By Mick Woodcock

If you had mentioned the name Head in Arizona before 1890, you would have been speaking of a family of two bothers that were influential in the development of the territory. Both were businessmen and politicians from Yavapai County, vitally involved in the growth and prosperity of Arizona. C. P. and William S. Head were men who cast their lot in a new land and found prosperity and a measure of notoriety with it.

Much of what we know of the brothers comes from their obituaries. One hardly ever reads anything disagreeable in these notices so that it is difficult to discern how people really felt about them, but never the less, here is what was reported about C. P. Head in the news August 19, 1887: 

"Col. C. P. Head. The late Cotesworth Pinckney Head was born in New York state about 53 years ago, received a college education and was one of the brightest and most agreeable men we ever met. He went south before the war and served with distinction in the Confederate Army. Soon after the close of the war, he came to the Pacific coast and was connected with several engineering duties in California, Nevada and Montana. Coming to Arizona in 1868 or 9, he engaged in mercantile pursuits, mining, stock raising and contracting. He represented this county in the Eighth Legislature and was once the Democratic candidate for Congress. Having known him intimately, we can, with truth, say that he was always honorable and kind to others, a good and useful citizen, and affectionate husband and father, a good man in every respect, his memory will be cherished by relatives and friends". 

For any number of reasons, existing territorial records do not agree with the newspaper. C. P. is not listed in the 1870 census as living in Yavapai County, which may or may not mean that he arrived after that. The obituary also indicates that he was married with children. The 1880 census has him as a single white male. Territorial marriage records do not indicate that he was married in Arizona. He may have gone to San Francisco where his brother A. E. lived and married there. In any case, we do know that he had been elected as one of Yavapai County's delegates to the House of Representatives in the 1875 legislative assembly. His greatest claim to fame, however was having run on the Democratic ticket for territorial representative to Congress in 1882. Fellow Prescottonian, Curtis Coe Bean, beat him in that election. Tucson's Republican newspaper the Arizona Weekly Citizen, had described Head in an October 18th article as "an old fogy" and a "second edition of Grant Oury, [the previous territorial representative and a Democrat] minus a heart" who "has no use for the poor man, the miner, the prospector or the ranchman, save when he is in need of their votes." 

C. P. and his brother, William S., owned and operated two stores in Yavapai County. C. P. Head & Co., on the northeast corner of Gurley and Montezuma streets in Prescott and the post trader's store at Fort Verde in the Verde Valley. Both men were involved not only in the mercantile business, but also in ranching and mining. In 1872, C. P. was the president of the Wickenburg & Prescott toll road and in the 1880s, he was one of a group of local Prescott businessmen involved in bringing the first railroad to central Arizona. 

The January 18, 1918 Prescott Journal-Miner noted the passing of William S. Head in the following article: 

"Prominent Man of Early Days is Gone. Belated news has been received in Prescott of the death at Oakland, Cal. on January 15 last, of William Sanford Head, which will occasion expressions of profound sorrow in this section and throughout the State. Mr. Head had reached the age of 83 years and one day, and was a native of New York. He was a brother of A. E. Head, deceased, one of the big mining men of San Francisco, and another brother was C. P. Head, the early day merchant of Prescott, who passed away in this city many years ago. Mr. Head made Prescott his home for many years, and also was a heavy landowner and merchant of the Verde valley. His early-day life in Arizona was characterized by invariably being in the front line in public movements, and his ability in any official capacity or public undertaking won for him the familiar title of "Boss" Head. In many official duties his wisdom as a legislator brought out all the beneficent characteristics of an able and whole-souled man, and it is but a just tribute to the memory of the deceased to state that he ranked as the leader of early-day lawmakers of Arizona. A fine trait of Mr. Head in every-day life was his genial personality, which was always graced with a wholesome fellowship. He was also generous and kind, and recollections of his many charitable deeds are still cherished in this community. His death takes away one of the truly big men of Arizona of early days". 

W. S. was elected to the House of Representatives in the 1877 legislative assembly, and then to the Council in 1879. He is not as prominently mentioned in the newspapers of the day since he lived in the Verde Valley, which would only occasionally send in news worthy of note. When the census was taken in 1880, William was listed as a single white male forty-five years of age. He had, working at his store as a cook, Thomas Delany, a twenty-five year old single white male. The store on account ledger reveals that other workers were hired as need, but in contrast, the census records reveal that the Prescott store had two clerks, a porter and a bookkeeper. 

Whether actually well thought of or not, it is certain that both brothers were involved in the commerce and politics of Arizona. They were not merely content to earn a living, but made improvements to the territory that they called home. Could anyone ask for a better contribution? 

(Mick Woodcock is Curator of History at Sharlot Hall Museum.) 

Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number:(bub8124p)
Reuse only by permission.
The C.P. Head and Co. store, at the corner of Gurley and Montezuma Streets, was built in December of 1876. Later it was J.W. Wilson's Store.