O. S. Stapley
{{Short description|American politician in Arizona}}
{{Infobox officeholder
|name = O. S. Stapley
|image = OSStapley.1914.jpg
|caption = Stapley in 1914
|office=
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|preceded=
|succeeded=
|state_senate1 = Arizona
|district1 = Maricopa County
|term_start1 = January 1915
|term_end1 = January 1917
|predecessor1 = H. A. Davis
C. B. Wood
|successor1 = Ernest Hall
H. B. Wilkinson
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|birth_date = April 28, 1872
|birth_place = Tokerville, Utah
|death_date = April 15, 1942
|death_place = Mesa, Arizona
|nationality = American
|party = Democrat
|spouse = Polly Hunsaker
|children = Orley Glen, Delbert, Lorel, Thyrle, Wayne, Erwin, LaRue, Zola, and Cleo
|residence = Mesa, Arizona
|alma_mater =
|profession = Politician
|website =
}}
Orley S. Stapley (April 28, 1872 – April 15, 1942) was a politician from Arizona who served in the Arizona state senate during the 2nd Arizona State Legislature.{{cite web | url=https://azmemory.azlibrary.gov/digital/collection/p17220coll18/id/98/rec/16 | publisher=State of Arizona | title=History of the Arizona State Legislature 1912-1966 | accessdate=March 2, 2022}} He began what would become the largest mercantile business in Arizona, and he was the largest dealer of International Harvester products in the United States.
Personal life
Stapley was born on April 28, 1872, in Tokerville, Utah. His family moved to Mesa, Arizona in 1882. In his early years he worked as both a farmer and a stagecoach driver.{{cite news|title=O. S. Stapley, Noted Pioneer, Dies In Mesa |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/117400070/?terms=%22O.%20S.%20Stapley%22&match=1 |newspaper=The Arizona Republican |date=April 16, 1942 |page=1 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 29, 2022}} {{Open access}} Stapley married Polly Hunsaker of Mesa in 1894.{{cite web | url=https://www.mesaaz.gov/residents/historic-preservation-office/temple-historic-district?locale=en | publisher=City of Mesa | title=Temple Historic District | accessdate=April 29, 2022 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028040830/https://www.mesaaz.gov/residents/historic-preservation-office/buildings | archivedate=October 28, 2021}} The couple had nine children: six boys (Orley Glen, Delbert, Lorel, Thyrle, Wayne, and Erwin) and three girls (LaRue, Zola, and Cleo).
He played baseball for the Mesa City team, and was known for his hunting skills. He was also the manager of the Mesa Opera House.{{cite news|title=On Western Circuit |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/42261301/?terms=%22O.%20S.%20Stapley%22&match=1 |newspaper=The Arizona Republican |date=January 20, 1908 |page=10 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 27, 2022}} {{Open access}} When the Mesa Building & Loan opened in 1909, Stapley was its president.{{cite news|title=Building And Loan |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/42278387/?terms=%22O.%20S.%20Stapley%22&match=1 |newspaper=The Arizona Republican |date=April 28, 1909 |page=8 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 27, 2022}} {{Open access}} Stapley also had extensive real estate holdings throughout Arizona. One of those holdings, known as Stapley Acres, became part of the Temple Historic District. In 1942 Stapley donated the property located at LeSueur Street and East Fourth Avenue for the new church for the Fifth Ward of the LDS church in Mesa.{{cite news|title=Latter Day Saints Of Mesa Will Dedicate New Church |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/116878396/?terms=%22O.%20S.%20Stapley%22&match=1 |newspaper=The Arizona Republican |date=March 24, 1942 |page=9 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 29, 2022}} {{Open access}} Upon his death several months later, his was the second funeral service held in the church.{{cite news|title=O. S. Stapley Funeral Is Set For Tomorrow |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/117400545/?terms=%22O.%20S.%20Stapley%22&match=1 |newspaper=Arizona Republic |date=April 17, 1942 |page=21 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 29, 2022}} {{Open access}}
While visiting Chicago, Illinois in 1919, as a pedestrian, Stapley was struck by two vehicles while crossing the street. He stepped back to avoid one car, getting struck by another car coming the opposite direction and trapped between the two. He walked away from the accident, but suffered several injuries, including a broken collarbone, a torn rib, and a broken breastbone.{{cite news|title=How O. S. Stapley Was Injured |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/118901184/?terms=%22O.%20S.%20Stapley%22&match=1 |newspaper=The Arizona Republican |date=March 17, 1919 |page=5 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 27, 2022}} {{Open access}} While he survived, his injuries were debilitating for the remainder of his life. In the early 1920s, Stapley was one of several LDS leaders instrumental in the design and construction of the Arizona Temple. Stapley died on April 15, 1942, in his home in Mesa.
