ments which we behold to-day are the result of his industry, as at the time of purchase there were no fences or buildings, in fact no attempt whatever at improvement. Mr. B. arrived in Nebraska in the spring of 1868, from Lake County, Ill., of which he had been it resident since 1850. There also he was occupied as a farmer, although laboring for others, but in the meantime kept an eye out for the future, and saved something with which to cross the Mississippi.
   Mr. Balfour was born near the shores of the Baltic Sea. in the city of Duyzt, Prussia, April 5, 1845, and on his father's side was of Scotch ancestry. His paternal grandfather, James Balfour, was born in the "land of the thistle," whence he emigrated to Prussia, and was there married to a lady of German birth and ancestry, and there both spent their entire lives. His son James, the father of our subject, was thus the offspring of two of the best nationalities on the face of the earth. James, Jr., who was one of three children born to his parents, was subjected to careful home training, and given a thorough education in the Fatherland, and when reaching manhood was married to a most estimable lady, by whom he likewise became the father of three children, of whom our subject, William, was the youngest. The mother died while a young woman, and after her decease James Balfour brought his three children to America, and located on a tract of land in Lake County, Ill., where soon afterward he was again married, to Miss Louisa M. Hinman. This lady was of American birth, and outlived her husband, James Balfour having died when fifty-five years of age.
   The father of our subject after the outbreak of the Civil War hastened to the defense of his adopted country, and such was the nature of his services that he was promoted to the First Lieutenancy in Company I, 45th Illinois Infantry. He served, however, a period of only seven months, his military career being cut short by a gunshot wound at the battle of Shiloh, which ultimately caused his death, the ball going through the right arm near the shoulder, necessitating amputation. Prior to this, at Ft. Donelson, he was shot through the same right arm, and the second wound naturally aggravated the first. He had served as Captain in the standing army of Germany, and was thus admirably fitted for the duties devolving upon him as a soldier of the Union. Mrs. Louisa Balfour is still living, a resident of Lake County, Ill., and has now passed beyond her threescore years. She receives a pension from the Government.
   Our subject was but a lad when coming with his father to the United States, and completed his education at the Old Soldiers' College in Fulton, Ill. So well did he improve his time with his books that he was given the position of teacher in the schools of Otoe County, Neb., where he was thus occupied several winters after coming to Nebraska. He was married in Wyoming Precinct, Nov. 15, 1876, to Miss Ella Hughes. This lady was born in this county, Feb. 16, 1858, and is the daughter of George H. and Catherine (Rousch) Hughes, who were natives of Pennsylvania. Her parents were reared and married in the Keystone State, and came to the West about 1856, locating in Wyoming Precinct, this county, where the mother died when a little past middle life. The father, a practicing physician, then returned east as far as Indiana, and is now living in that State, being now well advanced in years.
   Mrs. Balfour was quite a young girl at the time of her mother's death, and was taken into the home of Mr. Bassett, of Otoe County, where she was reared and educated, and became proficient in all household duties. She is now the mother of six children--Myrtle E., Cyrus L., W. Marvin, George S.. Carl A. and a babe named Max E. She is a lady of much intelligence, and highly esteemed among her neighbors. Mr. Balfour, politically, is a sound Republican, although having no desire for the responsibilities of office. He takes pride in his farm and home, while at the same time giving his support and encouragement to the enterprises calculated to advance the interests of the people around him.
   Our subject soon after the outbreak of the late Rebellion, inspired by the patriotism of his honored father, enlisted as a Union soldier, Dec. 5, 1861, in Company I, 45th Illinois Infantry, under command of Capt. O. A. Bridgeford and Col. John E. Smith, the latter of whom is now Maj. Gen. Smith, of Chicago. He was with his regiment at Fts. Henry

and Donelson, but on account of the extreme exposure and hardship endured on the march he was taken ill, and obliged to accept his honorable discharge for disability, returning home July 30, 1862. He was then only a little past seventeen years of age.

