DELFINA PERREA
Arizona Republican Newspaper
May 17, 1903
Soon after daylight Wednesday morning as a driver of a hack
came down Chase Creek, at a point near the railroad scales
above town, he observed a Mexican with a pistol in his hand
standing near the prostrate body of a woman, says the Clifton
Copper Era. The driver thought a murder had been committed
and came down and so reported. Officers and citizens soon
arrived on the scene and found dead the body of Delfina
Perrea who had been shot through the left eye, and in
the center of the throat. The man who had committed the
deed had disappeared. Later a coroner's jury was empaneled
and viewed the remains, which were taken in charge by C.F.
Pascoe and removed to his undertaking parlors.
Senora Perrea was the step daughter of Robert Steggall,
a former well known restaurant keeper of Clifton and
Morenci who is now in Mexico. She had been married to
Jose Perrea and had a child by him which is now about
two years old. Some months ago the couple separated,
Perrea going to Morenci and the wife remaining in
Clifton. She had been employed as a waitress in the
Chase Creek Restaurant but it is said that her life
recently had not been chaste. Sunday night her husband
arrived from Morenci and told some of his friends that
he came for the child and further stated that if Delfina
did not renounce the life she was leading he would kill her.
MRS. MARY PHILLIPS
Arizona Republican Newspaper
December 9, 1903
Mrs. Mary Phlllips died yesterday morning about half past
one at the residence of Mrs. Walsworth. She and her
husband came here six weeks ago from Axtell, Kansas for
the benefit of her health which was very poor at the
time, but the change was made too late and she gradually
grew worse till the end yesterday.
Mr. Phillips was called home recently on account of business
and was returning to the bedside of his wife, arriving
yesterday morning, just too late. The body was embalmed
and will be sent home where the burial will take place.
MRS. WATSON PICKERELL
Arizona Republican Newspaper
December 16, 1903
Mrs. Watson Pickerell of Tempe died this morning after
1 o'clock after a long illness. Mrs. Pickerell was forty
one years of age. She leaves beside her husband a daughter
and three sons. The funeral will take place from the house
tomorrow at an hour not yet fixed.
Funeral of Mrs. Pickerell
December 17, 1903
The funeral of Mrs. Watson Pickerell of whose death mention
was made in yesterday morning's paper will take place at the
house three miles south of town at 1 o'clock this afternoon.
The services will be conducted by Rev. Kloss and the interment
will be made at the Double Butte Cemetery.
Mrs. Pickerell has been an invalid for several years but since
she returned from California this summer she has been much
worse and for the past few weeks has been confined to her
bed. Some time ago all hopes of her recovery were given
up and lately it has been simply a question of time and
death came as a welcome relief from pain. The saddest
part of her death is the fact that she leaves beside her
husband, five children to mourn her loss, the youngest
being four and the oldest only eleven.
GEORGE S. PORTER
April 15, 1903, Arizona Republican
We regret very much to state that George S. Porter, Sr.
died suddenly in Los Angeles a few days ago, says the
Prescott Herald. Mr. Porter came to Prescott in the
early 1870's and established one of the first furniture
houses in the city. He conducted the same for years and
also became identified in the mining industry as well as
being in political matters.
Failing health compelled his removal a few years ago to Los
Angeles in the hope that a lower altitude would be beneficial
to an affection of his heart. It was this disease that
proved fatal. Mrs. Porter, his wife, also passed away
over a year ago in the same city and from a similar affliction.
J.T. PRIEST
Arizona Republican Newspaper
May 3, 1903
News was received last evening of the sudden death at his
home near Tempe of J.T. Priest, one of the best known men
in Maricopa County, well known throughout the territory,
highly esteemed by all who knew him and sincerely loved
by those who have enjoyed intimate relations with him.
Though well advanced in years, Mr. Priest has been in his
usual health and worked all day yesterday in the hay field.
