Kansas Governors
The governor of the State of Kansas heads the executive branch which
includes the lieutenant governor, secretary of state, and attorney general.
Territorial governors were appointed by the U. S. President. After statehood,
for more than 100 years, the electorate filled these offices every two
years. Beginning with the 1974 election, the term of office became four
years.
The Kansas State Archives houses the records of all Kansas governors,
with the exception of George Docking, Robert Docking and Robert Bennett.
George Docking destroyed his records after leaving office; Robert Docking
and Bennett deposited theirs at the Spencer
Research Library at the University of Kansas. Much of the information
for this page was taken from Kansas Governors
by Homer E. Socolofsky. You can read an
essay on Kansas Governors on the KSHS site, and read the
governors' messages and see their portraits on the Kansas State
Library site.
 A New Digital Portal
Chronological Guide to Kansas Governors and Their Records
| Name |
Term of Office |
Biographical Notes |
Link to Description of Records |
Number |
Territorial Period, 1854-1861 |
| Reeder, Andrew H. |
Commissioned June 29, 1854, took the oath of office
7 July, arrived in Kansas Territory on October 7, served to April
17, 1855. |
B: July 12, 1807.
D: July 5, 1864.
Democrat. |
|
1. (KT) |
| Woodson, Daniel |
April 17 - June 23, 1855 (Acting) |
B: May 24, 1824, Albemarle County, Virginia
D: October 5, 1894, Claremore, Indian Territory (though resident
of Coffeyville, Kansas).
Democrat from Virginia. |
|
2. (KT) |
| Reeder, Andrew H. |
June 23 - August 16, 1855 |
|
|
1. (KT) |
| Woodson, Daniel |
August 16 - September 7, 1855 |
|
|
2. (KT) |
| Shannon, Wilson |
Commissioned August 10, 1855, sworn in September
7; served until June 24, 1856 |
B: February 24, 1802.
D: August 30, 1877.
Democrat. |
|
3. (KT) |
| Woodson, Daniel |
June 24 - July 7, 1856 (Acting) |
|
|
2. (KT) |
| Shannon, Wilson |
July 7 - August 18, 1856; sworn in the 2nd time
June 13, 1856 |
|
|
3. (KT) |
| Woodson, Daniel |
August 18 - September 9, 1856 (Acting) |
|
|
2. (KT) |
| Geary, John White |
September 9, 1856 - March 12, 1857; resigned March
4 to take effect March 20. |
B: December 30, 1819, Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania
D: February 8, 1873, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Democrat from Pennsylvania.
|
|
4. (KT) |
| Woodson, Daniel |
March 12 - April 16, 1857 (Acting) |
|
|
2. (KT) |
| Stanton, Frederick P. |
April 16 - May 27, 1857 (Acting) |
B: December 22, 1841, Alexandria, Virginia.
D: June 4, 1984
Democrat from Tennessee. |
|
5. (KT) |
| Walker, Robert |
Sworn in May 9, 1857; served May 27 - November
16, 1857 |
B: July 23, 1801, Northumberland, Pennsylvania.
D: November 11, 1869 in Washington, D. C.
Democrat from Washington, D. C. |
|
6. (KT) |
| Stanton, Frederick P. |
November 16 - December 21, 1857 (Acting) |
|
|
5. (KT) |
| Denver, James W. |
December 21, 1857 - May 12, 1858 (acting); appointed
and served May 12 - July 3, 1858 |
B: October 23, 1817.
D: August 9, 1892.
Democrat. |
|
7. (KT) |
| Walsh, Hugh Sleight |
July 3 - July 30, 1858 (Acting) |
B: November 10, 1810 Newburgh, New York.
D: April 23, 1877, Grantville, Kansas.
Democrat from Kansas Territory. |
| 8. (KT) |
| Denver, James W. |
July 30 - October 10, 1858 |
|
|
7. (KT) |
| Walsh, Hugh Sleight |
October 10 - December 18, 1858 (Acting) |
|
|
8. (KT) |
| Medary, Samuel |
Took the oath December 1, 1858; commission dated
December 22; served December 18, 1858 - August 1, 1859 |
B: February 25, 1801.
