for swine, of which Mr. Webb makes a specialty, and from the proceeds of which he realizes a handsome income.
   While a resident of Wisconsin Mr. Webb was united in marriage with Miss Eliza E. Horne, on the 24th of November, 1855. The five children of this union include four daughters and one son, who are named respectively: Caroline, Della, Ida, Bertha and Walker James. The latter is the eldest born, and is farming in Lincoln Precinct. He married Miss Mary Howorth, of Tecumseh, and they have three children--Ruby, Carrie and Mabel. The eldest daughter, Carrie, married Mr. James Henry, and they are living on a farm in Lincoln Precinct, being the parents of three children--Roy, Nova and Myrl Edith. The other children are at home with their parents. They have all been given good advantages, and will become useful members of their community.
   Mrs. Eliza E. (Horne) Webb was born June 22, 1837, upon the present site of the city of Milwaukee, and is supposed to be its first native white child. Her parents, Solomon and Elizabeth (Wood) Horne, were of English birth and ancestry, and crossed the Atlantic in 1835, settling first on land near Utica, N. Y., to which the father could not obtain a clear title on account of various mortgages which it seemed impossible to adjust. On this account he moved to Wisconsin, settling upon the present site of Milwaukee, at a time when the now flourishing city was composed of a solitary log shanty. Then Mr. Horne removed with his family to Pewaukee, in Waukesha County, where he took up land, from which he improved a farm, and there spent the remainder of his days. His death occurred in the year 1878, when he had nearly attained his fourscore and ten years. The wife and mother had passed away five or six years prior to his death. Their children, eight in number, are now in Nebraska and Wisconsin respectively.
   George Webb, the father of our subject, was also a native of Bedfordshire, England, and emigrated to America about 1854, joining his son James in Wisconsin. The latter in the meantime had returned to England on a visit, and persuaded his father to accompany him home. The latter was a farmer by occupation, and died about 1877, after having attained his threescore and ten years. The mother in her girlhood was Miss Elizabeth Rainbow, and the parental family consisted of several children, but three of whom are living. The mother died when her son James was a babe of six months, and he was left principally to the care of strangers, being thrown upon his own resources as soon as old enough to fight his way in the world. He is thus a self-made man in the closest sense of the word, and he has made for himself a record to which his posterity may point with pride.

HARLES L. KING. The subject of this sketch is numbered among the representative farmers of Todd Creek Precinct, where he has made a good record also as a citizen, and where he is the proprietor of 160 acres of improved land comprising a fine farm on section 12. Of this he took possession when it was but slightly removed from its original uncultivated condition, and he has devoted the best years of his life to its improvement, with results that should satisfy any reasonable man. The farm is enclosed with a beautiful hedge fence, which, around the dwelling especially, is kept closely and evenly trimmed in artistic form, and which adds greatly to the attraction of a home which, with its surroundings, closely approaches the modern idea of the complete rural estate.
   Mr. King of late years has been greatly interested in fine stock, and usually keeps a herd of high-grade Short-horn cattle, besides excellent draft horses of the Norman and Clydesdale stock, together with Poland-China swine. His stock operations have been more than ordinarily successful, and from them he enjoys a handsome income. Mr. King first set foot upon the soil of Nebraska in the spring of 1878, having come here on a prospecting tour. He made no purchase, however, until the fall of 1880, and then secured possession of the land which he now owns. The improvements which the passing traveler view's to-day with an admiring eye are the result of an untiring industry, and a very judicious outlay of capital. Upon what was once the low prairie, with nothing larger than a