Late in the afternoon he suffered a fainting spell, but
recovering, went home and milked his cows as usual,
returning again to the hay field to finish up his day's
work. Here he was again stricken with a fainting spell
and was taken to the house, Dr. Charles H. Jones,
being summoned to attend him, but about 7 o'clock and
twenty minutes before the physician arrived, his spirit
left its earthly tenement. Another incident that made
the coming of the death angel peculiarly impressive is
the fact that his son John is very ill and for three
days his condition has been considered critical. No
arrangements for the funeral of Mr. priest can yet be
announced.
Mr. Priest was a pioneer of both California and Arizona,
one of the men to whose patient toil, wise foresight and
sterling character, both commonwealths owe their present
fame and prosperity. He came to Arizona at a time when
there was little promise of those things which have so
surprised the world which is just becoming interested in
this territory of wonderful resources. He took up a
farm of 100 acres which he has made to produce
abundantly, reflecting credit upon its owner and the
adjacent neighborhood. While his interests have been
diversified he has spent his greatest thought and
study in the direction of the development of water
and artificial irrigation enterprises. With the
construction of the Tempe Canal and its tributaries
he has had much to do and for a number of years
president of the Tempe Irrigating Company. Since
then he has been president of the Kirkland and
McKinney Canal, one of the branches of the Tempe.
Mr. Priest came from an old English family, his parents
being born in Nottinghamshire England. Early in the
1830's they immigrated to America, settling in Canada,
and subsequently moving to Bond County Illinois when the
subject of this sketch was four years old, devoting
themselves to the tilling of the soil, later returning
to Canada where they died. Mr. Priest was born in
Ontario on Septmeber 19, 1835.
MRS. J.D. PRICHETT
October 18, 1903
Mrs. J.D. Prichett died yesterday, shortly after noon,
after a lingering illness of several months. In fact she
has been an invalid for seven years. The immediate cause
of her death, however was blood poisoning. She had been
very low for the past few days and Friday night all hope
of her recovery was despaired of. Her husband was at
work in the mines near Superior and Spurgeon Tomlinson
left at nine o'clock that evening for the purpose of
bringing Mr. Prichett here. In the meantime every
effort was made to prolong the sufferer's life until
his arrival. It was impossible for Mr. Pritchett to
make the trip before midnight last night, which of
course was too late. Beside a husband, the deceased
leaves four children.
MRS. HANNAH J. PROOPS
Arizona Republican Newspaper
May 11, 1903
Mrs. Hannah J. Proops died suddenly of apoplexy before
noon yesterday at the family residence on South Center
Street. She was enjoying her usual health the night
before and also yesterday morning as far as anyone had
noted. Her son, Harry, came up to fire department
headquarters in the middle of the forenoon, his wife
going to church. When Mrs. Harry Proops returned from
church she found her mother-in-law lying face down and
very ill. She summoned her husband and a physician but
before either arrived the stricken woman lapsed into
unconsciousness and shortly after passed away.
The funeral will be held this afternoon at 3 o'clock
at the undertaking parlors of A.J. Bradley and interment
will be made in the new Jewish cemetery west of the
city on the Yuma Road. Mrs. C.A. Willis, who lives at
Iron Springs, the only daughter of Mrs. Proops is ill
and will be unable to attend the funeral.
Mrs. Proops was 51 years old and was born in London
England. At the age of 16 she went to Australia and
met John Proops to whom she was married in Melbourne.
In 1880 the family came to this country landing in San
Francisco and going from there at once to Tombstone
which was then enjoying its greatest prosperity. Six
years later the family came to Phoenix, Mr. Proops
driving across the desert from Tombstone in charge
of the furniture and household effects of the late
B.A. Fickas. Mr. Proops was soon placed in charge
of the city hall plaza and was the gardener that
first made it one of the attractions of the city.
Mr. Proops died quite suddenly a few years ago and soon
after, illness and worry so weakened his widow mentally
that it became necessary to commit her to the hospital
for the insane. She was at various times allowed to
come home, however, and when her condition improved
about four and a half months ago she had taken up
residence with her son, Harry.
