Richardson County, Nebraska - Biographical sketches, 1917 (part 15 of 19)

Orrin Alonzo Cooper

Orrin Alonzo Cooper, miller and grain buyer of Humboldt, this county, having been a resident of Nebraska since the days of his young manhood, or since 1869, can rightly be classed as one of the "real old settlers" of his neighborhood. Like scores and hundreds of others who are now leaders in the commercial and industrial life of southeastern Nebraska, he began his career in Nebraska, with no capital other than his own strength and ambition to get ahead. Mr. Cooper has succeeded in carving out for himself a leading place among the commercial men of Richardson county and is an undoubted leader in this section of the state. The large establishment operated l)y him at Humboldt, consisting of a flourishhig flouring-mill. an extensive grain and live-stock business, an electric-light and power company, and an automobile business, are in themselves substantial evidences of ability, energy, and shrewd business capacity oi a high order.

O. A. Cooper was born at Conquest, Cayuga county. New York, November 18, 1849, and is a descendant of German ancestry. He is a son of Henry Cooper, born in New York, of German parents, on ^lay 3, 1827, who moved to Branch county, Michigan, in 1853, and who came to Nebraska in 1869, and made a settlement on a farm nortii and west of Table Rock, in Pawnee county. He died at his home in Table Rock on April 18, 1900. The mother of O. .\. Cooper was Phoebe Jane Wendover before her mar- riage with Henry Cooper, and was lx)rn in Cayuga county, New York, April 5, 1829, and departed this Hfe on Stepember 15, 1912. Henry and Phoebe Cooper were the parents of the following children: Orrin Alonzo, the subject of this review; Mrs. Clara Lane, of Table Rock, Nebraska; William, a resident of Wymore, Nebraska; Bernard H., of Beaver City, Nebraska ; Lafayette, of St. Joseph, Missouri, and Mrs. Sadie Redman, of Denver, Colorado.

Orrin A. Cooper received his education in the country schools of Branch county, Michigan, whither his parents had removed in the year 1853. After the removal of the family to Nebraska in 1869, he attended school in his home neighborhood in Pawnee county for a time and assisted his father in the development of the home farm near Table Rock for a period of four years, after which he began his own career as a grain buyer, in the employ of I. M. Norton, at Table Rock. Mr. Cooper was the first live stock and grain buyer at Table Rock after tlie Atchison & Nebraska railroad was built to that city. He was in Mr. Norton's employ for about two years and then purchased the business and operated it for one year, under the firm name of Cooper & Norton. After this he operated the business under his own name for one year and then formed a partnership with J. L. Linn. The new firm of Cooper & Linn bought grain and established a lumber yard at Table Rock and continued to operate the same for two years. During this period Mr. Cooper made a trip to the Indian Territory as a partner with William McClure and for one season he and Mr. McClure were buving cattle from the Indians of the territory and shipping them northward. Mc- Clure & Cooper were the first authorized buyers of cattle in the Indian territory, receiving their authority direct from the federal government. After one season's operations among the Indians, Mr. Cooper disposed of his interest in the business to Mr. McClure and returned to Table Rock. Shortly after his return home, he and Mr. Linn purchased the Hulsey elevator at Humboldt and, in 1876 he took up his permanent residence in that city and took charge of the elevator business. A company was formed under die firm name of Linn, Cooper & Fellers, and a lumber yard was established and operated for two years, in connection with the grain and live stock business. At the end of this time, Messrs Linn and Cooper bought out Mr. Fellers and a partnership was formed with Mr. L. B. Brinson, in the grain business, and the new firm proceeded to erect a two-hundred-barrel flouringmill. This mill was run under the name of Linn, Cooper & Brinson for about a vear, at the end of which time Linn and Cooper purchased Mr. (79)

Brinson's interest and the milling, grain and lumber business was run alter that by Linn & Cooper for five years. The firm of Linn & Cooper extended their operations and built a chain of elevators to care for their rapidly increasing business and this partnership continued until i8qo, when it was dissolved, JNIr. Linn taking over the lumber business and Mr. Cooper taking the milling, grain and live-stock business. Mr. Cooper then conducted the entire business under his own name until 1893, '^ which year he formed a partnership with C. M. Linn, a son of his former partner. They operated the flouring-mill and a chain of fourteen grain elevators until 1907 under the tirm name of Cooper & Linn. This partnership was then dissolved, Mr. Linn taking charge of the grain elevators located outside of Humboldt and Mr. Cooper taking over the mill and other Humboldt property. Since that time he has been running the business under the name of O. A. Cooper & Son. The Industrial concerns under Mr. Cooper's management at the present time are the Humboldt steam mills, an electric-light and ix)wer plant, which supplies the cities of Humboldt, Dawson and Table Rock with light and power; an artificial ice manufacturing plant, and an automobile business, including the agency for the Buick automobiles. The average number of men employed in these various industries is fifteen. Their importance to. the city of Humboldt and the western part of Richardson county cannot be overestimated, and the various industries themselves serve as monuments to the tireless energy and excellent business management of the ownft- and manager. Mr. Cooper is a director in the electric-light plants located at Table Rock and at Dawson. Mr. Cooper is also an extensive farmer, owning several hundred acres of land in Nebraska and Kansas, and is personally farming one hundred acres adjoining Humboldt ; in fact, he has been a farmer all his life.

Mr. Cooper has been twice married. On July 4, 1875, at Table Rock, Nebraska, he was united in marriage to Calista Ellen Merrifield, and to this union the following children were born; Mrs. Grace (Cooper) Mac- Murray, deceased; Cary K., of El Centro, California; Mrs. Eva (Cooper) Stanley, of Coronado, California; Guy L., of Humboldt, and Mrs. Ena (Cooper) Seabury, of Omaha, Nebraska. The mother of the foregoing children was born in Benton county, Iowa, September 25, 1858, a daughter of W. P. Olive (Spracklin) Merrifield, who were parents of two children, Lydia and Calista Ellen. Mrs. Calista Ellen Cooper died on October 20, 1905, and on June 18, 1907, Mr. Cooper married Mrs. Minnie Akers. a daughter of Solomon G. and Louisa J. (Avitts) Spracklin.

as mayor of Humboldt for a period of seven years. For a period of forty years he has been a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, having joined the order in 1877. He is affiHated with the Presbyterian church.

Merrick Vv. Harding

Merrick W. Harding, of Humboldt, one of the best-know;n and most successful live-stock auctioneers in Nebraska, a well-to-do retired farmer and stockman of Richardson county and the proprietor of an extensive garage at Humboldt, where he also is engaged in the sale of automobiles and where he has extensive real-estate and banking interests, former vice-presid,ent of the First National Bank of that city and for years one of the most progressive and public-spirited "boosters" of that place, is a New Englander by birth and grew to manhood in Illinois, but has been a resident of this county since the spring of 1878 and has consequently been a witness to and a participant in the wonderful development that has marked this region during the past forty years. He was born at Lime, Grassy Hill, Connecticut, April 3, 1857, son of Christopher and Maria (Edison) Harding, both members of old New England families, who in 1872 left their native state and moved to Belvidere. Illinois, where Christopher Harding engaged in the grain business and where lie spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring there in 1915.

When Merrick W. Harding was but a child his parents moved frorp Lime to Saybrook, Connecticut, and there he was attending a military sch(?of when they moved to Illinois. His schooling was completed at Belvidere and u])on completing the course in the high school there he began teaching school and \\as for three years thus engaged. When he reached his majority, in 1878, Mr. Harding came to Nebraska with a view to "growing up with the country," and in May of that year he bought a quarter of a section of land at the north edge of the village of Humboldt, paying twenty-three dollars an acre for one "eighty" and thirty dollars an acre for the other. He straightway set about improving and developing that place and after his marriage in 1880 established his home there and further proceeded to beautify and improve the tract until he presently came to have one of the real show places in Richardson county, every tree and shrub on the place having been set out by his own hand. As he prospered in his operations Mr. Harding gradually added to his fami until he had a fine farm of two hundred and eighty acres, all but forty acres of which he sold in the spring of 191 7 for fifty thousand dollars, and has since been making his home in Humboldt, where he has one of the handsomest homes in the city. Not long after beginning his farming operations here Mr. Harding began the breeding of pure-bred Shorthorn cattle and continued that line for fifteen years, after which Jie took up the breeding of Angus cattle and for twenty-one years continued that line, during that time coming to be known as one of the best stockmen in the state. Not long after he took up the cattle line he became engaged as a live-stock auctioneer and has ever since answered the growing demands upon his time in that direction, for years having been recognized as one of the most successful live-stock auctioneers in the West, conducting sales at Omaha, Kansas City and at many points throughout this state. During the more than thirty-three years in which Mr. Harding has been engaged as an auctioneer he has missed but three engagements and these on account of unavoidable circumstances. In addition to his extensive farming and livestock interests, Mr. Harding also has been for years actively identified with the business interests of his home town and has been one of the most potent factors in the development of Humboldt. Upon the organization of the First National Bank of that city he was the principal stockholder and for some years acted a^ vice-president of the concern and owned the building in which the bank was located. He also was one of the prime movers in the organization of the State Bank. Besides the First National Bank building he has erected seven other business buildings in the city and as one of the promoters of the Odd Fellow building was able to insure the constrviction of that building on the admirable site it occupies. Mr. Harding years ago bought a tract of eighty-four acres on the eastern edge of town and successfully subdivided the same. He also has laid out other additions to the town and in other ways has proved himself one of the most progressive and public-spirited "boosters" in Richardson county. He has done much in the real-estate way, having bought and sold a great deal of land hereabout, and sold the first tract that ever brought two Inuidred dollars an acre in that part of the county. During ^the past six or seven years Mr. Harding has traveled extensively and has thus seen the majority of the most interesting points in this country. In the spring of tqij he erected a large brick garage, fifty by one hundred and ten feet in dimensions and with a large storage capacity, at Humboldt, and thus has been aljle to extend his flourishing automobile business, he having for some time held the local agency for four of the country's best-known cars. Mr. Harding is a Republican, with "independent" leanings, but has

On January 14. 1880, in lUinois, JVterrick W. Harding was united in marriage to Medora L. Bridgeford, who was born at Millersburg, that state, daughter of Oh'ver and Ehza (McLane) Bridgeford, natives, respectively, of Indiana, and to this union three children have been born, Grace, who died on June 16, 1904, at the age of twenty-four years; Edna, who died on August 17, 1905, at the age of twenty years, and Brooks B. Harding, born on August 9, 1896, who is now a student at the Nebraska State University at Lincoln. Mr. and Mrs. Harding have a very pleasant home at Humboldt and have ever taken an interested part in the general social and cultural activities of their home town and of the community at large, helpful in many ways in prompting movements having to do with the advancement of the common welfare. Mr. Harding is a member of the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Modern Woodmen of America and in the affairs of these organizations takes a warm interest.

