The surname of our subject is thought to be derived from America Man. His father, Henry Amerman, a native of New York State was married in Auburn, N. Y., to Miss Hannah A. Taylor. They had four sons and one daughter, the latter of whom died in infancy. Our subject was the youngest of the family and is now the only survivor of the fraternal circle. His father died when he was two years of age and his mother subsequently, married William Blandin of Illinois.

The oldest son, John A. T., who was a photographer, died from disease contracted while in the United States service during the late war; Irwin, also a member of Company A, Twenty-third Michigan Infantry, after suffering the horrors of captivity several months, died in Andersonville Prison; David Austin, after having served as conductor on the Toledo, Peoria & Warsaw Railroad fifteen years, lost his life in an accident at Cruger, while in the line of duty. The last named left a wife and two little daughters in the city of Peoria. The only male representative of the family in the third generation is the son of our subject, a bright little lad bearing the name of Harry Lee.

The town of Hollis is now the home of our subject who married Miss Anna Dickey, of Kansas City, in which place he lived for some years, engaged at his trade of a carpenter and also following contracting. He finally returned to the Prairie State in which eighteen years of his life had been passed, but in 1870 went to the Pacific Coast. In 1881 he again visited the Slope in the employ of the Government and within two years captured sixty counterfeiters, performing the journeys necessary in various ways and assuming various disguises.

On one occasion Mr. Amerman left Kansas City by rail and having reached Cheyenne, Wyo., started for Deadwood, S. Dak., on horseback. Thence he followed the trail of the criminals to Virginia City, Nev., thence to Portland, Ore., from there to Ft. Smith, Idaho, whence he returned to Virginia City. There he again became a railroad passenger and having reached Salt Lake City went to Wappan, Ariz., by stage, crossing the Colorado Canyon. Here he again mounted a horse and with thirty prisoners in charge rode to San Francisco, picking up two more criminals on his way across the continent.

Mr. Amerman reached Ft. Leavenworth, Kan., after an absence of about two months, during which time he had received three flesh wounds from the shots of those whom he was seeking to capture. Having undertaken to secure five men at one time, he “got the drop on them: and all surrendered except one. He pulled his revolver and fired on the Marshal, who in return shot him through the left shoulder. The criminal, however, managed to get away at that time, but was caught by Mr. Amerman a few weeks later. Nearly every State in the union has been visited by Mr. Amerman whose duties have also led him into Canada. During the winter of 1889-90, he returned to his home, whose pleasures he is enjoying with a keen relish after his dangerous experiences.