The late George Champlin. the subject of this memoir, emigrated to Kansas in the springtime of 1870 and homesteaded the land now owned by his son, Robert Melvin Champlin. The farm is situated one-half mile west from the present corporation limits of Jamestown.

George Champlin was a native of Rhode Island, born December 2, 1836, and died in December, 1899. He removed to the state of New York when a youth, grew to manhood there and married Miss Adeline E. Latten, of Towanda, December 3, 1860. He was practically a farmer all his life, having owned land near Cold Springs, New York, before establishing a home in the West. Mrs. Champlin was born at Otsego, New York, October 10, 1835. She survives her husband and lives with her son, Robert, on the farm. Our subject's father was also named George. He has two brothers living, SyIvester and James, both of New York.

Mr. Champlin served three long years in the service of "Uncle Sam," and was with Sherman on his march to the sea. He was a member of Company B, One hundred and fifty-fourth Regiment, of New York Volunteers, and was discharged at Bladensburg, Maryland, June 11, 1863. Like many old veterans, he was left in a disabled condition from physical ailments, brought on by exposure and hardships and from being crippled while making the ascent of a mountain near Dalton, Georgia. While in line of battle he was crowded off a rocky precipice and fell about a dozen feet, injuring his ankle and left arm.

Mr. Champlin was indentified for many years with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and was buried according to the rites of that order. He also belonged to the Grand Army of the Republic.

To Mr. and Mrs. Champlin eight children were born, four of whom are living, two sons and two daughters.

Marion L. Champlin is a rural route mail carrier, with residence in Jamestown, where he and his family are highly esteemed citizens. Loretta, Is unmarried and lives in the home of her brother Robert. Edith, is the wife of Frank Ion, a section foreman on the railroad. Their home is in Palmer Lake, Colorado. They are the parents of two daughters, Adeline and Frances Lillian. Georgiana, the eldest daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Champlin, died January 4, 1885, after only a few months of wedded life.

Robert Melvin Champlin,who owns the homestead, having bought the interests of the other heirs, is a prosperous farmer and stockman. He was born near Cold Springs, New York, November 10, 1868, but was brought to Kansas when yet in swaddling clothes, hence is practically a product of the "Sunflower" State. He began at the foundation, started on his stock raising career with two pigs presented to him by Anthony Loftus and Joe Donnelly. When grown he traded them to his father for two steers, which brought him sixty-five dollars. He worked and invested his earnings in more stock, later his father gave him one-third of the corn raised on the farm, and being possessed of natural business sagacity he prospered rapidly, until he bought the homestead, added another farm to his estate, and today finds him in a fair way to become one of the foremost farmers of Buffalo, township. This farm, is highly improved and equipped with all sorts of modern machinery. The original house of cotton wood stood down by the creek, but they were driven out by the flood in 1878. The water came down in torrents, like a wall, carrying straw-stacks, pigs, chickens and everything in its path. The volumne[sic] of water was partially held back by the railroad which was in course of construction, but when it broke through the embankment the waves of the swolen Buffalo, creek swept over the bottom lands, forming a vast lake. Robert Champlin is identified with the Woodmen and Royal Neighbors. Politically he has been voting with the Populists.