W.R. Aldrich was born in Smith Center in 1874, and came to Norton county in 1900, where he has practiced his profession of dentistry since that time. He is the father of two children, Florence Elizabeth, born in 1905, and Charles Townsley, born in 1909. He is a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Odd Fellows. (page 60)

Miss Bess Alexander is a popular milliner of Norton, who was born in Anderson county, Kansas, coming to Norton in 1915 where she opened an up-to-date millinery store under the Norton Commercial Club rooms. She has been in the millinery business for five years. Miss Alexander is a member of the United Presbyterian church. (page 32)

A.Altman was born in 1886 at Keokuk, Iowa, and came to Norton county with his
father, Andrew Altman who homesteaded in the county and died here in 1889. Mr. Altman is a breeder of mules. (page 32)

H. D. [Harry] Archer was born in Norton county, and has lived here all his life. He is a member of the Free Methodist Church. [Densmore] (page 16)

Orth Arnold has followed the blacksmith trade for 22 years, working up and down the Burlington, he found Almena the best town on the road and came her April 5, 1909. Since that time he has bought the building he is in and equipped it with the most modern machinery and can handle any blacksmith work. (page 76)

J. H. Bailey was born in 1892 at Cannon [Canon?] City, Colorado, and came to Norton county in 1916. He is now in the milling business here and has made a success. Mr. Bailey was married in 1913 to Gladys Spencer. They are members of the Methodist Episcopal church. (page 83)

J. B. Bartels was born in Ohio in 1853 and came to this county in 1883. He has eight children and now lives on his farm near Almena. Mr. Bartels was the first blacksmith in Almena. (page 68)

George Bechtoldt, manager of the David Cole Creamery Company, was born in 1854 at Columbus, Ohio, and was married to Rachel Martin in 1874. To this union were born four children. He clerked in a hotel and restaurant in Mitchell county for ten years then went to Decatur county where he was on a ranch until 1911 when he came to Norton. He is a member of the Methodist church and the M.W.A. (page 82)

C. F. Behrent had done much to further the cause of better stock in Norton county. He was one of the foremost organizers of the Norton Improved Live Stock and Breeders Association, he is also a stockholder in the American Hereford Cattle Breeding Asso., the Nebraska Interstate Live Stock Assoc., and the Farmers Union. Mr. Behrent was born in 1883 in Riley county, Kansas and came to Norton county in 1906 and in 1907 was married to Bertha Colins, whose father homesteaded in the county in 1879, where he still lives. They have five children. Mr. Behrent raises only pure bred stock and his herd of Hereford cattle number 100, 35 of which are registered. A year ago Mr. Behrent bought what is considered to be one of the best and highest priced bulls ever brought to Norton county. Mr. Behrent is a member of the Lutheran church and of the Odd Fellows. (page 32)

S.L. Bennett was born in 1878 in Jackson county, Kansas and came to this county in 1905 and in 1907 he bought out the meat market of J.S. Bantam which he still runs. He is the father of two children, a member of the Odd Fellows, the K. of P. and the M.W.A. [Almena] (page 67)

J.C. Berger, the present city marshal of Norton, was born in 1864 at Luxinburg [Luxembourg], Germany, and came to the United States in 1866. He served on the Kansas City Fire Department for some time, and then came to Norton county in 1905, where he has served as watchman and city marshal, and is said to be one of the best marshals Norton has had for some time. Mr. Berger is a widower with two daughters, Agness and Matilda. The former is a trained nurse, the latter is in Kansas City. Mr. Berger is a member of the Catholic church, the Knights of Columbus and the Machees of the World. (page 87)

M. W. Bicknell was born in 1871 in Knox county, Indiana. Came to this county in 1911 and started a bakery, in which he is still engaged. (page 60)

W.A. [William] Birkholz came to Norton county with his father J.F. [John] Birkholz who homesteaded in Grant township in 1878 and is still living at Edmond. Mr. Birkholz Jr., was born at Fondulac [Fond du Lac], Wisconsin in 1871 and was married to Martha Suhr in 1892. They have one child, Ezra, who was born in 1894 and is in business with him at Edmond. Mr. Birkholz is a member of the U.B. church. [Edmond] (page 85)

J. L. Boner was born in Putnam county, Missouri in 1886, moving from there to Nodaway county and from there to Smith county, Kansas in the fall of 1879. He was married to Miss Rosa Claggett, a native of Missouri, in 1891 and to this union were born two children, Elsie, born in 1892, and Calvin, born in 1894. Elsie was married six years ago, Calvin is still at home. Mr. Boner has been a pure-bred hog and poultry breeder for years, having shown his hogs at some of the large fairs including Lincoln, Nebraska, Topeka, Kansas, Kansas City, Missouri, at the Royal, also Beloit and Norton. All of Mr. Boner's stock he has shown is his own breeding and developing. Mr. Boner has a string of ribbons won at the above named fairs that any one might be proud of. He has made a practice of never misrepresenting anything, believing it is better to lose a sale than misrepresent anything. When Mr. Boner came to Norton county he located one mile south of Lenora where he lived until last November when he purchased a small farm 1 1/2 miles southwest of Norton, where he now resides. (page 31)

A.A. Bower was born in 1868 in Gauga [Geauga?] county, Ohio, coming to Norton in 1884. In 1889 he married Miss Jennie Smith and they had two children. In 1913 he married May Whipple. (page 89)

Claud E. Bower was born in Norton in 1881.  In 1905 he was united in marriage with Miss Ethel Waters and to this union two children have been born. Mr. Bower has worked in the Furniture store of his father continuously. It was once said of him by his good mother, who has now passed away, that he was "mother's boy," always kind and helpful to her. (page 21)

H.J. Bower was born in Jefferson county, Nebraska, in 1873 and came to this county in 1879. He has been in the barber business since 1889 and now owns and runs a shop at Norton. In 1892 he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Rollins and they have three children, Med, born in 1894; Clarence, born in 1896, and Herbert, born in 1898. Mr. Bower is a member of the Masons, the M.W.A. and the Court of Honor. (page 61)

J. L. Bower was born in Estaubal [Ashtabula??] county, Ohio in 1849 and came to this county where he homesteaded four miles out of Norton. In 1872 Mr. Bower was married to Rosetta Armstrong and to this union three children were born, Harmon, now engaged in the barber business here, Carl, a clerk in the First National Bank, and Effie who died in 1905. Mr. Bower is serving his first term as probate judge, and was nominated in August for a second term. He has made a popular and efficient official. (page 17)

W.W. Boyd was born in 1844 at Boone, Indiana, and came to Osage Mission, Kansas in 1866, and to Norton county in 1896, settling at Edmond in 1905. In 1884 he married Maria Krouges. She died in 1912. They had no children. Mr. Boyd served three years and five months during the Civil War. [Edmond] (page 85)

W.C. Bracken was born in 1882 and came to Norton county in 1910. [Clayton] (page 98)

G.W. Bressler located here [Clayton] in 1899 and established a Hardware & Implement business, in which he continued for five years; was succeeded by Daugherty & Gregory. Later he established a real estate business in which he is engaged at this time. (page 97)

G.W. Bressler is one of the men who has made Clayton and Norton county what they are today. He was one of the first business men in Clayton and built the store where the Farmers Union now is. For years he has been one of the unassuming men who has done much for the community in his own quiet way, and supports any movement which tends to make the community better. Mr. Bressler was born in 1865, at Grant City, Mo. 
In 1885 he moved to Sheridan county where he lived until 1892, when he moved to Clayton. In 1899 he was united in marriage to Miss Mary VanSant, a Norton county girl, and to this union were born five children, three boys and two girls. Mr. Bressler was appointed postmaster at Clayton in 1902, a position he held for six years and then resigned so that he might devote more time to his real estate business. Within the last fifteen years land has increased in value over 300 per cent and only recently Mr. Bressler sold a piece of land for $30 per acre that had been bought for $7.00 per acre ten years ago. (page 99-100)

Mark Bridges was born in 1886 in this county. His father, M.H. Bridges, homesteaded in Harrison township and lives in Almena. Mr. Bridges has been in the postoffices at Norton and Colorado Springs, Colorado, for some time. In 1916 he bought out the insurance business of W.M. Weikert and has been successful in this. He married Nellie Harmonson and they have two children. Mr. Bridges is a member of the Masons. (page 96)

George W. Brooks, son of J.R. Brooks, was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, and came to Norton county in 1871. He was united in marriage to Miss Ellen Kirk, a Norton county girl, and three children were born to them. Mr. Brooks owns 700 acres of fine Norton county land. He is president of the Farmers Union at Clayton and a stockholder and director of the Clayton State Bank. (page 99)

Jacob R. Brooks came from Illinois in 1878, and homesteaded two miles north of Clayton, where he resided until 1915. He was an extensive and successful farmer; had always taken an active interest in Clayton; interested in the erection of the elevator known as the Brooks and Rule elevator. Later he became interested in the State Bank of Clayton, being a member of the board of directors, and president of the institution at the present time. (page 97)

J. R. Brooks is one of the leading men of Norton county, and has helped much in its development. He was born in 1846 in the state of Pennsylvania, and came to Norton county in 1878. Mr. Brooks was married in 1867 and ten children were to brighten the Brook�s home, eight of whom are living. The Brooks family own over 2,400 acres of rich farming land in Norton county. Mr. Brooks served 31 years as director of the school board in Dist. 71. He is at this time president of the Clayton State Bank. (page 99)

C.E. Brower was born in Iona, Michigan in 1879 and came to Norcatur in 1904 from Oregon. He is the father of one child, Howard, born in 1912. He is at the present time city treasurer and a member of the M.E. church, the Masons and the Eastern Star. (page 60)

B.G. Brown, the popular manager of Whiteker Bros. wholesale house, was born in Jackson county, Kansas in 1883. He worked at the main house of Whiteker Bros., in Topeka for eight years before coming to Norton to take charge here, in 1908. The same year he married Effie A. Snyder one of Topeka�s popular girls and they have three children, Marvin Glen, born in 1909; George Howard, born in 1910; and Elsie May, born in 1912. Mr. Brown is a member of the M.W.A., the Masons, the U.C.T. and the Kansas Fraternal Citizens. Whiteker Bros. is the only exclusive wholesale fruit house on the Rock Island between Topeka and Denver and they have earned, by courteous treatment the large patronage they now enjoy. (page 61)

Rev. U. S. Brown was born in Shelby, Ohio, February 27, 1864. Was educated in the Mansfield, Ohio public schools and Frazier College. He was private tutor in the language course of the college. He later engaged in the manufacture of furniture at Mansfield and New Richmond, Ohio, in which he continued until 1896 when he entered the ministry in the Cincinnatti [sic] Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He came to Kansas in 1899 and served Logan from 1889 to 1903; Smith Center from 1903 to 1907; was district superintendent of Ellsworth district from 1907 to 1913, and was pastor at Belleville from 1913 to 1915 when he came to Norton and took charge of the large church here.  Since coming to Kansas Rev. Brown has been active in church and college work having served as secretary of the Board of Trustees of the Kansas Wesleyan University for six years, was the first President of the Central Kansas Epworth League Institute. He has served as Secretary, and is now Treasurer of the Northwest Kansas Conference.
Rev. Brown is a tireless worker, a most thorough business man, as well as an excellent and well beloved pastor. His popularity is by no means confined to his own church or members; he is well liked by all the good folks of the town, and his help and friendship is extended to all deserving persons, regardless of creed. (page 33)

J. H. Browne was born in Ireland in 1858. He came to the United States in 1864, and to Norton county in 1879. Mr. Browne had charge of the mason work for the Missouri Pacific railroad from Atchinson to Lenora for seven years. Afterwards he held the same position with the Wabash railroad from 1886 until 1890. He then prospected for gold at Cripple Creek until 1893 when he went to work for M.F. Browne and Co. He worked for this concern until 1907 when he bought the store that he now owns. He married Miss Viola May Sheley in 1895 and three children have been born to this union � David, born in 1896, is now attending the Kansas State University; Marie, born in 1899, is attending the Norton County High School. Mr. Browne homesteaded six miles north of Norton and still owns the old homestead and has the original patent that was issued by the government. He is a member of the Catholic church, the Knights of Columbus, the K.P. and the M.W.A. (page 88)

D. F. Bruner, the present postmaster at Norton, was born in 1870 at Linn county, Iowa. In 1873 he came to Norton county with his father, Phillip Bruner, who homesteaded near Norton and died here in 1887. Mr. Bruner was married in 1902 to Lillie Waller who was born in St. Louis. They have two children � Paul, born in 1894, and Elithe, born in 1896. Mr. Bruner was land Inspector under Mr. Sawyer and was Register of Deeds one term and tied in the next election with Bert Boddy. To decide who was to receive the office they flipped dollars and Mr. Bruner lost. (page 82)

H. S. Bryant was born in 1865 in Martin county, Minnesota. He came to Norton county in 1909; farmed until 1911, when he went into the general mercantile business at Calvert. He has been postmaster at Calvert for five years and is well liked by all who know him. Mr. Bryant has also engaged in the real estate business to some extent. He is the father of six children; is a member of the Presbyterian church, the Royal Highlanders and Odd Fellows. It is such men as Mr. Bryant that have made and kept Calvert a church community from where little or no crime ever disturbs the peace, or menaces the people. (page 102)

R.L. Bullock, a real estate man of Norton, was born in 1888. Came to Norton in 1906. In 1910 he married Miss Mable Gray. They have one child James Lewis, born in 1912. Mr. Bullock is a member of the M.W.A. and has served as city assessor for three terms. (page 96)

Will R. Burr, the present owner of the Almena Plaindealer, is a hustling newspaper man and is giving Almena a newspaper in which she can well take pride. Mr. Burr was born in Sheridan county, Missouri, in 1869 and came to Almena in 1912. He has held several township offices. (page 67)

