USA > Arizona > History of Arizona, Vol. III > Part 13
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24
188
HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
Delegate to Congress to represent Arizona, and went to Washington, never returning to Arizona.
Probably no better choice could have been made for Governor of the new Territory. The position of Governor at that time was sur- rounded with many difficulties.
There was a mixed population in Arizona; probably the greater portion of the native Americans were Southern sympathizers, and, had harsh measures been pursued, it would have been easy to have stirred up an embryo rebellion, instead of which the Governor was a peacemaker. He united all factions in the support of his ad- ministration, with the ultimate purpose of re- deeming the territory from savage dominion. He was industrious, democratic in all his views and a typical Westerner, as far as his habits were concerned, for he was in no sense a Puritan or hide bound in his views. He enjoyed a toddy, liked a game of draw, and was pleasant, affable and courteous to everyone.
Upon the arrival of the Governor's party at Fort Whipple, then located in the Chino Valley, he began at once to make a personal tour of the Territory, with a view to a permanent location of the Capital. He visited La Paz and all the set- tlements along the Colorado River, and from there went to Tucson and other settlements in the South, and finally selected Prescott as the site for the Capital.
While at Tucson he incorporated the town by proclamation, and appointed William S. Oury, of Virginia, who had served under Sam Huston at the Battle of San Jacinto, whose brother had served in the Confederate Congress as a Delegate
189
EARLY DAYS OF PRESCOTT.
from Arizona, and who himself was a strong sympathizer with the South, as mayor of Tucson.
The ravages of the Apaches continued without cessation and with increased violence after the withdrawal of the California Column into what is now New Mexico. Governor Goodwin ap- pointed King Woolsey as Colonel of the militia of the territory, with the title of Lieutenant- Colonel, whose expeditions will be noted in a future chapter. Woolsey was a Southerner, and when the Albert Sidney Johnson party passed through Arizona in 1861, en route to the Con- federacy, Woolsey joined the party, but was taken down with smallpox at Tucson, and for this reason was left behind. John T. Alsap, a Ken- tuckian, was appointed the First Treasurer of the Territory.
These things I mention to show that Goodwin, in the selection of his men paid no attention to what their feelings might be in the struggle then going on ; all he asked, and that he received, was loyalty to the new Territory and to the govern- ment which he established, and never was such confidence betrayed.
Prescott was selected as the capital, because it was in the center of the country in which the placers had been discovered which were then be- ing worked, and to which locality had been at- tracted a population from both the East and the West, of adventurous Americans. The name was given in honor of the great American historian, by Secretary McCormick. The town itself was in the heart of the Indian country, but a more picturesque spot for a future city could not have been selected. For a number of years it was un- safe to venture any considerable distance from
190
HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
the town, unless in sufficient numbers to repel the attacks of the Apaches. He who did other- wise, did so at his peril. Lying always in ambush and picking off their victims, and driving off the animals belonging to the white settlers, escaping through their knowledge of the country from their pursuers, the Indians were always ready to seize upon any advantage an unguarded moment might afford. Sometimes guards were posted nightly throughout the town, and men slept upon their arms, expecting Indian attacks at any moment. The town itself escaped such a calam- ity, but not so with her citizens whose business affairs called them beyond the limits of safety.
In this period of doubt and uncertainty, with a gloomy future ahead of the town, within the town itself optimism prevailed, and every set- tler was doing his best in his particular line to oil the wheels of progress, moving steadily and firmly along the line of improvement, and seeing in the distance a great prosperity awaiting them. When harrassed with difficulties they would firmly take their stand prepared to retain any advantage already gained, holding always to the merited prestige which their city had attained, never for a moment retrograding, but always ad- vancing, even though at a plodding gait, until the Indians were finally quieted and permanent safety assured.
The following is taken from an historical ad- dress delivered before the Prescott Library Association, Feb. 27, 1877, by the Hon. E. W. Wells :
"Upon the arrival of the corps of Federal Civil Officers early in the year 1864, they found they had been preceded, by some months, by
191
EARLY DAYS OF PRESCOTT.
small numbers of miners and prospectors, who had penetrated, from the west, these mountains and forests in search of mines, accounts of almost incredibly rich deposits of gold having been given them by friendly Indians, who had made incursions into the interior of this section of the Territory, and who warned the whites of the dangers to be met with in an attempt to make a search for those bonanzas, because of the fathom- less mountains being filled with lurking savages. As is always the case, with men of adventure and daring, the more they were impressed with the dangers to be encountered, the stronger their in- clination to meet and grapple with them, and, taking their lives in their hands, they broke the way over the mountains making their camp at and a short distance above the present site of Prescott.
