all speed. After quite a number of skirmishes and lesser conflicts had been engaged in, he entered his first hard-fought battle in February of 1862. He was wounded and taken prisoner at Ft. Donelson; he was first sent to Nashville Prison, afterward to Andersonville, Richmond, Lacoon, Tuscaloosa and Montgomery, being finally exchanged on the 17th of October of the following fall, having been a prisoner for eight months and two days. He was then sent to the hospital at Annapolis, and remained there recruiting until the following March. When he rejoined his regiment at Corinth, Miss., where he went on an individual foraging detachment; from Corinth they went to Pulaski and thence to Chattanooga and on to Atlanta. Every day brought with it a conflict of greater or lesser moment. His last battle was on the 22d of July, 1864, at Atlanta, where McPherson fell. On the 11th of August following that engagement he was honorably discharged at that city and immediately set out for Galena.
   Upon returning home our subject settled up his affairs, and on the 28th of September, 1864, took up homestead No. 168, lying in Helena Precinct, comprising 160 acres. He immediately moved thereon and began the work of improving it. He erected good buildings and brought his land before long to a good state of cultivation. This property he still owns. He operated it on the line of general and stock farming, raising only the best grades of animals. He remained upon that property until March, 1885, and then removed to the city, retiring from active farm life. During that time he had added another quarter-section and he is also the owner of a half-section of very fine land in Webster County.
   When he moved into the city Judge Wilson purchased one of the best residences he could find and was ready for work. He was elected County Judge in November, 1885, and served acceptably to those who had placed him there, so much so that they elected him for a second term, which is yet unexpired; he was elected Police Magistrate in April, 1887, also represented this county in the Constitutional Convention held in Lincoln in 1871. He was Justice of the Peace of Helena Precinct for many years. In all these offices he has so won the esteem and confidence of those with whom he has been connected therein that his continuance, re-election and appointment from time to time have simply been a natural effect and sequence.
   Since coming to this country Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have had four children added to their family circle, but there have also been removals by death, so that now their son John alone survives; he is a rising and able lawyer. Mrs. Wilson is a very attentive and earnest member of the Presbyterian Church, to which the Judge also is attached, though not a member. He is a liberal supporter of the same and takes great pleasure in aiding various enterprises connected therewith. He owns an exceedingly fine residence on Lincoln street and also the farming property in this and Webster County, as above mentioned. An extract from a local paper remarks that Judge Wilson made his entry twenty-four years ago, and after fully searching the records the Judge says he believes his farm is the only one now owned in Johnson County by the person who made the original entry of the same date. The farm is in Center Precinct, eight miles north of Tecumseh. In the Masonic fraternity Judge Wilson is quite prominent. He was raised to the Sublime Degree of a Master Mason at Tecumseh in 1867, and has since been initiated into the mysteries of the Chapter of Royal Arch Masons, and is affiliated with Furnas Chapter No. 9, and the Council at Tecumseh; is also Commander of the Little Phil Post No. 270, G. A. R. Both in the fraternities, and society generally, and in the profession, Judge Wilson occupies a position most enviable, receiving every worthy regard and esteem.

OHN McCONNEL. The merchants of Crab Orchard have a worthy representative in the subject of this biographical epitome. Mr. McConnel was born in Washington County, Pa., on the 29th of May, 1854. The father, Andrew McConnel, now deceased, was a native of Ireland. He came to the United States when a young man, and located in Pennsylvania, where he was initiated into the mysteries of milling, with the idea of making it his business. He went to

