two years old. The mother, Mrs. Sophia (Weidmann) Broking, is still living, making her home with her children at Pleasant Ridge, Ill., and is now about sixty-four years of age.
   Our subject was the second in a family of nine children born to his parents, and was the third to land on American soil. He employed himself on a farm for two years thereafter, then crossed the Mississippi into this county, and remained a single man for a period of ten years thereafter. He finally met his fate in the person of Miss Ida Weillsandt, a native of his own Province in Germany, and who was born Jan. 10, 1858. She came when a child of six years with her parents to America, they proceeding directly westward and settling in Rock Creek Precinct, this county, where they now live and where they have built up a good homestead.
   To Mr. and Mrs. Broking there have been born six children, one of whom, a son, John, died in infancy. The survivors are Sophia, Emma, Ida, Mary, and a babe named Harry. Mr. Broking is an uncompromising Democrat, and, with his excellent wife, is a member in good standing of the Lutheran Church. He is regarded among his neighbors as one of the most useful members of their community, a man prompt to meet his obligations and straightforward in his business transactions.

OL. HENRY CLAY FERGUSON, who served with distinction in the Union Army, making a most commendable war record, and being a well-known and highly esteemed citizen of Otoe County, it is fitting that his portrait should appear in this volume. He sought the new State of Nebraska March 25, 1876, and has since been a resident of this county. He is widely and favorably known as a gentleman of more than ordinary capabilities, a useful and enterprising citizen, and one enjoying the esteem and confidence of his community.
   The native place of our subject was about twelve miles north of Louisville, Ky., in Clark County, Ind., where his birth took place Nov. 10, 1833. His father, Benjamin. Ferguson, had settled there about 1816, and was not only one of the earliest pioneers of that region, but one of the leading men of Clark County. He represented the county in the Indiana Legislature four terms, and was otherwise prominently identified with local and political matters. He married Miss Sarah Hay, a native of that county, and a daughter of one of the lending families. She was born in 1801, and was a lineal descendant of the Wood family, which held such an important position during the early history of Clark County. She was left a widow by the death of the father in 1839, when he was but forty-nine years of age, and when their son Henry C. was a little lad of six years. The mother survived her husband fourteen years, her death taking place at the old homestead in Clark County, in 1852, when she was fifty-one years old.
   The nine children of the parental family are recorded as follows: Samuel H. and John D. died at the ages of forty-three and thirty-eight respectively; Charles P., a man of fine abilities, is now Judge of the Fourth Judicial District of Indiana, and a resident of Jeffersonville, Ind.; Sarah died when fifty years old; Margaret and Benjamin are also residents of Indiana; Henry C., our subject, was the seventh in order of birth; William F. died at the age of thirty-nine years, at Indianapolis, and Adeline is the wife of Thomas Reynolds, and resides in Illinois.
   The first recollections of our subject are of a time when he was a boy strolling along the banks of the Ohio River. He acquired his early education in the common schools, and was deprived by death of his mother before reaching his majority. Soon after reaching his twenty-first year he engaged in the drug trade in partnership with his brother William, combining also with this general merchandise, and was thus occupied until the outbreak of the Civil War.
   Under the call for 75,000 three-months men, young Ferguson in April, 1861, organized a company, and on the 25th of that month reported with them for orders to Gov. Morton. The quota under this call having already been completed, and his company not needed for this department of the service, he and his men enlisted for three years in the regular army, being among the first to enter the ranks for this length of time. Our subject was

given a Captain's commission, and he assumed the position as commander of Company I, which was made a part of the 23d Indiana Infantry. They were sent to the front at Paducah, Ky., arriving there on the 15th of August, and were among the first troops to take possession of that place. They remained there under drill until the opening of the campaign of 1862, when the regiment was assigned to the command of Gen. Lew Wallace at Ft. Henry, and our subject engaged in regular battle on the second day of the fight at Shiloh. Later he fought in the engagement at Iuka, and in the winter following they retired to Memphis.
   On account of meritorious conduct Capt. Ferguson on the 19th of February following was unanimously elected by the officers of his regiment a Major, and thereafter distinguished himself in the siege of Vicksburg, his regiment belonging to the 17th Army Corps under the gallant Gen. McPherson. In the division of Gen. Logan on the 22d of May, Maj. Ferguson led the grand charge at Ft. Hill, which was attended by heavy loss, and during which he was slightly wounded in the left hand. From that time on he was in every engagement of the 17th Army Corps, and was wounded twice afterward, the second time in the engagement with the rebels at Ft. Hill. In 1864 he accompanied the Army of the Tennessee under command of Gen. Sherman from Vicksburg to Meridian, which constituted the Mississippi campaign. He also bore an honorable part in the Atlanta campaign. He was at Atlanta in August, 1864, the day before the surrender.
   Maj. Ferguson was tendered the rank of Colonel of the regiment at that time, but thinking that he could be of more service in another direction he declined, and returning home assisted in the reconstruction of the 144th Indiana Infantry, of which he was elected Lieutenant Colonel, and which was subsequently known as the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, Army of the Shenandoah. They operated mostly around Winchester and Harper's Ferry, and at the close of the war were mustered oat on the 15th of August, 1865, at Indianapolis. Our subject had thus given four years to the service of his country, and had made for himself a record which he may look upon wit pardonable pride. He was imbued with that true spirit of patriotism which was willing to face danger and even death for the results to be obtained.
   We append the following letter, which attests the bravery and courage of Col. Ferguson:

"REAR OF VICKSBURG, MISS.
"May 31, 1863.

   "MAJ. HENRY C. FERGUSON, 23d Indiana Vol. Volunteers, Sir--I have been delegated to present to you a sword, the gift of the members of Company I, 23d Indiana Volunteers, of which you were formerly Captain. It was with feelings of regret that they parted with you as their company commander, only compensated by the fact that you had received promotion to a higher position, which you so deservedly merited. This gift, then, is not only made to you by them as a mark of that respect and esteem which they bold for you as their former commander, and which they still entertain for you in your present position, but as a testimonial to that patriotism and love of country which you have shown by a faithful performance of your duties as an officer. and to the coolness, courage and bravery which you have evinced by so boldly facing danger on the battle-fields of Shiloh, Port Gibson, Raymond, Champion Hills and Vicksburg.
   In their behalf, then, I tender you this gift of their love, respect and esteem, feeling confident that no act of yours will ever allow it to be tarnished, coming as it does from those with whom you were so long and intimately associated.

"Very respectfully yours,
"B. F. WALTER."

   At the close of the war Col. Ferguson returned to the quiet pursuits of agriculture in Clark County. While home on a veteran furlough he had been married, April 21, 1864, to Miss Margaret McAfee, who was born near Rockford, Ind., Dec. 22, 1837. Mrs. Ferguson is a highly accomplished lady, and a daughter of the late Dr. Clark McAfee, who was a prominent member of the medical profession of Kentucky, and a member of the noted family of that name in the Blue Grass regions. The mother was in her girlhood Miss Margaret Huckleberry. Dr. McAfee died in 1838. His widow is now living with her daughter, the wife of Col. Ferguson. Their family consisted of one daughter only, Mrs. Ferguson.