Agency Histories

Samuel Beach Axtell was born in Franklin County, OH on October 14, 1819. He attended Oberlin College and the Western Reserve College where he studied the law. He was admitted to the Ohio bar in the 1830s and the Michigan bar in 1843. Axtell married Adaline S. Williams on September 20, 1840. Soon after, he moved to Michigan and practiced the law there. In 1851 he moved to California and started to prospect for gold. He didn't have much success. As a democrat, Axtell was elected District Attorney of Amador County. 1854-1860. After his three terms were up he practiced the law for a time. When California became a state, he was elected to the US Congress and served 1867-1871. After that, he changed his party to republican. He was appointed territorial Governor of Utah by President Grant and served 1874-June 1875. He felt he had to leave office because of disputes with the anti-mormon faction in Utah who felt he was too lenient with the religious group. He was swiftly appointed Governor of New Mexico territory and was sworn in on July 30, 1875. He was suspended from office on September 4, 1878. This was most likely due to the Colfax County war and the Lincoln County war. The ends of which were settled in favor of groups with which Axtell was involved. This led to allegations of corruption and misconduct. Axtell was never charged with anything so he was appointed Chief Justice of the New Mexico Territorial Supreme Court 1882. He stayed in office until May 1885 when he resigned, because he feared President Cleveland would have him removed. He went back to the law and became counsel for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company. In 1890 he was elected chairman of the New Mexico Territorial Republican Committee. Axtell died on August 6, 1891 in Morristown, NJ while visiting friends.