Custer County, Nebraska - Founders and Builders, 1919 (part 20 of 32)

Mr. Zimmerman was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, October 9, 1851, nnd died in Custer county, Nebraska, July 27, 1916. When he was seven years old his parents settled in Iowa, and there he was educated and lived to the age of twenty-eight years. In the meanwhile he perfected himself in two trades and when he came to Nebraska he could point to what he had done as a brickmason and stonecutter, his work being sound and solid yet in the beautiful capitol building at Des

^loines, Iowa. Later he did a part of the fine brick work in the construction of the court house at Broken Bow - the first brick court house in Nebraska. It was in 1879 that Mr. Zimmerman came to Custer county. He took up a tree claim and homestead, and he still owned valuable farm property when he died. This had been so improved that Mrs. Zimmerman was able to dispose of it for $125 an acre.

In May, 1880. Mr. Zimmerman was united in marriage to Miss Anola Amsberry, who was born in Marion county. Iowa, where she was educated. Her parents* Lewis Norton and Jane (Cofifman) Amsberry, were born in West A'irginia and had come to Marion county, Iowa, in 1851. Mr. Amsberry was a carpenter, farmer, and tanner. After his death, in Iowa, his widow came to Custer county, in 1879, and bought, for ninety dollars, a preemption claim, on which she lived for a number of years. She then removed to the home of her son, ten miles southwest of Ansley, where she died. The parents of Mrs. Zimmerman had twelve children, and of these the following sunive: Florentine, who became the wife of T. J. Mossman, and lives in Kansas; W. Z., who is a resident of Mason City; Mrs. Henry Zimmerman, who lives at Ansley, and is the widow of him to whom this memoir is dedicated ; Charles, who lives at Broken Bow at the present time ; and Lyman, of Custer county. The father of Mrs. Zimmerman was a Democrat in politics. Her parents were members of the Missionary Baptist church.

A family of seven children was born to Mr. and Mrs. Zimmerman, as follows: Lewis Ray. who is a farmer twelve miles west of Ansley ; Thomas E.. who is -operating his own farm, eight miles northeast of .\nsley ; Addie, who is the wife of Garfield Eggleston. a farmer; Lottie, who is the wife of Aaron Staab, a farmer: Frona E., who is the wife of T. W. Parkhurst, an expert electrician residing in Lincoln. Nebraska ; and Mabel and Flora, both of whom reside with their mother. Flora being employed in the State Bank of Ansley.

In ]X)litics Mr. Zimmerman was a Republican and at times he was called upon to accept public office. For a number of years he served as a very useful member of the school board, his progressive ideas being particularly l>eneficial in the deliljerations of this body. Fraternally he was identified with the order of Woodmen and he was somewhat prominent as a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he served as an official while living at Oskaloosa. Iowa. He was a man of Christian life and character, and belonged to the Baptist church.

JOHN MULVANY. - There are many reasons why John ^lulvany, who is one of Custer county's best known residents, should be regarded with respect, interest, and esteem by his fellow citizens. He is a veteran of the great Civil war that, prior to the struggle in which the United States is now engaged, was second only to the Revolutionary war, the most tremendous military' event of our national history. He is one of Custer county's oldest pioneers, and perhaps the oldest continuous-resident pioneer in the county. He is one of the wealthy men of the county, although he came here forty-one years ago with empty hands. He thus exemplifies patriotism, courage, enterprise, and that determination that made his industry worth while.

John Mulvany was born October 8, 1833, in Knox county, Tennessee. His parents were Henry and Sally Mulvany. The father was born in Ireland and the mother in Germany, and they came to Tennessee very early, married there and later moved to Indiana, where the father died during the Civil war. He was a strong ^^"hig in early life but after the foriiiation of the Republican party united with that organization. His business was farming. The mother died in Indiana and both parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. Of their fourteen children four sons served in the Civil war, namely ; Samuel, John, James, and Pleasant.

John Mulvany assisted his father on what was a pioneer farm in Indiana, the same being now situated in the midst of a highly cultivated section. He had opportunities to attend school and laid the foundation of a good education. \\'hen the call came for loyal men to come forward and fight to preserve the Union, he was one of the four brothers to respond. He enlistcfl in Company C. Sixty-sixth Indiana \'olunteer Infantr}-. and in his temi of service, that covered almost three years, he took part in six regular battles, besides innumerable skirmishes. He survived all the hazards of war and returned home practically unharmed. He resumed farming in Indiana, but his progress was slow and he began to look about for a home for himself in one of the western states or territories, and this led to his deciding on Custer count\% Nebraska, which he reached in 1877. He took up a homestead and a tree claim and as proof of his determination to succeed it can be stated that he has never parted with either - ^and both are now valuable properties.

Harrison county, Indiana. Mrs. Alulvany was born in Kentucky, September 1(), 1832, and died in Nebraska, April 17, 1910. Mo Mr. and Mrs. Alulvany the following children were born : Dorothea, who is, the widow of Thomas Aikman, lives at Rulo, Nebraska, and has eleven children ; John Henry is a resident of Alason City. Nebraska; Addie is the wife of Alfred Shrire, a farmer near Callaway, Nebraska : Harvey S. lives in Mason City, Nebraska ; Hester Ann is the wife of Dennis Runyan, a farmer living near Haines. Oregon ; MoUie J. is the wife of John Wright, a farmer near Mason City ; Christina is the wife of James English, a farmer near Bushnell. Nebraska; and George W. farnis his father's land. Mr. Mulvany is a Republican in politics. He belongs to the Grand Army post at Mason City and is held in high regard by his comrades. Since youth he has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

CLARIS TALBOT, one of Custer county's enthusiastic, capable, and progressive exponents of the vocation of agriculture, has followed this occupation throughout his active career, and is at this time a factor in the development of the farming and stock-raising interests of Custer county. He was born in Parke county, Indiana, November 13, 1873, and is a son of Dr. R. C. and Hatrie (W'arrick) Talbot, a sketch of the family history being found in the review of the life of Dr. Talbot, elsewhere in this work.

Claris Talbot was about six years of age when the family came to Custer county, and here he received the advantages of the public schools of Broken Bow. He was reared to agricultural pursuits in Custer county, and during this country's war with Spain he enlisted in the L^nited States \'olunteers at Broken Bow, as lieutenant of Company M, First Nebraska Infantry. He was in the service for one year and four months, for one year of which time he was in the Philippines, where he saw active fighting, and was later transferred to Compan}^ C, from Geneva, Nebraska, and promoted captain, which rank he held when honorably discharged. He made an excellent record and was accounted a courageous and dutiful soldier, as well as a natural leader of his comrades.

In 1899 Captain Talbott was married, at Broken Bow, to ^liss Eva M. Jewett, who was born at Chicago, Illinois, a daughter of ^Ir. and Mrs. L. H. Jewett, the former of whom is now deceased and the latter of whom is a resident of Broken Bow. ^Ir. and Mrs. Talbot became the parents of four children - John J., Orin H., and Charles C. all residing at home ; and Roberta, who died in 1916. at the age of thirteen years.

After his marriage Mr. Talbot settled on his father's homestead near Berwyn, where he now rents a large tract of land from his father. He is carrying on his operations in a progressive and capable manner, and as a stockman and farmer has gained an excellent reputation, as he has also as a citizen. In politics he is a Republican and he is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, in which he has received the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, besides being a member of the ^Ivstic Shrine.

THOMAS LAUGHRAN was one of the earliest settlers of Custer county. Here he arrived in 1874, and from that time until his death he was actively engaged in farming and stock-raising, the while he became one of the well-to-do men of the county.

Thomas Laughran was a native of Ireland and was born in County Tyrone. In his native land he was reared to the age of fifteen years, and he then accompanied his parents to .America, the home being established in Canada. There he grew to manhood and there he married Elizabeth Morrow, who was a native of County Antrim, Ireland, and who came to Canada with her parents, in 1847. In Canada Thomas Laughran learned the blacksmith trade, which he followed in that country until 1862. when he came to the L'nited States and established his home in Michigan. He resided in that state until 1869. when he came to Nebraska and located in Saunders county. In 1874 he came to Custer county and took a homestead in section 1, township 19, range 21. Pioneer conditions were in evidence on every hand. AMiat is now Custer county was known as Kountze county and was unorganized territory. The first home of the family was a dugout on the bank of \'ictoria creek, near where the present home stands, the latter being one of the first frame houses in this part of the county. The nearest neighbor to the east was thirty-one miles away. The family endured all the pioneer hardships and privations, and Thomas Laughran engaged in the stock-raising business on an extensive scale. He was a man of good judgment, and at the time of his death he was the owner of over 1.000 acres of land. He was killed by a steer, in the yards on the farm, when he had reached the age of eighty-six years.

at the age of eighty-six. During the Indian scare of 1876 the settlers on \ictoria creek left the neighborhood and went to Loup City. While they were on the way they met a mailcarrier from Loup City. Airs. Laughran was one of the party, and suddenly changed her mind and returned to the settlement, she being the only woman of the neighborhood who stayed. The Indians did not come and the white people were unmolested, but it showed much bravery on the part of this pioneer woman, who proved her love for her husband by remaining with him.

