Eddie Armer booksigning at Bootleg Alley Saturday

Eddie Armer is well known throughout Gila County

Local author a descendant of pioneers

By Carole Mathewson

Gila County native and historian Eddie Armer, who recently wrote and published “The Silent Winds of the West,” will appear at Bootleg Alley Antiques & Art from noon to 3 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 29, essentially for a book signing. He will also entertain.  Bootleg Alley is located at 520 W. Main Street in Payson.

A talented musician, Armer will sing selections from his recent CD, “Country Lovin’,” which, along with his book, will be available for purchase.  With him will be fiddle players Billy Ichidia and Fred Martin, along with other musicians. Armer’s wife, Doris, chose the titles for both the book and the CD.

Armer describes “The Silent Winds of the West” as “a true history of a totally deaf gentleman who came to Gila County from Washington, D.C., in 1884 to become a rancher.  He owned the 76 Ranch, located at the point where Rye Creek and Tonto Creek come together on the old Beeline Highway. It is the present home of Judy and Troy Neal."     

     
The pioneer gentleman owned the 76 Ranch beginning in 1910 and died in 1943.  “But,” Armer said, “his wife kept the ranch until her death in 1959.  It was sold to Slena Brown in 1960.”  The pioneer gentleman in question was Charles Clifford Griffin, and it is Griffin’s great-grandson, Eddie Armer, who tells Griffin’s story.

Armer, a descendant of several pioneer Gila County families, is well known throughout Gila County, as a politician, writer of local history, song writer, poet, singer and guitarist.  He has a widespread reputation as a superb conversationalist and story teller.