The National tribune., 1891-02-05
ABOUT PEOPLE,

Judge William A. PETER. who was elected by
tho Legislature Of Kansas TO succeed John J.
ingalls, in the United States Senate. was born
in Cumberland County. Pa. in 1881 His
schooling was obtained between the ages Of 10
aud ID Uhea he attended the public schools
seven months OF each year. At the age OF 10
he was made master Of a small district school,
which he taught until he was 70. In 1850 he
went TO California, where he remained two
years, making considerable money. lie re-
turned TO his homo, married, removed to
Indiana. and engaged in farming near Craw-
louisville. lie met with business Teyerscs
which impoverished him, and ne went to
southwestern Missouri and continued farmer.
At the breaking out OF the war he left Missouri
and went 10 Illinois and enlisted in the SD Ill,
in which be served until June, 1866. He was
promoted Second Lieutenant and was on de-
tached duty during most of his service, III the
Quartermasters Department and as acting
Judge Advocate. While in the service he
studied law. and when mustered out went to
GAINESVILLE Tenn, and practiced until 1870,
when he removed TO Kansas and took up
claim in Wilson County. He went to FredOnia
in 1872 and established the Fre1ORia Journal \
weekly newspaper. At the same time continuing
his law practice. lie afteTward moved TO COi-
feeyille and established the CUtTecriRc Journal
lie was elected TO the State Senate in 1874, and
was n delegate TO the National Republican Con-
vention in 1850. In that year he moved 10 To-
peka assumed editorial control Of the Kansas
Fdrmer, and afterward bought the paper, and
has been engaged ia its publication ever since.
Ills paper has wide circulation among Kansas
farmers. and CLeTts great influence over them.
Vice President Morton Is coming in for 4
good deal Of praise for the manner in which
he conducted himself during the long struggle
over the Election bill in the Senate. Even the
most offensive partisan newspapers have good
word for him. and it is well deserved. There
was not day during the struggle that he was
not present and on hand TO perform his Vice
Presidential functions, and he did not snrren-
der the gavel but for few moments at time.
hardly long enough TO admit Of his swallowing
n dyspeptic luncheon. And the rulings which
lac rendered on questions OF parliamentary pro-
Cedurc were eminentiy fair and impartial. lie
held the balance between tue two parties, even
when party spirit ran high, and when there
must have been wonderful temptation for a
party man, even as the result Of an uneOn-
sciOus bias, to incline in his decisions 10 his
own side of the chamber. with an exaetness
aud evenness Of Justice which have been
eminently in keeping with his high reputation
for integrity aud which will always be chrOni-
cled 10 his good credit The Vice-P President
has maintained himself in the attitude Of a
fearless arbiter 10 control tho reckless passions
Of both parties. and to secure an unbiased
discussion of the issues pending before the
Senate.
Senator Ingalls, has already begun to arrange
about his future. He has had an offer from
the Detroit Tribune TO take charge of that
paper, and another from a lecture bureau TO
deliver 30 lectures in IL months 1t times and
in cities to be named by him, the consideration
offered being $4,000. lie will decline all ex-
cept the one from the lecture bureau. When
adj M hn Wi
return 10 AtehisOn and enjoy the comforts OF
his home; he will not leave Kansas, as that
State has been the scene OF all his triuinphs as
well as troubles. He married there, and all
his II children were born in Kansas, aud some
Of them are buried there, aud he expects bis
dast 10 mingle with the soil Of that State. He
loves the State, and will spend the remainder
OF his days in IT, lie will probably take up
some literary work, for he caunot remain idle.
lie BOW proposes to spend the coming Summer
in Europe.
Senator Voorhees, on Friday night received
n dispatch informing him Of the death Of his
venerable mother at the old homestead i'm In
diana. She was born In Baltimore County Nd.
Jan. Is. l502. aud was consequently in heI
ninetieth year since the middle Of last month
| Owing to n severe attack of rheumatism, by
which the Senator IS confined to his room, he
was unable 70 20 West. He returned from
( there only two weeks ago.
For many years the Hon. Jerry Simpson. the
so-called SOckless Statesman from Kansas
sailed vessels Oh the lakes, and the Toledo Biaei
/ has been interviewing his acquaintance and
I friends among the vessel people. especially hii
/ old employers. Curtis * Brainard, who are ex-
tensive lumber dealers at Toledo. They al
/ speak Of him as an 4 No. man and good
| sailor. la 1873 he commanded the J. II. Rut
/ tor, which was sunk of Port Betsy. i'm Lake
! Michigan, and lost her cargo OF 1920 bnshc
/ OF corn aud 1900 bushels Of rye. The crew
were rescued by the life-saving station. lie i
a very temperate man and pleasant compan
! ION, with strong tendency TO political discus
| sion. lie was an Out-and out Greenbacker ant
n great Free Trader. lie saved his money
aud though his employers wanted to retail
4 him. he decided to become a farmer and in
vested his money in farm near Medicin
Lodge, Kan, in the management Of which h
has prospered.