OAKLEY ADAMS 
Oakley Adams, who since 1895 has lived retired in Emerald, where he has a pleasant home and eight acres of land, was born in Monroe county, New York, in the town of Hamlin in March 1847. His parents, Lewis and Jane (Haggerty) Adams, were natives of New Jersey. The father was a farmer by occupation and followed that pursuit in New York for many years, there passing away in 1897. For more than a quarter of a century he had survived his wife, who died in 1871. Oakley Adams was reared and educated in New York and the total number of days which he spent in school was but two hundred and twenty. 

At the age of fourteen he joined the army, enlisting for service in the Civil war, but his father brought him back home, feeling that he was too young to serve. When sixteen years of age he began firing on the Atlantic & Great Western Railroad, now the Erie Railroad, and continued in that employ for twelve years, spending the last seven years of that period as an engineer. He next made his way into the oil country of Pennsylvania and devoted three years to putting down oil wells. At the end of that time he was married and in 1880 he came to Lancaster county, Nebraska, here purchasing eighty acres of land on section 22, Middle Creek precinct. 

He at once began improving this tract and operated it until 1895, when he sold his farm and removed to Emerald, where he purchased a pleasant residence standing in the midst of eight acres of land. He then retired and has since enjoyed a well earned rest, having leisure to engage in those things which are of most interest and pleasure to him. In June 1880, Mr. Adams was married to Miss Katherine Kinney, of Wellsville, New York, where she was born March 14, 1859. They never had any children of their own but reared an adopted daughter, Emma Trumbley, now the wife of Ira Davison, residing in Denver. 

The religious faith of Mr. and Mrs. Adams is that of the Baptist church and he gave an acre of ground to serve as the site upon which to build a house of worship. In politics he is independent and fraternally he is connected with the Masonic lodge of Lincoln. His has been an active and useful life in which diligence and earnest purpose have brought him his success. While upon the farm he spent eighteen years in dairying as well as in general agricultural pursuits and his life record proves what may be accomplished when energy and enterprise lead the way. 

CARL H. BECKER 
On the list of Lancaster county's native sons appears the name of Carl H. Becker, who was born in Middle Creek precinct April 14, 1879, his parents being Carl F. and Mary (Kloeckmeyer) Becker. The father was born in Wisconsin and the mother in Illinois. Carl F. Becker was a farmer by occupation and in 1867 came to Lancaster county, where he purchased land. He made the trip with his parents, who also bought land, and he became the owner of the farm which is now operated by his son, Carl H. Becker. His diligence and determination were soon manifest in the changed appearance of the place, which he set about improving, operating the farm until 1903, when he retired. 

He was also engaged in grain business at Emerald for eighteen years and both branches of his business proved profitable. He is now retired, making his home in Emerald, no longer finding it necessary to resort to active business in order to provide for support as he has accumulated a competence sufficient for his remaining days. Carl H. Becker was reared and educated in this county and continued under the parental roof until he reached the age of twenty-three years, when he began farming on his own account by renting the old home place of one hundred and fifty acres.. There he continued to reside until 1911, when he purchased eighty acres of that tract-the farm upon which he was born, on section 26, Middle Creek precinct. 

He has made splendid improvements upon the place and today has one of the fine farm homes in the county. In addition to cultivating his own land he also cultivates a rented farm of one hundred and fifty acres, and carefully, systematically and wisely are his interests carried on that a gratifying measure of success has crowned his efforts. He is now conducting a dairy, milking about twenty head of cows, all high grade Jerseys. He is one of the directors of the Lancaster Milk Producers Association and has been one of its stockholders from its organization. He was also formerly a stockholder in the Emerald State Bank. 

Mr. and Mrs. Becker have became the parents of three children: Otto C., born November 17, 1901; Walter J. H., born April 3, 1903; and Berdina W., born March 2, 1908. Politically Mr. Becker is an earnest republican and for four years he served as assessor of his precinct, while for six years he was road overseer. His religious faith is that of the German Lutheran church and in its teachings he finds the guiding principles of his life, shaping his relations with his fellowmen. Those who know him esteem him highly, recognizing in him one who can be relied upon to follow the dictates of his conscience and to shape his course according to the recognized commercial and business standards.

EDWARD F. BOHL 
Edward F. Bohl was a successful farmer of Centerville precinct and his demise, which occurred in 1904, was recognized as a loss to his community. A native of Lancaster county, his birth occurred in Highland precinct on the 7th of January 1878, and he was a son of Nicholas Bohl. He passed his boyhood and youth upon the home farm and when not attending the public schools devoted his time to assisting his father. On reaching mature years he determined to make farming his life work and purchased eighty acres of land on section 20, Centerville precinct, on which he made his home until called by death on the 11th of October, 1904. He made many improvements upon his farm and his well directed labors as a farmer and stock raiser were rewarded by a good financial return. 

