thirty miles away, which was also the nearest market for produce. In addition to sowing and reaping, Mr. Pepoon set out forest trees, evergreens, hedge and an apple orchard, together with the smaller fruits, plums, cherries, etc. As time passed on and his means permitted, he provided himself with improved machinery. and gradually added to his farming operations blooded stock, cattle, horses and swine. Of these he has of late years made a specialty, with excellent results.
   A native of the Buckeye State, Mr. Pepoon was born in Painesville, Lake County, Aug. 29, 1836, and lived there until a lad of fourteen years. He then emigrated to Illinois with his parents and family, and completed a practical education in Mt. Carroll Seminary. Later he engaged as a teacher. His father's family were all well educated, many of them also engaging as teachers. Our subject was a resident of Jo Daviess County until 1869, and in the spring of that year crossed the Missouri and took up his residence in this county. He was married, Nov. 20, 1860, to Miss Susan Robinson. Four children have come to bless this union, namely: Percy, Alice, Lucy and Mary. The three daughters are living at home with their parents, making a most interesting and attractive group; the son is working at the printer's trade in Omaha. It is hardly necessary to add that they are being given first-class educational advantages. Upon the walls of their dwelling are some fine specimens of painting, mainly the work of Miss Alice, already spoken of. Miss Lucy at an early age evinced more than ordinary musical talent, and is now a fine performer on the piano, besides being a good alto singer.
   Mrs. Susan (Robinson) Pepoon was born in Jo Daviess County, Ill., Sept. 15, 1840, and lived there until the time of her marriage, completing her education in Mt. Carroll Seminary. Her father, James Robinson, was a native of Virginia, whence he emigrated when a young man to the vicinity of the lead mines of Galena, Ill., and later was married to Miss Cassandra Morris, who with her parents journeyed all the way from Kentucky by wagons to Illinois, and were in Jo Daviess County at the time of the Black Hawk War. The young people commenced life together on a farm in Jo Daviess County among its earliest pioneers, and reared a family of five children. Mr. Robinson, aside from his services as a soldier in the war above spoken of, carried on farming all his life. His death took place in January, 1846, at the old homestead in Jo Daviess County. The mother survived a number of years, dying in Falls City, in 1883, at the age of sixty-nine years, having been born in 1814.
   Upon the outbreak of the Civil War, greatly to his regret Mr. Pepoon was not permitted, on account of home cares, to enter the ranks, much as he desired. In due time, however, some of his neighbors' sons who had gone to the front and returned disabled consented to look after his father's farm, and he then hastened to proffer his services in assisting to preserve the Union. He enlisted in the spring of 1865, in Company K, 96th Illinois Infantry, and was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. We must not omit to say that four of his brothers were at the same time doing service as soldiers and patriots. The regiment of Mr. P. was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, but he was not permitted to enter into any active engagement, the war then approaching its close, and this division of the troops being in camp at Nashville. He received his honorable discharge, and was mustered out in January, 1866. In the meantime he had seen sufficient of army life to know there were hardships and privations to be endured, and he underwent the fatigue of marching from Nashville, Tenn., to Texas.
   Upon returning home from the army Mr. Pepoon resumed the various duties of farm life in Illinois, but not long afterward began to look longingly to the rich soil of Nebraska. He was soon recognized as a valued addition to the community of Table Rock Precinct, and since that time has been foremost to encouraging the enterprises calculated to advance the moral and financial welfare of the people. He has held the various township and school district offices, and in 1876 was nominated by the Republican party for the State Senate, elected, and served his term with great credit. He served on many important committees, namely: those on Agriculture, Highways, Bridges, Library and Claims. He introduced the bill to reimburse

owners of stock which had been killed on railroads, and one compelling railroad companies to cleanse all stock cars after they had once been used. A man of excellent education, Mr. Pepoon from 1881 until 1885 was editor and publisher of the Falls City Journal, there being associated with his son.
   The father of our subject, Silas Pepoon, was born in Connecticut, and spent his last years in Illinois. Percy P., the son of our subject, and a young man of move than ordinary business capacities, was born in Illinois, where his early education was conducted, and later he was a cadet at West Point. Upon returning home he became interested in the printing business, being connected with the Falls City Journal two years. Later he was the partner of W. W. Abby, and still owns a half-interest in the Journal. He married Beatrice Viggers. This section of Pawnee County is one really remarkable for the number of its cultured and educated men.

