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REYNOLDS HISTORICAL GENEALOGY COLLECTION
ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01115 1427
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EXPLANATIONS
Townships subdivided
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1 Morate Land i kums Aarveved
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Pueblo Indian Grants Juevesod
Public Survey of ARIZONA by the COMMISSIONER OF THE GENERAL LAND OFFICE 1866
ODIXIN
NEW
il .cap[. . .
HISTORY
OF
ARIZONA
BY
THOMAS EDWIN FARISH, ARIZONA HISTORIAN
VOLUME IV
PHOENIX, ARIZONA 1916
COPYRIGHT 1916, BY THOMAS EDWIN FARISH, ARIZONA HISTORIAN
THE FILMER BROTHERS ELECTROTYPE COMPANY TYPOGRAPHERS AND STEREOTYPERS SAN FRANCISCO
1714347
LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS.
MAP OF ARIZONA Frontispiece
C. B. GENUNG Facing Page 27
VETERANS OF ARIZONA VOLUNTEERS .Facing Page 93
R. C. MCCORMICK Facing Page 149
BEN H. WEAVER. . Facing Page 261
STORE OF HOOPER & CO
Facing Fage 264
E. N. FISH . Facing Page 267
J. P. OSBORN AND WIFE Facing Page 268
E. W. WELLS Facing Page 269
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CONTENTS.
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VOLUME IV.
CHAPTER I. CONDITIONS IN 1865. PAGE
Letters of R. C. McCormick-Area and Boundaries of Arizona- Metallic Wealth-Climate - Apaches - Means and Expense of Getting to Arizona-First Counties-Mail Routes. . .
1
CHAPTER II. EARLY CONDITIONS IN THE TERRITORY.
Charles B. Genung-His Story of How He Became a Hassa- yamper-Members of the Party-Description of Trip from Sacramento, California, to Arizona-Location of Montgom- ery Mine 27
CHAPTER III. EARLY CONDITIONS IN THE TERRITORY (Continued).
Charles B. Genung's Stories (Continued)-His First Year in Ari- zona-Working the Montgomery Mine-Indian Scare-First Quartz Gold Taken Out in Northern Arizona-Early Mining -Fight With Indians-Murder by Mexicans-The Chase- Reminiscences-More Murders by Mexicans 38
CHAPTER IV. EARLY CONDITIONS IN THE TERRITORY (Continued). Captain W. H. Hardy-Description of-His Early Experiences in Arizona-Methods of Indian Warfare-Freighting for the Government-Experiences With the Indians-Wild Game in the Territory-Driven Out or Killed-Indian Cunning- The First Christmas Tree in the Territory. 73
CHAPTER V. THE ARIZONA VOLUNTEERS.
Governor Authorized to Raise Regiment-Four Companies Or- ganized-One Company Composed of Pima Indians-Report of Captain H. S. Washburn-Report of Lieutenant Oscar Hutton - Disbandment of Companies - Failure to Receive Pay-Biography of Captain J. D. Walker
93
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vi
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER VI.
THE INDIANS AND THE MILITARY. PAGE
First Reservation in Arizona - Increased Military Protection Against Indians-General Mason's Order to Kill All Male Apaches Able to Bear Arms - General Mason's Policy - Charles A. Shibell-His Story-Principal Indian Fights in Northern Part of Territory-Skull Valley Fight-Fort Rock Fight-Fight Between Mint and Skull Valleys-Battle Flat Fight-Killing of Indian Agent Leihy-Killing of Doctor Tappan-Reception to General McDowell at Prescott-Gov- ernment Farm Established at Fort McDowell - Military Headquarters Removed to Tucson. 121
CHAPTER VII. THE INDIANS AND THE MILITARY (Continued).
Report of Joint Committee-Regular Troops Poorly Adapted to Fighting Indians - Recommend Company of Rangers in Each County - Controversy Between Governor McCormick and General McDowell in Regard to Troops-"Miner" Edi- torial on Commissioners' Report on Indian Difficulties .... 140
CHAPTER VIII. THE SECOND LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.
