Hiram M. Van Arman
Hiram M. Van Arman | |
---|---|
6th Secretary of Arizona Territory | |
In office April 17, 1882 – November 6, 1885 | |
Nominated by | Chester A. Arthur |
Preceded by | John J. Gosper |
Succeeded by | James Asherton Bayard |
Personal details | |
Born | Euclid, Ohio | February 17, 1839
Died | April 28, 1904 Oakland, California | (aged 65)
Nationality | American |
Political party | Republican |
Spouse |
Isabella Haines (m. 1868) |
Military service | |
Allegiance | United States Union |
Branch/service | Union Army |
Years of service | 1861–1862 |
Rank | |
Unit | 58th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment |
Battles/wars | |
Hiram Miller Van Arman (February 17, 1839 – April 28, 1904) was an American politician and journalist who served as Secretary of Arizona Territory from 1882 till 1885. In addition to his political career, he was a Union officer during the American Civil War and served as editor for a number of publications in Nebraska and California.
Biography
Van Arman was born to Richard R. and Elizabeth (Roberts) Van Arman on February 17, 1839, in
In 1868, Van Arman moved to Nebraska where he served as an immigration agent. He held that position until 1871 when he became editor of Lincoln's Nebraska State Journal.[2] Van Arman married Isabella Haines in Lincoln on August 20, 1868.[3] The couple had no children.[4]
Three years later Van Arman moved to
President
Upon taking office, Van Arman discovered a severe shortage of funds with which to perform his duties. Outgoing secretary
Initially, Van Arman's office was located in a school building away from Prescott's business district. The school wished for him to leave the building and he located new office space on June 1.[7] The territorial secretary found there was no insurance on the territory's property despite Prescott being constructed entirely from wood and possessing minimal fire protection. To address this concern, Van Arman purchased a $2000 policy for $18.[8] He also acquired a double-door safe for $450, allowing the territory a place to store incorporation documents and other archival records. Locating the money to pay this expense again presented a difficulty.[9]
For the convening of the 1883 session of the territorial legislature, Van Arman made arraignments for the session to meet in Prescott's city hall. A privately owned building, the structure delighted the legislators by providing freshly wallpapered walls, carpeted hallways to deaden sounds, lamps, stoves, and an ample supply of firewood.[10] Following the practice of the day, Van Arman attempted to have all territorial printing jobs contracted to newspapers that favored his party. Towards this end he wrote to the legislature, saying "I do not wish to aid in sustaining party papers, which lampoon not only the Republican party generally, but all Federal officials indiscriminately and personally. In this stand I hope that I shall have your support and do not compel me to aid Democratic newspapers."[9] In the end, printing contracts for the session went to firms in San Francisco and Nebraska. Van Arman's problem with the Nebraska printing company was they did not follow his orders to bind all but twenty-five copies of the legislative journal in a paper binding costing 10¢ a copy but instead used a half-sheep binding costing 40¢ for all 250 copies.[11] The territorial secretary later said, "How such a blunder could have been made is beyond my comprehension."[12]
The convening of the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature presented Van Arman with another financial problem when members of the session demanded $4000 more in travel expenses than the secretary felt they were entitled.[13] The secretary finally settled with most of the session's members based upon estimated travel distances, but had difficulty with the council president, F. K. Ainsworth, who lived in the capital but claimed he could demand travel expenses from any county in the territory.[14]
With the approach of the 1884 elections, Van Arman was recommended to become the Republican nominee for territorial delegate to Congress by the Arizona Sentinel. The Democrats won the White House during the 1884 election, signalling the territorial secretary's term would soon end.[15] Van Arman submitted his formal resignation on November 6, 1885[16] When the incoming secretary, James A. Bayard, arrived in Prescott, Van Arman met him at the rail station.[15]
Shortly after completing the transfer of office, Van Arman returned to California.
Van Arman died in Oakland, California, on April 28, 1904.[18] His body was cremated. While his family owned a plot in Oakland's Mountain View Cemetery, his cremains were never placed there.[15]
References
- ^ a b c Guinn 1907, p. 820.
- ^ a b c d e f g Goff 1988, p. 37.
- ^ Guinn 1907, p. 821.
- ^ "Van Arman Dies in Oakland". The Arizona Sentinel. Yuma, Arizona Territory. May 4, 1904. p. 3.
- ^ "Congress". Warren Sheaf. Warren, Minnesota. February 23, 1882. p. 2.
- ^ a b Goff 1988, p. 36.
- ^ a b c Wagoner 1970, p. 200.
- ^ Wagoner 1970, pp. 200–1.
- ^ a b Wagoner 1970, p. 201.
- ^ Goff 1988, p. 38.
- ^ Wagoner 1970, p. 202.
- ^ Goff 1988, pp. 38–9.
- ^ Wagoner 1970, p. 206.
- ^ Wagoner 1970, p. 207.
- ^ a b c d e Goff 1988, p. 39.
- ^ "Changes in the Offices". The Evening Star. Washington D.C. November 6, 1885. p. 1.
- ^ Wagoner 1970, p. 331.
- ^ "Died". The San Francisco Call. April 29, 1904. p. 14.
- Goff, John S. (1988). Arizona Territorial Officials Volume IV: The Secretaries, United States Attorneys, Marshals, Surveyors General, and Superintendents of Indian Affairs, 1863–1912. Cave Creek, Arizona: Black Mountain Press. OCLC 20054492.
- Guinn, J. M. (1907). History of the state of California and Biographical Record of Oakland and Environs, Also Containing Biographies of Well-Known Citizens of the Past and Present. Vol. II. Los Angeles: Historic Record Co. OCLC 271824354.
- Wagoner, Jay J. (1970). Arizona Territory 1863–1912: A Political history. Tucson: University of Arizona Press. ISBN 0-8165-0176-9.