John Addison Gurley (December 9, 1813 – August 19, 1863) was a U.S. Congressman from

Ohio Ohio ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. It borders Lake Erie to the north, Pennsylvania to the east, West Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Indiana to the ...

during the early part of the

American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...

, serving two terms from 1859 to 1863. He was appointed as the first Governor of the

Arizona Territory The Territory of Arizona, commonly known as the Arizona Territory, was a territory of the United States that existed from February 24, 1863, until February 14, 1912, when the remaining extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the ...

, but died before taking office.

Biography

Gurley was born in

East Hartford, Connecticut East Hartford is a New England town, town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 51,045 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. The town is located on the east bank of the Connecticut River, directly across from ...

. He attended the district schools and received academic instruction before becoming an apprentice in the

hatter Hat-making or millinery is the design, manufacture and sale of hats and other headwear. A person engaged in this trade is called a milliner or hatter. Historically, milliners made and sold a range of accessories for clothing and hairstyles. ...

’s trade. He studied theology and became a minister, serving as pastor of the Universalist Church in

Methuen, Massachusetts Methuen () is a 23-square-mile (60 km2) city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 53,059 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Methuen lies along the northwestern edge of Essex County, just east of Midd ...

, from 1835–1838. He moved west to

Cincinnati, Ohio Cincinnati ( ; colloquially nicknamed Cincy) is a city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. Settled in 1788, the city is located on the northern side of the confluence of the Licking River (Kentucky), Licking and Ohio Ri ...

, in 1838 and became owner and editor of the ''Star and Sentinel'', later called the ''Star in the West'', and also served as a pastor in that city. Gurley retired from the ministry in 1850, sold his newspaper in 1854 and retired to his farm near Cincinnati. He was the unsuccessful Republican candidate for election in 1856 to the

Thirty-fifth United States Congress The 35th United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1857, ...

. However, he was elected to the Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh Congresses (March 4, 1859–March 3, 1863). Gurley was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1862 to the Thirty-eighth Congress. During the Civil War, Gurley served as

colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

and aide-de-camp on the staff of Gen.

John C. Frémont Major general (United States), Major-General John Charles Frémont (January 21, 1813July 13, 1890) was a United States Army officer, explorer, and politician. He was a United States senator from California and was the first History of the Repub ...

in 1861 when Congress was not in session. In 1863, Gurley was appointed Governor of the Arizona Territory by President

Abraham Lincoln Abraham Lincoln (February 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865) was the 16th president of the United States, serving from 1861 until Assassination of Abraham Lincoln, his assassination in 1865. He led the United States through the American Civil War ...

, but he died of a sudden attack of

appendicitis Appendicitis is inflammation of the Appendix (anatomy), appendix. Symptoms commonly include right lower abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, fever and anorexia (symptom), decreased appetite. However, approximately 40% of people do not have these t ...

in Green Township, near Cincinnati, on the eve of his departure to assume his duties. He was buried in Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati. Granite Mountain (Arizona), a prominent feature outside

Prescott, Arizona Prescott ( ) is a city in and the county seat of Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. As of 2020 United States census, 2020 Census, the city's population was 45,827. In 1864, Prescott was designated as the capital of the Arizona Territory, r ...

was originally named Mount Gurley in his honor.

References

Universalist Register bio of Gurley
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gurley, John A. People from East Hartford, Connecticut Politicians from Cincinnati People of Ohio in the American Civil War Burials at Spring Grove Cemetery Clergy of the Universalist Church of America American milliners 1813 births 1863 deaths 19th-century American newspaper publishers (people) 19th-century American journalists Deaths from appendicitis American male journalists 19th-century American male writers Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio 19th-century American clergy 19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives