Editing Tasker Oddie

{{Short description|American politician}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = Tasker Oddie
|image = Senator Tasker Oddie.jpg
|caption =
|jr/sr = United States Senator
|state = [[Nevada]]
|term_start = March 4, 1921
|term_end = March 3, 1933
|predecessor = [[Charles B. Henderson]]
|successor = [[Pat McCarran]]
|order2 = 12th
|office2= Governor of Nevada
|term_start2 = January 2, 1911
|term_end2 = January 4, 1915
|predecessor2 = [[Denver S. Dickerson]]
|successor2 = [[Emmet D. Boyle]]
|lieutenant2 = Gilbert C. Ross
|office3 = Member of the [[Nevada Senate]] from [[Nye County, Nevada|Nye County]]
|term_start3 = 1905
|term_end3 = 1909
|predecessor3 = Thomas Bell
|successor3 = Clay Tallman, Zeb Kendall
|office4 = [[District Attorney]] of [[Nye County, Nevada]]
|term_start4 = 1901
|term_end4 = 1903
|predecessor4 = James L. Butler
|successor4 = [[Charles L. Richards]]
|birth_name = Tasker Lowndes Oddie
|birth_date = {{birth date|1870|10|20}}
|birth_place = [[Brooklyn]], New York, U.S.
|death_date = {{death date and age|1950|2|17|1870|10|20}}
|death_place = [[San Francisco]], California, U.S.
|restingplace = Lone Mountain Cemetery, [[Carson City, Nevada]]
|profession = Attorney
|party = [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
|resting_place = Lone Mountain Cemetery <br/> [[Carson City, Nevada]]
|spouse = Claire Gardner MacDonald (m. 1903)<br/>Daisy Rendall MacKeigan (m. 1916)
|education = [[New York University School of Law]]
}}

'''Tasker Lowndes Oddie''' (October 20, 1870 – February 17, 1950) was an American [[attorney at law|attorney]] and [[politician]] who served as the [[List of governors of Nevada|12th Governor of Nevada]] and a [[United States Senate|United States Senator]]. He was a member of the [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican Party]].

A native of [[Brooklyn]], New York, Oddie was educated in Brooklyn, then lived and worked for several years in Nebraska and [[East Orange, New Jersey]]. After graduating from [[New York University School of Law]] in 1895 and practicing law in New York City, in 1898 he moved to Nevada. He worked in Nevada as the attorney and business agent for wealthy businessman [[Anson Phelps Stokes]], and became active in silver and gold mining. Oddie's mining investments made him wealthy, and he expanded his holdings to include ownership takes in farms, railroads, banks, and cattle ranches.

A Republican, Oddie served as school superintendent and district attorney of [[Nye County, Nevada|Nye County]] from 1901 to 1903, and was a member of the state senate from 1905 to 1909. Oddie was elected governor in 1910, and served from 1911 to 1915. After running unsuccessfully for governor in 1914 and 1918, in 1920 he won election to the U.S. Senate. He was reelected in 1926, and served from 1921 to 1933. Oddie was defeated for reelection in 1932, and for election to the senate in 1938.

In retirement, Oddie spent winters in San Francisco and summers in Nevada. He died in San Francisco on February 17, 1950, and was buried at Lone Mountain Cemetery in [[Carson City, Nevada]].

==Early life==
Tasker Oddie was born in [[Brooklyn]], New York on October 20, 1870, the son of Henry Meigs Oddie and Ellen Gibson (Prout) Oddie.<ref name="Williamson">{{cite book |editor1-last=Williamson |editor1-first=Stanley H. |date=1926 |title=Who's Who in the Nation's Capital |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kUY2ttKq71wC&pg=PA435 |location=Washington, DC |publisher=Ransdell Incorporated |page=435 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> He attended the public schools of Brooklyn until he was 16, when ill health caused him to travel to Nebraska.<ref name="Williamson"/> He remained there until 1894, and worked for several years as a cowboy.<ref name="Williamson"/> Upon returning east, he settled in [[East Orange, New Jersey]], where he became active in the real estate business.<ref name="Williamson"/> He later became a clerk for a New York City wholesale importing firm, followed by work as the assistant manager of the estate of [[Isaac Newton Phelps]], who had died in 1888, and [[John Bond Trevor]], who had died in 1890.<ref name="Cauldwell">{{cite magazine |editor1-last=Cauldwell |editor1-first=William |date=September 1903 |title=Tasker Lowndes Oddie: General Manager of the Tonopah Mining Company, of Nevada, and a Prominent Mining Man and Stock-Raiser of That State |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OqtLAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA573 |magazine=Successful American |page= |location=New York, NY |publisher=The Writers' Press Association |pages=572–573 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>

