On Monday afternoon J.T. Pierce went to sleep standing
between two cars on the Central Arizona railway, near
the electric light plant. About 3:20 the engine backed
in on the track to take out some cars and Pierce was
crushed between the couplings of the cars.
The crew did not know he was there, and when Brakeman
Miller went to make the couplings he found the body
under the car, the unfortunate man having been instantly
killed. Deceased was about 40 years of age, having been
in the employ of the Arizona Lumber and Timber Company as
a car helper since his coming here three months ago. He
had been on a spree for several days and on Monday morning
drew his wages with the intention of going to some other
place.
Newton Pierce
May 3, 1902
Arizona Republican Newspaper
Jeff Pierce has just received word that this brother
Newton Pierce was killed in the Philippines on
February 22. He was 27 years old and lived in this
valley till 1894 when he went to Nevada. When the
Spanish American War broke out he enlisted but did
not get to Cuba. Later he was among the first to
enlist for service in the Philippines. At the
time of his death he was scouting and had started
on a twelve mile journey alone. He had gone about
seven miles when he was murdered by the enemy, his
remains being found later. When he lived in this
valley he was engaged in ranching and employed at
times in the dairy business. Beside his brother
here he leaves sisters and parents in Texas.
Mrs. Marie Pierson
October 31, 1902
Arizona Republican Newspaper
Mrs. Marie Pierson, wife of Mr. C.P. Pierson, died Friday
morning at the family residence, No. 538 North Fourth
Avenue. She had suffered for months of cancer of the
stomach and went to California hoping to find relief,
but returned in worse condition than when she left here.
She was confined to her bed for four weeks preceding the
fatal termination of her illness.
The family has resided in this city for a long time, and
Mrs. Pierson had a host of friends, being esteemed by all
who knew her and greatly beloved by those so fortunate as
to be intimately acquainted. Her many kindnesses to others
could not but bring to her the deepest sympathy in the
weary hours of her own suffering.
Beside her bereaved husband there were at her bedside, a
son, Harry W. Pierson, a well known farmer near this city,
a daughter whose home is in Colorado and another whose home
is in St. Paul and a second son and his wife, who reside in
Canada.
The funeral will be held at 11 o'clock this morning at the
undertaking parlors of Mohn and Dorris.
W.T. Pike
May 20, 1902
Arizona Republican Newspaper
W.T. Pike, son of John M. Pike, died yesterday morning
at his home on the Pike Ranch in the Cartwright
district. Death resulted from a complication of
ailments attending old age, Mr. Pike being about
75. He came here three years ago from Missouri.
He leaves a wife and five children to mourn him,
all of the children but one son being married and
residents of this valley. The funeral will be
held this afternoon at 2:30 o'clock at the family residence.
Carlos Pillarey
November 5, 1902
Arizona Republican Newspaper
A distressing accident occurred at the mine of the Sentate
Gold Company in Yavapai County on Monday night. A Mexican
named Carlos Pillarey was killed by a premature explosion
in the bottom of the 400 foot shaft. Charles H. Akers who
was in charge of the affairs of the company yesterday
received a report of the accident. The Mexican and
another miner had put in two shots and the other man
started away. He did not notice what his companion
was doing but the explosion followed so quickly that
there is a suspicion that the fuse was defective.
The shaft has only a slight incline so that fifty feet
away from the shot which would have gone upward, one
would have been in safety.
The man who was killed had been with the company since
the beginning of operations and was one of the best men
employed at the mine. The company paid his funeral
expenses and gave his widow $500.
Frank Prothero
February 9, 1902
Arizona Republican Newspaper
Frank Prothero died yesterday afternoon in San
Francisco. He had been ill for the last two years
and in the last one had failed rapidly. He left
Phoenix about three months ago for the coast in the
hopes of obtaining relief.
Frank Prothero was a resident of Arizona for many
years and had enjoyed a more exciting career than
falls to the lot of most men. He was at one time
a government scout under Chaffee and assisted in
the punishment of the Apaches after the Meadows
massacre in which the father and brother of Charlie
Meadows, better known as Arizona Charlie, were
killed. He was a deputy sheriff during the term
of James K. Murphy and when William Price, under
sentence of death for murder, escaped from jail,
he pursued him and his companion, Young, the
counterfeiter. He overtook them near Ajo and
in the fight that ensued he killed Price and
seriously wounded Young. Prothero himself
received a shot in the arm. For several years,
or until his health failed him, he was engaged
in mining. He was married several years ago,
but for a long time has been separated from his
wife. Prothero was a brave officer and is said
to have been one of the most expert trailers in
the country. He was a very pleasant and
companionable man.
MRS. PROWELL
September 2, 1902
Word was received here last night of the death at San
Diego of Mrs. E.E. Prowell. Mrs. Prowell had been in
ill health for several years. She went early in the
summer to San Diego where she had been spending a
part of the year for a great many years.
D.F. RANDALL
Arizona Republican Newspaper
March 29, 1905
The funeral of D.F. Randall who died last week will occur
this afternoon at 2 o'clock from the M.E. church under the
auspices of the Modern Woodmen of America of which order he
was a member. The services will be conducted by Rev. J.C.
Rollins, pastor of the church and the interment will be made
in the Double Butte Cemetery.
SAMUEL RANDLE
July 4, 1902
Arizona Republican Newspaper
Jerome--Samuel Randle died at the Jerome hospital at
12 o'clock last Thursday night. Mr. Randle was 84 years
old on the 17th of June, the day on which he was taken
sick. He had been employed as cook on the farm of W.A.
Jordan for the past two years and as it is not always
possible to obtain the services of a physician out in
the country just when they are needed, it was thought
advisable to take Mr. Randle to the hospital where he
could have the best of care and treatment. His disease,
which was a chronic derangements of the kidneys and
bladder, was of such a complicated nature that a surgical
operation was deemed necessary and was accordingly
performed by Drs. Woods and Kaull. The patient
survived the operation and it was thought for a
while that he would get well but owing to his
advanced age and the complications of the malady
his recovery was impossible. He was buried on
Friday evening, June 27th in the Jerome Cemetery by Undertaker Nevin.
The deceased was born June 17, 1818 on a British merchant
vessel en route from England to New Found land. He was of
English parentage and the greater part of his life was
spent at sea as an English sailor. He also did
considerable service with American vessels. After
abandoning the sea he did considerable prospecting
and mining in Lower California. Several years of his
life were spent at San Diego during the early days of
that city.
A notable incident of his life there was his services
as the chief witness in the Holcomb Valley murder in
1874. Upon the strength of his evidence, William
Bornor was sentenced to serve a life imprisonment
in San Quentin for the murder of a man by the name
of Smith. The history of the deed and the
proceedings of the trail were afterwards written
out by Mr. Randle in verse form, making quite a
long and very interesting poem, showing considerable
skill of the composer as a verse maker.
Shortly after the incident just related, Mr. Randle came
to Arizona and has lived here ever since being engaged
in various occupations, principally as cook for
different mining camps. His was a life of wide
experience, beset with many dangers and hardships.
He saw service in almost every country on the globe
and his rambling, adventuresome nature took him to
Arizona during her early days, adding his mite to
the upbuilding of the territory and as one of the
oldest of Arizona's pioneers, he now rests in peace.
