Mr. McCord is one of the trustees and in which he served for several years as steward. A review of his life shows that in business he has been diligent as well as reliable, that in citizenship he has been loyal to the best interests of the community and that his social acquaintances know him as a tried and trusted friend. Brought to Story county when still in his first year, he has since remained within its borders and is widely and favorably known.
LARS F. SESKE.
Success in farming, as in every other branch of business endeavor, only comes to him who has the intelligence and capacity for industry to apply to his chosen vocation in life, as is exemplified by the career of Lars F. Seske, who, at the age of twenty-two years, started out in life for himself and is today one of the successful and progressive agriculturists of Union town. ship. There he was born April 18, 1864, a son of John and Helga (Staatfeit) Seske, both of whom were natives of Norway. The father was born March 1, 1826, his parents being Frederick and Eugene (Frederick) Seske, who died in Norway. John Seske obtained such education as was available in the schools of his locality and later was apprenticed to the trade of a shoemaker. Desiring to better his condition in life, for as a youth he was very ambitious, he decided to come to America and made the ocean voyage in 1857. Locating in New York city, he continued to follow his early vocation for a period of three months, after which time he removed to Racine, Wisconsin, where he secured employment in a shoe factory. From here he went to Franklin county, Kansas, and in 1860 came to Story county, where he saw the agricultural advantages and purchased forty acres of land. Here he continued to till the soil and by thrift and industry he was able to add to his property, until his personal holdings amount to three hundred and ninety-six acres in Union township, at the present time being one of the largest landowners in Story county.
In 1858 John Seske was married to Miss Helga Staatfeit, and by this union six children were born, namely : John ; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Osterman, living in Polk county, Iowa; Nels H.; Lars F.; Carl L.; Jacob S. Mr. Seske has the unusual distinction of being the grandfather of thirty-eight children. Mrs. Seske departed this life July 29, 1904. In politics Mr. Seske has allied himself with the republican party and has served his township with faithfulness and unaltering loyalty in various public offices. In his religious belief he is a consistent adherent of the Lutheran church.
The independent spirit manifested itself in Lars F. Seske when, shortly after reaching his majority he rented and operated a farm on his own account for two years, during which time he acquired invaluable knowledge regarding the science of agriculture, profiting by this to such an extent that