Arizona republican., 1920-10-21

tal city or the -DaDy SldlS anu tiAS center of the richest Agricultural dis trict in the land
 Phoenix yesterday celebrated the golden anniversary of its natal day It was a quiet, unpretentlous observance of the passing of the fiftieth milestone in the onward march toward an un-1 known goal Time in it's flight had slipped by so quickly and quietly that few of the remaining pioneers realized what the day had brought and, in con- sequence, no formal celebration was held.
 The 5O-year- old youngster has shown remarkable progress in the short period of time since the foundation, October 20. 1870. It was on that date that the townspeople gathered at the Moore homestead and organized the Salt River Valley Town association, with John T. Alsap. Jim Murphy and J. P. Perry as commissioners. The ar ticles of agreement were signed by w. B. Hellings & Co, Darrell Duppa, Bar nett & Block, Thomas Barnum, James | Murphy, John T. Dennis. w. A. Holmes, James ". Buck, Jacob Starer, | John T. Alsap, c. H. Gray, M. P. Grif- fin. James McElliott. J. P. Perry, Will | liam Rowe. Mcconnell Daniel Twomey. | c. C. McDermott, Edward Irvine, J. |
 
 CT and James D. Monihon.
 Bought Lots For s7
 Hancocks survey, comprising 9S three hundred-foot blocks, filling a half Nsection of land, was completed early in 1871. though a lot sale was held in December, 1870. The patent was received April 10. 1874. at a gross cost of $550. The average price re- ceived for town lots was S11 for cor
 
 choice business locations now assessed at from s1.500 to s2,500 a front foot, as much as $104 a lot was paid. 1 The first house was an adobe struc- ture on Washington street between Central avenue and Montezuma, now known as First street, where the first county offices were housed. These later were moved to a building on the present South First avenue later to be changed to a larger structure on Wash | ington, east of Central. where they re- mained until the present court house building was completed about 1883. The first deed issued by Probate Judge Alsap was on May. IS, 1875, to
 Jacob Starer for lot 12, block 10. on
 the corner of Adams and North Sec
 ond street, where The Arizona Repub-
 lican now has its home.
 Although a request had been made | established as a post office until 1870.
 when John NJ. Olvany was named post
 master. Olvany was removed early in 1871 and William A. Hancock appoint ed to succeed him. At that time, the settlement had about 300 inhabitants
 exclusively engaged in agriculture.
 The first store was started by Will
 jam Smith. soon followed by Dennis
 and Murphy, E. Irvine and Barnett and m
 to the Dennis and Murphy store. where George Mowry opened She first mail sack.
 The First Election The "city'' held its first election in May. 1871. and the campaign was
 marked by the first bloodshed on the , townsite. !. Favorite. candidate for , sheriff. was killed by a rival Cheno- weth. The latter was released on ex-
 animation. but, naturally. dropped out
 of the race. Tom Barnum was then chosen for the office.
 Phoenix established its first school in 1872. the session opening September ,. J. D. Daroche was the teacher the sessions being held in the courtroom of the courthouse on First avenue just . south of Washington street. The first trustees were J. D. Rumberg, J. P. Os- born and William A. Hancock. There | d during the first term. Daroche being succeeded by J. Parker and he in turn n by w. A. Glover. employed at salary s of $100 a month. An adobe schoo s house, 20 by 30 feet. was erected ir n 1875 at a cost of $1 900. John Y T e Smith. the miller contributed enough t lumber for the school floor and shor f time later married the teacher. Mis-!
 Nellie Shaver. Mrs. Alabama Fitz- lt patrick. who followed Miss Shaver e taught only a single term before mar. p rying John B. Montgomery. n Phoenix was incorporated Februar, n 25. 1881. as a city, the ward system 't being invoked. The first city counci q had it's initial session at the court d house May of that year. John T Is Alsap. who had been townsite com lt missioner. had been elected mayor. an, m the councilmen were T. w. Brown. W +e T. Smith. J. NJ. Cotton and J. H Bur
 tis. George H. Rothrock. a pionee To photographer, was recorder. The fol l. lowing year.. Francis W. Shaw wa ss chosen mayot and Joseph H. Campbe m became recorder. Other early mayor 2. were George F. Coats and DeFores i Porter.
 a Infant Town Grew Rapidly
 Growth of the city was more marke ,o from this tune on and soon neV addition was annexed. It was to tn ',- west of the original townsite and wa N plated by David Neahr of Yuma wh
 was particularly notable in his day fn the names he gave his children. Thes
 names were Freedom. Freeson. Free es man. Freeborn. Freeling, Fannie. Free III come. Fida Mary. Freeland and Free n. child. In the center of the plat 'wher ca the public library now stands. he lai r. out two blocks, designated as parl no In later years. his heirs deeded thI d. tract to Dr. I. NJ. Evans. but tn of courts decided that the map filed i as evidence gave the city sufficient tit to to the land to dedicate to public use
 The business section grew rapidl he adobe and brick business blOcl lis springing up between Third street ar le- Second avenues. These thoroughfar, an were practically the boundaries of q IT, city in the early sos.
 ,iu The First Methodist church was lt e cated at the corner of Second avenl nd and Washington street. The Arizor ,rlr Gazette occupied an adobe building ,in the southeast corner of Central ar he Jefferson. where the Jefferson hot ;s now stands Mir. and Mrs. D. V 70 Sparks conducted notion sto=e in . L adobe building where the Flemir = am in having speakers from both parti na appear on its programs.
 K. OF C. BALl-The Knights of c, rs. lumbus ball to be given at the Won he ans club Friday evening, Novemb r.- I ,f hot, 4t