elected Sergeant-at-Arms of the Iowa House of Representatives, serving acceptably two terms. On the 5th of November, 1881, he established the Plattsmouth Daily and Weekly Journal, which he has since conducted successfully. With him is associated Mr. J. W. Culright.
   Mr. Sherman was married, Aug. 27, 1866, to Miss Graeme, who was born in Van Buren County, Iowa, in 1847. This union resulted in the birth of these children, viz: Eva C., Charles S., Mary, Francis M., John, Freddie, Albert and Helen. Mr. Sherman is a member of the McConchie Post No. 35, G. A. R.; also of Lodge No. 84, A. O. U. W., and as a representative of the "art preservative" belongs to the Burlington Typographical Union No. 51, and the Nebraska Press Association.

ARTIN PROPST. The life labors of the subject of this biography, a farmer in good circumstances and a resident of Plattsmouth Precinct, have been crowned with more than ordinary success. He has one of the most beautiful homesteads in the northeastern part of Cass County -- a highly cultivated farm pleasantly located, with handsome and substantial stone buildings set in the midst of well kept grounds, fulfilling the modern idea of the complete country home.
   A native of Pendleton County, Va., our subject was born Dec. 7, 1830. He is the son of Eli and Sarah (Eye) Propst, who were natives of Virginia and of German descent. They removed to and settled in Scott County, Iowa, engaged in farming, and lived there until they both died. In his native county he spent his boyhood and youth and lived with his parents until twenty-two years old. Then desirous of seeing something of the western country, he started out for the young State of Iowa, and purchasing land in Scott County set himself to work improving his purchase, living there until the year 1868, his parents settling there at the same time. He was married April 7, 1859, at Davenport, Iowa, to Miss Catharine, daughter of Abraham and Susan (Heavener) Snyder, the wedding taking place in Davenport, Iowa. They lived on a farm in Scott County, Iowa, until the year 1868, then selling out. Mr. Propst made arrangements to cast his lot with the pioneers of Nebraska Territory. Upon his arrival in this county he put up a shanty of cottonwood boards which he transported from across the river in Iowa, and the humble dwelling served as a residence for himself and little family for several years. In the year 1876 he was enabled to put up one of the finest residences in the country round -- a large stone structure which is the admiration of all who pass by it. Later he added to the attractions of his homestead by the erection of a two-story stone barn, 44x80 feet in area, with side walls twenty-one feet in height above the foundation. The lower story provides shelter for twenty horses and fifty cattle.
   The farm of our subject now embraces 480 broad acres, and adjacent to the dwelling are fruit and shade trees, including a fine apple orchard. Mr. Propst makes a specialty of swine, feeding for the market each year about 100 head. There is a fish-pond near the house which is supplied by a never-failing spring of pure water, and in which the highly prized German carp flourishes finely. He has taken out some carp for the table weighing four pounds.
   The parents of our subject, Elias and Sallie (Eye) Propst, were also natives of Virginia. The paternal great-grandparents were born in the Duchy of Holstein, Germany, whence they emigrated to America at an early period in the history of this country, settling in Virginia, where their son Daniel, the grandfather of our subject, was born. The latter in coming to Iowa was accompanied by his parents, they settling with him in Scott County, where they spent the remainder of their days, the mother passing away in the year 1870, aged sixty-eight years, and the father in July, 1874, at the age of seventy. Martin was the third of their eight children, six of whom are living and residents of Iowa and Nebraska.
   Our subject and his estimable wife are members in good standing of the Baptist Church, attending services at Eight Mile Grove. Mr. Propst cast his first Presidential vote for Stephen A. Douglas, and is a stanch advocate of Democratic principles. The

household circle includes three children -- two sons and a daughter -- John A., Walter I. and Mary S. The eldest is twenty-eight years of age and the youngest twenty. They are all at home with their parents. Another child, William Edwin, died at the age of twenty-one months.

