Documents from B L Tims Mayor of Scottsdale AZ
Collection: Winfield Scott
Title
Documents from B L Tims Mayor of Scottsdale AZ
Subject
Scott, Winfield
Winfield, KS
Leavenworth, KS
Scottsdale, AZ
Description
Winfield Scott and his wife traveled from his old home in Farmer Valley to Scottsdale, AZ. Along the way he influenced many communities by building churches. One community showed their appreciation for his leadership by naming their town after him, Winfield, Ks. They eventually settled on 320 acres in the area now known as Scottsdale, Az.
Creator
David S. Mathews
Source
Winfield Public Library
Publisher
Winfield Public Library, Winfield, Kansas, USA
Date
1965
Rights
Format
text/plain
Language
English
Type
Miscellaneous Documents
Citation
David S. Mathews, “Documents from B L Tims Mayor of Scottsdale AZ,” Winfield Digital Collections, accessed June 24, 2026, https://winfield.digitalsckls.info/item/200.
Text
November 17,1966
DeForest B. Wright 5542 Romaine Street Hollywood, California
Dear Mr. Wright:
From all indications, there can be little doubt that your ancestor, Winfield Scott, is the same Chaplain Winfield Scott, for whom the City of Scottsdale was named.
I have enclosed copies of all the documents which we have concerning Chaplain Scott. They have been collected by our City Clerk, Mrs. Fern Anderson, who would be glad to assist you should you need a further explanation of the material. Enclosed are: a magazine article on the history of Scottsdale; an 1895 publication by Chaplain Scott; minutes of the first meeting of the Scottsdale School Board, of which Chaplain Scott was a trustee; and a copy of his Last Will and Testament.
Also of interest to you would be a history of Scottsdale, written and published last year by David S. Matthews. It is titled "The Story of Scottsdale" and discusses at length the settlement of the community. Unfortunately, we have been unable to find additional copies of this book. However, several Scottsdale book stores are attempting to locate the author and secure more copies. We have requested that they contact us if and when they are successful. Should you be interested, we could let you know at that point where they might be found and at what price.
I wish you all success in the completion of your family tree, and appreciate your interest in the City of Scottsdale.
Very truly yours,
Bud Tims
B. L. Tims, O.D.
MAYOR
MAYOR
The Early Annals Of Scottsdale
By James M. Barney
THE early annals of the widely known community of “Scottsdale” in the Salt River Valley are to-day of intense interest to everyone in this vicinity and go back to the winter of 1913, when a plot of land— once a part of Section 26, Township 2 North, Range 4 East—was subdivided and building lots sold. This sub-division was named—SCOTTSDALE— in honor of Major-Chaplain Winfield Scott a Civil War veteran, who—on July 2, 1888—had taken up a desert homestead comprising some 600 acres in Section 23, Township 2 North, Range 4 East.
And, as the years passed, Chaplain Scott developed a fine ranch out of
his desert holdings, one that well paid for his long patient years of toil and effort. In 1909, Chaplain Scott, while giving out a newspaper interview, thus referred to his agricultural work in the Scottsdale country—
“I have had twenty years’ experience on my ranch of 260 acres. I have raised both citrus and deciduous fruits.
Have shipped in car lots and by express. Grapes do well—Muscat of Alexandria, the raisin grape, does very well, although inclined to drop some of the first crop unless handled right in irrigating. I made 20 tons of raisins one year. The grapes have more saccharine than the California
grapes and will make 10 pounds more of raisins to the 100 pounds of grapes. The Lady Downing, Black Hamburg, Black Muscat, Thompson Seedless and several other varieties do very fine and are heavy bearers. Thompson Seedless ripen by July 1 and I shipped Muscats in car lots July 25.
Apricots, peaches, nectarines, pears and figs are a sure crop. Early apricots are ready for market from May 8 to 14. They bring by wholsesale from 3 to 4 cents per pound. No bet-ter oranges, lemons, pomelos (grape-fruit) can be found in the United States, I am raising them all success-fully and at big profit.
