Wyoming Governor. After graduating from Phillips Andover Academy Massachusetts, he was an active participant in post-Civil War Reconstruction, relocating to Alabama in 1865. He first held public office as a member of the Alabama State Legislature in 1867 and was Sheriff of Wilcox County, Alabama (1868-71). Moving to Nebraska in 1885, he opened a merchandising business and was the Dawes County treasurer. Relocating to Wyoming Territory in 1878, he continued in merchandising and was elected Probate Judge and Treasurer of Carbon County, Wyoming in 1888. He also served two terms in the Wyoming State Senate, studied law, received a degree from the University of Michigan in 1892 and practiced law Douglas, Wyoming. He also organized a bank and served as Mayor of Douglas (1891-94). In 1899, he was elected as a Republican the 25th Wyoming Governor, serving until 1903. As Governor, he advocated cession of federally-owned lands to the state and opposed federal leasing of lands for grazing, preferring either state ownership or free use. He was also a proponent of social reform, seeking appropriations from the state legislature for penal facilities, a home for the mentally ill, a general hospital, a school for the disabled, plus a home for soldiers and sailors. He supported railroad construction and served as officer of a railway company that sought to connect the Union Pacific Railroad with mining areas in Wyoming. Being reelected, he died four months later in his second term.
Wyoming Governor. After graduating from Phillips Andover Academy Massachusetts, he was an active participant in post-Civil War Reconstruction, relocating to Alabama in 1865. He first held public office as a member of the Alabama State Legislature in 1867 and was Sheriff of Wilcox County, Alabama (1868-71). Moving to Nebraska in 1885, he opened a merchandising business and was the Dawes County treasurer. Relocating to Wyoming Territory in 1878, he continued in merchandising and was elected Probate Judge and Treasurer of Carbon County, Wyoming in 1888. He also served two terms in the Wyoming State Senate, studied law, received a degree from the University of Michigan in 1892 and practiced law Douglas, Wyoming. He also organized a bank and served as Mayor of Douglas (1891-94). In 1899, he was elected as a Republican the 25th Wyoming Governor, serving until 1903. As Governor, he advocated cession of federally-owned lands to the state and opposed federal leasing of lands for grazing, preferring either state ownership or free use. He was also a proponent of social reform, seeking appropriations from the state legislature for penal facilities, a home for the mentally ill, a general hospital, a school for the disabled, plus a home for soldiers and sailors. He supported railroad construction and served as officer of a railway company that sought to connect the Union Pacific Railroad with mining areas in Wyoming. Being reelected, he died four months later in his second term.
Bio by: John "J-Cat" Griffith
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