Julia Thomas married Albert Schaffer on the 26th of July, 1893. On that same day, at 1:45pm, Julia transferred ownership of her Phoenix city lot to Albert for the amount of $800.00, not $80.00 as reported. This is evidence that Julia did not quite invest "everything" to finance the expedition of August 11th, 1892 and that her hardship upon returning to Phoenix was something less than has been described.
On August 14th, 1893 Albert purchased a half interest in a city lot owned by Joseph Schaffer, which he purchased from George & Mary Smith for $300.00 on 3/3/1893. The Schaffer clan is still another mystery. Albert claims to have arrived in the United States in 1890, however I believe the actual date was August 31st, 1889. There are also records which suggests an earlier arrival and a connection to Iowa. Six months later, on February 21st, 1894, Albert, Julia, Englbert Schaffer, and one other person filed a claim on a mine "in the south side of Salt River Mountains about tow miles South of the main Range…" "The ledge is gold bearing, rocks of reddish collar in Salt River Mountain Mining District. Maricopa Co." ", and shall be known as the Montezuma mining claim."
Years later, Albert worked the First Chance No.1 & First Chance No.2 mining claim in the Vulture mining district. (John B. Israel deceased one of the locators.) I am still trying to understand the name change to Israel and the Schaffer's religious beliefs if anyone has insight.
I can't help wonder how Julia and the others came to find the Montezuma claim. After the failed expedition in 1892, Julia had the confidence to try again, this time without the Petrasch brothers.
It just a very strange coincidence.
