Monday, November 7, 2022

Our Next Governor March - A.W. McIntire

Hey all! Finally getting around to filing a stack of sheet music I have, and (re)discovered this amazing find - a 1894 copy of "Our Next Governor March."

Nice early political Colorado piece, as it appears to be a composition hyping recently-elected Governor Albert Willis McIntire.

This has to be the first piece of music memorabilia mentioning the tiny San Luis Valley town of Conejos (below the governor's name).

Yes, I did noticed that the last name of the governor (and his hometown city name) is spelled wrong. I guess in the hurry to print, accidents happen. 

Composed by C.E. Anderson, the instrumental was published by Argenta Music, Denver. It lists J.J. Guentherodt as its copyright holder.

McIntire was Colorado governor from 1895-1897. According to his obituary he was originally from Pittsburgh, but relocated to Colorado in 1876.  He announced his run for governor, in 1894. In the general election, he defeated the Populist Governor David H. Waite and the Democrat Charles Thomas. During his administration, leasing of state lands was limited to ten years, the State Bureau of Mines was created, and the age of consent for girls was raised from sixteen to eighteen. In June of 1896, he sent the state militia to Leadville to put down a strike of silver miners. His term ended on January 12, 1897 and he resumed the practice of law and ranching in the San Luis Valley. He purchased a large cattle ranch on the Conejos River, north of the present day town of La Jara.

He died in 1935, and is buried in the La Jara Cemetery.