William H. Squier

WILLIAM H. SQUIER probably has more active connection with the commercial life of Beaumont than any other citizen. He is vice president of the Beaumont State Bank, conducts a large and successful hardware business and is also proprietor of the lumber yard there.

Mr. Squier is a native of Pennsylvania, and that state was the home of the family for several generations. The Squiers are of both English and French descent. On immigrating from England more than a century ago they first located in New Jersey and afterward moved to Pennsylvania. Mr. Squier's grandfather, Amzy Squier, spent all his life in Pennsylvania and was a farmer in one of the southwestern counties. William H. Squier was born in the southwest part of Pennsylvania May 3, 1869, and his father, Clinton Squier, was born in the same region in 1842.

Clinton Squier became a Pennsylvania farmer, married in that state, and in the fall of 1878 brought his family West, first locating in Northwestern Missouri, at Hamilton in Caldwell County. He farmed there for several years, and on September 29, 1883, arrived in the Beaumont District of Kansas. He preempted a claim two miles east of Beaumont and was one of the men, to whom credit is due for the early development of this section of a rich farming area His home was in that district the rest of his life, but he died in a hospital at Topeka July 1, 1913. Clinton Squier made a record as a soldier in the Civil war which will always be cherished by his descendants. He enlisted in 1862 in the Twenty-second Pennsylvania Cavalry, was in service three years, until the close of the struggle. Though he had fought loyally for the Union cause, he always maintained allegiance with the democratic party. Clinton Squier married Melvina Blakeway. She was born in Pennsylvania in 1844 and died at Beaumont, Kansas, December 24, 1916. They became the parents of six children: A. R., who is a farmer at Deer Creek, Oklahoma; William H.; Lillie, wife of Granville Lewis, a farmer and stock raiser at Eureka, Kansas, and also owner of considerable oil and gas productions; Pearl married Pearl Lathrop and they are farmers in Carroll County, Iowa; Myrtle is the wife of William Webster, a fireman at Enid, Oklahoma; Harry died when seventeen years of age.

William H. Squier had his early education in the schools of Pennsylvania and Missouri, and was fourteen years of age when his parents came to Beaumont where for a time he also attended public school. Until he was twenty-six years of age he lived at home, assisted his father in his farming operations, and then became a farmer on his own account in Greenwood County. The energy with which he prosecuted his farming enterprises brought him considerable success, and in 1905 he transferred his interests to the business field at Beaumont. Here he established his present hardware store and lumber yard, and for several years has been identified with the Beaumont State Bank and is its vice president. He owns his store on Main Street and his lumber yard and other buildings, and also has a residence on the same street.

In politics Mr. Squier is a democratic voter. He is a member and elder in the Christian Church, is affiliated with Latham Lodge No. 401, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, is past noble grand and has been district deputy of Beaumont Lodge No. 275, Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Mr. Squier was married in Greenwood County, Kansas, in 1891 to Miss Minnie Peterson, daughter of James and C. A. (Strickland) Peterson. Her mother is now living at Beaumont, and her father, deceased, was for a number of years engaged in merchandising in that village. Mr. and Mrs. Squier have three children: Clinton, born January 11, 1897, is now assistant cashier of the Beaumont State Bank; Frank, born July 13, 1898, is also assisting his father in business; Myrtle is a student in the Enid, Oklahoma, High School.

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