Richardson County, Nebraska - Biographical sketches, 1917 (part 7 of 19)

Fraternally, ]\Ir. Schock is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and the Modern Woodmen of America. He belongs to the Presbvterian church, in which he is an elder and is active in church affairs.

Oliver C. Ayers

The name of Oliver C. Ayers, a leading agriculturist of Xemaha precinct and one of the most influential men in public affairs in southeastern Nebraska, is too well known to the people of Richardson count}^ to need an\' formal introduction to the readers of this history. He was born on August 3, 1871. in Tompkins county, New York, and is a son of Nathaniel and Sarah (Ellison) Ayers. The father was born in 1827 and died in 1897; the mother was born in 1836 and died in 1907. Their family consisted of three children, namely: Oliver C, of this sketch: William lives in the state of Washington, and James has charge of the telephone system at Verdon, Nebraska. The father, Nathaniel Ayers, was a descendant of an old American famil}-, dating back to 1692, when the first Ayers emigrated from Scotland to our shores, locating in New Jersey. The subject of this sketch, whose grandfather was Elias Ayers, is the seventh generation of the Ayers proper in this countr\', the name having originally been "Eyer." Nathaniel Avers engaged in farming in the state of New York.' He left the old homesteatl in 1881 and came to Richardson county, locating in Nemaha precinct, where he prospered through close application and good management, becoming owner of four hundred acres of valuable land, on which he carried on general farming and stock raising on an extensive scale. He made many improvements on the land, including the building of a commodious residence and numerous large barns and other buildings.

Oliver C. Ayers spent his early boyhood on the home farm in New York. He received his education in the public schools. He assisted his father with the general work on the farm after the familv moved to Rich- ardson county, finally buying out the home place and continued general farming operations along the lines inaugurated by his father, introducing such various new methods as have been consistent with modern ideas of scientific farming and stock raising, and he has been very successful in all departments. He has kept the land not only well improved but has prevented the wearing out of the original fertility of the soil. He is a good judge of live stock and annually prepares large numbers for the market. His modern home was built in 1914. It has electric lights and furnace heat. There are two sets of buildings on his fine farm, which is second bottom land.

Mr. Ayers was married on March 23, 1898, to Olive Smith, who was born on March 9, 1876, in Nemaha precinct, Richardson county, where she grew to womanhood and was educated. She is a daughter of Charles and Lucinda (Lockwood) Smith. The father was born on March 19, 1840, and died in January, 19 16. The mother was born in 1850, in the state of New York. Charles Smith was a native of Germany. Lucinda (Lockwood) Smith, who is still living in Nemaha precinct, is a daughter of Joseph and Theta (Martindale) Lockwood, of New York state, who finally moved to Michigan, thence to Alinnesota and were early settlers in Richardson county Mr. and Mrs. Smith were married in 1868. Charles Smith was a soldier in the Union army during the Civil War, serving with the troops in Missouri. He came to Nebraska in 1865 and pre-empted land. He enlisted in February, 1862, in Company G, Fifth Missouri Cavalry, and was honorably discharged, June 22, 1863. He joined the Grand Army of the Republic in 1883. He took an active interest in public affairs and served a term in the Nebraska Legislature in 1899, being elected on the Republican ticket.

To Charles Smith and wife the following children were born: Fred, who lives on the home place ; Mrs. George F. Funk lives near Dawson ; Olive, wife of Mr. Ayers of this review; Mrs. Bennett Stalder lives near Salem, Nebraska; Mrs. F. C. French lives in Lincoln, this state; and Frank, who died in 1912. A brother of Charles Smith, Peter Smith, lives near Dawson, Richardson county.

Politically, Mv. Ayers is a Republican and he has long been regarded as one of the leaders of his party in Richardson county. In the fall of 1912 he was elected as representative from the third district to the state Legislature, and he made a most commendable record in that body during the (61) session of 1913. He was appointed a member of the following committees: Agriculture, drainage, live stock and grazing, and asylums. He introduced three excellent bills; one providing for a county farm demonstrator, on petition of five per cent of the freeholders, which bill was passed; another was to prevent seining in Nebraska and boundary streams by holders of general fishing license; the third was to put the waters of the Missouri river at the mouth of Nebr^ka streams imder control of the state game warden.

Mr. Ayers is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and he and Mrs. Ayers belong to the United Brethren church. Mr. Ayers was one of the promoters and original stockholders of the Dawson and Nemaha Telephone Company. He was elected a director in the same in 1902, the year the company was organized. Personally, Mr. Ayers is an obliging and public-spirited gentleman, who is regarded as a man of the highest ideals.

The little republic of Switzerland has sent large numbers of her enterprising citizens to America, where they have been quick to fall in line with our institutions, the two governments being very similar, and they have alsonot been long in obtaining good homes in our vast land of unlimited opportunities. One of this number in Richardson county is John E. Wissler,. farmer and stock raiser of Speiser precinct. He was born in the Canton of Berne, Switzerland, April ly, 1850. He is a son of Jacob and Elizabeth ( Rufenacht) Wissler, both natives of Switzerland where they grew up and were married. They immigrated to the United States with their family in 1883. The father was born in 1809 and died in 1886 at the age of seventyseven years, at the home of his son, subject of this sketch; the mother was born in 1819, and died in 1892. They were parents of the following children; Robert, living in Spesier precinct; Mrs. Lizetta Schindler, who lives near Nebraska City; Mrs. Eliza Neuenschwander lives near Bern, Kansas r Mrs. Mary Friedley died near Humboldt, Nebraska; Gottfried and Ernest both live near Pawnee City, Nebraska; Mrs. Sophie Stuckenholz died at Julian, Nebraska ; Mrs. Emma Stalder lives at Humboldt. Richardson county, and John E., of this sketch.

John E. Wissler grew to manhood in his native land and was educated in the common schools. He immigrated to America in 1870, when twenty years old, coming direct to Ricfiardson county, Nebraska. He had no money.

neither relatives or friends here, but had grit and courage and was willing to work. He came out to Four Mile creek and worked for Sam Bentler for six months for fifteen dollars per month, receiving eighteen dollars per month for his work during the next six months; he also worked for a Mr. Parli in Pawnee county on his big ranch for one year, at a wage of one dollar per day ; also for a Mr. Flannigan and Bob Scott, caring for cattle. He was economical and saved his earnings until he had four hundred dollars with which he bought a team and tools : he then rented land adjoining his present farm, two hundred and forty acres in all, which he operated, keeping "batch" the meantime. Later, he got married and bought a place near the Reformed church, living on this farm for twenty years, when he sold out and purchased his present farm, in 1895. He has made many important improvements, replaced the house which was burned on the day he contracted for the farm, with a modern new dwelling, also put up granary and other outbuildings and remodeled the barn. The place consists of two hundred and forty acres of rich bottom land along the Nemaha river. He has been very successful as a general farmer and stock raiser, having started out with nothing and by his own efforts forged to the front ranks of fanners in the southeastern part of the state. He makes a specialty of raising thoroughbred Shorthorn cattle, breeding them for his own use for the past twenty-one years. He sells about forty head annually. He feeds all the grain grown on his place to his own live stock. In 1916 he sold some of his grain, the first he has marketed for thirty years. He is also a breeder of Poland China hogs, the big type thoroughbreds. Owing to their superior quality his fine stock all find a ready market at fancy prices.

Politically, Mr. Wissler is a Democrat. He served as assessor of Speiser precinct. He was elected chairman of drainage district, No. 4, in 1915, which position he still holds, and he has done a very commendable work in this connection. He is a member of the Reformed Lutheran church.

Mr. Wissler was married in 1873 to Mary Lugenbill, a daughter of John Lugenbill, a native of Switzerland, from which country he came to Richardson county, Nebraska, in 1854. He had previously established the family home in Andrew county, Mis.souri, where his daughter, Mary, was born in 1854, the first white girl in Richardson county. She grew to womanhood in Richardson county and received a common-school education in the pioneer schools here. Gottlieb Wealthy, brother-in-law of John Lugenbill, assisted in surveying southeastern Nebraska and induced John Lugenbill to come.

Fred, farming three miles south of the homestead; John, farming near Bethany creek ; Lizzie is the wife of Henry Hunzeker and they live five miles east of Pawnee, Nebraska; Etta is the widow of Carl Lynch, but her first husband was Sam Hunzeker; William lives at Bern. Kansas; Mrs. Magdalena Hunzeker lives six miles east of Pawnee ; Mrs. Mary Griflfith lives a mile and a half east of Bern, Kansas, and Rudolph and Charles are both at home.

John Lugenbill, father of Mrs. Wissler, was one of the earliest pioneers of Richardson county, and his daughter, Mary, divides honors with Mrs. Judge J. R. VVilhite, of Falls City, of being the oldest pioneer woman, in point of years of residence, in the county ; they lx)th came to the county about the same time - sixty-three years ago. John Lugenbill was a hardy homesteader, enduring the privations and hardships incident to life on the frontier, when neighbors were few and the country was still the domain of the red man. When President Buchanan signed the bill requiring pre-emptors to pay one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre for their land, Mr. Lugenbill was compelled to take the inheritance money and savings of his children to pay for his title. His family spent the winter of 1854-5 in direst poverty, living in a log shack, without comforts and very little provisions. Once wiule he was logging in the winter time the Indians, stole his only team of oxen and drove them away. Taking his gun he trailed them through the snow as far as Brownville, Nebraska. \\'hich was a long journey up the river. He overtook the red men and compelled them to give the cattle back to him. He persevered and managed well and prospered with advancing years, finally becoming the owner of three thousand acres of good land in Richardson county, being one of the leading farmers of his county and an influential citizen in the early affairs of the county. "He was able to leave his family in \ery comfortable circumstances. It was such sterling characters as he who redeemed the West and made possible the present-day prosperity and happiness of the people of the great plains country.

