When La Paz Was the County Seat of Yuma County

WHEN-on December 29, 1863-civil government definitely was established in the Territory of Arizona, La Paz was still a widely known and flourishing mining camp on the Colorado. For that reason, it was made the county seat of Yuma.county, one of the original four counties into which the territory was divided (on November 9, 1864) by the First Territorial Legislature. The same legislature had also ordered that county organizations should start to function on January 1, 1865, and for that purpose, Governor Goodwin had appointed a full set of officials for each county.For Yuma county, the governor made-on December 21, 1864-the following appointments-For Probate Judge-George W. Goble, of La Paz; For Recorder-Charles H. Brinley, of La Paz; For Sheriff-Cornelius Sage, of La Paz; For TreasurerJoseph Tyson, of La Paz; For CoronerCharles A. Phillips, of La Paz.

The above officials were to hold office until the following general election, which, in accordance with an act of the first legislature, occurred on September 6, 1865.

At the beginning of Arizona's civil government (before Boards of Supervisors were created), the officials responsible for county rule were the probate judge, the sheriff and the recorder. Therefore, in order to properly conduct Yuma County's official business, it became the duty of those in authority to provide quarters of some kind for the various county officers. With this object in view, a meeting was held at La Paz, on Monday, March 13, 1865, by Probate Judge George W. Goble and Probate Clerk and Recorder Charles H. Brinley, both appointed officials of the newly created county. Two proposals were submitted for their consideration-one by G. Gallardo and another by Michael Goldwater-that of the latter being accepted.

Goldwater's proposition offered"The building on Weaver Street, known as the property of Florentino Otero, with yard thereunto belonging, to be used as a Court House and Chambers for the Judge of Probate of said county, for the term of ten months from date, at the following feeForty dollars per month payable quarterly. Provided, that if said building should not be required for the use of the county for the full period of ten months, then (the owner) to receive payment for time actually occupied, at the same rate."

This building "on Weaver Street' thus became the first "court-house" of Yuma County.

At the expiration of the Goldwater agreement, the county authorities rented a lot and house "on Sander Street," from Robert Cole, of La Paz, to serve as a temporary "courthouse, offices for the county officers and jail." For this building the county paid $400 per year. This was the second building to house the county officials.

When the Board of Supervisors-composed, at the time, of Chairman Jose M. Castaneda, Manuel Ravenna and Charles Grossdecided that it would be cheaper to buy than to rent, they entered on July 6, 1868-into negotiations with Peter Doll for the purchase of a lot and house on the same street (Sander Street).

After the Board had gone into the matter quite thoroughly, Supervisor Ravenna made the following motion-

"That the Board purchase the house and

lot situated on Sander Street, in the Town of La Paz, and known as the Ambisca property, now owned by Peter Doll, for county purposes, to wit-Courthouse, Offices for County Officers and Jail."

The motion being seconded by Supervisor Gross, it was carried unanimously when put to a vote.

Peter Doll, the owner of the property, being present, stated that the house and lot would cost the county four hundred dollars. Whereupon, it was moved by Supervisor Gross"That the Board pay to Peter Doll, four hundred dollars, as in full, for the above-mentioned property and that the District Attorney receive and examine the deed conveying the said property to the said County of Yuma, and if found according to law-that the clerk issue a warrant for four hundred dollars to said Peter Doll, payable out of the first funds in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated."

This motion-seconded by Supervisor Ravenna was carried unanimously.

In the meantime, the Sixth Territorial Legislature had passed an Act, approved on January 26, 1871, locating the county seat of Yuma County at Arizona City (now Yuma) which, in a comparatively few years, had become a populous and prosperous center of trade and enterprise.

On the other hand, La Paz, during the same time, had been continually losing prestige and population after its placers gave out and had been practically deserted by business men in favor of Ehrenberg, a few miles farther down the river. The latter location furnished an excellent landing for river boats, a feature at that time entirely lacking at La Paz.

On Monday, January 30, 1871, a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors of Yuma County was held at a temporary Court House in Arizona City, two members being present-George Martin and Jose M. Re-dondo. Mr. Martin, then chairman of the board, presented an order from the "Secre-tary of Arizona Territory" authorizing and commanding the "Board of Supervisors of Yuma County, Arizona Territory," to remove the offices, county property and every-thing thereunto pertaining to "Arizona City, A. T." which is now by said order and in accordance with an act of the Legislature of said Arizona Territory, created the county seat of Yuma County.

After discussing the order, Supervisor Re-dondo made the following motion-"That the above order from the Secretary of the Territory be carried into effect immediately, or as soon as possible, and that the County Recorder notify all the county officers of said Act and order."

When all the county officials had been notified of the impending change in the location of the county seat, the Board of Supervisors ordered O. Frank Townsend, then county sheriff, to supervise the moving of all county records and property from La Paz to Arizona City, the new county seat. Accordingly, the steamer Nina Tilden, in command of Captain Isaac Polhamus, Jr., was engaged for that purpose and brought down the river to Arizona City everything belonging to the county-records, property, as well as officials.

The county officials, at the time that this change took place, were the following-Sheriff-O. Frank Townsend (by appointment); Recorder-James S. Spann; District Attorney-Robert Cole; Public Administrator and Ex-Officio Coroner-A. A. Mix; Treasurer-James M. Barney; Supervisors -George Martin, J. M. Redondo and Thomas Goodman; County Surveyor-R. B. Kelly.

(O. Frank Townsend had been appointed sheriff by the Board of Supervisors, when James T. Dana, who had been elected to that position at the general election in 1870, was murdered by a Yuma Indian.) Thus, a full set of county officers, with all their records, were transferred from one county seat to another, by steamer, over 110 miles of water, with but little delay and no mishaps. This unusual episode forms a unique part of Yuma County's early annals -unmatched by those of any other county in the state.

Captain Polhamus, one of the most colorful pioneers who came to wild Arizona territory, arrived in Yuma county in 1856 from California to become a pilot for the Colorado Steam Navigation company. He became famed throughout the west and his name became a legend along the Colorado. He subsequently became general manager of the company's fleet of river steamers. When on the river, he was generally at the wheel of the "Mohave." His son is now chief of police of the city of Yuma.