worthy member of the Congregational Church. Her mother was removed by death on the 11th of June, 1875. A second alliance was entered into Aug. 7, 1877, when he was united in marriage to Miss Eliza A. Dobson, daughter of Isaac and Rachel Amelia (Bates) Dobson. The father of Mrs. Walton was a native of Yorkshire, England, where he was born Oct. 1, 1808. When about fifteen years of age he removed to Canada, where he continued to reside until 1845, when he entered Wisconsin Territory, and there remained some twenty years. He then returned to Canada, where he resided for six years, when he again entered the United States and settled at Lincoln, Neb., in the year 1871, continuing his residence there until June 13, 1882, at which time he crossed the river of death to his long home, at the age of seventy-four years. He was a member of the Christian Church, in which church his wife also found her religious home. He was a stanch adherent and strong advocate of the principles of the Republican party. The mother was born at Coburg, Ontario, Canada. March 14, 1818, where she continued to reside until her marriage, Jan. 28, 1836.
   Mrs. Eliza A. (Dobson) Walton was born at Hazel Green, Wis., Feb. 27, 1849. She was educated at Monroe, Wis., and after some years residence with her parents in Canada removed with them to Lincoln, Neb. Here she met the subject of this sketch, and was afterward married to him. Three children have been born to them: The first, Clara Rachel, Oct. 15, 1878; her brother, Edwin Roger, Jan. 25, 1881; and the youngest, Ida Esther, June 10, 1885, and died July 23, 1888. Mrs. Walton is a member of the Congregational Church, where she is highly esteemed by her fellow-members, and is always ready and heartily willing to co-operate in the various departments of church work and enterprise. She is an earnest Christian woman, who is known among her best friends as a model wife and mother.

OL. GEORGE B. SKINNER. The citizens of Lincoln need no introduction to the gentleman whose history is herein briefly outlined, who is at present in business as a liveryman, but chiefly known perhaps in connection with the temperance work, which he has carried on so enthusiastically. Our subject was born in Vernon, near the city of Hartford, Conn., on the 3d of January, 1833, and is the second son of Zenus B. and Anna (Palmer) Skinner. This lady was the daughter of Elliott Palmer, Esq., also of Connecticut.
   Zenus B. Skinner, the grandfather of our subject, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and served throughout the entire seven years. A portion of the time he was associated with Israel Putnam, of historic fame. He was at the battle of Bunker Hill, and took part also in the capture of Burgoyne.
   In his boyhood our subject continued to live in his native town, and attended its public schools. Later he received instruction in the Ellington Academy, also at Wilbert, Mass., where he continued to pursue his studies for two years. At the age of seventeen he began dealing in horses on his own account, and at twenty removed to Missouri, and located at St. Joseph, where, for a time he was engaged in pork packing. Afterward he ran a store in Platte County, in the same State, continuing there until 1858. The subsequent two years found him once more engaged in pork packing, at St. Joseph. In the spring of 1860 he took a train across the plains to the Rocky Mountains, freighted with pork, groceries, etc.
   In 1861-62 Mr. Skinner took the beef contract for supplying the army, and managed so wisely and so well that the officers of the Government expressed their entire satisfaction of the manner in which he filled the same. Not long after this he was appointed inspector of horses for the army, and bought and sold large numbers of horses for army purposes. Some time after this he equipped a train consisting of fifteen wagons, at an outlay of $40,000, and again crossed the plains to the Rockies. Selling out he returned once more to the States, realizing a very handsome result from his speculation.
   In the winter of 1862-63 he took a trip to the mountains owing to failing health; this time he took a large supply of hams and other stores, which he sold at Barnock City, realizing some $30,000 by the sale. He remained in the Territory of Idaho for some five months, during which time his health was completely restored.

