David Wheeler Naill, of Herington, Kan., a citizen of exceptional standing and influence in Dickinson county and a representative citizen of the State, is practically a Kansas pioneer, for his usefulness in the State and his identification with its industrial and commercial development dates back to 1876. He was born Feb. 25, 1858, at Sam's Creek, Frederick county, Maryland. His father, Washington M. Naill, was born at the same place, Jan. 12, 1831, and died there, Feb. 14, 1876, both his birth and his death having occurred in the same house and in the same room. His business career was spent as a flour-mill owner and a farmer. The mother of David W. Naill bore the maiden name of Ruth A. Wheeler and was born in Baltimore, Md., May 6, 1833. She died at Westminster, Md., March 10, 1904. Of the union of Washington M. and Ruth A. Naill were born five sons and three daughters: Grace is Mrs. W. A. Otto of Cedar Rapids, Ia.; Mary Flora is the wife of Charles F. Myers and resides at Alexandria, Va.; David Wheeler Naill is the next in order of birth; Susie C. married Joshua Gist and resides at Westminster, Md.; James H. resides at El Reno, Okla., and is engaged in the hardware business; Mariah Hicks died in infancy; Anna B. is Mrs. William Fenby of Baltimore, Md.; and John May, now of Baltimore, Md., is the only unmarried member of the family at this writing. Hon. David W. Naill, paternal grandfather of David Wheeler Naill, was a native of Frederick county, Maryland, a civil engineer by profession, and a captain of several military companies. He became a very prominent man in his state and served, from 1840 to 1843 inclusive, as the Frederick county representative in the House of Delegates, and from 1846 to 1850 he served as state senator. In 1860 he was a member of the famous legislature that met in Frederick, Md. He was a man of strong convictions and decided views, especially on the question of temperance. When Thomas G. Pratt was governor of Maryland he gave a state banquet, at which Mr. Naill was one of the honored guests, and when the time came to drink each other's health, the governor chose Mr. Naill to join him in the toast. Mr. Naill, being a temperance man, laid hold on the pitcher of water with one hand, while he held a glass in the other. The governor said: "I wish you to drink a glass of wine with me." "I don't drink wine," said Mr. Naill. "What! not drink wine with the governor of Maryland?" said the governor. "I cannot sacrifice principles. No! not for the governor of Maryland," answered Mr. Naill, and the governor drank a glass of water with him.

David Wheeler Naill, of this review, came to Kansas, April 15, 1876, and first secured work on a farm in Jackson county. After three months he went to Abilene, Dickinson county, and from there, in August, 1876, to Topeka, where he secured a position as miller in the mills now owned by the Hon. J. B. Billard, the present mayor of Topeka. On Sept. 15, of that same year, he accepted a position as manager in charge of the Rossville, Kan., Mills, for Messrs. Getty & Alford. On Sept. 20, 1877, he engaged independently in the grain and stock business and bought and shipped the first cars of grain shipped from any station west of Glen Elder, Kan., on the railroad known at that time as the Central Branch of the Union Pacific railroad. In July, 1880, he went to Chapman, Kan., where he formed a partnership with his brother, James H. Naill, to engage in the grain and stock business, under the firm name of D. W. Naill & Company. His adaptability to public duties soon became known and, in April, 1884, he was elected mayor of Chapman, which was the beginning of a long career of public usefulness. He was reëlected mayor of Chapman, in 1885, and in November, 1886, was elected sheriff of Dickinson county. On his reëlection to that office, in 1888, he removed to Abilene; the county seat, which remained his residence nine years. Mr. Naill has served as chairman of the Dickinson County Republican Central Committee four times, being chosen to fill that position in 1891, 1892, 1894, and in 1904. Of his character, as a political leader the Junction City, Kan., "Sentinel" once wrote of him: "Mr. Naill is a true Republican, always at work for the supremacy of the principles it teaches. He is a leader whom the Republicans of Dickinson county are not ashamed to follow and one whom men of all parties respect for the manly stand he has taken in support of his political policies." He was appointed deputy warden of the Kansas State Penitentiary, in 1895, but the Populist