Perry Williams: early Maricopa hotel entrepreneur

Perry Williams arrived in rural Maricopa at a time when it was just beginning to build its infrastructure as a railroad junction. 

Like most entrepreneurs, he recognized the opportunities available and was not afraid to take a risk.  He immediately put his financial resources and experience to work building a hotel and stocking it with a nest of bobcats and beautiful basketry from the nearby Native American communities. He befriended the citizens of Maricopa and those throughout the territory and was popular with the newspapers and politicians alike in the Phoenix and Tucson areas. 

Not content with a thriving hotel business, he began to buy up land in Maricopa and brought well-drilling companies into the area to explore the possibilities of growing crops. They bought his land at a handsome price, and he left the country with money in the bank for new ventures in Phoenix.  

Williams bought several houses in Phoenix and invested heavily in the stock market, making a lot of money. However, the Great Depression happened, and, like most Americans during this time, he was wiped out financially. Soon thereafter, he moved to California and faded into oblivion…except for an unexpected correspondence from his son years later, who reassured everyone that Williams was back on his feet before long and doing quite well financially.  

Submitted photo

Editor’s note:  Maricopa factoids are a regular feature on InMaricopa.com. They are provided by the Maricopa Historical Society, a branch of the Friends of the Maricopa Public Library. Most of the photos and information come from “Reflections of a Desert Town” by author and historical society chairperson Patricia Brock.