Hoisington, Perry Milo (1857-1933)

Evening Kansan-Republican obituary: 1933 Mar 22 p. 1

Birth date: 1857 Oct 13

Text of obituary:

GREAT CITIZEN HAS PASSED ON

Col. P. M. Hoisington Is Called in Death at Age of 75

A LEADING KANSAN

Man of Fine Attributes and Great Attainment Honored by All

Col. Perry M. Hoisington, for almost fifty years an outstanding citizen of Newton and the state of Kansas, died at his home here Tuesday afternoon at 4:44 o'clock, following an illness of more than five weeks. He was seized with what first appeared to be an attack of influenza, but complications followed, developing into a coronary thrombosis. His illness, while vastly discomforting, was unattended by pain or suffering. During its entire course, his mind was clear and his extraordinary bodily vigor persisted to the end.

Funeral services will be conducted at the First Presbyterian church Friday afternoon at 2:30, in charge of the pastor, the Rev. Frederick E. Black. The Grand Lodge A. F. & A. M. of Kansas will conduct services at the grave, the Knights Templar will furnish an escort, and a salute will be fired and taps sounded by Co. F., 137th Infantry.

The body will be taken from the Sprinker Mortuary and will lie in state at the church from 10:00 to 2:00 o'clock Friday, at which time the casket will be closed not to be again reopened.

Most Active Life

Colonel Hoisington's life was many-sided and his activities were varied and broad-gauged. He crowded into his mature years the achievements of a career of twice that span. He was able to accomplish so much by reason of a mind of great native strength, a powerful body, a will of tenacious purpose and an application and industry far beyond the normal. As a citizen, he was loyal and devoted to many public movements; as a soldier, he was outstanding in his generation in Kansas; as a business man, he helped to create one of his state's strongest and most prosperous financial institutions, meanwhile lending his genius and influence to the upbuilding of others. Fraternally, he was one of the ranking Masons of Kansas, having held all important state offices in the York Rite bodies, and bearing a national prestige and reputation for his services to the Knights Templar. While he did not engage actively in politics, he was a close and critical student of public affairs, and bore a citizen's full share in all public responsibilites.

Perry Milo Hoisington was born on a farm in St. Joseph county, Michigan, on October 13, 1857, being one of seven children of Frederick and Rachel E. Hoisington, sturdy settlers of the Wolverine state.

His father's ancestors came early from the south of England and settled in Vermont; they were of the "Green Mountain Boys" of that famous commonwealth in Revolutionary times. Colonel Hoisington's grandfather emigrated from Woodstock to Michigan in the early 'thirties, and with four sons and three sons-in-law fought for the Union during the Civil war. From this circumstance his predilection for the military affairs is easily traceable.

His mother's maiden name was French. The family was originally from the Netherlands, and was of Hugenot extraction. Her ancestors resided for several generations in the state of New York, but emigrated to Michigan before there was a railroad in that state. The family was noted for aptness in mechanics and for a hard-headed, practical way of doing things. This faculty, with a strong character of Christian fortitude, Colonel Hoisington's mother inherited in a marked degree, and these were transmitted to her children.

Came Here in 1884

Colonel Hoisington was self-educated, receiving only piecemeal academic training and spent the first twenty-seven years of his life in his native state. In 1884 he came to Newton, where he had since made his home. He was married to Miss Kate Gregory, of Howell, Livingston county, Michigan, in 1885. Two sons and three daughters were born to them. The surviving children are Major Gregory Hoisington, of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas; Mrs. Harry W. Hart, of Wichita; Mrs. R. A. Clymer, of El Dorado; and Miss Margaret Hoisington, of Chicago, all of whom were present during their father's final illness. A son, Stanley Milo Hoisington, died in 1918.

Other surviving relatives are two sisters, Mrs. J. C. Brompton and Miss Jessie Hoisington, of Three Rivers, Mich.; a niece, Miss Maud Walker, of Newton; a nephew, Bert Walker, of Chicago, and ten grandchildren.

Began Business Career

Colonel Hoisington, upon arrival in Newton, devoted his time to the transfer business, handling coal and building materials for several years. During the period from 1892 to 1896 he served as county treasurer of Harvey county, twice being elected to that position. In July, 1897, he became affiliated with the Railroad Building, Loan and Savings Association, then in the first year of its organization. It was in the affairs of this association, with which he was actively connected all the rest of his life, that he exhibited his greatest business genius. When he went on the board of the association, it was a struggling institution with only $13,000 in assets. He became its secretary, treasurer and general manager and infused it with his own spirit and vitality. The growth of this association is best exemplified by the fact that its statement of December 31, 1932, showed total assets of $9,549,673.13. The association has 210 agencies, all located in Kansas, and is the largest building and loan company doing business exclusively in the state of Kansas. The magnificent white-stone structure housing the home offices of the association at Newton represents the finished product of Colonel Hoisington's careful planning. This building was finished in 1923 and was entered free of debt at the time of its occupancy.

