Major James B. Abbott
Major James B. Abbott was born in 1818, in Connecticut. In ’48 he went to Cincinnati and engaged in manufacturing gold pens. In ’49 he went to South America; returning in ’50, he went to Hartford and engaged as foreman with Rogers Brothers, manufacturers of silver plated ware. In ’54 he came to Kansas, arriving at Lawrence Oct. 10th, and in ’55 took a claim four miles south of Lawrence. He assisted in the rescue of Branon from Sheriff Jones. Was elected a member of the legislature under the Topeka constitution. In ’55 he went to Boston and in half a day collected $26,000; purchased 100 Sharp’s rifles, took them apart, packed them in wine casks, and shipped them as hardware up the Missouri river to Kansas City. He was made a captain of the Coal Creek Company of the free state forces, and afterwards was made major of the 3rd. Kansas regiment and had command of the same. He had command of all the forces at Lawrence when Col. Clarkson came with his 2,800 Missourians. In ’59 he organized the party and rescued Dr. Day from the St. Joseph jail; and afterwards $5,000 was offered to any one bringing Abbott to Missouri. In ’59 he was elected a member of the first state legislature under the Wyandott constitution. In ’60 he was appointed agent of the Shawnee Indians, and held the position until ’66, when he was elected a member of the state senate from Johnson county. Since that time he has been engaged as conveyancer of the Shawnee Indian lands, and now is engaged in farming near De Soto. He was in Lawrence when Quantrill burned the town in ’63, and saved his life by dodging about and secreting himself in a blacksmith shop. In ’38 he married Miss Amanda Atwood; she died in ’50. In ’52 he married Miss Elizabeth Watrous of Hartford. They have two children living.
Atlas Map of Johnson County, Kansas, E. F. Heisler and Co., 1874, p. 54.
