William North

WILLIAM NORTH, formerly proprietor of a general store and postmaster at Faulkner, but now living retired, is one of the sturdy old citizens of this county, where he has lived for many years. He is a veteran of the Civil War, and bears an honorable record for service in the Union Army.

Mr. North was born in Randolph County, Illinois, March 1, 1835, and is a son of Levi North. The latter was born in Maine, and removed to Illinois when a young man. He was a shoemaker by trade, and for some years manufactured shoes and sold them at wholesale. He conducted a general store at Horse Creek, Randolph County, Illinois, for several years, and then went to Evansville, Illinois, where he conducted the first ferry across the Okaw River at that point. He subsequently went to Baldwin and taught school, dying there in 1851, at the age of 65 years. He was captain of the militia at Kaskaskia, Illinois, and had numerous skirmishes with the Indians. He married Catherine Allen (a daughter of William Allen), who was born in Georgia, but at an early age moved with her parents to Ohio, and then to Illinois, where she died in 1849, aged 43 years. Twelve children,—six sons and six daughters,—were the result of this union. Five sons served in the Civil War, Thomas being in Company K, 81st Reg., Illinois Vol. Inf., and Levi, Robert, Jasper and William serving in Company A, 31st Reg., Illinois Vol. Inf., under Gen. John A. Logan. The five boys fought over 500 days in all and, although all were wounded, four of them returned to their homes, Jasper was wounded in the battle at Fort Donelson, and died soon after, but not of his wounds.

William North was 12 years old when he moved to Evansville, Illinois, with his parents, and six years later located at Baldwin, Randolph County, Illinois. He remained there until 1852, and then went to Perry County, Illinois, where he farmed, and worked at the trade of millwright and carpenter. In September, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company A, 31st Reg., Illinois Vol. Inf., under General Logan, and participated in the following engagements: Belmont, Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, Cut Levee at Lake Providence, Louisiana; Raymond, Fort Gibson, Ingram Heights, Jackson, Mississippi; Champion Hill, siege of Vicksburg, Kenesaw Mountain, Duck River, and Decatur, Alabama. He participated in the Black River expedition, lasting 40 days, and took part in 100 days of actual fighting, all told. He was wounded in the right shoulder at Fort Donelson, and was shot through the right thigh at Kenesaw Mountain, after which he was in the Rome hospital until his discharge. After three years and 15 days of service, he was mustered out with the rank of sergeant. He also served in the recruiting office for six months prior to the war's close. He returned to his home in Perry County, Illinois, and followed farming and his trade until 1880, when he came West to Kansas. He first located in Cherokee, Crawford County, where he followed farming for a period of eight years, after which he came to Cherokee County and purchased a farm of 220 acres in sections 3 and 10, township 34, range 22, in Neosho township. He was engaged in raising stock extensively until about 1898, having about 100 head of Shorthorn and Durham thoroughbreds. In that year he located in Faulkner, purchased a stock of general merchandise, and followed this business successfully until September 5, 1904, when he sold out, and has since lived in retirement. He was appointed postmaster during President McKinley's first administration, and continued to serve until he disposed of his store.

In 1863, the subject of this sketch was joined in marriage with Nancy Maxwell, who was born in Missouri, June 10, 1843, and died July 12, 1901. They were the parents of the following children: John Jasper, of Kansas City; Charles A., born March 3, 1866, who was murdered on November 1, 1889; Malcolm James, of Kansas City; William Henry, of Kansas City; and Emma May, wife of George Crosby. On March 5, 1903, Mr. North formed a second union, wedding Catherine E. Schetzer. Religiously, he and his wife are members of the Christian Church.

History of Cherokee County Kansas asd its representative citizens, ed. & comp. Nathaniel Thompson Allison, 1904, transcribed by Barton Earl Riddle, student from USD 508, Baxter Springs, Kansas, 5/1/97.