Democratic ticket, and otherwise than serving as Treasurer of the School Board, has carefully avoided the responsibilities of office. He is regarded as a law-abiding and peaceful citizen, one who attends strictly to his own concerns, making little stir in the world, content to work quietly in his own sphere, and forming a worthy factor in the element constituting the bone and sinew of law and good order.

HARLES H. BEODEKER, an enterprising farmer and stock-raiser resides on section 24, in Mt. Pleasant Precinct, was born March 30, 1852, in St. Louis. Mo., and is the eldest in a large family: Charles H. Lewis, Adolph F., Henry; Ella, now the wife of George Delezene; Theodore; Minnie, now the wife of Arthur Blackwell; Nora, now the wife of John Dunson; John, Effie and William C., now deceased. When about three years old his parents removed with their entire family to Jefferson County, Wis., where they resided six years, when they settled in Muscatine County, Iowa, where they lived until the spring of 1866, when the entire family, including our subject, came to Cass County, Neb. The educational advantages enjoyed by our subject were limited to the district schools in the neighborhood of his home. He had a natural taste for reading and study, which he has cultivated, and he is now a man well versed in the general topics of the day.
   Our subject was married to Miss Sarah J. Hobson, Oct. 19, 1875. The lady was born in Mills County, Iowa, July 16, 1859, and is a daughter of Hadley and Rebecca Hobson. Her father was a soldier during the late Civil War, in which service he died in the hospital, of the measles. The mother married Jasper Bedwell, and now resides in Nodaway County, Mo. She is the elder of two children born to her parents; her brother is Nathan L. Hobson. As the result of the mother's second marriage there are seven children; Effie, the wife of John T. Atkinson; Ida E., now the wife of Price McCoppin; William E., Mary C., Carrie A., Alvin and Lulu.
    The subject of our sketch is the son of Theodore and Patience Beodeker, who are now residents of Louisville Precinct. The father is a native of Germany, and came to America when he was about nine years old. The mother is a native of New York State. After various journeyings the parents settled on their homestead in Louisville Precinct, and they were among the first settlers there. They have continued residing in the original homestead from that date. His means were quite limited, and, like all pioneers in starting in a new country, they had continuous hardships and privations. In the summer season he devoted his time to the cultivation and improvement of his land, and in the winter he performed such jobs of freighting as time and occasion offered. In this way he managed to improve his property, until he now has a fine, well-improved farm, and is classed among the leading and representative men of the precinct. In politics he is a Democrat. He was a soldier during the Mexican War, having enlisted when quite a youth. Now in the evening of life, they are enjoying the fruits of a life well spent.
   Our subject has been practically reared to man's estate in this county, and has experienced many of the cares of pioneer life, giving the assistance of his strong right arm to his father in opening their then new farm, and bearing a heavy share of the labor incident to that purpose. Three children have been born to our subject and his worthy wife: Alta M. was born Dec. 17, 1876; Ida E., Dec. 4, 1879; and Willie Glenn, June 10, 1885. Mr. Beodeker settled on his present farm in the spring of 1876, where he has lived ever since. At that time it was perfectly wild. He had devoted himself to the improvement of his land so intelligently and assiduously, that he now has one of the finest improved farms in the county. He has a large and commodious dwelling, which, with the barns and other buildings, commands the attention and admiration of all, and is a continuing monument to the industry and persistent efforts of our subject.
   Mrs. Beodecker came to Nebraska with her mother and step-father. She also knows what it is to be a pioneer, and she has faithfully seconded her husband's efforts, and rendered him all the assistance that a devoted wife can extend to a husband. She is a very intelligent, refined woman,

and her home displays the exercise of rare taste. Herself and husband are members of the United Brethren Church, and are foremost in all works of charity and benevolence; they hold a leading position in the social life of the precinct.
   Mr. Beodeker, the owner of this fine farm, has been very successful in life. He attributes this success to the fact that he endeavors to live in a strict observance of the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as ye would that they do unto you." Honest and upright, he merits and has the respect and admiration of all his neighbors. The family are noted for their generous hospitality and sociability. In politics he is a Democrat. Up to the present he has never sought or held any public office, feeling that he could not forego the quiet of his home that an entrance into public life would destroy. Hence, he has persistently refused to accept any favors in this line, although he is repeatedly requested to allow his name to be used.

ULIUS F. RAGOSS. Among the tillers of the soil of America no nationality has distinguished itself in a more praiseworthy manner than that owing its origin to the German Empire. To this the subject of this sketch, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser of Mt. Pleasant Precinct, traces his direct origin, having been born in Prussia, Sept. 24, 1845. When a youth of seventeen years he emigrated with his parents to America, embarking on a steamer at the port of Bremen, and after an ocean voyage of fourteen days landed safely in New York City. Thence they proceeded directly to Henry County, Ill., where the parents settled, but about 1867 moved across the Mississippi into this county, and took up their abode in Eight Mile Grove Precinct, where they still reside.
     Jacob and Epfrasine (Ziebart) Ragoss were also natives of Prussia, and Julius F. was their eldest son. The family included three other children, who are now located in Nebraska and California. Our subject lived with his parents about two years in Illinois, then started for the farther West, and spent some time looking over the country in Missouri, Arkansas and Minnesota, drifting to Nebraska about 1866. He, however, returned to Illinois, not being yet ready to settle in this State, but the year following took up his residence in this county, upon the quarter-section of land which he now occupies, and for which he paid the sum of $8 per acre.
   This land, when coming into the possession of Mr. Ragoss, was nothing but a wild, uncultivated prairie, upon which not a furrow had been turned, it being just as the Indians had left it. His first business was to put up for himself a temporary shelter, and then to get in the crops of that season. He had come to this county empty-handed, and endured in common with the pioneers around him the hardships and privations incident to life in a new settlement. He knows how every dollar of his property has been accumulated, and gives due credit to the excellent woman who has been his companion for a period of seventeen years, and has labored equally with him in the building up of a homestead. To this lady, who in her girlhood was Miss Mary Ahl, he was married Feb. 22, 1871, at her home in Cass County, Neb.
   Mrs. Ragoss, also of German parentage and ancestry, was born in the Province of Hessen, Jan. 29, 1854. Her parents, John and Catherine (Huff) Ahl, were natives of the same country, and the mother died in Nebraska about 1878. The parents emigrated to America when their daughter Mary was a child a year old, and lived for a time in New York City. Later they were residents of various States, and about 1865 made their way to this county, where Miss Mary was reared to womanhood. The father took up a tract of land in Eight Mile Grove Precinct, where he still lives. He was one of the pioneer settlers of that region, and is an honest and reliable citizen, greatly respected by his community.
   Mr. and Mrs. Ragoss began their wedded life together in Cass County, and are now the parents of six children, who were born as follows: Henry H., Feb. 28, 1873; Julius A., Jan. 9, 1876; Edward, Dec. 7, 1878, and who died May 5, 1881; Ida C., Sept. 18, 1881; Olga, June 22, 1884, and Hugo A., Jan. 14, 1887. Our subject and his estimable wife are members in good standing of the German Lutheran Church, and Mr. R., politically, exercises the right of a free American citizen, to support the men whom he considers best qualified for office, irre-

spective of party. He attended school a short time after coming to this country, and employs himself in reading as time and opportunity permits. He thus keeps himself posted upon the important events transpiring upon both hemispheres, while in the direction of his farming interests he keeps abreast of new methods and modern machinery. The property which he has accumulated forms a standing monument to his industry and perseverance: one which will endure until his children are old enough to appreciate the diligence and forethought which characterized the labors of their honored sire.

LI SAMSON, Superintendent of the Cass County Farm, Plattsmouth, and of the infirmary connected with that institution, is well fitted by his practical sagacity, sound common sense, and sterling integrity, for the responsible position that he is so satisfactorily filling. He was born in Scioto County, Ohio, Aug. 1, 1833, to James and Margaret (Bradford) Samson. In 1845 his parents, accompanied by their children -- our subject, his brother Ezra, his sister Sarah and her husband, R. E. Bennett, embarked on a boat on the Ohio River bound for Missouri, and after a voyage of several days down the Ohio and up the Mississippi, they landed at St. Louis. They proceeded by team to their destination in Andrew County, Mo., four miles south of Savannah Landing, now the county seat, where the father had a short time previously preempted some land. Missouri was then in quite a wild condition; the Indians still living there, and wildcats, and other obnoxious animals then common in the sparsely settled regions of the West, were plenty. St. Joseph had but one store, being an insignificant trading-post, kept by a Frenchman of the name of Rubiceaux, to whom belongs the honor of laying out the town. Mr. Samson and his children immediately set to work with a good will to build up a home in the wilds of that country, clearing the land from the heavy forest that covered all but five or six acres, which were all ready to cultivate, the tall, old trees having been removed before Mr. Samson purchased it. They succeeded in developing a fine farm, which they fenced, and created a good dwelling, barn and other necessary buildings. Mr. Samson had a fine sugar camp, and they made all the sugar and molasses that they used. The parents of our subject died in Andrew County, leaving behind them the legacy of a good name and the record of lives well spent.
   He of whom we write was a lad of twelve years when he accompanied his parents to Missouri, and there he grew to manhood. He was married in that State to Miss Mary Lyons, in Dec. 1858. They continued to live in Missouri about four years, and then took up their abode in Brown County, Kan. In February, 1863, he enlisted in Co. L, 2d Nebraska Cavalry, and served with bravery and efficiency until Dec. 24, 1863. He took an active part in the battle of White Stone Hill, and was there wounded Sept. 2d by an Indian, the shot penetrating the right leg near the hip, and coming out near the knee, shattering a part of the bone, and it was not removed until eight years later. His eyesight was also greatly impaired while in the service, and at times he is almost blind. Mr. Samson continued to reside in Kansas some sixteen years, spending the last four years in Wabaunsee County. He then returned to his old home in Andrew County, Missouri, where he lived until November, 1877, when he came to Cass County with his family. He first located on a rented farm four miles south of Plattsmouth, but he subsequently bought an eighty-acre farm on section 32, this township, to which he removed. At the expiration of a year and a half he sold that at a good advance, having been appointed in March, 1884, to his present position to take charge of the County Farm, the paupers and infirmary. He has been found by the commissioners to be the right man in the right place, and they have made a contract with him to retain the position of superintendent another year. Under his able management the farm is in a very satisfactory condition, and the paupers are well and kindly cared for. Mr. Sampson is indentified with the G. A. R., being a member of McConihie Post No. 43, Plattsmouth. Politically he supports the Republican party, and he has always proved a good and loyal citizen. Mr. Samson and wife have a family of nine children living, viz: David, married Sophia

Marler, they live in Rock Bluff Precinct; William married Mary Goodwin, they reside in Plattsmouth Precinct; Susan, wife of William Moore, lives in Plattsmouth; Lewis, Michael, Thomas, Oscar, Sarah and Effie, all single.

A. ROSE is one of the oldest general merchants of the village of Union, and one of the best-known business men of Liberty. He established his present store in this village in May, 1887, and S. A. Weimer is associated with him, under the firm name of G. A. Rose & Co. The latter is from Nebraska City, and was formerly engaged, for a period of twenty years, as general merchant, and being an enterprising, progressive man, was successful in his business. Our subject and his partner have a well-appointed store, and carry a full line of general merchandise, with a large supply of everything their trade demands. The stock runs as high as $7,000, and the sales are about double that amount. This is not Mr. Rose's first venture in the mercantile business, as he had a year's experience in the same line in a country store one and a half miles from Union, carrying groceries chiefly. In that he was very successful, but a man of his enterprising and energetic spirit and fine talent for business of course craved a broader field, and as a result he is established here, and is prospering as he deserves. Mr. Rose began life, however, as a farmer, having had a good property on section 30 of the fractional township or precinct of Wyoming. He still owns the old home farm, which comprises eighty acres of fine farming land, the most of which he improved himself and put into a suitable shape for a comfortable home.
   Mr. Rose is a native of Ohio, born in the township of Farmington, Trumbull County, Nov. 4, 1847. He is a son of Hon. A. M. Rose. (For further parental history, see the biographical notice of the father of our subject, the Hon. A. M. Rose, on another page of this volume). He was married in Liberty Precinct, this county, in 1868, to Miss Elizabeth M. Douge. She was born in Indiana, Nov. 3, 1848, a daughter of N. G. Douge, likewise a native of Indiana. He is a farmer, and has also engaged in various other enterprises. Mr. Douge was married in Indiana to Miss Eliza A. Beaty, who was most likely a native of that State. Some years after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Douge came West, and he engaged in the various occupations of mechanic, merchant, well-digger and farmer. On coming to this State he located near the west bank of the Missouri River, on the boundary line of Cass and Otoe Counties, and that was his residence for some years. He finally sold out his interests in that locality and moved to Saline County, where he is still living, owning and managing a store at Pleasant Hill. His first wife, the mother of Mrs. Rose, died in Cass County in 1882, aged nearly threescore years. Mr. Douge was subsequently married to Mrs. Worth Wright, who is still living. Mrs. Rose was well reared in a good home, and lived with her parents until her marriage, To her and her husband have been born ten children, two of whom, Sidney and LeRoy, died in infancy. The remaining children, all of whom are at home with their parents, are; Vinnie N., Viola M., Orpha B., Edna V., Lliota P., Lena, Fabian and Raymond. Mrs. Rose is a faithful Methodist in her religious belief, and with her husband is of high social standing in this community. Mr. Rose is an active, wide-awake man of business, prompt and decisive in his dealings, of good financial ability, and his credit is of the best. His interest in politics centers in the Republican party, he being an enthusiastic advocate of the policy of that party.

BEL CRABTREE. Among the early pioneers of Cass County, few have rendered more efficient assistance in the development of its resources than the subject of this biography. He settled upon a tract of new land in the early days, and after years of industrious labor found himself in possession of a good farm and surrounded by all the comforts of life. He has recently sold his farm to his son. It comprises 160 acres of improved land, with good buildings, a fair assortment of live stock, and all the other appurtenances of a well-regulated country homestead.

The family history of our subject is essentially as follows: His father, James W. Crabtree, a native of Virginia, was the son of William Crabtree, who was born in Virginia, and married Miss Sarah, daughter of James and Mary Graham, who it is supposed were also natives of the Old Dominion, where the family existed for several generations.
   James Graham, Sr., the maternal great-grandfather of our subject, served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, receiving an honorable wound, and later drew a pension from the Government until his death, which took place in Virginia. Grandmother Graham later emigrated with her son James, the father of our subject, to Jackson County, Ohio, at a very early period in its history, about 1820. He had in the meantime been married, and Abel, their first son, was born May 6, 1821. Grandmother Graham lived a period of over thirty years in the Buckeye State, dying in 1852 at an advanced age.
   The subject of this sketch was reared to man's estate in Jackson County, Ohio. In the meantime his father had died, about 1874. Later the mother joined her son Abel in the West, making her home with him and another of the boys about three years. She then returned to Ohio, and took up her abode with her daughter in Scioto County, where she passed away in the spring of 1885, when about eighty-six years old. Their family included eighteen children, seventeen of whom lived to mature years, and were married; and thirteen are still living, and for the greater part are engaged in agricultural pursuits.
   Our subject found his bride in the Buckeye State, being married in his native county, July 9, 1848, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Capt. John and Ruth (Peterson) Clemmons. The parents of Mrs. Crabtree were natives of Ohio, and came to Nebraska with their daughter Elizabeth, after her marriage. The father obtained his title of Captain on account of having raised a company during the Mexican War, which he commanded in that struggle. Mr. and Mrs. Crabtree, after their marriage, lived in Scioto County, Ohio, until 1853, when they emigrated to Missouri, making the trip via the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, to St. Joseph, Mo., and thence across the country with teams to Andrew County. After one year's residence there they journeyed overland to this county, and located near the present site of the city of Rock Bluff as early as 1854, in the Territorial days. Indians were encamped all around them, the treaty not having yet been consummated by which settlers could come in and locate land. The Crabtree family were really dangerously situated, but by the most careful conduct and the avoidance of giving offense, they succeeded in living, without molestation, until the treaty was completed and the survey effected, the Indians then leaving.
   The first winter our subject and his little family spent in Nebraska they were sheltered in a log pen, with both roof and floor of dirt. The cracks were stopped up with leaves, and there was left a hole in the roof through which the smoke from their fire, which was made on the ground, could escape. They had neither fireplace nor stove, the cooking being performed, as the house was warmed, by the fire on the floor. The spring following, however, Mr. Crabtree put up a log house, which the family occupied comfortably several years.
   When the land came into market Mr. Crabtree pre-empted 160 acres on section 15 where he now lives. It was then an unbroken prairie, and the habitation of a white man was not to be seen in that vicinity. It has taken years of labor and thousands of dollars to bring the farm to its present condition. In the meantime civilization has been slowly moving westward, and the culture and comforts of to-day form a wide contrast to the toils and deprivations of the pioneer times. The household circle in due time numbered seven children, namely: Allen, Noah, Ross, Travis, Elsa, Cyrus and Abel. The last-named died at the age of eighteen months, The others are living and all have homes.
   Mr. and Mrs. Crabtree became identified with the Christian Church many years ago, and Mr. Crabtree has officiated as Elder a quarter of a century. In the full faith of this belief Mrs. Crabtree triumphantly passed from earth July 31, 1886, at the age of sixty-three years. She was a lady possessing all the Christian virtues, and her name is held in tender remembrance by her family and

a host of friends. Mr. Crabtree cast his first Presidential vote for Harrison, subsequently became a Democrat, prior to the formation of the Republican party a Whig, and is now a Democrat.

HOMAS RUBY is a prosperous farmer who may be classed among the pioneers of this county, having been a resident of the State since 1856. He resides on a well-cultivated farm, located on section 10, in Mt. Pleasant Precinct. He was born in Madison County, Iowa, Aug. 12, 1854, where he lived with his parents until 1856, when the entire family migrated to Nebraska and settled on a claim of 160 acres of Government land that his father had pre-empted in Plattsmouth Precinct. From the day of his arrival in Cass County to the present time, he has continuously resided within its limits. His education was obtained in the district schools while a boy; when he entered into business for himself it was as a farmer and stock-raiser, which occupation he has pursued continuously up to the present time.
   The subject of this sketch is a son of James and Amy J. Ruby, who were residents of Holmes County, Ohio. His maternal grandfather was a Scotchman, and his grandmother was a Quaker. His paternal grandfather, Isaac Ruby, was born in Maryland in 1801, and now resides in Madison County, Iowa. Our subject's father lived in Holmes County, Ohio, until he had reached his majority. There he married and later removed to Madison County, Iowa, where he resided for some time, when he migrated to Cass County, in 1856. He was the father of two children -- Thomas, our subject, and Mary, who is now the wife of Warren Fletcher and resides in Georgetown, Col. Both parents are now residents of Plattsmouth Precinct.
   Our subject and Miss Martha Jeffers were married Sept. 27, 1879, in Montgomery County, Kan. The lady was born in Cass County, Neb., Oct. 13, 1857. She is the daughter of George W. and Mary A. Jeffers. Her father now resides in Athens County, Ohio. He is a native of Ohio, as was also the mother, who is now deceased. Her parents removed from Clark County, Iowa, to Nebraska in 1857, and settled in what is now known as Rock Bluff Precinct, where her father pre-empted a claim which he improved and lived upon until 1876, then returned to Ohio. Her mother died Nov. 20, 1883. This lady is one of a family of eleven children, namely: Joseph, Sarah, Mary, Benjamin F.; Martha, the wife of our subject; Charles W., William L., Elenora, Ernest H., and two children deceased. Joseph resides in Washington Territory; Sarah is the wife of O. J. King, and resides in Mt. Pleasant Precinct; Mary is the wife of Isaiah White, and resides in Idaho; Benjamin F. also resides in Idaho; Charles W. lives in Buffalo County, Neb.; Elenora is the wife of Lewis Barker, and resides in Eight Mile Grove Precinct; William and Ernest H. reside in Mt. Pleasant Precinct. Our subject and wife are the parents of three children -- Frank R., born Jan. 15, 1881; Bessie, Jan. 10, 1883, and James G., Dec. 28, 1885.
   Mr. Ruby has improved his farm by planting an orchard of choice trees, buildings conveniently arranged and well located barns, cattle sheds and granaries, for the comfort of his stock and the economical handling of his various farm products. His residence is nicely located, is comfortably furnished, and is supplied with many of the luxuries of life. It is presided over by his good wife, who is ever ready to lend her aid to the furtherance of the interests of her husband at any and all times. The parents take great pride in their growing family, and the love lavished on their children is fully appreciated and reciprocated. Their home farm is composed of 160 acres of nicely located land, fenced and sub-divided into fields of convenient size and thoroughly cultivated. Mr. Ruby makes a specialty of raising thoroughbred English Shire horses, and is now the owner of several fine graded animals; he takes great pride in them and they certainly show the large amount of attention and care bestowed upon them. He owns one imported horse which is valued at $1,200. He is also the owner of a herd of high-grade cattle and a number of fine hogs.
   The subject of our sketch is a man possessing great force of character, and being a public-spirited citizen, he makes his influence felt in all matters pertaining to the advancement of the best interests