Biography of Excerpted from "Collections of the Kansas State Historical Society, 1911-1912", Edited by Geo. W. Martin, Secretary. Vol XII., State Printing Office, Topeka, Kansas 1912. submitted by Teresa Lindquist (merope@radix.net); (copyright) 2001 by Teresa Lindquist ----------------------------------------------------------------------- KSGENWEB INTERNET GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY COPYRIGHT NOTICE: In keeping with the KSGenWeb policy of providing free information on the Internet, this data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages cannot be reproduced in any format for profit or other gain. Copying of the files within by non-commercial individuals and libraries is encouraged. Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other means requires the written approval of the file's author. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- JOHN FRANCIS, who has had the unique distinction of being called at two different times to take hold of the state treasury in days of chaos, and establish order, resides on a farm in Allen county, and on the 23d day of February, 1912, celebrated his golden wedding. Mr. Francis was born in Norfolk, England, April 24, 1837. By the death of his father, John Francis, he was left at two years of age to the care of his mother, whose maiden name was Sarah Kitteringham. She was a woman of much energy and unusual strength of character, and under her hand he was educated and brought to his majority, in the meantime doing what he could toward his own support. Having acquired a taste for reading, he knew all about the free-soil contest in Kansas, and in August, 1858, he left England, coming direct to Kansas, remaining at Osawatomie for a time and mixing with the friends and followers of John Brown. In March, 1859, he filed on a claim in Allen county, which he afterwards entered, and which is within a mile of his present home. In July, 1861, he enlisted in the Third Kansas, Col. James Montgomery commanding. In the spring of 1862 the company to which he belonged was transferred to the Fifth Kansas, where it was known as company D. He was mustered out in November, 1863, on account of disabilities contracted in the line of duty. He returned to Allen county and was elected county clerk, and re-elected in 1865, during which time he read law. He also held, under appointment of the late Judge D. M. Valentine, then judge of the fourth district, the office of clerk of the district court, and at the expiration of his appointive term was elected to the office, which he resigned in 1868. In November, 1867, he was elected county treasurer, and re-elected in 1869. From 1869 to 1877 he engaged in merchandising at Iola. May 1, 1874, he was appointed state treasurer by Governor Osborn, and served until January 12, 1875. December 25, 1875, he was again appointed, this time followed by three elections, November 1876, November 1878, and November 1880. In his message to the legislature of 1876 Governor Osborn said: "'For the second time during my incumbency of the executive office Hon. John Francis was invited to assume the arduous and responsible duties of state treasurer, and his acceptance is a sufficient guaranty to the people that those duties will be honorably discharged." February 23, 1862, he was married to Lodeska Coffield, whose parents came to Allen county in 1860 from Indiana, of which state she is a native. Mr. Francis represented Allen county in the legislatures of 1899, 1901 and 1903. In 1899 he was chairman of the committee on state affairs and a member of the ways and means committee, and in the sessions of 1901 and 1903 he was chairman of the ways and means committee. For the year 1901 he was president of the Kansas State Historical Society, having been a member since its organization. (Included with the article, "A History of the Kansas School Fund.", page 212)