Sedgwick County KSGenWeb
Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.
Chapman Brothers 1888
Pages 290 - 291
ARCHIBALD M. AULD, a jovial bachelor in the prime of life, is prominent among the farmers and stock-raisers of Attica Township and one of the most worthy of the enterprising citizens represented in this work. He came to Kansas in its Territorial days, his first arrival here being in 1866. He first located in Leavenworth County, where he occupied himself as a teacher in the district schools, and from there went into Atchison County, where he continued teaching for a time, and then became interested in a hotel in Doniphan County. Thence he went into Brown County and resumed teaching, which he continued until 1871. Sedgwick County was his next tramping ground, and here he resolved to locate, and accordingly took up a claim. He then returned to Brown County, where he followed his profession through the winter.
In the meantime, while Mr. Auld was absent from his claim, another party stepped in, and maneuvered in such a manner that our subject was obliged to abandon it. He then made another, of which he has succeeded in retaining possession, and which he now occupies. Upon this it is hardly necessary to say he has effected a wonderful change, having now one of the best farms in Attica Township, with a good set of buildings and the live-stock and machinery necessary to form the complete homestead. His domestic affairs are presided over by himself.
Harrison County, Ohio, was the birthplace of our subject, and his parents were John G. and Hannah M. (Ankrum) Auld, who were natives of Pennsylvania, and are now deceased. Archibald M. was born on the 11th of July, 1836, and passed his boyhood and youth after the manner of most farmers' sons, acquiring his education in the district school, and at an early age being trained to those habits of industry and economy which have proved the secret of his success in life. He continued under the parental roof until reaching manhood, and then journeyed westward across the Mississippi into Muscatine County, Iowa, where he engaged to work in a marble-shop, and continued one year. He then returned to his childhood home and persuaded his father's family to leave Ohio with him, and they accordingly, the following year, changed their location to Davis County, Ind.
Mr. Auld there settled down with his parents and was occupied in teaching school until the outbreak of the Civil War. He then enlisted as a Union soldier in Company C, 6th Indiana Infantry, the company being under the command of Capt. C. Childs, and the regiment was commanded by Col. T. T. Crittenden. Our subject participated in several skirmishes with the enemy at various places, and at the expiration of the three months for which he enlisted, returned to Indiana. Previous to this a brother, who had entered the army a few months before, had died in Missouri from disease contracted therein. After the return home of his son Archibald, the father considered that he also owed something to his country, and accordingly enlisted as a musician in the 58th Indiana Infantry, and marched with his regiment into Tennessee, where he died at Nashville ten months later of disease contracted in the army.
The mother of our subject had departed this life June 11, 1861, so that there were only two left of the family; a sister, Elizabeth, is now a resident of Washington, Ind. Our subject, after the excitement and trouble of the war were over, being anxious to secure a better education, entered the school at Bloomington, Ind., and upon the completion of his course of study there, engaged in teaching and farming alternately until 1865. He then made his way to Clark County, Ill., where he remained a year, and in 1866 came to this State, as we have stated.
Mr. Auld taught school one term after taking possession of his present property, but aside from that has given to the latter his entire attention. He is one of those large-hearted and generous men who find friends wherever they go, and has always been ready to lend a helping hand to those who would endeavor to assist themselves. Providence has blessed his labors so that of his abundance he has been enabled to relieve the sufferings of the unfortunate. During the Ohio Valley flood he assisted in making up the carloads of grain which were sent the unfortunate people from this section, and has made it a rule of his life to remember those in need.
The temperance movement has no warmer friend than Mr. Auld, and upon this as upon all other matters of general interest, he keeps himself thoroughly informed by a steady course of reading, which is, after all, about the best school in the world. He has abundant faith in the future greatness of Kansas, and is warmly interested in everything that tends to promote her welfare and prosperity. Few men are more widely or favorably known, and have a larger list of warm friends than Archibald M. Auld.
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