Joshua Thomas
Dodge, was born August 18, 1867, he was the brother of John Dodge. At
the death of John, Thomas was a great help to Nora and her children.
On July 12, 1891 Tom and Nora road horseback into Pima and were married.
At the time of their marriage they were sill living at Simion Springs.
Nora's two older children Alva and John, now old enough for school, had
a long walk into Glenbar for school.
To afford the children a better chance for education, Tom and Nora sold
the ranch and moved into Pima, there nine more children were born;
Rhoda, Lenora, Blanche, Ethel, Thomas Hollis, Clyde Harve, Ralph Seth,
Elijah Reese, and Mildred.
Thomas freighted from Wilcox to Globe until the railroad was completed
to Globe, this put an end to freighting by team and wagon.
When Harve Blair had his sawmill on Mt. Graham, Tom logged for him.
Thomas died November 30, 1929, Lenora on July 12, 1940. Both are buried
in Pima.
Ralph & Alva Dodge Lucas & Friend
Alva Dodge was born November 6, 1884 to John and Nora Dodge. The first
home Alva remembers was the Stage Station at Cedar Springs, this was
where her father and uncle had the contract to carry the mail.
Alva was a true pioneer, as a child she learned to work, not only at
housework but also to be of help in the fields when needed.
Even as a child Alva had a desire for learning, as she grew older she
would have liked to have gone on to higher education, but family
circumstances did not permit this however, so Alva went to work to help
support the family.
When she was eighteen she married Ralph Edward Lucas. Ralph was born in
Santa Monica, California July 3, 1882. They were married July 29, 1903.
After their marriage Ralph and Alva built a home south of where the
Pima Depot was. It was there they had a chicken, egg and baby chick
business later they sold out and moved to California.
Ralph and Alva always helped any of the family that was in need. They
were both active church workers. When Alva's sister, Ann became a widow
and Ralph's sister Louise needed assistance Ralph and Alva were there
to help. With their help Alva's sister Blanche was able to fill a
mission.
Ralph died in California and was buried in Rose Hills Cemetery in
Whittier. Alva then moved back to Mesa, where she now lives.
John was born 10 February 1887, in a one-room house in Pima, Arizona,
the eldest son of John Simion Dodge and Lenora McRay Holladay. His
father was a cattleman. During the summer they lived at Snow Flat. His
father died of a ruptured appendix when John was three and a half years
old. There were no doctors to operate for appendicitis there at the
time. The next July his mother married his father's brother, Joshua
Thomas Dodge. They rode horseback to Pima to be married.
They lived at Simon Springs when Alva, his older sister, and he started
school at Hog Town, later called Glenbar. He went to school there one
winter then moved to Pima where he got the rest of his formal
education. He quit and went to work when he was in about the fourth
grade. He was about twelve years old when he worked for Uncle Tom
Ransom feeding cane to a sorghum mill and took his pay in sorghum at
fifty cents a day. At this time his uncle freighted from Globe to
Willcox, leaving Nora and the kids at home alone. At nights they went
to be at dark so as not to light a lamp for fear of Indians coming.
When he was about fourteen he worked for Joe Alder making adobes for a
brick kiln, getting seventy-five cents a day. Then he moved to Harve
Blair's sawmill in the Graham mountains where he and his uncle logged
for the mill. He left before the season was over and went to work for
his uncle, Jack Dodge, in the butcher shop in Pima. After that he
helped Art Lines move a heard of goats from Bryce to Old Rock dairy at
Clifton. He did other odd jobs here and there for a few years and then
went back to Pima and started baling hay and working for the farmers.
West Follett and he broke horses for (YL) ranch, then he worked on the
ranch.
For a long time he punched cows for the 76 cattle ranch. Desiring a
change, he went with "Chuck" Boyle to Los Angeles and took up
barbering. He worked in Weaver Jackson's Beauty Parlor for several
years before returning to Pima. It was here that he married a childhood
acquaintance, Lola Courtney, on January 3, 1917. they lived in Pima and
he barbered there. During the first World War they moved to Globe,
where he caged in the Iron Cap Mine. It was here that Stanford was born
to them, December 20, 1917. They returned to Pima, where he ran the
Pima Barber Shop.
Lyman was the youngest son of Seth and Lovina Brandon Dodge. He was
born February 26 1862 in Beaver, Utah. He was eighteen when, with his
parents he came to Pima in 1880. He with the rest of the Dodge family
played an important part in the growth of Pima.
Lyman helped his father build the Dodge home of white rock. (This house
is still standing on the corner of 1st north and 1st west).
He married Amanda Reynolds on June 1, 1882, they became the parents of
fourteen children.
Lyman spent his life doing carpenter work, blacksmithing, freighting
and working at the mill in the Graham mountains.
He and Amanda were married for thirty-five years and all except one
year when he worked in Morenci was lived in Pima.
When he was 55 years old Lyman died of appendicitis June 24, 1917 in
Globe, Arizona, leaving Amanda with six children at home. (Her story is
told in the Pioneer Women's Chapter of this book).
Will and his sister-in-law Mame Ransom were prominent in the production
of drama. It is told in one scene Will had to eat a pie, so his wife
with her keen
sense of humor, baked a nice pie only using cottonseed for raisins. It
was quite a surprise to her husband when he, on stage, tried to eat the
pie. His lines were "Damn this pie, Molly". It was no effort to say it
with emphasis that night.
In early 1900 the Ransoms, along with other Pima people, moved to
Oregon. Will and Permilia lived there until Permelia's health failed
and then returned to Pima where she passed away in October, 1917.
Will lived to the ripe old age of 86. He was buried by the side of his
wife. Will and Permelia were the Grandparents to the Art Woolsey family
and Thomas Rasmussen family, many still living in the Gila Valley.
Seth George Dodge, the father and father-in-law of the Dodge, Ransom
and Batty families, was not to live long after arriving in Pima. While
freighting from Willcox, his gun accidentally discharged killing him
almost instantly.
Although his life here was short, the family remaining contributed so
much to the growth and development of Pima and the Gila Valley that we,
the citizens of Pima, owe a great deal to this good man.
Abraham M. Boswell, with his wife Hannah Dodge Boswell, were also with
the Dodge family. They too were from Toquerville, Utah. Hannah had two
children from a former marriage. Her first husband was killed just
before her daughter Cora (Follett) was born. Her son Thomas Batty was
five years old when they left Toquerville. The wagon train stopped on
the Buckskin Mountains while Hannah gave birth to a baby boy (Matt
Boswell.)
The Boswell family's first home was a brush shelter with the wagon box
to the side.
That fall Hannah left her children in the care of Tom (Batty) while she
fed the cane thru the Sorghum mill for John Nuttal. Abe was working on
a farm at Ft. Thomas. Later he build a log cabin on what is now the
East Lot. In the summer they moved to Ft. Bowie where Abe had
employment. After moving back to Pima, he freighted between Bowie and
Globe. Early in 1900 they joined the Ransoms when they moved to Oregon.
The Boswell's by this time had a large family. Among the ones to be
remembered by older residents of Pima are, Tom
Batty, Matt and Fay Boswell, Cora Follett, Nechi (Hyde) Janie Weech.
Abe and Hannah Boswell were the parents of twelve children. One died in
infancy, so they adopted another to make an even dozen.
When the Boswell's moved to Oregon, only two of their large family
remained in Pima, Tom Batty and Fay Boswell.
Tom Batty was seven years old when his parents moved to Pima. He
remembers on the way of a Mexican man coming into their camp. He had
been shot through the mouth and feet. He was bleeding badly. The
Indians had shot him as they chased him away from his camp. The men in
the wagon trained were alarmed. They sent the women and children back
to Ft. Apache, while the men stayed with the wagons which held all
their possessions and made ready to guard and fight if necessary. The
Indians, however, did not attack the wagon train.
