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Military Service: National Guard

War(s) Served:  Civil War

GEORGE WASHINGTON GLICK, the first Democratic governor to serve in Kansas, was born in Greencastle, Ohio on July 4, 1827. He was educated at Central College in Ohio, studied law at the Buckland and Hayes law office, was admitted to the bar in 1850, and established legal practices in Fremont and Sandusky City. In 1857, Glick was commissioned judge advocate general, with the rank of colonel, of the 2nd Regiment, 17th Division. He also served in the 2nd Kansas Militia as corporal, and fought in the Battle of the Blue, where he was wounded. Glick entered politics in 1858, as an unsuccessful candidate for the Ohio State Senate. He served as a delegate in the 1856, 1868, 1884, and 1892 Democratic National Conventions. After moving to Kansas in 1858, Glick returned to his public service career. He served as a member of the Kansas House of Representatives from 1864 to 1869, was a member of the Kansas State Senate from 1873 to 1879, and was appointed treasurer of the managers of centennial exposition, serving from 1874 to 1876. Glick ran unsuccessfully for governor in 1868, but four years later was victorious. He was sworn into office as the ninth governor of Kansas on January 8, 1883. During his tenure, the state woman's suffrage association was established, a national soldiers home at Leavenworth was created, a state railroad commission was formed, and a civil service law was recommended. Also, the Haskell Institute was authorized to train and educate Indians, trainloads of corn was sent to the Ohio flood sufferers, and a livestock sanitary commission was organized after a hoof and mouth outbreak rampaged the cattle industry. After losing his reelection bid, Glick left office on January 12, 1885. He then served as the pension agent at Topeka from 1885 to 1889, was the president of the state board of agriculture from 1902 to 1903, and served as president of the state historical society in 1908. Governor George W. Glick passed away on April 13, 1911, and was buried at the Mt. Vernon Cemetery in Atchison, Kansas.

Sources:

Sobel, Robert, and John Raimo, eds. Biographical Directory of the Governors of the United States, 1789-1978, Vol. 2, Westport, Conn.; Meckler Books, 1978. 4 vols.

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