First Peoples of Sharlot's Country (New Directions, Sharlot Hall Museum Newsletter, March/April 2002, Vol. 29, No. 2)

SHARLOT HALL MUSEUM NEWSLETTER neJKEGTJQNS Museum Yard Sale The series begins with Dr. Harry Swanson, whose expertise includes the Mohave, Chemehuevi, and Colorado River Indian tribes. His talk is entitled “Giant Farmers and Pygmy Slaves.” Hualapai Sylvia Querte, well known to Elderhostel tours at Peach Springs, discusses her people in the “Cultural History of Hualapai.” Archaeologist Chris Coder returns, by popular demand, to speak about the “Dilzhé: The Western Apache of Central Arizona.” The Museum’s cultural anthropologist, Sandra Lynch, will present “Yavapai: The People of the Sun.” For prehistory buffs, Dr. David Wilcox returns with an update on his Yavapai regional study—”What a Sight! Hilltop Communication Systems in West Central Arizona, AD 1100 to 1400.” Senior Curator Norm Tessman will present the evidence on the timing and lifestyle of the very first people in “Elephant Hunting in Arizona: Paleo-lndians and Really Big Game!” The First Peoples Series will culminate with a speech by Bill Smith, site steward for Camp Date Creek, which will prepare participants for a daylong field trip to Camp Date Creek—an abandoned military postlincarceration camp that once held the Yavapai. Check the Calendar for the schedule. Register free for the series by calling Gail Sisson at 445-3122. Drop-in seating for individual programs will be on a space-available basis. Register for the Camp Date Creek field trip by calling Anita Nordbrock at 445-3122 (ext. 18). The sessions will fill up fast, so do not delay. - - **_ ,.-- __L MARCH/APRIL 2002 VOLUME 29 - NO.2;1] 3. —-,‘-— INSIDE;0] .--, J - A Yavapai family in Peeples Valley about 1890-1900. First Peoples of Sharlot’s Country Yavapai Heritage Roundup 1 Indian Cowboys Sharlot Hall - -Award Touched by Daisy Lorenzo Hubbell & I Annie Dodge Wauneka Apotecary Acquisition Du ring the month of March you are invited to walk the lands of the A’bahhjah and DilzhO in a series of lectures and discussions on the First Peoples of Sharlot’s Country. Walking the land in knee-high moccasins the A’bahhjah and DilzhO left few reminders of their struggles, their passions, their ambitions, and their greatness. The A’bahhjah spoke a tongue modern anthropologists call Yuman. They called themselves A’bahhjah —“We are People.” The Dilzhé spoke a language of the Athapaskan New World migrants who also populated regions far to the north. Only a few adventurers would leave their descendants to populate New Mexico and Arizona. These were the First Peoples of a world that Sharlot M. Hall would later help to protect. The A’bahhjah were bands of the Yavapai—the Kewevkapaya, the Tolkapaya, the Wipukapaya, the Nyavbiyah of Wiigahvdtehh (Granite Mountain), and the vanished Maht-quaddipaya. Their cousins were the Hàmakháv—”the water people”—as tall as giants. Along the vast abyss of the Grand Canyon came other relations—the Hualapai (the A’bahhjah of the Tall Pines) and the Havasupai (A’bahhjah of the Blue Green Water). And there were people who were unrelated to the A’bahhjah —a people of another tongue, the DilzhO, known to latecomers as the Apache.

20223. The Arizona Republican, Phoenix, Arizona, February 1st, 1909. Death of William Gilson, A Builder of Arizona (article)

The Arizona Republican Phoenix, Arizona February 1st, 1909 DEATH OF WILLIAM GILSON A BUILDER OF ARIZONA. He Had Been a Resident of the Territory Almost a Half Century. William Gilson, a resident of the territory for forty six years died yesterday morning at eight o’clock at his home on the Tempe road. Mr. Gilson had been in ill health a long time and his death had been expected. Arrangements for the funeral have not yet been announceth Mr. Gilson was a native of Ireland and was seventy—seven years of age. He came to the territory in 1863 and engaged in mining at Walnut Grove with W.H. Kirkland and others. After that he settled on Date Creek. At that time that was an Indian country and Indians were at their worst. Mr. Gilson took his part in the struggle of these settlers against their depredations and their murdero us raids. Mr. Gilson came to the valley in 1880 and bought the old Roberts ranch. He built the St. John’s canal and the Gilson block at the corner of Second and Washington streets, now known as the Dennis block. In fact few men have done so much for the building of Phoenix and the Salt River Valley as Mr. Gilson -

