Transcribed from volume I of Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc. ... / with a supplementary volume devoted to selected personal history and reminiscence. Standard Pub. Co. Chicago : 1912. 3 v. in 4. : front., ill., ports.; 28 cm. Vols. I-II edited by Frank W. Blackmar.

Governors.—Kansas became an organized territory on May 30, 1854, but the territorial government was not fully established until the 7th of the following October. Between that time and Feb. 9, 1861, when the state government was inaugurated, the territory had six governors and five acting governors. The governors and their terms of service were as follows:

Andrew H. Reeder, from Oct. 7, 1854 to April 17, 1855, and again from June 23 to Aug. 16, 1855; Wilson Shannon, from Sept. 7, 1855, to June 24, 1856, and from July 7, to Aug. 18, 1856; John W. Geary, from Sept. 9, 1856, to March 12, 1857; Robert J. Walker, from May 27 to Nov. 16, 1857; James W. Denver, from May 12 to Oct. 10, 1858; Samuel Medary, from Dec. 18, 1858, to Aug. 1, 1859, Sept 15, 1859, to April 15, 1860, June 16 to Sept. 11, and Nov. 25 to Dec. 17, 1860.

Daniel Woodson, the first territorial secretary, was five times acting governor, to-wit: April 17 to June 23, 1855; Aug. 16 to Sept. 7, 1855; June 24 to July 7, 1856; Aug. 18 to Sept. 9, 1856; and March 12 to April 16, 1857. Frederick P. Stanton was acting governor from April 16 to May 27, 1857, and again from Nov. 16 to Dec. 21, 1857. James W. Denver was acting governor from Dec. 21, 1857, to May 12, 1858, when he was appointed governor. Hugh S. Walsh served as acting governor from July 3 to July 30, 1858; Oct. 10 to Dec. 18, 1858; Aug. 1 to Sept. 15, 1859, and from April 15 to June 15, 1860. George M. Beebe was acting governor from Sept. 11 to Nov. 25, 1860, and from Dec. 17, 1860, to Feb. 9, 1861.

Section 1, article 1, of the Wyandotte constitution, under which the state was admitted into the Union, provided that the governors should be inaugurated on the "second Monday of January next after their election, and with the exception of Gov. Charles Robinson, who came into office on Feb. 9, 1861, this date has been the beginning of the gubernatorial term of office. Following is a list of the state governors, each of whom was inaugurated on the date mentioned.

Charles Robinson, Feb. 9, 1861; Thomas Carney, Jan. 12, 1863; Samuel J. Crawford, Jan. 9, 1865, (Gov. Crawford resigned on Nov. 4, 1868, and Lieut.-Gov. Nehemiah Green took the oath of office the same day, serving until the close of the term for which Crawford had been elected) James M. Harvey, Jan. 11, 1869; Thomas A. Osborn, Jan. 13, 1873; George T. Anthony, Jan. 8, 1877; John P. St. John, Jan. 13, 1879; George W. Glick, Jan. 8, 1883; John A. Martin, Jan. 12 1885; Lyman U. Humphrey, Jan. 14, 1889; Lorenzo D. Lewelling, Jan. 9, 1893; Edmund N. Morrill, Jan. 14, 1895; John W. Leedy, Jan. 11, 1897; William F. Stanley, Jan. 9, 1899; Willis J. Bailey, Jan. 12, 1903; Edward W. Hoch, Jan. 9, 1905; Walter R. Stubbs, Jan. 11, 1909.

Of the state governors, Crawford, Harvey, Osborn, St. John, Martin, Humphrey, Stanley, Hoch and Stubbs were each elected for two terms.

Pages 768-769 from volume I of Kansas: a cyclopedia of state history, embracing events, institutions, industries, counties, cities, towns, prominent persons, etc. ... / with a supplementary volume devoted to selected personal history and reminiscence. Standard Pub. Co. Chicago : 1912. 3 v. in 4. : front., ill., ports.; 28 cm. Vols. I-II edited by Frank W. Blackmar. Transcribed May 2002 by Carolyn Ward.