Benjamin Odell (politician) - Revision history

imported>JJMC89 bot III: Moving :Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state) to :Category:Republican Party United States representatives from New York (state) per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Speedy

2025-12-27T01:25:57Z

Moving Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state) to Category:Republican Party United States representatives from New York (state) per Wikipedia:Categories for discussion/Speedy

← Previous revision		Revision as of 01:25, 27 December 2025
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	{{Use mdy dates\|date=December 2020}}		{{Use mdy dates\|date=December 2020}}
	{{Infobox officeholder		{{Infobox officeholder
	\|name = Benjamin Barker Odell Jr.		\| name = Benjamin Barker Odell Jr.
	\|image = Benjamin Barker Odell Jr cph.3b20166.jpg		\| image = Benjamin Barker Odell Jr cph.3b20166.jpg
	\|order1 = 34th		\| order1 = 34th
	\|office1 = Governor of New York		\| office1 = Governor of New York
	\|term_start1 = January 1, 1901		\| term_start1 = January 1, 1901
	\|term_end1 = December 31, 1904		\| term_end1 = December 31, 1904
	\|lieutenant1 = [[Timothy L. Woodruff]] <br />Frank W. Higgins		\| lieutenant1 = [[Timothy L. Woodruff]] <br />Frank W. Higgins
	\|predecessor1 = [[Theodore Roosevelt]]		\| predecessor1 = [[Theodore Roosevelt]]
	\|successor1 = [[Frank W. Higgins]]		\| successor1 = [[Frank W. Higgins]]
	\|state2 = [[New York (state)\|New York]]		\| state2 = [[New York (state)\|New York]]
	\|district2 = [[New York's 17th congressional district\|17th]]		\| district2 = [[New York's 17th congressional district\|17th]]
	\|term_start2 = March 4, 1895		\| term_start2 = March 4, 1895
	\|term_end2 = March 3, 1899		\| term_end2 = March 3, 1899
	\|preceded2 = [[Francis Marvin]]		\| preceded2 = [[Francis Marvin]]
	\|succeeded2 = [[Arthur S. Tompkins]]		\| succeeded2 = [[Arthur S. Tompkins]]
	\|birth_date = {{birth date\|1854\|1\|14\|mf=y}}		\| birth_date = {{birth date\|1854\|1\|14\|mf=y}}
	\|birth_place = [[Newburgh, New York]]		\| birth_place = [[Newburgh, New York]]
	\|death_date = {{death date and age\|1926\|5\|9\|1854\|1\|14\|mf=y}}		\| death_date = {{death date and age\|1926\|5\|9\|1854\|1\|14\|mf=y}}
	\|death_place = Newburgh, New York		\| death_place = Newburgh, New York
	\|resting_place = [[Woodlawn Cemetery (New Windsor, New York)\|Woodlawn Cemetery]]		\| resting_place = [[Woodlawn Cemetery (New Windsor, New York)\|Woodlawn Cemetery]]
	\|party = [[Republican Party (United States)\|Republican]]		\| party = [[Republican Party (United States)\|Republican]]
	\|spouse = Estelle Crist (1877–88; her death)<br />Linda C. Traphagen (c.1891–1926; his death)		\| spouse = Estelle Crist (1877–88; her death)<br />Linda C. Traphagen (c.1891–1926; his death)
	\|profession = Businessman, politician		\| profession = Businessman, politician
	\|alma_mater = [[Bethany College (West Virginia)\|Bethany College]] (attended)<br />[[Columbia University]] (attended)		\| alma_mater = [[Bethany College (West Virginia)\|Bethany College]] (attended)<br />[[Columbia University]] (attended)
	\|signature = Signature of Benjamin Barker Odell Jr.png		\| signature = Signature of Benjamin Barker Odell Jr.png
			\| children = 4 with second wife
	}}		}}
	'''Benjamin Barker Odell Jr.''' (January 14, 1854{{spaced ndash}}May 9, 1926) was an American businessman and politician who served as the 34th [[governor of New York]] from 1901 to 1904.		'''Benjamin Barker Odell Jr.''' (January 14, 1854{{spaced ndash}}May 9, 1926) was an American businessman and politician who served as the 34th [[governor of New York]] from 1901 to 1904.
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	Born in Newburgh, New York, in 1854, Odell's father, Benjamin B. Odell Sr., was a leading businessman who served twelve years as the city's mayor. Odell studied at [[Bethany College (West Virginia)\|Bethany College]] in West Virginia, and at the [[Columbia College, Columbia University\|Columbia College]] of [[Columbia University]]. While he would have graduated in 1877, Odell dropped out of school in his junior year, returning to Newburgh to help in his father's business.<ref>''The New York Red Book'', pp.31-35. Williams Press. 1908.</ref>		Born in Newburgh, New York, in 1854, Odell's father, Benjamin B. Odell Sr., was a leading businessman who served twelve years as the city's mayor. Odell studied at [[Bethany College (West Virginia)\|Bethany College]] in West Virginia, and at the [[Columbia College, Columbia University\|Columbia College]] of [[Columbia University]]. While he would have graduated in 1877, Odell dropped out of school in his junior year, returning to Newburgh to help in his father's business.<ref>''The New York Red Book'', pp.31-35. Williams Press. 1908.</ref>

