were surrounded. In politics, our subject yields an intelligent allegiance to the Republican party, and he loses no opportunity to assist and encourage all measures looking toward the betterment of the condition of the country, intellectually or financially.

LBERT DE VRIES. Many sections of the Great West have been colonized by people from the older settled States, or by those from countries over the sea, or, as is frequently the case, many of the same nationality have been attracted to a given place, where they have settled, forming practically a colony. Such may he said of the people residing in Buda Precinct, for nearly all of the best people living here are of a kindred tongue. A well-known gentleman among this number is Mr. De Vries, who has a good farm on section 34, where he is prosecuting his calling with diligence, and enjoying a fair degree of success.
   Mr. De Vries was born in Holland, May 25, 1851, and is the son of John and Wellmuth De Vries, both also natives of Holland, but now residing in Allegan County, Mich. When our subject was an ambitious youth of seventeen he came with his parents across the ocean to America, going on a steamer to England, and at Liverpool taking passage on an ocean vessel, spending fourteen days on the bosom of the mighty deep. He accompanied his parents, who went direct to Allegan County, where they have since resided. Mr. De Vries is well educated in his native tongue, and has a fair knowledge of English, which he has picked up himself, not enjoying the advantages of any instruction in this direction.
   Our subject has thus far in life been a farmer, and came from Michigan in the spring of 1886 to Lancaster County, and was employed as a farm hand for four months near Roca. He settled on his present farm in the spring of 1887. Here he owns eighty acres of good land, which he has developed himself, and where his well-directed efforts are plainly seen by the valuable improvements already made. The owner is a self-made man, has been fairly successful in life so far, and will undoubtedly be one of the well-to-do farmers in the county before many years pass by.
   Mr. De Vries was married, March 8, 1867, to Susan Oldemeyer. This lady is a native of Allegan County, Mich., where she was born Aug. 31, 1855. She is the daughter of Henry and Henrietta Oldemeyer, both natives of Holland, but who settled in that county in an early day. Mr. Oldemeyer died in 1875, but his widow is living in Lancaster County, where they had come as early as 1872, being among the pioneers here.
   Mr. De Vries is a member of the Congregational Church, and politically, a Republican. He enjoys the confidence of his neighbors, being regarded as an upright, hard-working, honest man, and no higher tribute can be paid to any citizen.

ETER TALBOT. The homestead of this well-to-do resident of Grant Precinct is finely located on a gentle rise of ground on section 26, and commands a fine view of the surrounding country. The farm embraces 173 acres of fertile land, with good improvements, and of which he took possession in 1880. He is reckoned among the responsible citizens of Lancaster County one who without making any great stir in the world has gained for himself a good position socially and financially.
   Our subject is of pure English ancestry, his parents, Nathan and Harriet (Mann) Talbot, having been born in Manchester, England, where they were reared and married. They came to America while still young people, settling first in Baltimore, Md., whence they removed later to Pennsylvania, and from there to Marshall County, Ill. Here the death of the mother took place, and Nathan Talbot subsequently became a resident of Livingston County, Ill., where his death took place about 1873. Their family comprised ten children, six sons and four daughters who lived to mature years. Of these six are now living and residents of Nebraska.
   Peter Talbot was born in Baltimore, Md., Jan. 17, 1831, and was a lad of thirteen years when his parents became residents of Illinois. From Putnam County, that State, he removed to Marshall County,

thence to Woodford and finally to Livingston, where he made his home until July, 1880, when he came with his family to this county. He was reared to farming pursuits and followed these all his life. While a resident of Marshall County, Ill., he was united in marriage with Miss Mary A., daughter of James and Eunice (Morris) Allen, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride, Sept. 27, 1853. Mrs. Talbot was the second of the five children born to her parents, and a native of Schuyler County, Ill., her birth taking place June 30, 1834.
   Her father died in Livingston County about 1872. The, mother subsequently removed to Iowa, and spent her last days at her home in that State, her death occurring in 1874.
   To Mr. and Mrs. Talbot have been born eight children: William died when twenty-eight years old; Emery and Nettie died in childhood; Amanda S. is the wife of Isaac Hoge, of Grant Precinct; Emma A. married Thomas Sturdy, of Grant Precinct; Ellen V., Mrs. John Morton, lives in California; Ira M. and Ida B. are at home with their parents. Mr. Talbot uniformly votes the straight Republican ticket, and with his estimable wife is a member in good standing of the United Brethren Church. They are highly respected among their neighbors, and in their well-ordered home are surrounded with all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.