Tom Batty was a student in the first log school house in Pima. His Aunt
Cinda was his teacher.
When his family moved to Ft. Bowie, Tom walked and drove a cow and a
calf. He was eight years old. He often told how high the grass was. His
mother had made him a hat woven from straw and about all they could see
of him was that straw hat bouncing along.
Tom earned his first money at that time. He brought the cows in at
night for Charley Roseberry. The Quartermaster at the Fort had a cow
and calf and paid Tom 25 cents a week to look after her. He bought
himself a pair of shoes. They cost $2.75. He always said they were the
prettiest and best shoes he ever owned.
When Tom was fifteen years old, he was driving a freight tram between
Bowie and Globe. The Indians were so bad the freighters would wait to
form a large group and travel together for better protection or
themselves, their teams and wagons. At that time there were over three
hundred teams on the road freighting, with anywhere from one team and
wagon to twenty-four horses and four wagons. It took one month to make
a round trip from Bowie or Willcox to Globe.
Thomas Batty and Azelia Barney were married December 24, 1893 at the
Barney Ranch in Solomonville.
Tom worked at farming, railroading or where he could find employment.
In 1904 the Batty's decided to move to Idaho. They arrived at
Toquerville, Utah, where Azelia took sick. The doctor from Cedar city
advised taking her to Salt Lake for an operation, which Tom did.
Azelia died January 25, 1905 leaving Tom with three small children.
In 1912 Tom married Hulda A. Matthewson, a widow.
Tom took a contract to build a road from Cork to Crazy Horse for which
he was paid $600. The road was to be used for hauling Ore from the
Klondyke Mines.
He worked for the YL Cattle Company at the Goodwin Ranch for eight
years.
In 1934 they moved to their farm in Glenbar, living there until 1944,
when he sold the farm and moved to Pima.
Thomas Batty was the father of four children, only two lived to
adulthood, Ethel Carter and Walter. Walter still lives in Glenbar.
When the Henry Lines family arrived in Pima, January 1881, the town lot
they were to build upon had already been saved for them. Emily's
brother, Hyrum Weech, knowing they were coming, had back in January,
1880, when the second drawing of town lots took place, saved the lot
north of his for his youngest sister and family. Henry Lines build a
stockade home upon this lot. Later the Lines and Weech family built a
brick home for Hyrum's and Emily's mother, Elizabeth Gould Weech, on
the same lot so she could be near Emily.
Henry and his sons cleared forty acres which they farmed. He was also
in charge of the Church Co-op, and sheep herd, which ranged on the
foothills of Mt. Graham.
The six Lines boys, though some were quite young, were a big help to
their father.
Mary or (Maime) as she was called was the only girl in the family.
Emily often pointed out to the boys however, "Each one of you has a
sister."
Emily was an expert housekeeper and she taught Maime all her skills of
cooking, housekeeping, and the cording, spinning and weaving of the
wool. Maime's fingers were always busy as she knitted socks for her
brothers.
Henry added to the family income by freighting from Willcox, globe,
bowie and different points in the valley.
Each Saturday night the same ritual was carried out at the Lines home.
Water was carried in, all available pots and pans covered the stove, a
big wooden tub pulled near the fireplace and each of the family shared
their Saturday bath. The only consolation the Lines boys had as the
dirt was scrubbed off, was every kid in Pima was going through the same
thing.
In 1898, Henry traded his home for another. This was near the
Cottonwood Wash, at that time it was one of the best homes in Pima.
This is where Jerry and Irene Hancock live today.
Joseph Henry Lines, the first of Henry and Emily's children, was ten
years old when they arrived in Pima. Joe Lines was a great reader and
by his reading and study became a very well educated man. Joe worked as
a sales clerk in the P.C. Merrill, W. T. Webb Store, where he found he
liked the Mercantile Business. Later he and his brother bought the
Weech Hall and store. The Weech Hall burned to the ground in 1914.
The Lines brothers rebuilt the store and Joe Lines and the Lines
Brothers Store was part of
Pima for a good many years.
Joseph Lines married Elizabeth Ferrin and the couple took a job at
Bailey's Well. Joe driving Stage and Lizzy keeping the Stagestop, also
selling water to freighters and other travelers.
When they moved back to Pima, Joe taught school for one year. (1897 -
98) This school house was a red brick building just south of the
railroad tracks. One day a few of Joe's pupil's went over into Grandpa
Haynie's turnip patch and helped themselves. They were late getting
back to school so the teacher had them stand in front of the class by
the blackboard. The pupils, still having fun and full o life, rubbed
chalk on their faces. Joe had them all line up outside, by the water
barrel, then he proceeded to wash all their faces, giving each of them
one hard scrub. Two who can remember getting their faces washed
are Maggie Craig Root and Janie Boswell Weech.
Joe Lines was elected to the Arizona State Legislature in 1914, and to
the State Senate in 1931. Joe, it is said, when a Senator did more for
the Arizona School system than any man in Arizona.
Joseph and Elizabeth Lines were the parents of a large family.
Joe was ordained a Patriarch by apostle Melvin J. Ballard in 1932.
In 1940, Joseph and Elizabeth moved to Mesa, spending time doing temple
work for many years before their deaths.
Same Lines was three years old when, with his parents Henry and Emily
Lines, arrived in Pima. Sam first attended school in the white rock
school building. He was one of the first three to graduate from the
eighth grade. The other two were Ed Williams and Pearl Weech.
Sam was happiest when he was with his Father on the freight wagons. At
the age of 14, Sam was driving a six horse hitch, at 15 he was driving
eight horses, pulling two wagons. After the railroad put the
freighter's out of business. Sam worked as a cowboy for the Flying H.
Cattle Company. Howard McBride worked for the same outfit.
Sam and Howard helped drive the herd of cattle from near where the
Roosevelt Dam is now, to Holbrook. There the cattle were shipped to
Kansas City. The drive to Holbrook, then on horseback to Globe took
three months.
Howard and Sam then returned to the Valley. Sam then went to Morenci,
to work for his brother, Art.
On the 1st of January, 1901 Same and Rhoda Merrill were married by
Sam's brother Joseph Lines. Joe was the Justice of the Peace at that
time. The wedding dance was held in the Weech Hall with piano and
Violins furnishing the music.
After his marriage, Sam worked at farm work, blacksmithing, and
whatever he could find in order to be at home with his wife and
children. He rented his brother Art's farm and operated it for twelve
years. He purchased the Joe Foster home, living there three years.
When the economic depression hit in 1923, Sam lost everything and was
heavily in debt. He then went to Bisbee and worked in the underground
mine until 1939, paying off all his debts.
Sam and Rhoda were the parents of eight children. His wife Rhoda died
in 1932, by then most of their children were married or were away at
school.
After returning to Pima, Sam drove the school bus bringing children
from Cottonwood Wash area.
In 1941 he married Laura Haynie Taylor, a childhood friend, and who had
been a widow for many years. The two had a happy life together,
traveling and visiting friends throughout Arizona and California.
Sam Lines passed away March 18, 1971, at age 94 and at the time of his
death, he had the distinction of having lived longer in Arizona than
anyone in the Gila Valley. He was also the oldest man in Pima for a
good many years.
William Arthur Lines was always just "Art Lines" by his family and
friends, with the exception of his mother, to whom he was always
Arthur, the name he liked to be known by, but never was. He was too
small to remember the journey from Goshen, Utah, to Pima, so Pima was
always his home.
His younger days were much the same as other boys in the small village.
He, like all the other boys, was taught to work from the time he was
large enough to do small chores until able to take a man's place at
most any kind of labor.
Art was working at a dairy in Clifton when he had a chance to purchase
the complete dairy.
