The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-08-05
A STUBS SKETCH
Career of the Republican Nom
inee for Governor.
Came West at Early Age of
Three.
GREW UP IN KANSAS.
Made a Big Success in Railroad
Construction.
AbandOns That for Politics
Finest Home in State.

w. r. Stubs who was on Tuesday
nominated for governor by the Re-
publicans of Kansas. was the first
governor to be nominated by the peo-
pie direct, independent of conventions.
He was named through the passage OF
a bill which bore his name and was
known as the Stubs primary bill
somewhat modified by amendments in
the Kansas house and senate.
The following sketch is taken from
a little folder printed and sent out by
his campaign management:
Sketch of w. II. Stubs and Family.
John T. Stubs moved with his fam
lily from Wayne county, Indiana, to
Lee county, Iowa, in 1861. James Ed
win Stubs, now of Lawrence, and
Walter Roscoe Stubs were the two
oldest members of a family of twelve
children.
John Stubs was a farmer with
whom everything seemed to have gone
wrong Everything he planned went
awry. When he put in a large corn
crop either the grasshoppers. or
drouth came and it's yield was only
half what it should have been. If he
failed to put in corn and planted
wheat instead, the season would be ex-
cellent for corn and poor for wheat.
1t was little wonder then that he
decided to leave the fields of Indiana
to try in the great west. Perhaps the
misfortune that had lowered over him
for many years would not follow him
to the hills and valleys of Iowa.
Walter Roscoe Comes West Early.
Walter Roscoe, the second son, was
born in 1858 and was only three years
\ -. 60
sissippi river on a ferry that made its
way through floating ice. There were
four in the little family group. j. E.
Stubs was the oldest by two years
and he acted as assistant to his father
and mother on the weary trip to the
new country.
But Iowa was as Improbable to the
elder Stubs as the bottom lands of
Indiana. For eight years he toiled to
make the yield of the Iowa soil ade-
quate to take of his family. The
harder he toiled 1t seemed the more
unfortunate the results of his labors.
Then came tales of the rich lands of
Kansas. How the soil was so fertile
that in a few years farmers could clear
enough to keep them from want the
rest of their lives. 1t was early IN the
spring of SO that the elder Stubs
received a letter from his brother at
Hesper announcing his appointment
as agent for the Kaw Indians. request
his eighty acres in Douglas county.
To Kansas i'm Covered Wagon.
In a covered wagon John Stubs
took his family of five children to
Kansas. Long days of weary travelling
were necessary before the Stubs ram
fly saw for the first time the nome
that would be called their own all the
days of their lives.
The movers wagon stopped in front
of a two room shack the evening of
"a r.
been expecting them for two days and
had a roaring fire in the old CRATE TO
welcome them to Hesper.
Things will brighten up here a bit
for thee, john" said Mahlon as he
lifted the babies from the end of the
wagon. This Is sunny Kansas. Right
UP yonder where you see that district
school house is Hesper. We're all
Quakers here. God and Righteousness
IS our motto. When thee has lived
here awhile thee will never want to
leave"
And the company with the new In
dian agent went into the cabin to sit
by the log fire and to plan for the NOR
row. The two older lads listened to
the crackle of the blazing fire and
dreamed the dreams of boys. They
were in Kansas now where the soil
was rich the sun warm and the rain
plentiful In the state where men
profited by the labors, just in that pro-
portion. no more and no less. They
had heard their father say this. And
for that reason 1t would come to pass.
To the Quaker Meeting House.
The next morning the whole family
walked to Hesper to the meeting
house. 1t was the Sabbath. They car
ried a large basket with enough in it
to give lunch to all the family Mahon
Stubs led the way. John Stubs and
his wife came next. Then came James
Ed win and Walter Roscoe Fn11nwinQ
them were the sisters and brothers
according to their ages.
The oldest member of the group took
seats behind the middle partition of
the meeting house. Just behind the
division where the curtain was drop
ped for fifth day service. The young
sters led by the two oldest boys walk
ed to the front of the house and took
pews facing the elders.
There was long silence. The Quak-
ers from all parts of Douglas county
were gathered there to worship The
mothers and the fathers who had be-
gun already to teach their children
righteousness sat silent with their own
thoughts. The children who had lis
tened to the counsel of their parents
from the time they had played at their
knees, sat quietly and earnestly wait
ing for the Spirit.
Then John Stubs rose from his
seat. A powerful man clad in the
black of the Quaker cloth. Il have
come amongst thee to be thy neighbor
and thy friend" he said slowly and
reverently. Il have brought my fam
lily from Indiana and for nine years
have been seeking to find a home as 1
have found in Hesper. We shall re-
main here, brethren. to worship with
REWARE OF THE COCKPOACH