Albert Morris Sames

Submitted by Elizabeth Burns, Aug 2002

Arizona, The Youngest State, page 598

There is no movement formulated in Douglas for the benefit of the community along lines of substantial up building, progress and advancement that does not receive the endorsement and active support of Albert Morris Sames, whose labors as a lawyer and orator, a politician and public spirited citizen have been factors in the work of general improvement. He was born in Rockford, Illinois, February 9, 1873, and is a son of Peter and Ellen M. (Lockhart) Sames, the former a prominent agricultural implement manufacturer who died in 1909. His wife still survives and makes her home with the subject of this review. In their family were three children: Charles M., editor of the Engineering Digest in New York City; Albert Morris, of this review; and Ellen D., deceased wife of Captain F. Hase of the U.S. Army.

Albert Morris Sames was reared in his father's home in Rockford and acquired his preliminary education in the public schools of that city. When he was nineteen years of age he entered the University of Wisconsin, taking a special course and in 1894 was graduated in law from that institution. He did post graduate work in the law department of what is now the George Washington University of Washington, D.C. graduating with the degree of LL. M. Returning home he engaged for two years in the manufacturing business with his father and then went to Los Angeles, California, where he practiced law and acted as a law clerk in 1899.

In that year Mr. Sames came to Arizona, locating first in Solomonville, where he became connected with the railroad law firm of Edwards and McFarland, with whom he remained for two years. In December 1902 he located in Douglas as a representative of the Townsite of the firm of Flannigan, Feltus, Flanigan and Sames. This connection continued until 1906, when Mr. Sames formed his present partnership with Hon. G.W. Cass, with whom he has since carried on the active practice of his profession. As is often the case Mr. Sames success in law has carried with it prominence in politics, in which as an avenue to more efficient public service, he is interested and active. Before Douglas was incorporated he had served as assistant district attorney and after the organization of the city was its first city clerk and treasurer. He is one of the stalwart supporters of the Republican Party in his part of the state and an influential man in its councils, as is indicated by the fact that from 1910 until the admission of Arizona into the Union he served as chairman of the Republican Territorial Central Committee. In 1906 he was appointed United States commissioner and continued in that office until 1914, discharging his duties ably and conscientiously. He was city attorney in 1914 and 1915.

Mr. Sames is well known and prominent in local fraternal circles, holding membership in the lodge, chapter and commandery in the Masonic order and being past exalted ruler of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks.

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