chief delight is in fine horses, of which he has forty-eight on the farm. This stock he raises for the general market. He also gives considerable attention to cattle, raising from fifty to seventy-five head annually. A large herd of Short-horn and Durham cattle, and 100 head of thoroughbred Poland-China hogs, attract the attention and challenge the admiration of all visitors to the farm. The Cascade Creek, a branch of the Weeping Water, supplies an abundance of water for all purposes.
   The father of our subject was James W., who was born in Greene County, Pa. His mother, who was Henrietta Thummel, was born near Bremen, in Germany. Grandfather Woods came from Ireland. The father, James W., was a carpenter by trade, and when twenty-five years of age he migrated from Pennsylvania to Whiteside County, Ill., and there followed his occupation. He bought a farm of 120 acres in this county, which he retained but a short time, when he disposed of it and removed to Otoe County, Neb., where he purchased another farm, which he sold, and moved to near Syracuse, where he had purchased other property, and where he died in 1870, at the age of sixty-four. The mother is still living in Berlin, Neb., sixty-six years of age. George H. is the eldest child in a family of eight: Alida, the next in order, resides in Indian Territory; the other children, Adela, Evaline, Augusta, Laura and Fred, are in Nebraska. Frank is dead.
   Our subject was married in Weeping Water Precinct, Aug. 29, 1872, to Miss Edetha Clark. This lady was born near Pekin, Ill. The couple have six children born to them: Grace, Elmer, Elkin, Annette, Myrtle and Harlan, who are all at home with their parents. This gentleman is the most extensive landowner in Weeping Water Precinct, and is an example of what pluck, perseverance and economy can accomplish. His present holdings are the result of his own efforts, as he has accumulated his entire property during the last fifteen years, overcoming many difficulties, not the least of which was the destruction of his crops by the grasshoppers, which left him, like many others, with nothing but their land. But by the good management of himself and wife they now find themselves comfortably situated, possessing the most elegant and conspicuous residence outside of Weeping Water City. The home is surrounded by a large, beautiful, well-kept lawn, watered in seasons of drought by water from the farm tank.
   Mr. Wood is one of the most prominent men in Weeping Water Precinct; he is highly esteemed and trusted by all who know him. He is a member of LaFayette Post No. 61, G. A. R., at Weeping Water, was Supervisor for two years, and was a member of the School Board for six years. In politics he is unswervingly Republican, and he is also a consistent member of the Congregational Church.

DWIN DAVIS, a gentleman who is numbered among the older residents of the city of Plattsmouth, possesses a family history of more than usual interest. His birthplace was Watervliet, Albany Co., N. Y., and the date thereof Jan. 23, 1812. His father, Stephen Davis, was born in Merrimack County, N. H., and the paternal grandfather, Jonathan Davis, a native of the same State, carried on agriculture successfully and operated a sawmill on his farm, which was driven by a fine water power. He spent his entire life in the Old Granite State and from his farming and milling operations acquired a competence. He married a Miss Geddes, of New Hampshire.
   Stephen Davis, the father of our subject, was reared among the hills of New Hampshire, and when a young man left New England on foot, before the days of railroads, making his way to Albany County, N. Y., being assisted in the latter part of his journey by getting a stage-ride. He was already master of the trade of cabinet-maker, but there being little call for the exercise of his skill in this direction in the new country to which he had come, he employed himself as a carpenter a number of years Finally he purchased a farm in the vicinity of Niskayuna, in Schenectady County, the cultivation of which he carried on continuously, and also worked at his trade, remaining a resident of that locality until about 1837. At this time, leaving his son in charge of the farm, he removed to Coshocton County, Ohio, where he lived retired from active

