hardships, difficulties and trials as those that come to men whose lives are spent in frontier districts.

There was born on the 7th of March, 1843, at the home of Francis and Sarah Bailey, near Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, a son, whose history provides the material for this epitome. His parents were both natives of England. The father is deceased. His mother is now the wife of Harrison Gillett, of Highland Township, section 28. She was wedded to him seven years after the death of the father of our subject, who gave his life in defense of his country in the month of December, 1864, while fighting as a soldier in the late Civil War.

The family circle of Mr. and Mrs. Bailey included nine children, and our subject was the second eldest son. He was brought up and educated in Canada, which was his home until he attained his majority, when he went to Galena, Ill., where he made his home for five years; at the end of that period he came to this county, and in the spring of 1871 settled. in Highland Township, section 28, where he pre-empted eighty acres of land, and subsequently homesteaded another eighty.

Upon coming to this State our subject was quite a poor man, and was swayed alternately by hope and fear regarding the final outcome. But bending all his energies to the task, allowing neither hardship nor difficulty to daunt him, or any natural adverse circumstance to baffle him, his experience of pioneer life has developed within those traits and characteristics that have brought him the respect and admiration of his fellows, and his material prosperity and success are the reward of his labor. He resided upon his farm, and was ever engaged in the various duties connected therewith until 1887, when he removed to Cortland. The latter years of his life he devoted chiefly to stock. raising and feeding, and he still gives considerable time and attention to stock buying and shipping, the chief point of consignment being Omaha.

 A red-letter day in the history of our subject was the 16th of September, 1877, the day whereon he was united in marriage with Amelia Meserve, of Nemaha Township. This estimable lady was born on the 4th of December, 1855, in Livingston County, Ill. She is the daughter of Joseph and Elizabeth (Call) Meserve, natives of Maine and New York respectively. There have been four children born of this union, whose names are here appended: Freda B., who was horn on the 29th of September, 1878; Jeanette, Jan. 16. 1880; Phebe, Sept. 28, 1885, and J. L., Dec. 3, 1887. One is deceased, F. J.

The father of Mrs. Bailey was by occupation a potter, and is a descendant of an old English family. When their daughter Amelia was about seven years of age, her parents removed from Illinois, where they settled prior to their marriage, to Poweshiek County, Iowa, in 1863, and there took land and engaged in farming, making it their home until 1877. Then they removed to this county and settled in Nemaha Township, where they still reside upon the land originally taken by them at that time. They were the parents of ten children, six of whom are living,, whose names are recorded as follows: Joseph M., William H., Harriet L., Charles C., Minnie C. and Amelia. Mr. and Mrs. Meserve have for many years been members of the Christian Church. They are still practically in their prime, and fully appreciate the start in life they have been enabled to give their children, and also the many comforts that are for them to enjoy.

Our subject is in political matters a strong Democrat, and has so continued the greater part of his life. Although he has now retired from his farm, he is still actively engaged, indeed, idleness to one of his disposition would be a misery. He has large real-estate interests in Highland Township, which make large demands upon his time and attention. Mr. and Mrs. Bailey move in the best circles of society in Cortland, and are highly esteemed by all.

OEL DOBBS. One of the enterprising, progressive and prosperous mercantile houses of the growing town of Rockford, in the township of that name, is that of Messrs. Dobbs & Willis, and in this epitome is briefly sketched the life of the popular senior partner of the firm, a man of education and ability, who owes his present position almost entirely to his own ambition. He is the son of Russell L. and Cynthia (Hurst) Dobbs, natives respectively of Tennessee and Indiana. The

loyal patriotism of his grandfather led him to take up arms in his country's defense in the War of 1812, and fire from the same altar still burns in the breast of our subject.

The Dobbs family came to America over 150 years since, and settled in Tennessee among the Blue Ridge Mountains, in the days when the State was just being opened up. In this district the family grew and flourished; generation followed generation in their life among these beautiful hills. The parents of our subject were married in Putnam County, Ind., in 1837, and the father remained following the chosen calling of his life until 1844, when he removed to Andrew County, Mo., and was among the early pioneers of that district, and still lives upon the old farm. He has attained the advanced age of seventy-one years, but does not seem to feel their weight pressing so heavily as many do at a lesser number. He still enjoys good health and is active, still able to perform a great deal of work on and about the farm. In his time he has held many important offices, and has been an active politician. The mother of our subject died in the year 1867, aged forty-eight years. They were the parents of nine children, whose names are recorded as follows: Emeline, Abraham, John, Amelia Jane, Martha, Sarah, Julia, William F. and Joel. By a former marriage there were born to the father of our subject two children, who received the names respectively of Mary and Susan.

