Roy J. Grover, vice-president of the Union State Bank at Arkansas City, Kan., is one of the younger native sons of Kansas who have stepped to the fore in the ranks of the state's most progressive business men, ranks that heretofore have been composed almost exclusively of Eastern men. Mr. Grover was born in Pottawatomie, Kan., Feb. 10, 1880, and is a son of Orin W. and Mary Ellen (Davis) Grover. The father, Orin W. Grover, was born in Michigan, but came to Kansas when only four years of age with his parents, who settled in Pottawatomie. He was educated at the Kansas State Agricultural College at Manhattan and has given his whole attention to the great basic industry of agriculture in Pottawatomie county, where he still resides and is a well known and respected citizen. He is a Republican in his political views. Orin J. Grover, the grandfather of Roy J., is still living and is one of the oldest and best known pioneers of the state. He is a native of New York state and first saw Kansas in 1849, but at that time, however, he continued his journey westward to the gold fields of California. In 1852 he returned to Kansas and took up a claim in Pottawatomie county where, after an interim of nearly sixty years, he is still actively identified with the industrial and commercial life of the county as a banker at Onaga. He took a very prominent part in the political and public life of the state in his younger days, being an ardent Republican, and has given a number of years of service both as representative and a senator in the state legislature. He was chairman of the state convict board for a number of years and while serving in that capacity was instrumental in securing the employment of convict labor in the coal fields, thus saving the state a great deal of money. Mary Ellen (Davis) Grover, the mother of Roy J., died in 1907. Her father removed to Kansas from Indiana in a very early day and died in this state. She was a devout member of the Baptist church.

Roy J. Grover, after completing the course at the Onaga High School, took a business course at Quincy, Ill. He then returned to Onaga and became assistant cashier of the Onaga State Bank. Later he became cashier of the Wheaton State Bank at Wheaton, Kan., remaining in that position for five years before taking up his duties as vice-president of the Union State Bank at Arkansas City. This bank was established on Jan. 2, 1909, and is capitalized at $50,000, with a surplus of $5,500, a very creditable showing considering the short time it has been established and one which reflects much credit upon its capable and energetic officials. In 1905 Mr. Grover married Miss Nellie L. Ingalsbe, a daughter of F. S. Ingalsbe, a native of New York and the son of one of Pottawatomie county's earliest settlers. Mr. and Mrs. Grover have two sons: Dale LeRoy and Orin F. Grover. Mr. Grover is a Republican but takes no active part in political affairs. Both he and his wife are members of the Christian church.