labor until his death a few years later. He had married in Albany County, N. Y., Miss Catherine Shafer, who was born there and is the daughter of Peter Shafer. The latter was of German parentage and was born on the ocean during the passage of her parents to this country. The mother of our subject died in Albany County, N. Y., about 1820. The parental household included four children, namely: Hannah, John, Edwin and Maria, all of whom grew to mature years.
   Edwin Davis was a lad eight years of age when he was deprived of the affectionate care of his mother by death. He was then sent to his paternal grandparents in New Hampshire, with whom he remained until approaching manhood. In the meantime he commenced when fifteen years old to learn the trade of brick and plaster mason at Great Falls. When past eighteen years old he set out for the Empire State and was occupied at his trade thereafter in Albany and Schenectady Counties until 1838, then joining his father in Ohio.
   In making the journey from New York to the Buckeye State our subject was accompanied by his family and he purchased a tract of land ten miles from Coshocton. Sixty acres of this had been cleared and there was upon it two log cabins. The family took possession of one of these, occupying it until able to build a frame house, and in the course of time this latter structure was supplanted by a handsome brick residence which at that time was considered something very fine. Mr. Davis also put up good barns and all the other outbuildings necessary for the carrying on of agriculture in a successful and profitable manner.
   Our subject, however, was desirous of going into the more western country, and accordingly in the spring of 1851, sold his Ohio farm, and accompanied by his wife and nine children started overland for Iowa. They traveled in true pioneer style, cooking and camping by the wayside wherever night overtook them. After twenty-eight days' travel they landed in Oskaloosa, then a place of about 1,000 souls. They sojourned there from July until April following, when Mr. Davis purchased land one mile from Knoxville, Iowa, and repeated the experiment of life in a new settlement. Upon this land also a few acres had been broken and there was a double log cabin. After a two years' residence on this farm he removed with his family to Knoxville. In the spring of 1856 Mr. Davis started overland for Pike's Peak, where he remained during the summer following, and in the fall returning to Knoxville, resumed his trade of mason and bricklayer and employed himself at this until after the outbreak of the Civil War.
   In August, 1862, Mr. Davis proffered his services as a Union soldier, enlisting in the 15th Iowa Infantry, being mustered in as a private. He assisted in recruiting the regiment, taking forty-four recruits with him to enlist. Not long afterward he was promoted to Second Lieutenant, but on account of ill health was obliged to resign his commission in 1863 and return home. Upon his recovery, after about three months, he raised part of a company which was designated as Company E, and assigned to the 37th Iowa Infantry. Mr. Davis again entered the ranks as a private, was again promoted to the rank of Second Lieutenant, and remained in the service until the close of the war.
   After being mustered out and receiving an honorable discharge Lieut. Davis returned to his old haunts in Iowa, but in the fall following decided to change his residence to Nebraska, and removing to Plattsmouth with his family has since been a resident of that city. He had been married in June, 1832, to Miss Ann Maria Richardson, who was born in Albany, N. Y., July 18, 1816. Her father, David Richardson, was a native of Vermont, where he was reared and married, and emigrated to New York State, settling in Albany County. He followed the trade of carpenter a number of years, then removed to Coshocton, Ohio, about 1839, where his death took place, Feb. 20, 1866. The mother of Mrs. Davis was in her girlhood Miss Lucy Stowell, also a native of Vermont. She accompanied her husband in this removal to New York and Ohio, and died in the latter State Dec. 5, 1859. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Davis there were born twelve children, nine of whom lived to mature years. These were Joshua, Euseba C., Rebecca P.; Lucy C., now deceased; Lamira J., deceased; Rosetta; Jerome, deceased, Lora and Laura, twins; and three who died in infancy unnamed. Joshua, the eldest son, during the Civil War enlisted

in Company G, 15th Iowa Infantry, and was killed on the battlefield before Atlanta. Jerome enlisted the year following in the same regiment as his brother, and both started from Chattanooga with Sherman's command. Jerome was mortally wounded in the battle of Kenesaw Mountain and died four days later. Rebecca married William Kennedy, who served as a Union soldier in the 1st Nebraska Infantry and died in the service. Euseba C. married George W. Colvin and is a resident of Arrapahoe, Neb. Rosetta married Joseph Keeney and lives in Central City, Neb. Laura is the wife of Rasmus Petersen, of Plattsmouth. Mr. Davis and wife have both been members for over fifty-five years of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically he is a Prohibitionist and is usually recognized as an upright man and good citizen.

