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government and after four years in this work moved to Omaha, Nebraska, where he was employed by the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company. Later he served as a salesman and for the past few years has been connected with the Postal Service at Seward. He was a member of the board of education for two terms, in the capacity of secretary, and for several years has been assistant scout master and swimming instructor for the American Red Cross. He is a Royal Arch Mason, Knight Templar and Shrine member, and holds membership in the Welfare Society and the Red Cross. He is an elder in the First Presbyterian Church of Seward, is a member of the Nebraskana Society, and has always been an ardent promoter of civic affairs.

He married Edna M. Thompson at Albion, Nebraska, June 18, 1913. Mrs. Dowding, whose ancestry is Scotch and Pennsylvania Dutch, was born in Seward County, January 12, 1889. Three children were born to their marriage: James, May 22, 1914; Billy, September 16, 1918; and John, April 28, 1925. Residence: Seward.

Marquis LaFayette Dowell

Marquis L. Dowell, farmer, banker and merchant of Salem, Richardson County, Nebraska, was born May 3, 1865, at Edmonton, Metcalfe County, Kentucky. John Sandy Dowell, his father, who was born at Albemarle, Virginia, May 9, 1819, and died at Beechville, Metcalfe County, Kentucky, May 22, 1889, was a tobacco merchant who was a prominent citizen in the south. A Democrat, he cast his first vote for Henry Clay. He was a Mason, and was affiliated with the Baptist church.

Marquis L. Dowell was educated in the public schools of Kentucky. A resident of Nebraska for forty-seven years he has been, consecutively, a steam shovel engineer for eleven years; a merchant for thirty-two years; and at the present time is president of the Bank of Salem, and has farming interests near that town. In 1889 he helped engineer the cut and approach for the C. B. & Q. railroad bridge at Rulo, Nebraska.

On December 24, 1890, he was married to Harriet Lucy Davis at Salem. Mrs. Dowell, who was born at Fayette, Wisconsin, on June 28, 1869, is of English descent and is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Mr. Dowell is a life member of the Red Cross and during the World War was local chairman of the food conservation committee and a member of the various loan drives committees. He is a member of The Nebraskana Society, the Parent-Teachers Association, and the First Congregational Church of Salem. He is a Mason and a member of the Democratic party. His hobby is reading. Residence: Salem.

William Leo Dowling

Born at Randolph, Iowa, May 8, 1880, William Leo Dowling has lived in Nebraska most of his life. His father, Solomon Miller Dowling, a farmer, was born at New London, Canada, January 5, 1851, and died at Madison, Nebraska, November 23, 1930; his ancestry was Irish. Martha (Dilts) Dowling, his mother, whose ancestry was Scotch, was born at Wabash, Indiana, July 5, 1849, and died at Madison, October 30, 1911.

Mr. Dowling attended the high school at Madison, was a student at Fremont College. He was a student at the University of Nebraska from 1901 to 1903 where he was a member of the N Club and Alpha Theta Chi. He received a university letter in track and football..

Since 1908, when he was admitted to the bar, Mr. Dowling has been engaged in the practice of law at Madison in the following law firms: Allen & Dowling; Dowling, Warner & Moyer; Dowling, Theilen & Dougherty. He was county attorney of Madison County, 1915-17, 1917-19, and in 1924 was a candidate for judge of the Supreme Court of Nebraska. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Nebraska Bar Association, the Kiwanis Club, Nebraska State Historical Society, and the Nebraskana Society His fraternal organizations are Masons, Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias, and the Elks. His favorite sport is golf.

On August 21, 1906, he was married to Willa Cartha Allen at Madison. Mrs. Dowling, who was born at Ackley, Iowa, March 16, 1882, is the daughter of William V. Allen, United States senator, and is descended from Captain A. Allen, an officer in the American Revolution. Blanche (Mott) Allen, mother of Mrs. Dowling traces her ancestry to the American Revolution. She was born August 17, 1847. William V. Allen, father of Mrs. Dowling, was born January 28, 1847, in Madison County, Ohio, and died January 12, 1924. At the time of his death he was judge of the 9th Judicial District Court.

