J. Wilbur Logan

J. WILBUR LOGAN, of the Logan Abstract & Loan Company, a leading loan, real estate, abstract and insurance institution of Columbus, was born in Washington County, Illinois, in 1863, and is a son of the late A. A. and Lucinda (Brakebill) Logan.

The parents of Mr. Logan removed in 1866 to Labette County, Kansas, where the father bought a farm in the vicinity of Oswego, and there both parents died in 1873, aged 45 and 41 years, respectively. They had six children, of whom but the subject of this sketch and two sisters, whom reside at Wichita, Kansas, are the only survivors.

Mr. Logan attended the public schools, and spent three years in the Fort Scott Normal School, having borrowed funds in order to complete his education. When about 19 years of age he served an apprenticeship in a grocery store at Fort Scott, and later engaged in the grocery business at Wichita, where he located in 1887. In 1890 he came to Columbus and engaged in the abstract, loan and real estate business, in which he has met with the greatest success, his profits enabling him to clear off a pervious indebtedness of $1,000, and then to invest in land which has proven rich in gas and oil. In 1903 the Logan Abstract & Loan Company was formed, the partners being J. Wilbur Logan and Commodore F. Cool. In 1900 Mr. Logan built the structure in which this business is now located,—a commodious building fronting on Maple avenue. It is partly occupied by a grocery store and the remainder is given up to offices, all of which have been fitted up in modern style. Mr. Logan has prospered greatly since establishing himself at Columbus, and must be reckoned with the substantial men of Cherokee County.

Mr. Logan owns 160 acres near Chanute, in the celebrated oil and gas region, and is president of the Inter-state Mineral, Oil & Gas Company, of Columbus and Chanute, Kansas. The stock of this company is owned mainly by Columbus men. The company was organized February 14, 1904, and was incorporated under the laws Arizona, with a capital of $500,000, divided into 500,000 shares, at a par value of $1 each.

The officers of the Inter-State Mineral, Oil & Gas Company are: J. Wilbur Logan, president; George W. Rains, a mine operator at Galena, vice-president; J. M. McNay, of Columbus, secretary and general manager; W. M. Barbee, of Chanute, Kansas, treasurer; A. A. Goddard, ex-attorney general of Kansas and a prominent banker of Topeka, attorney; and J. W. Clayton, of Wichita, director. The land which this company controls, under lease from Mr. Logan, the owner, is situated in the heart of what is known as the "west field," near Chanute. Every indication points to the immediate success of this enterprise, the field being rich and the capital and brains of its promoters being plentiful.

Mr. Logan married May Nichols, who was born in Illinois and accompanied her parents to Labette County, Kansas, in the early "seventies." They have five children, namely: John, born in Wichita, a graduate of the city schools; Combs; Carmin; Carl; and a baby girl. All were born at Columbus. The family belong to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Politically, Mr. Logan is a Republican. He has served six years as a member of the Board of Education and has taken a public spirited interest in civic affairs. Fraternally, he belongs to the Masons, Knights of Pythias, Modern Woodmen of America, Anti-Horse Thief Association and the Sons and Daughters of Justice.

History of Cherokee County Kansas and its representative citizens, ed. & comp. by Nathaniel Thompson Allison, 1904, transcribed by Casey Kleman, student from USD 508, Baxter Springs Middle School, Baxter Springs, Kansas, 1-17-97.