where he bought forty acres of land, and continued farming and raising fruit until 1873, when he sold out and removed to Wabash, Neb., where he now has an elegant farm of 160 acres, well improved and thoroughly equipped with modern appliances, which make farming a source of pleasure, as well as of profit. He is a strong Republican in politics, and takes a great interest in the success of his party. He is fifty-seven years of age, and the mother the same. The lady is the eldest of five children, was born in Carroll County, Ohio, Jan. 26, 1860, emigrated to Michigan with her parents, and was there married. They have one child, Leo, born March 5, 1882. She is a very kind, companionable lady, devoting herself to the comfort and pleasure of her family and friends. Our subject is a member of the A. F. & A. M. at Weeping Water, Lodge No. 97, has been through all the Chairs, and Master for two years. He served one term on the School Board, and at present is Assessor.
   During his spare hours Mr. Johnson has studied the English language, until he has mastered it so well that he would not be taken for a foreigner, judging from his language. He says that America has given him chances he would not have had in his mother country, consequently he is an American through and through. On another page is shown a view of Mr. Johnson's comfortable residence.

EUBEN K. LEYDA and his excellent wife, who in her girlhood was Miss Catherine Shoup, are numbered among the well-known people of Mt. Pleasant Precinct who have built up for themselves a good homestead, and whose course has been such as to commend them to their neighbors. Their property is pleasantly situated on section 29, and fulfills, in the air of plenty and comfort which surrounds it, the modern idea of the well-regulated rural home, where peace and plenty abound. The farm is 160 acres in extent, and since settling upon it in March of 1881 many improvements have been effected by Mr. Leyda, who has gradually gathered together the litttle (sic) comforts and conveniences which have so much to do with the happiness of a household. Mr. and Mrs. Leyda are people at the prime of life. and after years of arduous labor are now enabled to rest upon their oars, taking satisfaction in watching the growth and development of the country around them, looking after the comfort and well-being of their children, and doing good unto their neighbors as they have opportunity.
   The birth of our subject took place in Clinton Township, Wayne Co., Ohio, March 6, 1834. His father, James Leyda, was a native of Washington County, Pa., and in early manhood married Miss Hulda Sanford, who was born on Long Island. The Leyda family trace their ancestry to Ireland, while from his mother our subject has inherited some of the best qualities of New England stock. James Leyda was occupied mostly with farming during his lifetime, and spent his last years in Ohio, departing this life in March, 1880. He was one of the earliest settlers of Wayne County, Ohio, locating in a log cabin in the wilderness, and in common with the pioneers around him experiencing the hardships and privations incident to the time and place. The mother is still living in Wayne County, Ohio.
   Our subject was the second son and third child in a family of nine children, and was reared to man's estate in his native county, assisting in the development of the pioneer farm, and receiving a limited education in the primitive school. His parents realized the advantage of a good education, and did what they could for their children in this direction. Reuben, after leaving the district school, was given instruction by a teacher of a select school, and made such good progress that he himself developed in time into a pedagogue, He followed teaching briefly in his native county.
   Mr. Leyda in leaving his native State was accompanied by the estimable lady who now bears his name, and to whom he was married March 25, 1858. Mrs. Catherine (Shoup)) Leyda was born in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, May 2, 1836, and is the daughter of John and Nancy (Foreman) Shoup, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Pennsylvania. The paternal ancestors originated in Germany, and the family was represented in the United States probably 150 years ago. When Catherine was a little girl of seven years her parents removed from Tuscarawas to Holmes County, dur-

ing the early settlement of the latter, where they spent the remainder of their lives. The father was a farmer by occupation, and looked his last upon the scenes of earth Jan. 14, 1885. The mother survived her husband a little over two years, dying in August, 1887.
   Mrs. Leyda was the eldest daughter of her parents, and was reared and married in Holmes County, Ohio. Of her union with our subject there have been born five children, four of whom are living: The eldest son, James E., a young man of more than ordinary abilities, occupies himself as a teacher in the public schools of this county; John M., also making his mark in the world, is Deputy Recorder of this county; Wilbur S. is engaged in the real-estate business at Weeping Water; Otis T. remains at home with his parents. Albert died in infancy.
   After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Leyda resided in various parts of Ohio until March of 1881, when they crossed the Mississippi, and sought a home in the farther West. Providence has kindly smiled upon their labors, and they have had little reason to regret their decision. Both were carefully trained morally and religiously, and are members in good standing of the Regular Baptist Church, in which Mr. Leyda officiates as Deacon and Trustee, attending services at Weeping Water. They have uniformly been the supporters and encouragers of those worthy enterprises having for their object the best good of the community, and tending to elevate society. The spacious and comfortable home is well illustrated by a view on another page.

HARLES H. KING, of Weeping Water, is known far and wide as one of the earliest pioneers of Cass County, and a man closely identified with its early history. His has been a career at once busy and honorable, and in which he has been accorded by his fellow-citizens all the positions of trust and responsibility within their gift. He is at present Police Judge and Justice of the Peace, and is also carrying on a lucrative insurance business. He owns and occupies a good home at the corner of I and Commercial streets.
   Mr. King first settled upon the soil of Nebraska Territory in 1859, eight years before it was admitted into the Union as a State. He took up his abode in Plattsmouth, on the eastern line of the county, when it had a population of about 250. He sojourned with the people of that region a number of years, operating as a contractor and builder, and putting up some of its earliest business houses and better class of residences. In the meantime he interested himself in its improvement generally, and gave indications of more than ordinary business ability. In the year 1860 he was elected Sheriff of Cass County by the Democratic party, and bears the honor of having been the only Democratic Sheriff elected in this county. He served two years with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents, and at the expiration of this time the Civil War directed his thoughts and interests in another channel.
   On the 17th of October, 1862, Mr. King proffered his services as a Union soldier, enlisting in Company H, 2d Nebraska Cavalry, and was given the post of Commissary Sergeant, in which capacity he served until the 1st of December, 1863. This being the expiration of his term of enlistment, he was honorably discharged. His regiment had operated mostly with the Northern Indiana army in the vicinity of the Whitestone Hills in the State of Dakota.
   Upon retiring from the service Mr. King returned to Plattsmouth, and resumed his business as a contractor and builder. Not long afterward he was elected a City Councilman, a post which he held for a number of years. At Plattsmouth he was one of the pillars of the Christian Church, was Deacon, and filled other positions of trust. He was especially interested in the religious training of the young and the establishment and maintenance of Sunday-schools. In the spring of 1868, deciding upon a change of occupation, he removed with his family to a farm in the vicinity of Eight Mile Grove, and which he had partially improved from a wild and uncultivated tract of land. He now vigorously entered upon the pursuit of agriculture and carrying on the improvement of his farm, setting out trees, putting up the necessary buildings, and gathering together the machinery and live stock which complete the details of a coun-