Amon Butler, one of the best sheriffs Norton County ever had, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio in 1839. He enlisted in Company E, 11th Missouri Volunteer Infantry, September 16, 1861, and was honorably discharged January 1, 1864, and the same day re-enlisted and was honorably discharged as First Sergeant November 30, 1865. Mr. Butler was in several important battles and numerous small ones. He was wounded at Corinth and Nashville. He married Phoeba Johnson, January 14, 1866 and they have five children. He was elected sheriff in 1885 and has served three terms, and at this constable at Norton. During his first two terms as sheriff he took more prisoners to the penitentiary than has been taken since that time, and it has been said of Mr. Butler that he never went after a man but that he brought him back. (page 11)

John R. Cameron established one of the first general stores in new Clayton. (page 97)

James M. Campbell was born in 1848 at Odena, Mo., coming to Norton county where he homesteaded. He was Captain of the State Militia in 1876. Mr. Campbell is the father of four children and still resides in Dellvale. (page 103)

W. S. Cannon was born in 1850 in Eastern Shore, Maryland. He came to Norton county at an early date when he purchased land for Cannon & Kennedy. He was admitted to the bar in Norton county in 1890 and has practiced law since that time. In politics Mr. Cannon is a democrat. He is a man of jovial kindly nature well liked by all who know him. (page 32)

W.H. Cargill was born in 1862 in Anderson, Illinois and came to Norton County in 1903. He is the father of nine children and a member of the M.W.A. (page 90)

B.W. Carr was born in 1867 at Decatur, Iowa and moved to Norton in 1878. He is the son of J.G. Carr, who settled in Norton county in 1878, and is still living at Holt, Mo. In 1888, B.W. Carr was married to Miss Erma Carson who was a native of Holt, Missouri. To this union were born eight children. Mr. Carr is serving his county as Register of Deeds at this time. He has made a good official and received the nomination of his party for another term. (page 89)

A. A. Castle came from Galesburg, Illinois and located on a homestead adjoining the town site. He resided there until 1894 when he moved to Clayton and established a livery and harness business in which he continued until 1908. He was at one time postmaster and wrote the first money order written in Clayton, and is the present assistant postmaster. (page 97)

A. A. Castle was born in Galesburg, Illinois, in 1863 and came to Norton county in 1883. In 1888 Mr. Castle was married to Pauline Muhlberger who was also born in Galesburg. They have two children, Forest, born in 1893 and Asa A., born in 1898. Mr. Castle is a member of the M.W.A. and owns 560 acres of Norton county land. [Clayton] (page 98)

Forest C. Castle, the postmaster of Clayton, was appointed in 1914. He was born in 1898 and received his education in the Clayton public and high schools. Mr. Castle is a fine example of Norton county�s younger generation of business men. He is always ready to help anything that will help Clayton, and we are indebted to him for much of the data we have from there. Without his assistance, and a few men like him, it would have been impossible to give even the small amount of Clayton history that we do. (page 98)

F. J. Castle and Dr. Thomas came from old Clayton and built the first store building and stocked it with drugs and hardware, continuing in the business for a number of years. Both moved to Norcatur. Dr. Thomas was the first physician in old and new Clayton, and at the present time is located at Calvert. (page 97)

W. H. Chappel was born at Stusberry, Missouri in 1874 and came to Norton county in 1906. Mr. Chappel was married to Miss Winifred Ambrose, and to this union have been born four children. He is a member of the Masonic lodge. (page 82)

A. Charne was born in 1882 in Russia. He came to Norton county in 1916. He is at present in the cleaning and pressing business at Norton, in the rear of the Clothery. (page 83)

George N. Cheeseman was born in 1849 in England. He came to this county in 1874 where he homesteaded in Modell township. In 1873 Mr. Cheeseman was married to Miss Addie Gilder and to this union six children were born. Mr. Cheeseman is a member of the Church of God and of the A.O.U.W. He owns 320 acres of rich farm land and is now retired and lives in Norton. He is always willing to help in anything that is for the benefit of the county and we have reason to know of this for Mr. Cheeseman has helped us in the matter of data for this historical edition. He has given us much of the data from the Solomon valley. (page 88)

C. W. Cole was born in 1877 at Ravenswood, W. Va. He came to Norton in 1903. In 1904 he married Miss Maud Daggett of Phillipsburg. They have had three children. His is a member of the Masonic lodge, and at present is practicing medicine here. (page 29)

A.B. Conkey was born in 1856 at Mercer, Illinois, and came to the county in 1877. His father Chester Conkey, came to the county in 1876 and died here in 1891. Mr. Conkey, Jr., homesteaded one and one-half miles northwest of Edmond. He is the father of six children. (page 85)

M. A. Conklin was born in Adrian county, Michigan. He came to Norton county in 1904. Before coming here Mr. Conklin held the office of County Treasurer of Decatur county. Serving in this capacity for four years. He is now the Democratic nominee for County Treasurer of Norton county. He was married in 1871 and is the father of four children. He is a member of the Baptist church and the Odd Fellows lodge. He is auditor of the Farmer's Union at this time. (page 18)

W.S. Conner has served as station agent at Clayton for over twenty years, coming to the county in 1889. He was born at Warrensburg, Missouri in 1867 and was married in 1888. To this union were born four children. Mr. Conner is Justice of the Peace and serves as Police Judge and Clerk of the School Board at Clayton. He is a member of the M.W.A. (page 99)

C.F. Conrad was born in 1855 in Grant county, Kentucky and came to Norton countyin 1887 where he has worked at the carpenter trade since. He is the father of four children, a member of the Christian church and the Odd Fellows. (page 83)

Floyd Cope was born in 1880 in Norton County. In 1904 he married Delilah Allison, and they have two children; Hall, born in December 1904 and Laurance, born in 1913. He entered in the garage business with his brother Hall Cope, in 1914. Hall is a successful business man and at this time is studying at Manhattan. (page 96)

J. P. Coy, a popular barber of Norton, was born in 1886 in Keytesville, Missouri, and came to this county in 1915. He is married and the father of one child. Mr. Coy is a member of the Baptist church, the Odd Fellows and the M.W.A. He has a fine business here and gives close attention to it. Before coming to Norton, Mr. Coy served four years, from 1906 to 1910 in the Navy near Asiatic stations, and while in the navy he visited many of the large cities of the world and became familiar with many odd customs of different people. (page 21)

E. C. Craige was born in Thomas county in 1886. Came to Norton in 1909, where he has been in the automobile business since that time. He is an energetic good roads booster, and a member of the M.W.A. (page 87)

Geore [George?] Cramer was born in Ohio in the year 1865 and came to Clayton in 1904. He is in the restaurant business at this time. (page 99)

Dr. P. F. Cutshaw, a dentist who has but recently opened dental parlors in Norton, was born in 1888 in Jamestown, Kansas. He attended the Concordia high school and is a graduate of the Kansas City Dental college. Before studying for the profession, Mr. Cutshaw was in the experimental department of the International Harvester Company and traveled in South America, and all through Europe. He is a progressive professional man and will undoubtedly have a large practice here when he is known and established. He is a member of the Delta Sigma Delta. (page 29)

E. Darling was born in 1871 in McDonough county, Illinois, and in 1879 he came to Norton county. In 1896 he was married to Minnie Bronson, a Norton county girl, who passed away in 1915. The husband has two sons to cheer him. They live on a farm south of Norton. (page 87)

A. W. Davis came to Almena 13 years ago. He is in the Furniture business and has learned it from top to bottom. He is also a licensed undertaker. (page 67)

A. W. Day, manager of the Central Grain Elevator of Norton, was born in 1889, in Jewell county, and came here in 1915. Mr. Day married Mabel Morrill and they have one child, Joyce born in 1915. (page 61)

The present cashier of the First National Bank at Edmond, Mr. Roy Deever, was born in 1889 in Kansas. He served as cashier of the Berryton State Bank at Berryton, Kansas and held the same position in a bank at Abilene before coming to Edmond. Mr. Deever was married in 1910 to Miss Glessie Burton, a popular Topeka girl. They are members of the United Brethren Church, and he is a member of the Masonic lodge. (page 86)

John Deimer built the first residence in New Clayton; was the first section boss, which position he held until 1898 when his son, Charley succeeded him. Mr. Diemer lived a retired life until his death in 1907. His wife still resides at Clayton. (page 97)

Jonas Delp came to the Solomon Valley in an early day where he homesteaded. He still lives near Edmond on the old homestead. (page 85)

H. A. Dey was born in 1862 in Brighton, Iowa, and came to Norton county with his father, L.C. Dey, in 1878. Mr. Dey Sr. is now living in Squim, Washington. H.A. Dey has been in the livery business at Norton since 1902. In 1891 he married Nettie B. Mason and two children have been born to them, Ethel, born in 1894 and Vollie, born in 1902. Mr. Dey has always been a popular man among his fellows and is well liked. (page 60)

William Duff was born in 1874 at Kirwin, Kansas and came to Norton county in 1913 where he has been engaged in the general store business since that time. In 1905 he was married to Miss Mable Bottomly, a Smith county girl. [Almena, maybe] (page 76)

Andrew Dyatt was born in 1860 in Canada and moved with his father to Illinois in 1862. In 1877 he moved to Nebraska, where he was in the horse sale business and afterwards engaged in the mining business as manager of some of the largest mines in Leadville, Colorado. In 1896 Mr. Dyatt moved to Norton county, afterwards organizing the Merchants State Bank, and he is at this time president of the First National Bank. He married Miss Olive Burnap in 1900 and they have two boys. He is a large land owner, haivng [sic] 1200 acres in the county besides eastern land. He is a member of the Masonic lodge. [Almena] (page 73)

W. H. Dufford, the pioneer broom corn raiser and broom maker of Northwest Kansas settled in Decatur county in 1884. He farmed and raised broom corn until 1913 when he selected Norton as the best place to start a broom factory and to school his children. He is the father of six and they all attend Norton schools. Mr. Dufford manufactures brooms for the wholesale trade and all of his corn is grown in and around Norton county and an industry of this kind should be patronized by Norton people as far as possible; and it is, for he has a very nice business at the present time and is looking forward to the time when he can enlarge the business. (page 83)

W.A. and Allison Eakin located here [Clayton] in 1903, succeeding M. E.. Nelson & Son, in the mercantile business. He erected the first cement store building, which was occupied until 1912 when it was destroyed by fire. Later rebuilt and now occupied by Eakin Bros. as a general store. (page 97)

Eakin Bros., who own the pioneer store, have had a leading part in the development and growth of Clayton. The store was opened in July 1903 and since that time they have opened two other stores, one at Jennings and one at Dresden. The store at Clayton has been robbed eight times and in 1913 was burned to the ground, but before the walls had fallen Mr. W.A. Eakin had wired for goods and the next day was up and doing business again. Clayton is fortunate in having such a man as W. A.. Eakin for a merchant. He was born in Knuckells [Nuckolls] county, Nebraska, in 1877 and in 1900 was united in marriage to Miss Myrtle Milner, a native of Webster county, Nebraska. In the eight years that Eakin Bros. have been in business in Clayton they have had twenty-three competitors. When this county had seven successive dry years Mr. Eakin carried the worthy farmers who asked assistance and he is deserving of the good business that he now has. (page 100)

O. P.. Ecord located here [Clayton] in 1909, successor to F.M. Gallatin. Was the proprietor of the R.R. hotel. Later purchased the drug business in which he continued until 1915. (page 97)

Carl G. Eddy, general agent for Bank Savings Life Insurance Co., of Topeka, maintains an office in Oronoque. Mr. Eddy is one of the leading life insurance men of northwest Kansas, and produces a large volume of business in this section of the state. He is in charge of a number of counties and divides his time between them, devoting about on week each month to his Oronoque office. (page 103)

R.C. Elrod, one of Norton�s most popular and successful merchants, was born in 1860 in Tennessee. Came to Norton in 1903 where he has been in business since that time, starting with the Norton Mercantile Company, when they dissolved he started the present Ladies Furnishing store, known as Elrod�s Quality Store, with Frank Palmer as partner. Mr. Elrod has made good in Norton and the store is today one of the most completely stocked in the county. In 1890 Mr. Elrod married Delia Ackley of Oberlin. Mr. Elrod is a member of the Baptist church, the M.W.A., the A.O.U.W. and the K.P. (page 82)

J.E. Erwin, the present manager of Bowers Tavern, was born in 1876 in Louisa County, Iowa. He came to this county in 1897 and traveled for the Armour Company until 1908. In 1914 he took charge of the hotel. In 1905 he was united in marriage with Miss Ida Strayer, a Norton county girl. Mr. Erwin is a popular and progressive business man. (page 82)

Miss Vernie Fawcett was born in Decatur County near Jennings and came to Norton in 1906. She is a graduate of the business course of the Norton County High School of the Class of 1910, and was editor of the High School paper. She studied law in the office of Robert Hemphill and was admitted to the bar in 1913. She was court reporter at Norton for a short while and at this time is City Attorney and Clerk of Norton, being appointed to both of these offices in 1915. She is a member of the M. E. Church and the Eastern Star. (page 12)

James Fawver was born in Phillips county in 1887 and came to Norton in 1905. He and his father, Sam Fawver, who still lives seven miles south of Almena was in the feed business until 1909 and in 1914 Mr. Fawver started in the shoe and gents furnishing business in which he has been successful. In 1908 he was married to Miss Lydia Bard. He is a member of the M.W.A. (page 87)

J. L. Fearing has been in Almena for two years, and filled a long-felt want when he opened up a photograph studio here. Before coming to Almena Mr. Fearing was at Mankato for seventeen years. He was born in Iowa in 1874 and in 1897 he married Opha Dazey of Mankato. They have four children, two boys and two girls. Mr. Fearing has a nice trade in the county, and his work justifies it. He is not only a good business man but a hustler and a booster for Almena. (page 67)

Born in 1872 at Green Bay, Wisconsin, B. Feldhausen came to Norton in 1906, but he has been in Kansas since 1878. Mr. and Mrs. Feldhausen run a general store at Edmond. They were married in 1903 and have one child, Mildred, who was born in 1906. Mrs. Feldhausen was born in Kansas. They have been successful in a financial way and own over 200 acres of land adjoining Edmond, besides the store and town property. (page 85)

