also unmarried, a very intelligent lady of most estimable qualities and a good housekeeper. Both are members of the Presbyterian Church, like their honored parents.

OHN McCARTHY, deceased. The McCarthy homestead, which is located in the northeastern part of Wyoming Precinct. and which was built up by the subject of this sketch, now deceased, stands prominently among the other farms of note in this county as the monument erected by the hand of perseverance and industry, the result of the labors of a self-made man. Mr. McCarthy began life dependent upon his own resources, and his labors, continued for a series of years, met with their legitimate reward. He left at his death, which occurred Feb. 3, 1888, a valuable estate, embracing 600 acres of land in this county, and eighty acres in Cass County. The place where he made his home is provided with suitable farm buildings, the improved modern machinery necessary for successful agriculture, a goodly assortment of live stock, and all the other comforts and conveniences of the modern country estate.
   Mr. McCarthy came to this county as early as 1857, and in 1864 took possession of the land which constituted his homestead, and where he spent the remainder of his life. It was then an unbroken stretch of prairie, upon which there had been no attempt at improvement. Mr. McCarthy worked early and late, through storm and sunshine, for many years, keeping steadily in view his purpose of acquiring a comfortable property for his family, combining general farming with stock-raising. And in due time realized the reward of his labors. He brought the greater portion of his land to a good state of cultivation, and around the dwelling planted shade trees and shrubbery, an apple orchard and trees of the smaller fruits, and gathered together those little comforts which have so much to do with the happiness of a household.
   Our subject was born in the county of Leeds, Province of Ontario, Canada, Jan. 5, 1831, the home of his parents being at that time in Elizabeth Township. He came of pure Irish ancestry. His father, Florence McCarthy, was born in the city of Cork, Ireland, in 1798, of a family of high standing, and was educated for the priesthood. He possessed more than ordinary intelligence, but declining holy orders, emigrated when a young man to Canada, and for twenty-six years thereafter was a teacher in the schools of Leeds. There also he was married, March 30, 1830, to Miss Elizabeth Moore, a highly intelligent and religious lady, and spent the remainder of his days in Canada, having purchased a farm in Kitley Township, where his death occurred March 25, 1862. He departed considerably from his early religious teachings, having united with the Methodist Episcopal Church some years before his death.
   In 1867, five years after the death of her hushand, the mother of our subject came to the United States, joining her children at Ames, Story Co., Iowa, where, twenty years later, her death took place, July 12, 1887. She was a lady of deep piety, active and intelligent, and, like her husband, exercised a great influence upon those around her, and one which was always for good. The parental family included nine children, five of whom are living.
   Mr. McCarthy was the second child of his parents, and was reared in his native county, where he received a common-school education. Before attaining his majority he set out to earn his own living, and not long afterward, about 1848, crossed over into the States, and traveled over a considerable part of New England. Finally turning his steps westward, he purchased land near Marshalltown, in Story County, Iowa, but early in the sixties made his way to Nebraska, of which he was afterward a resident until his death.
   Mr. McCarthy, in 1864, with his own team, started from Nebraska City on a freighting trip across the plains to Denver; that business in those days proved to be very profitable. He continued to add team after team until he owned a train of seven teams. He made his last trip in 1866, accompanied by his wife. They started from Nebraska City May 24, 1866; two wagons were drawn by six mules cacti, the other teams by oxen. On the return trip Mrs. McCarthy drove a team of six

mules, and as she says paid her way coming back. The trip to her was a very pleasant one, and she refers to it as one of the pleasant summers of her life. They returned landing at home August 13. In these business ventures Mr. McCarthy accumulated what was practically his substantial start in life, which enabled him to purchase the broad acres which he has left to his wife and children.
   Mr. McCarthy not long after coming to this county, and finding himself on the road to prosperity, evidently able to earn a living and more, took unto himself a wife and helpmate, Miss Emma Grosjohn, to whom he was married March 4, 1866. This lady was born on the banks of Wood River, in Madison County, Ill., March 22, 1851, and is the daughter of Peter F. and Sophia (Perry) Grosjohn, who were natives of Switzerland, and of French and Swiss ancestry. Both had left their native country quite young in life, and coming to the United States with their parents settled in Madison County, Ill., where they were married. The father first located upon a farm, but later engaged in merchandising at Cave Spring, that county, near Alton, Ill. Finally, selling out, he came to Nebraska, and located in what was then the old town of Wyoming on the Missouri River, and which has seen its best days. There also he engaged in trade, and was Postmaster for six years. Later he again resumed farming in Wyoming Precinct, and his death took place at the old homestead there, May 17, 1876, when he was sixty-two years old. He was a man of decided views, and politically, a stanch Democrat. The wife and mother is still living, making her home with her children, and is now sixty-eight years old.
   Mrs. McCarthy was but six years of age when she came with her parents to Nebraska, and she was educated in the schools of Wyoming Precinct. She is a very intelligent and capable lady, and since the death of her husband has managed the farm and the various interests connected with the estate in a most admirable manner. Of her marriage with our subject there were born ten children, two of whom died in infancy. The survivors are, Lycurgus F., Lola Montez, Annette, John E., Percentia E., Florence, Charles and Dolly E. The eldest of these is twenty-one years of age, and the youngest four, and they all remain with their mother at home, being given a good education and careful training. Mr. McCarthy, politically, was independent.
   In connection with this sketch we present the portraits of Mr. and Mrs. McCarthy.

RA P. CONGER. The city of Syracuse has come to the front chiefly by reason of its business men and its surrounding agriculturists, among the most honored, enterprising and prosperous of whom is the gentleman whose life is herein briefly sketched. Mr. Conger settled in McWilliams Precinct, Otoe County, in June, 1865. He is a native of Ohio, and was born in Huron County of that State upon the 10th of August, 1836, and is a son of Christian and Lydia (Westfall) Conger, who were natives respectively of Albany County, N. Y., and Essex County, N. J. The Conger family resided in the New England States for several generations, and James Conger, the grandfather of our subject, made his home for the greater part of his life in New York State, and at the time of his death was a resident of Cayuga County, N. Y. The family originally was French and all the members thereof this side of the Atlantic are descendants from two brothers who came to America in an early day.
   The father of our subject followed as his chosen calling in life the pursuit of husbandry. He was married in Cayuga County, N. Y., and there settled, making it his home until 1831, when he removed to Ohio, and became one of the pioneers of Huron County, where he settled upon a tract of timbered land. At that time its echoes had never been awakened by the woodman's ax and agriculture was an impossibility. In order to do this, however, he quickly began a clearing. He felled the trees, provided the material the first house, and it was not long before the family were settled in comparatively comfortable quarters. He became the owner of 130 acres, and as soon as the farm was well established he provided a more substantial, commodious and pleasant home for his family, and erected good farm buildings for his stock, etc. In 1863 the parents moved to Michigan, our subject