New Rockfellow family website, new content too!

I have re-launched my Rockfellow Family website in a new location, and added two exciting new ways to study this pioneer family: a zoomable Google map of all of the locations mentioned on the website as well as some from John A. Rockfellow's book Log of an Arizona Trail Blazer. All of the ranch-related waypoints were mapped in person during visits to Cochise County.

And more importantly, I am pleased to announce that the Cochise County Historical Society has granted me permission to reproduce Jonetta Holt's Fall/Winter 2006 article: "Settling in East Cochise Stronghold Canyon." [PDF-74 pages]. This article represents Holt's extensive research into the families that settled the Cochise Stronghold and includes maps, timelines and copious photographs. Her sources include interviews of surviving settlers, platt maps, land use records, diaries, and much more. Settlers profiled in the article include Rockfellow, Walter Servoss, Lucinda and John Henry 'Red' Warren, Richard Shaw, Herbert S. Buckley, H.L. Kegans, former Cochise County Sheriff Harry Wheeler, Lee and Bea Shilling, and others. Thank you Jonetta, and CCHS!

Another Cochise County pilgrimage

This Thanksgiving we took a trip to Cochise County. Ever since we found the hotel where my grandparents met in 1917 (and discovered that it is still in business) we have been wanting to go for a visit. But we went dirt-roading first, visiting the old Butterfield Stagecoach Station on the northern edge of the Dragoon Mountains, then drove into the mountains to check out Dragoon Springs. The Station was essentially a stockade with 10-foot unmortared stone walls and two teeny (5x5') rooms. It was really only used for 2 years due to the Civil War, Apache raids and the success of the Pony Express.

The temperature? 75 degrees (23.8 Celsius). What a lovely day!

Dinner at the Hotel Cochise was down-home delicious. The dining room was filled with local folks, the owner Carla's kids and a trio of bikers who had made the trip from Phoenix.

More photos can be seen on my photogallery at Flickr.

Here is my Aunt Margie's account of how grandma (Julia) and grandpa (Allan) met:

In 1917 Julia met a young man on the steps of the Cochise Hotel. Her father didn't want to introduce her and told her he was "some Eastern chap from Harvard." Brother Philip arrived late for his train and in his hurry his suitcase fell open with everything falling out. The young chap sprang to help repack and the introduction followed. Of course Allan proceeded to court Julia.

Delightful new photo in family gallery

My aunt Margie sent me a delightful photo of my great-grandfather that I had never seen before. He is dressed up and equipped just as he was in 1879 for his prospecting surveys across Arizona! His comments, written to my uncle on the back, are quite droll:
"Three old prospectors in the Tombstone celebration of October 1929.

At left, Mr. Reeves, Center your grandfather, whiskers and all.

The burros are packed just as he traveled on a four hundred (400) mile trip fifty years ago. The rifle he carries is a Sharps 45-70" purchased in 1879 and a splendid shooter yet it has been used on nearly everything that walks in Arizona except human beings. Come out sometime and try it."

If you want to view the photo in more detail it is on my flickr account. Click on "all sizes."

Jackpot

Well, we found a typewritten manuscript today for Log of an Arizona Trail Blazer with John Rockfellow's own editing marks on it, so we're in business! We also found a map that he made marking all the places that were important to him, and folder after folder of typewritten anecdotes. Most of them are in the book, but some are new! I will start scanning and indexing the book tonight.

And I found a small quail nest with 5 eggs this morning in one of my rose pots. Keep them safe, Mrs. Quail!

Log of an Arizona Trailblazer

I have my great grandfather's book, Log of an Arizona Trailblazer, on my mind a lot lately. A year ago we discovered that the original homestead for his NY Ranch was still standing.

We recently got permission from the land owners to try to protect the building, so now the fundraising starts.

This week Jonetta and I will start our research for a critical edition of the book. We plan to meet at the Arizona Historical Society's library to see if we can find the original manuscript. Its a treasure hunt with white gloves on!

Website for the Rockfellow family and the NY Ranch