rectly westward, first to Chicago, Ill., thence to Milwaukee, Wis.; finding mothing (sic) desirable in the latter place he returned to the Garden City and entered the employ of the Illinois Central Railroad company. That same fall he migrated southwestward to St. Louis, MO., where he employed himself in farming and carpentering, and finally purchased land across the river in St. Clair County, Ill. Upon this he farmed a few years. then sold out and turned his attention for a time once more to his trade, operating as a contractor until his removal to this State.
   Our subject was married in St. Clair County, Ill., Sept. 20, 1855, to Miss Anna. daughter of Rudolph and Margaret (Huber) Herder. The parents of Mrs. Umland were natives of Switzerland, and the father a farmer by occupation. They emigrated to America in 1854, settling in St. Clair County, Ill., where the father died in 1856 at the age of fifty-nine years. The mother only survived her husband seven years, her death taking place also in St. Clair County. when she was sixty-two years old. The four children of the parental family were named respectively; Jacob and Rudolph, who died young; Abraham, a resident of Lancaster County, Neb., and Anna, the wife of our subject.
   Mrs. Umland was born in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland, Aug. 25, 1833, near the foot of the Alps. She lived there until a young lady, of twenty-one years old, her childhood days being passed amid the most beautiful scenery in the World. In setting sail for America she embarked with her parents at Havre, France, on the sailing-vessel "Horteasia," which five weeks later landed them in the city of New Orleans. Thence they made their way to St. Clair County, Ill.
   The parents of our subject were natives of Prussia, and the father a gardener by occupation. He was an honest, hard-working man, and spent his entire life in his native country, dying in 1835 at the age of sixty-two years. The mother had passed away eight years before, in 1827. The family included three children: Hannah, who died when small; Ernestina, a resident of Wisconsin, and Henry, of our sketch.
   Mr. and Mrs. Umland there have been born three sons and three daughters, namely: Eliza, Jacob, Rudolph, William, Annie and Sophia. The five younger children are living at home with their parents, and are being carefully trained and educated. Eliza is the wife of Allen Crabtree, a well. to-do farmer of Tipton Precinct, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume. Our subject and his wife are members in good standing of the German Evangelical Church, and Mr. Umland is it very strong Republican.
   The Umland estate includes in all 500 acres of land, mostly on section 19. Mr. Umland had originally twenty more, which he sold some time since. The home farm embraces eighty acres on section 30, and to it there has been given very careful cultivation, so that it is in a highly productive condition. The buildings are neat and substantial, and include a very attractive residence, which with its surroundings fulfills the modern idea of a country home. A stream of living water runs through the farm, and there are groves, orchards, and trees of the smaller fruits. Mr. Umland makes a specialty of stock-raising, keeping usually fourteen head of horses besides the teams operating on the farm, and has full blooded Durham and graded cattle.

OHN W. McDERMED. The subject of this sketch, one of the younger citizens of Avoca Precinct, presents an example of enterprise and industry which it would be well for many others to follow. He is the son of an excellent family, and has succeeded to the homestead which was land taken up from the Government and improved by his father. This property consists of 160 acres, which was secured by the elder McDermed when in a state of comparative wildness. It is pleasantly located on section 20, and remains the home of the mother and part of the family, whose interests are carefully looked after by the subject of this sketch. Alfred McDermed departed this life Sept. 2, 1885, at the age of fifty-seven years.
   Our subject was born in Peoria County, Ill., Oct. 9, 1857. He was a lad of nine years when his father came with the family to Nebraska in the fall of 1866. They located first in Mt. Pleasant Precinct, this county, where the father began operat-

