm. This plant is the work 'shop
of the Monarch Engineering Company and contains a complete structural
steel fabricating plant, machine shop, blackmith shop for heavy forging
and culvert .shop.

REV. ANDREW J. RUMBAUGH.

The Rev. Andrew J. Rumbaugh, a pioneer resident of the precinct of
Barada, in this county, and one of the best-known and most influential
ministers of the Holiness church in this section of the country, is a native
of Ohio, but was reared amid pioneer conditions in Iowa and has been a
resident of this county since 1868, he having established his home in the
precinct of Barada, where he still lives, after his marriage in that year.
He was born in Ohio on August 7, 1847, son of John and Mary (Higgin-
botham) Rumbaugh, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of
Ohio. John Rumbaugh was a member of one of the old Colonial families
in Virginia. He was born in 1826 and his wife was born in 1831. They
were married in Ohio and after farming in that state for some time moved
to Indiana, in 1854, and in the following year, 1855, moved from the
Hoosier state to Iowa, settling on a farm in Harding county, where they
spent the remainder of their lives, John Rumbaugh dying there in 190 1.
His widow survived him for four years, her death occurring in 1905. They
were the jiarents of twelve children, those besides the subject of this sketch
being as follow : Joseph, who is now living in Phillips county, Kansas ;
Thomas, deceased; James, who is living in Indiana; Albert, who is living
on the old home place in Iowa; Harvey, deceased; Nancy Jane, deceased;
George, deceased; Rebecca, deceased; Mrs. Lucinda Nulton. of San Diego,
California, and two who died in infancy.

Andrew J. Rumbaugh was about eight years of age when his parents
established their home in Hardin county, Iowa, and there he grew to man-
hood on the home farm, receiving his schooling in the neighboring schools,
remaining there until his marriage in 1868, in which year he came over
into Nebraska and in the spring of 1869 settled on the farm in Barada
precinct, in this county, where he is still living, one of the real pioneers
(if that neighborhood. For years Mr. Rumbaugh had given close and thought-
ful attention to church affairs and about 1896 began preaching, as a minister
of the Holiness church and was tiius engaged continuously until lu's retire-

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1 387

nicnt from the ministry some little time ago. Though practically retired
from the ministry, he continues, however, to preach occasionally, as the
occasion or emergency arises, and has for years heen regarded as one of
the most influential ministers of his church in this part of the state. During
the years of his active service in the pulpit, the Rev. Andrew J. Rum-
baugh served his people faithfully and well and his influence for good in
tlie community in which his labors were directed was far-reaching in many
directions. Politically, he is "independent" and his efiforts have ever been
directed toward the extension of good government.

As noted above, it was in the year 1868, in Iowa, that the Rev. Andrev
J. Rumbaugh was united in marriage to Anna Huff, who was born in Ma-
haska county, that state, in 1851, a daughter of Thomas and Zilpha (Hale)
Huff, and to this union ten children have been born, namely : William,
who died at the age of twenty years; Edward, deceased; John, who is
living on a farm in Nemaha county, south of Auburn; May, wife of Ernest
Slagel, of Hubbell, this state; Fred, of Montrose, Colorado; Grace, wife
of Henry Leslie, of Graham county, Kansas; Iva, wife of Harry Cline,
nf the precinct of Barada, this count)-; Roy, who is also farming in Barada
I)recinct; Daisy, wife of Fred Plympton, living near Burr, this state, and
Arthur, who is looking after the home farm in Barada precinct. The
Rumbaugh s have a very pleasant home on the old home farm and have
e\er been an active influence for good in that neighborhood, taking an
earnest part in all movements having to do with the advancement of the
general welfare of the community.

JAMES T. MARGRAVE.

James T. Margrave, of Preston, vice-president, of the William A. Mar-
grave Company, one of the most extensive ranch corporations in the state
of Nebraska, is a native son of Richardson county and has lived here
all his life. He was born on the great Margrave ranch in the ])recinct
of Jefferson, June 28, 1880, son of William A. and Margaret R. (Rubeti)
Margrave, the former a native of Illinois and the latter of Kansas, and
further and fitting mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume
in a l)iographical sketch relating to William C. Margrave, elder brother
of tlie subject of this .sketch and president of tlie William A. Margrave
Coni])any. Tlie late William .\. Margrave, who for \ears was one of tin-

1388 RICHAKIXSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

most extensi\e cattlemen in Xebraska. was hut fifteen years of age when
he came to this part of the country with liis parents from lUinois in i860,
the famiK locating at Hiawatha, and he early entered upon a career whicli
eventually marked him as one of the most successful men hereabout, the
owner of thousajids of acres of land and one of the most successful cattle-
men in this part of the state. He married jNIargaret R. Rubeti, who \\a-
born in the neighboring county of Doniphan and who ;it the time of her
marriage was teaching in the Indian .school at Reserve, and after his mar-
riage established his home in the vicinity of Preston, in Jefferson precinct,
this county, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring;
there in the summer of 1906. His widow still survives him and is now
living at Hiawatha. They were the i)arents of five children, one of whom,
a daughter, died in infancy, the others being Mrs. Julia LeClere, wife ot
George W. LeClere, storekeeper on the Margrave estate; William C, presi-
dent of the William A, Margrave Company; James T., the subject of this
biographical sketch, and Earl I., secretary and treasurer of the companx,
who is now living at Gordon, in Sheridan county, this state, looking after
the company's extensive ranch interests in that count} and in the adjoininj;
county of Cherry.

Reared on the ^largra\e ranch, James '1". Margrave completed lii>
schooling in the academy at Hiawatha and early became actively identified
with his father's great ranch interests, presently being given charge of
the ranch in the vicinity of Gordon, but has lately made his home at Preston,
where he and his family are very pleasantly and very comfortably situated.
In 19 1 7 Mr. Margrave remodeled his house at I'reston, making it modern
in its appointments throughout, and now has one of the finest homes in
the county. Mr: Margrave is a Rei)ublican. with "independent" leanings
on local issues, and has ever taken an interested part in local ])olitical affairs,
Init has not been included in the ofifice-seeking class.

On December 24, 1901, James T. Margrave was united in niarriatic
to Mary Honstedt, who was born at \\'ilson, in Ellsworth county, Kansas,
December 24, 1881, daughter of Daniel and Lucy (Bleame) Honstedt, na-
tives of Canada and early .settlers in Kansas, and to this union three chil-
dren have been born, Margaret, born on March t8. m)05: WilHam, June
2, 1907, and Stuart, Septemljer 19. 191 2. Mr. and Mrs. Margrave are
members of the Evangelical church at Preston and take an active [lart in
church works, as well as in the general good works of the community, Mr.
Margrave being a teacher in the Sunday school. They also take an interested

RICHARDSON COUNTY. NEBRASKA. ■ I389

part in the coniniunity's general social activities and are lielptul in ]m'-

moting all movements having to do with tlie advancement of tlie common
welfare thereabout.

WILLIA.M E. SLAGLE.

William E. Slagle, former superintendent of schools of Richardson
county, former justice of the peace in and for the precinct of Barada.
former assessor of that same precinct and a well-known and substantial
farmer, the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and thirty acres a mile
east and a mile north of the village of Barada, in the precinct of that
name, is a native of the neighboring state of Iowa, but has been a resi-
dent of this county practically all the time since the days of his early infancy
and is thus properly enough accounted one of the real pioneers of Richard-
son county. He was born on a pioneer farm in the \icinity of Anamosa.
county seat of Jones county, Iowa, February i6, 1859. son of Hiram and
Alma (Pike) Slagle, natives, respectively, of the state of Pennsylvania
and of New York, who later became pioneers of Richardson county, remain-
ing here until their retirement from the farm and removal to the village
of Auburn, where their last days were spent.

Hiram Slagle was born in 1835, a son of Christian Slagle, of Penn-
.sylvania-Dutch stock, who was a son of John Slagle, who came to this
country with two brothers in Colonial days. In 1856 Christian Slagle
emigrated from Pennsylvania to Iowa with his family and settled in Jones
county. There Hiram Slagle married Alma Pike, who was born in 1843.
daughter of Joel Pike, who also was born in New York state, of old
Puritan (New England) stock, and who had settled in Iowa. In the summer
of 1859 Hiram Slagle drove from his home county in Iowa by ox-team,
with his family and household belongings, seeking a new home in the then
territory of Nebraska, arriving at Brownsville on July 4, and celebrating
the Fourth at what then was known as Melvin's Mill, later Bennett's Mill,
one of the first camps in Nebraska. On the 5th he continued his journey
down into Richardson county and stopped with Jack Harris, on the Mud(l\ ,
in what later came to be organized as the precinct of that name. \\ itli
Hiram Slagle came his father, Christian Slagle, and all of the latter's fam-
ily, Hiram at that time being the only one of the children who was married.
Christian Slagle took up a homestead claim on the Sardine branch of the
Muddy, north of where the ^■illage of Verdon now is situated, ami then,-

