Tekamah and Vicinity, Noteworthy Men of

to be the oldest, dying February 18th, 1900, at the age of 96 years, 8 months and 26 days.

   MICHAEL SHAFER was born in Knox county, Ohio, March 21st, 1831. He resided there until 1844 when his parents removed with the family to Jefferson county, Iowa. While living there they passed through a scourge of Asiatic cholera, the father, mother and one brother dying. October 16th. 1851, Mr. Shafer was united in marriage to Miss Julia A. Lydick and in 1856 they removed to Burt county and settled in the timber along the Missouri river, in Arizona township, where they resided continuously until removing to Tekamah, June 2nd, 1902. Mr. and Mrs. Shafer formed a part of the hardy pioneer band who came ahead of civilization and braved the rigors and hardships of opening up a new country for the generations to follow.
   In crossing the state of Iowa they used ox teams. The start was made the day after Buchanan's election to the presidency, for whom Mr. Shafer cast his first vote. He had just got nicely settled in his new home when the severe winter of '56 and '57 was upon them. Game was never so plentiful. Mr. Shafer relates how he had been to Council Bluffs and secured a load of corn which he brought home and stored on top of his stable. The wild turkeys found it and he set a trap for them, securing fourteen at one pull.

   EDMUND SHAFER was born in Knox county, Ohio, July 23d, 1832. In 1844 he accompanied his parents to Jefferson county, Iowa, where he resided until 1856, when, accompanied by his wife he came to Omaha, Nebraska. In April, 1857, he left Omaha for Burt county, arriving here April 18th. Describing his trip from Omaha and some of his early pioneer experiences he says:
   "Our first appearance in Tekamah was on horseback. We got swamped in Hill Creek and had to abandon our wagon. Our first residence in Arizona township was a

leanto covered with poles and dirt and carpeted with Mother Earth while I cut and erected a mansion of round logs, covered with clapboards. It was 14x16 feet in size. Wasn't we proud of our home? We felt as though we were monarchs of all we could survey. There were about eight or ten houses in sight. We prepared some land and put in a crop but the grasshoppers took it. We gathered raspberries, which were abundant and grapes. For yeast we used cottonwood bark. For meat prairie chickens were trapped. Our best help was secured from among the Omaha Indians who helped us in harvest.
   For ten years Mr. Shafer resided in Arizona township. He then removed to his farm west of Tekamah where he resided for three years. In 1870 he moved to Tekamah and engaged in merchandising for twenty years. Since that time he has devoted his time to managing his farm interests.
   Mr. Shafer was united in marriage March 13th, 1853, to Miss Editha E. Gibson.
   In 1871 and 1872 Mr. Shafer was postmaster of Tekamah. resigning in the latter year. In 1857 he served as Justice of the Peace in Arizona township. In 1896 he was elected Mayor of Tekamah and at various times was elected member of the city council.

   MELLVILLE R. HOPEWELL was born March 27th, 1845, in Monroe county, Indiana. At the age of six years he accompanied his parents to Collin county, Texas, and in 1857 removed with them to Worth county, Missouri. where he lived on a farm and attended the district school during the winter months. In 1863 he enlisted in Co. G, 3d Missouri Mounted Militia, organized for the purpose of suppressing marauding bands of bushwhackers and robbers that infested the state under the leadership of the notorious Quantrell, Bill Davidson and others. He served with his regiment until it was disbanded and in the spring of 1864, at the age of nineteen, started out to seek his fortune. He


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