that State, thence to Boone County, and finally to Benton County, Iowa, where young Johnson developed into manhood. He left the parental roof when about nineteen years old and commenced learning the carpenter's trade, then going to St. Paul, Minn., he sojourned there one year. Returning then to Iowa he prosecuted his trade in Benton County and finally purchased land five miles from Vinton, the county seat of Benton County, where he made his home for a period of twenty-five years. In the meantime he was married, March 5, 1850, to Miss. M. J. Forsythe.

After the outbreak of the Civil War Mr. Johnson enlisted in October, 1862, in Company K., Sixth Iowa Cavalry, aud leaving home November 3, following, was sent to the Northwest to fight the Indians. His duties led him all over Dakota Territory, and he returned home November 3, 1865, after a service of three years and nine hours. He had now a family of five children. He continued a resident of of Benton County, Iowa, until 1870, although in the meantime he had sold his farm. That year they came to Kansas and purchased a town lot in Independence, where they lived until their removal to Oxford Township, this county.

Mrs. Johnson was born in Decatur County Ind., February 5, 1830, and is the daughter of J. S. and Jane (McCoy) Forsythe, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Indiana. Mr. Forsythe lived for a time in the vicinity of Lebanon, Boone County, Ind., where he was among the first settlers. He engaged in merchandising and for some years was Sheriff of Boone County. In 1844 he crossed the Mississippi into Linn County, Iowa, settling at Marion, but two years later changed his residence to Benton County. He was married in the latter county where the wife and mother died in 1849. In Iowa, as he had been in Indiana, Mr. Forsythe was prominent in local affairs, serving as County Judge and Township Supervisor and holding other public positions until quite aged. Finally, leaving the Hawkeye State in 1873 he came to Kansas and spent his last years in Avon Township, dying in 1876 at the age of seventy-nine years.

Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. John

son, of whom only three are living. John A. mar

ried Miss Lundy King, and is the father of five children; he has already been spoken of as a resident of No Man's Land. Eva is the wife of E. Platte, and they live on a farm near Greensburg, adjoining the county seat. Cordie remains at home; Ida married James Johnson, who died in 1884 and she died in 1888, both being the victims of consumption. Their son, Allen W., died when three years old.

Alexander Johnson, the father of our subject, was born in Ohio and married Miss Sarah Allen, of Kentucky. They made their home in Shelby County, that State, until coming West, as already stated, and reared a family of ten children to mature years. Mr. Johnson died in Iowa April 13,

1855, at the age of sixty-six years. The mother died about 1875-76, in Iowa. She was a member in good standing of the Christian Church. Mr. Johnson had served as a soldier in the War of 1812.

D

The sub

EACON JAMES T. CHURCH. ject of this sketch is particularly well known in the religious circles of Wellington, being one of the pillars of the Bap tist Church, in which he has officiated as Deacon for many years. He was born in Lancaster, Fairfield County, Ohio, November 19, 1828, and is the son of Isaac Church, a native of Cape May, N. J. The latter was reared in his native State, and became an architect and builder. He was converted in his youth, joining the Baptist Church, and for many years officiated as a minister of that denomination. Upon leaving New Jersey he established himself in the city of Philadelphia, where he continued preaching. About 1820 he emigrated to Ohio, and located among the pioneers of Fairfield County.

After his removal to Ohio, the father of our subject being located in the town of Lancaster, engaged as a carpenter and builder, while he also continued his labors in the Master's vineyard. With the exception of a short time spent afterward in New Jersey, he remained a resident of Lancaster

The subject of this sketch attended the primitive schools of Lancaster, Ohio, and after reaching manhood completed a business course in the Commercial School at Ottawa, Ill. He was only four years old at the time of his mother's death, and when a boy of eight years went to live with an uncle in the same county, where he was reared on a farm and remained until reaching his majority. He was then given $100, with a horse and saddle, and started out to seek his fortune. Locating in Fairfield County he engaged with a firm of contractors six months, then secured a position as clerk and book-keeper in the employ of Mahlon Ashbrook, in Pickaway County. This gentleman also conducted a sawmill, distillery, etc. Young Church remained with him one year, then returned to his old home in Fairfield County and engaged in sheep raising, and also dealt in sheep in company with his uncle, John M. Ashbrook. He was thus occupied two years, then engaged in farming. He purchased land in Fairfield County, and continued there until 1857. Then selling out he went to Ottawa, Ill., and engaged in the grocery trade and the manufacture of vinegar. In 1866 he sold out once more, and engaged in the lumber and grocery trade until 1877. He now met with reverses, losing all of his property, and we next find him in Chicago, Ill., as a dealer in groceries. Later he embarked in the lumber business, on the Lumber Exchange, until 1880.

In the above-mentioned year Mr. Church came to Kansas, locating first at Humboldt, and engaging in the lumber trade one year. In 1882 he sold out and removed to Lincoln, Neb., where he prosecuted the lumber business a few months, and then, in 1883, came to Wellington. Here he opened a lumber yard and instituted a branch yard at Caldwell, conducting these until January, 1889. His next move was to form a partnership with J. L Wood, and they opened an office for the practice of law, also attending to collections and insurance.

