member of the State Medical Association. During his busy career he has seen many of the hard sides of a practitioner's life, but he can look back upon his past with genuine satisfaction, feeling that he has well earned the right to a few years of freedom from care and hard labor. The maiden name of Dr. Root's wife was Elizabeth Robe, and she is a native of Ohio. She became acquainted with the Doctor when quite a young lady, in Indiana, while nursing him through a fit of sickness, and they became mutually attached. The friendship thus formed ripened into love, and a most happy marriage was the result. To them were born five children, four of whom are still living: Byron A., Russell D., Ella, Dora P. and Ida. Byron has charge of a farm comprising 1,200 acres of land in Cheyenne County (recently changed to Deuel County), Neb., and also owns 320 acres there; he married Miss Eliza Alton, of Michigan, who died in Nebraska, in February, 1887, leaving one child, Benjamin. Russell is a successful physician in Big Springs, Deuel Co., Neb.; he married Miss Ella Cone, and to them have been born five children -- Allie, Loren, Albert, Madge and Ida F. Ella, formerly a teacher of much note, married Rev. Charles Cary; she died at Eight Mile Grove, leaving a daughter, a bright, interesting child, now twelve years old, and who is living with a sister of Dr. Root, Mrs. Peck, of Weeping Water Precinct. Dora is the wife of George Shirley, of Deuel County; they are the parents of one child, Ralph. Ida is the wife of Edward Parish, the partner of our subject.

ON. JAMES W. THOMAS, M. D. This gentleman, who is widely known throughout Cass County, bears the distinction of being the oldest practicing physician and surgeon of Weeping Water, being the first to locate here of those now remaining. He took up his abode within its precincts in December, 1867, within a year after Nebraska had been admitted into the Union as a State. It is hardly necessary to state that during his long residence, which has been marked by an honorable and upright course, he has drawn around him hosts of friends and is numbered among the most prominent and reliable men of the county.
   Belmont County, Ohio. was the early tramping ground of our subject. and where his birth took place Aug. 6. 1842. Five years later his parents removed to Monroe County, where they lived until the outbreak of the Rebellion, and in the meantime young Thomas completed his education in the high School at Woodsfield the county seat. He enlisted as a union soldier when a youth of nineteen years, in Company I, 77th Ohio Infantry, on the 25th of November, 1861, entering the ranks as it private. His regiment was assigned to the Army of the Tennessee, and was under the command of both Gens. Grant and Sherman, participating in many of the important battles of the war. Young Thomas during the fierce conflict at Shiloh was shot twice, one ball nearly paralyzing his left arm, and this he still carries in his shoulder. The other wound was in the right hip. He also received two saber cuts, one on his head and one in the left hip, the former leaving a scar four inches long. He was confined in the Fourth Street Hospital, St. Louis, where by careful nursing he managed to recover enough to return home with his father, who came after him.
   Gov. Todd, of Ohio, about that time issued an order for all paroled and convalescent soldiers to report at Camp Chase, and our subject accordingly repaired thither, reaching camp on the 6th of August. On the 16th of September following he received an honorable discharge, and returned home. Although quite feeble he taught school that winter and every winter succeeding, until entering upon the practice of his profession, with the exception of the time when he attended medical lectures. He began reading medicine under the instruction of Dr. William Martin, one of the most promising physicians and surgeons of Harriettsville, Ohio. He remained with him three years, in the meantime employing his winters in teaching, and taking lectures at Miami College, Cincinnati. On coming to Nebraska he entered upon the practice of his profession at Weeping Water, which then bore little indication of its present importance, the town property being not even laid out, although the ground had been platted by E. L. Reed. The year following a few more buildings were added to the six or seven

