Plattsmouth Precinct, now include in his present farm, and the good success that had in managing it enabled him to buy more land, until he is now the possessor of as fine a farm as is to be found in Cass County, comprising 227 acres in all. It is under good tillage, and is amply supplied with everything necessary for carrying on agriculture after the most approved methods. Mr. Wehrbein has erected a conveniently arranged, substantial dwelling, corn cribs and other necessary out-buildings, and everything about the place wears an air of neatness and thrift.
   To the wife who presides over his pleasant home Mr. Wehrbein was united in marriage in this county, in January, 1873. Her maiden name was Margaret Hagel, and she is also a German by birth. Mrs. Wehrbein's parents, Anton and Theresa (Schoeule) Hagel, were likewise natives of Germany, who emigrated to this country and spent their last years in Wisconsin. Mr. and Mrs. Wehrbein have five children living, namely: Ida, Emma, Mary, John and William. Frederic, their eldest child, died at the age of nine months.
   Mr. Wehrbein is it manly, upright man, of good financial ability, and prompt and methodical in his business habits. In him the Presbyterian Church finds a useful and earnest member. Mrs. Wehrbein is a much esteemed lady, was reared in the Catholic Church, and has remained true to the faith of her forefathers. Politically, Mr. W. is a Democrat.

ILLIAM HENRY SHAFER is distinguished in the annals of Cass County as being the second oldest settler in point of settlement, and to him and men of like energy, enterprise and ability, does it owe its present importance and prosperity. He took up his residence in Plattsmouth in 1854, when there was scarcely another habitation for miles around, shrewdly noting its eligible position for a town site, and it is with pleasure that he has witnessed the various stages of its growth from the wild, lonely prairie, and then a struggling village, to its present size and importance as the metropolis of one of the finest counties and richest farming regions in the State, and it must be to him a source of satisfaction that he has had a hand in bringing about this marvelous change. He is extensively engaged in the real-estate business in this city, aside from devoting much time to looking after his private interests, as he has a large amount of property, and at one time owned 1,000 acres of land in Cass County, besides 1,500 acres in other parts of Nebraska and Iowa.
   The subject of this biographical notice was born in Pendleton County, Ky., and his father, Frederic Shafer, was likewise born in that State, Harrison County being the place of his birth. His father, Henry Shafer, was a native of Pennsylvania, and was there reared and married. His first wife died there, and he married a second time, the grandmother of our subject being his second wife. After his second marriage he resided in Mercer County, his native State, until his removal to Kentucky with several other families. They made the journey from Pittsburgh down the Ohio River in a flatboat. The country through which they passed presented a very different appearance from what it does to-day, the picturesque banks of the stream being thickly wooded with tall, centuries-old trees. But in the depths of the primeval forest lurked the implacable enemy of the early settlers, the Indian, and once on the way they were attacked by the hostile aborigines, but all escaped unharmed. The grandfather of our subject took up a tract of heavily timbered land in Harrison County, after his arrrival (sic) in Kentucky, and cast in his lot with the pioneers of that State. The land had never been surveyed, and he marked the boundaries of his claim by blazing trees. The Indians being numerous, the settlers were obliged to build a fort, to which they could flee on occasion of hostile demonstrations from them. The men had frequently to go out on scouting expeditions, and Mr. Shafer was with Poe on one of these when Mr. Poe killed the Indian chief, Big Foot. There were no market's in that part of the country for farm products for some years, and the people lived in the most primitive manner. The grandmother of our subject used to spin, weave, and make up all the cloth used in the family, and the skins of wild animals were utilized to make clothing. After several years of hard labor, and the patient endurance of hardships, Mr. Shafer cleared a fine farm,

