Kansas City daily journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1892-1897, 1896-10-10

his candidate. Judge Woodson captured
the convention from the moment of his ap-
pearance upon the rostrum by his magnif-
cent physique and his superb oratory.
Colonel Young's motion for committee on
permanent organization and order of bus
iness secured for him the chairmanship of
that committee, and upon its recommenda-
ton the temporary organization was made
permanent.
Judge woodson had previously insisted
that under no circumstances would he in
terfere with the prospects of Judge Worries
and this difficulty was overcome by max
ing the nominations for supreme judges
first in the order of business. and JuCSe
Worries secured one of the places. The bal
loting for governor had continued for some
time and the convention was growing
weary when suddenly, in the midst of
ballot. Delegate Ross. of, Jasper county,
sprang TO his feet and said: Il nominate
Silas Woodson, of Buchanan county Ihe
effect was electrical and the delegates rose
en- masse and cheered. Judge Noodsoh
ruled the nomination out of order and di-
rected the ballot to proceed, but, being
overruled by the convention. yielded the
chair to the vice president. The ballotinS
was resumed. but had not proceeded very
far when Colonel John Crisp moved that
the nomination Of Silas Woodson be made
unanimous
motion out of order but he. too. was over
ruled by the convention, and Colonel
Crisp's motion was carried amid storm
of enthusiasm.
HI, Service Ms Governor.
JudrA Wodson made n canvass OF the en-
tire state and his progress was one contln-
ued triumph.
His entire administration was character
;zed by the most rigid economy. His hrst
aim. as indicated in his inaugural message,
faFnn 20 Hs4hr .Nf
accumulated under previous administra-
tions. Among other things advocated by
him was the passage OF 4 law prohibiting
counties from voting bonds TO railroads,
which law still stands on the statute books.
His final message as a document of state
is regarded as uneNcelled in the history of
Missouri.
AT the expiration of his term as chief
executive Judge Woodson returned to st.
Joseph and again resumed the practice of
the law In 1852, upon the death of Judge
Sherman, he occupied the bench in the
circuit court here. but was defeated for
the nomination for this position by Judge
Joseph p. Grubb. and shortly after formed
a partnership with the late Samuel B.
Breen and Hon. ID. d. Burnes the firm be-
ing known as Woodson. Breen & Burnes.
In April, 1856. he was appointed by Gov
ernor Marmaduke to the office of judge, of
the criminal court of Buchanan county,
then jus. created, and was twice elected TO
this position, but was retired under the dis
ability law in June. 1885, being succeeded
by Judge Romulus E. Culver, the present
incumbent.
During his residence in his native state
Judge Wooison was a Whig, but upon his
arrival in Missouri affiliated with the DEM
ocratic party. He was opposed to slavery
and believed in gradual emancipation. he
was a delegate to the convention in 1872
which nominated Greeley; to the conven-
ton in 1876 which nominated Tilden, and to
the convention in 1850 which nominated
Hancock.
A Great Sportsman.
Judge Woodson was of rugged mountain
stock, and in his early days was a great
sportsman, hunting deer and large game.
In his later years, when he was unable
longer to endure the fatigues of this sport,
he became an enthusiastic disciple OF Wal
ton-turned to the rod and line, and spent
all of his vacations in the company OF
fishermen. taking great delight in sue
cessful haul.
He was not a hard worker nor n plod-
ding technical worker, and as a lawyer
was most successful an advocate his
stronghold being before the jury, where his
equal has never been among the Buchanan
county bar.
In private life he was tender, brave and
generous. He was a gentleman in the
highest sense of the word, and left no
He was married three times, his third
and surviving wife being Miss Jennie Lard.
= All were of Kentucky, the latter being the
daughter of Rev. Moses Z. Lard, of Lex
ington, a prominent leader in the Christian
church of that state BY the first maria Se
there was a son. Miller Woodson, named
for the late Justice Miller, of the United
States supreme court, who was a strug-
Cling young physician. and roomed with
Sias Woodson, then young lawyer. Mill
er Woodson died in 1856 in st. Joseph. BY
his last union there We're three children,
Slas Salmon, who died in this city at the
age of 20, and twins Mary, now Mrs. JEFF
c. Hosea, and Virginia. The death of his
son from pneumonia, on December %, 1891
was blow from the effects of which
Judge Woodson never recovered.
Converted to Catholicism.
The last and greatest surprise received by
this community through any act of Judge
Woodson came with the announcement a
few months ago that he had embraced the
Roman Catholic faith and been baptized
isto that church 1t had been generally
= supposed that he was affiliated with the
Christian church, to which all the men,
bers of his family belong, but such was
not the case. For year prior to his death
he had taken great pleasure in conversing
upon the subject with Father Graham, of
the St. Joseph cathedral, and upon the re-
turn of Bishop Burft from Rome, invited
that distinguished prelate to call upon
him, and q little later was baptized by him
and received into the church. 1t seems
probable that his determination to join the
Catholic church was of long standing, and
not suddenly reached.
The death of Judge woodson closes the
earthly career of one of the ablest trucst
and best men in Missouri. whose words
and deeds will go down into the history OF
the great commonwealth he loved and
Sn uaIi