the expiration of a year he returned to Guernsey County, Ohio, where he spent the following year. In the fall of 1868 he determined to try life on the frontier, and started for Nebraska with a wagon and a pair of horses. He crossed the Mississippi at Burlington, and the Missouri at Brownville, having been eight weeks on the way. He came on to his present place and located on it in February, 1869. He built a sod house and broke prairie, and two years later set out trees in groves, comprising four acres of land, and an orchard of two acres, which is now the finest in the neighborhood and was the first one planted on the prairie of Plum Creek. His land is fenced in hedge and cross-fenced, and it is all under admirable tillage and yields large harvests. It is watered by springs of living water. For the first five years the nearest market was in Nebraska City, a distance of several miles. He had to haul the lumber for his house and other buildings from Brownville. He has erected a substantial and cozy dwelling, good barns, and other necessary farm buildings. Mr. Stewart makes a specialty of raising stock, feeds all the grain that he raises, buys and feeds cattle and also hogs. He has thirteen head of fine blooded horses, one English draft named Charley and a Kentucky Jack. He uses two teams to operate his farm. Mr. Stewart is an active, wide-awake man, is quick to take advantage of the markets for the sale of his stock or farm products, and has met with fine success in his agricultural ventures since becoming a resident of Nebraska.
   James Stewart and Miss Mary J. Robertson, a native of Guernsey County, Ohio, were united in marriage in Cambridge in February, 1867. To them six children have been born, as follows; William F., James A., Sarah E., Maurice J., Lola and Daisy B., all of whom are at home. William is a student at the Pawnee City High School. Mrs. Stewart was born in October, 1843. William and Elizabeth (Officir) Robertson are natives of Pennsylvania. Her grandfather Robertson was a native of Ireland. After migrating to this country he settled first in Pennsylvania, and then removed to Guernsey County, Ohio, where he engaged in farming until his death. Mrs. Stewart's maternal grandfather was born in Scotland, and on coming to America he settled in Pennsylvania. From there he removed to Guernsey County, Ohio. and there he was engaged as a farmer, and there he died. Mrs. Stewart's parents grew up in Ohio, and were married there. The mother died there in 1865 at the age of forty-five years. The father bought a tract of unimproved land, developed it into a fine farm, and made his home thereon until his death in 1888, at nearly seventy years of age. Both he and his wife were stanch members of the United Presbyterian Church. They were the parents of twelve children, as follows: Nancy M. and Sarah M., deceased; Mary J.; Elizabeth O., living in Illinois; Sarah F., Lincoln, John, Josephine and Martha, who are dead; William, Catherine and Samantha.
   Mr. Stewart occupies an honorable position in this community as a trustworthy and highly esteemed citizen. He takes an active interest in public affairs and does all that he can to promote the welfare of the precinct. This is especially true of educational matters, in which he has been very influential. He is School Director, was a prominent factor in organizing the precinct, assisted in building the schoolhouse, and himself taught the third term in this district. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace for four years, discharging the duties appertaining thereto with characteristic fidelity and despatch. He was instrumental in building the United Presbyterian Church at Burchard, and with his wife is one of the most active members of that religious denomination at the present time, and they also take a deep interest in the Sunday-school. Mr. Stewart has served on the Grand and the Petit Jury, and in his political sentiments he is an unqualified Republican, fully believing in the policy of that party.

ILLIAM AIKINS, an aged and highly respected resident of Pawnee City, spent the active years of his life as a mechanic, and has now arrived at the advanced age of eighty-four years, having been born June 11, 1805. His native place was Belmont County, Ohio, and his parents were Robert and Mary Aikins, the former a native of Ireland, and the latter of Pennsylvania.

