William Foulkes, D. D., pastor of the Grand View Park Presbyterian Church of Kansas City, Kan., president of the board of trustees of Emporia College, Emporia, Kan., and ex-moderator of the Presbyterian Synod of Kansas, one of the best known ministers of the state, was born in Utica, N. Y., in 1848, the son of Rev. Thomas and Maria (Davies) Foulkes, who were both born and reared in Wales. Thomas Foulkes was educated in his native country and early decided to devote his life to the work of the church. He studied for the ministry in Wales and was married there before he immigrated to the United States, in 1845, to begin clerical work. When he first came to this country Mr. Foulkes was located in New York State for some time, then moved to Wisconsin, and served in Racine for some time, and in Oshkosh, Wis., for twenty-five years. Mrs. Foulkes died in 1877, after rearing a family of six children, of whom William is the only one in Kansas. Mr. Foulkes was married a second time, a few years after the death of his first wife, to Mrs. Ann Williams, who now lives in Minneapolis, Minn. After a long life devoted to the work of the Lord Mr. Foulkes was laid to rest, in 1892. William was only a child when the family left New York and was practically reared in Wisconsin, where he attended the excellent public schools and then entered Ripon College, Ripon, Wis., where he graduated in the class of 1873. Having determined to follow in his father's footsteps and become a minister he went to Lane Theological Seminary, Cincinnati, Ohio, and was there three years. After receiving his degree from that institution he was called to his first charge at Quincy, Mich., where he served until 1881. From 1881 to 1888 he was in charge of a church at Fostoria, Ohio, but resigned to accept the pastorate of the First Presbyterian Church, Salina, Kan. Twelve years later he accepted a call to the First Presbyterian Church of Kansas City, Kan., where he remained three years before coming to the Grand View Church. In 1896 he was moderator of the Kansas Presbyterian Synod and was elected president of the board of trustees of Emporia College, in 1905, a position he is filling with marked ability and to the advantage of the college, as he is a broad, liberal minded man, much interested in all educational work, and one who stands for progress. Reverend Foulkes is one of the oldest and most highly respected ministers in Kansas. All his life he has been a scholar, not only of books but of men and by his kindness, liberality and thought for others has saved many a soul that was wandering in the dark, who by his guiding hand was brought to the light, and saved to the kingdom of God. In 1892 he was instrumental in building the Presbyterian church at Salina and, in May, 1910, attended the fiftieth anniversary of the organization. Since coming to Grand View the congregation has erected a fine new edifice, finished in 1910, which is one of credit to the city. In 1896 Mr. Foulkes received his degree of Doctor of Divinity from Maryville College, Tennessee. He is regarded as one of the strongest men in the Presbyterian ministry of Kansas and his word carries weight in any conference.

Dr. Foulkes was first married, in 1876, to Harriet A. Johnson of Wisconsin, who died in 1892. She was a graduate of Ripon College, and had two children: Rev. William Hiram Foulkes, D. D., minister of the Rutgers Presbyterian Church of New York city, and Faith Elizabeth, who is at home, a graduate of the high school. In 1900 he was married a second time, to Mrs. Irene S. Radcliff of Salina, Kan., who enters heartily into the work of the church.