Armer And Griffin Family History, Part 2/3

Descriptive

Part OfArmer and Griffin Family History Oral HistoryIntervieweeEdgar A. ArmerInterviewerJoyce McBrideBrowse TopicBusiness and IndustryCommunity GroupsLand, Environment, and Natural ResourcesSociety and CultureSubjectOral historiesArizona HistoryArizona History 19th centuryArizona History 20th CenturyGila County (Ariz.)BiographyCattle--West (U.S.)--HistoryRanching History of Gila CountyRanch managers--ArizonaSalt River Watershed (Ariz.)Post offices--Arizona--1890-1910Roosevelt dam (Ariz.)Livingston (Ariz.)Gallaudet CollegeDescriptionPart 2: Ed Armer tells of his patriarchal Armer ancestors migrating to America, and specifically of his grandfather Henry Armer, born 1843. Henry Armer married Lucinda Hebard in 1861 and came west during the Civil War. They had four children in Oregon before moving to California, where they both worked for the railroad being built. In 1875, they moved to Arizona Territory, and in 1878, crossed the Reno Pass into the Salt River Basin. Their son Press Armer was the first white child born in the area, born in 1878 in Livingston, Arizona. He was also the first for 6 children, mostly boys, who were born in Arizona. Henry Armer was illiterate, but his wife Lucinda Armer was well educated and in fact, was the only postmaster of the Livingston post office, from its inception until the Roosevelt flood covered the area in 1906. Henry Armer ranched and farmed, sold cattle, vegetables and pork to the dam workers. He died there after only a few years. Lucinda Armer was the matriarch and after Henry died, she and her sons successfully ran the ranch and also bought several more ranches to add land. At one time the Armer family ran over 2,000 head of cattle. Ed lists many of the brands of the family. He also lists many of the neighboring ranches that encircled the Roosevelt Dam, and remembers the Bacons, and the Armer-Bacon feud. Eventually the Armer boys branched out to other occupations, but except for Frank Armer, who robbed a train in Maricopa and spent his life trying to escape Yuma Prison, the rest tended to go into law enforcement, as constables, sheriffs and County Supervisors. Ed's grandfather Fred Armer ranched in Young, owned a couple ranches in Gisela and finally the R Bar C Ranch in Christopher Creek. When he started to have heart problems, Ed's parents moved there to run the ranch. Ed was born in Globe just after his grandfather died. Lucinda Armer, her parents and her youngest son then moved to Globe where she bought Vance's Store. The Armers sold the ranch to the Boy Scouts when Ed was a year old and followed her into Globe so they could help her with the store. Lucinda Armer then sold the store and bought the Dominion Beauty Shop. Ed's cousin, Sheriff John Armer, has property in Workman Creek but because he is the sheriff, lives in Globe. The large Armer family now only gathers near their old ranches for reunions. Ed is planning on writing more about the Armers soon.Audio Length00:17:45Date Original2010-03-22Date Range1860s (1860-1869)1870s (1870-1879)1880s (1880-1889)1890s (1890-1899)1900s (1900-1909)1910s (1910-1919)1920s (1920-1929)1930s (1930-1939)1940s (1940-1949)TypeSound- NonmusicalOriginal FormatOral historiesLanguageEnglishContributing InstitutionArizona Heritage Research FoundationCollectionOral Histories of Gila County RanchersRights StatementThe opinions expressed in this interview are those of the interviewee only. They do not represent the views of the Arizona Heritage Research Foundation, the Gila Co. Historical Museum or the Arizona State Library. Please contact the Arizona Heritage Research Foundation with questions about the use and reproduction of this resource.

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CountyGila CountyStateArizonaCountryUnited States

Oral HistoryArmer and Griffin Family

Administrative

IdentifierArmer and Griffin Family History, Part 2.mp3Date Digitized2010-03-22Digital FormatMP3

40.mp3

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Armer And Griffin Family History, Part 2/3