Americn
Pioneer & Cemetery
Research Project
Internet Presentation
Revised 042020
Second Edition
By:
Kathy Block
APCRP
Research Staff
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Location of Harshaw’s Two Cemeteries, Courtesy Neal Du Shane |
Accounts of Spanish missionaries
traveling through the area shortly after the founding of Tubac state that the
site, that was to become Harshaw was originally a Spanish settlement and ranch.
The settlement was known as Durazno, meaning "peach" or "peach
orchard," supposedly due to the peach trees which had been planted there
at some time in the past. According to a missionary account from 1764, the
settlement of Durazno was attacked and destroyed by Apache Indians on February
19, 1743, with significant loss of life. Along with the nearby Salazar ranch,
which was also attacked on that day, the lives of 44 residents were lost.
When the United States acquired all of
present-day Arizona as part of the Gadsden
Purchase in 1853, the numerous Mexican mining and ranching
settlements still in existence became part of the United States, and American
settlers moved into the area
David Harshaw, stationed at Tucson in the 1860s as a Sergeant
in the First Regiment of Infantry of the California Column. When he left the
army, he returned to his previous occupation of ranching. Harshaw was ordered
off of Apache land by Indian agent Tom Jeffords in early 1873 for illegal
grazing. In order to find new pastures for his cattle, Harshaw settled later
that year in the area that was to become the community which bore is name, which
was known locally as Durazno.
The main Harshaw Cemetery is essentially
a family cemetery maintained by descendants of Angel and Josefa T. Soto, who
settled in the area in the 1880s. Other families, though, have many members
buried there also, mostly residents of Harshaw, which was settled the 1870's. As
written earlier, the original name of the settlement was Durazno which means
"peach" or "peach orchard," supposedly due to the peach
trees which had been planted there at some time in the past.
It was renamed after David Tecumseh Harshaw, who first successfully located
silver in the area.
The Hermosa Mine, a silver mine opened
in 1877, was the foundation for the town's economy. In a four month
period it produced $365,455.00 in silver bullion. At its peak the town had a
population of about 2,000 people; 150 worked at the mine and another 20 at the
stamp mill. Harshaw mines were among Arizona's highest producers of silver.
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1883
map showing Harshaw, Pima County, became part of Santa Cruz County in 1899. Courtesy
Wikipedia. |
The Harshaw Post Office was established
on April 29, 1880 and operated until March 4, 1903. It got mail service on the
Southern Pacific Railroad via Tombstone three times a week, then brought to
Harshaw on stagecoach.
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Harshaw mill 1879. |
Like most mining communities work in the
mines of the area had peaks and valleys. In 1887 Harshaw saw a rebirth by a
Tucson man named James Finley who purchased the Hermosa claim for $600. The
rebirth was minor compared to Harshaw’s peak production. The revival supported
approximately 100 people for a six year span but once again, new mining activity
was doomed by the death of Finley and the market price of silver dropped once
again.
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Within a two mile radius of Harshaw
there were some twenty five mines, making Harshaw a very active business
community, plus having a stamp mill to process ore produced at the surrounding
mines if they didn’t have their own mills.
In 1937 another revival of the area
happened, via the Arizona Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO) reopening
nearby Flux and Trench Mines, continuing operations until 1956.
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Harshaw in 1880 boasted a one-mile long
main street: seven saloons, a boarding house, hotel, miscellaneous retail
businesses, including 8 to 10 general stores, and a newspaper called the Arizona Bullion occupied structures
along Main Street. There were 30 commercial buildings in all out of about 200
buildings.
The 1880 Census listed a population of
847 in Harshaw, compared to 9,743 in Tucson, and a total of 17,504 for Pima
County.
In 1881 the town suffered a fire,
caused by accident, and also fires in 1882 caused by severe thunderstorms.
