Gage County, Nebraska - Chapter 31: People Who Have Done Their Part in Making Gage County, 1918 (part 25 of 29)

Mrs. McClung's memory touches the pioneer period in Nebraska history and she recalls that when she was 3, child the Indians not infrequently called at the home of her father. In Gage county, as a girl, she assisted in fighting prairie fires, and she drove Mr. Filley's ponies to Beatrice when the present attractive city was a mere village with much of the present business and residence district marked by sloughs and pond-holes. She remembers incidents relative to the trip which she made with her parents from Wisconsin to Nebraska, the journey having been made with wagon and ox team and a cow having been tied behind the wagon. In fording a river en route the life of the cow was nearly sacrificed, as it narowly escaped drowning. Mrs. McClung finds pleasure in reminiscences concerning the early days, especially in view of the fact that she has been a witness of the various stages of progress that have brought opulent civic and industrial prosperity to this section of the comonwealth.

JOSEPH L. WEBB, M. D., attained to more than local prestige iij the exacting profession that had been so signally dignified and honored by the services of |his father, the late Dr. Joseph Luther Webb, who was one of the leading pioneer physicians and most influential citizens of Gage county and to whom a memorial tribute is entered on other pages of this publication, so that further review of the family history is not here demanded. It may be said, however, that few families have been more prominently and worthily identified with civic and material development and progress in this favored section of Nebraska than that of which the subject of this review is a popular representative. Though unequivocal success had been his in the practice of his profession and as a factor in its educational work. Dr. Joseph Lewis Webb re- tired from active practice in the spring of 1914, in order that he might give his personal supervision to the development and management of one of the large and valuable farm properties near his native city of Beatrice, and on this estate, in Riverside township, he now maintains his residence. In his farm enterprise he is bringing to bear the most approved scientific methods and the most modern facilities, and his executive ability is such that he has made the farm a veritable model in general efficiency of operation, as it is also in its improvements, the while he is giving special attention to the raising of pure-bred live stock and also the better types of graded stock.

Dr. Joseph Lewis Webb, third son of the late Dr. Joseph Luther Webb and Kate Louise (Sheppard) Webb, was born at Beatrice, this county, January 25, 1884. His early educattional advantages were those afforded in the public schools of his native city, which was then a mere village, and he had also the fostering influences of a home of distinctive culture and refinement. He prosecuted higher academic studies in Highland Park College, Des Moines, Iowa, and in Cotner University, at Lincoln, Nebraska. In preparation for his chosen profession he attended first the Lincoln Medical College, in the capital city of his native state, and later the Bennett Medical College, in the city of Chicago, in which latter institution he was graduated as a member of the class of 1906 and from which he received his degree of Doctor of Medicine. After a period devoted to travel. Dr. Webb engaged in the practice of his profession at Hebron, judicial center of Thayer county, Nebraska, but later he returned to Chicago and became an attache of the general staff of the Jefferson Park Polyclinic & Hospital, where he gained broad and varied clinical exj>erience and where he remained thus engaged about tw.o years, in the meanwhile having been retained to give courses of lectures before the students of his alma mater, Bennett Medical College and also those of the Jefferson Park Hospital training school for nurses. After severing these relapany A, Eighteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, tions the Doctor again spent some time in travel and then he returned to Beatrice and became associated with his father in active general practice. His technical attainments here further brought to him recognition in connection with educational work in his profession, as he was called upon to deliver lec- .tures before the students of the Lincoln Medical College at Lincoln, Nebraska, and also those of the Mennonite Hospital Training School for Nurses, at Beatrice. As a practitioner he added to the prestige of the family name in Gage county, where his father had for many years held precedence as one of the leading physicians and surgeons of this section of the state, and finally, as previously noted, he withdrew from active professional work to give his attention to his farm interests. The Doctor is a Republican in politics and his is a most vital interest in all things touching the welfare and advancement of his native city and county, his attitude being that of a broad-gauged and pubHc-spirited citizen. August 16, 1905, recorded the marriage of Dr. Webb to Miss Iva M. Gamble, of Beatrice, she being a daughter of George W. Gamble, a member of a well known pioneer family that early made settlement northwest of Beatrice. Dr. and Mrs. Webb have three children, whose names and respective dates of birth are here indicated: Joseph Lewis, Jr., February 16, 1907; George Harold, February 11, 1911; and Edna Katherine, September 8 1914.

JAMES FISHER is another of the sterling citizens who has won success and independence through long continued association with farm enterprise in Gage county, and his present attractive home farm, of one hundred and forty acres, is situated in Section 4, Sherman township.

Mr. Fisher was born in Bohemia, Germany, March 1, 1857, was there reared and educated and was twenty-two years of age when he came to the United States. He landed in the port of New York city and his financial resources were at such low ebb that he was compelled to borrow twenty-four dollars to pay his railroad fare to Nebraska. Upon arriving in this state he settled in Johnson county, where he was employed for the following three months at farm work, with a compensation of but eight dollars a month. He was so frugal that he soon was able to pay the debt which he had incurred in coming to Nebraska, and after having worked about eight years as a farm employe, he had saved one hundred dollars, besides having become the owner of a small house. He sold the house an.! with the one hundred dollars thus added to his savings he purchased a lease on school land, incidentally assuming a debt of two hundred dollars. After his marriage he continued his operations on this land eight years, and he then sold the lease and purchased one hundred and sixty acres in Filley township. Gage county. This was wild prairie land, in Section 1, and on the place he erected a house and other modest farm buildings. There he continued his activities as a farmer and stock-grower for ten years, and in 1910 he purchased his present well improved homestead farm, besides which he owns eighty acres in Filley township and, in 1917, gave a farm of eighty acres to one of his sons. Mr. Fisher endured his full share of the hardships incidental to pioneer life and recalls that in the early days he sold wheat for only thirty cents a bushel. After his marriage he and his wife occupied for some time a little frame house that was only fourteen by sixteen feet in dimensions, and that afforded entirely inadequate protection during the cold winters, the walls of the little dwelling being frequently covered with frost, so cold was the interior of the building. Mr. Fisher has been unremitting in his industry and, in the face of many handicaps, has achieved substantial success.

In Johnson county was solemnized his marriage to Miss Anna Brush, who likewise was born in Bohemia, and they have four children : Frank, who is a successful farmer in Filley township is married and has two children; Rudolph and his wife reside on another excellent farm in Filley township ; Joseph, who is married and has one child, is a prosperous farmer in Sherman township ; and Helen is

Mr. Fisher is a loyal citizen of the county and state in which he has found opportunities for the winning of independence and prosperity and though in a basic way he supports the cause of the Democratic party he is not restricted by partisan lines in local affairs and gives his support to men and measures meeting the approval of his judgment.

GEORGE M. STEECE is lawyer by profession but has proved his versatility by his specially successful activities in connection with farm industry in Gage county, where he owns and operates a splendidly improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres, in Section 25, Eogan township.

Mr. Steece was born in Lawrence county, Ohio, on the 2d of July, 1852, and is a son of Archibald and Helen (Sterne) Steece, the former of whom was born in Ohio, in 1824 and died in 1900, and the latter of whom was born in Virginia, she having celebrated her eighty-seventh birthday anniversary in 1918 and being still a resident of Gage county. The marriage of the parents was solemnized in Lawrence county, Ohio, where the father followed the trade of iron moulder. He went forth as a valiant soldier of the Union when the Civil war was precipitated on the nation. In response to President Lincoln's first call, he enlisted, in 1861, as a member of Company A, Eighteenth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, with which command he proceeded to the front and continued in active service one year and four months, at the expiration of which he was given an honorable discharge, on account of physical disabihty. After the war he continued his residence in Ohio until 1877, when he removed with his family to Benton county, Iowa, and in 1881 he came with his family to Gage county, Nebraska, where he purchased the homestead now owned by his son George M., the immediate subject of this sketch, who is the only child. On this farm Mr. Steece passed the remainder of his life, and he achieved success in connection with farm enterprise in this county. He was a Republican in politics, and was affiliated with the Grand Army of the Republic, his widow being an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal church. Archibald Steece was a son of George Steece, who was born in Maryland, and who became a successful manufacturer of pig iron in Ohio, later following the same line of enterprise in Missouri, where his death occurred, the family lineage tracing back to staunch Holland Dutch origin. William Stenie, maternal grandfather of the subject of this review, was bom in Virginia and removed thence to Ohio in 1847. He became a successful and influential exponent of the iron industry in the Buckeye state, where he passed the closing years of his life.

George M. Steece acquired his early education in the public schools of his native state and finally he entered the law department of the celebrated University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, from which he received his degree of Bachelor of L,aws upon his graduation as a member of the class of 1873. For two years thereafter he was -engaged in the practice of his profession at Vinton, Iowa, and in 1881 he accompanied his parents on their removal to Gage county, where he has since been in active charge of the farm purchased by his father. He has erected all of the present farm buildings, which are of model type, and is one of the successful agriculturist and stockgrowers of the county.

