John O. Ackerson, store-keeper, Crystal City, is deserving of more than a passing notice in the present volume. He is a native of Newark, Wayne Co. N. Y., and was born October 8, 1848, the eldest son of Paul A. and Mary S. (Olmsted) Ackerson, natives, respectively, of New Jersey and Connecticut. He received but a common-school education, and since his twelfth year has found the means of his own support, having been occupied at various callings until the breaking out of the war, when he enlisted in the One Hundred and Sixtieth New York Volunteers, being in the service about three years, and being promoted to the rank of lieutenant in the Seventeenth United States Infantry. He was on detached service as aid-de-camp at division headquarters, and served at the siege of Port Hudson, La., being in the Department of the Gulf, going to that department with Banks' expedition from New York. At the close of the war Mr. Ackerson secured employment with the Missouri Pacific Railroad Com. party, With whom he remained four years, when he engaged as book-keeper of the Second National Bank of St. Louis, which position he held over four years. He then accepted the position of cashier of the Granby Mining and Smelting Company, of Granby, Mo., where he remained some four or five years. In January, 1884, his excellent business qualifications and ability led to his being placed in charge of the large retail store of the Crystal Plate Glass Company, at Crystal City, where he has since been employed. His connection with the affairs of this company has proved highly beneficial, and it is owing largely to his management that the business has increased to such an extent. October 8, 1868, he was united in marriage to Miss Nellie Fowler, an estimable lady, daughter of William Fowler; she is of English parentage, and was born on English soil. Mr. and Mrs. Ackerson are the parents of four children, viz.: Blanche, Hersey, Neale and John O. Mr. Ackerson is a member of the American Legion of Honor, and holds membership in the Legion of Honor in St. Louis. He was at one time city treasurer of Granby, Newton Co., Mo.

William J. Adams, a native of Reynolds County, Mo., was born on the 4th of July, 1849, and is the youngest of fourteen children born to William and Mary (Parker) Adams, who came from near Nashville, Tenn., to Missouri, in 1821, locating in Reynolds County. William Adams resided in Reynolds County until shortly before the breaking out of the late war, when he went to Texas and remained until the cessation of hostilities, when he returned to Missouri, where he died in 1866, at a ripe old age. When William J. was but seven years of age his mother died, after which be lived with his elder sister for a number of years. His education was that usually obtained in the common schools, and, being homeless, he was compelled to work during the summer, attending school only during the winter. At the age of twenty-five he was united in marriage to Miss Sally S. Puckett, the event taking place near Festus, April 22, 1873. She is a daughter of Robert and Eliza (Silva) Puckett, and was born August 24, !852. They have had four children, only two of whom are living: William Herbert, born January 31, 1874; Robert Lasey, born May 10, 1875. The deceased are Allen Nelson, born August 1 1880, died April 20 1881; and Julia Ester, born December 26, 1883, died December 22, 1887. In 1872 Mr. Adams established a hack line from Bailey Station to Crystal City, which venture was made with but a small capital, but proved remunerative to such a degree that the proceeds enabled him to purchase forty acres of land on the present site of Festus. This tract, which was heavily timbered, Mr. Adams cleared, and in 1876 sold the first business lot in what is now the town of Festus to T. J. Loveless, who established a retail grocery thereon. After this he disposed of several other lots to those desirous of engaging in business, the proceeds of which he devoted to improvements, and has built several commodious residences. The development of the town was so rapid that in 1885 he was induced to erect a commodious hotel building, the Adams House, which he still owns and has the management of. He is owner of three houses and lots in the town. At present he is a member of the board of aldermen, and at one time served as school director. He and his wife are members of the old school Presbyterian Church. In matters political he has always voted the Democratic ticket, but is liberal minded.

John A. Alderson, a native of Powhattan County, Va., was born October 22, 1825, and is a son of Wilkins Alderson, also a native of Powhattan County, who immigrated to St. Louis County, Mo., in the fall of 1836. John A. Alderson removed to Jefferson County, in 1838; the country was then very sparsely settled and wild animals and Indians found the dense forests suited for their shelter.ú Mr. Alderson was first engaged in hauling lead to St. Louis, a distance of fifty-five miles, and returning with loads of goods and provisions. He has devoted the greater part of his time to farming, but has engaged in mining some during the winter season. He owns about 300 acres of land, which he devotes to farming and stock raising. October 17, 1847, he married Mary, daughter of Samuel B. Craig, an early settler of Washington County. Mrs. Alderson died March 6, 1861, the mother of six children, of whom but two are living: William and Solomon. June 7, 1863, Mr. Alderson married Lucy Stevens, daughter of William Stevens, of Valle Township. Of the eight children born to this union seven survive, viz.: Emma, Amanda, Walter, Berkley, Susan, Edward and Ella.

