Jane Catherine “Jennie” (Hereford) Tritle was born in Independence, Missouri, on May 30, 1840, the daughter of Sarah C. S. Foote and Francis Harrison Hereford. Jennie was the granddaughter of Governor Henry S. Foote of Mississippi. On October 16, 1862, she married Frederick Augustus Tritle in Sacramento, California. They came to the Arizona Territory a year-and-a-half before her husband was appointed Governor of Arizona Territory in 1882. He served until 1885.

John S. Goff writes in Arizona Territorial Officials Volume II: The Governors 1863–1912, "A strong factor in the support for his (Frederick Tritle) appointment was his charming and talented wife as well as the support of her influential family."  Jennie was "extremely popular in Arizona and during their years in Prescott was a gracious hostess. During the sessions of the Legislature, the first family held open house every Thursday evening."

Jennie was the first president of Prescott's Women's Club (Monday Club), serving in this capacity for six successive terms. Believing in woman's suffrage, she helped form the Territorial Woman’s Suffrage Association and served on its executive committee.  Jenny opened a library in her home for public use under the auspices of the Monday Club and was a member of the club’s History and Poetry Study Group. She was also the first president of the Episcopal Guild of Prescott.

Goff describes her as "... all that could be desired as the wife of the chief executive of a state in the making.... ever tactful, kind, generous, sincere, she was the embodiment of a perfect lady."

Jennie and Frederick had five children: Jane Catherine "Kate" (Mrs. Eugene) Spencer, Frank Hereford, Frederick Augustus Jr., John Stewart and Harry Russell. After Governor Tritle’s resignation in October 1885, the family continued to live in Prescott.

Following the death of her husband in 1906, Jennie moved to St. Louis, Missouri and lived with her daughter.  She died on March 13, 1925, in Webster Grove, Missouri due to complications from a fall and was buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.

Donor: Mrs. G. E. Meany
Photo Located: RGC MS-39, Box S-T, F-Tritle, Jane (Hereford)
Updated: 7/8/2015, Gretchen Hough Eastman