Thursday, March 5, 2020

Who Were The First Residents of AZ Pioneers' Home?

 


Since early territorial days, the “Arizona Pioneers” (self-designated as those who entered the region before 1870) had a strong sense of identity as a group who had individually and collectively made significant contributions to the settling of the west (1).  In 1847 a group of leaders from Tucson formed the “Pioneer Historical Society” to collect written histories, as well as other documents and artifacts, to preserve the stories regarding the people who had braved the early frontier (2).  The society gained prestige and a source of funding when it was recognized by the legislature in 1897, “making it a trustee of the territory” and from that point forward, received appropriations for its support (1).  In 1901 this society moved its headquarters into a room above the city offices in Tucson, offering more congenial space for their meetings, as well as a secure place to keep the records they had assembled (3).  Regular monthly meetings were held and officers elected (4).  

Those early pioneer men took an active part in civic affairs, including lobbying for Arizona to gain statehood.  They wanted legal standing to provide “home rule, home government, and the satisfaction of enjoying the rights of a sovereign people,” expressing the desire to once more be able to “vote for a president before they cross the divide” (5).  

Several of the members of that early society lived out their last days in the Arizona Pioneer Home (6).

When I explored the roster of the first 100 residents of the home, I gleaned the following information:  

A third or more of the original residents were immigrants.   


 It is possible there was an even higher percentage of immigrants since no place of birth was recorded for ten of that first group.

Many of  those who were born in this country were the sons of immigrants and may still have had language, food and other preferences from their parents' home country.   Several could neither read nor write.

Because of the time period in which these men were  raised, regional differences could have mattered a lot, since quite a few had served in the Civil War.  There was a definite majority of Yankees in the group.







Their professions were as varied as their places of origin.  While many did engage in mining, there was a bookkeeper, a newspaperman, a school teacher, merchants, farmers, a carpenter, blacksmiths, stage coach drivers, stockmen and others.

The first 93 residents were all male, as women were not admitted to the home until  1916.  Of course, having women in the place definitely changed the social dynamic.  In a 2018 story about the Home for Prescott Living Magazine,  Prescott author Drew Desmond related "After women were admitted, one couple wanted to get married. Since there were no accommodations for couples, the superintendent turned the matter over to the state Legislature. After serious debate, they were turned down. Despite this, the couple eloped and after returning from their honeymoon, the superintendent relented and gave them a room together" (6). By the time I started researching the place in 2020 women far outnumbered the men, leading to some stiff competition among the ladies for the attention of the gents.  But in those early days, women were by far the minority. 

There has been some sensational press about the residents of the place claiming they were "Oldsters who spit, cuss and fight with canes" (7).  Legend has it that "For years, food was served family-style until Dynamite Joe once turned a bowl of gravy over the head of Six-Shooter Smith in a quarrel over a chicken leg. Thereafter, meals were served in individual portions" (6). Indeed, there were a number of men who were either dismissed or just took off during the early days because they were not happy with the rules that specified how often they bathed or limited their use of alcohol.  However, in order to be admitted to the institution in the early days each resident had to be recommended as suitable. I had the honor of reviewing the document submitted vouching for those early residents.   I also read through many reasons given for why a person might want to live there:







While some of the early residents did marry and raise families, the overwhelming majority remained single.  In their various ways they had dedicated their lives to the settling of Arizona Territory at a time when life was hard and often dangerous.  They worked hard, often at considerable peril.  With no family to care for them in their senior years, the Arizona Pioneers' Home gave them a place where they could come together live out their days with fellow pioneers to share stories, and perhaps occasionally fight over a chicken leg.

SOURCES:

(1)  Newspapers.com.  Arizona Daily Star. (Tucson, Ariz.) 05 Jan 1908. Sun. Page 7. “Address of Pres. Osborn to Pioneers.  https://www.newspapers.com/image/163774734/?terms=Pioneer%2BHistorical%2BSociety


(2)  Arizona Historical Society.  Review of “Pioneer Heritage: The First Century of the Arizona Historical Society” by C. L. Sonnichsen. Western Historical Quarterly, Volume 16, Issue 4, October 1985, Pages 474–475, https://doi.org/10.2307/968636

(3) Newspapers.com.  Arizona Daily Star. (Tucson, Ariz.) 27 July 1901. Sat.  Page 5. “In New Quarters”.
https://www.newspapers.com/image/163013773/?terms=Pioneer%2BHistorical%2BSociety

(4) Newspapers.com.  Arizona Daily Star. (Tucson, Ariz.) 07 Oct 1905. St. Page 8 “Local Paragraphs”. https://www.newspapers.com/image/163099501/?terms=Pioneer%2BHome

