Asa Ray Darby.—Kansas is primarily a great agricultural State, and he who has successfully devoted himself to that line of endeavor within its confines for over fifty years, certainly has contributed to the greatness of the commonwealth. Such is the distinction of him whose name introduces this review. Asa Ray Darby is a native of the Buckeye State, born August 25, 1847, in Monroe county, Ohio. For a more extended review of the Darby family history see biographical sketch of Philip Darby, which appears elsewhere in this volume.

Asa Ray was about eleven years of age when the family came to Kansas and settled in Washington county, and here, surrounded by pioneer life on the frontier of the then rapidly developing West, the boy spent that formative period of his life which develops character and self-reliance. When the family came to Washington county the entire population of the county numbered about twenty. There were many Indians here yet, and there were considerable Indian troubles in the adjacent counties on the west during the '60s, but none of any importance in the vicinity of the Darby homestead, except periodical Indian scares. There was plenty of large game, including deer, antelope, wild turkey and buffalo, and while not a professional hunter, Mr. Darby has frequently hunted buffaloes. He received his early education in the public schools and attended school in the log school house at Washington, Kan, which was the first school building in that vicinity. When he was twenty-one years of age he took a homestead in township 2, range 2, and began farming for himself, according to the style of farming in those days, and has been continuously engaged in farming and stock raising ever since, and has met with a very satisfactory degree of success. He owns one of the best farms in the county, which is located in Mill Creek township.

Mr. Darby has been twice married. On September 2, 1887, he married Clara B. Hayworth, a daughter of John and Louisa Hayworth, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of North Carolina. Mrs. Darby was born in Iowa, where the family were farmers. They came to Kansas in 1885 and settled in Washington county, where they still reside. To Mr. and Mrs. Darby were born three children: Vernon Ray, a barber in Munden, Kan.; Herbert O. W. and Winifred May, both at home. The wife and mother died January 4, 1904. Mr. Darby married, on January 11, 1911, Sarah E. Garrett. She is a daughter of James and Mary Garrett. Her father was a native of Scotland and her mother of England. Mrs. Darby was born in Illinois and came to Kansas with her parents about 1880, settling in Washington county. They are both now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Darby are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is a steward. Politically he is a Republican.