T,ARCE!\,\ PE:\'.\7KG1'0;\' ( l\lRS. \\"){. F. SCOTT), about I8i2-
THE J>ENNINGTONS
PIONEERS OF EARLY ARIZONA
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A HISTORICAL SKETCH
BY
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·ROBERT H., EORBES ,,- /I
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PUBLISHED BY THE
ARIZONA ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY
1919
ILLUSTRATIONS
Frantispiece: Larcena Pennington (Mrs. William F. Scott), about
1872.
1. Old Fort Buchanan, December 7, 1914.
z. The Pen11ington hon1e on the Santa Cruz in 1861; a stone house
loop-holed for defense.
3. TJ1e olcl Apache trail, east of I-Iel vetia, Arizona.
4. A scene in 1'ubac (1915), once the principal town in Arizona.
5. Jane Pennington ( :tv1rs. Williarn Crumpton), about 1885.
6. The ruins of the Sopori ranch house, built on high ground, and
looped-holed for defense.
7. The Canoa, an in1portant station in early days, and the scene
of many tragedies.
8. The Sopori cemetery sho\ving the graves of James and Ann
Pe.nnington.
9. Tumacacori Mission from the South\vest, 1915.
MAPS
r. Map of Ne\v Mexico and Arizona, 1858, sho,ving old ,vagon
routes. Con1piled fron1 n1aps of the War Department, and
other sources.
2. The FeTguson n1ap of Tucson, 1862, sho,ving original Spanish
nan1es of streets. Arroyo Street is the original name of
Pennington Street.
3. The Foren1an map of Tucson, 1872, sho,ving American street
names.
4. Sketch map of old Fort Crittenden, ,vith localities named by
John H. Cady, once a soldier at Crittenden.
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THE PENNINGTONS
AboLLt the year I 8.32 t,.vo of tl1e co111n1on peo1)le,
Elias Green Pen11i11gton of Soutl1 Carolina and
J Lilia Ann I-:Iood of North Carolina, young and of
good courage, joined fortunes for better or ,vorse
and turned tl1eir faces westward ,vitl1 tl1e tide of
e1nigration tl1at f ollovvecl i11 Boone's footste1)s across
the Appalachian ra. nges, tl1rougl1 the clense forests
of I(e11tucl{y a11d Ten11essee to tl1e Mississip1)i.
The young people n1a.de their first l101ne 11ear
Nashville, ,vl1ere they e11gag·ecl i11 pioneer farming
fQr about fi,re years. But the \\Test agai11 ternpted
then1; they load eel tl1ei r l10usel10ld goods and f arn1-
ing tools upo11 wagons dravvn by slov,, 111oving oxe11,
and) vvitl1 their three yo11n.g cl1ilclren, Ji111, Eller1 and
Larcna, started for Texas) vvhose inclepe.nde11ce l1ad
recently been acl1ie,,ed, a11d ,vl1ose ,,ast extent a11d
u11k:novvn resources attractecl tl1e adven.turous SJ)irits
of tl1at day. After a jour11e)' of 1nany can1p fires
tl1e l1opef ul a11d ,,igorous 3rou11g family settled 011
ne,.v la11cl 11ear Ho11ey Gro,,e, Texas, about fory
miles east of Bo11l1a111 i11 Fa1111i11 County. Here
Pe11nington remainecl about fifteen years, farn1i11g
and f reighti11g f ro1n Shreve1)ort and Jeferson to
Bonl1am. Tl1e growing fan1il)' soon increased to
twelve cl1ildren, eigl1t girls and four boys,-an ac-
1
2 THE PENNINGTOS
tive, resourceful, strong-willed sort, no doubt,-well
suited to the exiger1cies of frontier life, "vhich in
Texas at tl1at tin1e was r1ot ·ithout danger from the
Comanches, and close to the incide11ts of the Mexican
War.
But as the country became more thicJ{ly settled1
the growi11g number of r1ear neigl1bors, with their
fence-j un11)ing and crop-destroying cattle, annoyed
Pe11nington, vvl10, lil{e 111ost frontiersmen, wanted
room, and ,vild game, a11cl freed om from the disadv
an tag es of too close associa tio11 \,\ri tl1 his fellows.
So, la,,ing l1is family bel1ind, he cruised to tl1e
West and Soutl1 in searcl1 of -still a11other and 1nore
seclt1ded l1ome, finally choosing a location about one
hundred and fifty miles southvvest, near Keechi, not
far from the Brazos Ri,,er. During his absence tl1e
motl1er died and ,;vas burie.d at Honey Grove, leaving
tl1e family, the )'Oungest a cl1ild in arms, in the
care of the older cl1ildren. So, din1inished by one,
tl1e Penni11gtons, tl1irteen in 11un1ber, again loaded
tl1eir ,vagons and restlessly pushed on to a newer
frontier. Here they ren1ained three or four )'ears
vvl1e11 it was fi11ally resolved, early in I 8 5 7, to join
a wago11 train for Golden Califorr1ia.
The trair1, whicl1 v\1as ,vell equipped and provisionecl,
was co1n1na11ded b)r one Sutton, the Penningtons
ha,,ir1g tJ1ree vvagons dravvn by oxen and n1ules.
Tl1e road led ,vest\'vard by easy stages and without
misadventure u11til they encountered tl1e flooded Rio
Pecos, "''hicl1 tl1ey "vere obliged to ford. Sturdy
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PIONEERS OF E.1-\RLY .l\RIZONA 3
Jim, tl1e oldest boy, a11d his fatl1er's right l1and man,
gt1ided l1is oxen tl1rougl1 the flood, swi1nming l1is
horse besicle tl1e111 ancl encouraging tI1e leaders by
his speecl1 as 011ly l1e k:i1ew 1 10"'', u11til tl1ey clraggecl
the wago11s tl1rougl1.
A nun1ber of cattle clri ven vvitl1 tl1e trai11 ,vere
drowned at tl1is poi11t, but t 1 1e 111ost serious da111age
was to the fa1nily Bible ancl to tl1e cl1ildren's scl'1ool
boo 1{S 1 wl1icl1 ,vere i11j ured by tl1e ·1,vater. Once
safely tl1roug·l1, loads , ,vere unpacl<ed, ,vater-soakecl
articles were dried, tl1c ,vago11s repacl{ed and the
jour11e)' rest1n1ed. I-<ron1 tl1e Pecos tl1e route la)'
tl1r0ugl1 Paso del Norte, ttp tl1e Rio Grande to Mesilla,
tl1,rou.gl1 Cook.e's Canyo11 and vvest,vard ·a cross
rolli11g plai11s to tl1e bot1ndary of present-day Arizona,
into ,,vhicl1 tl1ey J)assecl tJ1rougl1 Doubt£ ul
Canyon. F ron1 tl1is poi11t tl1ey crossed tl1e Sa11
Simon ·valle)r, tl1reacled tl1e Jong a11cl dangerous
f\pache Pass, 1)usl1ed 011 across tl1e Sul 1 Jl1ur S1Jring
valle)r to D rag·oo11 S 1 )ri11g·s, crossecl tl1e Sa11 I > eclro,
probably soutl1 of n1ocler11 ]3e11son, a11cl fi11ally, i11
Ju11e, 1857, reacl1ed Olcl Fort Bucl1a11an on tl1e Sonoita,
v,rl1ere Ca1)tai11 Evvell \.\1 as tl1e11 i11 co1n111and.
The road O\.·er ,vl1ic]1 tl1e little cara,,an JJassed
,vas a dangerous one, a g·t1ard alwa)rS being 1)laced
at .nigl1t, vvith a ciouble guard at A.J)ache Pass, of
sinister histc)r)'· For fear of tl1e Ar)acl1es little
l1unting was do11e, but a11 occasional a11in1al was
slat1ghterecl out of the clrive11 l1erd. Tl1e train vvas
well supplied vvith bacon, flour, dried fruits and
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PIONEERS OF EARLY ARIZONA 5
otl1er pro,,isio11s; a11cl with a sn1all stock of l1ousel1old
goods and far111ing tools. Progress vvas slow.
Fifteen miles was a goocl day's jour11ey, t}1e clistance
travelled being go,,ernecl by tl1e vvateri11g places
along tl1e road.