The southwestern corner of Richardson county in which the Swiss colony settled is a rich, picturesque country of valleys and hills, timbered along the streams. The valley in which the Wissler family lives is one of the most fertile in the world. During the past few years a great drainage ditch has been constructed, which straightens the course of the Nemaha river, and thousands of acres of excellent overflow land will now be made to yield abundant crops.

The name of Dr. J. A. Waggener, of Humboldt, has long been a household word in Richardson county, where he is the oldest practicing physician. He was born on October 6, 1852, in Burksville, Kentucky. He is a scion of a fine old Southern family, being a son of Louis A. and Sarah Elizabeth ( Alexander) Waggener, both natives of Kentucky, where they grew up, were married and established their home. The father was a well-known and influential man in Cumberland county, serving as sheriff for a period and as county clerk for a period of twelve years. Albert G. Waggener, paternal grandfather of the Doctor, also served as sheriff of that county, he and his son. Louis A., holding office in that county for a period of fifty years in all. The Doctor is the oldest of a family of eleven children, all of whom are living at this writing, namely: Mrs. Mattie Nunn, living in Santa Anna, California; Airs. Julia Gannon, in Bakersfield, California; James M., of Astoria, Oregon; Mrs. Alverta Wagner, making her home in Harris, Missouri; Mrs. Ella Dewease, of Oklahoma; Mrs. Lizzie Smith, Mrs. Ora Davis, Samuel Tilden and Jennie, all four reside in Kentucky; Mrs. Nannie Judd, in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Dr. J. A., of this sketch.

Doctor Waggener was reared in his native state and he received his earlv education in the pulilic schools of Cumberland county, later attending the Louisville College of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, from which institution he was graduated in 1876. In the fall of 1878 he came to Nebraska, locating at Dawson, Richardst)n county, where he practiced for a period of twentyfive years, then located in Humboldt, where he has since resided. He has enjoyed a large and lucrative practice ever since coming to this county and has been very successful as a general physician. In October, 1915, he was appointed head physician of the Soldiers Home at Grand Island, which position he held for fifteen months, at the end of which time he returned to Humboldt and resumed practice. He has found time to keep well informed on the ])rogress that has been made in the various phases of his profession since he left college.

Doctor Waggener belongs to the American Medical Association, the Nebraska State Medical Society, the Missouri Valley Medical Society and the Richardson County Medical Society. Politically, he is a Democrat of the old school and has been active in public affairs, taking an interest in whatever tends to promote the general welfare of his county. He served as coroner of the same for two terms, from 1896 to 1900, inclusive, giving eminent satisfaction to all concerned. Fraternally, he belongs to the Knights of Pythias, the Ancient Order of United AVorkmen and Knights and Ladies of Security. He has filled all the chairs in the local lodges of the last two named.

Doctor W'aggener was married on March 12. 1878, to Anna Grinsted. a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of G. R. Grinsted, now a resident of Falls City, Nebraska, having moved with his family to Richardson county in March, 1878. For many years he engaged in farming, but is now spending his old age in retirement. The following children have been born to Doctor Waggener and wife: Dr. Hewitt A., a practicing physician in Omaha, Nebraska: Dr. William R., practicing medicine at Humboldt, Richardson county, and is a graduate of Creighton University; Dr. John T., also a graduate in medicine from Creighton University, is engaged in practice at Adams, Nebraska: Lillith, who is a graduate of the State Normal school and the State University at I-incoln, Nebraska, is engaged in teaching at Hamburg, Iowa.

Personallv, Doctor Waggener is a man of genial and companionable disposition, upright in all his dealings with the world and merits the high esteem in which he is universally held.

The late Dennis McCarthy, former street conimissioner of Falls City, for more than thirty years proprietor of a successful transfer business in that city and the owner of considerable valuable real estate there, was a native of the Dominion of Canada, but had been a resident of this county since the days of his boyhood, having come here with his parents, after a brief residence in Iowa, in 1870, the family first settling at Salem, later settling in Falls City and becoming substantially established there. Dennis McCarthy was born on March 22, 1859, and was but a child when his parents, Dennis and Mary (Delaney) McCarthy, natives of Ireland, moved from Canada tu Iowa, and was a little past eleven years of age when they came to Nebraska, arriving in Richardson county on May 6, 1870.

Upon coming to this county the elder Dennis McCarthy located at Salem, but presently moved thence to Falls City, where he ever since has made his home, one of the best-known men in that city, now making his home with the widow of his son, in the eightieth year of his age. He and his wife, the latter of whom has been deceased for years, were the parents of five children, those besides the subject of this memorial sketch, the last-born being as follow : ^Irs. Mary Kennedy, who is living on a farm in the Barada neighborhood ; Margaret, who married William Murphy and is now deceased ; John, who is living at the McCarthy home in Falls City, and Patrick, deceased.

As noted above the younger Dennis McCarthy was just past eleven years of age when he came to this county with his parents in 1870 and he grew up at Falls City. He early began business there for himself, starting a transfer line, which business grew and developed until it became one of the established enterprises of the city. As he prospered in his affairs he invested in farm lands, which he later sold to advantage, investing the proceeds in city real estate, and eventually became quite well-to-do. When his health began to fail him in 1914 he sold his transfer business, after having been successfully engaged in the same for more than thirty years, and. thereafter lived practically retired until his death, which occurred on April i, 1916, he then being one week past fifty-seven years of age. Mr. McCarthy was a Democrat and for years took an active part in local political affairs. For several years he served as street commissioner and in other ways did his part as a good citizen toward promoting the best interests of his home town. He was a member of the Catholic church, as is his widow, and took an active part in parish affairs, a generous contributor to the support of the church. Fraternally, he was affiliated with the Knights of Columbus and with the Knights of Pythias and in the affairs of these two orders took a warm interest. He had hosts of friends in and about Falls City and there were many sincere mourners when he was called-^rom -the scenes of worldly activity.

On January 30, i8go, Dennis McCarthy was united in marriage to Mary Murphy, who was born in the village of Rulo, this county, September 8, 1867, daughter of James and Mary (Burns) Murphy, natives of Ireland and early settlers in this county, whose last days were spent here. James Murphy was born in 1837 and Mary Burns was born in 1847. They grew up and were married in Ireland and then came to this country, locating at Chicago, whence, two years later, they moved to St. Joseph. Missouri, presently coming thence up the river to Rulo. where they established their home. James Murphy was a stone mason and for years was the leading contractor in that line in this county, having built most of the stone bridges in the county in an early day. He also became the owner of a good farm in the vicinity of Rulo and was accounted a well-to-do citizen.. His death occurred in February, 1909. He was twice married, his first v.ife, Mary Burns, having died in 1875, after which he married Ella Sullivan, who died in 1897. ^Y his first marriage Mr. Murphv was the father of five children, of whom Mrs. McCarthy is now the only survivor, the others having been Ehzabeth, Frances, Michael and Anna. To the second union eight children were born, namely: Edward, who died on July i, 1916; Elizabeth, who is at home on the old home farm in the neighborhood of Rulo; Lawrence, also at home; Josephine, wife of John Sells, of the precinct of Rulo; Helen, a teacher in the schools of Rulo; Mrs. Agnes York, of Liberty, this state; Julia, who died in infancy, and Patrick, at home. The first home of the Murphys in this county was a little log house constructed of logs cut by Mr. Murphy himself and for the first winter or two after the family settled down in that humble home they had to tack sheets and blankets up along the walls to keep the snow from sifting in. Despite the apparent discomfort of this way of living, the family were happy and contented and off the "forty" raised plenty to eat.

To Dennis and Mary (Murphy) McCarthy were born three children. Marie, born on November 21, 1891, who married A. J. Finn, a skilled photographer, of Jefferson, Iowa, and lias one child, a son, Cyril; Cyril, March 22, 1893, who is now engaged in the Eldorado oil fields, and Helen, February 13, 1903, who is pursuing her studies in the convent in Falls City. Since the death of her husband Mrs. McCarthy has continued to make her home in Falls City, where she is very comfortably situated, having a delightful home at 922 .Stone street. She is an earnest member of the Catholic church and has ever given her devoted attention to local parish affairs, helpful in promoting good works. She is a member of the local branch of the Daughters of Isabel and takes a warm interest in the affairs of the same.

William H. Sailors

The late William H. Sailors, who died at his home in the precinct of Barada on December 5, 1909, and who for many years was one of the bestknown farmers of that precinct, was a native of the old Hoosier state, but had been a resident of Richardson county since pioneer days, he and his wife and those of their children who were born in Indiana, having come here in the spring of 1870. He was bom on a farm in Rush county, Indiana. April 9. 1837, son of Washington and Asenath (Scott) Sailors, natives of that same state, members of pioneer families in that part of Indiana, and who were the parents of eight children, of whom the suliject of this memorial sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being as follow: John, deceased; James A., who was a soldier of the Union army during the Civil

War, having served for three years as a member of the Second Indiana Cavalry; Scott, deceased; Mrs. Mahala AUison, deceased; Andrew, now a resident of Hitchcock county, this state; Lot G., a resident of Bancroft, this state, and George, of Hitchcock county.

