Richard Waring, during his long and active career at Abilene, won the respect and esteem of every citizen. He was a man whose character inspired confidence. He was the trusted adviser of many. Successful in his own affairs, strong in self reliance, he stood as a commanding figure in that community until the close of his life, and his memory will always be revered by the hundreds who knew him as a friend and associate.
His life was the expression of a strong and self reliant nature. Born at Belfast, Ireland, July 4, 1850, coming alone to America in 1868, beginning without friends or capital, and with only the advantages of the common schools of his native land, he found employment as a bookkeeper in New York City and at that remained four years. In 1872 he came out to Kansas and was one of the pioneer homesteaders of Dickinson County. He proved up a claim to 160 acres of land in Ridge Township of that county and was actively engaged in farming for eight years, in the meantime acquiring considerable other lands. It was his business as a farmer that gave him the foundation for the material success he enjoyed.
He allied himself actively with the republican party, but was a man who stood above partisanship and personally was always stronger than his party in Dickinson County. In 1886 he was elected county clerk of Dickinson County, and filled that office with credit for six years, three terms. Mr. Waring was a successful newspaper man. In 1893 he acquired an interest in the Abilene Daily and Weekly, and for a number of years was its editor and manager.
The office to which he gave the services of his later years was as postmaster of Abilene. President William McKinley appointed him to that office in 1897 and he was twice reappointed, by Presidents Roosevelt and Taft. He filled it to the satisfaction of all concerned for more than fourteen years. He was still in office when death came to him on August 14, 1912.
The late Mr. Waring was a thirty-second degree Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine. He was active in the Presbyterian Church, and was glad to do good wherever he could in individual cases and stood side by side with his fellow citizens in working for the general welfare.
On April 20, 1874, at Abilene, he married Miss Hattie Shaw. She was born at Cincinnati, Ohio, December 30, 1857, the only daughter of Henry and Mary Jane (Sanders) Shaw. Mrs. Waring is still living at Abilene in the old home, surrounded by her children. Her father was born at Cincinnati December 6, 1830, was a stone contractor early in life, and coming to Kansas in 1872 homesteaded a claim in Dickinson County and died on the homestead October 2, 1897. He was a veteran soldier of the Civil war, having served as a private in an Ohio regiment. In February, 1856, Henry Shaw married Mary Jane Sanders, who was born in Indiana April 20, 1834, a daughter of Eli Sanders, a native of the same state. To Mr. and Mrs. Shaw were born four children: Mrs. Waring; George William, born July 16, 1859; Charles Marion, born December 4, 1862; and Joseph Lingo, born April 20, 1864.
Mr. and Mrs. Waring became the parents of a large family of nine children, five daughters and four sons, namely: Beatrice Jane, born January 19, 1875, was married March 24, 1908, to Albert L. Young; Mary Estella, born March 21, 1876, married December 14, 1898, James W. Potter; William Richard, born December 8, 1877, married, January 8, 1902, Cora Crimble; Stanley Leroy, born November 4, 1879, was married June 24, 1908, to Carrie Hess; Charlotte Ann, born July 4, 1882, married, September 30, 1907, John M. Bigley; Clarence Leslie, born October 2, 1884, married in 1903, Esta Kennell; Jessie Blanche, born August 15, 1887, married February 1, 1911, Joseph J. Bleakley; Harriet Alma, born July 30, 1891, married March 28, 1910, George W. McDonald; and Charles Emmett, the youngest, was born March 9, 1897.