Republican principles, and is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Socially, he belongs to the Masonic fraternity. Mrs. Horn was reared in the doctrines of the Baptist Church, to which she still inclines, and belongs to the society in this city.

LRICH SCHWART. The subject of this sketch occupies a good position among the substantial farmers of Stockton Precinct, where he owns and operates 236 acres of prime land on section 10. He is a man quiet and unobtrusive in his manner, and one who attends strictly to his own concerns, having little to do beyond the precincts of his home and family. The latter, besides his estimable wife, comprises eleven children, who bear the names respectively of Gracka, Hipp, Jasper, Hiram, Ulrich, Jr., Mary, John, Fanny, Sophia and Willie. One child died when one year old. The eldest of the survivors is twenty-two years of age, married Wilhelm Deneke, and is a resident of Colorado. The others are mostly at home. Our subject first opened his eyes to the light in the Province of Hanover, Germany, about sixty-two years ago, probably in 1826. His parents, Hipp and Gracka (Stels) Schwart, were of pure German ancestry and spent their entire lives upon their native soil. The parental family included five children, two of whom are living in Stark County, Ill. Mr. Schwart acquired the practical education commonly accorded the youth of his native country, and when old enough to make himself useful, was employed at farming until setting out for the United States. At the end of his ocean voyage he landed in the city of New Orleans, whence he made his way to Ogle County, Ill., in 1856, and was employed for a time at general work in a foundry. Then, returning toward the Gulf, he sojourned in the city of St. Louis for a time, where he continued working in a foundry, and his next removal was to Macoupin County, in Illinois. He remained in that locality about three years, working most of the time in a distillery, and we next find him in Stark County, that State, where he employed himself as a tiller of the soil and where he lived until the spring of 1884. Our subject now decided to cast his lot with the people of Southern Nebraska, and crossing the Mississippi came to this county. He was engaged at farming until the purchase of his land in 1883. He was accompanied to this place by his wife and ten children, having been married in Stark County, Ill., Aug. 4, 1865, to Miss Sophia Schloting, one of his own countrywomen, and who was born in the Province of Mecklenburg, in 1846.
   Our subject and his wife commenced the journey of life together in a manner suitable to their means, making it a point to live within their income, and practicing the economy necessary to keep their heads above water and preserve their little property. Their labors were finally rewarded in the enjoyment of a comfortable income, and Mr. Schwart has a reasonable prospect of being surrounded in his old age with all the comforts of life. He has become thoroughly identified with the interests of his adopted country, keeping himself posted in regard to matters of general interest, and uniformly votes the Republican ticket. He and his family are attendants at the German Lutheran Church at Stockton. His children have been fairly well educated in those principles which will make them good citizens, and an honor to their parents.

DMOND S. DAVISON, Assessor of Middle Creek Precinct for the year 1888, is numbered among the reliable citizens of Lancaster County. and is the owner of 160 acres of good land on section 27. He has a tasteful and well appointed residence, which, with its surroundings, presents all attractive and homelike appearance, and is, with his family, surrounded by all the comforts of life.
   The Empire State contributed the subject of this sketch to the development of the Great West, his birthplace having been in Grafton, Rensselaer County, where he first opened his eyes to the light Feb. 20, 1842. His father, Norman L., was born in the same county, July 26, 1816, and was the son of Ezra Davison, who was born Aug. 11, 1765. He was a farmer by occupation, and spent his last years in Rensselaer County, N. Y., where his death

