USA > Arizona > History of Arizona, Vol. VI > Part 6
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SETTLEMENT OF THE SALT RIVER VALLEY.
more desert land than any other territory in the Union. The surrounding hills and mesas yielded a perennial crop of cacti, and little of anything else. The dwelling itself was nothing but a 'ramada'; a term which has already been defined as a roof of branches; the walls were of rough, unplastered wattle work, of the thorny branches of the ironwood, no thicker than a man's finger, which was lashed by thongs of rawhide to horizontal slats of cottonwood; the floor of the bare earth, of course, that almost went without saying in those days, and the furni- ture rather too simple and meagre, even for Car- thusians. As I recall the place to mind, there appears the long unpainted table of pine, which served for meals or gambling, or the rare occa- sion when anyone took into his head the notion to write a letter. This room constituted the ranch in its entirety. Along the sides were scat- tered piles of blankets, which, about midnight, were spread out as couches for tired laborers or travellers. At one extremity a meagre array of Dutch ovens, flat irons and frying pans revealed the 'kitchen' presided over by a hirsute, husky voiced gnome, half Vulcan, half centaur, who, immersed for most of the day in the mysteries of the larder, at stated intervals broke the silence with the hoarse command: 'Hash pile, come a runnin.' There is hardly any use to describe the rifles, pistols, belts of ammunition, saddles, spurs, and whips, which lined the walls and cov- ered the joists and cross beams; they were just as much part and parcel of the establishment as the dogs and ponies were. To keep out the sand laden wind, which blew fiercely down from the
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
north, when it wasn't blowing down with equal fierceness from the south or the west, or the east, strips of canvas or gunny sacking were tacked on the inner side of the cactus branches. My first visit to this Elysium was made about mid- night, and I remember that the meal served up was unique, if not absolutely paralyzing on the score of originality. There was a great plenty of Mexican figs in rawhide sacks, fairly good tea, which had the one great merit of hotness, and lots and lots of whisky ; but there was no bread, as the supply of flour had run short, and, on ac- count of the appearance of Apaches during the past few days, it had not been considered wise to send a party over to Phoenix for replenish- ment. A wounded Mexican, lying down in one corner, was proof that the story was well founded. All the light in the ranch was afforded by a single stable lantern, by the flickering flames from the cook's stove, and the glinting stars. In our saddlebags we had several slices of bacon and some biscuits, so we did not fare half so badly as we might have done. What caused me most wonder was why Duppa had ever concluded to live in such a forlorn spot; the best answer I could get to my queries was that the Apaches had attacked him at the moment he was ap- proaching the banks of the Agua Fria at this point, and after he had repulsed them, he thought he would stay there merely to let them know he could do it. This explanation was satisfactory to everyone else, and I had to accept it."
Later Duppa made his home in Phoenix, where he passed away in the later 80's and was
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SETTLEMENT OF THE SALT RIVER VALLEY.
buried in the Odd Fellows' Cemetery in the southwestern part of the city.
While a resident of this city much of his pri- vate business was supervised by Captain Han- cock, who acted as his legal adviser under an agreement dated October 28th, 1877. In this agreement the party of the first part appears as "Darrell Duppa, Holsingbourne House, County of Kent, England." In 1910 a number of the old settlers of this vicinity realizing the part that Duppa had played in the early settle- ment of the valley, erected a small and simple monument at the head of his grave to mark his last resting place.
He took an active part in the selection of the "Phoenix Townsite," and at the mass meeting of October 20th, 1870, was chosen a member of the committee which decided upon the location and name of the townsite.
Duppa, unlike the majority of his trans- planted countrymen, became thoroughly Ameri- can and was permeated with the "spirit of the west," being fearless, just and generous, and en- tirely free from the arrogant and bullying in- stincts of the average Englishman.
The following by A. F. Banta on the early life of Darrell Duppa, appeared in "Dunbar's Weekly," of April 18th, 1914.
