Richardson County, Nebraska - Biographical sketches, 1917 (part 2 of 19)

Henry Duke ^A'heeler was born in Mason county, Kentucky, Januar\' 24, 1830, son of Levi and Mary \Mieeler, the former a native of Germany, born on February 14, 1787, and the latter, of Ireland. Levi Wheeler was a soldier of the War of 181 2 and was a well-to-do- farmer in Mason county, Kentucky, where Henry D. Wheeler grew to manhood. When the Mexican. War broke out, Henry D. \\'heeler, though then little more than a boy, enlisted for service as a member of Company E, Third Kentucky \'oIunteer Infantry, and served with that command tmtil mustered out at Louisville at the close of the war. He later came West and on August 2, 1855, was married, in Holt county, Missouri, to Malinda Buchanan, who was born in that county on April 24. 1838. her parents having been among the very earliest settlers of that region. Immediately following his marriage he came across the river and bought a half section in the Barada half-breed strip in this county, paying for the same nineteen hundred dollars to 11 use Knuckles. There was a log cabin on the place at that time, but no other improvements of any consecpience, and the white neighbors were few and far between. Indians still being in dominant numbers therealx>ut at that time. ]\Ir. Wheeler set about clearing his land and getting the place read\ for cultivation and had done considerable development work before 1861, in which year he returned to his old home in Kentucky to take care of his aged and invalid mother. After her death, about 1863, he returned to his home in this county and here he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring on July 21, 1870, he then being about six months past forty years of age. He was one of the most active and progressive pioneers of that section and was the organizer of school district No. 25. His widow survived him many years, her death t)ccurring on April 19, 191 5. she then lacking but a few days of being seventyseven years of age. They were the parents of five children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being Dora. who died when seven years of age ; Lawrence, who is engaged in the insurance business at Falls City; Mrs. Mary E. Riley, of Dawson, a l)iographical sketch of whose husband is presented elsewhere in this \olume, and James, deceased.

William H. Wheeler was not yet eleven years of age when his father died and as the eldest son of the family the responsibilities of the home farm early fell upon his young shoulders and he always has made his home on that pioneer place, having thus participated in the development of the same since territorial davs, one of the best-known of the native sons of Richardson countv of the first generation on the plains. On the tract of one hundred and twentv acres of the old home that he inherited he made extensive and substantial improvements and he and his family are very comfortalily and very pleasantly situated there. Mr. ^Vheeler is a Democrat and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, but he has not been particularly active as a political worker.

On July 30, 1882. ^^'illiam H. Wheeler was united in marriage to Amanda Brinegar, who was born across the river in Holt county, Missouri, I*>bruary 20, 1867, daughter of .Andrew J. and Emily ( Rusk) Brinegar, natives of Kentucky, who died when she was a child and she was reared by an uncle, David Brinegar, one of the pioneers of Richardson county, who came over here in the fifties and who is still living here, now a resident of .'^alem. Mr. and Mrs. \\'heeler have six children, namely: Ralph, who married Jennie Marsh, of Des Moines, and has three children. Tillie, Virgia and Phvllis .\.: Rutli. who married William McGowan, of Halley, Idaho, and has line child, a daughter, Helen Rutli ; Susan M.. who is a telephone operator in the exchange at Falls City, and Bryan. Hiram and Lila. at home with their parents. The W'lieelers have a \ery pleasant hoiue and have ever taken an interested part in die general social activities of tlieir liome community, lielpful in many ways in promoting mnvements having to di> willi the advancement of tlie t;eneral welfare thereabout.

Hugh E. Boyd

A public-spirited and successful man of affairs of Humboldt is Hugh I",. Bo\d, well known throughout Richardson county. He was born in Knox count}-. Ohio. August 8. i86_'. and is a son of John S. and Phoebe ( McWilliams ) Boyd. John S. Boyd was bom in Greene county, Pennsylv.mia, in 1823. and there spent his childhood, being twelve years old when his parents. John and Anna ])oyd, brought him to Knox county. Oliiu. the faniilv locating on a farm near Martinsburg, and there by hard work and ])crseverancc the\- developed a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres from tlie wilderness and tliere continued to reside until 18S8. when the lather of the .--uliiect of this sketch came \\'est and located at Salem. Xehraska. busing eightx acres on which he engaged in farming until he retired from active life. Ifis ileath occurred in Salem in* 191J at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. His parents were natives of Greene county. I'ennsylvania, where tliey grew up. married and established their home. Thev were both of Irish descctU. There were three brothers of the l'.(iyd -familv to emigrate from the "auld sod" in colonial days, one i>f them locating in \'ew one in I'ennsxlvania and one in N'irginia. The mother of the suliject of ibis sketcii was born near Martinslmrg. Ohio, about i8_'6. and ber death occurred in 1011. She ;dso reached a rijie old age. To Jolm S. I'.ovd and wife li\e children were l)orn, namelv : Mr-. I.ydia Huston, who live- m .^alem. .\el)raska: Joim W. makes liis liome at Ml. X'ernon. Oliio: l>;oben i- deceased; \\'illiani B. lives at Salem, this state, and Hugh V.. of tliis sketch, wlio was fourti) in order of birth.

considerable service in the Shenandoah valley, Virginia, on the Peninsula and in the operations of the federal troops on the James river and around Petersburg and Richmond. His company especially distinguished itself at . the battle of Monocacy Junction. Maryland. July 3(5. 1864, iii which his company was entitled to national thanks.

Hugh F.. r?oyd was reared on a farm and lie attended the district schools and the high school at Martinsbnrg. Ohio, also an academy. lie came \\'est in 1882 and was employed in the Hour mills at Salem. Nebraska, having diarge of the mill in 1S83 and 1884. He then took a position as assistant cashier in the Bank of Salem, where he remained until ^Sqj. when he came to Falls City, Richardson county, and was connected with the store of Gist, Greenwald & Company until 1902. when he took tip his residence at Humboldt, and was assistant cashier of the State Bank of Humboldt until 1904, when he returned to Salem and engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1906. then formed a partnershi]) with \'. (i. L\ ford at Humboldt. In iqi2 he again turned his attention to banking and was assistant cashier of the National Bank at Humboldt fcjr one year. Since 1913 he has tievoted his entire time to the Building and Loan -\ss(iciation and the City Mutual Telephone Company, being manager of each, also secretary of the former. The pronounced success of these companies has been due very largely to his excellent management and close application. He also has other affairs and is owner of \aluable city property at Humboldt, and owns a half section of land in the Kiowa valley, Colorado, within thirtv-five miles of Den\er. Two hundred acres of this land is planted to Ijeans ; Fred Boyd is now in charge of this farm.

Mr. Boyd was married on Hecember 12. 1887. to l'",lizal>etii A. Rouse, a daughter of Joseph and Marinda ( Kice ) l\ouse, both natives of luigkmd. The father was born., March 13. 1813. came to .\meric;i when xoung and devoted bis active life to farming in Winona county. .Minnesota, where he settled in 185O, and there liis death occurred. l'"ebruar\ 10. 1895. Tlie mother of Mrs. Boyd was born July 7. i8j0, and died, Feljruary _', 1900.

Three children liave i)een l)orn to Mr. and .Mrs. I'oyd, namely: Harry, an electrician, lives in Des Abiines, Iowa: ( iladys. who was graduated from the Humboldt high schor)l, is now teaching in the second grade: b'red M., who has charge of his father's farm in Colorailo.

Mr. l>o\d is an independent voter. On Junar\- (>. \t)i/. he was apjjointed couiUy commissioner, which position be is holding to the satisfaction of all concerned, braternally. he l)elongs to Podge .\o. 40, Ancient

- and Accepted ^[asons, of wliich lie was at one time master: lie also n,<,'s to the Ancient Order of United of which he was at time a tru-tee in I.ods^e N'o. 5. He and his family are members of

Christ. Madowse

Christ. Aladowse, former connty commissioner, proprietor of a Sue farm of two hundred and ten acres in sections t,- and 33 of the precinct of Barada and of seventy acres in section 4 of the precinct of Arago. owner of a threshing-rig W'hich for years he has been operating in that part of the county and also a well-known stockman, giving his particular attention l(] the lireeding of Missouri jacks of tiie "Mammotli"' variety, is a native of the state of Illinois, but has been a resident of this county since he was nineteen years of age, having come here as a boy in the spring of 1883 to make his home with an uncle, Hans Koso, one of the pioneers of Richardson county, Imt two weeks later began to make his own way and has ever since been doing well, long having been recognized as one of the substantial farmers of that part of the county in which he lives. He was born on a farm in Eflrngham county. Illinois, July 4, 1864. son of Joseph and Sophia (Koso) Madowse. natives of (lermany, the former a ]\lecklenbiuger. who were married in this country.

