Custer County, Nebraska - Founders and Builders, 1919 (part 24 of 32)

riage to his first wife, whose maiden name was Mary Williams. Upon coming to Neliraska he and his wife first located in Box Butte county, about 1876. when the Indians were still plentiful in that section of the state. In 1893 Mr. and Mrs. Cherr)' came to Custer county, where they located by renting the farm which he later purchased of Walter George, and upon which he was residing at the time of his death. After coming to the county Mr. Cherry was soiuewhat discouraged by the conditions that here prevailed during the memorable period of drouth in 1894-5, and in the latter year he removed to Nuckolls county, where occurred the death of his beloved wife, her remains being laid to rest in the cemetery at Nora, that county. In Nuckolls county Mr. Cherry rented a ranch of 800 acres, and under his direction all but thirty acres of this tract was maintained under effective cultivation. He there continued his successful operations as a grain-grower until 1902, the previous year having recorded his second marriage - to Lydia M. Kinsey, of Custer county. In 1902 he came with his family to Custer county, where he purchased the half-section of land which is now known as the old Cherry homestead. The place had but few improvements when Mr. Cherry became owner of the property, and by him were provided all of the buildings and other fine improvements which embellish and add to the value of the estate at the present time. For several years the family here occupied a sod house of the primitive pioneer type, but with increasing prosperity this gave place to the present attractive and commodious farm residence. Mr. Cherry was a man of indefatigable industry, of nature judgment, and of progressive policies, so that he achieved a large measure of success in connection with his farm enterprise.

In a fraternal way Mr. Cherry was affiliated with the Improvecf Order of Red Men for a few years, but on account of hard times he dropped his active affiliation, but his greatest satisfaction was gained through the prosecution of active Christian work and service. For a number of years he and his wife were connected with the Methodist church, but finally he and his entire family became members of the Presbyterian church, in which he held the office of elder for a period of nine years. For twenty-one years he was an active Christian and church member, and he took specially deep interest in the neighborhood Sunday school. This was a matter of much solicitude to him and in the period culminating in his death he earnestly urged his family and his neighbors and other friends to keep the Sunday school in continuous service. "Don't let it go down," he begged, over and again. His deep concern was for the school and its work, but as his life neared its end he was not dismayed or afraid for himself, for, as he stated, he knew "that his Savior would take care of him and that he would be saved." He selected the Scripture lesson and also the text of the sermon for his funeral service, the same being found in the twenty-fourth chapter of the gospel of Joshua, beginning at the fourteenth verse, and closing with the twenty-fourth verse, the text being a part of verse 15 : "Choose you this day whom you will serve." He also made arrangements for his own sons and sons-in-law to act as pallbearers.

At the death of Mr. Cherry his wife was left well provided for, according to plans pre-arranged by him, and she has continued to be devoted to the work in vihich he had proved so faithful. His brother John is administrator of the family estate, ^^'ithin the p)eriod of his first residence in Custer county Mr. Cherry assisted in the erection of the neighborhood schoolhouse in which the Presbyterian church services are now held. He gave freely of his influence and co-operation in the furtherance of public improvements and community needs, and for two years he was road overseer of Loup precinct. His political allegiance was given to the Republican party. He lived and labored to righteous ends. and. now that he has passed away, his influence remains as a benediction upon all who came within its gracious sphere.

On the 17th of July. 1901. was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Cherrry to Lydia, a daughter of John A. Jennings, in whose personal sketch, on other pages of this work, is given adequate record concerning the family. Mrs. Cherry proved to her husband a devoted companion and helpmeet and since his death she is sustained and comforted by the hallowed memories of their gracious association in the years that have passed. Mr. Cherry and his first wife became the parents of eleven children, of whom the wife and six children passed over to await his arrival in glorj- and five children survive the honored father, namely : Mrs. Elizabeth Jane (Cherry) Watts, Joseph H. Cherry, Jr., Hester .Ann Cherry, Mrs. Mary Alice (Cherry) Morgan. John \\'illiams Cherry. Jr-

JOHN H. HANN.\ is a citizen whom misfortune has visited as the result of an accident with which he met in 1906, since which time he has been virtually incapacitated, though he is a man in the very prime of life. In the autumn of the year mentioned above, Mr. Hanna was severely injured by a fall from a windmill tower on his fine farm, and he has never recovered from the effects of this deplorable accident. He is thus unable to give his personal and direct attention to business affairs or the active management of his farm, but he is favored in having a wife whose capacity for business is marked and who, with the assistance of their children, is effectively continuing the direction of the farm activities, the while Mr. Hanna is assured of the sympathy and good will of the community in which he was winning precedence as a farmer at the time when he encountered his deplorable accident. It is pleasing to accord him recognition in this history and also to pay a merited tribute to Mrs. Hanna.

Mr. Hanna was born in the state of Iowa, on the 6th of October, 1874, and is a son of Septimus E. and Julia (Thomas) Hanna, the former of whom was born in Chester county, Pennsylvania, and the latter of whom was born on an island in beautiful Lake Champlain. The parents of Mr. Hanna became residents of Custer county, Nebraska, in the spring of 1882, and thus they gained pioneer honors in this county, where they stiil reside. Their children are eight in number - Mrs. B. G. Evans, Mrs. Grant Turnbull, John Henry, Leroy, Mrs. Robert Beauchamp, Oscar, Howard, and Stanley.

John Henry Hanna acquired his rudimentary education in the schools of his native state, but he was about eight years of age when the family home was established in Custer county. Here he attended the pioneer schools and here also he gained full fellowship with the practical work of the home farm. Thus he was amply fortified in experience when he instituted his independent activities as a farmer. After their marriage he and his wife established a home of their own, and by assiduous application and good management they succeeded in making a splendid farm of 380 acres the stage of their effective operations. This fine farm, to the work and management of which Mr. Hanna gave his personal supervision until incapacitated, as noted in a preceding paragraph, is situated on West Table, twelve miles west of Broken Bow. Of the tract 150 acres are under effective cultivation and the place is devoted to diversified agriculture and stock-growing.

On the 20th of Tune, 1897, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Hanna to Miss Irena Mabel Philipsen, who was born near Springfield, Illinois, but who has been a resident of Custer county since her early childhood. Mr^ Hanna is a daughter of John Jacob Philipsen and Mary Amanda (Stone) Philipsen, the former of whom was born in Dantzic. Prussia, May 15, 1837, and the latter of whom was born in Wabash county, Illinois. Mr. Philipsen was a young man when he immigrated to America, and for several years thereafter he was identified with farm enterprise in Illinois, where his marriage occurred. Not many years after the birth of his daughter Irena M. (Mrs. Hanna) he came from Piatt county, Illinois, to Nebraska, and established himself as a pioneer farmer in Custer county. He was one of the prosperous and honored citizens of the county and contributed his share to social and industrial progress. The death of Mr. Philipsen occurred May 3, 1911, his wife having passed away February 8, 1893. Of the family of fourteen children, the nine who attained to maturity are here mentioned : Mrs. Ella Longfellow, Mrs. Augusta Hargett, Edmund F., Mrs. Elizabeth Dagan (deceased), John J., Mrs. Rosetta .Hanna, Mrs. Irena M. Hanna, William O., and Mrs. Annie L. Brown.

Mrs. Hanna was reared on the old home farm of her parents, and acquired her early education in the public schools of this county, the while her devoted mother did not fail to instruct her well in the domestic arts and duties. She remained at the paternal home until her marriage, and since her husband became afflicted she has shown herself well qualified for the added responsibilities that have fallen upon her in connection with the operations of their farm and all incidental business. They are highly esteemed citizens and Mrs. Hanna is a popular factor in the social activities of her home community, with a circle of friends that is limited only by that of her acquaintances Of the six children of Mr. and Mrs. Hanna five are living, and concerning them the following brief record is consistently entered in conclusion of this sketch: Guy E., who was born March 3, 1898, and who resides on and assists in the management of the home farm, was in the final draft of young men to be called to militarv service in the world war, which came to a close before he was summoned for preliminary' training; and the younger children likewise remain at the parental home, their names and respective dates of birth being as follows - Floyd H., Tanuarv 1, 1900; Septimus E., March 7, 1901 ; Ralph H., July 20, 1906; and Iva Mae, October 5, 1909.

THOMAS CONDON. - Among those who were early settlers of Custer county and who for years contributed to the upbuilding of the community was the sterling pioneer whose name introduces this memoir.

Thomas Condon was born at Shanagolden, County Limerick, Ireland, November 10, 1846. He came to America when a young man. but after remaining here two years he returned to his native land and after two years spent there he again took a noteworthy voyage, - this time going to New Zealand, where he remained seven years. By way of California and across the continent he finally came to Omaha, Nebraska, and in the early '80s he came to Custer county and took a homestead of 160 acres in sections 5 and 8 of township 18, range 22. His first home was a sod house and he had the usual hardships and experiences that fell to the lot of the early-day pioneers of the county. He was successful as a fanner and to his original tract he added 160 acres adjoining. The old sod house was replaced with a frame dwelling and he continued in the cultivation of his land until his death, which occurred Jaiuiar}' 2. 1909.

