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CHAPTER III.

EARLY SETTLEMENTS.

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ALONG THE GILA RIVER: ADAMSVILLE AND FLOR-
ENCE-CHARLES ADAMS, FOUNDER OF ADAMS-
VILLE-NAME CHANGED TO SANFORD-WILL-
IAM DUMONT FIRST POSTMASTER-RESENT-
MENT AGAINST CHANGE - BICHARD BROS.,
AND THEIR FLOURING MILLS REPUTED THAT
LEVI RUGGLES BUILT FIRST HOUSE IN FLOR-
ENCE-DISPUTE OF AUTHORITIES OVER SAME
-CHARLES G. MASON, FIRST SETTLER IN
FLORENCE JOSEPH COLLINGWOOD OPENS
FIRST STORE DESCRIPTION OF RUGGLES'
RESIDENCE IRRIGATING CANALS IN AND
AROUND FLORENCE - PAT HOLLAND-PIO-
NEERS FIRST CATHOLIC CHURCH IN CEN-
TRAL ARIZONA-FLORENCE NAMED BY GOV-
ERNOR MCCORMICK IN HONOR OF HIS WIFE-
DISCOVERY OF SILVER KING MINE-FIGHT
WITH, AND DEFEAT OF, PINAL APACHES-
PRIMROSE HILL KNOWN AS
"POSTON'S
FOLLY"-MARICOPA WELLS-PRE-EMPTION
OF BY JOHN B. ALLEN-MORGAN'S FERRY—
MRS. CLIFFORD'S DESCRIPTION OF "MONTEZU-
MA'S FACE"-MARICOPA CHARLEY'S RIDICU-
LOUS PURCHASES.

This History of Arizona, so far as it relates to the settlement of the Gila and Salt Rivers, in the absence of printed records, is taken from interviews with old settlers, in Arizona parlance, "old-timers," and I have had to rely upon their

statements for the following, which may not be entirely reliable.

The first settlements in the Territory, included within the boundaries of Maricopa County as originally established in 1871, were made along the Gila River at Adamsville and Florence. Some claim that the first building erected was at the old town of Adamsville, about three miles west of Florence. From the best evidence at hand, both towns were located in the same year, 1866. During that year Charles Adams located at what was afterwards Adamsville. He took out a ditch there and irrigated his quarter section of land and it soon became a prosperous village. In the winter of 1866-67, the first store was opened, according to James M. Barney, the names of the proprietors I have not been able to ascertain. In the early part of 1871 the district was of sufficient importance for a postoffice. William Dumont was the first postmaster, but the postoffice name was changed to Sanford in honor of Captain George B. Sanford of the First United States Cavalry, who was, for many years, in command at Fort McDowell and the record of whose combats with the Indians has been previously noted. This action of the postoffice department caused much criticism throughout the Territory. The Arizona "Miner," in 1871, said that "at a spot in the Valley of the Gila, situated between Florence and Sacaton, some five years since, a pioneer named Charles Adams located a piece of ground, erected a shanty, and proceeded to divest his property of the offensive shrubbery, preparatory to the sowing of a crop of grain. The location was in

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the midst of a large tract of land, and soon a thriving settlement sprang up, in the center of which Mr. Adams remained. At the solicitation of his neighbors he laid out a townsite on his property, gave lots to all who wished to build, and with one accord the whole community agreed that the town should be named Adamsville.

"The entire piece of property originally located by Mr. Adams was subsequently sold by him, but the town still retained the name of Adamsville, and all were satisfied until early in the present year, Territorial Delegate McCormick to satisfy a personal grudge of a political character against Mr. Adams, concluded to have the name changed. With this object in view he managed to have the name of the postoffice changed from Adamsville to Sanford. His hope and intention was that the town would for convenience sake, adopt the name of the postoffice, when his purpose would have been accomplished. The object, too, has been partly secured, but not so firmly rooted that it may not be eradicated. The name of that town is Adamsville; and you, pioneers, who would protect and preserve the memory of one another from the spoliatory hands of the vandal politician, refer to it as such. Address your letters, when you have occasion to write thither, to Sanford, P. O., Adamsville, and let outside despoilers see and understand that they may not manipulate this simple heritage which you would hand down to posterity."

It should be remembered that the "Miner" at that time, was edited by John Marion, who

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