together a their present home, and have labored with the mutual purpose of building up a comfortable home for themselves and their children, also securing a good position in their community as people worthy of the highest respect. Their home and its surroundings is one of which they have reason to be proud.

EREMIAH C. GILMAN, proprietor of one of the largest farms in Nebraska City Precinct, is a gentleman well known throughout this section as one of the old settlers of this State, coming here as early as 1857. Through a life of industry and wise economy he has acquired a competency, and since his return to this locality twenty years ago, he has built up a comfortable, commodious home, one of the most attractive in the precinct. Mr. Gilman comes of sturdy New England stock, his ancestry being of the hardy, self-reliant, energetic class that has sent so many brave, resolute men to conquer and people the Western wildernesses and prairies. His forefathers were probably early settlers of New Hampshire, the birthplace of his immediate ancestry. His paternal great-grandfather, Jonathan Gilman, was born in 1720, and resided in Carroll County, N. H.
   John Gilman, the grandfather of our subject, was born Sept. 8, 1749, it is supposed in the State of New Hampshire, and among her rocky hills and pastures he passed his life as a farmer, dying at last in Carroll County. His son Andrew, father of our subject, first opened his eyes to the light of day Oct. 5, 1798. on a New Hampshire farm, and after attaining manhood chose the honorable calling to which he had been reared, and which had been that of his forefathers from generation to generation. He married Dolly Pike, likewise of New Hampshire birth, born in Coos County, April 5, 1802, and they commenced their wedded life in the wilds of Coos County, where he had bought a tract of timber land, which be proceeded to clear and prepare for cultivation. The country round about was sparsely inhabited, and for some years Portland, Me., 100 miles distant, was the nearest market. Mr. Gilman improved a farm, and there spent his declining years, dying in 1848. He was a man of sound common sense, a hard worker, just and kind in his relations to others, and in his death the community where he had spent so many useful, busy years was deprived of a good citizen. His estimable wife spent her last years with her daughter in Carroll County, N. H., where she died in 1885. There were six sons and one daughter born to her and her husband, namely; Joseph, John K., Fanny E., our subject and his twin brother Andrew, George and Pike. Jeremiah and his brother John were the only members of the family who settled in the West. John died in Nebraska City in 1886.
   Jeremiah C. Gilman was born Nov. 8, 1834, at the home of his parents in the beautiful town of Bartlett, and there amid the grand old hills of his native State he was nurtured to a vigorous manhood. He was educated in the district school, and resided on the old homestead assisting in the farm work until 1854. In that year he and his brother John left the shadow of the White Mountains to seek a home and fortune on the broad prairies of the Far West, more than a thousand miles away. They went by rail to Rock Island, Ill., then the western terminus of the railway, and crossing the Mississippi on a ferry boat to Iowa, took passage on a stage for Ft. Des Moines, and from there to Greene County, where they identified themselves with the early settlers. They laid out a town, which they called Kendrick, and erected a steam sawmill and a corn cracker, which they operated there for one year, and then moved it to Warren County, where they managed it until 1857, then sold it, and in December of that year came to Nebraska.
   Our subject and his brother in coming to the Territory, located in that part of Nebraska City called Kearney, and engaged in the livery business together for two years. Then the brothers sold out, and again in 1859 started westward, settling in that part of the Territory now included in Lincoln County. The whole of that entire section of the country was wild prairie; deer, antelopes and buffaloes roamed across it in large numbers, and there were no settlements nearer than Ft. Kearney. The brothers went there to start a ranch, raise stock, and

to trade with the Indians, having taken a supply of goods with them. They used to buy their goods in Nebraska City and St. Louis, and had them transported with teams to their post. During the years 1861 and 1862 the brothers, who were all these years in partnership, began freighting west of the Missouri River from Nebraska City to Denver, Col. They had two trains of twenty-six wagons each, and consequently had to give employment to about sixty men. They carried their cooks and camping outfit with them. All the parties were armed, as a protection against maraudering bands of Indians. The freighting business was profitable, the tariff on goods being about six cents per pound. The brothers were engaged in that business about four years, and during several winters they traded with the Indians as far as 200 to 300 miles south of the North Platte. They thus dealt mostly with the Sioux and the Southern Cheyennes.
   Mr. Gilman and his brother took the contract from the Government from Maj. O'Brien, 7th Iowa Cavalry, to build Ft. McPherson, seventy-five miles west of Ft. Kearney. This was in the fall and winter of 1863. They constructed the main building of hewn logs, also the hospitals and the commission buildings. The quarters for the private soldiers were constructed of round logs. The second year Mr. Gilman and his brother remodeled the forts and quarters. The amount involved was about $150,000, and yielded the brothers a handsome profit.
   The Gilman brothers continued the operations above mentioned until 1868, and then, having accumulated considerable money, they returned to Nebraska City, where they invested in 640 acres of land, of which 320 acres were on section 7, township 8, range 14, and the remaining 320 acres were on section 1, township 14, range 7, Otoe County. Our subject settled on section 7, Nebraska City, and has resided here continuously ever since. He does general farming, raises a large amount of grain, fruit, etc., and devotes much time to raising cattle and other stock, of which he has many fine specimens of high grades.
   Mr. Gilman was married, in 1866, to Miss Elizabeth Alice Fitchie, daughter of James and Eliza (Douglas) Fitchie. Mrs. Gilman is a native of Allegheny County, Pa., and of her marriage with our subject six children have been born, namely: Larsh, Andrew, Nellie M., Marmaduke, Lee and Charles.
   When Mr. Gilman was living on the plains of Lincoln County he took an active part in public affairs. There was an attempt made then to organize a county to be called Shorter, and he was elected Sheriff, but as the organization was not perfected he was not called upon to serve. Though past the prime of life, he is active and enterprising as many a younger man, and is always busy looking after his agricultural interests, and carefully manages his property so as to get the best returns from it. He possesses a clear head and a sound intellect, and is a man to be relied upon in any and every case. He is a sturdy advocate of the policy of the Republican party, and is keenly interested in all the questions of the day that pertain to the welfare of our country.
   As a man who has been closely connected with the development of Southern Nebraska, it is eminently proper that the portrait of Mr. Gilman be given in connection with this sketch, and we herewith present it from the hands of our special artist. There is no doubt it will be regarded with more than ordinary interest.

EORGE SMITH. There are in Palmyra Precinct many agriculturists who compare favorably with any in the State. and among these must undoubtedly be mentioned the gentleman whose biography is here outlined. His property is situated on section 23, where he operates 160 acres. As his name would imply, he is of Scottish parentage; his parents, William and Mary H. Smith, were born at Fenwick, Scotland, and shortly after their marriage came to America and settled in Missouri. The chosen occupation of William Smith was that of a stonemason. He was usually employed upon large buildings' and took large contracts for public and other buildings. His life in Missouri began in the year 1838, and the public buildings of St. Louis and neighboring cities bear marks of his handiwork but his business was