They settled first in Lacon, Ill., residing there until his death, which occurred about one year after coming to this country. This event left his widow with their only child, our subject, who was then a year old. His mother continued to live there, but he was taken to his grandparents, with whom he lived until he was nine years old. Then, his mother having married Robert Thompson, of Livingston County, Ill., he went back to the farm. Mrs. Thompson is still living, at Flanagan.
   The subject of our sketch is a devout member of the Baptist Church, his wife being affiliated with the Methodist Episcopal communion. Mr. Jury is an active, enterprising and prominent citizen, and is held in high regard by his fellows. His character and life are such as to make him an honor to the community of which he is a resident. His fine home is shown in a view on another page.

EORGE W. CARMINE. Todd Creek Precinct has many farms of an unusually fine description, not the least of which is that owned by the subject of our sketch. It is 160 acres in extent, and is situated on sections 7, 4 and 12. It is thoroughly improved, and is either cross-fenced or hedged in all its divisions. The property was somewhat improved at the time he purchased it in 1883, but he has expended much time, thought and money to bring it to its present excellent condition.
   Among the chief improvements made by our subject must be mentioned the erection and furnishing of his residence, which is one of the best in the district, and compares favorably with many in more Eastern States that are far more pretentious. It has four large reception rooms on the first floor, and four above for other purposes. The home is elegantly furnished, and abundantly supplied with the various devices insuring the greatest possible amount of convenience and ease. Externally, the gardens, etc., show it off to advantage, besides making the surroundings exceedingly pleasant.
   Ohio claims the honor of being the birthplace of the subject of our sketch, and the date of his nativity is the 21st of March, 1834. He was fifteen years old when his parents left the Buckeye State for Fulton County, Ill. His early life was shadowed by the loss of his mother by death when he was six years of age, and this has doubtless more or less affected his whole subsequent experience. He received a good English education, so far as such is obtainable in the usual institutions of the country. After leaving the classes and text-books, he learned the carpenter's trade, and worked at the same for a number of years.
   When about twenty-five years of age Mr. Carmine removed to Henry County, Ill., where he made his home for about ten years, after which he went to Plymouth County, Iowa, remaining there for six years, then coming to this State. He has all his life been more or less acquainted with the various duties and responsibilities connected with agricultural life, and chose to make that his occupation, and has chiefly followed the same, with what success it is unnecessary to say. His whole property, stock, and also his home, speak too eloquently to be misunderstood as to that matter.
   While a resident of Knox County, Ill., Mr. Carmine was united in the bonds of wedlock with Miss Abigail Kays, of Knox County, Ill., the event occurring Jan. 21, 1857. There have come to them eight children, five of whom are living, viz.: Henry, Mary, Jennie, Susie and George. Henry married Miss Katie Pogue, of this county, and lives in this precinct; Mary became the wife of Mr. L. B. Arnott, of Johnson; Jennie is the wife of Lorin Blakeley, of Johnson County, Neb.; the remaining children are still with their parents on the home farm. The wife of our subject was born in Knox County, Ill., in the year 1832. She is the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Bracken) Kays. She made her home with her parents until her marriage, was educated in the schools in Knox County, Ill., and is well prepared by this and her home training to fill any position in the home or society generally. Her father was a native of Kentucky, but removed with his family to Illinois in 1824 or 1825, where he still resides in Abingdon, Knox County, and although now retired from active engagements is still the owner of a large farm. He was bereaved of his wife in the year 1870, but subsequently married

again. Within the communion of the Methodist Episcopal Church he is perfectly at home religiously, having been a member of the same for about sixty years.
   Curtis Carmine, the father of our subject, is a native of Maryland, and was born in the year 1814. While yet a youth he migrated to Ohio, then the Far West, and in that State was married in 1833 to Miss Susannah Towers. Besides our subject, they had two children, viz.: Susannah and Maria. He was a mechanic, and always continued to follow his trade. The home was at Circleville, DeWitt County, and there he died in 1873, when about forty years of age.
   Having lost his mother when so young, our subject has largely had to depend upon himself. He is now one of the prominent and much esteemed men of Todd Creek Precinct, and indeed of the county, and also a very able citizen. He is chiefly engaged in general farming, and in the raising of cattle, horses and hogs. He raises the best breeds of cattle, and in horses confines himself almost entirely to the heavy road draft horses.
   Frequently has Mr. Carmine been called upon to fill various township and school offices, and is a member of the Republican party, but not active as a politician, nor eager to take any chief seat in the political synagogue. Religiously, he is affiliated with the Baptist Church at Long Branch, and is accounted an able and faithful supporter of the institution.

