The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-09-10
GOVERNOR CHARLES ROBINSON.

GOVERNOR CHARLES ROBINSON.
From the ''History of Kansas" the fol
lowing extracts are made of the life and
character of the man who received the
unusual honors of the nomination of two
diverse political organizations in this city
Yesterday. This sketch was of his life
previous to 1888, since which time he
has been engaged in agricultural pur-
suits, save for year or two while hold
ing the position Of government superin-
tendent of the Indian school at Law
renee:
Charles Robinson, the first governor of
the state of Kansas, was born at Hard
wicke, Worcester county, Mass, July u,
1918. He was bred to habits of frugality
and industry by parents who were them
selves possessed of those New England
cardinal virtues. His early educational
advantages were such as the schools in the
vicinity of his home afforded. He was an
ambitious young scholar, and at the age OF
IS had acquired sufficient classical educa-
ton to enter upon a collegiate course at
| Amherst college There he remained two
! years, when a severe Inflammation of the
eyes, which threatened blindness, COM
PEELED him to relnquish his studies and
leave college with his course partially
completed He did not return to college,
! but on his recovery commenced the study
of medicine, which he pursued at Wood
stock VT, and at Pittsfeld, Mass, grad
uating at the medical school at the latter
place with honor. He first commenced
the practice of his chosen profession in
Belchertown, Hampshire county, Mass.
He moved to Springfield Mass, in lS45,
| where he continued in the practice OF his
| nrofascipn winning "a wi1pSnrp9d rpDUta-
| tiOn as a specialist in the treatment of
| chronic diseases. While a resident of
! Springfield he became a partner of DR.
! Holland (TimOthy TitcOmb), who had been
| his friend and former classmate in the
school from which he had graduated. In
1S49 he removed to Fitchburg, where he
continued in the practice of his medical
| profession for two years. In lS49, soon
after the gold discoveries in California, he
sat out for the newly discovered
! Fl Dorado, being surgeon of one
of the early pioneer parties of Cali
fornia emIgrants. The party travelled by
| the then long, weary and dangerous over
! land route, which led them across the I'M
settled Indian territory of what is now
! Kansas, and the long, stretches of arid
| plains beyond. On this journey he first
saw the fertile bottoms of the Kaw, and
| encamping near the present site of Law
renee climbed the hill afterward called
! first Kansas home, and from its height
! viewed the theatre on which he was to
! play no subordinate part in the coming
! contest for free homes, free ballots and
! free speech On his arrival in California
after a short time spent in prospecting and
mining he settled. as much as the times
and the surroundings would permit, at
Sacramento, and there opened an eating
| house. Trouble soon broke out between
the squatters aud a later set of speculative
corners who coveted their claims The
| former held their claims under the United
States pre-emptiOn laws then in force, and
elsewhere in the country universally OBJ
| served; the spectators claimed title 10 the
entire site of the embryo city by virtue of
purchase from Captain Suffer. who held
a MeNican-Spanish title TO $4,000 square
miles of California land, the boundaries
or location of which had never been sur
veyed or defined. The contest for posses
sion. after vain attempts of the Squatters
TO await the decision of the courts culmi-
mated in an open war for possession on the
one side and ejectment on the other DIR.
Robinson became the adviser and acknowl-
edge leader of the squatters in their con
test for their rights. The 'sguatters
riots" as they were termed resulted
in several serious encounters, in
which many were wounded and a few lost
their lives. The most serious conflict re-
D
mento on the one side, and the dangerous
wounding of Robinson on the other. Rob
inSOn, while still a sufferer from his
wounds, was indicted for murder, assault
with intent to kill, and conspiracy, and
held a prisoner pending his trail, for ten
weeks aboard A prison-ship. He was tried
| before the district court OF Sacramento
and acquitted. During his Imprisonment
he was nominated and elected 10 the Cali
fornia legislature from the Sacramento
district. He took a leading part in the
legislative proceedings OF the succeeding
session, and was one the prominent sup
porters of John {. Fremont, who was
the session. On his return 10
Sacramento he published a daily
July l, 1851, he left California and set sail
for ''the states On the voyage he suffer
ed shipwreck on the Mexican coast. From
Panama TO Cuba he was employed as a
surgeon on board steamer filed with sick
workmen, who had been engaged in the
construction Of the Panama railroad. then
( being built. He was stopping at Havana
at the time OF the end OF the Inflated eX-
petition Of Lopez, which eliminated in
his death. and there learned in witnessing
his execution. the sure fate Of all who
fight against tyranny, and fail. The lesson
sank deep in his heart, and taught him the
full value OF that caution, foresight and
cool moderation which alone can
restrain enthusiastic impulse with
in the bounds of possible sue
cess. About the time Of the organiza
ton OF the Emigrant Aid society, he pub
lished a series Of letters concerning the
Kansas country through which he had
passed in 1879, which awakened a wide
spread interest in the unknown land, and
drew the attention Of the managers Of the
organization TO the writer a. an iudispens-
able agent for the practical execution OF
the proposed work Of selecting homes for
free-State emiGrants. and otherwise carry
ing out the openly-gvowed object OF the
society 10 make Kansas a free state under
conditions which the kansas-NebraskA bill
had prescribed.
He thus became one Of the first heralds
Of free state emigration 20 Kansas, and
designated 70 the society "a the
best objective point for free
state settlement in the territory the
land that lay along the bottoms Of the
Kansas river, at the foot Of the hill be had
climbed in lS4q There the hrst party
pitched their tents. and there Robinson
made his own home, September q. l,j4, at
which tine he with his family arrived be
being, with : c. pomeroy, the conductor
OF tha second marty OF New ENGLAND emf