Of the surviving members, many have attained the highest distinctions of
the State, and all, I believe are useful and honored citizens. At the
first election under the Constitution, Samuel A. Kingman was chosen as
Associate Justice of the Supreme Court; in 1866 he was elected Chief
Justice, and re-elected in 1872. Benj. F. Simpson was elected the first
Attorney General of the State, but resigned the position to enter the
army, in which he served throughout the war. He has since been Speaker
of the House of Representatives, several times a State Senator, and is
now serving his second term as U. S. Marshal. Solon O. Thacher was
chosen District Judge at the first election under the Constitution, has
since occupied many positions of honor and responsibility, and is a
member of the present State Senate. J. C. Burnett, S. D. Houston and S.
E. Hoffman were members of the first State Senate, and Geo. H. Lillie
was a member of the first House of Representatives. E. G. Ross was
appointed United States Senator in 1866, and elected in 1867, serving
until 1871. John J. Ingalls was chosen as State Senator in 1861; was
elected United States Senator in 1873, and re-elected in 1879, and is
still occupying that distinguished place. John T. Burris was Lieut. Col.
of the 10th Kansas, and subsequently District Judge. Wm. P. Dutton,
James Blood, L. R. Palmer, John P. Greer and John Ritchey have filled
many positions of local trust and prominence, with credit and
usefulness. R. C. Foster and John W. Forman are residing in Texas;
William Hutchinson lives in Washington; and C. B. McClellan, E. Moore
and E. M. Hubbard are still prominent and honored citizens of the
counties they represented. My old friend, Col. Caleb May, sole surviving
member of the three Free State Constitutional Conventions, lives in
Montgomery Co. If Dean Swift was right in saying that "whoever could
make two ears of corn, or two blades of grass, to grow on a spot of
ground where one grew before, would deserve better of mankind, and do
more essential service to his country, than the whole race of
politicians," what honor is due this sturdy Kansas farmer, who, during a
residence of twenty-eight years in the State, has never—not even in the
disastrous seasons of 1860 and 1874—failed to raise a good crop. Even
the heroic service he rendered the cause of Freedom during the darkest
days of the struggle in Kansas, was less valuable to the State than this
practical and triumphant vindication of its soil and climate.
"LOST TO SIGHT."
Stalwart, quiet Wm. McCullough I have not heard of for many years. John
A. Middleton, of Marshall Co., was a soldier in the 7th Kansas, removed
to Montana in 1864, and I have learned nothing of him since. H. D.
Preston, of Shawnee; R. L. Williams, P. H. Townsend and Ed. Stokes, of
Douglas; Allen Crocker, of Woodson; A. D. McCune, of Leavenworth; J. H.
Signor, of Allen, and J. T. Barton, of Johnson, have all disappeared and
left no sign. I know not whether they are living or dead.