William P. Campbell was born February 18, 1845, in Stanford, Lincoln County, Kentucky. In the eighteenth century his great-grandfather emigrated from the north of Ireland and settled first in Virginia, afterward in Kentucky, became dissatisfied with the country and returned to Ireland. His grandfather, Moses Campbell, remained in Kentucky, where he was a farmer during his life, and where he died at an advanced age. His father, John A. Campbell, was born in Lincoln county, Kentucky in 1823, was a carpenter by trade, and died of consumption in 1854, aged thirty one.
William P. Campbell was the oldest of five children born to John A. and Nancy (Emerson) Campbell. His education and seminary of Stanford, he being especially excellent in mathematics. This training continued until he was sixteen, when he enlisted as a musician in the 1st Kentucky Cavalry, in which remained six months, participating meantime in the battle of Mill Spring. An order was passed for the disbanding of the cavalry bands. He then enlisted in the 6th Kentucky Cavalry, the regiment forming part of the Army of the Cumberland, and was employed principally in the scouting business. He was taken prisoner in 1863 by Gurley's guerrillas, and after an imprisonment of six months on Belle Isle, was exchanged and returned to his regiment. He was soon afterward promoted to be sergeant-major of the regiment, and as such assisted in Wilson's raid in Alabama and Georgia, and remained in the army till the war closed.
He immediately returned to Kentucky and worked in a saw mill for one year. He then went to Somerset, entered the office of T. L. W. Sawyer, and studied law until 1869, when he was admitted to the bar. In the following September he settled in El Dorado, Kansas and began the practice of his profession. On the formation of the 13th Judicial District in 1872 he was appointed its judge by Governor Harvey, and in the ensuing fall, was regulary elected to the office for a term of four years, and re-elected in 1876. He has made an upright and impartial judge; firm and decided in his rulings, accurate in his decisions, clear and concise in his statements, and dignified, kind and courteous in his manner, he has earned the respect and esteem of both the bar and the citizens of his district.
Politically he is a Republican. He is an advocate of the "hard-money theory," a supporter of the national banking system, favored the resumption of specie payments and opposed repudiation in every form. In religious matters he is liberal. He is a member of the order of Odd Fellows.
He was married January 18, 1869, to Miss Mary Katherine Barnes, daughter of Sidney M. and Elizabeth (Mize) Barnes, of Somerset, Kentucky. They have had five children, four of whom are still living.
Judge Campbell is above the average height of prepossessing appearance, robust frame, dark hair, gray eyes, prominent but regular features and a broad, high forehead. He is very social in his disposition, and has gathered around him many warm personal friends. He is a firm believer in democratic government and institutions, and opposed to even the semblance of aristocracy. He adheres with the utmost tenacity to those principles his judgment approves, and is ever ready to combat error in every form. He is opposed to war, believing that a resort to arbitration is the proper method of settling all disputes, public as well as private. He advocates the universal brotherhood of nations as well as individuals. He is opposed to unjust usury, and favors the enactment of stringent laws prohibiting it in every form. Few men at so early an age have attained such well-deserved prominence, and his future promises to be useful not only to the immediate circle in which he moves, but to the State and nation as well. (Kansas Biographical Dictionary, 1879, pages 372 & 373)
James R. Mead, was born May 3, 1837, in New Haven, Vermont. On both sides he is of English origin, descended on the paternal side from a family having a distinguished name in English history. His great-grandfather, Ebenezer Mead, was a major-general in the Revolutionary army, and in one engagement was shot through the lungs, but recovered. His homestead was in Connecticut, thirty miles from New York, and included Putnam's Hill, so called from Putnam's escape down its stone steps, and the same land is still owned by a member of the family, the widow of Theodore Mead, having passed through the hands of different members of the family for five generations. His father, Enoch Mead, was a graduate of Yale College, who settled in Vermont, where he married and was a prominent minister of the Presbyterian Church. He immigrated to Davenport, Iowa, in 1839, and with his associates laid the foundations of the Presbyterian church in that State, having organized the first churches of that denomination there; he is still living, at the age of seventy, though retired from active ministerial work on account of his advanced age. His mother, Mary E. James, is descended from one of the foremost families of New England, and is a lady eminent for her culture, learning and piety, a graduate of Holyoke Seminary. She is still living with her husband.
