himself with the interests of his adopted town and county, and soon occupied a prominent place among its valued and influential citizens. He is a man of great intelligence and sound judgment, and his counsel and advice have been sought on all important questions. He was one of the foremost in leaving the old preemption law of 1842 so modified and arranged that a person could pre-empt land in Nebraska, even though he had filed a claim elsewhere. He has watched with pride the many changes and improvements of the county, and facilitated by every means in his power its rapid advancement. Mr. Buck has worked with unflagging industry on his own farm, and although deprived of the use of one arm, has by his perseverance, sagacious judgment, thrift, and wise economy, improved one of the best farms in the county, and has accumulated sufficient property to enable him and his worthy wife to spend their declining years in comfort and ease. He has erected a commodious dwelling, replete with all the modern conveniences, and has a good set of farm buildings. His realty consists of 320 acres in Liberty Precinct, and 160 acres in Rock Bluff Precinct, all of which is suitable for tillage or grazing, being well watered by branches of the Weeping Water Creek.
   Our subject has done his part in making the government of Nebraska what it is, having been sent in 1855 to represent this county in the Territorial Legislature, and he was chairman of two committees while a member of the house. He was an excellent man for those positions, and worked for the highest good of his constituents, without prejudice to his opponents, being a broad and liberal minded man of the highest integrity. In politics he was formerly an old-line Whig, and voted for William H. Harrison in 1836, and again in 1840. On the formation of the Republican party he became one of its members, and has since been a firm supporter of its principles, and voted at the last presidential election for Benjamin Harrison. Until within the last few years Mr. Buck was an attendant at nearly every State and county convention of his party as a delegate, and the people of Cass County would have honored him with any office within their gift, had he been willing to accept, but his home duties were such that he could not conveniently leave them for any protracted term, and he was always obliged to decline official honors. He has, however, served as Justice of the Peace for about forty years, and is still an incumbent of that office. In 1855 Three Grove post-office was established, the first one in this part of the county, and Mr. Buck was appointed Postmaster, and served until 1862. Both he and his good wife are people of sterling worth, and possess in a marked degree those honest, substantial qualities which have made them loved and revered by all who know them, and will keep their memory green in the community where they have lived so many years, long after they have passed away.
   A portrait of this venerable pioneer and honored citizen adorns a page of this ALBUM, and will be justly regarded as one most worthy of a place here.

ATTES AKESON may be taken as a typical representative of the hardy, industrious Swedish-American citizen, who has by his industry and perseverance brought his home farm, located on section 7, Mt. Pleasant Precinct, to its present high state of cultivation. He was born in Sweden, Nov. 29, 1825, where he resided and followed the occupation of a farmer until he emigrated to America in 1854, in which year he took passage in a sailing-vessel, and after a comparatively uneventful voyage of seven weeks, he landed in New York City, whence he came directly west to Illinois, residing in Henderson and Knox Counties in that State for about ten years, the most of the time working at farming by the month.
   Feeling an intense love for his adopted country, our subject enlisted for service in the Union Army, on Aug. 10, 1862, in Company H, 102d Illinois Infantry. The first part of his term of service was in Kentucky and Tennessee. The regiment of which he was a member was made a part of Sherman's grand army, that cut the Confederacy in twain, and contributed so largely to the ending of the war. He participated in the battles of Snake Gap, Burnt Hickory, siege of Atlanta, and in a large number of skirmishes and battles in which Sherman's army

