of Frederick Dow, of Otoe County, Neb.; Mary F., the wife of our subject; Celia, the wife of Joseph Kronk, and resides in Scioto County, Ohio; Josie, the wife of William Curtis, resides in Wayne County, Mich.; Matthias resides in Gosper County, Neb.; Caroline, the wife of Henry Pepper, resides in Lincoln County, Kan.; Madora, the wife of Charles Flick, resides in Omaha; Albert resides in Gosper County, Neb.; the deceased members of the family were Mildred, Fernando, Oscar and Royal.
    In the autumn of 1865 our subject with his wife and three children left Ohio for Cass County, Neb., traveling the entire distance with a team and covered wagon, camping out where night overtook them. They were en route for seven weeks. For fifteen months after their arrival in the State they lived at Eight Mile Grove, Cass County. In the spring of 1867 he settled on his present farm, and has devoted his entire time and energy from that time to the present to the improvement of his home, and the success that has attended his efforts has been almost phenomenal.
   Our subject is the son of John and Catherine (Glarden) Magney. They were both natives of France. and emigrated to America and settled in Hamilton County, Ohio, at an early date. Of all the children born to them, the following only survive: Jane, now the wife of Charles Mougly, resides in Scioto County; John Eli resides in the same county; Matilda, now the wife of Louis Jaques, resides in Dearborn County, Ind.; Peter is in Ohio. The deceased members of the family are Ezra, Phylissa and Charles. To Mr. and Mrs. Magney a family of six children has been born, named as follows: the son George is in Omaha, engaged in the practice of law; Wesley; Pernet M.; Elizabeth, the wife of Creed Harris, who resides in Cass County; and Reno A. A son, Cortes, is dead.
   The subject of our sketch is a truly self-made man. Coming to the West at an early day, having but slender resources and nothing to depend on but his own efforts and exertions, he has succeeded in accumulating a splendid property, represented by the 160 acres of highly cultivated land, with his handsome residence and its elegant surroundings. In his wife he has found a most earnest counselor and thorough helpmate. She has borne her share of the privations and toils always experienced by the wife of a pioneer with much bravery and fortitude. In addition to her household cares she has devoted much time to the rearing and education of her children, until she now can refer to them with feelings of the greatest pride, and they certainly do her justice. Herself and husband are members of the United Brethren Church, and both take a lively interest in all matters pertaining to the religious, educational and social advancement of their friends and neighbors. In politics Mr. Magney is a Democrat, has served on the School Board of the district in which he lives several times, and in all things is a friend of progress.
   A view of the Magney homestead is presented on an accompanying page.

RANK DOBNEY. The farming and stock-raising interests of Tipton Precinct find a most energetic and successful representative in the person of the subject of this sketch, who states that he came to Nebraska with nothing but an old plug team. He is now the Supervisor of Tipton, and is numbered among the leading farmers of Southern Nebraska. He is the owner of 320 acres of finely improved land, with a handsome new residence, substantial barns and out-buildings, shown elsewhere, a goodly assortment of live stock, and all the other appurtenances which the progressive agriculturist naturally gathers around him. He makes a specialty of stock feeding, having about 150 head of cattle each year, besides horses and swine.
   In connection with his farm buildings Mr. Dobney has a new Perkins-Geared mill, with a 16-foot wheel, six-horse power, feed grinder, besides water tanks in all his yards, which not only supply this indispensable article to the farm animals wherever needed. but by this means water is also conveyed to the house by a force pump. Not far from the buildings is a fine apple orchard of 600 trees, and there is upon the farm the regulation grove and windbrake, covering probably six acres of ground. The farm machinery is of the latest improved pat-

