growing cities of the West. His energy and industry and his unimpeachable integrity have constituted him one of the most useful citizens of Lincoln, and one whose name will go down to posterity when his labors shall have ended.
   The marriage of Joseph J. Imhoff and Miss Mary E., daughter of Sanford S. Rector, of Nebraska City, was celebrated at the home of the bride Nov. 5, 1862. Mrs. Imhoff was born in Pickaway County, Ohio; her parents now live in Nebraska City. Of her union with our subject there are four children living, namely: Charles H., Cashier of the Union Savings Bank; Joseph H., Superintendent of the Lincoln Electric Light Company; Ono May and Hattie J., at home with their parents. The palatial residence of the Imhoff family, erected in 1886, is a fine brick structure situated at the intersection of J and Twelfth streets, finely finished and furnished, and with its surroundings forms one of the most attractive homes in the city. In the view of this, which appears on the adjoining page, it will be seen that it forms not only a monument to the taste and means of its projector, but an ornament to the city. Mr. Imhoff began in life without other resources than his own indomitable energy, and his career has been one of phenomenal success.

EORGE GARLAND, of Stevens Creek Precinct, is very pleasantly located on section 4, where he has a beautiful set of farm buildings, as will be acknowledged by a glance at the copy of them in miniature observable on another page in this volume. Here he settled in 1869, homesteading eighty acres of land, and here has put forth the crowning efforts of a well-spent life, building up not only one of the most valuable homesteads in Lancaster County, but also the record of an honest man and a good citizen. The subject of this narrative was born on the other side of the Atlantic in Dorchestershire, England, Jan. 24, 1838, and is the son of Thomas and Jane (Marsh) Garland, who were also of English birth and parentage. Thomas Garland followed dairying, having charge of a large number of cows until 1846, when the family emigrated to the United States and settled in Kenosha County, Wis. George was a little lad eight years of age when his parents emigrated to America. The father only lived two years afterward, his death taking place in Kenosha County, Wis., in 1848. By his decease eight children were left fatherless, namely: Charles, Mary, Ann, George, William, Thomas, Harriet and Frank. They are all living, three of them being residents of this county. The mother contracted a second marriage, with James Cronk, of Wisconsin. and resided there until her death, which occurred at her home Sept. 1, 1880.
   Young Garland acquired a district-school education, very limited, his school days being over upon the death of his father, which left the family in straightened circumstances. He became familiar with farming pursuits and remained unmarried until a man of twenty-six years. He then, Feb. 22, 1864, took unto himself a wife and helpmate, Miss Kate Healey, the wedding being celebrated at the home of the bride, in Kenosha County, Wis. Mrs. Garland was born there July 4, 1847, and is the daughter of John and Jane (Bishop) Healey, who were natives of Canada; the mother spent her last days in Kenosha County, Wis.; the father died in California.
   Mr. and Mrs. Garland, after their marriage, settled on a farm in Kenosha County, where they lived until coming to Nebraska. Here our subject has been very successful, owning now 400 acres of good land, where he carries on mixed agriculture, and has surrounded himself and his family with all the comforts of life. The latter included two children until a few months since, when Charles E., the elder son, a bright and promising young man and the idol of the family, was seized with fatal illness, and died at the age of twenty-three years and twenty-three days. Ralph W., who was born April 21, 1875, continues with his parents. Mr. Garland is a Republican, politically, although mixing very little with public affairs, preferring to give his time and attention to his farming interests.
   The parents of Mrs. Garland had a family of five

children--Edward, Thomas, Mary, Harriet and Kate--the wife of our subject being the youngest. Her brothers and sisters are residents mostly of Nebraska.

