To give with
perfect accuracy the early history of Phoenix is a most difficult task.
The printed records are fragmentary and incomplete, and the historian
must rely upon evidence given by the few old settlers remaining, and
the descendants of others.
The year 1872
marked a new area in the development of the future capital, and again I
wish to express my thanks, particularly to James M. Barney, who has
placed at my disposal a manuscript which shows great labor in its
preparation and in the accumulation of facts relative to Phoenix and
the Salt River Valley during this most interesting period, as well as
to James A. R. Irvine, Mrs. Mary H. Gray, Miss Caroline G. Hancock,
Mrs. Laura B. Gardiner, and others familiar with occurrences during the
early seventies.
In 1872 Heyman
Menassee, a merchant of Wickenburg opened the fourth store in Phoenix,
during March of that year. Edward Irvine, in March or April of the same
year, opened the first book and news depot under the firm name of E.
Irvine & Co. Mr. Irvine, at this time, was the regular
correspondent for the weekly "Miner" of Prescott, writing, as a rule,
under the nom de plume of "Bob." His pioneer news depot was located on
south First Street, just off Washington, fronting on the west side of
the City Hall Plaza, and was used by Mr. Irvine also as a law office,
he having been regularly admitted to practice in the Territorial
courts. Mr. Irvine came to the Salt River Valley in 1870, and was well
known among the early settlers. He was the owner of what was afterwards
known as the Irvine Addition to the City of Phoenix. In 1879 he built
the two story building on the southwest corner of Washington and First
Streets, now occupied by the J. W. Dorris Grocery Co. This was the
second brick building in Phoenix, and was at the time the most
pretentious structure in the town. Many of the professional men of that
day had their offices on the second floor. The corner lot occupied by
the building was, as before noted, the first one sold in the town of
Phoenix. Mr. Irvine left the Salt River Valley about the year 1905,
settling in Berkeley, California, where he died in the year 1916,
leaving quite a large estate in Phoenix. His oldest son, J. A. R.
Irvine, accompanied his father to the Territory in 1870, and is still a
resident of Phoenix, and one of Maricopa County's representatives in
the first State Legislature. He was the junior member of E. Irvine
& Co., and severed his connection with that firm on May 21st, 1875.
Another son, Thomas, came to the valley about twenty years after his
father, and at this writing, 1918, is a member of the well known
corporation of The McNeil Co., printers and stationers, in Phoenix.
The pioneer
hostelry of Phoenix was built and conducted by John J. Gardiner, and
was known as the "Phoenix Hotel." It was a one story adobe building,
construct- ed in the form of a hollow square, and stood at the
northwest corner of Washington and Third Streets, where the Capitol
Hotel is now located. This ground is still owned by the heirs of Mr.
Gardiner, who are to-day among the largest owners and heaviest tax
payers in Phoenix. In the early days this hotel was extensively
patronized, and contained, among other luxuries, a curious swimming
pool for the benefit of the summer guests. From the acequia along the
west side of Third Street a small ditch ran into the inside court of
the hotel, where it formed a large pool in a deep excavation, the
overflow water finding an outlet in another small ditch which connected
with the acequia along the north side of Washington Street. The pool in
the court was covered with a canvas house, and in summer time the
hotel guests could always enjoy a fresh cool plunge, a rare luxury at
that season. Mr. Gardiner rented his hotel at times to other parties,
it being conducted for a short time in August, 1872, by Steele &
McCarty, and in October of that same year by Van Warren & McCarty.
For many years after it was opened to the public, Gardiner's Hotel, as
it was locally known, was one of the most popular establishments in the
town. Its proprietor and his wife took a commendable interest in the
affairs of the community. The "Fourth of July" celebration of 1872, is
thus described by the correspondent of the "Miner" at Phoenix, under
date of July 5th: "
But few people
were in town yesterday. The great and glorious Fourth passed off very
quietly. It was ushered in by a salute of small arms just after
midnight, and a booming of anvils in the early dawn. "
"When light enough
to distinguish objects, a flag, the only one in Phoenix, was seen
gracefully waving over 'Gardiner's Hotel.' This flag was made expressly
for use on the occasion. Mrs. Gardiner provided an excellent Fourth of
July dinner, while the lads and lassies held a ball in the evening, and
so passed the day."
