made his home with William Gilson, a pioneer of the Walnut Grove country, who owned a ranch on the Tempe road, and erected in Phoenix the building still standing on the north east corner of Washington and Second Streets. In the county election of 1872, Walters was nominated for District Attorney by the Democrats and defeated his opponent, Captain Hancock, by a vote of 344 to 165. Soon after his election, however, he resigned the office and Captain Hancock was appointed by the Board of Supervisors to succeed him. He passed away in 1909, at the age of 85 years, being the last local survivor of the original Swilling Party. Referring to the death of Mr. Walters, the "Arizona Republican" had the following: It is "The funeral of 'Jack' Walters was held yesterday afternoon, (Nov. 24, 1909) the pall bearers being John P. Orme, Pierce W. Butler, Jake Miller, James H. McClintock, George Hamlin, and Ira M. Hoghe. He left no relatives here or elsewhere so far as is known. rather interesting to reflect on the personnel of those who served as pall bearers. It was desirable that 'Old Jack' should be laid at rest as nearly as possible by the survivors of the days of his activity, but it was found that there were not left within the community any available persons whose residence here was contemporaneous with his earlier years in the valley, beginning over forty years ago. Nevertheless, the past was quite well represented for the youngest of those who served, has been here probably fifteen years, while one of them has lived here for nearly forty years." While some members of the Swilling party remained here to become permanent farmers in the valley, the greater number, being restless, roving spirits, left for other parts after a few years, and not much is known concerning them. After the success of the Swilling Ditch, many water claims were posted along the river throughout the valley, a few of which were utilized. These claims were recorded at Prescott, the county seat. Among the very early appropriations of water along the Salt River are the following: "NOTICE: To ALL Whom It May Concern: "The undersigned, under the name and style of 'The Phoenix Ditch Company,' hereby gives notice that they have this day claimed five thousand (5,000) inches (to be measured under two inches pressure) of the waters of Salt River, to be taken from said river at a point about three-fourths of a mile above the head of the ditch owned and used by the Swilling Irrigating Canal Company, and immediately below the rocky point that there reaches to the river, which said location was selected by J. W. Swilling and Thomas Barnum, about one year ago. The undersigned also claim right of way for their irrigating ditch, along the line selected and cleared by said Swilling and Barnum, to the old acequia or ditch, sometimes called the Montezuma Ditch, and thence, along the centre of said old ditch, its whole length, claiming fifty feet on each side. And the said Phoenix Ditch Company give further notice that they intend to commence work upon said ditch on or before the 10th day of August, 1870. "J. W. SWILLING, "THOMAS BARNUM, "J. T. ALSAP, "PHOENIX DITCH COMPANY. "Phoenix, July 4, 1870." At a meeting of the Phoenix Ditch Company, held August 11, 1870, John Smith and A. Barnett, were admitted to shares, and it was agreed to claim 5,000 inches of water additional to that already claimed. And it was ordered that notice thereof be given by publication in the "Arizona Miner." J. T. Alsap, Secretary. "NOTICE: To ALL Whom It May Concern: "The undersigned, under the name and style of the Salt River Ditch Company, hereby give notice that they have this day claimed forty thousand inches, to be measured under two inches pressure, of the waters of Salt River, to be taken from said river at a point about five miles above the crossing of the McDowell and Florence road, on said river, and opposite a red mountain, on the south side of said river. also claim the right of way for said ditch to a point opposite the middle of the north side of the Little Maricopa Mountain. We also claim one hundred feet on each side of said ditch, and the entire length of said ditch. We "And the said Salt River Ditch Company further gives notice that they intend to commence work on the said ditch on or before the 25th day of December, A. D. 1870. Said ditch to run on the south side of said river. "N. L. GRIFFIN, "CALVIN JACKSON, "A. P. K. SAFFORD, "S. SHOUP, "C. A. LUKE, "B. C. BAIN. "Salt River, A. T., August 22nd, 1870." "PRESCOTT DITCH COMPANY: "To ALL Whom It may Concern: "The undersigned, under the name and style of the 'Prescott Ditch Company,' hereby give notice that they have, this day, located a water ditch and claimed four thousand (4,000) inches of the waters of Salt River, for irrigating purposes, to be taken out on the south side of said river in Section 20, Township 1 North, Range 3 east. "Five hundred yards of said ditch is now completed, and four thousand (4,000) inches of water, more or less, running in the same. We intend to run our ditch in a southwest direction as fast as possible, and as far as we deem it necessary for farming purposes. "Claimants: "J. A. CHENOWITH, "Salt River, Yavapai County, Arizona, Sept. 26, 1870." "NOTICE: To ALL Whom It may Concern: "The undersigned, under the name and style of the Hayden Milling and Farming Ditch Company, hereby give notice that they have this day claimed ten thousand (10,000) inches, to be measured under two inches pressure, of the waters of Salt River, to be taken from said river at or near a butte, to the left of the main road to the Gila River from Phoenix, and on the south side of said river. "And the said Hayden Milling and Farming Ditch Company are at work on the same. "CHAS. T. HAYDEN, "Phoenix, A. T., Nov. 17, 1870." |