Trinidad Swilling Shumaker, known as "The Mother of Phoenix" was a pioneer and the wife of Jack Swilling, the founder of Phoenix. Mrs. Swilling was involved in local civic activities and promoted the public recognition of her husband as founder of Phoenix. She was also involved in dispute which made the local news as to who was the first white woman to settle in the Phoenix townsite. In 1868, Swilling founded the first pioneer home in the Salt River Valley.
Trinidad Escalante Swilling-Schumaker "Mother of Phoenix, Arizona"
St. Augustine's Cathedral
Jack Swilling
Ruins of the Joint Head Dam.
John W. Swilling was an early pioneer in the Arizona Territory. He is commonly credited as one of the original founders of the city of Phoenix, Arizona. Swilling also played an important role in the opening of the central Arizona highlands to white settlement. His discoveries resulted in a gold rush to the region, and this in turn led to the establishment of Arizona's first territorial capital at the mining town of Prescott.
Jack Swilling with his Apache ward Guillermo Swilling, ca. 1875.
Ruins of the Swilling residence in Black Canyon City.
Grave of Jack Swilling's wife, Trinidad Escalante
When Swilling was named constable he used this river rock as a temporary jail before the first wooden jail house was built. It served as a leg iron to shackle prisoners.
