son, William B., was reared to manhood, and where the father is now living, having arrived at the advanced age of seventy years. The mother died about 1860.
   John H. Wilterdink, after the death of his first wife, contracted a second marriage, and his last wife is still living in Wisconsin. He was a member of the Dutch Reformed Church, honest and conscientious in his beliefs, and was a strict tutor of his large family of children, eleven in number, and nine of whom survive. These were named respectively: William B., our subject., who is the eldest of the family; John G., a resident of Buda Precinct, on the southwestern line of this county; Henry, who is a farmer in Colorado; Garrett; Albert; Cena, the wife of D. Foss; Kate, Mrs. Russing, a widow; Annie, Mrs. Samuel Dinawold; Mary and Gertrude, all live in Wisconsin.
   The subject of this sketch grew to manhood in the Badger State, receiving a limited education, but being fond of reading, kept himself well posted in regard to matters of general interest, and has since kept up his early habit of perusing the reliable journals of the day. When starting out for himself in the spring of 1870, having reached his majority, he made his way to this county and homesteaded eighty acres of land in Yankee Hill Precinct. In 1877 he sold this, and removed to his present farm. This is also eighty acres in extent, where he has erected good buildings and gathered together the appliances indispensable to the well-regulated country estate. His father had no property to give him, and his possessions are solely the result of his own industry and perseverance.
   Our subject, when assured that he could comfortably maintain a family, secured for himself a wife and helpmate, being married, July 4, 1874, to Miss Caroline, the daughter of Henry and Kate (Walker) Simmons, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride, in Grant Precinct. Henry Simmons was a native of Ohio. and one of the pioneers of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Wilterdink commenced life together in a manner suitable to their means and station, making it a point to live within their income, and each year has seen something added to the comfort of their home, which has been blessed also by the birth of seven children. These were named respectively: James H., Kate, Edna, Ernest, Walter, Annis and Levi.
   Mr. Wilterdink is a decided Republican, politically, and has been moderator in, his school district for several years in succession. Although not a member of any religious organization, he makes it a rule of his life to follow the Christian precept of doing unto others as he would be done by. No man has been more warmly interested in the growth and development of Southern Nebraska, and by bringing a portion of its soil to a state of cultivation, he has materially assisted in bringing about this condition of affairs. The men who have Iabored quietly and conscientiously each in his separate place, although making very little noise in the world, really form the bone and sinew of a community, without which the fabric would soon, metaphorically, fall to pieces.

UKE HALL. One of the most important victories gained by Richard the King-maker, as the Earl of Warwick was called, over the Lancastrians in the War of the Roses, was that at Northampton, the chief city of Northamptonshire, one of the central counties of England, about 985 miles in extent. It is a beautiful county, and of international renown by reason of its gently sloping hills covered with a green carpet of velvety grass, noble trees, broad valleys and shady glens, inviting and enticing by their bewitching beauty. In this county was born, March 16, 1818, to William and Ann Hall, the subject of this writing, now a prosperous farmer in Denton Precinct, residing on section 7.
   Mr. Hall was reared to manhood among the hills and dales upon which his infant eyes first gazed. His education was limited and his advantages few, as compared with the opportunity and the helps provided the present generation; nevertheless, by giving his close attention to reading, he has advanced so that very few are better informed upon current topics and items of general knowledge.

   In 1853 the determination to see the New World caused our subject to bid farewell to friends and home, say his good-bys to his native hills and shadowed glens, and emigrate to America, taking passasge in the sailing-vessel "Narragansett." A six weeks voyage was only relieved by the sight of an occasional sail and the alternate storm and calm. Upon landing at New York our subject proceeded to Aurora, Ill., and obtained work on the rail for about two and one-half years. He next went to Burlington, Iowa, where he was section boss for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company a period of twenty years. Upon abandoning railroading Mr. Hall came to this State in the year 1880, and procured 160 acres of land, which was but slightly improved when he settled upon it. He has since erected a very comfortable farm dwelling, and the green sward surrounding this, the flower beds. and kitchen garden, with a background of stables, the barn and other out-buildings, present a most pleasing picture.
   Mr. Hall was married in his native shire to Mary A. Barrett, in June, 1841, and by her became the parent of two children. William, and an infant, deceased. William went through the whole of the War of 1861-65, and was twice veteranized; he resides in Fremont County, Iowa.
   If there be such a thing possible as a self-made man, our subject is to be found in that category. At the time he landed in Illinois, fresh from the Atlantic, he was in debt to the amount of $55; today, although by no means the largest farmer and wealthiest citizen, he is the owner of a first-class farm, and an exceedingly comfortable and happy home, and whatever has thus accrued to him is the harvest of diligence, thrift, perseverance and manly effort. His character and education have developed even more favorably than his finances. The political situation finds its solution for him in the principles of the Republican party, and it receives his earnest support. He is most heartily esteemed by his fellow-citizens, who know only too well how to respect the qualities which have made his life a success.
   We are pleased to add to the portrait list of Lancaster County the pictured features of Mr. Hall, who has proved himself one of its most reliable citizens. In the elimination of one of its best homesteads from the primitive soil he has thus added much to its cultivated acreage, and consequently to its real-estate value; of all such men we say "success attend them."

REDERICK STRELOW. The subject of this biography in 1877 purchased 160 acres of school land on section 16 in Highland Precinct where he has since operated with excellent results, bringing the soil to a productive condition, and effecting the improvements which have established him as one of the progressive agriculturists of this region. Previous to purchase, however, he had contracted for it as a lessee for a period of twenty-five years, and thus redeemed it from the wild prairie.
   Mr. Strelow came to this county from Michigan, in 1874, and to that State had migrated from Cook County, Ill., after having also been at one time a resident of Chicago. In the great city he followed the trade of carpenter, which he had. learned in his native Prussia, he having been born on the other side of the Atlantic Sept. 13, 1836. He was trained and educated in that strict and careful manner common with the German nationality in rearing their children, and was married in his native Province to Miss Mary Benning, who was born not far from the early home of her husband, on the 27th of March, 1838. Like him she is of pure German ancestry, and for a period of five years after their marriage they continued upon their native soil, where their two eldest children, Minnie and Lewis, were born.
   Our subject and his family, in 1865, set sail for the United States, landing in New York, and proceeding directly westward to the city of Chicago. After coming to this country their household was increased by the birth of nine more children. William died in DuPage County, Ill., when two years old; Mary is the wife of James Roop, Jr., and resides in Highland Precinct; Charles and Lewis died in Chicago when three months old; Bertha, a very industrious and energetic young lady, is carrying on business for herself as a dressmaker in Crete;