living. Charles, our subject, was a resident of Scott County, Iowa, a period of four years, from 1852 until 1856, when he came to Nebraska, settling at first in the city of Omaha. For some years afterward he was engaged as a teamster across the plains, being the pioneer of this business, making his first journey in the fall of 1859. For two years he lived in Colorado, and had ample experience with frontier life, and some experience with Indians. Upon coming to this county he purchased, in 1868, 331 acres of land which comprises the fine homestead in his possession to-day. He has himself effected all the improvements upon it, laying off the land into convenient fields with neat fences, putting up a residence, barns and out-buildings, gathering together the farm stock and machinery, and has now one of the most desirable estates in the county. Among the numerous views presented in this volume may be found that of the residence and surroundings belonging to this gentleman. Our subject, in 1873, was united in marriage with Miss Jane Williams, the wedding taking place at the home of the bridegroom in McWilliams Precinct, Mrs. Dann was born in Toronto, Canada, and came to the States with her uncle in 1867; her parents were John and Henrietta (Fitzgerald) Williams. Her father was a carpenter by occupation, and a native of Closbyshire, England. He crossed the Atlantic in 1850, and spent his last years in Palmyra Precinct, on the western line of this county, where his death took place about 1883. Mrs. Dann lived for several years before her marriage with her uncle in Nebraska. Of her union with our subject there has been born one child, a daughter, Ettia M., who continues at home with her parents. Mr. Dann has become thoroughly Americanized, meddles very little with politics, and signifies his sentiments of freedom and equality by voting independently.

ENRY BRINKMANN occupies an uncontroverted position among the substantial farmers of Otoe County, and is located on section 14 of Syracuse Precinct. He is native of Hanover, Germany, where he was born on the 9th of January, 1827. In early life he was bound as an apprentice, and learned the trade of a tailor, but did not follow it after attaining his majority. At that time he was united in marriage with Louisa Tagmeyer, who was born in Prussia in the year 1829.
   Our subject and his young wife settled in the village of Neauberg, and their residence being quite large they derived quite an income from the rental of rooms by them unneeded for other purposes. Mr. Brinkmann gave his attention to agricultural pursuits, and being a thorough, practical man, and fully conversant with farming. was enabled to support his family in comfort and comparative affluence, and also accumulated a surplus.
   The first misfortune that befell Mr. Brinkmann came to him in the year 1858, when his wife was removed from his side by the imperious and never to be denied destroyer, death, leaving him with two little ones who had been born to them. One of these is now deceased; the other, Lena, now the wife of August Bartling, of Beatrice, this State.
   Some time after the above bereavement our subject became the husband of Christina Bierman. He continued to make his home in Germany until the year 1869, then with his family he took passage at Bremen on the steamship "Baltimore," and after a stormy passage of eighteen days' duration landed in the harbor of the city of the same name. This trip was anything but pleasant, and will always be remembered. Mrs. Brinkmann was sick throughout the passage, and the task of caring for her and their little family devolved upon him.
   Landing at Baltimore Mr. Brinkmann was unable either to speak or understand one word of the English tongue, and unfortunately he fell into the hands of men whose despicable employment it was to fleece him and others similarly situated of their little hard-earned store, rather than lend a hand to smooth the difficulties from his path and assist him on his way. He purchased, as he supposed, a railroad ticket for Nebraska City, but upon reaching Chicago was called upon for $30 more in order to carry him to Council Bluffs, where another $15 was demanded to take him to Nebraska City. The railroad company left him at Eastford, opposite Nebraska City, where he was met by a Mr. Stroup, who, instead of telling him that his tickets

good to the city, took him in and kept him overnight at his hotel, if such a place as he used for that purpose could by any stretch of the imagination be deemed fit for such designation, even though a word of such vast latitude as that of "hotel" be used. In the morning he was called upon for $11 hotel bill, and a man was hired to bring him to where he now lives, and for this was charged an additional $10. Looking back over this experience he cannot but contrast it with the fact that he has many times since taken a full load of potatoes to Nebraska City, and only realized one-half that amount.
   The troubles of our subject were not over, although he had reached Nebraska City. He had come thus far to a half-brother who had been in the country several years, and owned a piece of land in the neighborhood. In all kindness of heart this gentleman sold to our subject forty acres of land at $19 per acre, and when subsequently he learned that he could have obtained just as good or better for $5, or which would have been even of greater advantage to him, have entered a homestead, he did not appreciate his relative's goodness as he had done at first. Upon his arrival he had $1,346 left, but at the end of one year he was in debt. The land was almost wholly unimproved, his house was but a shanty, and having no team he was compelled to exchange work with his neighbors, in order to effect anything at all.
   The first true friend our subject met upon American soil was a gentleman who still occupies a prominent position in Nebraska City, and whose life story will be found presented in compendious form in this volume. This was Carl Korff, who, appreciating the situation, gave him kindly and valuable counsel, trusted him with goods and other things that were needed, and extended to him a helping hand. Our subject worked on the construction of the railroad at Belmont, and the family managed as best they could in very straitened circumstances for over two years, living chiefly upon corn bread, hearing their hardships and trials in a bright and cheerful spirit, although many a tear was shed when the situation in all its forcefulness presented itself before them. But this has long since passed away. With the help of the good Samaritan friend, slowly but surely he has progressed, and to-day, if he needed it, could raise an almost unlimited amount in a very few hours. He is one of the largest land-owners of the county, having 600 acres of pasture land which is occupied by large herd of cattle, and which he has leased.
   The second wife of our subject died on the 22d of March, 1871. She was the mother of seven children, three of whom are now living, viz: Minnie, Charley and Freda. The other children died in Germany. On the 30th of June, 1871, he was united in marriage with Sophia Steba. This lady was born in Mecklenburg, Germany, in 1842, and is the daughter of John and Mary Steba. Her father died in his native country, and after that bereavement her mother came to the United States, and now resides in this county. She has three sisters also living in this State, who bear the names Mary, Minnie and Frederika. Site has presented her husband with five children, four of whom now survive, viz: Henry, who was born on the 26th of April, 1872; Anna, on the 10th of February, 1875; Mary, Feb. 25, 1877; Sophia, on the 22d of January, 1885.
   The subject of our sketch is one of the substantial and earnest members of the Lutheran Church, as is also his wife. He is a stanch adherent of the Democratic party, and has so been since he has been able to understand and appreciate the institutions and political relations of his adopted country. He is very highly esteemed throughout the community, and has a character that will bear the closest investigation. As a result he holds an unrivaled position in the community as a man of honor and integrity.

EORGE K. BOTTCHER is successful as a general farmer, and operates 260 acres on section 17, McWilliams Precinct; the farm usually produces good crops, even when others fail, for the reason that it is watered by the Nemaha River, which is a most valuable acquisition. This farm he has owned since 1883, but his connection with the State dates from one year earlier. Previously he had lived in Gasconade County, Mo.,