nearest to Blacklaw's Mill, eight miles away on the Nemaha River. The loneliness of the outlook can better be imagined than described, but the men who thus came to this far-away region were made of that stuff which seldom admitted of any such word as fail, and Mr. Frank has been no exception to this rule. He commenced the improvement of his land, living in the most economical manner, and laboring several seasons, before he could discover much change in his circumstances.
   In due time, however, the soil began to respond to the labors of the agriculturist, and our subject reaped encouragement from the outlook. Here and there other adventurous emigrants were settling around him, and in due time it became necessary to provide for the education of the children. Mr. Frank assisted in the organization of the first school district in the precinct, and also in the erection of the building. This process was gone through with several times as the districts were reduced in territory, in order to make room for more buildings. He contributed quite a sum of money in order to have a schoolhouse in the neighborhood of his own farm, so that his children could reap the benefits thereof.
   As may be readily guessed, the enterprise of Mr. Frank received due recognition from his neighbors, and he was at an early date selected to positions of trust and responsibility. He was one of the first Directors in his school district, in which position he has served continuously since. Otherwise he has avoided becoming an office-holder, but is a stanch Republican, politically, and never fails to perform his duty as a voter. He his been a capable business man, a thorough and skillful farmer, and one whose integrity is unimpeachable. When we reflect upon the fact that he came to this county with a capital of only $10 in his pocket, and a family upon his hands, and that he is now one of the wealthy and prominent men of this region, it cannot be denied that he has done well. He was, as it may be supposed, obliged to run into debt for his first land, but with phenomenal perseverance he labored from year to year, and furnishes one of the finest illustrations of a self-made man, and one who essentially the architect of his own fortune. The family lived in a log house for a number of years until Mr. Frank could build a more permanent structure. The present residence was completed in 1868, and the fact that it still remains in a good state of preservation, after a lapse of twenty years, is indicative of its solidity of architecture. Later he put up a good barn, corn cribs and sheds, planted forest and fruit trees, and has everything about the premises for the well-being and comfort of his family. In time he branched off into stock-raising, reaping from this industry ample returns. He thus labored early and late a period of twenty years, but in the fall of 1888 sold off his stock rented his farm, and is now living wisely retired from active labor. He has been for many years an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, contributing liberally toward its support. Both in social and business circles he is welcomed as a representative man of his county, one who has been no unimportant factor in raising it to its present condition of prosperity.
   The reader will not be surprised to learn that this representative of thrift and prudence is of stanch German ancestry, and was himself born in the Province of Pomerania, Prussia, Feb. 24, 1824. He lived in his native country until a man thirty-five years of age, and upon coming to America settled first in Jefferson County, Wis. A year and a half later he came to Nebraska, in company with William and Gottfried Burow, his brothers-in-law; a sketch of the latter appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. Frank was married in his native Province to Miss Johanna Louise Burow, Oct. 11, 1846, and they became the parents of ten children, of whom the following are living: Their eldest son, August Frank, married Miss Mary Beckman, and is a resident of Humboldt, where he is engaged in general merchandising; William F. married Miss Hester Smith, and is farming in Richardson County; Johanna married William Friday, who is a well-to-do farmer of Table Rock Precinct; Wilhelmina married Henry Schmelzel, and they have one son, Walter Edwin. Augusta, Carl Henry and Wilhelmina are at home with their father.
   Mrs. Johanna Louise Frank was born in the Province of Pomerania, Prussia, Jan. 12, 1823, and departed this life at the homestead in Table Rock Precinct, April 2, 1886. She was a kind mother, a

devoted wife, a generous neighbor, and in her death her family not only sustained an irreparable loss, but she was mourned by all who knew her.
   A fine lithographic view of the handsome home of Mr. Frank is shown elsewhere in this work.

[The FRANK article was typed for NEGenWeb Project by Glenn Burow. Thank you, Glenn.]

