Edward A. Mize, of Atchison, secretary and treasurer of the Blish, Mize & Silliman Hardware Company, has been a resident of Atchison for over forty years and his name stands preëminently among its citizens, for he is of that class of men who through their superior ability, energy, industry and intelligence have materially added to the prosperity of Atchison and have increased its commercial importance. During that period he has seen the business with which he is connected develop from a small retail store into one of the largest wholesale hardware establishments of the West and has seen a like development in the city of Atchison and of the State of Kansas. Mr. Mize is one of the many Eastern men who have made up the personnel of the strongest business men, professional men and statesmen of Kansas during the last half century. He was born in Middletown, Conn., June 14, 1840, and is descended on the paternal side from an old New York family, the Mize family being a well known and prominent one in Madison county, New York, while his mother's family was an old established one of Middletown, Conn. The father of Mr. Mize removed to Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1842, and there for several years was engaged in the manufacture of linseed oil. Later he became auditor for the Cleveland, Mt. Vernon & Columbus Railway Company, with headquarters at Akron, Ohio, and was thus employed a quarter of a century. After his retirement from active business duties he removed to Chicago and resided in that city until his death.

Edward A. Mize was reared and educated in Cuyahoga Falls, Summit county, Ohio, until eighteen years of age. His first business venture was in the city of Chicago, where he engaged in the insurance business and conducted it until the spring of 1871, when he came west with two other young men from Chicago, David P. Blish and John B. Silliman, and located in Atchison, Kan. There they bought out a retail hardware store and established the retail and wholesale hardware business which in the succeeding years has grown to such proportions as to rank among the largest and most extensive of its kind in the West. The firm was incorporated in January, 1888, and has as its present officers: J. B. Silliman, president; Arthur E. Mize, vice-president; E. A. Mize, secretary and treasurer; C. L. Mize, assistant treasurer; and C. S. Osborn, cashier. Its department managers are: A. E. Mize, sales manager; J. A. Kinney, traffic manager; H. B. Mize, manager of the cutlery, harness, tinware and advertising department; and J. W. Barlow, manager of the guns and sporting goods department. The firm since its organization has enjoyed uninterrupted prosperity and to accommodate the continuously growing business a new five-story building is being erected for occupancy at the corner of Fifth street and Utah avenue at a cost of $160,000, and when completed will be the largest business building in Atchison.

In Chicago on Dec. 18, 1867, Mr. Mize was married to Miss Caroline Silliman, a sister of J. B. Silliman, the business partner of Mr. Mize. Mr. and Mrs. Mize have reared five children, each of whom is filling a useful and responsible position in life. In order of birth they are: Arthur E., who is vice-president of the Blish, Mize & Silliman Hardware Company; Rev. Robert H., rector of St.. Andrews Episcopal Church of Emporia, Kan.; H. D., who holds the responsible position of buyer for the Blish, Mize & Silliman Hardware Company; Caroline, who is the wife of Rev. Francis F. White, rector of Trinity Episcopal Church, Atchison, Kan.; and Chester L., assistant treasurer and manager of the credit department of the hardware company. Mr. Mize, though essentially a business man, has ever shown a commendable interest in all that touches the general welfare of the community. He thoroughly believes in the efficacy of a good education and is interested in furthering the efficiency of the public schools. He has served seven years as a member of the Atchison board of education and was president of the board five years of that period. He has also been a trustee of the Atchison County High School six years, which office he still holds. Mr. Mize and family are communicants of the Episcopal church at Atchison. He is one of its oldest and most faithful members and has served as treasurer of the church twenty-five years. For the past forty years the name of Mr. Mize has been linked with the public affairs of Atchison, as an early settler, as a promoter of large business prospects and as a public spirited citizen and he well deserves the universal respect and esteem which he enjoys in his home city.