Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1884-1886, 1884-06-26
DEATH OF col. c. r. JEMMIs0H.

U6AuU VI VVks ~ " 16WWuOVWs
Col. Jcnnison died at his home, in
Leavenworth, on Saturday, and was
buried in Greenwood cemetery yester-
day, and thus peacefully ended the ca
rcer of man whose violent death had
been many times predicted.
Further than that, he was born fifty
years ago in Jefferson county, New
York. We know nothing of his ear
liest history. He came to Kansas from
Wisconsin, nominally practition-
err of medicine; we do not know
at what school of medicine he
studied we think no one ever
heard: but he retained for some
years after he came to Kansas the title |
of doctor" Jcnnison. Choice or for
tune led him 10 locate in Linn county,
having the most turbulent and bloody |
history of Kansas counties, and in the |
midst of people who were fond OF
fighting at all times and places, and
the medical gentleman from Wisconsin |
was prominently fighter. The first
trace we find of him in local annals
was his heading party which went
to Paris in Linn county, to seek the
county records, literally at the can
mons mouth. But he soon found some
thing more important to fight about
than county seats.
1t was singular fac: that thc.:free
State cause in Kansas attracted TO IT.
self two widely different classes; pious,
God fearing men like John Brown and
james Montgomery and another
class who "feared not God, neither re-
garded men," and TO this class belong
| cd Jennison. Montgomery was fight
| ing the border ruffians in Linn coun-
| to, acting as he believed uuder n com
| mission from the Lord, while Jenni-
son acted with Montgomery on the
| very human and worldly idea of n
life for life, blood for blood, burn
ing for burning. Accordingly in De-
cembcr, 1860, JennisOn, with nine
men, hung Russell Kinds, and Mont
| gomcry entered the event in his ncin-
orandum book:
"Russ Kinds, hung the 18th day Of
November, 1860, for man stealing. lie
was drankcn border ruffian, worth a
great deal TO hang. but good for moth
ing else. lie caught a fugitive slave,
and carried him back to Missouri for
the sake of reward. He was con
demued by jury of twelve men, The
law being found in the 10th verse of
Exodus, xxi"
| In all the nerciless warfare carried
on in Linn county, Jennison bore an
an active part and became the scourge
of the Missouri murdercrs and man
stealcrs.
When the flames of the border war
embraced the Union, Linn county or
ganized the first militia regiment in
Kansas. and Jennison was one of the
captains, and in September, 1861, was
present at the fight at Drywood. by
this time Captain JennisOn and his
d" Jayhawkcrs" had attained national
reputation. In October, 1861. Jcnuison
was commissioned rs colonel of the
famous Jayhawkcr" regiment, the
Seventh Kansas cavalry, but resigned
his commission in the May follow ing.
and re-entercd the field in October,
1868, as colonel of the Fifteenth Kan
sas cavalry.
The state has been subjected to scv-
eral raids, eliminating in the brutal
massacre ut Lawrence by Quantrcll.
and the Fifteenth was raised 10 pro-
tect the border, aud did good service,
the companies being stationed along
the east line of the State and at In
dependence. Missouri. Col. Jcnni>on
took part at the battle of Lexington,
fighting CALAMITY against great o.ijs.
He was engaged mt the Little Blue,
commanding the First Brigade. ut
Byrom's ford: being oniilank-
ed there, he fell back into
the open prairie, where, being joined
by other troops, he assisted in the re-
pulse of Shelby. lie was again en-
gagged at the battle of Wcstport, and
when the Conicdcrates reiterated
southwark, Jennison and his brigade
followed till the pursuit ended in Price
being driven south of the Arkansas.
| Colonel Jennison was Il stirring
character everywhere. Like all men
of his generation, he took an interest
and hand in politics. and served a
mayor of his city, rs Il state senator
and various public capacities.
Charles u. Jennison was no saint
He never professcd to be. 1t WAS his
lot to play stirring part III
troublous times. lie loved excite
mcnt, disliked restraint, and had Ii lie
reverence of any kind; but in all his
turbulent career he retained qualities
(which made him popular with men
who were his direct opposiies in char
actcr. His generosity was remarka,
BILE he gave away more money &c
poor people than half "A dozen average
philanthropists. He was a man Will
many faults, but true TO IA great cause
when it needed every helping hand
and now that he is dead, the voice %
his friends will be heard, and the @ooo
he did will be rcmcmbcred.-Cham
| pion.