door neighbor is his brother Peter, whose family comprises a like number. The political sympathies of our subject are with the Republican party, which finds an ever ready supporter in him. Both he and his family are the recipients of the entire confidence and high regard of their neighbors.

HILIP FINK, JR., a well-known and prosperous farmer of Buda Precinct, is a native of Hesse-Darmstadt, Germany. He was born to Philip and Gertrude Fink upon the 23d of January, 1850. His parents emigrated to this country in the year 1868, journeying from their home to Antwerp, and thence to Liverpool, England, where passage was taken upon one of the trans-Atlantic steamers, which, after a voyage of fourteen days, landed them in New York City. The mother is now deceased.
   Our subject came on to Lancaster County in the fall of 1878, and purchased eighty acres of land, where he still resides, and which he has brought to a very perfect state of agricultural efficiency. While a resident of New York State, Mr. Fink became the husband of Sarah E. Priest. They are the parents of four children, whose names we record as follows: Fayett, Mattie, Gertrude and William.
   Mr. Fink has accorded to himself and family the esteem and confidence of the community. He is now serving his second term as School Moderator with much satisfaction to all parties concerned. In the United Brethren Church, of which they are old and active members, they find that which is congenial to their religious principles, and are held in high esteem.

DWARD R. SIZER, Clerk of the District Court of the Second Judicial District, in and for Lancaster County, Neb., came to Lincoln in 1874, and soon afterward was employed as Deputy District Clerk under R. M. Vedder, now deceased. Filling that position acceptably until 1879, he, in 1883, was nominated by acclamation by the Republican party for his present office, and elected by a majority of over 3,000. In 1887 he was renominated by acclamation, elected by an increased majority, and has discharged the responsible duties of his office in a manner highly creditable to himself and satisfactory to his constituents. His present term expires Jan. 1, 1891.
   The city of Ottawa, Ill., was the early home of our subject, where his birth took place thirty-eight years ago on the 25th of August, 1850. The eldest son of a family of four children, he is the offspring of Randolph and Marinda (Hoot) Sizer, who were natives of Massachusetts, and who emigrated to Illinois in 1833, being, thus among its pioneer settlers. His father carried on an extensive business as a lumber merchant of Ottawa, and for many years operated as a contractor and builder, continuing there actively in business until his death, which occurred Sept. 28, 1856. The mother continned a resident of Ottawa, surviving her husband until Dec. 16, 1869, when she too passed to the land of the hereafter.
   Young Sizer spent his boyhood and school days in Ottawa, Ill., and was graduated from the High School of that city. He commenced his business career at Princeton, Bureau County, in a mercantile house, where he continued fifteen months. His next removal was to this State. He was accompanied hither by his wife and one child, having been married in Ottawa, Ill., May 10, 1871, to Miss Elizabeth, daughter of David and Mary H. (Armstrong) Atkinson, who were natives of West Virginia. The father died in 1858; the mother is now living in Lincoln. To our subject and his estimable wife there have been born five children, three sons and two daughters: Maud V. (now deceased), Edward R., Jr., Bessie L., William A. and John A.
   The tasteful home of our subject is pleasantly located at No. 1740 D street, and, presided over by a pleasing and intelligent wife, is the resort of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Mr. Sizer has taken a genuine interest in the development of his adopted city, and socially, belongs to Lincoln Lodge No. 138, I. O. O. F. He is also a Knight of Pythias, a member of A. D. Marshall Lodge No. 141, and Marshall Division No. 10, U. R. K. P., also

Colonel and Aide-de-Camp on the staff of Maj. Gen. Carnahan, of the U. R. K. P., and Colonel on the staff of Hon. John M. Thayer, Governor of Nebraska.
   It is eminently proper that the portrait of Mr. Sizer be given among those of other prominent men of Lancaster County, and as that of a man having in charge interests of importance to a large number of individuals, it will be looked upon with corresponding interest.

