Lewisburg, Pa.; David J., formerly President of the above university, now President of the university at Rochester, N. Y.; this gentleman is the author of the well-known text-book, "Hill's Rhetoric." Elizabeth, now, the wife of Samuel T. Merritt, a grain merchant of Hudson, Wis.; Lydia, wife of William L. Brown, who is cashier of the bank at Williamston, Mich.; and our subject, who is the youngest of the family.
   Dr. Hill was educated at Chappaqua, N. Y., although owing to ill-health he was compelled to leave school before being graduated. Upon recovering his health he determined to study dentistry, and accordingly entered the New York College of Dentistry in that city, being graduated from that institution at the age of nineteen years. For the next five years he practiced in Cornwall-on-Hudson, N. Y. Next to the deep interest in his profession our subject was more attracted to the American trotting horse than anything. This has been almost a passion with him from childhood, and when he came to Nebraska he gave not a little attention to the breeding of such stock. This occupied all his time the first year he was in Nebraska, and for that purpose he purchased a stock farm of 320 acres, which was situated about three miles south of the city, and is known as the Hillsdale Stock Farm.
   Life upon the farm to one who, like our subject, had always lived in cities, was very lonely and dull, in spite of the fine stock with which he had surrounded himself. This resulted in the sale of the property and the removal to Syracuse, where he purchased twenty-five acres, upon which he made such arrangements of barns, stabling, etc., as he deemed necessary for indulgence in his favorite hobby. He is the owner of twenty-five standard bred trotters. He is also the owner of the trotting horse "Young Sentinel," which he brought with him from New York, and who has a record of 2:26. He has also other horses of some note and good record, which it is impossible in the space of this sketch to mention in detail. He is one of the organizers of the Nebraska State Association of Trotting Horse Breeders, of which he holds the position of Secretary. The Doctor is not careless of his profession, and keeps fully abreast of the times in all matters connected therewith. He has a very complete and beautiful library, and in his instrument case may be found almost every appliance and instrument known or used in his profession. These the Doctor does not keep for show, but understands their use, and perfects himself in the same.
   In 1877 the subject of our sketch was married to Tella H. Capron, the amiable daughter of Joseph and Hester E. Capron. She was born in Westchester County, N. Y., and made her home with her parents until her marriage, and brought to her husband all the cheering, brightening influences and inspirations that were designed by the Originator of the sacred relationship. They are the parents of three children, who bear the names here subjoined, viz: Pearl, Myrtle and Claire.
   Dr. Hill and his family occupy a high position in society, moving in its most select circles, and he enjoys the high esteem of all who know him. As a citizen, the Doctor is always happy to respond promptly to every duty that is his in that relation, and usually votes the Republican ticket. As a professional man, as has been already remarked, he is among the first of his fellows. As a man and as a friend, he is honorable, courteous and affable, and one of the much valued citizens of Syracuse.

LBERT THEIS. The subject of this biography occupies a snug homestead of eighty acres lying on section 31 in Nebraska City Precinct, where he settled in the spring of 1867, about the time Nebraska was transformed from a Territory into a State. For a period of twenty-one years he has labored industriously in its cultivation and improvement, and has been amply repaid for his labors, the land now yielding film handsome returns. It is hardly necessary to state that his management has been wise in the extreme and his enterprise a little beyond the ordinary. Our subject was born in Rhenish Prussia, on the 26th of January, 1835, where he lived until a man of twenty-eight years. His parents were Philip and Agnes Theis, natives of the same Province as their son, the father a cabinet-maker by trade, which he followed the greater part of his life. Both parents

