Biography of William R. Murrow

William R. Murrow. Kansas, with splendid natural resources and true western energy and progressiveness, has afforded to her native sons the best of opportunities, and it is gratifying to note that the greater percentage of the younger generation representative of pioneer families has had the good judgment to pay unfaltering allegiance to the Sunflower commonwealth and to aid in the furtherance of the civic and material progress and prosperity of the state. In the thriving City of Independence, Montgomery County, such a native son is he whose name initiates this paragraph, and his prominence and influence in the business affairs … Read more

Christensen, Betty Jane – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon Betty Jane Christensen, 88, formerly of La Grande, died March 17 in Gilbert, Ariz. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Loveland Funeral Chapel, 1508 Fourth St., La Grande, and 1 to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Stake Center, 1802 Gekeler. A funeral service will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday at the LDS Stake Center, followed by dedication of the grave at Grandview Cemetery. Mrs. Chistensen was born March 16, 1919, to Roy and Blanche (Kessler) Grice in Hutchinson, Kan. Her family moved to Oregon when she … Read more

Biography of Edward Montieth Moore

Edward Montieth Moore, vice president and manager of the Hutchinson Office Supply and Printing Company, is one of the veterans of the newspaper and printing industry at Kansas, and in point of continuous service is one of the oldest men connected with the Hutchinson Daily News. Mr. Moore had spent most of his life in Kansas and is a son of the late Rev. D. M. Moore, D. D., one of the pioneer ministers of the Presbyterian Church in this state. Edward Montieth Moore was born at Greenfield, Ohio, April 27, 1861. His grandfather, Samuel Moore, was a native of … Read more

Biography of Justus Otho Hall

Justus Otho Hall is superintendent of schools at Hutchinson. By his work and influence there and elsewhere he is one of the leading educators of Kansas today. Mr. Hall had been active in school work almost twenty years. Born near Warner, Ohio, February 27, 1870, he came with his parents to Kansas at the age of fifteen. He received his early training in the country schools near Warner, Ohio, and at Morse, Kansas. After spending some time at work on his father’s farm and after three years spent in the United States Railway Mail Service he entered the high school … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. W. Neal, M. D.

J. W. Neal, M. D., physician and surgeon, Charleston; was born July 22, 1851, in what is now Cumberland Co., but then a part of Coles Co.; his father. William Neal, is a prominent and wealthy farmer and stock-raiser, who came to the State fifty-five years ago, at the age of years, from Bourbon Co., Ky.; Dr. Neal remained at home on the farm till he was 19 years old, then entered Lee’s Academy, in this county, graduating in 1871, and at once began the study of medicine with Dr. T. B. Dora, of Mattoon. The winter of 1872-73 he … Read more

Conrad, Leland R. – Obituary

Enterprise, Oregon Leland R. Conrad of Hutchinson, Kan. died July 1, 2006, at home. He was 69. Mr. Conrad was born July 21, 1936, in Enterprise to William Wallace and Alice Luella Hazen Conrad. He served in the U.S. Navy. On Jan. 17, 1959, he married Patricia J. “Pat” Swartzell in Hutchinson, Kan. He was employed for 36 years at Ineeda Uniform and Laundry and then for three years at American Packaging Corp. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church. He is survived by his wife; son Richard Conrad of Hutchinson; daughter Brenda Heim of Hutchinson; six grandchildren and … Read more

Beatty, Elizabeth Stoughton – Obituary

The funeral of Mrs. Elizabeth Beatty who died Saturday [December 1, 1907] of Bright’s Disease was held at 2 o’clock this afternoon from the home, 805 Fifth Avenue East. Burial was in Eastside Cemetery. She was 59 years old. Joseph Beatty, her husband, died a little more than two years ago. Contributed by: Shelli Steedman

Biography of F. Dumont Smith, F. Hon.

Hon. F. Dumont Smith. During his thirty years of membership in the Kansas bar, F. Dumont Smith has attained such distinction as to make him a well known figure in the life and activities of the state. Noted as an exceptionally well trained lawyer, he has also been prominent as a public speaker, editor and writer and has wielded an influence proportionate to his versatile abilities. For many years his home was in Kinsley, but he is now at Hutchinson. He is a man of fortunate endowment and of fine American ancestry. He was born on a farm near Kewanee, … Read more

Biography of Samuel A. Hemphill

Samuel A. Hemphill. Youth is no bar to the handling of important responsibilities in the business field. Witness the case of Samuel A. Hemphill, aged twenty-five, who is vice president and cashier and executive head of the Nashville State Bank at Nashville, Kansas. Mr. Hemphill took up banking as a career soon after leaving school and was given executive responsibilities at a time when most young men are just laying the ground work of the business or professional career. He was born at Pretty Prairie, Kansas, October 5, 1892. His ancestors were Scotch-Irish-Dutch people who came to America in early … Read more

History of Hutchinson Kansas

Hutchinson a Prairie City in Kansas

Published in 1946 by McCormick-Armstrong Co., Wichita, Kansas, “Hutchinson, a Prairie City in Kansas” is an important historical resource that captures the quintessence of a small city transitioning through time. The author, Willard Welsh, has painstakingly collected stories, facts, and photographs to compose a narrative that preserves the memory of Hutchinson’s development from its early days to an expanding city center.

