of the coummunity (sic) in which they live. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and leave always taken an active interest in religious matters. They also hold an enviable position in the social circles of the neighborhood. He is a Republican in politics. He has filled no public office except that of School Director, of which he is now the incumbent.

ASEL SWEARINGEN RAMSEY, one of the ablest members of the legal profession in Southern Nebraska, established himself in the city of Plattsmouth in the spring of 1881, and entered upon a most successful career. He comes of excellent Pennsylvania stock, and was born in the vicinity of Frankfort Springs, Beaver County, that State, July 4, 1844. His father, William Ramsey, a native of the same place, was born Jan. 11, 1808, and the paternal grandfather, Samuel Ramsey, was also a native of Beaver County. The great-grandfather, James Ramsey, was a native of either Scotland or Ireland, whence he emigrated at an early day to America, settling among the pioneers of Beaver County, Pa. He was one of the most highly esteemed members of the farming community of that region, where he spent the remainder of his life, building up a good homestead and making for himself a worthy record. His remains were laid to rest in Kings Creek Cemetery, where his son, William, and grandson, were also buried.
   James Ramsey was the father of fifteen children, and from him probably sprang the people of that name in the United States. Samuel Ramsey also followed farming, and spent his entire life in his native county. His son William, the father of our subject, was reared and educated in his native county, and departing somewhat from the career of his forefathers, chose the profession of law, while at the same time he became the owner of a farm where he made his home and the operations of which he superintended. He thus spent his entire life practicing law and carrying on agriculture, and was a lifelong resident of his native county. He rested from his earthly labors in October, 1870.
   Basil Swearingen, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was it native of Maryland, and was the son of Samuel Von Swearingen, who was born also in that State. The family came originally from Holland, and were among the earliest settlers of Maryland. The great-grandfather migrated to Beaver County, Pa., about the time of the trouble with the Shawnees, Mingoes and other tribes of Indians along the Ohio River. He being contemporaneous with Lewis Wetzel and others who acquired reputation as skillful Indian fighters. He opened up a farm from the wilderness and there spent the remainder of his days, his remains being laid to rest in the family burying ground on the farm. His son, the grandfather of our subject, also cleared a large farm in that region and lived to be ripe in years. He was buried in a cemetery near Poe, Hanover Township, Beaver Co., Pa.
   The mother of our subject, in her girlhood Miss Mary Swearingen, was also born in Beaver County, Pa., Oct. 13, 1813, and surviving her husband a little over ten years, departed this life Dec. 22, 1880. The parental household included eight children, seven of whom grew to mature years. Alletha married Daniel Standish, a lineal descendant of Miles Standish, the Captain of the Mayflower, and died in Beaver County, Pa.; John came to the West several years ago, and is now a resident of Eight Mile Grove Precinct, this county; Sarah Ann continues a resident of Beaver County, Pa.; Catherine married John Ramsey, of Beaver County; Basil S. was the next in order of birth; William died when eleven years of age; Bella married Dr. J. M. Waterman, and lives in Hay Springs, Sheridan County, this State; Rebecca lives with her sister Sarah, on the old homestead in Pennsylvania.
   Mr. Ramsey pursued his early studies in the common schools of his native town, and lived there until the year 1863, when he resolved to seek his fortunes in the West. Coming to Nebraska Territory he settled first at Mt. Pleasant, this county, and for the first two winters employed himself as a school teacher, while in summer he worked on a farm. He was thus teacher and farmer alternately for a time, but finally occupied himself in teaching the year around, until 1874.
   In the year 1870 young Ramsey commenced

reading law under the instruction of Judge Samuel Maxwell, of Plattsmouth, now on the Supreme Beach, and was admitted to the bar in 1879. He had in the meantime opened an office at Louisville, and practiced there. Later he formed a partnership with A. W. Crites, who is now Receiver of Public Moneys at Chadron, and opened an office in Plattsmouth, of which he has since been a resident. His partnership with Mr. Crites continued until the year 1887, when the latter withdrew to accept his present position.
   Mr. Ramsey was married quite late in life, Dec. 25, 1882, to Miss Libbie Crites, daughter of Joseph and Lydia (Darling) Crites. She is the youngest sister of his former law partner, A. W. Crites. Mrs. Ramsey was born in Racine County, Wis. Her parents were natives of Pennsylvania and New York respectively. The mother is deceased. The father is a resident of Plattsmouth. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey are the parents of one child, a son, Willie Paul, who was born June 30, 1884. Mr. R. has always been a Democrat politically, and in 1885 was elected County Commissioner, receiving a large majority in a Republican county, which sufficiently indicates his standing in his community. He fulfilled the duties of this office three years acceptably. In 1883 he was Journal Clerk of the State Senate.

AMES COLBERT, an enterprising farmer of Elmwood Precinct, was born in Huntingtonshire, England, Aug. 19, 1833, and was the youngest in a family of six children. The father died when our subject was twelve years old, leaving him alone to shift for himself at that early age. His educational advantages were very limited. At the age of twenty he came to America to join his brother John, who had emigrated to America, and settled in Niagara County, N. Y., two years previously. In 1856 our subject went to Michigan, residing for a time in the counties of Allegan, Barry and Kent. In 1862 he was married to Miss Sarah Jane Van Avery, the daughter of Samuel and Cordelia (Hitchcock) Van Avery. The lady's parents were of Dutch descent, and were natives of Canada, where they lived until the wife of our subject was twelve years old, when they removed to Michigan, where she resided until her marriage with Mr. Colbert.
   After his marriage our subject rented a farm in Michigan, but soon realizing the fact that there were better opportunities in the West for obtaining a home of their own, they, in May, 1868, packed their effects in a wagon, and drove off toward the wild West. At the time of starting his final destination was not specifically determined, they intending to travel westward until they discovered the the (sic) location most favorable for their purposes. On June 27, 1868, while travelling westward their present homestead came into view. He at once filed a claim on his present eighty acres, unloaded his household goods, and immediately began the improvements, of which the present well arranged and comfortable home is the result. Mr. C. has made all the improvements on the farm, erected a fine new barn, planted an orchard of choice trees, set out groves and ornamental trees, until he has a farm whose improvements rank second to none in utility and convenience.
   Mr. Colbert and wife are parents of ten children -- William H. (deceased), Elvira B., John W., George Lincoln, Charles Wesley (deceased), Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Elmer, Mary L., Samuel Eugene and Perry Edwin. Elvira, the eldest daughter, is now married to Mr. Edwin H. F. Richards, a thrifty young farmer of the neighborhood, and is the proud mother of one child, Mary, who is the idol of both her parents and grandparents. The son John W. is a respected citizen of Elmwood Precinct. All of the family were born in Nebraska, except the three elder children, whom they brought to Nebraska with them in 1868. Our subject's son John W. was married to Miss Lucy Frisbey, Dec. 18, 1888, at the home of the bride in Weeping Water Precinct; she is the daughter of James and Sarah Frisbey.
   Robert Colbert and Sarah, his wife, the parents of our subject, were natives of England, where the father was a laborer, which position in that country was not conducive to the accumulation of great wealth, in consequence he was not able to give the subject of one sketch any substantial financial assistance, and as a result he has had his own way to

make in the world from the start, and it is but due to him to say that he has performed his part faithfully and well. Having nothing but his hands and head to depend upon, he made such good and effective use of them that he can now look over his broad well-cultivated acres and pleasant and comfortable home, and feet that they are the direct result of the labor of himself and wife. He is highly esteemed by his neighbors, and any enterprise for the good of the people finds in him an earnest supporter. In politics he is a stanch Republican. Himself and wife are both esteemed members of the Baptist Church.

J. WARRICK. To anyone acquainted with the business circles of Plattsmouth the metric of our subject is well known as that of the popular druggist and accurate prescriptionist of that place. He was born in Washington County, Pa., April 20, 1861, and is the son of George M. and Mary (Wilson) Warrick. His father and and (sic) mother were also residents of Washington County. The family is of English extraction, and the grandfather of our subject, Jonathan Warrick, was born in New England, of English parentage.
   Jonathan Warrick was an educated man, and became a civil engineer. He went to Western Pennsylvania as a surveyor in the early days of settlement there, and had charge of the surveying of a large section of the then new country. Many of his field notes are now preserved and kept for reference in Washington, Pa. He located in Washington County, and there spent the latter years of his life. There the father of our subject was reared and as a young man learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed for about ten years, and then engaged in mercantile pursuits. He is now retired from the more active engagements of business, but owns and is interested in two farms in Cass County and one in Otoe County, of this State, and also a farm in Montgomery County, and another in Cass County, Iowa.
   The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Mary Wilson. She was born in Taylorstown, Pa., and is the daughter of William Wilson. She has become the mother of five children, who received the following names: Matilda Belle, wife of Thomas C. McCarrell; our subject; John Martin, Rachel Mary and Jennie May.
   Our subject was educated in the schools of Washington, taking the High School course, and also that of Duff's Mercantile College at Pittsburgh, being graduated from the latter institution on the 31st of October, 1878, after which he returned to Washington, and attended the classes of Washington and Jefferson College; after leaving this institution he became a drug clerk in one of the leading drugstores of Washington, remaining there for about two years, and coming to this county in the year 1882. He settled at Plattsmouth, and bought a drug store of O. F. Johnson, and from that time has continued prosperously in that line of business.
   On the 5th of April, 1882, Mr. Warrick was joined in matrimony with Annie Poland, who was born in Washington, Pa., and is the daughter of Henry Poland, of Washington. Pa. There have been three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Warrick, and these beat the following names: Annie M. B., who died Dec. 9, 1888; George H. and William J. Mr. and Mrs. Warrick are much esteemed members of the community. Our subject is a member of the Republican party, and is a worthy and loyal citizen, and takes a deep interest in all questions that pertain to the National welfare.

HILLIP HORN, well known throughout Plattsmouth Precinct, is comfortably located on section 17, and bears the reputation of an honest man and a good citizen, a life-long Democrat politically, and with his family members in good standing of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. He has made of agriculture a pronounced success, having a finely improved farm, which forms one of the most attractive features in the landscape of that section of country.
   Our subject is of substantial German ancestry, and the son of Peter Horn, a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, who married Miss Anna Katie Kump, and lived in Germany until after the birth of nine children. The paternal grandparents, also natives

of Hesse-Darmstadt, spent their entire lives upon their native soil. To Peter and Anna Horn there were born five sons and four daughters, namely: Margaret. Mike, George, Lizzie. Jacob, Margaretta, Phillip (our subject), George P. and Elizabeth. The mother died in Germany when comparatively a young woman, in 1845.
   The father of our subject, about eleven years after the death of his wife, emigrated to America, in 1854, locating in Tazewell County, Ill., where his death took place that same year. Phillip and his brother George P. had preceded their father to the United States in June, 1851, making the voyage on a sailing-vessel in twenty-four days. After landing in New York City they proceeded to Cincinnati. Ohio, first by boat to Albany, N. Y., thence across the State, and by lake to Toledo, and thence down the Miami Canal to the Queen City. At that point embarking on the Ohio River, they proceeded to the Mississippi and St. Louis, and from there to Pekin, Ill., where, securing a tract of land, our subject engaged in farming.
   In Illinois Mr. Horn made the acquaintance of Miss Margaretha Schwabel, to whom he was married Feb. 12, 1859, and lived in the Prairie State until 1868. In that year he came to the young State of Nebraska, and purchased his present farm of 160 acres. It could scarcely then be dignified by the name of a farm, as but forty acres had been plowed, and the only building was a small frame house. Under this humble roof the little family took up their abode, and Mr. Horn proceeded to the building up of a homestead. The steadfast labor of years has been amply rewarded, the soil yielding bountifully to his thorough culture and excellent management. The first humble dwelling was replaced, in 1878, by a more substantial residence, and there is also a barn, granaries, corn cribs and all the other necessary out-buildings. Mr. Horn subsequently invested a portion of his surplus capital in another quarter-section of land, which is now also improved, and he has about 200 acres of pasture. His farms consist of 500 acres.
   The career of our subject has been that essentially of a self-made man. He came to the United States poor in purse, and his possessions are the result of his own perseverance, aided by an industrious and sensible wife. They are the parents of four children, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Mary, is the wife of Theodore Starkjohn, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this work; Maggie, Mrs. Fred Kehne, is a resident of his precinct; Katie is the wife of Henry Hirz, who is written of elsewhere in this work; Lizzie, Mrs. John Kaffenberger, resides with her husband on the home farm, with her parents, and has one child, a daughter, Anna. Mrs. Horn is the daughter of Jacob and Caroline Schwabel, who were natives of Germany, and are now deceased.

ENJAMIN F. RUBY. The spring of 1879 found the subject of this sketch journeying on his road from Ohio to this County, accompanied by his wife and four children. He first settled upon a tract of land in the vicinity of Eight Mile Grove post-office, upon which he operated four years with such good results that in the spring of 1883 he took possession of it farm which he could call his own. Upon this he has since resided, and it is pleasantly located on section 9, Mt. Pleasant Precinct. Eighty acres of good land are comprised within its boundaries, which under careful cultivation have become productive and valuable. In addition to general farming, stock-raising forms a prominent feature of the operations connected therewith.
   Monroe County, Ohio, was the boyhood home of our subject, and where his birth took place Sept. 19, 1843. Edward R. and Rosetta (Haines) Ruby, his parents, were also natives of the Buckeye State, and are now residents of this county. Ten children completed the sum of the parental household, eight of whom survive: John W. lives in Red Willow County, this State; Mary died when about thirty-nine years old; Benjamin F., our subject, was the third child; Hiram H. is in Colorado; Hester lives in this county; Robert lives in Gage County; Jesse resides in this county; Harriet died when about twenty-five years old; Edward R. is engaged in farming in this county, and William is numbered among the well-to-do farmers of Hitchcock, Neb.
   Mr. Ruby continued a resident of his native

county until a young man of twenty years, and then the whole family changed their residence to Morgan County, in the same State. Later he was married there, March 4, 1868, to Miss Mary C. Sanders, who was born in Morgan County, Dec. 22, 1844. Mrs. Ruby is the daughter of Hezekiah and Ann (Rose) Sanders, the father a native of Massachusetts and the mother of Virginia. It is known that Grandfather Rose was a Captain in the War of 1812, and it is believed that Grandfather Sanders distinguished himself in a like manner. The parental family included four children, three of whom are living, namely: Stillman, a resident of Morgan County, Ohio; Mrs. Ruby and Hannah A., the wife of Abraham Long, a resident of this county. Hiram died in Ohio when about twenty-eight years old.
   The parents of Mrs. Ruby were numbered among the pioneer settlers of Morgan County, Ohio, of which they were residents for many years, and recognized as among the best element of its people. The mother died at the homestead there March 9, 1878. Mr. Sanders survived his wife for over ten years, dying in Ohio, Nov. 29, 1888. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Ruby, only two of whom survive -- Mary E. came to the household Dec. 5, 1868, and passed away when a little over seventeen years of age, Dec. 26, 1885; Jesse F. was born March 29, 1871, and died June 15, 1881; Edward M. was born June 5, 1873, and Rosetta A. March 12, 1876. These two bright young people, as may be supposed, are the joy and pride of their parents' hearts. They are being carefully trained and educated as the representatives of a prominent and highly respected family.
   Mr. Ruby acknowledges that a large portion of his success is due to the helpful efforts of his worthy and excellent wife, who with him has borne the heat and burden of the day, and contributed her share toward the accumulation of their property. Mr. Ruby, politically, votes the straight Republican ticket, and before leaving his native State had distinguished himself as a public-spirited citizen, frequently serving on the School Board of his district, and often occupying other positions requiring good judgment and integrity. Socially, he belongs to the G. A. R. Post at Weeping Water. During the late Civil War he was a member for ninety days of the Ohio National Guards, ready to shoulder his musket and prevent the Confederates desecrating the soil of his native State. Fortunately a more arduous service was not required, and the Guards in due time disbanded, and resumed the peaceful vocations of civil life.

OSHUA P. BURDICK. The farmers in the Southwestern part of Cass County, in and around Tipton Precinct, are men fully as capable and enterprising as their neighbors further east, and among the most prominent of these is the gentleman whose name stands at the head of this sketch. One of the heaviest stock-feeders of that section, he utilizes largely in this industry the 640 acres of land which constitutes one of the finest farms in Cass County. He ships usually 250 head of cattle per annum, besides horses and swine, and realizes, it is hardly necessary to say, a handsome income.
   Mr. Burdick is the offspring of an excellent old family, his great-grand father having been one of seven brothers, who emigrated from Scotland over a century ago and purchased a whole township of land in New York State. From them sprang the Burdicks of America. Abel, the grandfather of our subject, a native of New York, after reaching manhood, served as a soldier in the War of 1812. He later followed agricultural pursuits, and spent his last years in New York State. His son, Abel Jr., the father of our subject, was born in Allegany County, N. Y., Sept. 30, 1799, and married Miss Lucy Hadsell, a native of the same place and born March 9, 1806.
   Grandfather Hadsell was of English descent and one of the early pioneers of New York State. He was a lumberman, also owned a farm in Cattaraugus County, and later he operated a saw-mill on the Alleghany River, rafting his lumber down the Ohio to Cincinnati, and was thus engaged until about ten years before his death, then removing into Alleghany City he retired from active labor. His death took place Aug. 29, 1866. The mother survived until March 10, 1879, when she too died in Allegany City. Both were members of the Baptist

