Early Days in Arizona
Tucson - Population - Lawlessness - Charles D. Poston - Granville H. Oury - William S. Oury - Estevan Ochoa - Pennington Family - General Stone - Dr. C. H. Lord - W. W. Williams - Peter R. Brady - William Kirkland - Hiram Stevens - Samuel Hughes - Sylvester Mowry - John G. Capron - Solomon Warner - General Wadsworth - Colonel Ed. Cross - C. H. Meyer - First American Store in Tucson - First Flouring Mill - Tucson Only Walled City in United States - "Tucson a Century Ago'' - Another Account OF Survey and Location of Yuma.
At this time Tucson was the leading town or settlement of Arizona. It had a
population of perhaps a thousand, mostly Mexicans. The American flag had
been raised there by a company of United States Dragoons, but its
citizenship was not of a class to inspire confidence in peaceful, law
abiding Americans. In the absence of civil law, the nearest courts being in
New Mexico, every man was a law unto himself, and the consequence was that
its graveyards were largely filled with the victims of private quarrels, but
there were, among its citizenship, many of that class of Americans who
marked the trail of civilization across the continent, many of whom
inscribed their names in the early history of our State. Among these may be
mentioned
Charles D. Poston whom many of us remember in later years. He was one of the
first arrivals, coming here in 1856 for the purpose of opening up and
operating rich silver mines. Others were Granville (or Grant) H. Oury;
William S. Oury, one of the participators in the Camp Grant Massacre in
1871; Estevan Ochoa, for whom Ochoa Street in Tucson is named; the
Pennington family, in whose honor Pennington Street in Tucson is named;
General Stone, whose name is perpetuated in Stone Avenue in Tucson; Dr. C.
H. Lord and W. W. Williams, both of whom engaged in the first banking
business in Tucson; Peter E. Brady associated in later years in the Pima
County Bank with the Jacobs Brothers, and who became well known as a
politician; William Kirkland, who, it is said, first raised the American
flag in Tucson, and who, it is also said, was the first white man to marry a
white woman in the State of Arizona; Hon. Hiram Stevens, who was sent to
Congress in 1875, and served two terms; Samuel Hughes, still living, and
affectionately known to everyone in Tucson, and to many others throughout
the State as "Uncle Sammy Hughes"; Sylvester Mowry, who owned and worked the
Mowry Mine; John G. Capron, who was one of the members of the party
organized in Tucson to join Henry A. Crabb and his party; Solomon Warner,
General Wadsworth, Col. Ed. Cross, editor and duelist, and C. H. Meyer,
after whom Meyer Street in Tucson is named. Men they were, men of daring and
courage, men who distinguished themselves in many different ways, in public
life, as honored citizens, taking part in many desperate fights with the
Indians.
In 1856 Solomon Warner, above mentioned, established the first American
store in the "Old Pueblo," which event was speedily followed by other
American stores. His stock of goods was brought in from California upon the
hurricane decks of a mule train, which was, in that time, the favorite (and
only) method of freighting. He also established the first flouring mill in
the Territory, the ruins of which now stand on the west bank of the Santa
Cruz river, where, at that time, the village was located in what is now the
southwestern part of the city, from time immemorial "Old Tucson," and within
the old walls erected by Padre Garces for the protection of the inhabitants
against the incursions of the Apaches. Life in this far country was not
ideal; lurking foes lay in wait to ambush the traveler at every turn of the
trail. The murderous Apache, and the Mexican outlaw, rivalled each other in
their deeds of pillage, robbery and slaughter.