There was at the same time a dramatic drop in quality of the ore, subsequently,
some of the population moved on to more prosperous opportunities. The first
fire is described in an article, over a month later, in the Arizona Weekly
Citizen, Nov. 30, 1881:
Harshaw
Fire, October 23, 1881:
Tonight, at almost 9 o'clock, the cry of
fire was heard. It broke out in the St. Charles Hotel, and it is supposed to
have been on account of the explosion of a lamp in the hallway of the hotel. At
the time it was thought the whole upper town was a goner, and through the
exertions of the many men they stopped its headway. The mill blew its whistle and was closed and
all the men from the mill and mine came to the scene and helped. The loses are
as follows: St. Charles Hotel, owned by Henri de Beauford, estimate to $2,000
covered by insurance; damage to John Husher's livery stable, about $150, no
insurance; cabin of S.H. Drachman, $125, no insurance. There was plenty of
water hands, which was a great help. A. Goldberg
& Sons a short time ago had 30,000 pounds of barley in Drachman's house
that was destroyed, but had fortunately removed it a few days before the fire. Mr.
A. Goldberg returns thanks for the efforts of the people of Harshaw in trying
to save Mr. S. Drachman's property."
One statistic that suggests Harshaw
didn't die after 1882 fires is the fact, reported in the April 28,1882 Arizona
Citizen by the schoolteacher, Mrs. N. G. Dunn, that there were 21 children
enrolled in school, with 45 days absence out of 365, and average attendance
176.7 days. Many students were listed
with perfect attendance!
The
Arizona Citizen (Tucson), Feb. 12, 1882 reported:
"The town of Harshaw is not dead
yet, although one of its citizens is now enjoying that defunct state. His name
is said to have been Pepper. He was engaged as water carrier to some of the
works above town and is said to leave a wife and six children in Oakland,
California. At the time of his death he, with some others, had escorted a
drunken woman to her room and left her, but returning shortly afterwards
attempted to force an entrance, when he was, by the woman, shot through the
bowels. He died near noon on the day following. That same evening two of the
legal fraternity punched each other with a free good will and later on one of
the Judges 'kicked my dog and then I kicked him.' One man killed, two judges
with discolored optics and another judge with a sore head, and all within six hours.
Nothing mean about Harshaw even if it is a little quiet."
Nogales
International News, July 10, 2015 reported:
A story details the efforts first by
Miguel Soto, who died several years ago, to record the history of those buried
in the well-maintained main Harshaw cemetery.
His family members, including Henry Soto, then age 67, and younger
brother Juan Soto, then age 61, are restoring short bios that were framed and
placed on gravesites about a decade ago. Juan explained, "These are
honoring those ancestors. We are who we are because of them." The text on the grave of Miguel T. Soto
(1883-Aug.9, 1957) said: "He was born in Florence, Arizona in 1883 and
died in Harshaw in 1957. He was a miner and cowboy, plus had many other
abilities."
The house the Soto family lived in still
stands near the main Harshaw Cemetery, and is used for a family retreat. The
remaining buildings in town are derelict.
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Red grave indicates Angel Soto and
Soto family in upper right corner. Copyright Aaron Walton, used with
permission. |
Recent research has found eighty-six
documented burials in the main Harshaw Cemetery. Seven documented and unmarked
burials in Harshaw Cemetery South, which is across Harshaw Road and a few
hundred yards south of the main cemetery.
These and the flu deaths are listed in three separate rosters
accompanying this article. The first documented burial in the main Harshaw
Cemetery was John C. Marston. He was born in Jonesport, Washington, Maine, on
Oct. 21, 1818 and died Nov. 9, 1880.
The Harshaw Cemetery South's first
documented burial was also in 1880. A marker for Royal Hulburd gives his
birthdate as Jan. 26, 1831, in Stockholm, and his death date as Dec. 9, 1880.
Read details of their lives in the
rosters, and in tragedies of the family in this obituary for James Higgins in The
Border Vidette, Nogales, Arizona, November 28, 1914:
"James Higgins, a miner employed as
a hoist man at the World's Fair Mine, died at Harshaw last Sunday morning of
miner's consumption. Saturday Higgins was in Patagonia and complained of not
feeling well, saying he had been in poor health for some time, but his sudden
death came as a surprise to his friends. He was buried in the cemetery at
Harshaw. He left a wife and several children. Higgins was known to nearly
everyone in this part of the state as 'Strongboy,' a sobriquet he had earned by
physical prowess. Although of frail build he was remarkably strong until the
disease which caused his death fastened itself upon him. Higgins came to this country in 1882 from
Idaho and Montana, and was about 50 years of age at the time of his death. He had always been identified with mining,
and was liked by all who knew him for his many fine traits of character."
