JOHN Y.T. SMITH
Arizona Republican Newspaper
July 16, 1903
Dr. R.E. Lightburne of this city received a telegram
yesterday from Bertram Smith in Los Angeles, saying
that his father John Y.T. Smith died yesterday morning.
The telegram also said the family which went to Los
Angeles a few weeks ago hoping that Mr. Smith's health
might be benefited would return home on Sunday morning's
train accompanying the body and asked that arrangements
be made for the funeral for Sunday afternoon. The funeral
will very likely be held under the auspices of the Masonic
order and the G.A.R. as Mr. Smith stood high in the councils
of both organizations. George Buxton of Bisbee, son-in-law
of the dead man, is expected will arrive here Friday morning.
Mr. Smith was well advanced in years, having retired from
active business life two or three years ago. For some time
his health has not been good, an affection of the heart
seeming to be his functional disorder. For several months
past he has suffered occasional sinking spells when his
condition would become critical and once or twice his
death was hourly expected. But he regained a portion of
his strength and the family went to Los Angeles in the
hope of prolonging his days, a hope which was realized
in but a slight measure.
John Y.R. Smith was one of the earliest pioneers of
Arizona and became a leading citizen in commercial
enterprises in the civil government of the territory
and in political councils. There are few men more
widely known in Arizona and none who were more
universally respected in life or whose memory will
be longer cherished. He was a member of an old family
of New York state and was born near Buffalo, September
16, 1831. Adventurous even in youth, at the age of 10
he became a cabin boy on a river boat and for three
years traveled up and down the Mississippi, Missouri
and Ohio Rivers. In 1845 he left the river and for
eight years pursued farm work in Macoupin County,
Illinois.
In the spring of 1853 he started for California with a
company of young men who drove a herd of 500 cattle
across the plains from St. Joseph up the Platte River
and via Shasta, reaching their destination after a
journey of six months. For a few years he engaged in
mining and prospecting and in 1858 went to British
Columbia at the time of the Fraser River discovery.
He returned to California and resumed mining there the
next year.
At the beginning of the Civil War, Mr. Smith enlisted
in Company H., Fourth California infantry and with his
regiment proceeded to Yuma Arizona where he was
stationed for a year going from there to the barracks
at Camp Latham, near Los Angeles. In 1864 he was
stationed at San Luis Obispo and later at Dunn
barracks near San Pedro. During this service he
was promoted to second and later to first lieutenant
of his company. In the fall of 1865 he started for
Arizona with the Fourteenth regiment of U.S.
infantry and continued for two years at Fort
McDowell after which he took charge of the
government farm. Two years later he was made
post trader a position he retained for five years.
Meantime, about 1872 he opened a store in Phoenix,
his goods coming up the gulf of California and from
Yuma by wagon. In 1876 he built the second flour
mill in the valley and operated it till 1887 when
he built the mill sold in 1899 and now being run
by the Phoenix Flouring Mills Company conducted by
DeMund brothers.
Mr. Smith was always impressed with the need of a good
irrigating system in this valley and has labored
earnestly to that end. He was in the valley when
the first canal was dug and before there was a house
in Phoenix, having been closely identified with the
progress of the city ever since and at the time of
his death owning a fine residence property on East
Adams Street.
He was married in Prescott to Miss Ellen E. Shaver who
in 1873 taught the first school in Phoenix. Their
children are Mrs. George Buxton, Bertram Smith and
Miss Mary E. Smith.
M.W. SPAULDING
October 10, 1903
Captain and Mrs. F.S. Ingalls received a telegram yesterday
announcing the death in New Britain, Conn., of M.W. Spaulding
of Oakland, Cal., father of Mrs. Ingalls. Though he was
about 75 years old he was in good health when last heard
from previously and the only explanation in the telegram
respecting his sudden death is that he died of a fever.
A wife and six children survive him. Mrs. Ingalls being
the eldest child. The body will be taken back to Oakland
for interment.
Mr. Spaulding was one of the most widely known men in the
west, having been identified with both the commercial and
political activates of the Golden state for over half a
century. The effort of his young manhood were devoted
to California's reclamation from the wilderness and in
his latter days he was more than busy in the conduct of
various business enterprises.
He was a native of the state of Maine, where he was born in
1828, going to California in 1850, having but recently
passed his majority. For fifty three years he claimed
that state as his home. Mr. Spaulding had a genius for
invention and one of his patents at least brought him a
good financial return and made his name familiar to wood
workers and mill men. That the was "Spaulding inserted
tooth" for circular saws. One of his latest inventions
was a patent window catch, designed to hold a window
anywhere it might be placed when moved up and down in
the frame.
ARTHUR BIDGOOD
August 9, 1896
Arthur Bidgood died last evening in Prescott of typhoid
fever. He worked for the S.F.P. & P. company here for
over a year as check clerk. He was a most popular young
man here and his untimely death is much regretted. He was
24 years of age and his parents reside at San Bernardino,
Cal.
ANNIE FISHER
August 9, 1896
Annie, the 8 month old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J.L.
Fisher, of the Star Bakery, died yesterday morning with
some infantile trouble. The funeral will be held this morning.
JOSE GONZALES
August 9, 1896
A 10 year old boy at Solomonville named Jose Gonzales
who was kicked on the leg by a horse some time ago,
died a few days ago from the wound.
JOHN HEALY
August 19, 1896
John Healy, 40 years of age, was found yesterday morning
dead in his bed in the rear room of a saloon at Congress
Junction. A pistol wound back of the ear and a small
pistol dropped near the right hand told the story of
suicide. Healy had been intoxicated for several weeks
and had the day before been deprived of his weapons.
The pistol with which the suicide had been accomplished
had been taken from the office of Station Agent West
about 4 yesterday morning.
Deceased had been a miner, but latterly was employed as
a barkeeper. He had several valuable mining claims near
Congress and had been a resident at the camp for seven
months. He came thither from Ash Fork, where he had been
postmaster.
Healy was a brother of F.A. Healy, formerly passenger
agent of the Santa Fe, Prescott and Phoenix railway, who
was notified by telegraph at his present residence of
Charleston, South Carolina.
Interment was at the camp yesterday afternoon. The
funeral was largely attended, deceased, having been
held in sincere esteem.
EMILY HEINLEIN
January 11, 1896
Arizona Republican
Emily, wife of J.H. Heinlein of this city died yesterday morning
in San Diego where for several months she has been ill with a
complication of diseases. It has been known that she could not
long survive, yet the end was sudden. The bereaved husband,
who had but a few days ago left her, started last night for San
Diego to attend the funeral of the one who for seven years had
been the sharer of his fortunes.
Mrs. Heinlein had been till lately a resident of Phoenix and
here was held in highest esteem for many excellent attributes.
She was born in Butte, Montana and there was raised. Lately her
parents have been residing in San Diego and it was at
home she died surrounded by all that could ease her suffering or
prolong her stay.
