where he had made his home for twenty-two years, having been brought up and educated there. He was born on the 15th of March, 1857, in Germany, and came to the United States with his parents whim he was two years of age.
   The subject of our sketch is the son of Henry and Ellen (Dricker) Bottcher, who were natives of Germany. Upon coming to America they located in Missouri, and there made their home and became identified with the agricultural interests of the State. There the father died in September, 1885, having reached the age of seventy years. He was for a number of years a member of the Methodist Church. He took a great interest in the politics of his country, and usually voted the Republican ticket. His wife is yet living with her oldest son, and has reached the age of sixty-six years.
   The subject of our sketch was the ninth of twelve children born to his parents, the family circle comprising five sons and seven daughters. Seven members of the family are still living, and are all now married. Mr. Bottcher was united in wedlock with Anna Renkin, who was born in Germany, on the 21st of May, 1857. She came when eight years of age to this country with her father, Henry Renkin, who located in Rock Creek Precinct, where he still resides and has become a large land-owner, and is numbered also among the successful farmers. The wife of our subject has presented him with three children, viz: Henry G., John F. and William F. She has also one child by a previous marriage.
   Mr. and Mrs. Bottcher are regular attendants of the Lutheran Church, with which they have been connected for many years. Our subject is not prominent in political circles, but is a stanch Republican, and usually votes that ticket.

OSEPH B. BALLARMAN. In the Grand Duchy of Oldenburg, Germany, on the 14th of September, 1830, was born a boy baby who is now numbered among the most successful farmers and stock-raisers of Rock Creek Precinct. He is a man who has inherited from his substantial German ancestry those qualities of perseverance and resolution which have upheld him through many difficulties, and which are the secret of his present success. For the last twenty-one years he has operated successfully a farm of 160 acres on section 4, which he eliminated from a tract of raw prairie land into one of the most desirable homesteads, and he also has 100 acres on section 33, Belmont Precinct, Otoe County. He keeps a good assortment of live stock, has a comfortable residence, a good barn and all the other necessary buildings, and is surrounding himself and his family with everything needful for their comfort and enjoyment.
   Our subject is the son of Joseph and Mary Ballarman, whose family consisted of three children, and of whom Joseph is the only survivor. The father, a farmer by occupation, spent his entire life upon his native soil, and died at the age of sixty-six years. The mother had preceded her husband to the silent land many years before, dying in the prime of life, when her son Joseph was a little lad three years of age. He was reared by his father, and lived with him until attaining his majority. Not long afterward he set sail for the New World, making his way first to Hamilton County, Ohio, whence he migrated three years later to White County, Ind., thence he crossed the Mississippi into Monroe County, Iowa, employing himself there as a farm laborer two years.
   After the outbreak of the Rebellion our subject enlisted as a soldier in the Union Army in Company D, 22d Iowa Infantry, the company under command of Capt. Wilson, and the regiment under command of Col. Stone. The latter formed a portion of the 13th Army Corps, and our subject with his comrades subsequently met the rebels in many of the most important battles of the war, namely: at Gibson, Miss., May 1, 1863; Champion Hills, May 16; Black River Bridge, May 17; and the siege of Vicksburg, ending on the 4th of July, 1864. After forty days of almost continual fighting they moved to Jackson, Miss., meeting the enemy there July 17, 1863, and afterward our subject was at Winchester, Va., Sept. 19, 1864; at Fisher's Hill, September 22, and at Cedar Creek October 13 to 19 following.
   Mr. Ballarman, although frequently in the thickest of the fight, escaped unhurt from the dangers of shot and shell, although the hardships and priva-

tions of army life had their natural effect upon his health. He reported for daily duty without fail, and at the close of the war received his honorable discharge at Savannah, Ga., July 25, 1865. Soon afterward he sought his old haunts in Monroe County, Iowa, where he was most properly welcomed as one of those who had done most patriotic service in behalf of their adopted country.
   Leaving Iowa in the fall of 1865, our subject came to this county a single man. It was not very long, however, before he met the lady who became his wife, Miss Anna Sardnery, to whom he was married in Otoe County, Aug. 19, 1867. Mrs. Ballarman was born in the Empire of Austria July 2, 1840, and emigrated alone to America when a young lady of twenty-five years. She at once made her way westward to this county, and two years later became the wife of our subject. She is now the mother of seven children, two of whom, Anna and Theresa, died when very young. The survivors, Lizzie, Joseph G., Katie, Mary and John, are all at home with their parents.
   It is hardly necessary to state that Mr. Ballarman is a fervent supporter of Republican principles. Both he and his excellent wife attend the Catholic Church at Rock Creek.

