Richardson County, Nebraska - Biographical sketches, 1917 (part 14 of 19)

August Suess was born in the \illage of Graben. near the city of Karlsruhe, capital of the grand duchy of Baden, and grew to manhood there, learning the trade of tailor. In 1857 he came to this country and after spending a short time at Chicago came West, in i860, and for some time thereafter was engaged as a farm hand in Holt count}-. [Missouri, presently coming across the river and buying a tract of land, a quarter of a section, in the precinct of Arago, in this county, for which he paid nine hundred dollar?-. In 1861 he married Katrina M. \\erner. also a native of Baden, born in the village of Graben, and who was a daughter of one of the earliest settlers in this section, and after his marriage established his home in the old village of Arago, going across the river to Corning to work. A \ear later he moved onto his farm and proceeded to break the soil with an ox-team, presentlj^ getting the place under cultivation. It was about 1861 that August Suess bought that pioneer farm and he lived there until his retirement from the farm many years later and removal to Falls City, where he is now living at the age of eighty years. His wife died in 1907, she then being fifty-seven years of age. They were the parents of six children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being Philip E., born in 1862, now living at Centerville, Kansas; August, born in 1864, who died in that same year; Henry, born in 1868, died in that same year; Mrs. Louise K. Poitner, born in 1880, now deceased, and Mrs. Mary Daeschner, of Falls City, born in 1873. August Suess took an active part in the development of his section of the county in pioneer days and during and after the Civil \Var period served as a member of the local militia. He was a good farmer and became a substantial landowner.

Louis M. Suess was reared on the farm on which he was born, received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and became a practical farmer. Until his marriage, in the spring of 1890, Mr. Suess remained on the home farm and after his marriage he rented a farm and began farming on his own account, becoming quite successful in his operations. He later bought a bit of land, afterward inherited another piece of land and in 1916 bought from Ernest Smechel the farm on which he is now living in section 31 of Arago precinct and where he and his family are verv comfortably situated. He is now the owner of two hundred and si.xty acres, owning land also in sections 10 and 16 of that same precinct. Mr. Suess is a Republican and has, even from the days of his boyhood given his earnest attention to local political affairs. For twc years he served as assessor for his home precinct, for three years was justice of the peace in and for that precinct and has also served as a member of the school board, to the duties of these several public offices ever giving his faithful and intelligent attention.

On April 8, 1890, Louis M. Suess was united in marriage to Julia Schindler, who was born in western Missouri in July, 1866, a daughter of John and Zelia (Velenia) Schindler, natives, respectively, of Germany and of Switzerland, who were the parents of five children, one son and four daughters. Years ago John Schindler left Missouri and went West, where he spent his last days. His widow is still living, now a resident of Omaha, this state. Her son, Conrad H. Schindler, is a farmer in Ohio precinct, this countv. To Louis M. and Julia ( Schindler ) Suess have been born tliiee suns. August, Paul and Ernest, wlio are helping in the direction of their father's farm lands. The family are members of the German Evangelical Lutheran church and have ever given proper attention to church work, as well as to other neighlxirhood good works and the general social activities of their home community.

One of the most successful of the younger physicians of Richardson countx . is Dr. Leroy T. Petersen, of Humboldt, who. knowing at the outset that success in medicine, one of the most exacting of the professions, was to be gained only by close application and untiring perseverance, has left no stone unturned whereby he might become properly equipped for efficiency in his chosen life work. He was born in Omaha, Nebraska. February 15, 1885. He is a son of Soren T. and Margaret Petersen, natives of Denmark and Germany, respectively. The father emigrated to the United States in 1868, establishing his home in the city of Omaha, where he dealt successfully in real-estate business. His death occurred there in 1912. His widow is now living with her daughter in Portland, Oregon. The Petersen family moved to Oregon in 1894, and there they continued to reside until in 1907, when they moved back to Nebraska.

Leroy T. Petersen spent his early lx)yho.od in Omaha, where he attended the public schools. After going to the Pacific coast he studied in the Uni- \ersity of Oregon, at Eugene, for two years. Then the family moved to McMinnville. Oregon, and there he continued hi.s studies in the academy, also studied at the McMinnville College, from which institution he was graduated with the Degree of Bachelor of Science in 1906. Upon returning to Omaha, the following year, he began his medical course in Creighton L'niversity, where he made an excellent record and was graduated widi the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1912. After practicing his profession in Omaha a short time he decided to further equip himself for his professional duties before settling down to permanent practice: consequently he went to Europe in 1913. making a tour of the continent and studying at the medical clinics at Menna and other cities, being under some of the most eminent medical authorities of the world. Returning to Nebraska in December, 1913. he located at Humboldt, where he has since engaged in general practice. He succeeded from the start and now enjoys a large and lucrative patronage and stands high in the medical profession of southeastern Nebraska. He has remained a close student of all that pertains to his profession and therefore keeps well abreast of the times.

Doctor Peterson was married in May, 1913, to Emma Kretzschmar. of Omalia, where she was reared and educated. To this union a son has been born, Leroy T., Jr., whose birth occurred on March 29, 1915. Doctor Petersen is a Republican. He belongs to the American Medical Association, the Nebraska State Medical Society and the Richardson County Medical Society and is also a member of the local lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Woodmen of the ^^'orld and the Knights and Ladies of Security.

Edward W. Cummings

Edward W. Cummings, one of the substantial and progressive farmers of Richardson county and the owner of a fine place in the precinct of Grant, is a native son of Nebraska and has lived in this state all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm over in the adjoining county of Pawnee on October 25, 1872, son of Patrick and Nora (Kenton) Cummings, natives of Ireland and pioneers of this section, and the latter of whom is still living.

Patrick Cummings, who was born in 1844, was but a lad of fifteen when he came to this country and settled in Vermont. There he grew to manhood, remaining there until he was aljout twenty-three years of age. when, in 1867, he came to the new state of Nebraska, this state having been admitted to the Union in that year, and settled in Pawnee county. After coming out here he married Nora Fenton. who also was born in Ireland, in 1837, and who had come to this country with her mother when a girl, the family first locating in Connecticut, whence they came to Nebraska and became pioneers of this section of the state. After his niarriag<> I'atrick Cummings established his home on a farm in Pawnee county and there developed a fine bit of property. On that farm he spent his last days, his death occurring there in 1890. His widow still survives. They were the parents of five children, three of whom are still living, the suljject of this sketch having a brother, T. P. Cummings, of Dawson, this county, and a sister, Mrs. Catherine Walsh, of Pierre, South Dakota.

I2I4 Richardsox County, Nebraska

his early schooling in the district schools of that neighborhood, supplementing the same by attendance at St. Mary's College for three terms. From the days of his boyhood he was a valued assistant to his father in the labors of developing and improving the home farm and has always been a farmer. He became the owner of his first farm in 1897, the year of his marriage, he then being twenty-four years of age. and continued a resident of Pawnee county, farming his place there, until 1905, when he sold that farm and moved over into Richardson county and bought his present farm in the precinct of Grant, where he has since made his home and where he and his family are very pleasantly and very comfortably situated. In addition to the well-improved ^quarter section on which he makes his home, Mr. Cummings is the owner of another farm, a tract of one hundred and eighty acres, in the Nemaha bottoms south of Dawson, and is recognized as one of the well-to-do farmers of the Dawson neighborhood. He is a Republican, but in local elections is inclined to take an independent view of the issues involved, reserving his right to vote for the man instead of the party.

On September 8, 1897, Edward \N. Cummings was united in marriage to Xora Clancy, who was born in Jewell county, Kansas, January 17, 1878, daughter of Patrick and Johanna (O'Brien) Clancy, natives of Ireland and early settlers in Kansas, who later came over the line into Nebraska and settled in this county, where their last days were spent. Patrick Clancy was born in 1840 and Johanna O'Brien was born in 1841. With their respective parents they came to this country in the days of their childhood and were reared in New Jersey, where they were married. In 1875 they came West and settled in Jewell county, Kansas, where they remained until in February, 1878, when they came up into Nebraska and located on a farm in the jirecinct of Grant, in this county,- where they -prospered and where they reared their family, remaining there the rest of their lives. Mrs. Clancv died in 1904 and Mr. Clancy survived until February, 1913. They were the parents of five children, those besides Mrs. Cummings being as follow: Mrs. ^largaret Zimmerman, of Lincoln, this state: Mary, wife of James (^'Gracly, of Grant precinct, this county; Johanna, wife of John O'Grady, of that same precinct, and Mrs. Kate- O'Connell, wife of Bryan O'Connell, of that same precinct.

To Edward W. and Nora (Clancy) Cummings one child has been born, a son. Patrick, who died on October 3, 1915, at the age of fifteen vears. Mr. and Mrs. Cummings are members of the Catholic church and take a proper interest in parish affairs, as well as in tlie general social activities and good works of the community in which they live. Mr. Cummings is a member of the Dawson council of the Knights of Cohmibus and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization.

