George Throckmorton, the popular county clerk of Coffey county, was born on a farm about two miles north of Burlington, Kan., March 22, 1862, the son of Job and Catharine C. (White) Throckmorton. His father was born in Ohio, where he was reared and educated. He was one of the pioneer settlers of Kansas, having located in Coffey county in 1857, about the time the county organization was perfected. There were few white settlers in the region at that time and the Sac and Fox Indians formed the largest proportion of the population. Mr. Throckmorton preëmpted a piece of land on the banks of the Neosho river soon after his arrival in the territory and later bought more land. Burlington was a very small village and had no railroad at that time. Mr. Throckmorton immediately took an active part in the life of the town and county and became a leader in local politics. During the Civil war he belonged to the provost guard. After the close of the war he was elected to the state legislature and served from 1867 to 1871. He introduced the bill in the legislature which made Burlington the seat of justice of Coffey county. In 1874 he was elected clerk of Coffey county, serving two terms, and later was county commissioner. He was one of the original incorporators of the Kansas City, Burlington & Santa Fe railroad, a branch of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe system, extending through the county. Mr. Throckmorton raised, bought and sold cattle and gathered a comfortable fortune. He was an earnest worker in the Methodist Episcopal church, to which he liberally contributed. In 1902 he passed into the last long sleep and left the cares of earth.

George Throckmorton received his elementary education in the common schools of the county, attended Pond's Business College at Topeka, Kan., for a time, and then entered the State Agricultural College at Manhattan. Subsequently he studied in the University of Kansas at Lawrence, then began teaching and followed that vocation for fifteen years. He is the secretary of the Coffey County Historical Association and has held that position since its organization. When a young man he bought a farm, which he still owns. Mr. Throckmorton is a Republican, was elected clerk of the county in 1908, and at the expiration of his first term was reëlected without opposition.

In 1884 Mr. Throckmorton married Clara E., daughter of Robert N. Evans, who was born in Ohio and came to Kansas in 1883, engaged in farming and became one of the prominent and influential men of the community. Mr. Evans was a member of the Presbyterian church and one of its liberal supporters. He died in 1891. Five children were born to bless the Throckmorton home: Mary, who is the deputy county clerk; Eva C., at home; Alice, a student at the state normal school; Robert, who has charge of the farm, and Nellie, who is in school at Burlington. Mr. Throckmorton is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, as were his parents.