Richardson County, Nebraska - Biographical sketches, 1917 (part 5 of 19)

Having been l)ut a child when his parents moved from New "S'ork to Wisconsin, James 'SI. \Mieek:r grew to manhood in the latter state, familiar with pioneer conditions in a new country, and was living there when the Civil War broke out. .\t the first callto arms in .April. 1861, he enlisted the First Wi'sconsin Cavalry, with which command he served for more his services in behalf of the Union and went to the front as a member of than four years, or for some months after the close of the war, being finally mustered out in the fall of 1865. During this long period of service Mr. Wheeler saw much active service, was a participant in many of the bloodiest and important engagements of the war and was a member of the squad that captured Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederate States of America, at the close of the war. He was mustered out with the rank of sergeant. Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Wheeler returned to his home in Wisconsin and early the next spring came over into the then Territory of Nebraska with an army comrade, John Spencer, and bought a quarter of a section of land in the half-breed strip in the precinct of Barada, in this county, paying for the same one dollar and fifty cents an acre. Upon establishing his ownership to the tract he returned to his home in Wisconsin and in Novemlier was married, returning straightway with his bride and their small worldly possessions to this county. There was no house on the tract, which was wholly unimproved, and during their first winter here Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler made their home in a little old abandoned blacksmith shop. In the meantime Mr. Wheeler bought twenty acresof timber land and during that winter cut out logs with which to construct a log house and in the spring his neighbors helped him put up a dwelling place, fourteen by sixteen feet in dimensions, built of these logs. This rude cabin had a dirt floor and the roof was of such loose construction that the moonbeams shone through and the rain poured in, but the occupants of this rude abode had high faith in the outcome of their pioneering and looked with cheerful hearts to the future when they should have a better home and all the comforts of life. Mrs. Wheeler had been a school teacher back in her old home and after coming here taught school for some time, in order to help things along, at the same time keeping up her simple household tasks - for housekeeping was not a greatly complicated undertaking in the homes of the pioneers - and with the proceeds from her first term of school bought the first cow and calf the Wheelers owned. There were few white people in that neighborhood at that time, but what were there were good and kind and the young couple did not feel entirely isolated from the world. In that little log cabin, which gradually was made more secure against the invasion of the elements, their children were born and they lived there for quite a number of years, or until they finally erected a more commodious and comfortable dwelling. Mr. Wheeler was a good farmer and as he prospered in his operati(Mis added to his holdings until he became tlie owner of a half section of land in this county, a quarter of a section in Oklahoma and a couple of building lots in Shubert. In January, 1899, Mr. Wheeler retired from the active labors of the farm and moved to Shubert, where they erected a beautiful cottage and where Mrs. Wheeler is still living. ]\Ir. Wheeler was a Republican and for some years during his residence on the farm served as treasurer of Barada precinct and later served as mayor of Shubert. He was a Mason and a member of the Grange and for years was one of the most active members of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic. In 1903 he and his wife went to the coast on a visit to their daughter, at Eugene, Oregon, and to attend the national encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic at San Francisco. Upon returning from San Francisco Mr. Wheeler got off the train at Granger, Wyoming, to buy some refreshments and without premonition dropped dead on the station platform, his heart apparently having suddenly succumbed to the strain which the long trip and the variation of his ordinary routine of life had exerted upon it. That was on September 4, 1903, and the body was brought back to this covmty for interment. Wr. Wheeler and Mr. King broke the ground for the soldiers' monument at Prairie Union and their names headed the list of subscribers to the fund for the erection of the same, and in 1912 Mrs. Wheeler and Mrs. King continued the work and finally secured the erection of the monument.

It was on November 16, 1866, in Green county. Wisconsin, that James M. Wheeler was united in marriage to Almira A. Foote, who was born in Erie county. New York, April 2, 1845, daughter of Charles Giles and Caroline (Pyncheon) Foote, the former of whom M-as born in that same county and the latter at Attica, in Genesee county, same state. Charles Giles Foote was a son of Lewis Foote. In 1855 he left New York state with his family and moved to Green county, Wisconsin, where he established his home, the family being joined there the next year by the daughter. Almira, who had remained behind at her old home in Erie county to teach school for another term there. In the fall after her arrival in Wisconsin she was married to Mr. Wheeler and came out to this county, where she ever since has lived, one of the best-known and most highly respected pioneers of the northern part of the county. To Mr. and ]\Irs. Wheeler three children were born, Flora Belle, Charles Cargill and Mary Maude. Flora Belie Wheeler has been twice married and is now living on the old home place in' the precinct of Barada, which her husband. Henry Fishburn, is operating. By her first marriage she had one son, Guy O. Smith, who was reared by Mrs. Wheeler and who at the age of seventeen years enlisted in the navy, received his discharge four years later as an electrician and is now a railroader in Kansas. Charles Cargill Wheeler was accidentally drowned in the brook that flows through the Wheeler farm when he was but a toddler, one year and seven months of age. Mary Maude Wheeler, who married Curtis Downs and is now living at Los Angeles, California, has three children, Mrs. Madge Myrtle Hart-Pendleton, who has one son, Byron Hart, by her first marriage; Mrs. Zenith Frisbie, who has two children, Lavelle and Adelbert, and Mrs. Lois Albertson, who has one child, a son, Harry.

William R. Holt

William R. Holt, one of the best-known and most influential business men at Falls City, proprietor of an extensive hardware, plumbing and heating establishment in that city and formerly and for years one of the bestknown breeders of high-grade live stock in Nebraska, is a native son of Richardson county and has lived here all his life. He was born at the village of Salem, in the precinct of that name, December 7, 1876, son of the late Hon. John W. and Amanda M. (OHver) Holt, who were the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch, the last-born, is now the only survivor, the others having been Amanda, Nellie and George. A memorial sketch of the Hon. John W. Holt appears in this volume.

William R. Holt's youth was spent in Falls City, and his schooling in the public schools was completed in the schools of this city, to which place his parents had moved from .Salem in 1878. He supplemented that course by a year's schoohng at St. Benedict's College at Atchison and a two-years' course in a business college at Lincoln, after which, in 1896, he entered his father's bank, the First National Bank of Falls City, and for eighteen months thereafter was engaged as a clerk in that institution. In 1898, some months after his marriage, he bought a farm one mile west of Falls City and there established his home, being engaged in general farming and stock breeding until his retirement from the farm in 1912 and removal to Falls City, where he has since been engaged in business. During his residence on the farm Mr. Holt gave particular attention to the breeding of Berkshire hogs, in which plvise of farming he had been interested from the days of his bovhood, and soon became recognized as one of the leading stockmen in that line in the state. He was equally successful in breeding pure-bred

Shorthorn cattle and his exhibits at numerous county and state fairs ever attracted much attention among breeders. In 1903 he made an exhibit of his stock at the Iowa state fair at Des Moines and in that same year exhibited at Lincoln, Topeka, Hutchinson and St. Louis. The next year he showed at Des Moines, Sedalia, Lincoln, Topeka, Hutchison and Kansas City, and in 1905-08 continued this circuit, with St. Joseph included, while in 1906 he took the prize for the best-bred sow exhibited at the Tennessee state fair at i^Iemphis. Mr. Holt is a meml>er of the Berkshire Association and though not now giving so much of his personal attention to the stock business continues to take a warm interest in the affairs of that association. Upon moving to Falls City in 19 12 he engaged there in the hardware, plumbing and heating business and has a well-equipped establishment in that line. He owns a farm of one hundred and sixty-three acres north of Falls City and has a half interest in a farm of two hundred and eighty acres in the northwestern part of the county and has not abandoned his interest in agricultural matters. Politically, Mr. Holt is a Republican and takes a good citizen's interest in local civic affairs, but has not been a seeker after public ptlfice.

It was on June i, 1897, that William R. Holt was united in marriage to Eva Giannini, of Falls City, who was born in Atchison county, Missouri, daughter of Marion and Linda (Seymour) Giannini, natives, respectively of \'irginia and jNIissouri, who came to this state from Missouri in 1884 and located at Falls City, where Mr. Giannini was engaged in the bus and baggage transfer business until his death in 1915, he then being past sixty years of age. and where his widow is still living. To this union one child has ))een bom, a daughter, Nellie Lee, born on February i, 1901. Mr. and Mrs. Holt are members of the Presbyterian church and Mr. Holt is an elder of the local congregation. They have a very pleasant home at Falls City and take a proper part in the general social and cultural activities of their home town, ]\Irs. Holt being a member of several of the leading clubs of the town, in tlie aft'airs of which she has long taken a warm interest. ]\Ir. Holt is a Mason and a member of the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and of the Royal Arcanum and in the affairs of these several organization? takes an active interest. .\s one of the leading merchants of Falls City he gives his earnest attention to the general business affairs of that city and has long been helpful in promoting such movements as are designed to advance the common welfare iiereabout.

Dr. William Rudolph Boose, one of the best-known physicians and surgeons in this county, a practitioner at Falls City since 1905, is a native of the old Keystone state, but has been a resident of Falls City since he was two years of age. He was born at Salisbury, Pennsylvania, April 11, 1874, son of William and Margaret (Turner) Boose, both natives of that same state, of sterling old Pennsylvania-Dutch stock, the former born in 1846 and the latter in 1845, who are now living at Falls City, where they celebrated their golden-wedding anniversary on January 17, 1917, the occasion having been made one of much felicitation and congratulation on the part of their many friends in that city and throughout the county, where they have resided since pioneer days.

