Annual Holiday Party - See You There!

 

Burial Practices of Indigenous Peoples

 

A Tribe Burial, Library of Congress

Traditional burial practices of Indigenous peoples in Arizona vary greatly depending on the specific tribe, as each has its unique cultural and spiritual beliefs surrounding death and the afterlife. Here are some examples of traditional burial practices for tribes historically and currently in Arizona.  This certainly is not an exhaustive list.

Hohokam

The ancient Hohokam practiced both cremation and burial in the ground. Cremated remains were often placed in pottery vessels or pits and buried, sometimes alongside offerings like tools, jewelry, or food.

Akimel O'odham (Pima)

The Akimel O'odham typically practiced cremation, believing that fire purified the soul and helped it transition to the afterlife. After cremation, the remains were placed in a pot or urn and buried. Personal items of the deceased, such as tools or clothing, were also burned or buried to accompany them in the next life.

Tohono O'odham

The Tohono O'odham traditionally practiced inhumation. The deceased were buried in a seated position, often wrapped in blankets or cloth. Graves were usually dug in remote locations, and offerings such as food, tools, or personal items were included to assist the deceased in their spiritual journey. Family members performed rituals to honor the deceased and ensure their peaceful transition to the afterlife.

Piipaash (Maricopa)

The Piipaash also practiced cremation, similar to the Akimel O'odham, with personal items often burned along with the body or buried nearby. Their ceremonies included rituals to purify the spirit and protect the living from the deceased's spirit lingering too close.

Yavapai

The Yavapai traditionally buried their dead in the ground, often in locations close to nature, such as caves or under trees. They believed that the soul would return to nature. Like other tribes, the deceased were buried with personal items that were believed to aid their journey in the afterlife.

Common Themes Across Tribes

Burial locations often held significance, such as being near water, under trees, or in caves, symbolizing a return to nature. Many tribes included personal items or offerings to assist the deceased on their journey or in their next life. Rituals and ceremonies often focused on purifying the soul, guiding it to the afterlife, and protecting the living from spirits. Many tribes would avoid or abandon places associated with death, reflecting a reverence for the power of spirits and the need to respect the deceased.

These practices have evolved over time due to changes and external influences.  However, many Indigenous communities in Arizona continue to honor their traditional beliefs and incorporate them into modern practices where possible.

 

Thank You Veterans for Your Service!

 

Emma Burrows French (1885-1911) - San Carlos Mohave

Stock photo of Mohave mother and child, ca. 1900.

Wikimedia

Emma Burrows was born around 1885.  She was a member of the San Carlos Mohave (Yuman) tribe.  Her maiden name appears in the written record as Burrows, Burroughs and Burris.

She graduated from the Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania in 1906.  On 7 August 1907, she married William French, a Salt River Maricopa who had been a student at the Phoenix Indian School.  Witnesses to the marriage were William’s brother Clarence and a woman named Ossie Mollie.

Emma’s first child, a girl, was born 22 July 1908 but died 11 May 1909 of whooping cough and lobar pneumonia.  The Frenches were living at 231 North 2^nd Street at the time.

On 4 December 1909, Emma gave birth to a boy, William.  However, he too died on 13 April 1911 of pulmonary tuberculosis.  Both children were buried in Rosedale Cemetery in Phoenix.  When little William expired, the family was residing at 918 East Jefferson Street in Phoenix.

By May 1911, Emma herself was in the last stages of pulmonary tuberculosis.  She was taken to Fort McDowell, possibly for medical care, and died there on 14 May.  She was buried in Rosedale, presumably near her children.

William French remained a widower for more than two years, after which he married Ada Quorah (Cora) and fathered seven more children.

-by Donna Carr

Indigenous Architectural Influences: Arizona Biltmore's Pueblo Deco Design

 

Arizona Biltmore

Library of Congress

Phoenix is home to examples of Pueblo Deco architecture, a style that blends Art Deco with Indigenous Puebloan design elements. The Arizona Biltmore Hotel, constructed in 1929, is a prominent example.  Inspired by the geometric patterns of Indigenous Pueblo art and motifs, McArthur and Wright incorporated what became known as "Biltmore Blocks." These blocks, made from desert sand and bearing stylized patterns, reflect the Southwest’s Indigenous heritage and the natural beauty of the desert

These sites exemplify how Indigenous cultural influences are integrated into Phoenix's architectural landscape, celebrating the traditions and contributions of these
communities in the region.

