Jacob Eis in early manhood had married Miss Mary Irwin, who was born near the city of Pittsburgh, Pa. She came with her family to the Hawkeye State, and died in Muscatine County, in April, 1861. Of this union there were born four children--John D., Charles H., Walter S. (our subject) and Boardman A. The three brothers of Walter S. are residents of Nebraska.
   After the death of his first wife Mr. Eis was married to her sister Rebecca, who died at her home in Muscatine County, Iowa, May 27, 1884. Of this union there were born eight children, namely: Elry J., Albert N., Abraham L., Gracie E., Jacob M., Rosa, Alice and Arthur G.
   Walter S. Eis was born in Muscatine County, Iowa, Jan. 24, 1858, and remained upon the farm with his father until twenty-four years of age. He had in the meantime acquired a common-school education, and became familiar with the various details of farm life. He was now married, and in the spring of 1882 came to this county and to his present farm in Russell Precinct. The improvements which the passing traveler admires with interest are the result of the industry of the proprietor, and indicate that he has spent very few idle hours. He has considerable wire fencing around his fields, an orchard embracing three acres, and the choicest of apple trees besides the smaller fruits, while the healthy groves form a shelter from the beat of summer and the winds of winter, both to man and beast.
   Our subject was first married in his native county Feb. 2, 1882, to Miss Effie M., daughter of Andrew and Mary (Eaton) Baker. Her father farms on eighty acres of land in Muscatine County. The mother died in November, 1880, at the age of forty-nine years. The household circle included four children, three sons and one daughter, the brothers of Mrs. Eis being John, Theodore and Charles. Mrs.E. was born in Muscatine County, June 2, 1862, and by her union with our subject became the mother of two children, sons--Hugh and Boardman. She departed this life at her home in Russell Precinct, Oct. 12, 1885.
   Mr. Eis contracted a second matrimonial alliance on the 10th of November, 1886, with Miss Jennie Palmer who was born near Fowlersville. Mich., June 5, 1863. Mrs. Jennie Eis is the daughter of S. S. and Hattie L. (Evans) Palmer, the former a native of Baltimore, Md., and the latter of Michigan, They are both living, and reside near Davenport, Iowa, where the father is engaged in farming.
   The family consists of four children, three daughters and one son, namely: Jennie, Clara, Eugene and Eva.
   To our subject and his present wife there has been born one child, a son, Guy R. Mrs. Eis is a member in good standing of the Presbyterian Church, and our subject, politically, votes the straight Republican ticket. He has been quite active in local politics, and in the fall of 1887 was sent as a delegate to the Republican County Convention.
   He has served as School Director in his district for a term of five years.

ALLACE MUNN, a well-to-do farmer of Berlin Precinct, is in possession of one of its best regulated farms and most attractive homes. He owns and operates the northeast quarter of section 12, and his household is presided over by his daughter Laura, a very intelligent and well-educated young lady, formerly a teacher.
   Wayne County, Ohio, was the early tramping ground of our subject, and where his birth took place at the modest homestead of his parents, Sept. 12, 1838. The latter were Bethuel and Arvilla (Jones) Munn, natives of New York State. Grandfather Munn was of Scotch descent, and a butcher by trade, which he followed in New York City for a number of years. Bethuel Munn in early life learned millwrighting, which he followed in his native State until his removal to the West. This journey was accomplished about 1829, he locating among the pioneers of Wayne County, Ohio, where he took up 160 acres of timber land, upon which he lived and labored until his death, in 1854, at the age of sixty-two years. The mother had preceded her husband to the silent land ten years, her death taking place in 1844, when she was but thirty-nine years old. Their family consisted of nine children, who were named respectively: Darwin, deceased; Ahijah; Silas, deceased; Mortimer, Eugene; Wallace, our subject, and his twin brother

