stock-raising, and his cattle, horses, and hogs of good grades, are always in fine condition, and bring good prices when thrown on the market. He makes a specialty of raising hogs, finding them very profitable. The first dwelling in which our subject lived on his land was the typical dugout of these Western States, which he built himself, and in which he for a time kept a bachelor's establishment until he could secure a more commodious residence. The following year, 1872, after making various improvements, he was married to Miss Sarah Emery, and she has cheerfully aided him in building up their present comfortable home. In this four children have been born to them, of whom three are still living, namely: Wayland, Lottie and Earl. Their son Harry died when one year old. Mrs. Cassel was born in Canada, and came to Nebraska with her parents. They settled near Tecumseh and lived there until lately, when they moved to Crab Orchard.
   Mr. and Mrs. Cassel are members in good standing of the Baptist Church, of Wabash, and they earnestly and sincerely strive to live up to their professions. They are cordially liked in this community, and none know them but to respect them. Mr. Cassel votes with the Republican party, and always takes an intelligent interest in politics. He uses his influence to procure good educational facilities in this precinct, and has done good work for the cause while serving as Director on the School Board.

ILLIAM FRANS and his son R. H. are carrying on an extensive mercantile business in the town of Union, and they may well be classed among the leading merchants of this part of Cass County. Mr. Frans was one of the original settlers of Cass County, and during the first decade of the settlement of Nebraska he was one of its active pioneers. There are but few people now living in this State who visited it as early as he did, and saw it in all its primeval wildness when it was the domain of the Indian, with scarcely a trace of civilization, and some time before its great possibilities were realized, or it was dreamed that it would one day become a powerful commonwealth, occupying a proud position as one of the States of the great American Union. The time of Mr. Frans' first visit here to which we refer was 1848. He was in the Government service, it being the last year of the Mexican War, when he, an adventurous, high-spirited youth of eighteen, crossed the Missouri River at Ft. Kearney, now Nebraska City, to enter the employ of the Government as teamster. The fort was then occupied by five companies of United States troops, known as the Oregon Battalion, that had been recruited in Missouri for service in the Mexican War if needed, and had been sent from Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., to take possession of the unoccupied post at Nebraska City. In the fall of that year old Ft. Kearney was finally abandoned, and the garrison moved to what was afterward known is new Ft. Kearney, in the southern portion of the State, on the Platte River. Our subject was engaged in hauling supplies to the new fort, making three trips during the year, and on the last one he went in a diagonal direction across the Territories from new Ft. Kearney to Ft. Leavenworth, where he was discharged from the service, having been in the Government employ just five months. He then returned to his home in Buchanan County, Mo., and remained there until 1851, when he took up a claim near Plum Hollow in Fremont County, Iowa, and made several improvements on his 80-acre tract of land, continuing to reside on it until 1854. He then crossed the Missouri River at a place known as Thompson Ferry, which he himself had managed in 1833, and found himself once again in the Territory of Nebraska, this time as a settler he took up a claim where the old town of Rock-Bluff was first laid out, and with his father-in-law and a son of the latter who had come with him, each of whom took up claims, paid the Indiana a tribute of $13 for the privilege of being allowed to stay and not be molested, as those settlers who refused to pay the tribute exacted were run off by the natives to whom the land then belonged. Our subject and his kinsmen remained on their farms until 1862, and during that time had materially aided in building up the now defunct town of Rock Bluff, which was at that time

