windmills, and made more thorough improvements than are to be found on many Western farms. As his means have allowed he has purchased other land, until his home farm comprises 320 acres, and he has besides two farms in Tipton Precinct, Cass Co., Neb., one of 120 acres and another of 160 acres. Besides carrying on farming on an extensive scale, Mr. Stopher deals largely in stock, buying and feeding cattle, and shipping them to Omaha, where he always finds a ready market. He also raises hogs of a fine breed, having as many as 200 at the present time. On his home farm may be seen many fine cattle of the Durham stock, and also a large number of horses of fine grades.
   The marriage of Mr. Stopher and Miss Hannah Hogan was solemnized in Princeton, Iowa, Jan. 17, 1867. Her parents, Hiram and Susan (Reynolds) Hogan, were born respectively in Cambridge, Washington Co., N. Y. in 1800, and in Haybridge, Adams Co., Vt., in 1807, being of Irish and Scotch origin. Both her paternal and maternal grandfathers served in the Revolutionary War seven years, her grandfather Hogan having been cut down with a sabre and left for dead, but subsequently recovered. Mr. and Mrs. Hogan were married in the State of New York, but shortly afterward removed to Indiana, where he worked at carpentering one year. In 1845 they removed to Canada, and he worked at his trade there for several years. In 1865 he emigrated with his family to Scott County, Iowa, where he remained until the spring of 1871. Desiring then to establish himself in a permanent home he came to Nebraska and pre-empted a claim of eighty acres in Cass County, which he proved up and converted into a fine farm, remaining there until his death in September, 1878. Mrs. Hogan died during their residence in Canada, July 16, 1851. To them had been born eight children, as follows: Janet, Solomon, Melancton S., Leonard, Harvey and Levi, all deceased; Hannah and Ozial. The wife of our subject was born in Ontario County, N. Y., Aug. 25, 1840. She received a good education, and taught school with success previous to her marriage. Of her union with Mr. Stopher seven children have been born, namely: Edward, Frank, Belle, Hattie, Walter, John and Minnie. Belle is attending school at Crete, Neb., and Frank is on a ranch in Lamar, Wyo.
   Mr. Stopher is well and favorably known throughout the county, being one of its most influential and prominent citizens. He has a fine physique, is tall and well formed, has a commanding figure, and with an intellect equally well developed, he is a worthy representative of the highest class of manhood, and a man of whom his fellow-citizens are justly proud. Mrs. Stopher is a refined, well-educated matron, having all the attributes of a noble woman, and presides with much grace over the hospitable home of herself and husband. Our subject takes a warm interest in educational matters, and has served for twelve years on the School Board. He is a member of the G. A. R., Kenesaw Post No. 123, at Elmwood, being a charter member, and is at present commander. He is likewise a member of the A. O. U. W. at Elmwood. In politics he is a straight Republican, fearlessly expressing his opinions at all times, and has been a delegate to county and State conventions. Religiously, Mrs. Stopher is a communicant at the Methodist Episcopal Church.

ETER COON was one of the very earliest settlers of Centre Precinct, as when he settled here in 1867, he and his brother were the only residents of this part of the county for awhile (sic). Our subject early identified himself with the agricultural interests of Cass County, and is now a prosperous grain and stock raiser, with a fine farm on section 20, township 11, range 11. When he first became the possessor of this place it was in a state of nature, forming part of an extensive, wild prairie, and on this prairie, where since have sprung up valuable farms, he broke the first furrow and set out the first tree.
   Peter Coon, Sr., the father of our subject, was born in New York, either in Columbia or Dutchess County. He received a good practical education in his native State, and was there married to Miss Elizabeth Wheeler, and there, in their home in Columbia County, a family of nine children, all of whom grew to maturity, was born to them. In

