in Pawnee City until 1878, one year under the instruction of Mr. John Butler, and at this served an apprenticeship of three years in Pawnee City. Later he followed his trade in Table Rock until 1882. In the spring of that year Mr. Pepperl took up his residence in Burchard and established his present business, succeeding so well that in 1883 he was enabled to put up the building which he now occupies. He keeps a finely assorted stock of harness and other furnishings pertaining to this branch of trade, carrying a $1,500 stock of goods. This being the only enterprise of the kind in the place, he enjoys the monopoly, and is consequently making good headway financially.
   Mr. Pepperl, in the summer of 1885, invested a part of his spare capital in three building lots on Second street, where he put up a good residence, which, with its surroundings, forms a very tasteful and comfortable home. He was married January 19, that year, to Miss Molly Hammond, a native of Pennsylvania, who came to Nebraska with her parents. They have two children: Don Carlos, born June 1886, and Reuah Frances, in March, 1887. Mr. P. votes with the Union Labor party, which he frequently represents in the various State and County Conventions, and in religious matters belongs to the Catholic Church. Socially, he is a member of Burchard Lodge No. 95, I. O. O. F., having passed all the Chairs, and been made a delegate to the Grand Lodge. As a Mason he belongs to Upright Lodge No. 137, also to Chapter No. 20, at Pawnee City, also to the K. T. at Tecumseh, Neb.

RS. MARGARET SHEWEY. The women of Pawnee County have played no unimportant part in its development from early pioneer days, proving themselves fully able to cope with the difficulties and hardships of settlement on the frontier far front the centers of civilization, and at the present time they are represented here in many walks of life, professional and otherwise, the subject of this sketch, who was one of the very first settlers on the banks of Wolf Creek, being closely identified with the agricultural interests of the county. She is very successful in the management of her beautiful farm of 200 acres, 120 of which are on section 4, and the remaining eighty acres on section 5 of Plum Creek Precinct. Nearly 100 acres of this are natural forest, and with the remainder, which has a very rich and productive soil, well watered by the waters of Wolf Creek, is neatly hedged and fenced, and has a good orchard and a fine set of farm buildings, forms one of the most attractive and best paying estates to be seen for miles around. Mrs. Shewey delights in beautifying her homestead and the grounds around her fine residence on section 4, and consequently has one of the pleasantest homes in the Precinct. She devotes her attention to raising grain and to general farming.
   Our subject was born near Covington, in Fountain Co., Ind., Aug. 2, 1839. She enjoyed the usual school privileges of the times, attending school in a log house, and remained an inmate of the parental home until her marriage. Her father, Henry Beaver, was born in Virginia, and his father, Mathias Beaver, was born near Chillicothe, Ohio. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. He was a farmer by occupation, and owned and operated a large farm, and was extensively engaged in stock-raising. His death occurred in Preble County, Ohio, when he was seventy years of age. His wife, Mary J., died in Indiana in 1843. Mrs. Shewey's father was brought up in Ohio, and there engaged in farming and stock-raising for several years, owning a large farm. He married Elizabeth Walker, a native of Preble County, Ohio. Her father was a patriotic soldier in the Revolution, and was wounded in one of the engagements, and being left on the battlefield, froze to death. His wife, whose maiden name was Margaret Rhodes, was born in Ohio, and died in Indiana, at the age of eighty years. In 1835 Mr. Beaver sold his property in Ohio and, moved to the wilds of Indiana, and locating in Fountain County, was one of the first three white settlers who ever made their home there, the rest of the inhabitants then being Indians. He entered 300 acres of forest covered land, cleared it, improved it in good shape, and acquired wealth by farming and stock-raising. He died on his homestead in October, 1875, aged sixty-seven years, his wife having pre-