On the 1st of June, 1895, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Condon to !Miss Mary Maroney, who was born at Trenton. New Jersey, a daughter of IMartin and Mary (Daugherty) Alaroney. !Mr. and ]\Irs. Condon became the parents of two children, Mary Ellen and Thomas, who are at home with their mother. The family are communicants of the Catholic church. In the death of Thomas Condon the community lost a representative citizen and his immediate family a loving husband and father.

MRS. RUTH SHER:**IAN, who possesses the unique distinction of having been the first postmistress of the Sargent community of Custer county, although there was no town here by the name at that time, was one of the earliest settlers of this region, coming in 1879, when there were no houses in the valley and but three or four dug-outs to give evidence of human habitation. It has been her fortune and privilege to witness and participate in the great changes which have taken place during a period of forty years and to have accomplished her share in the development of one of the great counties of an important commonwealth.

Mrs. Sherman was born January 28, 1844, at Morgantown, West Virginia (then Virginia), a daughter of William and Amy (Gapen) Courtney, the former a native of

Morgantown, and the latter of Greensboro, Pennsylvania. In 1859 the father, who was a farmer, took the family to Missouri, but two years later the Civil war came on and, as the sympathies of the Courtneys all rested with the Union, matters became so unpleasant for them in that state that they disposed of their interests there and moved to Illinois. That state continued to be their home until 1880, when they came to Custer county and horiiesteaded close to the present site of Sargent, and there Mr. Courtney continued to be industriously engaged in fanning until his retirement He moved then to Lincoln, where his death occurred in 1892, Mrs. Courtney following him to the grave during the next year. They were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Courtney played an important part, assisting to build the first church of that denomination at Sargent and always being a liberal contributor. He was an ardent Republican, and so outspoken was he during the troublous times immediatelv preceding the outbreak of the Civil war that he was classed among those who were known as "Black Republicans." He and his wife were the parents of twelve children: Thomas, a fanner of Palmyra, }iIissouri, who married Elizabeth Nicker ; W. Fletcher, a resident of Arbela, Missouri, who married Margaret Stroh : J^Iaria L., who married D. M. Shaw, a cement manufacturer of Sargent; Ruth ; Hannah M., of Sargent, the widow of William Sherman ; James D., a farmer six miles south of Omaha, who married Itasca Perrin : Miller W., a coal operator of Streator, Illinois, who married Eliza Worthington ; Laura H., the wife of S. W. Perrin, who for twenty-nine years has been superintendent of the State Fann. at Lincoln; Ella, is the wife of Levi Gapen, of Whitewater, Wisconsin ; and the three others are deceased.

Mrs. Ruth Sherman received her early education in the public schools of \'irginia and Illinois, and was reared in a manner that fitted her admirably for the duties of a farmer's wife. She was married Januarv 14, 1866, at Sunbury, Illinois, to George W. Sherman, who was born at Byron, New York. September 7, 1835, a son of Reuben and Almeda (Shedd) Sherman, the fomier a native of \'ermont and the latter of Byron, New York. In 1874 Mr. and Mrs. Sherman moved from their farm to Streator, Illinois, and in 1879 came to Custer county and homesteaded one and one-half miles northeast o^ the present site of Sargent. There they continued to live for twenty years, but in the fall of 1899 Mr. Sherman retired from active life and the family moved to Sargent. Mrs. Shennan had the honor of being the tirst postmistress here, the postoffice being located in the family farm-house, where mail was delivered by stage from North Lotip once each week. When the village of Sargent was started, in 1883, Mrs. Sherman relinquished the ofifice in favor of John Spacht. She is a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which she has been an active worker. Mr. Sherman was a Republican in politics and served as supervisor of Custer county for one term. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was a prominent figure therein, passing all the official chairs and being a delegate to several conventions. He passed away November 11, 1904, at the age of fifty-nine years.

Mr. and Mrs. Sherman became the parents of two children : Nellie S. is the wife of Andrew F. Phillips, a banker of Sargent ; and Harry A., who married Ora S. Spooner, is a banker, real-estate operator and insurance man of Sargent, a sketch of his career being given on another page of this volume.

JOSEPH A. HARRIS. - Living not far from Walworth, on what is for this day an extensive stock ranch, is one of the successful stockmen and farmers of Custer county, and this sterling citizen is he whose name introduces this paragraph.

Joseph A. Harris hails from the Hoosier state, in which commonwealth he was born March 16, 18f)2. His parents were Aaron and Elizabeth (Winkoop) Harris, both excellent people and natives of the Buckeye state. .\aron Harris was a farmer all his life. During the Civil war fie enlisted in the Union army, but after serving only three months he was discharged, on account of injuries which he had received and from which he died before he could reach his home. Of his thirteen children only three are living at the present time - one resides in California, one in Oregon, and the third surviving child is the subject of this sketch.

In 1881 Joseph A. Harris came with his mother to Custer county and located a homestead in section 28, township 20, range 19. On this place he lived about nine years That definite and well merited success has attended his efforts during the intervening years is fully vouched for by his status at the present time, and he is to be designated as one of the progressive pioneers who have been resourceful factors in the development of the splendid resources of Custer county, where to-day he is the owner of 1,120 acres of land, the most of which is in pasture and well stocked with cattle and horses, the while the building equipments and other improvements are of excellent order.

On the 23d of September, 1890, at Taylor, Loup county, Nebraska, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Harris to Miss Louisa M. Long, the estimable daughter of Mrs. Susannah Long, who was a widow at the time when she came to Nebraska and numbered herself among the pioneers of Custer county, her husband having died June 18. 1882. In the autumn of 1884 Mrs. Susannah Long, accompanied by her two sons and three daughters - Jim, Patterson, Louisa, Mattie, and Emma - came to Custer county, the son Jim, who was married at the time, having returned to Indiana about two years later, on account of the ill health of his wife. Mrs. Long, her son Patterson and her daughters Louisa and Mattie, all homesteaded land north of Walworth this county, and the other daughter, Emma, became the wife of John Stephenson, of Broken Bow. ^Ir. and Mrs. Harris still reside on the homestead which Mrs. Harris thus obtained in the j^ioneer days. The claims of the mother and children were adjoining, and by exceedingly hard work and the enduring of many privation.s and other hardships, they succeeded in holding the properties. Jim Long took a homestead in an adjoining section, and still another homestead was located by W. T. Morford. a brother-inlaw of Mrs. Harris. All this gave to representatives of the Long family extensive land holdings, but of the immediate family Mrs. Harris is now the only one remaining in Custer county.

Until the time of her marriage Mrs. Harris made her own way and improved her claim to the best of her ability. At the time of her homesteading it was impossible for her to obtain work, so she made three difi^erent trips to B.jone county, this state, where she secured work and saved money with which to ini])rove her claim. She made the trips overland in an old-fashioned buckboard. Later she secured work in Broken Bow, at the famous Marble Top hotel. Her indomitable spirit prevailed over all obstacles and she succeeded in her homestead enterprise.

Mr. Harris was educated in the district schools of Boone county, Indiana, and has made splendid use of even*- advantage afforded him. Practically all his life has been spent in Custer county, and the privations and hardships incident to pioneer life are known to him by actual experience. He recalls that on one occasion a j)arty of five, consisting of himself, John \\'elsher, Ed. Roberts, Bruce Smith, and Roland Richardson, were hauling grain to the Stems ranch when they were overtaken by one of the unfriendly blizzards so well remembered by the old-timers. All night long they had to cut green willows and keep up a fire with green wood, in order to keep from freezing to death. After getting to their destination they received twenty cents a bushel for the corn they were hauling. It was on this trip that they lost their waterbucket while trying to get water out of an air hole in the ice-covered river, and, with nothing with which to stir up their pancakes, they subsisted for the rest of the trip on cold meals.

Into the Harris home two children were born : Aaron lives north of Walworth, on one of his father's farms. His wife's maiden name was Gladys Williams. James is single and lives at home. Susie Stephenson, a niece of Mrs. Harris, has made her home with her aunt and uncle since the death of her mother, February 2, 1901.

Mr. Harris had his experience with horse thieves and was one of a party who tried to stop a man and woman who had stolen a pair of horses farther south in this county. The thieves drove across the countn- without regard to roads and when their horses became exhausted, at the point of a revolver thev compelled some farmer to exchange teams, and then drove on as far as they could drive the fresh horses. Of course the owners of these teams followed up the trail and secured their horses after the thieves had abandoned them. They tried to elude their pursuers by concealing the woman in the bottom of the wagon-box. It was Mr. Harris' young boys that saw her prostrate in the wagon and thus identified the parties. The thieves succeeded, however, in evading capture. At the time their trail was lost by the pursuers they were driving a team appropriated from Mr. Goldson, who was not fortunate enough to recover it.

Politically Mr. Harris afifiliates with the Republican party. Mr. and Mrs. Harris are representative citizens, are well established in a comfortable home and enjoy the confidence of their neighbors.

JAMES B. HARTSON. - The man who develops a farm, maintains a home and rears a family, eveny^ member of which is a contribution to good citizenship, is entitled to equal rank with the "noblest Roman of them all." That is the kind of a man this story concerns.

