Sept. 6, 1882; Arthur M., May 29,1884, and Mary B., Oct. 6, 1886.
   Mr. King since his residence in Nebraska has suffered considerable loss from the Rocky Mountain fly, or grasshopper, but not as some of his neighbors, from hailstorms. Mr. King and his wife are enterprising and active Christian workers in the Presbyterian Church, and among its most devoted members. Politically, our subject has always been it very strong supporter and ardent admirer of the Republican party, and although not prominent in civic affairs, realizes and discharges his duty as a citizen. He commands the hearty respect of the community as a man established and reliable; honorable in every transaction of business life, and in every other relation worthy of admiration and imitation. Elsewhere in this volume is given a view of the home of our subject and its surroundings, which will greatly assist the mind of the reader to conceive the pleasantness and comfort thereof.

LLES SHANE. Of the inventions and improvements by the hand of man in the years gone, by, we can think of none that has required so much self-sacrifice, enduring of hardships and unmitigated labor, none that affords so great a source of pride and gratification to the American heart, as the unparalleled achievements accomplished by the men who were the early settlers, the pioneers, of this new, vast and fertile Territory. To pave the way for those who followed them, to secure advantages to the coming generation, they willingly deprived themselves of pleasant surroundings, left home and kindred, willing to sow that others might reap.
   Among the foremost in rank of the early settlers of Denton Precinct stands Elles Shane, the subject of this sketch. He is a native of Pennsylvania, the date of his birth being the 16th of November, 1833. He is a son of Michael and Sarah Shane, also natives of the same State, the latter still living. Mr. Shane's great-grandfather on his father's side was a German who early conceived a love for the new country, and came to America before the Revolutionary War, before she had attained her freedom and independence. The maternal ancestors were also Germans, who left the Fatherland for the inducements offered by their adopted country.
   For the companions and playmates of his youthful days Mr. Shane had ten brothers and sisters, four of whom are now deceased. Those of the family who survive are Elles, our subject; Mathias, Thomas and John, in Iowa; William, who is residing in Nebraska; Clark, who is also in Iowa, and Mary, residing in Chamberlain, Dak. In the early days of 1848, when the previously undisputed monarchs of the Territory, the American red men, were losing their hold on these possessions, the subject of this sketch removed with his parents to Stephenson County, Ill., where they were early settlers. In this undeveloped country he was reared to manhood, lending his time and strength to the improvement of this western wild, consequently he received but a rudimentary education in the early schools of his time, the greater part of which was acquired during the winter months, the only time in which the sons of the soil were permitted to attend school.
   His father then engaging in the lumber and sawmill business, for a number of years our subject assisted him in the mill. At the age of nineteen he began the blacksmith trade in Illinois, which occupation he continued until the year 1862. Then came the cry for men in defense of the country--not puny, weak, irresolute men, but those strong, stout of heart, willing to face shot and shell--for to such an extremity had this fair land come! With self-sacrificing devotion thousands and tens of thousands answered the call, and enlisted in the service. Among these brave men was Mr. Shane, who first entered Company B, 38th Iowa Infantry. He was stationed at New Madrid, Mo., for a time, thence going to Vicksburg, where he assisted in the siege of that city until the surrender to Grant July 4, 1863, after a siege of forty-one days. While the loss of human life at this encounter was estimated to be 60,000 men, our subject escaped uninjured, and from there he went with his company to Port Hudson for a short time. After this he was in camp at New Orleans for a time, then he went to Brownsville, Tex., where he remained for several months. Returning afterward to Alabama, he as-

sisted in the siege of Ft. Morgan in that State until its surrender, and thence to Donelsonville, La., for a short time. He was transferred to various points after this, and was mustered out at Houston, Tex., receiving a final discharge at Davenport, Iowa, in September, 1865. After the war he came to Lancaster County, Neb., and homesteaded 160 acres of land on section 20 of Denton Precinct.
   In the spring of 1866 Mr. Shane settled on his land, and he is one among those who have seen with interest their country developed from a primitive condition to the cultivated fields and farms which present such a fine appearance to-day. He now owns 280 acres of land, having added to his original homestead, and by the labor of his own hands and his own careful management, he has attained to eminent success.
    On the 3d of September, 1862, our subject was united in marriage with Angeline Cummings, a resident of Ohio, and about them grew up a family of six children, being deprived of but one other child by its death. The members of his family are: Ulysses G., Sadie, James, May, Adelbert and Leonard, the little daughter Angie being deceased. On the 10th of December. 1885, the mother of these children was taken from them by the providence of God, leaving a wealth of affection and love in the hearts of her husband and children.
   In politics Mr. Shane is a Republican, and having seen and enjoyed the progress and development of his country, he still wishes to see it go on to higher things and greater perfection. He is now serving as School Director, and has creditably filled that position since the year 1872.
   Among the portraits of representative men of Lancaster County, given in this volume, may be found Mr. Shane's, which the publishers present in connection with this brief sketch of his life.

ENJAMIN F. MUNDORFF, The solid and reliable element of the community of Yankee Hill Precinct finds a most worthy representative in the subject of this biography, who operates a productive farm of eighty acres on Section 33. When he took possession of this land it was in a wild and uncultivated state, and he generously acknowledges that his own industrious efforts were ably seconded by his excellent and amiable wife and helpmate, who has stood by him in storm and sunshine, lo, these many years, and has amply illustrated the amount of influence which a good woman will have upon the home and fireside. This worthy pair are now able to rest, as it were, on their oars, looking back over well-spent lives, and they experience much comfort as the result of their united toils and sacrifices.
   A native of the Keystone State, our subject was born in Lancaster County, June 23, 1835, and spent the most of his childhood happily and peacefully among the quiet scenes of his early home. His father, David Mundorff, was born in Lancaster County, Pa., and departed this life at his home in Dallas County, Iowa, in 1884. The mother, Mrs. Sarah (Stailey) Mundorff, is still living, and a resident of Madison County, Iowa. The paternal great-grand father of our subject was born in Germany, and emigrated when a young man to the United States, settling in New Orleans. Later he migrated into Pennsylvania, locating on the Susquehanna River, in Lancaster County, where he reared a family of sons and daughters, and it is supposed spent the remainder of his days.
   Another David Mundorff, a distant relative of the father of our subject, served as an officer in the American army during the War of 1812, and was given a warrant for land in Illinois, where he settled and probably spent the remainder of his days. The parents of our subject, in 1845, when he was a lad ten years of age, left Pennsylvania and moved to Henderson County, Ill., where they settled among its earliest pioneers. After a residence there of twenty-five years they disposed of their possessions, and crossing the Mississippi, settled in Dallas County, Iowa, where the death of the father took place in 1884. The parental household included seven children, only three of whom are living, viz: Aaron T., a resident of Council Grove. Kan.; Mary, the wife of William Coats, of Madison County, Iowa, and Benjamin F., our subject.
   Mr. Mundorff lived with his parents on the farm until nineteen years of age, receiving limited school advantages, but being fond of his books made such