Henry Daeschner

Henry Daeschner one of Richardson county's best-known and most substantial retired farmers and stockmen, and the proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred acres in sections 28 and 29 of the precinct of Jefferson, now living at Preston, 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 infancy and of Richardson- county - since - he .was- abeut -fifteen. »years of age, hence may be very properly regarded as one of the real "old settlers" of this county. He was born on July i, 1851, and was about a year old when his parents, Charles and Susanna (Dauchler) Daeschner, left their native Baden with their family and came to the United States, settling in the vicinity of Dundee, in Kane county. Illinois, where they established tiieir home on a farm and where they remained until the year 1863 when they came to the then Territory of Nebraska and located in this county, where they spent the remainder of their lives, useful and influential pioneers of Richardson count)^ sons proceeded to develop and improve the same, it not being long until he came to be regarded as one of the best-established farmers in that section. On that pioneer farm he and his wife continued to make their home until about 1900, when they retired from the farm and moved to Preston, where they spent their last days, occupying the house now owned and occupied by Richard Daeschner, Charles Daeschner dying there in 1905, at the advanced age of eighty- four years, his' widow surviving him about three years, her death occurring in 1908. She was born in 1825. Charles Daeschner and wife were members of the church of the Evangelical Association, the local congregation of which they helped to organize, and their children were reared in that faith. They were, the parents of eighteen children, of whom thirteen grew to maturity, namely : Mrs. Nannie Myers, of San Antonio, Texas; Charles, now deceased; Jacob, who served as a soldier of the Union. a member of an Illinois regiment, during the Civil War and who is now deceased ; Christian, deceased ; HenrA% the subject of this biographical sketch ; John, deceased; William, a minister of the Evangelical Association, now stationed at Post Oak, Texas; Frederika, of Jefferson precinct, this county: Katherine, wife of William Zoellers, of Jefferson precinct; Frank, of Hiawatha, Kansas; Mrs. Sophia Schinner. of Holton. Kansas; Mrs. Mary Kaiser, of Weiser, Idaho; August, present superintendent of schools at Del Norte, Colorado; Edward, a blacksmith at Falls City, this county, and Gideon,' of Coffeyville, Kansas. The Daeschners in America maintain a regularly organized family association and keep the family history up-to-date, ciir'rent' hfevisions and additions to the genealogical record being made at the antiual reunibrrs of the family which are largely attended, the league being represented by numerous famihes in this state and in Texas. Colorado and Idaho, there also being' corresponding members in some of the other states. As noted above, Henry Daeschner was little more than an infant when his parents came to this country from Baden and his youth was spent on the home farm in the neighborhood of Dundee, in Illinois, his schcxjling being received in the schools of that place. He was about fifteen years of age when he came with the family to Richardson county in 1865. and he grew to manhood on the home farm in Jefferson precinct, thoroughly familiar with pioneer conditions hereabout. When twenty-one years of age he began farming on his own account, renting a farm, and shortly after his marriage in the fall of 1875, bought his first land, an "eighty" in Jefferson precinct, where he established his home. He was living there when the scourge of grasshoppers swept over this region. During that period Mr. Daeschner, in common with other pioneers of this section, saw some pretty hard times and still retains recollections of having to pay fifty per cent, interest on money tor rowed to tide him over the critical period, but he persevered and presently began to see his way clear. As he prospered Mr. Daeschner -gradually added to his land holdings until he became the owner of a well-improved and profitably cultivated farm of two hundred acres in sections 28 and 29 of Jefferson precinct, which he still owns, and on which he continued to make his home until in 1916, when he retired from the farm, his wife having died in 1908, and moved to Preston, where he is now living with his son, the Rev. Richard T. Daeschner.

On October 5, 1875, Henry Daeschner was united in marriage to Eliza Ivaiser, who was born in the neighborhood of Chicago, in Cook county, Illinois, September 11, 1856, and who was about eight years of age when her parents, Christopher and Eliza (Jahn) Kaiser, came to the then Territory of Nebraska, in 1864, and settled in Richardson county. Christopher Kaiser and his wife were natives of Germany and upon coming to this country first settled at Dundee, Illinois, later moving to Cook county, that same state, where they remained until they came to this county and cast in their lot with the pioneers of this section of Nebraska. To Henry and Eliza (Kaiser) Daeschner five children were born, Richard T., Edwin G., deceased; Tosia, deceased; Alma L., wife of the Rev. A. E. Kurth, a minister of the gospel now stationed at Weatherford, Oklahoma, and Sadie S., wife of the Rev. E. D. Riebel, also a minister of the gospel, now stationed at Buchanan, Michigan. The Rev. Richard T. Daeschner, firstborn of the children of Henry Daeschner was born on the home farm in the vicinity of Rulo on August 20, 1877, and on September 7, 1910, was united in marriage to Elma Beckenhauer, who was born at West Point, this state, January 15, 1886. He was graduated from Northwestern College at Naperville, Illinois, with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy, and was later ordained as a minister of the Evangelical Association and is now engaged in special work in the service of that association. Mrs. Eliza K. Daeschner died at her home in the neighborhood of Rulo on May 12, 1908. She was an earnest member of the Evangelical Association, as is her husband, and was ever faitliful in local good works. Mr. Daeschner is a Republican and formerly and for years was a member of the school board in his old home district, ever giving a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs and helpful in many ways in promoting movements having to do with the advancement of the common welfare.

Emerson L. Bowers

A leading farmer and stockman of Liberty precinct, this county, is Emerson L. Bowers, who was born in Stark county, Ohio, June 26, 1870, a son of Daniel and Emeline (Beckenhopt) Bowers. The father was born in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, May 13, 1833, and died on May 23, 1901. The mother was born in Stark county, Ohio, and her death occurred in 1 881. Daniel Bowers lived in his native state during his earlier years. He came to Nebraska in 1872 and bought land in Liberty precinct, this county, on which memliers of his family still live. The land had been only partly broken and on it stood a small house. He worked hard and in time had the land well improved and under a fine state of cultivation. He built a comfortable home and here he spent the rest of his life, becoming one of the leading farmers of this section of the county, and an influential citizen. In connection with general farming he raised a great deal of stock, feeding most of the grain the place produced to his stock, in fact not much corn has been hauled away from the farm since 1877. A year or two previous to that date he sold two thousand bushels at twelve cents a bushel. As late as 1896 he bought three thousand bushels for thirteen cents a bushel, and in 191 7, his son, Emerson L.. bought twenty-two thousand bushels of com, for which he paid from one dollar and ten cents to two dollars and twenty cents a bushel.

Six children were born to Daniel Bowers and wife, namely: Mrs. Ada L. Nulk, deceased; Lois, wife of Fred Heineman, of \'^erdon. Liberty precinct, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work; Emerson L.. the subject of this sketch : Impertous I\L, a fanner and stock buyer of Liberty precinct, a sketch of whom will lie found on another page of this volume; Mrs. Myrtle Kiefer, who lives in Hot Springs. South Dakota, and H. Bowers, who lives at Falls City.

Emerson L. Bovvers was reared on the home farm and attended tiie public schools in Verdon. from which he was graduated: later attending a business college in Burlington. Iowa. In 1892 he turned his attention to the live-stock business, which he has followed ever since. He 'and his brother, Impertous M. Bowers, ship thousands of head of cattle and hogs from Richardson county to the markets annually. They have been in partnership fo*- many years and are among tlie best-known buyers in southeastern Nebraska.

made extensive improvements, and has been very successful as a general farmer, stockman and apple dealer. The farm contains four hundred and fifty acres. He feeds from thirty to forty carloads of cattle and hogs annually. There is a large spring on the place, one of the best in the county, which will water twenty thousand head of stock. He has modern and substantial imprfnements, everything about his place denoting thrift and good management He spent three thousand dollars in constructing cement water tanks. The place is fenced hog tight and a large portion has been seeded to alfalfa and lilue grass. The place is admirably located for a atock farm, lying along what was known as the old Deer Creek branch, nine miles northwest of Falls City. In the early days a tender and nutritious grass grew along this stream and deer would come from long distances to crop it, and here '.he pioneers would hunt for tlieir veniswi, which eoiTstitirted the major portion of their meat for some time, until they could raise their own meat and get their farms started. In those days the Bowers farm was one of the favorite camping grounds of the Indians, who often amused the children f>f the settlers by their customs, and it was a constant source of wonder for the Bowers children to visit the Indian camps and watch tlie red men.

