Custer County, Nebraska - Founders and Builders, 1919 (part 31 of 32)

JOEL F. LANUM. - For thirty-seven years Joel F. Lanum has been helping to make history in Custer county, and so well has he directed his energies that he is now spending the evening of life in gracious retirement, free from all business and financial cares. He has led a simple, active, and methodical life, and his busy liands and mind have worked together in gaining him success along agricultural and commercial lines, while his admirable qualities of character have served to win to him respect and esteem in the communities in which he lias made his home.

Mr. Lanum was born ^larch 20, 1851, in Morrow county, Ohio, and is a son of Dennis and Phoebe (Brown) Lanum. His father, a native of Virginia, moved to Ohio when eighteen years of age and was there married, Mrs. Lanum being a native of the Buckeye state. In 1866. after spending some years in farming in Morrow county, Dennis LanurrL removed with his family to Indiana, where he purchased a farm, in DeKalb county, that communitj- continuing to be his home until his death. He was a Mason and a Democrat and was a man of industry and honorable conduct. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, to which his wife, who died in Ohio, also belonged. They had six children, of whom two are living: Joel F.. and ]\Ian,-, the latter being a resident of Edison, Ohio, and being the widow of Caul Bell.

Joel F. Lanum was given the advantages accruing from only a limited education in the district schools, as he was early called upon to do his share in supporting the familv. and both in Ohio and Indiana he not only labored on the farm, but also, in the winter months, went into the lumber woods and plied his axe with the timbermen. After his marriage he moved to Macon county. Illinois, where he resided several years, without adding materially to his fortune, and in 1881 he came to Nebraska, where he took up a claim in Custer county. In the following year he brought his family to Nebraska, having made some preparations for receiving them, and when they were all settled he found that his financial resources were reduced to about $100. However, he possessed strength of mind and body, self-reliance and determination, and with these he set about to work his way to success. How well he succeeded in his aims and ambitions can be seen in the fact that he not only transformed his homestead and tree claims into fertile and valuable farms, but also increased his acreage until he is now the owner of a half-section. In 1898 Mr. Lanum transferred the hard work of the farm to younger shoulders arid moved to Ansley. where he purchased lots and erected a feed and livery stable. His good business ability enabled him to also make a success of this venture, and he continued as

In 1871 Mr. Lanum married Miss Esther Ann Davis, who was born in Pennsylvania, and of this union were bom nine children: Mar}' Belle, who is the wife of Albert Arnold, a retired farmer of Ansley; Rufus, who is engaged in farming in Minnesota ; Dennis, who is a member of the police force of San Francisco, California; Frank and John, who are associated in the ownership of the livery barn at Ansley ; Perry, who is engaged in the meatmarket business at Ansley ; Kem, who is a railroad man at Ravenna, Nebraska ; Lula, who is the wife of William Gooch, engaged in the automobile business at Grand Island ; and Judson, who carries on operations on his father's Custer county farm. Mr. and Mrs. Lanum and their children are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a Democrat in politics and while not an office-seeker is a man who willingly and generously supports all worthy and beneficial movements and discharges the duties of citizenship in an honorable manner.

EDWARD F. SKOLIL, who is a prominent citizen of Custer county, is mayor of Cornstock, and also cashier of the Citizens Bank of that thriving town. Notwithstanding his connection with affairs of so much importance, Mayor Skolil is yet a young man. He was born July 1, 1891, in \'alley county. Nebraska, one of a family of seven children bom to Joseph and Magdalena (Bedlivy) Skolil, both of whom were born in Bohemia, Austria-Hungary. The parents came to the L'nited States in 1873. the father stopping first in Michigan, and the mother coming directly to Saline county. Nebraska.

In spite of the many hard, practical facts connected with the life of Joseph Skolil, father of Mayor Skolil, it reads almost like a romance. Coming to America a poor laborer from the Austrian mines, with no knowledge of the English language and no influential friends, within a period of less than forty years, through industry and gocKl judgment, he built up a substantial fortune ; through personal integrity won confidence and esteem ; and, dying, left an honorable name and record behind him. After his marriage he secured a homestead near Comstock, but across the line in \'alley county. Nebraska, and set about developing his own property, besides working for others at farm labor, although prior to this he had had no agricultural experience. He was determined to succeed, and the time came when he was able to give each of his sons a farm. Besides this, he still owned 480 acres of additional land at the time of his death, March 11, 1911. As indicated above, he started with nothingf, and he left an estate worth $40,000. His children were as follows: Frank, who is a farmer and dealer in agricultural implements at Comstock, married Antonia Tvrdik; Emil, who is a farmer near Arcadia, Nebraska, married Ida Radii ; James, who is operating his farm of 340 acres, north of Comstock, married Emma Kokes; Joseph lives on the homestead with his mother : Anna is the wife of John Vodehnal, who is a farmer north of Comstock; Mary is the wife of John Novotny, who operates a farm of 160 acres, north of Comstock ; and Edward F. is the immediate subject of this review.

Edward F. Skolil had no educational advantages beyond those afforded by the public schools, but that he appreciated and profited by these may be inferred from the fact that he was graduated from the high school before he was eighteen years old. The Citizens State Bank of Comstock is now one of the substantial financial institutions of Custer county. It began busuiess with a capital of $5,000, which has been increased to $30,000, with resources now over $50,000, and Mr. Skolil has been cashier since he was nineteen years old - a fair testimonial to his business acumen.

Edward F. Skolil was married at Comstock, Nebra.ska, December 2, 1913, to Miss Beulah Dunbar, who belongs to one of the pioneer families of Otoe county, Nebraska, her father, W. E. Dunbar, being one of the very early and prominent men of that section, and in his honor the name Dunbar having been given to the present town of that name. Mayor and Mrs. Skolil have two .sons - Edward F.. who was bom July 1, 1916, and Eldon Dunbar, who was born April 7, 1919.

In addition to his business activities, Mr. Skolil from earliest manhood has taken a deep and earnest interest in civic matters and has worked for the advancement of Comstock with commendable energA'. In politics he is a Republican, lie has been chairman of the town board for the past year and is at the head of municipal affairs, being elected to the mayoralty in 1918. Fraternal life has also engaged the attention of this active, vigorous, wideawake young man, and he is a member of a number of the leading organizations, including the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, Z. C. B. J., and the Modern \\'oodmen of .America. In the last named order he passed through all the offices, and served four years as clerk.

WATT W. PERRIN. - Custer county is well represented in the agricultural industry by energetic men of the younger generation, upon whom the county is depending for its development and progress as a producing center in the future. Among these is found Watt W. Perrin, who has passed his entire life in the vicinity of Sargent, a worthy representative of a pioneer agricultural family of central Nebraska. Mr. Perrin was bopi on the farm which he now occupies, in section 16, township 17, a son of Similien L. and Sophia (Tobias) Perrin.

The father of Mr. Perrin was bom at New Orleans, Louisiana, and was a young man when he came to Custer county and took up a homestead. He continued to be engaged in farming and raising stock until 1899, in which year he moved to Sargent to become proprietor of the Beatrice Cream Station, which he conducted for nine years. He was then appointed postmaster and discharged the duties of that office capably for seven years, since which time he has lived in honorable retirement at Sargent. He married Sophia Tobias, a daughter of Isaac C. Tobias, and they became the parents of three sons : Harold I., a jeweler of Sargent, who married Allona Wood and has two children ; Louis E., manager of the Arnold Lumber Yard of the Dierks Lumber Company, who married Lorene Rusmisell, and has one child ; and Watt W.

Watt W. Perrin received his early education in the public schools of Sargent, following which he spent two years in the State University at Lincoln. When he adopted a vocation it was that of farming, and while still classed among the younger agriculturists of his locality he has already demonstrated the possession of qualities that should lead to his success, and his property bears every indication of being handled by one thoroughly familiar with his business, and progressive by habit and nature. Mr. Perrin maintains an independent stand in regard to political matters, and his only fraternal connection is with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He was married November 4, 1917, at the home of the bride, to Miss Gladys Ruse, a daughter of Charles W. and Mary (Cooper) Ruse, pioneers of Custer county. Mr. and Mrs. Perrin are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, which they attend at Sargent.

W. R. SYNDER. - Prominent among the native sons of Nebraska who have won success in the field of agricultural effort, one who has won his own way to position and stands high in the regard of his fellow citizens is W. R. Synder. While not a native of Custer county, during the twelve or more years that he has made his home within its borders he has become so thoroughly inoculated with the spirit of energy and progressiveness that characterizes this thriving and fertile community that he has adopted its customs without exception, and is uniformly accepted by the older residents as a sterling citizen whose presence is beneficial to the community.

Air. Synder was born on a farm in Seward county, Nebraska, January 6, 1877, and is a son of Carl and Louise (Templen) Synder. Through years of industry and honorable dealing his father, who was a successful agriculturist in that county, had won the esteem of his neighbors and associates. In his youth W. R. Synder was given good educational advantages in the public schools, while his leisure time was passed in assimilating the principles of modern agriculture. He remained in the county of Seward until 1884, when he moved to Nance county. There he remained until 1906, when he came to Custer county, having received assurance of the fertility of the land and of other advantages and opportunities here. He has had no chance to regret his move, for his ventures in this locality have been uniformly satisfactory and successful. At the present time Mr. Synder is the owner of a farm of 160 acres, which is in a high state of cultivation, and on which he has modern improvements and handsome and substantial Iniildings, this attractive farmstead being located in section 26, township 71. Here he carries on farming in an up-to-date way, and makes a specialty of growing corn and raising hogs, in both of which fields of endeavor he has been markedly successful. Mr. Synder takes a good citizen's interest in matters pertaining to the welfare of his community, but has not been attracted by politics or public life. He and his wife hold membership in the Evangelical church.