Mr. Joel Dobbs was born July 23, 1857, upon the old homestead in Missouri. His first great trouble came with the death of his mother when he was ten years of age. At eleven he started to do battle with the world on his own account, and has from that time continued to do so. After the death of his wife the father of our subject was unable to attend to business on account of sickness caused by his wife's death, for two years, owing to the severe strain caused by that trouble. This was the immediate cause of our subject and the rest of the family being thrown upon their own resources. Until he was eighteen years of age our subject continued to work upon a farm, and it was his practice during winter especially to work for his board in order that he might attend school. At eighteen years of age he began teaching school in Andrew and Nodaway Counties, and continued successfully in this profession for nine years, interspersing it, however, during his vacations with work in connection with mercantile life, and by farming upon rented land, and although he was compelled from the nature of his other engagements to employ hired help in its cultivation, he realized quite a good profit.

 The sentiments of Miss Alice E. Perkins and our subject being found upon inquiry to be in perfect accord, they became husband and wife March 17, 1878. This lady is the daughter of Avery A. and Martha (Abbott) Perkins, natives of Kentucky and Ohio. As the name intimates, the Perkins family are of English extraction; they settled in this country in an early day. Upon their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Perkins Settled in Hancock County, Ill., in 1840, where he followed the occupation of agricultural pursuits until 1872, when he removed to Nodaway County, Mo. Of this union there were born ten children, whose names were recorded as follows: John S., Ephraim, Lucina, Jane, Edith, Alice E., Nancy, Annie, Avery A., and George, deceased. By a former wife there were born four other children.

Mrs. Dobbs was born in Hancock County, in the State of Illinois, in April, 1858, and continued to live with her parents until her marriage. She was fifteen years of age when she accompanied her parents to Missouri, and there she made the acquaintance of our subject while he was engaged in teaching. Until the year 1883 they continued to live in Missouri, then came to Nebraska and settled upon a farm four miles north of Blue Springs, where our subject continued engaged in farming for two years. Then he came to Rockford and established the business which still engages his attention; from that time on there has been a continuous and steady increase in the business, so that other help was required and a larger stock demanded. He has, however, been enabled to keep pace with this most desirable and happy growth, and will doubtless contrive to do so, however far it may extend in the future.

Our subject has erected a very pretty and commodious residence in Rockford, and has supplied it with numberless conveniences that are a daily ap-

precation. Although no pains have been spared to make this home bright and pleasant, its chief adornment to our subject is his wife and children. There have been born of this union six children, three of whom died in childhood. Their names are as follows: William S.; Annie, who died aged nine months: Bernice; Russell L., who died when three years of age; Elmer, and an infant who died unnamed.

To Mr. Dobbs came the honor of being appointed the first Postmaster of Rockford, a position which he filled with universal satisfaction within the sphere of operation. He was elected Justice of the Peace in the year 1887, and there won fresh laurels. This was, doubtless, one reason why he was made a delegate to the Republican County Convention of 1888. It will be seen, therefore, that the current of his political principles and sentiments is with the "grand old party," of which for many years he has been a stanch friend. These things are but effects; the cause must he sought in the character of the man, who has achieved such success and gathered around him so many friends, who hold him in their high regard.

ARVEY W. GIDDINGS is an intelligent and industrious farmer residing on section 36, Midland Township, who has accumulated his present fine and valuable property by his force of will, perseverance and industry, having successfully combated reverses which would have caused a less energetic man to despair. He is a son of John W. and Hannah (Stafford) Giddings, the former of whom was born in Massachusetts, and the latter in the southwestern part of New York. The Giddings family are of Scotch descent, the great-grandfather of our subject coming to New York from Scotland, and making a matrimonial alliance in that State. The Staffords are of English descent. The father of our subject followed the pursuit of agriculture, and was a hard-working man, his sympathy in political matters always strongly in favor of the Whig and Republican parties. He died at the age of seventy-seven years in 1881, and his wife died at the age of seventy-six years in 1885, after having gathered about them a family of eleven children, on whom were bestowed the following names: Harvey W., Elmira A., Sarah L., Robey S., Miron A., Clinton and Caroline (the former of whom died when a boy of thirteen years), Francis, Emily, Augusta (deceased at the age of four years), and John C.