In addition to his executive direction of the Railroad Loan, Colonel Hoisington had been president of the First National bank of Newton since January, 1915. He was one of the organizers of the Newton Hotel company, helping to finance and erect the Hotel Ripley, and had been president of that company since its organization. The excellence of his business management is attested by the fact that the hotel paid dividends during the first two years of its existence, which is a record for Kansas towns of the same population. Colonel Hoisington was always deeply interested in civic affairs. He was among the organizers and served for several years as president of the old Newton Commercial club. In later years he was active in the Newton Chamber of Commerce. He was a loyal member and a past president of the Newton Rotary club. For many years he served zealously as a member of the Newton Y. M. C. A. board and was its president at the time the present building was erected. He had been chairman of the Harvey county chapter of the American Red Cross ever since his return from active military service in 1918. He was one of the charter members of the Newton Country club.

During the early years of his residence in Newton, Colonel Hoisington served both on the City Council and the Board of Education.

Led in Securing City Water

One of Colonel Hoisington's outstanding contributions to his home town was his participation in the efforts which secured for Newton a remarkably pure and abundant supply of water. It was in 1894 that information came to Newton to the effect that the Santa Fe would locate the headquarters of the Western division here again if water of good quality and a sufficient quantity was secured. The newly formed Newton Commerical club rose to the situation. John C. Nicholson, president, together with a committee selected by the club of which Colonel Hoisington was chairman, worked unceasingly for three years for the promotion of a new waterworks. After negotiations of more than a year, Colonel Hoisington with Clarence Spooner, then city attorney, went to Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and after lengthy bargaining with the owners, bought the Newton waterworks for $75,000. Their purchase included all equipment and lines and represented an investment of nearly $275,000. The services of Erasmus Haworth, then head of the department of geology of the University of Kansas, were enlisted. Professor Haworth had made a survey showing an old river bed of the Smoky Hill river thru McPherson and Harvey counties and when he came to Newton he merely picked the point in this extinct river bed which was nearest to this town. A test well proved his theory to be correct and thus the water supply was located. Colonel Hoisington, then a member of the City Council, was one of a committee of five which went to Topeka and entered into a contract with the Santa Fe which provided for free transportation of all material from Chicago and distribution along the pipe line by the Santa Fe, in return for which they city was to furnish the railway with free water for a period of seven years. This contract was drawn in March, 1897, and the completed plant, with all its satisfaction and comfort for the people of this community, was turned over in August of that year.

Loved His Church

Next to his home, Colonel Hoisington cherished his church affiliations above all other his far-flung relationships. He had been a devoted and loyal member of the Presbyterian church of this town for about thirty years. During the greater part of that time he served as a ruling elder in the congregation. He was zealous in the financial affairs of his church, filling the functions of financial secretary and treasurer for many years. He often represented his church in presbyterial and synodical gatherings. For the past dozen years, he had been the leader of a men's Bible class, which has an interested and devoted membership of 100 and an average attendance of sixty. Colonel Hoisington's direction of this class evoked many close and intimate friendships. He often assisted his minister in pastoral work and in every way was an upright exponent of his faith. For a number of years he had served as trustee of the College of Emporia and his business counsel and judgment were also impressed into the financial affairs of that educational institution.

Father of National Guard

Colonel Hoisington will probably be longest and best remembered in Kansas for his military services. He might almost be termed the "father of the Kansas National Guard." During the early years of his connection with that organization he fought against ridicule, misunderstanding and political opposition for the recognition of this branch of the military arm. Long years were necessary to establish the primary utility of the guard in the public mind, but Colonel Hoisington lived to see the day when the National Guard became one of the three essentials of his country's military service.

Colonel Hoisington's first military connection began at Three Rivers, Michigan, when, at the age of seventeen years, he became a member of the Michigan State Troops, Company D, Second Regiment, and his early military training was received there. In 1891, at Newton, he was made First Lieutenant of Company D, Second Regiment, Kansas National Guard, and was elected Captain the following year. In 1895 he was chosen Major of his regiment and in August of that year, by a unanimous vote, was made Colonel. By the same cordial vote, he was re-elected Colonel in 1899 and was appointed by the governor as a member of the military board of the state, an office which he later held during all years of his service.

From the time of his entrance into the state's military life, up thru the years he served in a military capacity, his one desire was to elevate and place the National Guard units of this state upon an accredited recognized basis. This devotion to an ideal doubtless caused him to miss participation with Kansas troops in the Spanish-Philippine campaign. Because of a combination of distrust of National Guard units and political maneuverings, volunteer regiments were allowed to supersede the National Guard in 1898, and thus Colonel Hoisington and his troops were kept out of the conflict. The Kansas volunteers went on to unperishable glory; Colonel Hoisington remained in Kansas patiently and laboriously building up the groundwork of the National Guard.

This painstaking service was rewarded in the period before this country's entrance into the World war by a belated recognition of the efficiency of the National Guard troops, which were called to the first line of national defense in 1916. In that year Colonel Hoisington commanded the Second Kansas Infantry on the Mexican border and for a portion of that time was in command of a brigade, tho not being advanced to the rank of a general officer. His troops there rendered meritorious service and then returned home for a few months before being pressed into duty in a far greater conflict.