In 1879 Mr. Steece wedded Miss Eva Gamble, who was born in Wabash county, Indiana, a daughter George and Mary (Squire) Gamble, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Kentucky. Mr. and Mrs. Gamble finally removed with their family to Iowa, where the death of the latter occurred, and he was a resident of Colorado at the time of his death. Both he and his wife were of Scotch-Irish ancestry. Mr. and Mrs. Steece have five children : Lottie is the wife of David Thompson, of Riverside township; Jessie J. is the wife of James C. Carmichael, who rents and operates the farm of Mr. Steece ; Louis is an agent for the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company, in the city of Beatrice ; Guy is engaged in farming in Logan township; and Florence is the wife of C. Peter

In politics Mr. Steece is a staunch Republican, thoroughly fortified in his convictions concerning economic and governmental policies, and he has held various township offices, including that of assessor, of which he is the incumbent in 1918. He passed one summer in Omaha as an attache of the meat inspection service of the agricultural department of the government, and it should be noted that prior to coming to Nebraska he was for two years editor and pubUsher of the Benton County Democrat, at Vinton, Iowa. On his farm he gives special attention to the raising of pure-blood Jersey cattle. He is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and he and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

J. J. KING is one of the vigorous and successful farmers of Filley township, where he conducts operations as an agriculturist and stock-grower on three hitndred and twenty acres of rented land, besides being the owner of his attractive little homestead farmi, of thirty acres, in Section 32. He is a son of Charles W. King, of whom specific mention is made on other pages, so that further review of the family history is not here demanded.

Mr. King was born in Rock Island county, Illinois, on the 23d of March, 1871, and was five years of age at the time of the family removal to Gage county, Nebraska, where he was reared on a farm and received the advantages of the local schools. As a young man he engaged in independent farming on rented land in Filley township, and in 1905 he purchased his present homestead place of thirty acres, upon which he continues to make excellent improvements from time to time. He is a Republican in politics and he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.

In 1912 was recorded the marriage of Mr. King to Miss Emma Shelton, who was born in the city of Knoxville, Tennessee, and who is the popular chatelaine of their pleasant home. They have no children.

MARTIN FRITZEN makes each successive year count in productive activity and cumulative prosperity in connection with the varied operations on the farm of one hundred and sixty acres which is his place of residence, in Section 21, Logan township, the property belonging to his father, Lammert Fritzen, an honored pioneer of the county.

Martin Fritzen was born in Adams county, Illinois, on the 26th of January, 1873, and was only a boy at the time of the family removal to Gage county, Nebraska, where he was reared on his father's farm and where he profited duly by the advantages afforded in the district schools of Logan township. At the age of twenty-four years he began farming in an independent way, and his energy and . good judgment have brought to him a generous measure of success in his operations as an agriculturist and stock-grower. He recalls the conditions that obtained in the pioneer period of Gage county history and as a boy he herded cattle over the prairies, when settlers were few and widely separated. Mr. Fritzen is a Democrat in politics and has been called upon to serve in the offices of justice of the peace and road supervisor, in each of which he acquitted himself with characteristic ability and fidelity. Both he and his wife are active communicants of the Lutheran church.

In 1899 Mr. Fritzen wedded Miss Ricka Buss, who likewise is a native of Adams county, Illinois, and they have seven children : Annie, Lammert, Gerhard, Otto, Martin, Jr., Carl, and John, all of whom remain members of the ideal family circle of the parental home.

WILLIAM R. JONES. - Though he has not advanced far beyond the psalmist's span of three score years and ten and has the mental and physical vigor that belies even this age, Mr. Jones has the enviable distinction of being at the present time the earliest settler of Beatrice now living within its gracious borders. He was a lad of eleven years when he accompanied his parents on their immigration to Nebraska Territory, in 1857, and the family home was in that year established in Gage county, - a full decade prior to the admission of the state to the Union. It can thus be realized that the memory of this honored pioneer compasses virtually the entire gamut that has been run in the development of this section of Nebraska from a prairie wilderness to a populous and opulent district of a great commonwealth, and it is gratifying to him that he has been able to play a part in the civic and industrial progress and upbuilding of Gage county.

Mr. Jones was born in Lawrence county, Ohio, on the 9th of September, 1846, and is a son of Samuel and Rebecca (Pethoud) Jones, the former of whom was bom in Grayson county, Virginia, of staunch Welsh lineage, and the latter of whom was bom in Lawrence county, Ohio, where her parents settled in the early pioneer days. The parents of Mr. Jones continued their residence in Ohio until 1855, when they started for the west. After remaining six months in Platte county, Missouri, they continued their journey to Jefferson county, Kansas, where they remained until September 1st, 1857, when, with the primitive equipment of team and wagon, they set forth on the overland journey to Gage county, Nebraska, which at that time was on the veritable frontier. Their first dinner in this county was eaten while they were encamped on the banks of Blue river, and on the occasion of the eleventh anniversary of the birth of their son William R., of this review. Samuel Jones entered a pre-emption claim in what is now Midland township. Gage county, and here he eventually became the owner of three hundred and sixty acres of land, an appreciable part of which he brought under effective cultivation. In 1860, however, he went to Nuckolls county, where he remained about one year, during which he operated a pioneer ranch on the overland stage route. He then returned to his Gage county farm and here, save for a short interval during which he conducted a livery business in the city of Lincoln, he passed the residue of his life, his death having occurred in 1872, when he was but forty-six years of age. His widow survived him by more than a quarter of a century and was a resident of Idaho, at the time of her death, in 1900, she having been one of the revered pioneer women of Gage county. Her father, John Pethoud was the first person to make settlement in what is now Midland township, this county, where he established his home in April, 1857, a number of his descendants being still residents of the county and further data concerning the family appearing in other articles of this publication.

William R. Jones was reared under the invigorating discipline of the pioneer farmstead and his educational advantages after coming to Gage county were limited to the primitive schools maintained by the early settlers. At the age of twenty years he took unto himself a wife, and finally they established their residence on a homestead which he obtained in Section 11, Midland township. He made good improvements on this farm and brought it into an excellent state of productiveness. In 1876 he sold this property and purchased land in Section 24 of the same township, where he. eventually developed a fine landed estate of two hundred and twenty acres and where he successfully continued his operations as an agriculturist and as a breeder and grower of the better types of cattle until 1897, since which time he and his wife have maintained theit residence in the city of Beatrice, their pleasant home being at 513 West Ella street. While on the farm Mr. Jones also gave special attention to the breeding of high-grade road horses, including those of standard breeding. For three years he also kept on his farm a well ordered dairy, from which he supplied milk to a representative list of patrons in Beatrice. He continues to hold possession of his fine farm property and in his retirement is far from inactive, as he gives much of his time and attention to the buying of poultry. Though he celebrated in 1917 his seventy-first birthday anniversar}- Mr. Jones has the bearing and vigor of a man twenty years his junior, and the passing years have failed to implant a single gray thread in his abundant head of hair. His reminiscences concerning the early pioneer days are most graphic and of surpassing historic interest. Apropos of this statement the following brief record is specially worthy of reproduction in this article :

"After the Indian massacre occurred on the Little Blue river Mr. Jones was among the first to witness the horrors of that awful scene and to aid in burying the unfortunate victims. As an old resident of the' county he is most intimately acquainted with its history and no citizen has witnessed with greater satisfaction the gradual march of development and progress. He is interested in all matters pertaining to church, school and state, and has given earnest support to measures advanced for the general good of the community."

Mr. Jones has never wavered in his loyal allegiance to the Democratic party and he has been long and prominently affilliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, through active membership in all of its branches. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Improved Order of Red Men. Though he has been liberal and progressive as a citizen Mr. Jones has not been greatly afHicted with ambition for public office, and his civic loyalty was the principal cause of his becoming a candidate for the office of county sheriff, to which he was triumphantly elected in 1888 and in which he continued to give admirable administration for a term of two years.

September 15, 1866, recorded the marriage of Mr. Jones to Miss Hester A. Henton, who was born near Des Moines, Iowa, November 23, 1846, that city having then been little more than a frontier military post. She is a daughter of the late James M. and Susan (Prim) Henton, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Illinois, and her parents were numbered among the earliest settlers of Polk county, Iowa. The father of Mrs. Henton erected and occupied the first house in Springfield, the capital of Illinois. In 1855 Mr. Henton came with his family to Nebraska and settled in Pawnee county, where he surveyed and defined the town of Table Rock. Both he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives in Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Jones became the parents of ten children, and concerning the six now living the following brief record is available: Minnie L,. is the wife of Ralph

L,ee, of Lincoln, this state ; Susan is the wife of John Graves, of Fort Milton, Colorado; Ruhama is the wife of John P. Vandel, of Bridgeport, Nebraska; Hester A. is the wife of O. E. Carney, of Omaha; Rebecca is the wife of Harry K. Davis, of Lawrence, this state; and Willie Ethel is the wife of B. R. , Crone, of Beatrice.

