Custer County, Nebraska - Founders and Builders, 1919 (part 11 of 32)

On 'the 8th of January, 1899, at Broken Bow, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Fisher to Aliss Mary A. Adams, who was born in Iroquois county, Illinois, and who is a daughter of Thomas and Ellen (Burke) .Adams, both natives of Ireland. At the time of the Civil war Mr. Adams and his future wife came, with their respective parents, on the same ship to the United States, and their acquaintanceship culminated in their subsequent marriage. They became the parents of six children - William H. (deceased): Mrs. Mary A. Fisher, James J., Mrs. Nellie Wood- ward, John B.. and Thomas, the last named having been in service as a member of the United States Army in connection with the great world war and having been at Camp Funston at the time this sketch was prepared.

Thomas Adams came with his family to Custer county in 1885. and he located on a pioneer farm northeast of Broken Bow, where he and his family gained a plethora of pioneer experience, in which they endured the trials and hardships incidental to the settling and development of a new country. The experience of Mr. and ]\Irs. Adams was similar to that of hundreds of others pioneer settlers in Custer county, and under these conditions were forged enduring bonds of sympathy and friendship that bound the old-time residents together in gracious ties of mutual interest and friendliness that do not seem to exist in these latter days, with their urge of varied activities and their insistent demands.

^fr. and Mrs. Fisher may count themselves favored in that they have four sturdy and vital young sons who are destined well to uphold the prestige and honors of the family name. The eldest son, Marion T., is at the time of this writing a student in the eleventh grade in the Broken Bow high school, and his next younger brother. William J., is likewise attending the same high school ; Royal D. is a student in the eighth grade of the public schools : and Master Glenn A., five years of age, completes the fine quartet of sons.

CHARLES J. SLOCGETT, who carries on general farming in Custer county, Nebraska, is interested in a valuable tract of 302 acres, which is situated four and one-half miles southwest of Anselmo. Mr. Sloggett was born at Polo, Illinois, April 10, 1886, and his parents are Alfred C. and Emma (]\Iiller) Sloggett. Alfred C. Sloggett, who is a retired farmer, was born in Granby village, in Canada, a son of William and Bethena (Homer) Sloggett, born in the city of London, England. He married Emma Miller, who was born near Polo. Illinois, a daughter of Emanuel and Elizabeth ( Hulinger) Miller, who were natives of Pennsylvania. Eight children were born to C. Sloggett and his wife, as follows: Perry F., Mrs. Bessie Lloyd, George A.. Charles '].. Mrs. Edith M. Roessler, Mrs. Hattie V. Bates. Harvey M., and Everett M. Harvey M. of the above family is a soldier in the national army, and is in France at the time of this writing, in the autumn of 1918.

Charles J. Sloggett remained with his parents until he was thirty-one years old, in the meanwhile attending school and farming. From choice he has always devoted himself to farm pursuits and thereby has acquired independence. He began early and earned his first money by gathering potatoes for a neighbor. When he started out for himself he went to Oelrichs, South Dakota, and took up a homestead in the Fall River county, - a property of which he still owns. Mr. Sloggett is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Democrat and fraternally is an Odd Fellow. His father belongs to the Woodmen order. He was married September 14, 1918, to Ella Laughlin, daughter of George and Amanda Laughlin, of Custer countv.

MILES D. CALLEN, a well and favorably known citizen of Custer county, has resided for the past twenty years on his valuable farm of 200 acres, which is situated four and onehalf miles northeast of Broken Bow. Mr. Callen was born on a farm near Lacon, Marshall county. Illinois. His parents were William and Catherine (Grife) Callen, the former of whom was born at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the latter in Germany. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Callen was David Callen, whose father, a native of Ireland, fought in the American Revolution. His maternal grandfather was Daniel Grife. In 1848 AMlliam Callen located in Marshall county, Illinois, and from that state he enlisted for service in the Civil war, after which he was identified with the Grand Army of the Republic until his death, which occurred May 8, 1900, at Grand Island, Nebraska. His vocation was farming, in politics he was a Republican, and both he and wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They had eight children, namely: Elliott N.. Mrs. Cynthia Kerns (deceased); Mrs. Mary Belding, Frank M. (deceased), Charles W., Miles D., Airs. Anna Perkins, and Mrs. Emma Edgell.

Miles D. Callen was reared on his father's pioneer farm in Marshall county. Illinois, and a sport of his boyhood was setting traps for the gophers, which were ver\- destructive at that time on new land, with the result that a certain price was paid him for all he captured. This, probably, was his first business transaction. He remained on the home farm until he was twenty-one years of age. his birth having taken place May 23. 1839. and then started out for himself as a farmer. In 1895 he came to Custer county and located on Spring creek, eight miles north of Callawav. where he re- sided until he came to his present fine farm, near Broken Bow. He has carefully developed this place, until its value at present is equal to that of any in this section, and he not only has a paying property but also a comfortable and attractive home. He has taken a great deal of interest in agricultural development in the county and has encouraged such movements as the Grange, of which he is a member, besides which he belongs to the Modern Brotherhood of America. In politics he is a Republican and he is a great friend of the public schools, in which he received his own education back in Marshall county, Illinois.

Mr. Callen was married March 2. 1895, at Denver, Colorado, to Miss Cora Patterson, who comes of American ancestry. Her parents are Hiram B. and Abigail (Harkness) Patterson, and her maternal grandparents were James P. and Maria (Waters) Harkness. Mrs. Callen has two sisters and one brother, as follows : ]\Iinnie is the wife of John Maurer, who is a soldier in the National army, having enlisted in 1918, from St. Louis, Missouri ; Frank L., who is employed in the city waterworks of Los Angeles, California, resides there with his wife and four children ; and Grace is the wife of Roy Sage, who is an automobile machinist at Los Angeles, and they have two children. Mr. and Mrs. Callen have an adopted daughter and son. ]\Iaud and Frank E.

CHARLES C. KOOZER. - That farming in connection with stock-raising can be made a very profitable business is the idea of Charles C. Koozer, who is a practical farmer and who has purchased 480 acres of land situated four miles northeast of Broken Bow, where he intends to make his future home.

Mr. Koozer was born at Geneva. Fillmore county, Nebraska. His parents, now residents of Custer county, are John L. and Katherine ( Brust) Koozer, both of whom were born near Springfield. Illinois. The maternal grandfather, Conrad Brust, moved from Ohio to Illinois. John L. Koozer is a farmer living five and one-half miles northeast of Broken Bow, and there he is a man of social standing. He and his wife have three children - Mrs. Bertha M. Hall, of Merna, this county: Lela M., at home with her parents: and Charles C. of this review.

Charles C. Koozer attended the public schools and subsequently completed a commercial course in the Broken Bow Business College. Thus he was prepared for other than agricultural life, but preferred farming to a business life. He is still a young man, but has witnessed many changes in price fluctuations since he worked for M. D. Callen for fifty cents a day, when a load of hay would bring alx>ut two dollars and a fifty-pound sack of flour could be Iwught for eighty-five cents. Mr. Koozer was married August 28, 1912, at Broken Bow, to Miss Lula M. Williams, who is a daughter of Hozle and Mary C. (Karms) Williams. Mr. and Mrs. Koozer have two sons - - C. Ray a sturdy little boy of five years, and Robert A., aged ten months at the time of this writing, in the autumn of 1918. Mr. Koozer has never given a great deal of attention to politics, but has always voted the Democratic ticket.

ELGIN L. BEAL. - Among the men of prominence who came to Custer county in 1886. was the late Elgin L. Beal, who became widely known through his newspaper enterprise, the Custer County Beacon, in the control of which he was associated with his brother, C. W. Beal, for many years.

Elgin L. Beal was born in Audrain county, Missouri, December 28, 1858, and passed away at his beautiful home near Broken Bow, Nebraska, ]\Iarch 10, 1914. He was a son of William H. and Jane (Stout) Beal, natives of Indiana and faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

When Elgin L. Beal came to Custer county he brought his family with him from Missouri, and they settled on a homestead claim near Ansley, subsequently moving to Broken Bow where he engaged in the newspaper business. During the ten years he was connected with the Custer County Beacon the journal was devoted to the best interests of this section. When he retired he bought the land his family still owns and here he built one of the handsome residences of the county.

In Audrain county, Missouri, on October 21, 1882, Elgin L. Beal married Miss Margaret Poor, a daughter of Levi and Elizabeth ( Ritchie) Poor, who were natives of Will county, Illinois. The following children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Beal: Emory S., John, William, Henry, Esther, Grover C, Ruth, Grace Maud. Prudence J., and Charles C, the last named residing at home with his mother. The eldest of the family, Emory S., is a farmer living four miles northwest of Broken Bow. He married Edna Russom, a daughter of G. R. Russom, and they have one daughter. John Beal. who is a barber by trade, married Edna Waters and they reside at North Platte, Nebraska. \\'illiam Henry, the third son. oper- ates his mother's farm of 200 acres, situated five miles west of Broken Bow. Esther is residing with her mother while her patriotic husband, Charles \'. Oxenford, is ser\-ing his country in the national army; he is a jeweler by trade and they have one child, Vera lone, who is three years old. Mr. Oxenford enlisted in Troop E, Twelfth Cavalry. Grover C, the fifth child, died at Broken Bow, August 18, 1915. Ruth is the wife of Guy Street, who is a farmer, located three miles south of Merna, Custer county. The daughters, Grace and Prudence are employed in the office of the Burlington Railroad at Lincoln. Besides his immediate family, Mr. Beal is surv-ived by three brothers, John, Charles W., and Grant Beal.

