Description

Humbug, Arizona. "The caretaker at Columbia, a Mr. Walters, told us that there's a guy buried under that mill. A prospector had the idea thare was gold under it and when he tunneled under, it toppled over on him. He's still under it."

The town of Humbug was named after Humbug Creek, which took its name from the Humbug Mining District.  Miners who had heard rumors about good mining prospects and abundant gold on the creek called the whole thing a humbug  because they recounted the creek’s large quantities of yellow pyrite, or fools gold.  Humbug means deceptive or false talk.  
Humbug came into existence during the early 1870’s when placer gold was found;  Charles Champie started mining gold there around 1882.  A mill was constructed and the town operated until the turn of the century.  Mining production was restarted at a later date and the mine was worked until the 1930’s.  Around 1932, a New York stockbroker named Frank de Lacey Hyde formed Humbug Gold Mine, Inc. and built a large adobe home at Humbug.
Columbia was the name of the post office serving the Columbia Mine here.  It was referred to as Humbug because it was situated on that creek.

Arizona Names, X Marks the Place, Byrd Howell Granger, 1983, The Falconer Publishing Company
Ghostowns.com
Vertical File, Sharlot Hall Museum Library and Archives