The subject of our sketch was educated in the schools of Guernsey County, Ohio, and qualified himself for teaching. In the year 1871 he went to Polk County, Iowa, and taught school until the following spring; then he attended the Iowa Agricultural College at Ames, in that State, continuing until the summer of 1873, when he came to this county and engaged in teaching in Wyoming and the vicinity, continuing thus for five terms. Leaving the school-house and teacher's desk, he engaged in farming about six miles north of Syracuse. Here he found every opportunity to put into practice the instruction received both from his father and at Ames. He continued there until April, 1888, and still owns the farm of eighty acres.
   Upon the 4th of August, 1861, Mr. Ferguson was united in marriage with Lorinda E. Gale, the daughter of John and Elizabeth Gale, of Sheboygan Falls, Wis. Their marriage has been consummated by the birth of four children, of whom three still live, viz: Maude A., Wallace J. and Helen E.
   In former years Mr. Ferguson was active in the ranks of the Republican party, and was elected in the fall of 1878 on the Republican ticket to represent Otoe County, Neb., in the Legislature. He served his term of office with satisfaction. Since that time, however, his political opinions have undergone a change, and he is now a prominent and active worker with the Prohibitionists, and holds the position of Chairman of the Prohibition party in Otoe County. Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson are both members of the United Presbyterian church, of which our subject has been an adherent about twenty years, and his wife about two.

HOMAS F. McALEER. Among the young farmers and citizens of Russell Precinct and Otoe County Mr. McAleer takes a prominent position. He is the owner of 160 acres of splendidly cultivated land on section 23, and operates 640. He is extensively engaged as a horse and cattle dealer, and has been unusually successful in business in that connection. It goes without saying that there is before him a very propitious career.
   James McAleer, the father of our subject was born in County Tyrone, Ireland in the year 1810, and his mother, whose maiden name was Catherine Darcy, was born in County Leitrim of the same country. His father was an agriculturist prior to leaving his native country, which he did in 1839, coming to America. The voyage which promised so fair ended disastrously, for the vessel was wrecked on the Island of Nova Scotia. and he only escaped by swimming ashore. Obtaining work as a baker he continued there for two years, and then went to Boston, where he went into the marble business and worked as a polisher, which he had learned as a young man in Ireland. He continued there until 1849, then removed to Providence, continuing in the same business. Thence he went to Princton, Ill., in 1863, and there operated forty acres of land in addition to his polishing, which was not discontinued.
   Coming to Nebraska in 1873, Mr. McAleer, Sr., purchased 160 acres of land from the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad Company, and went to work to improve the same, and at his death in 1888 had 480 acres of splendidly cultivated land. In politics he was a Democrat and faithful to his party. His wife came to America in 1846 alone, and landed in New York. From there she removed to Providence, where she met her husband, to whom she was united on the 17th of July, 1853. She was the mother of seven children, whose names are as follows: Mary E., James, Miles, John, Thomas, Frank and Bernard.
   The subject of our sketch was born in Providence, R. I., on the 11th of May, 1863, and was about a year old at the time his parents removed to Illinois. He grew up upon the farm and was early made acquainted with all the various duties and labors connected therewith. His parents saw that he obtained a good practical education in the common school, and was thus in some measure fitted to take up his share of the activities of life. When in 1873 his parents removed to Nebraska, he was ten years of age, and he continued at work upon the home farm until he was about twenty-one, when he entered with zest into the conflict of life

upon his own account, and has been so successful as to become the owner of a quarter-section of very valuable farming land. He usually buys and feeds, preparatory to marketing, two carloads of cattle and five of hogs per annum. He has taken much pains to procure and raise Short-horns and Polled-Angus cattle, and has six very valuable animals of the former variety, but his chief delight so far as stock is concerned is in raising Clydesdale roadsters. He owns forty head of horses and ten fine mules. His property in cattle is quite valuable and worthy of all the care he bestows upon them.
   Our subject is a member of the Catholic Church at Palmyra, and was prominent in the organization of the society and building of the church. The parents are also of the same religious faith. Politically, Mr. McAleer is a Democrat, and takes an active Interest in political affairs. Twice he has been called upon to act as delegate to the County Conventions.
   A view of the McAleer homestead is given on an adjoining page.