William Boose was about thirty years of age when he came out to Nebraska with his family with a view to establishing his home in this the rapidly developing section. That was in 1876, and he established his home on a farm six miles southwest of Falls City, where he remained until he \va> forty-nine years of age, when he retired from the active labors of the fan and removed to Falls City, where he and his wife are still living. To them eight children have been born, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being as follow: Louis A., deceased; Mrs. Dr. Emma J. Tucker, a missionary, now stationed at Technow, China; the Rev. John H. Boose, a Presbyterian clergj'man, now engaged in the ministry at Marinette. Wisconsin; Mrs. Florence Holferty, of Pontiac, Illinois; Clara, of Banning,. California; Mrs. Elta B. Young, of Montclaire, New Jersey, and Frank, deceased.

Doctor Boose was well prepared by preliminary study for the practice of his profession. Upon completing the course in the Falls City high school he entered the University of Nebraska and was graduated from that institution, with the degree of Bachelor of Science, in 1899. He then entered Rush Medical College at Chicago, and was graduated from that institution in 1904, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Upon receiving his diploma he was appointed an interne in the Englewood Hospital at Chicago and after a year of very valuable practical experience returned home and opened an office for the practice of his profession in his home city and has since been thus engaged in that city. The Doctor has well-appointed offices in the Richardson County Bank building and has built up an extensive practice. On the occasion of Falls City being made a railroad division point in 191 1 he was appointed a division surgeon for the Missouri-Pacific railway system and is still serving in that capacity. He served for one year as city physician and in 1906 was appointed to the position of county physician, and served for eight years. Politically, the Doctor is a Democrat and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local public affairs.

In June, 1908, Dr. ^^'illiam R. Boose was united in marriage to Mabel F. Wilson, of Falls City, daughter of Robert P. and Adaline Wilson, old residents of that city, and to this union two children have been born, Helen Adaline and William Rudolph. The Doctor and Mrs. Boose are members of the Presbyterian church and take 'a proper part in church work and in the general social and cultural activities of their home town, helpful in many wa\-s in promoting such movements as are designed to advance the common welfare. The Doctor is a member of the locaF Masonic lodge and takes an active interest in Masonic affairs. He also is affiliated with several fraternal insurance organizations and gives his helpful attention to the same.

Charles F. Schneider

Charles F. Schneider, one of the well-known and substantial farmers in the southwestern part of this county and the proprietor of a well-improved and profitably cultivated farm of ninety acres in the precinct of Nemaha, is a native of the old Buckeye state, but has been a resident of this county since the days of his infancy, with the exception of three years spent in the railway service in Ohio and the time spent in college in Indiana. He was born on a farm in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, July 20, 1873, son of George and Mary (Kate) Schneider, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Ohio, born of German parents, who later became pioneer residents of this county and here spent their last days.

(ieorge Schneider, born in 1833, was a blacksmith in Ohio and in 1866, at the time lands in this part of the country were Ijeginning to attract settlers in large numbers, he came out to Nebraska and bought a tract of land in-the precinct of Nemaha, in this county, believing the same to be an excellent iuAestment, but without the expectation of making his residence on the same. In 1874 his health began to fail and under advice to seek a dift'erent climate he moved with his family to his land in this county and here established his home, becoming early recognized as one of the influential farmers of that section. There he spent his last days, his death occurring on Decern- ber 26, lyio, he then being seventy-seven years of age. His widow survived for about four years, her death occurring in 1914, she then being sixty-seven years of age. They were the parents of five children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth, the others being as follow : Rev. Jacob U. Schneider, a minister of the Evangelical Lutheran church, now stationed at Evansville, Indiana; George E. Schneider, former clerk of Richardson county, now a resident of Hemingford, this state; Mrs. George E. Garver, who lives on the state line in Nemaha precinct, and Mrs. Katie Windrum, of that same precinct.

As noted above, Charles F. Schneider was but an infant when his parents came to this county and he grew to manhood on the home farm in the precinct of Nemaha, receiving his early schooling in the district schools of that neighborhood. This schooling he supplemented by a course in \'alparaiso University at Valparaiso, Indiana, after which, when twenty-one \ears of age, he became a telegraph operator and was thus employed for tiiree years in the service of the Cleveland, Lorain & Western Railroad in Ohio. Under the close confinement of that form of service his health began to fail and he abandoned telegraphing and returned to the freer life of the farm and has since continued to occupy the old home place, where he and his family are \ery comfortably and very pleasantly situated. In addition to his general farming Mr. Schneider has given considerable attention to the raising of high-grade live stock and has done very well. In his political affiliation he is a Denwcrat and gives a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office.

On August 16, 1896, in Ohio, Charles F. Schneider was united in marriage to Sarah Dumermuth, who also was born in Tuscarawas county, that state. February 23, 1874, a daughter of Jacob and Magdaline (Zimmerman) Dumermuth, natives of Switzerland and of Ohio, respectively, the former of whom died in Ohio on January 6, 1912, and the latter of whom, torn on Tune 23, 1838, is still living in that state. Jacob Dumermuth and wife were the parents of eight children, of whom Mrs. Schneider was the seventh in order of birth, the others being as follow: Mrs. Ladrach, of Ohio; Miss Salome Dumermuth, of New Philadelphia, Ohio: Albert S., of that same ]ilace; Louis G., deceased; William J., of Strausburg, Ohio, and Mrs. E. G. Livengood. of Tuscarawas county, that state.

To Charles F. and Sarah (Dumermuth) Schneider four children have been born, namelv : Raymond J., born on Septemlaer 6, 1898: Bertha S.. June 22. 1900: Ruby M., September 8, 1909, and Grace M., August 8, 1913.

The Schneiders are members of the Reformed church and take a proper part in church work, as well as in the general social activities of their home neighborhood. IMr. Schneider is a member of the Masonic lodge at Sabetha, Kansas, and takes a warm interest in the affairs of the same.

Riley D. Waggoner

Riley D. Waggoner, one of Richardson county's most substantial farmers and stockman and proprietor, in jointure with his wife, of a fine place in section 10 of the precinct of Arago, besides the owner of a large tract of land in Cherry county, this state, was born in a hewed-log cabin on a pioneer farm over the river in the neighboring county of Holt, in Missouri, and has lived in this region practically all his life, a resident on his present place since 1883. he and his wife having settled there shortly after their marriage. He was born on January 8, 1852, son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Yount) Waggoner, natives of Tennessee, who were the parents of eleven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth and four of whom are still living. Jacob Waggoner was married three times and his last wife bore him four children, of whom two are still living.

Jacob Waggoner was born on a plantation in the neighborhood of Nashville, Tennessee, March 22, 1823, a son of John Waggoner and wife, the latter of whom was a Brown, natives, respectively, of North Carolina and Tennessee and whose last days were spent in the latter state. When about eight years of age Jacob Waggoner came ^^^est with his three uncles, Solomon, Daniel and David Waggoner, and grew to manhood in Missouri, where he married Elizabeth Y'ount, who was born in Tennessee in 1822 and who had moved to Missouri with her parents, the family settling in Holt county. After his marriage Jacob Waggoner established his home in a hewed-log cabin in Holt county and there resided until 1856, when he came across the river and became one of the pioneers of this county, buying a farm in the vicinity of the old settlement of Archer. A year later he sold his place and returned to Missouri, but in 1858 he came back to Richardson county. Two years later, however, in i860, he returned to Missouri and there spent the remainder of his life. His first wife, tlie mother of the subject of this sketch, died on April 21, 1868, and he survived for more than twenty years, his death occurring on Februarv 21, 1889.

and of. the old precinct of St. Stephen in this county. When twenty-one years of age he began farming on his own account and after farming for a few years in Holt county, Missouri ; he then went to Leadville, Colorado, and prospected for three years in the mining region, becoming one of the dis- - coverers of the Aspen mining section at the head of Roaring Forks. Returning home he married in 1882 and located on the farm on which he is now living, he and his wife having bought that place on January 17, 1883. This is a fine farm of one hundred and seventy-seven acres in sections 10 and 2 of the precinct of Arago, and. the place is well improved and profitably cultivated. In addition to this place, Mr. Waggoner is the owner of eight hundred and forty acres in Cherry county, this state, and is quite well circumstanced. Mr. Waggoner has vivid recollections of pioneer conditions hereabout and recalls the days when as a boy of seven he followed three yoke of oxen, dropping corn from a sack slung over his shoulder, working early and late helping in the improvement and development of his father's farm. The habit of early rising acquired in those days has stuck to him all his life and live o'clock in the morning, winter and summer, sees him "on the job" even to this day. In those days, Mr. Waggoner recalls, corn bread was the staple article of diet, very little wheat bread being used hereabout at that time, and the children of the family being treated to white bread on Sundays only. He recalls the time when he sold his hogs for two dollars and fifty cents a hundredweight, corn for seventeen cents and wheat for forty-five cents, hauling to the markets at Preston and Falls City. Mr. Waggoner is a Democrat and has served the public in the capacity of school director of his local district. On January 10, 1882, in this county, Riley D. Waggoner was united in marriage to Martha J. Anderson, who was born in Holt county, Missouri, September i, 1857, daughter of John R. and Jane (Bowman) Anderson, natives of Tennessee, the former born on November 11, 1819, and the latter, July 18, 1818, who were married in Montgomery county, Indiana, to which county their respective parents had moved in pioneer days. About 1844 John R. Anderson and his wife came West and settled in Holt county, Missouri, where they remained until 1863, in which year they moved over into Richardson county and here spent the remainder of their lives. John R. Anderson became one of the most substantial landowners in Richardson county, the owner of six hundred acres of fine land in the precinct of Arago, besides land in the vicinitv of Falls City and over in Missouri. He also at one time owned the old Union House at Falls City, the hotel at that time being known (57) as the Minnick House, which he bought from Minnick. Mr. Anderson died on May 17, 1879, and his widow survived him for many years, her death occurring on September 29, 1900. During the last thirty years of her Hfe she was Wind. John R. Anderson and his wife were the parents of nine children.