spent their entire lives upon their native soil, the mother passing away at the age of forty-nine years and the father when seventy-six.
   Mr. Theis when a lad of thirteen years began the trade of cabinet-maker under the instructions of his excellent father, and five years later, after a thorough apprenticeship, began working as a "jour," and was thus occupied until emigrating to the United States. He worked thereafter four years in New York City, then decided to seek his fortune in the West. After locating in Nebraska City he still followed cabinet-making for a. period of nine years, then concluded to invest his capital in a farm. Since that time he has given his attention closely to agricultural pursuits, and has no reason to regret his change of occupation.
   Our subject found his future wife in America, being married in Nebraska City, Aug. 7, 1859, to Miss Lona Scharp. Mrs. Theis is also of German birth and parentage, being a native of Sleswick-Holstein, where she was born Dec. 29, 1888. Her parents, James and Mattie (Hauschildt) Scharp, were natives of the same Grand Duchy as their daughter, where the father carried on farming until the spring of 1857. Then, accompanied by his family, he sailed for America, and after landing proceeded directly westward to this county. He purchased land in Wyoming Precinct and built up a comfortable homestead, which provided him a shelter until his days on earth were numbered. His death was occasioned by the running away of a team he was driving, he being thrown from the vehicle and instantly killed. The wife and mother is still living at the homestead, and is now seventy-four years old.
   Mrs. Theis was a maiden of eighteen years when her parents came to the United States, and she lived with them until her marriage. Of her union with our subject there have been born ten children, five of whom died at an early age, namely: Agnes, Mattie, Mary, Amelia and Anna. Of the surviving the record is as follows: Alvina is the wife of Henry Korff, a well-to-do farmer of Wyoming Precinct. Emma married Herman Brugmann, who is occupied in general merchandising in Council Bluffs, Iowa; Nellie, John and Lona are at home with their parents. Mr. Theis, as one of the pioneers of Nebraska, endured many hardships and privations during the first years of his struggle for existence in the West, and now, in the enjoyment of a comfortable home, and the prospect of plenty for his old age, is reaping the reward of his toil and sacrifice. He came to this county poor in purse, but with an indomitable energy that admitted no such word as fail. Not only has he accumulated property but has built up the record of an honest man and a good citizen, occupying a worthy position in the community and enjoying the respect and confidence of his neighbors.

AMES B. NORTHCUTT, who is prominently identified with the mercantile interests of Nebraska City, is proprietor and manager of one of the oldest retail grocery houses in the State of Nebraska. He is a Kentuckian by birth, born in Millersburg, Bourbon County, Jan. 11, 1832. His father, Benjamin F. Northcutt, was born in Scotland. His parents were natives of England, who for several years lived in Scotland. They subsequently came from there to America and settled in Kentucky, and later they moved to Boone County, Mo., and spent their last years there.
   The father of our subject learned the trades of carpenter and millwright when he was young. In the spring of 1836 he moved to Missouri and located in Boone County, being one of the first settlers of that section of country. There were no railways then, and he and his family made the journey to their new home with teams. That part of the country was then heavily timbered, and Mr. Northcutt bought a tract of land and erected one of the first saw and grist mills in that section. He operated the mills until 1842, when a freshet swept them away. He then moved to Nashville, on the Missouri River, but after working at his trade as a carpenter a short time, went to Buchanan County, Mo., and there built a steam saw and grist will, which he managed very successfully until 1863, when, on account of the war, he suspended business. He is now an esteemed resident of Blue Springs, Kan., and at the age of eighty-six years still retains much of his early vigor. The maiden name of his