The correspondent
of the "Miner," under date of December 17th, 1875, gave the following
account of Thanksgiving Day in Phoenix: "
"On Thanksgiving
Day, the boarders at the Phoenix Hotel sat down to a Thanksgiving
dinner, with a huge turkey served up in Thanksgiving style. The Hon.
John Y. T. Smith with Mrs. Smith at his
right, and Judge Alsap at his left, sat at the head of the table and
did the honors of the occasion in a Thanksgiving manner. Wit and wisdom
flowed freely; wine and lemonade were in abundance, though the latter
remained entirely untouched. At the end of the repast, the guests
retired, we hope, with a Thanksgiving disposition."
Mr. Gardiner was
born June 21st, 1841, in Gloucestershire, England. He learned the
business of millwright and machinist, being employed in a flour mill at
the age of eighteen. He came to America in 1862, arriving after a
voyage of three weeks on the sailing vessel, "John J. Boyd." He first
located in Omaha, Nebraska, and in partnership with Henry Clifford he
bought teams and for several years was engaged in freighting across the
plains. His first trip was to Salt Lake City, from whence he went to
Montana and Nebraska. The Indians being very troublesome, and a
constant menace to travelers, they only went in large companies, and
though some were not so fortunate, Mr. Gardiner was never molested, and
prospered financially. In 1869 he went to Los Angeles, and the
following year came to Arizona, settling in Phoenix, where he died
February 9th, 1905. For twelve years he engaged in hauling supplies
from Yuma to Tucson, Camp Grant and Prescott, as well as to different
mining camps in the mountains. In this service he had five wagons, each
provided with ten mules, and frequently as much as six tons were
transported in a trip.
During this time
Mr. Gardiner invested largely in Phoenix property, among them the
machine and blacksmith shop at the corner of Adams and Second Street,
which was carried on under his supervision, and in 1886, the fine city
waterworks plant was inaugurated, he being made president of the
company. Wells were dug, and a well equipped plant was placed in
running order. A stand pipe one hundred feet high was built ; a
pressure of forty pounds was maintained, and perhaps no other one
improvement has done so great a service to the city as this enterprise,
with which Mr. Gardiner was connected until the year 1890. About the
year 1888 he organized the Phoenix Electric Light Company, of which he
was president until he sold out to the present management. The fine
modern works were built under his direction on Block 19. The first
planing mill in Phoenix was built and operated by him for some time,
and he also erected under contract the buildings known as the City
Hall, the Valley Bank Building, which was then on the corner of Wall
and Washington Streets and many other well known structures. In 1894
the largest flour mill in this Territory was built by him, and for six
years he was at the head of the enterprise, after which he leased it.
This mill was situated on the corner of Second and Adams Streets, and
was three hundred by three hundred feet in dimensions, including the
warehouse. All the latest improvements were employed in it, and it had
a capacity of a hundred and twenty barrels a day. At this time Mr.
Gardiner owned a fine improved farm of a hundred and sixty acres,
situated about three miles from Phoenix. He was never a politician, nor
an aspirant for office. He was affiliated with the Republican party.
His first wife
having died, he married in Phoenix Miss Laura B. Franklin, to which
union two children were born, Charles and Mary. Mrs. Gardiner was born
in Los Angeles and educated in Mills College, Oakland, California. Her
father, Samuel Franklin, was a pioneer farmer of California, and for
many years was a miner in and around Prescott, after which he settled
in the Salt River Valley. A son was born to Mr. Gardiner by his first
wife, who now resides in Riverside, California.
Johnny Roach was
the pioneer saloon man of the town. In what was known as the "Old
Brewery," Cromwell A. Carpenter operated a saloon in the early part of
1872, his place of business being located
about where the Central Hotel, owned by Joe Thalheimer, now stands. In
April of that year Carpenter retired from business, and was
succeeded by Cavaness & Cos-grove, whose saloon was well stocked
with favorite brands of liquors and cigars. This of course, became the
favorite resort of those requiring liquid refreshment.
