Alexander Oswald Brodie

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For other people with similar names, see Alexander Brodie.
Alexander Brodie
15th Governor of Arizona Territory
In office
July 1, 1902 – February 14, 1905
Nominated byTheodore Roosevelt
Preceded byOakes Murphy
Succeeded byJoseph Henry Kibbey
Personal details
Born(1849-11-13)November 13, 1849
Edwards, New York
DiedMay 10, 1918(1918-05-10) (aged 68)
Haddonfield, New Jersey
Political partyRepublican
Spouses
Kate Reynolds
​
(m. 1877)​
Mary Louise Hanlon
​
​
(m. 1864⁠–⁠1918)​
Military service
Branch/service
Indian Wars
*Apache Wars
*Nez Perce Wars
Spanish–American War
*Battle of Las Guasimas

Alexander Oswald Brodie (November 13, 1849

Indian wars, he came to prominence for his service with the Rough Riders during the Spanish–American War. His friendship with Theodore Roosevelt then led to Brodie being appointed Governor of Arizona Territory
from 1902 to 1905.

Background

Alexander O. Brodie was a lineal descendant

Second Lieutenant in the 1st Cavalry Regiment (United States) on June 15, 1870.[4]

As a newly commissioned officer, Brodie was assigned to

Secretary of War.[5] During another incident he and one other soldier pursued and captured a band of Apache that had escaped from the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation. After finding the group, the band's leader threatened to kill Brodie. Brodie responding by shooting the chief. After seeing this exchange the rest of the band returned peacefully to the reservation.[6] In August 1874, he was assigned to Fort Walla Walla, Washington where he participated in the campaign against Chief Joseph and his band of Nez Perce.[4] Following this, Brodie served at Benicia Arsenal, California and Fort Colville, Washington before being promoted to first lieutenant on May 25, 1876.[7] Around the time of his promotion, Brodie married Kate Reynolds of Walla Walla, Washington. His wife and newborn daughter died during childbirth in August or September 1877, and Brodie resigned his commission on September 30, 1877.[8]

After leaving the military, Brodie worked as a cattleman in

mining engineer.[8] From 1887 till 1890 he worked as superintendent and chief engineer of the Walnut Grove Dam on the Hassayampa River north of Wickenburg.[9] As the dam was nearing completion, in February 1890, a flood caused the dam to collapse, causing 70 deaths and millions of dollars in damage.[10] Brodie himself was held innocent of wrongdoing in the failure as he had publicly called for higher construction standards on the project.[11] In 1891, Brodie was appointed commander of the Arizona Territorial National Guard by Governor John N. Irwin, a position he held till May 1892.[5][11]

On December 15, 1892, Brodie married Mary Louise Hanlon.

Territorial delegate in 1898, when he returned to the territory as a war hero.[11]

Spanish–American War

Staff of the 1st US Volunteer Cavalry Regiment, the Rough Riders: From Left to right, Maj. George Dunn, Major Brodie, former Confederate Gen. Joseph Wheeler, Chaplain Brown of the Rough Riders, Col. Leonard Wood, and Lt. Col. Theodore Roosevelt.

On March 3, 1898, with the outbreak of war between Spain and the United States appearing likely, Brodie sent

telegraphs to President William McKinley and Governor Myron H. McCord seeking permission to raise a volunteer regiment of cavalry. With the start of the Spanish–American War the Rough Riders were formed and Arizona Territory allocated a quota of 170 men. Brodie was appointed as senior regimental officer at the rank of major on April 25, 1898.[11]

Following training in San Antonio, Texas, Brodie's unit was deployed to Cuba. On June 24, 1898, during the Battle of Las Guasimas, he was wounded by a bullet in his right wrist. Initially refusing to leave the battle, Major Brodie was eventually forced from the field by pain and blood loss. He was evacuated from Cuba and treated in the hospital at Fort Wadsworth, New York.[11] After recovering from his wound, Brodie returned to the Rough Riders on August 11, 1898, and, being promoted to lieutenant colonel, succeeded Theodore Roosevelt as unit commander.[12] Brodie himself mustered out on September 15, 1898, and returned to Arizona Territory to work as a mining engineer.[13]

Governorship

Following the resignation of Oakes Murphy as Governor of Arizona Territory, Brodie was nominated for the position and sworn into office on July 1, 1902.[13] His first several months were spent appointing new officials and organizing his administration. An action of note prior to the convening of the 22nd Arizona Territorial Legislature was the pardon of Pearl Hart on moral grounds.[14] At the time, the outlaw was the only female at the Yuma Territorial Prison and her presence was causing disruptions as guards and other prisoners vied for her attentions. The December 1902 pardon was made on the condition that Hart leave the territory, a condition she quickly fulfilled. Another display of the new Governor's ethical stance was his refusal to use a US$750 discretionary fund which was available for his personal use. Brodie considered the legislative appropriation which created the fund illegal as it had no oversight provisions to prevent misuse.[15]

The sword and scabbard which Alexander Oswald Brodie used during his service with the Rough Riders in the Spanish–American War. The sword and scabbard are exhibited in the Arizona State Capitol Museum.