 Our subject, the oldest of his father's family, was born in McKran Township, Erie Co., Pa., on the 11th of January, 1830, and when he was but four years old he began his attendance on the common schools. He has a very retentive memory, and the early scenes having made a vivid impression on his childish mind, he can describe them with great and is able to place every maple, beech and chestnut tree on the way to the old school-house. His parents were in moderate circumstances, and he was early taught to apply himself diligently to work in order to assist in the maintenance of the large family. In June, 1840, the family removed to Warren County, Ill., where they were among time early pioneers.

Our subject remained at home until he was twenty-five years old, when he returned to Pennsylvania to claim the companionship of the lady of his choice, Miss Rebecca E. McClure, a daughter of George W. and Elizabeth (Shirer) McClure. Her father was born in Ireland and her mother in Holland, and they moved to Illinois from Pennsylvania in 1865. The father died in 1883 at the age of seventy-six years, and the mother still lives, having reached the age of eighty years, and seen her ten children, eight girls and two boys, become useful men and women. Mrs. Giddings is the fifth child of the family, and was born on the 16th of October, 1836, and after reaching the years of girlhood she attended school in the same old school-house under the chestnut tree that is so dear to the memory of her husband.

After their marriage our subject and his wife came to Illinois, the former rejoicing with gratified pride that he had prepared a pleasant home for his bride, having a comfortable home and 120 acres of land to share with her. He was financially successful, and became time owner of 9,000 acres of land in Illinois, but by going security for other parties, and they proving unable or unwilling to

pay off the amount of their indebtedness for which our subject had gone security, he met with reverses, and was virtually bankrupt. This word originally had a deeper significance than it now bears, being derived from the Italian words "banco rotto," which means literally "broken bench," and originated from the custom of the ancient Italian merchants and business men of transacting business behind stands or benches on the street; when one of them became insolvent or unable to pay his debts, his bench was literally broken to pieces, and he was no longer permitted to transact business. But that meaning does not now attach to the word, ample opportunity now being afforded an unfortunate man to redeem his fortune, and our subject having lost all he had through the lack of honor in others, was constrained to begin anew, and again rise to a position of wealth.

      Our subject determined to take advantage of the inducements offered by our State to regain his lost footing, and in the spring of 1871 he came to Buffalo County, where he rented some land. Here he again passed through a pioneer experience, and after much hard labor in sowing his first crop it was destroyed by the grasshoppers, and he was almost in despair. In 1873 he came to this county, and leased a section of land for two years' time, but his lessee sold the farm in 1875. He then moved on the Kansas & Missouri Stage Company's farm, which consisted of 1,200 acres, of which he broke 475 acres, and fenced it all with wire. He prospered exceedingly well, and remained on that farm for seven years, in the meantime (1879) buying his present farm of 240 acres, and when he moved on to it in 1882 it was virtually paid for, he having built up a reputation as one of the best farmers in the county.

      Our subject and his wife have become the parents of ten children, of whom Flora E. died March 3, 1883; Carrie, April 22, 1882, and Edwin W., Nov. 16,1884; the remaining members of the family bear the names of Jennie, S. E., Harry, Carl, Susie, Ralph, and an infant, Rebecca E. When the family were living on the Kansas & Missouri Stage Company's farm the father built on his own farm a handsome and commodious full two-story house at a cost of $1,750, containing all modern improvements and conveniences. The children possess great musical talents, and when they get together the handsome parlors resound with strains of sweetest music. The mother is inclined to the Presbyterian Church, and her husband has for his motto the Golden Rule, his neighbors testifying that his principles are in strictest accord with its teaching.

      Our subject has been engaged in the dairy business, for which purpose he has eighteen good milch cows, and his milk-house is cool, sweet and clean. He operates 600 acres of land, leasing 320 acres, and has 200 acres devoted to the growth of flax, 100 to oats, seventy-five to corn, and eighty acres to meadow land. He has ten teams of horses, sixty hogs, and raises about a carload of beef cattle annually, feeding all the grain that he raises. His former reverses seem only to have incited him to still greater effort, the results of which are his present abundant means and influential standing among his fellowmen.