"The proceedings under which the townsite was selected, the name of Prescott chosen and lots disposed of, were as follows :
"A meeting of citizens was held at Granite Creek on Monday evening, May 30th, 1864, in response to the following call :
"'Notice: There will be a public meeting held at the store of Don Manuel, on Granite Creek, on Monday evening, May 30, 1864, for the purpose of considering and adopting the best mode of dis- posing of lots in the proposed town, to those wishing to purchase under the recent act of Con- gress.
" 'Granite Creek, May 27, 1864.
" 'By order of " 'MANY CITIZENS.'
192
HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
" 'The Meeting convened at the time and place designated, Robert W. Groom being chosen to preside, when the following resolutions were unanimously adopted :
" 'Resolved: That in the judgment of this meeting, the two quarter sections of land upon the east bank of Granite Creek, the northerly line of the same, beginning at a point half a mile, more or less, southerly from the cabin of Messrs. Sheldon, Smith and Forbes, and lately surveyed for a townsite by R. W. Groom, are in a central and eligible location, and that we approve of their selection for the aforesaid purpose.
" 'Resolved : That we invite the citizens of the Territory and those persons who may hereafter become such, to unite with us in establishing a town at this point, the name whereof shall be Prescott, in honor of the eminent American writer and standard authority upon Aztec and Spanish-American History.'
"And it was further resolved that it being to the best interest of all concerned that the lots be sold and disposed of under the act of Congress, and that on account of the great delay which must attend communication with the Secretary of the Interior, (owing to the lack of mail facilities), and in the absence of a Register and Receiver of the Land Office in this district, that Messrs. Van C. Smith, Hezekiah Brooks, and R. W. Groom, were appointed to act as Commissioners to represent the interests of the Government and of the citizens of the Territory in laying out, ap- praisement and disposition of the lots.
"Prescott, as thus selected, is located near the intersection of the 34th degree of latitude, with the 112th degree of longitude; the lots number
193
EARLY DAYS OF PRESCOTT.
1016; the streets all run with the cardinal points of the compass, and are named after persons either identified with the former or present his- tory of this part of the Territory, such as Montezuma, Cortez, Marina, Alarcon, Coronado Whipple, Aubrey, Leroux, Walker, Lount, and a number of others.
"Messrs. James A. Halstead of Fort Yuma, William F. Scol, of Tucson, and Charles M. Dor- man, were appointed appraisers, who, dividing the lots into three grades or classes, valued them at $7.50, $10 and $15 respectively.
"The lots were sold at public auction to the highest bidders, the pilgrims, who were now in- creasing in numbers, paying liberal prices, and investing fully to the extent of their means. The terms of sale were one-third of the selling price to be paid down, which was held by the Commis- sioners to cover costs of survey, etc., and the re- maining two-thirds to be paid when the pro- ceedings of the citizens of the town were legal- ized by the Government.
"The first sale of lots took place on the 4th day of June, 1861. Seventy-three lots were sold for a total amount of $3,927.50, while their ap- praised value was $910.
"About the corner lot upon which now stands the large brick house occupied by J. Goldwater & Bro., will always linger a certain interest as being the first lot sold in the town, which was knocked down for the full sum of $175. The sale of lots continued from time to time until nearly, if not quite all, were disposed of, at healthy prices.
"The population of the town increased some- what rapidly, considering the circumstances of 13
194
HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
the surrounding dangers and difficulties incident to a camp in a hostile Indian country.
"The people were of a free, reckless and jovial disposition, and to-day I know of not an incident more enjoyable than that of witnessing the meet- ing of two or more of the old pioneers and hear- ing them relate of the good old times of the Puritan days of Prescott.
"The future certainty of the town now being a settled fact, attention was turned to the build- ing of houses and making other improvements and preparations for the accommodation of the fast growing business, of a promising place with mining and agricultural surroundings.
