My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM P. ACKERMAN, an enterprising young hardware merchant of Norman, Kearney county, is a native of Wisconsin and first saw the light September 29, 1857. His parents, William H. and Alzina L. (Amous) Ackerman, were natives of Jefferson county, N. Y., and emigrated to Adams county, Wis., in 1856, but returned to New York in 1863. They, however, concluded to try the West once more, and in 1880 moved to Nebraska, settling in Adams county, where they now reside. The senior Ackerman became a sailor on the great lakes when a young man, but subsequently followed farming. He served in the war nearly a year, rendering honorable service in the One Hundred and Eighty-first New York volunteers. He and his wife are both members of the Methodist church.

W. P. Ackerman, our subject, was the elder of two children. He had no educational advantages other than those obtained from the district school which he attended when a youth. Being a young man of temperate habits and of an industrious disposition, he has managed to acquire a splendid knowledge of business. He came to Nebraska with his parents, with whom he remained for a year or so after coming to the state, and then purchased a farm in May township, Kearney county, and followed farming for a few years. In 1886 he purchased a half-interest in a hardware store at Juniata, Adams county, and in 1887 completed the first business building in the thriving town of Norman, Kearney county.

On April 7, 1880, Mr. Ackerman was married to Miss Harriet L. Luther. She is a native of Jefferson county, N. Y., born November 7, 1858, and is the daughter of Aldrich S. and Amanda (Thumb) Luther, both of whom are natives of the Empire State. Her father is a farmer and was a soldier all through the late war. Mr. and Mrs. Ackerman have two children, viz. — Paul A., born July 11, 1883, and Mason A., born January 6, 1885. Mr. Ackerman has 120 acres of good land near Norman and conducts a successful hardware business in the town.

He was appointed to take the census of May and Grant townships in 1885 and has held various township offices with credit to himself and constituents. He is an ardent temperance man and in politics generally votes with the prohibition party.