Custer County, Nebraska - Founders and Builders, 1919 (part 29 of 32)

Mr. Mary, like many another successful business man, sometimes refers to boyhood days, when the acquisition of even a meager amount of capital w-as a matter of considerable efifort. for he grew up during Civil-war days and money for any purpose was not plentiful. Therefore when, by running errands, he had accumulated the sum of sixty-five cents, he felt reasonably rich, and being then, as now, patriotic, he determined to hide his wealth until the Fourth of July, when all of it could be expended for fire-crackers. At that time little coin was in circulation, small amounts being paid in "shinplaster," war-time paper money, and such currency constituted Mr. ^Mary's "hank roll" that he carefully hid for safekeeping, in a convenient pigeon coop. There are many tragedies in life and perhaps one of these may have been the finding of a mouse nest in the pigeon coop, on the Fourth of July, instead of the little paper-money roll so confidently hidden.

AAIOS C. McININCH, who maintains a high standing among the substantial farmers of Custer county, is one of the native sons of Nebraska who have won success in the state of their nativity. The narrative of his career bears no thrilling chapters, but is a record of practical industry and capable management in agricultural matters and of sterling and publicspirited citizenship in civic aflfairs.

Mr. Mclninch was born in Nemaha county, Nebraska, January 16, 1866, a son of Benjamin F. and Eliza (Kennedy) Mclninch. His father was born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, and as a young man went to Buchanan county, Missouri, where he met and married Miss Eliza Kennedy, who hacf been taken by her parents to Missouri from her native state of Indiana. For a time the father farmed in Missouri, but at the tirne of the first free elections in Kansas he went to that state to see what was going on, but not to live there. Subsequently, in 1856, he pushed on to the frontier of Nebraska and settled in Nemaha county. He and his worthy and courageous wife were possessed of nothing but a yoke of steers and twentyfive cents in money, and they were in a dangerous country, where Indians, not always to be depended upon in those days, were their nearest neighbors ; but they resolutely worked out their own problems and achieved success, developing a good farm and establishing a home. Mr. Mclninch passed the rest of his life there and died on the farm, while his widow, now in advanced years, still makes her home there. Mr. Mclninch was prominent in Republican politics. Although his district normally gave 600 Democratic majority, he was for twenty-eight years supervisor and was known far and wide as "Old Honest Frank." He was a Quaker in his religious faith, and his wife belonged to the Methodist Episcopal church, both having been highly respected and esteemed in their community. Of their eight children, seven are living: Mrs. Cora Wait, of Cairo, Nebraska ; J. W., a farmer of the Mason City community; Amos C, of this review: Otto S., a farmer in the neighborhood of Mason City; Frances J., the wife of James Rariden and living on her father's old place in Nemaha county; Belle, the wife of Bert Whitlow, of Auburn, Nebraska : and B. F., living on the old home place.

Amos C. ]\lclninch received his education in the district schools of Nemaha county and the Nebraska State Normal School at Peru, and he began life as a farmer. He remained with his parents until he was twenty-seven years of age. at which time, in 1892. he came to Custer county and purchased school land. This he subsequently sold, and he then bought his present property, near Mason City, where he has made many fine improvements and established a record as one of the most thorough, systematic, and successful farmers of his locality. He maintains a lively and discriminating interest in public alifairs, but merely as a good citizen and not as a seeker for personal preferment at the hands of any party or of his fellow citizens.

VINCENT J. STEDRY. - Among the few pioneer agriculturists of Custer county who still reside on their homesteads is Vincent J. Stedry, who during his long residence here has worked out an admirable destiny and drawn about him, for the comfort and happiness of his later years, such substantial compensations as material independence, the credit for having contributed largely to the general development of the community, and the confidence and good will of his business and social associates.

Mr. Stedry was born May 5. 1846, in Bohemia, and is a son of Joseph and Mary Stedry, there being four sons and four daughters in the family, of whom he was the fourth child in order of birth. In 1854 the father brought his wife and six children to the United States and settled at Baltimore, from which city he enlisted for service in the Civil War, as a musician in the Third Regiment, Maryland Volunteer Infantry. After two years of service he was given an honorable discharge, because of physical disability, and returned to Baltimore, in which city the family continued to reside until 1870 - the year of their removal to Watertown, Wisconsin. There the father died in 1883, while the mother survived him for many years and passed away in California, in 1909.

After attending the public schools of Baltimore, Vincent J. Stedry took a course in the University of Wisconsin, and in 1879, he came to Saline county, Nebraska, where his first employment was as a clerk in the postoffice at Crete. He also taught in the public schools for about eleven years, and in connection with his educational work served some time as deputy register of deeds and in other positions in the Cv jrt house. While still a resident of Saline county, he married, September 3, 1883, Miss Annie Karten. In the year following his marriage, he took up a homestead on the southwest quarter of section 3, township 16, range 21, Custer county, but in 1885 he went back to Saline county and did not return to his Custer county homestead until 1887, since which time he has continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits here. He is now the owner of more than a section of land, upon which he has many good improvements, but for a long time after he had become financially independent he continued to live in his little "soddy." The success which he has attained in his ventures has been due to his unfailing industry, his able management of his affairs and the progressive ideas which he has brought into play in his operations.

Mr. Stedry is one of the best known men of Custer county, particularly among tho=e Ijorn in his native land, for whom he has frequently acted as interpreter. In 1899 he was appointed oil inspector for Nebraska, by Governor Poynter, and he represented his district in that capacity in a capable manner. From the time that he was a teacher in the rural schools, he has been interested in all educational movements, and much of the progress made in this direction in Custer county has been due to his efforts. Mr. Stedry sustained a severe loss in the death of his faithful wife, who passed away September 30, 1909, leaving to mourn her loss a wide circle of friends, as well as her husband and their three children - Vincent, Ruby, and Oliver.

JOHN S. McGRAW has been a resident of Custer county since 1880, and during the period of his stay here has had experiences, from roughing it in the pioneer days to being a participant in the prosperity and modern conditions of the progressive present. During the past ten years he has been engaged in handling real estate and loans at Broken Bow, and his faith and belief in his community have been generated by his own success.

Mr. McGraw was born September 29, 1867, near Wabash, Indiana, a son of James Mc- Graw. His father was born in Ireland, in 1843, and was six months old when he left his native land with his parents, John and Mary McGraw. The ship on which they had taken passage met with serious trouble and was all but wrecked, so that the family did not arrive at their destination, the town of Cobourg, county of Northumberland, Ontario, Canada, for six weeks. James McGraw was reared as a farmer, but when he was about seventeen years of age ran away from home and came to the United States, where, not long thereafter, he enlisted in the Union army for service in the Civil war. He fought about three years in that struggle, being in a number of important engagements and receiving his honorable discharge at the end of the war, at which time he went to Wabash, Indiana, and engaged in farming. There he was married in 1866, to Frances Walker, a daughter of Cornelius Walker, a farmer and stockman from Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. McGraw immi- grated to Custer county, Nebraska, during the spring of 1880 and secured a homestead near Gates, which Mr ]\IcGraw still owns, being one of the men whose well-directed labors have resulted in success. He is a Republican in politics.

As a lad John S. ^IcGraw Ijegan his wageearning experience in the business of herding stock for Harvey B. Andrews, on Lillian creek. He has a rather vivid recollection of his first efforts in this direction, and is not very proud of his first accomplishments. When he was sent to herd a mixed bunch of horses, cattle and sheep, Mr. Andrews gave him a Texas mustang jjony and cautioned him under no circumstances to let go his hold on his mount. Familiarity breeds contempt, however, and the youth became careless as to his instructions, with the result that before he knew what was hajipening his pony was at liberty and kicking uj) its heels as it went over a sand-hill, seemingly saying: "Good bye, John." and making on a bee-line for the main Laughran ranch, eighteen miles up the river. Then Mr. McGraw's troubles began. The cattle cleaned up a field of corn belonging to J. N. Dryden before they could be stopped: the sheep ate up the corn crop belonging to A. J. Pearl, at the mouth of Victoria creek, and after the youthful herder had tried first to head off the cattle and then to round up the sheep, the horses stampeded and followed the mustang to the upper ranch. The youth, finally becoming discouraged and disgusted, jumped his position and footed it home, about a mile and a half away. Later on, he was more successful in his labors as a herder, for the impression left on his mind was a strong one, and for ten years he worked on various ranches in this locality. During this time he remembers when the wheat used in the making of flap-jacks was ground in a coftee mill, and he also has recorded that from Luce Canyon, near Anselmo, he cut the first flag-pole used in a celebration at Broken Bow. His education was acquired through attendance at the district schools during the winter months, and gradually he accumulated capital through his labors until he finally engaged in farming on his own account. He still has a fine home near Gates, on the property which, he owns there. In 190S he came to Broken Bow and established the real estat? and loan business, of which he is still the head, and which he has built up to large and important proportions. Mr. McGraw is what is termed a live wire, and expresses it as his belief that Custer countv has all others l)eaten when it comes to right prices.

Mr. McGraw was married at Gates, Nebraska, March 8, 1894, to Miss Lydia E. Brown, and they are the parents of one child : Mildred M. They are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Mc- Graw is a member of the Woodmen and a Mason of hiffh standing, as well as a Shriner.