Reared on the home farm in Indiana, WiUiam H. Sailors grew up there a practical farmer and after his marriage in the fall of i860 established his home on a farm in Wabash county, Indiana, remaining there until the spring of 1870, when he came with his family to Nebraska, arriving in this county on March 8 of that year. Upon his arrival here he bought a tract of land in the precinct of Barada and there established his home, thus being a resident of this region at the time of the destructive visitation of grasshoppers some years later. Conditions of living were pretty hard for some time thereafter, but he presently began to prosper and as he. prospered he gradually, added to his land holdings until he became the owner of more than se\en hundred acres of land in Barada precinct and was long accounted <ine of the most substantial farmers and stockmen in that part of the county. He also took an active part in local civic affairs and was f(ir some time a member of the board of supervisors, giving to the public service his most thoughtful and intelligent attention. He was an active member of the Christian church and he and his wife were ever interested in local good works, helpful in promoting all agencies having to do with the advancement of the common welfare in the community in which they lived. William H. Sailors died on December 5, 1909, and on May 20, 1915, his widow left the old home farm and moved to the village of Barada, where she is now living. She is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of excellent land in sections 18 and 19 of Barada precinct.

On October 25, i860, in Grant county, Indiana, William H. Sailors was united in niarriage to Mary E. Miller, who was born in Fayette county, that same state, February i8,- 1845, ^ daughter of George W. and' Harriet (Bloomheart) Miller), the former a, native of the state of Virginia and the latter of the state of New York, who had moved to Indiana with their respective parents in the days of their youth and had there grown up and married. George W. Miller was the son of Andrew and Elizabeth Miller, natives c^f ^'irginia. and his wife was the daughter of Daniel and Clarissa (Gilmore) Bloomheart, natives, respectively, of Holland and of the state of Xew York. George W. Miller was born on April 5, 181 7, and died in 1903. His wife, al.so born in 1817, preceded him to the grave many years, her death having occurred in 1857.

children, namely: James T.. of Barada precinct; Melissa, who married R. .\nkrom and is now deceased: \\'ashington. a Barada precinct farmer and stockman and a biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume: Harriet, deceased; John H., of Barada precinct; Benjamin, deceased; Clara, deceased; Omer. of Barada precinct; Ida, wife of \Mlliam Percival, also of the precinct of Barada and a biographical sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this volume: Lot, deceased: Fred, of Cedar county, this state; William, deceased: Pearl, deceased, and Otis B.. of the precinct of Barada.

William Goetz. a well-known farmer of the precinct of East Barada, was born on the farm on which he is now living and which he owns and has lived there all his life. He was born on August 6, 1869, son of Anton and Amelia (Veager) Goetz, both of whom were of European birth, who became pioneers of Richardson county and here spent their last days, substantial pioneers of the Barada tract.

.\nton Goetz was born in the grand duchy of Baden in 183 1 and was l>ut a lad when he came to this country with his parents, the family settling in the citv of Buffalo, New York, where he grew to manhood and where he married Amelia Yeager, also a native of Baden, Ijorn on October 15, 1832, who had come to this country with her parents, her family also settling in Buffalo. Almost immediately after their marriage, about 1858, Anton Goetz and his wife came to the then Territor}- of Nebraska and settled in the old precinct of St. Stephens, now known as Barada, in this county, where they established their home on a pioneer farm. The first log cabin was destroyed l)y fire, but they erected another and proceeded with their development work and in time had a well-established home and a profitably cultivated farm. During the early days of their residence there the Indians still v^-ere numerous hereabout and the aboriginals frequently found hospitable shelter on their' farm in their wanderings to and fro. Anton Goetz was a good farmer and at the time of his death was the owner of a fine farm of two hundred acres. He died in 1888 and his widow survived him for many years, her death occurring on September 27, 1905, she then being nearly eighty-five years of age. Thev were members of the Catholic church and their children were reared in that faith. There were five of these children, of whom the eldest died in infanc\- and of whom the subject of this sketch was the second in order of birth, the others being Cecelia, of Falls City; Mrs. Amelia Frederick, also of Falls City, and Bertha, a landowner in Barada precinct and a neighbor of her brother, William.

William Goetz has always lived on the farm on which he was born and on which he now makes his residence. Reared there, he received his schooling in the neighborhood schools and from the days of his boyhood was a valued assistant in the labors of developing and improving the home place, forty acres of which he inherited after the death of his father. He later bought from his mother an adjoining "forty" and now has a well-kept and profitably cultivated place of eighty acres, on which he and his family are very comfortably situated. Mr. Goetz is a Democrat and is a member of the local lodge of the Modern Woodmen of America.

On November i6, 1899, . William Goetz was united in marriage to Louisa Faller, also a native of this county, born in the precinct of Ohio on September 10, 1877. daughter of William and Caroline (Hartbauer) Faller, now living at Falls City, and to this union has been born one child, a son, William A. Goetz.

Prof. David Dennis

The life of an educator is, of necessity, one of self-sacriticing devotion to the upbuilding of character and the preparing of future citizens to make their lives an era of usefulness and to be of some benefit to their respective communities. Many successful individuals can conscientiously attribute the surmounting of difficulties which beset their^paths in the upward- climb, to the teachings and precepts of their former instructors. Prof. David Dennis, deceased, principal of the Falls City schools, during the years 1888 and 1889, was a zealous teacher \\'ho left his impress upon the life of the community where he taught the young, .\lthough a resident of Fall^City for but a few years, he is well remem1)ered for his good works. Later, he espoused in wedlock a daughter of a distinguished citizen of F"alls City and his children reside in Falls City at the present day.

David Dennis was born in Beaver Run, Sussex count\ , Xew Jersey, March t6, 1859. He was self-made and self-educated, perforce, on account of circumstances, working his way through Oberlin College, Ohio, becoming a student of the college in 1883 and graduating therefrom in 1888 with the degree of Bachelor of .\rts, later receiving the degree of Master of .\rts. He began teaching at the early age of sixteen years and followed this useful profession for a number of years, mounting successively to higher positions as he gained experience. During 1888 and 1889 he served as principal of the Falls City schools. From this city he was called to take charge of the academy at I 'ark City, Utah, an institution established by the Gentiles of Utah and supported in their interest as against Mormonism. After three years of ser\ice at Park City he advised the abandonment of the academy and suggested that Mormonism could best be fought in its great stronghold. Salt Lake City. From 1892 to 1894 he taught successfully in the seventeenth wartl and Br\ant schools, Salt Lake City. At the time of his death lit pneumonia at Salt Lake City on June 25, 1894, he was princnpal of the Bryant school. He liad planned to give up his educational work and return to Falls City and engage in business, but death intervened.

Professor Dennis was married at Falls City, Nebraska, on July 9, 1S91, to Miss Ruth ^I. A\'eaver, a daughter of the late Judge Archibald J. and Martha -\. Weaver, an extended review of whom is given elsewhere in this volume. To this union were born the following children : David, born ]\Iay 17, 1892. married Miss .\lma Barton, and is a farmer and fruit grower near Falls City, and Ruth M.. wife of \^'alter J. Lewis, of Pasadena, California, mother of one child. Evelyn Louise. The mother of these children resides in the old Weaver home at Falls City with her mother.

Professor Dennis was a deeply religious man and was a member of the Congregational church. His crowning virtue was his religious character, concerning which his pastor. Rev. Clarence T. Brown, of the First Congregational church at Salt Lake City said at the time of his death : "He had a profound veneration for the truth and he was ever on the alert to tind it. He represented a very high type of Christianity. The firmness of his faith, combined with the generous hospitality of his thought, .put him among the leaders of the church today. * * * But his work as a Christian was not confined to the church. He believed profoundly in applied Christianity ; and as a^eacher, citizen and man. he did apply his Christianity to such good purpose that no one could mistake it.'" Professor Dennis lived to make others happy and as much as possible to do good to all men. Just before he left Park City, Utah, to take up his work in Salt Lake City, he ascended one of the mountains with his pastor. Rev. Mr. Hunt, and looking down upon the city, remarked, "I wonder if any life has been sweetened or made better by my liaving lived here." In his home especially did the goodness of his heart and sterling qualities shine. He was in every sense the true husband and the tender, loving father.

Concerning Professor Dennis's work as an educator the following tribute appears in the superintendent's report of the work done in the Salt Lake City schools during 1894 : "On the day before the close of the schools, after his work for the year was practically completed, David Dennis, principal of the Bryant school, was attacked with illness and in ten days from that time his earthly career was ended. Thus for the second time within two years we have been called upon to mourn the loss of one who had earned a high place in the ranks of the profession and in the esteem of his co-laborers and the public. David Dennis was in every sense a man possessed of marked natural ability. He had, under difificulties which tested his worth, given to himself the benefit of a broad, liberal culture. His opinions always commanded respect and his words, wherever spoken, carried with them persuasiveness and force. He was a man of fine convictions, unswerving fidelity to truth as he saw it, of noble aspirations, of pure life. Though so early called to lay tlown his life's work, he did not live in vain; all whom his influence touched are better and nobler because he lived." .