First Regular Election-Governor Goodwin Elected Delegate to Congress-Secretary McCormick Succeeds Goodwin as Gov- ernor-Members of Legislature-Convening of Legislature- Message of Acting Governor-Creation of County of Pah- Ute-Resolution of Legislature Regarding Death of Presi- dent Lincoln-Resolution of Legislature Regarding Termi- nation of Civil War-Settlers in and Around Prescott As- sess Own Property for Taxation-Report of First Treasurer of Territory-Population
148
CHAPTER IX. THE THIRD LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY.
Election of Delegate to Congress and Members of Territorial Legislature-Members of Third Legislature-Resignation of Marshal Duffield-His Record-Message of the Governor to the Legislature-Delegate Goodwin's Activities in Congress -His Speech in Congress on the Annexation of the County of Pah-Ute to Nevada-Measures Passed by the Third Leg- islature-Resolution Adopted Authorizing Attorney-general to Settle With W. S. Oury for Arms Presumably Turned Over to Mexicans-Captain Calderwood's Story-Legislature Adopts Resolution Thanking Arizona Volunteers for Services -Memorializes Congress to Repeal Act Giving Nevada County of Pah-Ute and Part of County of Mohave-Peti- tion Congress for Establishment of Mail Routes-What the
CONTENTS.
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PAGE
Thirty-ninth Congress Did for and Against the Territory of Arizona-Attempt of Utah to Secure Possession of Part of Arizona-Controversy With California Over Possession of Yuma 164
CHAPTER X. THE COURTS.
Judge Howell-Judge Backus-Charge of Chief Justice Turner to Grand Jury-Irishman's Ready Wit Results in Light Sen- tence-Extract from Charge of Judge Backus to Grand Jury
204
CHAPTER XI. EARLY SETTLEMENTS.
First White Settlement in Verde Valley-Dr. J. M. Swetnam's Story-Members of Party-Location of Settlement-Prices of Supplies-Differences of Opinion-The Camp Divided- Opening Irrigation Ditch-New Addition to Party-Indian Raids-Harvesting Crops-Refusal of U. S. Quartermaster to Purchase Crops-Finally Agrees to Purchase-More In- dian Raids-Military Protection
215
CHAPTER XII. EARLY SETTLEMENTS (Continued).
First Settlement in Lower San Pedro Valley-Military Protec- tion Withdrawn-Indian Depredations-Wm. A. Bell's De- scription of Settlement-Fish's Description of Early Settle- ments - Rusling's Description of Early Arizona - Yuma - Tucson-Ehrenberg-La Paz - Castle Dome Landing - De- scription of Prescott by Ben C. Truman-San Francisco "Examiner's" Description of Prescott-Arizona Historical Society-Biography of Ben H. Weaver-Hooper & Company, First Mercantile Establishment in Arizona-Members of- Biography of Edward N. Fish.
247
CHAPTER XIII. EARLY SETTLEMENTS (Continued).
Wells and Osborn Party-Biography of E. W. Wells-Settle- ments in Williamson Valley, Walnut Grove, Kirkland Val- ley, Peeples Valley and Skull Valley-Shabby Treatment of Settlers by the Government-"Miner" Editorial-First Mor- mon Settlements-Hines' Ditch-Woolsey and Martin Pur- chase Agua Caliente Ranch-Take Out Ditch-Biography of George Martin
268
viii
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER XIV.
MINES AND MINING-POSSIBILITIES OF THE TERRITORY-RESUMP- TION OF MAIL AND STAGE LINES. PAGE
Early Prospecting in Gila County-Discovery of Copper at Clif- ton-Captain Hardy's Prospecting Expedition-Mining at the "Vulture"-R. C. McCormick's Opinion as to Possibilities of the Territory-Restoration of Mail and Freight Lines .. 279
CHAPTER XV. THE CATHOLIC CHURCH IN ARIZONA.
