Peterman's Station

Peterman's Station, a ranch and stage station located along the Gila River. It was first established by a man named Peterman, in 1857 along the route of the San Antonio-San Diego Mail Line, later a station of its successor, the Butterfield Overland Mail, 19 miles east of Fillibuster Camp, 12 miles west of Griswell's Station.

Isaiah C. Woods, operating manager of the San Antonio-San Diego Mail while establishing the route, described Petermans Station on his return from San Diego on Novermber 9, 1857:

"November 9 - Today we left Peterman's station, (on the bank of the Gila,) consisting of a log house and excellent corral, built since I passed here. Peterman told me he had built this station, which he intended making his permanent residence, in order to obtain the business of the main line. I purchased of him several tons of mezquit beans, besides contracting for a supply of hay.

The soil in this neighborhood is excellent. Already this enterprising pioneer has contracted with a party of Mexicans to build a main irrigating ditch from the Gila, with branches sufficient to enable him to cultivate several hundred acres of land. The Mexicans are now at work. I made such arrangements for him, by writing to an agent at Fort Yuma, as would secure the necessary barley for seed, making at the same time a conditional purchase of all his crop. He felt confident of gathering a good harvest the present season. Peterman originally came up here from Fort Yuma to execute a contract for several tons of mezquit bean, made with the parties who are contractors for hauling the ore of the Arizona Copper Mining Company to Fort Yuma." ^[1]

By the time of the Civil War Petermans was called called Mohawk Station in Union Army reports.^[2]

References

1. ^ Leland J. Hanchett, Crossing Arizona, Pine Rim Publishing LLC, 2002, p.371
2. ^ THE WAR OF THE REBELLION: A COMPILATION OF THE OFFICIAL RECORDS OF THE UNION AND CONFEDERATE ARMIES. CHAPTER LXII. OPERATIONS ON THE PACIFIC COAST.* JANUARY 1, 1861-JUNE 30, 1865. PART I, CORRESPONDENCE. pp.1017-1018, 1056 Distances from Los Angeles, Cal., eastward: