The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1891-05-14
SENATOR GEORGE L. sHoUP.

gold fields of Pixies Peak lured him to
the mineral region Of Colorado. At the
opening of the war he disposed of his
personal property and enlisted in Cap
tain Backus' Company Of Independent
Scouts of Colorado Volunteers. In 1861
he was commissioned Second Lieuten-
ant, and during the winter of that year
AMI 1862 was active on tho Platte and
Arkansas rivers, where he had many a
brush with the Confederates. His CON-
pany in 1862 was ordered to Fort Union,
New Mexico, where be was placed in
command of the artillery, holding this
post till an officer of the regular army
could be sent from the East.
When relieved, he again Joined his
command, and was soon after put in the
field on scouts duty. While thus en-
gagged, he pursued band of hostile In
dams many times larger than his own
command, who had plundered several
trains of merchandise near the Cimar-
ron river, FIVE hundred miles into the
Indian country, near the boundaries Of
Texas and Indian Territory, where he
surprised large command of
Comanches, capturing the chief and
number of warriors, and recovering
large portion of their plumber
He was promoted to First Lieuten-
ancy in 1862, soon after which he was
transferred to the Arkansas river to
suppress the bands of desperadoes that
were infesting that region. As vigor-
Gus fighter of the rougher elements in
the warfare of that period he scored an
unusual success, for which he was hon.
orably mentioned in another general
order.
Upto September 81, 1864. he was con-
tinually employed along the border,
when he was commissioned Colonel of
the Third Colorado Cavalry. Soon
after this Colonel Shoup made his home
in the Territory Of Idaho, then in its
earliest stages of development He To-
Gated in the valley of the Upper Salmon
river, at a point afterward called Sal
mon City. Here he opened general
store in 1865, and in course of time did
a large trade with the miners and stock
raisers of the surrounding country.
His rugged good nature and thorough
knowledge of the needs of that region
made him rapidly popular and influen-
tial among the people. Prudent and
successful management of his affairs
made him an acknowledged business
leader. The citizens of his county would
have been delighted to honor him with
civil Office, but generally Colonel
Shoup preferred to remain in pri-
vate life. He served as a member
Of the territorial House of Rep
resentatives during the tenth session of
the Idaho Legislature, and again as a
member of the legislative council of
the twelfth session. In November, 1888,
the Republicans of Idaho advocated the
appointment of Colonel Shoup as Gov.
ernor of the Territory, and on March
%, 1889, President Harrison appointed
him to that position. At the election
held in October last Governor Shoup
was elected the first Governor Of the
State by popular vote. His majority
was the largest Of any candidate on the
State ticket.
After being elected to the United
States Senate, he came to Washington
and was sworn in upon credentials is
sued to himself as Senator, by himself
as Governor, an occurrence which is
heretofore without precedent. It was
his duty under the law to pass on his
own election.
Senator Shonp is man of fine per-
sonal appearance, weighing nearly
three hundred pounds, fully six feet in
height, and bald-headed.
In the best sense of the word the new
Senator is self-made man. His cduca-
tional advantages were necessarily linn
tied, leaving Pennsylvania as he did in
his early boyhood- There he attended
the schools of his community and OBJ
tanned the rudimentary knowledge that
70 rmed the basis for his career.