THE HISTORY of FLORENCE, ARIZONA 1866-1940 by Ava S
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The history of Florence, Arizona, 1866-1940 Item Type text; Thesis-Reproduction (electronic) Authors Baldwin, Ava S. Publisher The University of Arizona. Rights Copyright © is held by the author. Digital access to this material is made possible by the University Libraries, University of Arizona. Further transmission, reproduction or presentation (such as public display or performance) of protected items is prohibited except with permission of the author. Download date 26/09/2021 18:28:32 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/553570 THE HISTORY OF FLORENCE, ARIZONA 1866-1940 by Ava S. Baldwin A T h esis submitted to the faculty of the Department of History in partial fulfillm ent of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts in the Graduate College University of Arizona 1941 Approved: Director of Thes GO ITOOTOIH CTHT O’-vl-Vv^r niviM^K . <1 r.'.'ii zcii idv:; Jo o-j g b orT? oo'?. *;• tKiu ri-zf. ?.n i^jrcyO." r:--;" £.tr:vV g ^nd n.t X'-norlrA ‘.re- ‘(.v .^tiv V-trsU .C4V;/ X. \G iXO X-ia£''C w-'-.-’O \\ ^ X-O'-A * .DdyCT :c-.t:)r'r.-.-G < S 9 7 9 / ¥ 4* o. ; • / Home of C harles Mason, 1866 /■ f-/O O f TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE In tr o d u c tio n . ......... .................................. , . 1 CHAPTER I . FLORENCE: THE PLACE OF RICH FARMING LANDS . 1 The G ila V a lle y . ........................ .... 1 Adamsville ,. >. .. ............................. 1 ; Charles Adams erected rflrst::building, 1886 1 Headquarters of the Bichard Brothers : flour m ill . ,. ............ ....... 12 Promise of a thriving town.. .... 2 Disintegration of the town .................................. 2 Florence - ■ - - - . - '■ First settler,:1866, Charles G. Mason . 3 Levi Buggies, Indian Agent, 1866-1869 . 3 The name o f th e town . ...................... 3 iTown s i t e . ; .. ..... 4 Irrigation ditches, "1869 *. 5 Mail service introduced. Sept. 1869 • '• . 6 The Grant Stage Lines, 1869-1874 . 6 Arrival of freight trains ........ 7 Road to In fa n tr y Camp, 1873 . .........................8 Degradations of Pinal Apaches. 8 Social institutions .... ...... Catholic Church, . 1870 .... ..... 9 III PAGE . :First publicischool. Sept.. 12,«1871 . • 10 LlUnlted-: States'Federal'': Lana:‘-0f fle e ,. June . 2 , 1873 ............... 10 ' i " ' C : b'i'yir . , • - , . • , . , , ' Growth of the town, 1875 ..... 10 . - ^ ^- i. v *. - '»•;r^r - - v- ** /.- r-': . ~. <•■ '• • -i.* : — . ' ■ • ",- . \ * v * . *• •# fc * ~ i * TtZ. 1 I I . FLORENCE:" INTERESTING CHARACTERS BEFORE 1890 . 12 :: '• Vi' v i 'vr-; ■ ' . ;;c Attractions of the town . .... 1 2 •'r V . -------------- . , • ' / - ■ r1 * v 4 -o *• + ■ ii -- f \ v * v r. V* • Levi Ruggles, an Indian Agent, 1866 . .13 1 * •— -• .-S .» --i ' ‘ ? -«r 4- '• * Peter R. Brady, one of the first citizens . 13 ' ‘ < . ’ ' ' , ' " ,-•? ,'T • •. » •- r * • r\. / , i . ? . - - x • . »; * * ' » * - t x jt « ■- r « * ... A Granville Oury, delegate to Confederate Congress . - ." • ■ ■ .. *. ..... ... 14 " D^" C. : Steven s" ,vp loh eer' stage" man . ..... 