making the journey with a pair of oxen and a team of horses and two wagons. During that year he erected the first frame house ever built in the county, it being located in the northern part of the Salt Basin. Nebraska City was the nearest market and depot for supplies, and the nearest mill was at Weeping Water Falls, thirty-five miles distant.
   Mr. Schamp was born Nov. 7, 1816, in Union County, Pa., a son of Nicholas and Charity (Van Horn) Schamp. His father was a native of New Jersey, and his father was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and died of fever while in service. His wife, the grandmother of our subject, was born in Sussex County, N. J., and was a daughter of John Waldron. Nicholas Schamp was an infant when his parents died, and he was then taken to Genesee Comity, N. Y., to the home of his uncle John, who reared him to a useful and industrious life. When he became a man he went to Pennsylvania and there married, his wife being a native of New Jersey and a daughter of Abraham Van Horn. Her father was also, it is supposed, a native of New Jersey, but spent his last years in Union County, Pa. The maiden name of his wife was Eva Pickel, a native of New Jersey. The mother of our subject died in Union County, Pa., at the age of forty-four years. After this sad event, whereby he lost a faithful helpmate, and his children a devoted mother, Mr. Schamp continued to reside in Union County until 1848, when he removed to Illinois and settled near Freeport. He lived there eight years, and then crossed the Mississippi River and located in Hamilton County, Iowa, being one of its earliest settlers. He spent his last years in that county, in the home of his youngest daughter, dying at an advanced age, having throughout an upright life won and retained the respect and esteem of all with whom he came in contact. He was the father of eight children, all of whom grew to maturity, namely: Abraham, Peter S. and Aaron (twins), N. B. Thompson, Mary, Margaret; Catherine and Robert were also twins. Abraham, Peter (the subject of this sketch) and Catherine are the three surviving members of the family.
   The Rev. Peter S. Schamp was reared in his native county until he was eighteen years old, when he started out in life for himself. He went to Clearfield County with his two oldest brothers, and there chopped wood and hewed timber one winter. Then, being ambitious to secure a more complete education. he entered Ferry Street College, and was a hard student there most of the time for two years. After leaving college he commenced to work at the carpenter's trade in Pittsburgh and Eastern Ohio, continuing thus employed for fourteen years. He then went to Stephenson County, Ill., and followed his trade in Freeport and vicinity until 1854. In that year he went to Iowa and located at Floyd Center. He had always been an earliest student of the Bible, and a great worker in the church, and he entered upon his career as a preacher of the Gospel in that place, being the first minister who was ever located there, and the only one at that time within thirty miles. There were then but three buildings on the present site of Charles City, and they were constructed of poplar poles. He entered 200 acres of Government land near Floyd Center, and built a log house thereon for the shelter of his family. The years that followed were devoted to hard work in improving his land and plying his trade, and to his beloved calling, as he was employed as a missionary during the whole of his residence in Iowa. In his ministerial office he was a great power for good, carrying religious consolation and hope to many a household out on the lone prairies, whose inmates would else have seldom heard the Gospel preached or explained, owing to their great distance from churches. Nor were his zealous labors without reward, as he was instrumental in organizing churches at Osage, in Mitchell County, and Floyd Center, in Floyd County, and other places in Harden, Marshall and Story Counties. There was no railway then west of the Mississippi River, and Dubuque and McGregor's Landing were the nearest markets and depot for supplies, and he occasionally took trips to those places with his team for the purpose of drawing goods for the merchants. At one time he had been to McGregor's Landing for a load of goods, and he traveled a part of the way on Sunday, to attend a meeting, When he arrived at the appointed place he found the congregation waiting, but no minister, and as the preacher failed to put in an appearance, our subject doffed his overalls, mounted

