Samuel Douglas Bishop, able lawyer and prominent citizen of Lawrence, is a native of Iowa, in which state he was born at Dinton, Aug. 5, 1863. His parents were John and Elizabeth (Cupid) Bishop. They were born in the State of New York, the father being of English lineage and the mother of Irish. In the '50s they went to Iowa from their native state, and resided in Iowa until 1889, in which year they removed to Idaho, where they both died in 1895. They had eight children. The father was a farmer by occupation, and after going to Idaho a ranchman.

On his father's farm in Iowa, Samuel D. Bishop was reared. In the district schools he received his early and rudimentary education. At seventeen he entered Cornell College, Iowa, where he received his more advanced literary education, graduating in Cornell in 1887, receiving the degree of Ph. B. Later in the same year Mr. Bishop entered the department of the University of Kansas, where he completed the course and graduated in 1889. Immediately afterward he was admitted to the bar at Lawrence, where he began the practice of law, associated with the late HOn. Alexander C. Mitchell, as a member of the law firm of Bishop & Mitchell, an association which long continued under pleasant relations and a constantly increasing practice until Mr. Mitchell entered upon his duties as member of Congress, March, 1911, since when Mr. Bishop has continued in an active and remunerative practice alone. As a lawyer Mr. Bishop not only possesses a broad and comprehensive knowledge of the law, but in addition thereto, he is gifted as a trial lawyer. He is a man of affirmative disposition and exceptional force of character. His well poised mind, accurate judgment and personal potentiality fit him for public leadership, and it is no wonder that Mr. Bishop has been drawn into politics and public office. He is a Democrat in political affiliations. In 1892 and 1894 he was elected county attorney for Douglas county, and served with ability in this office for two terms. In 1898 he was honored with the Democratic nomination for Congress, but owing to the pressing demands of a growing practice in the law, he was compelled to decline the nomination. In the spring of 1909 his services were again called into public requisition by an election to the office of mayor of Lawrence. He gave the city an able administration, and in the spring of 1911 was elected for a second term. His personal popularity is based on confidence and esteem. He receives that public confidence to which men of fidelity to public trust are justly entitled, and is a foremost figure in his home city. In 1910 Governor Stubbs appointed him a member of the Kansas State Text-Book Commission, another indication of his recognized ability. Fraternally Mr. Bishop is a Master Mason, and also a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

In 1891 was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Bishop to Miss Martha Jane Russell, a daughter of Major Sylvester C. Russell. Mrs. Bishop was born and reared in Lawrence, and is a lady of attainment and popularity. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop have but one child, a son, Joseph Baldwin, a student, in his sophomore year in the University of Kansas.