By Jean Cross
The next time you are out Williamson Valley way you might like to consider some of the events which took place in this beautiful, if at one time hostile, area during the early days of Prescott's settlement. The pioneers themselves are worthy of our reflection--such names as Simmons, Fine, Jenkins, Sieber, Matli and many others come to mind in such a discussion. One name in particular has caught my interest in researching the beginnings of this area, that of Jefferson Harrison Lee better known as Harry in his early years and then as J.H.
In her book, "One Last Frontier", Pat Savage gives an account of this remarkable man as well as a history of the Prescott area and in particular, Williamson Valley. J.H. was truly a "man for all seasons" and a "jack of all trades." During his lifetime he was a freighter, miner, farmer, carpenter, rancher, sheepherder, inn keeper and many things in between. Here was a man who seemed unable or unwilling to give up. When adversity showed its ugly head, J.H. seemed always to find a way to survive. He somehow found ways to cope and improvise until an opportunity would present itself and he would find himself engaged in a new career.
But I am getting ahead of the story and should return to the year 1845, when Harry was nine years old. His father having died, Harry was bound out to a farmer and expected to do a man's work. By the age of twelve, he had left home again and eventually "stowed away" on a wagon train and was on his way West as a freighter. He made himself so useful to the wagon bosses that he was kept on and thus engaged in this type of work for the next couple of years. He next signed on as a government hunter and when that did not seem to work out too well, he drifted out to try his hand at mining in Colorado. On a visit home he met Agnes Taylor whom he married and settled down to farming. Tiring of the monotony of such a life, he and Agnes set out for Colorado to try their luck back at the mines. Agnes was pleased when it was proposed that they leave this venture and proceed to Arizona. It must be added that Agnes turned out to be a kindred spirit and seemed to revel in the adventure.
Upon arrival in the Prescott area, just behind the Governor's party, and the prospects of finding a fortune in the gold mines waning, Harry found work as a carpenter building a store on Granite Street and Agnes found employment as a cook at the Osborn House. In the meantime the Lees staked out a homestead of 160 acres near Fort Whipple and J.H. and Agnes eventually found work at the Fort. It was about this time that J.H. met Dan Connor who had come with the Walker party. Dan was anxious to go to California but needed some ammunition for the trip. He offered Lee a trade of his property, the American Ranch at the foot of the east side Granite Mountain, for the needed gun. After accompanying Connor out to Williamson Valley to view the property and seeing possibilities in owning this piece of land, the deal was made and Lee became the owner of the American Ranch. However, working the ranch proved to be more difficult than anticipated since the native population of the area was less than friendly with these "foreigners" who had usurped their hunting grounds.
Though warned not to build a house in the area, Lee proceeded to do so but took the precaution of providing an escape via a tunnel which was accessed through a hole in the floor of the house. He made use of this device one night when torches were fired at the roof and the house set on fire. Undaunted, Lee emerged from hiding and began at once to rebuild. Craftiness was employed as he changed his appearance several times by removing or adding pieces of clothing as he went about his work to give the impression that there was more than one occupant at the ranch.
When the threat of extinction lessened, Lee built a larger house and with Agnes' help opened an Inn which accommodated the travelers on the Hardyville Road. This road served the freighters, the military and settlers between Prescott and the Colorado River and was one of the main arteries giving access to the Arizona Territory. The Historic Trails Committee which was recently organized in Prescott is considering researching this road to locate its route across central Arizona. On February 27, of this year, Bruce Fee, Jerry Munderloh and Tracy de Vault led a group of would-be "Pathfinders" out Williamson Valley Road to visit the area around the American Ranch, Simmons Crossing and the Hardyville Road where it crossed Walnut Creek. Remains of the town of Charmingdale were a focal point of this venture as were the remains of a prehistoric habitation site. Those who were present on this trek gained an intimate insight into the beginnings of this part of Yavapai County and the hardships endured by both the prehistoric peoples of the area as well as those who later settled here. It was people like J.H. Lee and his wife who have made this area accessible to those of us who now call it home.
This field trip was under the auspices of the Sharlot Hall Museum and the able leadership of Anita Norbrock of the museum's staff. It was preceded by a slide program the previous Sunday at the Museum presented by Bruce Fee, a member of the Historic Trails Committee of the Yavapai Trails Association. For further information regarding activities of the Committee contact Warren Miller at the Museum at 445-3122 or Mary Banning 632-7222.
Jean Cross is an Active Member of the Historic Trails Subcommittee of the Yavapai Trails Association.
Sharlot Hall Museum Photograph Call Number: (bura2068pi). Reuse only by permission.
When this photo was taken in the 1930s, the American Ranch was beginning to fall apart after about a half century of service to travelers between Prescott and the Colorado River near present day Bullhead City.