William J. Flake

William Jordan Flake Cabin built in 1858 and now located on Stinson and Hunt Sts. in Snowflake, Az.

William Jordan Flake (July 3, 1839 – August 10, 1932) was a prominent member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, who helped settle parts of Arizona, and was imprisoned at the Yuma Territorial Prison for polygamy.

Life and career Flake was born in Anson County, North Carolina, the fourth son of Agnes Love and James Madison Flake. Flake was called by church leaders to enter into a plural marriage in 1868. Lucy agreed to the marriage, because of her belief in the LDS Church; she even helped choose his second wife. William Flake and Prudence Kartchner were married in October 1868. Flake and Kartchner would have seven children. William left with a wagon train and herds of cattle for the Little Colorado River region of Arizona and arrived in January 1878. Despite much hardship after spending 13 months on the trail and a winter living in stables and wagons, the settlement survived. In the fall of 1878, Erastus Snow, an LDS Apostle, visited and joined with Flake naming the town Snowflake: "Snow for me and Flake for you."

On December 5, 1884, Flake was tried in Prescott, Arizona in the District Court and found guilty for practice of polygamy and unlawful cohabitation, Flake received a $500 fine and was imprisoned in the Yuma Territorial Prison for six months. While in prison, Flake still served as one of the counselors to the bishop of the Snowflake ward. Flake was treated humanely in prison, reportedly allowed to work how he pleased, read as much as he pleased, and eat "excellent food". (great-grandson, and Jeff Flake's uncle) Former Speaker of the Arizona House and later State Senator Jake Flake

In 1959, Flake was inducted into the Hall of Great Westerners of the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum.

Flake founded Snowflake, Arizona with Erastus Snow, and the town bears their names.