The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1894-01-26
THE PROMINENT DEAD OF KANSAS
from the Kansas Chief

from the Kansas Chief.
T. Dwight Thatcher, mentioned last
week as having been stricken with APP
oplexy, the previous Saturday, died
Wednesday afternoon, at o'clock. He
completed his 62d year, the last October
He came to Kansas in April. 1856, and
started the Lawrence Republican the
last week in May of the same year.
What is there about Kansas that kills
off her prominent men at comparatively
an early age? Are they too fast? We dc
not now use that term as it is generally
understood, meaning dissipated or licen-
tous; but we mean that they rush and
push, carrying too much mental and
physical steam. 1t is rush and boom, in
ness, in everything else, everything
is inclined to take things slow and easy,
does not amount to much in Kansas.
The result is that the leading man wears
out his machinery young, and collapses.
! Back about quarter OF century ago,
| the Lawrence Journal was in charge of
a trio who have ever since bean spoken
Of as remarkable aggregation OF in
tellect. They were L. Dwight Thacher,
Isaac S. Kalloch and Milton w. Reynolds
all bright in their way, but all wholly
dissimiIar in almost every respect. The
combination did not last long-it could
not, with such material-but all of the
three are now dead, and all except
Thacher died considerably under TO
| years of age. KalIoch was the only one
the three that led course OF life caicu-
lated to shorten his days. The other two
were temperate and moral.
But we find the same rule holds good
regarding leading men generally in the
political affairs of Kansas. Look back,
and see how they have mostly died
young. General Lane died at the age
of so. Had he not taken his own life, it
is handy proba BILE that, with his peculiar
tenn permanent, he would have lived to be
60. His mind was wrecked when he
took his own life. SO many of these
men either died suddenly, or with shat
tered minds. Governor Carney died
suddenly, not over 60 years of age.
Marcus J. Parrett died insane, at the age
of only 81. Martin F. Conway also died
with his mind greatly impaired,
at the age of 81. 2. B. Plumb
died suddenly, at the age of "a. Cart.
Wilder died at the age of ~. Stephen
A. Cobb died, not exactly suddenly, but
after brief illness, and, it was said, with
mind affected, at the age of 40. John A.
Martin died at the age of 81, after a short
illness, the only one he had ever had.
William \. Phillips was about g. when
he died, and his death was what might
be called sudden. There are no doubt
others, whom we do not just now call to
mind, who would no doubt be entitled to
rank in the same list. The number Of
prominent men of less wide note, leaders
of more local character, would swell
the list TO large proportions.
Of all the men we have mentioned,
it will be seen that but two had passed
their Goth year, and not one had
reached the three score and ten said
to be allotted TO man. Ana yet 20
does not seem old. We hardly think OF
chasing men as old, until they are ap-
preaching their four score years. Among
the few prominent men of Kansas, W no
figured In the exciting times, who have
reached or passed their 10Th year. we
recall Governor Robinson, Judge kins
man aud John Speer. OF the governors,
Osborn is under go: Crawford, Harvey
and Click are but little over 60: aud An
thony is under 20. Senator Ingalls, is
Just 90 and PETER ana Martin are but
little over so. 4 public man in Kansas
appears 10 lie as old at 90 as those of
Other states are at 20. They keep up
too hot fire, and burn themselves OUT.