Phoenix - A History of Its Pioneer Days and People Item Type text; Article Authors Barney, James M. Publisher Arizona State Historian (Phoenix, AZ) Journal Arizona Historical Review Rights This content is in the public domain. Download date 24/09/2021 21:34:46 Link to Item http://hdl.handle.net/10150/623701 PHOENIX—A HISTORY OF ITS PIONEER DAYS AND PEOPLE By JAMES M. BARNEY CHAPTER I. FOUNDING THE PHOENIX TOWNSITE. There is much archeological evidence to believe that, in the dim and distant days of a previous civilization, there existed numerous towns and villages in many sections of the Salt River Valley. When the first white man came, however, in 1867, they found only the shapeless ruins of long deserted buildings to mark the sites of former habi- tations. The first few houses built by the pioneer settlers of the valley were concentrated for the most part in the northwest quarter of Section 12, Township 1 North, Range 3 East — about three and one-half miles easterly from present day Phoenix—and when the first govern- ment surveyors went over the valley, a few months after the coming of the Swilling Party, they found that this cluster of rude abodes comprised what was then known as the Phoenix Settlement. United States Deputy Sur- veyor Wilfred F. Ingalls who surveyed this section of the valley described the settlement as follows: "A settlement called "Phoenix" was formed in the northeast part of the township (T. 1 N., R. 3 E.) during the winter of 1867 and 1868. It now contains about 50 persons who have displayed great en- ergy in the construction of their "Irrigation Ditches" and the clear- ing of their land and will this year bring under cultivation a large extent of country. The settlement, though young, bears every evi- dence of thrift and prosperity." Within a very few years after the coming of the pio- neers, however, the agricultural possibilities of the valley had been so well and conclusively proven that it soon be- came plainly evident that, somewhere in this section, there was destined to grow a large and permanent town. But on account of the great size of the valley and the many suitable places for townsites, the task of selecting the best location for a future metropolis became a difficult and (264) PHOENIX-A HISTORY 265 vexing one, and it required much patient effort on the part of the settlers before a satisfactory site could be chosen. Although, as would be natural, the choosing of a site for a town was, from the beginning of the valley's settle- ment, a favorite and interesting topic of conversation among the first settlers, it was not until 1870 that they finally reached the conclusion that it had become an ab- solute necessity to locate a town at some advantageous site in the valley. Major James B. McKinnie and many others were for having it laid off on ground occupied by McKin- nie and Cromwell A. Carpenter, his partner—the south- west quarter of Section 3, Township 1 North, Range 3 East—where they operated a small roadhouse and saloon and which was located about a mile and a half to the east of the site which was eventually chosen and just to the north of the Tempe Road of today. However, the Starar boys, Jake and Andy, Columbus H. (Lum) Gray, Darrell Duppa, Edward Irvine, John B. Montgomery, John P. Osborn, Thomas Barnum, John T. Dennis, James D. Monihon, John T. Alsap, William Rowe, James Murphy and others were in favor of the site that is now known as the Original Townsite and which practically represents the business district of present-day Phoenix — the north half of Section 8, Township 1 North, Range 3 East. On the other hand Hellings and Company, John W. Swilling, Arthur L. Rogers, Lodovic Vander Mark, Jack Walters, Thomas J. L. Hoague, Edward K. Buker, and their friends, wanted to see a town grow up around, or near, the flour- ing mill (Helling's Mill) which was then under construc- tion—on the southeast quarter of Section 2, Township 1 North, Range 3 East. The first written information, however, regarding ef- forts to choose a townsite in the valley, are contained in some correspondence from the Phoenix Settlement, under date of August 13, 1870, and appearing in the Prescott Miner, from which is taken the following: "Two towns have been laid off within a week, but of the par- tic ulars I am not advised." 