ceded him in death in 1868, at the age of sixty-two years. He was a stanch Republican in his political sentiments, and, with his good wife, was a devout Methodist in religion. They had ten children, namely; Christian, John, Joseph and Catherine, (all of whom are dead), Margaret, Michael, Alex, Nancy, Mary and James (the latter two being dead). Alex served gallantly throughout the entire Rebellion. He enlisted in the spring of 1861, became Lieutenant in an Indiana cavalry regiment, serving the entire time under the brave Phil Sheridan.
   Mrs. Shewey was married in her native State, near Covington, Nov. 15, 1849, to Joseph Shewey. He was a native of Preble County, Ohio, and a son of a well-to-do Indiana farmer. After marriage they improved a farm in Indiana, comprising eighty acres, and lived thereon until 1853, when they sold out, and going to Bloomington, Ill., entered land, remaining there one year. At the expiration of that time they sold again, and in 1854 located in Henry County, the same State, buying 200 acres of land in Genesceo, and became early settlers of that place, improved the land, and engaged in stock-raising until the fall of 1867, when they came to Nebraska on account of Mr. Shewey's health. They located in Plum Creek Precinct, buying 600 acres of Government land. The country round about was inhabited mostly by Indians at that time, there being only a few white people here, and our subject and her husband were the first settlers on Wolf Creek. They began immediately to improve the land and prepare it for culture, and they built the first house in the precinct. The lumber had to be drawn from St. Joseph, Mo., and amid the trials and tribulations of frontier life they finally established their residence here, and improved the whole farm, which is an extensive one and under the best of tillage, and supplied with everything in the shape of buildings and machinery necessary for its successful management.
   The following is recorded of the eight children born to our subject and her husband: Sylvester is farming in Iowa; Marion is a photographer in Liberty; Wallace is a farmer in Morton County, Kan.; Nathan is farming in Kansas; Franklin at home; Louisa married W. S. Isaac, a farmer in Pawnee County; Serinda married W. Smith, a farmer and stock-raiser in Pawnee County; Emma married R. Weirs, a farmer in Hall County, Neb.
   Mrs. Shewey is considered by her fellow agriculturists an energetic, intelligent, practical farmer, who has been an important factor in promoting the advancement of agriculture in this locality. Site is a woman of extraordinary force of character, and is capable of doing anything to which she turns her attention. She possesses excellent judgment, much tact and sound sense. Religiously, she holds to the Baptist faith and is identified with the church of that denomination in Burchard, having been a charter member of the society. She is interested in politics and favors the Republican party.

ON. WILLIAM BROWN RAPER, ex-County Clerk of Pawnee County, was born near the town of Linton, in Greene County, Ind., Oct. 29, 1832. He traces his ancestry to the Old Dominion, of which his paternal grandfather was a native, and born in 1777. He married Miss Elizabeth Bray, of North Carolina, and among their sons was Andrew, the father of our subject, who was born in Hardin County, Ky., Jan. 26, 1808.
   Andrew Raper upon reaching man's estate married Miss Eliza I. Christy, of North Carolina. This lady was the daughter of Joseph and Ann Christy, who were early settlers of Indiana and of Irish extraction. After the death of her husband Mrs. Christy made the journey to Pawnee City, and spent her last years with her youngest daughter, passing away in 1885. The parental family included sixteen children, five sons and eleven daughters, nine of whom survive. The mother of our subject was the grandmother of eighty-seven grandchildren, and was born in December, 1809. Andrew Raper is still living, and a resident of Pawnee City, Neb. He served as a soldier in the Union Army during the late war, being a member of Company I, 83d Indiana Infantry, doing duty three years, and meeting the enemy in many of the important battles of the war. He was shot through the thigh at Chickamauga, and likewise had a part of his gun