The alluvial loam land about Scottsdale is especially adapted to the raising of sweet potatoes and peanuts. I raised the Bermuda potato that yielded from 20 to 30 tons per acre. They are crisp and sweet and boil or bake dry and mealy and are not excelled anywhere. They bring from 2 to 3 cents per pound. I planted the Vir-ginia peanut and they did well." I sold the crop by the ton at 6 cents per pound. All kinds of garden truck-peas, beets, lettuce, onions, cabbage
The Sheriff Magazine for June, 1954
and cauliflower — grow abundantly. This is the home of melons and cantaloupes. Peas, beets, onions, lettuce and cabbage should be planted in the fall, as they grow all winter.
This is the best alfalfa country in
L
Mrs. Thomas R. Marshall, who makes her home in Phoenix.
all the West. From five to six crops can be cut that will yield from one and a half to four tons per acre each cutting — depending on years after planting. I have cut over four tons per acre at a cutting from a field that had been in alfalfa over 15 years with-out any re-seeding. As every irriga-tion carries fertilizer upon the field, the soil grows richer and will raise heavier crops with every successive planting. I have raised barley that gave 30 sacks to the acre—weighing on an average 100 pounds to the sack —and that sold at $1.47 per hundred pounds. My oats (white Australian) —as everybody in this section of the country knows—have so far beaten the record of the world. They are simply immense—40 acres averaged nearly, if not quite 7 feet tall—the tallest samples measuring eight and one-half feet. The 40 acres yielded as near as could be determined 90 bushels to the acre. I sold them for $1.80 per hundred pounds. With good farming and judicious irrigating, There seems to be hardly any limit to pro-duction. With intensive farming and a variety of crops, 20 acres will sup-port a family of four or five in com-fort and enable them to save a nice sum of money besides. It is the para-dise of all kinds of poultry and stock, and, from September 1 to June 1, the best climate on earth and the rest of the year is as good—if not better than the summers in the Middle West.”
Winfield Scott- the pioneer settler in the Scottsdale area—was born in Oakland County, Michigan, on Feb- ruary 26, 1837. He was a graduate of Rochester University and Rochester Theological Seminary, and for a time, was pastor of the First Baptist Church in Syracuse. He was married in 1861. Then the tocsin of war—between the North and the South--sounded through- out the land and young Winfield Scott —at the head of Company C 126th New York Volunteer Infantry—marched to the southern battlefields. He was wounded at Maryland Heights—twice at Gettysburg—and twice at Spottsyl- vania Courthouse. One of his last wounds was serious and he was muster-ed out of the army on September 23, 1864, on account of incapacitating wounds. On partial recovery, he re-turned to the pulpit and had charge of Baptist Churches in Leavenworth, Kansas; Denver, Colorado; and in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and Los Angeles, California. In 1892, he was appointed Chaplain in the regular army,
Fifty-three
but, on account of recurring trouble with his wounds, was retired on March 26, 1898. He was a member of the 20th Territorial Legislature from Mari-copa County and died in Phoenix on October 19, 1910.
The promoters of the original “Scotts-dale Townsite”—which was described as the NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 26, T. 2 N., R. 4 E.—were the follow-ing pioneer settlers of that part of the Salt River Valley—
Albert G. Utley, Alice T. Utley, E. O. Brown, Mary J. Brown, V. A. Vander-hoof, Jane P. Vanderhoof, S. E. Thom-as, Mrs. Permelia Martin.
And also appearing with them as incorporators of the proposed desert community, were the three trustees representing School District No. 48, who were, at the time, the following settlers—
E. O. Brown, V. A. Vanderhoof and Charles Miller.
And the first elementary school was established in the Scottsdale area on July 13, 1896, with Hattie Greene Lockett, as the first teacher, and a high school was started on February 11, 1922
And in years past, one of the places in Scottsdale that aroused the greatest interest among visitors, was “Grave’s Indian Trading Post”, which was lo-cated on the historic old Underhill homestead, which had been settled about the same time as Chaplain Scott’s place.
And, too, one of the most widely known residents of Scottsdale was the
late Alfred L. Frederick, who, from the year 1920, was constable of Scotts-dale Precinct and a deputy sheriff of Maricopa County. And during his long term of public service, Al—a fear-less and cool-headed officer—was the respected and dependable representa-tive of law and order in Scottsdale and vicinity. A typical westerner— big and sturdy—keen of eye—of prov-en courage—Al Frederick represented the ideal peace officer of the old West. A republican in politics, Al was elect-ed—again and again—in a section of the country where republicans have have as much chance of election as the proverbial snowball in Hades. This alone showed the worth and popular-ity of the man himself—for Constable Frederick was never known to “let down” his supporters or to disregard his oath to protect their lives and prop-erty under any and all circumstances. As far as the people of Scottsdale were concerned, Al Frederick had always proved entirely worthy of his hire dur-ing his many years of public service. The popular peace officer died at his home in Scottsdale on May 22, 1950.