 

Laura Long Cochran (1871-1899) - Matron at Phoenix Indian School

 

Arizona Memory Project - Main Building Behind School, 1900

Laura Long was born on September 11, 1871, in Kansas.  She was the daughter of Isaac Zane Long, a prominent member of the Wyandotte Nation, and Catherine McConnell.  Her father Isaac is thought to have been a descendant of the famous frontiersman Isaac Zane and his wife of the Wyandotte Nation, Myeerah. Born in Zanesfield, Ohio, Isaac went west when the remnants of the Wyandotte tribe were removed to reservations in Kansas around 1843.

Even though school records list Laura as being only one-sixteenth Wyandotte, she seems to have been regarded as Native American throughout her life.  In 1891, she was working and going to school at the Quapaw-Wyandotte Indian School in Seneca, Kansas.  Thereafter, she attended Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania, from which she graduated in 1895.  By 1896, she was employed as a matron at the Phoenix Indian School.

Opened in 1891, the Phoenix Indian School was intended to function as a residential industrial school, training Native American teens and young adults in useful occupations such as carpentry, animal husbandry and the domestic art, such as sewing, cooking, nursing.  In time, its dormitories housed a total of about 700 pupils from 35 different tribes, including advanced students from other Western states.  Like Laura, many of the teachers were themselves Native Americans from tribes elsewhere in the United States, on the theory that they would serve as relatable teachers. 

On February 22, 1897, Laura Long married John Piper Cochran, a blacksmith at the Phoenix Indian School. Laura and John had one son, John D. Cochran, born March 30, 1898, in Phoenix.

Laura died on January 8, 1899, of inflammation of the bowels and peritonitis (possibly a ruptured appendix).  After a Methodist funeral service attended by almost all the Indian School students, she was laid to rest in Rosedale North, Lot 43. 

Weeks later, her husband’s parents, William C. and Mary Cochran, came to Phoenix to take nine-month-old John back to Kansas with them.  Following John P. Cochran’s remarriage in 1901, young John went to live with his father and his new stepmother.

- by Donna Carr

The Indigenous Architects of Phoenix

Maricopa Woman, 1907

Library of Congress

Several Indigenous peoples were directly connected to the early establishment of what is now Phoenix.  They were central to the development of the region.  They contributed knowledge, irrigation infrastructure, and agricultural expertise that helped sustain the early settler communities in the Salt River Valley.  Here are a few examples of their amazing contributions:

Hohokam
The ancient Hohokam civilization developed the extensive irrigation canals in the Salt River Valley between 300 and 1450 AD, which made the region viable for large-scale agriculture. These canals were later restored and used by settlers in the Phoenix area, directly influencing the city’s foundation and agricultural base.

Akimel O'odham (River People)
Descendants of the Hohokam, the Akimel O'odham continued to live in the region near the Salt and Gila Rivers. They maintained and adapted some of the Hohokam’s canal systems and practiced agriculture. The Akimel O'odham were instrumental in helping early settlers with knowledge of farming techniques and the local environment.

Piipaash
The Maricopa, or Piipaash, migrated to the area and allied with the Akimel O'odham along the Gila River. They contributed to the agricultural practices and trade network in the region, forming a mutually beneficial relationship with the Akimel O'odham. They brought unique traditions, such as pottery styles and cultural practices that have enriched the broader landscape of the area. 

We honor and are thankful for all that they did for the city of Phoenix in making it what it is today.

First Organized Fire Company - 1736

Firefighter in Uniform, 1860

Library of Congress

According to John Bigelow's 1869 edition of the Autobiography of Benjamin Franklin, the Union Fire Company was established on December 7, 1736. Initially, its primary purpose was to protect the property of its members; however, the company extended its services beyond its membership when others were in need. The Union Fire Company remained active until at least 1791. At that time, it comprised thirty members and was equipped with one engine, 250 buckets, thirteen ladders, two hooks, no bags, and an eighty-foot rope.

Phoenix Fire Historic Station 8 - Thank you!

Phoenix Fire Historic Station 8 Archives

Recently, I had the pleasure of exploring Phoenix Fire Historic Station 8 alongside another historian from the PMMP, Kim. This beautifully preserved fire station, opened in 1942, is located at 541 W. Encanto in Phoenix. One of the reasons this station so unique is its design.  It was carefully constructed to blend seamlessly with the surrounding homes in the Encanto neighborhood. This architectural choice reflects the station's integral role in the community, not only as a place of service but as a cherished part of the neighborhood’s history.