LIAS S. GILBERT, farmer and stock-raiser, is now a resident of Weeping Witter. This gentleman is one of the most prominent and leading citizens of the neighborhood in which he lives, and devotes his time to general farming and the raising of thoroughbred bank stock, horses, hogs and cattle, having twenty-four head of the fine graded Norman horses, a herd of fifteen head of thoroughbred Short-horn cattle, and 200 full blooded Poland-China hogs. He has made a study of the business, and an inspection of his herds of cattle and hogs will convince the most skeptical that he possesses a complete knowledge of the business, for it is but seldom that herds of both classes display so many fine points and so few poor ones as those the property of Mr. Gilbert; besides he buys and feeds from forty to one hundred head of cattle annually for the general market.
   The subject of our sketch was born in Ontario County, N. Y., Dec. 17, 1816, where he lived and attended the common schools of the county until his fifteenth year; he then spent three months at Temple Hill, N. Y., then two years at the academy at Canandaigua, N. Y.; when he had completed his course there he went back to the farm. He there purchased the home farm of 400 acres from his father, and began life for himself, about the age of twenty-one. He remained here until he was thirty-five years old; he had done exceedingly well, and in the spring of 1852 sold all his property and moved to Davenport, Iowa, where he bought 120 acres of improved land near the town. He had previously bought a one-third interest in the Moline Water Power, and 260 acres of land in Moline, which comprised about one-half of the town site. He lived in Davenport and attended to his affairs successfully until the crash of 1857 came and swept the entire fortune away, only succeeding in paying his debts. He continued farming and engaged in the fruit business, planting twenty-five acres in orchard, and carried on that business until 1875. In 1876 he removed to Nebraska with his son, and came to Weeping Water and bought their present home of 160 acres in partnership, which was partly improved at the time, and since then has improved the balance, and has now all necessary buildings, house, barn, granaries, to the value of $3,000. He also has six acres in grove and a fine orchard. He has a large improved windmill, which supplies water to four tanks, which is conveyed to the different yards and barns for the use of the stock by a system of piping.
   The subject of this sketch has been married twice, the first time in Ontario County, March 4, 1846, to Miss Caroline E. Pitts, the daughter of Hon. Gideon Pitts, who was the first settler in the town of Richmond, Ontario Co., N. Y., and a wealthy farmer; he served several terms in the New York Legislature. Caroline E. Pitts, wife of our subject, was born in Ontario County, N. Y., May 24, 1819, and died in Gilbert, Iowa, Aug. 2, 1862, leaving two children, Cyrus P. and Carra G. Cyrus P. married Miss Emma Kellogg, and is a farmer and grain buyer in Eagle, Elmwood and Weeping Water. His family consists of four children -- James S., Chauncy K., Louisa J. and Fanny P. Carra G. is married, her husband being Mr. George S. Jewett, a merchant in New York City. The second marriage of our subject was contracted in Philadelphia, in December, 1864, to Miss Frances J. Lambaert, daughter of the Hon. Charles Lambaert, who superintended the building of the railroad from Philadelphia to Baltimore. She was born near Philadelphia, Pa. One child is the result of this marriage, Anna, now married to Edward E. Howell, an insurance agent in Omaha, Neb.
   The father of our subject was Elias Gilbert, who was born in Litchfield, Conn., in November, 1776. His mother was Polly Greene, born in Rhode Island. Grandfather Joseph Gilbert served through the entire Revolution as a non-commissioned officer, was a shoemaker by trade; his father came from England. Grandfather James Greene, a farmer, was of English extraction, and a distant relative of General Greene of Revolution-

