fair common-school education, learned the trade of a carpenter and continued in its pursuit until 1850. He then removed to Illinois and settled near Freeport, Stephenson County, where he operated rented land and remained until 1861. His next removal was to Iowa, and accompanied by his wife and seven children they made the entire journey with one pair of horses and a wagon, cooking by the roadside and sleeping in their wagon on the way. Mr. Pickel rented land in Boone County, but not yet satisfied with his Western wanderings, in 1866 he severed his connection with Iowa, and once more harnessing his team to the wagon, the family came to Lancaster County and homesteaded a tract of land on section 30, Middle Creek Precinct. There was then no railroad west of Omaha, and Lincoln was not even thought of, Nebraska City, sixty-five miles distant, was the nearest depot for supplies and market. Elk, deer and antelope were still plentiful, while the Indians had not yet disappeared before the rapidly rolling waves of civilization. Samuel Picket built a dug-out, which the family was fain to use as a residence for three years, until he could provide more commodious quarters. For several months they had no floor to this structure, and as the nearest mill was at Nebraska City, Mrs. Pickel, who was in every way the worthy helpmate of her husband, ground the corn in the coffee-mill as it was needed for six months. This lady, who in her maidenhood was Nancy P. Shamp, was united in marriage with Samuel Picket in February, 1847, and died Sept. 20, 1881. She was born in Union County, Pa., Feb. 9, 1824, and was the daughter of Nicholas Shamp, who was born in New Jersey, while his father, Jerome Shamp, was also, it is believed, a native of New Jersey, and spent his entire life in that State. Nicholas Shamp was a weaver by trade, and followed that occupation many years. He was married in Union County, Pa., to Charity Van Horn, and subsequently removed to Illinois, and afterward to Iowa, where Mrs. Shamp died at the home which they had made for themselves in that State. Mrs. Pickel was a girl of fourteen when her mother died, and she lived with her father until her marriage. She now occupies the homestead which she and her husband obtained from the Government, and has lived to see this section developed from a wild prarie (sic) to a well settled part of the country, with a city of several thousand nine miles distant.
   The subject of our sketch was the second in order of birth in the family of six children--Margaret, Robert, Harriet, Samuel, Albert and Jane, all of whom still survive--and he accompanied his parents to this State when fourteen years of age.
   He resided with his parents until the death of the father, and at the time of his marriage he settled on part of the old homestead, which he now owns and occupies.
   Mr. Pickel was united in marriage, in August, 1885, with Miss Louisa Rench, and their home has been brightened by the advent of a baby boy, whom they call Charlie. Mrs. Pickel was born in Keokuk, Lee Co., Iowa, while her parents, Conrad and Louisa Rench, were natives of Germany. In politics, Mr. Pickel is a Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Pickel attend the Methodist Episcopal Church.

EV. HENRY SIMMONS, one of the honored pioneers of Lancaster County, is the subject of an interesting history, the main points of which are as follows: His father, Lorenzo Simmons, an iron manufacturer by trade, was born in New York, and was a cousin of the well-known Daniel Simmons, late of Cohoes, that State. His mother, Anna (Gale) Simmons, was a native of Pennsylvania, and the parents after marriage settled in Licking County, Ohio, whence they removed to Cass County, Mich. In this latter place the mother died about 1846. The father subsequently took up his abode in Berrien County, where his earthly labors ended in 1854.
   The children of Lorenzo and Anna Simmons, eight in number, included five sons and three daughters, all of whom, with the exception of our subject, are deceased, he being the only living representative of the family. He was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, May 3, 1818, and spent his childhood and youth amid the quiet scenes of country life, mostly on his father's farm, while he also engaged in the Marion Iron Works, Ohio. When