originally occupying the present town site, and Dr. Thomas enjoyed a monopoly of the business, being the only physician here for a period of seven or eight years. The profession then received an additional representative in the person of Dr. Gibbon, and later came Dr. Butler.
   During this time our subject rode long distances, and when needing counsel he was obliged to seek it at Plattsmouth or Nebraska City. He has always paid especial attention to surgery, in which he is particularly skillful. He enjoys the reputation of a faithful and conscientious practitioner, and although practically retired from active service is frequently called upon by his old patrons, who dislike to trust their cases to strangers' hands. He his a finely equipped office on I street, and a good residence on Eldora avenue. Since withdrawing from his regular practice Dr. Thomas has become considerably interested in the loaning of money, operating largely as in agent for an Eastern capitalist.
   The people of this county were not slow in recognizing the more than ordinary abilities of Dr. Thomas, and he has always been prominent in the councils of his fellow-citizens in regard to the matters affecting the general welfare of the community. In 1884 he was elected by the Republicans of the Seventh District to represent them in the Nineteenth Legislative Assembly, and in the pursuance of the duties or this office was connected with many of the important committees, including that of Ways and Means, Schools, and other subjects requiring unremitting attention. In his school district he has been a Director for a number of years, has also officiated as Treasurer, and was a member of the Village Board eight years. Socially, he belongs to the I. O. O. F. and the G. A. R. During the campaign of 1880 he was Chairman of the Republican County Committee, later, in 1888, operated efficiently at various points as a stump speaker.
   For the last twenty years the question of removing the county seat to Weeping Water has been agitated, and Dr. Thomas has always favored the scheme, believing that for the capital of the county this is the proper place in point of location, surroundings, and the character of the people. He is one of those men who seldom relinquish an idea, and who has in his whole career illustrated the results of perseverance. Whether this trait of character applied in this channel will result as favorably as it has in connection with his private interests remains to be seen.
   Miss Rachel McVea, a native of Washington County, Ohio, became the wife of our subject Nov. 9, 1864. This lady was born July 6, 1844, and was the daughter of Samuel and Mary (Martin) McVea, who were natives of Ohio, and the father a farmer by occupation. The latter moved to Kansas about 1871, where he died. The mother had preceded her husband to the silent land. Her death taking place about 1856, in Ohio. They were the parents of six children, four of whom are living.
   Four children completed the household circle of our subject and his estimable wife, all of whom are living. The wife and mother departed the life at her home in Weeping Water, March 21, 1884. She was an affectionate wife, loving mother and kind neighbor, and in her death the community lost one of its most valued members. The children are named respectively: Marion U., William M., Leola and Winnifred. The three youngest are at home with their father, where they are subjected to care, and training, and are being given an education in keeping with their means and station in life. The eldest son married Miss Edna Upton, a resident of Dana, Kan., and is the father of one child, a son James.
   The father of our subject was Abram Thomas, a native of Pennsylvania, and born Nov. 9, 1814. When but a boy he removed with his father's family to Ohio, they settling among the pioneers of Guernsey County. Upon reaching man's estate he was married to Miss Phoebe Linder, and they became the parents of eight children, seven sons and one daughter, who are all living and all making their homes in the West. Abram Thomas cleared a farm in the wilderness of Monroe County, Ohio, upon which he lived until 1866, then turning his face westward to Nebraska Territory, crossed the Mississippi, and coming into this county, settled on what was known as Livingston Ranch, a few miles west of Plattsmouth. This property he purchased, but only lived there a short time after the death of the wife and mother, which occurred in the fall of

1867. Subsequently he removed to Hillsdale, Iowa, where he is now engaged in mercantile business, although having attained to the advanced age of seventy-four years. He is the owner of a good property embracing three farms, and has therefore sufficient of this world's goods for his declining years. The paternal grandfather, Thomas Thomas, cleared quite an extent of land in the Buckeye State during the pioneer days, and there spent his last years.