EORGE S. BOTSFORD. The picture of the complete home is amply illustrated in the surroundings of the subject of this biography who, with his estimable wife, which comprises his family, is spending his declining years surrounded by all that makes life desirable, His has been a career eminently praiseworthy, filled in with industry and good deeds, during which he has built up for himself the record of an honest man and a good citizen. Providence has greatly blessed him in his labors, giving him strength of body and mind, enabling him not only to provide handsomely for his own necessities, but assist those less fortunate.
   The modest dwelling of Mr. Botsford is attractive within and conveniently arranged, while without are orchards, groves, the smaller fruit trees and shrubbery, barns, cattle sheds, and all the other buildings necessary for his own convenience, for the domestic animals and for the storage of grain. These are the results of the industry of the proprietor, who settled up his present homestead when the land had undergone very little cultivation. Of late years he has given much attention to stock-raising, and it has been remarked by those who have seen them that his swine are as fine as any to be seen in the State of Nebraska.
   Next to a man's own personal record is that of those from whom he drew his origin. The parents of our subject, Elnathan and Zilpha (Terry) Botsford, were natives of Livingston County, N. Y.; the father was born near Livonia and the mother near Lima. Elnathan Botsford was a painter by trade but died when a young man thirty-two years of age in 1837, in his native town. The family included two sons only, our subject and his elder brother William. The latter, when a little lad six years of age, removed with an uncle to Seneca County, Ohio, and was joined there by the mother and George S. the year following, when the latter was five years old. The mother had been left in limited circumstances, and two years later contracted a second marriage, the issue of which was three more children. Two only of these are now living, and in this State.
   George S. Botsford was born May 27, 1835, near Livonia, Livingston Co., N. Y., and after the second marriage of his mother was placed in charge of a guardian, Oliver Crockett, who proved a very kind man, and finding the boy not properly cared for, took him into his own home, where he remained until a youth of seventeen years. Mr. Crockett then gave him his choice of remaining with him or going into a store at Green Springs. He chose the latter, but on account of impaired health returned to Mr. Crockett and assisted him as well as he could in the tannery. Later, through the influence of his guardian, he secured a position as purchasing agent of an Eastern manufacturing company, which handled black walnut lumber. His duties then lay in Southern Michigan, to which he repaired, and was a resident of that section for one and one-half years.
   In the spring of 1854, Mr. Botsford, then a man of nineteen years, crossed the Mississippi River and purchased 160 acres of land in Fayette County,