No Protestant Churches in Territory in 1866-Resumption of Labors by Catholics-Arrival in Arizona of Bishop Lamy- Visits Prescott and Tucson-Commencement of Churches in Tucson and Yuma-Establishment of School at San Xavier- Removal of Same to Tucson-Commencement of Schoolhouse for Sisters of St. Joseph-Dangers from Indians
290
CHAPTER XVI. EARLY SURVEYS.
Arizona Made Part of Surveying District of New Mexico- Deputy Surveyor Pierce Makes Contract for Survey of Cer- tain Lands-Selected "Initial Point"-Military Protection Withdrawn-Work Abandoned-Pierce Recommends Subdi- vision of Salt River Valley-Arizona Attached to Surveying District of California-Contracts for Surveys Made With Wilfred F. Ingalls and George P. Ingalls-First Application for Pre-emption of Homestead Land by John B. Allen .... 303
CHAPTER XVII. THE COLORADO RIVER INDIAN RESERVATION.
Methods of Indian Agents-C. B. Genung's Account of Journey to Arizona-Presents Gifts to Indians-Placed in Charge of Reservation-Takes Out Ditch and Encourages Indians in Agricultural Pursuits-Resigns-Goes to California to Pur- chase Horses for Indians-Places Yavapais on San Carlos Reservation-Abandonment of Ditch 310
HISTORY OF ARIZONA. VOLUME IV.
HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
CHAPTER I. CONDITIONS IN 1865.
LETTER OF R. C. MCCORMICK-AREA AND BOUND- ARIES OF ARIZONA - METALLIC WEALTH- CLIMATE-APACHES-MEANS AND EXPENSES OF GETTING TO ARIZONA-FIRST COUNTIES- MAIL ROUTES.
No account of conditions in a country, state or territory can be so well stated in after years as related by someone living in the country at the time. On June 1st, 1865, Richard C. Mc- Cormick, then Secretary of the Territory, wrote a letter to the "New York Tribune," which was printed in that paper, and afterwards repro- duced in pamphlet form under the title of ARIZONA: ITS RESOURCES AND PROS- PECTS. It gives a concise, succinct account of conditions in the territory at that time, and is here reproduced :
"New York, June 1, 1865. "To the Editor of the 'New York Tribune.'
"Sir,-I have pleasure in responding to your request for a brief and comprehensive account for The Tribune, of the resources and prospects of the Territory of Arizona, as now estimated by those familiar with the same. I think with you that such an account will be acceptable to the people of the Atlantic coast, the mass of whom have only a vague and unsatisfactory notion of the boundaries, the climate, the means
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
of access, and the general characteristics of the Territory, which is at once one of the largest and richest of our Pacific possessions.
"To be rightly appreciated, Arizona must be taken as a whole. Those who know it only as 'The Gadsden Purchase,' those who have no knowledge of more than the Colorado River dis- trict, and those who are only familiar with the newly-opened central and northern regions, are incompetent to furnish that complete view of the Territory which is necessary to a correct understanding of its varied and extensive re- sources, and to a proper estimate of its progress and prospects.
"In the beginning, I wish to correct the com- mon impression that Arizona, as erected into a territory, contains only the tract of land ac- quired under the treaty with Mexico in 1854, and familiarly known as 'The Gadsden Pur- chase.' While but half of that tract is included in the Territory (that portion west of the 109° longitude, the remainder being in New Mexico), a region of country north of the Gila River, and vastly greater in extent, is comprised within the same. The general lines of the Territory are thus defined in the organic act, approved Feb- ruary 24, 1863 :- ' All that portion of the present Territory of New Mexico situate west of a line running due south from the point where the southwest corner of the Territory of Colorado joins the northern boundary of the Territory of New Mexico to the southern boundary line of said Territory of New Mexico.' In other words, all of New Mexico, as formerly existing, between the 109° longitude and the California line, em- bracing 120,912 square miles, or 77,383,680
3
CONDITIONS IN 1865.
acres, a district three times as large as the State of New York.