YLVESTER TORRENCE. Over seventy-nine years ago the subject of this sketch began life, March 2, 1810, six miles from the town of Penn Yam, in Yates County, N. Y. Forty years later he started out to explore the West, and in the fall of 1857 found himself the other side of the Mississippi, and on the soil of Nebraska Territory. Later he took up his residence in this county, and is now living retired from active labor at a pleasant home in Weeping Water. He has a good farm on section 27 in the same Precinct, and has been the owner of other land which he has given to one of his sons.
   Mr. Torrence spent the first forty years of his life in his native State, engaged mostly in agricultural pursuits. He received careful home training, and a practical education in the district schools. Upon leaving the county which gave him birth he migrated to Lake County, Ill, settled upon a tract of new land, and farmed in that locality about three years. Thence he removed to Marquette County, in the northern part of Wisconsin, which had but recently been transformed from a Territory into a State, and while Indians were still plentiful in that region.
   Mr. Torrence took up new land in Marquette County, upon which he operated five years, and then sold out to good advantage. He now determined to find out what lay on the other side of the Father of Waters, and starting out on the 26th of April, 1857, arrived in Nebraska City, Otoe County, later. It being a hard matter to find employment, he returned to Iowa, and was occupied the following year as a farm laborer. In the fall of 1857 we find him again in Nebraska City, but he soon traced his steps eastward again as far as South Bend, Iowa, where he took up a tract of new land, improved another farm, and put up good buildings. He was not destined to be contented, however, until he had given Nebraska another trial, so coming to this county once more, in the spring of 1871. He purchased a tract of wild land on section 27, in Centre Precinct, Upon this there was not even a bush to be seen, and not a furrow had been turned toward its cultivation. He sheltered himself for a time with his son, and as soon as possible gathered together the necessary implements, and began again the construction of a homestead. He was content to remain and labor a series of years. He in the meantime effected a vast change in the condition of the property, putting out a large grove of forest trees, a good apple orchard and the smaller fruits, besides erecting the buildings necessary for the successful prosecution of agriculture. As far as anything can be created from nothing by mortal man, Mr. Torrence brought into existence a valuable farm from it. In the fall of 1888, feeling that he had performed his duty among the active labors of life, he moved into Weeping Water, and is now living in the ease and comfort which he has so justly earned by years of early industry.
   Our subject was married in his native State, Jan. 12, 1836, to Miss Jane Smith, and they have now lived together for a period of fifty-three years. Four of the six children born to them are still living. One son, George, a promising young man, enlisted as a soldier in the Union Army during the late war, received a fatal wound at the battle of Resaca, and died there in 1863. Another child died when nineteen years old. Their eldest daughter, Eugenia, became the wife of Charles Thorngate, of New York, who departed this life at his home in Nebraska about 1884; they were the parents of four children -- Ida, Ella, Jennie and Ethel. They are all living with their mother in Weeping Water. Barnum, S. married Miss Harriet Smith, and they have five children, namely: Louise, James, Roy, Laura and Berenice; they are residents of this county. Susan, Mrs. Rexford, is the mother of four children -- Herbert (now deceased), Willis, Ada and Charles; she lives in Centre Pre-

cinct. Oscar married Miss Marcia Speer, is a resident of Centre Precinct, and the father of five children -- William, George, Eugenia, Walter and Bessie.
   Mrs. Jane (Smith) Torrence was born in New Jersey, Feb. 20, 1810, being consequently ten days older than her husband. When she was a little girl of seven years her parents removed to Ontario County, N. Y., where she was reared to womanhood and married to our subject. Her father, John Smith, was also a native of New Jersey, and married Miss Catherine Benson, of the same State. He was a boy during the progress of the Revolutionary War, and remembers many of the incidents in connection therewith, which transpired during that period of his life, especially the first anniversary of July 4. He spent his last years in New York, dying about 1845. He had been occupied most of his life as a farmer. The parental household included nine children.
   William Torrence, the father of our subject, was born in Massachusetts in 1773, and when approaching manhood migrated to Ontario County, N.Y. He occupied himself in agricultural pursuits, and was married to Miss Salome Danes. They settled in Ontario County, N. Y., where they spent the remainder of their days, and became the parents of nine children, all of whom lived to mature years. William Torrence was drafted into the army during the War of 1812, and repaired with his regiment to the front, but whether he engaged in any active fighting the records do not indicate. He only lived a few years thereafter, his death taking place in 1818, when he was comparatively a young man. The wife and mother survived her husband a period of fifty-six years, remaining a widow, and died at her home in New York, in February, 1874. Mr. Torrence cast his first Presidential vote for a Whig candidate, being first a member of the old Whig party, but upon its disbandment identified himself with the Republicans, the principles of which party he has uniformly supported. He has been a member in good standing of the Congregational Church for it period of more than forty years. Many and great have been the changes which he has witnessed in the land of his birth, and especially in the Great West. He has done his part in developing a portion of its territory, and has acquitted himself as a peaceable and law-abiding citizen, a kind and indulgent father and husband, and a hospitable neighbor. There will be quite a number to perpetuate his name, he being the grandfather of seventeen children, and the great-grandfather of four.