OR\'ILLE H. MAZE. - More than thirtyfive years have passed since Orville H. Maze first came to Custer county, but he is still actively interested in agricultural pursuits, and devotes himself to overseeing operations on his large farm north of Lodi. although his own home is in Callaway. At the time of his arrival he was a young married man without other capital than that represented by his ambition and self-confidence, while to-day he is one of the substantial men of his locality and a factor in the life of his home vicinity. Mr. ]\Iaze was born August 30, 1860, in Rush countv, Indiana, and is a son of Wesley A. and Sarah B. ( Pratt ) Maze.

Wesley A. Maze was born in X'irginia, but as a young man went to Indiana, where he married Miss Sarah B. Pratt, their union resulting in the birth of five children, of whom four are living: Matthew T.. Orville H., Wesley B., and Mrs. Etta J. Bolton. Orville H. Maze received his education in the public schools and grew up on the home farm near Sharpsville. his first employment being dropping corn by hand, this to be covered with a hoe, for which he received a wage of fifteen cents per day. He remained on the home farm until his marriage, January 13, 1883, to ^liss Ida M. Thomas, at Tipton, Indiana. She is a daughter of James A. and Mary E. Thomas, farnfing people of Indiana.

In the spring of 1883, soon after their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Maze received the inspiration to try their fortunes in the west, and decided upon Custer county as their field of endeavor. They accordingly came to this county and located just north of the present site of Lodi, where they riiade their home for many years. Like other pioneers, they had to face hardships and overcome obstacles, but they were industrious and persevering, and in the end success rewarded their efforts. They are now the owners of 437 acres of farm land and 640 acres of school land, the farm being very productive and handsomely improved. Mr. I\Iaze still superintends operations on the land, but he and Mrs. Maze reside in their attractive, modern home at Callaway, where they are surrounded by every comfort and convenience - in striking contrast with their early days in Custer county, when they had to be content with the merest necessities of Hfe. Mr. Maze has not only been an active agriculturist, carrying- on extensive operations in farming and stock-raising, but has also been identified with important business interests and was manager of tlie Callaway Shipping Association for ten years. He and his wife are earnest Christians and live their religion every day, Mr. Maze having been Sunday-school superintendent for a quarter of a centur)\ Three years ago he was a delegate to the United Evangelical conference at Barrington. Illinois, and in 1918 he was elected delegate to the general conference, held in October, at York, Pennsylvania. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modem Woodmen of America. His reputation as a business man of sound and strict integrity, and as a helpful and constructive citizen, is finnly established.

Concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Maze, the following brief record is given : Cecil E. is deceased. Flossie P. is the wife of Hilmer Kolbo, proprietor of the Harry Evans garage, in the western part of Callaway. Mr. and Mrs. Kolbo are members of the Lutheran church, and are the parents of three daughters and one son. Blanche B. is the wife of Silas B. Hoffman, foreman of the Gilchrist Lumber Company at Callaway. They are members of the Evangelical church, and are the parents of two daughters and two sons. Wesley E., who is the lessee of the Mrs. John Johnston farm, south of Callaway, married Effa Hanley. a daughter of Benjamin F. and Lona Hanley, the fonner a cousin of ex-Governor Hanley, of Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Wesley E. Alaze are members of the L^nited Evangelical church and are the parents of one son and one daughter. Matthew H., who is a farmer and stockman on his father's ranch northwest of Lodi, married .Ada Myers, daughter of Elmer F. Myers, and they are members of the United Evangelical church, their oidy child being a daughter. Ruth R. is the wife of Troy Myers, who is farming his mother's land, two miles northwest of Callaway. They are members of the United Evangelical church, and are the parents of one daughter. The sons and sons-in-law are all independent in their political affiliations. Mr. Hoffman is an Odd Fellow, and Mr. Myers is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Wesley E. and Matthew H. Maze and Troy Myers were all listed in Class 4 of the draft for the national army.

war came on the step-father of Mr. Russom enlisted in the Confederate army and was a member of Company C, One Hundred Fortyfifth Regiment, North Carolina infantry. He was taken prisoner and died in the military prison at Elmira, New York. After he left home Mr. Russom's mother did her best to support her children and he remembers when she worked for 75 cents a week binding swaths in a wheat field, he helping by running behind the two cradlers and putting the sheaves together so that she could bind them. Thus he earned his first money and was able to buy a coveted rubber ball as the result of his work. In 1866 he accompanied his mother and the children to Delaware county, Indiana, where they lived four years and then moved to Huntington county and settled on forty acres of heavily timbered land. He was only seventeen years old when he cleared off six acres of this land and by 1870 the family had a comfortable story-and-a-half hewed-log house, he having chopped down the timber with which to build it. Mr. Russom labored hard during his early years of manhood, working in the timber, cutting and hauling logs and making staves and wagon and bugg\' spokes during the winters and farming in the summers. With this record of industry-, it can hardly be said that he did not do well in Indiana, but the opening up of desirable sections in Nebraska, seemed to offer better opportunities for the homeseeker, and in 1883 Mr. Russom came to Custer county, where he has lived ever since. He located four and onehalf miles northwest of Broken Bow and his home tract contains 800 acres, on which he has one of the handsomest residences to be found in the county.

Mr. Russom was married June 14. 1874, in Huntington county, Indiana, to Miss Marv J. Pope, a daughter of Robert and Mar)- A. (^lartin) Pope, the fonner of whom was born in the state of New York. There are five survivors of the Pope family, namely : Mc- Clellan, James R., Louis, Mrs. Margaret James and Mrs. Russom. Mr. and Mrs. Russom have a large and vigorous family and many of their children have homes not far distant from the homestead and all are well settled in life. The family record reads as follows: .\thelda M., who is the wife of Charles Brandenburg, a farmer in Gage county, Oklahoma, and they have two sons and three daughters ;

Coriiina E., who is the wife of Frank E. Taylor, who is the leading photographer of Broken Bow, and they have two daughters and one son ; Liiki B., who is the wife of Lewis Gift, who is a farmer three miles east of New Helena, in Custer county, and they have two sons and three daughters ; Leota C. who is the wife of Amos B. Lewis, who is a ranchman near Climax, Nebraska, and they have three daughters and two sons ; Viola, who is a twin sister of Leota C, is the wife of Jacob F. Clinebell, whose farm joins that of Mr. Russom on the southwest: by a former marriage Mrs. Clinebell had two children and has two by her second marriage ; William G. R., who is a carpenter, at Scottsbluflf, Nebraska, married Rhoda, daughter of Samuel Brown, and they have one child: John R., who is a farmer and lives in Broken Bow, married Glendora. daughter of Charles Rector : George A., who operates on his father's land five miles northwest of Broken Bow. married Virginia, daughter of Peter L'Amoreaux, and they have two sons ; Edna, who is the wife of Emery Beal, who is a son of Elgin Beal and a farmer six miles northwest of Broken Bow, and they have one child ; Fred L., who operates his father's land three miles northwest of Broken Bow, married Cora A., a daughter of Allen Reyner, and they have a daughter : Walter V., who is in the aviation branch of the National army, training now at Vancouver; and lone, who is the wife of Elwood Pelkey, who is a fanner on his father's home place. Mr. and Mrs. Pelkey have one son.

Recently he has bought another tract, of 800 acres, situated eight miles west of Broken Bow, to be utilized as a cattle ranch. As mentioned above, Mr. Russom has progressive ideas and is enterprising and thorough in the carrying on of his industries, and, realizing the public value of county fairs in an agricultural section, he has encouraged such organizations and ably assisted in their management at Broken Bow. On account of the superiority of his exhibits he has carried off manv prizes and twice won blue ribbons at the, state fair.

JOSEPH URBAN. - In the region of Comstock there are many very thrifty Bohemian families ; for the most part they are verv' desirable citizens and prosperous so far as this world's goods are concerned. To this contingent belongs Joseph Urban who was born in Bohemia April 15, 1873. He is the second son of James and Frances (Barta) Urban, both of whom were natives of Bohemia who journeyed from their native land in 1882, and crossing a continent of land and water settled in Fillmore cotinty, Nebraska, where they lived for five years. After that they moved to Valley county, in a covered wagon drawn by a yoke of oxen. Here they homesteaded a quarter section of land, upon which they made their home until about 1910. Then selling their place, they moved to Cornstock where they are living at the present tim'e. The father is 77 years of age and the mother 70. They are the parents of nine children, eight of whom are still living: James lives in Saline county, his wife being Fannie Barta; Joseph was the second ; John married Emma Zeblodial and lives at Prague, Oklahoma; Frank married Barbara Matousek and lives near Burwell ; Charlie married Frances Valesek and lives east of Comstock; Emil married Rosa Kluna and lives on a farm near Comstock ; William married Ella Zeblodial and lives near Comstock ; Mary married Fred Nemeskel and is living north of Comstock; Frances married Emil Pleva but is now deceased. The family were for the most part Democratic in politics and members of the Catholic church.