George Arnold, dealer in farm machinery, at Kimmswick, was born in Rock Township, Jefferson Co., Mo., in 1861, and is the eldest child born to Xavier and Mary (Heinbach) Arnold. He was educated at Kimmswick and Maxville, was reared on a farm, where he remained until 1884, when he established himself in the business, as above stated, and at which he has been very successful. He is a man of good business ability, is industrious and energetic, and a promising future is open before him. He has also a farm of thirty acres on what is known as the Small Island, opposite Kimmswick, on the Mississippi River. He is a Republican in politics, and his first presidential vote was for James G. Blaine. Xavier Arnold, his father, and a successful farmer and stock raiser of Rock Township, is a native of Mullkerche, France, born in 1837, and the second of six children to George and Magdalena Arnold, also natives of France, but, who, in about 1842 came to the United States, and after spending about one year in Texas came to Jefferson County, Mo., settling in Rock Township, where George Arnold spent his life engaged in farming. He died at Maxville about 1876. His wife died March, 1884, aged seventy-nine. Xavier Arnold was reared in the primitive days of Jefferson County, and with limited means for an education. In 1860 he married Miss Mary, daughter of John Heinbach, who was a native of Germany but who was living in Jefferson County at this time. The following ten children were the result of this marriage: George, John, Edward, Joseph, Florence, Louisa, wife of George Sitz; Katie, wife of Rudolph Reiser; Maggie, Caroline and Anna. Since his marriage, Mr. Arnold has lived one and three-fourths miles west of Kimmswick, where he has 140 acres, mostly the result of his own labor. He was in Col. Yerger's regiment of Enrolled Missouri Militia during the war. Politically a Republican, his first presidential vote was cast for Abraham Lincoln, in 1860. He is a member of the Catholic Church and a man well-known and much esteemed. His wife died September 1, 1884.

Lucius D. Ashcraft is a native of Harrison County, Ky., and was born September 3, 1845, and is a son of Ellis and Elizabeth (Keith) Ashcraft, natives, respectively, of Kentucky and Pennsylvania. Lucius D. Ashcraft was reared on a farm, and received his education in the primitive log schoolhouse of his native county. In 1873 he settled on a farm of 73 acres, in Central Township, Jefferson Co., Mo., which has since been his home; he also owns 121 acres besides, and a one-quarter interest in 80 acres of Lee Mines, this county. With the exception of seventeen months spent in the employ of the Iron Mountain Railroad, as repairer and inspector of cars in the De Soto yards, Mr. Ashcraft has always followed agricultural pursuits. June 5, 1873, occurred his marriage to Lizzie J. Lee, daughter of Archilles and Rebecca (Null) Lee, early settlers of Jefferson County, both now deceased. Mr. Lee was a cousin of the noted Robert E. Lee. To Mr. and Mrs. Ashcraft have been born five children, four of whom are living: Elba M., Etta P., Annie L. and Charles D. Mr. Ashcraft took his first degree in Masonry the night he was twenty-one years old, in Thomas Ware Lodge, No. 340, of Claysville, Ky., and is now a member of the De Soto Lodge. He is not a member of any church, but is a strong advocate of temperance. Politically, he is a Democrat. Mrs. Ashcraft has been a member of the Christian Church for the past twenty years.

