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Celora Martin Stoddard was an American politician from Arizona. He served a single term in the Arizona State Senate during the 5th Arizona State Legislature, holding one of the two seats from Maricopa County. He ran unsuccessfully for the Republican nomination for governor in 1928. A World War I veteran, he helped establish the first American Legion post in Arizona in 1919, and became its first commander. He would later be selected the Legion's state commander, and also served a term as the national vice-commander of the organization. He was well known in the mining industry in Arizona.

Biography

Stoddard was born on August 13, 1886, in Binghamton, New York, the son of Isaac and Mary Stoddard. Isaac served as the Secretary to the Territory of Arizona from 1901, when he was appointed by President McKinley, until 1904. After his term as secretary was over, he founded the Stoddard Incorporating Company in 1904. His maternal grandfather was Celora E. Martin, who he was named after, was a judge on the New York Supreme Court. His father, who had been splitting his time between Arizona and New York during the late 1880s and 1890s, moved the family permanently to Yavapai County in 1892, settling in a camp mining town, which was named Stoddard in his honor. The family moved to Phoenix on 1901, upon the elder Stoddard's appointment as state secretary.

He married Ada Vansant of Philadelphia on March 1, 1910, in a private ceremony in Phoenix. Their son, James Vansant Stoddard, was born on June 19, 1911, in Prescott. By 1914 he was working for this father in the Stoddard Incorporating Company, where he was the secretary of the corporation. In 1914 he purchased The Rose Tree, a tea parlor and confectionary in Phoenix, refurbished it and turning it into a very successful establishment. He held on to the property for 18 months, before selling to the Donofrio Company. During the 1910s, Stoddard, along with his wife Ada, were amateur thespians.

In March 1916 Stoddard engineered a joint venture between the Stoddard Mines Co. and the Copper Queen Gold Mining Company to form the Stoddard Milling Company, of which he was the general manager, and erected a 150-ton-per-day flotation mill. The mill serviced the Binghamton Mine, owned by Stoddard Mines, and the Copper Queen Mine. In May 1917 Stoddard divorced Ada, citing "abandonment" as the grounds for the suit. The wife was given custody of their son, and given a monthly allowance, and the real estate assets, which included houses in Phoenix and Long Beach, California, were split up by the court.

In 1917 Stoddard was involved in attempting to establish a film studio in Arizona. After considering both Phoenix and Tucson, a site was selected in the Elysian Grove section of Tucson for the studio. He invested along with McClung Francisco and Webster Cullison, and put up a bond guaranteeing film production in Tucson. After the studio was constructed, no films were ever produced, and it was later dismantled, with Stoddard having to pay the $800 bond guaranteeing film production to the city. In 1917 Stoddard Mines had become the Arizona Binghamton Company. That year, Stoddard began a separate company, the Copper Mountain Mines Company, which began to re-open the old Stoddard Mine, which Isaac Stoddard had begun working on in 1881.

In 1918, Stoddard enlisted in the U. S. Army after the United States entry into World War I. He became a first-class gunner, and then was sent to officer's training, before being sent overseas to fight in France. He was discharged in December that year. In early 1919, after his discharge from the army, Stoddard remarried, this time to Betty Howard of Pasadena, California. The couple had a daughter, Virginia. Stoddard was very active in the American Legion. In 1919 he was elected the commander of the Frank Luke Post Number 1 in Phoenix. In 1922 he was elected the state commander for Arizona. And in 1923 he was elected vice-commander of the national American Legion.

In July 1920, Stoddard announced his intention to run on the Republican ticket for one of the two Arizona State Senate seats from Maricopa County. He and H. B. Wilkinson, an incumbent, ran unopposed in the Republican primary. Both he and Wilkinson won in the November general election. Stoddard and Wilkinson were under consideration for the presidency of the Senate when the new legislature convened in January 1921, with Wilkinson eventually being elected. He did not run for re-election in 1922. In 1921, with two partners, he began a brick-facing company, the Arizona Shope Concrete Brick Company. In June 1928 he was urged to run for the Republican nomination for Governor, and he officially announced his intention to run the following month. He was one of three Republicans running in the primary, the other two being John H. Udall and John C. Phillips. Stoddard finished third in the primary, with Phillips winning the Republican nomination. In 1938, the Republicans failed to have any candidates step forward and seek the nomination for State Senator from Maricopa County. The county committee asked that voters write in their choices. Stoddard won the write-in campaign, but stated that he would not accept the nomination.

Stoddard died on January 4, 1943, at his home in Phoenix from a heart ailment, from which he had been suffering since 1935.

