this volume. The father departed this life July 31, 1885. Herbert E. continued to reside with his mother one year, then removed to his little farm, upon which he built a house, barn and stables, planting hedge fence, and effecting various other improvements, so that he was enabled to dispose of it to good advantage.
   Mr. Stedman was married, Nov. 26,1885, to Miss Lucy E. Wells, at the home of the bride in South Branch. Mrs. Stedman is the daughter of Gilbert and Mary (Kelley) Wells, further mention of whom is made in the sketch of M. G. Wells, to be found elsewhere in this volume. Her father is a prominent resident in this county, and a man of good standing.
   Mrs. Stedman was born in Wisconsin, July 20, 1863, and received a good education,, employing herself as a teacher before her marriage. The family occupy a very attractive home in Russell Precinct, within which is displayed the cultivated tastes of the presiding genius, Mrs. Stedman. They have one little daughter, Etta, who was born Oct. 15, 1886. Mr. Stedman votes independently, but meddles very little with political affairs, preferring to give his attention to his business and home interests.

ENRY PENDLETON was among the earliest pioneers of Otoe County. and at the same time is one of the most wealthy citizens, although his life has been checkered with many difficulties and losses. He now owns 160 acres on section 32, 320 on section 4, and twenty on section 36, Otoe Precinct; also 600 acres in Hendricks Precinct. He is the son of Isaac and Bridget (Stanton) Pendleton, and is a descendant of the families of that name not unknown to readers of the early history of the Eastern States.
   The grandfather of our subject was one of the heroes of the Revolution, and served throughout the war as Captain. The father of our subject was born near Pendleton Hill, Conn., was from his youth a seafaring man, and for many year's commanded an ocean sailing-vessel. He retired from his profession when about forty-five years of age. His religious convictions were those of the Quaker community, and he was more often known by the name of Friend or Uncle Isaac than any other. The mother of our subject died aged forty-five years, when Henry was but two years of age. The father died in the year 1843, after a life of sixty-three years. They were the parents of ten children, viz: Amelia, deceased, was the wife of Henry Hall; Lydia became the wife of Daniel Richmond; Rhoda was the wife of Ormand Richmond, and at his death married Benjamin Hewitt; they are now residents of Mystic Bridge, Conn. Nathan; Jane is the wife of Albert Ayer and they are residents of New London County, Conn.; Sarah is the wife of Charles Breed, and they live in Chenango County, N. Y.; Stanton and Henry; two infants, Isaac and Mary, who died in infancy.
   The subject of our sketch was born on the 27th of May, 1830, in Oxford, Chenango Co., N. Y. He was brought up on a farm, but was very weakly as a child, and even on through the earlier years of his boyhood. He had no schooling after he was fifteen, owing to an attack of St. Vitus' dance, which, however, he outgrew as he came to years of manhood. He was brought up under the care of his stepmother, who, after the father's death, married Judge Reynolds, of Cortland, N. Y. Until 1852 he remained working by the month near the old home, but at that time went to Pennsylvania, where he taught school and worked upon a farm. In beginning as a youth he received but $3.50 per month; when he finished working by the month he received $26. In 1855 he went to Chemung County, N. Y., and also to Corning, that State.
   Mr. Pendleton left Corning on the 21st of March, 1856, and started West, but under more embarrassing circumstances than he had reckoned upon, for he had saved some $3,000, but had loaned it to his employer in Tioga County, Pa. This gentleman becoming financially embarrassed, our subject lost all his savings, so that he had nothing but a clear head, good health. and ready hands to give him a fresh start. He passed on through the beautiful prairies of Illinois, and went by river from St. Louis to Omaha. From Omaha he went to Elkhorn City, a place much talked of as a very El Dorado, but which was practically non-existent. On arrival he found nothing but a single squatter cabin, and life