1837 Mr. Coon disposed of his farming interests in New York, and moved with his family to Luzerne County, Pa., and there lived on a farm until his death in 1843, when scarcely past the prime of live, at the age of forty-five years, five months and eleven days, he having been born in 1798. His widow survived him and married again, living until about 1878, in Nebraska.
   The subject of this sketch was born in Columbia County, N. Y., Aug. 31, 1838, and lived in the place of his birth until he was four years of age, when his parents moved to Pennsylvania. He acquired a sound education in the common schools, and at the age of twenty-two left home and made his way to LaSalle County, Ill., and was there engaged in farming for twelve years. April 6, 1865, he enlisted in defense of his country, and served until the close of the war as a member of Company C, 104th Illinois Infantry. He was in the Army of the Cumberland under Gen. Sherman, and was honorably discharged July 12, 1865. In 1867 Mr. Coon concluded to invest the money that he had made in farming in Illinois in Nebraska land, and came here with his family for that purpose. He lived for a year in Weeping Water, and in the meantime looked about for a suitable location, and finally selected a tract of eighty acres of land now included in the present homestead. He also owned an 80-acre farm a mile to the east, and a farm in Clay County, but he has since sold them to use the funds in other ways. His present farm was at the time that he took possession uncultivated prairie, but by hard labor and wise management he has improved it into one of the best places for miles around. It is ornamented by a beautiful grove of five acres of forest trees, and a good orchard, and he has built a fine house, that would grace any Eastern village, it being a model of taste and convenience, 22 x 28 feet in demensions (sic), two stories in height and an L. It was one of the first good houses erected in this locality. The farm is highly cultivated, and our subject raises a large amount of grain and a good deal of stock of high grades.
   Mr. Coon in early manhood, while still living in Pennsylvania, took upon himself a wife in the person of Phoebe A. Bennett, their union being consummated in December 1854. To them the following children have been born: Sarah Alice, Mary Rosella, George Edwin, Katie Belle, Henry Everton, Frederick Eugene. Sarah Alice married Aaron Jenkins, of Cass County, and they have two children, Walter and Charles; Mary married Charles Bouton, and now lives in Cheyenne County; they have one child, Lloyd E. The remainder of the children are at home, and have been given good educational advantages. Mrs. Coon was born in New York, May 27, 1833, and lived there until about fifteen years ago, when she accompanied her parents, Hezekiah and Sally (Flint) Bennett, to Pennsylvania. Her father was a shoemaker by trade, and he died in his Pennsylvania home. His widow is still living in Dundaff, Susquehanna County. She reared a family of six children. Mrs. Coon has been a faithful wife and a loving mother. She looks well to the ways of her household, and to her co-operation our subject is undoubtedly greatly indebted for his prosperity.
   Mr. Coon is a man of sterling common sense and a good capacity for business. He has always been deeply interested in the welfare of his adopted county and township, and has done what he could to further their advancement. He has not taken part in public affairs, excepting as a member of a local school board. He is a firm believer in the policy of the Republican party, and always casts his vote in its favor.

LIAS SAGE. Adjacent to the city of Plattsmouth is one of the pleasantest homes in the northeastern part of this county, situated on a rise of ground overlooking a goodly portion of the surrounding country and especially of the town. This has been the abiding-place of the subject of this sketch for the last nineteen years, who became a resident of Nebraska in the fall of 1858. A native of the Empire State, he was born in Lewis County, April 17, 1820, and is the son of Harvey Sage, who, it is believed, was born near Copenhagen, N. Y., in 1794.
   Our subject was named after his paternal grandfather, Elias Sage, Sr., a native of Sandisfield, Mass.,

