The St. Johns herald. (St. Johns, Apache County, Arizona Territory [Ariz.]) 1885-1903, 1888-04-05


white inhabitant, proposes to write
"a book about the early days of this
Territory. If the Governor does
so he can add an interesting volume
to the literature Of the day, for he
is an easy writer, well posted and
knows more about the true inward
ness of early Arizona history than
any other living man. His book
would be interesting to all Arizon-
ans, especially to the old-timers,
whose ranks are being so rapidly
decimated by death. Dick McCor-
mick was the first Secretary Of the
Territory, appointed by President
Lincoln in 1868, and came here
with Gov. Goodwin and the other
Territorial officers, and organized
the Territory at Navajo Springs on
the last day of that year. The party
was escorted by LieutCol. Frank
Chaves, who was in command Of a
detachment of New Mexico and
California volunteers, and was anx-
ious to get within the confines of
Arizona, and take their official
oaths before the expiration Of the
year, in order to draw their salaries
for that year, which was indeed a
commendable motive for making
haste. The dividing line between
New Mexico and what is now Ari-
iona, was not known; indeed all
this country was at that time a
terra incognita, so the party pushed
westward until Navajo Springs
were reached on the 31st day of De-
cember, where temporary capital
was improvised, and while the wind
was blowing and the camp fires
burning, the national flag was
raised, the oath Of office taken ''in
due and ancient FORM" speeches
were made and the last drop drained
from the delnijohns. The seat Of
government remained at Navajo
Springs only short time, for when
the officials were rested and recup-
Grated, they went west to where the
capitol is now, and there pitched
their tents and erected public build
ings, and called the beautiful dim
pie on natures brow, Prescott, in
honor of the famous historian who
bore that name.
On the early legislation of the
Territory, Gov. Mccormick left his
impress, for, although not a mem
Der of the Legislatures, he was as
siduous in his efforts to have whole
some laws enacted to properly
shape the destiny of the infant
Territory. When Governor Good
win was elected to Congress, Secre-
tary Mccormick became Governor,
and was Chief Executive until
elected Delegate. lie was in Con-
gress three times, defeating Judge
Rush of Prescott once, and p. r.
Brady, eX-Sherilf Of Pima, now a
wealthy resident of Florence and
member Of the Board of Prison
Commissioners, both simon pure
Democrats. He was elected once
without opposition.
He could write advisedly Of the
manner in which elections were
managed in those days, and tell
how he sometimes received more
votes at one precinct than were cast
in a whole county, for these were
the days when crews, deck hands
and passengers on the steamers,
plying the Colorado river, could
vote at all the precincts passed on
election day, provided they voted
right. 1t was during his admins
tration that the capitol was re-
moved from Prescott to Tucson,
where it remained until 1877 when,
by virtue of the census taken the
previous year, Yavapai became a
power in the Legislature and it was
returned to that county.