belief, but as there is no church of that denomination here they have united with the Presbyterian Church, and are faithful and zealous workers in the cause of Christianity. Mr. Stull is a wide-awake, intelligent, well-informed man, and is deeply interested in any scheme for the advancement of his adopted township. Especially is this true concerning educational matters, and for twenty-eight years he has been identified with the local School Board in various official capacities, and he has done all that lies in his power for the education of the young. In politics he is a Democrat.
   The portrait of this pioneer settler of Cass County, and well-known and highly respected citizen, appears on an adjoining page.

ICHARD DOUGLAS JONES, one of the thrifty and intelligent farmers of Cass County is living pleasantly on his farm on section 18, Liberty Precinct. He owns 160 acres of land, which is admirably tilled, is under good improvement, and is well stocked. Our subject is in prosperous circumstances, owing not only to his own skill as a farmer and to his wise and judicious management of his property, but also to the fact that during his wedded life of forty years he has been ably assisted by a good and true wife in the building of the cozy and substantial home in which they are spending their declining years, surrounded by every comfort that heart could wish. Mr. Jones has been identified with the agricultural interests of Nebraska since 1867, and for two years and a half was a resident of Custer County, where he owned 320 acres of fine farming land.
   Mr. Jones is a native of Tennessee, born in White County, March 4, 1825, coming of Southern parentage. His father, Ebenezer Jones, was of Welsh descent, and was a native of North Carolina. He was reared to a farmer's life in his native State, and was married there to Elizabeth Cass, a native of that State, who came of similar parentage as her husband. They subsequently moved to Tennessee in pioneer days, and settled on a tract of land in the unbroken forests of White County, not far from the Cumberland River. They built up a good home, and improved a fine farm, from which they derived a comfortable income. They spent most of their wedded life amid the scenes where they had been pioneers, lint after they became quite old they moved over into Warren County, the same State, and lived with their son, E. Jones, Jr., until their long pilgrimage of nearly fourscore years on this weary earth was over. They were people of rugged and stalwart virtues and strong natures, and their simple, unostentatious lives were above reproach. They were Cumberland Presbyterians, and were charter members of the first church of that denomination established on the Cumberland River, and as its members were dissenters from the old-school Presbyterians, they called their church by the name of the river near whose waters it stood, and the name is still retained to designate it branch of the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Jones was particularly active in the organization of that church, being one of the four who planned it, and he was for years one of its Elders, and was otherwise prominent in religious circles in his community.
   Our subject was the youngest of the seventeen children, thirteen sons and four daughters, born to his parents. It is rather a remarkable circumstance that the parents lived to see every child of this large family grow to maturity, marry and settle in life. There are only three of the family now living: John, who resides in Arkansas, at the age of eighty years; Andy, who lives in Warren County, Tenn., and is sixty-seven years old, and our subject. The latter was reared and educated in Tennessee, and was married in his native county to Miss Elizabeth Weaver, the date of their wedding being Feb. 7, 1849. Mrs. Jones was born Nov. 9, 1831. in White County, Tenn., to William and Fanny (Hampton) Weaver. Her father was a farmer by occupation, and he and his wife died on their homestead in Tennessee. Mrs. Jones was reared in the home of her birth, and she was one of a family of six children, two sons and four daughters. Mr. and Mrs. Jones removed from their native State in 1851, and as their parents had done before them, became pioneers in a new State, settling in Iowa, and in Polk County, that State, Mr. Jones was actively engaged in farming. In 1867 he sought "greener fields and pastures new" in Ne-

braska, and two years and a half later pitched his tent in Cass County. When he first purchased this place it was but slightly improved, and although Mr. Jones was not among the first settlers, he may be classed among its pioneers for the work that he has performed in developing his farm, and so adding to the large agricultural interests of the county. Since coming here he has put up a first-class set of farm buildings, and in 1870 built his present residence. a neat and substantial brick house. He is a man of more than ordinary sociability, geniality and tact, and has inspired a warm friendship in the hearts of man; in this community, as he treats everyone with that degree of respect that makes them feel proud of his company. He and his wife, who is held in equal esteem by their mutual friends, are members of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, of Union of which he is an Elder, and they ever bold firmly to the faith of their fathers. Mr. Jones is strongly in sympathy with the Democratic party in his political sentiments.