ERMAN M. REEVES, one of the early settlers of Elk Precinct, was born in Lansing, Tompkins Co., N. Y., Aug. 18, 1828, and is the son of Elias Reeves, a native of New Jersey, whose father, Moses Reeves, was a native of the same State, where he was reared and married, and about the year 1807 removed with his family to York State, which was then in the condition of some of our Western Territories to-day, and presented all the difficulties and hardships of an undeveloped pioneer country. However strange it may seem to its, who to-day have traveled over the same ground easily and speedily by means of the locomotive and Pullman car, this journey was performed in the truly primitive fashion by means of team and wagon, along a road which for the most part was but a track through the wilderness. Mr. Reeves settled in Lansing, and was among the earliest to do so. He took up a tract of land, and began to clear away the giants of the forest, and in their places to raise the various grains of the farm. He made this his home until his death, when his son took charge of the property; and even so late as this period, deer, bears, and such wild game were found in abundance in York State, and not a few Indians also, in larger or smaller bands, making their home by the streams, following their usual nomadic life.
   The father of our subject removed from this place to Ohio in the year 1836, going by team to the Erie Canal, thence by it to Erie, Pa., and from there around the lake to Cleveland. Journeying from that city, he finally settled in Hinckley Township, Medina County, where he bought a tract of land, and gave himself to the clearing and opening up of the same. He continued to make this his home for several years, and then removed to Huron County, where he bought a small farm, which he continued to make his home until his death.
   The life of Elias Reeves was made more complete and felicitous by his life companion, Mabel McIntire, who followed her husband to the last resting-place, and, like him, passing to the same while on the Huron homestead.
   Our subject was eight years of age when his parents removed to Ohio, and is consequently able to remember well the incidents of their early settlement and pioneer life in that State. His school life was spent in the little old-fashioned log school house, situated some distance from his home, and the journey to and fro was not always unattended with difficulty, or even danger. From the school, he went to the farm, and became his father's assistant, first in the clearing, and afterward in the more direct agricultural labor. Our subject saw Hinckley Township develop from a wilderness to a well-settled and wealthy district. At the age of twenty-one he had left his parents and home to start for himself, working upon the farm during the summer, and during the winter in clearing and wood chopping.
   In 1852 Mr. Reeves became the husband of Sarah

B. Stuart, a native of Vermont, a daughter of P. C. and Ametia (Severance) Stuart. Their union was a very happy one, and the home circle includes four children--Burton E., Mary J., Marion and Mehitabel. Directly after his marriage Mr. Reeves purchased a house in Hinckley Village, and made his home there. Shortly after this the air was filled with the clarion note of the Civil War, and he enlisted in 1862 in Company H, 1st Battalion Ohio Sharpshooters, and served with them nine months, when he received all honorable discharge through disability, and returned to his home. Owing to the condition of his health, his physician advised him to remove to Iowa, and accordingly he went thither, and took charge of a large stock farm a little east of Waterloo, and continued his residence there for about three years, when he removed to Missouri and rented land, and followed agricultural pursuits until the year 1870.
   Nebraska was then the new home of our subject, who settled in this county, and took up a homestead claim in the northwestern part, in what is now Elk Precinct. During the first summer he did a good business in teaming, and was enabled thereby to support his family and prepare for the work of improving his farm, which important work he proceeded with, putting up a comfortable dwelling, with the needed barn, etc., surrounding his home with orchard and gardens, and not omitting the more important work of sowing and cultivating. In his youth he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and afterward a local preacher. His wife died July 30, 1888, at their homestead.