ary fame. The father and mother were married in New York, the father being a farmer as well as a merchant in Ontario County, was also a tanner, currier, harness-maker, saddler and shoemaker, and was in very easy circumstances. He was a merchant at the time the panic swept away his property, but he, by close attention to business, regained it. The parents left New York in 1854, and went to live with their son, our subject, at Gilbert, Iowa. They remained with him until the death of the father, March 4, 1872, aged ninety-five years, three months and five days. Our subject's mother died in Gilbert, Scott Co., Iowa, Oct. 29, 1867, seventy-three years old. Both parents were active members of the Congregational Church. Elias S. was the sixth child in a family of eight children. Horace died when an infant; his second brother Horace, sister Polly, sister Maryette and sister Theodosia, are dead. Sister Amanda is older and brother Warren is younger than our subject. Many positions of trust and confidence have been held by our subject; he was Trustee of the city and township of Davenport, Iowa, for five years, has served several years as school officer and served as Justice of the Peace six years, and was largely interested in the formation and successful operation of the Farmers' Alliance, and it can be said to the man never sought the office but the ways sought the man. In politics he always was found in the ranks of the Independent or Republican parties, and was frequently delegate to the County and State Conventions of one of those parties. Both himself and wife were active members of the Congregational Church, of Victoria, teachers of the Bible Class, and took a leading part in all good works. The life of our subject presents many changes, many difficulties met and overcome by the exercise of the indomitable will and inflexible integrity, and all embarrassments and troubles which have come to him in business have been brought about by the financial crush of 1857, and it can be safely said that he has never failed in anything he has undertaken to carry through by himself, and he presents to the mind of the reader and to those who know him, the appearance of a man self-reliant, honest, shrewd and ambitious. He always takes an active part in the political canvass of the country, delivering speeches, and doing all in his power to further the interest of the party which claims his allegiance, and in the times prior to the war he was connected with the "underground railroad," and did much toward helping many collored (sic) men to the North and freedom.
   The nobler impulses of his nature revolted at the system of slavery existing in this country, and he very early assumed a positive stand against it. In fact, when only seventeen years of age he began his vigorous anti-slavery work in Richmond, Ontario Co., N. Y., then a town of 2,000 inhabitants. In those days pronounced opposers to slavery were few, and strange as it may seem, young Gilbert stood alone as the champion of universal freedom in that city. He was aggressive, and by his able discussion of the question threw such light upon it that ere long his copatriots were many, and included the best men of the community. He was the founder of the town of Gilbert near Davenport, Iowa.

B. KNOTTS, editor and proprietor of the Plattsmouth Herald, one of the best conducted and most popular newspapers in Cass County, has already shown that he possesses ability that will no doubt some day place him in the front ranks of the journalists of the West. He was born in Lumberport, Harrison Co., W. Va., February 9, 1859. His father, Joseph Knotts, was born in Knottsville, W. Va. Sept. 24, 1832, his father, Absalom Knotts, having been born in the same house. His grandfather, the great-grandfather of subject, was born of Scotch parentage either in Scotland or America. He lived in Princeton, N. J., in the early part of his life, and finally went from there to West Virginia, and became an early settler of Knottsville. He bought quite a large tract of heavily timbered land, and built a grist and saw mill, which he operated for many years, spending the remainder of his life there.
   The grandfather of our subject succeeded his father in the proprietorship of the mills, continuing to manage them for some years. In 1860 he sold his

property in West Virginia, and moved to Warren County, Iowa, where, in company with Messrs. Read and Felton, he bought a tract of land and platted the village of New Virginia. He was a local preacher in the Methodist Church, besides being a farmer, and was quite well known throughout that part of the State in that capacity. He improved a farm in Warren County, but he subsequently disposed of it, and moved from New Virginia to Osceola, Clarke County, where he was engaged in the mercantile business until about 1879, when he removed to Lucas to conduct the same business, which he carried on in that city until his death in 1885. The maiden name of his wife was Matilda Sayre, and she was a native of Taylor County, W. Va., She spent her last years in Osceola, Iowa, and with her husband lies buried in the cemetery of that place.
   The father of our subject was reared in his native State, and early in his youth joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, and when quite a young man commenced teaching and preaching. He resided in West Virginia until 1860, moving in that year to Iowa, being transferred to the Iowa Conference and assigned to duty in the western part of the State. When the conference was divided he became a member of the Des Moines Conference. In 1865 he was appointed to the pastorate of the Broadway Society in Council Bluffs, and during the two years that he ministered to the people there a church was built under his auspices. But a wider field of usefulness was open to him, and he became agent for the Methodist Church Extension Society, and was actively engaged in the work of that society the following two years. He was then appointed Presiding Elder of Council Bluffs, which position he held for four years, and during that period was delegate to the General Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Philadelphia. The responsibility and work connected with the office of Presiding Elder proved too much for his health, which became impaired, and he was obliged to relinquish his beloved calling. He then turned his attention to book and job printing, and edited and printed the Inland Advocate a number of years, also the Weekly Independent, a political paper. In the fall of 1874 he lost all of his material by fire, and at that time his health was also injured, and the winter of 1874-75 he spent in Washington. Gen. Grant appointed him United States Consul at Chihuahua, Mexico, and while in that country he became interested in some valuable mines, and resigned his Consulship to turn his attention to mining and was thus engaged until his death in El Paso, Tex., Jan. 23, 1888. He was a man of marked talent, both in the pulpit and as a financier. In him the Methodist denomination suffered a great loss, as he was instrumental in building up a number of churches, and even after he retired from the pulpit took an earnest interest in the work. The maiden name of his wife was Rebecca Hall, and she was a native of Barbour County, W. Va. She now resides at Council Bluffs, Iowa. Seven sons and one daughter were born to them, namely: Edith, now Mrs. Robinson; our subject, T. H., L. G., E. F., James E., Gordon B. and Joseph.
   He of whom we write received his education in the public schools of Council Bluffs, Iowa, and was subsequently graduated from the Iowa Business College at Des Moines, in December, 1876. He then went to Texas in the early part of 1877, with the intention of going into the cattle business. At the expiration of six months he was satisfied with his experience of life in that State, and returned to Council Bluffs to resume work in the office of the Nonpareil, where he had previously commenced to learn the trade of printer. He worked there until 1882, and in the fall of that year went to Mexico and took charge of the stamp mills at the mines of Parral in Chihuahua, continuing thus engaged for four months. He then returned to his old home in Council Bluffs, and in July, 1883, bought the Indianola Herald, in Warren County, Iowa. He retained the proprietorship of that paper for three years, and three months, and then sold it at a good profit, but continued in the office as one of the staff of the paper until Dec. 1, 1886. At that time he went to Dallas, Tex., and spent the winter in that delightful climate. In the following spring he came to Plattsmouth and bought the Herald, his brother T. H. being associated with him in the purchase, and continuing in partnership with him until July 5, 1888, when our subject bought his

