Mormon Settlement in Arizona: A Record of Peaceful Conquest of the DesertMcClintock, James H.
History
Mormon Settlement in Arizona: A Record of Peaceful Conquest of the Desert
McClintock, James H.
Arizona -- History -- To 1950; Latter Day Saints -- Arizona -- History
With reference to the naming of Flagstaff, Mr. Mann is very definite. He
says that, while waiting for the main party, this being late in June,
1876, and merely for occupation, the limbs were cut from a straight pine
tree that was growing by itself near the camp. The bark was cut away,
leaving the tree a model flagstaff and for this purpose it was used, the
flag being one owned by Tillinghast and the only one carried by the
expedition. The tree was not cut down. It was left standing upon its own
roots. This tale is rather at variance with one that has been of common
acceptance in the history of Flagstaff and the date was not the Fourth of
July, as has been believed, for Mann is sure that he arrived in Prescott
in June. The main section of the first party came a few days later, and
was on the ground for a celebration of the centennial Fourth of July that
centered around the flagstaff.
Mann also remembers that Major Maynadier, one of the leaders of the
expedition, surveyed a townsite for Flagstaff, each of the members of the
expedition being allotted a tract. The second party joined the first at
Flagstaff. Word had been received that mechanics were needed at Prescott
and in the nearby mines, with the large wages of $6 a day, and hence
there was eagerness to get along and have a share in the wealth of the
land. It remains to be stated that all the men found no difficulty in
locating themselves in and around Prescott and that no regret was felt
over the failure of the original plan.
Southern Saints Brought Smallpox
One of the few parties of Southern States Saints known for years in any
of the Stakes of Zion joined the poverty-stricken colonists on the Little
Colorado in the fall of 1877. Led by Nelson P. Beebe, it numbered about
100 individuals, coming through New Mexico by wagon, with a first stop
at Savoia. The immigrants were without means or food and there had to be
haste in sending most of them on westward, more wagons being sent from
the Little Colorado camps for their conveyance. At Allen's Camp was a
burden of sickness, mainly fever sufferers from the unfortunate Obed. To
these visitors were added seventy of the "Arkansas Saints," who came
October 4. Yet the plucky Allenites not only divided with the strangers
their scanty store of bread, but gave a dance in celebration of the
addition to the pioneers' strength. The arrivals brought with them a
new source of woe. One of their number, Thomas West, had contracted
smallpox at Albuquerque and from this case came many prostrations.
Fort Moroni, at LeRoux Spring
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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