reared on a farm, amid the scenes of pioneer life, and has observed this country develop from a raw, wild and primitive condition, into the splendid garden of the West that it now is. Valuable farms have grown as if by magic, school-houses and churches thickly dotting the country as an evidence of the advance of civilization, and it is a matter of pride with him that he has taken no unimportant part in producing this magnificent change.
   Having assisted his father in his pioneer labors in Ohio, as well as in Nebraska, he has a full conception of the life of a pioneer. He was married to Sarah Shryder April 9, 1873. This lady was born in Peoria County, Ill., Dec. 9, 1854. She is the daughter of George F. and Margaret (Parr) Shryder. Her father was a native of New York State. Her parents came to Nebraska, bringing her with them, in 1856, settling here among the very first families that made this State their home. They were the parents of six children, three of whom are living: Sarah, the wife of our subject; Ida, the wife of R. A. Young; and George L. Both parents are members of the United Presbyterian Church, are widely and favorably known, and enjoy the esteem and confidence of all their neighbors.
   Our subject is the son of Lewis M. and Levniah Young. The father is a native of Virginia, and of Scotch descent. The mother died March 18, 1873, leaving behind a wealth of love and affection, and many friends who sincerely mourned their loss. The father is now living at an advanced age in Keya Paha County, Neb., where he went in 1885. A family of seven children was born to the parents of our subject, six of whom are living: Mary, the wife of Asher Tanner; George W.; Robert A. resides in Mt. Pleasant Precinct; Lewis H.; Sophia, the wife of G. W. Carroll, resides in Keya Paha County; Julia A., the wife of Charles Troop, residing in Rock Bluff Precinct; Vicey J. is deceased. There have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Young two children: Johnnie was born March 26, 1874; and Christmas C. was born Dec. 25, 1876. They are very bright and intelligent children.
   Mr. Young owns a splendid farm of 160 acres of land, having made all the many valuable improvements thereon himself, and when he looks over his broad and well-tilled acres it is with is the consciousness that their present condition is the direct result of his energy and application. His dwelling is neatly furnished, and his good wife is supplied with all the labor-saving appliances that will in any way lessen her household cares. The accommodations that he has provided for the protection of his stock, and the care of the crops raised, are conveniently arranged and sufficiently extensive to meet his present requirements.
   In politics our subject is an earnest worker in the ranks of the Republican party. He has never held any office of public trust, feeling that he was better content to pursue the even tenor of his way in improving his farm and home, feeling also that the remuneration received would fall far short of compensating him for the vexations and cares incident to the public service.

ATHIAS A. JOHNSON, deceased, was numbered among the shrewd, practical men of Cass County, who have been important factors in developing its great agricultural resources, and in his death it lost an honored and useful citizen. He was a member of the farming community of Liberty Precinct, and he had a good farm there, with many substantial improvements. The widow of our subject and her sons, Walter A., Rudolph, Antone and Julius A., occupy the homestead, and are among the most highly respected residents of this community.
   Mr. Johnson was a native of Germany, his birth occurring Dec. 24, 1834. He came of respectable and honest German parents, from whom he inherited good traits of character, and he was given the benefits of a sound education in both German and English branches, acquiring a knowledge of the latter after coming to this country. When he was sixteen years old he came to the United States. His parents died in the Fatherland.
   Mr. Johnson's first seven years in this country were spent in Iowa, and from there, in company with three others, with teams, he crossed the plains to California some time in the fifties. He spent four years in the Golden State, prospecting for gold in

