Henry Dee Stith, a leading merchant of Attica, Kans., was born on a farm in Greene county, Illinois, April 25, 1872. He is a son of David and Mary Jane (Gorin) Stith. David Stith was a native of Illinois, born in Greene county, November 29, 1843, and died at Medicine Lodge, April 23, 1886. The Stith family is of Arabian origin, the name meaning, "blacksmith" in the Arabian language. It is claimed on good authority, that a member of this family invented the horseshoe. Like the Arabian Knight of old, the Stith family by inheritance, were all lovers of the horse, and David Stith possessed this ancestral trait. The Stith family was founded in the colonies at a very early date in American history. They were well represented in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary war, and all the known members of that family are eligible to the Sons or Daughters of the Revolution. David Stith came to Chautauqua county, Kansas, in 1876, where he engaged in the cattle business on the open range for two years. In 1878 he started with his family to drive to Arizona, but changed his plans and located in the Indian Territory where he, with some others, engaged in the cattle business in the heart of that vast open range country. They located on Salt Fork river in the Cherokee strip. His business developed to large proportions, and he prospered. They bought thousands of young cattle in Texas and brought them to the territory, where they prepared them for market. Their brand, "OE," was familiar to all cattle men from Texas to Montana. He remained on his ranch in the Indian Territory until 1884, when he removed to Medicine Lodge, Kans., where his children were educated. He continued in the cattle business after coming to Medicine Lodge, but devoted the latter years of his life to raising horses. He owned the "Tarapin Hollow Horse Ranch," which was located in Liberty township, Harper county. This is a five-hundred-acre ranch, and still belongs to the Stith heirs. David Stith was a man of strong personality and sterling worth, and known for his integrity and honesty. His political affiliations were with the Democratic party, and he was a Royal Arch Mason. He was married January 29, 1867, to Miss Mary Jane Gorin, a daughter of Henry M. and Mary Jane (Love) Gorin. Mary Jane Gorin was born at Memphis, Mo., June 28, 1845. She dide[sic] at Attica, Kans., November 4, 1903. She was a noble Christian woman, whose deep sympathy was a characteristic feature of her life. To David Stith and wife were born six children, five of whom lived to maturity: Frederick Walker, born July 21, 1869, died October 5, 1913; Henry Dee, whose name introduces this article; Mary A., born May 5, 1875, married John Stanberry; Anna Maude, born March 15, 1877, and Helen M., married Charles Roy Shannon. Henry Dee Stith received most of his education in the kindergarten of life, or the stern school of experience, incident to life on a cattle ranch on the frontier. He remained with his mother until 1900, when he became a traveling salesman for the Acme Harvester Company, and made two trips to South America in the employ of that company. He remained in that business five years, in the employ of the Acme Company. In 1906 he engaged in the hardware and agricultural implement business at Attica, Kans., where he is still in business. Mr. Stith was married, July 20, 1904, to Miss Helen Maude Shannon, a daughter of Henry Shannon. For the history of the Shannon family, see sketch of Charles Roy Shannon, which appears in this volume. To Mr. and Mrs. Stith have been born two children: Helen, born October 29, 1911, and Margaret, born October 3, 1913. Mr. Stith is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Modern Woodmen of America, and his political views are Democratic.