The CARMINE article above was typed NEGenWeb Project by Amy Wilson <awilson@utech.net>. Her homepage can be found at: http://www.geocities.com/heartland/prairie/3908/ (8 Dec 2013 - Links no longer work) Thank you, Amy!

OHN W. PRATT, a well-known pioneer of Johnson County, was for many years prominently identified with its agricultural interests, whereby he acquired the wealth which has enabled him to retire to his pleasant home in Sterling to pass the evening of life free from the cares of an active business. Mr. Pratt has witnessed the growth of this part of the county from a bleak prairie to a flourishing little city, and he has assisted in the development of the country around it. When he first came to Nebraska, in 1853, and located in what is now Nemaha County, this State had not even been organized as a Territory, and there were but few signs of civilization. The small number of white settlers that had preceded him lived near the Missouri, the interior of the Territory being given over to the Indians, buffaloes, deer, wolves, and other wild animals, so that almost the entire growth of the State has passed under the notice of our subject. Brownville, where he lived for some years, was a mere trading-post, and after his removal to Johnson County, was the nearest post-office for some time. The first postoffice in Sterling was established in 1867, and was kept by John Bentz. The first merchant in the city was Charles Tripp, who is still in business here. The nearest milling point was below St. Joseph, Mo., on the river.
   Mr. Pratt comes of good old Massachusetts stock, and is himself a native of that New England State. He was born in the city of Boston, Nov. 10, 1830, being the eldest of the family of six children, four sons and two daughters, born to Enoch and Amanda (McGauph) Pratt. His parents went to Bureau County, Ill., when he was a child of two years, and were pioneers of that part of the country, where they spent the remainder of their lives, the father dying in 1861, at the age of sixty-seven years, and the mother in 1887, at the venerable age of eighty-seven years. They led quiet and unostentatious lives, guided by the highest principles, and merited and received the respect of all who knew them.
   Our subject was reared in Illinois, but in early manhood he came to Nebraska, and for some years was a resident of Brownville. The first year he was in the employ of the Government, under Kit Carson, herding cattle that belonged to the United States. March 6, 1856, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary O. Smith, and their wedded life has been blessed to them by the birth of four children, namely: Freelon M.; Amanda J., now Mrs. Hersha; Olive and Clysta, all of whom are living.
   Mr. and Mrs. Pratt spent the first few years of their marriage in Nemaha County, where they were quietly living when the war broke out. Fired with patriotism and an earnest desire to serve his country in her hour of need, our subject enlisted in 1861 as a member of Company G, 27th Iowa Infantry, and for three years was a brave and capable soldier on Southern battlefields, taking part in many a hotly contested engagement, and winning a good mili-

tary record. After the war he came to Johnson County and took up a homestead claim on section 23, Sterling Precinct, comprising 160 acres of land joining the corporation of Sterling. He has improved this once wild piece of prairie into a valuable farm, which he still owns. He erected a good, large frame house, a commodious barn, corn-cribs, etc., and has the land under a fine state of improvement. After the marriage of his eldest daughter, who lives on the homestead, Mr. Pratt and his family moved into the city to their present attractive home.
   Our subject is a self-made man, having started in life without a dollar, and gained his present competence only through downright hard labor, seconded by shrewd management and wise economy. He is a man whose genialty, liberality and kind thoughtfulness have secured him the warm friendship of many, and these pleasant social traits make him a valued member of Sill Post No. 99, G. A, R., and of the F. & A. M., Sterling Lodge No. 70. In his political views he is a pronounced Republican. His wife and daughter Clysta are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and his daughter Amanda and her husband belong to the Presbyterian Church.