The Arizo11a of 1857 \Vas cl ,,\/i.lclerness al111ost L111-
l<now11 to A111erica,ns exce1)t alo11g· overla11d li11es of
travel. T11ere were a f evv sqL1alicl 1\1exican settlc-
1nents, and tl1e lVIissions of tl1e Sa11ta Cruz valley;
bea,,er hu11ters fro111 tl1e nortl1 and east had crosse:d
it; and follovving the Gadscle11 1)urcl1ase the govern111:ent
bega11 tJ1e establisl1111ent of n1ilitary J)osts
witl1in t.l1e newly acqL1irccl territory, at tl1at ti1ne clttached
to Doha Ana CoL1nty, Nevv lVIexico. Al111ost
all busi11ess related in so1ne v,ray to t11e Unitecl States
a:r111y. Contracts for wild l1ay \vere let by the governn1ent
to supply the ca,,alry, a11cl ,.vl1ipsavvecl lun1-
ber was brougl1t clo,.vn fron1 tl1e 111ountai11s for tl1e
construction of 111ilitary J)Osts u11cler ,vl1ose protection
little farn1s began to ])rocluce l101ne g·rovv11 su1)plies.
F' reigl1ti11g \.Vas perl1aps the n1ost i1nportant
business of tl1at day, n1i]itary SUJJplies, mercl1andise
for trade, macl1iner1r for tl1e n1i11es, and co111111oclities
of all kincls, were brougl1t h1111clrecls of 111iles
fron1 East a11d vVest, by 111ea11s of slovv n1oving ox
tean1s. There were but f evv .d.on1estic cattle at tl1is
time, altl1ougl1 thei-e were considerable 11 u1nbers of
w1ld horses an,d cattle. Tl1ese were someti11 1es
l1unted, and s01netin1es ,vere ca1)turecl by 111e-ans of
extended lines of l1orsemen con,rergi11g upon cor-
6 TII- E PENNINGTONS
rals arra11ged to recei ·ve tl1e·n1. A11telope, deer,
bear, a11d v.1ild turl{eys vi!ere 11t1merous, and the
Apaches regarded tl1e ,,v l1ole of tl1is ,,ast regio11 as
tl1eir hu11ting grou11d.
In its general outli11es, of course, tl1e cou11try was
tl1e sa111e tl1e11 as no,-v, bt1t in details it difered
greatl3r. E,,eryvvl1ere tl1e !)la.ins ,-vere grass co,,ered
to a,1 ex.tent unl<no,v11 at tl1e· prese11t ti1ne, tl1e ra.nges
being no,:v as a rule o,1er-grazed. The. ,ralley botto111s
were coverecl by a clense growth of 1)ere1111ial
Sacato11 grass, oftenti111es as l1igh as tl1e l1ead of a
J1orsc111a11 a11d so tl1ick: and tall tl1at c.attle, horses
a11d n1e.11 vvere easily co11cealed by it. Indeed, i11
ea;·ly days it was necessary to drive cattle out u1)011
tl1e 111esas at tl1e ti111e of the rodeos, vvl1ere tl1ey
could be see11 and l1andlecl. Tl1e upla11ds were ,vell
co,,cred ,vitJ1 cl ,rariet:}' of 11utritious grasses, sucl1 as
the })ere11nial blacl, gra111a, a,11d tl1e 111a.ny an·nuals
that SJ)ring i11to g·rowtl1 cluri11g tl1e sum111er rai11y
seaso,1. Tl1e abunclant ,·cgetatio11, botl1 on l1igl1-
lancls ancl in ,1 alle), b<.1tton1s, re:,trained tl1e flood
,,vaters resulting f ron1 tl1e torre11tial stor111s of tl1e
region. St) tl1at tl1ere v.ras no erosio11 in valley botto111s.
I11stcacl. tl1e r(1i11f all soak:ed i11to the soil a11d
111adc grass. Slc>ugl1s a11cl 111arsl1y places ,.vere
co1111no11 alo11g tl1e San Si111011, the San Pedro, tl1e
Sant,1 Cruz, and otl1er strea111s, a11cl even bea,•er
,vere abu11da11t i11 J)1aces ,;1.,}1ere it wot1ld now be imI)
Ossible f<)r tl1en1 to li,1e. Tl1e abundant grass
1nade rang·e fires co111111or1, tJ1ese often being set by
the India11s to dri,,e ga111e.
PIO EERS OF EARTY ARIZONA 7
In co1n1)arison \\ritl1 n1oclerr1 Arizona, sl1orn of its
grass by cattle a11d ,vitl1 its bare ,1alley botto1ns torn
open by erosion, the 1)rin1iti·ve vv ildcrness of sixty
years ago vvas ,,e.rclure clacl a11d beautiful, a11d
doubtless attracti ,,e to tl1e ad ve11tt1rous A111erica11s
wl10 e11tered, 1)rest11nably 1-1ndcr the protectio11 of
tl1eir go,,er11n1er1t, just before tl1e Civil \Var.
At Fort Buchanan, tl1c l1ardshi1)s of tl1e journey
began to tell u1)on our tra,1elers. Some of tl1e ani-
1nals g·a,,e out ;1ncl Larce11a Pe1111i11g·tor1 fell ill witl1
mou11tai.n f e,,er. Tl1e fa111ily, Vi,itl1 tl1eir tl1ree
,va,gons and their cattle, ,vere tl1us forcecl to drOJ)
ot1t of tl1e trai11. Wl1ile \Vaiti11g for the stricl{e11
sister to reco,rer the men undertoo]c a contract for
wild }1ay for tl1e Fort, whicl1, of course, ,vas garriso11ed
by ca'valry. Laboriously, witl1 sc3,tl1es, l1and
ral{.es, forlcs an-cl wagons tl1e3r con11)letcd tl1eir contract,
but vvere then obliged to v,rait vvecl<s for tl1eir
pay. Meanti1ne, the Apacl1es raided tl1em and
drove of their stocl<, lea\ring tl1en1 in gri111 ear11est
i11 tl1e l1eart of an u11l{11ovv11 a11d dangerous cou11try.
Let ltS J)ause for a mome11t to beco111e better acquai11ted
vvith tl1e n1e111bers of tl1is J1ardy family at
tl1e ti1ne whe11 ad ,rerse fortt111e call eel upo11 tl1e1n to
face c1, life of l1ardsl1iJJ and aclventure n1ost remarl{able
even an1ong the annals of tl1e J)ioneers.
Pe1111i11gton, l1i111self, Vi1as a Soutl1 Caroli11ian, of
Re,rolutio11ary stoc!{, a11d English descent. He ,vas
an ex:ceptio11al figLtre-tall, straigl1t a11d stror1g,
vveighing abot1t 190 pour1ds. His features were
8 THE PENNINGTONS
aqui.li11e and handsome, eyes blue, full bearded, in
later years clean sl1aven. I-Ie vvas a man of great
detern1i11atio11 and courage in the midst of the dangers
tl1at surrouncled him, altl1ougl1, perhaps from
policy, l1e a,roided as 111uch as possible direct encounters
with tl1e Indi;:i,ns tl1at overran tl1e country.
He ,:v as a good far1ner, l1unted in time of 11eed for
l1is far11ily, and for n1t1cl1 of tl1e time l{ept wa,gons
and tean1s busy in tl1e f reigl1ting business in vvhat
is 110.,v soutl1ern Arizona. He was afectionate to
his famil3r, and by tl1ose wl10 !{new l1im perso.nally,
is described as l1a,1ing bee11 a sober a11·d very quiet
man.
J in1, the oldest of tl1e cl1ildren, ,vas a tall, rawboned,
red-faced yot111g fellow, not so large as his
fa-tl1er, qt1iet and ]1ard-vvorl-cing. He was especially
skill£ ul witl1 oxen. I-Iis friend Oteno speal<s of
seeing l1i111 u11loacl logs f ro1n tl1e Santa Rita 1nountains
by sending tl1e t\vo leacling s1Ja11s to tl1e betel<
of tl1e load where tl1ey pulled ·of the logs ·011e by
011e wl1ile the ,vl1eel oxen l1eld the wagon in place.
In all tl1is tl1ey ,:vere guided 111ainly by the voice of
tl1eir driver.
J acl<, the seco11cl bo3r, see1ns to l1ave tak:en part in
n1a11y e11terprises of tl1e ti111e,-freighting, handling
cattle, washing golcl 011 the I-Iassayampa. He was
afectionate and loyal to l1is family and friends.
On one occasion, at tl1e Cool<e's Canyon ambuscade
in I 861, w]1en 011e of his J)arty was wounded and
about to be left to tl1e A pacl1es, tl1ough only a boy
PIONEERS OF EARI,Y ARIZONA
of eigl1tecn, he lc,rele·cl l1is rifle 111)011 his con11)a11ions
and con1pelled tl1e111 to rescue tl1e ,;vouncled man.