DWARD A. HANSEN, one of the pioneer settlers of Sheridan Precinct, is now one of its most intelligent, progressive and successful farmers and stock-raisers. He has a comfortable, well-appointed home on section 3, and his farm of 240 acres on sections 2, 3 and 11, neatly hedged and fenced, with its carefully tilled, highly productive soil, substantial buildings, and all the needed appliances for carrying on agriculture, is one of the most desirable estates in this locality. Mr. Hanson has accumulated his property since coming to Nebraska twenty-eight years ago, as at that time his finances were at a very low mark, and that he is now in good circumstances he owes solely to his capacity for labor, his sound judgment, and an indomitable will that enabled him to surmount all obstacles that usually beset the path of the pioneer.
   Our subject was born near Gothenburg, Sweden, June 26, 1831, being one of a family of seven children, two of whom are now in America, one having returned to his native land. His father was Hans Anderson. (In Sweden the children take their surname from their father's given name, hence his father's name was Hans Anderson.) Hans Anderson and his wife were lifelong residents of that country, dying there in the prime of life, the father in 1810 and the mother the year following. Thus at the tender age of ten years our subject was deprived of the care of his natural guardians. He managed to acquire a good education, and at the age of nineteen, in the year 1850, shipped on board the sailing vessel "Paranenus" as ship carpenter, which was quite a profitable position. When about half way across the Atlantic a terrible storm was encountered and the ship was wrecked, apparently on purpose, as the master crowded on all the sails when other ships had theirs close reefed. The ship went to pieces and went down, and our subject was saved by an American ship. That bitter experience gave our subject a distaste for a seafaring life, and after he had landed on these shores he concluded to try life in this country. He had been in New York but one day when he met a man who asked him if he would like to live on a farm. His companion acted as interpreter, and through him he made arrangements to accompany the stranger to his home in Columbia County, N. Y., where he was treated with great kindness and consideration, but for more than a year the family knew not his story or whence he came. He had not been there more than a year before his ability and trustworthiness gained him the full confidence of his employer, who made him a sort of an overseer of the farm, giving him full charge of the affairs, he hiring the hands, paying them off, etc. Wishing to gain a better knowledge of the English language and to improve his education, he attended school in the winter, at the same time working for $12 a month. He peddled milk for three years, from six to twelve cows, at Chatham's Corners. He subsequently left New York for Wisconsin, where he turned his attention to farming on his own account, and bought a tract of eighty acres of land. He worked steadily to improve a farm, but at the end of three years sought to improve his finances in Missouri. He lived there a year and a half, and then he and his brother-in-law, Jacob Benjamin, came here in 1861, driving all the way front Clinton County, Mo., being on the road ten days, and arriving here on the 24th day of October. Mr. Hansen had but very little money, and after buying and partly paying for a partly improved farm, eighteen acres of which were broken, paying a $200 mortgage and $25 for the crops, he had but fifty cents to his name. He had a good knowledge of carpentering and wagonmaking, and he put it to good use to earn money to finish his payments. He lived in Table Rock for one year, and then began to make needed improvements on his farm. He set out a good orchard that has been in bearing for several years, and broke more of his land and put it under cultivation, hut in 1866 the grasshoppers made a raid with disastrous results. Notwithstanding this calamity he persevered with good courage, and from

