Joseph Pomeroy Root facts for kids

Joseph Pomeroy Root (born April 3, 1826, died July 20, 1885) was an important American doctor and politician. He was also a key leader of the "Free Staters" in Kansas. These were people who wanted Kansas to become a state where slavery was not allowed.

Early Life and Education

Becoming a Doctor

Joseph Root came from an old family in New England. He studied medicine at the Berkshire Medical College in Pittsfield. After he finished his studies, he worked as a doctor in New Hartford, Connecticut, for five years.

First Steps in Politics

In 1855, Root was elected to the Connecticut House of Representatives. He was a member of the Whig Party at that time. This was his first experience in government.

Fighting for a Free Kansas

Moving to Kansas

After his term in Connecticut, Joseph Root joined a group of settlers. These settlers were abolitionists, meaning they were strongly against slavery. They moved to Waubansee, Kansas.

A Leader for Freedom

Kansas was a place where people fought over whether slavery should be allowed. This time was known as "Bleeding Kansas." Joseph Root was briefly captured by people who supported slavery. After this, he became very dedicated to the "Free State" cause. He wanted Kansas to be a free state, without slavery.

He became the leader of the Free State executive committee. He even helped arrange a trade of prisoners with the pro-slavery governor, Wilson Shannon. Root then left Kansas for a short time to collect money, weapons, and support from other abolitionists in the eastern United States.

Serving the State

In the Kansas Government

When Root returned to Kansas, he was elected to the territorial senate under the Topeka Constitution. He quickly became the president of the senate. He was also a member of the Territorial Council.

After the Wyandotte Constitution was approved in 1861, Kansas officially became a state. Joseph Root was then elected as the first Lieutenant Governor of the new state.

During the Civil War

When the Civil War began, Joseph Root helped to organize army units. He also served on the state board that checked medical officers for the army. He joined the army himself as a surgeon for the 2nd Regiment Kansas Volunteer Cavalry. Later, he became the medical director for the Army of the Frontier.

After the War

Return to Medicine

After the Civil War ended, Joseph Root went back to being a doctor in Kansas. He practiced medicine until 1869.

Diplomat and Author

In 1869, he became the secretary of the congressional Committee on Public Lands. Then, in 1870, he was appointed as the ambassador to Chile. He served in Chile until 1873. The Chilean government honored him for his important work during a smallpox outbreak there.

Root returned to Wyandotte and continued his medical practice. He remained interested in politics and important issues of the day. He wrote a book called A Catechism of Money in 1876. This book discussed the topics of gold and silver coins. In 1884, he was a delegate at the Republican Party national convention.

Family Life

Joseph Root married Frances Eveline Alden in 1851. She was a descendant of John Alden, who came to America on the Mayflower ship. Joseph and Frances had five sons together. Four of their sons lived to be adults: Ernest, Frank, Joseph P., and John W.