Their five children included two sons and three daughters. They settled among the pioneers of Tazewell County, Ill., where our subject was reared to manhood and became entirely familiar with the various employments of farm life. His education was conducted in the district school, and he remained a member of the parental household until in the twenty-fourth year of his age, then, having made arrangements for the establishment of a home of his own, he was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Westmeyer, the wedding taking place in Peoria, Ill., March 12, 1865.

Mrs. Seng was born in Germany, in August. 1840, and is the daughter of Jacob and Catherine Westmeyer, who emigrated from the Fatherland about 1858. Their family consisted of ten children. The parents are now deceased. To Mr. and Mrs. Seng there have been born six children, two of whom, Otto S. and Anne C. E., died when two and one-half and fifteen years old respectively. The survivors are four sons--William H., Charles C., John W. and George E., who continue at home with their parents.

Mr. Seng continued in Illinois until the spring of 1884, then, determined upon a change of location, he crossed the Mississippi with his family and took up his residence in this county. He and his estimable wife are both. members of the German Methodist Episcopal Church, contributing liberally to its support, and being generally interested in those matters pertaining to the social and moral welfare of their community. Mr. Seng is a thorough and skillful farmer, and enjoys the confidence and esteem of his neighbors. His homestead forms one of the most pleasant and desirable among those of Clatonia Township, which is settled up by a class of people more than ordinarily intelligent.

EONARD S. AUSTIN. There are, perhaps, in the Western country more illustrations of the truth of the ancient legend which teaches there is more room, pleasure and ease at the summit of the social eminence than in any other place. The gentleman whose biography is herein sketched is a case in point; the only capital with which he started in life was a clear brain, sound body, and an independent, aspiring soul. He was born in Linn County, Iowa, upon the 14th of March, 1849, and is the son of Joseph and Sarah (Sutton) Austin. His father is a native of Lower Canada, his mother of Hardin County, Iowa. They became the parents of nine children, all of whom are living. The mother departed this life on the 27th of August, 1874, and left a memory of faithful, affectionate womanly life and character that will endure. Mr. Austin, Sr., contracted a second matrimonial alliance in 1875, the lady being Miss Alvira Sleeth, of Cass County, this State, where they at present reside.

Our subject was reared to manhood in his native county, received the best education obtainable in the schools of the district, with which his parents judiciously commingled the various duties of farm life and attention to stock, so that as he arrived at manhood he had mastered these important details, and instead of being nonplussed by incomprehensible minutia, he was enabled to start in life and operate his own farm after the manner of a master of such pursuits. He is at present the owner of 160 acres of good land, which has been brought to an almost perfect state of cultivation. Mr. Austin and family came to this farm in the month of March, 1878, having purchased it at the cost of $3.50 per acre. It was then in its original unbroken and unimproved condition, but that has long since given place to a newer and better order of things. There are few houses in the county more happily placed as regards situation, or better calculated by their arrangement to supply the essential factors of a true home. The farm buildings have been provided by the humanitarian thoughtfulness of our subject with such conveniences and arrangements as insure the greatest comfort to his stock.

If man is the creature of circumstance, as many would have us believe, then the circumstance which led to the union of our subject, and Miss Mary Nash, of Cass County, although, perhaps, fortuitous, was exceedingly happy and fortunate, for in the years that have passed since their marriage upon the 24th of September, 1874, the streams of life then united have commingled and known no division, and by mutual aid, encouragement, inspiration, en-

thusiasm, ambition and perseverance, they have risen to the position it is their pleasure to occupy to-day. Mrs. Austin is the daughter of John and Mary (Hilder) Nash. Her father died Sept. 20, 1887, at the age of sixty-seven years; her mother still resides in Otoe County. Mr. and Mrs. Austin are the parents of one child, who has received the name of Emory, and has attained the age of ten years.

