Stages and freight teams made
regular trips across the arid desert to Ehrenberg. The first settlers
of this region came from California in search of gold. They first
found it in the sands of the Hassayampa, which is born of mighty
Mount Union, the mother of four living streams. From its deathbed in
the hot sands of the desert, they traced the precious waters to its
source. Gold they found in plenty with hardship and privation. They
encountered a band of hostile Indians, and hardest to bear, a
loneliness made sufferable only by the illusive phantasies of the
golden fever. Their expectations realized, the majority of these
pioneers returned to the Golden State and civilization with the
burden of their treasure, saying they had not come to Arizona for
their health. Now in these present days there comes a throng of
people in quest of health solely, and many are they who find its
blessing in the sunny and bracing air of this climate, in hot springs
and the balmy breath of the fir and juniper of our mountains. I found
employment in a mercantile establishment of this little mining town
and grew up with the country, as the saying is. I formed new
acquaintances and made new friends. Among others, I met William Owen
O'Neill.
Pages:
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124