The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-02-04
Major Calvin Hood. Banker and Phil
antIlropist, Who Died at His Home
in Emporia This Morning.

Major Calvin Hood was native of
Pennsylvania and was born in Erie
county in 1882, coming to Kansas and
settling at Emporia in 1872 where ne
engaged in the cattle business and laid
the founGation for his fortune which
is estimated at a million dollars. AT
Is years of age he entered a general
store at Adrian. Michigan, where he
received the first insight to the bust
ness training which marked his sue
cess in later years.
Traded With Lake Superior Indians.
He resigned this position a few years
later on account of failing health and
went to the copper regions on Lake Su-
perior where he pre-empted a claim
and traded in furS with the Indians of
that section. Recovering his health he
returned to Adrian. Michigan, in 1851
and Launched a mercantile venture
which proved unsuccessful.
When the war broke out Calvin Hood
rendered his services to his country to
answer President Lincoln's first call for
volunteers and was commissioned a
captain of the Eleventh Michigan vol
unteers. His military career was mark
ed with bravery, constant devotion to
fis duties and acts of conspicuous
bravery on the field.
At the battle of Murfreesboro he
was assigned to an important position
with orders from his superiors 10 hold
it at all hazards. For gallant con-
duct in pursuance of these orders he
was mentioned in the general orders
by General ST. Clair Morton in his re-
port following the battle.
Located in Emporia in 1878.
At the conclusion of the war he
came to Kansas and located in this
city, which has been his home since,
and with which he has been SO promi-
nently identified. He laid the founda-
tion of his fortune by dealing III Texas
cattle, in small way at first and later
on a much larger scale. following the
formation OF partnership with the
late Senator Preston B. Plumb.
For fourteen years he spent a por-
tion of every season in Texas looking
after his interests and roughing it
with the cowboys on his ranches. Later
he dabbled in mining and made a
number of fortunate investments in
the silver district near Leadville, Colo.
In 1873 he became a director of the
Emporia National bank and a year lat
er was selected as president of the in
stitution. position which he held at
the time of his death.
In 1856 he married Fannie T Platt,
daughter of Henry S. Platt of Pough-
keepsie, N. Y. whose death occurred
about ore wear ago. He is survived
bv a family of four children: H. P.
Hood of this city. Mrs. Harry Clark
of Salt Lake City. Mrs. Edward Beech
er of Colorado Springs and Mrs. Theo-
dOre Harnrnstt Of ToDeka
Major Hoods Career.
As a banker and financier, as well as
a public spirited citizen, Major Calvin
Hood of Emporia was without doubt
entitled to a place in the first rank
among men of this class in Kansas He
was president of the Emporia National
bank, one of the strongest financial in
stitutions in the west.
Major Hood was also connected with
Other large f1na~cial institutions in the
west and an officer in one of the bank
ing houses of Kansas City.
Major Hood was one of the very best
known men in the Sunf1ower state, and
the story of his home life at Emporia is
an interesting one. He was the chief
public benefactor of that town. and a
more charitable man never lived in
Kansas. He was a man of strong char
acter and had way Of making a friend
of every person he met. Though ex-
tremely wealthy he was not in the leasl
bigoted. and he never missed an oppor-
tuni+v 20 eatertain a closet acquaint-
ance, however poor he might be.
Fortune Is Estimated at a Million.
Major Hood possessed fortune esti-
mated at nearly million dollars. bui
he was worth many millions to En-
Dor1a. He built the fine Presbyterian