the mining region with fair results. He was finally taken severely ill with a fever, and was obliged to leave the Pacific Coast. He went to New York by way of the water and isthmus route, and there embarked on the Atlantic for his old home in Germany. He spent some time amid the familiar scenes of his youth in order to recuperate, and with renewed health once more crossed the ocean to his adopted country. He located in Jackson County, Iowa, and some years later removed to Fremont County, in the same State, and there, when he was thirty-two years old, was married in Plum Hollow, Nov. 7, 1867, to Mrs. Amanda Surber, nee Wollf. She was born in Johnson County, Ind., July 4, 1843, to Peter and Rhoda A. (Kelly) Wollf. Her parents died about the year 1850 in Illinois, near St. Louis, Mo., they having gone to Western Illinois two years before, from Indiana. The father was a farmer by occupation, and a good, honest, hard-working man, and he and his wife were in the prime of life when death terminated their mortal existence. Mrs. Johnson of this notice was the youngest but one of the family, and she was very young when her parents moved to Western Illinois, and was but seven years old when she was bereaved of their care, Two years later the little orphan was taken by a family of the name of McDonald, in Missouri, and reared by them to womanhood. She afterward went to Tabor, Mills Co., Iowa, and later still to Nebraska City, Neb. There her first marriage took place Dec. 18, 1864, John Surber becoming her husband. He was a native of Switzerland, and came to the United States when sixteen years of age. He made his home in Indianapolis, Ind., for four years, and was there engaged as an engineer in a foundry. He lost his health, however, and finally after marriage located in Fremont County, Iowa, where he was extensively engaged in the sawmill business until his death, nearly two years after marriage. To him and his wife had been born one daughter, Rachel, who was a bright, interesting child, and her death at the age of fourteen was a severe blow to her mother.
   After Mr. and Mrs. Johnson were married they settled in Fremont County, and he was engaged in running a sawmill there until he came to Nebraska with his family, and located on 160 acres of land on section 33, Liberty Precinct, which he had taken up as a pre-emption claim before he went to California. He labored hard to improve his land, and during the ten years that preceded his death he had wrought a great change in the tract of wild prairie on which he settled, had it under good tillage, and otherwise well improved. His death occurred here Feb. 3, 1877, while yet in the prime of life, and many sincerely mourned his death with his bereaved family. To him and his wife four sons had been born. Mr. Johnson was a man of high manly character, with a warm heart and kindly nature. His neighbors placed implicit confidence in his word, and none knew him but to trust him. He was a devout Lutheran in his religious belief, and in his political faith a stanch Republican, and his sons are also supporters of that party.

LFRED S. COOLEY, one of the leading farmers and stock-buyers of Tipton Precinct, was born in Johnsonville, Trumbull Co., Ohio, June 7, 1846, where he lived with his father on the home farm until he was eleven years of age. when the family removed to Wisconsin, where he continued on the farm with his parents, and went to school. When he was twenty-one years old he began the operation of his father's farm on his own account. He continued there, working his father's place, until 1872, when he started for the West. He first located in Ringgold County, Iowa. where he bought 120 acres of land, which he cultivated for seven months. He did not like the location, so he sold out in the fall of 1872, and came overland with teams to Nebraska, crossing the Missouri River at Nebraska City, and, coming to Tipton Precinct. He located on his present place, where he homesteaded eighty acres, and purchased eighty acres more, for which he paid $1,000, which gave him a tract of 160 acres of choice, eligibly located farm land.
   Having secured his land, our subject set to work with a will to improve it by building a sod house, in which he and his family lived the first winter. During this time he suffered intensely with the ague; his wife taught school until spring. The next

