J. P. Colyar, of El Dorado, is a Civil war veteran, and comes from a long line of military ancestors who have distinguished themselves in all the principal wars in which this country has been involved. J. P. Colyar is a native of Michigan, born in 1833, and is a son of John E. and Hanna (Reams) Colyar, the former a native of Ohio, and the latter of Michigan. They were the parents of five children, of whom J. P. is the only survivor. After the death of the mother, the father married again,

and three children of this union are living, John and Newton, who live in Oklahoma, and Mrs. Hannah Romne, Kansas City, Kans.

J. P. Colyar enlisted at Burlington, Iowa, during the Civil war, in an Iowa regiment of infantry, and during the course of his military career served in many of the southern States. He was with Sherman on the memorable march to the sea, and at the battle of Bloomington, N. C. had his collar bone broken while constructing breastworks. At Columbus, S. C., his knapsack was struck by a bullet. After the surrender of General Lee, Mr. Colyar was discharged at David's Island, New York Harbor. Mr. Colyar had thirty-two cousins from Cass county, Michigan, all of whom served in one regiment in the Union army during the Civil war. Mr. Coylar's father was also a Union soldier during the Civil war, enlisting at Humboldt, Kans., and served with a Kansas regiment until he was discharged on account of disability. His hearing was impaired, which was caused by the concussion of artillery firing. Samuel Colyar, grandfather of J. P. Colyar, served in the Revolutionary war, as did his father also, the elder Colyar having attained the rank of captain by the time the Revolutionary war closed.

J. P. Colyar came to Kansas in 1871, and settled in Chanute, his father having located there in 1850, which was a very early day in the settlement of that section of the State. Indians were numerous at that time, and there were very few settlers in that part of Kansas. In 1882, Mr. Colyar came to Butler county, while in the employment of a grading gang, constructing a railroad into El Dorado from Ft. Scott. Since coming here Mr. Colyar followed constructing, and in later years was engaged in the draying and transfer business.

In 1858, Mr. Colyar was married to Olive M. Shelton, of Shelby county, Missouri. Her parents were Griffith and (Paris) Shelton, pioneers of Shelton county, Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Colyar have been born the following children: Mrs. Mary Virginia Lewis, deceased; Mrs. Laura J., married and resides at Ft. Scott, Kans.; Mrs. Frances M. Smith, Chanute, Kans.; J. G. Okmulgee, Okla.; W. F., Emporia, Kans.; J. H., Salt Lake City, Utah; G. W., Neodesha, Kans.

As a soldier and pioneer. J. G. Colyar has performed his part nobly and well, and is a citizen well worthy of recognition in a work of this character.

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