James Speedy, an old timer, well known throughout southern
Arizona, died of pneumonia and was buried in Nogales Wednesday.
He came to this country in the sixties as a member of the First
California Cavalry and has resided in Arizona ever since. Jim
Speedy was a man of nerve and took part in many of the stirring
scenes enacted on the southern border of Arizona within the
last thirty years.
He leaves a wife and one small child. The funeral yesterday was
largely attended, the National Guard and the AOUW of which he was
a member were out in force. A large concourse of friends also
attended. Yesterday the flag of the Arizona Pioneers was at half
mast in respect to his memory. He was by birth a Chilean, but
his father was of American parentage.
BARBARA STEUBEN
September 9, 1897
Mrs. Barbara Steuben, aged 72, died yesterday afternoon at the
residence of her daughter, Mrs. Taylor on North Fourth Avenue.
Her body will be sent to Wisconsin for burial.
EDWIN F. STEWART
May 21, 1897
An affidavit intended as a substitute for a coroner's jury verdict
or other evidence of death was received at the Probate Judge's
office yesterday. It was sworn to by James T. Stewart and wife
of Peoria, Illinois. It was stated that they were the parents
of Edwin F. Stewart, who in 1887 entered eighty acres of land
in this county near the village of Peoria. His parents heard
from him with reasonable regularity until 1879 when he
disappeared and no person who has seen him since has been found.
The father, who is a prominent physician, came out here after
the young man's disappearance and instituted a thorough search
which resulted only in deepening the mystery of the disappearance.
There was a theory at that time that young Stewart had turned
insane and wondered away. There is no longer any reasonable
doubt of his death and the filing of the affidavit is made a
preliminary step toward transferring the title of the property
to his father, who since his disappearance has kept the taxes
on it paid. The estimated value is $2000. W.C. Foster of Phoenix
knew young Stewart well in Peoria.
July 20, 1897
Letters of administration upon the estate of Edwin W. Stewrt were
issued yesterday to W.T. Hanna. Stewart was a son of Dr. Stewart,
a prominent and wealthy citizen of Peoria Illinois. The young man
settled in the valley ten years ago, acquiring a tract of
eighty acres four miles northwest of Phoenix. He suddenly
disappeared in 1879 and notwithstanding a most diligent search
for him he has remained unheard of. He had shown some eccentricities
some time before his disappearance. The property he owned is
valued now at about $5000.
ED STUMP
September 1, 1897
Ed Stump, a printer, well known in Phoenix was accidentally killed
on Ash Canyon in Cochise County last week. His body was found
last Sunday lying at the foot of a cliff, the neck broken. He
had been absent two days. He was engaged in felling a tree which
stood on the edge of the cliff and it is supposed that he was
trying to direct the fall of the tree and slipping, lost his
footing and fell.
He worked on the Phoenix newspapers until three years ago. He
then went to Tombstone. He worked at his trade there and at
Bisbee until a year ago. Since then he has been engaged in
the development of several valuable mining claims he owned.
His parents live on the Turkey Creek Ranch in southern Cochise.
He was an only son.
CHARLES TAYLOR
January 27, 1897
Charles O. Taylor died of consumption on Tuesday evening at the
Sister's Hospital. He came here from Washington, D.C. several
months ago and for some time lived at the residence of Chaplain
Winfield Scott. He grew worse and was brought to town. He was
taken to the hospital and by the kindness of Mrs. Whitclaw Reid
and Mrs. G.J. Phillips, his last days were made as pleasant as
possible. The funeral took place yesterday afternoon.
BARON VON WENDT
May 28, 1897
Baron von Wendt who died at St. Joseph's hospital Tuesday was quite
practical in all of his ways. When his recovery was despaired of
the Sisters asked him if there was any religious friend or comforter
he wished to see. He replied no that he tried during life to
square his actions to the golden rule and that was good enough
to die by. He was asked if he hoped or desired to go to heaven.
Yes, he replied but after hesitating a moment he added that he
would like to go to heaven and to hell too, for he had friends
in both places he would mighty well like to see.
R. WALDIN
March 19, 1897
Shirley Christy yesterday made application in probate court for
letters of administration upon the estate of the late R.
Waldin. The estate consists of cash deposited in the Valley
Bank and a city lot, amounting to about $4000.
MAX WERNER
March 19, 1897
News has just been received of the death of Max Werner at
Los Angeles. Mr. Werner is well remembered in Arizona by
old timers. He was at one time owner of the Speculation
group of mines, south of San Xavier, which he sold to the
Westinghouse Company of Pittsburgh for about $70,000,
subsequently he visited Germany and later located in
southern California. His death was the immediate result
of an operation for appendicitis.
JOHN WILLBANKS
March 11, 1897
The identity of the unknown boy who was killed in the wreck at
Casa Grande has been disclosed. His name was John Willbanks and
his father, C. Willbanks lives at Prescott. Two telegrams were
received at the sheriff's office yesterday, one from C.
Willbanks asking if any papers had been found on the body.
Later Sheriff Ruffner of Yavapai County telegraphed that a
boy about 16 years old, of light complexion, named Johnnie
Willbanks was in Tucson on March 6 on his way to Prescott.
His parents believe that he was the boy killed at Casa
Grande. A description of the dead boy was asked for.
The inquiry was turned over to Superintendent McNeill of the M&P
who telegraphed to Superintendent Randolph of Maricopa. A reply
was received yesterday afternoon saying that the dead boy was
also of light complexion. At the inquest at which a couple of
tramps testified, they said they did not know his full name,
but his first name was Johnnie. He had told them he was from
Illinois, where his mother, who was separated from his father,
had remarried. He was on his way to Prescott where his father
lived. They also understood him to say that he had an uncle
in Phoenix from whom he would get money to pay his way to
Prescott.
Assemblyman Finley, who was busily engaged at the wreck and
directed the removal of the body after it was taken from
beneath a car, said he ordered it covered with a sheet and
noticed that the boy's complexion was light. He had beaten
his way form St. Louis. The uncle here of whom the tramps
said they heard him speak, could not be found yesterday.
MRS. SARAH WILLIAMS
January 16, 1897
A rather ghastly misapprehension of the neighbors of Mrs. Sarah
Williams, a colored woman, who died in the southern part of town
last Tuesday night. The cause of death was believed to be heart
disease. The body was prepared for removal to Florence and was
taken to the M & P Depot on Thursday evening. Shortly before
the departure of the train, word was received by the depot
officials to hold the remains. There was no accompanying
explanation that night but the body was not shipped. It
transpired though that the neighbors had been talking until
Justice Johnstone was informed that the woman's death was
the result of a criminal operation. The body was returned
to Randal and Davis Undertaking Parlors and an inquest was
held upon it yesterday afternoon by Justice Johnstone and a
jury composed of R.H. Drane, George Jones, H.P. Wharton, O.R.
Lechler, I.S. Barner and S.M. Wickersham. The post mortem
examination was conducted by the City Health Officer, Dr.
Tuttle. The post mortem showed that death resulted from a
natural cause, the rupture of an ovarian cyst, the fluid
from which had been discharged among the bowels, producing
an inflammation. This had resulted in certain symptoms
which are apparent in cases of death by abortion and had
produced certain physical changes by which the neighbors
had been deceived. It may be added that the condition of
the remains at the time the examination was begun would have
left a doubt as to the cause of death even in the minds of
physicians. The body was shipped last night.
