Arizona republican., 1922-04-12
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On the 1th of November. 1864. the
sirst legislature created the first His
-orical Society.
Section /. of the Act ds:-"That
Richard c. Mccormick. w. Claude
Jones. Allen L. Anderson, Gilbert w.
Hopkins, King S. Woolsey. Henry A.
Bigelow, A. NJ. White. Charles A.
Curtis. James Garvin, Richard Grid,
r. J. Bidwell. Edward D. Tuttle, Will
tam Walter, Samuel Todd. and all
persons who are now or may hereaf-
. ter become associated with them as
members Of said association, be, and
they hereby are made a body polite
and corporate in law and in fact by
the name and style Of THE Arizona
Historical Society"
Under this act the Arizona Histor-
ical society was organized at Pres
colt. Ariz. and continued to exist
until the capital was removed to Tue
son in 1867, when It was dissolved
for lack of support and interest.
No attempt was made to revive in
terest in the organization of a his
toricai society in Arizona until Jan.
81. 1884. when Col Charles d. Pos
ton. who is styled the father of Ari-
zons. and Arizona Graphic, in one of
II Il
Poston with the qualification OF The
Saint of Arizona
1t was to Col. Poston, the intellect
ual, brave and active pioneer that the
credit of organizing the Society OF
Arizona Pioneers that is due the
credit.
Col. Poston issued and circulated
the following call within and without
the Territory:
"As thirty years have elapsed since
tho purchase Of Arizona by the Unit
ed States, the surviving pioneers are
reminded that the average OF human
life is near.
All those in favor OF forming pio-
neer Association for historical and
humanitarian purposes, are REQUEST
ed TO meet at the Palace Hotel. Tue
son, Thursday. the last day OF Jan
uary. 1854, at 8 o'clock p. m.
The line of demarcation suggest
ed is the day of celebrating the OPP
ening of the Southern Pacific Rail
road at Tucson. as subsequent set
tiers can scarcely claim to be plo-
neers. All persons who desire TO hon.
or the Territory and their compan-
ions are requested to be present or to
send letters.
Chas D. Poston
Registered at the U. 3.
Consulate at Guaymas,
Jan. IA, 1884.
Col. Poston received hundreds OF
letters and kilograms from pioneers
in Arizona and various parts OF the
country, congratulating him for the
GOOD work and wishing him success.
on the 31st of January. 1884. a
large number of citizens assembled IN
The parlors of the Palace Hotel. The
assemblaae was called to order py
Col. Poston at s o'clock and he NOM
mated Hon. II. S. Stevens as tenn
porary chairman, Judge William j.
Osborn was elected as temporary sec
retary and Col. James II. Toole as
treasurer.
respective positions, Col. c. D. Pos
ton delivered the opening ADDRESS as
follows:
Col. Poston's Address
.ss5r. Chairman and fellow pio-
neers:-IIaving assumed the respon-
eihility of calling a meeting for the
purpose of organizing the society or
Arizona Pioneers. the duty now de-
wolves upon you to perfect the organ
ization. This evening brings down the
memory OF thirty years to be crystal
ized in the records of the society. II
will be left to the historian of the So
eiety and of time 70 record the mo-
,nehtous events which have occurred
since the American flag was unfurled
over Arizona. impiore my eompeers
on this occasion to bury the old an
inosities in the grave of oblivion and
to cover them with the mantle OF
charity. When we have a home where
the old pioneers can meet. let the IN
scription over the door be the an
tithesis OF Dante's inscription. over
the entrance of the fabled hades,-
who enters here. leave all woe be-
hind.
In a country where a sun shines
three hundred and sixty days in the
year. all should be happy, and in
country where the womb of nature
is bursting with treasures, all should
be ptosuerous. When the gladiators
entered the amphitheaters OF Rome to
disappear from the this world, in
conflict with wild beasts. they salut-
ed the emperor. and as pioneers of
Arizona from the stage of tempest
nous life, they salute the sovereign or
the future. The history of Arizona
belongs to the historian and it is
not appropriate on this occasion: but