The first permanent settlers of Adams County were Mortimer Kress and Jerome Fouts, who came shortly after 1865, and who, because of their varied experiences with Indians and pioneer life, are more familiarly known as "Wild Bill" and "California Joe." The Indians, however, were not especially troublesome to the early settlers at this time, although the Sioux, Cheyenne and Pawnee tribes were present in large numbers. There were so many white immigrations in 1870, that in 1871 the county boasted of twenty-nine voters. Adams County was organized in 1871 and Juniata was chosen as the county seat. The county has an elevation of eighteen hundred feet above the sea level, and its surface is almost entirely a rolling plain. The soil is especially fertile because of its loose, porous qualities, and is therefore among the better farm regions in the state. The county comprises an area of 564 square miles, and there is little or no waste land to be found. The prices of lands range from twenty to fifty dollars, the best farm land selling for thirty-five to fifty dollars an acre. Adams County was early favored with railroad advanatges (sic), and there are now eleven lines running through it. In 1870, the total population was 19, while in 1902 it num-

bered 18,840. The first county fair was held at Kingston on the Little Blue. Since that time these annual fairs have been held in different localities, though Hastings has been the chief favored town. The first town was Inland, situated in the north and eastern part of the state, and founded in 1871. Its inception was soon followed by Juniata and Hastings in the same year. The early settlers were people of an educational spirit and culture and as a result, schools were naturally started. The first school was commenced in 1872 a little south of Juniata, with Miss Emma Leonard as teacher. Two years after the organization of the county there were 467 children of school age, and ten years later the number was increased to 3,275. In 1873 there were twenty-five school buildings, one of these being built of log. In 1903 the school census reported 7,716.

      W H. DAVIS, County Clerk, was born in Noble County, Ohio, December 13, 1855. His ancestors were Welch, who came to America several generations ago. When a boy he went with his parents to Humboldt, Illinois, where he spent his youth. In 1873 he removed to Larned, Kansas and fifteen years later settled in Hastings. He is a member of the Republican party.

      JOHN S. LOGAN, a native of Illinois, born in Pike County, January 15, 1871. In 1885 he removed to Harlan County, Nebraska, and later to Hastings. In 1889 he was Deputy County Treasurer of Harlan County. For eight years he was court reporter of the Tenth Judicial District and from 1900 to 1904 has been deputy County Attorney of Adams County. He is a worker in the Populist party.

      M. W. BURGESS was born in LaSalle County, Illinois, November 22, 1856, where he spent his boyhood and received his education. In 1889 he removed to Adams County, Nebraska, living on a farm. After eight years residence in the county he was elected Register of Deeds on the Independent ticket and in 1901 was re-elected, which position he now holds.

      CHARLES E. BRUCKMAN, Clerk of the District Court, was born in Lowell, Indiana, March 28, 1877. When a small child his parents removed to Juniata, Nebraska and in 1903 he came to Hastings. He is a graduate of the University of Nebraska Law School and is associated with the Populist party. At his election he carried Juniata, his home town, by forty-one votes, where the regular republican majority is from fifty to sixty votes.

      C. A. HEARTWELL, who has been City Engineer of Hastings, and County Surveyor of Adams County for the last twelve years, is a native of New York, having been born in Geneva, December, 1857. In 1876 he removed to Des Moines, Iowa, and settled in Hastings in 1883. His vocation is that of civil engineer. He was elected City Engineer and County Surveyor in 1891 and has remained in that position ever since.

      JOHN SNIDER, County Attorney, was born in Harden County, Iowa, September 12, 1861. His parents were of American stock. He graduated from the University of Iowa Law School and removed to Nebraska in 1887, practicing law in Adams County. In 1900 he was elected County Attorney by the Populist party, which position he has since held.

      W. A. JULIAN, County Superintendent, was born in Henry County, Indiana, March 12, 1857. In 1888 he came to Minden, Nebraska, where he filled the office of County Superintendent for five years. Then he came to Adams County, where he has engaged in public school work. He is associated with the Republican party and has been elected County Superintendent on that ticket.

      HARRY S. DUNCAN, County Judge, was born in Jasper County, Iowa, July 19, 1865 and in 1873 came to Adams County. In 1886 he graduated with honor from Doane college, Crete, Nebraska. In 1898, when the demand for volunteers for the Spanish-American war arose, he resigned his position as County Attorney and enlisted in the Third Nebraska Regiment, where he rose to the rank of Major. In 1901 he was elected County Judge on the Democratic ticket and re-elected in 1903.

     C. H. WANZER, who has been the Chief of Police in Hastings for the past fifteen years, is from New York State, having been born in Pennsylvania February, 1853. Leaving New York he came to Nebraska and settled at Hastings, where he engaged in farming. In 1889 he was elected Chief of Police on the Republican ticket. He is one of the older citizens of the county.