1887 Decatur County Biographies

DECATUR COUNTY, KANSAS

BIOGRAPHIES

BENTON, HARWOOD OTIS

Harwood Otis Benton, president of the Oberlin National Bank, was born in Oberlin, Kansas, November 16, 1894, son of Otis Lincoln and Maude (Durkee) Benton.

Otis Lincoln Benton, a banker and politician, was born in Louisville, Kansas, July 31, 1866, and died at Kansas City, Missouri, June 10, 1921. Maude Durkee was born in Shelby, Illinois, June 30, 168, and is a Daughter of the American Revolution.

Harwood Otis Benton was graduated from the Decatur County High School in 1913 and in 1917 was awarded the degree of Bachelor of Arts from Washburn. He was given an honorary Master's degree in 1922. Since 1921 he has been a trustee of Washburn College. He is a member of Phi Delta Theta, and in 1916 served as president of Beta Chapter.

Mr. Benton's marriage to Marguerite Thrapp was solemnized at Topeka, on January 2, 1922. She was born there on August 13, 1896, her family having come from Zanesville, Ohio. There are two children, Hardwood Otis, Jr., born October 4, 1922; and Barbara Maude, December 8, 1926.

In addition to his position as president of the Oberlin National Bank, Mr. Benton is a director of several other banks. He is a Republican.

From May, 1917, until June, 1919, Mr. Benton served in the United States Army, from February, 1918, until March, 1919, serving in France. He participated in four major offensives (one with the Fifth British Army) and held the ranks of second lieutenant, first lieutenant and captain of the infantry reserve. His last duty was with the 137th infantry. Mr. Benton was wounded in action three times, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by General Pershing and was cited in army orders by Petain. He was awarded the Legion of Honor and the Croix de Guerre with bronze palm and the Order of Purple Heart. In 1920 Mr. Benton served as first commander of Oberlin Post No. 70 of the American Legion.

His other memberships include the First Presbyterian Church of Oberlin, the Young Men's Christian Association of which he is a state director, the Decatur County Bankers Association. He is scoutmaster of Troop 97 of the Boy Scouts of America, a member of the Chamber of Commerce, of which he was president and in 1925, and the Rotary Club of which was president in 1930. His club is the Oberlin Country Club. His hobby is work. Residence: Oberlin. (Illustriana Kansas, by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton Baldwin, 1933, pages 97 & 98)

CASTER, VINCENT R.

Vincent R. Caster, educator and farmer, was born in a log house in Meigs County, Ohio, January 25, 1873, son of Daniel and Margaret (Turner) Caster. The father born in Virginia, August 7, 1841, came to Kansas in 1878 as a homesteader at Oberlin. He kept his residence there until his death on August 14, 1914. A Democrat, he served two terms in the Kansas legislature. His wife, Margaret Turner, died in Nodaway County, Missouri, March 28, 1877.

Educated in public school until 1890, Vincent R. Caster was graduated from Oberlin High School in 1893, and taught 13 terms in the rural schools of Decatur County. Since reaching maturity he has farmed and spent two years in the implement business at Oberlin. Mr. Caster served 5 consecutive terms (10 years) in the state legislature, representing the 102nd district. He is now a member of the state highway commission, having been appointed by former Governor Woodring.
On June 28, 1894, he was married to Clara Idona Millera at Oberlin. She was born in Henry county, Iowa, September 7, 1872, and died at Oberlin, August 21, 1907. There are five children of this marriage, Elton E., born July 5, 1895, who married Beulah Tinsley; Emil L., October 21, 1896, who married Ann Dom, Frances, January 2, 1900, who married Lee Boettner; Margaret, January 2, 1900, who married Vern Hatch and Esther, May 4, 1902 who married Ned E. wiggins. Elton, a civil engineer, was graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1925. Emil is a geologist who was graduated from Golden College at Golden, Colorado in 1925.

On May 11, 1910, Mr. Caster was married to Ina May Ethridge, daughter of James E. and Avie (Lodge) Plotts. They have four children, Myron, born October 13, 1911, who married Anneta Gilbert; Leah, April 10, 1914; Dean H., February 21, 1917; and Lois, November 24, 1920.

Mr. Caster is a member of the Red Cross, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the Parent Teachers Association. His religious affiliation is with Olive Chapel Methodist Episcopal Church. He has always been deeply interested in the general welfare of his community and was one of the organizers and builders of his church, completed in 1903. In 1921 he helped to build a modern parsonage.

Among other things, Mr. Caster was an organizer and a tireless worker in the promotion of a telephone line, and helped sponsor the consolidation of School Districts No. 6 and No. 107, with District No. 1, in 1928. Residence: Oberlin. (Illustriana Kansas, by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton Baldwin, 1933, page 217)