Nathaniel “Nathan” Sears (1810-1885) - Farmer and Stockraiser

 

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Nathaniel Sears, or Nathan as he was usually known, was born about 1810 in Kentucky.  His parents were Jesse Sears and Margaret Ellen Cox.  Nathan’s paternal grandfather, John Lewis Sears, Sr., was a veteran of the Revolutionary War and had acquired bounty land there.

On April 16, 1830, Nathan married Nancy Mills in Pulaski County, Kentucky.  Their first two sons, Jesse and Thompson, were born there.  However, around 1835, the Sears family removed to Missouri, where Nathan and Nancy had five more sons in quick succession.  The 1850 census of Missouri records them as small farmers.

By 1860, the Sears family was living in West Point, Bates County, Missouri, and Nathan was running a grocery store.   Sons Eli, Winfrey and Alexander were still in the household, but the older boys were married and gone.

At least three of the Sears sons fought for the Confederacy during the Civil War, although it is not known whether they served in regular regiments or as irregulars.  At any rate, they all left Missouri after the war.

1870 found Nathan and Nancy farming near Anaheim, California.  Five of their sons-- Thompson, James, Eli, Winfrey and Alexander--were also farming nearby.  Surprisingly, Nathan and Nancy’s household included two young African American children, George and Rhoda, who had been born in Missouri. 

Sometime between 1876 and 1879, sons John Marion and Eli moved to Phoenix, Arizona.  The 1880 federal census lists their occupation as freighters/teamsters.  Nathan and Nancy were also in John Marion’s household, although by then they were retired.

Nathan’s wife Nancy must have died between 1880 and 1882, for Nathan married a widow, Furlisa (Felicia?) Ann House Howerton, on November 16, 1882.  Nathan and Furlisa had only three years together, as he passed away on their wedding anniversary, November 16, 1885, in Tempe.

It is presumed that Nathan Sears was buried in the Pioneer & Military Memorial Park, that being the only cemetery in use in 1885.   However, no grave marker has been found.

While Sears did have a will, it was not entered into probate until January 9, 1893.   His estate was estimated to be worth about $7000.  Per a prior agreement, he left half of his cattle and all his horses to his son John Marion, who was a rancher.  The other half of the cattle were to be divided equally among his other sons.  To his widow he left five milk cows and any offspring they might have.  Sons John Marion and James were named as co-executors.  There is no explanation for the seven-year delay in probating the will.

-by Donna

Cornstarch Cake - 1904

 

This is a vintage moist and spongy cake.  It does have a tendency to fall, so I would try the recommendations at the end.  Don't let it win!

Ingredients:

 sugar, 2 cupfuls

butter, 1 cupful

milk, 1 cupful

eggs, 3

soda, 1 teaspoonful

flour, 2 cupfuls

cornstarch, 1 cupful

cream-tartar, 2 teaspoonfuls

Directions:

Stir two cupfuls of sugar and one of butter to a cream.  Add one cup of milk, three eggs, whites and yolks beaten separately, and one teaspoonful of soda, dissolved in a little hot water. Then stir in two cupfuls of flour, and one cupful of cornstarch, with two teaspoonfuls of cream-tartar sifted through them (original directions - The New York Cake Cook).

Modification:  Bake in a 6-inch pan for 60 minutes, avoiding opening
the door for 45 minutes.  cool upside down.

George Ulmer Collins (1835-1904) - Farmer and Rancher

 

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At the time of his death, George U. Collins was a prosperous cattleman and farmer, as well as a member of the Arizona Territorial Legislature.

Born March 1835 in the state of Maine, George was the oldest child of Thomas R. Collins and Lucy W. Ulmer.  The 1850 federal census of Liberty, Waldo County, Maine, records the Collinses as farmers.

By 1860, young George was living in East Boston, Massachusetts, and his occupation was listed as ‘ship’s carpenter’.  Perhaps George took advantage of his proximity to sailing ships to do some traveling.  At any rate, 1870 found him living in Santa Cruz, California, living with Mary Fenderson, whom he had met and married there in 1861.  George was working as a tollgate keeper in 1870, and his estimated worth was $2000—not bad for the times!

Evidently, George used some of his funds to move to Arizona in 1875 and purchase land.  By 1880, he and his family were living on a farm in Township 1N2E, three and a half miles southwest of the original Phoenix townsite and not far from the Salt River.  Collins was an early user of irrigation water, which he used to grow alfalfa.  As the little settlement of Phoenix grew, George became a prosperous farmer and rancher.