"The first house on the townsite reaching com- pletion was the office of the 'Arizona Miner,' which was finally torn away and its place oc- cupied in the building of the brick store house now owned by T. H. Loisilon, the first brick building in the town. The building erected for the 'Miner' office was made of boards sawed by hand in what was termed a saw pit. From this office the first number of the 'Arizona Miner' issued in Prescott, was sent forth on the 22nd day of June, 1864, by Tisdale A. Hand, the publisher, who, some time afterwards died of consumption. The 'Miner' was issued semi-monthly, and was, in size a little larger than a sheet of foolscap paper.
"Among the first houses built in the town and now standing, was the little log house, sailing under the classical name of the 'Bear Pen,' on Granite Street, in early days of mining specu-
lation, the California Street of Prescott. The Bear Pen is an object of interest, not only on account of its claim of prehistoric tendency, but
195
EARLY DAYS OF PRESCOTT.
chiefly, you may say, as being the headquarters in early times of the aristocratic and inflated monopolists known as the 'desulphurizers' and 'concentrators,' and where they, by their mid- night orgies, affected to a considerable extent, the money, mining, and 'grub' market on the following day. The trade of the organization was the talking of the buying and selling mines, negotiating loans, and concocting designs on square meals. They also dealt largely in slan- der and wildcat feet, and were rather successful in the brokerage business, that is, they were as methodical in closing up a boarding-house as they were systematical in breaking a healthy mining capitalist who wasn't a good judge of rock.
"The means of communication with the west and east were by the Pioneer Pony Express, via La Paz to California, established July 28th, 1864, by Robertson and Parish, and Duke & Co.'s Pony Express, running via Mohave to California, established July 30th, 1864. These expresses were of a semi-monthly occurrence, while Fort Whipple had a military express run- ning semi-occasionally to the East, via Fort Wingate, New Mexico, the advantages of which were kindly extended to the civilians. Notwith- standing the riders of these mails were usually accompanied with escorts of soldiers, they were frequently attacked by Indians, often killed and the mails captured, plundered and destroyed.
"The first hotel and restaurant in the town was called the Juniper House, with Mr. Geo. W. Barnard as proprietor, who, on the 4th day of July, 1864, opened out for the season with a grand flourish on a goodly supply of fresh veni-
196
HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
son, red peppers and frijoles. Not only in com- memoration of the day of copious patriotism, but as well to celebrate with honor and solem- nity the opening day of a popular business, the following was the bill of fare on that day :
"'BREAKFAST.
" 'Fried Venison and Chili; " 'Bread and Coffee With Milk.'
" 'DINNER.
" 'Roast Venison and Chili; " 'Chili Baked Beans; " 'Chili on Tortillas ; " 'Tea and Coffee " 'with Milk.'
" 'SUPPER. " 'Chili, from 4 o'clock on.'
"Being the chief manipulator of the culinary department, the proprietor entrusted the collec- tion of 'pay for meals' to his assistants, whose faithful attention to business soon closed the hotel doors for repairs.
"The first store was opened by Manuel Yesera, in the south end of town, at the stand so long and happily known as Fort Misery.
"The first well regulated saloon was opened by Tom Hodges, on Cortez Street, who sold drinks and segars, and took 'Burros' in pay- ment, much after the manner as was done with Davy Crockett's coon skin.
"The first Sunday School was organized on the 7th day of August, 1864, in a log cabin where now stands the White House, by Rev. H. W. Reed, postmaster and pastor. Church service
197
EARLY DAYS OF PRESCOTT.
had, prior to this date, been regularly held every Sabbath at the same place. Here the old, tried, and fossilized veterans, who inclined to feelings of piety, were wont to assemble for encourage- ment in hearing the good word spoken, and it was truly a charming and pleasant sight to see, here at a place in the far-off wilderness, girls with their bright cheery faces and new gowns, and boys with greased hair and new buckskin foxed trousers, answer to the ring of the triangle hung to a pole at the church door.
"Parson Reed quit the settlement some time in 1864, leaving us without church service except as an occasional lay brother might be moved in that behalf, until the field was occupied by Post chaplains and other reverend gentlemen, result- ing in the present perfect and happy system of religious teachings.
