The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-02-12
PASSING OFF KANSAS PIONEERS.
soble PrentIs in Kansas City star.

the surviving eX-governor5 OF Kansas
was broken by the death OF John A. Mar
tin, and few months later Governor y.
Green was gathered TO the great maj or-
ity. Both men had place IN the annals
of Kansas, not merely as having worn
the title of governor, but for having
borne part in shaping from early time
the Institutions, the beliefs, social and
political, and religions of Kansas people,
and for having made the story OF Kansas
and telling it to the wide world. Not
merely as chief magistrates will their
names be preserved in mems recollec-
tons, but as soldiers of the advance; as
pioneers.
In the founding Of a new state men
gain place by various services. In the
formative period it is not merely official
position that confers distinction and IN
sures memory. Not every Kentuckian,
even, can tell at once the name OF the
first vernon of Kentucky; but what
American west of the Ale
ghanies but knows of Daniel
Booze: What western man has
ever visited the Tennessee state IL
brary at Nashville without looking at the
picture of the beech tree on which the
hunter, carving his rude and simple
annals" with his knife has inscribed
"cillid bar with the day and year.
The bad spelling does not matter: he who
drives out the bears to make room for
men, women and children deserves well
Of the state.
So it comes to pass that from day TO
day, now that thirty-seyen years have
passed since the congress of the United
States declared Kansas, white mans
ground, that the pioneers. the first who
came are dropping into the grave. There
NAV be men who never were 'honored
by the people" as the phrase goes las 1t
} the only honors in this world were con-
ferred on election dayD, yet who did
well their part In laying foundations.
These sometimes receive cold or brief
local mention when they pass away, the
notice being the work of some newspaper
Pharaoh, who knew not the Kansas
Joseph, but their work will remain
quite the same.
A Kansas man of the older time, who
died recently, has already been mention
ed in these communications, and vet his
name comes up again, as starts the I'M
hidden tear"-George A. Crawford, the
father and founder of the city of Fort
Scott What place he once filled in all
the hopes, the plans. the projects of that
town! What ilimitable viStas opened
before his minds eyes! What future
Fort Scots he saw in the evening sky,
with what spires and domes and trail
ing smoke clouds. 1t all profited him
nothing in the end. as we court dollars
and cents and bankable papers, yet it
seems that nobody should ever % to Fort
Scott without thinking of him, and if
the public school divided into eight
grades with high school on top of those
had not banished ghosts, we could be-
lieve that the wrath of thar slender
gentleman with the bright eyes and the
flowing beard and the clasping hand and
the enthusiastic madner walked at night
the queer old plaza.
There died at Denver but a few days
ago Charles II. Branscomb, who, in spite
of certain differences among the Law
renee anti-quarians, was certainly the
founder of Lawrence. He not only con-
Quoted the first party to the town site,
but. according to statement published
over his signature, and probably the last
he ever gave to the press, he visited and
explored the site of Lawrence alone prior
to its occupation. This was n the last of
July, 1854: and then Oh the 9th of Sep
tember, 1854. he came with a second
party numbering between 100 and 200
persons; but the honor and glory and
power was in plotting the first party.
That company of thirty were the Ply
mouth Rockers 0hey probably founded
Plymouth church, Lawrence) and who
ever dates from them in Lawrence has a
MavfIower pedigree. Mr. Branscomb in
the territorial period did good service.
He was a member of the body that met
at Leavenworth and framed the ''Leav-
enwOrth Constitution meritorious in
strument, the first that left out the word
white" but which in the scutfle of con-
stitutions and conventions got lost. There
is mention also that he was a member
Of the executive committee under
the university law; probably a
preliminary step to the e5tab-
lishment of the State university, on its
Snow-crowned hill at Lawrence. 1t
later years whom the toughest Of the
row was over he was sent as United
States consul to Manchester, England. a
post Of honor and responsibility, where
he remained many years. Then he came
back to Lawrence, which we imagine he
!, found less agreeable town, as far as he
, was concerned, than the Lawrence of
shakes and shanties and tents he knew
at first. Possibly it is better if a man Is
to be pioneer once, that he continue
, to be one; first in solitudes, leading the
"madding crowd, but keeping it behind
him. Some wears being past" the
founder Of Lawrence died in Denver.
But few DAYS later and another Of
the First party of Lawrence was
= dropped from the roll, James Blood He
was a man of rugged mould, a Yer
D har Of hot
central or executive committee it might
be that directed the movements of
the never-say-die branch Of the
Free State party and he also
. took part in the deliberations of the
"Wyandotte Convention" which framed
the present constitution of the state, the
constitution of which one of its trainers
proudly said when the work was done:
1T commends itself to the true and good
everywhere because through each line
, and syllable there CLOVIS the sunshine Of
liberty"
/ The men whose going away to another
country IA here recorded saw many
, changes in Kansas: saw all the change
there has been, and those who died last
, saw the most remarkable changes OF all.
| They saw the great political party OF
which thev were the "chaTter members
, IN Kansas-the party which was Kansas
! once-in its hour Of overthrow, so re-
, duced as not to be numerous or courage
Gus enough TO hold a caucus for the
/ nomination Of officers Of the Kan
sas house Of representative. Pos
sibly they were reminded OF the
day when Louis XVI. hearing q the
attack on the Bastile said. But this IS a
= a revolt,' and De Liaucourt nswerlng