Whitfield, John W., the first delegate to Congress from the Territory of Kansas, was born in Tennessee, but came to Tecumseh, Kan., early in the '50s and began to take an active part in local politics. He was elected delegate to Congress as a Democrat on Nov. 29, 1854. Connelley describes him as "a tall and stuttering Tennesseean who lived in Jackson county, Mo." At the expiration of his first term he was a candidate for reëlection and was opposed by ex-Gov. Andrew H. Reeder. At the election on Oct. 1, 1855, Whitfield received 2,271 votes, Reeder received 2,849, and contested the seat, which was declared vacant on Aug. 1, 1856. Mr. WhitfIeld took an active part in the stirring border warfare carried on between the pro-slavery and free-state men. He had been a pro-slavery man in politics from the time he came to Kansas and was elected by that party.