Today, Station 8 serves a new purpose: preserving and sharing the legacy of the Phoenix Fire Department. This transformation into a museum ensures that the tools, memorabilia, and memories of those who served continue to inspire future generations. Walking through the station, one can almost feel the heartbeat of a bygone era, where courage and camaraderie defined each shift and every call.

Several fire fighters who once served in the Phoenix Fire Department have been laid to rest at the Pioneer and Military Memorial Park (PMMP), We had the opportunity to see a few of them in their uniforms on the walls of the Fire House!

A huge shout-out to Tim Kovacs, who graciously guided us through this journey back in time. Tim’s passion for preserving and sharing this history was evident as he walked us through the collection, each piece carrying its own story. From vintage equipment to heartfelt tributes, Tim’s detailed narratives helped breathe life into every artifact, offering a deep appreciation for the work and sacrifices of these firefighters.

Visiting Phoenix Fire Historic Station 8 was not just an educational experience but a meaningful reflection on the community’s spirit and resilience. It’s a testament to the enduring legacy of those who protected Phoenix, 

If you ever find yourself in Phoenix, I highly recommend stopping by the museum.  Not only will you learn about the evolution of firefighting in our city, but you’ll also feel the deep connections between this station, its community, and the people who called it home.

-By Val

Here are some more pictures Tim sent from the archives 

of the Phoenix Fire Department! 

 

Lindley Hogue Orme (1848 - 1900) - Maricopa County Sheriff

 

The Orme family of Arizona has a long and distinguished history, making many of their descendants eligible for membership in the DAR and other patriotic societies.

Lindley Hogue Orme was born December 18/19, 1848, in Montgomery, Maryland.  He was the fourth of eight children of Charles Henry Crabbe Orme and Deborah Brooke Pleasants.

When Lindley’s older brother, Charles Henry Crabbe Orme, enlisted in the 35th Virginia Cavalry (CSA) on March 1, 1863, Lindley accompanied him, although he was only about fourteen at the time.  Military records say that the brothers served in White’s Battalion, known as “the Comanches”.   Lindley was a private in Company B, while Charles was in Company D.

When Richmond, Virginia, fell to the Union Army on April 2, 1865, Lindley was taken prisoner.  A few weeks later, he signed his oath of allegiance and was released.

According to his obituary, Lindley and his brothers drove a flock of sheep to California at some point thereafter.  Lindley then settled in Phoenix where he acquired three sections of land in central Phoenix and raised over 600 acres of grain.  He is credited with bringing the first threshing machine to the Salt River Valley. 

Orme wed Mary Florence Greenhaw on March 15, 1876.  Unfortunately, Mary Florence was suffering from tuberculosis, so she and Lindley had no children.  She died on March 16, 1883.  Lindley eventually married Mary A. Jeffries, with whom he had one son, Alfred.

Orme served as sheriff from 1880 to 1884. During this time he was also appointed a deputy U. S. marshal, not bad for a former Confederate.  Henry Garfias was one of his deputies.  In April of 1883, a smallpox epidemic broke out in Maricopa County.  As sheriff, Orme was directed to quarantine the afflicted families to prevent the spread of the disease. 

Water being essential to the future of Phoenix, Orme helped form the Agua Fria Water and Land Company in 1888.

In 1891 and 1893, Orme was again elected sheriff. The county was growing at such a rate that a new courthouse and jail equipped with electric lights were needed.  During Sheriff Orme's last term, he became something of a media celebrity when he foiled a plot by Dr. J. M. Rose to murder three members of a Williams family in Mesa.

Lindley Orme died 24 September 1900, at the age of 52, having been in poor health for some months prior.  He was buried next to his first wife in the IOOF Cemetery. 

-By Patty Gault, Val Wilson, Donna Carr

Photos PCA Archives

 

Come Visit Us at the PMMP - October 24, 2024

 

Frank B. Moss (1852-1906) - Mayor and Fire Chief

Phoenix Fire Department

Frank Benjamin Moss was born on September 15, 1852, in Slades Corners, Kenosha County, Wisconsin, to Francis Maas and Christina Schmidt.  He grew up in Wheatland, Wisconsin, where he began at the age of 16 to learn the blacksmithing trade from his father.

