Nancy L. Hale, who was born in Andrew County, Mo., Oct. 19, 1849, and is the daughter of William and Jane (Neiley) Hale. Her parents were natives of Kentucky, and the father a farmer by occupation. They moved to Missouri in its pioneer days, making the journey from Kentucky overland with teams. The father was successful in his labors of transforming a tract of wild land into a modern farm, and the parents, both living, still make their home in Missouri. Their family consisted of ten children, two sons and eight daughters, of whom Mrs. Anderson was the youngest born. Only three of the daughters of that large family are now living.
   Mrs. Anderson was educated in her native county, and came with friends to Nebraska when a maiden of sixteen years. She has since that time been a resident of this county. Of her union with our subject there have been born nine children, two of whom, William N. and an infant unnamed, are deceased. The survivors, Mary A.. Isabelle, Maria, George M., Katie M., Nellie C. and Hugh, are all at home with their parents, and comprise a remarkably intelligent and interesting group.
   Mr. and Mrs. Anderson began their wedded life on the land which they still occupy, and which our subject has improved from a wild and uncultivated tract into a highly productive farm. They endured in common with the people about them the trials and hardships incident to pioneer life, and live to rejoice in the prosperity of one of the most important commonwealths in the Union. Mr. Anderson has been a lifelong Democrat, and has held the minor offices of his precinct, while giving his aid and encouragement to the enterprises calculated to benefit the people around him. He is fully worthy of representation in a work of this kind.

RS. MARGARETHA ROTTMANN. In Nebraska City few names are better known in business and religious circles or more esteemed than the name Rottmann, which most excellent reputation has been built up and the respect challenged and won by the late husband of the lady whose name is placed at the head of this sketch. Mr. Rottman, whose portrait graces the opposite page, was born in Westphalia, Germany, on the 13th of June, 1834. At the age of twenty-one, full of manly ambition, enterprise and energy, balanced and directed by no mean intellectual power, he determined to try his fortunes in the New World, and accordingly came to this county. Until that time his life had been spent almost entirely in the rural district in which stood the old home.
   Entirely unendowed or favored by fortune, Mr. Rottmann found that quite a struggle lay before him. He made his way to St. Louis, but after a few months went to Nebraska City, working his way to that place on a boat, serving as cook. Almost immediately he found employment on a farm, and continued for several months. Then he engaged as clerk with Mr. Kalkiman, who was engaged in business as a general merchant, and speedily, by his unwearied application and earnest effort, forged his way to the front as a most efficient help.
   During the four years he remained with Mr. Kalkiman Mr. Rottmann made the acquaintance of the lady who subsequently became his wife, and who now mourns the loss and bereavement of an ever faithful companion and affectionate husband. This lady, Miss Margaretha Arends, was born in Hanover, Germany, Oct. 2, 1844, and is the daughter of Richard and Mary (Teten) Arends, both of whom were natives of the Fatherland. With them she came to America when a little girl. Their home was made in the State of Illinois, and they lived there for five years. Then, migrating westward, they came to Nebraska, and a settlement was effected in this county.
   Mr. and Mrs. Arends, in making anew their home, settled upon a farm, which the father of our subject conducted in the line of general agriculture, continuing the same until his death in the year 1874. His widow is still living, and makes her home with her son Herman in Rock Creek Precinct, She is the mother of six children; of these four were girls, and Mrs. Rottmann was the third child.
   Our subject was eight years of age when with her parents she came to Illinois. Her education was received principally in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Rottmann commenced housekeeping in Nebraska City, at the comer of Laramie and Twelfth streets,

and he engaged in business in the city, beginning almost at the lowest round of the ladder. Nothing daunted him, nothing rebuffed him; his business life from the first was marked with an inflexibility of purpose and unremitting, diligent perseverance. It is within the bounds of truth to say that there is probably no other man who has done so much for Nebraska City as he. He was by no means a selfish man, and always consulted the interests of those with whom he was associated equally with his own. He built all the business houses on the north side of Central avenue, from the Grand Pacific Hotel to Northrop's hardware establishment, and was subsequently President of the Nebraska City Canning Company. It is somewhat remarkable, but nevertbeless a fact, that in the days when the future of Nebraska City looked most dark, and when those chiefly interested were well-nigh in despair on that account, he entertained the brightest hopes, and emphatically prophesied a turn in fortune's wheel, and that in the near future. Events have proved him correct in his judgment and fully justified therein. Religiously, he was associated with the German Lutheran Church, and was for many years a member of its diaconate. Politically, he was a Republican, but by all, however they might differ from him in these matters,wherever he was known it was but to be respected and esteemed as a man and citizen.
   The family of Mr. and Mrs. Rottmann included six children, but one of whom only is now living, viz: Frederick William, who was born in Nebraska City, Dec. 3, 1872, and is now attending school, and lives with his mother. Lela died in 1887, when sixteen months old. The other children died when infants unnamed.
   Mrs. Rottmann and her son are members of the Lutheran Church, and are accounted among the most consistent and devout in the community. They hold positions among the first circles of Nebraska society, and are everywhere received with true respect and esteem, although both from natural proclivity and by reason of her bereavement Mrs. R. lives a very quiet and retired life. Her husband departed this life on the 3d of February of the past year (1888), after a brief illness of brain fever. In his death not simply his family but the community recognized that they had lost a true friend, and cherished the desire to emulate the virtues continually exemplified in his daily life.