ILLIAM F. STUTHEIT is one of the old settlers of Centerville Precinct, residing on section 29. He is a native of Clayton County, Iowa, and was born on the 16th of August, in the year 1855. He is a son of Henry and Caroline Stutheit, his parents both natives of Germany. When they were quite young both the father andmother of our subject were brought to America by their parents, who were among the number of emigrants at that time. The father lived in Ohio until he reached the years of manhood, when he removed to Iowa. To the parents of our subject there were born eleven children, of whom the following survive: Maggie, wife of Herman Spellman living in Sprague, Neb.; Lucy,the wife of George Beckman, residing in Kansas; August, in Lincoln, Neb.; William F., Cornelius and Louis, in Centerville Precinct. Mary, Edward, John, Matilda and Louisa are deceased.
   When our subject was but a boy he came with his parents to Lancaster County, the family settling in the southern part of Centerville Precinct, at which place he resided a number of years. His father is the German representative pioneers of the precinct in which the family reside, and was able to give his children a fair district-school education. On the 26th of September, 1878, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Magdalena Spellman, a daughter of Hon. Henry Spellman, now residing in Cortland, Neb. By this union there have been six children: Arthur, Earl; Clara and William, deceased; and Mabel.
   In the year 1878 our subject settled on his present farm, being now the owner of 160 acres of good land, having been able to purchase it and free it from indebtedness by his own perseverance, industry, and the labor of his own hands. He has taken an important part in political, educational and religions matters, having served as School Moderator in his district for two years, and being a prominent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. In the church he has honorably served as Steward, and by his consistent Christian life he was eminently qualified to assume the responsible position of Class-Leader, joining in sympathy with the aged who had nearly run their Christian race, in congratulations to the middle-aged that the religious advantages were so great, and in earnest advice to the young that they might continue their religious experience, and grow up to be exemplary men and women.
   When we speak of a man as being "public-spirited," we do not mean that he is willing and ready to participate in public matters only when solicited, but that he is a man of sufficient energy and thoughtfulness to devise new means by which the public in general may be benefited, taking upon himself the responsibility of introducing a new theory or reform. A man is public-spirited when he is awake to the necessities of the times, who looks abroad and sees what the great world is doing, and then, with ever laudable emulation, he strives to imitate, and perhaps to surpass, in his own community the improvements and progress which he has noted abroad. Such a man is our subject, to whom the above term is appropriately applied, and whose educational and religiious zeal is much to be admired.

LDER JAMES H. RING, who fins recently purchased a farm in Grant Township, and expects soon to take up his residence here, is a son of George Ring, and has officiated as a minister of the Baptist Church for a period of over thirty years, and has labored to good advantage in the Master's vineyard. A native of Fairfield County, Ohio, he was born July 27, 1840, where he was reared to manhood, and was married in 1861 in Gratiot, Muskingum County, to Miss Mary J.

Simpson, who was born there Nov. 30, 1838. Soon after they settled in Logan County, Ill., which has been their residence now for a period of nearly twenty-five years. There their ten children were born, all but two of whom, Susie and Bessie, are living. These two died, one when one year and a half old, and one in infancy.
   The eight living children of our subject and his wife are named respectively: Charles M., George S., William F., Thomas E., Frances M., Samuel C., Emma G. and Penelope P. They are living with their parents. Mr. Ring began his ministerial labors in Fairfield County, Ohio, and later preached in different places in Illinois. His labors have been attended with success, he being a clear and forcible speaker, and having labored with that conscientious industry which has always been a guarantee of his warm interest in his pious work, and his endeavor to so present the truths of the Christian religion as should convince the skeptical, and result in the prosperity of the cause. Politically, he has been a supporter of the Republican party for many years, and his removal to this county will be welcomed as an accession to the number of its capable men.

EUBEN W. HYERS. Life has its two sides; the one light and the other dark, and ever since the entrance into the world of wrong, of "that which ought not to be," of transgression, there has arisen a necessity in human society for some system of regulation and repression. This has evolved to the present super-excellent prison system. The gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch is officially connected with this system, as Warden of the State's Prison at Lincoln.
   Mr. Hyers was born at West Point, Lee Co., Iowa, on the 17th of September, 1843. His father, William Hyers, was a native of New York; his mother, Eleanor Wagner, of Ocean County, N. J. They were early pioneer settlers in Lee County, where his father was engaged as stage driver from West Point to Ft. Madison, continuing the same until his death, at West Point, in 1847. After this mournful event and terrible affliction, the mother of our subject removed with her five children to Illinois and located in Tazewell County, and there spent the last years of her life.
   As will be noted above our subject was but four years of age when his father was taken from them, so that he has never practically known a father's care. His mother filled the breach as far as she was able. He attended the public schools of Illinois, and at a very early age began to assist in the farm work. When there came the call for men to go to the defense of the flag and eagle, our subject responded heartily, and enlisted in Company B, 108th Illinois Infantry, commanded by Col. Charles Turner, and in due time took his place at the front. He took part in the battles of Vicksburg, Ft. Hinman, Guntown, Miss., and several other engagements. He was taken prisoner on the 10th of June, 1864, and confined in Andersonville Prison until April, 1865, when he was paroled, after suffering all the horrors, privations and hardships of that abominable institution for a period of ten months; when released his health was shattered, and his constitution undermined. He was honorably discharged at Springfield, Ill., July 25, 1865, and returned to Tazewell County, Ill.
   After farming with continued success for about five years in the above county, Mr. Hyers removed in 1870 to Cass County, Neb., and settled near Weeping Water, upon 160 acres of fine land, only twenty acres of which were broken. There were no buildings of any description on it at the time of his settlement, and his first employment was in this direction. He erected a set of good, stout and comfortable farm buildings and frame house, and continued his residence until 1877, when he was elected Sheriff of Cass County, and was re-elected in 1879, 1881 and 1885. He was sent to the Senate as a representative from Cass County, and served from 1885 to 1887, when he was appointed to his present position by Gov. Thayer, which he holds and fills with exceptional ability and unqualified satisfaction.
   Upon March 13, 1866, Mr. Hyers was married to Martha King, a lady of culture, refinement and womanly grace. She is the daughter of Mrs. J. M. King, and was born in Jerseyville, Ill. They have had six children, four of whom are now living.

