ing tribes were noted for their prowess and desperation in battle, the fearful conflict can be better imagined than described. After a desperate struggle lasting three days the Sioux were compelled to withdraw from the battlefield, leaving 3,000 of their number. The Pawnees lost over 2,000 warriors. The latter also burned 700 prisoners at the stake during the engagement. The Pawnees were led by the chief Tac-po-hana, the Sioux by Oco-no-mewal, of whom Sitting Bull was a lineal descendant. This battle was the Waterloo of the Great Plains, and gave the mastery of this country to the Pawnee nation. This they never relinquished, and remained the most warlike and powerful tribe on the plains, a terror to the other tribes and the early white settler.
     The great overland route to the West from St. Joseph and Kansas City passed diagonally across Jefferson County from the southeast to the northwest.
     In 1867 the grasshoppers, added to the Indians, caused great suffering among the settlers. In 1874 the grasshoppers came again, this time in still larger numbers, but since that they have let this county alone.
     The small pox plague visited this county in June, 1879, and raged for six weeks with great fatality.

STREAMS, SOIL AND NATURAL PRODUCTS.

     The principal stream of the county is the Little Blue River, running diagonally through the county from northwest to southeast. It is a beautiful stream, and yet more useful than beautiful, furnishing most abundant water power the year round. The current is rapid, but with a gravelly bottom the water is always clear. Like most of the streams of Nebraska south of the Platte River, it receives its supply principally from that never-failing stream. It is about forty feet below the surface of the uplands to a gravel bed through which the water flows from the Platte, and consequently the banks and bottom of the Little Blue is lined with springs. About two miles from Fairbury there is one spring that furnishes a sufficient flow of water to run one moderate sized stone-buhr.
     Big and Little Sandy Creeks water the northwest portion of the county, and afford many mill privileges. Their tributaries to the east. supplied by springs, makes that portion well adapted to stock raising.
     Rose Creek, a beautiful stream with numerous branches, flows in an easterly direction along the line that divides the first and second tier of townships, and empties into the Little Blue. It affords good water power that has been quite thoroughly employed from the earliest settlement. The first mill in the county was upon this stream Cut Creek waters the northeast portion, which is not as abundant in running streams as the rest of the county. Rock Creek waters the southeastern portion of the county.
      Jefferson has a fair share of the timber of the State, being favored with more than the counties to the west, and with less than those toward the Missouri. The banks of the Little Blue are quite well timbered. Elm and cottonwood are most abundant, but oak, walnut and maple abound in certain localities. Most of the creeks have a fine growth of young timber, but if it were not for the care taken in timber cultivation the present supply would soon be exhausted. The county reports, for an equal area, the largest number of trees under cultivation. Nearly every farmer has a large grove of select varieties, including rapid and slow growth woods, and aggregating about 4,000,000 trees, besides many miles of honey locust and osage orange hedging.
     Small fruits do well and are becoming to be very extensively cultivated, and although the apple, pear, peach and kindred fruits have as yet not had time to be thoroughly tested, the result thus far is very satisfactory. There are reported under cultivation many apple trees, pear, peach, plum, cherry trees and grape vines. In the Russian settlement there is an abundance of mulberries, the plant, however, is cultivated principally for the silk worm.
     In various parts of the county are quarries of excellent limestone, from which a superior quality of lime is made; also a number of red sandstone, but very little of it is sufficiently hard for building purposes, and that which is hard is generally scaly or in thin layers. There are extensive deposits of potters' and brick clay of superior quality. The former is being used, and the latter is the principal mortar material used in building.
     The surface of Jefferson County is very rolling along the streams. which becomes gently undulating as it recedes. There is very little, however, too hilly and broken for agricultural purposes. The disposition of hills and vales in many parts of the county produces beautiful landscape views. As you approach the streams there are numerous draws, but are generally very narrow. The soil is generally very fertile, and exceedingly so in the bottoms, and well adapted to the cereals. The valley of the Little Blue, varying in width from a half to two and a half miles, is exceedingly fertile, and the encircling hills, affording excellent grazing grounds, are very picturesque in certain portions of the year.
     The surface of the country on the south side of Rose Creek is quite hilly and in places broken. This is used for grazing. The valley, though quite narrow in places, is quite fertile and has the honor of being the first occupied by settlers. Good water abounds in all parts of the county and all wells which reach the gravel are never-failing.

REPRESENTATIVE BUSINESS FIRMS AND MEN OF FAIRBURY.

