during the Civil War. Then he came to Norfolk, Nebraska, and took the first claim at Plainview. He married Miss Irene Pilcher in 1872 and their eldest child was the first white baby born in Plainview.

      J. A. WILLIAMS was born at Galena, Illinois, August 6, 1860, of English parentage. Mr. Williams settled in Nebraska in 1900. He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, in both the Classical and Law Departments. He was City Superintendent of Schools at Galena, Illinois, for several years and holds a life certificate as teacher. He is a member of the Republican party and has been elected County Judge of Pierce County. He has been successful on the lecture platform.

      H. F. BARNHART was born in State Line, Pennsylvania, September 12, 1857. He came to Creighton, Nebraska, in 1885, later to Osmond, and located at Pierce in 1896. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1876 and from the University of Iowa, Law Department, in 1884. He is a member of the People's Independent party and is now serving his third term as County Attorney.

      FRANK PILGER was born in Bloomington, Nebraska, May 10, 1877, of German-American parentage. He moved to Plainview in 1888 and settled in Pierce in 1902. He attended the Bloomington Normal, Plainview High School and Plainview Normal College. In 1903 he married Miss Mabel Searle. He is affiliated with the Democratic party and served as Deputy County Clerk from 1902 to 1904. Mr. Pilger was elected County Superintendent in 1903.

      B. M. JONES was born in St. Joseph County, Indiana, August 22, 1860. In 1889 he came to Pierce County and has traveled nine years in Iowa and Minnesota for the McCormick Harvesting Company. He is a member of the Democratic party and is serving his second

term as Sheriff. In August, 1900, he married Miss Ella Peed, and they have two sons.

      N. M. NELSON was born in Denmark, March 18, 1855. In 1862 he came to Omaha and settled in Pierce County in 1881, engaging in the hardware business. In 1903 he was representative of the Nineteenth District, in the State Legislature. He has been justice of the Peace for eight years and at present holds the office of Treasurer of Pierce County, the first Republican elected to that office since its organization.

      FRANK STRELOW was born in Dober, Germany, June 26, 1867. In 1882 he came to Pierce County, where he has since resided. He received his education in the common schools of Germany and Nebraska. In 1892 he married Miss Koehn, and they have four children. Re belongs to the Democratic party and is serving his first term as Assessor of Pierce County.

      L. P. TONNER was born on a farm in Arcadia, Iowa, February 20, 1879. In 1890 he moved to Nebraska, where he received his education. Having taken a course in the Linclon (sic) Normal University, he began teaching as a profession and was Principal of Schools at Osmond, when he was appointed Deputy County Clerk of Pierce County.

 

      Polk County was organized in 1870 with an area of 435 square miles and the county seat was located at Osceola. This town at present has a population of 1,154 and there are 10,542 people in the county. The only waste land to be found is in the low hills along the divide between the valley and upland and a few sandy strips along the river. The Platte and Blue rivers with Prairie, Davis and Clear creeks make up the water system, so that nearly one-fourth of the surface is fertile valley land. The soil is a dark, sandy loam in the valley and black in the uplands, from two to seven feet deep. The most valuable land is farm land, the best of which sells for from $60 to $80; the least valuable land is pasture land, which sells for $30 an acre. Apples, plums, cherries, peaches, grapes and small fruits are successfully cultivated. Winter wheat covers on an average 37,738 acres; corn 86,277 acres; oats 34,995 acres; alfalfa 1,112 acres, and wild hay 25,454 acres. There are 1,699 farms, almost all of which have building improvements. There are three flour and grist mills, and two brick-yards in the county. There are 71 school districts and an equal number of school houses, no school having less than a six months' term. The county has three graded schools, in which twenty teachers are employed. In 1873 there were 364 children of school age; at present there are 4,098.

      FRANK D. MILLS is a lawyer at Osceola, Nebraska. He was born on the twelfth of September, 1874 at Leon, Iowa. At five years of age he came to Nebraska where he has since resided. After graduating from the Osceola High School he spent three years in academic work at the University of Nebraska and then graduated from the Law Department. He is now Attorney of Polk County. He was Second Lieutenant of Company H. Third Regular Nebraska Volunteer Infantry and First Lieutenant of Company K, Third Regiment of Nebraska Volunteer Infantry. He was married September 30, 1902.

      D. C. COLE is Superintendent of Public Instruction in Polk County, having been a teacher by vocation. He was born near Rising City, Nebraska on the ninth of June, 1874. He attended the Bryant Normal at Stromsburg and has been engaged in school work in Polk and Butler Counties for several years. In politics he is a populist and is serving his second term as Superintendent. He was married to Miss Maude Lott of Rising City, July 21, 1896.

      C. J. HOLCOMB was born in May of 1850 in Brown County, New York. He moved with his parents to Minnesota in 1857, thence to Illinois in 1859 and to Polk County in 1884. He is County Treasurer and is at present serving his second term. He was a member of the police force of Kewanee, Illinois, for two years and was on the road two years as a traveling salesman. He is married and has a son and daughter. He is a member of the Populist party.

     F. H. BALL was born at Pepperell, Massachusetts, October 27, 1857. At two years of age he moved with his parents to Wisconsin and in 1879 settled in Nebraska. He has