| WOODSON COUNTIES, KANSAS. | 561 cont'd |
THOMAS CATION, JR.
THOMAS CATION, JR., is one of the wide-awake and progressive farmers of East Cottage Grove township, and as he is widely known in Allen county a record of his life cannot fail to prove of interest to many of our readers. He was born in Peoria county, Illinois, April 18, 1863, and is of Scotch descent. His father, Thomas Cation, Sr., was born in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, May 24, 1824, his parents being William and Margaret (Paul) Cation, who were also natives of the land of hills and heather.
| 562 | HISTORY OF ALLEN AND |
In 1843 they crossed the Atlantic to America, taking up their abode in Illinois, where the grandfather of our subject died when seventy years of age. His wife departed this life in Kansas, at the ripe old age of eighty.
Thomas Cation, Sr., was a weaver by trade, learning that business in Glasgow, where he pursued his chosen occupation until he became a resident of America. He spent the first eighteen years of his life in the land of his nativity and then accompanied his parents on their emigration to the new world. From Illinois he removed to Kansas in 1871, taking up his abode in Allen county, where he now resides upon his fine farm of two hundred and eight acres. He was married in Illinois to Miss Jeannette McClanet, who died on the 11th of March, 1897, at the age of fifty-nine years. They had eight children: Willie, Jeannette, John, Maggie, David, Mary and Annie, being the wife of William Cation. Since coming to America the father has four times visited his native country. He is now spending the evening of his life in a very comfortable home which he has gained through his own industry.
Thomas Cation, Jr., whose name introduces this record, was only seven years of age when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Kansas. He therefore spent the greater part of his youth in Allen county, and in the district schools he conned the lessons which made him familiar with the common English branches of learning. From early boyhood he assisted in the operation of the home farm and worked with his father until he was twenty-one years of age, giving him the benefit of his services, after which his father paid him for his labor until he was twenty-five years of age.
On the 1st of February, 1888, Mr. Cation led to the marriage altar Miss Agnes Campbell, a resident of Cottage Grove township, a native of Scotland, whence she came to the United States with her parents, William and Helen (Gray) Campbell. They crossed the ocean in 1868 and for six years were residents of Chicago, her father there following the carpenter's trade. In 1874 he came with his family to Humboldt, Kansas, where he was engaged in the furniture business with Mr. Utterson. After a year, however, he returned to Chicago, although in a short time he again came to Allen county, and purchased a farm in East Cottage Grove township, erecting thereon a nice residence. Leaving his farm to the care of his family he engaged with a company to build elevators and followed that business in many sections of the country. Subsequently, however, he returned to the farm and has since devoted his energies to its operation. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Campbell were born eight children, of whom six are living, namely: Jessie; Martha Agnes; Nellie, wife of George Jordan of Neosho county; John, a resident of Kansas City; David; Nina, and Wilfird.
After his marriage Mr. Cation, of this review, rented a farm for he did not have the means to purchase land. However, he possessed energy and determination and with the assistance of his young wife he secured some capital, so that a year after his marriage he was enabled to buy eighty acres of land. This he has improved until he now has a very attractive farm, on which he has erected a comfortable residence and commodious barn. A
| WOODSON COUNTIES, KANSAS. | 563 |
fine maple grove surrounds his house and outbuildings, so that his barnyard resembles a park more than a place in which stock is raised. He is an energetic and progressive agriculturist and further success undoubtedly awaits him.
Mr. and Mrs. Cation now have three bright boys, Archie, Robert and Homer. He is a member of the camp of the Modern Woodmen of America at Leanna, and in politics is an earnest Republican, doing all in his power to promote and insure the success of his party.
Pages 561-563, transcribed by Carolyn Ward from History of Allen and Woodson Counties, Kansas: embellished with portraits of well known people of these counties, with biographies of our representative citizens, cuts of public buildings and a map of each county / Edited and Compiled by L. Wallace Duncan and Chas. F. Scott. Iola Registers, Printers and Binders, Iola, Kan.: 1901; 894 p., [36] leaves of plates: ill., ports.; includes index.