ILLIAM P. C. CRITCHFIELD, an agriculturist of energy, ability and enterprise, residing on section 24, Centre Precinct, operates a flue farm, which shows for itself the amount of time, judicious labor and skill which have been used in bringing it to its present condition. Our subject was born in Holmes County, Ohio, Nov. 15, 1857. His parents, Lewis H. and Harriet (Shreve) Critchfield, were also natives of the same State. (For further parental history, see sketch of Mrs. Harriet Critchfield).
   William was reared in his native town and received a good common-school education. Being brought up on a farm, where he assisted his father, he early became acquainted with the duties and details connected with the tilling of the soil, and concluded to make farming his life occupation. He remained at home until the spring of 1881, when he came to Nebraska with his family, and settled on the farm in Centre Precinct where he has since lived. The land was at that time uncultivated prairie, with scarcely any improvements. But Mr. Critchfield at once went to work with a will to evolve a farm from the raw land, and in all his undertakings he has met with success. He is a worthy representative of the sturdy yeomanry of this section of the country, who, commencing life with no heritage save that of strong hands and willing hearts, have won for themselves substantial positions and fair competences.
   The marriage of our subject with Miss Jessie Price, of Valparaiso, Ind., was celebrated Sept. 10, 1878. She is a native of the Hoosier State, born in Porter County, Oct. 16, 1856. Her early days were spent in her native town, where she received a good education. and was initiated by her excellent mother into the mysteries of housekeeping, so that, since marriage, she has been able to be a true helpmate to her husband and to aid him by her thrift and good management in his varied duties of developing a farm from the wild prairie. Of her marriage with our subject four children have been born, namely: Edith, Otto, Maud and Day. Mrs. Critchfield's father, James A. Price, is Deputy Recorder of Cook County, Ill., and lives in Chicago. He married Miss Eunice House, by whom he had one child, Mrs. Critchfield. The latter's mother died when she was three years of age.
   Our subject is a man of much force of character, is well thought of in his neighborhood, and, making many friends, retains them all by his frank and cordial manners. Socially, he is a member of the Royal Arcanum.

OHN DOMINGO is an enterprising, industrious farmer, of good business capacity and great intelligence, who resides on section 25, township 11, range 11, Centre Precinct. He was born in Denmark, May 5, 1854, and was there reared and educated. His parents, Jorgen (in English called John) and Ellen (Christenson) Domingo, spent their entire lives in Denmark, his father dying there in 1861, and his mother in 1872. They were industrious, well-educated people, holding an important position among the citizens of their town. Of their union four children were born, three of whom are now living, one of them on the

home farm in Denmark, and two of them in this State (see sketch of Jacob Domingo.) Mr. Domingo owned his farm in Denmark, he having lived and died on the same one on which he was born. He was a prudent, thrifty farmer, who gave his sons good educations and some money to start life with.
   Our subject was educated in his native country, and at the age of eighteen years emigrated to this country alone. He at first located in Bloomington, Ill., staying there until 1881, and the same year bought the farm of 160 acres where he now resides. It was then under cultivation, and some buildings had been erected. With characteristic energy our subject set to work to build for himself a home. and in the few years that have since elapsed he has effected a vast improvement in his property. He has fenced his entire farm, and has a good bearing orchard, and has quite a large grove of fine forest trees. He has erected a good set of farm buildings having just completed an elegant frame house, 26x26 feet, two stories high, which is a model of convenience and taste, and would be an ornament to any village or city. The pasturage on his farm is all tame grass. being especially adapted to stock-raising, to which he pays much attention. His herd of Short-horns, 100 in number, is of great value and very fine. He also raises a large number of horses and hogs, finding stock-raising of all kinds to be a lucrative business.
   Mr. Domingo was married, June 7, 1881, to Miss Lottie Wiuff, who was also a native of Denmark, born June 7, 1864, and who came to America in 1880. Her parents, Jesse and Metta Maria (Anderson) Wiuff, natives of Denmark, are now living in Humboldt, Iowa. They have had eight children, five of whom grew to maturity. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wiuff are members of the Lutheran Church. The union of our subject and his wife has been blessed by the birth of three children, namely: Ellen, born April 28, 1882; Jesse, Sept. 13, 1883; Laura, June 7, 1886, her birth having occurred on the anniversary of her mother's birth and wedding.
   Mr. Domingo is a man of sterling worth and ability, and is highly respected by his fellow-citizens. By his industry and thrift the small sum of money that he had when he came here has been gradually increased, and by using it advantageously he has now a good income, a fine homestead, and is as pleasantly situated as any man could desire. Our subject uniformly casts his vote with the Republican party, but has all the business he can attend to without desiring to take upon himself the responsibilities of office. Both Mr. and Mrs. Domingo are members of the Lutheran Church, and contribute generously toward its support.