   Mr. Hyers is a gentleman of character, kindly firmness, a strict disciplinarian, and yet withal generous and affable. In political matters he has always been a stanch friend and supporter of the Republican party. Socially, he is connected both with the I. O. O. F., holding his membership in Prairie Lodge No. 25, Weeping Water, and with the Farragut Post, G. A. R., at Lincoln.

LBERT WATKINS, Postmaster of Lincoln is a man whose natural ability, business tact, and fine education, have brought him into deserved prominence among the eminent citizens of Lancaster County. He was born in the city of Worcester, England, Nov. 16, 1848, to James and Mary A. (Crockett) Watkins, but he was reared and educated in the United States.
   Both our subject's paternal and maternal ancestry for many generations had been born and reared in that English city where he first saw the light. His father was born there Dec. 16, 1816, and remained an inmate of the old home until he was twenty-one, attending school, where he received a sound education, and assisting his father in the manufacturing business. When he attained his majority he married, taking as his wife the second child and eldest daughter of Thomas Crockett, a representative of an old Worcester family, in which city she was also born in 1815. After the birth of four children, of whom our subject was the youngest, Mr. Watkins determined to abandon the dwellingplace of his forefathers, and in the Western wilds of America found anew a home for himself and family, his parents, James and Elizabeth Watkins, having come to this country the year before, with their only daughter. Amelia E. Cotterell, and two of our subject's uncles, James and Edwin Crockett, all being early pioneers of Mineral Point, Iowa Co., Wis.
   Mr. Watkins and his family set sail from Liverpool in the good ship "Guy Mannering," and after landing in New York City, went directly to Wisconsin by way of the Hudson River, Erie Canal and lakes to Milwaukee, and thence by wagons to Mineral Point. Mr. Watkins purchased a large tract of land in Dodgeville, Iowa County, and afterward in Linden in the same county, successfully engaged in farming until his death on the homestead, June 9, 1868. He occupied an honorable position in the history of Iowa County, as one of its early pioneers who took a conspicuous part in its development, and as a citizen. He was a prominent member of the Druid Society, and religiously, was a member of the Church of England. Politically, he affiliated with the Democratic party. He took a lively interest in politics and public affairs. He took out naturalization papers on coming here, and cast his first vote for Buchanan in 1856.
   Mrs. Watkins was a very energetic, industrious, persevering and pious woman, well fitted by nature for the hardships of a pioneer life. She was a devout member of the Church of England, but when she went to her wilderness home in Wisconsin, she joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, which was the only religious organization in the county at that time. She did not long survive the death of her husband, but died in 1870. She was the mother of six children, of whom the following is recorded: Mary A:, born May 11, 1843, married Stephen De Yoe; James was born April 14, 1845; Amelia was born Jan. 3, 1847, and married D. H. Baker; Albert, our subject; George was born June 20,1852; Eliza C., born July 28, 1855, married Elwood Pike.
   The early days of our subject were spent in Wisconsin, following the usual routine of boys at that time, working on the farm in summer and attending school in winter, up to the time when he was nearly seventeen years of age. He was an ambitious youth, and being anxious to secure an education, then entered a private academy at Linden, in the same county where his home was, his father, who took a lively interest in the cause of education, being one of the incorporators and founders of that academy. He was prepared for college in that institution, and entered the State University at Madison in 1867.
   He was afterward graduated from the literary department of the university. He then became a student in the law department, and was graduated in the class of '72, receiving the degrees of Ph. B. and LL. B. After completing his collegiate course, Mr. Watkins entered the law office of Alex Wilson,