Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1894-08-23


while it was not serious at the time, he
had never been as strong since then.
He gave up his work as regent of the
state university this spring on account
of his lack of strength.
Mr.. Robinson was conscious to the
last and died peacefully without pain.
The funeral will be held at the Congre-
gregational church in this city on Sun
day at 3:30 o'clock.
A SHORT SKETCH OF HIS CAREER
Mr.. GoodenoW in his introduction to Mr..
Robinson's book. 1.-The Kansas Conflict" truly
remarks: ANY history OF Kansas without Gov
Robinson as prominent figure would be like
the play OF Hamlet with Hamlet left out
Mr. Robinson was born at Hardwick, Mass.
July 81, IsIs-the eighth of family of ten chill
dren. He began the study OF medicine under
DR.. Twitchell in Keene, n. H, and DR.. Gridley,
OF Amherst, finally receiving his diploma from
a medical college at Pittsfield, Mass, after
three years of study and lectures.
About the time of the organization Of the
New England Aid society he published series
of letters concerning the Kansas country which
awakened widespread interest in the unknown
land and likewise brought him before the east
ern people. The aid society called him to BoS-
ton and enlisted him in its cause.-the establish
ing of free soil settlements in Kansas under the
conditions which the kansas-Nebraska bill
prescribed. He was given carte blanche COM
mission to visit the territory and prepare for
the first settlement
DR.. Robinson chose the bottom lands near
Lawrence as the most promising and desirable
site for the first settlement, and there the
party pitched their tents.
No sooner had definite arrangements for the
building of a town been made than the great
Kansas conflict began.
He was the leader of the free staters who
boldly rose up after the memorable election of
March CO. 1855, and demanded that the results
be set aside. He refused to recognize the
bogus laws" "a state constitution was
agitated. Mr.. Robinson was one of the most
vigorous agitators.
Mr.. Robinson was delegate to the Topeka
convention and when the movement had carried
and the territory been given a new charter he
named the first governor
In May, 1856, occurred the plundering of
Lawrence by the pro-slaveryites under a
United States deputy marshal, who entered
the place on the pretense of serving writs.
Gov. RobinSon'S home was destroyed and he
was arrested charged with high treason in hav-
ing defended Lawrence from the invaders dur
ing the Wakarusha For several months
he lay in prison The attack on Lawrence was
the supreme effort of the pro-slaveryites and
its failure made sure and permanent the vic
tory of the free state clement.
Mr.. Robinson was the first commander-in-
chief of the free state militia, which organiza-
ton he held with skill and wisdom. When the
Wyandotte constitution was adopted. under
the forced recognition of congress, he was
chosen the first governor of the free state of
Kansas, and in that position organized under
the laws the military forces upon war basis,
for the final struggle in which Kansas troops
won fresh laurelS.
Mr.. Robinson held office governor for two
years and then retired to his farm until 1872,
when he was elected to the state house of rep
reSentat1VeS and in 1876 was sent to the senate
for one term and reelected. He headed the
Preenback ticket in Kansas in 1892 and in 1887
appointed superintendent of Haskell in
stitute at Lawrence, for which institution he
did much After having placed the school on a
good basis he resigned.