20213. Days Past. The Prescott Courier. Monday, June 11, 1990. Lonely, forgotten grave belies captain's heroism, by Bill W. Smith (article)

Days Past The Prescott Courier Monday, June II, 1990 Lonely, forgotten grave belies captain’s heroism By Bill W. SmIth Special to the Courier Perhaps it was fitting that my res earch on old Camp Date Creek, an abandoned military post of the Ari zona Territorial Indian Wars, led me to the Prescott National Cemete ry last Memorial Day weekend. There, m grave No. 10, row D, section 2, lies the lonely and forgott en grave of Philip Dwyer, captain of the 5th Calvary, who swept across Arizona history and into legend. His grave marker bearing just name and rank seems lost among the newer stones surrounding it. Philip Dwyer was born in Ireland about 1837 and emigrated to the Uni ted States at an early age. He enlisted in the service on Aug. 21, 1858, joining the Old 2nd, which later became the 5th Cavalry. He rose to the rank of quartermaster sergeant by 1862 when he was comm issioned 2nd and 1st lieutenant, and was promoted to the rank of captain in 1866. Just a few of the many Civil War engagements Philip Dwyer particip ated in include The Battle of Bull Run, The Charge at Fairfax Court House, The Manassas, Virginia Pen insular, Antitum and the battle of Fredricksburg. He was captured near Charleston in 1864, and held as a prisoner of war for the remainder of the conflict. On Feb. 11, 1872, Capt. Dwyer arr ived at Camp Date Creek, Arizona Territory, where he commanded Company E, 5th Cavalry. Located 60 miles southwest of Prescott, and on the junction of the Prescott, Wickenburg and La Paz roads, Camp Date Creek was establ ished in 1867. The main purpose of Camp Date Creek vas to help reduce Indian att acks on wagon trains traveling the roads, by providing them with milit ary escorts. From Camp Date Creek, Capt. Dwyer headed many scouting exp editions into the Territory against marauding Indians. During the month of Aug. 1872, Capt. Dwyer was acting post comm ander, and the only commiss ioned officer left at the post, when he died of an unknown illness Aug. 29, 1872. “On the Border With Crook,” by John G. Bourke, describes the death and funeral of Capt. Dwyer. “The surroundings were most dismal and squalid; all the furnit ure in the room in which the corpse lay was two and three plain wooden chairs, the bed occupied as des cribed, and a pine table upon which stood a candlestick, with the candle melted and burned in the socket. “Dwyer had been ‘ailing’ for seve ral days, but no one could tell exa ctly what was the matter with him; and, of course, no one susp ected that one so strong and athlet ic could be in danger of death. “One of the enlisted men of his company, a bright young trumpet er, was sitting up with him, and about the hour of midnight, Dwyer became a trifle uneasy and asked: ‘Can you sing that new song, ‘Put Me Under The Daisies?” “Oh, yes Captain,’ replied the trumpeter, ‘I have often sung it and will gladly sing it now.’ “So he began to sing, very sweetly, the ditty, which seemed to calm the nervousness of his superi or officer. But the candle had burned down in the socket, and when the young soldier went to rep lace it, he could find neither candle nor match, and he saw in the flickering light and shadow that the face of the Captain was strangely set, and of a ghastly purplish hue. “The trumpeter ran swiftly to the nearest house to get another light, and to call for help, but upon returni ng found the Captain dead. “Many strange sights have I seen, but none that produced a stranger or more pathetic appeal to my emotions than the funeral of Phil Dwyer; we got together just as good an apology for a coffin as that timberless country would furnish, and then wrapped our dead friend in his regimentals, and all hands were than ready to start for the cemetery. “At the head marched Mr. Hug us, Doctor Williams (the Indian agent) myself, and Lieutenant Hay, of the Twenty-third Infantry, who arrived at the post early in the morning; then came the troop of cav ah’y, dismounted and all the civil ians living in and around the camp; and lastly every Indian — man, woman, or child — able to walk or toddle, for all of them, young or old, good or bad, loved Phil Dwyer. “The soldiers and civilians formed in one line at the head of the grave, and the Apache-Yumas in two long lines at right angles to them, and on each side. The few, short, expressive, and tender sent ences of the burial service were read, then the bugles sang taps, and three volleys were fired across the hills, the clods rattled down on the breast of the dead, and the cerem ony was over.” Camp Date Creek was abandoned in August of 1873, one year after the burial of Captain Dwyer. The post cemetery at Camp Date Creek with the remains of 28 soldiers and 14 civilians, was to be neglected and forgotten for the next 19 years. In 1892 the government removed the remains of all the military pers onnel at Camp Date Creek, and reb uried most of them at the Presidio in San Francisco. The remains of Capt. Philip Dwyer, however, the only commiss ioned officer buried at Camp Date Creek, were transported the 60 miles up the old wagon road to their final resting place in the Prescott National Cemetery. As I left the cemetery a newsp aper reporter approached me looking for a Memorial Day story. When I showed him the grave marker of Capt. Philip Dwyer, and started to tell his story, he interj ected, “That’s neat, but I’m looki ng for a good human interest story, from someone that has a relative buried here.”