As a young man, he moved to the boom town of Virginia City, Nevada, where he worked at his trade and also ran a lumberyard.  He moved to Tombstone in 1878, where he initially worked as a teamster.  Wagon trains crossing southern Arizona traveled mostly at night to avoid the day’s heat and attacks by Apache Indians.  Reportedly, Moss came under fire on two occasions but escaped unharmed. 

About 1880, Moss relocated to Phoenix where he set up a blacksmith and wagon-making shop at the northeast corner of First Avenue and Adams Street.  On May 31, 1885, he married Ida May Harriman in Mesa.  They had three sons: Earl, Ralph and Ernest.

Business was good and Moss prospered.  He invested in real estate, ranched and raised cattle, did some mining and owned and trained race horses.  He also joined the volunteer Phoenix Fire Department, where his skills as a blacksmith and wagon-maker were appreciated.  By 1890, he was an assistant chief and by 1892 he was the chief. After being injured on the job, he had to give up his position as fire chief.  Moss then turned his attention to city politics and, in 1894, won a seat on the Phoenix City Council.

The political climate in the growing city was sometimes volatile.  Fed up with the wrangling, Dr. Roland Rosson resigned as mayor on April 6, 1896.  Moss was appointed acting mayor, a position he held until a special election was held on June 2, 1896.   Moss returned to work in his new blacksmith shop on the corner of Washington Street and Fourth Avenue.

On December 4, 1898, for unknown reasons, Moss moved out of his home and separated from his wife.   Citing abandonment as the cause, Ida filed for divorce on June 14, 1899.  Scarcely a month after the divorce became final, she married Orrin W. Lawrence, a Phoenix policeman. 

On July 10, 1905, Moss again became acting mayor. This time, he held the seat for almost a year.  During his stint, he signed into law several progressive city ordinances.

On the evening of March 19, 1906, Mayor Moss rode his bicycle to City Hall.  While climbing the steps, he complained of chest pain and medical help was summoned.  Moss died between 9 and 10 PM, likely of a heart attack.  He was 53 years old.

 Throngs of citizens viewed Moss’s body as it lay in state at City Hall.   After the funeral, he was interred in the Odd Fellows Cemetery. 

 -by Mark Lamm and Derek Horn

 

Thank You Arizona Historical Society - Preservation Grant!

 

Pioneers' Cemetery Association Won the Al Mérito Award! - 2024

 

Pioneers' Cemetery Association won the Al Mérito Award from the Arizona Historical Society on Friday! We are so honored! Thank you AHS and to all of our volunteers who have helped us become what we are today!

Strange but True: Chicago's Ghost Information Company - 1884

 

Bing AI/Val Prompt

In the early 1900s, an enterprising individual in Chicago started a peculiar business venture...a "ghost information" company! Claiming to have access to over 300 working ghosts through a medium, the company sold "ghostly information" as its main product. Amazingly, this unique concept attracted enough interest that people eagerly bought shares in it!

Curious about how this supernatural business unfolded? Read the full article for all the ghostly details! Click to make it larger 👇

Weekly Republican, May, 1884

 

Benjamin Joseph Franklin (1834-1898) - Arizona's 12th Territorial Governor

 

PCA Archives

Benjamin Joseph Franklin was born in Kentucky.  By 1860, he was practicing law in Leavenworth, Kansas.  At the outbreak of the Civil War, Franklin, a Southern sympathizer, moved to Missouri so that he could enlist in the Confederate Army.  He served for the duration of the war, rising to the rank of captain. 

Since Franklin had been an officer, he was forbidden to practice law or hold public office after the war until he had taken an oath of allegiance. From 1865 to 1868, he farmed in Columbia, Missouri.  After taking the oath of allegiance in 1868, he moved to Kansas City, Missouri, and opened a law office.

Franklin was married to Anne Barbour Johnston, stepdaughter of Alfred William Morrison, previously the treasurer of the state of Missouri.  From 1871 to 1875, Franklin was the prosecuting attorney for Jackson County.  In 1875, he was elected to the United States House of Representatives and served two terms before returning to his private law practice.