      Our subject has taken great interest in the educational advancement of his township, having been instrumental in building the school-houses in the district, since which time the young people have enjoyed the advantage of a nine-months school every year. Of his reputation we might say with old John Brown of "marching on" fame, that one good, industrious, true and believing man in a community is worth a thousand who have no religion and no fixed principles. He has served with credit on the Grand and Petit Juries, and is foremost among the advocates of law and order. In politics Mr. Giddings affiliates with the Republican party.

HADDEUS GREEN was born in Ross County, Ohio, on the 18th of April, 1837, and when he was about two years old his parents, Thomas W. and Eleanor (Moser) Green, removed to McLean County, Ill. There he grew up to manhood, receiving his education in the district schools, and there he was married, on the 2d of November, 1864, to Miss Mary Hall. He engaged in farming, and remained in Illinois until the 1st of March, 1883, when he came to Nebraska and located on the farm on which he still lives.

Our subject is a great admirer and sympathizer

with the beauties and resources of Nature, and he takes a natural delight in developing them, preferring a peaceful, happy life on his farm engaged in the various duties incident to a rural life rather than any other life which the busy, bustling world can offer. He has a very good farm of 200 acres on section 17, Sicily Township, and gives attention to the raising of both grain and live stock. His farm is well watered, having an inexhaustible supply from a well, arid Sicily Creek, which passes through his farm, furnishes plenty of water for his stock. The creek never dries in the summer or freezes in the winter, so that his stock has free access to it at all times and in all seasons.

Mr. Green has improved his farm by building a good house and barn, with good fencing to serve as the dividing line between the various fields, which adds very much to the fine appearance of the place. He has a good orchard of fine young trees just beginning to bear nicely, and he takes great interest in keeping them well pruned and in a good hearing condition. For his reward and painstaking he will enjoy seeing the branches loaded with a supply of delicious fruits, for when Nature is well wooed she does not fail to respond.

Our subject and his wife have a family of six children, all of whom are living. The parents are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church in Blue Springs. The mother of our subject was a native of Berks County, Pa., and she died on the 27th of January, 1871, while his father was born in Philadelphia, and died on the 25th of April, 1879, the death of both the parents occurring in McLean County, Ill. They were members of the Methodist Church, esteemed and active Christian people, and in that faith they died.

The father of Mrs. Green, Prior, and her mother, Mary (Thomas) Hall, were natives of Ohio, but both removed to Illinois when young. When the inhabitants of the country became so excited over the discovery of gold in California, there were vast trains of emigrant wagons stretched across the prairies and along the mountain roads. These vast trains of emigrants were really pioneers in the part of the country through which they passed, in some places having to fell trees, build rude bridges, and otherwise prepare the way before they could reach the end of their journey. The father of Mrs. Green was one among the large number who hastened to the gold mines, making the journey to California in 1849, but after enduring many hardships and privations he sickened and died in that distant State, in the year 1851. The mother died in Illinois in October, 1862, having been the mother of seven children, of whom the wife of our subject is the sixth one.

Our subject has two brothers and three sisters, all of whom are living except one sister, Margaret E., who died in Illinois, and all married except Mary D. His brother John M. was in Company F, 116th Illinois Infantry, and served in the capacity of a soldier for three years, coming home without having received a wound, though his health was impaired by the exposure. Our subject is earnestly in favor of the administration of the Republican party.

ORVEL LEWIS is one of the most enterprising and successful farmers in Rockford Township, where he has a splendid farm of 160 acres, and another of the same size in Logan Township, devoted to the purposes of general farming and stock-raising. His father, Mills Lewis, was born in New Jersey, near Perth Amboy, and his mother, Jane (Carr) Lewis, in Indiana. Both had early come with their parents to Warren County, Ill., where they grew to manhood and womanhood, and after their marriage they made their home at that place, continuing until the present time, the father having reached the age of sixty-three years, and the mother sixty-one years. The father has been prominently identified with the political affairs of Warren County, and was sent by his constituents to the Illinois State Legislature during the term of 1880-81. He represented his county in an able manner, and served with honor to himself and his constituents. His family numbered nine children, bearing the following names: Norvel, Mary, Henry, Jud, Emery, Sarah, Lula, Effie and Edwin C.

