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Early Settlers & Memories

JAMES LAWSON ZEIGLER
Information Submitted by: Carla Love Maitland

James was born in 1840 in Columbus, OH and moved at an early age (sometime between 1848 and 1855) to Adair County, MO. He served in the Civil War in the 27th Missouri Infantry. He married Margaret Turner (who was born in Adair Co.) in 1861 and was listed as a "farmer" in the 1870 and 1880 census. In 1885 they moved to Sheridan Co., KS.. They had 9 children, all of whom were born in Adair Co., MO.

He was described in his obituary as a man of "exceptional talents and more than the ordinary brain." He became a school teacher and later a probate judge. He was stricken with paralysis some years before his death. He was also described as "jolly and full of vim and energy, shedding a radiant halo of hopefulness and good feeling around all his associates that they will not soon forget." When he moved to Kansas, he " took up the life of a pioneer, suffering all of the hardships, yet always playing a leading role in the life of his community.

He was buried in the Hoxie Cemetery, Hoxie, KS. Funeral services were held at the home of his son, M.C. Zeigler, and the services were conducted by Rev. Adolph Haberly, pastor of the Presbyterian church. He was "79 years, 9 months and 24 days old" when he died.

SOURCE: Newspaper Obituary, dated January 1920. (Hoxie Sentinel)

INSCRIBED ON TOMBSTONE:
"Corpl. James L. Zeigler, Co. D. 27 MO. Inf."

According to WARD ZEIGLER ANDREGG, JUDGE ZEIGLER became a Land Agent on Oct. 1, 1885, served Sheridan Co. as Probate Judge and Clerk of the District Court in 1886-87, homesteaded 160 acres of Sheridan Co. land, NW 32-7-27 on 5/23/1888 and 160 acres NW 10-8-27 on 4/13/1895 and sometimes used his middle name LAWSON.

FROM KENNETH SENTINEL, JAN. 7, 1886: (Kenneth, Kansas is near Hoxie)
"Morgan Zeigler, who has been spending the holidays at his former home, Kirksville, Mo., returned on New Years. He reports that his father, Mr. J. L. Zeigler, who is a member of the enterprising real estate firm of Urqahart, Hopson & Co. and the rest of the family will arrive in Kenneth this week."

FROM KENNETH SENTINEL, JAN. 14.1886:
"Mr. J. L. Zeigler, wife and eight children, and Mr. W. L. McCartney, wife and four children, arrived from Kirksville, Mo. Monday. They were detained four days at Collyer by the snow blockade, but met with no other mishaps in the route."

FROM THE HOXIE SENTINEL, MARCH 22, 1917:
"Last Thursday marked the 77th mile stone in the life of Judge J. L. Zeigler, who is well-known throughout the county, having held a county office for some years.
He is enjoying as good health as could be expected, owing to his infirmities. About five years ago he was stricken with paralysis and has been more or less of an invalid ever since. He makes his home with his son, M.C., and wife in south Hoxie where he always receives the best of care."

ANOTHER VETERAN CALLED HOME
The following is a copy verbatim from the obituary article I have on JUDGE ZEIGLER: (I have kept the punctuation as it appeared. It is dated Jan 15, 1920)

Last Thursday, Judge Zeigler as he was familiarly known, stepped out beyond the border land of this life and peacefully joined that "innumerable caravan which moves to that mysterious realm" which we call death and he approached it "like one who wraps the drapery of his couch about him and lies down to pleasant dreams." He has finished his earthly mission and has left many interesting chapters in the book of life. He was a man of exceptional talents and more than the ordinary brain. Even with the meager school advantages offered in his day he became a successful school teacher and always carried a high grade certificate. While serving this county in an official capacity he left some splendid records which will long remain as a fitting testimonial of his scholarship and efficiency.
In the years before his affliction he was active in the affairs of the community, always jolly and full of vim and energy, shedding a radiant halo of hopefulness and good feeling around all his associates which they will not soon forget. Peace be to his soul.

James L. Zeigler was born in Colombus, Ohio, March 15, 1840 and died at his home in this city, Thursday, January 8, aged 79 years, 9 months and 24 days.

When three years of age he moved with his parents to Adair county, Missouri, where he grew to man’s estate. In 1860 he was married to Miss Margaret Turner, and to this union nine children were born, five of whom survive him, M. C., of this city; E. B., Cabinet, Idaho; J. W., Peace Valley, Canada; Mrs. Lavina Swisher, Green Castle, Missouri and Mrs. Elizabeth Sanford, Helena, Arkansas. Besides the children he is survived by four brothers, one sister, twenty-two grandchildren and thirty-two great grand-children.

In 1885 he came to Sheridan county where he took up a homestead and endured all the hardships of the life of a pioneer always playing a leading role in the life of his community.

He was honored several times with public office and was acting as probate judge at the time when he was stricken with paralysis, some years ago.

He was a soldier in the Civil War being a member of the 27th Missouri Infantry.

Funeral services were held here at the home of his son, M. C. Zeigler, Friday, in charge of Rev. Adolph Haberly, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, and interment was made in the Hoxie Cemetery.

CARD OF THANKS
We wish to thank all your neighbors and friends for their help and sympathy in our late bereavement:

Below is a list of his children:
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