John Long Routt
Encyclopedia
John Long Routt was a U.S. Republican
political figure. Born in Eddyville, Kentucky
, he served as the first and seventh Governor of Colorado
from 1876 to 1879 and 1891 to 1893. He also served as Mayor of Denver, Colorado
from 1883 to 1885. He died in Denver, Colorado
.
, and moved to Bloomington, Illinois
shortly thereafter where he completed his public school education. Upon completion of his studies, he worked as a carpenter prior to entering elected office.
While living in Illinois, he attained his first elected office as Sheriff of McLean County, Illinois
. Routt's blossoming public service career was abruptly interrupted by service in the American Civil War
, during which acted as a captain in the 94th Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
appointed John Routt as the Governor of the Territory of Colorado on March 29, 1875. Statehood had long been Colorado's primary interest. Thomas Patterson
and Jerome Chaffee, in House Bill 435, initially provided for the creation of the Colorado state government. Routt's time as Territorial Governor was largely spent deliberating the contents of the Colorado state constitution.
was established as a state, the increasingly popular Routt easily won the gubernatorial election without making a single speech in public. As the first governor, Routt tackled the major issues Colorado was facing at the time, including violence in and around the city of Creede, Colorado
, as well as problems dealing with county valuations.
Routt was also very popular among the female citizenry of the state because of his strong support for women's suffrage
. At one point, he arranged a speaking tour for popular women's suffragist Susan B. Anthony
and personally escorted her around the state. When women in Colorado first became able to vote in 1893, his wife, Eliza, became the first woman to register to vote in Colorado history.
, Routt entered the private sector, but re-entered public service again to serve as the Mayor of Denver, Colorado
from 1883 to 1885. After unsuccessfully running for the United States Senate
, Routt ran successfully for the governorship again in 1891, and served as Colorado's seventh Governor until 1897. His third term was marked by a high level of disagreement within the Republicans in Colorado's state government.
Routt was buried in Denver's Riverside Cemetery
.
Routt County, Colorado
is named in his honor.
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
political figure. Born in Eddyville, Kentucky
Eddyville, Kentucky
Eddyville is a city in Lyon County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,350 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lyon County . The Kentucky State Penitentiary is located in Eddyville.-History:...
, he served as the first and seventh Governor of Colorado
Governor of Colorado
The Governor of Colorado is the head of the executive branch of Colorado's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Colorado General Assembly, to convene the...
from 1876 to 1879 and 1891 to 1893. He also served as Mayor of Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
from 1883 to 1885. He died in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
.
Early years
John Long Routt was born in Eddyville, KentuckyEddyville, Kentucky
Eddyville is a city in Lyon County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 2,350 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Lyon County . The Kentucky State Penitentiary is located in Eddyville.-History:...
, and moved to Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington, Illinois
Bloomington is a city in McLean County, Illinois, United States and the county seat. It is adjacent to Normal, Illinois, and is the more populous of the two principal municipalities of the Bloomington-Normal metropolitan area...
shortly thereafter where he completed his public school education. Upon completion of his studies, he worked as a carpenter prior to entering elected office.
While living in Illinois, he attained his first elected office as Sheriff of McLean County, Illinois
McLean County, Illinois
McLean County is a county in the U.S. state of Illinois. McLean County is included in the Bloomington–Normal, Illinois Metropolitan Statistical Area. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 169,572, which is an increase of 12.7% from 150,433 in 2000. Its county seat is...
. Routt's blossoming public service career was abruptly interrupted by service in the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, during which acted as a captain in the 94th Illinois Volunteer Infantry.
Colorado's last territorial governor
U.S. President Ulysses S. GrantUlysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
appointed John Routt as the Governor of the Territory of Colorado on March 29, 1875. Statehood had long been Colorado's primary interest. Thomas Patterson
Thomas MacDonald Patterson
Thomas MacDonald Patterson was an American politician and newspaper publisher from the 1870s through the 1910s.-Biography:...
and Jerome Chaffee, in House Bill 435, initially provided for the creation of the Colorado state government. Routt's time as Territorial Governor was largely spent deliberating the contents of the Colorado state constitution.
Colorado's first state governor
After ColoradoColorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
was established as a state, the increasingly popular Routt easily won the gubernatorial election without making a single speech in public. As the first governor, Routt tackled the major issues Colorado was facing at the time, including violence in and around the city of Creede, Colorado
Creede, Colorado
The historic town of Creede is a Statutory Town that is the county seat of, and the only incorporated municipality in, Mineral County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 377 at the U.S. Census 2000.-History:...
, as well as problems dealing with county valuations.
Routt was also very popular among the female citizenry of the state because of his strong support for women's suffrage
Women's suffrage
Women's suffrage or woman suffrage is the right of women to vote and to run for office. The expression is also used for the economic and political reform movement aimed at extending these rights to women and without any restrictions or qualifications such as property ownership, payment of tax, or...
. At one point, he arranged a speaking tour for popular women's suffragist Susan B. Anthony
Susan B. Anthony
Susan Brownell Anthony was a prominent American civil rights leader who played a pivotal role in the 19th century women's rights movement to introduce women's suffrage into the United States. She was co-founder of the first Women's Temperance Movement with Elizabeth Cady Stanton as President...
and personally escorted her around the state. When women in Colorado first became able to vote in 1893, his wife, Eliza, became the first woman to register to vote in Colorado history.
Later life
Following his first two terms as Governor of ColoradoGovernor of Colorado
The Governor of Colorado is the head of the executive branch of Colorado's government and the commander-in-chief of the state's military forces. The governor has a duty to enforce state laws, and the power to either approve or veto bills passed by the Colorado General Assembly, to convene the...
, Routt entered the private sector, but re-entered public service again to serve as the Mayor of Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
from 1883 to 1885. After unsuccessfully running for the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
, Routt ran successfully for the governorship again in 1891, and served as Colorado's seventh Governor until 1897. His third term was marked by a high level of disagreement within the Republicans in Colorado's state government.
Routt was buried in Denver's Riverside Cemetery
Riverside Cemetery (Denver, Colorado)
Riverside Cemetery, established in 1876, is Denver, Colorado's oldest operating cemetery. More than 67,000 people are buried there, including 1,000 veterans.-Location and operation:...
.
Routt County, Colorado
Routt County, Colorado
Routt County is the 15th most extensive of the 64 counties of the state of Colorado of the United States. The county population was 19,690 at U.S. Census 2000. The county seat is Steamboat Springs.- History :...
is named in his honor.
See also
- History of ColoradoHistory of ColoradoThe human history of Colorado extends back more than 13,000 years. The region that is today the state of Colorado was first inhabited by Native Americans...
- Law and Government of ColoradoLaw and Government of ColoradoThe Constitution of the State of Colorado provides for three branches of government: the legislative, the executive, and the judicial branches.-Sovereignty of the people:...
- List of Governors of Colorado
- State of Colorado
- Territory of Colorado