James B. Hartson was born February 9, 1848, and is a son of Lucius D. and Elizabeth (Robinson) Hartson. splendid people whose life historv runs much the same as that of the major portion of the generation to which they belonged. Lucius D. Hartson was a native of Connecticut, and his good wife first saw the light of day midst the Pennsylvania hills. Lucius D. Hartson, born September 8, 1821, lived in the day when opportunities wen-. rare and childhood was expected to pay its way in manual labor from tenderest years. Accordingly, he was apprenticed as a boy and learned the machinist's trade, but this vocation being not entirely to his liking, he later studied veterinary surgery and made that the profession which he followed more or less during his entire life. In early life he moved to Pennsylvania, where he formed the acquaintance of the one who was to be his wife and the mother of his children, and here he led her to the marriage altar in 1842. Into their home came nine children, five sons and four daughters : Namon W. is deceased ; James B. is the successful farmer of whom we write ; Jerod D. lives in Charles City, Iowa ; Riley A. is in South Dakota ; Holley has his home in Nevada, Missouri ; Julia M. became the wife of Andrew Parker but is now a widow and conducts a hotel at Lemon, South Dakota : Elsie is the wife of T. N. Moore, of Riverton, Nebraska ; Lucy J. is the wife of James Cullom, of Lawrence, Kansas ; and Adelia is deceased.

In 1860 Lucius D. Hartson moved to Chickasaw county, Iowa, where he followed farming until 1876. He then removed with his family to Smith county, Kansas, which place was then on the Kansas frontier, anrl there he became a successful farmer. He remained in Kansas until 1909, when he came to Custer county to make his home with his son James, the subject of this sketch, and here he lived until his death, in 1913. His good wife had preceded him to the other land by eleven years. Her demise occurred in Kansas.

James B. Hartson's migrations run almost the same course as those of his father liefore him. When he was eight years of age the family left Pennsylvania for Wisconsin, and four years later they removed to Iowa. The education by which Mr. Hartson was enabled to make a success of business was received in the pulilic schools of Wisconsin and Iowa, and in the latter state he began his first farming operations. He also inclined to the veterinan' profession, and has practiced the same with success until the present time, in connection with his farming and stock-raising. He remained in Iowa several years, when he, too, removed to Kansas and settled in Smith county, where he rented land, and continued to farm for seventeen years. He came north to Nebraska and settling in Custer county in the spring of 1902. He immediately became one of the forces of the central county in Nebraska, and in ever}' operation he has proved himself to be a "live wire." He located near Sargent, where he lived one year, until the fall of 1903, when he bought 480 acres of land located in section 14, township 20, range 21, .where he now resides, engaged in active and successful ranching in all its dififerent phases, but making a specialty of stock-raising. Not content with what stock he can raise, he conducts a general business of buying and selling cattle and hogs, horses and mules. He has made a decided success of these operations, and in the last decade has laid the foundations of what a few years ago would be called a neat fortune. He came to Custer county without money and heavily in debt. He now owns 1,200 acres of land, on which he has four set of good buildings, all practically new. Three of the houses have full basements and are more or less modern in the internal construction.

The domestic and familv life of Mr. Hartson began Januarv 16, 1875, when he was married to Miss Mary Etta Snyder, daughter of Thomas H. and Sarah (Brock) Snyder. Mrs. Hartson's father was a native of Wisconsin and her mother a New York lady of high standing. Both passed away in September, 1867, leaving three daughters, mere children - Mrs. Hartson : Ida Maria, the wife of Fred Ably, now living in the state of W'ashineton ; and Mrs. Randall, now residing in Atlantic, Iowa. One brother died in infancv. Mrs. Hartson was born November 12, 1857.

Into the splendid home maintained by Mr. and Mrs. Hartson has come a splendid group of eight bright, happy children, who are now assuming the responsibilities and oblieations of life with credit to their parents: Ralph I,, was born October 17, 1877: Mattie May, was born August 25, 1879, and is now the wife of John IMolesworth, of Almeria. Nebraska : Florence E. was born November 18, 1881, an.i is the wife of Samuel Marick, of Riverton, Franklin countv, Nebraska ; Nellie M., who was born May 25, 1884. is the wife of Edward Marick, and resides in Smith countv, Kansas : George Thomas, born May 22, 1889, is making good as a Custer countv farmer ; Marv A., born September 7, 1896, is the wife of Ravmond Renv, and lives in Custer countv.: Mabel Grace, horn in September. 1899, is at home: Virdie L.. bom March 13. 1891. died March 27, 1911; Ralph L. remains at home with his father and assists in the management of the ranch and stock business.

up his own political platform and votes for candidates who, in his judgment, are best fitted to serve the people. He is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge in Anselmo, and is a Universalist in religious belief. Few men have accomplished more in the years of their life, and still fewer have achieved in the last fifteen years what Mr. Hartson accomplished from a start that was less than nothing. He has a splendid family and is an excellent citizen.

B. FRANK COULTER. - The story of B. Frank Coulter commences July 14, 1883, at which time he discovered America in Shelby county, Illinois. His father, William B. Coulter, was a Pennsylvanian, and his mother was Louise (Burlew) Coulter. In the father's family were eight children - William H. Coulter, Charles A. Coulter, Mary E. (Coulter) Harriger, John R. Coulter, Lambert Coulter, Benjamin F . Coulter (of whom this story is related). Nellie (Coulter) Graham, and Mabel ( Coulter) Baker.

Mr. Coulter's parents died when he was less than seven years of age. and, left alone in the world, he was befriended by an uncle, B. F. Doyle, with whom he made his home until he was thirteen years of age. He attended the common schools, worked on the farnij, did chores and made himself generally useful. In the matter of earning his first money, Mr. Coulter says one of his uncle's neighbors had a bulldog which persisted in making his home on the Doyle homestead. The neighbor promised young Frank a pair of guinea hens if he would run the bulldog off and scare him so he would stay at home. This the boy undertook to do, and how well he succeeded is not recorded in history, but he got possession of the guineas and sold them for twenty-five cents. He added to this first capital by picking up potatoes all day for ten cents. This gave him a working capital of thirty-five cents, to which his brother donated another nickle, and the entire amount was invested in a pair of sheepskin-lined mittens, with the result that no matter how many times young Frank had cold feet that winter, his hands were alwavs warm.

April 10. 1907, at Walnut, Iowa, Mr. Coulter was united in marriage to Catherine Gundy, who was born in Illinois. Mrs. Coulter's father, Albert Gundy, was a native of Germany. Her mother, ]\Iary A. ( LeRette ) Gundy, like herself, was a native of Illinois. In the Gundy family were thirteen children, ten of whom are living to-day: Henry, Frank E., Frederick J., Man' Booth, Margaret .Mlard, Catherine Coul- ter, Lewis A., Lucy A. Roucis. Andrew N., and George W. The Gundys have hehJ earnestly to the faith of the Catliohc church. Mr. and Mrs. Coulter have four children, Ruth F.. Gilbert B., Lyle E., and Marjorie ^L. all of whom are still at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Coulter came to Custer county in the early part of 1910 and for four year's lived on a rented farm. They then bought 325 acres in section 5, township 16, range 22. Of this farm 260 acres are under cultivation and the place is well improved. Mr. Coulter is arranging to stock the farm with thoroughbred short-horn cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs. He is one of the progressive young farmers of the county, a representative of the class of vigorous men who are coming on to take the place of the old-time settlers who turned the virgin soil over for the first time with "grasshopper"" breaking-plows.

Mr. Coulter does not belong to the school of farmers who believe that anything is good enough and any way good enough, and is always ready to avail himself of better methods and facilities. Not satisfied with scrub stock of any sort, Mr. Coulter believes the best that can be produced will be the most profitable. Mr. and Mrs. Coulter are sterling people and have a host of warm friends.

RALPH CLEMENTS was born in Allegan county, Michigan, February 17, 1879. His parents were Eugene and Eva ( Belden ) Clements, and they were not only both born in the same town in Ohio, but in the same house. The father was a skilled mechanic and was foreman of a lumber mill in Allegan county until March 6, 1898, when he came to \'alley county, Nebraska, and from then on until his death he followed blacksniithing. His family consisted of eight children and five of these are living, but Ral])h is the only one residing in Custer county.

Ralph Clements had educational advantages in Michigan, taking a high school course after the common school grades, and accompanied his parents when they came to Nebraska, in which state he has ever since made his home. Since the age of tw-enty-one years he has engineered his own path in life, beginning at the bottom of the ladder as a farm helper and gradually, through hard work, advancing until now he owns 30OO acres of land in this state and has his Custer county land well stocked with Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. The greater portion of his land lies in Loup county, but enough is in Custer to make him a heavy tax payer here. He takes a good citizen's interest in all that concerns this section

Mr. Clements was married at Burwell, Nebraska, December 21, 1907, to Frances E. McKenney, whose parents were early settlers in Garfield and now live in Loup county. Mr. and Mrs. Clements have two chldren, Ralph and Jesse, and an adopted son, Walter Lund, who is now sixteen years old.

JOHN FANTA. - The province of Moravia should be given full credit for the bachelor farmer to whom this paragraph pays tribute. He is making a mark in Custer county that will soon rate him as one of the thriftiest of our foreign born citizens to be found in any section of the Middle West.

He was born August 9, 1889, in Moravia. His father, John Fanta, and his mother, Josie (Rouse) Fanta, were both natives of ^Ioravia, where the father worked at the carpenter trade at times, and followed farming occasionally. They never came to the United States. In the father's family were three children, two sisters besides young John. One of them still lives in the old country with her parents ; the other is Mrs. Mary Nekuda, who lives a fewmiles w-est of Sargent, on the Middle Loup river.

