Gage County, Nebraska - Chapter 31: People Who Have Done Their Part in Making Gage County, 1918 (part 9 of 29)

As Newton is on the direct road to Concord and Lexington, it is not surprising that Mr. Fuller's grandfather Aaron Fuller, and his two great-grandfathers, Elisha Fuller and Simeon Pond, are known to have been in the Revolutionary war, the first mentioned having fought in the battle of Bunker Hill. John N. Fuller was graduated in Hebron Academy and in 1857 in the historic Bowdoin College, which has given to the country so many illustrious sons. His schooling was gained by dint of hard work and perseverance, which is the common story of the country boy without influential friends but ambitious for an education. Prior to and during his college course he taught school with such success that immediately on graduation he received appointment to conduct teachers' institutes under the direction of the state superintendent of Maine. The following year he became principal of Lewiston Falls Academy, which position he later resigned to study law. In due time he was admitted to the bar, but only for a short period was he actively engaged in the practice of law. Upon coming west to Illinois, in the early '60s, he again engaged in educational work, as principal of schools, and county superintendent, and in 1867, he was professor of chemistry and natural sciences in Marshall College, at Henry, Illinois.

responded to President L,incoln's first call for volunteers, and he served in Company B Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry, until his discharge.

On December 25, 1867, John N. Fuller married Elizabeth Van Arsdale, who was born April 14, 1848, at Fairview, Illinois, but who was reared in Henry, Illinois. She is the daughter of Peter Beekman Van Arsdale, and his wife, Christianna Van Der Veer, of Fairview, Fulton county, Illinois, who came west in 1838, to make a home on the unbroken prairies of Illinois, - a two months' journey via fiat boat down the Ohio river. They were of New Jersey Dutch ancestry that can be traced back to the very earliest settlers of New York and New Jersey. On account of poor health Mr. Fuller was compelled to give up his profession of teaching, and in 1870 he came to Nebraska and settled in the new town of Beatrice. He was the second superintendent of the Beatrice schools and during his brief administration made a distinct and lasting impression on those who came under his instruction, or who were associated with him as teachers. A series of literary entertainments was inaugurated in which both schools and citizens took part and for which an admission fee of ten cents was charged. These entertainments formed a prominent part in the social life of the town, and the proceeds were sufficient for the purchase of a school bell, the first bell in Beatrice, and the first that many of the younger citizens had ever heard. For years it called the children, and children's children to school, - until it was cracked in celebrating some high-school victory.

The following year the family moved on a tract of land purchased, near the headwaters of Bear creek, thirteen miles from Beatrice, where they had their quota of pioneer experience and hardships. Mrs. Fuller, a small, gentle, little woman, shared in the pioneer experiences in Gage county, and she has many interesting reminiscenses concerning the earlier period of the county's history.

growing thing, breaking down the corn stalks with their weight, and leaving only round holes in the ground where there had been onions. They had laid eggs in the plowed ground and these eventually hatched in time to take the )'oung crop of the second season.

On June 26, 1875, the third year, a disastrous cyclone swept away all the buildings and left hardly one foundation stone upon another, the members of the family barely escaping with their lives. Fleeing to the. refuge of the cellar when the storm struck, Mrs. Fuller, with the youngest child in her arms, was instantly precipitated to the bottom of the cellar, clad only in night clothes, unprotected in a cold, pouring rain, and with home and possessions scattered like chaff by the winds. Mr. Fuller's older child fared not so well, being caught up with the house and nearly killed amidst the falling timbers. Lilia, with one fair braid of hair torn out, bleeding from an ugly three-cornered gash in her leg and stunned by a blow on the temple, was dropped unconscious on the brink of a deep-dug well from which the covering had been blown away. The father, bruised, skinned, with back injured and two ribs broken, managed to crawl through the storm and darkness a half mile to neighbors for assistance.

But from these same acres a fine farm was developed, and in time more acres were added to this farm property, which valuable estate is still in possession of the family. Mr. Fuller succeeded in having a "Star Route" postoffice established, and gave the name Hanover to the postoffice and township in honor of the many German neighbors who had left that part of Germany to become citizens of America. The postoffice was for some years at the Fuller residence. One of the first orchards in this section was planted at a time when many families believed "fruit would not grow in Nebraska" and in due time abundant crops as high as fourteen hundred bushels, afforded convincing proof that fruit could be raised.

After the storm that had wrought havoc, as noted in a preceding paragraph, Mr. Fuller built another house on the same spot, mostly with his own hands, using many bits of broken lumber from the demolished house and reconstructing the furniture from splintered fragments and native black walnut trees uprooted by the tornado. Naturally he and his wife were discouraged, and Mr. Fuller offered his two cows (all they had) to anyone who would bring a purchaser for his farm at the very modest price that he would be glad to get, but no purchaser could be found. On this homestead he and his family resided until, in 1888, they moved to Beatrice to educate the children. At this time the present home on Lincoln street was built and here Mr. Fuller lived continuously, giving a general supervision to his farm property and business affairs, until his death, November 12, 1905, of valvular heart trouble. He was seventy-four years of age at the time of his death and is survived by his widow and two daughters, Julia and Mary. The oldest daughter, Lilia, having died at the age of ten years. The family are found active in promoting the intellectual, civic and religious interests of the community, have taken part in encouraging the Young Woman's Christian Association and welfare work and are identified with all patriotic and philanthropic movements. Julia has been an officer in local and state woman's clubs and is chairman of Woman's Council of Defense in Gage county under the war conditions existing in 1918. Mary has been deeply interested in welfare and reform work and has the distinction of introducing probation work and being the first probation officer sewing for the volunteers. From 1915 to 1917 she served as chief probation officer of the county.

Of all that implies strong and noble manliood Mr. Fuller stood exemplar, and he was Tvell qualified for leadership in public sentiment and action. He bore his share of the tension incidental to pioneer life in Gage county, was vitally loyal to. the best interests of the community. He was an able advocate of the principles of the Republican party, was active in public affairs in Gage county, and he repre- -sented, with characteristic ability, this county in the twentieth general assembly of the Nebraska legislature, in 1887. His well worn "Volumes of classics and both modern and ancient Latin and Greek testify to his literary tastes, and he was keenly interested in the latest scientific and political news of the day, watching the trend of modern thought always, with keen eye to future developments. He was a man who thought and studied, who read widely and discriminatingly, and who fortified himself thoroughly in his convictions. He had deep reverence for the spiritual verities of the Christian religion, but was not formally identified with any church organization. He was always keenly alive to all questions of civic interest, fearless in espousing what he believed right, and convincing in saying what he thought. Of him a fellow townsman wrote: "He was rugged in his honesty and as unbending in his integrity as the rocks that guard the coast of his native state. He early learned those rules of honesty, thrift and frugality that led him to deal as squarely with others as he desired them to deal with him. He more nearly represented the genuine typical New Englander that laid the foundations of state and nation than any other man who ever lived in our midst."

CLARENCE S. WARREN. - A well known, influential, and popular citizen of Beatrice, Mr. Warren has been a resident of Nebraska since he was a lad of fourteen years and in his initiative energy and business activities he has kept pace with the vital march of progress in this favored commonwealth, where his capitalistic and real-estate interests are now large and important. He gives the major part of his time and attention to the management of the large estate left by his honored father and to that which he has accumulated through his own effective operations. Mr. Warren became a prominent exponent of live-stock industry and did much to raise the grade of stock raised in this state, his attitude being essentially that of a broad-gauged, liberal and progressive citizen and in the management of his valuable real-estate holdings in Gage county he is contributing much to the civic and industrial prosperity of the county, his status as a citizen and man of affairs being such as to make specially consistent the recog-

Mr. Warren was born on his father's old homestead farm near Minonk, Woodford county, IlHnois, and the date of his nativity was August 21, 1872. He is a son of John and Mary (Arrowsmith) Warren, both representatives of sterling pioneer families of Illinois, in which state their marriage was solemnized, both having been natives of England. John Warren was born at Barnstable, England, in 1840, and he bore the full patronymic of his father, John Warren, who came with his family from England and settled in Illinois prior to the Civil war, both he and his wife having passed the remainder of their lives in that state, where he gave his attention to farming until his death, as did also George Arrowsmith, who likewise came from England and became a farmer in Illinois a number of years before the Civil war, the latter having been the maternal grandfather of the subject of this review and having reared a family of ten children; both he and his wife remained in Illinois until their death. Mrs. Mary (Arrowsmith) Warren was still comparatively a young woman at the time of her death, which occurred in Woodford county, Illinois, on the Uth of November, 1879, her birth having occurred in Devonshire, England, in 1843. Of the three children of John and Mary (Arrowsmith) Warren one died in infancy and Florence A. died at the age of twenty-three years, in 1891, at Beatrice, Nebraska, so that the only survivor is the subject of this review. The father eventually contracted a second marriage, by his union with Miss Lena F. Huntling, who survives him and resides in Omaha, Nebraska, the two children of .this marriage being Myrtle and Frank, both residents of the city of Omaha.