spring he hauled lumber from Lincoln, and built a comfortable house. The loss of the crops in 1874-75, on account of the grasshoppers, compelled him to mortgage his farm. After the years named above he was exceedingly prosperous in his farming operations. Recognizing the advantages and future value of the land, he set about increasing his possessions. In 1879 he bought 160 acres of land from the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad, for which he paid $3.50 per acre; in 1882 he bought 160 acres more, for which he paid $12 per acre, both tracts on section 9. Abundant water is supplied to his farm by Camp Creek, and a good quantity of native timber is growing on his various tracts. The property is enclosed and cross fenced by substantial wire and hedge fences.
   Mr. Cooley is one of the most extensive buyers and shippers of stock in the county, buying cattle, hogs, horses and sheep, which he ships to the general markets at Lincoln and Omaha. He makes a specialty of raising hogs and horses, raising and shipping four or five cars of hogs each season. His horses are graded Normans; he has twenty-four head in all, and they certainly reflect great credit on their owner, evidencing the great care and skill and thorough knowledge of the business possessed by him. The barns provided for the care and protection of his stock are exceedingly comfortable, and conveniently arranged for the proper care of the different classes of animals for which they were designed. Water is supplied in the barnyard by a system of piping from a water tank, which is filled by pumps operated by a large windmill.
   The subject of this sketch is one of the youngest of a family of eight children. His sisters Mary J. and Rhoda L., and his brothers, Franklin B., Roswell D. and Richard S., being older, and his brothers Timothy M. and Edward L. being younger. His brother Richard S. served during the late war in the 6th Ohio Cavalry, enlisting when only nineteen years old. His regiment was with the Army of the Cumberland, and accompanied Gen. Sherman in his famous march to the sea. In different engagements in which he participated he had two horses shot from under him. While out on a scouting expedition from Sherman's army he was taken prisoner by the rebels and sent to Libby Prison, thence to Belle Isle, from which latter place he was exchanged and restored to the service with his regiment. He was honorably discharged in Washington in 1865.
   Our subject was married to Miss Rosalie M. Smith, the daughter of Franklin and Mary E. (Parker) Smith. This lady was born in Stafford Hollow Township, Onondaga Co., N. Y., Jan. 31, 1847. When she was nine years old her mother died, after which she made her home with an aunt. When she was eleven years of age she removed with the other members of her family to Forreston, Ogle Co., Ill. From there they removed to Platteville, Wis., where she attended the Normal School for three years. After completing her course in this institution she taught school for six years. She is one of a family of nine children. Her brothers, Franklin D., William S. and Andrew J., and her sisters, Anna L. and Abbie A., being older; and her sisters, Ruth H., Ella A. and Mary E., are younger. The latter two are deceased. Her brothers Frank and Andrew were in the late Civil War. Frank served as Second Lieutenant, and Andrew as First Orderly Sergeant. Both served through the war, and were honorably discharged at its close.
   The lady's father was a farmer in Connecticut. He removed with his family to Onondaga County, N. Y., where he cultivated a farm, and also built a sawmill, and operated the same for many years. He is at present living in Port Byron, N. Y., now over eighty years of age. Her mother died in 1855, aged forty years. Her grandfather Parker was a lumberman and farmer in Vermont, where her mother was born. He removed with his family to New York State, and there his decease occurred. Her grandfather, Ira Smith, was a soldier during the Indian War, moved to Onondaga County, N. Y., and from there to near Charlotte, Mich.
   The father of our subject was Sherman Cooley, a native of Connecticut, where he was born in 1806, near Granby, Hartford County. He farmed there until 1832, when he removed to Ohio, and located on a farm in Trumbull County, being one of the first to settle in that county. The mother, Diana Day, is still living, in Lima, Grant County, at an advanced age. She was born in Vermont, in the year 1811, and is an active member of the

Christian Church. Grandfather Cooley was a native of Connecticut. After his marriage in that State he removed, in 1832, to Ohio, locating in Trumbull County, in that State. He was one of the earliest settlers in that part of the State, where he bought 160 acres of Government land in the midst of a heavy forest, which he cleared up. He was Justice of the Peace for a number of years; as a civil engineer he acted as County Surveyor, but paid most of his attention to his farm. In 1856 he sold the farm and went to LaFayette County, Wis., where he bought wild land, improved it, and engaged in farming and stock-raising. Here again he was elected Justice of the Peace and Town Clerk, also a member of the Board of Supervisors. He bought 100 acres of land in Grant County, Wis., to which he removed in 1880, and where he lived until his death, which occurred Feb. 20, 1888. He could trace his ancestry back to the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers. Grandfather Giles Day, a native of Vermont. was a blacksmith by trade, and could trace his ancestry back to the Puritans of Plymouth Rock.
   A family of seven children has been born to our subject and his estimable wife, who were named respectively: Sherman, Harold O, Archie B., Ferris F., Ora A., Florence P. and Hazel, all at home with their parents; two are dead. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is known throughout the country as a man having an unlimited amount of push and energy. Such is his reputation in this district, that, whenever any work is to be accomplished requiring an extra amount of vim, he is the one called upon to take charge of it, and success generally crowns his efforts. If a question of vital importance is to be voted upon at any election, he is indefatigable in his efforts to secure the attendance of a sufficient number of voters to carry the measure in question. He carries the same amount of energy into his everyday life, and during the busy season his farm presents a lively appearance, everyone employed receiving inspiration from its proprietor. In politics he is a strong and aggressive Republican. During his busy life he has found time to serve his neighbors in various official capacities; has held the office of Postmaster at Eagle for six years; District Treasurer, Constable, was a member of the Republican County Central Committee, and has been a delegate to the various State and County Conventions. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias. and I. O. G. T., and was an active member of the Grange. He is a strict and conscientious member of the Episcopal Church. He is Past Commander of the Knights of Pythias.

