Area History

Eugene McGuire, Sr. and his son arrived in the area in 1910. John Taylor, who had come to Arizona in the early 1880's with his brother Ben, had homestead a claim on the area around Beaver Creek where the cut-off from Highway I-17 is now located. This would soon become McGuireville. McGuire purchased a homestead relinquishment from Taylor and then walked to Jerome to have the place filed in his own name. The deed was signed by President Wilson in 1911.

Just below the place where Dry Beaver Creek joins Wet Beaver Creek there was a farm that had never been too successful because of uncertain irrigating water since Beaver Creek goes underground in at times during the summer months.

About 1910, the Langdon Family lived there with their 3 sons. The Langdons later sold to Albert & Josephine Fain, who had cattle in the district.

When the Fains sold in the 1940s, the land was divided into several parts and has changed hands many times since.

Another personality associated with McGuireville was Lynn Stegman. Stegman came to the Valley in 1930. For about twenty years, Lynn worked for Yavapai County as a road grader and is credited with the creation of many of the roads accessing Lower McGuireville.

Area Land Owner History

Also leaving their residency mark on Beaver Creek Village were Ned Russell who served as the Chairman of the Yavapai Apache Nation and was first native American to direct the BIA; Paul Dyck, artist, writer, and largest private collector of Native American artifacts. Both men served in World War 2 and retired their lives peacefully in Beaver Creek Valley in support of access improvements..

The Reay family mined and homestead the lower lands along the Beaver Creek until the mid 1980s.

Other pre 1960s Lower McGuireville property owners include the Lightfoot, Lane, Sullivan, Kent and Selna families.