real estate by the purchase of 160 acres. His land is well watered, and the soil has yielded generously under his wise management.
   Mr. Quible was married, April 22, 1857, in Lockport, Will Co., Ill., to Miss Emma A., daughter of John and Marietta (Bassett) Nichols. The parents of Mrs. Q. were natives of New York State, where they spent their entire lives, dying, however, when only middle aged. Their daughter Emma was then taken into the home of an aunt in Canada. She received a common-school education, and of her union with our subject there have been born seven children, one of whom, Ira, died when two years old. The survivors are: Ella M., who was born in Illinois; Etta M., Ernest B., Henry G., Rhoda and Cora E., the others all natives of Nebraska, Ella is the wife of F. S. Hazelton, a real-estate dealer of Norton County, Kan., and the mother of one child, a daughter Edna; Etta married Frank D. Arnot, who has a cattle ranch in Cherry County; they have two children, Pearl, and an infant son Ralf. The other children make their home with their parents. Ella and Etta taught school considerably before their marriage, the former for a period of seven years and the latter five years very successfully.
   For a number of years Mr. Quible was largely interested in the cattle business, and engaged in herding at one time from 1,000 to 1,500 bead, and had from sixty to 100 of his own. He cast his first vote for John C. Fremont, at the organization of the Republican party, and has since given his earnest support to this party. He has always been interested in the maintenance of schools and churches, and given of his means as he was able for their advancement. Mrs. Quible is an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Rockford, of which their daughter Rhoda is the organist, being a young lady possessing more than ordinary musical talent. All the children take naturally to music, learn readily and sing with taste. Mrs. Q. has been a teacher in the Sunday-School for some time. Our subject, aside from being a member of the School Board for a period of nine years, has invariably declined official honors, and although elected Justice of the Peace and assessor several times, he would not consent to serve.
   In the view of the Quible homestead which will be found in this connection, are illustrated the diligence and taste which have been exercised in its construction, and which reflect credit upon the proprietor in a most admirable manner. The self-appointed surroundings of an individual are usually a safe index to his character.

DGAR CLAYTON, an early settler of Otoe County, is one of the most extensive farmers in Eastern Nebraska, his landed estates comprising more than 1,000 acres of the richest and most valuable farming land to be found in all the country around; the greater part of it is located in Otoe Precinct, where he has his home, and the remainder is in Nemaha County. It is under high cultivation, is imply supplied with substantial, conveniently arranged farm buildings and all the necessary machinery for conducting agriculture successfully; is well stocked, and, altogether, is considered one of the best managed and most profitable farms in the vicinity.
   Mr. Clayton is of English birth and ancestry, Berkshire, England, being his native place, and Suffolkshire that of his father and grandfather, both named Robert. The latter was a farmer, and spent his entire life in his native shire. The father of our subject was reared in the home of his birth, but after marriage removed to Berkshire, and there rented land and engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1868. He then came with his family to America, hoping to better his financial condition. He settled in Otoe Precinct, and in the following year, 1869, died in his new home. The maiden name of his wife, mother of our subject, was Sarah Watts, and she was born in Suffolkshire, England, and was a daughter of Isaac Watts. She survived her husband's death but one month, dying on the home farm. To this worthy couple were born six children, namely: Betsy, Robert, Emma, Edgar, Belle and Ephraim. Betsy and Robert never came to America; Betsy is still living in England, and Robert was in Australia the last time he was heard from. The rest came to America and are still living.
   Edgar Clayton was reared until sixteen years of

age in his native county, and was carefully trained by wise parents to a practical, useful life. But he was a lad of more than ordinary energy and ambition, and at that youthful age determined to go forth from his old home to see the world and to seek the fortune that often rewards the ventures and the daring. The limited space of this biography forbids our following him in the long voyages that he made to many strange lands in the ensuing years, or to relate the sights and exciting incidents of his travels; we can but give a brief resume of the countries that he visited. He first set sail from London for Australia, where he engaged in mining in the interior for seventeen months. He then spent a month in Sydney, and from there went to the island of New Zealand. After a few months' stay there he returned to Australia, and spent a while in the cities of Sydney and Melbourne, whence he went to Hadley. We next hear of him in Van Diemen's Land, and then in King George's Sound. He subsequently visited different parts of the Mauritius Islands, the Cape of Good Hope, St. Vincent, the Madeira Islands, and from thence returned to his old home and friends in England. Four months later he again started on his travels, this time visiting scenes nearer home, going first to Ireland, then to Scotland, from there to France, and then back to England, making the trip in two months. In all his travels he had not visited America, so in 1855 he set out for this country, and after landing in Now York City made his way to the western part of the State, and spent the ensuing winter in Honeoye Falls, Genesee County. In the spring he started for the Great West, coming by rail to Iowa City, then the western terminus of the railway, and from there he crossed the State of Iowa, going all that long distance almost wholly on foot to the city of Council Bluffs, then but a small hamlet. He staid there but a short time, and then continued his journey to Sidney, Neb., where he stopped one week before proceeding to Nebraska City, performing the journey between the two places on the back of a pony that he had purchased in the former city. There he found only a small collection of houses, there being, perhaps, less than 100 people living there at that early date. The country round about was in a wild state, being sparsely settled, and Indians still lingered about their old haunts. He staid here but a few days, and then began his wanderings again, starting for Kansas, and riding on his pony over the plains of that State about a month. He, however, found no location that pleased him better than Otoe County, and following an Indian trail he returned to this vicinity, and being pleased with the advantageous situation of the site of Otoe Precinct, he decided to settle here, and secured a claim on section 24, the southeast quarter, now included in Otoe Precinct, and when the land came into the market he entered it from the Government at the land-office in Nebraska City. When he first located on it he kept bachelor's establishment in the rude log cabin that he found on the place. Later he erected a frame house, which, in its turn, has given way to the present commodious brick residence in which he and his family make their home. He has also erected a fine frame barn and other necessary buildings. By superior management and untiring industry Mr. Clayton has accumulated a large and valuable property, and he has added to his landed estates until he owns more than 1,000 acres of as good land as the sun ever shone upon.
   Mr. Clayton was married, in 1870, to Miss Eleanor Horn, a native of Kentucky, and a daughter of James and Ellen Horn. Mrs. Clayton died in 1881, and her family was bereaved of a devoted wife and a loving mother, her neighbors of a kind friend. Two children were born of that marriage, Eleanor and Nettie; they are both students at the State Normal School at Peru, Neb. To his present wile, who so pleasantly dispenses the hospitalities of their charming home, Mr. Clayton was married in 1882. Mrs. Clayton's maiden name was Sarah Church. She is a native of Iowa, and a daughter of Reuben and Lydia (Little) Church. For sketch of her parents see history of Reuben Church.
   As will be seen by perusing this sketch, Mr. Clayton possesses a full amount of the ability, enterprise and decision of character that mark the men who have been leaders in the work of developing the marvelous agricultural resources of Nebraska, building up her towns and extending her commercial interests. He is public spirited and takes pride in contributing to the, various schemes for the im-