WILLIAM MANN.

     William Mann was born in Pennsylvania, but lived for some time in Knox county, Illinois. He came to Nebraska in the fall of 1869, settling in the McFadden township, York county. He brounght (sic) with him his wife and seven children. William W. Mann his eldest son, to whom we are indebted for these reminiscences worked for Elias Gilmore (one of the oldest settlers in York county) for about two years and drove oxen all that time. At the age of fifteen years he was doing equal to a man's work for $15 a month. Mr. Gilmore raised the first wheat crop in York county. It was when he was working for Gilmore plowing corn with a double shovel plough that a deer came within thirty rods of him.

     On another occasion he went to capture a wolf that had got away with the trap, he had with him two dogs, but they would not touch the wolf (Shunktokecha) and then as he was running to head it off, he unexpectedly jumped down a hollow close beside a deer, which gave two great jumps and then stood staring at him. It was evidently a case of mutual surprise. The wolf was caught the next day one mile away entangled in a hill of corn.

     In those early days the grouse were more plentiful than are the blackbirds now, and the beavers were numerous along the banks of the Blue river. It was wonderful to see how these little animals would throw trees, and roll them so as to make dams on the river. The river then, was true to its name; the water being clear, and its bottom covered with sand or pebbles which could be seen easily through water seven feet deep; but the breaking up of the praire (sic) with the washing down of the soil have long since changed the complexion of the Blue river.

     Their dugout was only about four rods from the river, and on one occasion five hundred Indians who were going out buffalo hunting camped three quarters of a mile from their place.

     It was always said. that "a white man could not get up close to an Indian without his knowing it," they were so alert and wide awake as to detect the movement of a leaf. One day young William saw two Indians beaver trapping along the river and thought it would be good opportunity to put them to the test, so he secured his shot gun and went near the Indians getting within six or seven feet of them and stood there watching them placing their traps and covering them with leaves. Then one of the Indians turned, and to his surprise saw the unexpected visitor, and said in haste, "Ouh!" They then pretended they could not understand or talk English, but in time it was proved they could, for it being Sunday several people passed along the road going to some service, and being attired in their best clothes; one of the Indians unwittingly said to the other. "This is Sunday isn't it?"

     During the visit of the grasshoppers it was noticed that sorghum was the only thing they did not eat.

CHARLES EBERSTEIN.

     Charles Eberstein is a native of Kalamazoo. Michigan. He joined the army when quite young, and in the spring of 1865 he passed through Nebraska with his regiment which was sent out west because of the Indian uprising, and was in the same company as William Ramsdell, another of our pioneers. The main army was divided on the Platte, part of it going to Utah because of trouble among the Mormons; the other part going to Wyoming.

     Mr. Eberstein's brother, Henry was sent to Utah, and had to pay $300 for a stage ride back from Salt Lake City to Atchinson, Kansas; such was the cost of travel in early days. Mr. Eberstein went with his company to Wyoming and soon afterwards returned to Michigan.

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     He came to Omaha, Nebraska in 1867 and lived there until he was of age; so that he could homestead. During that time he heard of a surveying party being fitted out to go west, and he tried to join it. But when he saw the Surveyor, he was told he was just one day too late; all the men needed having been engaged. The party set out for Fort Kearney where they were to secure the help and protection of some soldiers, but before this was accomplished the whole party was overtaken and massacred, a happy miss for Mr. Eberstein.

     In the early part of March 1867 he set out West along with Mike Markey and William Hartsell, with a team and wagon, landing at the home of Mr. Alexandrias, who had located about 1862 on the Big Sandy river near a small town called Meridian situated on the Little Blue river. When making inquiries about homesteads at the Beatrice land office, he asked for a plat of Fillmore county and laid down the dollar in payment, but on looking at the plat he saw that the land was all vacant, so he picked up his dollar, saying, "I guess I do not need a plat," and the man in charge replied, "No, you will not need it as all the land is vacant." It is perhaps well to add here, that the north half of Fillmore county was homesteaded through the Lincoln land office, and the south half through the office at Beatrice

     The three men came ten miles north of the Alexandras place, Mr. Markey and Mr. Hartsell homesteading in Saline county, and Mr. Eberstein homesteaded two and a half miles north west of them in Fillmore county, taking the South East quarter of Section 13, Town 5 Range 1, the claim taking in the forks of the Walnut creek, it being the first piece of land taken in the south half of Filmore (sic) County. That was in April 1869, a few days after he had come of age.

