Dr. Alexander J. Chandler
- Chandler Museum
Canadian born veterinarian, moved to Arizona in 1887 as the first Arizona Territorial Veterinary Surgeon and quickly turned to land development
In 1887, there was concern about disease from European cattle shipments infecting herds in the United States. In Arizona, genuine fears that disease would decimate the infant cattle industry led Arizona to form a livestock sanitary board and hire a Territorial Veterinary Surgeon to enforce regulations to prevent the introduction of disease into Arizona. Two commissioners, C.M. Bruce and William C. Barnes, traveled to Washington, D.C., to seek a recommendation from the United States Department of Agriculture.
Officials recommended Dr. A. J. Chandler, a young Canadian veterinarian who was making a name for himself in Detroit. Upon arriving in Detroit, Bruce and Barnes discovered that Dr. Chandler had a very successful veterinary practice, as well as a business relationship with the D.M. Ferry Seed Company. Dr. Chandler almost immediately accepted their job offer, which paid $2,000 a year. Chandler explained that he had always dreamed of the vast opportunities offered in the West.
In truth, Dr. Chandler was already pursuing another opportunity. The Ferry Seed Company was looking to purchase land in the arid west to experiment with growing drought resistant strains of alfalfa. These new seeds became an economic boon for the company as the cattle industry transitioned from open field grazing to feeding cattle in lots. Chandler acted as the seed company's land agent.
Soon after his arrival, Chandler started acquiring 18,000 acres of land south of the Salt River, roughly the boundaries of Chandler today. For nearly two decades Chandler and the Ferry Seed Co. experimented with seed development, agricultural processes, and growing various fruits and vegetables on the land known as Chandler Ranch.Â
Dr. Chandler served as the Territorial Veterinary Surgeon for two years, from 1888 to 1890. He resigned when his business interests expanded and took the majority of his time. The knowledge gained from traveling across Arizona as Territorial Veterinary surgeon ultimately made Dr. Chandler a nationally recognized booster for Arizona.