Mr. and Mrs. Laughran became the parents of four children : James R., who owns and resides on the old homestead : Mary, who is the wife of W. H. McCowan, a resident of Furnas county, Nebraska ; Alice, who is the widow of Louis \'inage, of Taylor, Nebraska ; and Jennie, who is the widow of H. B. Andrews, and who is residing at Broken Bow.

Thomas Laughran and wife were faithful communicants of the Catholic church and were highly respected by all who knew them. Thev came to Custer county at a time when the work of development had hardly begun, and they lived to see this become one of the well developed sections of the state. They were' not only witnesses of the vast changes, but also in the work of transformation they contributed their full share, which entitles them to honorable mention among the sterling pioneers of Custer county.

JOSEPH C. MOORE is one of the wideawake business men of .Anselmo and is a member of the firm of I\Ioore Brothers, dealers in implements and automobiles.

Rlr. Moore is a native of Iowa, and was born at Cedar Falls, Black Hawk county, January 12, 1S71. His father William Moore. was a native of New York and was engaged in farming and mining in New York and Canada until he settled in Iowa, where he became a resident of Fort Dodge. In 1883 he came to Custer county, Nebraska, and took a homestead and tree claim in township 18, range 22. His first home was a sod house, and he passed through all the pioneer experiences incident to the early days in Custer county. 1 le retired from his farm to Anselmo five years before his death. In Canada he married Alary Maroney, a native of Ireland, and she is still living at Anselmo. They were the parents of the following named children, all of whom are residents of Custer county: John, Thomas, Joseph C, George, and Airs. J. H. Phillips.

when the family came to Custer county. He was reared on the farm and was engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1897, when he and his brother George engaged in the implement business, later handling automobiles. The first car load of Ford automobiles brought to the county came to this firm, and they had the agency for several years. The first car load of Dodge Brothers' cars came to this firm, and they now have the agency for this car in four counties. They have a splendidly equipped establishment and are doing a hustling business.

At Eddyville. Air. Aloore was united in marriage to Aliss Jennie Tucker, who was born in Wisconsin, a daughter of John and Joanna Tucker. Airs. Aloore was educated in Nebraska and at the time of marriage was a popular teacher in the Broken Bow schools. S'he is possessed of considerable literary talent and has assisted in gathering data for the history of .Anselmo found elsewhere in this volume.

Air. and Airs. Aloore are members of the Catholic church and are interested in all movements for the growth and development of their community.

ARCHIBALD H. SHEPARD. postmaster of Ansley, and for many years identified with mercantile pursuits at this place, is a representative of that class of men who have by their energy, public spirit, and careful management, reached positions which the struggles of the earlier years scarcely indicate, and who are known and respected for their sterling worth as citizens, having always in view the upbuilding and best interests of the communities in which they live. Of this class, central Nebraska has many representatives, none perhaps more worthy than Air. Shepard, as is known by the people of the community among whom he has lived for thirty-two years.

Air. Shepard was born at Ashtabula, Ohio, A]>ril 10. 1853, a son of Richard and Rowena (Stratton) Shepard, natives of Ohio. His paternal grandfather, Pelltiah Shepard, was born in Connecticut and was a pioneer of Ohio, where his death occurred ; while on the maternal side his grandfather was James Stratton, a native of Ohio, who moved first to \Visconsin and later to Alinnesota. where he died. Richard Shepard was born in 1829, in Ohio, where he grew to manhood and was educated. As a young man he began a career on the Great Lakes. For a time he was a captain on Lake Erie boats, and during the Civil war he enlisted in the Thirty-first Regiment of Wisconsin \^olunteer Infantry, for three years.

but the war closed after he had served eighteen months and he received his honorable discharge. He took part in many engagements, inckiding those during General Sherman's great march to the sea, and finally was one of those who proudly marched through the streets of Washington, D. C, to the cheering of thousands of spectators, in the Grand Review. From Wisconsin he moved with his family to Minnesota, and in 1878 he went to California, where he and his wife passed the remaining years of their lives, Captain Shepard passing away December 31, 1899, aged seventy years, and Mrs. Shepard dying in March, 1915, when eighty-five years of age, she having held herself secure in the faith of the Methodist Episcojsal church. Captain Shepard had made a success of his life and was in comfortable financial circumstances before taking up his residence in California. He was a Democrat in politics. There were seven children in the family, of whom four are now living: Archibald H. ; Mrs. Addie Carrington, a widow living in California ; Alice, the wife of ex-Governor Lind of Minneapolis. Minnesota ; and E. E., engaged in the practice of law at Los Angeles, California.

Archibald H. Shepard received his early education in the district schools of Minnesota, and after accompanying his parents to California supplemented this by a commercial course in Bryant & Stratton's Business College, at San Francisco. He took up telegraphy later and followed it for a time, but subsequently went to North Dakota, where he engaged in the mercantile business. After three years in that state, he sought a more populous community for demonstrating his business capacity and energy, and accordingly, in 1886, he came to Custer county and located at Ansley, which has since been his home and the stage of his activities and successes. At the time of his arrival he engaged in mercantile business in a modest way, and from the start his venture was a success. A man of excellent business and executive ability, sagacious, and far-seeing, by his earnest desire to please his customers and his courteous treatment and fair dealing, he soon secured a liberal patronage. He gave the business his personal attention for thirty vears, but since 1916 he has devoted his entire time to the handling of the duties connected with his position as postmaster of Ansley, to which he was appointed, bv President Wilson, in the year mentioned. The family, however, still own and conduct the store. Mr. Shepard is a staunch and uncompromising Democrat, and wields no small influence in his community. The best interests of the locality receive his support, and he withholds his cooperation from no worthy undertaking tending to promote the general welfare. With his family, he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church. Mr. Shepard is widely known in fraternal circles, being a Scottish Rite Mason, and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.

In 1885 Mr. Shepard married Miss Lottie Welch, who was born at Bufifalo, New York, daughter of Sylvester Welch, at one time assistant jailer of the city of Buffalo. They have three children : Myrtle S. and Archibald H., Jr., who are conducting the store ; and Roy E., who, in the hospital service of the United States army, was assigned to active duty in France.

GROVER A. HOLEMAN, cashier of the Farmers State Bank of Ansley, has been connected with this institution from the time that he completed his youthful education, and he has advanced to his present post through individual merit. His career has been an expression of well applied and well directed industry, and he has succeeded in building up for himself a reputation as an adherent of sound and conservative banking principles. He was born at Bedford, Iowa, June 4, 1887, a son of John H. and Mary (Elliott) Holeman.

Reuben A. Holeman, grandfather of Grover A., was born in Indiana, later moved to Warren county, Illinois, and after a career spent in agricultural pursuits he retired from active life, liis death occurring at Ansley, Nebraska, in January, 1918. John H. Holeman was born in Warren county, Illinois, and as a young man moved to. Iowa, where he was engaged in farming until 1892. In that year he came to Custer county and rented a farm, which he operated as a renter for two years. Subsequently he purchased this property and he continued its operation until his retirement, when he moved to his present home, at Ansley. He is a self-made man who has won success, and whose fellow citizens have on numerous occasions honored him by election to public office. His political affiliation is with the Democratic party. In Iowa Mr. Holeman married Miss Mary Elliott, a native of that state, and they are the parents of four children : Grover A. ; H. E., principal of the Albert Lea Commercial College, at Albert Lea, Minnesota ; Gladys, engaged in teaching school ; and Alvin, attending the Ansley high school. Mrs. Holeman is a member of the Baptist church.

Grover A. Holeman attended the graded and high schools of Ansley, following- which he took a business course at the Shenandoah Commercial Institute, Shenandoah, Iowa, in which he was graduated in 1907, and he completed his training at the Gem City Business College, Quincy, Illinois, in 1908. At that time he returned to Nebraska and entered the Farmers State Bank of Ansley, in the capacity of bookkeeper, subsequently being made assistant cashier, a post which he retained for five years. He was elected cashier February 2, 1914, and has continued to act in that capacity to the present. This is the second oldest banking institution at Ansley and, as a reliable and sound banking house, it has gained and retained public confidence. Its growth has been steady and consistent, as will be noted in the fact that when Mr. Holeman entered the bank the average deposits were $22,000, while today they are $200,000. The bank has a capital of $20,000, and its surplus and undivided profits amount to $1,000. Mr. Holeman, in his official capacity, has contributed materially to the growth and prosperity of the institution, at the same time advancing his own standing in banking circles, as a capable and thoroughly informed banker.

On August 3, 1911, at Ansley. Mr. Holeman married Miss Myrtle E. Bristol, daughter of Rupert C. Bristol, a sketch of whose career appears elsewhere in this work. Four children have been born to them : Grover Garland, born in 1912; Myrtle Mildred, born in 1914: Lawrence, born in 1916; and John Orville, born in 1918. Mrs. Holeman is a member of the Baptist church, in the work of which she is actively interested, and to the movements of which Mr. Holeman is a contributor. He is a Mason of the thirty-second degree and is treasurerof his Masonic blue lodge. In politics a Democrat, he has been repeatedly urged to become a candidate for public office, and on one occasion was appointed deputy county clerk, but he refused the honor, preferring to devote his entire time and attention to his duties at the bank.

