agriculturist. He came to this county in 1874, and in the fall of that year secured the land upon which there had been only a slight attempt at improvement. He has now the greater portion under a good state of cultivation, the land is fertile, and well watered by a branch of Cub Creek, and besides a comfortable dwelling there are the various other buildings required by the modern farmer. Fences, live stock and machinery, in their character speak well for the enterprise of the proprietor.

Mr. Pittinger came to this State from Woodford County, Ill., where he had owned and operated a farm for a period of fourteen years. He had emigrated from Ohio to the Prairie State in the fall of 1856. He was born in Frederick County, Md., Dec. 1, 1823, of parents who were natives of the same State. His father, James Pittinger, removed with his family to Ohio quite late in life, and there spent the remainder of his days, dying in Brown County, where the mother also passed away; both lived to a ripe old age. They were healthy and active to the last, the result of their temperate lives and correct habits, and were highly respected by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. They had been connected with the Methodist Episcopal Church for many years, and the father was originally a member of the old Whig party.

The subject of this sketch was the fourth child of his parents., and the third son in a family of five boys and six girls. Three sons and four daughters are still living. Benjamin F. was a child two years of age when his parents left his native State and settled in Ohio. He was reared and educated in Brown County, and was there first married to Miss Nancy J. Evans, born and reared there. She became the mother of three children, and died in Ross County, Ohio, when a young woman only twenty-three years of age. Their two eldest sons are William and James Harvey: the former is in Western Nebraska, and the latter is married and farming in Jefferson County, this State; John is unmarried and in the Indian Territory.

 Mr. Pittinger was married the second time, in Brown County, Ohio, to Miss Jane Sidwell, also a native of that county, where she was reared to womanhood and received a common-school education. She came to Illinois with her husband after the birth of one child, they locating in Woodford County. She passed away in 1857 at the age of forty years. Her son George is now married, and lives with his father on the home farm.

The present wife of our subject, to whom he was married in Woodford County, Ill., May 10, 1859, was formerly Miss Amanda Holmon, a native of Orange County, Ind., and who came to Illinois with her parents when a young woman. She is a daughter of Tandy and Laura (Parker) Holmon, who were natives of Virginia and New York, and are now deceased. Of this union there have been born three children, namely: Eugenia, the wife of Samuel Pheasant, of Jefferson Township; Carrie, Mrs. Henry Stoll, living on a farm in Beatrice Township, this county; and Charles W., at home with his parents. Mr. Pittinger, politically, has always been a solid Republican, while in religious matters he clings to the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been a member for the last thirty-five years. His estimable wife belongs to the Baptist Church.

ILLIAM A. HOOKER, a very intelligent and highly respected farmer of Adams Township, has a well-ordered homestead on section 32, consisting of 160 acres of good land with suitable buildings, and the other appurtenances conducing to his comfort and the general enjoyment of life. He came to this section of country from Peoria County, Ill., in 1875, secured soon afterward the land comprising his present farm, and has watched with the interest which is manifested by every true citizen the growth and development of his adopted State.

Mr. Hooker is of substantial New England stock, his parents, Chauncey and Catherine (Wolcott) Hooker, having been born and reared in the vicinity of Bristol, Hartford Co., Conn. Their ancestors were originally from Cambridge, Mass., where it is believed they settled in the Colonial days. Chauncey Hooker was a tinner by trade, and the owner of a small farm which constituted a snug and comfortable home for the family. The mother died in middle life in Farmington, Conn., at the

age of forty-three years. Mr. Hooker survived his wife many years, and departed hence about 1843, at the age of sixty-six.

The family of Chauncey and Catherine Hooker consisted of six children, namely: William A., Levi .J., PoIly W., Lydia A., Urenia, and Chauncey, Jr. William, our subject, was born Oct. 10, 1804, at Farmington. Conn., and remained at borne until reaching his majority. His brothers and sisters who lived to mature years settled in Virginia and Ohio. Of these three are now living. They were all provided with a common-school education. William when sixteen years old became a student of Brighton Academy, and when leaving there commenced an apprenticeship at the clothier's trade. This he followed for a time, and afterward worked in the mills at Bristol. He was first married, in 1828, to Miss Emeline Peck, daughter of Seth and Anna (Webster) Peck, of Burlington. Conn. Mrs. Emeline Hooker was born in Burlington Township, Hartford Co., Conn., Sept. 14, 1804, and was the second in order of birth. After marriage our subject continued some time in Bristol, working in a clock factory there two or three years. Previous to this he had traveled, selling clocks and dry goods throughout South Carolina and Georgia.

Mr. Hooker in the latter part of 1839 emigrated with his family to Henry County, Ill., settling at Weathersfield, where he remained eighteen months engaged in farming. He next removed to Peoria County, and occupied himself at farming until starting for Nebraska in 1875. In the meantime his first wife had died in Connecticut, leaving two children: Franklin, who is now with his father, and Catherine, who died in early childhood. Mr. Hooker, before leaving the East, was married the second time, to Miss Malissa Gaines, who became the mother of one child only, a daughter, Emeline, who is now in Adams. Mrs. Malissa Hooker departed this life at her home in this county, Sept. 21, 1887, after having reached the advanced age of eighty-three years. Their daughter continues at the homestead and presides over the domestic affairs of her father and brother.