time to time has been able to increase the acreage of his farm by further purchases, and has added to his stock until he has a fine farm and a good lot of graded stock. Mr. Hansen has had the encouragement and assistance of a good and capable wife, to whom he was united in marriage in Clinton County, Mo., Sept. 2, 1860. The following is recorded of the seven children who have blessed their union: Albert F. was born Dec. 5, 1861; Ada R., July 11, 1863; Willard, Dec. 19, 1864; Anna Belle, Sept. 21, 1866; Alfred, Aug. 25, 1868; Calvin, June 1, 1872; Lawrence, Aug. 23, 1876. Albert was married Oct. 26, 1882; Anna was married Jan. 29, 1885, to L. Fellers. of this precinct; they have one little girl, Nellie L., and lost a little girl Dec. 23, 1888. Ada married Osmond Fetters, of Pawnee Precinct.
    Mrs. Hansen's maiden name was Abi Bloom, and she was born in Clinton County, Ohio, July 11, 1843. Her father, John Bloom, was a native of New Jersey, and was born in 1809. He went to Ohio in early manhood, and there married Miss Rebecca Downing. She was born in Kentucky in 1810, and when three years of age her parents took her to Ohio, of which they thus became early settlers, and Mr. Downing cut out a farm for himself from the timber. Mr. Bloom was a farmer, and when his daughter Mrs. Hansen was but six weeks old he moved from Ohio to Allegan County, Mich., to what is now Plainwell. and there spent the remaining years of his life, dying in 1852. When Mrs. Hansen was fourteen years old her mother moved from Michigan with her family to Missouri; she subsequently came to Nebraska, and makes her home with Mrs. Hansen. To her and her husband were born nine children, seven of whom lived to maturity. Mrs. Hansen's grandfather, William Bloom, was one of the founders of the State of Ohio, having moved there at an early date, and he there spent the remainder of his life. He reared a family of eight children. Mr. Hansen has done much to advance the development of Pawnee County, and of this part of it in particular, which he found in a very wild condition when he first set foot upon these prairies.
   There were no roads or bridges, and he aided in building them. He helped to build the first bridge that was ever built across the Nemaha in this vicinity; it was of pine lumber, which was drawn from Brownville. Mr. Hansen helped to organize this school district, No. 32, and held the office of first Moderator in it, and has been Director of the school for six years, and has held some office on the Board of Education for several years. He helped to hire the first teacher, there being quite a number of scholars here at the, time, and a log school-house was erected two and one-half miles south of here so as to accommodate the greatest number of children possible. Mr. Hansen heartily supports the policy of the Republican party by voice and vote, atthough he avoids politics as a general thing. While in his native Sweden he belonged to the Lutheran Church, but since coming to this country has identified himself with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which his family are also members. He has made for himself an enduring reputation among his fellowmen as one whose every transaction is in strict accordance will, honor and honesty, and he is invaluable as a citizen, doing all in his power to promote the highest interests of this community. He and his family are well-informed people, being fond of good reading, and their home is rendered pleasant and attractive by the true courtesy and geniality of its inmates.

IMROD AND JOHN E. KEISER. The father and son herewith written of are gentleman about equally well known throughout Table Rock Precinct, the elder being a man of much influence and force of character, and the younger, of fine natural abilities, which are being developed through his sensible process of noting what is going on around him in the world, and making the most of his opportunities for acquiring useful information. They live together at a snug homestead on section 13, in Table Rock Precinct, the estate comprising 240 acres of finely cultivated land with modern improvements.
   Nimrod Keiser was one of the earliest settlers of this county, coming to this region during the fall of 1865. He located on the Little Muddy, but the