was of the roughest and hardest known to the pioneers. He and another person agreed to take adjoining claims, but the companion did not so much as make a settlement. The utter loneliness was too much for one of a social nature like our subject, and he therefore threw up his claim and returned to Omaha, where he found those who had known him preparing to organize a search party, believing him to have met with more or less serious trouble.
   Recovering from the effects of his previous expedition, Mr. Pendleton started for the home of the "Otoes," who had been removed to the reservation in the spring of 1856. About the same time he took up the claim which has become the home farm. A squatter had plowed thirty-six acres the year before, but when the land was surveyed it was discovered that the line practically divided this thirty-six in two equal parts, so that really only eighteen acres of plowed land were on his claim, for which he paid the sum of $225. He planted his first crop on the 27th of May, 1856, and put in potatoes, which yielded him ultimately a good return. His first cabin had a roof over but one-third of it. and, as he describes it, he had the "soft side of a cottonwood plank" for a bed, and his boots for a pillow. His first crop of corn, although eaten off by cattle when about a foot high, yielded about forty bushels to the acre, and he realized enough to pay for his claim.
   During the summer our subject never went from his claim, excepting when it was necessary to have his plow sharpened, and having developed into a stout-framed, vigorous, strong man, and being accustomed to handle wild cattle from his youth, he got along with his breaking in splendid style, and was the champion breaker both for style and speed for many miles around. But this was not to last always, for in 1859, while threshing, his right arm was caught in the machine, with the result that he lost that most necessary member. His brother Stanton, accompanied by his brother-in-law, Charles Breed, hearing of this accident came to see him, and he took the opportunity to return with them to the old home.
   While making this visit our subject formed the acquaintance of Miss Helen M. Cary, who was born near Richfield, Otsego Co., N. Y., Jan. 24, 1831, to Ezra and Freelove (Peck) Cary. Their union was celebrated on the 16th of January, 1860, and shortly after he started back to Nebraska accompanied by his bride. Taking the railroad to St. Joseph, he proceeded by stage, despite the cruel cold, and the depth of the snow of that winter. In crossing the Missouri River at Peru, it became evident that it would be dangerous to cross other than on foot; this they accomplished in safety, but by no means pleasantly, the water on the surface of the ice being more than ankle deep. They then proceeded on their way, and arrived without further accident or special incident at the little 12x14 bachelor shanty, which, however, did not from that time appear so gruesome and lonely as before.
   In the years following, until 1863, everything seemed to go against them. Loss followed loss, until he was well-nigh in despair, and but for the companionship of Mrs. Pendleton, would doubtless have succumbed to the depressing effects; but in that year, aided by his faithful and devoted wife, he put in twenty-three acres of wheat, seven of oats, and thirty-five of corn, at a cost of only $10.50 at harvest. The good prices of 1864 put him on his feet, and this was the turning point in his life financially. He began buying and raising stock, while his wife undertook her share by running the dairy and cheese department. Mr. Pendleton thought it nothing to ride long and hard in the buying of cattle, sometimes taking 100 miles in a single day, besides feeding sometimes as high as 500 head of cattle per annum, generally though about 100 to 250 head; he also raised quite a large number, and hogs in proportion. Thousands of dollars worth of stock he has shipped to Chicago with gratifying results.
   About the year 1875 the wheel of fortune turning brought him heavy losses, but not such as to injure him, as it would have done in other years. He was in the midst of putting up his splendid brick house, at a cost of several thousand dollars, when the grasshoppers came, and with them a loss in material and labor of $1,200. Not having sufficient feed for his cattle, he was compelled to sell at a sacrifice, and ship the remainder to Iowa, where he fed about 250 steers and 600 hogs. Then came the lessened market value in stock, and at the same

time the ravages of hog cholera, resulting in a loss of another $2,000. However, he made a good profit on the cattle fed in Iowa.
   The home circle of Mr. and Mrs. Pendleton included six children, whose names are recorded as follows: May; Freelove H., who died when two and a half years old; Grace, Fannie; Minnie E., who died when five and a half years old. and Carrie, who died when eighteen months old. May is now Mrs. J. T. McKinnon, of Franklin, Neb., and is the mother of two little ones, viz: Anna Clare and Alice Rowena; Grace is the wife of George Overton, of this precinct, and they have one child, Mabel A.; Fannie is still at home.
   Mr. Pendleton was a delegate for the first Democratic County Convention of this county, and was introduced as a kind of black horse to harmonize three factions of the party, although really not Democratic. His subsequent action was such that it was his to be called by the appellation Black Republican, and to be the first to receive the same in any publication in the county. He was at one time a candidate for the Legislature, but was defeated by two votes. He has stood foremost wherever there has been any enterprise for the good of the county or State, and ever been most loyal thereto. He is a stanch Republican, and takes the deepest interest in political affairs. His religious principles he sums up in the following words: "Love the Lord thy God with all thy might and thy strength, and thy neighbor as thyself."
   Among the numerous portraits presented in this ALBUM may be found those of Mr. and Mrs. Pendleton, which are given on an accompanying page.

