Samuel Hitt Elbert

Samuel Hitt Elbert ( born April 3, 1833, Logan County, Ohio, † November 27, 1899 in Galveston, Texas ) was an American politician and from 1873 to 1874 governor of the Colorado Territory.

Early years

At the age of seven years, Elbert moved with his parents in the Iowa Territory, where he attended public schools and then studied agriculture. Then he studied until 1854 at the Ohio Wesleyan University. After moving to the Nebraska Territory, he began to work as a lawyer. He was also involved in the founding of the Republican Party in this area. In 1860, Elbert was a delegate to the Republican National Convention in Chicago, was nominated on the Abraham Lincoln as a presidential candidate.

Governor and judges in Colorado

Between 1862 and 1867 Elbert was Secretary of State in Colorado Territory. Also in this field, he was involved in the establishment of the Republican Party. His mentor was the then Territorial Governor John Evans, then his father was. As Secretary of State he had represented during this time often the Governor in his absence. In 1873, Elbert was appointed by U.S. President Ulysses S. Grant as the new governor of the Colorado Territory. This summer, the President personally came and the first U.S. president ever in the area of the Rocky Mountains. He stayed at the home of the governor and also met with representatives of the Indians. Elbert remained until June 19, 1874 in his office.

In 1877, Elbert was appointed as a judge on the Colorado Supreme Court. He worked there until 1889. Between 1879 and 1883 he was even Chief Justice ( Chief Justice ) of Colorado.

The Elbert County, the city Elbert and Mount Elbert in the Rocky Mountains were named for Samuel Elbert.