By Paul T. Hietter

During the late summer of 1879, John Keller was accused of killing a Salt River Valley farmer named Luke Monihon.  The murder outraged Phoenix residents and a number of them planned to lynch Keller.  By coincidence, the night before the extra-legal hanging was to take place, William McCloskey was jailed for killing Phoenix resident John LeBarr during a barroom altercation.

By Brendan Fillingim

When Studebaker Company executives learned late in 1924 that 12 of the 13 Arizona county sheriffs were using their “Big Six” model—a large V-6, six-passenger touring car—instead of other available brands, they dispatched Grover Sexton to interview Arizona sheriffs to discover why.

By Mick Woodcock

The initial fort on Granite Creek with its wood palisade had barracks, hospital and stables outside the log walls.  The number of troops assembled to campaign against the Yavapai at times numbered six companies which taxed the post’s ability to house the troops comfortably.  Generally there were two or three companies operating out of the fort, patrolling the areas around the mines and attempting to keep settlers on Granite Creek and the Agua Fria River safe.

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.