By Dewey E. Born

In May 1863, the Walker Party discovered gold in the Hassayampa River, a few miles south of present day Prescott. The Walker Party was a group of between twenty and thirty men lead by the well-known mountain man, Captain Joseph Walker. Traveling through the West, they were looking for the next gold find. Following the Gila River, they decided to explore the Hassayampa River, which led to the discovery of gold.

Fayrene Martin Hume, referred to as the "gracious keeper of the flame of Ash Fork heritage," is the 2006 recipient of the Sharlot Hall Award. Established in 1984, the award is given annually to a living Arizona woman who has made a valuable contribution to the understanding and awareness of Arizona.

By Carol Powell

In November of 2000 Parker Anderson, a local Prescott historian, wrote an article for Days Past about a notorious citizen and outlaw of old Prescott by the name of Louis C. Miller. He ended the article by stating, "The trail of Louis C. Miller stops there. I have no further information about the rest of his life, or when and where he died. Unlike today's media-saturated cases, notorious citizens in those days were often able to drift back into anonymity if they so desired. Louis C. Miller may be buried somewhere under his own name, but so far records have not been located. If anyone reading this has further data on Louis C. Miller, please contact either myself, or the Sharlot Hall Museum Archives."

By Mona Lange McCroskey

Curtis Ritter passed away in the Cottonwood hospital on September 7, 2006, with his sons, Jake and Tom at his side. Curtis, at ninety, represented the third generation of ranching Ritters to live in Yavapai County, and those who knew and loved him will sorely miss his friendly, gentle presence. Curtis was a storyteller without equal. His passions included flying, radio, and his family. He was equally at home behind the controls of his airplane, driving a school bus, or at a Soil Conservation District meeting.

By Fred Veil

The common perception that the Arizona Territory of the 19th Century existed largely in a state of lawlessness is a myth promulgated primarily by 20th Century Hollywood, television, and dime novels. While the territory undoubtedly had its share of criminal activity and civil disputes common to the western frontier, it also had a functioning legal system that appears to have dealt quite adequately with the legal issues of the day.

By Parker Anderson

When the Elks Opera House opened its doors on February 20, 1905, the first show was a Spanish Catalan play called, "Marta of the Lowlands," by Angel Guimera. The subject matter of the play, the exploitation of a woman enslaved by a land baron, was strong stuff for 1905 - an era that was rife with more lightweight entertainment on the stage.

By Terry Stone

If you walk around downtown Prescott, you might have certainly taken notice of all the references there are to cowboy culture. A statue of a cowboy resting beneath his horse decorates the Courthouse Square. A statue of a broncobuster is in front of City Hall. Many restaurants and real estate offices have framed pictures of cowboys in their various establishments. On Whiskey Row you can buy cowboy hats and John Wayne toilet paper. If you were here during the Frontier Days Parade in July, you witnessed dozens of participants decked out in the over-ripe habiliments of cowboy couture. All of this affectation might lead the casual observer to believe that, historically, early Prescott had something to do with cattle, spurs, and pointy-toed boots.

By Elizabeth E. Freeman

John Skaggs arrived in the Arizona Territory about 1887, where he bought a ranch on Beaver Creek c.1892. His ranch was located next to that of Riley Casner, who had settled there in 1879. Louise Casner, a daughter oB Riley, was just five-years-old when Skaggs settled nearby. Some twelve years later, she would charge Skaggs with murder.

By Parker Anderson 

One of the most prominent and wealthy miners in 19th century Yavapai County was Barney Martin, who had mining claims on Rich Hill and all around the Weaver Mining District in the Antelope area of southern Yavapai. Martin's mining activities regularly made news in the newspapers of Prescott and all around northern Arizona.

By Mona Lange McCroskey

(This article is a continuation from last week's Days Past.)

Roy Hays shipped cattle from Congress and from Kirlkland where huge herds were gathered. A few in Peeples Valley and all the ranchers around Walnut Grove banded together, drove their cattle in to Kirkland and shipped them on the train to points in the east. Hays usually shipped to California.