Hawken Anderson helped with finances, and Art at twenty-two, became
with Mr. Anderson, the owners of the Rock House Dairy.
In 1902, Art was married to Sarah Evaline Anderson. Their honeymoon was
spent returning to Clifton with a wagon loaded with hay and two or
three cows tied to the back.
The dairy proved to be a success, but both Art and Eva's hearts were
back in Pima. Eva moved back to Pima in 1907. Art still owned an
interest in the dairy. His greatest interest, however, was in his farm
and Angora Goat herd.
Art and Eva were blessed with eight children, Opal, Vearl, Phyllis,
Trelva, Boyce, Ruskin, Beth, and Marba, all a credit to the community
in which they lived.
When Art and Eva left Pima to move to Safford, an empty place was left
in Pima that has never been filled.
Milton Lines was born July 26, 1883, in the little hamlet of
Smithville, later named Pima.
With his brothers and sister Milton attended Sunday School and Primary
every week. They were all shining clean every Sunday morning after a
Saturday night of baths in the wooden washtub, and with shoes looking
almost new after a brisk polishing with soot from the bottom of a stove
lid, the only available polish at the time.
The Lines boys were always very congenial and loyal to each other.
Milton and Arthur were especially companionable, and when Arthur bought
the Rock House Dairy in Clifton, Milt went there to work for him, and
they eventually became partners in the business. The two boys were
always proud to be among the earliest depositors in the new Valley Bank.
Milt drove a milk wagon drawn by two horses. While making his
deliveries he learned that the entire Lambert family, who were then
living in Clifton had succumbed to the smallpox.
Milt having met and admired one of the daughters, Mary, while at one of
the church dances in the Valley, was glad to do all that he could to
help the family. Fortunately, he was endowed with a remarkable
immunity, because he remained well in spite of the extra hours of work
and the cumulative fatigue. He proved to be an angel of mercy, winning
a special place in the hearts of the Lambert family.
The Lamberts moved back to Thatcher, and Milt and Mary, who had fallen
in love, were married there, and she returned to the dairy with him for
awhile.
The dairy prospered and eventually Milt bought a small dairy in Morenci.
During all their ten or eleven years in the mining towns they had
dreams of returning to Pima and building a lovely home on some property
they had bought, and let someone else run the dairies, with Milt
returning only occasionally to check on his business.
They employed Mary's father, Wilson Lambert, who was a master carpenter
and cabinet maker, to build a lovely new home for them, one of which
they were both very proud.
On May 30, 1934, Milton lost his beloved Mary, who had always been a
faithful and loyal partner, wife and mother, and he was desolate
without her. The three eldest children were married, giving them three
grandchildren. Carma was to enter College in the fall and this left
only Kal at home. Milt waited until they finished college, and then to
ease his loneliness he married Clella Hundly, who, besides her own
family, gave him two more girls.
Milton always took an interest in government affairs, both in his home
state and in the nation. He was appointed as a State Representative in
1945, and each term thereafter was elected to this position, continuing
to give faithful service to his state until 1962 when he retired.
During his long legislative career he served with distinction on
several legislative committees, including agriculture, appropriations,
county affairs, livestock and Public Lands.
He served on the Pima School Board for six years and a member of the
Gila Valley Irrigation District. In addition to his extensive public
service to the State of Arizona and his community, he was a devoted
member of his church, and served as Bishop for a period of time.
He lived to be eighty-six years of age, succumbing to a short illness
August 6, 1969, after a long productive life.
On December 13, 1885 a blue-eyed baby boy came to make his home with
Henry and Emily Weech Lines.
Alvin had a happy normal childhood growing up with his brothers and
sisters who are Joseph, Emma Jane (died at age four), Mary Elizabeth,
Samuel, Arthur, Milton, and John.
When he was about nine or ten years old his dad (Henry) was freighting
from Willcox to Globe with wagons, one trailing behind the other. Henry
drove four head of horses to pull the load. Al tried to get his dad to
let him make the trip with him, which would take about a week or ten
days, but each time he asked, he was told No. When his dad got ready to
leave, Al and John (his younger brother) started coaxing again to go
with him, so he let them ride for a short distance and said, "Run on
home to Mamma". John went home, but al decided to climb in the train
wagon and go anyway. He stayed there until they had gone a long
distance then he climbed through the wagon up front to sit with his dad
who was shocked to see him. Henry Lines really talked to Al that day
and sent back word to Al's mother by a man he met on horseback from Ft.
Thomas and told her not to worry that al was with his father. They had
to stop at Bailey's Wells for water and Al's oldest brother Joe and
wife Lizzie were living there. He was glad to see them and next morning
he was up bright and early, anxious to get on the road again with his
dad, but his dad made him stay with Joe and Lizzie until he got back
from Willcox. What a blow, he didn't have much fun and especially when
he got so dirty and Lizzie put some of her clothes on while she washed
his. He was so ashamed of the clothes he had to wear that he would hide
till his clothes got dry. He was glad when his dad returned and he
never tried freighting with his dad again.
He worked as a young man in Morenci and Clifton for his brother's Milt
and Arthur on their dairy. He also worked in Globe for Anderson and
Blake. There wasn't too much work in the Valley in those days.
He met Allie Stinson who also attended the Pima Schools and on August
28, 1912, they were married. They moved back to Morenci in September,
1912, and he continued to work at the dairy. In 1913 he bought into the
dairy with his brothers Art and Milt in Metcalf and lived there for
seven years until Metcalf mines had to be closed. He then drove the
cows from Metcalf to Pima. There they bought a small farm and started
farming and dairying. It was a full time job. At one time he went to
California seeking work, but soon came back.
He moved a lumber house to his farm in 1920, and here on the farm most
of his children were raised. They were Chloe, Flora, Wilton, Doyle,
Emalene, Vera, Kenneth, and Alene. Alene being born after Al was
killed. He was killed by one of his horses as he was driving them from
a pasture.
His three sons Wilton, Doyle, and Kenneth served their country in World
War II.
In 1943 Allie bought a home in Pima and moved from the farm that she
still owns and finished raising her children. She will be ninety years
old in November, 1978, and is still very active.
In 1978 they have seven living children, 37 grandchildren, 88 great
grandchildren, 2 great great grandchildren.
His posterity will never stop.
Peter Howard McBride was born May 5, 19850, in Rothsay, Isle of Bute,
Scotland. His father was Robert McBride and his mother was Margaret
Howard.
Robert sold his home and everything he had, took his five children
(three had died) and went by train to Liverpool, England, where they
found passage on the "Good Ship Horrison". It took more than a month to
cross the Atlantic Ocean. They landed in Boston and traveled by cattle
train to Chicago where they were supposed to have carts ready and
waiting for them to cross the plains, but it was three weeks later that
these carts were actually ready and they were late starting on this
long tragic journey. Winter came on and the saints in this company
nearly froze to death; in fact, about half of the company did freeze to
death and a lot of them starved to death. Their rations got down to a
few ounces of flour a day and finally the flour gave out and these
people still living, tried to subsist on the bark of trees but the sap
was frozen so much there wasn't any nourishment to be found, the snow
was deep. Peter said he and his baby sister Maggie were rationed to two
ounces of flour a day till it gave out.
In Peter's brother Heber's diary, it states "No one can describe the
sufferings we endured but those who endured them."
When crossing the Platte River it was full of floating ice and Peter's
father and other men in the company spent the day crossing and
recrossing that river carrying children and supplies across, dodging
the floating ice, the women worked too. Peter's sister Jenetta,
barefooted, crossed the stream many times that day, she was the oldest
child in the McBride family, and she took the place of her mother who
was sick all the way over.