With the start of the 22nd Legislature in January 1903, Brodie requested several changes to the territorial

hydroelectric dams to encourage additional transportation and electrical generation capabilities within the territory. Other changes to mining operations were the establishment of an eight-hour day for mine workers, with railroad workers receiving a limit of 16 consecutive hours of work, and outlawing the practice of paying miners in company scrip redeemable only at the company store. Brodie also requested the pay for the governor's secretary be increased from US$125 to US$150/year.[16]
Other legislation coming from the session were laws requiring the
bills. The first stance was opposition to a bill granting women the right to vote. Brodie, who personally supported women's suffrage, opposed this bill on the basis that it was not permitted under the limitations of the Arizona Organic Act. The second unpopular stance was endorsing a bill supporting joint statehood with New Mexico.[18]

Between legislative sessions, Brodie was responsible for expanding the size of the

U.S. Congress expressing their opposition to joint statehood.[20] Brodie's address to the session repeated his request to the previous session for tax reform. He also requested laws to deal with the "growing evil of wife desertion" and for creation of a sanatorium to treat the growing numbers of people suffering from tuberculosis migrating to the territory.[21]

Brodie announced his resignation as governor on February 14, 1905. As a token of their esteem the Democratically controlled legislature presented the Republican governor a ceremonial saber.[22]

After office

Following his resignation as governor, Brodie returned to the U.S. Army at the rank of major. After serving briefly in the War Department's record and pension office, he was assigned to the Philippines serving on a board overseeing the Friar lands dispute. In 1907 he was made adjutant general of the Department of the Dakotas and in 1911 was transferred to the Department of California to perform the same job. Bordie was promoted to colonel in 1912 and retired from the military in 1913.[23]

Brodie moved to Haddonfield, New Jersey, where he settled at Greenfield Hall. Brodie died on May 10, 1918, and was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.[23]

Notes

  1. ^ a b The date of Brodie's birth is uncertain with multiple dates in October and November 1849 being possible.

Footnotes

  1. ^ "Commercial Advertiser. Potsdam Junction, N.Y." Commercial Advertiser. February 14, 1905. Archived from the original on April 11, 2019. Retrieved October 16, 2016.
  2. ^ See his Clan's family tree and also Tables XVI. Brodie & XVIII. Royal Descent, which give Brodie's family tree back to King Robert I (“The Bruce”) and the Scottish Royal House in: Watson, Charles B. Boog. Alexander Cowan of Moray House and Valleyfield (founder of A. Cowan & Sons), His Kinsfolk and Connections. D. Leslie (Watson & Annandale), Perth, 1915-1917 - Available Online
  3. ^ Watson, Charles B. Boog. Alexander Cowan of Moray House and Valleyfield (founder of A. Cowan & Sons), His Kinsfolk and Connections. D. Leslie (Watson & Annandale), Perth, 1915-1917, p. 39 - Available Online
  4. ^ a b c Goff 1978, p. 175.
  5. ^ a b c "Alexander Brodie: A governor for all seasons". The Prescott Courier. June 4, 1981. pp. 12–15.
  6. ^ Wagoner 1970, p. 396.
  7. ^ Goff 1978, pp. 175–6.
  8. ^ a b c d Goff 1978, p. 176.
  9. ^ Liggett, James A. “Arizona’s Worst Disaster, The Hassayampa Story (1886–2009)” (Pathfinder Publishing), p.55
  10. ^ Wagoner 1970, pp. 396–7.
  11. ^ a b c d e Goff 1978, p. 177.
  12. ^ Goff 1978, pp. 177–8.
  13. ^ a b Goff 1978, p. 178.
  14. ^ Wagoner 1970, p. 399.
  15. ^ Wagoner 1970, p. 400.
  16. ^ Wagoner 1970, p. 403.
  17. ^ Wagoner 1970, p. 404.
  18. ^ Wagoner 1970, p. 406.
  19. ^ Wagoner 1970, p. 381.
  20. ^ Wagoner 1970, p. 417.
  21. ^ Goff 1978, p. 183.
  22. ^ Wagoner 1970, p. 418.
  23. ^ a b Goff 1978, p. 185.

References

External links
Political offices
Preceded by
Territorial Governor of Arizona

1902–1905 		Succeeded by
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