Joseph Urban received his education in the public schools of Valley county and has followed farming all his life, in which he has been more than usually successful. He has a good wife to whom is due a large part of the credit, for successes achieved. He was married in February, 1898, to Mary Krumal, the daughter of George and Anna (Veracek) Kramal. The Krumals were early settlers of this county, later moving to Omaha but now residing in Burwell. Born into the family home of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Urban are seven bright children, all of whom give promise of developing into useful, desirable citizens. They are Joe, Louis, Albert, George, Ella. Rudolph, and Lizzie. All are at home under the parental roof and assist in the affairs of the fami. When the farming operations of the Urbans began, they had nothing. His first attempt at farming w;as done altogether on borrowed capital but by the application of sound judgment, strict economy, and tireless energy, he made it pay. Today he owns 800 acres of good land, has splendid stock, some white-faced thoroughbred cattle, Duroc Jersey hogs and all the stock indicates good care and attention. His land is in three separate tracts, two of which have good improvements. Looking back over the past he complains of but few crop failures. These were due to drouth and chinch bugs, but these losses fortunately came at a time when grain was raised in other sections and was conse- quently cheap. The only offices he has ever held have been of a local nature. He was road overseer of his district for several years. He is a member of the Catholic church, as is the family, a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Z. C. B. J., a Bohemian lodge.

GEORGE T. MILLIGAN. - One of Custer county's successful and well-to-do citizens whose present prosperous condition is due to his own industry and good judgment, is the gentleman whose name introduces this paragraph.

Mr. Milligan is a native of Michigan, and was born near Port Huron, St. Clair county. He is a son of William and Elizabeth (Burton) Milligan. The father was born in Ireland and was left an orphan when only a boy. At the age of sixteen years he ran away from his native land and became a resident of Canada. There he met and married Miss Elizabeth Burton, and soon after this event he came to the states and became a farmer in St. Clair county, Michigan. When his son George was only one year old he moved to Macomb county, where he opened up a new farm, and he continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits during the remainder of his life, passing away in 1893, at the age of seventy-six years. His wife, who was a native of Canada, passed away in Macomb county. ^Michigan, in 1890 at the age of sixtyfive years.

George T. Milligan was reared in his native state and when a young man of eighteen years came to Nebraska, arriving in Custer county September 2i, 1885. After paying stage fare from Kearney to Broken Bow he had the sum of two dollars and fifty cents. He at once made his way to Ortello valley, Custer county, where he found employment as a farm hand. When old enough, he secured a homestead on West Table, but a little later he relinquished his claim and took a liomestead in Eureka valley. This was the scene of his activities for twenty-five years, and here he was successfully engaged in stock-raising and genera] agricultural enterprise.

About five years ago ]\Ir. Milligan bought land near Ansehno, where he built extensive iiuprovements and continued to be engaged in agricultural pursuits. He and his family now reside on a finely improved tract adjoining the village of Anselmo, Mrs. Milligan having inherited this farm from her father's estate.

of George T. Milligan and Miss ]Mary A. Jacquot was solemnized. Mrs. Milligan is a native of Illinois, and is a daughter of Nicholas Jacquot, who was an early settler of Custer county and whose record will be found elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Milligan have become the parents of five children : Zella is the wife of Charles Gladson, who operates Mr. Milligan's old fann in Eureka valley ; William H., who passed away January 12, 1917, married Margaret iMathews, and his widow and two sons now reside at Arnold : Lizzie is the wife of Loren White, a farmer on West Table ; and Mary and Fred are at the parental home.

Mr. and Mrs. Milligan are members of the Methodist church and in politics he is a Republican. He is one of those who came to Custer county in the pioneer times, and he has seen the country transformed into a well developed section, while to the work of progress and upbuilding he has contributed his full share. From humble circumstances he has become a man of means, and to-day he is the owner of 1,440 acres of land in Custer county. While he has made a success of his undertakings, he has not been unmindful of his duties of citizenship and he is held in unqualified esteem by all who know him.

JOSEPH H. McGUIRE. - Down on a splendid farm home in what is now the historical Powell Canyon, lives the progressive scion of a widely known hospitable sire. The name in the title line belongs to a pioneer family and the immediate subject has been a resident of the county ever since he was three months of age. This admits him to the exclusive circle of old timers of early settlers.

Joseph H. McGuire is a native of Nebraska and was bom in Hamilton county, September 15, 1883. He is the fourth borii of John H. and Anna (Davidson) McGuire. The father is a native of Illinois, but the mother, like her son, is a native of Nebraska. This estimable couple are the parents of nine children, eight of whom are still living. Aside from Joseph H.. they are: .A.rthur, deceased: Bessie Mars: Ashton ; Charles F. : Millia Wright : Edwin G. ; Alice Muliklin : and Lola, who is single' and engaged in the profession of teaching. The father and mother came to Custer county when Joseph H. was three months old and located a homestead in Powell Canyon, about five and one-half miles northeast of Arnold. This was their home until a few years ago : they retired from active life and are now well and comfortably located at Forest Grove, Ore- gon. Their Powell Canyon home was one of the famous well known homes of the early days. It was noted far and wide for its open door and whole-souled hospitality. During the course of years hundreds of travellers found it a comfortable place to spend the night, get a good dinner or find shelter from the storm. In such a home as this the children were raised to manhood and womanhood, and it is small wonder that they have developed without exception into respected and useful citizens. The parents were devoted members of the Methodist church. Before retiring in his Oregon home, the father disposed of his land. Ten hundred and eighty acres of it were purchased by Joseph H. and his brother Charles F.

The childhood years of young Joseph were spent on the canyon farm and in the canyon home he grew to manhood. His education was received in the common schools of the county and here in early youth he formed the early habit of industry and frugality which has stood him so well in hand since he has been facing the world for himself.

The first money he remembers making was earned by riding a calf, which somebody indiscreetly dared him to mount. The frightened calf ran with him into the barn, where young Joseph was scraped ofif the calf and considerable skin scraped off his nose at the same time. For this achievement he received fifteen cents. With fifteen cents in his pocket, a scab on his nose didn't count. During his early manhood, Joseph fancied that he would like to see something of the world and as he had an opportunity to travel with a company soliciting orders for enlarging pictures, he went with them. One year in the employmen'; of this company netted some experience, while the coin of the realm for the mo.st part went to the company. It was perhaps this experience that led him to decide on farming for a life occupation.

When reaching his majority he homesteaded forty acres adjoining his father's land. To this diminuitive tract he has added by purchase until now his farm home is maintained on an eight hundred acre ranch, upon which there are good improvements and a fine contingent of good stock. He has followed diversified farming and has achieved a general success.

The domestic ties of his own home were first formed December 14, 1904, when, at Merna, Nebraska, he was joined in holy wedlock to Miss Jessie Life, a ver\' estimable young lady, a native of the Hoosier state. Since their union Mrs. McGuire has not only presided over the affairs of the household but in every possible way has been an invaluable assistant to her husband. They are the happy parents of four children : Una F. ; Harry F. ; Johnny N. ; and Master Frederick B., who is now six years old and is a sturdy young director of home affairs. All the children are bright and promising candidates for useful citizens.

The McGuires are well-liked, accommodating neighbors. Air. McGuire is a thirty-second degree Mason and a Shriner. In politics he aftiliates with the Republican party.

HORACE NE\'E. - Over on the west side of the West Table which, by the way, is the most productive and largest of all of the ' celebrated tables in Custer county, there is no more widely known name than that of Neve, and it is to this remarkable family that Horace Neve belongs.

Horace Neve was born June 27, 1868, in Juneau county, Wisconsin. His father, Samtiel Neve, was a native of England, and his mother, Roxie (Acres) Neve, was a native of Pennsylvania. His father was twice married and became the father of a very remarkable family of children. By his first union there were seven children, of whom Horace was the fourth born, the others being William J., Emely, Frank, Louis, Maye, and Belle E. Fine. The father's second marriage was to Lucinda Drew, of Wisconsin, and of this second union thirteen children were born - Frederick E., \'ioIa S'oltz, Lottie Fox, George, Mathias, Jennie Do.xy, Annie Zerlein. Henry, John, Roy, a son who died in infancy, William, and Richard. Sixteen of the children are still living.

Samuel Neve came to the United States in 1854 and made his home at Lyndon, Wisconsin, where he farmed during the summer, and during the fall and winter worked as a "lumber jack" in the ])ineries, as the pine forests were then called. This he continued for many years, and later, in connection with his farming, he operated a threshing machine during the fall seasons of the year. Young Horace remembers that he purchased his first suit of clothes bv selling newspapers and magazines. He worked on the home farm in the summer time and went to school in the winter, .\fter he was old enough he assisted his father in running the thre.sliing machine. Samuel Xeve came to Custer county in 1882 and settled on the West Table, where he continued to reside until his death, July 29, 1913, and where his children grew to manhood and womanhood. For seven years Sanuiel Neve was road over- seer of the Cliff road district and for five years he served as school director. He enjoyed a splendid reputation and was always responsive to every call of duty.

Young Horace stayed in the home domicile until he was twenty-three years of age. and he then bought a half-section of land, adjoining his father's home place, and began farming for himself. He never married but lived with his parents most of the time until about ten years ago. He recently sold his farm for sixty-five dollars an acre and has just bought 420' acres three miles southeast of Berwyn. Mr. Neve has made four trips to Canada and in addition to this he has traveled extensively throughout the middle section of this country, partly on account of his health and partly to look for a location where conditions might be more favorable than here, but after his travels he returned to Custer county and bought the land upon which he expects to make his home during the rest of his life. The greater portion of his accumulation was made by raising hogs of the Berkshire and Poland-China varieties. In this phase of farm enterprise he was counted exceptionally successful.