In 1885, Franklin travelled to Washington, D. C., where he successfully lobbied President Grover Cleveland for an appointment as U. S. Consul to China.  His family accompanied him to Hankow, where they lived for the next five years

In 1890, the Franklins returned to California.  By 1892, they were in Phoenix.  Aware of efforts to have territorial governor Hughes removed from office, Franklin decided to seek the office himself.  He persuaded several prominent local men to send letters on his behalf to President Cleveland.  Cleveland responded by appointing him the twelfth territorial governor of Arizona on 18 April 1896.  Franklin’s son Alfred served as his personal secretary.

During his term in office, Franklin pushed for statehood and tax reform, feeling that many businesses and individuals were not paying their fair share of taxes.  Although as a fiscal conservative he was averse to soliciting funds from Congress, he knew that only the federal government could build the dams that Arizona so desperately needed.  In January 1897, Franklin had suffered a heart attack but recovered through “sheer force of will”.

After Republican William McKinley was elected President, he replaced Franklin with a man of his own party, Myron Hawley McCord.  On 22 July 1897, Franklin left office and returned to his private law practice in the Fleming building, with Alfred as his partner.  Franklin is generally regarded as having been personally honest and competent although not particularly effective as a governor, given his short tenure.

After he left office, Franklin’s health declined further.  When he did not wake from a nap on 19 May 1898, it was determined that he had died of a recurrence of his heart trouble.  He was buried in Rosedale Cemetery following an Episcopalian funeral service.

-by Donna Carr

 

Save the Date for our Annual Holiday Party! - November 6th

Save the Date!

 

The Mysterious Man of Lillian Gross - Good Samaritan?

Bing AI/Val Prompt

Lillian M. Hisey Gross of Congress, Arizona, passed away on Friday, July 9, 1897, at the Ford Hotel in Phoenix. She arrived at the hotel accompanied by an unidentified man on the Prescott train, and they registered under the names "E. M. Scott and wife" from Chicago. They were given separate rooms, and the man disappeared the following morning.

Lillian had been suffering from uremia, a kidney disease exacerbated by excessive drinking. Upon arrival at the hotel, her health rapidly deteriorated, and despite medical attention, she passed away. Before her death, a nurse discovered that Lillian lived in Congress, and that her husband, George Gross, was a miner employed in Wickenburg by Richard Baxter.

Lillian mentioned that the mystery man was a gambler but refrained from providing further details, only stating that "he is all right." When doctors suggested that she notify her husband, Lillian resisted, not wanting to worry him. 

Nonetheless, the doctors sent a telegram to Mr. Gross, who had been working at Vulture. Upon learning of his wife’s critical condition in Phoenix, he immediately traveled there. However, instead of heading straight to the hotel, he sat at the courthouse plaza, although it's not really known why. When he finally arrived at the hotel, he encountered men carrying his wife’s body.

George Gross was perplexed by his wife’s behavior.  She had been struggling with kidney disease for some time and was only 29 years old. The couple had married in Prescott four years earlier and had lived happily in Congress until George lost his job. Three weeks before her death, he had started working at Vulture, with plans for Lillian to join him later.

The unknown man was described as slightly over six feet tall, with dark hair and eyes, and a tendency to carry his head forward. He was of an age below middle-aged. George Gross did not recognize the description, although he had a specific individual in mind, but the description did not match. Mr. Gross did not believe that the individual had any ill intentions.  

It was speculated that the man had met Lillian on the train and, upon realizing she was unwell, took care of her. Registering at the hotel as his wife might have been the most convenient way to avoid unnecessary questions or complications. George Gross sent inquiries to Congress to learn more about her traveling companion, suspecting someone from there might have accompanied her.

The mystery even reached California, with San Francisco authorities searching for the unidentified man. However, it remains unclear why the mystery man was suspected as having come from there.  

The identification of the man, based on this researcher's initial search, was not discovered.  There was an E. M. Scott working in San Francisco and Los Angeles at about this time.  He was a real estate broker, and traveled to other states.  However, it's not known if this was the E.M. Scott that Mrs. Gross registered with at the Ford Hotel. 

-summary By Val (Resources: the San Francisco Call and Post, July 13, 1897 and the Phoenix Weekly, July 15, 1897) 

John Tabor Alsap (1830 - 1886) - First Mayor of Phoenix

 

Arizona Archives

John Tabor Alsap was born 28 February 1830 in Frankfort, Kentucky. He was the only son of Rev. John Alsap (sometimes spelled Alsop) and his wife Keziah Randall.  After studying medicine in Ohio, young John went to California in 1853, intending to practice medicine there. Once in California, however, he developed an interest in mining--an interest which brought him to the Walker diggings in Yavapai county, in November 1863.