Mr. Church was married, October 9, 1853, in Fairfield County, Ohio, to Miss Laura C. Kagy. This lady was born in Fairfield County, Ohio, March 19, 1832, and is the daughter of Lewis B. and Francina P. (Ashbrook) Kagy, who were natives of Virginia, and pioneers of Ohio. To Mr. and Mrs. Church there were born two childrenFrancina and Mary. The first mentioned was married to Ricardo Miner, and they live in Phoenix, Arizona; they have one child, George E. Mary is the wife of C. A. Foss, of San Diego, Cal., and they have three children -C. Stanford, James C. and Laura C. Politically, Mr. Church is a stanch Republican.

races.

OHN P. NICE is one of the most practical and prosperous farmers in Val Verde Township and an exponent of the excellent traits which are to be met with among the Teutonic His residence and barn are the finest in the township, and taken all in all, his farm, although not so large as many, is one of the most attractive in the entire county. Hard work, a wise economy, and a determination to succeed, have been the levers by which he has won success since he came to Kansas a poor man.

The birth of our subject took place in Prussia, April 15, 1846, and he is the youngest of three children born to Mathew, and Gertrude Nice. The mother died in Germany, and in 1853 the father emigrated to America, settling in Grant County, Wis., where he lived until 1887, when he too, departed this life. Three years after his own passage across the Atlantic, his children-Gertrude, Nicholas and John P.-followed him to America, and our subject grew to manhood on his father's farm in Wisconsin. He remained in that State until 1871, and then became a citizen of this county, making Oxford his first abiding place. There he carried on a mercantile business for a time, but in 1883, moved to his present home on section 16, ValVerde Township, where he owns one hundred and sixty acres of land. The estate is not only furnished with the fine residence and barn before

mentioned, but with all other buildings necessary for the carrying on of the work of the farm, and with such fences, trees, and shrubs as make it beautiful and add largely to its value.

The lady to whose housewifely skill and amiable character, Mr. Nice owes the comforts and pleasure of his home life, was born in Austria, in 1855, and bore the maiden name of Mollie Potucek. At the time of their marriage in 1875, she was a resident of this county. Their happy union has resulted in the birth of four children, William, Avice, Lena, and an infant who died unnamed. Mr. Nice has held some minor offices, exercises the elective franchise in behalf of the Democratic party, and is a member of the Farmers' Alliance. He does not belong to any religious organization but is a Catholic in belief.

SCAR J. HACKNEY.

Oman

In 1871 this gentleman left Logan County, Ill., for the Kansas frontier, coming by rail to Newton, which was then the western terminus of the road, and thence by stage to Wichita, then an unpretentious village, where he was met by a brother and driven to this county, his arrival being in the month of September. Wellington had just been platted and contained but few houses, and in the western part of the county deer and buffaloes abounded, while the surrounding country was still in the possession of the United States Government. Mr. Hackney took up the southeast quarter of section 25, in what is now Wellington Township, and at once. erected a house and began a successful career as a Kansas pioneer farmer. He has added to his landed estate, and now owns five hundred and twenty acres of fine land, one hundred and sixty acres being in Avon and the rest in Wellington Township.

Mr. Hackney was born in Jefferson County, Iowa, April 26, 1847, and was a child of about five years when his parents removed to Logan County, Ill., where he was reared and educated until about sixteen years old. In the meantime the Civil

War had broken out, and all over the Northern States the tidal wave of patriotic enthusiasm had rolled, carrying with it to the front many a lad who, though young in years, was old in devotion to his country; while many a lad was compelled to remain at home on account of his youth or insufficient strength, whose heart was with the forces and who waited longingly for the day to come when he could enter the army.

In 1863 young Hackney enlisted in Company H, Seventh Illinois Infantry, and soon after his enrollment was taking his part in campaign life in Alabama. From that State the following year he went to Georgia, joining Sherman's forces at the famous field of Resaca, and subsequently participating in the battles, skirmishes and weary marches from that point to Atlanta, being present during the siege and at the capture of that city, and in the battle of Altona Pass. During the latter engagement he was seriously wounded, and was laid up for two months, after which he rejoined his comrades and marched with the victorious army to Washington, via Petersburg and Richmond, where after participating in the Grand Review he was honorably discharged and mustered out of the service. Returning to his home he rented land, and devoted himself to the peaceful occupation of farming, quitting Logan County only to become a citizen of Kansas.

The wife of Mr. Hackney is a native of Logan County, Ill., and bore the maiden name of Lena Clark. She is a daughter of John and Eliza Clark, and with the educational advantages afforded in her childhood and the careful training of her worthy parents, was well fitted to discharge all her duties in life upon reaching womanhood. Her union with Mr. Hackney was celebrated January 28, 1868, and six children have come to bless their fireside Edward, John, Frank, William, Mamie and Kate.

Mr. Hackney belongs to James Shields Post, No. 57, G. A. R. Until the year 1872 he was a Republican, but since that time his suffrage has been given to the Democratic party. During Gen. Grant's presidential term he received the appointment of Postmaster at Wellington and served two years in that capacity. He is enterprising and