Williams news., 1903-06-13
BEGINNING
 OF ARIZONA
The Territorial Government Was Formed at Navajo Springs
 the Year of 1863.

Forty years ago the territorial government of Arizona was formed at Navajo Springs, in what is now Navajo county. It was on Tuesday, the 29th day of December, 1863, in the afternoon, that Secretary Me Cormick, in the presence of other officials, their military escort and certain citizens who accompanied the officers into the territory, ma de the following brief but appropriate remarks:
 "Gentlemen: As the proper quail fled officer, it becomes my duty to inaugurate the proceedings of the day. After long and trying jour- ney, we have arrived within the limits of the territory of Arizona. These broad plains and hills form a part of the district over which, as the representatives of the United States, we are to form civil gov ernment. Happily, although claimed by those now in hostility to the Fed eral arms, we take possession of the territory without resort to military force. The flag which I hoist in token of military authority is no new and untried banner. For nearly century it has been recognized, the honored, the loved emblem of law and liberty. From Canada to Mexico, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, millions of strong arms are raised in its defense, and above the efforts of all foreign or domestic foes, it is destined to live untarnished and transcendent."
 The flag was raised. cheers given, and prayers were offered.
 Secretary Mccormick then admin istered the oath of office to Chief Justice Turner and Assoriate. Jus tices Allyn and Howell and Govern or John N Goodwin took the official oath before the chief justice and caused to be read a proclamation in English and Spanish. The wealth CT was cold, and the last rays of a December sun fingered upon the peaks of San Francisco mountain when, for the first time, the stars and stripes foated in the air of Arizona Territory by virtue of civil authority. In the military escort on that memorable occasion was Sergeant William R. Mccormick, who was an early pioneer into the Clifton mineral district, and whose widow and children now reside there, one of his daughters being the wife of Alexander Mclean, min ing superintendent at Metcalf.
 The party proceeded to Fort Whipple, which had shortly before been established. In June follow ing (1S64) the town of Prescott, a mile west of the fort, was laid out and became the capital of Arizona where the first legislature convened on the 26th day of September, 1864 in accordance with the proclama. tion of the governor. Ex-Governor Coles Bashford, of Wisconsin, was elected president of the council, and w. Claude Jones, of Alabama, was chosen speaker of the house. Hon. Edward D. Futile, now of Stafford this county, was member of that legislature, representing Yum a county. The legislature adopted a code of laws prepared by Associate Justice w. T. Howell, formerly of Michigan, commonly known as the Howell Code. The legislature di- vided the immense territory into four counties-Yuma, Pima, Mojave and Yavapai. Since then the coun- ties of Maricopa, Pinal, Apache, Gila, Graham, Cochise, Coconino Navajo and Santa Cruz have been created, each of which embrace more territory and possesses more natural resources than some of the eastern states.
 Hon Charles D. Poston, who had