Mr. Bovvcrs has a large and well-kept orchard of standard varieties ' I if fruit for this latitude. In 1913 he shipped twenty-five carloads of apples from his orchard to Minneapolis, Minnesota. At one time he received the highest price e>er paid for apples in that market. During the past five years he has sold apples in July. He has sixty acres in orchard, which he out in 191 1. His feed lots cover eight acres. He is a shareholder in the Omaha State Bank.

On November 18, 1894, Mr. Bower was married to Myrtle Simmons, a daughter of Columbus and Sophia (Carr) Simmons, natives of Illinois, in which state they spent tlieir earlier years, coming to Nebraska in 1871, locating on a farm two miles west of Verdon, in Richardson county. Mr. Simnidus was Ijorn in Pike county, Illinois, February 3, 1849, and after devilling his active life to farming died on February 22, 1910. His wife was l)oni in Ohio, July 24, 1849, ^"^ died on May 10, 191 1. To these parents two children were born: Myrtle (wife of Mr. Bowers), who was Ijorn on .\]n[\ 17, 1873, in Liberty precinct, this county, where she grew to womanhdod and received a common-school education, graduating from the X'erdon high school, and Cephas D. Simmons, who is now living in JManchester, Kansas.

schel. who was graduated from the schools of X'erdon and Falls City and is now (191 7), a student in the State University at Lincoln; ^Mildred, who attei'ded the local schools, and is now also a student in the State University ; Percy, at home, and Janice, also at home. Mr. BovvRrs belongs to the BencAolent and Protective Order of Elks at Falls City. He is a member of the National Stock Growers Association. He holds membership in the Congregational church.

Louis Finck

Louis F^inck, proprietor of a well-kept farm of one hundretl and sixty acres in section 18 of the precinct of Arago. this county, was born on that farm and has lived there or in that neighborhood all his life. He was born on January 17, 1874, a son of Fred and Sophia (Tilk) Finck, natives of Germany and pioneers of this county, further and fitting mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume.

Fred Finck was a Mecklenburger. Ixjrn on January 12, 1830, and grew to manhood in his native land, becoming a wagon-maker. Upon coming to this country he settled in Illinois, but in pioneer times came to Nebraska and settled in Arago precinct, this county, having lieen here at the time of the Indian uprising. He bought a tract of land in that precinct and there developed a good piece of property, remaining there the rest of his life, his death occurring on July 14, 1893. He and his wife were the parents of seven -children, of whom five are still living, those besides the. subject of this sketch being Wilhelmina, who married Fred Bahr and is now living at Barada: Fred P. Finck. a farmer of Arago precinct; John, of Barada precinct, and Mrs. Sophia Neimeyer, of the precinct of Ohio.

Reared on the home farm in Arago precinct. Louis Finck received his schooling in the little old log school house which did .service in that neighborhood during the days of his boyhood, and from the days of his early youth was a valued aid in the labors of developing and improving the home place and has always l^een a farmer. He was married when twenty-one years of age and then rented a part of the home farm and began farming on his own account about three years later buying the farm on which he is nowliving and where he ever since has made his home, one hundred and sixty acres of the old home place. Since talcing possession of that place Mr. I'inck has made extensive improvements in the wa\- of building new build-

Mr. Finck has been twice married. In 1895 ^e was united in marriage to Alvine Litzke, a daughter of Henry and Adaline (r>omke) Litzke, natives of Germany and residents of Richardson count}-, further and fitting mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume, and to that union one child was born, a son, Henry, who is at home, a valued aid to his father in the work of the farm. Following the death of Mrs. Alvine Finck, ^Ir. Finck married. September 13, 1901, Emma Jordin, who was born in the neighboring state of Missouri on May 19, 1874. daughter of Henry and Dora ( Kolman) Jordin, who are now living in the precinct of East Barada. this count}-. Mr. and Mrs. Finck have a pleasant home and take a proper part in the general social activities of the community in which the}- live and in which Mr. Finck has lived all his life.

Henry Gerdes

In examining the life records of self-made men it will invariably be found that indefatigable industry has constituted the basis of their success. True, there are other elements which enter in and conserve the advancement of personal interests - such as perseverance, discrimination and mastering of expedients; but the foundation of all achievement is earnest, persistent lalx)r. It seems that Henry Gerdes, a member of the board of commissioners of state institutions, formerly a leading agriculturist of Richardson county and a former representative from this county in the state Legislature, now a citizen of the city of Lincoln, realized this fact when a boy and it has had much to do with .shaping his subsequent career.

Henry Gerdes was 1x)rn on December 22, 1855, in McHenry county. Illinois, a son of William and Hannah (Fricke) Gerdes, natives of the kingdom of Holland, the former of whom was born on May 7, 1820, and died on December 20, 1904. When a young man William Gerdes immigrated to America and located in Illinois, where he married. He lived in McHenry county, Illinois, for a number of years and later resided in Vandalia, that state, where his wife died. Two of his daughters also died there. He married his second wife in 1862 and during the latter part of that year started for Nebraska, crossiiig the river at St. Stephens on December 18. They were anxious to get across and into a new country on account of the border ruffians and bushwhackers, who were active in that section of the country during the Civil War. The family was delayed on account of floating ice in the river. After getting safely across they started for the home of August Fricke, who had preceded them a week for the purpose of looking up a location for the two families. William Gerdes was bringing his family and household goods, together with soine of the belongings of yir. Fricke. in five covered wagons. Mr. Fricke had found a hut for himself, and he, Mr. Gerdes and his father-in-law cut logs that winter with which to build log houses tlie following spring, l>efore time to put out crops for the following season. These families located in Arago precinct, Richardson county, William Gerdes thus having been among the earliest pioneers of this county. He and his family endured the usual privations and hardships incident to life on the western plains at that early day, when settlers were few and trading posts were far remote. He developed a good farm and established a comfortable home by hard work and perseverance and became one of the substantial and influential citizens of the eastern part of the county in that early period of the county's history, and here he spent the rest of his life and was buried a short distance from his home. Three children were lx)rn to his first marriage, namely: Martha, deceased; the next child, a daughter, died in infancy, and Henry, the subject of this sketch. To his second marriage ten children were born, as follow : Mrs. Caroline J. Koso, a widow living in Barada precinct; Mrs. Minnie J. Bolinger, a widow, who makes her home at Grand Island, Nebraska; William, who lives at Morrill, Kansas; Mrs. Mary Parchen, who lives in Falls City, where her husband is engaged in the clothing business; Julia, wife of Edward Frauenfelder, of Verdon, this county; Emma, who lives in Falls City, the widow of Charles Scoby; Mrs. Amw Egner, -wiio -in-Brown- coimty, Kansas ; Fred, deceased : John, who is engaged in farming in Arago precinct, this county, and Sophia, wife of H. Vogle, of Arago precinct.

Henry Gerdes was seven years old when he made tlie overland trip in prairie sch(X)ners from Illinois to Richardson county, and he grew to manhood on the homestead in Arago precinct, where, like all pioneer boys, he worked hard when he liecame of proper age. He helped develop the farm from the wild prairie sod and in the winter time he attended the primitive country schools in that vicinity. As a young man he l^egan farming for himself in that precinct and then rented land in Ohio precinct, and lx)ught eighty acre of land with but two hundred dollars for his first payment. In 1888 he sold this farm and Ijought land one-halt mile north of Barada and improved it, and by close application and perseverance became very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser, continuing- with gratifying results until 1907, when he moved to Falls City, residing there until 1913, when he moved to Lincoln, where he has since made his home. He is owner of two hundred acres of valuable and well-improved farming land in Barada precinct and also considerable well-located city property in Falls City. He was one of the organizers of the Barada State Bank of Barada, has been a heavy stockholder in the same ever since and is now vice-president and a member of the board of directors of the same. The pronounced success of this sound and popular institution has been due in no small measure to his counsel and influence.

On February 17, 1880, at Falls City, Henry Gerdes was married to Mary Buchholz, who was born in St. Joseph county, Indiana, a daughter of August and Johanna (Rife) Buchholz. The father was born in Baden, Germany, April 20, 1834, and his death occurred on October 7, 191 1. He left his native land when seventeen years old came to .\merica and worked as a farm hand until 1853, when he went to Indiana, in which state he was married in 1858. He had learned the cooper's trade when young and this he followed in Indiana, in which state he continued to make his home until 1865, when he came to Nebraska, being among the early pioneers of Richardson county, and here he became a leading- farmer, owning seven hundred acres of excellent land in Barada precinct. He carried on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale there until 1895, when he retired from active life and moved to Falls City, where his death occurred. The moUier of Airs. Gerdes, who was known in her maidenhood as Johanna Rife, was bom on August 15, 1838, in Wurtemburg, Germany and she died on Alay 11, 191 7. She was nine years old when she left her native land with her parents, the family crossing the Atlantic for America. They located in Indiana.

