success that had been his in previous occupations did not leave him when he took up this engagement and he is more than ever appreciated by those who have made acquaintance with him therein. He, however, still continues to operate his farm, of which mention was made above.
   The subject of our sketch was married in the year 1859; the lady of his choice was Evelyn Reeves, who is the daughter of James and Alvira Reeves, natives of New York. She was born in Ohio, and was still an infant when the family removed to LaPorte County, Ind., and subsequently to Pulaski County. The home of Mr. and Mrs. Talbot has been rendered more felicitous, and their happiness more complete by the birth of their three children, Selma G., Earl R. and Guy D., who have manifested dispositions and personal traits that are at once the pleasure and hope of their parents. Our subject has given his children an excellent education; the eldest is a graduate of the State University of Lincoln and is engaged in teaching in the Seward High School; Earl has attended the university, but his education is not yet completed. He is preparing to enter the legal profession.
   The subject of our sketch was selected by the people of his district in 1869 to represent them in the Legislature, and he served in the session of 1869-70 in a manner most complimentary to himself and gratifying to his constituents. In former years he was an affiliate of the Republican party, but being impressed by the position of the Prohibition party and the issues at stake, he has become a member of the same. He is a man of no small influence in the community, where his high personal character, unimpeachable business honor and courteous affability have won for him the highest esteem and regard.

EROME LATHROP. The farming community of Belmont Precinct acknowledges in this gentleman one of its most esteemed members and prosperous agriculturists. He is comfortably located on section 13, where he has 160 acres of land, and to which he came in the spring of 1861. The offspring of a good family, he was born in LeRoy, Genesee Co., N. Y., June 20, 1826, and is the son of Abiel and Ordelia (Beckley) Lathrop, the former a native of Vermont, and a millwright and miller by trade.
   The father of our subject put up a large number of mills in the Empire State, including buildings at LeRoy, Warsaw and Cattaraugus Falls. He changed his residence in 1836 to LaPorte County, Ind., and also at the same time changed his occupation, taking up farming. The country was wild and new at that time, and he experienced all the hardships and difficulties of the early pioneer. After the lapse of twelve months his health became seriously impaired, and he was unfitted for active labor, although he lived several years, and until the advanced age of seventy-six, dying in 1874. The mother passed away at the old homestead in 1888. Of their children, six in number, five are now living.
   The subject of this sketch completed his education in the schools of Kingsbury, LaPorte Co., Ind., where he also became intimately acquainted with the employments incident to farm life; with these he has also been since occupied. He came to this county in the fall of 1860, and settled on his present farm the following year: The first winter west of the Mississippi he spent in the embryo town of Osceola, Clarke Co., Iowa, when the settlements of white men were few and far between. The country around was wild and new in Iowa as well as Nebraska.
   Upon coining to this county our subject sheltered himself and his family in a small brick house, around which was broken about forty acres of land. Indians were numerous and often called at their door upon various pretexts, but otherwise than begging for something to eat or some article of clothing which they fancied, gave them very little trouble or apprehension. Mr. Lathrop and his wife endeavored to treat them kindly and they were susceptible to this.
   Our subject, while a resident of Indiana, had been married, April 2, 1850, to Miss Mary Angeline Pratt, who was born in Chautauqua County, N. Y., in 1825. She was the daughter of Lyman and Sallie Pratt, who were natives of New York, and are now dead.
   Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Lathrop there were born six children, two only of whom are living --

Ellen J. and Ida M. The former married John W. Gilmore, a farmer of Thomas County, Kan., and has three daughters -- Nettie, Carrie and Elizabeth. Ida is the wife of Frank Forber, of Beatrice, Neb., and the mother of two daughters and a son -- Fanny, Mamie and Jerome. Mrs. Mary Angeline Lathrop departed this life at her home in Belmont Precinct, on the 5th of August, 1864.
   Our subject contracted a second marriage, Sept. 12, 1865, with Miss Ann Eliza Warren, who was born in 1842, in New York State, and is the daughter of Nathaniel and Etza A. (Willson) Warren, who were natives of New York; the father is living, but the mother is dead. The wedding took place at the home of the bride in Newark, Rock Co., Wis. Of this union there have been born eight children, seven of whom are living, namely: Warren, Jay W., Agnes E., Orrin J., Mark N., George M. and Carl W. Mr. Lathrop is a member in good standing of the Baptist Church, together with his excellent wife, as also was his first partner. He takes a warm interest in the success of the temperance movement, and gives his political support to the Prohibition party. He has served as Assessor three terms in his precinct, and this is the extent of his office-holding, as he has refused all further responsibility in this direction.
   Mr. Lathrop, in 1870, erected one of the finest brick farm residences in Otoe County. It is handsomely finished and furnished, and its surroundings are in keeping with the taste and means of the proprietor. Mrs. Lathrop, in her own right, is the owner of 160 acres in Thomas County, Kan., and a fine timber claim also belongs to the estate.