Rock Island County, Ill., in 1861, arriving there on the 1st of April, having made the entire trip by boat. He settled upon a farm, and in that county our subject was brought up; in its schools he was educated, attending both the common and High school, supplementing the instruction received in those institutions by a full course in the Commercial College of Bryant & Stratton, at Davenport, Iowa.
   In beginning life for himself the subject of this sketch took to farming and stock-raising, in which he was pre-eminently successful, but in the year 1883 he sold his interest in this to the heirs of his father's property, and came to Crab Orchard, where he engaged in business, opening a grocery and drug store. In this he had a continued and growing success until August of 1887, when he sold his drugs and laid in a large stock of dry-goods, clothing, boots and shoes, gents' furnishing goods, jewelry, etc., to which he has since added musical instruments and sewing-machines. In order to meet the growing, demands of his business, in the year 1884 he built his new store. It is a fine frame structure, standing 40x6O feet, and comprises two stories and basement. The lower part is required for his own store, while the upper is used for offices and an opera hall, the latter being 40x48 feet, with a ceiling elevation of thirteen feet, and capacity for 200 chairs. He carries a stock of about $8,000, and his sales average $25,000 per annum. One reason for the large increase of trade is that he is enabled to sell many articles cheaper than they can be found at either Beatrice or Tecumseh, and can duplicate any line of goods sold at either place.
   The 10th of March, 1886, was "a red letter day" in Mr. McConnel's experience, being that on which he celebrated his union in matrimonial bonds with Mary E. Ellis, daughter of Benjamin B. Ellis, of Vesta Precinct, this county. Of this union only one child has been born. He was born at Crab Orchard Feb. 26, 1887, received the name of Herbert, and died March 22, 1887.
   The mother of our subject before her marriage bore the name of Margaret Boyce, and is a daughter of Isaac Boyce. This lady was born in Allegheny County, Pa., and now lives in Reynolds, Rock Island Co., Ill. Her marriage with Mr. Andrew McConnel wag fruitful in the birth of six children, three of whom survive. These are our subject, James B. and Sarah I. Those deceased are: Jessie and Gertrude, twins, who died when quite small children; the other, Isaac, departed this life at the age of nineteen years. Mr. McConnel is prominent and enterprising as a business man, find no less so as a citizen. Although not a third party man, he is a stanch advocate of the temperance cause. For three years he filled with much satisfaction the office of School Treasurer, and for one year also that of School Director, which office he held at the time the school-house was built, and had the handling of the bonds. He has always been connected with the Republican party, and is a great admirer of its principles. Mrs. McConnel is one of the devout and highly esteemed members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and an active worker in that communion.

HILIP DICKERSON, one of the earliest pioneers of Nebraska, homesteaded a tract of land on sections 31 and 32, in Todd Creek Precinct, this county, as early as 1866. Here he has lived and labored for a period of twenty-two years, building up a good homestead from the uncultivated prairie, and acquitting himself in a creditable manner as a member of the community. He has spent comparatively few idle days during the last twenty years, most of which have been given to the development of his land, the planting of forest trees, the placing of fences and the erection of his farm buildings. He is at present engaged in stock-raising, keeping good grades of cattle and horses, giving particular attention to the latter, and proposes to still further enlarge his facilities for the breeding of the finer specimens of the equine race.
   Mr. Dickerson is a native of Guernsey County, Ohio, where he was born March 10, 1839, and there spent the first twenty-one years of his life. Later he was for a period of six years a resident of Darke County, Ohio. He had in the meantime received a practical education, and become master of

the carpenter's trade, also at the same time gaining a good knowledge of general agriculture. When twenty-two years old he was united in marriage with Mrs. Charlotte Poyner, the wedding taking place at the home of the bride in Van Buren Township, Aug. 22, 1861. Soon afterward Mr. and Mrs. Dickerson came to Nebraska, and settled upon the land which our subject now owns and occupies. His career has been creditable to him as a man and a citizen, and the fact that he is highly spoken of by those who have known him intimately since the time of coming to this county is one of the best recommendations a man could desire. He has been upright and honorable in his business transactions, careful and conscientious, courteous and obliging, fulfilling every known duty to the best of his ability.
   Mr. Dickerson comes from a good family, being the son of Joshua D. and Elizabeth (Dawson) Dickerson, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and the father born in 1804. The latter lived with his parents in his native State until their removal to Ohio, and then assisted his father in the building up of a homestead from the wilderness of Guernsey County. Later he settled on his own land, and continued a resident of the Buckeye State until the spring of 1866, when he accompanied his son Philip to Nebraska, and settled on a tract of land adjoining him. In the fall of 1881 he removed to Texas, where his death took place in 1884. The mother died in this county the year following their arrival here, in the fall of 1867. The father was a member of the Predestinarian Baptist Church. To Mr. and Mrs. Dickerson there have been born no children.

