George M. Willing
Encyclopedia
George Maurice "Doc" Willing, Jr. (c. 1829 – March 12 or 13, 1874) was an American
physician
, prospector
, and political lobbyist. He is known for his time as an unelected delegate to the United States Congress
for Jefferson Territory
and as the person who introduced James Reavis
to the fraudulent Peralta land grant.
s, and to escape potential legal problems moved to California
in the early 1850s.
By the late 1850s, Willing had resettled in St. Louis, Missouri
. He left there in April 1859 to become part of the Pike's Peak Gold Rush. Upon his arrival to the area, he worked in the "Goose Pasture Diggings" for several months. Described by the Rocky Mountain News
as a "good geologist and a most polished gentleman", Willing became a candidate for delegate for Jefferson Territory
in October 1859. Despite losing the election, he still traveled to Washington D.C. to lobby for the interests of the Pikes Peak area.
While working as a delegate, Willing claimed to have created the name "Idaho" after being inspired by a girl named Ida. While there is no definitive proof to either confirm or refute this claim, the earliest known usage of the name was within a Congressional committee during 1860.
Earliest published account of his claim was in a December 11, 1875 New York Daily Tribune article by Willing's friend, William O. Stoddard. Despite the choice of "Colorado" as the name for the territory
organized around the Pikes Peak area, the name "Idaho" became popular in the area and was used as the name for a steamboat
, a Colorado town
, and a county in Washington Territory
before being used for Idaho Territory
.
Willing returned to Denver in August 1860. His next confirmed siting came in Prescott, Arizona Territory
during 1867. Willing claimed to have purchased the rights to a large Spanish land grant
from a man named Miguel Peralta on October 26, 1864. The transaction had supposedly occurred at a primitive campsite to the southeast of Prescott without the benefit of the typical documentation. Instead of a notarized
deed
, the conveyance
was recorded on a piece of greasy camp paper bearing signature of several witnesses. Willing had arrived in Prescott for the purpose of registering the deed. He was at the time low on funds and offered to sell a half interest in the grant to livery stable owner James D. Monihon in exchange for US$250 and the amount of the bill he owed. After filing Willing's papers, the two of them could then use the Spanish claim to sell land back to the settlers currently residing in the area. Monihon refused the offer and informed Willing that he was liable to be lynched
if local residents learned of his plans. Willing responded by quickly settling his affairs and joining a governmental survey party leaving town the next morning for Santa Fe
.
To assist in development of his land grant, in 1871 Willing sought the aid of James Reavis
, a St. Louis real estate agent with forgery
skills. The two began meeting with William W. Gitt, a man known as the "Old Spanish Land Title Lawyer" following a series of questionable land transactions, on a regular basis to study Willing's papers. Willing and Reavis eventually decided to form a partnership and Willing left for Arizona Territory in January 1874. He filed his deed in the Yavapai County Courthouse upon his arrival in Prescott and was found dead the next morning. No official investigation as to the cause of Willing's death was ever performed. Suggested causes include poison, "exposure and privation", or simply "strange and unwitnessed circumstances".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
physician
Physician
A physician is a health care provider who practices the profession of medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring human health through the study, diagnosis, and treatment of disease, injury and other physical and mental impairments...
, prospector
Prospecting
Prospecting is the physical search for minerals, fossils, precious metals or mineral specimens, and is also known as fossicking.Prospecting is a small-scale form of mineral exploration which is an organised, large scale effort undertaken by mineral resource companies to find commercially viable ore...
, and political lobbyist. He is known for his time as an unelected delegate to the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
for Jefferson Territory
Jefferson Territory
The Provisional Government of the Territory of Jefferson was an extralegal and unrecognized United States territory that existed from October 24, 1859 until the creation of the Colorado Territory on February 28, 1861...
and as the person who introduced James Reavis
James Reavis
James Addison Reavis , later using the name James Addison Peralta-Reavis, the so-called Baron of Arizona, was an American forger and fraudster...
to the fraudulent Peralta land grant.
Biography
Willing was born to an affluent Philadelphia family. Educated as a physician, he married the daughter of successful merchant, Mary Ann. The young medical practitioner got into trouble by performing abortionAbortion
Abortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
s, and to escape potential legal problems moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in the early 1850s.
By the late 1850s, Willing had resettled in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
. He left there in April 1859 to become part of the Pike's Peak Gold Rush. Upon his arrival to the area, he worked in the "Goose Pasture Diggings" for several months. Described by the Rocky Mountain News
Rocky Mountain News
The Rocky Mountain News was a daily newspaper published in Denver, Colorado, United States from April 23, 1859, until February 27, 2009. It was owned by the E. W. Scripps Company from 1926 until its closing. As of March 2006, the Monday-Friday circulation was 255,427...
as a "good geologist and a most polished gentleman", Willing became a candidate for delegate for Jefferson Territory
Jefferson Territory
The Provisional Government of the Territory of Jefferson was an extralegal and unrecognized United States territory that existed from October 24, 1859 until the creation of the Colorado Territory on February 28, 1861...
in October 1859. Despite losing the election, he still traveled to Washington D.C. to lobby for the interests of the Pikes Peak area.