George’s wife Mary died unexpectedly on October 29, 1890.  One of her sons was bringing an armload of firewood to the house when he saw her fall, but he was unable to revive her.  She was buried in a Phoenix cemetery, most probably in what is now the Pioneer & Military Memorial Park.  Two of her grandchildren were buried in City Loosley Cemetery--possibly near her--a few years later. 

George continued working on the family farm.  Rather than relying on gravity to fill his irrigation ditches, he began digging a well in 1900.  Although he struck water at 29 feet, he continued digging to assure a good source of water throughout the dry season.  In 1901, he installed a 60-hp pump to bring the water to the surface, thereby making his property the best watered in the area. 

As an influential early settler, George joined the Masonic Order, the Knights Templar and the B.P.O.E. He was also active in local politics, being elected to the Arizona Territorial Legislature in 1903.

Shortly before Christmas in 1903, George came down with a cough which turned into pneumonia.  He died on January 1, 1904, and was buried in the Masons cemetery.  There is no grave marker.

When George’s will was entered into probate, his adult sons were chagrined to learn that he had left half of his estate to the Knights Templar, of which he had been a long-time member.  The other half was to be divided between his two sons.  They argued that their father had been unduly influenced by one of his Masonic brethren, who might stand to benefit in some way.  However, the court ruled that the will was valid, since George’s bequest was to the Order itself and not to any particular individual.

-By Donna

 

Territorial Livestock Sanitary Commission - 1887

Bing AI/Prompt by Val

According to the Arizona Department of Agriculture, cattle came to Arizona as early as the 1690s by the Spanish conquistadores and missionaries.  After the Civil War, Arizona began to see a cattle boom.  In 1887 the Territorial Livestock Sanitary Commission was formed, which had its own veterinarian. This agency was tasked with enforcing livestock laws, including brand registration, inspection, and health regulations. The Board's creation was driven by the need to standardize practices and curb the spread of diseases like Texas fever, which threatened the cattle industry. Inspectors were appointed to oversee branding and ensure compliance with health standards, playing a vital role in protecting both the livestock and the livelihoods of ranchers. This regulatory framework helped lay the foundation for a more organized and prosperous cattle industry in Arizona.

Marks of Ownership: Arizona Livestock Branding in the 1800s

Hoof and horn. (Prescott, Ariz.), 27 June 1889. Chronicling America

These cattle belong to two people in our cemetery (hint: one of them was moved to San Diego).  Can you guess who they are?  

In the late 1800s, livestock branding in Arizona was essential for ranchers to establish ownership of their cattle and protect against rustling, a common issue in the vast and often lawless frontier. Branding involved burning a unique symbol into the hide of the cattle, a practice that dated back centuries and was crucial in the open range system where cattle from various ranches mingled freely. Each rancher had a registered brand, and these marks were meticulously recorded to prevent disputes and theft. The harsh landscape of Arizona and the growing cattle industry made branding an indispensable tool for ranch management and economic survival.

For more information on branding in Arizona, these resources have some excellent articles and books:

Chronicling America

"Hoof and Horn" from Prescott Arizona, 1884-1889

"St. Johns Herald and Apache News" from St. Johns, Arizona, 1905-1917

Arizona Memory Project

Arizona Memory Project Brand books form the 1890s

Samuel Calvin McElhaney (1861-1905) and Sarah Ella Hill McElhaney (1872-1911) - Pioneer Ranchers

McElhaneys

Taken from Headstone at the PMMP

Samuel Calvin McElhaney was born 9 October 1861 in Alabama.  As a young man, he drove a herd of cattle and horses from Texas to Phoenix and settled near the Salt River, with its assured supply of water. 

On January 10, 1889, McElhaney was among those who incorporated as the Fairmount Water Storage Company, for the purpose of selling water for irrigation and mining purposes in Maricopa County.  Another shareholder was Reuben Hill, soon to become his father-in-law.  Sam married Sarah Ella Hill, daughter of Reuben Hill and Mary Perry, on April 10, 1889. 

The newlyweds moved to Holbrook, where they enjoyed a few years of success before a severe drought forced ranchers to leave the high country.  The McElhaneys then drove their stock back down to the Salt River Valley and established a farm in the old Fowler district just south of Glendale, where Sam built a house for his growing family.  Son Randolph Hill Mc Elhaney was born in 15 July 1890.  He was soon followed by a daughter, Nina Inez, born 24 January 1892.

Sam McElhaney and George Keefer were obviously good friends, seeing as how Sam named his second son, born in 1894, Louis Keefer McElhaney.  That child died in January 1897.

