not successful, owing to the failure of a company with which he was connected, and he removed to Galena. Here he worked upon the brewery, and put up the first arch of that building. After a few years a removal was made to Elk Grove Township, LaFayette Co., Wis. This was his home until his death, in 1886, when he was eighty-seven years of age.
   Mrs. Smith is eighty years of age, and is still living, making her home with her eldest daughter in Wisconsin. There were seven children born to her and her husband, five of whom grew to estate years and are still alive. Their names are mentioned as follows; Catherine, Mary, Elizabeth, George and Robert H. From this it will be seen that the subject of our sketch was the youngest child but one. They have all been educated and trained after the model of Scottish strictness and care in regard to the higher qualities of character and morals.
   The subject of our sketch was born on the 6th of July, 1852. at the Wisconsin home. His advantages in the line of education were undoubtedly excellent, and he developed an unusual capacity and liking for his studies, and became quite a good scholar in all the common branches. One trouble the teacher had with him was on account of his being naturally left-handed. It was only by persistent efforts that he learned to write as others do, but he has this advantage that he can use his pen as well with one hand as with the other.
   Not having a large farm our subject's father gave him and his brothers the privilege of their own time and earnings, in order to get some start in life. When about thirteen he started to work for his brother-in-law by the month. As soon as he had money enough he bought a horse, and from that as a beginning went on to accumulate little by little. During the winter mouths he still continued his studies, and was more earnest as a student because he began to realize the value of an education.
   The marriage of our subject with Miss Eliza Jane Herron was celebrated on the 18th of March, 1879. His wife was the daughter of James and Mary Ann (Nolan) Herron; her father was born near Dover, in Delaware, while her mother first saw the light in the vicinity of the city of Dublin, Ireland. She was a sister of the Rev. John Nolan, and a lady of large mental capacity, of complete education, possessed of many accomplishments, and this endowment she was only too glad to share with her daughter Eliza, so that she was also prepared to take her place in her home, and bring to it all the beauties of refinement and culture. The parents of Mrs. Smith were married in Wisconsin, and there continued to make their home. The business interests of Mr. Herron were at Galena, where he owned extensive lead mines. His death occurred on the 6th of February, 1885, when he was eighty-three years of age. His wife is still living in Wisconsin, and is now sixty-eight years old.
   Mr. and Mrs. Herron were pioneers of LaFayette County, Wis., and were universally respected wherever they were known. They were exceedingly active in religious circles, and were pillars of the church to which they were united in membership. They were the parents of ten children, whose names are as follows: Susannah S., William E.; Wesley J., who died when fourteen years of age; Henry J. and Osley F. (twins), Eliza J., Mary A., Olivia V., Carson D. and Elmer E. Mrs. Smith was born on the 20th of December, 1851, in LaFayette County, Wis., and was educated in the common schools of the district. After taking the Normal course at Platteville, when seventeen years of age she received a high-class teacher's certificate, after which she followed that profession. For five terms she had charge of the Elm Grove public school. Her parents being among the wealthiest in the community this engagement was a matter of choice only. She was very fond of teaching and showed an admirable tact in the management of her school.
   For two years after the marriage of our subject and wife, Wisconsin continued to be their home, and there their first child was born. The removal to this State was made in 1880, Mr. Smith having spent the fall of the previous year in prospecting, and had then purchased their present farm, comprising 160 acres, of the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Company; he also has 160 acres on section 35, within two miles of Douglas. All the improvements made upon the property are those of our subject. Stock-raising seemed to offer a more

profitable as well as more congenial employment, and he has consequently engaged largely therein, breeding chiefly Clydesdale horses, although he has a number of other very high-grade animals. He is the owner of the celebrated stallion "Young Donald." In cattle he has not confined himself to any particular breed, but has quite a large herd of very fine creatures. He also owns between 150 and 200 hogs of the best grade.
   Mr. Smith has been called upon at various times to fill positions of public trust, and has always done so in the most perfect and happy manner, winning the esteem and respect of the entire community. He has been Road Supervisor, and has also filled other offices, and is one of the energetic members of the Republican party. In the Methodist Episcopal Church Mr. and Mrs. Smith find that which is congenial to them religiously, and there is little proposed or accepted either by the church, Sunday-school or societies with which they are not connected, either as the promoters or supporters.
   There are few who can look back to the names of honored ancestors with more pride than the subject of our sketch, whose forefathers and members of the family have upon several occasions suffered martyrdom, and sealed their religious confessions with their life blood. This has been a treasured memory to the generations, and has undoubtedly been a powerful lever in the sustaining and onward movement of the transmitted high standard of moral power and character.

