Papers ; Hugh Cameron letters (1907)

Biographical sketch: U.S. senator from Kansas, 1866-71 (Republican), best remembered for his deciding vote against the removal of President Andrew Johnson from office; writer; New Mexico territorial governor, 1885-89. Of Topeka, Kan.; Albuquerque, Santa Fe, N.M.

Abstract: The Edmund G. Ross manuscript collection contains correspondence, biographical sketches, resolutions, and misc. papers. His Civil War letters, mostly to his wife, describe marches; locations; battles including Cane Hill & Prairie Grove; fighting at Cabin Creek; and descriptions of Lawrence & Fort Scott, Kan. Correspondence while a U.S. senator relates to politics, appointments & officials, comments on President Andrew Johnson's impeachment & its aftermath, legislation, Ross's re-election, his legacy, and his book on the impeachment. Letters related to his appointment as territorial governor of New Mexico include material on his appointment & confirmation; trips to Washington, D.C.; and New Mexico political matters. Later letters concern farming, irrigation, and his tenure as secretary of the New Mexico Bureau of Immigration. Many of the letters and messages received support Ross's actions in the Senate and his appointment as governor. There are also clippings, pamphlets, and genealogical materials. Included as well are correspondence and papers relating to Hugh Cameron's pilgrimage to New Mexico in 1907 to see Ross. Other topics include Company E, 11th Kansas Cavalry; James H. Lane; and the Wyandotte (Kan.) Constitutional Convention (1859). Correspondents include S. J. Crawford; Thomas Ewing, Jr.; Nelson A. Miles; Preston B. Plumb; Samuel C. Pomeroy; and Daniel Woodson.

Biog. Sketch (Full):

Edmund G. Ross was born near Ashland, Ohio, on December 7, 1826, the third of fourteen children. At the age of eleven he was apprenticed to Henry C. Grey, owner of the Huron (Ohio) Commercial Advertiser, and began a lifelong involvement in newspaper publishing. In 1841 he moved to Sandusky, Ohio, to work with his brother, Sylvester, who owned the Sandusky Mirror. In 1848 Ross married Fannie Lathrop.

Ross moved to Milwaukee in 1852 where he worked on the Milwaukee Free Democrat and the Milwaukee Daily Sentinel. Incited by events in Kansas Territory, he came to Kansas with his family in 1856 under the Free State (antislavery) banner. He joined the Free State army, and changed his political party affiliation from the Democrats to Republicans, where his sympathies lay. He became involved in politics, being a delegate to the Wyandotte Constitutional Convention. He also continued to pursue interests in various Kansas newspapers, owning part of the Kansas Tribune (Topeka) from 1856 to 1858, and establishing the Kansas State Record in 1859.

During the Civil War Ross served in Company E of the 11th Kansas Cavalry. In 1866 he was appointed by the governor to fill the unexpired United States Senate term of James Lane, who had committed suicide. Ross served in the Senate until 1871. He is best remembered as the man who cast the deciding vote against the impeachment of President Andrew Johnson. Reviled by Republicans and Kansas citizens for this vote, Ross became disillusioned with Republican politics, and left the party in 1872. From 1871 to 1882 he pursued his newspaper interests in Kansas.

A sojourn to New Mexico in 1882 revitalized Ross’s health, convincing him to move to the territory permanently. In 1885 he was appointed territorial governor. He served in this position for four years. In 1889 Ross passed the New Mexico bar and spent the remainder of his life practicing law and writing. Years after the Johnson impeachment trial people began to change their minds about the significance of Ross’s actions, and tributes to his courage in the face of intense political pressure were offered. General Hugh Cameron of Lawrence visited Ross in New Mexico carrying testimonials of good will from Kansas citizens in 1907. Ross died May 9, 1907.

Scope and content:

The Edmund G. Ross manuscript collection consists of correspondence, biographical sketches, resolutions, and miscellaneous papers in one box. An inventory to the original donation is located in folder one of the collection. This inventory includes a listing of most of the correspondence contained in the collection, plus clippings, pamphlets, and genealogical materials that were either transferred to the Kansas State Historical Society's library collection or discarded. Patrons are advised that this inventory does not accurately reflect the current holdings of the Kansas State Historical Society’s Library and Archives Division.

The Society also holds microfilmed Papers, 1885–1889, of Ross’s tenure as governor of New Mexico Territory (microfilm MS 794–MS 796). This microfilm—produced by the State Records Center and Archives, New Mexico Commission of Public Records—is available on inter-library loan from the Kansas State Historical Society.

Contents: Collection inventory, 1944 (folder 1) -- correspondence, 1856-1933 (folders 2-9) -- misc. papers (folder 10) -- Hugh Cameron. Correspondence and papers relating to pilgrimage to New Mexico, 1907 (folder 11) -- oversize material -- Records of the territorial governors [of New Mexico] : 1885-1889 (microfilm).

Other Finding Aid/Index: Full finding aid can be found at the Kansas State Historical Society and on its website: http://www.kshs.org/p/edmund-g-ross-collection/14112

Use and reproduction: Information on literary rights available from the Kansas Historical Society (Topeka).

Reproduction: Records as New Mexico territorial governor: Microfilm. Santa Fe, N.M. : State Records Center and Archives, New Mexico Commission of Public Records, 1972. 3 reels ; 35 mm. Kansas Historical Society roll numbers MS 794-MS 796; available for research or inter-library loan.

Cite as: Edmund G. Ross collection, no. 491, State Archives and Library, Kansas Historical Society.

General Note:
Component unit: Ross, Edmund G. (Edmund Gibson), 1826-1907. Records of the territorial governors : 1885-1889. Kansas Historical Society microfilm rolls MS 794-MS 796. (OCoLC)731227169