JES'SE E. NETH. - The story of Jesse E. Neth reads a good deal like the stories of other Custer county pioneers. His advent into this world occurred April 22, 1872, and the place selected for the occasion was Livingston county, Illinois. His father, Jacob Neth, was a native of W^ittenberg, Germany. His mother, whose maiden name was Mary Stnmk, was a Pennsylvanian by birth. These were the parents of an estimable family in which were ten children : seven are still living. The living are as follows : William S. Neth, Franklin B. Neth, Katherine ( Xeth ) Stewart, Jesse E. Neth, Joseph L. Neth, Lucinda P. Neth, and Dora K. (Neth) Meyers.

Two denominations are represented in the family. The father was a Lutheran, and the mother a member of the Christian church. Jacob Neth, father of the subject of this narrative, went to Covington, Ohio, when but a small boy. During the Civil war he enlisted in the Fourteenth Ohio Infantry, and he served for the full duration of the war. He was with Sherman on his memorable expedition to the sea. By occupation he was always a farmer, and, withal, a very frugal, prosperous citizen.

Jesse E. Neth, reared on a farm, has always followed farming for a livelihood. When asked concerning the first money he earned, he replied that when seven years of age he carried water on horseback for harvest hands, for which he received ten cents a day. By the time he was eight years of age, by working at odd jobs, he had saved enough money to enable him to buy a suit of clothes. When he was fourteen years old his father and mother both died, within two weeks of each other. After the death of his parents, a cousin by the name of Mike Maier, of Covington, Ohio, took all the children home with him. and they were placed in different families, as opportunities were presented. Young Jesse was put to work and, being rather a wiry lad, made good at all kinds of farm work. For his first month's work he received a pair of moleskin pants, a box of paper collars, and fifty cents in money. Thinking that perhaps fortune would favor him better in the west, he came to Custer county in February, 1890, and here he worked on various farms, for difl:'erent farmers, until 1903 when he homesteaded the northwest quarter of section 21, township 16, range 22.

In August of 1904 Mr. Neth married Katie M. Kelsey, who was at the time a resident of Broken Bow. Her father, Martin Kelsey, was a native of New York and the family name of her mother was Lutes.

Mr. and Mrs. Neth are the parents of three children - Walter S., Orrine E., and Helen. Mr. Neth owns 480 acres of good land, and has recently sold 480 acres. He is a prosperous, well known farmer and stock-raiser, a splendid citizen, and one of the leaders in the community where he resides.

On the home farm the Neths are building, at the time of this writing, a commodious farm home that will be one of the best in the community, and that will cost between three and four thousand dollars when completed. He has also a fine equipment of outbuildings on the farm, and has just installed a water system

.ADELBERT LOGAN THOMAS is one of the responsible, middle-aged farmers whose life activities have already been counted as a success, and he lives in the vicinity of ^lerna, where he conducts farming operations on what might be consistently be called a model farm.

Mr. Thomas was born September 27, 1879, in Murray, Iowa, and he is a son of Frank and Leila (Reed) Thomas. The father was a Vermont Yankee, and the mother a native of the Buckeye state, Born to the union of the parents were two sons, the subject of this sketch being the first born, and the other, Otho O., being well known in the vicinity of Merna. The Thomas family came to Custer county when .A.. Logan Thomas was but a lad of three years, and the father took a homestead and a timber claim one and one-half miles south of Merna. It was here that the boy grew up, and he still remembers that the countr>- in those days was rather wild, roads being trails, and the fields, for the most part, being prairie. The main thoroughfare from Broken Bow to Merna passed through his father's farm

Concerning those days ]\Ir. Thomas relates that on one occasion several cowboys rode through the yard. A big yellow pumpkin lay in front of the house, and thinking that no one was at home, the lx)ys rode their ponies several times around the house on a gallop, and each time they passed the pumpkin they gave it a shot. When they finished their sport the pumpkin was pretty well perforated. The mother was at home alone in the house, and one can imagine that she was badly frightened. The father was threshing for a neighbor, and, hearing the shots, he rushed home. The boys had just left, but seeing him put in an appearance so suddenly upon the scene, the leaders rode back and apologized. They said they did not know any one was at home and were just having a little gim practice.

Mr. Thomas says the first money that he earned was by riding a lead-horse on a binder, for twenty-five cents a day. He worked at home, secured a fair education in the common schools, and on November 9. 1902. at Merna. he married Josie Cory, a daughter of Daniel W. and Nancy (Fall) Cory.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas remain on the old homestead and have a splendid home, where farming operations are conducted in an ideal manner. Thev have two children, Franklin

W. and Earl A., both of whom are attending school. Rated as a progressive farmer and stock-raiser, Mr. Thomas maintains the father's farm, which now belongs to the widowed mother, and he deser\'es credit for the showing that he has made. His father died June 29, 19(X). ]\lr. Thomas gives his attention to diversified agriculture, with stock-raising as a profitable side line. His wife does well her share and contributes to the family income with butter, cream, chickens, and eggs. During the last year the proceeds from the poultry-yard purchased fifty dollars of thrift stamps. In emergencies, Mrs. Thomas goes into the field and becomes a valuable assistant to her husband in caring for the crops. This she did in the summer of 1918, when other help could not be obtained, and thus they not only saved the crop, but also an expense of four dollars a day for a hired man who woukl have done little, if any. more work.

WILLIAM A. CRISS. - Fourteen miles west of Broken Bow the subject of this sketch plies his vocation. There he is a tiller of the soil, a raiser of stock and. in general, a producer of food stufl^s, all of which renders him a valuable citizen and one with whom presentday conditions could not dispense.

William A. Criss hails from the Hoosier state, where he was born December 13, 1874. He is a son of Levi and Mary (Walker) Criss, both of whom were natives of Greene county, Indiana, the first county and state known to young William A., who is the eldest of the father's family, the others being Silas L., Ari J., Sciota A. Grounds, Jocie M. (deceased), and John E. The parents belonged to the Christian church and were farmers by occupation and residence. On the farm young \\'illiani began his operations.

William A. Criss was but three years old when his parents came to Nebraska. The trip was made in a covered wagon, but such vivid impressions were made upon the child's memory that he remembers to this day that on one occasion he was lying in the back end of the wagon and that he kicked a feather bed and pair of pillows out of the wagon, these treasured household possessions never having been recovered. The first stop of the Criss family was in \'alley county, where they resided five years. Then, in the fall of 1884, they moved into Custer county, and located a homestead fourteen miles northwest of .\ns!ey. on Clear creek. On this claim W'illiam spent his boyhood days. The father died in 1892 and the

William A. Criss and two of his brothers, Silas and Ari, remained in Custer county, where they worked by the month, wherever they could obtain employment, until they were able to establish themselves in independent operations.

The domestic life of William A. Criss dates from April, 1896, when, at Ansley, Nebraska, he led to the marriage altar Miss Ida O. Brooks, who was born in Davis county, Iowa, a daughter of George W. Brooks and Eliza ( Niles ) Brooks, the father having been born in Iowa, and the mother in Illinois. The Crisses have a good home, and until the last few years have had a hard time making a living, but industry and good management have finally brought to them definite independence and prosperity

Following is a brief record concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Criss: Mrs. Anna B. Olson is a resident of Colorado, where her husband is a farmer, and the names of the other children are here entered in respective order - Harlan L., Grant W., Grace D., Nora O., Carle L.

Air. Criss is the fortunate owner of 480 acres of land, well improved, and stocked for profitable operations. Careful management, good judgment, economical habits, and tireless efiforts account for his accumulations. He tells a story of the early days, to the effect that six gold-seekers came through the Clear creek country in an early day and, being threatened by Indians, they separated, to evade pursuit. They came together at a point further east and one of them claimed that he had buried his sack of gokldust under a lone elm tree on the creek about twelve miles east of the present site of Mason City. Mr. Criss says that he and other neighbor boys put in many a day's work digging under elm trees in that vicinity, but so far the sack of gold has continued to elude the spade and mattock.

HERBERT OXFORD is a young farmer living on Ash creek, southwest of Broken Bow. on eighty acres of land on which he is rearing a family of small children, operating his farm, milking cows, and laying the foundation of a competency which labor and management are sure to secure. He was born in Harrison county, Missouri. November 24, 1884, and is a son of John and Hannah ( King) Oxford, both natives of Kentucky. In the family were the following named children - Robert F., Wilda Noble, William T., Ora, Cornelius, Oscar , Lafayette, Rannick, Celia (deceased), Charles L., Herbert, Emma Wright, Mattie, and Francis. John Oxford was nineteen years of age when he went to California with the gold-seekers - in a wagon train in which were about fifteen wagons, hauled by ox teams. He was at that time in the employ of Glasscock & Taylor, who were freighting supplies to the gold fields. He stayed in California three years and upon receiving word that his father was very ill, he started for home. When he arrived at the home, the father was dead and buried. At the time of the Civil war John Oxford enlisted, and he served eight months.

Concerning the early years of young Herbert Oxford, it may be noted that he made himself generally useful on the farm, doing chores and such light work as a sturdy boy could do. When eight years of age he chonped wood for his mother and earned ten cents, which he saved for Fourth of July money. On the anniversary of the nation's independence he invested his money in fire-crackers. His celebration, however, came to a sudden end, as the fire-crackers were slow to ignite and, thinking that he could help matters by blowing into the lighted end, the explosion came rather suddenly and filled his face with powder-marks, with the result that to this day Herbert declares that he does not like firecrackers. His early life was on the farm, and farming has been the occupation of his lifetime. He came to Custer county in the fall of 1904, with his brother Rannick. They came to an uncle, James Oxford, who was then living on Lillian creek. The uncle was: one of the earliest pioneers of the Middle Loup country. Herbert went to work as foreman on the Albert Blessing ranch, and during the next three years he accumulated enough to start farming for himself, which he did.