The reputation of our subject is most enviable, both as a man, citizen or farmer. In the latter connection it is chiefly as regards his success with his stock. He is the owner of a very large number of fine hogs of the Poland-China variety, and has augmented his financial prosperity more from this branch of trade than any other. He is also the owner of some fine cattle and horses. As a citizen our subject is careful, so far as he is concerned, to aid in the election of only those men who will endeavor by their action while in office to advance the interests of the people, without regard to petty party politics; at the same time the Republican party usually receives his support. He is, with his wife, well received in society, and they are held in high regard by the community. He is connected with the fraternities of the K. of P. and I. O. O. F., and In both is much respected.

OHN H. CREAIG. Upon section 10 of Lincoln Township is situated the farm of one of Gage County's most excellent and worthy citizens, the property of the subject of this sketch. This farm is 160 acres in extent, and with the exception of a few acres is all under the plow. It contains some of the most excellent agricultural land in the district, and whatever natural advantages may be possessed, its value and efficiency have been greatly enhanced by the untiring and zealous labor that has been freely bestowed upon it by our subject.

 Mr. Creaig has been from his youth a farmer, and therefore comes to husbandry fully equipped at all points. His life in this State dates from the 11th of May, 1872, when he came with his parents from Cass County, Ill., where he was born in the year 1856, to William and Jane (Tracy) Creaig, natives respectively of Illinois. Besides our subject, they were the parents of one daughter, to whom was given the name Anna, who is residing in the northwestern part of the State with her husband, Greene Smith.

Our subject, as above stated, was but a youth when he came to the State, and the happiest part of his life has been that in Nebraska. He has been especially fortunate in the particularly felicitous choice made by him of a life companion. At Beatrice, Sept. 15, 1880, he was united in wedlock with Celesta I. Rathbun. This excellent lady was born at Rochelle, Ill., Jan. 16, 1862, and accompanied her parents to this State in 1871. Practically, she was brought up in this State, and received all but the rudiments of her education here. She has developed a character and disposition that are calculated to make her home and every member of it most happy and truly prosperous. There have been three children born of this union--Edward C., Anna R. and George H.

Our subject has not hitherto been prominent in political circles, but has always been anxious to bear every responsibility that is his as a citizen. He usually votes with the Republican party. Being quite a young man, and already the recipient of the most perfect confidence of his fellow-citizens, who admire such success as his, especially when supplemented by high personal character and honor, it will be a matter of surprise if the future does not contain golden hours and high honors for our subject.

ENRY H. GROVES keeps abreast of the times in all matters of general public importance, and is following the pursuit of agriculture with much success on his land on section 10, Nemaha Township. His parents, Jacob and Sally (Warner) Groves, were natives of Rockingham County, Va., who married and made their home in Henry County, Ind. The grandparents were natives of Germany, who afterward emigrated to this country, and the paternal grandfather was a soldier in the War of 1812. The father of our subject was a farmer, and in 1856 he moved from Henry County

to Marshall County of the same State, where he remained until the time of his death in 1863, at the age of fifty-seven years. The mother died in 1874, aged sixty-six years, after having seen her family comprising ten children become useful and noble men and women.

Our subject, the seventh child in his father's family, was born on the 20th of January, 1840, in Fall Creek Township, Henry Co., Ind. His father's farm was situated in such a manner that it bordered on the land of the two adjoining counties, and in fact the home had been at different times in each one of the three counties of Delaware, Madison and Henry. Our subject attended school in each of those counties, and enjoyed an experience with the "Hoosier schoolmasters" of the early day. The school-houses were built of logs, and the furnishings were of the most primitive style, but studious and industrious pupils were able to gain considerable information from their text-books, even if the surroundings were not as agreeable and attractive as those of more modern times.

As a dutiful son our subject remained at home until he was twenty-one years old, taking his share in the labor of the farm for the family welfare, and then he farmed a small piece of land of his own clearing, still making his home with his parents until the time of his marriage. On the 24th of February, 1866, he was joined in matrimony with Miss Lucinda Parish, a daughter of Green and Mary Emaline (Kerr) Parish. Her parents were natives of North Carolina, in which State they were married, afterward moving to Indiana, and engaging in farming for a time in Rush County. They then moved to Wayne County, and afterward to Marshall County, in which place the father died in 1864, aged sixty years, and the mother in 1874, also aged sixty years. Their family of eight children, four boys and four girls, are all living.