shot away. He was one of those who marched under Gen. Sherman to the sea. The record of his hardships and privations is the common story of those who fought for the preservation of the Union.
   Mr. Raper, our subject, spent his early years in the rural districts, assisting in the tilling of the soil, in sowing and reaping, and received only a limited education. He lived with his parents until nearing the twenty-second year of his age, then going to Brown County, Ill., worked on a farm at $13 per month one year. Thence he migrated to Indiana, where he was employed as a clerk, and from there came to Nebraska. We find him established in Pawnee City in 1859, preparing to engage in mercantile business in company with David Butler, they having the third store started in the place. They operated together until 1875, with the exception of the three years which our subject spent in the army. In 1862 he enlisted in the 2d Nebraska Cavalry, with which he spent one year, then joined the Veteran Volunteer Cavalry, serving two years on the plains chasing Indians, and also being chased by them. From this service he was honorably discharged July 1, 1866. Upon leaving the army he at once returned to Pawnee City, and continued mercantile business with Mr. Butler, as before stated. They suspended business in 1874, paying all debts and the accumulated interest.
   We next find Mr. Raper as clerk in the drygoods store of J. R. Ervin, a position which he held until 1881, being elected that year Clerk of Pawnee County, and assuming the duties of his office in January, 1882. The year following he was re-elected, and served in all a period of four years. In the year 1877 he was created a member of the State Legislature, to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of W. F. Wright. When retired from the Clerk's office he was succeeded by his son, John B., who was re-elected in 1887, and still holds the office.
   Upon retiring from the Clerk's office Mr. Raper once more engaged in mercantile business, establishing himself at Burchard, where he continued until the spring of 1888. He then sold out and retired from active business. He was first married over thirty years ago, in September, 1856, to Miss Mary J. Butler, a cousin of Gov. Butler, of Nebraska, and a native of Linton, Ind. Mrs. Mary J. Raper died in February, 1864, leaving two children, 3 sons and daughter: John B., already spoken of, and Fanny, the wife of D. D. Davis, an attorney-at-law in Pawnee City.
   The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married Jan. 17, 1867, was formerly Miss Elizabeth J., daughter of Amos and Martha (Weill) Coffey, of Bloomington, Ind. The five children of this union comprised one son and four daughters. The son, William C., and the eldest daughter, Luanna, died in infancy. The survivors are Grace, Myrtle and Lilly, who remain at home with their parents.
   Mr. Raper, politically, is a decided Republican, and as he has opportunity labors for the success of his party. Socially, he belongs to Pawnee Lodge No. 23, Interior Lodge No. 9. I. O. O. F., and is a Knight of Pythias. He is the owner of two good farms in Kansas and a tract of wild land in the same State.

ON. MAXWELL K. WALKER, a leading merchant of Mission Creek and also an extensive stock buyer and feeder, is the scion of an excellent family, being the son of William Walker, who was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., and married Miss Maria Kinkead, a native of Blair County, that State. The paternal grandfather, John Walker, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, and emigrated to America prior to the Revolutionary War, locating in Huntingdon County. Before coming to America he had served as a soldier in the British Army, and engaged in many important battles, among them the siege of Londonderry. In Pennsylvania he occupied himself as an hotel-keeper at Alexandria. He was a great admirer of the principles of Masonry, and one of the first men to organize a lodge of this fraternity in the Keystone State, becoming one of its leading men. He spent the remainder of his life in Huntingdon County, dying in 1816, at the age of eighty years.
   On the mother's side of the house Grandfather Maxwell Kinkead, also a native of Ireland, was a descendant of the famous Maxwell family, of

County Down, and upon coming to America likewise located in Huntingdon County, settling at Yellow Springs. He did good service in the Continental Army, receiving an officer's commission. He was a man of high character, more than ordinarily intelligent, and occupied many positions of trust and responsibility, finally being chosen to represent his district in the State Legislature. He departed this life in 1842, at the age of seventy-six years. His wife was Miss Deborah Cadwallader, a lady of Welsh descent and of an excellent old Quaker family. Her brothers served in the Revolutionary War, one of them as a General.
   William Walker was born in 1804, and on approaching manhood occupied himself largely as a hunter until his marriage. He then engaged in mercantile business at Petersburg and other places in Pennsylvania. He finally removed from Huntingdon to Blair County, thence to Davenport, Iowa, in 1851, purchasing land, in the vicinity of which that city was afterward built up. He became the owner of 360 acres, which under his careful management became quite valuable. Finally, selling out, he removed to Kellogg, and made his home with a daughter there until his death, which took place in 1885, when he was eighty-one years old. The mother survived her husband one year, dying in 18861 at the age of eighty. Mr. Walker had been an Elder in the Presbyterian Church for many years, and Superintendent of the Sunday-school. He was indeed one of the pillars, ever yielding to it a cheerful and liberal support.
   To the parents of our subject there were born eight children, namely: Eliza, who died when about thirty-five years old; Maxwell K., our subject; Catherine; Deborah; David, who died in infancy; Charles, a resident of Decatur County, Kan.; Sally and Howard, both deceased.
   The subject of this sketch was born in Blair's Gap, Blair Co., Pa., on the 4th of December, 1841, and received a common-school education. He was a lad ten years of age when his parents removed to Ohio, and recalls the fact that they made the trip mostly by water. He was reared amid the quiet scenes of country life, and was taught at an early age to make himself useful around the homestead. When a youth of twenty years he attended school one term at Vermillion, Ohio, then, returning to Iowa, remained there a time, then repaired to Fulton, Ill., and entered the Western Union College, where he pursued his studies also one year. At the expiration of this time, the Civil War being in progress, he enlisted in the service, in Company D, of the 20th Iowa Infantry, and was under the command of Gen. Schofield, going all through the Missouri campaign. He met the enemy at Prairie Grove, and was in various other skirmishes until the troops concentrated at Vicksburg, and he engaged with his comrades in the siege of the city. In July they proceeded to Yazoo, and were thereafter at Jackson, wintering in Texas. Mr. Walker entered the service as a private, and was mustered out an Orderly Sergeant. He was proffered a Lieutenant's commission, and declined. He received his honorable discharge at the close, and was mustered out of service at Clinton, Iowa, in July, 186.5, nearly three years from the time of his enlistment.
   Upon retiring from the army Mr. Walker resumed farming in Iowa for three years. Then, desirous of becoming further advanced in his studies, he returned to Vermillion Institute, taking the classical course of two years. Afterward he taught school near Clarksville, Ark., one year. Later we find him at Pittsburgh in the employ of the Pullman Palace Car Company as a conductor, which post he held for a period of three years. He then engaged in the grocery trade at Davenport one year, when he was caught by the panic of 1874, and withdrew.
   Mr. Walker was married in Ashland, Ohio. Jan. 8, 1874, to Miss Elizabeth J. Sloan. This lady was born in Westmoreland County, Pa., and received a good education, being graduated from Vermillion Institute, afterward occuping (sic) herself as a teacher in Ashland County, Ohio, for a number of years.
   Mr, Walker in the spring of 1874 came to this State, locating at Beatrice, where he lived for a time, and thence came to Mission Creek. He purchased his stock of general merchandise, in which he rapidly built up a good trade, and that same year was appointed Postmaster, which office he held until December, 1882. In 1882 he purchased 160 acres of land on section 27, an uncultivated tract, from which he has built up a good farm, ef-

