The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1886-08-19
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES.
Brief Sketch of the Different Nominees Of
the Democratic State Canxenrian

the Democratic State Convention.
The Kansas City Times of late date had
The following brief biographical sketches
Of the Democratic candidates:
COLONEL MOONLIGHT.
homaS Moonlight candidate for Governor
was born in Forfarshire. Scotland, Novem-
Der 10. 1883, of excellent Scotch PRESBYTERIAN
parentage- When thirteen years of age be.
ing OF an adventurous spirit, young Moon
light shipped before the mast and arrived at
PnlIadelphia penniless- He crossed over
INTO New jersey and procured employment
N glass factory and aGterward spent some
time in working on a farm. On MAY L. 1854
lie enlisted as an artilleryIDan in the regular
army and WAS sent to the Texas frontier in
the following August. He served there un-
I'll 1856 when he WAS ordered to Florida TO
participate in the war against the Seminole
Indians. On the conclus on of the war he
was ordered North and was mustered out of
the service at Fort Leavenworth Nav IL,
1905, having risen to the rank of orderly
sergeant On the same day be was ap-
pointed chief clerk of The commissary de-
partment at the fort, which position he held
Int October. 1853, when he retired from the
service. and purchased a farm near Kickapoo
Leavenworth County, and continued farm
ng until the breaking ont of the war, when
he organ Zed light battery for the Union
army and was mustered into the service of
the United States Government on June
l9. 1861, as a Captain of light artillery He
participated i'm the battles of Dry Mood Ball s
Mills, Morr StOwn, Osceola and other engage
ments, and in May. 1855. President Lincoln ap-
pointed HIM Assistant Adjutant General. as
signed TO duty st Fort Leavenworth. In Sep
tember following he was promoted to the
rank OF Lieutenant Colonel OF rhe Eleventh
oansas Infantry with orders to join the army
on the frontier. Here he was ass rned as
chief of staff under General Blunt and par
tcpated in the battles of Fort Wayne Cane
HlIl, Prarie Grove and Van Buren,. In July,
1863, he accompanied General Blunt's COM
mand to Southern Arkansas, where he par
cpated in several battles. He was pro-
moted TO the colonelcy of his regiment in
april. 1864, and was ordered to Mound City
Kan, to protect the citizens of that section
from Prices raids. About this time he
participated, as commander of a cavalry
brigade. in the engagements of Lexington,
Little Blue, Big Blue, Westport, Nine Greek
and Others He was soon afterward ordered
TO Colorado in charge of the military district
and assumed command of the troops operat-
ing against the Indians, and was il several
engagements with such chiefs as Spotted
Tail, Standing Elk, Swift Bear Little Thun-
der, Two Face and Black Foot. 1t was dur
ing this campaign that he hero 'cally rescued
a white lady and her daughter from the Oga-
ialla Sioux and sent them to Atchison. He
was mustered out of the service in August
1865, as Brevet Br gadier General. the regi-
melts term of enlistment having expired.
In 1854 he was one of the Kansas electors
and east the ballot of his district for bra.
ham Lincoln. In 1867 he was appointed col
lectOr OF internal revenue for Kansas and
held the office unti August, 1868 The same
y
declined denomination in 1870. He was
elected State Senator from LeRvenworth
County in 1872. He was a Republican during
the war. but has acted with the Democrats
since 1870.
the candidate tor Lieutenant Governor has
been a hard working private all his life.
He was born in Huntington County, Pa in
1917, ana IN early life worked as n miner in
the coal mines of that State. When less
than sixteen years of age he entered the
army rs private in company X, Twenty
second pennsylvania Cavalry, and he didn't
lay down his arms until the war had ceased.
Although OF late years engaged in less ardu-
Gus labor than marked his early life Mr.
lsett has never ceased to feel the deepest in
tereSt ih the welfare of lahOring men, and he
mas neen Tor some time and is now actively
ldentlhed with the movement to better the
condition of workiGgmen.