wife was Angeline McGuffin, and she was born in Scotland and came to America with her parents. She died in 1869.
   The subject of this sketch was four years old when his parents moved to Missouri, where he was reared to manhood. There being no free schools, he obtained his education in a school taught on the subscription plan. As soon as he was large enough he commenced to work to earn his own living, his first employment being to saw wood at twenty-five cents a cord. When he was in his eleventh year he commenced to work in a brickyard at St. Joseph, Mo., receiving $4 a month for the first two years and $6 a month the next two years, as compensation for his services, working hard from sunrise until sunset. When he was fifteen years old he had his first experience of the mercantile life as a clerk in a general store in St. Joseph, Mo., receiving a suit of clothes in payment for his work. He attended Lexington College during the winter season, and thus completed an excellent business education. When his parents first settled in Buchanan County it was in a very wild condition and was sparsely settled. St. Joseph was a hamlet of but a few log cabins, and the only hotel in the city was a log house. Indians were more plentiful than white people, and one time when our subject was about nine years old he stole away from home and joined the Indians on one of their hunting expeditions and was gone thirty days.
   Mr. Northcutt continued to clerk for the same firm until 1862, when he started, in the month of October, from Kansas City with a train of ox-teams loaded with freight bound for Ft. Union, N. M., 900 miles distant. He made the round trip, and arrived in Kansas City Feb. 3, 1863. He had not slept in a house during all the long journey. In May, 1863, he bought a pair of mules and a wagon, and set out from St. Joseph for the gold fields of Idaho. He crossed the Missouri River at Peru in the month of May, and from Nebraska City proceeded across the plains, via Salt Lake to Idaho City, which he reached on the 3d of July. On the same day he engaged as a miner, at $7 a day. He continued there until October, 1864, and then, after spending a few days in Walla Walla City, went down the Columbia River to Portland, Ore., and from there to Victoria, British America, and thence to San Francisco. After staying there a month, he proceeded to his old home in Missouri by way of the Isthmus of Panama and New York City, and finally arrived in St. Joseph in January. 1865. He there engaged with J. E. Barrow & Co., and went with a train to Salt Lake City, crossing the Missouri River April 1, and arriving at Salt Lake September 25. There was a train of ninety-eighty wagons, all heavily laden, and on the 2d and 3d of August the teamsters had a battle with the Indians, who were then on the warpath, but they escaped without the loss of a man. He acted as a clerk for Barrow & Co. in Salt Lake City until the following December, when he started on his return with a mule train for Atchison City, and thence proceeded to St. Joseph. At one time during the war Mr. Northcutt started from Kansas City to go to Independence to buy cattle for his employers. He had not gone far before he was advised to return, as Quantrell's guerrillas were infesting the country, and were more numerous than he had expected. He did not heed the warning, however, as he was a man of steady nerve and cool courage, but kept on until he met a party of soldiers who had been attacked by the rebel marauders, and were fleeing for their lives. He then concluded that "discretion would indeed be the better part of valor," and wisely returned to Kansas City. He soon after went to Lawrence, Kan., for the same purpose, and in that State he found trading rather unpleasant, as the people were at that time quite suspicious of any one coming from the Southwestern States. He, however, satisfied all queries, and finally reached Lawrence all right, and then returned, after buying $8,000 worth of cattle.
   Mr. Northcutt came to Nebraska City in the spring of 1866, arriving on the 15th of April, and at once established himself in the grocery business, which he has conducted continuously since with marked success. He is now one of the leading grocers here, and is numbered among the men of wealth in the city.
   Mr. Northcutt was married, in March, 1865, to Miss Katie Toole, a native of Weston, Mo., and a daughter of W. C. Toole. They have five children living, namely: Ebbie, Harry, Jesse, Wilbur and

James. Our subject is a man of wide experience, is prompt and wide-awake in business, and by his strictly honorable dealings has gained the confidence of his follow-citizens. The advice and support of such a man are greatly valued in the administration of the civic affairs of a prosperous and growing municipality like Nebraska City, as is evinced by the fact that Mr. Northcutt has served as a member of the City Council for eight years; and his wisdom is also sought in the guidance of the affairs of the Christian Church, of which he and his wife are devoted members, and he has been its Secretary and Treasurer. Socially, he is identified with the A. F. & A. M., belonging to Nebraska City Lodge No. 12.