James R. Mead was educated at the Iowa College, Davenport, receiving a thorough education and being ready for graduation, except in Greek, when he became so interested in the Kansas struggle that he immigrated to that Territory and settled in Saline county, in 1859. He engaged largely in hunting and in the fur trade with the Indians. Imbued with the spirit of adventure, he spent four years on the plains, leading the roving life of a hunter, trapper and Indian trader, meeting with many hair-breadth escapes and thrilling adventures, having been four times captured by hostile Indians, a recital of all which would seem like romance. He was noted as one of the best rifle-shots on the plains, and was very successful as a trader. In the spring of 1863, finding a better opening for business further south, he removed to Butler county, where he was the first to establish a large Indian trading post, and extended his business to all the wild tribes on the plains, employing many men and teams in hunting and trading.
At the beginning of the war all the Indians embraced in the Wichita agency, near the Wichita Mountains in the Indian Territory, were driven out by the rebel element among the Indians, and sought a refuge along the southern border of Kansas. These Indians, finding they could get better accommodations and be more fairly dealt with at Mr. Mead's than at any other point in the country, established themselves within reach of his trading post, and made that their general resort for business. An agent being sent there by the government, an agency was established at his place, and through fair dealing he secured large influence over the various wild tribes with which he came in contact, which not only procured him extensive business facilities, but absolutely protected that portion of the State from Indian depredations. He also established trading posts with all the wild tribes on the western plains, and built up a trade of very great proportions.
At the close of the war, the Indians being removed to their former homes, and foreseeing the wonderful future of the Arkansas Valley, he removed to the junction of the two Arkansas rivers, and, in connection with others, in 1870 laid out the town of Wichita, and devoted his time and means to the development of the Arkansas Valley. He originated the plan of the Wichita and Southwestern Railroad, was elected its president and within six months the road was completed. He took a very active interest in everything tending to the development of the city and surrounding country, and with a few others constructed a bridge across the Arkansas river at an expense of $28,000. Principally by his means the First National Bank of Wichita was established. He is still engaged extensively in farming and stock raising and is among the most enterprising business men of the State.
While a resident of Butler county he was for several years one of the county commissioners and chairman of the board. He was instrumental in locating the town of El Dorado on its present site, then a piece of government land, and under his management the county was saved from debt and its credit placed on a substantial basis. In 1864, he was elected to the House of Representatives in the Legislature from Butler county and aided in the election of James H. Lane to the United States Senate. In 1868 he was elected to the Senate from the district comprising Morris, Chase, Marion, and Butler counties, a district hitherto Democratic, but which he carried by a handsome majority over Hon. Isaac Sharp, one of the ablest men of the Democratic party. He was chairman of the joint committee on ways and means, and took that position when the State was involved in financial difficulty, its warrants protested for want of funds and at a large discount. During his term in that position, state warrants were brought to par by means devised by that committee for promptly meeting the State indebtedness. He has, always been a Republican and has been active in supporting that organization having frequently been a delegate to local and State conventions.
He was married at Burlingame, Kansas, December 1, 1862, to Miss Agnes Barcome, formerly of Bangor, New York, a lady of great amiability and remarkable business capacity, who shared with her husband all the vicissitudes and hardships of a pioneer life, esteemed and especially for her noble charity and her disinterested acts of humanity toward all who merited her aid. She died April 19, 1869, leaving four children - two sons and two daughters. He was again married at Wichita, Kansas, August 23, 1872, to Miss Lucy Inman, a most estimable lady.
Mr. Mead has been a companion on the plains of Kit Carson and Colonel Boone, the noted Indian trader. During a business career extending over his entire life in Kansas, and doing business involving very large interests he has never failed to pay promptly and his credit stands as high as the very best in the State. (Kansas Biographical Dictionary, 1879, pages 364 & 365)
Marshall M. Murdock, was born October 10, 1837, on the Pierpoint estate near Morgantown, Monogalia county, Virginia. His father, Thomas Murdock, moved to Lawrence county, Ohio when Marshall was but eight years old and engaged first in contracting and afterward in the iron business and in merchandising. His mother Catharine Pierpoint.
