Full of hope and determination young Hoover made his way through the dark and the drizzling rain three miles to the house of John Waldens, with whom he spent the next few days. In the meantime his father found him, but did not insist on his returning home, however admonishing him to he a good boy and keep in good company. Our subject, hearing of a widow lady in the neighborhood who wanted some one to chop her winter's wood, called upon her, and soon contracted to cut twenty cords at fifty cents per cord. He had in his possession a gold dollar, which he had received as a premium from the county fair for being the swiftest runner of his age, he making a run of a quarter of a mile in twenty-six seconds, and distancing thirty competitors. With this money he purchased an ax and went to fulfill his part of the contract.
   Our hero was set to work in an old sugar camp. If any of the readers of this sketch know anything of the nature of well-matured hard maple, they can imagine something of the task set before him. Being anxious to complete his contract and get started to school, he would often reach the scene of his labors before it was fairly light. He would then chop until it was too dark to guide his ax, and then split (as this had to be done with maul and wedge), and cord it up after dark, usually reaching home as late as 8 o'clock.
   Dr. Hoover in recalling those days says: "I wish that I could sit down now and enjoy a meal as I did then. Those happy boyhood days are gone, and each milestone as I have passed it has been marked, some with cares, some with sorrows, some with joys, but best of all a happy Christian home. No labor unions and strikes for shorter time with me then, my motto was and has been thus far through life, more hours and more money.'" After completing his contract, Mrs. Patience Moore, his employer, offered to board him for his help nights and mornings, and allow him to continue his attendance at school. This was just what he wished, so he took a portion of his hard-earned cash, and going to Muncie purchased the needful clothing and books. Though late in the session the teacher, Mr. William Dragoo, having known him for several years, took especial interest in him, and by his assistance young Hoover was soon placed in the advanced class. The school-house was on one side of White River, and the farmhouse where he lived on the other. The bridge having been swept away by a freshet, he was obliged to ride the family horse, a venerable old claybank with a bald face, who had arrived at the advanced age of twenty-six years. When the river became too deep for fording, our hero would resort to a boat some distance down the river, which was kept by William Truitt for conveying his children to school. One day old Bob got loose and hied himself away home. The boat above mentioned happened that day to be on the opposite side, and Mr, Hoover was left to wade or swim. As the river was too high for the former and too cold for the latter, he walked up one and one-half miles to Keiger's Mill, where he knew there were several boats. Borrowing one of these he started across, and when a little more than half way on his journey he broke one of the oars. Being a short distance above the dam which roared in a threatening manner, he was very much frightened, but finally succeeded in piloting himself across in safety. He says the reflections of this are not as pleasant as some of the strolls on the banks of the river in company with the widow's daughter.
   The following spring our subject engaged to work for Mr. Parker Moore on his farm at $13 per month and board. He entered upon his duties on the 1st of March, and at the end of three months, after working early and late, found himself broken down in health to such an extent that he has never, fully recovered. Notwithstanding his broken constitution, his resolution was still undaunted, and he none the less determined to make of life a success. He spent the year following at home, in the winter occupying himself mostly in study. In the following summer of 1860, hoping that a change of climate might prove beneficial, he bade adieu to his parents, and with $25 in his pocket started for Appanoose County, Iowa, where he had relatives. The Burlington & Missouri River Railroad had already been built as far west as Ottumwa, and from there he went thirty miles by stage to his destination. He had already entertained serious thoughts of entering the medical profession, and the desire increased upon him as the time passed on. He finally called at the office of Drs. Sawyer & Russell,