     G. J. CARPENTER CO., Wholesale and Retail Dealers in and Growers of all kinds of Choice Nursery Stock.--Among the mammoth enterprises. which form the basis of the commercial wealth and importance of this great State is the G. J. Carpenter Co. successors to Carpenter & Gage. This concern employs no

less than 200 hands in the prosecution of their immense business, shipping as they do, constantly carloads of their goods to all parts of the country. They are wholesale and retail dealers in and growers of all kinds of choice nursey (sic) stock; Russian apricot, forest tree seedlings, grapes and small fruits a specialty. Their nursey (sic) at Fairbury, Nebraska, is the largest in the United States. The facilities they possess for successfully transacting the extensive business are of an unusually complete character. The members of the firm are G. J. Carpenter, S. S. Lewis, J. L. Pratt and C. M. Hurlburt. They are prominent and influential figures in local trade circles and have long been numbered among Fairbury's leading and most highly respected business men. In April, 1892, the company dispatched a special train of fifteen cars, containing all kinds of fruit and shade trees, valued at $40 000, to Denver and other points.

     H. P. SHOWALTER, Broker and Insurance --A prominent representative enterprise in its important branch of commercial activity is that of H. P. Showalter, founded three years, which from the start has had a rapid and substantial growth. Money to any desired amount is loaned on real estate, and the fair and equitable terms offered have drawn to the office a large and most desirable patronage. In the insurance department, numerous standard companies are represented, the combined assets of which aggregate many millions, and risks are placed on all insurable property and losses promptly and satisfactorily adjusted. Mr. Showalter is highly respected and esteemed in local trade circles and numbered among the representative Fairbury business men.
     He makes a specialty of loaning money for eastern capitalists and collects six per cent. interest for them.  
     He has 500 loans on his books and has had no foreclosures.  
     Reference: Harbine Bank, and county officers.

     THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK--The prosperity of banking concerns is indicative of an era of commercial progress. The First National Bank, of Fairbury, Neb., has a capital of $50,000 and surplus of $10,000. It has been organized eight years and a banking business of a general character is transacted. D. B. Cropsey, president. and J. B. McDowell, vice president, came from Illinois. E. E. McDowell, cashier, came here from Fairbury, Ill., where his family has been known for thirty years as bankers. As cashier he has shown himself the right man in the right place. The First National is committed to a prudent and conservative management, and ranks among the leading financial institutions of the State.

     HARBINE BANK OF FAIRBURY.--Among the foremost banks in Nebraska is the Harbine Bank of Fairbury, organized 1873. incorporated 1881. Capital $50,000, surplus $45,500. A general and highly prosperous banking business is transacted, while the custom drawn is from the best city and suburban residents. The officers are: Geo. W. Hansen. president; L. W. Eldridge, vice president: M. Zweifel, cashier: L. M. Nelson, assistant cashier. Mr. Zweifel, upon whose shoulders devolves the management, is a native of Switzerland, and has lived here fifteen years and been nine years with the bank. He has proven to be highly successful as cashier. The directors' names are synonymous with the sterling principles of financial integrity, executive ability and enterprise.

     GOODRICH BROTHERS' BANKING COMPANY.--In reviewing the commercial resources and facilities of any city, a position of first prominence should be accorded its banks as the medium of exchange in all trade transactions. The Goodrich Brothers' Banking Company (incorporated), has a capital of $75,000, and was established in September, 1886, since which time the bank has received a large and liberal patronage, and it is classed among the best institutions of the State. They do a general banking business. First mortgage farm loans and collections a specialty. Correspondents: Kountze Brothers, New York: National Bank of Commerce, Kansas City; Merchants' National Bank. Omaha; First National, Beatrice, Nebraska. E. E. Goodrich. president, from Connecticut, has been banking ten years, formerly at Hanover. Kansas. P. H. Goodrich vice president, lives in Connecticut. L. W. Goodrich, cashier, is a native of Illinois. The officers are gentlemen long prominent and highly respected in commercial circles.

     BILLS & KINYON'S Investment and Banking Company.--One of the most substantial and best conducted private banking houses in Nebraska. is that of Bills & Kinyon, established eleven years. Capital stock paid in, $40.000; undivided profits $322.26. Possessing ample capital, it can meet any demand which may be made upon it, and the confidence which is felt in it is shown by the yearly increasing business transacted. First mortgage loans negotiated. Interest allowed on time deposits. This firm has nearly two millions of dollars on their books of first mortgage loans negotiated on farms and negotiated with eastern parties. C. J. Bills is a native of Belvidere, Boone County. Illinois, and has lived here eleven years. He is a Mason. A. O. U. W. and K. P. V. Kinyon is a native New Yorker.

      THE COMMERCIAL, G. W. Fink, Proprietor--This popular and liberally patronized hotel has been established four years. Twelve assistants are constantly required in waiting on the many guests, while the dining room has a seating capacity of sixty-four persons. Special attention is given the traveling public, for whose convenience there are three sample rooms. The Commercial is very central and convenient and its tariff is moderate, accommodation and fine bill of fare considered. G. W. Fink, proprietor, is a native of Indiana and has been connected nine years with the hotel business in Nebraska. He is to be congratulated upon the success attending his ably directed efforts and ranks among the enterprising hotel men of the State.