O. S. Stapley and Company
He operated O. S. Stapley's, a hardware store in Mesa, Arizona{{cite news|title=Mesa |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/119193023/?terms=%22O.%20S.%20Stapley%22&match=1 |newspaper=The Arizona Republican |date=April 8, 1902 |page=6 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 26, 2022}} {{Open access}}{{cite news|title=Mesa |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/78438718/?terms=%22O.%20S.%20Stapley%22&match=1 |newspaper=The Arizona Republican |date=September 19, 1902 |page=6 |via = ANewspapers.com|accessdate = April 26, 2022}} {{Open access}} which he opened in 1893.{{cite news|title=O. S. Stapley and Company |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/42273818/?terms=%22O.%20S.%20Stapley%22&match=1 |newspaper=The Arizona Republican |date=April 1, 1908 |page=23 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 27, 2022}} {{Open access}} By the 1940s, his mercantile business was the largest in Arizona.{{cite web | url=https://www.mpsaz.org/stapley/parent-info/about_us/os_stapley/ | publisher=Internet Broadway Database | title=Stapley Road Station |author=Jay Mark | accessdate=April 27, 2022 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906212239/https://www.mpsaz.org/stapley/parent-info/about_us/os_stapley/ | archivedate=September 6, 2019}}
On January 11, 1906, his store was destroyed in a major fire, which consumed five businesses in Mesa.{{cite news|title=A Mesa Fire Loss $40,000 |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/42163444/?terms=%22O.%20S.%20Stapley%22&match=1 |newspaper=The Arizona Republican |date=January 12, 1906 |page=1 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 27, 2022}} {{Open access}} The fire started in the furniture store of Passey & Metz, next door to Stapley's, but was exacerbated when some black powder stored in Stapley's caught fire and exploded. The loss to Stapley's was the complete destruction of his Store's building, and all the stock inside, estimated at $14,000,{{cite news|title=Big Fire In Mesa |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/42163521/?terms=%22O.%20S.%20Stapley%22&match=1 |newspaper=The Arizona Republican |date=January 13, 1906 |pages=9, 10 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 27, 2022}} {{Open access}} Stapley quickly rented a nearby building, the Peterson Building in which to run his store while his own store building was being set up in the Passey & Metz building, which he had purchased. He left on January 21 for San Francisco to replenish his store's lost stock.{{cite news|title=Leaves For San Francisco |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/78438588/?terms=%22O.%20S.%20Stapley%22&match=1 |newspaper=The Arizona Republican |date=January 21, 1906 |page=11 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 27, 2022}} {{Open access}} By the end of April, they were able to move into their new building, which was located on Main Street.{{cite news|title=Mesa |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/42173121/?terms=%22O.%20S.%20Stapley%22&match=1 |newspaper=The Arizona Republican |date=April 27, 1906 |page=7 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 27, 2022}} {{Open access}}
In June 1912, O. S. Stapley and Company opened a second store, on the corner of Robson and Main in Mesa. They moved all their furniture stock to the new location, while retaining the original store for their hardware business, which was housed in three buildings on the south side of Main Street.{{cite news|title=Attractive Store |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/119267988/?terms=%22O.%20S.%20Stapley%22&match=1 |newspaper=The Arizona Republican |date=June 29, 1912 |page=2 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 27, 2022}} {{Open access}} In October of that year, the two entities split, with Stapley selling off the furniture portion of his business to his two partners, J. W. Clark and J. S. Rogers. The new hardware company was simply called the O. S. Stapley Company.{{cite news|title=Business Change |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/119301692/?terms=%22O.%20S.%20Stapley%22&match=1 |newspaper=The Arizona Republican |date=October 18, 1912 |page=2 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 27, 2022}} {{Open access}} His second hardware store was opened in 1917 in Phoenix. It had entrances on both Grand Avenue and Seventh Avenue.{{cite news|title=$100,000 Store Added To Five Points Wealth |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/119193464/?terms=%22O.%20S.%20Stapley%22&match=1 |newspaper=The Arizona Republican |date=March 31, 1917 |page=14 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 27, 2022}} {{Open access}} In approximately 1908 he became the local dealer for the International Harvester Company, which had just been formed. He would eventually become the largest IHC dealer in the United States. 1919 saw Stapley open a third store, this time in Glendale.{{cite news|title=Stapley Co. Opens Glendale Branch |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/118884958/?terms=%22O.%20S.%20Stapley%22&match=1 |newspaper=The Arizona Republican |date=January 15, 1919 |page=7 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 29, 2022}} {{Open access}} Stapley would open two other locations, one in Chandler, and the other in Buckeye.
