Albert W. McIntire, governor of Colorado from 1895 to 1897, descended from a family with deep roots in American history. His earliest known ancestor in this country was a Jacobite immigrant from Ayrshire, Scotland, who settled in Delaware. From him came John McIntire, a Delaware native whose business was destroyed by the War of 1812, and Thomas McIntire, a farmer and officer in that war who later moved to Pennsylvania and Ohio. Thomas’s son, J. P. McIntire, built a successful career in Pittsburgh in the cooperage and coal shipping trade, while Governor McIntire’s maternal line traced to James and Mary (Thompson) Wills of Belfast, Ireland, who settled in Pennsylvania in 1790. Born in Pittsburgh in 1853, Albert McIntire pursued education at Yale, established a legal and judicial career in Colorado, and rose to the governorship, where he served during a period marked by labor unrest and legislative reform.
Hon. Albert W McIntire, governor of Colorado 1895-97, is a member of a family that has borne an active part in American history for many generations. The first of the name in this country was a Jacobite who came from Ayrshire in the Highlands of Scotland and settled in Delaware. He had a son, John, who was born in Delaware and was engaged in the transportation business between Maryland and Delaware until he was financially ruined by the British during the war of 1812.
Next in line of descent was Thomas McIntire, who was born near Dover, Del., but in early manhood removed to Bellefonte, Center County, Pa., and engaged in farming. Prosperity attended his efforts and through industry and good business judgment he became one of the wealthy men of his locality. Unfortunately, in 1837 he endorsed the bonds of state officers and was obliged to pay the security, which caused his failure. He then removed to Cincinnati, where soon afterward he died of yellow fever. During the war of 1812 he served as a commissioned officer of the American army. He married a Miss Phillips, a native of Connecticut and member of the Society of Friends.
One of the children of Thomas was J. P. McIntire, who was born in Bellefonte, Center County, Pa., and accompanied his father to Cincinnati. he was about seventeen when the latter died, and upon him then devolved the responsibility of caring for his mother, five sisters and a brother. His first venture was a very successful one. From Pittsburg he went up the Monongahela to secure lumber for the manufacture of barrels. The weather was unpleasant and rains were frequent. He was obliged to wade and swim through creeks, carrying his pack on his back. Finally, however, he secured the lumber, cut it out and loaded a couple of boats he had hired for the purpose. When he reached the lock the dam was broken, but with the assistance of an Indian he succeeded in shooting the boats through the break, though he was almost drowned in the attempt. When he arrived in Pittsburg he found that the price of staves and hoop-poles had risen enormously and he sold off half his cargo for enough to pay for the whole and start him in business. He then engaged in the cooper’s trade for a few years in Pittsburg, after which he became interested in the coal running and shipping business near the city. During the war one of his boats was chartered by the government and he ran the rebel works at Vicksburg in order to take coal to the Union fleet below. In 1867 he retired from business, and in 1894 he died in Pittsburg. In religion he was identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church.
Governor Mclntire’s mother was Isabella A. Wills, a native of Pittsburg, Pa., and daughter of James and Mary (Thompson) Wills, natives of Belfast, Ireland. Her father, who came to America in 1790 and settled in Washington County, Pa., was a prominent attorney of Pittsburg and about 1820 was elected state’s attorney. During his term of office, while on his way home from Harrisburg, he died from the effects of a sunstroke. In religious belief he was a Presbyterian. His wife was a babe when her father came to this country in 1790 and located in Washington County. Mrs. Isabella Mclntire is now in her eightieth year and makes her home in St. Louis with a daughter.
The older of the two children of his father’s second marriage, Governor Mclntire was born in Pittsburg, January 15, 1853. He was educated in private schools, the Newall Institute and Yale College, graduating from the latter in 1873, with the degree of A. B. He then entered Yale Law School, from which he graduated in 1875, receiving the degree of LL. B., and admission to the bar of Connecticut. He then returned to Pittsburg, and passing the examination there was admitted to the bar. In 1876 he went to Colorado, living alternately in Denver and the mountain regions until 1880, then turned his attention to the cattle business, in the San Luis Valley, being the owner of four thousand acres there that he still devotes to stock-raising and farming. In 1883 he was nominated for county judge by both the Republicans and Democrats and was of course elected, holding the position for three years, when he refused renomination. In the fall of 1886 he was candidate for representative from Conejos County, but was defeated by William H. Adams, a brother of Governor Adams. In the year 1889 he adjudicated the water rights for the Rio Grande River in Colorado. Two years later he was appointed judge of the twelfth judicial district by Governor Routt.
Having for years been prominent in the Republican party, in 1894 he was made its candidate for governor, his opponent being his predecessor in office, Hon. David H. Waite. He was elected by nineteen thousand seven hundred and eight majority over the Populist candidate, and began the duties of office January 8, 1895. During his administration he introduced a modification of the attachment law, providing that attachments could no longer be served upon overdue promissory notes and overdue book accounts, which was of the greatest assistance to debtors. The same thing had been attempted, unsuccessfully, by every legislature since 1881. He strongly urged upon the legislature the industrial employment of convict labor. During his term occurred the Walsenburg lynching which he settled in a manner satisfactory both to the Italian government and the secretary of state of the United States. He also handled the Leadville strike troubles which occurred during his term. Since his retirement he has given his attention to his mining interests and private business affairs.
In New Haven, Conn., in 1873, occurred the marriage of Mr. Mclntire to Miss Florence Johnson, who was born in New York City, the daughter of William L. Johnson, a manufacturer there. Three children were born of their marriage: Joseph Phillips, who is manager of the ranch in the San Luis Valley; Elizabeth Lord, deceased; and Dorothy. Fraternally Governor McIntire is a Knight Templar and member of the Shrine. He is connected with the Alpha Delta Phi, the Colorado Yale Association and the Denver Athletic Club. In politics he is a silver Republican. He is a man of broad information, especially in the direction of scientific subjects. He is also a linguist, speaking German, Spanish and French and reading Latin and Greek. His state papers show careful thought and preparation; and his message was declared, even by opposition papers, to be the peer of any of its kind ever issued in the state.
Source
Portrait and biographical record of Denver and vicinity, Colorado : containing portraits and biographies of many well known citizens of the past and present : together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States.. Chicago: Chapman Pub. Co., 1898.