HON. JOHN REESE. - Custer county numbers among is valued citizens some distinguished men, and of these none deserves more favorable notice in its history than does Judge John Reese, who, as soldier, lawyer, judge, and public official, has led a busy and honorable life.

Judge Reese was born in Clark county, Ohio. December 23, 1845. He is the only child of John and Sarah J. (Stevenson) Reese. His father was of Welch descent and a native of Ohio. He passed from this life when our subject was three years old. and two years later the mother married ^\'illiam Downs, in whose home the boy, John, lived until he was eleven years old, when he hired to work for a neighboring farmer, at seven dollars a month. At the age of twelve years he went to London, Ohio, to learn the wool manufacturing trade, and for four years he worked as an apprentice in the Dennis Clark woolen mills - working in the summer and going to school in the winter.

The Civil war broke out in 1861, and in .\ugust, 1862, being then only sixteen years of age, John Reese enlisted in his country's service, in Company A, of the One Hundred and Thirteenth Ohio Infantry. He served one year, when his health failed and he was honorably discharged for disability. He enlisted at London, Ohio, August 22, 1862, and was mustered out of the service July 9, 1863, at Nashville, Tennessee.

After returning home the young soldier attended school at West Liberty. Ohio, for two years, and then he again engaged in the wool manufacturing business. On June 27, 1867, he was married to Sarah J. Piper, of West Liberty, Ohio, and to them three daughters. Dora, Eva, and Clara, were bom. Because of his failing health Mr. Reese was obliged to give up the manufacturing business. He moved to Bellefontaine. Ohio, where he read law under the direction of Judge William Lawrence, and he was admitted to the bar in 1882, by the supreme court of Ohio. In the spring of this same year he was elected mayor of Bellefontaine. and in 1884 was reelected, serving two terms, with much credit to himself and great good for the city.

In 1886 Judge Reese came to Nebraska and located at Callaway, Custer county, where he practiced law for one year. In 1887 he was elected county judge of Custer county and moved to Broken Bow, accompanied by his three daughters, who are now Mrs. A. J. Robertson, of Broken Bow; Mrs. W. O. Chapman, of Chicago, Illinois: and Mrs. Edward McComas. of Broken Bow.

In 1890 the United States land office was established at Broken Bow and opened for business on July 1. 1890, with Judge Reese as register and the Hon. James Whitehead as receiver - apjxiintees of President Harrison. The first homestead entry at this office was made by Charles M. Hammond, of Mema, Nebraska, who located on the e Yz s-w n Yz s-e of section 14, township 18, range 21, Custer count)'. These officers served one term of four years when, the administration having changed. Judge Reese returned to his law practice, forming a partnership with Simon Cameron and practicing until 1903, when Judge Reese again became a federal officer, having been appointed, by President Roosevelt, as receiver in the United States land office at Broken Bow.

In 1906 President Rcxisevelt re-appointed him register, and in 1910 he was again re-appointed, by President Taft, holding the office until June 24, 1916 - two years after the expiration of his term - when his successor was appointed, by President Wilson.

As a federal official. Judge Reese had served continuously for more than thirteen vears and in all for eighteen years. He had been commissioned by three Republican presidents, viz: Harrison. Roosevelt, and Taft, and had ser^'ed over two years under each of two Democratic presidents - Cleveland and Wilson.

For two months at the close of his term he had the unique ilistinction of serving as register with his grandson. John P. Robertson, as receiver - the only case on record where a grandfather, a Republican, and a grandson, a Democrat, served together in the United States land department.

west of Broken Bow, where he had for a number of years been building up a stock farm, known as Custer Canyon Ranch. He has made a specialty of sheep and now owns the largest and finest flock in Custer county.

February 20, 1917, Judge Reese was married to Miss Etta Brooks, of Beatrice, Nebraska, a daughter of the late Captain Joseph and Nancy A. (Criss) Brooks. Mrs. Reese was born in Ohio, the native state of her parents. She grew up in Nebraska, was educated at the Nebraska State Normal School at Peru and taught for fifteen years. In 1904 she and her father took adjoining homesteads in Blaine county, Nebraska, under the Kinkaid homestead law. While living on her homestead she taught school and served for two years as county superintendent of public instruction.

Mrs. Reese is an active member of the Woman's Relief Corps, having served as treasurer of the Department of Nebraska two terms. She has also been grand recorder of the Degree of Honor.

Judge Reese has been active in the affairs of the Grand Army of the Republic and served as commander of the Department of Nebraska in 1900 and 1901. He has always been identified with the Republican party, and for fifty years has been a Mason.

HENRY A. CRAMER. - One of the men who has demonstrated that farming may be made very profitable in Custer county if carried on with vigor and good judgment, is Henry A. Cramer, who owns large tracts of land and who farms on an extensive scale. Mr. Cramer was born at Hennepin, Illinois, September 23, 1882. He was one of a family of six children born to Levier B. and Lucinda ( Hartman ) Cramer, namely : Lee, John, Henry A., Frank, Roy. and Gilbert.

Henry A. Cramer was two years old when his parents moved to Nebraska and settled at New Helena, Custer county, where his father found work as a mechanic. Henry attended school until he was eight years old and then hired out to John Simms, on Victoria creek, for five dollars a month, his duties being to herd cattle in the winter and help on the farm in the summer. That did not seem to offer any great prospect of affluence, but he was faithful and industrious and made friends. He worked for four years for the J. E. Adamson Telephone Company, and he continued to work around at odd jobs for others up to the spring of 190.\ when he became a farmer for G. R. Russoni, at that time being practically without capital, besides being in debt. It has been said by those who know, that Mr. Cramer's history from then on reads like a romance. During the year 1906 he worked for Mr. Russom, and he then rented land and began for himself. In 1913 he bought 540 acres of land in Sheridan county; in 1915 he bought eighty acres of the townsite of Lodi ; in 1917 he added 400 adjoining acres, following this purchase with a half-section of school land and the John Squires ranch of 1,160 acres, located south of Broken Bow. In the spring of 1918 Mr. Cramer bought the old Charley Jeffords ranch, containing 780 acres and situated eight miles west of Broken Bow. This property is valued at $50,000. Nebraska people are not altogether astonished when they learn of the turning tide of fortune in this state, for there have been many examples, although few men have made such a notable record at his age as has Mr. Cramer. It is interesting to learn that his first business transactions, away back in boyhood, was a trade in jackknives, the difference coming to him.

Mr. Cramer was married March 1, 1903,, at Broken Bow, to Christena Simonson, who is a daughter of James M. and Anna (Jensen) Simonson, natives of Denmark. Mr. and Mrs. Cramer have five children : Clifford L., Emery C, Cleo R., Eva P., and Harold A., all at home and well provided for.

\\'ESLEY THOMAS, who is a prosperous farmer and substantial, dependable citizen of Custer county, has resided here since the fall of 1883, coming to this section as an ambitious young man who was determined to succeed. He was born at Marion, Indiana, October 28, 1860, the only son born to the marriage of Milton and Susanna (Dille) Weesner Thomas. He has one full sister, Susanna, who is the wife of Neleigh H. Ratcliffe. a farmer near Marion, Indiana. Both parents of Mr. Thomas were born in Indiana and spent their lives there and both had been married before their union. To the father's first marriage the following children were born: Mrs. Jane Harvey, Snead, Minerva, John, and Elwood Thomas. To the mother's first marriage the following children were born: Micajah, Mrs. Lucy A. Banks, Elihu, Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas, and David Weesner. The parents were members of the Society of Friends.

Wesley Thomas grew up on his father's farm and obtained his education in the public schools. Before coming to Nebraska he worked for different farmers in his native state for four vears, and thus had farm knowl- edge and experience when he started out for himself in a new section. Like other settlers in Custer county thirty-five years ago, Mr. Thomas met with hardships and discouragements, but he never permitted these to turn him back, as he soon realized that these were only temporary and that this section was destined to become a great agricultural territory. He has prospered greatly and now, with his wife, owns 560 acres of well improved land, besides having three valuable properties in Broken Bow. In his extensive farming operations he has been a large employer of labor and can remember no occasion when he has paid a youth only twenty-five cents a day for shocking grain, for which amount he himself toiled in order to earn his first money. Mr. Thomas is a member of the Masonic fraternity. ^Ir. Thomas was married April 29, 1888, to Miss ^lary J. Longfellow, on her father's farm, situated eight luiles west of Broken Bow. Mrs. Thomas is a daughter of Richard M. and Melinda Longfellow, and has three older brothers and one sister, namely : John, Edward, and Richard M.. and iNIrs. Ella Bryan. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas have two daughters: Ola. who is the wife of Albert Beckman, a substantial farmer residing fifteen miles northwest of Broken Bow, has one child ; and Susanna, remains with her parents.

OTIS J. WEESXER, who is a general farmer of Custer county and owns well improved land situated nine and one-half miles west of Broken Bow, has prospered since coming to Nebraska, of which state he has been a continuous resident for twenty-two years. He belongs to a fine old family of Indiana, staid farming people, and Quakers in religious faith. He was born in Grant county, Indiana, July 18. 1872, and is a son of David and Jennie ( Thomas ) Weesner, and a grandson of David and Susanna (Dillie) Weesner.