More children followed.  Daughter Pearl was born 21 November 1898.  Another son, Coyt Ruben, was born about 1901.  Byron Samuel McElhaney was born 7 April 1903.

From an early age, Randolph was his father’s right-hand man.  On November 28, 1905, while loading some fat hogs into a wagon to be taken to market, Sam severely jammed his thumb, causing him agonizing pain.  Although he repeatedly assured his son that he was hurt in no place but the thumb, the pain was so unbearable that he fainted twice while attempting to walk the short distance to the house. He was dead, presumably of shock, by the time the doctor arrived.  Following the funeral at First Baptist Church, Sam McElhaney, aged 43, was buried in Loosley Cemetery.

This left Sam’s widow Ella and son Randolph to manage their farm.  Ella’s last child, Samuel Jr., was born posthumously in 1906.  When she died on 18 March 1911, she too was buried in the family plot in Loosley. 

Both Randolph and Samuel Jr. went on establish large ranches of their own in the 1930s.  Randolph settled in Chino Valley and Samuel founded the McElhaney Cattle Company of Wellton, Arizona, which remained under family control until 2010.

-Debe Branning and Donna Carr

 

 

Happy 4th of July! - 2024

Did you know that the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia is tapped 13 times every 4th of July in honor of the original 13 colonies? The descendants of the signers of the Declaration of Independence do the actual tapping.  The bell itself is famously cracked and cannot be rung, but the tapping symbolizes the sound of freedom and the historic significance of the day.

 

Higinio Bernal (1845-1912) - Farmer

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Higinio was born around 1845 in Ures, Sonora, Mexico.  He was one of several children born to Tiburcio Bernal and his wife.   Higinio had an older sister, Trinidad, born 1843, as well as a younger brother named José Maria, born 1853, also in Sonora.

The Bernals seem to have been farmers throughout their lives.  Both of the Bernal brothers were living in San Bernardino County, California, in 1872, as that is where Higinio married Juana Ruberto Albañez.   According to the 1900 federal census, she was the mother of ten children total, of whom the oldest six may have been born in California. 

Around 1877, Higinio and Juana moved to Phoenix, Arizona, where they had four more children.  These younger children are the ones who appear in the Bernal household on the 1900 census.

A retired farmer, Higinio was living at 800 South 5th Avenue in Phoenix when he passed away on April 22, 1912  He had been paralyzed and bedridden for some time prior.  He was buried in City/Loosley Cemetery, Block 19.  There is no grave marker.

His widow Juana died in 1933 and was buried in St. Francis Cemetery.

-Donna Carr

 

Jack Swilling - Reviving Ancient Canals

Jack Swilling

NARA

In the mid-1800s, pioneers in Arizona individually and informally collaborated to restore the ancient Hohokam canals. One significant early effort occurred in the 1860s during an Arizona gold rush.  Jack Swilling, a former Confederate soldier and early settler, recognized the potential of the Hohokam irrigation canals in the Salt River Valley. He wanted to sell crops to miners at Wickenburg and the U.S. Cavalry stationed at Fort McDowell

Swilling organized a small group of settlers in 1867 to clear and repair some of the old Hohokam canals to irrigate their fields. This initiative led to the creation of the Swilling Irrigation and Canal Company, which successfully restored sections of the ancient canal system. His work, which was originally known as “Swilling’s Ditch” enabled the cultivation of crops such as barley, wheat, and vegetables, laying the foundation for the agricultural development of the Phoenix area. 

-Val

 

Engineering Marvels of the Desert: The Hohokam Canals of Arizona

Old Crosscut Canal

Library of Congress

Did you ever wonder how the canals originated in Arizona, especially the Phoenix area?  How were the Phoenix pioneers able to grow their crops in such a hot, dry area?

The Hohokam Native Americans, a prehistoric culture that flourished in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, are renowned for their sophisticated canal systems. Between 600 and 1450 AD, the Hohokam engineered an extensive network of irrigation canals, which is considered one of the most advanced in pre-Columbian North America. These canals spanned over 500 miles, diverting water from the Salt and Gila rivers to arid lands, enabling the cultivation of crops such as corn, beans, squash, and cotton. The Hohokam's innovative irrigation techniques transformed the harsh desert environment into a fertile agricultural landscape, supporting large, thriving communities.

When American pioneers arrived in Arizona in the late 19th century, they recognized the value of the ancient Hohokam canals. These early settlers refurbished and expanded the existing infrastructure to support their agricultural endeavors. 

The legacy of the Hohokam's engineering prowess thus played a crucial role in the development of Arizona's agricultural industry, demonstrating the enduring impact of their innovations on the region's history and economy.

