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      William T. Nelson, one of nine Representatives from the Tenth District, comprising Douglas county, was born in Kirkwood, Illinois, in 1862. He was educated in Monmouth College and studied law in the University of Kansas. In 1889 he located in Omaha and commenced the practice of law. Finding many opportunities for study and research in the libraries of the city, he followed his natural inclinations for writing. His digest of Nebraska Reports was published in 1892 and a supplement of the same in 1897. His first law book was a treatise on divorce and separation, published in Chicago in 1895, and is now used in all the states. Later he was employed to write various articles for the American and English Encyclopaedia of Law, one of the greatest legal publications of the day. Now he devotes his entire time to the practice of law.

      He was married in 1883 to Miss Minnie L. Gowdy, a college mate, who has been an able assistant in his literary work.

      Mr. Nelson has never sought nor held a public office before, but has always taken an interest in state politics and in municipal affairs.

      Ernest Bert Perry, Representative from tile Sixty-fourth District, Furnas county, has the distinction of being the youngest member in the House. He was born in Haskins, Ohio, August 11, 1876. In 1880 his parents removed to Gosper county, Nebraska, where they took up a homestead. In March, 1889, they settled in Cambridge, where they still reside. Mr. Perry received his elementary education in the public schools and the High school of Cambridge. After completing the High school course he entered the University of Nebraska, where he was graduated in the literary course and then commenced time study of law in the law department and was graduated in the class of 1899, with the degree of LL. B. While in attendance at the University Mr. Perry was chosen one of three students to represent Nebraska against Kansas where there were over sixty competitors. After being admitted to the bar, he returned to his home town and there has since been in the practice of his profession, Representative Perry is holding his first term of office and is the chairman of the Committee on Miscellaneous Subjects.
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     Joseph H. Ramsey, Representative from the Thirty-second District, Gage county, Nebraska, was born January 31, 1843, in Washington county, Missouri. When two years of age his parents removed to Davis county, Iowa, then to Appanoose county, where he was educated in the pioneer schools of the time. He was reared on a farm, and upon the breaking out of the Civil War enlisted in Company I, 3d Iowa Cavalry, and was four years in the service, nine months of which time he was confined in Andersonville prison. After the close of the war he returned to Iowa, and in 1868 removed to Taylor county, and there remained until the spring of 1880, when he came to Nebraska and located in Gage county, where he purchased land, and since has been actively engaged in farming and stock raising. His farm consists of 464 acres. Mr. Ramsey is a Republican. He is now serving his first term in the Legislature, as well as his first term in any public office. He was married March 4, 1864, to Miss Sarah J. Evans, and has a family consisting of four sons and one daughter. His home is near Filley, Nebraska.

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