US Congressman. He was a Western explorer and politician, referred to as the "Father of Arizona" due to his efforts for creation of the territory. He moved to California in 1850 and was a clerk in the customhouse at San Francisco, (1850-53). He moved to Arizona in 1854, explored the territory, became interested in silver mining and was appointed by President Lincoln Superintendent of Indian Affairs in 1863. In 1864, when the Arizona Territory was formed, he was elected as a Republican to the Thirty-eighth Congress, serving until 1865. An unsuccessful candidate for reelection, he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1867 and commenced to practice law in in Washington, D.C. Interested in Western land regulations, President Hayes appointed him register of the United States land office at Florence, Arizona in 1878, serving until he was appointed consular agent at El Paso, Texas, in 1890. He died at the age of 77 and he was interred under a rock cairn erected by the State of Arizona at the summit of Poston Butte, near the town of Florence, Arizona.
US Congressman. He was a Western explorer and politician, referred to as the "Father of Arizona" due to his efforts for creation of the territory. He moved to California in 1850 and was a clerk in the customhouse at San Francisco, (1850-53). He moved to Arizona in 1854, explored the territory, became interested in silver mining and was appointed by President Lincoln Superintendent of Indian Affairs in 1863. In 1864, when the Arizona Territory was formed, he was elected as a Republican to the Thirty-eighth Congress, serving until 1865. An unsuccessful candidate for reelection, he studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1867 and commenced to practice law in in Washington, D.C. Interested in Western land regulations, President Hayes appointed him register of the United States land office at Florence, Arizona in 1878, serving until he was appointed consular agent at El Paso, Texas, in 1890. He died at the age of 77 and he was interred under a rock cairn erected by the State of Arizona at the summit of Poston Butte, near the town of Florence, Arizona.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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