Samuel Beach Axtell was an American jurist and politician.
Background
Samuel Beach Axtell was born on October 14, 1819 in Franklin County, Ohio, United States to farmers Samuel Loree Axtell and Nancy (Sanders) Axtell.
His ancestor was an officer in the American Revolutionary army and his grandfather was a Colonel of a New Jersey regiment during the War of 1812.
Young Axtell moved with his family early in 1820 to Jersey Township, Licking County, Ohio. In June 1824, however, the family returned to their former home in Mendham, New Jersey, where he spent most of his youth.
Education
Axtell attended the local schools and Oberlin College, then studied law in Western Reserve College (now Adelbert College of Western Reserve University) and graduated in 1844.
Career
In 1851, two years after the discovery of gold in California, he joined the great migration to the Pacific Coast. Having no luck as a golddigger, he soon began a local political career of some distinction.
In 1854 he became the first District Attorney of Amador County and held office for three successive terms, until he moved to San Francisco in 1860.
Six years later, in 1866, he was elected for Congress as a Democrat and re-elected in 1868.
Deciding not to run for third term, Axtell then returned to California and remained more or less active in Californian politics until his appointment as Governor of Utah in 1874.
Because of the bitter controversy between Mormon and anti-Mormon factions in the territory, Axtell's tenure of office was brief and somewhat stormy. The fact that he didn't identify himself with the anti-Mormon party led to wide criticism and is often viewed as the reason for Axtell to have vacated the office in June 1875.
Almost immediately thereafter he was appointed governor of New Mexico. In this new office Axtell again found numerous disturbances. A violent feud among the cattlemen was intensified by the presence of many desperate characters who had fled from near-by states, and had found a safe refuge in the thinly populated territory of New Mexico.
It was these conditions that later gave rise to the "Lincoln County War. "
Axtell remained governor of New Mexico until 1878, when he was succeeded by Gen. Lew Wallace.
In 1882 Axtell was made Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of New Mexico. He resigned in 1885, when Grover Cleveland was elected president and decided to remove Axtell from office.
In 1890 he was elected chairman of the New Mexico Territorial Republican Committee.
Achievements
He is most notably known for serving as two-term Congressman from California, as territorial Governor of Utah and later New Mexico, and as Chief Justice of the New Mexico Territorial Supreme Court. He also helped to establish Amador County.
Politics
Axtell gave up his Democratic affiliation while in Congress and aligned himself with the Republican party.
Personality
Samuel Axtell was a brave and decisive man which was shown in a celebrated trial in Las Vegas, New Mexico, when he received threats and yet chose to sit the case.
At the same time the numerous cases of corruption and criminal plots under his rule as governor give reason to doubt his leadership skills. While seen by some as corrupt, he was renowned by others for his willingness to pursue justice no matter what, even when facing threats on his life.
Quotes from others about the person
Federal agent Frank Angel said: "Governor Axtell's administration is having more corruption, fraud, mismanagement, plots and murder than any other governor in the history of the United States. "
Connections
Axtell married Adaline S. Williams of Summit County, Ohio on September 20, 1840.
