Cortelyou

Biography of Luther Cortelyou

Luther Cortelyou, born December 23, 1851, in New Jersey, became a notable grain merchant in Kansas and later president of the Farmers State Bank of Muscotah. Residing in Muscotah for almost thirty years, he was active in local governance, serving as mayor and on the school board. Educated at Rutgers, Cortelyou transitioned from farming to grain trading, contributing significantly to the industry. His family has deep roots in Atchison County, and he was married twice, fathering four children, with one continuing the family legacy in banking.

Biographical Sketch of Peter J. Cortelyou

Peter J. Cortelyou, born June 25, 1885, in Maryland, moved to Muscotah, Kansas, at an early age. After graduating high school in 1904, he worked alongside his father in the grain business and later edited the Muscotah Record from 1910 to 1912. Appointed postmaster in 1913 under President Wilson, Cortelyou resumed ownership of the Record in 1916, running the independent weekly paper that serves Atchison County. Unmarried and a Democrat, he is also a member of the local Masonic Lodge.

Biography of John V. Cortelyou

John V. Cortelyou, born on September 19, 1874, in New Jersey, became the German chair at Kansas State Agricultural College in 1904 after studying at Heidelberg University. He hailed from a distinguished lineage, tracing back to Jaques Cortelyou, a settler in New Amsterdam in 1652. Cortelyou’s academic journey included degrees from the University of Nebraska and a successful teaching stint in Nebraska. Married to Grace Rushton, they had four children. He is celebrated as a prominent scholar in his field.