blade of grass, now stand among other embellishments, 2,500 beautiful forest trees, planted by the hand of our subject, while he has devoted five acres to an apple orchard of the finest varieties, besides the smaller fruits which supply the family in their season with dainties which can only be grown under proper care and training.
   The subject of this sketch was born in Niagara County, N. Y., May 31, 1857, and lived there with his parents until a lad ten years of age, pursuing his studies in the common school. He then removed with his parents to Henry County, Ill., where he completed a practical education, and became fully acquainted with all the details of farm life. His father, Horace King, was born in New York State about 1811, and removed from its eastern portion to Niagara County after his marriage with Miss Desire J. Burton. They became the parents of three children, namely: Edward F., William L., and Charles L., our subject. The mother and sons are all living, the latter carrying on farming successfully in Todd Creek Precinct, this county. The parents continued residents of New York State until 1867, then removed to Henry County, Ill., and from there in the spring of 1881 joined their sons in this county, where the father died in the fall of 1886. The mother is still living on the farm in this precinct. Horace King, although a very intelligent man, was no politician, but kept himself well posted upon affairs of State and National interest and conscientiously voted the Republican ticket. The parents in earlier years identified themselves first with the Methodist Church, and then with the Free Methodists. The family bears the highest reputation in this county, being careful and conscientious in their business transactions, prompt to meet their obligations, and in all respects peaceable and law-abiding citizens.
   Miss Mary J. Huntley, of Knox County, Ill., was married to our subject at her home in Walnut Grove Township, Nov. 27, 1879. This union resulted in the birth of one child, a son, Charles H., who is now living at home. The young wife only survived her marriage until 1883.
   Mr. King contracted a second matrimonial alliance, with Miss Cora B. Huntley, a sister of his first wife, and to them also there has been born one child, a son, Levi H., who is now four months old. Mrs. Cora (Huntley) King was born in Knox County, Ill., Nov. 10, 1864, and is the daughter of Levi A. and Elizabeth (King) Huntley, the former of whom was born in New York State, and removed thence to Ohio early in life, and from there to Knox County, Ill., where he became prominent and well-to-do, and where, with his excellent wife, he is still living. They are people held in high respect in their community, and members in good standing of the Christian Church. Their family consisted of three daughters, namely: Mary J., Nellie E. and Cora B.

ATERMAN G. VAN NESS. The history of Nebraska has many chapters of frontier life and experience, and they are in every way equal to those of other States, although possibly not so pretentious. One who has had much experience in Nebraska frontier life is the gentleman whose life is here briefly sketched, who has been identified with the State since the year 1871.
   Mr. Van Ness was born in Columbia County, N. Y., in the month of June, 1833, and there, resided during the first fourteen years of his life, and received the foundation of his education. Then, with his parents he went to DeKalb County, Ill. He is a son of Jesse and Rachel (Biglow) Van Ness, who were natives of New York. After three years of residence in Illinois the family removed to Columbia County, Wis. There the father died in November, 1882, at the age of eighty years. The mother of our subject still survives, and makes her home at that place.
   The family of which Mr. Van Ness is a member included four children, he being the second. From his youth he has been more or less upon a farm, intermingling with the varied incidents of such a calling. In 1871 he came to Harlan County, Neb., and there entered a claim of 160 acres. He lived within one mile of Alma, the county seat. Upon the occasion of his first visit to Alma the town was infested by a herd of buffalo, and he had the keen satisfaction of a hunter in seeing two fall under his hand. He remained among the buffaloes and In-

dians of that district until 1883. During the twelve years he lived there with his family they were not off the farm over night upon any occasion. There were many trials, difficulties, not a few dangers, but also many pleasures in those years, and in spite of grasshoppers, fires, storms and other minor incidents, he was fairly prosperous.
   In 1883 Mr. Van Ness removed with his family to Johnson, locating upon his present farm, which is situated upon section 18, Sterling Precinct, and 160 acres in extent; he also owns eighty acres on section 13. When he took his land there was a small house upon it, to which he has built an excellent addition. He has also erected stables and other farm buildings in a substantial manner, putting up such as will be of service in the Nebraska climate. He has also set up a windmill that is powerful enough to supply his stables, barn, cattle shed and residence. His orchard covers over six acres, and his home is very happily situated, and is one of the best in point of comfort, hospitality and homelikeness.
   In the month of July, 1854, the subject of our sketch became the husband of Miss Jane Wright, the accomplished daughter of Lemuel and Experience Wright, of Connecticut, who came West about the year 1851, and settled in Dane County, Wis. Mr. Wright departed this life in the year 1859, and his wife in Harlan County, this State, in 1872. Five children have been born of the above union, and bear the names here appended: Willis, Albert, Sherman, Clara and Emma.
   When the call came for patriotic friends of the Union to defend it from secession, Mr. Van Ness enlisted on the 14th of February, 1865, in Company A, of the 153d Illinois Infantry. He served through the Western campaign, being stationed at Nashville and Tullahoma. He was mustered out in September of the same year, and returned to his home.
   For the greater part of his life our subject has been a member of the Democratic party, but for the last few years, being convinced that definite and concerted action was necessary in dealing with the liquor question, he became an affiliate of the Prohibition cause. Since returning from military service our subject has broken the greater of his land and brought it to a high state of cultivation, has put one-quarter of his farm in tame grass, and made every provision for stock-raising, giving his attention chiefly to horses and hogs, with every prospect of even more than ordinary success.

