true Christians. The father of our subject married Eliza Rutherford, a daughter of H. H. Rutherford, who had settled in Washington County with his parents in a very early day, having come from North Carolina. He married Catherine Clawhammer, also a native of North Carolina, whose parents were early settlers of Washington County. She and her husband spent many years together, and both died in Washington County, Mr. Rutherford at the age of eighty-two and his wife aged about seventy. George Murphy and wife began their wedded life on a farm in Madison Township, the county of their nativity, and made their home on their homestead until their death in the prime of life, Mr. Murphy dying in 1861 at the age of forty-two, and the mother in 1871 when she was forty -five years old. She was a lifelong member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was in every respect a most exemplary woman. Mr. Murphy was a good man, whose conduct in the affairs of life commanded him to the respect of his fellowman, and he occupied a warm place in the hearts of those who knew him. He was a Jackson Democrat in his political beliefs, and held unswerving allegiance to his party.
   Our subject is the youngest of the two sons and three daughters born to his parents. His brother Franklin died in infancy. Two of his sisters were married, Mattie, now deceased, who was the wife of Robert Maxedon, M. D., a practicing physician of Hardinsburg, Ind., and Mary, who is the wife of Henry Rawlins, a farmer near Hardinsburg. Ezra Murphy was reared on his father's farm in Madison Township, and there received the benefit of a substantial education. He lost his parents before he was very old, and he and his sister Emily have since lived under the same roof, and have never either of them been married. In 1880 they came together from Salem, in their native State, to Otoe County, this State, and after living there two years came to this county, and have resided on this farm since 1883. They have a cozy home, replete with all the most desirable comforts, and its hospitable board is often set for the entertainment of the stranger who happens under their roof or for the numerous friends that they have gathered about them by their kindly and pleasant social ways since taking up their residence here. Mr. Murphy is a man of steady habits and excellent principles, with a good fund of sound common sense and natural shrewdness. As a good citizen, he is, of course, interested in the political situations of his country, and his influence is used in favor of the Democratic party.

USTUS HENRY WIEDEMAN. Among the goodly land-holders of the county, and a gentleman respected for his sterling worth and integrity, is the subject of this sketch. He resides on his farm of 640 acres, being the whole of section 15, in Greenwood Precinct. He is a typical German-American citizen, and was born April 11, 1850, near Berlin, in Germany. At the age of three years he came with his father to America, and located in Niagara County, N. Y., where he lived until 1861, when he moved with his father to Des Moines County, Iowa. From the latter county he moved to Montgomery County, Iowa, where he lived for four years, then going back to Des Moines County, Iowa. In 1883 he came to Cass County, Neb. where he had bought his farm two years prior to his settling on it. He paid $20 per acre for the land; the improvements consisted of two frame shanties of but little value.
   During the residence of our subject in Des Moines County he was married to Miss Mary Schearbaum, Feb. 24. 1876. This lady is a daughter of Henry Schearbaum, a farmer living in Des Moines County. Her father was a native of Germany, and came to America about the same time our subject did. Mr. Wiedeman is the second oldest in a family of seven children. His sister Clara is older, and Hannah, Charles, Elias F., Henry and Herman. Clara is the wife of Herman Gerbeling, a farmer of Des Moines County; Hannah is married and lives in the same county; Elias F. married Miss Julia Kampmyre, and follows the occupation of carpenter in Des Moines County; he was born in Niagara County, N. Y., in 1854. Charles was married to Miss Olive Davis, daughter of Benjamin Davis, and now lives on section 14, Greenwood Precinct; he was born in Niagara County,

