R. H. Julian, one of the pioneer merchants of Butler county, now engaged in the drug business at El Dorado, came to this county forty years ago. Mr. Julian was born at Hanover, in the northwestern part of Cook county, Illinois, in 1851. His parents, Richard and Eliza (Thompson) Julian, were natives of England and Canada, respectively. They located in Cook county in 1849 and lived in Chicago for a short time, and when the epidemic of cholera broke out in 1850 they left Chicago and located in Hanover township, Cook county. In 1852 they removed to Elgin, Ill., where the father worked at his trade, which was that of a stone mason, during the remainder of his life; his wife also died in Elgin.

R. H. Julian received his education in the public schools of Elgin and grew to manhood in that city. In 1876 he came to Kansas, locating at El Dorado, where he obtained a position with Dr. Gordon. About six months later, or in September, 1876, he went to work in Dr. Gordon's drug store, where he learned the drug business. In 1879 he went to Towanda to open and take charge of a branch store for Dr. Gordon, and remained there about six months. Mr. Julian says that brief period was the most pleasant part of his career, and he treasures many fond recollections of the pleasant days and long evenings spent with his newly found friends and acquaintances of Towanda, many of whom are still living in the county, whom he numbers among his stanchest friends.

After spending about six months at Towanda, he returned to El Dorado and in 1880 entered the employ of W. Y. Miller as a clerk in his drug store, remaining in that capacity until July 26, 1886. He then entered the employ of the firm of McKenzie & Evans, El Dorado druggists, until 1890, when he purchased their stock and has since conducted a drug store in El Dorado. When Mr. Julian purchased the business of McKenzie & Evans the store was located on West Central avenue, almost directly across the street from his present place of business in the Opera House block. He purchased the property where his store is now located in 1892, and moved his business into that store building in 1894, at No. 114 West Central avenue. The building is a substantial two-story brick structure with a basement, which he rents for a barber shop.

Mr. Julian was united in marriage to Miss Minnie L., daughter of Dr. J. P. and Martha (Rice) Gordon. Dr. Gordon was one of the very earliest physicians to locate in El Dorado. He came to Kansas from Mount Vernon, Iowa, where he had practiced his profession for a number of years, and upon coming to this State, practiced for a time in Topeka, Auburn and Emporia, and in 1868 located here. He died in 1911, at the close of an active and successful professional career, and his widow now resides in El Dorado. Notwithstanding that she has reached the advanced age of eighty years, she is as keen in mind and as active physically as the average person of fifty or sixty.

Mr. Julian is a member of the Masonic Lodge, of which he is past master; he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, hoving[sic] been identified with that organization for over forty years. He is also a member of the Woodmen of the World and the Anti-Horse Thief Association. He is a communicant of the Episcopal church, and for a number of years has been junior and senior warden and treasurer of his congregation.

Mr. Julian has various interests in some of the leading commercial enterprises of El Dorado. He is a stockholder in the El Dorado Electric & Refrigerator Company and also a director and stockholder in the Butler County Telephone Company. He may be well classified as one of the old landmarks among the merchants of Butler county.

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