Alexander McGregor, Washington, Kan.—The State of Kansas owes its greatness to the successful agriculturist and stockman whose efforts have placed the Sunflower State in the front rank in this line of endeavor. The gentleman whose name introduces this review is one of the well known stock men of Washington county. He is a native son of Kansas, having been born in Mill Creek township, Washington county, November 18, 1875. He is a son of Robert and Elizabeth (McLaren) McGregor, both natives of Scotland. They came to America with their parents when quite young. The families settled in Wisconsin, where the parents of our subject were reared, educated, and married. In 1869 they came to Kansas and took a homestead in Mill Creek township, Washington county, where the father was successfully engaged in farming and stock raising until about ten years ago when he retired and moved to Kansas City, where he now resides. The wife and mother departed this life in 1884.

Alexander McGregor was educated in the public schools and later took a course in a business college. After graduating he engaged in the grain and live stock business at Morrow, Kan., one of the best shipping points for grain and cattle in the State. Although but a boy when he engaged in this business venture he was successful from the start and under his capable management the business developed from year to year and he was rewarded by a substantial financial success. He also engaged in ranching during this time. He became more and more interested in the stock business and in 1910 sold his grain business and removed to Washington and has devoted himself to the fancy stock business since that time. He makes a specialty of Herefords for exhibition purposes and no exhibitor is better known at the big stock shows at Denver, St. Joseph, Kansas City and Chicago than Mr. McGregor, and his blue-ribbon bunch of Herefords. He has never failed to win the money where his stock has been on exhibition. His cattle are not only prize winners, but commercial winners, whenever placed on the market. Some of the best cattle to be seen on the market come from his 300-acre ranch near Washington. He holds the record for selling the highest priced car load of cattle ever sold in Kansas, and he has taken three grand champion-load prizes. Mr. McGregor's beef cattle are in great demand and he numbers among his customers Frank Rockefeller, Weber, of Kansas City, and the Harvey House people, who buy his beef whenever they can. While Mr. McGregor is primarily a cattle man, he is something of a hog raiser also, usually feeding from 500 to 1,000 hogs. He was one of the organizers of the Mutual Telephone Company, of Washington, and served on its board of directors two years.

Mr. McGregor was united in marriage, September 28, 1898, to Miss Margaret, daughter of W. H. and Lucy (Melvin) McCormack, the former a native of Wisconsin and the latter of New York, both of Scotch descent. Mrs. McGregor was born and raised in Republic county, Kansas, where her father was engaged in farming and stock raising. She was educated in the public schools, graduating from the high school. Mr. and Mrs. McGregor have one child, Helen Lucile, born August 5, 1912. Mr. McGregor is a Republican and has taken an active interest in the affairs of his party. He has served as chairman of the central committee and been a delegate to several State conventions. He was a delegate to the National Republican convention at Chicago in 1912. He also takes a commendable interest in local affairs and is the present mayor of Washington. He is a Thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of the Mystic Shrine. Although a young man Mr. McGregor has met with success to a degree that entitles him to rank among the leaders of the State.