Joseph Madowse was born in 1834 and was about fifteen years of age when he came to this countrx- in 1841) and located in the neighborhood of Chicago, where he began to work as a farm hand, later locating in Effingham county, Illinois, and married Sophia Ko.so, of McHenry county, Illinois, who was but a girl when she came to this country with her parents, and there he spent the rest of his life engage<l in farming, his death occurring in 1869. He was the father of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth and one of whom died in infancy, the others being Anna, wife of F. P. Finck". of the precinct of Arago. this county, and Mrs. Marv I<"npy, of Effiingham county, Illinois. The widow Madowse married John Percival and to that union six children were born: George, of Effingham county, Illinois: \\'illiani, of liarada precinct, this county, and a biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume; Fred, of I'^ffingliam county, Illinois: Sojihia, wife of I. Baile}', of Coles county, Illinois: Mrs. Sadie Reugge, of the inecinct of Arago, this county, and one who died in infancy.

received his schooliiiti" in the local schools of Effingham county. Illinois, and in h'ebruary, 1883. he then being but nineteen years of age. came to Nebraska to make his home with his maternal uncle, Hans Koso, who had a farm twelve miles northeast of Falls City. Young Madowse arrived at Falls City on February 23 of that _vear with thirty-five dollars in his pocket and lost little time after his arrival in starting for the home of his uncle, walking out to the Koso farm twelve miles away. It was the first time he had ever been away from home and after he had proceeded on his lonely walk for some miles he realized that he was dreadfully homesick. He looked back toward the town he had just left and longed for his home in Illinois. He quenched his thirst in a small pool collected in a horse track in the highway and trudged along, arriving in due time at the home of his uncle. He remained there, however, but two weeks, at the end of that time securing employment on the farm of Fred Zorn, at a wage of sixteen dollars a month. A year later he rented a farm and started to farm for himself, "keeping batch" for three years, at the end of which time his sister, Mrs. Mary Fopy, began keeping house for him and this arrangement continued until his marriage in the fall of 1891. In the meantime Mr. Aladowse bought a tract of one hundred and twenty acres of timber land in the precinct of Barada, paying for the same fourteen dollars an acre, and proceeded to clear and develop the same. Presently he bought a threshing-rig. operating the same by horse power until he later bought a tractor engine, and the proceeds of that venture went far toward keeping up the payments on his land, which he paid out in ten years. For twenty-three years Mr. Madowse continued operating his threshing-machine in season and became one of the best-known operators in that line in the county. He also gradually enlarged his landholdings and now, as noted above, is the owner of two hundred and ten acres in sections 32 and ^^ of Barada precinct, where he has his home, and of seventy acres in the adjoining section 4 of Arago precinct, his place including ninety acres of natural timber, which he has retained. In 1907 Mr. Madowse liegan on a somewhat extensive scale the raising of pure-bred Shorthorn cattle and in that line has done very well. He also for some time has given considerable attention to the breeding of jacks and has two "Mammoth" jacks and two jennets of excellent strain and has done much to promote the raising of mules in his neighborhood.

On October 23, 1891, Christ. Madowse was united in marriage to Mary Ruegge, who was born on a farm in the precinct of Arago. this county, in March, 1873, daughter of Frederick and Dora (Hoose) Ruegge. natives of Germany and pioneers of Richardson county, who are still living in Arago precinct, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Minnie, born on July i6, 1894. Mr. and Mr.s. Madowse are members of the Lutheran church, as is their daughter, and Mr. Madowse is a menil^er of the board of deacons of tlie same. He is a RepubHcan and for years lias given his earnest attention to local political affairs. In 1903 he was elected a member of the board of county commissioners from his district and held that office for two years. In 191 2 he was again elected county commissioner and was re-elected, holding the office on his second period of service for four years. In 1903 he was elected a member of the schonl Imard for his local district and has held that position ever since, doing much for the advancement of the cause of education there. Tlie Madowses liave a very pleasant home and have ever taken an interested part in tlie general social activities of their home neigliborhood. helpful in advancing all good causes thereabout.

Hermax Tiehen

The late Herman Tiehen, who at the time of his death in the spring of 1911 was one of the best-known i)ioneers and most substantial landowners of Richardson county, a resident of the precinct of Salem since the middle sixties, was of European birth, but had been a resident of this country since 1851. He was born in the kingdom of Hanover on Julv 15. 1829. a son of Herman and Angeline Tiehen, both of the well-to-do rural class, the former of whom died in i83(), his widow surviving imtil 1884.

.U the time of his father's death Herman Tiehen was i)ut seven rears of age and his boyhood was spent in helping his mother. He attended school until he was fourteen and then became a farmer and herdsman, remaining thus engaged until he was twenty-one years of age. bv which time he had saved enough money to pay his passage to America, the great new land across the water on which his mind had long been set with a steadfast pur[)ose there to try to create a better station for himself than he could hope to attain in his native land. In 1851 he set sail for Xew Orleans, paying ;i j)art of his ])assage by labor on the vessel, and upon his arrival .at the southern pnrt set out l)y river for .St. Eouis. but In the time he had reached St. Genevieve. Missouri, his meager funds had been reduced to forty cents and he could go no farther liy l)oat. At St. Genevieve he secured employment at gruljbing stumps at a wage of twenty-hve cents a day and his board and worked through the winter at such employment. The following spring he began working for a farmer at a wage of eight dollars a month ami was thus engaged until 1853, when he and five companions started from St. Genevieve with six yoke of oxen and a wagon laden witii supplies. iKjund for the gold fields of California. Upon his arrival in tlic gold fields Mr. Tiehen had no difificulty in finding employment and in three years spent there managed to save three thousand dollars. In 1856 hereturned by way of the Isthmus of Panama and presently made his wa\ liver into the then Territory of Nebraska and bought a tract of government land in Otoe county, eight miles southwest of Nebraska City. Erecting baciielor quarters on that tract, he settled down there and began developing and impro.\ing his place, living a bachelor life there until 1863, when he married (me of the pioneer maidens of the Humboldt neightorhood in this county and two years later moved down into Richardson county and established Ills home on a farm in the precinct of Salem, he and his wife beginning liousekeeping there in a one-room log house. Three years later when llie first linnber brought up the ri\er for this county to Aspinwall arrived, he bought lumber for a frame house and hauled the same over to his farm -md there erected ;i comfortable house, which, with ample additions and imprijvements from time to time, served him as a place of residence the rest of his life. From that original quarter section in the precinct of Salem -Mr. Tiehen gradually increased his land holdings, as his operations pros- ])ercd, until he became the owner of nineteen hundred acres of land and at the time of jiis death was accounted one of the wealthiest men in Richardson count}-. -Mr. Tieiien was a Democrat and ever gave a good citizen's attention to local ci\ic afl'.'iirs, a -strong factor for gootl in the pioneer days of this coimt}'. but never was a seeker after public office. He was a menil>er of the Catholic church, as were all his family, and did much to extend parish activities in the earlv da\s of St. Herman's parish at Salem, and upon the occasion of the erection of die fine new church at Salem contributed twentylive iiundred dollars to the building fund. During the later years of his life .Mr. Tiehen lived comfortably retired from the active labors of the farm, in full enjovnient of the ample rewards earned l)y his long life of well-directed industry, bis death occurring on March 4, 191 t, he then being in the eight\->ieconil \ear of bis life. His widi:»w, who still survives him, continues to make her home on the old home place, where she is very comfortably and \ery tileasantly situated, one of the best-known pioneers of that section of Richardson county.

state of ^lissouri on April 21. 1842, a daughter of John and Wilhehnina (Neiters) Rothenburger, wliu later Ijecame early settlers in the Nemaha valley in this county and were long accounted among the foremost pioneers of the Humboldt neighborhood. John Rothenburger was a native of France, l)orn on June 2-j, 1807. In 1840 he came to the United States, landing at tlie port of New Orleans, and in that same year made his way up the river to Missouri, where, a year later, he married Wilhelmina Neiters, daughter oi pioneers of that state. In 1854 he came over into Nebraska Territory with his family and making his way up the Nemaha valley, settled on land which later came to be a part of the Humboldt settlement. When he entered upon possession of that tract there was no neighbor nearer than eighteen miles distant and the situation for the pioneer family seemed lonely and bleak, indeed. \\'hile Mr. Rothenburger was building a shanty ' on his claim he was surprised by the approach of a small band of hostile Indians. Hastily gathering his family in the wagon he lashed his horses into a run and sped across the prairie ahead of the redskins, making his way in .safety to the river, twenty-two miles away. There he remained for a couple of months, by which time the hostiles had been driven out of this section, and he then returned with his wife and seven children to his claim, where he completed the erection of his shanty and established his home. he and his wife spending the remainder of their lives there, Mr. Rothenhurger's death occurring on February 2, 1884, he then being eighty years of age. The pioneer farm on which he settled back in -1854, one of the first settlers in Richardson county, is still in the possession of the family, one of the farm plants in that i>art of the county. Mr. Rothenburger raised the first crop of barley shipped from Rulo in this county.

Catherine Agnes Rothenljurger was twelve years of age when she tame to this county with her parents back in pioneer days and she grew up on the home farm, thoroughly familiar with all the details of pioneer life and subject to the hardships and privations of the same, and was living tlu-re at the time of her marriage to Mr. Tiehen in i86,v To that union sexen children were born, namely: Minnie, born in 1864, who died in infancy: John, l)orn in 1867, now a resident of Salem, this county; Mary, born in 1870, wife of William McDougall, of Falls City; Anna, who died in childhood: Catherine or "Katie," born in 1875, who is at home with her mother; William, born in 1880, now a resident of Falls City, and Agnes, born in 1885. Mrs. Tiehen has been a resident of Richardson county since pioneer days and is the second oldest pioneer of this county. Her recol- lections of the incidents of the early times here are clear and distinct and her narratives of the events of those days form some most interesting and inft)rmative sidelights on conditions here in the days when this region was being claimed for civilization.