D. [David] Ferris was born in Ireland in 1849, and came to the United States in 1865, settling in Norton county in 1881. He has four children and is a member of the Catholic church and the M.W.A. Mr. Ferris has worked for the Missouri Pacific for nearly forty years and at present is section foreman at Edmond. (page 86)

Asa Flanagin, veterinarian at Norton is a graduate of Manhattan College and came to the county in 1916 where he entered into partnership with Dr. W. H. Marshall, and they have an excellent and successful practice. (page 29)

B. P. Fleming was born in 1879 in Pennsylvania and came to Norton in 1888. He worked in the livery barn of C.W. Posson, and four years later bought him out and has run a livery since that time. He is a good business man and well liked. He married Cathrine Fox and they have four children, Jessie, born in 1898, Anna, born in 1899, Marie, born in 1901 and Helen, born in 1905. Mr. Fleming is a member of the Catholic church and the Knights of Columbus. (page 65)

A. O. Flock who has recently opened a restaurant in Almena, was born in 1870 in Iowa and came to the county in 1909 where he worked for Howe�s drug store until 1916. (page 67)

A. C. Foley was born in 1854 in Davis county, Missouri, came to Norton county in 1890, where he farmed until 1896 when he was elected to the legislature, where he made a creditable record. Mr. Foley married Miss Maggie Weaver, and to this union six children were born, four of whom are still living, three boys - David, Winnie and John are among Norton county's prosperous farmers and stockraisers, and Mable, one of the Norton popular teachers, now teaching in the city schools of Chicago. Mr. Foley is a member of the Baptist church, served seven years as director and two years as president of the County Sunday School Association. He is also a member of the Odd Fellows. (page 17)

G.W. Folsom came here from Achilles [Rawlins County, Kansas??] in 1904 and was successor to the Eakin mercantile Co., in which he continued for sometime, then organized the State Bank of which he was cashier. (page 97)

Fred E. Foote was born in 1858 in Cleveland, Ohio. He came to Norton county in 1873. He has had 21 years experience as engineer, both in the field and the office. He is at present county surveyor. (page 29)

S. F. Fordice was born in Washington county, Iowa in 1876. Came to Norton county in 1904. He raises Belgian and Percheron horses. (page 32)

Forest Fought was born in Henderson county, Illinois in 1884. He came to this county in 1885. He has been in the blacksmith business at Oronoque and in 1913 with his father George Fought , he started a garage at Oronoque. In 1915 Mr. Fought was married to Miss Frankie Davis, and one child has been born to them. Mr. Fought is a member of the Odd Fellows. (page 33)

George Fought was born in 1855 in West Va. and came to Norton county in 1885. He is the fourth of six children. He farmed until 1913 when he and his son, F. C. Fought, started a garage. (page 29)

E. E. Foy, owner of the suitatorium. Mr. Foy has been in the dry cleaning business for the past five years, coming here from Dallas, Texas, where he was widely known and successful. The suitatorium has a large amount of business from in and around Calvert, Long Island, Prairie View and Selden. (page 72)

F. C. Fulcrut, an unassuming but successful business man of Norton, was born in 1861 at Goodyear, Minnesota, and came to Norton County in 1885. He farmed for one year, and was clerk in a store for six years. In 1892 he entered the dry goods and shoe business and has continued in this since that time. He married Minnie Davies in 1892 and they have one child, Vernon D., born in 1896. He is now attending Lawrence University. Mr. Fulcrut is a member of the Episcopal Church, the Masonic lodge and the M. W. A. (page 11) 

F.M. Gallatin located here [Clayton] in 1905, building the present livery barn. At one time he was a stock holder of the bank, at the present time he is a successful farmer. (page 97)

One of the most widely known men in Norton county and a consistent worker for the public good, M. F. Garrity, was born in 1856 in Jones county, Iowa, where he farmed until 1886 when he came to Norton county and went into the hardware business with Henry Milz. In 1890 he bought Mr. Milz out and continued in the business until 1903, when the Norton Mercantile was organized and he became a member of the firm. When this company was dissolved in 1913 he and his brother-in-law, E. P. Mansfield started the present hardware store of Garrity & Mansfield. Mr. Garrity was married in 1872 to Miss Mary Mansfield. To this union were born two children, May, born in 1873, now Mrs. George Wilcomb, resides on a ranch in Idaho; Clara, who passed away in her infancy. Mrs. Garrity died in 1886. Mr. Garrity has never spared [aspired?] to any public or political office but has held almost every non-paying office that the city could bestow upon him, and in all he has served willingly and faithfully, doing the community service and himself credit. Mr. Garrity was president and secretary of the Norton county Agricultural Association, holding one or the other of these offices for thirteen consecutive years. He has served as mayor different terms, and on the city council many times. (page 88)

The Central Grain Elevator [Oronoque] is managed by H. H.Gausman, who is an experienced grain man having had charge of an elevator at Kildreth [Hildreth?], Nebraska, before coming here, and he is sure to make good with this old elevator. (page 103)

Emery Gay was born in 1858 in Michigan and came to Norton county in 1890. He is a carpenter by trade. Mrs. Gay has been in the millinery business since coming to Norton, and has, while raising a family of six children, kept and personally conducted one of the best and most up-to-date milliner stores in Norton. Mr. Gay is a member of the Masonic lodge. (page 14)

Charles Geiser was born in 1882 in Pueblo, Colorado. He is the father of one child, Charles, born in 1911. He is a plumber of wide experience having spent 20 years at his trade in the United States and in Canada. He was at one time city plumbing inspector at Lander, Wyo. and while in this office he did good work. Mr. Geiser has opened the only exclusive plumbing and heating establishment in Norton county. He is a good business man and a valuable asset to Norton, coming here in 1915. He is a member of the Catholic church and Knights of Columbus. (page 34)

J. Geraghty was born in 1886 in Center township. His father Joseph Geraghty, homesteaded in Center township and still lives at Norton. Mr. Geraghty married Rose Dempewolf and they have three children. He is a member of the Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus, the A. O. U. W. and the Knights and Ladies of Security. In August, 19196, Mr. Geraghty bought out Tom Ward and now owns and runs the suitatorium. (page 11)

H. E. Gilbert, manager of the Farmers Co-Operative Mercantile and grain Association [Clayton], has made a success of this institution, which was only organized in June 1916, and it has already shown a nice profit, and increased in membership until it now has in the neighborhood of 100 members, with a capital of $7,000.00. The officers are: George Brooks, President; E.P. VanSant, Vice president; W.H. Deiterich, Secretary and Treasurer. The directors are: W.M. Gallentine, I.P. Moore, W.H. Deiterich, Fred Gugleman, E.P. VanSant, Harry Hager, George Brooks, Albert Kirk, Albert Schoen. (page 100)

James W. Gleason was born in 1875 in Des Moines, Iowa. He came with his father, John Gleason to Norton county in 1879. In 1901 Mr. Gleason was united in marriage to Miss Lulu Fraser and to this union have been born four children, Lawrence Fraser, born in 1910; Cathrine Elizabeth, born in 1911; Burnadette Alvira, born in 1913; and Mary Geraldine, born in 1914. Mr. Gleason ventured into the Implement business at Norton in 1906 with W. H. Marsh. He is a member of the Catholic church and the Knights of Columbus. He has just recently purchased a handsome brick residence in south Norton, only about three blocks from his place of business and around this home he may be said to weave the love and loyalty of a true husband and father, while at his office he is a wide awake business man. (page 18)

J. E. Gleason, one of the influential men of Norton, was born in 1870, at Bevington, Iowa and came to Norton county in 1878 where he taught school from 1887 until he was elected Clerk of the Court in 1901. He afterward entered into the Implement business and continued in this until 1906 when he became cashier of the First State Bank and this position he has held since that time. He was married to Miss Elizabeth Heiny. They have two children, Hugs, born in 1894, is now bookkeeper at the bank, and Leo, born in 1895 is now clerking in Garrity & Mansfield�s store. Mr. Gleason is a member of the Catholic church, and the Knights of Columbus. (page 87)

John Gleason was born in 1836 and came to Norton in 1878 where he homesteaded five miles north of Norton. Mr. Gleason still resides on the old homestead. (page 14)

J. L. Gordon was born in 1868 at Holt county, Missouri and came to Kansas in 1877 and has lived in the state since that time. His father, a Civil War veteran, died when the son was but a small boy, and his mother with the help of her three children proved up on the homestead. She never remarried. Mr. Gordon came to Norton in 1897 where he farmed until 1914 when he was put in charge of the cream and produce department of the Farmers Union. He is the present Democratic nominee for county clerk. His is a tireless worker and a conscientous [sic] business man of unassuming character. (page 29)

John Gowdy was born in Norton county in 1879, came to Almena and was appointed city marshall in 1916. He is a son of Edward Gowdy who is still living at Almena. John Gowdy was married in 1905 to Miss Alta Churchill, a Norton county girl, and they have three children. He is a member of the Odd Fellows. (page 73)

R. B. Graves was born in 1877 in Ohio and came with his father to Norton county in 1879. He married Clara Dyer in 1915. Mr. Graves served as Register of Deeds from 1907 until 1911. He has taken over the business of his brother-in-law G. G. Guthrie. (page 89)

W. J. Gray is one of the influential men whose lives have become an essential part of the development of Norton county. He was born in 1866 at Greenwood, Minnesota, and came to Norton county in 1885, living here for three years after which time he left, being gone for 13 years. In 1898 he returned and entered in the real estate business, in which he has been very successful. In 1883 Mr. Gray married Elva E. Lewelling and they have two children, Mable, born in 1890, married Roy Bullock who is now Mr. Gray�s partner, and Leroy, born in 1886, is now a baker in the state of Washington. Besides the real estate business Mr. Gray farms quite extensively and always has from 50 to 100 head of cattle on the ranch. While a member of no church, Mr. Gray supports any church movement and in fact anything that tends toward the development of the city of Norton and the county. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and the ancient Order of United Workmen. (page 33)

Dr. S. L. Green, who was engaged in the drug business at Leota, came to the county in 1874. He was Master of the Masonic lodge in Leota and was elected to the legislature in 1875. (page 103)

W. T. Green was born in Marshall county, Kansas, in 1882 and came to Norton county in 1916 where he entered in the real estate business and has been very successful in this. In 1908 he married Miss Grace Kidder and they have two children, Gerald, born in 1909 and Gilbert, born in 1911. Mr. Green is a member of the M.W.A. and Mrs. Green is a member of the A.O.U.W. (page 60)

H. C. Greenlee was born in Pickering, Missouri, in 1898. Came to Norton county in 1915. Mr. Greenlee was married in 1909, and is the father of one child, Harlie, who was born in 1914. [Clayton] (page 99)

A. L. Griffin was born in 1883 at Belleville, Kansas, where he was in the lumber business for nine years before coming to Norton county in 1911. He has charge of the Foster Lumber yards here at this time. He is a member of the Masons and the B.P.O.E. (page 93)

C. I. Griffith was born in Summerset county, Penn. Came to this county with his father in 1885. In 1895 he was married to Miss Minnie Gross, of Macon, Illinois. They have two children, Floyd, born in 1900 and Lena, born in 1902. They are members of the Christian church. Mr. Griffith is a member of the Masons, the M. W. A. He served on term as county clerk. He owns 840 acres of farm land and some city property. (page 19)

W. E. Griffith, prominent stockman of Clayton, was born in 1859 at Clarksburg, West Virginia. Came to this county in 1890. He is a raiser of Percheron horses and Jersey cattle and this year at the Norton county fair he won the following prizes: second and third on team of mares. First, second and third foals at side. First, second and third, sucking coalts [sic]. First on three year old filly. Out of an exhibit of ten head he won nine ribbons. (page 32)

H. H. Grove, a typical western grain man, is the new manager of the Central Grain Company�s elevator. Before coming to Almena Mr. Grove had charge of an elevator at Oronoque. With the experience that he has had he is fully capable of handling this elevator which in the 35 years it has been built has had several different managers, all of whom are well remembered, and we know that Mr. Grove will keep this old elevator in the path of success. (page 67)

G. Gugleman, one of the directors of the Farmers Union [Clayton] was born in Switzerland in 1882 and came to this country in 1892 and settled in Norton county in 1905 where he has farmed since that time. Mr. Gugleman was married in 1910 to Miss Lela Guiger, of Guide Rock, Nebraska. They have four children. He owns 160 acres of rich farm land in Norton county. (page 99)

G. G. Guthrie was born in Story county, Iowa, in 1875 and came to Norton county with his parents in 1884 where lived on a farm with them until 1899 when he opened a real estate and loan office. He married Miss Edna l. Graves in 1901 and three children were born to them, two of whom, Francis L. and Hayland Mynette, are still living. Lorene Marclyn having died in 1913. Mr. Guthrie passed away and was buried at Norton September 25, 1916.