WILLIAM L. COLLINS has been a resident of Gage county since 1885 and here has won for himself substantial prosperity through his effective association with the great and basic industries of agriculture and stock-growing. His excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres is situated in Section 31, Sherman township, and is equipped with good buildings and other improvements of permanent order, all of which represent the tangible results of his own efforts and enterprising policies. . Mr. Collins is a scion of old and honored Southern ancestry, both his paternal and maternal forebears having been prosperous planters, his grandfather on the paternal side having been Mahlon Collins, who passed his entire life in Virginia, and his maternal grandfather, John Woodruff having lived throughout his entire life in North Carolina.

William L. Collins was born in Grayson county, Virginia, February 6, 1855, and is a son of John C. and Caroline (Woodruff) Collins, the former of whom was born in that same county, February 16, 1831, and the latter of whom was born in that part of Ashe county, North Carolina, that is now included in Alleghany county, the date of her nativity having been June 24, 1837, and her death having occurred February 14, 1913, her husband having survived her and his death having occurred November 7, 1915. Their marriage was solemnized in Ashe county and there Mr. Collins became a successful planter, both having remained residents of Virginia until the close of their lives. Of their three children . the subject of this sketch is the eldest ; Franklin P. is a successful agriculturist in Carroll county, Virginia; and Isaac R. came to Gage county, Nebraska, in the spring of 1917, he being now engaged in farming in the same township as is his brother. The mother was an earnest member of the Primitive Baptist church and was a woman of gentle and gracious personality. The father was a man of broad views, was the owner of a good farm property at the time of his death, and in politics he never wavered in allegiance to the Democratic party.

In the schools of the historic Old Dominion state William L. Collins gained his youthful education and. there he continued his alliance with agricultural enterprise until 1883, when he came to Nebraska and located in Richardson county. There he remained until 1885, when he came to Gage county and purchased a farm of eighty acres, in Sherman township. Later he purchased an additional tract of one hundred and sixty acres, which constitutes the area of his present attractive farm estate, the place having been entirely without improvements when it came into his possession. He had the most limited of financial resources when he came to this county and by his well ordered activities as an agriculturist and stock-growers he has won place among the prosperous citizens and representative farmers of Sherman township. He is a Democrat in politics, has served as a member of the school board of his district and also as road supervisor, and both he and his wife are active members of the Evangelical church. In a fraternal way he is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

November 20, 1879, recorded the marriage of Mr. Collins to Miss Polly Andrews, who likewise is a native of Grayson county, Virginia, and who is a daughter of John and Catherine Andrews. Mr. and Mrs. Collins became the parents of four children : Porter is engaged in independent farm enterprise not far from his parents' home; Cora died at the age of twenty-one years ; John is associated in the work and management of the home farm ; and Lythia died at the age of five years.

additional tract of equal area, and where, in addition to raising the agriculutural products best adapted to this locality, he is giving special attention to the raising of fine Chester White swine, his breeding of this type of stock having been initiated in 1914.

Mr. Montgomery was born in Sullivan county, Missouri, September 9, 1859, and is the eldest in a family of five children; James is another of the prosperous farmers of Holt township; Dr. WilHam P., an able physician and surgeon, is now actively identified with farm enterprise in Holt township ; Caroline is deceased; and Maude is employed in one of the leading hospitals in the city of Lincoln.

John R. Montgomery is a son of Andrew E. and Mary (Beall) Montgomery, the former of whom was born in Wayne county, Ohio, July 11, 1837, and the latter in the state of Illinois, in August, 1839. Andrew L. Montgomery and his wife were numbered among the territorial pioneers of Lancaster county, Nebraska, where they established their residence in 1864. Mr. Montgomery entered claim to a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, near the present village of Hickman, and there he continued his activities as a pioneer farmer until 1870, when he came with his family to Gage county. He became the owner of a large landed estate in this county, where he and his wife still reside, and where he is still the owner of fully three hundred acres, the remainder of his land having been divided among his children. He is a son of John and Mary (Shatow) Montgomery, who were born respectively in Maryland and Pennsylvania, and who passed the closing years of their lives in Ohio. Andrew L. Montgomery and his wife now reside in the village of Pickrell and are honored pioneer citizens of Gage county.

John R. Montgomery was about four years old at the time of the family removal to Nebraska Territory and his early education was acquired in the pioneer schools of Lancaster and Gage counties. He early began to assist his father in the farm operations and since 1895 he has conducted independent operations on his present farm, eighty acres of which

On the Sth of January, 1887, Mr. Montgomery wedded Miss Celia Smith, who was born in Putnam county, Illinois, a daughter of Edward and Artie (Wardlaw) Smith, who now reside at Cortland, Gage county, Nebraska, the father having retired from the work of his trade, that of blacksmith. Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery have six children: Cecila is the wife of Fred Busboom, of Cozad, Dawson county, this state; Ralph is identified with farm enterprise in Holt township; Homer resides in the village of Pickrell ; Edward remains at the parental home ; Mildred is the wife of E. Rudder, of Highland township; and Irene is the youngest member of the parental home circle.

In politics Mr. Montgomery is staunchly aligned in the r^nks of the Democratic party and he has been influential in community affairs. In 1908 he was elected a member of the county board of supervisors, in which position he served one term, besides which he served four years as clerk and treasurer of Holt township, his retirement from this dual office having occurred in 1917. He is affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

THOMAS ACTON. - The Hfe story of Thomas Acton is made specially interesting by reason of the fact that he came to the United States with scarcely a dollar in his possession but, after years of untiring diligence, has acquired more than an ordinary competence, not considering that he and his good wife have reared, given a good educational advantages to and instilled high ideals in seven sons and four daughters, who are fast taking up their life work in their own homes, ready to enrich the communities in which they live.

Thomas Acton was born in Ontario, Canada, and is a son of Abraham and Elizabeth (Kidd) Acton, who were natives of the Emerald Isle and who in their early life come to Canada. Abraham Acton was a son of Frank Acton, who remained in Ireland all of his hfe. He and his son Abraham were active members of the Orangemen, that body of Protestant Irishmen which had for its purpose the overthrow of the Catholic domination in the civic and religious life of the Emerald Isle. Abraham Acton and Elizabeth (Kidd) Acton were the parents of five children, two of whom are living - George, of Summerfield, Kansas, and Thomas, the subject of this review. Mrs. Elizabeth (Kidd) Acton passed away in 1844 and in 1849 Abraham Acton married the second time. Of this union seven children were born.

In 1864 Mr. Thomas Acton left Canada for the United States, and he chose for his home the thriving city of Builington, Iowa. In Iowa he worked five years in logging camps, clearing the rich fertile soil for the farmer who would soon follow with his implements of agriculture. From 1869 to 1885 he operated a farm in Iowa, and he then removed with his family to Kansas, where he homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres of land, in Logan county.

In 1876, at Rockport, Missouri, culminated the romance of Thomas Acton and Letitia Patience - in their marriage and the joining of their lives "till death us do part." Sons and daughters came to them until eleven of them were gathered in the home, and concerning these children record is here offered: Gertrude is the wife of Albert H. Arneal, a farmer of Rawlins county, Kansas; George is a farmer by occupation ; Winnie is the wife of D. D. Hannah, a hardware salesman, Hving at Hiawatha, Kansas ; Thomas is farming in Gage county; Mabel is the wife of E. C. Lasher, engaged in the nursery business at Hutchins, Kansas ; John remains on the farm with his father; Arthur and Robert likewise are at home; Nellie is a teacher in the Wymore schools; Fred is attending school at Lincoln, Nebraska; and Frank is at home with his parents. The mother of this interesting family of children was born in Canada in the year 1859.

around which so many additional acres have since been gathered. He is the owner of five hundred and forty acres of well improved land, the greater share of which is in a state of intensive cultivation. The home farm is improved with a commodious and modern house and the numerous other buildings which make a progressive farmer's place look like a small village.

Mr. Acton and his family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is independent in politics, preferring that the public official should be the man best fitted for the office, irrespective of party affiliations.

CYRUS P. JONES, who rents from his father's estate a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, the southwest quarter of Section 21, Highland township, is one of the able and popular exponents of farm industry in his native county, is a member of the Gage County Fair Association and has been specially successful and prominent in the raising of pure-bred and registered Poland-China swine, in which conection it may be noted that he is a valued member of the Poland-China Association of Nodaway county. From his farm he has exhibited fine specimens of Poland- China swine at the Gage county fairs and also at the state fair in the city of Lincoln, his last exhibit having been made in 1912 and he having received many premiums, including first, second, and third prizes on his exhibits. In later years he has not made such displays of his fine stock, owing to the exigent demands made upon him in the management of his farm, but he continues as one of the county's extensive shippers of hogs, many having been shipped for breeding purposes into different states of the union.

