Colorado Governor, Denver Mayor. Moving with his family to Illinois, he worked as a carpenter, entered politics and was elected Sheriff of McLean County (1860 to 1862). During the Civil War, he served as Captain in the 94th Illinois Volunteer Regiment, Union Army, earned the reputation of a courageous fighter and was promoted Colonel by General Ulysses S. Grant. After the war, he was elected Treasurer of McLean County Illinois (1865 to 1869), was appointed by President Grant to serve as U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Illinois, in 1869 and was appointed Second Assistant Postmaster General, serving (1871 to 1875). In 1876, when Colorado became the 38th State of the Union, President Grant appointed Routt as a Republican the 1st Governor of Colorado, serving until 1879. Not seeking reelection, he engaged in ranching interests and served as Mayor of Denver (1883 to 1885). In 1891, he was again elected as the 7th Governor of Colorado, serving until 1893. After leaving office, he worked with the Colorado Non-Partisan Equal Suffrage Association in convincing voters to support the passage of the legalization of women's suffrage. Routt County, Colorado and Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest is named after him.
Colorado Governor, Denver Mayor. Moving with his family to Illinois, he worked as a carpenter, entered politics and was elected Sheriff of McLean County (1860 to 1862). During the Civil War, he served as Captain in the 94th Illinois Volunteer Regiment, Union Army, earned the reputation of a courageous fighter and was promoted Colonel by General Ulysses S. Grant. After the war, he was elected Treasurer of McLean County Illinois (1865 to 1869), was appointed by President Grant to serve as U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Illinois, in 1869 and was appointed Second Assistant Postmaster General, serving (1871 to 1875). In 1876, when Colorado became the 38th State of the Union, President Grant appointed Routt as a Republican the 1st Governor of Colorado, serving until 1879. Not seeking reelection, he engaged in ranching interests and served as Mayor of Denver (1883 to 1885). In 1891, he was again elected as the 7th Governor of Colorado, serving until 1893. After leaving office, he worked with the Colorado Non-Partisan Equal Suffrage Association in convincing voters to support the passage of the legalization of women's suffrage. Routt County, Colorado and Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest is named after him.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
Family Members
Siblings
Advertisement
See more Routt memorials in:
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
