Maclure Butcher, an enterprising and successful merchant of Neodesha, Kan., is a native of Lawrence county, Ohio, born Feb. 4, 1876, to Charles W. and Gertrude (Shelton) Butcher. The father, a civil and mining engineer by profession, was born in Parkersburg, W. Va., in 1854. In the course of his career he helped build the Chesapeake & Ohio railroad, the Ohio River railroad, the Belt Line around Cleveland, and for a long time was in the employ of the Big Four Railroad Company. About 1891 he went to Montana as a mining engineer and was in different parts of the Northwest until 1901, when he came to Neodesha, Kan., and there engaged in the grocery business with his son, Maclure. Always public spirited and progressive and being a man of more than ordinary ability, he entered actively into the public life of Neodesha and in less than ten years probably did more towards that city's development than any other citizen had done in a similar period. Elected a member of the city council he urged the securing of a system of waterworks for the city, and mainly through his efforts there was built a waterworks plant that is considered one of the best in the state. In political affairs he gave his allegiance to the Republican party. He died March 19, 1910. The mother of Maclure Butcher is living and resides in Ohio. Maclure L. Butcher, the grandfather, was also a native of West Virginia and came to Kansas in 1880. He bought a farm in Montgomery county and operated it for some time, but later removed to Neodesha and there engaged in the grocery business. He was very successful as a business man, and at the time of his death, in 1900, was in control of a very prosperous trade, and still owned his farm.

Maclure Butcher joined his grandfather in Kansas when thirteen years of age, in 1889, and completed his education in the public schools of Neodesha, where he graduated in the high school in 1893. He at once became associated with his grandfather in the grocery business, which has been his line of endeavor to the present time. A young man of sound business judgment, energetic and persevering, he has ably carried forward the business and has one of the most profitable commercial enterprises of his city.

In 1906 Mr. Butcher married Miss Nelle, daughter of DeLoss Snyder, who is a native of Ohio and formerly resided at Minneapolis, Kan., but is now a merchant in California. Mr. Butcher is an enthusiastic member of the Masonic order, in which he has attained the Knights Templar degree, and is a Noble of the Mystic Shrine. He has held all the the Chapter "chairs" of the Chapter and all of the Blue Lodge except that of worshipful master. Politically he is a Republican and as a citizen none of his city stands in higher repute.