Dr. O. N. Lightner, a prominent Butler county physician and surgeon, now engaged in the practice of his profession in the thriving town of Benton, is a native of Iowa. Dr. Lightner was born at Hillsdale, that State, in 1881, and is a son of John C. and Helen S. (Tawney) Lightner, the former a descendant of Revolutionary ancestors of German-English descent. Helen S. Tawney, Dr. Lightner's mother, is of French-Swiss ancestry, and a direct descendant of Bishop Jacob Mast, of Switzerland, who sailed from Rotterdam, November 3, 1750, and located at Philadelphia, Pa., and the direct line of descent from him to Dr. Lightner's mother is as follows: Jacob Mast married Magdalene Holler; Magdalene Mast married Christian Zook; David Zook married Susana LaFevre; Katherine Zook married Abraham Tawney, and Helen S. Tawney was born to this marriage and married John C. Lightner, and they are the parents of Dr. Lightner.

John C. Lightner came to Kansas with his family in 1884, locating in Sumner county, and he and his wife now reside at Wichita. He is

a Civil war veteran, having served in the Second regiment, Iowa infantry, until he was discharged on account of disability, which incapacitated him for further military service.

Dr. Lightner was three years old when he came to Kansas with his parents, and has always been a hustler, having practically made his own way in the world and defrayed the expense of his own education. He made his first money riding one of the lead horses to a binder, and later, while attending school at Wichita, sold newspapers. Having completed his academic and classical education, he matriculated in Washington University Medical School in 1901, and was graduated from that institution with the degree of Doctor of Medicine in 1905. After passing the examination before the Kansas State Board of Medical Registration, the same year, he went to Old Mexico, where he was engaged in the practice of his profession until 1911.

He then returned to Butler county and practiced at Andover one year, after which he took a post graduate course at Tulane University, New Orleans, La. From there he went to Cuba, and after passing the examination in the medical department of the University of Havana, he became superintendent of the hospital of the United Fruit Company, at Preston, Cuba. He remained in that position until 1914, when he became afflicted with tropical fevers, which necessitated his returning to the North. He resigned his position, and in 1914 located at Benton, where he has a large practice and is one of Butler county's busiest physicians. The United Fruit Company has made Dr. Lightner a liberal offer, in the way of a large salary, to return to his former post in Cuba, but he has declined to accept the same, being content with his present practice.

Dr. Lightner was united in marriage on August 16, 1906, with Senorita Isable Pina, a daughter of Gen. Niconor Pina Celia Vasques de Pina, of Ocompo, Tamanlipas, Mexico. Mrs. Lightner is a descendant of the Viscounts of Spain. To Dr. and Mrs. Lightner has been born one child, Oscar Santiago, born July 25, 1907.

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