While managing the Trevor estate, Oddie attended [[New York University School of Law]] at night, and graduated with an [[bachelor of laws|LL.B.]] in 1895.<ref name="Williamson"/> He was [[Admission to the bar in the United States|admitted to the bar]] the same year, and practiced in New York until 1898, when he moved to Nevada.<ref name="Williamson"/> While living in New Jersey, Oddie also served for three years as a member of the state's militia's Essex Troop of cavalry.<ref name="Cauldwell"/> He volunteered for the [[Spanish–American War]], but the troop was not called up, and he resigned when he moved to Nevada.<ref name="Cauldwell"/>

Oddie relocated to Nevada become the attorney and business agent for wealthy businessman [[Anson Phelps Stokes]].<ref name="Williamson"/> He managed Stokes' real estate, banking, railroad, and mining operations for several years, in addition to becoming active in mining in his own right.<ref name="Williamson"/> As the business partner of Jim Butler, the founder of [[Tonopah, Nevada]], and Wilson Brougher, owner of [[Carson City, Nevada|Carson City]]'s [[Brougher Mansion]], Oddie became wealthy as the developer and manager of gold and silver mines, railroads, cattle ranches, and farms.<ref name="Williamson"/>

==Continued career==
A [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]], Oddie was the Nye County School Superintendent and District Attorney from 1901 to 1903.<ref name="Cauldwell"/> He was a member of the Nevada State Senate from 1905 to 1909.<ref name="Capace">{{cite book |last=Capace |first=Nancy |date=2000 |title=Encyclopedia of Nevada |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oLd4nCEMbpUC&pg=PA101 |location=Santa Barbara |publisher=Somerset Publishers |pages=101–102 |isbn=978-0-4030-9611-4 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref>

In 1910, Oddie was the successful Republican nominee for governor, and he served from 1911 to 1915.<ref name="Capace"/> As a [[Progressive Republican]], Oddie advocated for worker's compensation, mine safety, and an eight hour workday.<ref name="Capace"/> In addition, women received the right to vote in local elections, and the state's first laws regulating motor vehicles were enacted.<ref>{{cite web |title=Biography, Tasker Oddie |date=2020 |url=https://www.nga.org/governor/tasker-lowndes-oddie/ |website=NGA.org |publisher=National Governors Association |location=Washington, DC |access-date=September 6, 2023}}</ref> On March 17, 1911, he signed the city charter for [[Las Vegas, Nevada|Las Vegas]], the first incorporated city in the state.<ref>{{cite news |last=Evans |first=K. J. |date=February 7, 1999 |title=C.P. Squires |url=https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/c-p-squires/ |work=[[Las Vegas Review-Journal]] |location=Las Vegas, NV}}</ref>

Because he was not married during his governorship, Oddie's mother Ellen and his sisters acted as official hostesses.<ref name="Marks">{{cite web |url=https://saint-marks.com/history/saint-marks-chapel-font-tasker-oddie/ |title=Saint Marks Chapel Font – Tasker Oddie |date=2021 |website=Saint-Marks.com |publisher=St. Marks Episcopal Church |location=Palo Alto, CA |access-date=September 6, 2023}}</ref> Oddie was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1914 and returned to his business interests.<ref name="Capace"/> He ran for governor unsuccessfully in 1918.<ref name="Capace"/>

During [[World War I]], Oddie was chairman of Nevada's transportation committee, war industries board, and council of national defense.<ref name="Williamson"/> His continued business interests included serving as president of the Tonopah City Mining Company and the Nye County Bank.<ref name="Cauldwell"/> In addition, he was an executive or manager of the Tonopah Belmont Development Company, Tonopah City Mining Company, Tonopah Fraction Mining Company, and Gold Hill Mining Company.<ref name="Cauldwell"/>