EORGE BROWNLEE. This worthy and capable citizen, whose home is situated upon his farm that comprises one-half of section 33 of Palmyra Precinct, is a descendant of a long and distinguished line of Scottish ancestry of noble birth and family. The first member of the family to come to this country was William Brownlee, the grandfather of our subject. He came to the country as a young man, and settled in Washington County, Pa., and took up agriculture. There he met and married the lady who became the mother of Ebenezer Brownlee, the father of our subject. He became the husband of Miss Carson, and engaged in husbandry and cattle raising. Both still reside in Washington County, Mr. Brownlee, Sr., being sixty-three and his wife sixty-four years old. They are the parents of six children, to whom the appended names were given: Robert, George, James C., John S., Samuel and Jennie E.
   The subject of our sketch was born on the 16th of August, 1851, in Donegal Township, Washington Co., Pa., and was there brought up and educated in the schools of the district. He began to work upon the farm at a tender age, and is in every regard a thorough, practical farmer. His education was limited to the advantages afforded by the common school, but he drew largely from the expensive and well-selected library that had originally been in the possession of his grandfather, so that he is a well-informed man.
   After several years of work upon the farm, when our subject was about twenty years of age, feeling the need of further study, he entered the West Alexandria Academy, and continued to attend the classes of that institution for two years. His father was the owner of certain Nebraska lands, and upon leaving the academy he came out to this State to take charge of them. He came to Palmyra Precinct in 1872, and went to farming and stock-raising.
   The first Merino sheep brought into Otoe County were brought by Mr. Brownlee, who imported them from Pennsylvania. The first consignment comprised one carload, the second, which was made in 1876, was of two double-decked carloads. He continued the breeding and raising of sheep, and was exceedingly prosperous, and at one time had over 1,000 head. In addition to the sheep he has been quite extensively engaged with cattle and hogs.
   Mr. Brownlee was united in marriage, in 1876, to Miss Mary E. Craig, a former schoolmate, who was born in the vicinity of his own home on the 20th of August, 1852. She is the daughter of James and Elizabeth Mary (Dickey) Craig. They attended school and academy together for some time. Five children have been born to them, who bear the following names: Lemuel M., Ebenezer T., James C., Cora L., and Eliza, who died when seven months old.
   Although of Eastern birth, parentage, education and sympathies, Mr. Brownlee has become a typical Western man in all that appertains to the welfare of his adopted State, and the interests of the citizens there. He usually votes with the Republican party, and takes the deepest interest in matters where political economy is concerned. He and his family are most highly esteemed by the community at large.

ILLIAM H. LOWE, of Four Mile Precinct, is well known as one of the early pioneers of Otoe County, with whose agricultural interests he is to-day so extensively identified, and it has been his privilege not only to witness almost its entire growth, but to contribute largely to its material prosperity. Mr. Lowe may be said to have been a pioneer from his birth, as he is the son of a pioneer, and was born amid the primeval forests of Southern Michigan, in the very earliest years of its settlement, and was thus reared amid pioneer scenes in that and other States, and many years of his life were thus passed on the frontier of civilization.
   Mr. Lowe was born Jan. 1, 1829, at Tecumseh, Lenawee Co., Mich. His father, Peter Lowe, was born in New Jersey, and was there reared and