Gustav William Duerfeldt

Gustav William Du^rfeldt, proprietor of "Catalpa Lane Farm," a tine place of two hundred and ninety acres in sections 30 and 31 of the precinct of F>arada, one of the best-known and most substantial farmers and stockmen in that part of the county, manager of the Barada Exchange, a branch of the Southeast Nebraska Telephone Company, vice-president of the Barada Bank, former assessor of his home precinct and for years actively interested in the general affairs of that community, was born in a log cabin on the farm on which he now lives and which he now owns and has lived in this county ail his life, with the exception of some years spent at Helena, Montana, in the early nineties. He was born on June 21. 1864, a son of Gustav C. and Louisa (Parchen) Duerfeldt, natives of Germany, who were married in the city of Buffalo, New York, and who later became pioneers of Richardson count}', where their last davs were spent, useful and influential residents uf the precinct of Barada.

Gustav C. Duerfeldt was Ixirn in the kingdom of Prussia on December II, 1826, and was twenty years of age when he came with his father, Gusta\- Duerfeldt, and the fi\e other children of the family, the mother having died in her native land, to the United States, the family settling in the city of Buffalo, New York. Of these six children Gustav C. Duerfeldt was the eldest, the others being as follow : Bernard, who later went to the gold fields of California, where he was known to have sa\ed a considerable quantity of gold dust and was ready to return to his home in New York, but was never afterward heard from, it being the presumption that he was murdered for his gold ; Paulina, who married a man of the name of Smith and is now deceased : Mary, who married F. Haller and is also deceased: Fred, who served as a soldier of the Union during the Civil War, going to the front with a New York regiment, was with Sherman to the sea and who later became a pioneer farmer in the precinct of Barada, this county, where his last days were spent, and whose old army musket is still preserved in the family, and Charles, who also came to this county and tor some time was engaged in the butcher Inisi- - ness. but later moved tu a farm in Xemaha countv, where he spent his last days.

Having been trained as a cabinet-maker in his native Prussia. Gustav C Duerfeldt easily found employment in a cabinet shop at Lluffalo upon his arrival in that city in 1 846 and was engaged working in that one shop f< ir fifteen years, or until he came to this county in 1861. In the meantime he had married, in Buffalo. Louisa Parchen. who also was born in Gennany, Mav 26. 1837, and who was but sixteen years of age when she came to this country with her parents, and upon his arrival in this countv in October, 1861, he bought a farm in section 3 of the precinct of l^arada, the place now owned Ijv the subject of this sketch, erected a log cabin on the same, that old log cabin still standing on the place, a priceless souvenir of pioneer days, and there established his home, one of the earliest settlers of that section, and there he spent the remainder of his life, a substantial farmer, his death occurring there on January 17, 1913. His first trip to Nebraska was made in 1858; when he came as treasurer of the Bufifalo colonx" in oi-der to pav oil a mortgage on land purchased in Arago precinct by the colony. He carried with him $4,200 in o-old, which was worn in a belt made In- his wife, and -which he guarded day and night. His wife had preceded him to the gra\e about eighteen 3'ears, her death having occurred in 1895. They were the parents of twelve children, of wJiom the subject of this sketch was the sixth in order of birth, the others being as follow : George, deceased : Bernard C, of Barada ; Mary, wife of the Rev. W. T. Grpmmisch, of Detroit, Michigan; Gustav. who died in early childhood: Paulina, deceased: \\'illiani, deceased : Louisa, deceased: Bertha Af. and Lla E.. twins, the former of whom is the wife of William Zurbrick, a farmer living near \'erdon, this count)-, and the latter the wife of Elmer E. Butler, of Hebron, this state; Henry G., a druggist at Spokane, Washington, and Edward C, of Herrick, South Dakota.

R'eared on the farm on which he was born in the precinct of Barada. Gustav \\'. Duerfeldt received his schooling, in the schools of that neighborhood and from the days of his boyhood was a valued factor in the labors of improving and developing the home place, remaining there until he was twenty-five years of age, when, in 1889, he went to Helena, [Montana, to work for his brother in the e.stabli.shment of the H. X. Parchen Drug Company and while thus engaged took a commercial course in a night school. He later became engaged with the street railway con-ipany at Helena and during the years 1891-93 was en-ii)loye(l as a conducii>r and motorman and also as assistant engineering in the electric railwa\- sliojis there. Tn the meantime, in the fall of 1892, he married at Helena and not long afterward returned tu his old home in this cuiinty and has ever since resided there, now being the owner not onh' of the old home place, but of some additional land, his farm comprising two hundred and ninety acres of excellent land in sections 30 and 31 of the precinct of Barada, known as "Catalpa Lane Farm," one of the best-kept and most profitably cultivated places in that part of the county. Ever since taking charge of that place in 1894 Mr. Duerfeldt has given considerable attention to the raising of live stock and annually feeds several carloads of cattle and hogs. He also has given attention to the general business affairs of his home community and has long been regarded as one of the most public-spirited "hustlers" in that section. In 1905 he became a stockholder and a member of the board of directors of the Southeast Nebraska Telephone Company and is now manager of the Barada branch of the same. He also is a member of the board of directors of the Barada Bank, of which he became a stockholder in 1906, and is now second vice-president of the same, at times acting as president. . Mr. Duerfeldt is a Republican and for years has given his earnest attention to local political affairs, for thirteen years serving as chairman of the Barada precijict Republican committee. In 1906 he was appointed assessor of that precinct and held that position for three years. He also has served as a member of the school board for eleven years and in odier wa\s has contributed of his time and energies to the public service.

On November 10, 1892, at Helena, Montana, Gustav \\'. Duerfeldt was united in marriage to Elizabeth C. Adami, who was born in that city on I-'el)ruary 19. 1873. daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Knipper) Adami. natives of Germany, and to this union four children have been born, namely : Bertha M., who was graduated from the Falls City high school and from the State Normal School at Peru and is now a member of the teaching corps of the Falls Citv schools ; Pearl A., a graduate in music, who is now a teacher of music, and Clifford and Laura. The Duerfeldts have a very pleasant home at "Catalpa Lane l-'arni" and have ever gi\en proper attention to the general social and cultural activities of the community in which they live. They are members of the Lutheran church and attentive to local good works. Mr. Duerfeldt is a memljer of the church council, practically succeeding his father in that position, who was an elder and one of the builders of the church. 'Sir. Duerfeldt has been a member of the local .lodge of the Independent Order of Odd h'ellows at h'alls City since i89_'. is a charter member of the Barada lodge of the Woodmen of the World, organized in 1805. and takes a warm interest in the aft'airs of both of these organizations.

William C. Oswald

William C. Oswald, a substantial retired fanner of Richardson county and an homu'ed \eteran of the Civil War. now living- in I'^alls City, is a Saxon, born in the kingdom of Saxon_\- cm May j8. 11X43. a sun of William and Christina Oswald, the former of whom died in his native land in 1870. his widow later coming- to this country, her last days being >])ent in Cedar county, this state, where her death occurred in 1909.

It was in 1858 that William C. Oswald came to the United States, he then being but fifteen years of age. It was his intention to join kinsfolk in Wisconsin, but upon landing at the port of New York he was without money to complete his journey and he accepted an offer of an Ohio farmer who was seeking "hands" and went to Spring-field, Ohio, in the neighborhood of which place he began working for his employer at a wage of four dollars a month, which after some months was increased to six dollars, -\fter some months of this employment he had saved enough money to pay his fare up into Wisconsin and he made a visit to his kinsfolk there, but not liking conditions in that then" pioneer country he returned to Ohio and was working there when the Civil War broke out. He enlisted for service on September 7, 1861, as a member of Company H, Forty-fourth Regiment, Ohio \'olunteer Infantry, attached to the Army of the Cumberland, and with that command served for three }-ears, receixing his discharge on October 12, 1864. after which he returned to Springfield. Ohio, and in the following November cast his first vote, voting for Abraham Lincoln for President. He then re-enlisted as a \eteran and was attached to Company H, Eighth Ohio Cavalry, with which command he sen-ed until the close of the war. In November, 1865, Mr. Oswald made another visit to his kinsfolk in_A\"isconsin, but in the following April returned to Ohio. He was unable to get work there, however, and decided to come West, having heard much of the possibilities that awaited young men out here in the plains country. He headed for Leavenw-ordi and after working a month there hired out as a freighter, joining a caravan of twenty-two wagons, each ha\ing five yoke of oxen, headed for Nebraska City. L'pon arrixing at this latter point he gave up his job as a "bulhvhacker" and hired out to a farmer near Union, with whom he worked, imtil in the fall. He then returned to Lea\enworth, a three-days trip by horseback, and got his trunk, which he expre-^seil to Nebraska City and then rode back to die latter p(jint, another three-daxs horseback trip. During 1867 Mr.

