John W. Tucker, for many years one of the representative farmers and stock raisers of Osborne county, and now a successful grain merchant of Alton, who has done much for the upbuilding of the city and its commercial development, first as president of the First State Bank and later as the manager of the Farmers' Coöperative Association, was born on a farm near Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, October 19, 1862, the son of Johnsey W. and Matilda Shafer Tucker. Johnsey Tucker was born in Indiana, April 23, 1837, and while still a child removed with his parents to Illinois, where his father died. Mrs. Tucker soon after went to Iowa with her children, where she lived until her death, in 1884. Johnsey Tucker and Matilda Shafer were married at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, in 1861, and became the parents of four sons: John W.; Stephen R., born April 2, 1865, now a banker and stockman at Codell, Kan.; Charles L., born November 28, 1867, a farmer and stock raiser of Osborne county, and Walter E., born March 20, 1884, who died in 1888. Mrs. Tucker died in 1898, being survived by her husband until 1909.

The Tucker family came to Kansas in 1873, locating in Clay county on a government claim. John remained at home with his parents until 1889, when he came to Osborne county and settled on a farm four miles south of Alton, which belonged to his father. Mr. Tucker remained on this place seven years, when he leased another and larger tract of grazing land and engaged in stock raising on an extensive scale for two years with gratifying success, due to his strict attention to business and careful management. In 1898 Mr. Tucker sold his stock and returned to Clay county to care for his aged parents, but two years later returned to Osborne county and bought a farm four miles west of Alton, where he was engaged in agricultural pursuits six years, devoting most of his attention to stock raising. From time to time he bought other land, and is now the owner of three tracts of the finest arable land in the vicinity. In 1906 Mr. Tucker came to Alton, where he at once started in the business of feeding, buying and shipping stock, an occupation he followed three and a half years. January 1, 1910, Mr. Tucker was elected president of the First State Bank of Alton, remaining the dominant factor of that institution until April 2, 1912, when he resigned to become the manager of the Alton Farmers' Coöperative Association, which handles grain and coal, being one of the largest concerns of the kind in Osborne county. Mr. Tucker is the police judge of Alton, an office which he has filled with merit. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while in politics he is a supporter of the Democratic party. On March 28, 1888, Mr. Tucker married Elizabeth, the daughter of Edward and Margaret Roberts, of Washington county, Kansas. Mrs. Tucker was born in Canada, September 29, 1865, her father being a native of Prince Edward Island, and her mother a Canadian by birth. Mr. and Mrs. Tucker have three interesting daughters: Elsie, born June 14, 1894; Margaret, born August 1, 1895, and Ada, born May 4, 1898. The Tucker family have many warm friends in Alton, where Mr. Tucker is regarded as one of the substantial and progressive business men of the community.