The earliest known reference to football in Arizona is from George Parson’s Tombstone diary, dated January 12, 1882: “Grand foot ball racket this...
Straight-armed at The OK Corral
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Bob Boze Bell
Starry, Starry Fight
March 21, 1886 Hogtown is full of cowboys from surrounding Texas ranches at a baile (a gathering for dancing). After midnight, in the early minutes...
The Battle of the Bulls
In November of 1846, the so-called Mormon Battalion encountered wild cattle along the banks of the San Pedro River. Aroused by the invaders, several...
Who Cleaned Up Cochise County?
If you believe popular history and the movies, Wyatt Earp cleaned up outlaw-infested Cochise County at the O.K. Corral in 1881. If you are a fan of...
Was Wyatt Earp a Pimp?
In 1872 Wyatt Earp and his brother Morgan were arrested in Peoria, Illinois, for being aboard a floating bagnio (a brothel). Wyatt was arrested more...
Esteban: A Pass too far?
An African slave, Esteban de Dorantes, or Estevanico, helped spread the idea of Seven Cities of Gold in Spain. Consequently, he was sent on an...
The Hashknife Outfit
When it comes to Arizona cattle ranches, one famous spread had the unsavory reputation of having “the thievinist, fightinest’ bunch of cowboys in...
The Nude Duel that Will Not Die
August 24, 1877 A wild picnic is in progress just outside the city limits of Denver, Colorado. Notorious brothel owner Mattie Silks is among the...
Burning The Candle At One End
In 1880, young Juan Oliveras of Tucson was caught in an amorous act with his mother-in-law by her husband who chased his son-in-law down and killed...
Rockin’ It On The Navajo Trail
The Navajo Trail is more of a song than an actual Old West Trail. Recorded in 1945, “Along the Navajo Trail” is a classic Country song written by...
Supreme Cowgirl
This Arizona cowgirl grew up on the Lazy B, a cattle ranch near Duncan. Her father, Harry Day, expected her to pull her own weight and learn the...
Shoot ‘em, Groom ‘em, Entomb ‘em
George Ruffner arrived in Prescott in 1882 and in the years that followed was a cowboy, freighter, rancher and, in 1894, sheriff of Yavapai County....