A little about those big county biography books ... These big history/biography books were money makers for the company that printed them. In the 1880-1900 these were most popular in the midwest. An agent would come to town (via railroad) and solicit biographies. (like the who's who of today) Yah didn't have to buy one...but the town folks generally did...some paying for the right to have their photos added. The agent left town with lots of good honest facts and downpayments... In a short time the books were shipped (via that railroad) and the books were delivered with the rest of the payment. For some reason these books were never done in an alphabetical order.... or any order... but what is really fun is the first sentence of each biography. ie... Richard P. Minter is one of the best know real estate men and townsite promoters in the entire state, having carried several ventures of that character to a successful termination in various parts of Washington. <snip> ... John Nelson, a prosperous shingle weaver of Anacortes. <snip> ... Otto Kalso, a leading farmer of the Bay View district and a man who has won the respect and esteem of all because of his sterling qualities, is..<snip> ...Nicholas Bessner, engaged in farming three miles south of Edison, is one of the most prosperous agriculturists of that section, a man of energy and application, popular in the community because of his innate good qualities. <snip>. I am not making fun of these books...as goodness knows they are generally accurate. although I still have problems believing that one of my hubby's great uncles was actually aced out of the history books by the Wright brothers and their airplane.... If he had only a few more years and better parts and... maybe the airplane mecca would have been Knox Co NE....