fecting modern improvements, and from which he now realizes a good income. The farm is especially well watered by a never-failing spring, and is largely devoted to live stock, including cattle and swine. His thoroughbred Short-horns are the admiration of the country around, and among his horses may be found some of the finest animals in this region. In his store Mr. W. carries a $1,000 stock of goods, comprising everything in his line suitable for the village or country household.
   After filling many other positions of trust and responsibility, Mr. Walker in 1882 was elected to represent his county in the Legislature by a large majority on the Republican ticket, and was one of the original eight who selected Gen. Manderson for the United States Senate. Socially, he belongs to the A. O. U. W. at Davenport, is a charter member of the G. A. R. at Pawnee City, and in religious matters is identified with the Presbyterian Church at Liberty. In politics, it is hardly necessary to state he is a stanch supporter of Republican principles.

OHN W. SHAW. In reviewing the pioneer history of Pawnee County there are the names of so many so inseparably connected with its early development that no record could be entirely complete without notice of their lives and labors. In this class may be most properly mentioned the gentleman herein brought to notice, who was one of the first men to cast his lot with the adventurous spirits who pitched their tents in Table Rock Precinct. The story of the struggles and hardships of those early times can never be fully delineated, because the pioneer had other things to occupy himself with than to carry around with him his pencil and memorandum book, and thus many incidents have necessarily passed from his recollection. We are now mostly dependent upon the memory of those to whom the early scenes of life on the frontier seem, at this late day, more like a dream than a reality.
   Mr. Shaw came to this region in March, 1867, and took up a homestead claim of 160 acres, occupying the northwest quarter of section 9. There had been no attempt at cultivation, and his neighbors were few and far between, there being but three houses in sight. Mr. Shaw first put up a small frame building of cottonwood boards, sixteen feet square, as a shelter for his family, and as soon as possible began plowing, and succeeded in preparing that first year twenty acres for cultivation and sowing it with grain. There was neither a tree nor shrub upon the place, and his next business was to set out something which should afford a shelter and also be a means of providing his family with some of the luxuries of life. He thus planted four acres of forest trees, a good apple orchard and the trees of the smaller fruits, together with considerable hedge fencing.
   As rapidly as possible Mr. Shaw proceeded with the cultivation of his land, and in due time found it the source of a comfortable income. Later he turned his attention to stock-raising, and now has a fine herd of high-grade Short-horn cattle, also horses and swine. In due time the first rude dwelling gave place to the large, comfortable residence which now graces the farm, this being completed in 1883. It is tasteful in architecture, well finished and furnished, and has a solid stone foundation, forming a fine cellar. The dwelling with its surroundings forms one of the most attractive homes in this section of the county.
   The first school district was organized after the arrival of Mr. Shaw in Table Rock Precinct, and in due time he was made a member of the School Board, and has assisted in the erection of two houses on the same ground. The school of his district is now considered one of the best regulated in the precinct. He has held various other local offices, serving as Assessor two terms, and as Justice of the Peace two years. The fact that he is highly spoken of by his neighbors and fellow-citizens is sufficient indication of his standing in his community. In religious matters he belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and socially, he is a member of the G. A. R.
   Allegany County, N. Y., was the native place of our subject, his birth occurring Oct. 12, 1837. Six months later his parents removed to Jo Daviess County, Ill., settling among its earliest pioneers, and there John W. pursued his first studies in the

