counted for the numerous removals made by the family. After some years in Ohio he removed to Madison, Ind., and later to Memphis, where he was living at the time of his death, which occurred on the 5th of October, 1886, he being at the time eighty-three years of age. His wife had passed to her long home in the year 1839.
   The grandfather of our subject, Benjamin F. Drake, was a native of New York, and removed from State to State as noticed above. He lived in Warren County, Ohio. from the time of his removal from Cincinnati until his death. He was by occupation a shoemaker, but linked therewith agriculture, in which he was quite successful. The maiden name of his wife, whom he met and married before leaving the East, was Miss Ury Smith. Their family included five children, whom it was their privilege to bring to mature years. His death occurred in 1844, when he had arrived at the advanced age of sixty-five years. He was survived by his wife until the year 1858.

RANK A. REDFIELD. One of the most respected and popular citizens of Crab Orchard is the gentleman whose history is herein briefly recited. He is a native of the Empire State, and was born at Avon, Livingston County, Nov. 25, 1834. His father, Hiram Redfield, was a native of Vermont, but spent the greater part of his life in the State of New York. His death occurred in Fremont County, Iowa, in the year 1875.
   The education of our subject was received in the common schools of his native county, supplemented by a course in Eastman's Commercial College, in Rochester, N. Y., from which institution he was graduated in the year 1855. The following year he went to Peoria County, Ill., and made his home in Elmwood, where he began farming, continuing therein with much prosperity until the outbreak of the war.
   In response to the call to arms Mr. Redfield enlisted in Company I, 77th Illinois Infantry, for a period of three years. He was an enthusiastic patriot, and went forward to the execution of his duty inspired by his love for the Union and the "old flag." He was present and participated in the battles of Vicksburg, Arkansas Post, Ft. Gibson, Champion Hills, and Black River Bridge--the three latter being fought within a few days of each other, in May, 1863. In the July following occurred the siege and capture of Jackson, Miss., in which he took part. He was present also at Spanish Fork, Mobile, and in a number of other engagements.
   Upon receiving an honorable discharge our subject returned to Elmwood, and was employed as clerk in the store and post-office of that place, continuing until the spring of 1868, when he went to Hamburg, Iowa. In the fall of the same year he returned to Illinois, and after about one year went back to Iowa. In the spring of 1871 he came to this county, settling in Western Precinct, where he purchased a farm, carrying on the same until 1885, when he removed to Crab Orchard and engaged in mercantile pursuits. This he has continued from that time with an ever-increasing patronage born of the confidence of the community in him as a man and merchant. He carries a full line of groceries, boots and shoes, furnishing goods, notions, glassware, etc.
   The marriage of our subject was celebrated at Knoxville, Ill., on the 4th of February, 1858, when he was joined in wedlock with Mary E. Aldrich, daughter of the late Jamin Aldrich, who died in Appanoose, Ill., Feb. 3, 1837. There have been born to them two children, viz: Lucien H., June 10, 1859, and William C.. Dec. 30, 1860. The former is married to Alice M. Worley, and the latter is the husband of Mary E. Barrett. Both sons reside upon the farm, which comprises 320 acres.
   Mr. and Mrs. Redfield were members of the Congregational Church, but as that communion has no church in Crab Orchard they have united with the Methodist Episcopal Church. They move in the best society of the vicinity, and are everywhere most cordially accorded the heartiest respect and esteem. Their beautiful home is the center of an exceedingly pleasant social circle, and its rooms are not infrequently the scene of felicitous festivities. They are liberal supporters of the church with which they are affiliated, and of every enterprise of a charitable nature. Our subject is a stanch Republican, having affiliated with that party from

the first day of his citizenship. Socially, he is connected with the G. A. R., and is a member of the local post, and by reason of his war experience is an enthusiastic member of that organization of heroes and veterans.
   A portrait of this well-known and highly respected merchant and brave veteran appears on -in adjoining page.

[The REDFIELD article above was typed for NEGenWeb Project by Ken Beckman <ken-and-laura@worldnet.att.net> Thank you, Ken.]

EORGE W. IDEN, a well-known and highly honored citizen of Johnson County, with whose agricultural interests he has been closely identified for nearly twenty years, is classed among the pioneers of Nebraska, although not one of its earliest settlers. He and his wife coming here immediately after their marriage to begin their wedded life here and establish a home, preceding the advent of railways and when there were no markets, towns, schools or churches, except in a few localities, have witnessed the great strides their adopted State has made in its almost unprecedented development. And not only that, they have borne an honorable part in promoting its growth, and their labors have been amply rewarded by one of the finest farms in Sterling Township, where they live in a pleasant, cozy home.
   The grandparents of our subject, George and Matilda Iden, were natives of Virginia. They crossed the Alleghany range on their way West between the years 1812 and 1815, and settled in Carroll County, Ohio, of which they thus became pioneers. For fifty years after that event it was thought that they were the only family of the name west of the mountains, but more recently others of the name have been heard of who are doubtless distantly related. They bought land in the woods, and, not unlike thousands of others, began the labor of making a farm. It may have been fortunate for them that they were thus obliged to wrestle with stern nature for a livelihood, thus developing fortitude, hardihood and self-reliance; but not many of the young married people of today will ever know only by tradition the labor, patience and endurance required to successfully encounter the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life in a timbered country. It was on that farm that those people lived and in the fullness of years finally died. It was there that they reared a large family of six boys and four girls. Washington Iden, their oldest son, was born on the old homestead in 1815. A few miles distant from his early home lived the family of Mr. and Mrs. Heston, also pioneers of like experience with his parents, and they reared a family of six boys and seven girls. In 1820 a daughter was born to them, whom they named Eliza. Washington Iden and Eliza Heston grew to manhood and womanhood in the same neighborhood, and after a courtship probably somewhat suited to those times, were married in 1837. These constituted the parents of our subject. Their first venture was to procure a 40-acre tract of land in the woods and to proceed at once to the arduous task of clearing it and making a home. They also were the parents of a large family, seven boys and four girls, nine of whom are still living, having been born of their union. It was on their farm in the primeval forests of Carroll County, Ohio, that their second son, of whom we write, was born on the 11th of October, 1840, and named by them George W. His parents continued to reside on their homestead in Ohio until 1864, when they migrated to Kosciusko County, Ind., where they now reside at in advanced age on a fine, well-improved farm, surrounded by all their surviving children, except George W. and Thomas J., who are citizens of Nebraska.
   The boyhood days of our subject were passed on a farm, and though he is still in the prime of life and his native State has been settled for over half a century, yet when he was young it was still under the dominion of the pioneer, and he early learned to know what grubbing stumps, picking stone and brush, and rolling logs meant. He was an earnest, thoughtful lad, loving his books, and greatly desirous of obtaining an education. His opportunities were, however, limited to attending the public schools three months during the winters and a few months at all academy. Being of poor parents and ambitious of entering the professions, he taught school at the age of eighteen to gain the wherewithal to gratify his ambitions, teaching during the winters and working during the harvests