tern, and the cattle are given their rations by means of a patent feeder. The farm is mostly enclosed with hedge and wire fencing. As a stock-raiser Mr. Dobney is especially a success, this industry appearing to be one to which he is naturally adapted. He ships annually about seven carloads of graded cattle directly to the market at Omaha, and 200 head of hogs. His horses are mostly of the Norman breed, of which he usually keeps from seventeen to twenty head, making a display of equines scarcely equaled, and certainly not excelled, along the southern line of the county. Mr. Dobney is conceded to be the heaviest stock-breeder in this region.
   Next in importance to the subject of a biographical record is the source from which he drew his origin. The Dobney family is of English descent, and the parents of our subject, Richard and Elizabeth (Bell) Dobney, were natives of Staffordshire, whence they emigrated to America in 1854. The paternal grandfather, William Dobney, spent his entire life in his native England, prosecuting agriculture, and lived to the advanced age of ninety-three years. On the mother's side Grandfather Bell, also a well-to do English farmer, died at the age of over eighty years.
   The father of our subject, like most of his ancestors, was reared to farming pursuits, which he followed before emigrating to America. Soon after landing he made his way to Northeastern Ohio, settling on a tract of land near the city of Cleveland, where he lived one year. Then, pushing further westward, he rented a farm in Adams County, Ill., near Quincy, where he sojourned for a period of eight years. Thence, in the spring of 1863, he crossed the Mississippi, and purchased land in the vicinity of Tabor, Mills Co., Iowa. There he improved a farm of 120 acres, and labored successfully as a tiller of the soil, adding to his real estate until he is now the owner of 280 acres, all improved, provided with good buildings. and forming a comfortable modern homestead. The dwelling is noticeable as being more than ordinarily fine for a farm house, and was erected at a cost of $5,000. He also is largely interested in the buying and feeding of cattle, having all the necessary conveniences. The elder Dobney also owns 320 acres near Superior, Nuckolls Co., Neb. He is now sixty-one years old, and his estimable partner is sixty-four. They are active members of the Congregational Church, and people highly respected in their community. The father during the progress of the late Civil War proffered his services as a soldier of the Union Army, but on account of a defective leg was pronounced ineligible.
   To the parents of our subject there were born five children, namely: Frank, our subject; Mary E. and Sarah, residents of Iowa; John, who died when young, and George, who is living with his parents. Frank was born in Lincolnshire, England, July 19, 1849, and was a lad five years of age when he accompanied his parents to America. They embarked on a sailing-vessel at Liverpool, and after a voyage of six weeks and three days landed in New York City. Thence they proceeded at once to Ohio, where they lived one year, and then to Adams County, Ill., where the father purchased a tract of land, and pursued his occupation of farming.
   Our subject, in common with his brothers and sisters, studied his first lessons in the district schools, and was fourteen years old when the family, leaving the Prairie State, migrated to Mills County, Iowa. He assisted his father in the various employments around the homestead until twenty-two years of age. In 1870 he started out for himself for the young State of Nebraska, making the journey overland with a team. Crossing the Missouri at Plattsmouth, he made his way southwestward to the vicinity of Weeping Water, and in that precinct purchased eighty acres of land from the Burlington Missouri River Railroad, contracting to pay therefor $11 per acre. He was without capital, and ran in debt for the whole of it.
   Mr. Dobney began the improvement of his purchase by breaking a portion of the prairie land, but remained here only a short time that year. The first year of his residence he harvested good crops, but the two years following the grasshoppers ate him out. He, however, held on to his little farm, although he naturally fell behind in his payments. He was given a continuance, and in due time found himself upon his feet. For six years his crops were remarkably bounteous, and in due time he

discovered that the stock business would probably be fully as profitable, if not easier, than the tilling of the soil. He commenced the feeding of cattle with excellent results, and in 1877 added to his real estate by the purchase of another eighty acres. He brought his quarter-section of land to a good state of cultivation, provided it with neat and substantial buildings, the regulation grove and orchard, and the smaller fruits in their season. He sold this property in the fall of 1882 at $40 per acre, which all must admit was at a very reasonable profit. Later he invested a part of his capital in his present homestead in Tipton Precinct, making the purchase on the 25th of December of the above year. This then was but a raw prairie, and he repeated the experiment of constructing a farm. He has now all but forty acres under cultivation, has put up a residence and made other improvements. A few years will serve to make this one of the most complete homesteads in this part of the county.
   The wife of our subject, in her girlhood Miss Ellen Stocpforth, was born in England, Feb. 8, 1851, and they were married in Plattsmouth, Neb., Oct. 15, 1875. Mrs. Dobney was reared to womanhood in her native land, and came to America with her parents in 1874. The latter, William and Eliza Stocpforth, are now residents of Cass County, Neb. The six children born of this marriage were named respectively: Alice, George, Richard, Frederick, Frank and Charles. They are all at home with their parents, and form a very interesting and intelligent group, the eldest being thirteen years of age, and the youngest two.
   Mr. Dobney grew up, as it were, under the wing of the Republican party, of whose principles he is an earnest supporter. He has been quite prominent in the political affairs of Cass County, being sent as a delegate for a number of years to the County and State Conventions, and was a delegate to the Congressional Convention in the fall of 1888. He has represented his precinct in the County Board of Supervisors for the past eight years, a record which does him much credit. He has been nearly since the time of his first residence here a member of the School Board of his district, and is also at present holding the office of Constable. Socially, he belongs to Lodge No. 160. I. O. O. F., at Elmwood, and is also a Knight of Pythias. It will thus be seen that he is eminently worthy of mention in a work of this kind. and his whole career has been one to which his children may revert with pride in years to come.

