Lacy settled in Sioux County, Nebraska, in 1897. He took a homestead here, but has been engaged in the livery business. He was married in 1900 to Miss Mabel Lowry of Harrison,. Nebraska, and they have one, son. His father took a homestead in Sioux County in 1895. Mr. Lacy is a Democrat and is serving his second term as Deputy Sheriff of this county.

      CONRAD PARSONS was born in Clearwater, Nebraska, October 6, 1880, where he lived until his fifth year, when he came to Sioux County with his parents, his father having homesteaded and gone into ranching in this county. He attended Chadron Academy and the Wesleyan University, graduating from the Business Department of the latter institution in 1901. He took a homestead in Sioux County under the Kinkaid law and has a ranch stocked with about one hundred head of cattle. Mr. Parsons is a Republican, has been County Superintendent of Sioux County and is now serving his. second year as Deputy County Clerk.

 

      About two-thirds of the inhabitants of Stan ton are foreigners. The first foreign element consisted of Germans, who settled on the Humbug in the fall of 1865. The early settlers comprised people from Wisconsin, Indiana, Iowa, Ohio, Illinois and New York. In 1881 the census showed 1,994 people, of which 700 were school children. The last census gives 6,959 people and 2,699 school children. Stanton, the county capital, is populated by 1,052 people. There are fifty-five school districts and an equal number of buildings, all of which are well furnished with supplies. The entire school property is estimated at $48,391.81. The majority of the schools have a term lasting six to nine months. Stanton County was organized in 1867 and is one of the smallest in the state, being 432 square miles in area. The first settlers were Charles and Mitchell Sharp, who staked out their claims in the summer of 1865 on Humbug Creek, after which they returned to Omaha. The Scott and Hoffman families came next, and they also chose a location on this creek. In 1869 George Graves started the first county store in this settlement. Ida Hoffman, born in 1867, was the first native of Stanton County. Lewis Ley, who came in 1871, was the first lawyer. The first fee he received was five pounds of sausage in return for clearing a client. The numerous streams cause a great variety of soil throughout the county, although a rich, black loam is the predominating kind. Eighty-six per cent is tillable, while the rest comprises a sandy strip south of the Elkhorn. The people are engaged in stock raising and mixed farming. There are 1,123 farms, and a large amount of money is expended in implements and machinery. The value of land has doubled within the past few years.

      AUGUST FUCHS was born in Germany, July 1, 1860. He came to Monee, Will County, Illinois, in 1866 and in the fall of 1870 removed with his parents to Fremont, Nebraska. . He attended the Fremont public schools and the Fremont Normal, moved to Stanton, Nebraska, in 1889 and engaged in the hardware business. He was elected County Treasurer of Stanton County in 1901 and re-elected to that office in 1903.

      W. T. McFARLAND was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, January 10, 1845, and came to Stanton County in 1868. He served three years in Company K, Tenth Indiana Infantry, and in 1873 married Miss Adeline Robinson. He is affiliated with the Republican party and has held the office of Postmaster practically from 1881 to 1893, also Deputy Sheriff from 1898 to 1900. He is serving as Clerk of the District Court of Stanton County.

      W. H. HYLAND was born in Dodge County, Wisconsin, October 23, 1868. In 1900 Mr. Hyland settled in Stanton and on January 1, 1903, married Miss Angie M. Beard. He was educated in the Fremont Normal and the Omaha Commercial Schools and took postgraduate work in the Fremont Normal in 1895 and 1896. He is a member of the Democratic party and is now serving his second term as County Superintendent.

      ALBERT PILGER, the County Clerk of Stanton County, was born August 31, 1876, at Stanton, Nebraska. He is a merchant at Pilger, Nebraska, and his father, Adam Pilger, was an early settler, coming here about 1870. He was also a merchant and was Treasurer of Stanton County for two terms. Mr. Pilger is a Democrat and was married to Pauline Newman June 2, 1903.

      N. F. KING was born October 19, 1860, at Springfield, Illinois. He came to Stanton in 1892 and has been Chief of Police of Stanton for five years. He is serving his second term as County Sheriff and has charge of the water system of Stanton. Mr. King is associated with the Democratic party and was married to Estella Calkins, May 20, 1884.

      IRVING N. VINING was born in Woodbine, Harrison County, Iowa. He has been a resident of Stanton, Nebraska, since 1887, and has been four times elected to the office of Probate Judge. He is a member of the Democratic party and was married September 24, 1895, to Miss Delia E. Pelton. He has been engaged in the real estate, loan and insurance business during the past fifteen years.

      JOHN SCHINDLER was born in Germany, December 27, 1859. In 1886 he came to the United States and, after remaining at Hooper a short time settled in Stanton. In 1884 he married Miss Fredericke Schmelzer in Germany. He is a Democrat in politics and has been City Treasurer a number of years. He holds the office of Mayor of Stanton.

 

     The surface of Thayer County is composed of rolling plain, except in the northeastern part, where there is some rough land. There are 576 square miles of land, 80 per cent of which is capable of being cultivated. Large quarries of building stone are worked along the Little Blue and Rose Creeks. The former stream has a very swift current and strong power. Water is so plentiful that every township is drained. Corn is the principal crop grown on the 353,684 acres devoted to agriculture. Cherries, peaches, and plums are successfully grown. A good quality of brick clay supplies material for four brickyards. and there are also four flouring mills. For twenty-five years before its organization, in 1871, Thayer