ARTIN V. BLANCHARD is pleasantly located on 160 acres of land on section 14, Waverly Precinct, which has been his home since April, 1873. He is a native of Ohio, and was born in Ashtabula County, March 31, 1837. His father, John F. Blanchard, was a native of the Empire State, and was a farmer by occupation. He married Orpha Root, also a native of New York.
   The marriage of the parents of our subject was consummated in Ohio, where they had removed with their respective families, and they continued to make that State their home until the death of Mrs. Blanchard, which occurred in 1848. Of this union there were born four children, of whom the other three are recorded as follows: John A. resided in Ashtabula County., Ohio, and died June 23, 1888; Alfred L. was a member of Company K, 7th Kansas Regiment and was killed at the engagement near Columbus, Mo., Jan. 8, 1862; Lucy L. is the wife of Stephen Rennison, of Olmsted Falls, Ohio. The father was subsequently married, choosing for his second wife Miss Maria Richards, and of this union there were born three children, all of whom grew to maturity--Clara, Milo and Hattie. The father continued to reside in Ohio until his death, which occurred in 1885, while his second wife is still living at the old homestead.
   Our subject was reared at the home of his father, and while engaged in the acquisition of knowledge as it was presented in the public schools of his native place, he assisted his father on the farm and in a cheese-box factory that he also owned. At the age of twenty years he started out in life for himself, and was engaged in Oakland and Wayne Counties, Mich., working as a farm hand. At the end of one year he returned to his native State, and spent a year engaged in farm work, after which he secured employment in a sawmill, and remained until 1861. When the Civil War broke out he enlisted with John Brown, Jr., and upon going to Kansas was mustered in with Company K, 7th Kansas Cavalry. He saw much active service, participating in thirteen engagements, among which was that of Corinth, Miss., but he came out unscathed by the bullet of the foe, the only injury sustained being occasioned by a fall from his horse. He served until Nov. 17, 1864, and was then mustered out at St. Louis, Mo., and honorably discharged.
   Returning to Ohio, Mr. Blanchard resumed work at the sawmill, of which he finally became proprietor, and retained the property until his removal to this State. Our subject was united in marriage, March 5, 1865, with Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Leonard and Susan Kile, natives of the State of New York, though they subsequently removed to Canada, where they were residing at the time of the birth of Mrs. Blanchard. Of the five children born of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Blanchard, four still

survive, as follows: Edith was born Dec. 13, 1867; Alice, May 25, 1872; Lola, Nov. 22,1873, and Mabel, April 14, 1885.
   In politics our subject is a stanch Republican, and takes an active interest in the deliberations of his party. He is also foremost in educational matters, and in order to help on the good work in his vicinity he frequently serves as School Director. He is a member of the Mitchell Post No. 38, G. A. R., at Waverly.

DMUND DULING. In the colonization of those States which lie along the Atlantic seaboard, at least two different classes of people are most distinctly noticeable. In the North, the Puritan element, cold, stern, repressive, sagacious, industrious and manly; in the South, as Virginia and Carolina, the colonists were diametrically opposite as regards one or two points, being mostly of the aristocratic cavalier element of England, manly, courageous and energetic, as their Northern brethren. They devolved into the large-hearted, open-handed Southern gentry. The subject of this sketch is of Virginian descent, and has by no means lowered the standard of his race.
   Collin C. Duling, the father of our subject, was born in Virginia about 1790. His education was received in the common school, and his early life was varied by the exercises incidental to that institution and the work of the farm. About the year 1816 he was united in marriage with Miss Carrie Hayes, and moved onto a tract of land in Coshocton County, Ohio, where he started to make a home and improve a farm. The hardships and privations were many, and dangers not few, but the cheering presence of the wife, and the strong, protecting arm of the husband, sufficed them. For thirteen years they continued to live at this homestead, and here five of their children were born. in 1830 the family removed to Tuscarawas County, where Mr. Duling purchased 120 acres of timber land, which he immediately began to clear, and again repeated the experience of pioneer life. Not only did he improve his own farm and work for his own interests, but did much for the development of the county and the ultimate welfare of the State.
   While residing in this county three more children were added to the family circle. Mr. Duling continued to make this his home until his death, in 1853. His widow, the mother of our subject, continued to enjoy fair health and strength until the illness in 1872 which resulted in her demise. After the death of her husband she lived the greater part of the time with her son, our subject. Both parents belonged to the Methodist Episcopal Church, and were among its most respected members.
   Edmund Duling is now one of the most prominent citizens and stock-raisers in West Oak Precinct, of which he was a very early pioneer. He was born in Coshocton County, Ohio, April 17, 1822. His education was simply that which could be obtained in the common school, practical rather than extended. When he was nine years old the removal to Tuscarawas County was made, and having finished school Edmund continued to work with his father until his twenty-second year. Then he went to Virginia, worked upon a farm for a period of three years, and thence migrated to Spencer, Owen Co., Ind., a removal which he never after regretted, for it was there that he met a lady of most lovable character and womanly grace, Rachel Hayes; to her he united his life and interest in October, 1846. Their union, although perfect in its happiness, was, alas, only too limited in duration, for after seven years the bonds were severed by death, in the year 1853.
   Upon his removal to Owen County our subject bought a piece of land on the White River. it speedily began to show that it was under the domination of a master hand, although at the time of purchase it was in all its native wildness. The heavy timber was felled, and Mr. Duling in very truth hewed for himself and wife a farm and home out of the primeval forest. When our subject left this farm, after it residence of thirteen years, he left one of which any man might be proud. From Illinois he came west to this State. In the year 1858 he was married to Miss Amy Payne, of Owen County. Their union was blessed and their home made happy by the birth of a son and a daughter, Jennie; the latter is still living. The son preceded the mother to the better land. After going to Illinois in 1861 our subject prospected, and finally bought