ORACE W. GLEASON, Postmaster of Manley Village, is looked upon as the father of the place, he having ably promoted every public enterprise undertaken for its advancement. He was the pioneer merchant of the village, as well as the first grain dealer, and still carries the best and largest assortment of goods to be found in any general and grocery store in this vicinity. He came to Nebraska in 1883, and settled in Manley, which was then a place of no importance, being merely a side track on the Missouri Pacific Railroad, with a few shanties for the workmen. He was then acting in the capacity of manager of Spear & Hurlburt's grain business, and he attended to the elevator here for four years. He soon established himself in business on his own account, and was nearly the first merchant here, only one before him, who staid only a few weeks, so that our subject was practically the pioneer merchant of Manley. He established his first store near where the elevator now is, and as the demands of his trade increased, and his need of a more commodious building was apparent, he erected his present store, with residence above it, and moved into it in 1884, it then being one of the two largest buildings in the village, the hotel being the other one, the inhabitants for the most part still being housed in rude shanties. With increased facilities for doing business, Mr. Gleason enlarged his stock, and has since built up an extensive trade. He was appointed Postmaster in January, 1884, he being the second Postmaster here, and the only one in fact to hold the office any length of time, his predecessor having been an incumbent but a short time. He and his family have a charming home, as he built and added to a pleasant cottage house, a few rods north of his store, in 1887, and the same year moved into it.
   Our subject derives his ability and force of char-

acter in a great degree from a sturdy Now England ancestry. His father, H. N. Gleason, was born in Hartford County, Conn., April 17, 1800, and was a resident of that State until about twenty-five years of age. Then, after first marrying Miss Sarah L. Root, he moved to Chautauqua County, N. Y., of which he became it prominent pioneer, being an early settler of the town of Sherman, when it was a little settlement in the depths of the great wilderness, with only five persons. He was one of the leading citizens of the town for forty years, and lived to see it change from dense forest to a fine farming community, well settled. He was a leader in the Presbyterian Church, of which his wife was also a valued member. A man of his high standing and character, he was not permitted by his admiring fellow townsmen to live in retirement, but his counsel was needed in public affairs, and he nearly always held some office or offices. He improved a fine farm, and became comfortably well off, and he and his wife continued to live in Sherman until death called them hence, he dying at the age of seventy-two, and she at the age of sixty. They were the parents of seven children, all of whom died unmarried, excepting our subject.
   Horace Gleason was born in Sherman, Chautauqua Co., N. Y., Feb. 5, 1829, and there lived until 1857, and in the meantime was the recipient of a good education, which was completed by an excellent course of study at the Westville Academy. After leaving school he continued on the home place until his marriage with Miss Anna Whitehill, in February, 1855. She was born June 23, 1830, in Erie County, Pa., of which her father, James Whitehill, was a pioneer. She lived at home until the time of her marriage. In the winter of 1857 our subject moved with his family to Missouri, and made that his home until coming here. There the shadow of a great grief fell upon him in the loss of his devoted wife, and the children who had been born to them, with the exception of an infant son named Hubert W., who is now ten years of age, and has made his home with his aunt, Mrs. E. W. Butt, of Hiawatha, Kan. Through the trying times of their life in that State, during the Rebellion, she had assisted and encouraged him as only a true woman and a loving companion could, as she was possessed of an elevated character and a positive nature. Mrs. G. departed this life Feb. 28, 1879, the children having preceded her to the better land.
   The present wife of our subject was formerly Mrs. Whitely, who was living in Pennsylvania at the time of their marriage. She is a native of Tioga County, N. Y., and a daughter of William Breese. This union has resulted in the birth of one child, a son Eugene H., a bright child of one and a half years.
   Mr. Gleason enjoys the reputation of being a first-class business man, systematic in his methods, prompt and fair in his dealings, and of good financial ability and standing. His public spirit and liberality are too well known to need comment; he has ever been active in furthering the interests of the village, and no scheme for its improvement is completed without his counsel and aid. He is prominent in church, in society, and in business circles. He was formerly a member of the Presbyterian Church, and still clings to that faith, but with true religious zeal, there being no church of that denomination here, he has identified himself with the Methodist Church, helped to organize a society in this town, and with his family worships lit that sanctuary, He takes an active interest in the Sunday-school and is the present Superintendent. Mr. Gleason is a member of the Masonic fraternity. In politics he is a stalwart Republican.