After crossing the river they traveled several miles till they found a
sheltered cliff behind which they made their encampment, but the snow
fell fast and the wind raged and it was terribly cold. In the evening
two men died and by the next morning 13 others had died, one of these
was Peter's father. They were all buried in one shallow grave. The
ground frozen and the men so weak from hunger that all they could do
was scoop out a trench, pile in the bodies of these precious men, put
logs and rocks over them, and leave their bodies to the mercy of the
wolves and other vermin.
It was at this point that these belated Saints gave up their struggle.
The snow kept falling, the wind raged, and they were all starving,
nothing else to do, just sit down in a group and wait for the end to
come. Could they do more? The rest was up to the Lord. It was true they
had fasted and prayed constantly for help, what more could they do?
They all hovered together in the deep snow -- a sound was heard.
"The wagons are coming! The wagons are coming!" They all took courage
and before long men in wagons drove in and gave these hungry people
food and shelter. What joy this hour had brought these discouraged
people and they came to life and were as ready to live as they had been
ready to die. The food supply was short as the teamsters had to be fed.
These folks had to walk up long hills but when the downward road was
reached the Saints stayed in the wagons the rest of the way to Salt
Lake City, Utah.
Peter and Ruth Burns were married February 2, 1874, by Daniel H. Wells.
They were endowed and sealed the same day in Salt Lake. Their first
child, Robert Franklin, was born January 4 1875. This couple was called
to go on a mission down on the Little Colorado. Peter's mission was to
care for the music for the town as wards were organized. Ruth was
called to be a nursing mother for all who should need help, to take
over the care of the kitchen and cooking for the group. The people in
this place were living in the United Order and all property was had in
common. They left for this mission February 12, 1876. There were ten
wagons in the company going to this place. Peter and Ruth were given a
blessing that if they proved faithful in this mission their children
would never want for bread.
When Peter and Ruth McBride arrived in Pima (1880) what a welcome
addition they were to the little settlement, Peter with his music
ability and Ruth with her knowledge of nursing and homemaking.
They built a small log cabin and entered right into community
activities.
Peter McBride chose Laura Louis as his second wife. They were married
in the St. George Temple in 1882.
If Peter and Laura could walk into the Pima First Ward Sacrament
Meeting now what a happy smile would appear upon the faces as they
looked around the chapel.
They would see their son Ether, now ninety two (1978) then see another
son Clyde with his wife Zela. Looking up into the choir they would
smile at a daughter Grace and her son Clay Larson, there in the front
seats would be Clay's wife Naoma with her children. Then scanning again
thru the congregation, they would see former Bishop Ted McBride, with
his wife Joy, Warren McBride and wife Ardith and a hose of great
grandchildren, all active and a credit to the community.
"Frankie McBride", as Frank was called till he was a grown man, was
born in Eden, Eber County, Utah January 4, 1875. He was the oldest
child of Peter McBride and Ruth Barns.
The McBride family reached Smithville February 10, 1880 and secured a
lot in that town where Frankie's father built a two roomed log house
and where they lived while building an adobe house down on the farm.
Frank went to school in the log church house and then in the white rock
school house and also the Cluff hall and that was all the scholastic
education he ever had, except the year he spend in the St. Joseph Stake
Academy in Thatcher in 1883-1894 when he and Howard attending that
school. At that time his mother ran a boarding house there and boarded
students attending the Academy from out of town, and at that time his
father taught Seminary in this school.
He was good in athletics, his brother Howard too. They joined the Base
Ball Nine and this team played in several towns in the valley carrying
off many honors. He was good on the stage, always playing the part of
the villain. He loved to dance and he and his girl friend seldom missed
one. He fell in love with one of the prettiest girls in Pima, Clara
Sims and court her for several years.
The McBride-Sims marriage was a grand affair. For weeks before the
special day arrived many ladies were busy helping to get things ready
for the great event, and the last few days before were spent in
cooking. There were close to 100 guests present and they set long
tables in the big dining room and hall. They managed to find room to
seat all who came and served a grand dinner. Clara looked beautiful in
her white dress and Frank looked grand. The date was August 16, 1899.
It could have been Bishop John Taylor who married them as he was the
Pima Ward Bishop at the time.
Frank helped his father on the farm and worked at the carpenter trade
and whatever he could find for employment. Their first baby was born
while they lived here, they named her Gladys.
In the fall of 1901 Frank received a call to fill a mission for the
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. So plans were made for him
to go fill this great obligation. On the morning of November 14, 1901.
Frank departed on the train for Salt Lake City where he would be for a
week or so to go through the Temple there and receive training. Clara
and baby would stay home and wait his return.
Shortly after Frank left for his mission, his wife gave birth to their
first son, who was named Floyd. Clara stayed in Pima with her folks for
sometime, then moved back to her home on the farm. Now she had two
babies to care for and she did very well alone. In November 1903, after
his mission, their third baby was born in this house down on the farm.
He was name Leonard.
Frank McBride was elected Sheriff of Graham County November 1914. He
filled this two year term, and was re-elected for a second term. To
work with him in his second term, he chose Kane Wooten and Martin
Kempton for his deputies. This second term proved to be a great tragedy
for all three of these good men, for while in the role of duty they
were sent out in the Galiuro mountains to talk to the Powers brothers
about being loyal to their country and to get them to come into town
and sign up for the draft. These Powers boys were influenced by they
father, who was a disloyal, ignorant, desperate character, to ignore
the draft, which they did. When the officials came close to the home of
these boys they were ready for them, and as soon as the officers came
within range of the house, were the boys lived, they mowed down the
three men (the sheriff and two deputies), in cold blood, without giving
them a chance to say a word to them.
The bodies of these three men laid where the fell till evening of the
next day. The fourth member of the posse, a U.S. Deputy Marshall, Frank
Haynes, fled unharmed and spread the alarm. He came to the church house
in Matthewsville where Sacrament Meeting was just being closed after
the congregation had just sustained Alonzo Matthews as Bishop of the
Matthews ward, releasing Bishop Lehi Larson. When Deputy Haynes
reported, things began to happen. A posse was formed and soon on their
way to those mountains. The roads were rough and bad, it was cold, bad
weather and it took all day Monday to reach the dead snow covered
bodies, and bring them to Safford. They were taken care of at the
County Court House. The date of this murder was February 10, 1918. The
triple funeral was held in a large hall in Safford. Andrew Kimball,
President of the St. Joseph Stake was the main speaker. He spoke well
of these men and gave comfort to the bereaved families. Three sad
widows, and twenty fatherless children were left to mourn and carry on,
after the death of these fine men.
It has been reported that the greatest manhunt in Arizona history began
with the killing of Sheriff McBride and his deputies. Tom and John
Powers, and their friend Tom Sisson for twenty seven days eluded their
pursuers thanks to Sisson, who was an Army scout during the Indian Wars
and knew the rugged mountains as well as anyone.
Sisson led the brothers through hidden passes and secret Apache caves
in the Galiuros and Chiricahua mountains and then slipped over the
border into Mexico.
There, on a dusty plain in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, 38 miles
south of Hachita, New Mexico, six Army Calvary men from Fort Huachuca
rode them down.
Ether McBride was born 13 August 1886, in Pima, Arizona. He had three
sisters (Laura Smith, Grace Larson and Flo McLaws), one brother (Clyde
McBride, a sister who passed away on February 2, 1930 (Della Larson),
and a brother and sister who both died in infancy.
Ether said, "When we were real you, Laura, Della and I had to herd cows
down in the bottom field and keep them out of the lucerne. After we got
them settled down to grazing, we would sit under a cottonwood tree and
sing. One day we sneaked our father's tuning fork, took some song
books, and spent our time singing. We could read music as well as
words. I would sing bass, Laura also, and Della soprano. We did enjoy
singing."
"In the summer I spent a lot of time on the Graham Mountains. One
summer Ammon Sims, Willie Weech, Willie Allred and myself were helping
our dads. We were offered a job on the flume. We worked like beavers.
