The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-07-20

~ AAdAiAOCf VI 1aIRe -lHSuIdnCc
policies Colonel Rossington's wife
died about eighteen years ago. Three
daughters comprise me family: Mrs.
w w. Colpits Of Chihuahua. Mexico,
Mrs. Ross Phillips of -Leavenworth
| and Miss Alice Rossington who made
her home with her father in Topeka.
Mr. Rossington's wife was Miss
Mary Holiday before her marriage
a neice Of Colonel Cyrus X. Holli-
day. Both Colonel Holiday and Mrs.
Rossington have been dead for a great
many years and by a peculiar coinci-
dent the death of Colonel Rossington
and Mrs. Holiday occurred Sunday
within a few hours OF each other.
Last week Colonel Rossington made
arrangements to spend a few days
with his daughter, Mrs. Ross Phillips,
at her home in Leavenworth and be-
fore leaving the city called at the
home of his old friend. Mrs. Cyrus x.
Holiday for a short visit AS he
turned to leave his eyes filled with
tears and he told Mrs. Holiday that
perhaps the goodbye would be his
hnal one as he feared that he would
live but a short time. This incident is
one OF several which Indicate that he
had a premonition of approaching
death though he said nothing about it
to the members of his family.
Colonel Rossington was born at Ga
lena, III, July 81, 184S. just at the time
| the gold fever in California broke out
and his parents started west with him
passing through Kansas when Mr.. Ros-
sington was less than a year of age.
Three years later his mother died in
California where Colonel Rossington
was educated in the public schools. Fin
fishing in the city schools he sailed
from San Francisco in August 1864, for
Yale college. making the trip by the
way of the Isthmus Of Panama
He remained in Yale two years when
his father died and he was forced to
leave the college and earn his own live
lihood. He took up newspaper work
and was employed on number of
large daily papers. in the east, gradually
working westward. In 1869 Mr.. Ros-
sington temporarily abandoned news
paper work and went to st. Louis where
he entered the law office Of Dryden.
Lindley & Dryden where he remained
for a year before coming to Topeka.
In 1870 Mr.. Rossington came to To-
peka and went to work for S. s.
Prouty, editor of the Topeka Common
wealth as a reporter. During the ses-
sion of the legislature that winter he
met George S. Prescott. editor of the
Leavenworth Conservative and during
| the summer went to Leavenworth
where he assumed the management of
this publication until 1872 when he re-
turned to Topeka and went to work on
the Topeka Commonwealth under Cap
tain Henry King, now editor of the ST.
Louis Globe-Democrat.
1t was during the session of 1873 that
| the POmeroy expose took place when
Senator York during an impassioned
speech laid $1,000 on the desk of the
clerk of the senate which he claimed
was given him as bride to vote for
Pomeroy for United. States senator. The
excitement was SO great that the re-
porters who were covering the session
were unable to make notes of the
speech. Colonel Rossington, who was
reporting the session for the Common
wealth. wrote the speech from memory
and was afterward congratulated by
Senator York. who said that the report
| was as accurate as though a manu-
script had been furnished.
In the spring of 1873 Colonel Rossing-
ton became editor of the Topeka Com
monwealth, as Captain King had been
appointed postmaster of Topeka. He
remained in charge OF the publication
until 1875 when 1T went into the re-
ceiver's hands. = Shortly afterwards
Colonel Rossington entered the law
office of George r. Peck and a year
! later was admitted to the bar anil
formed law partnership with G. C..
Clemens
/, This partnership was dissolved with
| in a short time and another formed
with Charles Blood Smith which has
continued to this time, covering a per-
| iod of over thirty years without
| break though there have been other
| members of the firm. Colonel Rossing
| ton was a business associate of the
| late J. c. Devlin and was vice presi-
| dent of the First National bank at the
| time it failed. July 8. 1905. He was d
prominent and influential lay member
! of the Catholic church and took an &C.
tive interest in the affairs of the church
| in Kansas. 49,
| The funeral arrangements will not
| be completed until 1t is learned when
/ CnspitS hiS dqnQhfor who
| resides in Chihuahua. Mexico, can
l oh rTnraalxQ