of Unionville, and stated to them his circumstances and his ambitions. They at once proffered him the use of their library, and all the instruction he might require for the sum of $50, he to avail himself of these as long as he desired. Dr. Russell secured him a boarding-place with A. M. Harris, a blacksmith by trade, who was indebted to the Doctor. Mr. Hoover was to pay $2 per week when the time arrived that he could do so. Four weeks later it occurred to him that he might thus contract a bill which would embarrass him in the future, so taking with him his anatomy and skeleton he went into the country to the home of his uncle, Daniel Zook, where he was received with open arms, and where he pursued his studies, going to and from the village for instruction as necessity required. As time passed on he found it necessary to be more convenient to his preceptors. They very kindly proffered him a room adjacent to their office, which he fitted up for keeping bachelor's hall. In order to do this he engaged to husk corn, for which he received three bushels per day; this he exchanged for furniture and bedding. He was soon engaged in "light housekeeping" and study, occasionally receiving a basket filled with substantial eatables from the larder of his uncle or his grandmother Zook.
   The embryo Doctor at this period of his life spent no idle hours. He was up at 4 o'clock in the morning and read until 10 o'clock at night by the light of an improvised lamp, consisting of a medicine mug filled with lard, in which he placed a piece of candle-wicking, this being in keeping with his whole system of economy. The time notwithstanding passed very pleasantly and rapidly, and in May, 1862, he returned to his home in Indiana. There he borrowed books of Dr. Black, of Selma, and spent the summer in reading medicine, and assisting his father on the farm, receiving for the latter service $1 per day, by which he was enabled to replenish his wardrobe.
   On the 1st of October following young Hoover received the sum of $400 from the estate of his maternal grandmother. He now entered the medical department of Michigan University, where he took a course of lectures for six months, and at the expiration of this time swung his shingle to the breeze at New Baltimore, Macomb Co., Mich., on the 18th of March, 1863. Ten years later Dr, Hoover was graduated from the College of Physicians and Surgeons at Keokuk, Iowa.
   Although but twenty-one years of age when entering, upon the practice of his profession, Dr. Hoover met with success from the start, and made many warm friends during his year's residence at New Baltimore. During the holidays, while attending lectures, he went to the country to spend his vacation, and there met Miss Knotts, a charming girl of sixteen years, but womanly in all her deportment. The young Doctor set himself to work to win the maiden, and succeeded so well that the marriage of himself and Miss Della J. Knotts was celebrated at the home of the bride in Lenox, Mich., on the 28th of May, 1863. To say this marriage has been a happy one would hardly express it, for the Doctor avers that "death only can break their honeymoon."
   Mr. Knotts was in delicate health at the time of his daughter's marriage, and she being the only child, the little family was not separated. The father and mother went with their daughter and son-in-law to New Baltimore, and subsequently made their home with them. Mr. Knotts passed peacefully away on the 15th of November, 1878, at the age of sixty-five, having lived the life of a devoted Christian. He was never known to have an enemy, and in all the years that he made his home with his children, never by word or action gave cause for a ripple of trouble in the family circle.
   Stephen C. Hoover, the eldest child of our subject, was born in Granville, Delaware Co., Ind., March 6, 1866, and is now consequently nearing the twenty-third year of his age. He is a young man of promise, and already steward and general manager of the hotel. He is industrious and energetic, shrewd in business and an admirable financier. Miss Helen F. Hoover, the second child of our subject, is an interesting maiden of sixteen years and a daughter of whom her parents may justly be proud. The third child, Louise Adell, who was two years old Oct. 12, 1888, is a bright little girl and the pet of the household.
   After residing at New Baltimore one year and

having caught his bird, Dr. Hoover changed his residence to Granville, Ind., remaining at that point and Eton adjacent, a period of five years. Not being satisfied with the outlook, accompanied by his wife and son Stephen, then four years old, he started, Nov, 8, 1870, for Vermont, Fulton Co., Ill., and after encountering storms of rain and snow, arrived there on the 18th of the same month. A branch of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad had just been completed through that place to Rushville, and the quiet old town had sprung up to new life, the inhabitants being full of enthusiasm in the anticipation of its future. Dr. Hoover opened an office in Gardner's drug-store, and was soon in the enjoyment of a splendid practice. Business of all kinds was lively, and our subject for a time counted himself fully contented. But alas for poor old Vermont; she secured the Chicago, Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad, which built up other trading points, while at the same time business received a quietus and real-estate investments became profitless.
   In consideration of this state of affairs Dr. Hoover began looking westward with longing eyes, and accordingly in the latter part of March, 1880, packed his household effects into a car, and accompanied by his son Stephen pulled out of the town. They reached Lincoln, Neb., March 29, stopping at the house of Dr. E. P. Hamer, who had preceded them to this point two years.
   Soon afterward our subject and his family moved into a house belonging to Dr. Turner on M street, between Tenth and Eleventh. Dr. Hoover made his office with A. Roberts, an architect on Eleventh street, and with what practice he could get in connection with a few boarders, paid expenses after the first month. His first investment in real estate was forty acres of railroad land on the six years' plan. Later he purchased forty acres adjoining, then eighty acres. Mrs. Hoover and her mother, feeling that they would like more room in which to keep boarders, purchased the furniture and fixtures of the Townley House, and took possession Jan. 1, 1882. The management of this devolved principally upon Mrs. Hoover and her mother, under the firm name of Hoover & Knotts. The Doctor in the meanwhile devoted himself exclusively to his profession, and in the course of two years purchased the property, agreeing to pay for it the sum of $10,000. As a part of this he turned over his last purchase, eighty acres of land, and $400 in money. Subsequently he sold the remainder of his land at a handsome profit.
   Soon after purchasing the Townley House Dr. Hoover was seized with inflammatory rheumatism, and was obliged to abandon his practice for nearly a year. Stephen C., then a youth of seventeen, having graduated from the High School, assumed charge of the hotel business, and his father remarks with pardonable pride that during his protracted illness he never had the least anxiety in regard to the management of the finances.
   In the spring of 1886 Dr. Hoover erected a fine three-story brick building, 48x88 feet in dimensions, and to which he is now building an addition 48x56 feet. This when completed and equipped will constitute the finest hotel in the city of Lincoln. The rooms are well ventilated and conveniently arranged, the finishing and furnishing being in modern style. It is a house to which, after a man, has once been there, he will always return when in the city. We present a view of this admirable hotel in this connection.
   Mr. and Mrs. Hoover are devoted members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which our subject has been a Steward for many years, and to which he has given a cheerful and liberal support. In political matters he uniformly votes the Republican ticket. His abilities and his enterprise are duly appreciated by the people of Lincoln, with whose interests he is now so intimately associated.