I30O • KKIfAKDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

establislicil his liomc. Hirani Slagle located in llie timber not far In mi
the Muddy, near the Xemaha county Hue, where fuel, fish and game then
were abundant, his first home there being a dug-out. He later built a lo;.;
house on Beddo creek and presently, in partnership with his brother Will,
liought an "eighty" a little north of there and there erected another lo.^;
cabin; an old elm tree now marking the spot on what is now the Morehead
tenant farm, near Morehead's Island, formerly known as Morgan's Island.
When the Ci\il War broke out Hiram Slagle took service in the Missouri
State Militia and served until the close of the war, holding down "ja\-
hawkers'" and proceeding against guerillas. In the spring of 1867 lie
and his wife and three children moved to southeastern Kansas with a view
to locating there, but on their arrival found conditions so unwholesome
that they immediately returned and, in the fall of that year. Hiram Slagle
traded a team of horses, a wagon and a set of harness for a iifty-acre tract
out of the Medor-Duveil farm, in the precinct of Barada. . proceeded u<
impnne and develop the same and there made his home until his retirement
from the active labors of the farm, when he and his wife moved to the
village of Auburn, o\er in Nemaha county, where they spent their last
days, his death occurring there on August (), 1910. His widow survi\ed him
for nearly five years, her death occurring in April, 1915. Hiram Slagle
was the eldest of the seven children torn to Christian Slagle and wife, the
others being William, James, Robert, Martha Jane, Allan T. and Cath-
erine, all of whom came to Richardson county with their parents in 1859
and were married after taking up their residence in this county. Martha
Jane Slagle became the wife of I. N. Cooper and Catherine Slagle mar-
ried Daniel Harger. To Hiram Slagle and wife seven children were born,
of whom the subject of this sketch was the first born, the others being as
follow: Allan Luther, who is now living in Thayer county, this state;
Charles, who is living on the old home place in the precinct of Barada ;
Ernest, of Thayer county; John, who died in 1910; Xola, wife of Hanibal
Bennett, of Saline county, this state, and Fritz, who is lixiiig 011 ;i ])art of
the old Slagle home farm in Barada precinct.

William E. Slagle grew up on the home farm in the precinct of Barada
and received his early schooling in the King .school cHstrict in the neighbor-
hood of his home. He then studied for two years at the Nebraska State
Normal at Peru and, thus ecjuipped, began teaching school and was thus
engaged for three years, teaching district school in this county. He then,
in 1883, was apixiinted county ,sui)erinteiulent of schools, to fill the un-
cx])ired term of Mrs. .Schick, and ser\etl in that cipacily tor seven nuniths.

RICHARDSO.NT COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I39I

meanwhile working in the hardware store of \\'ilham Willing at Shubert.
In the spring of 1884 Mr. Slagle homesteaded a tract of land in Rawlins
county, Kansas, at the same time taking a tree-claim, and eventually "prov-
ing-up" the same, meanwhile continuing to spend his winters in the school
room. In the winter of 1884-85 he attended the Teachers Institute in
Nemaha county and sei'ved the following year as principal of the Nemaha
city schools. Upon acquiring title to his Kansas land Mr. Slagle traded the
same for a stock of merchandise owned by D. D. Honts at Shubert and
presently traded that stock of goods to W. A. Cox for a seventy-acre tract
of land in section 12 of the precinct of Barada, where he established his
home and where he ever since has resided, he and his family having been
for years very comfortably situated there. After getting the improvements
well started on his original tract Mr. Slagle bought from the Stokes heirs
a quarter section adjoining his place and has a splendid farm, the improve-
ments of which are substantial and up-to-date. In addition to his general
farming i\Ir. Slagle gives considerable attention to the raising of live stock
and has fine Percheron horses. Shorthorn cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs.
Mr. Slagle "grew up" strong in the Republican faith, -but in the memorable
campaign of 1896 aligned himself alongside the "free-silver"' Democrats
and has e\'er since supported the Democratic party, though reserving his
right to independence of action on local issues. For three terms he has
served as justice of the peace in and for his home precinct and for three
terms also served as assessor of that precinct.

On December 12, 1885, William E. Slagle was united in marriage
to Sadie E. Manville, of Omaha, who was then teaching school in Douglas
county, this state, and who was born at Sabetha, Kansas, May 4, 1867,
daughter of R. H. and Emma (Calkins) Manville, natives of the state of
Illinois and pioneers of Kansas. Mr. and Mrs. Slagle have eight chil-
dren, namely : Richard Hiram, who is engaged in the United States mail
serxicc at the Burlington terminal office at Omaha and who married Hattie
Lilly in 1916 and has one child: Edward William, a progressive farmer
of the precinct of Barada. who married Nettie Ankroni and has two chil-
dren, Alice and Mildred: Harry L.. who is farming eighty acres of his
father's place in section 13 and who married Effie Ankrom and has three
children, Nelson. Phyllis and Keith; Jay Luther, who is working on the
home farm ; Fay M.. a student at the Nebraska State Normal at Peru and
a teacher in the public schools of this county : Fritz O., who is a student
in the Veterinary College at St. Joseph ; Glenn, who is a student in the
high school at Shubert. and Jolm, who is attending grade school. Tlie

1 3Q2 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

Slagles have a very pleasant home in the Barada neigiitorhood and have
e\er taken an interested and useful part in the general social activities
of that community. Mr. Slagle became a member of the Christian church
wlien sixteen years of age and he and his family take a proper interest
in church work, as well as in all local good works, ever helpful in j)romot-
ing such movements as are designed to advance the common welfare.

GEORGE GIRD.

Although more than three decades have elapsed since the angel of
death closed the interesting life chapter of George Gird, for many years
a leading citizen of Richardson county, Nebraska, where he followed agri-
cultural pursuits and later published the Sentinel at Humboldt, his influ-
ence still pervades the lives of many who had the privilege of knowing
him. His influence in behalf of the general good of the locality honored
liy his residence was unquestioned.

Mr. Gird was born in Shelby county, Indiana, December 12, 1832.
He was a son of Edward and Nancy (Power) Gird, natives of Wexford,
Ireland, and Indiana, respectively. The father left his native land in 1809,
sailing for New York City, where he followed his trade of baker, operat-
ing an establishment that supplied bread to the ships laving that port. He
later went to Virginia, where he was married and presently located in
Marion county, Indiana, later moving from there to Shelby county, that
state. ¥rum there he moved to Missouri, then to Richardson county, Ne-
liraska, in pioneer days, but he eventually returned to Shelby county, Indiana,
where he died. Edward Gird was twice married, first, to a widow, a Mrs.
Orr, of \'"irginia. Her death occurred after coming to Indiana. His second
marriage was to Nancy Power, a native of IMarion county, Indiana.

Edward Gird was torn on March 24, 1788, and his death occurred
alxnit 1868. He was a son of Henry and Mary Gird, both natives of
Ireland, where they grew up. married and established their future liome.
dying there.

George Gird, of this memoir, was the second son of Edward Gird and
his second wife. He grew up on the farm and received such educational
advantages as the early-day schools afforded. On February 27, 1856, he
was married in SIiell)y county. Indiana, to Mary E. Gossett. They moved
til Andrew cimntv, Missduri. in iS^8, and from tliere to Ricliardson countv.

RIClTARnSdN COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1393

Neljraska in 1859, being among the early settlers here, and they endnred
the usual hardships and privations incident to pioneer life on the Western
frontier of those days. But Air. Gird was a man of indomitable energy
and courage and he persevered in the face of obstacles until success as a
general farmer and stock raiser attended his efiforts. He developed an
excellent farm from the wild prairie, which he brought up to a high state
of improvement and cultivation. He finally gave up general farming and
moved to the town of Humboldt, where he became joint owner of the
SoitiiicI, which he published for years and under his able management it
became one of the best newspapers of its type in the state, gaining a large
circulation and wielding a potent influence for good in the general up-
building of Richardson and adjoining counties. Mr. Gird also lived at
old Middleburg and served as postmaster there for over twenty years. He
was active in public and educational affairs in Richardson county and was
county commissioner for one term. He also was connected with the Sen-
tincl-Press for two years and was active in Republican politics, in fact,
was a leader of his party in this county for many years. He belonged to
the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and was wdely and favorably
known in southeastern Nebraska, long recognized as one of the leading men
in the early days of Richardson county. His death occurred on September
7, 1885, at the age of lifty-three years.

Eight children were born to George and Mary E. (Gossett) Gird.
namely : William Gird, an attorney by profession, who married at Hiun-
boldt, Nebraska, and died at San Barnandino, California, leaving a widow
and two daughters ; Mrs. Ida D. Spencer, who lives in \\'ichita, Kansas,
and has three children living: George Gird, Jr., who lives at Des Moines,
Iowa, where he is a salesman for the King Land and Eoan Company;
Mrs. Mary L. Bentz, deceased; Edward, who died in Falls City, Nebraska:
John, a plumber by trade, who lives in Henrietta, Oklahoma: Arthur, now
deceased, who was editor of the journal of the Mid-Western Hotel Keepers
.Association, of Omaha, Nebraska, and Gertrude O., the wife of John G.
Irwin, of Lincoln, Nebraska.

The mother of the above-named cliildren. who was Mary E. Gossett
jirinr to her marriage, was born on Alay 2^. 183CJ. at Greenfield, Hancock
county, Indiana. She is a daughter of Ahijah and Susan (Sterns) Gos-
sett, the father a native of Highland county, Ohio, and the mother of the
state of New York. Ahijah Gossett, who was a talented landscape painter
and musician, died in \\'a1)ash county. Indiana, in 1848. at the early age
(88)

1394 RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

of forty years. His widow came to Nebraska in 18OO and spent the rest
of her hfe in Richardson county, dying in 1873, at tlie home of Mrs. Mary
E. Gird, with whom she had spent her last years.

