Walter Raleign Breeding, M. D., a leading physician and surgeon of Marysville, is a native of Kansas, born at Lawrence, September 30, 1864. He is a son of John and Susan B. (Jessee) Breeding, both natives of Virginia, who came to Kansas about 1855, settling in Montgomery county. In the early days the father made the trip across the plains to California, and while en route he remembers having camped on the Blue river opposite Marysville, which at that time was a station on the stage line. In the spring of 1865 the family removed to Doniphan county, settling at Iowa Point, and here Dr. Breeding spent his boyhood days and attended the district schools. He first attended school at Martin's school house, and afterwards a school known as "Frog College," which was officially the "Walnut Grove" school. In 1885 he entered Highland College, where he was graduated in the class of 1889. While Dr. Breeding attended school, he worked on the farm with his parents at intervals and during vacations, and thus assisted in paying his way through college. In September, 1889, he entered Rush Medical College, Chicago, Ill., where he was graduated in the class of 1892 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. While he was pursuing his studies in this institution he was also engaged in nursing during vacations, and in this way assisted in making his expenses through college, as well as having the opportunity of studying different diseases. In addition to his regular course he took special courses in dental pathology and surgery, the eye and ear, materia medica therapeutics, diseases of women and operative surgery. After leaving medical college he located at Highland, Kan., where he practiced four years, or until 1896, when he came to Marysyule, and has since been engaged in his professional work there.

Dr. Breeding has built up an extensive practice, and has a wide reputation as a painstaking and a skillful physician. He was united in marriage June 22, 1898, to Miss Nettie, daughter of Philander C. and Serena (League) Geer, both natives of Ohio. The fatherd[sic] was a blacksmith and located at Highland, Kan., in the early '50s, where he is now living, retired. His wife died in 1900. Mrs. Breeding was born in Highland, Kan., and educated in the common schools and Highland College, graduating at that institution in the class of 1890, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. After graduating she taught special courses at Highland for some time. Dr. and Mrs. Breeding had one child, Verna Lucile, born April 17, 1906, who died in infancy.

Dr. Breeding has taken an active interest in Marshall county in a public way, and has served four years as health officer, and has also been city physician of Marysville for the same length of time. He was appointed a member of the State Board of Health by Governor E. W. Hoch, upon the recommendation of Dr. Crumbine, in recognition of his services while county health officer, his record in this respect being exceptionally high. Through a political combine of those opposed to Dr. Breeding the governor withdrew his name and refused to give Marshall county a representative on the board. Dr. Breeding was an active force in the re-organization of the Marshall County Medical Society, was elected its secretary and served as president from 1909 to 1913. He is also a member of the Kansas State Medical Society. He is a Thirty-second degree Mason, and at present junior warden of the Marysville lodge. Politically he is a Republican, and he and Mrs. Breeding are members of the Presbyterian church.