Tom Childs
Encyclopedia
Tom Childs, whom the Papago
knew as "Muta" ("Woodpecker's nest inside of a Saguaro
"), was born in Yuma, Arizona
, United States
, on June 10, 1870.
. As a small boy he came west with a Mormon
family. They finally settled on Lytle Creek near present San Bernardino, California
. When he was 18 years old he joined a party heading for Sonora
. After following the "Camino del Diablo" to Sonoita, Sonora, on the U.S.-Mexican border, the party went on to the Cubabi mines where they split up. In the years that followed, he did everything from running a sawmill in the Santa Rita Mountains
south of Tucson, Arizona
, to digging for silver at the famous Planchas de Plata below Nogales, Sonora
.
, to start the children in school. After Mrs. Childs died, they moved to Ajo, Arizona
. The elder Childs had wandered by there in 1850 while looking for the copper
deposits that Mexicans in Sonora had told him about. The family went to Ajo to get a start in the cattle
business but never got far away from mining.
The elder and younger Childs located the first mines at Ajo, Arizona
in 1887. At first they were in partnership with the Shotwell-Calado Company, but their money soon gave out. After another try with the St. Louis Copper Company they decided to handle it by themselves. In 1912, they sold out their holdings to the Calumet and Arizona Company
. Later this firm became a part of the Phelps Dodge Corporation.
During this time Tom began to take an interest in his Papago neighbors and later ended up marrying a Papago, Martha, with whom he had twelve children. He went into politics and became a territorial legislator and later a legislator for the newly-formed state of Arizona. One of his daughters, Fillman Childs Bell, became a published author and respected historian.
Papago
Papago may refer to:* An archaic term for Tohono O'odham people* Papago , a genus of geometer moths* Papago Freeway, I-10 through Phoenix, Arizona* Papago Freeway Tunnel, a tunnel in Arizona* Papago Park, a park in Arizona...
knew as "Muta" ("Woodpecker's nest inside of a Saguaro
Saguaro
The saguaro is a large, tree-sized cactus species in the monotypic genus Carnegiea. It is native to the Sonoran Desert in the U.S. state of Arizona, the Mexican state of Sonora, a small part of Baja California in the San Felipe Desert and an extremely small area of California, U.S...
"), was born in Yuma, Arizona
Yuma, Arizona
Yuma is a city in and the county seat of Yuma County, Arizona, United States. It is located in the southwestern corner of the state, and the population of the city was 77,515 at the 2000 census, with a 2008 Census Bureau estimated population of 90,041....
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, on June 10, 1870.
Father
Tom Childs, Sr., was born in 1832 in MississippiMississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
. As a small boy he came west with a Mormon
Mormon
The term Mormon most commonly denotes an adherent, practitioner, follower, or constituent of Mormonism, which is the largest branch of the Latter Day Saint movement in restorationist Christianity...
family. They finally settled on Lytle Creek near present San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino is a city located in the Riverside-San Bernardino metropolitan area , and serves as the county seat of San Bernardino County, California, United States...
. When he was 18 years old he joined a party heading for Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
. After following the "Camino del Diablo" to Sonoita, Sonora, on the U.S.-Mexican border, the party went on to the Cubabi mines where they split up. In the years that followed, he did everything from running a sawmill in the Santa Rita Mountains
Santa Rita Mountains
The Santa Rita Mountains, located about 65 km southeast of Tucson, Arizona, extend 42 km from north to south, then trending southeast. They merge again southeastwards into the Patagonia Mountains, trending northwest by southeast...
south of Tucson, Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in and the county seat of Pima County, Arizona, United States. The city is located 118 miles southeast of Phoenix and 60 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. The 2010 United States Census puts the city's population at 520,116 with a metropolitan area population at 1,020,200...
, to digging for silver at the famous Planchas de Plata below Nogales, Sonora
Nogales, Sonora
Heroica Nogales , more commonly known as Nogales, is a city and its surrounding municipality on the northern border of the Mexican State of Sonora. The municipality covers an area of 1,675 km², and borders to the north the city of Nogales, Arizona, United States, across the U.S.-Mexico border...
.
Early life
In 1875, the family moved to Phoenix, ArizonaPhoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
, to start the children in school. After Mrs. Childs died, they moved to Ajo, Arizona
Ajo, Arizona
Ajo is a census-designated place in Pima County, Arizona, United States. The population was 3,705 at the 2000 census. Ajo is located on State Route 85 just from the Mexican border. It is the closest community to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument....
. The elder Childs had wandered by there in 1850 while looking for the copper
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
deposits that Mexicans in Sonora had told him about. The family went to Ajo to get a start in the cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
business but never got far away from mining.
The elder and younger Childs located the first mines at Ajo, Arizona
Ajo, Arizona
Ajo is a census-designated place in Pima County, Arizona, United States. The population was 3,705 at the 2000 census. Ajo is located on State Route 85 just from the Mexican border. It is the closest community to Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument....
in 1887. At first they were in partnership with the Shotwell-Calado Company, but their money soon gave out. After another try with the St. Louis Copper Company they decided to handle it by themselves. In 1912, they sold out their holdings to the Calumet and Arizona Company
Louis S. Cates
Louis S. Cates was born in Massachusetts and attended MIT. He led the Phelps Dodge Company from 1930 - 1947. During that time the company acquired the Nichols Copper Company, the Calumet and Arizona Mining Company, and the United Verde Copper Company. Under Cates' leadership Phelps-Dodge became an...
. Later this firm became a part of the Phelps Dodge Corporation.
During this time Tom began to take an interest in his Papago neighbors and later ended up marrying a Papago, Martha, with whom he had twelve children. He went into politics and became a territorial legislator and later a legislator for the newly-formed state of Arizona. One of his daughters, Fillman Childs Bell, became a published author and respected historian.