HARLES W. CURRY is the son of a well-known pioneer farmer of Plum Creek Precinct, and has himself for some years been active in developing and sustaining the large agricultural interests of Pawnee County, he being an intelligent, wide-awake, progressive young man, who is considered one of the most. prominent residents of the precinct.
   Our subject was born near Platte City, Platte Co., Mo., Dec. 25, 1857. His father, George W. Curry, was born in Frederick County, Va., July 24, 1818, and his mother, whose maiden name was Ellen M. Rankin, was born in Morgan County, Va., March 20, 1820. Thomas Curry, grandfather of our subject, was born in Ireland, and later in life migrated to this country and located in Virginia, where he carried on his trade of weaver. He died in Frederick County, at the age of fifty years. Simeon Rankin, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was a native of Virginia. He was a lumberman, and had a sawmill on Sleepy Creek, a tributary of the Potomac River. He was quite an extensive land-owner, and had 500 acres of land in one body, and 160 acres adjacent to the 500, and at the time of his death, April 23, 1844, at the age of fifty-two years, was quite wealthy. He took part in the War of 1812, as a private. His father, William Rankin, was also a lumberman, and very wealthy. He was born in Virginia, near Swan Pond, in Jefferson County, and was the son of a gentleman who was a native of Ireland.
   The father of our subject grew up on a farm in Virginia, and when a young man went to Pennsylvania, where he married. He engaged as a farmer in that State, owning a small farm. He later moved to Harrison County, Mo., and after farming there five years, took up his residence in Jefferson County, Ohio. A year later, in 1850, he moved still farther West, and until 1858 lived in Platte County, Mo. In that year he bought land, a tract of eighty acres, in Pottawatomie County, Kan., improved and cultivated it until May, 1862, when he enlisted in Company K, 23d Kansas Cavalry, and was mustered into the Army of the West, under Gen. Blunt, at Ft. Reilly. He took part in the battles of Pea,Ridge and Boston Mountain, and was mustered out Feb. 26. 1663, on account of disability. He re-enlisted in October, 1863, in Company G, 11th Kansas Cavalry, and did valiant and efficient service on many a hard-fought battle-field or in sudden skirmishes with the enemy, until the close of the war. He was honorably discharged at Leavenworth, Kan., May 15, 1865. While he was thus fighting his country's battles, his noble, patient wife was bravely caring for their family at home, managing their farm with great skill. They continued to live in Kansas until March, 1866, when they removed to Pawnee County, this State, bringing their family and household goods with a team.
   Mr. Curry purchased 120 acres of bottom land, lying on Wolf Creek, in Plum Creek Precinct, and took up besides 160 acres of Government land on section 8, under the provisions of the Homestead Act. He was one of the first settlers in the precinct, and from that time until his death, Oct. 25, 1873, was busily engaged in making improvements on his land, cultivating it and raising stock. He was in all respects a good and loyal citizen, and his death took from this community one of its most valued members. Religiously, he was a member of