The Death Certificate for James Higgins
states he was born in July, 1872, in Ireland, and died Nov. 15, 1914, of heart
disease and consumption. He had a son, James Jr., who was born Nov. 14,
1914 - the day before James' death - and only lived 12 months and 16 days
before dying on Nov. 30, 1915, of "inflammation of bowels." The birth
certificate for the son states his father, James Higgins, was 42 years old, a
miner, and his mother was Catholina Martinez, Mexican, 31 years old, born in
Arizona. James Jr. is also buried in Harshaw Cemetery. James Sr. and his wife also
had a daughter, Margaret, born July 14, 1913, as "one of three
living children." There was possibly another son, Antonio, born,
date unknown, who died at the estimated age of 13 on Dec. 18, 1928, from a
compound fracture of the back of his skull from a fall into an open well. The
family then lived in Patagonia, a mile from the Nogales City limits. Antonio is
buried in Nogales Cemetery along with his mother, spelled "Catalina"
on her death certificate. She is described as the widow of James, and died Feb.
17, 1938, age 53, of carcinoma of the cancer and uterus.
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Alhira B. Sorrells (1839-1907) rear, Bertie May Sorrells (1900-1902) right, Freddie Lee Sorrells (1880-1885) left. Photo courtesy Aaron Walton. |
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Maria Medina (1947-1948) on left and
Pablo Medina (1920-2001) on right. Maria plaque reads: "Cristo es la luz
De Nuesto sen Dero. (Christ is the light of our path) Photo courtesy Aaron Walton. |
Grave
of Pablo Lopez Acevedo (1919-1949). Photo
courtesy Aaron Walton |
Well-kept graves in 
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Harshaw had at least 14 deaths from the
influenza epidemic of 1918-1919. Some
curious DCs were found. The victims were all given a cause of death as
"supposed flue (sic)" with some secondary causes as
"exposure." None were seen by a doctor, various informants wrote the
identical phrases. All were signed by Richard Farrell, a prominent Justice of
the Peace and Registrar in Harshaw. (His son was Nick Farrell, shot to death,
described next.) Only a few had actual birth dates, most listed as
"unknown" with an estimated age. Many were born in Mexico. But, the
mystery lies in the fact that all of the deaths from flu listed NO BURIAL
PLACE. These burials are listed on a separate roster for Harshaw. Were they
buried in a mass grave or cremated? Are some of the unknown graves within the cemeteries
actually flu victims? Because of the fear and stigmas created by the epidemic,
its possible deaths were somewhat covered up so that family members would not
be quarantined? Or lose work? Or were their residences burned with the remains
inside (cremation) as was the custom, in an attempt to restrict further spread
of the flu.
One tragic death of a member of a prominent
family was noted in The Arizona Republican and other local papers
in December, 1921. Nick Farrell (1885 to November 30, 1921) was shot to death
during an argument with his friend John Chapman in a cabin near Nogales,
Arizona, within half a mile from the Mexican border. Chapman, a rancher, had
stopped a fist fight between Farrell and a cowboy named Bee Lewis, at 7:30 p.m.
Farrell then shot at Chapman, who fired five shots in return with a 32.20
six-shooter. The shots hit Farrell on the upper part of the chin, and emerged
from the chin into his breast and into his arms. "The shot did not badly
mutilate the body." Chapman surrendered to the Cochise County sheriff
after he phoned for a doctor. Eventually, a coroner's jury concluded he'd fired
in self-defense.
Ironically, almost three years earlier,
on November 27, 1918, Nick Farrell was cleared by a coroner's jury of murder!
He had been passing the house in Harshaw of Reyes Morales and found Morales
arguing with Felipe Gradillas. Fearing they would engage in a fight, he was
attempting to pacify them when Morales lunged at him with a dagger. Farrell
then shot Morales to death with a pistol, and Gradillas threatened Farrell with
his pistol, so Farrell shot Gradillas also, who died the next day. Both men
were taken to Nogales and buried in Nogales after the coroner's jury viewed the
bodies.