14 ; '• Grahv ill'e - Wheat, •• • team ster-for* B u tterfield , Stage Line ................................................................... 1 4 ^ . •i f.; -? . ■ • A. J. Doran, Union soldier . 15 v.; -:’ •- 7' - - .L =" i ; - ?' H " • i * x •, , - > . * - John W. Walker, Indian trader . ..... 16 George A. Brown, Wells Fargo agent ..... 16 i. : ; c li,i 1 . i - - - , . - , ."•••• C h arles D. P o sto n , c o lo r f u l fig u r e .................... 17 Poston's temple to fire worshippers . .1 7 i' - v ;! i," . r . » , . * , I'* Work of Poston recognized ........................... 17 Richard E. Sloan, last Territorial governor 17 Pete Gabriel, outstanding sheriff ..... 18 Baers oh "Oliver Stratton-, county • supervisor - - and treasurer ............................. 18 "C i::i, i - ^ r* 1 :fi i ^ -ii-n Pauline-Cushm anv " Union spy . » . 19 III. FLORENCE:1 THE’ "RISE-OF THEf TOWN -- r: - - * - i: Pinal County', measure to create* county block, = -1871 .,. • . • • • • . - ...... 21 Pinal County created January 26, 1875 • ....... 21 x - • - - * " . »- i - - * -> •> <• ■* -* i. ■ f * ■* ? r * s t i,Z Silver King Mine discovered March 21, 1875 • 22 I l l PAGE • Importance of the Silver King . -23- Wells Fargo Express Company, -1874 . 25 Stage robberies .vf.;.: .. 25 Scarcity 'of American women 25 Silver King freight train,' I878':.r . 26 Types of homes: . ' ^ .* . 28 Homes o f d i s t i n c t i o n . 28 J - • \r -r % - • 4 • »■ 4 » * • 1 t. -4 * 4i ' V alue o f r e a l e s t a t e . 29 ■ c,: n Crv:..;; > . Public schools, 1881 . .... 30 Building of second Catholic Church . 31 . Saint Theresa' s-Academy, 1882 . .• 32 Presbyterian Church, 1887 : . 32. • -■ ^ r * »■ * * r - i- % 1 «• - Pete Gabriel kills Joe Phye .................................. .... 32 Peralta Grant "Claimr. .J . .- . .- .- . .* . 34 Magnitude of the claim . "V . i . .♦ .• . 34 Falsity of the grant \ 36 Diversion of water ; . A . .- .- 36 IV. TRANSPORTATION AND IRRIGATION - !"• The need for railroads . v ;. 38 Proposals of various companies to build r a ilr o a d s' . 38 Dispute between "Arizona Eastern and s - - * - Phoenix Eastern . .. 39 C »•» - ' * t s -k : - - : ' •"{ r~. ' t ' r - ‘ " - • r Financial difficulties of Arizona Eastern . 41 Tri-weekly service . ........... 41 Rail service discontinued Jan. 31, 1934 . -. 41 Highways . -. ' V V: . :. 42 •• yr . •. ’ . f V > - - • - . • • . L IV r \:- r Cvv:c^j^.: :n-:” JivS :o •"rr.Li:-: . .. .. , , , » page -’:j-v Change of Bankhead Highway, .. .. 42 ; , Highway diventedthy 'Casa-Grande / . 42 "ail--; Irrigation ... ...... .. .. .. 43 0( - clOrganlzation. of. Florence Canal, ,1888 43 a, Financial'condittesi of.-company. .. 43 ri. George Pogue,1 first president of. ;a company ...... ....... 43 1 -1:;ra-' aal Taunt' Capacity of Florence Canal . ,44 Tvl an-a of ".a. ’ Ta-iu "vv: a :'ar:vaa:v. ; Picture, Florence Canal about ",19.02 . 45 A. F.; Baker attached property of canal . '. ....... 46 n v : ui:a': : a-r Ccr: , Z ffT . , . , , . -a Florence Canal became known as San " .T -'l T n: Carlos .. .. ... .. ._ ., .. .. .. 46 Ha .’ . San Carlos. declared a Public Service Corporation .... .. .. ♦ . 4? - Vv ; »'r f •: *'i --- ' :*• . Z Priority rights of Indians ..... 48 -■Hr ,1 ---1 tu- u a-:a.::T fo:.’ u-; aicr; H-. , , , f"' Project for reservior at San Carlos. 