During his stay in Red Oak our subject was married to Miss Maggie W. Lownes, May 9, 1867. She is a daughter of Isaac C. Lownes, a carpenter and builder, and a resident of Red Oak, Iowa. This lady's father was born Sept. 13, 1810, and died March 14, 1870, at the residence of his daughter, the wife of our subject, in Philadelphia, Pa. Her mother was Ann Elizabeth (Williamson) Lownes. She died March 16, 1853, leaving a family of seven children, named: Maggie W., Robert W., Isaac C., Jr., Elizabeth K., Elenor F., Thomas W. and David.
   Mr. Traver settled in Montgomery County, Iowa, where he operated farms varying from eighty to 200 acres. Leaving Iowa, he came to Nebraska on the 19th of April, 1880, where he settled on section 2, and engaged in farming and dairying on eighty acres, which he sold in 1885, and then purchased 160 on section 13, where he now has his home. Mr. and Mrs. Traver are the parents of a large number of children, the surviving members of whom are all at home. Their names are as follows; Lee A., Charles P., William J., Edward P. and Elizabeth E. The deceased children were named: Warren O., Ines J., Herbert and Lucie A.
   This gentleman takes a great pride in his California experiences, and says, that in all his wanderings he has never found a country that can compare in natural advantages with the State of Nebraska. He has improved his farm in a very substantial manner, the various barns and other buildings are conveniently located, and are in good condition and admirably adapted to the purposes for which they were built. His residence is a new house, and is as neatly and tastefully designed as any in the precinct, and contains all available improved domestic appliances. He has a splendid orchard, which contains the best varieties of fruit adapted to the soil and climate.
   Our subject believes in feeding the grain raised on the farm to the best advantage, and his idea is to feed it to stock for the general market. In pursuance of this plan he has a large number of cattle and hogs. The prosperity which has come to him in his farming life certainly justifies the correctness of his position. Both himself and wife are advanced thinkers, and are extremely liberal in their views; they are well informed on all general subjects of the day; she is a lady of good culture and refinement, and is the light of the home circle. The children are bright and intelligent in every respect. Mr, Traver has served his friends and neighbors as School Treasurer for eight years, and has been Supervisor of the town, the duties of which he discharged acceptably to his friends, and with credit to himself. He has been Assessor, was School Director for four years, and Judge of Election at different times. He is an earnest and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His politics are unswervingly Prohibitionist.

AMES O. McCLAIN is one of the thriving, energetic farmers who have contributed so largely to the present prosperous condition of the young State of Nebraska. He has by his industry and application brought to a high state of cultivation a valuable farm located on section 30, Eight Mile Grove Precinct. He is a native of Illinois, where he was born May 14, 1854. At the early age of ten years he lost his father by death, and when fifteen years old he assumed the entire responsibility of the home farm, contributing materially to the support of his mother and the remaining children of the family.
   The present splendid free public school system of that State, had not then been introduced, hence the educational opportunities of our subject were very meagre and limited in extent, and he did not have the advantages possessed by the rising generation of to-day, but being naturally studious and observing, he is now one of the best informed men in the precinct, having a general practical knowledge, which can only come from experience. All his life has been devoted to the business of farming, which he has made very successful.
   Our subject was married to Miss Elizabeth Sykes, April 11, 1876. The lady was born in Adams County, Ill., Oct. 28, 1851. She is a daughter of James and Mary Sykes. Her father was a native of England, and emigrated to America with his parents when about two years old. He is now living in Pike County, Ill., at the advanced age of