To Mr. and Mrs. Dowling were born four children, Imogene, July 4, 1907; Lyle Robert, January 4, 1909; John William, June 21, 1911; and Allen Vincent, February 4, 1913. Lyle is associate editor of the Omaha World Herald. John W. is a graduate student and instructor at the University of Wisconsin. Residence: Madison.

Lorin George Downing

Lorin George Downing, a resident of Nebraska for the past 45 years, was born at Juneau, Wisconsin, July 28, 1883, the son of George and Lavinia (Skinner) Downing. His father, who is vice president of the Peerless Laundry Company of Los Angeles, California, was born at Bristol, Vermont, January 27, 1854. His mother was born in Nova Scotia, November 7, 1853.

Mr. Downing received his education in the Kearney High School, Kearney, Nebraska, and the Chicago Business College. After his return from business college, Mr. Downing clerked for his father who was operating the George H. Downing Lumber and Coal Yards, which is now the Tollefsen and Elliott Lumber and Coal Company. He has been president and general manager of the Kearney Laundry and Dry Cleaning Company at Kearney for the past 27 years. He is a member of the Kearney Chamber of Commerce and Rotary Club, and holds membership in the Red Cross and St. Luke Episcopal Church. He is a member of the Elks, Masons, and the Kearney Country Club.

He was married at Kearney, June 18, 1905, to Armada Maddux who was born at Buda, Nebraska, in October, 1887. They have two children, Rollin, born August 3, 1906, who married Bernice Bailey; and Willis, born September 22, 1907. They are both connected in business with their father. Residence: Kearney.

Dora Goodson Doyle

Dora G. Doyle was born at Birmingham, Van Buren County, Iowa, the daughter of Solomon and Elizabeth (Harris) Goodson. Her father was a real estate dealer. Her mother was extremely active in religious affairs.

Mrs. Doyle attended the public school at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and later was a student at the Birmingham College. Since 1921 she has been policewoman at Lincoln, Lancaster County, Nebraska. She has lived in this state for the past 47 years. She is a member of the International Association of Policewomen; the Red Cross; Social Welfare Society; and the Fraternal Aid Union.

She is a member of the Young Women's Christian Association, and the Women's Christian Temperance Union. She is affiliated with St. Paul's Methodist Episcopal Church of Lincoln. She is a Republican.

She was united in marriage with Shelton Edward Doyle at Ottumwn, Iowa, May 29, 1870. Mr. Doyle, who was a contractor, was born at Clayton, Illinois, and died at Lincoln, May 29, 1899. Five children were born to them: Harry, who married Elizabeth Ryan, and who died September 12, 1928; Mabel, who married George Vander-

pool; Irene, who died in 1884; James Shelton, who married Virginia Nicholas; and Edwin Eugene who married Margaret Barnes. Residence: Lincoln.

James Bartholomew Doyle

J. B. Doyle, merchant, was born at Ponca, Nebraska, April 23, 1891, son of Bartholomew and Margaret Eletha (Burke) Doyle. His father was born in Chatham, Canada, March 20, 1853, and died in Ponca, December 6, 1912. His mother, who was born at Galena, Illinois, April 9, 1853, is of Irish descent.

Upon the completion of his elementary education in the Ponca public school, J. B. Doyle attended Ponca High School, graduating in 1909. He was married to Ethel Lione Rice at Ponca, January 14, 1914. Mrs. Doyle was born in Dixon County, Nebraska, August 20, 1893. There are four children, Margaret Elvira, born May 18, 1916; Mary Phyllis, born September 2, 1917; James Elmer, born May 23, 1921, and Elizabeth Ann, born October 17, 1925.

