member of the firm of Wright & Wright, lawyers, at Gering, Nebraska. Mr. Wright. was married June 17, 1903, to Miss Minnie M. Fink of Scott's Bluff County and they have one daughter.

      W. E. MORSE is a native of Illinois, having been born in Nora, May 29, 1859. He removed with his parents to Iowa in 1876, came to Hooper, Nebraska, in 1880, and six years later to Scott's Bluff County, where he homesteaded and has since made his home. He was married to Miss Luella V. Newman of Darlington, Wisconsin, and they have one daughter. Mr. Morse has a ranch of 560 acres in Banner County, Nebraska, which he has well stocked with horses. He is a member of the Republican party, is Deputy Treasurer of Scott's Bluff County and Director of the Gering Irrigation District. He has also been a school director and Deputy Sheriff of this county.

      M. BRISTOL was born on a farm near Alta, Illinois, November 24, 1861. His father is a veteran of the Black Hawk War and still lives on the place he settled upon in 1832. Mr. Bristol gained his education in the public schools and the high school of Peoria, Illinois. In 1886 he came to Scott's Bluff County and homesteaded. He now owns a half section of irrigated farming land in Scott's Bluff County. Mr. Bristol is a Democrat in politics and has been Mayor of Gering and of Mitchell, Nebraska; also Deputy Sheriff and is now the Deputy Clerk of Scott's Bluff County.

      OSCAR W. GARDNER was born in Montgomery County, Illinois, January 24, 1860, and graduated from the Academy at Hillsboro, Illinois, in 1881. In 1884 he came to Broken Bow, Nebraska, and one year later to what is now Scott's Bluff County. He helped to divide old Cheyenne County and to organize Scott's Bluff County, and in the winter of 1886 and 1887 formed a joint stock company and laid out the town of Gering, of which he was the first postmaster. Mr. Gardner is identified with irrigation interests in this county and owns considerable land which he has under irrigation and cultivation. He is Secretary and Attorney of the Gering and Central Irrigation Districts. He studied law in an office in Gering and was admitted to the bar in 1892. He is a member of the Republican party and has served as County Judge of Scott's Bluff County, and at present is Mayor of Gering.

      C. B. WHIPPLE is a native of New Hampshire, having been born November 29, 1843, in New Boston, where he lived until his twenty-fifth year, when he removed to Illinois. In 1874 he went to Washington County, Kansas, and the next year to Nodaway County, Missouri. He came to Boone County, Nebraska, in 1882 and in 1887 settled in Scott's Bluff County, where he took a homestead and has been engaged in the mercantile business. He enlisted in Company K of the Seventh New Hampshire in 1861 and was mustered out October 29, 1864. Mr. Whipple is a Republican and has twice served the county as its Treasurer.

 

      Seward is an agricultural county, and as a consequence of its deep black soil and the abundant water supply furnished by the Big Blue, West Blue and Lincoln, Middle and Beaver and Plum Creeks, all the streams are lined with beautiful trees. There are great many wells, both surface and artesian. The principal industries are farming, dairying and fattening of cattle and hogs. In 1899 Seward took first place in its production of oats, which was over 2,000,000 bushels. Quite an acreage is planted to sugar beets. There are 2,285 farms, 358 of which have recently changed owners. There are seven flour and grist mills and two brick yards. Seward was organized in 1867. Its original name was Green, in honor of Senator Green. William H. Seward's name was afterward chosen because Mr. Green proved a traitor to the Union in the Civil War. The county seat is also Seward, and it has a population of 1,970 people. The county population is 15,690, of which 5,718 are school children No school has a term of less than six months The first settlement was made by Daniel Morgan and sons, William and Thomas and Lewis, in 1858. In 1863 homestead claims were taken up by Job Reynolds, Thomas L. Rodgers, Samuel Long and C. J. Neihardt. The second permanent settlement was made by Thomas West and son and Orian Johnson.

      J. M. CALDER was born in Clinton County, Iowa, May 26, 1863, whence he removed to Seward County. He received his education here, graduating from the high school in 1883. He farmed until 1889 and has since engaged in the mrecantile (sic) business. He is affiliated with the Democratic party, and has been Clerk of the District for four years.

      E. H. KOCH was born in Seward, Nebraska, March 25, 1871, of German parentage. He has spent all his life in Seward, teaching and farming, except three years when he was attending the Lincoln Normal College. He is a member of the Republican party and has held the office of County Superintendent since 1901.

      A. E. BAKER was born September 18, 1843, in Manchester, Indiana. He received his education in Gundry's Commercial College, Cincinnati, Ohio, and engaged in the live stock commission business there. In 1882 he came to Seward and is making a specialty of breeding fine stock. He is a member of the Independent party and has been elected County Assessor. He is of American parentage.

      J. M. SMILEY was born in McDonald County, Illinois, 1850, of Scotch-Irish parentage. In 1880 he came to Seward and engaged in farming, making his home there ever since. He is affiliated with the Republican party and has been elected Sheriff of the county.

     DON C. GWARTNEY was born in Mouckport, Indiana, September 4, 1862. In 1883 he removed to York County and in 1887 came to Seward where he has since made his home,