Frederick H. Lobdell, editor and owner of the "Kinsley Mercury," Kinsley, Kan., is the son of a Kansas pioneer and is himself a native Kansan, having been born at Osawatomie on Jan. 3, 1868. His father was Capt. Darius Lobdell and his mother was Roxana C. Godding, prior to her marriage. Capt. Darius Lobdell was born in Clinton county, New York, in 1837, of parents that were natives of Connecticut. He was reared in New York State and came to Kansas in 1859 as a "free state" man, locating in Miami county. During the conflict of 1861 to 1865 he served as a member of Company D, Sixteenth Kansas cavalry, and with his regiment campaigned in Missouri and Arkansas and participated in the battles of the Big Blue, Lexington, Pea Ridge and Prairie Grove. In 1865 his regiment saw service in Kansas guarding the settlers of the state against Indian raids and at different times was stationed at Old Forts Zarah, Larned and Dodge. For meritorious services he was promoted until he became a captain and in 1865 was mustered out with that rank at Fort Leavenworth. After the close of the war he was a traveling salesman in Kansas for a Leavenworth wholesale drygoods house until 1872. In that year, in a small town in Butler county, he opened a general store, which he conducted for four years. In 1876 he suffered a stroke of paralysis, from which he never recovered, lingering until 1888, when he passed away in Butler county. Roxana C. (Godding) Lobdell, the mother of Frederick H., was born in 1835, at Rockland, Me. Her father was Hugh Godding, whose parents were both natives of Germany. Hugh Godding and his wife were the parents of seven children, four sons and three daughters, and with their family came to Kansas in 1859. He had been a ship builder in Maine, but after coming to Kansas he gave his attention to the cooper trade. Both he and his wife died in Butler county in 1877.

Darius Lobdell and Roxana C. Godding were married at Osawatomie, Kan., in 1860, and to their union were born four children, as follows: Charles E., born Sept. 21, 1861, was educated in the public schools of Butler county, Kansas, read law and was admitted to the bar in Eldorado in 1884; was judge of the Thirty-third judicial district from 1901 to 1911 and resigned that office on Oct. 1, 1911; Adda Frances, born Oct. 30, 1864, is now state agent for the State Orphans' Home at Atchison, Kan.; Frederick H. Lobdell, of this review, the third in order of birth; Cora Myrtle, the youngest child, born Aug. 8, 1870, married A. E. Foglesong, who served as court stenographer to Judge Banta, at Great Bend, Kan., in 1908.

Frederick H. Lobdell was educated in the public schools of Butler county and at the age of eighteen began teaching in the winters and working on the farm during the summers. In 1892 he removed to Dighton, Lane county, Kansas, where he bought the "Dighton Herald," the only Republican paper in the county. He published the "Herald" until 1898, when he sold out and went to Ponca City, Okla., where he published the "Daily Courier" for two years. In 1903 he rebought his old paper at Dighton, Kan., which he published until July, 1911, when he sold it and removed to Kinsley, Kan., where he bought the "Kinsley Mercury." This paper was established in 1883, since which time it has been the official Republican newspaper of Edwards county. It has a large circulation and has a strong influence in behalf of the party which it represents. The plant and equipment is modern.

On May 26, 1894, Mr. Lobdell was united in marriage to Miss Cora Green, a daughter of J. S. and Elizabeth Green. Mr. Green was a prominent cattleman and farmer of Lane county, but died at Apache, Okla., in January, 1907. Mr. and Mrs. Green were the parents of four sons and two daughters. Mrs. Lobdell was born at Mahaska, Iowa, on Aug. 23, 1874; she is a member of the Church of Christ, Scientist. To Mr. and Mrs. Lobdell has been born one daughter, Helen Alta, on June 11, 1896. Mr. Lobdell gives loyal allegiance to the Republican party in political affairs and from 1906 to 1909 served as the county attorney of Lane county. Fraternally he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.