the Methodist Episcopal Church, as was his wife also, and politically, he was an earnest supporter of the Republican party. The mother of our subject, a highly esteemed lady, makes her home with him. The following is recorded of the eleven children born to her and her husband: William and Simeon T. are dead; Mary M. is in Louisville, Ky.; John F. is in Livingston County, Mo.; Phoebe J. is in Colorado; George N. is in Nebraska; Albert K. is dead; James E. is in Red Willow County, Neb.; Lucy F. is in Audubon County, Mo.; Charles W.; Louis W. is in Pawnee County. Simeon T. enlisted in the 2d Kansas Cavalry in 1862, was taken sick soon after, and died; John was a member of the 2d Kansas Cavalry from 1862 until the close of the war.
   Charles Curry was eight years old when he accompanied his parents to their pioneer home in this precinct, and he grew to man's estate on his father's homestead, receiving a good common-school education. He remained with his mother until he was twenty-one, and then commenced life for himself, engaging in farming and stock-raising on his present place. He was so successful in his ventures that he was enabled to buy eighty acres of it, and also eighty more on the same section. On this he has made all the improvements, erecting a good house, barns, and other necessary farm buildings, planting groves and an orchard of 100 trees, fenced and hedged his land, which is well watered by Wolf Creek, and he has an abundant supply of native timber, some twelve acres. Mr. Curry is prosperously engaged in raising both grain and stock, and of the latter has some fine specimens, ten head of horses of fine breed, one-half Clyde, besides some handsome graded cattle.
   The marriage of our subject to Miss Lucinda O. Clark took place in Osborne City, Osborne Co., Kan., Aug. 14, 1879, and of their happy union two children have been born--Lulu M. and Robert E. Mrs. Curry was born near Eagleville, Harrison Co., Mo., and is the daughter of John and Nancy M. (Burns) Clark, natives respectively of Ohio and Kentucky. Thomas Clark, grandfather of our subject, was of Irish descent, and a native of Ohio. He farmed in that State for many years, but subsequently moved to Bartholomew County, Ind., where he died. Mrs. Curry's maternal grandfather, James Burns, a native of Kentucky, of Irish descent, became a resident of Bartholomew County, Ind., in the latter part of his life. He was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Mrs. Curry's father was married in Indiana, and moving from there to Harrison County, Mo., took up a 160-acre tract of land and improved it. He continued farming there until 1878, when he moved to Rooks County, Kan., where he took up a half-section of land under the provisions of the Homestead Act. He and his wife still make their home there, he being now sixty-five years old, and she sixty-four years of age. They are people of sincere religious convictions, and are esteemed members of the Methodist Episcopal and Christian Churches respectively. They are the parents of eight children, namely: Emma, Martha J., Mary A., Lucinda O., Nancy M., Thomas R., James W. and Millard M.
   Both as a citizen and as a man, our subject justly holds a high place in this community. In him every good cause finds a ready champion, and he endeavors earnestly to promote the moral, material and religious advancement of this precinct, where he has passed so many years of his life as boy and man. He does all in his power to further the educational facilities of the town, and acted as School Moderator for nine years, and is the present Treasurer of the School Board. Both he and his amiable wife are zealous members of the Christian Church at Pleasant Valley, and he has been Assistant Superintendent of the Sunday-school. He has served on the Grand Jury. In politics he warmly espouses the Union Labor party. He was at one time connected with the I. O. G. T.

OSEPH B. PARRISH. This well-known resident of Table Rock Precinct came to Nebraska first in the year 1858, staying here but a short time, however, and then going back to Pennsylvania, where he remained until 1867. In the latter year he returned to Nebraska, and settled on his present homestead on Clear Creek. This was all then raw prairie, and his labor for many years was devoted entirely to its

improvement. He planted many trees and set out a good orchard, and for several years before any other resident in the neighborhood had a good crop of peaches. Fruits of all kinds, indeed, he raised in abundance.
   Our subject was born in Kingston, Pa., and in 1840 contracted his first marriage, his wife being Miss Ruth Griffing, a native of Canaan, Pa., and a daughter of William M. Gritting. For further particulars of her family history see sketch of Arthur Griffing, on another page. Of this union eight children were born, seven of whom accompanied their parents to this State, namely: Annette, Lucy, William, Mary, Clarence, Frank and Idelia. The one who died was named Joseph. The mother of this family lived but two years after coming to this State.
   The second wife of Mr. Parrish was Mrs. Rosetta Brock, widow of John Brock, and who is now the oldest settler in this precinct. She first came to Nebraska in 1856, and with her parents settled on the farm which is now her home. Her early experiences on these prairies were of the roughest, for the first winter they lived in an unchinked log cabin, 14xI4, without either floor or chimney. The winter proved an exceptionally stormy one, and, to make it still more lonely for the new-comers, there was not a neighbor living within many miles. Snows were frequent and heavy, and for weeks at a time the parents and their five children lived on hulled corn and such game as they could shoot. There was not then a store or post-office on this side of the Missouri River, and the life of the settler of that early day was certainly one of hardship. Since then, however, great changes have taken place, and her childhood's home, on which she is again living, has been transformed from a bleak prairie into a beautiful and fertile farm, with a handsome and commodious residence, and every modern convenience for comfort.
   After some years our subject sold his farm on Clear Creek and bought, as already intimated, the farm which had been the home of his wife's father, and there he has ever since resided. He is a man who is highly respected in the precinct, and, although no politician, has been called upon by his neighbors to serve them in local office, having been Constable and Road Supervisor. In politics he acts with the Republican party. He is really a self-made man, all that he now possesses being the result of his own labors. The only money he ever got without working for it was $1 given to him by his grandmother when a boy.