Joseph M. Aubuchon is a native of Washington County, Mo., and was both March 7, 1848, the third son of eight children born to Francis T. and Julia (Goza) Aubuchon, of French and American ancestry, but both natives of Washington County. Joseph M. Aubuchon received a common literary education, which was polished by a six months' course in the business college of Rice & Stuart, St. Louis. He was reared on a farm, but at the age of sixteen commenced to learn the blacksmith's trade. To this business he gave his attention until he had reached the age of twenty-five, when he engaged in retail merchandising at Palmer, Washington County, continuing about three years, removing his stock to Festus in 1878; where he carried on the same business for several years. Since 1879 he has given his almost undivided attention to furnishing sand to the Crystal Plate Glass Company, of Crystal City, as well as several other houses in St. Louis and elsewhere, in which he has been successful to a satisfactory degree. He is at present the owner of several houses and lots in Festus, also half-interest in the business block occupied by Aubuchon & Brierton, general merchants in Festus. May 26, 1876, he was united in marriage with Miss Fannie Parkin, a native of the same county as himself. This union has been blessed with the birth of five children, viz.: Francis J., Theodore, William, Charles and Clarence. The family hold to the Catholic faith, and in politics Mr. Aubuchon is a Democrat.

William E. Bage, a plasterer and farmer of Central Township, Jackson Co., Mo., was born in Washington, D. C., in 1819, the eldest of ten children born to William and Mary (Foxton) Bage. William Bage, Sr., was born in England, and when about twenty-one years of age came to the United States, and located in Washington, D. C., where he married Miss Foxton, who was born in that city in 1801. Mr. Bage worked under his father-in-law, William Foxton, as plasterer, and afterward succeeded him as superintendent of the Public Plastering Works of Washington City, holding the position until 1833, when he moved to South Bend, Ind., and a year later to Michigan, and in 1840 to Jefferson County, Mo., where he spent the remainder of his life. He learned the plasterer's trade in England, and worked at the trade after coming to Jefferson County. The mother died when about eighty years of age, and the father five years later. They were both members of the Episcopal Church. Mrs. Bage's father was also an Englishman by birth, but when a young man came to the United States, locating in Alexandria, Va. He superintended the plastering of the first public building in the City of Washington. The immediate subject of this sketch came with his parents to Missouri, and here has since made his home. He learned the plasterer's trade of his father, and has followed that occupation in St. Louis, and in Jefferson and the adjoining counties. He owns 220 acres of land besides the old homestead. He is a Democrat in politics and his first presidential vote was cast for Van Buren in 1840. Mr. Bage is an honest upright man, and a good citizen of the county.

John Martin Bailey, a pioneer farmer and stock raiser of Jefferson County, Mo., was born in Ste. Genevieve County, Mo., in 1820. He is the eldest of seven sons and three daughters born to Henry and Barbara (Drybread) Bailey. Henry Bailey was born not far from Breed's Hill, near Boston, Mass., in 1800. John M. was eduated in the old-fashioned log schoolhouse of early days, the majority of his teachers being of Irish or German nativity, and who believed that "sparing the rod would spoil the child." He remained at home until about twenty-six years of age, and then married Mrs. Nancy Donnell, daughter of Jonathan Strickland who came to Jefferson County in 1811. Mrs. Bailey died in 1858, and in 1860 he married Mrs. Caroline Burgess, daughter of Lucius and Jeanette Hollensbeck, who removed from Virginia to Missouri about 1840. Mrs. Bailey was born in the "Old Dominion." Mr. Bailey owns about 200 acres of good land at Bailey Station, all of which he has earned by his own honest labor. He experienced many hardships incident to the life of a poor boy, but succeeded in overcoming them. He makes a specialty of raising Jersey cattle, and was for many years of breeder of short-horned cattle. Since 1860 he has been a Democrat and a Master Mason since 1857. He and wife are prominent members of the Presbyterian Church.