(5) Newspapers.com.  Arizona Daily Star. (Tucson, Ariz).  17 Oct 1905. Tues. Page 2 “Pioneers Want Statehood.   https://www.newspapers.com/image/163105292/?terms=Pioneer%2BHome

(6) Desmond, Drew.  Prescott Living Magazine. February 2, 2018. "The Story of the Arizona Pioneers Home".  https://prescottlivingmag.com/story-arizona-pioneers-home/

(7) Stanush, Claude. Time Life Magazine. Nov 3, 1947.  "Old Pioneers' Home".
https://pioneershome.az.gov/sites/default/files/documents/files/LIFE_Nov_3_1947.pdf



First Pioneers to Enter the Home

 From Weekly Journal Miner - 8 Feb, 1911





Who was James Howey?


In the March 15, 1911 Weekly Journal-Minor (1) there is a story on page 6 which reads:  “Three Pioneers Admitted to Home” (Referencing the Arizona Pioneers’ Home in Prescott.)  The men listed are James Howey of Phoenix, James Finn and H. Rambog of this county (Yavapai) saying they were all “favorably endorsed by the Board of Control for admittance to the Pioneer Home, and will be received today.”

The story goes on to extol the accomplishments of Mr. Howey, relating that he was known for having “erected the brick building that stands on the corner of Cortez and Goodwin streets, which is used  as a fire hall by the city.  He was a very industrious citizen and followed the vocation of blacksmith until ill – health compelled him to abandon an active life at the forge.  His entry to the Home is one that will meet with the approbation of all.”

The building being described on Cortez and Goodwin is reported to have later been occupied by a James Adams as a second hand store.  The City of Prescott purchased the property in 1904 to convert to headquarters for the fire department(2).  More detailed history of the building was given by Tom Collins in 2019.  "The original building stood where our City Hall stands today, on the southwest corner of Cortez and Goodwin streets, opposite the Post Office".  After having been put to a number of different uses, apparently the original bricks from that building were later reconstructed at the Pioneer Living History Museum just off I-17 near Anthem (3).

Knowing more about the building is interesting, to a point. There’s just one problem with the 1911 Journal-Miner article.  James Howey never was a resident of Arizona Pioneers’ Home.

James Howey  was born about 1846 in England.  He emigrated to the United States in 1870 when he would have been about 24.  By 1874 he was living in Prescott which was then part of Arizona Territory, as recorded in the Territorial Census record of that year (4).  He became a naturalized citizen in Prescott on October 6, 1876 (5).

On October 31, 1897 he married Sarah Balmforth, an immigrant from Leeds, West Yorkshire, England. 
He was 46 and Sarah was 43 (6).



Sadly, this marriage was not to last long.  Sarah Howey died on October 19, 1898, just a couple weeks short of their one year wedding anniversary (7).




From that time on things become a bit uncertain of what the circumstances were for James Howey.

In May of 1905 he was “Adjudged Insane”, based on the testimony of three neighbors and examination by two physicians, (W. E. Day and W. T. Smith).  At that time he was committed to the asylum in Phoenix (8). Exactly what criteria was the basis for the claim in not clear. Apparently he had been living alone in a house in the Verde Valley, “and how he had been getting food to keep him alive has been a mystery to his neighbors.  Recently they have noticed that he was getting worse, and they are afraid for him to be at large any longer, as he shows signs of being dangerous.  He is a German by birth, and has no family in this country” (9).  This is especially perplexing given that there is ample evidence that he was well known to have been born in England.  Also, just a week before this, it was reported that “Mr. Howey, who is in Jerome on business, states that the heavy winter rains have badly damaged the irrigation ditches, and it will take much time and labor to put them into condition” (10). 

So what is to be believed?  Was he traveling about conducting business as usual in Yavapai County, or was he a recluse in the Verde Valley who his neighbors believed to be dangerous?  Perhaps reporters for the journal miner at that time were less than careful about fact checking, considering the false report that Howey was entering Pioneer home in 1911, something he clearly never did.

  A little further digging reveals that in August of 1911 his application to enter the home (along with those of several others) “was set aside for further action at some future time, because of insufficient information furnished by the board of supervisors.”  At least he did not meet the fate of Robert Smith of Yavapai county, whose application at that same time was rejected because he was considered undesirable (11).

We do know from voter registration records that he was living in the Verde Valley in both 1902 and 1904.  By the time of the 1910 census he is listed as an "inmate" in the Territorial Insane Asylum in Phoenix, so it appears he was indeed committed there (12).  