HARLES E. COTTON. Among the young men of Syracuse who have made their mark in the business world must be mentioned the subject of the present sketch, who holds the position of cashier in the First National Bank. Our subject was born in Columbia County, Wis., to Henry D. and Christina H. (Huyek) Cotton, on the 17th of February, 1858. His parents were natives of the Mohawk Valley, N. Y. By occupation Mr. Cotton, Sr., was a miller, and continued his residence in the East, where he was fairly successful in business, until 1851; then he moved to Wisconsin, and became the owner of mills in Wyocena and Fall River.
   The grandfather of our subject, Owen Cotton, was a native of Vermont, but removed to New York State, where he passed the last years of his life, living for the greater part of the time in the city of Utica. He was married several times and reared a large family, and in the early days of settlement in Wisconsin sent some of his sons to that Territory. They erected mills near Milwaukee, and put up the first gristmill in the State. The father of our subject continued to follow his trade in Wisconsin until 1868, then went to Mitchell County, Iowa; in June of 1873 he removed to Vinton in the same State, where he died in January, 1876. His wife, the mother of our subject, still continues to reside at that place. She is the mother of seven children, our subject being the third born.
   The subject of our sketch completed his education at the High School, and a select school at Vinton, and later turned his attention to teaching. In 1878 he came to Nebraska City, and in August of the same year became bookkeeper for Tomlin, Duff & Co. He remained with that firm until it was changed to that of Cotton, Duff & Co., his Uncle, W. A. Cotton, becoming the senior partner. In August of 1882 he came to Syracuse, where the firm had just established the Farmers' Bank, and entered upon his duties as cashier. When, in November, 1883, the institution was reorganized, and became a National Bank, he still continued his responsible position, which he holds to-day. He has also become a stockholder in this, and also in the bank at Unadilla.
   Upon the 2d of February, 1881, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Ella, daughter of John and Lucy C. Ballantine. This most estimable lady was born in Brunswick, Mo., and received her education at Lexington and Shelbyville, Ky. Of this marriage there have been born three children, who bear the names Earle, Charles E. and Lucy. The home of the Cottons is situated in the northwest part of the city, in one of the most pleasant districts, and internally bears indications of the education, refinement and esthetic tastes of the

family. Mr. Cotton is the owner of sixty-eight acres of land in the vicinity, and fifty acres more on the same section. All the property he has accumulated is the natural result of intelligently directed efforts and laudable ambition, in which he has always been uniformly encouraged by the lady whom it was his good fortune to make the companion of his life.
   The bank with which our subject is connected is on a firm basis, its deposits ranging from $60,000 to $80,000, and transacting a large business in the city and surrounding country. Mr. Cotton is Secretary and Treasurer of the Otoe County Fair and Driving Park Association, and is otherwise interested therein. In politics he is a Democrat, but is not ambitious for prominence in political circles. He is loyal to every known duty as a citizen, and it is hardly necessary to remark is, with his pleasant and intelligent wife, held in very high regard. They move in the best circles, and are always sure of receiving a cordial welcome.

ICHARD WEST. The farming community of Rock Creek Precinct numbers among its members no man who is held in higher respect than the subject of this notice. He owns and occupies eighty acres of the first preemption claim which was made in this precinct, having purchased it from its original possessor, William Knott. He has resided here for a period of twenty years, although only assuming the proprietorship of his present land in the fall of 1885, upon the death of Mr. Knott.
   Our subject came to Nebraska in May, 1865, and has since been a resident of this county. Three years later he took up his abode upon the land which he now occupies, and where he has since lived. Prior to this, for a period of nine years, he had been a resident of Pike County, Ill., to which place he had emigrated from Yorkshire, England, where his birth took place on the 14th of May, 1845.
   Our subject is one of a family of seven sons and five daughters, the offspring of Robert and Harriet (Coleman) West, who were natives of Yorkshire, England, where they were reared and married. The father in early manhood learned the trade of tailor, which he followed in his native England until after the birth of ten children. The family then, in 1855, set out for America, landing at Quebec, Canada, and shortly afterward proceeded to a point about seven miles south of Pittsfield, Pike Co., Ill., where the father purchased a tract of land and built up a homestead, upon which he and his excellent wife lived the remainder of their days. Robert West departed this life in October, 1879, aged about sixty years. The mother passed away after the decease of her husband, in January, 1883. They were most excellent and worthy people, widely and favorably known throughout their township, and members in good standing of the Methodist Church. Twelve of their children were reared to mature years, and seven are still living.
   Our subject continued a member of the parental household until a youth of nineteen years, then, anxious to commence for himself, made his way across the Mississippi into this county. For two years thereafter he operated as a freighter between Nebraska City and Denver, Col. Many were the trips which he took over the plains, encountering all sorts of men, and becoming intimately acquainted with the vicissitudes and dangers of life on the frontier.
   Mr. West made the acquaintance of Miss Elizabeth Knott in Rock Creek Precinct, this county, and they were married at the home of the bride, on the 29th of May, 1870. Mrs. West was born in Worcestershire, England, Oct. 1, 1847, and is the daughter of William and Ann (Gardner) Knott, natives of the same county as their daughter, whence they emigrated to the United States after the birth of a part of their family. About 1851 they settled in the vicinity of Green Bay, Wis., and six years later came to Nebraska, the father pre-empting a homestead on section 8, in Rock Creek Precinct. Here the parents lived and labored, enduring in common with the people around them the toils and vicissitudes of pioneer life, and here speak their last days, the mother dying about 1881, when a little past middle age, and the father in 1885, when ripe in years.
   Mrs. West was the mainstay of her parents dur-