top of page

RECORDED FAMILY HISTORY IN GILA COUNTY, ARIZONA

The Oral Histories of Gila County Families and Ranchers captures 5-7 generations of stories from pioneers and early settlers in Arizona, some arriving shortly after the Civil War. Not only did these families come early, but they also remain in place, or nearby, to this very day. Their stories provide a unique and fluid account of how this segment of Arizona's culture has adapted to pressures and influences brought about by environmental and political events. Some of the natural challenges in carving out ranches in the remote wilderness under the Mogollon Rim, in the Tonto Basin or between the Salt and Gila Rivers might have been the presence of hostile Indians off the reservations, wild animals, droughts, floods and accidents. Other pressures spanned from settling in the midst of reservation-forming Indian wars, mining town booms and busts, lawless range wars, cattle rustlers, fugitive outlaws, and family feuds to national and international disruptions such as the Great Depression, two world wars, the Roosevelt Dam engulfing their land and ever-increasing Forest Service and/or Bureau of Indian Affairs restrictions from distant Washington D.C. These accounts tell how such conditions carved out the unique rancher of Gila County, who is still recognized by his/her characteristic independence, love of ranching, round-ups, rodeos and all things horses. They define their social traditions and family values that linger to this day.

Armer.jpg

Armer and Griffin Family History

Edgar Armer tells the story of his ancestor, Charles Clifford Griffin, a proper Easterner who was deaf, coming alone as a young man by train and stage coach to Globe, Arizona.  

History_bacon.jpg

Bacon Family History

Pete Bacon, Ed's great grandfather, moved his family to the Roosevelt Lake Basin in the 1880s from parts unknown in search of the opportunity to grow cattle and for the mines.

1-oralhistory_Banicevich Family Oral His

 Banicevich Family History

Frank tells how he and his parents came to America from Yugoslavia (now Croatia) and operated a restaurant in Globe called the El Monte. Frank grew up in Globe, graduated from Globe High in the Great Depression, worked in the local mines until Pearl Harbor, and enlisted in World War II. Afterward he faithfully served as aide to Senator Carl Hayden through his life.

2-oralhistory_Barela Family Oral History

 Barela Family History

Gil Barela and his sister Margaret Lopez tell of their family's history and migration to Globe in 1920. Their father became a delivery man for Solomon Wickershaw during the Great Depression. Gil and Margaret tell of growing up in the ethnic melting pot of Globe. They were the second generation to go to school in Globe, where Gil excelled in both academics and sports. As an electrical lineman, Gil brought electricity to the area. He has an exciting story to tell of being electrocuted and miraculously surviving.

history_blumer.jpg

Blumer Family History

Eddie Dale tells of his Swiss and German ancestors emigrating to America, meeting and marrying in New Jersey. His grandfather worked for railroads, then eventually moved west. Rudy Blumer, Eddie Dale's father, was born in Globe, AZ and likewise Eddie Dale.

History_bixby.jpg

Bixby Family History

Keep your clients up to date with what's happening. To make this content your own, just add your images, text and links, or connect to data from your collection.  

History_Bohme.jpg

Bohme Family History

Eula Belle tells of her husband's grandmother Laura Neal and son Lewis William Bohme, emigrating from Texas after divorcing her husband. She settled in Gila County near other Neals and raised goats on a mining claim in Webster Gulch, in the mountains hidden behind the copper mines of Miami.

History_Bryne.jpg

Bryne Family History

Bill and Dot remember their families' histories of migrating to Arizona before the days of Statehood. Dot's family eventually came to Claypool and retailed lumber. Bill's family came from Texas during the Great Depression and ranched.

History_Chapman.jpg

Chapman Family History

Eddie Dale tells of his Swiss and German ancestors emigrating to America, meeting and marrying in New Jersey. His grandfather worked for railroads, then eventually moved west. Rudy Blumer, Eddie Dale's father, was born in Globe, AZ and likewise Eddie Dale.

4-oralhistory_Cline Family History.jpg

 Cline Family History

Bessie tells of her family moving to Arizona and to Pleasant Valley in the 1920s. Her father was a homesteader, a farmer, who grew all sorts of fruit and vegetables and made sorghum to sell. She tells of growing up in the little community of Young, AZ, where she met and married her neighbor, Nelson Turner, the son of the local Justice of the Peace. Bessie made of career of working in Cotton in administration and her husband was a test driver, testing tires for many years before retiring and returning to Young. Bessie substituted at the school whenever needed. Nelson was active in building the community center, the library and the medical center.

history_cline.jpg

Cline Family History

The first to immigrant to Arizona was Christian Cline, an English former bondservant from Pennsylvania. The family first immigrated to California during the gold rush. They panned enough gold to purchase a small herd of cattle in San Diego, and moved them to the future Roosevelt Dam basin on the Salt River sometime before or during the Civil War.

history_cooper.jpg

Cooper Family History

Dwight's great grandfather first settled in the Roosevelt area, the original ranch, the Hay Hook Ranch, was just 3 miles from where the dam was built in 1911. He tells of early ranching practices and of how ranchers related to each other.