Mr. Synder first married Miss Martha Roder, who is now deceased. Prior to her marriage, the present !Mrs. Synder was Miss Esther Wischmeier.

EMIL C. OHME. - This name belongs on the roster of pioneers. It belongs to a man who is a native of Nebraska and practically all of his life has been spent in Custer county. There are few if any who have lived here longer than he. He was less than one year of age when his parents brought him here and has been a constant resident of the county for forty- four years. He was born in Omaha, Augtist 26, 1873, and is a son of Frank and Caroline (Smith) Ohme, of whom extended mention is made elsewhere in this volume.

It was here in the early days of the county that Emil spent his boyhood and here he grew to manhood. It was in the first school of the county that he acquired his early education, and here he began life for himself. February 21, 1896, he married Luella Thomas, a daughter of Isaac and Rachel (Connor) Thomas, both of whom were early settlers in Valley county. Her father is deceased and her mother is still living, making her home with Mr. and Mrs. Oscar Ohme.

ilr. and Mrs. Emil Ohme have eight children : Frank is ser\-ing in the United States navy and is captain of a gun crew on the cruiser "Seattle" ; Sylvia married Frank Spear and lives west of Comstock ; Ernest, Bernice, Caroline, Harold, Rachel, and Emil, Jr., are still at home.

Emil Ohme is the owner of 560 acres, with good improvements, $5,000 having been spent the last year in improvements. The stock on the place are of a good grade and show that good care is given them. The family are interested in community development and improvement. They have a host of friends who agree that they are entitled to the prosperity that has come to them.

CLARK J. STEVENS. - From the time of his arrival in Custer county, Clark J. Stevens has been continuously identified with prominent interests at Ansley - connected with the rising mercantile, industrial, financial, and civic interests of the community - and there is probably no other man who has contributed in greater degree or in more diversified ways to the development of this section. Merchant, banker, miller, farmer, and promoter of public-spirited undertakings, he has at all times wielded a beneficial influence, and his work has been constructive and helpful.

Mr. Stevens was born May 10, 1861, at Salem, New York, and is a son of Clark A. and Julia A. (Rice) Stevens. His paternal grandfather was Franklin Stevens, who spent his life in his natives state of New York, and his maternal grandf4ther, Roswel! Rice, also a life-long resident of: the Empire state, was a wealthy business man. and virtual founder of the Jerome B. Rice Seed Company. Clark A. Stevens was born in Washington county. New York, but passed the greater ])art of his career at North Adanis, Massachusetts, where he was a successful shoe merchant, his death occurring at Salem, New York. He was a Republican, and his religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal church, as is that of his widow, who now resides at Kingston, New York. They had two children: Clark J., of this review, and Harriett O., the wife of J. E. Browning, a capitalist of New York city.

Clark J. Stevens was educated at Salem, New York, where he was graduated in the high school and also a business college. He received his first banking experience with the First National Bank of Hoosick Falls. New York, an institution of which he was teller for seven years. In 1886 he came to Ansley and became the first banker of this community, continuing in the banking -business until 1902, when he sold his interests to Clarence Alackey. He had large holdings also in the Bank of Commerce, the Bank of Broken Bow, and the Bank of Mason City, and was and is still accounted one of the best informed banking men in this part of the state. When he left the banking business, in 1902, he engaged in mercantile pursuits, and in this direction has achieved a like success, his store now being the largest in the town, with an extended supporting patronage on the part of the representative people of this section. Mr. Stevens' splendid business abilities were also directed for fifteen years to the ownership and management of a mill, but after his milling property was destroyed by fire he retired from that field of endeavor. His progressive spirit led him to establish the first telephone company here, of which he has been president for a number of years; and he was likewise the builder of the first electric-light plant west of Grand Island, of which he was the operator and president of the company for fifteen years. In each of these directions his business transactions have been handled in a manner that has left his record without a blemish, and his associates and those who have known him in business dealings have foimd him a man of the strictest integrity. His faith in the future of his adopted communit>' has been expressed by his investment in realty, and at present he is the owner of two well improved and highly cultivated Custer county farms.

Mr. Stevens was married (first) to Miss Carrie McXaughton. by whom he had four children, of whom two are living: Florence E., the wife of Dr. Richard Harvey, a practicing physician of San Francisco, California ; and J. Eugene, employed as engineer of the State Harlxir Commission, of San Francisco. In 1903 Mr. Stevens married Miss .-\nna Green, of Seward. Nebraska. Mr. Stevens has long been prominent in Masonry. He has filled all the offices of the blue lodge, has received the thirt>'-second degree of the Scottish Rite, is a Knight Templar, and is also a noble of the Mystic Shrine. A Republican in politics, he has been interested in civic affairs, and has rendered his communit}' helpful service as a member of the town board for a long period and as a member of the school board for fifteen years.

CHARLES D. LAMB, who is a prosperous business man of Mason City, to which place he came in 1918, is well known in Custer county, where he has followed agricultural pursuits for many years. Mr. Lamb was born in Fremont county, Iowa, in 1871, and first came to Nebraska in 1894.

The parents of Air. Lamb were Silas O. and Martha (Meeks) Lamb, the former of whom was born in Indiana, 1837, and the latter in Indiana, in 1838. They had children as follows : Julian, who lives at Shenandoah, Page county, Iowa ; M. L., who owns a moving-picture theater at Mason City ; Mrs. Ellen Mayer, who lives at Riverton, Iowa ; James Elwood, who is employed by an elevator company at Riverton ; Mrs. Manilla Carroll, who lives at Mason City; Mrs. Mattie Roberts, who lives at Riverton, Iowa ; Charles D., of this sketch, who is in the garage business at Mason City ; Chester, who is a farmer in Custer county ; and Ida, who is deceased. The mother of the above family died when fiftyfour years of age, she having been a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as is also her husband, Silas O.. who is one of the most venerable of the Methodist congregation in the community in which he yet lives. He moved from Indiana to Iowa and in 1867 bought what was known as the Riverton mill, which he operated for twenty years, in the meanwhile acquiring land in Fremont county. He is a Republican voter.

Charles D. Lamb attended the public schools in Fremont county, Iowa. In 1894 he first came to Nebraska but was called back to Iowa by the death of his mother, in 1895. He then came back to Nebraska and for three years worked as a railroad man. He spent four years in Chern>' countv, where he had success as a cattle and sheep man. In 1900 he bought 160 acres in Custer county, and here he lived until 1918, with the exception of two years in the lumber business in Oregon. In June, 1918, Mr. Lamb established himself in business at Mason City, erecting a fine garage there, its dimensions being 50 by 100 feet It is a modern structure in evei^ jiarticular. Mr. Lamb carries a complete line

Charles D. Lamb was united in marriage to Miss Cora M. Jenks, who was bom in Virginia, in 1876, and they have the following children : Leonard, Leah, Carrie, Mabel, Edward, Lester, and Wilma, all attending school except Leonard, who is associated with his father in business. In his political views Mr. Lamb is a Socialist. Since coming to Mason City he was accorded evidence of popular confidence through election to the school board, but his business affairs engage his attention at the present time and he failed to qualify for office, although not failing in appreciation of the honor. He has not accepted many public offices but the county does not forget the excellent service he rendered it for nine years as road overseer.

ASMUS JESSEN chose Custer county for the operations of his lifetime. He was born at Kaffan, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, November 27, 1849. He lived the major portion of his life in this county and here ended his days. He departed this life, in Custer county, on the 23d of December, 1915, aged sixty-six years and twenty-seven days. He came to Custer county twenty-eight years ago and got his start in land possessions by homesteading, he having immigrated to America in 1879. He met the conditions of the time, worked hard and made a fair success. In all his undertakings he was ably assisted by his wife whose maiden name was Lena C. Michels, and who is a native of Iowa, she being a daughter of Christopher and Gertrude Rlichels. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. lessen occurred April 27, 1905. The name o'f Mrs. Jessen's first husband was Hickey, and she has seven children, as here noted : Anna McClure, who lives in this county ; Christopher, who lives in Lincoln, where he conducts a real-estate business ; Charles Hickey, who lives on a Custer farm ; Jerry Hickey, who also is a Custer county farmer ; EHzabeth Foran, who lives on a farm in this county : James, who also farms in this county ; and Rosella Tobey, who lives on the home place. Mrs. Jessen continues to reside on the home place, has 600 acres in all, with good improvements and a fine grade of stock. Her father was a pioneer Nebraskan who homesteaded in Saline county. He was the first stone-mason in that section of the countr)', although the first house he himself occupied was made of hay. The second was made of logs. He was the first of any of the relations to come to Custer county, at which time he possessed but a team and wagon. He was a man of intelligence and public spirit and served as justice of the peace both in Saline county and Custer county. He also was a school officer. He belonged to the Catholic church. There were eleven children in this family, three of whom are dead. Joe lives in Michigan; John and Henry and Katie Bass lived near Merna; August lives near Arnold; Elizabeth Monahan lives in Colorado; Charles lives in Colorado, and his son lives with Mrs. Jessen.