Oswald worked in the French settlement at Julian, on the line between Otoe and Nemaha counties, and while thus engaged went over into the adjoining county of Johnson and exercised his soldier's right by filing on a liomestead tract near Tecumseh. The next spring, 1868, he went over to liis homestead and in three da^-s had a dugout constructed there and felt quite well equipped for establishing a home. In July he married and he and his wife began their housekeeping in that Johnson county dug-out. During the first years of their residence there their crops were very poor and for fourteen years they faced continual hard times, but finally things began to brighten up a bit and the grinding poverty of those "lean years" was never felt again. When Mr. Oswald began farming on his own account on his homestead tract he had no team and while proving up his claim worked out elsewhere whenever he could, though maintaining his residence on the homestead, his sod shanty there serving as a shelter for himself and wife until they presently could see their way clear to the erection of a small house. Besides his lack of a team he was further handicapped by a serious injury to one of his arms and side sustained during the delirium of an attack of typhoid fever suffered while in the army. He finally got a team. howe\er. but both horses presently died and he had the further ill luck to lose two other teams in quick succession, so that it was seven years before he finally got forty acres of his homestead under cultivation. In 1882 Mr. Oswald sold his homestead tract for twenty-five hundred dollars and came down into Richardson county, where he bought a quarter of a section of land two miles east of Salem, paying for the same forty-five hundred dollars, this transaction entailing a considerable debt, but he had a succession of good crops and paid out in good time. He built on that place a new house and farm building and otherwise improved the same and there made his home for ten years, at the end of which time, in 1892, he rented the place and moved to Falls City, where he and his wife have since made their home and where they are \-ery comfortably situated, enjoying in comfort the rewards of their trying days on the farm as pioneers. Mr. Oswald is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office.

On July 31, 1868, William C. Oswald was united in marriage tu Christina Hasenyager, who was born on a pioneer farm near Warrentown. Missouri, November 21, 1850, a daughter of John C. and Louisa ( BrinkmanJ Hasenyager, natives of Germany, who settled in Missoin-i upon coming tn this country and wlm nii~>ved over into Nebraska during war times, and to this union six chililren iiave 1ieen born, namely : \\'i]liam C, a farmer.

of Edison, this state, who inanied Emma Adams and has three chiUh-en. John, Ruth and Fred; Ellen M., who married Dorsey Will, of Falls City, and has two dauj^hters. Mrs. h'lorence Deitrich and Grace; Carrie, who married Ross Will, a farmer, living three miles west of Falls City, and has five children. Pearl, Myrtle, Orville. Evelyn and Rohert : Frederick W'.. now .1 resident of Buffalo. Wyoming: John, a photographer at Falls City, and Eillian, also a photographer in her home town. The Oswalds are memhers of the German Lutheran church and take a proper interest in church affairs. Mr. Oswald is an active member of the local post of the Gran<l Army of the Republic and takes a warm interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization.

Frank Kotouc. Tr

The name Kotouc has lung l)een one of the best known in the western pi^irtion of Richardson county, and it is a name that has stood for enterprise, public spirit and good citizenship in general. One of the best-known members of the faniil\' is Frank Kotouc, a member of the firm of Kotouc Ijrt)thers, dealers in drv goods, clothing, furnishings, shoes, groceries, etc., at Humljoldt. lie was born on September 20, 1875. ^t Jitkov, Bohemia, and he is a son of l'"rank and Mary (Hon) Kotouc. The father was born on October 25. 1839, at Ransko, Bohemia, where he grew up, resided until TX74, when he removed to Jitkov. and engaged in business until 1882. when he brought his family to the United States, where he followed the trade of harness-maker, l)ut in the old country he was a merchant. Hv had two children when he came to America, and he .settled with his family at Humlioldt. Xel)raska, where he soon became prominent in local affairs. He helped to organize the Bohemian school, in which school he taught for about twenty years, working at his trade the meanwhile, giving one day out of each week to the school work. He retired from active life in 1902. He w;is a menilaT of the C. S. I\ S. Bohemian Lodge from 1882 until his death, which occurred on Deceml)er 25, i()i6. He was a son of Joseph and .\iina ( Kuzicka I Kotouc. wh<i lived and died in Bohemia. The mother of the >ubject of this sketch was born on .\pril 24. 1850. in Hermanuv-Mestec. Bohemia, and her death occurred on September 12. lyi.V These parents were married on June 15. 1S72, at Kruoembnrk. Bobeciiia. They attended the Evangelical Lmheran church. Their faniilv consisted of the following children: Frank, the lirst, died in infancy; Frank, the second, subject of this sketch; Lute B.. who is manager of the Kotouc Brothers store at New Ra)-mer, Colorado, married Emma Novak, and they have one child, a daughter; Milton, the first, died in infancy; Milton, the second, lives in Humboldt, and is a partner with his brothers in the store; Otto, who is cashier in the Home State PJank of Humboldt, married Camille Cernik, and the\- have two children.

Frank Kotouc, Jr., of this sketch, was six years old when his parents Ijruught him to Humboldt, Nebraska, and here he grew to manhood and attended the public schools. Before leaving school he began working at the Standard Printing Company's office, receiving fifty cents per week for his work. He remained with that firm until in- May, 1893, when he began clerking in a general merchandise store, but he soon began working for Morris Friend in his general store and a few months later he took a position with R. W. Coleman, with whom he remained until Mr. Coleman sold out, after which, he worked for J. W. Housek, a merchant, during the year 1894, when he went to work for the E. L. Crane Jewelry Company. In October, 1896, in partnership with his brother. Lute B., he opened a new store at DuBois, Nebraska, starting on a small scale, carrying only an eleven-hundred-dollar stock. This proved to be a fortunate venture and the business gradually increased, and they maintained a store there for eight years. They erected the first brick building at DuBois and did much to iKJOst the town. Then, in 1906, they sold out and, in partnership with R. E. ^Vatzke, opened up "The Famous Store" in Humboldt, which they operated four years, then sold out to Mr. Watzke, after which the Kotouc brothers - Frank, Lute B. and Milton - started their present business, with a capital stock of fifteen thousand dollars. They piuxhased a brick building in Humlioldt, which they remodeled and repaired extensively, including the installation of an elevator, the building, when completed, costing ten thousand dollars alone. The business was very successful from the start and they have enjoyed a large and growing trade all the while, many of their customers coming from remote parts of tlie country. They carry a large and carefully selected stock of dry goods, clothing, furnishings, shoes and groceries. Their store would be a credit to a town much larger than Humboldt. It is one of the most popular stores in Richardson and adjoiningcounties, for their customers know that they will never fail to be treated with courtesy and honesty. In 1916 the Kotouc Brothers opened a branch store in New Ravmer, Colorado, which has had a rapid and satisfactorv (51) growth under the management of Lute Kotouc. These brothers also own, beside their stores, four hundred and eighty acres of vaUiable land in Weld county, Colorado, which they expect to put under a high state of cultivation and improvement. They also own their store building in New Raymer, and considerable city property in Humboldt, Nebraska.

P'rank Kotouc has remained unmarried. Politically, he is a Democrat, but is inclined to vote independently. Fraternally, he belongs to the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, also the blue lodge and the Eastern Star. He is not a member of any church, but attends and contributes to various denominaticjns.

Joshua S. Lord

Joshua S. Lord, cashier of the First National Bank of Falls City, a substantial landowner of Richardson county, former treasurer of the county, former representative from this district in the Nebraska General Assembly and for years actively identified with the political and business affairs of this county, is a native of the state of Illinois, but has been a resident of Nebraska and of this county since he was three years of age and has thus been a witness to and a participant in the development of this part of the state since pioneer days. He was born on a farm in the immediate vicinity of Rushville, Illinois, November ii, 1865, son of Joseph and Anna (Boyd,) Lord, the former a native of England and the latter of Illinois, who became pioneers of Richardson county and here spent their last days.

Joseph Lord, who was born in 1828, remained in his native England until he was sixteen years of age, when, in 1844, he came to this country and proceeded to Illinois, where he became a farmer and where he presentl}- married Anna Boyd, who was born in that state in 1830. daughter of pioneer parents. In 1868 Joseph Lord became attracted to the possibilities then open to settlers in the new state of Nebraska and disposing of his interests in Illinois came out here with his family and bought a partly-broken tract of land in this county, a portion of the old Indian Reservation, three and one-half miles southwest of Salem, and there established his home. He proceeded to improxe and develop that tract and had a well-improved farm when death put a stop to his endeavors on February 10. 1874. His widow sur\i\ed him many years, her death occurring on the old home farm in 1902, she then being seventy-two years of age. They were the parents of twelve cliildren. sc\en sons and li\"c daughters, of whom the suliject of this sketch was llie tenth in order of birth, tlie others being James. Frances, WilHam and Ehzabeth, now deceased : Robert A., a retired farmer now living at Oklahoma City ; Mrs. Sarah Ellen Clark, of Oklahoma : Joseph and Josephine, twins, the former of whom is a farmer south of Salem, this county, and the latter the wife of J. D. Harris, of Salem; Amanda INI., widow of Herl Moore and the owner of an extensive ranch in this state; Charles A., who is engaged in the automobile business at Lincoln, and is one of the largest automobile distributors in this state, and Thomas, a wellto-do farmer living in the vicinity of Peru, in the neighboring county of Nemaha.

Joshua S. Lord was but a small child when he came to this county frum Illinois with his parents and he was but nine 3'ears of age when his father died. He was reared on the home farm in the precinct of Salem, recei\ing his schooling in the neighborhood schools, and remained on the farm with his mother until 1883, when he turned his attention to business lines and became a druggist. He married in 1884 and later took a course in pharmac\- and in 1889 engaged in the drug business on his own account, at Salem and was there very successfully engaged in that line until 1903. In tire meantime he had been giving considerable attention to local political affairs and in 1904 was elected, as the nominee of the Democratic party, to represent this district in the state Legislature, thus being one of the se\en Democrats who served in the Nebraska House of Representatives in the memorable session of 1905. In the fall of 1905 ^Ir. Lord resigned his legislative otficc in order to accept the nomination for the office of county treasurer. He was elected to that office and his course in administering tlie affairs nf the county treasurer's office proved so satisfactory tliat lie was re-elected in 1907, the Democratic county convention having re-nominated him by acclamation, and he thus served for four }ears as county treasurer, one of the most popular officials in the court house. Meantime, Mr. Lord had taken up his residence in Falls City and upon the completion of his term of official service he was elected, in 1910, cashier nf the First National Bank of Falls City, succeeding Governor Moorehead in that position, and has ever since been thus engaged, long having been recognized as one of tlie leading bankers in this part of the state. In addition to his banking interests Mr. Lord has a fine farm of three hundred acres in Salem precinct, a part of which is the old Lord homestead place, and takes niucli interest in the management of the farm.

