Mary Elizabeth (Francisco) Averyt Flumerfelt was born in Lyons, New York, on November 22, 1872, the daughter of Adelaide (Penover) and George Francisco. In 1891, she traveled west with the Bashford family and lived at the home of Levi Bashford on South Mount Vernon Street in Prescott, Yavapai County, Arizona Territory. Today, the Bashford House is located on the grounds of Sharlot Hall Museum.
On July 11, 1895, Mary married Alfred Wheeler Averyt, a Whiskey Row merchant in Prescott. Henrietta Bashford was her maid of honor. In this same year, Alfred and Mary built their home at 230 S. Pleasant Street. The couple had two children: Dorothy Edna (Averyt) Dicus, born April 3, 1897, and Alfred Wheeler, born May 11, 1902.
Mary’s husband, Alfred, died October 11, 1902. The Weekly Journal Miner dated October 15, 1902, reported, “…he was able to work until last February, when he had an attack of pneumonia which left his lungs in very bad condition and he had been compelled to remain in bed ever since.”
Mary carried on as a widow for the next few years. On February 4, 1903, the Weekly Journal Miner reported, “Mrs. Alfred Averyt is preparing to erect a nice cottage just north of her residence on South Pleasant Street.”
On February 23, 1907, Mary married Elijah Jenkins Flumerfelt, a cotton farmer, in Tempe. Elijah also owned a grocery store on Van Buren Street in Phoenix. She had two more children: Eleanor Jean Eivar (born November 21, 1908), and Ruth Elizabeth McManus (born November 21, 1912). In May 1914, they sold their ranch southeast of Tempe and moved to Jerome, but they returned to Maricopa County in the 1920s. Elijah died January 21, 1938, in Phoenix. Mary moved to Whittier, California, sometime after the 1940 census was taken to live with her daughter, Ruth McManus.
Mary attended the Methodist Church and was active in Ladies Aid. One of Mary's hobbies was gardening, and her favorite flower was the rose. She died February 25, 1958, in Whittier and is buried in Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California.
Donor: Ruth (Flumerfelt) McManus, daughter, and Carol (McManus) Henderson
Photo Located: RGC MS-39, Box F, F-Flumerfelt, Mary
Updated: 11/27/15; D. Sue Kissel