Political career
In the early 1900s he was a councilman in Mesa, Arizona.{{cite news|title=Mesa |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/42164838/?terms=%22O.%20S.%20Stapley%22&match=1 |newspaper=The Arizona Republican |date=January 15, 1903 |page=6 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 27, 2022}} {{Open access}} During this same period he also served as a trustee on the Mesa School Board.{{cite news|title=School Election |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/42170800/?terms=%22O.%20S.%20Stapley%22&match=1 |newspaper=The Arizona Republican |date=April 1, 1906 |page=9 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 27, 2022}} {{Open access}}
In 1914, he declared his candidacy for the state senate from Maricopa County.{{cite news|title=More Nominations |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/118845935/?terms=%22O.%20S.%20Stapley%22&match=1 |newspaper=The Arizona Republican |date=August 12, 1914 |page=6 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 27, 2022}} {{Open access}} Both of the incumbents were Democrats, C. B. Wood and H. A. Davis, but Wood was not running for re-election, due to his appointment by Woodrow Wilson to be the U. S. Postmaster for Phoenix.{{cite news|title=Dr. Hughes As Announced For Governorship |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/169029690/?terms=%22C.%20B.%20Wood%22&match=1 |newspaper=Arizona Daily Star |date=January 13, 1914 |page=2 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 23, 2022}} {{Open access}}{{cite news|title=C. B. Wood Nominated Phoenix Postmaster By President Wilson |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/118849738/?terms=%22C.%20B.%20Wood%22&match=1 |newspaper=The Arizona Republican |date=August 28, 1914 |page=3 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 23, 2022}} {{Open access}} Davis did run, and along with Stapley, there were three other Democrats seeking the 2 nominations: Harry Johnson, J. A. R. Irvine, and Sam F. Webb.{{cite news|title=The Candidates Of All Parties |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/168492885/?terms=%22O.%20S.%20Stapley%22&match=1 |newspaper=The Arizona Republican |date=August 19, 1914 |page=9 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 28, 2022}} {{Open access}} Stapley garnered the most votes in the Democrat's primary, while Webb eked out a victory over the incumbent, Davis.{{cite news|title=News And Views From The Capitol Of Arizona |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/174768834/?terms=%22H.%20A.%20Davis%22 |newspaper=The Holbrook News |date=September 25, 1914 |page=4 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 22, 2022}} {{Open access}} Stapley and Webb were elected in the November general election.{{cite news|title=Two Women One Republican In Legislature |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/174467881/?terms=%22O.%20S.%20Stapley%22&match=1 |newspaper=The Copper Era and Morenci Leader |date=November 20, 1914 |page=4 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 22, 2022}} {{Open access}}
In 1916, both incumbents, O. S. Stapley and Webb had decided not to run for re-election.{{cite news|title=Maricopa Woods Are Full Of Candidates For The Legislature |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/42281656/?terms=%22H.%20A.%20Davis%22 |newspaper=Bisbee Daily Review |date=February 18, 1916 |page=3 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 22, 2022}} {{Open access}} However, by April Stapley had changed his mind and decided to run.{{cite news|title=O. S. Stapley Is Out For Senate |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/118995690/?terms=%22O.%20S.%20Stapley%22&match=1 |newspaper=The Arizona Republican |date=April 11, 1916 |page=9 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 28, 2022}} {{Open access}} Heading into the primary, there developed two teams of candidates for the two Democrat nominations, Stapley along with W. T. Smith one side, with Davis, who had lost in the 1914 primary, and Paul Baxter Beville on the other.{{cite news|title=Some Acidity In This Fight |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/119027869/?terms=%22H.%20A.%20Davis%22 |newspaper=The Arizona Republican |date=September 5, 1916 |page=3 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = March 22, 2022}} {{Open access}} In the primary Davis finished first, with 2,997 votes, and Stapley second with 2,527, edging out Belville who received 2,452.{{cite news|title=Olney's Lead Is Swelled By Late Returns |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/102580136/ |newspaper=The Arizona Republican |date=September 15, 1916 |page=1 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 27, 2022}} {{Open access}} However, Stapley and Davis were defeated in the general election, losing to the Republicans Ernest Hall and H. B. Wilkinson.{{cite news|title=G.O.P. Solons Chosen Six Of Eight Winners |url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/119179821/?terms=%22Ernest%20Hall%22&match=1 |newspaper=The Arizona Republican |date=November 9, 1916 |page=1 |via = Newspapers.com|accessdate = April 27, 2022}} {{Open access}}
Legacy
Powerhouse Road in Mesa was renamed Stapley Drive in his honor in 1960.{{cite web | url=https://saltriverstories.org/items/show/252 | publisher=Internet Broadway Database | title=Stapley Road Station |author=Jay Mark | accessdate=April 27, 2022 | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20201023121126/https://saltriverstories.org/items/show/252 | archivedate=October 23, 2020}} Also named after him is Stapley Junior High School in Mesa.
References
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Category:19th-century American merchants
Category:20th-century American merchants
Category:American company founders
Category:Businesspeople from Arizona
Category:Businesspeople from Utah
Category:Democratic Party Arizona state senators
Category:People from Washington County, Utah
Category:Politicians from Mesa, Arizona
Category:School board members in Arizona
Category:20th-century members of the Arizona State Legislature