     GLOBE PHARMACY, East Side of Square.--A prominent house of this city is the Globe Pharmacy, established five and one-half years. The spacious premises occupied are 25x120 feet, arid the appointment embraces all the modern elegancies and conveniences. A force of five assistants is employed in the several departments. The superior stock consists of drugs, chemicals, medicines, toilet and fancy articles, perfumes, brushes, extracts, oils, paints. etc., and since the inception of the business a widely extended trade has been built up. Dr. G. L. Pritchet, the owner of the pharmacy, has lived here nearly twelve years and practices medicine, being a graduate of the Rush Medical College. He is a native of Illinois, and is identified with the Masons and the order of the Military Surgeons of the United States.

     WILLIAM SMITH & CO., Strictly Cash Dry Goods, Notions, and Gents' Furnishing House, Public Square.--A prominent well-known establishment in the city of Fairbury is that of William Smith & Co., founded two years. The commodious premises occupied are 25x120 feet and are amply equipped for transacting business in dry goods, notions and gents' furnishing goods. Eleven assistants are constantly required. Mr. Smith, a native of Scotland, came here from Cleveland, Ohio and has had a life-long experience of the business in hand. He is a Mason, and is an influential figure in local trade circles, and is numbered among Fairbury's leading and esteemed business men.

     ALBERT F. SMITH, Postmaster.--In enumerating the useful and well-known men of Fairbury and Jefferson County. Neb., our list would be incomplete without due mention of Albert F. Smith. the postmaster. He is a native of Rockford. Ill., whence he came here. Mr. Smith has lived in Fairbury since 1879, and was formerly in the real estate and insurance business. He is an A. O. U. W. As city postmaster he has performed the various arduous duties devolving upon him in a strictly conscientious manner towards the people and the government. He is numbered among the representative men of this prosperous city.

     ALLEN & DAVIS, Coal.--Our pen sketches concerning Fairbury would be incomplete without due mention of Allen & Davis, established four years. They are extensive dealers in hard and soft coal, and deliver oil and gasoline daily to all parts of the city. They also sell the celebrated Rock Salt for stock. Messrs. Allen & Davis are natives of Ohio and Indiana, and are A. O. U. W's. They believe in the principle of honest goods at lowest prices and the success they are achieving is the best evidence that their efforts are appreciated by the public.

     HART BROS.. Wholesale Groceries and Queensware. 408 Fourth Street.--Conspicuous among the important establishments of Fairbury is that of Hart Bros., established sixteen years ago. They occupy premises spacious and commodious, 30x120 feet. and twelve assistants are constantly required to meet the demands of the first-class business done in wholesale and retail groceries and queensware. all of which are of very superior quality and sold at prices entirely consistent with fair dealing. Bart Bros. are natives of Wisconsin and are K. T. Masons. During their residence here they have been generally regarded as one of Fairbury's leading concerns.

     JOSEPH SARBACH, General Merchandise.--A representative establishment in this city is that of Mr. Joseph Sarbach, who has been established here three years. His ample premises are 30x120 feet, and seven assistants are required to help carry on business. The stock embraces dry goods, groceries, boots, shoes, etc. The branch firm of this house at Tobias, Nebraska, is Sarbach & Friend. Mr. Sarbach is a native of Germany and came here from Humboldt, Nebraska. He is a Mason, I. O. O. F., A. O. U. W., and member of other secret orders. His success is but a reflex of his able efforts to give satisfaction to all and every one.

     CARL ZIMMERMAN, Meats. North Side Square.--A conspicious (sic) and well-known establishment in Fairbury, is that of Carl Zimmerman, who was established in 1884. The spacious premises are 25x85 feet and three assistants are required. Mr. Zimmerman does a brisk business in all kinds of fresh and salt meats, fish, etc., and all meats sold at this market have justly become popular with the public owing to superior quality, freshness and full weight. Mr. Zimmerman is a native of Germany and is a K. of P. He is an energetic, clear headed business man, honorable and fair in all transactions.

     A. W. MATTHEWS, Clerk District Court--Is a native of Illinois, and has lived twenty-two years in Jefferson County, where he formerly farmed. He is a Mason and member of the G. A. R., having served as captain in the 2d Kansas Cavalry. He is serving his third term as clerk, and during his incumbency he has given perfect satisfaction to the representatives of all parties.

     E. R. BOWMAN, Sheriff.--Among the useful men to be found in Jefferson County. is he who forms the immediate subject of our sketch. Mr. E. R. Bowman is a native of Indiana, and is serving his second term as county sheriff. He has resided in Jefferson County, Nebraska, eight years, and formerly was engaged extensively in the stock business. During the time he has held the office of county sheriff, he has shown himself cut out for the office. Active and severe, he still has an affable and pleasant manner, and is ever prompt in the various duties he has to perform.

     JOHN CONVERSE. County Clerk.--One of our city's most worthy men is John Converse, the county clerk and ex-officio recorder. He is a native of Pennsylvania. and formerly lived many years in Genesee County, N. Y. He is serving his second term as county clerk. He has lived in Jefferson County. Neb., eleven years, and formerly was engaged in the lumber and hardware business. The systematic training, business sense and natural politeness