Labette County Biographies
From the "Portrait and Biographical Record of Southeastern Kansas"
Biographical Publishing Company, Chicago, 1894
JAMES W. GALYEN, a leading agriculturist
residing on section 17, Neosho Township,
Labette County, was born in Vermilion
County, Ill., in 1837. His father, Abrara
J. Galyen, was born in Tennessee in 1808, and was
a son of Jacob Galyen, who emigrated to America
from England in an early day, and married a lady
of Scotch birth about the time of the Revolutionary War. To them were born two sons. The
mother of our subject, who bore the maiden name
of Elizabeth Lyon, was a native of the Buckeye
State, and went thence to Vermilion County, Ill.,
with her parents, locating near Georgetown. The
family there remained until 1849, when they emigrated to Barry County, Mo., and kept a wayside
inn. The mother still makes her home in that locality, but the father died in 1854. He was a
famous shot with the rifle, and spent much of his
time in hunting wild turkeys and other wild game.
He was assassinated by a desperado named Jordan.
Our subject is one of a family of seven children,
five of whom are still living. He grew to manhood upon the farm and acquired his education in
the common schools. At the age of eighteen he
left home and went to Texas, where he spent the
three succeeding years of his life. He then returned to Missouri, where he engaged in farming
and handling stock in a small way until the war
broke out, It was in 1860 that he married Lucretia J. Lovelace, a native of Missouri, who was
born in 1844. They become the parents of one
son, Isaac, who operates the home farm in connection with his father.
In the same year of his marriage Mr. Galyen enlisted in the Confederate service, and participated
in the battle of Pea Ridge. While he was gone
his stock was stolen, his fences were destroyed and
his home plundered. He took part in many battles and skirmishes, and during the service was
captured. He was parolled at Fayetteville, Ark.,
and then went to his home, but later rejoined his
regiment and served in the battles of Helena and
Little Rock. He was there again captured, parolled and once more returned home. Later he
went to Benton, Ark., but he remained there only
a short time.
In 1865, Mr. Galyen came to Kansas and made
a claim on which he has since made his home. It
was then all wild land, but his labors have transformed the barren prairies into rich and fertile
fields, which yield to the owner a golden tribute.
His possessions aggregate four hundred and fifty
acres of valuable land, and he makes a specialty of
fruit growing. In politics he is a stalwart Democrat. A man of liberal and progressive views, he
keeps himself well informed on all matters of general interest and is a loyal citizen. He is a man
of upright principles and sterling worth, and the
confidence of the entire community is his.
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This website created September 18, 2011 by Sheryl McClure.
� 2011 Kansas History and Heritage Project
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