Mr. Jones was born on the pioneer homestead of his father in Highland township, and the date of his nativity was August 17, 1877. To his father, the late George H. Jones, a special memoir is dedicated on other pages, so that further review of the family history is not here demanded. Mr. Jones early began to aid in the work of the home farm and in the meanwhile profited by the advantages afiford- ed in the district schools, after which he attended the high school at Cortland. In that village he thereafter clerked for a time in his father's general-merchandise store, but the vigorous life of the farm had greater appeal to him and after having been employed one year at farm work he rented land and engaged in farming in an independent way, in the meanwhile maintaining for the first year bachelor's hall on the farm. He has always taken much interest in fine live stock and as a grower of pure-bred Poland-China swine he has used marked discrimination in selection of breeding stock, so that his success has been very pronounced in this interesting department of farm enterprise. He is a Republican in politics and he and his wife are members of the Congregational church, he having aided in the organization of the church of this denomination in his home precinct.

May 4, 1899, Mr. Jones wedded Miss Nettie Goodban, who was born in Highland township, June 23, 1875, a daughter of John S. Goodban, who is individually mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Jones was graduated in the Cortland high school and prior to her marriage was a teacher in a district school for one term. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have five children, all of whom remain at the parental homes - Ethel V., Milford E., Clarence R., Neva F., and Howard L.

JOHN ACKERMAN, who holds secure status as one of the representative farmers of Logan township, with an attractive homestead in Section 9, was born near Lebanon, Missouri, October 3, 1854, and is a son of Harmon and Franka (Keiser) Ackerman, who came from Germany to America in the '40s and established their home in Missouri. In that state the father rented land and engaged in farming, but a few years later he removed with his family to Adams cpunty, Illinois, where he was similarly engaged at the time of the Civil war, in which he served one year as a member of an Illinois regiment of volunteer infantry. Of the five children of Harmon and Franka (Keiser) Ackerman the subject of this review is youngest of the three now living; Maggie is the wife of William Miller, a farmer near Sterling, Johnson county, Nebraska ; and Albert is a prosperous farmer in the same county. The devoted mother of these children died at Lebanon, Missouri, and the father later contracted a second marriage, of the children of which six are living. Harmon Ackerman was a sincere member of the Lutheran church, as was also each of his wives, and in politics he was aligned with the Republican party. Through his own ability and efforts he achieved independence and prosperity and he was the owner of a valuable farm of one hundred and twenty acres, in Livingston county, Illinois, at the time of his death, which occurred in 1914, when he was eighty-eight years, seven months and seventeen days of age. He reclaimed and improved his farm and was one of the venerable and honored citizens of Livingston county at the time when he passed from the stage of life's mortal endeavors. He was a son of Frank Ackerman, who passed his entire life in Germany.

John Ackerman was reared on the home farm of his father and in his youth his educational advantages were very limited. He did not, in fact, attend school until he had attained to the age of nineteen years, but in the great school of experience he has largely overcome the handicap of earlier years. Mr. Ackerman continued his association with farm enterprise in Illinois until 1877, when he came to Gage county, Nebraska, and purchased sixty-six acres of land. On this pioneer farm he erected a house and barn of modest type and finally he sold the property, for five hundred dollars. For the ensuing five years he farmed on land which he rented from Claus Zimmerman, and he then purchased, at eight dollars an acre, a tract of eighty acres in Logan township, this property being still owned by him. He purchased his present home place, for a consideration of thirty-two hundred dollars, and since that time he has expended fully seven thousand dollars in improvements of a permanent order.

ter of Mena Schuster, she having been eight years old when the family came to the United States and settled in Adams county, Illinois. Concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman the following brief record is entered: Frances is the wife of John Buhr, of Logan township ; Mena is identified with farm activities on his father's property ; Grace is the wife of Bruno J. Buhr, of Hooker township; Harmon is a resident of Hanover township; and Hannah and Geska remain at the pai-ental home. Mr. Ackerman is an independent Republican in politics and he and his wife are active communicants of the Hanover Lutheran church.

FLOYD G. PLUCKNETT. - It is specially pleasing to accord in this volume recognition to Mr. Plucknett, for he is a native of Gage county and a scion of one of its honored and influential pioneer families, besides having distinct precedence as one of the progressive and substantial exponents of farm industry in Grant township, where he is the owner of a finely improved farm of one hundred' and eighty-five acres, in Sections 28 and 29. It was on this farm that he was born, and the date of his nativity was April 6, 1891. He is a son of George A. and Olivia (Benjamin) Plucknett and a grandson of the late William Plucknett, who was a native of England and who became a resident of Gage county, Nebraska Territory, in 1861: here he accumulated and developed one of the largest and most valuable landed estates of the county and was an honored citizen who did much to further the civic and industrial progress and upbuilding of this favored section of the state. The subject of this review was but one year old at the time when his father was killed by accident, and his mother later became the wife of Michael Seidles, their home being now at Superior, Nuckolls county. Of the two children of the first marriage the one surviving is he whose name initiates this review, the other child, a daughter, having died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Seidles became the parents of four children, of whom three are living.

Floyd G. Plucknett was about six years old at the time of his mother's second marriage and he was reared principally on the farm of his stepfather, in Nuckolls countq, his early educational advantages having been those of the public schools and he having continued to assist his stepfather in the work and management of the farm in Nuckolls county until he had attained to the age of twenty years. For one year thereafter he farmed independently on land which he rented in Nuckolls county and upon reaching his legal majority he came into his heritage, in his present farm, an integral part of the original landed estate of his paternal grandfather. He forthwith assumed control with marked energy and progressiveness and his previous experience admirably fortified him for successful farm enterprise. In 1911 he improved his farm by the erection of his modern house, and in the following year he erected a large barn, the place being now one of the model farms of Grant township and being the stage of his vigorous and successful activities as an agriculturist and stock-grower, in which latter department he is giving special attention to the raising of pure-bred Poland-China swine. Returning to his native county in 1910, Mr. Plucknett is well upholding the prestige of a family name that has been signally prominent and honored in the annals of Gage county history. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party and he and his wife hold the faith of the Protestant Episcopal church, in which faith he was reared.

December 25, 1910, recorded the marriage of Mr. Plucknett to Miss Julia Rosling, who was born and reared in Nuckolls county, and who is a daughter of the late WiUiam T. and Ada (Sage) Rosling. By this marriage one child was born, on January 23, 1918. Mr. and Mrs. Plucknett have an adopted daughter, Gra:e M., who completes the immediate family circle in the attractive and hospitable home. Mr. Plucknett takes loyal interest in community affairs and in the general well-being of his native county. While he has no ambition for public ofifice he consented to accept the position of road overseer, of which ofifice he is the incumbent at the time of this writing.

DICK OLTMANS has won for himself distinct independence and prosperity since coming to Gage county, more than thirty years ago, and he is now well estabhshed as one of the substantial agriculturists and stock-growers of lyOgan township, where he is the owner of an excellently improved farm estate of four hundred and eighty acres, his homestead being in Section 16.

Mr. Oltmans was born in the eastern part of Germany, July 27, 1867, and is a son of Diedrick and Elizabeth (Johnson) Oltmans, who, now venerable in years, still maintain their home in their native land, though it has on two occasions been their privilege and pleasure to visit the home of their son Dick since he established his residence in Gage county. Of their ten children only four are living, Heye, eldest of the number, remaining in Germany; Dick, of this review, being the next younger; Maggie being the wife of John HefHing, a farmer in Hanover township, this county; and Anton, remaining in Germany. The parents have been lifelong members of the Lutheran church. The subject of this review bears the full name of his grandfather, Dick Oltmans, who came from Germany to America many years ago and who passed the closing years of his life in the state of Illinois.

Dick Oltmans was in his youth afforded the advantages of the schools of his fatherland and was a vigorous lad of fourteen years when he came to the United States. In Logan county, Illinois, he found employment at farm work, and (or some time he received compensation of only twenty-five cents a day. In that state he continued to be employed by the month as a farm hand until he came to Nebraska and established his home in Gage county, in 1886. He here purchased a team and for the first season used the same in breaking land for others. The succeeding season found him engaged in independent farming on rented land, though he continued to -work for others at intervals, in breaking land, in order to provide for his needs. In 1895 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres and by strenuous industry and good management he eventually paid for this property. He next bought and paid for an additional tract, of eighty acres, and with increasing prosperity he continued to make judicious investments in excellent farm land in Logan township until he now has a valuable farm estate of four hundred and eighty acres, as previously noted. He has erected good buildings on his homestead and is one of the energetic and successful farmers of the county.

In 1892 Mr. Oltmans married Miss Lena Freriths, daughter-^ of L. W. Frerichs, of whom individual mention is made on other pages, and of this union have been bom the following named children: Diedrick is married and is engaged in farming near the village of Pickrell; Lambert is farming near Adams, this county; Harmon is identified with farm enterprise near Pickrell; Marie is the wife of George Meints, of Hooker township; and Elizabeth, Ella, Wilhelm, Heye, Annie, and Anton remain at the parental home.

In politics Mr. Oltmans is a Democrat and he has served in various minor offices of local order. He and his wife are active communicants of the Hanover Lutheran church.

ISAAC R. CLAYTON. - The subject of this record is one of those who have reached the goal after years of toil, labor and anxiety and all the attendant incidents of a busy life and have now retired from active service.