ing on rented land, and by patient industry and close economy saved sufficient money so that he was enabled to make a purchase in 1870. His life thereafter was that of a peaceable and law-abiding citizen, a man careful and conscientious in his dealings with his neighbors, indulgent and liberal with his family, and in all respects a praiseworthy citizen.
   Alfred McDermed was born in Maysville, Ky., of a respectable family of Scotch ancestry, and leaving the blue grass regions settled in Illinois when a single man. He employed himself in the Prairie State as a farm laborer, and in due time was married in Peoria County to Miss Elizabeth McFarland. The mother of our subject was a native of Ireland, and was born May 1, 1830. She lived in the "land of the shamrock" until a young girl of fourteen years, when she came to America with her sister. Her father came with his family to the United States later, and they lived for a time in the city of Philadelphia, Pa. Later the parents removed to Illinois, after which Elizabeth joined them, where she grew to womanhood with them until her marriage.
   To Mr. and Mrs. McDermed there were born eight children. The eldest daughter, Maggie, is the wife of J. W. Sperry, a well-to-do citizen of Avoca Precinct, and whose biography appears elsewhere in this volume; Orlester married Miss Ida Davis, of this county, and is engaged at labor in Weeping Water; John W., of our sketch, was the third child and is still unmarried; Hester died when about twenty-two years old; Mattie is the wife of Joseph Malcolm, a miller by trade, and they live in Ashland, Saunders County; George is a skillful barber, and is operating successfully at Union, this county; Mary L. died in September, 1886, aged twenty years; Frank remains at home. Mrs. McDermed is a very estimable lady, and was ever the faithful and efficient helpmate of her husband in his best labors and ambitions. She is held in the most tender respect by all her children, and universally spoken well of by her neighbors.
   John W. McDermed has been familiar with farming pursuits from his boyhood up, and is managing the homestead successfully and with excellent results. Like his father before him, politically, he is a stanch Democrat, as are all the sons. The parents formerly belonged to the Methodist Church, but there being no society of that denomination in this part of the county they identified themselves with the Baptists. The family occupy a good position socially in their community. and the homestead is numbered among the other well-regulated estates of Cass County.

ULIUS SACKS is operating successfully on a good farm located on the northeast corner of section 18 in Tipton Precinct. He may most properly be ranked among the early pioneers, having been one of the first to take up a homestead in this region. Although of German birth and parentage. and having only six months' schooling in America, he speaks the English language fluently, and is at once recognized as a man more than ordinarily intelligent. He is held in high esteem by the people of his neighborhood, and gives his aid and influence to those enterprises calculated for the educational and moral advancement of the community.
   Our subject is the son of Carl G. and Christiana Sacks, who like him were been in the Prussian Province of Saxony, and spent their entire lives in the Fatherland. Carl Sacks was a finely educated man and a teacher by profession. He followed this from the age of twenty years until he was fifty, then purchased 100 acres of land, and thereafter occupied himself in agriuultural (sic) pursuits until his death, which took place in September, 1882, after he had arrived at the advanced age of eighty-one years. The mother had preceded her husband to the silent land twenty-seven years, her death taking place in 1855. Both were members of the Lutheran Church.
   To the parents of our subject there were born ten children, eight of whom lived to mature years. They were named respectively: Emily, Pauline; Ida, who died when twenty-two years old; Gustave, who died at the age of thirty; Antonia, Albert, Carl, Francis, Emma and Julius.
   It will thus be seen that our subject was the youngest of the parental family. His brother Albert entered the army upon reaching manhood,

during the war between France and Germany, serving until the close of the struggle. Julius was placed in school at the early age of five years and gave his attention quite closely to his studies until a youth of fourteen. He remained a member of the parental household until twenty years of age, then, having learned much from reading and hearsay of the opportunities for the enterprising young man in America, he determined to come hither. Accordingly, bidding adieu to his old friends and associations, he embarked at Hamburg on the steamer "Germania," and after being tossed about the Atlantic two weeks, landed in New York City. His destination, however, was the Western country, and he soon placed himself this side of the Mississippi, working on a farm in Stevens Creek Precinct, Lancaster County, this State.
   After a sojourn there of one year, during which he had attended a district school six months, Mr. Sacks pre-empted his present homestead in order to hold it, not being of the required age to settle on it. He commenced finally its improvement by putting up a sod house with a board roof, the latter material being hauled from Nebraska City. He then set about breaking the prairie, and after getting in his first crops began planting trees, both of fruit and forest, and has now two acres in a good orchard and that indispensable institution -- a wind-break.
   The crops of 1874 were destroyed by grasshoppers; those of 1875 by hail; and in 1876 the farmers of Southern Nebraska suffered from drouth. Since that time crops have been uniformly good and Mr. Sacks has had little reason to complain. In the spring of 1871 he purchased forty acres adjoining, which, like the balance, is now improved, laid off with substantial fencing, and yields bountifully the rich crops of this region. The land is watered by the south branch of Camp Creek. Our subject in addition to general farming makes a specialty of fine stock, Clydesdale and Norman horses, Durham cattle and Poland swine.
   Mr. Sacks was married in the city of Lincoln, July 22, 1874, to Miss Caroline Drees. This lady was born in April, 1856, in what was then the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, and came to America with her parents in 1868. Of this union there have been born five children, namely: Albert, who died when sixteen months old; Julius, Jr., deceased; Stevens, Julius, Jr., (2d) and Walter. The eldest of these is ten years old and the youngest six.
   Mr. Sacks has become thoroughly identified with American institutions, and in meeting him and conversing with him there is little to indicate that he is otherwise than a native-born American. He keeps himself well posted in regard to current events, and is entirely in sympathy with the Republican party, with which he became identified on coming to this country. A self-made man in every respect, his has been a career marked with industry, perseverance, and all the qualities which go to make up a complete manhood and a worthy citizenship.

