William "Billy" Howard SWITZER came to Flagstaff at the age of 14, with his father William Asa SWITZER a Civil War Veteran, born about 1841 in KY, and his mother Lou Ann Rebecca OFFUTT born January 10, 1846 in KY and died July 4, 1943 in San Deigo. William and Lou Ann left Kentucky with their three of children on a train for San Fransico in 1874. Lived in LA in 1800 with five children. They moved to Flagstaff in 1883. Filed a claim for a homestead in present day SWITZER Canyon and lived there for 9 years before returning to California. "Billy got a Job milking cows at a 1.00 a day and saved enough for a ticket back to Flagstaff. William Howard SWITZER was born 1869 in Kentucky and died August 28, 1967 in Flagstaff at age 97. He established a solid saddle and harness business, eventually, buying the Sam Finley building downtown and opening Switzer's Hardware. Switzer was also a clerk on the board of Trustees in 1909 in Flagstaff and was involved in the school system, Rotary Club and the Historical Society. He attended Northern Arizona University. He had several brothers and sisters. SWITZER canyon is named after the family as it is where the SWITZER's homestead was located. September 4, 1964, W.H. Switzer's ninety-fifth birthday, was proclaimed as "William Howard Switzer Day" in Arizona by Gov. Paul J. Fannin. William married "Nettie" Mattie Ardella LOCKWOOD born April 1876 in KS. They had nine children, seven of who lived to maturity: (1)Baby UNKNOWN, (2) Albert O. SWITZER born 1900 AZ, died 1903 AZ (3)Reba S. SWITZER born June 4, 1901 AZ, died Oct. 10, 1989 San Diego, married March 2, 1929 to John 'Mac' P. MCVEY lived Fort Morgan, Colorado (She raised step daughter Catherine McVEY born January 1925) (4) Ardell SWITZER born January 7, 1903 AZ died October 1990 Prescott, Yavapai, AZ married "Guy" Stanley SYKES. (5)Bertha Louise SWITZER born September 20, 1904 died March 24 2003 Sedona, Coconino, AZ lived California married William A. McCREA. (6) Agnes SWITZER born August 18, 1906 married Chet ANDERSON had two children: Richard ANDERSON born December 5, 1938 Flagstaff and Jane ANDERSON born May 8, 1945. (7)Ruth Mary SWITZER born October 10, 19088)William Howard SWITZER born 15 August 1913 died February 17, 1993 Phoenix, Maricopa, AZ. (9) Edward Kenneth SWITZER born October 28, 1916 died December 1985 Sun City, Maricopa, AZ. (10) Margaret Elaine SWITZER born June 17, 1919 died July 7, 1919. Williams grandparents were Nathaniel SWITZER and Elizabeth Susan SHROPSHIRE