"The late 'Lord Duppa,' as he was commonly known, was the most scholarly man in the Terri- tory of Arizona. He was a linguist and could read readily the ancient classics in the original, besides several of the modern languages. At one time he possessed well worn copies of Juvenal, Ovid, Homer, etc., in the original, but
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
of modern poets, Shakespeare was his favorite. Of this great work he seemed to have committed the whole to memory, for he would often recite for hours from this author's work. At one time 'Lord Duppa' had a cabin on the Agua Fria, in which he lived alone. One night, while con- versing with the writer, Duppa dropped into a reminiscent mood, and gave to the writer a de- tailed account of his wanderings from the time he left England down to his advent into Arizona in 1863. He left England in his teens, going first to Paris, where he graduated from one of the highest institutions of learning. From Paris he went to Madrid, Spain, and there he also graduated, but possessing little physical re- semblance to an Englishman, he readily passed for a Frenchman in France, or a Spaniard in Spain, and from Spain he took ship on a sail- ing vessel for Valparaiso, South America, but nearing that port a fearful storm struck the ves- sel, which was wrecked and every soul aboard drowned but Duppa. After his miraculous es- cape from drowning Duppa wandered over the greater part of South America, where at all times, he was considered by the natives to be a Spaniard. Leaving South America he went to New Zealand, and after a time to Australia, thence to California, and, finally, to Arizona, where he died. In answer to a question by the writer: 'Why don't you go back to the old coun- try ?' he replied by saying: 'It is useless at this time of life. To do so would require a radical change in my life, and I have lived so many years on the frontiers of civilization that I now have no desire to again assume the life and the attend-
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SETTLEMENT OF THE SALT RIVER VALLEY.
ant responsibilities which would fall to my lot should I return to England.' "
"Jim" Smith, another member of the Swilling Party, was the first to shed human blood in the settlement when, on the 2nd day of August, 1869, he shot to death another settler by the name of James Nelson. After the committal of this crime, Smith fled to the northern part of the county where, it was thought he joined a rene- gade band of Indians. He was never brought to justice for his bloody deed. A few days after the murder, on August 7th, the "Miner" had the following :
"Jim Smith-We have been told that Jim Smith, who shot and killed James Nelson at Phoenix, on the 2nd inst. was seen at Walnut Grove recently. If Smith is still in the county or Territory, he ought to be arrested."
Over a year later, on December 3rd, 1870, the following item in reference to Smith is found in the "Miner":
"A white man, supposed to be the murderer, Jim Smith, visited Davis's ranch on the upper Hassayampa a short time ago, and informed the man on the place that he had not eaten anything for three days. Not having much provisions cooked, the ranchman asked his visitor to wait awhile and he would get him a good meal. The latter replied that he could not wait, but would take a piece of bread and meat. Upon receiv-
ing these he immediately left. The fellow was dressed in buckskin, had a Henry rifle, and his description answered to that of the murderer, Jim Smith. Shortly after this transpired, the VI-6
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
ranchman followed his visitor's tracks a short distance until they joined with tracks made by a party of Indians, who, no doubt, accompanied the white scoundrel."
John Larsen, a citizen of Swedish descent, was the first member of the Swilling Party to perma- nently settle upon a homestead claim, taking up his residence the 24th day of February, 1868, on the northeast quarter of Section 11, Township 1, North, Range 3 East.
Thomas J. L. Hoague, called "John" Hoague, for short, was the first notary public to be ap- pointed for the Phoenix Settlement, Gov. Rich- ard C. McCormick signing his commission on the 25th day of May, 1868, less than six months after the coming of the Swilling Party. Hoague was among the first to start building a habitation in the valley, and by April of 1868, had erected two small houses in the centre of the settlement.
Frank Metzler, Jacob Densling and Tom Mc- Goldrick continued to reside in the valley for a number of years after the first settlement, all being interested in farming. The latter, before joining the Swilling Party, had been well known around the Prescott country, where he had lived for some time. In the little adobe store of Hey- man Menassee, on East Washington street, in 1872, McGoldrick saved the life of Dan Twomey, who later fell a victim to Apache treachery near Camp McDowell. Twomey and Mike Connell had met in Menassee's store, and, angry words passing between them, Connell drew his pistol and pointed it at Twomey's head. McGoldrick was standing near, and, just as Connell pressed the trigger of his weapon, the former knocked
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SETTLEMENT OF THE SALT RIVER VALLEY.
his arm upward, and the bullet passed just above his intended victim's head. Before a second shot could be fired, Connell was disarmed and taken before a Justice, where the matter was amicably settled by the shooter giving a bond to keep the peace in the future.
Tom McWilliams, who was an old pioneer of the Territory did not remain long in the valley, selling out his interests here about the middle of 1869. He then went to the vicinity of Gila Bend, where he engaged in digging a well on the Ari- zona City-Tucson stage road, on the dry and barren stretch of that highway between the Bend and Maricopa Wells. This venture did not prove very successful, however, and from there he went to the Hassayampa, some ten miles below Wickenburg, where, for a time, he con- ducted what was known as McWilliams' Sta- tion, and cultivated quite an acreage of ground. From the latter place he removed to Camp Good- win. He was appointed postmaster of that post in March of 1875. Not long afterwards he passed away, being succeeded in office by H. E. Lacy.