Of G.G. Guthrie it can be safely and truthfully said, he was a man among men, a man with a keen sense of right and wrong, and adhered to the right to a marked degree; a true and loving husband; a kind and worthy father; a man square with his fellow men; a man who never went deeply enough into the slough of politics to become tainted with its slush. He was more than all this, he was a successful business man, on whom one could depend; he was an enthusiastic booster for every worthy enterprise of Norton and Norton county. He had a happy home and around this he wrapped his faith and love to the last. When we told him of the history, he gave us copy for an ad and encouragement in the project which he knew would be a good thing for his county, there was none of the knocker in his composition. And, although he passed away before the history was issued, we would have the readers of it know that he did his part, and gladly, in its publication; and it is with deepest regret and sorrow that we are compelled to chronicle in this history the death of G. G. Guthrie. (page 29)

A. P. Hagen has been in Norton county for the past ten years and is in the confectionary (sic) business at Clayton. (page 101)

D. G. Hamilton, one of the foremost druggists in Western Kansas, was born in 1876 at Leavenworth and he came to Norton county in 1902. He has been in busines (sic) at Norton since that time. He now owns two stores here and a number of others over the state. He is also a stockholder in the Norton Telegram, a Democratic newspaper at Norton. He is the present chairman of the Democratic central committee. (page 93)

Lulu J. Hamilton, present Republican candidate for County Clerk, has filled the office of deputy clerk for the past three or four years. (page 83)

M. B. Hamilton was born in Phillips county in 1876. He came to Norton county in 1909. He was a traveling salesman for four years and in 1914, he retired from the road and engaged in the grocery business in which business he is still engaged, being partner in the Antelope Grocery and Meat Market, which has a fine trade that is increasing steadily. Mr. Hamilton was united in marriage in 1906 with Miss Hannah Lutz, and to this union have been born two children, Raymond, born in 1907 and Frank, born in 1913. Mr. Hamilton is a member of the Masonic lodge, and one of those genial good natured men whom it is a pleasure to meet. (page 89)

N. Hamilton was born in 1891 in Casey, Iowa, and came to this county in 1916 where he is engaged in the real estate business. Mr. Hamilton is an experienced real estate and insurance man and a fine addition to Norton county�s real estate men. [Almena] (page 67)

H. E. Harmonson was born in 1885 in Norton county. His father, A.H. Harmonson homesteaded in the county. In 1907 Mr. Harmonson was united in marriage with Miss Mildred Rickey and to this union were born two children, Geraldine, born in 1909, and Jack, born in 1913. In 1913, Mr. Harmonson bought out the grocery store of the B.W. Harmonson grocery company, and today has an up-to-date store with electric grinders to do the tiresome work of grinding the coffee and meats, and without keeping the customers waiting for the slower process of hand work. Recently Mr. Harmonson has installed a new counter which is entirely sanitary in every way and also dust proof. Mr. Harmonson is a member of the Baptist church, the Masons, and the A.O.U.W. (page 88)

Dan Hart was born at Morrow Co., Ohio, in 1885 (sic). He came to Norton county in 1885 where he homesteaded in Solomon township. He taught school for six years and was elected clerk of the court in 1890 which office he held for two terms. Mr. Hart represented this district in the legislature in 1894-95 and was reelected in 1896. He was a member of the state Senate, being elected in 1897 and in 1901. He is a stock raiser and farmer at the present time. He is the father of five children. (page 93)

Will Hart, one of Norton�s leading business men, was born in 1881 in Morrow county and came to this county with his father, Dan Hart, in 1885. He taught school for ten terms in the county and at the present time is in the Implement business, having purchased the Knapp Bros. store in 1915. In 1905 Mr. Hart was married to Miss Ethel White whose father C.W. White was an old settler here, and now resides at Blesing (sic), Texas. In 1912, Mr. Hart ran for county clerk defeated at the primaries by Arthur Saum. He is a member of the Sons and Daughters of Justice and the father of five children. (page 93)

J. P. Hawley was born in Cedar county, Iowa and came to Norcatur in 1916 from Denver where he was a telegraph operator. He is the jather of six children, a member of the Quaker church and the Masons. Mr. Hawley is now engaged in the jewelry business at Norcatur. (page 60)

Fred S. Hazelton with his wife and little daughter came to Norton in 1886, and soon after engaged in the abstract and loan business in connection with Mr. L. H. Wilder. He was cashier of the First National Bank for a number of years also mayor of Norton for two terms beginning in 1889. Was appointed postmaster in 1907 and continued for eight years. His wife Ella Q. Hazelton has been prominently identified with the Woman's Club work both in the district and state for a number of years. Their daughter Edna is now Mrs. Clark Bush and resides in Ashland, Oregon. They have a son also, Sydney, twenty years of age, who is at present attending the State Agricultural College in California. (page 29)

Born in 1864 in Harrison county, Ohio, C. L. Hazlett came to the county in 1890 where he farmed until 1915 when he bought the hotel at Edmond from John Izer. Mr. Hazlett married Leah Williams, an Ohio girl, in 1892, and they have four children. He is a member of the Christian church and belongs to the Sons and Daughters of Justice. [Edmond] (page 86)

Mr. E. Hazlett, father of C. L. Hazlett, was born in 1840 in Ohio and came to this county in 1886 where he died in 1915. [Edmond] (page 85)

Clark Heath came to Norton county in 1883. He died in 1909. His wife, Miss Emma Sweely, homesteaded in Norton county in 1879 and is now Mrs. Lou Havelin and still resides here. (page 10)

T. M. Heaton was born in Norton in 1885. In 1908 he was united in Marriage to Miss Gertrude N. Graves and two children have been born to this union; Elmen, born in 1911 and Robert, born in 1914. Mr. Heaton purchased the J. F. Worley Bottling Works in 1903 and has been in that business since that time. He is a member of the Masons and the U. C. T. His brother, W. H. Heaton was born in 1885 in Norton. He married Miss Alta Hemphill, and in 1906 went to Emporia where he has since worked for the Santa Fe R. R. Another brother, Jester M., was born in Norton in 1884. He was married to Miss Hart. Later he married the daughter of J. M. Simpson and is low living at Concordia. The sister, Miss Josie Heaton was born in 1884, in Norton. She is now Mrs. Alvin Kimmell and resides at Rivera, Texas. Mr. Kimmell is engaged in the implement business. (page 11)

B. Hinsdell was born in 1856, and came to this county in 1893, and has been in business here since that time. He was mayor of Norton one term, and police judge for three years. (page 93)

G. V. Hixon, born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, in 1870, came to Norton county in 1889 and was married to Pheobe Gallentine, a Decatur county girl. They have tow children, Louis T., born in 1899 and Carl E., born in 1902. Mr. Hixon is cashier of the State Bank of Clayton. (page 101)

L. B. Hixon, known as �Daddy Hixon�, came from Northwestern Illinois in 1889 and built a residence and a blacksmith shop which he conducted until 1899. At this time he is living a retired life. [Clayton] (page 97)

H. M. Hobart was born in 1856 at Braintree, Mass. He is at this time steward of the commercial club at Norton. (page 61)

J. C. Hodgen was born at Clayton in 1894. His father J. R. Hodgen came from Iowa and settled in Norton county in the early days. Mr. Hodgen was a member of the National Guards of Kansas for four years and attained the rank of first Lieutenant. He has been away for some time but has come back to live in the best county in the best state in the Union. (page 99)

Maud Hollenshead, the present Republican nominee for county treasurer for the short term, was born in Iowa, and came to Norton in 1880. She was depty [sic] treasurer and has been in the office for 12 years. She is a member of the Eastern Star, and the Methodist church. (page 83)

W. H. Hollenshead was born in 1842, in Marion county, Ohio, and came to Norton county in 1879, where he homesteaded in Nobel [Noble] township. Mr. Hollenshead is the father of six children. He served this county as Representative in 1885 and in 1886 and made a good record. He also served this county as Treasurer for two years. Mr. Hollenshead is a good clean man of unquestioned character and a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, the G.A.R., the Masonic Lodge and the A.O.U.W. He is at present engaged in the Insurance business in Norton.

R. A. Holmes was born in Jefferson county, Iowa in 1868 and came to Norton county in 1879 where his father, John Holmes, homesteaded near Almena. John Holmes, was a veteran of the Civil War and died in 1906. R. A. Holmes farmed until 1904 when he moved to Norton and became janitor of the Court House, a position he held until 1914, when he was elected Clerk of the Court, a position which he has filled effectively and dutifully and this year was nominated for re-election. In 1888 he was married to Miss Maggie Campbell, a Keokuk Co., Iowa girl, and who assists her husband in the office work. They have three children, Joy V., born in 1892; Harold, born in 1898; and Edward, born in 1903. Joy is employed by the Rock Island at Goodland and the two younger boys reside at home and attend the Norton schools. Mr. Holmes is a Mason and an Odd Fellow. (page 17)

G. W. Houghton was born in 1820 in Manchester, England, and came to this country in 1848 and settled at Long Branch, N.J. Afterwards moving to Norton county in 1889. It took Mr. Houghton six weeks and four days to cross the ocean. Mr. Houghton died in 1900, and was missed because of his amiable ways. (page 87)

W. Houghton was born in 1863 at Long Branch, N.J. He came to this county in 1892, where he engaged in the tailoring business, of which he has made a big success, and has built up a nice trade in Norton and surrounding country. He was married in 1889 and to this union was born one child, a daughter, who now resides with her grandparents in Iowa. His wife died in 1894 and in 1903 he married Miss Ella Perkins of Kirwin, who was the first white child born in Phillips county. They have one child, a son, Lyman. Mr. Houghton is a member of the Masons, the U.C.T. and the K.P. lodge. He has just recently installed a new steam cleaning and pressing machine that is strictly up to date and makes his store well equipped for all things pertaining to the tailoring business. (page 19)

Henry Howard located here about 1890, was a grain buyer and run a hardware and grocery store under the firm name of Howard & Brooks. He moved from here to the Dunkard Colony, later to the state of Arkansaw (sic) where he died in 1912. (page 97)

D. T. Howell, owner of the Norton Dairy and member of the Norton Improved Live Stock and Breeders Association, was born in Dallas county, Iowa in 1855 and came to Norton county in 1878 where he homesteaded eight miles northwest of Norton. In 1885 he united in marriage with Miss Laura West, a Norton county girl, and they have six children. Mr. Howell is a member of the Odd Fellows, the M.W.A., and the Kansas Fraternal citizens. (page 32)

J. M. Howland was born in 1839 in Jefferson Co., New York, and homesteaded in Leota township, Norton county in 1879. In 1866 he married Helen Bidham and they have five children. Mr. Howland is a mason by trade. (page 60)

G. A. Huff was born in 1877 in Harrison county, Missouri, and came to Norton county in 1879 with his mother, Mrs. Huff who homesteaded in Crystal township and died in 1899. He is the father of three children and a member of the Odd Fellows. He is farming and stock raising at the present time.

J. H. Hurst, one of the early homesteaders of Norton county, was born in Andrews county, Mo., in 1845 and came to this county in 1878. He was elected probate judge in 1894 and served two terms. Mr. Hurst died in 1911. (page 93)

Mrs. R.D. Irwin, the present owner of the hardware store at Almena, has made a success of the business. She is the mother of two children � Howard, born in 1901 and Esther, born in 1902. She is a member of the Eastern Star. Mr. Irwin, her husband, a man well liked by all who knew him and a pioneer business man of Almena, died in 1906. (page 67)

Dr. G. M. Jaquiss was born in 1876 in Page county, Iowa. He came to Norton county in 1907. He was married in 1902 to Sadie Gillispie, who was born in Page county, Iowa. They have four children and are members of the Christian church. He is a graduate of the Norton county High School class of 1896, a graduate of Amity College in 1900 where he received the degree of bachelor of arts. He is also a doctor of osteopathy, having graduated from the Still College of Des Moines and studied for some time at the Electric Medical University. The doctor practiced in Kansas City until 1907 when he moved to Edmond. (page 85)

H. F. Jenkins was born in 1890 in Colorado Springs, [1-3 illegible words] came to Norton county in 1900 where he farmed until 1916 when he bought the Norton Caf� from Ray Clinkenbeard. He married Alta Williams, whose father, Richard Williams an old settler is still living near Norton. Mr. Jenkins is a member of the A.O.U.W. He is a restaurant man of six years experience and will make a success of the Norton Caf�. (page 89)

A. J. Johnson was born in Norton county in 1885. In 1908 Mr. Johnson was married to Miss Mary Schell, and he is now manager of the Chicago Lumber yard at this place. He is a member of the Masonic lodge and is president of the Norton Agricultural Association. (page 88)

H. A. Johnson was born in 1886 in Norton. He was united in marriage with Miss Grace Harmonson in 1915. He has been assistant cashier of the First State Bank for eight years and is a member of the board of directors. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Masonic lodge. (page 14)

Katie Johnson was born in Shelbyville, Indiana. She was elected to the office of county treasurer in 1897-1899-1906 and again in 1908. She is at the present acting as bookkeeper and manager in the office of C. G. Page. Miss Johnson made a most efficient Treasurer, was kind and pleasant to all as well as just in her business dealings. (page 33)

N. A. Johnson, one of the substantial business men of the county, was born in 1857, and came to Norton in 1878. He clerked in Close & Bruner�s store until 1884 when he went into the mercantile business and continued in thus until 1888 when he was elected Clerk of the Court. In 1889 Mr. Johnson entered into the monument business; a business in which he has been very successful. He married Della S. Curry, daughter of J.D. Curry, in 1880. They have one child living, Floyd, who is now attending school at Norton. Mrs. Johnson died in 1914. Mr. Johnson is a member of the Baptist Church, the M.W.A. and the Kansas Fraternal Citizens. (page 90)

S. M. Johnson was born in Rawlins county in 1886. He graduated from the schools of that county and entered the Kansas University from which he graduated in 1910, and the same year he was elected county attorney of that county and served the public well in that capacity. In 1915 he came to Norton and entered the law office of L. H. Thompson as Junior member. He is the present Democratic nominee for Lieutenant Governor and his host of friends here wish him success in his career, which is but just starting. (page 93)

C. D. Jones was born at Lafayette, Indiana in 1849, and later came to Norton county. He served as county atty. for three terms, state Representative for two terms, and was state commander of the G.A.R. (page 89)

Another prominent woman who has held state office and brought honor to Norton is Lucy Reed Jones. She was State President of the Women's Relief Corps during the years of 1893 and 1894. Mrs. Jones is a member of the Methodist church and is still active in W. R. C., Mission and church work, and is one of those women who may be said to have her heart in her work. (page 20)

J. A. Kauten, partner in the hardware store of Kauten & Woodward Hardware Co., was born in 1884 in Republic county, and came to this county in 1913. He is a member of the Odd Fellows. [Edmond] (page 85)

P. P. Keating, a popular real estate man of Norton, was born in Scranton, Penn. He came to Norton county in 1880. He married Miss Mary Graham. Mr. Keating traveled for the J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company until 1914 when he and M. B. Hamilton purchased a grocery and meat market. This business did not suit Mr. Keating, however, and in 1915 he sold out his interest to Mr. McMahon, and started up in the real estate business, in which he has been very successful, and is a good booster for Norton county. He is a member of the Catholic church, the Knights of Columbus and the United Commercial Travelers.

