Davis Hanson Waite

David Hanson Waite
8th Governor of Colorado
In office 1893–1895
Lieutenant	David Hopkinson Nichols
Preceded by	John L. Routt
Succeeded by	Albert W. McIntire
Personal details
Born	April 9, 1825(1825-04-09) Jamestown, New York
Died	November 27, 1901(1901-11-27) (aged 76) Aspen, Colorado
Political party	Populist

Davis Hanson Waite (April 9, 1825 – November 27, 1901), U.S. Populist Party and Democratic Party politician, served as the eighth Governor of Colorado from 1893 to 1895.

He was born in Jamestown, New York to Joseph Waite (1787-1855) and Olive Davis Waite (1786-1851), and served in the state legislatures of Wisconsin in 1857, and Kansas in 1879, before eventually moving to Colorado, where he started the local newspaper in Aspen, Colorado and was secretary in the local assembly of the Knights of Labor.

A passionate supporter of the Populist Party's Omaha Platform, he was nicknamed "Bloody Bridles" for an 1893 speech, in which he proclaimed, "It is better, infinitely better that blood should flow to the horses' bridles rather than our national liberties should be destroyed."

As governor, Waite supported the Western Federation of Miners in its successful 1894 Cripple Creek Strike and that same year the American Railroad Union during the national Pullman Strike. He was also instrumental in the passage of women's suffrage in Colorado during his governorship. He was defeated for reelection in 1894, but continued to be active in the Populist movement until his death while preparing Thanksgiving dinner in 1901.

He married Frances Eliza Russell (1836-1880), the daughter of Robert and Celia Ann (Cook) Russell. They had at least one daughter, Jessie Francelia White (1856-1880). He remarried to Celia O. Crane (1845-1937) on January 8, 1885. They had one son, Frank Hanson Waite (1886-1951).

His house on West Francis Street in Aspen has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

References

• Waite, Davis Hanson (2005-12-15). "The Governor Davis H. Waite Collection at the Colorado State Archives". 9 cubic feet, bulk 1893-1895. Colorado State Archives. http://www.colorado.gov/dpa/doit/archives/govs/waite.html. Retrieved 2006-10-01. 
• "The Cripple Creek Strike". http://members.tripod.com/~mr_sedivy/colorado20.html. Retrieved 2006-10-01. 
• Linder, Douglas (1998). "The Western Federation of Miners". THE TRIAL OF WILLIAM "BIG BILL" HAYWOOD. University of Missouri - Kansas City, School of Law. http://www.law.umkc.edu/faculty/projects/ftrials/haywood/HAY_WFM.HTM. Retrieved 2006-10-01. 

External links

• Find A Grave (burial site)

Political offices
Preceded by Alva Adams	Governor of Colorado 1893-1895	Succeeded by Albert Washington McIntire