ON. LAWSON SHELDON, whose name stands at the head of this sketch, is numbered among the largest land-holders of Cass County, owning 3,000 acres of land, lying mostly in this county, and divided up into ten farms. Mr. Sheldon had at the beginning little aside from the substantial elements of character inherited from his sturdy New England ancestry, and these have, in his case, proved amply sufficient for success.
   Our subject first opened his eyes to the light on the mountain side in Ludlow Township, Windsor Co., Vt., Sept. 28, 1827. He received the education common to the youth of that day, and remained a member of the parental household until a young man of twenty-four years. He had however, for some time nourished a desire to see something of the country beyond the Mississippi, and, accordingly, in September, 1851, set out in company with two of his acquaintances, Perry Walker and Isaac Pollard, for California. They made the journey from New York City by the water route, across the Isthmus of Panama. They staked a claim in the placer mines, where they operated four winters, mining also around Mormon Island on the American River. They met with fair success, and after a sojourn of a little over four and a half years on the Pacific Slope, returned to New England in the same manner in which they had departed from it, landing at home in May, 1855.
   Mr. Sheldon sojourned at the old homestead that winter, but the year following he and Mr. Pollard set out to repeat their migrations, but after crossing the Missouri at Omaha, made their way to this county, landing in what is now Liberty Precinct on the 7th of June. Mr. S. at once located a homestead claim in close proximity to the Weeping Water, and on section 20 in Liberty Precinct. This comprised 160 acres of land, of which he took possession in June, 1856. Soon thereafter, however, he changed his abode to section 19 as a more desirable spot, and here he proceeded to build up a home. To this spot he has persistently clung, enjoying here his roof tree, while in the meantime he has been gradually gathering together the possessions mentioned, and which he mostly in this county, although he has a half section in Wyoming Precinct, Otoe County. Mr. Sheldon has made it a point from the beginning to live within his income and avoid mortgages.
   Nebraska remained a Territory eleven years after the settlement of Mr. Sheldon within its precincts. A large acreage of the land around him was unoccupied, and most of the figures upon the landscape were Indians and wild animals. Possessed of the genuine pioneer spirit, however, Mr. Sheldon was not to be dismayed by this condition of affairs, but having abundant faith in the future of this region, determined to stay and "grow up with the country." It is hardly necessary to say that the improvement of the vast area of land owned by Mr. Sheldon has been effected only by the most incessant industry, and it has employed a large part of his time merely to superintend the operations carried on. Most of it is under cultivation, and stock-raising forms an important feature in connection therewith.
   Our subject assisted in the building of one of the first sawmills in the county, and a mill for grinding corn, which was constructed on the banks of the Weeping Water, in the spring of 1857. To this there came for miles around the people, who hailed it as a real blessing. The first dwelling of Mr. Sheldon was a log house, and the first set of buildings

was in keeping with the means and requirements of the pioneer farmer. In 1857 he erected his present residence -- sawed the frame and most of the wood-work from lumber on the farm; the pine lumber he hauled from Nebraska City. The passage of years has effected a marvelous change, and the home farm, which is now transformed to one of the finest estates along the southern line of the county, is embellished with comfortable buildings, fruit and shade trees in abundance, convenient barns and outhouses, and everything which fulfills the modern idea of the well-regulated homestead. He has kept his eyes open to what is going on around him in the world, and is close and correct in his business transactions, one giving and requiring what is due, aiming to do unto his neighbor as he would be done by. He labored most earnestly for the passage of the Missouri Pacific Railroad through his region, foreseeing that it would be the making of it. He put up the first store building in Nehawka. His son Frank P. opened it with a stock of general merchandise, and it is the only store of the kind in the place today.
   Joel Sheldon, the father of our subject, was also a native of the Green Mountain State, and was born in Andover, Feb. 2, 1801, and was reared to manhood among the New England hills; he died March 19, 1875. The paternal grandfather, Jacob Sheldon, was a native of Massachusetts, and, when reaching manhood, was married in Wilton, that State, to a Miss Lovejoy. They removed to Vermont afterward, and located on a farm which continued their home the remainder of their lives. The wife and mother died when in middle life, but Jacob Sheldon attained to the ripe old age of eighty-seven years.
   Joel Sheldon was only a child at the time of his mother's death, and continued on the farm with his father until reaching manhood. He was then married to Miss Fidelia Pettigrew, a lady of Scotch and German ancestry. They settled in Ludlow, Windsor Co., Vt., where they lived until about 1869, becoming in the meantime the parents of six children. In the year mentioned, at the solicitations of their son Lawson, they joined him in Nebraska, and the father died March 19, 1875, when seventy-four years of age. He was a member of the Baptist Church, a man of decided ideas and one whose opinions were generally held in respect in the community where he spent the years of his active life. Originally a member of the old Whig party, he later identified himself with the Republicans, whose principles he supported to the end. The wife and mother is still living, making her home with our subject, and has now arrived to the advanced age of eighty-three years. She is still stout and hearty, retaining a large portion of her natural activity. She, like her husband, identified herself with the Baptist Church long years ago.
   The subject of this sketch was the eldest of a family of five sons and one daughter born to his parents, and with his younger brother, Amsdel, forms one of the three survivors of the family. He was early in life taught to make himself useful, becoming at an early age acquainted with hard work, and grew up imbued with those principles of honesty and integrity which have made him a man among men. He was married March 19, 1857, after his first-visit to the West, in Plymouth Township, Windsor Co., Vt., to Miss Julia Pollard, who was born there Nov. 20, 1827. Her parents, Isaac and Sally (Conant) Pollard, were natives of Vermont. The mother died about 1880. Mr. Pollard is still living, making his home in Ludlow, Vt., and has now attained the ripe age of eighty-nine years. The Pollards are of substantial English ancestry, the first representatives in this country crossing the Atlantic as early as 1692. They have been for generations widely and favorably known in Massachusetts and Vermont.
   Mrs. Sheldon was carefully reared and educated, beings student at the Seminary at Townsend, Mass., and taught school for some time before her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. S. made their bridal tour to their new home in the West, journeying from New England to St. Louis, Mo., by rail, and thence up the Missouri River to Nebraska City, bringing with them their worldly possessions. Mr. Pollard had given his daughter $100 in cash to set herself up to housekeeping. Their first dwelling was built of logs, and covered an area of twelve square feet. The only place within it in which our subject could stand up straight was in the middle. In the furnishing of this there was only required an outlay of