and born in 1759. The latter was the son of Samuel Sage, who was the son of Nathaniel Sage, the latter born in Connecticut, in 1707, and a son of John Sage. The last-named gentleman was the son of David Sage, a native of Wales, who crossed the Atlantic about 1652, thirty years after the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers. He settled in Middletown, Conn., where he spent the remainder of his days, and the stone marking his grave is still standing in Riverside Cemetery, on the banks of the Connecticut River.
   This David Sage was married in February, 1664, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of John Kirby. His great-great-grandson, Elias, the grandfather of our subject, left New England probably when a young man, and settled in New York State during the pioneer days of Lewis County. His occupation as an agriculturist was interrupted by the War of 1812, during which he shouldered his musket and hastened to the defense of his country. After the British had been again driven from American soil he resumed farming in Lewis County, and there, spent the remainder of his days.
   Harvey Sage, the father of our subject, served by the side of his honored sire in the War of 1812 when quite a youth, and for his services was given a land warrant, which Elias purchased after his removal to Nebraska. He was reared a farmer like his forefathers, and upon reaching manhood purchased land in the vicinity of Denmark, Lewis Co., N. Y., upon which he operated until 1844. That year, leaving the Empire State, he emigrated to the vicinity of Fulton, Whiteside Co., Ill., making the journey overland with teams. He purchased a farm four miles northeast of the town of Fulton, when the small village of Chicago, 170 miles distant, was the nearest market for grain. The round trip occupied about ten days, and the present flourishing city of the West contained only a few thousand souls. In 1856 Harvey Sage sold out his farm property and retired from active labor, taking up his abode at a snug home in Pekin, Ill., where he resided with his children until his death, which occurred Jan. 7, 1882.
   The mother of our subject was in her childhood Miss Elizabeth Hager, and was born in Schoharie County, N. Y., where she spent her childhood and youth. She passed away at the home of her husband at the farm near Fulton, Ill., about 1848. The parental family consisted of five children, who are recorded as follows: Warren was born June 14, 1814, and came to Plattsmouth, Neb., from Illinois about 1865, where he engaged in farming, and died about 1872; Bernard was born April 5, 1816, and died in Ypsilanti, Mich., about 1884; Henry was born March 22, 1818, and resides in Auburn, this State; Sarah Maria became the wife of Orvilla Cutler, and died at Carthage, N. Y., some years ago.
   Our subject was the youngest son of his parents, and was reared to man's estate in his native county. He acquired his education in the common schools, and began teaching when nineteen years old, following this profession during the winter season, while in summer he was occupied on the farm. In May, 1843, he made his way to Whiteside County, Ill., and purchased a quarter-section of land near the town of Fulton. There had been brought to a very good state of cultivation about 100 acres of this land, and upon it were log buildings which he was enabled to utilize for a few years until he could substitute better. He still continued teaching and farming alternately, and continued a resident of that county until the fall of 1858. Then, selling out, he removed to Pekin and changed his occupation to that of milling.
   Subsequently, desiring to see the country west of the Mississippi, Mr. Sage made his way to Nebraska Territory via the Illinois and Mississippi rivers to St. Louis, thence by steamer to St. Mary's, and landed in Plattsmouth twenty-one days after starting from St. Louis. Plattsmouth was then a hamlet of perhaps 100 souls, with two stores. The settlements in the Territory were confined principally to the neighborhood of the river, the land a few miles back being still owned by the Government and occupied by Indians. Deer were plentiful, and a few miles west, in the southwestern part of the Territory, buffaloes were frequently seen roaming over the county.
   Mr. Sage first rented a tract of land near the present city limits, upon which he operated one year, and in 1860 started out with a company to cross the plains, and twenty-eight days later, on the lst of May, they arrived upon the present site of Den-

ver, Col., there being then little indication of the present important and flourishing city. Mr. Sage, in company with others, went into the mountains and prospected for a time, but not finding gold, returned to Plattsmouth in September following, and has since been a resident of this city.
   Our subject, while having his residence within the city, improved a tract of school land three miles out, and was principally occupied at this for four years. The outbreak of the Rebellion then furnished unlooked-for employment, as in October, 1862, he enlisted in Company H, 2d Nebraska Cavalry, and repaired to the frontier in quest of Indians, and served fourteen months and twenty days in the West and Northwest. At the expiration of his term of enlistment he received his honorable discharge and returned home.
   After resuming the peaceful pursuits of a civilian our subject put up a house on his farm, but otherwise turned his attention in a different direction, and became agent for the Haines Harvester, in the interest of which he traveled over a large part of Nebraska and Western Iowa. He was thus employed until the fall of 1883, but in the meantime in March 1870, purchased his present home, which comprises a tract of land twenty-nine acres in extent, and which is mostly devoted to the raising of small fruits, which find a ready market at Omaha. His land joins the corporation and is consequently quite valuable.
   While a resident of New York Mr. Sage was married, Oct. 14, 1841, to Miss Eliza A. Wright, who was born in Vermont, and died at Fulton, Ill., Sept. 8, 1853. Of this union there was born three children, who are still living: Eugene H. is a resident of Maywood, Frontier County, this State; Harvey W. is occupied at the tinning business in Plattsmouth, and Amelia, the wife of E. T. Duke, lives at Omaha. Mr. Sage contracted a second marriage, April 21, 1855, with Mrs. Carrie Potter. She is the daughter of William Chambers. This lady was born in Troy, N. Y., May 9, 1828. Her father was a native of the city of Troy, and the paternal grandfather, Leonard Chambers, was a native of Ireland, whence he emigrated to America early in life, settling in Troy, N. Y., where he spent his last days.
   William Chambers was reared in his native State, New York, and married Miss Elizabeth Sage, who was born in Connecticut, and traced her forefathers direct to David Sage, who was prominent in the early history of New England. Both parents died in New York State. The present wife of our subject was first married in Jefferson County, N. Y., in 1851, to Samuel E. Potter. The latter was born in Steuben County, and was the son of John S. and Lydia M. Potter. He died in Champion, that county, March 25, 1853. Of this marriage there was born one child, a daughter, Nellie, who became the wife of J. S. Burnett, and they are now residents of Maywood, Frontier County, this State. In politics Mr. Sage is a good Republican.