summer following removed to the land which he now owns and occupies, and which, it is hardly necessary to say, bore a wide contrast to its present condition. The land was then entirely new and uncultivated. Mr. K., in the spring of 1866, purchased 160 acres, including thirty-five acres of timber, paying therefor $700. He himself turned the first furrow, taking possession of the place in the spring of 1866. He rented a cabin for two winters, and during that time put up a dwelling on his own land, drawing his lumber laboriously from Hillsdale, on the Missouri River, and making the trip in two days. Pine lumber was worth $40 per 1,000. The nearest market was Brownville, and to that point Mr. Keiser hauled his grain and other produce. Later he visited Aspinwall and Peru on the same errand.
   The new farm of Mr. Keiser was for the first few years devoted to grain, but later he commenced stock-raising. It was by no means all smooth sailing, as the grasshoppers destroyed the crops of two seasons, and he then had to haul provender from Brownville for his stock. He has found live stock to be about the most profitable of industries, and still follows it, feeding the most of his corn to his cattle and swine. The farm, neatly enclosed with hedge fencing, well trimmed, presents a beautiful appearance. Our subject has availed himself of improved machinery, including a fine windmill, by which means water is conveyed to any part desired. Each year adds something to the beauty and value of the property.
   Mr. Keiser arrived in Table Rock Precinct in time to assist in the organization of the first school district, in 1879, and he was the first Treasurer. He was one of the movers in this scheme, it being first agitated during a neighborly visit by himself and a neighbor, Mr. Hays, who is written of elsewhere in this work. The first school was conducted in an old cottonwood shanty, the teacher being a Miss Julia Ferguson. Prior to this, however, the children of our subject were sent to the Cooper School, over in Richardson County, for which privilege payment had to be made.
   Mr. Keiser has been a member of the School Board in his precinct since that time, and has filled other positions of trust and responsibility among his neighbors, although he is no office-seeker, and aside from serving his own immediate community has carefully avoided the responsibilities of public life. He was not quite old enough to vote for William H. Harrison, but sixteen years later identified himself with the Republican party, of which he has since been a member. He has also been identified with the Grange movement. He and his estimable wife are both members in good standing of the Christian Church. No man has taken a warmer interest in the growth and development of Pawnee County, and Nebraska generally. He was one of the prime movers in forming the petition to open four miles of the road now passing by his farm to the Nemaha, and which is one of the most popular highways of the county.
   Nimrod Keiser was born in Greene County, Pa., March 24, 1824, and lived there until a young man twenty-three years old. He then started out on his first expedition of importance, accompanying the Long Brothers from Ohio to Philadelphia and New York City, assisting them in driving cattle. He remained with these gentlemen seven years, then visited Illinois as a cattle dealer, and was so well pleased with the outlook in the Prairie State that he finally settled down in Morgan County, and followed the trade of carpenter, which he had learned in his native State. Later, however, he returned to the cattle business as the employe of Jacob Strawn, having the charge of a very large herd for a period of three years. At the expiration of this time he was married, and followed his trade until coming to Nebraska.
   The marriage of Nimrod Keiser and Miss Mary E. Martin was celebrated at the bride's home in Morgan County, Ill., April 14, 1857. This union resulted in the birth of ten children, five of whom are living, namely: Preston, Isabelle, Melinda J., John E. and Olive Ann. Two only are at home with their parents--John E. and Olive A. They were all given a good practical education, and reflect honor upon their parental training. Preston married Miss Alice Davis, is a resident of Richardson County, and the father of one child, Ernest E.; Isabelle is the wife of Theo. Hall, of Table Rock Precinct, and the mother of one child, a son Roy; Melinda J. married Hardin W. Hays, who is

farming on land south of the Keiser homestead.
    The Keiser family is highly spoken of by the residents of Table Rock Precinct, and this is sufficient indication of their standing. The son, John E., has been Road Supervisor of his precinct for the last year, and has given good satisfaction. He is liberal and public-spirited, and is bound to make his mark in the world. He was born in Pawnee County, Table Rock Precinct, April 1, 1866, and took kindly to his books at school, acquiring a practical education, while his habit of reading and thought will suffice to make him generally well informed upon passing events of interest to every intelligent citizen. The family live in excellent style, being provided with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
   Mrs. Mary E. (Martin) Keiser was born in Jessamine County. Ky., Jan. 22, 1833, and removed with her parents when a small child to Morgan County, Ill. Her father, Preston Martin, was a native of Virginia, born about 1808. He left the Old Dominion when a young man, taking up his abode in the Blue Grass regions, and was married to Miss Elizabeth Burks. They became the parents of nine children, three of whom died when young. Six are still living. The family removed to Morgan County, Ill., about 1840, and were residents of Illinois a period of twenty-four years, coming thence to Nebraska. The father took up a tract of land, in 1864, on the Little Muddy, in Richardson County, and lived there until the death of his wife, in April, 1879. Two years later he sold out, and thereafter made his home with his children until his death, Dec. 9, 1887. He was a good man in the broadest sense of the term, conscientious in the performance of every duty, and respected by his neighbors.
   The father of Nimrod Keiser was John Keiser, a native of Pennsylvania, and born in 1798. He was a millwright by trade, and spent his entire life in his native State, traveling nearly all over it in the pursuance of his trade. He married Miss Hannah Brown, and they became the parents of two children, Nimrod and John, Jr. His first wife died, and he was then married to a Miss Dillener. He finally removed to Fayette County, Pa., where he spent his last days, his death occurring about 1865. When Mr. Keiser came to this section none of the uplands were improved, only a small spot here and there along the streams. Deer, wild game of all kinds, and wolves were plentiful. In assisting to subdue a portion of the primitive soil, and in the construction of one of the best homesteads in this county, Mr. Keiser has contributed his full quota to its development and prosperity. In politics he is a stanch Republican.

