Clinton McMickle

CLINTON McMICKLE. The high standard of intelligence among the agricultural class of Cherokee County is a subject of frequent comment. This is evidenced by the many rural telephones and rural free delivery routes, and the generally tasty and refined appearance of the homes of the people. Prominent among those who take delight in mental acquisition, is the gentleman whose name appears above. Though a man of but little scholastic training, owing to lack of opportunity in his youth, Mr. McMickle has by close observation and study during his mature years become enviably proficient in the different lines of astronomy, geology, and physics, and still takes great delight in the pursuit of, knowledge in those three fields. Mr. McMickle is one of the oldest continuous residents in the county, having settled on his present farm in section 30, Lola township, in the spring of 1866, after having spent the previous five years in saving to the nation "Old Glory," intact and without stain.

The subject of this sketch is a Hoosier by birth; he was born in Orange County, Indiana, December 1, 1838, and is a son of Lorenzo McMickle. When he was 10 years of age, his parents moved to Davis County, Iowa, where the war found him eager and anxious to do, and if needs be die, for the old flag. In April, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Company G, 2nd Reg., Iowa Vol. Inf., Capt. James Baker commanding, under Col. Sam. R. Curtis. For the greater part of the war this regiment was brigaded with the 15th Army Corps, saw much active service in the Middle West and marched with Sherman to the sea. Mr.McMickle got to the front in time to take part in the fighting at Fort Donelson. Then followed Shiloh, the two Corinths and Iuka. He participated in all the principal battles of the Atlanta campaign, marched up through the Carolina's, and was present at that matchless parade of the defenders of the flag, known in history as "The Grand Review." He was honorably discharged as 2nd sergeant of his company, a position which he had held for about two years. He received a bayonet wound in the face at Frederickstown Missouri, was wounded in the leg at Fort Donelson, and at Atlanta was struck in the breast by a bullet; but none of these was sufficient to put him in the hospital. As an instance of the fact that not all the gallant deeds of the boys in the army received proper attention and reward, Mr.McMickle relates that at the Jonesboro fight, he was ordered by an officer on General Howard's staff to take several men and make a reconnaissance to find out whether the enemy was in retreat. He immediately set out on his perilous trip, and so well was it done that on his report. General Howard was able to order an advance that cut off about 500 of the enemy's wagons, loaded with supplies. Mr.McMickle received no reward, indeed no notice was taken of his gallant action.

The war over, McMickle passed the winter of '65 in Linn County, Missouri, and in February came to Cherokee County, making the trip alone on horseback. He secured 160 acres, 80 of which he still owns, in section 30, Lola township, and immediately began the erection of a log house, 13 by 13 feet, in size, there being but three others in the township. This with all his other possessions he lost by fire the following year, but he again built, and continued his fight for a home. And it was a fight, especially for the first few years. But the man who had faced death in a hundred forms in the army was not the one to be daunted by anything short of impossibilities, and so as the years passed Mr. McMickle found life becoming somewhat easier, and its rewards greater. As he looks out now on his splendid farm property, he has the satisfaction of knowing that it is all his in a double sense of ownership, based on the fact that every building and tree and fence is the result of his own hard labor.

Passing now to the consideration of facts pertaining to the family of Mr. McMickle, we note that on both sides he is of Scotch lineage, the original immigrants to this country being six brothers who enlisted in the English Army from Midlothian, Scotland, and, being sent to America during the Revolutionary War, were so impressed with the justice of the patriot cause, that they all deserted to a man and joined the American Army. Later they were joined by their father who as serving in the English Army in India. This was Dougal McMickle, the great-grandfather of Clinton. He was accidentally killed by the falling of a tree, having attained the remarkable age of 102 years. Lorenzo McMickle, father of Clinton, was born in Louisville, Kentucky, in December, 1808, and died in Linn County, Missouri, at the age of 95 years. In his earlier manhood he was a printer, and spent many years in New Orleans, setting type on the Picayune. Later he was connected with what is now the Courier-Journal of Louisville, as assistant editor. In his later years he became a farmer. He was a Whig and Republican in politics, and a member of the New Light Church. He first married Ruth McWilliams, a native of Tennessee, who died when her son Clinton was three years of age, leaving three children. The eldest was Marinda, who married a Mr. Wise and is now deceased; and the youngest was Elizabeth, Mrs. McCallum, now of Kansas City. To the second wife were born 10 children, eight of whom are living. On the paternal side Mr. McMickle's grandmother was a Barton, a Spanish lady, for whose father was named Barton County, Missouri.

Mr, McMickle was united in marriage in April, 1868, to Bina Sanders, daughter of Jeremiah and Catherine Sanders, who were German descent and natives of Pennsylvania and Ohio, respectively. Her birth occurred August 6, 1848. She came to Cherokee County with her parents in the late "sixties." Her children are: Bertha, now the wife of Albert Johnson, a farmer of Lola township; and Theda, who married James D. Duncan, and also resides in Lola township.

It is unnecessary to speak of the high character which Mr. McMickle sustain in Cherokee County. Suffice it to say that none knows him but to respect him. He is a worthy member of the Seventh Day Adventist denomination, a Republican in politics, and a gentleman by birth and training.

History of Cherokee County Kansas and its representative citizens, ed. & comp. by Nathaniel Thompson Allison, 1904, transcribed by, Glen Thomasson, student from USD 508, Baxter Springs Middle School, Baxter Springs, Kansas, 11-21-96.