Cavaness &
Cosgrove also conducted a good wagon and blacksmith shop in the rear of
their establishment, where repairing and shoeing could be done "on
short notice," and owned ox teams which freighted government stores
throughout the central portion of the Territory. Aside from these
enterprises they also managed what was called Phoenix Wells Station, on
the Agua Fria, on the direct road from Phoenix to Wickenburg and Camp
McDowell, which was fitted up expressly for the convenience of
travelers. In the old Brewery building where their saloon was located
had been manufactured the first beer ever made in the Valley, by Abe Peeples,
of Rich Hill fame, George Roberts, and others from Wickenburg. Matt
Cavaness was widely known as a freighter, and at a later date his teams
and wagons hauled much of the ore from the Silver King mine during the
years of its early development. Frank Cosgrove, his partner, was one of
the most popular men in this part of the Territory. He passed away at
his home in Phoenix on October 13th, 1875, at the age of thirty-nine
years. He had been one of the early settlers of Central Arizona, coming
to this section in 1863 in the employ of Butterfield's Overland Stage
and Express Company. In 1864 he settled at
Maricopa Wells, where he followed his occupation, that of blacksmith,
for eight years. From there he went to Camp McDowell and served as post
blacksmith for one year, after which he made his residence in Phoenix.
He was well known throughout the Territory, and his genial disposition
made him many friends. His death occurred suddenly from congestion of
the lungs, and cast a feeling of gloom over the entire community, where
he left a wife and five children.
W. H. Pope
conducted a well equipped barber shop at this time.
Early in the
history of Phoenix there was constructed on the northeast corner of
Washington and First (then Montezuma) Streets, a substantial adobe
building by James M. Cotton and George E. Mowry. It was built in
connection with a store house belonging to Murphy & Dennis, which
adjoined the Cotton & Mowry Building on the east. The following in
reference to it is found in the "Miner" of September 21st, 1872:
" Messrs.
Mowry & Cotton's new building on the corner of Washington and
Montezuma Streets is fast approaching completion. This and the house of
Dennis & Murphy are connected so as to form one. Sawed lumber is
used entirely in the roof, and is found to be as cheap as and superior
to the cottonwood poles. A piazza extends around it on Washington and
Montezuma Streets and the weather boards are nicely painted."
The foundation of
these buildings was commenced in the latter part of April, 1872, and
the glass doors and windows for the Mowry and Cotton side of the
structure were received by "overland freight" in the latter part of
August, the lumber used in its construction being from the mills around
Prescott.
The combination
building fronted sixty feet on Washington Street and forty-five on
Montezuma Street, the main portions of the old structure standing until
recently, and housing for many years the old and well-known firm of
Goldberg Bros., clothing merchants, composed of Aaron Goldberg, who
reached Phoenix in June of 1875, and Dave Goldberg, a younger brother,
who came to this city in December of 1876.
When the Mowry and
Cotton building was completed, an old-time housewarming was had,, which
the press noted as follows :
"On Saturday
evening (Sept. 25th, 1872), by way of housewarming the youth and beauty
of Phoenix and vicinity had a ball in the new house of Mowry and
Cotton. At the upper end of the dancing floor, on a raised platform,
sat the musicians, a young girl with a harp, a boy with a violin, and a
little old man, the father of the other two musicians blowing upon a
flute. Between thirty and forty ladies were in attendance and gentlemen
in abundance. Dancing was kept up until way in the night which, with
flirtation, chit-chat, etc., made the hours pass away pleasantly. After
the dance the party repaired to the Capitol House for supper."
Messrs. Cotton
& Mowry, when their building was completed, opened a high-class
liquor establishment, and it was used for this purpose for many years.
In front of this establishment in the early days, a unique, yet
serviceable sidewalk formed of empty beer bottles, turned bottom upward
and sunk into the dirt, extended around this old building on both the
Washington Street and First Street sides. The partnership between
Cotton and Mowry was dissolved on August 14th, 1875.
In May, 1872, Dr.
Thibodo, from Wickenburg, and Dr. Forbes, from Tucson, located in the
town to practice their profession in partnership. These were the first
medical practitioners in Phoenix. Commenting upon the entrance of the
two pioneer physicians into the professional life of the town, the
following is taken from a letter from Phoenix :
In case the Apache
kill their victims outright, the doctors will have to follow the
honorable profession of 'adobe making' for a living."