	Odell worked his way up to head his father's ice business, starting as the driver of an ice delivery truck, earning $2 per day. Having become familiar with the people of the Newburgh area, Odell participated in the political affairs of his father, which would allow him to become involved in the politics of his home town, turning a [[bellwether]] Democratic city into one strongly Republican. He would go on to be appointed Ice Controller of New York during the [[World War I\|First World War]], and later president of both the Consolidated Gas, Electric Light, Heat, and Power Company of Newburgh and of the Central Hudson Steamboat Company. During his early days in politics, Odell ran unsuccessfully for [[town supervisor]] of [[New Windsor, New York\|New Windsor]], as well as losing a bid for [[New York State Senate]] after being drafted for the Republican nomination in a heavily [[Democratic Party (United States)\|Democratic]] district.		Odell worked his way up to head his father's ice business, starting as the driver of an ice delivery truck, earning $2 per day. Having become familiar with the people of the Newburgh area, Odell participated in the political affairs of his father, which would allow him to become involved in the politics of his home town, turning a [[Bellwether (politics)\|bellwether]] Democratic city into one strongly Republican. He would go on to be appointed Ice Controller of New York during the [[World War I\|First World War]], and later president of both the Consolidated Gas, Electric Light, Heat, and Power Company of Newburgh and of the Central Hudson Steamboat Company. During his early days in politics, Odell ran unsuccessfully for [[town supervisor]] of [[New Windsor, New York\|New Windsor]], as well as losing a bid for [[New York State Senate]] after being drafted for the Republican nomination in a heavily [[Democratic Party (United States)\|Democratic]] district.

	==Early political career==		==Early political career==
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	[[Category:Politicians from Newburgh, New York]]		[[Category:Politicians from Newburgh, New York]]
	[[Category:New York State College of Forestry]]		[[Category:New York State College of Forestry]]
	[[Category:Republican Party ~~members of the~~ United States ~~House of Representatives~~ from New York (state)]]		[[Category:Republican Party United States representatives from New York (state)]]
	[[Category:Republican Party governors of New York (state)]]		[[Category:Republican Party governors of New York (state)]]
	[[Category:Columbia College ~~(New York)~~ alumni]]		[[Category:Columbia College, Columbia University alumni]]
	[[Category:1920 United States presidential electors]]		[[Category:1920 United States presidential electors]]
	[[Category:19th-century ~~members of the~~ United States ~~House of Representatives~~]]		[[Category:19th-century United States representatives]]

imported>Jon698: Undid revision 1266326113 by 2601:805:683:9550:5375:ABB6:43A0:255D (talk)

2024-12-31T03:05:27Z

Undid revision 1266326113 by 2601:805:683:9550:5375:ABB6:43A0:255D (talk)