was engaged in his memorable march to the sea. He took part in the grand review at Washington at the close of the war, and was honorably discharged in June, 1865. He served as a private during the entire term.
   Upon his return northward Mr. Akeson went to Mills County, Iowa. He remained there but a short time, when he married Mrs. Rebecca Gentry, which happy event occurred July 3, 1866. Thus lady was the widow of William Gentry, and was a resident of Mills County. By her first marriage the lady became the mother of three children. Milton, Katie and Benjamin, and by her marriage to our subject she became the mother of three children, Thomas, Emma, and Ella E., who is now dead. This lady was born in Henry County, Ind., Jan. 12, 1832, and is the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Wiles. Her parents came from North Carolina. Her paternal ancestors were of English origin. When she was about seven or eight years of age her parents removed with their family to Andrew County, Mo., where she lived until her marriage with Mr. Gentry, who died in Missouri in 1861.
   Our subject is the son of Akey and Ellen Akeson. He is the youngest child in the family. His education was received in his native country, where all children are required to have certain educational facilities, which has served more than any other one thing to make those people fill the proud position among the educated nations of the world they occupy. Upon his arrival in America Mr. Akeson applied himself industriously to the task of acquiring a knowledge of the English language, and he lifts succeeded most admirably.
   After his marriage our subject left Iowa for Nebraska, and settled upon his present farm in February, 1873, where he has lived ever since. When he began life in this country it was without a dollar in money, and he was deeply in debt, but by his close application and unflagging industry, he has become the owner of a farm of 480 acres of choice land, improved with good buildings and fences. His home, under the rule of his intelligent wife, is the abode of comfort and pence, and it would be difficult to find a family wherein social qualities and fraternal feeling, and general affection and goodwill one toward the other, are more harmoniously blended, than they are in this family circle. Both himself and wife are in the prime of life, and are enjoying that felicity and prosperity for which they have so diligently wrought so many long weary years, and they have at least formed an ideal home.
   Mr. Akeson has adopted a systematic plan for the improvement of his farm, which he is perfecting from year to year. His dwelling is neatly and conveniently arranged and furnished, the barns and other outbuildings are located in accordance with the general plan, his orchards contain the choicest varieties of fruit, and the lawn surrounding his house is beautified with shrubbery, flowering plants and ornamental trees. He is a member of the Lutheran Church, his wife is identified with the Baptist denomination. The entire family take an active interest in the social matters of their locality. He is a Republican in politics, and loses no opportunity to secure the advancement of the success of that party. Mr. Akeson is noted for his uprightness and manly qualities, and in all matters of business his word is considered as good as his bond.

QUIRE MARSHALL D. ABBOTT. It is refreshing to meet with such a gentleman as the subject of the following biography. He is one for whom nature has done much, who has been given a good constitution and a courageous spirit, and been able to surmount the difficulties common to the lot of man. He calls Nebraska "God's country," having a fine appreciation of its natural resources, and believing that the man who cannot delve out a comfortable fortune from its soil is of little account.
   Mr. Abbott is essentially a self-made man, and has been able to turn to good account his fine natural abilities. He is of bright and sharp intellect, has good command of language, and is always entertaining on account of his humor and witticisms. Perhaps rather below the medium height, he is stout of muscle and very active, and there are few men who can accomplish more either mentally or physically than he. He has watched with more than ordi-

