By the turn of the century, about 15 homesteading families called this area home. T. C. Schnebly was an enterprising young man who owned 80 acres, where his home also served as the area's first hotel and general store. He saw a need for regular mail service, and organized its first post office.
T. C. suggested the names, Oak Creek Crossing and Schnebly Station, to the Postmaster General in Washington, but was told these had too many letters for the postmark. His brother, Ellsworth, advised him, "Why don't you name it after your wife?" Sedona had married Theodore Carlton Schnebly on her 20th birthday. Ellsworth Schnebly had moved to Arizona for health reasons, and convinced T. C. and Sedona to join him in red rock country.
When Amanda Miller had borne a daughter on Feb. 24, 1877, in Gorin, Missouri, she "just thought up" the name Sedona for the child because she thought it sounded pretty. So, the name Sedona isn't Spanish, nor Native American. It was "just thought up" by a woman of Pennsylvania Dutch heritage living in Missouri. But like Amanda Miller, we think it sounds pretty, too. |
Theodore Carlton Schnebly, born Dec. 29, 1868; died March 13, 1954.
Sedona Arabella Miller Schnebly, born Feb. 24, 1877; died Nov. , 1950.
The above photo was taken on June 13, 1943. |
