Family Histories: Foreman

Florence, Arizona 10/26/95

Reverend Bryan Sherry, JCL
Church of the Assumption
221 East 8th. St,
Florence, Arizona 85232

Dear Father Sherry:

In behalf of Charles and Emma Foreman's family I wish to congratulate you and the Anniversary Committee in commemorating the 125th, Anniversary of the founding of The Assumption of Mary Parish. It represents an enormous amount of planning and hard work. May, Our Blessed Mother in Heaven rejoice with us on this very special occasion,

The David Richard Foreman family settled in Florence in, 1880, establishing a home east of town, Our father, Charles Meredith Foreman was a prominent Florence cattle man having ranches along the Gila River and in the Black Mountain located between, Florence and Tucson. He and mother, Emma Frances Sears, were married on June 13th, 1989 in Tempe Arizona and immediately established the family home at 424 E. 8th. St., which is still family owned, Their family included: Pauline Perry, Charles M. Jr., Betty Browne, John A, all deceased, and me, Violet White.

Father was elected sheriff of Pinal County in 1911, in a landslide victory, passed away before taking the oath of office on Jan, 1912. Mother continued to reside here with her little family in the family home. A home of spiritual guidance, love, respect and devotion. Our gracious Lord let us enjoy her presence in the family home for ninety-six years. All through those years she never wished to live anywhere else. She often spoke of the early life they lived here in Florence, a small friendly town, of the relationships of families to each other always ready to help a friend or neighbor. The streets were lined with trees, mostly adobe houses and wide sidewalks. Before the present church was built in 1912, a priest only visited Florence every six months and at that time Mass was held in The First Catholic Church of the Assumption,1870, or what is now referred to as The Chapel of the Gila, Mother recalled that this was a busy time --- Baptisms, weddings to be preformed and Masses for the deceased members of the church. She and our father were witnesses to many of these events.

As a true native of Florence I can think of no other place I would want to live--all the joys and sorrows of a wonderful life shared with family and friends, It's been great.

Fondly,

Violet White