In 1884 Joshua S. Lt)rd was united in marriage to l-^ii/.a T. Boyd. <<i Salem, who was born in Forest City, Missouri, daugliter of S. A. and

Arniinda Boyd, both now deceased, who were early settlers at Salem, and to this union three children have been born, namely : Vera, born on No\ember 15, 1887, who married Russell A. Hiatt, of Morrell, Kansas, and died on November 10, 1916, leaving a six-year-old daugliter, Jean; Harold, born in 1892, who married Vera M. Watson and is now living on his father's farm in Salem precinct, and Mildred 'Si., 1895, a graduate of the Falls City high school, \vho is at home with her parents. The Lords have a very pleasant home at Falls City and take an interested part in the general social and cultural activities of their home town. Mr. Lord is affiliated W'ith the Independent Order of Odd I-'ellows and takes an active part in tlie affairs of that fraternal organization.

Daniel Riley

Daniel Riley, one of the real "old timers" of Richardson county as well as one of the Ijest-known and most substantial farmers of this part of the state, is a native of New Jersey, but has been a resident of this county since he was four years of age, having come here with his parents in the spring of 1859, the Rileys becoming pioneers out here eight years before Nebraska was admitted to statehood, this region at that time being under a territorial government. He was born in New Jersey, thirty miles south (if the city of Philadelphia, January 6, 1855, son of Michael and Mary (O'Crien) Riley, both of whom were born in County Tipperary. Ireland. the f( inner in 1826, and the latter in 1830, but W'ho were not married until after they came to this country, ^Michael Riley having come to this side of the Atlantic in 1847 and Mary O'Brien having come in 1851.

Michael Riley and Mary O'Brien were married in 1853 and made their home in the state of New Jersey until the spring of 1859. W'hen they came to Nebraska Territory, landing at Rulo on April 3 of that year, having come b\- rail to St. Joseph and thence up the river to Rulo. At the latter place tlK\ secured an ox-team and a cart and drove west over the plains to a point three miles west of \"erdon, in the precinct of Liberty, this, county. -Michael Riley having jirocured from an old Mexican soldier at Brownville the latter's warrant to a quarter of a .section of land indicated in that precinct. On the old tdwnsite of Geneva he bought a small house which he nicned ontu his claim and there established his home, he and his wife and three sons and his brother-in-law. Thiimas I'arrell and wife and son, making their domicile there together. Two weeks later that humble abode was scattered over the plains by a tornado, but the pioneers gathered up the scattered boards, got together a bit of new lumber and reconstructed their house, a one-room affair, and in that modest abode the two families dwelt togetlier for three years. .Vt that time there was an abundance of wild game, while the prairie ponds were tilled with iish, so the pioneers had no lack of food while they were getting their. start as farmers. People had a happy way of taking things "easy" in those days and they suffered very little, even though the markets at Brownville and Nebraska City were far distant and supplies sometimes ran short. ^Michael Riley had two yoke of oxen and broke up his land without delay, soon getting the same under cultivation. He kepi his tirst farm until 1864, when he sold it and bought a tract of one hundred ;in(i twenty acres southwest of Dawson, where he lived until the spring of 1884, when he bought a piece of land two miles and a half northeast of the village and there he spent the remainder of his life, dying on October 16, 1884. He and his wife were the parents of seven children, of whom tlie subject of this sketch was the first-born, the others being as follow: James, \\ho died in Omaha in 1907, at the age of iifty years; William, who lives' on the old home place northeast of Da.wson; Bernard, who was born in April, 1861, the first of the famil\- liorn in this county anil a biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume; Michael, who is farming the place on which his father died, northeast of Dawson; Mary, wife of M. J- Clancy, of Dawson, and Annie, born in 1870, who died in the spring of 1871. The mother of these children died August 21, 1858.

Having been but four years of age when he came with his parents to this count)-, ])ractically all of Daniel Riley's active life has been spent here Tuid there is probably not another man in the county who has a wider acquaintance hereabout than he, for he has been a witness to and a participant in the development of this region since pioneer days and has kept up his acquaintance with that development from tlie earliest dawn of his childisii recollection. He was reared on a typical pioneer farm and as a lad did his .share in the development and improvement of that farm, but he also found much time for fishing and hunting and his recollection is that there was mighty good fun for a boy on the free range in those days. The first school he attended was a subscription school started by Harry Cornell two - miles northwest of Verdon, the rate of tuition being five cents a day for each pui)i!. He attended that school one month, in 1863. ;it the end of which time Cornell became ill and the school was aban(lone<l. Tn i86q he had another chance to go to school in a httle log school house not far away and there he received two more months of tuition. In that same year a log school house was put up in section 24 of Grant precinct, the first school opened in that precinct, and he entered that school, which was presided over b\- ]\Iollie Pool. He attended school intermittently there until 1868, in which year the site of the school was changed to the top of the hill near the present village of Dawson and there he received some further tuition. In those days, of course, there were no free text-books, each pupil bringing his own books, and Mr. Riley recalls distinctly the transaction by w^hich he acquired his first arithmetic, trading for the same one mink skin, while t(jr his first spelling-book he gave a skunk hide.

Continuing to assist his father and his brothers in the labors of improving and developing the home farm, Mr. Riley remained at home until 1878, when he rented a tract of land and began farming on his own account. He saved a little money and in 1879 bought a "forty" north of Dawson, in the north half of the northwest quarter of section 11, paying eight dollars an acre for the same, but he did not improve the same, finding his efforts more profitably engaged elsewhere. In 1885 he bought a tract of two hundred and fifty-eight acres in section 21, paying fifteen dollars an acre for the same, and this he proceeded to improve and develop until he has made it one of the most productive farms in tlie county. As his affairs prospered Mr. Riley gradually added to his holdings until now he is the owner uf eight hundred acres of as good land as there is in Richardson county, four hundred and forty acres of which surrounds his beautiful home in the l)ottom lands of the Nemaha. On that place he has expended twenty thousand dollars in tiling and ditching and his neighbors agree that he raises ihc finest corn in that community, his land producing from sixty to seventy bushels an acre. His residence is of modern construction, with hardwood lloors and up-to-date conveniences, and his ample barns and other farm l)uildings are in keeping with the same, his farm plant being one of the best e(|uipped in this region of fine farm plants. ^Ir. Riley is a Democrat and lias from the days of his boyhood given his ck)se attention to local political affairs, but \rd> not been a seeker after pulilic office, thougli himself a real inlluence in local politics.

On Xovcniiier jo. kjI-'. Daniel Riley was nnitcil in marriage to Mrs. Alary l'"lizalietli ( Wheeleri Whitney, who was born in the precinct of this county, Xovenibcr 24. 1862. a daughter of Henry Duke and Alalinda 1 Unchanan I \Miecler, natives of Kentucky and Missouri, respect- \\v\y. who canie to Xcliraska in i8;<) and who returned to Kentnck\- during war times, but came back here in 1866 and resumed their place on their home farm in Barada precinct, where they spent the remainder of their Hves, the former d}ang in 1870, and the latter on April 19, 1915. Henry D. Wheeler fought in the Mexican War and Mrs. Wheeler was the only Mexican War pensioner in this county at the time of her death. They were the parents' of five children, of whom three are living, Mrs. Riley having two brothers, William H. Wheeler, who is living on the old home place in Barada, and Lawrence Wheeler, of Falls City, who is also the owner of a farm in that precinct. Mary Elizabeth Wheeler grew to womanhood on the farm on which she was born and on March 11, 1880, was united in marriage to John Whitney, who was born in Missouri, a son of Wade Whitney and wife, who later came to this county and became pioneers (if Grant precinct, John Whitney and Daniel Riley thus being schoolmates and playfellows in their boyhood days. John Whitney, who was born on August 2, 1854, died on May 6, 1901, he then being fifty-one years of age. He left two children, Claude, who is farming his mother's place, the Whitne}' farm in sections 24 and 26, and Guy, who is farming in section 20 of Grant precinct. Mr. and Mrs. Riley have a very pleasant home and take a proper part in the general social activities of their home community. They are members of the Catholic church and take an earnest interest in parish affairs, as well as in the general good works of the neighborhood in which thev live. Mr. Riley is a liberal subscriber to the Red Cross movement and has purchased Liberty Bonds, as evidence of his patriotism.

Charles Henry Thornton

Charles Henry Thornton, well-known commercial photographer at Hum- Ijoldt, was born on a farm near St. Joseph, Michigan, October 17, 1868, son of John M. and Jane (Brady) Thornton, natives of England, who in 1874 moved to Iowa and located at Stanton, where they conducted a hotel for three years, at the end of which time they located on a farm that Mr. Thornton liad bought near there; later settling on a farm near Conway, Iowa, where they remained for three years, or until 1880, when they came to Nebraska and settled on a farm in Seward county, remaining there until 1891, in which year they moved to Sheridan, Wyoming, where their last days were spent.