Warren, who, in the fall of 1888, moved to Florida; Jane and Arvilla. Seven of these are living, making their homes mostly in Nebraska.
   Our subject after the death of his father began an apprenticeship at the cabinet trade, in Wooster, Ohio. His education had comprised a period of three years spent in the common school. He continued in his native State until the spring of 1859, then made his way across the Mississippi to Pettis County, Mo., where he spent the following summer, and thence migrated to Des Moines, Iowa. Being seized with a fit of homesickness he started back to Missouri on foot, but at Indianola met a party coming to Nebraska City and joined them, but after reaching this place concluded to move on, and went down the Missouri to Georgetown, Mo., where he resumed his trade, forming a partnership with William Dorsey in the cabinet and undertaking business, and lived there until 1861.
   Mr. Munn now decided to revisit Nebraska, but again took in Ft. Des Moines, and remained there until December, 1861, and from there returned to his native State. He farmed on the old homestead thereafter for two years, and in the spring of 1865 went overland to Salt Lake, and from there to Virginia City, Mont., and wintered in Boulder Valley, Mont.; he then began freighting across the plains through Wyoming to Helena, Mont. In the fall of 1866 our subject returned to Ohio, where he was married in 1867, and, settling in Defiance County, was employed in an oar factory until the fall of 1867.
   Mr. Munn, in the spring of 1868, came to this county, determined to make permanent settlement, and purchased the land which he now owns and occupies, paying for it the sum of $1,750. He at once commenced the improvement of his purchase, hauling building material from Nebraska City. He set out groves, an orchard of apple and cherry trees, put up a house and barn, and has added those little embellishments from time to time which have so much to do in promoting the comfort and enjoyment of a family. His land possesses many natural advantages, among them one of the finest springs in the county. His fields are divided by hedge and wire fencing, and, besides raising corn and grain in large quantities, Mr. Munn makes a specialty of stock-raising, and feeds annually large numbers of cattle and swine, while he has a number of good horses. Besides his property in this county he has a timber claim in Thomas County, Kan. He has suffered most of the hardships of life in a new county, battling with grasshoppers, drouth, etc., but has come out of it all with flying colors.
   Our subject was married in Wayne County, Ohio, Feb. 28, 1867, to Miss Mary Groff, who was born in Lancaster County, Pa., Feb. 2, 1842. This lady became the mother of five children, and departed this life at her home in Berlin Precinct, Dec. 10, 1887. The eldest child of our subject is his only son, Silas. The daughters are Laura, Edith, Iola and Maude; they are all at home with their father. Mr. Munn votes the straight Democratic ticket, has served on the Grand and Petit Juries, and has been an efficient worker in his party, being frequently sent as a delegate to the County Conventions. He has also served on the School Board of his precinct several years. His children are bright and intelligent, are being given a thorough education, and trained in the principles of religion and morality. They attend the Good Will Sunday. school. The daughter Laura. who has taken the mother's place in the household, is discharging her filial duties in a most creditable and praiseworthy manner. Mr. Munn has been quite a traveler in his time, his journeyings extending over a large portion of the West.

OHN F. RENKEN. The career of this old and highly respected resident of Rock Creek Precinct has been that of an industrious and successful farmer, who, having secured a competency, is now living retired from active labor at his fine homestead on section 30. Upon this he has lived for a period of twenty-nine years, having settled upon the land which he had pre-empted from the Government in the spring of 1859. The farm is 146 acres in extent, has been brought to a fine state of cultivation, and is well supplied with good buildings. Stock-raising has formed one of the important features of the place.
   In addition to the home farm Mr. Renken owns

other land in this county to the extent of 224 acres, all of which is improved and in a productive condition. He came to this county during the period of its early settlement, and when the small town of Nebraska City was his nearest market. He migrated to Nebraska from Madison County, Ill., of which he had been a resident five years, and where he had settled upon his emigration from his native land. He was born in what was then the Kingdom of Hanover, April 6, 1827, and is the son of Henry Renken, who was of pure German ancestry, and joined his son, John F., in this country in the spring of 1868, when quite well advanced in years. He had been accompanied across the Atlantic by another son, and settled in Rock Creek Precinct, this county,, where his death took place in 1872, after he had arrived at the advanced age of eighty-two years. He had followed farming all his life, and had presented the example of an honest man and good citizen. He had been trained in the doctrines of the Lutheran religion, and to these adhered faithfully until he passed away. The mother, Mrs. Anna (Engle) Renken, died at the old home in Germany in 1860, at the age of seventy years.
   The subject of this sketch was reared at home with his two brothers and one sister, and received a fair education in the schools of his native Kingdom. After leaving school he was employed at farming mostly, and was twenty-seven years of age and unmarried when he came to the United States. Not long after settling in Madison County, Ill., he took unto himself a wife and helpmate, Miss Catherine Tietken, who was born in Germany not far front the childhood home of her husband. Her father died in 1887, and her mother in 1872, in Germany. She joined her brother in the United States in 1856, when she was twenty-five years old. Of there have been born eight children, four of whom are deceased, namely: Herman (1st), John, Herman and Anna E. Those surviving are: Henry, who is employed as a clerk in a general store at Talmage; E. Margaret, at home with her parents; John F., Jr., a teacher in a school of the Lutheran Church in Woodford County, Ill., and William, who remains with his parents.
   Mr. and Mrs. Renken not long after their marriage settled upon a farm in Madison County, Ill., but in 1859 crossed the Mississippi. Our subject has given his attention strictly to agricultural pursuits since coming to America. He and his family are connected with the Lutheran Church, in which Mrs. Renken is a Class-Leader and an interested worker, warmly devoted to her religious duties. Politically, our subject votes the straight Republican ticket. He meddles very little with politics and has no aspirations for office. Mr. Renken held the office of School Director for a term of eighteen years.

