ter Counties, his home being then in Clay County.
   Our subject is a man of large public spirit and generosity, ever anxious to see the county move forward, and glad to aid therein; a friend of morals and good order, and conscientiously particular regarding the daily happenings of life.

ILLIAM P. LARSH. "Dost thou love life? Then do not squander time, for that is the stuff life is made of," says Franklin. Select from the farms or business houses the men who have made the most money and have done the most good, who have no idle day in a year, and they are the men who have time to attend relief societies, hear political speeches and lectures, who read and can chat pleasantly with you. Such men economize their time, cramming it full with works of energy, and thus they can accomplish much while others of dilatory habits are wondering where they shall begin. The world gives every man an opportunity, and he who has faith in the value of honest hard work may attain success slowly, but it comes surely, and at the close of life that means everything.
   Success to an experienced man encourages further perseverance, but to a novice it sometimes becomes a siren that soothes all his energies to sleep. No man must be deluded by the thought of his being born under a lucky star, and that he can leave the shaping of his fortune to the gods. It is a delusion, for as regards success there is no respecter of persons. Persistency will outrun mere brilliancy. As an illustration of the progress upward, and the eminence attained through honest labor, we give this sketch of our subject, Mr. Larsh, who is entitled to a place among the earliest pioneers of Lancaster County. Although the immediate descendants of many of the old pioneers grew up with but little opportunity for education, many of them, yes, most of them, are noble, high-minded men and women, and ire generally among the first to make a sacrifice to secure for their children a substantial education.
   The school-house of "Ye olden time" is described as scarcely more than a hut or cabin, a small, low building, barn-like in appearance, made in some cases of logs, lighted perhaps by two windows, with a narrow door of rough boards at one end. Within they were completely unfurnished, some low benches without backs, and a chair or stool for "the master" constituting the furniture. The education of a boy was considered sufficient if he could read, spell, write and "cipher to the rule of three." The pupil gathered his pencils from the brooks, and plucked his quill from the wing of a raven or wild goose shot by his father's rifle. Now how changed are all these things.
   Thus growing up into manhood and passing onward in the rugged path of time, disciplined in the stern school of experience, our subject was prepared to meet every emergency with a steady and a ready hand. He is a son of Jonathan and Elizabeth (McNutt) Larsh, whose nativity was in the neighborhood of Maysville, Ky. The grandfather of our subject, then bearing the name of "Larshav", came from France, and as time elapsed the name was changed to Larsh, the present family name. This noble gentleman, leaving his sunny land to embark in the fortunes of the new country, shortly after coming here engaged to serve in the War of 1812, and for the country which had so lately adopted him he laid down his life. All honor to his remembrance.
   The parents of our subject were married in the neighborhood in which they had been brought up, near Maysville, Ky., the husband following the occupation of farming, but they soon removed to Hendricks County, Ind., where they settled as pioneers in 1835. The city of Indianapolis was then in its infancy, being composed of but a few log houses. The father of our subject entered a quarter-section of land, improved it, and made it his home until he died in 1852, at the age of sixty-two years, having had a rich pioneer experience of seventeen years, and having seen vast improvements wrought by the rapid development of the country .The wife, who had shared his joys and sorrows, lived until 1860, when she died at the age of sixty years. In their family there had been thirteen children, five girls and eight boys, all living to grow up to manhood and womanhood.
   Our subject, the youngest boy and twelfth child, was born May 6, 1843, in Washington Township, Hendricks Co., Ind. The first great sorrow of his

