John Redmond, owner and editor of the "Burlington Republican," and one of the well known newspaper men of the state, was born in Coffey county, Dec. 1, 1873, the son of James and Sarah Jane (Geesey) Redmond. His father was born in the State of New York in 1831, and accompanied his parents to Seneca county, Ohio, when only four years of age. Subsequently they went to Indiana and Illinois and then returned to Ohio. James Redmond was educated for the priesthood, but never took holy orders and at the call for volunteers at the outbreak of the Civil war enlisted in the Forty-ninth Ohio regiment. He was promoted to colonel for gallantry in action and served until 1863, when he was severely wounded and relieved from active duty. He never fully recovered from his injury and did not again enter the service. Mr. Redmond decided to devote his life to law, was admitted to the bar at La Grange, Ind., and practiced there for a short time. In 1867, he came to Kansas and opened a law office in Burlington, where he engaged in the practice of his profession until his death in 1904. During his life he was a prominent lawyer, took an active part in politics, served as chairman of the Republican county committee for a number of years, was held in high esteem by members of the Burlington bar, and the members of the Masonic fraternity of which he was a member.

John Redmond was educated in the public schools of Burlington and after graduating from the high school studied law for five years. But he cared more for journalism and went to Emporia, where William Allen White gave him a position on his paper. After remaining in Emporia for several months he went to Topeka and secured a position as reporter on the "Topeka Daily Capital." Subsequently he was a member of the staff of the "Wichita Star" for a year. Leaving that paper he became associated with the "Wichita Beacon" and thus gained a wide experience in all branches of newspaper work. After leaving the "Beacon," Mr. Redmond returned to Burlington and purchased the "Jeffersonian." Meeting with marked success in his chosen profession, he bought up the "Courier and Times" and later the "Republican," consolidated them, and now publishes a daily and semi-weekly called the "Republican." He is a fine business man, liberal and progressive in his views, and is regarded as one of the rising men in the newspaper world. Mr. Redmond has always taken an interest in politics, is a Republican and served as secretary of the Republican central committee before he was old enough to vote. He is a member of the Sons of Veterans.

In 1897 he married Maude Batdorf, whose parents moved to Kansas from Ohio in 1895.