Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 801 - 802

ARTHUR SULLIVAN, the leader of the real-estate business in the township of Kechi, and one of its most stirring and energetic men, has recently laid out the new addition to Wichita. This is familiarly known as Sullivan's Addition, and in which a station will probably soon be erected at the first division of the Motor Line, and which will give thirty minutes between train, making the city easy of access to the suburban residents.

             Our subject, a native of the Dominion of Canada, was born in the city of Ottawa, June 28, 1846, and was the eleventh in a family of twelve, the offspring of Thomas Allen and Adeline (Rhodes) Sullivan, the father a native of Ireland, and the mother of English descent. The paternal grandparents, Thomas Allen, Sr., and Adeline (Belcher) Sullivan, were natives of Vermont, as were also the parents of the mother of our subject, Alvin and Adeline Rhodes. Grandfather Rhodes was a stanch old patriot, and engaged as a soldier in the Revolutionary War.

             The father of our subject followed farming during his early manhood and also learned the cabinetmaker's trade, and for some time was engaged as a contractor in Canada. He afterward operated in St. Albans, Vt. Arthur, of our sketch, was reared to manhood in his native city, receiving his education in its best schools. He worked with his father at farming for a time, and was also engaged in the lumber business in his native county. There also he was married to Miss Agnes S. Rorison, in Arnprior, on the 30th of March, 1870. Mrs. Sullivan was also born in Carlton County, Canada, Jan. 14, 1847, and was the seventh of thirteen children who comprise the family of Hugh Umpstead and Annie Grinton (Grierson) Rorison, the former a native of Vermont and the latter of Scotland. The mother was brought to this country when a little girl by her parents. Her paternal grandparents were Bazil Douglas and Mary (Umpstead) Rorison. Grandfather Rorison was among those denominated as the Union loyalists, and fought on the side of the British in the Revolutionary War as Captain. He was wounded in battle and received a pension from the English Government. He was the father of seven children, each of whom became the possessor of 200 acres of land in Canada as part of the pension for their father's services, after his decease. This was given in addition to the money received annually.

             The maternal grandparents of Mrs. Sullivan were natives of Scotland, and Grandfather Grierson was a Lieutenant in the British Navy and followed the fortunes of war in the East, fighting along the Nile, and also being at the battles of Trafalgar and at Copenhagen under the famous Admiral Nelson. There is in possession of the family a sword which was carried by Grandfather Grierson, and the suit of clothing which he wore upon those memorable occasions, and which, as may be supposed, are preserved as priceless relics. He received from the Government of England a pension amounting to one guinea per day,

             Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan after their marriage came directly to this county, and our subject pre-empted the northwest quarter of section 27 in Kechi Township. The improvement of this he commenced at once, and after putting up a house and barn lived there a short time, then purchased a quarter of section 29, to which he subsequently removed. He still owns and has greatly improved the property, bringing the land to a good state of cultivation and erecting all the necessary buildings for his convenience and comfort. In addition to this property he owns 160 acres on section 28 and forty acres on section 32. Twenty acres of this he platted, and named the Bridgewater Addition to Wichita. This property lies two blocks from the Burton Stock Car Works, on the Motor Line, and is easy of access to the city.

             The farm of Mr. Sullivan is well stocked with graded Norman horses, and is doubly valuable on account of its close proximity to the Arkansas River, as he receives $1,000 royalty a year from the Hydraulic Mills for the use of the dam whichhas been constructed here. The farm is operated by a tenant. Mr. Sullivan came to this township in time to assist in the organization of the school districts, in which he has served as Treasurer and Director, and also Road Overseer. The flourishing city of Wichita was then an unpretentious town, and not far from its limits roamed buffalo and other wild animals, and our subject often participated in a buffalo hunt, while at the same time securing other wild game.

             To Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan there have been born three children -- Anna Adeline, Robert Rorison and Albert Newton. Their eldest died when three months old; the others are pursuing their studies in the Ervin School in Wichita. The family also includes a niece of Mrs. Sullivan, Miss Anna Grierson Britt, whom they adopted and who is now fourteen years of age. Our subject and his wife are both connected with the Presbyterian Church, and socially, Mr. S. belongs to the K. of P., at Wichita. Mr. S. has also taken an active interest in politics and uniformly votes the straight Republican ticket. To men of enterprise and sound judgment like himself is Sedgwick County indebted for its present position as one of the most desirable localities of Southern Kansas.

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