Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Page 1030 

JOHN M. CHAIN, the young and intelligent cashier of the Clearwater Bank, is a native of Tazewell County, Ill, born Nov. 4, 1857, and is a son of William P. and Louisa J. (McDaniels) Chain, who are now living in Butler County, this State. His father is a native of Pennsylvania, of Holland-Dutch descent, while his mother's birthplace was in Kentucky.

            Our subject was one of a family of five children born to his parents, four of whom are still living, viz: William, Charles, John M. and Ida L. His father was engaged in the dry-goods business in Pekin, Ill., for many years, but was compelled to retire from business, owing to his ill-health, and came to Kansas in 1876, settling on a farm in Butler County, where he is now engaged in raising stock. John M. was reared beneath the paternal roof, and received the benefits of a most excellent education in the schools of Pekin, graduating from the High School of that place when he was about sixteen years of age. He came to Kansas with his parents in 1876, and remained with them upon the farm until the winter of 1881, which he spent in Texas, and came to Wichita the summer following. He was in the employ of Popkess & Gaither, wholesale and retail coal merchants of that city, with whom he remained until the fall of 1884. At that date he removed to Clearwater, where for a short time he was engaged in the coal business, having started the Clearwater Coal Company, but soon sold out and engaged in the grain business. In 1886 he entered into an engagement with F. L. Tillinghast, as manager of the Clearwater Bank, with whom he continued until the spring of 1887, when that gentleman took three partners into the business. Our subject then accepted the position of bookkeeper in the Citizens' Bank at Wichita. Subsequently the bank at Clearwater again passed under the sole eontrol of Mr. Tillinghast, who installed Mr. Chain as cashier in it in the fall of 1887, which position he is filling with marked credit and business ability. He is a young man of sterling integrity and high principles, and is justly esteemed by all who have business connections with him.

            The subject of our sketch was united in marriage, Sept. 15, 1880, with Miss Kittie A. Morgan, a native of Stephenson County, Ill., born Nov. 18, 1860. The lady is a daughter of Henry W. and Hannah Morgan, who now reside in Greenwich, this county, having located here in 1878. Her father is a native of the State of New York, and her mother of Maryland, and were the parents of five children, four of whom are living, as follows: Harry W.; Kittie A., the wife of our subject; Mary E., the wife of Elmer Dickerson, and George L. To Mr. and Mrs. Chain have come two children to brighten their domestic joys; George W., who was born July 22, 1881; and Freddie T., whose birth occurred July 28, 1883.

            Mr. Chain is a member and Junior Warden of Unity Lodge, A. F. & A. M., and is connected with Clearwater Lodge, I. O. O. F. Both he and his estimable wife are active members of the society of the town, and have greatly endeared themselves to the people of the community since their residence here.

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