ON. WILLIAM B. HAIL, deceased. Otoe County is greatly indebted for its wonderful growth and present prosperity to the men of intelligence, enterprise and action who were its pioneers, and who have watched with intense interest its entire development. The subject of this sketch was identified with those early settlers, and took a very active part in the public life of the county, and also of the Territory, as he was for several years a prominent member of the Territorial Legislature, and it gives us much pleasure to be able to transcribe to these pages a brief account of his life and work.
   Mr. Hail was born in Grayson County, Va., Aug. 4, 1811, and his father, Stephen Hail, was born on the same farm. Lewis Hail, the grandfather of our subject, was a native of Franklin County, Va., and was one of the early settlers of Grayson County. He took up a large tract of timber land there, and made his home in that county until his death. He had six sons and two daughters, and he gave each of them a farm close by his homestead, and all but one of them spent their entire lives there. The father of our subject inherited the old homestead where he was born, and there, after a well-spent life as a farmer and stockraiser, he closed his eyes to the scenes of earth in the month of February, 1854. He was a valiant soldier in the War of 1812, and his record in public and in private life was that of an honest, upright, sagacious man. The maiden name of his wife was Frances Bourne, and she was also a native of Grayson County, Va. They were the parents of eleven children, all of whom grew to maturity.
   William B. Hail, of whom we write, was reared in the home of his birth, and received an excellent training in agricultural pursuits. He was married in his native county, Jan. 31, 1833, to Miss Matilda Jones, who was also born in Grayson County, Aug. 13, 1811, being the date of her birth, and she is a daughter of Maj. Abner and Hannah (Forbes) Jones, natives of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Hail have eight children living, of whom the following is the record: C. Currin lives in Omaha; Silas Friel lives on the homestead with his parents; Laura J. is the wife of L. F. Cornutt, of Nebraska City; Celia is the wife of James S. Miller, of Nebraska City; Alverda lives at home; Scott, Taylor and Stephen A. are residents of Nebraska City
   While our subject remained a resident of his Virginia birthplace he was engaged in farming, and even as it young man he became identified with the public interests of Grayson County, being elected Surveyor of the county in 1838, and served in that capacity continuously for sixteen years, until he resigned to come West. He also served four or five years as Magistrate. In the last of August, 1854, Mr. Hail severed his connection with his pleasant Southern home, and, accompanied by his wife and nine children, started for the wilds of the far-off Territory of Nebraska, making the entire journey with a carriage, two wagons and eight horses, arriving in Nebraska City sixty days after they set forth. The sight presented to the eyes of those weary, travelers as they entered this promised land was far different from what one sees to-day. The rolling prairies stretched away to the West a wild sea of grass, with no signs of human habitation, as the settlements were then confined to the river. Deer and antelopes were plentiful, and away off toward the western boundary of the Territory buffaloes roamed at will, The land was hold by the Government and had not been surveyed, and the Indians still lingered about their old hunting-grounds. Where Nebraska City now stands they found about half a dozen rudely constructed houses and but one store, which was kept in a small frame building, lo-

cated on the north side of Main street near the corner of Sixth street. There was no railway west of the Mississippi, and all travel and transportation was either by team or by boat, and one may readily judge that the facilities for communicating with their friends in the East were not of the best. In this connection Mr. Hail related that Charles Pierce was the first Postmaster, and that the mail, which was received but once or twice each week, was brought on horseback from Sidney, Iowa, and when Mr. Hail went for his share Mrs. Pierce would take a box from under the bed and select his from the rest.
   Mr. Hail made a claim to a tract of land now included in the city, and known as Hail & Co.'s Addition. A few days after coming here he and his nephew bought a sawmill in Iowa, and he drew it here with his horses and operated it by horsepower for a year, settlers coming in so rapidly that they could sell their lumber as fast as they could manufacture it. Mr. Hail had been a resident here but three weeks when the first election was held, at which delegates were elected to the first Territorial Legislature, and he was chosen to represent Otoe County. He proved to be a wise and able statesman, and he was influential in obtaining the passage of many of the most important measures devised for the advancement of Territorial interests, and for the preservation of law and order. So well pleased were his constituents by his course, that he was sent to represent them in the halls of legislation five terms in succession. Mr. Hail also held the office of Justice of the Peace for some years after coming here. He was always a Democrat in politics, and cast his first vote for Gen. Jackson. Mr. Hail met his death by being run over by a railroad train near his home, on the 1st day of October, 1888.

HARLES W. STAHLHUT, who is said to be one of the finest looking men in Nebraska City, is no less a stirring member of the business community, and is engaged in general merchandising on Central avenue, where he occupies a the new brick block, which was erected by him in the spring of 1888. This building at once attracts the attention of the stranger passing through the city, it being not only an ornament to the town, but occupied by some of its leading enterprises. Mr. Stahlhut commenced in life dependent upon his own resources, and has climbed up step by step to an enviable position socially and financially.
   A native of Westphalen, Germany, our subject was born Nov. 26, 1841, and is consequently in the prime of life and the midst of his usefulness. His parents, Frederick and Ernestine (Senne) Stahlhut, were also of German birth and ancestry, and the father also followed merchandising, spending with his excellent wife his entire life upon his native soil. He died about 1873, aged sixty-five years, and the mother in 1878, when sixty-nine years old. Their five children were named respectively: Frederick, Charles W., Frederick William G., Ernestine and Lena. They are all living, our subject and his brother being the only ones in the United States.
   In common with the youth of his native land, our subject was placed in school at an early age, where he received a practical education, and later learned the carpenter's trade. In the spring of 1868 he decided to emigrate to America, and settling in DuPage County, Ill., employed himself as a farm laborer for a few months. Not quite satisfied, however, with the outlook in the Prairie State, he came to Nebraska City with a capital of $20 in his pocket, and resumed his trade of carpenter. Later we find him clerking in a grocery store, which also combined general merchandise. He was similarly occupied until 1875, and in the meantime exercising the economy which is a well-known characteristic of his nationality, he saved up a snug sum of money, which, with his unlimited credit, enabled him to establish in business, Oct. 13, 1875, in company with a partner, under the firm name, of Straub & Stahlhut. He operated with Mr. Straub for a period of three years, and then substituted his brother for Mr. Straub, and the two latter have carried on business two years successfully with a prosperous outlook for the future.
   Mr. Stahlhut, in 1873, purchased the lots whereon his building now stands, which was erected during the summer of 1888, and is called the Stahlhut Block; it covers an area of 48x80 feet, is two stories in height, built of brick, and equipped with all mod-