A. E. Keckley was born in Kirwin, Kansas. He came to Almena in 1892. In 1911 he married Bertha Schell of Goodland, and they have two children, Nodyne, born in 1912, and Bruce, born, 1914.  Mr. Keckley is a member of the Masons and has served on the city council for two terms. (page 76)

E. E. Keckley was born in 1861 and came to Almena in 1892, where he started a general store. He was married in 1884 to Lena Near and they have three children � Arthur is in business with his father at Almena; Earl is running his store at Selden, and Ferryl is going to school at Almena. Mr. Keckley has served as mayor of Almena for two terms and was one of the organizers and is the vice president of the State Bank of Almena. He is a member of the Masons and the A.O.U.W. (page 77)

Isaac Keener was born June 3, 1840, in Indiana county, Pennsylvania. He was a Civil War veteran. In 1878 he moved to Leota Township. In 1883 he was elected sheriff of Norton county, and in 1885 and 1893 he was appointed postmaster at Oronoque where he and his son Jacob were engaged in the mercantile business. Mr. Keener died at home of his daughter, Mrs. Lew Redd, in this city, in 1914, and was buried at Norcatur (page 103)

N. G. Kelly located here about 1904; succeeded Gregory & Daugherty in the Hardware business. Later purchased Daugherty�s interest. He is still in the hardware bsuiness under the name of N.G. Kelley & Co. He was the first mayor of Clayton, which office he still holds. (page 97)

C. E. Kennedy was born in 1873 in Clyde, Kansas, and came to this county in 1884. He was married to Miss Bertha Lyons in 1900 and they have two children, Jennie Mae, born in 1908 and Dorothy, born in 1910. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church, the M.W.A., the Kansas Fraternal Citizens and has served on the city council. He opened the first laundry in Norton county some years ago and still runs it. (page 61)

E. E. Kennedy was born in 1851 at Ballaidville, Mass. and came to this county in 1884.  He is the father of Chas. E., born in 1873. He has never aspired to any public office, and is a good citizen. He is a member of the M.W.A. and the A.O.U.W. (page 61)

Dr. F.D. Kennedy was born in 1890 in Des Moines, Iowa and came to Norton County in 1914. (page 93)

Albert Kidder was born in 1844 at Lowell, Mass., and came to Norton county in 1879 where he homesteaded eight miles south of Norton. He married Mary A. Powers and they have eight children. Mr. Kidder was a member of Co. A. First Nebraska Cavalry and served four years in the Civil War. He was a member of the Captain Jarvis Post G.A.R. and died in 1910. His widow still lives on the old homestead. (page 17)

Frank W. Kidder, a leading real estate man of this county, was born here and is a graduate of the public and high school of Norton. He also attended the State Agricultural College at Manhattan. Mr. Kidder was in the First National Bank at Edmond for some time and in 1910 and 1912 he was elected Register of Deeds which office he filled much to his own credit and the benefit of the county. In 1914 he engaged in the real estate business and since that time has succeeded and has been a booster for the county. (page 17)

Albert R. Kirk, a successful farmer and a man well met, was born in 1890 in Clayton township where he still resides. His father J. N. Kirk, homesteaded in Clayton township and still lives there. In 1913 Mr. Kirk married Edna Orchard and they have one child, born in 1915. He is a member of the United Brethren Church and has served as township clerk. (page 97)

J. W. Kissell was born in Livingston county, Illinois, in 1867. He located in Smith county where he served as Register of Deeds and was deputy treasurer. He also worked in the Smith County bank for a time. Mr. Kissell married in 1900 and is the father of one child, Jean born in 1906. Mr. Kissell came to Norton in 1912 and has been in politics since that time. He was appointed police judge and justice of the peace in 1915 and is still holding these offices besides being engaged in the real estate business. He is a member of the Odd Fellows and also of the Methodist Church. (page 93)

Carl LaRue, big friendly and genial, is the postmaster and proprietor of the general store at Oronoque, makes you feel at home as soon as you enter the store. Mr. LaRue was born in Illinois. In 1901 he was united in marriage to Miss Fanny Adams, who was born in Iowa. They have five children. Mr. LaRue has been in Norton county for nine years starting in the hardware and implement business and afterwards adding a line of groceries and drygoods. He held the office of township treasurer for four years, is a Modern Woodman and one of the leading business men of the county. (page 103)

W. M. LaSalle was born in 1882 at Wabash, Indiana, and came to the county in 1885 with his father, J. F. LaSalle who homesteaded seven miles northeast of Clayton. He moved back to Indiana in 1905 where he now lives. Mr. LaSalle Jr. runs the garage at Clayton at the present time. (page 98)

Dr. W. C. Lathrop was born in 1876 in Marion county, Iowa and came to Norton county in 1905. He is the father of four children, William, born in 1905; Elizabeth, born in 1906; Rosmary, 1909 and John, born in 1916.  Mr. Lathrop is a graduate of Coe College the medical department of the Iowa University and a graduate of the Illinois University. He practiced at Clarksville, Iowa, from 1902 to 1904 then took a post graduate course at the Illinois University. He is a member of the Masons. (page 32)

M. B. Lease was born in 1859 in Adrain [sic] county, Illinois, and came to Norton county in 1888 where he was in the meat and ice business until 1895 when he went into the implement business. Mr. Lease is the head of the Lease Implement Company. In 1895 he bought out the concern of D. M. Conway and by good business management has built up the store until today it stands high among the Implement stores of Kansas, and Mr. Lease is a very popular business man. A. R. Williams has been with the company since its organization. (page 29)

J.  W. Leeper, one of the prominent and prosperous stockmen and farmer, was born in Illinois in 1862 and came to Norton county 19 years ago. In 1893 he was united in marriage with Miss Jennie Evans of Glasglo [sic], Kentucky. Mr. Leeper is an Odd Fellow and a Mason. He has raised some of the best hogs in the state, and owned Tecumseh Hadley, the best sow that Kansas has ever had, being 99 per cent perfect. O's Wosder [sic] 1 1/2 years old, one of the hogs he now has, weighs 800 pounds and experienced hog raisers say he will reach 1100 or over by the time he is two years old. O's Wonder 73105 sired by King of all, sired by long Kings Equal 5370, Dam Mary Wonder 144701. Her Dam Wonder Jumbo the 4th sired by A Wonder 47460. Lady Jumbo first 111441. K's Jumbo is owned by Mr. Leeper and he will weigh over 900 pounds when in flesh. His number is 66677 and he was sired by Jumbo Pan 55846 sired by Nebraska Jumbo52793 Dam Maria Ex 109864 Dam Prospect 153358, Sire Osbern Perfection, the second 55052 Dam Big Prospect 136176. (page 32)

J. W. C. Leichliter came from Pennsylvania in 1883, and settled on the land which was a part of the old town of Clayton. He and his son built the first house in new Clayton. He was agent for the town company for a number of years. Later he moved to Clayton, built a residence and conducted a general store under the name of Leichliter & Son. (page 97)

J. W. Liggett, prominent stockman and member of the Norton Improved Live Stock and Breeding Association, was born in 1860 in St. Joseph Co., Indiana. In 1881 he came to Nebraska where he resided until 1895 and then moved to Gentry county, Mo. He resided there for six years when he moved again to Nebraska, where he lived until 1901 when he sold out and came to Norton county, and now lives near Almena. Mr. Liggett has been successful as a breeder of short horn cattle and Poland China hogs and this year took the following prizes at the Norton county fair. Second on herd bull, first on cow three years old and over, first on bull calf under one year, first and second on heifer under one year, and grand champion sweepstakes on calf herd regardless of breed or age. These were won on exhibits of 5 head. (page 31)

John Lix was born in 1875 at Tipton, Missouri. Came to Norton county in 1907. He was a stockholder in the Norton Mercantile Company, and had charge of the dry goods department. When this firm was dissolved and F. E. Kennedy started the Leader, Mr. Lix was put in charge of the store and this position he has held since that time and has made this store one of the largest in the county. In 1909 he was united in marriage with Miss Lizzie Holcomb, whose father was an early settler in the county. Mr. Lix is the father of two children and is a member of the Kansas Fraternal Citizens and the Knights and Ladies of Security. (page 93)

Frank M. Lockard was born in Ohio September 15, 1855. He came to Norton county in 1874 and has lived here continuously until a few years ago when he moved to Goodland, Kansas. Mr. Lockard taught school at Neighborville in the winters of 1874 and 1875.  In 1876 he began to carry U. S. mail, and continued in this until 1880, when he and Wm. Simpson went into the stock business.  They took another partner in 1882 and bought Indian ponies until 1884.  The same year on September 14, he married Rose A. Walter.  She died at Norton July 15, 1893.  They had four children.  Mr. Lockard was in the real estate business for two years and in 1890 he went into the mercantile business in which he continued until 1893.  He has always been a Republican and popular candidate for several offices.  He was elected to the state senate in 1888 and served four years.  In 1892 he was a candidate for congress but lost by a small margin.  He has served as chairman of the Republican county central committee for several terms and at this time is honored with this position in Sherman county.  He has at different times been a member of the state and congressional committee.  On April 16, 1894, he married Mrs. Isabelle Stainbrook.  Mr. Lockard published the first history of Norton county and it has become one of the most valued publications in the county. 

The News is indebted to Mr. Lockard for much of its data and the biographies of the early settlers who have gone to rest, leaving only what Mr. Lockard has written of them for posterity.
As friends pass away, the deeds they have done are forgotten except they are recorded in history. Mr. Lockard has done all in his power to help us, with a good work where a good word is needed, and a boost where a boost wherever he can. It is men of his type who have made Norton county remembered in history as no other county or community is remembered. (page 19)

Burdge D. Lofgreen, one of Norton's younger but successful business men, was born in 1895 and came to Norton county in 1891. In 1915 he was united in marriage with Miss Blanche Porter, a Norton county girl whose father, Jake Porter, homesteaded in the county and died in 1915. Mr. Lofgreen has attended the Cleveland, Ohio, Mechanical school, the Chicago Electrical school and the Indianapolis Electrical school. He is a member of the Baptist church at at the present time runs one of the most modern garages in the state. (page 18)

Charles B. Lough took the second claim in the county and was the first settler who brought in a family of children, in April 1872. He built a sod and log house on the east side of Main street [Almena]. A sod house that he built later was still standing a few years ago, and was quite comfortably occupied by the Garvin family. In the coming of the B & M railway he sold his holdings to the Lincoln Land Co.

There were five lively youngsters in the family, one, Mrs. Albert Lamb, has lived almost continuously in Almena. Mr. and Mrs. Lough deserve credit for raising successfully a family of children under the trying conditions of those early days.

Mr. Lough died 20 years ago, but the mother of the family is still living in quiet comfort with her daughter, Julia, Mrs. Albert Lamb. She is in her 77th year and is enjoying fairly good health.

Mrs. Lamb could tell some interesting stories of those bygone days. There were no class distinctions, for all fared alike in those days. Equality and fraternity were living principles in the lives of the people, for when a family was �hard up� and had to go to school with bare feet, all the other families through real friendship did the same. Mrs. Lamb says there were great hardships, but she has forgotten the sting of them. (page 73)

Just 37 years ago Leonard Lovejoy came from northern Illinois looking for a better country, and found Norton county the best in the west. He sold farm Implements before Almena was located and Bloomington was the end of the Burlington road. He has been in the coal and feed business for the past 12 years. Always boosting, never knocking. It is men of the Lovejoy type who have made Almena and Norton county what they are today. Mr. Lovejoy served on term as county commissioner. He is the father of Leonard Lovejoy, the present Republican nominee for sheriff of Norton county. (page 67)

Leonard Lovejoy, the present Republican nominee for the office of sheriff of Norton county, was born in Jackson, Illinois. He came to Norton county with his father in 1879 and has attended the public and high schools of the county and is a graduate of the Omaha business college. Mr. Lovejoy is a High School trustee and has made a good and efficient official. He was married September 21, 1898, to Miss Florence Clay and their home has been blessed with four children. Mr. Lovejoy is a good man who stands high with the better people of the county. [Almena] (page 68)

E. A. Lyons was born in 1848 in New York State, and came to Norton in 1885 and went into the drug business and continued in this until 1891 when he opened a dental office and has practiced dentistry since that time. He attended The Western Dental College and studied medicine before coming to this county. Mr. Lyons has one child, Bertha, now the wife of C. E. Kennedy. He is a member of the Moose and the K. P. lodges. (page 11) 


J. M. McClelland came to Norton county in 1879 and homesteaded in Harrison Township. He is a member of the Christian church and the father of five children. He still lives on the old homestead. (page 10)

R. G. McCroskie was born in 1861 and came to Norton county in 1904. He is married and has one child, Nannie Bell, born in 1880 and now living at Selden. Mr. McCroskie gave four years of his life to the ministry and then entered the real estate business six years ago and has made a success in this. He is a member of the U.B. church, the L.A.A. and the Odd Fellows. [Almena] (page 75)

Jesse McFarland was born March 19, 1881 near Clayton, Illinois and later moved to Monmouth. In 1904 Mr. McFarland moved to Goodland where he was manager of the Milisack store for one year. He came to Norton in 1906 and on May 15, 1912 he married Miss Ethel Palmer, a Norton girl. He is a member of the Christian Church and the Masonic order, and at the present time is Worthy Master of the Norton Lodge. (page 17)

V. C. Mack, Edmond�s barber, was born in Shaguache [Saguache?], Colorado in 1894 and came to Edmond in 1915, and has been in the barber business since that time. He is a member of the Sons and Daughters of Justice and has a modern sanitary shop. Mr. Mack devotes his entire time to his business, and his shop is patronized by the best people in Edmond. (page 85)

