George W. Reed, present mayor of Axtell and cashier of the Citizens Bank, had been actiyely identified with that community for the past ten years.
The Citizens Bank of Axtell was established in 1886. It began with a state charter and had remained a solid and conservative financial institution for over thirty years. Its capital stock is now $25,000 and it had a surplus of $8,000. The bank is situated on Fifth Street and Maple Avenue. The present officers are: P. J. Gurtler, president; George W. Reed, cashier; and William Berry, assistant cashier.
Mr. Reed is a native of Missouri, of the northwestern part of that state, and was born at Fillmore, a village in Andrew County, July 28, 1879. His paternal ancestors came originally from England and were early settlers in Illinois. His father, Franklin Reed, was born in Illinois, but grew up and married in Missouri. For many years he had been engaged in the mercantile business at Fillmore. He also served as postmaster of that village several years. He is a republican and a very active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Franklin Reed married Catherine Ingersoll, who was born in Ohio and died in Fillmore, Missouri, in January, 1917. Of their three children George W. and J. T. S. are twins. The latter is cashier of the Farmers State Bank at Lindsborg, Kansas. The only daughter, Sarah, married F. X. Zachman, a dentist by profession, but now living on a farm at Bonner Springs, Kansas.
George W. Reed grew up in the Town of Fillmors, Missouri, attended the public schools and graduated from high school in 1898. Then followed two years of work as a teacher in Andrew County and for six years he was deputy county clerk. From the county office he entered banking and for two years was vice president of the Round Prairie Bank of Fillmore. In 1907 he removed to Axtell, Kansas, and became cashier of the Citizans Bank. Mr. Reed was elected mayor of Axtell in April, 1917. In politics he is a republican of the old school. He is now a member of the official board of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Mr. Reed and family reside at the corner of Third Street and Maple Avenue in Axtell, where he erected a modern residence in 1913. He married in 1903, at Savannah, Missouri, Miss Ann Blanche Cross, danghter of W. J. and Eva (Sherman) Cross. Her parents now reside at St. Joseph, Missouri, where her father is in the plumbing business. Mr. and Mrs. Reed have one child, Lowell Sherman, born December 17, 1908.
Mr. Reed is secretary of the Axtell Commercial Clnb and had always taken an active intorest in fraternities, especially Masonry. He is past master of Axtell Lodge No. 234, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, member of Caswell Consistory No. 5 of the Thirty-second degree Scottish Rite, and of Abdallah Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Leavenworth. He is past patron of Angerona Chapter No. 105 of the Eastern Star at Axtell. Other affiliations are with Axtell Camp of the Modern Woodmen of America, Axtell Lodge of the Knights of Pythias, and Axtell Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.