Mr. Bohl was married in Lincoln on the 22nd of January 1901, to Miss Amelia Frohn, who was born in Centerville precinct and is a daughter of William Frohn, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. To this union were born two sons, Elmer William and Clarence Nicholas. Mr. Bohl was a stanch advocate of the principles of the democratic party and loyally supported its candidates at the polls, but never sought office. He had a wide acquaintance throughout the county and was most highly esteemed where best known as his dominant qualities were those which characterize the highest type of manhood. His wife resided in Martel for a number of years after his death in order to afford her toils the advantages of the schools there, but in the spring of 1910 returned to the farm. Mrs. Bohl is a member of the Centerville Methodist church and highly respected in her community.

JOHN FREDERICK BRAHMSTADT 
John Frederick Brahmstadt was a well known farmer of Olive Branch precinct and his demise was the occasion of much sincere regret. A native of Germany, he was born in Mecklenburg on the 7th of November 1838, a son of Frederick Brahmstadt, who engaged in blacksmithing in Germany. Our subject remained in the fatherland until he was seventeen years old, when, in company with his brothers, Henry and William, he came to America and made his way to Chicago, Illinois. He worked as a laborer there for a time and subsequently was employed as a farm hand. Following his marriage, which occurred in Chicago, he farmed in Cook county for several years and then went to Effingham, Illinois, where he established a general store. 

He engaged in business there for a number of years but at the end of that time lost his store by fire and in 1870 he became a resident of York, Nebraska, which was then but a tiny hamlet. He built the second house in the town and started a general store, which he conducted for eight years. In 1878 Mr. Brahmstadt removed to Cherry county, Nebraska, and became the first settler in that county. Previous to his arrival there the only white residents of the county were the soldiers in the fort, and he experienced all of the hardships and dangers incident to life upon the western frontier. For fourteen years he operated a cattle ranch but disposed of that place in 1892 and went to Blair, Nebraska, where he purchased ten acres of orchard land. 

Eight years later, in 1900, he came to Lancaster County, Nebraska, and began farming three hundred and twenty acres of land in section 9, Olive Branch precinct, which belonged to his wife. He concentrated his energies upon the operation of that farm during his remaining years, dying there on the 6th of November 1913, and was buried in the Methodist cemetery at Kramer. Mr. Brahmstadt and Miss Henrietta Fritz were married in 1857 in Chicago, Illinois. She was born in Germany but emigrated to America in her girlhood and located near Effingham, Illinois. She passed away in Chicago in 1876, leaving six children: John, who is a horse trainer by occupation; Gustave, who is farming in Idaho; Edward, deceased, who was a rancher of Cherry county. Nebraska ; Louis, who is operating a sawmill in Arbor, Washington; Emma, the wife of Henry Hollman, a farmer of Olive Branch precinct, Lancaster county Nebraska; and William Henry, who is operating the home place in Lancaster county. 

Mr. Brahmstadt's second marriage occurred on the 2nd of May 1877, on the old Kramer farm in Olive Branch precinct, his bride being Mrs. William Hollman, nee Sophie Kramer. Her parents, Henry and Margaret (Schaeper) Kramer, were born in the province of Westphalia, Germany. The latter engaged in farming there for some time but in 1845 came to America and first located in St. Louis, Missouri, whence he went to Clayton county, Iowa. There he bought government land which he farmed until his removal to Lancaster county, Nebraska in 1865. He filed On ninety acres of raw land on section 9, Olive Branch precinct, and at once began improving his place. For three years he lived in a dugout but at the end of that time erected a log house. 

He resided upon the homestead during his remaining days, his death occurring on the 6th of January, 1914, when he had reached the venerable age of ninety-three years. He was buried in the Methodist cemetery at Kramer. His wife passed away on the 6th of August 1900, and was also buried at Kramer. He gave the land on which the town of Kramer is built to the Missouri Pacific Railroad and the town is named in his honor. 

Mrs. Brahmstadt was born in Clayton county, Iowa, on the 2nd of April 1852, but when thirteen years of age came with her parents by wagon to Lancaster county, Nebraska. By her marriage she became the mother of eight children, of whom four survive, namely: Benjamin, who is operating an elevator in Kramer; Sophie, the wife of Frank Thompson, who is depot agent at Kramer ; Elsie, who married Edwin Hollman, a farmer of Gage county; and Justus Fred, who owns the elevator at Kramer in connection with his brother.

