Emily Scarborough
7/04/1830 - 4/20/1910
This is the history of pioneer Emily Scarborough Adams, a resident that currently calls our cemetery home.
Emily holds special significance to the William’s family as she is the mother of Texas Anna Adams (wife of Allen Preston Hill) and Jeff Adams, Maricopa County's 1st Sheriff after statehood. Emily “Emma” Scarborough was married to John Quincy Adams, who arrived in 1867 and settled very nearby the Williams-Crosscut just south of present Van Buren. John helped Jack Swilling and Col. Gray to dig the Swilling ditch and then they moved on to California, returning to Phoenix in 1877.
By 1900, they had moved again to Yuma, which is where "Q" as he was known was buried in 1907. Emily returned to live with her children in Phoenix and died at the home of her son at 523 S. 7th Ave., which is where the funeral procession started from 21 Apr 1910.
Unfortunately, like many residents, we no longer have a headstone for Mrs. Adams.
Special thanks to Jeffrey Petrie for providing the family history information shared above.
If you are interested in being a contributor, please visit our headstones page and complete our form.