ENRY FREEMAN, Justice of the Peace, insurance, real-estate agent and conveyancer, office corner of Luzerne and Huston streets, is one of the foremost citizens of Table Rock, and to his enterprise and business ability is the city greatly indebted for its present prosperous and flourishing condition. He was one of the early settlers of Pawnee County, and for some years was an active factor in developing its vast agricultural resources.
   Mr. Freeman was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., Jan. 17, 1817. His father, Adam Freeman, was born in Lancaster County, that State, about 1782, and spent the whole of his life in his native State, dying in 1846, at the age of sixty-four years. His wife, whose maiden name was Matilda McQuillen, and to whom he was united in marriage in 1816, died in 1867, aged sixty-nine. During the latter part of his life he was a farmer. He and his wife were members of the Lutheran Church, were highly respected Christian people, and both died in the triumph of their living faith.
   Our subject was one of a family of ten children reared by his parents, and he remained an inmate of the parental household until he was twenty-one years of age, when he began an independent life for himself. He took up his residence in Center County, Pa., and there married Miss Eleanor Chaney. She was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., Sept. 5, 1821, and her father, Gilbert Chaney, was also a native of that county. The latter was a farmer and a blacksmith, and always resided in his native State. He and his wife reared a family of six children. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Freeman has been blessed to them by the birth of ten children, eight of whom

are living, all of whom but Harry, the youngest, are married and settled in life, and our subject and his wife rejoice in being the grandpa and grandma of twenty-four grandchildren. The following is recorded of their children: Jane E. married A. J. Sweitzer, of Clarion County, Pa., and they have eight children living; John Wesley, now of Grand Island, Neb., married Miss Maggie Hasok, of Clarion County, Pa., and they have five children; Nancy married Charles Murphy, of Grand Island, Neb., and they have three children; Sarah married Jacob Leaman, a farmer of Pawnee County, and they have five children; Gilbert married Miss Frankie Tate, of this county; Rachel married A. E. Lane, of Pawnee County, and they have two children; William H., a resident of this town, married Eva Fellers, and they have one child.
    Mr. Freeman first engaged in iron ore mining after starting in life for himself, and was superintendent of a mine for three years after marriage. At the expiration of that time he moved to Clarion County, Pa., and was engaged in the public works for some time. He then decided to try his fortunes in the young State of Nebraska, and, accompanied by his family, he embarked on a boat at Pittsburgh, Pa,, and came as far as Nemaha City by water. He there bought an ox-team and drove to his destination in Table Rock Precinct, arriving here May 2, 1868. He immediately took up a homestead on section 10, comprising 120 acres. When he came there were very few people living here, not more than fifty men in the entire precinct, and the mail came through here twice a week from Brownville to Beatrice. The name of the township was derived from a large rock on the Nemaha, still to be seen on the farm of John Blacklaw, said rock or boulder standing about ten feet high, and on this foundation is a perfectly flat, nearly circular stone, ten feet in diameter, resting on three legs, each four feet in height.
   Mr. Freeman's land was wild prairie, with not a tree growing on it and not a furrow turned. He put up a tent in which his family found shelter for four months, and he then built a dug-out, which was warm and comfortable, and in that they lived until Mr. Freeman erected a substantial house, drawing the lumber therefor with an ox-team from Rulo.
   In the meantime he improved his farm, breaking thirty acres of it the first year, fenced the farm and introduced stock-raising. When he sold that place he had a good forest, orchard, and plenty of small fruits, with many other valuable improvements. He lived on that farm until 1873, then rented another farm and went into farming and stock-raising more extensively. In 1877 he sold out and moved into Table Rock, having previously finished and furnished a cozy home, and established himself in his present business, which he is conducting very successfully.
   Since becoming a resident of the city Mr. Freeman has been closely identified with the civic government, has been City Clerk for four or five years, Trustee for one year, and has held the office of Justice of the Peace for eight years. He and his estimable wife are connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are ever active in its good works. Mr. Freeman has always displayed commendable public spirit, and has used his influence to promote the various schemes to advance the welfare of the city. He was largely instrumental in securing the passage of the railway through here, and in many other ways has contributed to increase the prosperity of the city. He is a man of large heart and generous mind, and all of his fellow-citizens unite in testifying to his genuine worth of character. In politics he is a stanch Republican.

