The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1876-05-26

The Council Grove Democrat Is p2bss
fishing some very interesting historical
chronicles Of Morris county. We find in
the last two numbers paragraphs which
will undoubtedly interest readers in this
county:
"The first Legislature met at Pawnee,
but adjourned to shawnee Mission, where
the Bogus Statutes were enacted or
adopted, we cannot say which. This
Legislature, which met in July, 1855, or
ganiZed the eastern and central portion
ed county officers who were to serve two
years. The election tor members OF the
Territorial Legislature was held on the
3Oth Of March. 1855. An election was
held for this District in accordance with
the Governors proclamation. A. 1. Bak-
er, who was murdered on Rock Creek ia
1852, by Bill Anderson's band of guerillas,
was the Candidate nominated by the peo-
pie OF this district, and MobilliOn McGee,
citizen Of Missouri or Border
Rufian.' Baker was elected and receiV-
ed the certificate OF elect ion from the
Governor, but the House was largely
composed Of Notices friends, and Of
| course Baker was not seated and Mciee
was. The district Of country now en-
bracing the counties Of Morris, Lyon and
Greenwood, composed the then
three counties OF Wise, Breckenridge
| and Madison. The county organization
under the bogus statutes was very simple,
| and sometimes several counties were
| thrown into one district with but one
organization. The Board Of County Com
missioners were three in number, one OF
| whom was eX-ofici0 Probate Judge.
| The counties Of Wise, Breckenridge and
Madison composed one district, and the
first officers appointed by the Legislature
Of 1855 was I. S. Huffaker, Probate Judge
| and ChairmaL of the Board Of COmmIs-
| sioners, with c. H. Wilmington and Har-
mon B. Elliott for the other two commls-
sioners. The place designated by law
town OF Columbia, on the Cottonwood
river, two miles east OF the present city
OF EmpOrla."
'sThe Board Of Commissioners last
mentioned, and also the member OF the
Il Territorial Council for this District, the
venerable Thomas johnson Of shawnee
| Mission, who was murdered In 1854
held over until the next Legislature
Thomas johnson was father Of A. s.
johnson, now or Topeka, the present
Land Commissioner Of the A. L. q ,: r
Railway, and was the oldest resident Of
Kansas, having lived in the State ovei
fifty years. A. s. johnson, now about
dtty years OF age, was born in Kansas
and Is the oldest white man now living
in the State who was born In r.
, In the fall Of 1856. the election for mem
! beers OF the lower House took place at thu
town OF Columbis, which was still the
, shire town OF this District, composed o
the counties Of Wise, Breckenridge and
Madison. The candidates were Geo. 81
Reese, Free State, who lived in Breckin
!. ridge, A. I. Baker, ct Wise county. Pro
!, Slavery, DR.. r. F. Stiggers, Of Madison
, Pro-SlaVery, and Rev. Solomon Brown
. Of Breckinridge, Free State. Mr.. Brown
: Is the Campbellite or Christian minister
!, now residing in Lyon county, and ne con
|. tinues to preach the gospel Withou
abatement. Reese now lives In Oregon
Brown and Reese were elected. In blu
few districts that year was there an.
= determined fight on the part Of the F re
State party. The Territorial Council
3 was SO Overwhelmingly Pro-slavery tina
. they had but little to hope for throug
=. the lower branch. The Legislature tina
i year convened at Leeompton. The mex
election was held In 1857 at the town G
. Columbia, for members Of the Legislator
' for this District, composed Of ninetee
counties, embracing almost all oE South
: ern and Western Kansas, and known &
the nineteen disfrsnchised counties"