John R. Chittenden

JOHN R. CHITTENDEN, representative of the Eighty-ninth District in the Kansas Legislature, is an old resident of Ellis County, and has been identified with all the chief interests of that county for thirty years. He was a pioneer homesteader, developed extensive interests as a farmer and stockman, and the complete confidence of the people is behind him in his public career. It is a significant honor and one betokening his character and reputation in that community that Mr. Chittenden was elected as a republican in one of the strongest democratic counties of the state, and not only that, he was twice elected and during an era when the democratic party was in the full tide of its strength. Ellis County normally returns a democratic majority of 800, and Mr. Chittenden was elected by more than 600 majority.

Mr. Chittenden is an Englishman by birth, born in Yorkshire March 7, 1866. His father, Thomas Chittenden, was born in London in 1836. As a boy he left home to enlist in the Seventh Hussar Regiment, and served all through the Crimean war when England was fighting Russia to prevent that country's aggressive designs against the Dardanelles. He rose to the rank of an officer in the Hussars. After leaving the army he entered the British Civil Service and finally retired on a pension. He died at Filey, England, in 1909. He was a Liberal in politics and a member of the Episcopal Church and very devout in his religious observance. He was also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Thomas Chittenden married Margaret Walton, who was born in Brompton-on-Swale, England, and died at Catterick at the age of twenty-eight. Her children were: George Walton, who died at York, England, at the age of sixty-six; Horace Joseph, a merchant tailor at Bradford, England; Herbert W., a prominent business man of Hays, Kansas, elsewhere mentioned; and John R.

John R. Chittenden as a boy attended public schools in Yorkshire and received the equivalent of a high school education. However, his school days were over at the age of fourteen and after that he worked in business lines, chiefly farming, until he came to the United States in 1885. That year he located at Hays, and has used his early experience to make an unusual success as a farmer. He homesteaded 160 acres, developed that, and now has 640 acres of wheat land, comprising a model farm and stock ranch. The farm has an equipment of buildings and other facilities that indicates the progressive attitude of the owner. In 1902 he erected a large modern residence on his home farm. He is also a stockholder in the Farmers Elevator at Hays.

Consequently as a member of the Legislature Mr. Chittenden has the experience and knowledge thoroughly qualifying him for the study and handling of many intricate problems affecting his own section of the state and agriculture generally. He was twice elected and served as assessor for 1915-16-17, and was again elected in 1918. In the session of 1917 Mr. Chittenden introduced a co-operative bank bill and also the car distribution bill. The latter bill was for the purpose of preventing car shortage to the grain elevators, and was designed as a measure of urgent relief to the farmers in getting their grain to the market.

Mr. Chittenden is a member of the Lutheran Church and is affiliated with Hays Camp, Modern Woodmen of America, and Hays Lodge of Masons. February 22, 1885, he married Miss Eleanor Britain, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Britain, both now deceased. Her father was for many years considered the best farmer and stock raiser in Yorkshire, England. Mr. and Mrs. Chittenden are the parents of three children. Herbert William is now chief engineer and expert demonstrator for the Port Huron Company, with headquarters and residence at Wichita, Kansas. Horace George, a graduate of Hays High School and of the Kansas Agricultural College at Manhattan, is a stockman at the Hays Experiment Station. Stanley S. has completed his education and is on the home farm.

Page 2278.