The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1877-02-09

Senator p. B. Plumb on his arrival
from Topeka were in full blast, and
we had to cut short cur report OF
the affair, and to postpone any per-
sonal remarks we desired to make
till this Issue.
The birthplace Of the new Sena-
tor, was in Delaware county, Ohio /;
the date Of the. event, October 18th,
1887. He received such an educa-
ton a. the common schools at that
day afforded, and at the age of
twelve years entered the Office of
the Western EpIscopaliaD, ct Cana
bier, Ohio, to learn the printing bus
mess. In 1853, in connection with
j. w. Dumble, he established the
Xenia CO.) News. This paper was
started in opposition to the Xenia
Torch-Light, an old established
journal, then edited by Robert Nc
Bratney, Esq, now Of Junction City.
Rev. ]. D. Liggett, for many years
the pastor Of the Congregational
church at Leavenwortb, superseded
Dumble. He was . good writer,
and in the Fremont campaign of
1856, when we frat made the new
Senator'S acquaintance, did yes-
mans service for the Republican
cause.
At this time the Kansas excite
ment was raging high, and among
the newcomers was Mr.. Plumb.
lie landed at Leavenworth on the
10Th of June, 1856. He travelled
over the Territory on foot, on tour
of inspection. His health, which
had been seriously affected by cease
less work on his Xenia paper, was
much improved by the trip. He
came back to Ohio and made ar
rangements to at once settle perma-
nently In Kansas. Gathering q few
friends he started, and at Iowa City,
was put in command of small
company Of men who were charged
with the hazardous duty Of bring
ing through supplies and q small
cannon for the Free State men. AT.
ter an arduous march they land
ed the cannon at Topeka on the
I'D of October. The following win
ter he and few friends went 70 the
vicinity Of what is now the thriving
city OF Sslina, and laid out the town
OF MariPosa, naming 1t after FREE
mOnt's California town. The win
ter was hard one and much suffer-
ing was endured by the company.
Mr.. Plumb went to Lawrence du-
ring the winter, and was foreman
of the famous "Herald of Freedom"
edited by q. w. Brown. This was
9 day of town speculatiOns, and Mr..
Plumb, in company with four Law
renee gentlemen, founded the town
Of EmpOriA, in February, 1857, he
agreeing to establish q paper in the
new city. On the 9th of June, 1857,
when there were but three un1in-
ished board shanties on the site of
the present city, he issued the first
number Of The EMPoRIA News.
The paper at once took front rank
for its outspoken opposition to the
administration and slave power, and
its able advocacy OF the principles
Of the Republican party. Although
but twenty years old at the time,
the editor was regarded by all
as one Of the ablest writers in the
Territory. The News was known
everywhere for its independence
and its denunciation of every Free
State leader who showed any sign
Of weakening to the oppressOrs of
Kansas. The editor took leading
part in political matters, and in ev-
erything that locked to beneficial
results for the new settlement. He
was active in securing settlers, in
Inducing improvements, securing
mail routes, and in laying the adj
vantages of the location before the
country. In politics there were two
factions, one called radical, which
was In favor Of the organization of
the Republican party. The other
was In favor Of preserving the old
Free State party, which had served
its day, Democrats, mongrels aud
all. Between these two factions
there was sharp fight. Col. Plumb
was the leader of the radicals in this
section of the Territory, and gain
ed many q victory over the other
party. He was thoroughly hated,
politically, by the mongrels. In
December, 1857, he attended the
Free State convention at Lawrence,
and was q member of the committee
on resolutions. About this time
the troubles broke out afresh on the
border, aud Col. Plumb spent the
winter with the Free State forces
under Lane in Linn and Bourbon
counties. On the 9th of March,
1853, he was elected anember of the
Constitutional Convention which
met at MinanOla, and adjourned to
Leavenworth. On the 18th of April
was . member o fths State conven-
ton At Topeka, to nominate State
officers under the new constitution,
and enc of its secretaries.
La August, 1858, Col. Plumb sold
. half interest In his paper, and in
February, 1859, retired from 1t en-
tiroly, having determined to attend
the Cleveland, Ohio, law school.
Returning in the spring of 1860, he
was again connected with the paper
for . short time, and enlarged it.
He attended second term at the
law school In the winter of 1S6O-61. |
In the spring he opened law Office |
In Emporia. In November same
year he was elected to the legisla-
ture from . district then composed |
AZ