Charles H. Thornton was six years of age when his parents moved from Michigan to Iowa and was twelve years of age when they came to Nebraska.

He grew up in Seward county, and remained there, farming, until the spring of 1893, ^vhen he bought a farm in RawHns county, in western Kansas, and for three years trie', to farm there, but was compelled to give it up on account of the continuous drought. He then returned to Nebraska and was for a time engaged in farming near Peru, later taking employment on a ranch in the vicinity of Concordia, Kansas, where he remained for four years, during which time he began to turn his attention seriously to tlie art of photography, presently opening a photograph studio at Auburn and was engaged in that business there until the fall of 1904, when he moved to Humboldt On September I of that year he opened a studio at Humboldt and has ever since been engaged in business at that place, long having been recognized as one of the leading photographers in this part of the state. Mr. Thornton has a well-equipped studio and has built up a fine business, the high character of his work recommending it widel}' to discriminating patrons hereabout.

In 1899 Charles H. Thornton was united in marriage to Grace Elliot, of Auburn, this state, and to this union two children have been born, sons l)oth, Dale, born in 1905, and Leland, 1915. Mr. and Mrs. Thornton are members of the Christian church and take a proper part in church work, as well as in other community good works and in the general social activities of their home town. Mr. Thornton is a Deinocrat, and, fraternally,- is affiliated with the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes a warm interest.

Daniel B. Ratekin

13aniel U. Ratekin, sheriff of Richardson county, former mayor of Rulo and who at the time of his election to the office of sheriff in 1914 was engaged in the automobile business at Ealls City, is a native son of this county and has lived here all his life. He was born on a farm in the immediate vicinity of Rulo on October 2, 1881, a son of William L. and Mary Ann (\'aughn) Ratekin, natives of Ohio, who came tn tliis county in 1864 antl the latter of whom is still living at Rulo.

\Mlliam L. Ratekin was born in 1S34 and grew to manhood in Ohio, where he was married. During the early part of the Civil War he served as the driver of a commissary wagon in the Eastern Division and in 1864 came A\'est and proceeded by steamer to Rulo, where he landed and where he made his permanent home, buying a tract of eighty acres of raw land a half mile west of that then bustling river town, establishing his home on the same and there he spent the remainder of his life, living to see the land for which he paid five dollars an acre increase many fold in value. A few years before his death he retired from the active labors of the farm and moved to Rulo, where he died in 1907 and where his widow is now living, she being now about seventy years of age-. They were the parents of ten children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the last-born, the others being as follow: Marion, now living at McFarland, California; Jacob, who died of mountain fever in Colorado years ago; Julia, now deceased, who was the wife of J. F. Vaughn; John, who is now living near Delta, Colorado; Alary, wife of Frank Wilhoit, of Centralia, Kansas; Ida, wife of E. \y. Coupe, of the precinct of Rulo. this county; James W., a farmer in that same precinct; William F.. now a resident of California, and ]\rinnie, wife of George Goodale, of Rulo.

Reared on the home farm in the vicinity of Rulo, Daniel B. Ratekin received his schooling in the schools of that place and remained on the farm until he was twent}'-one \ears of age. when, in 1902, he engaged in the transfer and coal business at Rulo and after his marriage two years later established his home there. Not long after taking up his residence in Rulo Mr. Ratekin \\as elected assessor, a position he held for three years. He later was elected school treasurer and he also held that office for three vears. In 191 J he was elected mayor of Rulo and it was during his administration that the Rulo electric Hght plant, said to be one of the best plants for a town of that size in the state of Nebraska, was installed. Upon the completion of his term of service as mayor Mr. Ratekin moved to Falls City and there engaged in the automobile and general garage business, as a member of the Ratekin, Wolfley & Ball Company, and was thus engaged, as manager of that concern, when he was elected sheriff of Richardson county in 1914. So satisfactory did Sheriff Ratekin's services prove in this important public capacity that the Republicans of the county renominated him in 19 16 and he was re-elected by the largest majority ever givffli a candidate for public office in Richardson county and is now serving his second term in the sheriff's office, one of the most popular and painstaking officials in the court house.

It was on- September 15, 1904, that Daniel B. Ratekin was united in marriage to Minna A. LaBlanc, who was born at Rulo. this county, October 27. 1S85, daughter of 'SL J. and ^Mary F. TPerkins) LaBlanc. natives, re- spectively, of Canada and [Missouri, and early settlers at Rulo, who were the parents of three children, one of whom died in infancy, J\Irs. Ratekin having a sister. Mrs. Bessie Scott, living at Lexington. Missouri. Sherifif and Mrs. l\atekin have one cliild, a daughter. ^lary H.. Ijorn on October 27, IQO^.

Johx C. Helfexbeix

John C. Helfenbein, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and ten acres in section 22 of the precinct of Arago, this county, was born in that precinct and has lived there all his life, having thus been a continuous resident of Richardson count}' since territorial days. He was born on February 22, 1866, son of John and Lena (Buck) Helfenbein, natives of Germany, who were among the earliest settlers of this county and whose last days were spent here, the former living until June 10, 1912, he then being in the eighty-fourth year of his age. His wife had preceded him to the grave about four years, lier death having occurred in 1908, slie then being seventy-nine years of age. They were the parents of four children, namely: Mrs. Amelia Klink, of Missouri; August, deceased; John C, the subject of this sketch, and Ernest.

John Helfenbein, who was an honored veteran of the Civil War, was born in Hessenstadt on September 22, 1828, and had come to this country in the days of his young manhood, settling in Illinois, where he remained until 1858, when he came over into the then Territory of Nebraska and located at the site of the old village of Arago, first county seat of Richardson county, lielping in the construction of the first house that was erected at that historic point. He bought a tract of land in the immediate vicinity of Arago, broke the soil with an ox-team and there farmed for a good many years, later moving to the southern part of the_ precinct, where he and his wife spent their last days. During the Civil War John Helfenbein served valiantly as a member of Company B, Fourth Missouri Cavalry, with whicli command he enlisted on March 13, 1862, and with wliich he served until his final discharge c#i March 22, 1865. During this ser\ice he nearly lost his life, receiving a serious wound when three horses fell on him during a desperate cavalry scrimmage. Some years before his death Mr. Helfenbein wrote an interesting narrative relating lo his experiences as a pioneer of Richardson county and as a participant in the frontier warfare carried on out liere during the Civil War period, which narrative has so mucli of historical interest that it is presented below :

"I came to the jM-esent site of Fargo, formerly Arago, Nebraska, in 1858. At that time there were no buildings of any kind at that place. During the following three years twenty-three families arrived and proceeded to erect dwelling houses and such otlier structures as they needed in a wild country.

"When the Civil War broke out there was on the opposite side of Arago, across the Missouri river, a small village called Marietta, which had a postoffice, school house and a horse-power saw-mill. The Rebels raised the rebel flag at Marietta. We at Arago raised the Union flag; the flags being but one mile apart. The Rebels and those who sympathized with them threatened to come to Arago and pull down the Union flag and burn every house, but they never did. On March 13, 1862, I, with twelve others, went to Forest City, Holt county, Missouri, where we enlisted in Company B, Fourth Regiment, Missouri Cavalry. We remained three weeks in the vicinity of Forest " City, scouting in Atchison, Holt and Nodaway counties: also pulling down rebel flags and taking them to headc]uarters and compelling them to swear allegiance to the Union.

"On April i, 1862, our regiment met at St. Joseph, Alissouri. wiiere we entered on police duty, also scouting throughout Andrew, Buchanan and Platte counties. From there we moved to Kansas City, Missouri, and were camped there fourteen days, scouting in Lafayette, Johnson and Jackson counties. We lost two men of our company by Ouantrell bushwhackers on Blue river, at Westport. From there we marched to Greenfield, thence to Springfield and tlien to Granby, Missouri, where we met the Rebels and fought them. \\'e killed two and took seventeen prisoners. Then we went - to Neosho, Newtonia and ;\'It. Vernon ; thence back to Springfield. From tiiere we were ordered to Lone Jack to reinforce the First Iowa, whicli liad Iiad an engagement with the Rebels commanded by Cofifee and Range. W^e were in the saddle for twenty-seven days, during which time we scarcely found any food, either for man or beast. The Rebels lost one barrel of sugar, which we were fortunate to get and which was doled out to us one cupful a day as long as it lasted. On June 21, 1862, we espied some cabbage in a garden, to which we helped ourselves. We also found one barrel of molasses and three pieces of bacon, of which our dinner consisted. On June 27 we overtook the Rebels at Neosho and captured tlieir cannons, after wliich tliey retreated.

"We participated in the battle of Xewtonia, }iIissouri, September 13, 1862, and at Cassville, September 21. 1862. Before we went into the engagement at X'ewtonia, Kelly, our major, made something like tlie follow- ing speech: 'Soldiers: Again you are called upon to advance on the enemies of your country. The time and the occasion are deemed opportuiie by your commanding general to address to you a tew words (tf confidence and caution. Your movement being in co-operation with <ilhers. it is of the utmost importance that no effort .should be left unspared to make it successful. Soldiers, the eyes of the whole country are looking with anxious hope to the blow you are about to strike in the most sacred cause that ever called men to arms. Remember your homes, your wives and your children. ;ui(l l)ear in mind that the sooner your enemies are overcome the sooner you will be returned to enjoy the benefits and blessings of peace. Bear with patience the hardships and .sacrifices you will be called upon to endure. Have confidence in your oflicers and in each other. Keep your ranks on the march and on the battlefield, and let each man earnestly implore God's blessing and endeavor, both by his thoughts and his actions, to render himself worthy of the favor he seeks. With clear consciences and strong arms, actuated by a high sense of duty; fighting to preserve the government and the institutions handed down to us by our forefathers - if true to ourselves victory, under God's blessing, must and will attend our efforts.'

"At Hunts\-ille, Arkansas, three liundred of our men niatle battle on twent_v-fi\e sheep in a forty-acre jiasture. The sheep were all killed, nf course ; no prisoners taken. At Fayetteville we captured a goose, which, after being equally divided, we prepared for dinner by immersing in a pot of hot water ; each his portion according to command. \\"e participated in the battle of White River, then we spent two days on Osage Mountain. On December 2, 1862, we surprised the Rebels on Horse creek, between ¥t. Scott, Kansas, and Greenfield, Missouri, capturing ninety-three horses and saddles and all their firearms. On April 7, 1863, we marched to Sedalia, ^Missouri, and were compelled to swim the Grand river, which was then bank full and about a half mile in width. From 1863 to i8()5 we were pursuing Ouantrell ;ind Jesse James, spending many nights in the forest trying to capture Jesse when he would be going courting his sweetheart at Dover, Lafayette county. On .August 21. 1863, we captured a man of Ouantrell's command who confessed to ha\ing killed a woman and throwing iier and her bab\- into a burning building at Lawrence, Kansas. He was court-martialed and shot. On October 13. 1863, we fought Joe Shelby at Arrow Rock. On Octol)er 2^, 1864. wc fought General Price at Jefferson City. Missouri, and pursued liim to Rluc river, near Kansas City. In this engagement we lost our captain, .\lvin P.lair. My fastest riding was l)etween the P>lue ri\er and Lexington, where 1 was commissioned to carry a dispatch through the enemy's lines. 1 was ]iin-sued

Richardson Coumty, Nebraska

John C. Helfenbein was reared on the pioneer farm on which he was born, in the precinct of Arago, and grew up there thoroughly famihar with pioneer conditions of Hving. He received his schooling in the district schools of that neighborhood and from the days of his boyhood was a valuable factor in the labors of developing and improving the home place. He later began working as a fann hand, at a wage of fifteen dollars a month, and in 1884 he and his brother August began fanning together, an arrangement that continued until his marriage in 1892, after which he bought an eighty-acre farm in the precinct of Ohio and tliere established his home, remaining there until 1896, when he sold that place and Ijought his present farm of one hundred and ten acres in sej:tion 22 of Arago precinct, where he has since made his home and where he and his family are very comfortably and very pleasantly situated. Since taking possession of that 'place Mr. Helfenbein has built a new house and barn, planted an orchard and made other substantial improvements, now having one of the liest farm plants in that part of the county. In addition to his general farming he has devoted considerable attention to the raising of high-grade stock and has done very well. Mr. Helfenbein is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has not been included in the office-seeking class.

On April 21, 1892, John C. Helfenbein was united in marriage tn Mary Aliller, who also was born in Arago precinct, December 30. 1870, daughter of Jacob and Lena (Gebhard) Miller, the former an Alsatian and the latter a native of the city of New York, who became pioneers of Richardson count\- and here spent their last days. Jacob Miller was born in the then Frencli province of Alsace on Septeml)er 25. 1834, and was ten years of age when he came to this country with his parents in 1844. the family settling in Erie county. New York, moving thence in 1855 to Fond du Lac. Wisconsin, where he remained until 1859, when he located in St. Charles county, Missouri. A year later, in the spring of i860, he came over into the then Territory of Nebraska and settled in this county, becoming engaged in farm labor in the neighborhood of Williamsville. In the fall of that same year he leased a lialf section of land from a Mr. Pickard, in Arago precinct, seven miles nortlieast of the present city of Falls City, and that winter split rails and built a log cabin, which is still standing. Mr. Miller was thus engaged in developing his pioneer farm when the Civil War broke out and on June 13, 1861. enlisted at Omaha for service in the Union army and went to the front as a member of Company B, First Regiment. Nebraska \V>lunteer Infantiy. witli which he served until mustered out at ( )nialia nn August 23. 1864, and <huing which service lie participated in numerous imiwrtant engagements, including the battles of Shiloh, Cape Girardeau and Clarington. Upon the cumpletioii of his militar\- service Mr. Miller returned to this county and in 1865 bought the quarter section he had leased and after his marriage in 1870 established his home there, remaining there until 1886, when he moved to Sheridan county, this state, but a year later he returned to his home farm and remained there until the fall of 1903, when he retired from the farm and he and his wife moved to Falls City, where both spent their last days, the latter dying on September 9, 1906, and the former on January 3, 1917. It was at Barada. this county, ]\Iarch 17, 1870, that Jacob Miller was united in marriage to Magdalena Gebhard and to this union nine children were born, those besides Mrs. Helfenbein, the fourth in order of birth, being Henry F., of Happy, Texas; FredA\\, who is operating the old home farm:^Irs. .\nna Zorn, uf this county; ]\Irs. Ida Bertram, of Minnesota; Mrs. Ella Gerlt. of tliis county: -Mrs. Lizzie Hunker, also of this county; Mrs. Minnie Bertram, of this county, and Mrs. Louisa Zorn, who died on February 12, 1912.

To John C. and Mary (^liller) Helfenbein four children have been born. Lena, August, Edna and E;-nest. The family are members of the Evangelical Lutheran church and take a proper part in church work, as well as in tlie general good works and social activities of the- community in which they live, helpful in promoting all movements having to do with the advancement of the common welfare thereabout.

Leaxder C. Prichard

Leander C. Prichard, one of the best-known farmers and stockmen of the precinct of Arago, this county, and the owner of a tine farm of one hundred and fifty acres in sections 4 and 5 of that precinct, is a native of the old Blue Grass state, but has been a resident of this county since 1880 and has consequently been a witness to and a participant in the wonderful development made in this section of Nebraska during the past thirty-five or forty years. He was born in Boyd county, Kentucky, January 15, 1854, son of William and Caroline (Newman) Prichard, both natives of that same state and members of prominent families in the northeasiern part of Kentucky, the former liorn on June 9, 1827, and the latter, about 1830. The Pricharcls are an old familv in the I'nileil States, tlie first of the name to come to this country having been \\'illiani Prichaid, who came over from Wales in 1744 and established his home on this side, the famil)- becoming plantation owners and persons of substance. William Prichard, father of the subject of this sketch, was of the same family as Dr. Lewis Prichard, the Charleston (West Virginia) capitalist and philanthropist, whose various beneficences have made his one of the best-known names in the field of philanthropy in this country. Both William Prichard and his wife spent their last days in Kentucky. The}' were married on March 15, 1853, ^"^ were the parents of six children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the first-born, the others being Columbus, deceased; James, deceased; Laura, deceased; Virginia, who married H. yi. Bloss and is now deceased, and Robert, wdio is still living in Kentucky. The mother of these children died on January 10. 1881, and the father survived until February 12, 1906.

Reared on the home farm in northeastern Kentucky, Leander C. Prichard received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and finished his education at Marshall College, Huntington, West Virginia, and early learned at his father's forge the blacksmith's trade. In 1880 he came to Nebraska and bought his present farm of one hundred and fifty acres in sections 4 and 5 of the precinct of x^rago, where, after his marriage in the following spring, he established his home and has ever since made that his place of residence, he and his wife having one of the pleasantest homes in that part of the county. Mr. Prichard not only has a comfortable home, but an excellent farm plant and ranks among the progressive farmers of Richardson county. He has given considerable attention to the breeding of hogs, a former breeder of Poland China stock, but for the past year or two giving his attention to Duroc-Jersey stock, and has done very well. Politically, he is a Democrat, and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, l^ut has not been a seeker after public office.

On February 21, 1881, Leander C. Prichard was united in marriage to Laura L. Vaughan, who was born in Lawrence county, Ohio, January 24, 1864, daughter of Abraham and Sarah (Prichard) Vaughan, who came to Nebraska in 1865 and the former of whom died in ]\Iay of that same year, two months after having established his family on a farm in this county. Abraham Vaughan was a native of the old Dominion, born in Wayne count}-, Virginia, now included in West Virginia, May 12, 1822, "and his wife was born in Lawrence county, Kentucky, May 4, 1823. After their marriage they made their home in Uiwrence county, Ohio, and in 1864 ]\Ir. \'^aughan came to the then Territory of Nebraska and entered a tract of land in this county, returning then to Ohio for his family and bringing them here in the early spring of 1865. Two months later, in May, he died, leaving his widow with six young children and the pioneer farm to look after. She bravely faced many hardships in getting things going and rearing her children, but she kept the family together and lived to see them well established, her death occurring on July zy, 1898. Mrs. Prichard was the youngest of the children born to her parents and was but a babe in arms when she was brought to this county back in territorial daj-s. She thus has seen the gradual development of this region since pioneer days and has ever taken a hearty interest in the same, contributing well her part to the general social and cultural activities of the community in which slie has lived since the days of her infancv.

