Frank B. Chapin, president of the People's State Bank of Medicine Lodge, Kan., has spent almost the whole of his active career in the banking business and holds a prominent position among the most honored and influential citizens of Medicine Lodge. Mr. Chapin was born Nov. 28, 1862, at Oquawka, Ill. His father, P. H. Chapin, a native of Indiana, born Aug. 22, 1833, accompanied his parents to Illinois, in 1840, and, in 1860, married Mary L. Wadleigh. Of their union were born five children: Frank B. is the eldest; Maud died at the age of two years; Luke W., born in March, 1866, is engaged in the live stock business and resides at Medicine Lodge; Willis died at the age of four; and Nealy is a newspaper man and a silver mine operator at Ely, Nev. The father gave his attention to stock business in Illinois until 1879, when he removed to Barber county, Kansas, and there engaged in the cattle business on an open range, at a time when there were few white settlers in that county. He continued to be thus engaged until his death, in 1886.

Frank B. Chapin was educated in the public schools of Barber county and at the Kansas State Agricultural College, at Manhattan. After completing his education he entered the Medicine Valley Bank of Medicine Lodge to learn the banking business and was there employed, as a bookkeeper two years. It was while he was thus connected, in April, 1884, that the bank was held up by robbers and President E. W. Payne and Cashier George Geppert were murdered. The robbers, four in number, failed to get any money and were later caught by a citizens' posse, which meted out quick justice to the robbers by shooting and hanging them. The leader of the robbers' gang proved to be Henry Brown, town marshal of Caldwell, whose assistants were Ben Wheeler, deputy marshal of Caldwell, and two Texas cowboys. From 1885 to 1888 Mr. Chapin worked on his father's cattle ranch; then he became a bookkeeper in the old Citizens' National Bank at Medicine Lodge, and after serving four years in that capacity was made its cashier. In 1896 he resigned as cashier and went to Kansas City, Mo., where he entered the National Bank of Commerce as bookkeeper. Failing health compelled him to give up that position within a year, and he then returned to Barber county and took up cattle ranch work, at which he continued five years. In 1897 he was elected county treasurer of Barber county as the Republican candidate, and filled that office five years. In 1904, with others, Mr. Chapin organized the People's State Bank of Medicine Lodge, with a capital of $10,000, and it now has an earned surplus of $15,000. He was elected its president and is now filling that responsible position. He is a man of good judgment, great enterprise, and keen foresight, and through his efficiency as a business man has not only promoted his own success but the prosperity of his city as well.

On Sept. 2, 1891, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Chapin and Miss Agnes Samuel, born at Carrollton, Ill., in 1863, daughter of Dr. J. D. Samuel. Mr. and Mrs. Chapin have one child, Margaret L., born Sept. 1, 1893.