which remained his home until death claimed him. His wife then removed to Illinois with her son John, and died at his home in Vermilion County. She was the mother of nine children, of whom the father of our subject was one.
   The latter was reared in Harrison County, but after marriage he moved to Pendleton County, in the same State, and bought timbered land, from which he cleared a farm. He built a log house for a dwelling, and in that humble abode his son, of whom we write, first opened his eyes to the light of day. The father engaged in general farming there for several years, then took up his residence in Gallatin County, where he bought a partially improved farm. In 1836, seven years later, we find him among the pioneers of Decatur County, Ind., where be purchased a tract of land, which be cultivated during his six years' residence there. After that he spent eight years in Tipton County, and then he found a home in Nebraska with his son, our subject, until his death, Oct. 3, 1867, at the advanced age of seventy-eight. The maiden name of his wife was Sarah Jones, and she was a daughter of Joshua Jones, of Pennsylvania. She was born in Harrison County, Ky., and died at the home of a daughter in Cass County, this State, April 5, 1865. She and her husband were the parents of the following children: Seth, Milton, Thomas, William H., Joshua and Harriet.
   William Shafer was four years old when his parents moved to Gallatin County, and about twelve years old when they crossed the border to take up their abode in Indiana, the removal being made with wagons. The home that his father selected comprised a tract of land in the wilderness, and there our subject was reared amid the pioneer influences that often serve to bring out strength of character and manly self-reliance. The household lived in the most simple manner, luxuries being almost unattainable; the mother did all her cooking before the fire in the rude fireplace, and it was her skillful hands that made all the clothing for her family. Our subject made his home with his parents until he was about twenty years of age, although he had previously worked out by the day or month, receiving for wages fifty cents a day in harvest seasons and $8 a month at other seasons of the year. At the age mentioned he went to Switzerland County, Ind., with two of his brothers, and they rented land and engaged in agricultural pursuits for two years at that point. Our subject then married, and after that rented land and farmed it on its own account for three years. We next hear of him in Tipton County, where he invested the money that he had accumulated in a 100-acre tract of timbered land, at $2 an acre. He built a primitive log structure, with an earth and stick chimney at one end of it, and in that house he and his wife took up their abode. Pioneer conditions still obtained in that part of the country, from which the primeval forests had not yet been eliminated by the ax of the settler; nor had the wild turkeys, deer, wolves and other wild animals fled before the advancing steps of civilization, but venison and the delicious meat of the wild turkey often set forth the table of the settler. Mr. Shafer cleared and cultivated twenty-five acres of his land, and made his home on it until 1854. In the spring of that year he sold his land, and migrating with his family to Iowa, purchased a tract of timbered land, comprising 500 acres, near Glenwood, opposite Plattsmouth, and there resided from May 25 until November 19. His removal to that place had been by rail to Madison, Ind., where he had embarked on a steamer for Bethlehem, Iowa, traveling on the waters of the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. He paid his first visit to Nebraska April 25 of that year, and pre-empted the land where he now lives, which now forms a part of the city. May 19 he erected a log house on the place, with a stick and mud chimney, and a few months later moved into it with his family. At that time there were but two houses in Plattsmouth, and the Indian titles had not been quieted, but after the ratification of the treaties, the Government sold the land for $1.25 an acre. In 1855 Plattsmouth was surveyed, and Mr. Shafer assisted in the first survey by carrying the chain. Two men named Martin and O'Neill had kept a store on the opposite side of the river, and had later become the proprietors of the town site, and had platted the city. They both died here. In 1855 a post-office was established here, it being kept in a log building that was for some years used for a store, and the

mail came once a week from Glenwood, Iowa. After settling here Mr. Shafer turned his attention to the improvement of his land, a part of which was open prairie and a part of it covered with brush. In August, 1850, he commenced freighting across the plains to Denver, starting with two wagons laden with flour, with three yokes of oxen to each wagon. Two men accompanied him, and they took provisions and cooked and camped by the way. The Indians were at that time peaceable and friendly, and did not attempt to molest them. Buffaloes, deer, antelopes and other wild game were plentiful and were seen nearly every day. It took three months to make the round trip to and from Denver, and each year after that he made two trips across the plains until 1868, and then made trips from Julesburg to Denver. During that year he also made two trips from Denver to Ft. Wallace, Kan., a distance of 160 miles, for the purpose of teaming lumber, and during the time he killed several buffaloes. The Indians were then hostile, but he fortunately never happened to encounter them. In 1879 Mr. Shafer freighted from Denver to the Upper North Platte, and also for the contractors on the Union Pacific Railroad, between the Upper North Platte and Echo Canyon, and from Bayant City to Salt Lake City. In the fall of the year he disposed of his team at a good price, and returned to his home in Plattsmouth, and established himself in the real-estate business. In the spring of 1876 he concluded to resume freighting, and started for Sidney, Neb., with three wagons and seven yokes of oxen, and there loaded freight for the Black Hills. It took six weeks to make the round trip between Sidney and Deadwood, and the cost of freighting articles to the latter point was from two and one-half cents to three cents a pound. Mr. Shafer continued freighting between those points for three years, and then he went upon the route between Ft. Pierce and Deadwood for two years. July 12, 1881, he sold his teams at Ft. Pierce, and returned home. In 1882 he set about the improvement of his real estate by building, and during that year he erected seventeen dwellings and a blacksmith-shop, thus giving Plattsmouth's building interests quite a boom. In 1882 he formed a partnership with William Wise, and they became agents for the Union Pacific Railroad for the sale of that company's Cheyenne lands. At the end of one season they dissolved partnership, and our subject has been dealing in real estate alone since that time. His is a busy, active life, and has been fraught with much adventure. He has accomplished much where a less determined and energetic man would have failed, and is now numbered among the substantial and wealthy men of this community.
   Mr. Shafer was married, May 30, 1846, to Elizabeth Gullion, a native of Switzerland County, Ind., Dec. 14, 1826, being the date of her birth. Her parents, John and Elizabeth (Scudder) Gullion, were also natives of Indiana. Dec. 22, 1872, this devoted wife and tender mother was removed from the cares and sorrows of earth, and many there were to share the grief of the family thus left desolate. To her and her husband twelve children had been born, seven of whom are living -- John F., Melissa J., Missouri A., Sarah C., Zilva, Hattie and Ida. In early manhood Mr. Schafer was a Whig, and he cast his first vote for Henry Clay. On the formation of the Republican party he fell into its ranks, and has firmly supported its measures ever since.
   Portraits of this noble old pioneer and his equally noble wife, who had witnessed and participated in the growth of the city of Plattsmouth from its primitive state of open prairie to its present flourishing condition, are given herewith.

