built the fences, houses and stables; he persevered in this work until 160 acres were brought under a high state of cultivation, remaining here until his twenty-eighth year. In 1858 he went to Toledo, in the same county, where he started a dry-goods store, which he operated for four years and was eminently successful; he was in partnership with his cousin, who got away with most of the assets, and left our subject at the foot of the ladder ready to begin again.
   In 1862 our subject bought 120 acres of land in Tama County, which he improved and operated until 1873, when he sold it and determined to try his luck in Nebraska. He came overland with three teams, crossing the Missouri River at Plattsmouth, coming on to Weeping Water, where he left his stock and went to Red Cloud, Kan.; not liking it there he came back to Weeping Water, and bought 160 acres in Avoca Precinct, improved it, and made it his home until the spring of 1878, when he sold it and moved to his present home, on 160 acres of section 14. Only seventy acres of this was under plow when he purchased it. He has made all other improvements, set out fifteen acres of grove and an orchard of 600 trees, planted hedge and built wire fences to divide the farm into convenient fields. He hauled all the lumber from Nebraska City to build the various houses and barns and other improvements necessary to the successful and profitable operation of the farm, which he devotes to general farming, raising cattle, and dairy purposes. The Short-horn breed of cattle are his favorites, of which he has a fine herd of high-grade animals, and which certainly reflect high credit on the proprietor, showing care and strict attention as well as a thorough knowledge of the business. The herd is headed by two thoroughbreds. He has six handsome horses, Hambletonians.
   The father of this gentleman, John Davis, was born in Westmoreland County, Pa. The mother was Mary Tice, born in Canada. Grandfather Davis was in the Revolutionary War and the War of 1812, was a farmer in easy circumstances. and was of German descent. Grandfather Frederick Tice was born in Canada, of German parentage, was in the British Army, and during the War of 1812 he deserted and joined the Americans. He had a large amount of property in Canada, but never dared return to claim it. The father and mother were married in Mercer County, Pa. The father was a brickmason and stonecutter. He also owned a farm, and lived in Mercer County until the fall of 1853, when he disposed of his property and removed to Iowa, where he bought more than a section of land in Tama County. He was one of the pioneers in that section, being the fourth man to settle in the county. Here he turned all his attention to improving his property until he died. He enlisted in the 28th Iowa Regiment, but was objected to on account of physical disability. He died in 1879, sixty-seven years of age. The mother died in Weeping Water in 1885, seventy-three years old. He was the eldest in a family of ten children, many of whom are dead, and the remainder are widely scattered. Mary, John H., Frederick T., Jesse and Frank are in Weeping Water; Sarah A., in California, while Elizabeth, Richard and an infant unnamed are dead. The brothers, J. H. and Jesse, served creditably in the late Civil War, in the 28th Iowa Infantry. They were mustered into the service at Iowa City in 1861, and served until the close of the war, when they were honorably discharged. J. H. was severely wounded, being shot through the thigh, but has recovered.
   Our subject and Miss Jennie Parker, daughter of Harrison and Lucia (Strickland) Parker, were married in Tama County, Iowa, Feb. 28, 1856. The lady's father was a native of Mentor, Lake Co., Ohio. Her mother was born near Boston, Mass. Grandfather Strickland was a native of England. Grandfather Parker was born in Virginia. The lady's father and mother were married in Massachusetts, and went to Mentor, Ohio, where he farmed and traded with the Indians. They removed from there to Constantine, St. Joseph Co., Mich., where they bought and improved land. The father sailed on the lake during the summer season, trading with the Indians. In the spring of 1855 they removed to Iowa, where he farmed 160 acres of land, and in 1860 he went to Nodaway County, Mo., also farming there, where he died in 1872, fifty-eight years old. The mother is still living in Avoca, and is seventy-three years of age.
   The wife of our subject is the fourth child in a

family of twelve; she was born in Mentor, Lake Co., Ohio, Sept. 15, 1841. This couple have a family of nine children: Ida, now married to Mr. L. McDermid, residing in Weeping Water, has four children -- Glennie, Verie, Elmer and Jennie. The remaining children of the family of our subject are Alleh and Alfred (twins), who died when eight months old; Frederick died aged ten months; William died at six months; Jessie, Lottie, Stewart and Elsie are at home. The gentleman has occupied various positions of trust and confidence reposed in him by his neighbors, served on the School Board six years, was Supervisor of Roads for ten years, is an esteemed member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Weeping Water, and has served as Trustee of that society. In politics he is a strong Republican.

DWARD POST, the third homesteader of Tipton Precinct, and one of its first actual settlers, has been a man of note in his community, a man second to none in assisting Cass County to its development and prosperity. An old army veteran, he saw hard times in the late war, from which he came out so seriously crippled as to be unable to accomplish much manually, but Providence endowed him with a large and generous spirit. and his influence has been felt amid the various causes and enterprises which have received the commendation and encouragement of good men. Inasmuch as the pen has been designated as mightier than the sword, so the influence of a single man in a community may enter very largely into its development, and in establishing its standard of morality. The record of Mr. Post has been one of which his descendants can never be ashamed. He is at present living in a pleasant home, surrounded by all the comforts of life, his companion an amiable and intelligent lady, and his friends surrounding him by the score. His farm property lies on section 10, and comprises 160 acres of good land with modern improvements.
   Mr. Post comes of good ancestry, who settled in New England during the Colonial days. His father, Martin Post, was born in Hebron, Conn., March 20, 1805, and married Miss Abigail Hendrick, also a native of that State. The paternal grandfather, Daniel Post, also born in Connecticut, was reared to farming pursuits, and finally emigrated, about 1808, to Chenango County, N. Y. He purchased laud from the Government, from which he constructed a good farm, and there spent the remainder of his days.
   The paternal great-grandfather of our subject, in company with four brothers, came over from England prior to the Revolutionary War, in which they all served as soldiers. They enlisted from Connecticut, and after the war became scattered, one remaining in Connecticut, another settling in Vermont, a third locating in New Jersey, and the two others were lost track of. Edward, our subject, is a descendant of the one who settled and remained in the Nutmeg State. On the mother's side grandfather Joel Hendrick, a genuine Connecticut farmer, finally left New England, and also, like the Posts, took up his residence in Chenango County, N. Y. He served in the War of 1812 as a commissioned officer.
   Martin Post, the father of our subject, was but three years of age when, with his parents, he took up his residence in Chenango County, N. Y. At an early age he developed much skill as a natural mechanic, and his mind was given to scientific researches. He was a lover of books, and employed his leisure hours among them. Upon approaching manhood he started out for himself and engaged to work by the month for Mr. Hendrick, who in due time became his father-in-law. At the age of twenty-one years he was married, and purchased land in Chenango County, from which he cleared a portion of the heavy forest, and put up one after another three sawmills, two having been burned.
   The father of our subject in 1850 disposed of his interests in the Empire State, and rented land one year in the same State. After the death of his father he purchased the interest of the heirs in the old homestead, and carried on farming there until 1874. Then selling out and retiring from active labor, he made his home with his children until his death, which occurred at Afton, N. Y., April 17, 1877, when he was seventy-two years old. The mother had died July 3, 1871. Both were active