Wakefield Kindred of America provides the genealogy of John Wakefield, the immigrant ancestor of the Boston Family, who was born in England in 1614-15. He was according to the best information at hand, a native of Gravesend, county Kent, England, as Thomas Wakefield, probably his brother, came from that town which was an ancient seat of this family.
Charles N. Converse, born June 22, 1863, in Clinton, Illinois, had a distinguished banking career, ultimately serving as president of the Citizens State Bank of Altoona, Kansas. His early life was rooted in a family with rich ancestry, including connections to British Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson. After various banking roles in Kansas, he established the bank in Altoona, earning acclaim for his financial acumen and integrity. A dedicated community member, Converse was also active in several fraternal organizations and served as an elder in the Presbyterian Church.
J. W. Oliver, born in 1840 in Wabash County, Indiana, began his career in dry goods by opening a store in 1879 in Russell, Kansas. Initially engaged in the hotel business, he transitioned to merchandising, changing his firm name in 1882. A veteran of the Seventy-fifth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, he served in significant campaigns during the Civil War, achieving the rank of Second Lieutenant. Married in 1881 to Rebecca Billingsly, they have one son, Benjamin M. Oliver is also affiliated with the A. O. U. W. in Russell.