After the death of George Gird, his widow married Lyman Whit-
comb on August 6, 1902. He was a native of Iowa and was a soldier
in the Civil W^ar, enlisting in an Indiana regiment and seeing much hard
service in tlie L'nion army. He took part in many important engagements
in the Soutli. proxing to l)e a bra\e and etificient soldier, and was honorably
discharged after four years of service. He came to Nebraska in 1902 and
located at Humboldt. His death occurred at the Soldiers Home at Leaven-
worth, Kansas, ]\Iay 7, 191 5. After his death Mrs. Whitcomb retired to
the home of her daughter, Mrs. Gertrude O. Irwin, at 2952 J street, Lin-
coln, Nebraska, where she still resides. She owns valuable town property
at Humboldt, including two residences and some business buildings. She
is a member of the Cliristian church and has always lieen a woman of
fine religious culture.

JOHN W. MOONEY,

John W. Mooney, one of Richardson county's most substantial land-
owners, former member of the board of county supervisors and for the pas:
seven or eight years actively engaged in the live stock business at Rulo.
where he makes his home, is a native son of Richardson county and has
lived here all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm (jne mile west of
the village of Rulo on January 18, 1867, son of James and Julia (Ryan)
Mooney. natives of Ireland, who Ijecame pioneers of this section of Nc-
l)raska. and the former of wlioni is still living here, one of the well-known
and well-to-do old settlers of this county, a continuous resident here sinci-
territorial days.

James Mooney was l)orn on May 3, 1833, and when seventeen years of
age, in 1850, left the Emerald Isle and came to the United States and
began to work as a farm hand in the state of Vermont. He later found
employment in \arious other Eastern states and was \ariously employed
there until 1857, when he came West and started to seek his fortune at
Omaha, {■"roni that point he worked down the river, chopping wood, and
jiresentlv reached Leavenworth, where he secured tlie contract for cutting
the timber from Ivicapoo Island, remaining there until 1839. when he went
to Atchison and became engaged working in a nursery. While there he

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NKBRASKA.

395

married in i860 and Ix-canie engaged in farming in the vicinit)- of Atchison,
remaining there until 1863, when he came u]> into Xebraska and settled in
Richardson county, establishing his liome nn a farm in Rulo township, one
mile west of the \illage of that name, 'i'hat was in territorial days and
settlement here had not begun to set in in a very steady stream, hence James
Mooney was one of the pioneers of the section in which he settled, Indians
then being more plentiful therealxmt than white persons. He continued in
farm a rented tract of land there until about 1872, when he bought a farm,
the nucleus of his present extensive land holdings, he now being the owner
of about seven Inmdred acres of fine land in Rulo precinct and continuing
to make his home on llie old home place, one of the l)est-known pioneers
in Richardson county. His v.ife dieil in 1916. She also was born in Ire-
land, in 1836, Julia Ryan, daughter of John and Margaret Ryan, also nati\-es
of the Emerald Isle, the former of whom died there in 1850. After the
<leath of her husband the widow Ryan came to America with her children,
coming by way of Canada, and resided in Illinois until 1859, \vhen she
came to Nebraska and settled in Richardson county. To James and Juha
(Ryan) Mooney were liorn fi\e children, of whom the subject of this sketch
was the fourth in order of l>irtli. the otliers lieing Thomas, deceased; Anna.
\vifl(jw of J. B. Coryse, of Effingham, Kansas; Margaret, wlio is at home
with her father, and James P., who is farming in Rulo precinct.

Reared on the old farm in the precinct of Rulo, John W. Mooney
received his early schooling in the district school in that neighborhood and
in the schools at Rulo and in 1888 entered the Christian Brothers College
at St. Joseph, where he took the business course. From the days of his
l)o}hood he was an alile assistant to his fatiier in the labors of the farm and
ointinued tlius employed until 1895, wlien he rented a tract nf land fnmi
his father and began farming on his own account. In that same vear lie
bougiit an "eighty" in the ]irecinct of Rulo and after his marriage in tlic
spring of 1899 established his home there, continuing to make that his
])lace of residence until 1910, when he retired from the farm and moved
lo the \ illage of i\ulo, where he since has made his home, actively engaged
in the buying and selling of live stock, one of the best-known stockmen in
Richard.son county. Mr. Mooney li;is been (|uite successful in his farming
and stock-raising operations and is now the owner of about six hundred
acres of land in Rulo and jeft'erson precincts and is a large feeiler of caitlc
and hogs, feeding the same for market and shii)]iing from l\n]o. I'olitically.
he is an "independent"' Democrat. in ii)0[ lie was elected a member if

1,VK> KICHARDSOX COrXTV, NEBRASKA.

lliL- lioarcl of oiniUv suiiervisors frDin the Httli district ami lieki that position
until 1903.

On May 4. I89(^ John W. Alunney was united in marriage to Clara
W'interbottom, also a native of Richardson county, born at Rulo in the month
of May, 1877. daughter of J. S. and Janet (Thompson) Winterbottom, both
of whom were born at Adina, Missouri, and who settled at Rulo in 1865.
J. S. Winterbottom was a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted for
service in the Union ami)- at St. Louis. He died in this county in 191 r,
at the age of sixty-seven years, and his widow is still living at Rulo, being
now past seventy-one years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Mooney have six chil-
dren. Mary, Janet, James, John, Gregory and Clara. The family are mem-
liers of the Catholic church and take an interested part in ])arish afifairs.
Mr. Moone}' is a member of the local council of the Knights of Columbus
at b~alls Citv and takes a warm interest in the affairs of the same.

HENRY C. ZOELLER

Ifenry C. Zoeller, proprietor of a hue farm of three hundred acres
ill ilie vicinity of i'reston, in the precinct of Jefferson, this county, former
justice of the peace in and for that precinct and one of the best-known farm-
ers and stockmen in that neighborhood, is a native son oi Richardson count\ *
and has lived here all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm in the
l)recinct of Arago on January 6, 1867, son of Charles and Ernestine (Klose)
Zoeller, natives of Prussia, who were married in their native land, later
coming to this country and settling at Buffalo. Xew York, where they
remained until 18(14, in which year they came with their family to the then
Territory of Nebraska and settled in this county, where they spent the
remainder of their lives, useful and influential pioneers.

Charles Zoeller wan born on September 17, 1824, and grew to man-
hood in his native Prussia, becoming a skilled carpenter. In 1849 'le mar-
ried Ernestine Klose, who also was born in Prussia, January ly. 1828, and
in 1854 came to the United States, locating at Buft'alo, Xew York, where
he liecame engaged in the building trades and where he remained for ten
vears. or until 18(14, when he came to Nebraska and bought a tract of land
in the precinct of Arago. this count}', where he established his home and
where lie and his wife s])ent the remaimler of their lives. His death occurred
uu Ajiril 5. 1877, and his wid.nw survi\ed him for many years, her death

RICI.'AUnSOX COUXTV, NEBRASKA. 1 397

occurring- on January i_', 1914. They were the parents of eleven children,
tliree of whom died in infancy, the others being as follow : Oscar, a retired
farmer of this county, now living- at Falls City: \\'illiani J., a farmer of
the precinct of Jefferson: Mary, wife of C. '¥. I'rihheno, of Preston, one
of Richardson county's most extensive landowners and a l)io,yraphical sketch
of whom is presented elsewhere in this xolume: Charles V.. of Happy, Texas;
Herman, a farmer of the precinct of Falls City: Henry C. the subject of
this sketch: Mrs. Ida \\'alker, of Santa Ana, California, and Mrs. Fmni;i
Baker, who died at Nebraska Cit>-.

Reared on the pioneer farm on which he was horn, in the precinct of
Arago, Henry C. Zoeller received his schooling in the schools of that neigli-
l-jorhood and when eighteen years of age began working on his own account
as a farm hand, receiving for such service fron-i ten to twelve dollars a
month and reserxing three months in the year for school attendance. \\'hen
twenty-one years of age he bought a farm of one hundred and forty acres
in the precinct of Falls City, which farm is now a part of the Brecht estate,
and a couple of years later, in 1890, traded that place for his present home
farm in section 28 of the precinct of Jefiferson. In i8g[ Mr. Zoeller mar-
ried and established his home on this latter place and there has resided ever
since, he and his family being \ery comfortably situated. Thev ha\-e a hue,
modern eight-room house, with gas lights, furnace and hot and cold run-
ning- water, and the farm plant is in keeping with the same Air. Zoeller
has three hundred acres of well-improved and profitably cultivated land,
one of the best-kept places in that part of the county. In addition to his
general farming Mr. Zoeller has for years given considerable attention to
the raising of live stock and has done well with Shorthorn cattle, mixevl
Duroc and Poland China hogs and mules. He has a three-acre orchard and
his place is well equipped with all the latest appliances for successful agricul-
ture. Air. Zoeller is a Republican and has served the jniblic in the capacity
of justice of the peace in and for his home precinct.