References

1. "History of the Arizona State Legislature 1912-1966". State of Arizona. p. 81. Retrieved March 3, 2022.
2. ^ "Death Takes C. M. Stoddard". Arizona Republic. January 6, 1943. p. 4. Retrieved August 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
3. ^ "Isaac Stoddard Dies Suddenly From Apoplexy". The Arizona Republican. November 11, 1914. p. 1. Retrieved August 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
4. ^ "Mrs. Mary Stoddard, Long Active In Phoenix' Community Affairs, Dies On Coast Following Extended Illness". The Arizona Republican. October 8, 1925. p. 2. Retrieved August 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
5. "Articles Of Incorporation of the Stoddard Incorporating Company". Arizona Republic. April 4, 1904. p. 7. Retrieved August 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
6. "Death Of Eminent New York Jurist". The Arizona Republican. September 11, 1909. p. 2. Retrieved August 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
7. Cauldwell, William, ed. (January 1903). "Isaac Taft Stoddard". The Successful American. 7 (1). New York: The Writers Press Association: 53–54. OCLC 1716788.
8. "Happy Wedding Popular Couple In Phoenix". Arizona Daily Star. March 5, 1910. p. 3. Retrieved August 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
9. "The House Of Stoddard Increases In Length". The Arizona Republican. June 20, 1911. p. 3. Retrieved August 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
10. "Opening The Rose Tree". The Arizona Republican. October 18, 1914. p. 13. Retrieved August 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
11. "Rose Tree Changes Hands". The Arizona Republican. July 19, 1915. p. 5. Retrieved August 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
12. "Society". The Arizona Republican. February 8, 1914. p. 13. Retrieved August 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
13. "Celora Martin Stoddard Will Act Next Thursday". The Arizona Republican. March 1, 1914. p. 8. Retrieved August 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
14. "Tea Room Feature Of New Rose Tree Inn". The Arizona Republican. September 24, 1914. p. 4. Retrieved August 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
15. "Yavapai Companies Ready To Commence Erection Of Mill". Bisbee Daily Review. February 23, 1916. p. 3. Retrieved August 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
16. "Milling Merger To Be Rushed Ahead". Weekly Journal-Miner. March 1, 1916. p. 3. Retrieved August 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
17. "Rushing Construction". Weekly Journal-Miner. June 14, 1916. p. 6. Retrieved August 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
18. "Celora Stoddard Sues For Divorce". Weekly Journal-Miner. May 16, 1917. p. 3. Retrieved August 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
19. "Film Company Contemplates Site In Phoenix". The Arizona Republican. July 10, 1917. p. 10. Retrieved August 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
20. "Elysian Grove To Be Leased By New Picture Concern". Tucson Citizen. July 25, 1917. p. 8. Retrieved August 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
21. "'Movie' Men Now Plan Purchase of Elysian Grove". Tucson Citizen. August 4, 1917. p. 2. Retrieved August 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
22. "Chamber of Commerce To Ask Film Promoter To Pay $800 Guarantee". Arizona Daily Star. April 9, 1919. p. 8. Retrieved August 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
23. "Pioneer Copper Group Is Once Active Again". Weekly Journal-Miner. October 31, 1917. p. 4. Retrieved August 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
24. "Strong Vein Of Copper Cut On 600 Level". Weekly Journal-Miner. November 14, 1917. p. 2. Retrieved August 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
25. "Tells Of The Life Where Real Worth Alone Is Counted". The Arizona Republican. April 15, 1918. p. 8. Retrieved August 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
26. "Looks for Early Return of Soldier Son In France". The Arizona Republican. December 15, 1918. p. 27. Retrieved August 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
27. "Society Eagerly Awaits Coming of Pasadena Bride". The Arizona Republican. February 16, 1919. p. 23. Retrieved August 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
28. "Untitled". The Arizona Republican. September 10, 1922. p. 18. Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
29. "Heads Frank Luke Post". Bisbee Daily Review. June 28, 1919. p. 4. Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
30. "Celora Stoddard State Commander American Legion". The Arizona Republican. September 22, 1922. p. 10. Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
31. "Quinn, Californian, Legion Chief, For Bonus". Arizona Daily Star. October 20, 1923. p. 1. Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
32. "Registration Indicative Of Liklihood Republicans Will Carry Northern Arizona". Tucson Citizen. July 25, 1920. p. 1. Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
33. "Canvass Alters No Results In Primary Race". The Arizona Republican. September 17, 1920. p. 2. Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
34. "Official Canvass Shows 21,075 Votes In Maricopa County -- Results Verified". The Arizona Republican. November 18, 1920. p. 16. Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
35. "Wilkinson Urged For President Of Next State Sen". The Copper Era and Morenci Leader. November 19, 1920. p. 1. Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
36. "Legislature To Open Session At Phoenix Tomorrow". Bisbee Daily Review. January 9, 1921. p. 1. Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
37. "Both Houses Of The Legislature Make Quick Work Of Organization". The Arizona Republican. January 9, 1921. p. 1. Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
38. "Announcement". The Arizona Republican. June 10, 1922. p. 6. Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
39. "Advertisement". The Arizona Republican. April 27, 1921. p. 2. Retrieved August 22, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
40. "Friends Enter Name Of Celora M. Stoddard As Candidate For Governor". The Arizona Republican. June 2, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved August 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
41. "Celora M. Stoddard Enters Republican Gubernatorial Race". The Arizona Republican. July 17, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved August 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
42. "Seven Republicans, 22 Democrats Seek Primary Nomination". The Arizona Republican. August 12, 1928. p. 4. Retrieved August 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
43. "Total Vote In State Compiled Wednesday". Casa Grande Dispatch. September 14, 1928. p. 1. Retrieved August 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
44. "Republicans Ask Write-Ins". Arizona Republic. September 13, 1938. p. 3. Retrieved August 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
45. "Many Write-In Candidates Named In Maricopa County". Arizona Republic. September 28, 1938. p. 8. Retrieved August 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
46. "Little Stories Of Phoenix Daily Life". Arizona Republic. October 5, 1938. p. 4. Retrieved August 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
47. "C. M. Stoddard". Arizona Daily Star. January 7, 1943. p. 2. Retrieved August 23, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.

• Republican Party Arizona state senators
• 1886 births
• 1943 deaths
• People from Binghamton, New York
• Politicians from Phoenix, Arizona
• 20th-century members of the Arizona State Legislature