Henry Wickenburg

As young men, Henry and his brother were caught illegally mining coal on “their” family farm. Both men fled to avoid prosecution. Henry joined the Prussian army and after his military service, lived in Rotterdam, Netherlands for a year. He eventually arrived in New York in 1847.

• 1851 Henry worked for the “Pacific Mail Steamship Company”, as a fireman on the ship “Cortez” (Cortes).
• Henry arrived in Sand Francisco in 1852 and was Naturalized in 1853 (1870 Census) Henry helped dig the first artisan well in Fresno, CA.
• Thomas E. Farish, the first State Historian, (1912) credits Henry with working for the United States Government (Tuscon) in 1862.
• 1863 Henry sets up camp on the bank of the Hassayampa and takes over the Indian gardens, known as the “Pumpkin Patch” (Joseph Fish Manuscript).
• In October 1863 Henry discovers the “Vulture” Gold Mine.

Many people felt that the discovery of gold led to the development of the Territorial Government and then ultimately to Arizona becoming a state.

• In 1866 Henry Wickenburg sold a portion of his interest in the Vulture Mine to a New York firm. Henry never received the full purchase price for the sale.
• In 1879 Henry Wickenburg was deeded 160 acres, certified by President Rutherford B. Hayes, which later became the Town of Wickenburg.

Henry Wickenburg never married

Mrs. Helene Holland, who inherited Henry’s property, received his personal property in 1903, while he was still alive, and the remainder of his estate in 1905 after Henry Wickenburg died from a gunshot wound in the head. His death was deemed a suicide, but many questioned this ruling.