Otis J. Weesner remained with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age. going to school in the meanwhile, during the winter seasons, and making himself generally u-cful during the rest of the year on the home larm and in the glass factory at Marion, Indiana. About that time he became interested in the opportunities offered homeseekers in Nebraska, and, after making proper investigation, he decided to come to this state. Accordingly, in 1896. he located on his present farm in Custer county. He has 160 acres, which projierty he has developed and so improved that he is justly proud of one of the beautiful homes of Custer county. As a good citizen he takes an

Mr. Weesner was married, at Broken Bow, Nebraska. January 26. 1907. to Miss Clara A. Wakefield, a daughter of Daniel and Ginevra A. (Burton) \\'akefield. Mrs. Weesner died May 11, 1911, leaving one son, Orville.

PETER M. CASE, who has lived in Custer county for thirty years, has made his home in the neighborhood of the present prosperous town of \\'eissert, and still owns land here. Mr. Case was born in Lawrence county, Indiana, March 7, 1848, a son of Jacob and Mary (Cox) Case.

In 1853 Peter 'SI. Case accompanied his parents to Iowa. The first year was spent in Decatur county, but in 1854 removal was made to Ringgold county. At that time that section of Iowa was practically a wilderness, there being only fifteen families in the whole county. Jacob Case, like his few and widely separated neighbors, entered government land, which he developed and improved, and farming was his main business throughout his life. His sterling character soon impressed itself upon others and in many ways his fellow citizens came to depend upon him in the general adjustment of aflfairs, and he served as postmaster at Ringgold. In his later years he voted with the Republican party. Both he and wife were faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They were the parents of twelve children and of the number five survive, namely: Sarah, who is the widow of Thomas Pitman, lives at Mount Ayr, Iowa; Peter M. is the subject of this sketch; William, who is in the insurance business, married Myrtle Wiley and they live at Shenandoah, Iowa; Martha is the wife of Frank Kirby. a carj^enter by trade, and they reside at Mount .Ayr. Iowa ; and Lincoln, who married Rosa Johnson, is a farmer near Newkirk, Kay county, Oklahoma.

Peter M. Case was reared in Iowa and attended the first public school in Ringgold countv. He assisted his father and was considered a good farmer when he left that section and came to Custer county, in 1888. Here he has followed farming and stock-raising, as vigorously as conditions have made possible, ever since. When Mr. Case came to the county he purchased a tree claim, which proved a rrofitable investment. His present farm lies in section 7. township 17, range 18, and his postofficc address is Weissert.

died in Custer county, Nebraska, in December, 1893. Concerning- the children of this marriage the following is brief record : Jacob M., who married Hattie Perkins, is a farmer living near Weissert; Luther, who married Alamie Schultz, is an ensign in the Salvation Army, of Chicago, Illinois, and they live at Peoria, Illinois; Arthur, who married Ida Leek, is a farmer near Monte \'ista, Colorado ; Guy Wray, whose home is in Denver, Colorado, and who married Edna Skecls, is serving at this writing, as an adjutant in the Salvation Army, as a unit in the American Expeditionary Forces in France. In 1897 Mr. Case contracted a secoml marriage, as he then wedded Mrs. Alice Barnes, a widow, and a daughter of Leven Benson. Two children were born to them - - - Rosa, who died at the age of nine months ; and Ina Minnie, who was bom March 29, 1906. Mrs. Case had seven children born to her first marriage and the following are living: Frank, who is a railroad engineer, lives at Lincoln, Nebraska; Alberta is the wife of William \\'ard, a fanner near Eddyville, Nebraska ; Ora is the wife of David Pirnie, a farmer near Weissert ; Ralph, who is a dairyman in Fresno, California, married Myrtle Bishop; Henry, who is a railroad man, married Mabel Hamilton, and they live at Fresno, California ; and Lizzie is the wife of Wesley Hopkins, a farmer near Berwyn, Nebraska.

Mr. Case has always been a Republican in political sentiment, believing the princi])les of that ])arty to be the most just and honorable. He has frequently been elected to local offices, has served for years on the school board and for several years was road overseer. Since 1867 he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he has been a licensed exhorter for over twenty years, and in other ways he has striven to exert a beneficial influence, the while he enjoys the respect and esteem of all who know him.

JOHN R. LONGFELLOW, Jr. - Farming, as it is conducted to-day, is an enterprise requiring close calculation and scientific management, and when a young man is making a decided success in his first undertaking of this kind, it is worthy of notice. One of the prospering young farmers of Custer county is John R. Longfellow, Jr., who is independently operating land about eight miles west of Broken Bow.

Mr. Longfellow was born in Custer county, Nebraska, January 28, 1895. His parents are John R. and Catherine (Philipsen) Longfellow, well known residents of the county.

He grew up on the home fami and enjoyed excellent educational advantages at Broken Bow, where he was graduated in the high school as a member of the class of 1917. He has always been industriously inclined, and is somewhat proud of his first business transaction, when about ten years old, when he proved a very valuable assistant to a neighboring ranchman in driving a bunch of cattle to the place of shipment. Mr. Longfellow is still a bachelor. In politics he is a Republican, and he is an earnest, patriotic, dependable young man, with many friends whose affection and interest followed him when, as a selected man in Class A, he entered his country's service in the national army. He left Broken Bow Tune 27, 1918, and went to Fort Riley, Kansas, and from there, on August 24th he went to Camp Merritt, New Jersey. Within a short time thereafter he left with his command for France, where he is serving at the time of this writing, in the autunm of 1918.

MILTON PETERSON. - A quarter of a century of connection with the agricultural interests of Custer county, and particularly in the vicinity of Weissert, has made Milton Peterson one of the substantial and well known men of his community. A native of Denmark, when he came to the United States, in 1893, he brought with him many of the admirable traits of the people of that sturdy little country, and the success that has come to him has been won through honorable participation in legitimate enterprises.

Milton Peterson was born at Hassing, Jutland, Denmark, October 23, 1874, and is a son of Melter and Mary (Jacobson) Peterson. He is a member of a well known family of Custer county, a review of which will be found in the sketch of Melter Peterson, elsewhere in this work. As a youth Milton Peterson attended the common schools of his native land, while growing up on the home farm, where he assisted his father. He was only nineteen years of age when he accompanied the family to the United States, and at that time he had little to aid him in the securing of a foothold in the new land, as he had little knowledge of either language, conditions or methods. However, he w-as quick to familiarize himself with both the tongue and customs of his adopted country, and in the vicinity of Weissert, where he had settled upon his arrival, he was shortly ready to estaljlish a home of his own. This was effected October 24, 1897, when, in Swiss Valley, he was united in marriage with Miss Mabel Govier, daughter of an early homesteader of this county. They became the par-

Mr. Peterson has been engaged in farming and the raising of stock throughout his career, and he has met with that success which rewards only the capable and industrious. He now has a finely cultivated and productive property, on which he has good buildings and other modern improvements. Politically he is a Republican, and for the past nine years he has served efficiently as a member of the school board of Weissert. He and the members of his family belong to the Church of God.

PHILIP R. STRADLEY. - Among the comfortably situated and well contented farming people of Custer county may be mentioned Philip R. Stradley and his estimable wife, who own two forty-acre tracts of land, one of these being their home farm, situated one and onehalf miles west of Broken Bow. On this place they have lived since 1894, and their other farm is located in Hall county, four and one-quarter miles from Cairo. Mr. Stradley was bom in Fulton county, Indiana, June 9, 1861, and is a son of Luther and Sarah J. (Moore) Stradley.

Luther Stradley was boni in Fulton county, Indiana, and his occupation was farming. He enlisted early in the Civil war and was in seventeen battles during his service of three years and three months, as a member of the One Hundred and Twenty-seventh and the One Hundred and Twenty-eiehth Indiana regiments of infantry. During the g^reater part of the time he was under command of Generals Sheridan and Sherman, marching with the latter from Atlanta to the sea. Notwithstanding his many exposures to daneer, he was wounded only once, when a minie ball took off the tip of an ear. He was a Republican in politics. lie married Sarah J. Moore, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of George Moore. Luther Stradley and wife died in Illinois, where they lived for many years. The following were the children born to them : George, Isaac, Charles, Philip R.. Marietta. John T., William N., Carrie M., and Minnie E., and all of them are still living.

Philip R. Stradley was reared on the home farm and attended school as opportimity offered. .\t the age of nineteen years he started out for himself. He well remembers the first money he ever earned, for the acquisition of real money was something of an event in his boyhood, and his eood fortune came about by consenting to ride a horse around the barn floor, trampling flax. This work he did for his uncle, who paid him a dime a day. His first real employer was the tenant living on his father's farm, who gave him a trial of one month, during which he proved so satisfactory that the tenant rehired him, and he worked for the same man continuously for three years. During his last year in Illinois he was engaged in tile-ditching, as a contractor. Mr. Stradley came to Nebraska in September, 1884, and he worked on the railroad, at Red Cloud, until 1887, when he went to Cairo, in Hall county, where he worked for a farmer, through 1888 and 1889. In 1894 Mr. Stradley settled permanently on his farm in Custer county, where he raises diversified crops and is performin.o^ his duties and carrying on his industries as patriotically as possible. He has always been identified with the Republican party.

Mr. Stradley was married February 3, 1890, at Grand Island, Nebraska, to Miss Anna M. Green, of Cairo, Nebraska, she being a daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Smith) Green. Mr. and Airs. Stradley have no children. Mr. Stradley was reared in the Methodist Episcopal church, while Mrs. Stradley is an Episcopolian. He has been very prominent in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and served as grand guard of the grand encampment of the State of Nebraska in 1917-18. He belongs also to the adjunct organization, the Daughters of Rebekah, and is affiliated with the Grange and the Modern Woodmen of America.