OLLIN M. ROLFE, a retired merchant, has been an esteemed resident of Nebraska City since 1860, having made his advent in this place October 15 of that year. He at once identified himself with the mercantile interests of the city, engaging in the wholesale and retail grocery business, being the first wholesale jobber of groceries in Nebraska south of the Platte River. There were no railways west of the Missouri River at the time, and none nearer than St. Joseph, and all transportation was done with teams for some years, making freights very high, the average rate paid on freight between Nebraska City and Salt Lake City being twenty-five cents a pound. The greater portion of the Territory of Nebraska was then in its primitive wildness, and buffaloes, deer and antelopes roamed at will over the prairies. There were military posts en route, but not a city between here and Denver. Our subject was a potent factor in opening up the undeveloped country, and was instrumental in the building of the wagon road to Ft. Kearney, and was afterward one of the original incorporators and first Secretary of the Midland Pacific Railway Company.
   Our subject is a native of New York, born near Bath, Steuben County, Oct. 12, 1830. The Rolfes have figured conspicuously in English and French history, it having been Count Rolfe, the father of William the Conqueror, to whom Normandy was ceded by Charles the Simple, King of France. Simon Rolfe was known to have been a resident of Salem, England, in 1660, and he had the power to issue coins, one of which is now in possession of the subject of this sketch. It bears on one side the name Simon Rolfe, and on the reverse side the family coat of arms. From the records of the New England Historical and Genealogical Society we learn the following: "John Rolfe, with his wife and two sons, John and Thomas, who were from Melchitt Park, Wilts County, England, set sail from London in April, 1638, in the ship "Confidence," and on arriving in this country settled in Massachusetts. Later, other Rolfes came to America and settled in Salisbury and Haverhill, Mass., and Concord, N. H. Descendants of these families are scattered about in different parts of the Union, the branch from which our subject sprang settling in Virginia, where Moses Rolfe, the grandfather of our subject, was born. He removed to Monmouth County, N. J., and thence, about 1805, to Ovid, N. Y., where he was a pioneer, and where he spent the rest of his life. The maiden name of his wife, grandmother of our subject, was Mary Coon. After the death of her husband she removed to Steuben County, N. Y., and spent her last days with her children, who had married and settled there.
   Joseph Rolfe, the father of our subject, was born during the residence of his parents in Monmouth County, N. J., May 5, 1800. After his fifth year his early life was passed in New York State, where

he received his education and engaged in the lumber business, manufacturing his lumber and floating it down the Susquehanna River and its various tributaries, here it found a ready sale in the seaport towns. The last years of his lire were spent in the home of a son in Lawrenceville, on the Pennsylvania State line, his death occurring in January, 1878. In politics he was formerly a Whig, but joined the Republican party on its formation, and was afterward a firm supporter of its principles. The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Eliza Reed, who was born in Dutchess County, N. Y. Her grandfather, the great-grandfather of our subject, Gilbert Reed, a native of Kinderhook, was connected with the Commissary Department at Valley Forge during the Revolutionary War, and being a wealthy man devoted to the interests of his country, did not hesitate to advance $100,000 from his private funds, for which he was paid in continental script.
   The subject of this biographical sketch was reared in his native town, and there received his education in the district school. At the age of fifteen years he commenced his mercantile career, engaging as a clerk in a general store at Monterey, Steuben County, receiving $4 a month the first year, besides his board, The following year his salary was increased to $10 a mouth, the third year to $20, and the fourth year he received a further increase of $5 a month. He remained in that place five years, then went to Elmira, where he secured a similar position, and from there to Geneva, where he clerked a short time in a dry-goods store. Subsequently our subject returned to his native town, where he worked as a clerk for five years. From Bath Mr. Rolfe, who was ambitious of bettering his financial condition, and thinking the Far West offered special inducements, went to Keokuk, Iowa, where he remained about a year. Proceeding to Memphis, Tenn., our subject rented a flouring-mill, which he operated six months, then disposed of his property and moved to St. Louis. There he engaged in the auction and commission business, remaining there until Oct. 15, 1860. when he came to Nebraska City. As before mentioned he at once established himself in the grocery business, and was thus employed until 1884. During this time Mr. Rolfe was engaged in different branches of business, and was for some years connected with James Sweet and others in the banking business, under the firm name of James Sweet & Co. In 1879 our subject built a fine residence on the outskirts of the city, familiarly known as Boscobel, and resided there Until 1886, when, on account of the ill-health of his wife, he sold it and bought his present residence in the city.
   Mr. Rolfe was married, June 28, 1859, to Miss Harriet Emmons, a native of Springville, Erie Co., N. Y., and a daughter of Hon. Carlos and Harriet (Eaton) Emmons. Mr. Emmons was born in Vermont and moved from there to the Empire State, settling in Springville, where he practiced medicine. He identified himself with the best interests of the town, county and State, and served as State Senator two terms. He was subsequently offered the nomination of the Governorship of the State by his party, but declined the honor, and was also offered a portfolio in the cabinet of Millard Fillmore.
   To our subject and his wife have been born three children, namely: Emmons, Charles and Harry.