a thriving little village, and one of the foremost in the county on the Missouri River. In 1862 Mr. Frans sold all his interests in the Territory, and again took up his abode in Buchanan County, Mo. While a resident of Nebraska he had engaged to some extent in freighting, and from the 17th of March, 1861, until Jan. 10, 1862, had made three trips to Denver on his own account. He afterward made two other trips across the plains, one to Denver, Col., and one to Jewelburg, Neb. Mr. Frans did not escape the vicissitudes of life in a pioneer country, and avers that it was desperately hard times for the pioneers in 1858 to 1861, and the only way to make money was to freight provisions across the plains, and at that business he was financially successful.
   The early years of the life of our subject were passed in Meade County, Ky., on the banks of the Ohio River, where he was born March 1, 1831. His father, Tazwell Frans, was a Virginian by birth, and spent the first few years of his life in the Old Dominion, but while he was still a boy his parents, likewise natives of Virginia, moved from there to Kentucky and settled among the pioneers of that State. They built a home in Meade County, and there John Frans and his wife, the grandparents of our subject, passed away, full of years, leaving the blessed memory of well-spent lives. They were Missionary Baptists in their religious faith, and held tenaciously to the tenets of their church, The father of our subject grew to manhood in his father's home on the beautiful banks of the Ohio, and there he and Ruan Hardin united their lives for better or for worse, and began their wedded life on a farm in that vicinty (sic). Mrs. Frans was a relative of the celebrated Ben Hardin. The most of their family were born there, and in 1844 they migrated to Missouri and settled in what was commonly called Platte Purchase, being the northwest corner of the State of Missouri. Their remaining years were passed there, the father dying in 1864, in the opening month of the year, and the mother preceding him in death six months before, having died in July, 1863, and they were both aged sixty-three years. They were of the Baptist faith, and were strictly honorable, upright people. Of the sixteen children, eight sons and eight daughters, born of their marriage, thirteen lived to marry and settle in life, and twelve are yet living.
   Our subject, who was the fourth child of that large family, was a lad of fourteen years when he accompanied his parents to their new home in Missouri. We have seen that two or three years later he started out in the world for himself, and have traced his life to his return to Buchanan County, and we will now resume the thread at that point. After his return from the mountains he left Nebraska in 1862 and went to Buchanan County, Mo. he there turned his attention to farming, which occupation he laid aside awhile in 1864, at the call of duty, to enlist with the State troops for the protection of the State. He was in the service for seven months, and was then honorably discharged without having taken part in any battles. He continued to reside in Buchanan and DeKalb Counties until 1884. In the latter county he sold his interests and in the year last mentioned returned to Nebraska, and in Factoryville, this county, entered into the mercantile business with his son R. H., who had established himself there the year before. They continued to conduct their business in Factoryville until October, 1887, when they moved their stock of goods to this point, regarding the location as more favorable for their trade. They have a new and commodious store, 36x40 feet in dimensions, with a wareroom at the rear, 20x16 feet, a fine basement beneath the whole, and a comfortable tenement above. They carry about $10,000 worth of stock, and have an annual sale of about $20,000 of general merchandise, having to supply all the country trade for miles around. The post-office is also in the store, and R. H. Frans has held the position of Postmaster for several years, while our subject is Deputy Postmaster. Mr. Frans is a stanch Democrat, and takes an active interest in local and National politics. He is a man of honor, who is cordially liked by all with whom he has dealings, and his credit stands high in the commercial world. He is a man of deep religious feelings, and has been for years Deacon of the Baptist Church, of which his wife and all but their three youngest children are also valued members.
   Mr. Frans and Miss Rebecca Spiers were united in marriage in Buchanan County, Mo. Mrs. Frans

is a native of Ohio, born in Coshocton County, Sept. 9, 1835, and is a daughter of Benedict and Ruphena (Rife) Spiers. They were natives of Germany, born near the famous Rhine, where they were reared and married. Soon after the latter event they came to America and located in Ohio, where Mr. Spiers carried on farming and milling, being a professional miller. In 1843 the family made their way to Buchanan County, Mo., and there Mr. Spiers was engaged as a miller for some time. In 1854 he and his family came to Nebraska, and settled in Rock Bluff Precinct. In 1875 he left his Cass County home, and with his wife and son moved to Kansas, and settled in Smith County, where they are yet living, the parents both being past eighty years of age. Mrs. Frans was quite young when her parents moved to Missouri, and there she completed her education. Of her marriage with our subject eleven children have been born, all of whom are living, and the following is recorded of them: Augustus lives in DeKalb County as a merchant, and he married Clara Jones; R. H., in business with his father, married Jennie Fitch; Charles W., a farmer in Wyoming Precinct, Otoe County, married Belle Fitch for his second wife, his first wife having died some years ago; Florilda is the wife of Joseph Sands, a farmer near old Rock Bluff Village; Rosanna is the wife of Robert Cogdill, a farmer of Factoryville; Isabel is the wife of Dr. M. L. Thomas, a physician of Union; Betsy is the wife of Wyatt Hutchinson, a farmer in Rock Bluff Precinct; Lavinia is the wife of William W. Wolfe, a blacksmith at Union; Colmore R. is a clerk in the store, and lives at home; Harry is also at home and a clerk in the drugstore of Dr. Thomas; Emma is at home.