Mr. Jessen was a progressive citizen, was a member of the German Lutheran church, and was affiliated with the American Brotherhood. Since his death Mrs. Jessen has been conducting the general farming operations so long carried on under the direction of her late husband, and she has made a decided success. She has also continued his interest and service in local or community affairs. For the last seven years she has been a member of the school board, in which capacity she has rendered splendid servivce. She is a woman of force and ability and has brought her farm into the list of paying, profitable Custer county ranches.

Mr. Jessen is survived by one sister, who remains" in Germany, and by two brothers, Tohn and William, who are residents of the state of Pennsylvania.

ARTHUR C. SHAW, who proudly claims Custer county as his birthplace, is one of the substantial men of this section and is prospering in all his farm undertakings. He belongs to one of the early pioneer famiHes of the county and the name of Shaw is well known not only in agricultural life but also in the cement industry, in which the father of Mr. Shaw has been financially interested since 1907, and which he has developed into a large business.

Arthur C. Shaw was born August 4, 1883, near Sargent, Nebraska. He is a son of D. M. and Slary (Courtney) Shaw, the second of a family of four children, namely: Earl L., who is employed as a bookkeeper in a business house at Roundup, Montana, married Ruth Pickle ; Arthur C. ; Jessie, who died at the age of nineteen years ; and Ethel, who is the wife of Lee Cooledge, of Central City, Nebraska, a commercial traveler for the Mutual Oil Company.

When the parents of Mr. Shaw came to Custer county, in 1878, they homesteaded two miles east of Sargent, and this land is yet owned by Mr. Shaw and is occupied and operated by Arthur C. Shaw. Through the hard times that followed, many of the earliest settlers became so thoroug;hly discouraged that they gave up their land and returned to eastern states, but Mr. Shaw and his family were never willing to do that and the time came when they were well rewarded for their courage and determination. In those early days it sometimes seemed as if the elements were in league to drive the ill-prepared settlers from this neighborhood, and there is tradition that no winter was ever quite so severe as was the winter of 1889. It has often been demonstrated that people grow somewhat indifferent when continually under the shadow of danger, hence in Custer county neighborhood social activities were not neglected and when Mrs. Shaw, mother of Arthur C, was invited to a party some little distance from home, she accepted, as did all the members of the Sager family near by, except Mrs. Sager herself. Mr. Shaw fortunately had not given himself the treat of a little social intercourse but remained at home to take care of the children and keep the fires going, as the weather was bitterly cold and soon a blizzardly snow storm was sweeping over the prairie. As it grew worse, Mr. Shaw remembered their neighbor, Mrs. Sager, who had been left entirely alone by the merrymakers. With that feeling of neighborly responsibility that even yet is sometimes apparent among these worthy people who have weathered hard times together, he struggled through the snow to her home, probably a sod house, and found her greatly in need of help, and he remained to attend to her fires and cook her some food. Then he started back home and probably would never have reached there except for being blown against a wire fence, which gave him something to hold to, and he finally reached home almost dead with the cold. The storm kept Mrs. Shaw at the home of her entertainers for three days. In 1911 Mr. Shaw retired from the farm and moved to Sargent. He has been interested in the cement business since 1907 and expanded its scope at Sargent and still carries on this enterprise.

Arthur C. Shaw obtained his education In the public schools of Sargent. He has always lived on his father's farm and has the entire management of the same, carrying on its industries very successfully. He raises fine crops that reflect credit on his farm knowledge and methods, and raises also some of the best standard stock in the county - Aberdeen-Angus cattle and Poland China hogs in particular. Mr. Shaw is unmarried. In politics he is a Democrat. He has always taken a great deal of interest in all movements that have promised substantial development and feels justified in asserting that the present generation should never forget how helpful in bringing about present conditions were that sturdy band, their pioneer fathers and mothers, who sometimes stood, as in military parlance, "with their backs to the wall," and still overcame drouth, storm, insect pests, disease, poverty and hunger. Some of these have passed on, but others yet remain and have been priviledged to enjoy a measure of recompense for their labors.

HARVEY STOCKHAM, who is one of Custer county's successful agriculturists and representative citizens, came here thirty-five years ago and still owns, with much other valuable property, his original homestead. Mr. Stockham was born in Scioto county, Ohio, .\pril 18, 1863, and is a son of William and Elizabeth (Bennett) Stockham.

When Harvey Stockham was a boy, on every convenient location on various farms in many states, might at some time or another, be seen the lazily rising smoke from the charcoal pits, for then the burning of charcoal was a profitable industry, carried on, as it was, after primitive methods. His father's occupation in Scioto county was the burning of charcoal, but as a charcoal collier William Stockham did not find himself able to lay aside much for the future, as he had nine children to provide for, and thus came about his resolution to move to Nebraska, secure a homestead, and through agricultural industry, find a competency. In 1864, three years before Nebraska became a state, he visited the territory and bought a farm in Cass county, and in the fall of 1865, with his family and household goods, he started with team and wagon to make the long journey across the country. The travelers reached Clarke county, Iowa, when the father was stricken with typhoid fever, and he died at Osceola, that state. Three days later, the baby daughter, Mary, succumbed also and her ashes rest at Albia, Iowa. There was nothing for the desolated wife and mother to do but to continue on the way, and finally the new home in Cass county was reached. There the mother and children all lived until the latter were grown. In 1875 the mother married E. H. Russell.

Harvey Stockham recalls very distinctly many of the hardships of pioneer life, in both Cass and in Custer counties, to which latter county he came in 1883. Of his parents' family the following reached maturity: James, Samuel, William, Joseph, Harvey, and David.

Eliza, Hannah, and Mary all died in infancy. Mr, Stockham homesteaded the 160 acres on which he lives, and took a tree claim of 160 acres - a total of 320 acres. His homestead is situated on Red Fern Table, ten miles west of Oconto, and he has gradually added to his estate until he now has 480 acres of land-- - all of hig-h value. He has devoted himself diligently to his farm industries for these many years and has met with entirely satisfactory results, his enterprise and good judgment, his courage and perseverance, all having been called upon largely within the many years Mr, Stockham has lived here,

]Mr. Stockham was married January 4, 1893, near Lodi, Nebraska, to Miss Anna Thurman, who was born in Seward county, this state, and who died in Custer county, January 17, 1916, She was a daughter of Joseph and Rebecca fSchlonaker) Thurman, Mr. and Mrs. Stockham had one son and one daughter - Emery, who is a farmer in the county, conducts operations on both his own and his father's land, and Esther is the wife of Ray Walker, who is a farmer fifteen miles northwest of Oconto, Emer}' and Esther are twins, Emery was looking forward to donning a soldier's uniform and his friends, of whom there are many, know the uniform would have been creditably worn by him in the world war for universal freedom.

]\Ir, Stockham is a Democrat in politics, and he and his children belong to the Evangelical church. He is preparing to take things a little easier in the future, after practically retiring, and expects to purchase a winter home in the south.

FRANK OHME. - This is the name of a man who has been a resident of this county since the beginning of white man's occupation. He was among the very first of the early settlers and by reference to the historical part of this work you will find that he was the first man to file on land in Custer county, the land office being at Grand Island.

Mr. Ohme was born in Germany, February 13, 1844. His parents were Charles and Mary (Menike) Ohme, both of whom were natives of Germany and spent their entire lives in that country. Frank is the only survivor of the family and the only one to come to America, Mr, Ohme came to America in 1869 and spent one year in Wisconsin, and then came to Nebraska and spent four years in Douglas and Sarpy counties. He came to Custer county in 1874 and located in the northeastern portion of the county. Here he built a sod house and with the same plow turned the sod of the second, if not the first, field in Custer county. In 1873 he was married to Miss Caroline Smith a native of Germany, whose parents died in the fatherland. In that pioneer home privations and hardships were endured and here their four children were born, all of whom have now grown to manhood and womanhood. Emil is a farmer in this county; Emma is the wife of Frank Thomas, of Mitchell, Nebraska ; Otto is married and lives at Mitchell, Nebraska ; Oscar is married and lives near Sargent.

The achievements that Mr, and Mrs, Ohme have accomplished during these years is indicated in the fact that the homestead of 160 acres and a tree claim of forty acres have grown to a farm of over 1,000 acres and it is one of the best stock farms in this part of the country. In speaking of hardships Mr. Ohme recalls the grasshopper years of 1874-5-6. These were followed by years of plenty and from 1880 to 1890 Mr, Ohme raised an average of sixty bushels of corn to the acre. They well remember the Indian scare of the early days and one one occasion Mrs. Ohme and the children were sent to Loup City, In those years the country abounded with wild game and though Mr, Ohme was no hunter they always had plenty of . fresh meat. He exchanged potatoes, etc, for game. He is independent in politics, so far as the home ticket is concerned, but in state and national aft'airs votes the Republican ticket. The name is one of the first in the county and they have always taken a leading part in the affairs of their community,

ROBERT YOHN, - Still rated among the younger generation of agriculturists in Custer county, Robert Yohn is one of the progressive and energetic tillers of the soil upon whom much depends for the future prosperitv of this section of Nebraska, He has spent his entire life within the county's borders and has an intimate knowledge of conditions prevailing here as pertaining to agricultural matters - a knowledge gained through experience and one which is assisting him materially in his individual advancement,

Mr, Yohn was born on his father's homestead in the vicinity of Mason City, Custer county, Nebraska, August 16, 1890, and is a son of John and Julia (Wiland) Yohn, natives of Austria. His parents immigrated to the United States in 1884, settling at once in Custer county, where the father homesteaded a tract of eighty acres, in 1885, and where he continued to be engaged in farm enterprises until his death. John Yohn was bom in Austria, September 27, 1827, and died November 19, 1914, aged eighty-seven years, one month, and t\vent\'-three days. He was fairly successful in the business afTairs of life, was independent in his political stand, and in religion was a member of the Catholic church, to which his widow, who survives him and makes her home with her son Robert, also belongs. They were the parents of six children, as follows : Annie, who married Fred Trampy, a farmer of Buffalo county, Nebraska ; Bertha, who married ]\Iack Scully, a farmer of Wyoming; Tillie, who married Herman Jones, a farmer of Buffalo county, Nebraska ; Robert, to whom this sketch is dedicated ; Will, who enlisted in the United States service in August, 1918, and was stationed at Camp Dodge, Iowa, at the time this article was written ; and Ernest, who is deceased.

