Ivan R. Mort

IVAN R. MORT is a well known banker of Graham County, and is cashier of the American State Bank of Hill City. Nearly all his active business experience has been along the line of banking, and his friends and associates regard him as one of the able men in banking circles of the state.

Mr. Mort was born at Keosauqua, Iowa, August 12, 1878. His ancestors were originally Scotch and were colonial settlers in Pennsylvania. His grandfather, Conrad Mort, was born in Ohio in 1818, and at an early time emigrated to Iowa and settled in Van Buren County, where he died in 1892. Aaron Mort, father of Ivan R., is a resident of Graham County, Kansas, and is one of the successful few who survived the experiences of pioneering in this section of the state. He was born also at Keosauqua, Iowa, August 12, 1848, grew up and married there, and all his experience has been as a farmer. He came to Graham County, Kansas, in November, 1878. He homesteaded 160 acres and took a timber claim of like area, but occupies the former, and altogether owns 640 acres, developed as a fine grain and livestock farm. This farm is twelve miles south of Hill City. Aaron Mort is a democrat, and was one of the first men elected to the office of county commissioner in Graham County. He has also been faithful in his religious duties and is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Aaron Mort married Charlotte Dahlberg, born in Stockholm, Sweden, in 1844. To their marrage[sic] have been born three children: Alvin Ross, a real estate broker at Hill City; Ivan R.; and Carl G., who lives on the home farm.

Ivan R. Mort was too young to remember any of the incidents of the family emigration from Iowa to Graham County, Kansas. As a boy he attended the rural schools of that county, and lived on his father's farm to the age of twenty-four. During 1902-03 he attended the Kansas Wesleyan Business College at Salina.

His first banking experience was as bookkeper[sic] and stenographer with the Graham County State Bank at Hill City. A year and a half later he transferred his services in the same capacity to the American State Bank, and after a year was promoted to assistant cashier. He has been cashier of the bank since November, 1908. The American State Bank was established December 24, 1904, and opened its doors for business January 5, 1905. The officers are: Charles Sperry, president; O. P. King, vice president; and Ivan R. Mort, cashier. The bank, located on Pomeroy Avenue, was capitalized at $20,000, with surplus and profits of equal amount.

Mr. Mort is identified with Hill City in many other relations. He was elected its mayor in April, 1915, and was re-elected in 1917 for another two-year term. He is also treasurer of the local school board and his bank is a member of the Kansas Bankers Association and the American Bankers Association. He is an independent in politics, is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and is past master of Hill City Lodge of Masons and a member of Colby Commandery of the Knights Templar. He also belongs to Hill City Lodge of Odd Fellows, of which he is a Past Grand, and of Hill City Lodge Ancient Order of United Workmen, and Hill City Chapter of the Eastern Star. He owns an attractive suburban home, including a modern residence and ten acres of grounds.

December 25, 1907, in Graham County, Mr. Mort married Miss Myra L. Allen, daughter of Robert and Anna (Higgins) Allen. Her mother is living in Hill City. Her father, now deceased, was an early day farmer of Graham County. Mr. and Mrs. Mort have two children, Allene, born in February, 1909; and Melva, born April 30, 1912.

Pages 2292-2293.