Owen A. Thompson, born on July 27, 1885, in Liberty, Kansas, comes from a pioneering family with Scottish roots. After a global journey and four years in the U.S. Marine Corps, he settled in Independence, Kansas, in 1909. There, he invented the Safety Pulling Machine, vital for the oil industry, and became secretary and treasurer of the Safety Pulling Machine Company. A socialist like his father, he married Eva Cox in 1912 and has two children, Ivan W. and Cleda.
Morillo Abial Spalding, born in Vermont in 1856, has significantly contributed to the community of Dearing, Kansas, through his successful general mercantile business. After gaining experience in various trades, including a notable tenure in the drug business, he established a pharmacy in Dearing that he operated for eight years before transitioning to retail. A steadfast Republican and active community member, Spalding is also a past noble grand of the Odd Fellows Lodge. He has been married twice and has two daughters, emphasizing family values alongside his professional achievements.