N. Y., in 1858. Henry was born in Niagara County, and lives with his mother on section 15, this precinct. Herman was born in Des Moines County, Iowa, in 1862, and lives with his mother and brother Henry in this precinct.
   The father of our subject, Herman, was born near Berlin, Germany, Aug 20, 1812. He made his home in the mother country until 1863, when he with his family emigrated to America, where he located in New York State. The mother was born in 1816, in the same Province of which her husband was a resident. Both parents are descended from the oldest German families of the Province. Their friends and relatives have taken a prominent part in the life of their country, and the names of many can be found on the roll of honor which contains the names of her heroes, soldiers and statesmen. In America, where everyone stands on his own merit, and official distinctions and castes are unknown, where every peasant, so long as he is law-abiding, is a peer to any in the land, our subject can refer with gratification and pride to the long line of honored ancestors which has preceded him.
   Our subject and his good wife are the parents of five children -- Henry, John, Edward, Arthur and Walter. They are all at home with their parents. They possess the strong, rugged constitution which is characteristic of their German origin, and are of the same material of which the American citizen is made. They are attending the excellent schools of the neighborhood, and are availing themselves of every advantage to secure a good education. The father attended the Public Schools of New York State in his earlier years, and in addition he received a good education in German from his parents, who from their knowledge and experience were able to instruct him thoroughly.
   When our subject purchased his land it was in a but little better than an absolutely wild state. The two frame shanties that were on the land at that time have given way to a fine, modern built residence. It is handsomely located and presents a nice outward appearance. The interior is fitted with many of the latest improvements calculated to add to the comfort of home. The grounds surrounding the house are ornamented with trees, flowers and shrubbery. The various out-buildings are large, well designed and substantially built, and the barns and cattle sheds are supplied with water by a system of iron piping from a tank filled by a modern wind engine. In addition to his general farming our subject prizes his fine herd of cattle very highly, and it is admitted by all that he has many fine specimens of the bovine tribe. They will not suffer in comparison with other herds that have been exhibited at the different expositions and highly praised by the judges of animals of that class. In addition to the pleasure this branch of the business affords him it proves a source of great profit. His herd is so extensive that he counts them by the hundred. The sheds required to shelter them are immense, and the largest corn cribs in the country contain a sufficient quantity of grain to supply their needs. Taken altogether, from the arrangement of his buildings to the division of his farm into its various fields, his is one of the best appointed and most completely equipped farms in the county. Everything is in such order that he manages the entire place with the least possible help and expense. He is one of those good German farmers of which the old country is so full, and which she has supplied to the New World.
   In the person of his wife the subject of this sketch has an earnest, intelligent counselor, and his present successful life is due to a large extent to her valuable assistance and advice. They are proverbially hospitable and social. He has served on the juries of his county impartially and conscientiously. He is Republican in politics, but has never sought or held any public office of trust.

MBROSE BICKERT is a prominent general farmer in Stove Creek Precinct, of which he was one of the very first settlers. He is in good circumstances, financially, owning a good farm on section 28, which he manages himself, besides attending to quite an extensive business as a carpenter and wagonmaker. He is a veteran of the late Civil War, and has an honorable military record.
   Our subject is a German by birth, a native of

