Elias M. Ammons

Elias M. Ammons

Elias Milton Ammons (born July 28, 1860 in Franklin , Macon County , North Carolina , † May 20, 1925 in Denver , Colorado ) was an American politician and from 1913 to 1915 the 18th  governor of the state of Colorado.

Early years and political advancement

In 1871 Elias Ammons moved with his family to Colorado, where he attended East Denver High School until 1880 . He then worked in various jobs, including the newspaper industry. After losing some of his eyesight due to a serious illness, he turned to livestock. He helped found the National Western Stock Show and the Colorado Cattle and Horse Breeders Association.

Ammons also served as vice president of the Colorado Agriculture Committee and in 1890 served on the Douglas County District Court administration. He was also one of the founders of the First National Bank of Littleton . Between 1890 and 1896 he was a Republican MP in the Colorado House of Representatives . Between 1894 and 1896 he was even President of the House. Afterwards Ammons switched from the Republicans to the Democratic Party . Between 1898 and 1902 he was his new party's representative in the Colorado Senate . In 1904 and 1906 he applied unsuccessfully for the office of lieutenant governor of Colorado. On November 5, 1912, he was then elected as the Democratic candidate for the new governor of his state. Ammons received only 42.9 percent of the vote, but this simple majority was sufficient because the majority of the remaining votes were split under Edward P. Costigan of the Progressive Party and the Republican candidate Clifford C. Parks .

Governor of colorado

Elias Ammons took up his new office on January 14, 1913. In his two-year tenure, he campaigned for an improvement in education and he promoted the expansion of the road network. This happened against the background of increasing automobile traffic. He also laid the foundation stone for the state's own parks. The constituencies for the congressional elections were then reallocated. The legislation on the control of banking and insurance has also been revised. But his name is also associated with the so-called Ludlow massacre . This was preceded by a coal miners' strike, which led to violent riots. The governor then mobilized the National Guard to drive the strikers away from the mine owners' property. 25 people were killed in the ensuing clashes. The strike finally ended with a compromise in December 1914, shortly before the end of Ammon's term in office.

Another résumé

After the end of his tenure, Ammons withdrew from politics and returned to his private affairs. He died in May 1925. Elias Ammons had three children with his wife, Elizabeth Fleming, including the son Teller Ammons , who was also to become governor of Colorado from 1937 to 1939.

Web links

• Elias M. Ammons in the database of the National Governors Association (English)

• Elias M. Ammons in the database of Find a Grave (English)

Individual evidence

1. ^ Our Campaigns: CO Governor - Nov 05, 1912