John Warren, father of him whose name initiates this sketch, was reared and educated in England and was about twenty years of age when he accompanied his father to America and became a resident of Illinois, in 1860. Through his active association with agricultural industry in that state he laid the foundation of his worthy success as a man of affairs, and entirely through his own ability and efforts he accumulated a large and valuable estate. His self-reliance was on a parity with his ambition, and this was clearly demonstrated when he purchased an entire section of land in Woodford county, Illinois, at a time when his capitalistic resources were repsented almost entirely in determination, am- ' bition, and sturdy integrity of purpose. He borrowed the money with which to make payment on the land and paid ten per cent, interest on the same. Such an indomitable personality could not remain inert or obscure, and the genius of success was an intrinsic element of his makeup, as fully attested by the large and worthy achievement that was his during the years of a significantly active and productive career. Mr. Warren coupled his agricultural activities with the buying and shipping of grain and as early as 1878 he came to Nebraska and purchased a tract of land in Gage county. However, he thereafter continued his residence in Woodford county, Illinois, until 1886, when he came with his family to Gage county and established a home in Beatrice, where he passed the residue of his life and where his death occurred on the 15th of February, 1908. Mr. Warren played a sturdy part in connection with the development and progress of this section of the state, along both civic and industrial lines, and at the time of his demise he was the owner of six sections of land - nearly all in Gage county. He was indefatigable in making improvements upon his various farm properties and in bringing them up to the best modern standard of productivity, the while he made his influence definitely helpful in the furtherance of measures and enterprises advanced for the general good of the community, his political allegiance having been given to the Democratic party, though he had no desire for public office, and his religious faith having been that of the Christian church: his first wife was an earnest member of the Baptist church. John Warren gave to the world assurance of strong and worthy manhood and showed his stewardship in fruitful achievement along the normal lines of enterprise in which he directed his splendid energies. He commanded at all times the confidence and esteem of his fellow men and was one of the honored and influential citizens of Gage county at the time of his demise.

Clarence S. Warren acquired his early education in the public schools of Illinois and continued his studies in the city schools of Beatrice, Nebraska, where the family home was established when he was about fourteen years of age. For a number of years thereafter he assisted in the work of his father's farm properties, and in the meanwhile he developed the admirable initiative and executive ability that has been exemplified so potently in the later stages of his career. As a youth Mr. Warren had a measure of experience as a bookkeeper and clerk at Beatrice, but in 1892 he went to southwestern Nebraska and started an extensive stock, ranch. There he adopted the most progressive policies in the raising of thoroughbred cattle and Poland-China! hogs, and he developed a prosperous enterprise in this important field. Incidental to his operations he purchased an entire section of land, in Jefferson county, and of this property he is still the owner. From his well improved ranch he made regular shipments of live stock to Kansas City and St. Joseph, Missouri, and he continued his active regulation of the business for nine years. He then returned to Beatrice, to assist ii\ the management of his father's business,^ and since the death of his father he has had virtually the sole management of the large family estate.

Though distinctively loyal and public-spirited in his civic attitude and taking a lively interest in public affairs, Mr. Warren has had no desire to enter the arena of practical politics and is not constrained by partisan lines, as he prefers to give his support to men and measures meeting the approval of his judgment, irrespective of political affiliations involved. In 1907 Mr. Warren erected his attractive residence, at 806 North Ninth street, and this is not only one of the finest homes in Beatrice but is also known as a center of .gracious hospitality. Mr. Warren is affiliated Tvith both York and Scottish Rite bodies of the Masonic fraternity,, in the former of which his maximum alliance is with Mount Herman Commandery of Knights Templars, and he is affihated also with the adjunct Masonic organization, the Mystic Shrine, as well as with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist church.

In the year 1895 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Warren to Miss Gertrude C. Tipton, who was born at Glenwood, Iowa, and the three children of this union are John C, Maxwell S., and Clifford E., the two younger sons being students in the public schools of Beatrice at the time of this writing, in the spring of 1918, and the eldest son, John C, being numbered among the patriotic young men preparing for active service with the American forces in the great European war: at the time of the preparation of this article he is stationed at Derning, New Mexico, as a member of the medical corps of the One Hundred and Thirty-fourth United States Infantry.

SAMUEE LEONARD PYLE is one of ' the honored pioneers and successful farmers of Paddock township. He is a native of New Jersey and was born January 9, 1839. His father, Samuel Leonard Pyle, likewise was born in New Jersey, and in 1845 he sought a home in what was then considered the far west. In Lee county, Illinois, he secured a homestead. He became one of the substantial farmers of that county and there he passed away at the age of eighty-two years. He married Emeline Moffit, a native of New Jersey, and she was seventy-six years of age at the time of her death, which occurred in Illinois.

Samuel Leonard Pyle, the subject of this record, was a lad of seven summers when the family home was established in Illinois, and he was there reared to the sturdy discipline of a pioneer farm, his time being divided between study in the district school and the tasks on the farm.

company with some other young men, and finally went to Denver, Colorado. Young Pyle spent two years in the mountains and then returned to Illinois. In 1865 he went to Rock Island county, that state, and engaged in farming, remaining there until the fall of 1879, when he came to Nebraska and filed on eighty acres of land in Paddock township. Gage county. This land had only recently been opened for settlement, having previously been in possession of the Otoe Indians. In the spring of 1880 Mr. Pyle brought his wife to the new country. Their first home was an upright board shanty, fourteen by sixteen feet in dimensions, and in this they lived for sev^ eral years. They were in very moderate financia;l circumstances. Their first cow, bought after they arrived in Gage county, was staked out with a lariat, before any fences had been built.

Mr. Pyle devoted his energies to improving and cultivating the land, and in due time was reaping golden harvests for the intelligent labor bestowed upon the fields. Later he was able to add to his possessions another eighty acres, and to-day the farm consists of one hundred and sixty acres, in Section I. The improvements on this farm are first-class, consisting of two residence and good outbuildings. Mr. Pyle has now laid aside the more active work, placing the mantle upon the shoulders of his son, who operates the place in his own interests.

On December 25, 1864, Mr. Pyle was united in marriage to Miss Cornelia Williamson, who was born in the state of New York, her natal day having been January 10, 1846. Her parents, Jacob and Sophia (Ray) Williamson, were likewise natives of the Empire state, and were among the early settlers in Lee county, Illinois, where they passed the remainder of their lives. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Pyle was blessed with three children: Franklin died at the age of four years; Cora is the wife of Charles Miller, a farmer in Sicily township; and Edwin, who married Cora Fye, operates the old home farm: he and his wife have a winsome little daughter, Mildred.

Mr. and Mrs. Pyle have seen this region transformed from wild, unbroken prairie into beautiful farms, dotted with innumerable homes, with here and there thriving villages. Wymore was not in existence when they came, and they saw that hustling town when the streets were in the cornfields. By careful management and unceasing energy in these thirty-eight years this worthy pioneer couple justly deserve the reward that permits them to spend their declining years in ease and comfort. They have both passed the psalmist's allotted three score and ten years, and both are still hale and hearty, provided with all the necessities and many of the luxuries of life, and enjoying the just returns from intelligently directed effort in the years that have passed.

^ HARVEY W. GIDDINGS, whose death occurred at his attractive farm home in Midland township, was a pioneer citizen of Nebraska and was a man whose fine qualities of mind and heart caused him to view with exceptional equanimity financial reverses and other adverse conditions and to find in the same but a spur to renewed and more vigorous effort. He left a deep impress upon the history of farm enterprise in Gage county, here achieved large and worthy success and here held his direct and upright course in such a way as to merit and received the unqualified esteem of his fellow men.