Mrs. Gerdes was born on January 20, 1859. and is the eldest of a family of thirteen children, nine of whom are living at this writing-. She was educated in the public schools of her community and was reared on the home farm, where she worked hard when a girl, both in the home and in the fields. To Mr. and Mrs. Gerdes tv,'0 children were born, namely : Ada. born on December i, 1880, who married Cleon Peck on February 11. 1906. and who died on June 1 1 of that year, just four months to the day after she became a bride, and Conrad Gerdes, who was born on August 10. 1884. and who now lives on his father's farm in Barada precinct. These children were reared on the farm in Ohio precinct and both received good, practical educations.

ential worker in his party. He was a leader in this county in the old Farmers' Alliance party. In 1 890 he wa.s elected representative to the Legislature from Richardson county, being the only successful candidate of that year on the local Democratic ticket. This would indicate that he was popular in his locality and had the confidence of the people. While in the Legislature he did much for the good of his county and the state, his selection to that responsible post proving the wisdom of his constituents, to whom his record was highly pleasing in every respect. He introduced the famous farmers' mutual insurance bill, which became a law in 1891. He made such a splendid and commendable record during his first term that he was re-elected in 1892 and served with equal fidelity and ability in the session of 1893. He was returned in 1896 and served in the session of 1897 and again in 1905, 1909 and in 191 1, serving in all but six terms in the Legislature. He helped elect W. V. Allen United States senator. He has held numerous local offices, such as that of chairman of the township Iward. and served as a member of the city council of Falls City in 1908. He is at this writing a member of the board of commissioners of state institutions, and was one of the first to be appointed to a long term (six years) on this board, his appointment having been made in 1913. He was lioiininated % Governor Mof^head and was elected by the state Senate. He has discharged his duties in this connection in a prompt, able and painstaking manner. He is an obliging, well-informed and companionable gentleman, whom it is a pleasure to meet.

Georgf Watklns

George Watkins. retired farmer, now living at the village of Verdon, is one of the i)ioneers from the Buckeye state who found excellent opportunities in Richardson county, and accordingly took advantage of them. He was born in Lorain county, Ohio. June 10, 1841. He is a son of Jared and Lura (Wood) Watkins, both nati\es of Vermont, where they spent their earlier years, but came to Ohio in an early day, locating their future home in Lorain county, where they engaged in general farming. Their family consisted of eleven children, three of whom died in infancy and only three of whom survi\e at this writing. George Watkins is the youngest of the family.

liis parents to Clayton county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming until f^yi, in which year he came to Nebraska and bouglit two hundred acres of land in sections 2^ and 26, in East Muddy precinct, Richardson county, whicli land he still owns. He moved to the farm in April, 1872. There he carried on general farming and stock raising, specializing as a breeder of Shortliorn cattle, finally retiring from active life in 1909 and moving ta Verdon, where he has since resided. He made extensive improvements on the land. When he came here he had but little capital, but he managed well and eventually became one of the substantial farmers of his precinct, notwithstanding the fact that he was handicapped by being crippled from his eighth year.

On February i, 1865, Mr. Watkins was married to Sarah Jones, wha was born on March 28, 1844, in Iowa, a daughter of James and Elizabeth ( I*"rancis) Jones, natives of Virginia and Xew York, respectively. They came to Richardson county in 1874, and spent the rest of their lives on a farm in Barada precinct and in Verdon. To Mr. and Mrs. \A'atkins five children were born, named as follow : Carl A., who is mentioned at length in the following paragraphs: MaJjel, the wife of Sherman Colglazier, who lives on a farm in Liberty precinct, this county, and uwho is mentioned elsewhere in this work ; Winnie, the wife of L. Watkins, of Auburn, Nebraska ; Homer, wlio is farming in East Muddy precinct, this precinct, this county; and Roy, who is farming in Barada precinct and lives in Barada. Politically, .Mr. Watkins is an independent voter. Fraternally, he belongs to the Ancient I'Vee and Accepted Masons.

Carl A. Watkins, who was Ijorn on January 2, 1867, in Iowa, grew up 1)11 the home farm in Richardson county, and attended district school No. 80, in Barada precinct. When first starting out in life for himself he taught one term of school. He worked out as a farm hand for two years and later rented land in Barada precinct and in East .Muddy precinct. In 1900 he bought eiglity acres in the latter precinct, which place he improved and later sold, in 1906. and bought his present farm of one hundred and forty acres in section 29, of Liberty precinct. He also owns eighty acres in section 31 of Barada precinct. He has kept the place well improved and under a fine state of cultivation. He built an attractive home and a great deal of fencing. In connection witli general farming he has engaged in live-stock raising, l)reeding Shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs, having secured the excellent lierds his father owned when he retired from active farming.

was horn in Ohio, a daughter of George and Lucinda (Chapin) Bennett, botli natives of Massachusetts. Mr. Bennett is now making his home at Verdon with his daughter, Mrs. Loren Corn. Mrs. Abbie W'atkins died on October 11, igoi, and on January 21, 1907, Mr. Watkins married Mrs. Jennie (Horstman) Mayfield, a native of Iowa and a daugliter of AVilliam Horstman and widow of S. M. Mayfield, 1)y whom she had four cliildren, namely: Clarence, who Ii\es in Hot Springs, Arkansas; Lester, who is farming in Barada precinct, tliis county; Vivian, who lives in Falls City, and Alma, deceased. By his first wife Mr. Watkins had two children (twins), a son and a daughter, Ernest and Edith, torn on October 4, 1901. Politically, ]\Ir. Watkins is a Democrat. He is a member of the Christian church.

Elva J. Duryea, a well-known automobile salesman of Dawson, this county, also engaged in merchandising at Xims City, this county, was born on a farm in Speiser precinct, this count>-, September 5, 1865, a son of Sylvanus N. and Celestia (Claus) Duryea. Sylvanus Duryea was born in 183 1 in Brooklyn, New York, and died in 1877. He was a soldier in the Civil War. He came to Nebraska, in 1854, making the trip from Pennsylvania in a covered wagon, drawn by oxen, bringing his wife and household goods. He reached his goal on the wild western plains with only three dollars in money, and he had little of this world's goods. Besides his wagon and oxen he had only a few pieces of furnishings for his home, a shotgun, a cow and a dog. The cow had traveled so far that its feet got sore before it reached Nebraska and Mr. Duryea cut the tops off his boots and bound them about the cow's feet to protect them. He settled on a claim on Easley creek. Speiser precinct, this county. Their neighbors were few and far between and they endured many hardships and privations. The mother sent back East for some money which she had eamed teaching school, and applied it on tlieir claim. They built a rude log cabin and began improving and breaking up the raw land, by perseverance and very hard work tliey developed a good farm. .At the second call for volunteers for service in the C\\i\ \\^ar, ^Ir. Duryea enlisted at Falls City, but he was not long in the service, being sent home on account of sickness. He was found lying on the prairie and some of his company started to make preparations to bury him, believing that he was d\ing, l)ut he revived in a few hours. Upon his re- covery he rejoined his company and remained at the front until the close of the war, becoming a brave and etificient soldier. He was promoted for bravery and became first sergeant in his company. During his absence in the army he left his wife with neighbors on the south fork of the Nemaha river. She lived in a log cabin with her two eldest daughters. After the close of hostilities Sylvanus Duryea returned to his claim and farmed there until his death. He also was a contractor and bridge builder, building several bridges in this county. Politically, he was a Republican and took an active interest in public affairs. He was a member of the Wesleyan Methodist church. His wife was born in Tioga county, Pennsylvania, in 1832, and her death occurred in 1886. Six children were born to Sylvanus N. Duryea and wife, namely: Mrs. Nellie Macumber, of Falls City; Mrs. Desdemona Jenkins, who lives in California; Elva J., the subject of this sketch; Walter E., who Hves in Nemaha county, Kansas; Mrs. Grace Nuttle, deceased, and Alice, also deceased.

Elva J. Duryea, who is probably the oldest living native-born citizen in Richardson county, was reared on the old homestead in Nemaha precinct. He worked hard when a boy, as did all sons of pioneers, and helped break up the sod and develop the home farm. When a boy he herded cattle on the plains a great deal. He received a good education in the early-day district schools, and in Campbell University at Holton, Kansas, working his way through college, working all day for his board, and has supported himself since he was twelve years old. For sonie time he worked as a farm hand, and finally bought out the heirs to the home place, which he operated until 1892. in which year he engaged in the blacksmith business at Dawson, following that vocation until 1901, when he returned to farming in Nemaha precinct; but in 1903, he turned his attention to mercantile pursuits at Nims City, starting a general store there, which he still operates, enjoying a large and growing trade. Mr. Duryea was a patron of the automobile from the first and owned one of the first four machines in Richardson county. He \\as one of the first machinists of the county to do repair work on automobiles. In 191 3 he moved his tools to Dawson and began repairing and selling automobiles, in partnership with Edward Uhri, which partnership continued successfully until 191 5. since which time Mr. Duryea has been engaged in the business alone. He handles the Overland car and has built ui) a very satisfactory business in this line.

is a daughter of Elmer and Sarah (Johnson) Bacon, natives of Pennsylvania, who settled in this county after the Civil War. Mr. Bacon and four of his brothers were soldiers in the Civil War, all serving in Pennsylvania regiments. Eight children have been born to Elva J- Duryea and wife, namely : Myrtle, the wife of Robert Haushan, of Nemaha precinct; Seth M., manager of the Nims City store owned by his father; Lloyd, manager of his father's garage at Dawson; Earl, who is working in the store at Nims City; Cecil, a machinist, who works in the garage at Dawson, and Chester, Dale and Donald, who live in Nims City.

Mr. Duryea is a Republican and was elected county commissioner in 1915. He has also served on the local school board. He belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen.

