Dr. Augustus P. Lapham, a prominent dental surgeon of Wetmore, Kans., is a native of Canada. He was born April 10, 1860, near Port Sarnia Province of Ontario, and is a son of Augustus and Mary Ann (Flint) Lapham, both natives of England, whose parents emigrated to Canada when they were children. The father followed farming and stock, raising throughout his life in Canada, where he died in 1870. Dr. Lapham is one of a family of eight children. He received a good common school education, and after leaving school continued to study by himself, and in that way has acquired an exceptionally good education. When a boy of ten he went to work in a woolen mill, and in this way assisted his parents, as they were poor and had a large family. He continued to work in the woolen industry for thirteen years, and during this time was promoted from one position to another until he had worked himself up to a responsible place. In 1883 he came to Kansas and located at Frankfort, where his brother-in-law, Mr. Mason, was engaged in the furniture business. He entered the employ of Mr. Mason, working in his furniture store about three years, and studied dentistry under the preceptorship of Dr. C. W. Brandenberg of Frankfort, and in 1895, passed the State Board of Examiners and was licensed to practice, and after being associated with Dr. Brandenberg about a year, he went to Wetmore in 1896 where he has since built up an extensive practice. Dr. Lapham has been exceptionally successful in his professional career, and is recognized as one of the leading dentists of northern Kansas. He was united in marriage December 31, 1884 to Miss Thursa E. Brown, a native of Ohio who came to Kansas with her parents when a child. She is a daughter of John Brown of Frankfort. To Dr. and Mrs. Lapham have been born three children: Edith, a graduate of the Wetmore High School and Kansas University, is now the wife of Leonard Tetz, and resides in Graham, Mo.; Marsena M., a graduate of the Wetmore High School, class of 1912, and is now a student at the Kansas State Normal School, Emporia, Kans., and Augustus P. Jr., now a student in the Wetmore schools.

Since locating at Wetmore Dr. Lapham has taken a prominent part in local affairs, and has served one term as mayor of Wetmore, and has also been a member of the schol[sic] board. His fraternal associations are with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mrs. Lapham and daughters are members of the Eastern Star.