Bryax O'Connell

Bryan OConnell, substantial and prosperous stockman and farmer, owner of two hundred and ten acres of prime land in section 21, Grant township, was born at Chicago, Illinois, on March 11, 1866. He is the son of Michael and Margaret (Maloney) O'Connell, natives of Ireland, born in County Clare, that country, the former in 1825.

Michael O'Connell left the Emerald Isle when he was about twenty-one years old and on arriving in the United States, went on to Chicago, where he lived up to about 1865. In the latter year he moved to Wisconsin, where he resided until 1875, in which year he came to Richardson county. His first purchase of land in this state was a tract of one hundred and sixty acres near Shubert. The nearest market places to his farm were Falls City and Brownville. In common with other early settlers he suffered from the ravages of the grasshopper plague. After these pests had winged their final flight, his farming operations prospered and he gradually added to his land holdings, owning for some years before his retirement four hundred and forty acres of choice land. To Michael and Margaret (Maloney) O'Connell eight children were born, three of whom died in infancy, the others being Patrick, deceased; Thomas, who lives in Greeley county, this state; Bryan, the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Margaret Hanley, a widow, living in Sioux county, this state: Mary Ann, -who -married J. Ahern, lives in Shubert, and Mrs. Sarah Ramsey, living in Greeley county. Mr. O'Connell retired about twenty years ago from the active labors of the farm and moved to Spaulding, this state, where he is now living with his children at the advanced age of ninety-two years. His wife, whom he married at Buffalo, New York, died in 1904, having reached her seventy-eighth year. She was a member of the Catholic church, as is her husband, and their children were reared in the same faith.

Bryan O'Connell, the subject of this sketcli, was nine years old when liis parents came to Nebraska from Wisconsin. He attended the district and public schools at Shubert. After leaving school he helped his father with the work on the farm and when he was twenty-six years old he rented land from his father, who later ga\e him eight}' acres. This tract he iinpro\ed and fanned for five years, at the end of which time he sold out and bought his present farm of two hundred and ten acres in Grant township, which was all improved, and here he is engaged successfully in general farming and stock raising. He has built a cattle barn and feeds cattle and hogs during the winter season.

On November 26. 1894, Bryan O'Connell was united in marriage to Katherine Clancy, who was born in Jewell county, Kansas, daughter of Patrick and Johanna (O'Brien) Clancy, natives of County Tipperary. Ireland, who were married at Salem, New Jersey, and later went to Kansas and then to Nebraska, where they continued to reside up to the time of their deaths. To Mr. and Mrs. Bryan O'Connell four children have been born, namely: Marguerite, a graduate of the Convent of the Immaculate Conception at Hastings, this state, and now teaching in school district No. 20: Patrick, now attending Dawson high school, and Josephine, who attends the convent school at Dawson, and Michael, at home with their parents. Mr. O'Connell and his wife and children are members of the Catholic church. He is also a member of the Knights of Columbus.

Clyde V. Lum

Clyde v. Lum, is one of the successful lumber dealers of southeastern Nebraska. He was born on August 28, 1877, near Perry, in Boone county, Iowa, and is a son of George and Laura (Shepard) Lum. George Lum was born in Oswego county, New York, October 15, 1836, a son of Ransom Gehiel and Chloe (Abbott) Lum, natives of New York. He devoted his active life to farming and business. When a young man, in 1854, he went to Iowa with his two brothers and settled in Boone county. During the Civil War he enlisted in Company D, Second Iowa Cavalry, seeing much hard service and taking part in a number of important campaigns in the South. At the close of the war he was honorably discharged, having been in the service three years and three months. After the war he returned to Iowa and there continued farming until August, 1880, when he came to Nebraska, locating in Liberty precinct. Richardson county, and soon thereafter began dealing in lumber at Verdon, continuing in that business alone until 1903 when his son. Clyde \^ Lum, was admitted to partnership, and they built up a large and satisfactory business. The elder Lum

Me. And Mrs. George Lum

Avas a charter member of the local lodge of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He helped organize and start the \"erdon roller mills, and continued in business there until his death, which occurred on February 24, 1914. He was one of the influential men of his community.

George Lum was married in Iowa, Decernber 17, 1865, to Laura E. Shepard, who was born in Geneseo, Livingston county, New York, November II, 1848, a daughter of Chauncey K. and Laura (Bristol) Shepard, natives of Connecticut and Indiana, respectively. Chauncey K. Shepard died in New York in 1853, and his widow and children removed to Michigan and thence to Iowa. Mrs. Shepard came to Nebraska with Mr. and Mrs. Lum and died here in 1895. Mrs. Lum is still living at her old home in Verdon. Her father,. Chauncey K. Shepard, vyas born .in 1804 ^nd her mother was bom in 181 1, a daughter of Norton and Nancy (Stevens) Bristol, the former born in 1786 and the latter in 1784, who were married in 1808. Norton Bristol was. a son of x^bel Bristol, who was a son. of Aaron Bristol, who was a son of Eliphalet Bristol and wife, Esther Peck. Eliphalet Bristol was born in 1679 and died in 1757. Abel Bristol was a soldier in the patriot army during the Revolutionary War, a private in one of the New York regiments, under Capt. Elijah Bostwick. To George Lum and wife live children were born, namely : Fred, deceased ; Gertrude, who lives in Verdon with her mother; Clyde V., the subject of this sketch; Harry, who is also at home in \'erdon, and Roy, who resides in Dodge City, Kansas.

Clyde V. Lum was reared on the home farm in Liberty precinct, and received a common-school education at Verdon. He later studied at Doane College at Crete, Nebraska, and also took a course in the Gem City Business College at Quincy, Illinois. Thus well equipped for a commercial career he l)egan working in his father's lumber yard at Verdon ; in fact, he had assisted his father in the business all along during his school days, as time permitted. In 1903 he became partner with the elder Lum and he now owns one-half interest in the business, which he has done much to make a pronounced success. A large and carefully selected stock of all kinds of house-building- material is carried, commonly found in up-to-date lumber yards.

Mr. Lum was married on November 25, 1916, to Echo Ratclifl:, of Stratton, Nebraska. Politically, he is a Republican, but is inclined to vote independently. He is a member of the school board at Verdon. Fraternally, he lielongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He attends the Congregational church. (77)

David D. Reavis

David D. Rea\'is, head of the firm of Reavis & Son, funeral directors and dealers in furniture, at Falls City, and one of the best-known and most enterprising business men in that city, was born in Falls City and has lived there all his life, with the exception of a period during the days of his young^ manhood spent in proving up a homestead claim in Arizona. He was Ixjrn on December 19, 1867, son of Judge Isham Reavis, for years an honored resident of Falls City and further and fitting mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume.

Reared in Falls City, David D. Reavis received his early schooling there and upon completing the course in the local high school entered the University of Nebraska, pursuing there the literary course. When twenty-one years of age, in 1889, he went with his maternal uncle, John W. Dorrington, to Arizona, the uncle having a ranch there; and while there entered a claim to a homstead tract, which he "proved up" and then, in 1891, returned to Falls Cit)' and was married there in that year. Upon his return to Falls City, Mr. Reavis became.^ engaged there in the furniture and undertaking business, taking over the old establishment that had been founded by hfs grandfather, David Dorrington, in i860, and has ever since been engaged in that business, of recent years having in association with him his eldest son, David D. Reavis, Jr.. the firm doing business under the name of Reavis & Son, one of the best-known firms of its kind in eastern Nebraska. In addition to his business interests in Falls City, Mr. Reavis is an extensive landowner, continuing to own his Arizona tract, besides which be lias a farm of two hundred acres twelve miles north of Falls City and another farm a mile west of the city, to the general management of all of which places he gives considerable of his personal attention. Mr. Reavis is a Republican and has rendered public service to the community as a member of the school board and as a member of the city council, representing his ward in the latter body during the years 1912-14, a period of great development for Falls City, for it was during that term of the council that the city put in the general sewer system and started on its era of paving.

On March 4, 1891, David D. Reavis was united in marriage to Grace G. Yutzy. who also was born in Falls City, daughter of Dr. J. C. "S^itzy, furlher and fitting mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume, and to this union five children have been born, namely: David D., who completed his schooling in the University of Nebraska and is now associated with his father in the furniture and undertaking business, under the firm name of Reavis & Son; Grace, who also completed her schooling in the University of Nebraska and is now engaged as a member of the excellent teaching corps of the Falls City high school; Anna, who was graduated from the Illinois Woman's College at Jacksonville; Joseph C, who was graduated from the Falls City high school with the class of 191 7, and Nellie, who was born in 1908. Mr. and Mrs. Reavis are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take an interested part in the affairs of the same. Mr. Reavis is a Royal Arch Mason and a Knight Templar, affiliated with the blue lodge, the chapter and the commandery at Falls City, and is a member of the grand chapter, Royal Arch Masons, of the state of Nebraska, present grand master of the second veil. He also is identified with the local lodges of the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Order of United Workmen and the Modern Woodmen of America and takes an active interest in the affairs of all of these organizations. The Reavises have a very pleasant home at Falls City and have ever taken an interested part in the general social and cultural activities of their home town.

