L. E. Chase, a Kansas pioneer and leading citizen of Brown county, is a native of Maine. He was born near Portland, November 13, 1848, and is a son of James N. and Abigail (Trull) Chase, natives of Maine. The father was engaged in the lumber business for a time but most of his life was devoted to farming and stock raising. He was also an extensive cattle dealer. In 1860 he removed to Kansas with his parents, settling in Brown county on a farm four miles northwest of Hiawatha, where his parents spent the remainder of their lives. L. E. Chase attended the public schools in his native State, and was twelve year old when the family came to Kansas. The country was new, and here the boy attended such schools as those pioneer times afforded, and helped with the farm work. From the time he was fifteen years old until after he reached his majority he assisted his father, who was then extensively engaged in stock buying. In those days all stock was driven to the St. Joseph market, which was about forty-five miles distant across the country. Shortly after coming to Kansas, the father and his eldest son, Elbridge Chase, went west and established a trading post at Pawnee Rock, Kans., with a purpose of trading with the Indians. They built a stone house on Pawnee Rock, which was fitted up with port holes after the style of a fort, for defense against Indians. In dealing with the Indians in that section during these times, they were required to use a great deal of caution to protect themselves against the treacherous red men. They never allowed more than three Indians in the store room at one time and, after an attack by the Indians, on one occasion, they never permitted the Indians to enter the place unless they were unarmed. Mr. Chase and his son remained there only one winter, when they returned to Brown county and engaged in stock buying, and in a short time became the largest stock dealers in Brown county, and for years did most of the stock business in that section. The father also conducted a meat business at Hiawatha. L. E. Chase, whose name introduces this sketch, was brought up in the stock business, and has been engaged in that line continuously up to the present time. He is also a stock raiser, and for the last twenty years has been a leader in raising Polled-Angus cattle. He has also raised hogs extensively. Mr Chase has not been a very extensive feeder in recent years, but earlier in his business career, he has fed and prepared for market as many as five hundred head of cattle and a thousand head of hogs annually. He has a large farm in Pottawatomie county, besides his Brown county place. He is a great advocate of silos, and has his farms well equipped for handling and feeding by this method. His Brown county farm consists of 1,100 acres, well equipped to suit his purposes. He is a director in the First National Bank of Hiawatha. He was married, March 26, 1874, to Miss Ann, daughter of Daniel and Margaret (Bonnell) Samuel, natives of South Wales. The Samuel family immigrated to America in 1870, and settled in Brown county, Kansas, where the father was successfully engaged in farming and stock raising until his death. The mother is also deceased. Mrs. Chase was born and reared in South Wales, and received her education in the schools of her native land. To Mr. and Mrs. Chase has been born one child, James Madison, born February 12, 1883. He was educated in the public schools of Hiawatha and Ottawa University, and is now engaged in farming and stock raising in Brown county. He married Charlotte Walters, and they have two children: Walter Donald, and Charlotte Ann. L. E. Chase and wife are members of the Baptist church, and are both active in church work and Mr. Chase is a deacon. He is a member of the Theological Seminary Board of Kansas City, Kans., and is also a member of the Board of the Baptist College at Ottawa, Kans., and is president of that body, a position which he has held for several years, and is also president of the Board of the Hiawatha Academy. He is one of the substantial citizens of Brown county, and the Chase family is prominent in the community.