Memoir of the Proposed Territory of Arizona (ePub)

Sylvester Mowry was an influential figure in the mid-19th century American Southwest, particularly known for his advocacy for the establishment of the Arizona Territory. Born on August 24, 1830, in Providence, Rhode Island, Mowry graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point in 1850 and served in the U.S. Army before venturing into mining and politics in the Arizona region. Mowry's entrepreneurial spirit led him to purchase the Patagonia Mine in Arizona, where he became a significant silver producer and a proponent of regional development. His book, 'Memoir of the Proposed Territory of Arizona' (1860), is a seminal work that articulates the geographic, economic, and political conditions of the area, providing insights that were foundational to the eventual establishment of Arizona as a U.S. Territory in 1863. Mowry's writing is characterized by detailed observations, persuasive advocacy, and a forward-thinking vision for the American West. Despite controversies that surrounded him, including accusations of sympathizing with the Confederate cause during the Civil War and consequent arrest, Mowry's legacy includes his substantial contributions to the burgeoning literature on the American Southwest and his enduring impact on Arizona's territorial history.