   At the end of that period Mr. Skinner turned his face eastward and traveled by way of Salt Lake City to St. Joseph, Mo., and thence to New York, where he sold his gold dust. Returning to St. Joseph in 1864, he dealt largely in cattle, and equipped and sent several trains through to Denver, Col. Mr. Skinner continued this business up to 1869, when he was appointed Street Commissioner at St. Joseph, and performed every duty in connection therewith in a manner that was most complimentary to his ability and efficiency. During the time he was in the Far West he made the acquaintance of the Hon. David Butler, at that time extensively engaged as a cattle shipper, and afterward elected the first Governor of this State. While holding this office Mr. Butler appointed the subject of this sketch to sell the State land in the city of Lincoln. At that time the capital was at Omaha, and the Legislature having decided to remove it to Lincoln, then without inhabitants, such sale was necessary to the raising of funds for the erection of State buildings, and for the founding of the capital city.
   The above appointment the subject of our sketch accepted, and was enabled in connection therewith to give more than satisfaction. He succeeded in persuading a number of Missouri capitalists to accompany him to the proposed city, and by a business-like manipulation was enabled so to direct their investments, which were quite extensive, as to give to the movement a great impetus. In 1870, influenced by Gov. Butler, Mr. Skinner removed to Lincoln, and there has made his home ever since.
   The first office ever held by Mr. Skinner was that of Street Commissioner, to which he was appointed in the year 1873. From that time until 1877 he was variously engaged. During the latter he built a fine livery stable on Twelfth street, putting in a complete line of hacks, buggies, carriages, etc. This he has continued to run with unqualified success ever since, enjoying the reputation of perfect business honor and integrity, owing to which the confidence of the citizens in him is large an their patronage assured.
   In 1862 Mr. Skinner was united in marriage with Elizabeth Cameron, of Van Buren County, Iowa, and daughter of James Cameron, Esq. There have been no children born of this union. In addition to the many business and other matters demanding the attention of our subject, those of his farms may not be ignored. He owns two--one near Cushman Park, comprising 160 acres, and another smaller farm near the city limits. Both are excellently cultivated and in the highest degree productive, supplied with all necessary improvements and well arranged. In addition to these he is the owner of a number of dwelling-houses in the city, a good business house on O street, which is three stories in height. In his stable he has never less than fifty buggies, and keeps between sixty and seventy excellent horses.
   In his political principles Mr. Skinner at one time was a liberal Democrat and believed in the greatest liberty being allowed to the greatest possible number--a principle that secured to him the favor of the liquor interest in Lincoln, as it seemed to advocate or at least support their position. In 1877, however, after hearing a number of lectures delivered by John B. Finch, he was convinced that his position was untenable, and logically worked out would lead to disaster as applied to the above department of trade, if such it can be called; thus was lost to the saloon element one of its most effective advocates.
   Not long after the above event, in company with fifteen or twenty other gentlemen, Mr. Skinner organized the Lincoln Red Ribbon Club, and was elected President of the same in the year 1877, a position he has continued to hold from that time. The club has over 16,000 members, and is the largest of its kind in this country. He was President of the State Temperance Society for several years, and is necessarily prominent in all State conventions. The first of these was held in May, 1878, by the special request of our subject, and the call was responded to by above 400 delegates. This was the place and time of the birth of the State Temperance Society, and Mr. Skinner is, perhaps, in one regard, the source of enthusiasm that has enabled both the society and club to do such remarkably efficient work. The effectiveness of the agents he has employed for furtherance of temperance by the societies were such as to attract considerable atten-

tion to the dismay of the opposition and the intense gratification of the temperance party.
   Col. Skinner began life without the usual aids; he found his own way to the foot of the ladder and managed to get a start; round by round he has climbed to his present position of influence and affluence, at once an inspiration and example to those who may be similarly circumstanced, equally ambitious and as determinedly persevering.

LMERON ALLEN, of Waverly Precinct, owns and occupies a fine homestead on section 20, the land which he secured from the Government as early as 1866. He will thus be recognized as one of the pioneer settlers of this region, arriving here when there had been but a mere commencement toward developing the land which has since been transformed into fertile farms, and which represents now a vast amount of property.
   A native of Boone County, Ill., our subject was born May 1, 1849, and is the son of Albert Ephraim and Mary (Dan) Allen, both of New England birth and parentage. The father died in middle life when his son Almeron was a little lad seven years of age, and by his demise three children were left fatherless, there being besides our subject Helen and Willie, who are both deceased. Mrs. Allen, the mother of our subject, in due time after the death of her first husband became the wife of Jonathan Bates, and is now a resident of Waverly Precinct, this county.
   At the age of ten years Almeron began the struggle of life on his own account, hiring out as a farm hand, and thus his educational advantages were exceedingly limited. In February, 1865, although but fifteen years of age, desiring to assist in the subjugation of the rebels, he enlisted in Company A, 153d Illinois Infantry, entering the ranks with the old soldiers, although being the youngest among them. This regiment was mostly assigned to the duty of guarding railroads in Tennessee, and young Allen therefore did not participate in any active fighting. The war closing soon thereafter by the surrender of the Confederate troops, he received his honorable discharge, and was mustered out in September, 1865. Had he been brought into active contact with the enemy, there is but little question that he would have acquitted himself as bravely as any "man" in the field.
   Upon leaving the army young Allen returned to Illinois, whence the following spring he came to this county. Soon afterward he located his present homestead, and taking possession, has since resided upon it. The necessity for a wife and helpmate soon appearing, he was married in 1868, when a youth of nineteen years, to Miss Martha, daughter of James E. and Olivia Scroggins, and a native of Wisconsin. To our subject and his estimable lady there have been born nine children, namely: Frederick, Almeron, Jr., Maggie, Florence, Frank, Jesse, Edwin, Eva and Dolla.
   The homestead of our subject comprises 240 acres of land, all of which he has brought to a productive condition. Upon the farm he has erected the buildings necessary for the comfort of himself and family, and sufficient for the shelter of stock and storing of grain. His thrift and prudence are especially commendable. He came to this section poor in pocket, but with strong hands and a resolute will, and the result has fully justified his expectations, while he has been amply rewarded for his toils. Although no politician or office-seeker, he maintains the interest that every intelligent man feels in the progress of the people generally, and uniformly casts his vote with the Republican party. Socially, he is a member of the G. A. R., belonging to Mitchell Post No. 38.

