Joseph Henry Kibbey
Encyclopedia
Joseph Henry Kibbey was an American politician, who most notably served as Governor of Arizona Territory
from 1905 to 1909.
, on March 4, 1853. He was a son of Caroline E. and John F. Kibbey, an Indiana Attorney General
. He was educated at public schools and later studied at Earlham College
in Richmond, Indiana
.
, until 1888. He served as city attorney in Richmond for two years. He married Nora Burbank, daughter of John A. Burbank
, former governor of the Dakota Territory
on January 10, 1877. In 1888 he moved to Arizona
for health reasons.
appointed Kibbey territorial Governor of Arizona. Immediately after assuming office, Kibbey faced problems regarding a bill in the United States Congress that would have created statehood for Arizona and New Mexico
, but would have combined them both into one state. He promised to resign his office instead of allowing the joint statehood bill to pass. The bill was passed by Congress, but with one stipulation. The stipulation was each territory had to vote for the provision. The final tally was 16,265 against the bill and only 3,141 for it. Thus, the measure failed.
Some of his major suggestions were the outlaw of gambling, the restriction of liquor and tobacco, and the prohibition of prostitution. He created the Territorial Railroad Commission which was the precursor to the Arizona Corporation Commission and also created Greenlee County.
Kibbey favored taxation of mines and this cost him the governorship. Mining companies were able to delay his renomination by President Theodore Roosevelt because they knew that the new President William Howard Taft
would not renominate him as governor. He left office on May 1, 1909, when Taft nominated Richard Elihu Sloan
.
nominee for a United States Senate
seat from Arizona. He died in Phoenix
on June 14, 1924, and was buried in Greenwood Memorial Park.
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....
from 1905 to 1909.
Early life
Kibbey was born in Centerville, IndianaCenterville, Indiana
Centerville is a town in Center Township, Wayne County, Indiana, United States. The population was 2,552 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Centerville is located at , at an altitude of 1,014 feet . U.S...
, on March 4, 1853. He was a son of Caroline E. and John F. Kibbey, an Indiana Attorney General
Indiana Attorney General
The Indiana Attorney General is the chief legal officer of the State of Indiana in the United States. Attorneys General are chosen by a statewide general election to serve for a four-year term...
. He was educated at public schools and later studied at Earlham College
Earlham College
Earlham College is a liberal arts college in Richmond, Indiana. It was founded in 1847 by Quakers and has approximately 1,200 students.The president is John David Dawson...
in Richmond, Indiana
Richmond, Indiana
Richmond is a city largely within Wayne Township, Wayne County, in east central Indiana, United States, which borders Ohio. The city also includes the Richmond Municipal Airport, which is in Boston Township and separated from the rest of the city...
.
Career
He was admitted to the Indiana State Bar in 1875. He practiced law in Richmond, IndianaRichmond, Indiana
Richmond is a city largely within Wayne Township, Wayne County, in east central Indiana, United States, which borders Ohio. The city also includes the Richmond Municipal Airport, which is in Boston Township and separated from the rest of the city...
, until 1888. He served as city attorney in Richmond for two years. He married Nora Burbank, daughter of John A. Burbank
John A. Burbank
John Albyne Burbank was an American businessman and the fourth Governor of Dakota Territory.Burbank was born at Centerville, Wayne County, Indiana. After finishing school, he entered into the merchandising business with his father. In 1853, Burbank laid out the site of Falls City, Nebraska, and...
, former governor of the Dakota Territory
Dakota Territory
The Territory of Dakota was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 2, 1861, until November 2, 1889, when the final extent of the reduced territory was split and admitted to the Union as the states of North and South Dakota.The Dakota Territory consisted of...
on January 10, 1877. In 1888 he moved to 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...
for health reasons.
Arizona
In 1888 Kibbey was appointed as associate Justice of the Arizona Territorial Supreme Court. He handed down the "Kibbey Decision" which dealt with land and water in Arizona. His term as judge ended in April, 1893. He also became Republican Chair of Maricopa County twice and territorial chair three times. He was a Phoenix City Attorney in November, 1897 and a member of council in the 22nd Territorial Legislature in 1903. He was appointed Territorial Attorney General in November, 1904.Territorial Governor of Arizona
In 1905 President Theodore RooseveltTheodore Roosevelt
Theodore "Teddy" Roosevelt was the 26th President of the United States . He is noted for his exuberant personality, range of interests and achievements, and his leadership of the Progressive Movement, as well as his "cowboy" persona and robust masculinity...
appointed Kibbey territorial Governor of Arizona. Immediately after assuming office, Kibbey faced problems regarding a bill in the United States Congress that would have created statehood for Arizona and New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
, but would have combined them both into one state. He promised to resign his office instead of allowing the joint statehood bill to pass. The bill was passed by Congress, but with one stipulation. The stipulation was each territory had to vote for the provision. The final tally was 16,265 against the bill and only 3,141 for it. Thus, the measure failed.
Some of his major suggestions were the outlaw of gambling, the restriction of liquor and tobacco, and the prohibition of prostitution. He created the Territorial Railroad Commission which was the precursor to the Arizona Corporation Commission and also created Greenlee County.
Kibbey favored taxation of mines and this cost him the governorship. Mining companies were able to delay his renomination by President Theodore Roosevelt because they knew that the new President William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft
William Howard Taft was the 27th President of the United States and later the tenth Chief Justice of the United States...
would not renominate him as governor. He left office on May 1, 1909, when Taft nominated Richard Elihu Sloan
Richard Elihu Sloan
Richard Elihu Sloan was a United States Republican politician, who held the distinction of being the last Territorial Governor of Arizona....
.
Later years
After serving as governor, Kibbey became counsel to the Salt River Valley Water User's Association and drafted its articles of incorporation. In 1916 he was the unsuccessful RepublicanRepublican 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...
nominee for a United States Senate
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...
seat from Arizona. He died in Phoenix
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...
on June 14, 1924, and was buried in Greenwood Memorial Park.