The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1918-05-09
One of Best. Known Bankers
and Capitalists. in Kansas.
He Had Been Confined to His
Bed for Three Months.
WAS HEAD OF BANK OF Topeka
For More Than 40 Years He
Was President of Institution.
Met His Death at His Home
Here This Morning.

John r. Mulvane. SO years old, for
more than forty years one of the
most prominent figures in the Topeka
and Kansas financial world, died this
morning at s:25 o'clock at his home,
S15 East Sixth street.
Mr. Mulvane was stricken with a
serious illness some three years ago
and was confined to his bed for more
than two months. From this sickness
ne never recovered fully. About the
middle of last October he was again
confined to his home and has never
been outside since. Two weeks ago he
was taken with relapse which culmi-
mated in his death this morning.
He Was a Tanner.
John r. Mulvane was born in New
comerstown, Ohio, July 6, 1885. His
early education was obtained in a
country school. His father, David
Muiyane, n & vas tanner. and at an early
age John Mulvane entered his fathers
business. While still boy he gained
such knowledge of general merchan-
d1Slng that he was able to take full
charge of his fathers country store at
the age of 20. The Mulyane family
came originally from the McIivanes of
Scotland, the first representative of
whom settled in North Carolina before
the Revolutionary war
To Topeka in 1868.
In 1855 John R. Mulvane left his
father and engaged in business with
ms brother, Joab Mulvane, at Prince
ton, Ill. His health soon failed, and
after some time spent in a sanitarium
ne came to Kansas, arriving in Topeka
in August of 1868. He first engaged
in land and cattle business. In jan
uary, 1870 he became cashier of the
topeka Bank and Savings company,
thus commencing a career that has
made him famous as western finan-
cier.
President Bank of Topeka
When the bank was reorganized in
1878 Mr.. Mulvane became president
of the new Bank of Topeka and he
had held that position until the time
1 of his death. With his brother, Joab
he engaged in several other lines OF
business in Topeka Mr.. Mulvane and
making success of the Topeka Water
company, and he was a potent factor
| in the reorganization of the Topeka
Railway company.
In 1879 John r. and Joab Mulvane
| bought the little telephone exchange
in Topeka out of which has grown the
Missouri and Kansas Telephone com
pany, of which Mr.. Mulvane was 3
heavy stockholder. Mr.. Mulvane was
interested in the salt industry and was
also promoter of the Beatrice Cream
cry company He was one of the larg-
est stockholders in the Wolff Packing
company and one of the largest own
ers of irrigated land in Bent county
Colorado. He was director and vice
president of the Globe Surety company
and director in the Commerce Trus
company of Kansas City.
Reared Two Orphan Children.
Mr., Mulvane was married to Mis-.
Hattie M. Freeman at Newcomers
town, Ohio, in 1856. No children were
born to this union but Mr.. and Mrs
Mufvane adopted and reared the tive
orphan children of Mr.. Mulvane'.
youngest sister. Mr.. Mulvane was fol
forty years a member, and for twenty
years director in the First BGptis
church. He was president of the To
peka Public library of which he wa.
one of the organizers. In co-opera
ton with Bishop Vail he was one O
! the org anizers of Christ Hospital as
sociation in which corporation he helc
the position of treasurer for a numbe1
of years. He was a member of thu
lCommcrcial club and the Count-,
club, was a thirty-second degree Scot
tish Rite Mason, Knight Templar anG
an Odd Fellow. Since 1901 he was {
trustee OF Washburn college.