Henry Clay Davis

Henry Clay Davis, editor and publisher of the Falls Cify Xczvs and one of the "wheel-horses" of the Democratic party in this part of Nebraska, was ixjrn at Glasgow, over in the neighboring state of Missouri, April 5, 1850, sun of James and Euphemia (Wilson) Davis, the former of whom was born at Georgetown, D. C, in 1804 and the latter in Kentucky, in 1810. James Davis, who was a blacksmith, was married in Kentucky and later moved to Missouri, locating at Glasgow, where he remained until 1877, when he came to Nebraska and settled at Falls City, where he and his wife spent the remainder of their lives, his death occurring in 1884, he then being eighty years of age, and hers in 1887. They were the parents of three children, of whom the subject of this -sketch was the last-born, the others being Mrs. Lena Ware, now residing near Kewannee, Illinois, and' Mrs. Ella Buckham, deceased.

Reared at Glasgow, Henry Clay Davis received his schooling in the high school and in Pritchard Institute there and at the age of seventeen, in 1867, began his newspaper career in the office of the Glasgow Times, then under the ownership and editorial direction of Col. Clark H. Green, where he learned the elementals of tlie newspaper business. Two years later he went to St. Louis and there continued his newspaper experience in the office of the St. Louis Republic, presently going thence to Hamburg, Iowa, where for six months he was employed in his Ijrother's store; at the end of that time becoming connected with the Hainbiiri^ Tiiu.cs, which newspaper, after his marriage there in the summer of 1870, he leased and continued to operate the same until the close of 1871, when, he moved to Falls City-aiid on January i. 1872. entered the office of the Falls City Journal. Mr. Davis remained connected with the Journal until 1875, in which year he became identified, in association with George P. ]\Iar\in, with the Falls City Press, an association that continued for eighteen weeks, at tlie end of which time they sold the pajier to Col. G. B. Aliles, but for a year thereafter continued to get the paper out for Colonel Miles. The paper then was sold to J. R. Reed, who conducted it until his death in 1879, Mr. Davis meanwhile retaining his connection with the paper, and in 1880 Mr. Davis bought the Reed interest and has ever since been actively identified with the paper, the name of which Reed had changed from the Press to the Ncivs, under which latter caption it ever since has been published, under Mr. Davis's capable direction, long having been recognized as one of the leading newspapers in eastern Nebraska. Mr. Davis is a Democrat and the editorial columns of his paper reflect his opinions on local political questions in a no uncertain manner, the veteran editor for many years having been regarded as one of the leaders of his party in the state of Nebraska. The Falls City Neivs is a semi-weekly paper of wide circulation throughout tlie territory it covers and is a power for good in the community.

On June 2y. 1870, Henry C. Davis was united in marriage, at Hamburg, Iowa, to Frances L. Dalby, who was born at Montezuma, that state. May 2, 1854, and who died at Falls City on November 20, 1910, leaving four children, namely : Charles C. Davis, postmaster of Falls City and part owner of the .Yews; Clyde W. Davis, who is associated' with his father in the publication of the Xe^vs; Mrs. Bessie Lee Schmelzel. of St. Paul, Minnesota, and ;\lrs. Maude Hutchins, of St. Paul, Minnesota. ' Mrs. Davis was an active memljer of the Methodist Episcopal church and was ever eager in good works. Mr. Davis is affiliated with the local lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Pythias, the Improved Order of Red Men, the Fraternal Order of Eagles, the Royal Highlanders and some other fraternal associations and in the affairs of all takes a warm interest.

George B. Holt

The late George B. Holt, who died at his home in Falls City on Ma)' 19. 1912, and who had, previous to his retirement from business in 1909, been one of the best-known merchants in that city, was a native son of Richardson county and had lived here all his Hfe. He was born at the village of Salem on November 3, 1874, son of the Hon. John White Holt, a pioneer of this county, former president of the First National Bank of Falls City, former state senator, former county treasurer and for many years one of the leading citizens of Richardson county, further and fitting mention of whom is made in a memorial sketch presented elsewhere in this volume.

Upon completing the course in the high school at Falls City, George B. Holt supplemented his schooling by a course in the Nebraska State University at Lincoln and then engaged in the shoe business at Falls City, continuing thus engaged until he sold his store in 1909. Upon retiring from business he continued to make his home in Falls City and there died, as noted above, in the spring of 1912. He was a Republican, a member of the Methodist church and, fraternally, was affiliated with the loxral. lodges of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, ever taking a warm interest in political, church and lodge afifairs.

On July 20, 1897, George B. Holt was united in marriage to Grace Gossett, who was born in Falls City, daughter of William and Nancy (Mitchell) Gossett, the former of whom was born in Indiana in 1841 and the latter, in Tennessee, in 1852, and who are now living in Falls City, wellknown pioneers of this county. William Gossett came to this county as a young man back in the late fifties and became engaged here as a building contractor, building some of the first houses in Falls City and vicinity. He married Nancy Mitchell, who had come here with her parents, who accompanied the family of "Uncle" Jesse Crook, in 1S53, when she was little more than an infant, and had here grown to womanhood. To that union were born five children, namely: Myrtle, who married Frank Clegg, a son of Robert Clegg, a pioneer of Richardson county, and is now living at Kansas City; Grace, who after the death of Mr. Holt married. August 16, 1916, B. F. Streeter, of the local offices of the Missouri Pacific Railroad Company; Frank, of Falls City ; May. deceased, and Gertrude, of Kansas City.

To George B. and Grace (Gossett) Holt one child was born, a son, John W. Holt, born on June 12. 1899, who is a member of the class of 1918, Falls City high school.

John B. Didier

The oldest pioneer of Richardson county, if not the oldest in southeastern Nebraska, is John B. Didier, of Barada precinct, who came to this locality sixty-three years ago, when it was only a vast stretch of wild plains, inhabited by Indians and wild animals. He has lived to see and take part in many wonderful changes here and talks interestingly of the early days and customs.

Mr. Didier was born on December 25, 1827, in France. He is a son of Prof. John B. Didier, a man of learning and for many years a professor in the schools of France. Fie and his wife, Anna, grew to maturity in France, where they were married and made their home until 1848, when they immigrated to America, living the first year in Cincinnati. Ohio, and later in New Orleans, Louisiana, then returning to France, where they spent the rest of their lives.

John B. Didier grew to manhood in his native land and there received a good education. He crossed the Atlantic in a sailing vessel in 1847, located in the city of Cincinnati, where he clerked in a large store for a while. In 1849 he came to St. Louis, Missouri, carrying with him a letter of introduction to one of the leading merchants there, for whom he worked one year, when his employer, Choteau, sent him among the Indians of Missouri, with whom he traded for another year. In 1852 he was sent to take charge of a store on the North Platte, which .store was established by P. Choteau, one of the best-known merchants of St. Louis in the early days. But later, on account of the Indian troubles, the post on the North Platte was closed. A battle took place nearby between United States soldiers and an immense band of Indians, but the soldiers were nearly all killed, as there were only forty-seven against three hundred Indians. All of Mr. Didier's assistants fled from the post, he alone remaining, notwithstanding the danger. He regarded it as his first duty to protect the property of his employer. Returning to St. Louis he reported t"t>^ loss oi tl^e store, for which his company got damages in the sum of thirty-^ne thou/,and dollars from the government. After settling up with the cohjpany he left St. Louis, two months later, coming to St. Joseph on a steamboat, and from there came overland to Richardson county. September, 1854. where he took up a homestead of one hundred and twenty acres, in what is now section 3, Barada precinct. It was wild land, but he went to work with a will, cleared and broke up the sod and in due course of time bad a well improved and productive place and a comfortable home. He endured the hardships and privations incident to Hfe on the frontier, when neighbors were few and trading centers far remote. He has remained on this place continuously to the present time, perhaps as long as any man in the state has lived on one farm - sixty-three years. In fact, there is no doubt but that he was the second white settler in Richardson county.

Mr. Didier was married at Brownville, Nebraska, in 1855, by Judge Whitney, to Mary Pino, a daughter of Louis Pino, a French-Canadian, who was a post trader at Ft. Laramie, where his death occurred. The death of Mrs. Mary Didier occurred in 1908. She was the mother of eight children, named as follows : Henry lives in South Dakota ; John lives in Jackson, Nebraska; Paul is deceased; Peter died in Kansas; Mrs. Mary Deroin lives in Kan«as ; Mrs. Cecilia Longkar lives in South Dakota ; Mrs. Myrtle Last lives on the home farm, which her husband is operating, and they have two children, Albert and Harvey.

Mr. Didier, who is now in his ninetieth year, is still fairly hale and hearty, having lived an abstemious and upright life - one calculated to lead to longevit}'. He is widely known throughout the county and his record is that of a public-spirited, industrious and honorable citizen. Politically, he is a Democrat, but he has never sought public office or leadership. Religiously, he is a Catholic.