interest, and has since conducted the paper alone. He has an easy, pleasant style of writing, and his editorials are marked by vigor, earnestness, and a thorough comprehension of the subjects under discussion.
   Mr. Knotts was married, Nov. 1, 1888, to Miss May Russell, a daughter of Judge Russell, of whom see sketch on another page of this work. Mr. and Mrs. Knotts have a very attractive home, and their many friends meet with a cordial reception beneath its roof. Religiously, our subject is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Socially, he belongs to the Indianola Lodge No. 71, I. O. O. F., and to Three Rivers Lodge No. 84, A. O. U. W. His views on the political questions of the day are sound and sensible, and in consonance with those expressed by the Republican party.

RRIN P. SMITH, a druggist by profession, is carrying on his business in Plattsmouth in connection with Dr. E. W. Cook, having bought an interest in the store of that gentleman. He is a man of education and wide experience, and has a good, practical knowledge of pharmaceutics.
   Mr. Smith is a native of Ohio, born in the town of Marion, Marion County, to Joseph and Elizabeth (Hartman) Smith, natives respectively of Elizabeth and Newark, N. J. His paternal grandfather, Daniel Smith, was born in that State, of mingled Scotch and German antecedents. The great-grandfather of our subject was born in Scotland, and after attaining manhood took up his residence in America, in Colonial times, settling in New Jersey, where he practiced his profession of attorney, and there he spent the remainder of his life. Before coming to this country he had visited Germany, and married a German wife. The grandfather of our subject, who was also a member of the legal profession, moved to Ohio in 1803, and was a pioneer of Franklin County. He became prominent as a lawyer, practicing his profession there, and serving as Justice of the Peace for many years, and as an educator. Through his zeal and the first school district was organized in Franklin County, and he taught the first school. His home was eight miles northeast of Columbus, where he spent his last years. The maiden name of his wife was Harriet DeCamp, and she was born in New Jersey. Her father was a native of France.
   The father of our subject was young when his parents removed to Ohio, and he was there reared amid the pioneer influences of the early settlers of that State. In his youth he was sent to Columbus to learn the trade of iron moulder, and afterward to Mt. Vernon, to finish learning it. He subsequently established a foundry at Marion, and made the iron for the rolling stock of the Indianapolis, Bloomington & Warsaw Railroad. He took his payment in real estate, which afterward depreciated in value, so that he was obliged to assign to his creditors. He was an exceedingly honorable man, with a great dislike for debt, and he did not rest until he was finally able to settle his indebtedness dollar for dollar, and then commenced life again with nothing but his home left. He is now a resident of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where he is Superintendent of Whiting's iron works. He has a fine military record, one of which his family may well be proud. He and his six brothers, Aaron, Levi, Elias, Daniel, Hiram and Frank, all served in the army during the late war, and were all commissioned officers. The total service of the seven boys counts up thirty-two years. One brother died in the service; another, Daniel, was shot seven times, but is still living. The father of our subject was an Orderly Sergeant in an Ohio regiment. The parents of our subject have nine children -- Oliver H., Edward H., Mary J., Josephine, Commodore P., Benjamin F., Orrin P., William G. and Harry C.
   The subject of this sketch was a lad of good abilities, and was bright and apt in his studies. He laid the foundation of his education in the public schools of Westerville, and so rapid was his progress, that he was admitted to the High School at an unusually early age. When he was only eleven years of age he was engaged in pattern making and drafting for the C. & G. Cooper Manufacturing Company, of Mt. Vernon, Ohio, and he remained with them three years. When he was fourteen he went to Iowa, and worked on his brother-in-law's farm in Victor for a year. At the