OHN C. WALKER. The reader in this sketch is introduced to one of the old settlers of South Branch Precinct, a practical and prosperous farmer and stock-raiser, whose home is on section 19. This home is also worthy of special note because it is of recent erection so far as the building is concerned, and at the same time one of the best in structure. decoration and finish. It is furthermore the abode of true domesticity, comfort and hospitality.
   Mr. Walker is the son of James and Almira (Carpenter) Walker. The family is of Southern extraction, the father having been born in Greenbrier County, Ky., in 1796, the mother in Smith County, Tenn., in 1808. They were married, however, in Chambersburg, Ill., where the husband and father followed blacksmithing, and by industry and skilled workmanship had an extensive trade and was prosperous. While in Kentucky he had served as Captain of the Militia of that State, a position he held until his removal. He at one time was also Sheriff of Pike County, Ill., and was one who helped in the decision to locate the capital of that county. Politically, he was a Whig. He departed this life Sept. 4, 1859, in Scotland County. Mo. His wife died in 1871, in Hancock County, Ill. They were the parents of four children -- Martha A., Ellen F., our subject, and Harriet S. (deceased). The founder of this family in America was the great-grandfather of our subject, who came from Scotland and settled in Jamestown, Va., one of the early colonists.
   The subject of our sketch was born on the 26th of February, 1843, in Pike County, Ill. The years of his boyhood and youth passed swiftly, and were filled with the duties assigned him upon the farm and attendance at the graded school. When seven years of age he moved with his father to Missouri, where the latter died, shortly after which his mother with her children removed back to Chambersburg, Ill., and our subject began to work for himself. He obtained work at milling. In Keokuk, Iowa, he also

served at the undertaker's trade. In 1865 he came to this State, and for two summers was engaged in freighting on the plains. At the end of that period, in the year 1867, he entered a homestead claim to his present property, upon which he has bestowed much labor and wrought many valuable improvements.
   At Palmyra, the 30th of September, 1866, there occurred a very noteworthy event in the history of that place and of our subject, for then was celebrated his union with Miss Sarah E. Ellis, the estimable daughter of Franklin and Mary (Brown) Ellis. This was the first wedding in Palmyra Precinct. The ceremony was performed by John Roberts, Justice of the Peace. The parents of Mrs. Walker were born in Virginia and Missouri respectively, and were married in the latter State. Her mother died in 1868, aged forty years; her father is successfully operating a ranch in Oregon. He is the father of ten children, Mrs. Walker being the eldest. Their names are recorded as follows: Sarah, James B., George W., Emily E.. Minerva, Owen, Frank F., Mary, Carrie E. and Archie L.
   The wife of our subject was born in Davis County, Mo., on the 22d of September, 1850. when she was three years of age her parents removed to California, and settled at Petaluma, Sonoma County, where the father kept a dairy and was very prosperous. After about six years he returned to Scotland County, Mo., removing thence to this State in 1862, and settled on the Big Blue River, near Milford. Subsequently they went to Colorado and made their home near Denver; after they had been there about twelve months Indian hostilities commenced, when they returned to Palmyra. Mr. and Mrs. Walker had met in Missouri, and the friendship was renewed at Palmyra with the above-mentioned result. There have been born to them two children: John T., who was born on the 4th of December, 1869, and Oda V., on the 18th of November, 1879. Both are now attending the Peru Normal School, and doing good work.
   Mr. Walker deals largely in farming lands, and is also a member of the School Board. He is a member of the Grange, and in that fraternity held the offices of Master and County Deputy. He was nominated to the position of Representative to the Legislature on the Republican ticket, and received ninety-one of ninety-eight votes cast for the year 1884, but resigned. His popularity, sustained character and manly parts are testified to and respected in the community, as shown by the above demonstration in his favor. Although not a third party man he is a strong Prohibitionist. Mrs. Walker. is a very active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Rockford, and is one of its charter members. She was largely interested in its organization, and has been one of the inspiring spirits of its onward progress and present existence. She is a very competent lady, one eminently respected and esteemed. Although not a member with her in that society our subject is very liberal, and bore his full share in defraying the cost of the erecting and furnishing of the Methodist Church.