LOUIS J. TOMES, who is a farmer and stock-raiser in Custer county, Nebraska, is one of the enterprising, progressive men who have made these industries profitable in this .section. Mr. Tomes is a native of Nebraska and was born in Saunders county, November 18, 1874. His parents are Florian and Katerina (Kneidel) Tomes, the father being a native of Austria-Hungary, and the mother of Bohemia. They came to the United States in 1870, in search of better opportunities than their own land offered to ])eople of their social class at that time, and they made their way to Nebraska. In Saunders comity, they secured a homestead, on which they lived until 1889, when they came to Custer county, where they are now living in peace and comfort. They had two children, a son and a daughter, Louis and Mary. The latter is the wife of Joseph Weverka, who is a farmer, and they live near Westphalia. Kansas.

Saunders county, Nebraska, and assisted his father in looking after the farm and stock. Like other early settlers in this state, the Tomes family met with hardships and misfortunes, but they survived them all and through courage, persistence and industry have become people of ample means. Louis Tomes has the reputation of being one of the best farmers in township 35, and his well cultivated land and unusually well improved property seem to prove it. He takes a great deal of interest in all his farm industries, keeps well informed along agricultural lines, and is a member of the Farmers' Union.

January 9, 1899, Mr. Tomes married Miss Katie Slegel, of Valley county, Nebraska. She is a daughter of Paul and Anna (Skarda) Slegel. who had the following children : Michael, who is a meat dealer and lives in Central City, married Frances Schudel ; Albert, who is a farmer near Arcadia, Nebraska, married Mar)- Zadina ; Katie is the wife of Louis Tomes, of. this sketch; Joseph is a lumber dealer at Lavina, Montana ; Anna is the wife of Charles Prokop, a farmer near Spencer, Nebraska ; James is a farmer near Comstock ; Mary, unmarried, remains at the parental home ; and Barbara, is the wife of Frank Brim, a fanner near Sargent, Nebraska. .All these people are contented and prosperous and are respected and valued in their several communities.

Mr. and Mrs. Tomes have two children : Mary was born August 13, 1900 ; and John was born June 25, 1903. Mr. Tomes and family belong to the Roman Catholic church at Sargent. He is somewhat active in politics, voting with the Republican party, and at present is serving as treasurer of school district No. 104.

CHARLES THOMAS is one of Custer county's early settlers who has become a prosperous agriculturist and aided in the development of this part of the state. He was born in Carroll county, Illinois, January 10, 1862. His father, Henry Thomas, was a native of Canada and became an early settler of Carroll county, Illinois, where he conducted farming operations for many years - until he moved to Clarke county, Iowa, where he spent the remainder of his days. Mr. Thomas does not remember his mother's name, as she died when he was only one week old. He was one of a family of ten children, as follows : Henr}' died while ser^'ing in the Union army during the Civil war; Joseph resides at Holly, Colorado ; Frank died in Custer county, where he had been one of the early settlers ;

Al, also a homesteader in Custer county, now resides at Holly, Colorado; Mary is the wife of William Johnson, residing in the state of Washington; Lydia is a resident of Clarke county, Iowa ; Julia married Stephen Hanna and is a resident of Dunning, Nebraska; Len lives in Kiowa county, Colorado ; Ellen married Herman Burrow and lives in Custer county; and Charles is the immediate subject of this sketch.

Charles Thomas remained at home until he was nineteen years old and came with his brothers to Custer county, in 1880. Not being old enough to take a homestead, he worked as a farm hand for two years and then secured, as a homestead, the southwest quarter of section 24, township 18, range 22. He erected a sod house, which was his home for many years, and endured the hardships and privations which fell to the lot of the early settlers of that day. Eleven years ago he purchased 200 acres in section 35 of the same township, where he has erected a beautiful country home, with barn and outbuildings suitable for successful farming. He carries on general fanning and is the owner of 520 acres of valuable land. In his own words, "Uncle Sam wagered me 160 acres of land against sixteen dollars that I could not live here five years." Thirty-five years have passed since he entered upon that task, and his success is evidenced by the present prosperous condition.

Mr. Thomas chose for his wife Miss Ada May Lockhard, a native of Colorado, and of this tmion were bom five children: Roy is still at home, assisting in the operation of the farm; .A^nna is the wife of Lewis Kanigge, of Edgar, Nebraska; Dora is the wife of Robert AlcCarty, of this township; Inez and Alfred are still at home. The loved wife and mother passed away ten years ago, and her death was mourned not only by her own family but also by a host of friends in the community. She was a member of the Baptist church.

Air. Thomas is truly a self-made man, having accumulated a competence through his own eft'orts, and he is still active in the conduct of his farming enterprise.

WILLIAM COUHIG. - The subject of this memoir was one of the very early settlers of Dale valley and until his death was active in developing a farm and assisting in bringing about present-day improvements.

William Couhig was a native of Ireland and was a young man when he came to the United States and found employment as a coal-miner. In 1869, at Fort Dodge, Iowa, he was united in marriage to Miss Bridget

In the spring of 1880, in company with the Downey and AlcCarty families, William Couhig came to Custer county, and he secured as a homestead the northwest quarter of section 23, township 18, range 22. Not a furrow had been turned and not an improvement of any kind had been made, but with characteristic energy he set about to make it a home for the family. His first dwelling was a primitive sod house, in which the family lived till a frame house was erected, several years later. In this old sod house was held, by Father Phelan, of Grand Island, the first mass celebrated in Dale valley.

The first well bored in Dale valley was put down on this farm, by C. R. Krantz, in the spring of 1880, with a six-inch auger, and it was fifty-seven feet deep. The nearest market place was Kearney, and Mr. Couhig made the trip several times, the journey requiring seven or eight days. In all the pioneer experiences and hardships he bore his full share, and he resided on the old homestead until his death, in 1897, when he was fiftyseven years of age. His wife had preceded him to the home beyond, passing away in 1894. at the age of fifty years. They were faithful communicants of the Catholic church and in politics he was a Democrat. They were the parents of one child, now the wife of John AlcCauley. Mr. and Mrs. McCauley have a daughter Mary, still at home. They own and operate the old homestead which is devoted to general farming. It is one of the finely improved properties of the township, all of the present buildings having been put here by the present owners. It is one of the first-settled places in the valley and for manv years was the scene of the activities of one of the sterling pioneer families well deserving of a place in the history of the county.

GEORGE M. SHULTZ. - As steward of the Custer County Farm, George M. Shultz has won an enviable reputation, and the officials of the county are to be congratulated in that they have been able to secure such people as Mr. Shultz and his estimable wife to look after the needs of the county's unfortunate poor.

George M. Shultz was born in Rock Island county, Illinois, March 31, 1870. His parents. Eli and Mary (Rex) Shultz, were natives respectively of Ohio and Pennsylvania, and in the fall of 1870 they became homesteaders in Fillmore county, Nebraska. Later they established their residence in Kearney county, and the father is now living retired at Steele City, Nebraska, the mother having been called to her final rest four years ago.

George M. Shultz was reared on a farm in Fillmore county, and when he reached his majority he engaged in agricultural pursuits on his own account. While fanning in Frontier county, Nebraska, he encountered the hardships and experiences incident to the years of drouth, and the next five years he spent in Wisconsin. In 1905 he came to Custer county, where he followed agricultural pursuits until February, 1914, when he accepted the superintendency of Custer County Farm, where he and his wife, without any previous experience, have established an enviable reputation in managing the 160-acre farm for the county's dependents. While the task is often unpleasant, yet the humanitarian spirit that prompts them to duty, enables them to render better service than if the monetary remuneration was all that was considered.

Mr. Shultz was married, in Fillmore county. Nebraska, to Miss Anna Wright, a native of Illinois, and they have four children: Lloyd, at the time of this writing, was in a training camp, preparing for duty overseas in the national army ; Mildred is the wife of W. C. Robertson, a fanner on the West Table in Custer county: Cecil was in the last draft and was subject to call for ser\ice in the great world war: and Kenneth is still under the parental roof.

Mr. and Mrs. Shultz are members of the Christian church, but as there is no place of worship of that denomination in the neighborhood, they attend and contribute to the support of the United Brethren church at Menia.

Mr. Shultz is of German descent but is American through and through - as intrinsically loyal and patriotic as was his father, who ser\-ed four years and three months as a Union soldier in the Civil war.

Mr. Shultz has every reason to be proud of the showing he has made in the management of the county fann, and those in position to know are loud in their praises of the ability manifested and the service rendered by Mr. and Mrs. Shultz in the period they have had charge of the county fann - almost five years.

PHILIP H. LEININGER, who for the past twenty years has been engaged in the live-stock business at Sargent. Nebraska, is one of the pioneer settlers of Custer countv and has been continuously identified with Custer interests since 1887. He is of staunch old Ohio stock, both parents being natives of the Buckeye state, and he was born in Mercer county, Ohio, October 25, 1856. His father, John Leininger, was bom in Stark county, and his mother, Salome (Fennig) Leininger, was born in Holmes county, that state.