nary interest the growth and development of his adopted State, and has been largely instrumental in the building up of his particular corner of Cass County. He owns and operates a fine farm of 190 acres, pleasantly situated on sections 28 and 29 in Salt Creek Precinct, which is devoted largely to the feeding of stock. Mr. Abbott ships annually large numbers of cattle and swine to the Omaha market, and is at present (the winter of 1888-89) preparing two carloads of cattle and one of swine for this purpose. His homestead has around it the air of plenty and comfort which distinguishes so many of the homes of Southern Nebraska, which have been built up from first principles and illustrate the labor of man within the space of a few years. Perhaps there is no region in the Great West more fortunate in the men who have opened it up for settlement than Cass County and its enviornments, and Squire Abbott has been by no means behind the diligent and progressive men who have augmented its reputation and standing.
   Our subject traces his immediate ancestry to New England, being the son of Stephen and Lydia (Deveraux) Abbott, who were natives of Connecticut but married in Oneida County, N. Y. The paternal grandfather came from good old English stock, and spent his last years in New York. Stephen Abbott, upon leaving New England, migrated to New York State, and was a member of the militia during the War of 1812, serving under Capt. Haskell. The parents resided a number of years in Chautauqua County, N. Y., where the father planted the first nursery within its limits. About 1856 the parents, leaving the Empire State, joined their son Marshall in Henry County, Iowa, and spent their last days at his home five miles from Mt. Pleasant, the father dying about 1863 and the mother in 1860. Their family consisted of twelve children, of whom Marshall was the youngest born.
   Mr. Abbott was born April 11, 1829, in the town of Busti, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., and the scenes of his earliest recollections lay along the beautiful Lake Chautauqua. He was taught at an early age habits of industry, learning to swing the ax, to plow and sow, and to do the various work pertaining to the farm. His early education was acquired in the old log school-house, with its floor of puncheon and benches of slabs, the huge fireplace occupying nearly one side of the room, and the chimney built outside, of earth and sticks. The system of instruction was fully in keeping with the suroundings (sic) of the pupil. The boys of that day, however, although perhaps lacking polish and culture, grew up strong of muscle and self-reliant, and of them were made the men who have left their footprints on the sands of time.
   Our subject remained under the home roof until reaching his majority, and the day after he was twenty-one years old he started for California. He had in the meantime learned the trade of wagonmaker, but he was not satisfied with his condition or his prospects, and believed that the Far West would furnish something more in consonance with his ambitions and desires. He proceeded to the city of Buffalo by stage, thence took a steamer to Detroit, and from there journeyed by rail to the young city of Chicago. He had for his traveling companion one L. F. Thompson, and at this point they purchased a wagon and horses, with sufficient provisions for a long journey, and started with high hopes over the plains. They crossed the Missouri River at Council Bluffs, and passed by the present site of the city of Omaha, seeing nothing whatever to indicate that a white man had ever been in that region. Sixty miles west of the muddy Missouri they came across large herds of buffaloes. The 12th of August, 1850, saw our travelers at Placerville or Hangtown as it was then called, and there they made a halt and took up a claim on Weaver Creek. They had come hither in search of gold, but knew nothing about the methods of mining, and consequently realized no profits from this first venture. They did not allow this fact to discourage them, however, but moved to another locality near Diamond Springs, where they remained over winter with the same results as before.
   Our adventurers now went back to San Francisco, and soon afterward set out for the headwaters of the Feather and Yuba Rivers. There they struck a rich gulch, and within a space of twenty square feet took out ore to the value of $5,000. They divided this equally between them and concluded they would return home. They made this trip via the Isthmus

of Panama, Kingston and New York City. Upon their arrival in New York State they purchased a farm, of which they retained possession four years, selling out in 1856. Mr. Abbott again crossed the Mississippi, and took up his abode in Henry County, Iowa.
   Our subject purchased a farm in the Hawkeye State, upon which he settled with his family, and in his efforts as an agriculturist met with reasonable success. In the fall of 1869, however, his attention was attracted to the advantages of the young State of Nebraska, and coming to this county he purchased his father's war claim from the balance of the heirs, and settled upon the land which he has since occupied. In the construction of this homestead he began at first principles, and the improvements which the passing traveler observes with an admiring eye are the result of the diligence and perseverance of Mr. Abbott. The farm is all enclosed with neat and substantial fencing, the buildings are convenient and well arranged, there is a grove of cottonwood, maple, ash and walnut trees, and an orchard of 200 bearing apple trees. In addition to these there are trees of the smaller fruits, and each year adds something by the way of convenience and embellishment for the happiness and comfort of the family.
   Miss Mary Andrews, of Chautauqua County, N. Y., became the wedded wife of our subject May 6, 1852. This most excellent lady was the playmate of Mr. Abbott in his boyhood days, indeed they practically grew up together from childhood, attending the same school and interested in the same pleasures and recreations. Of this congenial union there have been born two children in New York State, and three in Iowa, namely: Edna M., Estella May, Mary B., an infant who died unnamed, and Dwight Marion. The eldest of these is thirty-five and the youngest twenty. They grew up bright and intelligent, and were given careful home training, which makes useful and respected members of the community. Mr. Abbott, politically, votes the straight Republican ticket, and has been always interested in the projects calculated to advance the people, socially, morally and financially. He has for years been a member of the School Board of his district, and has served as Supervisor. He was for three years Justice of the Peace in his county, and has filled many other positions of trust and responsibility. No ordinary circumstance could move him from his marked-out course of honesty and uprightness which was taught him in boyhood by his parents and which he proposes to follow the remainder of his life. It is hardly necessary to say that he is held in high respect by the people of his community, and is a man whose opinions exert no small influence among their councils.

