John T. Alsap
Encyclopedia
John Tabor Alsap was an American physician
, lawyer
, politician
, and farmer active in the early days of Arizona Territory
. Among his accomplishments are being appointed the first Treasurer of Arizona Territory, being elected to four terms of the territorial legislature, serving as both Speaker of the House and President of the Council in the Arizona Territorial legislature, and becoming the first Mayor of Phoenix
.
on either February 26 or 28 in 1830. His family moved to Ohio
when he was two years old before settling in Fort Wayne, Indiana
when he was ten. Alsap is commonly credited with graduating in 1854 from the New York College of Medicine with degrees in law and medicine. There is evidence however that he gained his medical knowledge studying under a physician in Marion, Ohio
instead of from his university studies.
After completing his studies, Alsap worked briefly as a physician in Indiana before moving to Contra Costa County, California
. In California he augmented his work as a physician with farming and prospecting.
In 1863, Alsap began prospecting in the area which would soon become Arizona Territory. He joined King Woolsey
's second foray against the Apache
from March 29 – April 17, 1864, serving as the group's surgeon. With the founding of Prescott
, Alsap become operator and co-owner of the town's first saloon. He was appointed the territory's first treasurer
by Governor John Noble Goodwin
, a position he held until 1867. His other business activities include joining with Richard Cunningham McCormick
, Woolsey, and others to form a corporation to build the first road between Prescott and southern Arizona.
Alsap married Louisa A. Osborn, the daughter of another Prescott pioneer, on June 6, 1866. Two years later he was elected to represent Yavapai County
in the 5th Arizona Territorial Legislature
. During the session he was selected to serve as President of the Council.
In 1869, Alsap joined his brother-in-law, W. L. Osborn, and began farming in the Salt River
valley. There he help found the Phoenix Ditch Company for the purpose of building irrigation canals in the valley. On October 24, 1870 Alsap was elected one of three commissioners for the Salt River Valley Association, which oversaw creation of the town of Phoenix
.
The 6th Arizona Territorial Legislature
, in 1871, saw Alsap represent Yavapai County in the Council for the second time During the session he served on a committee to deal with the Apache problem. His primary accomplishment however was leading the effort to create Maricopa County
from southern Yavapai County. Governor Anson P.K. Safford
appointed Alsap the newly created county's Probate judge on February 21, 1871. Alsap was admitted to the bar in 1872 and practiced law for several years.
As Probate judge, Alsap was responsible for a variety of other activities. These included resolving title issues in the newly created town of Phoenix, performed weddings, and serving as ex officio superintendent of the county schools. At the completion of his first term, Alsap was appointed to a second on February 15, 1873. Following the death of his first wife, Alsap married Anna D. Murray.
Alsap represented Maricopa County during the 8th Arizona Territorial Legislature
in 1875. He also served as the session's Speaker in the House of Representatives. The next year he was a board member for Arizona's presentation at the Centennial Exposition
. Judge Alsap was elected to represent Maricopa County again during the 1879 session of the territorial legislature
. When Phoenix was incorporated in 1881, Alsap was elected the city's first Mayor.
Alsap was active in Freemasonry
, the Odd Fellows
, and the Knights of Pythias
. He was also a member of the Methodist Church. Alsap died in Phoenix on September 10, 1886. He is buried in Phoenix's Pioneer Veterans Memorial Cemetery.
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
, politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, and farmer active in the early days of Arizona Territory
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....
. Among his accomplishments are being appointed the first Treasurer of Arizona Territory, being elected to four terms of the territorial legislature, serving as both Speaker of the House and President of the Council in the Arizona Territorial legislature, and becoming the first Mayor of 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...
.
Biography
Alsap was born in Frankfort, KentuckyFrankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort is a city in Kentucky that serves as the state capital and the county seat of Franklin County. The population was 27,741 at the 2000 census; by population it is the 5th smallest state capital in the United States...
on either February 26 or 28 in 1830. His family moved to Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
when he was two years old before settling in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Fort Wayne is a city in the US state of Indiana and the county seat of Allen County. The population was 253,691 at the 2010 Census making it the 74th largest city in the United States and the second largest in Indiana...
when he was ten. Alsap is commonly credited with graduating in 1854 from the New York College of Medicine with degrees in law and medicine. There is evidence however that he gained his medical knowledge studying under a physician in Marion, Ohio
Marion, Ohio
Marion is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Marion County. The municipality is located in north-central Ohio, approximately north of Columbus....
instead of from his university studies.
After completing his studies, Alsap worked briefly as a physician in Indiana before moving to Contra Costa County, California
Contra Costa County, California
Contra Costa County is a primarily suburban county in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 1,049,025...
. In California he augmented his work as a physician with farming and prospecting.
In 1863, Alsap began prospecting in the area which would soon become Arizona Territory. He joined King Woolsey
King Woolsey
King S. Woolsey was an American pioneer rancher, Indian-fighter, prospector and politician in 19th century Arizona. Woolsey Peak and other features of Arizona geography have been named after him, but he has also been criticized by historians for brutality in his battles with Apache native...
