Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 939 - 940

HON. WILLIAM KARR. The intelligence and education of the citizens of Wichita have in this gentleman a worthy representative--one who keeps himself well posted upon matters of general interest, and has served in many positions of trust and responsibility. The later years of his life, until 1887, were occupied in mercantile pursuits. In December of that year he retired from business, and in a tasteful and comfortable home now spends his time largely in reading and study, and in the enjoyment of the society of his many friends.

             Our subject, a native of Washington County, Pa., was born on the 24th of March, 1813, and is the son of Matthew and Hannah (Pease) Karr, the father a native of Ireland and the mother of Washington County, Pa.

             Matthew Karr was born in Ireland, and came to this country with his parents when a lad eight years of age. They were among the earliest settlers of Washington County, Pa., where they followed farming, and became the parents of a fine family of sons and daughters. Matthew, in 1814, early in life, removed to Franklin County, Ind., where he spent the remainder of his days. He had been educated for a Presbyterian minister, but preferred agricultural pursuits, and never entered upon the course which had been marked out for him by his parents.

             Our subject was but a year old when his parents removed from Pennsylvania to Indiana. Their household included ten children, most of whom were natives of the Keystone State. They all lived to years of maturity. Only six are now living, and residents mostly of Iowa and Kansas. William was one of the younger members of the family, and like the others was reared to farming pursuits. He continued with his parents until 1846, and then made his way westward to Marion County, Iowa, where he engaged in merchandising, and remained ten years. He next located in Miami County, this State, where he operated a 200-acre farm, and made a specialty of blooded stock. He lived there until 1857, a period of eleven years, then abandoned agriculture, and took up his residence in the city of Wichita.

             Mr. Karr, in 1844, was elected Justice of the Peace, which office he held during his entire residence in Indiana. In 1862-64 he was chosen also to represent Miami County, Kan., in the State Legislature, and after serving his term resumed the duties of a Police Justice. For a short time after coming to Wichita he engaged in merchandising, but sold out in December, 1887, since which time he has lived retired from active business.

             The marriage of our subject took place in Indiana, on the 19th of February, 1833, the lady of his choice being Miss Amanda Hopkins, of Kentucky. They commenced life together in a modest home in Bartholomew County, Ind., and after a lapse of years found themselves the parents of ten children, of whom but four are now living. Of the latter, Elihu A. married Miss Hannah J. Stewart, of Miami County, this State, and is engaged in the real-estate business at Wichita; Sarah A., Mrs. H. Brown, the wife of a Wichita merchant, is the mother of three children--da, Carrie and Cora; William H. and Milton remain with their parents in Wichita. The mother departed this life Nov. 22, 1871, and her remains were laid to rest in the cemetery at New Lancaster, Miami Co., Kan.

             Hon. William Karr was the second man who signed his name to the Fifteenth Amendment, in 1864, and while a member of the Kansas Legislature, and following his were eighty-four names of members. Early in life he affiliated with the Whig party, and subsequently entered the Republican ranks. During the late war he was First Lieutenant in Company A, in the State Militia, which was instituted and maintained for the protection of the frontier. A well-informed man and a fluent speaker, he has often been called upon to address political or other meetings. He was President of the Union League during the war, and materially assisted in diffusing Union sentiments. Early in life he identified himself with the Baptist Church, with which he has been connected now for a period of over forty years. He has always taken an active interest in the establishment and maintenance of religious institutions, believing that the sentiments taught in these are the surest weapons against anarchy and misrule. The family residence is pleasantly located at No. 204 Locust street.

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