John Leininger engaged in farming in Mercer county, Ohio, until 1885, and became a man of considerable prominence in his community. For many years he served as township treasurer. He led in the political councils of the Democratic party party and was always considered a man of superior business judgment. In 1885 he came to Valley county, Nebraska, following the death of his first wife, in 1884, and for five years he lived at Arcadia, Nebraska. He then moved to The Dalles, in Wasco county, Oregon, and there his death occurred in 1905. He was thrice married and was the father of thirteen children. Those born to his first marriage were : Samuel, now deceased, was a farmer in Mercer county, Ohio. He married Leah Meyers. Philip H. was the second son. John died at the age of two years. William, who is a farmer near Arcadia, Nebraska, married Ella Jones ; Mary is the wife of James Sterling and they live in Idaho. George died in Indiana, at the age of twenty-two years. Jacob, who died at Townsend, Montana, married Alice Roberts, and she lives near The Dalles, Oregon. Permelia is the wife of Perry Morgan, a farmer near Portland, Oregon. Salome is the wife of Eugene j\Iace, a farmer near Bickleton, Washington. The second marriage of John Leininger, was to Mary Bird and they had three children, two of whom are living - -Lawrence and Martha, who live near The Dalles, Oregon. The third marriage was to a Mrs. Roberts and they had one son, Harley, who lives in Oregon.

Philip H. Leininger was reared on his father's farm in Mercer county, Ohio, and attended the district schools. It was not imti! 1884 that he came to Nebraska, and in the same year he homesteaded in Valley county, securing eighty acres near Arcadia, which land he subsequently developed into a valuable property. Mr. Leininger, however, has devoted special attention to the live-stock industry and in continuing and vigorously pushing forward this business at the present time he is performing a patriotic service to his country.

Mr. Leininger was married December 24, 1889. to Hattie Austin, who died January 24, 1891. They had one son, Clyde, who died at the age of seven months. The second marriage of Mr. Leininger took place February 10, 1897, when Mrs. Delia Carter became his wife, she having had one son by her first marriage, William Carter. He was born February 4, 1891, and at the time of this writing is in the national army, in training at Camp Dodge, Iowa, where he is attached to a division of heavy artillery. Mr. and Mrs. Leininger have four children. Earl and Pearl, twins, were born October 22, 1897, the former being a druggist at Sargent, and the latter being employed in a Sargent dry goods store. Fern, who was born August 2, 1899, is a student in the Nebraska Normal School at Kearney, and Hattie was born January 27, 1906.

In politics Mr. Leininger is a Democrat and has always been more or less active in party affairs. For two years he was a member of the city council of Sargent and in every way is a man of reliability. He belongs to the order of Royal Highlanders.

HAROLD I. PERRIN, who is a prosperous business man and thoroughly respected citizen of Sargent, Nebraska, may lay claim to pioneer ancestry, as his father came among the earliest settlers to Custer county. ]\Ir. Pcrrin was born at Sargent, this county, October 3, 1886, and has spent practically his entire life here. His parents are Similien L. and Sophia (Tobias) Perrin.

Similien L. Perrin was born in Louisiana. Forty-one years ago he came from Iowa to Custer county, Nebraska, and settled near the present site of the busy little city of Sargent. He actually broke the land on which Sargent now stands. He simultaneously secured a tree claim near Sargent and he continued to live on his land until 1899, when he moved into the town. For several years thereafter he was interested in the Beatrice Creamery Companv. An ardent Republican, he was frequently mentioned for political preferment, and finally he was appointed postmaster at Sargent. In this position he served seven years and then retired. Both he and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Mrs. Perrin is a native of Illinois. Of their four children three survive, namely: Harold I.; Louis E., who is manager at Arnold, Nebraska, for the Dierks Lumber Company, married Lorene Rassmussen ; and Watt W., who is a farmer near Sargent, married Gladys Ruse.

Harold I. Perrin was educated in the Sargent schools and at Bradley Polytechnic, Peoria, Illinois, spending thirteen months in that institution, after which he went to Cheyenne. Wyoming, and passed a year there. In the fall of 1907 he engaged in the jewelr}' business at Sargent, and he has built up a large business in this line - probably the largest in Custer county. He carries a care- fully selected stock of all goods pertaining to this trade and is so favorably known in large centers that he can expeditiously fill any order for special goods or designs for suitable gifts for any occasion. Notwithstanding some business depression occasioned by the world war, he has continued to do a normal business.

Mr. Perrin was married January 5, 1910, to Miss Allona Wood. Her mother, Mrs. Minerva Wood, survives and lives at Sargent. Mr. and Mrs. Perrin have two children - Virginia L., who was bom May 28, 1916; and Robert H., who was born August 19, 1917.

In political opinion, IVIr. Perrin is a Republican, a thorough believer in the basic principles of this party. For some years he has been a Mason and is identified with the blue lodge at Sargent. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

FRANK L. HICKS, who is a substantial retired business man of Sargent, came to Nebraska in early manhood and for over forty years was identified with the drug trade. Before his retirement he was the leading druggist in this section of the country'. The old settlers' organizations include him in their membership and few men are more widely known in Custer and Cedar counties, while none is more highly esteemed. Mr. Hicks has always done his part in the upbuilding of pennanent enterprises of general value, and has willingly co-oj>erated with other trustworthy men in furthering movements for the benefit of state and county. He was born September 27, 1850, in Jones county, Iowa, and is the eldest of the ten children bom to Frank M. and Frances A. (Little) Hicks, both of whom were bom in New York.

In 1848 Frank M. Hicks removed with his family to Iowa, and that state continued to be the family home until his death. In the meanwhile he had served in the Civil war, as a member of Company H, Thirty-first Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and was honorably discharged June 11, 1865. In the first year of the war, on June 7, 1861, he was appointed a captain in the Iowa State militia. For a number of years he was largely interested in the Monticello (Iowa) National Bank. In politics a Republican, he served in public capacities and for several years was sheriff of Jones county. Both he and wife were members of the Congregational church. Their children were as follows: Frank L. is the subject of this review; Ophelia is the wife of Fred Penneman and they live in Louisiana ; Harrv T. is a farmer in Alamosa county, Colorado ; Eben G., who is a retired farmer of Monticello, Iowa, married Ella Jewett ; Elmer E. is a retired merchant of Monticello; Grant is a physician at Tacoma, Washington ; Ernest, who is a lawyer and is practicing his profession in Chicago, Illinois, married Cora Farwell ; Laura, who is the widow of Fred Koop, resides at Monticello, Iowa; Archibald G. is a dentist and is practicing in Tacoma, Washington ; and Charles was accidentally killed when a boy.

Frank L. Hicks attended the public schools of ^lonticello and, as the eldest son of the family, assisted his father in his various enterprises. In the meanwhile he studied pharmacy and, after some experience, he engaged in business as a druggist, in 1872. With the exception of two years spent on farms in eastern Iowa, he continued in the same line without change until 1914, when he retired. Twenty years of this time were passed at Coleridge, in Cedar county, Nebraska, and the remaining years at Sargent. Custer county. Honorable and upright in all his business relations, and careful and conscientious in his particular line, Mr. Hicks built up a reputation creditable in the extreme.

Mr. Hicks was married June 6, 1876, in New York, to Miss Vina E. Weller, and four children were bom to them, two of whom survive : Roy W., who is a druggist at Sargent. married Lulu Livermore ; and F. Ray, who is the government mail carrier between Ansley and Sargent, married Mate Livemiore and they live near Sargent. Mr. Hicks and his sons are Republicans and take part in important campaigns. Mr. Hicks is past master of the Masonic lodge at Sargent and at the present time is secretary' of the lodge. He has had business and personal relations with many of the men who have become distinguished in Nebraska histor\- and his reminiscences are exceedingly interesting.

IVAN L. LEECH, who is one of the enterprising young agriculturists of Custer county, operating a fine farm near Ansley. in section 32, township 35, is universally respected in his community, as are all other members of his family. He comes of county pioneer stock, his parents having settled in old Custer over thirty years ago. He was born near Westerville, this county, Nebraska, April 6, 1892. and is the youngest child of Corydon T. and .\nna D. (Risley) Leech.

The father of Mr. Leech has long been a leading man in Custer county, a substantial farmer and stock-raiser, and many times a public official. He was born in Mercer county, Illinois, and from tliere came to Nebraska in

1874, shortly after his marriage to Anna D. Risley, who was born at Aledo, Illinois. Thev still reside in Custer county and have the fol lowing children : Cora, Floy, Nellie, Nina, Don R., Ralph R., Elsie, and Ivan L.

Ivan L. Leech completed the common-school course in Custer county and then spent two years of study in the Nebraska Wesleyan University at Lincoln, following which he was for one year with the Davey Tree Expert Company, at Kent, Ohio. In addition to his general agricultural activities, Mr. Leech continues to some extent his special line of scientific study, being greatly interested in and naturally well qualified for this work.

At Wayne, Nebraska, August 23, 1916, Mr. Leech was united in marriage to Miss Gladys Gaston, who is a daughter of Rev. William L. and Eleanor (Taliaferro) Gaston. Mrs. Leech has one sister and one brother: Eleanor, who is the wife of Joseph Kern, assistant cashier in a bank at Vallejo, California, and Orv'in B., who lives with his parents. The father of Mrs. Leech is pastor of the Baptist church at Broken Bow, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Leech have one child, a son, Wayne Hillard, who was bom in Custer county, October 28, 1917. Mr. and Mrs. Leech attend the Methodist Episcopal church at Westerville. In politics Mr. Leech, like his honored father, is a Republican. He has never accepted political recognition of any kind, but is ever ready to co-operate with his fellow citizens when matters of moment to county, state, or nation are under consideration.

CORYDON T. LEECH. - One of the representative men of Custer county who has honorably and usefully filled numerous public offices in his township and community during the thirty-two years he has been here, is Corydon T. Leech, who still resides on the homestead he acquired in 1886. A pioneer in the county, he, like others in the early times, encountered adventures, accidents, deprivations, and hardships. In looking backward to those days, Mr. Leech feels that not all the heroes the country has known have fallen in battle, for the title of hero ought to be given to the early Nebraska settlers who with quiet courage lived through grasshopper scourges and water famines that meant blasted hopes of crops and that threatened starvation for wife and children on the devastated prairies. It is but simple justice to strive to preserve the names and histories of these "pathfinders" in the annals of the state and county for which they have done a great work.