DAVID O. BROWN. - Custer county has every reason to be proud of the personnel of the fine array of men who are upholding her prestige and precedence in connection with the basic industries of agriculture and stock-raising, and properly assigned to prominent classification with these sterling exponents of modern farm enterprise is the popular young citzen whose name initiates this paragraph.

David O. Brown was born in Carroll county, Ohio, on the 23d of November, 1893, and he takes just pride in thus claiming the old Buckeye state as the place of his nativity, though this does not in the least militate against his loyalty to and appreciation of the county and state in which he now maintains his home. He is a son of David O. and Agnes ( Price) Brown, the former of whom was bom in Columbiana county, Ohio, and the latter of whom was a daughter of Reed Price, a prominent citizen of Ohio. David O. Brown, Sr., and also Reed Price were numbered among the substantial settlers of Custer county and here the former acquired valuable farm property, his death having occurred in the city of Lincoln, this state, on the 5th of November, 1914. Upon coming to Custer county he established his residence on a farm west of Broken Bow. He is survived by one son and three daughters, the only son being the subject of this review and the daughters being Mrs. June Freedman, Mrs. May Booth and Mrs. Fern Aldrich.

During the childhood days of David O. Brown, Jr., to whom this sketch is dedicated, the family home was maintained near Canton, Stark county, Ohio, and there he gained his preliminary education in the public schools, the while he assisted his father on the home farm, which was given over largely to the raising of fine live stock. Thus the youth gained early and valuable experience in connection with farm enterprise, including the handling of live stock. After having prosecuted his studies in the Canton high school he took a course in a business college, after which he was for three years a student in St. Ignatius College at Cleveland, Ohio.

In the spring of 1914, Mr. Brown engaged in the automobile business at Berwyn, Custer county, and with this line of enterprise he was there identified for a period of three years. Upon the death of his father he found it incumbent upon him to assume management of the home farm and the general aft'airs of the estate. Accordingly he now resides on the old homestead, in section 29, township 17, range 16, and he is the owner of 420 acres of excellent land, the same being available for profitable agriculture but his intention being to give his attention in large measure to the raising of thoroughbred cattle, preference being given to a high grade of pedigreed Herefords. His character, his ability and his progressiveness assure him of the maximum success in this important field of endeavor, for he is systematic in his management of affairs and is a business man of circumspection and vigor.

On the 25th of November, in the fine old state of Ohio, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Brown to Miss Lillian Courtright, who was born at Carrollton, that state, and who is a daughter of M. V. and Lydia (Ralston) Courtright, both likewise natives of that commonwealth. Mr. and Mrs. Brown are popular factors in the representative social activities of their community and well merit the recognition accorded to them in this history of Custer county.

ANDREW SO.MMER. - One of the earliest settlers of Custer county and one who through his own efforts has reached the goal of success, the subject of this review well deserves a place in the history of the county he has so notably heli)ecl to develop.

-Andrew S'onmier is a native of France, born in .\lsace-L<:>rraine, November 25. 1844. His parents, John and Barbara (Gcrig) Sommer, were natives of the same country as the son, and in 1848 they immigrated to America,

At the age of sixteen years Andrew Sommer found employment in the coal mines of Illinois, and for twenty years he followed the occupation of miner.

When he was not yet twenty years of age, the Civil war being in progress, Mr. Sommer offered his services in defense of the Union, and in September, 1864. he enlisted in Company E, One Hundred and Eighth Illinois Infantry, in which he served until the close of the war. He participated in the siege of Spanish Fort, and in many minor engagements and skirmishes, receiving an honorable discharge, at Chicago. Illinois, in August, 1865, after having made a creditable record for bravery and loyalty to duty.

In the spring of 1880 Mr. Sommer came to Custer county, Nebraska, and secured as homestead the northwest quarter of section 32, township 18, range 22. Not a single improvement had been made, and a sod house continued the first home on the new farm. He also took a timber claim of 160 acres, and as the years passed he brought his land to a high state of cultivation. On the place he has erected a substantial set of buildings, his being one of the best improved farms in Custer county. He has been extensively engaged in stock raising and feeding, of which he made marked success, and he is now the owner of more than 1,000 acres of land, all within two miles of the homestead which he obtained thirty-eight years ago. He has not been remiss in any duty as a citizen and has contributed liberally in time and money to those enterprises which have had to do with the upbuilding of the county.

July 3, 1885, in Custer county, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Sommer and Melissa (Keedy) Tygart, a native of Illinois and a daughter of the late Abraham and Elizabeth (Bickel) Keedy, the fomier of whom was born in Illinois and the latter in Indiana. By a former marriage, to Andrew Tygart, Mrs. Sommer had a son. Perry \V., who resides with his mother. ?^lr. and ^Irs. Sommer have four children: .\lmore, who married listher Collinson, operates one of his father's farms ; Benjamin, who married Nora Sharp, likewise operates land belonging to his father ; Eva is the wife of .Mvin Cole, a farmer two miles south of Merna : and Lizzie still resides with her parents.

Mr. Sommer is a Republican in politics, and he served as justice of the peace for thirty years. He helped organize school district No. 15, in 1882, and for several years served as treasurer of the same.

abated the active work of the farm and has let the burden fall on the shoulders of younger men. Coming to Custer county without capital, success has come to him through his own efforts and it has been justly deserved, placing him among the prominent old settlers of the county.

GEORGE W. McGAUHEY. - One of the young farmers of the western portion of the state, who is now in the first flush of middle life, is named above, but his fuil name is rarely used and hardly known by the circle of friends who familiarly and habitually call him George.

George was born in Illinois, thirty-five years ago, but most of his life has been spent in Custer county. His father was Woodruff Henr\' McGauhey, a native of Kentucky, who died in Illinois at sixty-seven years of age.

The mother's maiden name was Baird, and she also was a Kentuckian. After the death of the father the mother brought the family to Custer county and located them on the homestead, in 1899. All were industrious and energetic and were always able to take care of themselves. The children in the family, besides the subject of the sketch, were Mary Gibson, living in Anselmo, whose husband, a former Ansley banker, is deceased : Ned Franklin lives in Anselmo and is with tlie Melville Lumber Company of Anselmo.

George W. McGauhey chose for his wife Miss Rose Willetts, a native of Kansas and daughter of A. A. Willetts, a very prominent farmer and stockman of Anselmo. They now have four children. At the time of this writing, Ellen is thirteen years old, Mar\'el is eleven, William five, and Master Glen has seen but three summers.

Mr. McGaughey is farming on a somewhat extensive scale. He rents six hundred seventv acres of land, owns his own machiner\' and horse power and keeps a good grade of live stock.

He is actively affiliated with the Woodmen of the World, in which he takes prominent and loyal part. Both he and his wife are hard working people and enjoy an excellent reputation. They have a good start and unless unusually ill luck Iiefalls them will have acquired a comjietency and have contributed their share to western development before old age overtakes them.

IR.\ P. MILLS. - In naming the substantial and representative men of Custer county, respectful attention is called to Ira P. Mills, who for many years was a leading agricultur- ist but who is now living retired in his comfortable home at Arnold. He has been a resident of the county for thirty-five years and has been a factor in its development along many lines. He was born in Madison county, Iowa, December 29, 1859, and is a son of William and Lucinda (Stark) Mills, the former of whom was born in Vermilion county, Illinois. Mr. Mills has two brothers : William G., who is now retired and residing at Arnold, married Millie Guy ; and E. Grant, who is a resident of Forest Grove, Oregon, married Bertha Needham, of Custer county. In 1865 the father of Mr. Mills came with his family to Nebraska and located in Lancaster county, nine miles south of Lincoln, where he lived for eighteen years.

Ira P. Mills was reared in Lancaster county, Nebraska, and from there came to Custer county in :\lay, 1883. He attended the Nebraska State University from 1878 until June, 1880. He was married July 6, 1881. at Roca, Lan-_ caster county, to Miss Clorinda Perrin, who was a daughter of . Joshua and Lucinda (Deems) Perrin. Mrs. Mills died in May, 1917, the mother of four sons and one daughter, as follows: William J., who attended the Nebraska Wesleyan L^'niversity for three years, is connected with the statistical department of the Union Pacific Railroad, at Omaha. He married Irma Bramon and they have two sons. Benjamin H., who is a dealer in agricultural implements at Arnold, married Myrtle, a daughter of George Reed, and they have two children. Bernard I., who is a physician of the Eclectic school and who resides at Maywood, Nebraska, married Delia, daughter of Walter Chamberlain. Helen L., is the wife of John Dennis and they live twenty miles south of Arnold. Floyd P., who is a farmer near Logan, Nebraska, married Ruth, a daughter of Edgar Pearce.

When ^Ir. Mills came to Custer county he secured a homestead in Mills valley, and this property he still owns, his realty holdings aggregating 1,760 acres, in Custer and Logan counties. In politics he and his sons are Republicans and he served two years as county supervisor, representing Arnold township.