married, Charity Lamberson, likewise a native of New Jersey, and of French descent, becoming his wife. After marriage Mr. Lowe moved to Onondaga County, N. Y., and then began his life as a pioneer, which did not cease until he had been an early settler in five States, and had assisted in the development of each. He bought timber land in Onondaga County, and improved three different farms in New York, and then, seeking "fresh fields and pastures new," he removed to the Territory of Michigan about 1825, and located in that part of Monroe County now included in Lenawee County, He bought wild land, erected a log house in which our subject was born, and lived there for some years, busily engaged in removing the tall, centuries old trees that he might clear a farm. In his humble home in that wilderness the saddest misfortune of his life overtook him in the death of his devoted wife in 1829. In 1832 Mr. Lowe sold his land in Michigan, and buying a tract of part prairie and pact timber land in LaPorte County, Ind., he identified himself with the early settlers of that State. But he was evidently not satisfied with his surroundings there, for in 1833 he sold his land, and we next hear of him in Illinois, the removal having been made with teams, and he passed in his journey through Chicago, then a small place. He staid in Rock Island County one year, and then shook the dust of the Prairie State from his feet, and pushed westward across the Mississippi to Missouri, and located in Cooper County, of which he thus became an early settler. He entered tract of prairie land from the Government, built a hewed log house, and improved quite a good farm. There were no railways there; and the only near market was Boonesville, on the river. In 1842 Mr. Lowe sold his farm in Cooper County and bought a large tract of wild land from the Government, in Atchison County, the same State, and he there made his final home. He improved two good farms, and at his death in 1861 was quite well off in this world's goods. He was a man of marked energy of character, of much shrewdness and ability, and his gentlemanly worth commanded the respect of those who knew him.
   The subject of our sketch was but an infant when his mother died. and an elder sister took charge of him. In the various moves that his father made to the frontier, he kept ahead of the primitive log school in which the children of pioneers often obtained their education, so that our subject never attended school until his father settled in Cooper County, Mo. Fortunately for him his sister had received a good education for those days, and she instructed her brothers and sisters at home. At the age of sixteen our subject left the paternal roof to make his own way in the world, and the first year was employed as a farm laborer at $7 a month. In 1847, during the Mexican War, he enlisted in the United States Army, with the expectation of going to Mexico. His regiment, which was known as the Oregon Battalion, was, however, sent to the Northwest Territory to guard the frontier, and was stationed at old Ft. Kearney, now Nebraska City. Nebraska was then an unorganized Territory in possession of the Indians. Mr. Lowe remained at the garrison one month, was then discharged from the service, and engaged with Maj. Dougherty, who at the, time had charge of the Government cattle which were herded on the river bottoms. In November of that year (1847) Mr. Lowe returned to Missouri and bought a tract of Government land in Atchison County, paying for it with money he had earned while in the service of the Government. The land was timber, and he rented other land for awhile until he could get enough of his own cleared for cultivation. In 1852 he entered a tract of prairie land, settled on it, and improved a part of it. In 1854 he sold that, and in 1855, March 12, came to Otoe County and made a claim on the land on which he now resides. It had not been surveyed at the time, but when it came in the market he entered it at the land-office in Nebraska City. He has been a continuous resident here since that time, and has witnessed almost the entire growth of Nebraska, Kansas, Western Missouri and Iowa. He now has a valuable farm comprising 637 1/2 acres under fine tillage, well supplied with suitable buildings and all the necessary farm machinery, so that in every respect his estate may be considered a model one.
   To the wife whose help and encouragement made his success possible, and who shares his prosperity, Mr. Lowe was united in marriage March 16, 1848.

She was formerly Mary A. Welsh, and was born April 18, 1828, in Jackson County, Mo. Her father, James Welsh, was a native of North Carolina, and his father, Thomas Welsh, was born in Ireland. He came to America accompanied by his wife, and settled in North Carolina, buying a tract of land in Haywood County, and resided there until his death. Mrs. Lowe's father grew to manhood in North Carolina, and after his marriage with Mary Gross, a native of Tennessee, he moved to Missouri, several families going at the same time, and the removal being made with teams and pack horses. He settled in Howard County as one of its pioneers. He bought timber land and built a log house, but he afterward removed to Jackson County, and was one of its very first settlers. He bought a tract of timber land there, on which he erected a log house, in which Mrs. Lowe was born. He continued to be a resident of that county until his death in 1847. His wife had preceded him to the better world in 1844. Mrs. Lowe was carefully trained, and being sixteen years old when her mother died, many of the household cares fell on her young shoulders. She was strong and self-reliant, and became a notable housekeeper. She early learned to spin, weave and knit, and to her skillful hands the family owed their clothes. She became an excellent cook, and many an appetizing meal has she cooked before the old-fashioned fireplace, as it was not until 1853 that she had her first stove. The following is the record of the nine children, six of whom are living, who have blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Lowe: James lives at Oberlin, Kan.; Francis M. lives in Ft. Calgory, Northwest Territory; Richard lives at Red Mountain, Col.; Lee is at home; Mary married Henry Winton, of Nebraska City; Nancy Alice is the wife of Edward Lowe, of Nebraska City; Sarah L. M. was born June 2, 1858, and died Feb. 22, 1887; John Nicholas was born Sept. 28, 1849, and died Oct. 9, 1855; William Edward was born May 16, 1856, and died at the age of three years.
   Mr. and Mrs. Lowe are faithful members of the Christian Church, and their religion shines through all their works. In the forty years that they have traveled life's road together they have been true in all the relations of life to each other, and to those about them; as parents, their children have found in them their best friends; as neighbors, others have found in them safe and wise counselors and willing helpers; those in trouble have often found balm in their kindly expressed sympathy, and in their prosperity they have not been unmindful of the unfortunate and needy., but have generously extended a helping hand. it is such people as these who raise the standard of morality and goodness in it community. In politics Mr. Lowe is a Democrat.

