of age, believing that more favorable conditions existed in America than were to be found in a thickly settled country of the old world, he emigrated to the United States, going direct to Kane county, Illinois, where he purchased a farm of forty acres and began to carve his way to fortune. He cultivated the land for eight years and then, seeking still wider opportunities, removed to Story county in 1877, acquiring land on section 25, New Albany township, upon which he established the family home. He was of industrious habits and by his unremitting diligence he transformed his farm into one of the valuable properties of the township.
On the 16th of February, 1869, in Westmoreland, England, Mr. Swinbank was united in marriage to Miss Martha Martindale, a daughter of William and Martha (Hastwell) Martindale. She was one of a family of fourteen children and was born January 24, 1844, coming to America with her husband shortly after their marriage. Five children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Swinbank, namely: Joseph William, now living on a farm in Story county, who was born in Kane county, Illinois, February 12, 1871, and married Miss Emma Walters, of Story county; Ada O., who was born in Kane county, July 26, 1877, and married Charles Graves, of Oregon; John S., now living on the family homestead, who was born in Story county, September 1, 1879, and married Miss Agnes M. Bullock ; Jennie T., who was born September 5, 1883, and is now living on the old homestead ; and George M., who was born December 29, 1886, and is also living at home.
Mr. Swinbank was a consistent member of the United Brethren church of Dalton's Corners. Politically he gave his support to the republican party, being an earnest advocate of its principles. He served most acceptably as a member of the school board and also for many years as road-master of his township. In England he was a member of the Amalgamation of Engineers. Mrs. Swinbank is now living with several of her children on the home farm of one hundred and twenty acres. She is greatly respected by her neighbors and friends in the community where she lives, all of whom have a good word to say of her.
BENJAMIN BROTHERS.
No history of Nevada would be complete without mention of Oscar John and George Alonzo Benjamin, founders of the Nevada Journal, now edited by them under the name of the Nevada Evening Journal. The brothers had received comprehensive experience along journalistic lines in connection with other papers prior to the establishment of the Nevada Journal, and this thorough knowledge of the art preservative, combined with keen business sagacity, wise management and progressive and up-to-date methods have insured the success of their present venture, their paper be-