cinct, and continues to hold the position. In the G. A. R. also he takes a prominent part; he is a member at Sterling of the Wadsworth Post No. 49. His political relations have always been with the Republican party, of which he is a stanch adherent and hearty supporter. Mrs. Pindar has been a member of the Universalist Church in Ohio since the year 1859, and has never united with any organization locally. As a family, as well as individuals, they are much respected by all who know them, and enjoy the hearty esteem of the community at large.

OHAN H. BEHRENDS is a fine representative of the farmers of Otoe County, and his large and valuable farm in Four Mile Precinct is one of the best managed and most attractive places within a radius of many miles. A view of this the publishers give in connection with this outline history of its respected proprietor. Mr. Behrends was born April 21, 1835, in Hanover, Germany, which was likewise the birthplace of his father, Bernhard Behrends, who spent his entire life there engaged in farming. The mother of our subject was also born in Hanover. She also died in Germany. There were but two children, the subject of this sketch and his brother, Albert J. who resides in Nemaha County.
   Our subject was reared in his native land, and received the benefits of a sound education in its excellent schools, which he attended quite steadily until he was fourteen years old. He then went to work on a farm, and from that time until 1853 toiled hard to acquire a practical knowledge of agriculture. In that year he came to America to try life in the New World, hoping to he able to lay up a competence and to live in the comfort and ease that would be denied him under the existing state of affairs in the Fatherland. He set sail from Bremerhaven in June, and landed in New Orleans seven weeks and two days later, with but a few dollars in his pocket. He went directly to Madison County, Ill., and there found employment on a farm at $12 a month. He continued to work by the month there and in Sangamon County until 1856, when the alluring accounts of the wonderful fertility of the soil of the wild prairies of Nebraska, its bracing climate, and many other natural advantages, determined him to come here and engage in agriculture, and he was soon voyaging up the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers to his destination. He landed at Brownville, in the month of July of that year, and shortly after selected a desirable location in Nemaha County, and when the land came into the market he entered his claim from the Government, paying $1.25 an acre for the land. He erected a log cabin to shelter him, and proceeded to develop his land. The country around was then mostly in a wild, unsettled state, deer and other kinds of game were plentiful, and Indians were often seen lingering about their old homes. Brownville, fourteen miles distant, was the nearest market. Mr. Behrends continued to live there for four years, and, at the expiration of that time, he sold his partly improved claim at a good advance on the cost price, and bought 160 acres in Rock Creek Precinct. Thirty acres of this tract were broken, but there were no buildings, and he at once erected a house, and for two years he was actively engaged in agriculture in that precinct. At the end of that time he had a good chance to sell his place and make quite a sum of money. and he took advantage of it. He then bought a tract of wild prairie in the same precinct. built a comfortable house, broke the entire tract of land, and resided thereon until 1877. He then bought his present farm, which comprises 360 acres of land, exceedingly rich in all the elements that go to make it one of the most productive estates in Otoe County. It is finely located in Four Mile Precinct, four miles southwest of Nebraska City, and its nearness to a thriving city and to good markets makes it of additional value. Mr. Behrends is a business-like, skillful agriculturist, and already has his land under good cultivation, and has erected a substantial and conveniently arranged set of farm buildings, and has one of the best and among the finest farmhouses in the precinct.
   Mr. Behrends was married, in 1860, to Miss Annie Sophia Arends, a native of Hanover, and their pleasant wedded life has been blessed to them by the birth of sixteen children, only three now living,

namely: Bernhard B., Maggie and Herman. They have a cozy, attractive home, and friend and stranger alike receive a cordial welcome and enjoy a generous and unstinted hospitality from host and hostess white under its sheltering roof. Mr. and Mrs. Behrends are esteemed members of the Lutheran Church. In his political sentiments Mr. Behrends is decidedly independent. As a man of practical habits, sound principles and genial manners, our subject exerts a good influence in this community, and is greatly respected by his fellow citizens.

