AN UNKNOWN MAN FOUND DEAD.--On Saturday, June 17th, Wm. Miller, who lives with J.F. Wickers, found the body of a small and apparently elderly man, with heavy beard sprinkled with gray, complexion and hair sandy, under a mesquite bush, two miles from Wesley Clanton's ranch on Lower Big Bug. There were no marks of violence upon his person, a bottle of water near him, and he is supposed to have died from natural causes, and to have been dead some time. J.F. Vickers, his son James, Wesley and Charles Clanton, Sam'l Smith and N.H. Marlow buried the body decently on Sunday, 18th. James Vickers brought to town on Wednesday all the effects found on the body, consisting of a pocket-book, in which was 90 cents in currency and a tuck memorandum book containing the names of several parties here and at Phoenix, from an examination of which, Postmaster Otis is of the opinion that the body is that of a man named William Tabor, who has received money orders from Grand Rapids, Michigan, through this office. The books have been delivered to the County Coroner, J.C. Otis, who will doubtless inquire further into the matter.

WEEKLY ARIZONA MINER      PRESCOTT      October 6, 1876

LETTER FROM LITTLE COLORADO

SPRINGERVILLE, August 26, 1876

     EDITOR MINER:--Yesterday we received an addition to our population of six families, from the State of Arkansas.  These people have come prepared to abide with us, bringing their livestock, which includes horses, mules, oxen, cows and calves, and what is better than all, several marriageable young ladies; this fact I could not positively swear to, but judge from the actions of several bachelors--said "batches" ages ranging from the young spoony of 20, up to the old stager of 45 years.  Age don't seem to make any material difference; as I find the "old fools" are capable of making as great fools of themselves as the young ones.  Perhaps ye editor of the MINER will pay our section a visit after reading the above. Quien sabe?

   I forgot to mention in a previous letter, the arrival of a family from Kansas--a Mr. Irby, wife, two sons and one daughter. We (collectively) like to see 'em come--the daughters.  People are beginning to harvest; in a few days the valley will be full of men garnering the golden grain. A young caballero, clerking in the store of Mr. Springer, not understanding the English language throughly, makes some ludicrous mistakes occasionally. The other evening, in speaking of the relative merits of stoves and chimneys, someone made the remark that they didn't like stoves.  "No," said he, "I like a chambermaid in the room better than two stoves."  "Yes," responded one of the company, "especially of a cold night."  "Yes," says he, "I like much better to sit by the chambermaid, any time, than by the stove.
This was too much, the company burst out laughing, and when the difference between "chambermaid" and "fire-place" was explained to him, he was horrified at his mistake, and now carries an abridged edition of Webster in his coat pocket.
     Sheriff Bowers, accompanied by Mr. Wm. Wilkerson, County Recorder, paid this section a visit a few days ago.  I believe it was their first visit in this part of the country.  Both gentlemen were astonished to find such a fine country, and were much pleased to see such prosperity.  They said that the barley and wheat of this section was as fine as they ever saw in the Sacramento Valley, California.  Mr. J.B. Holding has barley that will go 3,000 or 3,500 pounds per acre.  A few days ago a horse was stolen from Mr. Jones; two men are now in pursuit of the thief, and it is thought they will catch him. The thief is a Texan, by the name of Thomas Williams; he is a young man, about 22 years of age, dark hair, and is said to be a half-breed, weight about 130 lbs.             C. A FRANKLIN

Note from Jack Becker: This letter refers to the arrival of the Rudd, Anderson Bush (founder of Alpine), and the E.C. Bunch families from Arkansas to Springerville.