seventy years. Her mother was a native of New Jersey, and died April 1, 1872. Her parents reared a family of eleven children, five of whom are living named: Hannah; Elizabeth, wife of our subject; Joseph, Emma and Frank. Hannah is the wife of Wilson Cunningham, and resides in Greenwood. Joseph resides in Colorado; Emma is the wife of Mark Huffman, and resides in Adams County, Ill.; Frank also resides in that county. Mr. and Mrs. McClain are the parents of five children, one of whom is deceased. Those living are named: Clyde, born Nov. 11, 1879; Harry O., Dec. 25, 1881; Fred, April 26, 1884; Hattie, March 18, 1886; and Ralph C. was born April 11, 1878, and died Jan. 4, 1879.
   Mr. McClain is a son of David H. and Mary E. McClain. Both parents were natives of Tennessee. His father's family were early settlers in Adams County, Ill., having located there about 1840. His paternal ancestors were Scotch, and his maternal grandfather was a Mr. Lane, a native of Tennessee. Our subject is the third son in his family. He came to Nebraska and settled in Cass County, in the fall of 1876, purchasing the quarter-section of land on which he now resides. At the time he acquired the land it was in an absolutely wild condition; all of the substantial improvements and conveniences now on the place have been put there by the efforts of our subject. The years in which he has been the owner of this property have been devoted to hard and persistent labor, to such an extent as to make it one of the best cultivated and most productive farms in the neighborhood. He has been prospered in his undertakings, and he has added to his original purchase at different times, until he is now the owner of 320 acres of good land.
   Taking into consideration the fact that when our subject came to Nebraska he possessed but little means, having but slender resources, aside from strong hands and a willing heart, backed by a determination to win, he may be considered in all respects a truly self-made man, and has richly earned the prosperity and comfort he now enjoys. In the accumulation of this splendid property his wife has borne no unimportant part; all her efforts and life in Nebraska have been devoted to her husband's interests, and the acquirement of a home. The stranger visiting their home is most hospitably received and cared for. The house is large, roomy and nicely furnished, a fit reward for the wife and mother's devotion. The barns, sheds and other out-buildings are conveniently located, and admirably designed for the purposes for which they were intended. Our subject and his wife are both members of the Baptist Church. He has persistently refused political preferment, accepting only a place on the School Board where he felt his services would be of permanent value. In politics he is a Republican, large-hearted and public-spirited. He is an earnest supporter of any measure tending to the general good and welfare of the community in which he lives.

AMES CHRISTENSON. Here and there, in the farming region of Nebraska, may be found neat, well-tilled and well-stocked farms. with fine groves of trees, good bearing orchards, commodious dwellings, with large barns and the necessary buildings, which have been brought to their present productive condition under the supervision of skilled agriculturists, who came here from a foreign country -- men who have left their native soil, and, coming to the United States, have in a few years, by their industry, thrift, and good business principles, placed themselves among the representative farmers of this county. On such a farm is the subject of our sketch, who resides on section 24, Stove Creek Precinct.
   Mr. Christenson is a native of Denmark, born in Jutland, March 8, 1854. His father, Christian Anderson, was a native of the same place, and there spent his entire life, dying in 1871, at the age of sixty years. He owned an extensive farm, and was always engaged in agricultural pursuits, accumulating a good property. He was well educated, and a prominent man, who took much interest in public affairs, serving as collector and secretary for many years. The maiden name of his wife, the mother of our subject, was Mary Ann Walsted, who was also born in Jutland, and died

there in 1864, at the age of forty-eight years. She was a member of the Lutheran Church. Her father, Nelse Walsted, fought with the French in the war against the English, from 1808 until 1812. To her and her husband were born nine children, six of whom grew to maturity, namely: Andrew, who served about two years against the Germans, having enlisted in 1864; Hannah, deceased; Mona; Nelse, deceased; Christian and James.
   The subject of our sketch received good educational advantages, and at the age of fourteen years was confirmed. He remained at home until sixteen years of age, assisting his father when he concluded to try life in the New World. Accordingly, in company with a brother and a sister, he left Copenhagen in the steamer "Racing," and after a voyage of eighteen days landed in New York City. He then went by rail to Council Bluffs, thence to Ashland, which was the terminus of the railroad. The following two years our subject was engaged in herding cattle. He then leased a farm near Greenwood, Neb., for three years, and succeeded well. From 1875 until the spring of 1877 Mr. Christenson worked out, and then bought the farm which he now occupies. It contains eighty acres, a part of which was improved at the time he purchased it. He has spent much time and money on the remainder, has set out forest trees and an orchard of seventy-five fruit trees, and erected a windmill and tank. In 1884 our subject built his present residence, a convenient house, well adapted to his needs, and his barns and other buildings. He raises hay and the usual cereal products of the country, feeding out most of it to the cattle and hogs, of which he has large numbers. His fine graded horses are of much value, and he takes pride in caring for them.
   August 28, 1879, Mr. Christenson was united in marriage to Miss Susan Branscom, a native of Tennessee, born in Jonesboro, Greene County, Aug. 13, 1859. She received a fine education, and previous to her marriage taught school in North Carolina. Her parents, Reuben and Hannah (Coggills) Branscom, were natives of Virginia and Tennessee respectively. Her paternal grandfather, Edmund Branscom, who was born in Ireland, emigrated to America, and located on a farm in Virginia, where he remained several years, afterward removing to his present residence in Washington County, Tenn. Reuben Branscom, her father, came to Tennessee with his parents when a young man. He married and established himself on a farm there, but subsequently sold that property, and, removing to North Carolina, remained there nine years, engaged in farming and milling. In 1878 he emigrated with his family to Nebraska, and the ensuing years worked at carpentering in Syracuse. In 1866 he took up a homestead claim of 160 acres in Frontier County, where he now resides. He has bought more land since then, and is now busily at work improving the farm. He is fifty years of age, and his wife fifty-five years old. Joshua Coggins, the maternal grandfather of Mrs. Christenson, was of Irish descent, and formerly owned a plantation in Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Branscom were the parents of eight children, namely: Margaret (deceased), Susan, Sarah, Hannah, Ida, Lucius, Edmond and Alice.
   Our subject and his wife have a pleasant, well-kept home, which has been brightened by the birth of three children -- Mary, Maud and Andrew. Both Mr. and Mrs. Christenson are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and contribute largely toward its support. In politics he is a stanch Republican, and a strong advocate of the principles promulgated by that party.

