Governor Frederick Tritle
(1882-1885)

    The governors that preceded him were mostly referred to as "Carpetbaggers", however Frederick Tritle lived and died in Phoenix, Arizona. He was the first Governor to live in the territory at the time of appointment. What is interesting about him is the fact that throughout his life he moved from one place to another in the West, making a name for himself in Nevada before moving to Arizona. His dedication to the West resulted in him never leaving the territory during his governorship except for small vacations, another stark contrast against previous governors.

    He was born in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania on August 7, 1833 to Frederick and Martha Cooke Trittle. Educated at the Academy in his native town and later admitted to the state bar.  On April 10, 1855 he moved to Des Moines, Iowa, and then to Council Bluffs, Iowa. In 1859 he moved to California, and then to Nevada. He married Jane Catherine Hereford in Fall of 1862. He then moved to Virginia City, Nevada in 1863. In 1867 he organized the Belcher Mining Company there. In 1869 he was superintendent of the Yellow Jacket Mine and later commissioned to receive new rail lines there. He presented the Silver Spike when the first Intercontinental Railroad was connected at Promontory Point, Utah. He was the first member of Nevada State Senate in 1870. He began mining and business operations in Arizona in 1880. He was then appointed governor of the territory January 1, 1882 to replace then Governor Fremont. He was in stark contrast to Governor Fremont. He remained in the territory for his entire term as Governor of Arizona only leaving on vacations, and in doing so he restored faith in the governorship.

    Secretary of Arizona John Gosper was addressing lawlessness in Arizona, especially the "Cowboy" problems in Tombstone in the interum between governors. Gosper would be responsible for the annual report due to the lack of governorship during Fremont. When Trittle assumed the governorship, he picked up the cause. He stressed the need for territorial rangers to help secure law and order in the territory. Under his administration, much of the lawlessness troubles disappeared mainly because of the Shoot-out at the OK Corral between the Earps and the Clantons, and the eventual departure of the Earps from the area. The funding for the Arizona Rangers was refused by congress (That organization would later become the key factor in Arizona becoming a state.). In order to promote Agriculture, $500 was awarded to the greatest yield of cotton on any five acres.

    Mormons begin to settle the territory and attempt to control local governments by sending Stakes into regions of the territory. The "polygamous Mormons" as Trittle would refer to them were denounced by the government.  Trittle had the Mormons arrested and sent to jail.

    Arizona's First Territorial Fair was held in Phoenix, Arizona in November 1884. His administration is most remembered for the "Thieving Thirteenth" Legislature which created the Territorial Normal School in Tempe, the University of Arizona in Tucson, and the Insane Asylum in Phoenix. They also authorized the creation of two railroads, the Maricopa and Phoenix Railroad Company, and the Arizona Central Railroad Company. The Legislature also overpaid themselves for fictitious services. The budget for that year was exceeded by $46,744.50.

    Patrick Hamilton was appointed to the position of Immigration Commissioner and induces people to migrate to Arizona. The United Verde Copper Mine in Jerome is closed due to strike and low copper prices. Trittle was unable to resolve this problem. He resigned from office on October 8, 1885 after a new appointment by the President.  In 1891 he was a delegate from Yavapai County to the Arizona Constitutional Convention. He was Yavapai County Recorder from 1895-1897 and was supervisor of the Arizona Census in 1900. He died November 18, 1906 in Phoenix Arizona. He is buried in Greenwood Memorial Park there.
 

Information from two sources:

Wagoner, Jay J. Arizona Territory, 1863-1912; a political history. University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 1970

Goff, John S.  Arizona Territorial Officials Volume 2.   Arizona Black Mountain Press, Cave Creek, 1975
Chapter 6
 

Website

National Park Service, Pacific Railroad Dignitaries: Fredrick A. Tritle
http://www.nps.gov/gosp/research/other_dignitaries.html

From Political Graveyards--Frederick Tritle at Greenwood Memorial Park
http://politicalgraveyard.com/bio/trippe-trumbo.html#RKO0SWYDN