The subject of our sketch received a good English education in the common schools, which was afterward supplemented by a course of instruction at Peru, Neb., in the State Normal School. He came to Crab Orchard in the fall of 1885, and has been connected with the bank ever since that time. Upon leaving school he learned the trade of a miller, and continued to follow the same for about five years, but conceiving a desire for some more professional occupation made the change as above related.
   The musical tastes and talents of our subject are beyond question, and have led to the organization of the "Crab Orchard Cornet Band," which was effected on the 18th of May, 1857, since which time Mr. Rothell has been both its leader and manager. The band possesses the finest set of instruments in the State. They were supplied by the noted C. G. Con, of Elkhart, Ind., and cost about $700. The repertoire of the band is very complete, and their rendition of the pieces is such as is supplied by enthusiastic musicians, who have been trained by a careful and thoroughly competent master in the art. The band has quite a reputation for first-class music, and is in great demand at the various gatherings where such a band is a desideratum.
   Mr. Rothell is a member of Lodge No. 73, of the K. of P., at Tecumseh, and is a member of the Uniformed Rank. He is very popular among the members of the order, and takes a prominent part in the social gatherings thereof. He is a young man of splendid parts, fine character and excellent disposition. It is not too much to say that the future extends to him a prospect unusually bright, and that he is capable of much good, not only in his own interest, but also that of his fellow-citizens.

HOMAS J. EDWARDS, a prominent and prosperous farmer of Sterling Precinct, is a man whose practical ability, prompt and methodical business habits, and unswerving integrity, justify the confidence and esteem with which he as inspired his fellow-citizens. He is a Southerner by birth and education, Kentucky being his native State, and Alabama the State in which he was reared. He was born Aug. 11, 1826, in Montgomery County, Ky., to Robert and Susan (Willoughby) Edwards. His mother died when he was young, and when he was about eight years old, a few months after the death of his mother, his uncle, Isaiah Thatcher, took him to his home in Alabama, and under his care our subject grew to a vigorous and manly manhood. He subsequently went to Randolph County, Mo., and from there went to the Rocky Mountains. Afterward he retraced his steps across the plains of the "Great American Desert," as this part of the country was then called, and once more located in Missouri, choosing Platte County as the site of his home, but he afterward moved to DeKalb County, in the same State, and there the breaking out of the Civil War found him in prosperous circumstances. A Southerner in birth and sentiments, and a slaveholder, he did not hesitate on the course to pursue, but soon cast in his lot with his friends and where his interests lay, and in May, 1861, was enrolled in the Confederate Army as a member of Company I, 1st Missouri State Guards, under Gen. William Y. Slack, in J. T. Hughes' regiment. He remained with that regiment six months, and was then transferred to Pritchard's detached corps, in which he did efficient and faithful service for three years and fourteen days, his bravery and fortitude standing, the test of many a hotly waged battle.
   After the war Mr. Edwards began life anew in Hannibal, Mo., where with characteristic energy he at once set about retrieving his fallen fortunes. In 1870 he concluded to try agriculture on the fertile, productive soil of Nebraska, and selecting Otoe County as a suitable place for location, he was soon established there. In 1876 he sold out there and came to Johnson County, and purchased the place where he now lives. This is a very pleasant situation on section 3, township 6, range 9, and in point of cultivation, neat and well-arranged buildings, fences, and many other improvements, compares favorably with other farms in the neighborhood.
   To the amiable wife, who has so cheerfully helped him in the upbuilding of this comfortable home. Mr. Edwards was united in marriage in

1847. Her maiden name was Eliza Janes, and her place of birth was Zanesville, Ohio. She is the daughter of Bartlett and Susanah (Holmes) Janes. The family consisted of fifteen children, seven boys and eight girls, nine of whom lived to maturity. The following children have been born to our subject and his wife: Aurelia J. is the widow of John J. Jones, and she has one daughter, named Eliza; Susan E.; John H.; Eliza S., who is the wife of George Strong, of this county; James R., who was killed March 27, 1882, by a well caving in on him; Elijah W., who died in 1881; Luella, who died in 1880; Josephine, Benjamin F., George B. and Sanford M. The two latter died when quite young.
   Mr. Edwards is a man of frank and genial manners, is cool of head, strong of will, and steady of purpose, possessing decided opinions on all subjects that come under his notice. As an instance of this we may cite the fact that he is a firm advocate of temperance, and when he became convinced that prohibition was the best remedy for the existing evils of intemperance he allied himself with the Prohibition party, and is a firm supporter of its principles, although, prior to 1884, he had always been identified with the Democrats. In manly vindication of his course he says, "I would rather be beaten in a good cause than succeed in a bad one."

ARCUS CHAMBERLIN is one of the prosperous, progressive pioneers of Johnson County, and as such he has done what lay in his power to help on to its present condition the county at large as well as that particular portion where he happens to reside. He is the son of Manser and Lucy (Branghton) Chamberlin, and was born on the 31st of January, 1823, in Ridgebury Township, Bradford Co., Pa.
   The parents of our subject were born in Vermont. His paternal ancestors were English, and came to this country in the days of the Colonists, settling in New England. Two great-uncles of our subject were soldiers in the Revolutionary War, and fell during the struggle. They participated in the battle of Bunker Hill and many memorable struggles for liberty. To the parents of our subject were born six children, of whom the following are known to survive: Marcus; Lucius, of Elk Point, Dak.; Orville, in Bradford County, Pa.; Ormond, in DeKalb County, Ill.; besides which there were two, Nancy and Julia, who are deceased, and a son, Rinaldo, of whom it is not known for certain whether he yet lives or not. The grandmother of our subject was a sister of Gen. Warren of Revolutionary War fame.
    The subject of our sketch was reared to manhood in his native county, and in the schools of the same obtained a good education. notwithstanding the fact that early in life he engaged in sawmilling and farming. He was married in Pennsylvania on the 15th of August, 1846, the lady of his choice being Sally Parker, the estimable daughter of Joseph and Rebecca (Cummins) Parker. She was born in Bradford County, Pa., on the 18th of November, 1829. Her father is now deceased, and the mother resides in Tioga County, Pa., and is over eighty years of age. The Parker family is one of the old New England families of ante-bellum days, and has been identified with American citizenship from the first.
   To Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlin there have been born nine children, whom we mention as follows: Lucius M., now in Tecumseh; Lucy, the wife of M. C. Coval, of Webster County, Neb.; Gehila; Mark, who is in Idaha (sic), as is also Edwin C.; Harriet M. is the wife of William S. Morton, of Gage County, Neb.; Harvey G. and Henry T., deceased. and Savannah M. The parents of Mrs. Chamberlin were natives of Pennsylvania; the father was born Aug. 24, 1791, the mother Dec. 29, 1799. They became the parents of four children, of whom Hulda and Paulina are deceased. The surviving children are Mrs. Chamberlin and her brother Joseph, who is living in Tioga County, Pa.
   In the year 1853, our subject removed with his family to DeKalb County, Ill., and there resided until 1866, when they migrated to this State, and for about a year lived in Nemaha County, but settled in 1867 on his present farm of 133 acres on section 6, township 6 north, range 12 east. He has brought it from the wilderness of its primitive condition to its present state, which reflects the great-