district school, later becoming a pupil in Mt. Morris Academy. He was twenty-four years of age at the outbreak of the Civil War, and on the 24th of May, 1861, enlisted in Company E, 15th Illinois Infantry, journeying soon afterward with his regiment to the South. He first saw the smoke of battle at Pittsburg Landing, where he was wounded in the knee, and after being confined in the hospital was obliged to accept his honorable discharge in October, 1862, and returned home. When fully recovered he resumed farming in Illinois, and on the 10th of January, 1867, was married to Miss Maria L. Eckert, of Nora, Jo Daviess Co., Ill. They soon afterward sought their new home in Nebraska.
   To our subject and his wife there have been born two children, Alice B. and Henry J., who have been given a good education and are still at home. The wife of our subject is a native of Tompkins County, N. Y., and was born Sept. 16, 1844. She left her native State with her parents when about ten years old, they removing to Jo Daviess County, Ill., where she sojourned with them until her marriage. Her father, Levi Eckert, was also a native of the Empire State and a mason by trade. Her mother's maiden name was Rebecca Snyder; her father is deceased. Her mother is still living, now a resident of Michigan.
   Eneas Shaw, the father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Massachusetts, from whence he removed early in life to New York State, settling in Allegany County. He married Miss Sila Phipin, and to them were born thirteen children, twelve of whom lived to mature years. Upon the removal of the family to Jo Daviess County, Ill., the father took up a tract of land from which he improved a good farm, which he remained upon the balance of his life. His death occurred about 1850, and that of his excellent wife in 1865, both dying at the old homestead. They were people who made very little stir in the world, but were careful and conscientious in the performance of their duties as parents and neighbors, and were consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
   John W. Shaw cast his first presidential vote for Lincoln, since which time he has been a strong supporter of the Republican party. He has signalized as a liberal and public-spirited citizen, laboring as he has had opportunity for the growth and progress of his adopted county. In building up one of the most valuable homesteads he has added thus much to the importance of its real-estate interests, and its desirability as a place of residence.

OHN CARVER. Conspicuous among the men who have materially aided the growth of Miles Precinct is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this biographical notice. He is one of the leading farmers of the precinct, and no one has more largely advanced its agricultural interests than he. He owns a large and well-appointed stock farm, comprising 320 acres of the best land to be found in the neighborhood, finely located on sections 11 and 2.
   Mr. Carver was born in County Limerick, Ireland, in October, 1826. His father, William Carver, was born in the same county. Thomas Carver, grandfather of our subject, was a native of County Cork, Ireland, grew to manhood in the city of Cork, and then moved to County Limerick. He there purchased a large farm, and besides cultivating the soil became engaged in the dairy business, and accumulated a comfortable competence. His death occurred when he had attained his seventy-first year. The father of our subject was reared on his father's farm. He was married in County Cork, to Miss Nora Casey, a native of that county. Her father, Frank Casey, was a large land-owner, and had several farms in County Cork, managing them all himself, besides keeping a public inn at Glenworth. His death occurred in 1822. Mr. Carver was a coach agent for several years from the time he was eighteen years old, driving a four-horse mail coach. He lost money by the sudden death of the man he worked for, who owed him a large sum of money besides his salary. Mr. Carver then devoted himself exclusively to the management of his farms, of which he had three, and which he had carried on while engaged in business, He was in comfortable circumstances at the time of his death in 1850, at the age of sixty-five. The mother of our subject died in Norwich, Conn., in