Born in Emporia in 1868 and raised in El Dorado, William Allen White attended the College of Emporia and the University of Kansas before returning to Emporia in 1895, when he purchased the Emporia Gazette. He rose to national fame with his 1896 editorial 'What's the Matter with Kansas,' which targeted the Populist Party. White's writings influenced local, state, and national politics for more than 60 years. White is buried at Maplewood Cemetery, 2000 Prairie. 8 Wonders of Kansas People