James Benton "Ben" Pyeatt was born in Los Angelos, California, December 13, 1869, to Andrew M and Mary Vina Birchett Pyeatt and died December 13, 1948, in Phoenix, Maricopa County, Arizona. He is buried in the Payson Cemetery, Payson, Gila County, Arizona. James married Mary Ellen "Mollie" January on October 1, 1890, in Payson, Arizona. They were divorced before their deaths. Mary was born July 5, 1873, in Austin, Travis County, Texas and died August 10, 1958, in Glendale, Maricopa County, Arizona. She was the daughter of Martin and L January. Mary was buried in the Restheaven Park Cemetery, Glendale, AZ. Her obituary appeared in the Phoexiz Gazette pg 7 issue of 14 Aug 1958. Does anyone have a full text of that obituary?
The children of James and Mary:
Andrew McClure Pyeatt b; 20 Feb 1892 Payson, Gila Co, AZ d: 21 Jan 1963 Phoenix, Maricopa Co, AZ m: 9 Feb 1914 Oregan, Mable Irene Harris b: 22 Jul 1894 Silverton, OR d: 5 Sep 1972 Phoenix, Maricopa Co, AZ (d/o John Franklin Harris and Mary Magdalene Wolf) Andrew and Mable both buried in Restheaven Park Cemetery, Glendale, AZ
Merle Pyeatt
Jean Pyeatt Clarke tjclarke@cybertrails.com
Ollie Pyeatt b: 2 Sep 1894 Payson, Gila Co, AZ m: Vachell Anderson
Nellie Pyeatt b: 20 Sep 1896 Payson, Gila Co, AZ d: 14 Oct 1958 Phoenix, Maricopa Co, AZ m: James Cline
b: July 30, 1900 (or 1899) Payson, Gila Co, AZ d: 26 Oct 1956 (obit 30 Oct 1956 'Arizona Republican' pg 9) Channelview, Harris Co, TX m: 30 Mar 1929 (or 1928) in Kingman, Mohave Co, AZ Minerva Irene Wilson b: 3 Dec 3 1909 Roswell, Chavez Co, NM d: 17 Oct 1978 Wickenburg, Maricopa Co, AZ (both buried in Restheaven Park Cemetery, Glendale, AZ)
Norma May "Dollie" Pyeatt b: 28 Dec 1901 Payson, Gila Co, AZ d: 5 Jun 1999 Florence, AZ m: 28 Aug 1919 Payson, Gila Co, AZ, Joseph Lazear b: 12 may 1895 Pine, AZ d: 8 May 1989 Florence, AZ
Edward James Pyeatt b: OR (still living) m1: Josephine Lazar m2: Daphna ? (still living)
Lloyd Pyeatt b: 1915 Payson, Gila Co, AZ d: 27 Jan 1994 Borrego Springs, CA m: Goldie Teague d: May 2000
According to Jean Clarke, the following appears about James and Mary in the Rim Country book. "James Benton, better known as "Ben" and Mary Ellen, known as "Mollie". Ben and Mollie built their cabin under the lofty Mogollon Rim. In 1889 the Pyeatt School was opened and was named after the Ben Pyeatt family. The school was near their home at the head of a draw - that draw now appears on the map as Pyeatt Draw. By 1891 the school enrolled eight children. Ben bought a place in Gisela, AZ, in 1891 and lived there until 1894. From there they lived in different areas around Arizona.
James' obituary appeared as follows in the "The Arizona Republic" issue of
December 16, 1948:
Miami Burial Due For James Pyeatt
Miami, Dec. 15--Funeral services for James Benton Pyeatt, 75 years of age,
who died on his birthday anniversary Monday at the home of his son, Andrew
Pyeatt, Phoenix, will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday in Payson. Born in Los Angeles, Dec. 13, 1869, he went to Globe in 1875 and shortly thereafter moved to Payson. He was engaged in the ranching business. He has been a member of the Globe Elks lodge many years. Survivors are four sons; Andrew, Phoenix; Lester, Fort Collins, Colo.; Eddie, Rickreall, Ore.; and Lloyd, Globe; three daughters, Mrs. Ollie Anderson, Brawley, Calif.; Mrs. Nellie Cline, Brooks, Ore.; and Mrs. Dollie Lazar, Florence; two sisters, Mrs. Ollie Cooper, Whittler, Calif, and Miss Minnie Pyeatt, Phoenix; one brother, Walter Pyeatt, Madera, Calif., and a number of grandchildren. One grandson, Muriel Pyeatt, was killed at Pearl Harbor. The Globe Elks Lodge will be in charge of services assisted by Warren Strom, exalted ruler of Miami Lodge. Burial will be in Payson Cemetery.
Jean Clarke says that she remembers that Ben was living with her parents, Andrew and Mable Harris Pyeatt and herself at the time of his death. Jean was a young teenager. Her brother, Merle, was the one killed at Pearl Harbor.
Sources:
Andrew McClure Pyeatt sources referenced on his page
James Benton Pyeatt obituary
Jean Clarke of Strawberry, AZ tjclarke@cybertrails.com