Charles Loree

Charles Loree, clerk of the district court and old settler of Richardson county, is probably the most widely known official of Richardson county and it is probable that he is personally acquainted with more people in southeastern Nebraska than any other living citizen. This wide acquaintance is favorable and Mr. Loree is distinctly popular with the rank and file of Richardson county citizens. His geniality, obliging and kind disposition, wide knowledge of county affairs, have for years made of him a marked figure in the official and political life of his home county. He has been a resident of Richardson county for the past fifty-two years, over forty }-ears of which have been spent in some official capacity. Charles Loree commenced his career in Nebraska as a fanner boy in 1866, and has filled many positions of trust in die service of the people since that year. He has witnessed the transformation of a boundless prairie into a great state and taken an active part in the upbuilding of a great county. He was born at Lebanon, \^'arren county. Ohio, March 19, 1852, and was a son of Dr. John and Elixabeth Loree, natives of the old Buckeye state.

Dr. John Loree was born in Monroe, Butler county. Oliio, in 1818 and died at Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1902. He was a son of Hezekiah and Elizabeth ( Boggs) Loree, the former of whom was a native of Cape ^lay. New Jersey, and the latter was a native of Virginia. Hezekiah Loree was a son of Jasper Loree, who was descended from Colonial ancestry, of French origin. The mother of Charles Loree was of German descent and was lx)rn at Miamis- I)urg, Ohio, in 1832 and died in i()ii. The grandmother of Charles Loree died at Falls City in 1875 at the advanced age of eighty- four years. The

Boggs family un his father's side are of Irish descent. It will thus be seen that Charles Loree is a scion of amalgamated American stock, the best of which is a result of the melting pot of the nations of the world which is constantly taking place in America. Dr. John Loree was a medical practitioner, who was proprietor of the Loree Ohio Liniment Company, which had its headquarters at Cincinnati, Ohio. During the Civil War he served in the capacity of Indian agent for the United States government and had charge of the Cheyenne and Arrapahoe Indians. He was commissioned a major under Gen. James Craig. In 1865 Major Loree purchased a farm located two miles from St. Joseph, Missouri. He traded this farm in the following autumn for one thousand acres of land within two miles of Falls City, Nebraska. Following his entrance into Nebraska* he promoted the Nemaha X'alley, Lincoln & Loop Fork Railway Company, now the Burlington and Missouri, or a division of the Burlington railway system, and served as president of the new railroad, making his headquarters at Lincoln, Nebraska, in tlie meantime. He later returned to Cincinnati and died there. The children of John Loree were as follow: Marie Frances, who resides in Falls City: Charles, subject of this review; Warren, living at Long Beach, California, and Harry, of Lincoln, Nebraska.

Charles Loree received his education in the school^ of Liberty, Indiana, Richmond, Indiana, and St. Joseph, Missouri, later attending the district school of Falls City. He also pursued a commercial and bookkeeping course in the Normal school at Peru, Nebraska. He first came to Richardson county in September of 1865, and then came here to remain permanently in 1866. l-'or several years he followed farming and then became a clerk in a drygood> store for four years. Following this he established a real-estate business and founded the first bonded abstract company in Falls City, which he is CI inducting successfully at the present time, in addition to his duties as clerk of the district court. He was appointed to the post of deputy county clerk in 1875 and served for two }'ears ; served as precinct and city assessor of l-'alls City for live terms: filled the office of clerk of the district court: served four years as countv clerk : followed this position by six years service as register of deeds: was then elected count}' clerk for two years, following which he conducted his abstract business for two years, and is now serving his fourteenth term as clerk of the district court. The continuity in which Mr. Loree has held office in Richardson county is the best evidence of his efficienc\', abilitx' :ind ]io]iularit\' with tlie ]ieople of tlie countv. In addition (52)

Mr. Loree was married on February 16, 1882, to Aliss Emehe Lange, who was born in Wi.sconsin, April, 1857, and is a daughter of Frederick and Caroline J.ange, natives of Germany.

Politically. Charles Force is a Democrat of the "old school" of democracy, although he has progressed with his party and taken an active and influential part in the affairs of the Democratic party in Richardson county and Nebraska since he cast his first vote. He has taken part in every state convention held in Nel^raska since statehood was established and served as the chairman of the Democratic executive committee in the county in 1916. Fraternally, he is afiiliated wMth the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; the Knights of Pythias: the ^Modern Woodmen of America; the Royal Highlanders; the Benevolent and Patriotic Order of Elks; the Fraternal Order of Eagles ; the German Society, "Deutsche Geschellschaft" ; the Independent Order of Red Men, of which society he has filled the exalted oftice of grand sachem of the Neliraska tribes.

Albert Ebel

Albert Ebel, one of the substantial farmers of the precinct of Arago in this county, owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres in section 16 of that precinct and former clerk and former treasurer of his home precinct, was born at St. Joseph, Missouri, August 15, 1873, son of Henry and Elizabeth (Kohler) Ebel, w^ho became pioneers of Richardson county and here spent their last days.

Henry Ebel was a native of Germany, born in the town of Grabow, February 5, 1844, and grew to manhood in his native land, there learning the trade of carpenter and remaining there until he had attained his majority, when, in 1865, he came to the LTnited States and proceeded on out to the then Territory of Nebraska and settled in this county, later going to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he began working at his trade, and where he was married on October 22, 1872, to Elizabeth Kohler, a native of the Republic of Switzerland, born on April 5, 185 1, who had accompanied her parents to this country, the family settling at St. Joseph. In the meantime Henry Eliel had entered a small tract of land in the precinct of Jefferson, this county, and after awhile returned here and for a time made his home on that farm, later moving- to Atchison, Kansas, w here lie worked at his trade for three years, at the end of which time lie returned tu his farm in this county and settled down to improve and develop the same, and here he spent the remainder of liis life, hecoming one of the substantial farmers of that part of the countv. He died on December 13, 191 1, and his widow survived him but one dav more than seven months, her death occurring on July 14, 1912. They were the parents of six children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the firstborn, the others being as follow : Charles, a farmer in Brown countx*. Kansas; Mrs. Lizzie Caston, of Jefferson precinct, this county: Airs. Lena Hartman, of the precinct of Rulo; Mrs. Henrietta Zimmerman, of Jefferson precinct, and Henry, who is farming with his brother, Charles, in Kansas.

Reared on the home farm in Jefferson precinct, Albert Ebel received his schooling in the local schools and from the days of his boyhood was a valued aid to his father in the labors of developing and improving the home place and has continued farming ever since, now the owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres in section 16 of the precinct of Arago, which he bought in 1907 and on which he since has made his home, he and his family being very comfortably situated there. Li addition to his general farming Mr. Ebel gi\es considerable attention to the raising of live stock and is doing very well in his operations. Politically, he is a Republican and for fifteen years has been a member of the school board. He also served for two years as precinct treasurer and three years as clerk of the precinct and in other ways has done his part in the public service of the community in which he has lixed since the days of his boyhood.

On February 0, 1899, Albert Ebel was united in marriage to 'Slavy Hunker, who was born in Osborne county, Kansas, September 10, 1875, daughter of Jacob and Mary ( Meier) Hunker, who became residents of Richardson county in 1877 and here spent the remainder of their li\es. Jacob Hunker was born in Wittenburg, Germany, October 12, 1837, and in 1867 came to this country and located at Horton, Kansas^ in the vicinity of which place he began farming and where, in 1868, he married Mary Meier, who was born at Glallfelden, in Zurich, Switzerland, December 24, 1850. Xot long after his marriage Jacob Hunker moved to Osborne county, Kansas, and there remained until he came to this county and here established his home in 1877, becoming a substantial farmer in the precinct of Arago, where he remained until his retirement from the farm and removal to Falls City, where his last days were spent, his death occurring thei^e on February 14, 1915. His wife had died many years before, her death occurring on December 18, 1880, a little more than three vears after the familv settled in this countv.

To Albert and Mary (Hunker) Eljel fi\e children ha\e been born, Amos, Walter, Louis, Elsie and Alma. -Mr. and Mrs. Ebel are members of the Lutheran church and take a proper part in clunch work as well as in the general social activities of the comniuiiity in \\']iicli tliev live.

Richard C. Tames

Richard C. James, one of the best-known attorneys-at-law at Falls City, county attorney for Richardson county and a veteran of the Spanish- American War, is a native of the old Blue Grass state, but has been a resident of this state since he was a child. He was born at Maretburg, in Rockcastle county, Kentucky, October 14. 1879, son of Lafayette and Margaret (Lewis) James, natives of that same state and the former of whom was a school teacher. Mrs. James died in 1881 and Mr. James died in the following j'ear.

Thus left an orphan wlien he was three years of age, Richard C. James was taken in charge 1j}- his maternal uncle, John Lewis, who then was living in Illinois and who later entered a claim to a tract of land in Holt county, this state, and there established his home. On that homestead farm of his uncle Richard C. James lived until lie was fourteen years of age, when he began tu make liis own way in the world. As a means of com- Ijjeting his schooling he secured the position of janitor of the high school ijuilding at Dunbar, going to school there during the winters and working on farms during the summers, and was graduated from the high school in 1895. During the winter of 1895-96, he then being but seventeen years of age, he taught school and in the following spring entered the University of Neljraska at Lincoln and was pursuing his studies there when the Spanish- -Vmerican War broke out in 1898. He enlisted for service as a private in Company 1). I'irst Regiment, Nebraska X'olunteer Infantry, and with that command was sent to the Philippine Islands, taking part in die campaign al>out .Manila and in the defeat of Aguinaldi-'s army. At the battle of ( hiingua in iN(,(; M,-. James were severely wounded and was later sent back to the United States in a hospital ship, afterward being nnistercd out with his regiment at San I'rancisco.