George W. LeClere, storekeeper on the great Margrave ranch in the precinct of Jefferson, this county, was born at Great Bend, countv seat of Barton county, Kansas, January 12, 1865, son of John B. and Julia ( Breuno ) LeClere, who were born on the Sioux reservation in Iowa and both of whom were of French and Pottawattomie descent. John B. LeClere and his wife were the parents of eight children, of whom but two are now living, the subject of this sketch having a brother, Frank LeClere, living in Pottawattomie county, Kansas.

Reared on a farm in the vicinity of Great Bend, George W. LeClere received his schooling in the schools of that place and when twentv-two years of age began to work on his own account as a farm hand. Later he became heir to a quarter of a section land in Pottawattomie county, and after a while sold the same and, in 1892, came to Richardson countv and settled on the Indian reservation in the precinct of Jefferson. The next year he married and began clerking in the Margrave Company store and has ever since been connected with that establishment, one of the bestknown business men in that part of the county.

grave, who was born on June 2. 1871. daughter of William A. Margrave and wife, the former of whom was the founder of the great Margrave estate, now controlled by his heirs under the corporate name of the William A. Margrave Company, and further and fitting mention of which family and the extensive ranch interests it controls is made elsewhere in this volume, jn a biographical sketch of William C. i\Iargrave, president of the ]\Iargrave Company and eldest brother of Mrs. LeClere. To Mr. and Mrs. LeClere four children have been born, namely: Ruby, a son, at home; Marguerite, who is in school at Baldwin, Kansas : Walter, who is in high school at Hiawatha, and Stewart, deceased.

Isaac S. Clark

The late Isaac S. Clark, who at the time of his death, in the fall of 1897, was recognized as one of the most substantial pioneer citizens and one of the real "old settlers" of the Verdon neighborhood in this county, was a native of the great Empire state, but had been a resident of this county practically continuously since the spring of 1857, and had thus been a witness to and a participant in the wonderful development of this region since the days of the early pioneers. His widow, who is still living on the old home place in the immediate vicinity of Verdon, is now the oldest settler in the precinct of Liberty, in this county, and her recollections of events in relation to the days of the pioneers hereabout are vivid and distinct, her memories of those days making her a veritable "mine of information" regarding the early history of this county.

Isaac S. Clark was born at Holland Patent, in Oneida county. New York, March 28, 1824, the tenth in order of birth of the thirteen children born to Asa and Polly (Shear) Clark, both of English ancestry and members of old New England families, who had become early established at Holland Patent. Reared on his father's farm. Isaac S. Clark completed his schooling in the local academy and in the Whitesboro high school, and remained at home, working the paternal farm "on the shares," until he was twenty-five years of age, when, in 1849, he went South and at Mobile, Alabama, became engaged in the daguerreotype business in association with his brother-in-law, L. C. Barnes, and was thus engaged for eight years, at the end of which time failing health impelled him to seek a new home in the then far West; and in the spring of 1857 he came out here into the then Territory of Nebraska, which at that time comprised all of the former Indian country from the Territory of Kansas to the Dominion line on the north and to the Rockies on the west, and entered a claim to a quarter of a section of land near the present site of the village of Verdon, in the precinct of Liberty, this county, paying the government one dollar and twentyfive cents an acre for the same, that tract now being one of the best-improved and richest farms in the state of Nebraska. Upon making his location here Mr. eiark bethought him that it would be fitting to ask a partner to share his pioneer home with him and he returned to his old home in New York, and in March, 1858, married there his old sweetheart and returned straightway to his claim out here on the plains and he and his wife established their home. About four years later, meanwhilfe having started things goingall right on their place here, Mr. Clark and his wife returned to New York and became there engaged in business with his brother-in-law, Gharle.s J. Coates, and was thus engaged for three years, at the end of which time he returned to his home in this county and here spent the remainder of' his life, becoming very successful in his farming and other operations. He was one of the promoters of the ^'erdon State Bank and held a considerable' ' block of stock in the same, also having other interests hereabout, and at the time of his death on October 12, 1897, was accounted one of the mt)sf substantial citizens of the Verdon neighborhood. In 1864 Mr. Clark had joined the Baptist church and was a faithful worker in the same, for years serving as a deacon. He was an ardent temperance worker and in other ways contributed of his time and his energies to the advancement and upbuilding of the community of wTiich 'he had been so active a personal factor since pioneer days. In 1858, the year after Isaac S. Clark had entered his claim here, his brother, George W. Clark, came out here with his family and pre-empted a tract of land with a view to establishing his home here on the plains, but died in October of that same year, leaving a widow and an infant son, the latter of whom, George Denison Clark, now a resident of Jefferson county, this state, was born on September 9, 1858. George W. Clark's widow, who was born in Oneida county. New York, daughter of Alvin Dennison and wife, died in Kansas in 1870. Her son, George

It was on March 3, 1858. in Oneida county. New York, that Isaac S. Clark was imited in marriage to Eliza S. Coates, who was born in that county on June 11, 1838, a daughter of Eliphalet and Eliza (Jackson)

Coates, both members of old New England families, the former a son of Eliphalet Coates, of Connecticut, who had moved over into the timber country in New York state and has there hewed out a homestead in the forests of Oneida county. When Mr. and Mrs. Clark came here to make their home in 1858 they were accompanied by William Henry Coates, a brother of Mrs. Clark, who filed on a claim in this county and here remained until 1863, when he returned to his old home in New York state and there very successful engaged in the dairy business, remaining there the rest of his life, his death occurring on August 15, 1900. He was born on Februarv 9, 1828. Mrs. Clark was but a little past twenty years of age when she came out here on the plains as a bride in the spring of 1858 to make her home amid pioneer conditions and she has seen this region develop from its primitive state, the habitation and abiding place of the aboriginals, to its present highly cultivated and prosperous condition and has done well her share in the development of the social and cultural life of the community which she has watched grow up from the days of the very beginning of a social order out here; she now being, as noted above, the oldest continuous resident of Liberty precinct. Mrs. Clark was reared in the Baptist Missionary faith and has always taken an interested and useful part in local church work and in other local benevolent work and is held in high esteem throughout the whole Verdon neighborhood, as well as wherever she is known throughout the county.

Charles G. Henderson

"Charles G. Henderson, one of Richardson county's real "old settlers" and the proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred and eighty acres in the vicinity of Verdon, who is now living retired in that pleasant village, had his first acquaintance with Nebraska back in 1856, but did not become a permanent resident of this county until 1865: since which time he has been a continuous resident of the county and has, therefore, seen all the various phases of the development of this region since pioneer days. He was born in the state of New Jersey on September 23, 1833, and is now the sole survivor of the family of six children, three sons and three daughters, bom to his parents, Charles and Mary (Maple) Henderson, natives of that same state, who spent all their lives there.

born to his parents. He received his schooling in his native state and early learned the use of tools in their relation to the building trades and even as a boy was regarded as a proficient carpenter. When sixteen years of age he left home with a view to working at his trade in the cities farther West and at the same time deriving such benefits in the way of broadening his horizon as would come from travel. To this end he made his way to Cleveland and after working there for some little time went to Chicago, later working in other cities in Illinois and then pushed his way on to St. Louis, where he spent one winter and then, in the spring of 1856, came over into the then Territory of Nebraska and looked about in several of the towns and settlements that had made a start in the eastern part of the Territory, but not finding work at his trade as brisk as he had looked for returned to St. Louis and later went down into Kentucky, where he worked at his trade for about six years, or until after the close of the Civil War, when, in 1865, he came back into Nebraska and settled in this county, buying from Schoenheit & C^ook, for eight hundred dollars, a tract of land not far north of the present site of the village of Verdon, a discouraged settler in that vicinity readily selling to Schoenheit & Crook his pre-emption right to the claim. Upon taking possession of the claim of eighty acres, Mr. Henderson proceeded to improve and develop the same and by the time of his marriage, in the summer of 1868 had made considerable improvements on the place and was able to see his way clear to the development of a fine bit of property there. After his marriage he established his home on the place and continued making improvements until he came to have there one of the best-improved farms in that part of the county, though, in common with others of the early settlers, he suffered some serious drawbacks in the days of the grasshoppers, and the hot winds, and hog cholera in the seventies and early eighties; but he persevered and as he prospered he added to his holdings until he now has two hundred and eighty acres of land that he regards to be the best land in Nebraska, bar none. In 1901 Mr. Henderson retired from the active labors of the farm and he and his wife moved to the village of Verdon, where they since have made their home and where they are very pleasantly situated. Mr. Henderson is a Democrat and a warm admirer and ardent supporter of President Wilson, but during the past four state elections has voted the Prohibition ticket, for years having been an earnest advocate of the cause of the state-wide prohibition of the liquor traffic in this state.

who was but a child when her parents, William Wilkinson and wife, came to Nebraska and became pioneers of Richardson county, and to this union two children have been born, a son, Dr. Robert Henderson, who married Carrie Staver and is now practicing his profession at Rulo, this county, and a daughter, Mrs. Harriet Dodderer, who has two children, Hattie and Marion, and is now making lier home with her parents at Verdon. Elsewhere in this volume there is further and fitting mention of the Wilkinson family, one of the pioneer families of Richardson county, and the attention of the reader is respectfully invited to a perusal of the same for furtlier particulars regarding the pioneer parents of Mrs. Henderson, and of the part they took in the development of the community in which they settled out here at an early day in the settlement of this region. Mr. and Mrs. Henderson are members of the Congregational church at Verdon and have ever taken an interested part in the various good works of the community of which they have been a part since pioneer days. Mr. Henderson once owned eighty acres of the townsite of Verdon and practically gave it to a poor inan for whom he felt sorrv.

