The St. Johns herald., 1890-05-29
The Settlement of St. Johns.

eCc., eCc., may not De unlntoreSLing, more particularly so to many of our ''tender-footed" citizens. The village was first started in the year 1874, in the erection of a little stone cabin by Juan Sedilla; and, this same stone cabin, is now part of the J. L. Hubbell residence, forming the southwest corner of that building and facing Commercial street. The first real adobe building erected within the village limits, is the house now belonging to the widow Brown, and was put up by Major Melchoir Werner, for many years an old resident of Albu- querque, New Mexico, and where he oc- cupied the position of postmaster for twelve years.
 In November, 1875, petition signed by Col. James c. Hunt, John Walker, w. R. Milligan and others. was trans mitted to the Board of Supervisors of Yavapai county, requesting that body to establish precinct here, to be known as the St. Johns Precinct of Yavapai coun- ty, Arizona Territory, and that the un- dersigned be appointed Justice of the Peace for the said precinct. According ly, at meeting of the Board of Super vsors, held at Prescott February 7th, 1876, the prayer of the aforesaid petition was duly granted.
 The first store established at St. Johns, or Fl Badito, as it was known at that time, was owned by John Brophy, in the old house now sranding near the 1 dam, and at present owned by La Cru cita. Mir. Brophy did very we'll st his business, until he began dabbling in grain contracts with the government, but in this sort of thing he got beyond his business depth and was soon swal- lowed up by the wave of bankruptcy.
 The next parties to venture into this line of business, were w. E. Talbot and E. $. Slower, with Doc CD North as their chief clerk and Col. J. Harry Monroe as principle boOk-keeper. However, MT. Talbot soon tired of the ''fun," and shortly thereafter, selling out his inter est to his partner, returned to Albuquer- que, having had, in so short while, his complete fill of FL Badito.
 Subsequently J. Lorenzo Hubbell and E. $. Slower "pooled their issues," and whilst this co-partnership existed, they did very heavy business.
 Sol Earth, always with an eye to the main chance, whatever that may be, was the next to shy his castor into the mer- camille arena of St. Johns, and within two years time had successfully knock ed all of his competitors hors du combat. Sol managed to corral and control the bulk of the trade and did exceedingly we'll, until the Mormons jumped in with their cooperative system, which was too much for Sol, and, he too, was forced into the mercantile bone-yard.
 Morris Earth had previously, however, in sort of perfunctory way, attempted to try his prentice hand at the business, at which he did slashing trade, as he said himself, ESQ long as my pencils and goods hold out" But Morris, being good natured and unable to say No! his stock of merchandise was soon exhausted thhs bringing his mercantile venture to an inglorious end.
 The next to follow Hubbell & Stover was Don Rosalio Colomo, who, after try ing several partnership arrangements, still holds the fort at his old stand on Water street. Don Rosalio has expe- rienced many ups and downs, but like many of us, the downs" were more nu- merous and seemed to stIck much lon- ger than did the few scattering and un- certain ups" However Don Rosallo is still clinging to the ragged-edge of the tremulous and somewhat shaky outer wall of the mercantile fort. Death" 'tis said, cloves shining mark ;" and, if tenacity of purpose, coupled with a bulldog hanging-on, constitutes "shin- ing mark" surely will Don Rosalio Co., lomo, when the time shall have come for surrender to the inevitable, go down sur rounded by a magnificent halo of celes- tiaI light which he will have so deserved ly earned.
 At this writing the mercantile busi- ness of St. Johns is prosperously con- ducted by the following gentlemen and firms, viz: Rosalio Colomo, Alfred Ruiz, the A. c. and NJ. of St. Johns, and c. P. Anderson, the latter dealing in drugs and notions. There is now within the precInet limits of St. Johns about fifteen hundred souls. Also one hotel, one lunch counter, two blacksmith shops, two boot and shoe shops, one harness and saddle shop, one carpenter and builders association. one saloon, two feed corrals, one tithing office, two