The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1902-08-08
jim LEGATE KANSAS MAN DEAD
Veteran Kansas Politician Passes
Away at Lsa7enWorth.
For More Than Forty Eearz He Was .
Noted Character In the States
History-Brief Sketch OF
bis Life.

AauSdsr OleQ AZ MS nome mere MOI
day night of paralysis. He was "A
years OF age. He was prominent in
the early days Of Kansas, coming
here in 1854. He was appointed gov
ernor of Washington territory in
1872 by President Grant, but. owing
to the political collapse Of Senator
POmerOy, was never confirmed In
the early days he was superintendent
OF the mail service in Nebraska, New
Mexico, Colorado and Kansas.
a few years ago Mr.. Legate's eye
sight became impaired and for nearly
a year he was totally blind. He spent
a year in the soldiers home and dur
ing that time his sight was restored
He then returned to his home on
Fifth avenue, in this city, where he
had since resided. Mr.. Legate was
married to Miss Jane c. Philips, OF
New Hampshire. She is still living
and is in excellent health.
sketch OF His Career.
James F. Legate was a professional
politician He made politics a business
Occasionally he would take on some
other occupation as a side issue, but
would not work at il long. He edited
couple or three newspapers in Leayen-
worth for brief periods at different times,
and frequently would stick out his
I single announcing that he was in the
+ practice Of law. During his time he was
in four different partieS-the unioniSt
while in Mississippi and the free state,
/ republican and pOpulist parties in Kan
/ sas. He Joined the republican party the
day IL was born at OsawatOmie and
/ STAYED with Il until 1892. when he went
/ OF with the pOpulists- He was an active
| republican and a passive pOpuiist-
For more than 20 years he had every
i thing his own way In republican politics
\ in Kansas. He was C-e Of the acknowl-
! edged leaders. His chlcS ambition was
to be in the legislature, and he generally
| satisfied il. because ne was a member
. Of that body for about 20 years
He was born in Worcester county.
7 Mass, November ., 1872. in a house
l built by his paternal ancestor hve gen
erations preceding him, and on land
/ decided to that ancestor by the Eng
n lish government under the reign Of
/ George II He was educated at VII
I bF.ham academy. MaSSa Chusetts. and
after quitting school he took up the
/ study of law Being Of an adventurous
| spirit, he embraced an opportunity and
| went to Mississippi, where he taught
[ school at Olive Branch cross roads.
Eighteen months later ne went into the
law Office Of Judge Elisha Miller, at
Holly Springs, and remained there until
1858. In 1852 he got interested in politics,
and was elected to the house OF repre-
sentatives in Mississippi.
Mississippi climate didn't exactly suit
Legate, so he went to Washington in
1854 and remained until the Kansas-Ne-
braska bill passed He talked over af-
fairs in the new territory with Jefferson
Davis, then secretary OF war. and de-
cfded to come to Kansas Davis armed
him with a letter to Col E V Sumner,
| then stationed at Fort LeavenwOrth. he
arrived at Leavenworth July 5. 1854 He
| moved to Lawrence (then New Boston,
a month later. He concluded that ne
wanted to be agent for the Delaware In
dians and sent his application to wash
| ington- He was promised the job How
| ever, before the commission was made
| out Legate dropped in at a free state
meeting in Lawrence one night and was
| called upon to make speech He made
| a stemwinding argument in favor OF the
I free state side That sealed his doom
/ with the national administration He was
notified by the war department that he
| would not be appointed Indian agent
He then took up the free state cause
| with more energy than ever, and organ
lied a company Of cavalry for scouting
purposes and for guard duty around
Lawrence He was in the thick Of all the
D | troubles between the prO-slavery men
| and the free staters- In 1856 he was a
member Of the grand jury which indict-
ed Gov. Robinson and Gov. Reeder for
treason
He located at De Soto. johnson county.
IN 1857 and lived there until 1852 He
/ q
| county. Upon the adoption OF the state
constitution he was elected 70 the leg
islature- He was appointed federal as
SCISSOR for the district Of Kansas in 1S6z
and organized the revenue service Of the
| state. During that period he moved 20
Lawrence and remained there until Guam
trell's raid in 1853 He had to swim the
river to escape death in that raid Then
he moved to LeavenwOrth, which he has
l since called his home he led the fight
in the republican state convention for
Thomas Carney and succeeded in nOmi-
mating him for governor He was elect
ed senator from LeavenwOrth county IN
1854 and served four years. Then he was
elected representative and served Is
years in that body, all told In 1857 he
was appointed government mail agent
for Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado. New
Mexico and the Indian territory and
served one year.
In 1854 he was appointed receiver OF
the federal land office at COur d'Alene,
Ida This was the last federal Office he
: held His influence began to wane in
1883 as a republican leader and soon went
all TO pieces. In 1892 he Topped TO the
= pop party and announced that he would
. make a speech telling what he knew on
some Of the republican leaders; he was
going to turn states evidence, so 70
speak He prepared the speech and the
date was set for its delivery, but he did
not make It
= Mr. Legate was in the legislature dur
{ ing the YOrk-POmeroy scandal Senator
PcmerOy was conducting a stfh cam
! paign for reelection He resorted 70
{ the use OF money He bought Cor
| thought he bought) York At a critical
/ stage Of the election York walked down
the aisle and laid down a roll OF 5000
in bills which ne claimed PomerOy Lad
given him for his vote The money was
laid on the reporters table in the house.
! That table is now in the newspaper room
in the state house The exposure created
intense excitement A committee COM
I posed Of Judge Horton, James Legate
. and others was appointed TO take charge
OF the money. Legate, unsolicited. said
he would act as custodian and cab
{ baged onto the roll The members OF the
committee went to an office down town