B.F. McMahon was born in 1888 in Marshall county, and moved to this city in 1914, where he engaged in the jewelry and optical business. Mr. McMahon studied for one year under one of the best oculists in the state of Missouri and he thoroughly understands his business. He is a member of the M.W.A. and the K. of C. (page 87)

W. W. McMahon was born in LaFayette county, Wisconsin in 1860. He is the father of six children - Bennett, Myrtle, Etta, Leroy, Nellie, Eldon, all of whom are at home at this time. Mr. McMahon left Wisconsin in 1872 and moved to Missouri where he farmed until 1883 when he moved to Marshall county, Kansas, and entered into the general mercantile business and remained in this business for 15 years. In 1910 he moved to St. Joseph, Mo. In 1912 he moved to Norton and purchased the Keating interest in the Antelope Grocery and Meat Market. Mr. McMahon is a member of the M. W. A., the Knights of Columbus and the Catholic church. (page 18)

L. E. Madden, manager of the Oronoque Lumber Co., is a wide awake business man. He has only been there a short time but has fine business. The yard is well stocked and when alterations are completed, Oronoque will have as fine a lumber yard as there is in the county. (page 103)

E. P. Mansfield was born in 1873 in Iowa and came to Norton in 1903. He married Lola Covert, an Iowa girl. (page 82)

A. S. Marsh was born in 1878 in Gilbertsville, New York and came to Norton county in 1885 with his father Reuben Marsh, who died in 1884. In 1905 Mr. Marsh married Miss Annie Border, whose father Spence Border, an old settler of the county still lives here. Mr. Marsh is a member of the M.W.A. and is engaged in the jewelry business at Norton. (page 89)

W. H. Marsh was born in New Milford, Connecticut, in 1861 and came to Norton county in 1881. In 1887 he married Elizabeth Waters who died in 1911. To this union were born three children, Wade, born in 1889; Harry, born in 1891; and Helen born in 1900. Mr. Marsh afterwards married Miss Beatrice Baker, a popular school teacher of Norton. Mr. Marsh is a member of the Methodist church; a member of the city council, and he has served as a member of the board of High School Trustees. In 1900 he engaged in the Pump and Windmill business, and in 1906 he sold a half interest to J. W. Gleason.(page 18)

W. H. Marshall, prominent veterinarian of Norton county was born in 1872 in Knox County, Illinois, and came to Norton County in 1907. He is the father of one child, Murl, born in 1892. He is a member of the Odd Fellows lodge, the A.O.U.W. and the Kansas Fraternal Citizens. (page 82)

One of the good, clean young business men of Norton, H. S. Mathews, was born in Norton County in 1886. Since graduating from the Norton county high school he has worked in the grocery with his father, and at this time has an interest in the Matthews Grocery Company. It is young men of Hervey Matthews� type that are an honor to their community. (page 36)

C. W. Matthews was born in 1861 in Vermillion county, Illinois and came to this county with his father, S.M. Matthews in 1875. He was united in marriage with Miss Frances Bell Graves in 1883 and to this union were born three children, Hervey S., born in 1886; Clara, now married to H.D. Miller who is in the store with Matthews, and Victor, born in 1905. Mr. Matthews first started in business with his brother-in-law, Harvey Graves under the firm name of Matthews & Graves, and afterwards bought out Mr. Graves and has been in the grocery business alone since that time. He has built up a large and substantial trade, and knows how to take care of it. He is a good booster and a man well liked by his fellow townsmen. (page 66)

M. S. Mellor was born in 1856 and came to Norton county in 1903 from Phelleps [Phelps] county, Nebraska. He purchased the elevator owned by Kellog of Long Island and has run it since 1905. He is the father of three boys and a member of the M.W.A. [Almena] (page 75)

Wm. Miller came from Rooks county in 1876, located on a claim that is a part of the present town site. He is a bachelor, and has lived here continually for 40 years; is the last of the settlers who came as early as 1876. [Clayton] (page 97)

Wm. Miller was one of the early settlers of Decatur and Norton county and saw the development of the two counties from the beginning until the present time. Mr. Miller is an eccentric character. He has never married and has always lived alone in and around Clayton. (page 99)

A. K. Mills was born in New York City in 1860. He is one of the staunchest as well as the earliest settlers of Norton county and is [it] was through his efforts and the efforts of men of like character that placed our county in the foremost ranks of progressive western Kansas counties. Mr. Mills is a successful business man and has honorably earned an abundance of this world�s good. He is a musician and a writer of some note. His life is an example of clean living, honest dealing with his fellow men and untiring effort to leave the world a little better than he found it. Mr. Mills taught school for 18 years and has held several public offices. He was married in 1885 to Miss Ida Harris and they have one child, Zelmond A., born in 1894. (page 72)

H. J. Milz, one of Norton's prominent business men, was born in 1859 at White Water, Wisconsin, and came to Norton in 1886 and started in the hardware business. In 1892 he was married to Miss Lily Ashton. They have two children, Louis, born in 1892 who works in the hardware store with his father, and Mayone, born in 1904. Mr. Milz is a member of the Catholic church, the Knights of Pythias and the Kansas Fraternal Citizens. (page 21)

A. J. Mindrup was born in 1889 at New Almelo where he now resides. His father was an early settler and homesteader. Mr. Mindrup has never married. He has conducted the general store at New Almelo for seven years. He is a member of the New Almelo Catholic church and the Catholic Knights of America. (page 105)

F. J. Mindrup was born in 1877, in Effingham county, Illinois, and came to Norton county in 1880 where he farmed until 1907 when he went into the hardware business. In 1904 he was married to Miss Lizzie Schroer who was born in Nebraska. Mr. Mindrup is a member of the New Almelo Catholic church and the Catholic Knights of America. (page 105)

H. Mitchell, one of the influential and prominent real estate men of Almena, was born in Norton county in 1876 and came to Almena in 1913. He is a wide-awake business man and has made a success of his profession. (page 72)

M. A. Morrison was born in Virginia, November 11, 1842. He settled at Leota in the fall of 1873. He was County Treasurer in 1875, and ran the hotel at Leota. His son, D. Morrison, still lives at Oronoque. (page 103)

E. J. Mott was born in 1877 at Lancaster, Missouri and was in the electrical supply business for seven years and has been in the clothing business for 15 years. On August 26, 1916 he opened up in our city an up-to-date clothing store. The interior is without shadow and the lighting is perfect. Goods can be purchased at night as well as in the day time with the assurance that they will appear the same in the day light. Mr. Mott was married in 1911 and two children have been born to this union, Mary Louise, born in 1912, and Marjory born in 1914. He is a member of the Elks the M. W. A., the Loyal order of the Moose and the modern Brotherhood of America. (page 14)

B. W. Mulkey was born in 1852 in Warren county, Kentucky and came to Norton county in 1879, and still farms on the land he homesteaded nine miles northeast of Lenora. He has been a minister of the Christian church for seventeen years and has done much for the good of the community. [Edmond] (page 85)

Elder G. T. Neal was born in Chilacothe [sic] county, Missouri, in 1873. He started in the gospel work in 1901 and continued in this and the evangelistic work at Portland, Oregon for ten years, where he had charge of the Church of God and taught in the missionary home. In 1913 he started traveling, doing gospel work until September 1915 when he went to Kansas City and went into the Missionary Home as a teacher. He stayed there until June 1916 when he came to Norton and took charge of the work here. Elder Neal was married in 1905 to Miss Grace E. Kriebel who was also a traveling gospel worker and she has engaged in rescue and missionary work for 20 years. Mrs. Neal preaches at Norton occasionally and her sermons are a spiritual treat to all who hear them. One child, Earl, was born to them in 1910. (page 61)

E. E. Nelson, the present county superintendent of public instruction was born in Norton county in 1880. He received his education in the schools of the county. He was married in 1909 to Vinna C. Eakin, who was born in Harding, Nebraska, and to this union has been born one child, Emma Phyllis, born in 1913. Mr. Nelson is a member of the Methodist church. He was elected county superintendent in 1907 served four years and was again elected in 1914, and in August of this year was nominated for the coming term. Mr. Nelson is the only county official at this time who was born in the county and one of the only two to have that distinction in the entire history of the county. He came up through the schools of the county and has been directly and continuously in touch with them all his life. He has made a good official, and is the popular candidate. (page 14)

M. E. Nelson & Son successors to Henry Howard, formerly of Hebron, Nebraska, continued in business until 1903 when Eakin Mercantile Co. succeeded them, and the son, Charles Nelson became manager of the Chicago Lumber Co. (page 97)

H. W. Neville, the popular agent at the Rock Island here, was born at Paola, Kansas in 1879. He came in 1895, and married Minnie Neville a few years later. He is a member of the Masonic lodge, the Eastern Star, and the Kansas Fraternal Citizens. He is well liked, because of his accommodating treatment of the patrons of his company. He has been agent here since 1906. (page 61)

H. F. Nichols, prominent thresherman of Norton county, was born in 1874, in Crawford county, and came to Norton county in 1900. Besides running two threshing rigs he was in the general store business at Clayton until burned out in 1913. He married Miss Maud Holler and they have two children. Mr. Nickols is a member of the M.W.A. (page 98) 

M.A. Pache, proprietor of the Calvert lumber yard, was born in Germany; his parents moved to Marshall county when he was 4 years of age. Ten years ago he moved to Calvert and entered the lumber business, and since that time he has built up a big business. In the early part of this year Mr. Pache was burned out, but the next day was up and doing business as usual. In order to show their appreciation of the man, the people in the surrounding country offered him the use of $2,000 with which to continue business, but being far sighted and conservative, he had laid aside money for a rainy day, and while he appreciated the support offered, he was able to rebuild his business with practically no help, and out of the ruins a greater business grew, and today Calvert has one of the best stocked lumber yards in the county. (page 102)

H. M. Painter, who is now in barber business here, was born in Norton 1897. He has just opened a shop across from the Rock Island station. Mr. Painter married Miss Nina Hicks in 1915. (page 32)

Frank E. Palmer, one of Norton's younger and successful business men, was born in 1884 in Grant township, in Norton county. He is a graduate of the Norton County High School. In December, 1905, he started clerking for the Norton Mercantile Company and was manager of the Long Island store, owned by that company, for a year and a half. He has been a partner in the Elrod store since 1910. In 1912 he was united in marriage with Miss Elsie Conklin a popular Norton teacher and a daughter of the present Democratic nominee for the office of county treasurer. Mr. Palmer is a member of the Christian church and his wife is a member of the Baptist. Mr. Palmer is at this time superintendent of the Bible School, is a member of the Odd Fellows and the M. W.A. (page 21)

J. E. Palmer was born in 1859 at Rockford, Illinois and came to Norton County in 1879, where he homesteaded in Grant township. In 1883 he married Tinny Hays. They have three children � Frank, born in 1884, now a partner in Elrod�s dry goods store; Ethel, who married Jesse McFarland; and Harry, who is now farming two miles east of Norcatur. Mr. Palmer is a member of the Christian Church � in fact the whole family without an exception are members of the same church; a fact well to be proud of. Mr. Palmer has been in the grain and coal business for the past fifteen years. He is a member of the I.O.O.F. and the M.W.A. (page 90)

The Oronoque Hotel and livery are conducted by R.S. Palmer, who has lived in the State of Kansas for 43 years. Before coming to Oronoque, he was in the mercantile business at Superior, Nebraska. He serves as good meals as are to be found at any hotel in the country. (page 103)

E. L. Pease, �Uncle Pease,� as he was called, was the postmaster in old and new Clayton for about 21 years. Was succeeded by G.W. Bressler, who held the office from 1901 to 1906, and was succeeded by C.C. Whistler, who continued in office until 1913, when the present postmaster, Forest Castle, was appointed. (page 97)

A. Personett was born in Republic county in 1879. He ran the Edmond hotel until it burned in 1914 when he went in the restaurant business. In 1905 he married Bertha Crukshauk [Cruickshank?], who was born in Iowa. They have three children, Thelma, who was born in 1907, Lela, born in 1911, Jaunite, born in 1915. Mr. Personett has made a distinct success, for six years ago he had practically nothing, and today owns several pieces of town property besides a fine stock of goods and a nice restaurant business. He is a member of the M.W.A. 