Samuel Kimmel

Samuel Kinimel, one of the real old settlers of Richardson county and a retired farmer and stockman who has for many years past made his home in Falls City, where he and his wife are' very comfortably situated, is a native of the old Keystone state and became a resident of the state of Illinois when about seventeen years of age, but has been a resident of this county since 1870 and has therefore been a witness to and a participant in the development of this region since pioneer days. During the days of grasshoppers, hot winds and panics in the seventies he had a mighty hard time of it keeping his belongings together here, but affairs presently took a turn for the better and he prospered largely, having been able to retire on a competency when he was fifty years of age.

this side of the water since the middle of the eighteenth century. Michael Kimmel, the progenitor of this branch of the Kimmels, was born in the ancient kingdom of Saxony in 1662. He had three sons, Jacob, Philip and Valentine, who spent all their days in their native land. Philip Kimmel, born in 1695, had six sons and two daughters. These six sons came to the American colonies about 1750 and established themselves on this side. One of these six sons, Jacob Kimmel, born in 1725, settled in Pennsylvania and there reared eight sons, Abraham, Jacob, John. Solomon, Ludwick, Otto, Michael and Jonathan, the latter of whom was born in his father's old age. This Jonathan Kimmel, born in Pennsylvania in 1798, married Susan Meyers and had six sons and two daughters, Michael, Josiah, John, Daniel, Noah, Jonathan, Mrs. Mary Walker and Mrs. Susan Gashorn. The first-born of these sons, Michael Kimmel, born in Pennsylvania in 182 1, married Nancy Lichty and had six sons and two daughters, John, Samuel, Jonathan, William. Ephraim, Tobias, Marie, who died in infancy, and Elizabeth. The mother of these children died in 1862 and Michael Kimmel married his deceased wife's cousin, Sally Lichty, and to that union three children were Ixirn, one son and two daughters, David, Susan and Hattie. In 1865 Michael Kimmel left his old home in Somerset county, Pennsylvania, and moved with his family to Illinois, where he settled on a farm and where he spent the remainder of his life.

Samuel Kimmel. second son of Michael and Nancy ( Lichty) Kimmel, was born in .Somerset county, Pennsylvania, August 20, 1847, and was seventeen years of age when he moved with his father to Illinois, in 1865. There he married in 1869 and in that state he continued farming until in the fall of 1870, when he and his wife came to Nebraska and settled on a farm in the precinct of Ohio, six miles north of Falls City, in this county. For that farm, a quarter of a section of land. Mr. Kimmel contracted to pay twentyfive hundred dollars. One half of this sum he paid in cash and gave a mortgage on the land for the unpaid balance. He built a house on the place and proceeded to try to improve and develop ^he farm, but at the end of eleven years, with grasshoppers, drought and the panicky times of that period, he found himself worse off in a financial way than he was when he began his operations. He not only had been unable to pay the interest on his mortgage, the accrued interest thus having Ijecome more than the principal, but he was otherwise involved in debt and was unable to see any way out. He tried to give the farm back to the mortgagee, but the latter would not accept it and advised him to "stick to it." Thus unable to let go, Mr. Kimmel did "stick to it." and it was well he did so, for presently things began to turn the Other way and, beginning in 1882, prosperity overtook him and has ever since kept right alongside of him, he long ago having reaped the reward for the many "lean years" he suffered during the early days of his residence here. With a succession of bountiful crop years in the eighties Mr. Kimmel began to branch out in his operations, engaged heavily in the live-stock business and enlarged his land holdings until he became the owner of eight hundred acres of fine land in the vicinity of his original quarter section. He had long before determined to retire when he was fifty years of age and he found himself in the happy position of being able to do that very thing even before he had reached that point of life. He gave to each of his two children a fine farm and in i8g6 he and his wife moved to Falls City, erected a beautiful house on Stone street and have ever since lived there, enjoying the ample rewards of their earlier years of toil and privation. Both are remarkably well preserved, mentally and physically, and find much joy and zest in living. They are great readers and keep up-to-^ate and abreast of the times. Mr. Kimmel still enjoys keeping a sort of a supervisory eye on the old home farm, which he frequently visits, and sometimes takes a hand in the work himself just to show that he hasn't forgotten how.

As noted above, it was on December 5, 1869, in Illinois, that Samuel Kimmel was united in marriage to Hattie Peck, who also was bom in Somerset county, Pennsylvaiuia, February 12, 1850, a daughter of Jonas and Frances (Saylor) Peck, who moved from Pennsylvania to Illinois in 1867 and in the latter state spent the remainder of their lives. To that union four children have been born, one son and three daughters, namely: Edwin M., born on July 31, 1875, who in 1895 married Amelia Ruegge and has three children, Gladys, Esther and Edwin S. ; Eva Ada, November 14, 1873, who married H. J. Prichard and has two children, Allie and Wilbur; Vivian, who died in infancy, and Verne E., who also died in infancy. Edwin M. Kimmel and his sister, Mrs. Prichard, were given" farms by their parents and have wellestablished homes in the precinct of Ohio, both Mr. Kimmel and Mr. Prichard doing well in their farming and live-stock operations. Samuel Kimmel was reared a Republican, but upon the organization of the Populist party espoused the cause of that party and was an active adherent of the same until the memorable campaign of 1896, when he became an ardent champion of William Jennings Bryan and has ever since remained a stanch Bryan Democrat. He and his wife are members of the Brethren church and take a proper interest in the affairs of the- same, .Mrs. Kimmel,. particularly, being quite active in church work and in the other good works of the community at large.

Alfred Stettler

One of the enterprising farmers of Speiser precinct, Richardson county is Alfred Stettler, who was bom on October 4. 1869, in Switzerland, and, like all our citizens who hail from that small but superb republic across the sea. he has proven to be a most desirable addition to Nebraska. He is a son of Gottlieb and Magdalena Stettler, who lived and died in Switzerland. They were honest, hard-working people.

Alfred Stettler spent his boyhood in his native land and there received an education in the common schools. When seventeen years of age he left Switzerland and started on the long journey to the interior of America. He arrived in Sabetha, Kansas, with but ten dollars in his pocket. He worked out as a farm hand for some time, earning only one hundred and twenty dollars a year, but he saved his wages and soon got a start as farmer, renting land for some time. Working hard and managing well, he finally had enough to pay for a farm of his own, and in 1907 bought the well-impro\-ed and productive farm of one hundred and twenty acres in Speiser precinct, where he still resides. He paid the sum of ninety dollars an acre on an average, paying eighty dollars an acre for eighty acres and one hundred dollars an acre for forty acres. He has added many excellent improvements on the same and has been successful as a general farmer and stock, raiser. His modern eight-room house was built in 1912. It has a furnace and a lighting system. He also built a large new barn.

Mr. Stettler was married on December 18, 1901, to Henrietta Fankhauser, who was born on March 4, 1876, in Speiser precinct, Richardson county, where she grew to womanhood and attended the district schools. She is a daughter of John and Magdalina Fankhauser. both natives of Switzerland, but they grew up in the United States, where they were married. The John Fankhauser was five years old when he came to the New \\"orld in 1847. He is now seventy-four years old. Magdalina Fankhauser was three years old when her parents brought her to America. Her death occurred at the early age of thirty-three years. Three children have been born to Alfred Stettler and wife, namely : Lauretta Ella, born on August 27, 1903 : \'erna Lucia. May 4, 1906, and Norma Magdalene. August 6, 1915.

Politically. Mr. Stettler is a Democrat, but is inclined to vote independently. Fraternally, he belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Humboldt, also the Ancient Order of United ^^'orkmen. He belongs to the Reformed church.

Otto Kotouc

One of the most promising of the younger business men of Richardson county is Otto Kotouc, cashier of the Home State Bank at Humboldt. He was born in Humboldt. Nebraska. April 22. 1885, and here he has become well established in the industrial world at an age when most men are just getting fairly started on their careers. He is a son of Frank and Marie (Hon) Kotouc, both natives of Bohemia, the father born on October 25, 1839, and died on December 25, 1916; the mother was born on April 24, 1850. and her death occurred on September 13, 19 13. They grew up in their native land, where they were married and made their home until 1882, when they immigrated to America, locating at Humboldt, Nebraska, where the father learned the trade of harness-maker. He had engaged in the grocery business in his native country. After coming to Humboldt he worked for his brother-in-law, John Klossner, who owned a large harness-making establishment there, being employed by him for a period of sixteen years ; he then retired from active life. He was a member of the Bohemian Reformed church. His family consisted of four sons, namely: Frank, a merchant at Humboldt; Lute B., who also operated a store in Humboldt for a number of years, but is now in New Raymer, Colorado, conducting a store for the Kotouc Brothers; Milton is a member of the mercantile firm of Kotouc Brothers in Humboldt, and Otto, of this sketch, is the youngest.

Otto Kotouc grew to manhood in Humboldt and there attended the public and high schools, graduating from the latter with the class of 1903. He then entered the State University at Lincoln, where he pursued a literary course, graduating with the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1908. In the fall of that year he was elected representative to the state Legislature from Richardson county, being the youngest man ever elected to this important office from this county and one of the youngest to serve in that body from any county since the state was organized. But the excellent record he made during the session of 1909 proved the wisdom of his selection; indeed, he gave such eminent satisfaction to his constituents that he was re-elected in the fall of 1910, and served with distinction during the session of 191 1, doing much for the general good of his county and state. He served as chairman of the insurance committee, and was also a member of the ways and means committee and the judiciary committee.

Mr. Kotouc entered the banking field in 1909, in the State Bank of Humboldt, as assistant cashier, the duties of which position he discharged with fidelity and promptness until 19 15, when he helped organize the Home State Bank, of which he has since filled the position of cashier to the eminent satisfaction of the stockholders and patrons of the bank, the prestige of which sound and popular institution he has done much to increase. He also conducts an insurance business with Glenn D. Jenkins, under the firm name of Kotouc & Jenkins.