New page

{{Short description|American politician (1854–1926)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Benjamin Barker Odell Jr.
|image = Benjamin Barker Odell Jr cph.3b20166.jpg
|order1 = 34th
|office1 = Governor of New York
|term_start1 = January 1, 1901
|term_end1 = December 31, 1904
|lieutenant1 = [[Timothy L. Woodruff]] <br />Frank W. Higgins
|predecessor1 = [[Theodore Roosevelt]]
|successor1 = [[Frank W. Higgins]]
|state2 = [[New York (state)|New York]]
|district2 = [[New York's 17th congressional district|17th]]
|term_start2 = March 4, 1895
|term_end2 = March 3, 1899
|preceded2 = [[Francis Marvin]]
|succeeded2 = [[Arthur S. Tompkins]]
|birth_date = {{birth date|1854|1|14|mf=y}}
|birth_place = [[Newburgh, New York]]
|death_date = {{death date and age|1926|5|9|1854|1|14|mf=y}}
|death_place = Newburgh, New York
|resting_place = [[Woodlawn Cemetery (New Windsor, New York)|Woodlawn Cemetery]]
|party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|spouse = Estelle Crist (1877–88; her death)<br />Linda C. Traphagen (c.1891–1926; his death)
|profession = Businessman, politician
|alma_mater = [[Bethany College (West Virginia)|Bethany College]] (attended)<br />[[Columbia University]] (attended)
|signature = Signature of Benjamin Barker Odell Jr.png
}}
'''Benjamin Barker Odell Jr.''' (January 14, 1854{{spaced ndash}}May 9, 1926) was an American businessman and politician who served as the 34th [[governor of New York]] from 1901 to 1904.

==Early life==
Born in Newburgh, New York, in 1854, Odell's father, Benjamin B. Odell Sr., was a leading businessman who served twelve years as the city's mayor. Odell studied at [[Bethany College (West Virginia)|Bethany College]] in West Virginia, and at the [[Columbia College, Columbia University|Columbia College]] of [[Columbia University]]. While he would have graduated in 1877, Odell dropped out of school in his junior year, returning to Newburgh to help in his father's business.<ref>''The New York Red Book'', pp.31-35. Williams Press. 1908.</ref>

Odell worked his way up to head his father's ice business, starting as the driver of an ice delivery truck, earning $2 per day. Having become familiar with the people of the Newburgh area, Odell participated in the political affairs of his father, which would allow him to become involved in the politics of his home town, turning a [[bellwether]] Democratic city into one strongly Republican. He would go on to be appointed Ice Controller of New York during the [[World War I|First World War]], and later president of both the Consolidated Gas, Electric Light, Heat, and Power Company of Newburgh and of the Central Hudson Steamboat Company. During his early days in politics, Odell ran unsuccessfully for [[town supervisor]] of [[New Windsor, New York|New Windsor]], as well as losing a bid for [[New York State Senate]] after being drafted for the Republican nomination in a heavily [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]] district.

==Early political career==
In 1894, Odell was elected as a [[United States Republican Party|Republican]] to the [[54th United States Congress]], serving [[New York's 17th congressional district]], at that time encompassing [[Orange County, New York|Orange]], [[Rockland County, New York|Rockland]], and [[Sullivan County, New York|Sullivan]] Counties. He ran for, and was reelected in [[United States House of Representatives elections, 1896|1896]], but declined in [[United States House of Representatives elections, 1898|1898]]. He became one of the most powerful New York Republican operatives in of his time, serving for ten years as chairman of the [[New York Republican State Committee|Republican State Executive Committee]], both before and after his two terms in Congress. In 1896, at the state convention called by [[Thomas C. Platt]], Odell narrowly lost nomination for governor; having received an 11–5 vote in favor of his nomination, Platt was convinced overnight that [[Frank S. Black]] was the superior candidate, and Black was subsequently nominated for, and won the governorship in 1896.

In 1898, Odell was the first to suggest to Republican boss Thomas C. Platt that [[Theodore Roosevelt]] ought to be the Republican candidate for governor, which met Platt's protest. With Platt convinced that Roosevelt was a figure who would disturb state politics, Odell used his position as the Republicans' state chairman to convince Platt that Governor Black would lose reelection if nominated in 1898. Returning as a hero from the [[Spanish–American War]], Roosevelt's campaign, under Odell's management, would win the governorship by a comfortable margin in [[New York state election, 1898|1898]]. In his biography, then former President Roosevelt would say Odell was one of three men most responsible for his candidacy being pressed on Platt.

