COCHISE COUNTY PIONEERS FORM COUNTY SOCIETY

Douglas, Ariz., March 23. – The Pioneer’s Association of Cochise county was formally organized here yesterday during one of the most memorable gatherings in the history of the southwest.  There were more than 150 old timers at the meeting.  A great majority of them registered before entering the hall, but so anxious were many of the m to get in and get seats and make themselves comfortable that they didn’t taken the time [sic] to register, therefore many of those who were present will not be found on the first official register of Cochise pioneers.

The day broke beautiful and clear and early in the day pioneer men and women, many of them accompanied by their children and their  grand-children, began to arrive form all sections of this and nearby counties.  Trains, automobiles and horse-drawn vehicles were the means of transportation.

Session Was Short

When the pioneers settled down to organize in the afternoon they made short work of it. The officers at the head of the organization were unanimously elected as follows: 
President, B. A. Packard, Douglas; Vice President, C. M. Renaud, Pearce; Vice President, James F. Duncan, of Tombstone; Vice President H. A. Morgan, Willcox; Vice President  J. S. Williams, Bisbee; Vice President, H. Etz, Benson; Secretary-Treasurer H. C. Stillman, Douglas.
The constitution and by-laws were left in the hands of a committee and when it completes its work due publicity will be given same.  The business session of the convention was not in session more than an hour.

Douglas Claims Oldest

On the official register, in charge of F. V. Moreno, appears the name of Murray McInernay, of Douglas, who came to this county in 1868.  There were lots of them who came a year or two later, but Mr. McInernay says that he is the oldest resident in these parts so far as he has been able to ascertain and the register bears him out.

Day’s Program
The first thing on the program was the informal meeting at the Airdome, then dinner, then the concert, the convention and matinee.  In the evening the dance at the Hotel Gadsden was the main attraction.

Spirit of the Times

The speaker, Hon. John S. Boyle, paid a glorious tribute to the pioneers remarking that it was the strong, the determined and the brave who make history, who do the pioneering; the weak remain at home and take the easiest course of resistance.  “You men who came here years ago, who braved the desert; you men and women who fought Indians and planted civilization where there was only an arid desert, are to be honored.  Why did you brave all those dangers? For us.  We honor you.  We who have come to Douglas, a city of 18 years old, honor you, who came and faced the dangers of a wild country and made a place for us.
“I hope that there are among you men and women who, before the next meeting of this body will write down the history of the early days in Arizona and that it will be preserved so that we of the later generation may read and know it.  I do not know sufficiently well to speak on the subject, and I make this, my apology, for not attempting a speech today,” added Mr. Boyle.

One does not catch the eloquence of his words, the poise of his body, the tone of his voice or the whole spirit, in which Mr. Boyle spoke, and so all the pleasure of those few moments are lost to the reader, but those who heard, will remember in days to come the short talk of Hon. John P. Boyle before the first convention of Pioneers of Cochise county.

The visiting pioneers who registered, their homes and the time of their coming to Cochise county are as follows:

Women

Mrs. D. E. Heller, Hugo, Oregon 1901.
Mrs. Charles M. Renaud, Pearce, 1882.
Mrs. G. W. Swain, Tombstone, 1876.

Men

B. Caretto, Bisbee, 1887.
C. L. Jones, Bisbee, 1894.
D. P. Ross, Bisbee, 1900
Walter Thomas, Bisbee, 1894.
S. J. Hayhurst, Naco, 1896.
A. W. Howe, Bisbee, 1881.
Robert Coughran, Hereford, 1900.
F. M. Johnson, Bisbee, 1888.
Peter Johnson, Bisbee, 1881.
Charles M. Renaud, Pearce, 1882.
E. J. Renaud, Pearce, 1887.
C. L. Renaud, Pearce, 1887.
Martin L. Armstrong, Lowell, 1897.
Ben Humphrey, Naco, 1897
Billy Wood, Bisbee, 1901.
John N. Johnson, Bisbee, 1898.
E. D. Harris, Webb, 1898.
J. J. Bowen, Bisbee, 1890.
J. G. Cowen, Warren, 1902.
A. Y. Smith, Pearce, 1894.
Dan Travis, Douglas, 1891.
W. L. Kancaster, Elfrida, 1899.
Stior Swedish, Bisbee, 1901.
J. J. Boyle, Lowell. [No date shown]
W. S. Brakfield, Lowell, 1901.
E. C. Duffuer, Paradise, 1901.
Scott Whaley, Lowell, 1894.
C. C. Young, Bisbee, 1891.
E. P. Grindell, McNeal, 1897.
Lon M. Fralie, Rucker, 1903.
A. V. Fralie, Rucker, 1903.
G. M. F. Maza, Lerido, Mexico, 1900.
Chris Marks, Bisbee, 1881.
H. R. Harngas, Bisbee, 1881.
Harvey C. Gayby, Lowell, 1892.
W. A. Robinson, Bisbee, 1902.
Frank Briggs, Bisbee, 1898.
George L. Davidson, Lowell, 1895.
J. R. Gates, Bisbee, 1895.
Tony Downs, Bisbee, 1891.
W. A. Schwartz, Bisbee, 1901.

Tombstone Weekly Epitaph, Tombstone, AZ. Sunday, March 30, 1919. Pg. 7
Transcribed by Jean Walker