S. M. Henley, a prominent farmer of Meriden, Kans., is one of the largest land owners in Jefferson county. He was born in Buchanan county, October 1, 1858, and is a son of F. W. and Harriet C. (Burns) Henley, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Indiana. The Henley family came to Kansas in 1865, and located about three miles north of Winchester, in Jefferson county. Here the father bought a farm and was successfully engaged in agricultural pursuits until the time of his death, October 27, 1877, at the age of sixty. The mother died August 26, 1913, aged eighty-six years. They were the parents of ten children, nine of whom are living, as follows: Sarah J., married Robert Downey, Topeka Kans.; Anne married James Oliver Davis, Winchester, Kans.; Harriet married Miles Pitcher, Starr, Ore.; F. W. Jr., miner and prospector; James T., was a mine operator and died in San Francisco in 1901; David B. Iron River, Mich.; S. M., the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, married James Reynolds, Winchester, Kans.; O. D., Topeka, Kans., and Kate I., married T. J. Morgan, Topeka, Kans. S. M. Henley was a lad of seven years when the family located in Jefferson county, and here he was reared and educated, spending his boyhood days in assisting with the farm work. When he was twenty-two years old, he bought land near Meriden, and began farming on his own account. He soon drifted into the cattle business, and became one of the extensive feeders and shippers in this section of Kansas. He now feeds from five to seven carloads of cattle, for the market, annually. He is also an extensive wheat and alfalfa raiser, and owns about 800 acres of land, which is operated under his personal supervision. In 1908 he removed to the town of Meriden, but the fact that he changed his residence, in no way affected his method of farming. His automobile keeps him in close touch with the farm, and it might be well said of him, that he is making a success of farming, by telephone and with an automobile. Mr. Henley was married July 4, 1881 to Miss Elizabeth McMahon, of Winchester, Kans., and to this union has been born one child, Nona E., aged five years. Mr. Henley is interested in various other enterprises, in addition to his farming and stock business. He was a stockholder and director in the State Bank of Meriden for several years, and a charter member of the Farmers State Bank of Meriden, and was instrumental in the consolidation of these two banks, and is now a heavy stockholder and a director of the Meriden State Bank. He has taken an active interest in the welfare of his town and county, and has served as mayor of Meriden for two years. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and is a Mason.