To Riley D. and Martha J. (Anderson) Waggoner four children have been born, namely: Jessie L., wife of Edward Durfee, a biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume; Pearl, who married George L. Vaughn, of Arago precinct, and has two children, Elmo and Imo; Daniel B., who is living on his father's ranch in Cherry county and who married Mary Elam, daughter of Mansford Elam and wife, of this county, and Ruby D., who married Albert Burke, of Falls City, and has one child, a daughter. Ruby. Mr. and Mrs. Waggoner have ever taken an interested part in the general good works and social activities of the community, which they have seen develop from pioneer days.

Ward K. Knight

Ward K. Knight, well-known and up-to-date photographer at Falls City, was. born and reared in the city of Cleveland, Ohio, but has been a resident of the West since he was eighteen years of age and of Falls City for the past seventeen or eighteen years. He was born on October 6, 1874,. son of George H. and Frances A. (Kimball) Knight, natives of New York state and of New Hampshire, respectively, and both representatives of old Colonial families and of Revolutionary stock. George H. Knight located at Cleveland in 1868, after a trip West, engaged in the confectionery business there and was thus engaged at the time of his death in March, 1892. In August of that year his widow and her son, the subject of this sketch, came to Nebraska and located at Beatrice, later moving to Falls City, where they now reside, Mrs. Knight making her home with her son in the latter's beautiful home on "The Boulevard" in the north end of the city.

Upon locating at Beatrice in 1892 Ward K. Knight became employed in a photograph gallery in that city and there learned the details of modern photography, becoming a very skilled artisan in that line. On January 8. 1900, he moved to Falls City and there bought a photograph gallery that had been in operation in an upstairs establishment at the comer of Stone and Seventeenth streets. Upon taking possession of that establishment he immediately made numerous improvements in the way of modern and strictly up-to-date equipment and it was not long until the admirable quality of his work l>egan to attract wide attention hereabout. As the demands of a discriminating public grew he gradually added to his equipment until he now has one of the best-appointed photograph galleries in this part of the state and is doing a fine business. In June, 1913, Mr. Knight established a branch gallery at Stella and has since devoted one day in each week (Monday) to the photographic needs of the people of that enterprising village. Mr. Knight has given considerable attention to the general business affairs of the city and is a stockholder in the Falls City State Bank. He is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, though not a seeker after public office.

On September 4, 1961, Ward K. Knight was united in marriage to Lydia May Peck, who was born on a farm in the precinct of Ohio, this county, June 18, 1880, daughter of Urias and Mary A. (Miller) Peck, natives of Pennsylvania and the latter of whom is still living in this county. Urias Peck was bom in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, in 1852, son of Elias Peck, who came to Nebraska with his family in the spring of 1873 and settled in this county, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring here in April, 1909, he then being ninety-three years of age. Urias Peck was twenty-one years of age when he came to this county and some years later he returned to his old home in Pennsylvania and on September II, 1878, was there married to Mary A. Miller, who was born on October 17, 1855. He had already acquired an excellent farm in the precinct of Ohio in this county and after his marriage established his home on that farm and there spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring on January 11, 1897. He was 'the father of six children, two of whom, Robert Milton and Ruth, are deceased, Mrs. Knight having three brothers living. Henry Clav Peck, a farmer in Ohio precinct; Frank Peck, who is engaged in the draying business at Verdon, this county, and William K. Peck, who is farming the old home place in Ohio precinct. The mother of these children later married Ephraim Peck, of Ohio precinct, and is still living there. The Pecks are members of the Church of the Brethren and have ever taken an active part in the good works of their home community.

To Ward K. and Lydia May (Peck) Knight three children have been born, two sons and a daughter, Frances Mary, born on July 21, 1902, one son died in infancy, April 7, 1907, and Herbert Ward, July 6. 1909. The Knights have one of the finest homes in the city, located on "The Boulevard." and' take a proper part in the social and cultural activities of their home town. Mrs. Knight also is a skilled photographer and is of much assistance to her husband in his artistic work. She is a member of the local lodge of the Rebekahs and takes much interest in the affairs of the same. Mr. Knight is a prominent Odd Fellow and a member of the encampment of that order, as well as of the Rebekahs and is also a member of the Royal Highlanders.

Dr. Charles Luke Hustead, of Falls City, one of the best-known young physicians in that city and who is now serving as county and city physician, was born at Linn, in Washington county, Kansas, July 12, 1884, son of Silas D. and Caroline (Shepley) Hustead, natives of Iowa, the former of whom was the son of Silas D. Hustead, a native of Virginia, and the latter a daughter of Massachusetts parents, Doctor Hustead thus being of sterling old Virginia and New England stock. The Husteads moved from Iowa to Kansas in 1881 and settled at Linn. Silas D. Hustead was first a farmer and then engaged in the restaurant business, later becoming engaged in thegrain business and was thus engaged until his "retirement in 1912 and removal to Falls City, where he is now living.

Doctor Hustead received excellent scholastic preparation for his profession. Upon completing the course in the high school at Belleville, Kansas, he taught school a couple of temis and then took a course in a commercial college at Omaha, meanwhile pursuing his medical studies, and then entered the medical department of Creighton University, from which he was graduated in 1912, with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Upon receiving his diploma Doctor Hustead opened an office for the practice of his profession at Rapid City, South Dakota, but three months later, not finding things to his liking there, moved to Falls City, opening an office there in August, 191 2, and has since been engaged in practice in that city. The Doctor has well-appointed offices and has built up an extensive practice. He is a mem- Ijer of the Richardson County Medical Society, a member of the Nebraska State Medical Society and of the American Medical Association, in the deliberations of all of which organizations he takes a warm interest, and keeps fully abreast of the wonderful advances that are l>eing made in his profession these days. In May, 1914, Doctor Hustead was appointed city physician for Falls City and in June, 1915, was appointed county physician and in 1916 was reappointed city physician. He is the district examiner for the

Metropolitan Life Insurance Company of New York and the local examiner for the Mutual Life Insurance Company of St. Paul, the National Life Insurance Association of Des Moines and the Mutual Life Insurance Company of Kansas City. He is an active member of the Falls City Rifle Club, a patriotic organization whose practice is under the direction of officers of the United States army. Doctor Hustead is a member of the board of registration having in charge the registration of all Richardson county young men subject to military service in the Great War.

In 1913 Dr. Charles L. Hustead was united in marriage to Rosa L. Kretzschmar, of Omaha, daughter of F. H. Kretzschmar and wife, and to this union has been born one child, a son, Charles Luke, Jr. Doctor and Mrs. Hustead have a pleasant home at Falls City and take a proper interest in the general social and cultural affairs of their home town. The Doctor is an independent Republican and, fraternally, is affiliated with the Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Woodmen of the World and the Central Protective Association, in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes a warm interest.

Thomas C. Cunningham

Thomas C. Cunningham, an honored veteran of the Civil War, former sheriff of Richardson county, former clerk of the district court and a substantial retired farmer of the precinct of Liberty, now living at Shubert, is a native of the neighboring state of Missouri, was reared in eastern Iowa and has Ijeen a resident of this county .since the spring of 1857,' when he and his elder brother came out here and located a pre-emption claim northwest of Falls City, where their parents later located. He was born on April 28, 1843, ^ s<^" of William F. and Sarah A. (Wilson) Cunningham, who in the fall of that same year moved from Missouri to eastern Iowa, where they remained until they came to Nebraska in 1858 and became pioneers of this county.

William F. Cunningham was born in Pennsylvania in 1808, a repre- .sentative of the third generation of his family in this country, and there received a university education, preparing himself for teaching. He later went to New Orleans, where he opened a private school, but the contact with the institution of slaverv in that citv became so unbearable to him that he presently left there and came on up the river and located in Missouri, where he established a school and where he married, but his ardent Abolition views soon convinced him that Missouri was no place for him and in the fall of 1843 h^ moved with his family to Lee county, Iowa, where he was made principal of the town schools and where he established his Rome, remaining there until in 1858,- when, as noted above, he came over into Nebraska and settled on a farm seven miles northwest of Falls City, which his sons had entered there one year before. On that farm his wife died in 1863 and he afterward returned to Iowa and years later went to live with a son in California, where he died in 1892, he then Ijeing eighty-four years of age. It was during the early period of his residence in Missouri that William F. Cunningham met and married Sarah A. Wilson, who was born in Kentucky in 1820, a representative of the third generation of her family in this country, and whose parents had moved from Kentucky into Missouri. To that union were born six children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being as follow; Ebenezer E., a pioneer of Richardson county, who later went to California, where he has since resided, living in South San Francisco; Mrs. Sarah A. Cook, of Topeka, Kansas; Cyrus, who died in 1877; Lorenzo Dow, who is now living at Scottsville, Kansas, and Alonzo, of Chase county, this state.