ENJAMIN S. MOTHERSEAD, proprietor of the Talmage Hotel in the town of that name, and one of the highly respected citizens, has resided in the district since the town was platted. He has been one of the active citizens in promoting the interests of the county, and was one of the first members to sit on the Village Board, and was there at the time it received the charter. He came to the county in 1864, and located upon a farm which he operated for a number of years, afterward renting the place, and in 1865 purchased property in Four Mile Precinct He lived on it for about seventeen years, effected considerable improvement, and was financially successful.
   The subject of our sketch was born in Kentucky, near Frankfort, on the 15th of March, 1835. His father, Nathaniel Mothersead, was born in England, and came to this country when but a lad, and was brought up in Virginia. There, also, later he was married to Miss Mary S. Sweard, who was born a brought up in Virginia but of English descent. The husband and wife started out in life together making their home in Kentucky, and the father of our subject took land and began to operate it. There were born and brought up eight children, three of whom were sons. Of this family our subject was the youngest child.
   The parents of our subject, with their children subsequently removed to Missouri, locating in Gentry County, and there made the home that was theirs for the remainder of life. Both were consistent members of the Baptist Church for many years, and were active in its support. The father was a sound Democrat, and represented his county in the State Legislature in 1856, and also in 1858. He was elected to the State Senate in 1858, and represented the district embracing the counties of Buchanan, DeKalb, Harrison, Gentry and Worth.
   In 1860 he was appointed County Enroller of the Census for Gentry, but died during that year. He was also prominent in the Masonic fraternity, and highly respected among the members of the order, as he was in every other relation.
   The subject of our sketch grew up at home until the year 1852, when he, in company others, set out from St. Joseph, and went across the plains to California, and after six months' travel landed in Sacramento. Before long our subject went to Virginia City, Nev., and for four years was in the mining district there. He then returned California and traveled considerably in that state and afterward went back by the water route. In 1858 he made a second trip to California, returning the following year, making his home in Missouri for about twelve months. He then went to Montana, remaining until 1864, when he returned over-

land. He was a true pioneer, and his life is filled with thrilling experiences and amusing incidents. He has been in several rich mines, the richest being owned by a company of which he was a member, and which would "pan out" $30 per day to a single "drifter."
   Mr. Mothersead was united in marriage while a resident in Gentry County, the lady being Hannah Jones, who was born in that district in the year 1842. Her family was of Eastern origin, her father, Jacob Jones, having been a resident of New York State, but for many years has lived in Missouri, where he still resides, and has reached the age of ninety-two years. His daughter Hannah was educated and brought up in Gentry County; her mother, also a native of New York, is also living, and is in her seventy-fourth year.
   To our subject and wife there have come seven children: Andrew J., who is married to. Miss Mary Staid, of Missouri, but now living in Lincoln County; Fanny E.; Ida, the wife of George Davis, of Talmage; Lizzie, now Mrs. Fred Scammell, of Atchison; Charles D., who resides at home and is engaged in the study of pharmacy; Mary, a successful teacher in Osage Precinct, and Frank, who is clerking in a general store at Cook.
   Mr. and Mrs. Mothersead are members in good standing of the Christian Church; he is one of the active local politicians, espousing the principles of the Democratic party, and during the past four years has served as a member of the School Board.