A distinguished resident of other days in Scottsdale was the late Thomas Riley Marshall, vice president of the United States during the administration of President Woodrow Wilson. This once nationally known political leader became so enchanted with the healthful and invigorating climate in and around Scottsdale, that he finally purchased a home there. His wife’s father—William E. Kimsey—had moved to Scottsdale many years before and died at his home there. A son —Mort Kimsey—still lives at Scottsdale, where he manages the office of Arizona Public Service.
Scottsdale, today, is known—far and wide—as one of Arizona’s most “west-ern” communities, reflecting to a re-markable degree the spirit of Arizona’s pioneer days. Its business houses and civic improvements have all been conceived with the same objective in mind—to retain the atmosphere of the old West. And the people of Scottsdale—united in that purpose— are going to accomplish much more in the future to make their community second to none in our state in glamour, civic worth and popularity.
James M. Barney, Historian, reading his favorite magazine.
The Sheriff Magazine for June, 1954
Fifty-five
SCOTTSDALE
Is Noted in the Salt River Valley for Three Things.
First ....
Beauty of Location, It is in the Gateway of Paradise Val-ley, and has the most extensive and charming mountain views of any place in the Valley, First on the Canal; gate on the land; water sure.
It raises the Earliest Fruits, It is strictly in the orange belt. Ripe fruits of all kinds are shipped from this locality from one week to ten days earlier than from any orchards now in bearing, Proximity to the east slope of the Phoenix Mountains, and the deep, fertile loam soil that predominates secures the result
....
Advantages, Pure mountain water, without a taint of salt, is found in wells, The altitude —180 feet higher than Phoenix —secures its freedom from the damp air of the lower portions of the Valley, The drainage is perfect. Those who have for the past four years, sought this place for health, speak of it with highest praise. The certificates of prominent physicians accompanying this announcement speak for themselves.
THIS LOCATION IS, PAR EXCELLENCE, THE PLACE
FOR HEALTH, WEALTH AND HOMES,
Choice land for citrus and deciduous fruits can be procured at reasonable prices and on favorable terms. A limited quantity of fruit land in full bearing will be sold at fair prices.
The location for winter resort hotel.
Lots for those who will build on them, at a low price. For further particulars address.
Chaplain Winfield Scott,
PHOENIX, ARIZONA.
Or consult him at Phoenix or at Scottsdale. Telephone to Scottsdale from the Arizona Canal Company’s Office.
Second . . .
THE STORY OF SCOTTSDALE
BY DAVID S. MATTHEWS
ILLUSTRATED
Copyright 1965 by David S. Matthews
Scottsdale, Arizona
The only existing portrait of Chaplain Winfield Scott, founder of Scottsdale, Arizona and Winfield, Kansas.
5
Mrs. Scott began a frantic search for her husband, finally found him, weakened by his wounds and inadequate care, and transferred him to his old home in Farmer Valley, and to a recovery which was never to be complete.
Scott's trek west was painfully slow. His first stop was in
Leavenworth, Kansas where it was not too long before several new churches were built as the result of his leadership. The year was 1865. A few years later one town, whose citizens wished to show appreciation for the help he had given to establish a house of wor-ship, names the community for him. We know it today as Winfield, Kansas.
Scott's next move was to Denver, where he spent three years, then pushed on to California. From 1873 to 1880 he built churches and helped to enlarge congregations, and spent one year as editor of a religious journal.
In 1882, Scott again joined the Army. Prior to this, however, he spent some time in the area which we now know as Scottsdale. It was then, apparently, that he planted the tiny cottonwood trees which have since grown to be the gigantic landmarks of today.
Scott staked out a homestead of 320 acres, north of what is now Indian School Road. On this site, the town's first ranch, Scott planted apricots, peaches, pomagrantes, bananas, and even ten acres of peanuts, sown between rows of orange trees.
