George W. Hook, postmaster of Sabetha, Kan., and one of that thriving little city's most active and progressive citizens, is a native of the Badger State. He is one of thirteen children and was born in Wisconsin in 1864. He is a son of William and Rebecca (Arnett) Hook, the father was born at St. Thomas, West Indies, under the American flag. He was a descendant of a long line of privateersmen and followed deep water sailing during his early career and later was a Mississippi river pilot for fifteen years, and spent the latter part of his life as a pioneer in Indiana, Wisconsin, Nebraska and Kansas. Rebecca (Arnett) Hook was a native of Indiana and now resides with the subject at Sabetha at the age of ninety. She is still possessed of all her faculties. She is a great reader and keeps herself well posted on all current topics.

When George W. Hook was six years old, he accompanied his parents to Kansas, locating in Sabetha in 1870. Here he was reared and attended Sabetha's excellent public schools, and has the distinction of being the first graduate from the high school. He then entered the Kansas State University at Lawrence, Kan., but after spending a year there, he decided to specialize his education and to take a commercial and business course in a business college at Jacksonville, Ill. After graduating from that institution he did expert accountant work for various banking houses for about three years. Mr. Hook then read law, was admitted to the Nemaha county bar, and was practicing law in Sabetha when he received the appointment of postmaster by the late President McKinley. He gave such universal satisfaction during his first term that on its expiration he was reappointed postmaster by President Roosevelt to the wish of the entire community.

On Oct. 28, 1888, Mr. Hook was united in marriage to Miss Laura Irwin, the daughter of "Old Doctor Irwin," a Kansas pioneer physician, who was well and favorable known throughout northeast Kansas from 1857 until his death. Mr. and Mrs. Hook became the parents of three sons: Irwin A., who married Miss Ona Lanning and has one son, George Hook; Herbert H., and Hugh. Politically, Mr. Hook is an ardent Republican. To him belongs the distinction of drafting the organization rules under which the first Congressional primary was held in the State of Kansas. Fraternally he is a Woodman, a member of the Knights and Ladies of Security, the Royal Neighbors, and the Life and Annuity Association. The whole family are members of the Methodist church. Sabetha is noted for its progressive spirit and is probably one of the best managed towns of its size in the state, as is evidenced by its fine streets and sidewalks, its electric lighting, its water service and its municipal system of furnishing heat to its citizens. The city schools are among the best in the state, and a new hospital just completed is second to none in all of its appointments and equipment. In all of this forward movement, George W. Hook has been a prime factor in aiding and encouraging every step taken in the direction of public improvement, and whether at home or abroad he is enthusiastically singing the praises of Sabetha.