V. E. Creighton, president of the Traders State Bank of Arkansas City, had spent most of his active career in Kansas, began life as a teacher, afterwards was a railroad clerk, and by hard work and a certain special ability in financial affairs had promoted himself to his present standing and influential connections as a banker.
The Traders State Bank of Arkansas City was organized in 1905 by B. C. Straughan, J. E. Heard and W. M. Bummell. The original capital was $25,000. On May 1, 1914, Mr. Creighton and his associates bought the institution, and besides Mr. Creighton the active officers are J. R. Hayden, cashier, and S. E. George, teller. The bank still retains its capital of $25,000, while its surplus and profits amount to $25,000 and the average deposits aggregate $500,000. It is a strong bank, of big resources, and its officers and directors are all men of standing in the community. The bank is located at 200 South Summit Street.
Victor Ernest Creighton is a native of Missouri, born in Daviess County December 14, 1874. The Creightons are a family of Scotch-Irish stock. On coming to America they lived in Pennsylvania, and George Creighton, father of the Arkansas City banker, was born in Ohio in 1841. He spent his early life in Ohio and Missouri, and in 1878 removed to Lyon County, Kansas. He was one of the early farmers in that section, having homesteaded 160 acres. He finally retired from business in 1905 and had since lived at Okmulgee, Oklahoma. He is a democrat, and had almost been a lifelong active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. George Creighton married Maria Harrison. She was born in Ohio in 1841 and died at Okmulgee, Oklahoma, May 4, 1915. Their family of children were: Elmer O., who was a farmer, newspaper man and active in other lines, and died at Roswell, New Mexico, in 1904; May, wife of J. F. Seward, who is in the novelty business at Venice, California; H. S. Creighton, a veterinary surgeon living at Coffey, Missouri; Victor Ernest; Thomas E., a traveling salesman whose home is at Omaha, Nebraska; Bertha, wife of C. H. Rush, a wholesale grocery merchant at Texarkana, Texas; Nellie, wife of Ben Weldon, in the automobile business at Kansas City, Missouri; Lillian, wife of B. B. Williamson, postmaster at Okmulgee, Oklahoma.
Four years of age when brought to Kansas, V. E. Creighton spent his early life on his father’s farm in Lyon County. He attended the public schools there and also the State Normal School at Emporia. Besides the four years spent in the State Normal School, he was a student for one term in the University of Chicago. In 1897 Mr. Creighton became instructor of science in the Sumner County High School. He filled that position four years. Seeking a line of work more to his inclinations and with better prospects of profit in proportion to the expenditure of time and efforts, he next became an employe in the Santa Fe Railway offices at Wichita. When the offices were removed to Arkansas City in 1902, he went along, and continued with the Santa Fe until 1909. He had in the meantime been promoted to the office of chief clerk. Mr. Creighton resigned from the railroad company to take charge of the Savings Investment Company, a mortgage organization at Arkansas City. He was with that concern until May 1, 1914, when he and his associates bought the Traders Bank and had since been its president. He is also president of the Home Building and Loan Association. His home is at 421 South B Street.
Mr. Creighton is an independent in politics. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is a strong believer in fraternalism and is a member of most of the orders having their homes in Arkansas City. His affiliations are with Crescent Lodge No. 133, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons; Bennett Chapter No. 41, Royal Arch Masons; Arkansas City Commandery No. 30, Knights Templar; Midian Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Wichita; Canal City Lodge No. 352, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; Inaugural Camp No. 867, Modern Woodmen of America; Arkansas City Lodge No. 89, Ancient Order of United Workmen; Arkansas City Lodge No. 972, Loyal Order of Moose; Arkansas City Lodge No. 956, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Welcome Homestead No. 1277, Brotherhood of American Yeomen; Arkansas City Lodge No. 116, Knights of Pythias; Mistletoe Camp No. 945, Royal Neighbors; and Kansas Fraternal Citizens.
Mr. Creighton married January 24, 1906, Miss Margaret Virginia Pottle, daughter of W. H. and Virginia (Kinney) Pottle. The mother now resided at Huntington Park, California. Her father, deceased, was a dry goods merchant.