Gree11 vvas a tall, quiet boy wl10 lik:ecl to be ,x.ritl1 l1is
fat11er. He see111s to ha,re bce11 es1)eciall5r loved by
l1is sisters. Il- e also wa.s affectio11ate and 105,al,
i\'JARY PENNINGTON.
losi11g l1is !if e fi.11ally in defense of l1is fatl1er's body
at the ti111e @f the a111buscade on the S011oita. All
of tl1e 1nen were especially ](1n d a11cl chi ,,alrous to
rard tl1e vvom.ei1 of t11eir household, a trait consiste11t
witl1 tl1eir soutl1er11 origin.
10 TII- E P!lI NINGTONS
Of tJ1e daug·l1.ters, tl1e older toolc cl1arge of the
n1otherless family. One of then1, Ellen, taugl1t tl1e
you11ger cl1ildren to read, otl1ers helped tl1e 1ne11
witl1 field vvork, s01netin1es tl1ey did sewing for tl1e
officers' ,vi,rcs a t tl1e Fort. Tl1ere were eight of
tl1e111 i11 all, ,,igorous a11d ca1)able, able to ride and
l1a11dle firearn1s, cl1eerf ully 111alci11g tl1e best of the
]1ard life they vver.e obliged to e.11dure.
1'hus equipJ)ed in ex1)eriei1ce and character the
Pe11ni11gtons, v\1ith stout hearts, set abot1t n1ak:ing a
l1c)n1e and a li \ring for tl1en1selves in the 1nidst of an
I11clia11 i11fested vvilclerness. A ditcl1 vvas talien OLtt
of tl1e Sonoita belo,v Bucl1ana11, and a sn1all field of
,cor11, pun1pk:ins, squasl1es, beans ancl vgetables ,vas
1)la11ted. Tl1e 111011ey for tl1e l1ay co11tract ca111e,
111ore -a11i111als were J)urcl1ased a11cl tl1e. fa111ily n1oved
o,·er to tl1e Sa11ta Cruz, v\1 l1ere we l1ear of tl1e111 in
tJ1c old Ga11dara l1ouse at Calabasas i11 Septen1ber,
1859; at the stone house near the Niexican line in
r 860; 011 tl1e S011oita a f e,v n1iles below Bucl1anan
i11 the same year; at the sto11e l1ouse again and at
tl1e lVIo,vry n1i11e i11 r 86 I a11cl I 862. Tl1ey 1nove·d
often, fro111 restless11ess, from fear of the Indians
and beccluse of tl1e slencle.r ad,,antages to be gained
l1ere and there fron1 a change.
At first tJ1ey esca1)ccl 1)erso11al injury, altl1ough
tl1 e A 1)ac]1 es \vere seen f ro1n ti111e to tin1e, and tl1eir
fielcls vvere occasio11ally robbed of green corn and
,,egetables. I11deed, tl1e I11dia11s tl1emselves stated
subsegue11tl)', at a time of trL1ce1 t.hat they spared
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tl1e Pe11ni11g·to11s for a tin1e because tl1e)' could usttally
stea: l of tl1er11 tl1e 1)ro,1isior1s the:)' rieed· ed, on
tl1eir ,,vay to and fron1 1\!Iexico.
l\1Ieanwl1ile; i11 Dece111ber, 1858, Larce11a Pennington
111ai-ried J ol1n H e1111)ste,:1cl Pctge1 in Tucso11,
,,vl1icl1 at tl1at tirne \.I/as a little a.clobe tow11 of a fe,v
l1undrecl souls, n1ostly lVIexicans. l\1r. Page ,vas
tl1en engaged, in part11ersl1i1 ) vvitl1 Captain Rey-
11olcls, i n ,vl1i1)-Sa\.\ring J)i11e lu111ber i11 l\liaclera Ca11-
)'0n i11 tl1e Sctnta Ritas, and in l1a .uling it to Tucso.n
-a J)erilous but payi11g busi11ess at a ti111e ,vl1en. tl1e
U. S. q11artern1aster J)aid 25 ce11ts a "foot for boarcls.
Ancl so it 11a1Jpened that, i11 lVIarch, 1860, l\lirs. Page,
cle.siring to esca1)e tl1e chills and fever tl1at then })re,,
ailecl i11 Tucs<J11, JJersuaclcd lier J1L1sband to tak:e
lier witl1 l1i111 for the 11ext loacl of lu1nber. It was
cloul)tless a jolly JJarty-Page, l1is ,,v-ife1 tl1e little
Mexica11 girl, l\liercedes, ,,vho111 l\tfrs. Page "''as teacJ1-
i11g to reacl, ancl Rey11olcls, that travelled tl1e old
roacl u11cler tl1e big 111esquites, u1J tl1e Sa11ta C:rLtZ. tQ
tl1e Cc111oc1, tl1e11 tur11ecl east,varc] a11d clrevv 11ea:r to
tl1e 111outl1 <)f tl1e ca11yo11 behi11cl tl1eir slow n1oving
oxe11.
Self-reliant and careLess, after tJ1e 111an.ner of tl1at
cla)', they g·a,,e little tl1ougl1t t() clanger or to tl1e
t)arty c>f fi.,,e A1)acl1es tl1at \.\1ere eve11 tl1e11 watc]1ir1g
tl1e1n f ro1n tl1e J1ilJs fla11l,111g tl1e 111outl1 of tl1e ca11-
yo11. Tl1ey pitc11ecl tl1cir tc11t tl1 .at nigl1t besicle the
ru11ni11g strea1n flo,ving f ron1 tl1e tanyort a11d i11-
stallecl a fe,v iten1s of beclcling a11d f L1r11itur-e tl1e)'
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14 THE PENNINGTONS
liad brought along. 1'his ca1111) ,vas not at the Big
Roel{ ,vliere still stand the ruins of a stone house
and corral, but was about two 1niles below. Tl1e
night passecl witliout incident a11d breaI.,fast was
disposed of early next n1orning. Reynolds took: l1is
gun a1icl we11t after ga111e, wl1ile Page, about ten
o'clocl< rode up tl1e canyo11 to see about his next load
of lumber.
Mrs. Page and little lVIercedes vvere thus left
alo11e, exposecl to the I1iclia11s, who l1ad been vvatchi11g
then1 since tl1e clay before. Soon after l1er husband's
departure., l\1rs. Page ,vas resting in l1er
rocl\er i11 tlie tent, vvl1e11 her little dog bega11 to batl<.
Tlie11 a screa111 f ro111 the cl1il.d outsicle, who had
been gathering briglit colorecl oakballs, warned her
of danger. The little girl was quiclcly caugl1t bjr
tl1e approacl1i11g India11s and, i1i1mediatel)', l
V
Irs.
Page saw then1 enteri11g tl1e door,vay. She sprang
to the 1)ed a11d seized a pistol tl1at lay under the
tur1ied-u1) co,·ers, but tl1e_ wea1)01i ,vas wrested fron1
lier before sl1e could sl1oot. Sl1e tried to rLtn but
,vas sto1)J)ed. 011e of the I11dia1is s1)0J{e a little
Spanish, and by vvords a11d signs told lier ( wl1at was
not true) tliat the>' l1ad just l<.illed l\1r. Pa.ge .as he
dranl< at a spring, arid tl1at the saddle tl1ey carried
,,\r as J1is. Nirs. Page bega11 to screa1n for helJ), but
one of tJ1e Apacl1es put l1is la11ce to her breast and
threatened to l<ill lier if she did 11ot sto1:>. The Indians
tl1e11 proceeded to loot tlie can1p1 cutting open
sacl{s of flour, scattering tl1e 1)ro,1isions a11d 1naking
PIONEERS OF EART.,Y ARIZONA 15
ready to go witl1 vvl1atever tl1cy could tal<c a\vay.
Tl1e can1p ,vas quicl<ly s1)oiled, a11d tl1e r\pacJ1es,
with their prisoners and plu11cler, bega11 tl1eir flig11t.
A little way fron1 tl1e ruined can1p they stoi)ped to
rip open a fcatl1cr bed tl1ey hacl been trying to carry.
Until tl1is tin1e 1\/Irs. Page l1acl ren1ai11ed -t111terrifiecl,
feeling a certain co11te1npt for l1er savage Ccll)tors;
but wl1en sl1e saw lier 1Jreciot1s feat11er bed thus cruelly
.assailed, sl1e seen1ed to realize fully her danger
and screa1ned agai11, but l1er captors 011cc more
stOJ)ped her by tl1reate11ing lier wit11 their la11ce·s;
and tl1e party started alon.g a ,vell beaten trail that
led along t11e side of t11e 111ountain, almost no-rth.
