NE of the acknowledged leaders of the minority party in the house of representatives is Hon. Paul Fenimore Clark, of Lancaster. His birthplace was on a farm in Green Lake county, Wisconsin, and the date July 14, 1861. His mother was a niece of J. Fenimore Cooper, the famous American novelist. Paul came to Platte county, Nebraska, in 1880, and after two years on the farm entered the State University at Lincoln, graduating in 1887. He was admitted to the bar in 1888 and has practiced law ever since in the Capital City. He was married in 1889 to May Lucile Roberts, and their life has been happy. Mr. Clark has had frequent recognition as a political leader. He was president of the Young Men's Republican Club in 1894, chairman of the county central committee in the campaign of 1895, and was the successful nominee of his party for legislative honors in 1896. He has always taken a lively interest in educational affairs, particularly as related to the State University. He is now president of the Alumni Association, and is a reader and thinker on a wide range of current topics. He is a man of quick mental grasp, keen wit, and entertaining speech. His adherence to republican principles borders on the line of aggression, and though in the hopeless

minority of the house, some of his bills have been passed by that body. He has proven to be a hardworking, conscientious, and useful member, serving on the committees on judiciary, insane hospitals, and medical societies.

HE first legislative district is represented in the house by Hon. Ralph A. Clark, of Stella. He was born at Covington, Kentucky, December 3, 1867, of New England parentage. He graduated at the Hughes high school, Cincinnati, in 1886, entered Harvard College the same year, and graduated with honors for general excellence and special proficiency in political science in the class of 18go. He tutored at Cambridge during the following year, and in 1891 came to Nebraska, locating at Stella, Richardson county, where he has since resided. Mr. Clark is of a studious turn, keeps himself thoroughly posted, his faculty of observation is highly developed, and he is a debater of force and ability. He was prominently mentioned for speaker of the house, although one of the younger members, and elected for the first time to the legislature. He has always been identified with the democratic party, and in 1896 received the unanimous nomination of the demo-

cratic convention of his district for the legislature, was endorsed by the populists, and elected by a handsome majority. He is chairman of the committee on finance, ways and means, and a member of the committees on corporations, railroads, and insurance.

ON. WILLIAM G. COIE, representative of the sixtieth district, was born in Columbiana county, Ohio, in 1849, a farmer's son. His ancestors were pioneers of Ohio and came from Ireland at an early date. William received a good, common school education, and after the war accompanied his elder brother to Iowa, where, after two years, he purchased a farm. Later he sold this and moved to North Bend, Nebraska, continuing the occupation of agriculture and stock raising for about twelve years. He then tried the mercantile business, but owing to the ill health of his wife he abandoned trade and moved to his present location in Kearney county. In 1873 he married Miss Margaret J. Dunlap, of Mount Ayr, Iowa, and has been blessed with a home life of great felicity. His companion is a thorough Nebraska woman. They belong to the United Presbyterian church, and have five children,

Nannie, William R., Mabel O., Mary E., and Una. Mr. Coie is a good judge of fine bred stock, and is at present making a specialty of raising thoroughbred hogs. He is a member of the committees on revenue and taxation, enrolled and engrossed bills, school lands and funds, and library.

OR the first month of the legislative session of 1897 Douglas county's delegation in the lower house included Hon. Levi Cox, who was unseated by vote of the majority to make room for the contestant of his seat. Mr. Cox was born in Plano, Illinois, in 1848, and came to Nebraska when thirty years of age, locating at Harvard. After engaging in the grain and stock trade for some time he returned to Illinois and remained three years. He found it impossible to abandon the state of his adoption entirely, and returned to this state, locating first at Hampton, later moving to Phillips, where he remained until 1891, going from there to Omaha and engaging in the live stock commission business in South Omaha. For two years Mr. Cox was deputy circuit clerk of De Kalb county, Illinois, and was justice of the peace at Phillips, Nebraska. He has never been an office-seeker, but has always been a republican,