They were the parents of ten children, five sons and five daughters, all of whom lived to mature years, but only two of whom now survive. One sister died in September, 1888, when nearly ninety-six years old. The father was a tailor by trade, following that occupation many years.
   Our subject was reared at the parental homestead in Belmont County, Ohio, and received a limited education in the subscription schools. Upon reaching his majority he began work as a carpenter, which trade he followed in his native county about five years, then removed to Henry County, Ill. In the latter he followed carpentering and farming combined, finally becoming the owner of a farm in that county. In the fall of 1860 he came to this county, settling on a farm two miles west of Pawnee City, which was then in its embryo state, and Nebraska still a Territory. He farmed upon this land a period of four years, and in the meantime became quite prominent in local affairs, officiating as Justice of the Peace, and later being elected Probate Judge of Pawnee County.
   Mr. Aikins, upon having this honor conferred upon him, took up his abode in Pawnee City in order to assume the duties of his office, of which he was the incumbent two years, resigning before the expiration of his term. He then returned to Illinois upon a visit, but soon came back to Pawnee City, of which he has since been a resident. He had been married in his native State, Dec. 16, 1828, to Miss Ann Pennell, of Morgan County, Ohio. This lady was born in Chester County, Pa., within fifteen miles of the city of Philadelphia, Nov. 26, 1810, being the eldest daughter of Lewis and Sarah F. (Fisher) Pennell.
   Eleven children, three sons and eight daughters, came to the household of Mr. and Mrs. Aikens, ten of whom lived to become men and women grown. They were named respectively: Mary J., Caroline M., Henry L., Esther A., William J., Elizabeth, Ruby, Nancy T., John A. and Lydia. Sarah Frances died in infancy. The bride of over sixty years ago is still spared to her husband, and both are hale and hearty, having their faculties preserved in a remarkable degree. Mr. Aikins upon reaching his majority identified himself with the old Whig party, and voted for Gen. William H. Harrison in 1840. Upon the disbandment of the old party he cordially indorsed Republican principles, and voted for the grandson of the old General during the election of 1888 with much of the enthusiasm that distinguished the casting of his first Presidential ballot. Mr. Aikins has been a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church for a period of sixty-four years, and his wife for fifty-six years. They are a remarkably interesting old couple, and number their friends by the score among the people who have known them so long and so well.

AVID K. MILLER, cashier and director of the State Bank of Table Rock, treasurer and director of the Creamery Association, and owner of one of the largest and richest farms in Pawnee County, is one of the most widely and favorably known of the citizens of this section of Nebraska. He was born of Scotch parentage on the Island of Jamaica, in the West Indies, Dec. 16, 1848. His father, George Miller, was born in Forfarshire, Scotland. He was educated in his native land at the University of St. Andrew, receiving to quite an extent a theological education, although before being graduated from that department of the university he was sent by the Board of Missions connected with the Scotch Presbyterian Church to the West Indies, and the ensuing thirty-three years he was Principal of the schools in Jamaica which were controlled by the Presbytery. Mr. Miller subsequently returned to Scotland, and bought a farm in Renfrewshire, on which he lived until his death. He married Miss Mary Wishart, also a native of Forfarshire, Scotland, and of their union two children were born, our subject and George W., the latter of whom is now living in Pawnee County, two miles northwest of Pawnee City. Mrs. Miller survived her husband, and coming to Nebraska spent her last years in this county, and is now lying peacefully at rest in the cemetery in Pawnee City.
   David Miller, of this sketch, remained in Jamaica until ten years of age, when he was sent by his parents to Edinburgh, Scotland, to pursue the course of