Henry Bailey, one of the pioneer farmers of Plattin Township, where he was born in 1823, is the second of six sons and three daughters born to Henry (Drybread) Bailey. The father was born near Breed's Hill, Boston, Mass., in 1800, but in infancy went with his parents to Marietta, Ohio, where he was mostly reared. His father, Seth Bailey, was of the old Puritan New England stock, and died in Marietta, Ohio, when Henry, Sr., was but a boy. The latter at the age of eighteen came with his brother-in-law, Elijah Butler, down the Ohio River in a keel boat, up the Mississippi River to Ste. Genevieve, and at once came to Jefferson County. He settled upon the land on which Henry now resides. He was married in 1819, after coming to Jefferson County, and settled at the head of Isle De Bois, in Ste. Genevieve County, but soon after crossed Dover Creek to Jefferson County, where he died in 1873, after being a resident of the place for fifty-five years. He improved a good farm, reared an industrious family, and was an esteemed and useful citizen. Both parents were members of high standing in the Baptist Church. The mother was perhaps born in Ste. Genevieve County in 1801, and died in 1852. Her parents were of Dutch extraction, and were among the pioneers of Missouri. Henry remained at home until of age, and attended the country subscription schools about three months each year. This would not have amounted to much had he not spent consider able time in self-study, and thereby become a fair scholar. July 4, 1844, he married Miss Sarah Ann, daughter of J. C. and Cynthia Ann Renfro. She died in 1858 leaving three children: Evaline (wife of George W. Thompson), Josephus, and Cynthia Ann (wife of James T. Brooks). June 13, 1861, Mr. Bailey married Miss Emaline, daughter of Joshua and Jane Cole, and to them were born six children: Johnson C., Jennie B. (wife of William Warford, of Bates County), Henry J., Sallie, Zollie and Sterling. Mr. Bailey settled on his present farm in 1845, and has since made that his home. It consists of 320 acres, 100 of which are under cultivation. He received 120 acres from his father, and the rest are the result of his own exertions. He is a hard-working, industrious citizen, and has taken a deep interest in the schools, and all public enterprises; was elected to the office of justice of the peace, but could not serve. He was in favor of the Union during the late war, although his sympathies were with the South. Politically, he was reared a Whig, and his first presidential vote was for Clay, in 1844. Since the dissolution of the Whig party he has been a Democrat. He has voted at every presidential election since attaining his majority, but for but two successful candidates, Taylor and Cleveland. He and wife are consistent members of the Baptist Church.

John J. Ball, a railroad contractor of De Soto, was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, South America, June 22, 1862. His father, John Ball, was born in Ireland in 1833, and immigrated to the United States in 1848. In 1858 he went to Brazil, South America, where he worked on railroad tunnels until 1866, when he brought his family to De Soto, where they have since resided. John Ball married Ann Cain, and of their fourteen children seven are living, viz.: Austin, John J., Margaret, Annie, Jane, Ella and Katie. In religious faith they are Catholics. Early in life John J. Ball became interested in contracting, which was his father's business; he helped build the branch of the Iron Mountain Railroad, the Cotton Belt, and others, and also takes contracts to furnish gravel to railroad companies, etc. In 1887 he loaded 12,000 car loads of gravel for the Iron Mountain Railroad. He has been in the service of the railroad several years, being first employed as water boy, then as brakeman and conductor, and finally as division roadmaster. He is a member of the order of Railroad Conductors. December 23, 1884, he married Mary E. Barron, daughter of Felix Burron, a merchant of Irondale, Mo.

Hubert Becker, dealer in general merchandise at Maxville, was born on thc Rhine, Germany, in 1832, and educated in the common schools. In 1842 he came with his parents, H. S. and Anna G. (Kremer) Becker to the United States, and settled in Jefferson County, being among the first German settlers of Rock Township, where they made their future home. The mother died in 1869, and the father in 1874. The latter was a soldier in the French War from 1809 to 1815, was captured at Portugal in 1811, where he was held for nine months. He then joined the German Legion in England, and served until after the battle of Waterloo, where he was severely wounded and disabled from further service. He was city alderman for some time before coming to this country. Hubert was not educated in the English language, and what knowledge he has obtained of it was by his own efforts. In 1857 he took a trip through the North, among the different Indian tribes, and spent one winter in Minnesota, meeting with numerous adventures among the Indians. He then returned to Jefferson County and lived with his parents. During the war he was in Company C, of the Enrolled Missouri Militia, two years. He was married in 1863 to Miss Louisa, daughter of John and Johanna Heimbach, all natives of Germany. Mr. Becker remained on his farm until 1875, when he commenced merchandising at Maxville, which business he has since continued with success. He is also engaged in the same business at High Ridge. He is now living with his third wife Anna Becker. He being a Democrat, his first presidential vote was for James Buchanan. He is an energetic German, and is respected by all.