On March 8, 1910, at Broken Bow. Mr. Oxford was united in marriage to Rosa Deal, a daughter of Charles and ^larietta (Province ) Deal, whose home was in Buffalo county. Airs. Oxford has two sisters - Bertha Sexton, and \'io!et, the latter of whom is at home with her parents, who now live near Broken Bow.

Mr. and Mrs. Oxford have five children, all young, full of "pep" and promise, and they add much of cheerfulness to the household. They are: Mary, seven; Melva L. six; Ruby S.. four: Clarence, two: Lawrence W.. one. Mr. Oxford's home is located on eighty acres of fine land adjoining his father's land, which he farms on shares, and he thus is enabled to conduct farming operations on a larger scale than would otherwise be possible. He has made a fine showing, and has proved himself to be an energetic, progressive farmer who is laving the foundation of a competency that will be well deserved. He has given considerable attention to dairying, milking cows, farming and raising stock, his good wife doing all the time her part - taking care of the chickens, butter and eggs, and doing everything jxjssible to augment the efforts of her husband. They sustain a good name in the community and' are rated substantial, dependable peuplc. They are members of the Methodist church.

WILLIAM N. BRAY, who is numbered among the successful men of Custer county, and who is now living in comfortable retirement at his home at Mason City, is an example of the self-made type of manhood, for he commenced life in modest circumstances and worked his own way to independence and. prosperity. Mr. liray was born in Gallia county. Ohio, January 20, 1848. and is a son of Nathan and Sarah ( Gooch) Bray.

The parents of Mr. Bray were natives of Ohio, the mother having been a daughter of James Gooch, a pioneer of that state and a lifelong agriculturist. From Ohio ]Mr. and Mrs. Bray moved to West Virginia, where the mother died and in 1861 Nathan Bray went with his family to Missouri, where he passed the rest of his life in farming, and where his death occurred. A man of industry and intelligence, he accumulated considerable property in politics, but took little interest in public affairs, save that of a good citizen. Both he and Mrs. Bray were members of the Baptist church. They were the parents of five children, of whom two are living: William N.. of this review, and John, of Huntington, West Virginia.

William N. Bray received his education in the public schools of Ohio and West Mrginia. Coming to Custer county in 1885, he filed on a homestead, but subsequently relinquished it and pre-ciupte<i the farm which he now owns, a tract of 200 acres lying four miles northeast of Mason City, in addition to which he owns considerable land nearer to that place. \Mien he began his indeoendent career, he was a poor youth with only ordinary advantages, and at the time that he came to Custer county he possessed little more than his personal ability, natural ambition, and profound self-confidence to aid liim. These carried him through the starting years, and have since contributed to aid him in the securing of a handsome competence. In 1910 he retired from the active pursuits of the farm and moved to Mason City, where for two years he was engaged in the dairy business. Since that time he has been living in retirement. ^Ir. Bray was originally a Republican, but in more recent years has been a supporter of the Democratic party. He has not engaged in public affairs, but has discharged the responisibilities of citizenship in a manner that well entitles him to the unqualified esteem and regard in which he is held by his fellow townspeople.

In 1870 Mr. Bray married Miss Frances Ogburn, who was born in West Mrginia, and they became the parents of si.K children; Ida. who is the wife of John \\'alker, a farmer in Custer county ; Sarah, who married Ludrick Jackson and resides on a farm near Mason City ; Charles, who is an agriculturist near Siou.x City, Iowa; Clella, who first married Charles Baker, and, second, Joseph Scott, and now resides at Broken Bow ; John, who is a farmer in Sherman county ; and Fred, who is at the time of this writing a member of the L'nited States army, stationed in camp at Fort Presidio, California. Mrs. Bray died in 1884, and Mr. Bray was again married in 1890, to Melissa Wood, who was born in Missouri, a daughter of John and .-\manda ( Hillhouse) Wood, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Missouri. Mr. Wood died in Nebraska, and following his death his widow returned to her native state, where she passed away. Eight children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Bray : Claude, who is conducting the operations on his father's farm ; Jessie, who resides with her parents; Leonard, who is a member of Company B. Forty-eighth Engineers. .American Expeditionary Forces, France ; Ruby, who is attending business college at Lincoln ; Harry, who is identified with a business enterprise at Minden, this state ; Garnett, who is with the One Hundred and Tenth American Aviation Squadron, in France ; and Marion and Melville, who remain with tlieir parents. The meml)ers of the Bray family belong to the Baptist church.

RE\'. THOMAS F. MINOGUE. - The life work of a priest of the Holy Roman Catholic church is essentially one of self-sacrificing devotion to the needs of his people, his church, and the Divine Master whom he serves. The work demands years of preliminary study and preparation, for the highest of intellectual standards and the broadest of practical humanitarianism are demanded, the while there can be no temporal rewards commensurate with the services to be rendered, save the satisfaction of having labored faithfully and well in the behalf of Christ and humanity. Father Minogue has measured up fully to the demands and exactions of his high calling, and is one of the representative members of the Catholic priesthood in this section of Nebraska. He is pastor of the church at Anselmo. is also serving the churches at Dale and Merna, and commands the high esteem and affectionate regard of the members of his parish, as well as the confidence and good will of the entire community.

Father Alinogue was born near the River Shannon, in County Clare, Ireland, April 23,. 1881. His parents. Patrick and Ellen (Malone) Winogue, were born and reared on the fair old Emerald Isle, where the mother still resides, the father having passed away.

Father Thomas F. Minogue was educated for the priesthood at All Hallows College, Dublin, Ireland, and was ordained June 24, 1909. He immediately came to the United States and was assigned to St. Bridget's church at South Omaha, where he remained ten months, and thereafter he was located at Sidney, Nebraska, for two months. For one year he was in charge of the church at Alliance, Box Butte county, and June 7, 1911, he came to Anselmo, where since that time he has been the zealous and devoted shepherd of this fold and has given earnestly of his time and talents to the furtherance of the spiritual and temporal wellbeing of his parish.

PHILIP G. HOUGHTON. - The true standard by which to judge a community is by the character of its prominent citizens, for progress is rarely, if ever, the result of chance but results from the execution of well laid plans, based upon a thorough comprehension of the laws of business. In this connection, as one whose business qualifications and personal character are of the best, Philip G. Houghton may be said to be fairly representative of the alert, progressive spirit that has brought the thriving community of Arnold to the forefront among Custer county towns during recent years.

Philip G. Houghton, of the real-estate, insurance, and loan firm of Houghton & Perkins, was born May 14, 1867, in Chenango county, New York, and he is a son of John and Sophia (Bartlett) Houghton. His parents, who were natives of England, immigrated to the United

States in 1865, and settled in New York state, where Philip the youngest child was born. John and Sophia (Bartlett) Houghton became the parents of two sons and four daughters, but only Philip G. and a sister, Mrs. Lizzie Banner, of Boone, Iowa, survive. The family continued to live in New York until 1879, in which year they came to the west and took up their abode on a farm fourteen miles east of the city of Lincoln, Nebraska, where they remained four years. In the year 1883 John Houghton came to Custer county, where he located on a homestead situated five miles southwest of Arnold, in the Yuca valley, where he continued to be energetically engaged in farming and stock-raising until his death, October 9, 1915. Mrs. Houghton still survives her husband and makes her home at Arnold.

The boyhood of Philip G. Houghton was passed in New York, where as a lad he earned lais first money on a farm, being paid the sum of fifteen cents for topping a field of carrots. He attended the district schools and was twelve years old when he came with his parents to Nebraska, being still a youth upon his arrival in Custer county. He did not engage in farming on his own account until 1888, in which year he took a homestead three and one-half miles south of Arnold, and there he is now the owner of 480 acres of well improved land. Mr. Houghton was successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising on this property until 1908, when he changed his place of residence to the town of Arnold, and embarked in the real-estate, insurance, and loan business. He continued alone until 1917, when he formed a partnership with S. A. Perkins, adopting the firm name of Houghton & Perkins, and this business has continued to the present time, with constantly increasing prosperity. Messrs. Houghton and Perkins are the owners of the old Arnold Bank building and of other desirable property, both at Arnold and in the surrounding country, and as live and energetic business men they are handling Custer county land at attractive prices. Mr. Houghton possesses the necessary qualifications for a successful real-estate man and his reputation in the business circles of the community is of the best. He has done much to assist in materially building up the community and county of his adoption.

Mr. Houghton was united in marriage June 2, 1888, at Arnold, to Miss Mattie Collins, of Gnmdy county, Missouri, a daughter of Reuben and Elizabeth Collins. They have no children. Mr. Houghton has received the thirtysecond degree of the Ancient .Accepted Scottish

S. A. PERKINS. - - Prominent among the vigorous real-estate dealers of Custer county, one who has been rewarded with marked success during the six years that he has followed this line of business is S. A. Perkins, member of. the firm of Houghton & Perkins, of Arnold. Prior to his entrance upon the field of real estate, Mr. Perkins was engaged in farming, and in each of these connections with the soil, whether in Custer county or elsewhere, he has been able to make the most of his opportunities and to gain a satisfying share of prosperity through his transactions.