D: November 7, 1864.
Democrat from Ohio. |
|
9. (KT) |
| Walsh, Hugh Sleight |
August 1 - September 15, 1859 (Acting) |
|
|
8. (KT) |
| Medary, Samuel |
September 15, 1859 - April 15, 1860 |
|
|
9. (KT) |
| Walsh, Hugh Sleight |
April 15 - June 16, 1860 (Acting) |
|
|
8. (KT) |
| Medary, Samuel |
June 16 - September 11, 1860 |
|
|
9. (KT) |
| Beebe, George M. |
September 11 - November 26, 1860 (Acting) |
B: October 28, 1836.
D: March 4, 1927.
Democrat. |
|
10. (KT) |
| Medary, Samuel |
November 26 - December 17, 1860 |
|
|
9. (KT) |
| Beebe, George M. |
December 17, 1860 - February 9, 1861 |
|
|
10. (KT) |
| After Statehood, 1861- |
| Robinson, Charles |
February9, 1861 - January 12, 1863 |
B: July 21, 1818, Hardwick, Massachusetts.
D: August 17, 1894, Lawrence, Kansas.
Republican physician from Lawrence. |
finding
aid |
1. |
| Carney, Thomas |
January 12, 1863 - January 9, 1865 |
B: August 20, 1824, Delaware County, Ohio.
D: July 28, 1888, Leavenworth, Kansas.
Republican grocer from Leavenworth. |
finding
aid |
2. |
| Crawford, Samuel Johnson |
January 9, 1865 - November 4, 1868; resigned to
take command of the 19th Kansas Regiment. |
B: April 10, 1835, Lawrence County, Indiana.
D: October 21, 1913, Topeka, Kansas.
Republican lawyer from Garnett. The youngest man to serve as Kansas
governor; aged 29 years when he took office. |
finding
aid |
3. |
| Green, Nehemiah |
November 4, 1868 - January 11, 1869 |
B: March 8, 1837, Hardin County, Ohio.
D: January 12, 1890, Manhattan, Kansas.
Republican minister from Manhattan. |
finding
aid |
4. |
| Harvey, James Madison |
January 11, 1869 - January 13, 1873 |
B: September 21, 1833, Monroe County, Virginia.
D: April 15, 1894 near Junction City, Kansas.
Republican soldier from Fort Riley. |
finding
aid |
5. |
| Osborn, Thomas Andrew |
January 13, 1873 - January 8, 1877 |
B: October 26, 1836, Meadville, Pennsylvania.
D: February 4, 1898, Meadville, Pennsylvania.
Republican lawyer and printer from Leavenworth. |
finding
aid |
6. |
| Anthony, George Tobey |
January 8, 1877 - January 13, 1879 |
B: June 9, 1824, Mayfield, New York.
D: August 5, 1896, Topeka, Kansas.
Republican publisher from Leavenworth. |
finding
aid |
7. |
| St. John, John Pierce |
January 13, 1879 - January 8, 1883 |
B: February 25, 1833, Brookfield, Indiana.
D: August 31, 1916, Olathe, Kansas.
Republican lawyer from Olathe. |
finding
aid |
8. |
| Glick, George Washington |
January 8, 1883 - January 12, 1885 |
B: July 4, 1827, Greencastle, Ohio.
D: April 13, 1911, Atchison, Kansas.
Democratic lawyer and farmer from Atchison. |
finding
aid |
9. |
| Martin, John Alexander |
January 12, 1885 - January 14, 1889 |
B: March 10, 1839, Brownsville, Pennsylvania.
D: October 2, 1889, Atchison, Kansas.
Republican editor from Atchison. |
finding
aid |
10. |
| Humphrey, Lyman Underwood |
January 14, 1889 - January 9, 1893 |
B: July 25, 1844, Stark County, Ohio.
D: September 12, 1915, Independence, Kansas.
Republican publisher from Independence. |
|
11. |
| Lewelling, Lorenzo Dow |
January 9, 1893 - January 14, 1895 |
B: December 1, 1846, Salem, Iowa.
D: September 3, 1900, Arkansas City, Kansas.
Populist businessman from Wichita. |
|
12. |
| Morrill, Edmund Needham |
January 14, 1895 - January 11, 1897 |
B: February 12, 1834, Westbrook, Maine.
D: March 14, 1909, San Antonio, Texas.
Republican banker from Hiawatha. |
|
13. |
| Leedy, John Whitnah |
January 11, 1897 - January 9, 1899 |
B: March 8, 1849, Richland County, Pennsylvania.
D: March 24, 1935, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Populist farmer from Le Roy. |
|
14. |
| Stanley, William Eugene |
January 9, 1899 - January 12, 1903 |
B: December 28, 1844, Danville, Ohio.
D: October 13, 1910, Wichita, Kansas.
Republican lawyer from Wichita. |
|
15. |
| Bailey, Willis Joshua |
January 12, 1903 - January 9, 1905 |
B: October 12, 1854, Carroll County, Illinois.
D: May 19, 1932, Kansas City.
Republican farmer and banker from Baileyville. |
|
16. |
| Hoch, Edward Wallis |
January 9, 1905 - January 11, 1909 |
B: March 17, 1849, Danville, Kentucky.
D: June 1, 1925, Marion, Kansas.
Republican editor from Marion. |
|
17. |
| Stubbs, Walter Roscoe |
January 11, 1909 - January 13, 1913 |
B: November 7, 1858, Richmond, Virginia.
D: March 25, 1929, Topeka, Kansas.
Republican contractor from Lawrence. |
|
18. |
| Hodges, George Hartshorn |
January 13, 1913 - January 11, 1915 |
B: February 6, 1866, Richland County, Wisconsin.
D: October 7, 1947, Kansas City, Missouri.
Democratic lumberman from Olathe. |
|
19. |
| Capper, Arthur |
January 11, 1915 - January 13, 1919 |
B: July 14, 1865, Garnett, Kansas.
D: December 19, 1951, Topeka, Kansas.
Republican publisher from Topeka. |
|
20. |
| Allen, Henry Justin |
January 13, 1919 - January 8, 1923 |
B: September 11, 1868, Cory, Pennsylvania.
D: January 17, 1950, Wichita, Kansas.
Republican publisher from Wichita. |
|
21. |
| Davis, Jonathan McMillen |
January 8, 1923 - January 12, 1925 |
B: April 26, 1871, Bronson, Kansas.
D: June 27, 1943, Fort Scott, Kansas.
Democratic stockman and author from Bronson. |
|
22. |
| Paulen, Ben Sanford |
January 12, 1925 - January 14, 1929 |
B: July 14, 1869, DeWitt County, Illinois.
D: July 11, 1961, Fredonia, Kansas.
Republican banker from Fredonia. |
|
23. |
| Reed, Clyde Martin |
January 14, 1929 - January 12, 1931 |
B: Octobr 19, 1871, Champaign County, Illinois.
D: November 8, 1949, Parsons, Kansas.
Republican publisher from Parsons. |
|
24. |
| Woodring, Harry Hines |
January 12, 1931 - January 9, 1933 |
B: May 31, 1890, Elk City, Kansas.
D: September 9, 1967, Topeka, Kansas.
Democratic banker from Neodesha. |
finding
aid |
25. |
| Landon, Alfred Mossman |
January 9, 1933 - January 11, 1937 |
B: September 9, 1887, W. Middlesex, Pennsylvania.
D: October 12, 1987, Topeka, Kansas.
Republican oilman from Independence. |
|
26. |
| Huxman, Walter Augustus
| January 11, 1937 - January 9, 1939 |
B: Februbary 16, 1887, Pretty Prairie, Kansas.
D: June 25, 1972, Topeka, Kansas.
Democratic lawyer from Hutchinson. |
finding
aid |
27. |
| Ratner, Payne |
January 9, 1939 - January 11, 1943 |
B: October 3, 1896, Casey, Illinois.
D: December 27, 1974, Wichita, Kansas.