Our reward was a sick of candy. another summer when I was twelve or
thirteen years old I was nearly killed in the flume."
I married my childhood sweetheart, Bertha Carter, on June 9 1901, in
Solomonville, Arizona, by Judge Bunch.
"Our first child, Von Lamar, was born May 18, 1910, in my mother's home
in Glenbar. The same night the famous Haley's Comet appeared in the
sky. My sister Della and Lehi Larson Jr., planned to be married this
same night in mother's living room. After her little grandson made his
appearance, the wedding was held outdoors under the stars, and with the
comet still in full view."
"My two oldest daughters were born while we were living in Morenci.
Venna Lue was born January 20, 1912, and Flora Bess was born December
29, 1913."
"When Flora was a baby we left Morenci and returned to Glenbar to
establish a home of our own. Earlier I had built a house near my
mother's. I moved it on a small farm I bought from Bertha's parents,
Edwin and Betsy Carter. It was located across the canal from their
farm."
"I started farming but I don't think I was cut out to be a farmer."
"I bought my first car in 1917, a Model T Ford, and paid $400 for it."
"Seven more children were born to us: Lela May, born July 27, 1919;
Clella Joyce, August 8, 1921; Eloise, August 13, 1923; boyce Van,
September 13, 1925; Ted Junius, December 16, 1926; Evelyn Jo, march 19,
1928, and Meldon Keith, February 28, 1930.
In 1928 I took a job as water boss for the Dodge Nevada Canal Company
for $100.00 a month. I was luck to get it, as work was scarce and no
one had any money during those terrible depression years. In 1933 my
wages were raised to $125.00 a month.
My wife bertha, who had been in poor health for several years, passed
away at the Ellsworths Hospital in Safford, Arizona, March 18, 1947,
and was buried beside our son in the Pima Cemetery.
I was sad and lonely, and one day in May of 1947 my son-in-law, Catlett
McEuen, asked me if I would like to have the Glenbar store. I said, "I
would love to have it." He contacted Free Palmer, the owner, who was
putting it up for sale. We made the necessary arrangements to take over
at once. I sold the old house with the farm to Jay Carter and moved in
the Palmer home near the store. My two sons, Ted and Keith were still
at home, and together we managed the store and post office. I was post
master for nine years.
December 4, 1950, I married Nellie Bryce Matthews of Mesa, Arizona. In
1951 we bought the M. J. Ferguson home on the east side of the store
and sold our home to my sister, Grace Larson.
Nellie was a wonderful wife and companion and helped me with the store
when she could. She was a good partner to my mother, when she was old
and helpless. My mother passed away on December 25, 1954. She had only
a few days to go to reach her ninetieth birthday. She was buried in the
Pima cemetery.
Nellie passed away February 18, 1971, at her daughter's home in Mesa,
Arizona, and was buried in the Mesa cemetery.
Ether McBride is still living at this time, January 1979. he keeps busy
in the store; he seldom misses church. It is an inspiration to all to
see him, as old as he is, always slowly entering through the side door.
He always joins in the singing, and still has a very good voice.
Peter Franklin Thurston & Mary Ann
Spendlove & Family
I was born in Pima November 12, 1899, daughter of Jefferson Smith and
Sarah (Stock Thurston. I was born in a little house just across the
street west from the Charles DV. Hayne home (both of whom were gone in
1954, when I passed through Pima.)
My father was known as "Smith", however, he is not to be confused with
Uncle Smith Thurston, who was an older brother of my grandfather Peter
Franklin (known as Frank) Thurston.
My grandparents, Peter Franklin, and Mary Ann (Spendlove) Thurston,
were called to go to Arizona in the spring of 1870, but due to the fact
that they were expecting a new arrival in their family they had to wait
until September before starting their journey. their new arrival was
born July 13, 1879, they named him Jefferson Smith, who later became my
father. Besides the new baby, the Thurston family had three small
daughters' Harriet born 14 September 1872, Milton, Utah, (married
George Williams on June 30, 1889), Rosetta born November 28, 1874,
Milton, Utah, (Married David Ellis Johnson, May 31, 1891), Mary Ann
born December 25, 1975, Milton, Utah (married Joel Hill Martineau,
November 23, 1891). Jefferson Smith born July 1879, Littleton, Utah,
(married Sarah Stock January 19, 1899 at Pima, by bishop John Taylor.)
Due to their late start they were halted by the deep snows at Folletts
Ranch near Ft. Apache in December and did not reach the Gila Valley
until March of 1880, where they soon bought a lot and Grandfather built
a one room log house. I have been told the lot he built on was across
the street south from the Line's Mercantile building where Sister Sanie
Norton lived while I was in Pima.
My Grandfather, Frank Thurston was killed by the Indians on May 22,
1886 out on the Bear Spring Flat about eight or nine miles from Pima.
At the time he was hauling wood for a lime kiln where they were burning
lime during the erection of their first meeting house in Pima.
Grandmother Mary Ann was then left with seven young children (three
more daughters had been added to the family) with very little means to
live on. Those born in Pima were: Cordelia, born September 19, 1881
(Married Joseph Winsor, January 1, 1897), Caroline born December 15,
1883 (Married William Calvin Garrison, January 1, 1901), Josephine born
March 26, 1886, (married Theodore Marineau, September 8, 1892).
About 1889 Grandmother Mary Ann was married to Henry Martineau and
moved to Colonial Juarez, Mexico, where her son Frank Martineau was
born. His name was Franklin Thurston Martineau, born September 20,
1891. (Married Glenna Moody June 10, 1914).
Grandmother moved back to Pima when her young son was three months old.
Here she struggled to get along as best she could. Kept a little store
to help out. Her older sisters worked out but at last she went to
Clifton and kept a boarding house for quite a number of years. I can
remember being there. My Grandfather Frank (as he was called) was born
June 24, 1850 in Salt Lake city, Utah. His parents were Thomas
Jefferson and Rosetta (Bull) Thurston. His mother Rosetta went to
Arizona with them. She died July 1880 and was the first grown person to
be buried in the Pima Cemetery.
Grandmother Mary Ann was the daughter of Joseph and Harried (Payne)
Spendlove, and was born October 22, 1855 at Lutterworth, Northampton,
England.
My mother Sarah Stock was the daughter of Frederick and Olive Bertha
(Losee) Stock, born November 17, 1882 at Cedar City, Iron County, Utah.
At the breaking up of the United Order at Orderville, Kane, Utah in
1882, the Stock family was called to Arizona. Grandfather was
experienced in making shingles, so that may have been the purpose of
being called to the Gila Valley. Here again a family addition was
expected. Upon obtaining temporary employment, they moved from
Orderville to Cedar City where they stayed until spring, arriving at
Pima in 1883.
Grandfather set up a shingle mill which he ran for quite a number of
years. During that time the family lived at the mill in the mountains
during the summer, but came to town for the winter except the fall that
their home burned down. That fall they went back and stayed out the
winter. My mother was then three years old, so it was probably the
winter of 1885.
Fredrick and Olive Stock had five children when they made the journey
to Arizona, namely: Fredrick, born December 25, 1874, Benjamin, Utah
County, Utah, Isaac Edward born June 6, 1976 in Benjamin, Utah county,
Utah, John Albert born March 6, 1878 in Benjamin, Utah, A. Delbert,
born April 16, 1880 in Orderville, Kane County, Utah, their next four
children died in infancy and are buried at Pima. Their tenth child
Retta was also born at Pima March 25, 1894, eleventh child Ellis born
October 4, 1898 Pima Arizona.