ILTON F. MEEK is one of the younger but successful agriculturists of Otoe Precinct, in this county, and operates ninety-five acres of fine farming land on section 28. He was born on the 12th of January, 1856, in Schuyler County, Mo. His father, Jefferson R. Meek, was born in Henry County, Ky., and brought up in Indiana, obtaining his education in the schools of that State. His mother's maiden name was Sophia Webster. Shortly after the marriage of his parents they settled in Missouri, being among the early pioneers of that State. There the mother died in 1858, leaving ten children. Those who bore the subjoined names alone grew to mature years, viz.: Alfred, Susan, William, Frank, John, Nannie and Milton F. By a second union the father of our subject became the parent of four other children.
   Until he was nine years of age Milton F. Meek lived in Schuyler County, but owing to constant depredations by lawless guerrilla bands, the family removed to Shelby County, where he attended the district school and was brought up on the farm. In the summer of 1878 he came to Nebraska to pay it visit to his brother John, who had settled in this precinct in about the year 1873. He took a great liking to the country, and was especially pleased at having the acquaintance of the lady whom he subsequently married.
   September 13, 1881, our subject was very happily married to Miss Grace Winyard, the amiable and accomplished daughter of John and Ann (Hodges) Winyard, the latter now Mrs. Ann Martin (see

sketch for further items of interest). Miss Winyard was born Dec. 3, 1862, upon the farm of parents in this precinct. Her union has been blessed by the birth of one child, whose name is Carlton L. Meek.
   Our subject and his wife are both earnest members of the Camp Creek Congregational Church, of which he has been a Trustee for several years. Mrs. Meek is the Secretary and Treasurer of the local W. C. T. U., which is in a flourishing condition, while her husband is no less active as a Prohibitionist. They are highly esteemed in the community of which they are residents.

ERNHARD HENRY NOELTING, a young man of enterprise energy and recognized ability, is one of the foremost business men of Nebraska City. He is head of the firm of Noelting & Meyer, hardware merchants; he belongs to the Great Western Fur Company, of which he has been Secretary for some years; he is a Director in the Building and Loan Association, and is a member of the Board of Trade.
   Mr. Noelting is a native of Westphalia, Germany, born in the village of Wallenbrueck, county of Herford, twelve miles from the city of Bielefeld. His father, Herman Henry Noelting, was a lifelong resident of the same place, making farming his occupation until his death, while yet in the prime of life. There were two children born to him and his wife, our subject and his sister Catherine, who married Frederic Strunk, and now lives in the town of Berne, County Bockum, Westphalia. The parents of the subject of this sketch were Herman Henry and Catharine M, E.. (Wessling) Noelting, native's of Germany; the father is deceased. The mother of our subject was born in the town of Werther, County Halle, Germany, and is a daughter of Bernhard Henry and Katherine Ilsabeir (Pohlman) Wessling. She was married a second time, to Peter Henry Schwentker, and they have four daughters. She still lives in the old country.
   Bernhard Noelting obtained a sound education the schools of his native land, which he attended quite constantly until 1871, when he came to America. He was quite young when he lost his father, but he was carefully trained by a good mother, and went forth into the world well fortified against its manifold temptations by the inculcation of good principles. After reaching the hospitable shores of this country, he proceeded immediately to Nebraska City, and soon found employment on a farm in Otoe County. He worked by the month there for two and a half years, and then returned to Nebraska City. Here he became a clerk in the establishment of F. W. Rottman, and in the five and a half years that he remained with him he obtained a thorough practical knowledge of the ins and outs of trade. In the year 1880 Mr. Noelting started in business for himself, forming a partnership. and opening a hardware store under the firm name of Noelting, Kregel & Co. He has been in the business continuously since with a change of partners. The first change was to Noelting & Rector in 1882, and in 1884, after the death of Mr. Rector, Mr. Meyer became his partner, under the firm name of Noelting & Meyer. This is the leading hardware film in Nebraska City, has a well-stocked and well appointed establishment, does a large business, and gives general satisfaction to its many patrons. The firm keeps a large supply of stoves, and they manufacture their own tinware, pumps and windmills, and do a general gasfitting business. The present firm has a branch house at Union, Neb., which is well supplied with the same line of goods carried here, together with farm implements.
   Mr. Noelting has a keen, resolute, uncompromising nature, and in his business and social relations his energetic character and practical sagacity find ample field for exercise. He is an active member of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, and a teacher in the Sunday-school. He is "strong in the faith, and seeks for the good and cherishes it."

