James W. Teter.—Butler county is far famed for its high standard of cattle, and back of this reputation of this section of the State is the industry and ability of the successful cattlemen. The cattle business is a big industry and requires business men of big mental caliber, as well as almost unlimited resources to get the best results and build up a national reputation for a county, such as the leading cattle men of this sec-

tion have done for Butler county. "Jim" Teter is one of the big cattlemen of Butler county, and like many other successful men, he started with nothing and the progress that he has made in the business world is due wholly, to his own unaided efforts.

James W. Teter was born in Upshur county, Virginia (now West Virginia) in 1849, a son of John and Lucinda (McCoy) Teter. The Teter family was poor and, they came to Kansas in 1865 from Iowa, having driven the entire distance from West Virginia to that State, and from there to Kansas. They first located in Coffey county in this State where they remained until 1869 when they went west as far as California and Oregon, but in the course of a few months returned to Butler county, settling at Cassoday, or where Cassoday is now located, which was then called Sycamore Springs and three years later came to Prospect township. The father, John Teter, was a typical pioneer, a big hearted, stalwart man, noted for his physical strength and endurance and he belonged to that type of men who were absolutely unconscious of danger. He was a cattleman and one of the pioneers of that industry of Butler county and met with considerable success. He died in April, 1904, his wife having passed away five years previously. They were the parents of eight children, two boys and six girls. The boys were: Washington, who died at his home in El Dorado in 1915, and "Jim," whose name introduces this sketch. Four of the girls are now living.

When the Teter family settled in the vicinity where Cassoday is now located that was a wild, unbroken and sparsely settled country. Deer and antelope were plentiful and small game of most every kind was in abundance. However, Jim Teter says, he was never much of a hunter, although he has chased bobcats and wolves over the Flint Hills with his hounds when he was a boy, but his brother, Washington, won quite a reputation as a hunter in the early days. He killed a great many deer and bears in his time, and hunted buffalo and other big game, making several hunting expeditions to the Rocky Mountains and even to old Mexico.

Jim Teter received his education mostly in the rough and ready school of experience and has always been a student of men and affairs. He has studied conditions and reasoned from cause to effect, and today is one of the capable business men of Butler county and has met with well merited success. When the family first settled in Butler county great numbers of Indians were almost constantly passing through this section of the country and when Jim Teter was a boy he traded a rooster to an Indian for a pony. He says this was the beginning of his business career. He has always been a stockman and specializes in white faced cattle and he and his sons, who are associated with him, now have on hand about 800 head and at times hape[sic] had as many as 1,400. Mr. Teter is an extensive land owner and owns about 1,200 acres in Butler county and 6,000 acres in Greenwood county. His home place, which is located about two miles from El Dorado contains 850 acres. He fol-

lows general farming in connection with his cattle business and raises large quantities of grain and hay which he feeds, and frequently has to buy considerable more for his cattle.

Mr. Teter was married in 1888, to Miss Mary Marshall and six children were born to this union, as follows: Ora, married Charles Mattle, Butler county; Hattie, married Robert McCully, Butler county; Letha, married Oliver Morley, Butler county; John, at home; William, and Merle, live in Greenwood county. The wife, and mother of these children, died November 19, 1890, and Mr. Teter married for his second wife, Miss Louise Ladd. Two children were born to this union: Gladys, now the wife of William Spencer, Kansas City, Mo., and James, resides at home. Mrs. Teter died October 9, 1904, and Mr. Teter married Miss Sadie Miller and they have three children: Ruth, Elden and Helen.

Mr. Teter is inclined to be independent in his political views, supporting public measures which meet with his approval and candidates whom he deems best qualified for the office which they seek. Mr. Teter is public spirited and progressive and also ready to cooperate with any enterprise for the betterment of his county or State.

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