In the latter part
of 1872, Dr. Forbes opened the first drugstore in the town in
connection with his practice. Dr. Thibodo lived in Phoenix for many
years, erecting the "Thibodo Building" on the south side of Washington
Street, between Center Street and First Avenue, where he conducted a
drugstore until his removal to California, in the later nineties, where
he passed away. Before removing to California he married the widow of
Johnny Le Barr, who had been assassinated on Washington Street by a man
named McCluskey.
"Pete" Holcomb was
the first butcher of the town, opening his shop at first in the pioneer
building known as "Hancock's Store," in the latter part of 1871. He
later took in a partner, E. T. Hargraves, the firm being known as "Hargraves
& Holcomb."
In June, 1872, S.
Granio, a gentleman from Sonora, Mexico, came to the valley and started
a small store and butcher shop combined, in what was called the
"Mexican Carriage Shop," and sold meat in competition with Hargraves
and Holcomb. In October, of the same year, Copeland & Steel opened
another shop.
From Elliott's
"History of Arizona Territory," the following description of the first
butcher shop in town is taken :
"The original
butcher shop was kept by Pete Holcomb, in the little building that was
doing duty at the time as Courthouse, Justice's office, store, etc. It
was in truth an original meat market, for Pete merely killed the steer,
cut it in quarters, and hung them up. All customers had to cut off what
they wanted, furnishing their own knives, and paying from twenty-five
to thirty cents per pound for it. In those days only one beef was
consumed in one week."
In June, 1872,
Johnny George and Jack Walters completed a new adobe building, fronting
66 feet on Washington Street, between First Street and Central Avenue
and separated into two compartments by a covered alley, one of which
was used for a restaurant, running back sixty feet, and the other for a
saloon, running back forty feet. A second story of frame served as the
hotel part of this establishment, the second to maintain accommodations
for travelers arriving in Phoenix. This was also the first two-story
building to be erected in the town. The saloon was opened for business
on Sunday, June 9th, 1872, the proprietors serving liquors and dinner
free to all. The restaurant was opened to the public soon after, in
connection with which they conducted the hotel. Their place of business
was known as the Capitol House, and was a very popular retreat, George
having charge of the hotel and restaurant, and Walters of the saloon.
This building was located on East Washington Street about where the
Capitol poolroom is now located, and adjoining on the west the little
adobe store of Morgan and Dietrich. The main portion of this old
building was destroyed in the great fire of 1886, which swept away
nearly the whole of the north side of Washington Street between First
and Center Streets.
John George had
been a miner in California, and came from that State into Arizona. He
was a man of small stature and good disposition, being very popular
with his associates. In later years he lived upon a ranch to the
southwest of what is now the Capitol Grounds, the place being more
generally known to-day as the Fickas Ranch. He continued to reside upon
this property until the time of his death, which occurred in the early
nineties.
Jack Walters, his
partner, came to the Salt River Valley with the pioneer party of Jack
Swilling, and continued to reside in the valley until the time of his
death.
Barnett &
Block, who had established a mercantile business in the Salt River
Valley before the Phoenix Townsite was laid out, moved within the
limits of the town about the middle of the year 1872, and immediately
took a prominent place among the business houses of the town. They
constructed a large adobe building on the southeast corner of Center
and Jefferson Streets, which was torn down in the year 1915, to make
room for what is now the Jefferson Hotel. This firm was one of the
successful trading establishments of the Valley, doing a heavy business
in government contracts, and the buying and selling of grain and flour.
Their freight teams were numerous and were constantly on the road
through Central Arizona. About the middle seventies, they sold out
their interests here to the Prescott firm of Wormser & Wertheimer,
who continued the business at the same location for several years.
After the death of Aaron Wertheimer, on June 20th, 1874, Wormser
continued the business and was actively interested in various
enterprises throughout the valley, principally in acquiring farming
lands on the south side, and in time became very wealthy. At his death,
which occurred about the year 1895, he left the largest estate ever
administered upon in our local Probate Court. Charlie Goldman was the
Administrator, and John H. Langston was Probate Judge at the time.
The following
story concerning Wormser is reproduced upon the authority of Mr. Barney
:
" While still
around Prescott, Wormser, although reputed a shrewd and thrifty
business man had, at one time, been very hard up for money, and had
gone to his friend, Dr. W. W. Jones, of Wickenburg, for financial help.
