THOMAS W. TUCKER.
Thomas W. Tucker, live stock dealer, Effingham, Kan., is a native of Atchison county, and has lived all of his life in Benton township. He was born on a farm three and one-half miles northeast of Effingham, November 27, 1872. His parents were J. Martin and Polly (Cummings) Tucker, both of whom were born in Crawford county, Indiana. J. M. Tucker was the son of Sloan Tucker, also a native of Indiana, who emigrated to Kansas in 1860. When he attained young manhood the father of Thomas W. rented land for a few years in Doniphan county, and then bought a farm in Atchison county. He prospered and became the owner of two farms in Benton township, aggregating 280 acres. When old age came he and Mrs. Tucker retired to a home in Effingham, where they spent the remainder of their days in peace and comfort. J. M. Tucker was born in 1831 and died in 1896, and his wife was born in 1838 and died in October, 1910. Mr. Tucker served in the Kansas State militia during the Civil war. The following children survive J. Martin and Polly Tucker: John R., a farmer living west of Effingham; Mrs. C. C. Anderson, of Atchison, Kan.; Thomas W.; Albert, a resident of Atchison.
Thomas W. Tucker attended the Maple Grove school when a boy and lived on the home farm, assisting in its operation, until he attained the age of twenty-two years. In 1894 he engaged in the livery business in Effingham and continued operating the same until 1898, when he sold out and spent one year cultivating the home farm. After his marriage in 1898, he removed to the Noffsinger farm, east of Effingham, and managed it for six years, returning to Effingham in 1905. While on the farm he became interested in the buying and selling of live stock, and since taking up a permanent residence in Effingham, he has devoted his entire time and attention to this business with signal success. His live stock dealings embrace the purchase and shipment of over seventy-five carloads of stock yearly, which is no inconsiderable item and involves transactions requiring capital of several thousands of dollars. He is also interested in real estate and farm lands and has made several profitable deals in this line. Mr. Tucker owns one of the best residences in Effingham and is the owner of some town lots.
He was married in 1898 to Miss Maude Noffsinger, who was born and reared on a farm, four miles southeast of Effingham, a daughter of Peter and Margaret Noffsinger, residing on their home place, east of Effingham. Both Peter and Margaret Noffsinger are deceased, Mrs. Noffsinger dying in September, 1915. Mr. and Mrs. T. W. Tucker are the parents of two children: Ramona, aged fifteen years, and Maurice, aged eleven.
Mr. Tucker is a Republican in politics and is prominent in the affairs of his party, at present being the central committeeman of the Effingham precinct, being a part of the county organization. He and his family are members of the Christian church. He is fraternally affiliated with the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Modern Woodmen, and the Knights and Ladies of Security.