The five I11dia11s in tl1e !)arty were yot111g vvitl1 one
excepti0n-an olcler 1nan wl10 S})Ol{e S1)anish. rfl1ey
were armed only with bows and arrows, and lances.
The prisoners ,vere not 1nolestee:l except wl1e11 tJ1e.ir
captors, e,,i·dently i11 higl1 glee at their success, J)rete11ded
to a111bt1sl1 tl1em fro1n be:l1ind trees or J)layfully
pointed t11e captured J)istol at tl1en1. One of
th·e Apaches n1elted s110vv in his ha11cls for the1n to
drinl{. Mrs. Page vvas · pus11ed or pt1lled up steep
places in tl1e trail and Mercecles ,v-as carried picl<-aback.
Their l1ats vvere restored to tl1em f ron1 the
J)lunder and fair 1)rogress ,vas made, the savages
seel<irtg safety i11 one of tl1eir camps on tl1e San
Pedro. One of the Apaches, an ugly blacl< fellow,
was pointed out to lVIrs. Page as l1er future o.,vner
and this 111ay }1ave accounted for tl1e 1nercy sl1own.
The journey continued to the nortl1east and nortl1
16 TI-IE PENNINGTON$
througl1 l1illy cou11tr3r. 1\tirs. Page began, secretly,
to tear of bits of ]1e:r dress ar1cl bend t,vigs. along the
trail to guicle a. follo,vi11g IJarty·. Sl1e te>ld tl1e little
girl to clo tl1is also, bL1t tl1e .l\paches sto1)1)ed tl1em
a11d forbade t11en1 to s1)eal< to eacl1 btl1er again.
111 tl1is fasl1ion tl1C. )' tra,,elled all clay, one of the
party staying· bel1incl to ,;varn tl1e111 of J)ursuit. 1\/[rs.
Page tall<ed a little i11 Spa11isl1 \vith her captors.
The older 111a11 saicl tl1at tl1is country was once all
theirs, bL1t tl1at 110,,, 11ia11y of tl1eir 1Jeople had been
l<illed by tl1e ,,..,J1ites-''1)ong·, J)ong, J)ong ." Mrs.
Page a11s,verecl as best sl1c could, l<:eeping in good
courage and ]101)i11g for resct1e by tl1e party sl1-e
l<ne,v 1nust soon follo"v .
.T List before sunset t11e Apacl1e tra.,,elling behind
to "''ar11 the party of 1)ursuit1 ra11. UI) s-aying that the
A111ericans were G0111ing.· Tl1e J)ace quicl<ened, but
Mrs. Page, exl1aL1stcd ,vitl1 tl1e day's tra,,el, could
not go faster. As tl1ey went UJ) a narrow riclg·e
,vith a steCJ) slor)c ·on 011e side, tl1ey made her tal{e
of l1er s1)encer a11cl hea,,'Y sl<irt1 again telling her
( she thougl1 t by ,,vay, of \var11i11g) that the A.mericans
l1ad l{illed n1a11y of tl1eir people. They n10-
tioned l1er to go 011; tl1e11 as sl1e turned and started
she felt a la11ce i11 l1er bacl< ai1d sprang forvvard and
fell clo,vn tl1e steep side of the hill. Tl1e Apacl1es
follo\v.ecl, thrt1sti11g at l1cr ,vit]1 lct11ces and strik:ing
l1er witl1 rock:s, t111til sl1e lodgecl against a big pine
tree a11cl 011e of tl1e I11di.a11s stunned her vvith a
stone. The sa·vagcs, thi11lti11g l1er dead, dragged
•
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18 THE PENNINGTONS
J1er bel1i11d a tree ,vl1ere sl1e 1nigl1t not be see11 from
tl1e trail, a11d tal<:i11g l1er sboes left he.r in a bank of
sno\.v. Re,,i,,ing sl1ortl)' after, sl1e l1eard tl1e An1e.ricans
on t11e trail abo,,e, and lier l1usba11d's voice,
referring to tl1e trail, saying, "II- ere it is, boys."
Sl1e tried to 1no·ve a11d SJ)eah:, bt1t was too ,veak: to
111at.re tl1e1n l1ear, and tl1e)' J),lss_ed 011, being decei,
red by the fact tl1at 011e of tl1e Apacl1es had just
pt1t on l1er sl1oes. Tl1ey follovved tl1is false trail
beyo11d the Catali11a Mou11tains, "vl1ere it was lost,
and tl1e J)arty ,x.re11t to Tt1cson to equip a second, and,
finally, a tl1ird ex1)editio11 to rescue the JJrisc>11ers.
'\-Vl1en her l1usba11d's party l1acl passed on, Mrs. Page
again lost consciousness a11d lay a t the pine tree,
she thi11l,s, about tl1ree day's. Her ,1-,ot1i1ds, fortunately,
v.,ere cooled by tl1e s110,x.r and, finally, sl1e
again revi ,,ed.
To understand the 11eroic and almost u11.believable
effort for life no"v 111a.de b)' tl1is young ,x.ro111an of
twenty-tl1ree, ,:ve must re111en1ber tl1at sl1e vvas in tl1e
l1ills just east of tl1e J)rese11t site of Hel,,etia; brt1is-ed
witl1 sto11es a11d cut witl1 sixtee11 la11ce \.vounds in her
back a11d arms, \.Vitl1out sl1oes, ,vater or food, al111ost
\.vithout clotl1es, and witl1out a beaten pathway, for
sJ1e feared to follo,v bacl-: along tl1e I11dian trail.
There is 110 doubt of tl1e locality for sl1e clearly re-
111e111bered tJ1at, after tra,·elli11g 11ortheast and north
all day, just before sl1e ,vas attacl{cd } sl1e saw do\,v11
in the 1)lai11 towarcl the setting sun, a s111all sl1arppointed
l1ill. There is but 011e such la11dmark on
PIONEERS OF EARLY ARIZONA
the route ancl distance tr,1vcllecl, ;t11cl tl1at is
fano Hill, about tl1ree 1ni]cs vvcst of II- elvctia.
19
IIuerSl1e
1nust, tl1erefore, l1a,,e fallen at a J)Oint tvvelve or
fifteen 111iles f ro.1r1 tl1c c,11111) left that 111.or11ing a11cl
s11e remembered tb at Pag·e aftcr,varcls tol<l ]1cr it
,vas fif tee11 1niles.
Gathering l1er strengtl1 for tl1c effort, sl1e attencled
to her ,vou11cls els best sJ1c coulcl, ate a little
snow to slal{e l1er thirst, tl1e11 era vvlecl clo,v11 tl1e
sloJ)e to level grou11d and slept. r\.,va!{i11g at su11-
rise she !{nevv tl1e directions l}acl< to c,11111), si11ce it
was sunset ,v11en she ,vas strucl{ dow11. Being ,,1ectl,
from loss of bloocl, and v,ritli.out sl1oes, sl1e was soc)11
unable to stancl; but day by day s11.e crept on, J)artl.)r
supporting l1erself on lier l1a11ds a11d subsistin. g on
seeds, herbage and wild on.ions, ,vitl1 s110,v water to
drinl{. I\1 igl1t by nigl1t ( unable to lie on l1er bacl,
beca11se of her ,vou11ds) sl1e croucl1ed u1}011 l1er
l<nees ancl arms on tl1e ground and drea111cd of
food; but vvl1en in l1er sleep sl1e reached out for tl1e
l)Ot of beans before lier, sl1e awok:e to fi11.d l1er ha11ds
clutcl1ing onl3, gra,,el. Once sl1e carne to a bear's
nest and longed to lie in t}1e 111ass of soft grass and
lea,,es, but d.arecl 11ot a11cl crept avvay. f\11d so l1er
terrible jo11rney conti11ued for aboL1t te11 clays. Her
feet becan1e filled with s111all stones; l1cr bare
sl1ot1lders ,vere blistered vvitl1 tl1e l1ot su11; l1cr l1ead
was a rnass of clottecl l}lood; a11d yet she l<ept ondes1)
e:rately, i11do1nitably on, to tl1e southvvard.
'fl1e11 at last sl1e ca111e to a 1 )oint 011 a l1igh ridge
20 TII- E PENNINGTO.NS
overloolri11g tl1e road tl1at led into l\1adera Canyon
and saw below her s01ne n1e11 vvitl1 an ox team near
the carnp f ron1 vvhicl1 sl1e had been taken. She
C()uld l1ear tl1eir ,,oices })lainl:5,, a11cl tl1e s0ur1d of
blo,vs strL1c1< 011 tl1eir ,vago11 tires. Sl1e tied }1er
petticoat to a stick· a11d waved it and scream eel, bL1t
could not rnal<e tl1en1 hear, and tl1ey passed on.
