RANCIS R. GUTHMANN, a capitalist of Plattsmouth, is numbered among the wealthy and substantial citizens of Cass County. He has now practically retired from business, although he still supervises his extensive interests. He has contributed largely to the upbuilding of the city, and has a great deal of property here, including a handsome residence, the best hotel of the place, and two smaller ones, besides stores and other buildings. Mr. Guthmann was born in the village of Waldhausen, near Buchen, in the Grand Duchy of Baden, Germany, July 2, 1841. His parents, Francis and Anna Maria (Gramlich) Guthmann, were natives of the same place, as were also their parents. The paternal grandfather of our subject owned a farm there and was a lifelong resident of that place. His father, Francis Guthmann, was reared to agriculture, which he pursued in his native land until his death, Nov. 26, 1875. His wife, Anna Maria, was born in a village near her husband's birthplace, and spent her last years in the home where all of her married life was passed. She died Dec. 11, 1860. There were fourteen children born to her and her

husband, and ten of them grew to maturity. Caroline married Peter Ration; Helen married Valentine Egenberger; Charles, who served in the 3d Missouri Regiment under Gen. Sigel for four years, and afterward settled in Lancaster County, Neb., died at the home of our subject in 1882; Maria L. married Benjamin Hempel; William, who served in the German Army, died in Plattsmouth in 1884; our subject was the next in order of birth; then Maria Catherine, who married J. V. Weckbach, of whom see sketch on another page of this book; John F. M. died in his native village; Fred and Oswald are the youngest members of the family. Seven of these are living in Nebraska, and all in Cass County, with the exception of Fred, who is a resident of Seward County.
    Francis R. received an excellent education in the Fatherland, attending school pretty steadily in his boyhood until he was fourteen years of age, He then assisted his father in the labors of the farm until the month of December, 1856, when he and one of his sisters set sail from London, and landed in New York Feb. 9, 1857. Another brother and

sister had preceded them, and they joined them in Davenport, Iowa, where they had settled. Our subject had come to America with but little means, and he immediately set about procuring work that he might better his financial condition. The first year of his stay in this country he was employed at the saddler's trade. In 1859 he started with a party bound for Pike's Peak in search of gold. Going from Davenport with teams, they traversed the wild prairies of Iowa, and crossing the Missouri River at Plattsmouth, then an insignificant hamlet they pushed on across the plains through the Territory of Nebraska to near Ft. Kearney, where they were stayed in their course by meeting many weary and disappointed emigrants returning from Pike's Peak with very discouraging reports, so the party concluded to abandon their purpose. Our subject's brother decided to take up a claim in Nebraska, and selected a tract of land in Lancaster County, about ten miles east of the present site of Lincoln, which was then a wild, open prairie, owned by the Government, and for sale at $1.25 an acre. Indians still lingered in that part of the country, and deer, elk and wolves roamed at will over the plains. Our subject was then too young to make a claim to some land, so he returned to civilization. He spent two months in St. Louis, and then went to St. Joseph and worked in a bakery. After thoroughly mastering that trade, he engaged in pantry work in the Pacific House in that city, remaining there until 1863. He then crossed the plains to Denver, and there engaged as pastry cook in the Planters' Hotel, then the leading hotel in Denver. Ten months later, in February, 1864, he left that place, and with others, started with six wagons for that part of Idaho now included in the Territory of Montana.
   While traveling in the mountains the party encountered severe storms and nearly perished. In one place they were five days making seven miles, and one night the wolves killed and devoured one of the mules. On the 15th of May the party arrived at Virginia City, and there learned that it had been reported that they had all perished in the mountains. Mr. Guthmann opened a bake shop and boarding-house in that city, but his residence in that part of the country was of short duration, as in the fall of 1864 he came to Plattsmouth to invest his money in city property, and made arrangements to erect a store building. In 1865 he returned to the mountains and established a bakery and boarding-house in Blackfoot City, Deer Lodge Co., Mont., conducting both with good financial success until 1868, when he again came to Plattsmouth. He engaged in the bakery business here, and the following year added pork packing. In 1870 he opened a billard (sic) hall, and in 1871 a grocery store, giving his personal attention to these varied enterprises until 1874, all the while carrying on his bakery. He then sold the grocery store, but continued to manage the billard (sic) hall until 1881. Since that time he has not been engaged in any actual business, but devotes himself to the supervision of his multiplicity of interests, from which he derives an ample income. Mr. Guthmann is a man of great enterprise; he has a clear head for business, and displays much tact and shrewdness in his various undertakings. He has done much toward building up Plattsmouth, having erected two dwelling-houses and three stores, besides other buildings. The brick house which he occupies with his family is one of the finest in the city, and was erected in 1886. Mr. Guthmann is a stockholder in the Citizens' Bank, also in the Bank of Cass County, and also in the Plattsmouth Canning Factory, of which he is President. He has taken an honorable part in public affairs, having been a member of the City Council. He has always been identified with the Democrats in his political affiliations.
   Mr. Guthmann was united in marriage to Anna M. Pankratz, Jan. 10, 1878, and to them have been born four children -- Nellie, Charles F. M., Henry A. J. and Minnie T. They have also an adopted daughter, Annie. Mrs. Guthmann was born in Manitowoc County, Wis., Nov. 24, 1860, and is a daughter of Joseph and Katrina (Bruner) Pankratz, natives of Bavaria. They were reared and married in that country, and resided there until 1853. In that year they crossed the water to the United States, and located in Manitowoc County, Wis., being early settlers of that part of the country. Mr. Pankratz bought a tract of timber land, and first erected a round log house to shelter his family, and then commenced to clear a farm from