Emerson A. Harden

One of the well-known farmers and stockmen now living in retirement at Verdon, this county, is Emerson A. Harden, who was born on November 25, 1 841, in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, a son of Simmons W. and Marjorie M. (Taylor) Harden. The father was born in October, 1814, in Bradford county, Pennsylvania, where he was reared on a farm, remaining ' in his native state until 18^5, when he went to Buchanan county, Iowa, and engaged in the hotel business at Ouasqueton. While he was living there the Civil War came on and he enlisted in the First Iowa Cavalry and saw considerable service in the south, taking part in many engagements in different states. He was honorably discharged and mustered out at the close of the war. He returned to Iowa in 1867 and sold his farm, removing to Nebraska and buying eighty acres east of Falls City. He made the trip here in a wagon. There was only a log cabin on the place he bought and the place had been improved but little. After living on the farm two years he started a hotel at Falls City, known as the Harden House, but later sold out and went to Leavenworth, Kansas, where his death occurred at the Soldiers' Home, on May 3, 1904, he then being at the advanced age of eighty-eight years and seven months. His wife was born in Pennsylvania in 1822, and died in 1887 in Falls City. To these parents the following children were born: Emily, who is living in St. Joseph, Missouri, widow of Sidney Adams, a veteran of the Civil War; Emerson A., the subject of this sketch; JNIinerva, who lives in Los Angeles, California, the widow of James Kendall, and Allan, who was a cavalry soldier in the Civil War and was killed while in service, near Little Rock, Arkansas.

Emerson A. Harden was fourteen years old when his parents moved to Iowa and there he attended school and worked out as a farm hand until the breaking out of the Civil War, during the progress of which he enlisted three different times, but was rejected each time. He enlisted at the first call, but the quota being full he was rejected; his second enlistment was m the First Iowa Cavalry, rejected; third enlistment was in the Thirteenth Regular Regiment, and he was rejected on account of bad eyesight.

In 1863 ^Ir. Harden began freighting from Iowa to Boulder, Colorado, often driving cattle to that country, a trip requiring three months. He took the tirst train of provisions to one of the big mining camps in the vicinity of Boulder. It was a hazardous business, as the Indians not infref|uently destroyed the outfits of freighters. There were usually twenty-two wagons in his train and four yoke of oxen to a wagon. ISIules were some times used instead of oxen. Mr. Harden relates many interesting experiences of the early days in the West.

Mr. Harden came to Nebraska with his parents and rented land from Charles Steele, south of Falls City. In 1870 he bought wild prairie land in Liberty precinct, which he broke, planted to crops and improved in a general way, erecting good, comfortable ))uildings. set out an orchard and other trees and here he has since resided, successfully engaged in general farn>ing and stock raising. He endured many hardships and privations at the start, passing through the droughty and grasshopper years, when all crops were destroyed; but he kept at work and managed well and is now tlie owner of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable and productive land in Liberty precinct, and also owns land in Texas and Oregon. In 1887 Mr. Harden began breeding Percheron and Clydesdale stallions, also ?tandard-bred trotting horses. He often exhibited his fine stock at the county fairs and drove his trotters at the racing grounds at Salem and Falls City. He continued breeding f(M- many years and his stock always brought fancv prices, owing to their superior qualities. He also fed live stock in connection with general farjning, .preparing. f orinarket on an average two hundred head of cattle and one hundred and fifty head of hogs annually. Having accumu- lated a competency, Mr. Harden retired from active life in 1904 and has since been living quietly in the village of \'erd<:in, where he owns an attractive home, equipped in up-to-date fashion.

On December 11, 1868, Emerson A. Harden was married to Katherine Bowers, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of Benjamin and Harriet H. (Rubendall) Bowers. Mr. Bowers was a native of Pennsylvania, and was an early settler in Ohio. He came to Nebraska in 1867 and engaged in farming in Richardson county until his death in 1887, at the age of seventynine years. His wife died on February 10, 1882. They were parents of thirteen children, Katherine, who married Mr. Harden, being the seventh in order of birth. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Flarden. namely: Allen E., a ranchman in the state of Washington: Carmelita, deceased: Delia, wife of R. A. Tynan, a son of one of the early settlers of West Muddy precinct, tliis county, and Clyde, who lives in Garfield county. Nebraska, and is now serving as treasurer of that county.

Mr. Harden is a Democrat. He helped organize school district No. 32, in Liberty precinct, and was a member of the board for several years. He helped build the Congregational church at \'erdon, and attends services there.

Christian Horn

Christian Horn, one of Richardson county's substantial farmers and stockmen and the owner of a fine farm of four hundred and eighty acres in the precinct of Barada, is of European birth, but has been a resident of this country since he was twenty-four years of age, having come to America in the summer of 1872, and after working at Buffalo, New York, for two or three years, went to Idaho and was there engaged in mining for five 3'ears, at the end of which time he returned to the old country, but two years later came back to America and settled in this county, which has been his place or residence ever since, with the exception of a year spent in Oregon some years ago. He was born in Holstein, a province of Prussia, February 26, 1848, son and only child of Christian C. and Augusta (Stuhr) Horn, natives of that same province, who spent all their lives in their native land.

Reared in Holstein, Christian Horn remained there until he was past twenty-four years of age and then, on June 27,. 1872. left his native land for the United States, arriving in this country after a voyage of two week^, with about fifty dollars in his pockets. He proceeded to Buffalo, New- York, where he became engaged working in a packing-plant and was there thus engaged for about three years, at the end of which time he started for the western mining country and in 1875 began working in the mines and quartz-mills in Idaho. He also did considerable prospecting and acquired an interest in a mine, his five 3'ears of experience in the mining country netting him sixty-five hundred dollars. Early in the year 1880 .Mr. Horn returned to his old home in Holstein and there he remained about two years, at the end of which time he came back to the United States and proceeded on out to Nebraska, arriving in Falls City in November. 1881. During the following winter he worked in the Allgewahr packing house at Falls City and in May, 1882, bought the southeast quarter of section 28 in the precinct of Barada, this county, and after his marriage the next month established his home there. When he took possession of that farm the only improvements on the place were a log cabin and a hay stable. He improved the place, including the planting of an acre of orchard, and there made his home for ten years, at the end of which time he sold the farm to advantage and after looking about for six months bought the place on which he is now living in that same precinct, establishing his home there on February 26, 1892. In 1900 Mr. Horn had an attack of what he called "mountain fever" and began to long for the farther West, so lie went to Oregon, with the expectation of probably making his permanent home there, but after a year returned to his home in this county and has since been quite satisfied to remain here. Mr. Horn now has a fine farm of four hundred acres and one of the best farm plants' in' Barada precinct, including a fine bearing orchard of two acres and many up-to-date improvements. In addition to his general farming he has given considerable attention to the raising of hogs and has done quite well in that line.

On March 7, 1882, at Falls City, Christian Horn was united in marriage to Emma Springe, who also was bom in the province of Holstein. Prussia, March 20, 1861, daughter of Henry and Ernestine fRohlfs) Springe, who spent all their lives in their native land. She had come to this countrv early in 1882. proceeding on out to Nebraska and locating in Falls Citv. where .she married Mr. Horn. To this union have been born nine children, namely : Mrs. Anna Stine Fehr, who lives near Stella, this countv : Louise, who is at home; Henry, who is farming in Barada precinct; Augusta, who married Mortimer Zentner. a farmer living near Shubert, this countv; Emma, who is engaged in the millinery business at Sargent, in Custer county.

this State; William, of Barada precinct; Minnie, deceased; Walter, deceased, and Theodore, who died at the age of eight years. Mr. and Mrs. Horn are members of the Lutheran church. PoHtically, Mr. Horn is an "independent."

Fred Bahr

Among the surviving pioneers of Richardson county there are few better known than Fred Bahr, who started here as a farm hand back in 1868, and has long been regarded as one of the most substantial landowners in the county, having been very successful in his farming and live stock operations, the owner of eight hundred and sixty acres of choice land in Richardson county, the most of which is located in the precinct of Barada. where he has a \'ery pleasant home.