NOCH G. KING, the young, competent and enterprising pharmacist at Dunbar, Delaware Precinct, was born on the 27th of June, 1860, in Logan County, Ill., near Atlanta. His father, Cyrus King, was born in Clarke County, Ohio, in the year 1822, and by occupation was a farmer. The maiden name of his mother was Mary George. She was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, in the year 1824. After their marriage his parents made their home in Illinois. Their home circle included four children--our subject, James E., Robert C. and Elnora.
   The subject of our sketch was reared upon a farm and received his education in the district schools, after which he attended the Northern Indiana Normal School, at Valparaiso, Ind. In the year 1884 he came to this State and stopped at Dunbar. Until the following spring he engaged in teaching in that vicinity, and then went to Berlin, in this county. There be continued reaching for six months, which made two years he had been thus engaged. He then entered the store of Mr. Allen as drug clerk, continuing until March of 1886, when he became the partner of Mr. Allen in the drug-store at Dunbar. The following March he purchased the entire business, and has since that time run it alone, He carries a full line of drugs and medicines, which he supplements with such articles as are usually found in similar stores in towns of the same size as Dunbar, including clocks, watches and jewelry, various articles used in house decoration, books, stationery, etc.
   On the 20th of September, 1887, our subject was joined in matrimony with Miss Lou Jones, the

daughter of Robert and Mercy Jones, of Dunbar. Her father being deceased, her mother is living with them. Mrs. King is a devout member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and our subject attends the same congregation. Although not a church member, he is a liberal supporter of religious and benevolent institutions.
   Mr. King is a stanch Republican, and the fact that, entirely unsought by him, he was appointed Postmaster here on the 25th of September, 1888, testifies abundantly to the esteem in which he is held, and his popularity as a man and citizen. Prior to her marriage the wife of our subject held the office of Postmistress for three years.

