Isabella Greenway
Encyclopedia
Isabella Selmes Ferguson Greenway King (born March 22, 1886, Boone County, Kentucky
; died December 18, 1953, Tucson, Arizona
) is best known as the first U.S. congresswoman in Arizona history, and as the founder of the Arizona Inn of Tucson. During her life she was also noted as a one-time owner and operator of Los Angeles, Calif.-based Gilpin Air Lines, a speaker at the 1932 Democratic National Convention
, and a bridesmaid at the wedding of Eleanor
and Franklin D. Roosevelt
. http://www.uapress.arizona.edu/books/bid1555.htm
, a Minnesota judge and politician; it was at the farm of Patty's maternal aunt Julia Dinsmore in Kentucky
that Isabella was born. Tilden Selmes was the co-owner of a ranch in North Dakota with Theodore Roosevelt
, and Isabella spent her early life on that ranch. After the untimely death of her father in 1895, Isabella and her mother lived with various members of her mother's family in Kentucky, Minnesota, and New York. Isabella attended schools in New York City, where she met and became lifelong friends with Roosevelt's niece, Eleanor
.
. Robert and Isabella became the godparents of Franklin and Eleanor's only daughter, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt.
Three years into the marriage, Robert contracted tuberculosis
and in 1910 the couple moved to the dry climate of New Mexico
, hoping his health would improve. There Isabella nursed her husband and educated their two children, Robert, Jr. and Martha. During this period, Isabella and Eleanor established a close correspondence that continued for the rest of their lives.
After Robert's death in 1922, Isabella married a close friend, Col. John Campbell Greenway
, another of Roosevelt's Rough Riders, whom she had met in 1911. John moved the family to a ranch in Arizona near Bisbee
where he was manager of the Calumet and Arizona Mining Company. Later the family moved to Ajo
where Isabella and John's son, John Selmes ("Jack") Greenway, was born in 1924. In 1926, John died suddenly, following surgery, leaving Isabella a widow once again.
Isabella and her three children moved to Williams, Arizona, and bought a ranch there as she and John had planned, the Quarter Circle Double X Ranch. Through smart business dealings and the sale of her mining stock at the top of its value ahead of the market crash, Isabella was able to grow the ranch to over 130000 acres (526.1 km²). During the same period, she also became the owner and operator of Los Angeles-based Gilpin Airlines.
.
Greenway, a Democrat, was elected as Arizona's sole Representative
to the 73rd Congress in 1932 to complete the unexpired term of resigning Rep. Lewis W. Douglas, who had been appointed the U.S director of the budget. She won reelection in 1934. On her fiftieth birthday she announced that she was retiring from public office. There was some expectation that had she run in the 1936 election, she would have been unopposed in both the primary and general elections.
Though she broadly supported New Deal legislation during her terms in Congress, she demonstrated her political independence by breaking with the President over some issues of concern to veterans, an important part of her political base in Arizona. She opposed legislation to reduce the pensions of World War I servicemen, funds for which FDR planned to shift to fund economic recovery programs. She also opposed some provisions of the Social Security Act, which she believed would be impossible to implement in the long term.
manager for the copper industry, and then-president of the Institute of Applied Economics in New York. During this marriage, Isabella spent part of her time in New York and part in Tucson.
She died on December 18, 1953 in Tucson at the Arizona Inn, which she had founded in 1930. She is buried on the Dinsmore Homestead in Kentucky where she had been born.
In Phoenix
, Greenway Road and several public schools are named for her.
Boone County, Kentucky
Boone County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. It was formed in 1798. The population was 118,811 in the 2010 Census. Its county seat is Burlington. The county is named for frontiersman Daniel Boone...
; died December 18, 1953, Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
) is best known as the first U.S. congresswoman in Arizona history, and as the founder of the Arizona Inn of Tucson. During her life she was also noted as a one-time owner and operator of Los Angeles, Calif.-based Gilpin Air Lines, a speaker at the 1932 Democratic National Convention
Democratic National Convention
The Democratic National Convention is a series of presidential nominating conventions held every four years since 1832 by the United States Democratic Party. They have been administered by the Democratic National Committee since the 1852 national convention...
, and a bridesmaid at the wedding of Eleanor
Eleanor Roosevelt
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. She supported the New Deal policies of her husband, distant cousin Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and became an advocate for civil rights. After her husband's death in 1945, Roosevelt continued to be an international...
and Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
. http://www.uapress.arizona.edu/books/bid1555.htm
Early life
Isabella Selmes was born March 22, 1886, the daughter of Tilden Russell Selmes and Martha "Patty" Macomb Flandrau. Tilden Selmes was general counsel for the Northern Pacific Railroad. Patty Flandrau was the daughter of Charles Eugene FlandrauCharles Eugene Flandrau
Charles Eugene Flandrau was an American lawyer and colonel in the Union Army.-Early life:...
, a Minnesota judge and politician; it was at the farm of Patty's maternal aunt Julia Dinsmore in Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
that Isabella was born. Tilden Selmes was the co-owner of a ranch in North Dakota with Theodore Roosevelt
Theodore 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...