Reared in a college town in eastern Iowa, to which place his parents had moved from Missouri when he was but an infant in arms. Thomas C. Cunningham's boyhood was spent amid refining influences and he still recalls that he never saw a drunken man until he came to Nebraska, his first sight of a man under the influence of liquor having been gained at a shootingmatch held at Salem back in pioneer days, one of his neighbors having won the day's prize, a quarter of beef. The "refreshments" for the occasion consisted of whisky set out in gallon buckets into which the settlers freely dipped with tin cups, with the result that there was much drunkenness. Mr. Cunningham's abhorrence of liquor was further strengthened on that occasion and he has always remained a temperate man. It was in the month of Mav. 1857, that Thomas C. Cunningham, then just past fourteen years of age, came over into the- then Territory of Nebraska with his elder brother, Ebenezer K. Cunningham, and helped the latter make the initial improvements on a tract of land he had pre-empted in the precinct of Ohio, this count}-, aliout seven miles northwest of Falls City, the place on which their parents settled the next }ear, and he helped to build up that pioneer farm. In i860 he "hired out" with a freighting outfit at Nebraska City and was for a year thereafter engaged in freighting along the old overland trails across the plains to the Rockies, the other end of the freight line being at Central City, and was thus engaged when the Civil War broke out. In March, 1862, he then being but eighteen years of age, Mr. Cunningham enlisted for service in the Union army and went to the front as a member of Company C, Fifth Missouri Cavalry, with which command he served until mustered out on June 22, 1863. He straightway re-enlisted, as a jnemljer of Company D, Twelfth Missouri Cavalry, and with that command served until finally discharged on March 9, 1866, nearly a year after the close of the war. In the early part of his service Mr. Cunningham was mainly engaged in scout duty, one of his early engagements having been at the battle of Tupelo, Mississippi.- During a later engagement about one liundred miles south of Nashville he was taken prisoner by the enemy, but twenty days later made his escape by night and was able to rejoin his command at Nashville. In the summer of 1865 the Twelfth Missouri Cavalry was sent West to take part in the campaign against the Indians and on that service Mr. Cunningham took part in the battle of Powder River. In the fall he was stationed at Ft. Laramie, and from there went to Julesburg on the Platte river trail and from there to Ft. McPherson, thence to the Solomon river county in Kansas, returning to Ft. McPherson, and was finally mustered out in April of 1866.

Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Cunningham returned to the home farm in the precinct of Ohio, this county, and for some little time thereafter was engaged in farming, but he presently went to Falls City, where for four years he was engaged in the livery business. In the fall of 1873 li^ ^v^s elected sheriff of Richardson county and served in that office for four years, that being at a time when the duties of sheriff here were of a somewhat more strenuous character than at the present day, and to his record as plainsman, soldier and Indian fighter he added the further record of a most efficient officer of the law and a terror to evil-doers hereabout. On January i, 1878, Mr. Cunningham was appointed clerk of the district court for this county and served for two years under that appointment. He then was elected to the same office and served as an elective officer for four vears. serving as district clerk for six years, during which time he added further to his record as a painstaking and capable public officer. In the meantime, in 1875, Mr. Cunningham had married and upon the completion of his term of public office he went to his quarter-section farm northwest of Verdon, in Liberty precinct, established his home there and there remained until his retirement in 191 2 and removal to Shubert, where he since has made his home, one of the best-known pioneers of Richardson county. Mr. Cunningham still owns his farm of one hundred and sixty acres north of A'erdon and the same is in a fine state of cultivation and improvement, some of his neighbors being good enough to say that it is the best farm in the neighborhood. Mr. Cunningham was reared in the Presbyterian church and, politically, was for years an ardent Republican, having cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864, while fighting in Alabama, but in the memorable campaign of 191 2 joined the Progressives and voted for Theodore Roosevelt, while in 1916 he voted for Woodrow Wilson, thus attesting hh indorsement of the administration in that difficult period. For governors of Nebraska he has voted for every Republican nominee from David Butler to A. L. Sutton.

On May 5, 1875, Thomas C. Cunningham was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary Jane (Boston) McElroy, a widow, who was born in Platte county, Missouri, December 25, 1850, daughter of Granville Boston and wife, ijatives of Kentucky, -and who died on October 13, 1899, leaving four children, one son by her first marriage, Oscar L. McElroy, now a resident of California, and three daughters by her second marriage. Pearl, now living at St. Joseph, Missouri; Mrs. Nellie M. Stump, widow of Ouentin Stump, who has a son, Robert, and Caroline, who married Leroy E. Edwards, of Shubert, and has one child, a daughter, Lucile.

Allen Franklin, retired farmer and orchardist of Barada precinct and one of the best-known pioneers of Richardson county, is a native of the state of Illinois and has been a landowner in this county since 1868. He was born in Woodford county, Illinois, September 9, 1843, a son of Jared D. and Cynthia (Hinshaw) Franklin, natives of Connecticut and of Tennessee, respectively, whose last days were spent in Illinois. Reared in his native state, Allen Franklin remained in Illinois until he was past twentytwo years of age and then, in 1866, came West and settled in Kansas with a view to becoming a permanent resident of the Sunflower state, but two years later, in 1868, he came up into Nebraska, being induced to come by his father, who had located in Nebraska, and bought a tract of land in the precinct of Barada, in this county, and in 1870 left his Kansas prospects and located on his Richardson county land, proceeding to improve and de- velop the same, and after his marriage in 1872 established his home there and has ever since made that place his home, one of the most substantial pioneer residents of that part of the county.

About twenty years ago Mr. Franklin began to recognize the possibilities connected with the culture of apples in this region and in 1900 and 1 90 1 he planted his present extensive orchard, the same long having been regarded as one of the best and most carefully tended orchards in this part of the state. Mr. Franklin is the owner of a fine place of one hundred and twenty acres and ninety acres of this is covered with an apple orchard, the output of which, in 1916, when there was only a forty-per cent crop, exceeded fifteen carloads of apples, two hundred barrels to the car; these shipments being only the select fruit, the culls and less desirable fruit being turned into the cider-mills which are operated on the place. The products of the Franklin orchard are marketed through the Fruit Growers' Association, of which Mr. Franklin and his sons are members, and the apples are all sold before leaving the orchard, the high grade of the products ever bringing the top of the market. The choice varieties of apples raised on the Franklin trees include "Black Lucks," "Virginia Beauties.'' "Ganos" and the "Ben Davis." In recent years Mr. Franklin's son^;. Rolla and Lee I'Vanklin. have been managing the orchards, operating under the firm name I if Franklin Brothers, and the admirable appearance of the orchard plant is ample evidence of the close care they give to the same. A motor truck is used t(i c'in\ey the barreled fruit to the shipping point and during the seastjn a small army of pickers are employed on the place. Though now practically retired from the active labors of the place, the elder Franklin continues, during the springs and summers, to give his earnest attention to the trees whose growth he has watched with prideful interest and is widely recognized hereabout as an authority on scientific apple culture. He also <i\\ns a farm in Louisiana and he and his wife spend their winters in that state or some other point in the Southland, returning to the old home place with the coming of the spring and the return of the apple blossoms.

In 1872, in this county, Allen Franklin was united in marriage to Marv b31!en Spickler, who died in 1875, leaving one son, Jared D., who was accidentally drowned in this Missouri river when nineteen years of age. In 1877 Mr. Franklin married Alice Margaret Mitchell, who was born in Illinois on February 20, 1857, daughter of William and Mary Mitchell, and to this union six children have been born, namely: Leonora, who married John -XtimaiTn,- living -three and one-haif miles northwest of Verdon, and lias four children, Gladys, John Allen, Millicent and Vernell : Richard Rolla, of the firm of Franklin Brothers, orchardists, who married Katie Crouch and lias four children, Marian Alice, Mabel, Richard R., Jr.. and Xancy Thelma : Benjamin George, a homesteader and ranchman of Montana, who married Vesta Lively, of Falls City, and has two children, Robert Benjamin and \'ernell; .\nna. who is at home: L. Lee, also at home, a member of the firm of Franklin Brothers, orchardists, and Myron C, of Stella. Mr. and Mrs. Franklin are members of the Church of Christ at Barada and take a warm interest in church work, as well as in the other good worka and general social activities of the community of which they have been residents since pioneer days. Mr. Franklin is a Republican, though reserving his right to vote independently on local issues, and has served as director of his local school district and has in other ways done his part in advancing the general interests of his community.