 More on this to come!  Stay tuned for stories of "The Swilling Ditch"!

-Val

Beach Mining - Creative Ways to Find Minerals

Mining on the Beach

Library of Congress

Beach mining in the 1800s involved several methods and techniques adapted to coastal environments where valuable minerals like gold, tin, and diamonds were found in beach sands and sediments. Here’s how they typically conducted beach mining during that time:

Similar to river panning, miners used pans to manually sift through beach sands to find traces of heavier minerals like gold. This method was labor-intensive but effective in finding small concentrations of valuable minerals.

Miners would set up sluice boxes along the beach or in nearby streams to channel water over deposits of beach sand. The sluice boxes used riffles to trap heavier minerals while allowing lighter sediment to wash away.

primitive dredging methods were sometimes employed using hand-operated suction pumps or simple bucket dredges to extract sands from the seabed or near the shoreline. These methods were basic but effective for shallow-water mining.

Beach mining is carefully monitored in current times, as it has a huge environmental impact on shorelines.  

In any case, I admire the man in the picture and his creative way of keeping dry and doing his work. 

-Val

 

 

The Daring World of Submarine Mining in the 1800s

 

Bing AI

In the late 1800s, an innovative yet perilous approach to mining was developed in England and Wales: submarine mining. Miners began extending tunnels from the shoreline deep under the seabed to access coal deposits located offshore. This method allowed for the exploitation of coal seams that stretched beneath the ocean, opening new avenues for resource extraction that were previously thought inaccessible.

However, submarine mining came with significant risks. The tunnels, vulnerable to the ocean's pressure, posed severe hazards from flooding. Additionally, these underwater environments were prone to the accumulation of dangerous gases, increasing the risk of explosive methane gas incidents. Despite these dangers, the drive for industrial progress and the high demand for coal continued to push the boundaries of traditional mining techniques during this era.

-Val

 

 

Jerry Neville (1848-1900) - Mine Owner

PCA Archives

Based solely on GAR insignia on his grave marker, it is thought that Jerry Neville is the same person as the Canada-born Jerry Nevill who enlisted in the Union army at Dowagiac, Michigan, on December 22, 1863.  Although he swore that he was over 18 years old when he enlisted, the inscription on his grave marker suggests that he might have been younger.  

For a bounty of $300, he signed up to serve for three years and was assigned to Company D, 6^th Michigan Heavy Artillery.  He was discharged in New Orleans on August 20, 1865.  Thereafter, he seems to have gone into the mining business out West, perhaps logical given that he would have been familiar with gunpowder and explosives.

According to the federal census, Jerry Neville was in Silver City, New Mexico, in 1880.  However, he was also registered to vote in Pima County, Arizona.  He and his partner, Norman H. Chapin, operated in the southeastern part of the state, where they owned copper mines called The Pride of the West and The Smuggler near Harshaw, Arizona.

On October 3, 1891, Chapin married Maria Barron in Nogales, Arizona.  A little over five years later, Neville married Maria’s younger sister, Refugia Barron, recently arrived from Mexico, on May 2, 1897.  This made Chapin and Neville brothers-in-law as well as business partners.

The Nevilles had a son George, born July 15, 1899, in Los Angeles.  Possibly they had a daughter named Ygnacia as well, but she may have died young, as she does not appear in the censuses of 1900 or 1910.

By 1899, Jerry Neville had contracted phthisis (tuberculosis) and was no longer able to attend to his mines.  The Pride of the West was reportedly sold to Gee & Wilfley of Denver for $120,000.

Toward the end of 1899, Neville was staying at Washington Camp in Santa Cruz County when he took a turn for the worse and came to Phoenix for medical treatment.  He died on January 4, 1900, in Sisters Hospital in Phoenix and was buried in Rosedale Cemetery.

His brother-in-law, Norman H. Chapin, came to Phoenix to settle Neville’s business affairs, but only a few short weeks later, he was stricken with pneumonia and died on January 10, 1900.  He was buried in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Cemetery.

The 1900 federal census, conducted later that year, found the widowed sisters, Maria and Refugia, living together in Harshaw.  On August 29, 1901, Refugia remarried.  Her new husband, Oscar Keefe Franklin, then adopted little George and was named as his legal guardian.

There is no evidence that Jerry Neville ever received an invalid pension for his Civil War service or was a patient at the military hospital in Sawtelle, California.  Likewise, Refugia and her son George seem not to have applied for survivors pensions.  It has been conjectured that they were sufficiently well off not to need such benefits.

-Donna Carr