TEPHEN W. ORTON. The Empire State parted with one of her most worthy sons when the subject of this sketch, withdrawing from her borders, turned his steps toward the newly-made State of Nebraska. He arrived in this county in July, 1867, and soon thereafter took up a tract of wild land on section 28, in Elmwood Precinct. After several years spent in farming he decided to retire from its arduous labors, and accordingly invested a portion of his capital in the drug business, changed his residence to Weeping Water, and is now one of the leading man in this branch of trade in the southern part of the county. He possesses first-class business talent, has acquitted himself uniformly as a

liberal-minded and public-spirited citizen and forms no unimportant factor among the leading interests of Cass County.
   Our subject was born in Washington County, N. Y., June 2, 1844, and five years later his parents removed to Fulton County, where they spent the remainder of their lives, our subject being orphaned by their death when a lad of fifteen years. He was ambitious to obtain an education, and managed to pursue his studies in the Hudson River Institute at Claverack three years, employing himself in the meantime also as a teacher in order to augment his income, and at the expiration of this time the progress of the Civil War arrested his plans, and he was induced to enlist as a Union Soldier in Company F, 13th New York Artillery. His regiment was assigned first to the 18th Army Corps, and subsequently to the 24th Corps, in the Army of the Potomac and the Army of the James, and he participated in many active engagements, being at the siege of Suffolk in March and April, in 1863, and overhauling guerrillas in Southeastern Virginia. In the spring of 1864 he served under Gen. Butler in the several engagements in front of Richmond, and later joined Grant's army in time to be present at the battle of Cold Harbor. After this he went with the 18th Corps, under command of Gen. Baldy Smith, to Petersburg, and thereafter remained with the Army of the Potomac until the close of the war. In the meantime he participated in the various engagements which followed during that campaign. He was at the front in the fight at Petersburg most of the time, and was wounded later at the taking of Ft. Harrison. In consequence of this he was confined in the hospital at Portsmouth, Va., a period of six weeks, after which he rejoined his comrades. He was with the Ft. Fisher expedition, and remained in Southeastern Virginia until the final surrender. His command was then sent to Norfolk, Va., after the war, and Mr. Orton became a member of the police force, with which he remained until receiving his honorable discharge, Sept. 4, 1865.
   Upon leaving the army Mr. Orton returned to his old haunts in Fulton County, N. Y., where he employed himself as a teacher and otherwise until April, 1867, and then started for the West. He stopped in Bureau County, Ill., until July of that year, then pushed on further westward, crossed the Missouri River at Omaha, July 28, and later made his way to Elmwood Precinct, this county, and selected his claim. He then entered the employ of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, for which he worked a few months, then engaged on a farm in the vicinity of Bellevue until March, 1869.
   Mr. Orton now located on his own land, which was a raw prairie, being sheltered for a time in a plank house. When he assumed ownership of this property there had been only three men before him to take up land in Elmwood Precinct. The only settlers here were McCaig brothers, John Gyger, Carter Aiken and his father. Our subject experienced the usual hardships and difficulties of life in a new settlement, with a far-away market and trading-post. He had come to stay, however, and persevered in this resolution, and after a few seasons began to realize the reward of his labors. After fencing his land and erecting the buildings most needed he put out fifteen acres of forest trees, with a fine apple orchard and trees of the smaller fruits, and gradually gathered around himself and family those conveniences which would insure their comfort and welfare. In due time he found himself possessor of one of the most valuable farms in the precinct, which during these years has been settled up with a class of enterprising and intelligent people. After his land had been subjected to a thorough course of culture he turned his attention largely to stock-raising, and was very successful. In looking upon his possessions to-day it must be remembered that he came to this region without means, and with no resources but his own indomitable will and his strong hands. He now represents one of the finest estates in the county.
   Mr. Orton, in the fall of 1881, leaving his farm moved to Weeping Water, and engaged in the drug business with Dr. J. W. Thomas. They started out with a fine stock, and operated together five years. Mr. Orton then purchased the interest of his partner, and has since controlled the business. He has a good trade, which is steadily increasing. He was a school teacher for twenty-one years of his life, and after coming to this county followed this profession in Elmwood for a period of nine years.