ern conveniences. The business of C. W. Stahlhut occupies half of this building, while the other half is rented to other parties.
   Our subject, in November, 1876, was united in marriage with Miss Anna Wille, who was born in Brooklyn, N. Y., in January, 1856, and came to Nebraska City with her parents in 1870. The latter, August and Emily Wille, were natives of Germany; the father is now deceased, and the mother resides in Nebraska City. Mr. and Mrs. S. are the parents of five children, namely: Emily, Clara, Elsie, Hilda and Carl. Our subject, politically, is a lively Republican, and, with his estimable wife, is a member in good standing of the Lutheran Church.

ERBERT H. REED. Among the agriculturists of Delaware Precinct there are few more enterprising or successful than the gentleman whose biography is here briefly presented. There are many his senior in age, and of larger experience, but he possesses in no small measure the vim and Western push that count for so much in the development of a comparatively new region. His property is situated on section 31, and is well worthy of a more extended notice than can be conveniently given in this volume.
   Our subject was born on the 15th of January, 1860, to Cyrus and Anna (Lowe) Reed, at their home in Pickaway County, Ohio, which was the native place also of his father, who is now deceased. The latter was a farmer, and stood in the front rank of successful men similarly engaged. With his family he removed to this county in 1865 and settled in McWilliams Precinct, where he purchased over 1,600 acres of land, which, with the exception of fifteen acres that were broken, and a diminutive shanty, was in its virgin state. After a long sickness, caused by Bright's disease, he departed this life in 1872.
   Mr. Reed was reared under the care of his father on the farm, and from his boyhood was given such tasks as his strength would permit, until he was in every way competent to take full management of a farm. Attending the common schools, he received instructions in the ordinary branches of an English education, and by careful training his mental powers were developed so that he was in due time prepared to take his place in the more serious engagements of life.
   The marriage of Mr. Reed with Catherine Damme was celebrated on the 23d of November, 1884, at Delta. Mrs. Reed was born in Perry County, Mo., and is the daughter of Frederick Damme, of Missouri. Their union has been consummated by the birth of one daughter, who bears the name of Carrie E.
   The homestead of our subject is 320 acres in extent, and although some attention is given to grain farming, he makes a specialty of raising graded stock of fine breed. He has erected a complete set of the needed buildings, stables and cattle pens, and these are above the average in point of stability and arrangement, convenience and finish. He is a man who takes an interest in the various enterprises that promise to advance the interest of the community or town. Politically, he is a stanch Republican, and an earnest worker in a modest way.
   A view of the home of Mr. Reed is given on another page, in which it will be seen that both industry and taste have been employed to make it both valuable and attractive. It forms no unimportant item in the great whole which distinguishes Otoe County as a section of country peculiarly fortunate in the men who have directed its destinies.

HARLES DANN, a native of Lincolnshire, England, emigrated to the United States in 1852, when a young man seventeen years of age, and is now numbered among the well-to-do farmers of McWilliams Precinct. He was born Aug. 8, 1835, and after his boyhood days were over, was employed at farming near the place of his birth until reaching manhood. His mother died when he was about eighteen years of age. James Dann, our subject's father, came to this country the following spring, and at Clinton, Iowa, he spent the remainder of his days, passing away when ripe in years.
   The maiden name of the mother of our subject was Mary Ketler. The parental household included eight sons and two daughters, five of whom are now