$20, and thus Mrs. Sheldon was enabled to place her remaining $80 at interest of forty per cent. Money at that time was very scarce in this region.
   Mrs. Sheldon labored equally with her husband in the building up of their homestead, and he acknowledges that he owns a large measure of his success to her wise counsels and efficient household management. In due time they became the parents of six children, two of whom are now deceased, an infant unnamed, and Florence, who lived to womanhood, and became the wife of Louis Todd, of Mt. Pleasant Precinct. Mrs. Todd died at her home in Mt. Pleasant Precinct, April 9. 1888, leaving one child, a daughter, Florence. Another daughter, Gertrude S., is the wife of Bucephalus Wolph, and they live on a farm in Berlin Precinct, Otoe County. Frank P. is the successful manager of the institution familiarly known as the "Sheldon Store" of Nehawka. He makes his home with his parents. George L. is a student of the State University at Lincoln. Vilas P. is also at home.
   After holding the various local offices Mr. Sheldon was chosen by the Republicans of his county to represent them in the Legislature, and twice thereafter was made a State Senator. He was reared, as it were, under the wing of the Republican party, and, like his honored father, is a stanch supporter of its principles.

. E. LEESLEY. The subject of this biography, a man of more than ordinary intelligence, distinguished himself at an early day as possessed of the qualities most needed in the settlement of a new section of country, and occupies a position in the front ranks among the pioneers of this county. He comes of substantial English stock and was born on the other side of the Atlantic, in Lincolnshire, where he first opened his eyes to the light Sept. 12, 1850. His father, Joseph Leesley, was a native of the same county, and the paternal grandfather was probably a native also of Lincolnshire.
   Grandfather Leesley emigrated to America in 1851, and settled on a tract of land now included in the city of Chicago, Ill. He operated as a renter for a time and remained in that locality the balance of his life, spending his last years in Ravenswood. His remains were laid to rest in Rose Hill Cemetery. His son Joseph, the father of our subject, learned the trade of plasterer and stonemason in his native shire, and emigrated to America the same year as his father, but located at St. Catharine's, Canada. During his residence of two years in the Dominion he assisted in the construction of the first bridge across the Welland Canal and was also employed upon other important works. He then joined his father in Chicago, living there and at Ravenswood until 1859, when those places bore little resemblance to their present condition.
   During the year above mentioned the father of our subject made his way to Nebraska Territory and located at Oreopolis, one and one-half miles above the now flourishing city of Plattsmouth, which forty-nine years ago gave little evidence of its present growth and prosperity. The two towns started up together, and Oreopolis at that time began to push ahead of its sister hamlet, having already quite a number of good buildings, a bank, stores and seminary. In a few years, however, all these passed away, and Oreopolis is a thing of the past.
   Upon coming to this section Joseph Leesley purchased a lot and erected a house near the latter named town, where he lived four years engaged at his trade, then changed his residence to the city, which gave evidence of undoubted progress and prosperity. Again purchasing a lot he erected another house, in which he lived until his death, which occurred in Nov. 1881, when he was sixty-three years old. He had lived to witness the wonderful development of Eastern Nebraska, and contributed as he was able to the encouragement of the enterprises tending to this end. He was a man of decided ideas and in all respects a worthy citizen.
   The mother of our subject was in her girlhood Miss Caroline Allis and was also born in Lincolnshire, England. She accompanied her family to America and died at the home in Plattsmouth in 1881, three months prior to the decease of her husband. The parental household included eight children. The eldest son, Albert, is a resident of Greenwood, as is also the second son, William; J. E., our

