John Poore, author, artist and associated editor of the Kiowa County "Signal," of Greensburg, Kan., was born on a farm in Jackson county, Ohio, on September 18, 1876, the only son of Samuel Jefferson and Sarah (Butler) Poore, the former a native of Jackson county, born October 27, 1850, a son of Josephus and Elizabeth (Rice) Poore, also natives of Ohio. Sarah Butler was born in Ross county, Ohio, November 27, 1854, a daughter of Henry and Lavina (Rice) Butler, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Ohio. Samuel J. Poore was reared a farmer, and a few years subsequent to his marriage, which occurred on March 28, 1872, he came to Kansas. He located on government land in Rooks county in 1879, where he was engaged in farming and stock raising until 1890, when he removed to Enterprise, Dickinson county, and in 1894, to Abilene, where he engaged in mercantile pursuits, and where he now resides. Three children were born of this union, as follows: Florence, born December 23, 1872, graduated from the Enterprise High School with the class of 1895, married, July 26, 1908, Herman F. Gartner, who was born on July 15, 1870, and died on January 14, 1912; John, the subject of this article; and Mae, born October 20, 1878, in Davis county, Missouri, died February 22, 1904.

John Poore received his early education in the common schools of Rooks county, Kansas, removed with his parents to Enterprise, Dickinson county, when he was thirteen years of age and attended the high school one year. In 1893 he began to learn the printer's trade in the printing office conducted by his uncles, James and William Butler, at Abilene, and remained with them until 1899, when he removed to Walsanburg, Colo., to accept the position of editor and manager of the "Yucca," a weekly newspaper. His connection with this publication ceased in 1901, and he returned east and was engaged in metropolitan newspaper work in Topeka, Kansas City, Columbus, Ohio, and Pittsburgh, Pa. In 1911 he purchased "The Motor" at Manchester, Kan., which he edited and published until April 10, 1913, when he formed a copartnership with R. T. ("Dick") Holmes, buying the Kiowa County "Signal" at Greensburg. It is the pioneer paper of Kiowa county, founded in 1884 by W. E. Bolton. It has a large circulation and is one of the most influential newspapers of southwestern Kansas. The mechanical equipment of the office is modern, electric power being used in operating the linotype, presses, folder and cutter. As a newspaper man, Mr. Poore is well and favorably known. He is a vigorous writer, has a wealth of energy and his editorials are worth while. It has been his aim to make the paper with which he is connected alive with interest and of real practical usefulness. On the thirty-seventh anniversary of his birth "A Prairie Concert," a handsomely bound volume of which he is the author and which has received favorable criticism, was placed on the market. He has done some very clever work in oil and crayon and the walls of his parents' residence, as well as those of a number of his friends, are decorated with original subjects by his brush.

Mr. Poore married November 15, 1910, at McPherson, Kan., Miss Flora Warren, daughter of J. K. Warren, a farmer of Durham, Kan., formerly of Illinois. She is a native of Marion county, Kansas.