Tombstone epitaph., 1888-04-14
A NEW HISTORY OF ARIZONA.
 From the St. Johns Herald.

From the St. Johns Herald
 Ex-Governor R. C. Mccormick, Slippery Dick" as he is sometimes called in Arizona, where he was once known by almost every white inhabitant, proposes to write 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 inwardness of early Arizona his' tory than any other living man. His book would be interesting to all Arizon- ians, especially to the old timers, whose ranks are being so rapidly decimatcd by death. Dick Mccormick was the first Secretary of the Territory. appointed by President Lincoln in 1863, 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 patty was escort cd by Lieut.. Col. Frank chaves, who was Tn command of detachment of New Mexico and California volunteers, and was anxious to get within the confines of Arizona, and take their official oaths be- forerthe expiration ofthe year, insorder to draw their salariesfor that year, which GHas indesd a eommedable motive for making haste. The dividing line between New Mexico and whatsis now Arizona, was not known: indeed, all this country at that time was terra incognita, so the party pushed westward until Navajo Springs were reached on the 3Ist day of December, where temporary capital was improvised, and while the wind was blow ing and the camp fires burning, the na- tional flag was raised, the oath of office taken Gin due and ancient form, speechs es were made and the last drop drained from the demUohns. The seat of govern ment remained at Navajo Springs but a short time, for when. the officials were rested and recuperated, they went west where the capitol is now, and there pitch. ed their tents and erected public build ings, and called the beautiful dimple on natures brow, Prescott, in honor of the famous historian who bore that name.
 On the early legislation of the Terri tory, Gov. Mccormick left his impress, for, although not member of the Legis- lature, he was assiduous in his efforts to have wholesome laws enacted to proper ly shape the destiny of the infant Terri tory. When Governor Goodwin was elected to Congress, Secretary McCor- mick became Governor and Chief Exc cutive until elected Delegate. He was in Congress three times, defeating Judge Rush of Prescott once, and P. R. Brady ex. Sheriff of Pima, now wealthy resi-. dent 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 ir those days, and tell how he sometime: received more votes at one preclnct than were cast in whole county, for these were the days when crews, deck hands
 and passengers on the steamers plying 1 the Colorado river, could vote at all tn, lprecincts passed on election day, provid- ! they voted right. It was during his ad m,nistration that the capitol was removed
 from Prescottto Tucson, where it remained
 until 1877, when, by virtue of the censu. taken the previous year. Yapavai became
 power in the Legislature and it was re
 turned to that county.
 While in Congress the Governor hat
 the good fortune to marry the accom- plished daughter of that noble old Dem
 ocratic Senator, Thurman of Ohio, ant n never returned to Arizona to reside, al though there were many who thought h' would still claim his residence and seel senatorial honors when the Territory wa
 admitted into the sisterhood of States He accomplished more for the Territor, than any other Delegate had done befor' |, or has done since. For short time h, was First Assistant Secretary of tn, Treasury, under the fraudulent admins tration of Hayes, but resigned to accep
 the appointment of Commissioner of tn
 United States to the Paris Exposi
 tion.
 Governor Mccormick is bright man of active mind, and so thoroughly con versant with the early history of Arizon and its first citizens that his facile pei could produce readable book in whicl to psrputrate historical events, whicl , might otherwise be lonst in the twiligh of time, and keep fresh the names fthos brave pioneers, "whose good frames ar dust, whose good swords are rust, an, whose souls are with the saints we trust. The Governor is one of many for whom printers ink has done much, and while il public life he was alive to the fact tha the press was potent to make and un make men and thrust greatness upol those who were not great by nature.
 
 Fl IF. Crowley, of Wilcox, was in thu