My Genealogy Hound

NATHAN P. HORTON.
Nathan P. Horton, one of the retired farmers of Soldier township, Shawnee County, whose 75 acres of fine land are situated in section 17, town ship 11, range 16, is also a survivor of many of the most serious battles and thrilling experiences of the Civil War and of the early days of Topeka. Mr. Horton was born May 22, 1828, at Eastham, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, and is a son of Cushing and Rachel (Higgins) Horton.

The father of Mr. Horton was a farmer and also kept a general store, and, as was customary, was also the local postmaster. Life passed too quietly and uneventfully for the sturdy and ambitious son of the family, our subject, and when 18 years old he went to work in Boston as a ferryboy on a ferry line between East Boston and Boston, owned by the Eastern Railway. Here he remained three years and then was employed in a new meat market in Boston and remained in the meat business for about eight years. After disposing of his meat market interests, he went into the restaurant business for the Eastern Railway in partnership with a Mr. Knowles, and prospered for some four years.

In the meantime Mr. Horton had been much impressed with the advantages afforded by the West and concluded to try his fortune beyond the Mississippi River, but in New York he was dissuaded from his purpose and returned to Boston. In 1858, however, he succeeded in his plans and came to Topeka. His first winter was spent in hunting and then he became connected with a sawmill and later handled logs and wood and did considerable teaming. The life was one of adventure and often fraught with considerable hardship.

Mr. Horton enlisted at Topeka, September 1, 1862, in Company H, 11th Reg., Kansas Vol. Inf., for three years under Capt. Joel Huntoon and was mustered out at Fort Leavenworth, September 13, 1865. In this interim he had participated in these battles: Old Fort Wayne, Cane Hill, Boston Mountains, Prairie Grove, Van Buren and Sin Hills, spending the greater part of 1863-64 in fighting guerillas and bushwhackers in Western Missouri. He took part in the pursuit of General Price and was concerned in the battles of Lexington, Little Blue, Independence, Westport, Big Blue, Trading Post, Byrom’s Ford and in guarding the overland route in the Red Butte country. He survived the dangers of this long campaign in which he made a grand record for gallantry and efficiency.

After being mustered out of the army, Mr. Horton then bought some horses at Fort Leavenworth and went to teaming in Topeka, including street grading and similar work, until 1868, when he bought his present farm. At this time he was toll-keeper on the pontoon bridge across the Kansas River at Topeka, a position he held for three years. He has been engaged in farming from 1869 until recently, when he rented his land.

Mr. Horton was married January 21, 1891, to Lorena Stebbins, who is a daughter of John S. and Annie (Gogan) Stebbins, of Topeka, and they have four children: Laura P., John S., Pearl M. and Elmira M.

Mr. Horton is affiliated with the Republican party, and has been a member of the School Board for many years. He is a valued member of Blue Post, No. 250, Grand Army of the Republic.