Church. The parental family consisted of nine children, two of whom died in infancy. One daughter, Barbara, died when about fifty-seven years old. Those living to mature years were: Abel R., Joshua P., our subject, Euphemia, Hanford D., Albertus P., who died when twenty-one years old, and Sarah. Abel, during the late Civil War enlisted in the 99th Illinois Infantry, in which he served until the close, being neither wounded or captured, and safely returned, settling in Pike County, Ill., where he is now living. Albertus enlisted in a New York regiment, served under Gen. McClellan, and died near Richmond, Va., of fever, in August, 1862. His remains were laid to rest near the old home in Allegany City, N. Y. The other children are living.
   The subject of this sketch was born near Alford, Allegany Co., N. Y., Sept. 30, 1832. He was reared to manhood in the lumber districts of the Empire State, and after attending the subscription school completed his studies in the High School at Moline. When a youth of eighteen years he repaired to Pike County, Ill., on a visit, and was so well pleased with the country in that region that he never returned. Upon leaving Pike County he journeyed by rail to Detroit, thence to Chicago by canal, and down the Illinois River to Griggsville. Here he was employed by the month on a farm and whatever else he could find to do until the spring of 1852.
   Young Burdick, not yet satisfied with his explorations, migrated to Minnesota and assisted in the survey of the old State wagon road, and later crossed the lake to St. Peters River, and finally engaged in rafting lumber down the Wisconsin. We next find him back in Pike County, Ill., there having been an unusual attraction in that locality which was more fully explained on the 3d of April, 1853, when he was united in marriage with Miss Deborah Gray, the wedding taking place at her father's, in Pike County.
   Mrs. Burdick was born near Barry, Pike Co., Ill., Oct. 21, 1835, and is the daughter of Anson and Jane (Harris) Gray, the father a native of Onondaga County, N. Y., and the mother of Pennsylvania. The paternal grandfather, John Gray, was also a native of New York and of Welsh ancestry. Grandfather Harris, whose Christian name was William, was born in New York State, and followed the trade of gunsmith. In due time he migrated to Ohio, settling near Tiffin, where it is supposed he spent the remainder of his life. His father, the maternal great-grandfather of Mrs. Burdick, was of Irish descent, and was the founder of the present flourishing city of Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania.
   Abel Burdick when a youth of eighteen years enlisted in a New York regiment as a soldier in the War of 1812. Later he emigrated to Seneca County, Ohio, and employed himself as a farmer and traveler, being a hunter of no mean skill. Leaving the Buckeye State in 1833 he migrated to Pike County, Ill., and was one of the first men to settle there upon a tract of Government land. Here as before he prosecuted farming and hunting combined, became wealthy, and died Feb. 15, 1870, at the age of seventy-four years. The wife passed away twenty-three years prior to the decease of her husband, her death taking place at their home in Pike County, Aug. 10, 1847, when she was in the forty-first year of her age.
   To Anson and Jane (Harris) Gray there were born eleven children, namely: Mary, who died when thirty years old; John; William; Jerome, deceased at the age of thirty; Adelia, Deborah, Angeline, Benjamin, Sylvia A., Jane and Harriet. Benjamin, during the late Civil War enlisted in the 99th Illinois Infantry and served until the close. Deborah, the wife of our subject, was born near Barry, Pike Co., Ill., Oct. 21, 1835. Mr. Burdick after his marriage purchased land to the extent of 200 acres in Pike County, where he commenced farming, but later sold out and purchased another farm of 100 acres. Upon this he operated until the spring of 1858, then, seized with a desire for still further adventure, disposed of his property interests in the Prairie State and set out with teams for Brown County, Kan.
   Our subject operated upon the soil of Kansas a period of three years, and in the fall of 1862 came to Nebraska, and pitched his tent in Nemaha County. He was engaged in teaming that year and in the fall, the Civil War being in progress, enlisted as a Union soldier in Company E, 2d Nebraska Cavalry, the boys furnishing their own horses.