Fred Bahr was born in Germany, near the Austrian line, in May, 1852, a son of Fred and Rosina Bahr, and there he spent his youth, remaining there until he was sixteen years of age, when, in 1868, he came to this country and proceeded on out to the then new state of Nebra.ska, and here became engaged as a farm hand, continuing thus engaged for several years, at the end of which time he rented a tract of river-bottom land and began farming on his own account. He was successful in that inftial operation and presently bought a tract of eighty acres in Barada precinct, this county, and that became the nucleus of his present extensive farm holdings in that precinct. As he continued to prosper he gradually bought other tracts, generally buying in small lots, as he was able to do, and he is now the owner of eight hundred and sixty acres of land and the proprietor of one of the best-improved farms in Richardson county, the buildings making up his great farm plant in Barada precinct resembling a small village. Mr. Bahr began in a small way, breaking his first land with an ox-team and estalv lishing his first home in a log cabin, a wide contrast to his present fine home estabhshment. During the more active period of his operations Mr. Bahr was for years actively engaged in the raising of live stock, shipping in car-load lots. Ijut of late years has not given so much attention to the cattle industry. As his children married and made homes for themselves he settled them on his lands and the family has ever worked closely together, the mutual interest thus having been admirably and profitably preserved. During the early days, in addition to gradually extending his own interests, Mr. Bahr was able to be of help to many of the new settlers in his part of the county and there is no pioneer of that section, who is held in higher esteem than he. Mr. Bahr is a Repubhcan and once was honored by his party by the nomination for representative from this district in the state Legislature, but was defeated for election by one vote.

In 1876 Fred Bahr was united in marriage to Wilhelmina Finck, who also was born in Germany, in 1856, a daughter of Fred Finck and wife, who came to the United States in 1864 and who became residents of Richardson county. in 1872, and to this union eleven children have been born, namely: Fred, who is farming in Muddy precinct; John H., of Barada precinct: Richard and Alvin, at home; Edward P., of Muddy precinct; Louise, wife of Fred Wertz, of Barada precinct, and Sophia. Henry, Louis, Ida and Ernest, deceased. Mr. Bahr was reared as a Lutheran and in the early days of his residence here religious services were held in his house, before the Lutherans had organized a local congregation and established a formal house of worship.

William Mosiman

William Mosiman, one of the best-known and most substantial farmers and stockmen of the precinct of Jefiferson, this county, and the proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 5 of that precinct, is a native son of Richardson county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm in the precinct of Arago on March 26, 1872, son of John and Katherine (Mertz) Mosiman, well-known and influential pioneers of that part of the county and further and fitting mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume.

Reared on the home farm, William Mosiman grew to manhood there, receiving his schooling in the local schools of that neighborhood, and for two years after attaining his majority continued working for his father. He then, in 1895. rented land and began farming on his own account, remaining on that place until his marriage in 1897, when he Ixnight the farm on which he is now living, the place on which his wife was reared, and has there ever since made his home, he and his family being very comfortably situated. Since taking possession of that quarter section Mr. Mosiman has made many substantial improvements on the same, including the remodeling of the house, the erection of a new barn and the setting out of an extensive grove, his place being well improved and profitably culti\ated. When he bought that farm !\Ir. Mosiman became engaged somewhat e.\ten- his father in the hardware business; Guy, who is a partner of his brother John in the contracting business; Mrs. Edna Hurst, whose husband is connected with the Crook brothers in the contracting business, and Ehza, who was graduated from the Falls City high school with the class of 1917.

William Henry Else

\\illiam Henry Else, who departed this life some years ago, was one of the real old settlers of Richardson county, and one of the best respected men of Barada precinct; his was a long life of usefulness and ceaseless endeavor, the best years of which life were spent on the battlefields of the South fighting in defense of the Union during the great Civil War. The late William Henry Else was born on a farm in Logan county, Ohio, August 4, 1839, and when ten years of age his parents removed to Mahaska county, Iowa, and became pioneers of that county. There William H. Else was reared to young manhood and married to Zilpha Gearhart on January i, i860. The young couple had hardly got settled down to housekeeping and were caring for their first child when the Civil War broke out and the call came from President Lincoln for volunteers to put down the rebellion of the Southern states. Mr. Else responded and the young couple broke up their newly-made home, thereby placing patriotism and love of country above all other considerations. Ingrained in both of them was a sacred love of free institutions and the desire to serve their country. Mr. Else enlisted in .August, 1861, and became a member of Company H, Eighth Regiment, Iowa \^olunteer Infantry, which was organized in ]\Iahaska county. He was mustered into active service in September, 1861, and served until honorably discharged from the service in October, 1864. His regiment participated in many great battles and sieges, in all of which he was present. Among the engagements in which he fought were those at Corinth, Island Xo. 10, Mission Ridge, Chattanooga, Lookout Mountain and the siege and capture of Vicksburg. A Bible reposing in his breast pocket saved his life during a battle, the bullet which would have caused his death glancing off the Bible, which he religiously carried all through his arduous service. While her husband was absent during his war service Mrs. Else invested his pay, which he sent home regularly each month, in a tract of eighty acres of uncleared land in ^lahaska county. L^pon his return home the young couple at once >et t(i \\i irk to create a home upon this wild land. They bought a small house and after moving the house to its new location, they had but thirty-five dollars remaining. During the first winter Mr. Else worked at a saw-mill for one dollar a day, walking five miles night and morning to his place of work. This money he gave to Mrs. Else, with which to buy a cow. Thus equipped they began to carve out their fortunes and endured many hardships until success at last crowned their efforts. Many times during the wee small hours of the morning, and while the children were sleeping in their beds, Mr. and Mrs. Else would sally forth and pick blackberries during the summer season so as to have fruit delicacies to serve to the harvest hands during the day.

There came a day, however, when the West beckoned and called to them and, in 1877, they sold their Iowa land and came to Richardson county. Here they bought one hundred and sixty acres of land in Barada township. This place had been practically abandoned by its owners during the grasshopper years and was partly broken up and improved, with a small shanty erected by the homesteader. They went to work with a will and, being ambitious, eventually had a comfortable home and buildings and increased their land holdings to two hundred and eighty acres. They had the satisfaction of seeing their later years crowned with success and were able to live comfortably and have many of the luxuries of life.

To Mr. and Mrs. Else were born the following children: William Wilson Else, of Shubert, who is a landowner in Richardson county; Elmer Ellsworth Else, of Shubert, who has had two children, Charles Wilson, who was accidently drowned at the age of twenty-four years, and Nellie Grace, who was drowned with her brother, at the age of fourteen years; Mrs. Clara Mav Krug. who lives at Shubert and has three children, Harry, who married Emma Boatman and has one child, Russell Max; Clyde Krug, and Bernice, who married John Lewis and has one child, John Vernon.

Mrs. Zilpha (Gearhart) Else, mother of the foregoing children, was born on May 10. 1843, '" Floyd county, Kentucky, and is a daughter of Benjamin and Mary (Hale) Gearhart, natives of old Kentucky, who removed to Mahaska county, Iowa, in 1845. Shortly after their removal to Iowa, Benjamin Gearhart was employed in the woods in cutting fence rails at a wage of twenty-five cents a hundred. During this occupation he became ill with the fever which was the bane of the early settlements of the Iowa backwoods and died. Tlie widow later married a Mr. Shoemaker and died in California.

sincerely inourned by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He was a man of sterling worth, who in later years suffered severely from the privations which he underwent while serving his country. He was a member of the Baptist church and was religiously inclined. He was an ardent Republican and took an active interest in county and state poHtics, although he had no ambition to hold office. Mr. Else was a charter member of Shubert Post, Grand Army of the Republic, and always took a keen interest in the affairs of his favorite order. Mrs. Else is a member of the Baptist church and is a liberal contributor to religious works and to charitable undertakings. She is one of the charter members of the Shubert ^\'oman"s Relief Corps ; is active, despite her years ; keeps abreast of the times, and is progressively inclined.

Matthias Schulenberger, proprietor of the store at "Mattsville," in section I of the precinct of Ohio, this county, and of the farm of fifty-seven acres surrounding the same, is a native of the old Empire state, but has been a resident of this county since he was nine years of age, having come here with his parents in 1865, and has thus been a witness to the development of Richardson county since pioneer days. He was born in Erie county. New York, July i, 1856, son of John and Barbara (Walter) Schulenberg, both of European birth, the former a Prussian and the latter an Alsatian, who became pioneer residents of this section of Nebraska and here spent their last days.

John Schulenberg was born about 1840 and was about fourteen years of age when he came to this country from his native Prussia with his parents, the family settling in New York state, where he learned the carpenter and cabinet-making trades, at which he worked practically all the rest of his life. He grew to manhood in the state of New York and there married Barbara Walter, who was born in the Alsace-Lorraine country of Europe about 1842 and who was twelve years of age when she came to this country with her parents, the family settling in New York state. After his marriage John Schulenberg continued to make his home in New York until 1865, when. he came with his family out to the then Territory of Nebraska, proceeding by steamboat from St. Joseph to the old landing of Arago. in this county. He rented a farm in the immediate \ icinit\- of Rulo ami there settled with his family, starting a bit of farming, but giving his chief attention to his work as a carpenter. Four years later he bought the farm now owned by his son Frank, six miles north of Falls City, paying for the same twelve dollars an acre, and there established his permanent home, spending the rest of his life there. When he took possession of that place there was a house, a mere shack, and a barn on it and he made extensive improvements on the place, set out three acres of orchard and planted a sizable grove. During the early days of that community John Schulenberg was one of the most active builders thereabout and built numerous churches and school houses and many dwelling houses. When the old county seat town of Arago was deserted and practically abandoned, it was he who moved most of the houses to Fargo. He was a Democrat and served for one term as coroner of Richiardson county. He died on December 19, 1 89 1, and his widow survived him for ten years, her death occurring in 1 901. They were members of the Catholic church and their children were reared in that faith. There were five of these children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being as follow: John, of Sidney, this state; Joseph, deceased; Mrs. Barbara Lahmer, deceased, and Frank, who is farming the old home place in the precinct of Ohio.