W. F. PETILLON,
who was nominated for the office of Secre-
tHry OF State. Is native of Syracuse, n. Y.
and is forty-one wears of age. He became n
C tiZen OF Chicago in 1850 where he engaged
successfully i'll business and took an active
part in politics. Mr.. Petition emigrated with
his family to Ford County, kal in 1876.
where he entered into stock raising and
estaDnShed newspaper mt Dodge City de-
voted IL the interests of the southwestern
portion of the State and the advancement of
Democracy.
W. d. KELLY
Mr.. W. d. Kelly. of Levenworth, whose
hoIhlhNlloI Tor Audltor has attracted such
widespread attention, is very intelligent
and fine appearing cOlOred man who WAS
born N Tennessee in 1S49 When a boy he
emigrated to Massachusetts. and was given
The opportunity of an education in the pub
lie schools of New Bedford. He remained
there until the war broke out and in 1863 en-
listed in the Fifty-fourth regiment of Massa-
chusetts volunteers and served till the close
or the war;. retir ng with fine record for
bravery and endurance, Several wears ago
ne removed to Kansas and taught school
Tor some time in LeavcnwOrth In 1882 he
look the stump for George w Click and
has ever since taken an active interest in
kansas politics, also stumpinG the State fOg
,leyeland and Hendricks during the les:
Presidential campaign.
LUTHER p. BIRCHFIELD,
he candidate for State Treasurer is a well
Known banker of Salem, Jewell County, and
has been prominently identified with the
Democratic party of Kansas for more than
decade. He was born in Kentucky and three
years ago he established himself i'm the bank
ng business at Salem.
ALBERT SMITH DE-ESNEY,
nc candidate for Attorney General. rst saw
he light in Philadelphi on December II. 1871
He remain ned in his native CITY until he was
sixteen years of age. when he ran away from
lome and Joined the troops engaged in the
var W IN McT'co He was on the RIO Grande
vith General TavlOr and was arterward sent
o the CITY of Mexico under General Scott,
where he remained until peace was declared.
when he sailed from Vera Cruz to New
charged in Is4S In Is49 he enlisted
With the First regiment of mOunted rifler.en
t st Louis. and was sent to Fort Kearucr
Iori Hall and Salt Lake Citv. thence to Fort !
'ancouver. Oregon. He remained here un- !
il ISL, when he was ordered w tn his COM |
nand to tho ROgue river country to qucll an !
INVASION of the Rogue river Indinns After |
the Indians he crossed the mouu- !
aims into California where he was hOnOra-
y q ScharEed the second time from the SCR
&c. He removed to Olathe, Kan. in 1855 /
nd comme menced the practice of his profess /
on. He has been county attorney and !
udge and was secretary of the Territoria, |
Ouncil of 1858.
W. J. A. MONTGOMERY,
ominee for Superintendent of Public In
truction. was born August 10. 1853, at West
ED. n. y. He comes from Scotchlrs sh an
cstrv. and is fine specimen of physical
tren"th. weighing 250 pounds and standing
* feet four inches high. At the age of
yelve mis- parents removed to Fulton, ILL.,
here he attended the excellent schools and |
I the early age of fourteen had nearly COM
leted the normal course. Thence the fam
ctoher is. lsGS. From tbs time until 1873
n. Montgomery followed various p1rsus,s
18th view OF gratifying his love OF frdve!.
siting the Gulf States Mexico Colorado
tab and Wyoming. His father dying in
%. the care OF the entire family devolyed
pom him. He removed them to
aldwin and after short interval he
an teaching. He rapidly went up the ,
ale of certificates until he obtained the |
CHEST certificate issued br the State Boar
Education of Kansas He has also n Ger. |
fcate of the same grade from the State
Oard of Nebraska. He makes his head ,
larters at Claw Center.
JUDGE W. NJ wHITELAw.
e nominee for Associate Justice, is n we'll | :
lown attorney or KiDgrnan. KingInnr I
)unty. who would fill the Office with credit ,
himself and To the State. He is a lifelong
-mocrat having been born in Tennessee
'out forty-fve years ago. He first went tc 7
ngman ten years ago. but subsequentIv 4
turned TO his old home, where be remained
about three years ago since which time
} homs has been at kingman.
of Virginia City. New, j
e alarmed at the settling of buildings l
wing to the caving of underground q