it was necessary, both on account of wolves and Indians, for the family to be safely housed at night. Our subject had selected a home on the North Branch of the Little Nemaha, also called Wilson Creek, and in the course of a few years there grew up around them a population of intelligent people. The pioneeers (sic) all assisted each other, and were hospitable and kind, far beyond the people of the present day.
   The pioneers amid their hardships and trials sought to train their children in the ways of morality and religion, and preaching was held at the private houses, conducted first by a United Presbyterian minister and later by a Baptist. A Baptist society was first organized in the valley, and services were often held in the house of Mr, Penn, he and his excellent wife being prominently identified with the organization of the church of which they have now been members for a period of thirty-six years. They have watched the growth and development of Nebraska with warm interest, and during the course of well-spent lives have gathered around them hosts of friends.

HARLES R. STEDMAN, a leading merchant of Unadilla, commands a lucrative patronage, keeping a stock of general merchandise including about everything necessary to the village or country household. He is a native of Tioga County, N. Y., where his birth took place April 4, 1843. When a lad of twelve years he removed with his parents to Lee County, Ill., where he acquired a common-school education and continued on the farm until a youth of nineteen.
   The Civil War being then in progress, our subject in the summer of 1862 enlisted in Company D, 75th Illinois Infantry, the regiment being under command of Col. John E. Bennett. He also served under Gens. Buell. Rosecrans and Thomas, and participated in many of the important battles of the war, namely: Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga, Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge and Ringgold. Privations and hardships incident to army life had the effect to undermine his health, and for a period of six months, during the year 1864, he was confined in the hospital at New Albany, Ind. Later he returned home on a three-weeks furlough, then rejoined his regiment, remaining in the service until the close of the war, and being mustered out at Chicago, in June, 1865. Our subject, upon returning to civil life, began farming in partnership with his father, in Lee County, Ill., where he lived until 1875. In the spring of that year, with a desire to see the land west of the Mississippi, he came to this county, and in company with his father purchased 320 acres of land in Russell Precinct. Here they effected fine improvements, putting up good buildings, setting out groves and an orchard, and gathering about them all the conveniences and comforts of modern rural life. In the fall of 1886 our subject, desirous once more of change, traded his farm for a stock of general in merchandise, and established in his present business at Unadilla, of which he has since been a resident. He has had a good trade from the start, being a man straightforward in his business transactions and prompt to meet his obligations.
   The marriage of our subject with Miss Clara M. Wells was celebrated at the home of the bride in South Branch, Nov. 30, 1876. Mrs. Stedman is the daughter of Gilbert and Mary (Kelley) Wells, old and highly respected citizens of this county, and a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this work. She was born near Warner, N. H., June 29, 1856, and after perfecting her studies in the Peru Normal School, developed into a teacher, which profession she followed for a time before her marriage. Of her union with our subject there are two daughters, Nellie and Alma, who are at home. Mr. Stedman cast his first presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, and since becoming a voter has kept himself well posted upon matters of State and National interest. For a number of years he supported the principles of the Republican party, but his warm interest in the temperance movement led him, in 1888, to identify himself with the Prohibitionists. He has been a member of the School Board of his district three years, was Deputy County Treasurer two years, and has twice been sent as a delegate to the Nebraska State Convection. In all the offices which he has been called to fill he has discharged his duties in a most praiseworthy and con-

scientious manner. During the existence of the G. A. R. Post in Unadilla he was identified with it, and is also a member of the I. O. G. T., at Unadilla.
   The parents of our subject, Enos C. and Malina D. (Wall) Stedman, like their son, were also natives of Tioga County, N. Y. The paternal grandfather was of English descent, and a native of Vermont. The great-grandfather served under Washington in the Revolutionary War. Enos Stedman was a farmer by occupation, and also operated a sawmill on the Susquehanna River. He was greatly prospered, accumulating a snug fortune. In 1855, leaving the Empire State, he emigrated to Illinois, and purchased land in Lee County near the then embryo town of Dixon. He remained a resident of that section for a period of eighteen years, then, selling out, took up his residence in Freeport, but two years later, in 1875, crossed the Mississippi, and coming into this county located in Russell Precinct, taking the east half of section 32. He improved the raw prairie into a well-cultivated farm, set out groves, an apple orchard and the smaller fruit trees, and effected all the improvements necessary for the comfort of the modern and progressive agriculturist. After a well-spent life he departed hence Aug. 1, 1886, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. The mother is still living on the old homestead, being now seventy years old.
   Enos Stedman was a strong Republican, and a member in good standing of the Baptist Church. The mother of our subject was his second wife, he having been first married to Miss Eliza Wolverton, who became the mother of five children. These were named respectively: Ann, Alma, Elizabeth, Mary and Clinton. The latter, during the late war, did efficient service for the Union cause as a spy. He experienced many hairbreadth escapes unharmed, and is now a resident of Texas. At the outbreak of the Rebellion he was a resident of the Lone Star State, and was pressed into the rebel service. He deserted, however, and as soon as possible joined the Union forces. In the discharge of his duties he was captured several times by the rebels, but succeeded each time in making his escape. Of the marriage of Enos Stedman with the mother of our subject there were born eight children, of. whom Charles R. was the eldest. The others were named respectively: Enos J., Ezra F., Eva F., Minnie E., Herbert E., Carrie A. (deceased) and Wallace E. In this connection we present a portrait of Mr. Stedman.

RA D. CHATFIELD is one of the capable and much esteemed citizens of Palmyra Precinct, and is the owner of an admirably cultivated fertile farm of 160 acres on section 10. His parents, Abraham and Jerusha (Cotton) Chatfield, were born in Connecticut and Massachusetts, respectively. Both were taken by their parents to the State of New York when they were children. They were married in Greene County of that State. His father died in 1864, aged sixty-four years, while his mother survived until 1885, and then passed to her long home after a life of eighty-eight years. They were the parents of five children, viz: Ira D., Caroline, Samuel W., Emma and John H.
   It will be observed that Ira was the eldest child in the family of which he was a member. He was born in Delaware County, N. Y., on the 15th of February, 1821. Upon leaving school he engaged in the glove and mitten business, and the manufacture of tanned goods, After getting fairly started in business, he was taken sick with bilious fever, and after an illness of three months he recovered, but only to find that his partner had in the interim swindled him out of all his property.
   Starting afresh, our subject accepted the agency for Gen. H. Sampson and George W. Pratt, wholesale tanners and leather dealers, becoming their head clerk, and remained with them for twelve years. He was also connected for some years with the Whitney Chair Manufacturing Company, and served them in the capacity of chief clerk.
   Mr. Chatfield has been twice married. By his first wife, whose maiden name was Eliza Case, he became the parent of two children, Eli P., and Eliza, who died when she was three months old. Upon the 1st of January, 1819, he was united in wedlock with Lydia Patterson, who was born at Greenwich, Washington Co., N. Y., March 12, 1826. This marriage has been fruitful in the birth of six children, viz: George H., who was drowned when