By Al Bates

This article is one of a series that will appear in this space during this year on historic events relating to the Arizona Territory’s Sesquicentennial and the founding and establishment of Prescott as the Territory’s first capital.

April 1864 had been a quiet but windy month.  Once Governor Goodwin had left for an extended visit to southern Arizona, there was little going on politically except the tedious task of completing the first census and Indian Agent Poston’s travels in his search for votes as Territorial Delegate to Congress.

Before the Governor departed, however, he sent a letter to General Carleton requesting relocation of Fort Whipple for better protection of the miners.  Then he added, “I am disposed to convene the Legislature at a point in the new mines if a post can be established sufficiently near to afford adequate protection.”  The move of Fort Whipple to a spot on Granite Creek was all but complete by the time Governor Goodwin returned in late May.

Another event of some local interest came when Robert W. Groom surveyed a quarter section west of Granite Creek that Territorial Secretary McCormick claimed and named the “Pinal Ranch.”

 Surveyor of the Prescott town-site, Robert W. Groom (Photo Courtesy Sharlot Hall Museum Call Number: PO-1834p).

While formal announcement of where the first legislature would meet would wait until after the July 18 elections, these were strong hints that the Governor had decided that this would be the place.  Thus, some interested citizens, primarily Mr. Groom and Van C. Smith—with no documented authorization—started the actions essential to establish a suitable site for a capital city.  They picked two adjacent quarter sections located between Pinal Ranch and Fort Whipple for a townsite, and Mr. Groom set out streets and avenues and alleys and blocks divided into lots.

Shortly after the Governor arrived back from Tucson May 24, an anonymous notice was “widely posted” saying, “There will be a public meeting held at the store of Don Manuel, on Granite Creek, on Monday evening, May 30, 1864, for the purpose of considering and adopting the best mode of disposing of lots in the proposed town.”  The Federal laws controlling such disposition of public lands posed some problems, but a work-around was found that was not perfect, but ultimately was confirmed.

The Arizona Miner in its next issue reported on the meeting, noting that Mr. Groom was chosen to preside and Miner “Publisher” Tisdale Hand was appointed secretary.  Dr. J. T. Alsap of Lynx Creek had a prominent role introducing a series of resolutions, which were unanimously adopted “after some discussion.”  No count of or list of attendees was published.

The first two resolutions approved the townsite as surveyed by Groom and that it would be named Prescott in recognition of a prominent historian.  Whether Secretary McCormick was present or not is unknown, but later he did accept credit for the name suggestion.

The next resolutions adapted Federal law to recognize local circumstances, first declaring: “That we believe it to be for the best interest of all concerned, that the lots be sold and disposed of under the act of Congress approved March 2d, 1863.”

And then comes the workaround: “That on account of the great delay which must attend communication with the Secretary of the Interior, (owing to the lack of mail facilities), and in the absence of a Register and Receiver of the Land Office in this district, that Messrs. Van C. Smith, Hezekiah Brooks, and R. W. Groom, are hereby appointed to act as Commissioners . . . in laying out, appraisement and disposition of the lots in accordance with the said Act of Congress.”  The “commissioners” acted quickly and the first auction of lots was held just five days later.

 Map of Prescott town-site drawn by A. F. Waldemar in 1864. Each purchaser of lots in the town-site was provided with a copy of this map for filing with his deed (Map Courtesy Sharlot Hall Museum Call Number: Map# 794).

The next resolution would have a significant impact on the characteristics of the new town by stating: “That at least one square in the proposed town site should be reserved for a public plaza,” thus providing for our noteworthy courthouse plaza.

In the days that followed, the Governor and Secretary “moved their tents” to Pinal Ranch across Granite Creek from the townsite and began arrangements for construction of a large log building that they would share as a combination government office and residence.

And so the town of Prescott was born through the efforts of a few men who refused to let legal technicalities interfere with needs in order to enhance the prospects for bringing the territorial capital here.  Now all they could do was to wait expectantly for the governor’s official announcement, but that would not come until after the elections for the territorial legislature in July.

Days Past is a collaborative project of the Sharlot Hall Museum and the Prescott Corral of Westerners, International (www.prescottcorral.org). The public is encouraged to submit articles for consideration.  Please contact SHM Library & Archives reference desk at 928-445-3122 Ext. 14, or via email at dayspastprescott@gmail.com for information.