ILLIAM JAMES. The history of this gentleman, who was one of the first settlers of Stove Creek Precinct, is a forcible illustration of what may be accomplished by perseverance and resolution, under the most adverse circumstances and financial discouragements. His farm of eighty acres of land lies on section 26, township 10, range 10, and his homestead, with its fine yard of ornamental trees and shrubbery, forms an attractive feature of the landscape. He was born at Highbridge, Somerset County, England, March 1, 1837. His grandfather, Joseph James, spent his early life in England, but later emigrated to Canada, and built a brewery in Toronto, where he succeeded well financially, remaining there until his death.
   John James, father of our subject was born and still lives in Highbridge, England, at the advanced age of seventy-eight years. He learned the cooper's trade, and at one time owned a small piece of property there, which he disposed of before it had increased in value by the rise of the price of real estate in that town. He married Miss Anna Tidball, who died in 1839, when only twenty-two years of age, leaving three children, namely: William, Henry and Frederic, of whom the latter two are deceased.
   William, of our sketch, was early deprived of a mother's care, and when only eight years of age went into service for a gentleman farmer, for whom he worked eight years. He had no schooling excepting such as he received by attending Sunday school twice every Sunday. He subsequently worked for another farmer a year, then decided to seek his fortune in America. Accordingly, in 1855, he sailed from Bristol on the ship "Osprey," disembarking in New York City after a voyage of five weeks. He then proceeded to Marcellus, Onondaga

Co., N. Y., where he lived two years, working at various occupations, and attended school a part of the time. In 1857 Mr. James moved still farther West, and located near Henry, in Marshall County, Ill., where he worked on a farm for several years. In 1863, having accumulated sufficient property to warrant him in taking a life companion, our subject was married, and, purchasing a farm of eighty acres, commenced to work for himself and bride. He toiled hard, and had the cheerful assistance of his good wife in all his labors, but for three successive seasons his crops were a failure. Determining to try his luck in a better farming country, Mr. James moved with his family, in 1870, to this State. He came overland with three teams and a wagon, performing the journey in three weeks. He crossed the Missouri River at Nebraska City, thence came to Stove Creek Precinct, where he had previously bought his present homestead. Scarcely any improvements had been made, and not a tree was to be found on the place. With willing hands and courageous heart he set to work to establish a home, first putting up a small house, the lumber for which he had to bring from an island in the Platte River. Again was our subject unfortunate in his business labors, and for three continuous years his crops were gathered by the grashoppers (sic), and he had to mortgage his place to tide him through the hard times, it taking him six or seven years to regain his losses. Since that time, however, fortune has smiled upon him, and prosperity greeted him at every turn. In 1880 he built a new barn, and four years later erected his present dwelling, a commodious and convenient house, neatly and tastily arranged and furnished. He has now a large grove of forest trees, a fine orchard, and has his front yard ornamented with cedar trees, taken from Government land on an island in the Platte River, which are kept neatly trimmed. Besides general farming and stock-raising, Mr. James pays special attention to horse-raising, having eight head of fine grade, one of which is one and one-half Clyde and three-fourths Norman breed.
   The maiden name of Mrs. James, to whom Mr. J. was married in Marshall County, Ill., May 29. 1864, was Sarah J. Smith. She was born in Durham, England, and came to America with her parents when a young child. To her and her husband have been born seven children, namely: John F., William H. (deceased), Frederic W., Etta May and Eddie L. (twins), Charles L. and Sydney R., all of whom are at home. Mr. James is a man having the universal respect and esteem of his fellow-townsmen. He is well informed on all general subjects, and takes much interest in township affairs, and has served for several years as a member of the School Board. He is a Democrat in his political views, and an earnest worker for that party. He has served as a member of the petit jury. Mr. James is a charter member of the Baptist Church, of Wabash, Cass County, and assisted in building it.

ENRY UMLAND, one of the most prosperous German farmers of Tipton Precinct, has by his industry and perseverance built up from a modest beginning a fine property, and is now in the enjoyment of the good things of life. Of German birth and ancestry, he first opened his eyes to the light in Prussia, Oct. 1, 1827, and was left an orphan when a little lad eight years of age. He made his home with his stepmother five years thereafter, then started out in life on his own account. He had only three years' schooling. He began learning the carpenter's trade at the age of thirteen, at which he worked until twenty years of age. About this time he entered the Prussian Army with others to guard against the invasion of the French in the Duchies of Holstein, Baden. etc. When his services were no longer needed in this direction he returned to civil life and resumed work at his trade.
   Young Umland, however, was ambitious of being and accomplishing something further than it seemed possible he could do on his native soil. He kept his eyes open to what was going on around him in the world, and from reading and hearsay had gained something of what an enterprising young man might accomplish in the United States. Accordingly in the spring of 1851 he took passage on a sailing-vessel, and after a tedious voyage of ninety days landed in New York City.
   From the metropolis our subject proceeded di-