Sedgwick County KSGenWeb
Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.
Chapman Brothers 1888
Pages 497 - 498
CHARLES L. SOUTHWICK, an enterprising farmer and stock-raiser on section 19, Garden Plain Township, was born in Deerfield, Livingston Co., Mich., Aug. 2, 1862. His parents, Rawson and Emily (Hutchins) Southwick, were both natives of New York, his father having been born in Cayuga County, June 17, 1815, and his mother in Herkimer County, Oct. 10, 1821. The parents of both moved to Michigan in the early days of its settlement, and bought heavily timbered land of the Government, where they cleared up spaces to erect log cabins. In their Michigan home the children of both families grew to maturity, and in Lenawee County, June 28, 1840, the parents of Mr. Southwick were united in marriage. His father afterward carried on farming, having bought 160 acres of land, residing there until 1870. He assisted in building the first railway in Michigan, which extended from Toledo, Ohio, to Adrian; the rails were made of wood, but afterward improved by putting on strap iron, the cars being drawn by horses. Adrian was then a small town, with only one store of general merchandise.
To Mr. and Mrs. Southwick were born six children, namely: Byron Hawley, Norman Mason, Sarah Louisa, Harley Sabin, Lucy Edith and Charles Leroy. Myron, born in Hudson, Lenawee Co., Mich., Oct. 7, 1842, is a banker in Gage County, Neb.; he was a soldier in the Civil War, and served eighteen months as Hospital Steward; he is married, and has two children. Norman, born in Hudson, Mich., Sept. 22, 1846, is a clerk in a store in Wichita; he is married, and has three children. Sarah, born in Wright, Hillsdale Co., Mich., July 15, 1849, married Alvin Wardin, now deceased; she lives in Shenandoah, Page Co., Iowa, and has one child; her husband was a railway engineer, and lost his life in a wreck near Humeston, Iowa, being found under the engine with his hand on the throttle. Harley, born in Hudson, Mich., June 24, 1857, died June 1, 1862; Lucy, born in Hudson, Mich., Dec. 23, 1859, married Andrew Coleman; she died June 19, 1880.
In 1870 Mr. Southwick with all of his family excepting his eldest son, who had preceded him, moved to Iowa, and settled in Union County, where he bought 160 acres of land, which he improved, remaining there four years. In 1874, deeming a removal to Kansas advantageous, he disposed of his farm, and coming to Sedgwick County, with such members of his family as had not established homes of their own, he pre-empted his present homestead. His son Norman pre-empted another quarter-section across the road from his. Mr. Southwick subsequently bought 160 acres more of land, which his son Charles, the subject of this sketch, bought of him in 1883. He and his wife were worthy members of the Baptist Church, where Mr. Southwick served as Deacon until his death, June 16, 1885. His life record was an honorable one, and his loss will long be felt in this community, of which he was a valued and respected member.
Charles L. Southwick, of whom we write, received a common-school education, which was supplemented by further study in Corning, Iowa; he also received a good training in husbandry from his father, who was a good farmer. He was married, Sept. 28, 1882, to Miss Lue Alice, daughter of Jonas and Susan (Dockins) Pipkin. She was born in Gibson County, Tenn., Jan. 17, 1864. Since the marriage of our subject he has lived on his father's homestead. To him and his wife have been born three children: Oliver Marshall, Aug. 2, 1883; Theodore Myron, Sept. 24, 1884; Pearl, born Dec. 12, 1887, died Feb. 12, 1888.
Mr. Southwick holds a prominent place among the intelligent young farmers of Sedgwick County, and his integrity, manliness and true Christian character have won the respect of the entire community. Religiously he is a faithful member of the Baptist Church.[ Home ]
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