 Our subject has effected many improvements upon his present homestead, erecting a comfortable frame dwelling and a large barn, together with the other conveniences necessary to his comfort, and the success of his farming operations. Politically, in his youth, he was an old-line Whig, and voted for Gen. William H. Harrison for President, in 1840. He is now an ardent Republican, anxious to see the grandson of the old hero occupying the position so ably filled by his ancestor. Mr. Hooker has always been a reader, and keeps himself well informed upon the topics of the day. It is a source of both pleasure and profit to listen to his recital of the events of by-gone days, and the scenes of interest in which he has borne an important part. He enjoys the best wishes of hosts of friends, and will be remembered with honor and affection long after he has departed hence. His portrait may be found on an adjoining page, and will be gladly received by his many old friends.

EROME W. MATTISON is nicely, situated on his farm of eighty acres in Island Grove Township, and is the owner of 320 acres of land in Sherman Township. His parents, James and Eliza A. (Loomis) Mattison, were natives of Vermont, both having been born in Bennington County, the former in the year 1818. After their marriage they began life together in their native county, and remained there until the time of their death, having lived within two, miles of the place in which they were born. The mother died in 1865, and the father survived her until the year 1884, the three children of their family then being bereaved of both their parents.

Our subject was the oldest of the children, and was born in Bennington County, Vt., on the 22d of November, 1842, where he remained for thirty years. He came to Nebraska in 1872, and in 1876 entered into partnership with Mr. R. L. Gumaer, which was continued for nine years, at the end of which time, in the year 1884, our subject bought out the interest of his partner. He now owns 400 acres of land, eighty acres of which are situated on section 4, Island Grove Township, and the remainder in Sherman Township. The first eighty acres were bought for $150, and the half-section for $8 per acre.

On the 27th of January, 1885, Mr. Mattison mar-

ried Miss Susan D. Barton a daughter of Eli and Eunice Barton who were natives of Grafton, Vt. She was born in the afore-mentioned village on the 2d of February, 1843, and remained in her native State until the year 1845. She received her education in the village schools, and is an intelligent and estimable lady.

Our subject is well known among the leading men of his township, having taken an active part in public affairs and shared the honors of the offices within the gift of his fellowmen. He has held the office of Clerk of the township for two years and Assessor for one year, and has been an honorable member of the School Board for some time. He is a Republican in politics, and a member of the social order of F. & A. M. His business has been carried on with gratifying results, and he has put up a handsome house which adds greatly to the value of his fine farm.

AVID C. QUACKENBUSH, one of the pioneer settlers of Grant Township, and still  occupying the tract of land which he purchased upon coming here, in 1867, is numbered among the most highly respected residents of the county, with whose development and progress he has been intimately connected. He is the possessor of a fine homestead, the land of which has been brought to a good state of cultivation and upon which he has erected neat and substantial frame buildings. He has a goodly assortment of live stock and the modern machinery necessary for the carrying on of agriculture in a profitable and successful manner. A period of twenty-one years embraces the time which he has spent among the people of Gage County, during which time he has thoroughly established himself in their confidence and esteem. He had formerly, since a little lad of seven years, lived in Racine County, Wis., where he acquired his education and was reared to manhood.

Our subject was born at the modest farm homestead of his parents, in Cicero Township, Onondaga Co., N. Y., May 12, 1837. His parents were Lambert and Emily (Catherine) Quackenbush, also natives of the Empire State, and he was their eldest child. The father traced his ancestry back to the substantial old Dutch settlers of the Mohawk Valley, while the mother descended from a Vermont family who were first represented in the Green Mountain State probably during the Colonial days. Lambert Quackenbush was a farmer by occupation until a few years after his marriage, when he turned his attention to coopering. After the birth of two children he left New York State with his little family, and located among the pioneer settlers of Racine County, Wis., where from the uncultivated land he developed a comfortable homestead, and where they lived until coming to this State, in the spring of 1878. They settled upon a farm in Grant Township, this county, where the death of the father took place in February, 1885, when he was about sixty-four years old. He was a man of much force of character, and a member of the old Democracy of the Andrew Jackson stripe. The mother is yet living, and makes her home with her children in Grant Township, having now arrived at her threescore and ten years. She is in excellent health and her mind is still bright and active.

Our subject was educated in time primitive schools of Racine County, Wis., and upon reaching manhood began the serious business of life by taking unto himself a wife and helpmate, Miss Charlotte Wytt, who was born and reared there, and who died about eighteen months after her wedding, of diphtheria, at the age of about twenty-two years. Of this union there was born one child, a son, Albert, who married Miss Atla Adams, and is operating a farm in Hitchcock County, this State. The parents of Mrs. Q. were of English birth and parentage, and were among the early settlers of Wisconsin, where the father followed farming during the active years of his life, and where his death took place in 1879. when he was well advanced in years. The mother is still living, and a resident o Logan County, Iowa.

Our subject contracted a second marriage, Dec. 30, 1863, in Racine County, Wis., with Miss Esther Burgess, who was born in that county, Sept. 10, 1848. She was there reared to womanhood and educated in the common schools. Her parents were Nehemiah and Sophia (Woodman) Burgess, the for-