The district schools of Custer county furnished Robert Yohn with his educational training, and when he completed his studies he adopted farming as his life work. One year before the death of his father he bought eighty acres of land, and this he cultivates at present, in addition to the old homestead, the management of which he assumed when his father passed away, but which is still owned by his mother. Mr. Yohn still makes his home in the old sod house which was built by his father in the early days, but he has good farm equipment and numerous improvements. He does general farming, and makes a specialty of raising red Duroc hogs, of which he has 126 at this writing. As a citizen and a business man, his record is beyond reproach.

CHARLES L. HORN. - Elsewhere in this volume is recorded the life history of U. S. Horn, a native of Nemaha county. We now record the life sketch of his brother, Charles L. Horn, who was born in Nemaha county, this state. May 10, 1864. For record concerning his parents reference may be made to the sketch of U. S. Horn.

The early years of Charles L. Horn were spent in Nemaha county, where he improved the opportunities of farm and outdoor life and laid the foundation for the successful career into which he has now developed as a farmer and stock-raiser. It was here that he received his education in the common schools and laid the foundations of manhood and business acumen, both of which are part of his valuable assets at the present time. When twenty-three years of age Mr. Horn thought it time to take unto himself a helpmeet and settle down for a home-making career. Accordingly he married, December 22, 1887, a Nemaha county young lady, Maud Faukner, who comes of splendid lineage, and who, like himself, is a native of Nemaha county, where she had like social and school advantages.

To the union of Charles L. Horn and Maud (Faukner) Horn seven children were born: Stella is the wife of Troy Jewell, a young Custer county farmer; Charles, Jr., married Nellie Kellogg and is operating a farm for himself in the good old county of Custer; Ralph is another young Custer county farmer who is married and doing well^ his wife's maiden name having been Minnie Kellogg ; the fourth child, a daughter named Helen, is deceased; Alice is pursuing her studies in the Nebraska State Normal School at Kearney; and Louis and Hazel are at home.

The Horns were successful farmers and stockmen in the eastern part of the state before coming to Custer ; accordingly, they came here in a position to secure good land and commence farming under the best possible conditions. Mr. and Mrs. Charles L. Horn came to Custer county in 1904, and settled on the place which is now their home. Their holdings to-day comprise 1,050 acres of splendid land, well improved and in a high state of cultivation, and, with its equipments, theirs is one of the best farms in the entire county.

Mr. Horn delights in farming and in the matter of stock-raising he seems to be "to the manner born." He takes an active interest in both social and public affairs, has been generous in his contributions to different phases of war drives and, withal, manifested a patriotic and commendable attitude in the national crisis incidental to the great world war. He is prominent in the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

JAMES R. YOUNG. - Here is presented the name of a very substantial farmer who lives in the Gates community, who since the early pioneer days has been a resident on the land he now occupies, and who has been one of the constructive factors in the community. Mr. Young is a native of the Hoosier state. He was born September 8, 1837, and is now past the four-score line. He is a son of James and Minerva (Evans) Young, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Kentucky. The father was a farmer of lifelong occupation. His last years were spent in Illinois. He was a member of the Democratic party and the family affiliated with the L'niversalist church. In the family of lames

James R. Young is the only one of the family living in Custer county. He stayed at home until he married. This was in March, 1868, in Harrison county, Indiana, where he wedded Miss Mary Miller, a daughter of Peter L. and Lydia (Dntrow) Miller. The Millers were pioneers of Indiana and were a very prominent family.

James R. Young received a liberal education in the Indiana schools, and by occupation he has been a farmer all his life. He came to Custer county in the fall of 1882 and made a fine selection of land in the region of the Middle Loup. Here he entered both a homestead and a tree claim, and he still lives on the tree claim, while the homestead lies just across the road. To-day his possessions are 800 acres, w^ell improved and well stocked. Speaking reminiscently, he says that he had but ver>' little when he made his start in this county and that all he has to-day was made by work and hard knocks. He likes the free and easy west, and believes that these are happy and prosperous times that the present generation is not prepared to fully appreciate. He \ras reared in. the place where Morgan, the Confederate raider, crossed the Ohio river during the Civil war and he saw part of the fighting - could see the explosion of shells as they were hurled through the air by the great gims. He is very familiar with the happenings of the war days, having lived in the vicinity of some of the great battle fields.

Mr. Young and his good wife have always maintained a hospitable home, and they are the parents of five children : William E. married Nellie Howe and lives near Gates; Amos W. married Hattie Vose and lives in Wisconsin; Charles P. married Ruby Wallace and lives near Gates; George E. and James A. are twins: the former married Flora Ford and lives near Gates, and the latter married Lydia Hatcher and lives on the old homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Young also reared a girl by the name of Nettie Fessenden, who came into their home at the age of six years and remained with them until she was married to Fred Sims, who lives in Colorado.

Mr. Young is a Democrat in politics and has been a member and trustee of the Methodist church at Gates ever since it was organized. The name of Young is widely known throughout all the Middle Loup vicinity and is highly respected, and James R. Young and his wife have a host of friends who wish them every comfort and happiness during their declining years.

JACOB WORACEK. - One of the pioneer families of Custer county that is still represented here, bears the name of Woracek. lacob Woracek the elder, came here with his two sons in 1883. They homesteaded, the elder son finishing the proving up, and the father continued on the homestead until his death, in 1918. The younger son. who bears his name, is Jacob Woracek, who is one of the county's substantial farmers and successful stockraisers.

Jacob Woracek was bom August 10, 1872, at Green Bay, Wisconsin. His parents were Jacob and Anna (Scklesch) Woracek. They were born in Bohemia and when they came to the United States, in May, 1871, they sought a home in a section where other Bohemians had already settled, finding it in Brown county, Wisconsin. There the father bought forty acres of land and was making satisfactory progress when, the death of the mother, in 1875, caused a change in his plans. He disposed of his Wisconsin land and moved to Colfax county, Nebraska, and entered upon the life of a fanner there. He remained three years, when, discouraged on account of his consecutive loss of crops from chinch bugs, grasshoppers and rust, he came with his two sons to Custer county to begin over again, after some years of residence in Omaha, where his children had a chance to go to school. The Woraceks reached Custer county in 1883 and settled in section 2, township 18, range 17. There were four children in the family and all sun-ive, namely: Albert, who is a resident of Jamestown, North Dakota, married Fannie Penas ; Jacob ; Joseph, who is a farmer, lives at Comstock, Nebraska, married Kate Woracek ; and Anna, who is the wife of Frank Trvidek, a farmer living southwest of Comstock.

Jacob Woracek was eleven years old when he accompaned his father and brother to Custer county and he lived at home until he was twenty years old. He never had many school advantages but was naturally quick to learn and picked up a fair education by paying close attention to instruction given him by those with whom he worked, \\hen twenty years old he returned to Omaha and learned the butchering busines, but in 1901 he returned to Custer county, in order to engage in farming and stock-raising for himself. At first he rented land but soon made purchases, and he now owns 480 acres, all well improved. He has had hardships, like a large majority of his neighl)ors. but has found that hard work and careful management have been helpful in overcoming them and now has reached a position of financial independence. He makes a specialty of raising White Face cattle and has a fine herd at all times. According to his experience the Jersey Red breed is the best kind of hog to raise in Nebraska, and he sells a fine lot every year. He also has a good stock of horses, mainly Percherons. All his operations are carried on with care and good judgment and the results are proving highly satisfactory.

Mr. Woracek was married at Ord, Nebraska, April 8, 1902, to Miss Mary Danskey, and they have the following children, all of whom live at home : Vaclav, Mary, Rosa, Edward, Adolph, Frank, Joseph, and Veronica. The children of the family have an unusual pet that has been on the fann for the past four years, it being a wild deer. It is a beautiful creature and not only Mr. Woracek's family takes an interest in it, but the entire neighborhood is proud of it and there is no danger of any one in this part of the county ever disturbing it.

HARVEY E. LEACH. - Nebraska, and Custer county especially, was settled in the early days by men and women who came from Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio and who sought here the opportunities that did not exist in the older states.

