Kepre$(ntativc Citizens DAVID WASSON STORMONT, M. D. With the death of Dr. David Wasson Stormont, at his beautiful home in Topeka, Kansas, on August i8, 1887, was brought to a close a useful and well-rounded life, rich in good deeds and dear to the memory of thousands. He was born September 26, 1820, at Princeton, Gibson County, Indiana. His father was a substantial man of that locality who was able to give his son the advantages of a college education. Dr. Stormont received his degree in 1845, and began and continued his practice until 1859, in the village of Grand View, Illinois, in the meantime adding to his medical knowledge and surgical skill by post-graduate courses at the University of Pennsylvania. In 1862 he sought the attractive field offered by the rapidly growing city of Topeka, with which city he was identi- fied during the succeeding 25 years. He was connected with many medical organizations and was a strong supporter of the movement that was organ- ized to spread a knowledge of advanced methods and to require a higher standard of medical education for the profession. For a number of years he was secretary of the State Board of Health. In practice he was all that could be desired in a physician, adding to this medical skill the true sympathy of a tender-hearted man. The influence Dr. Stormont wielded, both directly and by his stimulating example, was not confined in its effects entirely to the medical profession, but was apparent in the promotion of educational and philanthropic works. On October 30, 1848, Dr. Stormont was married to Jane Cree Smith, of Grand View, Illinois. This estimable lady survives and it has been her pleasure to not only carry oi;t many philanthropic plans of her late husband but to erect at Topeka enduring moHuments to his memory. In the Stormont Medical Library and in The Jane C. Stormont Hospital and Training School for Nurses are public gifts which will bring blessings in their wake for gen- 244 HISTORY OF SHAWNEE COUNTY erations. Other public buildings have profited by her generosity while her helping hand is continually extended in support of innumerable charities. The hospital was established in 1895, at which time Mrs. Stormont gave the building lots and the sum of $20,000. This institution has since been en- larged and has achieved grand results in the field of charity. Mrs. Stormont gave to the Stormont Medical Library books to the value of $5,000 and for its maintenance endowed the library with the same amount. She also con- tributed the sum of $5,000 to the support of the Topeka Free Public Library. The late Dr. Stormont was no politician, but he always took a deep in- terest in public matters and was the advisor of many prominent political and business organizers, his high character and sterling integrity making his sup- port very valuable. During the administration of President Lincoln he was appointed receiver of public moneys at Topeka. His remains rest in the Topeka Cemetery under a monument of enduring granite, typical of the strength of his character and also of the long-continued remembrance of his fellow-citizens. Mrs. Stormont resides in a handsome home at Ingleside, and is sur- rounded by many friends of long years standing. Portraits of Dr. and Mrs. Stormont accompany this sketch. HON. W. C. WEBB. Hon. W. C. Webb, deceased, was for many years a leading political factor in the State of Kansas, as well as an honored member of the Shawnee County bench. Judge Webb was born in Pennsylvania, coming from a family of lawyers, legislators and soldiers. The father of Judge Webb and his three brothers were lawyers, two of the brothers being district judges and one a circuit judge, and his three sons are also lawyers, and six of the eight have been elected to the legislative halls of their various States. His grandfather was a private soldier in a Connecticut regiment during the Revolutionary War; his father and grand- father both served as private soldiers in the second war with Great Britian, 1812-15, and Judge Webb and his three brothers, his oldest son and his sister's two sons, all served in the Union Army during the Civil War. After the close of the Civil War, in 1866, Judge Webb came to Kansas. His earlier life had been one of industry and activity and he had already reaped many laurels. He commenced his career as a practical printer and he eflited and published a Democratic paper for some years in Pennsylvania, but left that political organization on account of its pro-slavery attitude, and AND REPRESENTATIVE CITIZENS. 