ULIUS WOLFF is widely known in many parts of the West as one of the most noted divines of the German Lutheran pulpit. He is very active in denominational work, possessing great executive ability, wonderful tact, and infinite patience, traits that are shown in the fact that he has probably organized more Lutheran Churches in different Western States than any of his brethren of like faith. He combines strength of character, an indomitable will and shrewdness, with sincerity, and a kind heart that prompts him to attempt to alleviate the sufferings of the weak, the unfortunate and the downtrodden. He is now engaged in the double capacity of teacher and preacher in the church which he organized in Sterling Precinct some years ago, besides successfully managing his farming interests here.
   Our subject was born in Germany, Jan. 30, 1823, and was reared, educated, and also married in the Fatherland, Caroline Landwig becoming his wife Jan. 2, 1850. Mr. Wolff taught school for twenty-one years in his native country, and then turned his face to the United States in 1863, and after landing on these shores, accompanied by his wife, he located in Minnesota. He was engaged in teaching there for twelve years, and he also preached, and while a resident of that State organized eight churches. He came to Nebraska in 1876, having spent a year before that in traveling, and located in Dodge County. In 1877 Mr. Wolff came to Johnson County, and purchased 160 acres of land, which constitutes his present farm, on which he and his family live very pleasantly. He continued, however, in the ministry, and as a teacher, conducting a school in the church which was established in this township under his supervision in 1883, with a membership of thirty-four. Under his ministrations the church has prospered spiritually and financially, and has been enabled to buy a house in which to worship and forty acres of land, and there is a fine Sunday-school connected with the church. Mr. Wolff has also been instrumental in organizing three other churches since he came to Nebraska, all of which are in a flourishing condition. As a teacher Mr. Wolff has acquired a good reputation, and is giving general satisfaction. He is well educated, and has fine literary tastes.
   Our subject has been twice married. The patient and devoted wife, to whom he had been united in early manhood in the Fatherland, died during their residence in Dodge County in 1876, after a wedded life of twenty-six years. She was a true Christian, and in every respect a most exemplary woman, whom to know was to esteem. Mr. Wolff's marriage to his present excellent wife took place in

1878. She was formerly Mrs. Catherine Breidenstein, and was the mother of three children. Our subject has a family of three children by his present marriage. but had none by his former marriage. Five of the children are at home, while the other is working on a farm.

EORGE D. BENNETT, Cashier of the Tecumseh Savings Bank, and identified with that enterprise from the time of its organization, is the son of Abel B. Bennett, who was born at Bridgeport on the 12th of December, 1833, and there educated and brought up, after which he engaged in stock buying. He left his native town and went to Bronson, Branch Co., Mich., while yet a young man, and engaged in farming and stock raising, feeding and dealing. About 1863 he sold his Michigan property and interests, and went to Lagrange County, Ind., where he has a finely improved and extensive farm, and is engaged with stock as before. The maiden name of his wife, the mother of our subject, was Mary A. Dryer, of Lagrange. Four children have been born to them who still live. Mrs. Bennett also is living, and with her husband is enjoying the prosperity which is the result of toil in the past years. This lady was born at Catskill, N. Y., in the year 1836, to Darius and Clarissa (Rogers) Dryer. They moved West to Indiana, where they made their home until their death. Their daughter Mary resided with them until the time of her marriage. Her husband has filled most of the township offices, is an esteemed member of the I. O. O. F., and also a prosperous and successful farmer and business man.
   Wildman Bennett, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Lincolnshire, England. As a young man he came to America, settled at Bridgeport, and married Miss Nichols of that place, and to them were born eleven children. He removed to Branch County, Mich., where quite a large number of his descendants still reside. After sixty-three years of life he passed to his last rest from his home in that place in the year 1865, having survived his wife about five years. They had both been stanch members of the Baptist Church, in which faith his family had been instructed from earliest years. This gentleman and his family were among the first to settle in Branch County.
   George D. Bennett was born on Jackson Prairie, four miles south of Orland, in Steuben County, Ind., on the 17th of August, 1859. He received his early education at Wolcottville and Lagrange, where he completed the full course as then prescribed, and was graduated, after which he taught school for two years, returning at the end of that time to join his father in cattle-dealing, which he continued for three years most successfully. In 1880 he came to Beatrice, and was engaged in the eastern part of Gage County raising fine stock of select breeds and high grade. Selling there he went to Crab Orchard, and for two years was in the bank at that place. After that he came to Tecumseh in June, 1884, and has since made it his permanent residence.
   Mr. Bennett occupies a very high position in the business world, and is also much esteemed by the community at large. In Crab Orchard he filled the position of Assistant Cashier. Here there were no offices except in the savings bank, where Mr. Bennett is. He is a gentleman of undoubted business ability, honor and integrity, and being comparatively young the future is spread before him glowing with the brightness of his prospects. He is abundantly capable, should he so desire, of occupying the most prominent position his ambition might lead him to seek, and also has manhood enough to enable him to retain his balance and high personal character while holding the same.
   Our subject is a member of the Masonic and I. O. O. F. fraternities, and also of the Modern Woodmen of America; also of the Odd Fellows' Encampment, and has served as Senior Deacon in the Masonic Lodge, as Secretary in the Chapter, and holds the high degree of a Knight Templar.
   We cull the following from a recent issue of the Chieftain, without which this sketch would be entirely incomplete: "On Thursday evening, Sept. 27, 1888, a pleasant ceremony was performed at the residence of the Hon. C. A. Holmes. The occasion was the marriage of George D. Bennett to Althea, eldest daughter of the above-mentioned gentleman. The nuptials were celebrated at 8 P. M.,

