NeGenWeb Project
Resource Center
On-Line Library
 

THE SENATE


      The Members of the Senate, 28th General Session, were largely Republican in majority, consisting of twenty-nine Republicans and four Fusionists. In the matter of nativity, the State of Illinois was the birthplace of six members; New York, of five members; Iowa, four members; and of native Nebraskans there are only four. Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and Ohio, each supplied two members. England is the birthplace of three members and Canada, two. Virginia was represented by one member and Maine by one.

      There are nine lawyers in the Senate, and as to occupations most largely represented, farmers stand second with seven. Other callings in the world of business and the professions are represented as follows: Lumbermen, three; doctors, two; bankers, two; hardware dealers, two; and one each of real estate dealers, druggists, insurance men, farmers and stock growers, flour manufacturers and dealers, general merchants, civil engineers, jewelers and coal and grain dealers. More than half of all members are land owners--owners of farm lands and many have varied business interests aside from their special pursuits.

26


Picture

W. H. HARRISON.

      William H. Harrison, Senator from the Seventeenth District, Hall and Howard counties, has the distinction of being the President pro tem of the Senate. He was born in Morris, Illinois, May 19, 1860. In May, 1866, his parents removed to Nebraska and were among the pioneer settlers of Richardson county. Senator Harrison received his education in the schools of Nebraska, and at the age of seventeen, commenced his business career in the lumber trade, in which he has since continued as a manufacturer and dealer in lumber. His home has been at Grand Island, since 1885, and there for several terms he has served is a member of the City Council. He is not new to law-making, as in 1895, he was a member of the House from the Forty-seventh District. From 1888 until 1882, he was postmaster at Grand Inland. He has been active in county and state politics and has been a delegate to numerous county, congressional and state conventions of his party. He is one of the strong men of the upper house. his is a conservative, careful and a hard and faithful worker for the general good of his state and constituency.

      Senator Harrison was married in 1881 to Miss Emma E. Jones, and has a family consisting of four sons and one daughter.

27


Picture

DR. J. M. ALDEN.

      Dr. James Marion Alden, Senator from the Eleventh District, composed of Wayne, Madison, Stanton and Pierce counties, was born in Oswego county, New York, September 7, 1847. His early days were passed on his father's farm and in attendance at the common schools and academies of his native county. For two years he attended the University of Michigan. Subsequently, he entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1871. For eight years he practiced medicine in Michigan and in Illinois and, in 1887, came to Nebraska and settled at Pierce, in Pierce county, where he has since been in continuous practice. Dr. Alden is a member of the Elkhorn Valley and the Nebraska State Medical societies. His wife, in maidenhood, was Miss Florence Bell, whom he married at Pierce, in February, 1889. Dr. Alden was a member of the Nebraska Legislature in 1891. This is his first term in the Senate.
28


Picture

CHARLES B. ANDERSON.

      Charles B. Anderson, Senator from the Twenty-second District, composed of Saline county, was born on a farm near Albion, Orleans county, New York, June 30, 1865; attended the district schools and afterwards the High school at Albion, New York, from which he graduated in 1883 and commenced the following Monday as delivery boy in the hardware store of Mr. Ed. C. Cole, of Albion, New York; became its bookkeeper about a year afterwards. He continued in Mr. Cole's employ until 1885 when with his uncle, Mr. Bidelman, he purchased the business and continued it until the spring of 1887, when he moved to Nebraska and purchased an interest in the DeWitt Bank of DeWitt, Nebraska, and became its cashier. Continued in the banking and farm loan business at DeWitt for ten years, organizing a bank at Plymouth and Stamford, Nebraska, also, of which he was president; removed to Crete in 1897 and with Mr. T. H. Miller organized the Crete State Bank, he becoming its cashier. About two years afterwards he became vice-president of the bank and organized the Conservative Investment Company of Crete of which he is president. He was elected and served as cashier of the Omaha National Bank for about six months, but preferred to return to his old home and business interests at Crete and elsewhere, being vice-president of the Ord State Bank at Ord,
29


Nebraska, and president of the Conservative Investment Company of Blackwell, Oklahoma.

      Mr. Anderson has one of the best homes in Crete. He married Miss Mathilda Miller of Crete. His family consists of three children. Mr. Anderson has never held office except serving efficiently as a member of the School Board at Crete and is one of the trustees and a member of the executive committee of Doane College. He was selected in 1896 as a District Delegate from his district to the National Republican Convention and esteems the privilege of sharing in the first nomination of President McKinley as one of his pleasantest duties. He has always taken an active interest in politics as a citizen, though did not seek the nomination for the office to which he was elected to by a majority of over 700.

Icon or sketch

30


Prior page
General Index
Biographical index
Names list
Next page
© 2002 for the NEGenWeb Project by Pam Rietsch, Ted & Carrole Miller.