Harv'ey E. Leach belongs to the contingent that came from Indiana. In that state he was bom November 28, 1861. He is the son of Abraham and Mary (McKnight) Leach, excellent people of sturdy qualities, from whom their son inherited the traits of thrift and industr)'^ upon which his present day accumulations are based. The father was a native of Canada and the mother a native of Scotland. The father was a carpenter and millwright by trade but followed that occupation only in the earlier years of his life. He is still living and makes his home with his son Harvey E. and a daughter living in Beatrice, Nebraska. The mother died in 1905. The parents came to Custer county in 1885, locating on a homestead, in the vicinity of Clear creek, on which they lived until 1896. That has since been sold and the old gentleman has retired from active life. In the day of his activity he was a Democrat in politics, for many years was a member of the county central committee, and he served as justice of the peace and in other township offices for many years. This worthy couple were the parents of twelve children, seven of whom are living. A daughter, Margaret Wilson, living at Ansley, and Harvey E. are the only ones living in this county. The others are. Hanford, deceased ; Harr>', living at Blair, Nebraska; IBert, living ni Joliet, Illinois ; Mary Alden, living at Beatrice, Nebraska ; Hugh, living at Oakes, North Dakota ; Wellington, living at Thedf ord, Nebraska ; and Eliza Dawson, deceased. Three others died in infancy.

Harvey Leach received the education of the common schools, inclined to farming as an occupation and has consequently been a tiller of the soil all the years of his life. December 25, 1881, he married Sarah Gentry, a daughter of Andrew and Mary Gentry, early pioneers of the county, where they located in 1882, both being now deceased. Mrs. Leach became the mother of six children and her death occurred March 21, 1902. Mr. Leach contracted a second marriage, with Elizabeth Slater, daughter of James Slater, who is now a resident of Los Angeles, California. To this union five children have been born : Herbert, Leland, Ruland, Willard, and Louise.

The Leaches maintain a splendid home and operate a farm of 1,120 acres, 300 acres of which are in cultivation and the rest in alfalfa and grass land. Mr. Leach deals extensively in stock of all kinds and keeps about 200 head of horses and cattle on the place the year round. He is independent in politics, is entirely without political aspirations, and never held public office. Socially he is a prominent member of the Masonic order. The entire community count the Leaches as popular citizens and good neighbors.

RAYMOND GEISER. - The young farmer named above is thirty-five years of age and is engaged in active operations on a farm in the Arnold vicinity. He was born in 1883, in Creston, Iowa, and is a son of Jacob and Barbara (Miller) Geiser. The father is a native of Switzerland where he was born in 1849. The mother, however, is a native of New York, where she was born in 1851. They are still living and make their home in Sargent. The father, who worked at the carpenter trade for twelve years, came to America and landed in New York in 1869. From there he came west and located on an Iowa farm. He stayed on this farm twelve years, then followed again the star that leads westward, and came to Custer county. Near Sargent he bought 320 acres of land, on which a part of the town is situated. He sold this land, then bought 496 acres in the Arnold district, and practically put on all the improvements himself, all of which are good and belong to the first order. He had but little money when he landed in the United States. As a boy he worked in the mills in Switzerland. He and his good wife are the parents of eight child- ren : Charles lives near Sargent : Charlotte SulHvan lives in Idaho ; Georgia was next in order of birth ; Ella Scriber lives in Burwell. Nebraska; \\'ilbur, and Raymond are Custer county farmers ; Alma Amos lives in Dryvalley ; Jesse is a Custer county farmer. The father affiliates with the Democratic party and has been a member of the school board in Sargent for six years.

For thirty-four years of his life Raymond Geiser has lived in Custer county, which reveals the fact that he was only one year old when he came to the county. Accordingly it was here that he received his education and early training. Here he began his farming operations. His first work was in Sargent, near which place he lived when a boy. He was married on December 17, 1904, to Margaret Davis, of Blaine county, a daughter of George and Sarah Davis. Since their marriage they have maintained one of the commendable homes in the county and have become the parents of four children : Henry, is twelve years of age ; Floyd, ten ; George, eight, and Barbara, five. All of the children are at home, are attending school and are candidates for useful manhood and womanhood. The Geiser farm consists of 280 acres, of which 220 are in cultivation. Good improvements, a fair grade of live stock and general indications of thrift are to be seen on the premises. Mr. Geiser has served as road overseer for four years, is treasurer of the school board and has been prominent in all local matters concerning war drives.

SEDONIA GRIEBEL is a woman of indomitable spirit. She is of foreign extraction and has more than made good in America, the land of opportunity. She had a part in the pioneer days of Custer county development and with her husband gathered together enough of this world's goods to give to each of a large family of children a good eudcation and a fair start in life. Besides her land lioldings Mrs. Griebel has a beautiful home in Sargent, where she has opportunity to spend her remaining years in comparative ease and luxury.

Mrs. Griebel was born July 4, 1851. in Bavaria, Germany, and is a daughter of John and Rosalie (Neiterhemmer) Kieveline. Ix)th natives of Germany. The father came to the United States in 1833. when his daughter S'edonia was but two years of age. He worked in Sharpsburg, Pennsylvania, in the rolling mills and saved his money, with which he bought land at a low price, near the town. For this land he was afterward offered SI. 000 an acre, but refused to sell. He died several years ago. In his family were six children, all of whom are living, but the subject of this sketch is the only one in Custer county. The mother of Mrs. Griebel died before the father came to the United States. Mrs. Griebel's advent into this country did not occur until she was twenty-one years old. when she joined her father in Pennsylvania.

In 1847 Miss Sedonia Kieveline became the wife of Benedict Griebel and they continued their residence in Pennsylvania until the spring of 1875, when they came west and settled near Columbus. Nebraska, where Mr. Griebel farmed until 1880, when they came to Custer county and homesteaded near Walworth. They took a tree claim and a pre-emption, established a home, endured the trials and privations, worked, economized, saved, invested their earnings, raised stock, proved up on their land, bought more, and at the time of Mr. Griebel's death, September 28, 1902, they owned 1,600 acres. Since then Mrs. Griebel has divided nearly 1.000 acres of the land among the children. She still owns 640 acres.

Mr. and Mrs. Griebel became the parents of eleven children, ten of whom are still living: Minnie, who became the wife of A. P. Smith, is now deceased ; Frank married Jessie Young, and they reside near Walworth; Katherine is the wife of A. L. Luce and they live at Shelton, Colorado ; Florendena lives at home ; Magdeline, single, is living on a homestead in Wyoming; Rosena is the wife of Ira Williams and is living north of Walworth ; Lawrence married Pearl Dewey and is living on the home place, near Walworth; Benedict is unmarried and lives at Walworth ; Jerome is in the national army and at the time of this writing is located at Camp Funston ; Leo is on the home place ; and Sedonia is a popular school teacher at West Union.

Mrs. Griebel and her husband drove overland from Columbus to this county, and started with forty-two head of cattle and three hogs. Two of their cows were killed on the way, at Central City. The span of horses they drove through cost $-KX) and was an extra fine team - at that time considered the best span of horses in the county. On their way Mr. and Mrs. Griebel were offered many trades for the horses. \\'hen they came to this county there were four homes in Sargent, one of these was owned by Mr. Spacht, one by Mr. Austin, one bv Mr. Savidge, and one by Mr. Pcrrin. The home of the .Austins was a dugout, and Mrs. Griebel thought that it would be impossible to live in such a house, but she found out that her own home was to be similar. Thev moved into a hunter's dugout, which liad a willow roof, and the first night in this habitation Mr. Griebel had to be away looking after the cattle. There came up a violent rain storm and Mrs. Griebel stayed up the entire night, fearing what might happen.

In 1912 Airs. Griebel sold the stock, closed up the affairs of the farm, and moved into Sargent, where she owns one of the most beautiful homes in the city. She is a faithful and devout member of the Catholic church.

MRS. FRANCES C. DWOIL\K, who successfully conducts a large mercantile business at Comstock, is not only recognized as competent in business affairs, but also as an exemplar of a long unrecognized force that is quietly but surely moulding public opinion. Mrs. Dworak, who is highly educated, was for a number of years a valued teacher in the public schools of Nebraska, and in many ways she has been connected vvith cultural activities that have worked for the betterment of the communities in which she has lived.

Frances C. Rybin was born at Anamosa, Jones county, Iowa, and is a daughter of John and Josephine (Sokol) Rybin, the former of whom was bom in Bohemia, Austria-Hungary, and the latter in Jackson county, Iowa. Mrs. Dworak is the elder of the two children, and Josephine is the wife of Walter Williams, who is engaged in the plumbing business at Ames, Iowa.

John Rybin came from Bohemia to the United States about forty-five years ago. settling first in Iowa and later moving to Vallev county, Nebraska, where he and his wife still reside. Farming has been his vocation and he has prospered. In his political views he is a Republican.

Endowed with a quick understanding, even in childhood, Frances C. Rybin very early completed the common-school course in Jackson county, Iowa, and after being creditably graduated in the high school she embraced school-teaching as a profession. As a teacher she became well known and highly appreciated in Valley county, Nebraska. In 1894 John F. Dworak w-ent into a furniture and undertaking business at Genoa, Nance county, Nebraska. Prior to that, on April 11, 1891, he was united in marriage to Miss Frances C. Rydin, at Ord, Nebraska, and one son was born to them, Lamore, who was bom April 13, 1905.