Perhaps James Howey had developed dementia.  What the exact circumstances of him going to that institution were, we cannot say.  However, it seems that someone had made an effort to have him removed and placed in the Arizona Pioneers' Home, considering that a more appropriate setting for this man to spend his final days.  However, that was not to be.

James Howey died on September 19th, 1913 in the Arizona State Hospital for Insane.  Cause of death was listed as "Senility".   Apparently they knew nothing of his wife, as his death certificate lists him as single.  He was buried in the Asylum cemetery, a sad end for a man once so highly respected among his Prescott peers.


Works Cited:

 1.  Newspapers.com.  Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott, Arizona). 15 Mar 1911.  “Three Pioneers Admitted to Home”. https://www.newspapers.com/image/42315404/?terms=James%20Howey&match=1

         2. Newspapers.com.  Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott, Arizona). 30 Mar 1904. “The Local New of the City and County”. https://www.newspapers.com/image/46164189/?terms=James%20Howey&match=1

         3.  Collins, Tom.  Jan 05, 2019.  "Days Past Articles".  Sharlot Hall Museum.   https://archives.sharlothallmuseum.org/articles/days-past-articles/1/levi-bashfords-opera-house-in-howeys-hall  

 4.  Arizona, U.S., Territorial Census Records, 1864-1882.  Ancestry.com (2016)  Provo, UT, USA

 5.  Arizona History and Archives Division; Phoenix Arizona; Great Registers of Voters.  Voter Registrations, 1866-1955.  Ancestry.com. (2016). Provo, UT, USA

 6. Arizona, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1865-1972.  Ancestry.com. (2016)  Lehi, UT, USA

 7. Newspapers.com  Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott, Arizona) 19 Oct 1898. "Mrs. Howey's Death"
https://www.newspapers.com/image/39783496/?article=61f721c8-3a42-464b-b502-966c7456dec9&focus=0.6530951,0.77049047,0.759309,0.88162065&xid=3355&_ga=2.264818187.546644210.1623115925-1851596066.1621641659

         8. Newspapers.com.  Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott, Arizona) 24 May 1905. “Adjudged Insane” https://www.newspapers.com/image/46143670/?terms=James%20Howey&match=1

           9.  Newspapers.com.  Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott, Arizona) 24 May 1005. “Going Insane”.
https://www.newspapers.com/image/46143656/?terms=James%20Howey&match=1

         10. Newspaper.com.  Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott, Arizona) 17 May 1905. “News From Jerome”.
https://www.newspapers.com/image/46143617/?terms=James%20Howey&match=1

         11. Newspapers.com.  Tucson Citizen (Tucson, Arizona) 05 Aug 1911.
https://www.newspapers.com/image/580439646/?terms=James%20Howey&match=1

12.  1910 United States Federal Census.  Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona.  Roll: T624_40; Page: 10B.  Enumeration District: 0074; FHL microfilm: 1374053.  Ancestry.com  (2006)  Lehi, UT, USA

13.  Arizona Department of Health Services;  Phoenix, AZ;  Arizona Genealogy Birth and Death Certificates.  Arizona, U.S., Death Records 1887-1960.  Ancestry.com.  (2016)  Lehi, UT, USA

     



Wednesday, March 4, 2020

#1– Judge Norman Lee Griffin





Norman Lee Griffin
Born:     07 Oct 1834 – Otselic, Chenango, New York
Death:  28 May 1916 – Prescott, Yavapai, Arizona

Entered Pioneer Home Feb 6, 1911 at age 77
Lived there five years, four months

Norman Griffin was the second of six sons born to James Chipman Griffin and  Delight Denison (1).   He arrived in Prescott in 1863 at the age of  29 (2). Engaged in mining for many years, Griffin was also active in local politics.  In 1880 he was a delegate to the Yavapai Republican County Convention  (3).  
He also joined with other key leaders of the region by becoming a Mason from the time Prescott's Aztlan Lodge was established (4).  This was a key organization for civic involvement,  as "it was here that the needs of the infant town were discussed and how these men of power and capital could see them achieved" (5). 

Griffin is said to have built the first house erected in Globe, Arizona (6) as well as being one of the earliest settlers of Prescott.  Even before the Arizona Pioneers' Home was open Judge Griffin stated he wanted to be the first resident to enter the institution "as he was the first now living to arrive in the city" (7).