Our subject, the eldest in his father's family, was born on the 12th of July, 1850, in Warren County,

Burwick Township, and spent his early life on a farm. In order to receive the advantages of education offered by the nearest school, he was obliged to go two and a half miles, but did not attend after he was sixteen years old. He remained with his father until he was twenty-two years old, when, in 1872, he was united in marriage with Miss Millie Murdock., a daughter of John and Fannie (Milligan) Murdock, who were both natives of Pennsylvania. The father was a farmer, and after their marriage in Pennsylvania they went to Warren County, Ill., where he continued the pursuit of his occupation. He died in 1887, at the age of seventy-eight years, but the mother still lives at her home in Illinois, and is seventy-four years old. She was Mr. Murdock's first wife, and there was a family of eight children, whose names are: Jonas, Margaret, Mary, George (deceased), Millie, Allen, Mina and Edward.

Mr. and Mrs. Lewis were the parents of one child, named Henry M., who died when he was six months old, and the mother died in October, 1873. Our subject was a second time married, to Miss Rachel Dickie, of Pennsylvania, who died in November, 1883. Mr. Lewis came to this county in the spring of 1881, and in the fall of the same year he purchased his present quarter-section of land, expecting to make his home here, bringing his wife in the spring of 1882. He was a third time married, on the 27th of January, 1884, to Miss Mattie Shaw, a daughter of Holcomb and Ruth Shaw. Her parents were born in Pennsylvania, and two years after their marriage they came to Illinois, where they made their home for six years, after which, in 1869, they came to this county. They are still residing here, the father at the age of fifty-eight years, and the mother fifty-three, and have cared for a family of eight children, on whom they bestowed the names Dora, Mattie, Charles, Mary and Ruth (deceased), Pearl, Herbert and Rupert.

Mrs. Lewis was born on the 6th of September, 1862, in Ogle County, Ill., and was six or seven years old when she came to this State. She attended school in Cottage Hill, near Filley, the first school-house in Filley Township, and having received a very excellent education she has been identified with the educators of this county for four or five years. She attended the first summer Normal held in this county, and prepared herself to engage in the profession of teaching; but leaving the care of many little ones to others, she became the wife of our subject, and is a devoted mother to the children that have been given her. The elder, Harry E., died when he was two years and three months old, and the only remaining child is named Norvel M.

Mr. Lewis is the owner of 320 acres of fine land, half of which lies on section 5, Rockford Township, and the other half in Logan Township. He gives special attention to the breeding of Hambletonian and Bashaw horses, and is the owner of the famous Oakland stud of twenty to twenty-seven horses. In the work of his farm he uses three teams of horses, and has improved it to a very fine condition; and from his uniform success he has built up a reputation as a successful agriculturist which is second to none in the county. He is well known and influential in the management of public affairs, and in matters of politics he lends his influence to the Democratic party. Mrs. Lewis is an estimable lady, and an influential member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Beatrice.

REDERICK GRUND. Adams Township has within its borders few better men or  citizens than the subject of this sketch, who has had a wide and varied experience in life, and has made the most of his opportunities. He now owns and occupies a good farm on section 28, and while engaged in the cultivation of the soil has like-wise carefully tended the garden of his mind, and by a steady and judicious course of reading kept himself well posted upon matters of general interest. He is a fine scholar, both in English and German. In conversation he is interesting, and the story of his travels over a large portion of the Great West forms a narration well worth the listener's time and attention.

Of German birth and parentage, our subject first opened his eyes in the Province of Wittenberg, July 17, 1833. His parents, Leonard and Mary N. (Munch) Grund, were natives of the same, where

the father carried on farming, and was accidentally killed by the fall of a tree in 1842, at the age of forty-two years. The mother also spent her entire life upon her native soil, and died in 1856, when fifty-eight years old. Their family included two children only, of whom Frederick, our subject, was the younger. His sister, Mary Magdalene, is now in Nebraska. Mr. Grund, in common with the majority of the children of Germany. was placed in school at an early age, and pursued his studies quite steadily for a period of eight years, until he was fourteen. He was a little lad of nine years at the time of his father's death, and continued with his widowed mother until a youth of twenty. The mother then rented their little homestead, and Frederick started out for himself, determined to make his way to the New World. Embarking at Havre, France, on a sailing-vessel bound for America, Oct. 14, 1854, he landed in New York City, November 20, and proceeded to the town of Marietta, Susquehanna Co., Pa., where for a brief time he employed himself at whatever he could find to do.