life, the death of his father, came to him early, when he was in his tenth year, so that he was left in charge of the homestead for whose care he was called upon to contribute his share, suffering, in common with all of the earlier days, a general lack of educational facilities, although he attended the common schools in winter. He remained at home until the death of his mother occurred, when, the homestead being divided, he started out to do for himself at the age of seventeen. He worked on a farm the first year, and then learned the carpenter trade, at which he worked with his brother for three years, and then, in the fall of 1864, he went to Sullivan County, Ill., where he worked on a farm for Mr. McLain, now of South Pass, Neb.
   This gentleman having come to Nebraska in 1865, our subject came with him to Lancaster County, and remained in his employ until the following spring of 1866, when he was married. He led to the altar Miss Elizabeth Grim, a daughter of Joseph and Mary Grim, formerly from Missouri, where the father died at the age of forty years. Mrs. Larsh was the fifth of a family of nine children, her birthplace being Holmes County, Ohio, at which place her parents lived prior to their moving to Missouri. She was born on the 8th of June, 1842, and in her girlhood she had to put up with all the disadvantages of a new country. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Larsh settled on a farm for which the husband had traded, formerly belonging to Mr. McLain, and containing 160 acres.
   Since his settlement in Lancaster County our subject has seen its improvement in all its phases, at that time there being but five houses between Hickman and Nebraska City. In that time there were many discouragements and many disadvantages against which he had to contend: the loss from prairie fires, the long distance to be traversed in order to reach the flouring-mills and the post-office, and a general lack of the necessities of life. He had to live within his means, while the plains abounded with prairie chickens, grouse and wild turkeys. Vividly does our subject recall to mind the first log cabin which he helped Mr. McLain to build, its dimensions being fourteen feet square. The log cabin stood in its solitude, the wide-spread prairie stretching its undulations beyond the vision.
   As our subject owned no team he was obliged to hire his farm work done, spending his own time in working at his trade, carpentering. Soon he was able to purchase some horses, and then, in the autumn of 1866, he engaged as carpenter for Hardenberg, Linderman & Co., at the salt basin two miles west of Lincoln. He was sent up to Lancaster City, now Lincoln, and it fell to his lot to be the builder of the first frame house in that city, its dimensions being 14xl8 feet, and the material of which it was built being lumber from the cottonwood trees. In 1871 he sold his farm and bought another in Saltillo Precinct, at which place he continued until 1885, when he came to Hickman and formed a partnership with Mr. Morrison, buying out Mr. Christianson. The new firm thus formed are dealers in clothing, dry-goods, boots and shoes, hats and caps, groceries, crockery, and notions of all kinds. Our subject carries a large stock of goods valued at between $6,000 and $7,000, and has enjoyed a good and constantly increasing trade.
   Soon after our subject engaged in the mercantile business, he was appointed Postmaster, which office he has since honorably held. He is a first-class good business man, and his steadily growing trade, and the Government position which he fills, are but a good testimonial to his integrity. He also owns a farm of 160 acres, which he rents, on which he has erected a frame dwelling. and five lots of valuable city property. He is a member of the K. of P., being the Master of Exchequer. He is a member of the Democratic party, having been one of the first Postmasters appointed in Eastern Nebraska. He has twice served the term of Justice of the Peace, and has been very active in developing the educational interests, having for a great many years been a School Director, and at present is filling that honorable position on the Board of Education at Hickman. He has been a delegate to nearly every Democratic County Convention in the county, and was a delegate to the State Convention in 1872. At that time his instructions were to vote for Greeley, but he did not attend.
   Our subject is the father of one child, a daughter Mary, at home. He brought up a family of four children of his wife's sister--John W., Minnie Ann, Lillie May Shatto and Solomon O. Cox. The

youngest child is still living at home with him. Mrs. Larsh is a cultivated lady, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. To her companionship and encouragement are due much of the success and popularity of this energetic, enterprising man.

