odist Episcopal Church. and are highly esteemed members of society. He is a member of the G.A. R., and is attached to the post at Nebraska City. Politically, he is affiliated with the Republican party, and is a much valued and esteemed citizen.

RANKLIN BALL. The tall and commanding figure of this gentleman has been familiar to the people of Palmyra Precinct for the past eighteen years. He is a carpenter, builder and farmer combined, and the evidences of his skill are discernible in a huge number of business buildings and mills the western line of this county. He is a typical New Englander, and although past the meridian of life, retains an astonishing amount of strength and energy, the result of correct habits and a clear conscience.
   Mr. Ball traces his ancestry on his mother's side as far back as 1120. She was a Lawrence, and the earliest records trace Archbishop Lawrence on his way from Italy to England. Later they speak of one of his descendants, Robert Lawrence, of Lancashire, who was the occupant of Ashton Hall in 1191. Later, and in the seventeenth generation, one of the first representatives in America settled on land near Dedham, Mass., about 1783. Farther on in the family history Samuel Ball, of Alstead, N. H., married and reared a family, and among his sons was Samuel, Jr., the father of our subject, who married Miss Amelia Lawrence. a lineal descendant of Archbishop Lawrence, and the mother of our subject. The Ball family was also of English ancestry, and its representatives on this side of the water settled in New England prior to the Revolutionary War. The great-grandfather of our subject in that conflict served as a Lieutenant Colonel in a New Hampshire regiment, and yielded up his life fighting for his adopted country on the battle-field of Saratoga Springs. His son Samuel later took up the cause in which his father laid down his life, was equally valient with his honored sire, and was given the commission of First Lieutenant. He at one time, single handed and alone, captured five English and marched them trumphantly (sic) into camp.
   Mrs. Amelia (Lawrence) Ball, the mother of our subject, was the daughter of Joseph, who was the son of David Lawrence, Jr. The latter was the son of David and Betsey Lawrence, who emigrated from England to Massachusetts after their marriage, and settled in what is now known as Norfolk County, Conn., in the seventeenth century. They took up land about 1680 or 1690, and their descendants are now heirs to a large property, which, through a quibble now of the law or some break in the direct line, is about to revert to the English Crown. One of the estates granted by the Crown comprised a large extent of land upon which stood the famous Lawrence and Ashton Hall, from the sale of which was realized $500,000,000, which vast amount of capital lies in the vaults of the Bank of England, when it should be distributed to the Lawrence heirs in America.
   The parents of our subject were married at Alstead, N. H., where the father pursued his trades of mason and butcher, and and carried on farming. There also was spent the remainder of their lives, Samuel Ball resting from his earthly labors April 1, 1862, when sixty-five years old. The mother survived her husband a number of years, and died at the age of seventy-eight. Their nine children were named respectively: Hardin, Ransom L. and an infant who were twins, the latter dying; Willard, Franklin, Levi, Alonzo, Amelia and Melissa. With the exception of a deceased infant all grew to mature years, were married, and settled in comfortable homes of their own. Of these five are now living.
   Franklin Ball was born in Alstead. N. H., June 14, 1824, and there his boyhood and youth were mostly spent. He was educated in the common schools, and learned the trades of carpenter and millwright. At the age or twenty-two years he was married, in August, 1846, to Miss Susan Bullock, and they became the parents of five children, of whom Martha, Sarah and Joseph died when less than three years old. The survivors are: Nalhin S., who is in the employ of the Rock Island Railroad, and lives in St. Joseph, Mo., and Rosa A., the wife of Fred Eaglehoff, of Russell Township, Otoe County. The latter is the mother of two children.
   Mr. Ball in the fall of 1853 left New England and migrated across the Mississippi to Davenport, Iowa, was for a time employed in various sawmills