Isaac Randolph Clayton is a native of Illinois, born at Trivoli, Peoria county, August 10, 1844. His parents were Ezekiel and Phoebe (Randolph) Clayton, the former of whom was bom in New York city and the latter in Plainfield, New Jersey. In 1839 they drove overland with a team of horses and settled in Peoria county, Illinois. In 1868 they moved to Canton, Illinois, where they both passed away.

Young Clayton was reared on a fanm in what was then a pioneer district in Illinois. He acquired a limited education in the district schools and early in life began to assist in the operation of the home farm. In February 1865, he enlisted in Company A, One Hundred and Fifty-first Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, with which he served one year in defense of the Union in the Civil war. Thereafter he was engaged in agricultural pursuits in Peoria and Stark counties, Illinois, until 1883, when he came to Gage county, Nebraska, and bought one hundred and sixty acres in Section 26 Sicily township. Not a furrow had been turned nor a stick in the way of improvement. He arrived in the month of March and in five days had erected a house and moved into it. He assiduously set about improving and cultivating this tract and as the years passed he prospered. In 1912 he retired to Wymore, - the owner of two hundred and forty acres of valuable land.

October 10, 1866, Mr. Clayton married Miss Emma Littell, who was born in New York city, November 28, 1845, a daughter of Isaac F. and Addie (Gibson) Littell, natives of New Jersey and New York respectively. They became early settlers of Illinois where both passed away.

Following is a brief record concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Clayton: Abbie, is the wife of W. I. Reed, a farmer of Sicily township; Hattie is. the wife of Frank E. James, of Greeley, Colorado; Freeman F. is operating the old farm ; Phoebe is the wife of L. E. Kelley, an implement dealer at Wymore, Albert v/as killed in a runaway accident, and his widow, who was Miss Alice Stevenson, resides in Lincoln ; she has two daughters, - May is superintendent of schools at Mullen. Nebraska and Mabel is principal of schools at Alliance, Nebraska; Charles, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Clayton was killed by lightning, leaving a widow, who resides in Blue Springs with her daughter, the latter having been only ten days old when her father was killed. Mr. and Mrs. Clayton have twenty-five grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren.

In 1911 the people of Gage county, recognizing his ability, elected Mr. Clayton to represent them in the lower house of the state legislature. He served on the soldiers'-relief, finance and other committees. He strongly advocated in speech and ballot those measures he thought were for the good of the people and as firmly opposed those measures he considered wrong. He took a firm stand in opposition to the bill permitting Sunday baseball and has never regretted any vote that he has cast. While living on his farm he served fourteen years on the school board, ten years as justice of the peace, two years as county supervisor, and one term as township treasurer. Mr. Clayton is a firm believer in the doctrines of the Baptist church, of which he and his wife are members and in which he is serving as deacon. A stalwart champion of the cause of temperance, he has never taken a drink of alcoholic liquor nor played a game of cards. His sons and sons-ih-laws all have the same record concerning these vices. Neither he nor his wife inherited a penny, and the success which has come to them is due entirely to their own perseverance and industry. They met with severe reverses during their early married life while living in Illinois and in Nebraska, and in the latter state they endured the hardships and privations incident to a pioneer country, but they met all obstacles unflinchingly-, and, with that determination and ambition which assure success, theirs has been a good fight, crowned with victory. They occupy a beautiful home in Wymore, surrounded with all the necessities and many of the luxuries of life. Their happiest hours are when, once a year, a reunion of the family is held.

Mr. Clayton wears the little bronze button signifying membership in the Grand Army Republic and he maintains pleasant relations with his old army comrades by membership in Coleman Post, No. 115, of Wymore. Thus we offer the life record of one who has measured up to the highest standard of manhood, and it would not be possible to find a more respected citizen then he or a more highly esteemed family than his.

GEORGE F. BURGER. - In Section 19, Clatonia township, George Frederick Burger is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of land, besides which he has a landed estate of four hundred and eighty acres in Clay county, Kansas, the latter property being improved with two distinct groups of farm buildings and being under the direct management of his sons, John A. and Carl S. Relative to the family history adequate record is given in the sketch of George S. Burger, on other pages of this work, and representatives of the name have played a worthy part in the social and industrial development of Gage county, where the family home was established in the pioneer days.

George F. Burger was born in Bavaria, Germany, April 3, 1863, a son of John L,. and Margaret M. (Rueter) Burger, and he was two years old at the time of the family immigration to America. He was reared and educated in the state of Illinois and was fourteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to Gage county, Nebraska. He continued to assist in the work of the home farm until his marriage, in 1887, and thereafter he farmed on land rented from his father until 1890, when he purchased a farrn of one hundred and twenty acres near his present homestead in Clatonia township, his father having given him one hundred and twenty acres and he having purchased an additional one hundred and twenty acres. When he located on his present home farm the same had buildings representing an investment of about five hundred dollars, and since that time he has shown his progressiveness by making the best of permanent improvements, including the erection, in 1901, of a commodious and modern house of nine rooms, he having expended fully five thousand dollars in buildings and other improvements on the place, besides having shown equal progressiveness in the improving and developing of his farm property in Kansas, where he made his first investment in 1907. Mr. Burger has been recognized as a specially energetic and enterprising farmer and has given particular attention to' the raising of high-grade swine, of which he ships an average of a carload each year.

Mr. Burger is independent in politics, and he and his wife are communicants of the Lutheran church. He is one of those vigorous men who have made full use of the advantages offered in connection with the development of the natural resources of Gage county, and is one of the substantial citizens of the county. April 15, 1887, Mr. Burger wedded Miss Minnie Ulrich, who was born in Illinois, January 20, 1867, a daughter of Charles Ulrich, who became a pioneer of Gage county, other pages of this work giving interesting information concerning the Ulrich family. Of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Burger the eldest is Margaret, who is the wife of John Rehms, of Clatonia township; John A. and Carl S. have charge of their father's extensive farm property in Kansas, as previously noted, and they have an efficient coadjutor in the person of their younger brother Walter; Anna is the wife of August Hinke, of Saline county; and Herman and Edward remain at the parental home.

IRA D. BONEBRIGHT, who conducts a well equipped general merchandise store in the village of Cortland and is one of the representative merchants and citizens of this thriving town, was born in Putnam county, Missouri, January 17, 1878, a son of Joseph and Barbara (Stoneking) Bonebright. He was the fourth in a family of twelve children, the firstborn, Nevada, having died in childhood; John S. is a prosperous contractor and builder at Cortland; Henry C. served as a soldier in the Spanish- American war; Lillie is the wife of Bert J. Deming, of Cortland; Etta resides at Wichita, Kansas; Mattie resides in the city of Des Moines, Iowa; Zuna is the wife of Amos Larson, of Salt Lake City; William A. resides in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; and Anna, Garfield, and Charles are deceased.

Joseph Bonebright, who was born July 11, 1848, came with his family from Missouri to Gage county in 1883, and he established a draying business at Cortland. He was a substantial and progressive citizen, a Republican in politics, and here served in the office of constable. He assisted in the construction ot the line of railroad through the village. He and his wife are now residents of Wichita, Kansas. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania and became pioneer settlers in Putnam county, Missouri, where they continued to reside until their death, the father having been John Bonebright and the family name of the mother having been Roberts. The mother of the subject of this review was bom at Macomb, McDonough county, Illinois, January 1, 1851.

Ira D. Bonebright was a lad of about five years at the time when the family home was established at Cortland, and here he was afforded the advantages of the public schools. From 1896 to 1911 he was associated with his father in the draying business and he then entered into partnership with John Bunte, with whom he has since been successfully engaged in the general merchandise business, each department of their well appointed establishment being well stocked and the trade of the firm being of substantial and representative order. In addition to his activities in this field of enterprise Mr. Bonebright is a stockholder in the Farmers' Eumber Company of Cortland and the Cortland Telephone Company. Liberal and loyal as a citizen, he is a supporter of the cause of the Republican party, he and his wife being members of the Methodist Episcopal church and he being affiliated with the Masonic and Eastern Star fraternities.

October 30, 1902, recorded the marriage of Mr. Bonebright to Miss Ida H. Bunte, who was born at Davis, Stephenson county, Illinois, a daughter of Henry and Minnie (Wendt) Bunte, who came to Gage county about 1887, Mr. Bunte having thereafter been a principal in the mercantile firm of Smith & Company, at Cortland, for twenty years : his wife is deceased and he now resides in the home of his son John, who is associated with Mr. Bonebright in business, as previously noted, the firm name being Bonebright & Bunte. Mr. and Mrs. Bonebright have four children - John A., Norris E., Marvin A., and Carl P.