"The locality of this broad area pre-supposes great metallic wealth. The mountain ranges are the prolongation of those which southward in Sonora, Chihuahua and Durango have yielded silver by millions for centuries past, and which northward in Nevada are now amazing the world by their massive returns of the precious ores. The general direction of the mountains and the veins is northwest and southeast, and there are numerous parallel ranges which form long val- leys in the same direction. These and the broad and level bottoms of the rivers, which may be easily and cheaply irrigated by acequias or ar- tesian wells, under which treatment the soils return an immense yield, and are independent of the seasons, produce, so far as tested, every variety of grain, grass, vegetables, fruits and flowers. While it has some barren and desolate country, no mineral region belonging to the United States, not excepting California, has, in proportion to its extent, more arable, pastoral and timber lands. Those who have asserted to the contrary have been either superficial and limited in their observations, or willfully inac- curate in their statements. In the language of a recent editorial in The Arizona Miner:
" 'For its extent, there is not a section in the United States which more abounds in glades and vales, and wide-spreading plains, suitable for cultivation, and only awaiting the hand of in- dustry to blossom as the rose.'
"The climate, considered either in its relations to health and longevity, or to agricultural and mining labor, is unrivaled in the world. Dis-
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
ease is unknown, and the warmest suns of the Gila and Colorado River bottoms are less op- pressive and enervating than those of the Middle States. The proportion of fine weather is greater than in any other part of the world I have visited or read of.
"In order to a simple description and clear understanding of the whole Territory, I will speak of it in the several divisions created by the First Legislative Assembly, convened at Prescott, in September last. That body author- ized the organization of four counties, each to be named after a leading tribe of Indians resid- ing within its borders.
"PIMA COUNTY.
"This county is bounded on the east by the line of the Territory of New Mexico; on the north by the middle of the main channel of the Gila River; on the west by the line of 113º 20' west longitude, and on the south by the Sonora line. The seat of justice is established at Tucson.
"Pima County embraces all of 'The Gadsden Purchase' within the Territorial lines, excepting the small portion west of 113º 20' west longitude (which is in Yuma County), and is the best known portion of Arizona. This comes from its early settlement, the development of its mines, and the extensive travel through its length during the running of the Southern or Butterfield Overland Mail. Its silver veins are among the richest on the continent. Some of them have been worked for centuries, and if they have not constantly yielded a large return it has been more from a lack of prudent management
5
CONDITIONS IN 1865.
or the incursions of hostile Indians than from any defect in the quality or quantity of the ore, or in the facilities for extracting and working the same. The ores are chiefly argentiferous galena, and are best adapted to smelting. Some of the mines at a depth, have a silver-copper glance, iodide of silver, and a mineral containing quicksilver. The copper ores of Pima County are surprisingly rich, yielding in some instances as high as 90 per cent of pure copper. They are chiefly red oxides and gray sulphurets.
"Wood and water if not immediately at hand may usually be had at a convenient distance. The Santa Rita Mountains have fine pine for- ests, and between Tubac and San Xavier is a timber district some miles in width, extending from the Santa Cruz River to the base of the mountains. The timber is mesquit and of a large size; for mining purposes it is well adapted; for building it is too hard and crooked. The cotton-wood is found on the margin of all the streams; it is of rapid growth, and well adapted for building. The adobe or sun-burnt brick is, however, the favorite building material. It is easily and inexpensively made, and laid in thick walls furnishes an enduring and comfort- able house; better suited to the climate than any other. The agricultural and pasture lands of Pima County are very extensive. The valleys of the Gila, and Santa Cruz, the San Pedro, and other streams, are large and equal in fertility to any agricultural district in the United States. The San Pedro Valley, over one hundred miles in length, is, perhaps, the best farming district south of the Gila River. The Sonoita Valley,
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
which opens into the Santa Cruz near Calabazas, is some fifty miles long.