ILLIAM H. MOORE, a pioneer of Otoe County, came with his mother and step-father early in the spring of the year 1854. His stepfather had previously viewed the ground in 1853. At that period the place was known as Kearney, Maj. Downs being the Commandant. Mr. Moore has been associated with the varied interests of the rising State of Nebraska for many years, and was residing in it in the early days of pioneerdom. He was born in Richmond, Ind., on the 18th of May, 1847, His father, Zimri Moore, was also born in the Hoosier State, his father, Samuel Moore, grandfather of our subject, having settled in Wayne County when the State was first opened for settlement. He cleared himself a farm from the dense forests and undergrowth, and continued to reside there until his death.
   It was on the above-mentioned farm that the father of our subject was reared and married, and settled in the vicinity. His home was there until his death, which occurred in 1850. His wife, whose maiden name was Ruth McPherson, died in Nebraska when her son William H. was eleven years old. After the death of her first husband she married Daniel Walker, and with him came to Nebraska, By her last husband she had three children. Her father, Joseph McPherson, was one of the pioneers of Wayne County, and of Scottish parentage. The mother of our subject and his stepfather came to the Territory of Nebraska in 1854, and located near what is now known as Minersville. The place was then overrun by Indians, and it was necessary to keep on friendly terms. The better to effect this he made them a present of three hogs from his little drove that he had brought along from Fremont County, Iowa.
   Mr. Walker cleared a considerable tract of land, and erected his house on the northeast part of what is now Otoe Precinct. He made a business of making clapboards, which he sold to the settlers and in Nebraska City to shingle their buildings. They sold for $1 per hundred, and he could make several hundred per day, so that it was quite profitable. He continued to reside in that place a little more than a year, then removed to Camp Creek, where he settled on section 27 of Otoe Precinct, where the mother of our subject died in 1857, after which event Mr. Walker sold the claim, and took a claim on the river bottom. Later he enlisted in the 1st Nebraska Regiment and went South, and there died in the service.
   At the time the Western migration was made our subject was in his sixth year, and his home was with his mother until her death. In Nebraska there were no settlers at the time, and it was still chiefly occupied by the Indians. After the death of his mother he went to live with Mr. Absalom Tipton in Wyoming Precinct, working during the summer upon the farm, and attending school during the winter months. He continued to make his

home there until 1861, and then engaged with Majs. Russell and Waddell, the Government freighters, to drive teams across the plains for them, and continued thus for two years, making four round trips across the plains to Ft. Laramie and Denver and Bitter Cottonwood.
   In 1863 Mr. Moore engaged in mining in Colorado, but in 1864 returned to his teaming, which he continued until 1867, when the Union Pacific Railroad was completed as far as Cheyenne, and freighting of course ceased. He then returned to mining, and worked at Georgetown, Col., continuing there for seven years, and has continued to hold interests there ever since, but the high altitude affecting his health he was obliged to return East. His mining interests have proved very profitable.
   June 6, 1874, the subject of our sketch became the husband of Emma C. Cowles, who was born to Charles H. and Mary (Martin) Cowles (see sketch) at Lindell, Mo., on the 29th of July, 1852. Their union has been consummated by the birth of three children, viz: Jessie, Mark and James. Mrs. Moore is an attractive and educated lady of happy disposition, and faithful to the responsibilities devolving upon her in the domestic relation.
   For several years the subject of our sketch owned a fine, well-cultivated farm in Wyoming Precinct, which he recently sold to his brother-in-law, C. C. Cowles. He is the owner of about 400 acres in the bottoms in Wyoming Precinct. Politically, he is a stanch Republican.