48 - t -*=>■. r .. • • - j ; ^ *■ T 4- ^ . ■»- ' j-, . * ~ - • »L, r -* : *t- -/ '• : ' »* •?' * » M * r \ j 'v „ -- Hayden-Ashurst diversion dam . 49 Indian rights must be considered . 50 — - -• , ' - «- * v r -»• > * > ' . •„ Presbyterian Church aid Indians in ■ (: a securing water rights . ;. 51 T! .B ill passed Congress if or San Carlos a Reclamation Project, April 5, ^ ~ .1924 . « . - 52 0 -:S a n .C a rlo s Dam .named .C o o lid g e Dam • 52 y Graph, iannual :f low (Gila river . * 53 H,: .P resident Coolldge dedicated dam March 4, 1930 . .... 5 4 ■ C-:.-.;: u:y'V: 1 'cr.'T.:: y^'O :r: , Irrigation.project result of coopera tion between white settlers and ... Indians _ • •• « . • • . 54 V. PAGE V. FLORENCE:-BEGINNING .TO DECLINE . .... 55 Failure of the mines . '. 55 People "believed decline temporary ..... 55 B u ild in g a c t i v i t y . ............................... 55 Courthouse . .. .. 55 V7. G. Smith and Company Store . 56 Establishment of Pinal County Bank . 56 P in a l Bank and T rust Company . 57 Failure of Pinal Bank and Trust Company, 1925 • * • . • . • . • . 57 First National Bank . ....... 57 Arizona Cactus Company, 1902 . 58 Brick Factory, 1901 ........................................... 58 Reverted to agriculture . 59 Poultry raising . .... .... 59 War le d to demand fo r c o tto n . ,. ... , 60 Social institutions . ..... 60 Churches .: Presbyterian Church .................... .... 62 Catholic Church rebuilds,.1911 • • . 62 Christian Church established, 1921. 63 S ch o o ls . » . .... ... 63 Comparison, 1906-1914 . 63 Florence Union High School . 63 . Establishment of penitentiary .... .64 Cooperation between penal institution an town . ...... 65 Prison self-sustaining . 66 VI PAGE VI: THE DEPRESSION ................ 6? As rural community, no great effect during early years ............................. .... 6? ; j;.r'7CTJ;-:: Building program of town . 67 r:. New Presbyterian Church; .1. ■’.> . 68 ; . ^ School budget reduced :. : .Lc.; . xi :. ; j-Urc;. 68 1* :r , Red ’Cross ;ald. to school children . .. 68 .. :: Number zof: men on r e l i e f . v :;'-69 - 'Governm ental aid ito .-combat unemployment - i :69 r : : , ’ .-Rural resettlement project,:‘1935 . xj.-s. -69 ^ v; ;; : i:; ; Fifty, fam ilies-selected :for resettlem ents:,. ‘70 y Corporation :foraed- to ‘secure "aid -from '; s , governm ent . .... 7 0 Markets for the corporation . ..... 70 Rural electrification of the San Carlos ' ; . '• r irrigation ’.district' ." ". = ', v.. 71 . r :■ Graph,- Electrical Districts .:o. t. 72 ’ - t ' ■ -■ Building -or hospital: with government funds ^ 72 iry ; ■ Accepted ^depression-in a philosophical V. m a n n e r ........................ .... ... 73 V " •- ry;-.Vi '■h::vs V II. conclusion"...................... .... 75 ' :.:v vo ^ or : in ,,;; hioi-oy.- y t.; ■ ;. Many changes in the town yet very little : r ■ different population: of 1940 ; . 75 ; ; : 0 A g r ic u ltu r e in 1940. V .' . '. V . '. V . 76 .• New era o f -p r o s p e r ity " . ’ V ; .r-v 76 Lo- -o; :'rOvy: o. y ■ ■■ ■; r v ■ 0 ; ' ‘ 0 "o: Vwo.: ry V. ::y- : ;"o " 0 • : 1 o -‘o.:;; r-.o:r - o y 00^0 0 >:" ; oo o :: yopy u l ' - 0 o'" . " INTRODUCTION : ' - z , ' ' - ; , v:;::.... '' _ L - M The