Joseph Louis Von Bergen

Joseph Louis \'on Bergen, one of the best-known and most substantial farmers in the southwestern part of the county and the proprietor of a fine place and a beautiful home set in the timbered valley of the Rattlesnake in section 27 of the precinct of Nemaha, was born in that immediate vicinity, in a house just across the creek from his present residence, and has lived there all his life. He was born on February 12, 1871, son of Melchoir and Katie (Troxell) \"on Bergen, both of whom were born in the republic of Switzerland and whose last days were spent in this county, of which they were honored pioneer residents, having settled here in 1869.

]\[elchoir Von Bergen was born in the canton of Bern on July 3, 1834, and remained in his native Switzerland until he was twenty-seven years of age, when, in 1861, he came to this country and settled in Illinois, where he farmed for a year, at the end of which time he went to Ohio, where he engaged in the manufacture of cheese and where he married Katie Troxell, who was born in Switzerland on June 11, 1842, and who was but an infant when her parents came to this country in 1843 ^nd settled in Ohio. Melchoir Von Bergen did well in his cheese-making enterprise in Ohio and remained there until 1869, when he decided to come West and become a Nebraska farmer. Upon coming here he bought two hundred acres of land along Rattlesnake creek in the precinct of Nemaha, in this county, and there established his home, he and his wife spending the remainder of their lives there.

Mr. Von Bergen was an excellent farmer and as he prospered in his undertaking he added to his holdings until he became the owner of six hundred and forty acres and was accounted one of the most substantial and influential farmers in that part of the county. He was a Republican and gave close attention to local civic affairs. He and his wife were active members of the Reformed church and ever took a proper part in local good works. Melchoir \'on Bergen died on October 3, 1912, and his widow survived him less than a year, her death occurring on March 28, 191 3. They were the parents of seven children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth in order of birth, the others being as follow: Emma, deceased; Katie, deceased: Mrs. Lizzie Feldman, of Sabetha, over the line in Kansas; Ella, deceased; Edward, deceased, and Frederick, deceased.

J. Louis Von Bergen was reared on the home farm on the timbered banks of the Rattlesnake and received his schooling in the pioneer schools in that neighborhood. From boyhood he was an able assistant to his father in the labors of the home farm and has always been a farmer there. Upon the division of the homestead he received his share and later purchased half of the estate. To this he has added until now he is the owner of six hundred and forty acres, the greater part of which land he rents out. The home farm in section 27, where he makes his home, has two sets of buildings on it and his two other farms are also well improved. His home place is one of the most picturesque spots in that part of the country. He has a fine -residence and he and his family are very pleasantly situated, indeed. In addition to his general farming and stock raising, Mr. Von Bergen gives considerable attention to the general business affairs of the community and is a stockholder in the First National Bank of Humboldt. Politically, he is a Democrat and takes a warm interest in local political affairs, but is not a seeker after public office.

On December 10, 1907, J. Louis Von Bergen was united in marriage to Amanda Fankhauser, who was born in the precinct of Speiser, this county, daughter of John Fankhouser and wife, pioneers of that precinct, and to this union three children have been born, Ruth Laverne, born on October 18, 1908; Ralph Louis, October 24, 1912, and Doris Lorene, August 10. 1916. Mr. and Mrs. Von Bergen are members of the Reformed church and give their earnest attention to the various beneficences of the same, as well as to the general good works of the community and also take an interested part in the community's general social activities, helpful in promoting all agencies designed to advance the common welfare.

Martin D. Ulmer

INIartin D. Ulmer, one of Richardson county's best-known and most progressive farmers and the proprietor of a fine place of a quarter section in the precinct of Grant, is a native of the old Keystone state, but has been a resident of this county since 1884 and has thus been a witness to and a participant in the development of this region during the past thirty years and more. He was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, September 13. 1861. son of JMartin and Catherine (Shaefer) Ulmer, both natives of that same county and both of German descent, the latter of whom became a pioneer of Richardson county and here spent lier last days, having come here as a widow in 1884.

Martin Ulmer was the son of Leonard Ulmer, a native of Germanv. a son of Leonard L'lmer, Sr.. who was a son of Thomas Ulmer. The junior Leonard, the first of his family to come to this country, married ]\Iarie Stump in his native land and in 1804 came to the United States, settling in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, where he and his wife established their home and where they reared their family. Their son. Martin Ulmer, grew to manhood on the home farm in that county and there married Catherine Shaefer, a daughter of Frederick and Elizabeth (Guinter) Shaefer, also natives of Germany, who had emigrated to the United States in 1804 and had settled in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, neighbors to the Ulmers. After Jiis marriage Martin Ulmer established his home on a farm in his native county and there spent the rest of his life, his death occurring in 1870. In 1884 his widow disposed of her interests in Pennsylvania and with her children came to Nebraska and settled in this county. She bought a' quarter of a section of land just across the highway from the farm owned by the subject of this sketch and which he bought at the same time, and there she lived until 1894, when she moved to Dawson, making her home with a son and daughter, her death occurring in 1903, she then being seventyfive years of age. She was the mother of five children, those besides the subject of this sketch being Henry (deceased), Israel, of Dawson, this county; b'manuel. of Grant precinct, and Sarah E., of Dawson. Emanuel Ulmer married Sarah Heim and has six children, Mary, Norman. Edna. Walter, Reuben and Nelson. Mary Ulmer married Charles Wuster and has two children, Orville and Miriam. Norman L'lmer married Merdeth Miller. Reuben Ulmer married True Stratton and has one child, a daughter, Evelyn.

county, accompanying his widowed mother from Pennsylvania. He bought a quarter of a section of land in the precinct of Grant, the place he' ever since has occupied, right across the road from the quarter section his mother l)ought. When he bought the place it had but slight improvements on it. a little one-room house, a tumble-down barn and a decrepit corncrib, but he went to work with energy and it was not long until he began to get results, soon having one of the best-improved farms in that neighborhood and he ever has made a point of keeping his place up to standard. His fine residence occupies a commanding site on a beautiful rise and the surrounding grove of evergreens and the adjacent vineyard lend picturesqueness to the spot. The large barn and well-ordered farm buildings are in keeping with the central establishment, the entire farm plant bearing the unmistakable imprint of its owner's progressive and up-to-date methods of doing business. L'pon buying that place Mr. Ulmer found it necessary to incur a considerable indebtedness, but he soon got that paid off and has prospered in his operations. In addition to his general farming he has paid considerable attention to the raising of high-grade live stock, with particular attention to Black Angus cattle and Poland China hogs, and has done very well. He and his sister now own the farm their mother- formerly owned and rent the same to advantage. Mr. Ulmer is a Democrat and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office.

On December 5, 1893, Martin D. Ulmer was united in marriage to Sophia Heim, who also was born in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, July 19, 1868, daughter of Jacob G. and Regina (Gross) Heim, natives of Pennsylvania, who came to this county in 1874 and settled on a farm one mile north of Dawson, becoming early recognized as among the most substantial and influential pioneers of that neighborhood. Jacob G. Heim, further and fitting reference to whom is made elsewhere in this volume, died in April, 1 9 14, he then being eighty-two years of age, and his widow is still living in this county, now making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Emanuel Ulmer. Mr. and Mrs.* Ulmer have had three children, Erma, born on May 22, 1896, who is a graduate of the Dawson high school class of 1913, and who is still at home; Wallace H., born in 1903, who died in 1904, and Mildred, born on February 15, 1909. The Ulmers have a very pleasant home and have ever taken an interested part in the general social and cultural activities of their home neighborhood and of the community at large, helpful in many ways in promoting agencies having to do with the advancement of the common welfare. Mr. Ulmer was reared a Baptist and Mrs. Ulmer is a member of the United Evangelical church, both taking a proper part in neighborhood good works. Every memljer of this family has contributed liberally to the Red Cross movement and Mr. Ulmer has shown his patriotism in- buying Liberty Bonds.

Dr. Edward R. Hays, of Falls City, one of the best-known physicians in Richardson county, is a native son of this county and has lived here all his life. He was Iwrn in the village of Humboldt on June 15, 1885, son of Dr. Peter \\'illiam and Phoebe (Unland) Hays, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Illinois and the latter of whom is still living, now a resident of Falls City.

Dr. WiUiam Peter Hays, a pioneer physician of this county, was born in Pennsylvania on January 13, 1848, a son of Peter Hays, a native of Germany, whose last days were spent at Kittaning, Pennsylvania. He received his medical education in Jeflferson Medical College at Philadelphia and in 1877 came to Nebraska and located at Humboldt, where he married about three years later and where he was engaged in practice for fifteen years, at the end of which time, in 1892. he moved to Falls City, where he spent the rest of his life, his death occurring there on November 2, 1897. He was a successful practitioner and had a wide acquaintance throughout this and neighboring counties. It was in 1880, at Humboldt, that Dr. P. W. Hays was united in marriage to Phoebe Unland, of that place, who was born at Beardstown, Illinois, November 28, 1862, daughter of the Rev. Fritz and Nancy (Wagel) Unland, pioneers of Richardson county, who had settled in Humboldt in the early seventies. The Rev. Fratz Unland was a Hanoverian, born at Osenbriick, near Hanover, in the kingdom of that name, August 16, 1829, who emigrated to this country in the, days of his young manhood and settled in Illinois, where he presently married Nancy Wagel, who was born at Lexington. Kentucky, in 1834, and whose mother. Phoebe (Todd) Wagel, was a first cousin of Mary (Todd) Lincoln, wife of President Lincoln. In the early seventies he came with his family to this county and located at Plumboldt, where he spent the remainder of his life, an earnest minister of the German Methodist church, his death occurring on May J 2. 1906. His widow survived him a little less than a year, her death occurring on .April i. 1907. The Rev. Fritz Unland was the pioneer minister of his faith in this county and for a long time the only one. Upon coming out here there was no formal place of worship for the people of his faith and until he presently was able to secure the erection of a German Methodist church at Humboldt he was compelled to hold services in the private homes of his parishioners. To Dr. P. W. and Phoebe (Unland) Hays three children were born, the subject of this sketch having two sisters, Emma, wife of Julius Ruegge, manager of the Towle Lumber Company at Falls City, and Grace, who is now a student in the State University. In IQOI the mother of these children married Amos Gantt, of Falls City, who died in January, 19 14, leaving one child, a son, Ray Gantt. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Gantt has continued to make her home at Falls City, where she is very comfortably situated.