subject, was the third in order of birth; Sarah is the wife of John Devore, also of Greenwood; Lottie became the wife of J. P. McPherson and died in Nebraska City in 1887; Hattie, widow of C. W. King and lives in Hastings, Neb.; Robert in Kansas; Lizzie, wife of C. E. Harris of Nebraska City.
   Our subject was the youngest child of the family born in England, and was an infant of a few months when his parents came to America. He was a lad of eight years when they emigrated to Nebraska Territory, and secured his education in the imperfect schools of Oreopolis and Plattsmouth, winding up with an attendance of several terms in the State University at Lincoln. When a youth of sixteen he began working with his father as a mason during the school vacations and upon reaching manhood turned his attention to the nursery, which had been established at the homestead adjoining the corporation. At this business he is still occupied, having twenty acres of land in a highly cultivated condition. His stock obtains a ready sale throughout this and other counties.
   Mr. Leesley was married, May 30, 1882, at the home of the bride in Plattsmouth, to Miss Lulu Shannon, who came to Nebraska with her parents in 1866. Mrs. Leesley was born Aug. 19, 1859, in Paulding County, Ohio. Of her union with our subject there are two children, Earl and Irene. Mrs. L. is a very estimable lady and a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. Leesley, politically, gives his support to the Republican party.

OBERT SHERWOOD, who is the leading shoe dealer in the city of Plattsmouth, with a large and well appointed store on the corner of Fifth and Main streets, is a man whose enterprise and marked aptitude for business have placed him among the most substantial and wealthy citizens of this community. His personal integrity is of a high order, and he is justly accorded the respect of his fellow-citizens.
   His father, John Sherwood, was born in Kensington, London, as was also his grandfather, who was likewise named John. The latter held the position of Quay Captain, or Superintendent of the West India docks in London, and was a lifelong resident of that city. The father of our subject was reared and married in his native city, Sarah Adams, who is supposed to have been born in London also, becoming his wife. When he was a young man he entered the English army, and fought in the Spanish War. He served four years and a half, and then returned to London to engage in the shoe business, which he is still carrying on there. His wife, a most estimable lady, died in 1870. Seven children had been born of their marriage, namely: William, John, James and Charles are deceased; Robert, Samuel and Elizabeth.
   The subject of whom we write was the only member of the family to come to the United States. He was reared and educated in his native city, and, at the age of thirteen began learning the trade of shoemaker in his father's shop, becoming a thorough master of his trade. He continued to live in London until 1871, and then, ambitious to see something of the world and to better his fortunes, he crossed the Atlantic to take up his residence in this country. After landing he made his way to Plattsmouth, and commenced life here as a journeyman in a shoe store, and was thus engaged for four months, when he was promoted to the position of foreman in the shop. He looked after his employer's interests for four years very faithfully, and then by wise economy had saved up a sufficient sum of money to establish himself in business, and he bought a frame building on Main street, and commenced the manufacture of shoes, employing a number of hands. This enterprise met with marked success, and he carried on his business in the same building for some years, until it was burnt Feb. 17, 1883. During that time he had bought a lot, and with characteristic energy he immediately set about erecting his present building upon it. It is two stories in height, and is commodious and well built; it is located on the corner of Fifth and Main streets, fronting on the former street, its dimensions being 22x130 feet in depth. He keeps a large and fine stock of boots and shoes, and does custom work.
   Mr. Sherwood was married Dec. 25, 1867, to Amelia Hitchcock. She was a native of London, and a daughter of Herbert and Mary (Lunt) Hitch-