AMILLUS A. SMITH, Justice of the Peace of Hendricks Precinct, and one of its most prosperous and public-spirited citizens, owns a valuable farm on section 20. He is considerably interested in stockraising, and ships numbers of cattle and hogs each year to the markets.
   The first recollections of our subject are of the modest home of his parents in Spring Township, Crawford Co., Pa., where his birth took place Dec. 11, 1843. He attended the village school, and his father having died when he was a lad, remained with his mother until the outbreak of the Civil War. The family at that time having removed to Wisconsin, he enlisted in the 1st Wisconsin Infantry, and in the battle of Perryville, Ky., was wounded in the left fore-arm, by reason of which he was confined in the hospital three months. Anxious, however, to rejoin his regiment, he returned to it while his arm was still in a sling, and participated thereafter in the battles of Stone River, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain and Mission Ridge. Then, under command of Gen. Sherman, he marched to the sea, taking part in the meantime in most of the engagements of the Atlanta campaign. On the 25th of July, 1864, he was wounded at Atlanta in the right leg, and off duty one month. Upon rejoining his regiment he met the enemy in the fight at Bentonville, and was with Sherman at the time of Johnston's surrender at Raleigh. He continued in the army until the close of the war, and received his honorable discharge at the city of Washington, D. C., then went with his regiment to Milwaukee, where it was disbanded.
   Our subject now began farming near Trenton, Dodge Co., Wis., on a small tract of land which he had purchased, and where he continued until coming to this county. He started for Nebraska on the 1st of May, 1867, and made the entire journey overland in a wagon. He crossed the Missouri on the 3d of June, and seven days later homesteaded the land which he now owns and occupies. After providing a shelter for his family he began the improvement of his purchase, setting out groves and an orchard of 150 trees, besides adding from time to time the various conveniences required for the comfort of the family. The land is watered by running streams and is highly productive.
   Our subject was married at Beaver Dam, Wis., May 1, 1867, to Miss Anna Robinson, who was born in Dodge County, that State, Sept. 2, 1848. Her father, Ichabod Robinson, a native of England, was born in 1816, and emigrated to America with his brothers when but a lad seventeen years old. They settled first in Ohio, then removed to Kentucky, but after his marriage Mr. Robinson located in Dodge County, Wis., where he carried on farming until his death, in 1885. The wife and mother was in her girlhood Miss Sarah A. Davis, a native of Kentucky. Her death took place in Dodge County, Wis., in 1851. The household circle comprised the following children: Mary, Eliza, Samuel, David, Annie, Mattis and Sarah. The latter died when about thirty-three years old. Samuel and David served as soldiers in the late war, from which they came out uninjured, but upon the return home after receiving his honorable discharge, Samuel fell between the cars of a moving train and was instantly killed.
   To our-subject and his wife there have been born five children, namely: Mattie, Arthur, Elmer, Anna and Ada. With the exception of Arthur, who is engaged in brickmaking at Lincoln, they are all at home with their parents. Mr. Smith is a true blue Republican, politically, one of the warmest supporters of the principles of his party. Soon after the, war he identified himself with the G. A. R., and is a member of Mansfield Post No. 56, at Palmyra. He has served as School Moderator in his district

since the time of its organization, and has officiated as justice of the Peace since the spring of 1881.
   The father of our subject was born in New York, in 1807. He served an apprenticeship at the shoemaker's trade during his early manhood. but later was interested in agricultural pursuits, which he followed in Crawford County, Pa., where his death took place in 1846. The paternal grandfather, Israel Smith, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and subsequently received a pension from a Government. The mother of our subject was in her girlhood Miss Perthina Bail. She was born it Chautauqua County, N. Y., in 1815, and after the death of her husband lived in Pennsylvania until 1859. Her death took place in 1879. The parental household included six children, namely: Harriet, Sarah, Americus, Orphilia, Camillus (our subject) and Orion. Americus enlisted in the same regiment in which his brother Camillus served, and as shot through the heart at the battle of Perryville; his remains now fill a soldier's grave at Perryville, Ky.
   Mr. Smith commenced at the foot of the ladder in life, and has seen many years of hard labor with drawbacks and privations. Now in the enjoyment of a pleasant and comfortable home, he is simply in possession of what he is honestly entitled to by reason of his industry and perseverance. Mrs. Smith is a lady of many amiable qualities, cultured and hospitable, and their home, one of the most attractive in this region, is the frequent resort of hosts of friends.
   The view of Squire Smith's residence is presented in connection with this brief sketch of his life.

