From A
Biographical History of Central Kansas, Vol. II, p. 947
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902
F. M. MASEMORE
Business success and enterprise at Sterling, Kansas, have an able representative in the subject of this review, F N Masemore, who is engaged in general merchandising at Ft. Smith and Knoxville, Arkansas, and in the real estate business at Sterling, Kansas. He came to Rice county in 1878, when a young man, and has since been an important factor in the upbuilding and improvement of his locality. He is a native of Noble county, Indiana, born near Albion, March 8, 1865. His father, Jacob Masemore, was also a native of Indiana, and in August 1878, he took up his abode in Rice county, Kansas, becoming a leading merchant and business man at Raymond. His death occurred there at the age of fifty-four years, and his wife is also deceased. They were the parents of the following children: J C, a prominent resident of Kremlin, Oklahoma; O B, of Waukomis, Oklahoma; Mrs E J Mudge, a resident of Lajunta, Colorado; F N, the subject of this review; S V, who makes his home in Raymond; Anna Warner, of Peach Springs, Arizona; William, a resident of Kremlin, Oklahoma; Mrs Becker, of Rice county, Kansas; Harry, also of Kremlin; and Mrs C W Becker, who died in Rice county. Jacob Masemore was a local minister in the Methodist Episcopal church, and he accomplished much for the welfare of his fellow men. His wife was also a member of that denomination and was an able assistant to him in his work.
F N Masemore, whose name introduces this review, attended schools of Noble county, Indiana. He was a youth of fourteen years when he came with his parents to Rice county, Kansas, and he has ever since been an important factor in the progress and advancement which have wrought a wonderful transformation here. For a number of years, he has been engaged in general merchandising at Raymond, carrying a complete line of dry goods, boots and shoes and everything to be found in a first-class establishment of that character. He is now extensively engaged in the real-estate business, and in both branches he is meeting with a high and well merited degree of success.
In 1887 Mr Masemore was united in marriage to Miss Sadie Bailey, a daughter of W J Bailey, of Galena, Illinois. She was called to her final rest on the 22nd of December, 1897, leaving three children, - Lotta, Willis and Verna. On the 19th of April, 1899, Mr Masemore was again married, his second union being with Miss Josie B Specht, who was reared and educated in Rice county, Kansas, a daughter of Robert Specht, one of the prominent and early settlers of this locality. Mr Masemore affiliates with the Democratic party and socially is connected with the Masonic fraternity. He was made a Knight Templar in 1899, is a member of Sterling Commandery, No. 47, and was made a thirty-second degree Mason in 1897. The history of Mr Masemore cannot fail to be of wide spread interest, for he ranks high in commercial circles in the Sunflower state, which has given to the Union some of its most eminent professional and business men.