245 in 1854 he assisted in the organization of the Repubhcan party. Shortly- after his admission to the bar, he removed to Wisconsin and enhsted from that State and after the close of three years of service had won the rank of colonel through personal bravery. During his residence in Wisconsin, Judge Webb supported Republican principles, was there elected several times to the Legislature and was made county judge and district attorney. After coming to Kansas he was three times elected to the Legislature and held many offices, including county at- torney, judge of the District Court, judge of the Superior Court of Shawnee County and others. He was, also, the first insurance commissioner of the State and was Supreme Court reporter during the time covered from Vol. 6 to Vol. 20. With his experience of more than 40 years as a lawyer, he made a re- markable record as a lawyer and a jurist. He was one of the best informed men in legal circles, but was not a brilliant orator or a spellbinder. His work, however, was so accurate and his conclusions so sound that he was widely consulted on intricate points by his brother attorneys, who knew that complete confidence could be placed in his conclusions. It was a matter of pride with him that the Supreme Court had upheld every bill which he had adjudged perfect. He owned one of the best law libraries in the State, and was the author of works himself, his last labor of this kind being the compila- tion of the "Revised Statutes of Kansas," authorized by the previous Legisla- ture. In 1 89 1 he released himself from the Republican party and became an advocate of the principles of the Populist party, and in 1896 was a candidate for the Populist nomination for chief justice of the Supreme Court. Judge Webb died April 19, 1898, at his home, No. 827 Quincy street, Topeka, which continues to be thet family residence. He was survived by his widow and four children, the latter being as follows: Sarah (Mrs. Richard L. Walker), of Kansas City, Kansas, whose husband died in February, 1903; Linus S., of Parsons, Kansas; Mary W. (Mrs. George L. Walker), of Topeka, and Lovell H., of Winfield. Kansas. HON. J. B. JOHNSON. his The death of Judge J. B. Johnson in February, 1899. at home on West Sixth street. Topeka, removed one of Kansas' leading attorneys and able men, one who had distinguished himself as signally in peaceful pursuits as he had done on the field of battle. Judge Johnson was born in Mc- Donough County, Illinois, in 1841. 246 HISTORY OF SHAWNEE COUNTY When but a lad of 17 years he took up arms in defense of his country's liberties and his valiant services were of such a nature that he was given a captain's commission before the close of the war. He then entered upon the study of the law, for which his great talents especially fitted him, becoming a notable member of the profession and rising to an honorable position on the bench. He was judge of the Circuit Court of Shawnee County when that court existed and was a candidate for the Republican nomination for Governor on several occasions. After serving several terms in the Kansas House of Representatives from Jefferson and Shawnee counties, he was chosen Speaker of the House in 1881 and four years later was again chosen Speaker. His personality was of such a character that, in a city of particularly able men, he filled a place which no other has been found to occupy. Judge Johnson was an honored and valued member of the Lincoln Post of the Grand Army of the Republic, which had charge of the funeral obsequies, which were of a most impressive nature. After a beautiful sermon by Dr. Linus Blakesley, of the First Congregational Church, the mortal re- mains of one who had been loyal in every relation of life were taken in charge by his comrades, who paid them every military honor before leaving them in the vault which had been prepared in the Topeka Cemetery. A wealth of the most beautiful blossoms to be secured, arranged in every artistic design to express love and regret, had been sent in token of the honor, affection and respect entertained by his professional brethren, business asso- ciates and the general public. The active pall-bearers on this sad occasion were: Judge Charles F. Johnson, of Oskaloosa, Kansas; Dr. George W. Hogebloom; Charles Blood Smith; Judge W. A. Johnson; Capt. R. M. Spivey and George W. Findlay. The honorary pall-bearers, appointed by the Topeka Bar Association, were : Judges S. A. Kingman, A. H. Horton, D. M. Valen- tine, S. H. Allen, John Martin, John T. Morton, John Guthrie and Z. T. Hazen. C. H. GUIBOR, M. D. Few members of the medical profession in the State of Kansas have been more justly entitled to eminence than the late Dr.