Robert N. Leatherwood

Robert Nelson "Bob" Leatherwood (June 1, 1844 – April 3, 1920) was an American businessman and politician who served three terms in the Arizona Territorial Legislature and two years as Mayor of Tucson, Arizona Territory.

Robert Nelson "Bob" Leatherwood
Member of the Arizona Territorial Legislature Council
In office
1885
Member of the Arizona Territorial Legislature House of Representatives
In office
1887
Mayor of Tucson, Arizona
In office
1880–1881
Preceded byJames H. Toole
Succeeded byJ. S. Carr
Sheriff of Pima County, Arizona
In office
1895–1898
Preceded byJoseph B. Scott
Succeeded byLyman Willis Wakefield
Personal details
Born(1844-06-01)June 1, 1844
Haysville, North Carolina
DiedApril 3, 1920(1920-04-03) (aged 75)
Tucson, Arizona
Resting place
Political partyDemocratic[1]
Military service
Allegiance Confederate States of America
Branch/service Confederate States Army

Biography

Leatherwood was born to William and Elizabeth (Nelson) Leatherwood near Haysville, North Carolina in June 1844.[1][2] During the American Civil War, he served as a member of the Confederate States Army[1] Leatherwood saved his uniform and cap following the war and often wore them on special occasions.[3] While he was small of stature, standing 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m) and weighing 130 pounds (59 kg), he was considered an individual full of "valor and grit". Leatherwood married and the union produced one son.[1]

In 1869, Leatherwood moved to Tucson, Arizona Territory and lived there for the rest of his life. He operated a livery stable and had mining operations in the Santa Catalina Mountains. In addition to his mining interests, Leatherwood built a ranch in the Santa Catalinas.[1]

Politically, Leatherwood was a member of the Tucson City Council from 1874 through 1879.[4] He also served as a school trustee and was elected Mayor of Tucson for 1880.[1] During his term of office, the Southern Pacific Railroad reached Tucson.[3] To celebrate the March 20, 1880 arrival, Leatherwood appointed eight committees to help organize the festivities and served as chairman of both the Committee on Toasts and Speeches and the Committee of Reception.[5] In 1885, Leatherwood represented Pima County in the Council (upper house) during the 13th Arizona Territorial Legislature.[6] He was returned to the territorial legislature two years later, serving in the lower house during the 14th Arizona Territorial Legislature.[7] Leatherwood's final term in the legislature was during the 1893 session.[8]

By the late 1880s, Leatherwood was a deputy sheriff serving under Charles A. Shibell.[9] He was elected Pima County Sheriff on November 6, 1894 and served in the office from 1895 through 1898. After leaving office he retired to private life.[2]

Leatherwood died from a heart attack on April 3, 1920.[10] He was buried in Moss Memorial Graveyard, Cherokee County, North Carolina. Despite rumors to the contrary, Leatherwood was not buried in his Civil War uniform.[1]

gollark: Oops.
gollark: --search !wen bee
gollark: --magic reload_ext duckduckgo
gollark: --search !wen bees
gollark: How odd.

References
  1. Goff 1996, p. 152.
  2. Pima County Sheriff's Department 2003, p. 8.
  3. Sonnichsen 1987, p. 102.
  4. Buehman 1911, p. 53–4.
  5. Sonnichsen 1987, pp. 102–3.
  6. Wagoner 1970, p. 517.
  7. Wagoner 1970, p. 518.
  8. Wagoner 1970, p. 521.
  9. Sonnichsen 1987, p. 125.
  10. "Pioneer of Arizona Drops Dead, Aged 85". The Coconino Sun. Flagstaff, Arizona. April 9, 1920. p. 1.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.