QUIRE EDWIN H. BALDWIN ranks prominently among the honored pioneers of Otoe County. He came to this section during its earliest settlement, and has been President of almost every Fourth of July celebration ever held in Palmyra. This fact is suggestive not only of his patriotism but of the estimation in which he is field by his fellow-citizens. It is hardly necessary to say that he is also prominently identified with the old Settlers' Association of Nebraska. He has never aspired for political preferment, but has earnestly sought the best good of the people around him, and labored to the best of his ability to build up the interests of his adopted county.
   Mr. Baldwin, as the consequence of a life of industry, is now in the enjoyment of a competency, living at his ease in a good home and surrounded by all the comforts of life. He is a self-made man in the truest sense of the word, both educationally and financially. Deprived of his father's care when a lad of twelve years, he was then thrown upon his

own resources. The paramount thought in his mind at that time was the acquirement of a good education. With this end in view he labored and lived economically until reaching the age of twenty years, in the meantime making good use of his limited opportunities at the common school and of the books which came in his way. At the age mentioned he became a student of the Epworth College, of Iowa, in which he took a six-years course, teaching in the meanwhile and otherwise employing himself to pay his expenses. Having now secured that which could not be taken from him, he entered upon the serious business of life, engaging at first in merchandising at Manchester, Iowa. He was greatly prospered, but was finally persuaded to dispose of his business, and in consequence suffered a loss of about $7,000 on account of the rascality of the man with whom he dealt.
   This calamity visited our subject the first spring after his marriage, and in consequence was doubly trying. He, however, suffered himself to lose no time in bewailing his misfortunes, but resolved to endeavor to repair them in the Far West. He accordingly made his way to the Territory of Nebraska, and the result of this determination may be seen in the position to which he has attained, socially and financially. He has become one of the prominent and wealthy men of his county, and by his upright and honorable career is numbered among those who enjoy the esteem and confidence of the people around him.
   The property of Squire Baldwin includes 700 acres, laid off into four farms in Palmyra Precinct, while he also has a farm in Eagle Precinct, Cass County. The main points in a history of more than ordinary interest are as follows: Mr. Baldwin was born June 4, 1837, in Fredonia, N. Y., and is the son of Chester and Mary (Terry) Baldwin, also natives of the Empire State, and whose early home was in the vicinity of Oswego. The family is supposed to be of English ancestry; the paternal grandfather of our subject carried a musket in the War of 1812, and later did service during the Indian War of 1841.
   Chester Baldwin was a carpenter and joiner by trade, and after their marriage the parents settled near Fredonia, in Cattaraugus County, N. Y., where the father built up a comfortable home and was fairly prospered. He was a man of decided views and prominent in the political circles of his county. He only lived to middle age, however, his death taking place on the 6th of June, 1850, at the age of forty-four years. The mother was married the second time and removed to Minnesota, where her death took place June 26, 1867, at the age or sixty-seven and one-half years. Of her first marriage there were born eleven children, namely: Mary A., Cerilla A., Sarah, William D., Edwin H. (our subject), Chester, Wesley, Charles, Frank, Corydon J. and Emma J. Of these seven are now living, and residents of New York, Tennessee and Dakota.
   Squire Baldwin continued a member of the parental household until a youth of eighteen years, working on the farm and also away from home until he could see his way clear for entering college. In the meantime he frequently served as janitor for his tuition and sawed wood for his board. He was a student at Earlville Academy one year, and attended Epworth Seminary five years. From the latter institution he was graduated in 1860 with the degree of L. B. For a year thereafter he was Principal of Earlville Academy. In the spring of 1864 he entered upon his mercantile career, and in the fall of 1864 was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Cattron. This lady is the daughter of his former partner, who is now living on a farm in Delaware County, Iowa. The parents of Mrs. Baldwin, John and Elizabeth Cattron, were natives of Indiana, and are now aged respectively sixty. seven and sixty-five years. Their eight children were named William V., Sarah F., John W., Frank, Etta, Ella, Edgar and Effie.
   Mrs. Baldwin was burn June 13, 1841, in LaPorte, Ind., and was a little girl nine years old when her parents removed to Iowa. She took kindly to her books, and after securing a good education commenced teaching, and was a preceptress in the Iowa University for one year. Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin in making their journey from Iowa to Nebraska came overland with a wagon and team of horses, bringing with them their worldly effects and their one child. They arrived in the then un-important village of Nebraska City on the 8th of June. 1867, and Mr. B. at once homesteaded 160 acres in