266 ARIZONA HISTORICAL REVIEW This reference to the laying out of 'two towns" can only relate to preliminary plans initiated by various in- terests or factions but which failed to be acceptable to the majority of the settlers. In a letter from Phoenix, of later date, is found the following clear and definite information: "Phoenix, A. T., Oct. 17, 1870. Editor Citizen':— The citizens of this place had a meeting on the 15th instant, for the purpose of deciding the location of a townsite. A regular election was held and the place occupied by Messrs. McKinnie and Carpenter was selected. It is the intention to proceed at once and obtain a title to the land from the government and dispose of the lots to actual set- tlers." After the mass meeting mentioned above, which was held at McKinnie's Saloon—a sort of center for com- munity gatherings—some of those interested commenced to make preparations for building, so favorable did condi- tions appear for this location to become the future town- site. Captain Hancock was making ready to start the work of surveying the property into a townsite when discontentment again arose among the settlers. When this dissatisfaction became very evident and widespread, the settlers held a number of informal meetings at Mc- Kinnie's saloon, in efforts to compose their differences. Finally, in order to reach a permanent adjustment of their difficulties, the sponsors of the townsite movement set a day for a general meeting to assemble at the house of Mr. John Moore, a prominent rancher, which brought order out of chaos and brought forth, also, the town of Phoenix, now the most populous and important City in Arizona. At this mass meeting of citizens of the valley, which convened at the house of Mr. Moore on the twentieth day of October, 1870, for the purpose of selecting a suitable spot of unoccupied public land for a townsite, a committee was appointed to choose such a site. This committee was composed of Darrell Duppa, John Moore and Martin P. Griffin, all well-known residents of the valley. After 1. Arizona Citizen, October 29, 1870. PHOENIX—A HISTORY 267 due deliberation this committee recommended the north one-half of section eight, township one north, range three east, as the most suitable site for the location of a town and that said town be called "Phoenix." After the report of the "townsite committee" had been presented to the mass- meeting, it was approved and accepted, and the committee discharged. The proposition was then placed to a vote of those present and the result of the balloting being pre- ponderantly in favor of the committee's report the pres- ent site of Phoenix was formally selected. In a letter from the Phoenix Settlement, bearing the date of December 26, 1870, the following appears: "Phoenix, A. T., Monday, Dec. 26, 1870. As you do not seem to have a correspondent in this section of the Territory, I will write you sometimes when anything occurs worth noticing and making a short letter acceptable. We are a growing com- munity, and we like to have the people know it. Our population has nearly doubled in two months, and the immigration does not seem to be on the wane at all. Several families have come in during the last month, and the gentler sex is becoming quite well represented. Our townsite has been selected after considerable discussion, and with a few exceptions the people seem to be satisfied. Judge Berry and other strangers who have examined it, are much pleased with it, and commend the judgment of the people in selecting the townsite. The sale of town lots occurred last Friday and Saturday, Dec. 23rd and 24th, and was a great success. Sixty-three lots were sold, at an aver- age of forty dollars, the highest paid for one lot being $140.00. Judge Berry had the honor of bidding off the first lot, after quite a spirited contest. Several buildings will be commenced within a few days. Wm. A. Hancock & Co. have the adobes nearly made for their store and will soon have a house up. Other merchants will erect buildings and move to the townsite in the spring. " 2 This last letter refers to the sale of lots on the site finally selected, and which corresponds to the present lo- cation of Phoenix. "The new town was named Phoenix at the suggestion of Darrell Duppa, and the name was not only singularly appropriate, but in a way prophetic, for a new and flourishing civilization has here sprung up, on the ashes of the old. Scattered everywhere through the valley are ruins of immense houses and villages and canals, while pottery and stone implements strew the surface of the ground. On every acre may 2. Arizona Citizen, January 7, 1870. 268 ARIZONA HISTORICAL REVIEW be found evidence of ,a by-gone age and of a powerful race who have departed, leaving only ruins to mark their dwelling places."' Much has been said of these ruins, and many specula- tions have been made as to the builders, but no acceptable solution has ever been advanced as to their origin or their fate.