The eldest in a family of eleven children, nine of whom attained to adult age, Harvey W.^ Giddings was born in McKean township, Erie county, Pennsylvania, January 11, 1830, and was a son of John W. and Hannah (Stafford) Giddings, the former a native of Massachusetts and the latter of the state of New York. The lineage of the Giddings family traces back to the staunchest of Scottish origin and the founder of the American line was the great-grandfather of the subject of this memoir, he having come to America when a young man. The Stafford family is of English origin. In 1840 John W. Giddings removed with his family to Illinois and became a pioneer settler in Warren county, where he became a prosperous farmer, his death occurring in 1881, when he was seventy-seven years of age, and his widow having passed away in 1885, at the age of seventy-six years. Harvey W. Giddings, with an exceptionally receptive mind, made the best possible use of the advantages of the common schools of Illinois, and it is a matter of record that he was but four years old when he began to attend school in Pennsylvania, he having been about ten years of age at the time of the family removal to Illinois. He remained at the parental home and assisted in the work of the farm until he had attained to the age of twenty-five years. He then returned to Pennsylvania and wedded Miss Rebecca E. McClure, who had been one of his childhood schoolmates. She was born in Pennsylvania, October 16, 1836, a daughter of George W. and Elizabeth (Shirer) Mc- Clue, the former a native of Ireland and the latter of Holland, the closing years of their lives having been passed in Illinois, where they established their home in 1865. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Giddings established themselves in the pleasant home which he had provided for their use, and with the passing years he accumulated in Illinois a valuable landed estate of nine thousand acres. His faith in others led to his assuming for them heavy financial responsibility, and on account of being compelled to pay these large obligations for others he became virtually bankrupt. Under these depressing conditions Mr. Giddings girded himself anew and with characteristic courage prepared to retrieve his fortunes. In the spring of 1874 he came with his family to Nebraska and rented land in Buffalo county. His first crop was destroyed by grasshoppers and the outlook would have brought utmost discouragement to the average man. This sturdy pioneer, however, was not to be baffled, and finally, in 1876, he came to Gage county, where he operated for a time on leased land. He then established himself on a ranch of twelve hundred acres owned by the Kansas & Missouri Stage Company, and here he broke and placed under cultivation more than four hundred acres, all of which he fenced with wire. Unequivocal prosperity attended his energetic activities and he remained on this ranch six years. In the meanwhile, in 1879, he purchased two hundred and forty acres, in Midland township, and to the same he removed with his family in 1882. He developed this into one of the model farms of the county, and extended his operations by the leasing of additional land. He thus utilized six hundred acres, and his activities were carried on with discrimination and good judgment, he having been a large grower of the various cereals, as well as flax, having conducted a substantial dairying business and having raised cattle on a large scale. He was a leader in the promotion of effective farm enterprise in this section of the state, and was the staunch and loyal supporter of education, of churches and of all other things making for civic wellbeing, his political allegiance having been given to the Republican party and his wife having held to the faith of the Presbyterian church. They became the parents of ten children: Flora E. died March 3, 1883 ; Carrie, on the 22d of April, 1882; Edwin on the 16th of November, 1884; and Carl and Rebecca E. likewise are deceased; Jennie is the wife of James Kerr, a retired farmer residing in the city of Denver, Colorado; S. E. is individually mentioned on other pages of this history; Harry is a farmer one mile east of Beatrice; Susie is the wife of A. C. Calhoun, of McCook, this state; and Ralph is associated with banking business at Missoula, Montana.

JACOB A. KEEIN. - Both as a representative business man and loyal and progressive citizen is Mr. Klein well upholding the prestige of a name that has been long and significantly honored in Gage county, and he is vice-president of Klein's Mercantile Company, which conducts, in his native city of Beatrice, one of the leading department stores in this section of Nebraska. Of his father specific mention is made on other pages of this publication, and in that connection is given adequate review also of the business, conducted under the corporate title noted.

on the 13th of August, 1873, and is the eldest of the three sons of Jacob Klein, who is still the executive head of the Klein's Mercantile Company. Mr. Klein profited fully by the advantages afforded in the excellent public schools of Beatrice and as a youth began to assist in his father's store. He has literally grown up in the business and has matured his discrimination and administrative ability as a merchant, with the result that he exercises large influence in the conducting and directing of the large and thriving mercantile business with which he has been identified during the entire course of his active career. He has been of Klein's Mercantile Company from the time of its incorporation, in 1901.

The local ranks of the Democratic party find Mr. Klein aligned as a staunch supporter of the cause for which the now dominant party stands sponsor, and he has been active and influential in the furtherance of the party cause. Recognition of this fact has been officially shown by his being retained as a colonel on the military staff of Governor Moorhead and later on that of Governor Neville. He is an appreciative and popular member of the Beatrice Lodge of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks, his religious faith is that of the Lutheran church, under the influences of which he was reared, and his wife is an active member of the Presbyterian church: they are leaders in the social activities of the city of Beatrice and delight in extending to their many friends the hospitality of their pleasant home. The year 1905 recorded the marriage of Mr. Klein to Miss Myrtle Grimes, who was born at Holton, Kansas, and who is a daughter of J. A. Grimes, she having been about twenty-two years, of age at the time of the family removal to Beatrice. Mr. and Mrs Klein have two children - Alan, who was born in the year 1906, and Jean, who was born in 1915.

LUDWIG MOSCHEL, who came to Gage county in 1875 and who here won substantial success through his vigorous association with farm enterprise, passed the closing years of his life in the city of Beatrice, where he died in 1915 and where his widow still maintains her home. He was a man of strong mind, of determined purpose and of untiring industry, a citizen of sterling worth and one who commanded unqualified popular esteem.

Mr. Moschel was born at Webensheim, Bavaria, Germany, on the 12th of November, 1843, a son of Christian and Margaret (Schantz) Moschel.' He received in his native land excellent educational advantages and was an ambitious youth of seventeen years when he came to America and established his residence in Illinois. There, in the year 1869, was solemnized his marriage to Miss Catherine Klein, who was born in Bavaria, Germany, June 24, 1849, and who was a girl at the time when she came with her parents to the United States, the family home being established in Illinois : she is a sister of Jacob Klein, of whom' definite mention is made on other pages, with adequate incidental record concerning the family. The father of Mr. Moschel was a cabinetmaker by trade and passed his entire life in Germany. In 1860 the widowed mother came with her seven children to the United States and settlement was made on a farm a few miles distant from Peoria, Illinois, in which state she passed the remainder of her life.

After his marriage Mr. Moschel continued his association with farm activities in Illinois until 1875, when he came with his family to Gage county. He had sufficient money to make partial payment on a farm of eighty acres, three miles north of Beatrice, and his industry and good management brought to him gratifying success in the years that followed. He accumulated and improved a fine farm estate of three hundred and twenty acres and continued as one of the representative agriculturists and stock-growers of Midland township until 1907, when he retired and established his home in Beatrice, where his death occurred eight years later. He took loyal interest in community affairs, was a Democrat in politics and while residing on his farm he served as a member of the school board. His religious faith was that of the Lutheran church, of which his widow likewise is a devoted communicant.

In conclusion of this memoir is given brief record concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Moschel: Lena is the wife of Emory Ellis and they reside on the old homestead farm of her father; x\ugust L,. is a carpenter by trade and is engaged in contracting and building operations in the city of Beatrice; Catherine remains with her widowed mother; Albert C. resides in the city of Lincoln and is a traveling commercial salesman; Emma remains with her mother ; Bertha L. is the wife of Albert Pretzer, residing three miles north of Beatrice; Ida is the wife of August Pretzer, a prosperous farmer in Midland township ; and Lizzie L. died in 1881, at the age of eight years.

' DAVID G. GRIFFITHS, M. D., the efHcient and honored superintendent of the Nebraska Institution for Feeble Minded Youth, at Beatrice, is a representative of one of the well known pioneer families of Richardson county, this state, where he was born November 27, 1875, a son of David and Mary Ellen (Young) Griffiths, the former of whom was born in Pennsylvania, in 1845, and the latter in Wisconsin, in 1851. The marriage of the parents was solemnized in Wisconsin, and in 1869 they established their home in the new state of Nebraska, Mr. Griffiths having previously visited the state and having obtained a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Richardson county. To this he gradually added until he had accumulated and improved a valuable landed estate of four hundred acres, which he still owns. About a decade ago he retired from his farm and he and his wife have since maintained their home in the village of Verdon, Richardson county. They made the journey from Wisconsin to Nebraska with team and covered wagon and by his energy and good management he here achieved large and worthy success. David Griffiths was a valiant soldier of the Union in the Civil war, and was wounded severely in the right shoulder, the injury having been such as permanently to cripple his right arm. Of the six children four are living : Daniel is a farmer near Verdon, Richardson county; David G., of this review, is the next younger son ; Edward is ; successful exponent of farm industry neai Verdon ; and Florence is the wife of Willian H. Henderson, a farmer in the same locality The parents are active members of the Congregational church. David Griffiths holds affiliation with the Grand Army of the Republic, and in politics he is a staunch Republican! While on his farm he served in various township offices. His father, Daniel Griffiths, was born in Wales and came to the United States in the early '40s, first settling in Pennsylvania and finally removing with his family to Wisconsin, where he passed the remainder of his life.

Dr. David G. Griffiths was afforded in his youth excellent educational advantages, and after having been a student in the Nebraska State Normal School at Peru he entered the medical department of the University of Nebraska, in which he was graduated as a member of the class of 1902. After thus receiving his degree of Doctor of Medicine he engaged in the practice of his profession at Verdon, in his native county. Three years later he removed to Falls City, and after having there been engaged in practice about eighteen months he went to the city of Lincoln, which constituted the stage of his successful professional activities until 1913. ' In the year last mentioned he became pathologist at the Nebraska State Hospital for the Insane, and this position he retained until February 1, 1916, when he assumed his present responsible and exacting office, that of superintendent of the Nebraska Institution for Feeble "Minded Youth. The Doctor has given close study to the care and uplifting of the unfortunate wards of this admirable institution, the number of inmates being about six hundred, and his effective administration is fully justifying his appointment to the position.

In 1902 was solemnized the marriage of Dr. Griffiths to Miss Nora Moore, who was born in Kansas, a daughter of John and Katie (Eby) Moore, who now reside at Wymore,^ Gage county, Nebraska, Mr. Moore being a locomotive engineer on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad. Dr. and Mrs. Grif-

Dr. Griffiths is a valued member of the Gage County Medical Society and the Nebraska State Medical Society, besides being actively identified with the American Medical Association. His political allegiance is given to the Republican party, he is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and he and his wife are communicants of the Protestant Episcopal church.