William Sherman Colglazier

Among the citizens of Richardson county who originally came from the Hoosier state is William S. Colglazier a farmer of Liberty precinct, who was born in Washington county, Indiana, March 31, 1867, a son of John N. and Sarah (Combs) Colglazier. The father was born in \\"ashington county, Indiana, October 30, 1844, and is now living in Florida. He grew up in his native county, attended school and married there, and engaged in farming in that county until 1870, when he came to Nebraska, locating on a farm near Verdon, Richardson county, buying eighty acres. This place is now owned by H. P. Kelly. Here he engaged in farming until 1885. John N. Colglazier was twice married, the last time in 1915, to Mrs. Beck, a widow. By his first wife he was the father of the following children: Lulu, wife of M. Jones, a farmer, living on a farm north of Shubert, this county; William S., the subject of this sketch ;, Minnie, who married L. Jones and is now deceased, and Fred, a hardware merchant of Falls City.

William S. Colglazier spent his boyhood on the farm in Richardson county, having been but three years of age when his parents brought him from Indiana, and received a common-school education. He began life for himself when seventeen years old, farming on rented land until 1907, when he lx)ught his present farm, which was unimproved. He built a house, barn and other outbuildings, set out trees and made extensive improvements in general. The place consists of one hundred and sixty acres in section jo.

On December 24, 1892, Mr. Colglazier was married to Mabel P. Watkins, who was born in Ohio, a daughter of George and Sarah (Jones) Watkins, mention of whom is made in the sketch of Carl A. Watkins on another page of this work. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Colglazier, namely: Harold (deceased), Doris, Enid, Mildred, Minnie, Sarah and .Arden F. Doris married Clair Brown and lives in Liberty precinct. Mr. Colglazier is a Republican. He l^elongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and he and Mrs. Colglazier are members of the Christian church.

Robert E. Grinstead

There is no positive rule for achieving success, and yet in the life of the successful man there are always lessons which might well be followed. The man who gains prosperity' in any vocation is he who can see and utilize the opportunities that come in his path; an example of this type of man being Robert E. Grin stead, formerly representative from this county to the state Legislature and one of the leading citizens of Richardson county, but now living in honorable retirement in the city of Lincoln, after an exceptionally successful career as a general agriculturist.

Robert E. Grinstead was born on April i, 1840, in Glasgow, Barren county, Kentucky, and is a scion of a sterling old Southern family. He is a son of Philip W. and Angeline (Jones) Grinstead. Philip W. Grinstead was also a native of Glasgow, Kentucky, where his parents located in pioneer times in the old Blue Grass state. The date of his birth was 1808. There he grew to manhood and devoted his active life to farming and surveying. He owned a large plantation in the South and prior to the Civil War owned a small number of slaves, but was not of the slaveholding class, and abhorred slavery. He was loyal to the Union and during the war formed a company of Home Guards of which he was elected captain. He was killed in his own home in 1863 by a Confederate soldier and while he lay wounded to death the home was harrassed and threatened by Rebel soldiers encamped nearby, his son, Robert E., remaining in hiding. He was an ardent admirer of Abraham Lincoln and was loyal to the President to the last. Although a small slaveholder, he believed in the policies of Lincoln. He was an extensive stock raiser. He was a son of Philip and Lucy (Hooker) Grinstead.

natives of Virginia. Lucy Hooker was a daughter of Thomas and Sarah ( Guy ) Hooker and she attended school with Henry Clay in \'irginia and was always interested in the career of the great Kentucky statesman. Angeline Jones, mother of the subject of this sketch, was bom in Barren county, Kentucky, in 1812, a daughter of John and Polly (Young) Jones. She grew up, attended school and married in Kentucky. Her death occurred in 1890 on the old homestead, where she had lived for a period of fifty years.

Fourteen children were born to Philip W. and Angeline Grinstead, as follow; William E., a retired merchant, of Louisville, Kentucky; George R.. a retired farmer of Falls City, Nebraska ; Emily, who married Thomas Depp and is now deceased; Robert E,, the subject of this sketch; Dr. C. T. Grinstead, a physician of Glasgow, Kentucky, who was a soldier in the Civil War, was wounded in the battle of Stone's River, Tennessee, and who rose to the rank of lieutenant before being mustered out of the service of the Union; Mrs. Laura E. Shirley, who lives with her daughter in Horton, Kansas : Capt. J. P. Grinstead, who was a soldier in the Mexican and Civil Wars and who died at Salem, thiscotinty; Judge V. H. Grinstead, an attorney, who lives at Liberal, Kansas; Mrs. Mary L. Stephens, deceased; Mrs. Hattie G. Harlin, who lives at Davy, Nebraska ; Mrs. Betty C. Murray, who makes her home in El Paso. Texas; Mrs. Belle Nolan, deceased; Samuel, deceased, and one child, Mary, who died in infancy.

' Robert E. Grinstead was reared on the home farm in Barren county. Kentucky, where he worked hard when a boy. He attended school in a log cabin and in 1864 cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, having been one out of thirteen in^ his county to vote the Republican ticket in that year. He always regretted his lack of educational opportunities in his youth and, seeing the need of a high school at Summershade, Kentucky, he erected a building there in 1876 to be used as a high school. The same year he was elected to the state Legislature from the county in which he then lived. He introduced a bill to alx)lish the manufacture and sale of liquor within one mile of the school house which he had built, and it l)ecame a law, and today there is not a saloon in Metcalf county, Kentucky, his w-ork against the liquor traffic there in the early days having thus had a far-reaching effect. He lias always been an ardent Prohibitionist and has done much for the cause.

As a boy Robert E. Grinstead learned surveying under his father and in i860 became county surveyor of Metcalf county. Kentucky. He had surveyed thdusands of acres for the public domain. About 1876 he went to Texas. From there he intended to go to southern Kansas, but a friend advised him to go to southeastern Nebraska, for the blue grass grew better there. This was inducement enough and he removed to Richardson county and I)ought a farm south of Dawson, but later moved four miles south of Humboldt, where he made some extensive improvements, including the setting out of a fine grove of catalpa trees and pecan trees and Chincopin oak>. the first of the kind in the state. He also planted Ohio blue ash trees. Growing on his farm are the only pecan trees in Nebraska. Hard maple trees which he planted are now yielding sap. He also set out other varieties of trees. He became one of the leading farmers of that locality and also handled large numbers of live stock. He took an active interest in public affairs and was soon a leader in his party in this section of the state. Tn 1882 he was elected representative to the Legislature from Richardson county on the Republican ticket and was one of the leading members of the sessions of 1882 and 1883, doing much for the good of his county, as well as for the general good of the state. He was also several times elected county surveyor of Richardson county. He surveyed the Iowa Indian Reservation in Nebraska and Kansas for the government, into forty-acre tracts and re-established the southeast corner of the state of Nebraska. He was regarded as one of the most expert surveyors ever in this section of the United States, was one of the five men appointed to survey the drainage ditch in Richardson county and became its drain commissioner, acting superintendent of all the work on this ditch, which was quite an extensive undertaking. As a public servant, Mr. Grinstead always performed his work in an able, faithful and conscientious manner, in a way that rejected much credit upon himself, and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned.

In 1 89 1 Mr. Grinstead moved to Salem, where he continued to reside until 1 91 5. when he moved to Bethany, Nebraska, and in 1916 he located in Lincoln, where he now resides. In partnership with his son, Philip, and sonin-law, Prof. R. L. Hoff, he owns a ranch at Alliance, Nebraska, containing twenty -nine hundred acres in all and known as the "Black Root Ranch." He is vice-president and treasurer of the company; his son is president, and Professor Hoff is secretary. They operate this great ranch on an extensive scale, and are raising great quantities of grain and live stock, besides maintaining a large dairy herd.

On December 28, 1865, Robert E. Grinstead was married to Fannie Pool, who was born on November 22, 1840, near Edmonton, Kentucky, a daughter of John and Eliza (Wren) Pool, natives of \^irginia. and to this union five children have been born, namely: Philip W., formerly a teacher in the Fremont, Norfolk and Salem schools, now an attorney of Louisville, Kentucky, who married Irene Reed, a native of Kentucky ; Pool, who is now deceased, who was at one time owner and editor of the Salem (Nebraska) Index, the Morrill (Kansas) News, and the Wathena (Kansas) Star, who died in St. Joseph, Missouri, in 1912; Robert, former surveyor of this county, for twenty years a soldier now a major in the United States Army, stationed at Syracuse, New York, and who during the Spanish-American War was captain of a company in the Twenty-third Infantry, being promoted to the rank of major of the Fiftieth Infantry Regiment; Emma, wife of Prof. R. L. Hoff, of Lincoln, Nebraska, and Dr. Wren J. Grinstead. who is a professor in the State Normal School at Richmond, Kentucky. Dr. Grinstead was graduated from the Kenton State University with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, and received the degree of Master of Arts from the State University of. Kentucky, and the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the State University at Madison, Wisconsin.

The history of the Grinstead family shows that they have been inclined toward professional life, especially those of the last two generations, and they are playing well their parts in their respective walks of life. The children of the subject of this sketch received excellent educational advantages.

Fraternally, Mr. Grinstead is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is a man of fine personal characteristics, has become well informed as a result of .wide miscellaneous home reading and close observation and has a host of friends wherever he is known.

Louis J. Segrist

It matters little what vocation a man may select as his life occupation as long as it is an honorable one. If he is an honest, upright man, courteous in his intercourse with his fellow men, and possessed with the average amount of energj^ and business sagacity, he is bound to make his business a financial success. Louis J. Segrist, formerly a resident of Richardson county, but now owner and manager of the Lincoln Tire and Repair Company, in the city of Lincoln, evidently possesses the above mentioned requirements.