Matthias Schulenberg, as noted above, was but a boy when he came to this county with his parents in 1865, and his schooling was completed in the district schools of this county and at St. Benedict College at Atchison, Kansas. His young manhood was spent in helping to improve and develop the home farm. Upon attaining his majority he began to work on his own account and presently rented a farm and after his marriage in 1881 established his home on the same, remaining there until 1883, when he bought ninety-three acres in section i of the precinct of Ohio, where he is now living, and later bought an adjoining tract, still later selling the east part of his place, retaining the fifty-seven acres which he still owns. In 1907 Mr. Schulenberg left the farm and moved to Barada, where he erected a building and engaged in the saloon business, continuing thus engaged in that business there until 191 1 in which year he moved that building onto his farm, put in a stock of general merchandise and has since been conducting a store there, his place becoming locally known as "Mattsville," and is doing quite well in a mercantile way, his store being a great convenience for the people of that neighborhood. Mr. Schulenberg is a Democrat and has served the pubUc as a member of the local school board. By religious persuasion he is a Catholic, in which faith he was reared.

Caroline Portrey, who was born in this county in i860, a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Stepich) Portrey, natives of Ohio and early settlers b"f Nebraska, the former of whom is still living, a resident of Falls City, afM to that union five children were born, namely : John, who is farming in the precinct of Arago; Joseph, who is farming in the precinct of Ohio; Mrs. Catherine McNulty, of Falls City; Gustave, the fourth in order of birth, and Adam, who is helping his father.

Impertous M. Bowers

One of the most enterprising young farmers of Liberty precinct is Impertous M. Bowers, who is also known throughout Richardson county as a buyer of live stock. He was born on the old homestead in the above named township, August 29, 1873, a son of Daniel and Emeline ( Beckenhdpt) Bowers. The father was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, May 13, 1833, and died on May 23, 1901. In 1872 he came to Richardson county, Nebraska, and purchased a tract of partly improved land in Liberty precinct, where the family still resides. There he spent the rest of his life engaged in general farming and stock raising, feeding large numbers of cattle and hogs, becoming one of the leading farmers of the county and a man of influence. His wife was born in Stark county, Ohio, and her death occurred in 1881. To these parents six children were born, namely: Mrs. Ada L. Nulk, deceased: Lois, wife of Fred Heineman. of V'erdon. a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Emerson L.. a farmer and stockman of Liberty precinct, a sketch of whom appears on another page of this volume; Impertous M., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Myrtle Kiefer, who lives at Hot Springs, South Dakota, and Oliver H., who lives at h'alls City.

Impertous M. Bowers grew up on the home farm and attended the district schools. He remained at home until he was twenty-one years of age and then began working out as a farm hand. Five years later he began farming for himself and presently bought his present farm in Liberty precinct, the same consisting of one hundred and three acres. He does not farm on a very large scale, preferring to devote much of his time to buying and shipping live stock, in partnership with his brother, Emerson L. Bowers, and has been feeding cattle for a period of thirteen years - alx)ut three carloads a year. He and his brother also buy and ship apples in large (luantities each autumn.

Mr. BoAver.s was married on February 24, 1901, to Minnie Cooper, who was born in Atchison county, Missouri, a daughter of Hicks and Sophia (Scheele) Cooper, the former a native of Missouri and the latter a native of Germany, from which country she came to America when young, and to this vmion three children have been born, Ralph, Fern and Charline. Mr. Bowers is an independent voter. Fraternally, he belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America.

William Robert Bates

William Robert Bates, a successful cement contractor and coal dealer at Falls City and one of the most active and progressive business men in that city, is a native of Germany, but has been a resident of this country since the days of his infancy. He was born on February 13, 1882, son of William Robert and Etta (Kessler) Bates, also natives of Germany, who left their native land in 1884 and came to the United States, proceeding from the port of New York to Illinois, where they presently settled on a farm in the immediate vicinity of Bloomington, where they spent the rest of their lives, the subject of this sketch being left orphaned at the age of thirteen years by the death of his parents.

Thus seriously handicapped in the race of life William Robert Bates faced the tasks before him with resolute courage and from the days of his boyhood began doing for himself, working as a farm hand, as a teamster, as a phmiber, as a bricklayer or at any work his hand found to do, meantime pursuing his studies by private reading as best he could, with an earnest desire to gain more of an education than his limited opportunities for schooling in the days of his boyhood had permitted. After he was twenty years of age he bought a set of books, being advised and instructed by a student friend, and set himself so diligently to the task of mastering the contents of the same that he presently acquired a pretty good general education. During this time he was traveling quite a bit, securing employment at one place and another and this further broadened his knowledge. In January, 1907, Mr. Bates arrived at Falls City and for two months thereafter was engaged in work as a farm hand in that vicinity. He then, in 1908, took up cement contracting in a small way and has since been thus engaged on his own account, having been successful from the very beginning of his endeavors in that line and has come to be regarded as one of the leading cement con- tractors in this part of the state. During this time he has on various occasions worked in partnership, but is now carrying on his extensive business alone. In 191 5 he added a coal yard to his cement works and in this latter line also has been successful. Mr. Bates has made a specialty of the construction of hollov^f tile silos and has erected many of these substantial structures throughout this section of Nebraska and over the line in Kansas.

On April 28, 1915, William Robert Bates was united in marriage to Ann O. McCool, who was born at Salem, this county, daughter of Albert A. and Roseatte (Clark) McCool, the former of whom was born in Guthrie county, Iowa, and the latter in this county, daughter of pioneer parents. Albert A. McCool came to this county from Iowa forty-five years ago and engaged in the hardware business at Salem, where he married and established his home. Mr. and Mrs. Bates have a pleasant home at Falls City and take a proper part in the general social activities of their home town.

William F. Kentopp

William F. Kentopp, of Falls City, one of Richardson county's bestknown and most substantial retired farmers and landowners and a United States game warden, attached to the department of agriculture, with particular reference to the preservation of migratory birds, is of European birth, but has been a resident of this country since he was sixteen years of age and of Richardson county since 1881. He was born in the vicinity of the city of Berlin on February 15, i860, son of John and Catherine (Rater) Kentopp, both natives of West Prussia, the former born on May 9, 1828, and the September 26, 1826, who came to this county in 1882 and the latter of whom is still living here, making her home with her son, the subject of this sketch, at Falls City. The year after establishing himself in Richardson county, William F. Kentopp sent back money to his parents with which to pay their passage to this coimtry and he provided a home for them in this county, John Kentopp spending his last days here, his death occurring on January 10, igio. His widow still survives him and is living with her son at Falls City, at the advanced age of ninety-one years. She has four children, the subject of this sketch having a brother, August Kentopp. a farmer, living near Verdon. this county, and two sisters, Mrs. Amelia Edlinger, a widow, living in Berlin. Germany, and Mrs. Augusta Shup, of Chicago, Illinois.

Upon completing the course in the common schools of his nati\e land. William F. Kentopp, in 1876, he then being sixteen years of age, came to the United States, and for three years thereafter was engaged in working in the coal mines at Alilesdale, in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and later, for a season, as a farm hand in that vicinity, in the meantime acquiring a practical working knowledge of the English language and saving the neat sum of six hundred dollars-. With the determination to invest this sum in Western land he started West in 1881, his objective point being Falls City. Between St. Louis and Atchison the train on which he was traveling was held up b}- train robbers and he was reheved of his "roll," the bandits leaving him in possession of but a meager supply of small change, enough to pay his carfare from Atchison to Falls City and fifty cents over. He offered to give this remaining half dollar for transportation up to the home of a friend in Ohio precinct, where the village of Straussville now stands, but was taken out without charge and thus had a half dollar with which to begin operations in a new land.