John Fanta received his education in the common schools of Moravia before he came to the United States, but feeling that the new world held more for him, and that here ilie opportunities would far exceed the almost hopelessness of his native land, he turned his face to the west, crossed the ocean, and the star of destiny led him on until he reached Custer county, April 1, 1903. It was All Fools Day, but John's coming was no joke. He meant business from the start, and with his coat off and his sleeves rolled up, the sturdy youth went to work. He worked wherever he could get a job. He worked for several years on farms. He saved his money, and recentlv has been able to buy 240 acres of land of R. P. Leach, on which he now lives, and which has been in his possession for two years. He is following farrfi and stockraising operations, and is laying the foundation for a splendid business in these activities. He never married. So far, he is the master of the situation in the home as well as on the farm, and must operate the range in the kitchen as well as the harvester in the field.

He is a member of the Modern ^^'oodman of America, a Democrat in politics, a faithful adherent of the Roman Catholic church, and when you see his farm and the stock that he already owns and consider that when he reached this country, fifteen years ago, in debt for his ticket that brought 'him to the land of opportunity, one feels like taking off his nat to such energy and thrift.

HIRAM C. CHASE. - From the year 1890 until his death, in 1913, the late Hiram C Chase was prominently identified with the busmess interests of Mason City, where he established a lastmg reputation for ability in commercial affairs, integrity in transactions and engagements, and probity in personal character. His career was one in which he attained success through merit and not by chance or fortunate circumstance, and his citizenship was of a public-spirited order that lent Itself helpfully to every constructive movement for the general welfare.

Mr. Chase was born at Strawberry Point Clayton county, Iowa, May 28. 1866, and was a son of Dr. Hiram C. and Eunice (Lyon) Chase, natives of New York state. Dr Chase had the distinction of being the first Iiomeopathic physician to practice in Iowa, where for many years he followed his profession, but after the death of his wife he came to Mason City Nebraska, where he passed away. He was long affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, was I staunch Republican, and held various offices both m the Masonic order and in public life He was the father of eighteen children.

Hiram C. Chase, the subject of this memoir received his early education in the public schools of Iowa, and under the instruction of his brother he studied pharmacy, his preceptor being Dr. Warren T. Chase. In 1886 he engaged in business on his own account, for in that year he opened a drug store at Ashton Nebraska, but after four years he came to Mason City, where he rose to prominence and where he achieved success. He entered business life here as the proprietor of a pharmacy he conducted for a period of fifteen years, and in the meantime he became interested in real estate, and, finding that he possessed marked talents in that direction he eventually disposed of his drug business 'and gave all of his attention to the handling of realty, a line in which he eventually became one of the best known and most successful men in Mason City and the surrounding country. He was so engaged at the time of his death, July 10, 1913, when his community lost one of its most valued and capable men of business. Mr. Chase was a strong and loyal_ Mason, having passed the official chairs of his lodge, and his funeral was held under the auspices of that fraternity. A loyal Republican, he never sought office, but he wielded

In 1893 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Chase to Miss Martha Riese, who was born May 30, 1875, at Juda. Wisconsin, a daughter of William and Wilhelmina Riese, who are natives of Germany and who came to the United States in 1872, settling in Wisconsin. Later they moved to Hampton, Iowa, where Mr. Riese, a blacksmith by trade, took up fanning, and it was as an agriculturist that he came, in 1884, to Custer county, where he homesteaded and where he farmed for a number of years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Riese now m-ake their home with their daughter. Mr. Riese knew the father of the presen"t kaiser of Germany and when occasion offers he expresses himself forcibly in regard to the misgiiided and now deposed niler of that country. Mr. Riese is a most loyal citizen of his adopted country, and has great pride in his grandson, who has joined the colors. Mr. and Mrs. Chase are the parents of two children - Iva Mabelle, the wife of Dr. P. H. J. Carothers. who is a practicing physician of Mason City, and a sketch of whose career appears elsewhere in this work ; and Cecil A.

Cecil A. Chase was graduated' in the high school at Broken Bow and then began the study of medicine, entering the medical department of the University of Nebraska, where he was m his third year, and a member of the exclusive Sigma Nu fraternity. He enlisted in the United States army December 18, 1917. was called February 6, 1918, and was assigned to the aviation corps, being sent to Berkeley, California, for instruction. His final training was obtained in Texas, where he was prepared to be sent to the battle-fields of France.

_ FRANK A. GORHAM. - Over in the vicinity of Walworth, operating a well improved farm and engaged in a general farming and stock-raising business, is Frank A. Gorham, one of the reliable and substantial citizens of north Custer county. He was born June 14. 1865. and is a son of Nathan and Mary y. (Carr) Gorham. The father was a native of Michigan and the mother a daughter of Illinois. Nathan Gorham was a blacksmith by occupation, which trade he learned and followed in the state of Illinois. Later he immigrated to Iowa, in which state he made his home for nearly thirty years. Before his death, however, he returned to Illinois, where he spent the remainder of his life. The mother died in Iowa, in 1908. In their family were three children, two of whom are living at the present time - Frank A., the subject of this sketch ; and Edward N., whose home is in Manchester, Iowa, where he works at locomotive firing and sometimes works at his father's trade of blacksmithing.

Frank A. Gorham is a native of Illinois but spent most of his early years in Iowa, in which state he received a liberal education. He was married in August, 1894, to Sarah E. DeBusk, a very excellent Custer county lady. Mrs. Gorham is a daughter of Elizabeth DeBusk, a widow who had made her home in Custer county since 1885. Mrs. Gorham, the daughter, filed on a homestead in section 5, township 19, range 19, comprising also lots 5, 6 and 7, and this land is still held by title in her -lame, although she is deceased.

Mr. Gorham came to Custer county in 1894 and purchased a small fann of 120 acres, which he still owns and upon which a general farming business is conducted. Into the Gorham home were born two children, Edith M. and Harold L., both of whom are single and still living at home.

The home was severelv bereaved in 1902, when Mrs. Gorham, wife and mother, was called from the scenes of earthly activities into that mysterious realm from which no travelers return. The home circle now consists of the father and his two children. Thev are very excellent people and command the respect of an extensive circle of friends and neighbors.

WILLIAM B. ATHEY, who was one of the pioneer settlers and good citizens of Custer county, was born in Whitley county, Indiana, January 14, 1854, and died at Broken Bow, Nebrasisa, in June, 1906. He was a son of Elijah and Catherine Athey, who were natives of Ohio, and who settled early in Indiana. His mother died in Indiana and his father then went to Colorado, where his death occurred in 1916, when he was more than eightv years of age.

William B. .\they was reared on his father's farm in Indiana and attended the country schools. Until 1882 he engaged in farming in his native state, and he then joined in the great exodus from the east to the west. After reaching Nebraska he homesteaded in Custer county. He proved uj) on his claim and with his family lived on it until 1897, when he removed to Broken Row. Following this change, Mr. .\they was cmploved by the Standard Oil Company until his death. Mrs. Athey owns the homestead of 160 acres, which

Mr. Athey was married in Indiana, in 1876, to Miss Sarah Miller, who was born in 1852, in Columbiana county, Ohio, a daughter of Peter and Lydia ( Dutterer) Miller, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Ohio. Of the nine children of Mr. and Mrs. Miller there are five living, three of whom reside at Broken Bow - Mrs. Athey, Mrs. Young, and Mrs. Kester.

Concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Athey the following brief record is consistently entered : Legrand, who is a prosperous ranchman in Cherry county, where Elsmere is his postoffice address, married Miss Rose Daily and they have four sons and five daughters. Howard, the second son of the subject of this memoir, died June 3, 1906, at the age of twenty-six years. Claude M., the third son, is a progressive farmer and dairyman near Giles, Brown county, this state. He married Miss Mabel Leach and they have one son and two daughters. William A., who is identified with railroad service and resides at Oakland, California, wedded Miss Mabel Anderson. Alonzo, who is still a bachelor, has charge of the old home farm of his mother. Paul is engaged in farming in the irrigated district in the vicinity of Eaton, Colorado. He married Miss Chilla Mitchell and they have no children. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity. Miss Ellen E. Athey, w'ho is now the jjopular and efficient assistant cashier of the People's State Bank of Anselmo, this county, was graduated in the Broken Bow high school, as well as in the commercial department of the same.

The Athey family is recognized as among the best that settled in the northwestern part of Custer county in the early days, and through thrift and industry substantial prosperity rewarded the earnest efforts of Mr. and Mrs. Athey. In addition to the old home farm Mrs. Athey owns and occupies an attractive-modern home in the city of Broken Bow where she delights to entertain her children and grandchildren whenever thev can \isit her, and where her many friends also are assured of a cordial welcome. She is a devoted mother and is an earnest member of and worker in the Methodist Episcopal church, to the faith of which her children also adhere.

ED CUNXIXGHAM. - A property in the Broken Bow community which niav well serve as an example of good management and practical results in farniin"-. is that owned and operated by Ed Cunningham, who has been a progressive agriculturist in Custer county since 1911. Mr. Cunningham was born in Poweshiek county. Iowa, August 8, 1865, and is a son of Ross and Marie (Noble) Cunningham.