Mr. Doyle has always resided in Dixon County, and after leaving school worked for ten years for William Lester. For the past twelve years he has been the owner and operator of his own meat market at Ponca. He is a Democrat. He was a member of the Home Guard during the World War, and is a member of the Red Cross. A Catholic, he attends St. Joseph's Church and is a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Woodmen of the World. Residence: Ponca.

Louis Frederick Doyle

Louis Frederick Doyle, clergyman, and educator, was born at St. Louis, Missouri, February 27, 1891. He is the son of John L. and Adelia B. (Lyons) Doyle, the former a miner, born in Ireland, who came to America about 1865. He was born in 1844, and died at St. Louis, in April, 1905. His wife, Adelia, was born in County Mayo, Ireland, in December, 1850, and came to America when a young girl.

Father Doyle was graduated from Yeatman High School at St. Louis, in June, 1910, and entered St. Louis University, where he received his A. B. in 1921, and his A. M. in 1927. He was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood on June 16, 1926. He is an author of considerable note, and the following are some of his more outstanding works: Dark Roses (drama); France (drama); The Master-Builder (poem); Renunciation (poem), and Courage (poem), all of which were written between 1925-28. He is associate professor of English literature at Creighton University.

Father Doyle is interested in amateur dramatics. He is an honorary member of the Knight of Columbus, a member of the Jesuit Educational Association, and of the Nebraskana Society. Residence: Omaha.

Hugh Drake

Hugh Drake, lawyer and member of the Nebraska State Railway Commission, was born at Humphrey, Nebraska, August 3, 1891. His parents, Royal and Florence (Henderson) Drake, were of Colonial ancestry. The former was born at Muscatine, Iowa, October 25, 1859, and the latter in Illinois, October 12, 1866.

Mr. Drake was graduated from Humphrey High School in 1907, and entered the law school of the University of Nebraska. While still in school he took the state bar examination, and was admitted to practice by the Supreme Court of Nebraska in 1914.

In 1923 he was elected county attorney of Buffalo County on the Republican ticket, serving until 1927. Over a period of years he has been active in Republican county central committee work. In December 1928 he resigned from the practice of law to become secretary of the Nebraska State Railway Commission. He was elected a member of the commission in 1931, for a term of six years. He is a member of the Nebraska State Bar Association, also.

He was married to Bonnie Hess at Wayne, Nebraska, on December 29, 1925. Mrs. Drake was born at Chambers, Nebraska, May 12, 1900. There is one son, Hugh Hess, born April 30, 1928. They are members of St. Mathews Episcopal Church at Lincoln.

During the World War Mr. Drake served three years with rank from private to first lieutenant. Since leaving the service in 1919 he has been a member of the American Legion and the Reserve Officers Association. A Mason for the past twenty years, he has been an Elk for 10 years, and a member of the Kiwanis Club since 1922. His sport is golf and his hobby is mechanics. Residence: Lincoln.

Oscar Andrew Drake

A leading professional man at Kearney, Nebraska, Oscar Andrew Drake is successfully engaged in the practice of law there. He was born at Humphrey, Nebraska, November 22, 1897, the son of Royal Prentice and Florence (Henderson) Drake, the former a lawyer at Muscatine, Iowa.

Mr. Drake was graduated from the high school at Humphrey, Nebraska, in 1914, and in 1921, was awarded the LL. B. degree at the University of Nebraska, where he was a member of the debating team and held membership in Phi Alpha Delta, Delta Sigma Rho, and Sigma Nu. He was admitted to the bar on November 20, 1918, and has been practicing at Kearney, Nebraska, ever since. He was the youngest man to ever pass the bar examination in the state of Nebraska.

He is a member of the Nebraska State Bar Association, is affiliated with the First Presbyterian Church of Kearney, and holds membership in the Kearney Chamber of Commerce and the Kearney Country Club. He is a member of the Royal Highlanders and of Kearney Chapter Number 23, Mount Hebron Commandery Number 12, Knights Templar, all bodies of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. His sports include golfing, basketball, and trout fishing.

