Moran Kansas

Biography of Rev. William E. Means

Rev. William E. Means, born June 28, 1850, in Paris, Illinois, graduated from Northwestern University’s theological department in 1879. He served as a pastor in various churches across Minnesota and Kansas, contributing significantly to church building and revival efforts. In 1891, he became pastor in Sidney, Illinois, later taking on the Atwood charge. Due to health issues, he retired in 1893 but remained active in ministry. In 1895, he acquired the Atwood Herald, a politically independent newspaper. He was married to Ella M. Chesnut, and they had one son, Cyril.

Biography of Joseph J. Wilson

Joseph J. Wilson has significantly influenced the business and civic life of Moran for fifteen years, currently serving as postmaster and a prominent grain merchant. Born in Hart County, Kentucky, in 1874, he moved to Kansas as a child and later spent eighteen years in the grain industry before his appointment in 1913. A dedicated Democrat, Wilson has held various local government positions and is active in fraternal organizations. He married Myrtle E. Myers in 1902, and together they have three children.

Biography of William Irvin Hammel

William Irvin Hammel, born in 1876 in Illinois, became a successful grain dealer in Moran, Kansas, after moving there in 1907. He co-owned the town’s sole elevator and significantly contributed to the local community as mayor, advocating for public improvements such as a municipal water and electric light plant. Hammel, a Republican and active in various organizations, demonstrated a commitment to making Moran a thriving market town. He was married to Dema Hickson and had four children, exemplifying a dedicated family man alongside his business pursuits.

Biography of Samuel C. Varner

Samuel C. Varner, born December 10, 1845, in Monongahela, Pennsylvania, was a Civil War veteran and prominent merchant in Moran, Kansas. His early life included significant military service as an officer in the Illinois Infantry. After various business endeavors across Illinois and Iowa, he settled in Moran in 1880, where he established a successful lumber and hardware business and the Peoples State Bank. Active in the community, Varner was a dedicated Mason and a member of the Christian Church. He married Annie McCord in 1863.