In 1904 Mr. and Mrs. Dworak returned from Genoa to Ord, Nebraska, where he became associated with his brother in a mercantile business and where Mrs. Dworak resumed teaching. In 1905 they engaged in the general merchandise business at Comstock, with a small stock of reliable goods, and established a representative business house. This proved a very successful enterprise, both Mr. and Mrs. Dworak devoting themselves to its furtherance until the death of Mr. Dworak, which occurred in June, 1909. Since that time Mrs. Dworak has assumed all responsibility, and. with good judgment and thorough imderstanding of business principles, she has made her business a very important factor in the commercial life of Comstock. She occupies a store forty-eight by sixty feet in dimension, well lighted with a Delco lighting system, and modem and up-to-date in its equipment.

In politics Mr. Dworak was a Democrat. He was a member of the Presbyterian church and Mrs. Dworak holds membership in the same religious body. Although Mrs. Dworak is very modest in speaking of her efforts in the business field, they are apparent enough to reflect great credit upon her.

CHARLES G. SANDERS is one of the wide-awake, progressive men of Custer county, where he is interested in several enterprises that help to make Anselmo one of the leading business centers of the county.

Mr. Sanders is a native of the south. He was born in Kosciusko, Atala county, Mississippi, March 6, 1869, and is a son of Zachariah and A. J. (Davis) Sanders, both natives of -Mississippi, in which state they spent their entire lives, having passed away many years ago.

Our suliject was thrown upon his own resources when quite young and was a boy of fourteen when he came to Nebraska and found employment on a farm near Nebraska City. He diligently applied himself to agricultural pursuits and in 1897 he came to Custer county. Here he engaged in the cattle business on the Middle Loup river, in partnership with J. H. Catron, a banker of Nebraska City, who had large land holdings in Custer county. Mr. Sanders made a success of the stock business and conducted a ranch for several years. For eight years he resided on a farm of 640 acres, which he still owns and which is eight miles south of .Anselmo. There he carried on diversified farming operations, but recently he took up his abode in Anselmo. Other enterprises have profited by his good judgment. He is president of the Farmers" Alercantile Company. Inc., of .\nselmo, is president of the ,\nsclmo State Bank, and also manages the Custer countv affairs of the Catron estate.

At Nebraska City Mr. Sanders was united in marriage to Miss Lydia Harmon, who was born in Virginia, and who accompanied her parents, Joseph and Sarah Harmon, to Otoe count}', Nebraska, in 1883. Mr. and Mrs. Sanders have a family of six children : Elsie is the wife of M. C. \\'addin,gton ; and Erma, Nelson, Winona, Lucile, and Henry are still under the parental roof.

The family are members of the United Brethren church and in politics Mr. Sanders is a Democrat. Loud in his praises of the opportunities to be found in his adopted county, he has been an important factor in enterprices which have had to do with the unbuilding of his community, and he is held in the highest of esteem bv all who know him.

WILLIAM M. GILMORE. - There are many still familiar names that are closely associated with the pioneer history of Nebraska, and one of these that is worthily represented in Custer county is that of Gilmore. William M. Gilmore, who owns a fine property in Ryno valley, came to Custer county in 1898, and here he has ever since been identified with land development and agricultural industry. He is a native of Nebraska, bom in York county. August 4, 1867, and is one of a family of fourteen children born to Jacob R. and Sarah Gilmore.

William M. Gilmore grew up when pioneer conditions still prevailed in York county - when a large part of that section was practically unsettled. He recalls the many hardships of those days and also, with feelings of admiration, remembers the courage and resourcefulness with which they were met and overcome. His school opportunities were somewhat meager but were such that he was able to lay a sound foundation for the substantial superstructure of practical knowledge which he has since built up and through which he has effectively overcome the early handicap. He has been careful that his children should have the best educational advantages possible.

Mr. Gilmore remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-one years of age. In 1898 he came to Custer county and located at first on land situated four miles east of Oconto, south of the South Loup river. There he remained one year and he then moved to a farm two miles east of Oconto, where he continued operations two years. In 1906 he bought his present fine property in Ryno valley, where he has 240 acres, well developed and improved. In addition to operating this land, in partnership with his son

Harry E. Gilmore, he also leases an additional 160 acres. Mr. Gilmore has the reputation of being a very efficient farmer, careful and experienced, and his agricultural undertakings have been ver)- successful. His postoffice address is Callawav.

In 1890, at York, Nebraska, William M. Gilmore was united in marriage to Miss Mattie MacDaniel. Mrs. Gilmore has three brothers and two sisters, namely : Theodore Walter, Henry, John, Maie, and Ellen. Mr. and Mrs. Gilmore have four sons, fine, sturdy, patriotic young Americans who are a credit to state and country. The eldest, C. Homer Gilmore, is engaged in farming in the southern part of the county, near Oconto ; Harry E., the second son. who is in partnership with his father in the large fanning operations above mentioned, was preparing for militant' service in the national army at the time when the world war came to a close ; Orville L., also did his best to make Custer covmty a banner section in raising crops with which to help win the world war ; and Samuel R.. is yet in school. Mr. Gilmore and his older sons are Democrats in their political views.

GEORGE W. STOUFFER was born in Ogle county. Illinois, !\Iarch 2. 1860. a son of Daniel W. and Frances (Petrie) Stouffer, who were bom in Maryland and who were early settlers in Ogle county. Illinois, where both passed away.

George W. Stouffer was reared in his native state and when a lad of sixteen he began working by the month on a farm, later engaging as a farmer on his own account. For a time he operated a tract of land in Plymouth county. Iowa, this property having belonged to his father.

In 1888 Mr. Stouffer came to Custer county and bought a relinquishment of 160 acres in section 20, township 18. range 21. He proved up on this claim, and upon selling the same he purchased land in Dale valley. In 1892 he bought 160 acres where he now lives, the place at that time having a sod house and other meager improvements. To-day he is the owner of 800 acres, all in one body, and successfully conducts a general farming and stock-raising enterprise. A good grade of cattle is to be found in the pastures and some fine Percheron horses are raised on the place. The improvements are among the best in the neighborhood, all having been put there by the present owner.

For his second wife Mr. Stouffer married ^liss Lillie Taylor, and she passed away five years ago, leaving five children: flattie. Gladys, Daniel, Mabel, and Frances, all of whom are at home except Daniel, who is in the national army at the time of this writing.

Mr. Stouffer is a member of the Merna camp of the ^lodern Woodmen of America, and in politics is independent. He is one of the progressive, up-to-date farmers of Custer county and is widely and favorably known.

EDQAR E. THOMPSON, who owns and resides upon a well improved farm and cattle ranch in the vicinity of Broken Bow, is one of the substantial exponents of farm industr>' in the county and is a sterling citizen who is entitled to recognition in this histor)-.

Mr. Thompson was born in Scioto county, Ohio, and in 1918 he celebrated the forty-fifth anniversary of his birth. He is a son of Silas and Hannah (Gahine) Thompson, both likewise natives of the old Buckeye state. The mother passed away at the age of forty-two years and the father subsequently married Ellen Humphrey, he having continued his residence in Ohio until his death, at the age of seventy-seven years. Silas Thompson became the father of twelve children. Of the sons of the first marriage it may be noted that John is a resident of Rock county. Nebraska ; Oscar is individually mentioned on other pages of this work ; and David and Edgar E. are both residents of Custer county, where they are identified with farm enterprise, the latter being the immediate subject of this review. The three sun-iving daughters of the first marriage of Silas Thompson are Airs. Belle Schriver, a resident of Kentucky; Mrs. .Anna Benedict, of Urbana, Ohio; and Mrs. Lou Houston, of Geneva, Nebraska. Elbert and .Aubrey are sons of the second marriage and both are residents of Custer county. Mrs. Cora Hickman, of Custer county, and Mrs. Maude Bass, of Omaha, are daughters of the second marriage.

Edgar E. Thompson was reared and educated in Ohio and in the earlier period of his residence in Custer county he was employed for ten years on the Parmelee ranch. Thereafter he was similarly employed on the Tierney ranch, for seven years. Thus he was given the best of advantages for gaining experience and becoming an adept in the handling and feeding of live stock. He is now the owner of 320 acres of land, of which 240 are available for cultivation and devoted to this purpose. He conducts a general agricultural and stock-raising business, and has good types of cattle, hogs and horses. He has resided on his preent homestead since 1915 and is gradually adding to the excellent improvements of permanent order. He has provided the requisite farm machinery' and other accessories for the facilitating of operations, and his energ)' and progressive policies assure him cumulative success in his well ordered enterprise. His herd of cattle at the time of this writing numbers about 150 head.

The year 1898 recorded the marriage of Mr. Thompson to Mina Higgins, who was born in Iowa and who has proved a true companion and helpmeet to her husband. She has aided greatly in furthering his success and has made the pleasant home one of attractiveness and gracious hospitality. Mr. and Mrs. Thompson have two children - Charles, who is nineteen years of age (1918) and who gives valuable aid to his father in connection with the operations of the home farm ; and Louisa, who is seven years old and is a medium for the dissemination of light and happiness jn the parental home.

JOSEPH S. WHITE. - A fine strain of Hoosier blood was infused into Custer county in the early pioneer days, and the county has had from this source much to gain and nothing to lose. The stalwart sons and gracious daughters of Indiana are numbered among the best of Custer county pioneers.