Mr. Perkins was born in Monroe county, Iowa, September 16, 1866, and is a son of Elisha M. and Sarah (Strickland) Perkins. He was but four years of age when brought by his father to Butler county, Nebraska, the father taking up a homestead ten miles north of David City, on the present site of Octavia. The youth grew up amid agricultural surroundings and was taught the routine business of the farm by a father who was industrious and who demanded that his son be also, so that the summer months usually found S. A. Perkins actively identified with the occupations of the farm, and when he was not attending the district school, during the winter terius, he was generally attending the school of hard work and sturdy experience, in the summers. He remained under the parental roof until shortly after he had attained his twenty-first birthday, and October 13, 1887, at Swan, Iowa, he was united in marriage to Miss Nina Palmer, who likewise was born in that state, a daughter of William and Martha (Thomas) Palmer, well known and highly respected people there. Mr. and Mrs. Perkins have one son. Glen O., who is one of the energetic young business men of Arnold, where he is cashier of the Arnold State Bank. Glen Perkins married Miss Ethel Collins, daughter of John W. and Jennie ( Hofifman) Collins, and they are the parents of two daughters.

.\fter his marriage Mr. Perkins settled down to farming in Butler county, and there he continued operations with increasing success until 1906, when he glimpsed an opportunity and, grasping it, came to Custer county and ])urchased 640 acres of land, situated three miles east of Arnold. There he continued to farm until 1912. his industry, experience, and good management gaining him marked success as an agriculturist. In 1912 he left the farm and moved to Arnold, where he established himself in the real-estate, insurance, and loan business, continuing alone until 1917, when he formed a partnership with P. G. Houghton, under the firm name of Houghton & Perkins. This alliance has continued successfully to the present time, and is accounted a strong and important business combination, through which some important transactions have been brought to a successful and satisfactory conclusion. Mr. Perkins is well informed as to land values in this locality, having made a thorough study of the situation, and since entering the real-estate field he has done much to assist in the upbuilding of this part of Custer county. He has supreme faith in the future' of the locality and his entire satisfaction with the soil here, is evidenced by his retaining ownership of his farming land and by the fact that he has made plans to continue in the real-estate business indefinitely. He is a stockholder and director of the Arnold State Bank, is a Republican in his political allegiance, and is proniinently affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, in which he has received the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite and is also a noble of the Mystic Shrine.

REV. CHARLES A. SHOOK. - Of the supreme agencies which mold the tendencies and beckon most persistently to the mind of youth, few exceed in potency the example of those who have already fought their battles and reached success. The great lesson to be found in the life of a good and capable man, ne.xt to the intelligent application of the forces within him for the benefit of mankind in general, is the encouragement disseminated by his rise from obscurity to prominence. Such reflections are brought forcibly to mind in noting the career of Rev. Charles A. Shook, for twenty years a minister of the Advent Christian and Christian churches, and now engaged in his zealous labors at Ansley.

Rev. Charles A. Shook was born at Galien. Berrien county, Michigan, February 19, 1876, a son of John and Martha ( Chandler) Shook, and he belongs to a family that has given representatives as participants in every American war. The family of Shook was founded in this county in 1740, by George Shook, a native of Amsterdam, Holland, and for a term of years the family was well known in Pennsylvania, of which state John Shook, the grandfather of Charles A., was a native. The maternal grandfather, Josiah Chandler, was a native of New York, and migrated to ^lichigan about 1830. Subsequently he moved to Kansas, where his death occurred. John Shook, father of Rev. Charles A., was born at East Hanover, Pennsylvania, May 28, 1831, and as a youth learned the trade of shoemaker, which he followed both in Pennsylvania and Michigan. He was a resident of the latter state when the Civil war came on, and in August, 1864, he enlisted in Company E, First Michigan Light Artillery, with which he served until July, 1865, when he received his honorable discharge. Returning to his Michigan home, he resumed his trade, but later he became an extract manufacturer, a business in which his natural thrift, industry, and ability gained him marked success. He was a very religious man and a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Politically a Republican, he took a keen interest in local afifairs, and he was city marshal of Buchanan, Michigan, for ten years. His fraternal connection was with the Odd Fellows. At Buchanan, on March 16, 1866, Mr. Shook married Martha Chandler, who was born at Walkerton, Indiana, March 16, 1835. and who died August 19, 1903, he surviving until March 14, 1911. Of their four children, Charles A. is the only survivor.

Charles A. Shook was graduated from the I)ublic schools of Buchanan. Michigan. June 13. 1895, following which he took a theological course at Mendota. Illinois, and subsequently spent one vear in the Southern Baptist Theological Seminar)', at Louisville. Kentucky. His first charge as a minister of the Christian church was at Bangor, Michigan. Thereafter he held pastoral charges at Union Mills; Jefferson. Indiana; Buchanan, Michigan; and Palmer, Illinois. He then came to Nebraska, being first at Miller and later at Eddyville, and finally coming to .\nsley. Mr. Shook is one of the most industrious of workers, laboring zealously from morning to night in behalf of his church.- In addition he is not unknown to the lecture platform, where he has accomplished some excellent results, and he has gained somewhat more than a local reputation because of his talents as a writer, several of his works having gained widespread and favorable attention, among them : "Cumorah Revisited, or Book of Mormon, and the Claims of the Mormons Re-examined from the Viewpoint of American Archaeology and Ethnolog>'." "The True Origin of Mormon Polygamy," "The True Origin of the Book of Mormon," and "The Gist of the Bible." A profouund student, he has strong views in regard to prohibition, being a staunch supporter of temperance, and he is also a Socialist. Fraternally he is a Mason, an Odd Fellow, and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Noveml)er 30. 1898. at Bangor. Michigan, Rev. Charles A. Shook married Miss Nellie Baker, a daughter of Jacob D. and Elizabeth Baker, farming people of Michigan, and to this union there have been born four children : Helen, Ruth, Harold, and Donald, all at home.

JAMES B. JONES. - The Hfe of James B. Jones, of Ansley, has been an expression of practical and diversified activity, and in its range has invaded the realms of agriculture, in which he has successfully accumulated a large and valuable property ; the fields of real estate and auctioneering, where he has displayed the possession of marked commercial ability; and public life, in which he has established a splendid record for executive capacity and conscientiousness, which are distinctive features of his work and character.

Mr. Jones was torn at Mexico, Missouri. Julv 23. 1861, and is a son of Martin and Martha ( Wade) Jones. His paternal grandfather, James Jones, was born in Kentucky, as was also his wife, Rebecca, and soon after their marriage they moved to Missouri, where for a time Mr. Jones followed the vocation of veterinarian, but later he engaged in fanning in Illinois, where he remained until his death. Reuben Wade, the maternal grandfather of James B. Jones, was a native of Kentucky and was a shoemaker by trade. He moved to the vicinity of Kirkwood, Illinois, where he engaged in farming, and he passed the remainder of his life in the pursuits of the soil. Martin Jones, father of James B., was born at Mexico, ^Missouri, where he married Martha Wade, a native of Logansport. Indiana, and there their only child was born. During the Civil war Mr. Jones" sympathies were with the Confederacy, and for several years he served as a member of the state militia. Some time after the close of the struggle he removed to Illinois, where he engaged in merchandising, and he was fairly successful therein. He passed the rest of his life in the Prairie .state. He was a Democrat and was a member of the Methodist E]>iscopal church, to which his wife also belonged, although later in life she transferred her membership to the Christian church.

James 1!. Jones was educated in the public schools of \Varren county. Illinois, where he had been taken as a lad. and his early training was along agricultural lines, so that he naturally adopted the vocation of farming.

In 1884, when twenty-three years of age, he came to Custer county, Nebraska, and preempted a claim, which he proceeded to put under a high state of cuUivation. He at once entered actively into local governmental afifairs, and in 1890 he was elected sheriff of the county, a capacity in which he served two years. He then returned to his work on his farm, but was not permitted to remain long out of public life, for in 1898 he was elected state grain inspector, an office which he held also in 1899 and 1900. During the years 1895, 1896, and 1897, he had been deputy warden of the state penitentiary, and in 1901 was made jailer of Douglas county and acted in that capacity also in 1902. A man of marked courage, strong for discipline, but with ideals of humanitarianism, he made an excellent official record and served in many ways to better existing conditions in regard to the wards of the state whom it is necessary to confine. In 1917 Mr. Jones left the home farm, which he had increased to a half-section of land, and moved to Ansley, but he and his son still own the country property and carry on extensive operations in general farming and stock-raising. The land is under a high state of cultivation and is very productive, while its value has been enhanced by the erection of substantial buildings and the installing of modern equipment of all kinds. Since coming to Ansley Air. Jones has engaged with a full measure of success in the real-estate business and has continued in auctioneering activities, in which he has been well known for the past twentyeight years. Politically he is a Republican, with progressive views. His fraternal connections are with the Modern Woodmen of America, in which he is venerable counsel ; the Fraternal Order of Eagles ; and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He and the memljers of his family belong to the Baptist church.

