JOHN E. REMSBURG.
The past half century has witnessed the transformation of the section of Kansas known to the world as Atchison county from wilderness to a smiling and peaceful land of thriving towns and cities and checkered with fertile farms, a development which has been duplicated many times over in the great State of Kansas. While this wonderful transformation was going on as the handiwork of man—particular individuals from out of the mass of men who were working wonders in giving to this Nation a new commonwealth, were likewise developing mental attributes with which they had been gifted—statesmen, soldiers, and men of letters were in the making. Atchison county, Kansas, has been made famous by several illustrious sons who have achieved more than ordinary renown in the world of letters, as well as in other lines of endeavor. John E. Remsburg, editor and publisher of the Potter Kansan, educator, author and lecturer, during nearly a half century of residence in the county, has become as widely known in the realm of literature as any Kansan citizen. He has achieved a reputation as a writer and lecturer of force which is world-wide and deserved by the recipient. Mr. Remsburg came to Kansas from his native State of Ohio in 1868. Two years after his arrival in Atchison county he was married to Miss Nora M. Eiler, of Walnut township, this county, who came with her parents from Missouri to Kansas in 1855. Seven children were born to this marriage: George J., John J., Reullura R., Wirt A., Charles B., and Claude A., all of whom are living, and Eugene, deceased.
“The International Who’s Who,” printed in English, German, French and Italian, and published in London, Paris and New York, contains the following biographical sketch of Mr. Remsburg:
“John E. Remsburg. Teacher, lecturer, author; born near Fremont, Ohio, U. S. A., January 7, 1848. Of German-English descent, his paternal ancestors emigrating from Germany to Maryland about 1760; his maternal ancestors emigrating from England to Boston in 1640. His father was George J. Remsburg, son of John P. Remsburg, who removed from Maryland to Ohio in 1831; his mother was Sarah A. (Willey) Remsburg, daughter of Eleazer Willey, who removed from New York to Ohio about the same time. Educated in the public schools of Ohio and at Fort Edward Collegiate Institute, New York, continuing his studies after leaving school. Entered Union army at 16, serving until close of Civil war. For fifteen years engaged in educational work in Ohio and Kansas, serving as superintendent of public instruction of Atchison county, Kansas, four years (1872 to 1876). Married in 1870 Nora M. Eiler, daughter of Jacob Eiler, a Free State pioneer of Kansas. In 1880 became a lecturer and writer in support of free thought and State secularization. Delivered over 3,000 lectures, speaking in fifty-two States, Territories and Provinces, and in 1,250 different cities and towns, including every large city of United States and Canada. In the performance of this work traveled over 360,000 miles. Author: ‘Life of Thomas Paine,’ 1880; ‘The Image Breaker,’ 1882; ‘False Claims,’ 1883; ‘Bible Morals,’ 1884; ‘Sabbath Breaking,’ 1885; ‘The Fathers of Our Republic,’ 1887; ‘Abraham Lincoln,’ 1893; ‘The Bible,’ 1903; ‘Six Historic Americans,’ 1906. Portions of his writings have been translated into French, Italian, German, Dutch, Swedish, Norwegian, Bohemian, Bengali, Singalese and Japanese.”
John E. Remsburg.
Geo. Remsburg.
It may interest Mr. Remsburg’s Atchison county friends to know in what esteem he is held as a speaker and writer by the world at large. From the hundreds of reviews and commendatory notices of his lectures and books which have appeared a volume of testimonials like the following could be compiled:
“One of the best speakers and writers to be found in the West, if not in the whole country.”—Charles Robinson, first governor of Kansas.
“His lectures are models of logic and good sense.”—Arnold Krekel, LL. D., Judge United States District Court, Missouri.
“Mr. Remsburg’s address was given with great eloquence and power.”—E. W. Howe.
“A brilliant lecture.”—San Francisco Chronicle.
“Most eloquent words.”—Boston Globe.
“An interesting and eloquent address.”—Rev. J. F. Wilcox, Chicago.
“It is lit up with such flashes of genius, it is so poetical and picturesque that one never wearies of hearing it.”—E. M. Macdonald, New York, President American Secular Union.
“He retired with the reward of loud and long continued applause.”—Kansas City Star.
“Came in for his full meed of praise today.”—New York Herald.
“J. E. Remsburg was paid at the rate of two dollars a minute for his New York address; probably the highest price yet paid for a Kansas talk.”—Noble L. Prentiss, 1882.
“A noble lecture.”—Ernestine L. Rose, noted reformer, London.