Edward R. Hays was about seven years of age when his parents moved from Humlxildt to Falls City and in the latter place he grew to manhood. Upon completing the course in the high school there in 1902 he entered Kansas City College and after a two-years course there, preparatory to completing his medical studies, he entered Ensworth Medical College at St. Joseph, Mis- .souri, and was graduated from that institution in 1906. Upon receiving his degree Doctor Hays returned to his home county and opened an office for the practice of his profession at Dawson, where he was engaged in practice for four years, at the end of which time he moved to Omaha and was there engaged in practice for two years or more, or imtil 1913, when he returned to Falls City and opened an office in his home town and has ever since been successfully engaged in practice there. The Doctor has a wellappointed office at Sixteenth and Stone streets and has built up an extensive I)ractice. He is a member of the Richardson County Medical Society, the Nebraska State Medical Association and the American Medical Association and keeps fully abreast of the wonderful advancement being made in his profession these days. In [911 he took a post-graduate course at the Chicago Polyclinic and in the Post-Graduate School at Chicago and in 1912 took a further and valuable course in the Mayo clinics at Rochester, Minnesota. Doctor Hays is a Republican and gives a good citizen's attention to local political affairs, an ardent advocate of good government.

On July 7, 19 1 2, Dr. Edward R. Hays was united in marriage to Nellie M. Cain, of Falls City, daughter of J. R. Cain and wife, the former of whom, an old settler of this county, who came here in 1856, was for thirty years in charge of the bank at Stella and who is now living retired at Falls City. Doctor and Mrs. Hays are meml>ers of the Episcopal church and take a proper interest in church work and in the general social and cultural activities of their home town. The Doctor is a Mason and is also affihated with the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, with the Knights and Ladies of Security and with the Fraternal Order of Eagles, and in the affairs of these several organizations takes a warm interest.

Julius Smith

The record of a man like the late Julius Smith, a successful agriculturist and widel}-known public official and honored citizen of Richardson county, is well worth preserving on the pages of local history, for it contains many lessons of value to the youth just starting out on life's serious activities. Mr. Smith was born, March 5. 1837, in Germany, a son of Carl Smith, where his parents lived and died, his father having taught school there for a period of fifty years in his home town. When fourteen years old Julius Smith immigrated to America, landing in New Orleans, Louisiana, in the spring of 1852, and soon thereafter, in April, he started north in search of employment, ascending the Mississippi and Missouri rivers, landing at St. Joseph, Missouri. He worked out as a farm hand in that locality during the summer months and in the winter time attended school. In 1856 he came to Richardson county and was a partner with his brother, Charles Smith, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. In tlie spring of 1868 he moved to a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Nemaha township, only fifty acres of which had been broke and there stood a small, rude house on the land, but little other improvements. He went to work industriously and in due course of time had developed a productive and well improved farm, building a comfortable stone house, which was destroyed in the tornado of October 15, 1877, which swept the valley of Rock creek in which lay the Smith farm, which was almost completely devastated, all buildings, fences, trees being demolished and killing a horse, cattle artd hogs and sweeping the chickens away, the Smith place being in the direct part of the great hurricane. Charles Smith, the ten-year-old son of the subject of this memoir was killed, and in fact, all of the family, with the exception of Rosa Smith, were injured. But Julius Smith was a man of indomitable courage and energy and, nothing daunted, he set to work at once to replace the buildings and restock his farm, building another good home, by the help of his neighbors. It was the first, and in fact, has been the only storm of cyclonic proportions, to visit southeastern Nebraska. Mr. Smith

-was a man of sound judgment and wise foresight, as well as a man of industry and progressive ideas, and he prospered with advancing years, becoming one of the leading general farmers and stock raisers of his precinct. He added one hundred and sixty acres on the southeast of his home place, making a total of three hundred and twenty acres of valuable land. It is one of the most desirable farms in the county and the home is an attractive and commodious one in the midst of beautiful surroundings.

Julius Smith was married on November i6, 1862, to Rosa Lee Oakes, who was born, November 28, 1845, i" St. Louis, Missouri. She is a daughter of Nicholas and Margaret (Schmitt) Oakes, both natives of Germany, from which country they came to America while single and were married in St. Louis. Mr. Oakes died in 1845, after which his widow married John Schmitt, who moved with the family to Illinois and in the spring of 1854 removed to Brown county, Kansas, where his death occurred.

To Julius Smith and wife the following children were born: Lizzie, born on February 5, 1864, married Daniel Kelly, lives in Omaha and they have three children, Charles, Earl and Ellen; Maggie, born on September 15, 1865, is the wife of Charnock Williamson, a farmer of Nemaha precinct, and they have three children living, Floyd, Robert and Loring; Charles, torn on November 3, 1867, was killed in the storm mentioned in a preceding paragraph; Rosa L., born August 10, 1869, is the wife of Lambert Whitney, a farmer of Nemaha precinct, and they have two children, Ralph and Edith; Ellen, born on March 30, 1871, is the wife of George Cade, who lives near Ottawa. Kansas, and they have five children, Charles, Lila, Cecil, Harold and Margaret; Laura, October 27, 1872, is the wife of Frank Morton, a farmer of near Bern, Kansas, and they have one child. Pearl; Julius E., December 17, 1878, died when four years old; Wilham E., May 29, 1883, lives near Fairbury, Nebraska, married Ethel Emmert, and they have three children, Caryl, Opal and Monte; Mabel C, November 30, 1886, is the wife of Elmer Sowder, a farmer of Nemaha precinct, and they have one child, John Julius; Isaac F., March 20, 1889, married Ora Crook, and they live on the Smith homestead, and they have one child, Beulah I-ee. Mrs. Rosa Lee (Oakes) Smith still lives on the home place. , She is a member of the Reformed church.

Politically, Julius Smith w^is a Democrat and was active and influential in local party affairs. He was elected representative from Richardson countv to the Nebraska Legislature in 1892 and again in 1896, thus serving two terms in a manner that reflected much credit upon his ability and integrity and to the eminent satisfaction of all concerned, irrespective of party alignment. He made an excellent record and accomplished much for his home locality and the state in general, making his influence felt for the good of the masses. He introduced a number of important bills. He kept well posted on current topics of the day and could discuss intelligently any theme of importance before the people, being a miscellaneous reader and a close observer. He was a man of high ideals, upright in all his dealings with his fellow men, a good neighbor and citizen in the best sense of the terms, and when he was called to his eternal rest on June 20, 1907, at the age of seventy years, deep and lasting regret was felt throughout his locality.

J. Rock Wilijamson

J. Rock Williamson, an honored veteran of the Civil War, former sheriff of Richardson county and a substantial retired farmer now living at Humboldt, is a native of the old Keystone state, but has been a resident of this county since 1882 and is one of the best-known men in the county. He was born at Duncansville, a village adjacent to HoUidaysburg, the county seat of Huntington (afterward Blair) county, Pennsylvania, January 11, 184 1, son of Joshua and Mary (Neff) Williamson, the former a native of that same county, of Welsh descent, and the latter, of Hagerstown, Maryland, a daughter of the Rev. Jonathan Neff, a Dunker preacher, of German descent. Joshua Williamson was a smith and wagon-maker and was thus engaged at Duncansville for twenty-five years, at the end of which time, in 1852, he moved to Illinois, bought a farm in Boone county, that state, and there spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring there in 1876.

Having been but eleven years of age when his parents moved from Pennsylvania to Illinois. J. Rock Williamson completed his schooling in the latter state and there grew to manhood on the home farm and was living diere when the Civil War broke out. On August 7, 1862, he enlisted for service as a member of Company G, One Hundred and Fifth Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, of which company his brother. Capt. Samuel Williamson, was commander, and served with that command until the close of the war, being discharged on June 7, 1865, after a service of two years and ten months. This company was known as the Nash Guards, the first commander being Capt. John B. Nash, a brother-in-law, who went into camp at Dixon, Illinois.