ALTON MASSEY, one of the substantial men of Otoe Precinct, enterprising and public-spirited, is essentially a Western man, having been born on this side of the Mississippi, in Gasconade County, Mo., forty miles from Jefferson City, April 15, 1837. His paternal grandfather was one of the first settlers of that State, taking up a tract of wild land and following the pursuit of agriculture. He spent his last years in Missouri.
   The subject of this sketch took up his residence in Otoe Precinct in the fall of 1862. His parents. George and Margaret (Branson) Massey, were also natives of Missouri, and there they both spent their entire lives, except a three-years residence in Texas, the father engaged in farming pursuits. Their family consisted of eight children, namely: Charles, Talton; Ann and Elizabeth, both deceased; Thomas, who died young; Nancy, deceased; Sarah is the wife of James Russell, and they live in Idaho; and William.
   Mr. Massey, our subject, was the second child of his parents, of whom he was deprived by death when but a boy. The children were then scattered, and our subject was taken into the home of his uncle, Benjamin Simpson, in Barton County, Mo., where he lived until able to do for himself. He now commenced freighting (this was in 1857) across the plains, transporting merchandise from Westport, Mo., in wagons to Santa Fe, N. M. This was an experience in which he saw much of life in the wild West, meeting all kinds of men, and often making his way through difficulties and dangers, He was thus occupied two years, then returned to Barton County. Mo., where he purchased land and resolved to settle down.
   The next important event in the life of our subject was his marriage with Miss Martha Ann Lucas, which occurred near the town of Lamar, in February, 1859. Mrs. Massey was born in Sangamon County, Ill., Aug. 10, 1840, and was the only living child of Allison and Louisa (Harper) Lucas. Mrs. Lucas died when her daughter, Mrs. Massey, was an infant.
   Mr. Lucas, after the death of his wife, moved to Pike County, Ill., where Mrs. Massey was principally reared; then she removed with her father to Barton County, Mo. The Lucas family left Illinois and moved into Gasconade County, Mo., but, becoming discontented, returned later to Illinois. They afterward moved back to Missouri, settling this time in Barton County, where Mr. and Mrs. M. were married.
   Our subject and his wife continued residents of Missouri until the fall of 1862, and then, on account of the troubles connected with the Civil War, decided to go farther North. On their way to Illinois Mrs. Massey was taken quite ill at Nebraska City,

and they were obliged to halt. Mr. M. engaged himself as a farm laborer, thinking to stay only until his wife was sufficiently recovered to proceed on their journey. He became pleased with the country and the people, and finally resolved to stay here, although not purchasing land until the spring of 1866, He first secured 160 acres, and has now one of the best cultivated farms in Otoe Precinct. The twenty-two years of his residence upon it have been devoted to its improvement, and, looking over his fields and buildings, the proprietor has abundant reason to congratulate himself upon the result of his labors.
   To Mr. and Mrs. Massey there have been born eight children, the two eldest, Mary Jane and William H., in Missouri; the other six, Charles W., Louisa A., Isadora, George W., Sarah E, and Nancy A., were born in Otoe Precinct, this county. The eldest daughter is at home with her parents. William is a resident of Sterling, Jefferson Co., Neb; he married Miss Ina R. Crook, of Nebraska City, and they have three children--Clarence C., Oda Pearl and Viva B. Charles W. is at home; Louisa A. became the wife of T. L. Nipps. and the mother of one child, Mary A., and died on the 6th of March, 1888. Mary A. is now living with her grandparents. Isadora is pursuing her studies in Nebraska City. George W., Sarah E. and Nancy A. are at home with their parents.
   Mr. Massey is a stanch supporter of the principles of the Democratic party. He has given especial attention to the education of his children, and they form a bright and interesting group whom the parents regard with pardonable pride.

LIJAH W. ROSS ranks high among the successful, hard-working and manly citizens of Palmyra Precinct. He is one who does not live for himself alone, but has large interests in every enterprise or plan that will advance the prosperity of the district in which he resides, whether they be of an educational, religious, or merely political character. He successfully farms 160 acres of good land on sections 20 and 29, and other things being equal, sees a large return for every investment of strength or finances that he may make.
   Our subject is the son of James and Priscilla (Young) Ross, both of whom were natives of New York State. In this family commingles both Scotch and German blood. His father, who is an agriculturist, is now seventy-two years of age, and his mother seventy-four. Grandfather Ross was in the War of 1812 as a Captain, and merited special mention for gallant service.
   The subject of our sketch was the third of six children born to his parents, whose names we mention as follows: Peter, Artemus, Elijah W., Betsey A., Ella and Artemus. The second child and Ella are deceased. Elijah was born on the 12th of March, 1839, in Oswego, N. Y. He was brought up on a farm, and continued at home until 1861, when he was united in marriage with Miss Jane Dunlap, daughter of William Robert Dunlap, whose sketch appears on another page in this volume. Mrs. Ross was born on the 7th of August, 1841.
   After their marriage our subject and his wife made their home in New York State until 1871, when they came to this State with their three children. Until that time Mr. Ross had been engaged in sawmill work and in the general lumber trade, but since he came to Nebraska has given his attention almost entirely to stock. The first experience in Nebraska in home life was in a dug-out, which served them for the first year and a half, after which they removed to their more commodious, comfortable and pleasant home. They are the parents of seven children, whose names we mention as follows: Ella, Emerson, Emery, Manly, Ida, William and John. Ella is happily married to Samuel Fullwider, and is a resident of Sharon, Kan.; they are the parents of two children. Emerson is a farmer at Turlington.
   Our subject and wife are members in good standing of the United Brethren Church, of which organization he has been the Treasurer. His political principles are those of the Prohibition party, and he takes a lively and active interest therein. They are both highly esteemed, and are cordially received in the most select circles of local society.