J. Bruce Dick is a banker by profession, but during his career of thirty-two years had made a record of creditable performance in several lines of work, farming as well as commercial endeavors. He is now cashier of the Labette State Bank at Labette.
He is of Irish ancestry. His grandfather was born near Belfast, Ireland, was married in his native country and then brought his family to America, following his trade as mechanic in Philadelphia, and from there moving to Hanover, Illinois, where he spent the rest of his days as a farmer. His children were: Robert, a retired farmer at Hanover, Illinois; Amanda May, wife of a farmer at Hanover, Illinois; W. H. Dick; John, who served as a soldier of the Union army during the Civil War and died at Ottawa, Kansas, in 1916, a retired farmer; Ann, who died at Hanover, Illinois, in 1916, is survived by her husband, Mr. Speer, who is still living there.
W. H. Dick, father of the Labette banker, is now living at Webber, Kansas, and had had a long and active career as a farmer in several states. He was born at Hanover, Illinois, August 17, 1849, grew up and married there, and left his farm to go out to Nebraska about 1879. He was an early settler in that state, and after living some months at Pawnee City moved to Liberty. He was on a farm there two years, then operated a lumberyard nine years and a general merchandise store for a similar period. In 1903 he came to Kansas, and at Webber established a state bank. He had since sold his banking interests and is now living on his farm at Webber practically retired. Politically he is independent, and his church affiliations are with the United Presbyterian denomination. W. H. Dick married Sarah Maria Barr, who was born near Hanover, Illinois, December 1, 1857. Their children are: M. R., cashier of the People’s State Bank of Richmond, Kansas; Eva M., wife of Dr. F. W. Maxey, a physician and surgeon at Weber, Kansas; John B.; Elizabeth, who died at the age of fourteen; William H., assistant cashier of the Farmers and Merchants Bank at Byron, Nebraska; and Joe A., who is attending Tarkio College in Missouri, and spends his summers on his father’s farm at Weber.
John Bruce Dick was born at Liberty, Nebraska, May 11, 1884. He received his early education there, graduating from the high school in 1901. Since then he had been hard at work and what he had done and the experience he had gained had well qualified him for positions of trust and responsibility.
After two years in a general store, he was a practical farmer at Weber, Kansas, from 1903 to 1906. During 1907-08 Mr. Dick was on a ranch at Amarillo, Texas. Returning to Kansas, he was assistant cashier of the State Bank of Weber from 1909 to 1912. After a brief residence at Republic City, where he was connected with the State Bank, he came to Labette late in 1912 and was cashier of the Labette State Bank when its doors were first opened to business. He had since held that position, and his personality is an important factor in the success of the bank. The Labette State Bank began business under a state charter January 31, 1913. The officers of the bank are J. W. Henderson, president; Charles Spurgeon, vice president; and J. B. Dick, cashier. The bank had a capital of $10,000 and its present surplus is $3,370.00. A modern brick building was erected for the purposes of the bank in 1912, and it is located on Sixth Street.
Mr. Dick is a member of the Kansas and American Bankers Associations. He had acquired considerable property, and is setting an example in diversified farming on his place of 140 acres 2½ miles southwest of Labette. He had recently completed a two-story brick structure which is an important addition to the business district of Labette. Politically he is a republican, belongs to the Presbyterian Church, and is affiliated with Labette Lodge No. 488, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and Parsons Lodge No. 606, Loyal Order of Moose.
In 1908 at Burr Oak, Kansas, he married Miss Henrietta Overman. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Eli Overman, are both now deceased, her father having been a farmer. Mr. and Mrs. Dick have one child, Alice Marine, born January 22, 1909.