Original Format
Paper
Title
Documents from B L Tims Mayor of Scottsdale AZ
Subject
Scott, Winfield
Winfield, KS
Leavenworth, KS
Scottsdale, AZ
Description
Winfield Scott and his wife traveled from his old home in Farmer Valley to Scottsdale, AZ. Along the way he influenced many communities by building churches. One community showed their appreciation for his leadership by naming their town after him, Winfield, Ks. They eventually settled on 320 acres in the area now known as Scottsdale, Az.
Creator
David S. Mathews
Source
Winfield Public Library
Publisher
Winfield Public Library, Winfield, Kansas, USA
Date
1965
Rights
Format
text/plain
Language
English
Type
Miscellaneous Documents
Citation
David S. Mathews, “Documents from B L Tims Mayor of Scottsdale AZ,” Winfield Digital Collections, accessed June 24, 2026, https://winfield.digitalsckls.info/item/200.Text
November 17,1966
DeForest B. Wright 5542 Romaine Street Hollywood, California
Dear Mr. Wright:
From all indications, there can be little doubt that your ancestor, Winfield Scott, is the same Chaplain Winfield Scott, for whom the City of Scottsdale was named.
I have enclosed copies of all the documents which we have concerning Chaplain Scott. They have been collected by our City Clerk, Mrs. Fern Anderson, who would be glad to assist you should you need a further explanation of the material. Enclosed are: a magazine article on the history of Scottsdale; an 1895 publication by Chaplain Scott; minutes of the first meeting of the Scottsdale School Board, of which Chaplain Scott was a trustee; and a copy of his Last Will and Testament.
Also of interest to you would be a history of Scottsdale, written and published last year by David S. Matthews. It is titled "The Story of Scottsdale" and discusses at length the settlement of the community. Unfortunately, we have been unable to find additional copies of this book. However, several Scottsdale book stores are attempting to locate the author and secure more copies. We have requested that they contact us if and when they are successful. Should you be interested, we could let you know at that point where they might be found and at what price.
I wish you all success in the completion of your family tree, and appreciate your interest in the City of Scottsdale.
Very truly yours,
Bud Tims
B. L. Tims, O.D.
MAYOR
MAYOR
The Early Annals Of Scottsdale
By James M. Barney
THE early annals of the widely known community of “Scottsdale” in the Salt River Valley are to-day of intense interest to everyone in this vicinity and go back to the winter of 1913, when a plot of land— once a part of Section 26, Township 2 North, Range 4 East—was subdivided and building lots sold. This sub-division was named—SCOTTSDALE— in honor of Major-Chaplain Winfield Scott a Civil War veteran, who—on July 2, 1888—had taken up a desert homestead comprising some 600 acres in Section 23, Township 2 North, Range 4 East.
And, as the years passed, Chaplain Scott developed a fine ranch out of
his desert holdings, one that well paid for his long patient years of toil and effort. In 1909, Chaplain Scott, while giving out a newspaper interview, thus referred to his agricultural work in the Scottsdale country—
“I have had twenty years’ experience on my ranch of 260 acres. I have raised both citrus and deciduous fruits.
Have shipped in car lots and by express. Grapes do well—Muscat of Alexandria, the raisin grape, does very well, although inclined to drop some of the first crop unless handled right in irrigating. I made 20 tons of raisins one year. The grapes have more saccharine than the California
grapes and will make 10 pounds more of raisins to the 100 pounds of grapes. The Lady Downing, Black Hamburg, Black Muscat, Thompson Seedless and several other varieties do very fine and are heavy bearers. Thompson Seedless ripen by July 1 and I shipped Muscats in car lots July 25.
Apricots, peaches, nectarines, pears and figs are a sure crop. Early apricots are ready for market from May 8 to 14. They bring by wholsesale from 3 to 4 cents per pound. No bet-ter oranges, lemons, pomelos (grape-fruit) can be found in the United States, I am raising them all success-fully and at big profit.