ACOB FORSYTH, an honored and respected citizen of Tipton Precinct, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, April 25, 1836, where he lived with his parents until he was fifteen years of age, working on the farm with his father and attending the common schools of the neighborhood. In 1851 he went with his father to Scott County, Iowa, where he lived with the latter until reaching the age of twenty-six years. Aug. 25, 1862, he enlisted in Company G, 20th Iowa Infantry, and was mustered into the service at Clinton, Iowa.
   The regiment of which our subject was a member went southward into Missouri and took part in the battle of Prairie Grove. In June, 1863, they were sent to Vicksburg, where they remained until the final surrender of that city, taking an active part in many battles and skirmishes about that place. After the surrender the regiment was sent down the river to New Orleans; from there they went into Texas, taking an active part in the engagement at Brownsville. After being in Texas one year they were ordered northward, were present at the siege and capture of Ft. Morgan, in Alabama, then north into Arkansas, where they went into winter quarters; the following spring they were sent by water to Pensacola, Fla. From there they were ordered to Mobile, Ala., where they took part in the storming and capture of Ft. Blakesley. Our subject passed through the war unscathed by wounds, but he was sick for two months and a half in the hospital. During his term of service he was granted but one furlough to visit home. After serving his time, till the close of the war, he was mustered out of the service and honorably discharged at Clinton, Iowa, Aug. 24, 1865.
   For three years after his return home Mr.

Forsyth engaged in breaking prairie and threshing grain. He then began farming on rented land in Scott County, which he followed for three years more. In the spring of 1874 he came to Nebraska overland with teams, crossing the Missouri River at Plattsmouth, coming into Tipton, where he rented land for the following five years. During this time he had bought eighty acres of land from the Burlington & Missouri River Railroad, and in the autumn of 1880 he removed to it, and immediately proceeded to improve it, building a house, barn, setting out a grove of five acres, an orchard of thirty trees, and a large number of cedars. The entire farm is well fenced by substantial wire fences.
   From the time he moved to this farm our subject has devoted his time and attention exclusively to its cultivation and improvement, raising corn and hogs, and he has been eminently successful. In the spring of 1888 he erected a new residence as large as any in the precinct, conveniently arranged for the comfort of his family. He uses five head of graded horses in the operation of his farm.
   Our subject was married in LeClaire, Scott Co., Iowa, Nov. 25, 1870, to Miss Ellen F. Stopher. This lady possessed a most estimable character, and was highly honored by all who knew her. Her death, which occurred but recently, May 7, 1888, was a sad affliction to her husband, who was devoted to her. He feels her loss greatly, and the blow was especially heavy, coming at the time when they had everything gathered around them to be comfortable and enjoy life, which result was due in a great measure to her earnest and devoted assistance. She was born in Scott County, Iowa.
   The subject of this sketch was the second eldest in a family of seven children; his brother Jasiel was older; and his brothers William, John, Luther, Jasper and Jesse, were younger. John served four years in the 13th Iowa Infantry, during the late war; Jasper served three years in the same regiment; Luther served in the 21st Iowa for three years, and William served one year on detail in Davenport, Iowa. All the brothers were honorably discharged.
   The father of our subject was John Forsyth, a native of Virginia. He settled with his parents in Muskingum County, Ohio, when a boy. He bought Government land in that county and cleared a farm on which he lived until 1851, when he removed to Scott County, Iowa, where he remained one year. He then removed to Clinton County, where he bought 400 acres of land, and remained there one year; then moved into Princeton, Scott County, where he built a sawmill on the banks of the Mississippi River. In this venture he was very successful. He sold his mill and bought eighty acres of land near Princeton, which he rented. He lived in the town of Princeton until his death, which occurred in February, 1885, aged seventy years. His wife, the mother of our subject, died in 1881. Both parents were of English descent, and were consistent members of the Presbyterian Church.
   Mr. Forsyth is a member of Kenesaw Post No. 103, G. A. R. In politics he is a thorough-going Republican, taking a lively and active interest in the councils of that party. He is a man of considerable prominence in the community in which he lives, and has the esteem and good opinion of all who know him; kind, generous and open-hearted, he has a welcome for each and every one. He is always glad and happy to meet an old army comrade, and live over again the scenes and incidents of a soldier's life.

