Frederick P. Achten, cashier of the First National Bank of Wetmore, Kans., is a native of the Sunflower State. He was born in Nemaha county, November 2, 1862, and is a son of John and Annie (Bross) Achten, natives of Baden, Germany. The father came to this country while a young man and located at Paris, Ill., at a very early date in the history of that section. He came to Kansas in 1858 with his young wife and settled in Nemaha county, where he bought land and engaged successfully in farming and stockraising. His first home on the plains was built of hewed logs, where the family lived until 1866, when he purchased another place in Granada township, which is still known as the "Achten homestead." To John and Annie Achten were born eight children, as follows: Frank M., deceased; Frederick P., the subject of this review; Elizabeth C., married Thomas W. O'Donnell, Wetmore, Kans.; George, deceased; Mary A., married Charles M. Crandall, Seneca, Kans.; Irene, married Augustus Kotzinger, Bancroft, Kans.; Dolly, deceased; and one child who died in infancy. Frederick P. Achten was reared on his father's farm, and received his early educational discipline in the district schools, remaining at home until he was about twenty years old. At this time his father bought a general store at Granada, Kans. and later Frederick took the management of this business which he and his brother George bought three years later from their father and successfully conducted for ten years. Then for ten years more he and Mrs. Achten conducted the store. During this time he bought considerable land on which he raised and fed cattle quite extensively in connection with his mercantile business. They built up a large mercantile trade, in that section, and also bought cattle and grain on a large scale. During a single season he and his brother bought over 75,000 bushels of corn. In 1906, he sold the store devoting his time to farming for about a year, moving to Wetmore in 1908. At that time he with T. E. Henderson and others organized, and established the First National Bank of Wetmore. This is one of the substantial banking institutions of Nemaha county, and was organized with a capital stock of $25,000, and began business March 4, 1908. The first statement issued by the bank May 14, 1908 showed deposits amounting to $42,500, and the last statement issued, January 13, 1914, showed that the deposits had increased to the amount of $146,000. The bank has a surplus of $10,000, with an earned surplus, and undivided profits of $2,791.00, according to the last statement. The above figures show that this institution has had an unusual healthy and substantial growth since its organization. Mr. Achten became cashier and Mrs. Achten, a woman of rare business ability, assistant cashier, at the organization of the bank and they have since conducted the business of the bank and directed its policies. He is recognized as one of the capable financiers of northern Kansas, and possesses the natural attributes of a successful banker,—honesty, good judgment and decision. He is still extensively interested in farming and stock raising, and is one of the large feeders of the county. He usually has on hand about 400 head of cattle and a great many hogs. During the time he resided in Granada, he took a commendable interest in public affairs and served as township treasurer and treasurer of the school board a number of years. He was also postmaster of Granada until the office was abandoned. Mr. Achten was united in marriage, January 3, 1888, to Miss Lillian A. Donaldson, a native of Powasheek county, Iowa. Mrs. Achten came to Kansas with her parents, when a girl. She is a daughter of James R. and Rosetta J. (Cushman) Donaldson, the former a native of the Empire State and the latter of Illinois. The mother is of English descent, of Puritan stock. James R. Donaldson practiced law in Iowa for a number of years, and in 1878 came to Kansas and now resides at Goff where he is a justice of the peace, and does some legal business, in connection with his office. To Mr. and Mrs. Achten have been born five children: Olive A., deceased; Sylvia E., a graduate of the Seneca High School and later a student at the Kansas State Agricultural College and Baker University, is now the wife of Edgar W. Campbell, an attorney at Wetmore; Frederick J. a graduate of the Wetmore High School who attended the Kansas State Agricultural College; Ethel I., a student in Wetmore High School and Harold M. also a student in the Wetmore schools. Mr. Achten and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church and he is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. Mrs. Achten is a member of the Eastern Star.