Those early days in Arizona had many perils, not the least of which was horse and buggy travel.  In 1899 Judge Griffin was involved in a serious accident two miles west of town when he had gone riding with Mrs. M. A. Vickroy of Alexandria, Virginia who was visiting in this vicinity "to recuperate her health".  As reported in the Weekly Journal Miner the fatal runaway accident occurred when "a small dog ran out at the horse's heels, frightening the animal and causing it to run away, both occupants of the buggy being thrown out.  Judge Griffin sustained quite serious injuries, remaining unconscious for two hours.  Mrs. Vickroy was thrown so violently to the ground as to cause concussion the the brain."  She later died from her injuries (8).

Three years prior to that incident a Mr. John Bowers of Lynx creek was brought to the Sisters' hospital at Prescott suffering from two knife wounds in his chest.  He swore to a warrant charging N. L. Griffin with committing the deed (9).  No follow up articles appeared regarding this incident.

While Mr. Griffin is referred to as "Judge" in many different newspaper articles related to his various mining claims, no record was found of him actually having served as a judge.  He remained single and died in 1916 after an illness of less than two weeks (4).



Works Cited

1.  FamilySearch PIN 9KBL-D6K  https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/9KBL-D6K 

2.  Newspapers.com 
 "Honored Pioneer Celebrates Birthday".  Weekly Journal -Miner.  12 Oct 1910.  
https://www.newspapers.com/image/42319722/?terms=Honored%20Pioneer%20Celebrates%20Birthday&match=1

3.  Newspapers.com  "Republicans in Council!!  County Organization".  The Weekly Arizona Miner (Prescott, Arizona).  30 July 1880.  Fri.  
https://www.newspapers.com/image/49588600/?terms=N%20L%20Griffin&match=1

4. Newspapers.com. "Over the Divide Goes Popular Pioneer".  Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott, Arizona)  31 May 1916.  Wed.
https://www.newspapers.com/image/42314536/?terms=Pioneer.%2B%2BGriffin

5. Desmond, Drew.  PrescottAZHistory. "Arizona's First Masons Helped Steer Early Prescott". Aug 19, 2018.  http://prescottazhistory.blogspot.com/2018/08/arizonas-first-masons-helped-steer.html 

6. Newspapers.com  "Sketch of N. L. Griffin".  Arizona Republic (Phoenix, Arizona).  16 Jul 1900.  Mon.  https://www.newspapers.com/image/42161869/?terms=N%20L%20Griffin&match=1

7.  Newspapers.com.  "Honored Pioneer Celebrates Birthday".  Weekly Journal -Miner.  12 Oct 1910.  Wed.https://www.newspapers.com/image/42319722/?terms=Honored%20Pioneer%20Celebrates%20Birthday&match=1


8. Newspapers.com. "A Fatal Accident".  Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott, Arizona).  22 Nov 1899.  Wed.  https://www.newspapers.com/image/39805198/?terms=N%20L%20Griffin&match=1

9. Newspapers.com  "News in a Nutshell".  Arizona Republic (Phoenix, Arizona). 22 Sep 1896.  Tues.  
https://www.newspapers.com/image/168681958/?terms=N%20L%20Griffin&match=1





Honored Pioneer Celebrates Birthday

Judge N. L. Griffin, the premier of the Hassayampa colony, celebrates today his 77th anniversary, and with that ripe age, he is also recalling the distant days of his early arrival and turns back the leaves in the Book of Time to 1863, as the year when he first came to Prescott to reside.  In the latter record, he can truthfully say that he is the pioneer living resident of the city, and one of the oldest in the Territory at large, either one of which noteworthy distinctions cannot be appreciated in this generation, when it is taken into consideration what the pioneer passed through in privations and the perils that faced all in the era of the Apache warfare.

In a reminiscent mood yesterday, he related many interesting events of pioneer days.  He camped on what is now the Plaza before there was a house in the city.  This was in June of 1863.  Later, when the gubernatorial party reached Chino Valley, and after Surveyor General Clark drove the first official stake in the ground at the old Dougherty building, in West Prescott, and designated it as the permanent capital of Arizona, Prescott came into existence.  With the townsite established, Arizona received its first real estate boom.  One locater of land was followed by another, and with the rush Mr. Griffin got into line and erected a snug little cabin of hewn logs on the identical corner that is today occupied by the Malvernon brick block, on the corner of Granite and Gurley streets.  At the time the total habitations in the city could be counted on the fingers of both hands.  As the town commenced to grow, and with the prestige of being the capital of Arizona, it was but a few months when the buildings could be counted by the score, and many were quite pretentious.  

Judge Griffin found the little cabin inadequate and with the late Calvin Jackson, in 1864, erected on adjoining ground to the east of his original cabin, an adobe building, 50 x 100 feet, which withstood the ravages of time until the big fire of 1900 wiped it out of existence.

