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<p>[QUOTE=&quot;Debora, post: 11682618, member: 1476&quot;]<font size="5">From familysearch.org:</font></p><p><font size="5"><br /></font></p><p><font size="5"><b>Charles Sloan sketch in Compendium of History of NE on line</b></font></p><p><br /></p><p>CHARLES H. SLOAN.--Faithfulness to duty and strict adherence to a fixed purpose in life will do more to advance a man&#039;s interests than wealth or adventitious circumstances. The successful men of the day are they who have planned their own advancement and have accomplished it in spite of many obstacles and with a certainty that could have been attained only through their own efforts. This class of men has a worthy representative in Hon. Charles H. Sloan, who began life amid unfavoring circumstances on an Iowa farm and has risen to distinction as an eminent lawyer and statesman. Although yet a young man he has left the impress of his individuality upon the policy of Nebraska and is regarded as one of the most prominent and able citizens whose interests are linked with those of the Tree Planters state. His portrait appears on another page.</p><p><br /></p><p>Born near Monticello, Jones county, Iowa, May 2, 1863, the subject of this review is a son of James W. and Elizabeth (Magee) Sloan, natives of the north of Ireland. When a child the father came to America with his parents, Charles and Jane (Weir) Sloan, who were also born on the Emerald Isle, and were of Scotch-Irish descent. They spent their last days in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where James Sloan was reared to manhood and learned the weaver&#039;s trade. In that city he married Elizabeth Magee, who had come to America alone when about fifteen years of age, and after their marriage they emigrated westward, locating on a farm near Monticello, Iowa. They now reside in Fillmore county, Nebraska. Believing education to be one of the best preparations for the responsible duties of life they made many sacrifices in order to give their children good school privileges, the mother frequently saying that a good education was worth more than a quarter-section of land.</p><p><br /></p><p>Charles H. Sloan spent his early boyhood days on the farm in Jones county, and acquired his education in Monticello. About six months before the time of graduation he began teaching in that county, and on the 1st of March, 1881, resumed his own studies in the State Agricultural College, of Ames, Iowa, where he completed a four years course in three and a half years, graduating when twenty-one years of age. He made his way through college by teaching in vacations and working nights and mornings during the school year. He won distinction during his collegiate course both as a scholar and athlete, was the popular editor of the college paper, a favorite on the campus, a leading member of the Delta Tau Delta fraternity and was graduated with the highest oratorical honors of his class. Several time has he returned to his alma mater to deliver addresses before the college, at the request of the faculty or societies.</p><p><br /></p><p>In the fall of 1884 Mr. Sloan was elected principal of the public schools of Fairmount, Nebraska, where he remained three years, during which time he greatly raised the standard of the schools, making them very efficient as an educational center. During his principalship he devoted his evenings to the study of law under the direction of John P. Maule, and in 1887 was admitted to the bar, after which he formed a law partnership with his former preceptor which continued until January, 1891, the senior partner having removed to Lincoln in 1888. Mr. Sloan was not long in demonstrating his ability in the conduct of important litigation and became especially prominent as a trial lawyer, owing to his keen power of analysis and his splendid gifts of oratory. He was retained as advocate and counsel on many suits heard in the state and federal courts and for two or three years was city attorney. In the fall of 1890 he was nominated on the Republican ticket without a dissenting vote for county attorney and was the only Republican elected. He served in that position for two terms, the second time being elected by a vote of three hundred above that given any other Republican candidate on the ticket. After the first year there was no man acquitted who was placed on trial and no charge that he filed was ever quashed. During his term of office many intricate problems arose for solution and were satisfactorily disposed of, his service at all times being most commendable. On the 6th of July, 1893, he delivered the oration at the laying of the corner stone of the new court house, addressing the largest crowd ever assembled in the county. In 1890 the Populists had carried the county by one thousand majority, and three years later there was a hot fight to elect county officers to occupy the new temple of justice. After one of the most bitter contests in the history of this locality, the Republicans elected their entire ticket and all agree that the result was largely due to the efforts of Mr. Sloan.</p><p><br /></p><p>In the fall of 1894, just prior to the expiration of his term of service as county attorney, he was nominated to represent the twenty-fourth senatorial district, comprising Fillmore and York counties, in the general assembly. He made a thorough canvass of both counties, running against one of the strongest Populists in the district, and was elected by a majority of seven hundred and forty-three. In the senate he supported by vote and influence John M. Thurston, who was elected United States senator. He served as chairman of the committees on constitutional amendments and federal relations and was chairman of the committee on privileges and elections and a member of the judiciary, agriculture, enrolled and engrossed bills, educational asylums, labor and public lands and building committees. As charman (sic) of the constitutional amendment committee all amendments that year submitted to the people were by him introduced into the senate and house. He was the author of and introduced the anti-oleomargarine bill, of which he was in charge until it was incorporated on the statute books of the state. He was also the author of the resolution whereby the name of Tree Planters state was adopted, and his speech in connection therewith was one of the most popular, entertaining and patriotic delivered at that session. Six bills introduced by him, besides amendments to the constitution, became laws, a record unparalleled by that of any other member during that term. He attained high reputation as one of the orators and wits of the senate and was. popular with both parties on account of his, genuine worth and his fidelity to the causes. and measures in which he believed. He is justly regarded as one of Nebraska&#039;s foremost orators and his services are much in demand on public occasions. He delivered) the oration at the state fair at Omaha in September, 1896, before the Pioneers&#039; Association and the same was published in full in many of the daily papers of Nebraska, receiving many flattering comments from the state press. On the 15th of June,. 1898, he was the orator at the Trans-Mississippi Exposition for the grand jurisdiction of the Masonic fraternity, and again his address awakened the most complimentary comment.</p><p><br /></p><p>It is Mr. Sloan&#039;s intention to devote his. time almost exclusively to his profession, and at the bar has gained a position second to none in his district. He is remarkably strong as a trial lawyer, and has also won. some notable victories in the supreme court. He has one of the largest and finest law libraries in this part of Nebraska and his; knowledge is comprehensive and accurate.. One of his distinguishing characteristics, which has contributed in a marked degree to his success in law and politics is his splendid command of language, his forceful arguments and his aggressive yet courteous utterances. He is an indefatigable worker and everything that he undertakes receives his best efforts. Financial success has also crowned his labors and he has made judicious investments of his means, owning some handsome residence property, a section of land in Fillmore county and other western realty. He is also a stockholder in two banking institutions and has the executive ability and sagacity of the men in commercial life.</p><p><br /></p><p>On the 1st of October, 1889, Mr. Sloan was united in marriage, in Woodbine, Iowa, to Emma Porter, who was born near that place, her parents being Frank and Lucy (Frances) Porter, the former of Irish and the latter of French descent. Mr. and Mrs. Sloan were in college together, the latter completing the course a year later than her husband, after which she was engaged in teaching prior to their marriage. She is a cultured and refined lady who presides with gracious and pleasing hospitality over their home. She is especially prominent as a promoter of the literary interests and tastes of Geneva and is a member of the P. E. O., a western literary and social organization. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Sloan: Ethel, eight years of age; Blaine, six years old; Charles Porter, a lad of four; and William McKinley, a babe.</p><p><br /></p><p>Mr. Sloan is a Royal Arch Mason and a valued member of the Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodmen societies, and of the latter was the first venerable consul of the county. He is a man of high intellectuality, broad human sympathies and tolerance, and imbued with fine sensibilities and clearly defined principles. Honor and integrity are synonymous with his name and he enjoys the respect, confidence and high regard of the people of his adopted state.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

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