twenty years of age he started out in life for himself, engaging first as a teacher, and later took up the cooper trade, which he followed for a period of five years. After this he engaged for a time in farming, which, with carpentering, has been his chief occupation.
   Our subject left the Buckeye State in 1854, and crossing the Mississippi took up his residence in Story County, Iowa, where he resided until 1862, engaged in farming. In the fall of that year he came to this county, when there were only twelve voting citizens within its limits. Its natural resources, however, and the possibilities which even at that time presented themselves to his practical eye, commended it to him as a place where it would be wise to locate, and here he accordingly pitched his tent and has since remained. He worked his way upward from a modest beginning, purchasing first 160 acres of land, and is now the owner of 530 acres in Grant and Yankee Hill Precincts.
   One admirable feature of the labors of Mr. Simmons in this locality is his setting out of it large number of shade and ornamental trees, which attract the admiring attention of every traveler passing through this region, and have added thousands of dollars to the value of his property. In the midst of these he erected a substantial stone house, and in time there sprung up about it the out-buildings and other conveniences which have contributed to the comfort of the family and facilitated his farming operations. The matter of tree planting is one which has engaged the attention of a large class of intelligent people of this country, and the man who has thus beautified a prairie landscape is worthy of more than mere mention.
   One of the most interesting and important events in the life of our subject was his marriage in Licking County, Ohio, Sept. 16, 1838, with one of the most estimable young ladies of that region, Miss Catherine Walker, who was born in Muskingum County, that State, and whose parents, James and Rachael Walker, were natives of Pennsylvania, who spent their last years in Ohio. Of this union there were born twelve children, namely: Mary A., who is now the wife of J. M. Bracken, of Lincoln; John D. and Rachel, deceased; Amos is on the home farm; Emily and James C., deceased; Caroline, who is the wife of William Wilderdink; Anis R.; Lorenzo A., Postmaster at Cortland; Levi, Warren and Laura.
   It is hardly necessary to say that Mr. Simmons was soon recognized as a man fitted both by nature and acquirements to be a leader in his community, and he was soon elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, which he has held now for a period of probably over twenty years. He takes a lively interest in educational affairs and has served on the School Board in his district since the time of coming here. Politically, he supports the principles of the Democratic party, and has been a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the pulpit of which he labored as a minister before leaving Ohio and after settling in Story County, Iowa. He has also filled vacancies in the pulpit since coming to this county, but on account of ill-health has been able to preach but very little.
   After a most congenial union of forty-nine years, Rev. Henry Simmons and his estimable wife were parted by the fell destroyer, this most amiable lady passing away at her home in Grant Precinct on the 15th of September, 1887. She was a lady possessing all the womanly virtues, and fulfilled in a most admirable manner her duties as a pioneer wife and mother, standing bravely by the side of her husband as he battled with the elements of a new soil and sought to build up a comfortable home in a new country and among strange people.

ALMON W. BEARDSLEY. "The occasion makes the man," and, we would add, the country. When the religio-political fugitives, after escaping the dangers and ravages of the great deep, set foot for the first time upon the soil of the North American continent, it was one of the "greatest occasions" in the universal history, a fact abundantly proved by subsequent events. This was "the occasion" of the United States of America in all its grandeur, magnificence and wellnigh boundless extent. It was "the occasion" of the unparalleled sublimity of its governmental principles, and the establishment of the "divine right" of citizenship, and not of "kings." This in turn became "the occasion" to many noble