Hessen, Germany, born Nov. 20, 1835, to George J. and Elizabeth (Faust) Bickert, natives of the same Province. His father carried on farming quite extensively in the old country, and had an estate of some size there. His parents are now dead, his father dying in 1870, at the age of seventy years, and his mother in 1883, also aged about seventy years. They were connected with the Catholic Church, and led good Christian lives. Of their happy wedded life seven children were born, as follows: Joseph, in Germany; John and Theresa, deceased; Ambrose; Gertrude, also deceased; Moniga, in West Virginia, and Johanna, in Germany.
   Our subject staid on the home farm in Germany until he was twenty-one years old, obtaining an excellent education in the meantime in the good schools of his birthplace, which he attended until he was fourteen. When he was twenty years old he began to learn the wagon-maker's trade, and worked at that until he was twenty-five. In the spring of 1860 he sought to better his fortunes in its United States, sailing from Bremen in the ship "Charles the Great." and landing in Baltimore forty-two days later. He made his way to Wheeling, W. Va., and thence on the Ohio River to Marietta, Ohio. He there obtained work in a chair factory, and was a resident of that town when the great Civil War broke out. On the first call for troops he dropped his work, and enlisted in Company F, 39th Ohio Infantry, and was mustered in at Cincinnati, Ohio, and was soon dispatched to the seat of war with his regiment. He and his comrades did gallant service in the following battles: Lexington. Mo.; Island No. 10, under Gen. Pope; Madrid, MD.; Ft. Pillow, Pittsburg Landing; Corinth, under Gen. Halleck, the regiment of which our subject was a member being the first in that battle that placed a flag on the rebel headquarters. He took part in other lesser engagements around Corinth; was at Inks Springs, under Rosecrans, in the second battle of Corinth, at Pulaski; then his regiment was sent to join Steelman at Chattanooga. It was at the battles of Resaca, Dallas, Kenesaw, Marietta, Ga., Chattahoochee River, Jonesboro and at Atlanta. The latter, which occurred on the 22d of July, was the hardest battle in which he fought. On that day our subject's regiment was surrounded three times by the enemy, but each time managed to fight its way out with desperate energy. On the 28th of July the right wing of the army, including the 39th Ohio, was ordered to the rear, and then sent back to Chattanooga, and thence to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he and his comrades were honorably discharged. Mr. Bickert then went to Marietta again, and worked there in a wagon-shop until the spring of 1865, when he came to Nebraska by boat, putting up a wagon-shop in Nebraska City, and was actively engaged at his trade until the spring of 1869. At that time he came to Cass County, and purchasing eighty acres of land on section 28, began to farm it, besides giving much attention to carpentering and wagon-making. He broke his land with oxen, planted six acres of groves, an orchard of 300 trees, a willow hedge, and made various other improvements. He built the first frame house in the precinct, having to draw the lumber for the purpose with oxen from Nebraska City. His land is well watered, Stove Creek having its rise on his farm, and it is well adapted to raising stock. He buys and feeds cattle, and has a fine herd of graded stock, and his hogs are among the finest in the neighborhood, as are also his horses, of which he has twelve of standard breeds. He has erected a large house and barns, of which a view is shown on another page, and has one of the finest places in this locality. So successful has he been that he has been enabled to purchase more land, 120 acres on section 28, 40 on section 29, and at another time 80 on section 33, and now has 200 acres of finely improved land.
   Mr. Bickert was married in Marietta, Ohio, July 22, 1860, to Miss Magdalena, daughter of Adam and Elizabeth (Eisnach) Scheutelhurd. Her parents are natives of Germany, the father owning a farm in Hessen, where he lived and died, his death occurring in 1841, at the age of forty-seven years; the mother died there in 1859, at the age of sixty-four years. They were the parents of seven children, five of whom grew up -- Barbara, Joseph, Mary A., Catherine and Magdalena. The latter, the wife of our subject, was born in Hessen, May 28, 1836, and in 1860 came to America on the same ship as our subject. Their pleasant wedded life has been blessed by the birth of nine children, as follows: Henry, John, George, Lizzie, Mary, Theresa, Will-

iam, Robert and Julian. Henry and John are engaged in farming in Colorado.
   Mr. Bickert, as one of the pioneers of Stove Creek Precinct, takes a lively interest in its advancement, and in him it finds one of its most useful citizens. Besides doing much to develop its agricultural resources and to extend its business interests, he has taken an honorable part in its government, and is at present Supervisor. He is also one of the leading Democrats of Cass County, and has been a delegate to County and State Conventions several times. He is identified with the G. A. R. at Elmwood, Kenesaw Post No. 123. He has served on the Grand Jury two terms. He and his wife are zealous members of the Catholic Church, at Elmwood, and were active in securing the erection of the present house of worship.