September 28, 1882, Mr. Jones married Miss Allie Maus, who was bom at Aledo, Illinois, daughter of Joseph and Emma Maus, natives of Pennsylvania, and early settlers of Illinois. Mr. Maus died in the latter state, following which Mrs. Maus came to Nebraska, and .she passed away at Ansley. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Jones : IMamie, who is the wife of Ralph Bush, a Custer county farmer: Roy C. who also- follows farming here ; Flossie, who is the wife of Jacob Kulhanek. a farmer in Custer county ; Gay, who is the wife of James Petrik, likewise a farmer here ; Gladys, who is the wife of Frank Kulhanek, an agriculturist of Custer county; \'ida, who is the wife of Louis Chrisman, a Custer county farmer ; and Dewey, who is carrying on operations on his father's farm.

GLEN O. PERKINS. - No list of the substantial and representative financial institutions of Custer county would be complete if there were failure to make mention of the Arnold State Bank. Strictly a home institution, it is backed by local men who have their capital and their reputations wrapped up in its welfare and whose ability, financial astuteness, and mature judgment are enlisted in thoroughly safeguarding the interests of the depositors. One of the stockholders and influential executives of this well ordered banking house in the village of Arnold is Glen O. Perkins, who is the incumbent of the position of cashier and who is building up for himself a high reputation in banking circles.

Mr. Perkins is a Nebraskan by birth and a Custer county man by education, inclination, and business training and association. He is indebted to the public schools of the covmty for his early educational discipline, and on the 11th of February, 1913, he became identified with the Arnold State Bank. At the same time Clarence E. Mills, who at the time of this writing is in the military service of the LInited States, became assistant cashier of the bank, he likewise being deserving of great credit for the service he rendered in connection with the development of the substantial business of the institution, while similar credit is due to the stockholders, whose personnel has remained unchanged since that time.

The Arnold State Bank was organized in 1909, with a capital stock of $10,000, and it was not long before its able executive management and its general solidity had so far increased the scope of its business as to justify an increase in the capital stock, which is now $30,000. The deposits have grown in proportionate rate, and in this have been shown forth the increasing prosperity of the community which the bank serves and also the confidence in which it is uniformly held. With the opening of the year 1919 the Arnold State Bank had deposits of nearly $500,000. As previously noted, the officials of the bank are all local men of substantial civic and financial standing, with prominent interests either as business men or as farmers and stock-growers. The personnel of the executive corps is as here noted : President, John Finch ; vice-president, Ira P. Mills : cashier. Glen O. Perkins. In addition to these officers the board of directors includes also Fay G. Finch, Alexander Delosh, P. S. Houghton, S. A. Perkins, C. E. Mills, and Dr. F. A. Burnham. At the time when the great world war came to a close the Arnold State Bank dis'played its service flag with four stars, these stars being representative of Clarence E. ^lills, former assistant cashier, who was with Company A, Headquarters Brigade, General Headquarters of the American Expeditionary Forces, France ; Lloyd S. Beltz and Hans Madison, in training at Camp Dodge, Iowa ; and George Rath, in the radio branch of the service and in training at Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana.

JOHN H. WEVERKA. who is one of Custer county's substantial and resjiected citizens, owns a large acreage of land here and has a wide reputation as a successful breeder of fine stock of all kinds, making a specialty of Poland-China hogs. He is a self-made man. in that he has built up his fortune through his own industry, his start in life having been made with a half-section given him by his father.

John H. Weverka was born in the city of Omaha, Nebraska, February 8, 1883. His parents are Martin and Frances W^everka, who were born in Austria and who came from there to the United States in 1881. Their objective point was Nebraska, and for two years after reaching this state they lived at Omaha, where their son John H. was born. Two weeks after that event they came to Custer county and homesteaded. and they still live on their property. They became the parents of ten children, and the following are living: Joseph, who is a farmer living in Kansas, married Mary Tomes ; Mary is the wife of James Kriss, a farmer north of Comstock ; Albina is the wife of Joseph Moravec. a farmer north of Comstock; John H. is the immediate subject of this sketch; and Martin, who is a farmer living near Sargent. Nebraska, married Emma Polak.

Almost a native son of Custer county. John H. Weverka has from boyhood taken a son's interest in the aflfairs and development of the county. He obtained his education in the public schools and remained at home working for his father until he was twenty-five years of age. during this time becoming skilled in farm methods and the use of farm machinery. Although a young man, Mr. Weverka, through his natural aptitude and industry, has accomplished thus far in life much more than many have with many added years. He now owns 880 acres of land, gradually acquired, a large part of which he uses for pasture. The portion that he devotes to crop-raising has a fourfoot depth of soil and is unusually fertile. He has his farm well stocked, has substantial and adequate buildings of all kinds, and an air of thrift and comfort prevails. While he is known as an excellent farmer and intelligent stock-breeder, Mr. Weverka has proven himself still more and has done work on his place that would be creditable to an engineer. ^lore than that, his work has benefited not only him.self but the county as well. Finding that about fifty acres of his land was too marshy to be successfully cultivated, he set an example of improvement by digging a drain from seven to twenty feet deep and 700 feet in length, running tile the whole distance, thereby redeeming this and adjacent land and making it particularly well adapted for certain crops. Mr. Weverka is progressive in niany ways in his farm undertakings and is so capable that they are usually very successful. He has skill with tools and does a large part of his own carpenter work. As may be imagined, he is one of the busy and cheerful men of his neighborhood. His property is located in section 11. township 18.

Mr. Weverka was married October 7, 1907, to Miss Pauline Aloravec, whose parents came from Europe and settled as pioneers in Howard county, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Weverka have seven children, namely : Rosa, Minnie, John. Paul and Pauline ( twins) , Frances and Annie. In politics he is a Democrat and is very loyal to his party organization. With his familv he belongs to the Catholic church.

C. B. LAURIDSON. - It would be hard to conceive of a more solid combination for the attainment of financial security than a bank founded upon the prosperity and landed values of such a rich agricultural county as Custer, and this fact is exemplified in the prosperity of the Farmers Bank of Mason City, of wliirh C. B. Lauridson is president. Mr. Lauridson is one of the substantial stockholders in the bank and his status as a farmer and a citizen is typical of the material upon which it rests and which has made the institution illustrative of the best type of country bank in a farming community.

Mr. Lauridson. who has l>een an extensive farmer and stock-raiser of Custer county since 1893, was born in Denmark, in 1853, a son of L. and Lyda (Bietsch) Lauridson. His parents, who were farming people and devout members of the Lutheran church, never left their native Denmark, being content to round out their careers in the peaceful atmosphere of their happy and prosperous little country.

C. B. Lauridson was given a good education in his native land, first completing the curriculum of the public schools and then being given a good training in farming in one of the leading agricultural colleges of his country, from which he was duly graduated. He was twenty-seven years of age when he decided to come to the United States, and he arrived in Iowa in 1880. He realized that his lack of knowledge of the English language was a great handicap to the attainment of success, and accordingly, during the first winter, he attended a high school. He next secured employment on a farm, on which he worked until 1887, when he rented a farm in Lancaster county. In 1893 he came to Custer county, where he purchased a small farm, and since then he has continued to add to his holdings until he is the owner of one-quarter of a section of valuable and fertile property. This has all been developed under his management and direction, and has been improved with splendid buildings, including a beautiful home, and substantial barns and outbuildings. Mr. Lauridson is a practical farmer, but also a progressive one, and he takes advantage of modern facilities. In addition to carrying on general farming, he raises full-bred Shorthorn cattle. In the capacity of president of the Farmers Bank of Mason City, a position which he has held since 1910, Mr. Lauridson has displayed financial ability of no mean character and has directed its policies so ably that it is accounted one of the county's strong and stable institutions - one founded on a rock that cannot be shaken by financial storms. While popular throughout his community. Air. Lauridson has not sought political office, although it is probable that he could have the solid Republican vote for any office which he might desire. He and the members of his family belong to the Lutheran church.

In 1888 Mr. Lauridson married Marie Nelsen. who was born in Denmark, a daughter of Nels Nelsen. and to this union there have been born two children : Helga. a graduate of the Nebraska .Vgricultural College, at Lincoln, and now in partnership with his father in his agricultural operations ; and Petra, a graduate of the domestic science department of the State L^niversity. at Lincoln, who is now a student at the State L'niversity Hospital, preparing to become a nurse, with expectations of following that profession in the great war, which came to^a close ere she was permitted to engage in this patriotic and humane service.

THOMAS B. RUSSELL, who is now living retired at Anselmo, is one of the honored pioneers of Custer county, he and his wife arriving here when the work of development had hardly begun.

Thomas Baldwin Russell was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 27, 1842, and is a son of Eli and Lydia (Jackson) Russell, natives of Pennsylvania. Eli Russell was a farmer and when his son Thomas was a boy of twelve he took his family to a pioneer farm in Union county, Indiana, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives.

