Description

This photo is of Mae (Hutchins) Soper (b. 1865 - d. 1953), daughter to Prescott pioneer miner John Hutchins of Groom Creek, Arizona.

Mae's father, John Hutchins (b. 1826 (?) - d. August 25, 1914), was one of Prescott's early pioneers. He was a lifetime miner who owned and worked at many mines in the Yavapai County area, centering on the Groom Creek area.  He owned the Monte Cristo mine in the Hassayampa Mining District.  John was originally from Danielson borough in the town of Killingly, Windham County, Connecticut and came to Arizona Territory in 1867.  He was found dead from natural causes in his cabin near the Monte Cristo mine in 1914 and is buried in Citizens Cemetery in Prescott, Arizona.

Mae was born in April 1865 in Minnesota.  During the mid 1880s, she met and married Charles W. Soper.  They had two sons Charles Soper, Jr. (b. 1888) and Joseph R. Soper (b. 1891) while living in Bozeman, Montana Territory. Sometime between 1910-1915, they moved to Chula Vista, San Diego County, California.

In February of 1890, Charles and Mae (Hutchins) Soper were visitng John Hutchins in Groom Creek.  Their names appears in the local Prescott newspaper as attendees to a party hosted by Cora and Georgia Weaver, daughters of Benjamin H. Weaver.

For more information and sources, see Hutchins, John Surname Vertical File.