Nora Ann (McWhorter) Maders, the daughter of Matilda Jane (Watson) and Howard Sutton McWhorter, was born January 16, 1873, in a covered wagon in Howard County, Kansas. At the time of Nora’s birth, the family was traveling by covered wagon from Kentucky to a mining camp at Crown King in Yavapai County, Arizona Territory. Like a true pioneer, Nora’s father took his family across the desert into Arizona Territory, which was known at the time as the land of hardships and privations. The family arrived in Arizona in 1873, and Nora lived in Yavapai County the rest of her life.

The McWhorter family moved to Camp Verde in 1875. Nora’s father and grandfather drove sixty head of "blooded stock" and established ranches in Cherry Creek, between Dewey and Camp Verde. They also became involved in mining. Nora grew up at the Peck Mine near Crown King. She attended school at Crown King and Cherry Creek. The family also lived in Dewey and Humboldt.

It appears that Nora also went to Tempe Normal School.  According to the May 7, 1902, Weekly Journal-Miner, she was on the faculty of Tempe Normal School. This may have been a short-term position because she was raising young children by this time.

On May 31, 1893, Nora married James Henry Maders (1869 – 1934) in Cherry Creek, where the couple established their home and ranch. Nora and James had twelve children: William Henry, born June 27, 1895; Robert Burns, born September 7, 1896; Le Roy, born March 12, 1899; Dudley Brooks, born July 21,1901; Elbert Sutton, born August 24, 1903; James Henry, born May 16, 1906; Eugene, born July 9, 1907; Fields Alexander, born October 23, 1908; Arizona Rose Merwin, born February 8, 1910; Horace Nellis, born October 14, 1911; Hazel Winifred Richards, born April 3, 1914; and Jessie Bell Higgins; born February 14, 1917.

Nora was a hardworking ranch wife and a devoted mother and wife. James died in January 1934. Nora died on January 8, 1960, at the Pioneers’ Home in Prescott, and she was buried at Mountain View Cemetery.

Donor: Norma Merwin Orr, February 2001- Granddaughter
Photo Located: Yavapai County People & Family Collection – F-Shull, Rose (Maders)
Updated: 11/3/2015, Gretchen Hough Eastman