Thomas B. Russell was seventh in a family ot thirteen children. His boyhood days were spent under the conditions and influences of the farm, in his native state and in Indiana. When a young man of twenty years he married and became a farmer. In 1877 he established his residence in Louisa county, Iowa, and two years later he came to Nebraska and settled in York county. In the fall of 1881 he came to Custer county and took a preemption claim of 160 acres - the southwest quarter of section 7, township 19, range 11. He also took a tree claim, the southeast quarter of section 12 of the adjoining township. His first home was a sod house, which served as shelter until a better one could be built. Neighbors were few and far between, hardships and privations were on every hand, and the nearest market place. Plum Creek, now Lexington, was sixty-five miles away, the trip requiring several days with a team. While there were numerous obstacles to be met and overcome, yet the wants were few and the thought of owning land and having a home where the children could be reared was a great source of satisfaction to Mr. and Mrs. Russell, who, with other early settlers, deserve great credit for the courage displayed and the good judgment exercised in paving the way for the transformation that has taken place, and making possible the prosperity that exists at the present dav.

August 23, 1877, at Cincinnati, Ohio, Mr. Russell was united in marriage to Miss Delia Huston, a native of Richland county, Ohio, and a daughter of Joseph McGill and Sarah (Heelin) Huston, both of whom were born in the Buckeye state The father was a soldier in the Civil war, enlisting at Newport, Kentucky. After the war he became a painting contractor and his last days were spent in New York city. His wife passed away in Ohio.

r.y a former marriage, to Jennie Parvis. Mr. Russell had a familv of five children : Nettie is the wife of C. B. F. Jones, of Ohio; Emma J. is the wife of S'idney Dennis, of Anselmo;

Florence W. married Squire Wliite and resides at College Corner, C)hio ; Minnie is deceased ; G. E. owns the old farm and resides in Denver, Colorado.

For a nnmlx-r of years Mr. Russell engaged in farming and stock-raising, but for several years past he has lived retired in a comfortable home in Anselmo. Thirty-seven years have come and gone since Mr. and Mrs. Russell became residents of this pioneer section, and they have seen it change into a community of beautiful homes and farms, with thriving villages, and with schools and churches, and while these privileges are being enjoyed we should not fail to give due credit for those brave men and women who endured the hardships and privations and made possible the conditions that exist to-day.

JOSEPH J. MORAVEC, who is a prosperous farmer and stock-raiser of Custer county, owning a valuable, well stocked, and finely improved farm in section 12, township

19, 1882, in Bohemia, and in the fall of the same year was brought to America by his parents, John and Annie (Sekot) Moravec. who also were natives of Bohemia, belonging to that large class that at that time had few opportunities in the way of advance in fortune in that country. Their very general prosperity in the United States has shown that they only needed a chance, and that they have had in the country of their adoption. It was the grandfather of Joseph J. Moravec who homesteaded in Howard county, Nebraska, and on that farm the parents settled. They had twelve children, but only two of the eight survivors live in Custer county, these being: Joseph J. and Pauline, who is the wife of John Weverka, a well known farmer and stock-breeder.

Joseph J. Moravec remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age, in the meantime acquiring a good common-school education in Howard county. He then started out for himself as a farmer, and through his energ)-. industry, and good judgment, he has acquired a large body of land, owning 720 acres, located in a particularly fertile part of the county, and to tlie natural value of his property he has added improvements in the way of substantial buildings. He carries on general farming, making use of improved machinery and using methods which insure success. While live stock of all kinds may be found on Jiis farm, he makes a special feature of Herefords or White Face cattle. Mr. Moravec keeps well informed on agricultural matters and is counted one of the dependable men in the business at the present time, when unusual demands are made on the farmers and stock-raisers.

On February 20, 1906, at Poplin church, in Sherman county. Nebraska. ^Ir. Moravec was united in marriage with Miss Albina Weverka. who is a daughter of well known people. Martin and Frances Weverka. early settlers who still live on their homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Moravec have five children, namely: Edward, Henry, William, Emma, and Alice. The familv belongs to the Catholic church.

CHRIS JUEL, a prosperous, enterprising, and prominent Custer county farmer who has pursued his vocation on an extensive scale in section 5. Broken Bow, since 1905, was born in Denmark, Januarj- 27, 1868. his parents being H. L. and Mary K. (Hansen) juel.

The parents of Mr. Juel were born in Denmark and immigrated to the United States in 1882. settling in the western part of Iowa, where the father, a cooper by trade, found profitable employment as a carpenter in the railway shops. The parents both died in Iowa, in the faith of the Lutheran church. They had but two children, the daughter now lieing Mrs. Sine Jacobson. of Omaha.

The early education of Chris Juel was obtained in the schools of his native land, and after his arrival in America, at the age of fourteen years, he was variously employed tmtil he settled down to j^ermanent farming. He had no monetary assistance or influential friends to help him to a start, and it was necessary for him to rely wholly upon his own ability and industry, but these proved sufficient to gain him the necessary foothold, and through the medium of farming and stock-raising he became the owner of 160 acres of good Iowa land. Disposing of this property in 1905, he came to Custer county and bought a farm of one-half section, which, through wise investment and capable management, he has since increased to 750 acres. Mr. Juel has an attractive and comfortable country residence, built since his arrival, as well as commodious and substantial buildings for the housing of his stock, grain, and e(|nipment. and his standing in the community is that of a skilled agriculturist and a man of integrity - one who has made his own way and has done so in an honorable manner. He carries on mixed farming and raises a hi,gh grade of Hereford cattle and Poland-China hogs. Mr. Tuel is a Demo- crat, but has found no time for politics, although he is a loyal and public-spirited citizen. In 1893 Mr. Juel married Miss Mary Pagan, who was born in Iowa, and whose father, William Pagan, is still a farmer of that state. Mr. and Mrs. Juel are the parents of six children, all residing at home - Almor, Mae, Pearl, Rita, Teresa, and Ellen.

CORTEZ E. LANG. - A native son of Custer county who has spent his entire life in this vicinity, Cortez E. Lang has been extensively engaged in farming and stock-raising and prominently identified with business affairs. He is at present the owner of a large farm in Sherman county, just across the Custer county line ; is president of the Farmers Co-operative Company of Litchfield ; and is connected with the civic afl^'airs through his incumbency of the office of township treasurer.

^Ir. Lang was born on a homestead farm in Custer county. May 19, 1876, and is a son of James R. and Rovilla Jane (Foster) Lang. His father was the first man to file on a homestead in Custer county, the one on which Cortez E. Lang was born, this filing taking place June 8, 1874. A review of the family history will be found in the sketch of James R. Lang, elsewhere in this work. Cortez E. Lang grew up amid pioneer surroundings, knowing in his boyhood little of the comforts or conveniences of civilization and securing his edu:ation in sod schoolhouses and dugouts. He early learned the value of industry, for in his boyhood and youth nothing was to be gained save by the hardest kind of work, and conditions were such as to develop a man's natural resources and tax his ingenuity to the limit. This did much, probably, to bring out his natural talents and abilities, and practically from the start of his career he his been suc:essful in his undertakings. With the exceptidn of five years, when he was engaged in the hardware and implement business at Litchfield, he has devoted himself to farming, and his present property in Sherman county, a tract of 320 acres, was purchased by him in 1904. Here lie carries on general farming, while during the winter months he does a large business in feeding cattle and hogs. He has splendid improvements on his propertv. made by himself; these including a commodious and attractive residence, substantial barns, and good outbuildings for the housing of his grain, machinery and stock. He is progressive and aggressive in character, and his propertv bears all the evidence of the capable management that ever conserves prosperity. As a business man of ability and a citizen of well known integrity, Mr. Lang was chosen president of the Farmers Cooperative Company of Litchfield, the interests of which he had advanced in no uncertain way. Fraternally he is affiliated with the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and has numerous friends therein, as he has also in business and public life. In his political views Mr. Lang is independent,' owning allegiance to no party, but endeavoring to secure the passage of good legislation and the election of worthy and capable officials. The high esteem and confidence in which he is held is shown in the fact that his fellow citizens have entrusted him with the duties connected with the office of township treasurer, and his friendship for education is evidenced in the service he has rendered and is rendering as a member of the school board. In 1896 ?klr. Lang was united in marriage with Miss Henrietta Haberstein. who was born in Germany, a daughter of Carl Haberstein. Mr. Haberstein came to Custer county in 1893, and after here living on a farm for three years he moved to Iowa. Ten years later he returned to Nebraska and located on a farm in Sherman county, where his death occurred in September. 1912. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lang - Lena, who is the wife of Mervin Halbi.son, a farmer of Sherman county : and Carl Riley. Trena, and Ernest, who remain at the parental home.

EDWARD J. FOLEY, the efficient assistant cashier of the Anselmo State Bank, was born in County Kilkenny, Ireland, .August 16, 1874, and in the same county were born his parents. Edward B. and Margaret (White) Foley, who came to America in the year 1890 and established their home on a farm northwest of Merna. Custer county, in township 18, range 21. It was an unimproved tract and their home for many years was a sod house. Here the father successfully carried on agricidtural pursuits until about three vears ago. when he and his wife moved to Sioux Citv, Iowa, where they now live retired. They are the parents of ten children and are members of the Catholic church.

Edward J. Foley was a boy of sixteen \-ears when the home was established in Custer county. \\'hen a young man of twenty-two he became a farmer, and he followed that occupation until 1902. when he removed to .Anselmo and engaged in buying grain for Jacquot & Son. Later he became a partner with Frank Jacc|uot in the grain, coal and stock business. In 1917 they sold out to the Farmers Grain Company, and for one year Mr. Foley was manager of the concern. On the 1st of March, 1918, he accepted his present position, that of assistant cashier of the Ansehno State Bank, and here he has further proved his abihty as a business man.

