Henry Wickenburg

Early years

Wickenburg (birth name: Johannes Henricus Wickenburg) was born in Essen, Prussia, a coal mining region in what is now Germany. Together with his brother he mined coal on the land which belonged to his family. However, the mineral rights were claimed by the government and Wickenburg immigrated to the United States in 1847, after the local authorities raided the family farm.

Wickenburg in the United States

Wickenburg arrived at the Port of New York in 1847. Upon learning of the discovery of Gold in California, in what is known as the California gold rush, he decided to go to San Francisco. He arrived in San Francisco in 1853 and learned how to prospect and pan for gold. In accordance to his Declaration of Intention in 1877, he became a naturalized American citizen that same year. In 1862, he joined the Pauline Weaver party, who had struck gold in the Antelope Peak, and traveled into the interior of what was then the Arizona Territory. The group settled in what became known as "Peeples Valley" by the Hassayampa Creek.

Vulture Mine

On one occasion Wickenburg had noticed a quartz ledge about fourteen miles from group's camp. His observation was ignored by the others. Wickenburg went by himself to investigate the quartz ledge and believed that the ledge had potential. He returned to the camp and told his associates. A claim was staked by Wickenburg and his associates; A. Van Bibber, J.B. Green, W. Smith and N.K. Estil. His associates continued to seek other ventures and Wickenburg worked the mine by himself and began to sell the gold ore to other prospectors. He established an encampment which he named Wickenburg's Ranch. Wickenburg helped to finance Jack Swilling's Ditch Project, which later became the Salt River Project. By 1866, Wickenburg had had enough of gold mining and sold the 80% interest of the Vulture mine which he owned, for eighty-five thousand US dollars ($85,000). He received twenty thousand in cash and a promissory note for the rest of the sixty-five thousand dollars. The new owners refused to pay him because they claimed that Wickenburg did not have a clear title to the property. The Vulture was the most important gold mine in Arizona.

Town of Wickenburg

The Vulture Mine played an instrumental and pivotal role in the founding and development of the town of Wickenberg. After Wickenburg established an encampment as Wickenburg's Ranch, James A. Moore who went into partnership with Wickenburg, wrote to Governor Goodwin and Secretary McCormick and referred to the tent camp as Wickenburg. In 1865, two five-stamp mills were erected and several stores, saloons and two hotels were established. In 1866 it missed being named Territorial Capital by only two votes of the Territorial Legislature. In 1868, the town site was surveyed and platted. Wickenburg donated land for the first church built in the town.

Later years

Wickenburg served in the 7th Arizona Territorial Legislative Assembly representing the district of Yavapai. Among the committees which he served in were the Mines Committee, the Road and Ferries Committee and the Claims Committee. As a civil servant he served in the positions of inspector for the schools, Postmaster of Vulture City, a census taker, Justice of the Peace and judge.

Wickenburg retired and lived the rest of his life in his ranch. He tried in vain to collect the money owed by the owners of the Vulture Mine, spending the twenty thousand dollars, which he received as an advance, on lawyers. He was penniless and on May 14, 1905, no longer able to live on his own, walked into a grove of trees behind his house, and turned his old Colt revolver on himself. Wickenburg died instantly as a result. He is buried in what is now the Henry Wickenburg Pioneer Cemetery.

Eventually the Vulture Mine closed because of mismanagement; however, it is estimated that mine had produced as much as 70 million dollars' worth of gold over during its course of operation.