AMES KENNEDY, a respected and prosperous member of the farming community of Pawnee County, is profitably tilling the fertile acres of his valuable and well-improved farm on section 7, in the pleasant precinct of Miles, he inherited from a sturdy, industrious, honorable ancestry those sterling traits of character whereby he has made life a success. He is of mixed Celtic and Welsh descent. His paternal grandfather, James Kennedy, was born in Ireland, and when young came to America and settled in Pennsylvania. He carried on the trade of weaver in that State, and was there married, and soon afterward moved to Warren County, Ohio. He at first cast in his lot with the early pioneers of that county, but a short time afterward moved to Butler County, the same State, and became an early settler there. He cleared a farm from the timber, and there rounded out a good old age of eighty-four years, his death occurring April 15, 1845. He was a strong Presbyterian in his religious faith, belonging to the United Presbyterian Church. The maternal grandfather of our subject, whose name was Lowrey, was a native of Wales. He came to America when a young man, and was a pioneer in Scott County, Ky. He was there actively engaged as a farmer for several years, and his death occurred in his adopted State.
   John Kennedy, the father of our subject, was born in Warren County, Ohio, but his parents removing to Butler County soon after he was reared in that county to man's estate, and was there married to Catharine Lowrey, who after the death of her parents had removed from her native Kentucky to Butler County, Ohio. Mr. Kennedy had become an adept at the carpenter's and also at the millwright's trades, and conducted both in his native State until 1835. In that year the fame of

the great agricultural facilities offered by the Territory of Iowa, which but a year or two before had been thrown open to settlement, attracted him to locate within its bounds and devote himself to farming. After his arrival in that part of the country he pre-empted a half-section of land in Louisa County, and began its improvement. In the fall of 1836 he returned to Ohio to secure the necessary school privileges for his children that the newer country of Iowa did not then offer, there being but few white settlers there at that time. He settled on the old homestead in his native State, and conducted farming there until 1853, when he sold all his property there, and returned to his Iowa possessions. He engaged in agriculture there until 1857, when his useful and honorable life was brought to a close, at the age of sixty-three. His wife had preceded him in death many years before, dying while yet in life's prime, in September, 1835. Of their union seven children were born. Mr. Kennedy was a man of marked force of character, of an earnest, thoughtful mind, and of superior intelligence and integrity, and exerted a good influence among the pioneers of his adopted State.
   The subject of this biographical notice was the second child born to his worthy parents, and his birth took place in their home near Monroe, Butler Co., Ohio, May 16, 1825. He was about ten years old when he accompanied his father to Iowa, and can still remember the incidents of the journey and the scenes in the strange, wild land beyond the Mississippi, still peopled by the Indians. Indeed, the growth not only of the States beyond the Father of Waters has taken place in his day, but that of the greater part of the Middle Western States, his native Ohio when he left it the first time still being in the hands of the pioneers, who had by no means reclaimed the soil from the dense primeval forest that once formed so important a feature in the landscape of the country, and the aboriginal settlers of the wilderness still lingered in their old haunts. It is within his recollection that many of the great changes have taken place that have made these States great and powerful commonwealths, that in the march of civilization the log cabin or dug-out has given place to the commodious farmhouse or stately mansion, and that the rude appliances of pioneer life have given place to the modern conveniences and comforts. After remaining a year in Iowa the father of our subject, anxious that his children should be well educated, as before mentioned, returned with them to Ohio, and there our subject attended the common schools. He remained on the home farm until he was twenty-one, and he then rented land and carried on agriculture on his own account in his native State until 1851, when he returned to Iowa by boat, and with his brother began working his father's farm, which was situated one and one-half miles from the Mississippi. After the death of the father they continued to carry on the farm until 1882, the month of January, when our subject sold and moved to Pawnee City. He rented land near there the first year and then bought his present place, which then comprised 240 acres of land, partly improved, adjoining Burchard. In 1862 he sold eighty acres of it to W. J. Halderman, and retained 160 acres, which he has put in a fine state of cultivation. He has erected suitable farm buildings, dwelling-house, barn, etc., and has built up a home replete with all the comforts of modern life. He has set out a fine orchard and made many other improvements, so that his farm is classed among the most valuable in the precinct. He is chiefly engaged in grain raising, in which he has been very successful, and his granaries are filled after each harvest with grain of a superior quality. He was formerly much interested in raising blooded stock, but he has abandoned that branch of agriculture.
   Mr. Kennedy was married to the good wife who has so faithfully co-operated with him in his work, in the month of December, 1858, in Louisa County, Iowa. Her maiden name was Nancy J. Herron, and she was born in Preble County, Ohio. The pleasant wedded life of our subject and his wife has been blessed to them by the birth of three children, as follows: John C., who has a farm in Sherman, Kan., which he took up as a homestead; Belle and Jennie, who are at home with their parents. Although Mr. Kennedy has been a resident of Miles Precinct but a few years, he is thoroughly identified with its best interests, and he and his

