Pages 551-552, 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.



 

  WOODSON COUNTIES, KANSAS. 551 cont'd

GEORGE H. LIST.

GEORGE H. LIST.—When the country was in the throes of Civil war and from the work-shops, the fields, the stores and the offices men rallied to the support of the flag, George H. List was among the number who put aside personal considerations to aid in the perpetuation of the Union, and today he is as true and loyal a citizen as when he followed the stars and stripes on southern battle fields. He was born in Switzerland county, Indiana, October 12, 1834. His father, Jacob List, was a native of Germany, and when four years of age became a resident of the United States, living first in New Jersey, afterward in Pennsylvania, and later in Ohio. He married Elmira M. Stephens, a native of New Hampshire, and in 1850 removed to Illinois, where he died in 1857, at the age of eighty-four years. His wife survived him until 1897, passing away at the age of ninety-nine years. They were the parents of five children, but only two are now living: Jacob and George H.

In 1847 the subject of this review became a resident of Illinois, and upon the home farm spent his youth. He possesses marked mechancial genius, and though he was reared on the farm he followed both carpentering and blacksmithing and also worked as a machinist, being able to perform any kind of mechanical labor. On the 18th of April, 1861, he responded to the president's call for aid to crush out the rebellion in the south, and served until August, 1865. His regiment was sent at once to the front and remained there until the close of the war. He participated in many important engagements, including the battles of Charleston, Missouri, and Cape Girardeau, that state. In July, 1862, his regiment was ambushed and several of their number were killed. He also took part in the battles of Fort Henry, Fort Donelson, Shiloh and the siege of Corinth, and went with his command to Jackson, Tennessee, the members of his regiment patrolling that portion of the country. In September, 1863, they fought in the battle of Britten Lane, where they were surrounded by an

552 HISTORY OF ALLEN AND  

overwhelming force, but fought their way out with heavy loss. The Twentieth Illinois went with Grant to Jackson, Mississippi, and served in General Logan's command at the battle of Thompson's Hill and Raymond. At Jackson they were with McPherson when he whipped Johnson's army in the battle of Champion Hills. They were also in the siege of Vicksburg and in the Meridian campaign in eastern Mississippi. With beef cattle the regiment was sent to Sherman, and for thirty days was continually fighting, but ultimately reached Sherman at Clifton, Tennessee. Mr. List was present when General McPherson was killed in the battle of Lessels Hill and saw him fall from his horse when he received the fatal shot. On the 22nd of July, 1864, he was captured and sent to Andersonville prison, but after eight months and fourteen days there he succeeded in making his escape and working his way back to the Union lines. He was then granted a furlough and returned home on a visit. At Chicago on the 17th of August, 1865, he was honorably discharged and with a military record of which he has every reason to be proud, he returned to his friends and family in Illinois.

On the 17th of February, 1867, Mr. List wedded Miss Mary C. Tuder, a native of Kentucky. To them have been born five children and the family circle yet remains unbroken by the hand of death. These are Cora, wife of C. J. Barlow: Elizabeth J., wife of John Cation; Rachel F., wife of Albert Lassmann; Anna, wife of John H. Parker, and John E., who assists his father in the operation of the home farm.

In 1876 Mr. List came with his family to Kansas, taking up his abode near Leanna, Cottage Grove township, Allen county, where he worked at the blacksmith's trade and farming for three years. He then purchased a little farm of sixty-three acres, two miles north of Leanna, and has since made it his home. Its well developed fields bring to him a good return. Since casting his first presidential vote for John C. Fremont in 1856 he has been a stalwart Republican in his political affiliations and is in hearty accord with President McKinley's administration.


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