Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 445 - 446

JOHN W. SKINNER, one of the most prosperous farmers of Wichita Township, and finely located on section 4, came to Kansas in 1878, settling first in Reno County, where he engaged in stock-raising. In 1885 he changed his residence to this county, and invested a portion of his capital in eighty acres of land along Chisholm Creek, two and one-half miles north, and one mile east of the center of Wichita. He has sub-divided and laid off ten acres of his farm into town lots, worth from $200 to $250 per lot. On the 8th of November, 1887, he was elected Trustee of Wichita Township by a large majority.

       The early home of our subject was in far New England, his birth having taken place at Montpelier, Vt., Dec. 28, 1835. He is the son of Stephen and Louisa (Dodge) Skinner, natives respectively of the Green Mountain State and Connecticut. Stephen Skinner, a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was born in 1803, and died at Piper City, Ill., on the 6th of July, 1875. He emigrated to Illinois in 1844, and as a man of intelligence and good education, wielded a wide influence in the social circles wherever his lot was cast. The mother was born in Littleton, N. H., June 11, 1805, and preceded her husband to the silent land, her death taking place at Metamora, Ill., on the 3d of August 1871.

        The parental household of our subject included three children. The eldest was John W., of our sketch; Martha became the wife of William S. Everett, of Topeka, Kan.; William is a resident of Wichita. Our subject was a lad nine years of age when his parents emigrated from Vermont to Illinois, where he completed a practical education, and upon reaching manhood was united in marriage, Sept. 11, 1867, with Miss Melinda E. Earl. Mrs. Skinner was born in Leicestershire, England, June 28, 1847, and is the daughter of Samuel and Sarah (Brinsdon) Earl, who were of pure English stock, and emigrated to America in 1852. They located in Woodford County, Ill. The father was a shoemaker by trade, but eventually followed farming, in which he was successful. The mother is deceased. Their ten children were named respectively: Susan, John F., Harriet, Edward, Louisa, James, John F. (2d), Melinda E., Samuel H. and Arthur. Only five are living, and are residents of Illinois.

       Mr. Skinner farmed in Illinois until 1878, the year of his arrival in this State. In the meantime, upon the outbreak of the Rebellion, he enlisted as a Union soldier, in Company G, 4th Illinois Cavalry, and fought at the battles of Fts. Henry and Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Tallahatchie, Hanley Springs and Coffeyville, besides meeting the rebels in various other minor engagements and skirmishes. At Shiloh he was wounded in the hand, and at the expiration of his term of service received his honorable discharge, on the 4th of November, 1864, at Springfield, Ill. Some of the time he served as orderly for Gen. McPherson, and afterward held the same position with Gens. Sherman, Grierson and Bramen. He was for a time detailed to hospital duty at Cairo, and was also in the Quartermaster's department. He served as Township Trustee four years, and uniformly votes the Republican ticket. 

      To Mr. and Mrs. Skinner there were born nine children, namely: Sarah L., Martha A., George A., Julia A., Jessie, Lizzie M., William S., John W. and Winnie P. Three are deceased, namely: Julia A., George A. and Jessie.

[ Home ]