Joe Mayer

Joseph Mayer (1846 – November 27, 1909) was an American businessman, gold prospector and pioneer who founded the town of Mayer, Arizona.

Early years Mayer (birth name: Joseph Hoffmayer) was born in Olean, New York, to Alsatian immigrants. He didn't get along with his strict father and believed that his family favored his brother "Gus" over him. Therefore, he ran away from home when he was a teenager. He worked in various places including a cigar store and a cracker factory. After living on his own for several months he became interested in joining the troupe of a wild west circus which was performing in his town.

Mayer was assigned to do various chores in the circus and he visited many western towns. Eventually, he did what so many other American easterners were doing at the time and moved to the west coast in search of gold. He changed his surname to "Mayer" because he did not want his family in New York to find him and went to Silver City, New Mexico. There he met Sarah Belle Wilbur.

Big Bug Stage Station

He and Sarah moved to Globe, Arizona, where they were married. Mayer and Sarah had four children. The children were named Mary Bell (1878–1964), Martha Gertrude (1881–1967), Wilbur Joseph (1882–1955) and Winifred Lucille (1892–1983). He spent a year mining in Globe; however by 1881, Mayer moved and began mining in the Tip Top Mine by Cottonwood Creek in Central Arizona. There he opened a restaurant and a store. Although he was successful as a businessman, his businesses were affected by the decline of the mine and the decline of the mining camp which depended on it. On one occasion he had to go to the city of Prescott and decided to take a short cut from the Black Canyon Trail. During his trip, he made a stop at the “Big Bug Stage Station”, a stage stop on the Black Canyon Stage Line. The station was located on the outskirts of Big Bug Creek. Mayer was impressed with the area and he purchased the “Big Bug Stage Station” for $1,200 in gold. Mayer then moved there with his wife Sarah and children. and in 1889, one of the largest and finest deposits of onyx was discovered in the town of Mayer. Mayer established a brickyard and in 1902, he used his bricks to build a business block, now known as the "Mayer Business Block", across the street from the Mayer Hotel. The block included a saloon with a dance floor, a barber and bath shop, a mercantile shop and a general store.

On November 28, 1909, Mayer heard a noise outside his house and, believing that there was an animal or thief, he took his rifle and ran outside. He tripped as he ran and accidentally shot himself. The wounds which he received were fatal and he died soon after. His funeral was held in the Sacred Heart Church of Prescott. Mayer was buried in Mountain View Cemetery located at 1051 Willow Creek Rd. in Prescott.