     The nearest neighbor was ten miles away, and the next settlers to come into the south half of the county were George Marley and Frank Snow, who came in the following June.

     They soon began breaking prairie and planting sod corn, and were never without fire-arms day or night, for fear of the Indians. Mr. Eberstein broke the first prairie ever broken in that part of the country, and had at the time a rifle strapped to the plough handle, and a six shooter strapped around his waist.

     During that summer the Indians broke out and came down near Medidian (sic), and Governor Butler, who was then Governor of Nebraska, ordered the raising of State Militia, which Mr. Eberstein joined. They built a fort at the mouth of Spring Creek and the Blue river near where Hebron now stands, calling it Fort Butler; it being the head-quarters of the Militia during the season. The Indians thought a great deal of the Little Blue river, and were very loath to give it up, which accounts for the many raids made along its banks.

     They made numerous scouting trips to the South and West, one of which was in reality a buffalo hunt. There were about thirty men including Governor Butler, and also two English lords who went out seeking a location for a colony. About two weeks were spent on this trip, and they often saw signs of Indians, but never came into contact with any.

     The greater part of the hunting was done where Superior now stands, and they succeeded in killing 125 buffaloes, also numerous elks, antelopes and deer. They returned to Fort Butler with ten wagon loads of meat, after which they were soon discharged from the State Militia.

     It was now late in the fall; so Mr. Eberstein returned to his claim and spent a few days building a log cabin, then he went on horse back to Plattsmouth where he spent the winter working on the first miles of the Burlington Railroad built in Nebraska.

     The following Feburary (sic) he returned to his claim, and that spring the

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country was well settled up and numerous improvements made. Two brothers, John and Henry, also settled in the neighborhood, and a sister, Mrs. Vroman, was the first teacher in the Evergreen district, which was originally part of the Mount Zion District.

L. T. MEAD.

     L. T. Mead was a native of Fort Branch, Gibson County, Indiana, and came to Nebraska in March 1870 bringing with him his wife and little son - the two daughters coming later. They settled in Lincoln where he worked as a wagon-wright for David Bowen, the first blacksmith in Lincoln, Mr. Mead being the first man to do the wood work.

     In the fall of that year he came out west and secured a claim, but returned to Lincoln where he worked until the next spring. They came to the homestead in March 1871, it being the South East quarter of Section 4, Town 8, Range 1, west. Their first house was one room, eighteen feet square and made of wood, and in this they were often called upon to entertain travelers passing over the prairies; the small house being often taxed to its utmost capacity. Their first barn wherein they kept their cow, was a teepee or tent, and so severe was the weather that winter, that the cow had its mouth badly frozen, but with careful nursing it recovered from that misfortune. It is also remembered that Mr. Mead harvested his wheat one year wearing an overcoat so severe was the weather that season.

     On one occasion a dinner was given to some Pawnee Indians, and when it came to the helping of themselves with the butter, they simply took a chunk in their hands and ate it clear. There was no need of knives or spoons, they were in no degree fastidious, but were evidently quite original; fingers having been made long before spoons.

     A neighbor named Wright, with his wife and children were going to town along with Colonel Babcock who provided the conveyance. When about half a mile from Mead's house they were overtaken by a fearful wind storm. None of the party can remember just how it happened; but they found themselves lying in Mead's wheat field. The wagon box in which they were sitting was carried off the running gear and tipped over into the field. The party was badly scared though none were injured.

