The series contains original affidavits of registration that record personal information about each registrant, their photograph affixed to the majority of documents, and the registrants fingerprints. All of these are specific to Kansas, and most have the actual documents attached.
Charles L. McMasters, born on March 26, 1867, near Tuscola, Illinois, became a successful grain, coal, and seed dealer. After his father’s death in 1870 and his mother’s in 1877, he moved to Tuscola to live with his uncle. In 1886, he began working in the grain business, eventually becoming the sole proprietor by 1891. McMasters is a prominent figure in his community, serving as city treasurer multiple times and being active in local fraternal organizations, gaining popularity in both business and social realms.
Edwin C. Manning, born on November 7, 1838, in Redford, New York, was a pivotal figure in Kansas history. He taught school, learned the printing trade, and journeyed to the Pikes Peak region seeking gold. Disillusioned, he turned to journalism, publishing Democratic and later Republican platforms. Manning served in the Civil War and transitioned to government contracting before founding Winfield in 1869. He was active in state politics, serving in the Legislature and holding key positions, such as Secretary of the upper house.
Edward C. Gates, born in Dixon, Illinois on September 1, 1861, established a notable legal career after being admitted to the Kansas bar in 1887. After practicing in Fulton, he moved to Fort Scott, where he became renowned within the Kansas bar and worked alongside A.M. Keene until 1913. Gates valued law as a profession, earning respect through dedication and hard work. He was also active in local politics and church, and married Sadie J. Wright in 1886, with whom he had two sons.
Dr. Charles Sumner Newlon, born in 1858 in Iowa, practiced medicine and surgery for fifteen years in Kansas City, following earlier service in Kansas. A graduate of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, he contributed significantly to healthcare, including his role as superintendent of the state school for the feeble-minded in Kansas. An active public servant, he held various political roles and engaged in community improvement projects. Dr. Newlon, married to Lizzie Sullivan, has two children and is involved in several fraternal organizations.
Carl H. Skinner, born on January 16, 1889, in Cowley County, Kansas, serves as the superintendent of Nortonville city schools. A devoted educator since his youth, he combines his passion for teaching with practical experience and technical skill. After graduating from Burden High School, he taught in rural schools and earned a Bachelor of Arts from the State Normal School. Since taking charge of Nortonville schools in 1916, he has fostered a supportive environment, earning the affection of students and the community. He is also active in his church and local politics.
Robert V. Grattan, born on May 29, 1884, in Burden, Kansas, is a prominent figure in his community, known for his tenure as postmaster starting in 1913. The son of Irish immigrant Robert Grattan, he managed the family farm before transitioning to a barbering career. Grattan is a dedicated Democrat, a deacon in the Baptist Church, and an active member of various fraternal organizations. He married Anna W. Wilson in 1909, and they have one daughter, Viola. Grattan’s work and community involvement mark him as a notable local leader.
William H. Manser, M.D., born on March 29, 1859, in West Virginia, is the oldest practicing physician in Burden, Kansas, with over thirty-three years of service. Following in his father’s footsteps, he graduated from the Medical College of Ohio in 1884 and later enhanced his training at various prestigious institutions. A dedicated physician and surgeon, Dr. Manser also prospered through his agricultural ventures, owning 720 acres. Active in Masonry and numerous medical associations, he has remained committed to his profession and community throughout his life.
Edgar Ernest Brooks, M.D., born on August 1, 1884, in Burden, Kansas, is a prominent physician and surgeon in Cowley County. The eighth of eleven children, Dr. Brooks comes from a family with deep roots in the area, including his Civil War veteran grandfather. Educated in local schools and trained at the University Medical College in Kansas City, he established a successful medical practice after a brief stint in Moline. Active in community and medical organizations, he married Dulcie Hatfield in 1912 and has two children.
James Dodwell, a notable harnessmaker from Butler County, Kansas, overcame a challenging childhood as an orphan to achieve success. Born in New York City in 1845, he enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War at sixteen, serving as a drummer boy and later in artillery, where he experienced significant hardship. After the war, he apprenticed as a harnessmaker, eventually moving to El Dorado in 1871. Despite early struggles, he became a cornerstone of the local business community, earning lasting respect and recognition.
