Biographical Sketches

JAMES G. STREAN

Is the cashier of the Metropolitan National Bank of Kansas City and a young man of superior business ability. He was born in Washington, Pennsylvania, October 13, 1859, and is a son of Robert and Maria (Greenleaf) Strean, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Massachusetts. The Strean family is of Scotch-Irish origin, and the paternal grandfather of our subject was James G. Strean, a native of Virginia. Throughout life he carried on agricultural pursuits and stock-raising, and took the prize for the finest wool exhibited at the world's fair held in London. He was very enterprising and progressive, and kept abreast with the times - in fact was one of the leaders in improvement in his community. In personal appearance he was a man of 5 feet 10 inches, fine looking, of rather commanding disposition, yet possessed of generous and sterling qualities. He had passed the 80th milestone on life's journey when death ended his labors. He married Miss Lavenia Johnston, who descended from a prominent family that was founded in Pennsylvania at a very early day, and whose brothers fought in the Revolution.

The father of our subject was reared in the state of his nativity, and a graduate of Harvard, and after he had arrived at years of maturity he wedded Miss Greenleaf, daughter of John Greenleaf, and a native of Boston, descended from English ancestry. He was a lawyer by profession, and lived and died in Cambridge, Massachusetts. His religious faith was that of the Baptist church, of which he was a strict adherent. Robert Stean engaged in merchandising, as a dealer in hardware, in both Washington and Pittsburg, Pennsylvania. He now makes his home in the former city, but his wife died in 1867. Both were members of the Presbyterian church, and he served in the state militia at an early day. In their family were 5 children, 2 sons and 3 daughters, of whom 4 are now living, namely: James G.; Helen, wife of E. A. Shepherd, of Boston; Lizzie, wife of H. D. Dunlap, of Kansas City; Maria; and Herbert, deceased.

Our subject spent his boyhood days in Washington, Pennsylvania, and was educated in the Washington and Jefferson College, at which institution he was graduated in the Class of 1881. He then assumed the management of his grandfather's stock farm, and carried on that business for about 2 years, when he became engaged in the banking business as clerk. He continued that for about 4 years, during the greater part of this time in the banking house of Samuel Hazlett. Mr. Stean has been a resident of Kansas City since October, 1886, at which time he became bookkeeper in the Citizens' National Bank, but held that position little less than a year, resigning to accept the position of teller in the German National Bank, but in less than 1 year was chosen assistant cashier and in 9 month became cashier of the bank. He was in the last named institution as cashier until the organization of the Metropolitan National Bank, in November, 1890, when he became the assistant cashier. Of the latter he was most instrumental in organizing. In that capacity he served until January, 1892, when he was made cashier. He is a very popular cashier and very reliable, his business and executive ability being of a high order, and is regarded as a very conservative and able banker.

On the 13th of October, 1891, Mr. Strean was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Thomas, of Pittsburg, PA., daughter of J. D. Thomas, one of the oldest families of Pittsburg. They became the parents of 2 children, Marguerite and Catherine, but the latter died at the age of 11 months. Our subject and his wife are members of the Presbyterian church, and their pleasant home at Harrison street and Commonwealth avenue is the abode of hospitality and a favorite resort for their many friends. In politics Mr. Strean is a stanch supporter of the republican party and its principles.

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This page was last updated August 2, 2006.