P. JENSEN. Among the foreign-born element of Nebraska that is doing so much in building up the State and developing her resources, no nationality is more cordially welcomed or makes better citizens than the Scandinavian, as represented by the intelligent, thrifty and enterprising Danes. Our subject is one of these, and the beautiful, well-managed farm that he owns on sections 23, Lancaster Precinct, proclaims that he is one of the most prosperous farmers in Lancaster County.
   Mr. Jensen was born July 12, 1849, in the Kingdom of Denmark, on the Island of Falster, whose shores are washed by the waves or the Baltic Sea. His parents were likewise natives of Denmark, and his father, Jens Larsen, who was born March 23, 1802, carried on the occupation of a farmer during his life, and always lived on the same place. He also learned the trade of a weaver and worked at that twenty-five years. He married in middle life Karen Nielsen, who was born March 26, 1813, and is still living, in Denmark. They had a family of nine children, four of whom were sons and five of them were daughters, and six of the family are now living. They were all of them given good educations, attending school seven years, until fourteen years of age, according to the wise law of their native land, and then they had to learn a trade. The good father of our subject died in 1872, leaving to his descendants the precious legacy of a life well spent.
   Our subject lived in the island home which had been his birthplace until his restless ambition to seek his fortune in the wide world led him to America in 1872. He was then in the prime of young manhood, was well endowed with mental and bodily vigor, and fortified by good principles and industrious habits, his success was assured from the start. After his arrival in this country he found his way to Toledo, Ohio, where he lived for ten months, working at his trade, that of a carpenter. He then went to the city of Cleveland, where he remained for a year, engaged in the same occupation. After that he worked at his calling in Buffalo, and while a resident of that city he sent for a brother and sister to join him from their native land in 1874. After their arrival he remained in Buffalo six months, and from there removed to Indianapolis, Ind. In the course of a year or two he had been so prospered that he had gathered together a sufficient amount of money to marry and establish a home, and he sent for the young woman in his native land to whom he had plighted his troth, and she crossed the waters to join him in August, 1875, and they were united in marriage on the 5th of March, 1876. The maiden name of Mrs. Jensen was Karen Marie Johansen, and she was born in Denmark, Dec. 19, 1848. Her father, Johan Benedict, was a native of Denmark, and died there in 1859. Her mother, who was born Nov. 16, 1806, is still living in Denmark, where her busband worked as a farmer. The union of our subject and his wife has been blessed to them by the birth of a son and daughter, as follows: John F. was born Dec. 14, 1877, and Carrie M. Sept. 17, 1879.
   Shortly after marriage Mr. Jensen came to Lincoln, Neb., with his bride, having decided to try the life of a farmer on the fertile and productive prairie soil of Lancaster County. He soon bought a tract of eighty acres of land, five and one-half miles from the city, paying for the same $19.60 an acre. Its nearness to the flourishing metropolis, the capital of the State, and to the great commercial highways of the West, and the many fine improvements that he has made, render his farm a very valuable piece of property. It is under good cultivation, and a beautiful grove of about 5,000 forest trees adorn the place. Mr. Jensen has a fine orchard, consisting of 100 choice fruit trees, which have already commenced to bear. He makes a specialty of stock-raising, however, and has been very successful in that line, as is attested by the sleek and well-fed appearance of his cattle and other stock, all of which are of good grades.
   Mr. and Mrs. Jensen are active workers in the

Methodist Episcopal Church, of Sharon, of which they are esteemed members. They are not those who "hide their light under a bushel," and in the selfish striving for gain forget their duty to others, but they are ever kind and thoughtful in their relations with those about them, and no one is more ready to extend sympathy or help to those in distress than they. Mr. Jensen is a strong advocate of temperance and religion, and urges that they be taught in the public schools. In politics he is a stanch and consistent Prohibitionist.

H. RAUCH, one of Saltillo's comparatively late settlers, is a very enterprising man. He is one of the best of farmers, and takes a great pride in the preservation of his extensive family history and in his ancestry. His wife, who is a most estimable lady, comes of an illustrious family. Mr. Rauch endeavors to give his children all the advantages possible, and is, in consequence, greatly interested in educational and social affairs, striving earnestly for the greatest good to the greatest number.
   Mr. Rauch's father, Jacob, was born in South Hanover, Dauphin Co., Pa. His mother, Mary F. Felty, was also born in the same county. His great-grandfather came from a good old German stock, and emigrated to America in Colonial times. His grandfather served in the War of 1812. His father settled in Dauphin County, Pa., where he engaged in agricultural pursuits and reared a family of six children, four of whom are still living. In the year 1869 he moved to Putnam County, Ill., and purchased a farm two miles from Hennepin. He was a gentleman in good circumstances, and served for some time as Assessor, as well as occupying other offices of trust at various times. He died in 1876, at the age of seventy-four, respected by all who knew him. The mother died in 1874, aged sixty-eight years.
   Of the four children now living, the gentleman who forms the subject of our sketch is next to the youngest. His sisters are: Mrs. Dr. Rebecca Van Derslice, Mrs. Mary A. Ellinger and Mrs. Maggie F. Coleman. The subject of our sketch was born Dec. 16, 1847, in South Hanover, Dauphin Co., Pa., twelve miles west of Harrisburg. He received that best of all preparations for success in live--a "common-school" education. He continued at home until his marriage, in 1872, to Miss Marion J., daughter of Henry N. and Susan Stouffer, nee Mull. Mrs. Rauch's parents were born in Cumberland County, Pa., whence they removed to Putnam County, Ill. This lady's parents are still living at Hennepin, Ill., where the father, who is now sixty-six years or age, is a professor, teacher and gardener. He is also an active Sunday-school worker. Her mother is now sixty-seven years of age. This worthy couple had six children, of whom Mrs. Rauch, who was born Feb. 15, 18,51, at Shiremanstown, Cumberland Co., Pa., is third. She enjoyed superior educational advantages.
   In March, 1886, Mr. Rauch moved with his family to Nebraska, where he purchased 160 acres of fine land. As a farmer, he has been very successful. He owns a fine orchard of apple, plum and cherry trees, all in fine bearing condition. He also set out a large number of apple and apricot trees last spring, and made a good start in vine culture, strawberries and other small fruits. Besides the raising of fruit, Mr. Rauch carries on general farming with growing success. His house and outbuildings are of the most approved pattern, and but recently built.
   Mr. and Mrs. Rauch are the parents of eight children--Anna, Willie, Gertrude, Jennie M., Merle A., Robert, Mina and Maggie. Of these, Willie and Gertrude, who were twins, are dead. The four oldest are at present attending school.
   Mr. Rauch is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Roca. He is sound on the temperance question, favoring a strict enforcement of the law for the control of the liquor traffic. He has refused several important offices, but has served the public in the capacity of School Trustee for the long period of six years. Mr. Rauch is one of the most intelligent and industrious farmers in Saltillo Precinct. He owns a good farm, which his ingenuity, intelligence and good taste will eventually convert into a farmer's paradise. He believes in good homes, and his is one of the best, as will be seen upon reference to the illustration provided by the

