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Below is a family biography included in History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas by L. Wallace Duncan and Chas. F. Scott, published by Iola Register, 1901.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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JOHN C. CULVER. Among the strong earnest men whose depth of character and fidelity to duty win the respect and awaken the admiration of all with whom they come in contact is numbered John C. Culver, the capable, efficient and trustworthy treasurer of Woodson County. As a citizen he has borne himself above reproach and as a friend and neighbor he enjoys the good will and confidence of all with whom he is associated.

Mr. Culver was born September 27, 1860, his parents being Charles and Bertha (Van Loon) Culver. The father was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in the year 1815, and was reared in the Empire state, where he was married prior to his emigration westward. On leaving New York he took up his abode in Porter County, Indiana, and was a resident of Valparaiso until 1871, when he came to Kansas, and the succeeding year located in Woodson County, where he spent his remaining days, his death occurring in Perry township in 1893. In his family were ten children, all of whom are yet living, namely: Mrs. Amanda E. Wass, of Yates Center; Elijah C., of Boone, Ia., who was a soldier in the Civil war; Mrs. Nettie T. Green, of Wichita, Kas.; George B., who is living in Chanute, this state; J. Grant, whose home is in Atchison. Kas.; Mrs. Sarah Stradley, of Des Moines, Ia.; Mrs. Jennie Holt, of Woodson County; Mrs. Mary Berry, of Minneapolis, Minn.; John C. and Willard A., who are residents of Woodson County.

John C. Culver was only twelve years of age when he accompanied his parents and their family to Woodson County. His early educational privileges were supplemented by study in this locality, and in the State Normal school at Emporia, where he was graduated in the class of 1883. Through the succeeding decade he was identified with the educational interests of the county, and his successful work as a teacher was followed by one term’s service as county superintendent. For seven years he was cashier and bookkeeper in the Yates Center bank and through that business connection extended his acquaintance, making many friends by his uniform courtesy to the patrons of the institution. He is now extensively interested in farming and stock raising, being the owner of a valuable tract of land of two hundred and forty acres twelve miles southeast of Yates Center. In 1897 he was elected treasurer of Woodson County and filled the office so acceptably that he was re-elected for a second term in 1889. To fill the position one must have strong business ability, clerical accuracy and withal must be a man of unquestioned integrity. In all of these particulars Mr. Culver is well qualified for the office which he is now so acceptably filling.

In 1885 Mr. Culver was united in marriage to Miss Cora Jewett, who gave him one son, Carl. In May, 1895, he was again married, his second union being with Belle Tacket, daughter of Mrs. H. Waymire, of Yates Center. They, too, have one son, Herbert M. Mr. C. is justly proud of his two sons. Mr. Culver is a man of genuine worth, entirely free from ostentation or display. Socially he is connected with the Masonic order, the Knights of Pythias fraternity and the Red Men, and is an exemplary representative of those organizations which are based upon beneficence and the brotherhood of man. His political support is given the Republican party, but when a candidate for office he received a vote far in excess of his party’s strength for men of different political faith deposited their ballots for John C. Culver, having faith in his unimpeachable business methods. His name stands as a synonym for fidelity to duty as no trust reposed in him has ever been betrayed.

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This family biography is one of 204 biographies included in History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas by L. Wallace Duncan and Chas. F. Scott, published by Iola Register, 1901, Iola, Kansas.  For the complete description, click here: Woodson County, Kansas History and Genealogy

View additional Woodson County, Kansas family biographies here: Woodson County, Kansas

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