ILLIAM M. YOUNG. Prominent among the pioneer farmers of Johnson County is the subject of this sketch, who came within its limits in the fall of 1865, and homesteaded the southeast quarter of section 24, in Spring Creek Precinct. This land he still owns, it being a part of his fine farm of 240 acres, he having added to his first purchase, and has brought the whole to a fine state of cultivation. Not a furrow had been turned on his property at the time of its purchase, and there were upon it neither fences nor buildings. For the first ten or twelve years he battled with chinch bugs, grasshoppers, drouth and other difficulties, but his indomitable spirit would allow no such word as "fail," and it seemed as if in time the adverse elements grew weary and gave up the struggle in favor of the industrious and persevering pioneer. He has now emerged front the struggle, victor in all respects, having a valuable property, and being surrounded by all of the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
   A native of Tipton County, Tenn., our subject was born June 16, 1830, and is the son of Robert and Frances (Hutchens) Young, the father a native of Kentucky, and the mother of North Carolina. The paternal ancestors were of Irish origin. Grandfather William Young served as a soldier in the Revolutionary War, and his son Robert, the father of our subject, in the War of 1812. The former carried several honorable scars as the result of his bravery and devotion to duty in that memorable conflict, and at one time was taken off the field supposed to be dead. By careful treatment and subsequent good nursing, however, he was revived, and lived for many years to tell the tale. He spent his last years in Kentucky.
   The parents of our subject had a family of eight children, only two of whom survive--William M. and his sister Amanda, the wife of Granville Madison, of Blue Springs, this State. Those deceased were named respectively: James F., Mary J., Hamilton H., Sarah L., Martha A. and Robert L. The father died at the homestead in Tennessee in 1836, when our subject was a little lad six years of age. The mother survived her husband a period of forty-four years, remaining a widow and caring for her children as best she could until they were able to do for themselves. William M. being the eldest son, the care of the family naturally devolved upon him as soon as he was old enough to assume it. He remained with his mother until his marriage, and then took her to his own home, she remaining with him until her death, which occurred April 13, 1882, where he now lives. Mrs. Frances Young was a lady possessing all the Christian virtues, and carefully trained her children in those principles of honesty and uprightness which would constitute them useful members of society and enable them to lead worthy and happy lives. They ever looked up to her as their model, and she was spared to them until nearly rounding up the sum of fourscore years.
   The parents of our subject were married in Kentucky, but soon afterward removed to Tipton

County, Tenn., where the father became a prominent man in his community, and served as Justice of the Peace. Both parents were active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. After the death of the father the mother removed with her children to Cumberland County, Ky., where our subject was reared to manhood on a farm. It was necessary for him to begin life's labors as soon as he was old enough and strong enough, and he was consequently deprived of the advantages of thorough schooling, but under the encouragement of his mother he pursued a course of reading and study at home, employing thus his leisure hours, and acquired perhaps more real practical information than many who enjoyed the advantages of the regular schools.
   Mr. Young was married in Cumberland County, Ky., Sept. 9, 1852, to Miss Paulina Rowland, who was born in that county, Nov. 11, 1835. Her parents were Wade and Winnifred (Murphy) Rowland, who were natives of Virginia, and spent their last years in Kentucky. The year following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Young, accompanied by the mother of our subject, and James Rowland and Milton Scoot, left the Blue Grass regions and took up their abode in Mason County, Ill., where Mr. Young farmed on rented land until 1865. The fall of that year found him, as we have stated, on his journey to Nebraska Territory.
   The neighbors of our subject were few and far between at the time of his coming to Johnson County, he being one of the very first settlers of his neighborhood, and is consequently one of its oldest residents. He has always taken a leading part in local affairs, serving as Treasurer of the School Board in his district, and filling other positions of trust and responsibility. He has watched with warm interest the growth and development of his adopted State, and reflects with pardonable pride upon the fact that he has contributed his share in the building up of Johnson County. Both he and his estimable wife occupy a high position socially, and the latter has been for many years a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
   To Mr. and Mrs. Young there. have been born twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, three of whom died in infancy. The survivors are: Lauran O.; James F., carrying on farming in Spring Creek Precinct; Mary J., the wife of Abner Jones, of Helena Precinct; John W., Robert M., Martha A., William M. and Orlando T., at home with their parents. They are a bright and interesting group, and have received careful home training, besides a practical education in the district schools. Manda F., the fourth child, died when two years old.