a farm of 240 acres in Edgar County. He had had sufficient for the time of clearing wild land and bringing it to a point of cultivation; his next purchase, therefore, was of improved land, having a very comfortable farmhouse and commodious barn already erected. Here our subject continued to reside for thirteen years, during which time he was elected Assessor, and also to several school offices.
   An unusually advantageous offer being now presented, Mr. Duling again sold out and came to Nebraska. He was at this time, comparatively wealthy, although he started in life with virtually nothing but health, strength, intelligence and manhood. In this State he purchased the section of land upon which he now lives, and with the money at his command was enabled to immediately proceed with its improvement, an advantage which everyone who has watched the struggles of the early Western farmer to create something out of practically nothing, will appreciate. He erected first his handsome residence, and, finished it within and without in a most substantial and artistic manner. He afterward proceeded to the building of the other structures which his experience taught him would be needed.
   Nebraska has not only reciprocated the coming of our subject by making that coming a success, but, as we shall have occasion to notice, has also received from him much that has gone to hasten her development. In addition to the original section, the home farm, our subject is now the owner of an extensive farm in Seward County, ten well-placed business lots in Raymond, beside considerable real estate in the city of Lincoln. He has, since his first purchase of the farm, lived in three different houses, the first a dug-out, but a very comfortable one. This was occupied until his frame house was built and finished, in which he continued to live until 1880. He then erected the present stately stone mansion, which stands surrounded by magnificent shade trees, and not far from the extensive orchard, wherein may be found a large variety of the choicest fruit trees, which yield abundantly in their season.
   At the time our subject came from the East he brought with him ten horses and two or three cows, which formed the nucleus of his present stock farm. He purchased his farm March 16, 1874, paying for it at the rate of $12.50 per acre, then considered a very high price. The first year he was not able to do very much, being too late in the season. He would usually leave his family in Lincoln, and on Monday morning go over to the farm, returning on Saturday. The first year he employed four assistants; since then he has had regularly from eight to ten hands upon his farm. The intelligent selection of land is shown in the fact that the greater part of his property is upon Oak Creek, which gives, in the dryest seasons, more or less moisture, and consequently good pasture.
   A large part of the Duling land, including several hundred acres, is devoted to wheat and general farming, in which the proprietor has been thoroughly successful. There are required 200 or 300 acres more to supply the fodder for his stock. The herd of specially selected Short-horn Durhams, numbering over 100, includes a very fine, full-blooded registered Durham bull, and so far back as 1878. Mr. Duling has given attention to the production of high-grade draft and road horses and mules.
   Our subject is greatly beloved by all his neighbors and fellow-citizens, and has made for himself a name that will ever be green in the memory of the community. Although frequently pressed, he usually declines accepting the various offices within the gift of the people. Once only was he persuaded to accept office, that of Assessor. The occasion which is the cause of his being so affectionately remembered by the community was that of the grasshopper plague. When the dreaded pests had gone through the country, and left in their train nothing but despair, threatened ruin and famine, it was our subject who put out the hand that saved, and from his own purse supplied sufficient to import from other States wheat, grain and corn enough, not only for seed purposes. but for the people and their teams.
   Mrs. Amy (Payne) Duling was the daughter of Leonard Payne, and was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, April 9, 1841. When a child nine years of age, her parents removed to Owen County, Ind. She continued her residence with them until her marriage, April 11, 1858, at which time she was seventeen years old. The 15th of November, 1887,