Alsap’s medical skills came in handy in 1864 when he accompanied King Woolsey's second punitive expedition against the Apaches as the party's surgeon.  His reputation thus established, he was appointed territorial treasurer in late 1864 by Gov. John Noble Goodwin.

He soon opened the first saloon in Prescott, a shrewd business move which brought him into contact with much of Prescott’s electorate.  On 6 June 1866, Alsap married Louise A. Osborn, daughter of pioneer John Preston Osborn.  Tragically, she died barely a year later.

Alsap became Yavapai County's representative to the territorial legislature in 1868.  However, his larger political ambitions were not to be fulfilled in Prescott. In 1869, he moved south to the Salt River Valley, where he helped to select the 320 acres comprising the original Phoenix townsite.  He was one of the original commissioners of the Salt River Town Association, formed in 1870 to promote settlement along the Salt River.

Alsap now turned his attention from the practice of medicine and mining to the practice of law.  As the fledgling community along the Salt River gained a foothold, he petitioned to have a new county created, with Phoenix as its seat.  Following the creation of Maricopa County in 1871, Governor Safford appointed Alsap its first probate judge. As judge, he sometimes officiated at civil weddings when no minister was available. He also served as superintendent of public education. 

Between 1873 and 1879, Alsap held a seat in the territorial legislature.  On 7 September 1876, he wed Anna Dugan Murray, one of the eight daughters of William P. Murray and his wife Margaret.  All the Murray girls married well-connected men and founded some of Phoenix’s ‘first families’.  Alsap's contributions to the city of Phoenix were recognized when he was elected its first mayor in 1881.

Alsap was an ardent Mason throughout his life.  A photograph taken in Contra Costa, California, shows him dressed in his Masonic regalia.  He was the first master of the Azlan Masonic Lodge in Prescott and also of the Arizona Masonic Lodge in Phoenix, and he chartered the Royal Arch Masonic Lodge. Upon his death in 1886, he was buried in the Masonic Cemetery in Phoenix.  A modern granite headstone marks his grave.

-By Donna Carr

Fall Fashion Notes - 1897

Phoenix Weekly Herald, September 30, 1897

 

October Holidays - 2024

 

Bing AI/Val Prompt

Halloween is always a favorite holiday among many on October 31st.  October is also a time when fall is celebrated, and cooler weather is enjoyed in many parts of the country.  However, there are other holidays that are shared in October as well.  Here are some of the more popular ones:

October 1st

International Coffee Day: A day to celebrate coffee as a beverage and promote fair trade practices in the coffee industry.

October 9th

Columbus Day (U.S.): Commemorates Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas in 1492. Some states celebrate Indigenous Peoples' Day instead, honoring the native populations affected by colonization.

October 10th

World Mental Health Day: A global initiative to raise awareness of mental health issues and promote mental well-being.

October 14th 

Indigenous Peoples’ Day (U.S.): Celebrated by many as an alternative to Columbus Day, honoring the history, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous peoples in the Americas.

National Dessert Day (U.S.): A day for indulging in favorite desserts and sweet treats.

October 16th

World Food Day: Organized by the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization, focusing on global hunger and food security issues.

October 24th

United Nations Day: Marks the anniversary of the UN Charter’s entry into force in 1945, celebrating the mission of the UN in promoting peace and cooperation.

Additionally, October is known for several month-long observances, including Breast Cancer Awareness Month, National Hispanic Heritage Month (ends Oct. 15th), and National Bullying Prevention Month.

 

Dia de Los Muertos Event Big Success!

 

The Dial de Los Muertos event on September 28th was a big success.  The Grave Marker Preservation committee made over $800 dollars for preservation.  thanks to all of the crafters for their talents and helping us with our Mission of the Pioneers' Cemetery Association!

Lillian Gross (1868 - 1897) - The Last Train Ride from Congress

Bing AI/Val Prompt

On a scorching July day in 1897, a northbound train pulled into Phoenix, carrying a mysterious man and woman who quietly disembarked. They registered at the Ford Hotel, posing as husband and wife, yet curiously booked separate rooms. By morning, the woman was teetering on the brink of death, lay gravely ill, and her mysterious companion had vanished without a trace.

