Graham guardian., 1902-07-04
PIONEER DEAD,
Col. Gha8, D, Poaton Passed Away,

10 congress, ana known as inc
"iather Of Arizona" died alone in
his rooms amid dirt and filth at
Phoenix about noon ON Tuesday
Of last week, but his body was not
discovered until about 1 o'clock in
the afternoon. 1t was discovered
by Samuel Steele, coIored, who
lives in another part Of the same
house in which Colonel Postcn
lived. Steele Immediately notified
the police,
Colonel Posten was born in
Hardin county, kentucky, April
20, 1926, SO that be was over IT
years old. His mother died when
he was y years old. At about
this age he was opprenticed in the
county clerks Office in Hardin
county, and stayed seven years,
He was then connected with the
Office Of the supreme court Of Ten
nessee, at Nashville, at the end OF
which time he was admitted TO
practice at the bar,
Upon the acquisition Of Cali
tornia by the United States in
lS47, full Of vigor and desire for
adventure, he decided to seek a
home in the golden west and SO
Joined the. argonluts. He was
given frst.cIoss appointment in
the custom house ~ San Francisco
which position ho iil!ad for q mum.
bcr Of years.
Later he Staitpd with q party OF
about thirty men 60 explore Ari-
acna. which had just boen codad to
the United States, w1iying of
Guaymas h lS5! A pretty thor
ough exploration Of Arizona was
made, aud samples Of is mineral
wealth. collected, after which the
party returned 80 California, and
thcn returned to New York by
way cr the isthmus Of Panama.
While in the cast he spent some
time Il. Washington and visited his
old homo in Kentucky. This was
in 1855.
In 1856 he returned to Arizona
with company for opening up
md developing Ari@ona's mineral
wealth. which he realized musi be
enormous. Iic continued rs man.
agcr Of this company until 1855,
when he was relieved hy General
HeintzelmaD, who was president Of
the company When the civil
war broke cut Colonel Postcn w%s
in charge Of the compauy's opera
tiona in Arizona. When the Vn-
tied States troops were withdrawn
the country was left unprotected,
and on an uprising Of indians and
MeXicaus be was forced 10 leave
Arizona For q time after this he
served as I'm aide to General
HcintzolmaD, and WNs appointed
as superintendent Of Indian affairs
for Arizona by President Lincoln.
When civil government was or
ganized in Arizona he was elected
the first delegate to congress.
Upon the expiration VI his term
Of Office he went to Europe on an
extended tour, and visited the
Paris exposition Of 1867. On his
return to America he wrote n
book on his travels entitled "Eu-
rope in the Summer lime lie
entered into the practice Of law
with Judge Bolts Of California.
He had always expressed a de
sire to see Asia, so ne secured an
honorary commission from MIR.
Seward to go to Asia in the inter
est of immigration and irrigation
and left in company with Ross
Browne, minister to China. He
was subsequently appointed
registrar of the land Office in Ari-
zona. He also served as consular
and military agent at Nogales,
He was for a number Of years en-.
gagged in Washington in promot
ing national irrigation schemes,
and in recent years has been agent
in Phoenix Of the Department of
Agriculture.
Colonel Posten was a close OBJ
server and Il vigorous writer being
connected ut various times, with
prominent eastern papers. He
was famous as an after dinner
speaker, and was always in de-
mand at banquots on this account.
He was full Of anecdotes Of the
past, and could tell charming
stories Of the countries he had
travelled through, and of the early
days in Arizona.
OF late years he had been on the
rapid decline, drink being mainly |
responsible for his downfall. He |
received a quarterly pension Of $50 |
from the United States govern
nent and S25 per month from Ari-
coma, so he need not have been in
lbiect circumstances, The past |