Homer S. Rector

HOMER S. RECTOR. From work as an educator which made his name familiar over Western Kansas, Homer S. Rector graduated into the business of banking, and is now cashier of the First National Bank of Scott City. He has been a resident of this county since 1895 and enjoys an enviable station in the community.

He was born in Mahaska County, Iowa, April 26, 1873. He grew up on an Iowa farm, learned his first lessons in the public schools, and in 1884 moved to Kansas with his parents. He began teaching at the age of seventeen in the Temple School in the southeastern part of Lane County. He taught a number of terms in the country schools of that county, and from there came to Scott County. He served two years as principal of the Scott City schools, and was then elected county superintendent as successor of F. E. Crabtree. Mr. Rector was county superintendent for six years. He gained a high place in educational circles, and while a school man served one term as president of the Western Kansas Educational Association.

At the conclusion of his work as county superintendent he became identified with the First National Bank of Scott City as bookkeeper. His next promotion was to assistant cashier, and later succeeded R. B. Christy in the post of cashier, and for a number of years has had many of the executive responsibilities connected with the management of this stanch financial institution. Mr. Rector is a member of the District, State and American Bankers associations.

Mr. Rector's grandfather was Edward Tiffin Rector, who came out of Virginia and was an early settler in Ohio. He attained wealth and influence in that state, and died near Circleville in 1876, when nearly ninety years of age. His wife was Peggie Brown. They had one son and three daughters, namely: Mary, who married Jacob Livingston; Pency, who married Abram Terwilliger, both those daughters are spending their final years in Cowley County, Kansas; Margaret, who married Chauncey Smith and died in Geneva, Nebraska; and Edward T.

Edward T. Rector, father of Homer S., was born in Pickaway County, Ohio. He grew up at a time when school advantages were limited, but became a practical man of affairs. In the early '50s he moved to Mahaska County, Iowa, where for thirty years he was identified with the interests of that county. On coming to Kansas in 1884, he lived five years in Mitchell County, lived in Lane County for four years, and afterwards, in 1893, took part in the opening of the Cherokee strip in Oklahoma, securing a valuable farm in Garfield County. His last years were spent in Oklahoma, where he died, at Enid in 1904, at the age of seventy-three. He was a republican in politics and a life-time member of the Methodist Church. He married in Mahaska County, Iowa, Mrs. Charlotte Dibble, a daughter of W. C. Bonsall. She was born in Ohio, but when she was a child her father moved to Iowa. Mrs. Edward T. Rector was born January 10, 1838, and is still living, with residence at Enid, Oklahoma. Her first husband was Milo Dibble, who was killed in the battle of Champion Hills, Mississippi, while a soldier of the Union army. By that marriage there were two daughters: Florence, Mrs. Valentine Jaggar, of Oakley, Kansas; and Jessie, widow of W. H. Cowgill, of Lincoln, Nebraska, Mr. Cowgill being a railroad commissioner of that state. Mrs. Edward T. Rector by her second marriage had the following children: Edgar T., of Omaha, Nebraska; Homer S.; Mary, Mrs. James McGill, of Enid, Oklahoma; and Frank L., of Brooklyn, New York.

Not long after coming to Scott County Homer S. Rector married at Scott City August 26, 1896, Miss Margaret Poulson. She also was formerly a teacher in this county. She was born in Iowa, but grew up in Scott County, Kansas, where her father, Thomas Poulson, was a pioneer settler and was the first probate judge. Thomas Poulson for a number of years was a Scott City merchant and later was in the live stock business. He died there in October, 1897, at the age of sixty-three. Thomas Poulson married Sarah E. Davis, who died at Scott City in 1904. Of their children those still living are: James D., of McPherson County, Kansas; Mary E., wife of William Sitts, of McPherson County; and Mrs. Rector, who was born January 17, 1876.

Mr. and Mrs. Rector have a happy family life and are successful in educating and training their children well. The first of their children, Mary Charlotte, has completed her education in the Scott City High School and is now a teacher. The next two are Gerald P. and Sarah Erma, both pupils in the high school. The younger children are named Kenneth Edward, Maurice Wayne, Lucy Margaret and Merwin Homer. Mr. Rector is republican, and Mrs. Rector prohibition in their political affiliations and are active workers in the Church of Christ, he being one of the deacons. Mr. Rector was the leader in the movement for bringing an annual chautauqua to Scott City, and is serving as president of the association. He is a member of the County Council of Defense, a director in the County Red Cross Association, and chairman of the County Liberty Loan Committee.

Pages 2101-2102.