ALTER G. BOHANAN, proprietor of the Peoria livery stables, at No. 323 North Ninth street, between O and R streets, is a prominent and wealthy business man of Lincoln. He was born in Peoria, Ill., May 25, 1847, being a son of Edward and Mahala T. (Wilber) Bohanan. For further details of parental history see sketch of W. G. Bohanan.
   Our subject was reared in his native city, receiving the educational advantages afforded by its ex-

cellent public school system. He grew up to be energetic, strong and able, and early in life learned the trade of a butcher. In March, 1869, he ambitiously determined to try his fortunes beyond the Mississippi in the young and rapidly growing city of Lincoln, and on his arrival here he established himself in his trade, and for eight years drove a thriving business as a butcher. He then turned his attention to the management of a hotel, and opened the Peoria House, on the corner of Ninth and O streets, which building was erected in 1879. In this he was quite successful, but he has now leased the hotel for five years, and is confining his attention mostly to his livery business, which is quite extensive, and is carried on at a great pecuniary profit. In connection with this, he says that when he first commenced to run a livery stable he was but a butcher, and consequently had had little or no experience with horses, or with the business in any way, and when he started in 1881 his whole outfit consisted of a horse and spring wagon, and a small stable, 16xl8 feet, in a back alley. From this small beginning his business has grown so rapidly and to such large dimensions that he has constantly had to add to his building, and to his equipment, first erecting an addition 20x30 feet, then another 70x100, a one-story building, and later a two-story building, 55x100 feet, and he now has forty head of horses, among which are four fine, thoroughbred roadsters, which can be driven single or double, and are valued at $1,000 each. He runs two hacks and a baggage wagon, and employs a force of eight men continuously. Our subject has acquired all his property since becoming a resident of Lincoln by sheer force of energy and fine business talents. When he came here he was $35 in debt. His property is now valued at $65,000, comprising his hotel, which occupies one-fourth of a block, two fine farms, his livery stable and stock, and valuable city lots, both here and in California.
   Mr. Bohanan was united in marriage to Miss Maggie A. McCord, July 1, 1875. She has been a true helpmate to her husband, and makes their home pleasant and attractive to her family and their friends. She was born in Iowa, Jan. 3, 1859, and is a daughter of Samuel T. and Elizabeth (Downing) McCord. Her father is a prosperous carpenter, and built the hotel and barn of our subject. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bohanan has been productive of four children, namely: Mahala; Walter, who died in infancy; Elizabeth, deceased; and Willis.
   Mrs. Bohanan is a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Bohanan was brought up within the pale of the Baptist Church, but is rather liberal in his views, and does not identify himself with any religious denomination. He is a prominent member of the I. O. O. F., and has taken all the degrees of the order. He is popular with his associates, being of a frank, open-hearted, genial disposition, and this brief record of his life will show that he is a shrewd, far-seeing man, quick to take advantage of the many opportunities offered to a wide-awake, stirring man to make money in this great and glorious Western State.

EREMIAH J. JONES. In the pretty little city of Wallingford, Conn., which is about twelve miles distant from New Haven, noted for its superior manufacture of brittaniaware, and perhaps more because of its charming situation, was born Nov. 8, 1783, Jeremiah Jones, who afterward became, while an Ohio pioneer, the father of Jeremiah J. Jones, a property holder of this county, whose estate lies on section 6, West Lincoln Precinct, and comprises eighty acres of good farming land. Of this precinct Mr. Jones is one of the most respected citizens.
   Jeremiah Jones, Sr., was born Nov. 8, 1783. He was educated in the school institution of his native town, and from that went to farming. As a young man he became enamored of a maiden, Miss Betsey Nattoon, a native of the same State, who possessed all those varied charms, graces and virtues which later made the names of wife and mother eloquent with meaning. Realizing this in part, it was his happiness to unite his life with hers May 12, 1807. This lady was born Dec. 27, 1781. The home which was then established was blessed as face after face was added to the number which gathered around the family board, by the birth of eight children of