Fred Rump, a member of the board of county commissioners of Harper county, Kansas, is a native of Germany, born December 23, 1849. He is a son of Peter and Sopha Rump. The family came to America in 1852, when Fred was three years old, and settled in Adams county, Illinois, where the father died in 1860. The mother passed away in 1876. They had two children, Fred, the subject of this sketch, and John H., born August 18, 1852, now retired and resides at Quincy, Ill. Fred Rump was reared on a farm in Adams county, Ill., and attended the public schools at Quincy, Ill., and when a boy learned the painter's trade. In 1873 he went to California and worked at his trade two years, and in 1875 returned to Illinois, where he was engaged in farming in Adams county nine years. He came to Kansas in 1884, locating in Silver Creek township, Harper county, three and one-half miles southeast of Freeport, where he bought a farm and has since resided. His farm contains 480 acres, is well improved and under a high state of cultivation. Mr. Rump is a close student of scientific agricultural methods, and is a progressive, practical farmer. He also takes a keen interest in public affairs, and politically is a Democrat. In 1913, at the solicitation of the people of his county, he became a candidate for county commissioner, and was elected and is now capably filling that office. He is a capable business man and conscientious in the performance of his duties, whether it be in his private business, or in the public service. He was married April 27, 1874, at Quincy, Ill., to Miss Almira C. Childers, of Burton, Ill., a daughter of Gould and Lois (Hancks) Childers, the former a native of Adams county, Ill., and the latter of New York. The father was born April 1, 1831 and died December 9, i890, and the mother was born May 3, 1830, and died May 9, 1893. They were married May 7, 1850, and the following children were born to this union: Abbie, born April 18, 1851; Jacob Henry, born November 28, 1852; John W., born November 3, 1854, died in infancy; Almira C., born April 8, 1856, the wife of Fred Rump of this review; Mary Elizabeth, born January 27, 1858, died April 20, 1912, and Robert, born December 17, 1859. To Mr. and Mrs. Rump have been born five children, Almira Gertrude, born January 29, 1877, died July 20, 1879; Mabel May, born May 18, 1878; Charles Fred, born May 24, 1880, died October 20, 1880; Glenn, born July 14, 1883, and died February 18, 1912, and Ralph, born February 5, 1895. The family are members of the Presbyterian church.