[1] Historically, it was a stagecoach station, and then a settlement formed around an ore mill serving the Tip Top Mine, on the Agua Fria River in Yavapai County in what was then Arizona Territory.

The Swillings owned "Gillett Real Estate", where they sold lots ranging from $100 to $250 depending on the location, a cattle and horse ranch and a vegetable farm in partnership with L.A.

[6] In the spring of 1878, word reached the Swillings that Colonel Jacob Snively, a family friend, had been killed by the Apaches in the Wickenburg Mountains near the peak called White Picacho.

Mr. Swilling and his companions returned to Gillett after exhuming Col. Snively's remains at White Picacho Mountains on April 23.

Prior to his arrest Mr. Swilling had developed a habit of using a combination of narcotics and liquor to relieve the pain caused by old injuries, thus he was not very healthy.

The sanitary conditions inside the prison at Yuma were terrible and combined with the August heat, aggravated Mr. Swilling's chronic ill health.

Maricopa County Sheriff Lindley Orme sent deputy Henry Garfias to investigate the situation.

During his investigation Garfias was told by witnesses that on the day of the last robbery they spotted Henry Seymour, the blacksmith, with a rifle under his arm along with several gunny sacks.

[12] As soon as he found out that the next stagecoach was about to arrive in Gillett, Garfias hid close to the Agua Fria crossing and waited.

[12] Thus, Seymour, the "Ghost Bandit", was finally caught when he attempted to rob his fourth stage coach that year.

[1] Tourist and locals in Arizona can visit Gillett by taking Interstate 17 (I-17) North and exiting at Table Mesa Road.

Take West Table Mesa Road, cross the shadow Agua Fria River and continue to drive for approximately 0.3 miles to Gillett.