Dr. Jones loaned him a goodly sum on his personal note. Time passed,
the note became due, and finally outlawed. Wormer's luck was still
against him, and money was scarce. Then he came to the Salt River
Valley, recouped his fortune by lucky investments, and remembered the
outlawed note due Dr. Jones, who then lived at Tempe, and was often in
Phoenix. Dr. Jones was a Virginian by birth, of proud bearing and
distinguished lineage, who, at an early day, had sought his fortune in
the west. Although a man of education and culture, when he reached
Arizona he became as one 'to the manor born' and, in outer
accouterments, differed not at all from the hardy pioneers about him.
Upon engaging him in conversation, however, his scholastic attainments
and gentlemanly training became immediately apparent. He was a man of
great kindness of heart, and was universally esteemed by all who knew
him, and passed away at his home in Tempe about the year 1903.
" One day, while
walking along Washington Street in Phoenix, he met Wormser, who, on
this occasion, stopped him and said: 'Doctor, I owe you some money.'
Dr. Jones recalling the loan which he had long since charged up on the
side of his losses, agreed with him. 'Doctor,' said Wormser, after some
hesitation, if you will knock off de interest on dat money, I vill pay
you de principal.' Dr. Jones could be disdainful and scornful when he
so desired, and, on this occasion, he merely looked with contempt at
the portly merchant and, turning on his heels, walked away. Wormser,
crestfallen, also continued on his way. Several months after the
occurrence of this incident, the two men again met near the same place
and Wormser again spoke to Dr. Jones : 'Doctor,' he said, 'If you vill
come down to my office, I vill pay you dat money, both de principal and
de interest.'
" Dr. Jones
replied that he would do so, and, in time, visited his debtor, when he
received every cent due him. After this episode no one could question
Wormser 's integrity in the presence of Dr. Jones without arousing the
latter 's ire, since he had a practical demonstration of Mr. Wormser 's
honesty in his payment of this outlawed debt."
In May, 1872,
James D. Monihon and the Starar Brothers, opened the Phoenix Livery,
Feed and Sales Stables on the northeast corner of Washington and First
Avenue, then called Cortez Street, and their advertisement stated that
the proprietors had "constantly on hand plenty of hay and grain of the
best quality ; also a large corral for the accommodation of citizen and
government outfits." In September of the same year they enlarged their
accommodations as will be noted by the following :
" Monihon and
Starar Bros., have just finished a large corral, back of the one they
now occupy, three hundred feet long by one hundred and forty feet wide.
Numerous other improvements are under way, which I will notice at some
future time."
This last corral
covered the half block of ground bounded by Center and Adams Street,
First Avenue, and Broadway Alley, upon which are now located the
valuable properties of E. H. Winters, widely known as the proprietor of
the old Beehive Store, Charlie Donofrio, of confectionery fame, and
others. It was claimed that this "horse hotel" could accommodate two
thousand animals and two hundred wagons at one time. In October, 1872,
the proprietors sunk a well on the premises in order to obtain a
sufficient supply of water, and at thirty feet struck a fine, clear
flow. This was about the first large well in successful operation
within the town site of Phoenix. Later Starar Brothers disposed of
their interest in this enterprise to their partner, who, in turn sold
out in 1875 and took a trip back east. He returned to Phoenix and, in
1889, constructed upon a portion of the ground formerly occupied by the
stable and corral, what is now known as the Monihon Building.
Mr. Monihon, the
builder of this substantial brick structure, was one of the best known
men in Central Arizona. He came into the Territory in 1863 in Captain
Joseph P. Hargrave's Company, "F" of the 1st California Volunteers.
After his discharge from the army, he lived in the Prescott country for
many years, and, in partnership with W. E. Dennison, was interested in
the "Plaza Feed & Livery Stable" at Prescott, during 1868. This
partnership was dissolved in October of that year, Mr. Monihon
retaining the entire business, which he shortly afterward sold to
Gideon Brooke and Jacob Linn of Prescott, the latter having been a
member of the famous Walker Party. After working for a number of years
in the mines around Prescott, particularly at Big Bug, where he was
engineer at the mill, he located in Wickenburg, and on March 1st, 1869,
opened the "Wickenburg Feed and Sale Stable." When in Prescott he was
for a time employed as mail rider, an extremely dangerous occupation in
those days, between the mining camp of Bully Bueno and Prescott, a
country infested with bands of hostile savages. Leaving Wickenburg Mr.