a stump, and preached to the assembled crowd very acceptably. In 1857 Mr. Schamp sold his place in Floyd Center, and moved to Harden County, where he bought a tract of land in Point Pleasant. After living there a year he went to Steamboat Rock, in the same county, and bought a tract of land, on which he resided the two succeeding years. From there he went to Marshall County, whence he went at the end of a year to Story County. In 1861 he visited the Territory of Nebraska with a pair of horses and a wagon, viewing the country around Salt Basin and the present site of Lincoln, and he was so favorably impressed with the beautiful climate and scenery, and the wonderful fertility of the soil, that he determined to locate here, and as we have seen, removed to Lancaster County the following spring with his family. Of course, the country roundabout being so recently settled, he had no shelter for his wife and children, but there was a house near by whose inmates kindly invited them to share its hospitality with them until Mr. Schamp could build an abode of his own. He resumed his ministerial work here and preached for nearly twelve years, devoting a part of his leisure time during the week to improving his farm and in working at carpentering. After the death of his wife he moved to Yankee Hill, but at the end of a year he moved again, taking up his residence in Seward County. He next returned to the home farm and lived there until 1885, when he came to Lincoln and has resided here ever since.
   The Rev. Peter Schamp has been three times married. His first wife was Mary, daughter of Lewis and Catherine Deter. She died in 1851, and of the three children born to her and her husband--Lewis D., William A. and Catherine Matilda--but two survive, Catherine having died. The second marriage of our subject was in 1853 to Margaret Ann, daughter of John Wilson, and a native of Steubenville, Ohio. She died in 1874. leaving six children, namely: Casander W., John H., Asa P., Susan R., Ida A. and George W. L. Mr. Schamp's third marriage, which took place in 1878, was to Mrs. Frances (Holcomb) Schamp, daughter of John and Emily S. (Jewell) Holcomb, and widow of Robert B. Schamp.
   Notwithstanding his arduous labors in his capacity as missionary and a preacher--he was formerly Methodist but now a member of the Baptist Church--and in looking after his private interest, our subject has found time to serve the public in various offices. He was County Surveyor for two terms, and has held the office of County Coroner for one term. He has always taken a marked interest in school affairs, and has often been called upon to give the benefit of his experience and wisdom in educational matters. He was School Inspector under Territorial laws, and has served since on the State Board and District Boards, being at one time Treasurer of the School Board in his district in Seward County. Politically, Mr. Schamp was a Democrat until 1848, he then became a Free-Soiler, and subsequently assisted in the organization of the Republican party, but he is now a strong Prohibitionist.

EORGE KLING. It has been stated that "Self-reliance is the master key that unlocks all the difficulties arising along one's path, but, like the locks of private mail boxes, the intricacies of each forbid the entrance to all keys but one." To a certain extent the experiences of two men if carefully compared may seem to be similar, but there will here and there arise occasions or incidents without similarity or precedent, and just at such a time will a man's self-reliance be the only thing that can aid him. He may find some way, if it be not always the best way, to solve the difficulty, and then if the same obstacle should a second time arise, his own experience will enable him to combat it.
   Our subject belongs to that class of refined and cultured Germans who have come to America in the prime of life, and through honest efforts have entered successfully into business. He is a careful, frugal and enterprising man, and it is only in justice to his real worth that he should be enumerated among the best citizens of Hickman. He is a dealer in boots and shoes, and is devoted to his business, but without neglecting it he still has time to devote to other affairs, being a leader in religious spheres, and taking an active part in the