GEORGE FOLKERTS is one of a very appreciable contingent of Gage county citizens who claim the fair district of Ost Friesland, province of Hanover, Germany, as the place of their nativity, he having there been born on the 18th day of April, 1874, a son of Cobus and Kate Folkerts, who there passed their entire lives. Mr. Folkerts was reared and educated in his native land and was seventeen years of age when he came to the United States and found employment at farm work, in Champaign county, Illinois, as did he later in Kossuth county, Iowa. From the Hawkej'e state he came to Gage county, Nebraska, in 1895, and after having been for some time employed as a farm hand he engaged in independent farm enterprise on rented land. After the lapse of three years he purchased his present farm, of one hundred and sixty acres, in Section 26, Logan township, and he showed his energy and progressiveness by putting the buildings on the place into good order, the same having been permitted to become somewhat dilapidated. In addition to using this now well improved property in connection with his well ordered agricultural and live-stock enterprise Mr. Folkerts also uses a half section of land, in Logan township, which he holds under Scully lease. He owns a modern threshing outfit and operates the machine in the threshing of his own grain and that of neighboring farmers who assist him at threshing time. The enterprising spirit and good judgment of Mr. Folkerts were shown distinctly in his providing of this independent threshing machine, as he never has to wait for service on the part of another and is thus able to thresh his grain at the most opportune time and to get the full returns from the crop.

On September 19, 1898, was recorded the marriage of Mr. Folkerts to Miss Annie Fossler, a native of Nemaha county, this state, and a daughter of John Fossler, of whom mention is made on other pages. The four children of this union are Katie, John, Cobus, and Herman.

Not only in his personal affairs is Mr. Folkerts alert and progressive, but also in his attitude as a citizen, and he gives his political support to the Democratic party. He commands unqualified esteem and has served as justice of the peace, as has he also as school director of his district. His substantial sue- cess represents the direct results of his own well directed endeavors and he is one of the representative farmers and citizens of Loga,n township.

EDWARD G. CROOK, whose finely managed homestead farm is situated in Section 23, Filley township, was born in Franklin county, Virginia, on the 5th of February, 1871, and is a son of Robert T. and Elizabeth (Fisher) Crook, both likewise natives of the historic Old Dominion state. The mother died in Kansas, at the age of sixty-three years, and the father maintains his home in Gove county, that state, he having celebrated in 1918 the seventy-second anniversary of his birth. The parents came to Nebraska in 1889 and continued their residence in Gage county until 1894, and the following two years they passed at Paola, Kansas, after which they returned to Gage county. In 1908 Robert T. Crook established his residence in Gove county, Kansas, where he is the owner of an excellent farm and where he is now living virtually retired. His father, Edwin Crook, a prosperous planter in Virginia, attained to the patriarchal age of ninety-six years. Mr. Crook has never wavered in his allegiance to the Democratic party and is an earnest member of the Dunkard church, as was also his wife. Of their nine children all are living except one.

Edward G. Crook acquired his youthful education in the public schools of Virginia and was a youth of eighteen years when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Nebraska. Upon attaining to his legal majority he found employment at farm work, by the month, and he was thus engaged for a period of five years. For seven years thereafter he farmed on rented land in Gage county and he then purchased a portion of his present farm estate, of four hundred and eighty acres, which he has developed into one of the fine farm properties of Filley township and upon which he has erected various buildings of model order.

established his residence in Gage county in 1883 and whose death here occurred in 1900, he having become one of the prosperous farmers of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Crook have five children, all of whom remain at the parental home - George, Roy, Edward, Mabel, and Ever.

Mr. Crook is a Democrat in politics, is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America, and his wife is a member of the Christian church. He has through his own efforts and ability achieved substantial success, as he had naught of financial reinforcement when he initiated his independent career and assumed an appreciable indebtedness when he made the purchase of his original farm of one hundred and sixty acres, the nucleus of his present fine landed estate. As an agriculturist and stock-grower he employs progressive ideas and policies and in the live-stock department of his farm enterprise he gives special attention to the raising of Poland-China swine of the best type.

LEONARD GRIESER is a representative of that fine Gemian element of citizenship that has contributed much to the social and material development and progress of Gage county and is one of the substantial farmers of Highland township, his estate comprising five hundred and fifty acres and his home place being in Section 1 1, besides which he is the owner of a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Lancaster county.

Mr. Grieser was born in the Kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, October 28, 1849, a son of Frederick and Mary (Kline) Grieser, of whose four children he is the eldest, the second being Mrs. Margaret Richards, of Christian county, Illinois, where also resides the younger sister, Mrs. Catherine Neihard, John, the youngest of the children, having died in childhood. Frederick Grieser was bom November 20, 1823, and he was a resident of Cortland, Gage county, at the time of his death, February 26, 1904. In 1852 he immigrated with his family to the United States and established his home in Franklin county, Missouri, where he became a prosperous farmer and where he continued his residence until 18S4, when he came to Gage county, Nebraslta, where he Hved practically retired until his death, their son Leonard, of this review, having leased one acre of ground from his farm as a home for his parents, and the site of their house being now marked by a fine evergreen tree, which constitutes a gracious memorial to them. Mrs. Grieser was born March 5, 1818, and preceded her husband to eternal rest by only a few months, her death having occurred in November, 1903 : both were earnest communicants of the Lutheran church and exemplified their Christian faith in their 'daily lives.

Leonard Grieser was not yet three years old at the time of the family immigration to America and he was reared to manhood on the old homestead farm in Missouri, his educational advantages having been those of the common schools of the locality and period. He was but twelve years old at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war but before the close of the great conflict he had opportunity of manifesting his youthful loyalty to the Union, for in November, 1864,. at Pacific, Missouri, he enlisted in Company H, Fifty-fourth Missouri Volunteer Infantry, with which he participated in a number of skirmishes and in suppressing the encroachments of the historic "bushwhackers" who infested Missouri. Mr. Grieser was one of the youngest soldiers in his company, and on one occasion while he was on picket duty an officer asked him if he could shoot. The youth replied by suggesting that the officer move to a point two hundred yards distant and he would show him his adeptness. The challenge was not accepted, for the officer realized that, like the average Missourian of the day, the young soldier was certain to be a good marksman. After the close of the war Mr. Grieser served a few months as locomotive fireman on the line of the Illinois Central Railroad, and he recalls that his duties were arduous, as wood was still used as fuel in the engines. He did not long deny allegiance to farm industry, however, and from 1868 until 1877 he was engaged in farming in Christian county, Illinois. In the latter year he numbered himself among the pioneers of Gage county, Nebraska, his original farm, a part of his present landed estate in Highland township, having comprised one hundred and sixty acres and the locality having been practically an untrammeled prairie, with no trees and with no settlement on the site of the present thriving village of Cortland, the town site of which is partially on the farm of Mr. Grieser, who was prominently identified with the founding of the village, worked zealously to compass this end and contributed ten acres as a part of the site of the embryonic village. Industry and good management have brought to him large and well earned prosperity, and he did his full share in furthering the civic and industrial development of Highland township, endured the trials and responsibilities of pioneer life and has continued as one of the substantial agriculturists and stock-growers of the county, besides which he has for many years given special attention to the drilling of wells, with a record of having drilled a greater number than any other one man in Nebraska. Though he has now retired from active labor in connection with farm operations he still continues his enterprise as a well driller, and has been identified with the same for fully thirty-five years.

In leaving Illinois for the west Mr. Grieser and his wife set forth to establish a home in Texas, and they made the long overland journey with a team and a covered wagon. En route they passed through Gage county and its judicial center, the town of Beatrice, being much impressed with the attractions and advantages of this section of Nebraska. Upon their arrival in Texas they were discouraged with the outlook and reverted with appreciation to the conditions in Gage county, with the result that they soon started forth with their team and wagon with Gage county as their destination, their entire journeying having covered a period of six months and their arrival in Gage county on the return trip having occurred in March. Mr. Grieser recalls many interesting incidents relative to the long and weary overland journey made under primitive frontier conditions. Many nights while en route he sat up with his gun at hand, to guard his horses from attack by wolves, especially in Indian Territory. His first eighty acres of land in Gage county was purchased from the railroad company, at the rate of six dollars an acre, and of the great changes that have since been wrought an idea is conveyed in the fact that in later years he has paid as much as one hundred and thirty-seven and one-half dollars an acre for some of the land now owned by him in Highlana township. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party, he has served as clerk and assessor of Highland township and was for twentyfive years a member of the school board of District No. .55. At Cortland he is affiliated with the lodge of Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, in which he has passed the various official chairs, and in the city of Beatrice he is affiliated with Rawlings Post, No. 36, Grand Army of the Republic.

October 28, 1874, recorded the marriage of Mr. Grieser to Miss Kate Kerr, who has proved his devoted companion and helpmeet during the intervening period of nearly half a century. Mrs. Grieser was born in Christian county, Illinois, April 7, 1859, her parents, John and Elizabeth (Hopper) Kerr, natives of Kentucky, having been pioneers of Illinois, where they remained until their death, Mrs. Greiser being the younger of their two children and the elder, Cassius, having been a resident of Pana, Illinois, at the time of his death. Mr. and Mrs. Grieser have a fine family of six sons : Albert is one of the successful farmers of Highland township, where he owns eighty acres in Section 24; Oscar likewise is a progressive farmer of the same township, as are also Ernest and Harry, the former of whom has active charge of the old home farm ; Ralph is identified with farm enterprise in Lancaster county; and Frank is similarly engaged in Highland township. All of the sons received good educational advantages and all but two are farming land owned by their father.

