From A
Biographical History of Central Kansas, Vol. II, p. 1160
published by The Lewis Publishing Co, Chicago & New York, 1902
George Litchfield, who died on the 2nd of July, 1891, was an enterprising farmer of Rice county, an honored pioneer settler and one of the veterans of the Civil war who manifested his loyalty to the Union by faithful service upon southern battlefields. At all times he commanded the respect of his fellow men, and in his death the community has lost one of its valued citizens.
Mr Litchfield was born near Evansville, in Vanderburg county, Indiana, June 25, 1844. His father, Joseph Litchfield, was a native of England and in that country he acquired his education, there remaining until eighteen years of age, when he bade adieu to friends and native land and sailed for the United States, taking up his abode near Evansville, Indiana. He was married in Vanderburg county to Miss Lucy E Browning, who was also born in England, and on coming to the new world took up her abode in the Hoosier state. She is now living in Yorktown, Iowa, but her husband died in McDonough county, Illinois, near Macomb. This worthy couple were parents of eleven children: John, who was a soldier of the Civil War; Joseph; Mary; George; Lucy A; Sarah E; William and Henry, who were twins; Fannie; Frank; and Richard. The father was a farmer by occupation, following that pursuit in order to provide for his large family. In politics he was a Republican and both he and his wife were members of the Universalist church.
When a lad of only four years George Litchfield was taken by his parents to McDonough county, Illinois, where he was reared upon a farm, early becoming familiar with all the labors of field and meadow. The common schools of the community afforded him his educational privileges. After the inauguration of the Civil war he enlisted in Company D, Sixty-fourth Illinois Infantry, and participated in many of the historic battles of the Rebellion. He was in the engagements at Resaca and Savannah, the siege of Atlanta and the celebrated march under General Sherman to the sea, and afterward proceeded through the Carolinas to Jonesboro and to Richmond. He participated in the grand review in Washington, the most celebrated military pageant ever seen in the new world, where “wave after wave of bayonet-crested blue” swept by the stand on which the president viewed the victorious army.
After receiving an honorable discharge Mr Litchfield returned to his home in Illinois, and on Christmas day of 1867 he was married to Amanda M Allen, a most estimable lady, who proved to him an able assistant on the journey of life. She was born in Highland county, Ohio, near Hillsboro, a daughter of David Allen, a native of Virginia. Her paternal grandfather was twice married and had twenty-four children. David Allen married Eliza Laird, who was born in Pennsylvania of Scotch-Irish parentage, her father having been a native of the green isle of Erin, while her mother was a native of Scotland. In religious faith they were Presbyterians. David Allen died in Ohio at the age of seventy-eight years, and his wife also passed away in Highland county, when she had reached the Psalmist’s span of three score years and ten. He was a farmer by occupation. In his political faith he was a Democrat, and both he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal church. By his first marriage the father had four children, three of whom grew to mature years, while one died in infancy. Those who survive are Mary E, Tamar M and Jane E. By the second marriage there were ten children: John S, Malinda A, Isabella M, Nancy E, Thomas A, Sarah R, James Laird, Mrs Amanda Litchfield, Matilda A and David Wilson.
In 1874 Mr Litchfield removed with his family from Illinois to Kansas, and secured a homestead claim in Rice county, also a timber claim of one hundred and sixty acres. He proved up on both quarter sections and for the same received a deed from the United States government. He first built a small box house and in a humble way began the development of the farm. Wolves were frequently seen in the neighborhood and were sometimes seen at night near their home. He continued the work of development and improvement upon his claims until he had transformed the property into fine farms, and thereupon he erected a comfortable residence, good barn and other necessary outbuildings. In 1886 he erected a hotel in Frederick, but after fifteen months disposed of it. For three years he was engaged in the drug business at that place and prospered in the undertaking. His diligence and enterprise enabled him to surmount all difficulties in his path and to gain a comfortable competence.
The home of Mr and Mrs Litchfield was blessed with five children: Charles, Edwin, who married Julia R Owens and is living on his timber claim farm; Albert Melvin, who married Maggie E Murray and resides on the old homestead; Dora E, the wife of A W Van Boskirk, a druggist of Frederick; Lucy E, who married James Cove, of Iowa; and George S, at home.
The father was five feet, nine inches and a half in height, and of slender build; in manner he was frank and genial and his unfailing courtesy and true worth won him friends wherever he went. He took an active interest in everything pertaining to the welfare of his community and co-operated in all movements for the general good. He held membership with the Grand Army of the Republic and thus maintained pleasant relations with his comrades who wore the blue. Called to his final rest July 2, 1891, the family was called upon to mourn the loss of a loving husband and father, the community a valued citizen. Mrs Litchfield still survives her husband. She is a member of the Church of Christ and a lady whose many estimable qualities have won for her the high regard of those with whom she has been associated. She occupies the home farm of three hundred and twenty acres, pleasantly located near Frederick, the husband and father having accumulated a competence which leaves the family in comfortable circumstances.