DeVere Rafter, president of the Rafter Farm Mortgage Company, Holton, Kans., is a son of the late Emmett E. Rafter, a personal sketch of whom precedes this article and whose life history is practically the story of the establishment, growth and development of the Rafter Farm Mortgage Company, which is one of the most important institutions of its kind in the State. The Rafter Farm Mortgage Company is an incorporated company, under the laws of Kansas. It makes its report to the Kansas authorities, and Kansas has the best investment laws of any State in the Union. The capital stock is $50,000, which fully paid, and this is constantly kept invested in Kansas mortgages. When a sale is made of one of their mortgages, the proceeds are immediately invested in other Kansas mortgages, to keep the supply on hand, to furnish their customers. All of the men connected with the company are practical business men who have been for years connected with this class of business. The business of this company was commenced in 1870 by Emmett E. Rafter and Case Broderick, under the name of Broderick & Rafter, under which name it continued until 1884, when Mr. Broderick retired from the firm, having been elected to congress. After his service in Congress he returned to Holton and again engaged in the business. The business was incorporated in 1908, with Emmett E. Rafter as president, which office he held until his death, February 19, 1912, when DeVere Rafter was elected president of the company. The management of this company has always been conducted along conservative lines, and a record of thirty-four years, shows that the company has never lost a cent, either principal or interest on a single loan negotiated. DeVere Rafter is a native son of Kansas, born at Holton, March 11, 1877. He attended the public schools of Holton, graduating from high school, in the class of 1894. He then entered Campbell University and graduated with the class of 1896, after which he entered Kansas University, where he was graduated in the class of 1898, with the Degree of Bachelor of Law. The Spanish American war was in progress when he finished his course in the university, and he enlisted in the Twentieth Kansas Regiment, and served with that organization in the Philippines, in the capacity of hospital steward. After receiving his discharge from the army, he made a tour of the world, visiting important points in Europe and Asia, he returned to Holton in 1901, and engaged in the practice of law, as the junior member of the firm of Broderick & Rafter, and in 1906 this firm was dissolved, and he became interested with his father, Emmett E. Rafter, in the farm mortgage business. In 1908, when the Rafter Farm Mortgage Company was incorporated, he became secretary and treasurer of the company, and served in this capacity until the death of his father in 1912, when he became the president of the company. Mr. Rafter is also interested in other commercial enterprises, being a director of the American Independent Telephone Company, and the Kansas State Bank. In 1911, he was appointed State inspector of farm loans, for the insurance department of the State of Kansas, and is now serving in that capacity. He has also kept up his interest in military affairs, and in 1910, when Company B, Second Regiment, Kansas National Guard was organized at Holton, Mr. Rafter was elected Captain, and in 1911 was appointed Lieutenant Colonel, on Governor Stubbs' staff, serving in that capacity throughout the administration. Mr. Rafter was united in marriage March 20, 1907, to Miss Amy Overmyer, a native of North Vernon, Ind. She was educated in the public schools of Topeka, Kans. and Bethany College. Mrs. Rafter is a daughter of David and Alice (Hicks) Overmyer, of Topeka, Kans. To Mr. and Mrs. Rafter have been born two children, David Obermyer, born January 2, 1908 and Alice, born May 24, 1909. Mr. Rafter is a member of the Masonic lodge.