I attended Sunday and Primary at Pima in my early childhood. I remember
the rows of little red and brown chairs which we sat on in kindergarten
also when we later marched up to the balcony. I also attended school
there and had Miss Zina Curtis, and Miss Ledwidge, for teachers. We
also had Religion class on a certain day after school each week.
My brother Frank, next younger than I, was born at Layton across the
railroad from Safford; but my brother Erwin Friederich was born at
Pima, March 20, 1904 in the Henley, or Hendly place on the bank of the
Cottonwood wash where we used to go across over to Kerby's on the hill.
I was married November 16, 1916 to Isaiah Joseph Cox. My husband's
cousins, Mary (Kelsey) Taylor, wife of Bishop John Taylor, and Sarah
(Kelsey) Taylor, wife of Jeremiah Taylor, were also pioneers of Pima,
Isaiah Cox, Sr., a brother of Mary and Sarah (Kelsey) Taylor).
Moses Cluff was born February 11, 1828, in Durham, New Hampshire. He
was the son of David Cluff, Sr. and Betsy Hall. Father David Cluff was
a ship builder by trade and Mother Cluff was an expert with the
spinning wheel to provide clothes for a family of twelve children.
Moses, together with the family, left New Hampshire in 1836, traveling
to Ohio and on to Nauvoo, Illinois. Then, in 1850, the family crossed
the plains with other Mormon Pioneers to Salt Lake City, then to Provo,
Utah.
Moses married Rebecca Langman, an immigrant from England, where he
served a mission for his church. Some time later, on one of his trips
of driving cattle west, Moses met Ann Bond, whom he later took as his
second wife.
When the expanded colonization moved South, into Arizona, Moses took
his first wife and family and moved to the Forestdale and Show Low area
in 1877, where he farmed and raised cattle. He decided to go back to
Prove to move his second family to Arizona, but his second wife chose
to remain in Utah.
After seeing the accomplishments of his sons, and living an active and
constructive life of doing things to benefit his family, his church and
community, Moses became ill and died in Pima, Arizona, January 30, 1903.
Moses Alfred Cluff was born at Provo, Utah, January 6, 1860, the first
son and second child of Moses Cluff and Rebecca Langman.
When Moses A. was grown to manhood but not yet married, his father,
Moses and grandfather David, along with several more of David's sons
and their families, moved to Arizona. This was in the late 1870's. They
settled first in Forest Dale. It was learned that Forest Dale was in
the Indian Reservation, so they moved to Show Low, Arizona. In 1881 or
1882, they moved again, this time to Pima (Smithville), Arizona, a
small Mormon village two or three years old. The Gila River at that
time a beautiful clear stream abounding with fish, was on the north,
and Old Mt. Graham was to the south. The valley was, for the most part,
covered with a heavy growth of mesquite.
In this little place, Moses met a comely lass, Louisa Lauretta Johnson,
the daughter of John Wesley and Louisa Collings Johnson. They were
married March 6, 1883, in Pima, and later sealed in the St. George
Temple, October 7, 1883. To this union was born seven sons and five
daughters -- Alfred Moses, David Lowell, Mary Emma, Earl, Wallace,
Hyrum Delbert, Clella Wendetta, Edith, Leland Birchfield, Milton,
Minnetta, and Melba.
After the wedding, Moses A. and his bride settled on some land by
Squatter's Rights. It was five miles south of Pima and nestled at the
foot of Mt. Graham. A beautiful, sparkling stream flowed through it,
and these hardy pioneers could see great possibilities for the spot
they had chosen for their home. Hard, unceasing labor made dreams
become realities. Land was cleared of the mesquite tress and acres and
acres plowed and planted with wheat, alfalfa, barley and corn. More
acres became orchards of apples, peaches, pears, plums, apricots, and
vineyards of grapes. There was also a grove of almond trees. A hedge of
pomegranate vines also lined one side of a distance.
A reservoir had been made to impound the water when it was plentiful.
Several artesian wells were dug. These were surrounded by small ponds.
The home became a haven of beauty, cool shade and lush green fields and
fruitful orchards, not only to the Cluffs, but to the people of the
Gila Valley. The auxiliary organizations of the church, the Sunday
School, M. I. A., and Primary often had picnics there. Sometimes May
Day was celebrated there also. Teenagers and children enjoyed the
swings in the grove of stately cottonwood trees under the west bank of
the reservoir. Swimming and boating were also enjoyed by many.
Moses A. was a religious man, and he taught his family to live their
religion. At one time there was a Branch of the church on the ranch.
Included in this Branch were all the ranchers around the Cluff's ranch
area. Moses A. was sustained Branch President of this particular
Branch. He was also very generous with his family. As each of his older
children married, he helped them financially get off to a good start,
and was always willing to help any of them in any way he could whenever
the need arose.
In later years Moses A. developed stomach trouble, and the work became
a burden to him. He was in pain most of the time. Because of this, his
sons felt it would be better for him if he would sell the ranch and
move into Pima where they hoped he wouldn't feel so pressured to work
so hard. After much discussion, he was persuaded to sell his beloved
home. He said to them, "If you think it's best, I will sell; but we
will regret it the rest of our lives." The sale of the ranch was made,
and in the sale he acquired the Pima Hotel, a piece of farm land and a
drug store. The family moved into the hotel and Lauretta became its
manager.
He passed away December 18, 1915, a victim of the illness that had
plagued him so long. He was buried in the Pima Cemetery. he left a
family of nine children, four unmarried and still living at home.
Heber M. Cluff was born in Provo, Utah, November 15, 1863, the son of
Moses Cluff and Ann bond, his father's second wife. At the age of 12
years Heber hid in one of his father's wagons as he was moving his
first wife and family to Arizona. Heber was undiscovered until too far
on the way, so he got to come to Arizona, leaving his mother and other
members of the family in Provo.
Heber was a good worker and very efficient in handling horses. Often,
after his father settled in Show Low, Arizona, at the age of fifteen,
Heber took three yoke of oxen and went to Albuquerque, New Mexico, to
seek employment on the railroad that was extending on to California. he
was successful in getting a job pulling a large railroad plow with his
oxen and plowed the first part of the right-of-way for the railroad
going west of Albuquerque.
Heber took the money he had earned after working quite some time and
bought food and provisions to take back to Show Low to his father and
family.
In 1880 Heber moved with his father to Pima, Arizona, where he worked
with his brothers and father at the Cluff Ranch south of Pima. He was
instrumental in helping construct the road up Mt. Graham and hauling
mill equipment to the mill site and freighting the lumber down the
mountain.
Heber also hauled freight from Willcox to Globe before the railroad was
constructed.
On July 4, 1885, Heber married Sarah Ann Weech, daughter of Hyrum Weech
and Sarah Dall Weech.
Heber's love of horses provided him with a determination to have the
best animals he could get and he was always found where the jobs called
for strong and useful horses.
After his experience of hauling freight and hauling lumber from the
mountain, Heber went to Mexico for a short time to continue his lumber
hauling. he then returned to Pima and later went to Bluewater, New
Mexico, to haul lumber.
After working there for a short time he became ill and passed away on
July 17, 1915, in Bluewater, New Mexico.
John Henry Cluff was born in Provo, Utah, the son of Moses and Rebecca
Cluff, on January 18, 1864.
At the age thirteen he with his parents started on the long trek which
eventually brought them to Pima, Arizona.
John with his brother built the first sawmill on top of Mt. Graham also
the flume to carry lumber down from the mountain.
On October 18, 1884 he and Margaret Alice Ferrin were married. They
became the parents of nine children: John Henry, Oscar Edward,
Archibald Carlyle, Jessie Samuel, Alice Rebecca, Vernon Howard, Olive,
Genevieve and Julia.
Margaret died October 4, 1904 and John March 20, 1925. Both are buried
in the Pima Cemetery.
John and Margaret like so many other left their footprints in and
around Pima, they can never be erased.