J. Pickering was born in 1872 in Iowa, and came to Norton county in 1885, and his father homesteaded four miles west of Edmond. He is a member of the Odd Fellows. (page 85)

W. T. Pickering was born in 1883 in Cloud county, Kansas. He was married to Miss Maud Cramer, a Norton county girl in 1907. They have three children, Lena, born in 1909, Ethel, born in 1911, and Hazel, born in 1915. Mr. Pickering is a member of the M.W.A. and the Odd Fellows. [Edmond] (page 85)

Porter, Jake (see Lofgreen, Burdge)

Emmett Powell, the present assistant cashier of the First National Bank of Almena, was born in 1869 at Glenwood, Iowa, and came to this county in 1879 with his father, W. H. Powell, who homesteaded in Aldine township. He died in 1885. In 1895 E. H. Powell married Laura Davis and they have three children. He is a member of the A.O.U.W. and the Masons. (page 76)

William Pratt came to Kansas in 1867 and has been in Almena for the past 21 years. (page 76) [My great grandfather - Ardie]

B. W. Pryor was born in 1873 in Harrison county, Missouri, and was in the produce business at Bethany county, Missouri, for 21 years. He is the father of three children, Willis G., born in 1886; Garvin, born in 1888 and Bert, born in 1916. Mr. Pryor bought out the produce business of J. H. Lockard in 1916, and in this he is sure to make a success for he is a hustler, an accommodating business man of the type that makes a success of whatever he undertakes. (page 66)

John J. Recht, the well known Norton jeweler was born in 1878 at Atchinson, Kansas, and came to Norton county in 1900. In the same year he was married to Miss Nellie Vining, a daughter of J. W. Vining who died in 1912. To this union were born three children - Harold J., born in 1901; Gerald, born in 1902, both of whom died in their infancy, and Luda, born 1907, who is the living light of the Recht home. Mr. Recht is a member of the Masonic lodge, Elks, and the M. W. A. In 1901 he bought out the jewelry store of Hobart Kelley and started in business. The firm was known as Vining & Recht and was located north of the court house. In 1915 they moved to their present location. Mr. Recht is an experienced jeweler of twenty-four years and has made a great success of the jewelry business; he now has two jewelers besides himself working. (page 18)

C. E. [Charley] Reed was born in 1879 in Oskaloosa, Iowa and came to this county in 1881. Mr. Reed entered into the photographic business and in 1901, he married Miss Belle Snyder and they have three children. Mr. Reed is well advertised in this historical edition by the many pictures he has taken. [Norton] (page 19)

While we are enjoying all of the luxuries of today let us not forget all the hardships that a few pioneers had to endure to make all of them possible. When Mr. J.H. Reeves came to Almena in 1874, Fort Kearney was the nearest railway point and it took a week to make the trip. All the supplies had to be shipped overland from there. It is to men of the Reeves type who blazed the trail, that we owe the modern towns in Norton county today. Mr. Reeves is in the grain business and enjoying well earned prosperity. [Almena] (page 67)

O. T. Regester was born in 1885 in Norton and has always lived here. He is a sign painter by profession, and now owns the Cary Optical Company. In 1913 he married Viola Miller and they have one child, Benjamin, born in 1915. Mr. Regester is a member of the M. W. A. (page 17)

D. M. Reno was born in 1888. In 1909 he married Miss Cora Buchanan and they have two children, Raymond Gynn, born in 1911 and Neva L., born in 1913. Mr. Reno has been in the automobile business for five years and in 1915 he became local manager for R. A. and R. L. Kent and has been very successful in this. (page 61)

John Reno was born in 1886. He came to Norton county with his father, J.C. Reno in 1887. His father died in 1891. Mr. Reno is a member of the Christian church and at the present time is in the Fairness store where he is employed as a clerk. (page 82)

Robert H. Rhoades was born in Marysville, Kansas, in 1879, and came to Norton county with his parents in 1883. He is a graduate of the Norton County High School. He was elected County Clerk in 1912 and again in 1914. His father, an old settler, died in 1899. In 1905 Mr. Rhoades was married to Sylvia Joint, daughter of Henry Joint. (page 93)

F. A. Rice, the popular restaurant man of Clayton, has only been here a short time but his meals are known as the best in this part of the county. We do not know if Mrs. Rice cooks the meals or not, but if she does she is an accomplished cook. Mr. Rice was born in Missouri in 1879. In 1901 he married Mrs. Mamie Smith, a Clay county, Nebraska, girl. They have five children, three boys and two girls. (page 99)

Floyd D. Roberts was born in McCook, Nebraska, in 1895. In 1913 he married Miss Eulad Baldwin a popular Smith Center girl. They have one child, Eugene, born in 1914. Mr. Roberts is at present employed at the Norton Marble Works. (page 82)

C. L. Rose was born in 1881 in Fon Du Lac [sic], Wis. He came to Norton county in 1887. He was married to Ethel Schaffer in 1913. Mr. Rose is a good newspaper man and has been connected with several newspaper enterprises in and around Almena. He is a member of the A.O.U.W. (page 67)

Mrs. Round, one of the Norton milliners, and a daughter of J. H. Hurst, was born in Otoe county, Nebraska, coming to Norton with her father. She has been in the millinery here two years and keeps an up-to-date stock. (page 93)

T. J. Rouse was born in Osborne county in 1885 and came to Norton county in 1913 and has been in business here since that time. In 1910 he married Hazel McCarthy. They have two children � Eugene, born in 1913 and Herbert, born in 1911. He is a member of the M.E. church.

B. M. Rowh was born in Doddridge county, W. Va., in 1862, came to Decatur county in 1904 and moved to Clayton and went into the harness business in 1915. He was married in 1893. Three children were born to this union, Carl H., born in 1893, Carson, born in 1894, Fonda M., in 1903. Mr. Rowh is a member of the United Brethren Church and a member of the M.W.A. (page 101)

J. E. Rule located here, as a stock buyer and lumber dealer in 1898. He was succeeded by the Chicago Lumber Co. He helped to incorporate the city, and later was a member of the city council. (page 97)

J. E. Rule was born in Shullsburg, Wisconsin, and came to Norton county in 1899 and is now in the grain business at Clayton. He is the father of one child. He is a member of the United Brethren church, the M.W.A., the A.O.U.W. and the Knights and Ladies of Security. Mr. Rule is a hard working citizen and Clayton owes much to him. (page 98) 

John S. Salisbury came in 1877 and established the first hotel a sod house in old Clayton in 1879, and also did livery business until the town was moved. In 1888 he built the Commercial hotel which he ran until 1907. He died in the spring of 1916, his wife having died one year previous. (page 97)

Charles M. Saum was born in 1858 in Jasper county, Iowa, and came to Graham county in 1885, afterward moving to Lenora in 1890, where he followed the live stock and milling business until he was elected sheriff in 1908. He served in this office for two terms. He is the father of eight children and a member of the A.O.U.W. (page 65)

Marion Salisbury, owner of one of the first store buildings in new Clayton, and a merchant in the old town, was county commissioner of Decatur county for a number of years. He was an old soldier and homesteaded in 1877. Later he built a residence in new Clayton and resided there till his death. He was always a booster for Kansas and for Clayton. (page 97)

A. Schnabel was born in 1880 in Nebraska, and in 1911 he came to Norton county. He is now in the garage business, is a member of the Catholic church, the Catholic Mutual Association and the Catholic Knights of America. [New Almelo] (page 105)

Albert Schoen, present county commissioner from the third district, was born at Cawker City, and moved to Norton county in 1907. He is director of the Farmers Union at Clayton. (page 98-99)

G. B. Seeley, one of Norton's very prominent and successful business men, was born in 1861 at Oneda, Ill. He came to Norton in 1903 and started in the Clothing business the same year. Mr. Seeley, H. W. Wallace and J. B. MacFarland now own the Fairness store in Norton and have built up a substantial business. Mr. Seeley was married in 1890 to Miss Minerva L. Long and they have two children, Edwin, born in 1894, now at Topeka, and Creta, born in 1898, is now one of Norton county's teachers. Both are graduates of Norton county high school and Edwin has served several years at Washburn. Mr. Seeley has held several township offices and served on the city council for five years. He is a member of the Methodist church, the Masonic lodge, the M. W. A., and the Kansas Fraternal Citizens. (page 19)

M. G. Sheley was born in 1849, in Poweskiek (sic) county, Iowa, and came to Norton county in 1878 where he homesteaded in Aldine Township and still lives there on the old homestead. He has three sons living. Mr. Sheley was overseer of the county farm from 1902 until 1906 and he mad an efficient official. Much of our data that we have from the northern part of the county we owe to him. He is a member of the Odd Fellows Lodge. (page 95)

C. E. Shiflett was born in Malcon, Iowa in 1871. Came to this county in 1910 and has practiced Osteopathy at this place since that time. He is a graduate of the American school of Osteopathy at Kirksville, Missouri. He is a member of the Christian church and the Masonic lodge. He is the father of one child. (page 18)

Phillip Short was born in Pennsylvania in 1828 and came to the county in 1881 and homesteaded five miles southeast of Almena. He was married in 1862, had nine children, and died in 1900. [Edmond] (page 85)

James M. Shuey, candidate for Representative from this county, was born in 1849 in Fountain county, Indiana. He came to Norton in 1889 where he farmed until 1903 when he moved to Decatur county and was elected to the Legislature in 1912 and again in 1914. Mr. Shuey helped organize and was president of the Farmers Alliance which was organized some years ago as a protest against the practice of both old parties at that time. He is a member of the Christian church and a Civil War veteran. (page 93) 

A.H. Sidebottom was born in Missouri in 1889 and came to Norton in 1915 where he started in the milling business in which he has been very successful. He married Miss Valeria Overman in 1916. Mr. Sidebottom is a member of the M.E. church. (page 83)

Willard Simmons was born in McDouough [sic] county, Illinois, January 6, 1870. He attended the district school at his home and worked on the farm during his boyhood. In 1887 he moved with his parents to Kansas where they located in Norton county. Williard [sic] attended the Clark Academy at Goodland until it discontinued then went to the State University at Lawrence, graduating from the Law department with the degree of Bachelor of Law, and returned to Norton county in 1899 and opened up a law office which profession he has practiced continuously since that time. He has served as city clerk and attorney for nine terms attending to all the legal business of the city in a very creditable way. His resourcefulness has made him very successful and he has built up a fine practice. He is a 32 degree Mason, an M.W.A. and an A.O.U.W. On June 20, 1892 he was married to Miss Clara Campbell and one child has been born to them, Helen, now Mrs. Roy Williams of Topeka. A few years ago Mr. Simmons purchased a fruit farm at Palisade, Colo., and the gathering, packing and shipping of his apple crop furnishes him his yearly vacation. Some of the finest apples raised in the rich Grand Valley come from his orchard. He is one of Norton county�s pioneers, and, like all, deserves all good luck that comes to him. (page 60)

Dr. Don L. Smith was born in 1888, at Astoria, Illinois. In 1909 he was married to Miss Zella Iven Faddis, one of the most popular young ladies of Smithville, Missouri. Dr. Smith�s brother, J.L. Smith is at Norcatur. Dr. Smith received a general education in the Kansas City schools and in Lawrence, and his medical education at the University Medical College. He also received a post graduate course and took up the work of ear, eye, nose and throat and has specialized in this for a number of years in Kansas City before coming to Clayton. Dr. Smith is a registered druggist as well as a physician, and is the present proprietor of the drug store at Clayton. He has a first class drug store and handles everything that such a store should handle, and the store stands for pure drugs and chemicals and safe and courteous service. He dispenses his own medicines and being both doctor and pharmacist, he knows that only chemically pure drugs go into his prescriptions. The store also has an up-to-date soda fountain. (page 101)

J. R. Smith was born in 1875 at Newton, Iowa, and came to Norton county in 1879. Mr. Smith has followed four or five different trades and at this time is agent for the Dodge cars at Norton. He is the father of two children, Estes, born in 1902 and Velma, born in 1907. His father, Joe Smith, who came to the county the same year as his son, died in 1901. (page 34)

John T. Smith, better known as �Jack Smith�, was born in 1842 in Logan county, Ohio. He is a veteran of the Civil War, and was one of the soldiers taken prisoner and sent to Libby prison. In 1869 Mr. Smith married Jennie Williams and four children have been born to them. He came to Norton in 1881 and settled near Edmond. He served as Register of Deeds, being elected in 1893 and again in 1895. Mr. Smith was in the real estate business at one time but now has retired on account of his health, and lives quietly in Norton. (page 89)

Put your picture show in the hands of the right man and it will take its place along side of the church and the school as an instrument of good, for there is nothing more instructive than good clean pictures. In M. P. Smith Almena not only has a clean show man but a man who has enough confidence in Almena to build a new building for show purposes exclusively. Mr. Smith came to this county in 1879. He spent most of his early years on the farm, but in 1914, realizing the need of a clean amusement place in Almena, he started to build the Lyric theatre which was completed in December 1915. As a farmer Mr. Smith was successful and as a show man he is still successful. (page 67)

R.E. Smythe, a druggist at the Rexall store, was born in Indiana and came to Norton county in 1916. In the same year he married Goldie Order. He is a registered pharmacist and a pleasant sociable man. (page 66)

N. J. Spencer was born in 1863 in Pittsburg, Ohio, and came to Norton county in 1879. In 1885 he married Almelia Kelsey and they have three children. Mr. Spencer is a member of the U.C.T. (page 65)

J. Snyder and son established a cigar factory in Norton in 1883, and at this time it is the only cigar factory between Belleville and Denver. J. Snyder was born in Whittenburg [Wurttemburg ?], Germany in 1846 and came to this country in 1849 with his father, and lived at Trenton, New Jersey until he moved to Norton County in 1880, where he homesteaded one mile south of Norton.  In 1883 he went into the cigar business and in 1885 he started a restaurant which he ran until 1900 when he started his present business. Mr. Snyder is the father of four children and a member of the Masons and the M.W.A. His eldest son J. J. Snyder was born at Trenton, New Jersey in 1867, coming to the county with his father in 1880, and has been in business with him since 1883. In 1891 he married Luella Steel. They have one child. Mr. Snyder is a member of the Masons and the M.W.A. (page 90)

R. R. Snyder, who is now in the Restaurant business at Norton was born in 1895 at Hammond, Indiana, afterwards moving to Tennessee where he was in business until 1916 when he and his father L. C. Snyder moved to Norton and started the Snyder Caf�. (page 20)

G. R. Stapleton was born in Blackburn, Missouri. He came to Norton county in 1916 where he entered the drug business. Before coming to Norton, Mr. Stapleton was at Plattsburg, Missouri for five years in the drug business. (page 19)

Morton J. Stapleton was born in 1889 at Blackburn, Missouri. He has spent four years in the dry goods and nine years in the drug business. He came to Norton in 1915. Mr. Stapleton is a member of the Christian church. (page 83)

J. G. Stapp was born in 1860 in McDonough county, Illinois, and came to Norton county in 1877. Mr. Stapp is a carpenter by trade and has a complete shop at Norton for all job work. In 1882 he was united in marriage to Miss Carry Boddy. They are both members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and are unquestionably good, true Christians. Nothing better can be said of anyone than that. He has held several township offices as well as being a member of the Norton city council at one time. Both he and his wife are prominent in church and religious work. (page 36)

G. Staus was born in 1861 in Missouri and came to the county with his father Conart [Conrad] Staus in 1876 where they homesteaded two miles east of Almena. Mr. Staus Sr. died in 1909. In 1887 Mr. Staus Jr. married Miss Delia Farmer who died in 1906. Four children were born to them. Mr. Staus is a member of the Odd Fellows and Rebekahs. He ran the first meat market in Almena. (page 86)

