Stanley, William E., who succeeded John W. Leedy as governor of Kansas in Jan., 1899, was born in Knox county, Ohio, Dec. 28, 1844. When in the second year of his age, his parents removed to Hardin county, Ohio, where he grew to manhood. His father was a physician and an influential citizen, and from him the son inherited many of those traits of character that later aided him to make his mark among men. After attending the common schools, Gov. Stanley took part of the course in the Ohio Weslevan University at Delaware, Ohio, leaving school there to enter the law office of Bain & King at Kenton. Subsequently he read law with the well known firm of Conover & Craighead, of Dayton, and in 1868 was admitted to the bar. Two years later he removed to Jefferson county, Kan., and soon after locating there he was elected county attorney. In 1872 he removed to Wichita, and for three terms he served as county attorney of Sedgwick county. He was then elected to represent that county in the lower house of the state legislature, where his record was such that Gov. Morrill tendered him an appointment as judge of the court of appeals, but it was declined. At the Republican state convention at Hutchinson, in 1898, he was nominated for governor, and at the election in November defeated John W. Leedy, who was the Populist candidate for reëlection. In 1900 he was again nominated by his party, and this time defeated John W. Breidenthal by an increased majority over that which he had received two years before. Upon retiring from the governor's office he resumed his law practice at Wichita, and continued to follow that profession until his death, which occurred on Oct. 13, 1910. In 1876 Mr. Stanley married Miss Emma L. Hillis, of Wichita.