 Mrs. Groves was born on the 18th of September, 1841, in Wayne County, Ind., in which place she made her home until her parents moved to Marshall County. She attended the district schools of her native county, and after her change of residence she attended the same school as our subject, and afterward taught for one term in the last-named county. After their marriage they remained for a period of five years in Marshall County, and in 1871 they came to Nebraska, and the husband bought eighty acres of land in Nemaha Township, this county. He then took up a homestead of eighty acres, and began at once to improve his land, in which he met with much success, and was enabled to make subsequent purchases, so that now he is the owner of 440 acres of well-cultivated farming land. He has built a fine house, and has all the necessary and convenient buildings for the care and shelter of his stock on the home farm, consisting of 120 acres on section 10, while he has made valuable improvements on 320 acres on section 15, He has two orchards on the former, and one on the latter mentioned farm, containing 120 bearing fruit trees. There are also beautiful groves containing maple, cottonwood, ash, catalpa, and 150 mulberry trees, with which our subject has beautified the home farm.

Our subject and his wife have two children, Elmer and Cora Alice, the latter still living at home; Elmer married Miss Lizzie Casham. Mr. Groves is a member of the Farmers' Alliance, and has taken an active part in advancing the educational interests of his community, having helped to organize the schools of his district, and having served as School Moderator. He is an ardent Democrat, and as far as he is able he assists in the upbuilding and upholding of an honest administration. Personally he is endowed with an exterior which is a true characteristic of the inner man, and he presents a fine, noble appearance. He is a first-class, prosperous farmer, and is equally distinguished for his excellent qualities in his public career.

RTHUR R. FRANCIS, of Blakely Township, has been pursuing the even tenor of his way on a good farm of 160 acres for the last twenty years, having secured this property by homestead right in October of 1867, He had then been a resident of this county one year, and thus is fully entitled to the honors of the pioneer citizen. His farm lies along the fertile regions watered by Cub Creek, is amply supplied with valuable timber, and to-day, with the improve-

ments effected by the hand of industry and enterprise, is numbered among the valuable homestead of this region.

Mr. Francis came to Nebraska from Benton County, Iowa, in the spring of 1866, in company with another family, making the journey overland with teams. He was born in Kalamazoo County Mich., April 10, 1843, and is the son of Lyman Francis, a native of the Empire State, and of American parentage. The latter was a farmer by occupation, and spent his childhood and youth in his native county of Oneida, N. Y. Upon reaching manhood he sought for his wife a maiden of his own county, Miss Rachel Fuller, and they settled there and remained until after the birth of several children. The father then believing that he could do better for his family emigrated to Michigan, settling on a farm in Schoolcraft Township, Kalamazoo County, where they were among the earliest pioneers.

The Francis family sojourned seventeen years in Michigan, and in 1851 the father sold out and went with his motherless children into Will County, Ill. They lived there on a farm three years. Then crossing the Mississippi, Lyman Francis this time located in Benton County, Iowa, where he spent the remainder of his life, his death taking place in October, 1873, at the age of sixty-eight years. His wife, Rachel, had died at the homestead in Kalamazoo County, Mich., about 1851. Mr. Francis was for years a member of the Christian Church, and both parents are held in tender remembrance by their children. Of these there were born to them fourteen, nine of whom are living and residing mostly in Iowa.

 The subject of this sketch was the fourth child of his parents, and was in his boyhood when they left Illinois for Iowa. He was educated in the common schools of Benton County, and became familiar with farm pursuits as carried on in the Hawkeye State. He was twenty-three years old when the family came to Nebraska, and on the 25th of December, 1866, was married to Miss Ellen Pheasant. This lady was born in Tazewell County, Ill., Feb. 17, 1846, and is the daughter of Edwin and Isabel (Garton) Pheasant, who were natives of New York and Indiana, and are now living in Jefferson County, this State. Mr. Pheasant, a farmer by occupation, was born in New York City, where he lived until a youth of fifteen years. He then came westward to Illinois with his uncle, locating in Tazewell County, where he grew to manhood and was married. His wife, the mother of Mrs. Francis, was born in Indiana, but reared in Illinois, After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Pheasant continued residents of the Prairie State a number of years, then with their family crossed the Father of Waters into Benton County, Iowa, whence in 1866 they came to Nebraska and now have one of the finest homesteads in Jefferson County. Mr. Pheasant has now reached his threescore and ten years, and his estimable wife is aged about sixty-three. They are most excellent people and members in good standing of the Christian Church.

