AMES W. DAWES. This gentleman was elected Governor in the year 1883, and such was his official deportment that he was renominated with enthusiasm, and re-elected by an appreciative people. He continued to occupy his high position in the service of the State until the year 1887, and during the time gave every evidence that the confidence of those who had elected him in his honor, manhood and ability, was indeed well founded. He was the fifth Governor of the State. Gov. Dawes was born at McConnelsville, Morgan Co., Ohio, on the 8th of January, 1845. He went with his parents when they removed to Wisconsin in 1856. The rudiments and foundation work of his education were received in Ohio, but in the Wisconsin schools the major part of the work was done, and from them our subject was graduated with a good practical English education, such as would serve in the daily affairs of life. As he advanced in years and was capable of doing more service upon the farm, he attended school only in the winters, devoting the summers to husbandry. In October, 1864, he was engaged in clerking for G. J. Hansen & Co., who were engaged as general merchants at Kilbourn City, Wis., where he continued until October, 1868, and in these four years gained invaluable experience of men and business, adding materially to his store of information, and, unknown to himself, but none the less really, preparing for days of larger opportunity and more important engagements.
   The next employment taken up by our subject was that of the study of law, which he began and carried on with his cousin, Julius H. Dawes, Esq., of Fox Lake, Wis., a prominent and successful lawyer. Here our subject devoted every attention, and became a careful, persevering and diligent student, so much so that his examination, which determined his admission to the bar, was unusually brilliant, and he was accordingly admitted with congratulations upon the 10th of January, 1871, and began the practice of his chosen profession, which, from its being eminently congenial and peculiarly well adapted to one of his ability and mental cast, was that in which success in life was more completely assured him.
   Not long after the admission of our subject to the bar another, and if anything more important, event occurred. It was that of his marriage. Instances are far too common where an error of judgment or a misplaced confidence at such time has been fraught with disastrous results to both contracting parties; results all the more serious because of the nature and faults of the contract, It was the

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happiness of Mr. Dawes and the lady of his choice to be mutually compatible in disposition, tastes, desires, and in fact all the varied points where difference of sentiment would in all probability lead, sooner or later, to a breach of confidence or worse. This union, therefore, has brought a more complete happiness, a more perfect felicity, into both lives, and has made the home all that could be desired. This interesting event occurred at Fox Lake, and was celebrated on the 11th of May, 1871.
   Our subject located in Crete, of this State, on the 5th of September, 1871, with the intention of engaging for a time in mercantile pursuits. For some years he continued in this line of business with an ever-growing success and enlarging patronage. In March of 1877 he transferred his energies from commercial pursuits to the legal profession, opening a law office at Crete, and has since been one of the leading lights of the Nebraska bar. He became a member of the Nebraska Constitutional Convention of 1875, and the following year was elected State Senator. During his term of office he won from all golden opinions of his ability and power, and his sojourn in Senatorial halls was, if anything, more pleasant than usual, owing to his genial, affable and courteous manner, which won and retained many much valued friendships, and which was the means of affording him larger opportunities than might have otherwise been possible. His record in this connection is upon the books of the session, and is well known, and does not therefore call for detailed mention in such a writing as the present; suffice it here to remark that it was such as to ultimately lead to his election to the highest official chair in the State.
   From May, 1876, to September, 1882, inclusive, the subject of this sketch continued to hold the position as Chairman of the Republican State Central Committee of Nebraska. The long continuance and the number of consecutive terms embraced within the above dates speak more clearly and emphatically his ability and power than anything that might be said in addition. Mr. Dawes was further honored by being elected delegate to the Republican National Convention at Chicago, in June of 1880. This it will be remembered was the convention that nominated the noble, but ill-fated, James A. Garfield. The delegation of which he was a member at this time unanimously named him as a member of the National Republican Committee for Nebraska for a term of four years, which it was his privilege to serve with every satisfaction to all parties concerned for that period.
   Few men ever felt more the need of education for a people who governed themselves than Gov. Dawes. The absolute necessity of universal education wide in scope, complete in curriculum, exhaustive in detail, practical in its aim and general utility, was evident to him, and he was therefore deeply interested in educational matters, and his sympathies were always assured for matters connected therewith. He has served in several offices connected with this department, the most important, perhaps, being those of Trustee and Secretary of the Doane College, which is situated at Crete. The duties of these offices have engaged his attention since the year 1875.
   The crowning glory of the official life and public service of the subject of our sketch was that which identified him with the chief office of the State. In the year 1882 he was nominated by the Republican party for Governor. His life was well known his character thoroughly understood, his past services remembered and appreciated, and accordingly he was received with much favor, and elected amid the plaudits of the whole people. He entered upon the duties of his high office in January, 1883, continuing to discharge the same throughout the usual period of two years. At the expiration thereof he was again nominated by his party and re-elected by the people, and for a second term continued to discharge his duties as before. Is any further proof of his ability, honor, manhood and faithfulness demanded? Can any mere verbose complimentary eulogium express as much as this, especially when it is reinforced by all the accompanying marks of confidence and regard of the people? Gov. Dawes will long be remembered, having won a warm place in the hearts and memories of the people, together with his most excellent administration of affairs, which from first to last materially assisted the onward march and development of Nebraska as a State, and aided in placing her among the very first of all States of the greatest Republic the world has ever known.