J. W. Buchanan
Buchanan, c. 1911
Member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the Pima County
In office
March 1912  December 1916
Preceded byFirst representative from Pima County
Succeeded byA. R. Buehman
J. P. Mallory
Member of the Arizona Senate
from the Pima County district
In office
January 1917  December 1918
Preceded byMose Drachman
A. P. Martin
Succeeded byA. R. Buehman
Personal details
Born1871 (1871)
Brandon, Mississippi
DiedJuly 7, 1941(1941-07-07) (aged 69–70)
El Paso, Texas
NationalityAmerican
Political partyDemocratic
Spouse
Gertrude Maude Shapley
(m. 1914)
ProfessionPolitician

John W. Buchanan (1871–1941) was an American politician from Arizona who served in the states first three legislatures, the first two in the House of Representatives, and the third in the State Senate.[1][2][3][4] During his political career he also served as Pima County Treasurer and as Tucson's City Treasurer.

Personal life

Buchanan was born in 1871.[5] Buchanan was originally from Brandon, Mississippi, and moved to Houston, Texas in the 1890s, prior to moving to Tucson in 1905. Early in his career he worked as a farmer, a carpenter and a merchant.[6][7][8][9] Buchanan was an employee of the Southern Pacific Railway. In 1912 he was promoted to car service agent for the Arizona Eastern Railway, which was being leased by Southern Pacific.[7][10][11] He retired from the railroad in the mid-1920s when the company headquarters were moved to Guadalajara.[12]

Buchanan wed Gertrude Maude Shapley of Houston, Texas on June 24, 1914, in the First Presbyterian Church (Houston). The two had met several years earlier when Buchanan was living in Houston.[7][10] In July 1941, Buchanan and his wife were traveling by car from Tucson to visit her relatives in Houston, and then his relations in Brandon, Mississippi. En route, they were in a car wreck near Fort Hancock, Texas. Buchanan was hospitalized in El Paso with internal injuries and fractured ribs. While in the hospital he contracted pneumonia and died on July 7.[13][14]

Political career

Buchanan's 1916 ad for Arizona State Senator

In 1911 Buchanan announced his intention to run for one of the three seats from Pima County in the state House of Representatives in the 1st Arizona State Legislature.[15] Running as a Democrat, there were four others in the primary.[16] He won the primary, along with S. W. Purcell and Andrew P. Martin, and in the general election, he was the only one of the three democrats to win a seat in the House.[17][18] In 1914 Buchanan ran for re-election to the House.[19] His re-election was opposed by the Democrat's state machine.[20] 5 Democrats ran for the three House seats in the primary. Buchanan, along with J. Breck Richardson and Sheldon A. Reed were the top vote getters.[21][22] In the general election only one of the two incumbent Republicans ran for re-election, Frank L. Crofoot. The three Democrats all won, with Reed narrowly besting Crofoot, 1488–1471.[23] Buchanan was only one of three members of the first House of Representatives to return for the 2nd Arizona State Legislature, the others being William E. Brooks and W. J. Graham.[24] In 1916 it was initially speculated that Buchanan would run for re-election in the House, however, by July Buchanan had set his sights on the Senate seat being vacated by Mose Drachman, who had resigned due to his appointment as clerk to the Superior Court.[25][26][27] There were initially three Democrats seeking the nomination for the two Senate seats, but in August the incumbent, Andrew P. Martin dropped out of the race, leaving just Buchanan and John T. Hughes.[28] Since they were unopposed, they became the Democrat's nominees. However, in the general election, Hughes was defeated by Republican F. O. Goodell, while Buchanan won.[29][30] In 1918 Buchanan decided not to run for the Senate again, choosing to run for one of two seats on the Pima County Board of Supervisors.[31] He came in third out of four candidates for the Democrat's nomination.[32][33]

