Grant Waggoner is a specialist in mining law with office and practice at Baxter Springs, Kansas. He has claimed his home at Baxter Springs since 1909, but did not open his law office in that city until 1912. While most of his practice is connected with some phase or other of the mining industry, he also handles a general civil and criminal practice.
In 1914 Mr. Waggouer was elected from his district as representative in the State Legislature. He proved an able champion of all progressive legislation enacted during his term, and was particularly at the front in all matters concerning his particular district, which is largely a mining and industrial section. He was chairman of the Mines and Mining Committee and a member of the Judiciary Committee, Railroad Committee, Private Corporation Committee and Roads and Highways Committee. He was very active in securing the passage of the dynamite bill which regulates the sale of dynamite and other high explosives in Kansas.
Mr. Waggoner was born in Montgomery County, Illinois, May 29, 1888. His family had lived in Illinois since pioneer times. The original seat of the Waggoner family was at historic Bingen on the Rhine in Germany. From there three brothers of the name crossed the ocean and in colonial days settled in Delaware. Mr. Waggoner’s grandfather George W. Waggoner was born in Hardin County, Kentucky, in 1826, spent his life largely on a farm in Montgomery County of that state and died there in 1867.
George B. Waggoner, who is now a retired resident at Baxter Springs, Kansas, was born in Montgomery County, Illinois, December 2, 1857, and spent all his active career as a farmer. He removed from Illinois to Baxter Springs in 1909. Politically he is a republican. He was married in his native county to Emily F. Long, who was born in Montgomery County, Illinois, December 24, 1859. Their children were: George F., who is a graduate of the University of Chattancoga, Tennessee, and is now practicing law at Waggoner, Oklahoma; Grant; and Grace, wife of R. F. Gresser, who is assistant in the National Bank at Baxter Springs.
Mr. Grant Waggoner gained his early education in the public schools there, also attended Shurtleff College at Alton, Illinois, and in 1908 completed his course and received the degree LL. B. at the University of Chattanooga, Tennessee. For two years he practiced at Tulsa, Oklahoma. Mr. Waggoner is attorney for the Building and Loan Association of Baxter Springs. He owns a 160 acre farm in Oklahoma. His offices are on Military Street. He is a member of the Baxter Springs Commercial Club, of the Cherokee County Bar Association, is affiliated with Baxter Lodge No. 71, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, is High Priest of Baxter Chapter No. 78, Royal Arch Masons, a member of Galena Commandery No. 46, Knight Templars, and also belongs to Baxter Springs Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is unmarried.