Agai11 sl1e rest1111cd l1er fearful jc)ur11ey a11cl in tvvo
days n1ore re·acl1cd tJ1 e tea111ster's ca1np, wJ,ere sl1e
fo11nd fire still s111ouldering in a log by tl1e roadside.
The11 sl1e carried a. sticlz on fire at one end
to her 11 usbar1d's ruined can1p nearb)', wl1ere sl1e
scra1)ed up some flour a11d s0111e cofee yet re1nai11-
ing 011 tl1e ground. Tearin·g a square })iece from
l1er clotl1ing a11d J)utting the flour on it, sl1e went
do,v11 to the strean1 nearby and 111ixed a little pat of
dougl1 a11d bal<ed it at b.er fire. After sl1e hacl
eaten tl1e bread a11d s0111e of tl1e cofee, and l1ad
batl1ed lier ,vou11ds, she ,vas 1;efresl1ed a11d sle1)t ll1e
.nigl1t tl1ere. Next rnorni11g sl1e started Ul) the road
to tl1e savv)1ers' can11), J)robably tl1e one at the Big
Rock. As sl1e dre,v near s11e ,vas seen, bt1t 11ot at
first recog11izeci. \Vitl1 clotted hair and gapi11g
wouncls, nearly nak:ecl, en1aciated ancl sunbur11ed,
sh.e vvas a t first n1istal{en fc)r a11 unfortL1nate outcast
squav., and tl1.e 1ne11 ra11 for their gu11s. Sl1e c·allecl
to tl1em that sl1e was lVIrs. Page and was finall5, recognized;
but one, S111ith, cleclared tl1at she was a
SJ)irit, unable to belie,,e that she could return ali,,e
after 111ore tl1an tvvo ,veeJcs of such l1ardship. One
PIONEERS OF EARLY ARIZONA 21
of tl1e men tl1e11 c;:1rricd l1cr into tl1e ca1111), ,vl1cre
she vvas fec1 a11cl ,:vasl1ecl and clc>tl1ecl ,vitl1 r<)ugl1 bttt
syn1pathizing care, ctncl a courier se11t to Tucs<Jn for
a cloctor.
Tl1 e 111essen gcr reacl1 ccl 1't1cs<>n just as 1\T r. Page
vvas about tc> start on a tl1ircl attc1T11)t to fi11cl l1is ·,vif c.
He l1ad follo,:vecl tl1e trail fr<.>111 tl1e loc)tecl can.11>
tl1rougl1 tl)e Rinco11s to a })Oint bcyo11cl tJ1e Catalinas.
Then lie rcturncc1 a11d ,:vent out again; ctncl
again retur11ecl for still anotl1cr J),trty. 'fl1csc expeditions
n1ust l1a,,c talce11 a nu111ber of clays a11d
rougl1ly conftrn1 tl1e statc111cnt tl1at it was sixtce11
days from t11e tin1e lVIrs. Page '\vas capturccl until
her rett1rn. After tvvo days she was tal<:en to Tucso11,
vvhere s]1e fully recovered. Tl1e little girl,
Mercedes, ca1)tured \:v it11 l1er, Wets excl1angcd later
by Ca1)tain Ewell for certai11 of his A1)acl1e 1)ris-
011ers. She gre,,v to vvon1anJ1oocl and beca1ne the
,vife of Cl1arles A. Shibell, ,vel1 l{no,:vn as a pioneer,
ancl for 1nany yea rs rccorcler of Pi111a Cou11ty.
Rut the des1)erate a11cl alr11ost increclible adventure
of Mrs. P,:tge vvas 011lyr a rarning· to tl1c Pen-
11i11gtons of clisasters to co1ne-little l1eeded, 110,:1.,_
ever, in tl1ose days w11e11 cla11ger ,vas the at1nosphere
to wl1icl1 n1en and tvon1e11 vvcre too "''ell accuston1ed.
For te11 years, until tl1e remnants of the brol<en
family went back to Texas, the traditions of tl1e
Sonoita ancl the Sa11ta Crt1z are f ltll of tl1.eir personalities
and aclve11tl1res. 011ly a year later, ir1
lYiarch or April, 1861, lVIr. Page ,,,as ambushed a11d
22 THE PENNINGTONS
killed b;r Apaches north of Tticson vvl1ile conducting
a load of goods to old Ca1n1) Gra11t. I-le was bttried
where l1e fell, at the top of tl1e hill beyond Samaniego's
rancl1, 011 tl1e old road; and all tl1at lYirs.
Page ever savv of hin1 vvas l1is handk:ercl1ief, l1is
purse. a11d a locl< of hjs hair. 1-Ier daugl1ter, Mary,
"vas born i11 Se 1)te1nber of that year, and shortly
afterward s]1e rejoi11ed l1er fat11er's fa1n1ly at tl1e
Stone I-louse 011 the Santa Crt1z. Tl1is location was
a rnost da11gerous one, l1ovve,,er, al.tl1bugl1 the Penni11gto11s
vvere stra11gel;r spared by tl1e Apaches
tl1ernselves ,v11ile they lived here. The Indians
,vere at tl1 eir ,vorst during the earl)' sixties, tl1e
country being ,,irtually u11protected by tl1e Federal
go,re-r11n1.ent at a ti11.1e vvl1e11 tl1e energies of t11 at
go,,crnn1e11t , ... ,ere engrossed by the Civil vVar.
On one occasion, abot1t this tin1e, lVIrs. Page and
l1er baby girl fled ,vit]1 otl1ers to the Mowry Mine.
vvhicl1 vvas fortified ancl offered J)rotection f rorn the
Apacl1es. But s1nallpox brol<e out am0ng t11e reft1-
gees, Mrs. Page and lier baby being among those
attack:ed. l\llovvry nursed l1is smallJ)OX patients as
best l1e l<nevv' 11.ow, but nearl)' starved them to death
011 a scant)' diet of flour and vvater, belie,,i11g tl1at
'' no grease" should be fed to t11ose ill of tl1is disease.
Most of t11e patients, l1o"vever, recovered
fro111 botl1 the disease and tl1e treatn1e11t. Not long
after, in June, I 862, Mo\,rry v,,as arrested by Federal
autl1orities, l1is 111i11e vvas confiscated, and he
,vas sent to Fort Y u111a clS a Rebel syn1pathizer.
PIONEERS OF EAIZJY i\1z1zo,\. 23
vVe 110,v l1ear of tl1e Penningtons, i11 I 862 an(l
I 863, at tl1e old Ga11clara l1ouse at Calabasas.
Ne.xt, tl1ey are in Tucso11 in 1863; i.11 '"fubac in 1864;
at the Sopori Ra11cl1 f ron1 1866 to I 868; at 1ubac
ag·ain i11 I 868; a11d. at Fort Crittendcr1 in J 869.
This restless, aln1ost no111adic, life ,vas cl1aracteristic
of tl1e ti1ne and ren1incls us of t11e story of l{irlla11d,
anotl1er pioneer of tl1at cla)r, of vvl10111 it \·Vas saicl
that after l1e l1ad livecl a s11ort tirne in. one place his
cl1icl{ens wc>L1ld con1e u1J a11cl SLLgg·cst an .<>tl1.cr n10,·c
by tur11ing o,,er on tl1eir bacl<s to ha,·e tl1cir legs
tied!
But before g·oi11 g f u rtl1er ,vi tl1 tl1e }Jersonal 11ar -
rative i11 wh1cl1 "ve arc concernecl, let llS pause to
tal.:e note of tl1e co11clitions tl1at coI1f ronted the JJioneers
fro1n 1860 to 1870.
Of go,rer111ne.nt tl1ere ,vas little, e:;-:ce1Jt wl1at ,vets
e11forced by eacl1 111an for l1i111self. Until Arizo11a
became -a separate territory i11 I 863, tl1e Gadscle11
Purchase was attached to D()na Ana County) N c,v
Mexico, witl1 the only a ,,ailab1e cot1rt of justice at
l\tfesilla. Son1eti111es crin1inals were ttt r11cd o,,er to
tl1e arn1)' officers at tl1e J)Osts, but 111orc f reqLtc11tly
they \lirere su1111narily dealt v\,itl1.
Gradually, under tl1e 11e\\r Territorial go\·ert1-
1ne11t, c0t1rts \.Vere establisl1ccl i11 tl1e larger to,v11s;
but the a1111als of tl1e ti11ie arc co1nn1on1Jlace witl1
bloodsl1ed ancl ,1iole11ce, an.d n1urderot1s cri111es
which s01netin1es n1et 1,vitl1 Svvift reJ)risal, but ,vl1icl1
too of ten remai11ecl tin pu11isl1ed.