On August J5. 1891. Henry C. Zoeller was united in marriage to
Alartha Shelly, of this county, who was born in the state of Pennsylvania
on July 6, 1873, daughter of Philip and Lavina (Shutt) Shelly, who became
residents of this county years ago and further and fitting mention of whon-i
is made elsewhere in this volume, and to this union four children have been
born, Rhine, who is farming in Jefferson precinct, and Herbert, Beulah
and Ralph, at home. The Zoellers have a very pleasant home and take ,ni
interested part in the community's general social activities. Mr. Zoeller is
a member of the lixal lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at
Rulo and takes an active interest in Masonic affairs.

398 KICIIARDSOX COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

TOHX H. BAUER.

Jolin H. ]!auLT, one of Richardson county's well-known farmers am!
slockmen and the proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres
in the precinct of Ohio, was born in that precinct and has lived there all his
life, at present owning a part of the parental acres in that precinct, the
place where his parents settled back in pioneer days. He was born there
on February 19, 1875, son of Joachim and Mary (Talk) Bauer, prominent
])ioneers of that section and the latter of whom is still living".

Joachim Bauer was of European birth, a Mecklenburger, born un .\pril
10. 1833, who came to this country in the days of his young manhood
and after a sometime residence in Illinois came to Nebraska and settled on
a pioneer farm in the precinct of Ohio, this county, becoming one of the
substantial farmers and landowners of that part of the county. He developed
an excellent piece of property there and there spent his last daj's, his death
occurring in 1908. His widow, who still survives him, is now making her
home with her youngest son, Herman Fiauer, in Ohio precinct, she now
l)eing in the eightieth )ear of her age. To Joachim Bauer and wife were
born seven ciiildren, uf whom the subject of this sket-ch was the fifth in
order of birdi, tlie others being as follow: Eliza, wife of William Geb-
hard, of Ohio precinct: Joseph, now a resident of Texas; Mary, wife of
A. Gebhard. of Verdon, this county: Mrs. Louisa Flarkendorfif, of the pre-
cinct of Ohio, and Henry and Herman, lioth 'Nvell-known farmers of that
same precinct.

Reared on the home farm in the precinct of Ohio, John H. Bauer
received his schooling in the district schools of that neighborhood and in
St. Paul's German Lutheran school and from the days t)f his bovhood was
a \alued aid to bis father and brt)tbers in the labors of developing and
improving the home acres. When twenty-one years of age he rented a
tract of land from his father and began farming on his own account and
after his marriage a year later established his home on that place. Two
years later, in 1899, he bought the place from his father and has ever
since made his home there, he and his family being very comfortably situ-
ated. He built :i nindern house, set out trees and made otlicr improvcineius
until now he h;is nue (if the best farm plants in Uial part nf the countw
Air. Bauer is the owner of two hundred and forty acres lying in sections 4
and 6 and is doing well in bis farming operations. Li kjiO he beg.nn to
engage somewhat more extensively in the Ijreeding of Hereford cattle, wilh
a view to holding slock sales, the leaders of Jn's herd lieing ".Se(|uel 4X34S<)."

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. 1399

bred by J. J. Early, of Baring, Missouri. Mr. Bauer i.s a Democrat and
has ever taken an interested part in local political affairs, ahvavs interested
in movements having to do with the advancement of the general welfare of
his home community.

On February 25, 1897, John H. Bauer was united in marriage to Mary
Grossoehmig, who was born in the kingdom of Saxony on August 13, 1875,
and who was but se\en years of age when she came to this country with
her parents, Edward and Helen (Laudenbauch) Grossoehmig, also natives
of Saxony, the family settling in the precinct of Barada, in this county.
Edward Grossoehmig and wife are now living in the precinct of Ohio, well-
known old settlers of Richardson county. Mr. and Mrs. Bauer have three
children, Walter, Edward and Howard. They are members of the Lutheran
church and have ever taken an interested part in church work and other
neighborhood good works. They have a pleasant home and give proper
attention to the general social activities of their home communitv.

ERNEST ZIMMERMANN.

Ernest Zimmermann, one of Arago precinct's well-known and progres-
sive farmers, who is farming a hue place of one hundred and twenty acres
belonging to his father in section 28 of that precinct, was born on that farm
and has lived there all his life. He was born on July 3, 1879, son of Louis
and Mollie Almira (Reschke) Zimmermann, natives of the grand duchy
of Baden, who became pioneers of this county and the former of whom
is still living here, now a resident of Falls City, where his wife died in
September, 1916, she then being seventy -two years of age. They were the
parents of eight chiklren, of whom four are still living, those besides the
subject of this sketch being Gust, and Godfrey, farmers of Arago precinct,
and Emma, wife of P. Baker, also a farmer of that precinct.

Reared on the pioneer farm on which he was born, Ernest Zimmermann
received his schooling in the schools of district No. 28 and from the days
of his boyhood was a valued aid in the labors of improving and developing
the home place. When twenty-one )-ears of age he began farming on his
own account, renting a part of the home farm from his father, ami after
his marriage in the fall of 1906 established his home there and has ever
since resided there, he and his family being very comfortably situated. In
addition to his general farming, ]\Ir. Zimmermann gixes considerable atten-

I400 KICHARDSOX COUNTY, NEBRASKA.

ti<.)ii U) the raising- of hig-h-grade live stock, with particular reference in
Shorthorn cattle and Hampshire bogs, and is doing very well.

On October 25, 1906, Ernest Zimmermann was united in marriage to
Mary Hartmann, who was born in the precinct of Jefferson, this county,
July I, 1887, daughter of Frederick and Katherine (Singer) Hartmann,
who were the parents of five children, three sons and two daughters. After
the death of Frederick Hartmann his widow married Benjamin X. Kupf
and is still living in Jefiferson precinct. Mr. and Mrs. Zimmermann have
one child, a son, Edward B., born on June 2, 1908. They are memljers .)f
the Evangelical Lutheran church and take an interested part in churcli
work, as well as in the general good works of their community. Air. Zim-
mermann is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to local politi-
cal afifairs, but has not been a seeker after public office.

WILELUI L. LIETZKE.

William L. Lietzke, one of the well-known farmers of Arago precinct,
this county, is a native of Germany, but has been a resident of this country
since he was thirteen years of age and of Richardson county since he was
seventeen, having come here with his parents in 1885, the family settling
in the precinct of Arago, where he ever since has made his home. He was
born in Prussia on October 25, 1868, son of Henry and Adaline (Fromke)
Lietzke, also natives of Prussia, the former born on February 28, 1841,
and the latter, March 30, 1839, who came to this country with their family
in 1 88 1 and settled in New York state, where they remained until 1885,
in which year they came to Nebraska and settled in Arago precinct, this
county. I-ienry Lietzke, bought a farm upon his arrival here and spent the
rest of his active life farming. He died in 191 1 and his widow is still living,
now a resident of the village of Barada, where she is making her home
with her daughter, Mrs. Heine. To Henry Lietzke and wife were born
seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of
birth, the others being as follow : Albert, who is still a resident of his
native land; Charles, who is living at Syracuse, Xew York; Otto, of Shu-
bert, this county; Mrs. Emma Portner, of Jefiferson precinct, this county;
Mrs. Henrietta Heine, of Barada, and Mrs. Ahine l-'ink, deceased.

As noted above, William L. Lietzke was thirteen years of age when
he came to this country from Prussia with his parents and was seventeen

UICIIARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I4OI

when he came with them from Xew \'ork state tn Jvichardson count\-. I le
completed his schoohng in the schools of this county and remained at h(jme,
a vahied help in the labors of the home farm, until his marriage in the sum-
mer of 1890, when he rented a farm in Arago precinct and began farming
on his own account. In igii he bought his present farm of one hundred
and twenty acres in section <S ni that precinct and has since made his home
there, he and his family being very comfortaljly situated. Since taking
possession of that farm Mr. Lietzke has made numerous substantial improve-
ments on the same and has a very well-kept farm plant and is doing well.

On July 30, 1890, William L. Lietzke was united in marriage to
Bertha Fricke, who was born in this county on December 27, 1871, daugh-
ter of August and Dora (McKoel) Fricke, natives of Germany and pio-
neers of Richardson county and the latter of whom is still living, now a
resident of Falls City, and to this union have been born six children, August,
XA'alter, Bertha, Anna, Clarence and Dora, all of whom are at home. The
Lietzkes are members of the Lutheran church and take a proper part in local
church w(irk as well as in the general social activities of their home neigh-
borhood.

WILLL\M HERBSTER.

William Herbster, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and forty
acres of excellent land in section 9 of the precinct of Arago, this county,
and one of the best-known farmers in that part of the county, is of European
birth, but has been a resident of Richardson county since he was twelve
years of age. He was born in the grand duchy of Baden on September
6, 1868, son of Fred and Caroline ( Branch) Herbster, and is the youngc'^t
child of that parentage.

Fred Herbster and his wife also were nati\es of Baden, the former
born on September i, 1840, and the latter on June 26, 1840. In 1881 tliey
came to the United States with their family and proceeded on out to
Nebraska, settling in the old ^•illag•e of Arago, this count}-. Fred Herbster
was a shoemaker in his native land and during the first two winters speiu
at Arago he worked at that trade, spending his summers on the farm he
had bought in the precinct of that name. He eventually had his home
farm under cultivation and gradually developed a good piece of proi>ert\-
there in section 9, spending the remainder of his life on that place, his death

1402 KICHARDSON COUNTY, NEUKASKA.

iiccurring in 1900. His widow survived liini for a1x)ut eight years, lier
death occurring in 1908.