J. W. Buchanan ad for county treasurer, 1926

Buchanan remained out of politics for several years, until 1926 when he announced his intention to run for Pima County treasurer.[34] Three Democrats entered the primary, Buchanan, Herbert C. Chambers, and Charles F. Gulden.[35] In a close race, which included a recount, Buchanan edged out Gulden 1956 votes to 1800.[36][37] Buchanan followed this with a landslide victory over Republican Walter E. Fuller in the November election, getting almost twice as many votes, 1625 to 850.[38] Buchanan ran for re-election for county treasurer in 1928.[39] He ran unopposed in both the Democrats' primary and the November general election.[40][41][42]

In 1930 Buchanan was precluded from running for re-election for county treasurer due to term limits.[43] In December he was short-listed to become Tucson's city treasurer, and was appointed to that position in January 1931.[44][45] He was Tucson's first city treasurer under their new charter.[46] As city treasurer, he was the first to hire a full-time Spanish-American to the treasurer's staff.[12] Buchanan lost the city treasurer position in 1932, when due to budget cuts the position was consolidated into the city clerk's office.[47] Later in the year, in November, Mit Simms, Arizona State Treasurer, appointed Buchanan to be the inheritance tax examiner for Pima County, to fill out the remaining term of Bradford Duncan, who had died.[48] He held the position until July 1935, when W. M. Cox, then state treasurer, decided not to re-appoint him.[49][12]

In 1936 Buchanan decided to run for a seat on Tucson's Board of Supervisors, in the second district.[50] In the Democrats' primary in September, Buchanan came in third of four candidates.[51][52]

