History: Top cat

Perry Williams wore many hats.

The entrepreneur built Hotel Williams in 1884 on the south side of the train tracks, just a few feet from the rails. A fire destroyed it in 1913.

He became the postmaster after the post office moved from Maricopaville to what’s now Maricopa in 1887. It’s said he ran the post office out of the hotel.

He is remembered as a cat lover. He owned at least one bobcat, which he kept at the post office as a tourist attraction for several years.

Williams eventually sold his land holdings in Maricopa and moved to Phoenix.