Our Past Is Present November 27, 2017

This is “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.

            In November of 1886, a local boy was running for election as the Congressional Representative from the Fifth District.  John A. Anderson had made his initial Kansas home in Junction City in 1868.  For five years he was the Pastor of the Presbyterian Church and an influential community leader.  According to accounts, he was an energetic, magnetic orator and charismatic man who enjoyed people.  When he left Junction City in 1873 to become the first President of the Kansas State Agriculture College, which is now Kansas State University, he left behind a new church building, a flourishing congregation, a newly established city cemetery and many devoted friends.  One of those friends was George Martin, the staunch Republican editor and founder of the Junction City Union newspaper.

            After five years in his academic role, Anderson entered the political arena and was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives.  In 1885, Anderson was the incumbent and the unanimous choice of the constituents in the district.  However, when the delegates met in Concordia in July to nominate the Republican candidate, some wheeling and dealing took place.

In fact, the nomination went to Judge A.S. Wilson instead.  Anderson’s supporters were outraged and on July 29^th they convened another convention in Clay Center, where Anderson’s name was placed on the ballot as an independent candidate.  On November 6, 1886, theUnion newspaper reported that Anderson had won by a landslide over his two opponents.  Anderson went on to serve several terms in the U.S. Congress and then was appointed U.S. Ambassador to Egypt, where he later died.

 John Anderson was laid to rest in Junction City’s Highland Cemetery, which he helped to create.  

            And… that’s today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical Society.