Grove. The nomination for senator at the populist convention held in Rushville during the late campaign was tendered him in his absence, and he was elected by a good majority. Senator Mutz is one of the hard working members of that body, an able debater, a cogent reasoner, and a legislator of tact and keen discernment. He took an active part in organizing the senate, and has established for himself a state reputation. He is chairman of the committee on enrolled and engrossed bills, and a member of the judiciary, finance, ways, and means, school lands and funds, railroads, rules, irrigation, standing committees, and live stock and grazing committees.

HE state senator from Pawnee county, Hon. John M. Osborn, is a native of Greene county, Indiana, where he was born in 1843. He worked on his father's farm and attended district school in winter. He served in the war of the rebellion in Company I, Ninety-seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteers, was in the engagement at Mission Ridge, took part in the Atlanta campaign, was wounded in the charge on Kenesaw mountain. He gained the rank of lieutenant and was honorably discharged in June, 1865.

For some time he attended college at Merom, Indiana, and was principal of schools at Sullivan, in that state. He came west in 1867 and settled in Pawnee county, where he has since resided. He was elected county superintendent of Pawnee county in 1869 and served for three successive terms. Was married in 1869 to Miss Mary J. Gilkerson, and has a family of five girls and two boys who are being carefully educated. Senator Osborn cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln in 1864, remained a republican until the contraction of the currency brought on the panic of 1873, when he joined the "greenback" movement, voting for Peter Cooper in 1876. He supported Honorable W. J. Bryan for congress in 1890, and two years later, and was an enthusiastic advocate of that gentleman's election in 1896. Mr. Osborn owns 640 acres of valuable, well-stocked, unincumbered land in Pawnee county, with other property interests, and still resides on the farm where he first settled when he came to the state. He is the able chairman of the committee on railroads, and is a member of the committees on finance, ways, and means, agriculture, military affairs, education, manufactures and commerce, soldiers' home, and standing committees.

ON. FRANK T. RANSOM, one of the acknowledged leaders of the free silver republican, democratic and populist wing of the state senate, represents Douglas county in the upper house of the legislature. He was the most conspicuous leader in the organization

of the senate, and was chosen president pro tem. as the caucus nominee. In 1881 he represented Otoe county in the lower house, and was again honored with an election to the legislature from that county, the second time being to the senate. He was the author of the bill creating Labor day, and championed the eight hour law. He also introduced and secured passage of. the valued policy law against determined opposition of the insurance combine. This law compels insurance companies to pay the amount for which they write a policy in case of a total loss. Mr. Ransom was born at St. Joseph, Missouri, and received his early education in the public schools, after which he attended Phillips Academy, in New Hampshire. After a brief employment as an accountant in one of the mercantile establishments of St. Joseph, he studied law and was admitted to the bar. Soon after, he located in Nebraska City, where he established an enviable professional reputation. Responding to lucrative offers from Nebraska's metropolis he located in Omaha, and has enjoyed uninterrupted success in business. Mr. Ransom is a most effective campaigner, a skilled parliamentarian, and ready debater. He is chairman of the committees on labor, constitutional amendments and federal relations and a member of the committees on judiciary, railroads, miscellaneous subjects, revenue, rules, and standing committees.
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HE nineteenth senatorial district, composed of Butler and Seward counties, is represented in the senate by Hon. William E. Ritchie, of Ulysses. He was born October 21, 1847, at Waukegan, Illinois, where he lived until 1870. He served during the war in Company D, 146th Illinois Infantry. In September, 1870, he came west and located in Seward county, taking a homestead on the quarter section where he now resides. In 1871 he was married to Miss Hattie Radford, of Waukegan, Illinois, and brought back his bride to grow up with the country. They were hopeful, frugal, industrious, and persevering, and it requires four figures to express the number of acres of choice land now owned as the fruits of their labors. They have six children now living. Mr. Ritchie was elected as a democrat to the legislature in 1890, and in 1892 was defeated in his race for the senate. In 1896 be was nominated by the democrats and populists, and carried his district by over a thousand plurality. He is a plain, blunt, honest man, earnestly advocating his chosen principles. In business he enjoys the confidence of all his friends and associates. He is a vigorous campaigner, and popular with the people. He was one of Mr. Bryan's strongest supporters. Senator Ritchie is chair-