     Because of the apparent damage done to the young wheat, Colonel Babcock suggested payment for the same, but Mr. Mead said, "We will wait till harvest and see how things turn out."

     The incident was always a standing joke with Mr. Mead, as he always said, "he had better wheat on that particular spot than anywhere else in the field."

     Mr. Mead built a sod workshop and did a great deal of wagon repairing and other work for several years.

     One of the most pleasing sights in those early days was the prairie mirage, when, in the clear weather of the early morning they would often see that wonderful phenomenon which has unfortunately proved such a snare and disappointment to weary travellers on the plains. This optical phenomenon would sometimes give the effect as of a vast sea, or a river with trees growing on its banks, or a great city. At other times it would come more as the "Looming" when distant unseen objects would be observed in the sky; the town of Fairmont being reflected in that way. The local people who enjoyed this wonderful sight, said, "the air is rarefied," so one morning the Mead boy went out of doors, and upon seeing the mirage, ran into the house saying, "O mama, the air is glorified this morning!"

     Mr. Mead lived on the homestead eleven years, and then moved into Ex-

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eter, where he died on April 17, 1901, in his 75 year. Mrs. Mead lived until February 8, 1913, and was 82 when she died. They both joined the United Brethren Church held in the Redfern school house, of which body Mr. Mead remained a member till his death. Mrs. Mead was a member of the M. E. church when she died.

     It is worthy of mention, that Mrs. Mead could trace her family genealogy back to show her relationship to General Robert E. Lee, of Civil War fame, and Mr. Mead could trace his back to show relationship to Sergeant John Prichett, a soldier of the Revolution.

JOHN REDFERN.

     John Redfern came with his parents from England, and lived for some time in Peoria, Illinois. He came to Nebraska in 1870 and lived for three years near Nebraska City. When they arrived at the Missouri River, it was frozen over, but the ice was too thin to be safe for heavy traffic, so they walked across it in snow knee deep, and had to wait some time for their goods. They next came and settled on land three miles north of Exeter, and had a family of seven children to care for, and only one span of mules with which to start life on the new land. They built a sod house and passed through many hardships and privations in their efforts to make a living.

     They suffered the loss of a corn crop by hail; the corn stalks being cut off to about six inches above the ground, besides losses through blizzards and grasshoppers.

     One day one of the boys went round the house to pick up what he thought was a piece of black cloth, when to his surprise he found it to be a rattle snake.

     Their house was opened for preaching services and sunday school, Mr. Redfern being a great sunday school worker. "Father" Green would preach there, an old man who was one of the best known and most respected characters in the district. A United Brethren Church was organized and afterwards carried on in the sod school house, but like many of the country churches, it had only a short life. Mr. Redfern died on November 17, 1901, his widow still owns the land but lives in town.

MR. AND MRS. JAMES NOLAN

     Mr. and Mrs. James Nolan, now of Cambridge, Nebraska, were among the pioneer settlers of Fillmore County, having come by wagon from Iowa, and settled on a homestead six miles south of Exeter, on June 12, 1871.

     They brought along with them nine head of cattle and four horses, and were fortunate in having also a good supply of meat and provisions which lasted them until fall. After landing on the prairie, they took off the wagon covers and used them to sleep under, cooking their food by camp fire, and hauled all the water they needed from Turkey creek, a distance of about two miles. Mrs. Nolan made her first butter out on the prairie and sold it to Dr. Smith of Exeter, the next butter she took in, they paid her 30 cents per lb, and Chas Smith (then a little fellow) said, "We will eat that butter ourselves."

     Their first house consisted of but one room, made out of logs, sod and grass, having one window and one door. Their well was dug with a spade, the lumber necessary to use in it had to be hauled all the way from Lincoln. During the time they were digging the well Mr. Nolan's mother, (then an old lady of about 75 years, who made her home with them) got her leg broken.