Mr. Duling and his wife started on a visit to Illinois and Indiana, where they spent nearly two months among their old friends and neighbors. On New Year's Day, while at the residence of her brother, James Payne, Mrs. Duling received a fall, bruising her arm, and in consequence of which she suffered considerably two days and nights. The third day she went to the house of her sister Eliza. That night she awoke her husband and told him that the pain in her arm was gone, and that she had seen a wonderful vision. The beautiful Star of Bethlehem had appeared, and she had received a Divine message for L. W. Bolen, which she delivered the following morning. On Sabbath morning she said to her husband, "Edmund, I am going to die. I wish I could last until Jimmy comes." "Edith, why are you weeping? I am perfectly happy. Denny and Edith meet me in heaven." Her husband asked, "If this be the case, shall I take you to our house, or to the church." She answered, "Just as you and Jennie wish. My clothes Jennie can arrange to suit herself. I have no will to make. Tell Jennie not to pine for me, not to look at things of mine or think of places I have been and grieve for me. Now, Eliza, meet me in heaven. Tell sister May to take Jennie in her arms, and be a mother to her; tell all the friends to meet me in heaven. She requested all the children to kiss her, and admonished her husband to pious labor in bringing into the fold. She adverted to their kindness, then made a cross with her hands, and with a smile pointed upward. After a few more expressions indicative of her peace with her Savior, and her tender love for her family, she passed beyond the pain of death. By her decease the church at Raymond lost one of its most devoted members, the husband, a faithful wife, and the daughter a loving mother. Her name is held in kindly remembrance by all who knew her. Much might be said descriptive of the various sections of property of our subject, of the produce of his farms and the various appliances used thereon, or to extol the excellencies of the beautiful creatures in his stables and pasture, and still more about our subject himself; but perhaps sufficient has already been said. The aborigine did not need that a tree should be blown over a whole village, or wigwams razed to the ground, in order to indicate to him from what point of the compass the breeze came; a feather was sufficient for his purposes. So we would leave the success of our subject to indicate his manhood and his life. We have only to add that he is a most devout and consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and that in the "grand old party," Republican, he finds that which is most congenial to his political opinions.

ENRY HENKEL. Prominent among the young and thrifty farmers of Buda Precinct may be classed the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He resides on section 18, where he has a good farm, and is known throughout the precinct as a hard-working, industrious farmer, and enjoys the esteem of the entire community, both for his integrity of character, his good common sense and habits of industry.
   Mr. Henkel was born in Germany, Jan. 17, 1857, and his parents, Henry and Amalie Henkel, were also Germans. In 1874, accompanied by their son, they came to this country, taking passage at Bremen on a steamer which made the voyage in eleven days. The family stopped in New Jersey for about two years, when they went to Mason County, Ill., where the father and mother both died. They had become the parents of the following six children: Charles, Frederick, Henry, August, Sophia and Ettie. In 1879 Mr. Henkel came to Nebraska, stopping in Gage County for about nine years, working farm labor for different parties. He then came to Lancaster County and is now the owner of 200 acres of well-improved land. This property he has made by the savings of his own hard labor, and since becoming the manager of a farm has demonstrated his own practical knowledge of the business which he has chosen for a life occupation. He is fairly well educated in his native tongue, and having picked up quite a good deal of English since he has been in this country, he is able to transact all his business in that tongue.
   Our subject was united in marriage, April 21, 1885, with Catherine Hanenkamp, sister of Henry Hanenkamp, of Centerville Precinct, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this work. To them