ents near Fillmore, Nov. 5, 1856. He acquired his education in the district school and assisted his father on the homestead, remaining with his parents until reaching man's estate. When twenty-two years of age, starting out for himself, he made his way to this county, and began farming on rented land in Mt. Pleasant Precinct, in the year 1878. Three years later he was married, Jan. 13, 1881, to Miss Mary, daughter of Nicholas and Henrietta Holmes, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this work.
   Mr. and Mrs. Theis commenced the journey of life together in this county. Mr. T. purchased his present farm in the year 1888, and besides this property has 160 acres of improved land with buildings in Pierce County. For a man coming to Nebraska comparatively without means it must be conceded that he has made good headway. He has an interesting little family, including three children, two daughters and a son -- Mary A., John W. and Susan. Politically, he is a Democrat.

ON. BRAUD COLE. Residing within the borders of Cass County there are many citizens whose names are an honor and credit to her records, and prominent among them will be found the name of the subject of this sketch. He is a well-known and widely respected gentleman, and is noted not only for his straightforward and honorable characteristics, but for that prosperity and success which gild their possessor with the light of popular admiration. He is one of the oldest residents of Cass County, and lives in South Bend Precinct, where he devotes his time and attention to the prosecution of the business of general farming. He was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, Sept. 20, 1824, the youngest child in a family of eleven. His father, Shadrach Cole, was born in Baltimore County, Md., and his mother was Mary (Mathena) Cole. Grandfather Braud Cole was also born in Baltimore County, Md., and when a young man removed to Pennsylvania. During the Revolutionary War he returned to Maryland, on account of the Indian troubles in Pennsylvania. The great-grandfather was a resident of Maryland, and was a highly educated and refined man. He was one of the progenitors of the Braud family, and held large possessions in Maryland. In all the ancestry great mental vigor and bodily strength are exhibited. Our subject's grandfather was on the frontier, assisting in the protection of the settlers from the depredations of the Indians during the war of the Revolution. He was not an enlisted soldier, but being a strong, earnest patriot, he felt that his first duty was due to his country, and that he should render it all the aid in his power. After the Revolutionary War he removed to Bourbon County, Ky., where he was one of the first settlers. He was very influential, and took an important part in the development of that State. In later years he removed to Ohio, where he joined the great-grandfather in Fairfield County, Sept. 14, 1805. The former settled in that county, removing from Pennsylvania in 1801. The great-grandfather died there when quite old. The grandfather died in Pickaway County, Ohio. The father of our subject also died in Pickaway County, Sept. 24, 1845, aged sixty-seven years. His mother died when our subject was only ten years of age, leaving the following named children: Elizabeth, Demitt, Sarah, Wesley, Rebecca, Polly, Ann, Shadrach, Ivah, and Braud, our subject.
   The earlier years in the life of Mr. Cole were passed on a farm. Possessing a great desire to obtain an education he said to his father: "Give me a chance to educate myself." The father, having a full knowledge of the value of education, gave his consent. Our subject then entered the Blendon Young Men's Seminary, now Otterbein University. There he studied the more advanced branches. He taught school the winter after he entered the university, for which he received $14 per month and boarded himself. He occasionally taught school during the winters following. In 1853 he was married to Miss Harriet Bruner. This lady was an orphan, brought up by our subject's brother Wesley. She was born in Greene County, Ohio, and was the daughter of Joseph Bruner and wife, who had been a Miss Cummins. Her ancestors on both the maternal and paternal side were distinguished, educated people. She studied and improved all her educational advantages, and at the

age of eighteen she engaged in teaching. Her salary was $1.25 per week, "boarding 'round." She was in all respects a splendid girl and a noble woman.
   Mr. Cole removed to Lee County, Iowa, in 1851, where he had gone and secured a home before he returned to Ohio to claim his wife. He lived in his Iowa home until 1854, when early in the year he sold his property and moved to the Territory of Nebraska. He stopped at Council Bluffs, Iowa, during the summer of that year, entering Nebraska in the autumn, settling on the now celebrated Walker farm, two miles southwest of Plattsmouth, where, in 1857, he set out the first extensive orchard in the State, containing 2,000 trees. In the same year he pre-empted an additional 160 acres of land. About this time serious trouble began growing out of the conflicting claims of the settlers. To facilitate the amicable settlement of such disputes, Mr. Cole suggested the formation of a "Claim Club," which was accepted and acted upon, a club organized, and he was elected Secretary of the organization. During its existence it formed an important factor in the peaceful settlement of disputes and difficulties, caused principally by the new Government survey of the land.
   After Mr. Cole had settled on the Walker farm he recognized the possibilities of the site now occupied by the city of Plattsmouth, intended to purchase it, but failed to carry out his plans, and other parties secured it. He suggested the present name for the proposed city. He was elected a member of the Third Territorial Legislature, where he at once took a prominent place, and was instrumental in securing much important legislation; one of his acts was securing the passage of the law prohibiting cattle and hogs from running at large, which law has been of incalculable benefit to the State, as it made the opening up of the broad prairie lands and their conversion into valuable farms possible, which could not otherwise have been done, by reason of the scarcity and high price of lumber, that would necessarily be required for fencing.
   Mr. Cole sold his farm in 1864 and removed to Grand Traverse County, Mich., where he expected to engage in the fruit business, but afterward changed his mind and came back to Nebraska, in order to give his children better educational advantages. He removed with his family to Baldwin City, Kan., the seat of Baker University, in 1872. He remained there for two years, and in 1874 he came back to Nebraska and settled in South Bend Precinct, where he has lived ever since.
   Our subject and his good wife became the parents of the following named children: Lester O., Ivah A., Almeda, Sylvia, Myra, Oran, Harland, Emery and an unnamed infant. Of this number Lester, Oran and Harland are deceased. Almeda is now the wife of Rev. T. H. Whorley, she and her husband were missionaries in China for two years. At this time they reside at Exeter, Fillmore Co., Neb. Sylvia is the wife of Rev. T. H. Hall, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, now residing at Wahoo, Neb.; Myra is the wife of Prof. Andruss, and resides at Baltley, the seat of Mallalieu University, where she is at the head of the department of oratory and elocution; Emery, now eighteen years old, is attending a course in Mallalieu University. The mother of this family passed from this to a higher life June 2, 1886, while on a visit to her brother in Ohio. A woman of most estimable character and of many lovable qualities, her death was a severe blow to her sorrowing husband and children, and she was sincerely mourned by everyone who knew her.
   All the children of our subject who have reached the age of maturity hold high positions in life among the refined and educated classes, and reflect great honor on their parents. Their lives show that no pains were spared to instruct them in the paths of virtue and honor, and they are counterparts of the devout, earnest, Christian lives which have been and are now the attributes of the parents. The farm now occupied by our subject contains 550 acres, located in South Bend Precinct. It is all under the highest state of cultivation, the larger portion enclosed by substantial hedge, and wire fences. The buildings are second to none in size in the precinct, and are built very solidly and substantially. The family residence is nicely located, is very large, and is complete in all its appointments, and is a typical home, where love and fraternal affection reign supreme.