ICHAEL STANTON, one of the representative and prosperous farmers of Todd Creek Precinct, one of the first settlers therein, is now the owner of 160 acres of fine agricultural land on section 18. This he took up as a homestead when he first came to the State. That his choice has been a wise one has been fully manifested by the course of events. It is all under cultivation, either in grain or tame grass, the latter for hay and pasture.
   The birthplace of our subject was in Oneida County, N. Y., where he was born July 26, 1838. There he spent the first seventeen years of his life, was educated in the district schools, and subsequently turned his attention to farming, proposing to make that his life occupation. Accompanying his parents, he removed to Knox County, Ill., in the year 1855, and continued to make his home in that State until he came here in 1867.
   In Knox County, Ill., April 13, 1862, was celebrated the marriage of our subject with Miss Emily Hall, of Knox County, Ill. There have been born to them nine children, eight of whom are living, whose names are as follows: Lillian, Cora, Charles Florence, Irena, Jennie, Harry and Pearl. The eldest child, whose name was Eva May, is deceased. The children of our subject are receiving the best educational opportunities and excellent home training it is within the power of their parents to give. Some are engaged in teaching, and that with considerable success. All are still under the home roof, and the family circle, with the above-named exception, is unbroken.
   The father of our subject, whose given name also was Michael, was a native of the Emerald Isle,

and was born in Ireland about 1810. He came to this country when a youth, and subsequently became the husband of Catherine Ennis. He followed agricultural pursuits in Oneida County, N. Y. They became the parents of six children, all of whom are now living and occupying honorable positions in life. Mr. Stanton went West in the year 1854, locating in Illinois, where he made his home until his death.
   Coming to Nebraska in 1866, our subject made every possible effort to succeed, and has done so beyond expectation. There is a splendid grove of seven acres which he put out when first taking the homestead, and they are now quite large trees. He has not forgotten to plant in extensive orchard of apple, peach, cherry, plum, and other trees that are known to thrive well in this climate. The farm is utilized as a grain and stock farm. He usually has from thirty to forty head of high-grade Short-horns, besides other cattle. He is an earnest advocate of the practice of dehorning cattle. He was among the first to introduce the red polled Northup cattle in the county, which he now uses for breeding purposes. In horses he prefers and uses the Percheron stock, and owns about six or eight head. His house, which he built in 1883, is one of comfort and convenience, and has given him so far as the building is concerned, a most pleasant and comfortable home.
   Mr. Stanton has not been forward in political matters, or a leader in political circles. He usually votes with the Democratic party, and has held the office of School Director, and also some of the township offices. He is well respected throughout the community, and held in regard as a man, friend and citizen, and also because he has made a success of his life so far as it pertains to his chosen occupation.