"The first day-school was opened in the fall of 1864, by Mr. Alex. Malron, but it failed to assume the form and character of a school until taken hold of by Mrs. L. A. Stevens in 1865, under whose skillful management and the in- dustry of her successors, it was developed into an institution of no little celebrity.
"Dr. James Garvin was the first Alcalde or Justice of the Peace, and the first court was con- vened in the month of July, 1864, for the pur- pose of trying who hadn't the right to a bronco mule. Several days were spent in sly maneu- vering and juggling in the manipulating of wit- nesses and jurymen, with a view of getting a fair trial. When the issues were made up and the trial had, it resulted, as is not infrequently the case, in the attorneys getting away with the bronco, leaving the clients, court and officers, to
198
HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
divide the payment of the costs among them- selves, and set up the liquor to the jury to boot.
"The health of the people was, generally speaking, good, hence there was little need for drugs and medical treatment. The same results were too often swiftly reached by the Indian arrow and lance, and the too free imbibing of the ardor of youth.
"The First Legislature of the Territory was convened at Prescott September 26th, 1864, at the mention of which comes the reminiscences of the first political campaign, in the electing of the members of the first Legislature. Partizan feeling and strife hadn't then been nourished into life as a bridge over which the incapaci- tated might gently glide into office, but the man of the period was popularly chosen on account of his merits alone, which consisted not simply in book learning and local fealty, but of the then selfish requirements, to wit: The sufficient state of cleanliness, and the possession of garments of such purity as would be suitable and credi- table to the high station he sought. One of the chosen candidates was possessed of an ample fund of the former qualifications, but was found largely wanting in the latter, and it was dis- covered that his opponents in other locations had woven his shortcomings into political capi- tal against him. A public meeting was at once called, and as the result of the deliberations thereof, our candidate was taken to the creek, vigorously scrubbed, gorgeously robed with arti- cles donated for the occasion, put astride a mule, and sent forth to do battle. It is needless to say that he was elected by a large majority,
199
EARLY DAYS OF PRESCOTT.
served with distinction through the whole term, and became the idol of his constituency.
"The first election was held on the 18th day of July, 1864, 149 votes being polled in Prescott. "On the 16th day of March, 1864, while in charge of a herd of stock, Joseph Cosgrove was attacked by Indians, within rifle shot of where you are now sitting, and killed. This was the first attack made by the Indians in the vicinity of Prescott, and signalized the uprising of a vicious and powerful foe and the beginning of a lasting, cruel and brutal war. Notwithstanding Prescott's flattering beginning, it was not the destiny of her people to escape the ravages of a bitter enemy, whose pleasure it was to be at peace or at war as best suited them, a race of beings which history gives no account of ever being civilized, subdued, or conquered-wily, cunning and dangerous enemies by nature and by instinct, murderous by inheritance, and thieves by prescription. In the death of Cos- grove the settlers came to realize the earnest- ness of the Indians' bold threat to check the growth of the town, and of meeting with resist- ance any further approach of the whites into their country. The cloud of anxiety, uncer- tainty, and apprehended dangers which over- hung the town for so many long and gloomy years cannot be told."
The first public building erected in Arizona was what was known as the "Governor's Mansion" in Prescott, a description of which is given in the Arizona Graphic of October 14th, 1899, as follows :
"No matter whether the pioneer lives north or south of the Gila, he will regard with in-
200
HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
terest this reproduction of one of the old land- marks of the days of '60. The tenderfoot, too, will join in the lock step and feel at least a kindly interest in the men who blazed the trail and set the ball a-rolling, as it were, in the west- ward march of American principles, to build up the country and advance its progress. Arizona may cherish in the line of personal reminis- cences such men as Woolsey, Weaver, Walker, Carleton, Crook, Townsend, and a score of other equally famous Indian fighters, whose cunning and dash forever put a stop to Indian deviltry, but the pretty side of Arizona, in its Hassa- yampa era must be recorded behind the old log walls of the first gubernatorial mansion to be erected in what was distinctively a 'wild and woolly west.' It was in this antique structure that Arizona, officially and judicially, first found a permanent home, and where, also, the Terri- tory for the first time breathed easily and purely, and from whence was inaugurated a form of government becoming to the conditions that faced it in privation and danger.
