Lieutenant Arthur Cornforth Preceded by Albert W. McIntire Preceded by James H. Peabody Succeeded by Charles S. Thomas | Succeeded by James H. Peabody Name Alva Adams Lieutenant Jared L. Brush Party Democratic Party | |
 | ||
Role Former Governor of Colorado Died November 1, 1922, Battle Creek, Michigan, United States Previous offices Governor of Colorado (1905–1905) Similar People Bill Ritter, John Hickenlooper, William Gilpin, Thomas Jefferson, George Washington | ||
Alva Adams (May 14, 1850 – November 1, 1922) was an American politician. He was born in Iowa County, Wisconsin. John Adams, his father, was a member of the Wisconsin State Assembly and the Wisconsin State Senate. He served four years and two months as the fifth, tenth and 14th Governor of Colorado from 1887 to 1889, 1897 to 1899, and briefly in 1905. His last tenure as Governor lasted a little over two months. He and previous Governor James Peabody each declared the other an illegitimate Governor, even though both were involved in illegal electoral practices. Eventually the Republican legislature removed Adams, installed Peabody, who immediately abdicated for his Lt. Governor Jesse Fuller McDonald, and ended the whole ruckus.
Adams died in Battle Creek, Michigan at the age of 72.
Adams County, Colorado, is named for Alva Adams, and it is believed the city of Alva, Oklahoma is as well. Alva Adams' younger brother, William Herbert "Billy" Adams also served as Governor of Colorado, 1927-1933. Alva Adams' son, Alva Blanchard Adams, served as United States Senator from Colorado, 1923-1925 and 1933-1941