ENRY HOWLAND. Among the pioneers of Cass County who have taken part in the upbuilding of Plattsmouth is the subject of this sketch. He is a well-to-do wagon manufacturer, and for more than thirty years has been identified with the industrial interests of this part of the county. He erected the first wagon-shop in this region, and for many years carried on his business in this city. He finally sold out at a good profit, and built for himself another shop on his estate adjoining the city, and is still actively engaged in his trade. He is well patronized, as his wagons are made of good materials and are found to be strong and durable, and he never fails to give satisfaction to his customers.
   Mr. Howland was born near Centre Square, Montgomery Co., Pa., Aug. 6, 1826, coming of sturdy New England stock. His father, Isaac Howland, was a native of Rhode Island, and his grandfather, whose name is thought to have been Joseph, was, so far as known, a native of the same State. The father of our subject went to Philadelphia when quite young with an aunt, and he was there adopted by a man named Stover, who took him to his home in Montgomery County. After he was married he engaged in a woodworking establishment, ranking mast hoops and wagon bows, following that trade a number of years. He was a man of sober, honest habits, and by prudence and thrift saved a competency, upon which he retired in 1865. He died at his home in Montgomery County by October, 1876, leaving behind the precious legacy of an untarnished name. The maiden name of his wife was Ann Neavil. She was born in Montgomery County, and there died in 1861. She was a daughter of David Neavil, a soldier of Revolutionary fame. She and her husband were the parents of ten children, five of whom grew up, namely: Henry, William, Franklin, Joseph and Mary J.
   Henry Howland attended school in his youth, and as soon as he was large enough to be useful he commenced to assist his father in the shop, and was thus employed until he was twenty-two. He then went to Philadelphia and found work in a fluid factory, laboring there the ensuing six years. In 1854 he started westward, via rail to Alton, Ill., then the terminus of the railway; from there he went down the Mississippi River to St. Louis, where he embarked on a stage for Glenwood, Iowa, eight days and eight nights being consumed before he reached his journey's end. He found Glenwood to be but a small place, with but two stores. His first work there was in a sawmill at the village, and later he helped to construct a mill on the Missouri bottom. In the winter of 1856-57 he worked in a wagon-shop there. He shrewdly foresaw that in the Territory of Nebraska, which had already begun to attract the notice of men seeking land for cultivation, there would be a demand for wagons, and he came to Plattsmouth to locate and establish a manufactory. He made a claim at once to the land he now occupies, and when it came into the market entered it at the land-office at Nebraska City, paying the Government $1.25 an acre for it. He erected a small frame house, 13x15 feet, but has since replaced it by a more commodious dwelling, complete with all the comforts that could be desired. His land, comprising nearly 200 acres, the most of which is well wooded, is, owing to improvements and to its proximity to a flourishing and wealthy metropolis, now a very valuable estate. When our subject came here in 1857 the settlements in the Territory

of Nebraska were confined to the region adjacent to the Missouri River, and it was still far from its present advanced state, and it little further west deer and antelope were plentiful only a few miles away. In the month of May he erected the first wagonshop, and became the pioneer in the manufacture of wagons. His building was of the most primitive sty le of architecture, consisting of posts set in the ground, and a board roof. That fall he erected a frame building, 16x20 feet, and continued to carry on business in it for twenty-three years, until he sold out and retired to his present manufactory, as before related.
   Mr. Howland was married, in April, 1857, to Miss Catherine Kuntz. She was born in Northampton County, Pa., and is a daughter of Jacob Kuntz. Mr. and Mrs. Howland have four children living, namely: Jasper N., Fred G., William and Ann Belle.
   Our subject is a man of strong understanding, with it well-informed mind, whose intelligence and unswerving integrity make him a most desirable citizen. His political views are identical with those of the Republican party, of which he is a strong supporter.

ILLIAM A. RHODEN, one of the younger members of the farming community of Rock Bluff Precinct, has a snug homestead of 120 acres, the land of which he purchased in the year 1880, before it had undergone the process of cultivation. His industry has been amply rewarded, he having been successful in his farming operations, and besides raising the products of the soil in their season, he has erected a good set of frame buildings, fenced his land, planted an apple orchard and the smaller fruit trees, and from time to time added the comforts and conveniences necessary to the well-being of the family, and essential to the complete home.
   Our subject, a native of Missouri, was born Nov. 6, 1851, in Schuyler County, where his father lived a period of probably twenty-five years, and of which most of the children of the family were also natives. They were named respectively: Josephine, James Allen, Julia, Alexander, Dama, George, Don, Richard and Thomas. The parents left Missouri in the year 1865, coming to Nebraska Territory, and locating on section 17, in Rock Bluff Precinct, where there were added to the household circle Mary and Lily, the latter of whom died in infancy. Of this large family of thirteen children eleven are living. One son, Alexander, was shot by Indians in Idaho Territory, Nov. 23, 1877, while at work on a ranch, William A. Z. and Nancy (Arnold) Rhoden, the parents of our subject, were natives respectively of Indiana and Schuyler County, Mo. The father left his native State when a young man, stopping for a time at Galena. Ill., and later migrating to Schuyler County, Mo., where he was married. The paternal grandfather, Jaynes Rhoden, married Miss Elizabeth Lashbrook. He was it farmer by occupation. The great-grand father was named William Rhoden. William A. Z. Rhoden departed this life Feb. 18, 1883, at his home in Rock Bluff Precinct. The mother is still living, making her home with her children in this county. William A., our subject, was married, Nov. 24, 1881, to Miss Josephine, daughter of Harvey and Agnes (Simmons) Carper, and they have three children -- William, LeRoy and Jessie. Mr. Rhoden, politically, is a Democrat, and has served a number of times on the Election Board. Socially, he belongs to Lodge No. 6, A. F. & A. M., of Plattsmouth. He has many friends in this vicinity, and is numbered among the men who have a decided influence in building up their community socially, morally and financially.

