Biographical Sketch of Joseph N. Wyatt, Brown County, KSGenWeb Digital Library

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Biographical Sketch
of
Joseph N. Wyatt
Brown County, Kansas

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The following transcription is from a 750 page book titled "Genealogical and Biographical Record of North-Eastern Kansas, dated 1900. These have been diligently transcribed and generously contributed by Penny R. Harrell, please give her a very big Thank You for her hard work!

Joseph N. Wyatt

Among those who have been active in promoting the substantial improvement of northeastern Kansas is Joseph N. Wyatt, who came to the state in 1860, taking up his abode in Brown county. He is now living in Powhattan township, devoting his attention to agricultural pursuits. He was born in Cass county, Illinois, near Jacksonville, on the 22nd of November, 1842. His father, George Wyatt, was born in Kentucky and belonged to one of the old families of that state.

Removing northward, he took up his residence in Cass county, Illinois, among its pioneer settlers, and served as a soldier in the Black Hawk War, in 1832. He married Harriet Compton, who was born in New Jersey, a representative of an old New England family. The Wyatts came to Kansas in 1860 and cast their lot among the early pioneers of Brown county.

They had ten children, namely: Frances, now deceased; Mrs. Sarah Crews; Joseph N.; Walter, who was a soldier in the Eighth Kansas Infantry during the Civil War and died in Chautauqua county, Kansas in 1895; Mrs. Maggie Ordway; John, who was a member of the Sixteenth Kansas Infantry and died in Brown county, in 1866; Mary and Julia, who are also deceased; and Albert and George, who have passed away.

The parents lived in Nemaha county, Kansas for three years, and in 1863 came to Brown county, where the mother died at the age of fifty years. The father afterward returned to Cass county, Illinois, where he spent his last days, passing away at the age of sixty-three. He was a farmer by occupation and followed that pursuit throughout his entire business career. He and his sons were supporters of the Republican party, and he and his wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

They were honest, industrious people of the highest respectability, and wherever they went won many warm friends. Joseph N. Wyatt spent the days of his boyhood and youth in the state of his nativity, coming to Kansas with his parents in 1860. He was reared to the labors of the farm and early trained to habits of industry, economy and honesty, which have proved important factors in his later life.

During the Civil War, while yet in his 'teens, he responded to the country's call, enlisting in September, 1863, when President Lincoln asked for three hundred thousand men to aid in suppressing the rebellion in the South. He joined the boys in blue of Company G, Thirteenth Kansas Infantry, under the command of Captain Blackburn and Colonel Brown. He remained at the front until the close of the war and participated in many notable engagements and skirmishes, including the battle of Prairie Grove, Arkansas.

He was in the engagements with General Price and General Marmaduke's troops and was in much of the active service in Missouri and Kansas. With an excellent war record for loyalty, fearlessness and capability, Mr. Wyatt returned to his home at the close of the war and has since engaged in farming here.

He rented farms until 1882, when he came to his present home. He has a good property here, his residence occupying a natural building site, while near by are good barns, yards and pastures, furnishing shelter and feed for stock. An excellent orchard yields its fruit in season and the fields are under a high state of cultivation. The place is neat and thrifty in appearance, indicating the careful supervision of the owner, who is justly accounted one of the enterprising farmers of his community.

In 1867 Mr. Wyatt was united in marriage to Miss Mary J. Burg, who has been to her husband a faithful companion and helpmate. She was born in Michigan and is a daughter of Henry and Maria (Thortonburg) Burg, the former a native of Germany and the latter born on Grand Island, in the St. Lawrence River.

Her father died in Michigan, leaving two children, one of whom is now deceased. The mother is still living and is the wife of Harvey Nichols, one of the veterans of the Civil War, now living in Brown county, Kansas. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt have been born six children, namely: Charles H., of Colorado; Arloa, the wife of S. Thornton, of Powhattan township, Brown county; Nelson N.; Mary J., who died at the age of eleven years; Elmer, who died at the age of seven years; and Elsie, who died when three years old.

Mr. Wyatt is a Republican in his political affiliations and keeps well informed on the issues of the day, but has never aspired to public office, his attention being fully occupied by his farming interests.

He belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and he and his wife hold membership in the Christian Church. He is an honorable and upright business man, frank and jovial in manner and possesses those sterling qualities of character which everywhere command respect.

Last update: Friday, August 02, 2024 18:39:03

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