The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-06-13

spicuous in Kansas, none has higher
place than that of Mr.. Mccarthy. He |
was not q man of SURPRISING brilliancy
in intellect but he was a shrewd, witty
Irishman, with an alert mind and a dis
position which was always kind and
generous, and he was an honest, upright
man.
But few men in Kansas have attained
the great personal popularity reached
by Mccarthy. One of his strong char
acteristics was story telling and his
good humor and native wit made him
cOngenial companion under all circum
stances. Mccarthy served through the
war of the rebellion and had a collec-
ton of letters from his commanders of
which he was very proud. These letters
commend his dashing bravery in battle
and contain notes of thanks for the per-
Torrance of hazardous duty.
When Tim Mccarthy came to Kansas
| the state was young but he was a sea-
soned soldier, having seen 10 years of
| active service. He was mustered out at
| Fort Wallace in 1867 and landed at
Larned in 1870. Mr. Mccarthy was 65
| years of age. He was born in Killarney
| county, Ireland, in 1885, but left that
country for America when Is. He
| knocked around New York for three
| years then enlisted in 1854 in the army.
] He served in the department of the
| Gulf, at Fort Duncan and was mustered
| out In 1853 at Fort Lancaster, Texas. In
| 1851 the civil war began and Mccarthy
| was among the first to enlist. He was
sent with the noted First Two Hundred
to reinforce Fort Sumter and after the
surrender of that post returned to New
| York. From Governors Island he was
assigned to Major Anderson's command
and participated with that division in
the illfated battle of Bull Run. York
town, Gaines Mills. Antietam Chan
collorsville, Fredericksburg. Gettysburg
and RappahanrCck saw him in service
but the three years of his enlistment ex-
pired in 1864. HR was mustered out as
sergeant major. He reenlisted the same
day and went to the front this time
with Grant at Petersburg. Mccarthy
was one of the men who carried mes
sages between Grant and Lee at the
surrender at Appomattox Mr. Nc
Carthy then saw service in the west I'M
til he was mustered out at Fort Wal
lace, Kan, in 1861
The aggressive spirit in McCarthy's
disposition soon placed him in the from
rank Of citizens in PaWnee county after
his removal there in 1870. Soon after.
t wards he was chosen county clerk ther
} county commissioner, then postmaster
, | and in a few years this association de
: | veloped him as thorough going polite
ian. His work in the Republican party
soon became known outside of the coun
ty in which he lived and in those day
f which followed he welded a powerful
I influence in the short grass country
In fact, to the work done by McCarthi
: in the early days may be attributed tn
= wonderful political organization whicl
!. now exists in the Seventh congressiOna
: district. Men worked together in har
mony and when one of their humble
. wanted anything the whole crowd wa
= up and after it for him. The same spiri
= pervades that district today It is gen
# orally conceded by the politicians tina
L the Seventh is the best organized dis
4 trlct in the state just as it was in Nc
= Carthy's time.
When Gallant Tim" as hi
40 friends We're wont to call him decide
- that he would well adorn the chair r
. state auditor, the whole western part {
"a the state was for him. And he Wo
I handily- He was first elected with Coy
1e ernor Humphrey in 1888 and reelected
1890 The next public position which /
If the Kansas G. A r.
In addition to these public position
le Mr. Mccarthy was the greater part
of the time mayor of Larned and ws
1e holding that office at the time of h
death.
Mr.. Mccarthy retired from public Ii
j: in 1895 and established the First Sta
n bank of Iarned, since which time ii
j. public has seen little of him He h;
IN been at home attending to business al
as ne once said to a State Journal r
porter:
re Enjoying the society of my good wi
"a OF Whom have seen little while cha
aasgl ing public Office and campaigning"
Mrs Mccarthy was Miss Julia See
Of Knoxville, Pa. They had one chill
On a daughter Nora, who is now Mrs. G
in bert Sells of Winfield. Before bell
be married Miss Mccarthy was a freque
n visitor in Topeka the guest of Mi
Edna Crane daughter of Mr.. and NJ
George ". Crane
en- Mr.. Mccarthy was always pronline
ce in the work of the Grand Army VIII
Mrs. Mccarthy is one of the forenc