Quick Facts
LeoBiography
Elias Milton Ammons (July 28, 1860 – May 20, 1925) served as the 19th Governor of Colorado from 1913 to 1915. Born in 1860 in Macon County, North Carolina, he is perhaps best remembered for ordering National Guard troops into Ludlow, Colorado during the Ludlow Massacre. He was also instrumental in starting the National Western Stock Show, which is still active. His son Teller Ammons was also governor of Colorado. He died in Denver, Colorado in 1925 and was buried in Fairmount Cemetery in Denver.
Early life
He was born in Macon County, North Carolina. At age 26 (1886) he moved to Colorado and started in the cattle business.
Legislative
He served as a Republican member of the Colorado House of Representatives from 1890 to 1896, serving as speaker from 1894 to 1896, and then, after becoming a Democrat, served in the Colorado State Senate from 1898 to 1902.
Governorship
Ammons was elected Governor of Colorado in November 1912 after running as a Democrat.
While Governor, Ammons was accused of favoring the mine owners in a strike at many coalmines in the state lasting from 1913-1914.
Ammons left office on January 12, 1915, and retired from public service.