studies in the High School of that city. At the expiration of five years he was graduated from that institution with a good record for scholarship. He subsequently served an apprenticeship of five years in a large life insurance company, and after that continued in the employment of the company some years. In 1873 our subject entered the large importing house of George Campbell & Co., of Liverpool, England, with whom he was engaged for some time, being a part of the time located in their branch house at Glasgow. Mr. Miller was an ambitious, enterprising young man, with a keen desire to find the best the world held for him, and accordingly, after mature deliberation, concluded to come to the United States and establish himself in one of the young and rapidly growing States of the recently settled western section of the country. He selected Nebraska as the objective point of his destination, and coming here in 1876 purchased a farm near Pawnee City, where he lived for five years, successfully engaged in farming and stock-raising, his cattle having been nearly full-blooded Short-horns. That farm not being sufficiently large for his purposes our subject disposed of it in 1881, and bought his present estate, which consists of 640 acres in one body, lying on sections 11, 12, 1 and 2, of Pawnee Precinct. The land was in its normal condition at the time of purchase, but Mr. Miller has devoted his time and money to its improvement, having it now under a fine state of cultivation, and has erected a fine house, good corn cribs, a substantial barn, and fenced the farm with hedge, board and wire fence. One lot of sixty acres, surrounded by a board fence, is used exclusively as a hog pasture, he keeping 100 or more hogs in it. He also keeps about 150 head of stock, chiefly Short-horns, breeding and raising his own cattle, and also breeding his own horses, his favorite stock being Clydesdale. Mr. Miller lived on his farm about four years, then moved to the village of Table Rock, where he now resides. He is a business man of marked talent and sagacity, and besides being cashier of the Table Rock Bank owns one-fifth interest in it. It was first established by Messrs. Forbes and Jones in 1882, and sold by them Nov. 2, 1885, to the present owners, John R. Clark, of Lincoln, Neb.; David Remick, of Los Angeles, Cal.; J. N. Eckman and John C. David, of Pawnee City; and our subject. At the time of purchase the latter was made cashier, and has served acceptably to all. This bank is one of four associate banks in the county, all controlled by the same men, Mr. Miller being one of the directors of each, the other three banks being the First National Bank, of Pawnee City; the Burchard State Bank, at Burchard, and the State Bank at DuBois. All are paying institutions, and receive a good share of patronage. Our subject is treasurer of the Table Rock Creamey, which is the only one in the county, and is doing a large and prosperous business.
   Although Mr. Miller is interested in the welfare of the precinct, and is ever ready and willing to advance its interests, he has steadily refused all local offices except that of School Director. In politics he is independent. He is one of the leading members of the Presbyterian Church, of which he is treasurer, and is also secretary of the Sunday school connected with it. He is a man of strong intellectual force, keen perceptive faculties, excellent business tact, and above all one of unswerving integrity, high moral rectitude, and is always spoken of in terms of the highest commendation by his fellow-citizens.
   The marriage of our subject with Miss Jenny I. Taylor was solemnized in October, 1878. She was born in Pennsylvania, and lived in that State until three years of age, when she came with her parents to this State. Her father, Robert Taylor, was one of the early pioneers of Pawnee County. (For further parental history see his sketch on another page of this volume.) Three bright and interesting children have blessed the wedded life of our subject and his wife, namely: Mabel M., Robert T. and Gordon D.

HOMAS MENEHAN, an active, alert and well-to-do farmer of West Branch Precinct, owns and operates a large and productive farm of 320 acres in one body, one-half lying on sections 32 and 33 of Pawnee County, Neb., and the other half in Marshall County, Kan. He is a native of Ireland, born in County Mayo, Sept. 31,

1850. His father, Michael Menehan, was born and spent his entire life in County Mayo, dying there in 1830 (sic). He was a farmer by occupation, and after arriving at man's estate married Miss Bridget Sally, who was a native of the same county as himself. She survived her husband, and coming to America died in Nebraska in 1875, at the venerable age of seventy-five years. She was a worthy woman, and a member of the Catholic Church. To her and her husband were born seven children, namely: John, William, Michael, James (deceased), Margaret, Thomas and Patrick.
   Our subject was reared on the home farm, and received a limited education in a pay school, remaining at home until he attained his majority. Hoping to better his condition, he induced his mother, sister, and one of his brothers to accompany him to America. Setting sail from Liverpool in the vessel "Mary Ann Chancellor," they landed at New York City June 18, 1863. Our subject had but little money, but he had a good stock of courage and perseverance, and proceeding to Pennsylvania, procured work in the coal mines of Schuylkill County, where he remained a little more than a year, then started for this State. Traveling by rail to St. Joseph, Mo., he there took a steamer for Leavenworth, and then came from there by wagon to Pawnee County. Mr. Menehan did not make a long stop here at that time, but returning to Leavenworth was there engaged in quarrying for a year. He afterward secured employment as a teamster in freighting across the plains between Leavenworth and Ft. Dodge, making five trips during the next two summer seasons, and having one or two narrow escapes from the Indians on the way. Being prudent, as well as industrious, our subject had by that time accumulated a little money, and wishing to invest it in land came again to this county, in 1866, and took up a homestead claim of eighty acres of land on section 32, which is included in his present farm. He was one of the earliest settlers of the precinct, and to men of his enterprise, activity and good judgment is West Branch Precinct indebted for its present prosperity. Mr. Menehan labored arduously to improve his farm, setting out groves of forest trees, an orchard of 200 fruit trees, hedged and fenced his land, and subsequently put up a good set of farm buildings, and an ample and complete dwelling, hauling the lumber from Seneca. On his farm our subject raises crops from which he secures a good income, and he has been enabled to buy more land from time to time, and to increase the number of his cattle. He makes a specialty of buying and feeding stock, and also raises a large number of bogs, and has on his place eight horses of good grade.
   Mr. Menehan was married in St. Joseph, Mo., in 1870, to Miss Mary Smith. She was born in Madison, Ind., and has borne her husband two children, Michael H. and William. In politics Mr. Menehan is a stanch Democrat, and both he and his estimable wife are prominent members of the Catholic Church near their home, which they helped to build, and to the support of which they generously contribute. In politics Mr. M. acts with the Democratic party.

ON. EUGENE M. BERRY, the present representative of his district in the Twenty-first Nebraska State Legislature, holds a leading position among the extensive agriculturists of Pawnee County, who have been so largely instrumental in its upbuilding. Although not one of the earliest settlers of this county, as he did not come here until 1877, he may justly lay claim to the title of pioneer, as since that time he has by energy and patient persistence, combined with skillful management, developed a large and finely improved farm from the wild prairie. It comprises 480 acres of land of unsurpassed productiveness, located on section 23, Mission Creek Precinct, and was one of the first to be opened up on this part of the prairie. It has an ample supply of water from Mission Creek, is partly fenced in hedge and wire, and an attractive dwelling, neat barns and other substantial buildings adorn the place. Mr. Berry raises large crops of corn, besides devoting much time to raising stock, having twelve or fourteen fine horses, using three teams to operate the farm, and having cattle and hogs of the best graded breeds. Besides this farm Mr. Berry owns 180 more acres of valuable land.

Mr. Berry comes of a somewhat notable ancestry on both the paternal and maternal side, and among his progenitors, who seem to have been stalwart men of more than average vigor and capacity, were some of the early settlers of Virginia, and the town of Berrysville, in that State, received its name in honor of one of them who was its founder. They were also conspicuous in the early settlement of other States in a later day and generation, being pioneers of Maryland, Tennessee, Ohio, and still later even of Wisconsin.
   The great-grandfather of our subject, Joseph Berry, was born in Berrysville, Va., and was of Irish descent. He served as a scout all through the Revolution. After the Revolution he crossed the mountains to Tennessee, and became an early settler of that State, but was killed by the Indians. His son Joseph was born and reared in Tennessee, and subsequently went to Virginia, whence his parents had removed, and he was there married, and settling in Knox County, Ohio, helped to build the first house in Mt. Vernon. He cleared up a farm from the forest and went from his pioneer home to take part in the War of 1812. After that, the pioneer spirit that had animated his forefathers being strong within him, he made his way in 1835 to Andrew County, Mo., and was one of the early settlers of that locality. He actively engaged in farming in his adopted State until his death in 1854, at the age of sixty-five years. He was a firm supporter of the policy of the Whig party, and was a man of decisive character.
   The maternal great grandfather of our subject, Moses Andrews, who was a native of England, emigrated to this country prior to the Revolution, and took up Government land on the present site of Baltimore. He was an officer in the War of 1812, and subsequently moved to Pennsylvania, where he spent the remainder of his life. His wife was born in Wales. Their son Thomas, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania, and as he grew to manhood learned the blacksmith trade, and during some period of his life moved to Ohio and became a pioneer of Wayne County. Settling near the town of Wooster he engaged in his trade there until his removal to Wisconsin in 1833, where he again became a pioneer. He was one of the early settlers of LaFayette County, and established a smithy near the town of Argyle, and also engaged in farming. Later in life he moved to Neosha Rapids, and engaged in blacksmithing there, and there he rounded out an honorable life of seventy-five years in 1865. He accumulated considerable wealth, and was a man of prominence in public affairs, and was known by the title of Squire.
   The parents of our subject, the Rev. Dr. John A. and Elenora (Andrews) Berry, were born respectively in 1822, in Knox County, Ohio, and in 1823, in Wayne County, Ohio. The father received a liberal education, studying at Kenyon College, and then attending the Medical College at Middleboro, Ohio. He was graduated from that institution after pursuing a full course that well fitted him for his profession, and he then begin to practice medicine in Danville, Knox Co., Ohio, and for thirteen years was the leading physician of that locality. At the expiration of that time he felt called to the ministry, and identifying himself with the Northern Ohio Methodist Episcopal Conference, he had charges in the various county seats of Ohio. He was finally appointed agent for the Ohio Female College. His useful and active life was brought to a close in 1863, in Granville, Ohio, while yet in its very prime, he being then but forty-one years of age, he having overworked. He was a self-made man in the best sense of the word, and whatever he attempted he carried through with characteristic zeal. His ministry was a signal success. He was a man of fine powers of mind, and of a lofty, pure spirit, and in him every righteous cause found a champion. He was a man of intense patriotism, and on the breaking out of the late war wished to enlist in his country's defense, but was refused permission, presumably on account of his health. He was an antislavery man and vigorously supported the Republican party. The mother of our subject was the worthy wife of such a husband. She is now living in Decatur, Ohio. Seven children were born of her marriage, as follows: Clementine, Rosales, Fannie, John A., Eugene, Cora and Edward.
   Eugene Berry was born in Danville, Knox Co., Ohio, Jan. 21, 1852. He was reared in town, and had good school advantages. His father died when he was eleven years old, and when he was fourteen

