Cullings Well (also called Culling's Well and Cullens Well) was a stagecoach station on the La Paz–Wickenburg Road. It was named for its proprietor, Englishman Charles C. Culling, who dug the well and established and managed the stagecoach station with his wife Maria Valenzuela Culling for twelve years before he died in 1878. The station became known as Cullens Wells in memory of its founder. After Charles' death, the station was managed by Maria and a station hand by the name of Christian Berry. Maria later married Joseph Drew who together with Christian Berry managed the Cullings Well for a period of time. A post office by that name was maintained there from 1896 to 1902.[1] [2] Cullings Well was 79 miles from La Paz, and 47.5 miles from Wickenburg.[3]: xxvii [4] [5][6]
The site of Cullings Well today is at the site of the Miller Reservoir.[1] It is fenced in and is partially filled.[7] The grave of Charles C. Culling is at the nearby Cullings Well Cemetery, that lies less than 2 miles from Cullings Well at 33°54′34″N 113°23′57″W / 33.9095150°N 113.3992410°W.[8]
The History of Cullings Well and its founder, owners and managers is a fascinating story of these settlers written by one of the descendants of Joseph Drew and Maria Valenzuela.
References edit
- ^ a b U.S. Geological Survey Geographic Names Information System: Miller Reservoir
- ^ Charles C. Culling from findagrave.com accessed August 4, 2019.
- ^ Hinton, Richard Josiah (1878). The Handbook to Arizona: Its Resources, History, Towns, Mines, Ruins, and Scenery. San Francisco: Payot, Upham & Company. p. 27.
- ^ Gird, Richard (1865). Official Map of the Territory of Arizona, With All the Recent Explorations (Map). 1:950,400. San Francisco: Pacific Map Depot. Retrieved June 21, 2016 – via David Ramsey Map Collection.
- ^ Mallery, J.C.; Ward, J.W. (1876). Department of Arizona (Map). 1:665,300. Washington DC: United States Army. Sheet 3. Retrieved June 15, 2018 – via David Ramsey Map Collection.
- ^ Eckhoff, E.A.; Riecker, P. (1880). Official Map of the Territory of Arizona Compiled from Surveys, Reconnaissances and other Sources (Map). New York: The Graphic Co. Photo-Lith. Retrieved June 21, 2016 – via David Ramsey Map Collection. Showing La Paz–Wikenburg Road and Hardyville–Prescott Road with mileage between locations along the roads.
- ^ Heatwole, Thelma (1991) [1951]. Ghost Towns and Historical Haunts in Arizona. Phoenix: American Traveler Press. pp. 17–18. ISBN 978-0914846109.
- ^ Cullings Well Cemetery from findagrave.com accessed August 4, 2019.