Trained 137th Infantry

When war with the Central Powers was declared and the various state military units were called into federal service, the First and Second Kansas Guard regiments first mobilized in their home rendezvous and then later concentrated at Camp Doniphan, Oklahoma. The two regiments were consolidated into the 137th Infantry. Here it was that Colonel Hoisington played a most important role. To bring two regiments together, assimilate the two into one compact working organization, to know what to use and what not to use, changing the roster of composite organization, assigning the required number of personnel to each unit within a newly organized regiment, to obtain and correctly classify all records and official documents, finally get the wheels in motion and the work begun, was a problem which taxed the best of ingenuity and initiative. Along with able cohorts, Colonel Hoisington performed the strenuous service demanded by the war department and it was not long before the new 137th Regiment was organized and accomplishing its objective day by day.

The following tribute to Colonel Hoisington was paid to him in "Reminiscences of the 137th U. S. Infantry," compiled by Carl E. Haterius: "During his tenure as commandant of the regiment, officers and men alike learned to know him as a man, patriot and citizen of the first water; along with military duties which required discipline, conciseness and command, he was ever kind in a fatherly way, considerate as human to human, and at all times took the interest of the officers and men to heart, and it did seem as tho he were a 'father to us all.' We learned to call him 'the Grand Old Man,' and behind these words is portrayed all due sincerity and esteem. Many a time has the writer followed in the line of march behind his stately 'charger' while out on some 'hike' or maneuver. Can to this day see him as he sat in his saddle, tall, straight, soldierly, leading the line of march, turning now and then and glancing back over the heads of the moving line, now and then issuing a command, or turning a receptive ear to some message or other information brought by carrier. From his officers he demanded with firmness, but kindly in its portrayal, leadership, fortitude, efficiency, for they were in part responsible for scores under their command. During the officers 'school days' at Doniphan, Colonel Hoisington could often hold consultation with his command. From these 'schoolings' much benefit was derived. We remember one motto in particular to which Colonel Hoisington gave utterance while calling the attention of the officers to their responsibilites and what was expected of them: 'Ignorance, error and laziness must be paid with blood'."

Denied Service Overseas

Colonel Hoisington, because of his years and a slight physical disability, was not allowed to take his command—the 137th infantry of the 35th division—overseas. It was on January 3, 1918, that orders came relieving him from his command and that afternoon the final parade and farewell ceremony was enacted. Colonel Hoisington returned immediately to Newton and, with commendable fidelity, immediately took over the organization of the Fourth Infantry, Kansas National Guard, having been asked to perform that duty. He was retired from active military service when he reached the age limit of 64. He was present at Hoboken in 1919 when the 35th Division returned from overseas and was on the boat which went out into the bay to greet the returning troops. To the day of his death, a close kinship prevailed between him and members of the regiments that had served under his command. They were "his boys" and right proudly did all of them wear this designation as an accolade. All over Kansas are many young men, now bearing responsible business positions, who received their first lessons in discipline and self-control from Colonel Hoisington.

Colonel Hoisington was secretary of the National Guard Association of the United States for a number of years.

Masonic Leader

Colonel Hoisington's prominent affiliation with the Masonic fraternity constituted one of the outstanding phases of his notable career. He first became a member of Magnolia lodge, No. 231, of Newton on December 20, 1886. The dignity and symbolism of Masonry appealed to the dramatic in his character and he devoted himself assiduously to lodge affairs. Four years after his inception as a member he became master of his local lodge. His rise thru the ranks of Masonry during the years that followed was rapid and pronounced. He served as member of important committees in the Grand Lodge, as well as filling successive offices, until in the year 1901 he became Grand Master of Kansas Masons. He became a member of the Knights Templar in 1890 and advanced thru successive ranks in his home and state commanderies until he was made Grand Commander in May, 1900. His military training and experience made him peculiarly valuable to this order. He was for years the master of the drill corps of Newton Commandery No. 9 and brought this organization to the front in the state. As a member of a special committee, he was largely instrumental in the preparation of a work on Asylum Tactics which was adopted by the Grand Commandery, and which was highly complimented by tacticians. His most stupendous contribution to the order, however, was to write a book on drills and ceremonies that was adopted as a guide for Knights Templar in all states. He brought to this task an extensive background of both practical experience and theory which enabled him to coordinate and harmonize the dress drill of Templarism with the sterner regulations of the United States army manual. This drill book was written and prepared in Newton and when submitted to the Grand Commandery was adopted for the guidance of commanderies thru the national jurisdiction. He never ceased his participation in Masonic affairs. From 1892 to the day of his death he was a member of the Masonic Home Board, of which he had served both as chairman and treasurer. Aside from having held all high ranks in the York Rite bodies of Kansas, he was also a member of Wichita Consistory No. 2, Scottish Rite Masons, and was a Shriner belonging to Isis Temple at Salina.