With her final breaths, the woman identified herself as Mrs. Lillian Gross of Congress, revealing that her real husband, George, was miles away working in Vulture. The man who escorted her was not her husband. Who was this figure that disappeared leaving Lillian to meet her tragic fate alone?

-Val "Shadow Archives"

"A Sad Death"

Phoenix Weekly Herald, July 15, 1897

 

Trinidad Silvas (1866 - 1911) - Struck by Lightning

Microsoft Clip Art

Trinidad Silvas was most likely born in Mexico around 1866.  In the summer of 1911, she and her long-time partner, José Alvarez, were working for a local rancher and temporarily living in a tent on his property about four miles northeast of the Phoenix townsite. 

During the night of July 16th, a terrific thunderstorm blew up.  Alvarez had been lying awake on his cot and listening to the roar of the thunder for quite a while. Then, all of a sudden, he saw a bright flash of lightning and heard a loud thunderclap.  It seemed to him that a ball of fire rolled into the tent!

Alvarez was tossed across the floor of the tent and lost unconsciousness for a few minutes.   When he came to, he ascertained that his thirteen-year-old daughter, who was lying on a pallet, had not been harmed—in fact, she had not even awakened.  Trinidad, however, had died instantly, the hair on one side of her head burned away.

Alvarez ran to the nearest habitation and poured out the tragic news.  Coroner Johnstone was summoned and ordered that the body not be moved pending an inquest on the following day.  The investigation revealed a small hole with charred edges, burned in the tent canvas.   It was speculated that the tragic event had been an example of a rare phenomenon known as ‘ball lightning’.

In the same neighborhood—and almost at the same time-- a valuable gray horse belonging to W. Bivins was also struck and killed by lightning.

Trinidad was buried in City/Loosley Cemetery.  It is not known what became of José Alvarez and the couple’s young daughter.

-By Debe B.

Dia de Los Muertos - Sign Up Now!

 

Save the date! September 28th, 2024 is our Dia de Los Muertos Event for our Grave Marker Preservation program! All proceeds go to preserving our grave markers at the PMMP! RSVP to nazanaza@aol.com

The Fraternal Order of Argonauts - 1890

The Argonauts in Greek Mythology

Library of Congress

The Order of the Fraternal Argonauts was a fraternal organization that operated in the late 19th century, primarily in San Francisco.  They filed articles of incorporation in 1890, and deemed themselves as an organization for charity, benevolence, and social purposes. It was one of many such secretive and ritualistic societies popular during that era, designed to foster a sense of camaraderie, mutual aid, and moral guidance among its members. Argonauts interacted with Greek heroes who embarked on a daring quest for the Golden Fleece under the leadership of Jason, the Order emphasized values of adventure, brotherhood, and perseverance.

Fraternal orders like the Argonauts often had structured hierarchies, elaborate initiation rituals, and meetings conducted in private lodges or halls. Members typically participated in ceremonies that reinforced their shared values, and the organizations often had distinctive symbols, regalia, and secret rites. Although specific details about the Order of the Fraternal Argonauts are limited, its members would have likely engaged in social, charitable, and possibly even financial support activities, creating a tightly knit community that helped one another in times of need. These societies provided men with not only social opportunities but also networking, protection, and support, which were especially valued in a rapidly industrializing and socially complex America. 

George Woods, Man of Three Names (? - 1892) - Unidentified Canal Laborer

Bing AI/Val Prompt

In 1892, The Arizona Republic posted an article about the mysterious death of a man on January 27 at the Pioneer Hotel who was known by three different names: George Woods, George Wiley, and George Willis. He had checked into the Pioneer Hotel in Phoenix, Arizona, under the name George Woods about a week before his death, paying for a week’s stay in advance. Employed by the Arizona Canal Company, he stated that he had been working on the company's dam and had been feeling ill after being exposed to waist-deep water for several days during his work. He spent much of his time at the hotel, primarily in the lobby and barroom, where his health visibly deteriorated.

Initially treated for a bad cold and fever, his condition worsened, progressing into what was thought to be "la grippe" or influenza. On his last night, he had a simple supper of milk toast and tea before retiring to his room, where he was found dead the following morning. Undertakers Randal and Davis were called to handle his body, and it was noted that he had enough funds coming from his employment to cover the cost of his burial.