Joseph S. White, to whom this sketch is dedicated, takes due satisfaction in reverting to the Hoosier commonwealth as the place of his nativity. He was born in Daviess county, Indiana, on the 3d of August, 1851, and is a son of Closes B. and Lucinda (]\IcReynolds) White, of whose nine children seven are living, Joseph S., of this review being the eldest of the number ; Mrs. Rebecca J. Smith resides in Douglas county, Missouri; Nancy S. likewise lives in that county ; Anne maintains her home at St. Joseph, Missouri ; Ellen is a resident of the state of Washington ; George resides in the city of St. Joseph, ^Missouri ; and James G. lives with his brother Joseph S., of this sketch.

Moses B. White, in company with his family and other relatives, immigrated to the west in the autumn of 1856, some of the number establishing residence in Missouri and others in Iowa. Moses B. White located in Clarke county, Iowa, where he gained his full, share of experience as a pioneer settler of the Hawkeve state and where he continued his

Joseph S. \\'hite was five years of age at the time of the family immigration to Iowa, and his early educational advantages, meager in scope, were those afforded during the ten years of the family's residence in Clarke county, Iowa. In April, 1889, Joseph S. White and his brother, James G., immigrated from Andrew county, Missouri, to Nebraska, and settled in Custer county. The subject of this review experienced many hardships and trials incidental to pioneer life in Custer county, and privations and isolation were bravely borne. Mr. White has stated that coyotes, jack-rabbits, and fleas seemed omnipresent, and that the maximum discomforts to settlers were entailed by the invasions of the fleas, which are now. fortunately, a thing of the past, while coyotes and jack-rabbits have been practically subdued. The sod shanties that dotted the pioneer plains have nearly all disappeared, though occasionally one is encountered, as a reminder of the early days. The prairie fires that used to sweep the country at inters^als, adding materially to the troubles of the settlers, are now very infrequent. Thus Mr. White has satisfaction in knowing that he has been not only a witness of but also a participant in the march of development and progress in Custer county. He arrived in the county on the 20th of April, 1889. and forthwith entered claim to a homestead, about eighteen miles southeast of Broken Bow, in section 14, township 14, where he essayed the task of reclaiming a productive farm and developing a home worthy of the name.

Like most of the Custer county pioneers of the '80s. Mr. White had but little of this world's goods, and his original habitation in the county was a primitive dugout. When from this he was enabled to remove to a sod house, the latter seemed almost a mansion, in comparison with the bank dugout. The passing years have not denied to him a generous measure of success and prosperity, as is attested by the fact that to-day he is the owner of 360 acres of land, the same being well improved and effectively given over to diversified agriculture and stock-raising. His old homestead is still his place of residence and he is living in comfortable circumstances, the while he enjoys the unqualified respect and esteem of the community in which he has lived and labored to goodly ends. His wife died in Missouri, in 1887, and his children were thus denied a mother's care, though he established a comfortable pioneer home after coming to Custer county. He encountered his full share of the vicissitudes and hardships that marked the earlier period of settlement in the county, and he merits enduring honor for the contribution which he has made to civic and industrial progress in this now favored section of Nebraska. In the retrospection that brings to him memories of the pioneer epoch, he can but feel that his efforts have been rewarded and that now his "lines are cast in pleasant places." He is an earnest member of the Church of God and is loyally interested in all things pertaining to the communal welfare.

In the year 1880 was solemnized the marriage of I\Ir. White to Miss Louella Courter, whose death occurred in Missouri, in 1887, as previously noted in this context, and the two surviving children of this union are Mary Elizabeth and Birdie L.

WEST WHITNEY. - With Mason City as his postoflice address, Mr. Whitney owns a well improved farm and is proving distinctly progressive and successful in his operations as one of the representative agriculturists and stock-growers of this part of the county.

Mr. Whitney was born in Johnson county, Nebraska, in the year 1879 and is a son of Delbert and Lucy Whitney. He has three sisters, concerning whom the following brief record may consistently be offered : Lou is the wife of John Clinton, a farmer in Colorado; May is the wife of Ed. Peterson, who is employed in one of the large packing houses in the city of Omaha ; and Mattie is the wife of Roy Morgan, a prosperous farmer in Custer county.

Mr. Whitney is indebted to the public schools of Nebraska for his early educational discipline and has been associated with farm enterprise from his youth to the present time. In 1902 he wedded Miss Addie Nelson, who was born in Indiana, and thereafter he was engaged in farming on rented land until 1908. when he came to Custer county and purchased land which he has developed into one of the valuable and productive fanns of the county, the place being devoted to diversified agriculture and to the raising of excellent types of live stock, including Shorthorn cattle and Poland-China hogs, besides which Mr. Whitney is the owner of a fine Shire stallion and has given special attention to breeding of horses of this type. In politics he is an independent voter and he attends and supports the Christian church, of which his wife is a member. He is one of the alert and progressive exponents of farm enterprise in Custer county, is always ready to do his part in the support of measures and enterprises advanced for the general good of the community and is well entitled to recognition in this histor}-.

GEORGE F. DEWEY. - It is a substantial farmer that answers to the celebrated cognomen in this caption line. He is a man of sterling qualities, is a successful farmer and stockman and is one of the leading spirits in the community where he resides.

George F. Dewey was born in the state of Iowa, in 1868. He is a son of Samuel and Amelia (Young) Dewey, very excellent people. The father was a native of Indiana, the mother was an English lady. Both have passed to their reward, at the ages of sixty-four and fifty years respectively. In their family were seven children : Mary Peck lives at Cedar Bluffs, Nebraska ; James H. lives on a farm in Custer count}' ; Louise lives in Lincoln ; Laura Charling lives at Ithaca, Saunders cotmty : ]\Iyrtle is in Nevada ; Ellen Lemar is the wife of a physician living in Osceola, Nebraska, and the third born in this family was George F., of whom we are writing. The father came to Nebraska in 1880 and established his first home in Saunders county. From there he moved to Lancaster county, then to Wahoo and from there came to Custer county after retiring. He was always rated as a very successful man and was known as a breeder of pure-blood Poland-China hogs. He bought land here and he died in 1905.

George F. Dewey grew up on a fann, received a liberal education in the public schools, and twenty-two years ago, in 1897, he led to the marriage altar Miss Bertha Bristol, who was born in Iowa, in 1878, the daughter of very estimable parents and herself a lady of high standing and fine character. They have established a home and maintain it with all the comforts and advantages of modern life. They have two children : Laura is the wife of Edward Lee, of Custer county, and Frank is pursuing his studies in the Ansley school. ]\Ir. and Mrs. Dewey bought the land that now constitutes their home and for a time they lived in a sod house. The degree of success attained by j\Ir. Dewey is well marked by the statement that he owns 720 acres, on which are good improvements and stock of hieh grade. Some of the cattle are registered. He has hogs of the Duroc-Jersey strain and the horses are patterned after fashionable Percheron models. Cattle raising is the most prominent feature of his operations. Everj'thing around him on the farm is the result of his own labor and frugality, in all of which, however, he had valuable assistance on the part of his wife, who graciously presides over his household. The farm home is ornamented with fruit trees and everywhere a homelike appearance is presented.

In social affairs the Deweys are prominent and helpful promoters. They belong to the Grange, Royal Highlanders, and Modern Woodmen, and they give preference to the Grange. Independent in politics, Mr. Dewey claims no allegiance to any political party. This is a well known and respected family whose members are honored by all their friends and acquaintances.

JOHN W. CHERRY has secure place as one of the representative agriculturists and stock-growers of the younger generation in Custer county, is a member of a well known and highly esteemed family of this cotmty and takes justifiable pride in claiming Nebraska as the place of his nativity. Mr. Cherry is now the owner of a half-section of excellent land, well improved and equipped with modern machinery and other accessories essential to progressive farm enterprise, his home being in the vicinity of Cumro, which is his postoffice address. Concerning the family adequate mention is made on other pages of this work, in the sketch of the career of Joseph H. Cherry, father of him whose name introduces this paragraph.

John W. Cherry was born in Box Butte county, Nebraska, in the year 1889, and has been a resident of Custer county since early childhood, his parents having here established their home in 1891. Here he was reared and educated and here he has found splendid opportunity for successful achievement in connection with farm enterprise, his landed property being given over to diversified agriculture and the raising of good types of live stock.

Loyal as a citizen and duly interested in community affairs, Mr. Cherry- is independent in politics and supports the men and measures meeting the approval of his judgment. He holds membership in the Presbyterian church and his wife is a member of the Baptist church.

The maiden name of Mr. Cherry's wife was Lucy Mason, and she is a daughter of Isaac and Mary Mason. Mr. and Mrs. Cherry have one child, Sylvia, who is six years of age at the time of this writing, in the spring of 1919.

beat - a combination that is renowned for frugality and thrift. John Fortik is the combination and his farm home as presented today is the result of his toil and enterprise.

John Fortik was born forty-nine years ago, in Bohemia, a province that has given to America many men wlio have made a success in all the high calhngs of life. He came to the United States when but ten years of age, and made Saline county, this state, his first home. There he stayed six years, and he then went to Buffalo county, where he spent one year. From there it was an easy journey into Custer county, where he homesteaded upon reaching his majority. He proved up on the homestead, and it is to-day his home. He has added to it, however, until he is the owner of a halfsection of good land.