The exact date of the founding of the village or city of Tucson is somewhat
uncertain. Some writers claim that it was first located about the year 1555,
and that it is the oldest city in the United States. Others, however, claim
that it was not a settlement until the latter part of the seventeenth
century, when the missions along the Santa Cruz were established by Father
Kino, and that Tucson was a visitation attached to San Xavier del Bac. Of
one thing, however, there seems to be no doubt, and that is that Tucson,
whatever the exact date of its founding may have been, was the first and
only walled city ever existing in the United States. The descriptions of
this wall differ in some details, but the fact remains that the town was
walled for many years, probably not less than one hundred and fifty, and was
built in the form of a square, the wall rising about five feet above the
flat roofs of the houses, affording fine breastworks for the defense of the
Pueblo; the rear ends of the houses were built into and against the heavy
wall surrounding the little settlement. The only door allowed was the one
opening into the open square in front. The flat roofs, in the summer time,
furnished fine family sleeping rooms. The little fort was also built in the
form of a square, with a tower at each corner, fitted with loopholes or
small windows for outlooks, and for firing on raiding Indians or other
enemies, and these towers or bastions were so constructed as to enfilade the
walls, as well as to intimidate the approaching enemy. Artillery was
suggested by two small cannon, which one writer naively says, "were more
dangerous, however, to the garrison than to the enemy."
The enclosure formed by this wall occupied space bounded as follows:
Beginning at Washington Street, thence south to Pennington; up Pennington to
about the middle of the courthouse; thence north to Washington Street, along
Washington Street to the place of beginning. A map, herewith shown, was made
by Major Ferguson of the California Column, in 1861 or 1862, which shows the
boundaries of the wall practically as above set forth. There were two
entrances by immense doors made of heavy timber put solidly together, and
these were invariably closed at night. One of these entrances, stood where
Alameda Street enters Main, and some of the old wall has been used in the
construction of modern buildings.
It might be pertinent here to insert an article printed in the Tucson
Citizen under date of June 21st, 1873, which is headed: "Tucson a Century
Ago," and which is as follows:
"We met an old lady this week, who is supposed to be over one hundred years
old, and was born in Tucson. Her name is Mariana Dias, and from her we
obtained several historical items relating to old times, which were very
interesting to us. She says as long ago as she can remember, Tucson
consisted of a military post, surrounded by a corral, and that there were
but two or three houses outside of it. The country was covered with horses
and cattle, and on many of the trails they were so plentiful that it was
quite inconvenient to get through the immense herds. They were valuable only
for the hides and tallow, and a good sized steer was worth only three
dollars. This country then belonged to Spain and the troops were paid in
silver coin, and on all the coin the name of Ferdinand I., was engraved, and
money was plentiful. Goods, such as they were, were brought from Sonora on
pack animals. They had in those days no carts or wagons. The fields in front
and below Tucson were cultivated and considerable grain was also raised upon
the San Pedro. With an abundance of beef and the grain they raised, they
always had an ample food supply. They had no communication with California
and she never knew there was such a country until she had become an old
woman. San Xavier was built as long ago as she can remember, and the church
in the valley in front of the town, and there was also a church in Court
House square, which has gone to ruin and no trace is left of it. The priests
were generally in good circumstances, and were supported by receiving a
portion of the annual products, but for marriages, burials, baptisms and
other church duties, they did not ask or receive any pay.
"Among the leading and wealthier men who lived here at that time, she
mentioned the names of Epumusema Loreles, Santa Cruz, Ygnacio Pacheco, Eita
Soso, Padre Pedro, and Juan Diaz. On inquiry about the Apaches she spoke
with considerable feeling and said that many efforts had been made for peace
with them, but every attempt had resulted in failure; that whatever promises
they made, but a few days would pass before they proved treacherous and
commenced murder and robbery again; that they murdered her husband in the
field about two miles below Tucson and that most of her relatives had gone
in the same way; that she was now left alone and would be in want but for
such men as Samuel Hughes.