the vicinity of what is now Hendricks. Upon this he labored until bringing it to a good state of cultivation, and in time added to it another quarter-section. Of this property he retained possession until the fall of 1877, when he sold out and purchased his farm of 105 acres west of Palmyra.
   During these years our subject has given strict attention to his business as an agriculturist and stock-raiser, in the meantime also buying and selling land. From these several resources he has realized a handsome income. No man has watched with warmer interest the development and growth of Nebraska, and few have given more generously of their time and means to the various enterprises having this end in view. A Republican, "dyed in the wool," Mr. Baldwin has given his vote and influence in support of the principles of his party, but aside from serving in the school offices has refrained from assuming greater responsibilities. He was elected Justice of the Peace in 1876 and served two trims. Both he and his excellent wife are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, with which they have been identified many years. Our subject was one of the founders of the Old Settlers' Association, and one of the chief workers in keeping it together and maintaining an interest among its members.
   To Mr. and Mrs. Baldwin there were born seven children, namely: Charles W., who died at the age of two years; Frank Pearl, Rilla May, Cora E., Harry G. C., Carl S. and Addie. Those surviving are at home. They have been carefully trained and educated, and as rising members of the community will do credit to the name of their honored parents.

ILLIAM KOONTZ, the well-known contractor and builder of Nebraska City, is the son of Baltzer and Susan (Whistler) Koontz, who are natives respectively of Maryland and Pennsylvania. Both are of German descent. The paternal grandfather emigrated to and settled in this country when the father of our subject was about seven years old. After ten years they removed to Ohio. In that State the parents of our subject were married, and continued to reside for several years. The father was by occupation a carpenter, and continued at his trade until he was about forty years of age, when he engaged in farming.
   The subject of our sketch was the last child but one of fourteen born to his parents. His birth occurred in Stark County, Ohio. His parents removed to Indiana when tie was about eleven years of age, and in 1853 finally settled in Whitley County, where they died, the father in November, 1877, the mother on the 12th of July, 1884, being eighty-four and eighty-five years of age respectively.
   The birth of our subject occurred on the 9th of September, 1842. He was brought up on the home farm in Ohio and Indiana. He was, however, privileged to enjoy but very meager educational opportunities. At the time of the outbreak of the Civil War our subject was serving an apprenticeship to the cabinet making trade, but left his tools and the workshop to enlist in Company H, of the 15th Indiana Infantry. He engaged to serve for three years or during the war; this event transpired upon the 6th of August, 1862. The regiment was attached to the Army of the Cumberland, and he was present at some of the hardest fighting of the war.
   Among the battles in which our subject took part may be mentioned those of Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Buzzard's Gap, through the Atlanta campaign with Sherman, and on with him in his match to the sea; thence up through the Carolinas, and was at Raleigh when the news of Lee's surrender reached them. His military experiences closed with the grand review at Washington, after which he in common with his comrades received an honorable discharge.
   Returning home, our subject remained there until 1869, and then came to Nebraska. Arriving in Nebraska City he went to work with the determination to make his fortune. There was no opening in the cabinet-making business, and so he turned his attention to carpentry, working as a journeyman. He has been unusually successful as a contractor and builder, and has erected many of the large buildings of the city, among them the Odd Fellows' Block and the Kee's residence.
   Mr. Koontz is enthusiastic over the prospect of

