The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-04-14
GLOBE TROTuNG WATCH.
Fourteen Times in. Siam and Has
Crossed the Pacific Twice.

EourtecH 1lmeS IN siam ana Has
Crossed the Pacific Twice.
Salina, Kan, April 1.-THE Journa.
says:
The Rev. F. c. Mexican, pastor of
the First Presbyterian church, has in
his possession relic in the form of
a gold watch which has a most pecu-
liar history. 1t was the property of
his uncle, soldier, who died in the
army. 1t has circled the globe, cross
ed the Pacific ocean three times, the
Atlantic ocean once and has been car
r1ed in the pocket of medical mis-
sionary in Siam for fourteen years.
Dr. Mexican had seven uncles,
brothers of his father. Five of them
took up the study of law, one became
farmer and the other, James w. Nc
Kean, took up the ministry. In 1858.
Fergus s. Mexican, an attorney, sent
his brother, then a ministerial student.
500 with which to purchase a gold
watch, which he did.
Later the Rev. Mexican became
president of Lenox college at Hopkin-
out and two of his brothers had en-
listed President Mexican of Lenox
submitted a proposition to the students
of his college in chapel one morning.
He told them that he felt called
| upon to resign his position as presi-
dent of the college and enlist in the
army He asked how many of the
students would volunteer to enlist In
the army with him. They rose to a
man, and everyone, except four, later
enlisted. company of 100 was
formed and President Mexican was
elected captain of the company and
marched away to war at the head of
company of his own students.
Prof. Mexican took sick at Mem
phis, Tenn, several months later and
| died in a hospital at that place. His
body was embalmed and sent back to
Iowa for burial. Among his personal
effects was found the gold watch. 1t
was returned to the original donor,
Fergus Mexican. On his death bed he
| requested that the watch be given to
| the first member of the Mexican family
who entered the ministry.
James w. Mexican, jr., nephew of
! the original owner of the watch. who
was a physician, decided to become a
medical missionary to Siam. The ma
ture of his work being so closely allied
to that of the church, it was decided
| it with him in Siam six years. 1t was
while in his possession that the watch
did most of it's globe trotting. The
| Rev. f. c. Mexican, pastor Of the First
Presbyterian church in Salina. was the
| first regularly ordained minister of the
gospel in the Mexican family
His cousin in Siam, finally decided
| that to even things up he would send
him the watch to keep for a number
\ of years and have it passed from one
member of the family to the other.
He promised his Oldest son, however,
to give the watch to him when he grew
| up. The lad, who is now about four
| teen years old, is a student at Adrian,
Mich. Rev. Mexican will send the
watch to him within a few DAYS. the
| other members of the Mexican family
having waived their privilege of keep
| ing it.
The lad who will now come into
possession of the watch was born in
| Chung Mai Laos Siam which is a hout
| IA, 600 miles from here. His father.
| the physician. is in charge of a hos
| pital at that place and has been for a
| numbe of years.