Frank E. Mossman, A. M., D. D., president of Southwestern College, Winfield, Kan., was born in Urbana, Benton county Iowa, Aug. 26, 1873. He is a son of David C. Mossman and his wife, whose maiden name was Mary Elizabeth Cross. The former was born in Illinois, but removed to Iowa, in 1860, and has there since followed the occupation of farmer, carpenter and contractor. He is now a resident of Sioux City, Iowa, where he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. In political views he is a Republican. William Mossman, the father of David C. and the grandfather of Frank E., was born in Pennsylvania, but removed to Illinois and from there to Iowa, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. He passed away, at Vinton, Iowa, at the advanced age of eighty-six years. He was a son of James Mossman, an emigrant from Ireland who settled in Pennsylvania and lived and died there. The mother of Dr. Mossman, Mary Elizabeth Cross—born in Indiana and died at Sioux City, Iowa, July 10, 1910—was a daughter of Solomon Cross, who was born in Indiana and moved from there to Iowa, where he spent many years in the ministry of the Christian church and was a well known citizen of that state. He now resides at Hobart, Okla., and has reached the age of eighty-eight years.

Dr. Mossman taught in the public schools of Northwest Iowa, from 1893 until 1900, and then began his collegiate education at Morningside College, Sioux City, Iowa, in which he was graduated, in 1903, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. The year 1903-04 he acted as financial agent for Morningside College, and the year 1904-05 was spent at the University of Chicago. Morningside College conferred on him the degree of Master of Arts, in 1905, and in the same year he was honored with the degree of Doctor of Divinity by Upper Iowa University. He was ordained an elder in the Methodist Episcopal church and served several pastorates in Northwest Iowa, prior to becoming president of Southwestern College, to which responsible position he was elected Aug. 10, 1905.

On March 27, 1895, in Larchwood, Iowa, was celebrated the marriage of Dr. Mossman and Miss Zoa H. Foster, daughter of B. F. Foster. Mr. Foster, whose occupation is that of farming, served in the Civil war four years as a member of the Eighteenth (Union) Kentucky regiment. He now resides in Winfield, Kan. Dr. and Mrs. Mossman have three children—two daughters and a son: Mereb Ethna, aged five years; Nina Benita, aged three years; and Hobart Foster, the baby son. Dr. Mossman is a Republican in his political views and fraternally is a Master Mason, being a member of Winfield Lodge, No. 110.

Southwestern College was established, in 1886, and is the second largest of the three colleges belonging to the Methodist Episcopal church, in Kansas. Dr. Mossman has associated with him a faculty comprising thiry-five instructors and teachers. His ability, indefatigable labor and general fitness for the position of college president has gained for Southwestern College exceptional success and growth during his administration.