The Cunningham family is of Scotch origin, and John Cunningham, the grandfather of the subject of this review, was an early settler of Indiana, whence he later moved to fiercer county. Illinois, where he farmed until his death. His son, Ross Cunningham, was born in 1833, in Indiana, and as a lad was taken to Illinois, where he was reared to adult years and where, in Marshall county, he married Marie Noble. She was born in Illinois, in 1839. and was a daughter of Joseph Noble, who was a farmer of Mercer county, and whose father was a native of Ireland. In 1854 Ross Cunningham left Illinois for Iowa, with his" wife and three children, his worldly possessions aside from a few household goods being two ox-teams and fifty cents in money. Settling in Poweshiek county, he proceeded to hew out a splendid success, and at the time of his death he was" the owner of 400 acres of land and was a man of sub.stance and worth in his community. In politics he was a Republican. Mr. Cunningham died in 1898. his widow surviving until May 8, 1910. Thev were faithful members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and were the parents of ten children, of whom nine are living, the only two in Nebraska being Ed and Harry.

Ed Cunningham received his education in the public schools of his native state, and was reared as a farmer. When he reached his majoritv he engaged in operations on his own account, and he remained in Iowa until 1911. when he came to Custer county and purchased a farm of 320 acres, on which he has since made numerous improvements, including a' substantial and commodious residence and good barns and outbulidings. His property evidences due appreciation of the inventions which do away with much of the old-time drudgery of farming. When he came to Custer county Mr. Cunningham began raising registered Short-horn and IXirhani cattle, having a herd of thirteen head, and he still continues to raise a good breed of cattle, as well as horses, in connection with his general farming operations. His attention is entirely devoted to his farm operations, so that" he has but little time for other matters, but he is accounted a loval and public-spirited citizen and one who does not allow his residence in the country to interfere with his keeping up with the times or informing himself upon the subjects which engage the attention of the dwellers in the busier marts of trade. He and the members of his family belong to the Methodist Episcopal church, and his fraternal connection is with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His support has always been given to the Republican party.

Mr. Cunninghant was married June 10, 1903, to Miss Myrtle \\'inslow, who was born in Iowa. She is a daughter of Ezra Winslow, who. in 1876. moved to Wood River. Nebraska, and who still lives in that community where he is a successful farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham are the parents of three children : Jennie Elizabeth, Ross, and Floyd. Jennie E. is attending school and is making good progress in her studies.

LEWIS C. COLE, who is a representative citizen of Custer county, has lived here for almost forty years. He accompanied his parents to this section in childhood, was educated and married here and about all his interests have been centered here from those earlj' days to the present. He has not been an unworthy adopted son, for he has always identified himself with those enteqirises and movements that have been of practical benefit to Custer county, in a public way. and personally has won the confidence and res{)ect of his neighbors, because of his sterling honesty and his recognition, at all times, of their rights.

Lewis C. Cole was born August 28. 1875, at Weathersfield. New York, one of a family of five children born to his parents, L. W. F. and Alaria E. (Joiner) Cole, the latter of whom was born in the state of New York. The father of Mr. Cole was born in Germany and after immigrating to the United States he engaged in fanning and was also a minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, in which he served charges both in New York and Illinois before coming to Nebraska, in the fall of 1879. He homesteaded in Custer county and also secured a timber claim, in section 33. township 20. and the development of this property engaged his energies afterward. His death occurred on his farm, in July, 1901. The mother of Lewis C. Cole survives and lives at Sargent. Nebraska. Of the five children the following is a brief record : Flora is the wife of W. T. Cropper, who is postmaster at Sargent : Lewis C. is the subject of this sketch: Etta is the wife of Charles Mc- Gregor, a railroad man, of Sterling. Colorado; Mame is the wife of Arthur Betts, of Chappell. Deuel county. Nebraska ; and Mina is the

Lewis C. Cole lived with his parents until he was twenty-one years old, in the meanwhile attending school as opportunity offered, although school facilities in Custer county in those days were limited, as compared to the advantages now offered in this progressive section. Farming has been his main occupation all his life, and through his industry and wise management he has made the business profitable in combination with stock-raising. Reared on Nebraska soil, he understands its possibilities far better than a later comer, and through experience has learned the scientific facts to which he adapts his methods.

Lewis C. Cole was married December 25 1900, to Miss Clara M. Sweet, who is a daughter of C. E. Sweet, residing six miles northeast of Sargent, and they have two sons and one daughter, namely : Lloyd, who was bom February 8, 1904 ; Fred, who was born March 27, 1907; and Marion, who was bom Augxist 24, 1909. "^

Mr. Cole and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has been very active in the matter of public education and has served his school district faithfully as a director for the past five years. In addition to his farm and stock interests he is known favorably in the financial field to some extent, having been on the directing board of the Farmers State Bank of Sargent for the past seven years.

T. H, MELVILLE, one of Nebraska's well known lumberman, a pioneer of Custer county and president of the J. H. Melville Lumber Com])any, was born near Morrison, Illinois, m the year 1861, and died at his home in Broken Bow, Nebraska, August 3, 1917. The parents of Mr. Melville were James and Margaret (Mason) Melville, both of whom were from Markinch, in Fifeshire, Scotland. The Mason family settled in Round Grove, Illinois, in the year 1850, and were among the early pioneers of that section. In the year 1857, the daughter Margaret became the wife of James Melville: they made their home in Round Grove, and on March 27th of the year 1861 their son James Henry was born. The parents were fine types of the genuine old Scotch Presbyterians, they were highly respected for their sterling worth, the father was among the early members of the Masonic fraternity in Whiteside county, and their lives were the adornment of the faith that they cherished to the end. The early education of J. H. Melville was obtained in the country schools. His boyhood home was on a beautiful farm owned by his father, where he grew to manhood. He entered the Northern Illinois College, at Fulton, Illinois, where he completed his education and where he received an excellent business training.

His first experience in the lumber business came shortly after he left school, when he assisted his uncle, James Mason, who owned a lumber yard m Morrison, Illinois, at that time It was largely through the influence of this uncle that Mr. Melville decided to make the lumber business his permanent work. In the year 1883 he went to northern Iowa where he operated a yard for John H. Queal. In May of the year 1886, as one of the yard managers tor the Bogue-Sherwood Lumber Companv of Kearney, Mr. Melville opened the first lumber

^ u '!? .¥^'°" ^''y- The railroad had not reached Mason City at that time, and the first stock of lumber was hauled across country vr°"'^^f ''n^^- ^" December of the year 1887 Mr. Melville returned to Illinois, and on January 5_th he was united in marriage to Miss Catherme Louise Smaltz, at the family home in Ustick township, Whiteside county The parents of Mrs. Melville were born in Baden Germany, of a devout and godly ancestry.' In the year 1863 they came to Ustick township, from Ohio, and settled on a farm near Morrison, where they made the beginnings of what became the family homestead and which IS still, after a period of over fifty years, in the possession of members of the family that were born and reared there. The parents were consistent, devoted and lifelong members ot the Lutheran church, and were amon^ the substantial and highly respected citizens of the community m which thev lived. Their children were given the best educational advantages that the time afforded. Mrs Melville IS a graduate of the Zeigfeld Musical College m Chicago. ^

Mr, and Mrs. Melville spent the first few years of their married life in Mason City and their two oldest sons, Arthur W., and 'james A., were born there. Later thev mov'ed to Lincoln, and in March, 1898, Mr Melville purchased the lumber yard owned by the Home Lumber Company at Sterling' Nebraska, which he operated with a marked degree of success, in connection with a number of branch yards, for a period of ei<^hteen years. *

During the residence of the family in Sterling the children were educated. Arthur W was graduated from the high school, and was a student at Doane College, at Crete, for two years. He married Miss Edith Catchpole, of Sterling, January 16, 1913. James Alfred was educated in the Sterling schools, attended Doane College one year, then entered the State University, of which he is a graduate. George S. was educated in the Sterling schools,, attended the Wentworth Military Academy, at Lexington, Missouri, for one year, and then entered the State University. Shortly after war was declared he enlisted and went into training at the Naval Station, Great Lakes, Illinois. July 10th, while in quarantine there, recovering from an attack of scarlet fever, he received the message, that conveyed to him the sad news, of the death of his father, at Broken Bow, Nebraska, during the night of August 3d. In March, 1918, he entered the naval aviation detachment at Great Lakes and was shortly afterward admitted to the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, at Cambridge. He finished the course prescribed for naval aviators, and was transferred to the naval air station at Miami, Florida, where the preliminary instruction in flying was given, after which he entered the advanced course for naval aviators, located at Pensacola, Florida. He was designated as a naval aviator and was commissioned an ensign in October, 1918. He was ordered to rejxjrt to Admiral Sims in London, as a seaplane pilot ; he went to Washington, D. C, where he had his orders completed and his passport signed. He was granted a two weeks' furlough before sailing for London, and while on furlough at his home in Broken Bow the armistice was sigried. At the end of his furlough he reported in New York City, and, on account of the signing of the armistice his foreign orders were recalled, and he received his release from active duty, subject to call until October 25, 1922. Willard Christie, the fourth son of the family, graduated from the Sterling schools at a verv early age. During his school years, by close application and by making careful use of his time, he succeeded in acquiring an excellent musical training, in connection with his school work. During the winter of 1917, while his parents were in California, for the benefit of the health of his father, he took a business course at the Lincoln Business College, in order to qualify himself for the work of stenographer in the general office at Broken Bow, his father having shortly before acquired the line of yards in Custer countv owned by (leorge L. Turner. In October, 1918, he enlisted in the Students' Army Training School at Lincoln, where he was in training until after the close of the war. He expects to enter upon a university course at the begining of the coming school year. Margaret Marion, the only daughter of the family, was born at Sterling, and at the age of five years she entered the kindergarten in the Sterling schools. She is at the present time attending school in Broken Bow, a pupil of the sixth grade.