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     Their furniture had not yet come, so a bed had to be made of logs and boards, and a doctor secured from Crete. One day after her bed had come and she was more comfortably situated, a little house dog insisted on barking and making a great fuss over something it saw under the bed, and on investigation it was found that a large rattle snake was coiled up on the floor. They knew that it must be gotten out, somehow, without letting her know it, so some of them gathered around the bed and talked to her while her son took the snake out with a pitch-fork.

     Fifteen acres was all that was broken up the first year, but each year more of the land was farmed, some trees and shrubs were set out, and a new sod house with a shingle roof and a board floor took the place of the old one.

     One day in August when Mr. Nolan was away from home, his wife saw a great prairie fire about a mile west, and she, fearful for the mother lying helpless in the house, went to fight the fire, and worked hard all day long until sundown, coming home almost exhausted only to find another fire coming from the east and was only a short distance from the house, but by this time Mr. Nolan was home, and plowing a fire guard which saved them from harm. Their first snow came in the night and crept in all around the roof and open places in the house, so that when they awakened in the morning they found themselves covered with a blanket of snow. Their first Christmas morning on the homestead found everything covered with about two feet of snow and not an ounce of flour in the house. Mr. Nolan had to go after it on horseback, the snow was so drifted in places that it was almost two o'clock in the afternoon before he got home.

     It was the custom of Mr. Nolan to fix a lantern on a pole in front of the house, so that when he had to come home after night, his wife could light the lantern that he might find his way home, for at that time there were no roads in the country. The second year they had fifteen acres of wheat all ripe and ready to cut, so Mr. Nolan went to Fairmont and bought a harvester, but that night there came a heavy rain and hail storm, and in the morning no harvester was needed as all the grain was lying flat on the ground.

     In the year of the grasshoppers he was fortunate to have his wheat in the shock, but the corn and the contents of a small garden were eaten in about an hour, only the stumps of the cabbages remained. Mrs. Nolan's brother, George Nugent, had a small patch of tobacco, and they took it all so clean, one could scarcely tell what had been in the field. Mr. Nugent said, "If they had only waited he would have gotten them a gross of pipes so they could have had a smoke."

     The first school house was built on the south east corner of their claim, and was used as school house, church, and a place for any kind of public gatherings, and often proved a place of shelter for the passing home seeker. In those days the Indians were often seen roaming over the prairie. One day just at noon one of them came to the door and wanted his dinner, so they gave him bread and butter and some coffee; from a good sized loaf of bread they cut four slices, the first two he ate, but the next two he cut out the centers leaving the crust.

     During the blizzard of 1874, they endured many inconveniences, having in the house a calf, a colt, and two dozen chickens, The fuel got so scarce they had to chop up a bed and other pieces of furniture to keep themselves warm. They endured many of the trials and hardships incident to real life on the plains. Three times the angel of death visited their home and carried away their loved ones, but never did they think of leaving the place they then called "Home."

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CHESTER C. STEPHENS.

     Chester C. Stephens, brother to Mrs. Downey was born in Pennsylvania, but lived for some time in Michigan. He came to Nebraska in 1871, and located on the north west quarter of Section 4, Town 7, Range 1, west. His first home was a dug out, size 10 ft. by 12 ft, close to where his house now stands, such was its construction that he might very reasonably be called one of Nebraska's early cave dwellers. Before this cave was made he used his wagon cover which was on a good frame as a tent, having it well staked to the ground. One warm night he lay sleeping with the cover up, thoroughly enjoying the prairie air, and as contented as a monarch on his land; when he felt something cold against his face, and on looking up beheld a prairie wolf with its paws upon his bed, and carefully scenting the occupant of the same, while another wolf sat on her haunches a short distance away. He immediately reached out his hand for his revolver, but before he could fire a shot, the unwelcome visitors had made their escape.

     On another occasion he was lying in his bed in the dug-out with the door wide open, when a wolf made its appearance, and showed signs of a desire for closer investigation, when he got his revolver and fired, but again the shaggy coat made an escape.

