Forgotten Grave of a Little One - The Shadow Archives

Bing AI/Val Wilson Prompt

As I delve into various histories and family stories, I often uncover articles, photographs, and fragments of history that are both unusual and forgotten. During my research on a pioneer in Rosedale Cemetery, I stumbled upon a hidden tale in Porter Cemetery. An old newspaper article revealed the existence of an unknown infant buried there. According to the article, the infant, a child of Mr. and Mrs. White, passed away in January of 1899 from a mysterious illness. Further investigation by Patty revealed that Mr. and Mrs. Fred White were the brother-in-law and sister of James McNeil, a merchant in Tempe. This discovery adds a new layer to the rich tapestry of our history. Welcome to our cemeteries, where the past continuously unveils its secrets.  You can read the article below.  

 Arizona Republic, Phoenix, Arizona, Tue, Jan 31, 1899

Albert S. Wray (1865-1900) - Dairy Proprietor and Murdered by Horse

 

Courtesy of the Wray Family

Albert S. Wray was born 21 September 1865 in Belle Prairie Township, Morrison County, Minnesota.  His father is believed to have been William S. Wray, born 1833 in Henderson, Pennsylvania.   Albert’s mother, Sarah Ellen Reid, was born 1843 in Kentucky.  Albert was the fifth of her ten children. 

By 1875, the Wray family was farming in Lake Mary, Douglas County, Minnesota.  However, by 1880, the family had broken up.  Albert’s father William was still married but living in the household of his parents, Robert and Mary Wray.  Albert’s mother Sarah was committed to an insane asylum in 1883.

Left to make his own way in the world, Albert S. Wray enlisted in the U. S. Army at St. Paul, Minnesota, on 4 February 1890.  At that time, he was described as having blue eyes, blonde hair and a fair complexion.  He gave his occupation as ‘clerk’.  Albert was assigned to the 8th Cavalry at Fort Yates, North Dakota.  On 15 December 1890, the great chief Sitting Bull was killed on the nearby Standing Rock Reservation.  Family stories say that Wray helped carry Sitting Bull’s coffin, made by the post carpenter, to his grave.  Wray was discharged in April 1891 with a disability for which he later received an invalid pension.

On 10 August 1898, Wray married Isabelle Grantham in Phoenix, Arizona Territory.  Isabelle had been born in Canada to Irish immigrant parents.  A photograph of Wray taken around this time shows a bespectacled young man with wavy hair and a luxuriant mustache. The couple eventually had a daughter, Myrtle, born May 1899.  By 1900, Wray was the proprietor of the West End Dairy.  Paradoxically, it was located east of town. 

Wray was killed 26 June 1900 in a runaway accident .  Around 4 PM, Mr. Wray was driving east on Washington Street in a one-horse open buggy.  With him was a friend, Thomas Treadwell .  As they passed in front of the Gazette newspaper office, the horse began to kick and plunge.  Although Wray endeavored to quiet the animal, the breeching strap broke and the buggy pushed against the horse, spooking him into running north on First Avenue.  Seeing the buggy about to collide with another, Treadwell jumped out.  The ensuing collision threw Wray partway out of the buggy, although he held onto the lines and tried to crawl back in over the dashboard.  The horse meanwhile was kicking furiously.  Another jerk threw Wray completely out of the buggy, and he landed on his head so hard that bystanders heard the thud. 

Dr. Wylie, the first medical man on the scene,  assisted Wray into Mr. Melezer’s store.  Although Wray had not suffered any obvious injuries and was able to speak, albeit in a somewhat incoherent manner, he was taken around 5 PM to the office of his family physician Dr. Hawley on West Washington for further observation.  His condition deteriorated, and his wife was called.  She and little Myrtle arrived shortly before Wray expired at 8:45 PM, presumably from a concussion or subdural hematoma caused by the accident.

Wray, being an Army veteran, was buried in Porter Cemetery, Lot 10, Grave C. 

Less than a month after his death, a posthumous son, Albert Steven, was born to Isabella.

-By Debe Branning

 

Apple Pandowdy - 1884

 

Photo by Jessica Johnston on Unsplash

A great dessert on the homestead, using items that are readily available. If you have a great apple harvest, or love using organic products, this recipe would be a great addition to your collection.  

Ingredients

6-8 medium apples, peeled, cored, and sliced

1/2 cup brown sugar or cane sugar

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1/4 cup molasses or honey

1/2 cup water

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup butter or lard

1/2 cup milk or water

Directions

Preheat oven to 375°F.  In a large bowl, combine the sliced apples, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg, and molasses or honey. Toss to coat the apples evenly. Transfer the apple mixture to a greased cast-iron skillet or a deep baking dish. Add the water and spread the apples out evenly.

In a separate bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, and salt. Cut in the butter or lard using a fork or your fingers until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add the milk or water and stir to form a soft dough. Drop spoonfuls of the dough over the apples, spreading it out somewhat but leaving some gaps for the apples to peek through.

Bake in the preheated oven for 40-45 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the apples are tender and bubbly. Let it cool slightly before serving. 

Homesteading Act of 1862

 

Library of Congress

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Homesteading in the 1800s was a crucial part of the westward expansion in the United States. The Homestead Act of 1862 was a significant legislative measure that offered 160 acres of public land to settlers for a nominal fee. This act encouraged the settlement of the American frontier. To claim the land, settlers had to build a dwelling and cultivate the land for at least five years. This opportunity attracted thousands of families and individuals, including immigrants seeking a new start in America. The land was often rugged and required substantial effort. Settlers faced numerous challenges such as harsh weather conditions, isolation, and limited access to supplies and services.

In some cases, homesteaders could obtain additional land through other legislative measures. For instance, the Timber Culture Act of 1873 allowed settlers to claim an extra 160 acres if they planted and maintained a certain number of trees on the land. Similarly, the Desert Land Act of 1877 offered up to 640 acres of arid land to settlers who could irrigate and cultivate it. These acts collectively facilitated the settlement of vast tracts of land, shaping the agricultural landscape of the United States. 

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

 

Generative AI Image

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

 

Generated Generic AI Image

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

Generic Image Bing AI

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