ARREN H. HOLMES, junior partner of the firm of Russell & Holmes, the old established and substantial banking house of Tecumseh, was born in Jefferson, Jefferson Co., Wis., on the 5th of August, 1849. He there received his education, and after completing the curriculum of regular institutions, he took a course of instruction in the Jefferson Liberal Institute, and upon completing his education engaged in business as a book-seller and stationer, and was Deputy Postmaster under his brother, C. A. Holmes, for about five years.
   In September, 1873, our subject came to Tecumseh, and from that time has been connected with the above firm, excepting when he has been absent upon duties connected with his official position, as for instance in 1875, when he was in the State Auditor's office, when he removed to Lincoln for about a year. He has served upon the Council several times, and also on the School Board. He has, with much satisfaction to those concerned, filled the offices of both City Clerk and City Treasurer. In political matters he is a warm friend of the Republican party, and is ever actively engaged in its interests. He is one of the prominent and representative citizens of Tecumseh, and is with all quite popular. Both he and his wife are members in good standing of the Universalist Church at Tecumseh and are never tired of actively engaging in its support. In addition to the banking business proper, he is interested in the canning factory, and is also Treasurer of the Tecumseh Savings Bank.
    In the sketch of the life of Hon. C. A. Holmes, presented upon another page, will be found reference to the family history of this gentleman, to which the interested reader is referred for such information as may be desired upon that point. Mr. Holmes was united in marriage with Miss Flora M. Seaver, of Jefferson, Wis., celebrating the, same upon the 13th of December, 1875. Their union has been happily consummated by the birth of four children, three of whom it is their privilege to have spared to them. These are still at home, receiving the best education that can be obtained. Their names are recorded as John R., Chandler W. and Eunice.
   Miss Flora M. Seaver was born in the above county, on the 13th of June, 1850. She is the daughter of Samuel R. Seaver. Her mother died during the early infancy of this daughter, and from then until her marriage she made her home with an older sister. Her father was a native of Massachusetts, in which State he was born in 1800. In

the early days of settlement in Wisconsin he migrated thitherward and was among its first settlers. The maiden name of his wife was Diantha Thompson. They were the parents of seven children, six of whom attained their majority. His wife died about the year 1853, and he subsequently remarried. Mr. Seaver died in Jefferson in 1863. He was an extensive and enterprising farmer, but during the last eight or ten years of life did not do any active work.
   Mr. Warren H. Holmes is the owner of a residence property in Tecumseh, and is otherwise interested in city real estate. His home is located on the corner of Fifth and Sheridan streets, and is one of the finest locations in the city. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and has served the latter in some of its offices, and is now Junior Deacon of his lodge. Mrs. Holmes, who takes the deepest interest in all benevolent enterprises, is a lady of position in the community, both admired and respected. She is ex-secretary of the Women's Relief Corps, and very energetic and thorough in everything that pertains to the order, more especially her department of the work.

EWIS H. DETERMANN. The agricultural interests of Lincoln Precinct have in the subject of this biographical epitome a worthy representative. He is a native of Prussia, and was born in that Kingdom on the 17th of February, 1820. His present residence is on section 6 of township 5 north, range 12 east. His property there comprises eighty acres. He is the second eldest son of Henry and Lena Determann, both of whom are natives of Prussia.
   The parents of our subject emigrated to America in the year 1834, taking passage at Bremen in a sailing-vessel that landed in the city of Baltimore after eight weeks upon the Atlantic. From the Monumental City they removed to Trumbull County, Ohio, almost at once, and were pioneers of that county, where they made their home until they were called to cross that bourne from which no traveler returns. At that time they were each about eighty-two years of age. Of their four children only our subject and his sister Louisa are living. She is the wife of Theodore Graff, a prominent citizen of Trumbull County, Ohio.
   At the time his parents settled in Ohio our subject was about fourteen years of age. He had received some education in the schools of his native country, but also attended those of Trumbull County. He gave his attention to farming and to the care of stock, and was able to render very efficient help in that regard. On the 15th of August, 1844, he received in marriage the hand of Lydia Bailey, the amiable daughter of Jesse and Mary Bailey, of Trumbull, Ohio. She was born July 8, 1823. Their union has been consummated by the birth of seven children, three living, viz.: Mary J., who is happily married to Enoch Heltzel, of Polk County, Iowa; Henry L., and Emma, the wife of M. B. Case, of Gage County, Neb. The names of the deceased children were: Henry, Nancy and Martha; besides these there was an infant who died unnamed.
   In the year 1854 our subject, who had been until that time engaged as a collier in Trumbull County, removed to Henry County, Ill., where he resided until the spring of 1879, when he with his family removed to this State, settling upon the farm still occupied by them. It is some eighty acres in extent, and is one of the productive and well cultivated farms of the precinct. He has brought it to this condition, and to his labor is due the present improved order of things, seeing that it was wild prairie land simply at the time he took possession, which is all the more creditable because of the fact that he started life minus the help that is usually given by parents to their sons, but which in the case of our subject was impossible.
   When the call to arms was made, in 1862, our subject responded with alacrity, enlisting on the 15th of August of that year in Company K, 112th Illinois Infantry. His regiment was attached to the Army of the Tennessee, Gen. Sherman commanding. They participated in the battles of Lookout Mountain, Resaca, siege of Atlanta, Columbus, Franklin, siege of Nashville, after which they were transferred to North Carolina, where they assisted in the capture of the forts at Frisber