As noted above, \^'illianl Herljster was twelve years of age wlien lie
came to this county with his parents from his native Baden and he grew
to manliood on tlie home farm in Arago precinct, completing his schooling
in the local schools, and from the days of his boyhood was a valued assistant
to his father in the labors of improving and developing the home place.
At the death of his fatlier he became heir to twenty acres of the old home
place and he afterward bought the rest of the place and has since been the
owner of the same, a tine tract of one hundred and forty acres in section
9 of the precinct of Arago, on which he has made excellent improvements
and where he is quite successfully engaged in general farming and stock
raising, long having been regarded as one of the substantial farmers of
that section. Politically, Mr. Herbster is a Republican; by religious per-
suasion, a Lutheran, and takes a proper interest in the political, religious
and social afifairs of his home community, helpful in promoting all causes
having to do with the advancement of the general welfare of that neighbor-
hood in which he has lived since the days of his boyhood.

JOHN H. NOLTE.

John H. Noble, one of the well-known and substantial farmers of
Arago precinct, this county, owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres in
section 28 of that precinct and a farm of eighty acres in ilorris county,
Kansas, is a native of the old Hoosier state, but has Ijeen a resident of this
county since the days of his infancy, his parents having settled here in
1877. He was born at Richmond, Indiana, IMarch 16, 1874, son of Chris-
topher H. and Anna }*I. ( Cru\ell) Nolte, both of whom were of European
birth, who became pioneers of Richardson county and the former of whom
is still living here, at a ripe old age.

Christopher H. Nolte was born in tlie kingdom of Hanover on M;iy
_'.:;, i84r, son of Lecker Nolte and wife, who were the parents of three
children. The mother had been previously married and was the mother
of five children ])y her previous marriage. Reared -in Hanover, Christopher
H. Nolte there learned the caqienter's trade and worked at the same there
for eleven vears. at the end of which time he came to the United States, land-
in" witli fortv-five dollars and two suits of clothes. His point of destination

mcllARllSON COrNTV, NEBRASKA. I4O3'

was Kichnioiul, Indiana, and wlien he arrived there he had hut thirteen
dollars. He hegan working- at his trade in that city and on Feljruary lo,
1870. married there Anna J\I. Cm veil, who also was born in Germany. Janu-
uary 21. 1845, and who had come to this country in 1864, locating at Rich-
mond, Indiana. After his marriage Christopher H. Nolte continued to
make his home in Richmond until 1877, in which year he came to Nebraska
with his family and l)ought a quarter of a section of land in section _'X
of t,he precinct of Arago, in this county, and there established his home.
Se\-enty acres of that tract was timber land and while clearing the same
he hauled six hundred cords of wood to Falls City. As he prospered in his
.farming operations Christopher H. Nolte added to his holdings until he
became a considerable landowner in that section of the county and still
owns two hundred and forty acres, although he has sold considerable of his
land since retiring from the acti\-e lal)ors of the farm in 1906. His wife
dieil on September 12, 191 1, and he is now making his home with his
granddaughter, Mrs. Albert Ifecht. of Arago precinct. He and his wife
were the parents of seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was
the second in order of birth, the others being as follow : George L., deceased ;
Airs. Elizabeth Scheitel, of Arago precinct; Charles A., of the precinct of
Ohio; Martin, of that same precinct; Fred E., living on section 27 of
Arago precinct, and Samuel, of section 20 of that same precinct.

As noted above, John H. Nolte was but a small child when his parents
came to this county and he grew up on the home farm in the precinct of
Arago, receiving his schooling in the district schools of that neighborhood.
For five years he worked as a farm hand and then rented a tract of land and
began farming on his own account, continuing thus engaged until 1908.
when he bought one hundred and sixty acres of his father's home place,
the original quarter section in section 28, and has since made his home
there. In 1912 he bought an adjoining "forty" from Ernest Werner and
now has a fine farm of two hundred acres, on which he has made many
substantial improvements since taking possession of the same. In addition
to his land in this county Mr. Nolte owns a farm of eighty acres in Morris
county, Kansas, and is quite well circumstanced, his holdings having been
earned by his own efforts. In addition to this general farming he ships
annually a couple of carloads of cattle and about one hundred and twenty-
ti\-e head of hogs and is doing w^ell in his li\-e-stock operations, making a
specialty of Herefords and Duroc-Jerseys.

On Alarch 12. 1902. John H. Nolte was united in marriage lo Lena
Zorn. \vlio was bom in the precinct of Arago, this countv, December 31.

i88i. dauijhter of Clin'^t and I'.ertha ( Schiiiecliel i Zoni. nativo nt (".eniiany
and i)i()neers of Richardson county, the latter of wliom is still livin"-. now
a resident of the precinct of Ohio. Christ Zorn was born on April i. 1845.
and when si.xteen years of age, in 1861, came to the United States, locating
in Illinois, where lie remained until 1863. in which year he came to the
then Territory of Nebraska and settled in this count}, where he spent the
remainder <if liis life, a ])r(iS])erous and successful farmer and stockman, at
the time of his death on Aui^ust _'_'. ii)0_'. the owner of nine "ei,i;hlies" i.f
Land in diis ciiunt\-. He was married after comini; to this county and his
widow, who were born on l'"ebruary 23. 1855, still -survives him. They were
the parents of eight children, four sons and four daughters, all of whom are
living save one of the sons, residents of Richardson county. Mr. and .Mrs.
Xolte have two children, Esther, born on January 4. 1903. and I'liester.
lanuarv 13, 1916. The Xoltes have a very pleasant home and take a projier
l>art in the general .social activities of their home neighborhood. They arc
members of the Lutheran church and also take a proper ]iart in church work
and in "cneral neighliorhood good works.

LEONARD (;. SHELLEXBARGER.

Leonard G. Shellenbarger. of I'orter town-^hip. this county, ranks with
the foremost farmers and stockmen in the \icinity of Richardson county.
In addition to his work on two hmidred and forty acres of land which he
rents, and on a portion of ^vhich he has been successfully growing wheat
and corn, he is also engaged in the breeding of high-grade cattle and hogs.
He was born on April i-j, 1877, in \\'arren county, Illinois, and is the sou
of David and .\nna (LTmer) Shellenbarger, both natives of Pennsylvania,
who came to this part of Nebraska in an early daw

David Shellenbarger was born in b'axette couutw l'enns\l\ani;i, in 1837.
and died on Mav jo. 1905. He was the sou of George and Polly ( Smilcx ")
Shellenbarger. natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively, and to whom
ten children were born, of whom David was the youngest. With the latter
they made their home for some years and died on the farm now operated
by their grandson. Leonard G. Shellenbarger. David Shellenbarger came
otu from his native state to the West for the benefit of his health and came
later to Stella, Nebraska, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres
of land, for which he i)aid twenty-five dollars per acre. Successful in lii>

KICIIAKD-idX COUNTY, XEBRASKA. I4O5

farming operations, he took up the l)reedino- of stock, purchasing numhcMs
of calves and feeding for the market, and in this l)rancli of agricultural
activity he was equally successful. At the time of his deatJi in 1905 he
was the owner of two hundred and forty acres of land, now worked hx his
son, Leonard G., the subject of this sketch. His wife, Anna ( Ulmer )
Shellenbarger, was born in 1855 in Pennsylvania, the daughter of Henrv
Ulmer and wife, natives of Pennsylvania, who went to Illinois in an earlv
day and there spent the rest of their lives, farming people. David and Anna
Shellenbarger were the parents of seven children, of whom Leonard G. was
the fifth in the order of birth, the others being Morris, who lives at Stella :
Allie, who married J. Spivy and lives in Lincoln, this state; Alfred. li\ing
in Stella : Harry, who lives in Furnas county, this state : Artie, a farmer,
living in Stella, and Mrs. Gertrude Swan, living in Bellwood, Nebraska.

Leonard G. Shellenbarger, the subject of this sketch, was reared in
Richardson county and attended the district schools of his neighborhood,
later going to the Stella high school, from which he was graduated in
1898. In the following year he started for himself as a farmer and rented
land and has been ever since engaged in farming and stock raising, anil
has met with considerable success. In 1916 he began farming on his pres-
ent holding, and in the pursuit of his agricultural interests he has brought
the higliest form of scientific methods to work, thus securing the largest
results. He formerly set out seventy acres to wheat and corn, but in lyiO
reduced the quantity to forty acres, from which he raised a vield of fort.v
bushels to the acre. In addition to his labors on the farm he is also engaged
in feeding cattle and hogs, also obtaining maximum results from these lines.

On February 18, 1902, Leonard G. Shellenbarger was united in mar-
riage to Bessie Knapp, who was born in Richardson county, the daughter
of Miles and Fannie (Proctor) Knapp, who settled early in this count\-
and who were farming people. Mrs. Shellenbarger was born on March _>,
1880, attended the district schools and later was graduated from the Stella
high school. To ]\Ir. and Mrs. Shellenbarger four children have been born,
namely: Raymond, Blanche, Vivian and Emery, all of whom arc li\ ing
with their parents and attending the local schools. All the family are mem-
bers of the Lutheran church, of which they are liberal supporters. In
political afifairs Mr. Shellenbarger is a supporter of the Democratic party,
but has never been a .seeker after public office, preferring to devote his
time to his farming .-md stock raising. He is a member oi the Independent
Order of Odd I'ellows and of the Daughters of Rebekah. Mr. Shellen-
barger began his woi-king career herding cattle on the i)lains, doing hi-

1406 KICHAKIJSON COUNTY, NEUR \SKA.

work in l)are feet. Some time later his father s^a\e him a colt to li
and which he used for two \-ears and then set fencing- around the Imh
He frequently made trips as far as Salem Mills with wheat to exchange
flour.

