Thomas Carney

Thomas Carney ( born August 20, 1824 in Tipton, Paulding County, Ohio; † July 28, 1888 in Leavenworth, Kansas ) was an American politician and from 1863 to 1865, the second Governor of the State of Kansas.

Early years and political rise

Thomas Carney attended the local schools of his home in Ohio. He worked on a farm and as a businessman. In 1857 he moved to the Kansas Territory. There he worked as a merchant again. In 1861, Carney was elected as a member of the Republican Party in the House of Representatives of the new State of Kansas. He left with his party colleagues such an impression that he was nominated for the gubernatorial elections of 1862 for their candidate, had been especially since the former Governor Charles L. Robinson fell within his party out of favor and no longer considered. Carney won the election on November 4, 1862 to W. R. Wagstaff with over 4,600 vote lead.

Governor of Kansas

Carney's two-year term began on January 12, 1863. During this time he sat very one for the further development of the administration of Kansas. The state was only two years earlier and the structure of the government apparatus was not yet complete. The same running civil war also demanded by Governor Carney took its toll. He had to recruit soldiers and provide weapons and ammunition for the troops from Kansas. To raise money for it, he personally traveled to New York City to there government bonds to sell. Since the border with Missouri was still uncertain, and went out from there Confederate assaults, presented the governor personally on a border guard units. The Federal Government prohibited the establishment of this force, which was therefore dissolved. Just three days later, it came to a serious attack of the Confederates from Missouri City Lawrence, in which many lives were lost. Domestically Carney put the foundation for a functioning school system in Kansas.

Further CV

After the end of his term Carney was 1865-1866 Mayor of Leavenworth. He was also a co-founder of the First National Bank of Leavenworth. For many years he was then on the board of the bank. In addition, he was director of a railway company and involved in Colorado at a mine. He died in 1888. Thomas Carney was married to Rebecca Ann Canaday, with whom he had five children.