AMES R. GLASS. This gentleman, well known in the business circles of Tecumseh, where he is one of the enterprising businessmen, being engaged in the drug business, to which he has added a grocery department, and also the owner of valuable real estate in the town, was born in Shelbyville, Ky., on the 29th of November, 1858. There he continued to live until he attained his majority. In its schools he was educated, and after leaving its institutions of learning began life. The fall and winter of 1878-79 were spent by him in the College of Pharmacy of Louisville, Ky., after which he engaged in business at Sabetha, Kan., where he continued for five years, building up an extensive trade, and enjoying the reputation of being a most careful and accurate prescriptionist.
   While in Kansas the subject of our sketch became acquainted with Miss Jennie McGuire, of Blairsville, Pa., and to her was united in wedlock on the 27th of May, 1881. They have become the parents of one bright and intelligent son, whom they have named Arthur. So successful was he in Sabetha that he was enabled to acquire several very valuable pieces of property, besides owning one of the best residences in the town. The removal to Tecumseh was effected upon the 30th of July, 1884, since which time he has been engaged with increasing prosperity and financial success as a druggist and grocer. His store is one of the attractive features in the business quarter of the town; his stock is always complete, and of the finest quality in either department. The store is situated on Clay street, almost opposite the new court-house.
   Mr. Glass is a member in good standing of both the I. O. O. F. and Masonic fraternities, and has held important offices in both. His life has been molded largely after the guiding principles taught by the great light of masonry, in which he has been instructed. This has lightened the pathway of his

life, as under its guidance he has gone on his way fearing no danger. He is a devout member of the Christian Church, and for many years has been an active worker and able supporter thereof. Every worthy enterprise of a charitable or other commendable nature has received his liberal support.
   The wife of our subject was born in Wisconsin. She is a daughter of the Hon. Miller and Mary H. McGuire. Her father was United States Senator for Wisconsin, and was still a Senator when he came home from Washington, was taken sick with pneumonia and died after a short illness. At this time his daughter was about five years of age. After her bereavement Mrs. McGuire removed to Blairsville. Site gave her daughter the best education in her power, and had the happiness of seeing her graduate from the Blairsville Female Seminary. Senator McGuire was an energetic and prosperous business man, having a large connection as a hardware man and dealer in all kinds of agricultural implements. Miss Jennie went to Sabetba, Kan., on a visit to friends at that place, intending after a short time to return home, but was unable to do so, owing to her meeting with our subject and her subsequent marriage. Her mother still resides in Blairsville, and is the wife of a Mr. Dixon, one of the wealthy citizens of that place.
   Jesse A. Glass, the father of our subject, was born on the 23d of March, 1817, in Virginia. He received his education in the Georgetown College, Ky., his parents having removed to that State in early childhood. After his education was completed and he had graduated from that institution he engaged in farming, stock raising and dealing, and became quite extensively connected in that branch of business. Financially, he has been a most pronounced success, At present he is Director of the Shelbyville Bank, a position he has held for many years. He has also 250 acres of fine farming land, besides considerable city property.
   The father of our subject has always avoided politics, but has been one of the Trustees of his city. He is a trusted and honored man in the city, universally respected throughout the community. He has built and is still living in an elegant home, and enjoying the harvest of seed sown in other days. His health, both physical and mental, is unusually good for one of his age, and all his surroundings are such as to enable him to enjoy to the fullest possible extent this perhaps greatest blessing. The maiden name of his wife was Irene Reed. She was born in Versailles, Ky., and until her marriage resided with her parents. Of this union there has been born one child, the subject of this sketch, whose misfortune, however, it has been never to have known a mother's care, she having died when he was yet an infant. It is perhaps the more commendable in him that under such circumstances he is what he is, and yet, it is but just and right to say that in all things his father has sought to fill the place thus vacated, and to do his utmost for his son's best and highest interests.

