Newman Waring, postmaster at Ottawa, Kan., was born in Mansfield, Ohio, April 7, 1849, a son of George W. and Eliza (Roop) Waring, the former a native of New York state and, when a young man, moved to Ohio, where he married and engaged in the mercantile business. He was a stanch Democrat, by which party he was elected recorder of Richland county, Ohio, and also held other public offices. He died in Mansfield in 1890, aged seventy-five years. Henry Waring, the father of George W., was a native of England, but came to America when a boy and settled in Pennsylvania, where he learned the tanner's trade. He was a Revolutionary patriot. From Pennsylvania he moved to New York, thence to Ohio, where he died.

Newman Waring was reared in Ohio and educated in the common schools of that state, which training was supplemented by a business course at Mansfield. On completing that course, he learned the printer's trade and then came to Kansas in 1869, then twenty years of age, locating in Ottawa. He was wholly dependent upon his own resources, being without capital, and his success in life has been due to his own perseverance, energy and endeavor—a success always more to be appreciated than that obtained by the assistance of capital and other advantages. He began work on the first paper published in Ottawa—edited by P. Fales and C. G. Patterson—and remained in that position until 1870, when he laid the foundation for the Ottawa Herald, which paper he established for Harrison & Tone of Cincinnati, Ohio, and which he managed up to 1875. At that time he began work on the "Ottawa Journal," published by E. H. Snow, but in 1880 he established a job printing office for himself, which proved a prosperous venture, and which business he continued until his appointment as postmaster, Feb. 28, 1907, under President Roosevelt, to which position he was reappointed, March 3, 1911, by President Taft, and he has given the people of Ottawa and the government most efficient service. He published Ottawa's first city directory in 1878.

In 1872 Mr. Waring was united in marriage with Miss Catharine Sharp, a native of Scotland and a daughter of Andrew Sharp, who came to America and settled in Kansas in 1869, where he was an agriculturist and where he died in 1896. To Mr. and Mrs. Waring were born four children: Amey B., Le Roy N. (died, aged twenty-three years), Andrew B. and Catherine E., who, with their father, mourn the death of Mrs. Waring, which occurred in 1908. Amey E., a graduate of the Ottawa High School and of Ottawa University, is assistant postmistress. Andrew B. is a successful dentist in Kansas City, Mo., and Catherine E. is at home. Mr. Waring has always been a Republican and has been active in behalf of his party. He is identified with the Presbyterian church as a member and affiliates fraternally with the Knights of Honor.