RANCIS G. KENDALL. Numbered among the practical and progressive agriculturists of Cass County is the subject of this brief biographical history, who is prosperously engaged in his independent calling on section 12, Liberty Precinct, where he owns 160 acres of well-improved land, which he entered in 1857 from the United States Government under the pre-emption law.
   Our subject was born Sept. 10, 1835, in Erie, Erie Co., Pa., where his paternal grandfather, Frank G. Kendall, was an early settler and spent his last years. Robert Kendall, father of our subject, was married in Erie, Pa., to Miss Anna McNair, whose father, Col. David McNair, was originally from near Pittsburgh, and was one of the original settlers of Erie County, and platted the city of Erie, where he built the first distillery and brewery in the county. He took an active part in the sieges of the War of 1812, and spent his declining years in Erie, where he had prominently identified himself with all its interests. Robert Kendall and his wife remained in Erie County until their removal, with their family, to Monmouth, Ill. There they acquired considerable property, and lived until well advanced in years. Both were active members of the United Presbyterian Church, and donated liberally toward its support and to the college of that denomination in that place. They had six children, three of whom are now living: David M., the eldest son, lives at Monmouth, Warren Co., Ill.; Francis G.; Margaret, wife of Amos Buford, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Monmouth Township, Warran Co., Ill.; William E. died at the age of twenty-one years; James died at the age of ten years. Clark A. was a graduate of Monmouth College, and

a noble and promising youth; he lost his life in the battle of Ft. Donelson. He was a member of Company F, 17th Illinois Infantry, a brave and ambitious soldier, and a favorite among his comrades. by whom his early death was lamented.
   Francis G. of our sketch received a good education in his native town, remaining there until the removal of his parents to Illinois, in March, 1853. In 1857, desiring to try his fortune in some other part of the country, Mr. Kendall came to Cass County, bringing with him a sawmill, which he had bought in Chicago and shipped to Muscatine, Iowa, and thence here in wagons, and set it up in Liberty Precinct. It was the first mill of the kind in the precinct, and he operated it for two years, then sold it. He subsequently visited Colorado, and spent a few months prospecting among the mines of the Rockies, but returned to Nebraska, and in June, 1861, enlisted in defense of his country at Plattsmouth, joining Company A, commanded by Capt. Livingston, 1st Nebraska Infantry, the regiment under command of Col. John M. Thayer. The regiment was ordered to the front, and Mr. Kendall was with it in the battles of Ft. Donelson, Pittsburg Landing and many other minor engagements, being once thrown from his horse and severely injured. He was then sent home on a sick furlough, but afterward returned to the ranks, and was honorably discharged with the rank of Corporal at Omaha, having served with honor three years and three months. He afterward secured a position as Captain of the Guards at the Government corrall at St. Louis, Mo., which was a depot of supplies for receiving and branding horses.
   After the war closed Mr. Kendall went to Monmouth, Ill., and spent a year, then returned to his farm in this State, which he has since occupied. He has worked hard, and made all the. necessary improvements to place his homestead among the finest in the locality. It is well watered, very productive, and stocked with horses and cattle of good grades. A stream of running water heads about 100 rods from his house from springs on his farm, and meandering through his farm, crosses his feed lot, and gives an ample supply of water the year around for stock purposes
   Mr. Kendall has been twice married. His first wife, whose maiden name was Rachel Allison, was a native of Washington County, Pa. Of that marriage three children were born -- Birdie, deceased; Robert C. and Mary. The second marriage of our subject took place in Nebraska City. where he was united to Mrs. Virginia Ballinger, nee Jones. She was born in Missouri, May 28, 1843, and is a daughter of John C. and Maria (Brinker) Jones. Her father, who is now living in Arkansas, was born more than fourscore years ago in White County, Tenn. When a young man he moved to Missouri, where he was married. His wife was a native of St. Louis, where he was a merchant for a time. In 1845 Mr. and Mrs. Jones moved with their small family to Des Moines, Iowa, where he became one of the pioneer dry-goods merchants, and for many years carried on the mercantile business on what is now one of the busiest thoroughfares of that city. Mrs. Jones' death occurred during their residence there in 1853. Mrs. Kendall. the wife of our subject, was only two years of age when her parents moved to Des Moines, where she was reared and educated. She presides with hospitality over the household of her husband, and they lead a pleasant and social life. Mr. Kendall was a brave, gallant soldier, who served his country well in time of war, and now, in time of peace, does his duty equally well as an intelligent, patriotic citizen. In politics he is an active Republican, and stands firmly for the principles of the party.

