b"Schoolmarm continued from page 18Ruffner, was teaching in Strawberry and Jane in Rye. All three were teaching on temporary certificates, but that November they were all renewed. Frances joined with Pauline O'Neill (right) in founding the Horse Fred Comes AlongFrances returned to Pine after the holidays of 1887 tosuffrage organization that re-open the school. This time she was accompanied by Charlie on horseback so she could take horse Fred15 years later, on the dawn with her. Whenever weather permitted, Fannie rode Fred through the beautiful Rim country. Before herof statehood, would see the eight-month term at Pine was over, Frances decided she wanted to take the teaching job in Payson and Buckybattle won and women given ONeill arranged for a new teacher to be certified forfull voting rights.Pine. The Payson school had a more manageable number of students at 12.Along the Agua Fria them out of school. She complained to the trustees andat the new The next school term found her at Stoddard, a copperdemanded the boys be expelled. Head trustee Grannybrick home mining camp along the Agua Fria some six miles northHull, as he was called, refused to expel them. He saidin Cotton-of Mayer. There were only 12 pupils at the Stoddardhe would spank them and send them back to school.wood but school as well, and Frances arranged room and boardFannie resigned and returned home to Cottonwood.the minister at the Jim Lane ranch. She rode to her new job fromThe trustees tried to get her to return and told her theywas missing. The 2 p.m. wedding ceremony Cottonwood on Fred and rode to Dewey, 10 miles awaywould expel the two knife wielders if she would, but shetime was nearing and still no minister.on weekends to visit her cousin Flora. had had enough.Fannies cousin, Wallace Willard, said he would go get Her next teaching assignment was at Mayer. The schoolTime to Marry the preacher and bring him across the river dead or district had just been organized and she was the firstWith two years behind her on the rugged Yavapaialive. Wallace, known as one of the best horsemen in teacher. She was given room and board at the stageCounty pioneer school teacher circuit, Fannie Willardthe territory, rode off. The minister lived close to the station of Joe Mayer, and it was an exciting place to livewas more than ready to marry Johnny Munds, who hadMiddle Verde crossing where Wallace swam his horse since the stage between Prescott and Phoenix, along thereceived his degree from Stockton Business College andthrough the swollen flood waters. Once across, he told old Black Canyon trail, stopped there with passengerswas back in the Verde Valley. Mary Willards two-storythe Reverend Windes he would have to come back and mail. After the six month school year ended atbrick house in Cottonwood was nearly finished. Sheacross with him to perform the ceremony since he was Mayer, Frances returned home to Cottonwood to prepareinsisted that Johnny and Fannie wait to be married untilthe only minister in the Verde Valley. The preacher for her wedding that was scheduled for December. Nothe house was finished so they could have the ceremonywas scared, but he knew Wallace meant what he said. more had she settled in at home than she was asked to goin it. It was completed in 1890, four years after it wasWallace was already saddling the preachers best horse.to Jerome to teach where a new school district had juststarted.been organized. Wallace rigged his rope around the preachers horse so The brick home had a fireplace in every room andhe could keep its head high and above water then told Jerome Last Teaching Post the home was exquisitely furnished, complete with aWindes to mount up. Wallace secured the rope to the It was 1889 and Jerome had created a school roomSteinway piano in the front room upstairs. The weddingpreachers horse to his saddle horn and headed into between two saloons. In fact, the schoolroom itselfand banquet were set for March 5, 1890, with thethe raging river. When Wallace looked back during the had not too long before been a saloon and occasionallywedding ceremony at 2 p.m. with the Reverend Windescrossing all he could see was the head of the preachers drunken miners would enter the school room byof Middle Verde across the river officiating.horse and the preachers head and shoulders bobbing mistake. Frances found her living quarters were just asabove the muddy floodwaters.bad. She lived upstairs from a man and wife and the manNuptials Dampenedwould frequently come home drunk and get into an all- It didnt quite come off as planned. The day before theOnce across, Wallace wrapped a blanket and slicker night brawl with his wife. wedding, heavy rain hit at the head of the Verde River.around Windes and they rode off in a dead heat for John decided to bring his father and stepmother acrossMary Willards home. It was dark when they arrived. One day at recess a Mexican student and an Anglo gotthe river from the Spring Creek ranch a day early in caseOnce the preacher was dried off and given a change of into a fight and both pulled knives. Frances orderedthe river flooded. Next day all of the guests had arrivedclothes, the wedding ceremony was heldat 8 p.m.six hours later than scheduled. The guests had all remained, knowing Wallace would not let the Reverend Windes leave the bride and groom at the altar.Horse ThiefJohn and Fannie lived at the Willard Springs ranch at first. John continued to help his father with his cattle on the Spring Creek ranch and move them when needed to the Munds Park range near Flagstaff. Young Johnny, who did not yet look of age, had been riding the range near the Willard Springs ranch shortly after his marriage. When he returned home he saw a stranger on horseback driving horses into the ranch corral. The stranger yelled, Watch the gate kid while I catch a horse.As the man started to rope one of Johns horses, John pulled his rifle from the saddle scabbard and yelled back, Hold it, those are my horses. The stranger went for his gun. Johnny fired and killed his first man who turned out to be a wanted horse thief named Jimmy Wilson. Becomes DeputyJohn and Frances spent their time between ranches in the Verde Valley and at Munds Park for the next few years. In January of 1895, Sheriff George Ruffner appointed Johnny Munds a deputy sheriff. John and Mary Willards two-story brick house in Cottonwood had a fireplace in every room and was exquisitely furnished. Frances moved to Prescott with their infant son William 20 August 2019"