men and fearless spirits, and it is beyond question, from the record of our country and the biography of our pioneers, that the generations following are not destitute of the same nobility which characterized their forefathers.
   The maternal great-grandfather of our subject was one of the heroes of the Revolutionary War, and stood by the side of men no less heroic. The paternal grandfather served in the War of 1812 with the rank of Captain, and the paternal great-grandfather also served in the Revolutionary War. in which he was taken prisoner, and suffered all the hardships of confinement in the prison ship.
   Peter Beardsley, the father of our subject, was born in Harpersfield, Delaware Co., N. Y. Arriving at man's estate, he was united in marriage with Maria (Boardman) Miller, who was early married to Joseph Miller, but was left a widow at the age of twenty years, with the care of her little daughter, Elizabeth, who is now the wife of W. H. Congdon, and resident of Napoli. At the time of his marriage Mr. Beardsley was a resident of the same town (Napoli), and there continued to reside for the greater part of the time until his death. For four years beginning in the spring of 1838, he resided upon a farm in Whiteside, Ill., returning at the end of that period to his old home in New York State. The household circle of Peter Beardsley comprised four children: our subject, the eldest; the second son, Philander E.; Abigail P. and Joseph M. Upon the staff of stenographers of the Southeastern Court District of Nebraska is found Philander; his sister is now the wife of M. D. Tiffany, of Lincoln, Neb., and for several years has held the appointment of Principal of the Capitol School of that city. The youngest, Joseph, is a resident of Weeping Water, Cass Co., Neb., and from his service during the years 1862 to 1865 at the front has a very line war record.
   Our subject opened his eyes upon things mundane for the first time Sept. 13, 1828, at Napoli, which city was the scene of his early life; in the institutions of learning of his native town he obtained his education. When he was fourteen years of age his father went to Illinois in the endeavor to work a farm he had purchased, and from that time until he was almost twenty-one our subject assumed much of the responsibility of caring for the family, which position naturally fell to him as the eldest son. From the attainment of his majority until his twenty-third year, he was engaged in different occupations, but at that time was desirous of settling in life, for the reason that he was then united in marriage with Miss Ann Casten. After this important event he was engaged for a period of ten years in farming in Napoli and adjacent townships.
   In 1862 the old spirit which flashed and burned in the hearts of his forefathers took possession of our subject also, and when the tocsin of war was sounded he enlisted upon August 11, in Company G, 154th New York Infantry. Until January, 1863, our subject served as a private, and as such saw in much service. His bearing in the different engagements was such as to attract especial notice, and at the above time he was commissioned as Second Lieutenant, and assigned to Company K of the same regiment. On the 11th day of the following June, as the reward of merit, he was created First Lieutenant, and given command of Company E, of his regiment, which commission he held until March 19, 1864, when he was discharged incapacitated for service. In the previous August, while upon a forced night march, he fell down a steep embankment which severely injured him, and was the immediate occasion of a painfully severe rupture, which finally disabled him. After that accident, however, he was still in the field, and served under "Fighting Joe Hooker" and Gen. Sherman, was in the battle at Missionary Ridge and Wonhotchie, Gettysburg and Williamsport. In the early part of 1863. at the battle of Chancellorsville, he was taken prisoner, and for the space of forty days the privations and terrors of this hard lot were added to the bitterness of war's experience. Thus, with health broken but with spirit unsubdued, he returned to his home, hearing the marks of honorable service, and the distinction of double promotion, the recognition by his country of faithful and loyal sacrifice on his behalf.
   From the time of leaving the army until the spring of 1874 our subject was upon his farm at Napoli, in which he was exceedingly prosperous. Leaving the home State in the above year. He settled in Cass County, Neb., and with the proceeds

from his late property purchased a tract of land, continuing to operate it for five years, then came to this county. In the spring of 1883 he took 320 acres in Stockton Precinct, being one-half of section 29. Upon this he speedily erected a comfortable farm dwelling, and the usual barn and outbuildings, and started to improve the land and bring it under cultivation, and afterward greatly added to the pleasantness of his home by judicious but extensive planting of fine shade and forest trees in its vicinity. From that time until the present he has continued general farming, though latterly considerable thought, care and capital have been devoted to the dairy. He has taken a great interest in milk churning, and was for a long time Secretary and general manager of the Bennet Creamery Company, and is still a heavy stockholder in the same.
   At Leon, Cattaraugus Co., N. Y., our subject was married to Ann E. Casten, Jan. 1, 1852. This lady is the daughter of James and Amanda (Wheeler) Casten, of English ancestry. Her parents first settled in what is now a part of Buffalo, removing afterward to Collins, Eric County, and thence to Leon, where they died, the wife Jan. 13, 1887, the husband March 2, 1888. Their family included nine children, the wife of our subject being the eldest. The names of her brothers and sisters are as follows: James W., John G., Ira L., Emily A., Mary J., William H., Eunice L. and Stephen W. Ann was born in Pleasant Valley, Dutchess Co., N. Y., Aug. 30, 1829.
   The union of Mr. and Mrs. Beardsley has been most happy. Their family circle includes five children--Flora A., Alice M., Abbie E., J. William and Manley J. Flora has become the wife of George Ashman, a resident of Cass County, Neb. Our subject and family are members of the Presbyterian Church at Bennet, and were for many years connected with the church at Napoli. Mr. Beardsley has held with much honor and dignity the office of Justice of the Peace, in a manner that has won the hearty appreciation of the community. Our subject is one of the strong members of the Republican party, ever ready to give his heartiest support, and lend his best energies for the advancement of Republican principles.
   As a boy, Mr. Beardsley was noble and earnest in taking as far as possible the responsibilities of head of the family during his father's absence; as a soldier, his career was marked by the spirit of patriotic self-abnegation and martial honor; as a citizen, a pattern to those who are following after him; as a man, husband and father, most praiseworthy and honorable.

