Nate E. Reece, proprietor and editor of the "Stafford Courier" at Stafford, though not a Kansan by birth, has spent practically his whole life in this state and is numbered among the representative and most progressive young men of Western Kansas. He was born at Marion, Ind., Hay[sic] 14, 1876. His father, Joel Reece, was born in Henry county, Indiana, May 24, 1840, and spent almost the whole of his active career in the printing and newspaper business. His first newspaper venture was at Marion, Ind. From there he came to Kansas in 1879, bringing with him his newspaper outfit and his family. In June, 1879, he began to issue the "Stafford Herald," the first newspaper published in that town. At that time the nearest railroad station was Sterling, Rice county. He continued to publish the "Herald" two years, later engaging in the mercantile business at Leesburg, in Stafford county, from which place he moved to a homestead in the southern part of the county. The family lived in sod houses eight years, five years of that time in a sod house on the homestead. In 1890 he bought the "St. John Rustler," a weekly paper at St. John, Stafford county, which publication was discontinued, however, after a few months. He then went to Pratt county, where he established the "Pratt Union," a Populist paper which he continued to publish about six years. In 1900 he returned to Stafford and bought the "Stafford Leader," which plant was destroyed by fire shortly afterward. He then returned to Pratt, where he died on Nov. 27, 1901. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and in church faith and membership was a Presbyterian.

He married Miss Myra C. Seward, who bore him seven children, as follows: Frederick A., a farm implement manufacturer at Stafford, Kan.; Sue H., the wife of F. H. Pike of New York City; Josephine, deceased; Nate E.; Waldo, deceased; Arthur P., a banker at Minneola; and Louise, deceased.

Nate E. Reece received his education in the public schools of Stafford and of Pratt counties, the first one he attended having been in a sod school house. He began when fourteen years of age to learn the printing business in his father's printing office at Pratt and followed his trade until Dec. 18, 1902, when he established the "Stafford Courier," a weekly paper, which he has continued to publish and of which he is the owner and editor. It is an independent Democratic paper and one of the most influential in the county. Mr. Reece's plant is modern in every respect and occupies a stone building which was erected in 1907 expressly for his newspaper office and which he owns. He is a young man of energy, determination and good business judgment and his efforts for success have been well rewarded. Fraternally he is a member of the Masonic order.

On Dec. 28, 1905, was solemnized the marriage of Mr. Reece and Miss Callie L. Voiers of Stafford, a daughter of Robert J. Voiers of Campbellsburg, Ky. To their union have been born two children: Nate E., Jr., born Dec. 18, 1906, and Robert Joel, born Dec. 15, 1908, and died Jan. 2, 1909.