at which the Rev. M. J. DeLong took the initiative. There was quite a large gathering of the friends and relatives of the family, all of whom brought with them some expression of the good wishes and congratulations that might be remembered after the vocal expression of them had passed. Later in the evening the happy couple were driven to their new home on Upper Third street, which the groom had provided and arranged in keeping with their joint desires." The readers of this volume, especially those personally acquainted with our subject and wife, will certainly not be behind the friends gathered on that auspicious occasion in their desire for a bright and happy future for them.

ENRY C. CARMAN and his family came to this county in the spring of 1876, settling at their present farm on section 18 in Spring Creek Precinct. The land was little removed from its primitive condition, and the family were first settled in a dug-out house, and for a number of seasons lived and labored in true pioneer style. Mr. C. paid $10 per acre for his farm, which has, under his wise management and incessant industry, more than doubled in value, and yields bountifully of the richest crops of Southern Nebraska.
   Our subject has been prominent in the affairs of his precinct, especially for the last ten years, serving as Constable and Justice of the Peace two years, and holding various other positions accorded the trustworthy citizen. He votes the straight Republican ticket, and is at present the School Treasurer of his district. Both he and his estimable wife have taken an active interest in the advancement and welfare of their community, being kind, hospitable and public-spirited, and encouraging the projects calculated to elevate the standard of education and morality.
   Mr. Carman, in addition to general agriculture, is especially interested in live stock, keeping good grades of cattle and swine. He is essentially a Western man, having been born in Mason County, Ill., June 9, 1844. His parents, Libni and Elizabeth (De Vall) Carman, were natives of New York, where they were reared, educated and married, and. where they became the parents of a large family of children, of whom the following survive: Julia, the wife of Jacob Garriss, of Logan County, Kan.; Solomon, of Fremont County, Iowa; Sarah E., Mrs. Wilkerson, also of that county, and a widow; Henry C., of this sketch, and Mary, the wife of John. L. Spicer, of Fremont County, Iowa. The father was a second time married, the only child of this union being a daughter, Annie.
   Libni Carman left the Empire State about fifty years ago, and from Illinois, about 1855, changed his residence to Fremont County, Iowa, settling among its earliest pioneers, and residing there until his death, which occurred June 15, 1888. He was successful in his labors as an agriculturist, and left a large estate to his heirs. He was a Republican in politics, probably from the time of the organization of the county, and a man liberal and public-spirited, one who interested himself in the welfare of the people about him, contributing of his time and means, as opportunity afforded, in the advancement of education, and all other projects tending to their moral and religious welfare. The mother died in Fremont County, Iowa, in April, 1869.
   The subject of this sketch received but a limited education, but at an early age became strong of muscle and self-reliant in disposition, and by a course of general reading familiarized himself with the important topics of the day. He was early imbued with the principles of patriotism by his honored father, and shortly after the outbreak of the Rebellion proffered his services as a Union soldier, enlisting, in the spring of 1861, in Company D, 5th Missouri Cavalry, which became a part of the Western Army and operated largely among the bushwhachers. Young Carman participated in a number of engagements, meeting the enemy at Blue Springs and on the Little Blue, acquitting himself creditably, and receiving an honorable discharge in June, 1862, at the expiration of his term of enlistment.
   After becoming a civilian again, Mr. Carman returned to Fremont County, Iowa, and prepared to establish a home of his own. With this end in view he was married, July 12,1863, to Miss Emma