John W. Bement, proprietor of the De Soto House, De Soto, is a native of England, and was born in 1829. His parents were Robert and Mary (Smith) Bement, also natives of England, the former of whom, a farmer by occupation, died about 1835, at the age of forty-five years; the latter came to America in 1874, and died in De Soto in 1883, aged nearly ninety years. Of the six children in this family two are now in De Soto, John W. and Martha, wife of Robert Coxwell, furniture dealer. John W. Bement was but seven years of age when his father died, and at the age of fourteen he was bound out as an apprentice to learn the cooper's trade, but the following year, in 1844, he left his native country and emigrated to Canada, first locating in Quebec, he remained three years; he then came to the United States, and settled near Owego, N. Y., where he learned the carpenter's trade. In 1854 he went to California by water, remaining in that State four years, working at his trade and contracting. He returned to New York in 1858, and the following year went to Delaware County, Iowa, where he bought a farm and also engaged in contracting; he erected the courthouse and other public buildings in Delaware County. About 1862 he sold out and again returned to New York, and in 1868 located in Jefferson County, Mo., buying a farm of forty acres, three miles south of De Soto. In July of the same year he was employed as a bridge carpenter on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad, where he was soon made foreman, which position he held for fifteen years. In 1883 he established a boarding house in De Soto, and in March, 1885, became proprietor of the De Soto House, which he has since successfully conducted as one of the leading hotels of the place. In 1851 Mr. Bement married Miss Mary Hale, who born in the State of New York in 1830. They have three children: William, Frederick and Viola. Politically, Mr. Bement is a Democrat; he is a member of the Masonic order. Mrs. Bement is a member of the Congregational Church.

Engelbert Bergmeyer. Jr., justice of the peace, farmer and mechanic, of Rock Township, was born in Baden, Germany, in 1848, and is the only surviving child of Engelbert and Wilhelmina (Ihli) Bergmeyer, who came to the States about 1850, and remained for about two years in St. Louis, where the mother died the first year. The family then came to Jefferson County, and settled near where Antonia now is, and here the father passed the remainder of his life. He was a farmer, and was three times married. He served about six years in the German army, and in 1848 and 1849 was in the war between Denmark and Germany. He was one of the first and enterprising settlers of the vicinity of Antonia, and died about 1883, at the age of sixty-three. Engelbert was but four years old when he came to Jefferson County, and here he was reared with a common-school education. He remained at home until 1871, after which for several years, he worked at the carpenter's trade, but since that time had devoted his time exclusively to agricultural pursuits. In 1873 he married Miss Caroline, daughter of Ambrose and Cordula Freidmann, who were among German settlers of Jefferson County. The mother died in 1863, but the father is still living. They came to the United States in 1844, and after spending about two years on an island in the Missouri River, near Washington, came to Jefferson County, where he has since resided, near Antonio. The following eleven children were born to Mr. Bergmeyer's marriage, viz.: Mary and Edward (twins), William, Emily, Katie, Mina, Rosa and Cora (twins), Walter and Matilda and Thomas (twins). The first three are deceased. Since 1875 Mr. Bergmeyer has resided on his present farm, situated one mile south of Antonia, on the Rock road, where he has forty acres, which he has improved, and made a good and comfortable home. Since 1884 he has been justice of the peace, being first appointed to fill a vacancy, and has held that position ever since. A Republican in his political views, his first presidential vote was cast for U. S. Grant, in 1872. He is a member of the Sons of Hermann, and is an active worker for the cause of education. He has been school director for many years, and is an honest, industrious citizen.

Aquilla Blackwell, another successful farmer and stock-raiser of Valle Township, was born in what is now St. Francois County, but then Washington County, below Blackwell's Station, in 1844. He was the fourth of fourteen children born to William and Elizabeth (Cummins) Blackwell. The father was born in Kentucky, March 18, 1810, and when about eight years of age came with his parents to what is now St. Francois County, when the country was a vast wilderness. His father, Jeremiah Blackwell, settled near where Blackwell's Station is now, and there passed the remainder of his days. Blackwell's Station was named in honor of him. He was a soldier in the War of 1812. William Black-well was married at the age of twenty-eight, and afterward settled near the North Big River Bridge, where he spent the remainder of his life. He cleared a good farm, and was an industrious, enterprising citizen. He was a member of the Masonic fraternity, and died in 1870. The mother was born in 1820, in Washington County, and died about 1881. She was the daughter of Samuel Cummins, an early settler of Washington County, but a native of Ireland, and was a member of the Baptist Church. Aquilla was educated in the rustic log schoolhouses of early times, and during the latter part of the war spent about six months in Canada. December 24, 1866, Miss Dolly A., daughter of Austin and Matilda Coleman, became his wife, and to this union twelve children were born, eleven now living: Leander, Allie J., John, William E., Ephraim, Anna, Vevey, Emmars (deceased), Albert A., Rolla R., Jefferson and Charley. Aquilla remained with his father in St. Francois County until 1868, when he settled on his present farm, then a dense forest, and the first stick of timber was cut to build his present house. He now has about 300 acres in cultivation, and about eleven miles of fence, making one of the best farms in Jefferson County. In all, he has about 960 acres, about 400 of which are in St. Francois County. Besides this he has considerable property in Blackwell's Station. He lives ten miles southwest of De Soto, is an earnest worker for the cause of education, is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the A. O. U. W., and a Democrat in politics, casting his first presidential vote for H. Seymour in 1868. He and wife are devout members of the Baptist Church.