While working as a delegate, Willing claimed to have created the name "Idaho" after being inspired by a girl named Ida. While there is no definitive proof to either confirm or refute this claim, the earliest known usage of the name was within a Congressional committee during 1860.
Earliest published account of his claim was in a December 11, 1875 New York Daily Tribune article by Willing's friend, William O. Stoddard. Despite the choice of "Colorado" as the name for the territory
Organized incorporated territories of the United States
Organized incorporated territories are those territories of the United States that are both incorporated and organized .Through most of U.S...
organized around the Pikes Peak area, the name "Idaho" became popular in the area and was used as the name for a steamboat
Steamboat
A steamboat or steamship, sometimes called a steamer, is a ship in which the primary method of propulsion is steam power, typically driving propellers or paddlewheels...
, a Colorado town
Idaho Springs, Colorado
The City of Idaho Springs is a municipality in the U.S. state of Colorado that is the most populous settlement in Clear Creek County, Colorado. Idaho Springs is located in Clear Creek Canyon, in the mountains upstream from Golden, some thirty miles west of Denver...
, and a county in Washington Territory
Idaho County, Idaho
Idaho County is a county located in the U.S. state of Idaho. As of the 2010 Census the county had a population of 16,267. The county seat is Grangeville...
before being used for Idaho Territory
Idaho Territory
The Territory of Idaho was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 4, 1863, until July 3, 1890, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Idaho.-1860s:...
.
Willing returned to Denver in August 1860. His next confirmed siting came in Prescott, Arizona Territory
Prescott, Arizona
Prescott is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, USA. It was designated "Arizona's Christmas City" by Arizona Governor Rose Mofford in the late 1980s....
during 1867. Willing claimed to have purchased the rights to a large Spanish land grant
Land grant
A land grant is a gift of real estate – land or its privileges – made by a government or other authority as a reward for services to an individual, especially in return for military service...
from a man named Miguel Peralta on October 26, 1864. The transaction had supposedly occurred at a primitive campsite to the southeast of Prescott without the benefit of the typical documentation. Instead of a notarized
Notary
A notary is a lawyer or person with legal training who is licensed by the state to perform acts in legal affairs, in particular witnessing signatures on documents...
deed
Deed
A deed is any legal instrument in writing which passes, or affirms or confirms something which passes, an interest, right, or property and that is signed, attested, delivered, and in some jurisdictions sealed...
, the conveyance
Conveyancing
In law, conveyancing is the transfer of legal title of property from one person to another, or the granting of an encumbrance such as a mortgage or a lien....
was recorded on a piece of greasy camp paper bearing signature of several witnesses. Willing had arrived in Prescott for the purpose of registering the deed. He was at the time low on funds and offered to sell a half interest in the grant to livery stable owner James D. Monihon in exchange for US$250 and the amount of the bill he owed. After filing Willing's papers, the two of them could then use the Spanish claim to sell land back to the settlers currently residing in the area. Monihon refused the offer and informed Willing that he was liable to be lynched
Lynching
Lynching is an extrajudicial execution carried out by a mob, often by hanging, but also by burning at the stake or shooting, in order to punish an alleged transgressor, or to intimidate, control, or otherwise manipulate a population of people. It is related to other means of social control that...
if local residents learned of his plans. Willing responded by quickly settling his affairs and joining a governmental survey party leaving town the next morning for Santa Fe
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Santa Fe is the capital of the U.S. state of New Mexico. It is the fourth-largest city in the state and is the seat of . Santa Fe had a population of 67,947 in the 2010 census...
.
To assist in development of his land grant, in 1871 Willing sought the aid of James Reavis
James Reavis
James Addison Reavis , later using the name James Addison Peralta-Reavis, the so-called Baron of Arizona, was an American forger and fraudster...
, a St. Louis real estate agent with forgery
Forgery
Forgery is the process of making, adapting, or imitating objects, statistics, or documents with the intent to deceive. Copies, studio replicas, and reproductions are not considered forgeries, though they may later become forgeries through knowing and willful misrepresentations. Forging money or...
skills. The two began meeting with William W. Gitt, a man known as the "Old Spanish Land Title Lawyer" following a series of questionable land transactions, on a regular basis to study Willing's papers. Willing and Reavis eventually decided to form a partnership and Willing left for Arizona Territory in January 1874. He filed his deed in the Yavapai County Courthouse upon his arrival in Prescott and was found dead the next morning. No official investigation as to the cause of Willing's death was ever performed. Suggested causes include poison, "exposure and privation", or simply "strange and unwitnessed circumstances".