The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1891-01-29
OUR NEW SENATOR.

We clip from an exchange the
following condensed biography of
our new United States SENATOR
William Alfred PETER was born In
Cumberland county, Pa, September
10, 1881. He IL Of Dutch parentsgr.
He Is a self made man. His school
ing was obtained between the ages 10
anu II, when he attended the pun lie
schools seven months Of each year.
At the age of Is years, lac was made
master Of a small district school aud
taught there until he was ~.
In 1850 he caught the gold fever
aud went to california, where he re-
manned two years. lie made con-
siderable money and returned to
Pennsylvania In 1852. There he
married Sarah Jane Barber and re.
moved to Indiana. He engaged In
farming near Charlottesville. There
business reverses Impoverished him
aud he went Ia Southwest Missouri,
where he continued farmer.
At the breaking out Of the war he
left the state and enlisted In the
eighty-third Illinois volunteers.
He served until June ~, ISG5, having
been detailed principally ou detach-
ed duty a. quarteTmasteT, adjutant
and judge advocate. During the
last 40 years Of his service he de-
voted himself To the study Of law.
At the close Of the war he settled
Mt GAINESVILLE, Tenn, pTarticing
law. He remained at Clarksville
until 1870, when he moved to Kan
sss. taking up = claim In Wilson
county. lie moved to Fredonia In
1872 and there established the
Fredonia Journal, a weekly news
paper, at the same time continuing
his law practice. Afterwards he
moved to Cofleyville, COiIey county,
and established the Coneyville Jour
nal.
In 1874, he Was elected To- the state
senate NJ a Republican, aud served
one term. He was delegate to the
National Republican convention In
1850. In that year he moved Ia To-
peka, assumed editorial control Of
the Kansas Farmer aud afterwards
bought the paper. He has been en-
gagged In the publication Of that
paper ever since. The paper has n
wide circulation among the Kansas
farmers and much influence over
them.
He Joined the Farmers Alliance
q year ago and In the
spring Of last year began q bitter,
warfare against Mr.. In
galls's reelection. The Ednsds
Farmer each week urged the retire
ment Of Mr.. Ingalls,, and when the
late campaign was In Its inception
he 20 directed II as To make Mfr. In
gals the principal object OF attack
The result was the election Of an |
Alliance house Of representatives
and Mr.. PETERS selection by the
Alliance caucus as the senatorial
nominee.
Judge PETER II even six feet tall.
He II quite as slim ~ Mr.. Ingalls,,
being unusually narTow-chested and
Iank In limb. Thick black hair
grows over his low, retrpating fore
head. His black eyes shine deep
under q heavy brow. The lower
features Of his face are concealed by
\ heavy black beard, which reaches
quite TO his waist. His voice IL
ieep and cultural, but has q pleas
Int timbie. His manner Of speak
ng IL slow aud deliberate, but not
nesitsting.
Upto year ago, he was stauBeh
Republican, when he Joined the
Alliance.
Mr.. PETER has always been q
man he IL now Prohibi-
ionist. In politics he has been Q
from Fremont 10 Harri-
'ou. He 10 . member Of the PrOtes-
ant Episcopal church. He r. q
Master Mason, and belongs 10 the
knights Of Labor. He unreserved-
y indorses the ST Louis platform
md the Ocals platform Of the Ma
iousl Farmer Alliance Industrial
lniou and the platform Of the
Peoples party In Kunsas. He fsvOrs
he national party movement, and
,elieves the government should aid
D improving hsrbors and rivers In
he South and In building north
nd south railroads In the West, and
n irfigAting isnds wherever and ~
ettlement demands, and first Of al