N. H. Bissell, locomotive engineer on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad, with headquarters at De Soto, is a native of Windham County, Vt., and was born in 1839. His father, Horace Bissell, of Scotch descent, was born in Vermont in 1814, and followed farming the greater portion of his life, which, with the exception of three years passed in Minnesota, was spent in his native State. He was married to Fanny Newell, also a native of Vermont, who is now aged about seventy-two years: her grandfather, Samuel Hammond, was one of the fourteen men who threw the tea into Boston Harbor in 1773; he was also an active soldier of the Revolutionary War. To Mr. and Mrs. Horace Bissell seven children were born, as follows: Newell H., Augusta, Albert, of Baltimore, Md.; Carrie, wife of Miron White, also of Baltimore; Edward, in Vermont; Ida, wife of Edward Brigham, of Vermont, and Jessie, wife of Filmore Slawson, of De Soto. Newell H. Bissell was educated in the common schools, and grew to manhood on a farm. In 1855 he went to Minnesota and worked for his father in a brickyard, and farmed two years. In 1858 he moved to Carondelet, and for one and one-half years was employed as brakeman on the St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern Railroad, and the following eight months as baggageman. In 1861 he became a fireman, and two years later was promoted to engineer, in which capacity he has since been employed. During the past thirty years he has never missed a single month without drawing some pay, his name appearing on the pay-roll each month. With one exception, he is the oldest engineer on the road, and has met with remarkably good success. In 1864 he married Miss Susanna Martin, a native of Baltimore, Md., and a daughter of James and Charlotte Martin. They have seven children, viz.: John, Lottie (wife of J. R. Van Frank, civil engineer in Little Rock, Ark.), Edward, Fanny, Lizzie, Jessie and Chester. Mr. Bissel has resided in De Soto for the past eighteen years. He is a Republican in politics, a member of the I. O. O. F. and Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

William Blank (deceased) was born in Germany in 1830, and was a son of John and Catherine (Zollman) Blank. He was reared and grew to manhood in his native country, and at an early age commenced to learn the stone-mason's trade. He immigrated to America in 1847, and settled in Jefferson County, Mo., he bought a farm and engaged in the pursuit of agriculture. In 1857 he married Miss Dina Fluth, who was born in Hanover, Germany, in 1839, and in 1846 came to the United States with her parents, Jacob and Sarah (Mathesen) Fluth, who settled in St. Louis. Jacob Fluth, a shoemaker by trade, died in 1881 and his wife in 1874, both in Jefferson County, whither they had moved in 1852. To Mr. and Mrs. Blank were born eight children, as follows: Catherine (wife of Charles Becker), Sarah (deceased), Minnie (wife of Augustus Sapper), Adolph W., Mary, George, William and Frederick. Mr. Blank settled in De Soto in 1864, and in partnership with William Knorpp engaged in merchandising until 1882, when he established a wood and coal yard in De Soto, in which business he was engaged at the time of his death, which occurred April 26, 1886. Mr. Blank was also engaged in contracting and furnishing wood and ties for the Iron Mountain Railroad. For many years he was one of the substantial business men of De Soto. He held membership in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which church his wife has been a member for the past thirty years. Upon the death of his father Adolph W. assumed charge of the wood and coal yard, and is a good business man; he also deals in lime and cement, manufacturing the former in kilns on the old home place, one mile southeast of De Soto, which contains 289 acres; the lime is called white lime, and is of a superior quality. About fifteen kilns are burned per season, averaging 220 barrels per kiln; there is also a stone quarry on the farm, which has been in successful operation since 1875.