By Parker Anderson
When the Organic Act of 1863 officially created the Arizona Territory, President Abraham Lincoln appointed a slate of government officials to travel there and set up a new government.  John N. Goodwin was to be governor, with Richard C. McCormick serving as secretary of the territory.  

Once deciding to set up the new territorial capital of Prescott on the west side of Granite Creek, the new officials lived in tents until Goodwin and McCormick contracted to have a suitable log structure built for them to occupy. Samuel Blair, Daniel Hatz and John Raible were contracted to build what would come to be known as the First Governor’s Mansion, completed in the fall of 1864.

Governor Goodwin disliked holding the position of governor out in the wilds and got himself elected territorial delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives the following year, so he could return east without looking like he was abandoning Arizona. He left for Washington and never returned. Secretary McCormick succeeded him as governor.