AMES H. GREGG, deceased. Among the esteemed citizens of Wyoming Precinct, who played well their part while upon the stage of life, was the subject of this sketch, who has a record behind him of character and ability that is every way worthy. His birth took place on the 20th of April, 1820, near Wheeling, W. Va. His parents were both natives of the same State. When nine years of age he was left fatherless, and his youthful training and care were left to the mother, who strove as well as she was able to fill the place of both father and mother to her children.
   The first seventeen years of his life our subject spent in the old home, and then started for Iowa with the thought of beginning life for himself. There he joined his brother, who had been located about twelve miles from Burlington for many years. There he continued to make his home until he came of age, being engaged in farming, and making considerable headway in a financial regard.
   June 10, 1856, six miles west of Burlington, Iowa, our subject was joined in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Bloss, who was born in Preble County, Ohio, on the 18th of November, 1830. Her father, Conrad Bloss, was a native of Virginia, as was also her mother, whose maiden name was Margaret Rinehart; both were of German extraction. Mr. and

Mrs. Bloss, shortly after their marriage settled in Preble County, Ohio, where were born to them eleven children, viz., three sons and eight daughters, all of whom are yet living except the youngest son. The father died in Fairfield, Jefferson Co.. Ohio, in 1878, being seventy-six years old, and the mother, who is now eighty-six years old, still resides in that county.
   Mrs. Gregg was educated in the schools of Ohio, and removed to Iowa with her parents when a young woman, and came to Nebraska some two years later with her husband, with whom she came with the firm resolve to make for themselves a home in the inviting, promising, although still undeveloped West. There were born to them five children, viz: Charles W., William Y., Edwin S., Mary H. and Ida. Charles is the husband of Catherine Sale; their home is in St. Joseph, Mo., where he is in business as a grain dealer. William, whose home is in the same city, is traveling salesman for a drygoods house there, and was married, in 1888. to Miss Emma Ord; Edwin is at home and manages the farm; Mary is the wife of E. A. McCartney, one of the prosperous farmers of Wyoming Precinct; Ida is at home.
   The subject of our sketch crossed the Missouri River with his wife and children at Nebraska City in the spring of 1858, and located at what is now known as Greggsport, the northern part of Nebraska City, but then uncultivated prairie. The tract of land taken by him at that time he commenced to cultivate. but later he largely built up that section of the city, and he held the office for some time of Mayor of Greggsport, but since that time it has become incorporated with Nebraska City, although still retaining its original name. He started the first nursery in the district, and was very successful in its operation for several years. Finally, in October, 1868, he sold out his interest in Greggsport and the nursery, and removed to his pre-emption tract on section 10, being the same he had taken up in 1856, two years before he brought his family West. He began life on his new farm in 1868 without the slightest improvement thereon, but it was not long before he had thoroughly transformed it and made it one of the best farms in the county. The original claim cabin gave place to an elegant farm dwelling, around which are clustered substantial buildings required for farm purposes. The house is finely located, and commands an extensive and pleasing view of the surrounding country. He produced largely of grain, many varieties of fruits and of fine graded stock, although his specialty was fruit-growing.
   Mr. and Mrs. Gregg were devout and consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and our subject was one of its honored officials for several years. His political sympathies were with the Republican party. He was reputed a most honorable man and worthy citizen, and was everywhere greatly respected. His death occurred at his home in Wyoming Precinct, on the 22d of October, 1888. His widow, who through all her trials has exhibited, a most Christian spirit, has received the unfeigned sympathy and esteem of the community, which she will always retain.

ERBERT E. STEDMAN, one of the most enterprising young men of Russell Precinct during his younger years lived mostly upon the farm, and until lately has been operating eighty acres of land on section 32. He has, however, disposed of this property, and in partnership with his brother Charles R., has invested a part of his capital in a stock of groceries, locating at Unadilla under the firm name of Stedman Bros. There is every reason to believe that from their known good standing in the community they will from the start command a good patronage.
   Our subject was born in Whiteside County, Ill., Aug. 23, 1860, and spent his boyhood and youth sporting along the Rock River, and in attendance at the district school. When a lad of fourteen years his father left the Prairie State, and coming this county located, on the 4th of March, 1875, in Russell Precinct, of which our subject has since been a resident.
   Enos C. Stedman, the father of our subject, and now deceased, was born in New York, and married Miss Malvina Wall, who was born in Tioga County, that State. A further history of the family will be found in the sketch of C. R. Stedman elsewhere in