Samuel G. Wiles

SAMUEL G. WILES is a banker, a business which has constituted his chief experience since early youth. He is cashier of the Farmers and Merchants State Bank at Macksville and has also acquired numerous ether interests in that section of Western Kansas.

Mr. Wiles was born in Peoria, Illinois, October 19, 1889. His father, C. Wiles, was born in Ohio in 1852, grew up in Tazewell County, Illinois, married in Peoria County, and first came to Kansas during the seventies, spending only a brief time in McPherson County. In 1895 he established a permanent home in that county, locating on a farm. He is now a resident of Canton, where he is in the real estate and insurance business. He also has a creditable record as an auctioneer. He served as assessor of Empire Township in McPherson County, is a democrat in politics and an active worker in the Methodist Episcopal Church. C. Wiles married Ann Gordon, who was born in Ohio in 1853. Samuel G. Wiles is the oldest of their children. Jennie is a teacher in the high school at Ottawa, Kansas. Harry is a second lieutenant in the field artillery of the United States Reserves.

Samuel G. Wiles attended the rural schools of McPherson County and spent two years in the high school at Galva. His education was completed at the age of sixteen and he then taught two terms in McPherson County. He learned banking with the State Bank of Canton, Kansas, being bookkeeper there until March 1, 1910. At that date he entered the service of the Macksville Farmers and Merchants State Bank as assistant cashier and since 1915 has been cashier. J. W. McKibben is president and A. Campbell is vice president. This bank was chartered in 1907 and is an institution of substantial resources and of enviable service and record. It has a capital of $12,000 and surplus and profits of $28,000.

Mr. Wiles owns a farm of 320 acres in Grant County, has a modern home in Macksville and among other interests is secretary of the Macksville Switchboard Association and is a member of the City Council. He is also treasurer of Farmington Township in Stafford County. He votes independently, is past master of Macksville Lodge of Masons, a member of Excelsior Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, at Larned, and Rose-of-Sharon Chapter of the Eastern Star at Macksville.

May 27, 1914, at Macksville, he married Miss Allie McComas, daughter of J. O. and Matilda (Ball) McComas. Her parents reside at Macksville, her father having been one of the early farmer settlers in Pawnee County. Mr. and Mrs. Wiles have two children: Harry Gordon, born February 16, 1916, and Ernest B., born February 7, 1918.

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