Riley Louthan, V. S. As more and more importance is paid every year to the handling of live stock on the farms of Kansas, so in proportion is the profession of veterinary surgery appreciated and increased in its scope of usefulness. It is through that profession that Riley Louthan is best known in the community of Glasco in Cloud County.
He is a self-made man, in as much as he had succeeded in building up for himself a large practice under very discouraging circumstances. His knowledge of veterinary surgery might be called a natural product of experience and books. Such knowledge, while it comes slowly and painfully, is tenaciously retained in the mind of the pupil. Mr. Louthan never had the benefit of college training, yet success had followed his practice in the treatment of all varieties of domestic animals. He began treating veterinary diseases as a boy, but since 1901 had made a specialty of it.
Mr. Louthan was born in Cloud County, Kansas, and with the exception of five years in Missouri had lived in the county all his life. His parents were Edmond and Mary J. Louthan, who came from Indiana to Kansas in 1871. They took up a homestead in the county. Edmond Louthan died in 1914. He was twice married, and is the father of four children, one by his first wife, who was a Miss Thackery and who died in Indiana. This child of his first marriage is Mrs. Catherine Jackson, of Lincoln County, Kansas. One of her sons is now serving as county attorney of Ottawa County. Riley Louthan’s mother, Mary McNew, was born in Ripley County, Indians, and became the mother of three sons, Riley being the eldest. J. Q., of Ponca City, Oklahoma, is an attorney; Walter resided on the home farm in Cloud County, Kansas.
Riley Louthan is an active member of the Masonic fraternity and of the Order of Eastern Star. He had taken an active part in local affairs, having served five years as deputy sheriff. He is the leading spirit in the local organization of the Anti-Horse Thief Association. He is unmarried.