Mr. Grieser is a substantial stockholder of the Bank of Cortland, of which he is vicepresident and in the same village he is a stockholder of the Farmers Elevator & Grain Company. In a reminiscent way it may be stated that Mr. Grieser's first house on his Gage county farm was a little frame building only ten by fourteen feet in dimensions, and for some time no floor was provided except the earth. In the passing years he has made excellent improvements on all of his farms and has been progressive and energetic in his activities as an agriculturist and stock-grower. In the early days he hauled his farm produce to Firth, Lancaster county, a distance of eight miles, and at one time he had no available money, so that he was compelled tO' become indebted to the owner of one of the mercantile establishments at Firth in the sum of sixteen dollars, which covered the purchase of food supplies that lasted the family during an entire summer, within which only twenty-five cents' worth of sugar was used in the home. Meat for the larder was supplied principally by the shooting of prairie chickens, which were plentiful along the roads and in the fields. Mr. Grieser frequently staked out his cows on the site of the present village of Cortland and at daylight he often stood with gun in hand before his pioneer house to protect the cows and calves from attack by wolves. He and his wife, in short, lived up to the full tension of pioneer life and it has been theirs to receive in later years gracious rewards for their earnest and honorable labors in the past.

LEWIS H. LAFLIN. - There are few men living in our midst to-day who were on Gage county earlier than was Lewis H. Laflin. He has remained for sixty-one years on the farm upon which he now resides, in Johnson county. He came to this part of the country in May, 1857, - a full decade before Nebraska was admitted to statehood. These were the days when the Indian and the buffalo was still supreme upon the prairies, and when few white men dared to push the frontier line farther west.

came to this county in 1857. She was the widow of Parley Laflin, who was bom near Rochester, New York, in 1799. Parley Laflin followed contracting and the lumber and mill business in the state of New York for many years. At one time he was employed on the construction of the old Erie canal. Finally he removed with his family to Illinois, and as a pioneer of that state he built his log cabin in the clearing made for the purpose, after which he turned his attention to tilling the soil. Mr. Laflin bought and sold cattle on a large, scale. He frequently walked the distance of one hundred and fifty miles from his home in Rock Island county, Illinois, to Chicago, driving his cattle ahead of him to the market. This was before Chicago had any stock yards to accommodate the incoming cattle. Mr. Laflin's death occurred in 1849. He and his devoted wife became the parents of four children, - Catherine E., George P., Lewis H., and Joseph K. George P. was a resident of Oklahoma at the time of his death, in 1905.

In 1857, several years after her husband's death, Mrs. Laflin came with her children to Nebraska Territory. Here she entered a preemption claim, and the same now lies within the borders of Johnson county. She also owned land in Gage county, and the same is now a portion of the city of Beatrice, known as Croppey's Addition. For nearly twenty years this plucky woman labored to win her livelihood from the wild and unbroken prairies, and year by year she brought more of the land to productiveness. Her death occurred ' in 1886, in Johnson county.

Lewis H. Laflin was born in Rock Island county, Illinois, August 21, 1842. He received the educational advantages the locality and period afforded, and these were meagre, as there were very few schools established. He was fifteen years old upon his arrival in Nebraska and was just the right age to help his brave and determined mother. In 1860 he was freighting across the plains with an ox team, his route being from Brownville, Nebraska, to Julesburg, Colorado. He was interrupted in his work by his responding to the call of patriotism when the Civil war menaced the integrity of the nation. In 1862 he enliste-J in Company I, First Nebraska Volunteers, under Colonel Robert R. Livingston. This C'^mpany was engaged in a number of battles. In August, 1864, Mr. Laflin was captured by the Confederate General Shelby, at Grand Prairie, Arkansas. He was held as a prisoner of war for five months, and then, with other Union soldiers, was exchanged. Thereafter he continued in his country's service until the close of the war. He was honorably discharged. October 24, 1865, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, after having served three years and eighteen days.. After the surrender of Generals Lee and Johnston, Mr. Laflin was in a number of skirmishes with the Indians. He returned to his home in Johnson county, where he farmed, besides which he continued his work of freighting across the plains. Oxen were used in the summer work and horses in the winter.

November 1, 1866, Mr. Laflin married Miss America K. Scott, who was born August 10, 1846 in Anderson county, Kentucky. Her parents were Charles and Elizabeth Jane Scott, and they were the parents of six othei children, - 'John R, and James G. are deceased; Elmer H., resides at Bruce, Wisconsin ; Catherine E., the wife of E. S. Carnes, is deceased; Margaret E. is deceased; and Elizabeth is the wife of Riley Antle, of Nebraska City, Nebraska. Mrs. Laflin spent many happy years with her husband and family, devoting all of her time to their care and comfort. Her death occurred on the 5th day of July, 1905. She was the mother of ten children, five of whom survive her: Edith is the wife of D. M. Lovett, of Johnson county; Catherine remains at home with her father ; Guy F. resides in Johnson county ; Clay lives in Gage county , and E. B., lives at Crab Orchard, Johnson county.

Lewis H. Laflin bore his full share of the hardships and labors incidental to pioneer life in southeastern Nebraska and pressed steadily forward toward the goal of worthy prosperity. To the original farm he added gradually, as his resources and opportunities justified, and he is to-day the owner of a valuable landed

Mr. Laflin has at all times shown himself loyal and public-spirited as a citizen and he gives his allegiance to the Republican party. He has been influential in community affairs, served sij? years as a member of the official administrative board of Johnson county, and in 1873 he was elected representative of his constitutency in the lower house of the Nebraska legislature, in which he made a characteristically excellent record of service. He is affiliated with Lodge No. 175, Ancient Free & Accepted Masons, at Filley, and he has been for years an earnest and faithful member of the Baptist church.

' JOHN T. DORN has effectively proved his energy and resourcefulness in connection with farm industry in Gage county and is the owner of a well improved farm of two hundred and forty acres, in Section 13, Logan township. Mr. Dom was bom in Adams county, Illinois, September 16, 1864, and is a son of Thomas H. and Ock Johanna (Heren) Dom, both natives of Friesland, province of Hanover, Germany, where their marriage was solemnized. Upon coming to America the parents remained for a time in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana, and they then removed to Illinois, where the father engaged in farm enterprise and threshing for a number of years. For a time thereafter he conducted a small general store in a rural district and also devoted his attention to the reclaiming of a farm in Brown county, Illinois. He eventually became the owner of a farm of one hundred and twenty acres in the county mentioned, and in 1882 he came to Nebraska and purchased two hundred and forty acres of land in Gage county, the only improvements on the place having been a little log house and a straw barn. He developed the farm and his success was such that he and his devoted wife passed the closing years of their lives in well earned peace and prosperity. Of their ten children six are living: Herman is a resident of Franklin county, this state; John T., of this review, was the next in order of birth; Thomas is a farmer in Logan township. Gage county ; Jerusha is the wife of William Frerichs, of Franklin county; George is engaged in farm enterprise in Filley township; Henry is a farmer in Franklin county. The parents were zealous members of the Lutheran church and the father was a Republican in his political adherency.

John T. Dorn acquired his early education in the public schools of Illinois and Nebraska and has been from his youth continuously associated with farm industry. For three years he farmed on land which he rented near Sterling, Johnson county, and he next rented a farm owned by Glaus Zimmerman, in Logan township. Gage county. With but limited capital he showed his self-reliance by buying, largely on credit, a farm of one hundred and sixty acres,, of Julius Barnard, and after seeing his way clear toward the goal of independence he added to his farm property by pui-chasing of Charles Hughes a tract of eighty acres. He has made excellent improvements on his farm, including the erection of a modern house, bam and other buildings, and he has shown marked discrimination in the directing of the various departments of his farm enterprise. He raises good grades of cattle and swine and in the season of 1917 he devoted two hundred acres of his land to corn. His political support is given to the Republican party and he and his wife are active communicants of the Hanover Lutheran church.

In the year 1888 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Dom to Miss Tena Agena, who was bom in the state of Illinois and who is a daughter of Gade and Margaret (Ackerman) Agena, natives of Germany. Mr. Agena was a child of nine years when he accompanied his parents on their immigration to America and he was reared and educated in Illinois. His wife was five years old when her parents came to the United States. In 1876 Mr. Agena came to Nebraska and numbered himself among the pioneers of Gage county, where he rented a small farm the first year. Later he removed to Sterling, Johnson county, where he passed the remainder of his life. Mr. and

Mrs. Dorn have eight children : Hanna is the wife of Ufka Harms, of Filley township ; Margaret is the wife of Jerry Wallman,- of Filley township; Thomas, who married Miss Etta Heits, is a farmer in Logan township ; and Gade J., Lena, Frances Emma, Grace Lottie, and John remain at the parental home.

JOHN L. BURGER. - This venerable and honored pioneer citizen is now living virtually retired on the old homestead farm which has been his place of abode for forty years and which is one of the fine farm properties of Clatonia township. He reclaimed his land from the virgin prairie brought to bear dauntless energy and determination and in furthering his own advancement and prosperity he contributed his full share to the social and material development and upbuilding of the county. A sterling citizen who can look back upon many years of earnest and productive industry, he is specially entitled to recognition in this history.

