county, and was, without doubt, rightfully elected, but counted out by about 3,000 votes. He was renominated by the same party for the same office in 1892, but failed of election. In 1896 he was nominated by the independents and democrats for commissioner of public lands and buildings, and was elected by the handsome plurality of 11,412. Commissioner Wolfe is familiarly called by his intimate friends and associates "Uncle Jake," and is popular far beyond party lines or political distinctions. He has been for many years a familiar figure in state meetings of the board of agriculture and the fine stock breeders, and maybe justly said to be one of the most popular public men of Nebraska.

ROF. W. R. JACKSON, state superintendent of public instruction was born in McHenry county, Illinois, in 1860. He worked on the farm in the summer, and attended school in the winter. Having decided when quite young to prepare for teaching, he entered the high school, where he applied himself with great diligence and was the foremost of his class. After teaching for a few years he entered Evansville Seminary, where he spent five years, at times teaching a few classes and keeping the public library to help defray expenses. He graduated with class honors, since which he has had two years' experience as teacher in academic work. The last nine years he has spent in Nebraska. He was principal of one high school for six years, and, when elected by an overwhelming majority to the county superin-

tendency of one of our largest counties, having two hundred schools, his resignation as principal of schools was reluctantly accepted. He was re-elected county superintendent by a large majority in 1895. Professor Jackson is acknowledged by leading educators to be one of the best county superintendents in the state. He

was appointed on the state normal board by Governor Holcomb, and this appointment met the hearty approval of the educational public. In 1886 he was married to Miss Bernice M. Thompson, of Crystal Lake, Illinois, who is an accomplished lady. This union has been blessed with three bright children, a boy and two girls. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episco-

pal church. Mr. Jackson will be the eighth superintendent of public instruction for Nebraska and is the first to defeat a republican candidate. He has at heart the cause of education, and his energetic, methodical persistence will be directed with the tact that has won his successes in the past and presents bright promise for the future.

ON. WILLIAM F. PORTER, of Clarks, Nebraska, the new secretary of state, was born in Champaign, Illinois, June 1, 1861, and was raised on a farm. With the exception of two years in railroading he has followed agricultural and grazing pursuits all his life. Coming to Nebraska in 1879 he purchased a farm near Clarks, where he has since resided. He was married in December, 1884, to Miss Lillie V. Yexley, of his native town in Illinois. Four children are the result of this happy marriage, their names being Clovis A., Kate B., William V., and Harold O. Having served two terms as justice of the peace in Merrick county, Mr. Porter was elected a member of the state legislature in 1890, and served with such credit to himself that he was re-elected in 1892, and made his mark by becoming the originator and sponsor of two very important legislative acts. The "Australian Ballot Law" was introduced and championed by him, and stands as one of the mile stones in electoral reform in Nebraska. He was chairman of the committee on railroads in 1893, and prepared the "Maximum Freight Bill," which became a law with the signature of Governor Crounse. He was tendered the

nomination for state senator of his district in 1894, but declined. He was nominated at the state convention of his party in 1896 on the first ballot, for secretary of state, and was triumphantly elected by a majority of 14,564. Mr. Porter cast his first vote on presidential

issues in 1884 for James G. Blaine, but ever since has been an ardent adherent of the independent or populist party. He is a plain, straightforward, honest man, respected by all, and very popular among his political associates.
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