took place April 29, 1834. He had married in early manhood Miss Diadama Smith, who was born July 24, 1774, and survived her husband eighteen years, her death taking place about 1852, in New York State.
   The father of our subject was reared in his native county, where he learned the trade of brick and plaster mason, which he followed in New York State until 1854. In the meantime he was married, and during this year emigrated with his family to Illinois, settling in Peoria County, where he lived two years, and thence removing to Woodford County. In the latter he purchased land in Clayton Township, where he carried on farming until 1866, then removed to Minonk, and followed his trade live years. At the expiration of this time he retired from active labor, and is living in Minonk, Ill. The mother in her girlhood was Miss Adelia Waite, who was born in Grafton, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., and died at her home in Minonk, Ill., in 1881. Of the six children born to the parents, three are living.
   Our subject acquired a district-school education in his native township, and later attended for a time the schools of Woodford County, Ill., being a lad of twelve years at the time his parents removed there. When fifteen years old he commenced to learn the trade of plasterer and brick mason, at which he worked with his father the greater part of the time until his marriage. After this event he settled on a farm in Clayton Township, where he followed agriculture six years, then resumed his trade six or seven years. Later, in company with a brother, he was occupied as an ice dealer, and then the two, with the father, began operating a dairy.
   At the same time our subject and his brother carried on the manufacture of soda water and birch beer until in February, 1880, when Mr. Davison came to this county, and purchased the farm where he now resides. He was married, May 10, 1863, to Miss Amy E. Vaughan, who was born in Greene County, Ill., Dec. 23, 1844, and whose father, Thomas H. Vaughan, was a native of Vermont. The latter left the Green Mountain State when a young man, locating first in Greene County, Ill., where he worked at his trade of shoemaker until 1849. He then purchased land in Marshall County, to which he removed, improving a quarter-section. His death took place there about 1872. He had married Miss Sarah J. Cory, who was born in York State, and was the daughter of William and Mary (Wood) Cory, also natives of the Empire State. The parents of Mrs. Davison had a family of six children, five of whom are living, and residents mostly of Nebraska.
   To Mr. and Mrs. Davison there have been born five children--Ernest, Volney, Louis, Iria and Minnie. Mr. and Mrs. D. are members in good standing of the Baptist Church. Our subject cast his first Presidential vote for Abraham Lincoln, and affiliated with the Republican party until 1884. Since that time he has been identified with the Prohibitionists. He takes a lively interest in the establishment and maintenance of schools, and has served as Director in his district.

NTHONY RUMP, a man of property and influence in West Oak Precinct, was one of its early pioneers and located on section 13, where he now has 160 acres of the most productive land in this section. It is finely situated, and with its good buildings and the other embellishments of rural life, forms a most pleasant picture in the landscape. The proprietor is of German birth and ancestry, and possesses all the reliable and industrious traits of the nationality which has been of such material assistance in the development of the Great West.
   George Rump, the father of our subject, was born in the Province of Prussia, Germany, eighty-three years ago, in 1805, and spent his entire life upon his native soil, dying in 1872, at the age of sixty-seven years. The mother, Elizabeth (Kramer) Rump, was also of pure German stock, born and reared not far from the home of her husband. Of their union there were born five children, four of whom are living, and two are residents of this country. The mother passed away several years before the decease of her husband, her death taking place in 1854.
   Anthony Rump was born or the 4th of May, 1838, in the same Province as his parents in Ger

many, and in accordance with the laws and customs of his native Empire receiving an excellent education in his native language. When twenty-three years old he set out, in 1861, for the United States, landing in November, and taking up his residence first in the city of Baltimore. Later he migrated to Cincinnati, Ohio, and there enlisted as a soldier in the Union army, being assigned to the commissary department, and driving the provision and ammunition wagons for a period of three years.
   After retiring from the service, Mr. Rump, determined to see something more of this continent, spent several months traveling all over the South and West, landing finally, in 1869, in this county, and settling in West Oak Precinct. He first purchased land on section 32, from which he improved a good farm, putting up a substantial dwelling, planting an orchard and shade trees, and lived there until 1882. Then selling out, he secured his present farm, which, like the other, was a tract of wild land, and where he proceeded as before to cultivate the soil and make improvements. He has a farm now which does ample credit to his thrift and industry. He keeps a goodly assortment of live stock, including cattle, horses and swine, and in his later years is enjoying the reward of his labors. The lumber for his first house was all drawn by teams from Nebraska City, and there are few who can tell him anything new about the difficulties and toils of life in a new country.
   Our subject was first married in the spring of 1873, to Miss Amelia Himrich, who died in January, 1881, leaving four children, namely: Elizabeth, Charles, Robert and Emma, who are now with our subject. Mr. Rump, in 1883, contracted a second matrimonial alliance, with Miss Lena Gephart, who was born in Switzerland, in 1843.