During his early life Mr. Fortik received common-school education, applied himself diligently, saved his money, and consequently has been able to make the commendable showing that is here described. The improvements on his place are good. He has fine horses of the draft-stock pattern, and owns his land in fee simple, without mortgage or debt.

In speaking of the early days, Mr. Fortik says he worked out until he was twenty-three years of age, and that he had but very little when he reached Custer county. What he has to-day has been the result of farming operations. He remembers that on one occasion, when hard pressed for money, he tried to borrow twenty dollars, but, failing to secure it, he has never tried to borrow a cent since that time.

He belongs to the Catholic church, is independent in politics, trailing in the wake of no political party, and prefermg to select his own candidates and vote for qualifications as men represent them, regardless of political brands.

MRS. SUE E. STUPPLEBEEN. - In the year 1884 there journeyed to Custer county from Kansas a young married couple who were to become well known to the early residents of the Callaway vicinity - Martin H. Stupplebeen and his wife, the maiden name of the latter having been Sue E. Parry. For years thereafter they occupied what was known as the "Half-Way House," twelve miles north of Callaway, and the hospitality which they extended to friends and strangers, settlers and travelers, is still well remembered with gratitude. Martin H. Stupplebeen departed this life January 14, 1916, and his widow is still the owner of the old homestead, although she now makes her home at Callaway, where she has a wide circle of friends.

Sue E. Parry was born March 22, 1860, in Richland county, Ohio, a daughter of Lewellyn H. and Mary E. (Schrack) Parry, natives of the same county, highly respected and honored farming people, and devout members of the Baptist church. Mr. and Mrs. Parry became the parents of nine children, of whom seven are living: Lilly F. is the wife of James D. Barrett, a farmer of Perry, Oklahoma; Sue E. is the immediate subject of this review ; Howard V., who is a stock salesman of Fairview, Oklahoma, married Sadie Colwell ; George F., who is a ranchman and stock farmer of Vici. Oklahoma, married Ella McCollum ; Charles E. is a bachelor and is a farmer at Cestos, Oklahoma; Mary A. is the wife of Frank Phillips, a farmer of Coyle, Oklahoma; and Eew T., who is a farmer of Cestos, Oklahoma, married Frances Langley. The men in this family are, without exception, Democrats.

When Sue E. Parry was three years of age her parents removed to near Fort Dodge, Iowa, and at Frankfort, Kansas, on August 4, 1884, was solemnized her marriage to Martin H. Stupplebeen, a son of Martin and Gertrude (Holsapple) Stupplebeen. Shortly after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Stupplebeen came to Custer county and located twelve miles northwest of Callaway, at wliat was known as the "Half- Way House," this title having been applied because of the fact that the house was about half way between Callaway and Arnold. At that time, and for several years thereafter, settlement was slow and neighbors were few and far apart. On the opposite side of the Loup river lived Mrs. Frank Brega, and ^Irs. Brega and Mrs. Stupplebeen became fast friends who would regularly meet and visit across the river. On all too many occasions it was necessary to cut these meetings short, because of the activity of the insects, which in those days were omnipresent in this region. I\Iany of the pioneers traveling up and down the Loup river in early times have reason to remember with gratitude the whole-souled hospitality with which they were greeted and entertained by Mr. and Mrs. Stupplelx?en, whose latch-string was always out. IMr. Stupplebeen was a hard and energetic worker. Through industry and good management and the assistance of his capable wife he succeeded in the development of a valuable and well improved farm, on which he continued operations until his death, January 14. 1916. He was accounted one of the reliable citizens of his community, and was a man who commanded respect by reason of his strict integrity and personal probity. He was a Democrat in politics, but public life did not appeal to him. Following the demise of her husband, Mrs. Stupplebeen moved to Callaway, and here she resides in a comfortable, modern home, and is surrounded by many loyal friends.

Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Stupplebeen: Jennie E. is the wife of Clyde Wail, a farmer of Wallace, Nebraska, and they have two children : Raymond H., who is engaged in farming on Cliff Table, twelve miles northeast of Arnold, married Hazel Wardrobe, daughter of William Wardrobe, and they have one son ; Elva F. is the wife of James C. Crowder, a farmer of Eight Point, Montana, and they have one daughter and one son ; and Miss Stella M. remains with her mother, at Callaway.

JOHN J. KULHANEK, who is a prosperous general fanner residing near Ansley, Custer county, was born in 1864, in Austria. He carries on a general line of farming and also pays attention to stock-raising, keeping a good grade only. His property is well improved and evidences of thrift and good management may be observed on every side.

j\Ir. Kulhanek has a fine family. He married ]\Iiss Enkellia Matejka. who was born in Saunders county, Nebraska, in 1874. Her parents were John and Anna (Bartosch) Matejka. both of whom were born in Austria: they came to the United States and spent all their after life on their fann in Saunders county, Nebraska, where both died, the father when aged sixty-five years. Mr. and Mrs. Kulhanek have four children, namely : Rudolph, who is a farmer on Deer creek : Adolph, who is also a farmer : Anna, who lives with her parents ; and .\lvin, who is a farmer on Deer creek. The family belongs to the Roman Catholic church. Mr. Kulhanek is an American citizen and he gives his political support to the Republican party. The family is well known in the county and is held in deserved esteem.

GEORGE W. ANKNEY, a resi<lcnt of Custer county since 1882, has been varioush' identified with the interests of this region since the time of his arrival, and, principally as an agriculturist, has accumulated a competence that permits him to pass the evening of life in comfortable circumstances, at his pleasant home at Sargent. He is a native of Coshocton. Ohio, and was born September 10. 18.^0. being a son of Joseph and Abbie (Brown) Ankney.

but in young manhood pushed toward the west, locating first in Ohio, where he met and married Miss Abbie Brown, a native of that state, and where he was engaged in farming, in Coshocton county, until 1851. In that year he removed to Jones county-, Iowa, which was his home for many years, and thence he went to Mitchell county, Kansas, which was his place of residence for five years. In 1888 he came to Nebraska, and from that time until his death, at the age of eighty-two years, he made his home among his children. He was an industrious man, always alive to opportunity and able to make the most of his chances. He succeeded as an agriculturist, and as a public-spirited and useful citizen of the various communities in which he resided, he was always held in high esteem by his associates. He was a staunch and unwavering Democrat in politics, and he and Mrs. .\nkney were faithful members of the ]\Iethodi&t Episcopal church. They were the parents of ten children, of whom three survive : Joseph, who married Susan \'ananberg, is a retired farmer of Scottsbluff, Nebraska; George W. is the subject of this sketch; and Edward, who married Eliza Pierce, is a retired farmer of Grand Island, Nebraska.

The common schools of Jones county, Iowa, furnished George W. Ankney with his educational training, and his boyhood was passed on his father's farm, where, under the elder man's direction, he was taught all the arts and methods pertaining to the vocation of agriculture. At Taylor, Nebraska, he was united in marriage, July 5, 1886. to Mrs. Harriet (Northey) Cummings, widow of James Cummings and daughter of Robert and Ruth (Hall) Northey, natives of Vermont. Mrs. Ankney's parents were farming people who came to Nebraska in 1879 and took up a homestead at Cummings Park, at a time when there were but five families in the vicinity, the nearest postoffice being at Loup City, about fortyfive miles away. There Miss Northey met and married James Cummings, a well-to-do young farmer, and he met his death by a fall mt9 a well, this being the only well for miles aroimd.

Mr. Ankney had come to Custer county in 1882 and settled at Cummings Park, where he took up a homestead and where he resided until 1893. At that time, because of failing health, he moved to Burwell, which continued to be his home for thirteen years, removal being made to Sargent in 1906. He is accounted one of the well-to-do and substantial men of his locality, a reliable, dependable citizen who always supports beneficial movements with his influence, means, and energies. He has not cared for public life and is not actively concerned in politics. While still a resident of Vermont, Mrs. Ankney adopted a child of three years. Idella Cummings, whom she reared to young womanhood. This foster daughter then married and moved to Maine. Mr. and Mrs. Ankney adopted a nephew, James Ankney, who was five years old, and reared him until he was sixteen, when he left their home to work for himself: at the time of this writing James Ankney is a member of the national army and is stationed in New Alexico.

CHARLES FORTIK, who is a prominent man in his township in Custer county, carries on general farming and is meeting with the success that his industry and excellent methods deserve. He is a native of Nebraska, bom in Buffalo county, in 1886. His parents were Joseph and Anna (Kine) Fortik, both of whom were born in Austria. When they came to America and settled in Nebraska, the father here homesteaded and became the owner of a quarter section. During his lifetime he made many improvements. Both he and wife died on their farm in Custer county. They were members of the Roman Catholic church.

Charles Fortik accompanied his parents when they moved from Buft'alo county to Custer county. Farming has been his business all his life and he is now very successfully operating 2-K) acres, eighty acres being his own property, on which he has placed substantial improvements. He gives some attention to stock-raising. He cultivates his land according to modem methods and owns first-class farm machinen,'.

In 1916 ^Ir. Fortik was united in marriage to Miss Lila Holland, who was born in 1898, near Wiessert, Custer county, and is a daughter of John and Kate ("Spencer) Holland, who are farming people living near Ansley, Nebraska. Mr. Fortik belongs to the order of Modern Woodmen, and that he is a man of foresight and prudence is shown in the fact that he carries an accident-insurance policy. He is a Democrat and takes considerable interest in politics. He has served ver\- acceptably in the office of road overseer.