SAAC FARLEY, the present Assessor of Rock Creek Precinct, and one of its most successful agriculturists, owns and occupies a fine homestead on section 19, which embraces 160 acres of well improved land with neat and substantial buildings. He has a goodly assortment of live stock, and all the machinery necessary for the successful prosecution of his chosen calling. He has groves of fruit trees and shrubbery, and has surrounded himself and family with all the other comforts of modern life. A view of his fine farm residence with its environments is presented to our readers.
   Mr. Farley settled upon his farm in the fall of 1882, having moved here from another in the same precinct. He came to Otoe County as early as 1869, of which he has since been a resident, and continuously engaged in farming pursuits. His native place is the Province of Ontario. Canada, he having been born in Peterboro, April 1, 1837. There he was reared and educated, making his home with his parents, Patrick and Mary (O'Rielly) Farley. They were natives of Ireland, and spent their last years in the Dominion, both dying at an advanced age, the father having reached ninety-five years. The latter served under the Duke of Wellington during the French War, and was married before coming to America. The parental family included eight children, seven of whom are living. The parents were members of the German Catholic Church.
   Our subject was one of the younger members of the large family of children, and grew to manhood in his native Province, receiving a common-school education. He was married there to Miss Mary A. Nolan, who was also a native of the Province of Ontario, and was born in September, 1839. She made her home with her parents until her marriage, acquiring her education in the common-schools. Her parents were natives of Ireland, whence they emigrated to the Dominion of Canada after their marriage, where they spent the remainder of their lives, and the father followed farming pursuits. They were members in good standing of the Catholic Church, people careful and conscientious in their lives, and respected by their neighbors.
   Mrs. Farley has stood bravely by the side of her husband in his efforts to build up a home, laboring equally with him early and late for the comfort and well-being of their little family. They are the parents of six children, namely: Edward, Mary, Josephine, Helen, Joseph and John. Mr. and Mrs. F. are consistent members of the Catholic Church, in the doctrines of which they were reared in early childhood. Our subject, politically, is a sound Democrat, and is serving his seventh term in his present office.

 WASH GILES is well known throughout Wyoming Precinct as proprietor of the "Living Water Stock Farm," and the Arlingtong herd of Poland-China swine, comprising some of the finest specimens of Poland-Chinas to be found in this section of the State. At the head of the herd of Poland-Chinas is Messenger, No. 1884, S. P. C. R., and although only fifteen months old has already made an admirable record. Mr. Giles has six other animals of the Poland-China

breed, and registered as follows: Ett, No. 2822; Grace (1st), No. 2820; Grace (2d), No. 2825; a, No. 2821; Arlington Maid, No. 2823, and Topsie G., No. 3171. The herd was established in 1882 with Otoe Prince, No. 2335, at the head. Mr. Giles has competed successfully with breeders all over this section of the country at the State and county fairs, in which many of his animals have a home with blue ribbons.
   The farm of our subject is finely adapted to stocking, and in this industry he has been remarkably successful during his residence in this county, which dates from the spring of 1860. He was born in Peoria, Ill., April 28, 1854, and is the son of Joseph Giles, a native of the Island of St. Helena. His paternal grandfather, Thomas Giles, was with the exile Napoleon at the time of the former's death.
   Joseph Giles came to the United States when a young man, and located in Peoria, Ill., where he married Miss Susanna Redfern. This lady, like her husband, was of English descent, and came to the United States when a child of thirteen years, locating in Peoria, Ill., with her parents. After marriage Joseph and Susanna Giles lived in Peoria, Ill., until coming to Nebraska, in the spring of 1860. The father purchased a tract of new land on section 11, in Wyoming Precinct, where, with estimable wife, he labored industriously, and lived until March, 1885, when, retiring from active labor, they moved to Nebraska City, where they are now spending their declining years surrounded by all the comforts of life.
   Our subject was the youngest child and only son of a family of six children, one of whom, a daughter Ann, died when very young. He lived at home until his marriage in Wyoming Precinct, Dec. 14, 1876, to Miss Mary Martin. This lady was born in Utica, Venango Co., Pa., Oct. 4, 1852, and is the daughter of John F. and Maria (Reynolds) Martin, a sketch of whom will be found elsewhere in this work. They came to Nebraska in 1857, and the education of their daughter Mary was conducted in the common schools at first and the Normal School, at Peru. Of her union with our subject there have been born two children: J. Roy, Oct. 1, 1877, and Carl M., June 8, 1879. The family residence is a comfortable structure, and the out-buildings all that are desirable for the prosecution of both agriculture and stockraising. The pens for the swine are equipped with everything that is necessary for their comfort and the success of the industry to which Mr. Giles gives especial attention. He is a man of decided views, keeps himself well posted upon matters of general interest to the intelligent citizen, and votes the Republican ticket,