Jack Walters, upon first coming to the West, had settled in California, where he engaged in placer mining with indifferent success. Hear- ing of rich mineral discoveries in Arizona, he turned his steps hither, and was around Walnut Grove and Wickenburg at an early day. Like all the pioneers he was a man of great liberality, always fair and honest, and old age found him without resources. He lived for many years at the ranch of his former partner, Johnny George, who died a number of years before him, and later
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
made his home with William Gilson, a pioneer of the Walnut Grove country, who owned a ranch on the Tempe road, and erected in Phoenix the building still standing on the north east corner of Washington and Second Streets. In the county election of 1872, Walters was nominated for Dis- trict Attorney by the Democrats and defeated his opponent, Captain Hancock, by a vote of 344 to 165. Soon after his election, however, he re- signed the office and Captain Hancock was ap- pointed by the Board of Supervisors to succeed him. He passed away in 1909, at the age of 85 years, being the last local survivor of the original Swilling Party.
Referring to the death of Mr. Walters, the "Arizona Republican" had the following :
"The funeral of 'Jack' Walters was held yes- terday afternoon, (Nov. 24, 1909) the pall bearers being John P. Orme, Pierce W. Butler, Jake Miller, James H. McClintock, George Ham- lin, and Ira M. Hoghe. He left no relatives here or elsewhere so far as is known. It is rather interesting to reflect on the personnel of those who served as pall bearers. It was desir- able that 'Old Jack' should be laid at rest as nearly as possible by the survivors of the days of his activity, but it was found that there were not left within the community any available per- sons whose residence here was contemporaneous with his earlier years in the valley, beginning over forty years ago. Nevertheless, the past was quite well represented for the youngest of those who served, has been here probably fifteen years, while one of them has lived here for nearly forty years."
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SETTLEMENT OF THE SALT RIVER VALLEY.
While some members of the Swilling party remained here to become permanent farmers in the valley, the greater number, being restless, roving spirits, left for other parts after a few years, and not much is known concerning them.
After the success of the Swilling Ditch, many water claims were posted along the river throughout the valley, a few of which were utilized. These claims were recorded at Pres- cott, the county seat. Among the very early appropriations of water along the Salt River are the following :
"NOTICE: To ALL Whom It May Concern :
"The undersigned, under the name and style of 'The Phoenix Ditch Company,' hereby gives notice that they have this day claimed five thou- sand (5,000) inches (to be measured under two inches pressure) of the waters of Salt River, to be taken from said river at a point about three-fourths of a mile above the head of the ditch owned and used by the Swilling Irrigating Canal Company, and immediately below the rocky point that there reaches to the river, which said location was selected by J. W. Swill- ing and Thomas Barnum, about one year ago. The undersigned also claim right of way for their irrigating ditch, along the line selected and cleared by said Swilling and Barnum, to the old acequia or ditch, sometimes called the Montezuma Ditch, and thence, along the centre of said old ditch, its whole length, claiming fifty feet on each side. And the said Phoenix Ditch Company give further notice that they
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
intend to commence work upon said ditch on or before the 10th day of August, 1870. "J. W. SWILLING, "THOMAS BARNUM,
"J. T. ALSAP,
"PHOENIX DITCH COMPANY.
"Phoenix, July 4, 1870."
At a meeting of the Phoenix Ditch Company, held August 11, 1870, John Smith and A. Bar- nett, were admitted to shares, and it was agreed to claim 5,000 inches of water additional to that already claimed. And it was ordered that notice thereof be given by publication in the "Arizona Miner." J. T. Alsap, Secretary.
"NOTICE: To ALL Whom It May Concern :
"The undersigned, under the name and style of the Salt River Ditch Company, hereby give notice that they have this day claimed forty thousand inches, to be measured under two inches pressure, of the waters of Salt River, to be taken from said river at a point about five miles above the crossing of the McDowell and Florence road, on said river, and opposite a red mountain, on the south side of said river. We also claim the right of way for said ditch to a point opposite the middle of the north side of the Little Maricopa Mountain. We also claim one hundred feet on each side of said ditch, and the entire length of said ditch.
"And the said Salt River Ditch Company further gives notice that they intend to com- mence work on the said ditch on or before the
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SETTLEMENT OF THE SALT RIVER VALLEY.
25th day of December, A. D. 1870. Said ditch to run on the south side of said river.
"N. L. GRIFFIN,
"CALVIN JACKSON,
"JOHN WASSON,
"JACOB MILLER,
"JESSE JACKSON, "S. JACKSON,
"JOS. W. KNOTT,
"A. B. SMITH,
"A. P. K. SAFFORD,
"S. SHOUP,
"C. A. LUKE,
"B. C. BAIN.