ROY THOMAS. - The young farmer named in this head line is one of the progressive young farmers of Custer county who were born in the county and have come into the stage of action in the time of the present generation and are now just entering the prime of their manhood years.

day of February, 1888, the son of George W. Thomas a well known and prominent citizen. It was here in Custer county that he received his education, here he has lived his life to the present time and here he began his lifetime occupation as a tiller of the soil, in which he has already made an initial success. Much of his success dates from July 12, 1911, at which time he led to the marriage altar Miss Nellie Hewitt, who is a daughter of George and Sarah Hewitt, of Hastings, Nebraska. In the family of Mrs. Thomas were ten children, but she is the only one living in this county. The Thomas home now has four children, bright ]5iomising youngsters, full of life and energy. lola, Troy, Blount, and Faye all are at home and their presence assures no lonesome hours. Roy knows no other occupation than farming. He owns a quarter section of land on which he has some improvements and in connection with which he rents three more quarter sections, which makes his farming activities unusually extensive. It requires work and energy to conduct a farm of this size, maintain the proper complement of livestock and keep everything going, but all of these qualities Mr. Thomas and his wife both possess in a high degree. Their home is yet in its making, their accumulations are yet initial, the years are before them but present conditions and the record of the past, prophesy the success of coming years. They are well liked and highly respected by their neighbors and most of their social energy is expended in the neighborhood Grange, of which they are members and from which they derive both social and pecuniary advantages. Mr. Thomas does not count himself either Democratic or Republican. He votes the ticket that suits him best and that represents, as he believes, the best man.

EMANUEL ^lYERS.. - Of the follower of any reliable vocation no better recommendation is asked than the credit of long employment under a reliable management. For more than twenty years Emanuel Myers was connected with the Dierks Lumber Company, and at the present time he is living in comfortable retirement in his home at Comstock.

Mr. Myers was born in Dallas county, Iowa, December 21, 1863, and is a son of Daniel B. and Jane (Gaddes) Myers, natives of Indiana, and early settlers of Iowa. The father, who was a carpenter by trade, took up farming when he located in Iowa, but on occasion followed his trade in addition to farming and raising stock. His death occurred in 1867, while his widow survived him for many years, passing away in 1917. They were the parents of six children, of whom five are Hving - Airs. Elfreta Robinson is the wife of an Iowa farmer; Rontha is the wife of Frank Austin, a blacksmith in Iowa; Charlotte is the wife of Charles Stout, an Iowa farmer; Theodore is a blacksmith in Iowa ; and Emanuel is the subject of this review. Emanuel Myers was educated in the common schools of Iowa, and in the spring of 1886 he came to Custer county, where for two years he operated a dray, at Ansley. In 1892 he began working for the Dierks Lumber Company, entering the service of that concern at Ansley, and subsequently being employed at Mason City and Greeley. In 1914 his health failed and he was practically retired by the finu. which, in honor of his long, capable, and faithful ser\'ice. granted him a pension which permits him to live comfortably in his home at Comstock. He is one of the reliable and highly respected citizens of his community and is a public-spirited supporter of worthy movements advanced for the general welfare. May 6. 1888, in Custer county, Mr. Myers married Miss Fannie Stoneburner, the daughter of pioneer settlers of Custer county who are now residents of Omaha. To this union there were born four children : Miss Gertrude, who is employed at Bragg's drug store, Comstock, resides with her parents ; Willard. in the United States Army, is at the training camp at Indianapolis, Indiana, at the time of this writing; Alaudie is the wife of Russell Smith, employed in a drug store at Junction City, Kansas ; and Aliss Evelyn resides with her parents.

GEORGE W. THOMAS. - Custer county has a large number of retired farmers, the most of whom have contributed the efforts of their lives to improving their farms and by hard work and rigid economy have secured a competence upon which they can retire and spend the last years of their lives in comparative ease and comfort. One of them is the man whose name constitutes the title line of this sketch. He lives in Broken Bow on a five-acre tract upon which he has a comfortable home and maintains a deminutive farm that gives him both exercise and recreation.

Mr. Thomas was born in Alontgomery county, Missouri, June 7, 1857. He is a son of Joseph and Malinda (McCardie) Thomas, in the family of whom were five children. The first born, Presly Thomas, is a substantial farmer living in Illinois. The subject. George W.. and his brother are the only two of the five children now living. The early life of Mr. Thomas was spent in Missouri, where he had recourse to good public schools and very early in life turned his attention to agricultural pursuits. It was here that he met and led to the marriage altar, in 1875, Lora Fleener, whose parents were native Missourians and very excellent people.

Into the Thomas home, as the years have passed, three children were born. Blanche is married to a Custer county farmer named Bennett. Concerning Gordon, the second born, see extended reference elsewhere under the title line of his own name. Roy also lives in Custer county and is the subject of a life sketch in this volume.

The Thomas family came to Custer county in 1888. They had but little of this world's goods, Mr. Thomas says, practiiCally nothing. But they had energy and ambition and went to work. He entered a homestead, filed on a preemption, and built the soddy in which the family was domiciled for several years. He now owns a full section of good land south of Ansley, which is well improved and upon which are two sets of farm buildings.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas passed through the trying ordeals of pioneer days and arc now enjoying the well-earned reward of their toil and privations in early years. They are a well respected and highly esteemed family. Their church affiliation is with the Christian denomination.

WILLIAM H. POULSOM. - Living in the vicinity of Merna is a farmer of English extraction who came to the county only eight years ago, who brought with him a goodly portion of this world's goods and whose investments and subsequent operations have rated him among the first of the farming class.

William H. Poulsom was born in Monmouthshire, England, September 15, 1861. He is a son of Daniel and Matilda Poulsom, natives of Bath, England, and fine people, highly connected with the Church of England: they were the parents of these children - James, Thomas. Matilda, Anna Reed, Emilie CJrchard, William H., and Rosa Strange.

The first nineteen years of William Poulsom's life were spent in England, where he received a common-school education and where his first money was earned by raising and selling garden produce from a little tract of land allotted him by his father from the main garden upon which the family dej^ended for a livelihood. With the money thus earned, young William started a bank account of which he was exceedingly proud, and it can be said that that early bank account had a great influence upon his life and was in a measure responsible for the thrift of after life. When nineteen years of age he came to America. An older brother had preceded him to this country by twelve years and this brother was then located at Farragut. Iowa. It was to that locality that young William made his way, and there he worked for his brother on the farm for two years, being employed by the month. Wages in that day were small and he could earn but little by working by the month. Therefore he resolved to start farming operations for himself as soon as possible. His brother helped him to start on rented land and after farming for himself two years he had funds enough to fit out a prairie schooner, with which he started for Wahoo, Nebraska. He reached Wahoo in the spring of 1885, and in that locality he continued a land renter for six years. By that time he was able to buy 120 acres of land and later he was able to add forty acres, which rounded oiit the full quarter-section.

The domestic life of Mr. Poulsom dates from ]March 18, 1899, when, in Wahoo, Nebraska, he claimed in marriage the hand of Marj' Jasa, a native of Wahoo, but of German extraction, she being a daughter of James and Frances Jasa, who were natives of Moravia, Germany, and whose four other children are here named: Frances Truna, Joseph, Nettie Truna, and James.

From its first establishment, the Poulsom home was well equipped and well provided with home comforts. In many ways it has been an ideal establishment of economy and convenience. Three children have come with the passing of years, all boys, full of ambition and promise. William J. is established on a portion of the home i)lace. farming for himself, a mile and a half southwest of Merna. He married Joy Cosner and they have one child. They are connected with the Baptist church. The second son, Frank T., is connected with the .\merican base-hospital corps and is somewhere in France at the time of this writing. He constitutes the Poulsom contribution to the man power of the government. Daniel P. is at home with his parents and has not yet finished the graded sclux>ls,

Mr. Poulsom sold his Wahoo possessions and arrived in Custer county in the early spring of 1910. Here he purchased a valuable farm, to which he has since added until his landed possessions comprise 360 acres, upon which are three sets of good improvements. The farm home is on one portion of this tract, and every day Mr. Poulsom gives himself vigorouslv to farm work and direction. In his estimation the time for his retirement or taking life easy has not yet arrived. From every point of view we have given the description of a successful and practical farmer. All the buildings on the premises are in good condition. The stock is in good shape and indicates splendid care and good feeding. The Poulsoms are rated well in the community and constitute one of the first families of the ^lerna district. Patriotism is not wanting in this family. Every appeal for war drives has met a generous response and nothing has been withheld that would contribute to the winning of the war.

WILLIAM D. REDMOND, vice-president and manager of the Farmers State Bank of Mason City, Nebraska, is not only prominent in the financial field, but has also won distinction as an educator and as a factor in public affairs. A man of high scholarship; of long experience in responsible positions, in which he displayed keen, decisive business qualities ; honored in every community in which he has had his home ; and with an acquaintanceship that extends over the state - his coming to the Farmers State Bank has not only brought added confidence to that substantial institution, but has also added to Mason City's best ciizenship.