In ]March, 1916, on account of failing health, Mr. Melville sold his lumber interests in Johnson county and sought rest and recuperation by travel. He spent the following season, with his family, on an automobile trip through the northwest, spending the greater portion of the time in Montana. Mr. Melville greatly enjoyed this trip, and with returning health came the desire to engage again in business. On December 19, 1918, with his sons Arthur W. and James A., he bought the G. L. Turner line of lumber yards in this county.

While the details of the business were being worked out by the two sons, Mr. Melville, with his wife and daughter, went to California, for the winter, returning in May, when he came to Broken Bow, the family moving there a short time afterward. Mr. Alelville's health seemed much improved, but the apparent improvement proved to be only superficial, and he died suddenly, August 3d, heart trouble being the cause of his death.

Mr. Melville, or Henry, as he was universally known to his host of friends, was widely known among the lumbermen of the state : he was a firm believer in the value of organization, he was a member of the board of directors of the Lumberman's Association, was an officer in the Lumberman's Mutual Insurance Association, and at his death the Lumberman's Association lost one of its staunchest friends, the state one of its best known figures in the lumber industry. He was a business man of unusual ability, and commanded the highest respect and confidence of the people among whom he lived. He was known by his business associates as one who carried out only the highest standards of business integrity. No one ever sought his counsel in vain ; he was kind, gracious and lovable in his attitude toward his fellow man, and was more than esteemed - he was beloved - by all who knew him. He was devotedly attached to his home, solicitous in regard to the education of his sons, and found great pleasure in watching them develop into good business men and useful citizens. Upon his daughter, Margaret Marion, he lavished, the affection of his maturer years, and the little grandson, James Willard, the son of ?'r. and Mrs. .Arthur Melville, was the idol and pride of his heart.

While political aspirations never appealed to Mr. Melville - his business interests occupying his time - he occupied many positions of honor and trust in the community that was for so long a time his home, and during the last year of his life, while he was out of active business, through the earnest solicitations of his friends and loyalty to the political party of his lifelong choice, he accepted the Republican nomination to the Nebraska legislature. Mr. Melville became a member of the Presbyterian church at the age of seventeen, he was a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity, was a United Workman of many years standing, was a Modern Woodman, and was a member of the Royal Highlanders.

Mr. Melville's life ended at a time when, according to human understanding, a long period of usefulness should still have been before him, and he desired to live - but there were times when he felt that the time when he must leave home and loved ones might not be far distant, and his thought and care at those times were for those that he would leav.; behind, and with the spirit so characteristic of him, he felt he could accept the call, with an absolute faith in the message that "Thy will, not mine, be done." During the early 'morning hours of August 3d, the summons came, and his life's work, so faithfully performed! was finished. Funeral services were held at the home in Broken Bow, on the afternoon of August 4th, the Rev. A. H. Eraser, of the Presbyterian church, officiating. His mortal remains were then taken to Sterling, Nebraska, where the home of the family had been for many years. Upon arrival at Sterling the remains were taken to the Masonic Hall, where they lay in state, and where hundreds looked upon the face of one they had loved and admired. Funeral services ' were held at the Methodist church on Sunday afternoon, August 5th, at three o'clock. Rev. J W Lewis, a former pastor and an old friend, ofhciating. Interment was made in the Sterling cemetery, under Masonic auspices where many friends gathered to pav a last tribute to one who had won for himself the highest possible esteem of all who knew him

To his sons Mr. Melville left the examnle of an honorable and useful life; to his family the memory of his lovine care as a husband and father will remain forever as a blessed inheritance. And now in the beautiful citv of the dead, he sleeps the sleep that knows no awakening, awaiting the Master's call.

GEORGE E. PORTER. - For more than twelve years identified with the office of re^-- ister of deeds of Custer county, and for eight years of this time the incumbent of the register's position, to which office he was re-elected in 1918, George E. Porter has become well known to the people of this community as a hard-working, efficient and conscientious public servant. He was born in Illinois, June 6, 1870, and is a son of Judson C. and Martha S. (Holmes) Porter.

Judson C. Porter was born in Connecticut, where he was educated for the profession of law, but on locating in Illinois, in 1867, he became identified with newspaper work, and for some time he was connected with a Joliet publication, as a member of its editorial staf?. In 1885 he removed with his familv to Hasting, Nebraska, but after there rema'ining only one year, he located in Custer county, where he practiced his profession at Mason City and Ansley and built up a reputation for sound legal ability and broad knowledge of the fundamentals of his calling. He was successful m the attaining of a practice which was large and lucrative, and business of the most desirable kind came into his hands, so that he was connected in the courts with some of the most important litigation that was tried When he died, at Ansley,, in 1902, the profession in Custer county lost one of its most brilliant, logical and forceful members. Mrs. Porter survives and makes her home with her son, George E., the survivor of her two children. She has been for many years a consistent member of the Presbyterian church and while Mr. Porter never joined that or any other religious body, he was an earnest worker and generous supporter of the church movements. For years he was identified with Masonry, belonging to both the blue lodge and the chapter, and of the latter he served as high priest. His political support was given unreservedly to the Republican party.

The education of George E. Porter was obtained in the common schools of Illinois and Nebraska, and in the latter state he entered upon his career in connection with business enterprises. His experience included mercantile operations at both Ansley and Litchfield, but while his commercial sense and ability were well developed and he was makinogood progress in his affairs, he readily dis*^ posed of his interests when he was appointed deputy register of deeds of Custer county, in iyU6. For four years he served under the admmistration of the register then in charge, but in 1910 he was chosen to succeed his su-^ perior, and since then has been re-elected three times. In the election of 1914 he was the only Republican to be returned a winner for county office. His terms of office have been characterized by expeditious, capable and earnest work, combined with a desire to accommodate those of his fellow citizens whose

In 1890 ^Ir. Porter was united in marriage to Miss May Immel, who was born in Iowa, and to this union there have been bona live children, as follows : Estella is the wife of F. R. Lamphier, of Dallas, Texas, secretary' in the office of the Alissouri. Kansas & Texas Railroads; Dwight I., at the time of this writing, is with Batter>- C, 339 F. A., 88th Division, in France ; Harvey, a pharmacist is a member of Company F, 35Sth Infantry, 89th Division, in France ; Doris is engaged in teaching school at Antioch, Nebraska ; and Helen was graduated in the Broken Bow high school in 1918. The mother of these children died in 1901, in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in 1906 Mr. Porter was again married, being united with Miss Ida J- Foster, who was born in Hall county, Nebraska. To this union there have been born five children : Adelaide, Julia, and George ]., who are attending .school : and Romona and Alfred, at home. Mr. and Porter are members of the Presbyterian church, in which he is an officer. Fraternally, he is connected with the Masons, in which he has attained Scottish Rite degrees ; the Knights of Pythias, in which he has passed through all the chairs ; and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is popular in all of these fraternal orders.

\MrXIAM M. I)A\TS. - One of the congenial spirits of the South Loup region is William M. Davis, commonly called "Bill" Davis by those who know him. He is a prosperous, well-to-do farmer and stockman, prominent in local political circles, and is a man who charges himself to some extent with res]X)nsibility in connection with public affairs. He is one of the moving spirits in his community and when anything of a public nature is to be undertaken he is generally one of those selected to see that it is accomplished.

Mr. Davis was born in 1868, in Scioto county. Ohio. The maiden name of his wife was Lenora Harville. and she was born at Mellville, Wiscon.'^in.

Concerning the family from which Mr. Davis springs, it may be briefly stated that he is a son of David D. and Louise Davis, very estimable people who reared their children, lived their lives, and have ])asscd to their reward. Six children constituted the faiuily circle and all have been a credit to worthy parentage. Lon Davis, one brother of this family,

William M. Davis came directly from Ohio to Custer county, in 1885, a date early enough to insure him many pioneer experiences. He purchased his farm, however, which consists of 320 acres, well improved, and upon which is a very snug and comfortable farm home. His stock operations have l>een more or less extensive. He has been a feeder of some magnitude and a great many fat jxjrkers and beef steers have been turned out of feed lots on his premises into the markets of the world. He has given some attention to horses and is known as a splendid judge of horseflesh. In the days before autos and tractors, when horses were in more demand, Davis always had in his possession some very good horses.

Mr. and Mrs. Davis have five children, in whom they take pardonable pride : Louise is a teacher, just entering upon young womanhood, in her nineteenth year. At the time of this writing, in l'^18. Doris, fifteen years of age, is taking a course at the Kearney Normal School. Lenora, aged twelve, Darrell, ten, and W'ilber Orel, a young master of nineteen months, are all at home and help to make the home liwly and cheerful.

Mr. and Mrs. Davis enjoy the confidence of their neighbors, are highly respected in the community, and are part of the citizen assets of the county. In fraternal circles Mr. Davis belongs to the Masonic lodge, in which he is in good standing, and enjoys the social benefits of the order. He has been postmaster at Burr Oak for twelve years, and is serving as justice of the peace.