"Mr. Bartlett, United States Boundary Com- missioner, thus describes the valley of the Santa Cruz :
" 'This valley was traversed by the earliest Spanish explorers in 1535, seduced by the flat- tering accounts of Cabeza de Vaca, Marco de Niza and Coronado, led their adventurers through it in search of the famed cities of Cibola, north of the Gila; and before the year 1600, its richness having been made known, it was soon after occupied as missionary ground. Remains of several of these missions still exist. The mission church of San Xavier del Bac, erected during the last century, is the finest edifice of the kind in Arizona. Tumacacori, a few miles south of Tubac, was the most exten- sive mission in this part of the country. The extensive buildings, irrigating canals, and broad cultivated domain here at once attest its advan- tages.'
"The same authority pronounces the valley one of the finest agricultural districts, and pre- senting many advantages for settlers.
"In each of these valleys there is an abun- dance of water for irrigation, and both whites and Indians had raised large crops with little labor. Some of the old ranches now owned by parties engaged in working the mines, are noted for their exuberant growth of every variety of cereals, vegetables and fruits.
"The table-lands of Pima County are covered with a short and luxurious grass, upon which immense herds of cattle have been and still may be raised, and the grazing districts include many
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CONDITIONS IN 1865.
of the mountain ravines as well as the lesser hills, where gramma-grass is found in abund- ance, and which is greedily eaten by horses, mules, sheep and horned cattle. This grass is very nutritious, and even when dry and parched by the heat of the summer is eagerly sought af- ter by the animals.
"Tucson, the principal settlement of Pima County, is in the Santa Cruz Valley. It was a prominent station upon the Butterfield route. Of late years it has been much improved, and the recent opening of several rich mines in close proximity to the town will give it increased business and importance. Its population is largely Spanish, and the same may be said of all the settlements in Pima County.
"Other towns in the mining districts south of Tucson and Tubac and upon the Gila River, are becoming of consequence as the agricultural and mineral development of the country progresses.
"Their growth is somewhat retarded, as is the prosperity of the whole country, for the want of an American port upon the Gulf of Cali- fornia, by which route goods and machinery might be speedily and economically received. The great oversight of the United States in the failure to acquire such a port when it might have been had without difficulty or expense is keenly and constantly deplored, and it is the hope of every one living in or interested in Southern Arizona that the government will by negotiation (if coming events do not afford other means) soon secure either the port of Libertad or Guaymas, or both. Indeed, the geo- graphical relations of the State of Sonora to Arizona and our access to the Pacific are such
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
that its acquisition seems little less than a mat- ter of duty.
"From Libertad it is but one hundred and fifty miles to the mining regions of the lower portion of Pima County, and from Guaymas the distance is about three hundred miles; both roads are easy and supplied with grass and water. The transportation of mining supplies from Los Angeles or Fort Yuma as is now neces- sary in order to escape the heavy duties imposed in Sonora, although entirely practicable, in- volves much more of overland travel and conse- quently increased delay and expense.
"YUMA COUNTY.
"This county is bounded on the east by the line of 113°, 20' west longitude, on the north by the middle of the main stream of the Santa Maria, to its junction with Williams' Fork, thence by the middle of the main channel of said stream to its junction with the Colorado River; on the west by the main channel of the Colorado, and on the south by the Sonora line. The seat of justice is established at La Paz. Of the two counties upon the Colorado (Yuma and Mohave) this has at present the largest population. Until 1862 it was comparatively unknown for any distance above Fort Yuma; indeed, the Colorado had barely been explored. Ives had been up with his little steamer, trap- pers had taken the beaver, and the Steam Navi- gation Company had sent government supplies to Fort Mojave, but there were no intermediate settlements, and the Colorado River mines, now widely known, were unheard of.
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CONDITIONS IN 1865.