Excerpts from an obituary for Nick
Farrell in the Arizona Republican, December 02, 1921, tell more about
his family, and his burial in Harshaw Cemetery:
"World's champion broncho buster
is killed at Nogales. Nick Farrell, a
well-known cattleman of this county who was shot and killed recently was buried
yesterday afternoon in the Harshaw Cemetery....Farrell's body was taken to the
home of the parents, former state Senator and Mrs. Richard Farrell in Harshaw.
The funeral yesterday was attended by a large number of friends of the dead
man....Farrell, who at one time was champion broncho buster and steer roper of
the United States, was born and raised in Harshaw. He is survived by his widow
and six children (3 sons and 3 daughters)....Both Farrell and Chapman are
members of families well-known in this part of Arizona. Farrell's father,
Richard Farrell, formerly was a state senator from this county and now is
justice of the peace at Harshaw. Mrs. Farrell, who is teaching school at
Washington Camp, near Harshaw, is a member of a wealthy St. Louis
family...."
Note:
Richard Farrell (1847 - Jan.17, 1931) died of chronic myocarditis and
nephritis, and is buried in Patagonia Cemetery. Wife Ellen Farrell (1858-March
30, 1931) died of apoplexy and is also buried in Patagonia Cemetery.
Nick Farrell's grave is in Harshaw
Cemetery South and is marked by a square cement stone etched with a mountain
peak that has trees below it and a large tree to the right above his name
NICOLAS FARRELL, then 1886 in lower left and 1922 in lower right corners.
The cemeteries are on land managed by
the Forest Service and no new burials are permitted. The access is via a
gravel road, called Harshaw Road.
According to the July 10, 2015 article
about the Soto family, the old Harshaw Cemetery is one of several dozen
historic graveyards in the county. Burials reflect mining, ranching, and
colonial history of the area. Santa Cruz County is apparently making an effort
to map out the locations of all cemeteries in the county. APCRP continues
research on some of these cemeteries, including nearby Mowry.
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Remains of Harshaw adobe structure,
2014. |
If you visit these final resting places,
reflect on frontier lives in these then remote mining areas! The town site became part of the Coronado
National Forest in 1953. Not much remains of Harshaw: a few houses, some
building foundations, the two cemeteries, and old mine shafts. Most of the
buildings were torn down by locals for building materials or by the Forest
Service in the mid to late 1970's.
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James Finley house in 2014. Photo Courtesy
Wikipedia. |
There are several historic buildings
still standing, including the James Finley house built in 1877 (he was a mine
manager), foundations of the Hermosa Mill, assay office, small church, a two
room schoolhouse, remains of adobe houses, pool hall, and several other partial
wood and adobe structures. Some structures are on posted private property.
There are signs cautioning against
camping overnight in the area, due to concerns over illegal immigrant/drug
traffic through well-used smuggling corridors.
Harshaw is fairly close to the Mexican border.
There are many internet sites detailing
travel and points of interest in this area. A main route to Harshaw also could
take you to Patagonia and Mowry, also former silver mining towns.
Driving
Directions
From Tucson: Take I-19 south to AZ 83S.
Exit 281 toward Sonoita, Patagonia. After 25 miles, turn right onto W. Highway AZ
82. Travel about 14 miles to Harshaw Road, which is less than a mile past Beaty
Lane. The main cemetery is easily visible on a hillside by the road.
The
author wishes to extend a "Thank you" to:
Neal Du Shane, APCRP, for the Google map
of the cemeteries, and posting this article and the cemetery rosters on
APCRP.org.
Bonnie Helten, APCRP Certified
Coordinator, for proofreading this article.
Aaron Walton, who gave permission to
use four of his fine copyrighted photos of Harshaw Cemetery.
Wikipedia: domain maps and photos.
In memory of my late husband, Ed Block,
who originally visited and photographed Harshaw Cemetery with me, back in 1999,
and helped me write the original article on Harshaw for APCRP.
Sources:
Wikipedia: information, public domain photos and maps.
Old newspapers on the Library of Congress web site:
Chroniclingamerica.loc.gov.
Find-A-Grave: Harshaw Cemetery and Harshaw South Cemetery.
Additional information on burials from Family Search web site:
FamilySearch.org.
Death Certificate records on the Arizona state web site:
Genealogy.Az.gov.
Miscellaneous articles regarding Harshaw on the internet.
American Pioneer & Cemetery Research Project
Internet
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Second
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