JOHN E. KING. - A worthy native son of Gage county is John Edward King, who is operating one hundred and sixty acres of land in Sherman township.

Mr. King was born on his father's farm in Filley township, December 29, 1884, a son of Charles W. King, deceased, whose record appears elsewhere in this volume. John E. King was reared on a farm and learned the best methods of tilling the soil, planting and harvesting crops, which enables him to-day to make a success of his chosen calling.

Mr. King was united in marriage, July 4, 1914, to Miss Georgia Starns, a native of Indiana, a daughter of Elijah Starns, of Hamburg, Iowa. They are a worthy young couple, who have a host of friends in Gage county.

GEORGE E. ZIMMERMAN. - Hanover township well merits its name, for within its borders are to be found many influential citizens who were bom in the beautiful province of Hanover, Germany, and who have done much in furthering the civic and industrial development and progress of Gage county. Among the representative farmers of the township who can claim this ancestral and personal distinction is Mr. Zimmerman, who was born in Hanover, Germany, March 17, 1856, a son of Rierider R. and Johanna (Bless) Zimmerman, who came with their family to America in 1876 and settled in Champaign county, Illinois. There the father farmed on rented land until 1879, when he came to Nebraska and numbered himself among the pioneers of Gage county. He bought one hundred and sixty acres of wild prairie land, in Hanover township, and after erecting a substantial barn on the place he equipped the building as a temporary residence for his family. About three years later he built a good house on his farm. There he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives, as honored pioneer citizens, and both were earnest communicants of the German Lutheran church. Of their five children the subject of this review is the eldest of the four surviving ; Etta is the wife of John Jobman, a retired farmer residing in the city of Beatrice ; Lizzie, who resides in the village of Pickrell, this county, is the widow of John Meints; and Riender is a prosperous farmer five miles east of Beatrice.

George E. Zimmerman acquired' his youthful education in the excellent schools of his native land and was seventeen years of age when he came to the United States. For a period of about eighteen months he was employed in the railroad shops at Galesburg, Illinois, and he then became associated with the tending of horses at Terre Haute, Indiana. In 1879 he came with his parents to Gage county, .where he assisted in reclaiming and improving his father's farm and where he finally purchased eighty acres of land from his father, in Hanover township. Of the success that has attended his well ordered activities as an agriculturist and stock-grower no further evidence is needed than the fact that he is now the owner of a well improved and valuable farm estate of four hundred acres - all in this county. On his homestead farm he erected his present commodious and modem house and other buildings of the best type, and he is one of the substantial citizens of Hanover township.

The year 1880 recorded the marriage of Mr. Zimmerman to Miss Rixte DeBuhr, who likewise is a native of Hanover, Germany, and of their six children five are living: Johanna is the wife of George Idines, a prosperous farmer of Logan township ; Jennie is the wife of William Remmers, who is a farmer in Hanover township; Etta is the wife of Harm.

Idines, a farmer in Hanover township; Menne is engaged in farm enterprise five miles east of the village of Pickrell ; and Lizzie is the wife of Arnold Behr, a farmer seven miles east of Beatrice.

Mr. Zimmerman is a man whose mental and moral qualities well fortify him for leadership in community affairs, and he is one of the honored and influential citizens of Hanover township. His political allegiance is given to the Democratic party and he is serving as justice of the peace, as well as chairman of the official board of Hanover township. He and his wife are zealous communicants of the Zion's German Lutheran church of Hanover, the strongest and wealthiest church organization in Gage county.

FRED F. VAN BOSKIRK, a progressive farmer and stock-grower of Midland township, has an attractive homestead of one hundred and sixty acres - the northeast quarter of Section 8. He was born at Cedar Rapids, Iowa, March 15, 1881, a son of Lincoln and Celia (Freer) Van Boskirk, of whose four children he is the youngest; Mae is the wife of C. R. Munford, who is individually mentioned in this history; Daisie is the wife of Curtis C. LaForge, of Midland township ; and Frank O. is another of the prosperous farmers of this township.

Lincoln. Van Boskirk was born in Pennsylvania, January 15, 1826, and his death occurred July 15, 1905. He was a pioneer of the state of Iowa and there operated sales stables first in Cedar Rapids and later at Iowa City, giving much attention to buying horses for the government and also dealing somewhat extensively in mules. In .1885 he came with his family to Gage county and here he traded horses for a section of land in Midland township, the property having been unimproved. He developed a fine farm property and the present homestead of his son Fred, of this review, is a part of the same. Mrs. Celia (Freer) Van Boskirk was born in Ashland, Ohio, April 18, 1849, and passed to the life eternal on the 2d of August, 1910.

old at the time of the family removal to Gage county, where he was reared on the pioneer farm of his father and duly availed himself of the advantages of the public schools. He was, however, only thirteen years old when he began to assert his youthful independence and provide for himself. He traveled about and for four years he was employed in a meatpacking plant in Kansas City, Missouri. His father then gave to him his present farm, upon which he has erected a modern house and made other good improvements, and he is alert and progressive in his activities as an agriculturist and stock-grower, in which latter department he gives special attention to the raising of Hereford cattle. He is independent in politics and his wife is a member of the Presbyterian church.

August 25, 1905, recorded the marriage of Mr. Van Boskirk to Miss Ella Dole, who was born at Milford, Seward county, Nebraska, a daughter of Josiah and Sophia (Hooker) Dole, the family being definitely represented on other pages of this publication. Mr. and Mrs. Van Boskirk became the parents of iive children, all of whom are living except Ruth, the firstborn ; Lauretta, Katharine, Venita, and Harold lend joy to the pleasant home.

Mr. Van Boskirk is a successful breeder of fine Belgian draft horses, as well as trotting and saddle horses and mules, his boyhood experience having been such as to give him special predilection for enterprise along this line. In the early frontier days his father was a freighter from Iowa to Colorado. This sterling pioneer received deed to his land in Midland township from President Andrew Jackson, and he was one of the venerable pioneer citizens of Gage county at the time of his death.

EILERT D. CRAMER. - When, in 1888, Mr. Cramer arrived in Gage county, as an ambitious and determined youth of eighteen years, his financial resources were represented in the sum of one dollar. He came to this county soon after his immigration from Germany and that he has wrought wisely and well in the intervening years needs no further voucher than the statement that he is now the owner of a well improved farip estate of two hundred and forty acres, in Section 16, Hanover township. Like so large a percentage of the representative citizens of this township, Mr. Cramer was born in the province of Hanover, Germany, the date of his natiyity having been August 1, 1870. His parents, Dick E. and Ahike (Gerdes) Cramer, are now venerable in years and still reside in their native land, representatives of old and honored families of the province of Hanover and both earnest members of the German Lutheran church. Of their eight children five are living and the eldest is Henry, who remains in Germany; Etta is the wife of John Bruns, a successful farmer of Hanover township. Gage county; the subject of this sketch was the next in order of birth; Helena and Anna remain with their parents, in Germany.

Eilert D. Cramer acquired his education in the excellent schools of his native land and in 1888 he came to America and established his residence in Gage county, as previously noted. For the ensuing four years he was employed at farm work. He carefully saved his earnings and in 1899 he made his first purchase of land - eighty acres, in Hanover township. In the following year he established his home on this farm, which he brought under effective cultivation, and later he sold the property and bought his present fine homestead farm, to which he has gradually added until he is now the owner of two hundred and forty acres, the same being well improved and the attractive modern residence on the place having been completed in 1917. Mr. Cramer gives special attention to the raising of live stock, but gains the best of returns also in the agricultural department of his farm enterprise.

April 5, 1894, recorded the marriage of Mr. Cramer to Miss Hannah Alberts, who was bom in Brown county, Illinois, and is a daughter of Benjamin and Trintje (Gronewold) Alberts, who came to America about 1873, shortly after the close of the Franco-Prussian war. Benjamin Alberts was a sailor by vocation and followed a seafaring career during the major part of his active career. Upon coming to the United States he first settled in Brown county, Illinois, where the family home was continued eight years. With team and wagon the overland journey to Nebraska was then made and the family located on a rented form in Gage county, the sons assuming active charge of the work, as the father had little experience in farm enterprise. Benjamin Alberts died in 1888 and his widow survived him by a quarter of a century, her death occurring in June, 1913. Mr. and Mrs. Cramer became the parents of six children, of whom five are living and all of whom remain at the parental home - Helen, Richard, John, Christina, and Edwin.

Mr. Cramer has been fully appreciative oi the opportunities and advantages that have been afforded him in Gage county and thus his civic loyalty is of the insistent order. His political support is given to the Republican party and his ability and personal popularity have led to his being called upon to serve in various local offices of public trust, including those of assessor, clerk, and treasurer of Hanover township, as well as census enumerator and as a member of the school board of his district, of which last named office he has been the incumbent for many years.

HERMAN WOLKEN is another of the sterling pioneers who has won large and worthy success in connection with the development of the fine natural resources of Gage county, where he has through his own ability and industry accumulated a valuable farm estate of eight hundred and eighty acres, his attractive homestead place being situated in Section 31, Hooker township and the village of Filley being his postoffice address.