20211. The Arizona Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory, August 21st, 1869. From Camp Date Creek (article)

The Arizona Miner Prescott, Arizona Territory August 21st, 1869 From Camp Date Creek.- Monday last, we received a call from Sergeant Wortman, of Co. B 8th Cavalry, who had just arrived here on a visit, and learned from him that private Howell, of Co. C. 8th Cavalry, the man who was wounded by Indians in the McCleave fight, died recently. His funeral was attended by the military and citizens of the post. Deceased is said to have been a good and brave soldier The health of the post was good.

20209. The Arizona Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory, July 24th, 1869. Another Outrage by Indians. (article)

The Arizona Miner Prescott, Arizona Territory July 24th, 1869 Another Outrage by Indians. They Attack a U.S. Mail Party, Kill two Soldiers, Wound the Mail Rider, and Capture the Mail. On the afternoon of Saturday, July 17th, 80 or 100 Indians, who lay concealed on both sides of the road, near Willow Springs, between Kirkland Valley and Camp Date Creek, made an attack upon the mail party- consisting of P. Conner, the mail rider, three soldiers, and P. McAteer, a citizen of Kirkland Valley. At the time the attack was made, Mr. Conner, and two of the soldiers— privates Mudgett and Stouffer, of Company I, 14th Infantry, were in advance of the mail, and at the first fire, the two soldiers named, were shot, dead, from their animals. The mail rider was badly wounded, had to abandon his animals and the mail, and fight his way to Camp Date Creek, where he arrived next morning. McAteer and the soldier, who were behind, were also fired upon, but escaped unhurt to Kirkland Valley, followed by the Indians who came very near cutting them off and capturing them. They say the pack mule that carried the mail, followed them some dist ance. After the news reached Kirkland Valley, a party of men hastened to the scene of the attack and were preparing to take in the bodies of the soldiers, for interment, when Captain Somerby and a party of soldiers arrived from Camp Date Creek, and sent the bodies of the murdered men to Camp Date Creek, where they were buried on the morning of the 19th inst. Captain Somerby, his men, and some of the citizens, then made search for the mule and mail, but did not succeed in finding either. The Captain and party then came on to Prescott. He started back yesterday morning, with the greater part of his company and some expert guides and trailers, for the purpose of following the trail of the Indians, and, if possible, finding the mail, or a portion of it. Upon news of the disaster reaching Prescott, Postmaster Barnard procured an escort of soldiers from General Devin, and hastened to Skull Valley, in order to take charge of the mail, should it be found. The mail was a very large one, and contained many valuable letters, in which were some $18,000 or $20,000 in greenbacks, Government vouchers and checks, and checks of the Sterling Mining Company. The Postmaster has furnished us with the numbers of the registered letters sent by this mail, rec eipts for which are now held by our citizens. The numbers are as follows: 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38.

20207. The Arizona Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory, August 10th, 1867. Indians. (article)

The Arizona Miner Prescott, Arizona Territory August 10th, 1867 INDIANS. A few days after the raid upon A.G. Dunn’s herd (Prescott) referred to in our last, the Indians came again, and took of the remainder of the horses. They made an attempt to get the cows, but were not successful. About the same time they stole three horses from the Sterling mill, and some cows from Skull Valley. They also appeared on Lynx Creek, and wounded Mr. Pearson. On Saturday last, the red devils killed at Willow Spring, near Bell’s Calion, two soldiers coming with a message from the comm andant at Camp McPherson to Gen. Gregg. Their bodies were found stripped, and the murderers secured two animals and two guns.. Walnut Grove has been visited by the savages, and numerous animals taken, Mr. Burger losing four. Early in the week two soldiers belonging to the Camp just established by Lieut. Converse, on Big Bug Creek, five miles below the mill, were shot near the mill, one it is feared, fatally. A Sergeant accompanying the mail was killed at the Willows on the Mohave road.