jurisprudence necessary for the due administration of justice.
   The parents of Mr. Kling were born in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany, the father named John, and the mother, Elizabeth (Roth) Kling. The father was a shoemaker by trade, and had also a farm of twenty-five acres, which he tended in connection with his other business. He became the father of twelve children, eight boys and four girls, ten of whom, seven boys and three girls, are now living, and all have come to America. Our subject was the fourth of the family of children, his birth occurring on the 19th of December, 1848, at Gross Bieberan, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. Like all industrious Germans, his father early taught him to work, having him to help on the farm and to do odd pieces of work such as he was capable of. All the children of this family were given as thorough in education as the father's circumstances would admit of, and they also received of their parents a good religious training, so that they were well equipped to make their own ways in life after leaving the paternal roof.
   Our subject, having received the careful training of his parents, received his religious confirmation at the age of thirteen years and six months, after which he began to learn the trade of shoemaking. During his studies in school he had read and heard much of the new country, America, and his earliest ambition had been to visit the land of freedom, and to become one of its citizens. He recalls many incidents that occurred during his boyhood days, which only served to fan the flame of his ambition, so that at the age of fifteen the desire had become so strong that he begged of his father to send him to America. His request, however, was not granted, and still determined to come, he continned to work for his father until he reached the age of seventeen, at which time his father aided him with money to procure a passage across the water. Starting out a young boy of seventeen on such a perilous voyage, he did not stop to think of the dangers and trials incident to a life in a strange country.
   Bidding farewell to his home and friends and Fatherland, our subject sailed from Hamburg on the 1st of April, 1866. Not until he was out on the ocean fully under way, did he realize the importance of the step he had taken, but then, sick and homesick, it all thrust itself forcibly upon his mind that now or never he must take care of himself and depend upon himself alone, trusting to the guidance of the Heavenly Father, whom he had learned to depend upon. The steamer "Teutonia" put an end to his melancholy by landing him safely in the harbor of New York on the 22d of April, 1866. His destination was St. Louis, so he at once went to that place, where he remained at work, engaged in shoemaking for nine years.
   In 1870 our subject, with thoughts still clinging to those he had left years before in the Fatherland, made a visit to them in their home, remaining for about three months on account of the Franco-German War. In the time of his stay he gave such glowing descriptions of his adopted country that he persuaded his parents to return with him, for which purpose the father sold his possessions and all come across to America, settling at St. Louis. At that place they remained for a time, when they moved to Iowa, where our subject and his father bought a farm in Jasper County. The father still resides there, being seventy-seven years old, but the mother died in 1876, at the age of fifty-seven years.
   While in St. Louis our subject, in the endeavor to still better prepare himself for a successful business career, attended the business college, from which he was graduated in 1873. Remaining on the farm in Iowa one season, he then went back to St. Louis, where he worked at his trade until 1879. In the year 1875 he was married to Miss Katherine W. Offer, a daughter of Fred and Hannah Offer, also of Germany. Mrs. Kling was born in Franklin County, Mo., where she enjoyed the advantages of the common schools, and received from her parents a good religious training, which so eminently fitted her to fulfil the responsibilities of her position in the family toward her own children. Our subject and his wife are the parents of nine children, and their names are as follows: Willie, George, Lydia W., Matilda M., John F. T., Paul, Amanda S., Emile L. and George Benjamin Harrison. The father located in his shop at Hickman in 1879, and since then has enjoyed a very good trade. He also owns eighty acres of land in Saltillo Precinct.

   Mr. and Mrs. Kling are members of the German Presbyterian Church, of which the former is now an Elder, having joined the denomination in 1868 at St. Louis. For eight years he has been the Superintendent of a Sunday-school having between fifty and sixty members, and is one of the leading men in the Y. M. C. A., of Hickman. Continuing his interest in educational matters, he was appointed librarian of the public library in his town. He is a member of the Republican party, and has served as Justice of the Peace for four years, at present holding that honorable office. His strict business integrity, his social, religious and educational standing, have won for him a prominent place in the rank of good citizens.

OHN H. LAHMEIER. The brave men who yet survive the sanguinary struggle through which this country was called upon to pass, have as true sentiments of patriotism to-day as when they left their homes for the front. Wherever they are found, in all questions of National or State import, it springs forth and blazes with a clear and unquenchable light. Wealth cannot bribe it, nor ambition blind it; fear cannot intimidate it, friendship cannot swerve it from justice, or luxury corrupt or enervate it. We cannot in this brief sketch rehearse the daring deeds of those who volunteered from the inspiration of patriotism, as did the subject of this present sketch, but all the experiences of war were theirs. Could they be told, they would speak of early reverses, sad disappointments, gloomy forebodings for the future, of sickness in camp and hospital, fearful suspense, of midnight marches and deadly ambuscades; of narrow escapes, of wounds, of imprisonment in foul dens, and of death--of all the horrors of fratricidal war. But they would speak, too, of privations willingly endured, dangers voluntarily incurred, ceaseless labor gladly undergone, and death most chivalrously encountered; of dashing assaults, of well contested fields, and of countless victories. They would speak of disaster, but also of success; of doubt, but not of despair; of transient defeats, and of a final and enduring victory. Among these heroes would be classed the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch, and who, though foreign born, possesses all the love for our Union, and the ardent desire for its preservation, that characterize the best of its citizens by birth. The main points in the history of our subject are follows:
   John H. Lahmeier was born in Hanover, Germany, Aug. 18, 1831, and is the son of William Lahmeier, who was born and spent his life in the same kingdom. Our subject and his sister Sophia were the only members of the family who came to this country. John H. spent his early life in his native land, receiving at the compulsory schools, for which that country is noted, a good, practical education, and at the age of thirteen engaged to learn the trade of a key maker. He followed this calling until he was nineteen years of age, and then engaged in blacksmithing, which he followed until his removal to America in 1859. The ocean voyage accomplished, that placed thousands of miles between him and his home and friends, young Lahmeier found himself in New York with a few cents in his pocket, a stranger in a strange land, with the language and customs of which he was entirely unacquainted. He found his first employment in a tile-yard in York State, and, a footing once secured, the future success of such a man as our subject was assured. After a few months he removed to New Jersey and ran an engine in a tile-yard in that State, after which he was employed in a nail factory in Pittsburgh, Pa., and subsequently removed to Cincinnati.
   Soon after his arrival in Cincinnati, Mr. Lahmeier enlisted in Company C, 28th Ohio Infantry, for three years, and went forth to do battle for his adopted country. He was ordered to West Virginia, and served with the regiment until the time of his discharge in 1864. Returning to Cincinnati, he rested for a few days, and then going to Rochester, N. Y., re-enlisted in July, 1864, in Company B, 94th New York Infantry. He served with that regiment until after the close of the war, seeing much hard service, and was honorably discharged with a good war record. He participated in the engagement at Crawford's Ferry, also at Thompson's Farm, Gawlic Bridge, Huntersville, and skir-