REDERIC GORDER is one of the leading citizens of the city of Plattsmouth, standing in the foremost ranks of its energetic and enterprising business men, and taking a prominent part in its civic life. He was born in Lippe-Detmold, Germany, in 1838, and his father, August Gorder, was likewise a native of the same locality. He was a shoemaker by trade, and followed that calling in the old country for some years, afterward, however, engaging in farming. In 1853 he embarked for America with his wife and six children, setting sail from Bremen in March, landing in New York City the following May. He went to

Jefferson County, Wis., and worked at his trade of shoemaker there for two years. After that he bought a tract of improved land in Watertown Township, and for several years was prosperously engaged in farming. He subsequently retired with a comfortable competence to the town of Watertown, and there passed his last years, dying in 1880. He and his wife were highly respected by all who knew them for their many good traits of character. The children born to him and his wife were as follows: Frederic, Henrietta, August, William, Mena and Sophia.
   The subject of our sketch attended school in his native country, and acquired a substantial education. He was fifteen years of age when he accompanied his parents to the United States, and he began life here by working on a farm at $5 a month. After his father bought a farm he resided with his parents until marriage, and assisted in the management of the homestead, thus gaining a sound, practical knowledge of agriculture. Feb. 14, 1862, Mr. Gorder established a home of his own, and to the young lady, Miss Charlotte Wehrbein, whom he asked to preside over it, he was united in marriage. Six children have been born onto them, namely: Emma, Fred, Annie, August, Louisa and John.
   At the time of his marriage Mr. Gorder bought 320 acres of improved land in Waterloo Township, and was engaged in agricultural pursuits with good success until 1868, when he sold all of his property in Wisconsin, having decided to try his fortunes in the young State of Nebraska. He came to Plattsmouth and bought a farm in this precinct, which he managed with profit for five years. At the expiration of that time he removed into town and engaged in buying grain, continuing in that business the greater part of the time until 1887, and for the past eight years he has also been engaged in the sale of farm implements. He still carries on that business, and has built up a large trade. When the Plattsmouth canning factory was established Mr. Gorder became a stockholder and director in the company, and in 1888 he was appointed manager and secretary.
   Mr. Gorder is a fine example of the self-made men of this country who, solely by their honorable ambition, persistence and industry, have placed themselves among the most substantial and wealthy citizens of the localities where they reside. He is a man whose genuine honesty, capacity for affairs, and unblemished characters, have been instrumental in raising him to responsible offices, as in him his fellow-citizens saw one whom they could trust to serve them faithfully, and, it is needless to add, their confidence has never been betrayed. Mr. Gorder is a stockholder in the Cass County Bank, and he is prominently identified with the local Board of Trade, having been a charter member. He tins been a member of the City Council, and is at present a member of the Board of Public Works. He is independent in politics, voting for the men whom he thinks to be best fitted for office, and sustaining such measures as in his judgment are for the best interests of the country, regardless of the party from which they may have emanated. He and his family are among the most active members of the German Presbyterian Church.

RCHIBALD McFALL, who is profitably engaged in agricultural pursuits on section 13 of Stove Creek Precinct, has been in Nebraska only a few years, but during his residence here he has gained the respect and confidence of the community by his upright dealings and fair business transactions. He was born in the Province of Quebec, Canada, June 29, 1839. He is of Scotch-Irish descent, his paternal grandfather having emigrated from Ireland to Canada, and was a pioneer in the Province of Quebec, remaining there engaged in farming until his death, at the advanced age of eighty years. William G. McFall, the father of our subject, was born in Ireland in 1816, and when three years of age came to Canada, with his parents. When old enough to establish himself in life he bought 100 acres of densely timbered land in Canada, from which he cleared a farm. He took part in the Canadian Rebellion in 1838, going out as a volunteer in the home guards. In 1855 he removed to the Province of Ontario. where he began pioneer life anew. He