He was united in marriage with Miriam Eckhardt at Virogqua, Wisconsin, August 20, 1927. Mrs. Drake, whose ancestry is Scotch and German, was born at Sylvan, Wisconsin, August 12, 1903. Mr. Drake has been chairman of the Republican Central Committee in Buffalo County, Nebraska, for several years. Residence: Kearney.

Robert Zale Drake

Robert Zale Drake, bridge builder, inventor and scientist, was born at Holton, Kansas, September 11, 1869, son of George W. and Martha M. (Parrott) Drake. George W. Drake was born at Zanesville, Ohio, September 8, 1832, and died at Holton, Kansas, August 19, 1899. He was a ranchman, contractor and banker, and was admitted to the bar, although he never practiced. He served in the Civil War from 1861-65. His ancestry was English. His wife, Martha M. Parrott, was born at Coshocton, Ohio, November 10, 1841, and died at Holton, March 22, 1909. Prior to her marriage she was a school teacher. She was of Irish descent.

Robert Z. Drake attended elementary schools from 1874-80 and was graduated from Holton High School in 1885. He attended a short term at Campbell University at Holton, Kansas, and has since been in the bridge building business. He was married to Minnie De Bra Miles at Kansas City, Missouri, June 6, 1893. She was born at Winchester, Indiana, July 6, 1865, and died at Redlands, California, May 30, 1900. She was of English descent. There are two children of this marriage, Grace, born Jan-

nary 16, 1897, who married Gottardo Tenchini, and Mary, born September 16, 1901, who married Peter Kiewit. Mr. Drake was married to Margaret Jean Truland at Omaha, on September 5, 1900. Mrs. Drake was born at Aberdeen, Mississippi, September 20, 1862. Before her marriage she was an accountant. Her ancestry is Irish.

Mr. Drake has been building bridges for the past forty years, approximately, and has not been connected with any association or combination during that time, but acts and bids entirely independent of other concerns. He was the originator of the standardized bridge, and the inventor of the transverse joist standardized bridge, as well as the multiple punch used in its manufacture. During his career he has erected more than thirty thousand bridges between the Mississippi River and the Pacific coast. He is also the inventor of the steel substructure pile, which, while being driven, picks up and attaches to itself two earthen cores, thereby making it possible to secure a perfect substructure for bridges, buildings, etc. There are now standing more than twenty-five thousand bridges on these steel pile substructures. Probably ninety-five per cent of the steel bridges in Nebraska are on this type of piling.

He was an early, if not the first observer of what may be called the negative or expulsive actions of wood cells when they are the cells of a piece of lumber, and first made commercially practicable the use and benefit to be had from this negative or expulsive cell action. The process, Called Cold Seasoning of Lumber was discovered by Mr. Drake. He invented the machinery, appliances and designed the standardized structures necessary in the art of cold seasoning. By this method lumber can be made 100% stronger, very much tougher, brighter in color and lighter in weight than by any other known process. It does not readily decay.

Mr. Drake is the owner of the Standard Bridge Company and the Standard Sesoning Society. He is not generally an officer in corporations in which he is interested. He is admitted to practice bridge and structural engineering in states requiring it. He has written newspaper articles and letters on steel pile substructures and on standardized bridge construction, and also on cold sesoning of lumber.

In politics, he is a Progressive. He is a member of the First Methodist Church of Omaha, and of the Masons and Elks. In communities where he has much business he belongs to the Chamber of Commerce. He is also a member of the United Commercial Travelers, and the Nebraskana Society.

His hobby is work for others. He believes that exhausting toil for human beings makes them in each act stronger and better men. He has had more happiness in life than any person known to him. He believes that most of the sorrow of the world comes from people who are living in some materially fine state trying to arouse in others admiration and consequent envy of this state of living. Residence: Omaha.

Francis S. Drath

Francis S. Drath was born at Herndon, Kansas, August 30, 1904, the son of F. H. and Mercedes (Miller) Drath. He was graduated from the Herndon Public School in 1917, and in 1921 was graduated from high school in Decatur County, Kansas. He was awarded his A. B. degree at the University of Nebraska in 1925.