OLKERT FASS, Recorder of Deeds of Otoe County, is performing the duties of his office with honor to himself and to the satisfaction of his constituents. He is a resident of Nebraska City, and has made his home here for several years. He is an intelligent. well-informed man, has traveled quite extensively in the Western States and Territories, and has seen much of frontier life. He was born in the Province of Hanover, Germany, March 26, 1849. His father, Conrad Fass, was born in the same locality, and there spent his entire life, being for many years actively engaged in the general mercantile business. He was an upright, honest man, well worthy of the confidence in which he was held by his fellow-citizens. His estimable wife, whose maiden name was Annie Margaret Falkers, was a native of the same place as himself, and a lifelong resident there. Six of the children born to her and her husband grew to maturity, namely: John B., Mary C., Herman H., Folkert, Annie M. and Gesine Fredericka. The subject of this sketch and his brother Herman are the only members of the family who live in America. The latter is married and lives in Nebraska City.
   Folkert Fass, of whom we write, obtained a liberal education in the schools of his native land, which he attended quite steadily until he was sixteen years of age. In 1868, when he was but nineteen years of age, he ambitiously decided to try his fortunes in the New World, and immediately after landing in this country he made his way directly to Missouri. He staid there but a short time, however, and then came to Nebraska City, arriving here in the fall of that year. In December he returned to Missouri, and in the following summer, in company with a number of others, started from that point, with a pair of mules and a wagon, to drive to Dallas, Tex., then a small town. After spending a short time there our subject started on a pedestrian tour to Louisville, Denton County, taking provisions with him and cooking and camping by the way. He lived there nearly a year, and then resumed his journey across the wilds of Texas to the Rio Grande. A part of the journey lay through an uncultivated country, where antelopes, deer and other wild game abounded, and Indians still made their homes there. He soon returned to Louisville, and from there went to the Indian Territory and visited Ft. Smith, from whence he crossed the mountains to Arkansas, and at Marysville, that State, sold his team and took passage on a stage for Missouri. At that time there was a line completed to Indian Territory, and in Fass went by rail to that part of the country, whence he went to Ft. Scott, Kan., and from there to Kansas City. In December of that year he again returned to Carrolton, Mo., and once more started with a team from there and came to Nebraska City, of which he has since been a continuous resident.
   Thus ended our subject's travels, which had taken him over many hundred miles of this country, and he being an observing, wide-awake man, profited much by his fine opportunities for gaining knowledge of its many and varied resources, laying up a good fund of information, besides having a thorough experience of life on the frontier. We are sorry that the brief limits of this sketch will not permit us to record some of the interesting incidents of his journeyings to and fro, or to describe some of the scenes that he passed through. In the fall of 1887 Mr. Fass was elected to his present office as Recorder of Deeds, and by his faithful and conscientious discharge of his work has shown himself well worthy of the trust reposed in him by his fellow-citizens, and proved himself to be an efficient public official.
   Our subject has a pleasant home, rendered cozy

and comfortable by the wife to whom he was united in marriage in May, 1876. Mrs. Fass was formerly Miss Mary Winkler, a native of Germany, who came to America with her mother and grandmother when she was five years of age, and was reared in Chicago, Ill. Of their union three children have been born--Gesine M., George C. F. and Elbe. In 1883 Mr. and Mrs. Fuss returned to their old home in Germany, and spent a few pleasant weeks amid the scenes of their youth.

ON. DAUVERSE NEFF. This name will bring before the minds of many readers of this volume a face and character well known, and that by no means unfavorably, for the subject of this sketch is one of the most valued citizens of Syracuse. Through years of manhood he has toiled in order to better his position in life, but has always found time and opportunity to give expression to his devotion to the interests of the community of which he is a resident. In the comparative retirement from active affairs which he elects to enjoy he finds the reward of former years of untiring effort and persevering industry. He has been a resident of Otoe County since 1877, and in the years since that time has impressed all who know him with a sense of his high character, large business capacity and sterling worth.
   The subject of our sketch was born on the 21st of May, 1834, in New Lisbon, Otsego Co., N. Y., and is the son of Silas and Polly Neff, who were likewise natives of the Empire State, and died in New Lisbon. Our subject was one of four children born to them, one of whom was a daughter. By a former marriage Mr. Neff, Sr., had become the parent of eight other children. By trade he was a carpenter, which he followed with considerable success. He died when our subject was but eleven years of age, leaving his widow to bring up unassisted the children whom it had been his hope to have seen enter their various paths in life and to have helped them in the same.
   Until he attained his majority the subject of this sketch continued to work upon a farm, and there laid the foundation, in habits of thought and industry, for future success and prosperity. In December, 1854, he went to LaFayette County, Wis., where he followed the joint occupations of farming and school teaching. Three years later he purchased an interest in a general store at Calamine, Wis., which continued for five years under the firm name of Smith & Neff; later he became the sole proprietor, and so continued until 1877, by which time the business had very largely increased, and he had become interested in the lumber trade, and also in grain. In each of these enterprises fortune favored our subject, and he continued to progress in them year by year. He came to Syracuse, as was noted above, in 1877, and immediately engaged in mercantile pursuits. Somewhat later he associated with a gentleman in business under the firm name of D. Neff & Co., after which he again embarked in the grain trade. This he continued until January, 1887, when he removed from a direct interest in the business, and has since lived a somewhat retired life. Two reasons led up to this step--first, that he had a competency sufficient to warrant the step; secondly, and chiefly, because his hearing failed him very rapidly, leaving him almost without any power in that direction.
   Mr. Neff is still the owner of two well-improved and admirably cultivated farms, each of 160 acres in extent; also a half-interest in a store at Hildreth, in this State, which is operated by his brother Franklin, under the firm name of Neff Bros. This was the first store established in that place, and is still one of the leading houses of business. He is also a Director of the First National Bank of Syracuse, the responsibilities of which office, linked with his other business interests, leave him sufficient to do to relieve the tedium of a life that would otherwise be exceedingly dull to one who has been so constantly active as our subject.
   Mr. Neff was married, on the 9th of February, 1863, to Harriet A., daughter of Rev. Hewitt and Julia M. (Howell) Fitch. The father of this lady was a native of New Lisbon, N. Y., and a clergyman of the Baptist Church. He served in this sacred office for a period of thirteen years at Edmundton Centre, N. Y. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Neff has been blessed and its felicities much augmented by the birth of four children, of whom

