Earl W. Sinclair, of Independence, Kan., vice-president of the First National Bank, was born in Benwood, now a part of Wheeling, W. Va., May 5, 1874, being the son of John and Phoebe (Simmons) Sinclair, the former a native of Woodsfield, Monroe county, Ohio, and the latter born in Wheeling, W. Va. His parental great-grandfather was a native of Ireland, descended from fine Scotch-Irish lineage. He emigrated from the Old Country and became one of the settlers of Ohio when it was the "far west" to residents of the mountains, and there his son, John Sinclair. Earl's grandfather, was born and reared. The Simmons family is of English extraction, so that the Sinclair boys inherit the fine qualities of three Anglo-Saxon races. In 1882, when Earl Sinclair was only eight years of age, his parents came to Independence, Kan., where the father opened a drug store, which he conducted until he died, in 1893, aged fifty years. Mrs. Sinclair still resides in Independence. The Sinclair children were reared in Independence, attended the public schools and grew up healthy, sturdy boys. After completing the high school, Earl W. decided upon a commercial career, and entered a business college for special training in branches that would be of use to him in everyday life. Soon after leaving the commercial school he went to Chicago, where for about five years he held a clerical position in the offices of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad. He resigned and for two years engaged in the drug business at Independence, but all his energies were developing along commercial lines and he entered the office of a lumber company at St. Louis, Mo., where he worked for four years. Returning to Independence he was for a short period in the natural gas business and then became one of the organizers of the State Bank of Commerce, at Independence, becoming its first cashier. This bank was later consolidated with the First National Bank of Independence, at which time Mr. Sinclair became vice-president of the latter institution, which position he has continued to hold to the entire satisfaction of the directors and stockholders. He is a most able financier and has a considerable influence in shaping the policy of the bank, which is one of the most progressive and substantial concerns of its kind in Eastern Kansas. In politics Mr. Sinclair is a stanch Republican, and while he loyally supports the party, he has never cared for public life or office. Fraternally, he is a thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason, a Knight Templar and member of Ararat Temple, Ancient Arabic Order, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, Kansas City, Mo. Mr. Sinclair's wife was formerly Blanch Stich, the daughter of W. E. Stich, a well-to-do resident of Independence.