Marshall M. Murdock received the principal portion of his education in the Ironton, Ohio, high school. After learning the art of printing in that city, he prepared for a course in the State University at Delaware, Ohio, but in the summer of 1856 his father failed in business, and the means to complete his education was wanting. Starting west in company with his father, they arrived at Topeka in the winter of 1856-7. Notwithstanding his youthful age, he was permitted to participate in some of the exciting scenes connected with the termination of the border troubles. In connection with a half dozen others, he assisted in cutting the ice over the Kaw river for John Brown, who with a wagon load of escaped slaves, was making his last trip north over the "Lane Trail." His first vote was cast in Topeka, and was against the adoption of the Lecompton constitution. He was a corporal in a company of free state boys that marched to Lecompton to participate in the inauguration of the first free-state Legislature, in which body he was offered an assistant clerkship. In the winter of 1857-8, in company with several young men, he made a tour of inspection of Southern Kansas, south of the Neosho and Cottonwood rivers, helping to lay out a town on the Verdigris river, in territory now forming Greenwood county. For the next two years he played the "squatter sovereign" pre-empting a claim in 1860 near the junction of the Cottonwood and Neosho rivers, six miles east of the present city of Emporia, in which year he took first part in politics, becoming a delegate to a Republican convention which met at Americus, the then county seat of Breckinridge, now Lyon county.
During the summer of the drouth he, in connection with his brother, Thomas B. Murdock, took a load of merchandise to the Pike's Peak gold mines, where he remained till the breaking out of the Southern Rebellion, when he returned to enlist with the Kansas boys, but finding that his father and his only two brothers had all enlisted he abandoned the idea, and in April of the spring following was married to Miss Victoria Mayberry, a young lady of fine culture, then living near Lawrence, Kansas, but whose friendship and love he had gained before going to the mountains. Soon after his marriage he took a situation with John Speer, on the "Republican," and afterward on the "Tribune." He witnessed the Quantrill raid, being at that time at Lawrence to purchase material to begin the publication of the "Osage County Chronicle," at Burlingame, which made its appearance ten days later, September 23, 1863. Being in the "Tribune" printing office and known to have been an attaché of that office, he escaped death as if by a miracle. He and John Speer, Jr., son of the proprietor of the "Tribune," and who was the local editor, had been at the Eldridge House meeting the night before, which was addressed by United States Senator James H. Lane, and retired late together. Before ascending the office steps, they noticed and remarked the presence of two strange horsemen on the street. When Quantrill's detachment filed in on Massachusetts street, Mr. Murdock and young Speer were the first to make their appearance. Both were fired upon twice. Young Speer was killed in a few moments afterward, Mr. Murdock making his escape into a new cellar nearly opposite the Eldridge House, in the midst of and witnessing the terrible massacre of the people around him.
In the winter of 1863-4, he was appointed at the solicitation of General James H. Lane, a government special agent, and afterward enrolling officer, for what was then known as Southwestern Kansas, embracing the counties of Osage, Morris, Lyon, Wabaunsee and Chase. He was secretary of the state convention in 1864, and docket clerk of the Senate the ensuing winter. In 1864 he was commissioned lieutenant-colonel by Governor Carney and organized the Santa Fe battalion, and afterward commanded it, participating in the battles of Westport and Little Blue. He was secretary of the state convention in 1685, and was also elected county clerk of Osage county for two years in 1866, holding several minor offices in the meantime, for the next two years.
In 1868 he was almost unanimously elected State Senator from Coffey and Osage counties, and again in 18780 re-nominated and re-elected by overwhelming majorities. During the session of the Senate in 1871 he sold the "Chronicle," which he had conducted for nine years, and perfected arrangements for establishing a paper at Wichita. The "City Eagle," as a result, made its appearance in the spring of 1872. During the fall of 1872 he was nominated and elected State Senator from the twenty-six Southwestern counties, which include the entire territory in the Canna, Walnut and Arkansas valleys, being elected president, pro tem., of the Senate, at the opening of the session. The following winter he presided over the protracted proceedings of the joint convention of the two Houses, which consumed several days, in the United States senatorship contest, receiving eight votes on one ballot himself for that position, and complimentary votes on other ballots. At one time during that memorable contest, the excitement over a ruling made was so intense that an effort was made to impeach his authority as presiding officer, but the next day the same body passed, unanimously, a resolution endorsing his course and thanking him, which stands in the records of the State. In 1874 he received sixty-five votes in the Republican state convention for lieutenant-governor, a position he was not seeking.
