My Genealogy Hound

HON. EDWARD WALLIS HOCH.
Hon. Edward Wallis Hoch, Governor of the State of Kansas, elected to the Office in November, 1904, stands today as one of the leading public men of the United States. Through the years of greatest storm and stress, Kansas became acquainted with this fearless and uncompromising defender of the people’s rights, and when the time was ripe conferred on him the highest honor in the commonwealth he had served so well.

Born in Kentucky on March 17, 1849, and educated in the schools of his native place, Danville, and at Center College, Kentucky, Edward Wallis Hoch came to Kansas at the age of 23, little dreaming of the future awaiting him. Completing his apprenticeship to the printer’s trade, he turned his attention for a time to farming in Marion County, but in a short time he purchased a newspaper, the Marion Record, and entered upon a career in the field of journalism. Overcoming the obstacles and discouragements which swept many a brave man off his feet in those days, Mr. Hoch by 1876 had firmly established himself, and since that time the Marion Record has been not only a financial success, but has been the exponent of what is the greatest and best as regards public interests in this State.

In 1888 he became prominent in public life as the member from Marion County to the State House of Representatives, where his voice was raised in support of those reforms for which he had so long battled with his pen. His eloquence and convincing arguments always claimed attention. In 1892 he was reelected and was made Speaker pro tem and in this position, a difficult one at the time, his discretion and judgment brought about the success of the Republican contingent and peaceful adjustment of all difficulties. On two occasions he has been urged for Congress by his party, and the trend of public opinion was shown as early as 1894, when he was actively supported by the Republican State Convention for Governor.

At the Republican State Convention, at Wichita, Kansas, Mr. Hoch was nominated for the office of Governor by acclamation on March 8, 1904. His Democratic opponent at the polls in November, 1904, was David M. Dale, of Wichita, Kansas. Mr. Hoch was elected by the large plurality of 69,740. His election to this high office justifies the judgment and prediction of his friends for many years. Not for one moment do the people doubt what his administration will be. With a determined devotion to principle, with high-ideals of public duty, he will pursue his fearless way, with disinterested patriotism, doing his full obligation in every way, independent of favor or criticism. At the very outset of his term of office, he has been identified with the movement to oust the Standard Oil Company and its branches from the State of Kansas. The war on this hydra-headed monopoly is being viewed, with intense interest by other commonwealths of this country, many of which hope to follow the leadership of Kansas in this struggle, if the fight proves successful.

In May, 1876, Governor Hoch was married to Sarah Lou Dickerson, of Marion, Kansas, and they have four children, namely: Edna, Homer W., Anna and Wallis, who is named after his father. In matters of religion Mr. Hoch is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and has long been an active worker in the church and Sunday-school.