RS. ELIZA STATES. The Emerald Isle has given to us many statesmen, poets, orators, and lesser lights in the social and political arena, and has also supplied many of our best and most respected citizens, most self-denying and hardy pioneers, intelligent and prosperous farmers and stock-raisers. In presenting the present sketch, we shall have before us a native of the above country, who at present resides on section 12, West Oak Precinct. Our subject, with her husband, the late George L. States, was among the very early pioneer settlers of the district, having settled in 1870 upon the then wild prairie, which, under their diligent and united efforts, has become one of the best farms in the county.
   Our subject was born Dec. 25, 1824, in the North of Ireland. Other festive seasons and Yuletides have come and gone in the family of her parents, but none left behind them so satisfactory, so substantial and pleasing a souvenir as this Christmas gift. She is the daughter of John and Jane Graham, natives of Ireland, who emigrated to America when our subject was about ten years of age, and settled in Huron County, Ohio, in 1834. At this time Ohio spread before the pioneer settler in all its newness. The virgin soil was a stranger to the implements and artifices of mankind, and was ready to yield her wealth to any and every settler who had the push, intelligence and spirit to woo and win her treasures. On the arrival of the family, a farm was purchased in the above county, and here the years of youth and early womanhood were spent. She obtained her education in the common schools of the district, and afterward continued to live at home until, in 1846, upon her marriage she removed to the home of George L.

States, which from this time became hers. Ten happy years were spent in this new home, when they removed to Iowa, in the year 1856, where they continued to reside until 1869, when they removed and located as at present, and where Mr. States bought a tract of land.
   Our subject, it will be seen, has been a pioneer throughout the whole of her life--first in the Ohio home in the earlier days of that State, while it was yet a Territory, afterward in Iowa, and then in this State. At the time of her settlement in Nebraska the lumber for the first house had to be brought in and hauled from Fremont, and all the necessaries of life had to be purchased in Lincoln, which was also the only market for their farm produce. All the usual hardships and difficulties of pioneer life fell to her lot.
   After a residence of two years in this State, Mrs. States was bereaved of her husband, and left to fight alone in the life which was no less hard upon her because of her sex, and in addition to which she had to bear the sorrow and desolation of the cloud which at this time had darkened her home. Although the blow has been so heavy, our subject did not sit down in helpless grief, but, with a spirit worthy of the wife and daughter of New World pioneers, she bestirred herself in the affairs of home and business, and with the help of her son, now a young man, carried on the work of the homestead. Their united efforts have been rewarded, and the farm has been brought to its present high state of cultivation. Beside this, all the buildings found upon the farm have been added by Mrs. States, who has also completed the planting of the shade trees in the vicinity of the house, has set out the orchard, which is in very fine condition, besides several other improvements.
   Throughout the years of her pioneer life, in spite of its dangers and trials, the hardships do not seem to have had an in effect upon her health, for she is still in the enjoyment of every faculty, and is by no means intimately acquainted with that profession which devotes its efforts to the relief of the sick. The father of our subject, John Graham, as his name plainly sets forth, was a native of Scotland. While quite small, his parents removed to Ireland, which was his home until the removal to Ohio in 1834. He was united in marriage with Jane Crosier, who was born in Ireland. To them were born ten children, two only of whom did not reach mature years. Mr. and Mrs. Graham both died in Ohio, at a good old age.
   George L. States, the late husband of our subject, was born in New York State in 1822. While yet a child, his parents moved to Ohio, which was at the time in all its native wildness, and upon the present site of the prosperous city of Sandusky stood the wigwams of the tribe and their chief, after whom the present city is named. Mr. States continued to live with his parents until the time of his marriage. He was a man of fair education, more than average ability, and was called upon in every State in which he lived to fill the township and school offices, which he always did, having in mind the best interests of the community he served. To Mr. and Mrs. States have been given nine children, and of that number only one has since died. The names which follow are those of the living children, and are given in the order of birth: George F., Gustavus J., Adeline A., Thomas B., Mary E., Elmer E., John G. and Jane. The eldest son is residing in Colorado; all the others continue to live in Nebraska, Elmer and Jane being still at home. The church membership of our subject and her late husband was in the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which communion they were highly esteemed, and which continues to extend to our subject its Christian affection. The present efforts of our subject upon the farm are upon the line of general mixed farming and stock-raising, in both of which she has attained unusual success and prosperity.