"The discovery of gold on the Gila River. about twenty miles from its junction with the Colorado, attracted considerable attention, and prompted the laying out of Gila City, but it was not until 1862 that emigration started up the Colorado. At that date the finding of rich placers at Chimney Peak, twenty miles above Fort Yuma, and at various points from eight to twenty miles back of the site of the present town of La Paz, one hundred and ten miles from the fort, drew a large number of miners and prospectors from California and Sonora. The subsequent discovery of multitudinous sil- ver and copper mines upon and adjacent to the river, in what are now known as the Yuma, Castle Dome, Silver, Eureka, Weaver, Chime- huiva, and La Paz mining districts, and the opening in 1863 of the interior country (Central Arizona) have given it an activity and impor- tance second to that of no portion of the Ter- ritory. As yet its settlements are all upon the river. La Paz, the chief of these, is a busy commercial town of adobe buildings, with a population about equally American and Spanish. It has some stores that would not do discredit to San Francisco, and enjoys a large trade, ex- tending up and down the river and to Central Arizona.
"Castle Dome, Mineral City and Olive City, all upon the Colorado, between Fort Yuma and La Paz, are mining towns yet small, but des- tined to become of consequence as the depots of mining districts of great richness, which can- not long remain undeveloped.
"The silver ores of Yuma County are mostly argentiferous galena. Those of Castle Dome
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
district, forty miles above Fort Yuma, accord- ing to Prof. Blake, are found in a vein stone of fluor spar.
"The same authority reports the copper ores as nearly all containing silver and gold; some of which gave forty per cent of copper and yield at the rate of sixty ounces of silver to the ton.
"A quicksilver mine discovered near La Paz is attracting considerable attention in San Fran- cisco.
"The face of Yuma County is for the most part mountainous and barren, although the Col- orado bottom, and occasional valleys are fertile, and the Indians have fine crops. Wood suffi- cient for fuel and for present mining operations is found in the mountain ravines and along the streams.
"A main highway from the Colorado to Cen- tral Arizona starts from La Paz, and is one of the smoothest natural roads I have ever seen. Its course to the Hassayampa River (one hun- dred and ten miles) is almost an air line, and in the whole distance there is nothing to ob- struct the passage of the frailest vehicle or of the heaviest train. It lacks a sufficiency of water and of grass for animals, and a com- pany chartered by the Legislature is taking steps to provide wells and feeding stations. The road will connect at La Paz with that from San Bernardino, which is smooth, with but little sand, and already provided with tanks and stations. The whole distance from San Bernardino to Prescott, the capital of the Ter- ritory, is less than three hundred and fifty miles. Emigrants from California to Central
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CONDITIONS IN 1865.
Arizona travel by these roads, or by those of about the same length from San Bernardino to Fort Mojave, and from there to Prescott.
"Sixty miles from La Paz, on the road to Prescott, are the Harcuvar Mountains, which contain numerous valuable copper lodes, and the Penhatchapet Mountains, wherein very rich gold quartz has been found.
"MOHAVE COUNTY.
"This county is bounded on the east by the line of 113° 20' west longitude; on the north by the parallel of 37º north latitude; on the west by the line of the State of California and the middle of the main channel of the Colorado River, and on the south by Williams' Fork and the main channel of the Santa Maria River above its junction with the latter stream. The seat of justice is established at Mojave City. This county lies directly north of Yuma County and is of the same general character.
"Ascending the Colorado, the first point of interest is Williams' Fork, the southern line of the county. It is the largest tributary of the Colorado, and has its rise in the interior country almost as far east as Prescott. It is not naviga- ble but usually has a good body of water. Some of the richest copper mines in the Territory are near to its bank, and have already been extensively and profitably worked. Quantities of the ore sent to Swansea have give a larger return than was expected, and it is clearly dem- onstrated that it will pay to ship to that place, or to Boston, if reduction works cannot be reached at a nearer point.
"A road along Williams' Fork and its tribu- tary the Santa Maria, leads to Prescott, but it
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