George W. DeGroot (1842-1903) - Railroad Employee

PCA Archives

George Washington DeGroot was born on January 3, 1842, in New York City.  His parents were Edward DeGroot and Hannah West.  The surname ‘DeGroot’ suggests Dutch origins.

In 1850, George’s father was listed on the federal census as a ‘clothier, someone who made and sold good-quality men’s clothing.  He might have had a small shop.  Living on the same street near the DeGroots were a shoemaker and a tailor.

Between 1855 and 1860, Edward DeGroot moved his family to Adams County, Illinois, where he became quite a well-to-do farmer.  Although George registered for the Civil War draft in 1863, no evidence of Civil War service has been found to date.  George was working on his father’s farm in 1870.  

On December 11, 1878, George married Laura F. Garner in Illinois.  Over the years, they had five children:  Eugene Dawe, 1879; William Clyde, born 1881; Edith and Harry Lester (twins), born 1886; and Robert Stanley, born 1889.

Instead of continuing as a farmer, George DeGroot became a railroad employee, possibly for the famous Rock Island Line.  For some years between 1886 and 1890, the DeGroots were in St. Louis, Missouri.  By 1900, they were back in Rock Island County, Illinois, and George and his son Clyde were working as a baggage handlers.

In 1901, after 23 years of marriage, Laura DeGroot divorced George on the grounds of cruelty and infidelity.  Not long thereafter, DeGroot seems to have come alone to Arizona.

He was living at 4^th Avenue and Jackson near the railroad tracks when on December 13, 1903, he died of pulmonary tuberculosis.  He was buried in Rosedale North, where he has a grave marker.

- by Donna L. Carr

Edward O. Schwartz (1842-1904) - Civil War Veteran and Adjutant General of Arizona

 

PCA Archives

Edward O. Schwartz was born in New York on February 19, 1842, to Louis Schwartz and Catherine Boese.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Schwartz enlisted in the 8th New York Militia in April 1861 and mustered out in August of that year. He then enlisted in the 4th New York Cavalry in January 1862.  Although he fell ill with typhoid fever later that year, he recovered sufficiently to achieve the rank of lieutenant.  A year later, he was promoted to captain and, in March 1864, he became a major. 

Schwartz fought in several major battles which included the battle of Cross Keys, Virginia; Second Bull Run (Manassas); Chancellorsville; and Gettysburg.  In 1864, he participated  in General Philip Sheridan’s Shenandoah Valley campaign and was present at the June 11-12 battle of Trevilian Station.  He was honorably discharged at the end of the war.

After the war, Schwartz went West. He was part of a military detachment that escorted engineer and geologist Clarence King through northern Arizona and other parts of the West in the Fortieth Parallel Survey of 1867-1873. Schwartz later relocated to New Mexico where he left service and married Angeline Flint in Santa Fe in 1880.  Their union produced one daughter.

A few years later, the family moved to Phoenix, where Schwartz engaged in various business enterprises.  An engraver by trade, he was elected recorder of the City of Phoenix in 1890, a post he held for six years.  In 1891, he joined the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR), becoming commander of the Arizona GAR that same year.  In April 1893, the new territorial governor, Louis Cameron Hughes, appointed Schwartz Adjutant General of Arizona. He served for six years and was regarded as an able commander.

The Schwartzes left Phoenix in 1897 and moved to Seattle. From there, they went to San Francisco before returning to Phoenix in 1899.  In a newspaper article, Schwartz declared, “Not until one leaves Phoenix does he appreciate the business advantages it presents.”

One of the last services Schwartz performed for his community was organizing the Decoration Day service for the GAR which took place on May 29, 1903, at the city cemetery.  There was no march, as it was deemed too much of a strain for the old soldiers, but Major Schwartz did invite veterans of the Confederacy to participate in the ceremonies too.

Major Edward Schwartz died at home on March 1, 1904.  On March 3rd, he was interred in the Porter Cemetery with full military honors.

