Charles H. Apt first came to Kansas in the weeks following the first election of Grover Cleveland for the presidency. He had already been thoroughly trained and for a time had practiced law in Ohio, and deciding upon a location in Kansas, he transferred his professional interests to this state and for more than thirty years has been a successful lawyer, has acquired a large amount of farming interests, and is one of the best known citizens of Iola. He is now head of the law firm of Apt & Apt, having a son in partnership with him.

The Apt family originated in Switzerland. Mr. Apt’s grandfather, Henry Apt, was born in Pennsylvania, probably of Swiss parentage, following the business of carder and wool worker, and died at Basil in Fairfield County, Ohio.

While his parents were living in Fairfield County, Ohio, Charles H. Apt was born July 15, 1860. He has little recollection of his father, as he was only five years of age at the time of the soldier’s death. He began his education in the schools of Kewanna, Indiana, but in 1867 his mother returned to Fairfield County, Ohio, and partly by his own efforts and partly by such means as the family could afford he acquired a liberal education. He attended public school in Ohio, and in 1880 graduated from the Ohio Northern University at Ada, with a degree A. B. He also spent one year in the Ohio State University, taking a course in civil engineering. Mr. Apt had his law course in the Cincinnati Law School, where he was graduated LL. B. in 1884. Admitted to the bar in that year, he began practice at Columbus, Ohio, on July 1, and continued a member of the bar of that city until after the election in November.

On coming to Kansas he visited Topeka, Wichita and Wellington, and in January, 1885, located his professional headquarters at Pratt. From March 1885, until June 1, 1904, he was successfully engaged in practice at Pratt, and since the latter date has lived in Iola. He still looks after his extensive clientage in the civil and criminal branches of the law, his offices being at 7 1/2 West Madison Avenue.

Mr. Apt has been prospered in a business way and owns some of the best farming land of Pratt County, divided into three different tracts, consisting respectively of 160, 320 and 640 acres, altogether 1,120 acres. He also owns his residence at 222 South Oak Street in Ohio in Iola, and is on the board of directors of the State Savings Bank of Iola.

Mr. Apt is a democrat. He belongs to the Presbyterian Church, and while at Pratt he assisted in organizing Kilwinning Lodge No. 265, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, and still has his membership there. He belongs to Wichita Consistory No. 2, of the Scottish Rite, to Iola Lodge, No.43, Knights of Pythias, of which he is a past Chancellor commander, and has filled all the chairs several times. Other fraternal relations are with Ninnestah Camp, No. 1275, Modern Woodmen of America, at Pratt; with Iola Camp. No.101, Woodmen of the World; and with the Kansas Fraternal Citizens. Mr. Apt is a member of the Kansa State Bar Association.

On December 26, 1887, at Cincinnati, Ohio, he married Miss Blanche Gazlay, daughter of Carter and Lizzie (Emerson) Gazlay. Both her parents are now deceased, and her father for many years practiced law at Cincinnati, Ohio, and in Indiana. Mr. and Mrs. Apt are the parents of two children: Frederick G. and Elizabeth.