Mr. Segrist was tern in Richardson county, this state, April 25. 1875, a son of J. C. and Susannah (Simon) Segrist. The father was born on February 21, 1847, in Bremen, Germany, from which country he came to America when young and is now living at Humboldt, this county, where he is engaged in the furniture busniess, in partnership with A. H. Fellers. He was twelve years old when he left his native land v/ith his motlier and stepfather, who located in Illinois. In the fall of 1874, J. C. Segrist came to Nebraska and began farming in Porter precinct, Richardson county, where he resided until 1882, when he left the farm and moved to Humboldt, where he has since resided. His wife was born in Maryland, July 5, 1849. To their union eight children were born, three of whom are now deceased; the five living, besides Louis J., the subject of this sketch, who is the eldest, being as follow : Delia, wife of I. Sheirley, a merchant of Humboldt; George who lives in Sioux' City, Iowa, a salesman for the packing plant of Swift & Company, Chicago; Anna, wife of E. C. Colhapp, of Lincoln, a clerk for a clothing company, and Mrs. Mabel Beurstetta, a widow, who also lives in Lincoln.

Louis J. Segrist was reared on the home farm in Franklin precinct, this county, and assisted with the general work of the farm when be became of proper age. He received his early education in the district schools there. As a young man he engaged in farming for himself, renting the home place from his father for nine years. He continued general farming and stock raising successfully until 1904, when he bought out the M. R. Linn & Son lumber yard at Humboldt, continuing in that line with very gratifying resuhs until 1911, when he turned his attention to the automobile business, becoming associated with the Slama & Davis Company. On April 17, 19 14, he moved to Lincoln, where he bought out a tire and repair business at 124 South Fifteenth street, which he is now conducting under the firm name of the Lincoln Tire and Repair Company, carrying a large and complete stock of tires and tubes, and does a large business both in the sales and repair departments. He was also one of the organizers of the T. & H. Oil Company of Ottawa. Kansas, and is vice-president of the company, which is a very thriving concern, this venture having met with great success. Sixteen wells are in operation, producing large quantities of oil. It is a one-hundred-thousand-dollar corporation. Mr. Segrist also owns one thousand acres of valuable land in South Dakota, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Kansas, besides property in the city of Lincoln. He is a man of rare business acumen and foresight, possessing sound judgment, perseverance and courage. He is also a man of sound business principles, honest and straightforward in all his dealings with his fellow men.

On Januarv 12, i8g8, Louis J. Segrist was married to Fannie May Reynolds, who was born in Princeton, Illinois, a daughter of I. M. Reynolds of Humboldt. Her mother is now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Segrist

Mr. Segrist is an independent voter. While living at Humboldt he served as a member of the city council for many years, and while living on the farm in Franklin precinct, he served as precinct treasurer. He is a genial and companionable gentleman, who makes and retains friends wherever he goes.

Hon. Archibald Jerard Weaver

The deeds of truly successful men live after them; a life filled with usefulness and which has been devoted to the accomplishment of something: worth while to a people is one which never dies. Although several years have elapsed since the departure of the late Judge Archibald Jerard Weaver from the midst of earthly things - he yet lives in the hearts and minds of those who knew him. His career as a jurist and statesman left an impression upon the historical annals of Richardson county and Nebraska which time can never efface and which is destined to endure as long as the state itself. His life work was crowned with success; well educated, vigorous, a strong man mentally and physically, he made his advent into this growing community at a period when statesmen of his type and mold were needed to assist in shaping the destiny and guiding the activities of tlie commonwealth in the right direction. As a member of the constitutional conventions of 1871 and 1875, hs S^""'^ evidence to his constituents that he was possessed of ability of a high order, and while still the presiding judge of the first judicial district of Nebraska, he was called by the people of his district to represent them in the halls of the national Congress, as tlieir representative. Here he displayed statesmanship of a pronounced order Death called him at the zenith of his career, while still in the prime of his useful life. Judge Weaver set an example of right living, uprightness of achievement, and progressiveness which has been emulated by his progen}-. This niemoriam will serve to commemorate for all time to come the story of the life and deeds of this illustrious Nebraskan.

Archibald Jerard Weaver was bom at Dundaff, .Susquehanna county. Pennsylvania, April 15, 1843, and was a son of Abram \\'eaver, a native oi Germany, who left his native land when a youth and settled in Pennsylvania, there marrying Chloe Coddington, who bore him six children, Andrew J-, Arvilla, Amanda, Ann, .\l>rafn and .\rchibald T- The senior Abram Weaver died in 1845 ''"^ the bereaved mother was left in poor circumstances, with six children to rear to manhood and womanhood. The early life of Archi- 1)ald J. Weaver was thus one of hardship and penury and he knew not the luxurious upbringing of the younger generation of the present day. When a small boy he earned his way by doing chores and hoeing potatoes, while attending tlie village school. After his father's death he made his home with an elder brother for several years and was generally industrious, wiltingly performing the tasks allotted him in return for his "keep" and schooling. By the strictest economy he saved his small earnings and came into possession of a colt which, \Chen sold, assisted materially in defraying his expenses at Wyoming Seminary, at Kingston, Pennsylvania. While a student in the seminary his roommate was Doctor Sprague, the present head of ^Vyoming Seminary. He and the future instructor were in the habit of plaving boyish pranks upon their schoolmates when opportunity afforded and the mood seized them. One of these practical jokes, which the judge loved to relate at a later day, was occasion of "watering" the supply of milk, the bovs doing this by milking the seminary cow and then filling the milk pail with water. They enjoyed very much the complaints of the student body because of the weak condition of the beverage. At this famous school Archibald W'eaver met tlie girl who was destined to play an important part in the molding of his later matured life, in the person of Miss Martha A. Myers, a student in the seminary,' daughter of one of the oldest and most influential families of the Wyoming valley. A warm friendship ripened into love, which later culminated in a happy marriage. Mr. Weaver studied for three years in Wyoming Seminary and, upon a vacancy occurring in the facultv through the resignation of a professor, he was tendered the position and filled the post for three years.

Archibald J. W^eaver's ambition was to become a lawyer, and in keeping with this laudable desire he entered the law office of Henry HoA^t at Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania. His preceptor later l)ecame governor of Pennsylvania. .\fter studving for some months under the tutorship of Mr. Hoyt he entered Harvard Law School, studied one year and again resumed his studies with .Mr. Hoyt. He finally returned to Harvard University from which he was graduated in due time and, in January, 1869, was admitted to the practice of law in Boston. Massachusetts. His intention at the time of his admission to practice had been to locate in Boston, and there practice his profession. The ladv he married in 1867. however, and the fact that a brother-in-law. Charles Steele, had located in Nebraska, had their influence in deciding iiis later course in favor of coming to the great West and there growing up with the new country. The wisdom of this decision was justified by subsequent events and the entrance of the future judge almost immediately into the civic and political life of the young state of Nebraska was prophetic in its significance, and Richardson county and Nebraska were made richer by his coming. The party crossed the country by railroad to St. Joseph, Missouri, thence by steamboat to Rulo, Nebraska, from which river point they drove to Falls City in April of 1869. Mr. and Mrs. Weaver were both impressed with the wonderful natural beauty of the country through which they rode and were likewise pleased with the evident richness of the country - a fact which later induced Mr. Weaver and his wife to invest in Richardson county farm lands, thus laying the foundation for the present fortunes of the family. The future judge bought a farm at Falls City and, during his first summer he suffered much from fever, but estabhshed a law office in the embryo city situated upon the prairies north of the Nemaha and success seemed to come to him from the start. Being gifted with a winning personality and his powers of leadership impressing themselves upon the people of the growing community he was selected as a member of the constitutional assembly in 1871, just two years after his advent into the county. He distinguished himself at the sessions of this assembly and a year later was elected district attorney, a position which he held for two successive terms. In 1875 he was again a member of the state constitutional convention and did excellent work in behalf of the people of the commonwealth in assisting in framing wise and beneficent laws for the government of coming generations. His next official preferment was that of judge of the first judicial district of Nebraska, a position which he held for two terms in succession, resigning his high office to take a seat in the Congress of the nation, having been elected representative from diis district in 1882. During his term in Congress Judge Weaver was a member of the important committee which framed the interstate commerce law and provided for the commission which has played such an important part in the regidations of the vast interstate commerce which has developed in these latter decades. He was re-elected to Congress in 1884, his official term of office expiring in March, 1887. Not long after this he was seized with pneumonia and died on April 18, 1887, after a few days illness.

On September 10, 1867, Judge Weaver was united in marriage to Martha A. Myers, and to this union the following children were born, namely : Archibald J., who died at the age of two years; Harriet Blanche, who died at the age of four years; Mrs. Ruth M. Dennis, widow of Prof. David X. Dennis, of New Jersey, who was principal of tlie Falls City high school and who died at Salt Lake City, Utah, while engaged in educational work, and left two children, David,, an orchardist, of Falls City, who married Alma Barton, and Ruth M., wife of Walter J. Lewis, of Pasadena, California, and mother of one child, Evelyn Louise; Arthur J. Weaver, banker and farmer, of Falls City, who married Maude Hart and is the father of four children, Maude Harriet, Dorothy Jane, Arthur, Jr., and Ruth Jean; Lawrence ^L, Spokane, Washington, orchardist in the Yakima valley, who married Lydia C. Crowell and is the father of seven children, Polly, a graduate of the Spokane high school; Persis, Mary Elizabeth, John, Margaret, Robert and Priscilla, and Paul B. Weaver, an extensive farmer, lawyer and orchardist, of Falls City, who married Anna Crook and is the father of seven children, Bennett, Archibald Jackson, Mary, Martha, and Lawrence, Christobel and Doris.

