ERNST, CARL JULIUS, assistant treasurer of the C, B. & Q. R. R. Co. for its lines west of the Missouri river, residing at Omaha. Neb., was born in the village of Girbigsdorf, near the city of Goerlitz, Province of Silesia, Prussia, Sept. 12, 1854. His ancestors on the father's side were farmers and mechanics in Silesia, on the mother's side school teachers, clergymen, and weavers of linen, in Saxony. Carl J. Ernst entered the nearest village school, at Markersdorf, at the age of five years, but by change of residence was afterwards transferred to another village school. When he was ten years old his school master notified the father that he ought to take his boy to the city, claiming to be unable to do anything more for him at his school without providing a course of study for him different from that of the rest of the pupils. His father thereupon sold his farm, moved into the city of Goerlitz and entered the boy in the Buergerschule, which ranked above the common schools and had a curriculum quite similar to the American high school of the present day. Graduation from this school at the age of thirteen and a half years completed his school education. Two weeks later the family left for America, going first to Milwaukee. Wis., but being displeased with the cold climate they remained there but two weeks, when they moved to Nebraska City, Neb., arriving there May 23, 1868. Mr. Ernst's father bought a farm, and the son at once obtained employment in a candy, ice cream, and toy establishment. He spent his first summer mostly at washing soda pop bottles, his employer owning the only factory of that kind in the town. In the evening he would turn the ice cream freezers and wait on the tables. He spent the winter behind the counter, selling candies and toys. From the first he began trying to read the Nebraska City daily paper, to acquaint himself with the English language, and by this method he learned it the more quickly and correctly. His wages in this first position were $50 a year and board. In Apr., 1869, his employer sold out, but the lad was offered a position with N. S. Harding & Co.. booksellers and stationers, before his other employment ceased. By this time he had acquired a fair use of English. He remained with Harding & Co. until Oct. 1, 1872, when he was offered a position in the Otoe County National bank, which he accepted with the regret but approval of his other employer, because of the excellent opportunity offered thereby for business training.

The late J. Sterling Morton became interested in the boy while he was working for N. S. Harding & Co., where he saw him almost daily, and it was largely upon his recommendation that the young man. then twenty one years of age, was offered a clerkship in the land department of the B. & M. R. R. R. Co., at Lincoln, in Jan., 1876. He entered this new employment Feb. 1, 1876. On Oct. 1, 1880, he was promoted to be cashier of the land department, and on Nov. 1, 1890. was appointed by President Perkins assistant land commissioner, in charge of the railway company's lands west of the Missouri river. When Mr. Perkins organized the Boston Investment Co. of Lincoln, Neb., he named Mr. Ernst as its secretary and treasurer, and at Mr. Perkins's request he served several years on the board of directors of the First National bank of Lincoln, Neb. For four years, beginning Jan. 1,1887, he held the position of manager of the Lincoln Street Railway Co., while it was owned by several gentlemen connected with the Burlington R. R. Co., who, however, sold out to another syndicate in the fall of 1890.

Mr. Ernst has always been a republican, but is quite nonpartisan in local matters. He served one term of three years as a member of the Lincoln board of education, and one year of that time as its president. His nomination, entirely unsought, was first made by a nonpartisan convention, and was endorsed by both the republican and democratic conventions. He devoted his energies largely to putting the financial affairs of the school district upon a better business basis, and to reducing expenses. Up to that time the district had spent almost a million dollars of public funds without having proper accounts, vouchers, or a careful business system. Mr. Ernst planned, and with the hearty consent and approval of the board put into use, a system of books, accounts, and vouchers simple and yet complete, based on his knowledge of bank and railway accounts, which has since been retained by the school board. He afterward repeatedly declined renomination to this office. In Nov., 1901. he was elected a member of the board of regents of the University of Nebraska on the republican ticket, leading the ticket by over 2,500 votes, without having made a personal canvass. He was later elected president of the board. While still retaining the office of assistant land commissioner he was, on June 1, 1903, also appointed assistant treasurer of the C. B & Q. R. R. Co. for its lines west of the Missouri river, resulting in his removal with his family to Omaha, in July, 1903. Mr. Ernst was married Feb. 26, 1876, to Marie Wilhelmine Weber, a native of Dresden, Saxony. They have four children: Louise Gertrude, Conrad Walter, Flora Grace, and Paul Luther. They were all members of the Evangelical Lutheran church until Mar., 1900, when, for reasons which were the outgrowth of unsatisfactory local conditions in this church, they all united with the Protestant Episcopal church. Mr. Ernst's father, Carl Ernst, was a farmer near Nebraska City until his death in Jan.. 1881. By his request he was buried in his son's family lot in Wyuka cemetery at Lincoln. The mother, Caroline (Boehmer) Ernst, resided with her son after her husband's death until her own death, which occurred in Jan., 1890.