LEXANDER G. WILSON, who is prominent among the well-to-do residents of Middle Creek Precinct, is comfortably located on section 9, and carrying on agriculture after the most modern and approved methods. He is the offspring of a good family, and was born in that part of Green which is now Taylor County, Ky., July 14, 1831.
   James Wilson, the father of our subjeet (sic), was a native of Virginia, in which State his paternal grandfather, William Wilson, was also born. The latter was there reared to manhood, where he lived until 1820, then removed to Kentucky, making the journey with teams across the mountains. He settled in what is now Taylor County, purchasing a tract of timber land, from which he improved a farm, and there spent the remainder of his days. James Wilson was a youth of eighteen years when his parents left the Old Dominion, and he grew to manhood in Taylor County, Ky., where he married one of its most estimable young women, Miss Betsy, daughter of John and Polly Spears. The father of our subject after his marriage purchased a tract of land seven miles from the parental homestead, a few acres of which had been cleared and where stood a log cabin. This rude structure served as a shelter for the young people until they were able to build a more commodious residence, and under this lowly roof our subject was born. It had been constructed after the fashion of that time, when nails were almost a thing unknown in that region. The chimney was built outside of earth and sticks, and the mother carried on her cooking by the fireplace. She also in the meantime spun and wove both wool and flax, manufacturing the cloth for her family for many years and also some to sell. The father industriously tilled the soil, and after the lapse of years gathered around himself and his family the more modern comforts essential to their well-being and happiness. His death took place at the old farm on the 14th of February, 1865, when he was sixty-three years old, the mother having died when our subject was quite small.
   Our subject continued under the parental roof until twenty-two years of age, then leaving the farm started out for himself, engaging as a teamster from Taylor County to Louisville, 100 miles distant. He had served a complete apprenticeship at this employment, driving a team for his father from the time he was a youth of fifteen years. Now he purchased an outfit of his own, and was occupied in this manner until a man of twenty-eight years. He then rented a tract of land in Taylor County, where he followed farming until 1865 upon the soil of the Blue Grass regions. In the spring of that year he made his way to Logan County, Ill., and carried on agriculture there and in Mason County for the following sixteen years.
   Mr. Wilson, in January, 1881, crossed the Mississippi, and making his way to this county secured the property which he now occupies and where he has since resided. This comprises 160 acres of good land, which yields bountifully the richest products of Southern Nebraska. He repaired the old buildings and added the new ones necessary for his comfort and convenience, and has now a good assortment of live stock and the machinery essential. for the operations of the modern and successful agriculturist.
   Our subject chose for his wife one of the most estimable young women of Green County, Ky., being married in November, 1857, to Miss Eliza Kirtly, who was born in that county, and is the daughter of Jefferson and Frances Kirtly, who were natives of Virginia, and who spent their last days in Kentucky. Of this union there were born nine children--William R., James T., Robert F., Henry, Charles, Nannie, Daisy, Rufus and Arthur. Mrs. Eliza Wilson departed this life at her home in Middle Creek Precinct, Feb. 29, 1884. Mr. Wilson contracted a second marriage, Nov. 11, 1885, with Miss Johanna Wright, the wedding taking the home of the bride in Lincoln Precinct.
   The present wife of our subject was born in Henry County, Ind., Nov. 18, 1836, and is the daughter of James Wright, who was a native of Virginia, and the son of Rev. Reuben Wright, who was also born and reared to manhood in the Old

Dominion. The latter emigrated to Henry County, Ind., during its pioneer days, where he purchased a tract of land and engaged in farming, spending there the remainder of his clays. His son James, the father of Mrs. Wilson, although reared to farming pursuits, entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church when a young man, and preached in the State of Illinois many years. He took up his residence in Jasper County, Ill., in 1840, and labored in various places in that section of the State, traveling his circuit on horseback after the manner of the pioneer preachers. He rested from his labors in 1859. The mother was formerly Miss Lucinda McCormis, a native of Virginia, and who is still living in Missouri. Their family consisted of nine children.

LLIOTT F. JACKSON, a resident of Elk Precinct, was born in Benton Township, Des Moines Co., Iowa, Jan., 14, 1849, and is the son of Nehemiah Jackson, a native of Vermont. The latter was reared to manhood among the hills of the Green Mountain State, and after his marriage migrated westward to Greene County, Ill., where he settled among its early pioneers. This was prior to the Black Hawk War, Indians still roamed over the country, and the great chief of this name was a frequent visitor to the cabin of Nehemiah Jackson.
   About 1835 the father of our subject removed to that part of the Territory of Wisconsin which is now included in the Hawkeye State. The journey was made overland with teams, and Mr. Jackson entered a tract of Government land in what is now Benton Township, Des Moines County. There also he was one of the earliest settlers, and put up a log house after the fashion of those times, with a chimney built of earth and sticks outside, and the huge fireplace occupying ample space within. The structure was chinked with chips and plastered with mud, and the mother performed her cooking operations by the fireplace. She also spun and wove wool and flax, and manufactured the cloth used by the family. The father performed his farming operations, his marketing and his milling, with the aid of oxen, not having horses for a number of years.
   The parents of our subject labored industriously for a number of years, and succeeded in building up a comfortable home, where they spent the remainder of their lives, the father passing, away in 1854, the mother some years later, May 16, I878, at the age of sixty-nine. The latter in her girlhood was Miss Lucy Pond, and was born in Vermont.
   Mr. Jackson was a little lad six years of age at the time of his father's death, but continued with his mother and elder brothers on the homestead, becoming familiar with farm pursuits and acquiring a common-school education. Upon the outbreak of the late war he was still a mere boy, and by the enlistment of his brothers in the Union army was left in charge of the farm. He resided under the parental roof until his marriage, and then settled on that part of the homestead which fell to him by inheritance. In 1881 he decided upon a change of location, desiring more land, and concluded that the great West furnished better facilities for carrying out his projects. He accordingly wended his way to Nebraska, making Lincoln his objective point, and in the meantime be-an looking around for a spot of ground which would be within reach of his means and suitable for the carrying on of agriculture. The following year, not having yet found what he sought, he rented a farm in Elk Precinct, upon which he lived a year, and then purchased the land of his present homestead. This comprises eighty acres. of land, and is pleasantly located on section 11. Mr. Jackson has effected a remarkable change in its condition, building it up almost from first principles, putting up a good house, barn, and all the other out-buildings necessary, and supplying himself gradually with improved machinery and a goodly assortment of live stock.
   Mr. Jackson seventeen years ago was married in the fall of 1871, to Miss Mary Allen. One of the most estimable young ladies of Franklin Township, Des Moines Co., Iowa. Her parents, Robert and Nancy (Wassom) Allen, were natives of Tennessee; the father is living, and the mother died in 1861. Mrs. Jackson was born May 22, 1849, in Des Moines County, Iowa, and remained with her

