Charles Livingston Brokaw, cashier of the Commercial National Bank of Kansas City, Kan., is of French descent and came of a family that was established in this country nearly 250 years ago, when Bourgon Broucard and wife, Catharine Le Febre, both French Huguenots, immigrated to the American colonies in 1675. It will be noted that the original spelling of the name is different from the present form. Bourgon Broucard was born at Burgundy, France, in 1645, and, in 1665, married Catharine Le Febre, also a native of France. They emigrated from France to Manheim, Holland, in 1674, and from thence to the American colonies, in 1675. The line of descent from Bourgon Broucard to Charles Livingston Brokaw is as follows: John Brokaw, a son of Bourgon Broucard, was born at Harlem, Long Island, in 1678, but in the same year removed with his parents to Somerset county, New Jersey; his son, Brogun Brokaw, was born at Raritan, N. J., in 1711, and had a son, Evert Brokaw, who was born at Raritan, N. J., Nov. 22, 1740; Isaac E. Brokaw, born in New Jersey, a son of Evert Brokaw, married Johanna Van Dyne, also a native of that state and a daughter of Denise Van Dyne, who served in the Revolutionary war. Isaac E. and Johanna (Van Dyne) Brokaw became the parents of Peter Stryker Brokaw, born in New Jersey, Dec. 18, 1819, and who became the father of Charles Livingston Brokaw. Peter Stryker Brokaw, a farmer and a merchant, came to Kansas in 1868 but returned to New Jersey in a short time. In 1870 he again came to Kansas, that time accompanied by his family, and located on a farm near and later moved to Somerset, Miami county, where he died, April 22, 1875. His wife, whose maiden name was Adaline Brokaw, was a descendant of the same family of which her husband was a member, but she was very remotely related to him; she died at Parkville, Mo., Dec. 23, 1905.

Charles L. Brokaw was born at Middlebush, N. J., May 22, 1866, and was but four years of age when his parents removed to Kansas. His youth was spent in Somerset, Miami county, where his father served as the first village postmaster and as the first railroad agent, in 1882 his mother removed with her family to Louisburg of the same county, and there Charles L. began his business career at the age of seventeen as a clerk in a bank, being retained in that capacity and as bookkeeper from January, 1884, to January, 1888. During the first three years of that period he also completed a chautauqua course and received his diploma in 1887. On Jan. 1, 1888, he became a clerk in the Miami County National Bank at Paola, Kan., but in September, 1890, he removed to Kansas City, Kan., where for the following seven years he was connected with the Wyandotte National Bank, first as teller, later as assistant cashier, and finally as cashier. On Jan. 12, 1897, he resigned the last named position and organized the Commercial State Bank, which opened for business May 1, 1897. He has been cashier of that bank since its organization, though the bank became a national bank on July 1, 1902, and at that time its name was changed to that of the Commercial National Bank. Mr. Brokaw is a Republican in politics and is a member of the First Presbyterian Church of Kansas City, Kan., being a member of its board of elders and superintendent of its Sunday school. He is one of the most prominent Christian Endeavor workers in the State of Kansas, having served as treasurer of the Kansas State Christian Endeavor Union during 1885 and 1886, and as president of the Union during the year of 1886-87. He is a member of the executive committee of the Kansas State Bankers' Association, has served as treasurer of the association two years, as secretary two years, and one year each as vice-president and as president, the latter office being held during the fiscal year ending May 1, 1906. He is treasurer of the Interstate Building & Loan Association of Kansas City, Kan., is a director of the Prudential Trust Company of Topeka, and is vice-president of the Citizens' State Savings Bank and a director of the Kansas Trust Company, both of Kansas City, Kan. He is a member and ex-president of the Mercantile Club, is president of the board of trustees of Park College of Parkville, Mo., and is trustee and treasurer of the Kansas City University. He is a member of the state executive committee of the Young Men's Christian Association, and is officially connected with numerous other business enterprises.

Mr. Brokaw has been twice married. He was first united on May 1, 1889, to Lovilla Cusey of Louisburg, who died, June 17, 1891. His second marriage occurred May 22, 1894, when he was united to Miss Margaret Ursula Mayou of Oskaloosa, who was born in India. She is a daughter of Rev. Joseph Mayou, formerly a Dutch Reformed Missionary in India. Mr. and Mrs. Brokaw have two daughters: Dorothy Louise, born Aug. 13, 1896; and Margaret Adaline, born July 9, 1898.