age of fourteen he was confirmed in the church of Lichtenvoorde. He remained at home with his parents, giving his father valuable assistance on the farm until 1868, when, having heard much of America through relatives who had come here to locate, he desired to try life in this Western world, feeling assured that a young man with plenty of courage, brain and muscle could not fail in time to win his way to success where labor was so encouraged and protected. Accordingly he embarked July 1 on a steamer at Rotterdam, bound for Quebec.
   After landing on this continent, Mr. Walvoord made his way from that Canadian city to Chicago, and thence went by lake to Sheboygan, Wis., where his uncle owned a farm. His relative gave him a warm greeting and put him to work on his place. Our subject liked it so well in this country that he sent back word to the old country urging his parents to come here with the remaining members of the family. Consequently they all joined him the second year of his stay here, and after a short visit to their friends in Wisconsin, they all came to Nebraska, and, as before related, all who were old enough took up land in South Pass in the spring of 1870, and have since been very much prospered. Our subject established himself in his present mercantile business in Holland over sixteen years ago, and by strict attention to business he has met with unbounded success, and has built up a good trade. He commands the respect of his many patrons, whom he has served strictly on a fair business basis for more than sixteen years. In March, 1886, his health being poor, and feeling the need of a capable partner who could assist him in the management of his extensive business. he admitted Mr. T. Liesvelt into partnership, and they have since continued together at the old stand. Our object has accumulated much valuable property since becoming a resident of Holland. He owns his store building, some fine village property, has erected a handsome and commodious house, and he also owns the following farms: one of 160 acres, one of eighty acres, one of forty acres, another of twenty acres, and some village property comprising fifteen acres of land, all his real estate amounting to 315 acres. Although all are worthy being presented to the reader by the artist, the view which accompanies this sketch, showing the home of Mr. Walvoord, will be of, perhaps, greatest interest.
   Mr. Walvoord has been twice married. His first wife, whose maiden name was Hendrikka Wubbles, died six weeks after the wedding, thus ending what had promised to be an exceedingly happy marriage. The present Mrs. Walvoord was formerly Miss Jane Kolstee. She was born in Holland, came to America when seventeen years old, and was married at the age of twenty-two. The pleasant married life of our subject and wife has been blessed to them by the birth of five children, namely: J. Hendrikka, Berendina, John C., Evedine and Garret J.
   Mr. Walvoord and his amiable wife are esteemed members of the Reformed Church of America, and. take an active part in the Sunday-school and every other good work of the church. Our subject is especially interested in all matters pertaining to education, and has helped the cause along in his district by his faithful discharge of his duties as a school officer, he having held every position on the board.

ENRY BURCHAM. The brave men who survived the war have as true sentiments of patriotism to-day as when they left the old home for the front of the battle-field. Wherever they are found, in all questions of National or State importance, their patriotism springs forth. It is not spasmodic in its action, blazing forth only as in a comet's erratic course, in times of public trial or danger, upon great occasions and influenced by great incentives, but it is as a rule of conduct constant, equable, incorruptible and enduring. Wealth cannot bribe it, power cannot reduce it, ambition cannot blind it, friendship cannot swerve it from justice, nor can fear intimidate it.
   Such are the qualifications of our subject that by right he is entitled to the highest encomium that can be passed upon patriotism and loyal devotion to his country; upon prosperity, the result of persistent hard work and good management; upon the most admirable of social qualities, mental cultiva-

tion and general public spirit. He is now engaged in the peaceful pursuits of farming, having his home on section 4, South Pass Precinct. His great-grandfather Burcham came from England in Colonial times, and his ancestry on the maternal side is English also. Grandfather Burcham served in the War of 1812, being loyal to the new country in which he expected to make his home. The father of our subject, McCarty Burcham, was born in North Carolina, and the mother, Elizabeth (Owens) Burcham, in Tennessee.
   McCarty Burcham was a mechanic and followed the cooper's trade. After his marriage in Tennessee he and his wife went to Indiana when there were but four or five log houses upon the spot where now stands the handsome city of Indianapolis. They settled near what is now known as Plainfield, and by industry and energy became very well-to-do. The mother died on the homestead in Indiana in 1870 at the age of seventy; the father survived her death but four years, having attained the ripe age of seventy-four years and five months. They had ten children, seven boys and three girls, Henry being the seventh child.
   Henry Burcham, our subject, was born on the 1st of August, 1844, in Hendricks County, Ind., where he grew up with the country, but like the first generation in any new State his educational advantages were quite limited. In those days the schools, such as they were, were supported by subscription, the master sometimes being a neighboring farmer whose education was sufficient to enable him to instruct the children of the community. Our subject matured early, and at the age of fifteen he had the physique of a large, strong man, blessed with good health, which the outdoor labor of farm life promoted. He engaged with Mr. Hornby for one year, and driving a team for his employer he accompanied him to Wapello County, Iowa, where he worked for one year and rather enjoyed his youthful pioneer experience.
   In the spring of 1861, when the war broke out, young Burcham went back to his home in Indiana, and enlisted with Company F, 13th Indiana Infantry, for three years. Like his father, imbued with the principles of the Whig party, he could not restrain his patriotism, and willingly offered himself as a sacrifice, if need be, for his country's defense, and with his strong, youthful arm determined to assist in protecting the stars and stripes. He was mustered into service at Indianapolis, Ind., and after being equipped for war he departed for West Virginia, where he for the first time encountered the Southern army at Rich Mountain. He fought bravely in his first encounter, and at the close of the eugagement, on the 11th of July, he had the satisfaction of enjoying the victory with Rosecrans. When McClellan was appointed General-in-Cheif he went boldly to the front, participating in the following battles in Virginia: Suffolk, Deserted Farm, Blackwater, Manchester, Green River, Petersburg and Cold Harbor, while he was also present in South Carolina at the sieges of Ft. Wagoner, Ft. Sumter and Ft. Gregg. At the last-named place he was taken seriously ill and was taken to Hilton Head Hospital, where he improved, but in order to give him an opportunity to recover the strength that had been spent he was sent home on a sixty-days furlough, during which time he recovered, and then joined his regiment at Cold Harbor.
   For gallant deeds of bravery and for having proved himself a faithful and able soldier, our subject was in 1862 promoted to the rank of Corporal, in which position he served until the close of the war. Although never severly wounded in battle, yet there were times when he barely escaped the closest call. Once at Suffolk a spent ball struck him in the breast, disabling him for a short while; at another time a musket ball grazed the top of his head, cutting his cap into pieces and stunning him so that he fell as if dead. In his last engagement before Petersburg his life was miraculously saved in this way: It was a very hot day and most of the "boys" had divested themselves of their knapsacks, but our subject thought he would keep his on. A piece of shell flying about struck him squarely on the back and was found imbedded in his blanket, and thus he was saved from instantaneous death, on the 16th of June, 1864. The fact of his retaining his knapsack seemed but a small matter, and yet it proved to be the means of saving his life.
   Being mustered out and honorably discharged, Mr. Burcham returned home to enjoy peace in the country free from war. But the noble young heart