Mr. Brahmstadt was a republican in his political belief and was one of the first commissioners of Cherry county, Nebraska, and also served on the school board there. His religious faith was that of the Methodist Episcopal church and he often filled the pulpit at Kramer when the regular minister was absent. His life measured up to high standards of morality, and his genuine worth gained him a high place in the estimation of all who knew him. 

CHARLES M. BRANSON
Charles M. Branson, living on section 10, Yankee Hill precinct, where his time and energies are given to agricultural interests, was born in Fulton county, Illinois, July 19, 1853, a son of Zebulon and Rachel (Braucher) Branson, both of. whom were natives of Ohio. The paternal ancestors came to America in 1628 from Wales and in the maternal line he is descended from "ancestors who came from Holland about 1760. His father was a farmer by occupation and in 1820 removed to Illinois, settling in Sangamon county. He afterward became a resident of Fulton county, that state, and in 1862, when forty-five years of age, he enlisted as a member of Company I, One Hundred and Third Illinois Infantry. 

He became captain of Company B and met death in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain, in Georgia. He had participated in nineteen regular engagements and his uniform at Lookout Mountain was pierced with twenty-seven bullets. Charles M. Branson was reared and educated in Illinois, being graduated from Hedding College, at Abingdon, in 1874, with the degree of Bachelor of Philosophy, while in 1877 the master's degree was conferred upon him. Going to New York he taught school there for a year. After a year spent in the east he returned to Illinois where he again engaged in teaching until 1878. The last school of which he was principal was that at Altoona, Illinois. 

On the 22nd of August, 1877, Mr. Branson was united in marriage to Miss Ida D. Currier of Bureau county, Illinois, a daughter of Jonathan T. and Martha J. (Hoblit ) Currier, who were natives of Vermont and Ohio respectively. The father, a farmer by occupation, removed to Bureau county, Illinois, at an early period in the development of that locality and there he engaged extensively in farming for many years, adding to his holdings from time to time until he became the owner of many farms. He died in February, 1908, but his widow still survives. 

To Mr. and Mrs. Branson have been born four children: Lois Stewart, the wife of Frank S. Camp, of Lincoln, by whom she has one son, Daniel Branson Camp; Bernice Marie, an illustrator, living at home; Charles Blaine, a dentist of Seattle, Washington, who married La Vinia Young and has two children, Rachel Marion and Bernine Elizabeth; and Joe Braucher, living at home. In 1878 Mr. Branson, after his marriage, began farming in Stark county, Illinois, but in 1880 returned to the old home in Fulton county, Illinois, where he remained until 1883. In that year he came to Lancaster County, Nebraska, and purchased his present farm of two hundred and fifty acres on sections 10 and 11, Yankee Hill precinct.

He has made splendid improvements upon the place and now has one of the attractive farm properties of the county on which ate three sets of buildings. This is known as Riverside Place and was first developed by T. H. Leavitt, of the Burlington Railroad. Mr. Branson began dealing in shorthorn cattle and has continued in that business for many years, being widely known as a breeder of shorthorn cattle and also of Poland China hogs. He has had on hand as many as two hundred and fifty head of fine shorthorn cattle at a time. Since taking up his abode upon his farm in 1883 he has resided continuously thereon save for a period of eight years which he spent in Lincoln to educate his children. 

In 1913 he was sent to Panama as revenue collector and thus served until the Adamson act came into effect in April 1914. To his farm property he has added by further purchase until he is now the owner of over three hundred acres of finely improved land. Mr. Branson is well known in the Masonic fraternity, being a member of Lincoln Lodge, No.19, A. F. & A. M., Lancaster Chapter, No.6, R. A. M., and Lincoln Commandery, N 0. 4, K. T. He is also identified with the Mystic Shrine. He votes with the democratic party.

THYS BROEKEMA 
Thys Broekema, a member of the firm of George Broekema & Company, furniture dealers and undertakers of Hickman, is one of the reliable, energetic and successful business men of the town. He gives the greater part of his time to the management of his business affairs, which are in a prosperous condition, as George Broekema & Company are accorded a large share of the public patronage in their lines. He was married on the 22nd of August  1909 at Maysville, Missouri, to Miss Lois Kline, a daughter of Wel and Mary (Stevens) Kliner, natives of Ohio. To this union has been born a daughter, Anna Gertrude, whose natal day was September 6, 1913. He supports the republican party at the polls and takes a commendable interest in the welfare of his community, but is not an office seeker. He is vice president of the Southern Lancaster County Old Settlers Association and is also a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias. 