ORNELIUS WOODLEY, Mayor of Tecumseh, and Assistant Cashier of the Chamberlain Banking House, came to this county in September, 1867, and cast his lot among its early pioneers. The greater portion of the country adjacent to the present flourishing city was wild and uncultivated, but Mr. Woodley, believing in its future prosperity, opened an office and engaged at once in real estate and insurance, in which he has been mostly interested since his residence here.
   Our subject was at once recognized as a valuable and capable citizen, and the second year of his residence here was elected to the office of County Clerk, which position he held a period of four years. Subsequently he was elected Mayor, in which capacity he officiated several terms, was Chairman of the Board of Village Trustees, and prominent in the School Board. In fact he has been an office-holder most of the time for the last twenty years. In the organization of the First National Bank, in 1883, he was chosen Director and later President. Politically, he advocates the principles of the Republican party, of which he has been a leading member in this county. He has accumulated a good property, owning a fine residence on Jackson street, and other real estate in the city.
   The subject of this sketch is the son of Anthony Woodley, who was born in Lycoming County, Pa.,

and made his home nearly his entire life in the vicinity of his native place, Williamsport, Lycoming County. He was mostly engaged in farm pursuits, and departed this life in 1863, when about sixty-five years old. The wife and mother, Mrs. Hannah (Van Fleet) Woodley, was also a native of the Keystone State, and with her husband a member in good standing of the Presbyterian Church. Her decease took place in 1862. Their family included nine children, six of whom lived to mature years. Of these five are living, making their homes mostly in the West.
   Mr. Woodley was born near the town of Hughesville, Lycoming Co., Pa., April 25, 1822. He .there received his early education, but completed his studies at the White Deer Valley School. Upon approaching manhood he first engaged in farming, but subsequently learned blacksmithing, and busied himself at the anvil most of the time until 1863. He had, however, in the meantime left his native State and taken up his residence in St. Paul, Minn., after traveling in the South and West. Later he spent his time mostly in St. Paul and Minneapolis, and in the latter city was quite extensively engaged for a period of fifteen years in the manufacture of plows. His labors in this direction were very, successful, and he thus formed the basis of his present property.
   Mr. Woodley while a resident of Minneapolis was united in marriage with Miss Jane Sleight, who became the mother of one child, which died when six months old. Mrs. Woodley died at her home in Minneapolis in 1863.

AMUEL MINER, a farmer in good circumstances and residing on section 7, in Lincoln Precinct, is a native of what is now Monongalia County, W. Va., and was born Nov. 5, 1830. His parents, Samuel and Mary A. (Knock) Miner, are believed to have been also natives of the Old Dominion.
   When our subject was an infant of but three months his father was drowned in the Monongalia River, and the mother about two years later was married a second time, to Josiah Worley. They moved to Harrison County, Ohio, where our subject grew to the age of six years. The parents then became residents of Knox County, Ohio. Samuel acquired a common-school education as good as any afforded by the schools of that day, but when leaving school did not abandon his study of useful and instructive books. By a steady course of reading all his life, he has become generally well informed, and is as intelligent a citizen as he is a skillful farmer.
   In the fall of 1851 our subject left Ohio and settled in Fulton County, Ill., where he began farming and operating a threshing-machine, besides other employments by which he could make an honest dollar. In Illinois also he met his fate in the person of Miss Mary J. Holmes, to whom he was married Aug. 7, 18,56. This lady was born in Fulton County, Ill., July 13, 1838, and is the daughter of Thomas and Rachel A. (Dairy) Holmes, who were natives of Kentucky and West Virginia, and the father spent his last years in Illinois. The mother resides with her son in this county. The parental family consisted of eight children, all of whom are living.
   To Mr. and Mrs. Miner there were born eight children, one of whom, Sylvester, died in infancy. The survivors are: William O., Thomas F., Hardin W.; Minnie G., the wife of Liberty Grant; James S., Archie R. and Charles S.
   In the spring of 1871, our subject having disposed of his Illinois property, gathered together his family and household effects, and equipped with two lumber wagons and five horses, started overland for Nebraska. They camped and cooked by the wayside, sleeping in their wagons at night, and after a journey of eighteen days landed in Bedford Precinct, Nemaha County, where Mr. Miner purchased a tract of raw prairie land, upon which not a furrow has been turned, and upon, which consequently were neither buildings nor fences. They sheltered themselves in their wagons until a dwelling could be erected, and our subject then commenced energetically the improvement and cultivation of his purchase. By incessant industry, the strictest economy and general good management, he built up a valuable farm, which he occupied until the spring of 1882. Then being able to sell

