One evening in 1861 a small group of men sat around the iron stove in the cook shack of the Santa Rita mine in southern Arizona.  A man named Grosvenor was chief of operations at the mine, his Superintendent Rumpelly, and others were employees.  This evening the talk concerned the dream world and what dreams … Continue reading Grosvenor’s Dream →

He was a lanky, disheveled prospector when he reached Fort Huachuca in southern Arizona in 1875.  He was born in Pennsylvania in 1847, but by the time he was 29 years old, he had prospected in Oregon, Idaho, Nevada, Utah, and California but had always come out empty.  He was a quiet man, a recluse … Continue reading Tombstone: Ed Schieffelin →

I MUST APOLOGIZE, THE PHOTO I INTENDED TO INCLUDE IN THE PREVIOUS POST, DID NOT APPEAR IN THE DOCUMENT. I HAVE INCLUDED IT HERE, SORRY. DR. H.

Most of us, who grew up in Southern Utah, know something about the “Mountain Meadow Massacre” that took place a few miles north of the village of Veyo back in September, 1857.             Our interest here is not to rehearse that tragedy, but to look at the process used to satisfy justice in the end. … Continue reading THE EXECUTION OF JOHN D. LEE →

The first trial of John D. Lee for his role in the leadership of the Mountain Meadow Massacre of 1857, ended in a hung jury.  After two weeks of testimony in which the United States prosecuting attorneys attempted to tie responsibility for the act back to the leadership of the LDS Church, the jury returned … Continue reading JOHN D. LEE TRIAL #2 →

The tragedy of the Mountain Meadow Massacre of 1857 cannot be understated.  The build-up of animosity between the Mormon settlers of southern Utah and factions of the Fancher wagon train from Arkansas and Missouri had its origins long before the train arrived at the Meadows.  During the summer of 1857 the Mormons, who had been … Continue reading The John D. Lee Trials #1 →

The western states of New Mexico, Arizona and Utah came into being first as territories of the United States by acts passed by Congress and signed by the President in the early 1850s.  Their borders were dictated basically by conflicts with Mexico and the looming civil war in the United States.              There were factions … Continue reading CARVING OUT ARIZONA →

Normally in these articles, I attempt to stay away from those characters of the old west who have been the subject of dime novels of the time, or who have become such legends that their true identity has become murky through the retelling of common tales until any truth about their actual personalities and exploits … Continue reading DOC HOLIDAY →

Although her husband, James, officially owned the store, Clara Griffiths pretty much ran the place.  She also filled the job as Post-mistress of the Frisco, Utah post office which was housed in a small building next to the store and accessed through an adjoining doorway.  She also served as the town medical emergency service – … Continue reading HUBUK: A NATIVE IN DISGRACE →

Everybody in Frisco, Utah knew Bill Thomas.  He had arrived in town in 1879 to help Sly Smith the dairyman with his small herd.  Of course, nobody really knew much about Bill’s past, but that was common for most of the people in town.  He worked hard to take care of his wife and small … Continue reading THE KILLING ON CHRISTMAS DAY →