JAMES M. PATTERSON, Cashier of the Bank of Cass County, is one of Plattsmouth's most influential and highly respected citizens, and as such it gives us much pleasure to record a sketch of his life on the pages of this volume. He was born in Cross Creek Township, Washington Co., Pa., Sept. 28, 1836, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and his name and lineage are closely interwoven in the annuals of the Keystone State from an early date to its colonial history. His father, James Patterson, was born in the same township as himself, April 24, 1798, and his grandfather, the Hon. Thomas Patterson, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., Oct. 1, 1764. The father of Thomas, who was named William, was born in the same county in 1733, and his father, James Patterson, the great-great-grandfather of our subject, was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, in 1708, of Scotch-Irish parentage. He came to America when a young man, in 1728, settled in Lancaster County, Pa., and eventually married there. He was a farmer, and followed that occupation in that county until his death. He and his wife reared a family of ten children. The great-grandfather of our subject was reared and married in his native county, and moved from there to Washington County about 1779. He crossed the Allegheny Mountains with pack horses, accompanied by his family, and settled on a tract of heavily timbered land in the midst of the primeval forest that covered that part of the country, which was then considered in the "Far West." He made the journey to Philadelphia on horseback to secure a patent to his land from the State, the patent that he obtained bearing the signature of Benjamin Franklin. He cleared and highly improved a good farm from the wilderness there, whereon he made his home until death called him to a better life, June 29, 1818, and his body now rests in Cross Creek Cemetery. In 1794 he erected a substantial stone house that is still standing, and is occupied by his great-grandson, Robert M. Patterson.
   The grandfather of our subject was reared in his native county, and when a youth of fifteen accompanied his parents to their new home in the wilderness in Washington County. He was married, in Westmoreland County, Oct. 6, 1795, to Miss Elizabeth Findley. Her father, great-grandfather of our subject, the Hon. William Findley, was for many years a prominent member of Congress from Pennsylvania. The grandfather of our subject, Thomas Patterson, settled in Washington County, and erected saw and flouring mills on Cross Creek, which are still owned by his descendants. The locality became known as Patterson's Mills, and his death occurred there in November 1841. Politically, he was a Democrat, and one of the leaders of his

party. He served four terms in Congress, and won an honorable record as a statesman. He held a commission in the State Militia, and was known as Gen. Patterson. His wife died Jan. 8, 1837. Twelve children had been born to them, of which three died in infancy, and seven sons and two daughters grew to maturity.
   The father of our subject passed the early years of his life in the home of his birth, and when a young man engaged in milling, but later he turned his attention to the mercantile business at Patterson's Mills, where he was Postmaster, also, for a number of years. The last few years of his life he lived retired, enjoying a handsome competence, and died Aug. 17, 1861. The maiden name of his wife was Eliza Walker, and she was born in Cross Creek Township, Feb. 22, 1802. Her father, Alexander Walker, grandfather of James M., was born in Bedford County, Pa., and there began life as a farmer. He subsequently moved to Washington County, where he bought a tract of land, and there he carried on agricultural pursuits until his death. The mother of our subject died at Patterson Mills, Dec. 9, 1886, having rounded out the venerable age of eighty-four years. There were eleven children born to her and her husband, nine of whom grew to maturity, as follows: Elizabeth, Mary A., Thomas M., Alexander W., Jane, Ambrose, James M., David F., and Emily A.
   James M. Patterson, the subject of this sketch, received his education in the public schools, and when quite young commenced clerking in his father's store, and later, in company with his brother Thomas M., succeeded to his father's business. In 1860 he sold out, and in March, 1861, came to Nebraska, then a Territory, and located at Rock Bluff. That place was then a small but flourishing town, nearly as large as Plattsmouth at that time. In company with his brother Ambrose he established himself in the mercantile business there, and they carried it on together for three years. At the expiration of that time they sold out, and the subject of this sketch returned to Pennsylvania to buy sheep, purchasing 1,000, and shipping them by rail to the western terminus of the railway at Ottumwa, Iowa. From there he drove them to Cass County to graze on the large tracts of wild prairie. Three years later he sold the sheep, and again engaged in the mercantile business at Rock Bluff, in company with his cousin, James A. Walker, under the firm name of Patterson & Walker, continuing until 1873, when they disposed of their stock and business at a good profit. In 1874 Mr. Patterson came to Plattsmouth to take up his residence. He soon became influential in public affairs, and in 1877 was elected City Treasurer. His administration of that office was marked by a faithful devotion to its responsibilities, and it added to his reputation as a financier of more than ordinary ability, and it was indeed so satisfactory that he held it for five consecutive years. In the fall of 1877 he was elected County Treasurer, and was re-elected in the fall of 1879, his experience amply qualiying (sic) him for that important office. When the Bank of Cass County was organized, in 1881, its Directors gladly availed themselves of his valuable services as a financier, and elected him to be cashier, which position he still holds. His invariable courtesy and kindly manners make him popular with the patrons of the bank, as well as generally liked by many others in the community. He is influential in politics, standing high in the Democratic party, with which he has always affiliated. In 1884 he was candidate of his party for Presidential Elector, and in 1888 was candidate for State Treasurer. In him this county has found an able representative of her interests in the halls of legislature. In 1862, in Territorial days, and again in 1870 he was elected a member of the House, and served on a number of important committees, and in 1882 he was elected to the Senate, and represented his constituency with ability and honor.
