Nevada “Vady” California (Martin) Bozarth was born on January 24, 1866, in Illinois, the daughter of Lucretia Lucas and Hiram Martin. According to the Echoes of the Past: Tales of Old Yavapai, Vol. II, her brothers "thought their two-year-old sister should have a name besides 'baby,' which she was called. Being patriotic, they wished to name her for the two richest states in the Union and insisted on the names of Nevada and California, but she was called Nevada or 'Vady'." When the 1870 census was taken, the family was residing in Barton City, Missouri, and she was enumerated as “Calaferina.” The family moved to Lake County, Oregon, before settling in the Walnut Creek area of Yavapai County, Arizona Territory, in 1881.
She married John Asa Bozarth on December 25, 1883, in Walnut Creek wearing a dress she designed and made herself. According to Echoes of the Past, “Nevada was a slender girl with large blue eyes, a dimple in her chin and one in each cheek of her oval face, which was framed with golden hair.” They had five children: Minnie Belle (Bozarth) Richardson (1884), John Asa (1886), Orville Diville (1886), Guy Wesley (1889) and Waldo Emerson (1893).
By 1900 they were living in the Willow Creek Precinct, Yavapai County, Arizona Territory, where they had purchased the ranch and holdings of Herman Zinio, and had built their own home. Nevada also purchased property in Prescott in 1903.
In October 1909 they moved to Wickenburg where the Weekly Journal-Miner dated October 13, 1909, reported: “Mr. Bozarth is very enthusiastic over the future of that city, saying that mining is more active around that place than in many years, and one noticeable matter was that the Vulture was soon to install a new mill of 1900-stamp capacity.” Nevada returned to Prescott for the winter in February 1911 to reoccupy their home on N. McCormick Street, and they both returned to Prescott in January 1913.
A kind, generous woman who often helped people in trouble and ministered to the sick, Nevada made everyone heartily welcome in her home. This wonderful mother and homemaker was probably the first white woman to ride down into Supai Canyon.
Nevada was a member of the Prescott Methodist-Episcopal Church. In 1913, she lived at 208 N. McCormick Street. Her picture is displayed in the Bashford House.
Nevada died at her home on March 16, 1921, from pneumonia, and was buried in Mountain View Cemetery. Her daughters-in-law, Nancy L. (Cooper) Bozarth and Catharine (Hite) Bozarth, are also represented in the Territorial Women’s Memorial Rose Garden.
Donors: Orville and Catherine Bozarth
Photo Located: RGC MS-39, Box B, F-Bozarth, Nevada
Updated: 8/15/2015, D. Sue Kissel