Judge Griffin in many instances relates interesting experiences, in which the struggle between the white and the red man followed for supremacy in the little hamlet and surrounding country.  But the paleface triumphed and in a few years Prescott was big enough to get on the map as a desirable haven for prospector and explorer.

Judge Griffin reached Tucson in October, 1862, arriving from the Trinidad mine, in Sonora, where he was manager of the commercial interests of the company.  He accompanied a wing of the Walker party to Rich Hill from that city, and verifies the fabulous wealth in native gold that was taken out by the original locators, which he estimates at several hundred thousand dollars, or as he aptly expresses it, "God only knows how much."

All the ground being taken up at that point, he came on to Lynx Creek, where he found one hundred miners at work.  This was early in 1863.  At the time thousands of people were rushing into the country, all attracted by the strike on Rich Hill.  Soon they commenced to run to all sections, and in a few months every locality that had any colors in the gravel, was teeming with activity.  

The arrival of the white man resulted in the Indian disputing his right.  They wanted pay for the water, the grass was their, the timber belonged to the squaws to build fires, and from these grievances the crack of the rifle was heard and the devilish Indian war began.  It raged for ten long years, and soon the country was almost depopulated.

Judge Griffin is as hale and hearty as men half his age, and stated that when the Pioneer home is opened he desires to be the first admitted to the institution, as he was the first now living to arrive in the city where it is located.  

He is a New Yorker by birth, and Shenango county is the plicae where he first saw light.  He has resided in this city continuously for over forty seven years, and in that time has never left the county for a longer period than one month.  In the vernacular of the day, "This is going some."



Newspapers.com.  Weekly Journal -Miner.  12 Oct 1910.  Wed.
https://www.newspapers.com/image/42319722/?terms=Honored%20Pioneer%20Celebrates%20Birthday&match=1


1914 Visit From Brother

First Time in 60 Years They Meet  (From Wednesday's Daily)

An epoch in the lives of two men occurred in Prescott on Monday when M. E. Griffin of Spencer, Iowa and his brother, Judge N. L. Griffin of thes city, met for the first time in over sixty years.  Both have passed the goal of attaining the three score and ten mark and with that feat they are the only remaining ones on earth of what was originally a large family.  

The visitor is yet active in business cares and at present is a leading banker in his home city.  He is en route to the coast for the winter, and on his return trip East will again visit Prescott.  He desires to have his brother take the back track over the old Santa Fe trail to the homestead of their boyhood days and it is probably the Hassayamper may decide to go and "grow up" with the county.

Mr. Griffin states that he has been engaged in the banking business under one roof since 1870, or for forty-four consecutive years, and when half a century is clipped off he proposes to retire as the directors are anxious to make a cleanup and get into new and modern quarters.

The visiting Griffin is charmed with Prescott's climate and stated he does not believe in reprimanding the prodigal son for coming to this country and staying so closely by it under the ideal conditions that are apparent in prolonging one's life, as there is an elixir in the ozone that is simply indisputable.  "Maybe I'll try the medicine on the trip back if the Eastern business situation is agreeable,' was his closing remark as both got aboard the train for the north.

Newspapers.com.  "
First Time in 60 Years They Meet " Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott, Arizona) 11 Feb 1914.  Wed.  https://www.newspapers.com/image/42312538/?terms=Judge%2BN.%2BL.%2BGriffin


Obituary

Newspapers.com.  Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott, Arizona)  31 May 1916.  Wed.
https://www.newspapers.com/image/42314536/?terms=Pioneer.%2B%2BGriffin

Over The Divide Goes Popular Pioneer
(From Saturday’s Daily.)

After an illness of less than two weeks, the summons came yesterday to Judge Norman L. Griffin, at the Pioneers’ Home in this city, from an affliction of the brain.  He was suddenly stricken ill while conversing with friends on the plaza, and immediately thereafter lapsed into an unconscious state, from which he never rallied until the day before death came.

The passing of this pioneer Arizonan, takes away the oldest resident of Prescott and one also of the best known and most beloved of men.  He arrived in this section from Tucson on June 7, 1863, or nearly six months before the gubernatorial party reached the boundary line of Arizona, to officially proclaim the founding of the new territory on December 29, 1863, at Navajo Springs.  Of a party of zigat who made the perilous trip from the south to the north, he is the last to be summoned.  His early-day life in this section was upright in all dealings and his citizenship was exemplary.