Mrs. Francis was a young lady when coming to Nebraska, and remained a member of the parental household until her marriage. Of her union with our subject there have been born seven children, two of whom, Clyde and Myrtle, died in infancy. Those living are Owen, Eugene, Edwin S., Nora B., John W. and Gertrude. They are a bright and interesting group, and are receiving both the school privileges and the home training which will fit them for useful and honored members of society. Our subject and his wife are members in good standing of the Christian Church, and Mr. Francis, politically, is a Prohibitionist.

EORGE GRANT, deceased. Among the first settlers in Grant Township was the subject of the present writing, and if there was one fact more clearly evinced than another, prior to and at the time of his demise, it was that his habits, character and life had commended themselves to his neighbors and fellow-citizens, and that they held him and his bereaved family in the highest regard. If ever there is an opportunity to discover time true worth of a neighbor or friend, it is in time pioneer settlement, in which neighboring families are thrown almost entirely upon each other for that companionship without which life is barren and destitute.

Our subject came to Grant Township and settled

in the summer of 1858, pre-empted laud on Turkey Creek and the Big Blue River, and upon it established his home, thus becoming perhaps the first prominent settler, and in his honor the township was named. At various times he held all the offices of the township, and was one of the first County Commissioners, and so much had his official conduct commended itself to the people that he, as the saying is, " Carried the votes of the township in his pocket." He was one of the most active and public-spirited citizens the county possessed, and withal, unselfish and disinterested. From his first vote to the last he was a firm and ardent supporter of the Republican cause, believed heartily in its principles, and supported its candidates.

For the greater part of his life our subject had lived in pioneer settlements and had developed a large-hearted, genial, beneficent character, upon the basic principle of the Golden Rule, and found large opportunity for the full exercise of the same; every man was a friend until he proved himself so utterly devoid of principle and manliness as to make him unworthy the name. What he was to his neighbors he was to the State and country--self-forgetful, generous to a fault, and true as compass needle is to pole, loving truth and justice as he did his life. It is not surprising that at his death he was mourned by all who knew him, as they mourn who lose a dear and personal friend.

Prior to making his home in this State Mr. Grant had lived in Sank County, Wis., where he had resided for over twelve years. He was one of a number of emigrants from Somersetshire, England, where he was born on the 14th of February, 1819, and in the same county his family had lived, married, settled and died, for many generations. By trade he was a carpenter and wheelwright, and had learned and followed that calling in his native country. While still in England he was married to Margaret Avery, of his own shire. This lady accompanied him on his journey to the States, and landed in New York prior to the birth of the first child. Shortly after this event had transpired they came on to Wisconsin, and in August of 1858 the family removed to Nebraska and located in what is now Grant Township, where his wife died in the year 1861 This removal was made in the interest of the young people of the family, in order that they might have a better start in life than otherwise could be, and it was the happiness of our subject to see them all make a most desirable beginning, with every prospect of continued and ultimate success.

 At the time of her death Mrs. Margaret Avery Grant was past middle life. She was the mother of seven children, and of these five are yet living, whose names are as follows: James A., John B., George E., Isabelle M. And Ann U. James is the owner of a farm in the same township; his brother John is the husband of Amelia Carey, and is also one of the successful farmers in the same neighborhood; George, who is married to Ellen Buss, lives in Superior of this State, and is a wholesale liquor dealer; Isabelle, now Mrs. John Woodhouse, is a resident of DeWitt, where her husband follows the trade of a carpenter and builder, while the youngest daughter is the wife of John McCabe, a stone-cutter of Beatrice.

