William B. Sutton

WILLIAM B. SUTTON. - In the varied and cosmopolitan citizenship of Kansas City, William B. Sutton represents the eastern element, his birth having occurred in Pennsylvania, and his early career having been inaugurated in Utica, New York, where he was recognized as an able member of the legal fraternity. He has now resided in Kansas for over twenty-five years and has justified the hopes engendered by the brilliancy of the earlier achievements. He has given efficient service as a member of the state legislature, representing Russell county, Kansas, while resident there. He is remarkably loyal to the state, knowing it in all its phases, even to the free life of the prairie, for he experienced a season as a ranchman.

Mr. Sutton was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, February 12, 1849, his parents being James and Sarah (Stanborough) Sutton. The father was born in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, in the year 1812, and died in 1870, at the age of fifty-seven years. The mother, who was born in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, long survived her devoted husband, her demise occurring in 1899, at the age of eighty-four years. Ten children were born to the union of this worthy couple, five surviving at the present time and the subject being the fifth in order of birth. James Sutton was a man of consequence and for many years held the position of president of the First National Bank of Indiana, Pernnsylvania. He was originally a Democrat in political conviction, but subsequently espoused the doctrines of the Republican party.

Mr. Sutton received the advantage of a particularly good education. The several institutions of learning in which he pursued his studies were the Tuscarora Academy, in Juniata county, Pennsylvania; the Elders Ridge Academy, in Indiana county, Pennsylvania, and, Washington and Jefferson College at Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, from which latter institution he was graduated with the class of 1868. After deciding upon a profession Mr. Sutton studied law with Judge Blair of Indiana and was admitted to the bar at Utica, New York, in the year 1870. His career was from the first successful and for the first ten years of his residence in the Empire state he engaged in general practice, being elected judge in 1880, and serving in that high capacity until 1887, when he removed to Russell county, Kansas, and there engaged in ranching for a time. He also practiced law and became well and favorably known in Russell county, and in 1895-7, he was called upon to represent Russell county in the state legislature. Also in 1895 he was appointed a member of the state board of irrigation by Governor Morrill. From his earliest voting days Mr. Sutton has given heart and hand to the Republican party and has ever proved himself ready to do everything in his power for the cause. His fraternal relations extend to Wyandotte Lodge, No. 3, Ancient, Free and Accepted Masons.

On the 8th of June, 1868, Mr. Sutton was united in marriage to Miss Agnes Black, the foundations of a happy household being thus established. She was born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, and is the daughter of John E. and Alice (Hanson) Black, both of whom were natives of the Keystone state. By a somewhat singular coincidence, Mrs. Sutton like her husband, is the fifth in order of birth of a family of ten children, and her father was likewise associated with banking interests, being cashier of the bank at Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, and that worthy gentleman was also treasurer of Washington and Jefferson College. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Sutton has been blessed by the birth of seven children, five of whom are living at the present time, these five are all sons. Charles E., is a stockman and agriculturist and resides in Lawrence, Kansas, he is president of the State Board of Agriculture. He married Miss Elizabeth Whitney, of Ellsworth, Kansas, her father, Chauncey Whitney, being one of the survivors of the battle of Arickaree. The second son, James, is in the hardware business in Harper, Kansas, and his wife before her marriage was May Davis. William B. Jr., is associated with his father in his practice of law, and was graduated in 1899 from the University of Kansas. His wife was Marguerite Wise, daughter of Zenas L. Wise, of Hutchinson, Kansas. Walter S. was graduated from the University of Kansas with the class of 1900, and from the college of Physicians and Surgeons, at New York, in 1907, and now associate professor of surgery in the medical school of that institution. The youngest member of the family, Everett B., is a senior in the University of Kansas, which has proved truly an "Alma Mater" to this quintet of fine young citizens.

The Suttons are all active in the best business, professional and social life of Kansas City and their homes are centers of a gracious hospitality.