Another brother, Thomas E. \A'iUiamson, was a member of the company. In the fall of 1862, shortly after he was mustered in, Mr. Williamson was sent from Camp Douglas, at Chicago, to Kentucky, his command being aligned there on the Frankfort pike to oppose the advance of Confederate forces north. Thence he was transferred to Ft. Negle}^ where he was engaged in garrison duty for a year and during which time he was compelled to spend some time in a hospital at Louisville on account of a serious attack of dysentery brought on l>y drinking unwholesome water and suffered so severely from the effects of that attack that his system never wholly recovered from the same. Upon leaving the convalescent camp he was detailed as a sergeant of the secret police and was thus detailed until July 4, 1864, when he rejoined his regiment. He participated in the battle of Peach Tree Creek, took further part in the Atlanta campaign and marched with Sherman from Atlanta to the sea. Once while on this march he was detailed with two others to forage duty and was returning through the woods from a nearby smokehouse laden with hams and other provender, when he encountered a party of ten rebels. With prompt presence of mind he told his two companions to join him in such a yell as they never had uttered before and the three thus set up such a commotion that the astonished "Rebs" evidently thought an entire regiment of "Yanks" was bearing down upon them and incontinently took to tlieir heels, leaving the foragers a clear way back to camp with their much-needed plunder. Mr. Williamson was present at the fall of Savannah and also proved himself an able forager there. After Savannah he marched with the army up through the Carolinas, took part in the fight with Johnston's army at Goldsboro and was wounded in the left shoulder at the battle of Averysborough ; thence on to Richmond and from there to Alexandria and thence into the City of Washington, where he participated in the Grand Review at the close of the war, and after a week in camp at Bladensburg was sent back with his regiment to Chicago, where he was mustered out.

Upon the completion of his military service Mr. Williamson entered a business college at Rock Creek, Illinois, and was graduated from the same with the honors of his class in 1867. He then went to Chicago and after a brief stay there came West, at St. Joseph taking a boat for Ft. Benton, proceeding thence to Helena, Montana, where he became employed in a clothingstore at a salary of one hundred dollars a month and his board. After a month of that sort of service, however, he had enough of it and started working on a ranch; but a couple of months later helped his employer move to Diamond City and set up a boarding house. He later was employed in the mines and remained there until 1869, when he returned to Illinois, by way of Omaha, in which city he made a stay of some little time. That fall he went from his home in Illinois back to his boyhood home in Pennsylvania and was there married. In the spring of 1870 he returned to Illinois and located at Cherry Valley, where he remained for a year, at the end of which time he returned to Pennsylvania and there opened a general store, remaining engaged in business there for four years. He then spent a couple of years as a fireman on the Pennsylvania railroad, was promoted to the post of engineer and in that latter capacity continued in the railway service for six years. In 1882 Mr. Williamson decided that he had had enough of railroading and would prefer farming. With that end in view he came to Nebraska and Ijought a farm of eighty acres, just east of Humboldt, in this county, and settled down to fanning. In 1896 he was elected sherifi of Richardson county and served in that capacity for one term of two years, being the first incumbent in that oiBce after the completion of the new jail. During that period of public service Mr. Williamson made his home in Falls City, the county seat, but upon the completion of his official term he returned to his farm and there continued to reside until 1913, when he retired from the farm and moved to Plumboldt, where he and his wife are now living and where they are very pleasantly situated. Mr. Williamson is an ardent Republican and has for years been regarded as one of the leaders of that party in this county.

On August 12, 1869, at Duncansville, Pennsylvania, J. Rock Williamson was united in marriage to Margaret Jane Funk, who was born in that village on April 16, 1848, daughter of James and Susan Funk, also natives of Pennsylvania, the former of whom was a merchant and an extensive manufacturer of lime, the proprietor of the largest kilns in Pennsylvania, making a specialty of glass-making lime and ballast for railroads. Mr. and Mrs. Williamson have four children, namely : Alice Alpha, who married Charles E. Barngrover, of Denver, and has three children, Victor, Marguerite and Perry; Mrs. Gertrude Anderson, of Omaha, who has one child, a daughter, Laura Jane; Mrs. Mary Major Emigh, of Omaha, who has six sons, George Rock, Guy and Wayne (twins), Nicholas, William and Donald; and Guy C, a farmer, of Elwood, this state, who married Minnie Clift and has three children, Margaret, Dale and Inez May. The Williamsons are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and have ever taken a proper part in local good works. Mr. Williamson is a past commander of the local post of the Grand Army of the Repulilic at Humboldt, William Mix Post No. 66, and since

1898 has served as officer of the day of that patriotic organization. He is past master of the local lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, having been master of the lodge in 1890, and is also a member of the local lodges of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and of the Knights and Ladies of Security, in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes ;i warm interest.

William F. Stoltz

Among the well-known and progressive farmers of Porter precinct, Richardson county, is William F. Stoltz, owner of three hundred and twenty acres of land of prime quality in section 35. He was bom in Lycoming county, Pennsylvania, on October 20, 1878, the son of William and Mary (Ulmer) Stoltz, also natives of the same county and state. William Stoltz was a son of Jacob Stoltz, a native of Germany. Mary Ulmer was the daughter of Isaac Ulmer and wife.

William Stoltz came from Pennsylvania to Richardson county in 1886 and located between Dawson and Stella, where he bought one hundred and sixty acres of raw prairie land. He moved his family to the farm in the following spring. William Stoltz was born in 1847 and died on March 20, 191 5. His wife, Mary Ulmer, was born on May 31, 1849, ^"*^ died on January II, 1901. They were the parents of the following children: Charles E., Jacob F., who lives in Aurora, Illinois; Isaac H., of Onago, Kansas; Samuel, who lives in Chicago; William F., who lives on the home farm; Ezra W., of Jerome, Idaho; Daniel, who died in 1878; Martin, who died in 1896, and Mrs. Clara Bobbitt, who lives in Jerome, Idaho, and Hattie, who lives in Porter precinct. Of these children, Charles E. was educated in the Richardson county schools and Jacob was graduated from the Stella high school and the University of Nebraska. Mr. and Mrs. Stoltz were married on June 22, 1869.

William F. Stoltz, the subject of this sketch, was seven years old when his parents came to this county from Pennsylvania. He attended the district schools and later went to the high school of Stella. When he had completed the latter course, he attended the Lincoln Business College. Thus equipped by preparatory training he began working for himself. He started to work as a farm hand in 1901 and continued for one year, and in 1902 he rented his present farm from his father and from his maternal uncle, Daniel Ulmer. In 1908 he bought one hundred and sixty acres of excellent land and later.

when the estate was settled in 1916. he bought out the other heirs. In 1905 he erected a substantial well-planned house and here he and his family make their home, comfortably situated.

On October 2, 1904, William F. Stoltz was united in marriage to Effie Tolly, daughter of R. J. and Julia (McQueen) Tolly, natives of Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Tolly were among the early settlers of Richardson county and are now living near Stella on a farm. Mr. and Mrs. Stoltz are the parents of one child named Carroll, born on September 21, 1905. Mr. Stoltz and his wife are members of the Baptist church, of which they are liberal supporters and in the activities of which they are earnestly interested. Mr. Stoltz is a Democrat, but has never sought public office.

Claude M. Linn

Examples that impress force of character on all who study them, are worthy of record in the annals of history wherever they are found. By a few general observations the biographer hopes to convey in these lines some idea of the personal characteristics and importance to the locality of Claude M. Linn, president of the Home State Bank of Humboldt, Richardson county.

Mr. Linn was born, February 27, 1873, in Pawnee county, Nebraska. He is a son of James L. and Martha (Oviatt) Linn, natives of Tazewell county, Illinois, and HardiA county, Iowa, respectively. They came to Pawnee county, Nebraska, in 1870, and took up a homestead tw^o miles west of Table Rock and there they became very comfortably established through their industry and perseverance. After farming for some time the father engaged in mercantile pursuits in Table Rock, handling lumber and grain, in partnership with a Mr. Cooper, under the firm name of Linn & Cooper. Later, in the earlv eighties, this firm built the first flouring-mill in Humboldt. Richardson county, moving to that town in 1882. operating a flour-mill and lumber and grain business. Finally, he dissolved partnership with Mr. Cooper, Mr. Linn taking charge of the lumber business and Mr. Cooper managing the mill.

James L. Linn was active in public affairs, and a staunch Republican. He served a term in the state Legislature from Pawnee county, and later was elected state senator from his district, which embraced Pawnee and Richardson counties. He served two terms, and made a most commendable record. His death occurred in 1891. His widow is now living in California. To

James L. Linn and wife six children were born, named as follows : Mrs. Eugenia Perrin, who lives in California; Fred R., in Montana; Claude, of this sketch; Mrs. Florence Grinstead, Ray L. and Mrs. Georgia Unkefer, all live in California.

Claude M. Linn received his education in the Humboldt high school. He began his business career when eighteen years old, working in his father's lumber yard, with whom he remained until the latter's death, then took charge of the business which he continued to conduct until 1902, when he turned his attention to the grain and milling business, in partnership with O. A. Cooper, under the firm name of Linn & Cooper. In October, 1907 they dissolved partnership, I\Ir. Cooper taking charge of the mill and Mr. Linn the grain elevator, which he is still operating, together with a chain of seven others, all located in southeastern Nebraska, except one in western Nebraska and one in western Kansas. He also owns a farm of two hundred and fifty acres west of Humboldt, which he looks after personally, and makes a specialty of raising hogs and cattle.