The alluvial loam land about Scottsdale is especially adapted to the raising of sweet potatoes and peanuts. I raised the Bermuda potato that yielded from 20 to 30 tons per acre. They are crisp and sweet and boil or bake dry and mealy and are not excelled anywhere. They bring from 2 to 3 cents per pound. I planted the Vir-ginia peanut and they did well." I sold the crop by the ton at 6 cents per pound. All kinds of garden truck-peas, beets, lettuce, onions, cabbage
The Sheriff Magazine for June, 1954
and cauliflower — grow abundantly. This is the home of melons and cantaloupes. Peas, beets, onions, lettuce and cabbage should be planted in the fall, as they grow all winter.
This is the best alfalfa country in
L
Mrs. Thomas R. Marshall, who makes her home in Phoenix.
all the West. From five to six crops can be cut that will yield from one and a half to four tons per acre each cutting — depending on years after planting. I have cut over four tons per acre at a cutting from a field that had been in alfalfa over 15 years with-out any re-seeding. As every irriga-tion carries fertilizer upon the field, the soil grows richer and will raise heavier crops with every successive planting. I have raised barley that gave 30 sacks to the acre—weighing on an average 100 pounds to the sack —and that sold at $1.47 per hundred pounds. My oats (white Australian) —as everybody in this section of the country knows—have so far beaten the record of the world. They are simply immense—40 acres averaged nearly, if not quite 7 feet tall—the tallest samples measuring eight and one-half feet. The 40 acres yielded as near as could be determined 90 bushels to the acre. I sold them for $1.80 per hundred pounds. With good farming and judicious irrigating, There seems to be hardly any limit to pro-duction. With intensive farming and a variety of crops, 20 acres will sup-port a family of four or five in com-fort and enable them to save a nice sum of money besides. It is the para-dise of all kinds of poultry and stock, and, from September 1 to June 1, the best climate on earth and the rest of the year is as good—if not better than the summers in the Middle West.”
Winfield Scott- the pioneer settler in the Scottsdale area—was born in Oakland County, Michigan, on Feb- ruary 26, 1837. He was a graduate of Rochester University and Rochester Theological Seminary, and for a time, was pastor of the First Baptist Church in Syracuse. He was married in 1861. Then the tocsin of war—between the North and the South--sounded through- out the land and young Winfield Scott —at the head of Company C 126th New York Volunteer Infantry—marched to the southern battlefields. He was wounded at Maryland Heights—twice at Gettysburg—and twice at Spottsyl- vania Courthouse. One of his last wounds was serious and he was muster-ed out of the army on September 23, 1864, on account of incapacitating wounds. On partial recovery, he re-turned to the pulpit and had charge of Baptist Churches in Leavenworth, Kansas; Denver, Colorado; and in San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, and Los Angeles, California. In 1892, he was appointed Chaplain in the regular army,
Fifty-three
but, on account of recurring trouble with his wounds, was retired on March 26, 1898. He was a member of the 20th Territorial Legislature from Mari-copa County and died in Phoenix on October 19, 1910.
The promoters of the original “Scotts-dale Townsite”—which was described as the NW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 26, T. 2 N., R. 4 E.—were the follow-ing pioneer settlers of that part of the Salt River Valley—
Albert G. Utley, Alice T. Utley, E. O. Brown, Mary J. Brown, V. A. Vander-hoof, Jane P. Vanderhoof, S. E. Thom-as, Mrs. Permelia Martin.
And also appearing with them as incorporators of the proposed desert community, were the three trustees representing School District No. 48, who were, at the time, the following settlers—
E. O. Brown, V. A. Vanderhoof and Charles Miller.
And the first elementary school was established in the Scottsdale area on July 13, 1896, with Hattie Greene Lockett, as the first teacher, and a high school was started on February 11, 1922
And in years past, one of the places in Scottsdale that aroused the greatest interest among visitors, was “Grave’s Indian Trading Post”, which was lo-cated on the historic old Underhill homestead, which had been settled about the same time as Chaplain Scott’s place.
And, too, one of the most widely known residents of Scottsdale was the
late Alfred L. Frederick, who, from the year 1920, was constable of Scotts-dale Precinct and a deputy sheriff of Maricopa County. And during his long term of public service, Al—a fear-less and cool-headed officer—was the respected and dependable representa-tive of law and order in Scottsdale and vicinity. A typical westerner— big and sturdy—keen of eye—of prov-en courage—Al Frederick represented the ideal peace officer of the old West. A republican in politics, Al was elect-ed—again and again—in a section of the country where republicans have have as much chance of election as the proverbial snowball in Hades. This alone showed the worth and popular-ity of the man himself—for Constable Frederick was never known to “let down” his supporters or to disregard his oath to protect their lives and prop-erty under any and all circumstances. As far as the people of Scottsdale were concerned, Al Frederick had always proved entirely worthy of his hire dur-ing his many years of public service. The popular peace officer died at his home in Scottsdale on May 22, 1950.
