Charles W. Beach

Charles Washington Beach was born in Connecticut about 1838. 
He married Cora A. Kelsey at Wickenburg, Arizona Territory 
August 10, 1870 who was born in New York about 1849.

Beach learned the printing trade at Watertown, Jefferson County, 
New York, crossed the plains to New Mexico where he worked 
as a printer in 1863 with Edmond G. Ross, former U.S. 
Senator from Kansas, A.F. Banta stated in 1889 that he knew 
Beach in New Mexico that he came to Arizona in 1864 with 
some bull teams and during that year engaged in hauling 
hay to Fort Whipple on a contract; was a member of the second 
Woolsey Expedition against the Apaches in the spring of that 
year and according to a letter to R.C. McCormick from 
King Woolsey, Charles Beach killed three Indians at Ash Creek, 
April 2, 1864.

He became one of the best known freighters in the Territory; 
in the winter of 1865 he camped for 4 weeks on the north bank 
of the Salt River being unable to cross because of 
high water; afterwards he hauled freight from the Colorado 
River to Prescott and Wickenburg. He is listed in the 1870 
census at Vulture City, age 32, born in New York; near Prescott.  
On February 11, 1871 his men discovered a band of Apaches 
waiting to ambush his train and drove them off by a surprise attack.

Arizona Miner--May 14, 1870--a private letter from Vulture City, 
informs us that our old friend and brother type, Charles 
Beach has sold his freight train to Messrs. Randall and 
Bryant for the sum of $14,000 and that the purchasers had 
received the contract for supplying the Vulture mill with quartz.

Arizona Miner--July 30, 1870--Charles Beach, an energetic 
Yazapai, has returned to Wickenburg, from the lower portion 
of the Territory and gone to freighting again.  
Rumor has it that Charlie will soon unite his destinies 
with a beautiful and accomplished lady of Wickenburg.  Hope so.

Arizona Miner--July 6, 1872--Charles Beach has a contract 
to deliver about 2,000,000 pounds of grain at Camp McDowell, 
and keeps four ten-mule teams constantly hauling grain thither 
from the Salt River Valley.

January 22, 1875--C.W. Beach's train came in to Prescott 
yesterday loaded with freight for the military and civilians.

Arizona Sentinel

March 30, 1872--Team departures--two trains, one of six and 
the other of two wagons, belonging to Messrs. Beach and 
Contreres, respectively, loaded with government and other 
freights for Camp Grant and Tucson left this morning.

April 6, 1872--Eight wagons left, on the 30th for Grant and 
Tucson with Government stores.  Trains were of Beach and Contreres.

May 18, 1872--Charley Beach's train arrived last Thursday 
evening from the interior and will leave with freight 
sometime during the coming week.

The Arizona Citizen in Tucson announced his appointment as 
Postmaster at Kirkland Valley and on November 29 1873 stated: 
"Mr. C.W. Beach has recently purchased several hundred 
head of cows.  This purchase was made on the Verde.  

The animals will soon be driven from that place to Mr. Beach's 
ranch in Kirkland Valley."

Arizona Miner, February 5, 1875: Acknowledgements--We are under 
special obligation to Mr. and Mrs. Judge Kelsey and Mr. and 
Mrs. Charles W. Beach, of Kirkland Valley for civilities shown 
us.  We were a stranger and they took us in.  This has reference 
to our advent into the country two months ago, when we sought the 
friendly shelter of their roof, to avoid riding over the 
divide, one terribly cold, stormy night on the 
buckboard.  Since then we havereturned and passed a week 
very pleasantly in the enjoyment of their hospitality.

Tucson Citizen, March 21, 1885: Hon. C.W. Beach, ex-editor 
of the Miner, today purchased from O.J. Woodward all his right, 
title and interest to the McAteer ranch in Kirkland 
Valley consisting of land, improvements, 300 headof stock and 
water privileges.  This purchase not only gives Mr. Beach title 
to ne of the finest properties in Yavapai County and control 
of the entire water system of Kirkland Valley but virtually 
settles  the long contested case of Kelsey vs. McAteer 
which has so long occupied the attention of the courts, and 
been the cause of so much outlay and trouble.

We are pleased to note this important transfer of property as 
in connection with the land already owned by Mr. Beach in 
the valley, it will give him possession of property only 
exceeded in extend by his "rustling qualities" and enterprise 
and will be the means undoubtedly of keeping Charley with 
us for a while longer, as it has been his intention, 
we understand, to dispose of his property in this county and 
take up residence in Texas. He is too public spirited man for 
Yazapai at present and were Arizona populated with 
more men of his caliber it would have long ago ranked amongst 
the foremost producers of the country.

Prescott Courier, September 18, 1889
About ten minutes past seven last evening, as Charles W. 
Beach was sitting in his room in Mrs. Taylor's residence and 
lodging house, West Prescott, writing a letter to his young 
son, who is in Los Angeles with his mother, some person 
emptied the barrel of a shot gun through the window.  The 
greatest portion of the shot struck Mr. Beach under and in the 
left eye, knocking him over and killing him instantly.

The dead man has property in Kirkland Valley and other places 
in the county and we hope that it will be well taken care of 
for the family.  Like most all men he had his faults; 
he had too a great many good traits of character. No matter 
what his bad acts were, every brave, honorable man will 
condemn the cowardly manner in which he was killed.