Jesse Fuller McDonald (June 30, 1858February 25, 1942) was an American public official, civil engineer and surveyor, who served as the 16th governor of Colorado in 1905–07.

Biography

McDonald was born in Ashtabula,

Ohio Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...

, on June 30, 1858. After completing his education in Ohio's public school system, he studied

civil engineering Civil engineering is a professional engineering discipline that deals with the design, construction, and maintenance of the physical and naturally built environment, including public works such as roads, bridges, canals, dams, airports, sewage ...

and surveying. He moved to

Leadville, Colorado The City of Leadville is a List of municipalities in Colorado#Statutory city, statutory city that is the county seat, the most populous community, and the only List of municipalities in Colorado, incorporated municipality in Lake County, Colorad ...

, in 1879, and started his career in mining. Five years later, he formed a partnership with George M. Robinson, and became the owner of several lucrative mines, including the Harvard, Penrose and El Dorado. McDonald entered politics as mayor of Leadville, a position he held from 1899 to 1905. He served in the

Colorado State Senate The Colorado Senate is the upper house of the Colorado General Assembly, the state legislature of the US state of Colorado. It is composed of 35 members elected from single-member districts, with each district having a population of about 123, ...

in 1902, and as Colorado's lieutenant governor briefly on March 17, 1905. Alva Adams won the 1904 gubernatorial election, and took office in January 1905. However, the Republican candidate James H. Peabody contested the election, and the predominantly Republican legislature forced Governor Adams to step down. The office was allocated to Peabody, but on the condition he would immediately resign. Lieutenant Governor Jesse F. McDonald succeeded him, and in the span of one day Colorado had three different governors.Rebecca Jones (November 24, 2001). State's 1904 Election Rivals 2000 Madness. ''

Rocky Mountain News The ''Rocky Mountain News'' (nicknamed the ''Rocky'') was a daily newspaper published in Denver, Colorado, United States, from April 23, 1859, until February 27, 2009. It was owned by the E. W. Scripps Company from 1926 until its closing. As ...

'', p. 11E During McDonald's tenure, he advocated the protection of state lands, and personally appraised property guaranteeing the state would be granted a reasonable price. A law was enacted making it illegal for employees to picket and hinder workers who were trying to enter mines, and Colorado's income flourished with the arrival of several large sugar beet companies into the area. McDonald did not seek reelection in 1906, but ran unsuccessfully in the 1908 gubernatorial election. He stayed active in public service, serving as chair of the Republican State Central Committee from 1910 to 1914, and again from 1931 to 1934. He also devoted his time to the

American Mining Congress American(s) may refer to: * American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America" ** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America ** American ancestry, pe ...

, the Colorado Mining Association, and the State Metal Mining Fund. Jesse McDonald died on February 25, 1942; his ashes were scattered around

Denver Denver () is a consolidated city and county, the capital, and most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Its population was 715,522 at the 2020 census, a 19.22% increase since 2010. It is the 19th-most populous city in the Unit ...

References

External links

Governor Jesse F. McDonald Collection at the Colorado State Archives
1858 births 1942 deaths Republican Party Colorado state senators Republican Party governors of Colorado Lieutenant Governors of Colorado Politicians from Ashtabula, Ohio People from Leadville, Colorado Mayors of places in Colorado {{Colorado-politician-stub

Biography

See also

References

External links