OHN C. ATKINSON. The sturdy English farmer has not been behind the other nationalities in discovering the resources of the great State of Nebraska, and the gentleman to whose record we thus call attention is one of the most worthy representatives of his countrymen. A native of Yorkshire, he was born July 27, 1834, and was the fifth in a family of eight children, five sons and three daughters, the offspring of Richard and Mary (Nelson) Atkinson, who were born respectively in 1803 and 1801, and were of pure English ancestry. The father was a stonemason by trade and also engaged in farming. Not satisfied, however, with his condition upon his native soil he, in 1843, started with his family for

America. After a long voyage on a sailing-vessel, our subject then being a little lad nine years of age, they arrived safely in New York City, and thence proceeded to Champaign County, Ohio.
   The Atkinson family settled upon a tract of land in the above-named county, upon which the father operated under many discouragements until 1847, then resolved to push further westward, and so sought the pioneer regions of Green County, Wis. He operated there more successfully as a tiller of the soil, and there with his excellent wife spent his last days. The mother departed hence Oct. 20, 1885, and the father followed in 1887. They were the parents of eight children.
   The education of our subject was begun in the district schools of Champaign County, Ohio, and was completed in Green County, Wis., where he grew to man's estate. He was married when twenty-seven years of age, April 14, 1861, to Miss Polly R. Peckham, a native of New York State, but at that time a resident of Green County, Wis. Mrs. A. was born Nov. 18, 1839, and was the daughter of Abel and Ada (Brown) Peckham. The father spent his last years in Wisconsin. The mother is still living, at the advanced age of eighty-eight years. Our subject after marriage settled upon a farm in Green County, where he labored until 1865, then removed to Black Hawk County, Iowa. In the latter he made a specialty of sheep raising. Still not satisfied with his surroundings, he pushed on further toward the setting sun, and finally made his last rendezvous in Clear Creek Precinct, this county. He first homesteaded 160 acres, which he occupied seven years, then sold and purchased his present farm. This comprises 560 acres and lies one mile northwest of Pawnee City. At the time he located here there had been no attempt whatever at improvement on the land, and consequently the buildings, the forest and fruit trees, and the other improvements characterizing the complete modern homestead, are the result of his own industry.
   Mr. Atkinson has made a large portion of his money by stock-raising, keeping usually a herd of 400 head of cattle, twenty horses and 100 swine. He has made a study of this industry with results that should be eminently satisfactory. His family consists of a most estimable wife and seven children, one child having died at the age of five years. The survivors form an intelligent and interesting group, and are named respectively: John E., Jennie A., Annie L., Charles A., Estelle, Maude and Jessie D. Jennie A. is the wife of J. H. Conover. The wedding took place in Box Butte County, Neb., Nov. 28, 1888, where she had taken a homestead, and was residing on the same at the time of her marriage.
   Mr. Atkinson upon becoming a voting citizen, identified himself with the Republican party, to which he gives his undivided support. He has served his precinct as Road Supervisor, and also as School Director for many years. He is the scion of a sturdy race, and his paternal grandparents were Thomas and Ellen (Richmond) Atkinson, who spent their entire lives upon their native soil of Yorkshire, England. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. A. is well remembered by her, and spent the closing years of his life in Illinois. In addition to the home farm Mr. A. owns 240 acres in Miles Precinct, this county.

BRAHAM F. MANLEY. The month of August, 1866, witnessed the first arrival of Mr. Manley in this county, and although the prospect before him was anything but inviting, "he had come to stay," and made his arrangements accordingly. He found himself with plenty of room--a large open stretch of prairie all to himself and his little family--and he proceeded first to erect a shelter in the shape of a log house. In the meantime they slept under the canvas of the covered wagon. Twenty years have worked a vast change not only in the face of the country but in the circumstances of our subject. He occupies an honorable place among the pioneers of Pawnee County, socially and financially, and as such is entitled to prominent mention in this work.
   The town of Clinton, Ripley Co., Ind., was the native place of our subject, and the date of his birth Oct. 14, 1819. His father was Martin Manley, a New Englander by birth and training, born near the city of Montpelier, Vt.. in 1801. He married Miss Huldah Halford, who was ten years his