Doniphan County Wart

 "1854, the Kansas Territory was organized, then in 1861 Kansas became the 34th U.S. state.  

Doniphan County was established on August 25, 1855, then organized on September 18, 1855.  

It is named for the U.S. cavalry commander Colonel Alexander W. Doniphan (1808–1887) of Liberty, Missouri, who played an important part in the Mexican–American War.  

He was a zealous partisan 

in the failed effort 

made to extend slavery

 into Kansas" 

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(GGG gramps Stephenson. Had to see where he is buried.)

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/128066238/david-stephenson 

(Wathena was founded in 1856. The city is named in honor of Chief Wathena, a Native American chief of the Kickapoo tribe who previously lived in the area.) 

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Alexander William Doniphan 

 (July 9, 1808 – August 8, 1887) was a 19th-century American attorney, soldier and politician from Missouri who is best known today as  

the man who prevented the summary execution of 

 Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints,  

at the close of the 1838 Mormon War in that state. 

 He also achieved renown as a leader of American troops during the Mexican–American War,  

as the author of a legal code that still forms the basis of New Mexico's Bill of Rights, and as a successful defense attorney in the Missouri towns of Liberty, Richmond and Independence" 

 Doniphan was a moderate in the events leading up to the American Civil War, opposing secession and favoring neutrality for Missouri.  

Although a slaveholder, Doniphan advocated the gradual elimination of slavery.  

This was in response to proposals of the Republican Party to make emancipation immediate, without compensation to the slaveowners or any preparation of the slaves for life as free men.

Doniphan was also offered high rank in the Union Army, but refused to fight against the South. .

In 1863 he moved to St. Louis and remained there for the rest of the war. During a meeting with Doniphan, 

 President Abraham Lincoln is alleged to have remarked:  

"Doniphan, you are the only man I've ever met whose appearance came up to my expectations"   

Height

6 ft 4 in 

Slaveowner, Attorney, Soldier.