Benjamin B. Odell, Jr.
| Benjamin Barker Odell Jr. | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 34th Governor of New York | |
|
In office January 1, 1901 – December 31, 1904 |
|
| Lieutenant |
Timothy L. Woodruff (1901–1902) Frank W. Higgins (1903–1904) |
| Preceded by | Theodore Roosevelt |
| Succeeded by | Frank W. Higgins |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from New York's 17th district |
|
|
In office March 4, 1895 – March 3, 1899 |
|
| Preceded by | Francis Marvin |
| Succeeded by | Arthur S. Tompkins |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
January 14, 1854 Newburgh, New York |
| Died | May 9, 1926 (aged 72) Newburgh, New York |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Estelle Crist (1877–88; her death) Linda C. Traphagen (c.1891–1926; his death) |
| Alma mater |
Bethany College Columbia University (Did not graduate) |
| Profession | Businessman, politician |
Benjamin Barker Odell Jr. (January 14, 1854 – May 9, 1926) was an American businessman and politician who served as the 34th Governor of New York from 1901 to 1904.
Born in Newburgh in 1854, Odell's father, Benjamin B. Odell Sr., was a leading town businessman who served twelve years as the town's mayor. Odell studied at Bethany College in West Virginia, and at the Columbia College of Columbia University; while he would have graduated in 1877, Odell dropped out of school in his junior year, returning to Newburgh to help in his father's business.
Odell worked his way up to head his father's ice business, starting as the driver of an ice delivery truck, earning $2 per day. Having become familiar with the people of the Newburgh area, Odell participated in the political affairs of his father, which would allow him to become involved in the politics of his home town, turning a bellwether city to one strongly Republican. He would go on to be appointed Ice Controller of New York during the First World War, and later president of both the Consolidated Gas, Electric Light, Heat, and Power Company of Newburgh and of the Central Hudson Steamboat Company. During his early days in politics, Odell ran unsuccessfully for Supervisor of New Windsor, as well as losing a bid after being drafted as a candidate for New York State Senate, in a Democratic district.
In 1894, Odell was elected as a Republican to the 54th United States Congress, serving New York's 17th congressional district, at that time encompassing Orange, Rockland, and Sullivan Counties. He ran for, and was reelected in 1896, but declined in 1898. He became one of the most powerful New York Republican operatives in of his time, serving for ten years as chairman of the Republican State Executive Committee, both before and after his two terms in Congress. In 1896, at the state convention called by Thomas C. Platt, Odell narrowly lost nomination for governor; having received an 11–5 vote in favor of his nomination, Platt was convinced overnight that Frank S. Black was the superior candidate, and Black was subsequently nominated for, and won the governorship in 1896.
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