Graham guardian., 1921-03-11
HOW WE BUILT THE ENTERPRISE CANAL
BY Judge w. d. Fonda

Going back thirty-seven years
in writing a.history of past events
is very difficult task when YOU
have but few records and must
write from memory. If | should
overlook a few minor points, or
omit names of persons to whom
credit should be given for past
services, it will be unintentional
on the part of the writer of this
history of the Enterprise Canal.
Many of my old-time pioneer
friends have passed to the other
side who worked with me in try
ing to perfect a plan for develop
ing the Gila valley; and few are
left to read of their past doing,
and vouch for the truthfulness of
this article
] claim no especial credit for
any of the work | have done, for
all the thanks should be given to
that grand old home builder who
spent his time, money and en-
ergy, and who never ceased his
untlring support to proposition
that met with all kinds of oppo-
sition. That grand old pioneer
has now passed away. But the
name of N. P. Beebe will ever
be remembered as the man who
was never thoroughly under
stood.
A company Of Mormons under
the leadership of N. P. Beebe Ia
returned missionary arrived on
the Little Colorado River, No
vember IL, 1877, from the south
ern states. These emigrants,
most of whom were in destitute
circumstances, were obliged to
divide their meager stores with
them.
This company consisted of
about 100 souls, and came through
from Arkansas by teams. Some
of them stopped at Savoia, while
others went on to the Little Colo
RADIO River. They were the first
Mormon emigrants from the
southern states in many years,
and they were the fruits of the
labor of Henry G. Boyle and
others.
In 1880 Charles Shumway and
Nelson P. Beebe commenced the
erection of a grist mill on Silver
Creek. on the present site of
Shumway, having bought out the
claims of the Wanslees. Beebe
and Boyle both came to Cochise
county in 1884, settling on the
San Pedro near Benson. He
then settled on the Gila river,
buying the ranch of Rosel Stew
ems and began the work of build
ing the Enterprise Canal. Many
of the company followed the Old
pioneer and the descendants of
these families are now among
the most prominent citizens Of
the Gila valley. In the party
were the families of Wanslee,
Quinn, Talley and Morris. One
member, Daddy j. j. Quinn,
lived to see his one hundredth
birthday.
Well do | remember, few
days before he passed away Of
being called to the bedside of
Mr.. Beebe to take his last ac-
knowledment, when he said:
Nov you have assisted me in
my last work. Let me take your
hand, viii. ! know this is you,
but cannotsee you. We worked
hard together to build the Enter
prise. and | shall not live TO see
this one great object of my life
accomplished, but you will be
here when the Enterprise is COM
pleted,
Then you go to the head of
the canal and on the face of the
rock where we sat so many times
and discussed our work, you cut
the name of N. P. Beebe, Presi-
dent; and you tell my boys to cut
your name, w. b, Fonda, under
mine, as Secretary, after you
pass away"
Away back in 1879 was en-
gagged in the cattle industry, but
see that the range was becoming
overstocked, | turned my atten-
tion to securing a piece of land
in the valley where | could some
day build me a permanent home
and find myself Il heIpmeet. /
wrote to friends in Colorado, my.
native state, and succeeded in
interesting a few members of my
family, which resulted in their
sending a competent German en-
gineer to look over the situation
of the Enterprise Canal and make
report. s
met him in Bowie with a
mule team and a buck board, and
that evening landed him at my
ranch on the Munson Cienega.
about nine miles south of the
now prosperous town of Stafford,
the county seat of Graham coun