here was but a Territory. In the building up of one of its most comfortable homesteads he has in this manner contributed his quota toward bringing about the present condition of Johnson County.

ENJAMIN J. BAKER is a veteran of the Mexican War, who some years subsequently became a pioneer of Johnson County, and one of the first settlers in the precinct of Sterling, where he is still actively pursuing agriculture, and has a large, well-improved farm on section 17. He was born in Lancaster County, Pa., Sept. 17, 1820, but when he was eighteen months old his parents removed from his birthplace to Cumberland County, in the same State. He was there reared, and until twenty-five years of age made his home there. He then enlisted as a private in the United States Army, and served five years, having in the meantime been promoted to Sergeant of Company D, 4th Artillery, under Capt. John M. Washington. He took part in the Mexican War, and was discharged at Ft. Brow, Tex., in 1850. He then returned to Pennsylvania and, staid until the following spring, when he wended his way to Davenport, Iowa. From there he started the next fall, with four others, going down the Mississippi River to New Orleans, and by the Nicaragua route to the "Golden State." He was profitably engaged in mining and farming there for some years, and at one time was employed at a salary of $100 a month as a foreman over other hands on a large ranch, whose owner raised 17,000 bushels of wheat one year. Mr. Baker staid in California nearly five years, and returned to his old home in Cumberland County, Pa., by way of New York, in the spring of 1856, and shortly after was united in marriage to Miss Sarah J. Montgomery, only child of William and Elizabeth Montgomery.
   Selecting Nebraska, then a wild and sparsely settled Territory, as the site of the future home they were to rear together, the genial, healthful climate, rich soil and other advantages of this prairie country deciding their choice of a location, our subject and his bride started for their destination soon after their wedding, traveling by rail to Burlington, Iowa, the terminus of the railway. There Mr. Baker bought a team of horses and a wagon, with which they proceeded to within about 100 miles of the Missouri. At that point our subject traded his horses for three yokes of oxen, with which they made the remainder of the long and tedious journey, arriving on what is now known as the "Old Clark Farm," on section 31, two miles down the creek from Sterling. Mr. Baker and his wife staid there until the next spring, when he purchased his present place on section 17, to which they immediately removed. In the years that followed they experienced all the vicissitudes and hardships common to pioneer life in a wild, prairie country; but they patiently endured the absence of the comforts, conveniences and luxuries that they had been used to in their old home, and the trials that they encountered but strengthened their characters. It has been wisely stated that the experiences of such a life "after all make us better fitted for the cares and responsibilities of after-life--make us have a warmer side for our fellowmen, and create in us a willingness to lend a helping hand to those who are in distress." This is eminently true of our subject and his wife, and their names are synonyms of all love and charity, and many have cause to bless their benefactions. They have never had any children of their own blood, yet have reared three--Lydia Wagoner, August Rudy and Robert E. Krintz, giving them the advantages of a good home and a careful training in the duties of life. Their adopted son Robert is still with his foster parents.
   Mr. Baker now has his farm, comprising 240 acres, well improved, and in one of the most comfortable homes in the precinct he and his wife are spending their declining years in the enjoyment of a well earned competence. Mr. Baker is a pleasant and entertaining conversationalist, and is fond of talking over early days in Johnson County, when the Indians were plentiful hereabout, and used to frequently give him a call as they passed through the precinct; when deer, antelope and an abundance of wild game roamed at will over the uncultivated prairies. The nearest mill was at Nebraska City, many miles distant, and in the fall of 1857 Mr. Baker and two of his neighbors, Mr. Root and Mr. McClure, made a trip thither, from which they

did not return with their "grists" until the end of nine days. They also did their trading and received their mail at Nebraska City. Mr. Baker has borne an honorable part in the public life of this district, was its first Justice of the Peace, and has since served as Assessor. He was prominently identified with the Grange when it existed here.
   His estimable wife is a faithful member of the Presbyterian Church. The portrait of this honored pioneer appears on an adjoining page of this ALBUM.

UDGE JOHN WILSON, who is both County and Police Judge for Johnson County and Tecumseh City, enjoys the utmost confidence of the citizens, as a clear, synthetical thinker, and one who holds the balance of Justice with a steady hand, and for the same reason is held in wholesome fear by the wrong-doer. The father of this gentleman, William Wilson, was born in Scotland in 1772, and there lived through the whole of his life. He was an able attorney and counselor-at-law and enjoyed a large practice in the City of Glasgow. His wife was Isabella Brown, of Argyleshire, to whom he was married in the year 1820. The subject of this sketch was their only child. Mr. Wilson died in 1847, after a life that had continued for seventy-five years. His wife had preceded him to the silent land in the year 1832. He was an enthusiastic member of the Masonic fraternity, and with his wife, was a devout member of the Presbyterian Church. In addition to his town house he had an elegant country seat at Neithercroy, which is situated about eight miles east of the city, on the Glasgow & Edinburgh Railway.
   Isabella (Brown) Wilson, the mother of our subject, was the daughter of Archibald Brown, and was born at Istay, in the county of Argyle, about 1794, where she made her home until her marriage. Her father was quite an extensive farmer, operating an extensive property upon the above Island where he was born. Islay, it will be remembered, lies adjacent to the Island of Jura, and is almost the most westerly of the group of islands which are included in the above county. His wife was a member of the historic Campbell family. They brought up eleven daughters and two sons, all of whom entered honorable paths of life and when of proper age joined the Presbyterian Church, of which her father was an Elder for sixty years. This venerable and honored gentleman died at the advanced age of one hundred and eight years.
   Judge Wilson was born in Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland, on the 27th of August, 1824. The Scotch schools have been justly renowned for the completeness of their curriculum and the thoroughness of their instruction. Our subject was an attendant at the Glasgow schools and received a good education. Upon leaving the school he learned the trade of a carpenter and joiner, and after thoroughly mastering the same engaged in business as a contractor in that line. This he continued to follow in Glasgow from 1845 to 1851. It was quite a lucrative business, and his success was very flattering to one who had so recently concluded his apprenticeship.
   The lady with whom our subject united his life was Miss Ellen Black, of Lesmore, Argylesire, their nupitals (sic) being celebrated on the 22d of July, 1844. While in Scotland four children were given them, who brought additional brightness to their home, and if possible more completely cemented their union. Only two, however, of these children lived to come to America. Isabella and Catherine were laid away in a quiet Scottish graveyard, while John and Ellen were spared to their parents and in course of time accompanied them to this country. In 1851 Judge Wilson landed in New York, and remained working at his trade until the following year. He then sent for his wife and family and upon their arrival removed to Illinois, making his home at Galena, and being engaged as a carpenter by the Illinois Central Railway Company. He continued to hold this position until the outbreak of the war, when he enlisted in defense of his adopted country, becoming a private in Company F, 12th Illinois Infantry. He was at Galena on the night of the 14th of April, 1861, when the order came from President Lincoln to raise 6,000 men. That was sufficient, and he was one of the first sixty who presented themselves for enlistment. The next morning the company was filled out and the work of preparing them for the front was pushed with