Mr. Kotouc was married on August 29, 1912, to Camille Cernik, who was born at Ord, Nebraska. She is a daughter of Joseph and Louise Cernik, both natives of Bohemia, from which country they came to America many years ago, locating at Ord. this state, where Mrs. Kotouc grew to womanhood and was given good educational advantages, and there her father engaged successfully in. mercantile pursuits, but is now living retired there. To Zklr. and Mrs. Kotouc two children have been born, Otto Kotouc, Jr., whose birth occurred on June 15, 1913, and Marie Louise, lx)rn on March i, 1917.

Politically, Mr. Kotouc is a Democrat and one of the leaders of his party in southeastern Nebraska. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masonic order, and is now holding the office of postmaster in the blue lodge of the -Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He is also a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is a member of the Acacia Fraternity and Phi Beta Kappa of the State University. He attends the Methodist Episcopal church.

Dr. Hirani E. Eells, of Falls City, one of the best-known and most successful dentists in this part of the state, is a native of the neighboring state of Iowa, but has been a resident of this state since leaving college, having begun his practice at Auburn, moving thence to Wayne and thence, in 1912, to Falls City, where he has since been engaged in the practice of his profession. He was born on a farm in Johnson county. Iowa. B'ebruary 22, 1873, son of Nathaniel E. and Susan Harriet (Huss) Eells. natives of Ohio and both of old Colonial stock, the history of the Eells family in this country going back to the days of the Pilgrim Fathers, the first of the name to come over here having been Samuel Eells, who came from the north of England in 1628 and settled in Massachusetts Colony.

when his parents, Nathaniel E. Eells and wife, emigrated to the then Territory of Iowa in 1841 and settled in Johnson county. There he grew to manhood and was living there when the Civil War broke out. In .August. 1 861, at Iowa City, he enlisted for service as a member of Company G. Twenty-second Regiment, Iowa Volunteer Infantry, and with that regiment served for a period of nearly four years, or until it was mustered out in July, 1865, the war then being over. During this service he was seriously wounded at the battle of Winchester. He took part in the siege of Vicksburg and to his regiment was accorded the honor of being the first to enter the fallen city on that memorable Fourth of July in 1863, when the stubborn defense of that key to the .South was broken. Upon the com.pletion of his military service Nathaniel E. Eells returned to his home in Iowa and shortly afterward married Harriet Huss, who also was born in Ohio and whose parents had become Iowa pioneers. He established his home on a farm in Johnson county and there remained until in May, 1873, when he moved with his family to a farm in the neighborhood of Bedford, county seat of Taylor county, Iowa. There his wife died in 1897 and he thereafter made his home with his children until his death in 1910. There were five of these children, four sons and one daughter, of whom the subject of this sketch was the third in order of birth, the others being as follow: The Rev. Melvin Hoyt Eells, a clergyman of the Methodist Episcopal church, now living in Kansas; Dr. Linden Eells, a dentist, of Auburn, this state; John H. Eells, a farmer, of Nevis, Minnesota, and Efifie, deceased.

Hiram E. Eells was reared on the .home farm in Iowa, receiving his elementary schooling in the local district schools, also two years in a normal college, and for two years taught school during the winters, continuing to work on the farm until he was twenty-one years of age, when he entered the dental department of the University of Iowa and after a year there entered the College of Dental Surgery at Chicago, from which he was graduated on April 3, 1898. During his college career Doctor Eells spent his vacation selling books and thus provided the funds with which to complete his college course. Upon receiving his diploma the Doctor came to Nebraska and opened an office for the practice of his profession at Auburn, where he remained for five years. He then spent a summer otherwise engaged and then located at Wayne, where he was engaged in practice for five years, meanwhile spending two summers on vacation in Dakota. On Januarv i, 1Q12, he located at Falls City and has since been engaged in practice in that city. The Doctor has a well-appointed office, equipped with all the modern appliances for dental surgery, and has built up a splendid practice. In 1916 he built a fine new home, between Nineteenth and Twentieth streets on Crook street, and there he and his family are very pleasantly situated.

On October 3, 1900, Dr. Hiram E. Eells was united in marriage to Stella Spurgin, of Barney, Madison county, Iowa, daughter of Williani Spurgin and wife, and to this union three children have been born, Lois E., born on Septemljer 14, 1902; Berkley E., July 7. 1907, and Nathan O., March 13, 1913, the latter of whom is the thirteenth living grandchild of the late Nathaniel E. Eells. Doctor and Mrs. Eells are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take a proper part in church work, as well as in other local good works, and in the general social and cultural activities of their home town. The Doctor is a member of a number of fraternal orders and in the afifairs of which organizations he takes a warm interest. Pohtically, he is "independent" and gives his thoughtul attention to local governmental affairs.

Eugene AUemend, one of Richardson county's best-known and most substantial retired farmers, a resident of Stella since 1890, in which year he retired from the active labors of the farm, is a native of France, but has been a resident of this country since he was eighteen years of age and of Nebraska since 1864, thus being very properly recognized as one of the pioneers of this section. He was born on May 16, 1836, and was about eighteen years of age when his parents, Nicholas and Frances (Bernard) Allemend, also natives of France, left their native land with their children and came to this country in 1854. the family locating in Chicago, where the father died a few years later. The Widow Allemend and her children then, in 1859, moved to St. Louis and there she spent her last days. Nicholas Allemend and wife were the parents of four children, of whom two still survive, the subject of this sketch having a younger sister, Mrs. Lenora Jacko, a widow, now living at San Francisco, California. He had two elder brothers, Justin and Frank, now deceased.

he came to this country with his parents and during the time he hved in Chicago he worked there as a cook. Upon his removal to St. Louis in 1859 he began working there and in December, 1863, was married in that city. . The next summer, in August,- 1864, he came to Nebraska and bought a small tract of land in Aspinwall precinct, Nemaha county, just northeast of Stella, and there established his home, settling down as a farmer. Though Mr. Allemend suffered a little privation and hardship during the early years of his pioneering here, as did most of the early settlers of this section, he kept pushing- ahead and it was not long until he began to see his way clear to the development of a fine piece of property surrounding his home. In addition to his general farming he early began giving considerable attention to stock raising and as he prospered in his operations added to his holdings until he came to be regarded as one of the leading landowners in that part of the state. Mr. Allemend is now the owner of six hundred and forty acres in his old home tract, besides a nearby "eighty" in that part of the county and two hundred and twenty acres over the line in Nemaha county, all in Aspinwall precinct, and is accounted one of the most substantial citizens of Richardson county. For years he gave much attention to the raising of high-grade draft horses and also kept a trotting horse, "MacMahon," that became more than locally famous and that he kept until the animal's death at the age of thirty-three years. In 1890 Mr. Allemend retired from the active labors of the farm and moved to the village of Stella, from which place he since has directed his extensive farming interests. He built a fine residence there and he and his family are very pleasantly situated. Mr. Allemend has taken an active interest in the general development of the community in which he settled back in pioneer days and has done much to promote the advancement of that community along all proper lines. Politically, he is a Republican and has ever given a good citizen's attention to local civic affairs, but has not been a seeker after public office.

On December 28, 1S63. at St. Louis, Eugene Allemend was united in marriage to Adale Deculle, also a native of France, born in the city of Paris. December 13, 1844, who left there with her parents in 1849 for the United States, the family settling in Illinois and later locating at St. Louis, where she was living at the time of her marriage to Mr. Allemend. To this union seven children have been born, namely: One, who died in infancy; Emil, deceased; Eugene, deceased: Mrs. Georgette Monnett, who lives over in- Nemaha county : Mrs. Leona Timermann, of North Platte, this state : Frank,, of Nemaha countv. and Mrs. Grace. Martin, wife of a merchant at Stella.

James Franklin Shubert

The Hon. James Franklin Shubert, of Shubert, banker, orchardist and land agent and former representative from this district to the Nebraska state Legislature, cashier of the Citizens Bank of Shubert, president of the Brownville State Bank of Brown ville, a member of the board of directors of the Farmers State Bank of Stella and one of the leading fruit growers and most ardent orchardists in Nebraska, is a native son of Richardson county and has lived here all his life. He was horn on a pioneer farm, the site of the present thriving village of Shubert, in the precinct of Barada, November 4, 1870, son of Henry W. and Mary (Griffin) Shubert, pioneers of this section of Nebraska, both now deceased and further and fitting' mention of whom is made in a memorial sketch presented elsewhere in this volume, relating to the late Henry W. Shubert, after whom the village of Shubert was named and who was for years one of the most active and influential factors in the development of that part of the county.

