Frank O. Waynant, president of the State Bank, of Blue Rapids, Kan., who has been identified with the banking business of the northern part of the State for twenty-five years, was born at Epworth, Dubuque county, Iowa, July 6, 1858. He is a son of J. B. and Mary M. (White) Waynant, both natives of Pennsylvania. The father was engaged in the mercantile business in early life and, in 1859, came to Kansas and settled near the town of Holton, Jackson county, where he resided on a farm for a few years. After Kansas was admitted to the Union and at the organization of the State J. B. Waynant served one term as county superintendent of schools of Jackson county. He was then elected county clerk of Jackson county for two terms. He was one of the owners of the land which was sold to the Genessee colony, who located Blue Rapids on this property, and when the town was founded, in 1870, he came here and engaged in the lumber business, which he successfully conducted until his death in 1879.

Frank O. Wynant[sic] received his education in the public schools of Holton and Blue Rapids. After leaving school he was employed in the drug business in Blue Rapids, St. Joseph and Leavenworth at different times, spending in all about twenty-five years in that business, fifteen years of which he was a traveling salesman for a wholesale drug house. At the organization of the State Bank, of Blue Rapids, as a State bank, Mr. Waynant took stock in that institution. The bank was founded in 1871 as a private bank and was conducted as such until 1891, at which time he became interested as a stockholder and vice-president. In 1901 he became president of the bank, and since that time has been active in the management of that institution in that capacity. The bank has prospered under his administration, and some of the most substantial business men of that section are interested in it as stockholders and patrons. Mr. Waynant is also a stockholder in the Blue Rapids Milling and Elevator Company and is secretary of that company. He has served as township treasurer and on the city council of Blue Rapids. He is a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and politically is a Republican. He is one of the substantial business men of the community, where he has been known from a boy up.