John B. Sims, secretary and treasurer of the Topeka Pure Milk Company, was born in Zanesville, Ohio, April 2, 1854, and is a son of the late William Sims, who removed from Ohio to Illinois in 1868, thence to Shawnee county, Kansas, in 1872. William Sims was a farmer by occupation and took an active interest in the State Grange, of which he was Master for many years. He was at one time a member of the state senate of Kansas, and for six years he was secretary of the State Board of Agriculture. It may be well to state that politically he was a stanch Republican and as a representative of that party he was elected state treasurer and served one term, after which he became president of the First National Bank of Topeka, and was appointed receiver of the United Savings Bank. He died in Topeka, July 23, 1907, survived by his widow until Feb. 1, 1909, when she also passed away. Her maiden name was Hannah E. Richey, and she was a cousin of the famous John Richey, prominent in the early history of Kansas.

John B. Sims received his early educational training in the schools of Clinton, Ill., and graduated in the high school. He came to Shawnee county, Kansas, with his parents, in 1872, and became a farmer and stock raiser, cultivating the old Sims homestead, eight miles southwest of Topeka, which he still owns and operates. Politically he is a Republican, and while residing on the farm, he served two terms in the state legislature. In 1907 he retired from his agricultural pursuits and removed to Topeka, where he accepted the position of secretary and treasurer of the Topeka Pure Milk Company, in which company he is also a stockholder.

Mr. Sims wedded Josephine L. McCracken, of Shawnee county, on May 6, 1883. Her family came to Shawnee county from Clinton county, Iowa. Mrs. Sims died Jan. 23, 1910, her death and the death of the father and mother of Mr. Sims having occurred within a period of three years. To Mr. and Mrs. Sims were born three children: John B., Jr., born May 21, 1884; Eleanor Lunette, a graduate of Washburn College, who is Mrs. Fred Hill, of Topeka; and Dorothy, who is but sixteen years old, and at home. Mr. Sims is a member of the Church of Christ, Scientist, and is a member of the Topeka Commercial Club.