1848, in Mercer county, Illinois, to which section his father, John H. Leech, had gone, as a pioneer farmer and cabinetmaker, from his birthplace, in what is now West Virginia. John H. Leech married Eleanor Robinson, who was born in Maryland, and they had eight children, four of whom are living - Adolphus M., Leonidas M., Corydon T., and Virginia Caroline. The parents were people of real worth and from the naming of their children it might be justly inferred they were intellectual and well read. To this fact, perhaps, may be attributed the academic education afforded Corydon T. Leech, who supplemented his common-school training with a course in Aledo (Illinois) Academy. After his marriage, in 1874, Mr. Leech came to Nebraska and located in Nemaha county, where he lived for eight difficult years, coming then to Custer county. He brought enough capital to enable him to buy a homestead right and he acquired also a tree claim. He gradually brought his land under cultivation and greatly improved it, and for many years he continued to farm and raise stock. He finally sold the old homestead and bought his present farm. With the exception of about four years passed in California, Mr. Leech has lived continuously in Custer county.

Mr. Leech was married at Aledo, Illinois, September 3, 1874, to Miss Anna D. Risley. a daughter of Thomas T. and Jane (Hollowell) Risley, and they have eight children - Cora, Floy, Nellie, xMina, Don R., Ralph R., Elsie, and Ivan L.

A Republican in politics, Mr. Leech has always been a loyal party man, but in local matters he has never permitted political bias to sway him in the administration of the various public offices he has held. For many years he has been a school director and township trustee, and he has served in other capacities also. He is a strong advocate of good roads and remembers how all the operations of the settlers in early days were hampered by lack of the same, when commodities of every kind had to be transported from Grand Island and Kearney. Mr. Leech and his family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a trustee.

JAMES E. WERBER. - Among the many pleasant and progressive towns that have been developed in Custer county, Sargent is one that has taken the lead in many ways - partly, perhaps, because of the solid character of its foremost business men, among whom may be mentioned James E. Werber. Mr. Werber has spent many years in Custer county, is widely known, and perhaps no citizen is considered more trustworthy. He was born December 11, 1869, at East Peoria, Illinois, a son of John C. and Mary E. (Hoctor) Werber.

John C. Werber was bom in the city of Hamburg, Germany. When eighteen years of age he came to the United States and settled first in Bureau county, Illinois. He thence removed to Iowa, where he worked at the trade of baker. Later he returned to Illinois, and there he was employed in the railroad shops at Bureau Junction until 1883. In the meanwhile he had married Mary E. Hoctor, who was born in Ireland and who died in Illinois, in 1880. They had five children - Nellie is the wife of William Cramer, a farmer near Edwards, Illinois ; John S., who is a farmer near Burwell, Nebraska, married Sophia Guggenmos ; James E. is the subject of this sketch; Rudolph G., who lives at Allis, Colorado, married Lillian Nightengale ; and Mary D. is the wife of John Cramer, a fanner near Hanna City, Illinois. After the death of his first wife, John C. Werber married Maggie Hendrickson, and two children were born of that marriage - -Harry, who lives in Ohio, married Rena Brannon ; and Carl is a soldier in France at the time of this writing. John C. Werber died in 1897. In 1883 he had come to Custer county and secured a homestead north of Sargent.

James E. Werber attended the district schools and assisted his father on the pioneer farm after coming to Custer county. There were few of the settlers of that date who escaped hardship and privation for a time, not because of their lack of foresight and good judgment, but because of unpreventable natural causes, and, with the others, the Werbers saw some hard times. Courage, industry, and never-failing hope finally had their reward and a fine farm was developed - one that has been listed with the most productive in this section. James E. Werber continued his farm industries until 1902, when he came to Sargent and engaged in the grain business, handling a commodity that he had success fullv grown for many years. In 1914 he added dealing in live stock to his grain business and in both lines he has made a business record.

Mr. Werber was married June 15, 1895, to Miss Nellie Laughlin, the adopted daughter of William and Harriet (Brown) Laughlin, and they have one son, Fern L., who was born January 3, 1896. He is an accomplished and reliable young man and at present holds a position with the L'nited States Shipbuilding Company, at Pascagoula, Mississippi.

works intelligently and conscientiously for his party, but no political bias influences him in his services to the public as a member of the Sargent town council, an office he has held for two years. He is prominent in several fraternities, being a thirty-second-degree Mason and a Shriner. He has passed all the chairs in the local lodge of Odd Fellows and belongs also to the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

RICHARD E. BREGA, who is one of the representative citizens of Custer county, where he has lived since he was seventeen years of age, is one of the county's largest land-owners and heaviest taxpayers. He is prominent in business circles at Callaway, in the line of real estate and farm loans, and for many years has been one of the county's ablest lawyers. His many interests have given him a wide acquaintance, and his personal integrity has brought him esteem and general confidence.

Richard E. Brega was born at Brampton, Dominion of Canada, October 1, 1861. His parents were Frank B. and Charlotte (Birdsail) Brega, and his maternal grandfather was Richard Birdsall, who was a government surveyor and acquired large holdings of Canada land, which he purchased when the price was but fifty cents an acre. The same land now sells for $100 an acre. The father of Mr. Brega was born in West Virginia and the niother at Peterboro, Canada. Of their family of children, the following survive: Richard E.. whose name introduces this sketch ; William P., who is a foreman in the Cudahy packing plant at Kansas City ; Charlotte, who is the wife of Frantz S. Dolph, a ranchman and stockman of Louth, Kansas; and Fannie L.,' a popular and talented actress, who for ten years has appeared on the stage under the name of Hope Latham.

In 1878 Frank B. Brega came with his family to Nebraska, and he located on judiciously selected land which lies twelve miles northwest of Callaway. This land, which has undergone thorough development and improvement, has remained in the family for forty years and now belongs to Richard E. Brega. Through wise investments Mr. Brega has acquired hundreds of other acres and is counted one of the most extensive land-owners in Custer county. Plis early education was completed before coming to Nebraska, but his law studies were prosecuted here and in 1892 he was admitted to the Nebraska bar. His professional career has been one of great

Richard E. lirega was married December 4, 1884. at Westerville, Nebraska, to Miss Milly Varney, who is a daughter of Edgar and Amelia (Tiffany) Varney. The \"arneys were among the very earliest settlers in Custer county and Edgar Varney was one of the first merchants. Mr. and Mrs. Brega have four children - Emily M., Irene V., Valair, and Richard E., Jr. The eldest daughter, Emily M., is the wife of Ray B. Bennett, who is in the banking and life insurance business at Kearney, Nebraska, and who belongs to the Masons and Odd Fellows. Mr. and Mrs. Bennett have five children. Irene \'., the second daughter, is the wife of John Balliet and they have four children. Mr. Balliet is a banker at Appleton, Wisconsin, and is also in the insurance business. He is identified with both the Masonic fraternity and the Odd Fellows. \'alair, the third daughter, is the wife of Henry C. Johnston, who is a merchant in David City. Nebraska, and they have one child. Richard E., Jr.. the only son of the subject of this review, is an appointee of Congressman Hitchcock to the United States Naval Academy, at Annapolis, Maryland.

In politics Mr. Brega is a Democrat and a very loyal party man, but he has never accepted |)olitical office for himself. He was reared in the faith of the Episcopal church and this church has often been the medium through which he has dispensed his charities. He is affiliated with the IndeiJendent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodman of America.

CLARENCE METCALF, who since 1911 has been the proprietor of a thriving and constantly growing implement business at Sargent, has been a resident of Custer county since 1883. Mr. Metcalf is one of those who, having their early training on the farm, deserted the soil to enter commercial pursuits, and have found success and prosperity therein. It is not alone in business circles, however, that Mr. Metcalf has been prominent, for his services to his community in public offices have been of a decidedly efficient and helpful character.

Mr. Metcalf was born in Wyoming county. New York, October 17, 1870, and is a brother of Plin L. Metcalf, a sketch of whose career will be found elsewhere in this work. As a lad he was taken liy his parents to Ohio, where the death of the father occurred. The mother, left with a family to support, came in 1883 to Custer county and located on a homestead, and in this community Clarence Metcalf supplemented, in the public schools, the education that he had commenced in Ohio. Mr. Metcalf remained on the homestead place until 1911, in which year, seeing an opportunity, he removed to Sargent and established himself in the implement business, a venture that has since grown to large and important proportions under his capable management and untiring industrj'. He carries a full and upto-date stock of all articles connected with an establishment of this kind, and courteous treatment, absolute fidelity to engagements, reasonable prices and expeditious service have combined to attract to his store a trade that extends over a wide stretch of the surrounding countryside. His standing in business circles is an excellent one, and rests upon seven years of honorable and straightforward dealing.

Mr. Metcalf is a progressive citizen, and as such has always taken a keen and active interest in public affairs. His fellow citizens long ago realized his fitness for office, and as a result he has been called upon to act in a number of official capacities. For nine years he has served as township clerk, for a like period was a member of the school board of district No. 70, and he has also sened three years on the Sargent school board. His service has always been satisfactory and constructive and his official record is an excellent one.

