Isabella Greenway 1886-1953 Congresswoman, Cattle Queen & Builder of Arizona Inn in Tucson

I can't remember a time when I didn't know who Isabella Greenway was, as I grew up in Tucson, Arizona just a few blocks from the Arizona Inn and Isabella's Home. Whenever, we'd ride past, my mother would say with awe," Isabella Greenway built that hotel and many famous people have stayed there." Over time, I heard bits of her life and her accomplishments, but it wasn't until 2002 when a group from my Questers chapter decided to develop a program based upon eight of Arizona's most famous women, that I really became interested in the details of Isabella's life. The more I have learned about Isabella, the more my esteem for her has grown.

Isabella Selmes was born on March 22, 1886 in Boone County Kentucky to Tilden and Martha (Patty) Selmes. Her early childhood was spent on their ranch near Mandan in the Dakotas. Ranching was difficult and the cold and isolation was hard on the young family. Much has been made of the fact that Isabella had a mammy as had been the custom in Patty Selmes' Kentucky family. One bright spot of their time on the cattle ranch was their neighbor Teddy Roosevelt with whom the family would form a lifelong friendship. When Tilden's health became critical the family moved back to Patty's family farm in Kentucky where he died in 1895. Isabella and Mammy were sent to St. Paul for her "schooling." Patty stayed behind at the farm where she worked to process hams.

Isabell's uncle Frank Cutcheon and aunt Julia (Patty's) sister would treat Isabella as a daughter and would have a great influence on Isabella's life. Isabella was finishing her schooling in New York and met Eleanor Roosevelt. Their friendship would last a lifetime. Both were young socialites, facing their proper "coming out" into formal society which meant teas, dinners and dances to meet a suitable husband. When Eleanor married Franklin, Isabella was one of Eleanor's bridesmaids, and the favor would be returned when Isabella married Major Robert Ferguson who had been a business partner and former Rough Rider with Teddy Roosevelt. After a honeymoon in Scotland and settling down in New York, Robert's health began failing from tuberculosis thought to have been caused by Yellow Fever that he had experienced during the Spanish American War, and his doctor urged them to move to a drier climate. The Ferguson family now included a son Robert and a daughter Martha, and the decision was made to move to Burro Mountain just south of Silver City New Mexico.

Life was primitive while they were building their home and staying in a tent house. The home would be a 4,000 sq ft.in a Spanish style built of adobe bricks which were molded on site. Maj Ferguson loved horticulture and planned and planted the landscaping. Isabella's life as a politician was beginning. Isabella began taking an interest in both local and national politics. A frequent visitor to their home was Col. John Greenway, another former Rough Rider and a friend of Teddy Roosevelt. John fell in love with Isabella and made no secret of his feelings for her, and while Isabella minded her wedding vows, she and John were permitted to exchange letters. When Ferguson passed away, Isabella married John Greenway and their union was one of happiness and passion. They divided their time between Bisbee and Ajo Arizona because of John's interest in the New Cornelia Copper Mine. A son, John Jr completed their happiness.

The Greenway's built a home in Ajo, and there was talk of John Greenway for Arizona's governor on the Democratic ticket. When John began complaining of stomach trouble, an operation was advised. A week later, John Greenway unexpectedly died, and Isabella suffered a miscarriage. John Greenway was buried on a hill in Ajo above the mines which was fitting, since he was active in promoting a new more profitable way to leech copper from ore. They had two glorious honeymoon years together and Isabella always called John the love of her life.

Isabella who had two veterans for husbands began visiting the Veterans' Hospital in Tucson where she began a work project for disabled veterans that included furniture, leather items, items made from cactus and a few toys. This project, The Arizona Hut, corresponded to the Val-Kill furniture venture that Eleanor had started. Also, during this period, Isabella who couldn't bear to stay in Ajo, bought the Double X Cattle Ranch near Williams in Northern Arizona, which her son Robert was going to help her run. Isabella was named Arizona's Democratic national committeewoman in 1928, and there was talk of running Isabella for governor, but she realized that to organize the Democratic vote in Arizona was enough and this is the venue where she focused her energy.

The stock market crash of 1929 and the beginning of the Great Depression signaled the end of the furniture Hut orders and Isabela had a lot of left over furniture. This was turned to advantage when Isabella began a resort hotel for the wealthy on a piece of property that she owned in Tucson near the University of Arizona. She was able to build the hotel named The Arizona Inn in a three month period and the opening day was December 18,1930 . The beautiful setting, Isabella's strict rules of privacy and upscale service remains today. The famous of the day all came to stay, and they still do. Isabella was now dividing her time between her enterprises and her political committees. Isabella worked hard to see Franklin Roosevelt elected president in 1932, and she was chosen to second his nomination.. When Roosevelt was elected, he appointed Lewis Douglas, Arizona's only congressman to his cabinet and Isabella ran for the vacated seat of congressman and won. By then, Isabella was well versed in the political process, but she also had great knowledge of the copper industry in Arizona, she had considerable knowledge of Veterans affairs, Arizona's water rights, and a knowledge of how many of Arizona's Indians were unemployed. Isabella became Arizona's first congresswoman.

As Arizona's congresswoman and a New Deal Democrat , Isabella had access to President Franklin and First Lady Eleanor. She didn't always agree with Franklin, but her tireless efforts to get a share of the New Deal monies for unemployed miners (CCC and WPA projects) Snowbowl and forestry projects in Northern Arizona, Organ Pipe National Monument, tarrifs on copper, CCC monies for the Grand Canyon trails, the Salt River Project, and the Howard Wheeler (Indian Bill). She cited family interests as the reason for not seeking a second term. Her projects included travel and the refurbishing of her Ajo and Santa Barbara homes.

Isabella would marry a last time in a family only wedding to Harry O King in 1939. It's interesting to note that she wore Harry's wedding ring over John Greeway's wedding ring. On December 14, 1953, Isabella died in her Tucson home from heart failure. Isabella's children continued to live in Tucson in the winters and spent time at the Double X Ranch during the summers.

It would not be until 1990 that Arizona would elect Karen English another female congresswoman.