     About two months after he came to the country he had been busy at the Ramsdell home, and the return help was to be given at his place. Mr. Ramsdell had gone to secure the services of Mr. J. K. Barber, and Mr. Stephens was coming towards his home with "Uncle" Jim Horne, and were travelling in a north westerly direction when they saw a herd of twelve deer coming in a north easterly direction. Snow was falling at the time, the ground being covered, but neither men nor deer changed their course; with the result that they met within twelve feet of each other. The deer seemed quite tame and the men not attempting to interfere with them they walked quietly away. This was one of the most interesting and pleasing experiences of their prairie life, but such pleasures are of the distant past.

     In these days the Ramsdell's were living in the Henry Eberstein house; the same house wherein they had the snowstorm experience already mentioned. On this occasion it was spring time and instead of the snow finding its way into the house it was a large rattle snake that found an entrance and like many others of its tribe was careful to find the bed, where it was found under the bed tick, much to the discomfort of the household. There was only one thing possible for such visitors, and it went the road of its kind.

     One of the worst wind storms even experienced in Nebraska by Mr. Stephens was when he tried to make his way from Camden, to a place near Crete, where he had previously camped. He failed to reach the place, and had just crossed the railroad track, and unhitched his team, when the storm came up, such was its violence that he had to use lariet ropes and chains to keep his wagon in place.

     It is worthy of note that only two of the homesteaders of Liberty Township now live on their homesteads. Mr. Stephens and Mr. Patrick Murphy carrying that honor. There are two or three other homesteders (sic) who still own their land, but they live in town.

JOHN S. BEARDSLEY.

     John S. Beardsley was born in Ohio, but was brought by his parents to Iowa in the year 1856, where he grew up to manhood. He came to Nebraska in April 1870 and secured a homestead, it being the south west quarter of Section 22, Town 7, Range 1 west. He then brought his wife

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and family to Crete, coming from Iowa with a wagon and team of horses, having also with them a saddle horse, a spare horse, three cows and a heifer. Mrs Beardsley bringing along her sister, Miss Knox.

     Mrs. Beardsley has had two experiences of pioneer life, being among the pioneers of Iowa, and remembers when there were only three families of white people in their neighborhood. Her playmates were mostly Iowa Indian children, and she could as easily converse with them in their own language as she could talk English with her own people at home.

     She remembers her father selling a fat pig to an Indian named "Sepick" which he killed on the farm. After he had given the pig its death blow from which it quivered, the Indian said, "that is just the way my squaw did when I killed her." When asked if he had killed a squaw? he said, "yes! when I got tired of the first one I killed her!"

     Mrs. Beardsley's grandfather, "Knox," a Scotchman, started the first Dry-goods store in Sigourney, Iowa.

     Mr. Beardsley received his education in the Finlay Congregational School; which was at that time a branch of the Oberlin and Harvard Colleges. He studied Mathematics and Natural Philosophy under Prof. McKee, studying as a text book Prof. Cumstock's Philosophy, but missed his diploma as a result of his coming to Iowa to see after the land his father had bought, the School term being finished when he got back to Ohio. He afterwards taught school in Iowa and Nebraska.

     On their arrival in Crete, they found that a house was unobtainable, so they had to use their wagon for sleeping purposes and arranged a kitchen outside of Colonel Doane's house. Here their first supper was prepared and when everything was ready, a dust storm came up which soon had everything covered with dust, then it was the children asked the mother "Have we to eat dirt and all?"

     Mr. Beardsley started a nursery right where the Crete Depot now stands, and lived in the town one and a half years. In 1871 he farmed the land belonging to Colonel Doane, the founder of the Crete College. In the fall of that year they moved onto their homestead which was at that time a fine grazing ground for antelopes, elks and deer, many of those early inhabitants of Nebraska were still to be seen. Farming was commenced with great earnestness; three acres a day being often broken with a horse team and plough. An orchard of 600 apple trees was planted, besides a grove 16 acres in extent containing many kinds of favorite trees, and the pity of it is, these are nearly all dead.