EV. EDWARD ROOT, of Weeping Water, has occupied the pulpit of the Free Will Baptist Church about forty-five years, fifteen of which have been spent in this county. Of New England ancestry, he was born Connecticut Feb. 4, 1822, and is the son of Dr. Anson L. and Sally (Brooks) Root. The father spent the latter part of his life in Trumbull County, Ohio, where his death took place about May 6, 1846. In pursuance of his duties as a practicing physician he rode all through the counties of Trumbull, Cuyahoga and Ashtabula, becoming widely and favorably known throughout that region. He also was a native of Connecticut, born about Jan. 4, 1793, in Litchfield and in the Nutmeg State received his medical education. He practiced in the last a number of years before his removal to Ohio, which occurred in 1827. The country was then wild and new and the journeyings of Dr. Root were performed mostly on horseback, he frequently riding many miles to see a single patient. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Root removed to Berrien County, Mich., where she died Dec. 16, 1857.
   The paternal grandfather of our subject, Dr. Anson Root, also a physician, was eminent in his profession, having a very extensive practice in Connecticut, where he spent his entire life.
   Edward Root, our subject, was a lad five years of age when his parents removed to Ohio, and he received a practical education in the district schools of his day. He commenced reading theology at home and began preaching when a youth of seventeen years. His first charge, two or three years later, was in Clarksfield Hollow, Huron Co.,

Ohio, where he was stationed one year. Thence he removed to Vermillion, in Erie County, where he organized a church, over which he was pastor three years. The climate of that region inducing malaria, he removed to Greenfield, Huron County, taking charge of the Greenfield and New Haven Churches, and there he resided a period of over ten years. At that point he did remarkably efficient service as a pastor and evangelist. From Ohio, about 1856, Mr. Root removed to Cass County, Mich., of which he was a resident sixteen years, having in charge one congregation at Porter, Van Buren County, fifteen years of this time, besides doing much outside work. At the expiration of this time, returning to Ohio, he spent one and one-half years with the New Haven and Greenfield Churches at the earnest solicitation of the people, and which was as long as his health would permit. In the year 1873 he came to this county and did miscellaneous church work in different localities, until the organization of the Free Will Baptist Church at Centreville. The church edifice of this society stands on the line between Centre and Elmwood Precincts.
   Our subject purchased a farm in Stove Creek Precinct where he lived twelve years, still having the same church in charge, and resigned his pastorate in October, 1887. He sold his farm and moved into Weeping Water, about 1884, where he secured a pleasant home. Since withdrawing from the church above mentioned, Mr. Root has had charge of two societies, one at Long Branch, in Todd Creek Precinct, Johnson County, and the other at Grand View, in Gage County, six miles south of Firth. In connection with these he officiates alternately.
   Mr. Root was married in Medina County, Ohio, May 15, 1842, to Miss Lucy S. Palmer, who was born in Tolland, Mass., April 19, 1824. Her father, Henry Palmer, was a descendant of one of three brothers who came on the Mayflower from England, and located at Stonington, Conn. He was the owner of a vessel and was its captain. His vessel being lost, his wife, Sophia Palmer, was left at an early day a widow with two children, Lucy S. and Henry F. Palmer. In 1881 the widow Palmer moved to Medina County, Ohio, and resided there until her death in 1864. Her son, Henry F. Palmer, when quite young went into the clothing and milling business, which he has followed up to the present time; he now resides in Fremont, Ohio, and is sixty-six years of age.
   To Mr. and Mrs. Root there were born ten children, of whom only five are living. The eldest, Henry D., is a practicing physician and druggist of Lincoln; he served one term in the Legislature and was receiver in the United States Land Office for four years. He married Miss Emma Haggerty, and is the father of two children. Jennie, Mrs. Jeffers, resides in Dunbar, Otoe County, and is the mother of three children; her husband is a grain merchant. Nellie, Mrs. Fought, of Plattsmouth, is the mother of one child. The husband is bookkeeper in the B. & M. lumber-yard at that place. Della and Frank are at home with their parents. The children of Mr. Root have all been given a good education, and all but the youngest boy are members of the Baptist Church.
   Besides his regular pastoral duties Mr. Root for a period of twenty years conducted revival meetings nearly every winter. He has been active and earnest as a laborer in the Master's vineyard and looks for his reward in the Great Hereafter.

