Mary Maude Shelly Porter was the first baby girl born in the “Mormon” Settlement, known as Allen’s Camp. The settlement was one of the four settlements that were established on the Little Colorado River. Allen’s Camp is the only surviving settlement of the four, it is now known as Joseph City.

In 1878 Snowflake, Arizona was established as the Stake or spiritual center for the Mormons ( the word stake comes from the stakes that were used in holding down the tent which housed the Ark of the Covenant as it was carried by the Israelites as they walked through the desert for forty years) At that time, the settlements were abandoned as the church members moved to other locations, such as Snowflake, Woodruff, St. Johns, Joseph City, Safford, Mesa and even to Mexico.

The Shelleys, the Porters, the Bushmans and others would move to the Heber, Arizona area for the summers, plant their corn, beans, potatoes and other crops, harvest them in the Fall and return to Joseph City for schooling and the winter.

As more families joined them a community was established. They were visited by one of the leaders of the Mormon church, Heber J. Grant, who established the first unit of the church, called a Branch, and soon after the community decided to call their town Heber, honoring him.

Mary Maud Shelley married Joseph Isaiah Porter and they settled permanently in Heber. Dean Porter is a grandson and named his antique stores after his Pioneer Grandmother.

Visit Our Stores...

Heritage Antiques & Social Hall
(Snowflake)


Mary Maude's Antiques, Country, Contemporary
& Ashley Furniture
(Heber)


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