Anson P. K. Safford
Anson P. K. Safford | |
|---|---|
Richard C. McCormick | |
| Succeeded by | John Philo Hoyt |
| Member of the California State Assembly from the 17th district | |
| In office 1857–1859 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 14, 1830 Hyde Park, Vermont, U.S. |
| Died | December 15, 1891 (aged 61) Tarpon Springs, Florida, U.S. |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Jenny L. Tracy (1869–1873) Margarita Grijalva (1878–1880) Soledad Bonillas (1881–) |
Anson Pacely Killen Safford
Background
Safford was born to Joseph Warren and Diantha P. (Little) Safford in
After his arrival in California, Safford began working a claim in Placer County that produced from five to twenty dollars per day. His leisure time was spent reading from a set of books he had purchased to further his education.[4] In 1854 he moved to a new claim and in 1855 was a Democratic party nominee for a seat in the California State Assembly, losing his race to a Know Nothing candidate. Safford won a seat as an assemblyman in 1857 and was reelected in 1859.[5]
Following his time in the state legislature, Safford moved to
Safford married Jenny (or Jennie) L. Tracy in
Governorship
On March 13, 1869, the Nevada Congressional delegation of Thomas Fitch, James W. Nye, and William M. Stewart petitioned President Ulysses S. Grant to nominate Safford as Governor of Arizona Territory.[5] This nomination was supported by Arizona's Coles Bashford, John N. Goodwin, and Richard C. McCormick along with political figures from California. Safford was nominated on April 3, 1869, commissioned April 9, 1869, and sworn into office on July 9, 1869.[7] His second term began in April 1873 and he declined a third term.[8]
The Safford administration immediately faced the problem of
Safford's passion while in office was the creation of a public school system. This effort was initially opposed by the legislature, but the governor was able to win passage of a new property tax on February 17, 1871, to finance creation and operation of schools.[13] As ex officio superintendent of public instruction, the governor corresponded with educators across the nation and even used his personal funds to help build schools or bring new teachers to Arizona.[14] Arizona's first public school opened during March 1872 in Tucson. The one room adobe structure had a single teacher and, at its peak, 138 students.[15] Other schools were built throughout the territory over the next few years. During his address to the territorial legislature in January 1877, Safford was pleased to report that at least 1450 of the 2955 children counted in the May 1876 census could read and write.[16]
After office
After leaving office Safford opened one of Arizona's first banks, with offices in Tucson and Tombstone. He was admitted to the bar in January 1875 but did not work as an attorney. Instead, with the assistance of his friend, John S. Vosburg, helped finance several mines. When the first claims were filed in Tombstone, the initial settlement of tents and cabins was located at Watervale near the Lucky Cuss mine. Safford offered financial backing for a cut of the Lucky Cuss mining claim, and Ed Schieffelin, his brother Al, and their partner Richard Gird formed the Tombstone Mining and Milling Company and with Safford's backing built the first stamping mill. When the mill was built, the town site was moved to Goose Flats, a mesa above the Toughnut 4,539 feet (1,383 m) above sea level and large enough to hold a growing town.[17]
In early March 1881, the Tombstone Mining and Milling Company was sold to capitalists from Philadelphia, and Safford became president of the new Tombstone Gold and Silver Milling and Mining Company with Richard Gird was superintendent.[17] Ed and Al Schieffelin soon sold their one-third ownership in the Tough Nut for $1 million and moved on, although Al remained in Tombstone for sometime longer. Gird later sold off his one-third interest for $1 million, doubling what the Schieffelins had been paid. In 1880, Safford was a delegate to the Republican National Convention.[8]
In the early 1880s, Safford sold his business interests for roughly $140,000 and moved to Philadelphia and then New York City.[18] By 1882 Safford had moved to Florida and become involved with building the new community of Tarpon Springs. He was a candidate for Arizona Territorial Governor again in 1889, with support coming from Matthew Quay, Leland Stanford, and William M. Stewart, but was not nominated. Safford's later years were spent in Florida with his family and sister, Mary Jane Safford-Blake. He died on December 15, 1891, in Tarpon Springs and was buried at Cycadia Cemetery.[19]
See also
Footnotes
References
- ^ a b Wagoner 1970, p. 101.
- ^ a b c d Goff 1978, p. 51.
- ^ Goff 1978, p. 52.
- ^ Goff 1978, p. 53.
- ^ a b c Goff 1978, p. 54.
- ^ Gonda, Susan (Summer 1991). "Not a Matter of Choice: San Diego Women and Divorce, 1850–1880". The Journal of San Diego History. 37 (3).
- ^ Goff 1978, p. 55.
- ^ a b Goff 1978, p. 59.
- ^ Wagoner 1970, p. 103.
- ^ Wagoner 1970, p. 105.
- ^ Wagoner 1970, pp. 113–114.
- ^ Wagoner 1970, p. 117.
- ^ Wagoner 1970, p. 106.
- ^ Goff 1978, p. 56.
- ^ Wagoner 1970, p. 107.
- ^ Wagoner 1970, p. 113.
- ^ a b "National Register of Historic Places Inventory – Nomination Form". United States Department of the Interior National Park Service. Archived (PDF) from the original on 24 May 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2011.
- ^ Wagoner 1970, p. 118.
- ^ Goff 1978, pp. 59–61.
Bibliography
- Goff, John S. (1978). Arizona Territorial Officials Volume II: The Governors 1863–1912. Cave Creek, Arizona: Black Mountain Press. OCLC 5100411.
- Wagoner, Jay J. (1970). Arizona Territory 1863–1912: A Political history. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. ISBN 0-8165-0176-9.
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