's second foray against the Apache
Apache
Apache is the collective term for several culturally related groups of Native Americans in the United States originally from the Southwest United States. These indigenous peoples of North America speak a Southern Athabaskan language, which is related linguistically to the languages of Athabaskan...
from March 29 – April 17, 1864, serving as the group's surgeon. With the founding of Prescott
Prescott, Arizona
Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It was designated "Arizona's Christmas City" by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s....
, Alsap become operator and co-owner of the town's first saloon. He was appointed the territory's first treasurer
Treasurer
A treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury of an organization. The adjective for a treasurer is normally "tresorial". The adjective "treasurial" normally means pertaining to a treasury, rather than the treasurer.-Government:...
by Governor John Noble Goodwin
John Noble Goodwin
John Noble Goodwin was a United States attorney and politician who served as the first Governor of Arizona Territory...
, a position he held until 1867. His other business activities include joining with Richard Cunningham McCormick
Richard Cunningham McCormick
Richard Cunningham McCormick, Jr. was an American politician, businessman, and journalist. He served as the second Governor of Arizona Territory, three time Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona Territory, and as a Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York...
, Woolsey, and others to form a corporation to build the first road between Prescott and southern Arizona.
Alsap married Louisa A. Osborn, the daughter of another Prescott pioneer, on June 6, 1866. Two years later he was elected to represent Yavapai County
Yavapai County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*89.3% White*0.6% Black*1.7% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*2.5% Two or more races*5.0% Other races*13.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
in the 5th Arizona Territorial Legislature
5th Arizona Territorial Legislature
The 5th Arizona Territorial Legislative Assembly was a session of the Arizona Territorial Legislature which met from November 10, 1868, to December 16, 1868, in Tucson, Arizona Territory. It was the last of the annual legislative sessions.-Background:...
. During the session he was selected to serve as President of the Council.
In 1869, Alsap joined his brother-in-law, W. L. Osborn, and began farming in the Salt River
Salt River (Arizona)
The Salt River is a stream in the U.S. state of Arizona. It is the largest tributary of the Gila River. The river is about long. Its drainage basin is about large. The longest of the Salt River's many tributaries is the Verde River...
valley. There he help found the Phoenix Ditch Company for the purpose of building irrigation canals in the valley. On October 24, 1870 Alsap was elected one of three commissioners for the Salt River Valley Association, which oversaw creation of the town of 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...
.
The 6th Arizona Territorial Legislature
6th Arizona Territorial Legislature
The 6th Arizona Territorial Legislative Assembly was a session of the Arizona Territorial Legislature which met in Tucson beginning on January 11, 1871, and running till February 14, 1871.-Background:...
, in 1871, saw Alsap represent Yavapai County in the Council for the second time During the session he served on a committee to deal with the Apache problem. His primary accomplishment however was leading the effort to create Maricopa County
Maricopa County, Arizona
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*73.0% White*5.0% Black*2.1% Native American*3.5% Asian*0.2% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*3.5% Two or more races*12.7% Other races*29.6% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
from southern Yavapai County. Governor Anson P.K. Safford
Anson P.K. Safford
Anson Pacely Killen SaffordVarious sources give multiple variations for the spelling of Safford's two middle names. Among these are Peasley, Peacely, Keeler, and Killen. was the third Governor of Arizona Territory...
appointed Alsap the newly created county's Probate judge on February 21, 1871. Alsap was admitted to the bar in 1872 and practiced law for several years.
As Probate judge, Alsap was responsible for a variety of other activities. These included resolving title issues in the newly created town of Phoenix, performed weddings, and serving as ex officio superintendent of the county schools. At the completion of his first term, Alsap was appointed to a second on February 15, 1873. Following the death of his first wife, Alsap married Anna D. Murray.
Alsap represented Maricopa County during the 8th Arizona Territorial Legislature
8th Arizona Territorial Legislature
The 8th Arizona Territorial Legislative Assembly was a session of the Arizona Territorial Legislature which convened from January 4, 1875, till February 12, 1875, in Tucson, Arizona Territory.-Background:...
in 1875. He also served as the session's Speaker in the House of Representatives. The next year he was a board member for Arizona's presentation at the Centennial Exposition
Centennial Exposition
The Centennial International Exhibition of 1876, the first official World's Fair in the United States, was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 10 to November 10, 1876, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. It was officially...
. Judge Alsap was elected to represent Maricopa County again during the 1879 session of the territorial legislature
10th Arizona Territorial Legislature
The 10th Arizona Territorial Legislative Assembly was a session of the Arizona Territorial Legislature which convened on January 6, 1879, in Prescott, Arizona Territory....
. When Phoenix was incorporated in 1881, Alsap was elected the city's first Mayor.
Alsap was active in Freemasonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, the Odd Fellows
Odd Fellows
Odd Fellows is a name broadly referring to any of a large number of friendly societies, fraternal and service organizations and/or Lodges.-Societies using the name "Odd Fellows" or variations:...
, and the Knights of Pythias
Knights of Pythias
The Knights of Pythias is a fraternal organization and secret society founded at Washington, DC, on 19 February 1864.The Knights of Pythias was the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the United States Congress. It was founded by Justus H. Rathbone, who had been...
. He was also a member of the Methodist Church. Alsap died in Phoenix on September 10, 1886. He is buried in Phoenix's Pioneer Veterans Memorial Cemetery.