Reared on the home farm at Shubert, James Franklin Shubert received his early schooling in the schools of that district and completed the same by a course in the high school at Auburn. From the days of his boyhood he was an active factor in the labors of developing and improving the home place, which his father " developed into one of the finest estates in this part of Nebraska, and early began to give particular attention to the great orchard industry which his father had created there, the elder Shubert long ago having been recognized as the pioneer in that industry hereabout, he having established the first commercial apple orchard in Richardson county. It was along in the eighties that Henry \V. Shubert started his initial orchard, a plant of about three hundred trees, and in the nineties began to develop the same on a large scale, the venture then being made commercially profitable, he by that time having about three hundred acres covered with bearing trees, the great orchard being tended scientifically and in accordance with the most approved methods of modern horticulture. Upon the retirement of his father from this business, J. F. Shubert assumed the direction of the same, having meantime become recognized as one of the most expert pomologists in the state, and has continued to develop and extend the orchards until he is now the owner of two hundred acres of bearing orchards in the vicinity of Shubert and is operating with others who plan to extend their operations by planting an additional thousand acres in apple trees. Mr. Shubert is now the largest individual orchardist in Richardson county and has made of that industry a commercially profitable affair, annually shipping as many as four hundred carloads of apples, for which he receives the top of the market, Nebraska apples having gained great favor wherever introduced. Mr. Shubert is a member of the Central Nebraska Fruit Growers' Association, in the affairs of which' he takes an active interest, and is also a stockholder in the Loess Land and Orchard Company, which was organized in 1914 for the purpose of buying lands for other purposes. In addition to these interests, besides his large bankinginterests, he is the owner of a fine farm of one hundred acres, to the cultivation of which he gives his personal oversight.

As noted above, Mr. Shubert's banking interests are represented in Brownville, Stella and Shubert, he being president of the Brownville State Bank, which he organized in 1914, with a capital stock of $15,000, and a member of the board of directors of the Farmers State Bank of Stella, but it is to the affairs of the Citizens Bank of Shubert, which he was mainly instrumental in organizing and of which he is the cashier and office manager, that he gives his close personal attention. The Citizens Bank of Shubert, locally known as "The Bank of Good Service," was organized by T. F. Shubert' A. M. Shubert, H. E. Williams, E. C. Riggs and Robert Ivutler, and was opened for business on January 2, 1908, in an old building which since has been torn down and supplanted by a handsome new bank building, with modern fixtures and all the latest appurtenances of an up-todate banking office. A recent statement of this bank shows its capital to be Sicooo, surplus, $5,000, and deposits, $110,000. The present officers of the bank are as follows : President, H. E. Williams ; vice-president, A. M. Shubert : cashier, J. F. Shubert, and assistant cashier, L. \\'. Shubert, with these officers and E. C. Riggs and Robert Kutler as the board of directors. In addition to carrying on a general banking business the bank also conducts a fire and life-insurance business and has a flourishing farm-loan department.

On March 12, 1896, James Franklin Shubert was united in marriage to Leona Athey, of Macon county, Illinois, a daughter of Milton Athey, who spent his last days in Shubert, and to this union one child has been born, a daughter, Nina M., born on December 12, 1896, who was graduated from the Shubert high school and later, in 19 16, from the Falls City high school and is now a student in the Nebraska State Normal at Peru. The Shuberts have a very pleasant home at Shubert and take a proper interest in the general social and cultural activities of that place. Mr. Shubert is a Republican and has served, at one time or another, in nearly all the local public offices, serving on the town board and on the school board, and in 1907 represented this district as a member of the House of Representatives in the General Assembly of Nebraska. He is a Royal Arch and York Rite Mason, a memljer of the local lodge at Shubert and of the chapter and commandery at Falls City, and is a noble of the Ancient Arabic Order of Xobles of the Mystic Shrine, affiliated with Sesostris Temple at Lincoln, and takes a warm interest in Masonic affairs. He also is a member of the local lodge of the Woodmen of the World.

A thrifty farmer of Franklin precinct, Richardson county, is J. Abner Hews, who was bom September 2, 1872. He is a son of Sanborn S. Hews and wife, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Both parents are deceased, the mother dying when the subject of this sketch was a boy. J. Abner Hews spent his childhood on the home farm, a half mile east of \ erdon, Richardson county. He attended the district schools, but his education was limited as he was compelled to go to work when only ten years of age, working three years for his board. When fourteen years he got his board and clothes, .\bout this period his father remarried and he lived with the elder Hews until he became of legal age. Upon the death of his father he rented the James Gavitt farm and land of John Holman. He farmed with his brother in Nemaha county, from 1895 until 1904. He managed well (luring that period of nearly ten years and saved enough to purchase a place of his own, buying ninety acres of land in Franklin precinct, Richardson county, for which he paid seventy dollars per acre. In 1907 he sold out to H. G. Mehlin, receiving the sum of nine thousand six hundred dollars. He then purchased the farm he now owns, for whith he pard the sum of one hundred and ten dollars per acre. His place consists of one hundred and si.xty acres of excellent land, in section 2^. Franklin precinct. He keeps it in fine tilth and under a high state of improvements; he has erected a new barn, fifty-eight by sixty feet, also has another good barn, but smaller. He is erecting an attractive new residence in the fall of 1917. He makes a specialty of raising Duroc-Jersey hogs, marketing about two hundred annually, also keeps a large number of Shropshire sheep and a good grade of cattle.

;Mr. Hews was married on February 12, 1901, to Phoebe Legg, a native of Missouri, born there on December 12. 1876. She came with her parents to Richardson county when young, the family locating in Humboldt. She is a daughter of Lewis Legg, who brought his family to this county in the eighties.

Politically, Mr. Hews is a Democrat and is an admirer of William J. Bryan and his doctrines. He has forged his way up from a very unpromising start and is therefore entitled to the easy circumstances in which he now finds himself while still in the prime of manhood. He takes an active interest in whatever makes for the general good of Franklin precinct and Richardson countv.

James Harvey Overman

James Harvey Overman, well-known veteran hotel-keeper at Stella, this county, former postmaster of that village, formerly and for years engaged in the mercantile business tliere and since pioneer days one of the leading factors in the development of the town, is a native of the old Hoosier state, a fact of which he never has ceased to be proud, but has been a resident of this section of the country since the days of his early infancy, having come out to the neighboring state of Iowa with his- parents in the spring of 1852. he then being but an infant in arms, and one year later, in 1853, came to Missouri. He was born in Glark county, Indiana, not far across the river from the city of Louisville, January 10. 1852, son of James L. and Mary (Dailey) Overman, both of whom were born in that same county, members of pioneer families in southern Indiana, and who later became pioneers of this region, their last days being spent at Stella.

The Overmans are of Dutch stock and the family has been represented in this country since Colonial days. James L. Overman's father, whose wife was an Amick, became early settlers in Clark county, Indiana, where James L. Overman was born on February 15, 1824. His father died about six years later and he early l^egan working on his own account, learning the cooper's trade. On December 29, 1845, ^^ married Mary Dailey, who also was born in Clark county. Indiana, May 16, 1819, member of a pioneer family in that section of the Hoosier state, and there made his home until 1852, when he came West and settled in Iowa, one year later settling in Missouri. In 1858 he moved over to St. Deroin, on the river, just at the southeast corner of Xemaha county, where he began operating a ferry, at the same time setting up a small cooperage establishment, and was living there when the Civil War broke out. Previous to the formal declaration of war. huwever. in March, 1861, he had enlisted as a member of the local company of Home Guards, for service against the "bushwhackers," and was later transferred to Company D, Fifth Missouri Cavalry, with which command he served for sixteen months, that command doing effective service against the guerillas that caused so much trouble in Missouri and througliout this section. Later James I,. Overman was engaged in the cooperage business at St. Joseph and at Amazonia, where he established a cooperage shop, but after awhile returned to St. Deroin and there remained until 1S84. wlien he moved to Stella, this county, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring there on December 28, 1894. His widow survived him nearly .fifteen years, her death occurring at Stella on February 4. 1909. They were the parents of four children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the last-born, the others being Kate, widow of Peter Fraker. of Stella; Andrew M., who enlisted for service in the Union army during the Civil War and whose fate thereafter was unknown to his family, and Arabella, of Stella, widow of J. M. McCollough.

As noted above, James H. Overman was but an infant when his parents came West and he was about six years of age when the family, on March 6, 1858, settled at St. Deroin, this state; the state at that time, however. l>eing under a territorial form of government. He consequently has been a witness to and a participant in the development of this region since pioneer days and one of the recollections of his childhood is of the burial at St. Deroin of the old Indian chief, Joseph Deroin. He received his schooling in the primitive schools of his boyhood days and when seventeen years of age began clerking in his brother-in-law's store at St. Deroin. In July, 1871," Air. Overman began clerking in a store at Severance, Kansas, and was there engaged in business until 1874. He then returned to St. Deroin and clerked in the store of A. J. Ritter until March, 1879. In 1877 he was appointed postmaster at St. Deroin under President Hayes, serving until 1879, having previously served as deputy postmaster. In 1879 he moved to C'orning. Missouri, and was there engaged in business for about three years, at the end of which time he came to Stella. Soon after the townsite was laid out at Stella, this county, in February, 1882. he opened a store at that place, in June, 1882, and has ever since resided there, with the exception of ten months spent conducting a hotel at Humboldt. Mr. Overman -was appointed postmaster of -Stella' on January, 1898, by President McKinley, and on April 27, 1904, was reappointed postmaster by President Roosevelt, and was reappointed by President Taft, serving until

October i, 1916. His life has been practically devoted to merchandisingand hotel-keeping and he. now has a well-appointed and modern hotel of twenty-three rooms at Stella, one of the best-known and most popular hostelries in this county. Mr. Overman's hotel at the corner of Main and Third streets is of brick, three stories in height and is equipped in accordance with modern demands for the greatest degree of comfort on the part of the traveling public. Mr. Overman is a stanch Republican and has for years been looked upon as one of the leaders of that party in Richardson county.