"Salt River, A. T., August 22nd, 1870."
"PRESCOTT DITCH COMPANY :
"To ALL Whom It may Concern:
"The undersigned, under the name and style of the 'Prescott Ditch Company,' hereby give notice that they have, this day, located a water ditch and claimed four thousand (4,000) inches of the waters of Salt River, for irrigating pur- poses, to be taken out on the south side of said river in Section 20, Township 1 North, Range 3 east.
"Five hundred yards of said ditch is now com- pleted, and four thousand (4,000) inches of water, more or less, running in the same. We intend to run our ditch in a southwest direction
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
as fast as possible, and as far as we deem it necessary for farming purposes.
"Claimants : "J. A. CHENOWITH, "C. P. CROWLEY, "V. A. STEPHENS, "JOHN H. WISS, "N. M. BROADWAY, "W. SANDERSON, "J. M. WILSON, "W. BRECHT.
"Salt River, Yavapai County, Arizona, Sept. 26, 1870."
"NOTICE: To ALL Whom It may Concern :
"The undersigned, under the name and style of the Hayden Milling and Farming Ditch Com- pany, hereby give notice that they have this day claimed ten thousand (10,000) inches, to be measured under two inches pressure, of the waters of Salt River, to be taken from said river at or near a butte, to the left of the main road to the Gila River from Phoenix, and on the south side of said river.
"And the said Hayden Milling and Farming Ditch Company are at work on the same.
"CHAS. T. HAYDEN, "A. W. FIELDS, "ROBERT LAVERY, "W. M. GARRETT, "W. R. BROWN.
"Phoenix, A. T., Nov. 17, 1870."
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SETTLEMENT OF THE SALT RIVER VALLEY.
"VIRGINIA DITCH COMPANY:
"To ALL Whom It may Concern :
"The undersigned, under the name and style of the Virginia Farming Ditch Company, hereby give notice that they have this day claimed ten thousand (10,000) inches, to be measured under two inches pressure, of the waters of Salt River. The water to be taken from said River about two and a half miles above the Prescott Ditch Company, on the south side of the said river. And the said Virginia Farming Ditch Company will commence work on the same on the first day of March, A. D. 1871.
"B. F. RIGGS, "C. F. CATE, "C. P. WOODCOCK, "G. A. HAMMONDS, "J. A. CHENOWITH, "N. M. BROADWAY, "V. A. STEPHENS, "WM. LA FORCE.
"Phoenix, A. T., Dec. 21, 1870."
"NOTICE: To ALL Whom It may Concern :
"The undersigned, under the name and style of the 'Salt River Farming Ditch Company' hereby give notice that they have this day claimed fifteen thousand (15,000) inches, to be measured under two inches pressure, of the water of Salt River, to be taken from said river in township 1 North, Range 2 East, Sec. 23, on the north side of said river, and the said Salt River Farming Ditch Company further give
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
notice that they intend to commence work on the same on the first day of February, A. D. 1871.
"J. A. CHENOWITH, "C. F. CATE, "A. B. SARRELLO,
"A. H. PEEPLES, "J. M. BRYAN, "N. M. BROADWAY,
"B. T. RIGGS, "J. A. YOUNG, "JOSEPHPHY (FYE),
"GEORGE BRYAN, "J. McMULLEN. "Phoenix, A. T., Jan. 1st, 1871."
"NOTICE: To ALL Whom It may Concern :
"The undersigned, under the name and style of the Monterey Ditch Company, hereby give notice that they have this day claimed ten thou- sand (10,000) inches, to be measured under two inches pressure, of the waters of Salt River; to be taken from said river at a point near the southeast corner of Section twenty-three (23), Township one (1) North, Range two (2) East, and thence running down a ravine in a westerly direction 600 yards, and thence in a northwest- erly direction to the northwest corner of section 16, township 1 north, range 2 east. The under- signed also claim the right of way for their irri- gating ditch on the line selected and cleared by said company, claiming fifty feet on each side for its entire length. And the said Monterey Ditch Company give further notice that they
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SETTLEMENT OF THE SALT RIVER VALLEY.
intend to commence work on the said ditch on or before January 20th, 1871.
"J. M. HENDERSON, "J. BOYD, "T. McPHERSON, "E. E. HELLINGS, "A. FAULKNER, "E. K. BUKER, "G. FORSEE, "J. E. FOUTS, "D. HAMILTON. "Phoenix, A. T., Jan. 7, 1871."