Monihon located in the Salt River Valley, where he met with deserved
business success. As before noted, in conjunction with Captain Wm. A.
Hancock, he built the first courthouse.
Mr. Monihon was an
enterprising citizen, and at one time was Mayor of Phoenix. His widow,
a daughter of Hiram H. Linville, who came to the Salt River Valley from
California in 1876, with her father, still resides in Phoenix where she
has managed with marked ability the extensive property interests left
in her keeping by the death of her husband.
In June, 1872,
Miguel L. Peralta, a Wickenburg merchant opened a store in Phoenix and
soon became one of the principal business men of the town. He had but
limited capital, and his first place of business was located on the
west side of South First Street, about midway between Washington and
Jefferson Streets. Remaining here but a short time, Peralta decided to
construct another and larger adobe building on the northeast corner of
Washington and Center Streets, and when this storeroom was finished he
transferred his business to it. Meeting with reverses Peralta sold his
various interests, the Washington Street store being purchased by
Messrs. Charlie and Leo Goldman, who are still residents of this city,
and the oldest continuous merchants in Phoenix. After Adolph, the first
of the Goldmans to reach Phoenix, had conducted his store for some
years in the Heyman Menassee Building on Washington Street, where he
had first located, he found that it was too small for his growing
trade, and purchased the building which Peralta had left vacant on
South First Street, to which he removed his business, where he
continued in business for several years. As a merchant he was
successful, dealing extensively, at first, in hay, grain and flour,
when, deciding to visit his native land of Bavaria, he sold his
mercantile interests to his brother Charles. The latter, after clerking
for a number of years for C. P. Head & Co., at Prescott, had opened
a small store in Williamson Valley, and had come from that place to
Phoenix in March of 1879, walking, it is said, behind a pack burro.
He conducted the
business founded by his brother at the same location until he formed a
partnership with his brother Leo, who had previously been in business
in the town of Pinal, Pinal County. They bought the Peralta lot and
store building on Washington Street, to which they transferred their
business. For nearly twenty years they conducted business at this
location, selling it in 1900 for the highest price which had ever been
paid up to that time for a lot in this city.
When Leo Goldman
first came to Phoenix, on May 1st, 1877, he clerked for his brother
Adolph, remaining with him for some little time. When the great Silver
King Mine of Pinal County commenced its wonderful record of production,
Leo Goldman gathered together his savings and opened a small store at
Pinal, then a thriving and busy little town some distance to the south
of the mine. When the Silver King was in full blast, Leo Goldman
enjoyed a lucrative trade from that mine, and when he closed out his
business there to come to Phoenix, it was said he had a snug little
fortune.
The Goldmans,
during their years of business, have experienced many reverses of
fortune. At times their losses have been great, particularly in the dry
season of 1891-92. Their business was largely a credit one, and many
men in this valley, now in independent circumstances, owe their success
to the assistance given them in early days by Goldman & Co. They
never failed to grant an extension and were, themselves, at times, hard
pressed through their liberality in extending assistance to their many
customers. No merchants in the Salt River Valley are more thoroughly
identified with its prosperity than Charles and Leo Goldman. They now
enjoy a comfortable fortune.
The firm of
Charles Goldman & Co., was continued for about twenty-five years,
and the business is still conducted as a wholesale grocery store, known
as, "The Goldman Grocery Co., Inc."
In July 1872, H.
Morgan & Co., who, for a number of years prior, had been engaged in
business on the Gila River, as has been noted, began the erection of a
store building in Phoenix which was finished in the latter part of
August, stocked and opened to the public. The following item in the
"Miner" of September 21st, 1872, thus refers to this firm:
" H. Morgan &
Co., have finished their new building on Washington Street, joining on
to the new building of John George so as to form but one structure. A
piazza extends along the whole front built entirely of sawed lumber,
neat and tasty in appearance, and with the trees in front, their rich
green foliage forming a natural curtain, it is a pleasant place in
which to loaf."