wave of 1896 found him again in Abilene, engaged in the grain and stock business. In November, 1898, he removed to Herington, Kan., to engage in the grain, stock and farming business. He was elected treasurer of the Herington Board of Education, in April, 1900, and on March 21, 1906, was appointed postmaster at Herington by President Theodore Roosevelt, to which office he was re-appointed by President William Howard Taft, June 14, 1910, having proved a popular and very capable official in that position. Mr. Naill has been a director in the First National Bank of Herington continuously since January, 1905. His whole career, both as a business man and in the field of political affairs, has been one of great industry and usefulness. A man of sterling common sense, unstained personal character, and stanch and devoted Republicanism, he has won and holds the entire confidence of his community, but it is to them that know him best that his real character is most apparent. An eminent man has said of Mr. Naill, "He works six days of each week for his friends and one day for Dave;" and an editorial friend wrote of him, "He is a royal boy off the old block—honest to the minute—free-hearted and never goes back on a friend." Mr. Naill is a prominent figure in the social and fraternal circles of central Kansas, being a member of the following Masonic orders: Benevolent Lodge No. 98, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, of Abilene; Kansas Chapter No. 73, Royal Arch Masons, of Herington; Herington Commandery No. 53, Knights Templars, of Herington; Wichita Consistory No. 2, Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite, of Wichita; and Isis Temple, Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Salina, Kan. He is also a member of Herington Lodge No. 228, Ancient Order of United Workmen; of Herington Camp No. 1255, Modern Woodmen of America, and of various other clubs and associations.

On June 24, 1884, at the residence of W. H. Snyder, at Chapman, Kan., was solemnized the marriage of David Wheeler Naill and Miss Mary M. Fancher, the Rev. J. M. Wilson of the Methodist Episcopal church officiating. Mrs. Naill is a daughter of John M. Fancher and his wife, nee Miss Eliza Thompson. Mr. Fancher was born in Delaware county, Ohio, July 6, 1831, and died at Altamont, Ill., March 20, 1901; he was a farmer and merchant by vocation. The mother of Mrs. Naill was born in Delaware county, Ohio, Oct. 9, 1832, and died at Altamont, Ill., April 28, 1891. John M. and Eliza Fancher were the parents of five sons and three daughters: Rosa Linda is Mrs. J. D. Thomas of Aztec, N. M.; Stephen L. is located at Thomas, Okla.; George M. died May 4, 1882; Delbert S. died Aug. 23, 1867; Mary M. is the wife of Mr. Naill; Albert and Alberta (twins) died in infancy; Ida is Mrs. LeRoy Haven, of Blacklick, Ohio; and Clarence resides at Indiahoma, Okla. Of the union of David Wheeler and Mary M. Naill were born four sons and two daughters. The eldest son, John A. Naill, born Jan. 31, 1886, at Chapman, received his education in the graded and high school at Abilene; at the Herington High School; Wentworth Military Academy, at Lexington, Mo.; and at the University of Kansas, graduating in the last named institution in 1906, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. On Sept. 7, 1910, he wedded, at Charlevoix, Mich., Miss Ethyl L., daughter of Frank S. and Effie Caldwell, of Wichita, Kan. Of social and genial nature and of polite and companionable manners, John A. Naill is the life of every social circle he enters. Fraternally he affiliates with Kansas Lodge No. 307, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons at Herington; Kansas Chapter No. 73, Royal Arch Masons at Herington; Modern Woodmen of America, Camp No. 1255, at Herington; Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, Lodge No. 718, at Salina, Kan.; and various other clubs and associations. Mabel Grace Naill, the eldest daughter, born Sept. 19, 1887, at Chapman, Kan., died Nov. 23, 1888, at Abilene, Kan. David W. Naill, the second son, born Sept. 6, 1889, died Aug. 15, 1894, at Abilene, Kan. Ralph F., born May 6, 1896, at Lansing, Kan., is a precocious lad of studious habits and will graduate from the Herington High School with the class of 1912. His instructors say of him, "He is all boy and a leader among them." Marcus A. Naill, born June 26, 1902, died July 22, 1902, at Herington. Ruth Ann Naill, born May 4, 1904, at Herington, is being educated in the Herington graded schools and is a promising student of the fine arts.