John L. Burger was born in the Kingdom of Bavaria, Germany, on the 24th of September, 1836, was reared and educated in his native land, where his marriage was solemnized and where was born the first of his five children.

In 1865 Mr. Burger immigrated with his family to the United States and for the ensuing twelve years he was engaged in farming in the state of Illinois. In 1877 he came with his family to Gage county, Nebraska, where, at the rate of ten dollars an acre, he purchased the farm now owned and operated by his son Leonard. No improvements had been made on the place and he erected as the family domicile a frame house of one story, twenty^ six feet square. He broke the prairie soil and with the successive years made each count in achievement and increasing prosperity. He made good improvements of a permanent order, including the erection of the present commodious house in which he remains with his son Leonard and the latter's family, and he had the satisfaction of reclaiming and developing one of the valuable farm properties of Clatonia township. In 1897 he abated his more strenuous activities and in the gracious evening of a long and worthy life he is living virtually retired on his old homestead place. He assisted in the organization of the German Lutheran church at Clatonia, and is still one of the revered and active communicants of the same, his wife likewise having been zealous in church work.

In Bavaria, Germany, was solemnized the marriage of Mr Burger to Miss Barbara Reuter, who was there born on the 24th ot October, 1837, and their devoted companionship was sundered only when the loved wife and mother passed to eternal rest, her death having occurred September 8, 1907. Of the five children the eldest is Frederick, who is one of the substantial farmers of Clatonia township and who is the only one of the children born prior to the family immigration to the United States; George S. is individually mentioned on other pages of this volume; John and Leonard are prosperous farmers of Clatonia township; and Margaret is the wife of H. Luetkemier, a retired farmer of that township.

WESLEY D. STEINMEYER. - One of the progressive farmers of the younger generation in his native county, Mr. Steinmeyer is giving his attention most vigorously to the operation of a farm of one hundred acres, in Grant township, and of the tract he rents eighty acres from his father, Frederick Steinmeyer, who is an honored pioneer citizen of the county, and who is individually mentioned in this publication, so that further review of the family history is not demanded in this article.

On the old homestead farm of his father, one mile south of Clatonia and in the township of the same name, Wesley D. Steinmeyer was born November 19, 1889, and after having profited by the advantages of the district schools he furthered his intellectual discipline by attending the high school in the village of Clatonia. He has from his boyhood been associated with the farm industry of his father and after his marriage he rented from his father eighty acres in Section 3 Grant town- ship, besides which he utilizes an additional twenty acres which he rents from other persons. He keeps in conformity with the best modern and scientific policies in the various departments of farm enterprise and in this connection and as a loyal citizen he is fully upholding the prestige of a name that has been signally prominent and honored in the annals of Gage county history. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party and he and his wife hold membership in the German Methodist church.

October 2, 1912, recorded the marriage of Mr. Steinmeyer to Miss Mary Anna Oltmans, the fourth in order of birth of the seven children of Lubbo and Mary (Cieglowsky) Oltmans, who now reside in the state of Colorado. Mrs. Steinmeyer was born at Hartsburg, Illinois, and in 1900 accompanied her parents, who are nativc^s of Germany, on their removal to Nebraska, the family home being established on a farm in Lancaster county. Later Mr. Oltmans removed with his family to Wallace, Lincoln county, and in 1906 the family established a home in Colorado, where the parents have since resided. Mr. and Mrs. Steinmeyer liave one child, Glenn Wesley, who was born June 20, 1917.

WILLIAM E. ROBBINS, who is now secretary of the Farmers' Grain, Lumber & Coal Company, which operates the large and well equipped grain elevator at Cortland and controls a substantial and important business in the handling of grain, coal, and lumber, is consistently to be designated as one of the most progressive exponents of agricultural and livestock enterprise in Gage county as well as one of the influential and public-spirited citizens of this favored section of the state, he having represented Gage county as a member of the Nebraska legislature. He is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land in Highland township, this fine estate comprising the west half of Section 27 and being eligibly situated fourteen miles north of Beatrice ; four and one-half miles southwest of Cortland; and six and one-half miles east of Glatonia.

Mr. Robbins was born near Hastings, Mills county, Iowa, November 18, 1869, and is a son of Henry C. and Mary J. (Barrett) Robbins, of whose four children he is the eldest; Joseph H., who now resides in Los Angeles, California, is the owner of the remaining half of Section 27, Highland township. Gage county, this entire section having been purchased by the honored father about thirty years ago; and Ralph E. and Frank A. still reside at Hastings, Iowa, as do also the venerable parents, who are numbered among the honored pioneer citizens of that section of the Hawkeye state.

Henry C. Robbins, a scion of a steriing Scotch family that sent representatives to America many generations ago, was bom at Nelsonville, Ohio, November 9, 1845, and he there became a prosperous miller and merchant. When the Civil war was precipitated he responded to President Lincoln's first call, by enlisting, in 1861, in Company A, Ninetysecond Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served during virtually the entire course of the war, took part in many important battles, besides innumerable engagements of minor order, and was with Sherman on the historic march from Atlanta to the sea. After the close of the war he numbered himself among the pioneers of Mills county, Iowa, and he achieved remarkable success in connection with his well ordered industrial and business activities in that state, where he accumulated a large amount of valuable land. His mature judgment led him also to make investments in land in Colorado and Nebraska, and at the present time he is still the owner of one thousand acres - in Iowa and Colorado. He has been one of the most progressive, liberal, and influential citizens of Mills county, Iowa, where he and his wife still reside on their fine old homestead farm, though he is now living virtually retired. Mrs. Robbins was born June 1, 1852, in Iowa, where her parents were very early settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Robbins are zealous members of the Presbyterian church and his political allegiance is given to the Republican party.

reared to adult age, and after completing the curriculum of the public schools he attended the Western Normal College at Shenandoah, Iowa, and also Tabor College, at Tabor, that state. In 1891 he came to Gage county, Nebraska, where, as previously intimated, his father had become the owner of the entire area of Section 27, Highland township. Locating on this land Mr. Robbins eventually received through inheritance the west half of the section, and it may consistently be said that this he has developed into one of the finest farm estates in this section of Nebraska. In 1908 he erected on his farm a thoroughly modern house and barU; the house being of attractive architectural design and having nine rooms, the same being equipped with a system which supplies hot and cold running water throughout the building and also with its independent gas-lighting plant. On the place Mr. Robliins has made many other noteworthy improvements of permanent order, including the setting out of both fruit and ornamental trees, and the farm is given over to scientifia agriculture of diversified order and to the raising of the best types of live stock, including short-horn cattle and Duroc-Jersey hogs. Mr. Robbins is a director of the Bank of Cortland, besides being one of the principal stockholders of the Farmers' Grain, Lumber & Coal Company, of Cortland, of which he is secretary.

On the 22d of December, 1891, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Robbins to Miss Nannie Norton, who was bom on a farm near Malvern, Mills county, Iowa, a daughter of Horace A. and Delilah (Tubbs) Norton, the former a native of the state of New York and the latter of Ohio. Mrs. Robbins and her twin brothel-, William, were born March 6, 1868, the fifth in order of birth in a family of twelve children, of whom eight are living. Mr. and Mrs. Robbins have reared two children - a son and daughter - William Jean, and Lena.

In a generic way Mr. Robbins is a staunch advocate of the principles of the Republican party, but in local afifairs, where no specific issues are involved, he is not constrained by strict partisan lines. He served three tenns as clerk of Highland township and in the sessions of 1903 and 1905 he represented Gage county in the state legislature. He proved an active and discriminating legislator, introduced and championed a number of important bills, one of which, as enacted, has proved of great benefit to the citizens of Gage county, through the reducing of the expense of administering the various departments of county and township government and thus bringing a reduction also in the general taxes. It was largely through his determined and able efforts that the legislature enacted what is known as the Ramsey bill, which compels the railroad companies traversing Nebraska to give on their lines sites for grain elevators wherever there is a legitimate demand for the same. Mr. and Mrs. Robbins are active members of the Congregational church of Highland and he is a member of its board of trustees. They are popular leaders in the best social activities of the community and delight in extending the hospitality of their beautiful home to their host of friends.

DANIEL NICEWONGER, a retired farmer and merchant residing in the village of Pickrell, is one of the substantial and honored citizens well worthy of special recognition in this history, besides which he has the distinction of being a member of one of the well known pioneer families of Gage county. He was bom in Ogle county, Illinois, October 27, 1866, a son of Jacob and Susannah (Mock) Nicewonger, and is the youngest in a family of five children ; Alexander was a resident of Nebraska at the time of his death and is survived by five children ; Mary is the widow of Zachariah French and remains in Ogle county, Illinois, she havmg become the mother of six children, of whom four are living; Jennie resides in the city of Omaha, is the wife of Theodore Wakenight and of her nine children seven are living; William H. and his family reside in Buffalo county, Nebraska, where he is a prosperous farmer, and he has two children.