Ray Sayers

RAY SAYERS. - One of the most straightforward, energetic and successful business men of Rosedale, Kansas, is Ray Sayers, manager of the Wyandotte County Gas Company. Although still a young man, he has for some years been an important factor in business circles, and his popularity is well deserved, for in him are embraced the characteristics of unabating energy, unusual executive capacity and originality and initiative. He is public-spirited and is an active supporter of all measures likely to result in benefit to the many. In short, Mr. Sayers is to be numbered among the valued and honorable citizens of the thriving little city.

Mr. Sayers was born in Kansas City, Missouri, on March 7, 1875, and is the son of Henry and Elizabeth (Redfern) Sayers. Henry Savers who died in Argentine in 1898 was a man well known. in this locality and in Pennsylvania. He was interested in the oil fields of the latter state and suffered a loss of one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars at the time of the great oil fields fire. He came west in 1868 and located in Kansas City, Missouri, where he engaged in the shirt manufacturing business. Subsequent to that he tried a new field of endeavor, locating in Colorado where he prospected for ore. After some years in which he was identified with the mining industry, Mr. Sayers returned to Argentine and there passed away in 1898. The mother was born in Buffalo, New York, and died in Kansas City, Kansas, July 19, 1906. These admirable people became the parents of the following four children: Clinton H. of Kansas City, Kansas, married Miss Cora Gagle; Warren K. married Miss Katie Vetter and resides in Kansas City, Kansas; Milton, who married Louella Veil, of Kansas City, Kansas; and, Ray, the youngest in order of birth.

Mr. Sayers passed his childhood days in Kansas City, Missouri, and there attended the public schools. When about fourteen years of age he removed with the rest of the family to Colorado and there became a student in the high school of the place in which the family located, Montrose. After graduation from that institution, he took a special course in mathematics and returning to Kansas City, Missouri, he became an active factor in the world of affairs as an employe of Armour & Company, as processor in the canning department, a position which he subsequently held with the Cudahy Packing Company. Desiring to venture upon a more independent business, Mr. Sayers then engaged in the grocery business in Kansas City, Kansas, and was engaged in this field for two years. It was immediately following this that Mr. Sayers entered the employ of the Wyandotte County Gas Company with which concern he has ever since remained. He started at the bottom, but has worked his way up, proving so faithful and efficient in small matters that he was given more and more to do, and he is now the manager of the company at Rosedale.

On October 24, 1894, Mr. Sayers was united in marriage to Miss Mary Keeper, who was born in Germany and came to this country when a child. Her mother, Anna Keeper, is at the present time a resident of Kansas City, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Sayers share their delightful home with one son, Clinton R., who is eleven years of age.

In the matter of politics Mr. Sayers is affiliated with no party, but makes it a matter of personal duty to investigate as fully as is in his power in order to find the best man for the office. He esteems the better man and the better measure far above mere partisanship. Mr. Sayers and his wife are valued members of the Presbyterian church. He is a member of the time honored Masonic order and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.