Characteristic of the early-day resident, Judge Griffin was kind, generous and genial.  He extended help to the struggling and his old cabin on Lynx Creek was always open with a kind greeting and warm welcome to any.  He followed mining, and prospered therefrom in later years.  One conspicuous trait of his long life was his fidelity to the cause of Masonry, with which order he had affiliated for over 58 years.  He became a member of this organization at Plover, Wis., in 1858, and two years later was of a party who sought adventure

In the Southwest, arriving in 1860 at Tucson.  The morale of the organization remained intact until after their arrival in this section, all settling on Lynx creek and at Rich Hill.

Judge Griffin was born in the state of New York on October 7, 1833, reaching the ripe age of 83 years.  He had been a member of Aztlan Lodge of Masons of this city since its creation over 51 years ago, clinging faithfully and zealously to its faith from beginning to end.  He is survived by only one near relative, a brother, residing at Benton Harbor, Mich., who also has reached an advanced age and will not be able to come to Prescott to attend the funeral.


#2 Louis St. James


Louis Benjamin St. James
Born:
    04 Feb 1833 –Madison, Dane, Mississippi
Death:  01 Jun 1914 – Prescott, Yavapai, Arizona

Entered Pioneer Home Feb 6, 1911 at age 77
Lived there three years, four months

Family:
Son of Lasondria St. James & Mary
Married Carrie Eddy Pine on 14 May 1879 in Prescott (divorced)
  1 daughter -
      Mary St. James born Aug 1880 in Arizona Territory
       His daughter later married and settled in California
      (married name unknown)

Carrie Pine St. James 2nd marriage to George F. Faulkner on 06 Apr 1892 in Monterey, California

***
Louis B. St. James came to Arizona Territory in 1863, when he would have been about thirty years old, (1)(2)  and shortly after the region (formerly part of the territory of New Mexico) became designated as its own new and separate territory of the United States
(3).  By the following year St. James was managing a store on the Plaza of what was then called “Fort Whipple, Arizona”. The newspaper “Arizona Miner” reported that “He has a large stock of goods, and will be glad to see his old friends” (4).   

St. James shows up in numerous records around Arizona Territory in the early years, hauling freight, prospecting, and defending settlers from Indian attacks.  In 1866 he became a member of the original Arizona Pioneer Society, along with several other early Arizona miners and businessmen who would become part of his cohort at the Pioneer Home in his later days (5).  He was also involved in other civic matters, such as the formal ball held on July 4, 1866 at the Montezuma Hall to raise funds for a school in Prescott (6).­­

In 1867 St. James was hauling wood and ore for a mill near a quartz mine in Big Bug, a small mining settlement twelve miles southeast of Prescott established in 1862 (7) (8).  Two or three years later, L. B. St. James prospected in White Pines County, Nevada, but feeling there were no more big discoveries to be made there, he sent word to his Arizona friends to stay put and that he was going to be returning (9).

In 1879 St. James married Carrie Eddie Pine, the 17 year old daughter of Charles Andrew Pine of Vermont and his wife, Louisa Wasgatt Pine of Massachusetts.  The marriage took place on 14 May, 1879 in Prescott when Louis was 46 years old (10).  One daughter, Mary, was born to this union in August of the following year, (11) but the marriage was not to last.  Apparently life in rough mining towns married to a man nearly 30 years her senior was not the life Carrie wanted. The couple divorced and Carrie returned to her native state of California, where she married a veterinarian named George Faulkner who was only six years older than herself (12).

For a period of time in the 1870’s, St. James ran the post trader store of the military at Camp Apache, where he accumulated “quite a snug little fortune”.  However, according to some, “His generosity in later years led to his financial downfall, and with that unfortunate occurrence, his physical vigor started to decline as old age was creeping upon him” (1).

In his later years, St. James served as magistrate in Jerome. “He was totally deaf and couldn't hear the proceedings, but he seemed to know most of the defendants personally and ruled accordingly”… He also seemed to be able to assess “just how much money they were carrying  and fined thusly” (13).

In the 1910 census, Louis was listed as a "Lodger" at the Brinkmeyer Hotel in downtown Prescott at age 77. He is listed as a "widower", although Carrie was very much alive at the time (14).  It is possible he had taken another wife who had died.  Another possibility is that St. James simply did not care to admit his wife had left him and married another. No records for a second marriage were found.

According to the register ledger of residents of Pioneer Home (2)  L.B. St. James was the first person to sign in when he entered the new facility on the opening day of February 6, 1911.  However, a newspaper account of the first men to be accepted states that Louis St. James was actually the second to come, right after Judge N. L. Griffin (15).  Whatever the case, Louis B. St. James remained there among his fellow “Hassayampers” until his death in 1914.  He is buried at the Arizona Pioneer Home Cemetery (16)(17). 