 - by Mark Lamm

Paul Gutike (1842- 1898) - Architect

 

Arizona weekly journal-miner. [volume], June 15,1892

 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85032938/1892-06-15/ed-1/seq-6/

Paul O. Gutike was born about 1842 in Berlin, Prussia, supposedly to a good family which afforded him an excellent education. He arrived in New York on October 2, 1862, aboard the ship St. Bernhard, hoping to find work as an architect. However, the Civil War interrupted his career plans.

Scarcely three weeks later, on October 23, 1862, Paul found himself in Company K, 53rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment (later became the 162nd). He may have been short of funds and enlisted voluntarily, but it’s also possible that he was more or less ‘drafted’.

On December 11, 1865, Gutike reenlisted in the 3rd U. S. Cavalry, being discharged three years later on October 1, 1868, at Fort Sumner, New Mexico. He signed up again at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to serve in Company H, 5th U. S. Infantry, but deserted on May 28, 1870. He was dishonorably discharged December 4, 1870, at Fort Harker, Kansas.

Gutike had many more adventures with the military, some of them not so honorable.  

By 1887, Gutike had found work as a draftsman for James Riely Gordon in San Antonio, Texas. Gordon eventually gained national renown for his Texas courthouse designs.

Gutike’s career as an architect and civil engineer burgeoned in Arizona.  In 1889, Mrs. Vina Brown commissioned him to design some apartments at 4th Avenue and Adams in anticipation of providing quarters for winter visitors coming to Phoenix.  The following year, he designed the plans for the Burke Hotel in Prescott, Arizona.  The Burke was advantageously located on the corner of Montezuma and Gurley Streets and included ground-floor shops along with well-appointed rooms.  (Advertised as the only “fire-proof” hotel in Arizona, the Burke was nevertheless destroyed during Prescott’s Great Fire of 1900.  St. Michael’s Hotel is located on the site today.)

Gutike hadn’t forgotten his years in the military, either.  In 1891, he drew up plans for two new buildings to house troops at Fort Whipple.

Paul became well known in Phoenix, but according to his obituary, had a propensity for drink.  He died in July 21, 1898 of gastritis and was buried in the Rosedale Cemetery.

-by Patty

 

St. Michaels now stands on the corner where the Burke once stood - Val W.

Paul Gutike (1842 - 1898) - Architect

Arizona weekly journal-miner. [volume], June 15,1892

 https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85032938/1892-06-15/ed-1/seq-6/

Paul O. Gutike was born about 1842 in Berlin, Prussia, supposedly to a good family which afforded him an excellent education. He arrived in New York on October 2, 1862, aboard the ship St. Bernhard, hoping to find work as an architect. However, the Civil War interrupted his career plans.

Scarcely three weeks later, on October 23, 1862, Paul found himself in Company K, 53rd New York Volunteer Infantry Regiment (later became the 162nd). He may have been short of funds and enlisted voluntarily, but it’s also possible that he was more or less ‘drafted’.

On December 11, 1865, Gutike reenlisted in the 3rd U. S. Cavalry, being discharged three years later on October 1, 1868, at Fort Sumner, New Mexico. He signed up again at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to serve in Company H, 5th U. S. Infantry, but deserted on May 28, 1870. He was dishonorably discharged December 4, 1870, at Fort Harker, Kansas.

Gutike had many more adventures with the military, some of them not so honorable.  

By 1887, Gutike had found work as a draftsman for James Riely Gordon in San Antonio, Texas. Gordon eventually gained national renown for his Texas courthouse designs.

Gutike’s career as an architect and civil engineer burgeoned in Arizona. In 1889, Mrs. Vina Brown commissioned him to design some apartments at 4th Avenue and Adams in anticipation of providing quarters for winter visitors coming to Phoenix. In later years, he designed several commercial landmarks, and became quite well known.  Learn more about Paul Gutike at the PMMP! - adapted from a story written by Patty Gault

St. Michaels now stands on the corner where the Burke once stood - Val W.