Nothing deterred by this appearance of adversity, Mr. Kentopp settled down to begin all over again and through the kinclness of friends was enabled to rent a tract of land and set up in farming in the precinct of Ohio. The next year he sent for his parents and the year following, in the spring of 1883, returned to Pennsylvania and was there married. In 1888 he bought a quarter of a section of land in Ohio preeinct, this county, built a new house and other farm buildings, including one of the finest dairy houses in the state of Nebraska, the same surrounding a remarkable fine spring, and it was 'not long until he began to be counted among the leading farmers and stockmen of that part of the county. As he prospered in his agricultural operations Mr. Kentopp added to his holdings until he now is the owner of three hundred and twenty acres of fine and well-improved land in Richardson county, a quarter section in section 30 of Ohio precinct and an adjoining quarter section in section 25 of the precinct of Liberty, his eldest son, John Kentopp, now farming the latter tract. Mr. Kentopp remained on the farm, actively engaged in farming and stock raising, until 1912, when he retired and moved to Falls City, where he bought a comfortable modern residence on Stone street and has since made his home there. His wife died there in 191 5 and his eldest daughter is now his housekeeper. Mr. Kentopp has for years given particular attention to the preservation and conservation of the game resources of Nebraska and of this section of the Middle West and in 1909 was appointed a special game warden for this state. In 191 3 he was appointed traveling game warden for Nebraska and in 19 15 received the appointment of I'nited States game warden, under the direction of the de- |)artment of agricuhure, with special jurisdiction in the matter of the preservation of migratory birds and still occupies that position, giving his close personal attention to the duties of that important office. Mr. Kentopp is a member of the Lutheran church and has ever given proper attention to church work and other neighborhood good works. Fraternally he is affiliiated with the Falls City lodge of the Knights and Ladies of Security, having transferred his membership in that order from the lodge at \'erdon to that at Falls City upon his removal to the latter place, and is the oldest surviving member of the Verdon lodge. Politically, he is a Democrat.

On May i, 1883, in Somerset county. Pennsylvania, William F. Kentopp was united in marriage to Pauline Strauss, who was born in Germany in 1858, a daughter of John Strauss and wife, and who died, as noted abovein Falls City in 1915. To that union were born eight children, the first two of whom were born in Pennsylvania, the others in Richardson county, namely: Mrs. Anna Boatman, a widow, who is keeping house for her father at Falls City ; Mrs. Catherine Harkendorf , of tlie precinct of Ohio ;: John, a well-known and progressive young farmer of that same precinct; Charles, who is an automobile salesman at Falls City; Fred, a fanner of Ohio precinct; Emil, who is engaged with his brother Charles in the automobile business at Falls City; William, a farmer of Ohio precinct, and Edward, who is a machinist in the Kentopp garage at Falls City.

John Mosiman. Jr

John Mosiman. Jr., memlier of the firm of Werner, Mosiman & Company, dealers in farm implements and automobiles at Falls City, a member of the city council and chief of the volunteer fire department of that city, is a native son of Richardson county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a pioneer farm in the precinct of Arago, nine miles northeast of Falls City, December 28, 1874, a son of John and Catherine (Mertz) Mosiman. both of whom are of European birth, the former a Swiss and the latter a Swabian. who are now living comfortably retired in Falls City, wliich has been their place of residence since 1898.

The elder John Mosiman was born in 1835 and he remained in his native Switzerland until he was twenty-one years of age, when, in 1856, he came to this country and proceeded on out to Indiana, locating in the vicinity of Bluffton, in that state, where he married Catherine Mertz, who was born in Swabia in 1839 and who had come to this country in 1855. After his marriage John Mosiman established his liome on a farm in the vicinity of Bhififton and there remained until 1867, when he came to Nebraska with his family and settled on a farm in Arago, which he proceeded to improve and develop, and on which he made his home until in April, 1898. whe4i he traded that tract of one hundred and sixty acres for a farm iii Brown county, Kansas, and then retired from the active labors of the farm and moved into Falls City, where he and his wife have since made their home. To them ten children have been Ixjrn, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fifth in order of birth, the others being as follow : Airs. Christina Kammerer, of Morgantown, West Virginia: Fred, of Falls City; Mrs. Mary Reynolds, of Falls City; William, a farmer, living live miles northeast of Falls City; Louisa, who died at the age of seventeen years; Mrs. Katie Bauman. of Scio, Oregon; Mrs. Anna Heiser, who is living on her father's farm across the line in Kansas; Mrs. Ida Johnston, of Superior, this state, and Henry, of Falls City.

The jimior John Mosiman was reared on the liome farm in the precinct of Arago, receiving his schooliiig in the schools of district No. 28, at old Arago Center, antl from boyhood was a valued aid to his father in the labors of improving and developing tlie home farm, remaining at home until after his marriage in 1898, when he began farming on his own account and was thus engaged for three years, at the end of which time he left the farm and moved to Falls City, where he entered the employ of G. D. Bici, grocer, who a year later sold his store to Johnson brothers. Mr. Mosiman continued with the latter firm for six months and then engaged in the sale of agricultural implements, wagons and carriages, later adding to this line the sale of automobiles, and has done very well. The present firm of Werner, Mosiman & Company is made up of Ernest Werner, father-in-law of Mr. Mosiman, John Mosiman, Jr., and Edward Yoesel. The business was established in 1904 on a modest scale, but by fair methods of dealing has gradually expanded until now it carries an investment of thirty-five thousand dollars and is doing an annual business exceeding that sum. The firm carries the goods of the Moline Plow Company, the Canton Plow Company, or the "P. & O." line, and the International Harvester Companv's line, besides automobiles and accessories, and is one of the best-known dealers in these lines of goods in this part of the state. Mr. Mosiman is an "independent" Republican and during his residence in Arago precinct served for two vears as assessor and was for one vear census enumerator. He has been ciiief of tlie volunteer fire department of Falls City for the past six or seven years and for the past two years has been councilman from his ward in the city council.

On February 24, 1898, John Mosiman, Jr., was united in marriage to Sophia Werner, who also was born in the precinct of Arago, a daughter of Ernest and Carolina (Miller) Werner, who are now living in Falls City, where Mr. Werner is engaged in the business above set out, head of the firm of Werner, Mosiman & Company. Mr. Werner is of European birth, a native of the grand duchy of Baden, but has been a resident of this country since the days of his young manhood. His wife was born in the city of Buffalo, New York. They came to Nebraska in i860 and settled in Arago township, where they lived until their removal to Falls City. Mr. and Mrs. Mosiman have five children, Elizabeth, Theodore, George. Elmer and Naomi. The Mosimans are members of the Evangelical church and take a proper interest in church work. Mr. Mosiman is an Odd Fellow and a member of the Modern Woodmen and in the affairs of these organizations takes a warm interest. He is a public-spirited, energetic business man and is prompt to help along any movement having to do with the advancement of the common good in his home town and throughout the county at large.

Harry H. Schrader

Harry H. Schrader, a well-known stockman and farmer of Liberty precinct, Richardson county, owner of one hundred and fifty acres of land in section 23, was born on February 28, 1874, in Cook county, Illinois. He is the son of John J. and Mary (Rammin) Schrader, natives of Germany and for many years residents of this part of Nebraska. To their marriage the following children, all of whom are living, were born : ]Mrs. Emma L. Jorn, of Verdon; Harry H., the subject of this sketch; Mrs. Anna M. Hoffman, who lives in Council Grove, Kansas; Amelia, who married J. W. Dow, and is living west of Salem, this county, and John B., of West Muddy precinct, this county.

John J. Schrader was born in Mecklenburg, German}-, on December 15, 1842, and is now living at Verdon, this state. He left his native land when about nine years old with his mother. He went to Cook county, Illinois, in 1875. He had previously married Mary Rammin on March 2. 1 87 1. When John J. Schrader settled in Richardson county he l)ought a farm for which he paid twenty dollars an acre. He 1)nilt a small shack to live in and a slough-grass shed for a barn. Later, and as his farming operations prospered, he built a better house. In addition to his work on the farm, he raised high-grade hogs, in which he traded extensively. In 1903 he sold the farm to his son, Harry, and moved to A'erdon, where he now lives.

John J. Schrader's wife, Mary (Rammin) Schrader, was also a native of Germany, born in Berzerec, March i, 1842. She left her native land when about fifteen years old and on coming to this country lived in Chicago, Illinois, with her- sister, Mrs. Zorn. Mrs. Mary Schrader died on January 5, 1907. She shared with her husband the hardships of pioneer days in this part of the state, when crops and every green thing suffered from the depredations of the grasshopper plague. John Schrader paid a dollar a bushel for corn, hauling the same from Falls City. He and his wife were members of the Evangelical church, which they helped to organize at Verdon. John Schrader enlisted for service in the Civil War, in an Illinois regiment, at Chicago and served for about twenty months.

Harry H. Schrader was reared on a farm and attended the district schools and later the high school at Verdon. When twenty-one vears of age he rented land from his father and two years later, with the help of his father, he bought the fented land lying about three miles west of Verdon. He farmed this land for about four years and then brought his present farm. In 1911 he erected a thirteen-room house, equipped with all modern accommodations, including electric lights, steam heat, hot and cold running water in all the bedrooms, the entire cost amounting to seven thousand dollars. The bank barn built by his father in 1895 i* '" "^e. Mr. Schrader is a thoroughly practical farmer and stock breeder, the stock being of the highest grade.