ON. FRANCIS M. RICHEY, formerly a prominent resident of Union County, Iowa, is now one of the leading citizens of the city of Plattsmouth, where he is extensively engaged in the lumber business, and he is also at the head of public affairs as Mayor of this municipality. He was born in Franklin County, Ohio, ten miles west of Columbus, the State capital, May 11, 1841. On his father's side of the house he is derived from an honorable Irish ancestry, his grandfather, John Richey, having been born in Eastern Pennsylvania. His parents came to America in Colonial times, and fought with the Colonists in their struggle for independence during the Revolutionary War. He subsequently settled in Erie County, Pa., but he afterward moved from there to Muskingum County, Ohio, where he spent his last years.
   His son, Welsh Richey, the father of our subject, was born in Erie County, Pa., and was there reared. He removed from his native State of Ohio, and first lived in Muskingum County, and later made his home in Franklin County. He erected a woolen mill and operated a carding-machine, but that venture proved a financial failure, and he lost all his property. He then returned to Muskingum County with his family, and resided there until 1854. He was an ambitious man, and hoping to improve his fortunes, in that year he started westward to locate in Iowa, the removal being made overland with teams. He became a prominent pioneer of Union

County, where he pre-empted a tract of Government land in April, 1855, lying three miles from the present site of Afton, the greater part of the land in that part of the country being owned by the United States, and for sale at the price of $1.25 an acre. The first house was built in Afton the spring that he bought his land, there not being many white settlers in that vicinity, but there were 2,000 Indians making their home there. Deer and other wild game roamed at will over the wild, uncultivated prairies. There being no railroads west of the Mississippi at that time, all the stock, hogs and cattle had to be driven to Burlington for shipment. Mr. Richey commenced to improve his farm, first erecting a log cabin to shelter his family. In 1857 death crossed the threshold of that humble abode, and the father and husband was no more. The mother of our subject was his fourth wife, and to them were born three children. Her maiden name was Sarah McClurg, and she was a native of Pennsylvania. She survived her husband many years, dying in Afton in 1880.
   The subject of this sketch was thirteen years old when he accompanied his parents to Iowa, and he remembers well the incidents of the journey and of pioneer life after settlement. He had attended the public schools in his native place in Ohio, and after the removal to Iowa he became a pupil in the primitive pioneer schools of that period. After his father's death he assisted his elder brother in the improvement of the old homestead, and continued to reside with his mother until he was twenty-one. He then started out in the world to see what he could make of life on his own account. He secured a situation with the Western Stage Company to drive a stage from Afton to Chariton, a distance of sixty miles. He continued thus engaged for a year, and then commenced teaming from Eddyville (then the western terminus of the railway) to Afton. In the spring of 1863 he came to the Territory of Nebraska, and starting from Plattsmouth with a load of freight, drove across the plains, making the round trip in seventy days. He then went back to Afton and resumed his business of freighting. He was widely and favorably known throughout that part of the State where he had made his home since boyhood, his frank and genial manners making him popular with all classes of men, and his keenness, promptitude, and decision of character, securing their respect, so that when he was proposed for the responsible office of Sheriff of Union County, in 1868, he received the hearty support of his fellow-citizens, and was elected; and so well were his constituents satisfied with his able and vigorous managment (sic) of the duties devolving upon him that he was three times re-elected, serving four terms. In 1879 he settled on a farm in Dodge Township, Union County, and engaged in agricultural pursuits for a few years. In 1880 he was again called from his seclusion to enter public life, his fellow-citizens having elected him to represent Union County in the State Legislature. His course as a member of that honorable body marked him as a wise and sensible legislator, who had the best interests of his country at heart. Among the more important committees on which he served we may mention the Railway Committee and that of compensation for Public Officers. In 1882 Mr. Richey settled up his affairs in Iowa preparatory to taking up his residence in this State. Ever since then he has been engaged in the lumber business in the city of Plattsmouth, and has built up an extensive and flourishing trade. His large business interests have brought him in contact with many people, and he is well known throughout the county, and none know him but to respect and esteem him, alike for his social and manly qualities.
   Mr. Richey was married, in 1865, to Miss Paulina Dickinson, a native of Will County, Ill. Seven children were born to them - May, Lou, Frank, Charles, Fannie, Emma, and Bertha. In September, 1885, the pleasant household of our subject sustained a sad loss in the death of the beloved wife and mother, a lady of rare merit, whose admirable traits of character had gained her many warm friends in this city.
   Mr. Richey has always been a stanch Republican in his political sentiments, having cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln. During his residence here he has been a conspicuous figure in the public life of the city, his fellow-citizens gladly availing themselves of his sagacity, knowledge of affairs and wide experience, to assist them in the