Mr. Wolken was born in the Province of Hanover, Germany, on the 10th of October, 1851, and there his parents, Henry and Christina (Bowman) Wolken, passed their entire lives, both having been earnest communicants of the Lutheran church and the father having been a prosperous farmer. Of the six children the eldest is John, who is now a successful farmer in Hanover township, Gage county, as is also Henry; Annie is the wife of John

Herman Wolken was reared and educated in his native land and was nineteen years of age when he severed the home ties and came to the United States, in 1871. He passed the ensuing four years in Illinois, and he then, in 1875, came to Gage county, where for two years he farmed on rented land. He then purchased eighty acres of unimproved land,' in Hooker township, and this constituted the nucleus around which he has by industry and good management developed his present large and well improved farm estate. His course has been guided and governed by the highest principles and thus his success has been well merited, the while he has equally deserved the unqualified popular esteem reposed in him. He is a staunch Republican in politics and he and his family are earnest communicants of the lyUtheran church.

In Illinois, the year 1873 recorded the marriage of Mr. Wolken to Miss Christina Bowman, who was born in Germany . and whose parents came to America and settled in Illinois when she was a girl, her father, Reinhard Bowman, having there become a farmer and having there passed the remainder of his life. Mr. and Mrs. Wolken have these children : Henry is a farmer in Hanover township ; Annie is the wife of Heye Parde, of that township; Kate is the wife of Mene Buhr, a farmer in the same township.

C. A. HALL has served efficiently as cashier of the Citizens' State Bank in the village of Virginia since 1909 and is a popular scion of one of the sterling pioneer families of southeastern Nebraska. He was born on his father's farm in Pawnee county, this state, and the date of his nativity was December 9, 1878. He is a son of William and Hannah (Manock) Hall, the former of whom was born in Scotland and the latter in England. The father was sixty-four years of age at the time of his death and the mother, who now resides at Roosevelt, Oklahoma, celebrated in 1917 the seventy-second anniversary of her birth.

William Hall was reared, and educated in his native land and was a youth when he came to the United States, prior to the outbreak of the Civil war. His juvenile loyalty was such that, at the age of sixteen years, he tendered his services in defense of the nation's integrity, by enlisting as a private in the One Hundred and Twenty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which command he proceeded to the front and with which he served about two years, in the meanwhile taking part in numerous engagements of important order. The concussion of a cannon broke the drum of his left ear, . and the injury continued to cause him no inconsiderable trouble during the remainder of his life. After the close ot the war he returned to Illinois and after his marriage he there continued his residence until he numbered himself among the pioneer settlers of Pawnee county, Nebraska, where he purchased a homestead claim and instituted the development of a farm. A few years later he sold the property and turned his attention to buying and shipping live-stock, at Pawnee City. There he continued his successful operations along this important line of industrial and commercial enterprise for fully a quarter of a century, and he was one of the honored pioneers and valued citizens of Pawnee county. William Hall was a Republican in politics and he and his wife were long numbered among the active members of the Presbyterian church at Pawnee City, he having been affiliated with the Masonic fraternity. His brother Andrew was one of the early employes of the Wells-Fargo Express Company and was killed by robbers who made an attempt to take from him a valuable express consignment. William and Hannah (Manock) Hall became the parents of five children: Sadie remains with her widowed mother; W. T. is railroad station agent at Nemaha City, Nebraska ; Mamie is the wife of W. L. Laughlin, a farmer in Oklahoma; C. A., of this review, was the next in order of birth; and Zula is the wife of W. L. Griffith, a farmer in Oklahoma.

the high school at Pawnee and thereafter he learned the trade of telegraphy and became an operator on the line of the Rock Island Railroad. As operator and station agent he continued in the service of the Rock Island Lines about fifteen years, during five and one - half years of which period he was station agent at Virginia. Upon retiring from this position, in 1909, he became associated with the Citizens' State Bank in this village, and he was made cashier of the institution, a position of which he has since continued the incumbent and in which he has done much to further the advancement of the business of the substantial bank, which bases its operations on a capital stock of seventy-five hundred dollars and the deposits of which average about one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars. Mr. Hall is one of the vital and progressive citizens and business men of Virginia, is a Republican in politics and has served as a member of the village board of trustees, as well as township treasurer. He is affiliated with the local organization of the Royal Highlanders.

In 1909 was recorded the marriage of Mr. Hall to Miss Lucille Cripe, who was bom and reared in Gage county and who was a daughter of Adam Cripe, one of the substantial farmers of Rockford township. Mrs. Hall passed to eternal rest on the 15th of February, 1916, and is survived by no children.

ALLEN M. DARWIN is one of the most alert and progressive young business men of the village of Virginia, where he leases and conducts the grain elevator and also, is the owner of a well ordered automobile garage, in connection with which latter enterprise he is agent for the popular Buick automobile.

Mr. Darwin was born in Wright county, Iowa, April 29, 1883, and is a son of George and Emma (Taylor) Darwin, the former of whom was born in England, about 1856, and the latter of whom was born in Will county, Illinois, in 1860. The death of the father occurred in 1910 and that of the mother in 1912, their marriage having been solemnized at Joliet, Illinois. George Darwin was four years of age when his parents came to the United States and established their home in Illinois, where he was reared and educated, and in Iowa he continued his alliance with farm industry until about 1894, when he came with his family to Gage county and settled on a farm in Filley township. In the following year he engaged in the meat market business in the village of Virginia, where he continued operations along this line for eleven years and where both he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives. Of their six children the subject of this review is the eldest; Harry E. is a farmer in Sherman township; May is the wife of Roy Ramsey, who is engaged in business in the city of Beatrice ; Vern is a commercial traveler and maintains his home in Sioux City, Iowa; Beatrice is the wife of Glenn C. McKinney, a farmer in Colorado; and Clifford is, in 1918, a student in the high school at Beatrice. The parents were members of the Methodist Episcopal church and the father was a Republican in politics and affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and the Modern Woodmen of America.

After the family removal to Gage county Allen M. Darwin, then a lad of about eleven years, attended the public schools in the village of Virginia, and thereafter he continued his active association with farming until he was twenty- four years of age. In 1911 he leased the grain elevator at Virginia, and in this connection he has since controlled a substantial business in the handling of grain, besides having developed a prosperous garage and automobile business.

October 5, 1916, recorded the marriage of Mr. Darwin to Miss Lola White, who was born and reared in the city of Beatrice, this county, and who has made their pleasant home a center of gracious hospitality. She is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church.

Mr. Darwin is one of the liberal and progressive citizens of Virginia, is, in 1918, serving his second term as a member of the village board of trustees, and is a Republican in his political allegiance. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity, including the commandery of Knights Templars at Beatrice and the temple of the Mystic Shrine in the city of Lincoln, Nebraska.

JOHN W. PARDE, whose death occurred July 18, 1911, after an illness of about one year's duration, was one of the honored citizens and successful farmers of Gage county and was a member of one of the representative pioneer families of Hanover township, his parents, William and Tete Parde, being still residents of this township and being individually mentioned on other pages of this history.

John W. Parde was born in Adams county, Illinois, on the 26th of October, 1868, and was about seventeen years of age when the family came to Gage county, where he was reared to manhood and assisted his father in the reclaiming and improving of the pioneer farm, his early education being acquired in the district schools and the Lutheran parochial schools, he having been confirmed in the Lutheran church when he was a lad of fourteen years and ever afterward having continued an earnest communicant of the same, as is also his widov/. When twenty-two years of age Mr. Parde took unto himself a wife and in establishing a home he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, in Section 22, Hanover township. The place was virtually unimproved and with the passing years he developed the same into one of the fine farm properties of the township, its buildings being of modern order and giving lasting evidence of his thrift and the prosperity he won through vigorous activities as a progressive agriculturist and stock-grower. His wife inherited sixty acres of land in the same township, and he thus developed a farm of two hundred and twenty acres, his widow still remaining on the homestead and giving her personal supervision to its management. Mr. Parde was liberal and public-spirited as a citizen, commanded the high regard of all who knew him, and his political allegiance was given to the Democratic party.

Jennie Ehmen, who was born and reared in this county, and sufficient record concerning her parents is given on other pages, in the sketch dedicated to her brother Henry W. Six children survive Mr. Parde: Teedy is the wife of George Wollman, of Eilley township, this county; William married Miss Grace Meints, of Pickrell; Henry, Heye, and John remain with their widowed mother; and Emma is the wife of Ehma Jobman, of Filley township.

ULYSSES G. McPHERON. - Men who adhere to high principles, even to the point of personal sacrifice and loss, have ever made this world progress along the lines that men with less principle and less fortitude would not have dared to follow. Ulysses Grant Mc- Pheron is a man of sound religious and economic principles, which he is not afraid to defend publicly or to cast his vote in their favor. In this, special reference is made to Mr. McPheron's convictions relative to the regulation of the liquor traffic, and it is due to men like him, men who have had the courage of their convictions and principles, that the Prohibition party has been born and radical reforms efifected in our communal life.