The picture of the first Cluff home in Pima was taken in 1885.
Identification of the picture was made by Julia Cluff Waters. She does
not know any of the children, except the sixth girl from the left who
is Ethylon Cluff Saline. And the boy on the horse is Alfie Cluff. The
woman to the left is Lizzie Lines, the woman by the door is Rebecca
Cluff, next to her holding the baby is Maggie Cluff. The man seated
holding the dog is John Cluff and next to him holding John Cluff's
trick horse by the hoof is Davey Cluff. This home was started by Moses
Cluff who died before the house was completed, Ethylon finished the
house and later married LaRoy Saline. Standing in front is Rebecca,
Julia and Alfie.
Alfred (Alfie) Cluff was born April 5, 1884, in Pima, Arizona.
He was the son of Moses A. Cluff and Lauretta Johnson Cluff.
As a young man Alfie helped his father in clearing and planning the
beautiful site at the foot of Mt. Graham that became known as Cluff
Ranch.
On January 1 1904 he married Eva Ella Haynie.
Ella was the daughter of Charles David and Evergreen Haynie. She was
born in Pima, April 11 1886.
With their marriage Ella became not only a wife but eventually a mother
of ten. She was a partner in all of Alfie's undertakings.
They cleared and planted one hundred sixty acres of land in the Cluff
Ranch area with fruit trees vegetable gardens and Ella's flower gardens.
Changing water conditions forced them to give up the farm at the ranch.
After living in California a few years they returned to Pima to again
make their home.
Ella made the "BEST DARN TAMALES" which she sold in and around Pima.
Alfie and Ellie had a dairy just off Swift Trail and below Turkey Flat.
There they planed over 400 fruit trees along with berries vegetables
and flowers for summer residents on the mountain.
After over sixty five years of married life Alfie passed away June 21,
1969.
Ellie followed him in death eight months later on February 5, 1970.
Their children are as follows: Fredonia, Eva, Orval, Lawrence, Venetta,
Lavar, Dellas, Edwin, Richard, and Armond.
Lupe Salazar,
the oldest resident In the Canyon in 1976, was born
January 4, 1894, , near the site where the Clay Turnbull home is
located today. He owns the 6X Ranch, located where Turkey Creek flows
into the Aravaipa .. He remembers his early days with fondness but
remarked that he "worked like a dog". He attended the old Aravaipa
Canyon school for one year only, but he must have been an excellent
student, as he not only speaks perfect English, but also reads and
writes it.
Since he was the only son, liis early years were spent helping his
father Paisano, ("friend" in Spanish) with the-cattle, raising a
garden, etc. In those days, country boys had little time to get into
mischief. When he was about 14 he went to work for Mr. Chambers as a
goat herder. The goats were driven in a corral at night, and then
turned out to graze in the daytime. Someone had to be with them all the
time to protect them from marauding\ coyotes and bobcats, and to
prevent them from straying. A cowboy at heart, he never liked this work
but to implement the family income he kept at it for about three years.
Later he cowboy'd for Bert Dunlap (who had the ranch that Proctors own
today), William Wooten (who at that time owned the Mc Nai r Ranch), and
later Braz Wooten, Gif Allaire, the T -Rails, and others.
In 1911, the young Lupe went to Copper Creek, Arizona and carried the
mail by horse and buggy between Copper Creek and Mammoth. The postal
service horses were kept in a big corral, and Lupe slept there at
night. Apaches were constantly passing by and while Lupe never had any
trouble with them, he was always uneasy, as their war-like days were
not far in the past.
Lupe well remembers "Nosey" Hook ...an Apache who had had his nose shot
off in the fray between the Indians and the U.S. Army down the canyon.
The Indians, of course, got much the worst of the deal since they were
armed mostly with bows and arrows against the soldier's guns.
Lupe recalls that the Hook family came of-ten to stay for indefinite
periods with the Salazars. Sometimes Nosey would come in and dine with
the Salazars, nonchalantly. (At other times, Mrs. Salazar fed them all.)
Lupe fell in love with Teresa Moraga and asked her father for her hand.
Consent was given, but in those days it was the custom for the engaged
man to begin to support his fiancee from the moment the engagement
began. (How many marriages would this discourage today?) So, Lupe took
groceries right away to her family. He also gave Teresa $50 to spend on
wedding preparations, (a large sum in those days). Thinking it over he
decided this was not enough, so he gave her $5 more. In 1912, Lupe and
Teresa were married and lived happily together until her death in 1953.
They had eight children: Bill, Adolpho, Emma (died of meningitis),
Clara, Lola, Kate, Christine, and Tex.
At the time of his marriage, Lupe was working for Braz Wooten, a
veritable ~lave driver, who refused Lupe's request for a day off in
which to get married, but grudglngly allowed him one-hal f day off to
tie the knot.
Lupe and Teresa homesteaded up Deer Creek, and Lupe rode horseback to
the ~raz Wooten ranch, reporting for work every morning by 4:00 a.m.
and often working at night until 8 or 9 p.m. No Sundays or holidays off
either ...
For a short period, Lupe worked for a mining outfit at Copper Creek,
making $4.00 a day (big money then) and soon he returned to work on the
Monk Ranch, outside of Willcox. He placed his oldest child, Bill, then
about 14, alone on the home ranch to take care of things there. Bill
lived by himself at the mouth of Deer Creek, taking care of the cattle,
and fending for himself. (Lupe had raised his children to be
self-reliant).
Lupe remembers when Kane Wooten (Canyon deputy sheriff) and other
sheriffs came to him, insisting that he accompany them up to the
Power's home to bring in the Powers boys to register for the Army draft
of 1917. Fortunately for Lupe (since several people were killed in the
ensuing fray) he adamantly refused to go.
In. 1972, Lupe sold 145 acres of land in the Aravaipa canyon around his
home to the Defenders of Wild Life, but the rest of his ranch he
retained his right to. Lola and Tex remember helping their father take
care of the cattle riding all day with him at a fast clip ...any child
that could not keep up had to go home ...going sometimes until night
without water and food. Once Lola, sick of being a cowboy, remembers
that at branding time she was idly watching her father when she saw him
brand a cow with the letters ...LOLA Perceiving that this was her first
very-own cow, it somewhat revived her interest in being a cowgirl.
Tex attended Safford High School for two weeks, until Freshman
initiation rolled around and he was informed he would have to appear in
shorts for Freshman week (a shy cowboy in shorts?) so he quit and thus
ended his formal education.
But today he's the business manager of the outfit. Even today, Lupe is
still "boss" in his home; when he speaks his children obey, ...not from
fear but from respect. Lupe is a loving father but a firm
disciplinarian. '
Several years ago, Lupe had both eyes operated on for cataracts, and
his vision is fairly good today. However, he is badly crippled with
arthritis, and gets around with a can. He is one of our true pioneers
and epitomizes what made this country greaL.courage, honesty, and hard
work.
On January 4, 1976, he observed his 82nd birthday. Still relatively
active for his advanced years, he continues to live in the house
furthest down the Ar av aipa Creek, which has been his home for more
years than most can remember. His daughter, Lola Acevedo, devotedly
cares for him. Each year on his birthday, his daughter Lola takes him
on a pilgrimage to stand on the site of the old home place and muse
over past memories.
One of his past reflections concerns his cowboy days when he used to
move cattle for Bert Dunlap, who lived at the present Proctor ranch,
out of the Canyon to Safford. This in volve d three days and nights of
horseback riding, carrying supplies on pack horses, stopping to eat
wherever they got hungry, and sleeping on the ground. The fare
consisted mostly of jerky, cowboy biscuits and coffee. [Eastern Arizona
Courier, Jan. 14, 1978, article by Eleanor Claridge]
"Lupe" Salazar
was born in Aravaipa Canyon on January 4, 1894' and he has lived at the
eastern entrance of that isolated and majestic barranca ever since.