Our subject was married a second time, at Crete, Saline Co., Neb., upon the 2d of September, 1872, the lady of his choice being Miss Annie Masters, who was born in Devonshire, England, on the 30th of June, 1831. This lady is the daughter of William and Martha (Hodge) Masters, both of whom are now deceased. Her father was a farmer and blacksmith, and lived in Devonshire most of his life. Their daughter Annie was the ninth of the thirteen children born in this family. She was educated in her native county, and there made her home until the years of young womanhood were reached. She is happy in being the mother of a daughter, who is a pledge of her husband's affection and a link that will ever hold her memory to him. This child has received the name Eleanor, and is now thirteen years of age.

Mrs. Grant and family have all been brought up and remained in the Episcopal Church, of which our subject was also a member, and are among its most ardent adherents. Mrs. Grant, who enjoys the most complete confidence, respect and sympathy of the community, has throughout all her bereavement and trouble manifested a spirit of Christian resignation, patience and hope, that reflects most highly upon her devotion to not only her husband and family, but also her religious faith.

Her education, character and disposition combine to make her worthy and fit to grace any position in the home or in society. Our subject went back to his old home in England in 1867, and brought over one sister, three nephews and two nieces; he mad a second visit in 1871.

OHN E. KELLY. About half way between England and Ireland, and somewhat to the northwest of the Welsh Cape, Holy Head, is a small but exceedingly beautiful island the legendary law of its people being filled with countless historic, tragic and romantic incidents, It is chiefly inhabited by farmer fishermen, who in their little world are happy, peaceful and prosperous. They largely speak in their native tongue, the Manx, a relic of the ancient Celtic tribal language. Upon this island was born; March 16, 1845, the subject of this sketch. There also he was reared to manhood and received his education.

In the steamer "The City of London" our subject came to the United States shortly after his twenty-third birthday, starting upon the 6th of April, and landing in New York on the 21st of the same month. He made his way soon after his arrival to Ford County, Ill. There he engaged in farming and was quite prosperous. This property is situated on section 22 of Sicily Precinct, and comprises 240 acres of excellent land, splendidly adapted for purposes of husbandry, well improved and highly cultivated.

Without circumlocution it is safe to say that the most happy decision in the history of our subject was that which culminated in the connubial felicity resultant from his union in marriage ties with Miss Esther A. Taylor, which event occurred upon the 23d of March, 1873. This lady is a daughter of Jacob and Alice Taylor, of whom a sketch appears elsewhere in this volume. Their daughter was born in Lancashire, England, July 31, 1851, and continued to make her home with her parents until her marriage, and in the pure atmosphere of that home the seeds of that noble character sprang forth and throve, and since her establishment in her own home have yielded results without which the life of her husband would have been possibly desolate and destitute of the prosperity which has crowned it, for when they joined their hands and hearts before the hymeneal altar they became one in the true sense of the word, and their interests have been unified from that hour.

 There have come to consummate the happiness of the home of our subject seven children, whose names are here appended in the order of their birth: Lewis E., born on the 13th of August, 1874; William J., April 21, 1876; Bertha M., June 3, 1878; Frederick J., Sept. 7, 1880; Cora A., Nov. 21, 1882; James A., Feb. 15, 1885; and Pearl E., July 23, 1887.

With the exception of a few local matters our subject has voted the straight Republican ticket from the time when he cast his first vote for the martyred President, James A. Garfield. He is, however, a careful and earnest student of questions of the Government and political economy, and distinguishes clearly between a quasi loyalty and true patriotism, and governs himself in regard to political questions accordingly.

AMES CRAIG is a young man who takes a prominent rank among the business men of Barnston, having by his own activity and industry raised himself to a position of influence as banker, real-estate and loan agent. He was born in Grundy County, Ill., on the 5th of March, 1850, and is a son of William Craig, who was a native of Ireland, having his birthplace near the city of Belfast. He emigrated to the United States when but a boy, and in this country he grew up to manhood and gathered about him a family and a circle of friends and acquaintances, he is now deceased.

Our subject received his elementary education from the common schools, and then took a course of study at the college in Wheaton, DuPage Co., Ill., which fitted him for active business life. After his course at college he taught school for a short time, but having spent his earlier years on a farm he preferred to engage in agriculture until November of 1885, when he came to Barnston and