JOHN D. KNIGHT. - One of the substantial farmers among the many of like kind living in the Sargent vicinity, is John D. Knight, whose name finds place in this title line. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska, June 13. 1863, in what was then known as Brigham Young's winter c[uarters. He is a son of John G., and Lavina (Streight) Knight, very excellent people, natives of ]\lassachusetts and New York respectively. The father was a farmer except in early life, when he learned the shoemaker's trade, at which he worked for some time. He came to Benson, near Omaha, in November, 1856, pre-empting land, and living there until his death. He made a specialty in his day of thoroughbred Holstein cattle. In 1862 his jjatriotic spirit led him to enlist in the Second Nebraska Cavalry, which did frontier work in Dakota. The command wintered at St. James, Dakota, and was mustered out in 1864. John G. Knight was a RepubHcan in politics and was a member of the First Congregational church of Irvington, Nebraska. He and his good wife became the parents of five children : Ella E., a dressmaker, is living at Somerford ; Minnie L., the wife of A. W. Pierce, also lives at Somerford; Margaret W. is the wife of Jesse Pierce; the third was John D., the subject of whom we are writing; George W., married Sopha Christoferson, and lives on a farm near Irvington, Nebraska.

John D. Knight received a liberal education in the common schools of Douglas county and the Congregational College at Tabor, I«owa. He came to Custer county in the fall of 1883, and in the spring of 1884. he homesteaded the place where he now lives. He owns 280 acres, well improved, and raises fine cattle, his specialty being double standard polled Durhams. Mr. Knight is one of the men who has helped to make the history and the present status of the county. Well and favorably known throughout his community, and also throughout a large portion of the county, he well deserves the success he has attained.

JOHN J. DOWNEY. - The agricultural interests in Custer county, find a worthy representative in the subject of this record, and lie has the honor of being one of the very early settlers of the county.

John J. Downey is a native of the old Keystone .state, his birth having occurred in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, March 22, 1855. His parents, John and Ellen ( Sweeney) Downey, were natives of County Tipperary. Ireland, where their marriage was solemnized, and in 1849 they came to America. The father was a coal-miner by vocation and followed that line of work - in Pennsylvania, ( )hio. and Iowa - until 1880, when he came to Custer county and secured the homestead on which both he and his wife passed the remainder of tlicir lives. Tliey had a family of twelve children, five of whom reached maturity and four of whom are s.till living - Mrs. R. D. Mc- Carty, of Merna. this county; Mrs. Ellen Carey of Pennsylvania ; Mrs. Mary English, of Wilmington, Delaware; John J.; and Mrs. William Couhig. who was the other who attained mature years, is now decea.sed.

John J. Downey, youngest member of the family, was only a child when he began working in the mines, as a slate-pi.:ker. He was employed in coal mines until March. 1880. when he. in company with others, started for

Nebraska, Custer county being the destination of the party. He arrived here in the month of June, after having here filed entry on a homestead on the 7th of the preceding March.

Mr. Downey secured as a homestead the southeast quarter of section 15, township 18, range 22, and here he has continued to maintain his home to the present time. His first house was a "soddy," twelve by fourteen feet in dimensions, and when the family outgrew this, he built the second sod house, which was the home of the family until sixteen years ago, when the present, large, frame house was erected. Mr. Downey, with a rather ingenuous turn of mind, devised a scheme of cutting the sod with a machine. This device was constructed with knives which cut the sod. and then, when plowed six inches deep, the sod would turn up in rectangular chunks, like large bricks. .\11 the experiences of those pioneer days were endured, obstacles were met and overcome, and with the passing years the gallant pioneers prospered. To obtain a little money with which to provide for the needs of his family. Mr. Downey hauled cedar posts as far as York. Nebraska. He also enclosed forty acres with sod fence, making it hogtight, and when one wire was placed above, it would turn cattle. He has been successful in his undertakings and is to-day the owner of 480 acres of land in this township. The improvements on the home farm are among the best in the county.

In 1879. in Iowa. Mr. Downey was united in marriage to Miss Mary Ann Jones, who was born in Wisconsin, ^larch 14. 1862. a daughter of Hugh and Sarah ( Roberts) Jones, who were natives of Wales and both of whom passed away, in Iowa, several years ago. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Downey has been blessed with twelve children, a record of whom is given below :

Ellen .May is the wife of J. E. Price, of St. Louis, Missouri ; John .\. is a memljer of Company F. Twenty-third Regiment. Engineer Corps, of our national army, in France ; Thomas F. also is a member of the national army and at the time of this writing is located in camp in Minnesota: Joseph M. married Miss Lillie Andrews and is operating a raijch in Custer county: Mary Agnes has for six years been a clerk in the soldiers' home at Grand Island. Nebraska ; Hugh Raymond is a memlier of Company D, Three Hundred and Fifty-fifth Infantry of our national army, in France: Bernice E.. who attended college in St. Louis, having taught in the Custer county schools, is now employed in the jxistoffice at St. Louis ; Harold P. and Paul A. are at home,

The family are communicants of the Catholic church, and in politics Mr. Downey exercises the rit,dit of franchise in support of measures and iirinciples he deems best, regardless of party lines. He lias rendered efficient service as assessor of his township two terms, and was a member of the county board of supervisors two terms. For three years he conducted a mercantile enterprise in the old town of Dale, and when the B. & M. Railroad came through, in 1886, he and his brother-in-law, Robert D. AlcCarty, had a contract for building several miles of the road.

Air. Downey was among tlie first settlers of Dale valley, has witnessed the remarkable changes that have taken place, and in the work of in>provement and development he has taken commendable interest. Three of his sons are now in the service of the government, offering their lives, if need be, to bring about a worldwide condition wher-e wars will be no more.

Through all the years of residence in Custer county, as a pioneer and a progressive citizen, with the years of sacrifice incidental to rearing a family, Mr. Do\v.iey"s faithful wife has been his devoted companion and hel]inieet. and in recording the life records of Custer county's citizens we would be remiss in our duty if we failed to give them a place which they justly deserve.

ROSS G. MOORE. - Well and favorably known in business and professional circles of Broken Bow, Ross G. Moore has been identified with this locality since 1901, and during the period which has elapsed has won standing and success, both as an attorney and as a real-estate, insurance and loan operator. Mr. Moore was bom in Harrison county. Ohio. October 13, 1871, and is a son of John and Agnes E. (Duncan) Moore.

The Moore family originated in Ireland, from which country came Samuel Moore, the grandfather of Ross G. Moore. He was a voung man. without any great amount of capital, when he arrived in the United States. but he became one of the successful men of his part of Ohio and at the time of his death was the ow^ner of large tracts of valuable land John Moore was born in 1818, on a farm in Harrison county, Ohio, and in the old Buckeye state he married Agnes E. Duncan, who was born in York county. Pennsylvania, daughter of James and Margaret Duncan.

Mr. Moore followed in the footsteps of his father, adopting agricultural pursuits as his life work, and his entire life was passed in Ohio, W'here he died in 1886, at the age of sixty-eight years. Mrs. Moore, who was born in 1829, passed away w-hen seventy years of age, in 1899. They were members of the United Presbyterian church. Mr. Moore was a Republican, was interested in various movements for civic t>ettemient, and for some years served very acceptably in the office of school director. Of the eight children in the family, six are now surviving but only one. Ross G. Moore, lives in Nebraska.

Ross G. Moore received his early educatio:i in the public schools, following which he took a course in Franklin College, New Athens. Ohio, being graduated in that institution in 1891. He began to read law with John M. Garvin, a well known attorney of Cadiz. Ohio, 'and later w^ent to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where he spent some time in the office of Murphy & Hosack. He then came to (jrand Island, Nebraska, where, in 1892. at the age of only tw'enty-one years, he was admitted to the bar. Returning to Ohio, he began practice, subsequently visited Pittsburgh, where for a time he practiced in the office of Murphy & Hosack, his former preceptors, and in 1901 again came to Nebraska, this time to locate permanently at Broken Bow. His practice in law soon brought him into direct association with the loan business and soon after his arrival at Broken Bow he engaged in that line himself. During the seventeen years that he has been identified therewith he has built up an exceptionally large farm loan business. Closely allied with this enterprise is the real-estate business, and it was but natural that he should begin operations in this direction. At this time, while he still accepts cases as an attorney and gives advice and council in his professional capacity, he devotes the greater part of his attention to his loans and real-estate operations Mr. Moore is one of Custer county's selfmade men, and has piloted his own craft into the harbor of success. He has established :\. substantial j)Osition for himself in the confidence of the general public, and in business and professional circles his name is an honored and respected one.

Mr. Moore was married at Broken Bow, in June, 1905, to Mi.ss Elizabeth Bell. A'lrs. Moore was bom and reared in Custer county. Nebraska, and is a daughter of Isaac and Mary (New^nan) Bell, who homesteaded in this region at a very early day. Mr. and Mrs. Moore have one son. Paul Gibson, who was bom January 5, 1915. Mrs. Moore is a member of the Christian church, of which -Mr. Moore is an attendant. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias. He has taken an active part in Democratic politics since coming to Nebraska, and has been a member of a number of committees and a delegate to numerous county and state conventions.