family are considered valuable members of this community. During his career as an agriculturist our subject has displayed commendable enterprise and forethought, and in all his dealings he has been straightforward and honest, and his neighbors and friends have ever placed the most implicit trust in him. Religiously, he and his wife are united with the United Presbyterian Church at Burchard, and cordially co-operate with their fellow-members in their efforts to elevate the moral tone of the community. Politically, Mr. Kennedy advocates the principles promulgated by the Republican party.

ILLIAM WHITE takes a high stand for tact and financial ability among the young business men of Pawnee County, and in him the city of Table Rock, where he is engaged in the lumber and implement trade, finds one of her most useful and wide-awake citizens, who is doing much to extend her commercial interests. He is a native of Illinois, born in DuPage County, June 26, 1859. His father, Thomas White, was born in England, probably in Yorkshire. He was married, while a resident of England, to Miss Kittie Reason, a native of Yorkshire, and to them were born six children, three of whom are still living in Illinois. When about twenty-three years old he came to America, settling first in Canada. He subsequently went to Ohio, and from there to DuPage County, Ill., where he was employed at farming. Early in the sixties Mr. White moved with his family to Will County, in the same State, and bought a tract of wild prairie land, which he has since improved into one of the finest farms in that locality, and on it he built up one of the most attractive and comfortable homes in that county. In 1886, still retaining his Illinois property, Mr. White moved to Gage County, Neb., near Filley, onto a farm which he had purchased some years previously, and it is now one of the finest improved places in that county. He and his worthy wife are people of high consideration and standing in the community where they have gone to spend their declining years, their kindness and geniality having soon secured them many warm friends. Mr. White has avoided office, preferring the quietude and comfort of his own fireside to the turmoil of public life, but he takes an interest in local and general affairs, and politically, is a stanch Republican, as is also his son, of whom we write.
   Our subject was two or three years of age when his parents moved from the place of his birth to their pioneer home in Will County, Ill., and there he received a sound education, obtaining the preliminaries in the common schools, and then attending a High School and business college. After leaving college he remained at home on his father's farm, acquiring a practical knowledge of agriculture, until he came to this State. He first visited Nebraska in 1880, when he came here on a prospecting tour, and, being much pleased with the country, he determined to come here and locate permanently, which he did in the spring of 1883, settling on his father's land in Gage County. At that time the land was wild prairie, and our subject turned the first furrow and set out the first trees, and he fenced one-half of the section, the land comprising 640 acres on section 19. He put up a fine house on a good foundation, the dimensions of the building being 18x26xl6 feet, with an L 12x14x12 feet. He also built a barn, stables and other necessary buildings. He then engaged in grain raising, and continued to live on the farm for one year. He then came here, and formed a partnership with Mr. Andrews, and is still carrying on the business very successfully.
   Mr. White conducts his business in a systematic manner and by thoroughly honorable methods, and has thus built up a good and lucrative trade, and at the same time has won all excellent reputation. He is already numbered among the solid and influential men of the town, financially and socially speaking, and, although he has been a resident of the city only about five years, his fellow-citizens have from the first placed implicit confidence in him, and for the last three years the public finances have been entrusted to his care, he having been Treasurer of the Town Board for that length of time, and since last spring he has been Treasurer of the School Board.
   February 27, 1884, our subject was united in