HARLES E. HERDMAN. The Emerald Isle has from among her sons--given to the world many of its best men. Whether we study her native history or watch the career of her children in other lands; read the story of their heroism under the English flag, in the Peninsula (sic) War; with the Iron Duke in the later days of Waterloo; their bravery in the early settlement of the New England and Eastern States, or in the political and military arena of our own beloved country in

later days, we must give her credit for giving the world one of the most noble and brilliant class of men produced by any nation. The subject of this sketch is a descendant from an Irish family.
   Charles E. Herdman, whose splendid farm is situated on section 16, Garfield Precinct, includes some 240 acres, which he operates in the interests of general farming and stock-raising, and is also the proprietor of the West Lincoln gristmill. He was born in Ottawa, East Canada, on the 31st of March, 1839. In due time he received his education in the district school, from which he passed to work with his father on the farm, in which he continued until about twenty-one years of age, at which time he left home, working in various places as a carpenter, until in 1855, when he met Miss Fanny Stevens, a native of Ottawa, East Canada. Their marriage took place at Ottawa in November, 1856. After this important event he purchased a farm in Canada and went to work. Until the year 1870 he continued with much success, growing more prosperous every year.
   The household circle of Mr. and Mrs. Herdman has increased from time to time, until it numbers seven children: Elizabeth; George, who married Jessie Fox; William, James, Thomas, Fred, and Amelia, wife of David Martin, all of whom are still living. In 1870 Mr. Herdman sold his place in Canada and came here, being one of the very early settlers and with his family fought bravely against the opposing forces of pioneer life. He purchased a farm in West Oak Precinct, which he improved, and upon which he built, and continued to reside until 1874. Selling this to advantage, Mr. Herdman. and family removed to California, but after a seven months' residence found the place far too sickly and unhealthy, and therefore returned to Nebraska, where he had a large amount of money invested in loans. His purpose upon returning was to enter into mercantile pursuits, and he therefore went to Denver, Col., and for six months was engaged in the grocery business, but at the end of that period he turned his face once more toward this State, and located upon his present farm.
   At the time of settlement upon his present property, our subject ascertained that it was out on lease, but after considerable trouble he was enabled to get a title from the State. Then he began making improvements; the comfortable residence which he now occupies was erected, also his fine large barn and other out-buildings, and shortly after a gristmill on Oak Creek, which gives him magnificent water power. In addition to this enterprise our subject is the owner of an excellent dairy, with quite an extensive business in that line. He makes a specialty of his creamery trade, and furnishes much of the cream used in the town for ice cream purposes.
   Miss Fanny Stevens, wife of our subject, was born in 1840, in Ottawa, County, Canada, where she was educated and brought up, and continued to reside with her parents until her marriage. Her father, George Stevens, was born in Ireland, and there owned a large estate. He came to Canada to live, but still retained his estate in Ireland. In 1875 he died at his home in Canada.
   The father of our subject, Henry Herdman, was also born in Ireland, and in the same country received his early education. With his parents he emigrated to this country, landing in New York, afterward proceeding to Canada. Here he purchased a farm upon which he continued for some years. He was united in matrimonial relations with Elizabeth Maxwell, who was a native of Ireland, and their union was brightened by the birth of twelve children, of whom our subject was the eleventh. Henry Herdman continued to make his home in the Dominion until the time of his death, in 1883, at the ripe age of ninety-three years.
   The eldest daughter of our subject has continued to make her home with her father. Her brother George was united in marriage with Miss Jessie Fox, a native of Lincoln, in 1884; he makes his residence in the town, and is engaged with his brother William in the ice business, and they own the largest enterprise in that line in the town. His brother William continues to live at home, also Frederic, James and Thomas. Amelia is the wife of David Martin, and makes her home at Ft. Wallace, Kan., her husband having large interests in an extensive cattle ranch in that district. Both our subject and his sons are deeply interested in stock farming, and are the owners of large herds of cattle, besides a large number of horses and other