20205. The Arizona Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory, March 9th, 1892. Bids for Disinterment. (article)

The Arizona Miner Prescott, Arizona Territory March 9th, 1892 Bids for Disinterment. The Journal-Miner is under obligation to Major J.G..C. Lee, chief quartermaster of the department of Arizona, for the following list of lowest bids for disint erments, opened at Los Angeles, Cal., February 19, 1892: Arizona Posts bidders. American Ranch J.H. Lee. Beal’s Springs J.H. Lee. Crittenden Christopher C. Watkins. Camp Date Creek Wm. Woods. Camp Goodwin Geo. A. Stratton. Camp Hualpai J.H. Lee. Fort Lowell David Dunham.. Fort McDowell Geo. H. Eldridge. Fort Mohave Wm. Woods. Fort Mason Christopher C. Watkins. Simmons’ Ranch J - H - Lee. Fort Thomas Geo. H. Eldridge. Fort Verde Win. Woods. Camp Wallen Ceo. A. Stratton. Old Fort Whipple J.H. Lee. Willows J.H. Lee.

20201. The Arizona Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory, April 29th, 1891. (article)

The Arizona Miner Prescott, Arizona Territory April 29th, 1891 The remains of the man recently found in the old commissary building at Camp Date Creek were identified as those of James Griffin. Death resulted from natural causes.

20200. The Arizona Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory, April 29th, 1891. Billy Miles (article)

The Arizona Miner Prescott, Arizona Territory April 29th, 1891 Billy Miles came in from Kirkland Valley Saturday evening and reports the finding of the remains of a man on Date Creek. No particulars could be obtained.

20199. The Arizona Sentinel, Yuma, Arizona Territory, August 3rd, 1878. Yuma to Prescott. (article)

The Arizona Sentinel Yuma, Arizona Territory August 3rd, 1878 Yuina to Prescott. The distance to Prescott, by the new road, are very nearly as follows: miles Yuma to Castle Dome 26 Castle Dome to Horse Tanks 29 Horse Tanks to Tyson’s Wells 33 Tyson’s Wells to Prescott via Date Creek 137 Total Distance 225 These distances are those estimated by stage men and parties who have been over the road. They are proba bly correct; erring, if at all, rather by making the distance too great than too short. As the crow flies, and as plotted on the maps, the distance from Yuma to Prescott is 190 miles. Thus, the foregoing figures allow for angles and turns of the road about thirty—five miles, which is ample.

20198. The Arizona Sentinel, Yuma, Arizona Territory, August 3rd, 1878. A new station has been built near the Horse Tanks (article)

The Arizona Sentinel Yuma, Arizona Territory August 3rd, 1878 A new station has been built near the Horse Tanks , on the new Yuma and Prescott stage road, by Gilmer & Saulsbury.. At present water is obtained from the tanks, which have been filled by the late heavy rains, but wells will be dug at an early day.

20197. The Arizona Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory, November 16th, 1877. Local Intelligence. (article)

The Arizona Miner Prescott, Arizona Territory November 16th, 1877 Local Intelligence. The first two ranches located in this county, and cultivated, are those now owned by P. McAteer and J.W. Kelsey. The McAteer place was located by Tatman, and transferred to William Kirkland, who abandoned it. In 1866 it was jumped by John Roberts, who sold it to Mr. MeAteer. Messrs. Bell & Blodget located the place where Mr. Kelsey now resides, at the same time the McAteer place was located. Mr. Bell was subsequently killed in what is known as Bell’s Canyon, the place consequentl y, went to his partner, who afterwards sold it to “Uncle Rob” John Robinson— and he in turn sold it to the present owner, Mr. Kelsey. Thus, it will be seen, that the place has changed hands several times, but never has been abandoned or jumped, but the title dates back to the year 1864.

20196. The Arizona Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory, April 16th, 1875. Camp Date Creek (article)

The Arizona Miner Prescott, Arizona Territory April 16th, 1875 Camp Date Creek: was our next halting place. Not a soldier was to be seen in or about the place; although it is not many years since soldiers were thick as bees here and around about. The adobe houses are fast going to ruin; the “fort” is now garrisoned by Jim O’Neill and a Mexican. Jim has a large flock of sheep in the vicinity, and the Mexican is herding cattle for C.W. Beach. I visited the “bivouac of the dead;” found many graves caved in, and the walls of the cemetery almost level with the ground. The place contains remains of a great many soldiers, many of whom were murdered by Indians. The military authorities would do well to fix up this decaying village of the dead. We spent the night at the home of William Gilson, a brave old pioneer, who with his sister and her bright little girl have a charming home on Date Creek, two or three miles below the post. Mr. Gilson has a large band of American cattle, fine farm, orchard and other good things.