AMES VAN CAMPEN. The property of this well-to-do farmer and stock-raiser of Little Salt Precinct embraces eighty acres of oil land on section 3, which he purchased in June, 1881, to which he came himself in January, 1882, and after putting up a dwelling moved in with his family on the 8th of March following. For the last six years he has been giving his close attention to the cultivation of the soil and the beautifying of his homestead, and has now a very desirable place of residence. He has planted largely of fruit and shade trees, and gathered about him those embellishments which stamp him as a man of cultivated tastes and the intelligent forethought to discern what will conduce in the largest degree to his happiness and profit, and while adding to the value of his own property will increase that which lies adjacent to it.
   Our subject is the son of Moses B. Van Campen, who was born in Warren County, N. J., Oct. 24, 1816, and was there reared to manhood, acquiring a common-school education. He then served an apprenticeship at shoemaking, which he followed winters, and in summer carried on agriculture upon his own land. While still a young man he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Ann Winters, and a few years later removed with his family to Luzerne County, Pa., where he devoted his attention principally to farming. In 1854 he migrated to Lee County, Ill., investing his capital in a tract of land in Viola Township, which he improved into a good farm and retained ownership of until the fall of 1880.
   The father of our subject now sold out, but purchased another farm in Lee County, Ill., where he lived for a period of six years, then came to this State. Here he located on section 1, in Little Precinct, where, with his estimable wife, he is now spending his later days in comfortable circumstances. He has been quite prominent in local affairs, serving twelve or fifteen years as Road Commissioner in Illinois and also as School Director. Politically, he has always voted the Democratic ticket. Both the parents attend the Presbyterian Church as opportunity affords.
   The mother of our subject is also a native of New Jersey, and was born and reared not far from the early home of her husband. Her father, Jacob Winters, was a native of New York State, and the parental household consisted of ten children. They removed to New Jersey in an early day, and spent their last years in Illinois. To Moses B. and Eliza Ann Van Campen there were born seven children, of whom James, our subject, was the second in

order of birth. He first opened his eyes to the light Oct. 15, 1847, in Luzern County, Pa., and passed his boyhood and youth after the manner of most farmers' sons. He was a little lad of seven years when they migrated to Illinois, where he developed into manhood and met his future wife, Miss Ellen Gray, sister of Dennie Gray, a sketch of whose parents appears elsewhere in this volume. Mr. and Mrs. Van Campen were married July 4, 1878, and are now the parents of three interesting children--Lewis E., Nellie M. and James, Jr.
   Our subject after his marriage carried on farming until coming to Little Salt Precinct. He commenced in life dependent upon his own resources, and has attained to a good position, socially and financially, among his fellowmen. It needs only a glance at his farm with its appurtenances to determine the character of the man and to indicate the industry and perseverance with which he has labored to build up a homestead from the uncultivated land. The improvements which we now behold have been effected by himself in the space of six short years, but Will stand for a generation as a monument of what a man may accomplish when he sets about it.
   In addition to ordinary agriculture Mr. Van Campen deals largely in fine stock, having a valuable herd of high-grade Short-horn cattle, besides horses and swine. He is now serving as Constable of his township, and has held the various local offices. He usually affiliates with the Democratic party.

