strength of the current of the mill stream and drowned, in the spring of 1884. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, honored and beloved, and an earnest advocate of the Republican party. His wife was a native of Illinois, being born in Coles County, and still resides in Lincoln with her children.
  Our subject was four years old when the family removed from Centerville, Ill., to Lincoln. In due time his attention was directed to the study of those subjects which he at the foundation of progress and advancement in every department of life. Having completed the course of study prescribed in the common school he entered the classes of the State University. At the age of twenty years, upon his graduation, he took charge of his father's business, which included the mill and the large wholesale business. In these engagements he has been continuously successful.
  Our subject began to realize, as the cares of business and general life gathered around him, demanding attention, that in something his life was incomplete, and that a brightness, cheer and inspiration to meet and overcome the opposing forces of life and ambition to reach out after the large attainments was necessary. Accordingly, believing he had solved this problem, he in April, 1886, became the husband of Artha M. Klock. Subsequent events have proved that his judgment in this matter was correct. His wife is a native of Iowa, the daughter of G. S. Klock. Our subject has not yet made his mark with any special prominence in political circles. but undoubtedly if he so desires will do so. He is earnest in his principles of the advocacy of prohibition, and an energetic worker, the recipient of the highest esteem of his fellow-citizens.

ICHOLAS E. MELICK. America has rapidly become the pork-raising country of the world, and Nebraska, with her rolling prairies and unexceptional climate, offering as she does unusual facilities for the production of this important article of consumption, is rapidly taking the lead of the States in this industry. The subject of the present sketch is making a specialty of the same at his farm on section 22, Rock Creek Precinct, where he owns 120 acres of choice land.
  The grandparents of Mr. Melick, upon both the paternal and maternal sides of the house, were born in New Jersey. Nicholas E. Melick, Sr., after whom, our subject is named, was married April 1, 1812. His family comprised six children--Peter, Christopher B., James William, Catherine, Edwin and Elizabeth, four of whom are now living. The date of the death of the grandparents is unfortunately lost. The eldest son, Peter, was the father of our subject, and was born near the close of the year 1812, and lived to be fifty years. of age. In the year 1862 he removed from Hunterdon, N. J., to Marshall County, Ill., making of farming his life occupation. His wife was Maria Miller, to whom he was married on the 1st of April, 1837. This lady was the daughter of Samuel and Mary (Field) Miller, also natives of New Jersey. Her father was born in 1815, and followed the trade of saddler, although he spent some years upon a farm. His daughter, the wife of Mr. Peter Melick, was born in the year 1815, and continued to make her home with her parents in New Jersey until, her marriage, as above recorded.
  To Peter and Maria Melick there were born seven children at the homestead in Hunterdon County, N. J., prior to the removal to Illinois, in 1861. Mary E. is the relict of Mr. Adam Harriman, of Rock Creek; Emma J., who is the wife of Warren Hallett; Nicholas E., our subject; Catherine, who died in childhood; Samuel M., who is now Sheriff of this county, and owner of a farm in Rock Creek Precinct.
  The gentleman whose biography is herein presented was born Aug. 25, 1847. His early life was spent with his father upon the farm, and largely occupied in such duties as could be safely assigned to him. His early educational advantages were exceeding limited, although he attended the public school for a time. At the age of eighteen years he went to Chicago and attended a private school taught by W. G. Hathaway, at No. 172 Clark street. He then returned home for one year, and at that period his father removed to Henry County, Ill.,

where he lived for about two years. In 1867 our subject entered the Northern Illinois University, and began his studies in the freshman class, but his previous studies enabled him to take an advanced standing, and complete the course in six months.
  In the year 1869 Mr. Melick came to this county and located a claim of eighty acres. He then went to Washington County, Iowa, and taught school during the winter. The following spring he and his brother commenced working the claim, and our subject was enabled finally to establish his ownership. He continued to teach in the public schools in Lancaster County for six years. In several cases the school-house was simply a dug-out that had been deserted by its former occupants for a larger and more substantial dwelling. The fuel was usually corn. The experience of the "Hoosier Schoolmaster" was his, so far as "the boarding around" was concerned.
  Our subject was married on the 28th of March, 1872. The lady of his choice, Miss Priscilla Scott, is the daughter of Rev. James M. and Eliza A. (Gardner) Scott, who were natives of Canada. Mr. Scott is a minister of the Free Methodist Church. He removed to Illinois in 1864, and in 1885 went to Saunders County, this State, where he and his family still continue to reside. The home circle included twelve children, in the beautiful proportion of six sons and six daughters, nine of whom are living: Eliza died at the age of seventeen years; Priscilla, the wife of our subject, was the second born; Lucille, the wife of M. McBride, of Ft. Elgin, Canada; John is a resident of London, Ontario; Sarah died in infancy; Caroline, the wife of Rev. C. E. Harroun, resides in Fairfield. Iowa; Robert is a minister in Ridott, Ill.; James is laboring in the Master's vineyard at Seattle, W. T., and Samuel C. is a minister in Rock Creek; Mary A. is married to the Rev. Alexander Norrington, of Sunderland, Ontario; William N. is deceased; Charles A. is a student at Orleans, Neb.
  The wife of our subject was born on the 13th of December, 1845, at Canada, and was married at Ashton, Ill.; from that time she has lived with her husband upon their farm. Their family numbers eight children, three of whom are sons: William E., March 23, 1873, and died September 16 of the same year; Katy May, born June 9. 1874; Carrie, Nov. 12, 1875; Charles W., May 20, 1877; Frank E., Dec. 2, 1878; Emma P., Nov. 8, 1880; Bertha L., June 24, 1882; Marion M., Nov. 5, 1883.
  Upon beginning life upon his farm in 1870, our subject built a sod house, in which he lived about a year, his brother living in a similar house upon the adjoining claim, which made it possible for them to spend much time together. He began breaking sod on his land the same year, and pushed the work rapidly. The first crop was put in in the season of 1870-71, and yielded bounteously. Mr. Melick continued to link with his farming the profession of the pedagogue. The brothers usually worked together with a common interest. In the unfortunate experience of the grasshopper plague, our subject did not stiffer as much as many of his neighbors, for his wheat was in the shock when they came, and was safely gathered in; but the corn crop was entirely devastated, which calamity meant to the farmers around far more than the mere loss of the grain, because they had no food wherewith to fatten their hogs, and were therefore compelled to sell out at two cents a pound, and ship to Iowa. This experience was repeated, although to somewhat less extent, the following year. The chief reverses which have come to our subject have been those arising from loss in connection with his hogs. All the grain that is raised upon the farm is required for their feed. and he raises upon all, average 150 bushels per annum.
  Mr. Melick is a decided Prohibitionist, and vigorously upholds the cause. For six years he has held the office of Justice of the Peace, with honor and impartiality. He has for several years been Treasurer of the District School Board, and Clerk of Elections.
  Our subject and family are members of the Methodist Church, and have done as much for its advancement as any family in the district. They are among the most earnest and faithful of its adherents in this region, and receive the unqualified respect, not simply of the church members, but the entire community, because of the high Christian character with which their profession is adorned.
  The portrait of Mr. Melick, given in connection with this sketch, occupies a fitting place among the