Marshall County KS Archives Biographies.....Wilcox, James R. 1843 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com April 16, 2007, 3:14 am

Author: Emma E. Forter

JAMES R. WILCOX.

    James R. Wilcox, one of the best known and most prominent residents of
Beattie, Marshall county, was born in Crawford county, Pennsylvania, on November
4, 1843, the son of Robert R. and Mary Jane (King) Wilcox, both of whom were
natives of the state of New York, where they received their education in the
public schools, there grew up and were later married. Soon after their marriage
they moved to Crawford county, Pennsylvania, where they established their home
and where they lived until 1856, when they left Pennsylvania and moved to Iowa.
They located on a farm in Howard county, where they remained for five years,
when they removed to Polk county, and later to Andrew county, Missouri, where
the mother died in 1865. The father later moved to California and his death
occurred in the year 1905. Both Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox were highly respected people
and were ever active in the affairs of the community in which they lived. Mr.
Wilcox was a man of much ability and during his active life had much to do with
the growth and development of the localities in which he lived.

    James R. Wilcox is one of a family of eight children, he being the second
born. His early education was received in the schools of Crawford county, where
he lived until he was thirteen years of age. He then came with his parents to
Iowa, and here he made his home with his parents until he was eighteen years of
age, when he enlisted in Company C, Twenty-third Regiment, Iowa Volunteer
Infantry, on August 9, 1862, at Des Moines. As a soldier, he distinguished
himself for bravery and was soon promoted from the rank of a private to the
position of color-sergeant, which position he held until he received his
discharge from the service. Among the numerous engagements in which he took an
active part were those at Ft. Gibson, Grand Gulf, Jackson, Mississippi, Champion
Hill, Black River Bridge, siege of Vicksburg, battle of Ft. Esperanza, Texas,
and the siege of the Spanish Fort at Mobile. At the charge of Black River Bridge
he received a severe wound in the face and at the siege of Spanish Fort he
received a wound in the jaw. Following his honorable discharge he returned to
Des Moines, Iowa, where he was united in marriage on August 27, 1865, to Sarah
L. Ballard, the daughter of Isaac and Mary Ann (Keeth) Ballard, both of whom are
natives of Illinois and are now living in Mills county, Iowa. After their
marriage Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox left Des Moines and established their home in
Andrews county, Missouri, where they resided until 1871. In March of that year
they came to Marshall county and later established their home in Franklin
township, where they became the owners of a splendid farm and where they had one
of the pleasant country homes of the county. Mrs. Wilcox was born in Des Moines,
Iowa, on October 9, 1847, and departed this life on September 28, 1916, after a
happy married life of over fifty-one years. At the age of sixteen years she was
converted to Christianity at Rising Sun, Iowa, and lived a consistent life until
the time of her death, which occurred at her home in Beattie. She was a member
of the Baptist church and of the Knights and Ladies of Security, and was a woman
in whom all had the greatest confidence. She was universally beloved and at her
death she was mourned by a large circle of friends.

    Mr. Wilcox is a charter member of the Lyons Post No. 9, Grand Army of the
Republic, at Marysville, and has served as a steward of the Methodist Episcopal
church, of which he is now a member. He has always taken an active and prominent
part  in the affairs of the township and the county, and is interested in all
matters that tend to promote the growth and welfare of his home district. He has
served as constable of the township and for twelve years was a justice of the
peace. In 1902 Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox left the farm and moved to Beattie. In 1898
he was selected as star route carrier for the mails to Guittard Station, and
after a service of two years, he was given a position as rural carrier out of
Beattie, which position he has filled with credit to the present time. Having
served for three years in the army, he considers that he has given over twenty
years of his life to the services of his government.

    James R. Wilcox is a man of much force of character and is an entertaining
talker and debater. By request, he has publicly discussed many of the more
important topics of the day, and always in an able manner. His style of address
is simple and convincing and he has received many compliments on the manner in
which he has presented his subjects. During the life of the Farmer's Alliance
Mr. Wilcox took an active interest in promulgating the cause of that
organization in his home district and for two years he was president of the
local society. After coming to Beattie he joined the Knights and Ladies of
Security and has served in the various offices of the lodge and was president
for three times. He is now past commander of the Grand Army Post at Beattie and
has been president of the Rural Mail Carriers Association of Marshall county.

    Of the ten children of Mr. and Mrs. Wilcox, four are now living, namely:
Anna, who is the widow of L. King, lives at Topeka, Kansas; Sarah L. Rochler
resides at Beattie; Mary E. is the wife of J. F. Keylan, of Omaha, Nebraska, and
Benjamin H. resides at Beattie. The family have been long prominent in the
social and religious life of Marshall county and are among the progressive
residents of their home communities.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

History of Marshall County, Kansas: its people, industries, and institutions
by
Emma E. Forter

Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co. (1917)


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