"Kansas City Missouri" "Its History and Its People" 1800 - 1908 By Carrie Westlake Whitney - 1908 Jere Stephen LILLIS was the youngest bank president in the United States when he became the chief executive officer of the Western Exchange Bank of Kansas City. The ability and clear conception which he has displayed in financial circles makes him the peer and associate of those who are many years his senior and yet who entertain the highest respect for his sound judgment, keen discrimination and capable management. He has passed through consecutive stages of development and advancement, putting his powers to the practical test and learning by experience to place a correct valuation upon the opportunities and advantages offered. Born in Lexington, Missouri, December 3, 1865, he is one of the eleven children of James and Margaret (JORDAN) LILLIS. His father, a general railroad contractor, was a native of Ireland, who in his boyhood came to America and was reared in the Green Mountain state. He removed westward to Missouri prior to the Civil war and served as a colonel in the state militia during the period of hostilities. Following the close of the war he engaged in contracting with General Joe SHELBY, and in 1882 came to Kansas City and in connection with William J. SMITH built the first cable railroads of Kansas City, of Omaha and Denver. About ten years have passed since his demise. Of the family of eleven children, all are still living and the Rt. Rev. Thomas F. LILLIS, a brother of our subject, is now a bishop of the Leavenworth diocese and resides in Kansas City, Kansas. Jere S. LILLIS spent his boyhood days in Lexington, Missouri, to the age of sixteen, when he came to Kansas City and completed his education in private schools, pursuing a three years' college course in Atchison, Kansas. He was graduated in 1884 and throughout the period of his business career has been identified with banking interests. His early connection with financial affairs was the private banking firm of H. S. Mills and Son at Sixth and Delaware streets. He had been with the house for four years when it was incorporated under the name of Bank of H. S. Mills and Mr. LILLIS became its cashier. His purchase of stock from time to time enabled him to secure control of the bank in 1892 and he changed its name to the Western Exchange Bank, of which he has since been the president. This has become one of the strong and reliable financial enterprises of the city, the safe, conservative policy which was instituted by Mr. LILLIS having always been maintained in its management and control. In addition to his banking interests, Mr. LILLIS has also had charge of the family estate and has engaged extensively in the purchase and sale of realty, confining his operations in this line to the best business property of the city. His attention has been devoted entirely to his banking and real-estate interests and he has become connected with no business venture which he has not personally managed nor in which he has not attained most gratifying success. His labors in the building and in the improvement of real estate have contributed in large measure to the promotion of Kansas City along substantial lines. To him is due almost entirely the credit for starting the tide of business toward McGee and East Twelfth streets and thus broadening the business district in that direction. Mr. LILLIS has never had any desire for public life and the honors and emoluments of office have had no attraction for him. He is connected with all of the banking associations and with the Merchants & Manufacturers Association, while in more specifically social lines he is connected with the Kansas City, the Country, the Elm Ridge and the Evanston Golf Clubs. He is also a member of the Malta Bend Gun Club and finds his chief recreation in golfing or with the automobile, and when opportunity offers for more extended rest he employs his time in travel, sojourning for a month or two each winter in California or in Florida. Music, too, has great attraction for him and he makes opportunity for the cultivation of those graces of character which promote culture and give one the broader view of life that cannot be attained when interests are concentrated entirely along business lines. His political support is given to the democracy and his religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic church. A man of fine physique and athletic build, he is pleasant and genial in manner but modest and unassuming in deportment. The consensus of public opinion, however, accords him notable prominence as a financier. ======================================================