Cassius Clay Surber, M. D., one of the prominent members of the Kansas State Medical Society, is of Scotch and German blood, and being the scion of generations of professional men, it is but natural that he should become successful in the line which he has chosen for his life study and work. He was born on a farm in Douglas county, Kansas, Jan. 26, 1862, the son of David and Eliza Jane (Stewart) Surber. His grandfather, Rev. Henry Surber, was born of German parents in the State of Indiana, where he was reared and educated for the ministry. He was a preacher of the Christian or Campbellite church and was one of the first to carry the faith of this denomination to the then sparsely settled regions of Iowa, and subsequently to Leavenworth county, Kansas, being a pioneer nearly all his life, as he preached on the outskirts of westward civilization. David Surber, his father, was a physician, a graduate of Scudder's Eclectic Medical College, of Cincinnati, Ohio, with the class of 1856. He located at Lawrence, when he first came to Kansas, as it was one of the first towns started in the territory by Northern settlers. From there he removed to Perry, Jefferson county, Kan., three years later, and there he spent many years in the active practice of his profession, and at a time when physicians had to contend with the many hardships and privations incident to life on the frontier. Dr. Surber was successful, his practice grew in proportion to the increase in population, and he made a comfortable fortune. Some years ago he retired from active life and established a home at Bonner Springs, Kan., where he and his wife enjoy their sunset years in comfort. Now, at the age of eighty-two years, he can look back over the period of marvelous development which has taken place since the days of border warfare and the admission of Kansas to statehood. Eliza (Stewart) Surber was born in Ohio, of Scotch descent, and her son has inherited from her those steadfast, tenacious qualities, which combined with the rugged characteristics of his father's family have made him a man of remarkable qualities. Eight children were born to David and Eliza Surber, only two of whom are living—Cassius, our subject, and his sister, Gertrude.

Cassius C. Surber spent his boyhood at Perry, where he attended the public schools of the town and graduated from the high school. His father wished his son to have all the advantages obtainable in an educational way and sent him to the young but well equipped University of Kansas, at Lawrence, where he remained from 1879 to 1881. While in college he determined to devote his energies to the study of medicine, and with this end in view took such courses as would better prepare him for professional work. After completing his college course, he entered the Kansas City Medical College, of Missouri, where he graduated with the class of 1884. He also holds the first certificate issued to a student of medicine, and graduated by the University of Kansas. Soon after receiving his degree, Dr. Surber opened an office at Delphos, in Ottawa county, where he remained for ten years and was enjoying a good practice, when the drought and crop failures came, and he determined to seek a new location. In 1894 he located at Independence, where he has since continued to reside. The doctor soon won the confidence of the people, has many friends and enjoys a lucrative practice. In 1901 he took a post-graduate course in medicine at the New York Post-Graduate Medical College, New York City, with special reference to the needs of his locality. For sixteen years Dr. Surber has been a member of the pension board and has served as local surgeon of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe railway for many years. He is a member of the Montgomery county and Kansas state medical societies and the American Medical Association. In politics he is a Republican, but has never taken any active part in political life, as his professional duties have demanded all of his time. Fraternally the doctor is a Thirty-second degree Scottish Rite Mason and a member of Abdallah temple, Ancient Arabic Order Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Leavenworth, and belongs to the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In 1886 the doctor was married, in Greenwood county, Kansas, to Mary M. Durham, a native of Missouri, and they have one son, Paul D.