HARLES A. WEBSTER, proprietor of the leading jewelry and book store of Weeping Water, also carries a fine line of stationery and fancy goods, and is transacting a large and lucrative business. The house was established in the winter of 1881-82, first as a jewelry store, and was the first of its kind in the place. It has grown gradually from a modest beginning, and enjoys a constantly increasing patronage. Mr. Webster is a thorough business man, a master jeweler, and numbered among the stirring and enterprising men of his community.
   Our subject was born in Batavia, N. Y., March 18, 1840, and lived there until a lad twelve years of age. He then accompanied his widowed mother to Oberlin, Ohio, and four years later, in 1856, to Mills County, Iowa. He was a resident of the Hawkeye State until after the outbreak of the Rebellion, and on the 12th of August, 1862, he proffered his services as a Union soldier, enlisting in Company K, 29th Iowa Infantry, as a private. He was soon promoted to Sergeant. His regiment was made a part of the Western Army, and operated mostly in Arkansas and Louisiana. Mr. Webster participated in many of the important battles of that period, including the fights at Helena, Elkinsford, Poison Springs, Camden, Jenkins' Ferry, the siege of Spanish Fort, and numerous other engagements and skirmishes. He escaped unharmed, and at the expiration of his term of service was mustered out at New Orleans, Aug. 10, 1865, and reached home the first week in September following.
   Mr. Webster now began his business career at Tabor, Fremont Co., Iowa, where he first carried on farming and then engaged in general merchandising a period of five years. Selling out in January, 1876, and coming to this county, he first purchased 160 acres of land in Mt. Pleasant Precinct, and occupied this farm until 1881. He effected some excellent improvements, and added later to his original purchase, providing the whole with good fences, and setting out an apple orchard and trees of the smaller fruits, putting up buildings, and generally adding to the value of the property. In the year mentioned he sold out, and invested a portion of his capital in his present enterprise. He is a man who gives his strict attention to his business, meddling very little with politics, otherwise than giving his decided support to the principles of the Republican party. He was one year persuaded to accept the office of Alderman, and frequently serves as School Director in his district.
   Mr. Webster was married in Iowa, Nov. 13, 1862, to Miss Jerusha S. Reed, of Tabor, and they became the parents of four children, only three of

whom are living, namely: Ellen L. S., Charles E. and William. They are all at home with their parents, and are being trained and educated in a manner which shall make of them worthy members of the community. Mrs. Webster was born in Gustavus County, Ohio, in 1842, and is the daughter of Augustus and Serena (Hutchins) Reed, who were natives of Connecticut, and the father for many years was one of the prominent farmers of the Buckeye State. About 1853 he removed to Iowa, engaging in business at Tabor. Later, coming to Nebraska, he took up his residence in Weeping Water Precinct, and died about 1881. He was one of the earliest pioneers of Washington County, Iowa. Mrs. Reed is still living, making her home in Weeping Water with her son.
   William H. Webster, the father of our subject, was born in Connecticut, and received a thorough education, being graduated from Yale College. Later he took up the study of medicine, completing his medical course in one of the New York hospitals. He commenced the regular practice of his profession at Batavia, N. Y., and during a period of eight years accumulated a fortune while still a young man. He possessed unbounded energy in the duties of his calling, and labored beyond his strength, in fact, working himself to death, departing hence while in his prime, about 1842. He had married Miss Victoria Bowen, of Fall River, Mass., and they became the parents of four children, the youngest of whom died after the death of the father. The mother subsequently came to the West, and spent her last years in Kansas with her daughter, dying about 1869.

