Description

In this photograph, Morris Goldwater is shown in formal attire with all his metals and ribbons regarding his Masonic designation as Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Arizona. It is signed: “Yours truly and fraternally."

Morris Goldwater (b. 1852 – d. 1939) was born January 16, 1852 in London, England to Michael “Mike” and Sarah (Nathan) Goldwater.  Morris was one of eight children – the second child and first son - Caroline (Mrs. P.N. Aronson), Morris, Baron, Henry “Harry,” Samuel “Sam,” Benjamin “Ben,” Elizabeth “Lizzy,” Leonora (Mrs. Ralph Prager) and Annie. 

Soon after Morris was born, Mike and his brother, Joseph “Little Joe,” left for the United States. In late 1852, Mike and Joe arrived in the California gold country settling in Sonora, California where they opened a saloon. In 1854, Sarah along with her daughter Caroline and son Morris joined Mike and Joe. While in California, Morris studied and apprenticed to become a merchant store manager in the family business. Morris aspired to become a merchant like his father, Mike, and assisted in the operations of the Goldwater’s stores in La Paz and Ehrenberg, Arizona.

In 1872, the Goldwaters opened their first Phoenix, Arizona store. As manager of this location, Morris donated part of the store to the federal government to act as the first telegraph office in Phoenix area and worked as its operator without pay. Unfortunately, in 1876 the Phoenix store was not doing well and had to close. After the closure, Morris along with his brothers Henry “Harry” and Baron opened a new mercantile store in Prescott, Arizona. It was here that Morris settled and became an active member in Prescott’s civic affairs and the Masonic fraternal organization.

In 1879, Morris pledged $5,000 in bonds for a railroad from Phoenix to Prescott. Morris and two partners helped finance the railroad construction. Later, he became the vice president of Prescott National Bank and Mayor of Prescott, on and off, for a total of twenty years. Morris became a well-known civic leader and had a political career that included roles in Prescott’s city council the Twelfth Territorial Council of Yavapai County, Chairman of the Territorial Democratic Central Committee, one of the supervisors of Yavapai County, President of the Twentieth Territorial Legislature, and Vice President of the Arizona Constitutional Convention. He also helped organize the Arizona Democratic Party. During this time, Morris’ friend, John Fisher, had passed in 1897 and he eventually married Fisher’s widow and long-time landlord Sarah “Sally” (Shivers) Fisher on September 19, 1906. They were happily married until Sarah’s death on August 19, 1934. They had no children, but Morris became a stepfather to Olive and Harriet "Hattie" Fisher.

On April 11, 1939, Morris died in Prescott and was buried in Masonic Cemetery. He was a respected and influential participant in territorial Arizona and its emergence as a State. In 1964, Arizona Senator Barry Goldwater honored his uncle, Morris, by nominating him as "Man of the Century" during the Prescott Centennial celebration. Morris was awarded the honor and a plaque was placed in his memory.