He has watched over the educational interests of the county with fatherly care, and given his influence toward the enterprises calculated generally for the best good of his community.
   Mr. Orton, politically, is a stanch Republican.
   He has served as School Director in District No. 44 for some time, and was Assessor of Elmwood Precinct for a period of four years, and has officiated in the same office in Weeping Water Precinct two years. For two years also he officiated as Chairman of the Republican Central Committee of Cass County, and has had no small influence among the councils of his party in this section.
   Miss Sarah Burrows became the wife of our subject Dec. 31, 1868, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride in Bellevue, Neb. This lady was born in the Province of Ontario, Canada, Feb. 17, 1847, and when an infant of six months was taken by her parents to Kalamazoo County, Mich. She was there reared to womanhood, and the family, in the spring of 1867, came to the new State of Nebraska, settling in the vicinity of Bellevue, where Mrs. Orton lived until her marriage. Her parents, Zachariah and Hannah M. (Woodard) Burrows, were natives respectively of Norfolk County, England, and New York. Mr. Burrows was born in 1817, and emigrated to America in 1836, settling in Canada, where he lived until 1847. He then removed to Kalamazoo, Mich., and sojourned there a period of twenty years. He spent his last days in the vicinity of Plattsmouth, Neb., passing away in November, 1871, at the age of fifty-four years. Mrs. Burrows later was married to T. W. Warrant, of Ashland, Wis., where she is now living.
   Luther M. Orton, the father of our subject, was born at Luzerne, Warren Co., N. Y., March 31, 1820, and lived there until a young man of twenty years. In 1839 he was married to Miss Sarah A. Ward, and the year following they removed to Fair Haven, Vt., where they resided until 1844, and thence migrated to New York State, settling in Washington County. From there, in 1850, they changed their residence to Fulton County, where the death of the father took place Jan. 18, 1859. During his early manhood Mr. Orton had been engaged in the lumber business considerably, while he always operated more or less as a farmer. The parental family included six children, four of whom lived to mature years. The others are residents of New York and Michigan. Mr. O. and his estimable wife were both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which the father officiated as Class-Leader from the earliest recollection of his son Stephen W. The mother was an invalid for many years, but survived her husband some time, and passed away at her home in New York, July 21, 1865.
   Samuel Orton, the paternal grandfather of our subject, was, it is supposed, a native of Wales. He spent the last years of his life in Warren County, N. Y., dying in 1853, at the advanced age of eighty-five years. He was a farmer by occupation, and the father of ten children.
   To Mr. and Mrs. Orton there were born three children, one of whom, a daughter, Allie, died Feb. 26, 1886, at the age of thirteen years. The survivors are: Mary A., who was born Jan. 29, 1871, and Chauncey, July 9, 1880. These children are being given good educational advantages. When Mr. Orton came to Weeping Water it had just begun to assume the semblance of a village. He has been a useful factor in its growth and development, and is a man in whom his fellow-citizens repose entire confidence. Socially, he belongs to the G. A. R., holding the post of Quartermaster; he is also connected with the I. O. O. F. as a Past Grand, and in the A. F. & A. M. is Senior Warden. He is also a Knight of Pythias, P. C., and has represented the fraternity in the Grand Lodge.