ENRY SCHOMAKER. Among the practical and thrifty farmers of Avoca Precinct who have made a specialty of stock-raising, the subject of this sketch occupies a good position and is quite an extensive property holder, being the owner of a fine farm of 320 acres on sections 1 and 14. The greater part of the land is in productive condition, well watered, and with good buildings. The whole forms a pleasant picture of country life, and suggests the idea of plenty and comfort where it would seem that that rare article -- happiness -- might contentedly abide.
   Mr. Schomaker may properly be numbered among the self-made men of Southern Nebraska, having come here comparatively without means, and commenced in a modest way to build up a home and a competence. His first purchase was 160 acres of land, to which he has added by degrees, and such has been his career both as a thorough farmer and a reliable citizen, that he occupies an enviable position socially and financially. He has been a resident of Avoca Precinct since the summer of 1871. In June of that year he crossed the water from the Fatherland with his mother and other members of the family, all of whom settled in this locality, where they now have comfortable homes. They are not ashamed to admit that they were as poor as "church mice" when they landed in the United States, and their career has been an admirable illustration of the result of perseverance, industry and honesty. There are now no more highly respected residents in the county than the family of Schomakers.
   A native of the Duchy of Sleswick-Holstein, the subject of this sketch was born Sept. 7, 1851, and is the third child and second son of Peter and Anna C. (Lau) Schomaker, who are both now deceased; the father died in his native Germany in 1849, at the age of fifty-nine. He is remembered by his sons as a kind-hearted, honest and intelligent man, one whose lot in life it was to be poor in purse and who made his living by hard labor. The mother after the death of her husband came to America with her four younger children, namely: Henry (our subject), Christian, Margarette and Herman. They settled in Avoca Precinct, where the sons contributed to the support of the mother, and where they all lived together until her death, July 25, 1880: she was then fifty-nine years of age. Both parents were members of the German Lutheran Church.
   Mr. Schomaker, our subject, landed in America about the time of reaching his majority, and later found a bride in Avoca Precinct, being married, Dec. 20, 1877, to Miss Minnie Carsten. This lady was born in Cass County, this State, Sept. 20, 1861, and is the daughter of Frederick and Sarah (Storm)

Carsten, the father a native of Mecklenburg, Germany, and the mother of Elsass. They emigrated to the United States about 1850, coming to Nebraska and settling in Otoe County, where the father died July 23, 1883, when ripe in years. He had been a good citizen and a successful farmer, and at his death left his wife and three children a good property. They are all living, the mother making her home with her son, Louis Carsten, in Berlin Precinct, Otoe County, and being now about fifty years of age.
   Mrs. Schomaker was reared to womanhood in Cass County, and remained a member of the parental household until her marriage. She is now the mother of three children, viz: Frederick, Bertha and Eda. In politics Mr. Schomaker is a stanch Republican, and both he and his excellent wife are members in good standing of the Lutheran Church.

ILLIAM WETENKAMP, who is well and favorably known throughout Plattsmouth precinct and vicinity, is numbered among its most successful German farmers, possessing all the industry and perseverance of a substantial ancestary (sic). A native of Hanover, Germany, he was born while it was under the rule of its own King, Dec. 29, 1833, and was there educated and reared to man's estate. His parents were Albert H. and Margaret (Schwers) Wetenkamp, and spent their entire lives upon their native soil. They were of pure German stock.
   To the parents of our subject there were born eight children, seven of whom are in the United States. William emigrated to America in the spring of 1857, when a young man in the twenty-fourth year of his age, crossing the ocean on the sailing vessel "Republic," and after a voyage of twenty-seven and one-half days landed in New York City. Thence he proceeded to Wisconsin, settling near Manitowoc, where he lived two years, and engaged in milling. Then he came to Nebraska Territory, and commenced working by the month on a farm in Cass, County. He was thus employed for two years, and then was given the post of overseer of a train of twenty-five wagons, and began freighting to Denver and the mountains, being thus employed a period of seven years.
   The wild frontier experience of Mr. Wetenkamp is one which he will remember vividly all his life. The Indians were numerous and troublesome, and Mr. Wetenkamp and his men were often obliged to skirmish with them in order to protect their goods and animals. He withdrew from this contract with a reasonable amount of money. His homestead embraces 400 acres, which he has brought to a fine state of cultivation, erecting thereon substantial modern buildings, and gathering about him the comforts and conveniences required by the progressive agriculturist. He has besides this 240 acres of prairie land, and fifteen acres of valuable timber.
   Mr. Wetenkamp came to this county without means. His career is an admirable illustration of what may be accomplished by perseverance and industry. It has taken years of labor and thousands of dollars to bring his farm to its present condition. The handsome brick residence now occupied by the family was put up in the summer of 1879, at a cost of $4,000, and among his other buildings is a brick structure for the purpose of packing meat, and which proves an admirable repository for this product. The corn cribs, cattle sheds and improved farm machinery, with the herds of cattle and swine, and the fat horses always associated with the thrifty German farmer, give to the homestead that air of comfort and plenty which is delightful to contemplate.
   Our subject usually raises about twenty-five head of cattle, anually (sic), and feeds upon an average fifty head for market. He also keeps a herd of about 100 hogs, and feeds to his stock most of the grain raised upon his farm. His labors and struggles have been shared by one of the most estimable of ladies, who in her girlhood was Miss Mary Long, and to whom he was married in this township, July 8, 1868. Mrs. Wetenkamp is the daughter of S. I. and Elizabeth Long, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. Of her union with our subject there have been born three children, one of whom, Elmer W. died at the age of six years in 1880. The survivors are; Grant, born

