Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 868 - 869

SAMUEL BOTTS, a wealthy and influential stock-dealer, came to Wichita on the 2d day of November, 1872. The following winter he resided on Main street, but in the spring of 1873 purchased a lot of ground on the river, containing some three and three-quarter acres, on which he erected a house in which he has ever since lived. This is now on the corner of Sherman and Third streets.

            Mr. Botts is a native of Jacksonville, Morgan Co., Ill., and was born Dec, 19, 1829. He is a son of Bernard and Mary (Crawley) Botts, natives of Virginia and Kentucky respectively, who were pioneers of Morgan County. His father was born in Virginia, and is of German ancestry. His mother, born in Kentucky, is a descendant of a Scotch-Irish family, who came to America at an early day.

            The subject of our sketch remained at home upon the paternal farm until he was some fifteen years old, when he entered the employ of a man by the name of Henry, who was in the stock business, and continued with him for four years. He returned to his father's farm, and he and his sisters conducted the farm until the year 1851, when he was united in marriage with Miss Minerva A. Hedger, who was born in Anderson County, Ky., Dec. 5, 1831. She is the daughter of Thomas and Jennie M. (McAllister) Hedger, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. Her parents were married while residents of the "dark and bloody ground," and removed to Illinois, settling in Morgan County at a very early date. They were of English and Scotch ancestry respectively.

            For some four years after his marriage Mr. Botts continued his agricultural pursuits in Morgan County and from there removed to Decatur County, where he remained some three years, following the plow. From there he went to Bloomington, McLean Co., Ill., and for a number of years was engaged in freighting and railroad work. He served on the police of that city for four years succeeding, and in 1861 enlisted in the 8th Illinois Infantry, of which Richard Oglesby was Colonel. The regiment was recruited for a three-months service, at the expiration of which Mr. Botts was discharged, and returned to his home in Bloomington. For some time afterward he was engaged in running an omnibus line in that city, and for one summer acted as Deputy United States Marshal. In 1871 he was employed as a police officer at one of the coal shafts in the neighborhood of Bloomington, but resigned that position to come to Kansas.

            After his arrival in Wichita Mr. Botts took up the business of teaming and carrying freight into the Indian Territory, which he followed for about two years. Being appointed a police officer of the city, he served one year and was promoted to the position of Street Commissioner, but after one year's trial of the latter position, concluded to eschew political offices, and entered into the stock business. After some time spent in purchasing and selling cattle, he leased a ranch of 5,000 acres of land in the Indian Territory, where he carries on quite an extensive stock business, handling both horses and cattle. Being a man of remarkable energy and considerable natural tact, he has succeeded in this business in which so many men have failed, and is now in the enjoyment of an easy competence. Coming to this county in comparative poverty, by the sheer force of his will and indomitable spirit he has accumulated considerable wealth, and shrewd investments in real estate at an early day, by force of circumstance, have poured into his coffers a golden shower. The home which he purchased for a trifling sum, on coming here, he has refused an offer for of $20,000. He is also the owner of some two acres situated on Fourteenth street, which he has just platted as an addition to the city.

            Mr. and Mrs. Botts are the parents of the following children: Jennie M., Mrs. Rhodes, a resident of Bloomington, Ill., and the mother of two children, Edna and Cora; Thomas B., who married Annie Moore and is a resident of Wichita; Samuel A., a member of the police force of the same city; Ollie L., and Mrs. Fogg, of Wichita. In politics Mr. Botts is a member of the Republican party, although he has no political aspirations in these latter days. He is a member of the G. A. R. Post, of Wichita.

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