EV. HIRAM HURST. After a long and active life of ministerial labor, this gentleman has since 1884 lived retired, although no less interested than formerly, before he attained the honor of the veteran in Gospel soldiery. He now resides on section 1 of McWilliams

Precinct, in the vicinity of Delta, where he has made his home since 1878, and of Nebraska since 1855. He has always operated a farm in connection with his preaching engagements, but gave the preference to the latter. His home was in Wyoming Precinct from 1855 to 1878, when he took up his residence as at present.
   Our subject was ordained a minister of the Regular Baptist Church some years after coming to the State, and has carried on that department of his life work with energy, spirit and effectiveness. He has been associated with the Baptist Church of this and Mills County, Iowa, and has built up several new churches, strengthening and reviving weak and semi-defunct organizations. The church at Delta in its organization and efficiency, and also the house of worship, are the result of his work, but only one of many instances that might be cited. The only reason for his leaving the pulpit and pastoral work was the failure of his health, which demanded that it be transferred to younger and stouter, even though less able and experienced men.
   Mr. Hurst entered land upon coming to the State in 1855. He settled on and entered the same in Wyoming Precinct, and was one of the first in the county to do so. There he made his home, and brought up and educated a large family. He is a native of East Tennessee, and was born in Claiborne County on the 1st of March, 1821. His parents were West Virginians, and in that State his father, Joseph Hurst, was reared, married, and for several years carried on farming. The maiden name of his wife, the mother of our subject, was Rhoda McNew. After the birth of several children Joseph Hurst and his wife moved to Claiborne County, Tenn., and there made a home for their little ones, but when their family had grown up, came to this State, where the father died aged seventy-eight years, and the mother about forty-eight years. They were for many years members of the Baptist Church, and were among the first to be baptized in Andrew County, Mo., whither they had gone from Tennessee, and for a number of years had lived upon a farm.
   Our subject has been three times married. First in Andrew County, to Elizabeth Todd, who, although born in Indiana, had accompanied her parents to Missouri in her childhood. They were neighbors to the family of Mr. Hurst, and fellow members of the church. For some years after his marriage our subject continued farming in Missouri, moving later to Iowa, where he took a claim in Madison County in 1845, being perhaps the first to enter a claim in that county. After ten years spent in that district he removed as above mentioned in the year 1855 to Nebraska, where the old pioneer life was lived over again. Mrs. Hurst died in Wyoming Precinct, this county, when about fifty years of age, leaving eight children, viz: John M., who is now the husband of Hester Webb, and one of the successful farmers of the county; James H., who married Mollie Gray, and is one of the well-to-do farmers of Norton County, Kan.; William R., residing in the same county; Sarah, the wife of John Whetstone; Thomas Jefferson, at Edgar and married to Josie Smith, of Cass County, Neb.; Isaac N., who was married to Mollie Webb; Isabell, the wife of John Hughes, of this county, and Martha M., who is married to Steve Bales, of Talmage.
   The second marriage of our subject was celebrated at Wyoming, the lady being Elizabeth Lewis, who was born in Indiana, but Mr. Hurst was not long to enjoy her companionship, as she died about one year after her marriage. Upon another occasion also our subject stood before the nuptial altar and was united in marriage with Mrs. Ellen E. Wood, relict of Fred W. Wood. That gentleman was born in France. When but a little lad he accompanied his parents to the United States, but subsequently was taken to England, where he was educated, and where he remained until he was of age. He then came to this country, and before long to Nebraska, locating in the western part of the State. where he met and married Miss E. E. Knox, now Mrs. Hurst.
   Miss Knox was born in Belmont County, Ohio, Nov. 25. 1844, and is the daughter of John and Agnes (Douglas) Knox. After the death of her mother she came with her father in the year 1856 to Nebraska City, after tarrying in the State of Iowa for about four years. Soon after coming to this State Mr. Knox pre-empted land in West Otoe County, later in Thayer County, where he operates