JESSE NEWTON DICK, one of the most enterprising young farmers of Philo Township, is at present devoting his attention to the cultivation of a fine farm of 320 acres, pleasantly located on section 20, which comprises one of the choicest bodies of land in Champaign County. Of this our subject took possession April 5, 1878, proceeding first to bring it to a good state of cultivation by thorough draining with tile. The soil soon responded to its excellent care and culture, and now yields in abundance the choicest products of the Prairie State. The family residence and out-buildings are shapely and of substantial character; the fences and machinery are kept in good repair, and the stock well fed and sheltered. Everything about the farm indicates the supervision of the intelligent and progressive modern agrilcuturist.

The subject of our sketch was born in Jackson Township, Tippecanoe co., Ind., Dec. 7, 1857. He is the son of Ely and Jane (MEHARRY) DICK, natives of Maryland and Indiana respectively. Ely Dick in former years was one of the most extensive land-owners of Champaign County, and is also the possessor of 500 acres in Indiana. The parental family included three children, of whom two are deceased; Ellen became the wife or Richard N. CORDING, and was formerly a resident of Tippecanoe County, Ind., occupying the old homestead in Jackson Township; she died in Decatur, Ill.; while under treatment, april 20, 1887.

Jesse N. of our sketch spent his boyhood days under the home roof and attended the public schools. He was not quite twenty-one years old when he came with his parents to Illinois. The year following, on the 15th of April, 1879, he was married, in Montgomery County, Ind., to Miss Harriett E., daughter of Jacob and Charlotte (MARTIN) LUSE. Mrs. Dick was born Feb. 22, 1857. Her parents were natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Indiana, and are both now living near Crawfordsville, Montgomery County, the latter State, where for many years Mr. L. carried on farming in a highly successful manner.

Mr. and Mrs. Dick have one child only, a daughter, Estella Pearl, born Aug. 6, 1881. Our subject politically is a reliable Democrat, fearless in the expression of his views and honest in his convictions. He is frank and outspoken, noted for his kindly impulses, and is highly esteemed among those who know him best as a citizen, a business man and a friend.