Iowa. He, however, did not settle upon this, but engaged as a stage driver from Dubuque to St. Paul, Minn., and driving four and six horses. Later, for a period of fifteen months, he drove a stage from West Union to Decorah, Iowa. This contract ended, he began hauling goods for a merchant at West Union to and from McGregor, Iowa, and was thus occupied until after the outbreak of the Civil War.
   Mr. Botsford now sold out his teams and enlisted in the State Militia; expecting to join the first 75,000 men called for by President Lincoln. On the 8th of June, 1861, his regiment was sworn into the National service at Keokuk, Iowa. Mr. B. was a member of Company F, 3d Iowa Infantry, and after drilling awhile at Keokuk, Iowa, they departed first to Hannibal, Mo., and during the summer of 1861 his regiment was stationed as guards along the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad in Northern Missouri.
   Our subject first saw the smoke of battle at Palmyra, Mo., in June, 1861; was at Ft. Henry, and was later at Ft. Donelson. At the latter place he first looked upon Gen. Grant, and declares that, notwithstanding reports, "the General was not drunk." Mr. Botsford subsequently fought at Pittsburg Landing, the siege of Corinth, and later was stationed with his regiment as a guard along the Charleston & Memphis Railroad.
   The spring of 1863 saw the Army of the West moving toward Vicksburg, in the siege of which our subject participated. The winter of 1863-64 was passed in the vicinity of Natchez, Miss. The term of enlistment of Mr. B. having expired he veteranized and was commissioned Orderly Sergeant. Subsequently he was appointed Sergeant Major. In March, 1864, he was given a furlough, and returning to Iowa settled up various business matters there and upon rejoining his regiment marched with the army of Gen. Sherman to the sea. On the way there he fought at Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain, Missionary Ridge. Dalton, Rome and Atlanta. For valiant service he was made Captain of Company B, and after the death of Lieut. Col. Jacob Abernathy, was placed in regimental command.
   On the 21st and 22d of July, 1864, the regiment of our subject lost heavily at the battle of Atlanta, and on account of their reduced numbers were made a part of the 2d Iowa, and Mr. Botsford was given a Captain's commission under Gov. Stone, with which rank he was mustered out at the close of the war. The 17th of January, 1865, found them returning North through the Carolinas, during which they marched through Goldsboro, and experienced the terrors of the dismal swamp, where the soldiers underwent great sufferings, being exposed to nightly frosts of great severity, and often making their way through mire and water knee deep. This naturally resulted in much sickness and death among the soldiers, and while at Goldsboro they received the news of Lee's surrender. This buoyed up the sinking spirits of the troops and gave them courage to push on to their destination. On account of his bravery and fidelity to duty Capt. Botsford was the recipient of the commission of Lieutenant Colonel, the papers reaching him although he was never sworn in.
   Our subject looks upon this period of his life as an experience with which he would not willingly part, although it was one fraught with many hardships. Although he was remarkably fortunate in escaping wounds, sickness and death, the sufferings of those around him were such as to leave an ineffaceable impression upon his mind for all time to come. He became intimately acquainted with the brave Geo. McPherson during his boyhood, but with his characteristic modesty he never made his presence known to the General, and it was only by accident that the latter learned in the third year of his service that his old boyhood acquaintance was in the same division. Capt. Botsford marched with his comrades to Washington, and had the pleasure of being present at the grand review, and of marching with his company through the streets of Davenport, Iowa, where they were honorably discharged on the 19th of July, 1865.
   Our subject now returning to Fayette County, went from there in August following to Sandusky County, Ohio, where he occupied himself at farming until March, 1869. At this place he met his future wife, Miss Agnes Scattergood, to whom he was married at Waterloo, Ind., March 24, 1869. Mrs. Botsford was born Aug. 4, 1848, at Elyria,

Ohio, where she attended the common schools; she was deprived by death of her affectionate mother when a young girl of fifteen years. She then kept house for her father until his second marriage, when she was permitted to resume her studies in the High School at Clyde.
   Mrs. Botsford now also commenced teaching, although at the same time pursuing her studies, and thus taught and attended school for five years before her marriage. Our subject and his wife afterward took up their residence at Waterloo, Ind., where they lived until coming to this State. In the spring of 1873 they settled in a little log house on eighty acres of land which is now included in their present farm. Here they commenced to live in true pioneer style, laboring early and late in the building up of their homestead and the cultivation of the land. The first dwelling in 1874 was replaced by the present tasteful residence, and there gradually grew up around it the buildings adjacent, and fruit and shade trees which add so much to the attractions and the value of the property.
   Mrs. Botsford is the daughter of Charles W. and Lucinda (Reynolds) Scattergood, the former a native of Sheffield. England, and the latter of Essex County, N. Y. Mr., Scattergood crossed the Atlantic when a lad twelve years of age with his parents, who settled in Ohio. He was married to Miss Reynolds at Elyria, Ohio. They left the Buckeye State about 1868 and settled on a farm in the vicinity of Waterloo, Ind., where he now resides, being seventy-one years of age. The six children of the parental family were named respectively: Irwin, Agnes, Viola, Eva, George and Harrison. Of these four are living, and three reside at Waterloo, Ind. Mr. and Mrs. Botsford have no children, but their home is the frequent resort of the many friends whom they have gathered around them during their long and pleasant lives.