BYRON CLAY CHARLTON 
Byron Clay Charlton, who is representative of a well known pioneer family of Lancaster county, is successfully engaged in farming and stock raising in Centerville precinct. He was born in that precinct upon the Charlton homestead, on the 25th of September 1874 , son of William and Mary (Lidolph) Charlton, the former born in Bonaparte, Iowa, on the 10th of August 1845. When a young man of eighteen years he went to California and there engaged in farming and stock-raising for five years. At length he returned to Iowa and thence came to Lancaster county, Nebraska, and bought a fine farm on section 26, Centerville precinct. He purchased other land from time to time and became one of the most extensive land owners of the county. 

He specialized in feeding cattle for market and derived a handsome income from that business. In 1906 he retired from active life, but still resides upon the home farm. He was married on the 13th of May 1872, in Bonaparte, Iowa, to Miss Mary Lidolph, who passed away upon the home farm in Centerville precinct, on the 3rd of March 1877, and. is buried in the Centerville churchyard. Byron Clay Charlton received a good education, attending the schools of district No.77 and also the city schools of Lincoln and supplementing the knowledge thus acquired by study in business college at Lincoln. 

He also gave much of his time during his boyhood and youth to assisting his father and gave him the benefit of his services until he was twenty-six years of age, when he was married and began farming for himself, taking charge of two hundred acres of land in section 25, Centerville precinct, which was given to him by his father. He is still operating his place and is meeting with gratifying success as a stock-raiser. He annually feeds large numbers of cattle for the market and also breeds registered Poland China hogs. He keeps informed as to the results of experiments in regard to the grade of stock and is a factor in development of stock- raising interests in Lancaster county. 

In 1914 he erected a fine two-story residence which is the handsomest farm house in Centerville precinct, and which is provided with steam heat, hot and cold water and gas light from a private gas plant, and all of the furnishings are of fine quality and attractive design. The barns and other buildings and the general appearance of the place is in keeping with the house and his farm demonstrates how attractive country life may be made. Mr. Charlton was married on Christmas day 1900, at Roca, to Miss Dora Coral Pepple, who was born near Findlay, Ohio on the 4th of October 1881, and is a daughter of Rufus and Clara Pepple, natives respectively of Michigan and Ohio. 

Her father removed to the Buckeye state and there engaged in farming until 1885, when he came to Nebraska and turned his attention to railroading. He is now in the mechanical maintenance department of the Union Pacific Railroad and has charge of the water supply for the railroad at Roca. His wife grew to womanhood in Ohio and engaged in teaching school there for some time. After her removal to Lancaster county with her husband and children she taught in Centerville and Saltillo townships and followed the teaching profession in all for over two decades. 

She also still survives. Mrs. Charlton was but four years of age when she was brought to Lancaster county and was educated in the public schools of Roca and in the Lincoln high school and the State University at Lincoln. She has become the mother of four children: Clay William, who was born on the 14th of August 1901, and is now attending school; Marjory May was born on the 1st of March 1906, and is attending school; Dorothy Elizabeth, who was born February 7, 1912; and Ruth, November 22, 1913. 

Mr. Charlton is a republican in politics and takes the interest of a public- spirited citizen in affairs of local government. Both he and his wife belong to the Methodist Episcopal church and fraternally he is connected with Damocles Lodge, Knights of Pythias, at Roca, in which he has served as prelate several terms and has also held other offices. His interest in the public schools is indicated by the fact that he has served as treasurer of district No.94 for two years. He believes in progress along all lines of endeavor and can be counted upon to support any movement seeking the advancement of his continuity. 

WILLIAM H. CHARLTON 
William H. Charlton, who is operating three hundred acres of the Charlton homestead on section 26, Centerville precinct, is a native of Bonaparte, Van Buren county, Iowa, born on the 15th of February, 1873. His father, William Charlton, was also born in that town on the 10th of August, 1845. He remained at home until he was eighteen years of age, when he went to California, where he engaged in farming for eight years. He returned to Iowa, but at length removed to Lancaster county, Nebraska, and turned his attention to farming on section 26, Centerville precinct, near the town of Roca, where he remained for many years, but in 1906, having acquired a competence, he retired from active life, although he still lives upon the home farm. 

He purchased tracts of land at various times and acquired title to fourteen hundred acres of land in Centerville precinct. He supervises the operation of all of his farms and at one time specialized in breeding shorthorn and Hereford cattle but during the greater part of his active connection with stock raising interests in this county engaged in feeding large herds of cattle for the market. He managed his extensive business affairs well and is now a man of independent means. He was married at Bonaparte, Iowa, on the 13th of May 1872, to Miss Mary Lidolph, who died on the 3rd of March 1877, on the Charlton homestead on section 26, Centerville precinct. 

William H. Charlton was but a year old when he was brought to this county by his parents and his education was acquired in the district schools. He early began assisting his father with the farm work and gave the latter the benefit of his labor until he attained his majority, when he took charge of one of his