Mesa Historical Society

Abstract Patterson gives some of his family's history including that his grandfather homesteaded in Arizona in 1888 and his father ran one of Mesa's first telephone companies. Patterson, who farmed in Mesa, gives a brief overview of the history of farming in the area. He describes some of the machinery used in harvesting and baling hay, and talks about the water supply in Arizona. He discusses the future of farming in the area, the price of land, and the government's interference. Patterson responds...

Abstract Killian recounts his childhood in Concho, Arizona, where his parents owned Concho Mercantile Company. He describes his schooling in Thatcher, Arizona, his successful studies, and the opportunity he was given to train in the banking industry. He talks about his activities in the Mormon Church, including a mission to Hawaii, his experiences as a banker during the Great Depression, and his early married life with his wife, Jesse Ellsworth. Killian tells about moving to Mesa in 1935; he...