Yuman dominated early county history

Editor’s Note: The Yuma Sun is reprinting articles from past newspapers honoring Yuma’s unique history. This column is one in a series written by local historian Frank Love that appeared periodically in the newspaper.

If forced to name one person who more than any other had a major role in the early history of this area, this writer would choose Charles Brinley. He was a Massachusetts-born man who played a large role in the government of the region from 1863 until after the 20th century began.

Little information is available about Brinley’s youth except that he was born in October 1825. That he received a good education is evident from his service in later positions that required both legal training and the ability to keep good financial and written records.

Brinley’s biographical file at Arizona State University reports he arrived in California in 1845 after an ocean voyage around Cape Horn. His earlier education must have included Spanish because he was able to set up a law practice in Los Angeles before that area became part of the United States. It may have also aided him in his later courtship and marriage to Mexican-born Loretta Arvizu in December 1871.

Brinley had gone to China in February 1849 as the agent of San Francisco merchant, Jacob Leese, to buy trade goods. Sailing on the ship Eveline, he returned with a load of supplies described as

“the richest and most valuable cargo of Chinese goods ever brought to this market.” He was back in California by 1851.

Although involved in the San Francisco Vigilance Committee in 1852, a census then listed Brinley’s residence as China. It suggests he may have been involved in the China trade for several years.

Records are silent about Brinley for eight years until 1861, when he became involved in planning the construction of a wagon road through Newhall

Pass in the Santa Susana Mountains in California. Along with Andres Pico and James Viney, the trio received permission from the Legislature to build a toll road which was operating by summer 1862.

What role Brinley had in the actual road-building is unknown. It seems unlikely he participated directly because he was involved in the state’s Civil War planning by then. As a member of volunteers calling themselves the “Southern Rifles” of the California State Militia, they were soon part of the 1st California Cavalry. Brinley was its first lieutenant and was with them at Fort Yuma early in 1862.

Records available here don’t tell how Brinley got out of the army, but he was no longer in it by 1864. He was then a civilian at La Paz, Arizona Territory. Gold had been found, and Brinley was the recorder of a mining district near town.

His success in mining may have been poor because he was soon looking for opportunities in local government. A newspaper reported his appointment as Yuma County clerk at La Paz on July 16, 1864. It paid $100 a month.

When the channel of the Colorado River changed in 1866, La Paz was left some distance from the river. Brinley may have been one of the first to realize the effect it would have as the town began dying. He gave up his position as county clerk and moved south to Yuma.

Brinley was soon involved in Yuma politics. Appointed as justice of peace in 1869, he presided at the inquest into the death of William Harbison, otherwise known as “Bronco Bill.” Found dead in a Yuma saloon belonging to Gilbert Wilkes, Harbison was drunk and quarrelsome before his body was discovered. The inquest concluded Bill died “by supposed violent means.”

In addition to serving as the river town’s justice, Brinley was named probate judge in January 1870. He was also frequently called upon by the town’s Anglo officers to interpret Spanish into English when Mexican-born residents had legal problems. County supervisor minutes show that he was paid a $10 fee for interpreting in October 1870.

When territorial elections were held in 1871, Brinley declared himself a candidate for the Territorial Assembly and was elected. He would serve two more times in the Legislature in 1873 and 1891.

That Yuma’s political life didn’t always run smoothly in early days was demonstrated in an 1872 political meeting. Chaired by attorney Thomas Bidwell, Brinley was chosen to serve as its secretary. Yuma’s newspaper, The Arizona Sentinel, would describe what happened this way on Oct. 12: “It was evident from the first that there were a few men who went there with the full purpose of carrying everything their way or to break up the meeting, which, to a certain extent, they did do by their insults and overbearing ruthlessness.”

The newspaper reported the uproar got so bad that Chairman Bidwell resigned. Orderly participants then walked out. Yuma’s newspaper would later describe the meeting as resembling “a drunken brawl than anything else.”

Brinley played major roles in Yuma’s political life for another 30 years.