at a good profit, he disposed of his farm property in Nemaha County and came to Lincoln Precinct, this county, where he has since resided. His farm here comprises 210 acres of fertile land under good cultivation, and he has, as before, been uniformly prosperous.
   Mr. Miner, politically, is a decided Democrat, and takes a genuine interest in the welfare of the people around him, being the friend of education, and the encourager of those enterprises calculated to advance the interests of the community. He is Moderator in his school district, and with his estimable wife occupies an enviable position in social circles. They are both active, intelligent, and held in high respect by their neighbors.

[The MINER article above was typed for NEGenWeb Project by Scott Chafin <schafin@pdq.net>. Thank you, Scott]

OBERT SMART is well known not only as a pioneer of Johnson County, but as the founder of the pleasant and thriving town of Smartville, of which he is a highly honored resident. He was born in England in March, 1812, and was there reared and educated. Among the pleasant recollections of that period of his life is the friendship that existed between himself and the eminent novelist, Charles Dickens, with whose early years he was fully acquainted.
   When our subject was twenty-four years old he paid his first visit to the United States, in 1836, and spent a year in Philadelphia, Pa. He then returned to England, and did not come back to this country until 1842, When he staid a short time in Philadelphia, selling carpets and woolen goods for an English firm. He then recrossed the Atlantic to his old home, and we do not hear of him in the United States again until 1851, when he came back to make a permanent stay. He stopped for awhile amid the Alleghany Mountains of Pennsylvania, and finally his business attracted him to Pittsburgh, in the same State, where he assisted in building the railway from there to Allegheny, and thence to Cresline, Ohio. He subsequently traveled for several years through the Southern States, until he located in Nebraska in 1854. He spent nine years in Peru engaged in the milling business, but about twenty-five years ago he came to Johnson County, and turned his attention to farming, improving a valuable farm adjoining the town, which still belongs to him. He was one of the first settlers of this part of the State, and has been a very important factor in developing Johnson County. He shrewdly foresaw the many advantages possessed by the present location of the village named in his honor for the site of a thriving and busy town, and with characteristic energy and enterprise he laid out the town in 1879, and has done all that lies in his power to advance its interests. He induced the railway company to build a station here by presenting $200 toward its erection, and in many other ways he has contributed toward the growth of the town.
   Mr. Smart was twice married. He was first married in England, in 1835, to Miss Eliza Dunton, who died in the land of her nativity in 1838. She was a true woman in every sense of the word, and a devout member of the Episcopalian Church. One child was born of that marriage, Fannie, who married Lawson Cook, and subsequently died near Nebraska City, leaving a husband and three children to mourn their loss, with many other friends. Mr. Smart's second marriage was to Mrs. Nancy Price, and she is still living, at the venerable age of eighty-nine years, to share his pleasant home. She has also been twice married, her first husband, to whom she was united in Kentucky when she was eighteen years old, having been Robert Price. They moved from their native State to Ohio some time after their marriage, but in the spring of 1856 they came to Nebraska to cast in their lot with its early pioneers, and thus were among the first settlers of this part of the State. They located in Spring Creek, where Mr. Price took up some land with the intention of developing a farm. He was doing very well, and his prospects of becoming a prosperous farmer were bright, when his useful career was cut short by his untimely death.
   The winter of 1856-57 was one long remembered by the early settlers of Nebraska as one of unexampled severity, and on the 11th of December, 1856, Mr. Price and his son Stephen were frozen to death while on their way to a mill near Nebraska City. After the death of her husband Mrs. Smart still continued to live on the land that he had taken up, and showed great ability in developing it into