and gristmills, and finally entered the employ of the Rock Island Railroad Company in the construction of elevators. He put up one of these structures at each of the three towns. Downer, Wilton and Fulton, and for a time was employed in the Eagle Works at Ottawa, Ill., fulfilling the contract of putting in shafting and other machinery.
   Mr. Ball also assisted in putting in the machinery of the sawmill of Grinnell, Gillett & Co., of Davenport, Iowa, acting as foreman. Before coming to the West he had put in two years on the machinery of the Lancaster Gingham Works at Clinton, Mass. Upon the outbreak of the Civil War he was living on a farm in Scott County, Iowa, and although possessing sufficient patriotism he was not permitted to enter the ranks on account of impaired health. He was personally acquainted with Gov. Kirkwood and Adjt. Gen. Baker, who were anxious to have him go South as superintendent of a bridge gang, but on account of his health he was obliged to decline.
   Our subject has met with some severe losses since the commencement of his business career. He had taken up 240 acres of land in Scott County, Iowa, but on account of the imperfect title lost it, together with the labor of years. Subsequently he lost $3,500 by the failure of the bank of Cook & Sargeant, at Davenport. He also lost heavily through the failure of a milling company same place, and after having been in receipt of a fine income for a number of years was now obliged to go back and commence over again as a journeyman carpenter.
   Mr. Ball labored thus a period of three years in Iowa, and in September, 1868, came to this, State, the year after its admission into the Union. He had already pre-empted 160 acres of land, and located his family upon it. He then repaired to the embryo city of Lincoln, assisted in the completion of the State House, fulfilled his contract for other buildings, and was foreman of the carpenter force employed in the erection of the Insane Asylum. In 1871 he put in the woodwork of the mill of George McKee, at Nursery Hill. Later he worked on the Hill Elevator in Nebraska City, then returned to Lincoln, and was employed in the erection of the Cropsey Mill.
   During the exciting period of the German whisky riot at Davenport, Iowa, in 1855, Mr. Ball did good service on the police force, having under his charge sixteen men, and through his courage and cool judgment was largely efficient in quelling the disturbance without the loss of blood. He cast his first Presidential vote for Pierce, and has been a stanch supporter of Democratic principles from his youth. Nineteen years of his life have been spent in public service, during which time he has filled the offices of Deputy Sheriff, School Director, Road Supervisor and Justice of the Peace. In all of these he has acquitted himself in the most creditable manner, giving satisfaction to his constituents, and was reelected to each office.
   Mr. Ball was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Young, Feb. 24, 1870. This lady was born in Pike County, Ill., in 1840. Her parents died when she was quite young and she was reared by strangers. Of her union with our subject there have been born six children, namely: Milly, Gilbert, Ellen, Frank, Ransom L., and an infant unnamed (deceased). The two latter were twins.

APT. JOHN MARTINE, who has hosts of friends in Otoe Precinct, is the subject of a very interesting history, and a man who has fought his way through many difficulties to a good position among his fellow-citizens, socially and financially. He owns and operates a good farm of 160 acres, comprising the southwest quarter of section 16. He has distinguished himself as a patriot and a soldier, having ample right to his title as Captain, which was obtained through his military service in the Union Army.
   The Martine (formerly La Martine) family is of French descent, and allied to the nobility of fair France. The father of our subject, Adam Martine, was of French birth and ancestry, a native of Alsace, which was then Lorraine; he married Miss Catherine Glodney, who was born in the same Province. They were the parents of nine children, six of whom died in infancy; the living are; our subject, Michael and George. The parents, in the year 1835, emigrated to America, settling in Philadelphia, and later went

to Ohio; there the father was prospered in his labors as an agriculturist and accumulated a fine property. He rested from his earthly labors in the year 1868, at the age of seventy-six years and five months. The mother survived her husband a period of eight years, her death taking place in 1876, when she was eighty-one years old; she, like her husband, was of noble birth. Our subject's brothers, Michael and George, are both residents of Coshocton County, Ohio, have large families, and are in good circumstances.
   Capt. Martine was born near the city of Strasburg, in the Province of Alsace Lorraine, France, Nov. 30, 1830, but when brought to America was too young to have retained any recollection of his native place. He grew up on the farm in Ohio, although he had begun his education in the city schools of Philadelphia. After the removal of the family to Ohio, where they were among the early pioneers, young Martine was obliged to travel three miles through the woods, climbing over logs three or four feet in diameter, through bush and bramble, to reach the temple of learning. Limited as his opportunities were, however, he appreciated them and kept his place at the head of his class. When not in school his services were utilized around the homestead, where he remained until his marriage, Aug. 30, 1852. The lady who at that time became the wife of our subject was Miss Mary Ann Bordenkarker, who was also of French birth and parentage, and by whom he became the father of six children. They lived upon a farm in Lyndon Township, Coshocton Co., Ohio, until the outbreak of the Civil War. Before his enlistment the Captain went to Corinth, Miss, to take care of a brother-in-law who was dangerously ill, but who died before he could reach him. Immediately upon his return home, his sympathies being now doubly enlisted in the cause of the Union, he assisted in the organization of a company made up mostly from the young men and boys of his own neighborhood, with whom he had previously drilled. This was Company C, and was a part of the 80th Ohio Infantry. He went with them to the front, but at Corinth was taken seriously ill, and obliged to accept his honorable discharge. He did not by any means, however, intend to give up the fight, and as soon as his health would permit he left his sick bed and organized Company K of the 1st Ohio Militia, and of which he was elected Captain, receiving a five-years commission from Gov. Todd, then Governor of Ohio. He participated in the efforts made to capture Morgan while on his raid through Ohio, after that did guard duty in different parts of the State, and the regiment was subsequently disbanded.
   After the close of the war Capt. Martine removed with his family, in September, 1865, to Brown County, Ill., but staid there only about two years, next crossing the Mississippi and settling in Nebraska City. Here our subject was Superintendent of a section of the Council Bluffs & St. Joseph Railroad, which was then in process of construction. Later he had the supervision of a company of men working in the Summit cut on the Midland Pacific. In the year 1868 he purchased the land which he now owns and occupies, and thereafter gave his attention to it. Here the wife and mother died, at the age of forty years, March 8, 1875. The six children of this marriage were named respectively: John, Jr., George, Maria, Jacob, Maude Lena and Ella. John married Miss Rosa Morgan, is farming in the vicinity of Syracuse, and is the father of two children; George married Miss L. Anderson, lives on a farm in Otoe Precinct, and has three children -- George, Lena and Joseph; Maria is the wife of Benjamin Griffin, of Buffalo County, and the mother of three children; Maude Lena married James White, of this county, lives on a farm in Russell Precinct, and is the mother of three children; Ella married Otis Brown, is a resident of Otoe Precinct and the mother of three children -- Howard, Dessie and John; Jacob is married, and farming in Custer County, this State.
   Capt. Martine, on the 12th of May, 1876, contracted a second marriage, with Miss Lucy Scherrer, a native of Baden, Germany, and who became the mother of three children, only one of whom is living, a daughter, Mary, who resides with her father at home. Mrs. Lucy Martine departed this life at her home in Otoe Precinct, Nov. 8, 1880, aged thirty-seven years. Capt. Martine, Aug. 16, 1883, was married to Mrs. Elizabeth High, nee Schuster, who was born in Prussia, Sept. 17, 1836, and came to the United States in 1882. She is the mother of

