Ralph H. Cameron
Encyclopedia
Ralph Henry Cameron was an American
Republican
politician
, and a delegate
and Senator
from the state of Arizona
. He died while on a business trip to Washington, D.C.
on February 12, 1953, and is interred
in the American Legion Cemetery in Grand Canyon National Park
.
, Lincoln County
, Maine
on October 21, 1863. At an early age he moved to the Western US
and became interested in mining
and cattle
, expanding an old Havasupai trail into the Bright Angel Trail
, a hiking
trail in Grand Canyon National Park, for the use of which he charged hikers a large toll to traverse public land. He had a mining claim to the area and claimed that this entitled him to charge for entrance and egress. The government prevented him from continuing the toll practice and he had a running dispute over his many incursions onto Federal land. He moved to Arizona Territory
in 1883, and became Sheriff
of Coconino County
in 1891 and from 1894 to 1898, as well as the chairman of that county's Board of Supervisors from 1905 to 1907. In 1908, he was elected to the United States Congress
as the delegate from Arizona, and he served in that regard until 1912, when Arizona was admitted into the Union as a state. Cameron was opposed to the Grand Canyon becoming a National Park. He proposed that two hydroelectric dams and one platinum mine be built in the Grand Canyon. Cameron then resumed his mining interests in Phoenix, Arizona
for the next 8 years, until he ran and was elected for Senator of Arizona, besting Marcus A. Smith
for the title. He served in that position until 1926, when Carl Hayden won the election over him. Cameron was unsuccessful in his attempt to regain the title in 1928, and spent the next several years mining in North Carolina
, Georgia
and California
for mica
and gold
. He then resided in Los Angeles
and Yuma, Arizona
until his death.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Republican
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and a delegate
Delegate (United States Congress)
A delegate to Congress is a non-voting member of the United States House of Representatives who is elected from a U.S. territory and from Washington, D.C. to a two-year term. While unable to vote in the full House, a non-voting delegate may vote in a House committee of which the delegate is a member...
and Senator
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...
from the state of Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
. He died while on a business trip to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
on February 12, 1953, and is interred
Burial
Burial is the act of placing a person or object into the ground. This is accomplished by excavating a pit or trench, placing an object in it, and covering it over.-History:...
in the American Legion Cemetery in Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park
Grand Canyon National Park is the United States' 15th oldest national park and is located in Arizona. Within the park lies the Grand Canyon, a gorge of the Colorado River, considered to be one of the Wonders of the World. The park covers of unincorporated area in Coconino and Mohave counties.Most...
.
Biography
Ralph Henry Cameron was born in SouthportSouthport, Maine
Southport is a town in Lincoln County, Maine, United States. The population was 684 at the 2000 census. It includes the villages of Southport, West Southport, Cape Newagen, and Squirrel Island.-History:...
, Lincoln County
Lincoln County, Maine
Lincoln County is a county located in the U.S. state of Maine. As of 2010, the population was 34,457. Its county seat is Wiscasset. It was founded in 1760 and named after the English city Lincoln. At its founding, it accounted for three-fifths of the State's land, and stretched east to Nova...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
on October 21, 1863. At an early age he moved to the Western US
Western United States
.The Western United States, commonly referred to as the American West or simply "the West," traditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost states of the United States. Because the U.S. expanded westward after its founding, the meaning of the West has evolved over time...
and became interested in mining
Mining
Mining is the extraction of valuable minerals or other geological materials from the earth, from an ore body, vein or seam. The term also includes the removal of soil. Materials recovered by mining include base metals, precious metals, iron, uranium, coal, diamonds, limestone, oil shale, rock...
and cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
, expanding an old Havasupai trail into the Bright Angel Trail
Bright Angel Trail
The Bright Angel Trail is a hiking trail located in Grand Canyon National Park in the U.S. state of Arizona.-Access:The trail is accessed by the mule corral, as seen here:-Description:...
, a hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
trail in Grand Canyon National Park, for the use of which he charged hikers a large toll to traverse public land. He had a mining claim to the area and claimed that this entitled him to charge for entrance and egress. The government prevented him from continuing the toll practice and he had a running dispute over his many incursions onto Federal land. He moved to Arizona Territory
Arizona Territory
The Territory of Arizona was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863 until February 14, 1912, when it was admitted to the Union as the 48th state....
in 1883, and became Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Coconino County
Coconino County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*61.7% White*1.2% Black*27.3% Native American*1.4% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.1% Two or more races*5.2% Other races*13.5% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
in 1891 and from 1894 to 1898, as well as the chairman of that county's Board of Supervisors from 1905 to 1907. In 1908, he was elected to the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
as the delegate from Arizona, and he served in that regard until 1912, when Arizona was admitted into the Union as a state. Cameron was opposed to the Grand Canyon becoming a National Park. He proposed that two hydroelectric dams and one platinum mine be built in the Grand Canyon. Cameron then resumed his mining interests in Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
for the next 8 years, until he ran and was elected for Senator of Arizona, besting Marcus A. Smith
Marcus A. Smith
Marcus Aurelius "Mark" Smith was an American Democratic politician, and one of the first two Senators from Arizona, the other being Henry F. Ashurst. He died in Washington, D.C...
for the title. He served in that position until 1926, when Carl Hayden won the election over him. Cameron was unsuccessful in his attempt to regain the title in 1928, and spent the next several years mining in North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, Georgia
Georgia (U.S. state)
Georgia is a state located in the southeastern United States. It was established in 1732, the last of the original Thirteen Colonies. The state is named after King George II of Great Britain. Georgia was the fourth state to ratify the United States Constitution, on January 2, 1788...
and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
for mica
Mica
The mica group of sheet silicate minerals includes several closely related materials having highly perfect basal cleavage. All are monoclinic, with a tendency towards pseudohexagonal crystals, and are similar in chemical composition...
and gold
Gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au and an atomic number of 79. Gold is a dense, soft, shiny, malleable and ductile metal. Pure gold has a bright yellow color and luster traditionally considered attractive, which it maintains without oxidizing in air or water. Chemically, gold is a...
. He then resided in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
and Yuma, Arizona
Yuma, Arizona
Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the southwestern corner of the state, and the population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2008 Census Bureau estimated population of 90,041....
until his death.