By Mick Woodcock

By 1863, the central mountains of Arizona had not been explored by Anglo-Americans. Several different parties of men headed into the mountains, but the first to arrive and find gold was guided by Joseph R. Walker. The discovery was made in May on the headwaters of the Hassayampa River, in the Bradshaw Mountains south of present day Prescott.

By Ray Carlson

Last week’s article described how the Way Out West Show in 1921 raised money to pay off part of the Frontier Days’ debt.  Gradually, though, it became clear that the Smoki snake dance part of the Show would serve another purpose.

By Ray Carlson

In early May 1921, Neil Clark, the Yavapai County Attorney, ran an advertisement indicating that he would pay 50 cents for live bull snakes over 3 feet in length.  A common question was what a prominent attorney wanted with a bunch of large snakes?  This curiosity prompted the Prescott Journal Miner to indicate they were trying to resolve the mystery and noted that Clark’s request had something to do with the Way Out West show that was scheduled for the Fairgrounds on May 26.  An article in the Prescott Evening Journal revealed that the show was b­­eing planned by a committee chaired by Chris Totten, a local architect. Totten was quoted as saying the WOW would be four hours of fun at the Fairgrounds, but he offered no details.

By Mary Melcher, Ph.D.

Ranch women in Yavapai County have a long history of hard work and adaptability.  A multi-talented group, they cooked, sewed, raised children and chickens, worked with cattle and rode horseback.  Their stories are sometimes buried under those of the male ranchers, but Sharlot Hall Museum’s Territorial Rose Garden honorees include numerous ranch women. 

By Fred Veil

The events which led to the creation, settlement and development of the Arizona Territory were strongly influenced by the policies and executive actions of our nation’s 16^th president––Abraham Lincoln of Illinois.

By Al Bates

When America’s Civil War started in 1861, “Colonel” Palatine Robinson was a prominent Tucson businessman and an active Arizona politician while his lovely and fair-complexioned wife, Sarah E. Robinson, was the belle of Tucson’s small Anglo community.  Less than two years later Palatine was a fugitive, a bail jumper on his way to Confederate Texas.  Sarah was left behind in Union-occupied territory, quite likely never to see her husband again.

By Al Bates

In January 1737 Captain Juan Bautista de Anza reported from his outpost in Sonora to his superiors in central Mexico that there were vast deposits of silver near the “Arizona rancheria” owned by his deputy mayor, Bernardo de Urrea.  That discovery, known as the Planchas de Plata, had two results.  The first was a struggle over ownership of the silver.  The second was the adoption of the rancheria’s name to identify the surrounding area as well.

Originally written by Michael Wurtz and first appeared in the Courier's Days Past column on November 2, 1997.  This version is slightly different form from the original article.

Mollie Monroe has the unfortunate distinction of being the first woman in Arizona Territory to be declared insane.  Born in New Hampshire in 1846 to a fairly affluent family, she was christened Mary Elizabeth Sanger and was given a finishing school education to equip her for marriage to a successful businessman.

By Al Bates

Arizona pioneer Richard Gird is a tough man to pigeonhole.  Although his formal schooling ended at age 16, his considerable practical skills included: prospector, mining and mechanical engineer, surveyor, geologist, assayer of mineral wealth, and cartographer.  To top it off, he was a man of his word.

By Al Bates

Not only was Territorial Prescott home to the first Arizona historical society, it also was home to the second: First came the Arizona Historical Society incorporated by the first territorial legislature and organized in November 1864; second was theArizona Pioneer Society formed late in 1865.