one child, a daughter, Katie, who is now in school. The Captain also has an adopted son, Frank Fuller, now fourteen years of age, and living with them.
   The principles of the Democratic party have usually been the exponent of the political opinions of Capt. Martine, although he refuses to be controlled by party lines, and votes for the men whom he considers best qualified for office. He has never desired official honors, and with the exception of serving as School Director one term, has steadily declined holding office in Nebraska. While a resident of Coshocton County, Ohio, he served as Justice of the Peace and Assessor, and was continuously in office of some kind until entering the army. He prefers now to relegate its duties and responsibilities to other men. Both he and his excellent wife are members in good standing of the Catholic Church at Nebraska City.

OUIS DAMMA. The subject of this narration became a resident of this county in December, 1864, and has signalized himself as a hard-working and enterprising citizen. This course has not been without its good results, for by it he has become the owner of one of the finest farms in McWilliams Precinct. This property is pleasantly located on section 31, and comprises 273 acres of improved land, with a set of good farm buildings. Mr. Damma located upon his land in the spring of 1868, with little means save his strong muscle and stout heart, and from that very modest beginning has arisen to an enviable position socially and financially.
   Our subject was born April 1, 1843, in Franklin County, Mo., and is of German parentage. His father, Henry Damma, was born in Germany, and married a lady of his own nationality. After the birth of four children they emigrated to the United States, and soon after setting foot upon American soil made their way southwest across the Mississippi into Franklin County, Mo. Here the father engaged in farming, and died of the cholera early in the fifties, when about fifty-five years old. The mother had preceded her husband to the silent land, and thus Louis when a lad ten years of age was left an orphan.
   After the death of his parents our subject was taken into the home of his brother, William Damma, who lived in Franklin County, Mo., and with whom he remained until a youth of seventeen. After the outbreak of the late Civil War he enlisted in the 4th Missouri Infantry, Company E, under command of Capt. Montwiler, doing mostly guard duty, and serving a period of eighteen months. Upon leaving the army he returned to his native county, and soon afterward came to Nebraska. In Otoe County he was married, Feb. 17, 1870, to Miss Dora Reimers, a native of Germany, and who came to the United States with her parents when a young woman. They first settled in St. Louis, thence came to this county, and afterward removed to Kansas, settling on a farm in Barton County, where the father, Henry Reimers, is yet living. The mother, Mrs. Mary Reimers, died in the spring of 1888, aged about fifty-five years.
   To our subject and his excellent wife there have been born six children, namely; Anna, Alvina, Julius, Bertha, Amy and Louis. The eldest is seventeen years of age and the youngest seventeen months. They all continue under the home roof. Mr. D. votes the straight Republican ticket, and both he and his wife are members in good standing of the German Evangelical Church, of Osage Precinct. He has never sought office, and takes very little interest in political matters. His chief pride is in being a first-class farmer, and in this respect his career has been one of which he may be proud.

AUL MASON CAMPBFLL, probably the youngest man represented in this work, is at present mail clerk on the main line of the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad, being stationed between Pacific Junction and McCook, and having his home in Nebraska City. Ho was born Sept. 21, 1865, in Nebraska City, and is the youngest son of Hon. J. C. Campbell, M. D., a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this volume.
   Our subject at an early age gave evidence of more than ordinary capabilities, being a lad fond of