Mr. Foley was united in marriage to Miss Josephine Jacquot, a native of Pennsylvania. and a daughter of the late Nicholas Jacquot, a record of whom will be found on other pages of this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Foley are the parents of three children - Eugene, Elmer and Francis.

The family are communicants of the Catholi: church and Mr. Foley's political beliefs make him a Democrat. He has been successful in his business ventures and is the owner of a well improved farm of 200 acres, near Anselmo. He and his family are held in high esteem by all who know them.

EDWARD SMITH. - It has often been said that Smith was a name hard to distinguish, yet it seems that the possessor of the name written above his succeeded, at least in n modest way, in distinguishing his cognomen in the realm of ordinary citizenship and practical, profitable farming. This is an ordinary story that has been duplicated perhaps a thousand times in western Nebraska, but it nevertheless becomes interesting when narrowed down to an individual whose achievements are worthy of being published to the world.

Smith should be charged up to Ireland. It was there, in County Wicklow, in April, 1856. that he first saw the light of day. There his parents lived before him. for he was the son of John and Catherine (Collins) Smith, excellent (jeople of the Emerald Isle, who lived their plain, unpretentious lives and gave to the world a familv of nine children, of whom Terrence, John, Edward, Mary Redmond, and Catharine Hernon are the only ones living at the present time.

During his early life in Ireland. Edward Smith received the customary educational advantages, assisted his parents in the matter of livelihood, and earned his first money by trapping rabbits and catching them with dogs. In this manner he got together enough money to buy a sheep, and he kept the sheep on grass furnished bv the father until he had ten head, then he sold them and bought twelve sheep and three goats, for which his father continued to furnish pasture until the flock increased to tW'enty-four sheen, when the father broke the news to young Edward that he would be expected from that time to furnish his own pasture for the sheep, which he did. He worked at home in the summer time, went to school in the winter time, ran the gamut of young life under the conditions of his native land, and in 1880, he started his bark for the New World, in which place he already had two brothers, - - one in Chicago and one in Cass county, Nebraska. He continued his journey until he reached Cass county. It was his intention when leaving home to land in Australia, but he stopped ofif to make the boys in America a visit. His brother prevailed on him to stay in Nebraska and work a year, which he did, working the first four months for a farmer, for fifteen dollars a month. He then demanded more wages, which were refused. He then worked a year for eighteen dollars a month, and he has been working ever since, although his remuneration has far exceeded the stipend just mentioned. In 1884 he came farther west, and this time he settled in Custer county, where he took a tree claim on Stock Table, eleven miles southwest of Callaway, and at the same time bought 320 acres of railroad land in the same section, for $2.50 an acre. This was early in the month of October, and the next morning two feet of snow covered the ground. He went back to Cass county, but he returned the next spring, with Robert Gordon, and took a homestead five miles west of Callaway, where he still resides. Here he spent a number of years in cultivating and improving his place, maintaining the while bachelor headquarters. Growing tired of this, he .was married in September, 1889, in Chicago, to Elizabeth Dolan, who was born in Wisconsin, a daughter of Patrick and Mary (O'Rourke) Dolan. In the home of Mr. and Mrs. Smith are four children : John, eighteen years of age, registered under the draft, awaiting call to service in the world war, now brought to a close; Edward P., James, and Catherine are at home under the parental roof and are pursuing their studies in the public schools.

Mr. Smith owns 880 acres of good Custer county land, is a devoted communicant of the Catholic church, is afifiliated with the Knights of Columbus, and usually votes the Democratic ticket. He has made his money and accumulated his property by farming and stock-raising. He and his good wife are highly respected in the community and their friends are hoping that they may have a long and prosperous time in which to enjoy the fruits of their toil.

experiences and is now making a very creditable showing in Custer county agriculture, and who maintains a standing as one of the young, reliable and substantial farmers of Custer county - a man who must be reckoned as one of the county's assets.

Charles E. Rarden was born in Brown county, Indiana, January 4. 1881, and is a son of Thomas and Martha ( Stepp) Rarden, both likewise natives of the fine old Hoosier state. This story, so far as it relates to the family of Thomas Rarden, must record the names of seven living children and add that two of the circle of nine are deceased. Those living are William, Charles E.. Walter. Minnie Bowers. Etta Carpenter, Rosa Jerrel, and Lola Carpenter.

Concerning his boyhood days, Charles E. Rarden relates many reminiscences and states that the first money he remembers of handling himself was earned by plowing corn for a neighbor, with a span of mules. This money was spent for a suit of clothes, of which he was very proud, and he believes to this day that when he had that suit on. "Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed" as he was. He worked on the Indiana farm until he was fifteen years of age and then went out to make his own way in a world where there is a good deal of ufHhill to "go down." His first employer was a railroad contractor, named Perkins, and for this contractor he worked seven years, constructing railway lines between Cincinnati and Chicago. After quitting this job, he went to Orange county, Indiana, where he farmed for his uncle, for two years. Later, in company with a friend named Claude Earl, he started for Sheridan. Wyoming. They became stranded at Horton. Kansas, and a careful search in the lining of his pocketbook could di.sclose but fifty cents. This somewhat dampened their ardor for the west and cooled off the Wyoming fever. Mr. Rarden declares that if he had had the price of a ticket "it would have been him for old Indiana again." As it was. he secured work in a saw mill, and finally he made his way to Fairbury, Nebraska, in which vicinity he stayed one year, and worked on a farm. From that locality he made his way to Broken Bow, in 1908. Since that time he has l)een a resident of Custer county.

In the new county Mr. Rarden soon succumbed t<i the charms of one of its fair daughters, and when the roses bloomed in the June time of the next year. 1909. he led Miss Lela Cox to the marriage altar. Mrs. Rarden is a daughter of .Adelbert and Mae ( Laurence) Cox. both of whom were born in Indiana, and thus the ofi^springs of two Hoosier homes

Into the Rarden home six children have made their advent - Ellis C. Esther. Clifford. Mildred, Helen and Marshall. All are bright, promising children and as they come up to manhood and womanhood the\- will be of great assistance in connection with the efforts of their parents.

After his marriage. .Mr. Rarden worked for three years by the month, after which he rented a place and farmed for himself six years. He accumulated money, and eight and onehalf miles northwest of Callaway he has recently bought a tract of -100 acres, which is now the Rarden home. He milks eight cows and from their profits secures on an average, forty dollars a month. He is raising hogs and cattle, and from what might be considered a good start he is climbing rapidly toward the top. He is an Odd Fellow, and a Woodman, and he votes the Republican ticket. He and his wife have a good standing in their home communitv.

CHARLES E. BASS is one of the business men of Custer county who has made a success of his undertakings, and his sound judgment and keen business ability have been potent factors in the building up of the several enterprises in which he is interested.

Mr. Bass was born in Gibson county. Indiana. January 19. 1870. and is a son of Alexander and Elmira (Holcomb) Bass, of whom extended mention is made on other pages of this volume, in a sketch written for Dr. T. W. Bass, of Broken Bow.

Cliarles E. Bass was a lad of fourteen years when the family home \vas established in Nebraska. At the age of nineteen years he found employment on a farm. Later he became a barber in Broken Bow. and he also followed the barber's trade for five years at Grand Island. In 1900 he came to Anselmo, where, with W. E. Warren, he embarked in the mercantile business, also buying and shipping stock. This partnership continued twelve years, when Mr. Bass lx>ught his partner's interest. The firm is now Moulton & Bass, and they handle a full line of general merchandise. Mr. Bass and his brother \\'. W. own a hardware business in Anselmo and with his brother J. G. he conducts a similar enterprise at Mason City, both these store buildings having been erected and owned by Charles E. Mr. Bass has been extensively engaged in the cattle business for several vears and is the owner of 2,500 acres of land in Custer county, as well as half a section of land in Keith county, the Custer county ranch being operated by his brother C. R. Mr. Bass is loud in his praises of his adopted county, and by industry, good judgment, and wise use of opportunities he has builded wisely and well, with the result that he is to-day one of the eminently successful business men and public-spirited citizens of the county.

At Broken Bow, ]\Ir. Bass was united in marriage to Aliss Noma AI. Fenner, a native of Wisconsin, and they are the parents of three children - Clare, Opal, and Lawrence.

Mr. Bass is a member of the Anselmo Lodge of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons and has taken both York and Scottish Rite degrees, being a member of the commandery of Knights Templars at Broken Bow, and also a member of the temple of the Mystic Shrine at Omaha. He belongs also to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Order of the Eastern Star. In politics he is Republican, and he has served as a member of the city council and also on the school board. ]\Ir. Bass may truly be called a self-made man, as his success is the result of his own efforts, and he is held in the highest of esteem by all who know him.

FRANK \'ISEK, who is engaged in farming five miles north of Comstock. is one of the men of Custer county who has made good use of his opportunities, and his life record illustrates what may be accomplished by one who is industrious and has an ambition to succeed.

Alr.^Visek was born in Bohemia, January 1, 1867, and is a son of John and Katie ( S'evera) Visek, who spent their entire lives in their native land. They were farming people and were the parents of eight children, all of whom are living. Two sons, John and James, live near their brother Frank, and a sister, Mrs. Mary Drobny, is a resident of Valley countv.