20195. The Arizona Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory, March 26th, 1875. Local Intelligence. Indian Rumors. (article)

The Arizona Miner Prescott, Arizona Territory March 26th, 1875 Local Intelligence. INDIAN RUMORS.- Constable Leonard rep orts having seen some half dozen Indians near the Agua Fria last week, which Mr.. Swilling thinks are a few that have been wandering harmlessly about that country for months. A man named Thompson, who has lately arrived from California, told us of seeing one and hearing two others hollow, on the Santa Maria, and near by came upon the remains of an ox or cow that had recently been butchered and eaten by them. On his arrival at Gilson’s place, on Date Creek, Mr. Gilson informed him that there were some ten Indians in that locality where they had been for somet ime and they were not dangerous.

20194. The Arizona Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory, March 5th, 1875. Local Intelligence. (article)

The Arizona Miner Prescott, Arizona Territory March 5th, 1875 Local Intelligence - JAMES ONEAL, who spells his name just as we have rendered it in this paragraph, without any French prefix, suff ix, affix or termination, has been in town from Date Creek. Frank Murray tried to cap a fight between Oneal and ourseif on account of a supposed correspondence endwise— in our longitudinal dimensions; but when James made a survey of his antagonist he gave it up and intimated that if any of his friends wanted to take a chance they could do so. Mr. Oneal has a large band of sheep on Date Creek which he informs us are doing splendidly. He is himself one of the jolliest fellows you would meet in a day’s march.

20193. The Arizona Citizen, Tucson, Arizona Territory, January 23rd, 1875. Reduction of Military Reservations. (article)

The Arizona Citizen Tucson, Arizona Territory January 23rd, 1875 Reduction of Military Reservations. Annexed is a copy of the letter of Secretary War under which, in compliance with the Act of June 22nd, 1874, introduced by our Delegate, all of the Camp Date Creek, and parts of the Fort Whipple and Fort Yuma military reserves, have been restored to the public domain: WAR DEPARTMENT, WASHINGTON, Dec. 7th, 1874. To the Honorable the Secretary of the Interior, Sir: In compliance with the terms of the Act of June 22nd, 1874, chap. 415, I have the honor to relinquish and turn over to the Department of the Interior for restoration to the public domain: The Camp Date Creek reservation being of no use whatever for military purposes, the entire reservation is hereby relinquished. A map of the reservation is herewith transmitted; also extract copy of letter of Capt. A.H. Nickerson, acting assistant adjutant general department of Arizona, dated October 2nd, 1874, and copy of report of Second Lieut. W.3. Ross, dated September 30th, 1874, of the public buildings and improvements on the reservation. Very respectfully, your obd’t serv’t, W.W. Belknap, Secretary of War.

20192. Arizona Citizen, Tucson, Arizona Territory, September 26th, 1874. Telegraphic News. Special Dispatches to Citizens (article)

Arizona Citizen Tucson, Arizona Territory September 26th, 1874 TELEGRAPHIC NEWS. Special Dispatches to The Citizen. The buildings at Camp Date Creek have recently been inspected wi.th a view to turn them over to the Interior Departm ent for settlers according to the act of Congress which passed last winter.

20191. The Arizona Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory, February 20th, 1874. Local & Miscellaneous. (article)

The Arizona Miner Prescott, Arizona Territory February 20th, 1874 Local & Miscellaneous. The body of Capt. Philip Dwyer, 5th Cavalry, was brought from old Camp Date Creek to Fort Whipple, on Saturday, and was to be re—interred in the cemetery at that place, had the weather permitted, yesterday.

20190. The Arizona Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory, February 13th, 1874. Local & Miscellaneous. Military Items. (article)

The Arizona Miner Prescott, Arizona Territory February 13th, 1874 Local & Miscellaneous. MILITARY ITEMS.- The remains of Captain Philip Dwyer, 5th Cavalry, who died at Camp Date Creek about 18 months since, are to be exhumed and taken to Fort Whipple post cemetery of which place they are to be reinterred with appropr iate honors.

20189. The Arizona Miner, Prescott, Arizona Territory, December 19th, 1873. Chimahueva "Sal" (article)

The Arizona Miner Prescott, Arizona Territory December 19th, 1873 CHIMAHUEVA “SAL”- Strange name for a male Indian cut-throat- is now, or was, a short time ago, in the hands of the military authorities of the Department of Arizona. “Sal” is a very bad wearer of moccasins. He used to “gad” around what was once a very good home for bad Indians- Camp Date Creek, and, we bel ieve, stands accused of playing a very active part in the horrible Wickenburg Massacre. Captain James Burns, of the Fifth Cavalry, took the fiend alive. It is now in order to find out what he knows about the horrible affair at Wickenburg, and other horrors committed by himself and confederates.