A distinguished resident of other days in Scottsdale was the late Thomas Riley Marshall, vice president of the United States during the administration of President Woodrow Wilson. This once nationally known political leader became so enchanted with the healthful and invigorating climate in and around Scottsdale, that he finally purchased a home there. His wife’s father—William E. Kimsey—had moved to Scottsdale many years before and died at his home there. A son —Mort Kimsey—still lives at Scottsdale, where he manages the office of Arizona Public Service.
Scottsdale, today, is known—far and wide—as one of Arizona’s most “west-ern” communities, reflecting to a re-markable degree the spirit of Arizona’s pioneer days. Its business houses and civic improvements have all been conceived with the same objective in mind—to retain the atmosphere of the old West. And the people of Scottsdale—united in that purpose— are going to accomplish much more in the future to make their community second to none in our state in glamour, civic worth and popularity.
James M. Barney, Historian, reading his favorite magazine.
The Sheriff Magazine for June, 1954
Fifty-five
SCOTTSDALE
Is Noted in the Salt River Valley for Three Things.
First ....
Beauty of Location, It is in the Gateway of Paradise Val-ley, and has the most extensive and charming mountain views of any place in the Valley, First on the Canal; gate on the land; water sure.
It raises the Earliest Fruits, It is strictly in the orange belt. Ripe fruits of all kinds are shipped from this locality from one week to ten days earlier than from any orchards now in bearing, Proximity to the east slope of the Phoenix Mountains, and the deep, fertile loam soil that predominates secures the result
....
Advantages, Pure mountain water, without a taint of salt, is found in wells, The altitude —180 feet higher than Phoenix —secures its freedom from the damp air of the lower portions of the Valley, The drainage is perfect. Those who have for the past four years, sought this place for health, speak of it with highest praise. The certificates of prominent physicians accompanying this announcement speak for themselves.
THIS LOCATION IS, PAR EXCELLENCE, THE PLACE
FOR HEALTH, WEALTH AND HOMES,
Choice land for citrus and deciduous fruits can be procured at reasonable prices and on favorable terms. A limited quantity of fruit land in full bearing will be sold at fair prices.
The location for winter resort hotel.
Lots for those who will build on them, at a low price. For further particulars address.
Chaplain Winfield Scott,
PHOENIX, ARIZONA.
Or consult him at Phoenix or at Scottsdale. Telephone to Scottsdale from the Arizona Canal Company’s Office.
Second . . .
THE STORY OF SCOTTSDALE
BY DAVID S. MATTHEWS
ILLUSTRATED
Copyright 1965 by David S. Matthews
Scottsdale, Arizona
The only existing portrait of Chaplain Winfield Scott, founder of Scottsdale, Arizona and Winfield, Kansas.
5
Mrs. Scott began a frantic search for her husband, finally found him, weakened by his wounds and inadequate care, and transferred him to his old home in Farmer Valley, and to a recovery which was never to be complete.
Scott's trek west was painfully slow. His first stop was in
Leavenworth, Kansas where it was not too long before several new churches were built as the result of his leadership. The year was 1865. A few years later one town, whose citizens wished to show appreciation for the help he had given to establish a house of wor-ship, names the community for him. We know it today as Winfield, Kansas.
Scott's next move was to Denver, where he spent three years, then pushed on to California. From 1873 to 1880 he built churches and helped to enlarge congregations, and spent one year as editor of a religious journal.
In 1882, Scott again joined the Army. Prior to this, however, he spent some time in the area which we now know as Scottsdale. It was then, apparently, that he planted the tiny cottonwood trees which have since grown to be the gigantic landmarks of today.
Scott staked out a homestead of 320 acres, north of what is now Indian School Road. On this site, the town's first ranch, Scott planted apricots, peaches, pomagrantes, bananas, and even ten acres of peanuts, sown between rows of orange trees.
Original Format
Paper