The Territory of Arizona was created in 1863. Territorial Governor John Goodwin and officials of the new territory arrived in Chino Valley in January 1864, seeking a location for a new territorial capital. In February 1864, within weeks of the territorial delegation reaching Chino, an expedition led by Major Edward B. Willis and including Governor John Goodwin, explored the Verde Valley. The capitol, named Prescott, was soon established near Fort Whipple along Granite Creek. Settlers flooded Yavapai County and soon farmers and stockmen set their sights on the tall grass, abundant water, and pleasant climate of the Verde Valley.
In April of 1865, James Manoah Swetnam, with 19 men in six wagons, entered the Verde Valley. They soon built a shelter, engineered a ditch, and planted crops on both sides of Clear Creek. This modest beginning evolved into a settlement along Clear Creek, and as land was cleared, along both sides of the River. As seasonal flooding in the river occurred two schools and two cemeteries developed. Clear Creek School, on the east side, began in 1876 and Lower Verde, later renamed Squaw Peak, opened in 1877 on the west side.
As time went by additional settlers including John Woods, John and Elijah Lay and others took up claims along both sides of the river.
With the submission and subsequent imprisonment of the Native American population at San Carlos, Fort Verde was formally abandoned April 10, 1890. The property was sold at public auction in 1899, and became the commercial hub of the Lower Verde. William S. (Boss) Head, who had been the post sutler at Fort Verde, sold his store to two young men, Clinton Wingfield and Mack Rodgers. Following their untimely death in 1899, the property passed to W. G and R. W. Wingfield. This store became the foundation on which the Town of Camp Verde was built.
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Remembering James Manoah Swetnam who in April of 1865, with 19 men in six wagons, struggled through a wilderness of rocks and mud from the Woolsey Ranch in what is now Dewey to a pass through the Black Hills and into the verdant warmth, tall grass and promise of a bright future in what is now known as the Verde.
The trail was so rough and muddy that it was told that sometimes the wagons could only make it a few hundred yards. So short in fact that someone would walk back to the campsite from the night before to get coals to start the cooking fire for that nights rest.
When they finally made it to the pass and started down the grade was so steep and rocky that they had to drag logs from the back of the wagons to allow the oxen to rest.
They came up with a name for that grade – “Grief Hill” in remembrance of that struggle. Tough People in Tough Times.
From my book – Verde Valley, Bill Cowan