"Considerable discussion has prevailed, for some reason, or other, that Arizona had its first capital located at Navajo Springs, from the fact of the proclamation being dated at that point in '63; that Chino Valley, likewise, must be rated in the same regard, because the governor hobbled his horse on the plains there for a few weeks; that Tucson was officially designated at Wash- ington as the seat of government because, we suppose, it was even that day the same old, 'Ancient and honorable pueblo' it is still. The fact of the matter is, the gubernatorial party were nothing but official tramps, and from the
201
EARLY DAYS OF PRESCOTT.
lips of survivors of that expedition we are in- formed that while Tucson was semi-officially mentioned, the governor was to be guided in his choice by a consideration of questions in geographical location, population, industrial and other matters before making a permanent home. In short, the capital of Arizona was to be on wheels. Accordingly, the governor moved from Navajo Springs to Chino. A few weeks afterward the Rich Hill gold excitement turned itself loose, and on the recommendation of Gen- eral Carleton the governor again 'broke camp' and selected Prescott as the seat of government, arriving here in May, 1864.
"The first government contract was that of calling for proposals for the building of the 'Gubernatorial Mansion,' being published in the Arizona Miner in June, 1864. The contract was awarded to Messrs. Blair, Hatz and Raible and the work inaugurated. In appearance, the building of that day is identical to the picture here shown, with the possible exception of the weatherboarding in front and a few minor changes. Some idea may be had of the danger- ous task to face these contractors when it is stated that an armed guard was maintained over the workmen to guarantee them security from the Indians. In the line of expenses, for nails and material generally, the cost was simply fabulous-$1.75 a pound being the price of ten- pennies, while other wares were measured pro- portionately. The result of Arizona's first con- tract was that it faced a busted combine and had an unfinished house. In other words, the con- tractors went $1,500 behind and with only the 'broad canopy' overhead for a roof. As there
202
HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
was no board of control or democratic watch- dogs of the treasury lurking near, a new specifi- cation was inserted in the contract, and the work went on.
"The building as it stands to-day has a front- age of fifty feet and a depth of forty feet. It is two stories in height, and has some eleven rooms. Its cost was about $6,000 originally. During the regime of official life it was occu- pied by Governor Goodwin, deceased; Secretary McCormick, who still lives in New York; Chief Justice Turner, living in Ohio, and Assistant Secretary Fleury, deceased. After the removal of the capital from Prescott to Tucson, some four years later, Judge Fleury 'held the fort,' so to speak, and a remarkable fact which is linked with his life and his first home in Ari- zona, is that from 1864 to the day of his demise, in 1896, not a night in all those years had passed without the roof of the old mansion sheltering him. How Judge Fleury obtained possession of the place no one knows, nor does anyone seem to care. His title was valid enough, however, to permit him to mortgage the house, which he did to the late Chief Justice French, the latter granting him the right to live therein during life. After the death of Judge French, the will of the latter provided for the transfer of the property to the Congregational Church of Pres- cott, in the event of Judge Fleury's death, and not until then. From 1864 to 1896 the guber- natorial mansion was a rendezvous and a gener- ous home for hundreds. It made but little dif- ference to Judge Fleury whether the person was poor, rich, honest or otherwise, everybody was sheltered or cared for, in winter or summer, with
203
EARLY DAYS OF PRESCOTT.
a generosity that terminated in the financial ruin of the giver.
"The house treasured many relics of the past in Arizona, and with its quaint, colonial makeup and arrangement in furniture, and other fix- tures, was indeed an inviting place for the curious. Today it is occupied by a family and is an uninteresting center. No one seems to care to view it or consider what it was. This is only characteristic, however, of Arizona and its coldblooded regard for things that have a sacred historical value. The building in its in- terior has been ransacked and pillaged from stem to stern by relic hunters, and nothing re- mains to cherish either the day or the dead. The property has been publicly advertised for sale, and the Territory will be short sighted in- deed if it does not purchase the old house and again throw it open to the old as well as the new, and maintain it as a museum, if nothing more. The cost of the old house would be a comparative trifle, and the sentiment involved a noble one. Unfortunately, there are no pub- lic funds available for such a purpose, and, ap- parently, the property could be acquired by the Territory only by act of the legislature."
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.