Ulysses G. McPheron was born in Hawkins county, Tennessee, January 16, 1875, and is the son of James M. McPheron, whose record will be found elsewhere in this volume. He was only ten years old when his parents came, in 1885, to Gage county, and his father here engaged in farming operations.

The marriage of Mr. McPheron and Miss Minnie Fry was solemnized February 19, 1899. Mrs. McPheron is a daughter of Christian F. Fry, whose sketch is in this volume. To this marriage were born two sons, Galen Ralph and Earl Gilmore, who are now helping their father on the farm. The mother passed away September 11, 1903. The second marriage of Mr. McPheron was solemnized February 12, 1905, when Miss Augusta Cullen became his wife. She was bom August 18, 1871, a daughter of James and Christena Cullen, of whom mention is made on other pages of this work.. Two little daughters

The political views of Ulysses G. McPheron at one time were in favor of the Republican party, but he is now a Prohibitionist and is always ready to cast his vote for the reforms to rid our nation of the liquor traffic. He is a member of the Dunkard church.

BERNHARD H. SIEEKES represents the staunchest of American loyalty and efficiency, though he is the only member of his immediate family to have come to the United States from Germany, in which connection it may consistently be noted that one of his brothers met death, in 1917, on the great battlefields of Europe, while serving as a soldier in the German army, and another brother is held as a prisoner of war in England.

Mr. Siefkes has been a resident of Gage county since 1893, and he is now one of the substantial farmers and popular and influential citizens of Hanover township, his finely improved homestead, of one hundred and sixty acres, being situated in Section 26. Mr. Siefkes was born in Hanover, Germany, December 27, 1875, and is a son of Diedrich and Anna (Deriese) Siefkes, the former of whom died about 1907 and the latter of whom still remains in Germany, the father having been a farmer by vocation. The subject of this sketch acquired his early education in the schools of his native land and was but sixteen years of age when, in 1892, he severed the home ties and bravely set forth to seek his fortunes in the United States. In that year he arrived at the home of his uncle, in Franklin county, Nebraska, with his available capital represented in the sum of a single dollar. He worked on his uncle's farm until the following year, when he came to Gage county, took a Scully lease, in Hanover township, and began farm operations in an independent way. Under these conditions he continued his energetic and ambitious activities four years, and he then purchased his present farm, which was at that time improved with a primitive house of two rooms, a barn twelve by sixteen feet in dimensions, and a corncrib. The measure of his vigorous achievement in the intervening years is shown in the thrift that is manifest in all departments of his farm . enterprise and also in the excellent buildings which he has erected and which mark his farm as one of model order, his attention being given to diversified agriculture and stock-growing.

In 1898 Mr. Siefkes wedded Miss Ida Ehmen, who was born and reared in this country and is a daughter of William Ehmen, adequate record concerning her parents being given on other pages of this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Siefkes have eight children - Diedrich, William, Annie, Henry, Ermina, Minnie, Herman, and John, and the religious faith of the family is that of the Lutheran church.

Entering fully into the spirit of American customs and institutions and speaking the English language like a native of the United States, Mr. Siefkes is a staunch supporter of the cause of the Republican party and is in- 'fluential in public affairs in Hanover township. In 1914 he was elected representative of the First district on the county board ol supervisors, an office of which he was the incumbent three years, and he has served also as a member of the board of township trustees and ten years as assessor for his precinct. Through his own well ordered efforts he has won worthy success and in addition to being the owner of a valuable farm property he is shareholder of the Farmers' Elevator Company at Pickrell.

RICHARD W. GRANT is a leading representative of the architect's profession in southeastern Nebraska and is estabUshed in business in the city of Beatrice. He was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, on the 5th of January, 1862, and is a son of John N. and Emma (Batty) Grant. The father was born at Chillicothe, Ohio, in 1822, and his death occurred in 1894. The mother was born in England, in 1827, and was summoned to the life eternal on Christmas day of the year 1911. Of the six children the subject of this review was the second in order of birth and all save one of the number are living - Sarah is a resident of Seattle, Washington; James E. lives at Wenatchee, that state, where he is engaged in the hotel business; Edwin W., a mining engineer, resides in the city of Portland, Oregon; and Charles E. is engaged in the banking business in the city of Seattle. John N. Grant was a child at the time of his parents' removal from Ohio to Illinois. In the latter state he eventually became a successful contractor and builder, and there he remained until 1869, when he came with his family to the new state of Nebraska and became a pioneer of Gage county. In Hanover township he made entry upon the last remaining homestead in the county, and here he continued his residence until 1875, when he removed from his farm to Beatrice. In the meanwhile, in addition to vigorously furthering the development and improving of his farm, he had continued his activities as a contractor and builder, and along this line he continued operations until 1888, when he retired and removed to Seattle, Washington, where he remained until his death. 'His political allegiance was given to the Republican party, but he had no ambition for public office.

Richard W. Grant was eight years old when the family home was established on the pioneer farm in Gage county, and in addition to receiving in his youth the advantages of the public schools of Beatrice he pursued higher studies in the University of Illinois. He trained himself most thoroughly in the technical and applicatory work of the architectural profession, of which he has been an exponent during his entire independent career and in which his success has been of unequivocal order. He has been continuously engaged in the practice of his profession in Beatrice since 1889, and he has given special attention to the designing of public buildings, including publi^ schools. Many fine structures of modern architectural design and facilities attest his technical skill and his fidelity as a supervising architect. He has designed and supervised the erection of fully seventy high and grade school buildings - in Nebraska, Kansas, olorado, and South Dakota - and his reputation in his profession has far transcended mere local limitations. Numerous churches, business buildings, and residences in Gage county stand as monuments to the ability of Mr. Grant, and not the least of these is the beautiful edifice of the Hanover Lutheran church, which stands near the site of the little log school house in which he received his early educational discipline, he and his sister having walked a distance of three and one-half miles from their home to attend this primitive institution of learning.

In 1887 was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Grant to Miss Ida M. Schell, who was born at Peoria, Illinois, a daughter of Charles L. Schell, her father having been a large property holder and prominent real-estate dealer after coming to Nebraska, in 1876, and having died at Walla Walla, Washington, while on a trip through the west. Mr. and Mrs. Grant have seven children - Mrs. Robert E. Kyle, of Fort Worth, Texas; Mrs. Henry Randall, whose husband is a stock ranchman in Nebraska; Mrs. Rudolph O. Sheldon, of Kansas City, Missouri; Richard S., a pharmacist by profession, resides at Beatrice and now in government military service at Base Hospital No. 49; Rachel remains at the parental home; Joseph N. is a farmer and stockgrower in Gage county; John Harmon is at the parental home and is attending the public schools.

Mr. Grant is found aligned staunchly in the ranks of the Republican party, and he and his wife are active members of the Christian church in their home city. Mr. Grant is the owner of a model farm of one hundred and sixty acres, in Riverside township, about two miles southeast of Beatrice, and on this fine rural estate he and his family maintain their home. He here raises fullblood Holstein cattle and Hampshire swine.

LUCIEN E. NOBLE, M. D., a representative physician and surgeon of Gage county, is established in the successful practice of his profession at Holmesville, and his important clientage, disseminated widely through the district about his home city, indicates aUke his technical skill and his personal popularity. The Doctor was born at Lincoln, Logan county, Illinois, August 14, 1871, and is a son of George P. and Sallie A. (Webb) Noble, both natives of Kentucky, where each was born in the year 1828, their marriage having been solemnized at Richmond, Kentucky. In 1861 George P. Noble removed to Illinois, where he became a prosperous farmer and a prominent buyer and shipper of live-stock. There he passed the residue of his life and he was forty-four years of age at the time of his death, in 1872. His widow long survived him and in 1881 she came with her children to Nebraska and established her home at Aurora, Hamilton county, where she was summoned to eternal rest in 1896, at the age of sixty-eight years. Of the seven children four are living - Louisa, who is the wife of Charles Dixon, of Ottawa, Kansas ; George, who is a farmer near Aurora, Hamilton county, Nebraska; Isaiah, who is engaged in the meat-market business in Kansas City, Missouri; and Dr. Lucien L., who is the immediate subject of this review. The father was. a Democrat in politics before the Civil war, but at that time changed his allegiance to the Republican party. He was affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and served as master of his lodge, both he and his wife having been members of the Christian church.

Dr. Noble was about nine years old at the time of the family removal to Nebraska and in the public schools of Hamilton county he continued his studies until his graduation in the Aurora high school, as a member of the class of 1891. In preparation for his exacting profession he entered Northwestern Medical College, at St. Joseph, Missouri, and from the same he received in 1894 the degree of Doctor of Medicine. His professional novitiate was served at Roseland, Adams county, Nebraska, where he remained four months, and since that time he has been engaged in active general practice at Holmesville, where he has achieved success of unequivocal order. He is an active member of the Gage County Medical Society, the Nebraska State Medical Society, and the American Medical Association. His political support is given to the Republican party and he takes loyal interest in all things touching the welfare of his home village and county. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity and is also a member of the lodge of the Benevolent & Protective Order of Elks in the city of Beatrice.

