Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 265 - 266  

REV. ROBERT E. GUTHRIE, capitalist, made his first advent into Wichita in 1876, and purchased twelve lots facing on Central avenue, east on River street and west on Sherman, besides 320 acres two and one-half miles north of Douglas avenue, in the township. Of this latter he platted 136 acres in 1886-87, and it being a very desirable property, will sell readily at a good price. He then returned to McLean County, Ill., where he remained until 1882, in the meantime disposing of his property there, and prepared to make himself a permanent resident of Kansas. Since that time his interests have been centered here, and he is numbered among the most enterprising and useful men in the city which has grown so rapidly to such importance.

      Our subject was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, July 4, 1819, and is the son of Robert and Catherine (Spawr) Guthrie, of Pennsylvania. His paternal grandparents, Adam and Mary (Elton) Guthrie, were also natives of the Keystone State and descended from excellent Scotch and Welsh ancestry. The mother of our subject was the daughter of Valentine and Margaret (Richey) Spawr, who were of German descent. Grandfather Spawr was a cooper by trade and also engaged in farming pursuits.

      Robert E. Guthrie left the Buckeye State with his family in 1826, and locating in McLean County, Ill., made the first improvements in the north end of Funk's Grove, being one of the early settlers of that region. He had come into the country comparatively without means, and at first occupied himself in splitting rails at twenty-five cents per 100 and boarding himself. He continued a resident of McLean County for twenty years, and died in Bloomington in 1846. The mother survived her husband ten years, passing away in 1856. Of their nine children but five are living, namely: Margaret, Mrs. Steele, formerly of Bloomington, but now making her home with our subject; Robert E.; Adam and Peter, of Bloomington, and Lee.

      The subject of our sketch attended school in his native county, commencing when seven years of age. He came to Illinois in time to witness the deep snow of 1830, and remembers many incidents connected with that perilous time. He continued under the home roof until after reaching his majority, in the meantime working as farmer, mason and carpenter. From his youth Mr. Guthrie had been of a very serious turn of mind, was active in church and Sunday school work, and now became convinced that it was his duty to assist in the spread of the Gospel. In 1841 he joined the Illinois Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and the first year was assigned to LaSalle and Livingston Counties. He traveled his circuit in three weeks' time, preaching at twenty-one places, riding frequently night and day through both stormy and sunny weather. Services were frequently held in private houses. He started out from South Ottawa to Armstrong neighborhood. The first Sabbath he rode from there to the Wheatland farm, thence to Vermilion Village, holding services at each place in a school-house and then in a private house in the Rice neighborhood. This by no means ended his route, which encompassed 135 miles. He thus devoted himself as an itinerant to the service of the Master twenty-six years, with the exception of one year spent in the army as Chaplain of the 94th Illinois Infantry. The exposure and hardship which he had undergone before this had their effects upon his constitution and resulted in his being obliged to leave the army. He received his discharge two days before the Union troops entered Vicksburg.

      Mr. Guthrie, in 1867, was superannuated by the Methodist Conference, and subsequently turned his attention to the improvement of his farm in Belleflower Township, McLean Co., Ill. The year following he was elected Clerk of the Circuit Court, which position he held four years, then returned to his farm and continued there until coming to this State.

      Mr. Guthrie was married in Randolph County, Ill., Aug. 26, 1845, to Miss Lucy, daughter of George Kelsall, formerly of Wheeling, W. Va. This union resulted in the birth of nine children. Their eldest daughter, Mrs. Kate Atchison, of Saybrook, Ill., is the mother of five children - William E., Wilbur, Marion, Roy and Carrie. Robert E., Jr., married Miss M. J. Leaton, daughter of the Rev. James Leaton, of the Illinois Annual Conference; they have four children - Blanche, Lucy, Florence and May; they live opposite the residence of their parents in Wichita. Edwin R. married Miss Hattie Pickett, daughter of Col. Pickett, formerly a member of the House of Representatives from Peoria County, Ill,; they have two children, Edwin and Robert, and live in Lincoln, Neb. Sarah F. is single; Lucy M., Mrs. A. H. Reed, and Mary B., wife of Rev. J. D. Woods, are residents of Wichita.; the latter has one child, a son, Earl. Fred L., with his sister Ada, is pursuing his studies in the college at Winfield; Maggie attends the High School in Wichita.

      Mr. Guthrie was Presiding Elder of the Quincy District in Illinois three years, and in the Bloomington District four years. He votes the Republican ticket. The family residence is located at the intersection of Third and Waco streets.

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