marriage to Miss Jennie Andrews, of Gage County, Neb., and their union has been blessed to them by the birth of one son, Leroy A. Mr. and Mrs. White are exemplary members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a Trustee. Mr. White is identified with the K. of P. Mrs. White was born Dec. 18, 1859, in Will County, Ill., and is a daughter of George and Mary (Dann) Andrews, natives of England, her father having been born in Brigg, Lincolnshire, in 1828. He came to America with his wife in 1854, and, settling on new land in Will County, Ill., improved a fine large farm. He is still living, and is greatly respected for his honest, blameless character. He is an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church, as was his wife, who departed this life in 1878. They were the parents of seven children who grew to maturity. Mrs. White came to Nebraska in 1882.

AMES T. STEWART, who is one of Pawnee County's pioneers, is a fine representative of one of her important precincts, that of Plum Creek. He is skillful and energetic in his calling, displaying a good degree of enterprise and thrift, and his well-improved farm on section 3 is considered one of the best tilled and best equipped places in the neighborhood, and is one of which the owner may well be proud, as he has developed it to its present fine condition from the wild prairie.
   The subject of this sketch was born April 7, 1846, near Cambridge, Guernsey Co., Ohio. His parents, Edie and Elenora (Spier) Stewart, were natives of the same county. Robert Stewart, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania. He served as a private in the War of 1812, and later became an early settler of Guernsey County, Ohio. He cleared a farm from the forest and engaged in farming and stock-raising for many years. His death occurred in Belmont County, Ohio, in 1872, when he was some eighty years of age. The paternal great-grandfather of our subject came from the North of Ireland to this country some time during the last century and located in Pennsylvania, where his remaining days were passed. Zethaniah Spier, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was of American birth, but of Scotch descent. He was a farmer in Guernsey County, Ohio, and continued there until his death of cancer, in 1858. Grandmother Spier lived to be over ninety years old.
   The father of our subject was reared on a farm in Guernsey County, and there married and made his home the rest of his days, owning a farm there and prosperously engaging in agricultural pursuits. While on a visit to St. Louis, in 1863, whither he had gone in search of a son who was in the army, he died of a sunstroke, at the age of forty-five. He was a man of marked decision of character, of unswerving integrity, and of an earnest, thoughtful disposition. He was a valued member of the United Presbyterian Church, and in his political sentiments a rank Abolitionist. The mother of our subject, a woman of sterling worth, makes her home in Pawnee City, and is now sixty-eight years old. Of their marriage twelve children were born, namely: Elizabeth; Rebecca and Joseph are both deceased; Robert, James T., John (a minister of the United Presbyterian Church in New York State), Mary, William, Mathew, Irwin, Jane and Samuel, the last five being dead. Joseph was a soldier in the late war, enlisting in 1861 in the 78th Ohio Infantry, attached to the Army of the West. He was taken sick at Pittsburg Landing, and died in the hospital in 1862.
   James T. Stewart, of whom we write, grew to manhood on the old homestead in Ohio that had been his birthplace. He received the usual common-school advantages, and at the age of eighteen, in the spring of 1864, enlisted in the 162d Ohio National Guards. and was mustered into the service at Cambridge. His regiment was sent down to the Ohio River to take charge of the Government post at Gallipolis, and our subject did guard duty there until he was mustered out at Cambridge, Ohio, in August, 1864. During his term of service he proved himself to be possessed of many soldierly qualities, and by his faithfulness and ready obedience to the commands of his superior officers he readily won their confidence. After leaving the army Mr. Stewart returned to his old home and remained with his mother until he was twenty-one years of age. He then tried farming in Monroe County, Iowa, but at