24 TII- E PENNI G'fO JS
o,,er all tl1is tl1i11ly settle:d regio11 l1u11g tl1e
.Apache scourge. During this ,vl1ole clecade these
Indians }Jlt111dered and n1urderecl al111ost at vvill.
For a tin1e, i11 1861 a11d 1862, e ·ve11 tl1e U11ited
States troops ,:ve.re \,Vitl1clravv11 a11d tl1e Apacl1es, believii1g
this to be f ron1 fear of the111sel\res, becan1e
bolder and 111ore 111t1rderot1s than befc)re. Truces
witl1 tl1e go\'er11n1e11t, i11 ,,vl1icl1 good beha,,ior ,vas
pron1isecl in returr1 for ratio11s, ,,vere al\,vays brol<en;
a11cl tl1e unsettlec.l J)Olicy to,.varcl tl1e Inclians .acccm})
lished 11otl1i11g to,:v ctrcl tl1eir reft)r1natio11 or control.
Tl1e settlers i11 fact had a ,,ery J)OOr opinion of tl1c
n.1ilitar3r 1)rotectio11 wl1icl1 vvas aforde,cl tl1e111 at tl1is
time and for tl1e 1nost J)a rt toe)!, tl1e 111atter into their
o,v11 l1an els. \i\Ti tl1 ,;
v 11a t clcter111in atio11 tl1 ey did
tl1is is attestecl b3r tl1c an 11als of st1cl1 111e11 as Pete
I(itcl1en a11d \Villia1n lJ1oadcs, I(i11g \V1 oolse·y, Bill
Oury, and 111an)r oth.crs lil<e tl1em, v.1110 l1eld tl1is
cou11try at a t..i111e ,vhe11 it ,vas practically abando11ed
63, its o,vn go,,ern111ent.
Tl1e con1111erce of soutber11 Arizona at tl1is ti111e
relatecl 111ainl)' tc> n1ining cnter1)rises and to tl1e
troOJ)S. l
V
Iining 111acl1i11er)', sup1)lies for 111ilitary
l)<.1sts a11d 111anufactured articles ft1r trade all l1ad to
be exJ)ensi,,ely f reigl1ted f rc)111 tl1e 11earest la11d.i11g·
])laces at Gua3r111as ancl Yu111a, or 0,1 .erland by way
of Texas. Go,·ern.111ent contrc:lcts for wild I1ay for
tl1e J)Osts, a11d for 1 u1nl)er, v,rere an irn1)orta11t source
of re,renue to ad,,e11turous tak·ers. Higl1 l)rices
offered for cor11 ancl otl1er far111 t)roc1ucts stin1u-
PIONEEllS OF EAlZLY r\1-:.IZO;'- .--\ 25
lated agricultural industry near t11e 111ilitar)' J>osts;
and tl1e first l1erds of Ar11eric;111 cattle ,vere l)rc)ugl1t
i11 from Texas to n1al<c rations for tl1c 1Jresu1nably
peace£ t1l Apacl1es.
The 1nai11 rot1te of travel at tl1at ti111c \vas tl1e
California o·verla11cl roacl ,vl1 icl1 tra \"ersecl soutl1cr11
Arizona fron1 east to ,vest ancJ v1.1!1icl1 ccH111ectecl ,vitl1
1nilitary posts, 111i11ing· ca1r11Js1 ancl irrigatecl \·alle)'S
througl1out t]1.e region. Oxen ,,vere used at fi rt f c>r
freigl1ting pur1)oses. Tl1e3r were strong· a11cl gentle,
dicl not stray readily, ancl req uirec{ 110 l1arncss,
vvl1icl1 \.Vas ,,er3r expensi,-c in tl1ose clays. 1'11ey
n1ade tl1e best draugl1t a11imals as 1011g as tl1ere vvas
abu11dc111t gr,1ss for tl1c111 all)11g tl1c road. 111 tin1e,
11.0,,ye,rer, as tl1e grass \.vas eate11 out, an.cl f eecl l1acl
to be carried, n1.ules ct11d l1orses, ·v,1 l1icl1 eat less, replaced
tl1,e oxen. Freig11t rates were 7 to 8 cents a
pound fro111 Yt1n1a to Tucso11; -tncl 9 to 10 ce11ts a
pound from Yun1a to Calabas,1s. F ro111 Tucson to
Calabasas tJ1e rate ,v; as I cent, ancl f ro111 1'ubac to
rfucso11 ¼ ce11t a ['.lO.und. 1'11.e U. S. qua.rter1nasters
J5aicl .23/2 to 3;/2 cents cl l'.ll)uncl for corn; ancl 25
ce11ts a foot f or rot1gl1 ])inc boards f ro.111 the Santa
Rita n1ot111 tains.
U11.cler sucl1 conditio11s a11cl \Vitl1 such ince11ti,,cs,
the Penni11gtons, lil,e c1tl1ers <)f t11ei r ti1nc, engagecl
i11 vvl1atever aff orcled the best retur11s for tl1c tin1e
being, rho,ring frequentl3r as co11,rc11je11ce or i11terest
required. Fro111 the recorcls of t11e ti1nc a11.d from
tl1e testin1011)' of a fevv yet li,·i11g wl10 l,new tl1c1n,
26 THE PENNINGT0NS
vve gat11er a sca11t accou11t of tl1eir varied a11cl active
1if e. In DecetTlber, I 8 59, J i111 Pe1111i11gto11 located
a homestearl 011 t11e Santa Cruz a11d i11 r 865 testifies,
"I 11ave lived lll)011 tl1e sa1ne at all tirnes only sucl1
as I ,v, as compelled to leav· e 011 account of Indians
a11d tl1e unsettled conditio11 of the country." In
f\t1gust, I 86 I, J acl{ Pen11ing·ton ap1)ears at CoGl<e's
Can>ro11 i11 New Mexico in t11e ambusl1 of a vvagon
trai11 e11route for tl1e Rio Grande. In tl1e col1rse
of the f r,1cas 011e of t11e party vVas wou11ded and
about to be left bel1i11cl, vvl1en J acl{, wl10 was but a
boy, ,vitl1 l1is le,,ellecl rifle con1pelled l1is companions
to })lace t}ie v.1ounclecl 111an in a vvagon, tl1us finally
sa,,ing hin1. In 1864 vve again l1e·ar of l1in1 ,,,asl1-
i11g golcl on tl1e H,:rssaya1n1)a; ancl finally, in r 870,
l1e can1e bacl-.: f ro1n Texas to aid tl1e broicen fa1nily
to return tl1ere.
Tl1c n1ain occu1)atio11 of tl1e family was freighting,
and tl1e Pe11ni11gto11s, witl1 tl1eir l1ea,ry ,vago11s
a11d teams of t\.\1 elve to fourteen oxen, \.\rere n1uch of
tl1e time 011 tl1e roacl. rfl1us v\"e bear of tl1e1n-Jim
in a figl1t ,.vitl1 a s111all ,,var J)art)' that ambusl1ed hi111
a11d. captured hjs oxe11, 011 l1is ,.vay to t]1e Patago11ia
111i11e; ancl 011 otl1cr occasions at Oatma11 llat 011 the
Y 11111a road. 1\1 ucl1 of tl1e ti111e the n1en we.re cutting
ll1n1ber i11 l\iladera Canyon in tl1e Santa Rita.s
a11cl l1aulir1g it to Tubae ,v11ere tl1ere ,.vas a savv111ill,
t o tl1e Cerro Colorado a11d otl1er n1ir1es for timbers,
a11d to Tucson. At"fucso11 fc>r a tin1e t11ey operated
a savv l)it in tl1e street origi11ally called tl1e Calle del
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OCCUPIED
BY THE
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PORTION OF 01°FICIAL i\{AP OF TffE. CITY OF TUCSON, S. W.
FOREi\f.A>-', SURVEYOR. APPROVED AND ADOPTED JUNE 26, 1872.
SIDNEY R. DELoNc, niIAYoR. vV1LLrA1r J. OsnoRN, R-EcoRoER.
'f-raced fron1 Original Niap Sept. r, 19r5, by A. L. Enger.
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PIONEERS OF EARLY ARIZONA 29
Arroyo. f\s tl1e 11a111e sig11ifies, tl1is street ,vas, at
least l)artly, in a11 arroyo or c1ry v.rater course that
lay in1111ediately to tl1e soutl1 of tl1e old vvallecl t(Jwn.
