Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 889 - 890

WLLIAM R. SULLIVAN. Among the prominent agriculturists of Kechi Township is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch, and who has his home on section 18, where he is extensively engaged in general farming and stock-raising, and whose history through life is given in the following biographical sketch. He was born in Franklin County, Vt., Aug. 1, 1830, and is the second child in a family of twelve of his parents, Thomas Allen and Adeline (Rhodes) Sullivan.

            The father of our subject was a native of Ireland, and the son of Thomas Allen and Mary Sullivan, both of whom were born in the Emerald Isle. He came to the United States while quite a young man, and married Miss Adeline Rhodes, a native of Vermont, and daughter of Briggs and Elizabeth (Belcher) Rhodes, who were natives of Connecticut. Thomas Sullivan was a cabinet-maker and carpenter by trade, and while our subject was in his boyhood removed to Carleton County, Canada, where he established the first cabinet-shop. Later in his life he took up agricultural pursuits and conducted a large farm.

            The subject of this sketch received his education in the district schools of Canada, and early in life began his training as a farmer upon his father's place. On attaining mature years he learned the carpentering trade with his father, at which he worked for some time, after which he purchased a farm, and remained in his adopted country engaged in agricultural pursuits until the year 1866, at which time he came to Kansas on a prospecting tour, and worked at his trade at Fts. Harker and Leavenworth for about three years. At the expiration of that time, in the fall of 1869, he returned to Canada, and there, Feb 9, 1870, he was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Hunt, a native of Carleton County, Canada, born Nov. 22, 1845, and the daughter of Thomas and Sarah (Needham) Hunt, natives of the Dominion. Her paternal grandparents, John and Letty (Gellan) Hunt, and her maternal grandparents, Samuel and Catherine (Needham) Needham, were all natives of the Emerald Isle.

            The first visit of our subject to this State was with the intention of finding a location for his parents, and immediately after the marriage his father, selling out his farm in Canada for about $10,000, the whole family came to Kansas and settled in Sedgwick County, which our subject considered the best portion of the State. The elder Mr. Sullivan lived only about eighteen months after coming to this locality, dying Nov. 21, 1871, at the advanced age of seventy-five years. His excellent wife still survives, and although she has reached the age of eighty-three, still preserves many of her faculties. She is a resident of Sedgwick County at the present writing.

            On coming to this county the subject of this sketch purchased 160 acres of land on section 7, and homesteaded a quarter of section 18, and commenced improving both tracts at the same time, building a small house on the latter section, which he is now using as a stable. In 1881 he erected a handsome and substantial house, which was totally destroyed by fire with most of its contents, Sept. 2, 1884. Not at all discouraged or dismayed, he immediately put up a handsome residence upon the same foundation, in which he is living at the present time. He is the owner of a farm of 220 acres of fine arable land, which be has under a high state of cultivation, and is the owner of twenty acres more which is platted into town lots, and known as William Sullivan's Addition to Wichita. This latter is most valuable property, as it is within easy access to the city, and situated near the Motor Line. Our subject makes his home on section 18, surrounded by all the comforts of life, and has his place well stocked with high-grade Norman Percheron horses, Durham cattle, Poland-China hogs, and excellent mules.

            Our subject was the first man in Kechi Township to prove up his claim, the place which he purchased belonging to an individual to whom Mr. Sullivan gave the money with which to obtain his papers. He was also the first man in that sub-division of the county to pay taxes on his land. Although not very active in politics, he votes with the Republican party, but is quite prominent in educational matters, being largely instrumental in the organization of the various school districts in this part of the county. When he came to this part of the country it was in an entirely wild state, and he has watched its growth and development with great interest. The first lumber which he purchased he was compelled to haul from Topeka, 140 miles distant, but shortly afterward he could purchase that necessary article at Emporia, a distance of only 100 miles. The next time he needed it he found it at Newton, twenty-two miles away, and then at Wichita, which is within easy reach, being but eight miles distant. The town of Valley Center, but two miles from him, affords an easy market, and shows with what rapidity, this portion of Kansas is developing. When he first came here he was out upon several buffalo hunts, and has killed several of those animals within the bounds of Sedgwick County, not more than six miles from his place. He has lived to see Wichita rise from its infancy, when it only consisted of one store and a few stockade houses, until it is now the wonder of the State.

            The home of Mr. and Mrs. Sullivan has been brightened and their joys crowned by the advent of one child, William Albert, who is at home and attending school. Mrs. Sullivan is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and a good, sincere and upright Christian woman.

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