Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1891-07-07

| Uuo IOpCRd SONSTuncuI, anu duVOCduSu
the war with the pro-slavery forces at
/ the ballot box. which was afterward en-
dorSed. In 1855 he removed to Cotton
wood Falls, Chase county, and on May
30th started the Kansas Press, the first
paper published in the county.
Afterward he moved to Council
Grove, Morris county, and started the
Council Grove Press, which was the pi-
oneer paper Of that county also. The
same year he was elected a member of
the TERRITORIAL legislature from the dis
trict composed of Norris, Chase and
Madison counties, and in 1860 was re-
elected, holding during MS term the re-
spCnsible position of chairman of the
judiciary committee. Under the first
state government he was elected to the
senate and again held the position of
chairman of the judiciary committee.
Soon after the election OF Lincoln to
the presidency be was appointed col
lector of custOTB at PasO del NOrte,
Texas. The wal breaking out, he de-
clined the appointment, resigned from
the state senate and enlisted. AS cap
tain of company |, Kansas rangers, Sec
and Kansas infantry. he fought with
great bravery at Wilson creek. He
was subsec 'lently assigned to FremOnts
battalion of Missouri troops in which he
served Is major, and subsequently as
| lieutel..nt-cOlonel, and in this command
| fought under General Curtis through
Arkansas. He resigned in 1868 and
returned to Morris county where
he was elected again to
the legislature serving in 1864,
was reelected in 1885, but was pre-
vented from serving by reason Of a
fractured leg. In 1886 he was elected
state senator and offered the first resO-
luton indorsing woman's suffrage ever
presented to u Kansas legislature. His
mother forty years before, had pre-
sided over the first woman's suffrage
convention in her locality. In 1859 Mr..
Wood started the Chase County Banner
which was the special advocate of the
/ rights of women. n 1872, as is we'll
known, Samuel N. Wood broke off from
the republican party and indorsed the
Greeley movement. He edited the
Kansas Greenbacker at Emporia in
1889, aud in May, 1881, took charge
as editor in chief of the Kansas State
Journal, at topeka Mr.. Wood served
in the legislatu re in 1876 and 1877, be-
|
He was one of the directors of the
Santa Fe road and has been identified
with many public improvements of the
State. Mr.. Wood married Miss Mar
garet w. Lyon in October, 1850, and
six children were born to them.
| Colonel Sam Wood was an interesting
figure in the last house of representa-
tive. Though not a member, it was
admitted by nearly everyone that his
influence was greater than that OF any
member. He espoused the cause OF the
peoples party and when he was ap-
pointed clerk of the judiciary commit
| tee OF the house it was because he was
known as shrewd lawyer and it was
through this committee that his greatest
influence was felt. He did not like
Speaker Elder and thought that he
made many mistakes.
None of the alliance speakers in Kan
sas could hold an audience like Colonel
| Wood. He was not an orator, but his
almost inexhaustible fund of anecdote
placed him in the good graces OF his
enemies. He had been a close Bible
student and his comparisons were gen.
orally taken from the Bible when he
was making political speech and his
practical applications were always
amusing.
There is a case now pending in the
state supreme court in which he was
contesting the seat of the county at
torney, of Stevens county, Wood hav-
ing claimed to be elected. The case
was to come up in July.
he was in the city and happy in the
prospect of a bountiful crop in Stevens
county. He had great confidence in
his comfy and seemed to like it better
for what he had passed through there.
He was always brave and courageous.