   Mr. Patterson was married, Aug. 17, 1858, to Ellen H. Campbell, a native of Cross Creek Township, Washington Co., Pa., where she was born Oct. 31, 1838. Her father, Samuel Campbell, was born in Belmont County, Ohio, and his father, David Campbell, was born in Washington County, Pa. He was a farmer, and spent his last years in Washington County. His wife, Mrs. Patterson's grandmother, whose maiden name was Ann Rea, a daughter of William Rea, was a native of that county, and there spent her last years. Samuel Campbell is a farmer, and is still a resident of Washington County, his home being in Independence Township. The maiden name of his wife was Jane McGugin, and she was a native of Washington

County, Pa. Her parents, who were the grandparents of Mrs. Patterson, were David and Jane (Vincent) McGugin, natives and lifelong residents of Pennsylvania, the former dying at the age of eighty-seven years. Mr. and Mrs. Patterson's married life has been blessed to them by the birth of ten children, two of them are deceased: Kate Florence, who was born in Pennsylvania, and died in the second year of her age; and Ella, who was born in Rock Bluff, and died in Plattsmouth at the age of ten years. The names of the other children are Jennie C., James, Thomas M., Samuel, Eliza W., Edith, Charles A. and Rea. Jennie married the Hon. R. B. Windham; James married Grace A. Anderson, and she is assistant cashier in the bank; Thomas M. married Nettie Myers, and is bookkeeper in the bank. The other children are single and at home. James, although only a little over his majority, was elected City Treasurer of Plattsmouth in the spring of 1888, which position he still holds, and fills to the entire satisfaction of his constituency.
   On an adjoining page we print an admirable portrait of this honored citizen of Cass County. Standing as he does in the front ranks of her best citizens, it is fitting that it should appear as a frontispiece to the biographies of her leading people.

REDERIC F. REXFORD, a stalwart and sturdy representative of the pioneer agriculturists who came to Cass County while it was yet in its infancy, and have watched with especial interest in its rapid growth, is an influential and leading citizen of Centre Precinct, where he settled in 1866, on his present homestead. He is well and favorably known throughout the county as a man of unusual ability, great energy, and of unswerving integrity. He fought valiantly in the late war for the defense on his Nation's honor, and of his war record he has reason to be proud, for few men served longer, took part in more severe engagements, endured more hardships, or exhibited more personal bravery. He was born in Chateaugay, Franklin Co., N. Y., Sept. 14, 1839, and lived there until seven years of age, then moved to Malone in the same county, where he grew to man's estate, receiving a good common-school education. His father, Isaac Rexford, was born Oct. 28, 1807, in Vermont, and there passed his early life, and there learned the cooper's trade. He married Miss Louisa, daughter of Frederic Fuller, who was a blacksmith of Keeseville, Essex Co., N. Y. After marriage they moved to Canada, where Mr. Rexford worked at his trade for awhile (sic), then returned to New York and located in Franklin County. Mr. Rexford also served two years during the late Rebellion, but was finally discharged on account of disability. He afterward moved to Dayton, Ohio, where he spent his last years, dying there in November, 1886. He was a member of the Baptist Church, and a worthy man and citizen. His widow is still living, and makes her home with our subject.