He was appointed postmaster of Wichita the same year, and still holds that position and edits the "City Eagle." He was appointed by Governor Osborn, in 1872, regent of the State Normal School, and reappointed by Governor Anthony in 1876, which trust he still holds. In January 1879 he was reappointed for four years, postmaster at Wichita.
Mr. Murdock is a man of ability; in business as in politics, practical; in all things earnest, through conservative. As a legislator his success has been marked, one of his triumphs being the present congressional apportionment of the State, the bill for which he was the author and which gave to his section of the State, the Arkansas Valley, a controlling voice in the selection of the member in that district.
Though in personal politics inclined to be philosophical, his loyalty to the interests of the people never wavers. As a newspaper writer and conductor he has been eminently successful. A poor public speaker, and possessing only moderate colloquial powers, he, nevertheless, has hosts of sure and fast sincere friends. (Kansas Biographical Dictionary, 1879, pages 270 & 271)
William A. Richey was born September 20, 1844, in Kittanning, Armstrong county, Pennsylvania. He is of Irish extraction. About the year 1755, William Richey emigrated with his family from Ireland and settled in what is now known as Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, being one of the first pioneers who settled in that section. To protect themselves against the encroachments of the hostile savages, the settlers built a fort, the site of which was on Mr. Richey's land, which became a general rendezvous of the settlers. It was located on the Monongahela river. He left a son, William Richey, who was born in Ireland in 1736; came with his father to America and took part in the thrilling events of the early pioneer life; fought under St. Clair against the French at the time of the former's defeat; was a farmer during his life and died at the age of eighty in 1816. The latter also left a son William, who was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, in 1789; was by trade a copper; was a soldier in the war of 1812, stationed at Black Rock on Lake Erie, and detailed on two occasions to escort prisoners to Pittsburg through the immense forests of Western Pennsylvania; returned home after the war and October 14, 1814, was drowned in attempting to cross the Monogahela river during a storm. He left a son, Samuel Richey, born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, January 25, 1813; was taken by his mother when but five years old to Armstrong county; afterward became a riverman and served as engineer pilot and captain. When the first petroleum excitement arose, he engaged in transporting oil; enlisted in the Mississippi marine in 1863, and followed the campaigns of the Mississippi, Yazoo and Red rivers, participating in numerous engagements; returned to the oiil regions and remained about ten years; in the spring of 1875 he went to Illinois and in the following May (1876) settled in Sedgwick county where he still resides with his family, a hale and hearty man. In 1839 Samuel Richey was married to Ann Boney, a lady of English descent, who died in 1863. The issue of this marriage was seven children of whom William A Richey was the third.
William attended the private and public schools of Kittanning until at the age of fifteen he entered the academy of that place, where he remained one year. For one year he was employed as clerk in the dry-goods house of an uncle at Emlenton, after which he engaged in speculating in the oil regions of Pennsylvania.
In September 1862 he enlisted in Co. K, 78th Pennsylvania Infantry, and was ordered to Buell's command in Kentucky , participating in the fall campaign against Bragg. The regiment reached Nashville in October and was placed on garrison duty until the 26th of December when it engaged in the Stone River campaign, and took part in the engagement of Murfreesboro, December 31, 1862, and January 2, 1863. June 24, 1863, the regiment started on the Tullahoma Campaign, and assisted at the battle of Liberty Gap; remained at Deckard Station until August; took part in the battle of Snake Creek Gap and other minor engagements and afterward in the battle of Chicamauga, September 21, 1863. The regiment remained at Chattanooga until November 23, and then took part in the battle of Mission Ridge. May 2, 1864, he with his regiment, started on the Atlanta campaign and was in the battles of Tunnel Hill, Buzzrd's Roost, Resaca and other fights. On the 13th of June, he was detailed as orderly on General Carlan's staff, and was active in the series of fights that culminated in the burning of Atlanta. He marched to the sea with Sherman; joined Kirkpatrick in his raid on Aiken; rejoined the main army, and was at the burning of Columbia; marched through Fayetteville and Raleigh and was one of ten who first entered these towns; from the camp at Cross Roads, marched to Richmond a distance of one hundred and eighty-five miles, in six days, and going to Washington, participated in the grand review and was discharged June 26, 1865, at Louisville, Kentucky.