“He has given to the world several volumes of priceless worth.”—L. K. Washburn, editor Boston Investigator.
“This volume of 600 pages is a digest of all that is known on the subject.”—Franklin Steiner, author, New York.
“Nothing equal to it has been published within my recollection either in America or Great Britain.”—Charles Watts, President British Secular Union.
“It is indeed excellent—nothing could be better.”—Sir Hiram Maxim, London.
“In many respects the most important volume on the subject that has yet appeared.”—Le Pensee, Brussels.
“Excellent, bold, direct, unanswerable.”—James Parton.
“Mr. Remsburg is an orator of high and wide reputation.”—Washington Post.
“One of America’s noted orators.”—Montreal Times.
“A most able lecturer and writer.”—Charles Bradlaugh, M. P., noted orator and statesman of England.
“My translations of Bradlaugh’s and Remsburg’s writings have an enormous circulation in this country.”—Kedarnath Basu, India.
“His [Remsburg’s] lectures have an immense circulation in India.”—Calcutta Gazette.
“One of the most promising orators in America.”—Secular Review, London.
“His style is simple, earnest and attractive, and in these qualities he is eloquent.”—W. H. Herndon, law partner of Abraham Lincoln.
“I have listened to all of our great orators from Clay to Ingersoll, but I have never heard a more polished oration than Remsburg delivered last night.”—Hon. William Perkins, associate counsel of Lincoln in several important cases.
“A graphic, yet concise sketch.”—Rev. S. Fletcher Williams, Liverpool, England.
“Imparted in language clear and forcible and not seldom with grace and beauty.”—Thomas Gray, author, Edinburgh, Scotland.
“I have never heard the case so fairly and so ably stated as he has stated it tonight.”—Richard B. Westbrook, D. D., LL. D., Philadelphia.
“I have asked a bookseller to order twenty copies of Remsburg’s work.”—U. Dhammaloka, President Buddhist Tract Society of Burmah.
“Such an admirable book is always welcome.”—Rev. J. Lloyd Jones, LL. D., Chicago.
“This effort to right the wrongs of Thomas Paine is, in my opinion, a service to mankind.”—Andrew D. White, LL. D., first president of Cornell University, minister to Russia and ambassador to Germany.
“The most fair and honest of all the biographies which have yet appeared of the great iconoclast.”—Boston Herald.
“It will help restore to honor a much abused name and forward the cause of human rights the country over.”—Rev. Charles Wendt, D. D., Ex-President Taft’s pastor at Cincinnati.
“May this brilliant work bring its author the praise of posterity.”—Der Freidenker.
“A very strong case.”—Public Opinion.
“A valuable contribution to literature.”—Wm. McDonald, author, Canada.
“His lectures have as large a circulation in Europe, India and Australia as in this country.”—S. P. Putnam, author, New York.
“A most interesting lecture.”—New Orleans Delta.
“A large audience and frequent applause.”—Baltimore Sun.
“Skillfully and vigorously written.”—Unitarian Herald, Manchester, England.
“His style is pleasing and his arguments incontrovertible.”—The Universe, Berhampur, India.
“A noble and eloquent work.”—Charles Bright, lecturer, Australia.
“It is really a remarkable work.”—Yoshira Oyama, President Japanese Rationalist Association, Japan.
“Clearly, Mr. Remsburg has done his duty as he sees it, and has had the fairness to present at the outset the opposite view of the question.”—New York World.
“Given in evident fairness and remarkable completeness.”—Chicago Times.
“J. E. Remsburg, of Kansas, who addressed the Congressional Committee on the Sunday question at the Capitol yesterday, made a good impression. Every member heartily applauded him.”—Washington Star.
“My views are well expressed by him.”—Hon. George W. Julian, one of the founders of the Republican party and a prominent leader in Congress.
“I will gladly contribute to his work.”—Rear Admiral George W. Melville.
“I have the pleasure to inform you that at the meeting of the Committee held this day (January 5, 1910) you were elected an ‘Oversea’ member of the Authors’ Club.”—Reginald H. B. Giller, Secretary Authors’ Club, London.
“Member Authors’ Club, London; National Geographic Society (Washington); life member American Secular Union (president three years).—Who’s Who In America.
“I have watched with interest his growing influence.”—Hon. John J. Ingalls, president pro-tem United States Senate.
“Ably and well have you done your work.”—Parker Pillsbury, noted Anti-Slavery leader.
“When truth and freedom triumph at last your name will be known and honored by all men.”—Eugene V. Debs, four times the nominee of his party for President of the United States.