The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1891-07-03
SAN WOOD.

PARTICULARS CONCERNING HIS MUIR
DER-A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CA
REER OF THE UNFORTUNATE VIC.
TIM OF STEVENS COUNTY FEUDs.
The murder of Colonel Wood is only
one of long list of tragedies that have
resulted from the notorious Stevens
county county seat war. The trag.
edy resulted from one Immediately pre-.
ceding it, which has become known the
country over as "the Sheriff Cross MUIR
der case"
The county seat war was waged be-
tween the towns of Hugoton and
Woodsdale. The latter was founded by
Sam Wood, the victim of the muir
der, who was the leader of that faction,
which held that in the county seat
election the victory had been obtained
by fraud by the adherents of Hugoton.
Several Intellectual attempts had been
made by Woodsdale people to remove
the county records from Hugoton to
WOodsdale and establish the county
seat there. One day about twenty-five
Woodsdale men armed themselves and
marched in the direction of Hugoton
They were met by Sheriff Cross of Hug
Oton with posse. In parley which
ensued the Woodsdale people said they
mad no helligerent intentions, and were
only going down to Indian territory
hunting. They marched down into the
Indian territory and Sheriff Cross and
party followed. That same night a
battle ensued between the two parties
in which the sheriff and five of his
posse were killed.
Most of the WoodsGale party were ar
rested on warrants issued from the
United States court at Paris. Tex. in
criminal jurisdiction. The trial re-
suited in conviction.
The case was appealed to the supreme
court where the verdict was reversed
and the case remanded for trial. Dur
ing the Sial at Paris, Brennon was one
of the principal witnesses for the state
and Sam Wood was one of the defend
ants counsel, and during the trial he
handled Brennan without gloves.
Brennan svOie revenge. and when he
heard to-day that Sam Wood was in
town he armed himself and after
search found Wood standing on the
court house corner. Without warning
he drew his revolver and fred four shots
into his victims heart. Wood expired
without uttering word.
Sheriff Cam attempted to arrest the
murderer. but Brennan stood the officer
off with revolver. Finally he surren-
dered to Sheriff Weir of Morton county
who turned him over to Sheriff Cam.
The murdered man was prominent in
the Farmers alliance and was clerk OF
the judiciary committee in the lower
house Of the last legislature.
COLONEL WOODS CAREER.
Col. Samuel N. Wood was born in
Mount Gilead, Ohio, Dec, 80, 1925
His grandfather was native of Rhode
Island. He was the son of David and
Esther (Mosher) Woods who had emf
grated to Ohio from their eastern
home as early as 1917. The Woods and
the Moshers were Of the peace loving
society, of friends and the uncomprom-
Using foes of African slavery. Samuel
N. Wood thus inherited the anti-slav-
cry sentiments which afterward be-
came ruling power in his character
and life. He early became interested
in the politics of his country. and at
the age of 10 wa' selected as chairman
of the liberal party central committee
of his county. He was admitted to
practice at the bar of Morrow county,
Ohio, June 5, 1854. He was one of the
most earnest opposers of the Kansas
Nebraska bill, and went to Kansas
to fight for the free state in |
June 1854 After travelling around |
the Territory, selecting place |
to locate, he at last settled down in the |
vicinity OF the free state movement. In |
1887 he lived near the present sta of |
Lawrence, and was an outspoken anti
slavery man, thus mourning the enmity |
of the border ruffian element. He was
tig liter for his convictions as well as a |
talker. He was a candidate for election
to the first territorial legislature. He
first started a branch of the under
ground railroad at Lawrence. assisting
in the escape of the first fugitive slave.
He took an active part in the turbulent
times connected with the murder of
Charles n. Dow in November. 1865, and
participated in the Wakarusa war that
followed. He was a delegate to the an
ti-slavery convention held at PittSburg.
Pa. in 1856, and also delegate to the
Philadelphia convention which nomi-
mated John Z. Fremont for the presi-
dency. During the campaign he spoke
in Ohio and other northern states. He
was a warm advocate OF the first move
ment for state government, known as
the Topeka government, and advocated
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
10th started the Kansas Press, the first ,
paper published in the county
r. . I
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 Morris. Chase and ]
Madison counties, aud in 1860 was re- ,
elected, holding during his term the re-
,p0nsible 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 he was appointed col =
ector OF customs at Paso del Norte, }
Texas. The war breaking out, he de- !
clined the appointment, resigned from .
the state senate and enlisted. AS cap !
tain of company l, Kansas rangers, Sec :
and Kansas infantry, he fought with
great bravery at Wilson creek. He 9
vas subsequently assigned to Fremont's
of Missouri troops in which he
served as major, and subsequently as
and in this command c
ought under General Curtis through I
Arkansas. He resigned in 1863 and {
to Morris county where s
ne was elected again to {
he LEGISLATURE SEWING in 1894 | =