==U.S. Senator==
In 1920, Oddie staged a political comeback by winning election to the U.S. Senate.<ref name="Directory">{{cite book |author=Joint Committee On Printing, United States Congress |date=2006 |title=Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1774-2005 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=v9MBIctdjjkC&pg=PA1672 |location=Washington, DC |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |pages=1671–1672 |isbn=978-0-1607-3176-1 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref> He was reelected in 1926, and served from March 4, 1921, to March 3, 1933.<ref name="Directory"/> During his senate career, Oddie was chairman of the Committee On Mines and Mining ([[68th United States Congress|68th]] through [[71st United States Congress|71st]] Congresses), and the Committee On Post Offices and Post Roads ([[72nd United States Congress|72nd Congress]]).<ref name="Directory"/>

Oddie clashed in the senate with [[Hiram Johnson]] of California over the location of the proposed [[San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge]].<ref name="Marks"/> San Francisco area businessmen, in conjunction with Johnson, argued in favor of a location that Oddie believed would disadvantage the [[United States Navy]] by destroying anchorages for warships.<ref name="Marks"/> Subsequent negotiations resulted in the selection of a site that protected the navy's interests.<ref name="Marks"/>

Oddie was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1932, and for election in 1938.<ref name="Capace"/> After leaving the senate, he resumed his business interests, including serving as president of the Gold Mining Association of America and the Nevada Mine Owners' Association.<ref name="Capace"/>

==Later life, death, and legacy==
In his later years, Oddie and his wife spent winters in San Francisco and summers in Nevada.<ref name="Marks"/> Oddie was a member of the [[American Institute of Mining, Metallurgical, and Petroleum Engineers|American Institute of Mining Engineers]] and American Cattle Breeders Association.<ref name="Williamson"/><ref name="Cauldwell"/> He belonged to the [[Alta Club]] of Salt Lake City and the [[Bohemian Club]] of San Francisco.<ref name="Williamson"/><ref name="Cauldwell"/> Oddie was a [[Freemasonry|Mason]], and attained the 32nd degree of the [[Scottish Rite]].<ref name="Dies2">{{cite news |date=February 18, 1950 |title=Tasker Oddie Dies In San Francisco |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/nevada-state-journal-tasker-oddie-obitua/106440537/ |work=[[Nevada State Journal]] |location=Reno, NV |page=12 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> He was a member of the [[Knights Templar (Freemasonry)|Knights Templar]], the [[Elks]], and the [[Episcopal Church (United States)|Episcopal Church]].<ref name="Williamson"/><ref name="Dies2"/><ref>{{cite news |date=September 10, 1950 |title=Rites Held Here for Tasker Oddie |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/nevada-state-journal/78304851/ |work=[[Nevada State Journal]] |location=Reno, NV |page=17 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref>

Oddie died in [[San Francisco]] on February 17, 1950.<ref name="Directory"/> He was interred at Lone Mountain Cemetery, [[Carson City, Nevada]].<ref name="Directory"/>

Mount Oddie near Tonopah is named after Oddie, as is [[Oddie Boulevard]] in [[Reno, Nevada|Reno]] and [[Sparks, Nevada|Sparks]].<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Malone |first=George W. |author-link=George W. Malone |date=February 23, 1950 |title=Tasker L. Oddie, of Nevada |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RFvEOJsBgBIC&pg=PA2262 |magazine=Congressional Record |volume=96–Part 2 |location=Washington, DC |publisher=U.S. Government Printing Office |page=2262 |via=[[Google Books]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://findingnevadawild.com/goldfield-the-old-west-lives-in-nevadas-best-ghost-town/ |title=Goldfield: The Old West Lives in Nevada's Best Ghost Town |last=Martinez |first=Sydney |website=Nevada Ghost Towns |date=5 April 2023 |publisher=Finding Nevada Wild |location=Reno, NV |access-date=September 7, 2023}}</ref> Oddie's Tonopah home, the [[Uri B. Curtis House–Tasker L. Oddie House]], was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] in 1982.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://shpo.nv.gov/uploads/documents/64000532_-_Tonopah_MRA.pdf |title=National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form – Uri B. Curtis House–Tasker L. Oddie House |date=1980 |website=Nevada State Historic Preservation Office |publisher=United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service |location=Washington, DC |page=4 |access-date=September 7, 2023}}</ref>

