There is always a universal feeling of interest and respect for a man who, by his own exertions and natural ability, has won for himself a prominent place in either professional or commercial circles, or as a tiller of the soil. Mr. Biggs has done this and occupies a place among the successful men of the Glasco, vicinity.

Rufus R. Biggs is a son of Joseph Biggs, upon whose original homestead the city of Glasco was built. He settled there in 1869, and was one of the organizers of the town. A brother, Isaac Biggs, was Glasco's first postmaster, and for years engaged in general merchandise. Isaac Biggs died in 1888. R.R. Biggs received a common school education in Iowa, the state of his nativity, in the vicinity of Cedar Rapids. When he was fourteen years of age his father's family moved to Missouri, and the following year to Kansas, where Mr. Biggs began a career of farm life. in 1882, he engaged successfully in the livery business in Glasco; discontinued in 1890, and bought a farm north of that city, where he lived two years - 1893-4 - and in 1894 bought part of the old H.H. Spaulding homestead. It was a bare wheat field of ninety-seven acres adjacent to Glasco. Mr. Biggs put this land under a high state of improvement; built a comfortable six room cottage, substantial barns, etc.

Mr. Biggs was married, in 1885, to Mary Emma Haddock a popular Cloud County teacher. She was educated in the graded schools of Concordia and a student one year in the State Normal of Emporia. The Haddocks were old settlers in Cloud county and homesteaded what is now the Messmore farm near Glasco. Her father died in 1898, and her mother in 1884. Mrs. Biggs was a teacher in the old stone school house of Glasco; entered as a substitute for one day and taught for a period of five years. She began her school work as a teacher at sixteen. Mr. and Mrs. Biggs are the parents of one child, a little daughter, Wilma Inez, aged four years. Mr. and Mrs. Biggs have reared two daughters of their deceased brother, Isaac Biggs. Ida is a graduate of the Glasco High school and is married to Charles Wall. The youngest daughter, Oral, remains one of their household.

Socially Mr. Biggs is a member of the Knights of Pythias and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. He is considerable of a sportsman; goes to Colorado, Montana, Oklahoma or Arkansas annually for a season's hunting. He is progressive in his views and contributes to all worthy enterprises, either by his personal efforts or from his stores of a worldly nature. The Biggs have a modern, desirable home, and are among the representative people of their community.