in the Peninsula; in the taking of Wilmington, from which place they went to Riley, thence to Greensboro, N. C., where they were finally discharged in July, 1865. Upon one occasion Mr. Determann was captured in Kentucky and was a paroled prisoner of war for six months, during which time he performed detached duty in the barracks at Louisville, Ky.
   Leaving the military service our subject returned to Henry County, Ill., continuing there until he came to this State. He and his wife are now in the prime of life, and are happy in being in a position socially fully to enjoy the success in life that has come to them. Both are active members of the Christian Church, and in that connection and every other circle are well received and greatly respected. In politics our subject was at one time a Whig, but since its establishment has been with the Republican party. He is a deeply interested member in the G. A. R., and is attached to the post at Tecumseh.

ENJAMIN ARCHER. Among those who have taken part in the work of bringing Johnson County to its present high position in the State is the subject of this epitome, who was born in Plymouth, Vt., on the 22d of March, 1824, and is the son of John W. and Sarah (Lusher) Archer. Until he was about fifty-four years of age our subject lived in his native State, and from his boyhood has for the most part been occupied with agricultural pursuits and manufacturing. After attaining to his young manhood he worked out as a farm hand until the time of his marriage.
   Miss Lorinda M. Holden and the subject of our sketch were united in matrimony at Reading, Vt., in June, 1848, Mr. Archer being at that time twenty-four years of age. There were born to them six children, only two of whom survive, and they are married. Mrs. Archer was born in Reading, Vt., in January, 1828, to Willard and Sally Holden, and is one of four children born to them. She made the acquaintance of our subject at Plymouth, Vt., which finally resulted in their marriage. On the 18th of March, 1883, our subject was again married, taking as his wife Jane Elkhorn, of Pennsylvania.
   Death has been busy in this family, and the obituary list has lengthened to what would, perhaps, seem of undue length. The father of our subject died in Vermont, at the age of seventy-five years, passing to his rest on the 24th of August, 1858. The mother died on the 31st of October, 1857, aged seventy-eight years. Julia I., the daughter of our subject, died on the 1st of November, 1863, aged six years; her sister Abbie A. on the 22d of December of the same year, aged five years; and Hiram B. died in Manchester, N. H., early in the year 1882, at the age of thirty-three years.
   Mr. Archer landed in Sterling, this State, on the 10th of February, 1876, and since that time has been identified with the State, and is by no means behind his neighbors in his efforts to advance the common weal. At first he worked for some time with his brother Joseph, whose life is also noticed in this work, but after one or two years thus spent he hired as a farm hand to John Humple, near Crab Orchard. He staid with that gentleman about four years, and then bought his present home, which is situated on the southeast corner of section 35 of Sterling Precinct. This was in August of 1880. After finishing his engagement with Mr. Humple he boarded with Mr. Peter Yates until his marriage, when he at once came to his home and began to operate his own land.
   The farm of our subject in the beginning included but 160 acres. He had purchased three 160-acre farms in Jefferson County, in 1869, and two of these he traded for his present home, which was partially improved. It had upon it a small, but comfortable dwelling, and about 100 acres in cultivation, but now it is all brought to a high state of cultivation and fertility. About thirty-five acres are fenced and used as pasture. He has two good dwellings, an excellent barn and every other necessary building. He is also the owner of two residences in Sterling, which he rents, so that he is now well off, and has the gratification of knowing that what he has accomplished is but the result of the strenuous efforts made by lawful ambition to improve his position in life. He is a good manager