ANIEL W. FOSTER represents both the industrial and farming interests of Liberty, and he is a man of prominence in this precinct. He is a very skillful mechanic, and also a practical agriculturist, owning a farm of which eighty acres are on section 26, this precinct, and eighty acres in Otoe County. It is well watered, is provided with substantial improvements, and has every facility for conducting farming. On the home farm is a fine bearing orchard of 270 choice fruit trees, the place is well stocked, and our subject has some fine horses. He is prominently identified with the Wyoming & Liberty Stock Company, having been officially connected with it as Secretary. The head of the horses of high grade owned by the company is "British Lion." He is a

magnificent imported animal, dark bay in color, weighing 1,820 pounds, and five years of age.
   Our subject was born in Washington County, Ill., in the town of Beaucoup, Jan. 11, 1834. He was the third son born to Andrew and Nancy Jenning (nee Cox) Foster, the father of Irish-Protestant stock, and the mother of English descent. They both died in Washington County, Ill., when scarcely past the prime of life, the father at the age of forty-five, and the mother at the age of forty-three. The former was a native of Campbell County, Ky., and received a liberal education in Cincinnati, Ohio. Through some misfortune he was crippled in his lower limbs, and chose the sedentary life of teacher, for which he was well fitted, being a man of more than ordinary intelligence and information. He made that profession his business the most of his life until his premature death, going to Washington County for that purpose, and he had a varied experience in his capacity as schoolmaster.
   Our subject was a resident of Ohio from 1853 until 1868. He took a mercantile course at Smith's College, Cincinnati, and also at the school at Granville, Ohio. He completed his education in Fayette County, and learning his trade there of carpenter, followed it for some time in that county. July 20, 1861, our subject threw aside his personal interests to enlist with the brave boys in blue to assist in the defense of the stars and stripes. enlisting in Pickaway County, Ohio, as a member of Company A, 27th Ohio Infantry, and serving in the capacity of mechanic for awhile. He took part in several engagements, was at Corinth and Atlanta, and at the latter place was taken from his duties as mechanic and appointed on special duty as one of the signal service, and by his steadfast devotion to his work won the encomiums of his superiors. He was raised to the rank of Corporal, and Aug. 17, 1864, after more than three years of hard service, was honorably discharged. He made his way back to Pickaway County, Ohio, and was there married to Letisha McKinley, a native of the North of Ireland. She was born Aug. 3, 1842, and when young came to the United States. with her parents, Edward and Ann (Riddle) McKinley. They settled in Pickaway County, Ohio, and there the father died at the age of sixty-eight, and the mother in her eighty-first year. Mrs. Foster was only two years old when her parents brought her to this country, and she was reared in Ohio, knowing no other home until her marriage. Her parents were very worthy of esteem and respect, and were Protestants in religion. Of the seven children born to our subject and his wife, four are dead -- Andrew W., Alma, an infant and Fred. Those living are: Nettie, a graduate of the Lincoln High School, and Mary and Reuben, all at home.
   After marriage Mr. Foster settled in Fayette County, Ohio. Four years later we find him in Council Bluffs, Iowa, where he was engaged as a contractor for two years. Then Kansas claimed him as a citizen, and his next point of settlement was Bismarck, Dak., of which he was the first Justice of the Peace, being one of the earliest settlers. He lived there one year, and then came to Cass County and took up his residence on his present farm, and has ever since been a valued citizen of this community. He owns other valuable property in the county besides his farm, and ties recently erected in the village of Union a pleasantly located business house of commodious dimensions. Mr. Foster is a man of high moral character, honest, straightforward and incorruptible, and wields an undoubted influence for good in his community. He is an earnest supporter of the Prohibition party in politics, and leads a temperate life in accordance with the principles that he professes.

OHN CLEMENTS. This thorough-going and public-spirited gentleman. now a resident of Elmwood, was born in Somersetshire, England, Oct. 26, 1838, coming to this country with his parents when only three years of age, after a long and tedious voyage of six weeks by sailing-vessel from Bristol landing in New York City. The family finally settled in Marcellus, Onondaga Co., N. Y., where our subject lived with his parents until he attained his majority. Having a strong desire to secure a foothold for himself, he bought a farm of 120 acres of improved land in that county, and devoted his entire time and attention to the cultivation of his farm and raising