My Genealogy Hound

HON. SAMUEL A. KINGMAN.
Almost more honored and beloved than any other of the State’s distinguished citizens was the late Judge Kingman, who for 14 years served on the Supreme Court bench, and for nine years was chief justice. As the acknowledged leader in that great historical gathering, the Wyandotte convention, in 1859, the same which formed the Free-State constitution which insured inalienable rights to the citizens of this great commonwealth, he won the undying gratitude of his fellow-citizens. Had his life closed then before it had been crowned with later honors, he had done enough. As father of the homestead exemption law, one which in its every provision is generous and satisfactory, he insured justice to the weak and helpless and provided for the widow and the fatherless. Kansas loved him; Kansas honored him, and, when he passed away, in venerable old age, the State mourned him.

Judge Kingman was born in the earlier years of the past century, on June 26, 1818, a native of Worthington, Massachusetts, and was a son of Isaiah and Lucy Kingman. His education was pursued first in the common schools of his native village and he also passed some time at the local Mountain Academy, all of his knowledge gained here, however, being indifferent to what he wrought out for himself. Ambitious to enter upon the study of a profession, he found it necessary to provide the means for himself and at the age of 17 began to teach school. Two years later he secured a school in Kentucky and an opportunity to devote some time to the study of the law, and subsequently sought his first clients at Carrollton, in that State. Later he removed to Livingston County and entered into politics there, was elected county clerk and district attorney and also served three years in the State Legislature.

The wider fields opening in the West encouraged him to remove in the spring of 1856 to Iowa, and in the following year to Kansas. After six months spent at Leavenworth, he took up a land claim in Brown County, near the present site of the town of Horton, but in the summer of 1858 he removed to Hiawatha and resumed his law practice. His ability, his gifts and high character were almost immediately recognized and when the time came for the calling of that notable assemblage, the Wyandotte constitutional convention, he was appointed the delegate from Brown County. His great work in this convention is State history. When the organization of the State of Kansas was completed, he was elected associate justice of the Supreme Court, serving as such until 1864 when he was nominated for associate justice on the Union Republican ticket, which had Solon O. Thatcher as its nominee for Governor. This ticket was defeated. In the following year, Judge Kingman removed to Atchison and entered into partnership with the late distinguished John James Ingalls, in the practice of the law. One year later, in 1866, he was elected by the Republican party chief justice of the Supreme Court, was reelected in 1872 and continued in office until failing health caused him to resign these heavy responsibilities in 1877. For over 14 years he had occupied this high office and during nine of these had been chief justice. During this long period, no charge was ever entertained that cast any doubt on his personal integrity; he was able, dignified and absolutely impartial. He is represented in the first 17 volumes of the State Reports and the roll call of those lawyers who came before his court reveals the names of such eminent men as John Martin, Stinson, Gamble, McCahon, Brewer, Ingalls, A. L. Williams, Waggener, Shannon, Crozier, Foster, Glick, Ruggles, Plumb, Stillings, Fenlon, Wheat, Bertram, Burns, Usher, Simpson, Burris, Devinney, Otis, McClure, Humphrey, Peck, Thatcher, Cobb and Webb. Chief Justice Kingman was the writer of 226 model opinions, notable papers not only for their sound judgment, perfect comprehension of legal principles, but as well for their brevity and conciseness.

Failing health continued to prevent Judge Kingman from entering conspicuously into either political or legal life after 1877, although he survived, in retirement, far beyond the allotted age of man as given by the Psalmist. He filled the office of State librarian for a short time, but found the duties too confining. He was interested in many representative State and city bodies, having resided at Topeka since 1872. He was the first president of the State Historical Society, of which he was one of the founders and of which he continued a director. At the time of his decease he was still a valued member of the Saint Ananias Club, of Topeka, where he was always welcome; he was its president as long as he lived and was known as its “Perpetual President.” He had served as presiding officer of a number of legal bodies and had been president of the Bar Association of the State of Kansas and of the State judges’ Association. He was a great reader and a skilled writer of verse.

On October 30, 1844, Judge Kingman was united in marriage with Matilda Willets Hartman, of Terre Haute, Indiana, a daughter of Samuel and Susan (Mears) Hartman, of Catawissa, Pennsylvania. Samuel Hartman was a native of Pennsylvania. Judge Kingman is survived by his widow and two daughters: Mrs. Lillian Butterfield and Lucy D., the latter of whom is a prominent member of the Topeka Federation of Women’s Clubs. He is also survived by two granddaughters, Mrs. H. T. Cartlidge and Mrs. George N. Clarke, and by one great-grandson, Richard Kingman Cartlidge. Mrs. Kingman resides at No. 635 Monroe street.

The death of Judge Kingman occurred on September 9, 1904. It was the occasion of innumerable tributes to his worth from those who had known him in the sanctity of private life, in the political arena and on the judicial bench, all of them breathing esteem, honor and admiration.