RANK FETZER. In the subject of this record we have a man who has ever been willing to put his shoulder to the wheel in the busy walks of life, and who, after performing his part in the strife, has now retired from active labor, and is enjoying the comforts of a pleasant home in the town of Louisville. He came to this place in 1876, and established a shop for blacksmithing and the general manufacture of road vehicles. He was actively engaged in the prosecution of this business until 1888, giving employment to a number of men and securing a compe-

tence. Such was the quality of his workmanship that he had no difficulty in disposing of it at remunerative prices and in the home market. He is a mechanic of no mean skill, and therefore well fitted to superintend the operations of such an establishment.
   Mr. Fetzer is a native of Wisconsin, and was born in Manitowoc County, Dec. 22, 1854. He is the youngest of a family of six children, comprising five sons and one daughter, the offspring of Godfrey and Rosa Fetzer, who were both natives of Germany. The parents emigrated to America about 1849: and from New York City, proceeded directly to the young State of Wisconsin, which had been admitted into the Union the previous year. The father secured a tract of land, and there both parents spent the remainder of their days, engaged in agricultural pursuits, the mother passing away in 1874, at the age of fifty-four years, and the father in 1886, in his seventy-third year.
   Our subject attended the district school until about fourteen years of age, and then began an apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade, serving three years. Later he worked as a journeyman with his old employer, Mr. Charles Schumacher, but in the fall of 1874 resolved to seek a home in the farther West. He sojourned at Plattsmouth two and one-half years, then came to Louisville, and established himself in business as before stated. Dec. 22, 1881, witnessed the marriage of our subject with Miss Bertha Heitzhausen, who was born in Mayville, Wis., and is the daughter of Dietrich and Minnie Heitzhausen, who were natives of Germany. The mother lives in Louisville; the father is deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Fetzer began their wedded life together in Louisville, where they have since lived, and are now the parents of one child, a daughter, Celia M. Mr. Fetzer owns his residence and shop, the former making a neat and comfortable home, and the latter thoroughly equipped with all the implements necessary for the business, which is now carried on by Charles Siekjost. Besides this property he has a valuable timber tract of 320 acres in Perkins County, this State. He is a solid and reliable citizen, and has contributed his full quota to the industrial interests of his adopted town.
   Mr. Fetzer cast his first Presidential vote for Tilden and is an uncompromising Democrat, a warm supporter of the late administration. He has been quite prominent in local affairs, officiating as Town Trustee and serving as a member of the City Council a period of seven years. He is an industrious worker at the time of general elections, never begrudging the time and money spent to carry out the principles of which he has been a supporter for a period of twelve years, when he entered upon the privileges and duties of citizenship.

NDREW C. FRY, a respected resident of Plattsmouth, was among the gallant defenders of our country during the trying times of the late Rebellion, and is now peacefully pursuing agriculture in Cass County, Neb. He is a native of Franklin County, Pa., where his birth occurred June 2, 1838. His father, George Fry, was likewise born in the Keystone State, and was there reared and married, his wife dying when our subject was a mere babe, leaving eight children. After her death Mr. Fry moved to Allegheny County, Pa., and was there married again. He resided there until after the death of his second wife, then removed to Jefferson County, Iowa, where he died at the home of his son Jacob, in January, 1879. Of his second marriage one son was born.
   When Andrew was a boy he went to Stark County, Ohio, to live with his brothers John and Jacob. He staid there two years, and in July, 1853, removed to Jefferson County, Iowa, where he made his home until 1873, excepting when he was in the South fighting for the defense of his country. He was married in that State, Aug. 2, 1860, to Miss Clara Davis, and of their union eleven children have been born, namely: Charles, Ella (now Mrs. Martin Ruby), George, Jennie, Corn, Edward, Clarence, Frank, Anna May, Walter and Harry. Walter is deceased.
   In 1862 Mr. Fry felt it to be his sacred duty to east in his lot with his noble fellow-citizens, and assist them in the defense of the Government under which he had been born and reared, and