From Marietta young Grund went to Harrisburg, where he was employed in farming and dairying at $4 per month. His first employer took advantage of his inexperience, and sought to make the most of it, but the young man soon found out his game, and left him for a more humane taskmaster, who paid him $10. He was soon afterward taken down with chills and fever, which greatly crippled him financially, and was the cause of much discouragement, but he finally rallied both in mind arid body, and worked two years longer in the Keystone State, and until a recurrence of his old troubles led him to seek a change of climate, when he migrated to Chicago, Ill.

 In the Garden City Mr. Grund was employed in a meat market, and continued there until the spring of 1858. He then started for the Territory of Nebraska. He traveled by rail first to St. Louis, Mo., thence up the Missouri River to Leavenworth, Kan., arriving there at the time of the border war when men were shot down in the streets in cold blood. Six weeks at that point sufficed, and Mr. Grund proceeded on his way to his final destination, taking up his abode finally in Nebraska City, which then bore little resemblance to its present condition. There he became the employe of Messrs. Russell, Major & Waddell, who had a Government contract for the hauling of provisions to Salt Lake City. Teams were fitted out, and wagons loaded with barley, oats, coin, sugar, bacon, salt, etc., and our hero in charge of one of them set out with a number of others for the place mentioned. The train consisted of thirty wagons, each wagon drawn by twelve oxen--Texas steers. Upon arriving at Ft. Bridger, in Wyoming, they were obliged to stop on account of the snow, and Mr. Grund returned to Nebraska City, arriving there Jan. 5, 1859. He now engaged in a brewery, where he remained for four years following, and in the meantime, with genuine German thrift and prudence, saved a snug little sum of money, which he invested in land in Adams Township, this county, in the year 1862.

The above year, also, Mr. Grund took unto himself a wife and helpmate, Miss Emily A. Golden, to whom he was married in Nebraska City, March 3, 1862. Mrs. Grund was born in Crawford County, Pa., Dec. 12, 1842, and remained there with her parents until a maiden of seventeen years, when she came to Nebraska City with them. Soon after their marriage our subject and his wife settled upon their land, but a short time later abandoned it for the time on account of Indian troubles, and returned with their cattle to Nebraska City. Mr. Grund, however, was soon enabled to possess his property again, and had the satisfaction of participating in the first Fourth of July celebration in the Nemaha Valley.

The Indian troubles finally terminating, the parents of Mrs. Grund came to this section, where they continued until 1863. Our subject, however, again returned to Nebraska City, where he engaged in farming, and remained until the year 1869, then homesteaded his present farm of 160 acres, and here has since remained. He has made some fine improvements, putting up good buildings, planting orchard and shade trees, and otherwise adding to the value and beauty of his property. He has seventy-five fine apple trees in good bearing condition and a quarter of an acre in blackberries, besides other fruit for the enjoyment of the family.

Mr. and Mrs. Grund are the parents of eight

children--Catherine R., now deceased; Tillie, Benjamin, Anna M., Minnie M., Hiram L., Luella J. and Bessie. The eldest daughter, Tillie, is the wife of Frank Lyons, and resides in Adams; they have two children--Charles H. and Elsie. Anna M. is the wife of William Blackhart, and a resident of Adams. The other children are at home with their parents. Mr. Grund cast his first presidential vote for Grant, and is a stanch supporter of Republican principles. He has been in all respects a worthy representative of one of the best nationalities on the face of the globe, from whence sprung a Martin Luther and numbers of other illustrious men whose names have been handed down to the posterity of both continents, as the names of those whose careers have been worthy of imitation.

OHN G. PAUL. In Sicily Township there are few farms presenting a more perfect picture of successful, thrifty agricultural prosperity and beauty than does the property of our subject, which is situated on section 16, and includes about 160 acres, all of which are highly cultivated. Our subject was born in Janesville, Ohio, July 11, 1842. His educational advantages were very meager. He has, however, recognizing this fact, given careful attention to reading. in order to improvement upon that deficiency.

When our subject was still an infant, his mother removed to Illinois, and located in Rock Island County. His father, John G. Paul, died in Ohio six months after he was born. The mother of our subject was Margareta (Churchill) Paul. By her first marriage she had two sons--Adam and our subject. Her second marriage occurred Oct. 8, 1844, when she was united with Adam Vogel, in Rock Island County, Ill. Of this marriage there were three sons, who were named respectively: John, James and Jacob, all of whom are still residents of Illinois.

