in his prime, dying in 1860, when but forty years of age. The mother survived her husband a period of twenty-six years, remaining a widow, and died in the spring of 1886, at the age of sixty-seven years. They were the parents of four children--Caroline, Louisa, Carl and August. The latter died when about twenty years old. The others all survive. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Schacht served in the German army during the wars against the first Napoleon, and spent his last days upon his native soil.
   To our subject and his wife there have been born five children. one of whom, a son, Henry, died when two years old. The survivors, all daughters, Minnie, Louisa, Matilda and Emma, are at home with their parents. Both Mr. and Mrs. S. are members in good standing of the Evangelical Church. of Osage, in the organization of which our subject assisted, as also in the erection of the church building. He has continuously been one of its chief pillars, officiating as a member of the Board of Trustees and as Treasurer. Politically, he votes the straight Republican ticket, He has officiated in his district as School Moderator for the last three years, and Road Supervisor for two years.
   Mr. Schacht keeps from 150 to 300 head of cattle on his land, and ships by the carload. He usually keeps a herd of 500 head of swine, shipping about 200 yearly. Of horses and mules he has usually about twenty-five head. These animals are all sleek and well-fed, and form one of the attractive features of the farm. The passing traveler gazes long at this homestead with its evidences of thrift and prosperity, and carries away with him a picture of it in his mind for many a day afterward.

AVID BEASLEY. Otoe County has within its borders many who are engaged in the raising of stock, and by reason of their success therein have every right to be justly proud of their success. Among these may be mentioned the subject of this writing, whose stock farm is upon section 1 of Belmont Precinct, where he gives almost his entire attention to the raising of Short-horn cattle and full-blooded Poland-China hogs, with magnificent results.
   Our subject was born in Greenfield, Ohio, on the 29th of December, 1817, to Isaac and Susana Beasley, natives of Kentucky. His father was a soldier in the War of 1812, and served with distinction; subsequently he became one of the first pioneers of Ohio. In 1819, with his family, he removed to Rush County, Ind., settling there in the midst of the primeval forest, surrounded by the original denizens and Indians. In 1827 the family emigrated to Illinois, but the following year returned to Indiana, making their home in Montgomery County. In July of that year the death of the father occurred.
   The surroundings of our subject in the days of his boyhood and youth were of somewhat primitive order, but quite in keeping with the pioneer life of that period. The school-house where his early education was obtained was rough, and as we would suppose, inadequate to meet the case. It was just such a log cabin as was usually found at that time, although now it has become an unknown quantity, or almost so.
   The settlement of Mr. Beasley upon his present property dates from August of the year 1864. He is the owner of 179 acres of splendid land, where, however, as mentioned above, his chief attention is given to his stock, although some general farming also receives attention. His Short-horns are all of high grade, and many of them almost pure, and his herd numbers twenty-five. His hogs are perhaps, the best in the country, some of them weighing as much as 500 pounds, and he could easily obtain the premium if it were his desire to enter them in an exhibition of stock.
   On the 22d of March, 1839, the subject of our sketch was united in marriage with Elizabeth Johnson, who was the daughter of Thomas Johnson, and was born in Maryland, near Harper's Ferry. She received a careful home training and manifested a most beautiful disposition, and noble, womanly character, and after a happy married life of thirty-eight years, died on the 5th of February, 1877. There were born to Mr. and Mrs. Beasley sixteen children; the sexes were equally represented in the family, but only the following members of it are

now living: Harriet, Richard J., Mary E., Amanda, Eliza Ann, Thomas, William, Susan C., Margaret and John (twins), Lewis and Mollie, all of whom are married. Mr. Beasley has thirty-eight grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
   Mr. and Mrs. Beasley united with the Methodist Church in their early years. Mrs. Beasley was a consistent and devout member of that communion for over forty years, and our subject still retains his connection therewith. He is ever ready to take up any responsibility that comes to him as a citizen, and usually deposits his ballot in favor of the Republican party. His first vote was for William H. Harrison.
   Among the portraits of leading citizens given in this volume may be found that of Mr. Beasley, and as a fitting, companion picture we present that of his estimable wife.

EV. JOSIAH RITTER, a minister of the Lutheran Church, and a farmer of ripe experience, is now living retired from active labor upon the homestead where he settled in April, 1868. This is pleasantly located on section 25, in McWilliams Precinct, and forms one of the most desirable homesteads along the southern line of Otoe County. This, when coming into the possession of our subject, was an uncultivated tract of land, but now presents a fine illustration of the results of resolute industry and good management. It comprises 260 acres, which have been brought to a careful state of cultivation, and upon which has been erected a set of substantial frame buildings, including a roomy and comfortable residence, a good sized barn, and the other structures required for the proper care of stock and the storing of grain. Mr. Ritter raises good grades of cattle and other stock, and has always taken pride in the appearance of his homestead, keeping everything up in good shape and not permitting more than necessary waste or loss.
   The early home of our subject was in the little Kingdom of Wurtemberg, Germany, March 8,1823. His father, Gottlieb Ritter, was a vineyard keeper and wine-maker, and spent his entire life in his native land, passing away at the ripe old age or eighty-two years. The mother, Mrs. Doretha Ritter, also of German birth and ancestry, died about 1875, prior to the death of her husband. Josiah, of our sketch, was the elder of their two sons, the other being Gottlieb, Jr., who still remains in his native country.
   Our subject, in common with the children of Germany, received a thorough education and lived in his native town until 1849, being then a man of twenty-six years. In the fall of that year he crossed the Atlantic, and taking up his residence in Toledo, Ohio, engaged in the ministry. There, also, Nov. 12, 1851, he was married to Miss Christiana D. Swartz, also a native of Wurtemberg, and the playmate of his younger years. They were betrothed before Mr. Ritter came to America, and she passed from earth after having been the faithful and affectionate companion of her husband for a period of eleven years. In the meantime Mr. Ritter had taken up his residence in Bureau County, Ill., and he and his estimable wife had become the parents of three children, one of whom, a daughter, was taken away after the death of the mother. The two living are sons, Frederick and Adolph, the former a resident of California, and the latter married, and a farmer of Rock Creek Precinct.
   Mr. Ritter, Oct. 24, 1862, contracted a second matrimonial alliance at Caledonia, Racine Co., Wis., with Mrs. Charlotte (Strangman) Weinmann. This lady is a native of Westphalia, Germany, and born May 24, 1828. She came to the United States in the summer of 1845, and was married in Racine, Wis., in 1852, to Rev. John Weinmann, a minister of the Lutheran Church. Mr. and Mrs. Weinmann settled in Baltimore after their marriage. Mr. Weinmann, in 1858 crossed the Atlantic to his native home in Germany, and when ready to return home took passage on the ill-fated ship "Austria," which when two days' journey from New York City was destroyed by fire, September 13, and all on board, perished. Mrs. Weinmann, in her widowhood, was left with one daughter, Lydia, who is now the wife of August Engfer, and lives in Red Wing, Minn.
   After their marriage our subject and his present wife took up their residence in Bureau County, Ill., and Mr. Ritter had charge of the German Lutheran