Waggener, William Peyton

The following data is extracted from A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans.

William Peyton Waggener, only son of Hon. Balie Peyton Waggener, had followed in the footsteps of his father in the profession of law, and had attained enviable rank and prominence in the profession at Atchison.

He was born at Atchison June 18, 1870, and grew up in his native city, where he attended the public schools and St. Benedict's College. In 1887 he gradnated from the Military School at Boonville, Missouri, and for two years was a student in Midland College at Atchison. He then entered the law office of his father and after a careful preparation was admitted to the bar in September, 1890. He too was only twenty years of age when licensed to practice, the age at which his father had been admitted. During 1893-95 he served as general attorney of the Kansas City Northwestern Railroad Company. Since February, 1917, he had been general counsel for this railway. In 1910 he succeeded his father as general attorney of the Missouri Pacifie Railway for Kansas.

Much of his time had been taken up with business affairs and he was formerly president of the Exchange State Bank and is now its vice president and director. He is also a director of the Kansas Life Insurance Company.

Mr. Waggener served as county attorney of Atchison County from 1900 to 1903, and for one term was a member of the city council. His law offices are at 401 Commercial Street and his home at 820 North Fifth Street.

Mr. Waggener was a member of the World's Fair Commission from Kansas to St. Louis in 1903. He was a member of the Episcopal Church and his name appears on the membership rolls of many fraternal organizations. He is a Knight Templar and a Scottish Rite Mason and also a member of the Mystic Shrine. Professionally he is a member of the County, State and American Bar associations.

Mr. Waggener was married at Nashville, Tennessee, in 1892, to Miss Martha Spurr, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. M. A. Spurr, who still live in Nashville. Three children have been born to their marriage. Louise, born April 18, 1895, was married April 12, 1917, to Henry Hax Hartwic. They live in St. Joseph, Missouri, where Mr. Hartwic is connected with the Smith & Hax wholesale furniture house. Balie P. Waggener, Jr., was born March 30, 1898, and is now a student of the Holderness School at Plymouth, New Hampshire. Marius S., born January 18, 1900, was formerly in the Holderness School and is now a student in the Atchison High School.

Source: A Standard History of Kansas and Kansans

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