expiration of that time he returned to Mt. Vernon, and formed a partnership with his brother Benjamin to buy and manage a drug store in that city. They continued together in that business for five years, and then sold and went to Grandville, Ohio, where they embarked in the same business. A year and a half later our subject went to Chicago, and was employed as a traveling salesman for a year, and then was on the open Board of Trade in that city for two years. We next hear of him in Red Cloud, this State, where he was employed as a clerk in a drug store for a year. In 1887, having a fine opportunity to purchase an interest in Dr. Cook's drug store, in Plattsmouth, he came here for that purpose, and was enabled to make satisfactory terms with that gentleman. He is a man of high purpose and fine character, is gentlemanly in his deportment, and prompt and attentive in waiting on customers. Although he has been a resident of this city but a short time, he has favorably impressed those with whom he has come in contact, and has made many friendships. While a resident of Ohio he became identified with the Knights of Pythias, joining Timon Lodge No. 45, Mt. Vernon, and was made a Knight in 1879.

HOMAS J. FOUNTAIN. The pioneers of 1857, coming to Nebraska during its Territorial days, deserve more than a passing notice in a work of this kind. Among them may be numbered the subject of this history, who, in the spring of that year, settled on his present farm, which occupies a portion of section 24, in South Bend Precinct. He secured at first eighty acres, and to this he has given his close attention for a period of over thirty years, building up a good homestead, and bringing the soil to a high state of cultivation. Upon it, as may be supposed, there were no improvements whatever, and his neighbors were few and far between. The contrast between the past and present is one which only those who have marked the transformation are able to realize. To the men who first braved the dangers and difficulties of life in the frontier, is Nebraska indebted for her position as one of the most prosperous commonwealths west of the Mississippi. Mr. Fountain has contributed his full share toward her wealth and prosperity by eliminating from her soil one of her model homesteads, and otherwise performing the duties of an honest man and a good citizen.
   Our subject first opened his eyes to the light on the other side of the Atlantic, in Buckinghamshire, England, May 22, 1830. His father, John Fountain, was a prosperous farmer and stock-dealer, and also engaged in merchandising. The mother, Mrs. Ann (Franklin) Fountain, was a native of the same shire as her husband, and they came to America when their son, Thomas J., was a little lad five years of age. They landed in New York City, and thence proceeded to Middletown, Conn., which was their home a number of years, and where the mother died in middle life, leaving six children -- four sons and two daughters. They were named respectively: Henry, Esther, Richard, David, Thomas and Ann. Of these, three are living -- Thomas and Ann in South Bend, Neb., and Esther in Oregon.
   Our subject pursued his early studies in the common schools of Middletown, Conn., and later served an apprenticeship at the blacksmith trade, laboring as a journeyman thereafter for a number of years, and as long as he remained in New England. He was first married in Massachusetts to Miss Abilene Philips, who became the mother of three children -- Jason, Isabelle and Lafayette, and departed this life at her home in South Bend Precinct in 1886. These children are now living in South Bend, Neb.
   Mr. Fountain's present wife was formerly Mrs. Mary Ann (Hamilton) Cummings, born in Chariton County, Mo. Later she removed with her husband to Sarpy County, this State. She is the daughter of William Hamilton, who, when leaving Missouri, removed first to Linn County, Iowa. Of her marriage with Henry Cummings there were born three children -- Ethleen, Harriet and Erwin, all of whom are married and living -- two in Sarpy county, this State, Harriet and Ethleen, and Erwin in Lyons, Col.
   The father of our subject left New England in 1838, and came to this county, where he sojourned until his death, which occurred in 1882, after he had arrived at the advanced age of eighty-five years. Mr. Fountain, politically, votes the straight