5-oralhistory_Cox Family Oral History.jp

 Cox Family History

Hazel Cox remembers her family's immigration from Cornwall, England to work in the copper mines in Globe. She talks of the early days, the customs of the immigrant mining town, early families and how they survived the Great Depression. She also gives history of Gila County's ranchers and ranching culture.

History_ellison.jpg

Ellison Family History

Following the Civil War, Colonel Jess Ellison moved to Texas. Feeling crowded there, he then drove a huge herd of cattle to the open spaces of the Tonto Basin and Rim Country of Arizona in the mid 1880s

History_Griffin.jpg

John Griffin Family

John Griffin was Gila County Rancher of the Year in 2006. His family's earliest ancestors, the Romeros, came to America in the 1700s, settling on a Spanish Land Grant. They brought some of the first sheep into Arizona Territory.

History_haught.jpg

Haught Family History

Austin tells of his uncle Fred, his father, Samuel Ache Haught, and grandfather coming from Texas to Tonto Basin in the mid-1880s, bringing two large herds of cattle with them. They settled in Rye originally, then later moved to Walnut Creek in Pleasant Valley.

History_hicks.jpg

Hicks Family History

B.C. Hicks and his wife came to Texas from Tennessee and settled for awhile before moving on to Arizona Territory in an emigrant train. They first stayed in Casa Grande. Then they moved to Gila County crossing over Pioneer Pass.

History_holder.jpg

Holder Family History

Kendrick's grandparents John and Sarah Holder and brother brought Angora goats to Arizona from New Mexico. He started several post offices in New Mexico and Arizona and consequently named several towns. They lived in the Prescott and Payson areas.

History_holder_Mitch.jpg

Mitch Holder, Family

Mitch Holder, is the adopted son of Kendrick Holder and the son of Frank and Laura Mae Clark Haught. Frank Haught died of horse accident when Mitch was a baby and when he was 4 years old Kendrick and Laura Mae married.

History_jones.jpg

Jones Family History

Beno's grandmother was Louzora Neal, whose family of women came from Texas and settled in Globe, Pleasant Valley and the Tonto Basin. She had several husbands, and Bud Jones was one of them. Bud Jones also a Texan, came driving a large herd of cattle with the Ellisons and Hazelwood.

History_Lewis.jpg

Lewis Family History

Ray Lewis tells of his grandfather, James Lewis, coming to America from Wales, working in mines and finally arriving in the Arizona Territory in the 1870's or '80's. While working in the Stonewall Jackson Mine in McMinnville, north of Globe, he and a partner started a horse ranch on the Horseshoe Bend of Salt River.

6-Culver-Sullivan Family.jpg

 Culver-Sullivan Family History

In this oral history, Kip Culver speaks about the Culver-Sullivan family and gives a detailed account of their history in Arizona. He also talks about the history behind some of Globe's historic buildings and of our past colorful and influential residents that formed Globe-Miami's unique mining culture. This interview was conducted by Joyce McBride.

History_Mounce.jpg

Mounce Family History

The Mounce family came to Globe in 1876 with an enormous herd of cattle. The original ranch ran cattle from the Salt River to the Gila River. Another Mounce family ranch was located in Geronimo, AZ. The family's ranching lifestyle continues today, now skirting the San Carlos Indian Reservation east of Globe on Hwy 60.

History_Peace.jpg

Peace Family History

Seven generations ago, Jayne's great-great grandparents Cornelius and Parmelia Jackson and her great grandparents, Texas Ranger Will and Ellen Jackson Neal, and her father Neely Jackson and family left Texas in the late 1880s looking for good cattle country and a fresh start in a hurry.

History_Pyle.jpg

Pyle Family History

David Harer drove a herd of hogs into Greenback Valley in 1874 and set up a hog ranch, thus earning the credit of being the first white man to build a house in the Tonto Basin. He and his son-in-law, Florence Packard raised hogs for market in Globe, but they also subsistence farmed. The family was not molested by the Indians because David Harer was considered supernatural.

History_Reece.jpg

Reece Family History

Duane Reece is a cattleman, and also a gifted cowboy poet. He begins with a poem skillfully describing his life as a young cowhand. Duane grew up in the Great Depression on ranches along the Gila River that bordered the San Carlos Indian Reservation in Southern Gila County.

History_Seeley.jpg

Seeley Family History

John's father came to the Rim Country in 1914, working as a cowhand for the OW Ranch. He went to France during WWI. He was a partner on the 3E Ranch when he met Emma Joy Mingus. They married in 1925 and bought the land adjoining John's present home and the sheep trail.

History_Stewart.jpg

Stewart and Tucker Family History

Velma Stewart Tucker tells the history of the Stewart family. Her father, Bill Stewart, was born in Payson the son of Sam and Margaret Stewart, before statehood. Her mother was born in Pima, a Cluff, an old Mormon family who came to Arizona in the 1880s. Velma's parents met in Rye, in the Tonto Basin, where her sister Velma Cluff lived. They married and settled in Globe.

History_Sheppard.jpg