The mother of the foregoing children, Mrs. Martha A. (Myers) Weaver, was born in Kingston, near Wilkesbarre, Pennsylvania; .April 25, 1841, a daughter of Madison F. and Harriet Mj-ers. Madison F. Myers was born on February 24, 1810, and died on August 2, 1859. His wife, Harriet Myers, was born on December 10, 1807, and died on May 2, 1889. They were united in marriage on May 23, 1833. Both of Mrs. Weaver's parents were members of old American families. Madison F. Myers, her father, was born at Utica Mills, Maryland, a son of Michael Myers, who was a son of Michael Myers, a native of the Rhine province, Germany, who emigrated to America in 1760. Michael Myers, the first, became a squire in the new country of his adoption and was a prominent and energetic figure in the early life of the region where he made a settlement. He had four sons, Lawrence, Philip, Henry and Michael. Philip Myers married Martha Bennett, born in Rhode Island, a daughter of Thomas Bennett, a famous patriot and Indian fighter of pre-Revolutionary days. It is recorded in the annals of the Wyoming valley that Thomas Bennett, together with his son, Andrew, and a Mr. Hammond, was captured by a band of savage Indians, with whom the settlers of the Wyoming valley were in almost ceaseless \\-arfare for many years. They were taken far into the fastnesses of the wilderness and were bound in the camp of the Indians and held for possible torture and a slow lingering death, in keeping with the tastes of their savage captors. In tlie evening after their captors had feasted and were lying gorged and stupidh' asleep before a blazing campfire, Thomas Bennett succeeded in loosening his bonds, killed the guard with a spear and used a gun and a tomahawk on the others. Hammond seized an ax lying within reach, laid about him lustily, and Bennett and Hammond in less than two minutes, killed all of the Indians excepting two or three who managed to make their escape, although severely wounded. The tale of Thomas Bennett's mighty prowess has survived to this day and is yet told about the firesides of his descendants in the Wyoming valle\'. The members of the Myers family alike distinguished themselves in the long struggle with savage red men, and even the women were noted for their bravery in those fearsome times when the lives of the white settlers were unsafe. Andrew Bennett, son of Thomas Bennett, fought in the War of 1812. Michael Myers II, married Elizabeth Fonts. He ami Lieutenant Lawrence Myers and Philip Myers both served in the Revolutionary War on the Maryland line and fought at the battles of Germantown. Lawrence Myers, after settling in the Wyoming valley, served as a state deputy sheriff for some years. The children of Madison F. and Harriet Myers were as follow : Martha Josephine, deceased ; Elizabeth, born on September 8, 1836, who died on October i, 1836; Thomas Jefferson, deceased ; Miranda, who came to Falls City, the wife of Charles Steele, an early settler of Richardson county, and who died on February 27, 1890, an artist and landscape painter of ability, who gave painting lessons to the people of Falls City; Philip, who died on February 13, 1878, at the age of thirty-eight years; Martha A., widow of Judge Weaver, subject of this memorial review; John Summerfield, who died in infancy; Frederick B., who died on January 16, 1906, in Pennsylvania; William P., who died on January 17, 1905, at Falls City, and Jennie Lind, who died on March 9, 1854. Mrs. Martha A. Weaver resides in the home place of the Weaver family in Falls City and is a remarkably well preserved and intelligent woman, who takes a keen interest in affairs of the day and loves to dwell upon the reminiscent and tell of the by-gone days when she and her young husband came to Falls City to began life in the great and growing Western country. Mrs. Ruth Dennis, her daughter, makes her home with Mrs. \\'eaver. In her younger days the literary ability of Mrs. Weaver found frequent expression in poetical composition of real merit. Mrs! Weaver, in the course of several years, wrote many interesting and expressive poems, which are contained in a \nlume and are indicative of decided literarv talent.

The late Judge Weaver was a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted IVIasons and of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows He practiced the Christian virtues and was a thoroughly honest, clean-living individual, who was possessed of a force and strength of character and dominating will power which elevated him to the front ranks of his fellow citizens soon after his advent into Falls City. He was a forceful and convincing public speaker, who carried his audience by the clearness of his diction and the force of a strong personality. Being a scholar and student he was gifted with the power to express his thoughts clearly and forcibly.

William G. Niemeyer

William G. Neimeyer, proprietor of a well-kept farm of one hundred and twenty acres in section 24 of the precinct of Ohio, this county, was born in that same precinct and has lived there all his life. He was born on November 4, 1869, son of William and Dora (Kuphe) Niemeyer, natives of Germany, who came to Richardson county about 1866, becoming pioneers of the east central part of the county, and here spent the remainder of dieir lives, their last days being spent in Falls City.

Upon coming to this county the elder William Niemeyer first settled in the precinct of Arago, but presently moved over to the neighboring precinct of Ohio and there established his home in a log cabin, one of the real pioneers of that part of the county. He broke up his land with oxen and during the grasshopper scourge made a fight against the insect pests by constructing large pans, partially filled with coal oil, which he dragged through the fields scooping up the "hoppers," which were thus destroyed by their immersion in the oil. He was a good farmer and became one of the well-to-do landowners of that section. .After their children were all married and "doing for themselves," he and his wife retired from the farm and moved to Falls City, where he died in 1908, eight or nine years after his retirement, his widow surviving him for three or four years. They were the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, he having an elder brother, Charles, of East Muddy precinct, this county; a sister, Alvenia, wife of Gustav Leopold, of Falls City, and another brother, Henry Niemeyer, of the precinct of Ohio.

Reared on the farm on which he was born, William G. Nieiueyer receixed his schooling in the schools of that neighborhood and from the da\s of his boyhood was a valued aid to his father in the labors of improving and developing the home place, remaining at home until his marriage at the age of twenty-five years, when he established his home on the place on which he is now living, renting the same from his father, and at the death of the latter became inheritor of the same. Mr. Niemeyer has made extensive and sub- stantial improvements on his place and has an excellent farm plant, his tract of one hundred and twenty acres being well improved and profitably cultivated. He has a pleasant home and he and his family are very comfortably situated.

In 1893 William G. Niemeyer was united in marriage to Ida Batrum, who also was born in this county, in 1873, daughter of Albert and Paulina (Hepfinger) Batrum, natives of Germany and early settlers in Richardson county, and to this union seven children have been born, Ernest, Rosa, Herman, Amelia, Henry, Emma and August. The eldest daughter, Rosa, married Charles O'Hara and is now living in South Dakota. Amelia married Jacob O. Zimmerman and lives at home. The Niemeyers are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church and take an .interested part in church work, as well as in other neighborhood good works and in the general social activities of the community in which they live. Politically, Mr. Niemeyer is a Democrat.

Henry P. Pittock

The late Henry P. Pittock, who far many years was successfully engaged in the restaurant business at Falls City and who died there in 1910, was a native of England, but had been a resident of this country since he was eighteen years of age. He was born on March 14, 1858, at Deal, in Kent, son of William E. and Elizabeth (Hicks) Pittock, also natives of England, the former of whom later became a grocer in the city of London and who spent their last days in that city. William E. Pittock and wife were the parents of six children, of whom three came to this country, those besides the subject of this memorial sketch to come here having been Mrs. Emma Lass, who died in Galesburg, Illinois, and Mrs. Mary A. Parsons, who is now living at Ouincy, in that same state.

Reared in his native England, Henry P. Pittock received his schooling there and remained there until he was eighteen years of age, when he came to this country to make his home with his sister in Illinois. Not long afterward he went to Salina, Kansas, and attended school, going from there to Seneca, Kansas, where he learned the baker's trade and where he remained until 1874. in which year he came up into Nebraska and engaged in the restaurant business at Falls City. He married the next year and established his home in Falls City, where he spent the rest of his active life, a successful business man. In addition to his restaurant business, Mr. Pittock also con- ducted an extensive gardening business in the vicinity of Falls City. He was a member of the Methodist church, as is his widow, who still makes her home at Falls City and was a member of the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His death occurred at Lincoln, Nebraska, on January 7, 1910.

On INIarch 14, 1875, about a year after locating at Falls City, Henry P. Pittock was united in marriage to Alice C. Elwell, who was born at Knoxville, Illinois. March 17. 1855, daughter of Abraham and Martha (Elwell) Elwell, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Ohio, who later became residents of this county and the latter of whom is still living here, making her home with her widowed daughter, Mrs. Pittock. Abraham Elwell was born in Union county, Indiana. May 18, 1827, son of Abraham and Esther (Coomes) Elwell, natives of New Jersey, the former of wholn was born in Salem county, that state, August 5. 1790, and the latter, in that same county. May 28, 1797. The .senior Abraham Elwell died on his farm in the vicinity of Knoxville, Illinois, March 12, 1880, and his widow survived him a little more than seven years, her death occurring on that same farm in July, - 1887. The junior Abraham Elwell was reared on a farm and on February 28, 1849. at Columbus, Ohio, was married to Martha Elwell, who was born on a farm in the neighborhood of Dayton. Ohio, December 18. 1831, daughter of John H. and N^ancy (Smith) Elwell. natives of New Jersey, the former born in Salem county, that state, in 1797, and the latter, January 3, 1806. Both John H. Elwell and his wife died in Ohio in i860, the death of the latter occurring on September 24 of that year. After his marriage in Ohio, Abraham Elwell moved to Indiana and thence to Illinois. In 1859 he, in compan\- with several other young men, started overland by ox-team for Pike's Peak and the gold country of the West, but when he reached Nebraska City he decided that he had had enough of the trail and made up his mind to seek a home in the Nebraska country. With that end in view he came south and in Richardson county traded his oxen and outfit for eighty acres of land one mile east of the present site of Falls City, Salem then being the county seat, and in the latter village he received the deed to his land. He tlien returned to his home in Illinois, where he remained until 1868, in which year he returned to this county with his family. Upon his arrival here he sold his original "eighty" and bought a tract west of Salem, the place on which his daughter, Mrs. A. L. Stettler, now lives, and there established his home, becoming a substantial pioneer farmer. He later became the owner of a quarter section of land near Chester, now owned -by his son, J. E. Elwell; an "eighty" near \'alley Falls, Kan.sas, and eight building lots in

Falls City. Mrs. Pittock now owns the Kansas "eighty," besides her comfortable home in Falls city. Abraham Eiwell died on August 9, 1909, and his widow is now making her home with her daughter, ^Mrs. Fittock.