INWOOD E. SKINNER, of the firm of Skinner & Ritchie, is, with his partner, doing a good business in loans and abstracts of titles, making of the latter a specialty. They also are the agents for some of the best fire insurance companies. He has already a thorough business experience, although still a young man, having been born Jan. 12, 1860. His native place was Susquehanna County, Pa., his childhood home being in the town of Jackson. His father, Nelson Skinner, was also a native of the Keystone State. He was

engaged for a number of years in mercantile pursuits in Susquehanna County, but died when his son, our subject, was but a year old.
   Mrs. Louisa (Bryant) Skinner, the mother of Linwood E., also a native of Susquehanna County. Pa., was born in Jackson Township, and was the daughter of David Bryant, a native of Vermont, who left New England and settled in Susquehanna County, Pa., in the early times. He purchased largely of timber land in different parts of the county, and felling the forest trees opened up a good farm, where he carried on agriculture successfully and attained to the ripe old age of eighty-four years, passing away at the homestead which he had built up, and where from his sterling worth of character he had gathered around him hosts of friends.
   After the death of her husband Mrs. Skinner with her only child went to live with her parents, with whom she remained until her second marriage, with A. J. Price, of that county. They continued residents of Pennsylvania until the spring of 1880, then bidding adieu to the associations of years, crossed the Mississippi and settled in Juniata, Neb., and in 1881 moved to Plattsmouth, where they still reside. They have two children -- Abbie and Roland M. Linwood E. pursued his early studies in his native county, and later spent a year in a school at Scranton, Pa. Afterward he was placed in school in Boston, Mass., and upon completing his studies was employed as clerk in a store of general merchandise in his native county and other places about four years.
   In the spring of 1878 young Skinner, leaving his native State once more, this time started to the West, and spent one year in Boone, Iowa. 1 March of 1879 he came to. Nebraska, and establishing himself at Plattsmouth, began learning the trade of brickmaker, at which he worked three seasons. This, however, not being entirely congenial to his tastes, he in the fall of 1882 secured a position in the County Clerk's Office, where he remained until the spring of 1883, and the summer following was one of a Government surveying party operating in the northwestern part of the State. This contract ended he resumed his clerkship in the court-house, operating mostly as Deputy Clerk until January, 1886. Then forming a partnership with J. W. Jennings and H. C. Ritchie, he began operating in real estate, the firm name being J. W. Jennings & Co. They continued in partnership until December, 1886, when our subject and Mr. Ritchie purchased the interest of Mr. Jennings, and the firm assumed the title of Skinner & Ritchie, as at present.
   Mr. Skinner was married. in November, 1881, to Miss Susan, daughter of Christian Mockenhaupt. Mrs. Skinner was born in Plattsmouth, Neb., where she was reared and educated. Her parents were among the earliest pioneers of Nebraska, settling in Plattsmouth when it was a mere hamlet. The mother died in 1878. The father is still a resident of Plattsmouth. Of this union there, have been born three children -- Nelson C., Maggie May and Bernice J. Mr. Skinner, politically, is a stanch Republican.

LI J. PITTMAN. Among the substantial and enterprising agriculturists of Cass County, of whom brief biographical notices are given in this volume, no one is more worthy of mention than the subject of this biographical sketch. He has an extensive farm, consisting of 200 acres on section 9, and 160 acres more, on section 16, Liberty Precinct, which he bought in 1872, and moved onto November 28 of that year. It was then but slightly improved, but by hard labor and skillful management it has been transformed from the wild, unbroken prairie to a veritable garden spot, blossoming and yielding abundantly of the numerous cereals entrusted to its soil. On his homestead, which lies on section 9, Mr. Pittman has erected a handsome dwelling, which is one of the most commodious and conveniently arranged in the precinct, it being well heated and ventilated, and with water carried throughout the house. The barn and other farm buildings are also of modern construction and in keeping with the dwelling, water for the stock being carried by means of pipes and a windmill pump to the barn and feed lots. The house is situated on a rising knoll, and com-