The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-21

been confined to his bed about II
month, but his health was broken
about a year ago, and he has been
gradually failing since that time.
Death came at 9:3O o'clock this morn
ing. with his family at the bedside.
Governor Crawford was the last of
the wartime governors, and was elect
ed governor of Kansas when but 28
years old. No other man had such
prominent part in the history akiTlS
of the state and from the time he
came to Kansas as a young lawyer to
last year. when he wrote kansas IN
the Sixties" a volume noted for its
historical accuracy, which was due
largely to his personal knowledge OF
the events he chronicl I'd, he was close
ly identified with the growth of the
state. Nominated for governor when
he was pursuing the enemy in Arkan
sas, and elected to the office almost
before he could get back home to take
part in the campaign, is a political rec
ord that h, alone held. as his reelec-
ton to the governors chair was anoth-
er record at that time. His youth al
the time of his election was another
political record for Kansas. but his
record as a soldier does not suffer by
comparison with his political history.
The first illness of Governor Craw-
ford was his last. Up to the time MS
health be san to fail two years ago,
when he closed his law office in Wash
ington and returned to Topeka he was
never confined to his bed by illness for
a single day. He was active. mentally
and physically. until the final break.
Two years ago he began writing mis-
Kansas war history; it was completed
and published last year. The break in
his health occurred about the time the
book was finished
hn Ct
Crawford spent the summer months
on his magnificent farm in the Spring
river valley. near Baxter Springs. This
summer the extreme heat affected
him. and, it is thought by his family,
fastened his death. He left the farm
August %. and returned to his Topeka
home. 435 Harrison street, and was
not able to leave the house after that
time.
The Crawford building. at the cor
ner of Fifth and jackson streets. was
built by Governor Crawford in 1855
and he maintained a law office there
as well as his office in Washington
where he practiced before the de-
partment of justice for many years.
His Indian Campaign.
Probably the most widely known
event in the eventful life of Governor
Crawford, occurred during his term as
governor. 1t has been made the fea-
ture OF historical novels. and holds a
prominent place in the authentic his
tory of the state. During the summer
of 1869 a band of Indians raided a
settlement in western Kansas mur-
dered a mum ber of settlers and carr ed
away several women and children
The saVages started southwest into the
western end of oklahoma, and the re-
covery of the captives necessitated a
campaign that required a large force
to intimidate the Indians and force
them to surrender the prisoners Cow
ernor Crawford organized a regiment
of cavalry. composed largely of vet
Grams of the Civil war which was
known as the Nineteenth Kansas. He
marched out of Topeka November 5.
1865, and Joined General Sheridan
with the seventh United States cav
airy at Camp Supply in Indian ter
ritory on the 26th of the same month
To take personal command of his
regiment. Governor Crawford resigned
from the governors office and enter
ed one of the most severe winter cam
paigns of history, with a little army
that was poorly proviSioned and eouiu-
ped for winter travel After a long
chase the Indians were brought to bay
and forced to release the captive wor1-
an and children The officers in com