References

  1. "History of the Arizona State Legislature 1912–1966". State of Arizona. pp. 7–8. Retrieved March 1, 2022.
  2. "History of the Arizona State Legislature 1912-1966". State of Arizona. Retrieved March 2, 2022.
  3. "History of the Arizona State Legislature 1912–1966". State of Arizona. pp. 8–9. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
  4. Talbot T. Smith (October 21, 1930). "Political Facts and Fancies". Arizona Daily Star. p. 1. Retrieved June 9, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  5. "Men Who Will Compose Legislature". Tombstone Weekly Epitaph. January 28, 1912. p. 4. Retrieved June 10, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  6. "Going East". Arizona Daily Star. August 23, 1908. p. 7. Retrieved June 9, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  7. 1 2 3 "Buchanan Will Wed Houston, Texas, Girl". Tucson Citizen. June 9, 1914. p. 5. Retrieved June 10, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  8. "Will Not Miss Another". The Arizona Republican. November 7, 1911. p. 6. Retrieved June 10, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  9. "J. W. Buchanan Typical Southern Democrat". Tucson Citizen. August 25, 1916. p. 4. Retrieved June 10, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  10. 1 2 "J. W. Buchanan Will Wed at Houston". Tucson Citizen. June 13, 1914. p. 8. Retrieved June 10, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  11. "Buchanan Promoted". Arizona Daily Star. March 14, 1912. p. 6. Retrieved June 10, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  12. 1 2 3 "Buchanan's Life Combined Many Offices and Activities". Arizona Daily Star. August 19, 1936. p. 2. Retrieved June 10, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  13. "J. W. Buchanan Dead In Crash". Arizona Daily Star. July 14, 1941. p. 1. Retrieved June 12, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  14. "Buchanan Rites To Be Held At Brandon, Mississippi". Arizona Daily Star. July 15, 1941. p. 3. Retrieved June 12, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  15. "For State Representative". Tucson Citizen. October 10, 1911. p. 2. Retrieved June 9, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  16. "Clerk's Notice of Filed Nomination Papers and Time of Primary". Arizona Daily Star. October 17, 1911. p. 7. Retrieved June 9, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  17. "Democratic Ticket". Arizona Daily Star. November 3, 1911. p. 4. Retrieved June 9, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  18. "Members of the First Legislature". The Coconino Sun. December 22, 1911. p. 1. Retrieved June 9, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  19. "For Representative". Arizona Daily Star. August 16, 1914. p. 12. Retrieved June 10, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  20. "Hunt and Smith Said To Have Formed a Combination State Machine Runs Smoothly". Tucson Citizen. August 25, 1914. p. 1. Retrieved June 10, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  21. "Greaterville Assumes Real Importance". Arizona Daily Star. September 15, 1914. p. 8. Retrieved June 10, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  22. "Our Legislative Ticket". Arizona Daily Star. October 22, 1914. p. 4. Retrieved June 10, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  23. "Election Returns for State and County Offices". Arizona Daily Star. November 6, 1914. p. 2. Retrieved June 10, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  24. "Speakership Fight Is Already On". The Arizona Republican. November 10, 1914. p. 4. Retrieved June 10, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  25. "County Candidates Come Out of the Woods". Tucson Citizen. February 9, 1916. p. 5. Retrieved June 11, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  26. "Prospective Tickets for 1916". Tucson Citizen. July 10, 1916. p. 8. Retrieved June 11, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  27. "J. W. Buchanan". Arizona Daily Star. August 17, 1916. p. 6. Retrieved June 11, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  28. "Among the Politicians". Tucson Citizen. August 15, 1916. p. 4. Retrieved June 11, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  29. "Returns Coming in Slowly in County". Bisbee Daily Review. September 15, 1916. p. 2. Retrieved June 11, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  30. "Who's Who In Legislature of Arizona This Year". Tombstone Weekly Epitaph. November 19, 1916. p. 1. Retrieved June 11, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  31. "Saturday Last Day For Candidates To Catch Soldier Vote Year". Arizona Daily Star. July 19, 1918. p. 8. Retrieved June 11, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  32. "Pima Election Returns Show No Reversal". Arizona Daily Star. September 13, 1918. p. 4. Retrieved June 11, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  33. "Congressional Elections Share Interest With War News Today". Arizona Daily Star. November 5, 1918. p. 2. Retrieved June 11, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  34. "Tucson Topics". Arizona Daily Star. June 12, 1926. p. 2. Retrieved June 11, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  35. "44 Democrats Enter Party Free-For-All In Party Election". Tucson Citizen. August 8, 1926. p. 2. Retrieved June 11, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  36. "Recount To Be Made of Votes for Treasurer". Arizona Daily Star. September 26, 1926. p. 7. Retrieved June 11, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  37. "Here's County Entry List For November 2nd Classic". Tucson Citizen. October 14, 1926. p. 8. Retrieved June 11, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  38. "How Pima County Registered Its Vote". Arizona Daily Star. November 3, 1926. p. 3. Retrieved June 11, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  39. "Asks Re-Election". Arizona Daily Star. July 15, 1928. p. 2. Retrieved June 11, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  40. "Pima May Swing for Democrats". Arizona Daily Star. August 13, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved June 11, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  41. "To Have No Opposition". Arizona Daily Star. October 2, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved June 11, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  42. "Candidates Are Separated By Eighteen Votes". Arizona Daily Star. November 7, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved June 11, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  43. "Richmonds Galore Swarm Fields In Contests for Pima Political Plumbs". Tucson Citizen. April 9, 1930. p. 2. Retrieved June 9, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  44. "Wade To Stay, So Does Cowan Council Plans". Arizona Daily Star. December 17, 1930. p. 1. Retrieved June 9, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  45. "Disappointment Rules As City Council Meets". Arizona Daily Star. January 6, 1931. p. 1. Retrieved June 9, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  46. "Gutherie Favored for City Treasurer's Post". Arizona Daily Star. June 17, 1936. p. 1. Retrieved June 9, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  47. "Cowan, Buchanan Slated To Lose City Offices". Arizona Daily Star. June 24, 1932. p. 1. Retrieved June 12, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  48. "Appointed". Arizona Daily Star. November 24, 1932. p. 1. Retrieved June 12, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  49. "Little Stories of Phoenix Daily Life". Arizona Republic. July 20, 1935. p. 4. Retrieved June 12, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  50. "J. W. Buchanan To Seek Supervisor's Position". Tucson Citizen. June 30, 1936. p. 3. Retrieved June 12, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  51. "The First Complete Election Returns". Arizona Daily Star. September 6, 1936. p. 11. Retrieved June 12, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  52. "Complete Pima County Returns". Tucson Citizen. September 10, 1936. p. 2. Retrieved June 12, 2022 via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
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