parents during her childhood and youth, acquiring a common-school education and a knowledge of all useful household duties. She is now the mother of seven children--Nettie, Jesse, Mattie, Robert, Katie, Hubert and Arpine. Mr. and Mrs. Jackson about the year 1872 became identified with the Baptist Church, in Des Moines County, Iowa, of which they remained members until their removal from the Hawkeye State. Mr. J. is a stanch Republican politically, and it man thoroughly respected by his fellow-citizens.

ENRY A. BRAINERD, editor and publisher of the Lancaster Union, a man of practical good sense and an efficient journalist, was born in Boston, Mass., Nov. 4, 1857. He received a primary education in the schools of his native city, living there until a lad of fourteen years, then going to Providence, R. I., entered the Bryant & Stratton Business College there, from which he emerged to become a student of Kent's Hill Seminary at Readfield, Me. In this latter institution he remained something less than two years, and this completed his schooling.
   Young Brainerd now returned to Providence, R. I. where for a period of three years (NOTE: word "years" crossed out by pencil and "months!" written in the margin.) he was employed by the American Screw Company. In the meantime he had imbibed a longing for the Western country, and in 1881 turned his steps toward the Mississippi, locating finally in Seward County, this State. In August, 1887, coming to Bennet, he purchased the paper of which he is now owner, and which he has since conducted in a manner which has commended it to the people of the county as their standard news journal. He is a modest, unassuming gentleman, correct and methodical in his business affairs, prompt to meet his obligations, and in all respects a valued member of society. Mr. Brainerd has fulfilled in a worthy manner all the duties of a good citizen with the exception that he still remains a bachelor. He is a member of the Associated Press and the Nebraska State Press, and is identified with the Knights of Pythias, being a member of Midland Lodge No. 12, of Bennet. Politically, he affiliates with the Republican party.
   The parents of our subject were Henry H. and Maria L. (Stetson) Brainerd, the father a native of Connecticut and the mother of Maine. The latter died at their home in the city of Boston in 1862, when her son, Henry A., was a little lad five years of age. He was reared by his aunt, Angeline Bates. His sister, Marion H., is a music teacher in Providence. R. I.
   In the conduct, of his paper Mr. Brainerd exercises that cool and temperate judgment which, politically, aims at truth without giving offense. As an exponent of current news the Union, has become indispensable to the people of this section, as is evinced in its steadily increasing patronage. The portrait of him who stands at the helm and guides the craft so wisely, will be viewed with interest not only by the readers of the Union, but by the many who receive the ALBUM of Lancaster County into their homes as something to be preserved to posterity.

OHN C. KETTELHUT. In the view found elsewhere of the homestead built up by the subject of the following notice, and which is eligibly situated in Stockton Precinct, is most nearly illustrated the perseverance and industry which have been the distinguishing traits of his character through life. It is a favorite remark of the pseudo philosopher, and the man who, at every turn of life, flings at you some such threadbare proverb or saying of old and forgotten sage, that "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." This may or may not be true, but the fact is before the whole world, viz: that thousands in other lands turn with hopeful hearts toward our beloved America. She not only receives countless emigrants from older countries, but under her banner the manly and energetic worker may speedily become, if not rich, at least comfortably settled in life, and this we must proudly accept as the highest compliment and flattery, using this word in its purest sense.
   The subject of this writing is one of the many who have paid this tribute to the great Republic, and has not been disappointed. He is a native of Germany, and was born Dec. 18, 1836. Having ob-