P. I. KELLY

Among- the well-kn(jwn. and prominent farn-iers and stockmen of Jvich-
ardson count}- is J'. J. Kelly, the owner of one hundred and sixty-acres of
prime farming land in the northeast (juarter of section 13, Liberty jjre-
cinct. He was horn in Manitowac, Wisconsin. ;nul is the eldest son of
Miles and Mary ( Hollarn ) Kelly.

-Miles Kelly was born in Count)- Clare, Ireland, on August o. 1S33.
and came to the Cnited .States while yet a \oung- man. On arrixing in
this country he went to Wisconsin and homesteaded a timber claim at
Maple Grove. He devoted his labors to the task of clearing the tract and
bringing it to tillable condition and effecting- improvements calculated to
bring satisfactory results. In time his efforts were rewarded and he con-
tinued to reside on his homestead tract until 1874, when he came to Rich-
ardson county.

Mvles Kelly was married in .Maple Groxe. \\'isconsin. to Mary Hollarn
and to them were born the following children: J'. J., ^Largaret, who mar-
ried T. J. Colfer. Atchison, Kansas r Daniel, who lives one n-iile south of
Shubert, this state: Mary, who married S. M. Kegen, of .\tchison; Katherine.
who married \\'illiani Ryan, and lives in Barada precinct; ]\lartin, who lives
on the old homestead in Barada precinct : Daniel, who lixes in Barada pre-
cinct, and Francis, a graduate of Peru Normal School, Peru, this state, and
now teaching at Stella, Nebraska.

Mar\- Hollarn Kelly \\-as Ix.irn in Ireland on -September (), 1SS4, and
came with her parents to -\merica. On arriving in this country they went
to Wisconsin and settled there on a farm. -Mrs. Kelly died on October 5,
1900, aged fifty-six years. ]>oth she and her husband were eNeni])lary mem-
bers of the Catholic church, in the faith of which their children -.xere also
reared.

On coming to Richardson county in 1874, .Miles Kelly Ijougbt tW'i
hundred and twenty acres of land from Ed Towle in P.arada township, for
which he paid fifteen dollars an acre. This tract was raw prairie and he
expended considerable effort and toil t(-i liring it to a state fit for cultivation.

KICliARDSON COUNTY, NEBRASKA. I407

As time went on he made extensive improvements and developed tlie land
])rofitabl\-, continuing to farm tliere until his death.

P. J. Kelly, the subject of this sketch, was educated at the Baratla
precinct district school No. 88. He helped his father on the farm which
the latter had bought in Barada precinct, and thus continued for some years,
finally buying out the place his father had accjuired in 1874. He is now
actively engaged in farming and stock raising and is regarded as one of
the most substantial farmers in the community.

Mr. Kelly is affiliated with the Democratic party, but has never been
an office seeker, his attention being directed to his farming operations. He
is a member of the Catholic church and of the Knights of Columbus, in
the affairs of which he takes considerable interest. Mr. Kelly is not mar-
ried.

GEORGE GUTZMER

It is a fine thing to l)e permitted to spend our lives on the old home
place, under the "roof that heard our earliest cry," for there are associa-
tions about the hearthstone of our fathers that are not t(j be found else-
where: but fate or chance or fortune — call it what you will — shoves most
of us out from under our native rooftree to unfamiliar climes. George
Gutzmer, farmer of Humboldt precinct, Richardson county, has been more
fortunate and is stil! li\'ing on the farm where he was born, in section 34,
on May 22, 1874. He is a son of Daniel and Minnie ( Koi-ber) Gutzmer.
The father was l^orn in Germany in 1825 and there he spent his boyhood
and attended school. He immigrated to the United States when a young-
man, and he proved his loyalt\- ti' his adopted country by serving in the
Union army during the Civil \\'ar. He came to Richardson county,
Nebraska, in the early days and by hard work and close application develope<t
a good farm from the wild prairie, taking up a homestead of one hundred
and sixty acres. The mother of the subject of this sketch was Ijorn in
Germany in 1837, and her death occurred in 1893. The father died also in
1893.

To Daniel and Minnie Gutzmer three children were bom. namely:
Mrs. Bertha Schuetz, who lives in Humix)ldt, Neliraska : Mrs. Minnie Seller,
who makes her home in bVanktin precinct. Richardson count}-, and ( leorge.
of this sketch.

George Gulzmer grew to manhood on the home farm, where he wcrked

1408 UICIIAKD'^OX COUNTY. NEBRASKA.

lianl when u buy. as did all boys who happened to live in the West on
a farm in the pioneer days, especially if there was but one boy in the family
as was the case in the Gutzmer family. Upon the death of his parents in
1893 he bought the shares of liis two sisters in the estate and has continued
1(1 reside on the homestead, which he has kept under a high .state of improve-
ment and cultivation. The farm consists of one Inmdred and sixty acres
and there he carries on general farming and stock raising. He has remained
unmarried. Politically, he is a Republican.

MAX MEZ.

One of the enterprising farmers of Ohio township, Richardson county,
is ;\Iax Mez. who was born in Baden, Germany, July 5, 1864. He is a
son of Fred and Margaret (Grim) Mez, natives of Germany, where they
grew up, married and established their home. The father was born in
1803 and died in 1879, spending his entire Hfe in his native land. He
was in the government service during the major portion of liis active life,
as a game and timber warden. Fred Mez was twice married. ^Margaret
Grim being his second wife. Two children were born tn diem, nameix :
Fred, who is still Hving in Germany, and Max, the subject of this sketch.
The mother of these children was born about 1823 and died about 1881.

Max Mez grew to manhood in Germany and there attended the common
schools, and when a young man learned the cabinet-maker's trade, which
he followed there for a period of eight years. He left his native land in
1838, immigrating to America, and settled in Richardson county, Nebraska.
He worked as a farm hand for the Peck boys two years, then bought eighty
acres in Ohio precinct, known as the old Sloan farm, which he improved,
building a new barn and doing considerable fencing. After operating that
place five years he sold out and bought his present excellent farm from
B. F. ilorgan, and has since been successfully engaged in general farming
and stock raising, making many important improvements in the place, and
has been very successful in his career as a farmer. He landed in Richard-
son county with only twenty dollars in his pocket and is now owner of
one of the choice farms of his locality, consisting of three hundred and
twenty acres in section 18, Ohio precinct, also one hundred and sixty acres
in Liberty precinct. Mr. Alez has followed a most commendable custom
of setting out a large numlier of fruit and shade trees ever}- year since

RICITARDSON COl'NTY. NEBRASKA. I4OQ

coming to this county and now has a tine orchard of about seven acres
of an excellent variety of fruit. He raises a large quantity of grain, most
of which he feeds to his graded live stock, preparing large numbers for
the market annually. He has an attractive home, and numerous substantial
and convenient outlauildings : in fact, exerything about the place denotes
thrift and good management.

Mr. Mez was married on January 3, 1890, to Katherine W'erner, a
native of Baden, (lermany, where she grew to womanhood and attended
the public schools. She is a daughter of Jacob and Katherine (Suess)
AVerner, natives of (lermany, where they lived and died. She came to
the United States in 1881 and made her home with the famil\- of Henry
\\'eick until her marriage. Eight children have been Ijorn to Max J\lez
and wife, as follow: Fred, who is engaged in farming in Arago precinct,
Richardson county : Katherine, the wife of C. Brawn, a farmer in Ohio
precinct, and Herman, Henry, Charlie, Anna, Max A. and Benjamin, who
are all at home with their parents.

Mr. Mez x'otes independently. He is a member of the .Modern Wood-
men of America and of the Lutheran church. He takes a good citizenV
interest in local public affairs and is a man of excellent standing in his
community.

CHESTER .V. FISHER.

Chester A. Msher, one of the leading merchants of Falls City and head
of the firm of Fisher & Sandrock, dealers in groceries, dry goods and
women's ready-to-wear goods, is a native of Illinois, but lias been a resi-
dent of this county ever since he was eleven years of age, with the excep-
tion of three years spent in Colorado. He was born on a farm in Edgar
county, Illinois, July 5. 1883, son of George W. and Cynthia (Ross) Fisher,
both also natives of the state of Illinois, the former born in \^ermillion
county and the latter in Edgar county, who came to this count}- in 1893
and are now living retired at Falls City, where they arc very comfortalily
and very pleasantly situated.