ENRY W. STUTHEIT is a son of Gerhard H. and Mary Stutheit, and was born on the 8th of October, 1824, in Germany. His parents were natives of that country, and came to America in the year 1833, settling at New Bremen, Auglaize Co., Ohio. There the father of our subject bought a tract of Government land, built a log house, and then commenced to clear a farm. With much hard labor and the usual discouragements of a new and unsettled country, he succeeded in clearing his land, on which he lived until, the year 1850, when he sold his possessions and moved to Iowa. The removal was made with teams, there being at that time but few of the rapid facilities for traveling for which that section of the country is now noted. After a long and tedious journey he reached Clayton County, Iowa, at which place he became one of the early settlers. His older sons bought a tract of land, and he resided there with them until the year 1865, when he came to Nemaha County, Neb., at which place he died in 1882, his wife having died a few years before. To those parents there were nine children given, six of whom were born in Germany.
   The subject of our sketch was nine years old when he came with his parents to America. He remembers quite well the ocean voyage and the incidents pertaining to it, and the pioneer life which he began in Ohio. In the year 1850 he came with his parents to Iowa, and in company with his brother he bought 160 acres of wild prairie land. At that time there were no railroads west of Chicago, and all marketing and obtaining of supplies was done at the river towns. On the prairies abounded much wild game, among which was deer, and very often our subject enjoyed the sport of hunting for which the mighty Nimrod was so celebrated.
   In the year 1865 Mr. Stutheit sold his land in Iowa and moved to Nebraska, as before making the journey with his teams, there being no railroads as far west as the Missouri River at that time. He bought a tract of land in Nemaha Precinct, where he lived for two years, and then selling it in 1867, he came to Lancaster County, where he bought a homestead claim of 160 acres in Centerville Precinct. On his new farm he built a farm house, drawing a part of the lumber for it from Nebraska City, a distance of fifty-five miles, and the nearest market for a few years.
   The early pioneer life which our subject experienced with his father in Ohio, has fitted him to improve his land from the state in which he bought it to the fine, well-arranged farm which now greets the eye of the passers-by. Having been successful, he has bought other land, until now he is the owner of 400 acres. In the year 1884 he bought property on Maple and Seventeenth streets in Lincoln, where he built a house which he now occupies. In Ohio he was married to Caroline Murker, who was born in Germany in 1825, and came with

her parents to America in 1831. To our subject and his wife there have been given eleven children, their names as follows: Louisa (deceased), Margaret, Lucy, August, William, Cornelius, Louie, Mary, Eddie, John and Matilda.
   Mr. and Mrs. Stutheit are respected members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, taking all active part in religious works and in the general moral advancement of the community. They have seen great changes and wonderful improvements since their first journey across the Central States, the tracks for the locomotive steam engine now marking out the shortest route, instead of, as was the case when our subject traversed it, the winding and circuitous wagon road. The river towns have increased in population until they are now flourishing cities, but they are no longer the nearest markets for lumber and provisions. Countless other towns and cities have sprung up, dotting the prairies with all the indications of the busy multitudes of people who inhabit them--the well-arranged school buildings, churches, business houses and homes--while, around them are laid out, as if they were immense gardens, the fine and productive farms for which that section of the Country is noted. That our subject has been successful in his business, has won a large circle of friends and is enjoying the fruits of his early industry, is but a just recompense for the life which has been so well spent. May he for many years enjoy in comfort and happiness his pleasant domestic relations, and the esteem and confidence which his own worth has gained for him.

UGUST MEYER, a pioneer of Lancaster County, formerly a very successful farmer, has retired from that occupation and now resides in Lincoln, where he is engaged in looking after his finances. He was born in Prussia, Feb. 27, 1839, a son of Charles and Elizabeth Meyer, likewise natives of Prussia. They came from there to America in 1855, and located in Clayton County, Iowa, being early settlers of that county. They resided there, actively engaged in agricultural pursuits, until 1863, when they came to the Territory of Nebraska. The removal was made with an ox-team, and they located in Nemaha County, Mr. Meyer taking up a homestead miles west of the Missouri River. He built a small frame house to shelter his family, getting a part of the lumber at Nebraska City. He partially improved the land, and then sold it, and now resides there with his son.
   The subject of this sketch attended school in his native land quite steadily until he was fourteen years old, and after that he became a shepherd. In 1855 he and his parents set sail from Bremerhaven in a vessel bound for this country, and after a tedious voyage of eight weeks they landed in New Orleans. He assisted his father to improve his farm in Iowa, and came to Nebraska with him in 1863, continuing to make his home under the parental roof until 1866. In that year he came to this county and located in Centerville Precinct, thus becoming a pioneer of that place. He paid $700 for 160 acres of land, twenty acres of which were broken and a log house was standing on the place. He soon replaced the humble log structure with a more commodious frame house, getting the lumber at Nebraska City. The country roundabout was still in a very wild condition, deer, antelope and other wild game were plentiful, and where Lincoln now stands were a few scattering houses but no store. The markets were not very near, and wheat was worth $2.50 a bushel in Lancaster County and corn seventy-five cents a bushel. Mr. Meyer became very prosperous in his undertakings, and added to his landed estate until he at one time owned 520 acres of valuable improved land. He continued to live on his farm until 1884, when he rented it and came to Lincoln to make his home, and buying lots on the corner of Wood and Fourteenth streets he erected his present commodious dwelling. He made several shrewd investments with his money, and as a result owns much fine city property, including four houses and lots on Wood street, two lots with three houses on F and Sixteenth streets, a two-story dwelling and storeroom on P street, between Sixteenth and Seventeenth streets. Mr. Meyer is an entirely self-made man, as his accumulated wealth is due in a great measure to his own industry and perseverance. He has