artist, and presented upon another page of this volume, which shows faithfully not only the beautiful residence and some of its picturesque surroundings, but also the commodious farm buildings near by.
   In political affairs our subject is always deeply interested, as a good and true citizen, and usually votes with the Republican party, of which he is an old and tried member.

AJ. CHARLES W. PIERCE. one of the prominent men of Waverly Precinct, has a fine estate on section 31, where he makes a specialty of Galloway cattle, being one of the first to introduce this breed of stock into Nebraska. His farm, with its appurtenances, is amply suggestive of the means and standing of the proprietor. He is the owner of 660 acres, nearly all of which is in one body, and which, with its handsome and substantial buildings, is one of the leading points of interest in the northeastern part of Lancaster County.
   The town of Benton, Yates Co., N. Y., was the early home of our subject, and where his birth took place Oct. 7, 1823. His father was Spooner R. and his mother, Mary (Wilson) Pierce, who were also natives of the Empire State. The family it is believed was of Scotch ancestry, and was represented on this side of the water, in New England, over 200 years ago. Elisha Pierce, the paternal grand father of our subject, was a farmer by occupation, probably a native of Massachusetts, where he grew to manhood and was married. Later he started for New York State, and while on the journey there was born to him. near the present city of Albany, his son, Spooner R.
   This edition of the Pierce family settled in Yates County, and Grandfather Pierce subsequently carried a musket in the War of 1812, participating in the battle of Lundy's Lane and other engagements.
   When the British were once more driven from American soil he returned to the peaceful vocation of farming, later removing to Livingston County, N. Y., where he spent the remainder of his life. His son Spooner grew up familiar with farming pursuits, and was married in his native State. In 1829 he emigrated to Ohio, settling in the vicinity of Sandusky, where he lived until 1846, then changed his residence, first to Huntsville, Logan County, subsequently to Seneca County, and in 1856 to Mason County, Ill., where his death took place about 1880. He followed farming continuously and was fairly successful in life. The wife and mother had preceded her husband to the silent land six years, her death taking place at the home of her son, our subject, in Waverly Precinct, this county, June 11, 1874.
   The family of Spooner R. and Mary Pierce included seven children, all of whom grew to mature years. Charles W., our subject, was the eldest born; John W. died in Havana, Ill.; James F. during the late war served as a Union soldier in Company B, 85th Illinois Infantry, and is now a miller by occupation, residing at Havana, Ill.; Thornton S. was a member of Company B, 85th Illinois Infantry, and was killed at the battle of Kennesaw Mountain; Julia, Mrs. Lewis, lives in Peoria, Ill.; Angeline is the wife of O. C. Easton, of Havana; and Emily, Mrs. Caldwell, lives in the city of Lincoln, this State.
   Maj. Pierce was a member of his father's household until a youth of seventeen, in the meantime acquiring a practical education in the common school and fitting himself for the future duties of life. He now started out on his own account and making his way to Rochester, N. Y., engaged in a woolen factory, where he worked three years. Then returning to Ohio, he was employed in various factories in different parts of the State until 1855, in the meantime also engaged in speculation and trade. He had been married in 1850, and now going to Illinois, located in advance of the family at Havana, Mason County. He embarked in the real-estate business, and was thus occupied until a few months after the outbreak of the Rebellion. In August, 1862, he assisted in raising a company of which he was elected First Lieutenant, which was named Company B. and became a part of the 85th Illinois Infantry. Maj. Pierce received his commission from Gov. Richard Yates, and first met the enemy in battle at Perryville, Ky. He was next in the fight at Stone River and Mission Ridge, but not long afterward, on account of failing health, was sent to