     During the grasshopper time, when feeding was so scarce, he fatted his hogs on sugar cane seed, which answered the purpose admirably. He was also fortunate in having a good crop of oats, wheat, and barley; though like so many in the country he lost all his corn.

THOMAS COATES

     Thomas Coates was a native of Yorkshire, England, his home being near the County line; their nearest important town was Worksop, in Nottinghamshire. The district is probably one of the most interesting in the old Country, and has certainly been in all times one of the most beautiful.

     In the time of the Saxons; between the eighth and ninth century, when the country was known as Mercia, this neighborhood suffered a great deal through the inroads of the Danes; those intrepid Vikings, or Norsemen who loved to roam the North sea and exploit the English and other shores.

     The neighborhood is also famous because of the Sherwood Forest, and the stories of daring deeds done by "Robin Hood and his Merry Men" who

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we are told was a renowned outlaw in the twelfth century, who was always popular with the rustics because he plundered the rich and gave his surplus to the poor. From the number of large mansions in the neighborhood, the district is known as "The Dukeries" the great parks of which were part of the Sherwood Forest. The Robinhood hills rise to a height of 650 feet, and are still the happy hunting grounds of the local Dukes, Earls, and Gentry during the season.

     It was in this historic neighborhood that Thomas Coates was born and raised, and where in July 1848 he was married to Sarah Annie Johnson. Up to the time of their leaving England, he worked in the limestone quarries and rented a farm which was often done by enterprising men.

     They came to this Country in 1871, bringing with them a young family of seven children - five boys and two girls, arriving at Lincoln in the month of May. The B. & M. Railroad was then just laid as far as Lincoln, so they stayed there until the track was laid as far as Crete, then they made their way west, and he bought some Railroad land on Section 18, near the Turkey creek in Saline County. They lived there until the year 1873 when he bought the homestead rights of the north-east quarter of section 2, in Liberty Township, Fillmore County, where they resided until the time of their death, Mr. Coates dying in 1888 and Mrs. Coates in 1911.

     We are indebted to Mr. Joseph Coates, the fourth son in the family, for the following reminiscences, who remembers very distinctly the farm home in England (especially where the good Apple trees stood) as well as the experiences of pioneer life on the prairie.

     When they came to this country there was plenty of wild game still in the neighborhood which helped to make the new life interesting. One day he came very suddenly on a large herd of antelopes lying in a ravine, when on their seeing him they made a rush which seemed to shake the earth; such was the apparent effect caused by those particular kind of animals, when starting to run. The prairie fires were the terror of their lives, the fiery monster could be seen coming for three days before it reached their place, and could be seen three days after it had passed. This gave sufficient warning, and time to make fire guards, but often the fire would leap the guards, and not even Turkey creek proved a hindrance to its onward march of destruction.

     He would often visit the camp fire of the Indians, and sit in their circles watching their mode of life and listening to their old war and other songs. The Indians always seemed as happy as larks, life on a whole seemed a real pleasure, for they made the best of their conditions. They were often very poorly clad, even in the coldest of weather, and explained their ability to stand the cold by saying, "Indian all face," and of course, the white man does not usually cover his face. They were always glad to have a dead sheep, no matter what might have been the cause of its death. One day when about thirteen years of age he was out hunting rabbits, when quite unexpectedly an Indian came up to him and took the gun out of his hand. after looking it carefully over, the Indian handed it back without making any remarks and walked away, but young Coates at the time thought his end had come. On another occasion he went with a party to hunt antelopes, taking with them seven or eight dogs, but no guns. On the first day out they saw a lone antelope, and as soon as the dogs saw it they gave chase, and in a run of about eighty rods caught and killed it. The next day they saw a herd of fourteen, bunched up together, but this time the dogs would not touch them, and being without guns they could only look on with great disappointment, as the animals finally made their escape in single file.

     Among the most peculiar incidents of the early years are those resulting from the tornado which visited the neighborhood and completely destroyed the house and farm buildings on the "Wadman" place near the

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