To Henry P. and Alice C. (Eiwell) Pittock five children were born, namely: \Mlliam E., now a resident of Maiden, Massachusetts; Asa E.. now a resident of Alaska; Mrs. Elizabeth G. Thompson, of Scotts Bluff, this state; Mrs. Myrtle A. Heddon, living near Burbank Washington, and Dr. Harry J. Pittock, a graduate of the Falls City high school and of the Omaha Medical College, who is now practicing his profession at the State Hospital, Hastings, Nebraska. Mrs. Pittock is a menilier of the IMethodist church and has for years taken an earnest interest in church work, as well as in other local good works.

Hon. Hugh Ouigley Staver

In the memorial annals of Richardson county there are few names held in better memory than that of the late Hon. Hugh Ouigley Staver^ one of the pioneers of this county, an honored veteran of the Civil War, former representative from this district in the Nebraska Legislature, for years one of the leading farmers and stockmen of the precinct of Salem and at the time of his death at Salem on September 6, 1897, coroner of Richardson county. Captain Staver had a very comfortable home at Salem and his widow is still living in that city, ojae of Richardson county's Ijest-known old settlers and highly esteemed pioneers.

Hugh Ouigley Staver was born on a farm in Pine Creek township, Clinton county, Pennsylvania, May 3, 1837, and was of German stock. He grew to manhood in his native county, receiving his schooling there, and remained at home until after he had attained his majority, when, in 1859, he located at Freeport, Illinois, where he was living when the Civil War broke out. On April 11, 1861, at Freeport, Mr. Staver enlisted in response to the President's first call for volunteers to suppress the rebellion of the Southern states and went to the front as a private in Company A. Eleventh Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry. At the end of the tiiree-months service he re-enlisted in that same command and served with the same until in November, 1863. Upon receiving his honorable discharge he enjoyed a month of respite from arms and then on January 8, 1864, re-entered the service and was appointed first lieutenant of Company K. Sixth Regiment, United States Heavy Artillery (colored), was soon promoted to the captaincy of the same, and continued with that command until finall_\- nnistered out in 1867. During this long period of service Captain Staver served under Generals Grant, Prentice, Logan, Gresham, McPherson, Sherman, Canb)' and Howard and participated in some of the most important battles and engagements of the war, including those of Ft. Henr)-, Ft. Donelson, Champion's Hill and Shiloh, and received wounds at Ft. Donelson and at Shiloh. He was regarded as a brave and excellent soldier and officer and had the respect and confidence of his superior officers and the admiration and loyalty of his men. ,

Upon the completion of his military service Captain Staver returned to Illinois, bought a team and outfit and in that same year drove over into the then territory of Nebraska and bought a quarter-section of land in section I of tlie precinct of Salem, in this county, at the same time buying a nearby tract of timber land, and after his marriage in the following February established his home on that farm, remaining there until his retirement from the active labors of the farm in 188S and removal to the village of Salem, where he spent his last days in comfortable retirement. Captain Staver was a good fanner and a successful stockman and developed a fine piece of property in Salem precinct, his place being widely noted as one of the best-improved farms in the county and much admired by reason of its fine hedge fences, productive orchards and general appearance of thrift, the well-kept farm plant displaying many evidences of the good taste of its owner and his wife. Captain Staver was ever a loyal Republican and from the very beginning of his residence in this county was regarded as one of the leaders of that party in this part of the state. In 1884 he was elected to represent this district in the state Legislature and served with distinction in the House during the session of 1885, in his service in the general assembly making a splendid record, becoming widely known throughout the state. In 1887 he removed to Salem. In 1891 the captain was appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of coroner of Richardson county and by successive re-electrons was retained in that oifice until his death in 1897.

On February 6, 1868, but a few months after his arrival in Richardson county. Captain Staver was united in marriage to Ellen P. Tisdel, who was born in the neighborhood of Madison, in Lake county, in the northeastern part of Ohio. March 24, 1850, daughter of Thomas A. and Lois Day (Gill) Tisdel, the former a native of the state of Connecticut and the latter of Massachusetts, and both of whom died before their daughter, Ellen, was three years of age. Thomas A. Tisdel and his wife were both of old New England (8[)

Stock. The first of the Tisdels in this country came from Lancashire, England, and settled in Connecticut, about the year 1700. Thomas A. Tisdel was born in Wellington, that state, September 13, 1809, and his wife, Lois- Day Gill, was born at West Springfield, Massachusetts, January 24, 1820. After their marriage they located on a farm in the vicinity of Madison, Ohio, not far from the shores of Lake Erie, and there Thomas A. Tisdel devoted the remainder of his active life to farming and stock raising, his death occurring there on October 5, 1852. His widow survived him a little less than a month, her death occurring on November 3 of that same year. Thus bereft of her parents before she was three years of age, Ellen Tisdel was cared for in the household of her brother-in-law, James Leverett, and it was thus that when nine years of age, in 1859, she came to the then territory of Nebraska with the Leveretts and became a pioneer of Richardson county. The family made the last stage of their trip by steamer to Rulo and then drove over to the Salem settlement, where they established their home. At that time Indians still were numerous hereabout and the friendly redskins took a warm interest in the little "pale- face" girl from the East and were openly complimentary in their remarks regarding her beautiful hair. Ellen Tisdel continued her schooling here, attending the early "subscription" schools, until she was twelve years of age, when she returned East with the Tisdels and completed her schooling in Madison Seminary and at Willoughby Collegiate Institute, in Lake county, Ohio, and then began teaching school. After teaching a couple of terms in her native state she taught a term in Wisconsin and then in the fall of 1867 returned to Salem, this county, where she was living at the time of her marriage to Captain Staver.

To Capt. Hugh O. and Ellen P. (Tisdel) Staver eight children were born, namely: Aline, deceased; Flora, who married Wilson \'incent and is now living at Albuquerque, New Mexico; Edith E., wife of Leon Barnes, of the precinct of Salem, this county; Walter T., of Lincoln, this state; Carrie Louise, wife of Dr. Robert Henderson, of Rulo, this county; Ruth, deceased; Hattie B., deceased, and Mrs. Lena G. Dowell, who is living with her mother at Salem. Mrs. Staver is of Revolutionary descent and for some time was one of the active workers in the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution at Falls City. Captain Staver was an active member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic and ever took a warm interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization. He was a Mason and was also affiliated with the local lodge of the Knights of Pythias, taking an active interest both in Masonic and Pythian affairs.

Charley M. Gerhard

The well-known .stock breeder, Charley M. Gebhard, of Liberty precinct, near Vernon, this county, is also one of our enterprising farmers. He was born on December i8, 1862, in Indiana, a son of Adam and Mary (Coons) Gebhard, who were the parents of ten children, the subject of this sketch being the sixth in order of birth. The father was born in Germany, from which country he immigrated to America when young, locating first in Indiana, where he remained until 1864, when he moved his family to Nebraska, settling in Arago precinct, this county. He later bought raw land in Barada precinct, which he improved into a good farm. He had learned the carpenter's trade in the old country, and he cut his own logs to build a cabin. He went through the usual pioneer hardships, but eventually became very comfortably established through his industry, the log cabin giving way to a substantial dwelling in due course of time. Here he spent the rest of his life, dying in 1901, at the age of eighty years. His widow died in 1903. at the age of seventy-three years.

Charley M. Gebhard grew up on the farm, working hard w'hen a boy, like all sons of pioneers, and he attended the old-time district schools in Barada precinct. He remained with his parents on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age, when he began work for himself, engaging in general farming. In 1904 he purchased his present home farm, which then had no improvements except a house and barn, neither being very valuable. The place is now highly improved and on it now stands a modern home and numerous substantial outbuildings. Mr. Gebhard owns three hundred and twenty acres in all, the home place consisting of one hundred and sixty acres in section i. Liberty precinct. He owns eighty acres in section 18 of Ohio precinct and eighty acres in section 12 of Liberty precinct. In connection with general farming, which he has conducted on an extensive scale, he has been engaged in breeding live stock since 1887 - horses and mules. He has been a breeder of the famous "Mammoth" jacks, also a breeder of Belgian and Percheron horses. He formerly kept imported horses, keeping one Belgian horse nine years. At this writing he has three stallions, five jacks and five jennets. His fine stock is greatly admired by farmers and stockmen, owing to their superior qualities, and he has built up a large and lucrative business.