Mr. Metcalf was married August 19, 1914, to Miss Abbie Fenstermacher, daughter of C. A. and Margaret (Hill) Fenstermacher, and a member of a family which is reviewed elsewhere in this work, in the sketch of Dr. C. H. Fenstemiacher. Mr. and Mrs. Metcalf became the parents of one child: Verne H., who was born January 16, 1918, and who passed away November 29, 1918. Mr. Metcalf is a stalwart Republican in politics, and he and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

J. M. KNOX. - The story of J. M. Knox reveals the fact that he has lived in many parts of the country', that in moving from one place to another he has found no better place than Custer county and that with all his migrations he managed to have all his children, with one exception, born in Custer county. Mr. Knox is a native of Iowa and is a son of James and .\nna ( Mason) Knox, both of whom were born in Ireland and both of whom lived to ripe old age, the father being eighty-three and the mother ninety-two years of age at the time of death. They were the parents of four children, J. M. being the eldest. The others are: Mrs. Emma Van Nortwick, whose husband is a retired farmer; Mrs. Anna Reed, of Aurora, whose husband, likewise is a retired farmer ; and William, who is engaged in general farming near White Sulphur Springs, Montana.

J. M. Knox was an infant when his parents came to Nebraska, and he lived for a time in Nebraska City, where he knew J. Sterling Morton. In fact, he helped to put up hay on the J. Sterling Morton place, and hence became well acquainted with the author of the Nebraska history contained in the first volume of this historical set. In 1870 he went to Thayer county, where he lived for twentyseven years. From there he moved to Dawson county, locating in the western part of the county and making it his home for six years. Then he went to Idaho, where he lived two years ; then, in 1902, to Custer county, Nebraska, where he lived five years ; then to New Mexico, where he remained two years ; then back to Custer county, remaining six years ; then to Dawson county, where he still resides.

Mr. Knox married Aliss Clara Marquiss, and to them have been born seven children : Ray is married and lives in New Mexico, where he is employed by an irrigation company ; Paul lives on part of the old Black ranch in Custer county ; Wayne also has part of the Black ranch ; Mark lives in Round Valley, Custer county; Laura Richards lives at home ; Anna Marsh lives in_ Custer county ; Hazel is at home and is a school girl in the country schools, she being the only one of the children not born in Nebraska, as she was born in Idaho. Mr. and Mrs. Knox own city property, make their home in Sumner and are rated among the prominent and influential people of the place. They are members of the Methodist church. He afifiliates with the Republican party, and has filled, with great acceptability, such local offices as school trustee and road overseer in the communities where he has lived.

JOHN A. KENYON. - One of the representative business houses of Sargent which has been built up to appreciable proportions through the honorable conduct and honest industry of its proprietor, is the furniture and undertaking establishment of John A. Kenyon. A Custer county homesteader of 1885, Mr. Kenyon was for more than a quarter of a century identified with agricultural interests, and the prosperity which attended his efforts as a tiller of the soil has been equalled

Mr. Kenyon was bom near the present location of St. Paul, Minnesota, April 14, 1855. and is a son of Ralph A. and Emerette (Nutting) Kenyon, natives of Rutland, Vermont The father took his family to Illinois about 1850, and in 1852 moved to Minnesota, where he homesteaded on 400 acres of land. Subsequently he traded his farm for a saw mill at Bradford, Iowa, that industry being in a flourishing condition at that time, but this proved an unfortunate move, as the saw mill was destroyed by fire and Mr. Kenyon lost his all. About this time the Civil war came on, and Mr. Kenyon enlisted, in April, 1861, in the Fourth Iowa Cavalry. During his service, under General Grant and other noted officers, he was never wounded, but at one time he was captured by the enemy. He came through the war safely and established a splendid record. Always a man of great industry and energy, and quick to take advantage of opportunities, while in the service he began making pies, cakes and other delicacies for the soldiers, and this venture proved so profitable that when he received his honorable discharge, in October, 1865, and returned to his family at Bradford, Iowa, he had saved enough to buy the best house there and to establish himself as proprietor of a farm. Later he sold this property and came to Gage county, Nebraska, where he homesteaded a tract near Adams. He continued to opearte this until his retirement, when he disposed of his interests and moved to Red Cloud, Kansas, where his death occurred in 1905. Originally a Whig, Mr. Kenyon later affiliated himself with the Republican party. He was a Mason, and he and his wife were members of the Christian church. They were the parents of six children, of whom five are living: George, who is now retired, was identified with the Swift Packing Company at St. Joseph, Missouri, for twenty-five years ; John A. of this sketch, was next in order of birth ; Wallace B. is engaged in farming near Sargent ; Helen is the wife of Val Johnson, a farmer near Enid, Oklahoma; and Rest is the widow of Mr. Sides, formerly a retired farmer of Hastings, Nebraska.

John A. Kenyon was given excellent educational advantages in his youth, first attending the public schools of Gage county and subsequently the normal school at Peru, this state. When he entered upon his independent career it was as a Gage county farmer, and that county was his home for approximately ten years. Within this time, on September 12,

1875, he married Miss Isabel Fuller, and in 1885 they came to Custer county and settled on the homestead, four miles from Sargent, on which they resided for twenty-seven years. In this period, through industry and good management, Mr. Kenyon achieved marked success and a position among the leading agriculturists of his locality. In 1912 he disposed of his landed interests there and came to Sargent, where he entered the furniture and undertaking business, and by honest, and earnest work he has built up an important business in both branches. His name is one honored in business circles as that of a man of the strictest integrity and highest principles.

Mr. Kenyon is prominent in Masonic affairs, having held several offices in Swastika Lodge, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, at Sargent, and he is affiliated also with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a Democrat in his political views, and he and Mrs. Kenyon are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. They are the parents of seven children : Maude is the wife of Frank Sutton, a farmer six miles west of Sargent ; Oscar is married and is a resident of Hastings, Nebraska : Edith is the wife of Walter Sutton, of Sargent, who enlisted in the United States Anny and is now a police guard in Missouri; Lulu is the wife of Charles Ford, a fanner near Sargent : Ralph, of San Francisco, is married and is a member of the United States Navy; Miss Nellie remains with her parents ; and Hugh, who enlisted in the L'nited States Navy, is stationed at San Frar.- cisco, California, at the time of this writing.

WILLIAM V. SPURGEON. - Mingled with the old settlers and extensive farmers of the south Loup country is a fine array of young men who are in the first flush of farming activities. These are the men ui)on whom the future must depend ; they are the ones moving rapidly to the center of the stage and must soon take the place of the stalwart producers who to-day by their production are meeting the demands of the consuming class. William \'. Spurgeon belongs to this coterie.

Mr. Spurgeon was born in Johnson county, Nebraska, and is a son of .Albert \'. Spurgeon. who is still active, and who is conducting a general fanning and stock-raising business in MofTet county, Colorado. In the father's family were three children : Mattie Van Wcv, whose husband is a plasterer, is living in Kearney, Nebraska ; William V., whom this story concerns, was the second born ; and Merle lives on a farm in Dawson county.

The first farming operations of the Spurgeons were in Johnson county. From there they went to Missouri, and then to Louisiana, where they resided three years, and where the subject of this review had some experience in raising rice. From the south they moved to Kearney, Nebraska, and from Kearney to Custer county. At the present time Mr. Spurgeon is located on a ranch of 500 acres, where every department of general farming receives attention. Hogs of a high grade, belonging to the Duroc variety, come in for special attention ; the cattle also are of a fine quality ; the horse power by which ranch work is carried on is provided by horses of a fine type. The grade of stock and the careful cultivation of the land insure prosperity, and in a few more years this young farmer will rank with the most substantial in the community. Mr. Spurgeon is independent in politics and both he and his wife belong to the Presbyterian church.

Custer county is a splendid home for such young people ; it is the land of opportunity, and with their energy and fnigality they are bound to succeed.

JOSEPH FORTIK. Jr.. the vigorous young farmer whom this sketch concerns, is fast building for himself a modest fortune, in fortifying himself against that proverbial day in which much rain is supposed to fall. His history is not hard to tell and is closely identified with Nebraska, which has been his home from the time of his birth. He was fonnerly engaged in fanning south of Ansley, Custer county, but now resides at Overton, Dawson county.

Joseph's history is not hard to tell. He was born in Saline county, Nebraska, in 1881. and is a son of Joseph Fortik, whose family history is outlined in other paragraphs of this volume. The majority of young Fortik's life has been spent in Custer county. Here he graduated from the youthful experiences of boyhood days, here he received his education, here he began farming operations for himself, and here, too, he was married, on the 15th day of October. 1917. at which time he lead to the marriage altar Mary Stenbach. from Overton. Dawson county. The parents of Mrs. Fortik became prominent pioneers of Dawson county, where they are well and widelv known, foseph Fortik is a careful and painstaking farmer, is a splendid judge of live stock and is an adept in caring for the same. He breeds good strains of all kinds of stock, believing that it is easier and cheaper to keep good stock than poor, and that greater profit can be expected from the better grades. He operated in Custer county a farm of 160 acres upon which are good improvements and which shows a high state of cultivation. Though still young in years, Joseph has gained an enviable reputation as a farmer, and recently he has transferred his stage of operations to Dawson county.

Socially, Mr. Fortik belongs to the Modem Woodmen and takes great interest in its promotion and benefit. He is an independent voter, claiming the right to vote always for the candidate whom he considers to be best for the office. Whether that candidate is Democrat or Republican matters little to him. The members of he family are communicants of the Catholic church. Mr. Fortik and his wife are likable people and well esteemed in their home communitv.