Tl1is depressio11, or arroyo, was Go11,re11ientl)' utilized
as a saw l)it by t.hrowi11g across it ti1nbcrs 011
whicJ1 to su1)t)Ort tJ1e J)ine Jogs, ,vl1ich \.vere the11
whi1)-sa,vecl i11to boards by 111e11 sta11cli11g·, one i n
tl1e arroyo a11d t]1c otJ1er 011 tlie log abo,,e. 111
course of ti111e, ,vJ1c11 tl1c streets of tl1e old IVIexican
to,\rn ,vere re11a111cd, tl1e Calle del J-\rrO)'O w,1s CcLllecl
Pen11ingto11 Street after tl1e n1e11 ,vl1ose ruc1e })lace
of business it v\ras; ancl so it ren1ai11s to-day. It vvas
,vhile hauli11g lu1nber to Tucson, i11 f\t1gust, r 868
tl1at J in1 Penning-ton finally 1T1et l1is fate. Can11)ing
b)' tl1e road nortl1 of San Xavier, l1is oxen_ vvere
stolen by A 1)acl1es dt1ri11g tl1e night. Next 1norni11g
lie and l1is tea1nster l)ursued tl1e I11dians, bt1t
,veTe a111bushed i11 tl1e l1ills \\rest of Tucson a11d J in1
was J,illcd. Il- e vvas bt1ried first at 1'ucso11, after,
varcl at tl1e So1)ori l<ancl1, ,vl1ere a wooden l1eadboarcl
still 1narl<s l1is gra ,re.
Of the \i\1"0111en-tl1ose vvl10 vvaited a11xiot1sly at
l10111e for tl1e ne\iV"S of clisaster tl1at tl1ey continually
expected-we also catcl1 occasional glin1r)ses.
C. B. Genu11g· relates tJ1at in A 1)ril, I 864, h.e
found tJ1e Penni11g-to11 vvo111e11, wit11 two boys a11d
little lVIary Page li\,i11g in Tubae. Excer:>t for
them tl1e place see1ned to be abandoned at tl1at tin1e,
and the danger fro111 India11s was great. Every
mor11ing tl1e t\vO boys, vvith guns as long as the1n-
30 THE PENNINGTON$
sel ,res, ca ref ull:)' reconnoi terecl eacl1 side of tl1e path
to the spring from \1/hicl1 tl1e ,vorr1en tl1en carrie:d
tl1e vvater su1)ply for the clay. The Sopori Ranch,
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J /\!\£ PEN:-;I'.'IGTON (IR$. 'vVL CRU?>·!Pl'ON), about 1885.
about te11 1niles f ro111 Tubae, vvas also their abiding
place from r 866 to r 868. Tl1is was an extremely
da11gerous location, being in tl1e 1)atl1 o-f Apache
vvar parties 1)assin.g to and f ro1n Mexico. The
ranch 11ouse was fortified, vvitl1 stone walls sur-
PIONEER.S OF EAR.LY ARIZONA 31
roundi11g it a11d ,v: itl1 the vvalls pierced by J)Ort l1oles
for guns. Tl1ey v1.1ere 11ever attacl<ed l1ere althougl1
tl1e do,1e and turl<ey calls usecl by the I11dians as
sign.als vvere s01neti111es heard. One morning tl1c
youngest sister, J ose1)hine, J)icl<.eted her fa,·orite
pony a sl1ort clistance belovv tl1e S01)ori Rancl1
house, but sl1e l1ad not reacl1ecl the door before ;111
Apacl1e ran OLtt f ro1n tl1e busl1es, j u111pec1 011 the
l1orse and made off vvitl1 l1im .
N otwitl1standing tl1e da11ger, tl1ese brave ,:vome.11
made tl1e 111ost of a l1arcl situatio11. They cultivated
a s111all field i11 the adjacent creel< botton1, irrigating
i t £ ro.111 a ditcl1 tl1at flowecl close u11cler tl1e little
rocl<y hill on whicl1 tl1e:ir fortress hbme was perched.
Under tl1e alnut trees tl1at f ri11ged tl1 e ditcl1 tl1ey
did their ,vasl1ing1 and n1any an hour was passed
in se·wing, wl1icl1 vvas all do11e b}' l1and.
A sn1all se1)aratc builcling ,vas set aside clS a.
schoolroon1, a11d l1ere tl1e olcler sister, Elle11, ,vbo
l1ad go11e to scl1ool in Texas, taugl1t tl1e you11ger
cl1ildren ,vitl1 tl1e }1elp of tl1e Bible ancl tl1e batterecl
scl1ool books that hacl bee11 btougJ1t tl1rougl1 tl1e
Pe.cos years before. For an1usen1e11t tl1ey had to
clepend u1Jo11 tJ1emsel,,es. Tl1ey l1acl little intercourse
witl1 l\n1ericans exce1Jt for occa.sional passers
by, f ro111 wl10111 ,,ve l1a,,e se,,eral accou11ts of the111
at this ti1ne.
Oftentimes, at the Sopori, at the close of day,
wh.en tl1e 1nen vvere due to return fron1 a freighting·
trip, the women would watcl1 a11d wait witl1 clread
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PIONEERS OF EAl\LY ARIZONA 33
ancl apprehe11sion1 fearing disaster, until tl1e cracl<
of tl1e long wl1ip and a ,ell k:nown ,roice encouragi11g
tl1e oxen, would finally reassure tl1e111.
Tl1·e1·e vvas mucl1 fever in tl1is region c:Llso, i11 earl)'
clays, due to the grass grow11 ancl swampy co11ditio11
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I Lt. 8vt, Maj. C.H.Voil:s quortes.
2. Adjutants quorters al Codyo· k,ftl!eo.
4 COtl1mi.\sory ent 5 . Quartermoster1 stores.
6. G!;u,-d hov,e, l G.oC q1otrters. I U.S C!aov,y
8. Co.K quqrte<s. ii! U .S . Ccvolry
9. Cool< house.Coe 10. Cook tious•. eoK.(ufn.,,sdeh')
11. Suds· row 12. Lt Gorretili quarter
13. OfffcerS quors 1 4 . Soller!; store (Steven, \-Yerke
I 5. Old ovds ,_ 16 Peuninglon l>ome
17 . Bv<horo n corroll, 1 a Buchon on cq,,ml!.>or y
OLD FOR'l' CRITTENDEN.
of tl1e river botton1s, witl1 co11sequen: t 1nosquitoes
and n1alaria. A sister, Ann, died here in I 867 a11d
vvas buried in the Sopori Cemetery.
At about this time, also, Elle11, tl1e older sister,
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A SCENE IJ:1 TuBAC ( 19r5) ONCE THE PINCIPAL. To-\VN IN ARIZONA.
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Pennington house on extren1e right.
PIONEERS OF EARLY ARIZONA 35
married one Barnett, who was a n1ernber of the first
Territorial Legislature.
Diminished in numbers, t11e Pe11ningtons drifted
bacl< to Tubae in 1868 ancl to Fort Critte11den in
I 869, probably hoping for greater securit)' there.
But in June, r 869, the Apacl1es agai11 took l1eavy
toll of this devoted fan1il)', tl1is ti1ne lcilling the
father and Green, no,v grovvn to n1anhoo(i. These
t,vo were at vvorl< in tl1eir field on t11e Sonoita about
fourtee11 miles below Fort Critte11den. The fatl1er
was plowing, \,\ritl1 his rifle slung· to his. J)lov.1-
ha11dles, wl1ile Green vvas repairi11g a11 irrigating
ditch some distance a\\1ay. Just after tl1e olcler
man had turned back on his land, tl1e sa,,ages in
ambush shot l1im .down from bel1ir1d. Tl1e boy
might l1ave escaped, but not l<nowi11g tl1at l1is fatl1er
,vas dead, re1nai11ed to figl1t of tl1e Apaches. He
was mortally l1urt, but fi11ally reacl1ed the rancl1
house ,vhere he re1nai11ed u11til rescued by ca,-alry
from the fort, to vvl1ich tl1e alarm had bee11 carriecl
mea11time. Green, and l1is fatl1er's body, ,vere
brought to the Fort, ,.vhere eight clays later t11e
young man died. Tl1ese two, father ancl so11, v.rere
buried in tl1e cen1etery on top of a Ii ttle l1ill just
above the railroacl cut nearest tl1e site of old Fort
Bu,cl1anan. lVIr. Sidney R. DeL011g, the11 quartermaster
of the Fort, read tl1e burial ser,rice o,,er
thern.
