Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Page 963

JANET McMINN. It gives us much pleasure to place in this volume a brief record of the life of this estimable woman, who, with her late lamented husband, occupied an important position among the pioneers of Sedgwick County. She is a native of Wightonshire, Scotland, and the daughter of Peter and Mary (Anderson) McMillan. She grew to womanhood in her native land, enjoying the advantages of a good education, and receiving from her mother a careful training in the management of a household. In 1872 she left the home of her birth, old friends, and old associations, and at Liverpool, England, embarked on an American-bound steamer. After a voyage of two weeks she landed in New York City, and from there came directly to Wichita, where she was shortly after united in marriage, in September, 1872, to James McMinn. He was likewise a native of Scotland, and had preceded her to this country only a few months before her own arrival. He was born June 10, 1840, and was a son of Charles and Jane (Anderson) McMinn. He grew to a sturdy and self-reliant manhood in his native country, receiving a fair education. In the spring of 1872 he resolved to try his fortunes in America, and after his arrival in this country he came immediately to Wichita. Here he pre-empted a quarter-section of land in Ohio Township, on which he settled in the fall of 1872, and with the assistance of his wife, who was his interested, earnest and constant co-worker, he commenced the varied duties of developing a farm from the uncultivated prairie; in the few years of hard toil that followed he succeeding in bringing it to a good state of tillage. The comfortable farm buildings, however, which now grace the farm and greatly increase its value, were placed there by Mrs. McMinn after her husband's decease.

            Mr. McMinn's useful and honorable career was closed by his untimely death Dec. 18, 1875, in which sad event it was felt that the community had lost one of its best and noblest citizens. He was always foremost in every good work, and was an earnest supporter of whatever tended to elevate the social conditions of the county in which he lived, and did all that he could to advance its material interests. In politics he supported the Republican party. It can truly be said of him, that he was "that noblest work of God, an honest man." He was a consistent Christian, and a valued member of the United Presbyterian Church, and while in Scotland took an active part in Sunday-school work, being a faithful teacher. He leaves to all who knew him the precious legacy of a good life. He was a devoted husband and a tender father. His union with our subject was blessed by the birth of two children: James P., born Jan. 11, 1874, and Jane, Oct. 31, 1875.

            Mrs. McMinn, our subject, now resides in Clearwater, where she owns some valuable property, consisting of nine town lots. She still retains possession of the fine farm of 160 acres left her by her husband in Ohio Township, and is also the owner of two lots of land in Florida, finely located on St. Andrew's Bay. Mrs. McMinn is a woman of fine character and good mental endowments, well deserving the respect and confidence of the many friends that she has gathered about her by her pleasant social qualities, and kind and helpful ways. She is an earnest member of the United Presbyterian Church, and is devoted to its interests.

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