Charles M. Condon.—Among the ablest and best known bankers and financiers of Kansas is Charles M. Condon, of the C. M. Condon & Company State Bank of Oswego. Mr. Condon came to Kansas in 1868, in March of which year he located in Oswego, Labette county, where he has since resided. There he began his business career as a merchant and up to this date he has maintained a mercantile business in Oswego. He has been identified with the banking business since 1876. Mr. Condon was born in the State of New York, near Schenectady, June 24, 1843. His parents were James and Mary (McCarty) Condon, both of whom were born in Ireland, where they were reared and married. As a young couple they came to America to establish for themselves a new home in that land of promise and opportunity. They settled in Schenectady county, New York, where the father engaged in farming until the lad, Charles, was twelve years old, or in 1855, when they removed westward to Iowa and settled on a farm about sixteen miles from the city of Des Moines. There they spent the remainder of their days, the mother's death having occurred soon after the family's removal to Iowa. The father lived many years afterward and died in advanced years. He was twice married. By his first marriage there were three sons and one daughter, of whom Mr. Condon, of this review, was second eldest. By the second marriage there was one daughter.

Mr. Condon was reared on the farm and obtained a common school education, which was supplemented by a course in a Des Moines, Iowa, business college. In March, 1862, he enlisted as a private in Company I, Eighteenth Iowa infantry, and served in the Civil war until its close, being mustered out of the service in August, 1865, a second lieutenant. For the first two years after the close of the war Mr. Condon farmed in Iowa. During the Civil war Mr. Condon's command was, for a year or more, stationed at Fort Smith, Ark. During that time he formed an acquaintance with Miss Mary L. Beckel, of Fort Smith, to whom he was married Oct. 31, 1867. In the following spring, or in March, 1868, he located in Oswego, Kan., being attracted there by former army comrades who had settled there. On locating in Oswego Mr. Condon opened a general store on limited capital and was attended by success, as he has been in all of his subsequent business undertakings. In 1876 he and B. F. Hobart established a private bank in Oswego under the firm name of Hobart & Condon. In 1880 Mr. Condon purchased Mr. Hobart's interest and continued the business until the C. M. Condon & Company State Bank was organized with Mr. Condon as president. At the head of this institution he has remained, the bank now ranking among the leading state banks of Kansas. Mr. Condon is also interested in five other banks, being president of the Condon National Bank at Coffeyville, Kan.; of the Neodesha (Kan.) National Bank; of the Mound Valley State Bank, at Mound Valley, Kan.; vice-president of the National Bank of Commerce at Pittsburg, Kan.; and a director of the Blue Jacket State Bank at Blue Jacket, Okla., of which bank a W. H. Condon, is president.

While Mr. Condon has always been a Republican in politics he has never sought official preferment. He has amassed a fortune by reason of sapient business ability. He has contributed much toward the building of Oswego, and to public weal he has been a generous contributor. His name is a synonym of success, honor and integrity wherever he is known. He is one of the best and most favorably known citizens of Labette county, and also in Kansas, especially among men of business affairs. Mr. and Mrs. Condon are the parents of six children: Geneva, the wife of A. A. Ramsey, of Coffeyville, Kan.; Estella, the deceased wife of A. E. Maxwell, president of the National Bank of Commerce, Pittsburg, Kan.; Wilbur H., cashier of the C. M. Condon & Company State Bank, of Oswego, and president of the Blue Jacket (Okla.) State Bank; Wayne M., a dry goods merchant in Oklahoma; Corinne, wife of Frank McRay, of Oklahoma City, Okla.; and Clifford S., a dry goods merchant at Carthage, Mo.