==Family==
In December 1903, Oddie married Claire Gardner MacDonald; they divorced in November 1904.<ref>{{cite news |date=December 2, 1903 |title=Married Today At Carson |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/reno-gazette-journal-married/131363741/ |work=[[Reno Evening Gazette]] |location=Reno, NV |page=5 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=November 24, 1904 |title=Divorce Granted to T. L. Oddie |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-central-nevadan-divorce/131363938/ |work=The Central Nevadan |location=Battle Mountain, NV |page=3 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> In November 1916, he married Daisy Rendall MacKeigan, and they were married until his death.<ref>{{cite news |date=November 30, 1916 |title=Former Governor Weds Society Leader of Los Angeles |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/reno-gazette-journal-weds/131364201/ |work=[[Reno Evening Gazette]] |location=Reno, NV |page=1 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref name="Dies">{{cite news |date=February 18, 1950 |title=Tasker Oddie Dies In San Francisco |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/nevada-state-journal-tasker-oddie-obitua/106440537/ |work=[[Nevada State Journal]] |location=Reno, NV |page=12 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref> Oddie had no children with either wife.<ref name="Dies"/>

Oddie was a descendant of several prominent American families; [[Henry Meigs]] was his great-grandfather, and [[Henry Meigs Jr.]] was his grand-uncle.<ref name="Cauldwell"/> Other direct ancestors and extended family included [[Benjamin Stoddert]], [[Benjamin Tasker Sr.]], and [[Christopher Lowndes]].<ref name="Cauldwell"/>

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{Congbio|o000035}}
* {{Find a Grave|6712587}}
* Chan, Loren. [https://books.google.com/books?id=qY8iAQAAIAAJ ''Sagebrush Statesman: Tasker L. Oddie of Nevada'']. (University of Nevada Press, Reno, 1973)
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20120305203710/http://nsla.nevadaculture.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=850%3Anevada-governors-biographical-information&catid=132%3Aarchives-photographs Biographical Information, Tasker L. Oddie]. Nevada State Library and Archives
*[https://archive.library.unr.edu/public/repositories/2/resources/638 A Guide to the Tasker L. Oddie Scrapbooks and Correspondence, NC585]. Special Collections, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Reno.

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{{S-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[List of Governors of Nevada|Governor of Nevada]]|years=[[1910 Nevada gubernatorial election|1910]], [[1914 Nevada gubernatorial election|1914]], [[1918 Nevada gubernatorial election|1918]]}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] nominee for [[List of United States Senators from Nevada|U.S. Senator]] from [[Nevada]]<br>([[Classes of United States Senators|Class 3]])|years=[[1920 United States Senate election in Nevada|1920]], [[1926 United States Senate election in Nevada|1926]], [[1932 United States Senate election in Nevada|1932]], [[1938 United States Senate election in Nevada|1938]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[George W. Malone]]}}
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{{succession box|title=[[Governor of Nevada]]|before=[[Denver S. Dickerson]]|after=[[Emmet D. Boyle]]|years=1911 – 1915}}
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{{U.S. Senator box|before=[[Charles B. Henderson]]|state=Nevada|class=3|after=[[Pat McCarran]]|years=1921 – 1933|alongside=[[Key Pittman]]}}
{{s-end}}

{{Governors of Nevada}}
{{USSenNV}}
{{SenPOCSCommitteeChairmen}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Oddie, Tasker}}
[[Category:1870 births]]
[[Category:1950 deaths]]
[[Category:Republican Party governors of Nevada]]
[[Category:Republican Party United States senators from Nevada]]
[[Category:District attorneys in Nevada]]
[[Category:American Episcopalians]]
[[Category:New York University School of Law alumni]]
[[Category:Politicians from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:Lawyers from Brooklyn]]
[[Category:People from Tonopah, Nevada]]
[[Category:20th-century United States senators]]
[[Category:20th-century members of the Nevada Legislature]]