William D. Redmond was bom in Lee county, Illinois, and is the next to the youngest of a family of eleven children born to John R. and Katherine (Bassett) Redmond. Both parents were born in Ireland, and both came to the United States in 1S30. They were united in marriage in Connecticut, and from there came to Nebraska in 1871. John R. Redmond homesteaded in Johnson county, where he continued to live until his death, in 1905, in the meanwhile accumulating land until he owned 280 acres, all well improved. Besides William D., the following of his children survive : Mrs. D. J- Turner, of Gridlev, California: Mrs. Sara J. Piatt, of Crab Orchard, Nebraska : Joseph R., of Colby, Kansas ; Mrs. Katherine R. Doolittle, of Tacoma, Washington: Miss Madge V., of Kansas City, Missouri ; John L., of Crab Orchard, Nebraska ; Dr. F. H., of San Antonio, Texas ; Miss Ella, of Crab Orchard : and Mrs. L. C. Hamly, of Lincoln, Nebraska.

After completing his public-school course, in the Johnson county schools, William D. Redmond entered the Western Normal College at Shenandoah, Iowa, and was graduated in the advanced course of that institution. He then entered the educational field, holding a professional life-certificate and subsequently was principal of the schools of Crab Orchard and of Brock, Nebraska ; assistant state superintendent of public instruction; and registrar and financial secretary of two state normal schools, being in the former relation at Peru, Nebraska, and serving in the latter at Wayne, Nebraska. For a number of years Mr. Redmond has been valued in the councils of the Democratic party, and while residing in Nemaha county he served two years as deputy county clerk, and in 1907 represented Nemaha county in the Nebraska legislature. Prior to coming to Mason City Mr. Redmond had banking experience at both Brock and Crab C)rchard. In the fall of 1918 he bought a controlling interest in the Farmers State Bank, and its affairs are in a very prosperous condition! He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, including the Order of the Eastern Star, and also with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen.

CHARLES NEWMAN, whose connection with the agricultural interests of Custer county commenced in 1886, has been a resident of this county ever since, with the exception of five years, from 1894 to 1899, which he spent in Idaho. He has brought to his work that unflagging industry which seldom fails of accomplishment, and it is this factor that has brought him a desired success and gained him a place among the well-to-do farmers of the community.

Mr. Newman was born in Ohio, in 1873, a son of Thomas and Lucy Newman, the former of whom is deceased, while the latter stirvives as a resident of Ohio. There were five children in the family : Charles ; Archie, who resides on a farm in Montana ; Mrs. Roberta Heckman, who died in Idaho ; and Eva and Maggie, who still reside in Ohio with their mother. Charles Newman received his education in the public schools of Ohio and was brought up on a farm. In 1886 he came to Nebraska and located in Custer county, remaining until 1894, when he went to Idaho and spent five years in that state. Returning then to Custer county, he bought his present farm, in section 4, township 71, not far from ?kIason City, where he has since made his home and achieved his success. This is a property of 160 acres, the greater part of which is under cultivation and highly developed, and here Mr. Newman has engaged industriously in farming and in the raising of cattle, horses and hogs. His improvements are modest but of good, substantial c|uality and ample for all his needs, and he owns good machinery that lightens his labors and adds to his efficiency.. Mr. Newman is somewhat of a mechanic and is capable of doing practically all of his own blacksmithing. His business methods have ever been honorable and straightforward, and his fidelity to engagements and faithfulness to friendships have gained for him the wami regard of his associates. Fraternally Mr. Newman is affiliated with the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Mr. Newman married Miss Mary Swanson, who was born in 1885, and they are the parents of four children, born as follows : Roberta, in 1905; Thomas, in 1907; Milford, in 1914; and Kenneth, in 1916.

JAMES F. COCHRAN. - Here is the sketch of a young man who occupies a position of great responsibility and who as a ranch manager and stockman is making a decided success in the south Loup country, where the scene of his operations is laid.

James is the son of Benjamin Franklin and Rebecca (Miller) Cochran, both of whom were natives of the Hoosier state. The father died at the age of thirty. The mother is still living, at the age of sixty. During his lifetime the father was a cooper by trade but at the same time followed farming for the principal part of his livelihood. The mother is a member of the Christian church. James came to Custer county and since then has been laying the foundation of what he hopes some day will be a comfortable fortune - one large enough to enable him to retire from active life. At the present time he has the management of the Hamer Ranch, owned by J. J. lioblits. This ranch consists of 3,280 acres, of which 380 acres are under cultivation. They handle 150 head of cattle, 150 head of hogs and a good grade of horses. The output of this ranch is the particular thing with which Mr. Cochran is charged. Ranches must pay, and when their operation is committed to a manager, their manager must assume a grave responsibility. This responsibility Mr. Cochran assumed and discharges in a very creditable manner. His wife was Eva Fritz, of Georgetown, Custer county. Mrs. Cochran comes from an emmiently respectable family and although young in years she is well prepared to preside over the home they have made for themselves and which they hope to be the shrine of much happiness in the years to come.

Mr. Cohran is an independent voter. He owes no party political allegiance. He reserves the right to do his own thinking and votes for candidates as their qualities and abilities appeal to his judgment. The Cochrans

GEORGE M PROBERT. - More than a quarter of a century has rolled by since George M. Probert, one of Custer county's most substantial citizens, came here, and in the possession of a fine estate and in the enjoyment of unqualified popular esteem, he has much to show for his twenty-eight years of effort. Mr. Probert is a native of the grand old state of Iowa, and was born in Clayton county, January 13, 1860. His parents were James and Euphemia (Muir) Probert.

The parents of Mr. Probert were born in Muirkirk, Scotland, and they came to the United States in 1856 and settled in Clayton county, Iowa, where they spent the rest of their lives. In Scodand the father had been an iron worker, but after coming to America he devoted himself entirely to agricultural pursuits. In Clayton county he jmrchased land, which he developed and improved. He was one of the leading members of the Presbyterian church in his neighborhood. Eight children were born to James and Euphemia Prol>ert and of these the following are living: Jeanette, who is the widow of Oliver Hall, lives at Viroqua. Wisconsin ; William, who is a retired farmer of Clayton county. Iowa, married Mary Grim ; George M. is the subject of this sketch ; and John, who is a farmer in Clayton county, married Nellie Davis.

George M. Probert was afforded excellent educational advantages of those days, as gauged by the standards of the locality and period, and after completing the public-school course in Clayton county' he afterward took a full commercial course in Upper Iowa University, at Fayette. He remained with his father on the home farm until his marriage, and, in fact, he has been a farmer all his life. When he came to Custer county, in the spring of 1890, he not only brought with him his family but also a thorough knowledge of his vocation, as applicable to Iowa land and climate, as well as four horses and a cash capital of $700. His first land purchase was eleven acres, and on that tract he did his first experimenting on Nebraska soil. Like other settlers, he encountered unexpected hardships, during which he lost all his horses. Many of the settlers of that time became entirely discouraged and returned to their former homes, but Mr. Probert was made of sterner stuff, and through courage and determination he gradually overcame the early disadvantages and long has been established on a sound financial basis. His original land purchase was but the nucleus of his present large estate^ of 880 acres. With him farming and stockraising have been extremely profitable industries. Mr. Probert has taken much interest in improving his land and when he erected his present handsome residence, he chose a beautiful site. locating it on an eminence overlooking the Middle Loup valley. His home is probably the finest rural residence in Custer county and is modern in every respect, witli a hot-water heating system, running water, and acetylene lights.

Air. Probert was married November 17, 1881, to Miss Margaret Clemens, at West Union, Iowa. She is a daughter of Henderson and Margaret ( Wood) Clemens, who were born in Ireland and who came to the United States prior to the Civil war, in which JMr. Clemens served three years as a soldier of the LTnion. His business was farming. Mr. and Mrs. Probert have had six children, as follows: Le Roy, who conducts a garage and is also in the protluce business at Sargent, Nebraska, married Carrie Hartley ; Blanche, who died June 18, 1917, was the wife of Thomas B. Murray ; Ray E., who is a farmer near Sargent, married Bessie Grisham ; Edna is the wife of Walter Sargent, who is. at the time of this writing, in the national army, in training at Camp Lee. Virginia, and Effie and Georgia remain at the parental home, the former being a popular teacher in the local schools. Mr. Probert is independent in pvolitics. He is a man of recognized good judgment in all matters and his neighbors of many years standing know that his word is ever a^ binding as a bond.

EDWIN LUND, one of the enterprising and progressive agriculturists of Custer county, is carrying on extensive operations in the vicinity of Mason City, where hi? father secured a homestead as early as 1881. The one which the son now occupies is not the original property, but he has been a resident of the same vicinity for thirty-seven years, and is known as a practical and capable representative of the vo'cation of agriculture as practiced in this part of the country.

Mr. Lund was born at Chicago, Illinois, August 22, 1876, a son of (;)le and Mollie ( Bahle) Lund. His parents were natives of Norway, who came to the L''nited States as young people, the father about the year 1871, he locating at once at Chicago. Mrs. Lund's parents settled first in Michigan, but she was married at Chicago to Mr. Lund, who was working for the great packer Philip D. Armour at that time and continued to do so for two years after their marriage. He then removed to Nebraska, and for more than two years was engaged in farming in Seward county, and in 1881 came to Custer county and secured a homestead, in addition to a preemption. He was still a poor man when he came to Custer county, but found here the opportunity which he had sought, and through his untiring industry and antive ability worked out a creditable and satisfying success. He became the owner of 320 acres in the vicinity of his first settlement, but this he subsequently sold, and purchased land where his son Edwin is now carrying on operations, and where he owned a tract of 200 acres. This he continued to operate intelligently and successfully until his death, in 1902, at the age of sixty-three years. He was a well-read man in the Norwegian language, and was alive to all the important topics of the day, was a good and progressive citizen, and a staunch Republican. He was a member of the Lutheran church, as is Mrs. Lund, who survives him and resides in the state of Washington. They were the parents of six children : Edwin, of this notice ; Martin, a farmer of Sweetwater, Nebraska ; Marie, the wife of Ludwig John-son, a farmer of the state of Washington ; Kearnel O., a farmer of that state ; Albert, who works in a store and postoffice in Washington ; and Ella, who died at the age of six years.

The public schools of Custer county furnished the medium through which Edwin Lund secured his education, and when he reached manhood he choose farming for his life work. He has never followed any other vocation and at the present time is the owner of a half-section of land, in addition to which he farms his mother's homestead. He has proved successful in his undertakings and carries on his operations in a modern way and according to the most highly approved methods. He has not found the opportunity or the inclination to enter actively into public life, and in his political sentiment is inclined to be independent, although, other things being equal, he fa\'ors the Republican party. With Mrs. Lund, he belongs to the Danish Lutheran church.

Mr. Lund was married in 1902, to Miss Mary Kirkegaard, who was born in Denmark, a daughter of Jens Kirkegaard, the owner of a small farm near Sioux City, Iowa. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Lund : Lillian, born in 1904 ; Marvin, born in 1906; and Arnold, born in 1910. all attending school ; and Mildred, born in 1912.

GEORGE LASH. - The late George Lash was one of the old-time and well known citizens of the southern part of the county, where he established his home and with his good wife reared a large family of children, all of whom developed into splendid, progressive citizens.

He was born in Ohio, December 14, 1843. His father, Andrew Lash, was a prominent citizen of the Buckeye commonwealth. In the father's family were nine children. Gregory is living in Indiana ; John has his home in Avilla. Indiana : the third born was George, the subject of this n-iemoir; Anthony, Paul, and William are all living in Indiana; Elizabeth and Clara are deceased ; Christiana is not married and she resides in Indiana, as does also Mary, who married Mathew Sneeberger.

It was in the public schools of Ohio that George Lash received his youthful education, and there he passed his boyhood and young manhood days.

In 1880 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Lash to Miss Maria E. Wright, a daughter of Isaac and Rachel (Mahaffy) Wright, and together they began the establishing of a home and laying the foundation for the competency they expected to have in store for old age. They became the parents of ten children all of whom are living: Hattie Romine is married to a farmer living near Cozad ; William is at home ; Francis Ezra, at the time of this writing, is in, the service of the country and stationed at Camp Humphrey, Virginia ; Alice married Jesse Hovey, a Custer county farmer; Flocey is working in Kearney ; Paul is another son in the service of the country and at this writing word has been received of his safe arrival in France, where he is serving in the medical department ; Andrew is in the infantry service and was located at Can-ip Dix, Massachusetts prior to going with his command to England : Flora is at home ; Elsie lives at Kearney ; and Arthur is helping on the honie ranch.

Mr. and Mrs. Lash came to Custer county in 1884. They came direct from Ohio and as soon as possible located a homestead, on which they established their residence. Mrs. Lash had almost more than her share of early-day privation and and pioneer experiences.

Mr. Lash worked in Kearney for three years, leaving his wife on the homestead to maintain the residence while he was away providing the means of sustenance. They had no furniture in the house except dry-goods boxes. A\'ood was scarce, and the second winter of her residence here, Mrs. Lash says they burned hay, while during a subsequent winter the}' had to use corn-stalks for fuel. All the improvements on the home place were put up by Mr. Lash. He planted apple seeds and later grafted the quality of fruit he desired. Ry this method he developed a fine orchard. The first residence of Mr. and Mrs. Lash in the early days was a sod structure, fourteen by .sixteen feet in dimensions, and in this they managed to live five years. Then they added another room, and they lived in the two rooms for three years longer. Then they built another sod house this being fourteen by tliirty feet, and this constituted their place of abode - until 1899. when they built the home which is now standing on the old homestead and in which Mrs. Lash makes her home. Mrs. Lash is a woman of unusual character, plucky, find determined, and all this will be realized when it is stated that in the early days she often walked to Kearney, a distance of sixty miles, and covered the distance in one day.

Mrs. Lash is one of a family of eleven children, and those now living are: Belle Brooks, who resides in Oregon ; William, who is living in Colorado : Ezra, who resides in Milton, Nebraska ; John, who is a resident of Oakland, California: and Airs. George Lash, of whom we are writing, completes the list of surviving children. The Wright family were pioneers in central Nebraska, having come here in 1S70. Mrs. Lash remembers the time when Crete was the nearest railroad station. Her father and brothers in those early days worked for the Union Pacific Railroad Company, in Fillmore county.

The tragic death of Mr. Lash occurred on the 25th day nf May, 1915, at which time he was killed by a train on the Burlington Railroad, near Broken Bow. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and the entire family is connected with the Baptist church.

\V. R. CLINE. - Among the men who have contributed jjrogressireness of spirit, dignity of labor, and soundness of business management to the development of the agricultural interests of Custer countv, one whose career has Ijeen worthy of note is W. R. Cline, who is operating a splendid farm in the Broken Bow community, in co-operation with his lirother, E. j. Kline. The brothers are the owners of 38S acres of good land, in addition to which they haye a share in the family estate of 320 acres,

W. R. Cline was born at Saybrook, Illinois, November 4, 1874, a son of W. H. and Etta (Brown) Cline. The paternal grandfather, George D. Cline, was born in \'irginia, and was a pioneer into the Western Reser\-e of Ohio, riding his only possession, a horse. Afterwards, he moved to Illinois, and there his death occurred. \V. H. Cline was bom in Ohio, where he was reared, and as a youth was taken by his parents to Illinois, where he was living at the outbreak of the Civil war. He early answered the call of his country, enlisting in Company D, Twenty-sixth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which he fought in a number of leading engagements, including those connected with Sherman's great march to the sea. Enlisting as a corporal, during his four years of service he won steady promotion through his bravery and faithful service, and when he received his honorable discharge, it was with the rank of lieutenant. Following the war Mr. Cline returned to Illinois and was engaged in farming until October 11, 1888. when he came to Custer county, Nebraska, and took a relinquishment claim of 160 acres, on which he resided until his death. He was an industrious man and a capable farmer and won success in his operations. In politics he was a Republican, and his religious faith was that of the United Brethren church, in which he died in 1909. Mrs. Cline, who survives him and belongs to the same church, resides with a daughter at Tyrone, Oklahoma. They were the parents of six children, as follows: \V. R. ; E. J., who is farming with his brother; Olin O., the owner of a farm in Kansas, but a resident of Tyrone, Oklahoma; Junie, the wife of Fred Speakman, a banker of Tyrone ; Warren H., a traveling salesman who delivers engines for the Avery Traction Company, of Peoria, Illinois ; and Paul B., who enlisted in the United States Army Aviation Corps, and was in training at the flying field at San Antonio, Texas, at the time this sketch was being prepared.

W. R. Cline was educated in the public schools of Illinois and Nebraska, following which he took a business course in a commercial college at York, this state, and then settled down to fanning, a vocation which he has since continued to follow with much success. In connection with his brother, as before noted, he is operating 388 acres which they own, carrying on a general business in farming and dealing in live stock, and in both directions he has made a success of his efl'orts. proper conservation and practical methods having been happily combined in his case with marked ])rogressiveness and some amount of experimenting with new ideas and processes. Mr. Cline is a Republican, and has taken a keen interest in political matters and public affairs, being the incumbent at this time of the office of town clerk. He was married December 20, 1903, to Miss Lillie Mast, who was born in Iowa, a daughter of Levi and Elizabeth Mast, natives of Indiana who became early residents of Nebraska. Four children have been born to this union, as follows : Junie, in 1905 ; Lois, in 1909; Phyllis, in 1912; and Donald, in 1917. Mr. and Mrs. Cline and their children belong to the United Brethren church.

E. y. Cline was born in McLean county, Illinois, May 16, 1879, a son of W. H. Cline, and received his education in the public schools of Custer county, Nebraska. He took up farming as his vocation in young manhood, and has since been associated with his brother, like whom, he owns a share in 388 acres, and in his father's estate. He is energetic in action and well informed as to his business, and the success that he has gained has come through industry and a direction of energy alone welldefined channels. In 1913 Mr. Cline was married to Miss Hazel Hammond, born in Iowa, a daughter of Eli Hammond, and two childdren have been born to them : Vance, four years old ; and Billie, aged one year. Mr. and Mrs. Cline are members of the United Brethren church. In his political affiliation ]\Ir. Cline is a Republican.'

JAMES FORAN. - The subject of this sketch is in middle life and full vigor of his manhood and strength. He is a prominent member of a prominent family and has contributed his full share to the rank and station the family has achieved. James was born in 1876, in Joliet, Illinois, where his early years were spent. He came from a wellknown and respected family in whose veins coursed the blood of Irish lineage. He was the sixth born to Peter and Mary (Dougherty) Foran, the former of whom was a native of Ireland and the latter a native of Lockport, Illinois. The father died at the. age of fifty-two but the mother reached the ripe age of seventy-six. In 1885 the father located a homestead in Custer county and domiciled his family in a sod house ; it was on this place, while building a sod barn, that he was accidentally killed.