I. Jones, who was born in Hancock County, Ohio, July 18, 1846. They spent the first fourteen years of their wedded life in Iowa, and from there came to this county, as already stated. They are the parents of six children, four of whom are living, namely: Marcus H., Lucy C., Etta L. and John L. William H. and Ami died when two and a half years and six months old respectively.

[The CARMAN article above was typed for NEGenWeb Project by Ray W. Justus <rwjustus@cox.net>, 1331 West Folley Street, Chandler, AZ 85224-7511. Thank you, Ray.

AVID J. WILSON is widely and favorably known as a successful farmer and stockraiser in this county. His property is situated on section 5, township 6 north, and range I I east, Helena Precinct. He is a son of John and Mary Wilson, natives of New York State, where he also was born, on the 25th of August, 1826, in Cayuga County, and was one of eight children who comprised the home circle. Of these five are living, whom we name as follows: William, now residing with our subject; Chloe, who was married to the late John Mitchell, of Tompkins County, N. Y.; David J.; John J., also of Helena Precinct; Mary J., the wife of Samuel C. Branch, of Cayuga County, N. Y. Those deceased were named Saphronia, Samuel and Sarah L.
   Until he attained his majority the subject of our sketch continued to live in his native county. His education was received in the district schools, and later he was a regular worker on the farm. In 1865 he went to California, where he traveled and prospected for about a year. Coming to Nebraska in 1867 he was taken with the fine prospects, excellent condition and situation offered in this county, and purchased 160 acres of Iand, the same on which he now resides. He staid first for about two years, and then traveled for about five in a camp wagon to and from the Black Hills, Dak., to Nebraska City, and also to Kansas, having had three ranches at different points in the latter State.
   Our subject effected permanent settlement on his Johnson County property in 1878, and since that time has devoted himself to the work of making it one of the finest farms in the county, in which he has been more than successful. He represents the busy, bustling, intelligent and thrifty pioneers of the State, and to this doubtless is due the magnificent results that have attended his work. He and his brother William own over 800 acres of land in partnership; 160 acres of it is in this and the remainder is in Otoe County.
   Upon the 15th of April, 1877, Mr. Wilson and Sarah E. Campbell, of Iowa, were united in wedlock. She was born in Fremont County, Iowa, on the 27th of February, 1861, and is a daughter of Adam and Sarah Campbell. Her parents, who were natives respectively of Missouri and Kentucky, are now residing in Norton County, Kan., where her father is engaged in stock-raising. Their marriage has been fruitful in the birth of three children: Bill, who was born Feb. 12, 1878; Doc, July 9, 1879, and Chloe, Feb. 21, 1887.
   The subject of our sketch has been identified with the School Board of his district for several years, and being deeply interested in educational matters and in the welfare of the rising generation of citizens, has done excellent service. In politics he is a Republican, and in the fraternities is recognized as an efficient member of the I. O. O. F.
   William Wilson, the brother of our subject, mentioned above, was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., on the 21st of September, 1819, and continued to make his residence there until 1878, since which time he has lived in this county, and has grown up with the county, and is now one of the well-to-do citizens and prosperous farmers and stock-raisers. In politics he also is a stanch Republican, and is a very active member of the community, more especially so when any project or enterprise is on foot that looks to the advancement of the general social interests.

ILLIAM R. COLLINS, who settled in the county a pioneer farmer, is the owner of a valuable property, comprising 100 acres on section 18, township 6 north, range 12 east. He is a native of Beaver County, Pa., and was born near Beaver on the 25th of December, 1835. His parents, Samuel and Eliza R. (Cole) Collins, were born in the city of Charleston, S. C. Upon the father's side our subject is of Scotch-Irish descent. Grandfather Cole was the owner of an ex-