John Wesley Twente. Since the fall of 1911 John W. Twente had been numbered among Kansas successful educators, and is superintendent of the city schools of Baxter Springs. He is well qualified both by natural ability and by training for leadership in educational affairs, and in many ways he had increased the efficiency of the local schools and raised the general standards of educational work at Baxter Springs.
As a teacher he is well known throughout Southeastern Kansas, is a member of the Southeast Kansas Teachers’ Association, and also belongs to the state organization of teachers.
His home before locating at Baxter Springs was in Missouri. He was born in that state at Napoleon in Lafayette County, September 2, 1887. He represents the third generation of a family that came from Germany. His grandfather, Herman Henry Twente, was born in Leah, Germany, August 8, 1822, was a merchant tailor by occupation, and soon after his marriage came to America and settled in St. Charles County, Missouri, at Femmeosage. Later he removed to Napoleon in the same state and died there in 1896.
F. R. Twente, father of Professor Twente, was born in St. Charles County, Missouri, in 1859, when a young man went to Napoleon, was married there, and had spent his active career as a farmer. He now resided at Belton, Missouri. In politics he is an old line republican. He is a Methodist and very active in supporting his church and in participating in church work, and is a steward in his local organization. F. R. Twente married at Napoleon, Missouri, in 1885, Mary Woestemeyer, who was born in Lippstadt, Warren County, Missouri, in 1866. Their oldest child was Lena, who died at the age of six months. The second was John W. Esther, the third, died at the age of five years. Ella is the wife of Alfred Meinershagen, a farmer at Belton, Missouri. Milton, who married Hattie Balding in 1916, is a farmer and rents part of his father’s place at Belton. Laura is a teacher, and lives with her parents. Verna, is still pursuing her studies.
John Wesley Twente was educated in the public schools of Napoleon, Missouri, receiving his early college education at Warrenton. He attended the Central Wesleyan Academy, where he was graduated in 1906, and in 1910 took his degree Bachelor of Arts from the Central Wesleyan College, both at Warrenton. At Warrenton also he did his first work as a teacher, being principal of the high school there one year. Since coming to Kansas Mr. Twente had continued his studies and had attended four sessions of the summer school at the State University in 1913-14-15-16. In 1916 he was awarded for his work the degree Master of Arts.
Politically he maintains an independent attitude, voting for those principles and those candidates who he thinks will best promote the national and local welfare. He is a steward in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and is an active fraternity man, being affiliated with Baxter Lodge No. 71, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Baxter Chapter No. 78, Royal Arch Masons, Galena Commandery No. 46, Knights Templar, Baxter Springs Lodge of Odd Fellows and the Anti-Horse Thief Association. He is also a member of the Baxter Springs Commercial Club.
In April, 1916, at Columbus, Kansas, Professor Twente married Miss Petrea Newcomer. Her mother resided at Galena, Kansas.