IMEON SNYDER. True rest in all its sweetness can only be fully enjoyed by the tired and weary worker, who, "from early morn till dewy eve," has borne the burden and toil of the day; and happy is he who, after a busy life of constant labor, is enabled in the evening of that life to enjoy the hush of rest after the rush of life." Our subject was born in Pittstown, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., July 10, 1813. His father, Jacob Snyder, was born in the same county, and his paternal parent, the grandfather of our sub-

ject, Christopher Snyder, was a native of Germany, who emigrated to America in his early manhood and became one of the pioneers of the above county, where he cleared a farm from the heavily timbered land, reared a family of seven children, and after a quiet but honorable life, passed to his last rest.
   The father of our subject spent his whole life in the place of his nativity, and in his manhood married Hester Vandercook, a native of the same county. Their life was spent upon the farm, which was kindly disposed to yield them large harvest rewards for their toil.
   Our subject remained at home until he was twenty years of age, and then removed to Ohio and settled at Sandusky, which was his home for about three years. While a resident in that city he married Martha Vandercook, a lady who possessed a large share of feminine grace and true womanhood, and has since made the life of her husband "a living, bright reality." She is the daughter of George Vandercook, of New York, who had become one of the pioneers of Ohio.
   In the year 1836 Mr. Snyder, accompanied by his wife, took his way westward and located in Boone County, near the city of Indianapolis, where a farm was cleared, brought to a high state of cultivation, and sold. Then a second tract of land was taken and another farm partly cleared. In 1850 they removed to Sauk County, Wis., and opened a hotel in the city of that name, and continued thus engaged until he came to Lancaster County, twelve years later. Mr. Snyder located upon a homestead claim, about twelve miles from the present city of Lincoln, and now bent every energy to the improvement of the same, and it became his home for about thirteen years. It was the habit of Mr. Snyder whenever he saw a "prairie schooner" with its band of emigrants crossing the plain, to go out to meet them, extend a cordial invitation to them to stop with him over night, and made it his business to see that they were made fully acquainted with the advantages there offered to persons in their position. By this practice he has done much to help settle up the country.
   At the time of Mr. Snyder's locating there were numerous Indians in this section of the country, but beyond a few thefts and an occasional fight, caused by an over-indulgence in fire-water, they gave no trouble. The plains still abounded in game of all kinds incidental to the country, excepting the buffalo, whcih (sic) had been driven much farther west. Our subject was a settler when the county was organized, and voted at the first election after that event, and likewise after the organization of the precinct. Soon after the capital was located at Lincoln, our subject was appointed one of three to survey and appraise the school land in the county, and Mr. Snyder has a vivid recollection of the exciting times had while thus engaged. The law required the appraisement to be not less than $7 per acre, and the first section surveyed was not worth over $2. They could not agree upon what price should be put upon it, and after a long discussion concluded to return for instructions. This they did, and were informed to put the price of the land at its value. Nevertheless, it could not be sold for less than the above legal amount.

 C. SMITH, of Lancaster Precinct, established himself in the city of Lincoln in 1870, and engaged in the stove and tinware trade for a period of eight years. He then secured a tract of land and began the breeding of Short-horn cattle, in which he has since been engaged. He is the owner of a fine farm of 480 acres in the precinct where he now resides. His home is one of the most attractive in this county, finely located, and the dwelling handsomely constructed, furnished in accordance with the cultivated tastes and ample means of its inmates. The wife of our subject is a very popular and agreeable lady, prominent in the social circles of her community, and well fitted to preside over her beautiful home.
   The subject of this sketch was born Jan. 22, 1832, in Lancaster, Ohio, where he spent his early life. His parents, George H. and Amelia (Matlock) Smith, were married in 1827, and to them there was born a family of eight children. The father, a native of Virginia, was born Feb. 22, 1800, and continued a resident of his native State until a young man of twenty years, when he removed to Lancaster, Ohio,