Vincent K. Hoover

VINCENT K. HOOVER. Few men have been more closely associated with the growth and progress of Russell during the past thirty years than Vincent K. Hoover, president of the Farmers State Bank, a man whose civic loyalty and patriotism have proved a steady and helpful influence in that community at every point.

Mr. Hoover got his first knowledge of practical banking in 1887 when he became bookkeeper with the Blair & Haskett private bank. He was assistant cashier of that bank. In 1903 he assisted in organizing the Farmers State Bank, being its first cashier, and in 1914 was elected its president. The other officers are A. A. Roth, vice president; H. A. Frier, vice president; John P. Ruppenthal, cashier; and Ben G. Phlegar, teller. Other directors are George W. Holland, Henry Krug, Martin J. Mahoney, Carl W. McKeen and D. W. Gower.

The Farmers State Bank has steadily grown in service and resources and at the close of 1918 its total resources aggregated half a million dollars. The capital is $50,000, surplus and profits $70,000, while the deposits aggregate about $425,000. The home of the bank is one of the most attractive bank buildings in this section of Kansas. It is a stone and brick structure, with a classic front, and was remodeled and rebuilt in its present form in 1907.

Mr. Hoover's ancestors came from Switzerland and were colonial settlers in Pennsylvania. He is himself a native of Pennsylvania, born at New Holland April 3, 1864. His father, Levi Hoover, was born in the same locality in 1833 and in 1880 brought his family to Russell, Kansas, where he bought a farm and where he resided for fifteen years. He then went back to New Holland and died there in 1913. He was a republican and a very prominent member of the United Brethren Church. Levi Hoover married Susan Brackbill, who was born near New Holland in 1830 and died at Russell, Kansas, in 1890. They had three children: Emma, wife of George Cavanaugh, a retired farmer now living at Tampa, Florida; O. B. Hoover, a hardware merchant at Russell; and Vincent K.

Vincent K. Hoover was sixteen years of age when he came to Kansas with his parents. His education begun in the schools of Pennsylvania, was finished at Russell, graduating from the Russell High School in 1882. For several years before taking up his banking career he taught school. He helped organize in 1917 and is president of the Farmers State Bank at Page in Logan County, Kansas. This bank is capitalized at $10,000 and has $2,000 surplus. Mr. Hoover owns several large farms in Russell, Gove and Logan counties, and helped organize and is vice president of the Russell Milling Company.

Several of the institutions and movements of which the people of Russell are proud have been materially assisted by Vincent K. Hoover. These include the Commercial Club, the Russell County Fair Association, the City Library and the Local Chatauqua. He has been treasurer of the County Fair Association since it was organized in 1913. The community has naturally looked to his leadership in all war activities, and he has served as county chairman for Liberty Loan and other war work campaigns. Mr. Hoover is a republican, is a member and trustee of the United Brethren Church, is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America at Russell and is a member of the Kansas and American Bankers Associations. His residence is one of the best in Russell, built in modern style and permits of ample grounds on Wisconsin Avenue. He built this home in 1907.

In 1893, at Russell, Mr. Hoover married Miss Zoa I. Ellithorpe, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. W. Ellithorpe. Her father was a farmer and stockman and an early settler in Russell County. Mr. and Mrs. Hoover have one son, Vincent Kelvin, born June 15, 1900, a graduate of the Russell High School. He became a member of the Students Army Training Corps at Kansas University, preparing for an officer's commission.

Pages 2159-2160.