George W. Fisher was born in March. 184C), and grew u\) in Vermillion
county, Illinois, and was married and became a well-to-tlo farmer and land-
owner in Edgar county, that stale, where be remained until 181)3, when
he came to Nebraska and bought a tract of two thousand acres of land in
(89)

1410 RICITAkDSON COUXTY, NEIIKASKA.

the i)i"ecinct of l-'alls City, this county, the land rej'.cliins^ to within one
mile of the cit\-. and there lie established his home and continued to reside
until his retirement from the active duties of the farm in 1910 and removal
to Falls City, where he and his wife are now living. Besides his extensive
land interests in this county, Mr. Fisher is the owner of a fine farm of six
hundred acres in Illinois. He and his wife are the parents of nine children,
all of whom are living and of whom the subject of this sketch is the liflh
in order of birth, the others Ijeing as follow: Ethel, wife of Doctor Hahn,
of Falls City; May, wife of George Braninum, of Oswego, Kansas; Nora,
wife of Joseph Davison, a fanner living southwest of Falls City; Mrs. Grace
Strong, of Strausville, this county; Lester, a retired farmer, who lives east
of Falls City; Goldia, wife of George Sandrock, partner of Chester A.
Fisher in the mercantile business at Falls City; Ota, wife of George Prich-
ard, of Abilene, Kansas, and Lula, at home with her parents.

As noted above, Chester A. Fisher was eleven years of age when he
came to this comity with his parents from Illinois in 1893 •'"'^^ ^^ completed
his schooling in the public schools of this county and supplemented the
same by a course in the Falls City Business College. Upon attaining his
majority he received from his father a tract of four hundred and eighty
acres of land in southeastern Kansas and after his marriage a short time
later he made his home on that place, but two years later, in 1907. returned
to Falls City and there engaged in the mercantile business and was thus
engaged until 1909, in which year he disposed of his business and went to
Colorado, where he bought two hundred and ten acres of land and was there
engaged in farming for about three years, at the end of which time, in
191 2, he again returned to Falls City and resumed his mercantile business
there and has ever since been thus engaged, having built up a quite extensive
business. On December i, 1916, he admitted to partnership with him in
that business his brother-in-law, George Sandrock, and since then the busi-
ness has been conducted under the firm name of Fisher & Sandrock. This
firm has a well-stocked store and does a fine business in the general gro-
ceries, drv goods and women's ready-to-wear line, the estalilishment being
regarded as one of the best-appointed establishments of its kind in this
part of the state. In addition to his extensive commercial interests Mr.
Fisher is the owner of six hundred and ten acres of land in Kansas and
Colorado and is quite well circumstanced.

On May 22, 1905, Chester A. Fisher was united in marriage, at balls
City, to Hattie Pearl Cleveland, of that city, who was born in the Dominion
of Canada, daughter of George S. and Amelia ( Colzere ) Cleveland. ;ils.i

natives of Canada, who came tt) this slate years ai^-o and settled at I'alls
City, where Geur.i^e S. Cleveland was engaged in the mercantile business until
1910 when he A\ent West to farm and is now living at Olathe, Colorado. Mr.
and Mrs. Fisher have a ver\- pleasant home at Falls City and take a proper
interest in the general social affairs of their home town. They have foiu'
children, ( ieorge S.. born in 1906; Suzaine, 1908; Flinne. 1910, and Mil-
dred, 1914. Mr. Fisher is a member of the local lodges of the Independent
Order of Odd Fellows and of the Benevolent and I'rotective Order of
I'^lks and takes an active interest in the affairs of the same.

MARTIN B. ATKIXS.

Among the successful self-made men who ha\e hciuored Richardson
county with their residence, is Martin B. Atkins, a pioneer agriculturist
and stockman, who is now a wholesale gasoline and oil merchant of Lincoln.
Iieing ambitious from the first, but surrounded with none too favorable
en\ironment, his early youth was not especially promising, but resolutely
facing- the future, he gradually surmounted the difficulties in his way aufl
has risen to a prominent position in industrial circles in eastern Nebrask.i.

Mr. Atkins was born in Bureau county, Illinois. April 27, 1850. It'"
is a son of Jesse and Amelia (Watson) .\tkins, natixes of Indiana and
Kentucky, respectively, the father's birth having- occurred near the city o*"
Terre Haute in 1812. He dexoted his active life to farming and died in
Bureau county. Illinois, in 18A1. The mother of the subject of this sketch
was born in 18 11 on the northern border of the old Blue Grass state, and
she died in 1863. To these parents thirteen children were born, of whom
Martin B. was the eleventh in order of birth. Only three others are Hving
at this writing, namel\- : Francis M., who makes his home at Princeton,
Illinois: Mrs. Laura McConnell. who lives in Humboldt, this county, and
.\dolphus W., who lives in .Marion, Iowa.

Martin I!. Atkins and all his brothers and sisters were born on the
home farm in I'ureau county, Illinois, and there lie was reared. He had
little opportunity to obtain an education, .spending only sixteen weeks at ;i
select school taught by Professor Bangs, but nevertheless he attributes his
success in life to the inspiration he received from this early-day schoolmaster.
Mr. .\tkins has made his own way in the world since he was eleven years
old. As a bov he learned the cabinet-maker's trade and worked at the same

14 1-' KlCIIAI-'DSflX COrXTV, NEBRASKA.

al Peru and Dover, IlliiKjis. until 1H73, when, liaving- l)een attracted lu
the possibilities of ranching in the new .-^tate of Nebraska he took up his
journey "toward the setting sun,"' arriving- at the village of Humboldt, in
Kichardson county, on April 11 of that year. He turned his attention to
farming and hou.ght land in l'"ranklin j)recinct, when settlers were few and
trading centers far remote. He endured the usual hardships and ]iriva-
tions incident to life on the western frontier at that period. He went
through the famine of the famous grasshopper years. He developed his
land from the raw state, breaking up the prairie sod and gradually bringing
his land under a good state of culti\ation and improvement. He cut grain
for his neighbors the first year there, using an old-fashioned header, with
which he cut sixteen hundred acres. There was not a dwelling in sight
when he built his tirst house on the wild prairie. After fanning his land
three years he UKned to Humboldt and engaged in the restaurant business
two years; then, in 1878, he took up the furniture business, in connectitin
with which he did an undertaking business. He attended the first state
convention of undertakers, being now the only survivor of that convention
in Xebraska. It was held in Lincoln in 1880. He movefl from Humboldt
to York, this state, where he engaged in the furniture and undertaking
business for a period of twenty-five years. He then bought and sold Vive
stock for elexen years, becoming one of the most extensixe feeders and
shippers in the state. During that period he shipped forty thousand head
of. cattle to the market, buying the st(jck in Montana, in which state be
spent five months out of each year. He became well known to the ranch.-
men and stockmen of that state. He is an excellent judge of hve stock,
especially cattle, and was very successful in this field of endeavor. About
1890 he became interested in the Farmers' Mutual Association, which he
heljied to Iniild tip to a state of efficiency, and in 1908 he was elected secre-
tary of the same. About diis time he moved to the city of Lincoln. Ik-
was interested in tiie automobile business a short time. He ha^ sold out
his former business interests.

In 1915 Air. .\tkiiis began handling gas and oil from the refineries al
Tulsa. Oklahoma, and other oil fields, under the firm name of A. r>. (.'.
Independent Oil and (las Com])any, the company being composed of him-
self, his son, Arthur V... and his .son-in-law, O. .\. T'arber, the firm oper-
ating gas and oil plants at Sidney, (iurley, Kearney and Raymond, Nebraska.
.Mr. Atkins understands every phase of ihe oil and gas business and is t)ne
of the best-known men in this field in Xebraska. lie is also owner of
\ahiable cit\ |)i-oi)ert\ in Lincoln, as well as fine farming land in South

RICHARDSON COrNTY. NEBRASKA. I4I?

I)akot;i and Dudley Cdunty, Nebraska, his holdings tutaling an entire sec-
tion. He has been very successful in a Ixisiness waw I)cing a man 'if
sound judgment, executive ability and foresight.

Air. Atkins was married at the old Union Hotel in h'alls City, Nebraska,
.Vpril 24, 1873, to Lucy Barnhart, a native of Lee county, Illinois, and
a daughter of Joseph and Reljecca ( Kuntz) Earnhardt, the father a native
of Pennsylvania and the motlier of (^hio. who were early .settlers of Linn
ccnuity, Iowa. Mrs. Atkins came to Ricliardson county, Nebraska, Novem-
ber 25, 1872, and lived with her sister and brother-in-law, Henry Stewart,
a farmer of Franklin precinct. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs.
Atkins, namely: Arthur E., who is engaged in the oil and gas business
at Kearney, Nebraska: and I\a, wife oi O. A. Barber, of Lincoln, who is
associated with the subject of this sketch in the oil and gas business.

Mr. Atkins is a memlicr of the Presbyterian church. Besides winning-
the confidence and esteem of those with whom he has come in contact in a
inisiness and social way, he is regarded as a man of public spirit, having
the best interests of his citv and state at heart.

PAUL B. WE.VVER.

In this progressive twentieth centur}^ which we often refer to as an
age of specialists, it is a somewhat rare thing to find a man who has the
talent to succeed at a variety of callings. One of the most conspicuou-^
examples of this class of men in Richardson county is I'aul B. Weaver,
attorney, horticulturist, fruit grower and farmer of Falls City, a man who
lias succeeded at whatever he has seriously turned his attention to. Ho
was born in the above named city on No\eniber 19, 1878, in the old Weaver
homestead. He is a scion oi one of the influential early families of this
localit}-, being- a son of Judge .\. J. and Martha (Weaver) Weaver, both
now deceased. The reader is referred to a full sketch of these parents
which appears on another page of this vohuue.