With the loss of tl1eir fatl1er and tvvo brothers, the
broken fan1ily riovv ga,re U}J the u11eqL1al co11test witl1
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PIONEERS OF E.I\RLV ARIZONA 37
adverse fortune. Tl1e rema111111g sjsters, witl1 a
young brother and little 1\iiary Page, now 1Jut tl1eir
sle11qer belongings togetl1er a11d came to Tucson.
Here they made a last efort to escaJJe fro1n tl1i;:;
land of tragedies and outfitted for Califor11ia. At
the Point of l\1ou11tain, t1ent)' miles 011 their road,
th.e "vidowed sister, Ellen, became ill of pneun1onia
and the party returned to Tucso111 \vhere Ellen died.
l\. little later, brotl1er J acl{, \vl10 l1ad gone bacl{ to
-Texas some time before, came for them, and tl1ey
returned with hin1 shortly after. 011ly one of tl1e
·original party fo.und tl1e way i11 later years to Califor11ia,
the land of pron1ise for wl1ich tl1.ey had set
their faces years before.
lVIrs. Page remai11ed in Tucson, becor11ing· tl1e
\.vife of Williarn F. Scott in I 870, a11d living L111-
eve11tf ully a t the old l1on1e 011 Soutl1 1\1ain Street
until her death, Marcl1 31, 1913, at tl1e age of 76
years.
This plai11 chronicle of pioneer life in old f\rizo11a
contains little. 0£ romance to co1n1nend it even to a
sy1n1Jathetic reader. True, the stor)' is e11nobled by
the heroism and u11selfisl1ness ,vl1icl1 a1JJJears i11 it
f ro.n1 time to time,-J acl<, ref usi11g to leave a
\\1ou11ded companion to the sa,rages; Green, sac;rificing
his life to hel1J his f atl1er; the older sisters,
tal<ing eharge of the 111otherless fan1ily; the 111e11,
constantly i11 danger to secure the 11ecessities of life
for tl1ose dependent upon the1n. But i11 tl1e 111ain,
to tl1ose \vho Ii,7ed it, tl1e life 1nust have seemed bar-
293404
38 THE PENNINGTONS
ren and disap1)0inting at best, and purely tragic at
the last when death put a11 end to the contest for so
n1any of them.
There were con1pensations here and tl1ere; an·d it
is interesting to learn from the pioneers then1sel ,-es
the motiv· es that led n1any of thern to accept and
e,;en !Jrefer the hardships and dangers of the f rontier.
Pennington himself see111s to have wanted
elbo,:v roon1, a11d f reedon1 from the constraints of
too close association ,:vith neighbors. Another expresses
it by sayi11g tl1at n1any of the pioneers hated
ci,rilization. Some of then1 can1e to Arizorta from
the South after the Civil War in order to get as far
as possible f rorn the dominion of the governn1ent
that had defeated then1. 011e old miner, ref erri11g
to l1is yout11 in Arizona in the sixties, said: "Oh,
,ve \,Vere just )'Oung fello,:vs out for a time.'' Tom
Gard11er saicl, in the san1e strain) " Well, you see,
tl1ere ,vas li,,ely mi11in' tl1en, 1i,,ely hoss racirr' and
Ii vel)' figl1ti11 '-everythi11g ·vvas lively." Genung,
ti ring of the constraints of San Francisco in the
da)'S of tl1e Vigila11tes, said that it was excitement
and adventure a11d freedon1 that attracted hin1 to
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Arizona. Ad,-enturousness, therefore, lo,,e of freedon1
and l1atred of restraint, \,Vere qualities that
characterized n1any of tl1e men. As to the ,;vomen,
there \.\/ere but fe,1/ An1erican won1en in the country
in those days, a11d these, as a rule, not f rG1n choice,
i t is safe to sa)'· Usually they chanced here through
n1ilitar)' connectio11s or some adve.rse fortune that
PIONEERS OF EARLY ARIZOA 39
diverted them from the California road. vVitl1out
the society of their l<ind, often without the comforts
of life, without the relief aforded by acti·ve ad\'e11-
ture, and often in danger, tl1ey l1ad 110 choice but
to en·dure.
As a class the pioneers were an esse11tial factor in
early developn1ent. They co11stituted an indepe11-
dent citizen soldiery that cooperated witl1 the troops
while the country vvas being reclairned frorn the Indians.
They brougl1t in n1ilitary supplies; furnished
hay and lun1ber to tl1e posts; and in 1nany
cases ,vere more ef ecti ,,e than the soldiers themselves
in expeditions against the Apaches. :Niany of
tl1e older mines were located a11d worked by them;
and the possibilities of agriculture were also gradually
shown. All tl1is pa,red tl1e way for ci,vilized
government, for in1migration, and, finally, for the
develop1nent of n1ining a11d agricultural industries.
Too often the character of tl1e J)ioneer unfitted l1im
for the quieter conditions vvhich 11e n1ade possible.
Too often, ag.ai11, l1e was so broken by a life of
hardship that he derived little benefit f ron1 the results
of his own labor. L.et us, tl1en, lool<ing back
over their eventful lives, gi ,,e tl1en1 due hon1age for
v,rhat they have accomplis11ed for us in meeting the
da.11gers and i11 overcomi11g tl1e dificulties of our
last Frontier.
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0Lo CEwlETERY AT Se>PORt lANCrr Rous£, SHQ\VING TI-rE GRAVES OF ]11,,c AND ANN PENNINGTON. Ann
Sopori, Jin1 ,vas killed near Tucson in 1-864 or 1865 and turied there, but his brother John after,,vard moved
body to the Sopo'l'i, "so that sist.er An·n ,vould not be out there alone."' Tl\e gtves are m.arke.d by f-\vo
rou·nc'Jed boards.
died at the
the
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PIONEER,S OF £,.\RLY ARIZONA
REFERENCES
Letters of C. B. Genung, 1fay 31, 1913, and June 9, r913.
41
Court of Clai1ns of the United States: Indian Depredations No.
3112, pp. 4 -59.
Court of Clain1s of the United States : Indian Depredations No.
3112,. pp. 60-182.
Court of Clai'.ms of the United States : Indian Depredations o.
3 I I 2, pp. 248-332.
Court of Claims of the United States : Indian Depredations No.
7363, 1nan uscript copy.
Across An1erica and Asia, p. 13. Pu1npelly.
The Apache Country, pp. I 52'- I 55. J. Ross Bro,Yne.
Ne"v Tracks in No.rtl1 An1e-rica, '\Tol. II, pp. 100-1.02 (Decen1ber
3, 1867). Bell.
Diary of Samuel I-I ugh.es.
County Records of Pin1a County, Arizona:
Land Claims No. I, p. 51.
Laud Claims No. r, p. 59.
Letter of L. E. Barnett, October I, 1869.
Mrs. Scott's account of her capture by tlre Apaches.; take11 by her
daughter (Nirs. R. rI. Forbes).
Copy of a portion of Sain I-Iughes' diary, n1entioning the Penn.
i11gt0ns in 1859.
Narrative of Jane Pennington (iVfrs. Crun1pton), Santa Cruz,
Cal., May 18, 116.
Narrative of John H. Cady, December 8, 1914.
Pennington notebook, by R. H. Forbes, containing various narratives
and notes relating to tl1e Pennington fan1ily.
Pacific Wagon Roads. I-louse of Representatives; 35th Congress,
2d Session. Ex. Doc. No. 108.
Los Angeles Star (Carneragraph), i:ontaining Arizona Ne\vS in
1861. (Original in Bancroft Library, Berkeley, Cal.)
l\tlanuscript n1ap sho,ving overland ,vagon. notes of tra,·el through
Nev, Mexico and Arizona.
C. B. Genung's n1ap and letter, sho"·ing n1ain line of travel about
1860.
42 THE PENNING'fONS
lvfap (Cameragraph, 2 parts) of the 1Yiilitary Department of Ne\v
Mexico, 1864.
J'vfap (Cameragraph) of the Territories of Ne\v N[exico and Arizona;
by !'he Ofice of the Chief Engineers, U. S. A., 1879.
Map of Arizona 'ferritory (Cameragraph) by autho.rity of Gen.
0. B. \,Villcox, 1879.
Map (Can1eragraph) of South\vestern l\e\v Nfexico, by the Ofice
of the Chief of Engineers, U. S. A., 1883.
Oficial A1ap ( Cameragraph) of the Territory of Arizona, com·
piled by Richard Gird, 1865.
Johnson's JYfap (photograph) of the United States, in 1858, sho,v·
ing t}1e Gadsden Purchase as Arrizonia.
Skeleton Map (blueprint) of Southern California, Engineer Ofice,
Iilitary Division of the Pacific, r8i4·
