John Laurie, farmer and stock raiser, of Salem township, Sedgwick county,
Kansas, was born in Scotland, February 4, 1841. His parents were William and
Mary (Martin) Laurie, both natives of Scotland, where they spent their entire
lives. John Laurie remained in Scotland until March 25, 1870, when he came to
the United States. He first settled in Knox county, Illinois, where he remained
only a short time, and in June of the same year went to Abilene, Kan., where he
bought a pony and rode to Sedgwick county, and preempted 160 acres of land in
Wichita township. He remained on this land until 1878, when he went south of
Clearwater, in Sumner county, and bought a quarter-section of grass land for his
stock, where he lived seven years. He then returned to his farm in Wichita
township, where he lived until 1888, when he sold his original claim and bought
320 acres in Section 26, Salem township, where he still lives. On June 22, 1866,
Mr. Laurie married Miss Isabella McCracken, who was born in Scotland in 1838. Of
this union four children have been born, viz.: William, of Douglas county,
Missouri; Robert, who died in Scotland; Mrs. Mary Mason, in Washington, and
Thomas M., who lives on the home place. Mrs. Laurie died February 17, 1906. Mr.
Laurie spent many years in the stock business and of late years feeds about one
carload of cattle and two carloads of hogs. Besides this, he does diversified
farming. For a number of years he raised Shorthorn cattle and is now raising
pure Berkshire hogs. Mr. Laurie has never aspired to office. He was elected
justice of the peace, but declined to serve. He has been on the school board for
several years, and was treasurer of the Farmer's Alliance for some years. He is
a member of the Presbyterian church.

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John returned to Scotland after his wife passed away, and died there, reportedly, penniless.