Dec. 8,1869, and Albert A., Oct. 14, 1871. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wetenkamp are members in good standing of the Presbyterian Church, and our subject, politically, is a solid Republican.

AMES SEARS. Among the men of note and public-spirited citizens of Tipton Precinct, this gentleman occupies a position in the front ranks. Although not an old resident, he has become widely and favorably known on account of his enterprise and intelligence. He Is well educated and well informed, and in all respects a citizen calculated to assist in the social and moral advancement of his community. He owns and operates a well-regulated farm of 160 acres on section 36, and makes a specialty of live stock, shipping one or two carloads annually.
   In noting the career of a man who has raised himself to a prominent and worthy position in life, it is the most natural thing in the world to glance backward at the place and people whence he sprang. Mr. Sears is of an excellent family; his parents were both natives of the Empire State, his father, James, Sr., born in Orange County, and the mother, in her girlhood Miss Hester Rutan, in Sullivan County. The paternal grandfather, also named James, was born in Dutchess County, N. Y., and moved later to Chenango County, during the period of its earliest settlement. He cleared a farm, established a sawmill, accumulated a good property, and lived to the advanced age of eighty-six years. He traced his ancestry to Ireland. The Rutans were of German descent.
   The father of our subject was reared to manhood on a farm in his native county, and upon starting out for himself in life took up his abode in Sullivan County, N. Y., where he engaged extensively in agriculture, and like his father before him, also operated a sawmill. He became prominent in the affairs of Sullivan County, represented his township in the Board of Supervisors many years, and after the organization of the Republican party was one of its most active members. He departed this life in March, 1888, at the old homestead, when ninety-six years old. The mother had preceded her aged partner only a few weeks, dying in February of that year, at the age of seventy-eight. She was a good woman in the highest sense of the term, and a conscientious member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
   To the parents of our subject there were born ten children, namely: Margaretta, Abigail, Elizabeth, Isaac, Deborah, James, Mary, Alfred, Charles and William. Charles died when about thirty-six years old. James, of our sketch, was born at Phillipsport, Sullivan Co., N. Y., April 15, 1838, and remained a member of his father's household until twenty-six years old, assisting in the employments of the farm, and for two or three years worked on the Delaware & Hudson Canal. He was married, Sept. 7, 1866, to Miss Lucretia Crossman, a native of his own county, and a lady of fine education.
   Mr. Sears soon after his marriage purchased 100 acres of partially improved land in Sullivan County, N. Y., upon which he operated seven years. There was a blue stone quarry in the county, which promised excellent results to any man who could work it understandingly, and of this Mr. Sears determined to become the possessor. He accordingly sold his farm and invested a portion of his capital in the quarry, which he began working, and shipping the product thereof to the various cities East. The young State of Nebraska, however, seemed to offer better inducements than even the blue stone quarry, and accordingly, selling out once more he crossed the Mississippi, and a few weeks later we find him settled on a farm in Otoe Precinct, Otoe County, this State, which he conducted until the spring of 1882, when he changed his residence to this county, purchasing the farm which he now occupies.
   All the improvements which we behold to-day around the Sears homestead were effected by the present proprietor. The fences are all of his building and the forest and fruit trees of his own planting. The land is finely watered by a branch of the Nemaha. In addition to his cattle and horses, Mr. Sears is considerably interested in full-blooded Poland-China swine. His farming operations are carried on in that systematic manner which is characteristic of the man.
   To Mr. and Mrs. Sears there were born two daugh-