As has been heretofore noted, the price of all food products for both man and beast were what would now be considered exorbitant, and, taking advantage of this condition, it is not sur- prising that the Salt River Valley received rapid accession to its population upon the proven success of the Swilling Ditch. Among those who followed the Swilling Party at an early date were the following :
Charles Adams, who several years before founded the village of Adamsville on the Gila.
John T. Alsap, who was the first Territorial Treasurer of Arizona; the first Probate Judge of Maricopa County; the first mayor of the city of Phoenix, and four times member of the Arizona Legislature, twice from Yavapai County, and twice from Maricopa County, being President of the Council in the 5th, and Speaker of the House in the 18th Legislative Sessions.
John Ammerman, known to his contempo- raries as "Pumphandle John."
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
Thomas Barnum, who was the first elected sheriff of Maricopa County.
George W. Buck, whose homestead claim is now known as "Neahr's Addition to Phoenix."
James M. Buck.
Noah M. Broadway, who served a term as county sheriff.
Edward K. Buker, the first postmaster of Mill City or East Phoenix.
John Brannaman.
John Boyd.
William Brecht, an old time resident of Wick- burg, and later, of Prescott.
Aaron Barnett and Benjamin Block, early residents and merchants of the Valley.
Michael Connell.
David Cottrell.
David Cooley.
Cromwell A. Carpenter.
Morton Collins.
Jeremiah Caveness.
John T. Dennis, whose ranch is now the Den- nis Addition to Phoenix.
James W. Davis.
George W. Donnelly.
Charles Davies, whose son, Walter J., was among the first white children to be born in the Valley.
William K. Elliott.
James M. Elliott.
R. H. Elliott.
William D. Fenter, whose daughter was among the first white children born in the town of Phoenix.
George W. Forsee.
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SETTLEMENT OF THE SALT RIVER VALLEY.
William W. Ford.
George W. Fuson.
Columbus H. Gray, who was appointed a member of the first Board of Supervisors by Governor Safford.
Hosea G. Greenhaw, who settled in this Val- ley in 1868, coming from Arkansas.
Benjamin F. Griffin, who came to the Valley in 1870, and was a son-in-law of William P. Murray. He came from Texas and was mur- dered by Mexican bandits in February of 1873, while on his way to Florence for the purpose of disposing of his crop.
Martin P. Griffin, who, by appointment of Governor Safford was a member and chairman of the first Board of Supervisors.
Edwin W. Grover, who, in September of 1872, was shot to death by William B. Hellings, at Prescott.
John J. Gardiner, later a wealthy resident of Phoenix.
Alexander Groves, an early preacher of the Gospel in this section.
Milton B. Growl.
William B. Hellings, who came to the Valley from Camp McDowell and erected the Hellings Flouring Mill.
Eli Taylor Hargrave.
William A. Hancock, who erected the first building on the Phoenix Townsite, and was, by appointment of Governor Safford, the first county sheriff.
Charles T. Hayden, the father of Congress- man Carl Hayden, and himself a candidate for Territorial Delegate to Congress in 1874.
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HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
John J. Hill, the first postmaster of Hayden's Ferry.
James P. (Pete) Holcomb, the first butcher of Phoenix, and member of the 12th Territorial Legislature from Maricopa county.
George W. Holmes.
Edward E. Hellings, a member of the once flourishing mercantile establishment of William B. Hellings & Co., of Mill City.
William A. Holmes who was called by his as- sociates "Hunkadora" and who came to the valley from Texas with the Keener Party.
Christopher C. N. Hiltibrand.
William H. Kirkland, who came to Arizona from California in 1855, and visited Tucson for the first time on January 17th, 1856.
Benjamin W. Kellogg.
Abraham B. Liles.
James D. Monihon, who came to Arizona with the California Volunteers, and served one term as Mayor of Phoenix.
James F. Murray.
Mark Morris.
William P. Murray, who came to the Valley from North Carolina in 1870. His daughters all married well-known residents of this vicinity, one becoming the wife of George W. Buck, an- other of John A. Chenowith, another of John T. Alsap, another of William L. Osborn, still another of R. L. Rosson, while a sixth sister be- came the wife of Neri F. Osborn.
James Murphy, who started the first store in the Valley and whose homestead is now desig- nated as Murphy's Addition to Phoenix.
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SETTLEMENT OF THE SALT RIVER VALLEY.
James B. McKinnie, who is credited with sell- ing the first whisky ever retailed in the Salt River Valley.
William W. Morrell.
James L. Mercer, appointed by Governor Saf- ford the first recorder of the county.
Winchester Miller, during his lifetime a prominent citizen of the "South Side."
Matthew R. Morrell.
John B. Montgomery, who was the first "out- sider" to reach the Valley after the arrival of the Swilling Party.
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