taught school in Hamilton County for six years and was Principal of the high school at Aurora from 1897 to 1899. He is a member of the Democratic party and is Superintendent of Hamilton County.

     J. B. CUNNINGHAM is a native of West Virginia and the date of his birth is November 3, 1856. When he was nine years old he removed with his parents to Munsey, Indiana, and came to Nebraska as a teacher in 1880. He has held the office of Clerk of the District Court of Hamilton County for eight years and was elected County Treasurer on the Independent ticket.

     OSCAR BERGGREN was born November 18, 1855, in Sweden, from which country he came to the United States in the spring of 1880, first locating in Chicago. In 1882 he removed to Hamilton County, Nebraska, where he is now occupied as a builder and farmer. He spent three years in college and several years in the study of practical engineering. He is now serving his third term as County Surveyor and is affiliated with the Republican party.

 

     Before the white men came to disturb then peace, Indians and herds of buffalo were the only inhabitants of Harlan County. There were more buffalo here than in any other western locality on account of the tempting water and grasses. The Republican River flows through the county. This river has many tributaries in this locality, two of which stretch out over a hundred miles in length. These creeks, Sappa and Prairie Dog, both supply good water power. Wells are from 10 to 260 feet deep according to elevation. The Indians fought desperately before relinquishing this land to the white men. They were so ferocious that no one dared make a settlement. In 1869, a whole party of United States surveyors were killed 'while trying to survey a town range near. Sappa Creek. An Indian war went on for some time with General Carr commanding the white troops. This general was assisted by the renowned Buffalo Bill as his Chief of Scouts. Finally Gen. Carr succeeded, and the Indians of the Republican Valley were completely overwhelmed. The first settlers were part of a prospecting party consisting of forty men from the eastern part of the state. The first building in the county was the home of J. W. Foster on his claim south of Alma. On this farm, Gen. Sidney Johnston's army camped while on the way to Utah to subdue the Mormons. Mrs. Duncan, who lived with her husband in the stockade at Melrose was the first white woman in the county. Large numbers of Swedes and Danes settled around the stockade. The country was so thickly settled in 1871 that a county organization was made with an area of 576 square miles. Previous to this time the land had been a part of Lincoln County. There are 3,167 children of school age, and the entire population is 9,370.

     P. P. BENTLEY was born September 23, 1847 at Westford, New York. He graduated from the! Normal College at Albany, New York, in 1871 and has spent much of his time in school work. He served two years during the Civil War and was twice wounded at the Battle of the Wilderness. He was School Commissioner at Otsego, New York, one term and Superintendent of Schools at Worcester and Milford, New York and also at Bricksburg, New Jersey. He settled at Alma, Nebraska, in 1885 and was Superintendent of the high school for eight years. He is a member of the Republican party and has 'twice been elected Superintendent of Harlan County.

     A. P. SHELBURN was born in Madison County, Iowa, December 25, 1863. He came with his parents to Nebraska in 1878, settling on a farm in Harlan County. He received a common school education and has been engaged in farming. He was married to Miss Mattie Whitecar of Dakota County, Nebraska. Mr. Shelburn has been a member of the Board of Supervisors of Harlan County and is now the Sheriff of that county. He is a member of the Populist party.

     C. M. MILLER was born in Bartholomew County, Indiana, March 18, 1864. In 1879 he removed to Kansas and ten years later came to Nebraska. Mr. Miller is an attorney at law, and received his education in the Normal School at Salina, Kansas, June 18, 1895, he was married to Miss Jennie L. Druliner, and they have two children. Mr. Miller is affiliated

with the Populist party, and is now the County Judge of Harlan County. He has also been Police Judge and a member of the School Board of the Alma public schools.

     F. W. STEVENS, who has been Clerk of Harlan County for the last five years, was born in West Haven, Vermont. From Vermont he went to New York, and then came to Nebraska. He received a common school education and has been engaged in the farming industry. He is a member of the Republican party and has also been town clerk and served as assessor for nine years.

     J. A. BROWN was born in Daviess County, Missouri, September 4, 1863. In 1869 he came to Nebraska with his parents and settled in Harlan County in 1875. He received a common school education and engaged in farming and teaching school. He was a member of the County Board during 1891 and 1892 and from 1896 to 1904 was Deputy County Treasurer. He is now serving his first term as County Treasurer of Harlan County, being a member of the Populist party.

     GOMER THOMAS is a native of Ohio, having been born April 30, 1867, at Niles. He came to Nebraska in 1883 and settled in Harlan County, where he has since resided. He received a common school education and studied law. Since 1891 he has been in the active practice of law at Alma, prior to which he taught school for a few years. He was Attorney of Harlan County from 1893 to 1897, and has been re-elected to that office on the Fusion ticket.

    A. C. ELLIS was born in New York State,