Works Cited for Louis Benjamin St. James 




       1. Obituary. Weekly Journal-Miner. Prescott, Arizona. 03 Jun 1914, Wed. Page 2

https://www.newspapers.com/image/42315581

2.  
Register Ledger of Residents of Pioneer Home is available on Microfilm at Sharlot Hall Archives in Prescott, Arizona and online at FamilySearch.org https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:7V8V- XW2?from=lynx1UIV8&treeref=GQ39-WJK

       3. National Archives. Educator Resources. “The Treaty of Guadalupe Hildalgo”. 2018.
https://www.archives.gov/education/lessons/guadalupe-hidalgo.  Retrieve 14 Aug 2020.

 

       4. Newspapers.com.  Arizona Miner.  Fort Whipple, Arizona.  14 Dec 1984, Wed. Page 3
https://www.newspapers.com/image/39802219/?terms=St.%2BJames

       5. Newspapers.com. Arizona Miner.  Fort Whipple, Arizona 24 Jan 1866, Wed. Page 2 https://www.newspapers.com/image/39801637/?terms=St.%2BJames

       6. Newspapers.com. Arizona Miner. Fort Whipple, Arizona.  27 June 1866, Wed. Page 3
https://www.newspapers.com/image/39799673/?terms=St.%2BJames

       7.  Newspapers.com. Arizona Miner. Fort Whipple, Arizona. 01 Jun 1867, Sat. Page 2
https://www.newspapers.com/image/39801478/?terms=St.%2BJames

       8. Wikipedia. Big Bug, Arizona.  Retrieved 8/8/2020
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Big_Bug,_Arizona


       9. Newspapers.com. The Weekly Arizona Miner. Prescott, Arizona. 10 Jul 1869. Sat. Page 2
https://www.newspapers.com/image/88321927/?terms=St.%2BJames

1    10.  Arizona Marriage Collection, 1864-1982.  Upper Snake River Family History Center and Ricks College (Rexburg, Idaho) and Ancestry.com. Published 2007.  Retrieved 8/2/2020.

      11. 1900 United States Census.  Census Place: Alisal, Monterey, California; Page: 3; Enumeration District: 0002; FHL microfilm: 1240094 Published on Ancestry.com 2004.

      12. California, County Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1849-1980
California Department of Public Health, courtesy of www.vitalsearch-worldwide.com. Digital Images.  Published on Ancestry.com 2017.
 

      13.  Trimble, Marshall.  “Arizona, A Cavalcade of History”.  (1989)  Rev. Edition 2003.  Page 145.  Tucson, Arizona. 
 

      14.  1910 United States Census.  Census Place: Prescott, Yavapai, Arizona; Roll: T624_42; Page: 27A; Enumeration District: 0127; FHL microfilm: 1374055 .  Published on Ancestry.com 2006.

 15. Newspapers.com.  Weekly Journal Miner. Prescott, Arizona. 08 Feb 1911. Wed. Page 8.

https://www.newspapers.com/image/42314219/?terms=Pioneers%2BNamed%2Bto%2BEnter%2BHome

      16. Arizona Death Records, 1887-1960.  Arizona Department of Health Services; Phoenix, AZ, USA.  Published on Ancestry.com 2016.

17.  U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current. 
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11142817








Obituary
 
  Weekly Journal-Miner (Prescott, Arizona)

03 Jun 1914, Wed. Page 2
https://www.newspapers.com/image/42315581

 

Sorrow was universally expressed yesterday morning when it was learned that Louis B. St. James had passed away at the Pioneer Home from pneumonia, after an illness of less than one week, the summons coming shortly after midnight on Sunday.

Aside from another pioneer ending his earthly career, in this particular instance the death of Mr. St. James removes one of the figures of the early days in the life of Northern Arizona and also one of the best known of its good citizens.  He came to the territory as early as 1863, being a member of the old and well known firm of St. James & Barnum, which dealt in merchandise, and were the the first to open up the northern part of the country by introducing freight teams, entering via Hardyville, on the Colorado river. Practically speaking, this firm blazed the way for wagon road communication, and under dangers that were attended with the possible loss of life, and property. 

Abandoning this pursuit later, the deceased engaged in local traffic as well did he follow merchandising, mining and other pursuits, in all of which his methods were stamped with honesty and his dealings with all were characterized, with a just regard for the trials of those who were struggling to gain a foothold in the new land.

