1891 became convinced that the free coinage of silver is an absolute essential to the prosperity of this country. In 1896 he was nominated for representative by the populists and democrats, and was elected by a good round majority. Mr. Uerling is a man of business, eminently practical, in no way an office-seeker, and this is his first legislative experience. He is chairman of the committee on insane hospitals, and a member of the committee on public lands and buildings.

ON. STEPHEN S. VAN HORN, representative in the lower house from the fourteenth district, was born March 11, 1853, near Newton, Sussex county, New Jersey. His early life was spent on a farm where his parents still reside. His education was completed at the Collegiate Institute in his native town. During the winter of 1889 he was installed as an attendant at the Kalamazoo, Michigan, insane asylum, which position he held for over three years. He then married Miss Julia Blackford, and moved to Dodge county, Nebraska, where in January, 1883, he purchased a farm and settled down for life. From an humble beginning he has advanced until be now owns 440 acres of the finest land

in that fertile part of Nebraska, with excellent buildings and modern improvements. He is president of the Dodge County Mutual Insurance Company, and was for four years a member of the board of supervisors, serving two years as chairman. Representative Van Horn has been a democrat and was nominated in 1896 by the democrats and populists for the position he now holds. He has served with ability and diligence as chairman of the committee on agriculture, and as a member of the committees on insane hospital, other asylums, and cities and towns.

ON. CHAS. E. WAITE, of Lancaster, a well-known member of the house, was born during the war and came to Nebraska with his parents in 1867, settling in Brownville. He was educated in the district schools and the State Normal at Peru. After being employed as a book-keeper in a general store for some time, he entered the employ of one of the Auburn banks. In April, 1884, he was made cashier of the First National Bank of Humboldt. In 1886 he accepted the position of assistant cashier of the State National Bank of Lincoln, and later became cashier of the German National Bank of that city. Mr. Waite has had

fifteen years of valuable experience in the banking business, has mastered the science of banking in all its intricate details, and may be said to be an expert in all matters relating to the control and management of national banks. In the organization of the house he was very appropriately selected as a member of the committee on banks and currency. He has always taken an active part in politics, both local and state, and during each campaign for the past ten years he has been a familiar figure as a delegate to republican conventions, local, state, and congressional. He is chairman of the committee on mines and minerals, and a member of the committees on federal relations and claims.

MONG the thousands of men who have made their mark on the history of this state there are very few who have surmounted more difficulties with as great success as Hon. Eugene M. Webb, who represents the fifty-sixth district in the house. He was born in Buffalo county, Wisconsin, December 18, 1859. He came to Lincoln, Nebraska, with his mother in 1870, where he attended school one year. He then located in Butler county, and participated in

the pioneer experiences incident to the development of that new county. At the age of seventeen he had fitted himself to become a school teacher. He followed the profession until he attained his majority, learned the printer's trade, and threw himself with bright hopes and unflagging zeal into journalism. He established the Brainard Enterprise in 1884, founded the Ulysses Herald in 1886, launched the Nebraska Citizen, a pioneer reform sheet at Broken Bow, in 1888, and helped to organize the Farmers' Alliance and the people's independent party in Custer county. In 1890 he became a partner in the publication of the Custer County Beacon, and two years later established the Custer County Independent at Callaway, and remains the editor and owner of that journal. He married Miss May Freiday, of Butler county, August 3, 1884, and they have three bright boys who are the pride of the home. He is a vigorous and versatile writer and a campaigner who wins with the people. He was honored as chairman of the house committee on public printing, and is a member of the committees on accounts and expenditures, fees and salaries, apportionment, university and normal schools.