==Governorship (1901–1904)==
[[File:BODell.png|thumb|left|250px|Official Gubernatorial portrait of New York Governor Benjamin B. Odell Jr.]]
In the state election of [[New York state election, 1900|1900]], Thomas C. Platt wanted to 'rid himself' of Theodore Roosevelt from the governorship of New York. Devising a scheme to have Roosevelt nominated to replace the late [[Garret Hobart]] as [[Vice President of the United States|vice president]] to [[William McKinley|President William McKinley]], Platt placed Odell as nominee for governor in 1900. Odell would go on to handily defeat [[John B. Stanchfield]] in the general election to succeed Theodore Roosevelt as Governor of New York.

Taking office on January 1, 1901, Odell was the first New York governor of the twentieth century. As governor, Odell reduced the state tax, simplified governance of state [[History of psychiatric institutions|insane asylums]] into the [[New York State Hospital Commission|State Commission on Lunacy]], and broke with allegiance to Thomas C. Platt, making independent decisions for his administration. In the state election of [[New York state election, 1902|1902]], Odell won reelection to a second term, and Thomas Platt's control over Republican politics in the state waned.

In his second term as governor, Odell pressed for a referendum to enlarge the [[Erie Canal]], which was approved. He opposed and vetoed "special legislation" and "personal bills" passed by the legislature, which were focused on individual interests.

===Legacy===
In the [[1920 United States presidential election in New York|1920 presidential election]], Odell was a [[United States Electoral College|presidential elector]] for [[Warren G. Harding]] and [[Calvin Coolidge]].<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rYg0AQAAMAAJ|title=Proceedings of the Electoral College of the State of New York, 1921|publisher=J. B. Lyon Company|year=1921|location=Albany, N.Y.|pages=6|language=en}}</ref>

After six months of prolonged illness in late 1925 to early 1926, Benjamin B. Odell died on May 9, 1926, in his home town of Newburgh, surrounded by family.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/65523337/benjamin-b-odell-twice-governor-of/ |title=Benjamin B. Odell, Twice Governor Of The State, Dead |newspaper=The Yonkers Herald |page=16 |date=1926-05-10 |access-date=2020-12-18 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Odell's death came with praise from prominent New York politicians. Former [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]], future [[Chief Justice of the United States|Chief Justice]], and fellow former Governor [[Charles Evans Hughes]] said of Odell:

{{blockquote|Governor Odell was a strong character of great resourcefulness ... he was a man of definite principles and courage in applying them. His death is a great loss to the State.|}}

Former governor and fellow Republican [[Nathan L. Miller]] said:

{{blockquote|Governor Odell was a life-long friend of mine and a man whom I held in the highest esteem and had the greatest admiration for ... I regard his passing as a great personal loss. He was a man of very great ability.|}}

Incumbent Democratic Governor [[Al Smith]] said of Odell's death:

{{blockquote|I have just learned with deep regret of [his] death ... I always regarded him as one of New York State's leading citizens and one of our great Governors.|}}

[[File:Governor Benjamin Odell Gravesite.jpg|thumb|The gravesite of Governor Odell]]
==References==
{{reflist}}

==Sources==
* {{CongBio|O000036}}
* {{cite news|title=Ex-Gov Odell Dies at Newburgh Home|url=https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1926/05/10/100074515.html?pageNumber=21|work=The New York Times|date=May 10, 1926}}
* Governor Benjamin B. O'Dell Jr. at the [http://hallofgovernors.ny.gov/BenjaminOdell New York Hall of Governors]

==External links==
* {{Commons category-inline}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{US House succession box |
state=New York |
district=17 |
before=[[Francis Marvin]] |
after=[[Arthur S. Tompkins]] |
years=1895–1899
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{{s-ppo}}
{{s-bef|before=Charles W. Hackett}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[Governor of New York]]|years=[[1900 New York state election|1900]], [[1902 New York state election|1902]]}}
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{{s-off}}
{{succession box|title=[[Governor of New York]]|before=[[Theodore Roosevelt]]|after=[[Frank W. Higgins]]|years=1901–1904}}
{{s-end}}

{{Governors of New York}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Odell, Benjamin Barker Jr}}
[[Category:1854 births]]
[[Category:1926 deaths]]
[[Category:Politicians from Newburgh, New York]]
[[Category:New York State College of Forestry]]
[[Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from New York (state)]]
[[Category:Republican Party governors of New York (state)]]
[[Category:Columbia College (New York) alumni]]
[[Category:1920 United States presidential electors]]
[[Category:19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives]]