ILLIAM EIKENBARY, who is one of the sturdy pioneers of 1856, landed here May 15, and cast his lot with the early settlers of Cass County when it was taking its first onward steps toward the important position it now occupies as one of the leading and most influential counties of the State. He is a native of Indiana, born in Union County, Feb. 26, 1833. He is of German descent, his paternal grandfather, William Eikenbary, a German, having married a lady of the same nationality as himself. After residing in Germany several years, they emigrated to America, and settled in Virginia, thence went to Indiana, and there spent the remainder of their lives. They had a large family of children, consisting of fourteen sons and one daughter.
   Samuel Eikenbary, father of our subject, was one of the younger sons, and was born during the residence of his parents in Virginia. He was reared on his father's farm in Indiana, and after attaining his majority was married in Union County to Martha Crawford. She was of Scotch ancestry, and was born in Indiana. Her parents were early settlers of Union County, where they carried on farming, and both died, respected and honored, at a ripe old age. Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Eikenbary settled on a farm in Union County at the time of their. marriage, and continued to live there until after the birth of five of their children. In 1837

they removed to Des Moines County, Iowa, and established themselves on a farm eleven miles west of Burlington, and there the remaining four of their children were born. In the fall of 1856 they pushed on still farther west, and coming to Nebraska located two miles south of Plattsmouth, where the father of our subject pre-empted a homestead and lived until his death, in 1869, at the age of threescore and six years. His wife survived him, dying in 1871, at the age of sixty-five years. Religiously, they were associated with the Dunkards until their removal to Nebraska, when they became communicants of the Christian Church, and died in that faith. They were worthy people, held in high respect by the community for their many good qualities. In politics he was a firm Republican, and had the courage of his opinions.
   The subject of this personal narrative was only four years old when he went with his parents to Iowa, therefore his earliest recollections are of his home in that State. He received an excellent education, attending school in the town in which his father settled, and later at Mt. Pleasant, in the same State. He was still a single man when he came with his parents to Nebraska in 1856, and the ensuing year he took up a claim of 160 acres on section 1, Liberty Precinct. When he had proved up on his homestead, he and his brother Henry went to farming near the city, remaining thus engaged until 1871, when our subject sold out his interest there to his brother, and took possession of his homestead. At the same time he bought 160 acres on section 2, and a tract of eighty acres in Liberty Precinct; his farm thus aggregates 400 acres. Scarcely any improvements had been made on any of his property, but by judicious labor, skill in management, and perseverance, he has now one of the best farms in point of improvement in Liberty Precinct. Mr. Eikenbary has erected a commodious house on section 2, which is a model of comfort and convenience, and with the fine barn and out-buildings, adds materially to the attractiveness of the place and to its value from a financial point of view. Our subject pays special attention to stock breeding and raising having horses and cattle of a superior grade. At the head of his herd of fine Durham cattle, which he has raised for seventeen years, is a fine specimen of that breed, the registered bull "Ashland." His horses are thoroughbred English draft horses, coming from the best imported stock of that breed, to the raising of which he has paid especial attention for the last four years.
   The marriage of Mr. Eikenbary to Miss Mary E. McCord was celebrated in Rock Bluff Precinct in 1861. She was born in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, in 1840, and came with her parents to Nebraska in the spring of 1857. They, Donaldson and Anna (Pascall) McCord, on coming to this State settled in Rock Bluff Precinct, where they improved a farm, moving thence to Nodaway County, Mo., where they both died in the sunset of life. Their daughter Mary was reared in Keokuk County, Iowa, and remained with her parents until the time of her marriage with our subject. She was a woman of energy, intelligence and ability, and proved herself a most companionable, devoted wife and tender mother, and her death, in 1876, was mourned by the whole community, by whom she was esteemed and loved. She was the mother of five children, namely: Albert R., who is attending the Commercial College at Lincoln; Cora M., the wife of T. W. Swan, a farmer of Liberty Precinct; Maggie and Mollie (twins), and Francis J. are at home. They are a bright, active, capable family of children, with promises of a bright future before them.
   Mr. Eikenbary was a second time married, Aug. 29, 1883, the maiden name of his wife being Fannie P. Davis. She was born in Liberty Precinct, Jan. 25, 1863, and was reared and educated there, and for some time previous to her marriage taught school with much success. Her parents, William and Sarah J. (Simmons) Davis, came from Missouri to this county and located on a farm in Liberty Precinct, which they have improved and still occupy. In politics Mr. E. is a steadfast adherent of the principles formulated by the Republican party, and has served his district several years as School Officer. He has been very successful in his life work, and is one of the most prosperous and influential citizens of Cass County, where he is highly esteemed for his unswerving integrity, force of character, and excellent