always dealt justly with his fellowmen, and has come honestly by his hard-earned money.
   Mr. Meyer has been twice married. His first marriage, in 1866, was to Miss Laura Stuthert, a native of Ohio. After a married life of twenty years, wherein she acted the part of a devoted wife and a faithful mother, she died, in March, 1886, leaving three children--John, Caroline and Willie. The marriage of our subject to his present estimable wife took place. Nov. 7. 1886. She was formerly Albertina Snyder, who was born in Prussia, and came to America when she was twenty-four years old. Both she and her husband are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

ERMAN BRUSS, of Stockton Precinct, came to the eastern part of this county from Manitowoc County, Wis., about 1872, changing his occupation from a clerk to a farmer, and settling down contentedly upon eighty acres of land on section 21. He brought with him his wife and four children, having been married, April 8, 1864, in Manitowoc County, to Miss Eliza Geist, who, like himself, is a native of the German Empire.
   Mr. Bruss was born in Prussia, April 27, 1842, and left his native country when a lad of ten years, crossing the Atlantic with his parents in the spring of 1852. His father, Michael Bruss, was a farmer by occupation, and after setting foot upon American soil, proceeded at once to near Milwaukee, Wis., where he acquired ownership of a tract of land and carried on farming until his death. He passed away in 1878. The mother died in Germany.
   The parents of our subject had a family of six children, five of whom are living and residents of Wisconsin. The family is of pure German ancestry, coming from an upright and honorable race. To our subject and his wife there have been born five sons and three daughters, namely: William, George, John, Herman, Henry, Amelia, Mary and Eliza. Emma died in 1878 when eight years of age, and one son, Lenard, died in infancy.
   Mr. Bruss upon becoming a naturalized citizen identified himself with the Democratic party, but has had very little to do with politics. He is accounted an honest man and a good citizen, one willing to do whatever he can to advance the interests of his community, and in his district has served as School Director and Road Supervisor. His farm is improved with good buildings, and with genuine thrift and prudence, he makes it a point to live within his income, and with his family, is surrounded by all the comforts of life. He and his wife are members of the Lutheran Church.

ILLIAM HENRY OUTT. Among the prosperous farmers and stock-raisers of Garfield Precinct, may be mentioned the above-named gentleman, who is the owner of the beautiful farm, situated two miles southwest of Lincoln and comprising a quarter-section. He was born on the 22d day of April, 1829, at Tully, Onondaga Co., N. Y. His education was received in the institution at that place, and from the scholar's desk and the implements of school work he graduated to the field and those of the farm. In this work he continued with his father until he reached his majority.
   In 1850, toward the middle of the fall, Mr. Outt celebrated his marriage, the lady of his choice being Miss Ketura Fellows, a native of the town of Otisco, of the same county. After two years spent working for his father he went to Michigan, where he bought a tract of wild land in Fair Plain, and proceeded to improve the same. The first work was the erection of a house that should be their home, and as that was completed, the needed farm buildings. After that he turned to the untamed acres which stretched themselves around on every hand, and proceeded to the task of bringing them into subjection. For eight years he continued to operate with success upon this farm, then determined to go East. We next find him selling his Michigan home and property, and proceeding to the old home county. He bought a farm at Otisco, and continued to reside in its neighborhood for eighteen years. During this time he bought and occupied several different farms, and at one time engaged in busi-