George T. Codding, the principal of the schools of Westmoreland, Kan., was born at Joliet, Ill., Aug. 8, 1862, the son of John S. and Harriet M. (Case) Codding. John S. Codding was born at Butler, Ohio, Oct. 18, 1836, and was descended from the English family of Coddingtons, who were among the first settlers in the State of Rhode Island, having left the mother country in order to have the privilege of worshiping God in the manner dictated by their own conscience. When John S. Codding was only a lad his parents moved to Will county, Illinois, and in 1847, he vent to Milwaukee, Wis., and entered an office to learn the printer's trade. Upon completing his apprenticeship, two years later, he returned to Illinois. This was the period of great struggle in Kansas, and he joined that great band of hardy pioneers who came to this state to assist in having it admitted free from slavery. For a time he lived at Marysville, but in 1861 returned to Cook county, Illinois, and removed thence to Porter county, Indiana, where he lived during the Civil war. In 1872 he again came to the Sunflower State and settled on a farm north of Louisville, where he engaged in farming and stock raising. A great number of sheep were run in the eastern part of the state at that time, and Mr. Codding became president of the Central Kansas Wool Growers' Association. He was a member of the legislature during the years when Kansas was devastated by drought and grasshoppers and helped pass the relief measures and appropriations that saved the pioneer settlers from actual starvation and gave them a start with seed grains. He was a local leader in politics and stood high in the councils of his party. Fraternally he was associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Codding passed away in 1898 but his wife still resides in Westmoreland. John S. Codding and wife became the parents of four sons: Julian K., warden of the State Penitentiary; George T., the subject of this review; John F. and William V., who are engaged in merchandising in Pueblo, Col. George T. Codding accompanied his parents when they removed from Illinois to Indiana, and received his early schooling in the latter state. He was only ten years of age when the family located on the homestead in Kansas, where he led the life of the average country boy on the frontier, helping on the farm in the summer and attending the district school in the winter. He grew up healthy, sturdy and self-reliant, as do most men who gain an education under the great difficulties incident to life in a newly settled country. He remained on the homestead until he was twenty-one years old, when he married Etta Witter, the daughter of Daniel P. Witter, of Havensville, Kan. Soon after his marriage he decided to start in the sheep business for himself in Harvey county, Kansas, but a year later returned to Pottawatomie county and began to teach school, the vocation for which he was naturally adapted, although he loved out door life and has never given up agricultural pursuits. For a quarter of a century, Mr. Codding has taught in some school each winter and during that time has gained a wide reputation in the eastern part of the state as an educator. For four years he has served as regent of the state normal schools, a position of trust which he has most admirably filled; was county superintendent of Pottawatomie county; taught in Wheaton, Kan.; at Havensville for two years and five years at Louisville, before accepting the position which he is so ably filling at Westmoreland. Mr. Codding stands for progress along all educational lines; believes in modern methods of teaching and has demonstrated their efficiency. He is essentially self-made; has had no exceptional educational advantages to assist him in climbing the ladder of ambition and success, but has gained a prominent place by hard work, persistence, constant application and the knowledge that there is always room at the top for the right man. In politics he is a progressive Republican, believing in the best man for the place, and is not bound by any party ties in local elections. Fraternally he is associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. He and his family are members of the Congregational church. Two children have been born to George and Etta Codding: John S., a student in the law department of the state university, and Evaline Gladis, who is in school at Westmoreland. Although he has made teaching his real life work, Mr. Codding still owns his farm in Rock Creek township, Pottawatomie county, and enjoys the out door life there during the summer season.