Biography of Charles M. Branch

Charles M. Branch, a resident of Kansas since 1873, is a banker of thirty years experience and is president of the Citizens Bank of Hutchinson, one of the few institutions in the state with resources of over $1,000,000. Mr. Branch was born at Vinton, Benton County, Iowa, September 27, 1859. His English ancestors first settled in Vermont, and his grandfather, Minor Branch, moved his family from that state to Northern Indiana in pioneer times, and died in Indiana before Charles M. Branch was born. Phineas C. Branch, father of the Hutchinson banker, was one of the pioneer homesteaders of Reno … Read more

Biography of John Willard Campbell

John Willard Campbell is a pioneer of Reno County, had lived there continuously forty-four years, and had identified himself successfully and public spiritedly with the community of Plevna, where he still resided. Mr. Campbell was born in what is now Bay City, Michigan, May 4, 1852. He is of Scotch-Irish ancestry, the Campbells having located in New York State in colonial days. His grandfather, John Campbell, was born in New York State and died near Buffalo in 1845. He was a sturdy farmer of Western New York. N. R. Campbell, father of J. W., was born near Buffalo in 1820, … Read more

Biography of Walter E. Wilson

Walter E. Wilson, banker and business man at Washington, is the present bank commissioner of Kansas. His appointment had brought additional credit upon Governor Capper’s administration as one of those that reflect thorough business administration of state affairs. A native of Kansas and of a pioneer family, Mr. Wilson was born at Manhattan August 21, 1871. He is of an old Virginia family, the Wilsons having come from England and first settled at Jamestown in Colonial times and afterwards moving to the western portion of the state in what is now West Virginia. Their affiliations were all with the North … Read more

Biography of Harris Winfield Hutchinson

Harris Winfield Hutchinson, deputy state grain inspector at Hutchinson, had been in the grain business the greater part of his active life and had as many and diverse qualifications for his present position as any one could ask. While he had lived at Hutchinson only a few years, he feels that the town had some specially intimate associations for him. It will be recalled that Hutchinson, Kansas, was established in 1871 and named for C. C. Hutchinson. A brother of this Kansas man, Asa Hutchinson, also founded the Town of Hutchinson, Minnesota. Mr. H. W. Hutchinson is related to both … Read more

Biography of Henry S. Thompson

Henry S. Thompson, president of the Kansas State Fair Association at Hutchinson, had owned and directed many large interests in Reno County for over twenty years. With all his active relations with the community and state at large and with varied business holdings, Mr. Thompson is essentially a farmer, and as a matter of preference he keeps his home at his large ranch situated a mile west of Sylvia. Mr. Thompson was born at Louisville, Kentucky, January 13, 1851. His father, Alfred Thompson, was born on the Isle of Wight, England, in 1807, grew up in that country, and when … Read more

Craig, Edwin L. – Obituary

La Grande, Oregon 1923-2007 Edwin Leonard Craig, 83, of La Grande, died March 9 at his home. A funeral service will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Loveland Funeral Chapel. Mr. Craig was born May 13, 1923, to Leonard Clinton and Marguerite Elizabeth (Kinsloe) Craig in Hutchinson, Kan. He was raised in Twin Falls, Idaho, and graduated from high school in Rock Springs, Wyo. He married Norma Bluhm Aug. 7, 1942, and served in the Army during World War II. Norma died while he was stationed in France. On April 14, 1946, Mr. Craig married Sylva Fay Gilson in … Read more

Biography of Simon P. Kramer

Simon P. Kramer. During the greater part of the years since 1880, Simon P. Kramer had been a resident of Kansas and had been identified with the milling industry. He is one of the oldest flour millers in the state and had operated in many different towns. In 1915 he removed to Topeka, where he bought and reorganized the Topeka Flour Mills Company, of which he is now president. He had now one of the finest mills in equipment and service in this section of the state. It is equipped throughout with Allis-Chalmers machinery and only recently he gave an … Read more

Biography of Peter G. Kroeker

As treasurer and manager of the Cheney Mill and Flour Company, Peter G. Kroeker is one of the important men in business circles in Sedgwick County. He represents a class of people which have been a very valuable contribution to Kansan eitizenship. Mr. Kroeker was born at Cherson City in Southern Russia March 15, 1866. He was twelve years of age when in 1878 his parents came to America and located in McPherson County, Kansas, buying a half section of school land there. His father is Gerhard Kroeker who married Justina Kruger. They are still living on the farm which … Read more

Biography of William Harry Little, M. D.

William Harry Little, M. D. The community of Alta Vista in Wabaunsee County had had the capable services of Doctor Little as a physician for more than fifteen years. In connection with his large practice Doctor Little also conducts the leading drug store of the village. Doctor Little is a native of Ohio, but had spent most of his life in Kansas. He was born in Lucas County, near the City of Toledo, November 5, 1868. He is of colonial American stock, originally from Scotland. His people were early settlers in Pennsylvania and pioneers in the State of Ohio. His … Read more

Beatty, Joseph

The funeral of Mr. Joseph Beatty was held from the house at 10:30 Wednesday morning, conducted by Rev. Bartholomew of the Hadley Chapel Church. The residence is south of the old packing house, east of the city. The accident was an unusual one, Mr. Beatty was building a new house near where the Rock Island crosses East Fourth Street. On Tuesday he was hauling some window frames on the wagon. The horses started to run and he fell down in front of the wagon and was kicked by the horses as he lay across the singletrees. He lived but a … Read more