the future of the city, and bases his judgment, first, on its natural location, second, on the location and enlargement of its stockyards, third, on the greatly increased railroad facilities by the way of "Q" bridge and the Union Pacific Railroad. Thus far he has been fully justified, and his expectations have been more than realized. His hopes therefore for the future would seem to be well founded.
   In the year 1872 the subject of our sketch was united in marriage with Emma J. Howe, the daughter of Noah and Sarah M. Howe. She was born in the State of Virginia, Oct. 22, 1832, and was about seven years of age when her parents migrated to Nebraska City just before the war. There have been given to Mr. and Mrs. Koontz five children, whose names we mention as follows: Maggie May, Nellie M., Alfred O., Edgar B. and W. Carl, all of whom are at home with their parents, and in attendance at the city schools.
   Feeling the cramping through lack of education in his own life, our subject is anxious to make the education of his children as complete and thorough as possible. We would not be understood as implying that our subject is not a well-informed man, for to recognize the need of study and instruction was for him to bend every energy to the task of obtaining knowledge, so that to-day he is well posted upon the usual topics, and has a clear understanding and appreciation of current political affairs, and such a grasp of his business affairs as to make him thoroughly successful, and is a citizen of whom the community is proud, exerting an influence among his fellows that is favorably recognized.
   Mr. Koontz is an enthusiastic member of the G. A. R.; he is Past Commander of the Post, and is at present holding the position of Officer of the Day. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. In religious associations he is affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is also a Trustee. Politically, he is a Republican, and always takes deep interest in matters relative to the party. On the Board of Education he is recognized as one of the active, clear-thinking, practical working members, and is respected accordingly. In his general ideas and patriotic sentiments he is thoroughly American, and entertains the highest ambitious hopes and laudable pride in view of what he conceives to be the future position of his adopted State in the Union.
   T. D. Babcock, at present Noble Grand of the I. O. O. F., Lodge No. 3, says of our subject: "I admire him as a man; as a worker in our fraternity he is well and favorably known as being one of its most worthy members. In his connection with the fraternity his character shows itself plainly, as being that of an honest and upright man."

REDERICK DOW. Among the early pioneers of Nebraska Territory the subject of this sketch is entitled to occupy a position in the front rank, he having settled in Cass County as early as the fall of 1857. He lived there on a partially cultivated tract of land for a period of seven years, then came to Wyoming Precinct, this county, taking up his abode on section 14, where he purchased eighty acres of land, and where he has since lived. He began to build up his present homestead from first principle, there having been no attempt at cultivation or improvement at the time it came into his possession.
   Mr. Dow is a self-made man, and, when pursuing his journey into Cass County, carried his worldly possessions on his back. He had lost most of his household goods on the journey from Chicago to Nebraska. He was born in the Grand Duchy of Mecklenburg, June 23, 1823, where he was reared to man's estate, and when of age entered the regular army and served a period of seven years in the Grenadier Guards, enduring all the vicissitudes of a soldier's life, and coming out at the close with a clean record and an honorable discharge. He set out a single man for the United States in 1852, landing in the city of Quebec, Canada, and going thence to Chicago, Ill., where he employed himself at working on a railroad for a time. There also he was first married to Miss Mary Stahl, a native of his own Province in Germany, and born in 1826. She came alone to the United States about the slime time as her husband, and accompanied him to Nebraska, assisting him in his first struggles at making a living. Of this good wife he was deprived by death Dec. 17, 1866, when she was in her prime and most needed by her little family of six children.