In 1895 Dr. Noble wedded Miss Minnie Will, a daughter of the late Frank M. and EHza A. (Houtz) Will, the former of whom died in 1909 and the latter on the 11th of November, 1917, Mr. Will having been a representative farmer of Gage county. Dr. and Mrs. Noble have three children - Roy, Leslie, and Marie. Roy is, in 1918, a member of the sophomore class in the University of Nebraska, and Leslie is a student in the Beatrice high school.

HENRY JANZEN. - Known and valued as one of the enterprising and representative agriculturists and stock-growers of Gage county, Mr. Janzen is the owner of a well improved farm of one hundred and sixty acres, in Section 33, Blakely township. He was born in western Prussia, on the 1st of February, 1858, and is a son of David and Helena (Thun) Janzen. He was the second in a family of five children, the fifth having died in infancy and the others, David, Jacob, and Herman, being still residents of Prussia, where the parents passed their entire lives.

To the excellent schools of his native land Henry Janzen is indebted for his youthful education and there he continued his alliance with farm enterprise from his boyhood until September 7, 1877, when, owing primarily to the governmental denial of the religious rights of the Mennonites, of which he is a zealous representative, he left the fatherland and set forth on the voyage to the United States, assured of freedom to live in accord with the dictates of his conscience and faith after he had established his home in the democratic nation to which he has since paid the fullest measure of loyalty and appreciation. Mr. Janzen landed in New York City and shortly afterward came to Gage county, where he arrived in 1877. For the first few years he was here employed at farm work, in the service of Bernard Reimer and Elijah Filley, and his wages averaged from ten to fifteen dollars a month. In 1881 he returned to his native land, where he remained from March untii September, and upon coming again to Gage county he here continued to work as a farm employe until 1883, wheii he not only purchased a farm of one hundred and sixty acres, four miles northwest of Beatrice, but also fortified himself further by taking unto himself the gracious young wife who has proved his faithful helpmeet and companion. He made good improvements on his farm and there continued his activities until 1901, when he sold the property to advantage. For the ensuing two years he farmed on rented land southeast of Beatrice, and he then rented the HoUingwood farm, east of that city, where he continued his productive operations for seven years. He then, in 1910, purchased his present farm, which, under his progressive and able management, he has made one of the model places of Blakely township. He is independent in politics, giving his support to men and measures meeting the approval of his judgment, and he and his family are earnest members of the Mennonite church.

On the 29th of March, 1883, Mr. Janzen wedded Miss Magdalene Penner, who was born and reared in Prussia, where her parents passed their entire lives. She came to the United States and established her residence in Gage county in 1881. Mr. and Mrs. Janzen became the parents of eight children, of whom two died young; Mary is the wife of Kurt Wiebe, of Saline county; Helena, Henry, Anna, and Gustav remain at the parental home; Agatha is the wife of Henry Franz, their marriage having occurred August 24, 1917; Miss Anna is numbered among the successful and popular teachers in the schools of this county, she being at the time of this writing, in the winter of 1917-1918, in charge of the well ordered school of District 21, in Blakely township. Miss Anna Janzen, an efficient young representative of the pedagogic profession, was born and reared in Gage county and after having profited by the advantages of the district schools she entered the Beatrice high school, in which she was graduated as a member of the class of 1915. Thereafter she efifectively fortified herself for her chosen profession by taking a course in the Nebraska State Normal School at Peru. Her initial service as a teacher was given in the autumn of 1913, and her work has been of most excellent order in the various schools that have received her attention, she being at the present time the teacher in her home district.

JOHN B. PARKER. - Though he has passed the allotted span of, three-score years and ten, this sterling pioneer of Gage county is vigorously and successfully conducting in the city of Beatrice the leading harness and saddlery establishment of Gage county, and it was his also to have developed in the pioneer era one of the valuable farm properties of the county.

Mr. Parker was born at South Petherton, Somersetshire, England, on the 21st of July, 1843, and is a son of William and Mary Parker, who became -the parents of three sons and two daughters, all of whom are now deceased except the subject of this review, who was the youngest son. William Parker was bom in the year 1800 and was for many years engaged in the work of his trade, that of shoemaker, at South Petherton, where his death occurred in 1884. His wife, who likewise was born in 1800, was ninety-three years of age at the time of her death, in 1893.

John B. Parker acquired his youthful education in the schools of his native town and he was a lad of fourteen years when he came to America and made his way to Bremer county, Iowa, where he found employment on the pioneer farm of one of his older brothers. There he continued to attend school during the winter terms until he was about twenty years old. In 1861 he went to Wisconsin, where he continued his connection with agricultural industry until 1863, when he joined another of his brothers, Samuel J., at Rochelle, Illinois. There he served under the direction of his brother a thorough apprentice- ship to the trade of harnessmaker, and eventually he became a partner in the business, this effective fraternal alliance continuing twelve years. Impaired health finally required that Mr. Parker should find less sedentary occupation and in 1878 he came to Gage county, Nebraska, and purchased a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Elm township. He returned to lUinois, but in 1879 he removed with his family to the new home in Nebraska. He reclaimed this farm and developed the same into one of the valuable properties of Gage county, his activities as a farmer having there continued until 1885, when he removed to Beatrice and resumed the work of his trade. Here he became associated with his brother Samuel J. in establishing the harness and saddlery business which they conducted until 1888, when he assumed full ownership of the substantial business, which he has since carried on most successfully in an individual way. A skilled artisan at his trade, Mr. Parker gives approval only to high-grade work, and thus the major part of the harness sold in his establishment is there manufactured according to the oldtime methods, but with the aid of modem machinery and accessories. The establishment has the largest and most complete stock of harness and saddlery goods in Gage county, and its reputation constitutes a most valuable asset, for here is given fair and square dealing and most efficient service.

A citizen of worth and of distinct public spirit, Mr. Parker has always taken lively interest in local affairs and he is found aligned in the ranks of the Republican party. He served six years as a member of the Beatrice board of education and five years as a member of the city council. He has been an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church since 1862 and has been at various times an official of the same. He is now the earnest and valued teacher of the senior men's class in the Sunday school of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Beatrice, his wife having given equally effective service as a teacher of a class of senior ladies and being also active in the missionary work of the church.

October 14, 1873, recorded the marriage of Mr. Parker to Miss Mary E. Clute, of Elgin, Illinois. She was born in the central part of the state of New York and is a daughter of Rev. Martin V. and Nancy (Fairbanks) Clute, her father having given many years of consecrated service as a clergyman of the Free Methodist church. Mr. and Mrs. Parker have three children: Nellie May remains at the parental home ; Alice Irene is the wife of Ray W. Weaverling, of Beatrice; and William M. is now a resident of Pryor, Oklahoma.

JOHN G. HERETH. - Thrift and prosperity are clearly shown in the general appearance of the fine farm estate owned and operated by Mr. Hereth, who is the owner of two hundred acres of the admirable land of Gage county, his homestead place, of one hundred and twenty acres, being situated in Section 8, Clatonia township, and the remaining eighty acres in Section 5, that township. He is known as one of the vigorous and substantial agriculturists and stock-growers of the county and is a representative of that fine German element of citizenship that has played important part in the social and industrial development and progress of this section of the state.

Mr. Hereth was bom in Bavaria, Germany, January 17, 1867, and is a son of John and Margaret (Lauterbach) Hereth, of whose four children he is the youngest; Margaret is the wife of George Mitzell, of Campbell, Franklin county, this state; Henrietta, who became the wife of Simon Hartmann, is deceased; and Anna is the wife of J. M. Betz, of Lincoln, the fair capital city of Nebraska.

John Hereth, father of the subject of this review, was born in Bavaria, in April, 1840, and there he continued to reside until 1883, when he came with his family to the United States and settled in Clatonia township, Gage county, Nebraska. He became the owner of one hundred and sixty acres of land in Section 12, and after having here been actively engaged in general farm industry for thirteen years he removed to the western part of the state and settled in Red Willow county. After having there continued his activities as a farmer for a period of seven years he removed to the state of Washington, where he passed the remainder of his life, his death having occurred at Snohomish, that state, in September, 1900, and his earnest religious faith having been that of the German Lutheran church. After the death of his first wife he wedded Anna Rocholz, prior to coming to America, and she still maintains her home in the state of Washington. Of their union were bom nine children, Michael and Martin being residents of Washington ; Katherine being the wife of John Hunke, of Lyndon, Osage county, Kansas; Margaret being the wife of John Riechers, who is individually mentioned on other pages of this volume; Rena being the wife of George Stocker, a resident of the state of Washington, where Frederick, next in order of birth, also maintains his home ; Conrad being a resident of Oregon and George of Washington ; and the youngest of the number being Lisette, who is the wife of J. Conrad, of Washington.