Paul B. Weaver grew to manhood in Falls City, where he attendcvl
the public and high schools, graduating from the latter with the class of 189(1.
He then entered the University of Nebra.ska at Lincoln, where he made an
excellent record in the academic and law departments, graduating in 1902.
and receiving the degrees of Bachelor of .\rts and Bachelor of Laws. Soon
.-ifter leaving the university he began the active practice of his profession at

l.|.I4 KICllARnSON COrXTV. XEliKASKA.

C'urdell, Oklahoma, where he remained three years, enjoying a good Ijusi-
ness. In 1905 lie returned to Falls City, where he continued in his pro-
fession for three years, during which he took a high rank at the local bar
rmd was known as an energetic, painstaking and trustworthy lawyer, well
\ersed in the \arious phases of jurisprudence and he was successful in the
general practice of the law. But finding the science of agriculture more
attractive than a professional career he gave up ;ictive practice and engaged
in farming and fruit growing, in partnership with his brother, A. J. Weaver.
He has made a close and careful study of modern methods of scientific
;igriculture and Imrticulture and has succeeded from the start, being now
regarded as one of the best intensive farmers in Richardson county, owning
a \aluable and highl)- improved fruit farm of eighty acres adjoining Falls
City on the east.' He also owns a productive farm of two hundred acres
southwest of town, a part of which is also in fruit. He is farming twelve
hundred acres in all. and thus is carrying on general farming operations
on a vast scale. Mr. \\'eaver has die specific care of the orchards, in which
he employs the most approved methods of spraying, pruning and general
orchard culture, lie secures large annual yields and the exceptionally fine
a])iiles from his orchards find a ready market over a large territoiy. Besides
his fruit growing he farms eight hundred acres in Richardson county and
raises large herds of cattle and hogs, about one thousand head of the lat-
ter annually, and one hundred head of fine cattle are grown on the place
each year. He buys stockers and feeders and ships one hundred head to
market annuallv. He employs from forty to fifty men continually on his
farms, his farm buildings are up-to-date in arrangement and ei|uipnient.
and everything is managed under a superb system, showing that Mr. Weaxer
is a man of rare executive ability as well as of industry.

On August 30, ic)00, 'Slv. \^'eaver was married to .\iina L. Cook, a
daughter of C. A. Cook, a native of Tennessee and an early .settler in Mis-
souri, who came to Nebraska in 1S35 and l^ecame well known to the pio-
neer element of Richardson county and was prominent in the afifairs of
his localitv. INlr. Cook was for some time clerk of the district court and
also served as postmaster at Falls City. Mrs. \\'eaver grew to womanhood

.;"es. Sexen children
Taul I'.ennett. .\rchi-
nce .Madison. Chris-

e he i> deei)lv inter-

;it l'"alls City and recei

\e(l good educational adxanta

have been born to Mr.

and .Mrs. \\ea\ei'. namely:

bald Jackson. .Martha 1

\atlierine. .Mary .\nne. Law re

liibel and Doris.

Politically , Mr. We

aver is a Republican, but whi

ested in public affairs i

1 general, especially as perlai

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NKBRASKA. I415

county, lie has never sought political leadership, preferring to devote his
attention to his large business interests. Fraternally he belongs to the Mod-
ern Woodmen of America and to the Ancient Order of United Workmen.
Personally, he is a pleasant gentleman to meet, genial, companionable and
obliging, and his reputation has always been that of a man with a high sense
of honor in all the relations of life.

GUST. ZIMMERMANN.

Gust. Zimmermann, proprietor of a well-improved farm of forty acres
in section 28 of the precinct of Arago, this county, was born on a pioneer
farm adjoining that tract and has lived there all his life. He was born on
March 19, 1882, son of Louis and Mollie Almira (Reschke) Zimmermann,
pioneers of that community and the former of whom is still living, now a
resident of Falls City, this county. Louis Zimmermann is of European
Isirth, a native of the grand duchy of Baden, born in February, 1852, who
came to this country as a young man and became a pioneer of Richardson
county. After renting land in Arago precinct for some time he bought
a farm of eighty acres there and made his home there until his retirement
from the farm and removed to Falls City, where he is now living and where
his wife died in September, 19 16, at the age of seventy-two years. The}-
were the parents of eight children, of whom four are still living, those
liesides the subject of this sketch being Godfrey, who is farming with his
lirother Gust. ; Ernest, also a farmer of Arago precinct and a biographical
.sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume, and Emma, wife
of P. Baker, also a farmer of the precinct of Arago.

Reared on the home farm in Arago precinct. Gust. Zimmermann
received his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood and from the
(lavs of his boyhood was a valued assistant in the labors of the farm. When
twenty-one years of age he began farming on his own account, renting land
from his father and in time bought the "eighty" on which he is now living,
adjoining the home place on the west, and where he and his family are very
comfortably situated. Mr. Zimmermann has made substantial improvements
cm his place and is carrying on his farming operations in up-to-date fashion.
He is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to local political affairs,
hut has not been particularly active as a party worker.

On October 6, 1910. Gust. Zimmerman was united in marriage to Ella

1416 RICHARDSON COLXTV. NEBRASKA.

Zimmermann, who was born in Atchison county, Missouri, and to this union
has been born one child, a daughter, Rosella. Mr. and Mrs. Zimmermann
are members of the Exangelical Lutheran church and tai<e a proper interest
in church work and in other neighborhood good works.

FRED BRECHT.

Fred Brecht, manager of the e.Ktensive plant of the Heacock Milhng
Company of Falls City, former member of the city council and present sec-
retary of the school board of that city, is a native son of Richardson county,
a member of one of the real "old-time" families, and has lived here all his
life. He was born on a pioneer farm three and one-half miles northeast
of Falls City on October 30, 1869, son of Carl and Susan ( Hadley) Brecht,
natives of Germany, who were married in Buffalo, New York, later li\ed
in Canada and came thence to Nebraska in 1867, settling in this county.
where their last days were spent, honored and useful pioneers.

Carl Brecht was born in 1826 and grew to manhood in his native
Germany, coming thence to the United States and locating at Buffalo, New
York, where he became employed and where he presently married Susan
Hadley, who also was born in Germany, in 1836, and who had come to
America with her parents in the days of her girlhood. .Vfter his marriage
Mr. Brecht established his home in Canada and there continued to reside
until 1867, when he came to Nebraska with his family and in the fall of
that year bought a tract of one hundred and thirty acres of land three and
one-half miles northeast of the then small village of l<"alls City, where he
established his home and where he spent the remainder of his life. Mr.
Brecht was a good farmer and as he jjrospered in his undertaking added
an adjoining "eighty" to his homestead place and soon had one of the best-
improved and most profitably cultivated farms in that neighborhood, l-'or
his original tract he paid three dollars and fifty cents an acre and before his
death ten years later the place had increased many fold in value. Carl
Brecht died on December 23. 1877, at the age of fifty-one years. His widow
survived him until January, 1904, she being sixty-eight years of age at
the time of her death. They were the parents of eight children, five s<ins
and three daughters, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fifth in
order of birth, the others being as follow: Charles, who died in 1912: Con-
rad, of Falls City: Mrs. Caroline Fenskae, who is living in northern

RICHARDSON COUNTY, NEKKASKA. I4I7

Nebraska; Henry, a farmer, living u mile and a half east of Falls Cil,\ :
Mrs. Katie Kruse, of Falls City; Peter, also of Falls City, and Mrs. l>",liza-
betli Schmechel, who is living in northern Nebraska.

Fred Brecht was reared on the old home farm where he was born,
and npon completing the conrse in the common schools entered a business
college at St. Louis and there became thoroughly grounded in business
forms. In 1896 he was made assistant manager in the office of the Hea-
cock Milling Company and has since occupied that position, manager of
the plant in the absence of Mr. Heacock, and is therefore one of the besi-
known millers in this part of the state. Besides his milling interests, Mr.
Brecht is the owner of a quarter of a section of land in central Kansas and
also has valuable real estate in Falls City. He is a Bryan Democrat and
has long given his thoughtful attention to local civic aiifairs. For one
term he rendered valuable service to his home city as a member of the
city council and for the past ten years has been secretary of the school
board, in which latter capacity he has done much to advance the interests
of the city schools. In other ways Mr. Brecht has done his part in the
promotion of the city's best interests and has long been regarded as one
of Falls City's most energetic and public-spirited citizens.

On April 28, 1898, Fred Brecht was united in marriage to ^Marie huss-
ner, of .\tchison, Kansas, who was born in Germany and who had lived
in Faris with an aunt, who was the wife of a French army officer, and
also in the city of London, before coming to the United States, and who
therefore has a fluent use of the French, German and English languages.
To this union two daughters have been born, Susan ie, who was born on
Februar\- 18, 1899, and who was graduated from the Falls City high school
with the class of 1917, and Xellie Lee, February 25. 1908. The Brechts
are members of the Presbj'terian church and take a proper interest in church
work, as well as in the general good works of their home town and in the
social and cultural activities of the same. Mr. Brecht is a member of the
local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Royal
Highlanders and in the affairs of these organizations takes a warm interest.
Having been Ijorn in this county he has been a witness to the development
of this region from pioneer days and has done his part in advancing that
development, ever interested in movements designed to promote the general
welfare of the community.

1362

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