In the fall of 1877, whilst on a visit to Ohio, my half-brother, Charles R. Nourse, invited me to a private interview in which he disclosed the fact to me that he was engaged to be married and wanted me to do something to help him start in life in some kind of business. The young man had not improved his opportunities for an education and had spent several winters doing farm work. Before I had left home on that occasion Sylvanus Edinburn had proposed to exchange a small farm that he had in the suburbs of the city, of eighty-eight acres, for some property I had acquired in town. It occurred to me that I might help the boy by making the trade for this farm, and I accordingly told him if he would have his mother send an invitation to his intended to come and take dinner with us, and I liked the looks of the proposed wife I would do something for him. He readily consented to this arrangement, as did also his intended, and as she appeared to be an industrious and bright young woman I came home and completed the purchase of the farm which I obtained a deed for in March, 1878. There was no building on the farm fit to live in. I had the old house moved onto the barn-lot and fixed up for a granary, and built a new house at the expense of about fifteen hundred dollars. In the following spring Charles R. with his bride put in an appearance and I settled them in their new home, where they lived happily for a number of years, but finally after about fifteen years that most fatal of all curses, strong drink, got possession of the young man and he went to the bad. In the year of 1875 while visiting my sister at Tuscola, Illinois, I found her in possession of a very large and increasing family. I was especially pleased with her second daughter, Rose, then a young lady about twenty years of age, and suggested to my sister that if she would consent I would take Rose home with me and help her to an education. Accordingly in 1876 Rose came to Des Moines and made her home with us. My oldest brother, Joseph G. Nourse, had died at Cincinnati, Ohio, in March, 1863, and about the year of 1876 I had induced his widow with her three boys to remove to Des Moines, her oldest daughter Susan having previously married to Mr. J. A. Jackson. I had before that time induced Mr. Jackson and his wife also to remove to Des Moines and had given Mr. Jackson employment in my office as an assistant. I had also built on Fourth street a one story cottage of three rooms and a kitchen, which they occupied for a year or two.