Col. Perry Milo Hoisington

Col. Perry M. Hoisington, Newton, was one of three individuals that helped to organize the Kansas National Guard. He joined the Kansas Guard when it was still the Kansas Militia in 1890, enlisting as a private in Company D, 2nd Infantry at Hutchinson, Kansas. He commanded the 2nd Kansas Infantry from 1895-1917 when it was consolidated with the 1st Kansas to form the 137th Infantry Regiment. He was also the first regimental commander of the 137th Infantry Division, and later commanded the 4th Kansas Infantry.
He was activated for the Mexican Border incident in 1916 and World War I.

Hoisington was promoted to colonel in 1895 and held that rank for over 25 years, until his retirement in 1921. Altogether he was in a national guard organization for 37 years; from 1875-1881 in Michigan, and from 1890-1921 in Kansas. He also had membership on the State Military Board (1895-1921) where he made an important contribution in upgrading and bringing about reforms in the Kansas National Guard, was for many years Secretary of the National Guard Association of the United States, a member of the General Recruiting Service, and commanded troops during the coal miners strike in southeast Kansas.

Hoisington was also an active civic leader in the state. In 1884, he moved to Newton. He was elected County Treasurer at Newton in 1891 and reelected again in 1893. He was also a member of the city council, on the school board, active in church organizations, and was a trustee for the College of Emporia. Hoisington was instrumental in organizing the waterworks plant at Newton while chairman of a chamber committee.

As a businessman in Newton, Hoisington was secretary and general manager of the Railroad Building, Loan and Savings Association of Newton for 20 years. He was president of the 1st National Bank of Newton. He also organized and was president of the Newton Hotel Company which financed and erected Hotel Ripley in Newton.

Born in Three Rivers, Michigan, Hoisington lived most of his life in Newton, Kansas. He died in 1933. Two of Hoisington's children; Maj. Gen. Perry M. Hoisington, II, USAF retired and Brig. Gen. Elizabeth P. Hoisington, USA retired, are the only brother and sister who have become generals in the history of the Armed Forces. Brig. Gen. Elizabeth Hoisington was the first commander of the Women's Army Corps.