John G. Hereth acquired his early education in the excellent schools of his native land and was a youth of seventeen years at the time of the family immigration to the United States. After his arrival in Gage county he worked three years as a farm hand, at a compensation averaging eighteen dollars a month. Thereafter he farmed rented land about five years, and in 1895 he purchased a tract of one hundred and twenty-seven acres near Waverly, Lancaster county. He brought forty acres of this raw prairie land under effective cultivation and erected a house and other buildings on the place, besides setting out trees and making other excellent improvements of a permanent order. In 1902 Mr. Hereth sold this farm and returned to Gage county, where he purchased his present homestead, about the only notworthy improvement on which was a well. He first erected a small house, and this sufficed as the family home until 1904, when he built his present modern and attractive house of eight rooms, besides which he has improved the farm with a barn that is fiftytwo by fifty-four feet in dimensions. His prpgressiveness and good judgment have so come into play as to make his one of the model farms of Clatonia township. In politics he is a staunch Democrat and he served continuously from 1911 to 1917 as assessor of Clatonia township. For the past fourteen years he has been a director of school district No. 47. Both he and his wife are zealous communicants of the German Lutheran church and he is secretary of the church organization of this denomination in his home community. Mr. Hereth is a stockholder of the farmers' co-operative elevator at Clatonia and also that at Wilber, Saline county, from which latter place his home receives service on rural mail route No. 2. He is likewise a stockholder of the German Supply Company, of Lincoln.

On the 17th of April, 1893, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Hereth to Miss Minnie Heller, who was born in Germany and who came with her parents to the United States in 1888. Mrs. Hereth is a daughter of William and Anna (Britt) Heller, who are now residents of Otterndorf, province of Hanover, Germany, they having returned to their native land in 1901 and Mrs. Hereth being their only child. Mr. Heller became one of the substantial farmers of Clatonia township. Gage county, where he and his wife continued to reside until their return to their fatherland. Mr. and Mrs. Hereth have nine children, all of whom remain at the parential home except the eldest two, - Edwin, who is a successful farmer of Clatonia township and Anna, who is the wife of William Lueders, of Highland township. Those who are members of the ideal home circle are William, Frederick, Benjamin O., Lisette, Arnelia, Alice and Loretta, and the parents have taken pride in giving to all of the children excellent educational advantages.

GEORGE M. JOHNSTON. - As manager of the office and sales departments of the well established business of the Dole Floral Company, Mr. Johnston has been a valued factor in the development of this substantial enterprise in the city of Beatrice and takes satisfaction in his association with a concern that bases its operations upon the best of modern faciHties, the company's conservatories and propagating grounds being such as to make possible the rendering of a metropolitan service to patrons.

Mr. Johnston was bom in the city of Peoria, Illinois, on the 13th of February, 1876, and was thirteen years of age at the tirrie of the family removal to Gage county, Nebraska, where he was reared to adult age and profited fully by the advantages of the public schools. He has been manager of the Dole Floral Company since 1912, and under his supervision the business has been doubled in volume within the intervening period. He is one of the vital and progressive factors in the business circles of Beatrice and here his circle of friends is coincident with that of his acquaintances. Twice each year Mr. Johnston makes extended trips throughout the company's extended trade territory, these trips being mainly for the purpose of personal conference with the various agents of the company and other persons handling products from the extensive Beatrice greenhouses of this progressive business corporation.

In the year 1900 Mr. Johnston wedded Miss Anna Dole, of Beatrice, daughter of J. G. and Sophia H. (Hooker) Dole, and they have one child, Marjorie.

Concerning the Dole family full record is made on other pages, in the sketches of Mrs. Sophia H. Dole and Edward W. Dole, with additional data in the review of the Dole Floral Company.

PHILIP BINDERNAGteL. - The activities of this sterling pi6ne;er citizen of -Gage county have been the positive expression of a strong, vigorous and self-reliant personality, and he is one of the resourceful men who came to Nebraska in the territorial epoch of the history of this now favored commonwealth and who numbered himself among the pioneer settlers of Gage county, which was virtually on the frontier at the time when he here established his home. He proved himself well equipped for coping with the adverse forces that ever come into evidence in the opening of a new country to civilization and progress, Now venerable in years, Mr. Bindernagel is living retired in the city of Beatrice, but as tangible evidence of the prosperity that has attended his former years of earnest endeavor is his ownership of a valuable landed estate of four hundred and eighty acres in Gage county, the same being situated in Blakely and Lincoln townships, besides which he owns an estate of equal area in Sherman county, Kansas.

Mr. Bindernagel is a representative of that fine element of German citizenship that has played so large and worthy a part in connection with the development and upbuilding of Gage county, and his civic loyalty has ever been on a parity with his deep appreciation of the advantages and opportunities afforded him in the land of his adoption. He was born in Prussia, on the 28th of January, 1838, and thus will have celebrated his eightieth birthday anniversary ere this history is issued from the press. He is a son of Philip and Marie (Friend) Bindernagel, both of whom passed their entire lives in Germany, v^rhere the father devoted the major part of his active career to the vocation of butcher. Philip Bindernagel, Sr., was born December 6, 1806, and his death occurred in June, 1844. His wife was bom January 6, 1810, and was summoned to the life eternal in September, 1867, both having been devoted members of the Lutheran church. They became the parents of five children and the first two Mrs. Elizabeth Haen and Andrew are deceased; Philip, Jr., of this review, was the third child ; and as the younger two, Frederick and Katherline, likewise are deceased, he is now the only one of the children living.

In his native land Mr. Bindernagel duly profited by the advantages of the national schools and there also he served a thorough apprenticeship to the trade of baker, in which he became a skilled workman. In 1857, as an ambitious young man of nineteen years, he removed from his native land to England, where he continued his residence until 1863, and where he gained an excellent command of the English language, so that he had this knowledge as a valuable reinforcement when he came to the United States. He landed in the port of New York city on the 4th of August, 1863, and for the ensuing three years he was employed at his trade, in the national metropolis. His vital energy then led him to come to the west, the progressive spirit of which section of the Union made special appeal to him. In the year 1866, about one year prior to the admission of Nebraska to statehood, Mr. Bindernagel established his residence near Cottonwood Springs, to which locality he proceeded from Nebraska City by means of the plodding ox team and a wagon. He located at Cottonwood Springs where he brought his trade into effective play by associating himself with his cousin, Frederick Kees, in the conducting of a little restaurant and bakery of primitive facilities. Twelve months later - very soon after the admission of Nebraska to the Union - Mr. Bindernagel obtained from the government a homestead of hundred and sixty acres of land near the site of the present village of Filley, Gage county, this original homestead having been in the township that now bears the name of Filley. He utilized an ox team in breaking the virgin prairie, showed his enterprise and good judgment by setting out a goodly number of trees on his claim, and otherwise made good improvements of a permanent order. He continued activities as a farmer and stock -grower on his original homestead until 1873, when he exchanged the property for a farm of 160 acres in Blakely township, four miles west of Beatrice. He judiciously made further investment in Gage county farm property, and, as previously noted in this context he is now the owner of a specially well improved and valuable landed estate of four hundred and eighty acres in this county, besides which he has shown equal progressiveness in improving his large landed property in Sherman county, Kansas. He continued to reside upon his home farm until December 13, 1915, when, about three years after the death of his devoted wife, he removed to the city of Beatrice. Here he has since lived retired from active business, save that he continues to give a general supervision to his extensive realestate interests and incidental farm enterprise, his eldest daughter presiding over the pleasant home which he has provided at 815 Lincoln street in the capital city of Gage county.

Mr. Bindernagel entered with utmost loyalty into the communal activities making for development and progress after he had established his residence on his original homestead, and in this connection it may be noted that he gave effective assistance in establishing the first school in what is now Filley township and that his lively interest in educational affairs met with such popular appreciation that he was retained for fully thirty-five years as a member of the school board of his district. He assisted also in the organizing of the Lutheran church in Blakely township, of which he and his wife became influential members. While he has had no ambition for political office he has accorded a loyal support to the cause of the Republican party and has taken deep interest in public affairs, especially those of local order.

On the 25th of August, 1872, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Bindernagel to Miss Margaret Marschall, who was born in Germany, October 22, 1850, and who was there reared and educated. She came to America in the autumn of 1870, and within less than two years thereafter became the wife of Mr. Bindernagel, to whom she proved a devoted companion and helpmeet during the remainder of her earnest and kindly life. She was called to the life eternal, on the 23d of February, 1913. Of their union were bom six children, concerning whom brief record is made in conclusion of this review : Miss Rosa remains with her venerable father and is the popular chatelaine of their pleasant home in the city of Beatrice ; Philip A. is one of the representative exponents of farm industry in Blakely township, where he operates one of his father's farms ; David is similarly engaged in Lincoln township ; Elizabeth is the wife of George Stevens, of Lincoln township; Caroline died August 24, 1909, at the age of twentyeight years; and Emma is the wife of L. K. Stevens, who has the active charge of the old homestead farm of her father, in Blakely township.

HUGH J. DOBBS, the author of the historical part of this volume, was born in Taney county, state of Missouri, on the 28th day of September, 1849. He is the second son and the second of eleven children born to Fidillo Hunter and Mary Jane Dobbs. His ancestry and family history are set forth with some detail in the biography of his parents which appears elsewhere in this work.