wild animals died in great numbers, and the ingenuity and endurance of men were taxed to the utmost to save their families and teams from perishing from cold and famine.

Among these hardy frontiersmen, none were more conspicuous for spirit and enterprise than good old Joe Davis, of Macon. When a neighbor was to be assisted, or help was wanted in any direction, he was always" to the fore," with his heavy ox team.

GRINDING AT THE HORSE MILL.

At last the pioneer father became possessed of a mill, where was ground the grain brought from a radius of over thirty miles, this method giving entire satisfaction in that primitive age. Pay was taken in kind, one-sixth of the corn and one-seventh of the wheat being the rule. But, then, there were few monopolies.

In due time, young John was promoted from driving the plow to driving the mill, and as principal miller became a somewhat important personage in the rising community. Always earnest and studious, when the day's work was done he would seize the "Life of Marion," or some other work of similar kind, and read aloud to those whose business kept them at the mill, and who, seated around the blazing log-heap in the ample fire-place, were wont to regard the fluent and earnest youth with admiration, his elocutionary powers often eliciting such remarks as this: "I'd give my best hoss if my Jim could read like the miller."

The mother of Mr. Davis was a woman of strong will and moral character, who accomplished much good in moulding the characters of the rough young men always found growing up in frontier settlements. Many a man, now past his prime, thanks "Aunt Sally" for the advice and moral influ

COL. A. B. SMEDLEY,

Master of the State Grange of Iowa.

President of the Farmers' Co-Operative Association of Kansas.

ence that saved him from strong drink, and, perhaps, a drunkard's grave.

Mr. Davis' father was a stock-farmer, breeding horses, mules, cattle, and swine, and selling the same for breeding purposes, as well as for food. The subject of our sketch continued working at the farm until reaching his twentieth year, acquiring that strength, nerve, and constitution that were to enable him, in after life, to study and store his mind with the knowledge that makes the cultured man. It is this early culture that has, more than any thing else, perhaps, given him the practical ability for which he is remarkable.

GETTING AN EDUCATION AND START IN LIFE.

At nineteen, Mr. Davis left the farm and set about getting an education, spending two years as a student and clerk in a drug store at Springfield, Illinois, and attending the academy of Professor Esterbrook. From thence he went to Jacksonville, and entered Illinois College. After leaving college, he became one of Professor Turner's agents in introducing the growth of the Osage orange on the prairies. This connection continued three or four years, leading to a close intimacy which was never sundered. Their minds worked in perfect accord in relation to education to the industries. The general ideas with the early agitators, on this subject, to use Mr. Davis' words, were, "To discard the obsolete and useless branches of education, and to adopt the modern and practical subjects in their stead."

In May, 1851, Mr. Davis was married to Miss Martha Ann Powell, of Wisconsin, daughter of Rev. Joseph Powell, and sister to Major J. W. Powell, who is now widely known as the explorer of the Colorado River. About 1853, Mr.

Davis and Major Powell entered into business relations with the lamented C. R. Overman, then of Fulton County, Illinois, and started a branch nursery in Macon County, under the firm name of "Davis & Powell." This relationship was mutually pleasant to all the parties, and lasted for several years.

While engaged as a nurseryman-a business which he continued, on a limited scale, after the termination of the partnership above named-Mr. Davis made himself a most comfortable home, about five miles east of Decatur, where he reared a family of six boys and three girls, devoting himself, on his home farm, to the raising of fruit and stock.

During his whole life, Mr. Davis has been an indefatigable planter of trees, and has found it pay. Several places which he has improved for sale have brought more money than other places naturally as good, with better buildings, but lacking orchards and shade.

"WESTWARD, HO!"

At length, a growing family induced Mr. Davis, in 1869, to visit Kansas, for the purpose of securing homes for his children; and he is now engaged in improving a farm of four hundred and eighty acres, near Junction City, Davis County, old Fort Riley being in full view from his premises. His entire family removed to their new home in Kansas, where they are all now permanently located, in 1872.

Mr. Davis is a good speaker and a forcible writer, and in his new home he could not long remain in obscurity. In January, 1873, at the invitation of President Dennison, of the State Agricultural College, he delivered an address on the "Transportation of American Products," which was favorably noticed by the press.

PRESENT PROMINENCE AND LABORS.

In March, 1873, Mr. Davis became President of the newly-formed Agricultural Society of Davis County, and went as a delegate, in company with Mr. John K. Wright, to the Farmers' State Convention, held on the 26th and 27th of the same month, at Topeka. He was elected President of the Convention, and, at the organization of the State Farmers' Association, was chosen President of that body.

Thus this earnest and untiring worker was happily' harnessed into the traces in this young State, to help roll forward the car of progress.

He has been an indefatigable worker in the cause of industrial education in Kansas, pitting himself fearlessly against the sectarian cliques who sought to gain control of the Agricultural College of that State, to the exclusion of agriculture and mechanics.

One of his most characteristic efforts was an open letter, on the subject of such education, to the Governor of the State, published in the Kansas Farmer, early in 1873. This drew out some able criticisms from the editor of that journal, and an attack upon Mr. Davis by Rev. L. Sternberg. The discussion was sharp, spirited, and interesting, and has accomplished its full quota of good in moulding public opinion on the subject of industrial education in Kansas. It has also assisted in bringing Mr. Davis prominently before the people of the West, as an able and fearless champion of their rights.