Former Holbrook resident John Petkovich, who now resides in Prescott, is reaching out in hopes of finding some of his family history. Petkovich lived in Holbrook in the 70’s, and is a fifth generation Arizonan. “I have had family that have been all over the northern half of Arizona. I am wanting to try and see if anyone has any old photos, paintings, or even tack of my aunt and uncle. Their names were Jess Smith and Lillian Wilhelm Smith. Jess was a brother to my great-grandmother, Janie Taylor. Janie was married to John Taylor, who had been in the trading industry for decades. The Sawmill, Ol Jaito, Copper State and Red Lake were some of the trading posts he owned at one time or another,” stated Petkovich. His Uncle Jess also worked the Hashknife Ranch back in 1915 and in the early 20’s. According to Petkovich, he also worked the OW Ranch twice, over by Young. “He and my Aunt Lillian lived in Winslow in 1915, and the 20’s; Scottsdale in the mid to upper 1920’s. They had a small resort with horses in Oak Creek from the upper 30’s to the 40’s. They then lived in Cottonwood until 1958, then Prescott where he passed away in 1960. My Aunt Lillian died in 1972 at the Pioneer Home in Prescott,” he explained. Petkovich went on to say that his uncle was a “real cowboy, of the dying breed.” His uncle was also involved with the trading industry and was partners with Jot Styles at the Tuba City Trading Post. “My Aunt Lillian was the illustrator for Zane Grey. She and my Uncle Jess traveled all over Arizona, California and even Catalina Island with Zane. She was also a very well-known artist in the 20’s-50’s. Both Uncle Jess and Aunt Lillian are buried in Prescott, at the National Cemetery,” he said. Petkovich said he has studied his family for years, and realizes that is pretty late in life to try and find this type of information. “But because of who they were, there are a lot of photos that might be back in someone’s closet, or paintings as well that I’d love to see.” Petkovich asks anyone who knew of his aunt and uncle to please reach out to him at barnoneplumbing@gmail.com.
