Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 725 - 727

LEVI McLAUGHLIN, an early settler of Sedgwick County, who is identified with the agricultural interests of Ninnescah Township, owning and occupying a farm on section 18, is well worthy of representation in these pages. He was born in Mercer County, Pa., March 7, 1821, and his parents were Henry and Jane McLaughlin, descendants of a sturdy Scotch-Irish ancestry. Margaret Potter, his maternal grandmother, was a niece of Gen. Potter, a famous Revolutionary soldier.

             The earliest members of the McLaughlin family known to have come to America from their island home across the waters are three brothers and a sister, who emigrated to this country toward the close of the last century. One of the brothers and the sister settled in Trumbull County, Ohio, and the remaining brothers made their home in Mercer County, Pa., and thus became pioneers of that part of the State, which was then scarcely inhabited, being for the most part a dense wilderness, and was regarded as being the "Far West" by those in the eastern part of the country. The father of our subject assisted his father in subduing the forests around their new home, bravely enduring the hardships of life on the frontier, and there reared a family of ten children (nine of whom survive) to lives of usefulness. The following is their record: John L., of Mercer County, Ill.; Samuel P., deceased; Levi; David, of Henry County, Ill.; James H., of Mercer County, Ill.; Allen H., of Sac County, Iowa; Silas S., of Henry County, Ill.; Margaret J., now wife of S. H. Moore, of Sedgwick County, Kan.; Benjamin W., of Comanche County, Kan., and Dr. Josiah B., of Clearwater, Kan.

            Our subject was reared to manhood amid the rude scenes of a pioneer life, for even in his early day the country was not very far advanced from its primitive condition, as it took many years to transform the wilderness to smiling farms and flourishing villages. Indeed our subject may almost be considered a pioneer of two different States and of two generations, as in his younger days he assisted in clearing a farm from the forests of Western Pennsylvania, and in his later years came to this county and improved a farm from the wild prairies of Kansas. In his old home he witnessed many scenes peculiar to those stirring pioneer days, and took part in many a log-rolling and house-raising of the substantial log structures that were Characteristic of the times and place. He can give us an interesting account of life in that part of the country in his younger days, of the many wonderful changes that he witnessed, and can also tell very graphically about his settlement in his Western home when the county was in its infancy, and of the marvelous progress it has since made. He received such an education as could be obtained in the primitive schools of his native county, and was early inured to hard work, which, as he had a sound constitution, developed in him strength and muscle. He adopted the calling of carpenter and joiner, which he followed at different periods for thirty-five years, and he also learned the cabinet-maker's trade, pursuing it for a short time. During these years he owned a farm, but previous to the year 1854 he was not himself actively engaged in farming.

                        In July, 1846, Mr. McLaughlin married Miss Mary M. Moore, a native of Mercer County, Pa., where she was born Sept. 27, 1826. She has been to him a true wife and helpmate, and has been an important factor in securing their present prosperity. To them have been born twelve children, of whom eleven are now living: Florence A., Amelia, Thaddeus G. (of whom see sketch on another page of this work), Elizabeth M., Margaret H.; Josiah B., of Sumner County, Kan.; Luraney M., deceased ; Thurwaldsdon J.; William, of Wichita; Minnie, Laura E. and James A. Florence is the wife of W. H. Gray, of Wichita; Amelia is the wife of David Smock, of Ninnescah Township; Elizabeth is the wife of O. W. Elliott, of Wichita; Margaret is the wife of J. H. Snyder, of Ninnescah Township; Laura is the wife of Thomas Speer, of Wichita.

            In 1854 Mr. McLaughlin moved with his family to Mercer County, Ill., and there resided, engaged in farming, the succeeding twenty years. In 1874 he made another move still further west, and coming to this State, pre-empted the northeast quarter of section 18, Ninnescah Township, on which he moved in the spring of 1875, and has since made his permanent home here. When he first settled on his land there were practically no improvements, but since then, by industry and judicious management, he has developed a fine farm, which is not surpassed for fertility and productiveness anywhere in this region, it being rated among the most valuable in Sedgwick County. He has added 140 acres to his original purchase, and now has a clear title to 300 acres of land, on which he has erected a comfortable home and ample farm buildings. He has a good apple and peach orchard, covering five acres of ground.

             While thus actively engaged in adding to his own wealth, Mr. McLaughlin has at the same time materially aided the financial prosperity of Sedgwick County and advanced its development. He has watched its growth with pride and satisfaction from its primitive condition to its present state of opulence, with its flourishing cities, splendid farms, and all the other evidences of an advanced civilization which astonish the eyes of the beholder, if he be unacquainted with the local history of this county, when he is informed that this great progress has all taken place within the last twenty years, that before that time there was scarcely a trace of civilized man on these broad prairies, this wonderful growth being a lasting tribute to the self-denials and undaunted energy of the noble pioneers who founded the various towns and cities of this county. Many of these early settlers, like our subject, are still living among us, and are actively assisting in the further development of this region.

            Mr. and Mrs. McLaughlin are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He has ably served as Justice of the Peace for four years; he is prominently identified with the Masonic Society, and in politics is a true Republican. He and his wife, surrounded by loving kindred and friends, are now nearing the last milestone that marks the end of life's journey. Their record has been an honorable one, their years have been fruitful with deeds of usefulness and kindness, with malice toward none and friendliness toward all who have come under their influence, and they have gained the respect and honor of the whole community.

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