He returned to Kittanning, and thence to the oil regions. In November 1866, he was engaged as general agent of J. H. Wheeler & Co., of Elmira, New York, dealers in patent medicines, and traveled for that house. In May, 1867, he became traveling agent for M. Hulings, dealer in boots and shoes.
He started for the West, February 15, 1868 and for a few months was employed in the construction of the Union Pacific Railroad, at Cheyenne. He returned to Nebraska, August 27 and became clerk in the house of C. H. Nichols & Co., of Omaha, in their branch store at Fremont.
In September 1869, he went to Atchison, Kansas and after four months, traveled over the State seeking a location, arriving at Burlington, February 27, 1870 and remained until April 14, 1872, acting as salesman and book-keeper for the house of Daniels & Blackburn. At that time he settled in Wichita, and he and his brother built the Richey House in which they have been very successful. They have also dealt in real estate and engaged in farming, and have now a very fine farm of six hundred and forty acres in Sedgwick county, besides farming lands to the amount of one thousand and fifty acres in adjoining counties. They also own the Richey block one of the finest structures in Wichita.
He cast his first vote for Lincoln and has always been a Republican. He takes great interest in political affairs and has been delegate to county conventions, and also to the Congressional convention of 1876. In religion he is liberal. He is a member of the Masonic order and of Wichita Lodge, No. 99. He is Past Grand in Wichita Lodge, No. 93, I. O. O. F. and Past Chief Patriarch of Wichita Encampment, No. 29.
He was married March 5, 1871, to Miss Emma C. Colby, daughter of O. B. and Rosamond (Cady) Colby, of Burlington, Kansas, formerly of Ashtabula, Ohio. They have had two children, only one of whom is living.
Mr. Richey is five feet eight inches high, stoutly built, regular features, broad, high forehead, dark hair and dark brown eyes. He is social in his disposition, generous to a fault, energetic in business, conforming strictly to business rules, and has an unimpeachable record for honesty and integrity. (Kansas Biographical Dictionary, 1879, pages 295 & 297)
William E. Stanley was born December 28, 1844, in Knox county, Ohio. The Stanley family were originally from New England, but removed to Ohio and settled in Knox county in the early history of the State. His father, Almon F. Stanley, was a physician, who attained great skill in his profession. His mother, Angelina Sapp, is still living, and is a woman of great goodness of heart, a kind mother, and was an affectionate wife. To her influence William attributes his success in life.
He was educated in the common schools of Ohio. At the age of seventeen he entered the Wesleyan University, Delaware, Ohio, where he remained three years. At the end of that time he began the study of law in the office of Bain & King, at Kenton, Ohio, with whom he read six months. He then went to Dayton, Ohio, and entered the office of Conover & Craighead. He was admitted to the practice of law in 1867, opened an office in Kenton and began the prosecution of his profession. He moved to Kansas in 1870 and located in Jefferson county. In the fall of that year he received the nomination of the Republican convention for county attorney and was elected. In September, 1872, he resigned the office and removed to Wichita, where he has continued the practice of his profession to the present time.
In 1874, he was elected county attorney of Sedgwick county, and was re-elected in 1876. He is a young man of ability, a forcible and logical speaker, and recognized by the legal fraternity as an accomplished lawyer. In politics he is a Republican. He has been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church for about sixteen years.
He was married May 30, 1876, to Miss Emma L. Hill, daughter of H. I. Hill, of Wichita.
Mr. Stanley is destined to rank among the very best speakers in Kansas, as well as one of its foremost advocates and lawyers. (Kansas Biographical Dictionary, 1879, Page 439)
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