mishes with guerrillas. At the battle of Five Forks our subject was wounded in the fingers of the right hand, and, although quite badly injured, did not go to the hospital, but remained with his regiment all the time.
   Upon the cessation of hostilities our subject returned to Indiana, and engaged in the peaceful vocation of farming near Decatur. Three years later, however, in 1868, he came to this State, and settled in Mill Creek Precinct, Lancaster County, among the very earliest settlers. He purchased a claim of eighty acres on section 30, pre-empted a tract of the same size, and then homesteaded anotber eighty acres adjoining, and has since been it continuous resident of this place, As the result of industry and good judgement, he now owns one of the finest farms in the precinct, adorned with a beautiful stone residence, and good frame outbuildings, together with numerous shade and fruit trees. He has since purchased another quartersection of land adjoining his first eighty acres.
   Mr. Lahmeier was united in marriage with Mrs. Caroline Paner, a native of Germany, but she died five years later, and he married for his second wife, Mena Pining, a native of Germany. Of our subject's first union there were born two children, Henry and John, while of the second union there have been born seven children--Fred, Christina, Sophia, August, Mena, Dora and Anna. Mr. and Mrs. Lahmeier are members in good standing of the Episcopal Church, while in politics, Mr. L. is found in the ranks of the Republican party.

RASTUS W. RHYKERT is distinguished not only as one of the early pioneers of Buda Precinct, but as one who gave very much toward the succor of his country when she was in distress and needed strong and able men. His military career has perhaps turned the course of his life into a channel different from what it might otherwise have been, but he has a share of the honor and glory that are the right of every brave soldier. He was born on the 25th of October, 1832, in Wayne County, N. Y., and is a son of Joseph and Catherine Rhykert, who were both natives of Wayne County, N. Y. His parents were of German ancestry, both having early left their native State and moved to Illinois, where they were among the early settlers. The mother died in the year 1863, the death of the father having occurred a few years previous to that time. Of the thirteen children comprising their family, the following are now known to survive: William, living in Rochester, N. Y.; Charles, in Warren County, Ill.; Jacob; Adelia, the wife of W. H. Tirpening, living near Sedalia, Mo.; and Erastus W.
   Our subject grew to man's estate in Illinois, and at that early day the educational advantages being so few and limited, he was unable to enjoy the benefits of a long attendance at school, but was obliged to acquire his education under many disadvantages. On the 1st of January, 1854, he was married to Deborah A. Boone, a native of New York State, who had moved to Illinois with her parents when she was quite young. Our subject and his wife have adopted two children, Jennie and John, for whom they have provided and cared as if they were their own.
   On the 1st of August, 1862, Mr. Rhykert enlisted as a private in Company D, 102d Illinois Infantry, which became a part of the Army of the West under command of Gen. Sherman. He participated in the engagements at Frankfort, Ky., Mumfordsville and Snake Creek Gap, and after the last-named battle he was placed among the mounted infantry, with which he served for nearly two years as a scout, in reconnoitering and protecting railroad property, trains, etc. While he was in South Carolina he was a member of a detached troup that was attacked by the Confederate soldiers, and he was unfortunately hit by a spent musket bull, which broke two of his ribs. At Chattanooga, Tenn., during the performance of his duties, his horse fell on him, the force of the fall causing his shoulder to be thrown out of place, dislocating his, right hip and breaking two ribs on the right side. Fortunately, however, none of the injuries proved fatal to our subject, and in June, 1865, he was honorably discharged, and returned to Illinois.
   In the fall of 1867 our subject came to Lancaster County, and received eighty acres of land in fee simple from the Government, situated on section