   F. F. Rexford, of whom we write, moved from his native county to Ohio, and soon after the breaking out of the late civil strife enlisted, August 16, 1861, in Company A, 2d Ohio Cavalry. After sufficient drill the company was sent to St. Louis, Mo., and was at Camp Benton Barracks a week, then went to St. Joseph and Ft. Leavenworth, thence to Kansas City, and had its first engagement at a town (Independence) twenty miles east, where the first man in the company was killed; then proceeded to Ft. Scott, Kan., and had that place as headquarters. In the summer of 1862 the company made different raids in Missouri, Kansas and Indian Territory, having a number of small engagements, and in the fall of 1862 was ordered back to Columbus, Ohio. There the members were remounted and re-equipped, and sent into the Army of the Ohio, under command of Gen. Burnside. In April they were ordered to Kentucky, having Somerset as headquarters, and in the middle of June five companies made a raid into Eastern Tennessee over the Cumberland Mountains, our subject being among the number. They had a hard time to get back, having to fight their way through, losing most of their horses, some of the soldiers being two weeks without horses, and in a starving and ragged

condition. While they were away the balance of the division went for Morgan, and helped to capture him at the Ohio River. They then went into camp at Crab Orchard, Ky., where they were again refitted, and sent with Burnside to East Tennessee to keep possession of it, and there took an active part in the siege of Knoxville. They staid there until January, when provisions and provender for the horses gave out. They were in a good many engagements in the valley during the fall and winter, and our subject lost his tent mate, many of his company being killed or dying from exposure. In January his company veteranized, and was sent home on a thirty-days furlough. The suffering of the men had been so great that they were willing to do anything for a few days at home. The soldiers afterward met at Cleveland, and were transported to Cincinnati, and from there ordered to the Potomac. They went to Annapolis, Md., and staid there until ordered to Washington, where they were again re-equipped. On May 1 the company of which our subject was a member was ordered to the front to take part in the Wilderness campaign, being in the thick of those hardly fought engagements, forcing Lee back to Richmond. The army then crossed the river on pontoons, moved on to the south side of Petersburg, then up on to the Weldon Railway. A raid was organized, and our subject and his comrades were into Virginia, destroying rebel railways and supplies for eighty miles. They had more or less engagements all of the time, captured many trains, tore up rails, and burned trains. On their return the enemy got in front of the cavalry, and harassed and divided the company, so that they were forced to cut their way through, some riding hard for three days and nights on circuitous routes, finally bringing up in Union quarters.
   Our subject was disabled, not being able to wear his boots for two months, but not a day of rest did he have, and for two weeks did not unsaddle but once, and then for fifteen minutes only. After getting back to Sandy Point on the James River, they left their worn out horses there, and took transports for Baltimore, with hardly enough clothes to be decent. They had neither hats nor shoes, many were simply underclothing. They got off at Baltimore, and lay on the pavement the rest of the night. The sanitary commission clothed them as best they could, and proceeding to Washington, our subject regiment arrived there just in time to head off Gen. Early, who was within four miles of the city. The rebels retreated up the Shenandoah, and Mr. Rexford was one of the number who was despatched in pursuit. The Army of the Shenandoah was then forced, Sheridan taking command. Gen. Custer commanded the 3d Division of cavalry, to which our subject belonged, and in that valley they were in many hard battles, namely: Winchester, Fisher's Hill, Cedar Creek, and so on up the valley, drawing the enemy clear up beyond Danville. They went into winter quarters near Winchester, staying there until the latter part of February, 1865. They were then ordered up the valley to join Grant at the south side of Petersburg. The regiment was engaged in the battle of Five Forks, where it lost very heavily. Our subject was also present at the surrender of Lee at Appomattox. The war closing his regiment was ordered to Washington to take part in the grand review, and was thence ordered to Missouri, going to the Ohio River by railway, and then on transports to St. Louis, thence Raleigh and Springfield, where the members did duty in fort, guarding ammunition until September 1. They were then sent to St. Louis, where they were mustered out, and thence transported to Columbus, Ohio, and discharged after a continuous service of four years and one month, with but two furloughs, one of five days and one of thirty days.
   In the spring of 1866 our subject concluded to try his fortunes in the Great West. The broad prairie land of Nebraska, with its rich soil and genial climate, seemed a great inducement to him to settle. He then bought the farm which he now owns, a part of it lying on section 25, and a part on section 36, his residence being on the former section. The land was in its normal condition, not a furrow having been turned, and not a tree of any description in sight. Nothing daunted by its appearance, Mr. Rexford immediately began its improvement. He put up a small house, set out five acres of forest trees, planted an orchard and plenty of small fruits, which have borne much and good fruit the past fif-