APT. BEN S. PINDAR, who is one of the practical farmers of South Branch Precinct, farming 160 acres on the northwest quarter of section 33, and also well and favorably known throughout the county, was born in Washington County, Md., on the 21st of May, 1836. He is the son of Benjamin and Sarah (Small) Pindar. His father was born in Camden County, Del., in 1800, and his mother five years later in Berkeley County, Va. The grandfather of our subject, Edward Pindar, made quite a record as a soldier of the Revolution under Washington, and was a nephew of Charles Lee of Revolutionary fame. The maternal grandfather, Samuel Small, was of English descent but born in Virginia. He also was one of the patriot heroes of 1776.
   The parents of our subject were married in Virginia, and there made their home. The father was an overseer of a plantation, and so continued for many years. Afterward they moved to Maryland, where he engaged in farming. In 1847 the family removed to Henry County, Ohio, and eighty acres were purchased in the vicinity of Napoleon. There farming was carried on until 1867, when the property was sold, and the family removed to South Branch Precinct of this county, where in 1886 the father died. He had been bereaved of his wife in 1867, when she had reached the advanced age of sixty-two years. They were the parents of four children, viz: Susan, Annie, Ben S. and Perry, the latter deceased; he was in the war, and served in the same regiment as our subject, was taken with brain fever, and died at Nashville in 1862.
   The subject of our sketch staid at home until

he attained his majority, the years of his boyhood being spent in the usual occupations of the common school, after which he attended the full High School course, being graduated therefrom, and afterward becoming his father's assistant upon the farm. He was eleven years of age when the removal was made to Ohio. After that change of residence the chief work of his education was attended to, for his High School course and more preparatory education were supplemented by three years in Heidelberg College at Tiffin. Until he was twenty-five years of age he taught school in various districts, and held a very high certificate of ability.
   In 1861, at the time the first call for troops was made by President Lincoln, Mr. Pindar enlisted in the 14th Ohio Infantry, and served in Company F. The enlistment was made for three months, as was the case with nearly all the men, it being supposed that the war would be settled by that time. He was mustered in at Cleveland, Ohio, under Col. Stedman and Gens. Rosecrans and McClellan, and served chiefly in West Virginia. He was in the first battle of the war at Phillippi, then at Laurel Hill, Cheat River and Canick Ford, which ended the campaign in Virginia, and the term having expired, he, with others, was mustered out at Toledo, Ohio, on the 18th of August, 1861.
   Re-enlisting the following day in the 38th Ohio Infantry, our subject was mustered in at Defiance, received the commission of a Lieutenant, and then went into service in Kentucky under E. D. Bradley. The first of the series of battles of that campaign was the battle of Wildcat, after which they were sent to Mills Springs, and became part of Gen. Thomas' division; then followed the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Chattanooga, Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge. At Nashville he was promoted to be Captain, and served in that capacity from that time. He was with Sherman throughout the Atlanta campaign, en route to the sea, and took part in all the engagements of that campaign. The hardest fighting experienced by the regiment in which he served was at Jonesboro. At Chickamauga he was stunned by the explosion of a shell immediately above his head. Although he recovered sufficiently to leave the field, he never fully recovered his hearing, and when at Savannah in February of 1865, his trouble had become so bad that he received an honorable discharge with congratulations for gallant service. His discharge was procured at his own request, as he felt it impossible for him to do good service, having almost entirely lost the power of hearing.
   Leaving the military service, our subject returned to New York by steamer, and from there he went to Ohio. He purchased forty acres of land, and for one year continued farming. In the spring of 1867 he started for this State, going by rail to St. Joseph, and from there by steamer to Nebraska City. Again taking the train at that place he came to this county and to South Branch. Here entered a homestead claim for the 160 acres of prairie land which he has now made such a beautiful and productive farm. His property is well watered by a branch of the Nemaha River that winds its way through it.
   At Napoleon, in February, 1864, in order the better to enjoy his veteran furlough, Capt. Pindar was united in marriage with Miss Eva H. Choat, the daughter of Thomas and Louisa (Randall) Choat, both of whom were born in Maine, of English descent. They removed afterward to Seneca County, Ohio, and took eighty acres of land before it was at all settled for many miles around his home. The parents are both dead, but have left three children--William A., Liza J. and Eva H. William A. Choat was Colonel of the 38th Ohio Infantry, and did gallant service. He was shot in the breast upon the 1st of September, 1864, at the battle of Jonesboro. and fell upon the field.
   The wife of our subject was born in Thomaston, Me., in January of 1836. She was well educated and carefully nurtured and trained at home. For three years she attended the college at Oberlin, Ohio, of national renown, and afterward served as a teacher; during the war she filled an appointment in the post-office department at Napoleon. There have been born to Capt. and Mrs. Pindar three children--Maud, Hazzard and Maggie. Maud is attending school at Toledo, Ohio, and the rest of the family are at home.
   Ever since the School Board District was organized Capt. Pindar has been one of its members; for sixteen years he has been the Assessor of the pre-