a fine farm. She sold from it the logs to build the first house in Tecumseh. But Mrs. Smart's claim to the high respect that is accorded to her by young and old does not rest solely on the fact that she was an early pioneer of Johnson County, but on her own good qualities as well. She has one son, John Price, who is a respected resident of this town. Mrs. Smart's grandson, James Price, son of Hansford and Permelia Price, was the first white child born in Johnson County. He is now living in Smartville.
   Mr. Smart is a man whose sterling worth as well as his ability has brought him into prominence in this part of the county, and he has hosts of friends. He is a deeply religious man, was brought up in the Episcopalian faith, and he is a communicant of that church. When the post-office was established in Smartville he was appointed Postmaster, which position he still holds, much to the gratification of his fellow-citizens.

OHN GOLDSBY. In the career of this well-to-do farmer of Western Precinct we behold that of one of its oldest pioneers. He came to this section of country when Indians, deer, wolves and wildcats were numerous, and also saw a few specimens of the rare and graceful antelope. Around him stretched a wild and uncultivated prairie, eighty-five acres of which he secured, and has transformed into a well cultivated farm. This lies on section 13, and is provided with comfortable buildings and the other appliances in keeping with industry and intelligence. Mr. Goldsby has done a great deal of hard work, and in the affairs of his community has been an honest and useful citizen, encouraging the projects calculated for its general welfare and progress.
   Our subject was born in Washington County, Ind., Jan. 28, 1821, and is the son of Briggs M. and Nancy (Solady) Goldsby, natives of Virginia and Kentucky, and now deceased. The parents some years after their marriage moved from Greene County, Ind., to Illinois, settling in Clark County, where John attended school in a log cabin, the seats of which were made with boards pinned to the wall, and otherwise furnished after the primitive fashion of those days. The roof was of clapboards kept in place by weight-poles, and light was admitted through holes cut in the logs, and covered with greased paper. His education was carried on mostly during the winter season, while in summer he assisted his rather in the cultivation of the land and the building up of the homestead. He continued under the parental roof until a man twenty-seven years of age. In 1847 he began to make preparations for an establishment of his own, and on the 2d of December, that year, provided himself with one of its chief attributes, a wife, being united in marriage with Miss Matilda Summers.
   Mrs. Matilda Goldsby was born March 25, 1829, in Kentucky, and is the daughter of Matthew and Tabitha (Williams) Summers, who were natives of Kentucky, and the father now deceased. The mother is in Illinois. Our subject and his wife began the journey of life together in Illinois. They came to Nebraska in the spring of 1866, settling in Western Precinct, upon the place which they now own and occupy, and have thus been residents here for a period of twenty-three years. They have now become widely and favorably known, and number their friends by the score in this county.
   To Mr. and Mrs. Goldsby there have been born eleven children, eight of whom are living, namely: Ellen, George, Mary, Rachel, Harriet, Albert, Tabitha and Andrew J. One son, Charles, died at his home in Kansas, in August, 1887, at the age of twenty-nine years, leaving a wife and three children. The other members of the family are residents of Texas, Kansas and Nebraska.
   Mr. Goldsby, although taking the interest which every intelligent man feels in the affairs connected with his country's prosperity, has never sought office, considering his duty done when exercising the rights of the American citizens at the public elections. He cast his first Presidential vote for James K. Polk, and has since given his support to the Democratic party. His has been a long and interesting experience in the settlement of a new country, and he has watched with the keenest satisfaction the growth and prosperity of the now important State which at the time of his coming