educational matters. Their children are being well reared and given the advantages suitable to their position as the offspring of one of the first families of Lancaster County. No man has been better pleased than Mr. G. in noting the progress and development of this section of the State. He has held the office of Precinct Assessor, and officiated several years as a member of the School Board in his district.

OHN J. STEIN. In far-off Egypt, in Heliopolis, the "City of the Sun," stands the magnificent temple which was thousands of years ago consecrated to that luminary, and reputed the home of the fabulous Phoenix. This noble bird, the only one of its kind, with its shining and beautiful crest, its feathers of purple and gold, its eyes sparkling like stars, after living for several hundred years, finds its end approaching, and building a nest of aromatic woods and spices, places itself therein to die. From its remains a new Phoenix is formed, which not only partakes of the characteristics of the one preceding it, but, if possible, exceeds it in beauty and grandeur.
   Not alone to amuse children, and while away the idle moments, do men give ear and repeat this pleasing tale, but because, when rightly unfolded, it evolves a principle which forms the basis of many of the grandest achievements of the hand of man. From the ashes of its parent springs the new wonder, and often from the ashes of a lost hope springs a new and determined purpose, which, put into execution, far exceeds any that has heretofore been conceived. The man who will listlessly sit down and repine because of a misfortune, instead of beginning with renewed vigor to build a more excellent structure than the first, will know nothing of the pride and gratification of him who conquers fate and molds circumstances to his will.
   As an illustration of what may be accomplished by manfully battling against reverses, winning his way bit by bit until he reaches the goal of success at which he aims, and at the same time fulfilling of Saltillo Precinct, residing on section 21. He is a son of John and Catherine (Diehl) Stein, who both have their nativity in Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. The father was a cutler, a manufacturer of edged tools, and he came to America with his wife and two children in the year 1840, when our subject was eight years old. Bidding farewell to friends and the home that had sheltered them, they left their Fatherland in August, and after a journey of seven weeks on board the sailing-vessel "Neptune," they arrived at Baltimore. So impressed was our subject with the incidents which occurred during this long journey, that he remembers them all quite distinctly, though at the time but a child, and they present a vivid mental picture when the journey is recalled.
   The father of our subject, with his family, went to Somerset County, Pa., where he engaged for thirteen years in farming. Thence he went to Alleghany County, Md., in 1853, where he farmed in company with our subject, who had taken charge of the homestead, continuing there until the year 1870. Together they removed to Illinois, and in 1879 they once more removed to Nebraska, settling in Saltillo Precinct, Lancaster County. John J. Stein rented a house and began operations on his own land, which he had purchased in 1878.
   The gentleman in whose honor this sketch is written was born on the 9th of May, 1834, in the town of Oberahmen, Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. He began attending school at the age of six years, and coming to America shortly afterward he continued the pursuit of his education, distinguishing himself as a student of inure than ordinary brilliancy, in Pennsylvania, and although a foreigner, he soon mastered the English language, and gained the title of "Banner Scholar." By devoting himself assiduously to his studies, he succeeded in obtaining a good education, being twenty-one years old when his parents moved to Maryland. He had taught school in Pennsylvania at the age of nineteen, and the winter following his removal from that State, he was engaged in drawing and sawing lumber in the pineries, after which he again resumed the occupation of teaching, which he continued successfully for four consecutive winters.
   Mr. Stein was married, in December of 1854, to Miss Matilda Royer, a daughter of John and Eliza

(Schultz) Royer, living on a farm in Maryland, the father having been born in Germany, and the mother in Pennsylvania. The birthplace of Mrs. Stein was near Grantsville, Alleghany Co., Md., and the date thereof the 27th of November, 1837. For twelve years out, subject and his wife prospered in business, surrounding themselves with the comforts of a luxurious home, having about them a family of six children. Then came that ruthless destroyer, fire, and with scorching tongues madly devoured their entire possessions. not ceasing until there remained nothing but the glowing embers to mark the spot where had been the happy home. House, barn, granary, hay barns, horses, cattle, hogs, all the accumulated wealth of the preceding years, swept away in one short hour, completely ruining our subject financially, as he had carried no insurance on his property.
   Then it was the strength of Mr. Stein's character was so forcibly and strikingly manifested. Instead of resigning himself to the misfortune which fate had thrust upon him, and losing all hope, actuated by a noble motive in behalf of his family, he suffered not his ambition to diminish, but summoning up a new energy, he at once began the arrangements for building a new home and repairing his lost fortune. Such indomitable perseverance and will are worthy of the highest encomium. Always keeping hard at work, caring for his family with a father's devotion, he toiled steadily upward toward the goal he had in view, when some friends of his, who had moved to Illinois, hearing of his misfortunes, wrote to him with the request that he should come out and join them. Influenced by their request, he went out West and settled in Shipman, Macoupin Co., Ill., where he rented a farm, on which he labored for six years, being only partially successful.
   Then our subject was induced to try his fortunes in the Garden Spot of the West, the State of Nebraska. He purchased 160 acres of land of the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Company, paying one-fifth of the cost in cash, the remainder to be paid in five years, and having left but $34.15 after making his first payment. He at once set about to improve and cultivate his land, breaking one-half of it the first year, from the proceeds of which he received ten per cent premium. All the land is now free from incumbrance, and the owner has erected on it a good one and a half story frame house and cattle barns. There is also a splendid young orchard containing 200 apple trees, sixty cherry, and about the same number of plum trees, etc. There is also a windmill and wind-pump on the place, and a creamery with a capacity of sixty pounds per week. The illustration on an adjoining page affords a very clear representation of the commodious residence, farm building, etc., besides giving a birds-eye view of the property generally, which, we believe, cannot fail, to be appreciated by the reader.
   Mr. and Mrs. Stein have six children, their names as follows: Kate, Marshall, Albert, John, Emma and Nettie. The daughter Kate was married to Morris Kates, who had two children, Charles and Walter. George Marshall Marsh Stein, second child of our subject, resides on section 29 in Saltillo Precinct, and is the owner of 160 acres of land on sections 28 and 29. He was first married to Miss Emma Trabue, from Illinois, and has one daughter by that marriage, named Alphoretta. When this child was six weeks old her mother died, leaving a request that Alphoretta should be left to the care of her grandfather, our subject. Marshall then married Miss Emma Ruth Kuhlman, in 1887, by whom he has one daughter, Winnifred. Albert Stein married in 1888 Miss Vesta Alexander, of Saltillo, and resides on section 16. John and Emma are at home, and Nettie was married to Henry E. Grimm, residing at Council Bluffs, formerly Principal of the Roca village school. At present he is the Iowa correspondent for the Omaha World. They have one child, Edith Annetta.
   Our subject is very much occupied with farm work, for besides his own 160 acres, he rents thirty acres on section 20, but with all this to engage his attention, he still finds time to take an active part in society, being much concerned in the welfare of the community, politically, educationally and religiously. He and his wife are active members of the Lutheran Church, at Roca, which church our subject played an important part in establishing. He was one of the building committee, and spent three months' time in superintending its erection, besides donating the sum of $250. He was instru-