On March 24, 1878, James H. Overman was united in marriage to Lucinda Marie Thomas, who was born in Putnam county, Missouri, daughter of Elijah P. and Samantha Ann (Hillis) Thomas, natives of Kentucky and Indiana, respectively, who became pioneers in Missouri. Elijah P. Thomas was born at Maysville, Kentucky, February 11, 1827, son of John and Margaret (Harmon) Thomas, the former of whom was born in Kentucky about I7C)5 and the latter in Champaign county, Ohio, not far from Urbana. John Thomas was the son of Solomon Thomas, a \'irginian by birth and a soldier of the patriot army during the Revolutionary War, his father, Solomon Thomas, Sr., having been a Welshman who came to this country in Colonial days and settled in Virginia. John Thomas was a farmer and miller and served as a soldier during the War of 1812. He moved from Kentucky to Missouri and died in Scotland county, that state, at the age of eighty years. His wife died in Putnam county, that state, she also reaching a ripe old age. Elijah P. Thomas was married at Knoxville, Iowa, Septeml^er 15. 1853, to Samantha Ann Hillis, who was born in Indiana on March 18, 1833, daughter of Dr. J. D. B. .and Lucinda (Stearett) Hillis. Dr. J. D. B. Hillis was born in Bourbon county, Kentucky, January 10, 1810, and his wife was born in the vicinity of Urbana, Ohio, in 1813. Doctor Hillis served in the Civil War as surgeon in a Wisconsin regiment, and served as state senator in Iowa - a capable man.

Mr. and Mrs. Overman are members of the Church of Christ (Scientist) and take an earnest interest in the affairs of the same. They have no children of their own, but reared to womanhood a niece of Mrs. Overman, Mary Palmer, who was educated in the schools of Stella and who on September 22. 1895, married George W. Harris, who is now engaged in sheep raising at North Yakima, Washington. Mr. Overman is a member of the local lodge of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and in the afifairs of that organization takes a warm interest.

Joachim H. Eickhoff

A well-known farmer and breeder of Duroc-Jersey swine, is Joachim H. Eickhoff, of near Falls City, Richardson county. Mr. Eickhoff was born on January 15, 1870, in Mecklenburg, Germany, and is a son of Joachim and Dora (Godeman) Eickhoff, natives of Germany, where they grew up, were married and established their home imtil they emigrated to America. Their family consisted of eight children, two of whom are deceased. Joachim Eickhoff was born in 1844 and died in 1912. He and his family remained in Germany until 1874, when they immigrated to America, locating in Richardson county, Nebraska, where the father worked out as a farm hand for a time, after which he rented land on the Baker farm. By his industry and hard work he succeeded in establishing a comfortable home in this county. He retired a few years prior to his death, locating in Falls City, where he spent his last days, living in comfortable retirement from the income of a tine farm of two hundred and forty acres near Falls City. His widow, who still lives on the home place in Ohio precinct, was born in

Joachim H. Eickhoff. of this sketch, was nearly four years old when his parents brought him to Richardson county. Here he grew up on the home farm and assisted his father in the general work about the place. He received his education in the district schools. When twenty-five years old he rented land until 1901. when he bought a farm near Shubert, Nebraska, which he sold in 1908 and bought his present farm of two hundred and fort\- acres in section 4, of Falls City precinct, and he also owns land in section 9. He has made many important improvements on the place and is carrying on general farming and stock raising successfully. He devotes considerable attention to orcharding, his fine orchard now^ embracing fortyfive acres, thirtv acres of which he himself set out. He has a good variety of commercial apples and knows how best to prepare them for market, shipping them in car lots to Western markets. . He is a scientific farmer, keeps well read in regard to all phases of modern methods, reading the latest government bulletins and the best farm journals. He has for years been a successful breeder of Duroc-Jersey hogs, holding private sales of his stock, for which he never fails to receive fancy prices, owing to their superior quality. In 19 14 he bought a fine thoroughbred Belgian stallion, imported, for which he paid the sum of fifteen hundred dollars, when two years old. He has a pleasant home and surroundings, large and convenient barns and

Richardson Couxty, Nebraska

DUtlniildings, everything about liis place denoting thrift and good management as well as good taste. He has also been a feeder of cattle for many \ears for the markets.

Air. Eickhoff was married, April 18, 1895, to Emma Eichsteadt, who was born on August 27. 1873, in Germany. She is a daughter of John and Sophia (Siemon) Eichsteadt, who came to the United States in 1884, locating in Richardson county, Nebraska, where diey engaged successfully in general farming. Mr. Eichsteadt is now living in retirement in Falls City.

To Mr. and Mrs. E.ickhoff eight children have been born, namely: Airs. .Minnie Ottobek, of Falls City precinct, Richardson county; Elmer lives at home: Laura, l-'ranlc. Clara, Joachim, Jr., Robert and Esther are also all at home.

Politically, Air. Eickhoff is a Democrat but \otes independently. He holds membership with the German Lutheran church. He is regarded as one of the progressive and useful citizens of his precinct, where his honesty and neighborly ways have made him a host of friends.

John C. Aiullen

John C. Alullcn, city attorney and city clerk of ]'"alls City, president of the Falls Cit\- Boosters' Club, chairman of the Democratic central committee of Richardson county, secretary of the local bar association and one of the best-known lawyers in this part of the state, is a native son of Nebraska and has lived in this state all his life. He was born at O'Neill, county seat of Holt county, July 3, 1886, son of James and Emily (Clancy) Mullen, natives of Kingston, Canada, of Irish descent, the former of whom was born in 1849 and the latter in 1851, who are still living, prominent and long-time residents of the city of O'Neill. They were married in Canada and then came to Nebraska, homesteading a farm in Holt county, in the immediate vicinity of O'Neill, in 1880, where they remained ten years, at the end of which time, in 1890, the}' moved to the neighboring village of Page and were there located until 1907, when they moved back to O'Neill and have since made that their place of residence. For many years James Alullen was activel>- engaged in the live stock business in Holt county and did very well. He and his wife are members of'the Catholic church and their children were reared in that faith. There are nine of these children, (63) all (jf wIkhii are li\in,s;, those besides the subject of this sketch being as fnllow : Arthur, who is engaged in the practice of law at Omaha; Robert. a lawyer at Alice, Texas; James, a ranchman at Cardwell, Montana; Mrs. John O'Donnell, of Norfolk, this state; Mary, a teacher in the normal school at Peru, this state; Helen, who is at home; Sister Mary Januaris. of the order of St. Dominica at Sinsinawa, \\'isconsin, and Sister Mary Roslyn, of that same retreat.

L'pon completing the course in the public schools (if his home town, John C. Mullen studied two }ears at Creighton University at Omaha and then for two years, 1906-07, taught school. He then entered the Universit}' of Xebraska at Lincoln and upon completing a C(nirse there in 1908 entered the law department of the university, from which he was graduated in 1912. In that same \ear he opened an office for the practice of his profession at Falls Cit}' and has e\er since been thus engaged there, having established his home in that city after his marriage there in 1914. Mr. Mullen is an ardent Democrat and is now serving as chairman of the county central committee of that party. On April 18, 1916, he was appointed city attorney and (in January 30. 1917, was appointed city clerk, in both of which important public capacities he is now serving. Since entering" upon the practice of his profession at Falls City Mr. Mullen has done well there and is now the secretary of the local bar association, in the affairs of which he has taken an earnest interest ever since becoming a member of the same. He is regarded as one of the real "live wires" of his home town and is doing good work in behalf of the promotion of the interests of the city as the president of the celebrated Falls City Boosters' Club, ever active in promoting an\' proper movement looking to the advancement of the city's interest in a material way-

On May 13, 191 4, John C. Mullen was united in marriage to Helen Majerus, who was born in Falls City, daughter of Jacob and lilizabeth (W'ilker) Majerus, the former of whom is now deceased, and to this union one child has been born, a son, Gerald, born on .\ugust 13, 1916. Mr. and Mullen are members of the Catholic church and take a proper interest in parish atTairs, as well as in the general good works of their home town and in the general social and cultural activities of the same. Mr. Mullen is the present e.xalted ruler of the local lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of F.Iks and is the financial secretary of the local council of the Knights of Columlms. in the affairs of both of which organizations he takes a warm and active interest.

Willi A Rd M. Shubert

Williard M. Shuhert, retired farmer now living in the village of Shubert. was born in Mason county. Illinois, January i", 1851, a son of John and Rebecca ( Shrout ) Shubert, who came to Nebraska in 1877 and settled in this county, where the\' spent the remainder of their lives. John Shubert was l^orn in Kentucky on September 4, 1807, and his wife was born in that same state on June 11, iSio. .\fter their marriage they located on a farm in Mason county, Illinois, where they remained until 1877, when they came out to Nebraska and became pioneers in the northern part of this count}, tlieir last da\s being spent there, John Shul^ert dying on January i, 1880, and his widow sur\-iving until Ajiril i"/. 1885. The\' were the parents of twelve children, of whom nine grew to maturity, those besides die subject of this sketch being as follow: Airs. Rachel HarnKjn, deceased: ]Mrs. Elizai-eth \'allandingham, deceased: Henry W., on whose land the village of Shubert was laid out and a memorial sketch of whom is presented elsewhere in this \olume; Mrs. Alar)- Anne V'allandingham, deceased; Eliza Jane, deceased: James, deceased: John W., now a resident of Canada, and Mrs. Rebecca Aime Pond, of Shubert.