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.
Edward Grauerholz, born on October 3, 1882, in Smith County, Kansas, was a prominent figure in the Esbon community. He served on the city council and was city clerk before becoming the postmaster in January 1916. A dedicated Democrat, Grauerholz’s commitment to public service was evident in his involvement with local ordinances and fraternal organizations. He married Stella Sholes in 1910, and they had two children, one of whom died young. Known for his integrity and strong work ethic, he greatly impacted Esbon’s governance and community life.
La Rue Royce, a newly practicing lawyer in Salina, Kansas, hails from a prominent family with deep roots in the state’s legal and political spheres. Born in Topeka in 1891, he is the son of John Quincy Royce, a distinguished lawyer and influential figure in Kansas Republican politics. La Rue was educated at the University of Kansas and Washburn College, achieving his law degree in 1916. He married Winifred Burch, daughter of a Kansas Supreme Court judge, further cementing his familial connections to the state’s judicial legacy.
George W. Buck, born on March 22, 1848, in Illinois, is a prominent figure in Union County, managing a significant sawmilling and lumbering business producing millions of feet of lumber annually. His career spanned various ventures, including farming, merchandising, and military service during the Civil War. Buck settled in Oregon in the late 19th century, becoming a key player in local industry and serving multiple terms as mayor of Elgin. He has been married twice and remains active in the community through his Masonic affiliations and church involvement.
O. L. McClung was born on April 17, 1841, in Clermont County, Ohio, and moved to Kansas in 1868, settling in Jewell County in 1870 where he established a homestead. He was involved in community defense by building a sod fort and served as Township Trustee and Treasurer of Jewell County. McClung enlisted in the Sixty-ninth Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War and was discharged in 1865. He married M. C. Barns in 1877 and was active in the Masonic order and G. A. R.
N. S. Stewart, born on February 27, 1853, in Battle Creek, Michigan, moved to various locations including Clayton County, Iowa, and Jackson County, Minnesota, before settling in Jewell County, Kansas, in 1872. After five years of clerking in the implement business, he founded a successful hardware firm, Faidley Bros. Stewart, in 1882. Stewart married Emma C. Gist in 1880, and they have one child, Willie. His diligent work as a clerk laid the foundation for his thriving enterprise in Burr Oak.
Elmer Birdell Gift, born on April 28, 1874, in Smith County, Kansas, dedicated over twenty years to education, culminating in his role as the city superintendent of Manhattan’s public schools. Raised on a farm as the only son among eight siblings, he pursued formal education, graduating from Mankato High School and later, the Kansas State Normal and the University of Kansas. His career spanned various teaching and administrative roles, enriched by travel and post-graduate studies. Gift was also a published writer and active in community organizations, marrying Mary A. Wentworth in 1908.
Leona E. McGlothlen, 89, passed away on May 26, 1975, at Madison Fountains Convalescent Center in Yakima. Born in Smith Center, Kansas, she moved to Yakima at age 10 and married Purdy McGlothlen at 19. A dedicated member of the Yakima Seventh Day Adventist Church, she was its last surviving charter member. She is survived by her daughter, Stella Hill, two sisters, a half-sister, and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Ed Darnell, born on August 19, 1874, in Terre Haute, Indiana, moved to Kansas as a child and later settled in Oklahoma, where his father served as the first county recorder of Payne County. Starting as a cow-puncher at seventeen, Ed cultivated a successful career in agriculture and cattle raising, owning land in Osage County and Washington County. Married to Mary Gilliland, they had eleven children. The Darnell family remains active in their community and church, enjoying a fulfilling rural life.
Elba Elton Edwards, M.D., born on December 23, 1883, in Rock Creek, Kansas, is a distinguished physician and surgeon practicing in Admire. He hails from a prominent Lyon County family, with roots tracing back to Germany through his grandfather. After earning his medical degree from Kansas Medical College in 1908, he initially practiced in Kensington before settling in Admire, where he specializes in general medicine and ophthalmology. Edwards is an active member of various medical societies and has been involved in the community alongside his wife, Addie, and their son, Donald.
Leona Erma McGlothlen, aged 89, passed away on May 26, 1975, in Yakima, Washington. Born in Smith Center, Kansas, she moved to Yakima at the age of 10. Leona was married to Purdy McGlothlen, who died in 1937. A dedicated member of the Yakima Seventh Day Adventist Church, she was its last surviving charter member. She is survived by her daughter, two sisters, a half-sister, and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.