Daniel Dietrich
was a member of this firm which, in later years became known as "Morgan
& Dietrich" their place of business being on a portion of the
ground now occupied by Goldberg Bros.' new building (1918). They
sustained a heavy loss through the fire of 1886, which, with other
setbacks, principally inability to collect accounts due, caused the
firm to finally collapse. Henry Morgan, the senior partner, passed away
in Phoenix in 1900, in straightened circumstances. He had settled on
the Gila River many years before he came to Phoenix, and traded with
the Indians on the nearby reservation, and also conducted a ferry
across the Gila River on the regular road from Prescott to Tucson and
Yuma, which was known as Morgan's Ferry. He became very proficient in
the use of various Indian dialects, and often, after he became poor,
acted as an interpreter in Indian cases in the local courts. He was a
kindly man, of decided views and of few words, but with a pleasing
personality.
In the month of
June, 1872, there were fifteen saloons in Phoenix proper ; one at east
Phoenix, and another at what was called the Halfway House, making
seventeen in all where the needful stimulant could be procured. Of this
number eight dealt exclusively in liquors, while others sold it in
connection with other merchandise. At the little village of Tempe
Charles T. Hayden had a large store, and also kept a stock of liquors.
Aside from these there were probably half a dozen pleasure resorts in
the Valley, where cocktails could be had upon demand. For the amusement
of the townspeople there were four dance houses, two monte banks and
one faro table. Another of the latter was installed very shortly after
the month above mentioned. Billiard tables did not reach the town until
a couple of months later. The first gambling game to be introduced into
the public resorts of Phoenix was a Mexican monte game, which attracted
much attention and patronage. This was followed shortly after by a faro
layout brought from one of the older communities, which tended to
divide public attention as will be noted by the following excerpt from
a Phoenix letter dated June 14th, 1872:
" Opposition is
the life of trade. A faro bank had been started in the saloon of George
& Walters, which, for the last two nights, has thrown the monte
bank in the shade.
" In the
early part of July, 1872, the Goldwater Brothers, Joe and Mike, came to
Phoenix to look over conditions with the view of engaging in business
if circumstances warranted such procedure. At that time their principal
place of business was at Ehrenberg, on the Colorado River, where they
conducted a large store under the firm name of J. Goldwater & Bro.,
and to which location they had moved from La Paz, where they had
established themselves when they first came to Arizona. Being favorably
impressed with the outlook in the Valley, they purchased from Columbus
H. Gray an uncompleted building which the latter was constructing near
the northwest corner of Jefferson and First Streets, together with a
couple of town lots. Mr. Gray had intended to use this building, when
completed, as a Masonic Hall as soon as a Lodge of Masons could be
gotten together in the town. The Goldwaters gave a contract to Pearson
& Barber to finish the building, and to erect another alongside of
it. Both of these buildings were roofed with shingles, at that time an
expensive form of roofing, and were of stout, solid construction.
Before the completion of their storeroom the Goldwaters purchased a-
large stock of goods from Hellings Bros., of East Phoenix (Mill City),
as will be noted by the following item:
"We have just
heard from reliable authority that M. Goldwater has purchased from
Hellings & Co., all the goods which they had in their store. Mr.
Goldwater will house these goods in town until he completes his new
house and commences business." (Correspondence from Phoenix, July 26th,
1872.)
When Pearson &
Barber had completed their contract, it gave the Goldwaters two large
rooms facing on the southwest corner of the City Hall Plaza, one fifty
by twenty-five feet and the other fifty by sixteen feet. On the evening
of November 27th, 1872, a grand ball was given in these newly furnished
rooms by Mr. W. H. Pope, which was largely attended by the ladies and
gentlemen of Phoenix and vicinity; by Mrs. James A. Moore, Miss Mary E.
Moore, Charles H. Kenyon and lady (who had been married earlier in the
evening) ; Larkin W. Carr and Chris Taylor, from Maricopa Wells
Station, T. W. Mclntosh and lady, from the Gila, and a number of
gentlemen from McDowell. The description of this event then states :
" The music by the
Fifth Cavalry Band was extremely good, the supper, at the Capitol
House, was excellent ; dancing was kept up all night, and the whole
passed off very pleasantly. Thanks are due Mr. Pope for his untiring
energy in the management of the whole affair as well as the gentlemen
on the various committees, and to J. D. Monihon in particular. During
the night the bride and groom (meaning Mr. and Mrs. Kenyon), attracted
much attention. The bride and her sister, dressed in white, moving in
the giddy mazes of the dance, appeared visions of loveliness, and Mr.
