Alva Adams (governor)

Alva Adams ( born May 14, 1850 Iowa County, Wisconsin, † November 1, 1922 in Battle Creek, Michigan ) was an American politician (Democratic Party) and 1887-1905 a total of three times Governor of the State of Colorado.

Early years and political rise

After primary school, Adams was a successful businessman. In 1871 he came to Colorado, where he was active in the wood and hardware store. Within five years he established branches of his company along the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. In 1873, Adams was elected to the city council of South Pueblo, 1876 he was elected to the House of Representatives from Colorado. Finally, he was elected in 1886 to the Governor of his state, where he prevailed with 50:47 percent of the vote to Republican William H. Meyer.

Governor of Colorado

Adams began his first of three non-contiguous tenures on 11 January 1887. At that time, a working office was founded in Colorado, public executions were abolished and corporal punishment in prisons was banned. A new youth protection law prohibited child labor for children under 14 years. After the expiration of his first term on January 8, 1889, Adams devoted his business interests again until he was elected governor for the second time on November 3, 1896. In his second term (January 12, 1897 to January 10, 1899 ) he gave in a strike in Leadville. At that time also a working arbitral tribunal was set up. In this time of the Spanish-American War, which includes Colorado had to do his part falls. The governor even collected money for the equipment of the soldiers from his state.

After another break he was elected on November 8, 1904 against incumbent James Hamilton Peabody for the third time as governor. On 10 January 1905 he was introduced to his new term of office. The election of 1904 but was soon challenged because of suspicion of electoral fraud emerged. The Legislature solved the problem in that they recognized neither Adams nor his rival candidates in the election as governor. Instead, the elected Vice- Governor Jesse Fuller McDonald was appointed as the new governor. Following this decision, Adams had to give up his position at McDonald on March 16, 1905.

Further CV

After his retirement from the office of Governor, Adams again devoted his private transactions. In 1906 he ran again, but without success, for the office of governor: He was defeated by Republican Henry Augustus Buchtel significantly. In 1908 he was a member of the Democratic National Committee.

Alva Adams, according to the Adams County is named, died on November 1, 1922 from diabetes. With his wife Ella Nye, he had a son, Alva B. Adams representing the State of Colorado 1923-1941 twice in the U.S. Senate. His younger brother, William, was from 1927 to 1933 also governor of Colorado.