R. NOAH R. HOBBS, physician and surgeon, of Elmwood, who is one of the most prominent and widely known citizens in the western part of Cass County, came to Nebraska with his parents in 1860, when he was but eight years old, and is essentially and in all respects a true native of the State. He was born in Livingston County, Mo., Feb. 16, 1852, and lived on the farm with his parents during his youth, attending the common schools of the neighborhood, fitting himself for college and ultimately for the profession he adopted for a life calling.
   After a two-years course of study at Naomi Institute at Rock Bluff, our subject went to Missouri Valley, Iowa, and began the study of medicine un-

der the tutelage of E. J. Chapman, M. D., where he remained three years. In the fall of 1873 he went to Chicago, and entered the Rush Medical College for a thorough professional training. During the summer he studied with his preceptor, Dr. Chapman, attending college in the winter, until he was graduated with full honors from Rush Medical College, in the class of '75-76, February 16. In August, 1875, he located in Elmwood, the field chosen for his professional labors. By close attention to business, strictly upright dealings and fair treatment to all, he has acquired a large and lucrative practice in three counties, Lancaster, Cass and Otoe. In the autumn of 1876 he bought 200 acres of excellently located and well-watered land adjoining sections 15 and 16, which was partly improved. He has also made further great improvements, setting out groves, planting orchards, building new houses and other improvements. He superintends the operation of the farm himself, looking after all details.
   The Doctor is largely interested in real estate in Lincoln, and has laid out an addition of twenty acres to the town of Elmwood, reserving a block of lots for his own use. He is one of the five public-spirited citizens who gave the undivided half of 160 acres to the Missouri Pacific Railway to locate their railway through Elmwood. The other four men who joined him in that enterprise were C. D. Clapp, John Clements, John Hart and Cyrus Alton. They were successful in their undertaking, the route was changed, and the road completed through Elmwood in 1886, thus crowning their united effort, with deserved success, and bringing prosperity to the entire community.
   Our subject is the second born in a family of eight children, John being older, and Joseph, Kate, Flora, Emma, Gilbert and William, being younger. His brother John served in the army against the Indians, and was also in the volunteer service and passed through the late Civil War, at the close of which he was honorably discharged. His father, William L., was a farmer in Indiana, and removed to Missouri with his parents, who were among the pioneers of that State, where they bought and improved land. In 1860 he moved to near Plattsmouth, Neb., where he owned a large tract of land, which he improved and leased to a number of tenants, living on a farm himself until he was elected to the office of County Treasurer, which he held for four years, during which period he made his home in Plattsmouth.
   In the spring of 1876 Mr. Hobbs removed to Wyoming Territory, having sold all his property in Plattsmouth, making his home in Rapids City, where he was one of the first settlers. Here he began mining and prospecting, and has continued in that business ever since, and is now secretary for a stock and mining company in Wyoming. He is now the owner of several mines and a large ranch devoted to stock-raising near Lusk, in Wyoming Territory. He was born in Indiana and is now sixty-two years of age. His wife was Catherine Foreman, who was born in Virginia and is now sixty years of age.
   Grandfather Noah R. Hobbs was born in Virginia. During his later years he lived with our subject in Elmwood, and was eighty-one years old when he died. His wife, Grandmother Hobbs, is now living with our subject in Elmwood. Grandfather Joseph Foreman was born in Virginia, and moved to Missouri in 1850, where he remained until his death.
   Dr. Hobbs was married in Lincoln, Neb., to Miss Anna E. Stacey, May 28, 1878. This lady was born in New York, in Onondaga County, and she attended the Normal School at Peru. One child, Grace, has been born to them. His wife is an accomplished and lovable lady; the Doctor is proud of her and adores her. She studies his interests in all respects, and without doubt his success in life may be attributed largely to her.
   Our subject is truly a representative man among his fellows; educated, refined and ambitious, he possesses all the elements necessary to make an eminently successful career; thoroughly posted in all that pertains to his chosen profession, and possessing a business ability of no common order, he ranks first among men. Professionally, he is Medical Examiner of the New York Life Insurance Company, Local Surgeon for the Missouri Pacific Railway, at Elmwood, County Physician at Elmwood, also Surgeon for the A. O. U. W. He is a leading member of the I. O. O. F., of Elmwood Lodge, is high in the councils of Elmwood Lodge, Knights of Pythias, as well as those of the A. O. U. W., of Elmwood