J. H. Stephenson was born in 1886 in Smith county, and came to Edmond in 1912. The lumber company which he manages was built over thirty years ago. He married Miss Delia Dunham, a Smith county girl in 1912. (page 85)

Howard L. Stevens was born in Alton, Penn., in 1870, and came to Norton county in 1898 where he farmed until 1907 when he was appointed assistant postmaster, a position which he has held since that time, and one many friends by his staunch dependability in his work. He was united in marriage in 1912 with Miss Winifred Chamberlain, a Butler county, Nebraska girl. They have one child, Rolland, born in 1915. Mr. Stevens is a member of the Methodist church and the Masons. (page 87)

A.E . Stickney came to Edmond in 1886. He was born in Lobdo, Iowa. In 1891 he married Grace Conkey, whose father, Chester Conkey, came from Iowa to Edmond in 1876 and took up a claim which now adjoins Edmond. Mrs. Stickney was postmistress of Edmon in 1893. Mr. Stickney is a member of the M.W.A. and the Odd Fellows. Mr. Stickney�s father, E.E. Stickney, was born in 1836 and came to Edmond in 1886. He lives at Norton. (page 86)

J. G. Stroup was born in 1885 in Phillips county and came to Norton county in 1916, and with his brother, W. J. Stroup, bought out Ernest Schwartz�s lumber yard. Mr. Stroup is a member of the Presbyterian church and the Masonic lodge. He is a creditable addition to Norton�s business men. The Stroup brothers also own lumber yards at Salina and Lebo. (page 93)

S. Sweeley was born in 1856 at Center county, Pennsylvania, and came to Norton county in 1879 where he homesteaded in what is now Harrison township. He has farmed most of the time. In 1905 he was married to Miss Ida Peterson. They have three children. Mr. Sweeley is general manager of the Norton County Co-Operative Association at the present time, and at one time served this city well in the capacity of marshal. (page 83)

J. M. Sweet was born in New York and came to Norton in 1890. [Edmond] (p. 85)

George Sweley was born in 1815 in Center county, Penn. Came to this county in 1879 where he homesteaded in Harrison township. He died in 1899 and is buried in Harrison township. (page 19)

J. L. Talbott, owner of the general store at Almena, was born in 1882 at Council Bluffs, Iowa, and came to Norton county in 1913. He was married in 1908 and has one child, Zola, born in 1910. (page 68)

G. O. Taylor was born in 1856 and came to Norton County in 1879 and has farmed in Grant Township since that time. (page 93)

The Tellessen brothers, came to this county from Norway in 1883 and they are a good example of what hard and consistent work will do for any man with a determination to make good. They have been in business in Almena for the past nine years and have one of the most up-to-date repair shops in the county. Carl was born in 1880. He married Alma Duling, an Almena girl. Theo was born in 1875 and was married in 1907 to Miss Dolly Snodgrass. Both brothers are good practical garage men, and work done there is done right. (page 67)

O.A. Tellessen came to Norton county in 1874 when but two years old. He has been in business for 20 years, having bought out the business of G.S. Gall. [Almena] (page 68)

F.J. Castle and Dr. Thomas came from old Clayton and built the first store building and stocked it with drugs and hardware, continuing in the business for a number of years. Both moved to Norcatur. Dr. Thomas was the first physician in old and new Clayton, and at the present time is located at Calvert. (page 97)

L. B. Thomas, a drug clerk of Norton, was born in 1893 at Hillsboro, Iowa, and came to Norton county in 1914. He is a registered pharmacist and has worked at the Nyal and Rexal stores during the time he has been here. Mr. Thomas is a man well met and never too busy for a pleasant word. (page 20)

R. S. Thomas, the hardware man of Almena, was born in Washington Co., Ohio, in 1860 and came to Almena in 1916 and bought Dr. Benny�s hardware store. (page 68)

L. H. Thompson, one of the pioneers and leading attorney�s of the county, was born in Elkhart county, Indiana, in 1851 and came to Norton county in 1879, where he homesteaded just south of the old town of Leota. Mr. Thompson studied in the normal schools and in the State University of Indiana, and was admitted to the bar at Harlan, Iowa in 1878. He was elected county attorney of Norton county in 1884, and again in 1888, and still again in 1906. He married Miss Julia A. Maxwell, a Norton county girl, in 1880. To this union were born two children, Mark B., who is now Judge Thompson, of Las Cruces, New Mexico, and Pearl, who works as a private stenographer in her father�s law office. Mr. Thompson is a member of the Methodist church; the Masons; the A.O.U.W. and M.W.A. He has handled successfully a great many of the noted criminal cases of the county, among which were the Dewey Berry murder trial, the Ellen Lunney murder and was one of the attorneys in the Heddy murder trial. He still enjoys a large and excellent law practice, and now has a partner, S. M. Johnson, in with him. (page 88)

Miss Pearl Thompson one of the popular business women of Norton, is in truth a product of Norton, having been born in Norton. She attended the public schools here and took the business course at the Norton County High School. She has the agency for the Aetna Building and Loan Association of Topeka for the past six years, and they have at this time over 60 stockholders in Norton county mainly through her efforts. She is a notary public and has qualified as one of the leading business women in the county. Miss Thompson is a member of the Methodist church, the Eastern Star and the Court of Honor. (page 34)

Dr. Ray M. Tinney, one of the leading physicians of Norton county, was born in 1875 at Topeka, Kansas. He graduated with honors from the Kansas City Medical College, which is now a part of the Kansas State University. He also attended Washburn College and is a post graduate of the Chicago Poli Clinic. Before coming to Norton, in 1912, he practiced medicine at Kirwin for 13 years. In 1889 Dr. Tinney was united in marriage with Miss Grace E. Greenwood, who is also an excellent physician. They have one child, Ellen. In 1916, Dr. Tinney opened up a hospital in Norton, which is modern and up-to-date in every way, and Dr. Grace Tinney and a corps of nurses are in constant attendance, and only the best of surgeons as well as men of character are employed there, thus assuring the patient not only skilled medical and surgical attention, but square and fair treatment in every way. Dr. Tinney�s enterprise has filled a long-felt want in Norton and the good people of the county and surrounding territory appreciate it. Dr. Tinney has worked up an excellent medical practice and the hospital will enable him to enlarge his surgical work. But no patient will be operated on at the Tinney hospital unless an operation is necessary. Dr. Tinney is a member of the Masons, the A.O.U.W.; the K & L of Security; the Sons and Daughters of Justice and the American Yeoman. (page 89)

F.M. Tucker was born in 1860 at Greensburg, Indiana and came to Norton in 1886. He is the father of two children, Earl, born in 1886 and June, born in 1897. He started in the hotel and cigar business in 1906 and still continues in this on the East Side of the public square. (page 65)


R.M. and F.S. Vessey built one of the first buildings in new Clayton, which was used as a hotel and at the present time as a residence. They also built and operated a livery barn. F.S. Vessey resides in Clayton and R.M. lives on a farm two miles from the town. (page 97)

J.A. Vining was born in 1880 at Norton. He was united in marriage with Miss Hattie Hurst of Almena, and to this union two children were born. In 1915 he married Miss Bertha Mallaby, whose father, Bob Malaby, was an early settler of Norton county. Mr. Vining owns the shining parlor on State street. (page 96)

Vining, J. W. (see Recht, John J.)

Elsie Voight, Almena�s popular milliner was born in Lucas county, Iowa; and came to Kansas in 1898, and to Almena seven years ago. Before coming here she worked at Lebanon and learned the milliner trade from the bottom up. The store at Almena is open all of the year and the goods are always seasonable. She has two children, Lena and Opal. (page 71)

While histories in general speak only of men, and refer to the women merely as possessions, Kansas, now having suffrage, we make bold to mention some prominent women who have been in public life and held state offices. Prominent among these is Ida M. Walker, who was born in a sod home in Kansas. Mrs. Walker taught school in Norton for a number of years; served for two years as State President of the Federation of Women's Clubs; tow years as vice President; two years as State Chairman of the Women's section of the Belgian Relief Fund, appointed by ex-Governor Stubbs, and Gov. Capper. It was largely through the untiring and systematic efforts of Mrs. Walker that the Kansas donations put out state in the front ranks of the relief workers. Mrs. Walker is a member of the Methodist church, and President of the Sixth District W.C.T.U., which office she has held for three years. (page 20)

H. N. Waller was born in 1880 in Hiawatha, Kansas. Came to this county in 1887. In 1906 he was married to Kate Alexander and they have three children, Robert, born in 1908; Herbert, born in 1911 and Raymond, born in 1915. Mr. Waller has been with Whiteker Bros. wholesalers, for the past six years and he is pleasant man to meet, and a booster. He is a member of the Masons, Odd Fellows and the United Commercial Travelers. (page 61)

Frank Ward, a thorough and conservative business man of Norton, was born in Springfield, Illinois, and came to Norton county in 1893 where he farmed until 1903, at which time he engaged in the clothing business in Norton. He is the father of three children, and is a member of the M.W.A. (page 96)

J. A. Ward was born in 1885 at Tecumseh, Nebraska, and came to Norton county in 1893 where he farmed until 1903 when he became a member of the Norton Mercantile Company. When they dissolved in 1913 he, with his father and brother started the Ward Clothing Company. In 1910 he was united in marriage with Miss Maud Jones, a daughter of C. D. and Lucy Jones, pioneers and prominent political and church people of Norton. To this union one child has been born, Douglas; born in 1914. Mr. Ward is a member of the M. W. A. and is a very successful and conscientious business man. (page 11)

L. C. Ward, one of Norton�s younger but very successful business men, was born in Tecumseh, Nebraska. He came to Norton in 1893 with his parents. He is a member of the Knights of Columbus. (page 95)

Roll Ward came to Clayton in 1898 and built the Railroad hotel of which he was proprietor for a number of years. He will be noted for planting the first trees on Main St. (page 97)

Dr. R. D. Wesley was born in 1884 in Correctionville, Iowa. He came to Norton county in 1906. He is a graduate of the Northwestern Dental college at Evanston, Illinois. In 1907 he married Clara Duvall and they have four children, Dorothy, born in 1908; Alice, born in 1909; June, born in 1911 and Clara, born in 1915. The doctor is a member of the Masons, the Elks and the M.W.A. (page 61)

One of the best boosters that Almena has is F. E. Whitaker. He was born in Mahaska, Iowa and came to Norton county in 1874 with his father Isaac Whitaker, who died in 1909. Mr. Whitaker married Etta McCormack, whose father, John McCormack an old settler still lives in Almena. They have one child, Gladys, born in 1893. She married J. Jensen a young attorney of Topeka and they live at that city. Mr. Whitaker is, at the present time in the barber business and has held at different times township and city offices. He is a member of the Masons and Odd Fellows. (Page 66)

Frank V. Whitcomb was born in 1888 at Long Island, Kansas, and came to Almena in 1915 and took charge of the Foster Lumber Company, a position which he still holds. (page 76)

L. H. Wilder, the present county attorney of Norton county, was born in Dubuque, Iowa February 2, 1855. He moved with his parents to Missouri in 1867. At the age of sixteen he was thrown on his own resources and worked his way through school, and at the age of 22 he entered Simpson College from which he graduated at the end of his third year, receiving the Degree of Bachelor of Science. Three years later the Degree of Master of Science was conferred upon him. He then took up the study of law and in January 1884 was admitted to the bar in the state of Iowa, where he practiced until 1887 when he came to Norton and opened a law office. He was married in October 1887 to Miss Dora McClure and they have one child, Mark B. Mr. Wilder has served tne years as county attorney for Norton county and was again nominated in August of this year. He is a thorough law student; a conservative man of good sound judgment. In speaking of him Judge A.C.T. Geiger said, "When in court Mr. Wilder offered an objection, I always gave it careful study because he does not offer the numerous stereotyped objections of the average lawyer. When he objects there is usually reason." And to those who know Mr. Wilder this will appeal as truth. Mr. Wilder is a liberal contributor to all religious movements, church work and civic enterprises, and few improvements of Norton or Norton county there are that Mr. Wilder has not contributed to in mental toil or money. He is a clean man, of good habits, a kind husband and father and a man of whom Norton is justly proud. (page 20)

A. R. Williams was born in 1854 in Barry county, Ohio and came to Norton county in1873. He was married in 1875 and is the father of three children. He served seven years as city councilman and at this time is president of the council. He also served one term as mayor and made an efficient official. Mr. Williams is very proud of the fact that he has never tasted a drop of liquor in his life, and indeed this is something but few men can truthfully say. He is a member of the Christian church and has served as superintendent of the Bible School for 20 years. He is a member of the Knights and Ladies of Security, the Masons and the A. O. U. W. He has been with the Lease Implement Company for 21 years. He owns a fine farm just east of town, occupied at the present time by Dr. Thomas. (page 17)

Roy Woodward was born in 1883 in Riley county, Kansas and came to Norton county in 1885 with his father J.W. Woodward, who homesteaded near Edmond where he now lives. Roy married Miss Maggie L. Dannevick. They have four children and are members of the U.B. church. He is a member of the Masons and Odd Fellows. [Edmond] (page 85)

J.A.M. Young came to Norton county in 1885 and picked Almena as the best town for his business. He has met competition, and conquered, and today has besides a fine harness business, a modern equipped shoe repair shop and a complete line of leather goods. He has been in the harness business for 45 years. He was burned out in the big fire of 1908 but the next day he was doing business as usual. Some how when we think of the harness business we think of a small shop that has been the same for years and never interesting, but Mr. Young�s shop and store will give you a different opinion and there is no more wide-awake merchant in the county today than he. (page 76)

V. Yount, who has taken Ed O�Brien�s place as manager of the Chicago Lumber company, is an experienced lumber and coal man. He was born in Cloud county, Kansas in 1894, was educated in the public schools of Concordia and spent five years at Beloit, Kansas, coming to Clayton in September 1916. Mr. Yount is a good business man and a booster for Clayton. (page 100)