A search of his belongings revealed a variety of documents identifying him under different names, with no clear indication of his permanent residence. Among the papers was a letter from Farrington, signed by “your sister Carrie Leighton,” which was one of the few personal connections found. An anonymous man who contacted the hotel stated that the deceased had a wife and three children in Farrington but refused to disclose his own identity.

The various documents found included correspondence with different dates and locations:

• One letter to “George Wiley Esq” mentioned $100 sent to him by G.P. Reynolds
• Another letter from the acting president of the Postal Telegraph Company instructed the Southern Pacific Railroad to hand over certain freights to Willis
• Other letters dated back to 1887 and identified Wiley’s employment with the Mackay-Bennett Cable Company in San Francisco
• Another document recommended him as a capable and reliable worker from his time at the Mutual Telegraph Company
• There was also a letter indicating past financial issues with Wells Fargo in Visalia, California, in 1889

Additionally, several other items were found among his possessions, including a printed card listing fire alarm box locations in Oakland, California; the Constitution of the Grand Council of Order of the Fraternal Argonaut from San Francisco; and various business cards and memos linked to names and addresses in Oakland and San Francisco.

The Arizona Canal Company, where he had been employed for four months, described him as sober and industrious but knew nothing of his personal life. Attempts to reach contacts in Farrington, Illinois, via telegram went unanswered. His funeral was scheduled for the next day at 2 p.m., but many questions about his true identity and personal history remained unanswered. He is buried in City/Loosley.

-Val (Resource: Arizona Republic, January 28, 1892)

Magdalena Mendivil Donnelly (1830 - 1905) - Rancher’s Wife

PCA Archives

Maria Magdalena Mendivil was born sometime between 1832 and 1839 in Altar, Sonora, Mexico.  She came north around 1857 with three of her brothers.  While her brothers went on to Monterey, California, in search of work, Magdalena remained with family friends in Yuma.  By the time the brothers returned, however, they found that Magdalena had moved in with George Kippen, an agent for a mining company, who was about twenty years older than she.

To date, no record of an actual marriage has been found.  Very likely this was because George Kippen was already married to Jane A. Nichols of Fairfield County, Connecticut, by whom he had three children.   Sometime after the birth of the third child, George left Connecticut for good.  By 1852, he was working as a miner in California.

The 1860 federal census of Colorado, San Diego County, California, shows George Kippen and Madalena Maldives [sic] living there in the same household, although not married.  Their first son John was born 1860.  John was quickly followed by a daughter, Delfina.

Having had little success at mining, Kippen got a contract to haul supplies from California to the military outposts in Arizona.  He was at Camp McDowell, working as a sutler’s clerk and pharmacist, when he died suddenly on 22 February 1868 and was buried in the post cemetery.  Because Kippen was a civilian employee, his body was not transferred to the national cemetery in San Francisco when the post was decommissioned in 1891.  His headstone can still be seen today at Fort McDowell. 

With Kippen dead, Magdalena was hard-pressed to support her children.  By 1870 the family were living in the household of a Charles Foster in Arizona City, Yuma County, Arizona.  They appear on the 1870 federal census under the surname “Kippin”.

Around 1871, Magdalena met and married a wagonmaster, Frank “Owen” Donnelly, in Yuma, Arizona.  Donnelly, an Irish Catholic, had been born around 1837 in the village of Tyme, County Cork, Ireland.  Upon immigrating to the United States, he found few job opportunities for Irish immigrants.  So, on 21 June 1859, Donnelly enlisted as a private in Battery F, 2^nd U. S. Artillery, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, and served until he was discharged on 2 May 1862.

Frank “Owen” Donnelly and Magdalena’s first child, Amelia was born 12 April 1872 in Yuma.  Isabelle “Lizzie” was born 7 April 1874, and Katherine “Kate” Inez was born 6 December 1878.  The Donnellys eventually moved to a ranch near Florence, on the San Pedro River.

By 1890, Frank Owen Donnelly was infirm and living in the Old Soldiers’ Home in Sawtelle, Los Angeles County, California.  He died there on 21 September 1894 and was buried in the National Cemetery in Los Angeles.  Magdalena received a widow’s pension based on his Civil War service.

On the 1900 federal census, Magdalena was recorded living in Pinal County, Arizona, on the Donnelly ranch with her son John Kippen, daughter Kate Donnelly, and granddaughter Elsie Harrington.  She died of pneumonia in Phoenix on 11 February 1905 and was buried in Rosedale Cemetery, Phoenix.

-by Donna