Arizona state miner., 1926-02-06
TRIBUTE TO
F. X. O'BR|EN

The passing of F. X O'Brien marks
the end of a career of usefulness.
We have lost one of our best citizens
and it seems that his outstanding ser
vices for this community, is worthy
of more than passing mention.
Were there nothing else to his
credit than the quieting of title of
all Wickenburg property, the people
Of this community would owe him
an everlasting debt of gratitude In
the early period of the then terri
ory, Henry Wickenburg, discoverer
of the famous Vulture mine, filed on
the land on which the town is now
located. After securing title from
the Government he plated the land
and established the town that bears
his name. There having been no reg
ular government survey and few sur
veyors available, Wickenburg plat
ted the land in the rough manner of
the time and sold many lots. After
his death the people who got his
property began to make claims on lots
that had been sold by Henry Wick
enburg. Great anxiety existed among
the property holders.
Mr.. O'Brien purchased few of the
lots so contested and brought a suit
to quiet title. After the expenditure
of DouoI, po0Doxy bxy NEr O,Dr;ox &Lo
titles were quieted, as was the anxiety
of the townspeople who had pur-
chased lots.
About this time he was developing
farm near Wickenburg for the pur-
pose of testing out the various farm
products that would be adaptable to
the locality. He did establish the
fact that no finer fruits and vege-
tables could be grown anywhere.
AS there were no county agents or
farm advisors in the territory at that
time, the test was made at great ex-
pense and the loss of many trees.
The orchard was close to the rail
road and was constantly robbed, tho
no poor family within miles of the
town suffered for fresh fruit as long
as the orchard survived.
Mining was Mr. O'Brien's principal
interest. He developed and sold prop
critics in Colorado and Arizona. The
O'Brien Mine, later known as the In
terror Mining and Trust Co. was
brought to successful production of
gold. While he was manager of the
property in 1911 and 1912, regular
weekly shipments of gold bullion
were made.
Camp B is another property that
was brought beyond the prospect
stage by Mr.. O'Brien, who still own
ed this property at the time of his
death.
Mr. O'Brien planted the first street
trees in Wickenburg and was the
first to plant roses and other shrub
berry as we'll as a lawn. His ex-
ample was rapidly followed, indeed,
he gave many trees and plants to
people free of charge and these peo-
pie planted. too until now the little
city on the Hassayampa is one of
the prettiest places in the state.
Much of the money accumulated
through his mining activities was in
vested in Phoenix real estate and
also in Wickenburg, where his land
holdings are extensive part of them
now being known as the Remuda
Ranch
In 1907 he married Miss M. Pat
ricia Hutchinson. Three children
were born to them, Lawrence, aged
II. Adelaide. 15 and Anthony, II, all
of whom give promise of following
in the constructive footsteps of their
father.
One great outstanding characteris-
tic of F. x. O'Brien was his willing
ness to fight for a principle, cham
p:on of the weak. After studying
both sides Of a question and satisfy
ing himself that the cause was just,
IA often went down into his pocket
10 GEO Justice done to or for a per
son or one who could not defend him
lf
He numbered among his closest
friends most of the prominent mining
NON of the West. A complete story
of the constructive works and life
Of F. X. O'Brien would make thrill
in~ narrative.