The subject of this sketch is A.J. Culp, a prominent and successful farmer near Miltonvale, Kansas. Mr. Culp is a native of Indiana, born near Logansport, in 1861. His father was Valentine Culp, a native of Prussia, Germany, and left his home country to escape entering the standing army. Valentine Culp was the only one of his family that ever came to America. He settled in Indiana, took up land and lived there until his death in 1879, followed by the death of the wife and mother, six weeks later. Mr. Culp's mother was Elizabeth Harkey, who came with her father's family to America and were among the early settlers of Ohio and Indiana.

Mr. Culp's parents having died while he was yet in his minority, he was thrown upon his own resources and in order to acquire an education, had to work on the farm in summer and go to school in winter until he obtained the ability to teach, and thus he earned his way to the Valparaiso Normal School two years, and later, a commercial course in the Business College there. In 1885 he came west and had the good judgment to locate in Cloud county where he has taught in some of the best schools. Mr. Culp was a teacher in the grammar grade of the Miltonvale schools for four years and principal for one year. At the expiration of his school work in Miltonvale he became interested in farming and stock raising and gave up the vocation of teaching.

In 1890 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land one mile west of Miltonvale; the same year he married Miss Ada C. Proctor, who was also a Cloud county teacher for three years. Mrs. Culp was prepared for teaching in the Emporia State Normal. She is a daughter of Charles Proctor, (see sketch) and when he was elected to the office of clerk of Cloud county, she was his deputy during the term of four years. She is a refined, gentle woman and possesses more than ordinary talent in art, and many of her paintings adorn the walls of their beautiful home. Mrs. Culp inherited one hundred and thirty acres of land adjoining her husband's farm.

Mr. Culp remodeled, and expended about seven hundred dollars on their residence and has one of the most desirable country homes in the vicinity of Miltonvale. He bought and built up a herd of cattle by degrees until he now keeps an average of about sixty head. He started in Kansas with a capital of about eight hundred dollars. Mr. Culp has been a Republican from the first ballot. They are members of the Presbyterian church and take an active part in church work.