EORGE HARTMAN, who has been identified with Syracuse Precinct since February, 1880, resides on section 17, within about a half-mile of the town of Syracuse, and is one of the enterprising, intelligent and prosperous farmers and stock-raisers of the district. He was born in Sussex County, N. J., within forty miles of the city of Philadelphia, on the 1st of November, 1811. The Hartman family is of German extraction, although for many years its members on this side of the Atlantic have been numbered among the substantial and valued citizens of the United States.
   The paternal great-grandfather of our subject, came from Germany and settled in New Jersey more than 150 years ago, and was the first representative of the family to cross the Atlantic with the view of making his home here. His son, John Hartman, the grandfather of our subject, was born in New Jersey, of which State he was a citizen until his death, which occurred in the year 1818. He followed successfully throughout his long life the trade of a blacksmith, and had a large business connection. The home circle was quite large, and all the children attained to from sixty to ninety years of age.
   The father of our subject, Peter Hartman, was born upon the old homestead in Sussex County, and was there brought up, learning the trade of his father and also farming. He became the husband of Betsey Pickle, also of German ancestry, and a true and faithful helpmate. In 1816 this family removed to Lycoming County, Pa,, and there settled upon a farm in the vicinity of three of his brothers, who were each operating farms there. At that home Peter Hartman passed the remainder of his life, dying at the very advanced age of ninety-four years, his wife having died a few years previously. She had attained the good old age of eighty-four years.
   The mother of our subject gave birth to eighteen children, two of whom died while quite small. and six sons and four daughters are still living. Our subject is the second eldest child. The first-born was John, who is still living, in Lycoming County, Pa., and was born in the year 1809. With the exception of our subject all are living in the same county. The family record gives the other members of the family as follows: Katie, Julia A., Deborah (deceased), Hettie, Peter, Polly (deceased), Barbara, Rosella, Mathis, William, Elizabeth and Amia (both deceased) and Mathias.
   The subject of our sketch grew to manhood in

Lycoming County, and received what schooling was obtainable in the same district. When sixteen years of age he helped to build a school-house, which was the first in the neighborhood, and upon its completion seized this the first opportunity of attending school. When twenty-two years of age he entered the married state, and became the husband of Sarah Follmer, who was also born and brought up in the same place as Mr. Hartman. She was the daughter of William and Katie (Sewartz) Follmer.
   The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hartman has been consummated by the birth of fourteen children, all of whom grew up to mature years. Their names are recorded as follows: Henry; Sarah J., who married L. Hayes, and after his death was united with H. Lake, but is now deceased; John F., who died in Nebraska in 1880, leaving nine children; Catherine A., now the wife of Robert Forsman; William, who died during the late war; Margaret A., who died in September, 1888; George. who served during the war, and after spending six months in prison died almost immediately at the close of hostilities; Peter, now deceased; Mary E., wife of Hiram Wise; Thomas L.; Emma R. and Clara L., both deceased; Ephraim P., and Hattie W., Mrs. S. E. Brown, of Syracuse.
   Mr. Hartman's mother was the daughter of Peter and Maly (Kester) Sewartz, who was brought from Germany and sold as a slave to pay his passage. Subsequently, however, he became one of the substantial members of the community, and owner of a large distillery and gristmill, and had a very fine home in Lycoming County. The Follmer family also came from Germany.
   Life in the present decade is more changed from that of the beginning of the century than we can even imagine, and the change can hardly be said to have been gradual. Mr. and Mrs. Hartman were in the age and among the people who were not reached by any such conveniences as are presented by the modern dry-goods factories and stores. Whatever material was required for the person or home was woven by the good wife, and it became a matter of worthy ambition and laudable pride to have the reputation among neighbors and friends of being the best spinner and weaver, a reputation that justly came and belonged to Mrs. Hartman.
   Our subject helped to clear the forest from the surface of the land in order that it might become suitable for farming purposes, and all the hardships and toil, incident to what, looking back, seems to be comparatively a primitive order of things, were endured, undergone, and triumphed over by the hardy pioneers of that day. There were pleasures, however, that are to us unknown, as, for instance, that of the long winter evenings spent by the old open fireplace, with its huge blazing log, the father repairing or fixing some broken or injured implement, or perchance cleaning his gun really for the morrow; children variously employed in childish frolic or the discharge of some light duty, and the mother with affectionate, watchful care, busy at the wheel.
   The great-grandfather of Mrs. Hartman, Frederick Fullmer, came from Germany about the year 1776. He was accompanied by a brother. One hundred years later a family reunion was arranged, and the descendants numbered about 800. The grandfather of Mrs. Hartman, Adam Follmer, was born in Pennsylvania, as was also his son William.
   Fourteen years after the marriage of our subject he purchased a farm in Lycoming County, Pa. Until that time he had rented a farm in that county. In 1880, leaving the home that had become endeared to him by family reminiscences and ineffaceable memories, our subject turned his face to the Far West, came to this State, and took land in this county, where he now resides. After a long season of frontier life and pioneer work, which was in many ways a repetition of previous experiences, the land was cleared and improved, and the regular farm life commenced, but so different in every wily as to be almost inconceivable in the greatness of the contrast of farming in a new country and farming in an old, staid and established community.
   The first railroad ties for the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad, at Williamsport, were cut on the farm of our subject. He is the owner of 320 acres, which was their first purchase; 120 was sold to one of the sons. The farm is in every way well provided for, carefully tended, and splendidly cultivated and highly fertile. All the improvements made, including the excellent farm buildings, extensive orchard, and really fine dwelling are the work of Mr. Hartman and he has