 Our subject was reared and married in Rock Island County as above; his wife was Miss Julia Walter, whom he led to the altar on the 30th of March, 1869, and who has been a faithful and true helpmate through all the succeeding years. The happiness of their wedded life owes much of its brightness to the presence of the little ones who have been born to them, of whom there are six: John A., born May 2, 1870; Anna, Sept. 28, 1872; Charles, Oct. 20, 1874; Joseph, Feb. 2, 1879; Mary A., Oct. 16, 1881; and Rosa, Dec. 11, 1884. Mrs. Paul was born in Germany, on the 25th of October, 1848, and is the daughter of Francis and Cesillia (Bookmiller) Walter. Her father is successfully engaged in farming.

Besides his home farm, our subject has quite extensive property elsewhere, including 320 acres upon section 13 of Elm Township, on which he has 120 acres well cultivated, also 160 acres on section 1, in Sicily Township, and seventy-five acres on section 18 of Blue Spring Township. Upon the property on section 1 there is an excellent house, stable, granary and other buildings. Upon the home farm our subject has erected with his own hands all the necessary farm buildings, also a well-arranged ice house, work-shop, corncrib, extensive stabling, and an exceptionally fine barn, but, as is simply to be expected, has devoted far more time and care to his dwelling. These are all well planned, well built, and nicely painted and decorated, although the latter would apply more especially to the house. When it is considered that these various works are the result of his own labor, it is an achievement of which manly pride is justifiable. In addition to the above, the whole farm, with the exception of a small portion of board fence around the yard, is all separated into the various divisions required by a well-kept wire fence, and the whole property is in a most excellent state of repair and finish.

his mother's estate, which was afterward supplemented by an additional $1,000 upon his marriage. This is all the help he received; the remainder is the result of his own exertions, and the inspiring influence of his wife.

Our subject and his wife and family are members in good standing of the Catholic Church of this place, and among its most devout members. Mr. Paul, although meeting cheerfully all his obligations as a citizen, is not prominent in civic and political matters. He gives his suffrage consistently to the Democratic party, and has for many years been counted as a stanch member of the party.

RANCIS M. RICKARDS, the well-to-do farmer and stock-raiser whose property is on section 10 of Riverside Township, was born in Adams County, Ohio, on the 24th of October, 1831. He was reared in his native county, and in its common schools received his education. In 1857 he made his way to Peru, Neb., and remained for two years. The State at that time was very little known, and this city was unknown, and upon its site stood a solitary house.

At the close of his second year in this State our subject started to return to Ohio, but stopped in Lewis County, Mo., and was there married, on the 26th of November, 1858, to Miss Mahala S. Pollard. After his marriage, accompanied by his wife, he continued his journey to his home. The young couple continued to live in Ohio until October of 1861, our subject engaging in farming, and was rewarded by a good measure of success. In the above month he enlisted in Company F, 70th Ohio Infantry, and served until the 14th of August, 1865. He enlisted as a private, but in September, 1864, was promoted to the rank of Sergeant. His regiment was attached to the 15th Army Corps, and served under the command of McPherson and Logan. Besides a large number of engagements of lesser importance, our subject took part in the battles of Shiloh, Corinth, Vicksburg, Jackson, Miss, and Missionary Ridge. He received an honorable discharge and returned home without a wound, but with his health impaired by exposure. In his home is found a highly-prized relic or memento of those stirring times; it is a camp chair, presented to him by Lieut. Heaton, of A. R. Q. M., of the 70th Ohio Regiment.

 Returning to Ohio in the fall of 1865, our subject remained recuperating until the spring of 1866; then he removed to Illinois, in which State he continued to live for some sixteen years. His home was in LaSalle County, near Seneca, and throughout this lengthy residence he was engaged in farming, and every year witnessed an increase of prosperity and success. At the end of that period he removed to this county, locating in 1882 upon the farm on section 10, which is 160 acres in extent. From the time of his settlement he has been continually and industriously employed in it improvement. He has moved both house and barn to their present position, has planted a row of trees along the south and east sides of his farm, has set out an orchard of nearly 200 apple and other fruit trees, besides planting a large number of grape vines, etc. His house is most admirably situated amid pleasant surroundings, while its interior is no less happily inviting. Quite a large section of the farm is utilized for agricultural purposes, chiefly the raising of grain and for stock purposes.

