Chase County Kansas Historical
Sketches
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Chase County Senator and House of Representatives
Researched by: Mrs. John Crofoot
Elias Sleeper Stover was the first Chase County Senator. He was elected from Morris and adjoining counties in 1870. Senators served two terms at
that time.
Mr. Stover was born at Rockland, Main, November 22, 1836. He studied navigation and like his
father became a sea captain. In 1858 he came to
Kansas and because of the slavery issue, changed
his political allegiance from Democratic to the
Republican party. He served in the Civil War and
then returned to Kansas and engaged in business
in Junction City. He procured the charter of the
First National Bank of Council Grove, of which he
was a director for two years. In 1876 he moved to
Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he engaged in the
wholesale and retail mercantile business.
He died at Albuquerque, February 3, 1927.
THEN AND NOW IN THE HOUSE
OF REPRESENTATIVES
In the Territorial House of 1861, S.N. Wood was
the Representative for the Thirteenth Legislative
District. This consisted of Morris, Chase and But
ler Counties. Chase County since 1862 was represented in the House by E.A. Alfred, M.R. Leonard,
S.N. Wood, Henry Brandley, Orlo II, Drinkwater,
E.B. Crocker, F.R. Hunt, Stephen M. Wood and in
1872 when the County Courthouse was built, the
county was represented by J.W. McWilliams.
John W. McWilliams was born in Cannonsburg,
Washington Co., Pennsylvania, September 8, 1841.
He graduated from Jefferson College at Cannons
burg in 1861 and from Columbia Law School in
Washington D.C. in 1967. In 1870 he came to Kansas. He located at Cottonwood Falls, and engaged
in the real estate, loans and insurance business.
He was Mayor of the City three years. He served
one term in the legislature.
Pascal A. Roniger is serving his second term in
the House of Representatives at the Chase County
Courthouse celebrates its 100th year. He was born
November 10, 1914 in the house where he now re-
sides. He has spent all but ten years of his life
as a resident of Chase County. He was educated in
Elmdale Grade and High School and graduated from
the University of Kansas in 1939. He is married to
Martha Sharer from Garden City, Kansas and they
have two children, Ann and John, both of whom are
married and Ann's husband and John are both making
a career in the military.
Chase County Centennial, 1872 - 1972