Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 862 - 863

JAMES W. McPHERSON, formerly a successfull Illinois farmer, but now retired from active labor, took up his residence in Wichita in April, 1885, and was joined by his family in the July following. He has invested a portion of his capital in two acres of ground within the city limits, and has three valuable lots near Garfield University. A man of intelligence and good business capacities, he has been successful in life, and by his straightforward and upright course gained the esteem and confidence of his fellowmen. His comfortable home is now located at No. 1507 South Lawrence avenue.

            The boyhood of our subject was spent in the Blue Grass regions, he having been a native of Muhlenberg, Ky., where his birth took place on the 25th of March, 1824. His parents, William and Mary (Gale) McPherson, were natives respectively of Virginia and Indiana. The father was born Aug. 10, 1789, and rested from his earthly labors on the 1st of September, 1862. He was a farmer by occupation, and possessed much mechanical skill. He removed from the Old Dominion to Kentucky when a boy of seven years with his parents, where he was reared, and was first married to Miss Elizabeth Cox. They became the parents of five children, namely: John, who died in infancy; Nancy, who yet lives, and is seventy years of age; Sarah; Jessie, who died Dec. 15, 1887; and Elizabeth, who lives in Iowa.

            The father of our subject was an Elder in the Christian Church for many years, and a good man in the broadest sense of the term. He married his second wife, Miss Mary Gale, the mother of our subject, in Indiana. She was born in that State, Aug. 23, 1798, and died at her home in Scott County, Ill., in 1831, leaving seven children, namely: Phebe, James W., Martha, Caroline, Mary, Emily and Phebe (2d.) The latter died in August, 1887, a her home in Osage County, this State.

            James W. McPherson was reared after the manner of pioneer farmers' boys, acquiring the first rudiments of his education in a log school-house, something after the manner of his honored sire, who only attended school six months in his life, and of whose handwriting our subject still carefully preserves a copy. This latter, however, is really something to be proud of, and shows his natural adaptation to the art, the letters being beautifully rounded, although differing from the style of the present day.

            Our subject developed into manhood in Scott County, Ill., and March 26, 1846, was married to Miss Mary J. Shanklin, who was born at Bryan Station, Ky., June 12, 1827, where she was reared, and whence her parents came to Illinois, settling in Scott County. Here the father died in September, 1833. Their children, all born in Kentucky, were named respectively: Lucy J., Samuel, Henrietta, Rudolphus, John, Jerome, Eli (who died in childhood), Mary J. and William. James W. assisted his father and brothers to clear the wild land in Scott County, Ill., and they finally had a good farm of 150 acres. Upon leaving Scott County our subject made his way to Macoupin County, and with the proceeds of the land which he had sold in the former purchased 202 acres in the latter, upon which he labored industriously, until deciding upon a removal to Southern Kansas. Mr. McPherson while in Macoupin County became identified with the Palmyra Congregation, of which he was Elder for many years. He is now a Deacon of the Christian Church, at Wichita. His eldest son, John H., is a minister in this church. William T. died on the 12th of September, 1887. This son was a man of much force of character, most excellent principles, and greatly esteemed in the community of which he was a member. He also was connected with the Christian Church, being conductor of its choir, and always alive to its best interests. He left a wife and five children, the latter being Marietta, Herman, Everette G., Edwin and Orin. Miss Lucy McPherson became the wife of D. W. Solomon, of Palmyra, Macoupin Co., Ill.; Samuel W. married Miss Mattie Fletcher, and they live in Kingman County, Kan.; Octavia is single, and continues under the home roof; Mary F. is the widow of Thomas E. Wills, late of Joplin, Mo.; Lowell C. is a resident of Pekin, Ill., where he has charge of a congregation; he is a minister of much talent, and was graduated from Eureka College, Illinois, in 1887. Perry married Miss Stanley, and is living in Wichita; Lucius and Nellie are with their parents. Mr. McPherson, though not taking a very active part in politics, is a warm supporter of the Republican party.

[ Home ]