AMES E. BROWN. Upon section 14, Wyoming Precinct, lies the highly productive and well-cultivated farm of the subject of our sketch. It comprises eighty acres. He owns also a similar number of acres on section 22, which also is thoroughly improved. Our subject was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., on the 21st of March, 1838. He was eight years of age when his parents migrated to Allegheny City, Pa.
   Our subject is the fifth child of James and Silvinia (Van Vliett) Brown, both of whom were natives of Huntingdon County. Upon the father's side the family is of Scotch-Irish ancestry, and upon that of the mother of Holland Dutch. Mr. Brown Sr., was a shoemaker by trade. This he follows with a fair measure of success, and continued to work at it until, in 1881, having become totally blind, he was compelled to give it up, and then went to live with our subject. He departed this life on the 12th of September, 1887, being then eighty-six years of age. In the War of the Rebellion he served bravely and well, in the 139th Pennsylvania Infantry. He was a life member of the Presbyterian Church, and very strict and conscientious in his everyday life. Politically, he was first a Whig and then a Republican. The mother of our subject is living in Allegheny with her children, and is eighty years of age. Like her husband, she has been a devout member of the Presbyterian Church from her youth.
   The first seventeen years of the life of our subject were spent at home, but at that time he was anxious to move westward. Accordingly he started upon his journey in the month of May, 1855, crossed the Missouri River to Plattsmouth, and then located at Nebraska City. He soon found employment, but later joined the first Government surveying party sent out to this State. While in their company he had abundant opportunity of coming acquainted with the Indians, their mode of living, etc., not omitting their dislike of and treachery to the "pale face," and has some experience of both. He was a volunteer under O. P. Mason to suppress the Indian raiders. Upon leaving the surveying party he pre-empted a tract of land, and farmed until the wave of excitement concerning Pike's Peak swept over the country. He then spent two years in Colorado in the gold mines; afterward he was some time in Idaho. Returning in 1865 to this county, he located upon his farm in Wyoming Precinct.
   In Wyoming Precinct, May 24, 1864 Mr. Brown was united in wedlock with Julia E. Bishop, who was born in Portage County, Ohio, Nov. 3. 1838 to the Rev. James and Julia (Allen) Bishop, natives respectively of Connecticut and Vermont. Her mother was a direct descendant of the old Ethan Allen of Revolutionary fame. Her parents were married in Ohio, and began life in agricultural and dairy pursuits; later her father devoted part of

his time to the ministry of the Methodist Church. In 1839 they moved to DeKalb County, Ill., and for some years resided there, then went to LaFayette County, Wis. They resided in that State until 1856, when they came to Nebraska, and settled near Tecumseh in what is now Johnson County, and were the first actual settlers of the county. some time afterward they came to Wyoming Precinct in this county, where the mother, after a life of sixty-one years, went to her last rest in the year 1863. The father subsequently went to Nemaha County, where he died in January, 1883, being eighty-one years of age.
   Mrs. Brown it will be seen by the above has spent her early years in different places as indicated by the removals of her parents. By the time she was seventeen years of age she had prepared herself for teaching, and this profession she followed until her marriage. She has presented her husband with five children. Their first-born, Fannie, died when nine years of age; the following are the surviving children: William T. is attending the University at Lincoln, and is a very promising student and is fitting himself for the ministry of the Episcopal Church, to which he belongs; the other three children, Charles S., Florence M. and Jonathan E., are still at home.
   Mr. find Mrs. Brown are regular attendants of the Episcopal Church, and are also interested in the Prohibition movement, and our subject is in political affairs a third party man. He has filled with satisfaction to all the position of Assessor of the precinct. He is a man largely respected for his high character and also by reason of his social position.

 E. DUFF is a member of the firm of Duff, Bartling & Co., prominent grain dealers of Nebraska City. He is a man of wide experience, of much practical sagacity, is a sound financier, and, although he has been a resident of this place but a little over two years, he has already gained an assured position in its business circles. He was born in LaFayette County, Wis., of which his father, Christopher Duff, was an early settler. The latter was a native of Ireland, and there grew up to manhood. After his marriage with Miss Ann McNulty, likewise a native of Ireland, he came to America and settled in New Jersey. He there worked at the trade of blacksmith, and about the year 1836 moved to the Territory of Wisconsin, and located in LaFayette County. The country round about was at that time but sparsely settled; mining was the principal industry, and but little attention had been paid to agriculture. Mr. Duff was prosperously engaged there in his trade until his death in 1852, He was an honorable, intelligent, hard-working man, and highly esteemed by his neighbors find friends. His wife now makes her home with her children, who surround her with every comfort that thoughtful love can devise to make her declining years pleasant and peaceful.
   The subject of this brief life record was only ten years old when he had the misfortune to lose his father, and he lived with his mother until he was fifteen years old. He was a lad of more than ordinary ambition and enterprise, was gifted with a fine mental capacity, and at that age started out in life for himself. He went to Elkader, Clayton Co., Iowa, and obtained employment as a clerk in a general store, and was thus engaged until he was twenty years old. At that youthful age he was already influential in public affairs, and in recognition of his financial and business ability, he was appointed to the office of Deputy Treasurer and Recorder of Clayton County, whose duties he discharged with gratifying success for four years, or until ill-health compelled him to seek the beneficial air of California for healing. He spent a year and a half in the Golden State, and then returned to the State of Iowa, and was made Deputy Clerk of Clayton County. He held that office until the office of County Auditor was created, when he was appointed to that position, and later was re-elected to the same office, which he held continuously for three years, acquitting himself in that responsible public charge with distinction. After that he was engaged with Russell & Co., of Massillon, Ohio, as general collector in the Northwestern States. He traveled in the interests of that company for two or three years, and then look charge of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul right of way affairs in