The Home State Bank of Humboldt, of which Mr. Linn is president, was organized on February i, 1915, by C. M. Linn, Qtto Kotouc, S. M. Philpot, R. R. Philpot, Dr. G. G. Gandy, Edward Uhri, Louis Stalder. L. L. Davis and Henry Schwass. The capital stock was twenty-five thousand dollars. The bank has had a steady and satisfactory growth and is doing a large business. It owns its own substantial brick building, the old First National Bank building, which has been remodeled and new and modern fixtures installed. The deposits now (1917) amount to a total of three hundred thousand dollars, and the total resources are three hundred and thirtyfive thousand dollars. The bank makes a specialty of farm loans and does a general banking business. The present officers are Claude M. Linn, president; R. R. Philpot, vice-president; Otto Kotouc, cashier; Glen D. Jenkins, assistant cashier; directors, C. M. Linn, R. R. Philpot, Otto Koutoc, Dr. G. G. Gandy and Edward Uhri. The splendid success of this sound and popular institution has been due very largely to the able and honest management of its president, who is regarded throughout the community as a man of exceptional executive ability, foresight and integrity.

Mr. Linn is also president of the Humboldt Brick Company, which was established in 1909, the capital stock of which is forty thousand dollars. It is equipped with all modern appliances and has a capacity of fifty thousand brick daily - building and paving brick, made in gray and other shades. The output now covers a wide territory in Nebraska, Kansas, Wyoming, Montana, South Dakota and other states. Brick from this plant have been used in many notable buildings, including the foundation work of the government building in Falls City, the State University buildings at Lincoln, the Burlington railroad round-house and shops at Havelock, Nebraska. Thirty men are constantly employed, with a pay-roll amounting to two thousand dollars a month. The pronounced success of this important concern has also been due to the enterprise and keen business acumen of Mr. Linn. Ix)uis Von Bergen is vice-president; L Shirley, secretary, and W. Skalak, treasurer.

Mr. Linn was married in 1894, to Ora Wittwer, who was born on the home farm southeast of Humboldt, and there she grew to womanhood and was educated in the local schools. She is a daughter of Gottlieb Wittwer. one of the successful farmers and respected citizens of Nemaha precinct. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Linn, namely: Claude M., Jr., assisting his father in business, and Donald, now attending school.

Politically, Mr. Linn is a Republican and is active in party affairs. Fraternally, he belongs to the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Chapterand Commandfry at Tecumseh, Nebraska, also the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine at Lincoln. Personally, he is an obliging and companionable gentleman.

Edward E. Durfee

Edward E. Durfee, proprietor of a fine farm of one hundred and seventyfoiu" acres in section 28 of Arago precinct, this county, and one of the liestknown stockmen in Richardson county, was born on that farm and has spent all his life there, with the exception of the time spent in high school at Falls City and in the State University of Missouri. He was born on January 11, 1882, son of Edmond J. and Maria L. (Montgomery) Durfee, the former of whom, a native of Iowa and a pioneer of Richardson county, is still living, now a resident of Falls City, and further and fitting mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume.

Reared on the home farm, the place on which he is now living, Edward E. Durfee received his early schooling in the district schools of that neighborhood and supplemented the same by a course in the Falls City high school, from which he was graduated in 1901. He later, during the years 1903. 1904 and 1905, attended the Missouri State University at Columbia, taking; there the courses in law and agriculture, and upon his return to the farm began to build up a business as a breeder of pure-bred live sto.ck, in which he has met with much success, long having been regarded as one of the most successful breeders in this part of the state, his spring and fall sales of fine stock being largely attended and the products of his well-equipped stock farm bringing excellent prices, his specialties Ijeing Shorthorn cattle, Percheron horses, mules of the "Mammoth" type and Poland China hogs.

On August 26, 1903. Edward E. Durfee was united in marriage to Jessie Waggoner, a graduate of the common schools and a student of shorthand in the business college at Falls City, who also was born in the precinct of Arago, this county, March 9, 1883, daughter of Riley D. and Martha (Anderson") Waggoner, pioneers of that precinct, who are still living there and further and fitting mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume. To this union six children have been Ixirn, namely Marie, deceased, and Opal, Agnes, Blanche, Eugene and Martha. Mr. and Mrs. Durfee are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take an interested part in church work, as well as in the general good works and social activities of their neighlxirhood. Politically. Mr. Durfee is a Democrat; and, fraternally, is affiliated with the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Highlanders, in the aflfairs of which organizations he takes an active interest.

Romane Ttmerman

The late Romane Timerman, who was an honored veteran of the Civil War and one of the best-known and most substantial pioneer farmers in Richardson county and who died at his home in the precinct of East Muddy in the spring of 1916, was a native of New York state, but had been a resident of this county since the spring of 1869, having come here shortly after his marriage in Illinois and thus was accounted one of the pioneers of the northern part of this county. He developed a fine farm in East Muddy precinct and his widow is still living there, very comfortably situated.

Ronjane Timerman was born on December 24, 1844, and was but a child when his parents, Jacob and Rosina Timerman, further and fitting mention of whom is made elsewhere in this volume, they having been pioneers of Richardson county, moved with their family from New York to Illinois and in this latter state he grew to manhood and was Hving when the Civil War broke out. He and three of his brothers enlisted and went to the front, he going out as bugler for Company B, Ninth Illinois Cavalry, with which command he served until the close of the war, participating in manj' of the most notable battles and engagements of the war. Upon the completion of his military service Romane Timerman returned to his home in Illinois and was there married in January, i*86q. In the following April he and his wife, with tlie others of the Timerman family, came to Nebraska, driving through with household goods and other chattels sufficient to set up housekeeping and get a start on a pioneer farm, crossing the river at Brownville and coming on down into Richardson county, settling in the precinct of West Muddy, it not being long until the Timermans became one of the best established families in the northern part of the county. Romane Timerman was a good farmer and he prospered in his operations from the very beginning, gradually adding to his holdings there until at the time of his death he was the owner of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres on which he had a very comfortable home and one of the best farm plants in that section. ^Ir. Timerman was a Republican and ever took a good citizen's interest in local political affairs, but was not an office seeker, being content to reserve his activities to his home and farm, in which he took much pleasure and delight. He was an active member of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic at Stella and took a warm interest in the affairs of that patriotic organization. Mr. Timerman died on May ii, 1916, and his widow is still living on the old home place, which has been her home since pioneer days.

On January 20, 1869, at Geneseo, Illinois, Romane Timerman was united in marriage to Caroline Luckcuck, who was born near Buffalo, New York. April II, 1850, daughter of William and Eliza (Heathridge) Luckcuck. natives of England, who later became residents of Illinois. Both William Luckcuck and his wife were reared in the city of London and they were married in Westminster Abbey, an unusual distinction. After their marriage they came to the United States and settled in the city of New York, where they reared a large family and where Mr. Luckcuck was engaged in the mercantile business. He later moved to Buffalo and then bought a large tract of land in Erie county, New York, and engaged in dealing in imported horses. He remained there until i86o, when he moved with his family to the state of Illinois and there spent the remainder of his life, the owner of a ferge tract of land in Henry county, Illinois. To Mr. and Mrs. Timerman were born four children, three sons and one daughter, namely: George H., who is the proprietor of a fine farm of two hundred and forty acres in the vicinity of Stella, this county; Charles, who is at home, managing the home farm for his mother; Louis, a farmer of the precinct of West Muddy, who married Rosa Workman and has two sons, Dale and Louis, and Ida Belle, who died in infancy. Mrs. Timerman is a member of the Baptist church and has ever taken an. interested part in church work, as well as in the general good works and social activities of the community of which she has been a residenf since pioneer days, and has done much to help promote various agencies designed to advance the common welfare thereabout.

Fulton Peters

A sturdy \eteran plainsman and early pioneer of Richardson countv is Fulton Peters of Barada precinct. He was born in Bavaria, Germany. April -7-'i83S. He is a son of Francis and Mary Peters, natives of Germany, where they grew up, married and made their home until 1839, when they brought their family to America, locating in St. Louis, Missouri, where their son, Fulton, was reared and attended school, and there he learned the trade of ship carpenter. He helped to build the ferry "Carondelet," which was subsequently transformed into a gunboat for use in the Union navy during the Civil War, being the first unit that formed the famous "Mosquito Fleet." Fulton Peters continued to follow his trade in St. Louis until 1867, but he came to Richardson county, Nebraska, in 1856, to locate land, moving on to the place he had entered in 1858. After a year's hard work improving the land he returned to St. Louis and did not return to his land here to make his permanent home until 1870. During the Civil War he worked in the government navy yards, under an oath of allegiance and received five dollars per day for his work. He has lived on his farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Barada precinct for a period of forty-seven years and has carried on general farming and stock raising.

Mr. Peters was married in 1856 to Euphrasia Barada. a daughter of Anton Barada, a half-breed Indian, after whom Barada precinct was named. Mrs. Peters was born in 1837 in St. Louis, and her death occurred in 1888. Her father, .'Knton Barada, was taken from the Omaha Indians when a boy and brought to St. Louis, where he was reared and where he married a l'"rench woman. In 1854 he was notified that he was entitled to a tract of land in the "Half-breed Reservation" and he came to Barada precinct, Richardson county, developed his land and here spent the rest of his life, d>ing in 1887. He was one of the best known of the early pioneers here.