RS. SINA WILBERN is a lady of worth and refinement, holding a prominent place in the social life of Salt Creek. She is the widow of Robert Wilbern, who settled on the site of her present homestead in 1872. This lady was born Dec. 24, 1824, in Gallatin County, Ill., on the banks of the Ohio River, near Shawneetown. Her father was Robert Henderson, and her mother was Cassandra (Taylor) Henderson. Her father was born in Brandenburg, Ky., and went to Illinois with his parents when he was seventeen years old, in the early Territorial days of that now proud State. The Henderson family were among

the first settlers in Kentucky, originally settling among the Shawnee Indians. Her father died in Kentucky, in 1828, aged twenty-eight years. Her mother died near East St. Louis, Ill.; when about seventy-five years old. She was a native of Virginia, and was born in 1807.
   The mother of the subject of our sketch bore two children by her first marriage, Sina and Maria. She was married the second time, and became the mother of six children, four boys and two girls, all of whom are living. Mrs. Wilbern attended the public schools of Union County, near Morganfield, and was in a Catholic convent at Morganfield for the period of three years. She removed with her parents to Sangamon County, Ill., in 1840, and there became acquainted with Robert Wilbern, whom she afterward married. This gentleman was born in Kentucky, and was four years old when his parents went with their family to Illinois in 1818, and settled in Sangamon County. Mrs. Wilbern and her husband were married in 1842, and resided in Sangamon County, Ill., until they came to Nebraska, and settled on their present homestead in 1873. They were the parents of eight children, named: Robert, Thomas J., Elizabeth, Jennie, Charles, Eddie, Lottie and John W. Charles and Lottie are dead; Robert resides in Decatur County, Kan., where he is a farmer; he is married to Miss Doom, and is the father of five children -- Myrtle, Robert, Gordon, Mollie and an infant unnamed. Our subject's son Thomas J. married Miss Lena Chapin (see sketch elsewhere in this volume); Elizabeth is now the wife of W. J. Maston, a merchant living in Oxford, Harlan Co., Neb., and is the mother of three children -- Sina, Robert and Addie; Jennie is now the wife of N. B. Hamilton, an enterprising hardware merchant, and resides in Emporia. Kan., and is the mother of one child, Lottie; John W. is at home and manages his mother's interests on the home farm; Addie is the wife of F. C. Baldwin, and resides in Salt Creek Precinct.
   Mr. Wilbern was during his life an earnest and conscientious member of the Baptist Church. Mrs. Wilbern is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Greenwood. She is widely and favorably known as a lady of large heart and generous impulses, ever ready to assist in a substantial manner any who come to her in need. Her life is a bright and shining example of Christian devotion, which is not without its effect for good on the people among whom she lives.

