Frederick C. Flory (Biography)

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Taken from Kansas: A Cyclopedia of State History, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, towns, prominent persons, etcedited by Frank W. Blackmar.  Vol. III, part 1, pages 460-461


Frederick C. Flory, or Howard, editor and owner of the "Weekly Citizen" at that place, publishes one of the strong Democratic weeklies of the state and is a worthy representative of the journalistic profession in Kansas.  Mr. Flory was born in Ottawa, Ill., Dec. 22, 1858, a son of Francisco and Phoebe (Martin) Flory, the fomer of whom was a native of Buffalo, N.Y., and the latter of Newark, Ohio.  The father was a butcher by trade and ran the first refrigerator car in the world from Chicago to Ottawa, Ill.  He had come westward to Illinois when a young man and there at the outbreak of the Civil war enlisted in the Union army.  He died in Clinton, Miss., while in active service.  He was a Democrat in politics and was a strong adherent of Stephen A. Douglas.  George Flory, the grandfather of Frederick C. was a native of Germany, but left the Fatherland at the time of a threatened rebellion in that country and immigrated to America, locating at Buffalo, N. Y., where he resided until his death.

Frederick C. Flory, grew up without a father's care and encouragement and in 1871, at the age af/sic/ thirteen, began to assume the responsibility for his own career when he entered a printing office at Longton, Kan., to learn the printer's trade.  There he thoroughly mastered every detail essential to the printing business.  Though of limited education so far as schools are concerned, he is alert, energetic and progressive, and with his practical knowledge of printing, something of a natural talent for journalism and with a live interest in all that pertains to human progress and civilization he has in the subsequent years made a distinct success of newspaper work.  After mastering the printer's trade he continued to be employed in that line at Longton for a number of years and later had editiorial control of a paper in Iowa, one year.  On 1894 he bought the "Weekly Citizen" at Howard, Kan., which he made a strong supporter of Democratic party policies, always along the lines of progress.  He is a member of the Kansas State Editorial Association and took the second prize in the editorial contest at Emporia in 1908, and again at Wichita in 1910.  Through industry, intrepid endeavor and good business management he had prospered.  Besides his publishing business he owns a fine farm and takes a great interest in agricultural pursuits.  In 1884 Miss Alida White became the wife of Mr. Flory.  Mrs. Flory is the daughter of Capt. Charles White, a Kansas Pioneer of prominence, who was a captain in the Union army during the Civil war and was an early settler in Montgomery county, where he served as the first sheriff of that county and built the first two-story residence in Independence.  He had the distinction of having served in two state legislatures, that of Wisconsin and of Kansas.  Captain White passed away at Longton, Kan., in June 1910.  Mr. and Mrs. Flory have seven children:  Thomas W., who for some time was connected with the Samuel Dodsworth Book Co., of Leavenworth, Kan., but is now associated with his father in the publication of the "Weekly Citizen;"  Floyd C., who also has taken up newspaper work, is editor of the "Grenola Leader" at Grenola, Kan., Mabel, who is now engaged in the profession of teaching; Ruth, a high school graduate who is at home; Alan; Ebbert; and Frank, all of whom are students in the public school of Howard. Mr. Flory is a staunch Democrat and for years has been an energetic and influential leader in the practical work of the Democratic party of Elk county.  He was a presidential elector in 1908.  Fraternally he is a member of the blue lodge and chapter of the Masonic order.  He and his family are members of the Presbyterian church.