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government of the municipality. Twice he has been elected to the important office of Mayor, first 1885 and again in 1888, so that he is the present incumbent of the mayoralty. All agree that under his able administration the city has never been better governed, was never more prosperous. or never had more encouraging prospects for future development. Our subject is prominently identified with the I. O. O. F., having joined the order in Afton, in 1873.

ARRY TREAT, well known throughout Cass County as one of its early settlers, is a representative farmer and prominent citizen of Centre Precinct, living just outside the city limits of Weeping Water, where he settled in June, 1860. He is well informed on all matters pertaining to the township, and from him we learn the source of its poetic name. The legend runs as follows: A beautiful Indian maiden was captured, heart and body, by the brave chief of a hostile tribe. The Pawnees, to which tribe she belonged, hurried in pursuit, and a battle took place on the banks of the stream, in which all the braves of that tribe were killed. The tears shed by the maids and widows, thus bereft of lovers and husbands, caused the stream to break forth, which was named Nebrawka, meaning in our language Weeping Water.
   Garry Treat, Sr., father of our subject, was born June 19, 1799, in Orange, Conn., where he was reared and educated. He was married in Tallmadge, Summit Co., Ohio, to Mary T. Woodruff. She was also a native of Connecticut, where her birth occurred in 1805. The farming country of the undeveloped West seemed to offer especial advantages to the father of our subject, and he accordingly changed his location to Tallmadge, Ohio. where he was married as above stated, and where he died in April, 1847, while yet in the prime of life. His widow and her family of little ones continued to live on the farm several years.
   In the spring of 1860 Garry Treat, Jr., the subject of our sketch, following in the footsteps of his father, pushed on farther West to look for a new and better location. With a horse and carriage, and a little dog for company, he left the Ohio homestead, and after traveling one month came to Weeping Water, then a small hamlet of less than half a dozen log houses. The whole population consisted of the families of Messrs. Reed, Wolcott, Taylor, and two other men who have since gone to their long rest. Mr. Treat took up 240 acres of unimproved land on section 35, township 11, range 11, on which were a small log house and a well of water. He at once commenced the improvement of his land.
   After securing his land Mr. Treat went to Tabor, Iowa, where he enlisted in defense of the Union in August, 1863, becoming a member of Company B, 29th Iowa Infantry. He served in the Western Department, and took an active part in several engagements. At the battle of Spoonville, Kan., he was wounded in the leg, which soon swelled to twice its original size, and being overlooked by the surgeons of the Union Army, he was captured by the rebels, and held several days on the field near Jenkins' Ferry. He was then taken to a rebel prison in Princeton, Ark,, and for a month was in the rebel hospital there; thence with 100 other prisoners he was removed to Camden, and confined in a common prison, a building that had formerly been used as an auction prison for slaves. There he remained five months, barely subsisting on the maggotty pork, stale meat, and crusts of moldy bread doled out to him. From there he was taken to Tyler, Tex., and was kept in a small stockade for four months with 3,000 other prisoners. Mr. Treat was paroled after an imprisonment aggregating ten months of suffering, Feb. 15, 1864, and ten days later was delivered at the mouth of the Red River to Union officials. The moment that his eyes beheld the stars and stripes on that occasion will ever be remembered as the happiest one of his life. Our subject next went to New Orleans as a paroled prisoner, and three or four weeks later, his time having nearly expired, he was given a furlough and sent up the river to St. Louis, whence he proceeded to Clinton, Iowa, where he received an honorable discharge June 5, 1865.
   Before returning to his home Mr. Treat visited Tabor, Iowa, to fulfill a previous engagement, that of marriage with Miss Catherine Hanley, a successful teacher in some of the public schools in the