On December 20, 1900, Harry H. Schrader was united in marriage to Bertha E. Shildneck. who was born at Polo, Illinois, daughter of Hiram and Mary (Hammond) Shildneck, natives of Maryland and \^irginia, respectively, early settlers of Richardson county, who came here from Illinois about 1867, are now living at Salem. Mrs. Schrader's father was a soldier of the Civil War, for wiiich service he enlisted in Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Schrader are the parents of one child, Mary Pauline, born on May 5, 1902.

Harry H. Schrader is a Republican and is a warm supporter nf that party's principles. He has served on the school board for twelve years and has been superintendent of roads in his district and in other ways has served the pul^lic, always working for the best in the general interest. He and his wife are members of the Congregational church at Salem and he acts as trustee of the church, rendering valuable assistance in that capacity.

One of the well-remembered and highly esteemed citizens of Richardson county of a past generation was the late Matthew McMahon, who was born in the province of Ontario, Canada, September 15, 1842. He was a son of Morris and Catherine (Grady) McMahon, both natives of Canada, where they spent their lives on a farm, in Ontario. They were parents of seven children.

Matthew McMahon grew to manhood in Ontario and there attended the public schools and was married. He left there in 1873 and located in Clark county, Wisconsin, where he spent a few years. In 1880 he came to Nebraska, locating in Jefferson precinct, Richardson county, where he bought a farm of one hundred -and sixty acres, wiiere his widow still resides, and there he spent the rest of his life, engaged successfully in general farming. He built a house, which he later remodeled and added to, also made other important improvements. Politically, he was a Democrat. He belonged to the Catholic church.

^Ir. McMahon was married on April 22, 1873, to Ellen Condon, who was lx)rn on December 2^, 1851, on a farm in Canada, where she grew to womanhood and attended school. She is a daughter of Joseph and Mary (Sheehan) Condon, who were parents of six children, Mrs. McMahon being the second in order of birth. She is a woman of rare business ability and is managing her farms in a very satisfactory manner. She owns one hundred and sixty-eight acres in Jefferson precinct, eight acres of which is in natural timber, and also owns one hundred and sixty acres of good land in Hand county. South Dakota.

Nine children were born to Matthew McMahon and wife, as follow : Maurice, who is unmarried and is farming on the home place; Mary, who also lives at home: Catherine, who is teaching school at Bufifalo, Wyoming; Ellen N., who married Fred Oswald and hves at Bufifalo, Wyoming; Joseph [., who was born on July 25, 1884, and who died on December 4, 1910; P'lizabeth, who is teaching school in Hawkins, Nebraska; Ann, the wife of William Murphy, a farmer of Dawson, this county; Helen, who was gradu- iiated from the Falls City high school and is now engaged in teacliing in this county, and Cecil, who lives at home. These children were all burn in Jefferson precinct, Richardson county, except the three eldest, who were born in Clark county, Wisconsin. Mrs. McMahon and children are all members of the Catholic church.

Hon. William F. Rieschick

Hon. William F. Rieschick, representative from this district to the Nebraska state Legislature and one of the best-known and most substantial farmers of the precinct of Falls City, owner of a quarter of a section of fine land in section 2 of that precinct and one of the leading breeders of live stock in that part of the county, is a native son of Richardson county and has lived here all his life, thus literally having "grown up" with the county, a participant in its development since pioneer days. He was born on a pioneer farm in the precinct of Arago on September 10, 1872. son of William F. and Verena (Hunzeker) Rieschick, pioneers of this county, who are now living retired at Falls City and further and fitting mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume.

The elder William F. Rieschick is of European birth, born in the city of Wittenburg, in Prussian Saxony, June 2, 183 1. He grew to manhood in his native town and remained there until he was twenty-five year^ of age, when, in 1856, he came to the United States and began to work at his trade as a cabinet-maker at Buffalo, New York. There were three others of the Rieschick brothers in this country and one of these. Adolph Rieschick, was sent West into the then Territory of Nebraska to pick out a location for a farm, the brothers deciding that their best course in the new land would be to settle on a farm in the then new West. Adolph Rieschick came to Richardson county and located a tract in the precinct of Arago and when his brothers joined him here in 1858 they found him ill. He presently recovered, however, and when the Civil War broke out he enlisted for service and served as a soldier of his adopted country. He is now living at Red Willow county, this state. When the elder \\'illiam F. Rieschick arrived in Richardson county in 1858 his slender stock of funds was reduced to the almost irreducible minimum of seven dollars, but lie iiad a Stout heart and it was not long until he Ijegan to see his way clear to the development of a fine piece of property here. For his first "eighty" he paid four dollars and seven dollars an acre, one portion of it being held to be more valuable than the other, and in due time he became a considerable landowner, continuing to make his home on his original tract until his retirement from the farm in 1902 and removal to Falls City, where he and his wife are now living in comfort in their old age. It was after coming to this county that William F. Rieschick married, his wife being a member of one of the pioneer families of Richardson county. She was born, \'erena Hunzeker, in the republic of Switzerland, June 10, 1843, ^"'l came with her parents to this country, the family first locating in Ohio and then coming over into the then Territory. of Nebraska and settling in the neighborhood of Humboldt, this county. To William F. and Verena (Hunzeker) Rieschick were born six children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth, the others being as follow : August, deceased; Emil, who died in infancy; John, who is living four miles north of Falls City; Albert, who is living on the old home farm place in Arago precinct, and Amelia, who is living with her aged parents in Falls City.

Reared on the home farm in Arago precinct, the junior William F. Rieschick received his early schooling in the district schools of that neighborhood and supplemented the same by attendance at the Western Normal at Lincoln and in the normal school at Shenandoah, Iowa, and for two years taught school, being engaged as principal of schools at Nodaway, Iowa. In 1897 he began farming, in association with his father, and in 1906 bought the farm of one hundred and sixty acres, in section 2 of the precinct of Falls City, on which he since has made his home and where he and his family tire -very comfortabh- situated. Mr. Rieschick has his place improved in admirable shape and has long been regarded as one of the leading farmers and stock breeders in that part of the county. He has for years given his particular attention to the breeding of Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs and is a member of the Poland China Breeders Association. He freciuenth' has exhibited his hogs at the state fair and in 1907 won second in the spring-pig class. Mr. Rieschick is a Democrat and has for years given -his thoughtful and earnest attention to local civic affairs. In 1914 he was elected to represent this district in the Legislature and thus served the district in the thirty-fourh session of the Nebraska General Assembly, during that session presenting a bill and securing the passage of the first law on the Nebraska statute books regulating the growth of hedges along the public highways of the state. In 1916 Mr. Rieschick was re-elected to represent the first district and served with distinction in the House during the thirty-fifth session. For twelve years he has served as a member of his local school board and has served as a member of the township board in the precincts of Ohio and Falls City, for six years his attention having been thus occupied.

On ]March 6, 1899, William F. Rieschick was united in marriage to Catherine Werner, who also was born in the precinct of Arago, this countv, in October, 1879, a daughter of Martin and Sophia (Hofer) Werner, natives of the republic of Switzerland, and pioneers of Richardson county, the former of whom is now a guard at the state penitentiary at Lincoln, and to this union four children have been bom, Earl, born in 1900, who died in September, 1901 ; Daurena, born in August, 1902: Ruth, 1906, and Catherine, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Rieschick have a very pleasant home and take a proper part in the general social activities of their home community. Thev are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and Mr. Rieschick is a member of the board of trustees of the same.

Martin Kelly

^Martin Kelly, one of Richardson county's best-known farmers, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and sixty acres in section 19 of the precinct of Barada, and one of the leading swine breeders in this part of the state, is a native son of Richardson county and has lived here all his life. He was born on the farm on which he now lives on January 14, 1879, son of Miles and Mary (Holloran) Kelly, prominent pioneers of that section of "the county ^nd further -and' "fitting "meTrtion of whom is made elsewhere in this volume.

Reared on the farm on which he was born, Martin Kelly received his early schooling in the school in district No. 88 and supplemented the same b}- a course in a business college at Falls City. When twenty-one years of age he began farming for himself in association with his brother, Daniel and, in 1905, he bought from the heirs of the family estate the (|uarter section of the old home place on which he is now making his home and which he has greatly improved since taking possession of the same. ha\ing built several new and substantial farm buildings, erected a silo, remodeled the house and barn and set out an orchard. For some years Mr. Kelly has made a specialty of the raising of registered Duroc-Jersey hogs and is an active member of the National Breeders" Association in the affairs of which he takes a warm interest. His hogs are of the "Defender"' type of Duroc-Jerseys and all are registered, his frequent public sales of hogs attracting much attention throughout this part of the state, and he has done much to improve the strain of swine raised hereabout, many farms having been profitably stocked from his well-known herd.

On September 5, 1896, Martin Kelly was united in marriage to Mary ^IcMahon, who was born in Marshall county, Kansas, a daughter of Peter and Rachel (Hufif) McMahon, who are now living at Beattie, Kansas, and to this union have been born six children, Catherine, Lillian, Margaret, Lticile, Florence and Miles Paul, deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Kelly are members of the Catholic church and take a projfer interest in parish affairs. Mr. Kelly is an active member of the local council of the Knights of Columbus and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that organization.