24, Buda Precinct. By subsequent purchase he has added to the first amount, and now owns 280 acres of land as a result of his own hard labor. He began as a young man with the knowledge that he must depend upon himself to secure whatever he was to enjoy, as he had received no great start in life. He is a Republican in politics, and is gratified at the improvements that have been made since he came to this county, having watched the progress of development and aided it as much as he was able. As one who has honorably served as a Union soldier, and assisted in the development of the country's resources, Mr. Rhykert merits a grateful remembrance. Our subject was the first Postmaster in Buda Precinct, and Mrs. Rhykert has the honor of naming this precinct.

SAAC JOHNSON, one of the leading breeders of Short-horn cattle in the eastern part of Lancaster County, also represents a portion of its wealth and prosperity, he being in possession of a fine homestead on section 4, Grant Precinct, where he has built one of the handsomest residences in the precinct. A man enterprising, industrious, and of more than ordinary intelligence, he has the true conception of rural life and agricultural pursuits, and has been engaged largely in farming and stockraising for the last eleven years in this county. His present farm, which is familiarly known as "Walnut Park Stock Farm," forms one of the most attractive spots in the landscape of this region. The buildings are of modern style of architecture, conveniently arranged, and adapted to the necessities of the modern agriculturist, and surrounding them are those numberless features which none but the systematic and thorough-going farmer will bring about, and which to him are absolutely indispensable.
   In reflecting upon the career of a successful citizen whose prosperity has been the result of his own perseverance and industry, it is but natural to revert to those from whom he drew his origin. Lewis Johnson, the father of our subject, was a native of Oswego County, N. Y., where he grow to manhood, and married a lady of his own State, Miss Julia Parmalee, also of an excellent family. They commenced life together upon a farm in Oswego County, and there became the parents of two sons and three daughters, Isaac, of our sketch, being the fourth child. The latter was born in Palermo Township, Oct. 11, 1827, was reared upon a farm, and until a lad of thirteen years pursued his common school. Later he attended Mexico Academy, and finally entered the New York State Normal School, from which he was graduated in 1847, and where he had qualified himself for a teacher.
   Mr. Johnson followed teaching two years in his native county, and served two years as Superintendent of Schools in his native town. At the expiration of this time, wishing for a change of occupation, he engaged in mercantile business in Oswego County for two or three years, and about 1850 changed his residence to Waupun, Wis. He taught school at that place a year and another year at Janesville, his work as a teacher probably covering a period of twelve years. He subsequently moved to Dixon, Ill., afterward to the city of Chicago, where he engaged in the wholesale trade for ten years. Finally he purchased a tract of land near Lake Geneva, Ill., where he carried on farming a few seasons, and in 1877 made his way to Nebraska.
   Our subject, upon coming to this county, was employed in purchasing stock for about six months, and then purchased a large stock farm in Oak Precinct, where he lived a number of years and until coming to Grant Precinct. He was then a resident of Lincoln two years, and at the expiration of this time purchased the "Walnut Park Stock Farm," which takes its name from the 3,000 fine walnut trees which grace its broad acres. In his stock operations he handles mostly registered animals, having a fine herd of sixty-five Short-horn cattle, The labor involved in the care and keeping of these is mostly accomplished by subordinates, Mr. Johnson giving general attention to the whole.
   To our subject and his estimable wife there have been born three sons and two daughters, the eldest of whom, Isaac H., is junior member of the firm of Cook & Johnson, who represent the grocery trade in the city of Lincoln; Ernest E. is an insurance agent, representing his company for the States of Tennessee and Kentucky, having the management of the agency in the two States, with head-