Republican lawyer from Parsons. |
|
28. |
| Schoeppel, Andrew F. |
January 11, 1943 - January 13, 1947 |
B: November 23, 1894, Claflin, Kansas.
D: January 21, 1962, Bethesda, Maryland.
Republican lawyer from Ness City. |
finding
aid |
29. |
| Carlson, Frank |
January 13, 1947 - November 28, 1950; resigned
to become U.S. senator |
B: January 23, 1893, Concordia, Kansas.
D: May 30, 1987, Concordia, Kansas.
Republican farmer/stockman from Concordia. |
finding
aid |
30. |
| Hagaman, Frank L. |
November 28, 1950 - January 8, 1951; completed
Frank Carlson's term |
B: June 1, 1894, Bushnell, Illinois.
D: June 23, 1966, Kansas City. Republican lawyer from Kansas City. |
finding
aid |
31. |
| Arn, Edward F. |
January 8, 1951 - January 10, 1955 |
B: May 19, 1906, Kansas City, Kansas.
D: January 22, 1998, Wichita, Kansas.
Republican lawyer from Wichita. |
|
32. |
| Hall, Fred |
January 10, 1955 - January 3, 1957; resigned
to become a justice of the Kansas Supreme Court |
B: July 24, 1916, Dodge City, Kansas.
D: March 18, 1970, Shawnee, Kansas.
Republican lawyer from Dodge City |
finding
aid |
33. |
| McCuish, John |
January 3, 1957 - January 14, 1957; completed
Fred Hall's term. |
B: June 22, 1906, Leadville, Colorado.
D: March 12, 1962, Newton, Kansas.
Republican publisher from Newton. |
|
34. |
| Docking, George |
January 14, 1957 - January 9, 1961 |
B: February 23, 1904, Clay Center, Kansas.
D: January 20, 1964, Kansas City, Kansas.
Democratic banker from Lawrence. |
Records destroyed. |
35. |
| Anderson, John, Jr. |
9 Jan 1961 - 11 Jan 1965 |
B: May 8, 1917, Olathe, Kansas.
Republican lawyer from Olathe. |
finding
aid |
36. |
| Avery, William H. |
January 11, 1965 - January 9, 1967 |
B: August 11, 1911, Wakefield, Kansas.
Republican stockman from Wakefield. |
|
37. |
| Docking, Robert B. |
January 9, 1967 - January 13, 1975 |
B: October 9, 1925, Kansas City, Missouri.
D: October 8, 1983, Arkansas City, Kansas.
Democratic banker from Arkansas City; son of Governor George Docking. |
At
KU Spencer Research Library |
38. |
| Bennett, Robert F. |
January 13, 1975 - January 8, 1979 |
B: May 23, 1927, Kansas City, Missouri.
Republican lawyer from Overland Park. |
At
KU Spencer Research Library |
39. |
| Carlin, John William |
January 8, 1979 - January 12, 1987 |
B: August 3, 1940, Salina, Kansas.
Democratic dairy farmer from Smolan. |
|
40. |
| Hayden, John Michael (Mike) |
January 12, 1987 - January 14, 1991 |
B: March 16, 1944, Atwood, Kansas.
Republican insurance agent from Atwood. |
|
41. |
| Finney, Joan |
January 14, 1991 - January 9, 1995 |
B: February 12, 1925, Topeka, Kansas.
D: July 28, 2001, Topeka, Kansas.
Democratic State Treasurer from Topeka; the first woman governor
of Kansas and the oldest to date, aged 65 when she took office. |
|
42. |
| Graves, William Preston |
January 9, 1995 - January 13, 2003 |
B: January 9, 1953, Salina, Kansas.
Republican Secretary of State from Salina. |
|
43. |
| Sebelius, Kathleen |
January 13, 2003 - April 28, 2009 |
B: May 15, 1948, Cincinnati, OH.
Democratic Insurance Commissioner from Topeka; daughter of John
Gilligan, Governor of Ohio, 1971-1975. |
|
44. |
| Parkinson, Mark |
April 28, 2009 - |
B: June 24, 1957, Wichita, Kansas. Democratic Lt. Governor |
|
45. |
|