WILBER E. TOBIAS, who is a well known and highly respected citizen of Custer county and one of its substantial farmers and stock-raisers, belongs to the early settlers of the community and has passed thirty-eight years here. Wonderful changes have been wrought in that time and, in a way, they may be typified by a comparison between Mr. Tobias' first home, a little "dugout," on a lonely, wind-swept prairie, with his present handsome rural residence of modern construction and convenience, situated within easy distance of centers of civilization and progress.

Wilber E. Tobias was born October 6, 1869, at El Paso, Woodford county, Illinois, and is a son of Israel C. and Cynthia (Ellis) Tobias, the former a native of Ohio and the latter of Indiana. Israel C. Tobias lived on a farm until he was twenty-one years old and then went into a general mercantile business. He conducted stores at Washington, El Paso and Streator, Illinois, and also, for nine years, was a commercial traveler for a well known business house. He came to Custer county. Nebraska, in November, 1880, securing a homestead in section 35, township 20, one mile north of the present little city of Sargent. He remained on his farm until 1901, when he moved into Sargent, where he conducted an implement business until he retired. Of his ten children the following survive: Alvira, who is the wife of J. H. Hagerty, a retired resident of Lir.coln, Nebraska ; Sophia, who is the wife of S. L. Perrin, a retired resident of Sargent; Flora, who is the wife of A. Z. Perrin, of Lincoln ; Leota, who is the wife of Thomas Hartley, of Sargent; Wilber E., who is the immediate subject of this review; Blanche, who lives at Lincoln, Nebraska ; Ava, who was married first to Frank Phillips, and after his death, to Thomas E. Sheldon, who is in the restaurant business at Sargent ; and LeRoy, who is in the clothing business at Chappell, Nebraska, and who married Mina Cole.

Wilber E. Tobias was eleven years old when the family came to Custer county, beginning life here at an inopportune time, as the winter of 1880-81 was especially severe. The settlers of that period went through great hardships because of the unusually rigorous winter and the difficulty in securing foodstuffs. A great majority had come from milder climates and were in no way prepared for the cold and storms that ensued, the result being that in many cases there was great suffering. r)f that first winter Mr. Tobias has a very vivid memory. It was the first time he had ever lived in a house under ground, and I)robabl3' that was accepted with boyish enthu^tiasm, as a part of the great adventure of pioneering. However, it was also the first time that he found himself completely snowed under, for when the.is:ily door to the dugout was opened, the great volume of packed snow filled the aperature entirely. No provision had yet been made within for the not unusual business of digging out, and the family had to submit to a wait for kind neighbors to look them up (a very usual pioneer custom) and give help. Mr. Tobias is of the opinion that the presence of his attractive sisters had something to do with their speedy release, as several of their swains in the neighborhood accomplished it.

Mr. Tobias attended school and helped his father, and he has a very enviable reputation for practical good sense and untiring industry. He has been very enterprising, not only in regard to his farm industries, but also in the matter of farm improvement, and there are few places in Custer county that can compare with his in app>earance, all his buildings being modern in every particular.

On October 6, 1896, Mr. Tobias was united in marriage to Aliss Gertrude McCormick, a daughter of Thomas and Julia ( Smith) Mc- Cormick, both of whom were born in Ohio, whence they moved to the vicinity of Blakesburg, Iowa, and later they came to Nebraska. Mr. McCormick was a farmer all his active life and his death occurred in 1900. The mother of Mrs. Tobias resides at Grand Island, Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Tobias have four children - Clarice, aged eighteen ; Clive, sixteen years ; Gladys, thirteen years ; and Helen, six years.

Mr. and Mrs. Tobias are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he is a Republican, but he has never had any desire to serve in public office, his close attention to his own affairs showing where his main interest lies. He is greatly interested in developing high-grade stock and he has pure-bred Jersey cattle and registered Duroc-Jersey hogs.

JOHN DRESEL, who lives in the vicinity - of Callaway, is one of Custer county's frugal, - progressive farmers. He was bom May 8, 1861, in Monroe county, Ohio. His father, Christian Dresel, was born on the French border near the Switzerland frontier. His mother. Elizabeth ( Seabaugh ) Dresel, is a native of Germany. Christian Dresel was a tailor by trade and after he came to the United States, his marriage to Elizabeth Seabaugh was solemnized in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. John Dresel had one brother and one sister - Lewis Dresel and Louise ( Dresel ) Shoemaker.

John Dresel earned his first money by carrying water to a threshing crew. When he was a small boy his mother died. When four years of age he had a miraculous escape from being killed by lightning. During a thunderstorm he and his father took refuge under a large oak tree. The lightning struck the tree, threw both of them several feet and prostrated them upon the ground, leaving young John in a dazed and senseless condition for several hours. C^ne freak of the lightning was to tear one of the father's shoes entirely from his foot. At the age of seventeen years John secured a position on a street-car line, where he worked about ten months, driving horses.

Mr. Dresel came to Custer county in the fall of 1885 and filed a contest on the 160 acres now owned by John Cameron, adjoining the old Olive Ranch.

August 17, 1911, at Broken Bow, Mr. Dresel married Mrs. Maggie (Vance) Lewis. Mrs. Dresel has two sons by a former marriage. The elder son, Edwin P. Lewis, married Mattie Riles and is now living in La Center. Kentucky, where he owns a large garage. He and his wife are the parents of two bright children, a boy and a girl. Mr. Lewis is a member of the Methodist churchy is a Mason and a Woodman, and he gives his political support to the Democratic party. The younger son, Herbert H. Lewis, is. at the time of this writing, a member of Company B, One Hundred and Ninth Supply Trains motor-storage dejxjt, at Camp Haliford. Baltimore, Maryland. In 1913 he went to Kansas City and took a three months' course in an automobile school, prior to his enlistment in Company L, Fourth Regiment. Nebraska National Guard. ]\Iarch 29, 1917, under Captain L. J. Butcher, he was stationed at Ashland, Nebraska, for guard duty at the railroad bridge. Later he was sent to Camp Cody, where he was transferred to the Motor Department.

old Young land. There he resided' until August, 1918, when he sold the place to Ernest Lowe. He made the sale on the 14th day of August and on the 19th of the same month bought 193 acres two miles west of Callaway, for which he paid eighty-five dollars per acre. Mr. Dresel and his wife are splendid people, highly respected in the community. They are affiliated with the Baptist church, and in politics Mr. Dresel is aligned in the ranks of the Democratic party.

HENRY S. BRODINE. - In proportion to its population, Custer county can boast of as great a number of substantial and progressive citizens as any county of its size in Nebraska, and among this number is found Henry S. Brodine, the owner of a farm of excellently cultivated land, which, from the time that he settled on it as a homesteader, he has operated with such judgment as to have made him a successful and substantial man financially.

A sturdy Swede, Mr. Brodine was born in the stalwart community of Blekinge, January 18, 1862. He is a son of Swan and Enger (Jenson) Brodine, who passed their entire lives in their native land. The father was a tailor by vocation, an occupation in which he was engaged throughout his life, although he saw much military service and during a long numl>er of years was in the Swedish army. There were two children in the family : Henry S. and a son who died in infancy. The parents were members of the Lutheran church.

Henry S. Brodine received a public-school education and was variously employed in his native land until he reached the age of twenty-seven years. Up to that time he had made little progress, for while he had been industrious, energetic and saving in his resources, the opportunities did not seem to come to him that would make for advancement, and he therefore came to the conclusion that he would find conditions more satisfying in this countr}'. He arrived in the United States in 1888 and came immediately to Custer county, Nebraska, where he settled on a homestead farm, in section 15, township 19, not far from the town of Sargent. On this property he has continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits to the present time, and through good management, hard and persistent work and application of modern methods along intelligent channels and in an enterprising and energetic way, he has developed a farm that compares favorably with any in the locality, and the ownership of which not only assures him of a substantial income but also places him in the same class with the other well-to-do men of this locality. Mr. Brodine has good buildings and other modern improvements of all kinds, and in his work he exemplifies the modern agricultural spirit that has contributed so greatly to Custer county's development.

Mr. Brodine was married in June, 1886, in Sweden, to Miss Ingery Carlson, who was born in that country and whose parents passed their lives there. To this union there were born six children : Charley, who is a farmer near Kent, Nebraska, married Lizzie Rider; Oscar, who is still a bachelor, is a farmer near Sargent ; Harry is an eligible young bachelor and assists his father in the work of the home farm ; Alma is the wife of Frank Power, a farmer near Walworth ; Clara is the wife of Arthur Debusk, a farmer near Kent; and Vina is the wife of Ed. Hill, a farmer near Deaver, Wyoming. .Mr. Brodine is a Republican in politics, but not actively interested in public affairs, save as a good citizen. He is a member of the Modem Woodmen of America, and he and his wife, as well as their children, are members of the Lutheran church.

FREDERICK C. EMBREE. - It is a natural desire, common to us all, to know something about our kinsfolk. A genealogy is a kind of analysis of our particular tribe, so that we can consider the elements of whi;h we are composed. If a person belongs to a good family he ought to be proud of it and should take pride in having its history prct served. The progenitors of the Embree family in America were three brothers, passengers on the historic "Mayflower." The records show that the family ancestors were French Huguenots who immigrated to England more than eight hundred years ago. On the maternal side the subject of this record is likewise descended from Mayflower stock, as the ancestors of the Harris and Lyon families were among the passengers on that famous bark.