J.F. GERALD
Arizona, The Youngest State, 1913, pg 663

No history of Arizona would be complete without mention of J.F. 
Gerald, a pioneer in the southwest who has for many years been 
closely associated with several industries of the state. He now 
owns extensive mining and real estate interests in Globe and 
Gila County though living to some extent retired from active 
life.

Mr. Gerald was born in Massachusetts in 1837 and is a son of 
James and Mary (Franklin) Gerald.  The parents were both born 
across the water but came to America separately when they were 
very young.  They were married in Massachusetts and made their 
home upon a farm in that state for some time, the father dying 
upon the homestead in 1845.  The mother continued to live in 
Massachusetts until her death, which occurred when she was 
ninety three years of age.

J.F. Gerald acquired his education in the public schools of 
Massachusetts and until he was sixteen years of age remained 
upon his father's farm in that state.  When he left home he 
went to Boston and there secured employment in the Quincey 
Market, where he remained until September 1856.  At that time 
he shipped as a sailor and came around the Horn to California, 
landing in San Francisco in 1857.  Until May of the following 
year he worked in a provision store in that city and then, 
influenced by the reports of gold discoveries on the Frazier 
River in Canada, journeyed to that section, where he became 
identified with the Delaware Company as the owner of two 
large steamboats. He operated these from 1858 to 1862 hauling 
freight and passengers back and forth on the Frazier River, 
Mr. Gerald acting as captain and pilot.

In 1862 he sold out and went to the Cariboo fold fields, where 
he mined for gold until 1875.  He made his first settlement in
Arizona in 1877, coming in that year to Globe, where in company 
with others, he built the first ten stamp mill at the mouth of 
the Miami Valley.  After operating this for a few years he sold 
it and turned his attention to the hotel business, conducting a 
hotel at Pioneer which he and his partner, Mr. Tucker, erected.  
After a year and a half Mr. Gerald went to Pinal Creek in Gila 
County, eight miles from Globe, and there purchased land, 
conducting an extensive cattle ranch until his retirement from 
active life in 1911. In that year he sold his ranch and removed 
into the city, where he has a fine home and other residential 
properties.

In 1876 Mr. Gerald married Miss Genevieve Snow, a native of 
Crawford County, Pa., and they have two children: Geraldine, 
now the wife of D.I. Craig, the owner of a fruit ranch in Pinal 
County and Genevieve, who lives at home.  When eighteen year 
of age, the older daughter began teaching in the public schools 
of Gila County and after some time in her own district, applied 
for a school in Globe, which she soon obtained.  She remained 
for four years in this city, making rapid advancement, and at 
the time of her marriage, had charge of the eighth grade room.  
The younger daughter is also making a brilliant record as a 
teacher, having graduated from the Tempe Normal School at the 
head of a class of thirty seven pupils.

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