Ralph Chester Dixon, born in Caldwell, Kansas, on August 5, 1875, is renowned as a prominent fruit grower and horticulturist near Arkansas City. Educated at Drury College, he has focused on apple cultivation since graduating in 1895, overseeing a 400-acre farm. His family and community ties are strong; he is active in local organizations and the banking sector. Dixon’s lineage includes early American settlers and a legacy tied to both commerce and agriculture, reflecting a deep connection to his roots and local development.
Edward P. Ray, born in Coldwater, Michigan in 1875, came from a family with deep roots in the produce business. After a brief education, he joined his father in the trade before moving to Kansas, where he managed several produce companies, including the A. S. Kininmonth Company in Arkansas City. Ray’s business acumen contributed to the company’s significant operations, valued at around $1 million annually. He engaged with local politics and fraternal organizations, and he was married with two children before his passing in 1917.
William Clinton Bardo was a notable figure in Arkansas City’s banking sector, serving as vice president of the Security National Bank. A descendant of a pioneering Pennsylvania family, he began his career in education before moving west during the Cherokee Strip land rush, where he homesteaded for twelve years. Following his success as a farmer, he transitioned to business and became integral to local civic and church activities. Bardo’s life reflects the spirit of exploration and community service, aligning with the progressive development of Kansas.
John Wallace Howe, born in Indiana in 1848, is a notable figure from Independence, Kansas. A young veteran of the Union army, he fought in significant battles during the Civil War and was honorably discharged in 1866. Over his extensive career, Howe worked as a carpenter, merchant, and eventually became a prominent insurance and real estate businessman in Independence. He also served as county treasurer and was active in community organizations. Howe’s personal life includes marriage to Lillian Watts and the couple had two children.
Peter Calvin Croco, born May 17, 1853, in Ohio, moved to Kansas in 1876, where he became an influential agricultural figure known for his modern farming practices on his 155-acre property in Tecumseh Township. His family’s lineage includes a great-grandfather who served in various armies, eventually siding with American patriots during the Revolutionary War. Croco’s father was a notable anti-slavery advocate involved in the Underground Railroad and faced violent opposition. Peter Calvin Croco, well-educated and community-oriented, engaged in local politics and supported charitable causes throughout his life.
Austin H. Jennings, born in Ohio in 1850, established a notable business presence in Kansas City as president of the Crystal Springs Ice, Fuel & Grain Company. With a pioneering spirit, he overcame modest beginnings and limited education, later ensuring his children’s academic success. Jennings moved to Kansas in the 1880s, where he engaged in agriculture and real estate, ultimately contributing to local education and banking. A respected community member, he played a pivotal role in founding the Southwestern University of Winfield and supports various charitable and educational initiatives.
Allen Dale Hileman, born June 3, 1875, in Missouri, exemplifies the industrious spirit of Kansas’s modern business landscape. He runs a prominent real estate and insurance business in Cherryvale while also being involved with the Montgomery County National Bank. A descendant of a family with a strong military and civic legacy, he served in the Spanish-American War and became a respected member of the local community. Active in politics and civic duties, he is also a leader of the Cherryvale Band and committed to the Presbyterian Church. Hileman married Eve Fair, with whom he has two children.
Levi F. Johnson, born in 1837 in Ohio, was a pioneer in Cowley County, Kansas. He first visited Kansas in 1860 before serving as a Union soldier in the Civil War. After the war, he returned to Kansas, where he cultivated land and built a successful farming operation. He was instrumental in local community development, constructing the first schoolhouse and a bridge over the Arkansas River. Johnson’s long life, marked by hard work and community service, reflects the spirit of early Kansas settlers.
C. B. Goodrich, a dedicated and unassuming individual, passed away in 1910 at sixty-six. Born in Sarnia, Canada, he was raised in Kankakee, Illinois, and served as a private in the Civil War with the 159th Illinois Volunteer Infantry. In 1879, he moved to Kansas, where he thrived as a farmer before settling in Topeka and later Lawrence. Goodrich, known for his loyalty and intelligence, preferred a life away from public spotlight, yet left behind a legacy of admirable achievements.
Charles A. Baker, born on June 30, 1870, in Rio, Wisconsin, moved to Arkansas City, Kansas, shortly after his birth. After completing his education in Wichita, he apprenticed in plumbing and established a successful business in Wichita in 1902. A thirty-second degree Mason and regimental quarter-master, he serves as captain in the Second Kansas Infantry. Married to Lillie E. Bennett, they have a daughter, Marcia Helen. Baker’s father, Thomas, was a pioneer Kansan and veteran of the Civil War, contributing to the family’s legacy in the state.