Coles Bashford
History of Arizona,  Thomas Edwin Farish, Vol. 2 1915, pg. 90

Coles Bashford was born near Cole Springs New York, 
January 24, 1816 and finished his education at Wesleyan 
University, New York after which he studied law and was 
admitted to practice in all the courts of his native state 
in the year 1842.  He served as District Attorney of Wayne 
County New York, elected in 1847.  In 1850 he moved to 
Wisconsin and soon attained an enviable position in his 
profession.  He was elected to the State Senate on the Whig 
ticket, and upon the dissolution of that party became one of 
the founders of the Republican party in 1854-55, being elected 
to the Legislative Assembly at that time.  IN 1855 he was 
elected Governor of Wisconsin.

During the winter of 1862-63 he was domiciled in Washington 
but being imbued with the spirit of the pioneer he accompanied 
the officials appointed for the organization of the Territory 
of Arizona arriving with the party at Prescott in 1864.  Mr. 
Bashford served as Attorney-General of Arizona; as President 
of the council of the First Territorial Legislature, have 
been elected from Pima County, and as Delegate to Congress 
from Arizona in the 40th Congress.

He was the first lawyer admitted to practice in Territorial 
Courts.  In May 1864 he was admitted to practice at Tucson.  
In 1871 he compiled the various session laws into one volume 
having been appointed to do this work by the Legislature.  He 
was also re-elected to the second session of the Legislature.

He was active in political affairs until his death in Prescott, 
April 25, 1878.  His remains were interred at Mountain View 
Cemetery in Oakland California and the inscription on his 
tombstones says: "Write me as one who loves his fellowman."

His widow who survived him and now resides in Oakland, bore 
the maiden name of Frances Adams Foreman and was born at 
Seneca Falls New York.  Born of this union were seven 
children: Elizabeth, widow of G.A. Specher; Margaret, 
wife of R.H. Burmeister; William C., for a long time 
associated in business with Mr. Burmeister under the 
firm name of Bashford and Burmeister and who died in 
Los Angeles in 1915; Helen B., widow of W.E. Smith; 
Belle, who died at the age of eleven; Lillian E, wife 
of A.W. Kirkland and Edward L. of Oakland California.


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