years of age, being a manly, self-reliant lad, he began to be self-supporting. He worked at different trades for some time and when he was eighteen years old learned the plasterer's trade. After that he turned his attention to farming, and renting land was thus engaged in his native State until he was twenty-three years of age. He was very ambitious to secure a good education, and at that time entered Wittenberg College, in Ohio, and for two years assiduously pursued a general scientific course under efficient instructors, greatly to his benefit, and since leaving college he has supplemented his studies by reading and observation. In 1877, then in the prime of early manhood, well equipped mentally and physically, our subject came to Nebraska to assist the men of brain and enterprise who were pushing the fortunes of this young and vigorous State. He located on his present place, which then comprised but 180 acres of land, and we have seen how he has since added to it and developed it into a fine farm.
   Since locating here Mr. Berry has taken an active part in public affairs, and has gained a high reputation as a sagacious counselor and safe leader. He is an ardent advocate of the Republican policy, and in the fall of 1888 he was elected on the Republican ticket to represent this district in the State Legislature for the next two years, having a plurality of 635. He possesses many admirable traits for a legislator, being a conscientious worker, well informed as to the needs of his adopted State, and one in whose integrity and honor his follow-citizens have perfect confidence, and it is safe to predict that his career as a statesman will redound to his credit. He has been an incumbent of local offices of responsibility, and has been a delegate to State Conventions of his party. He and his wife figure prominently in social circles in Pawnee County, and he belongs to the Knights of Pythias at Pawnee City.
   The marriage of our subject to Miss Carrie Jones took place Oct. 19, 1881, in Ross County, Ohio. She was a native of that place, and had before marriage been a school teacher. The pleasant household of our subject and his wife is completed by the presence of the three children born to them, namely: Althea, Elenora and Joanna. Mrs. Berry is a valued and consistent member of the Baptist Church. She was a teacher before her marriage, is finely educated, is an artist of marked talent, and her and her husband's charming home is adorned by many choice paintings of her own execution.

OSEPH HAYS. It has been the privilege of him to whom we now call attention to watch for a period of over twenty years the growth and development of this county. He first migrated to this region in 1866, during the Territorial days of Nebraska, and although naturally a courageous man, the outlook was so forbidding he retraced his steps to the confines of civilization. He noted, however, that there were undoubtedly vast natural resources waiting for development, and so in the fall of 1867 repeated his experimental visit, this time to stay. He bought nearly an entire section of land, only forty acres of which had been disturbed by the plowshare, and proceeded after the manner of the early pioneer to battle with life on the frontier. He has, perhaps, had more than most men to contend with; he has met with loss and affliction, but these have developed a character of more than ordinary excellence. There is no surer indication of a man's moral worth than the estimation in which he is held by his neighbors, and in whatever respect otherwise Mr. Hays may have failed in realizing his ambitions in this he certainly has reasons to rejoice and be glad.
   Before proceeding further it will perhaps be well to take a backward glance at the childhood and youth of our subject. He was born in Pope County, Ill., March 4, 1819, and lived there with his parents two years, when they removed to Morgan County, that State, and sojourned in the latter a period of forty-five years, settling there when the now flourishing town of Jacksonville had not even a name. Young Hays passed his boyhood after the manner of most farmers' sons, receiving a limited education in the common schools and employing himself at farming pursuits mostly, although for two years upon approaching manhood he was engaged in mercantile business at Yatesville.

Farming, however, proved more congenial to the tastes of Mr. Hays than merchandising, and he soon returned to his legitimate business. He had been carefully trained under the home roof, and grew up to be a worthy member of the community, receiving that recognition among his fellow-citizens which resulted in his being elected to the office of Justice of the Peace, which he held seven years, and to other positions of trust and responsibility. When about twenty-three years of age he took unto himself a wife and helpmate, being married at the home of the bride, Nov. 11, 1842, to Miss Mary T. Bowen, a native of Morgan County, Ill. The young people began the journey of life together upon a farm in Morgan County, and lived in Illinois until crossing the two great rivers and settling in the farther West.
   Upon the purchase of Mr. Hays in Table Rock Precinct, when first coming here there stood a small frame house. He had a large family of children, and hence arose the necessity of providing more commodious quarters as soon as possible. The summer following he put up the large frame dwelling which he still owns and occupies, and which is still in a good state of preservation. He fenced 100 acres with smooth wire, put out two miles of hedge, and began planting cottonwood trees, which are now three feet in diameter. He also set out an orchard of apple trees which are now nineteen years old, and has abundance of the smaller fruits, which provide in their season many luxuries for the household. In due time he began raising grain extensively, and finally drifted into the breeding of live stock, keeping large numbers of cattle, horses and swine, and at one time had a flock of 400 sheep which yielded him a good income.
   Mr. Hays and his family from the first enjoyed excellent health, and only one of the fifteen in his family ever had the ague. Mr. Hays assisted in building the first bridge over Long Branch on the Brownville road, and also in laying out the roads through Table Rock Precinct, there being one highway at the time of his coming here. The precinct then comprised two school districts, one of the school-houses being near the present site of Table Rock. Mr. Hays sent his seven children into Richardson County to school one winter, the nearest point elsewhere being five miles away. He assisted in the organization of School District No. 52, being the prime mover, going personally to every voter. He was appointed County Superintendent of Schools, and was one of the most active men within its limits to introduce facilities for the education of the young.
   It naturally followed that Mr. Hays was also elected Moderator of his school district, and he has since held that office. A small frame building was put up at a cost of $400, and a teacher was employed whose salary was insured by the issuing of bonds. Game was then plentiful in this region, also Indians. The settlers were obliged to take their produce to market at Brownville, thirty miles away, the trip occupying two days' time, and then receiving only thirty cents per bushel for their hard-earned wheat.
   Mr. Hays witnessed the erection of the first house at Humboldt. Upon visiting Pawnee City on the 3d of June, 1867, he found the court-house in process of erection, just three feet above the ground, but there was a place provided at which to pay taxes. There was also a post-office and one or two stores. Court was held first in the house of the Postmaster, J. L. Edwards. In the building of his own house Mr. Hays did much of the work himself. It was quite in imposing structure for those times, covering an area of 32x24 feet, with a 12-foot addition, and was at the time the largest house in this part of the county. Included among its inmates were eight daughters and two stalwart sons. Each year witnessed some improvement in the property, and the Hays homestead in due time was familiar to people all over the county as the home of one of its best citizens.
   The precinct voted railroad bonds to the amount of $20,000, but on account of irregularity they sought a release, which the railroad agreed to in case the county would vote a tax. Mr. Hays was made Chairman of the committee appointed to fight the perpetuation of the bonds, which were drawing ten per cent. interest, and was so successful in his efforts that he saved for the precinct the sum of $30,000. a result for which the people ever hold him in grateful remembrance.
   Mr. H. was also frequently summoned as a Jury-