"She related the circumstances of one peace that was made about ninety years
ago. It seems that the Apaches got the worst of a fight on the Arivaca
Ranch; several were killed and the son of a chief was taken prisoner and
brought to Tucson, and the Indians at once opened negotiations to obtain
this boy. Colonel Carbon, in command of the Spanish forces, agreed with them
that on a certain day the Indians should all collect here, and to prevent
treachery and being overpowered, he brought in at night, and concealed
within the walls of the fort, all the men he could get from all the towns
within one hundred and fifty miles. On the day appointed, the Indians came
in vast numbers; all the plains around were black with them. The colonel
then told them if they had come on a mission of peace they must lay down
their arms and meet him as friends. They complied with his request, and then
all the people inside the walls came out and went among them unarmed. The
colonel gave them one hundred head of cattle and the boy prisoner was
produced and turned over to his father, and they embraced each other and
cried, and an era of reconciliation and peace seemed to have arrived. The
boy told his father that he liked his captors so well that he desired to
live with them, and in spite of the persuasions of the old man, he still
insisted upon remaining, and the Indians were compelled to return to their
mountain home without him. The boy was a great favorite with the people.
Sometime afterwards he went to visit his people, but before leaving he saw
everyone in the village and bade them goodbye, promising to return, which he
did in fifteen days. A few days after his return, he took the smallpox and
died. Very soon after his death, the Apaches commenced to murder and rob the
same as before.
"The aged lady then remarked with apparently much feeling, that since her
earliest recollection she had heard it said many times, 'We are going to
have peace with the Apaches,' but every hope had been broken and she did not
think we would have any peace as long as an Apache lived.
When she was a girl, the Apaches made two attempts to capture Tucson. The
first time nearly all the soldiers and men were away. The Apaches learning
of this, took advantage of the absence of the defenders and attacked the
town, and would have taken it and murdered everyone in it, but for the
timely assistance of the Pima and Papa go Indians, who came to the rescue in
large numbers, attacking the Apaches on two sides, driving them off and
killing many. The next time the sentinel on the hill west of town discovered
them coming; he gave the alarm, and after a severe fight, the Indians were
driven off. The Apaches had no firearms in those days, and were armed with
spears, bows and arrows.
"She referred to the pleasant times they used to have when their wants were
few and easily supplied, and told how they danced and played and enjoyed
themselves. We asked her if she thought the people were happier than now;
she did not seem inclined to draw comparisons, but remarked that if it had
not been for the Apaches, they would hardly have known what trouble was.
Crime was almost unknown and she never knew anyone to be punished more
severely than being confined for a few days. The law required all strangers,
unless they were of established reputation, to engage in some labor or
business, within three days after their arrival, or leave the town, and to
this regulation she attributes the exemption from crime. On inquiry as to
whether they had liquor in those days, she said that she never knew a time
when there was not plenty of mescal, but it was only on rare occasions that
anyone drank to excess, and then they acted to each other as brothers."
In Tubac was printed the first paper ever published in Arizona, its editor
being the Colonel Ed. Cross before mentioned, who fought a bloodless duel
with Lieut. Sylvester Mowry. This paper was called the "Arizonian" and was
printed on the first printing press brought into the territory. This
printing press was brought around the Horn and transported overland through
California to Tubac. It was afterwards used in publishing the "Tombstone
Nugget" and is now preserved among the curiosities of the Pioneer's
Historical Society in Tucson.
In the meantime Colorado City had been formed on the Colorado River, as we
have heretofore noted. An account of its survey and location by Charles D.
Poston and party is given in Pumpelly's "Across America and Asia." The
party, having no money to pay Don Jaeger for their ferriage across the
river, located the townsite on the Arizona side, surveyed and mapped the
same, and gave their German friend a glowing account of the future
possibilities of a steam ferry, and the large population which would
inevitably people the new town, and had no difficulty in selling him several
large lots and giving him a deed to one lot in exchange for $25.00, his
price for ferrying the party across the river. Outside of the military post
which was located on the California side, there were but few settlers at
what is now Yuma City, although it remained for many years the principal
port of entry to Arizona from the west, and also to California from the
East.
Notes About Book:
Source: History Of Arizona Volume 1, By Thomas Edwin Farish, 1915, Printed
and Published by Direction of the Second Legislature of the State of
Arizona, A. D.
Notes about Online Publication: This manuscript has been ocr'd and heavily
edited. Many of the Native American words have been reproduced as clearly as
online publication will allow us, but not all are exactly the way they were
in the original work. The structure of this manuscript has been changed to
allow better online presentation.