, and Isabella spent her early life on that ranch. After the untimely death of her father in 1895, Isabella and her mother lived with various members of her mother's family in Kentucky, Minnesota, and New York. Isabella attended schools in New York City, where she met and became lifelong friends with Roosevelt's niece, Eleanor
Eleanor Roosevelt
Anna Eleanor Roosevelt was the First Lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945. She supported the New Deal policies of her husband, distant cousin Franklin Delano Roosevelt, and became an advocate for civil rights. After her husband's death in 1945, Roosevelt continued to be an international...
.
First and Second Marriages
In 1905, Isabella was one of Eleanor's bridesmaids when Eleanor married Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Shortly thereafter, while the Roosevelts were on their honeymoon, Isabella married Robert Munro-Ferguson, the younger brother of Ronald Munro-Furguson. Robert was a family friend of the Roosevelts, as well as one of Theodore Roosevelt's Rough RidersRough Riders
The Rough Riders is the name bestowed on the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, one of three such regiments raised in 1898 for the Spanish-American War and the only one of the three to see action. The United States Army was weakened and left with little manpower after the American Civil War...
. Robert and Isabella became the godparents of Franklin and Eleanor's only daughter, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt.
Three years into the marriage, Robert contracted tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
and in 1910 the couple moved to the dry climate of 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...
, hoping his health would improve. There Isabella nursed her husband and educated their two children, Robert, Jr. and Martha. During this period, Isabella and Eleanor established a close correspondence that continued for the rest of their lives.
After Robert's death in 1922, Isabella married a close friend, Col. John Campbell Greenway
John Campbell Greenway
John Campbell Greenway was an American mining, steel and railroad executive: a man of many trades in many states...
, another of Roosevelt's Rough Riders, whom she had met in 1911. John moved the family to a ranch in Arizona near Bisbee
Bisbee, Arizona
Bisbee is a city in Cochise County, Arizona, United States, 82 miles southeast of Tucson. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 6,177...
where he was manager of the Calumet and Arizona Mining Company. Later the family moved to Ajo
Ajo, Arizona
Ajo is a census-designated place in Pima County, Arizona, United States. The population was 3,705 at the 2000 census. Ajo is located on State Route 85 just from the Mexican border. It is the closest community to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument....
where Isabella and John's son, John Selmes ("Jack") Greenway, was born in 1924. In 1926, John died suddenly, following surgery, leaving Isabella a widow once again.
Isabella and her three children moved to Williams, Arizona, and bought a ranch there as she and John had planned, the Quarter Circle Double X Ranch. Through smart business dealings and the sale of her mining stock at the top of its value ahead of the market crash, Isabella was able to grow the ranch to over 130000 acres (526.1 km²). During the same period, she also became the owner and operator of Los Angeles-based Gilpin Airlines.
Activism and Politics
Isabella's political interests and social activism paralleled the interests of her friend Eleanor. During the First World War she developed and directed a network of southwest women who farmed while the men were overseas. During the late 1920s she opened Arizona Hut, a furniture factory employing disabled veterans and their immediate families. In 1928 she became Arizona's Democratic national committeewoman, and in 1932 she campaigned heavily for Franklin Roosevelt. She made one of the speeches seconding his nomination at the 1932 Democratic National Convention1932 Democratic National Convention
The 1932 Democratic National Convention was held in Chicago, Illinois from June 27 - July 2, 1932. The convention resulted in the nomination of Governor Franklin Roosevelt of New York for President and Speaker of the House John Nance Garner of Texas for Vice-President...
.
Greenway, a Democrat, was elected as Arizona's sole Representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
to the 73rd Congress in 1932 to complete the unexpired term of resigning Rep. Lewis W. Douglas, who had been appointed the U.S director of the budget. She won reelection in 1934. On her fiftieth birthday she announced that she was retiring from public office. There was some expectation that had she run in the 1936 election, she would have been unopposed in both the primary and general elections.
Though she broadly supported New Deal legislation during her terms in Congress, she demonstrated her political independence by breaking with the President over some issues of concern to veterans, an important part of her political base in Arizona. She opposed legislation to reduce the pensions of World War I servicemen, funds for which FDR planned to shift to fund economic recovery programs. She also opposed some provisions of the Social Security Act, which she believed would be impossible to implement in the long term.
Later life
In 1939 she married one-time tool manufacturer Harry O. King, a former National Recovery AdministrationNational Recovery Administration
The National Recovery Administration was the primary New Deal agency established by U.S. president Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1933. The goal was to eliminate "cut-throat competition" by bringing industry, labor and government together to create codes of "fair practices" and set prices...
manager for the copper industry, and then-president of the Institute of Applied Economics in New York. During this marriage, Isabella spent part of her time in New York and part in Tucson.
She died on December 18, 1953 in Tucson at the Arizona Inn, which she had founded in 1930. She is buried on the Dinsmore Homestead in Kentucky where she had been born.
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...
, Greenway Road and several public schools are named for her.