capacity. Both he and his wife are eminently hospitable, and not only entertain their friends most delightfully, but extend such a cordial welcome to the stranger who comes within their gates that it is ever appreciated and gratefully acknowledged.

ILLIAM O. TODD is the editor and proprietor of the Union Ledger, which he established in Union Village, Nov. 3, 1888. This paper starts out as a five-column folio sheet. which will soon be enlarged to meet the demands of the reading public. Although it has so recently entered upon life, it has obtained it vigorous hold upon it, and has already secured a fair and profitable circulation. As a well-edited paper it will undoubtedly advance the interests of Cass County, and more especially of this village, and it has a promising future before it.
   Mr. Todd was born Sept. 11, 1863, in Des Moines County, Iowa. His father, Alvin Todd, was a native of Ohio. He was in early life a mechanic, and later became a farmer. In 1837 he accompanied his parents from his native State to Iowa, and they located near where the city of Burlington now is, it being at that time an insignificant hamlet. He grew up and was educated in Des Moines County, and was there married to Phoebe Penny, a native of Pennsylvania. In her childhood she had accompanied her parents from the place of her birth to their new home in Des Moines County, Iowa, and there she was reared to womanhood. After marriage Alvin Todd gave his attention to farming for several years, and later established a cooper shop at Fairfield, Iowa. From there he moved to a place in Des Moines County, and afterward lived in Monmouth, Ill., for two years. He then returned with his family to Des Moines County, and made his home there until 1880, when he and his family removed to Mills County, Iowa, where he followed farming until he and his wife came to Cass County in 1882, and he has since been an honored resident of this county, owning and managing a fine farm near Ashland. He and his wife are Baptist in religion, and he is a Prohibitionist in politics. Since their residence here they have won respect and esteem from all who have the pleasure of their acquaintance for their unblemished characters and strictly upright conduct.
   Their son William, of whom we write, was the fourth in order of birth of the eight children born to them. He was well educated in the schools of Iowa, chiefly in Des Moines County, but is very properly considered a self-made young man, as he has thus early in life made his own way to the honorable position that he occupies as a member of one of the most useful of the professions. He is also in part self-educated. as he has picked up a great deal of valuable information by careful study whenever opportunity offered since leaving school, at a time when most young men consider their education completed. He came with his parents to this State in 1882, and for three years was clerk in a drugstore in Ashland, and later in a hardware store. He subsequently learned the trade of printing in the same town, end became thoroughly conversant with the art in all its details. He first ventured into journalism as the editor of the Ashland Herald, which paper he established himself, and ran successfully for one year. He has also worked on the State Journal and other papers, so that he does not solicit the patronage of the public as an inexperienced editor. He is a bright, quick-witted young man, whose ambition and enterprise will undoubtedly win his success.
   Mr. Todd was married in Ashland, Jan. 6, 1887, to Miss Kate Borland. Site was born near Iowa City, Iowa, in 1870, March 5, and is a daughter of William and Mary (Mugett) Borland. Her father is deceased, his death having occurred in Essex, Page Co., Iowa, in 1879, when he was in the very prime of life, being scarcely forty years of age. He was a native of Vermont, and when a young man went to Iowa, and in the town of Comanche, Clinton County, was married. During the remainder of his life he was engaged in farming. After his death his wife married again, and lives with her second husband, Dwight Davis, at Chatsworth, Ill. Mrs. Todd was reared in Iowa. and being a bright, apt scholar, received a good education, and was well fitted for the profession of teacher, which she adopted on leaving, and taught a private school successfully at home. Her and her husband's home