Kenyon, looking the picture of happiness, was pronounced the luckiest
man living."
Besides the stock
of goods bought from Hellings & Co., the Goldwaters brought in from
the outside between seventy thousand and one hundred thousand dollars
worth of goods, and early in December of 1872, they moved into their
new premises and opened their well stocked establishment to the public.
When these merchants started in business in the Valley, they had in
view the control of the grain output of this section, in which ambition
they were more or less disappointed. While they had more financial
backing than any other local firm and were able to advance quite a
little money to many of the farmers, they were never able to obtain
control of the grain market, and, after operating with indifferent
success for two or three years, sold out their business to Messrs.
Smith & Stearns, and removed to Prescott. Mike Goldwater was the
manager of the Phoenix branch, while his brother Joe continued to look
after the Ehrenberg store. Barnett & Block were their keenest
competitors, and Mike Goldwater, being unpopular with the farmers, they
were not only able to underbid him for government contracts, but were
always able to fill their contracts at the stipulated price in spite of
Mike's efforts to corner the market. Barnett & Block, however,
conducted their extensive business in such a haphazard sort of way,
that they were forced to sell to Wormser & Wertheimer, of Prescott,
who took over all their local interests.
The Goldwaters
were good business men and once, when the company that was working the
Vulture mine owed the firm some $30,000, and had no money with which to
meet the obligation, it turned over to them the property, which they
were to work at their own expense until their debt was satisfied.
Although the mine had furnished large quantities of rich ore, it had
never, up to that time, proven a profitable venture for the
stockholders. In the hands of the Gold- waters, however, with C. B.
Genung as manager, it was a paying proposition. It did not take them
very long to obtain their money. From this time forward, their wealth
was well established.
The Goldwaters
were natives of Poland, emigrating to this country in the early
sixties. They came to the southwest with little or no money in 1862 or
1863, and here laid the foundation for a comfortable fortune. Morris
Goldwater, a son of Mike, became a partner in the Ehrenberg firm in
1872, and came with his father to this Valley to assist in conducting
the business here. When the military telegraph reached Phoenix from
Maricopa Wells, straight across the desert and over the Salt River
Mountains through Telegraph Pass, Morris Goldwater became the first
operator of the Phoenix Station, which was located in Goldwaters'
store. Of late years he has been prominent in the political life of
Arizona, having been a member of the Constitutional
Convention, and a Senator from Yavapai County, during the second
session of the State Legislature. He is, at present, the head of the
firm of M. Goldwater & Bros., with stores at Prescott and Phoenix,
the latter branch having been re-established in 1883, and is the oldest
living merchant in Arizona.
In 1872 while
driving along the road from Prescott to Ehrenberg, in company with Dr.
W. W. Jones, Joe and Mike Goldwater were attacked by Indians. An
account of this is given in the "Arizona Sentinel" of June 22, 1872,
and is as follows:
" A party of three
gentlemen, Dr. W. W. Jones and Joe and Mike Goldwater, all of
Ehrenberg, left Prescott in the latter part of last week on their way
home. These gentlemen were traveling in two buggies. They had not
traveled more than fourteen miles, in the vicinity of MintValley, when
they were attacked by a band of not less than thirty Indians, supposed
to be the ever murderous Apaches. The three gentlemen could of course
offer no resistance, and their only means of escape was to outrun them.
The Indians pursued them for about four miles on the road, when,
fortunately they met a party of whites traveling in the direction of
Prescott, which caused the savages to abandon the chase, and, in their
turn, to seek security in their mountain holds. During this cowardly
attack Joe Goldwater was shot in the back, somewhere near the shoulder
blade; his brother Mike, had two balls put through the rim of his hat,
and Dr. Jones escaped with only a few bullet holes through his shirt
and coat. They drove to Skull Valley, about eighteen miles, where Dr.
Jones examined the wound received by Mr. Goldwater, probed it, but, up
to the next day, when the buck- board came by, the ball had not been
found." Joe Goldwater was more popular than his brother Mike. He was
made the first postmaster of Ehrenberg in 1871.
