Daniel Read Anthony
Encyclopedia
Daniel Read Anthony was an American
publisher and abolitionist. Considered colorful and controversial, he published the Leavenworth Times
in Leavenworth, Kansas
, as well as other newspapers in the area.
Anthony was born in Adams, Massachusetts
, one of eight children born to Daniel Anthony and Lucy Read. His older sister was Susan B. Anthony
.
Anthony first came to Kansas
in 1854 as part of the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Company
to fight against the extension of slavery
to the Kansas Territory
. He settled in Leavenworth in 1857 where he founded the Leavenworth Conservative newspaper in 1861. He was also named the town postmaster
. Leavenworth at the time was the end of the telegraph line and in 1861 he rode by horseback to Lawrence, Kansas
to inform the territorial legislature of the approval of statehood for Kansas
.
In 1861, R.C. Satterlee of the Kansas Herald accused Anthony of being a coward. They met on the street and exchanged gunfire with Satterlee being killed.
During the American Civil War
, in 1861 and 1862, Anthony was a lieutenant colonel in the Union
Seventh Kansas Regiment where he saw action in Tennessee
, Kentucky
, Mississippi
and Alabama
.
He was elected Leavenworth mayor
in 1863 and he enlisted several volunteers to burn buildings of Confederate
sympathizers on the edge of town. Union General Thomas Ewing
, who placed Leavenworth under martial law
during the American Civil War
, had him arrested for interfering with martial law (Anthony said they could locally maintain order in their own city).
In 1864 Anthony bought the Leavenworth Bulletin. In 1866 he was removed as postmaster for not supporting Reconstruction policies. He was elected presiding officer of the Republican State Convention in 1868.
In 1871, Anthony purchased the Times, the oldest daily newspaper in Kansas. His public stance on issues and his steady acquisition of newspapers raised controversy. In 1875, William Embry, editor of the Daily Appeal, shot him at the Leavenworth Opera House. He was not expected to live and Susan visited him. In 1876 he bought the Leavenworth Commercial, giving him a monopoly on local newspapers.
In 1887, after Anthony was horsewhipped by a man, Leavenworth residents paid by "nickel subscription" the $100 fine for a man charged with horsewhipping. In 1891 the town's mayor was fined $30 for whipping Anthony.
Anthony’s son Daniel Read Anthony, Jr.
edited the paper and served as Congressman from 1907 to 1929.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
publisher and abolitionist. Considered colorful and controversial, he published the Leavenworth Times
Leavenworth Times
The Leavenworth Times is a daily newspaper in Leavenworth, Kansas and is the oldest daily newspaper in Kansas.The newspaper was founded in 1856 by Robert Crozier, who would become a U.S. Senator. In 1871 Daniel R. Anthony bought the newspaper. In that year Anthony shot and killed a rival...
in Leavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth, Kansas
Leavenworth is the largest city and county seat of Leavenworth County, in the U.S. state of Kansas and within the Kansas City, Missouri Metropolitan Area. Located in the northeast portion of the state, it is on the west bank of the Missouri River. As of the 2010 census, the city population was...
, as well as other newspapers in the area.
Anthony was born in Adams, Massachusetts
Adams, Massachusetts
Adams is a town in Berkshire County, Massachusetts, United States. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 8,485 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, one of eight children born to Daniel Anthony and Lucy Read. His older sister was Susan B. Anthony
Susan B. Anthony
Susan Brownell Anthony was a prominent American civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the 19th century women's rights movement to introduce women's suffrage into the United States. She was co-founder of the first Women's Temperance Movement with Elizabeth Cady Stanton as President...
.
Anthony first came to Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
in 1854 as part of the Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Company
Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Company
The New England Emigrant Aid Company was a transportation company created to transport immigrants to the Kansas Territory to shift the balance of power so that Kansas would enter the United States as a free state rather than a slave state...
to fight against the extension of slavery
Slavery
Slavery is a system under which people are treated as property to be bought and sold, and are forced to work. Slaves can be held against their will from the time of their capture, purchase or birth, and deprived of the right to leave, to refuse to work, or to demand compensation...
to the Kansas Territory
Kansas Territory
The Territory of Kansas was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until January 29, 1861, when the eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Kansas....
. He settled in Leavenworth in 1857 where he founded the Leavenworth Conservative newspaper in 1861. He was also named the town postmaster
Postmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
. Leavenworth at the time was the end of the telegraph line and in 1861 he rode by horseback to Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence, Kansas
Lawrence is the sixth largest city in the U.S. State of Kansas and the county seat of Douglas County. Located in northeastern Kansas, Lawrence is the anchor city of the Lawrence, Kansas, Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Douglas County...
to inform the territorial legislature of the approval of statehood for Kansas
Kansas
Kansas is a US state located in the Midwestern United States. It is named after the Kansas River which flows through it, which in turn was named after the Kansa Native American tribe, which inhabited the area. The tribe's name is often said to mean "people of the wind" or "people of the south...
.
In 1861, R.C. Satterlee of the Kansas Herald accused Anthony of being a coward. They met on the street and exchanged gunfire with Satterlee being killed.
During the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, in 1861 and 1862, Anthony was a lieutenant colonel in the Union
Union Army
The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...
Seventh Kansas Regiment where he saw action in Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
, Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
and Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
.
He was elected Leavenworth mayor
Mayor
In many countries, a Mayor is the highest ranking officer in the municipal government of a town or a large urban city....
in 1863 and he enlisted several volunteers to burn buildings of Confederate
Confederate States of America
The Confederate States of America was a government set up from 1861 to 1865 by 11 Southern slave states of the United States of America that had declared their secession from the U.S...
sympathizers on the edge of town. Union General Thomas Ewing
Thomas Ewing
Thomas Ewing, Sr. was a National Republican and Whig politician from Ohio. He served in the U.S. Senate as well as serving as the Secretary of the Treasury and the first Secretary of the Interior.-Biography:...
, who placed Leavenworth under martial law
Martial law
Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis— only temporary—when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively , when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, had him arrested for interfering with martial law (Anthony said they could locally maintain order in their own city).
In 1864 Anthony bought the Leavenworth Bulletin. In 1866 he was removed as postmaster for not supporting Reconstruction policies. He was elected presiding officer of the Republican State Convention in 1868.
In 1871, Anthony purchased the Times, the oldest daily newspaper in Kansas. His public stance on issues and his steady acquisition of newspapers raised controversy. In 1875, William Embry, editor of the Daily Appeal, shot him at the Leavenworth Opera House. He was not expected to live and Susan visited him. In 1876 he bought the Leavenworth Commercial, giving him a monopoly on local newspapers.
In 1887, after Anthony was horsewhipped by a man, Leavenworth residents paid by "nickel subscription" the $100 fine for a man charged with horsewhipping. In 1891 the town's mayor was fined $30 for whipping Anthony.
Anthony’s son Daniel Read Anthony, Jr.
Daniel Read Anthony, Jr.
Daniel Read Anthony, Jr. was an American Republican politician and a nephew of suffragist and political leader Susan B. Anthony .He is the son of newspaper publisher Daniel Read Anthony...
edited the paper and served as Congressman from 1907 to 1929.