Nashville and assigned to the Quartermaster's department, and was subsequently stationed at Camp Chase, near Columbus, Ohio.
   The spring following Maj. Pierce was transferred to Washington, where he was made Acting Brigade Quartermaster, Harden's division, serving as such until peace was declared. He was also at the same time upon staff duty. In November, 1865, he was ordered to Alabama, as a member of the staff of Gen. Swain, and later assigned to the command of a district of thirteen counties. In 1867 he was elected a Member of Congress from the Fourth Alabama District, and on the 1st of January, 1868, resigned his commission in the army to devote himself to the duties of his new position.
   Maj. Pierce, after serving acceptably his term as a member of the Fortieth Congress, declined a renomination because he did not desire to remain in the State of Alabama. In 1869 he was appointed Assessor of Internal Revenue for the First Alabama District, with headquarters at Mobile, and remained in the South until the close of 1872. On the 1st of January, 1873, we find him in the city of Lincoln, Neb., although he had previously visited the State with Gen. Cobb, in 1869. Not long afterward the Major selected his present location, and began making improvements, while at the same time he was recognized as a valued addition to the community, and soon became identified with local affairs. In 1875 he was elected a member of the Constitutional Convention, which drafted the present Constitution of Nebraska, and two years later was elected Senator to fill a vacancy and re-elected for the full term. He resigned this office in 1881, to accept that of Register of the United States Land Office, and changed his residence from his farm to the city of Lincoln, and was the incumbent of this office until May, 1886. Then, disposing of his property in Lincoln, he returned to his farm, to which he has since given his undivided attention. In sympathy with Republican principles, Maj. Pierce has given his support to this party since its organization in the year 1854. He was formerly a Whig but supported Millard Fillmore for the Presidency. Socially, he is a member of the G. A. R., the Loyal Legion, and a Knight Templar of the Masonic fraternity.
   The marriage of Charles W. Pierce and Miss Isabella Burton was celebrated at the home of the bride in Republic, Ohio, Nov. 5, 1850. Mrs. Pierce is of New England birth and ancestry, having been born in Norwich, Vt., in 1825, and is the daughter of William S. and Nancy E. Burton, the former of whom spent his entire life in the Green Mountain State. After the death of the father, the mother, with her children, removed to Ohio, where her death took place in 1887. The other members of the family are mostly in Illinois.
   To our subject and his wife there have been born five children, only two of whom are living: Florence B., at home with her parents, and Charles A., who is cashier of the Citizens' Bank, at Bennet, of which institution the Major is a stockholder. The Pierce estate is valuable, and is finely illustrative of the perseverance and energy of the man who has built it up.

EREMIAH HEILMAN. Of the older States that contributed toward the settlement of Nebraska, none, perhaps, furnished better pioneer material than the old Quaker State, and it is a noticeable fact that, wherever a native of that State locates, his enterprise and good judgment will make him distinguished in whatever calling in life he may engage. To this class belongs the subject of this biographical sketch, who was born in Northumberland County, Pa., on the 4th of March, 1828. In 1878 he took possession of his present property, consisting of 120 acres of land on section 27, Waverly Precinct, and has since been a continuous resident of this place. Nearly all his land is under cultivation, and he has already accomplished much in the way of improvement.
   The parents of our subject, Daniel and Gertrude (Deal) Heilman, were natives of Lehigh County, Pa., the former a carpenter by trade. They spent their entire lives in their native State, engaged in agricultural pursuits, which Mr. Heilman followed in connection with his trade, and passed away in Northumberland County. Of his union with Gertrude Deal there were born ten children--Julia, Lucy, Lydia, Hannah, Gertrude, John, Jeremiah,