There is no entry to the perpendicularly walled Canyon without trespass
through Lupe's headquarters. The "road" which crosses the year-around
creek 4 times, stops at his house.
Lupe's parents were Epigmenio and Crespina Salazar. His father, who was
known as "Pi as a n o", was born at Contention, (on the San Pedro about
10 miles northwest of Tombstone) before the Gadsden Purchase of 1854.
The Salazar family optioned to return to what was left of the State of
Sonora after Santa Ana sold the area south of the Gila River to the
U.S. They settled in Oposura, a small town that had been founded in
1644. But in 1869, Lupe Salazar's father returned on his own to what
had become the southern part of Arizona Territory where he settled down
in the Aravaipa Valley country.
Lupe Salazar's youth was spent working for some of the earliest
cattlemen and goatmen who carne into that difficult country in the
1880's and 1890's.
Mr. Salazar is probably the only substantial range cowman in Arizona
today who got started in the business with a Jersey bull. In 1917, he
was working for William Wootan who had what is today the McNair ranch.
One of Wootan's milk cows died, leaving a doggie bull calf, so he gave
it to his young COWboy. A year or so later Lupe's father gave him 2
heifers for taking care of "Paisa no's" E Slash Seattle.
Lupe was in business. In 1920, he bought 10 Hereford heifers and their
Wrench 3 brand from Drew Wilson, Lupe's boss at the time. Lu pe's
cattle open-ranged in the Aravaipa-Klondyke country. His headquarters
was the head-of-the Canyon homestead he had taken out. This was one of
Geronimo's favorite camping sites and was the scene of an Apache
massacre. Lupe got all the details from John Nosey, an old Apache Scout
who died several years ago. He was over 100 years old. Nosey would ride
over from the San Carlos Reservation for lengthy visits with the
Salazars.
Subsequently, over the years, Lupe Salazar bought other parcels of land
and range rights (several of them with histories just as interesting as
his homestead place) from Carl Bleak, Virgil Mercer, John Ditmer, Abe
White and Jared Bleak, to build up a splendid, but perpendicular ranch
entity. He still has the Wrench 3 brand, as well as his father's old E
Slash S which is over 75 years old, an d the old Wootan 6X.
Lupe Salazar is proud of a strain of Opata blood in his veins, and will
he might be. Under Spanish rule the Opatas became famous as soldiers,
"mas vali e ntes", and "mejores soldados", according to old military
reports. They fought on the side of the insurgents during the revolt
from Spain, under Colonel don Jose Hermosillo, and later with equal
valor· against the French.
In 1912, Lupe had married Teresa Moraga, a local Aravaipa girl, and
they had 7 children. The 3 sons are partners with their father, Bill,
Tex, and Adolfo. The daughters are Clara (Mrs. Rudy) Caballero, Benson;
Mrs. Lola Acevero, Phoenix; Christine (Mrs. Alex) Pacheco, Safford; and
Kate (Mrs. John) Osborn, Cincinnati, Ohio. Mrs. Salazar died in 1951
and Mr. Salazar still lives at his old place, the well-loved and
respected patriarch of the Aravaipa. His son, Bill lives nearby, and
Tex lives in Saf for d. The three of them work the cattle, with an
assist from Adolfo, who li ves in Mammoth, whenever the busy season
arrives.
Contributed by
Nancy Osborn
Lola
Acevedo is happy with her life today - - she has good health, an
attractive home and yard, and freedom to go and do what she pleases.
But she sometimes looks back on her past life with nostalgia. She was
bom and raised in the Aravaipa Canyon, the daughter of Lupe and Teresa
Moraga Salazar. She was the fourth of Lupe's nine children (one child
died).
The canyon then was full
of happy families - The Salazars, the Moragas, the Valenzuelas, each
with many children to play with. Just mix water and kids and you have a
happy combination. But there was work too - no child of Lupe's was ever
allowed to slack off. Lupe was a loving, but also stem parent; no
off-spring ever talked back to him or questioned his word.
Back in the depression
days it was hard to make a living, and the boys in the family weie all
out working to help support everyone. Lupe needed help with the cattle,
so Lola became his right-hand cowboy, and a pretty good one at that She
much preferred this to doing housework.
At that time there was a
canyon school which Lola attended. Mr. Bott was her first grade
teacher. Others were Mrs. Hyde, Mrs. Haby, and Mrs. Heme Dowdle.
For a while Lupe worked
on his own ranch at Klondyke, then at the Monk Ranch near Willcox.
Later he was employed at Copper Creek, near Mammoth.
It was in Oracle that
Lola, then 16, first met handsome Fernando Acevedo, and fell for him
hard. He was her first boy friend. After a decorous courtship (no free
love in those days - Lupe saw to that, as he always went along as
chaperone) Fernando decided to ride over the Galiuros to see Lupe and
ask for Lola's hand in marriage. The Salazars liked Fernando and
consented to his marrying Lola. Lola was the first child to marry from
that family, so she was given an elegant church wedding in Mammoth,
complete with music and abundant food.
Fernando and Lola set up
housekeeping in Mammoth and it was here that their first child, Emma,
was born. When the baby was about 16 months, Lola became so homesick
for her family and the canyon that she determined to saddle her horse,
take the baby and ride over the mountains into the Aravaipa. Intrepid
soul! A hard day's ride indeed! Fernando would not let her go alone, so
he arranged for a few days off from his job, and accompanied her. Lola
was delighted that he did, as her arm soon got tired holding the baby,
so they took turns with the child, arriving before dark of that day.
Needless to say, her family was surprised (and delighted) to see them.
Three other children
blessed Lola's home - Tom, Cecelia, and Teresa. Sadly, the marriage did
not prove to be a happy one, and when Lola was 31 she was divorced.
From then on she raised the children by herself -by dint of good
management and hard work.
Lola's most enjoyable
employment was with a Countess Margaret Suffolk, of England. Six months
of the year Lady Margaret lived in England and six months in Oracle,
Arizona. When she was in Oracle, she employed Lola as a
companion-helper - (she had additional help). The Countess was truly a
kind, gracious and generous employer. Her portrait shows a lovlOely
creature of refined and delicate features, clad in a long, jeweled
court gown. The picture of her English estate shows a picturesque
ancestral mansion.
Lola assisted Lady
Margaret for 10 years, until the countess died of heart failure. During
the time with the Countess, Lola returned to her own home every night,
and was able through the generosity of the lady, to put three of her
children through the university - quite a feat for a single parent
It was an experience to
be in the Suffolk home, as she had many distinguished guests - Nelson
Rockefelleer for one. Lola learned to wait on table, what wines to
serve, etc. - gracious living at its best
After the death of the
Countess, Lola took care of an elderly lady in Sun City for over six
years. Then, first her mother, and later her father needed her and she
returned to the Aravaipa. Her mother died in 1953, her father lived
'til 1976. He was buried in the little cemetery just across from the
Catholic church in the canyon.
Lola purchased a home
near Lone Star, but she continued to help people who needed her. Some
of the ones she has aided have been Maggie McNair, Bill Shurtz, Lola
Ferguson, Hazel Prina, Victoria Tapia, Norma Lee Riggs, and Cora
Chatfield. All have been extremely kind and pleasant to work for.
All of Lola's children
have turned out very well indeed. Emma is happily married and has six
children. Tom graduated in husbandry in the College of Agriculture at
Arizona State University. Cecelia married an attorney and has two
children.
The baby, Teresa, is not
married, but is pursuing a teaching career, working with children with
learning disabilities. They are all well and happy and Lola sees them
frequently. So life goes on for Lola, with good things yet in view.
Contributed
by
Nancy
Osborn