RS. WILHELMINA NOLTING owns a fine farm on section 17, Plattsmouth Precinct, which, since her husband's death, she has managed with great skill, and derives therefrom a comfortable income. She is the widow of the late Wilhelm Nolting, at whose decease, April 14, 1882, this precinct was deprived of a good citizen, who had materially aided in developing the agricultural interests of Cass County.
   Mrs. Nolting was born in Lippe-Detmold, Germany, Sept. 14, 1825, and is a daughter of Conrad and Rebecca (Dorath) Gadka, likewise natives of that Province. They were lifelong residents of their place of birth, and there reared a family of four sons and four daughters, of whom our subject was the seventh in order of birth. Her parents were of pure German ancestry, and were held in great respect by their neighbors. In 1854 our subject left the Fatherland to make her home in the

future in this country. After landing she proceeded to Watertown, Wis., where she was soon after united in marriage with Wilhelm Nolting. He came of an ancient German family, and Lippe-Detmold was also his place of birth. In August, 1865, they came to Cass County, Neb., with their family, and bought the farm where Mrs. Nolting now lives. There was a small house on the place, and some plowing had been done, constituting the only improvements. Mr, Nolting at once entered upon the work before him, and in the laborious years that followed brought about a great change, placing the land under a high state of tillage, and erecting a good house, barn, corn cribs and all other necessary buildings, everything about the place indicating that he was a practical, skillful farmer. In the midst of his prosperous career, when he was sixty-three years of age, death closed his useful life. He was a truly good man, and led an exemplary Christian life, dying, as he had lived, a firm believer in the faith of the Evangelical Lutheran Church, within whose fold he had been reared. To him and his excellent wife were born eight children, five of whom survive, namely: Minnie, now Mrs. Adam Kaffenberger; Anna, now Mrs. Henry Jasper; Bertha, August and Frederic; the three latter live with their mother. The names of the children deceased are Wilhelm, Helena and Sophia. Mrs. Nolting is a devoted member of the Lutheran Evangelical Church, and is deservedly held in high respect by all in the community. She is a very capable, industrious woman, a good manager, and under her careful supervision her farming interests are in a very satisfactory condition,

EORGE W. YOUNG, a representative farmer and one of the earliest settlers of Cass County, resides on section 26 of Mt. Pleasant Precinct, where he settled in 1867, coming from Scioto County, Ohio. He was born in Smith County, Va., July 14, 1846, where he lived until the fall of 1864, when, in company with his parents, he removed to Scioto County, Ohio, where he lived until he came to Nebraska, and settled on his present home farm He is a son of Lewis N. and Levniah (Patrick) Young. The parents were both natives of Virginia. A family of seven children were born to them, namely: Mary now the wife of Asher Tanner, who resides in Mt. Pleasant Precinct; George W., our subject; Robert A. and Lewis H., both residing in Mt. Pleasant Precinct; Causby is now the wife of George W. Carroll, and residing in Keya Paha County, Neb.; Julia is the wife of Charles Troop, and resides in Rock Bluff Precinct; and Vicey J., who is deceased. The paternal grandfather was a native of Scotland.
   Our subject was married, Feb. 6, 1868, to Miss Mary Barry, who was born in Noble County. Ohio, Oct. 7, 1848. She is a daughter of Thomas L. and Sarah (Headly) Barry. Her father was a native of Pennsylvania, and the mother was a resident of Noble County, Ohio. Her father was of Irish descent; her mother came with her grandparents to Nebraska in 1867, and settled in Cass County. In 1885 her parents removed to New Mexico, where they at present reside. The Barry family were among the early settlers of Noble County, Ohio, where they occupied a prominent position in the affairs of the county.
   An interesting family of six children have been born to our subject and his good wife, namely; Hattie J., born May 27, 1877; Eunavista, Feb. 5, 1880; and four are dead, named James A., William, Sarah E. and Thomas L.
   Mr. Young owns a tract of 240 acres of eligibly located and highly cultivated land. His improvements are of the highest class. His elegant residence, handsomely furnished and conveniently arranged, is supplied with all the comforts and many of the luxuries known to but few people outside our larger cities. His home is surrrounded (sic) by an elegantly designed lawn, ornamented with evergreens and shrubbery, which present a pleasing picture. The barns are large and commodious, designed with a view to accommodating the stock and handling the various products of the farm in the most economical manner. He has a large and fine orchard and numerous groves. The farm is divided by substantial and well-kept hedges and wire fences into fields of convenient size. The whole tract is well supplied with large quantities of pure water.
   In accumulating this beautiful property our sub-