He became a newspaper reporter in 1925, and two years later entered the editorial field. At the present time he is associate editor of the Nebraska State Journal at Lincoln. He has lived in Nebraska for the past 10 years.

On June 20, 1927, he was united in marriage with Pauline E. Campbell at Lincoln. Mrs. Drath, who is a designer, was born at Lincoln. Mr. Drath is a member of the Nebraskana Society. He is independent in politics. Residence: Lincoln.

Thomas Joseph Dredla

Thomas Joseph Dredla, distinguished lawyer of Saline County, has taken a prominent part in community affairs at Crete for some years. He was born at Crete, November 21, 1892, the son of Anton and Bessie (Drasky) Dredla. His father, who was engaged in the banking and insurance business for many years, was born at Zdar, Czechoslovakia, December 1, 1868, and died at Crete, May 26, 1931; he came to America on May 15, 1877. His mother was born in Czechoslovakia, August 16, 1870.

Mr. Dredla was graduated from Crete High School in 1911, and in 1915 received the LL. B. degree from the University of Nebraska. He is attorney for the Crete State Bank, the Farmers State Bank at Kramer, Nebraska, the Crete Conservative Mortgage Company at Crete, and the Crete Mills. He is a director in the Crete Loan and Savings Association, is a member of the Community Club and The Nebraskana Society.

During the World War Mr. Dredla was a four minute man and assisted in Red Cross and loan drives. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the Nebraska State Bar Association, and the Saline County Bar Association. He is a Mason, and a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Order of Eastern Star, and Z C. B. J. His hobby is travel.

A Republican, he has held the following public offices: county attorney of Saline County, 1918-23; 1927-31; chairman of the Republican county central committee, 1920-25; 1927-31; city attorney of Crete five years.

His marriage to Elsie Amelia Shebl was solemnized at Lincoln, Nebraska, September 15, 1915; she was born at Ravenna, Nebraska, March 1, 1893. Two children were born to them, Marion Elizabeth, July 20, 1919; and Thomas Joseph, Jr., November 20, 1921. Residence: Crete. (Photograph on Page 345).

Albert Vernon Dresher

Albert Vernon Dresher was born at Lock Haven, Pennsylvania, August 17, 1874, of a family of pioneer settlers in that state. His father, Samuel Dresher, was born at Centre Hall, Centre County, Pennsylvania, April 1, 1844, the third generation of the family in America. He served in the Civil War three years and eight months, and was wounded in the Battle of the Wilderness, later coming to Nebraska where he established a building contracting business. He died in Omaha, March 25, 1907.

Samuel Dresher married Helen Maurey, who was born at Williamsgrove, Pennsylvania, November 14, 1851. Her father was born at Frenchville, Pennsylvania, of French and German parentage, and her mother in Berkes County, of German and Holland-Dutch ancestry. Helen Maurey Dresher died at Clarinda, Iowa, August 1, 1915.

For more than thirty years Albert V. Dresher has been in business in Omaha. He is president of Dresher Brothers, Inc., and president of Dresher The Tailor, and is a member of the American Chemical Company, the Chamber of Commerce, the Omaha Executives Club, the Rotary Club and the National Association of Dyers and Cleaners of Washington, D. C., of which he is vice president.

He is also a member of the Mundatechnical Society of America and his fraternal organizations include the Modern Woodmen of America, the Woodmen of the World, the Knights of Pythias, the Elks and Eagles. He is a member of the Masons, and of the Scottish Rite and Shrine. His clubs are the Omaha Athletic and the Happy Hollow. He is a Lutheran and a Democrat.

On November 30, 1898, he was united in marriage to Nellie E. Garver, at Grant City, Missouri. Mrs. Dresher was born at Grant City, December 26, 1881, and is of German descent. Residence: Omaha.

THOMAS JOSEPH DREDLA

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