In the 70’s the deceased was given the post trader store of the military at Camp Apache, where he accumulated quite a snug little fortune.  His generosity in later years led to his financial downfall, and with that unfortunate occurrence, his physical vigor started to decline as old age was creeping upon him.  No relatives survive, except a married daughter, residing in Oakland, Cal.  He will be laid away in the Pioneer’s cemetery of Miller valley this morning, services being conducted at Ruffner’s.  With the closing of another Hassayamper’s career, it may truthfully be said that L. B. St. James was one of the best of men, was true to his friends and an exemplary citizen.


#3 - William Baxter

 



William Baxter
B. 5 Mar 1830 England
D.  3 Sep 1912 Prescott, Yavapai, AZ

Entered Pioneer Home Feb 7, 1911 at age 80
Lived there 1 year, 7 months





#4 - Pat Donlan

 







Pat Donlan
B. 
14 Mar 1830  Ireland
D.  16 May 1915  Prescott, Yavapai, AZ

Entered Pioneer Home February 7, 1911 at age 85
Lived there four years, three months.

#5 - Thomas Farrell

 




Thomas Farrell
B.
28 May 1832  Ireland
D. 19 Oct  1915   Prescott, Yavapai, AZ

Entered Pioneer Home Feb 19, 1911 at age 83
Lived there four years, eight months

Thomas Farrell emigrated to the United States from Ireland.  

In 1876, at age 44 he registered to vote in Yavapai County, Arizona
In 1878, at age 46 he registered to vote in Tempe, Maricopa County, Arizona. 
In 1890, at age 58 he registered to vote in Pinal County, Arizona
In 1904, at age 72 he registered to vote in Wickenburg, Maricopa County, Arizona.

According to the 1910 Census, at age 77 Farrell was living in Liberty, Maricopa County, Arizona working as a ranch cook.

The following year he entered the Arizona Pioneers' Home where he remained until his death in the fall of 1915.

#6 - Daniel Hollaway



Daniel Webster Hollaway

Birth: 31 Dec 1840 Schuyler, IL
Died: 24 Feb 1913  Kingman, Mohave, AZ

Entered Pioneer Home Feb 19, 1911 at age 70
Left facility - no date recorded

David Hollaway was the sixth of nine children born to David Holloway and Nancy Ann Phillips.

Very little is known about his life.  In 1850 and 1860 he appears on the Illinois census living with his parents and siblings.  In 1870  he was living in Gilroy, Santa Clara, California, working as a saloon
keeper.  By 1882 he shows up on voter registration rolls in Prescott, Arizona.  In 1886 he was living in Mineral Park, Mohave County.  In 1900 through 1910,  he was working as a blacksmith in Kingman, AZ.  He never married.

He went into the Arizona Pioneer home in 1911, but did not stay. There is no record of when he left.
He died alone in a room in Kingman.



Obituary
Last Monday Daniel W. Holloway was found dead in his bed at the Kingman house, death evidently having come to him during sleep early Sunday morning.  Mr. Holloway had been feeling badly the past several years, heart trouble being he cause of his illness.  Late Saturday night he went to bed and the roomers close by heard him coughing, but when he failed to arise late Sunday afternoon some one looked into the room and saw him lying apparently asleep in bed, they failed to make a further examination.  Monday morning he was still in the same position and the matter was reported to Coroner Smith, who immediately made an examination, finding that life had been extinct for many hours.

The body was taken in charge by the Elks, of which order he was a life member.  The funeral was held from the Elks hall Tuesday afternoon under the auspices of the order.  Judge Krook made a feeling address over the bier of the departed brother and after the regular ritualistic service the lodge members and many old time friends followed the remains to the grave, where the ritualistic service was completed.

Daniel W. Holloway was born in Illinois about seventy-four years ago and came to the Pacific coast, settling with his parents near Gilroy, California.  Later he went to Nevada and in the early seventies removed to this county, settling at Mineral Park, then the scene of the striking of rich silver ore.  Later he went to Hackberry and Tombstone and other mining camps, finally making his home in this county.  A year or more ago he became an inmate of the Pioneer Home at Prescott, but the management and the altitude both caused him to take a furlough.  He gradually failed after returning to Kingman, his death resulting as above stated.  He was one of the most honorable of men, honest to a fault, an ardent friend and a good citizen.  Among the old timers his death will be sincerely regretted.  He leaves relatives in California, but their addresses have not been found. 

Mohave County Miner (Mineral Park, AZ.  1 Mar 1913, Page 2
Newspapers.com https://www.newspapers.com/image/46150733/?terms=Holloway





Who Were The First Residents of AZ Pioneers' Home?

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