born Sept. 5, 1886. Like their parents before them, Mr. and Mrs. Frerichs are identified with the Lutheran Church, and Mr. F., politically, is a stanch Republican. He has held various minor offices, and is a man who inspires respect among all who know. him. The handsome lithographic view of his homestead which will be found on an accompanying page illustrates the industry and energy which form the leading elements of his character..

RANK JOSEPH SAND occupies a prominent place among the young agriculturists of Otoe County who are active in sustaining and still further developing its great agricultural interests. He is second to none in enterprise and practical ability, and he has a thorough knowledge of farming in all of its branches. The homestead on section 15, Nebraska City Precinct, that was once his father's, has descended to him; a goodly heritage, indeed, with its broad, highly cultivated fields, comprising 160 acres of exceedingly fertile land; its farm buildings, neat, substantial and conveniently arranged; and its many other valuable improvements, which makes it one of the finest farms for many miles around.
   The father of our subject, Joseph Sand, was a pioneer first of Missouri, and later of Nebraska, in each case doing his share to promote the growth of the county in which he located. He was a German by birth and breeding, born in Bavaria, March 9, 1811. He early learned the trade of blacksmith in the Fatherland, and coming to America about 1838, worked at his trade in various States. He finally settled in Atchison County, Mo., about 1840, and was a pioneer of that section of the country. He entered a tract of Government land, on which he immediately erected two log cabins, one for a dwelling and the other for a smithy, wherein he plied his calling, and, as opportunity offered, worked on his land. In 1860 he rented his place and came to Nebraska, then a Territory, and located in Otoe County, where he bought 160 acres of land on section 22 of Four Mile Precinct, of which thirty acres broken and a to house constituted the improvements. He lived there one year, and then bought 160 acres on section 15 of Nebraska City Precinct, which is the place now occupied by our subject. It is beautifully situated two miles from the court-house in Nebraska City. There was a small frame house and a log stable on the place then, and about fifty acres of the land were improved. Mr. Sand was much interested in fruit growing, and devoted a great deal of his time to that branch of agriculture, planting quite a large vineyard and fine apple, pear and peach orchards. He erected frame stables, and commenced the creation of a commodious brick house which our subject completed. He was very successful in his ventures, and accumulated a fine property. His death, June 5, 1882, was a severe blow to the industrial interests of the community, as he was a man of rare sagacity and sound judgment, a hard worker, and one whose reputation as a good citizen, a kind husband and a wise father was of the best. The maiden name of his wife was Mary Anna Bach, and she was also a native of Bavaria. She died in 1862. The following is the record of the five children born to them: Anthony died at the age of thirteen years; Theresa married Emile Zimmerer, and died in her thirty-fourth year; Frank J., our subject; Fridoline is now a resident of Germany; Phllomena married John Zimmerer, and resides at Seward, Neb.
   The subject of this sketch received his education in the public schools of Otoe County. When he was twelve years old he went to Germany with his father to complete his education, and after studying there four years he returned to Nebraska and assisted his father on the farm, and when the latter fell sick the entire charge of the homestead fell to him. He now owns and occupies the old place, which under his able management is still kept up to the high standard of cultivation that it had attained under his father's care.
   Mr. Sand was married, May 5, 1884, to Miss Rosina Wirth. She is a native of Atchison County, Mo., and a daughter of Anton and Walburga Wirth, natives of Bavaria. The union of our subject and his wife has been blessed to them by the birth of three children--Mary, Johnnie and Helena. Mr. and Mrs. Sand are devoted members of the Bene-

dictine Catholic Church, and they carry their religion into their daily lives. Mr. Sand is an intelligent, well-informed man, inheriting from his father the highest principles of honesty, industry, sobriety and truthfulness, and he acts well his part as a citizen, as a husband, as a father and as a neighbor, and is respected accordingly by all who know him. Politically, he is a stanch Democrat. We call the attention of our readers to the fine lithographic view of the handsome residence, surroundings and farm of Mr. Sand on an accompanying page.

OSEPH F. WELCH. Upon the first introduction to this gentleman one is impressed with the fact that he is an Englishman by birth. He presents all the happy national traits of that people, and yet is so sufficiently and thoroughly American that nothing objectionable can be found by the most critical patriot. He is at once popular and respected; his business is that of a manufacturer of store fronts, store and office fittings, moldings, sash, doors and blinds. He is also President of the Nebraska City Chair Manufacturing Company. He was born on Charlotte street, Fitzroy Square, London, England, Feb. 25, 1834.
   Our subject is the son of James and Harriet Welch. His father was by occupation a plumber, but it was the misfortune of our subject to lose him by death when a very young child. His mother is also deceased. Our subject was the only child, and was brought up with an aunt, and did not go back to London until he was sixteen years of age.
   The educational advantages afforded Mr. Welch were comparatively few, and he began to work with his uncle, who was a builder; when he returned to London he was engaged as an improver and finisher. He continued working in the city for some time as a journeyman. and then went into business as a builder with a young man who was also a thorough mechanic, and carried on quite a large business, their payroll frequently amounting to over $500 per week.
   During the period of his life in London our subject was united in marriage with Miss Elizabeth Baker. This lady is the daughter of James and Elizabeth Baker, and was born in Worthing, Essex, England. Of this union five children were born in England prior to their journeying to the New World, which event transpired in 1870. Passing direct from New York to Nebraska City, the family resided in that place until the Chicago fire; that event led our subject to that city, and he continued working there and helping to rebuild it for the space of about one year, and then returned to Nebraska City, where he began his work as a builder and contractor.
   Mr. Welch is one who has grown up with the city, and has all the time kept himself to the front. He had about $1,000 when he first came from England, which certainly was a powerful lever to success, but there have been many disadvantages to be overcome, and losses to be sustained. He takes great pride in his sons, to whom he claims is largely due the prosperity that has attended him in this country, because they have, as he puts it, "stayed right by him in everything." In 1880 he started with a four-horse power engine in a small planing-mill business in Griggsport, and happily the business outgrew the capacity of the shop. Purchasing the ground upon which his property now stands, he built his present extensive factory, and put in the plant in 1883. He put up the first building of the Blind Asylum in the Third Ward at Griggsport, that portion of Nebraska a on the hill in the northern part of the town.
   In 1880 Mr. Welch went into the lumber business, and is now engaged quite extensively and prosperously. The Nebraska City Chair factory, of which company, as above mentioned, he is president, is one of the earliest enterprises of the city and has from the first been assured of success by such a moving and controlling spirit as our subject. It is now one of the important industries, and its shipments are quite large.
   The family of our subject has included five children, viz: Elizabeth C., who died in England; Frederick William, James, Emily J., and Ellen, who died in this State; all were born in England. Mr. Welch has from the first been thoroughly American in regard to matters of legislation and political economy. He is not bound by party lines or prefer-