Joseph Wolniczek is thirty-two years of age and in the full vigor of his manhood. His father, Matt Wolniczek was a native of German-Poland and he died in the spring of 1918, at the age of seventy-five years. The mother, Julia CScholzj Wolniczek, was born in Moravia and still living, at the age of sixty -five years. The parents were married thirtyfour years ago. at Osceola. Nebraska. The father came to this country and homesteaded 160 acres and filed on a timber claim, in 18<S4. He commenced with nothing. When he landed at Columbus. Nebraska, his first stopping place, his exchequer contained just five cents : but frugality and thrift overcame all difificulties and settled all questions of the future, so far as finances were concerned. The primitive house of sod has been replaced with a better building, and Joseph Wolniczek, who has lived on the old homestead from the time of his birth, finds himself well located to-day, the possessor of 950 good acres, well stocked with good grades of cattle, hogs, and horses, while Mrs. Wolniczek has a flock of pure blooded Wyandotts that attracts the attention of all passers by. All the farm machinery and outbuildings, fences, etc.. make a splendid equipment for operation. Part of the barbed wire with which the place is fenced came from the famous old Olive ranch.

Kropatsch, who since that time has not only been the partner of his joys and sorrows, who also is to be credited with much of his success. They have three children, all of whom give promise of future usefulness : Albert is six, Carl five, Helen three years of age at the time of tliis writing.

Mr. and Mrs. Wolniczek belong to the Catholic church and are prominent, useful citizens of the community. Mr. Wolniczek is school director, and politically he is an independent voter. He and his wife maintain a hospitable home and he confines his farming operations to 250 acres, the remainder of the ranch being rented.

JAMES HALOUSKA. - The people from Bohemia when transplanted in America make useful citizens - prosperous, industrious farmers, or comj>etent, energetic business men. All the tributes paid to the blood belong to him of whom these paragraphs are written.

James Halouska was bom in Bohemia, in 1845. His parents, Egdi and Theresa ( Kratochvil) Halouska, were of Bohemian extraction for long generations. Their family consisted of four children, three sons and one daughter, all of whom, with the exception of James, are in Bohemia.

James Halouska came to the United States in 1878 and located first in Butler county, Nebraska, where he farmed for three years, for himself. The next two years he spent in Omaha, working in a smelter; from there he removed to Valley county, where he remained five years, and finally he came to Custer county, in 1888, and leased a half -section of school land ; of this he farms 130 acres and uses the remainder for pasture land. He keeps good horses, breeds good hogs and combines stock-raising with agricultural pursuits in a very profitable manner.

Mr. Halouska's wife, whose maiden name was Anna Mar\^ is a native of the same homeland and was born the same year as himself. They were married June 18, 1870, and since that time have toiled together, meeting jointly the hardships and reverses and rejoicing together over victories and successes. Into theirhome four children were bom, all of whom are now middle-aged and out in the world making a creditable showing for themselves. Fred, the firstborn, is forty-six years of age and lives on a farm near Finchville : John, forty-two and Frank forty-one years of age, are both Custer county farmers of a verj- successful type; Fannie lives in Colorado, where her husband operates a farm. In religious matters Mr. Halouska rates himself as a free- thinker and claims allegiance to no denomination ; his political affiliations are with the Democratic party, but he is a man of keen discernment, one who thinks for himself and votes according to the dictates of his best judgment.

DA\ID T. AD.WIS, the extent and variety of whose interests make him one of the leading business men of Sargent, came to Custer county with his parents in 1885. After a period devoted to farming he entered commercial lines, and since that time his activities have invaded the fields of stock dealing, grain elevators and real estate, all with equal and growing success, while he is likewise one of the county's large land-holders.

Mr. Adams was bom at Indiana, the county seat of Indiana county, Pennsylvania, June 17, 1870, and is a son of Joseph W. and Elizabeth R. (Jones) Adams, the former a native of Maine and the latter of Wales. Joseph W. Adams was a farmer and a minister of the Church of God in Pennsylvania until 1883, when he moved to Clay county, Nebraska. where for two years he was engaged in farm ing experiments. In 1885 he brought his family to Custer county, where he homesteaded, pre-empted and took a tree claim, all adjoining land, and here he remained as a farmer until his death, about 1890. He was a man of strict integrity and high principles, of unfiagging industry' and energy. He was a Republican in politics and fraternally was affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mrs. Adams, who survives, is still in good health and very vigorous, in spite of her eighty-seven years. There were ten children in the family : Mary is deceased ; Ocia is the wife of James McGlumphy, who is identified with blast mills at IMartins Ferry, Ohio ; Henrietta is the wife of Emerj- B. ^'Ioore, a farmer of Thomas county, Nebraska; Ida B. is the wife of Ernest U. McCoy, a farmer of Spring View, Nebraska; David F. is the immediate subject of this sketch; Samuel G., who married Ella R. Andrews, is a liver}' owner at Sargent; William is deceased; James B. and Sylvester are twins : the former married Nancy B. Pcttit and is a farmer at Creigh, Colorado, and the latter is deceased ; and Allen L., who married Rhetta Hommon, is a carpenter at Thedford. Nebraska.

David T. Adams was educated in the public schools of Pennsylvania, and was fifteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to Custer county, where he was engaged in farming for his father until shortly after he had passed his majority. He was married

December 13, 1891, at Somerford, Nebraska, to Ida E. Ferris, daughter of William and Emmeline E. (Huntley) Ferris, and to this union there were born three children : Ocia is the wife of Charles \'. Gatliff, a farmer and stock-raiser near Sargent ; John Q., who also is a farmer and stockman near Sargent, married Moselle Dudley ; and Wesley E., who was born January 17, 1899, resides with his parents.

After his marriage Mr. Adams was inde pendently engaged in fanning in Custer county for sixteen years, and he then changed his center of activities to Sargent, where he entered the live-stock business, in partnership with Charles Parks, under the fimi name of Parks & Adams. Later he purchased Mr. Parks' interest, but subsequently sold the yards to P. H. Leininger. He re-entered the business when he bought what were known as the Fred Cram yards, which he still owns. He entered the grain-elevator business when he purchased from F. A. Gustafson what was known as the Coburn elevator, which he operated three years, then increasing the business by buying the J. H. Currie elevator, which he still retains. During this time he also operated heavily in real estate, and he continues to be the medium through which some large transactions are conducted. In addition to the foregoing interests, Mr. Adams is an extensive fami owner, having 130 acres within the city limits of Sargent, as well as a ranch of 1810 acres in the northern part of Custer county, this being fully stocked with a good grade of cattle and hogs.

Mr. Adams' status as a business man is one generally recognized by his associates, who have come to depend upon his integrity no less than they have upon his judgment, astuteness and splendid ability. As a citizen he ha.s always shown himself progressive, and his assistance has done much to promote and carr^' through to a successful conclusion measures which have resulted in a betterment of conditions in civic affairs. His political support is given to the Republican party.

WILLIAM POWERS. - In this title line is given the name of a ver^- successful farmer and one who has helped to make present-day conditions in Custer county - a man who has reared a large family and is one of the dependable spirits in his local community.

Mr. Powers was born in Kendall county, Illinois, in 1851, which date brings him now seven years across the sixty-year line. His father was Luke and his mother was Ellen (Canfield) Powers, both natives of Ireland.

The father was married twice and by these unions became the father of eleven children. The parents came to this country and ended their days in Illinois. Both were adherents of the Catholic church.

In 1885 William Powers led to the marriage altar Miss Mary Foran, who was born in Illinois and who is a sister of James, Dominic, and Thomas Foran, all of whom are mentioned elsewhere in this volume.

The home established by Mr. and Mrs. Powers became the domicile of a large family of children : Loreta Dooley lives in South Dakota : Minnie Hickey lives in Custer county ; Fannie Snyder also lives in the county and, like her sister, presides over a farm home ; Rose Condon lives in Anselmo, this county ; Florence Lynch lives in the county, on a farm ; Kate, Lizzie, and Blanche are all successful school teachers ; Dorothy lives at home ; Evelyn is at home and is attending school; Martin, Arthur, and Leo are all at home and make themselves useful on the ranch.

In the early days of 1884 Mr. Powers located his homestead and began his career in this county. Later he took a pre-emption claim, and these government filings, augmented by land purchased, make to-day a splendid ranch, of which 275 acres are good farm land. The place is well improved and carries on an average 100 head of good grade cattle, aside from a splendid contigent of horses and hogs. During the early days the family occupied a sod house and they began their farming operations in an exceedingly modest way. They conquered their difficulties, however, and have reached the place of competency and comfort.

For the last thirty-one years Mr. Powers has been a member of the local school board and has been rated as one of the leaders in the local community. The religious connections of the family are with the Catholic church, and the political affiliations of Mr. Powers are with the Democratic party. Mr. and Mrs. Powers are splendid neighbors and both enjoy the confidence of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.

DOMINIC FORAN. - Over in the western portion of the county the name of Foran is widely known and belongs to a respected, industrious family in which there are several brothers - sons of a worthy sire who has reared his family in such a way as to make the name respected and influential in local circles.

years he came to Custer county and located a homestead, upon which he began his western career and ran the gamut of pioneer life. Hard work and privations could not daunt his courage, and to-day he has domonstrated what energy and good management can do. The homestead of 160 acres has grown into a full section, of which 175 acres are in cultivation. This, combined with the pasture land, makes an ideal and a profitable stock farm. The improvements are of a fair order and meet the requirements of the ranch.

Mr. Foran took unto himself a life partner when he led to the marriage altar Aliss Alinnie McGowan, who was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, in 1869. Mrs. Foran is a lady of sterling qualities and deserves much of credit for the success her husband has achieved.