My Genealogy Hound

JOHN SUTHERIN.
John Sutherin, a prominent business man of Topeka, engaged in the coal business at First avenue and Monroe street, was born in 1841 at Newcastle-on-Tyne, Northumberland County, England, and is a son of Martin Sutherin.

In 1853 Mr. Sutherin accompanied his father to America, locating in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. In 1857 the family removed to Preston County, West Virginia. The father died at the age of 79 years and the four surviving children are: John, our subject; Annie, who is the wife of Robert Logan, living near Dover, Shawnee County; Margaret, who is the wife of Matthew Hunter, of Chicago, Illinois; and Bessie, who is the wife of Jefferson Sumner, of Topeka township, Shawnee County.

In 1861 Mr. Sutherin enlisted from Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, in Company G, Second Reg., West Virginia Vol. Inf., three Ohio, four Pennsylvania and three Virginia companies composing the regiment. Later, in 1863, his company was transferred to the First West Virginia Horse Artillery, which was mainly made use of in raiding expeditions, and here Mr. Sutherin saw very hard service. He was mustered out June 22, 1864, with an honorable and faithful soldier’s record.

Until 1871 Mr. Sutherin resided in Beaver County, his old home, and then came to Kansas and engaged in mining and then in farming on the Gage tract west of Topeka. He has been identified with coal interests almost since his arrival in Shawnee County and is the oldest coal merchant in Topeka in continuous business. He settled on the Gage farm 34 years ago and now has a farm of 80 acres on which he has spent $7,000 in improvements. Although in business in the city he still holds his farm. He has always taken a lively interest in public affairs and for 27 years has been a member of the School Board of Topeka township.

On September 12, 1864, Mr. Sutherin married Isabel Douglas, who was also a native of Northumberland County, England. She died in 1896, leaving eight children, viz: Isabel, wife of H. E. Shaffer, of the plumbing firm of George Sutherin & Company, of Topeka; Mary, wife of William H. Hunter of Bloomington, Illinois; George W., a master plumber in business at No. 107 East Fifth street, Topeka; Martin; Annie, wife of Cal Zin, of Dover, Shawnee County; Sadie, wife of E. W. Pinkerton, of Los Angeles, California; John, who conducts the home farm; and Maggie.

Mr. Sutherin is one of the leading members and a trustee of the Lowman Hill Methodist Episcopal Church. Fraternally he is a Master Mason, a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and for the past 31 years has been an Odd Fellow. He is a man whose sterling character is generally recognized and he may justly be numbered with the representative men of Shawnee County.