Watson E. Gault, of Richmond, Kan., is its leading grain and stock dealer. He was born in Kendall county, Ill., Oct. 19, 1859, the son of Daniel E. and Elizabeth A. (Roberts) Gault, the former of whom was born in Vermont in 1828 and died in 1882, while the mother was born in Illinois in 1835 and died in 1868. Daniel E. Gault was only four years old when he accompanied his parents to Wisconsin, but after a short residence there the family removed to Illinois. There he was reared, and when about twenty years old he joined a wagon train bound for California and drove an ox team overland to the Pacific coast. He remained there three years prospecting for gold and secured about $3,000 worth, enough to give him a fine start in life. He then returned to his home in Illinois, via the Isthmus of Panama and New York City, and married Elizabeth A. Roberts, near Aurora, Ill., on March 1, 1856. He at once purchased 160 acres of wild land in Livingston county, Ill., and spent the following six years in developing a home. He then sold out and removed to Aurora, where Mrs. Gault died in 1868. In 1872 he came to Franklin county, Kan., and bought a farm six miles southeast of Ottawa, where he was engaged in farming and stock raising for the next ten years. His health began to fail, however, and being advised by his physician to try to regain it in southern California, he disposed of his farm and removed to Santa Cruz, Cal., where after eight months residence he passed away. He and his wife became the parents of three children: Ida J., born in 1857, now Mrs. Smith Westfall, who resides near Ottawa; Albert H., born in 1858, who now resides at Putnam, Okla.; and Watson E., the subject of this review. Watson E. Gault was reared to agricultural pursuits and received his education in the district schools. On arriving at his majority, he engaged in farming and stock raising, which he successfully followed until 1890, when he disposed of his farming interests and removed to Richmond, where he engaged in merchandising for eleven years. He then sold out and engaged in the grain and live stock business, which he has successfully conducted ever since.

On Dec. 13, 1882, he was united in marriage to Miss Cora Scott, a native of Indiana, where she was born in 1860. She is the only child of Thomas N. and Sarah (Harrison) Scott, both natives of Indiana and both born in 1834. Mr. and Mrs. Gault are the parents of nine children. Harry L., born Feb. 20, 1884, is a graduate of the Richmond High School and associated in business with his father. Robert S., born Jan. 26, 1886, is a graduate of the Richmond High School, Baker University, and the Moody School of Chicago, Ill. After his graduation he was ordained a Methodist Episcopal minister and preached one year at Opolis, Kan.; then was transferred to Honolulu, Sandwich Islands, where he is at present engaged in Young Men's Christian Association work. Minnie, born Feb. 19, 1888, is a teacher in the Richmond High School. Margaret, born Nov. 18, 1889, a graduate of the Richmond High School, died in December, 1909. Sarah, born Jan. 8, 1892; Ross W., born Aug. 16, 1897; and Ralph N., born Nov. 26, 1901, are all students in the Richmond schools. Dwight L., born Feb. 1, 1900, and the youngest child, who was born Jan. 27, 1904, both died in infancy.

Mr. Gault has been very successful in his various business engagements, to which he has devoted the most of his time and attention. However, he and his family take an active part in the church and social life of Richmond, all being members of the Presbyterian church, in which he is an elder. He is a Republican in politics, and has been a member of the Richmond school board for the past fourteen years.