is one of true refinement, and it has been blessed by the birth of a little daughter, Laura Marie. Mr. and Mrs. Todd are Baptists in their religious views, and politically, he is an ardent Prohibitionist, although he conducts his paper as a strictly independent organ, and impartially opens his columns to all parties.

ON. S. M. KIRKPATRICK, late a member of the State Legislature, and one of the most prominent men of Cass County, has for years been intimately connected with the most important interests of Southern Nebraska. He came within its precincts when it was but a Territory, making a claim on the 18th of June, 1855, the first land pre-empted on section 18, in Liberty Precinct, and was the very first settler in the valley of the Weeping Water at this point. He came here when around him was an unbroken waste, before the county could boast of but one log house and a cabin, of sufficient importance to be designated as a village, and when the flourishing city of Plattsmouth was the site of a few little huts, put up by adventurous but impecunious people, who were struggling to delve from the soil enough to keep soul and body together. Indians still roamed over the country, and wild animals also. The outlook was anything but promising, but the subject of this sketch was a man of more than ordinary determination. He had come to stay, and was not to be driven from his purpose by any ordinary circumstances. He clung steadfastly to his resolution to continue and "grow up with the country," at a time when white settlers were frequently making a stampede from the depredations of the Indians, although to tell the truth Mr. Kirkpatrick says that there was a great deal more smoke than fire during those times, and many of the people were unnecessarily alarmed.
   Our subject secured his land before the Government survey had been completed. It included one of the finest mill sites along the Weeping Water, which he utilized as soon as possible, erecting a sawmill, from which he began dressing lumber in September, the same year of his arrival. It is hardly necessary to state that the equipments of that mill were somewhat inferior to those of the present time. The year following, however, Mr. K. introduced some new improvements, including a set of burrs, with which he intended to grind wheat, but afterward transferred the property to other parties, before beginning operations as a flour miller. This was the first mill building erected on the Weeping Water, in fact the first mill of any kind built in the county. For some years it accommodated the people for miles around.
   At the time of the settlement of Mr. Kirkpatrick there were only about 180 voters in the county. He was readily recognized as a man of more than ordinary ability, and was soon selected to represent the county in the Territorial Legislature at Omaha, being a member of the Senate, and re-elected three times by the Republicans of his district. He was in the Constitutional Conventions of 1871 and 1875, in the latter of which were adopted the existing laws of Nebraska. Prior to this he had represented the people of Cass County in the Territorial Legislature, and afterward was Speaker of the House. Since 1874 he has withdrawn from politics, although often being solicited to return to the field. During his public life it was conceded, even by his enemies, that in his day he was one of the most able parliamentarians of the State.
   The public duties of Mr. Kirkpatrick brought him into contact with many eminent men, while his own habit of observation resulted in yielding him a large fund of useful information. He is intimately acquainted, not only with the Nebraska, but the general development of the Great West, which has been a subject uppermost in his mind for a long period. A close student and an extensive reader, and a man of decided views, he is one also whose opinions are generally respected, and who has borne no unimportant part in the building up of Cass County, and introducing those measures best calculated for its advancement. The village of Nehawka was platted on his land, and to it he has extended his fostering care. It is evidently destined in the near future to be a business point of no small importance.
   The farm of Mr. Kirkpatrick embraces about 300 acres of finely improved land, and upon it are the