ILLIAM ROSE. Imagine that you see a tailor by trade, poor in purse, dressed up in a style suggestive of his calling and circumstances, starting out from the city of St. Joseph, Mo., with a diminutive road wagon loaded up with a small outfit of household supplies, among which is a pleasant looking little woman. To this wagon is attached a yoke of ancient and very small oxen, worth about $4.50 each, and the owner working about as hard as they in order to continue them in their slow locomotion and hasten them if possible. They started out over a new and lonesome looking country toward the West, and in this manner pursued their way for some days. They finally "squatted" on a piece of land lying along the banks of the Weeping Water River, in what is now Avoca Precinct, this county. The above furnishes the outline of the first appearance of the subject of this sketch in Cass County. It is hardly necessary to state that under these circumstances he was, as he says, the "greenest kind of a farmer." His later life has exhibited in a remarkable manner the large amount of energy and perseverance with which he was endowed by a kindly Providence. He is now called a big-hearted and successful farmer and stock-raiser," and few men are more popular in his precinct. He still retains the land where he first settled, although he has added to its boundaries, and his labors have resulted in the construction of one of the most valuable farms in this region, and lying on section 13.
   The first arrival of Mr. Rose in this county dates from the fall of 1857, when he pre-empted his land, but did not settle on it until 1861, being employed in the meantime as a tailor. In the year last mentioned, he, with his little family, took possession of a plank house, when his neighbors were few and far between, and the face of the country gave little indication of the presence of the white man. His

subsequent record is that of hundreds of other pioneers of Cass County, whose experiences are detailed over and over throughout this volume. His possessions now embrace 480 broad acres, the greater part under a high state of cultivation, and embracing very little waste land. He has erected convenient and substantial buildings, and at the same time made for himself a record as an agriculturist and a citizen second to none in the county.
   In view of the facts above noted it will not be surprising to learn that Mr. Rose is a native of Germany, born in the Duchy of Brunswick, Sept. 15, 1832. He is of unadulterated German stock, and of a good family, being the son of Henry Rose, who was a skilled mechanic, and who, with his estimable wife, in her maiden days Miss Christina M. Muehe, spent his entire life in his native land, both passing away in middle life. They were the parents of two children.
   The subject of this sketch acquired a good education in the German language, learned the trade of tailor, and when a youth of eighteen years left home, and journeying to London, England, sojourned in that city three and one-half years. Upon leaving England, in August, 1854, he set sail for the United States, landing in New York City, and worked there and at other places in the East for some years. We find him in Missouri about 1857, and later he established a shop in Elmwood, Kan., which he conducted until September, 1861. Then selling out he resolved to cast his lot among the pioneers of Nebraska. He had prior to this secured his land in this county, upon which he settled in the fall of 1861.
   Commencing with scarcely any knowledge of agriculture, Mr. Rose had more than the ordinary amount of difficulties to contend with in a new settlement. He, however, after a few seasons had learned much from experience, which, after all, is the most practical and useful teacher a man can have. What he lacked in the practical knowledge of farming he made up in industry and persistence, and his labors in due time met with their legitimate reward.
   During his sojourn in St. Joseph, Mo., our subject was united in marriage with Miss Kersten Peterson, the wedding taking place Sept, 27, 1859, Mrs. Rose was born in Norway, June 16, 1834, and came to this country in her girlhood with her mother, her father having died in his native Scandinavia. She was then a young girl of fourteen years, and the family located in the vicinity of St. Joseph, where they made their living by farming, and where the mother remained until her death. Their family consisted of three children, who are now in Norway and the United States.
   We have already gained an idea of the manner in which Mr. and Mrs. Rose commenced the journey of life together. They have labored side by side in the accumulation of their property and the building up of their homestead, the wife and mother performing her duties in her sphere as faithfully and conscientiously as has her husband in his. They became the parents of six children, three of whom are deceased -- Ida M., Ellen K. and an infant unnamed. The survivors are: Anna H., the wife of Elsworth Norris, a farmer of Avoca Precinct; William A., unmarried, and operating a farm not far from the homestead, and Fred P., who remains with his parents. Mr. Rose, politically, is a sound Republican, and both he and his wife are Lutheran in religion. Mr. R. is a man of intelligence and ability, and is prominent in local affairs.

ILLIAM W. DAVIS. This enterprising and public-spirited citizen is a farmer and stockraiser on the northwest quarter of section 14, Weeping Water Precinct. He is the eldest in a family of ten children. He was born in Mercer County, Pa., April 2, 1830, and lived at home until he was twenty-eight years old. He attended the common schools of the neighborhood, but his other sources for education were quite limited, for when ten years of age he began working on his father's farm, among the roots and stumps of Pennsylvania. His grandmother helped to start the plow, and from that time on he almost ran his father's farm without other assistance. When twenty-three years of age, in 1853, his father moved to Tama County, Iowa, where he took up a large tract of land. Our subject took charge of it, broke the virgin soil, using three yoke of cattle, set out the grove and orchard, and