Mr. and Mrs. Rickards are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of Beatrice, in which faith they are educating their five children. Socially, our subject is connected with the G. A. R. and the A. F. & A. M., at Beatrice. In political matters he is a stalwart Republican, voting for and with the party whose cause he sustained at the front during 1861-65.

NOS RISHEL. As a whole Nebraska represents one of the most perfect climates of any State in the Union, and from its general topographical features affords the most pleasing variety of scenery; it is not like the proverbial search for a needle in a hale of hay to find a good location for a home spot and rooftree. But among the most pleasant for situation, beautiful in general outline, fertile and productive, is that part of which is included in the property of our subject upon section 17 of Sherman Township, which is a farm cul-

tivated in the interest of general grain farming. although some attention is given to stock-raising.

In Schuylkill County, Pa., was born William Rishel, the father of our subject. There he was brought up and began to labor, continuing therein until he was twenty-six years of age. At that time he went to Clinton County, Ind., where he still resides. His chosen occupation through life has been that of a blacksmith, which business he has followed with much ability and considerable financial success. The maiden name of his wife was Lydia Snyder. Their marriage was celebrated in Pennsylvania, and immediately afterward they removed to Clinton County, Ind. During her life she enjoyed, with her husband and family, the religious help and consolation offered in the Lutheran Church. Her death occurred about the year 1848. Our subject was the second of four children born to his parents, of whom only he and his brother John are living. His brother is a resident of Howard County, Ind., where he follows the business of a painter.

Enos Rishel, the subject of this writing, entered upon the stage of things mundane in September of 1844, and made his home with his parents until the year 1867. His youth was occupied in laying a broad, solid foundation for his after experience, in the shape of a good, practical education, and from the time of leaving the institution of learning until the above date he was occupied in various occupations. The years from 1869 to 1876 were spent in traveling through the States of Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa and back home; away again through Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, back through Ohio to Indiana, down to Missouri and back to Illinois and on to Nebraska. He purchased a quarter of section 17, at $1.50 an acre, in May, 1868, before he started on his journey through the East. His father also purchased the adjoining quarter-section not long after, for which he paid $6.25 per acre, the entire half-section now being operated by our subject. He first broke the prairie on his farm in 1876, finished forty acres, and then rented it for $1 per acre. In 1879 he built a house, commodious, convenient, and not entirely lacking in points of embellishment. In the meantime he had been occupied with improving his land in the year after his entry he broke an additional forty acres, and rented the same for one-third grain rent, which amounted to $85. The year following (1878) he broke an additional seventy-five acres, and rented them upon the same agreement, realizing $90. He now superintends the work of the entire farm and takes great pleasure therein. His specialty in stock-raising is large cattle, and in this he has had much success, having made a careful study of the subject and become perfectly familiar with it in its many important practical and necessary details.

 Not until July, 1883, did our subject forsake the lonely pleasures of bachelordom and seek out a companion and helpmate. Lord Beaconsfield, better known to the world at large as Benjamin Disraeli, upon being twitted in the English Parliament by the opposition, quietly remarked, "All things come to the man who waits. I can wait." This has been the experience of Mr. Rishel, and his waiting has proved of more value to him than the haste of some who figure conspicuously, if not pleasantly, though certainly more publicly. On the 10th of the above month he was united in marriage with Sarah Mangus. daughter of William and Catherine (Gerst) Maligns, natives of Virginia. The wife of our subject was born on the 28th of December, 1862, in Roanoke County of that State, and came to Illinois with her parents when five years of age. In 1881 her parents removing to this State, she accompanied them and here met her husband. Their household is completed by two bright, happy children, who are increasingly necessary to that home. They have received the names respectively of Martin Luther and Catherine.

Mr. Rishel is not a politician, although he has his opinion concerning the leading questions of the political economy of America, and usually votes with the Republican party. He endeavors faithfully to perform every duty and bear every responsibility of a true and loyal citizen, but is naturally so constituted as to be numbered among that class of men who believe they can serve the State as well and faithfully in a faithful attendance upon those matters that come to them in the course of business or profession, and by a faithful attendance to the same, and also the faithful discharge of the obliga-