KSGenWeb Digital Library Biographical Sketch of Marion Walters Brown County, Kansas

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
KSGENWEB INTERNET GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY COPYRIGHT NOTICE:  In keeping with the KSGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied materiel.  These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other gain.  Copying of the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged.  Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires approval of the file's author.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The following transcription is from a 750 page book titled "Genealogical and Biographical Record of North-Eastern Kansas, dated 1900.  These have been diligently transcribed and generously contributed by Penny R. Harrell, please give her a very big Thank You for her hard work!

Marion Walters was one of the well known and honored citizens of Mission township, Brown county, and was a veteran of the Civil War, who for three years loyally aided in defending the Union.  He came to Brown county in 1872 and has, since made his home here, so that in the passing years his townsmen have had ample opportunity to judge of his work, and that they accorded him their respect is an indication of his well spent life.

Mr. Walters was born in Fulton county, Illinois, on June 21, 1842 and is a son of Peter Walters, a native of Tennessee.  His paternal grandfather also was born and reared in Tennessee.  The former, when a young man, removed to Illinois, which was then a wild, unimproved region.  He was married, in Fulton county, that state, to Miss Tina Roberts, a native of Kentucky, and they became the parents of the following children, namely: William; Elizabeth; Marion; Adaline; Joseph, who served as a soldier in the Civil War and is now living in Table Grove, Illinois; Nancy, Robert, Martha, John, Mary, George and
Lucy.

The father of our subject died at the age of seventy-three years.  He had made farming his life work and was an industrious citizen, whose success was the reward of his labor.  Both he and his wife were members of the Baptist church and they died in Illinois when about seventy years of age, honored and respected by all who knew them. Amid the refining influences of a good home, where Christian principles were exemplified in daily conduct, Marion Walters was reared. 

He spent his boyhood days on his father's farm and through the winter months pursued his education in the public schools.  He watched with interest the progress of events in the south prior to the Civil War and resolved that if an attempt was made to overthrow the Union he would strike a blow in its defense.  Accordingly, when President Lincoln issued his call for three hundred thousand men in 1862, he enlisted as a member of Company F, One Hundred and Third Illinois Infantry, under the command of Capt.
Van Devender and Colonel F. Babcock.

He participated in a number of most important engagements of the long conflict, including the battle of Black River and Jackson, Mississippi and the siege of Vicksburg.  In the last named the regiment was actively engaged against General Joe Johnston and his Confederate troops.  Later the One Hundred and Third Illinois was under fire at Mission Ridge, at Knoxville, through the Atlanta campaign, at New Hope Church and at Burnt Hickory.  Mr. Walters also participated in the battle in which General McPherson was killed, took part in the siege of Atlanta, afterward marched against Savannah and through the Carolinas, participating in the engagement at Raleigh and Bentonville.

With his regiment he then went to Richmond and on to Washington, D. C., where he participated in the grand review, the most celebrated military pageant ever seen in the western hemisphere.  He was in twenty-seven battles, besides numerous skirmishes.  At Mission Ridge he was wounded, being shot in the left leg.  From November until the following February he remained in the hospital and then rejoined his regiment.  At the close of the war he was honorably discharged, having made a good record as a brave and gallant soldier.

Upon his return to Illinois Mr. Walters engaged in farming in Fulton county and has since devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits.  He was married, in 1866, to Miss Theresa Harwidel, who was born in Germany and when a maiden of twelve summers accompanied her parents on their emigration to Pennsylvania, where she was reared and educated.

She is a daughter of John and Savilla Harwidel, both natives of the fatherland.  Unto Mr. and Mrs. Walters have been born seven children, six of whom are living, namely: Christina, the wife of George W. Trum, a well known citizen of Horton, Kansas; Alice, the wife of George Renaker, of Brown county; John Elmer, also of Brown county; Ernest, who died at the age of three years; Joseph, Robert and linneus.

Mr. Walters came to Brown county in 1872, locating upon his present farm of eighty acres.  He has a very large and comfortable residence here, together with good barns, orchards, verdant meadows and well tilled fields.  The property is one of the most valuable farms in the community and the owner is recognized as an enterprising and progressive agriculturist.  Whatever success he has achieved is due entirely to his own efforts, for he had no influential friends or wealth to aid him on starting out in life.

In politics he is a Democrat and has served as road supervisor and justice of the peace.  His life has been quietly passed, yet his career has been a useful and honorable one, commanding the respect and confidence of all who knew him.

Last update: Friday, July 18, 2003 20:22:18

The Digital Library of the KSGenWeb is a non-commercial entity dedicated to free access to records of genealogical value. All documents contained herein may be freely copied for personal and library use, as long as the KSGenWeb Statement of Use remains attached. These records may not be published in any format, including electronic (web pages or CD's) and print, without prior written consent of the contributor. In order to insure continued free access, violators of this policy will be vigorously pursued.

We invite all contributions of transcribed records with genealogical value. This could range from wills and letters from your personal family records to indexes of your county's marriage records. There are many, many more examples, of course. Anything you have that you are willing to contribute will be gratefully accepted. For more information, contact Kenneth Thomas, KSGenWeb Digital Library Coordinator at kgthomas5@earthlink.net.

We also accept any non-copyrighted printed materials that you have access to and would like to see transcribed and placed on-line. If the material is copyrighted and you are the copyright holder, please include written permission for use by The KSGenWeb Digital Library. These may be mailed to Kenneth Thomas, 26 Circle Dr., Windsor, MO 65360-1610.

  KSGENWEB DIGITAL LIBRARY PAGE
  KSGENWEB HOME PAGE

Page Design, HTML Coding and Layout - Copyright©1998-2004 by Kenneth Thomas, All Rights Reserved.
The KSGenWeb Project logo Copyright©1996-2004 by Tom & Carolyn Ward, All Rights Reserved.
For the limited use of the KSGenWeb Project.  Permission is granted for use only on an Official KSGenWeb Project page.
The Official USGenWeb Project logo designed by Linda Cole.