Iowa, Minnesota and Dakota. For five years he was thus employed, and subsequently superintended the sale of their lands in Minnesota, closing them out to a syndicate in a few months. After that he was in an insurance office in Chicago for two years, and in 1886 he came from that city to this, and formed his present partnership with his brother, N. A. Duff, and H. H. Bartling, and has since been actively engaged in buying and shipping grain from this point.
   Mr. Duff has established an attractive, cozy home here, and his wife, to whom he was united in marriage here in August, 1872, cordially unites with him in extending its pleasant hospitality to the friend or stranger who crosses its threshold. Mrs. Duff was formerly Miss Mary F. Odell, and she is a native of Indiana. Of this union two children have been born -- Edwin A. and Reba. Mrs. Duff is a valued member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically, Mr. Duff is identified with the Republican party, as he firmly believes its policy to be the true one for the safe guidance of National affairs.

AVID BRADDOCK is one of the esteemed citizens, prosperous men, and able Justices of the Peace of South Branch Precinct. His home is upon section 24, and stands upon a farm of 160 acres. His father, Marton Braddock, was born in Knox County, Ohio, in the year 1823, and was there an extensive land-owner and successful farmer. His wife, Delilah (Lepley) Braddock, was born near the same place in 1828.
   The great-grandfather of our subject came from England, and settled in Virginia in Colonial days, and served under Gen. Washington in the Revolutionary War, being one of the first to enter, and continuing until the end of the chapter. His son William, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Virginia, and continued there throughout his life.
   The father of our subject moved with his family from Ohio to Mahaska, Iowa, in the year 1850, and staid for eighteen months, and was one of the pioneers. At the end of that period he removed to Marshall County in the same State, and in the spring of 1852 entered 160 acres of land, and is a wealthy citizen, now owning 400 acres of well-stocked and finely improved land. His dwelling cost him $8,000, and all the other buildings in proportion. He is a well-informed citizen, and sustains a reputation for liberality. His family circle includes eleven children, whose names are as follows: David, John, Mary, Martha, William, Anginora, Lizzie, James F., Harvey T., Anna and Edward.
   The subject of our sketch was born in Knox County, Ohio, on the 3d of June, 1850. With his father he went to Iowa upon his removal to that State, and continued to live with his parents until he attained his majority. He attended the classes of his school of the district, and also took a course of instruction at Albion Seminary in 1871 and 1872. In 1874 he took a trip across the plains, through Nebraska, Wyoming, Utah, Montana, Colorado and Iowa, and then began farming near his old home, continuing the same until 1879. Then he came to this county, and located upon the farm he now occupies. The ground was entirely unimproved, and in a thoroughly native condition. His residence and farm buildings are worthy of mention, the groves of shade and forest trees cover seven acres, the orchard comprising about 230 excellent bearing trees, besides numerous other works and improvements.
   While a resident of Marietta, Iowa, Mr, Braddock was joined in matrimony with Dora M. Ritenour on the 27th of February, 1879. This lady is the daughter of William and Daphna M. Taft, who were natives, of Vermont and Ohio respectively, and were married in the latter State. Her father was by occupation a farmer, and at the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted from Ohio, and died at Murfreesboro, Tenn. Her mother is now living in Lincoln County, Neb. She is the mother of four children -- Vestina, Willis, George and Dora. The latter was born on the 28th of April, 1863, in Knox County, Ohio. There have been born to Mr, and Mrs. Braddock four children -- Jennessie, William H., John and Odessa. Mrs. Braddock is a member of the Christian Church, but usually attends that of the Presbyterian persuasion, as being more convenient to her home. Mr. and Mrs. B. are everywhere much esteemed as