given to the place the appearance of property that has been under the domination of a master-hand for at least a score of years, instead of the brief space of time that has really passed since possession was taken.
   Mrs. Hartman deserves all the generous expressions of appreciation freely pronounced in her favor as a friend, neighbor and true woman. If her husband has accomplished much upon the farm, she has done even more than her full part in the home and in filling the obligations that came to her in the domestic relation. Few members of her sex, perhaps, have done more real hard work than she. Her home has always been her first care, and it has been her pleasure to make it and keep it in the best possible manner. Not only has she taken the raw material and worked it from one stage to another until it was ready for use as wearing apparel, or for the various requirements of the home, but after it has served these offices she has wrought a transformation that has made it useful as a carpet, and has cut and prepared sufficient material, and from it woven over 500 yards of that both useful and ornamental article, the rag carpet.
   This interesting family occupy a place in the community and county that is worthy of more extended remark, and in religious and social circles its members are well known and received, and enjoy a most desirable reputation and character.

EUBEN WHITTAKER is one of the extensive and prosperous agriculturists of Belmont Precinct. He was born in Caroline County, Va., on the 29th of December, 1831. His father, Reuben Whittaker, was also a Virginian, although of English descent, as was also his wife, whose maiden name was Priscilla Saunders. The occupation of the father was a farmer, and our subject was reared upon the home farm.
   Such education as our subject could obtain as a boy was received in one of the primary schoolhouses, where the chief building material employed were the logs from the neighboring clearing and mud cement from the stream. The internal arrangements were equally rough, but then they served their purpose, and there went from these houses men who have made their mark in every part of the world's great field of battle.
   Mr. Whittaker went to Licking County, Ohio, in the year 1846, and settled at Etna, which is situated upon the National Park. Subsequently he went to Franklin County, in the same State, and worked upon a farm for three years Then he went South to Louisiana and other Southern States, and also for a time worked on a flatboat on the river. He went to Illinois in 1852, and for two years lived in Winnebago County, near the town of Rockford. From there he went to his uncle in Northeastern Iowa, and in 1856 came to this county and settled on the southeast quarter of section 6, in Delaware Precinct.
   In the fall of 1857 our subject took the place he now farms, built a residence and settled there. It was wild land at that time, and he was compelled to hunt for the line and the corners of his property by the help of a pocket compass, and then stepping the distance. Indians were not at all unusual visitors, but beyond causing his wife an occasional fright in his absence, gave very little trouble.
   From that time until the present he has patiently gone on with the good work of improving his property, and building up and solidifying his interests. He now owns 400 acres, and uses the same for general farming and stock-raising, giving the chief importance to the latter. His stock are chiefly highgrade Short-horn cattle and Poland-China hogs.
   On the 29th of December, 1857, Mr. Whittaker was married to Jane, daughter of Thomas and Jane (Dunbar) Wilson. They came here from Canada to 1856, and she was the eldest of eleven children born to her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Whittaker became the parents of eleven children, six living -- Thomas R., Priscilla, Nancy E., Merinda, Silas A. and Ada M. One daughter, Rebecca, was married to John St. Clair, and died leaving two children, one of whom, Walter, is still living; the other members of the family were John, Ida, William H. and Elizabeth. The eldest son, Thomas, married Fannie Cooper, and now lives at Delta, in this county, and has two children, Roy and Eugene; Priscilla is the wife of Samuel Lowery, of McWilliams Precinct, and the mother of three children -- May, Myrtle and Ida;