In the parental home were the following children: Dominic, a Custer county man of whom extended mention is made on other pages of this volume ; Mary Power, who lives on a Custer county farm ; Susan whose home is in this county ; Ambrose, deceased ; Rose Michel and Agnes Hukey, both of whom are living in this county; Thomas, of whom a life sketch is to be found in this volume. The

James is one of the substantial farmers and stockmen of the county; solely by his own efforts he has developed the present ranch which he operates and has embellished with due improvements for the successful operations with which he has charged himself. He homesteaded part of the land that now constitutes his ranch of one full section; the rest was added by purchase and paid for by hard work and good management.

He married Josephine Snyder, of Hayes City, Kansas. Mrs. Foran has been a valuable assistant to her husband and has cooperated with him in every detail of their domestic life or business operations. In their home are their bright children, whose names are Glen, Raymond, Lyle, and Wit ford.

On the home ranch is found an excellent grade of live-stock, and the farm has been operated very successfully and profitably by Mr. Foran. He has paid considerable attention to dairy cows and thinks that they constitute a very profitable adjunct to farming. The Forans commenced in a sod house and have worked hard for their present day accumulation ; they have now a good equipment of farm machinery, adequate improvements, and the sod house, having served its purpose, has been replaced with a new modern bungalow, comfortable and attractive. The Forans are fine people and maintain a hospitable home.

JOE E. ORCHARD. - The subject of this sketch is a lifelong farmer and is one of the heavy producers of the county. He was born June 27, 1883, in the state of Iowa. He is a son of Shipton G. Orchard, whose sketch may be found elsewhere in this volume.

He came to Custer county at an early age and here received his education in the public schools. In 1910 he was married to Mary Dobesh, the daughter of Francis Dobesh, who lives near Ansley. Since that time the years have brought five children into the family circle of Mr. and Mrs. Orchard. They are : Vivian Grace. Arthur Lamon, Donald Woodrow, Rachel Lucile, and Bonnie Elsie - all bright, happy children who bring a flood of sunshine into the farm home and who will be a valuable addition to the coming generation to which they belong.

Mr. Orchard runs 520 acres of land, on which he raises splendid crops. The land belongs to his father-in-law, Francis Dobesh. In addition to general farming and stock-rais- ing, he specializes on hogs and for a number of years has turned off 100 square, blocky porkers each year. With present prices for pork, this becomes a very profitable operation.

Mr. Orchard has spent all his life on the farm and knows every phase of the calling. By the neighbors he is rated a very successful farmer and stockman, which is owing not more to good judgment than to industrious habits.

The Orchards are very active in social circles. The family belong to the Christian church, in which they are rated as very valuable communicants. They are also members of the local Grange and in connection with this institution have contributed their part to make Custer county noted throughout the entire state as the home of the Grange. Mr. Orchard also belongs to the Xon-partisan League, a somewhat modern organization composed mostly of farmers whose object is to secure favorable legislation for farmers and producers generally. In politics the affiliation is with the Democratic party, although a great deal of independence is exercised in the matter of local candidates.

CAPTAIN LYXX J. BUTCHER. - This review is dedicated, with pardonable pride on the part of Custer county people generally, to the life story and military career of Captain Lynn J. Butcher, who was born in Custer county and is therefore a Custer count)' product in the fullest sense of the term. If his family are proud of his achievements they are only exercising a family right, for which no apologies are necessary.

The future captain made his debut into Custer county March 28, 1883. His father, Solomon D. Butcher, is the well known pioneer citizen, photographer, and historian. The father's native state is West Virginia. The captain's mother, Lillie M. (Barber) Butcher, now deceased, was a Custer county lady of fine culture and rare fibre, and amid the hardships and privations of i)ioneer life she reared her son in the most creditable manner possible.

The Captain's early years were spent upon a Custer county farm in the vicinity of Gates. It was here that he began his career by performing his first labor and earning his first money. His first work was gathering potatobugs off the ])otato vines which the bugs were bent upon devouring, and he was paid at the rate of one cent per hundred. Just who counted the bugs is not disclosed, and at this late day is not germane to the topic. It should be added, however, that the bugs were plentiful and in a short time the future captain had a small bank account, which he carefully guarded. He was given a common-school education and when seventeen years of age took a course in the Broken Bow Business College. Shortly after he had finished his business course his parents moved to Kearney, Nebraska, where his father engaged in the photographic business and Lynn L secured a position as clerk in the W. O. King department store, in which he remained for some time.

Afterward he formed a partnership with hjs father in the photograph business and made a specialty of publishing postal-card views, under the firm name of Butcher & Son. This firm soon became well known as card publishers throughout western Nebraska. Colorado. Wyoming, South Dakota, Missouri, Kansas, and Oklahoma. The father was on the road most of the time, making negatives and taking orders from retail dealers, while Lynn J. managed the business at home, em- ])loying at all times from four to six young ladies, who worked at finishing and shipping cards. Aside from the regular gallery work, the books show that, during the three years they featured the postal-card work, they published and shipped to towns in the above mentioned territor}- 2,250.000 postal-cards.

Lynn J. Butcher finally took over his father's interest in the business and continued it for more than five years. He became very proficient as a photographer and would probably have made an unusual financial success if the fortunes of war had not called him from his occui)ation.

.\ glance at his military record below will disclose the fact that before leaving his business he had been actively identified with the National Guard, in which he had won promotions. On March 25, 1917, the government requisitioned his services and ordered him to the colors, and his active service in behalf of his county had then its real beginning. The following is his military recoril up to the present time :

Enlisted in Company A. Second Nebraska Infantry, July 14, 1904. At the close of his enlistment he was honorably discharged, July 15, 1907. He re-enlisted in Company A, same regiment, June 5, 1911. and was appointed corporal, December 1st of the same year: he was aiijiointed (|uartermaster-sergeant. January 22. 1''13. and was honorably discharged March 10. 1913, to accept a commission as second lieutenant in Company L, Fourth Nebraska Infantry.

war department. No. 8. he was given a commission as first lieutenant in the same company and regiment. This was rapid promotion, but the end was not yet. June 22, 1914, he was commissioned captain of his company in the Fourth Regiment of Nebraska Infantry. June 27. 1916, he was ordered into active service and, with other United States units, his command mobilized at Camp Lincoln, and entered upon Mexican border service.

From July 7, 1916, to December 27. 1916, he was with hi.s company on the southern frontier, stationed in the Brownsville district, at Llano Grande. Te.xas, and later he was mustered out of the expeditionary ser\'ice of the L'nited States, at Fort Crook, near Omaha, on Januar}- 13, 1917.

At Kearney, Nebraska, March 25, 1917, he was ordered back into the service of the country. He left Kearney with his company, which afterward divided, and did guard duty at the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad bridge over the Platte river near .Ashland, with one division of the company, while the other performed a like service at the Union Pacific Railroad bridge near North Platte. The North Platte division was in charge of Second Lieutenant K. Y. Craig.

Captain Butcher left Ashland August 25th of the same year, with his assembled company of 141 members, and joined the rest of his regiment at Omaha, from which city tliey entrained for Camp Cody, at Deming, New ^lexico, where the mobilization camp for the states of Nebraska, Iowa, Minnesota, and South Dakota National Guard troops was located.

Captain Butcher and his company arrived at Deming oh the 27th of August, 1917 ; on October 21. 1917, the new organization of the National Guards of the L^nited States was effected, and the Fourth Nebraska Infantry lost its identity. In the reorganization the regiment became the One Hundred and Twentyseventh Heavy Field Artillery. As there was a surplus of captains. Captain Butcher, at his own request, was transferred to the Fiftyninth Depot Brigade, on October 24. 1917. For the next two months he was assigned to special duty in photograph work for General George H. Harries, and also acted as range

Once more came a transfer, and tliis time, December 30, 1917. Captain Butcher was assigned to the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Infantry, which was, under the old organization, the Fifth Nebraska. Here he was attached to Company B until February 11, 1918, when another transfer assigned him to the aviation camp of the signal corps at Waco, Texas. February 15th he was assigned to the command of the Twenty-third Recruit Squadron, of 200 men. On April 1st, order No. 27 transferred twelve majors and thirty-eight captains, inchiding Captain Butcher, to Camp Wadsworth, Spartanburg, South Carolina, at which place all reported. April 5th Captain Butcher was attached to the Fifty-fourth Pioneer Infantry. On July 7, 1918, the new Sixtieth Pioneer Infantry was organized, and he was assigned to it and given command of Company B. Of this office he continued the incumbent until the signing of the historic armistice brought the war to a close, his command having thus far not been called to service in France.

At Kearney, Nebraska, in April, 1907, Captain Butcher married Miss Elma Carey, daughter of Edward and Cynthia (Shroy) Carey. Mrs. Butcher is a lady of refinement and culture and is highly respected in the community where she is known. In the Captain's "home squad" is only one soldier. Master Melvin, a bright lad of eight years, who even now dreams of following in the military footsteps of his father. The Captain and his wife are members of the Christian church. He is an Odd Fellow high in the order, and is devoted to the fraternal interests fostered by this order. Politically he votes the Republican ticket.