they have been privileged to rear three, viz: Clarence, Homer and Walter. Their daughter Mattie died at the age of ten years.
   Mrs. Neff is an earnest, devoted member of the Baptist Church, and is most highly esteemed by reason of the beautiful Christian life which adorns her profession. Our subject, although not a member of the church, is a true friend of good morals and every social virtue. His own character and social status were such as to commend him to his fellow-citizens, so much so that he was called upon to represent them in his district while a resident in the State of Wisconsin, in the Legislature of that State. He also served as Justice of the Peace, and since coming to Nebraska has held several offices and trusts. He is a stanch Republican, and has always been accounted a true friend to the party and a loyal citizen. It is his pleasure to number among his friends all the best citizens of the county, by whom also he is much respected. His life is an instance of what may be accomplished by, noble, vigorous, manly effort and endeavor.

EV. THOMAS L. AUSTIN, a resident of Rock Creek Precinct, and Postmaster at Julian, labored for a number of years in the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, but of late has given his attention largely to agricultural pursuits. He has a fine farm of 240 acres, located on section 36, of which he took possession in May, 1870, when its condition was in wide contrast to that of the present. It was then an unbroken stretch of prairie, undisturbed by the plowshare, but is now one of the most valuable farms in this part of the county. In bringing it to its present condition it is hardly necessary to say there have been employed years of time and labor, and no small outlay of money. The buildings are neat and substantial, the dwelling is admirably adapted to all the comforts of rural life, and the barns and out-buildings conveniently arranged for the storing of grain and the shelter of stock.
   Our subject, a native of Virginia, was born near the city of Lynchburg in Campbell County, Sept. 29, 1822. His father, Alex Austin, was a surveyor by profession, which he followed partially, but also carried on farming. He also was a native of the Old Dominion. and of Scotch-Irish ancestry, the latter emigrating to America from the North of Ireland prior to the Revolutionary War.
   The father of our subject was reared and educated in his native State, but went over into North Carolina for his bride, being married there to Miss Elizabeth Burgess, a daughter of one of the prominent families of the State. She was of English ancestry, and her paternal grandfather was a preacher under the reign of King George III. The parents after their marriage settled in Virginia, the father carrying on agriculture in Campbell County, and both spending there the remainder of their days. The mother died when about sixty-five years of age.
   Alex Austin survived his excellent wife many years, his death taking place when ninety-one years old. During the War of 1812 he did gallant service as a Colonel of the 53d Virginia Infantry, and in politics was a member of the old Whig party; Both parents were members of the Episcopal Church. Their family consisted of nine children, eight sons and one daughter, three of whom are living, making their homes mostly in Campbell County, Va.
   Our subject received a good education in his native county, and at an early age exhibited unusual thoughtfulness and intelligence. He was ordained a minister of the Southern Methodist Episcopal Church about 1844, and since that time has labored more or less in the Master's vineyard. He was married in Campbell County to Miss Mattie Ward, who was born there in 1824, and is the daughter of Seth and Martha (Noble) Ward, the former of English descent, and a farmer by occupation. He died in middle life when his daughter Mattie was a small child. The mother continued a resident of the Old Dominion, and died in Mississippi about 1882.
   Mrs. Austin was reared mostly by her paternal grandparents, receiving a common-school education, and being trained carefully to all housewifely duties. She is now the mother of nine children, of whom William A. and Elizabeth are married, and residents of Nebraska. The others, Susan M., Sally