Biographies Morton County, Kansas

BIOGRAPHIES FOR MORTON COUNTY, KANSAS

WILLARD MAYBERRY

Willard Mayberry, editor and publisher of the Elkhart Tri-State News, was born at Edmond, Oklahoma, May 3, 1902, son of James Willard and Louise Sturdevant (Adams) Mayberry. The father, who is head of the chemistry department of Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia, is the author of numerous scientific textbooks. He was born at Hilltown, Pennsylvania, September 23, 1870, of a long line of American stock of Irish and English extraction.
Louise Sturdevant Adams was born at Larned, Kansas, August 29, 1876. She is active in federated club and church work, and has served as president of the Emporia Women's City Club, the Junto Club, etc. Of Scotch and New York Dutch descent, her ancestors have been in America since 1680.

Educated in the public schools of Oklahoma City and Guthrie, Oklahoma, Willard Mayberry completed his elementary education at Emporia and in 1919 was graduated from Roosevelt High School there. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Kansas State Teachers College of Emporia, and during the summer sessions of 1925 and 1926 has taken graduate work toward his Master's degree at the University of Oklahoma. His fraternity is Phi Delta Kappa.

After leaving college, Mr. Mayberry taught at Ponca City, Oklahoma, and served three years as high school principal at Great Bend, Kansas. In march, 1928, he purchased the News, which he still owns and publishes.

On August 11, 1928, he was married at Great Bend, to Marian Frances Bolinger. She was born there on January 18, 1907 and traces her descent to 1700, in America. There is one daughter, Marilyn, born December 25, 1931.

Mr. Mayberry's professional memberships include the Kansas Editorial Association (president 1932-33); the Kansas Press Association; the Southwest Editorial Association, etc. He is a former member of the Kansas State Teachers Association.
His religious affiliation is with Epworth Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church in which he is a steward. He is a Mason and Modern Woodman of America, a member of the Southwest Kansas Historical Society; the Elkhart Commercial Club (president 1932-33); the Lions Club (president 1929); the Elkhart Hospital board and the Federal Unemployment Committee of Morton County, of which he is chairman. Mr. Mayberry is a former member of the University Club of Ponca City; the Great Bend Country Club; and the Barton County Country Club. His favorite sports are hunting and riding and his hobbies cattle and hogs, their feed and feeding. Residence: Elkhart. (Illustriana Kansas, 1933, page 748)

CARL S. MCCLUNG

Carl S. McClung, real estate dealer and mayor of Elkhart, was born at Springtown, Texas, January 19, 1896, son of John Thomas and Rebecca Sawyer (Hardin) McClung. The father who is a farmer was born at Mount Hope, Alabama, June 11, 1861.

Rebecca Sawyer Hardin was born near Fayetteville, Tennessee, July 16, 1863. She is of English descent, her father being a soldier in the Civil war, a professor of languages, and a Presbyterian preacher.

Educated in the public schools of Springtown, Carl S. McClung attended Thorpe Springs Christian College 1913, 1914, where he was a member of the Athenaeum and of the baseball team. He farmed until 1926, engaged in the automobile business two years and since that time has handled real estate, farm loans and insurance.

On November 4, 1920, he was married to Vesta Velma Bingham at Stratford, Texas. Mrs. McClung, born at Milan, Missouri, March 28, 1900, was a teacher and bank clerk before her marriage. She is active in clubwork at present.

Mr. McClung is a Democrat, a supporter of Franklin D. Roosevelt and in 1932 was a delegate to the state convention. He is now serving as mayor of Elkhart.

His memberships include the Christian Church, the Red Cross and Salvation Army, the Library board and the Commercial Club. He enjoys baseball and swimming. During the World War, Mr. McClung served in the 36th Commissary Unit, Quartermaster Corps and was listed for promotion at the signing of the Armistice. He is a member of Charles E. Heintz Post of the American Legion. Residence: Elkhart. (Illustriana Kansas, 1933, page 757)

WILLIAM LEONARD RUSSELL

William Leonard Russell, insurance man, was born at Rantoul, Kansas, October 8, 1890, son of William and Ida May (Mohler) Russell. The father, born in Ireland, May 5, 1840, came to the United States at the age of four. He served more than three years in the Civil war and fought in the Battles of Pea Ridge and Vicksburg. His wife was born in Indiana, June 14, 1870. He died at Guymon, Oklahoma, October 28, 1919.

Educated in public school at Rantoul until 1903, Mr. Russell attended Central State Normal at Edmond, Oklahoma. He was in the mercantile business 1913-18, a banker 1920-25 (cashier Kansas State Bank 1922-25), and in that year re-entered the mercantile business. Since 1929 he has been handling a general line of insurance.

On January 20, 1919, he was married to Susie Lucile Griffith at Bentonville, Arkansas. She was born at Luray, Kansas, December 23, 1898. There are three children, Maxine, born June 3, 1920; Janice, May 28, 1921; and Charles, July 23, 1922.
Mr. Russell is a Democrat, and in November 1924, was elected county commissioner of Morton County, to fill an unexpired term. He was re-elected in 1926 and again in 1930. For ten years he has been a member of the Rolla board of education.
During the World War he served with the rank of second lieutenant of infantry, Fifth Marines, and was wounded at Belleau Wood. Later, until his discharge, he was stationed at Brest. He has been retired as a disabled member and officer of the Officers Reserve Corps since 1929. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and the Masons. Residence: Rolla. (Illustriana Kansas, 1933, pages 1003 & 1004)