Falls, that State, in the fall of 1871, at the age of seventy-one years. The mother later joined her children in Iowa; she died in Sterling, in March, 1888, at the advanced age of seventy-nine.

EWIS WINTERS, who is well and favorably known in this part of the country, was a pioneer of Johnson County, and is still actively engaged in the support of its great agricultural interests as one of the leading farmers of Sterling Precinct. The development of this county is largely due to such practical, intrepid, capable men as our subject, who, while working hard in their own interests to evolve from the wild, unbroken prairie the farms upon which they have built up comfortable homes, have at the same time advanced the growth of their respective precincts, and have taken pride in promoting the various schemes for their improvement. It is with pleasure that a view of the Winters' homestead is presented in connection with this sketch.
   Mr. Winters was born in Stark County, Ill., Dec. 31, 1839, his parents being Daniel and Julia A. (Greenfield) Winters. His father was born May 12, 1812, in Luzerne County, Pa., and he died in Stark County, Ill., in December, 1860, in the midst of a useful life, in which he had gained the respect and esteem of his neighbors for his honorable character and sterling worth. The mother of our subject, a most estimable lady, now makes her home in this precinct. She was born in New York, May 24, 1814. Our subject is the second of the nine children born to his parents, of whom six survive, and the following is the family record: George, born in New York, Dec. 27, 1837; Lewis, our subject; Elizabeth, born in Stark County, Ill., June 14, 1846; Washington, born March 24, 1843, died Dec. 14, 1860; Mary, born Dec. 29, 1849; Alonzo, Aug. 29, 1852; Delonville, Feb. 17, 1853.
   He of whom we write was reared and educated in his native county, attending the common schools. He was likewise married there, Aug. 25, 1868, to Miss Wiley Medearis, and of their union five children have been born, namely; Dela, now Mrs. Edward Dewyer, of Vesta Precinct, this county; Mary, Adelaide, Nellie and Elizabeth, all of whom are living. Mrs. Winters' parents, John W. and Servilda (Barnett) Medearis, who live in Stark County, Ill., are natives of Brown County, Ohio, where the father was born July 15, 1817, and the mother, Sept. 24, 1822. The record of their children is as follows: Martin, born Sept. 17, 1840; Aurora, April 27, 1842; William, March 9, 1844; Alexander, Aug. 26, 1846; Wiley (Mrs. Winters), March 231, 1849; James, June 27, 1851; all of whom were born while their parents resided in Ohio. The remainder are: Joseph, born Dec. 7, 1853; Frank, July 21, 1856; Eliza, March 1, 1859; Frances, May 28, 1862, and Sarah, July 3, 1865. Frances and Alexander are deceased.
   After marriage Mr. Winters and his young wife came to Nebraska to establish their home in Johnson County. Mr. Winters purchased the farm on which he now resides of a man who had entered it from the Government, and he then paid the remaining money due on it at the land-office, and got the patent signed by Gen. V. Grant. It comprises 120 acres on the northern half of the southeast quarter of section 30, and forty acres of the southeast part of the southeast quarter of section 30, and also the northeast forty of the northeast quarter of section 31. At that time there was no town where Sterling now stands, and the nearest market was at Nebraska City, which was a distance of forty miles away, where Mr. Winters used to team the produce of his farm and purchase his groceries, etc. Indians were frequent visitors in his home, and Mrs. Winters would trade coffee with them in exchange for some of their beadwork and trinkets. Mr. Winters had but $175 when he came here, and with that he paid for his land, so that he and his family had to endure all the privations of pioneer life in a new country until they could make the farm productive of an income. But our subject was a man of action, a steady and persistent worker, with a good practical knowledge of farming, and he set to work with characteristic energy to build up his fortune from the wild prairie. He has been more than ordinarily successful in his undertakings, as is shown by his farm, one of the finest in this locality, the land under good cultivation, and 120 acres of it neatly fenced, with

an excellent set of buildings, including one of the handsomest and most commodious residences in Sterling Precinct, which was erected at a cost of $2,000.
   Mr. Winters' intelligence, enterprise and capability render him an invaluable citizen, and whenever he is called to hold public office the duties incumbent upon him are discharged with promptness and efficiency, in a manner to call for the commendations of his fellow-citizens. In him his neighbors find a friend, his family a thoughtful husband and indulgent father. Mr. Winters was elected to the office of Assessor of this precinct in the fall of 1884, and served one year. He was again elected to the same position in 1887, and still holds the office. He is a valued member of the F. & A. M., No. 70, and also of the 1. O. O. F., No. 63, at Sterling. He is identified with the Republican party, having a firm faith in the correctness of its policy.

ICHARD F. CURRY. The stock-raising interests of Todd Creek and vicinity are welt represented by the subject of this sketch, who owns a fine farm of 200 acres lying on sections 21 and 22. He came to this locality in the summer of 1867, first taking up 120 acres of land to which he subsequently added eighty acres. It was then a wild stretch of uncultivated prairie, and he set himself industriously to work to accomplish its development and improvement. Looking upon his valuable estate to-day it is easy to believe that he has labored with the most persevering industry, and with results which should be satisfactory to any reasonable man. The land now yields in abundance the richest crops of Nebraska, and the farm buildings are first-class in every respect, including a large and handsome residence, which would be an ornament to any town or city, and a barn and other out-buildings finely adapted to the purposes and employments of rural life. About six acres have been devoted to the planting of groves, and there is an orchard of choice apple trees, together with the smaller fruits, and everything about the premises is conducive to the comfort and happiness of the family. The fields are enclosed with wire and hedge fencing. The land is well watered, and very little is left to run to waste, every acre being utilized either for grain or pasturage.
   Our subject is of excellent Scotch ancestry, although born in County Down, Ireland, July 26, 1829. He continued a resident of his native county until a youth of eighteen years, receiving a limited education. Then, not satisfied with his condition or his prospects, he emigrated to America, and settled first in Upper Canada. He was a resident of the Dominion a period of nineteen years, occupied as a carpenter and carriage maker, and was at times in the employ of a railroad company, doing fine upholstering for their coaches.
   About the time Nebraska became a State Mr. Curry made his way across the Mississippi, landing in this county on the 28th of June, 1867, with a cash capital of $62.50. He at once took up a tract of land, which is now included in his present farm, and since that time has made it his home. It is hardly necessary to say that he labored for years under many difficulties, practicing the most rigid economy, working early and late, and exercising the most careful management in order to gain a foothold.
   The farm of Mr. Curry is now spoken of as being one of the finest in Johnson County. It is 200 acres in extent, and in addition to raising large quantities of grain our subject has of late years given much attention to fine stock, including the best grades of cattle, mostly Short-horn, having a herd of about eighty head, some full-blooded. He has a few of the Polled-Angus breed, which is gradually working its way in this county and becoming popular. Mr. Curry's stables contain principally Norman horses, he keeping usually about twenty head, including some fine imported stock. He keeps about 175 head of swine, nearly thoroughbred, and ships annually by the carload.
   The farm of our subject embraces ninety acres of good pasture, while the balance is mostly in meadow and plowed ground. Not only has Mr. Curry established for himself the reputation of a first-class agriculturist, but he is a man eminently public-spirited and liberal, taking a warm interest