Arizona weekly citizen., 1891-12-19

The death Of Elk Governor Stafford
loses to Arizona o:se of her staunchest
friends. man who had never got far
enough away from Arizona TO forget
the territory for which he had struggled
and fought.
Born Of New England parentage he
early in life drifted westward with the
current of enterprise and progress, and
lived in California and Nevada, where he
was surveyor general, coming event
ually to the territory OF Arizona as gov
ernor, having received the appointment
under General Grant. Scarcely any
part Of Arizona history was inaugurated
or completed during SGfford's regime
that he was not part and parcel of. The
excellent school system possessed by
Arizona is of his creation and long and
bitter was the fight he made for the es-
adjustment Of this system, and its sue
cess was the greatest pride of his politi-
cal life and 10 the time Ct his death. As
he unfolded his desires and intentions in
in the direction of facilities for educa
ten, ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS came up, hav
ng origin il certain religious organiza~
tiops, but SaffOrd was equal to the em-
Urgency and, with great will power, rose
above the almost insurmountable OBJ
stacles that lay in his pathway. The
greatest monument Stafford Will ever
have will be the grand public school
buildings that have been built through
out the territory.
During Safford's incumbency OF the
governors Office a great deal of rivalry
existed between the military and civil
authorities, and up TO Safford's advent
the civilians had but little chance to be
heard in the east, or to receive the sup
port they we're entitled to. Under SAT-
ford this state Of affairs was soon rem
edied, and the civil power spurned mil
itary sway with strong hand.
Gov. Safford's energies were not con
fined by any means to politics, but early
in his residence ne evidenced remarkable
business ability that led him into all
channels OK enterprise wherein he was
eminently successful, and, accumu' ated
a large fortune. He brought large mum
Der Of sheep to Arizona. and engaged in
raising fine stock, both horses and cat
tie. lie fostered and encouraged
canal building AID started the SAT
ford canal at Solomonville aid the old
K-g Wolsey canal above CHA Bend
But principally his business was in
mines. He started the development Of
the Globe district, and mined in Wash
lngton, and Mowry camp, and opened
up the celebrated Trench, aud McCrock-
en- mines. Following in the wake of
the discovery of Tombstone, associated
with Schiefflin, Corbin, Dlston, Vosburg
Bidwell, and Richard Grid, he was
engaged Ia tes Development of that
wonderful camp ami he made a great
success from a financial standpoint, and
also was the medium through which
many prominent capitalists, and polite
ian living III Pennsylvania, made fort
unes; and their success through his eff
forts gave Stafford never failing polti
cal and financial backing, which served
him to the end of his life. His last
business effort was the redeeming of
swamp land in Florida. In this grea:
undertaking he embarked to lend
money, iiRss and brains to
its successful accomplishment, and
his frierds entertain the opinion that
he overtaxed his strength and became
victim TO overwork and great RESPONSE
biiities political.
Elk Governor Stafford s contemporaries
were Judge Titus, Chief Justice; C. ".
c. Rowell, U. S. Attorney; T. Ii. Good
win, U. S. Marshal; John WATSON, U. s
Surveyor General; c. P. T. Carter, Sec
rotary; Ruggles and Buckaiew, Register
and Receiver; Samuel Hughes, Adult |
ant General and General Allen, Treas
urer. These men actively CO. operated
with Mr.. Stafford for the good OF the
territory, and were instrumental in the
success achieved under Stafford.
One Of ais strongest character
istics was his charity arG the aid he
lent the young III OBTAINING education. |
Many young man of today is indebted
to him, and the vast good he dId will |
never be made pubic. HIS friends viii |
mourn for him as good mar, an I'M
hinching friend and a courageous ex
ponent OF his beliefs. Arizona has in
deed lost friend,