Albert Southwick

ALBERT SOUTHWICK. - The patent of nobility that rested its honors and distinctions in the person of Albert Southwick came from high authority since it was based upon exalted character and distinguished ability. Looking into the clear perspective of his career there may be seen definite courage, persistent determination and self-confidence, which, as coupled with integrity of purpose, are the factors that conserve success and make it consistent. Mr. Southwick was a resident of Kansas for a period of twenty-one years and during that period gained recognition as a citizen whose loyalty and public spirit were of the most insistent order. For three years prior to his demise, which occurred on the 20th of January, 1891, he maintained his home in Kansas City, were his widow, who still survives him, resides at the present time.

Albert Southwick was born in Vermont on the 8th of April, 1838, and he was a son of Abram and Maria (Smith) Southwick, both of whom were natives of Collins Center, New York, where was solemnized their marriage and whence they removed to Vermont. Later, however, in 1840, the family home was established near the city of Detroit, Michigan, where Mrs. Southwick died two years later. After that sad event Mr. Southwick returned east, settling in Erie county, New York, where his death occurred about 1890. After his mother's death the young Albert went to live with his maternal grandparents at Collins Center, New York, in the public schools of which place he received his preliminary educational training. At the age of eighteen years, in 1856, he came to Kansas, where he subsequently enlisted as a soldier in the Seventh Kansas Volunteer Infantry, which regiment was later consolidated with the Third to form the Tenth Kansas regiment. During the early portion of his service he was with John Brown in Kansas and he was the only survivor of four men whom Quantrell, in 1860, inveigled from Kansas to Missouri with the apparent purpose of enticing some slaves to escape. This was near Hickman's Mills, in Jackson county, Missouri, and the four men were betrayed by Quantrell and all were killed except Mr. Southwick, who, through some miracle, managed to escape. The men killed were Lipsey, Ball and Morrison. Mr. Southwick's picture hangs in Historical Hall at the State House, Topeka, Kansas, in memory of the historical incident connected with Quantrell. He enlisted for service in the Union army in June, 1861, and during the three years of his gallant service he participated in a number of important battles marking the progress of the war. He received his honorable discharge and was mustered out of service on the 30th of August, 1864, at which time he went to Champaign, Illinois, where he worked at his trade of carpenter for the ensuing six years. In 1870 he established the family home at Salina in Saline county, Kansas, where he was employed at the work of his trade for the following eighteen years. In September, 1888, removal was made to Kansas City, Kansas, where he was engaged in carpenter work for the Union Pacific Railroad Company for the remainder of his life. In politics he accorded a stalwart allegiance to the principles and policies promulgated by the Republican party and while he was never ambitious for political preferment of any description he was ever on the alert and enthusiastically in sympathy with all measures and enterprises advanced for the good of the general welfare. In a fraternal way he was affiliated with the local lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and he signified his deep and sincere interest in his old comrades in arms by membership in the Grand Army of the Republic. His religious faith was in harmony with the tenets of the Methodist Episcopal church, to whose philanthropical work he was always a most liberal contributor. At the time of his death, on the 20th of January, 1891, his loss was uniformly mourned throughout Kansas City, where the list of his personal friends was coincident with that of his acquaintances. His remains were interred in Washington cemetery, at Kansas City, Missouri.

On the 27th of May, 1861, Mr. Southwick was united in marriage to Miss Susan P. Matthews, whose birth occurred in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, and who is a daughter of John and Rebecca (White) Matthews, both of whom were likewise natives of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. In 1856 the Matthews family removed to Ogle county, Illinois, and three years later the home was established in Champaign county, that state. John Matthews passed to the life eternal in September, 1865, and his cherished and devoted wife died in 1882. Mrs. Southwick is a woman of most gracious personality and she is held in high esteem by all with whom she has come in contact. Concerning the children born to Mr. and Mrs. Southwick the following brief data is here incorporated: Frank is general foreman in the machine shop of the Union Pacific Railroad Company, at Kansas City, Kansas, his home being at 1258 Central avenue, Clarence resides at home with his widowed mother; he is head hog-buyer for Swift & Company, having been with that concern since 1897; and Albert died in infancy.