Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 373 - 375 

JEREMIAH P. PARKHURST. No man in Sedgwick County is probably more worthy of representation in a work of this kind than he whose name stands at the head of this sketch. He has been identified with the agricultural interests of Sedgwick County since its early settlement, and is the owner of one-half of section 34, in Attica Township, which he bought in the spring of 1873. This land is embellished with a fine set of farm buildings, while adjacent is a flourishing apple orchard and the smaller fruit trees, and another attractive feature is the excellent grades of farm stock, of which the proprietor has made a specialty. The estate is one of the most valuable in this section of country, and indicates in all its appointments the supervision of a man of intelligence and sound judgment, and one who has been remarkably judicious in his investments. 

            Mr. Parkhurst is a self-made man in the broadest sense of the term, having commenced in life without any other means than his strong hands and resolute will, which were observable at an early period in his life, and when, at the age of eighteen years, he contracted to pay his father $150 for his time for the privilege of calling it his own. From that time he wisely invested his earnings in land, in the cultivation and improvement of which he has been remarkably successful, and which formed a solid foundation for his future operations. 

            Our subject is a New Englander originally, having been born in the town of Munson, Mass., April 30, 1840. His parents were Jacob and Malinda (Thayer) Parkhurst, the former the son of Jonathan Parkhurst, who enlisted as a Revolutionary soldier at the age of sixteen years, entering the army about the fourth year of the war, and serving until its close. Upon laying down his musket, Jonathan Parkhurst located in Dana, Worcester Co., Mass., where he carried on farming, and married a lady of that county, by whom he became the father of two children. The elder of these was a daughter, Hannah, who became the wife of Elijah Towne, and died leaving a large family of children. The other child, Jacob, the father of our subject, was both in Dana, Mass., in 1795. 

            Jacob Parkhurst was twice married, first to a Mrs. Allen, who became the mother of three children - Eunice, Abigail and Lewis. His second wife, Malinda Thayer by name, and to whom he was married in 1819, was the sister of the first, and they became the parents of twelve children, of whom Jeremiah P., of our sketch, was the youngest. Phileria was married, and died leaving three children; Dolly died when ten years of age; Alinus is a resident of Indiana; Creighton served as a Union soldier in the late war, and was wounded in battle by a piece of shell, on account of which injury he now receives a pension; he is a resident of Republic County, this State. Jonathan lives in Quincy, Ill.; Pliny T., in Greenwich, Mass.; Betsey R. is the widow of Warren Hager, and is living in Wichita; William is farming in Lewis County, W.T.; George died when a youth sixteen years old; Dolly (2d) is the wife of Alonzo M. Butterfield, of Springfield, Mass.; Martha J., Mrs. John A. Atwood, lives at Onarga, Ill. 

            Jacob Parkhurst followed farming nearly all his life, and passed from the scenes of his earthly labors in the spring of 1865, when about seventy years of age. Jeremiah P., of our sketch, completed his education in the academy at Nashua, N.H., and commenced teaching at the age of eighteen years, which he followed during the winter season for four years. In summer he was engaged as clerk in a store. Upon the outbreak of the Rebellion, and when twenty-two years old, he enlisted in the 86th Illinois Infantry, which became a part of the 14th Army Corps, and saw a great deal of hard service with actual fighting. At the battle of Kennesaw Mountain, on the 27th of June, 1864, he was wounded in both arms and captured. In the hospital at Atlanta his right arm was amputated. He finally made his escape on the 12th of August, and was befriended by a Union man, Charles Elgea, who kept him secreted until there was an opportunity for him to pass the rebel lines. He then joined his regiment at Chattahoochee, and received his honorable discharge in February, 1865. 

            Mr. Parkhurst, upon retiring from the service, resumed his occupation as a teacher, and was thus employed until the winter of 1875-76. His last term was taught in West Wichita. Previous to entering the army he had purchased land in Woodford County, Ill., of which he took possession in the spring of 1867. He carried on the cultivation of his land during the summer season and followed teaching in winter. On the 11th of March, 1868, he was married to Miss Martha M., daughter of Robert and Hannah (Titus) McAdam, who was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., May 27, 1847. 

            The father of Mrs. Parkhurst was a native of Scotland, while the mother was born in Oswego County, N.Y. Her maternal grandparents were natives of Connecticut, and of English descent. Our subject and his wife continued on the farm in Woodford County, Ill., until 1874, when they removed to the vicinity of El Paso, where Mr. P. engaged in teaching. He became considerably interested in politics, and was sent as a delegate to the State Convention at Springfield, which met for the purpose of nominating State officers on the Greenback ticket. 

            In 1873 Mr. Parkhurst came to this State, and purchased a quarter section of land in Attica Township, then returned to Illinois, and in 1874 came back and purchased a half-section. In 1875 he removed his family to Wichita, where they remained eighteen months, and then all removed to their present farm. Of the nine children born to Mr. and Mrs. Parkhurst, six only are living. The eldest, Clara, was born Dec. 21, 1868, and died Sept. 1, 1880; Susan was born July 27, 1870, and is attending the Garfield University at Wichita; Dora, born March 21, 1872, died August 12 following; Nellie was born July 20, 1873, and is at home with her parents; Freddie M., born Feb. 1, 1876, died on the 23d of June following; Mattie M. was born July 8, 1878, and continues with her parents; Flora was born Aug. 6, 1880; Ada, Sept. 13, 1882, and Fanny, Sept. 29, 1886. 

            Mr. Parkhurst was a member of the Greenback party until it became merged into the Union Labor party, and he is now an earnest advocate of the principles of the latter. He received the nomination for County Treasurer by the Greenbackers in 1878, and for Register of Deeds by the Union Labor party in 1887. Notwithstanding the loss of his arm he has labored considerably, and has given his personal supervision to his large farm of 640 acres, which is well stocked with good grades of cattle and horses, and upon which the various modern improvements of the day have been effected in the most creditable manner. He is public-spirited and liberal, and there are few men more popular among the people into whose midst he came when Sedgwick County was in its pioneer days. 

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