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Linda Griffin Brost’s story begins with her paternal great-great grandmother Maria Concepión Romero, who was born in 1841 on the Buena Vista Ranch, a land grant near the Mexican border south of Tucson, Arizona. After a series of Indian raids, the family moved to safety near the Tubac Mission area where she grew up. Maria met and married a soldier by the name of John C. Clark, a veteran of the Mexican American War, stationed in Tucson. John C. and Maria Clark had 3 daughters, Emilia, Juana and Emma, before moving to Globe in 1879-80. Maria liked to play poker, was known to play poker with Geronimo. The legend goes that once, while her husband was out of town on business, Maria lost their house in a poker game, frantically borrowed money and promptly won it back without him knowing. Their daughters grew up in the mining town of Globe. Emma met and married Alvin Beach, another soldier, and they had 3 daughters, Hattie, Molly and Rose. Shortly afterward, as the girls were still quite young, Alvin died suddenly. Emma, now a widow, provided for her little brood by taking in boarders. One boarder was George W.P. Hunt, the future first governor of the State of Arizona. She also baked bread, and would walk down the backside of Broad Street along the railroad tracks to sell her wares to the houses of prostitution. She then worked in Globe’s first hospital for many years. Meanwhile, young Louis and his brother Anton Trojanovich emigrated to Globe in the mid-late 1800s. Louis first lived in the Miami area, and being a devout Catholic, would daily walk over the hills to Holy Angels to attend mass and serve as an altar boy. Hattie Beach, also Catholic, met Louis in church and they were married in 1902. Louis was a carpenter and had a business as a builder. He built their house in 1905 near his brother’s lumber company and they filled it with 8 children. Louis Trojanovich died in 1929. Linda briefly summarizes each of their children’s lives. James Trojanovich, the youngest son, gr

Terry Bittner shares the Bittner family's histories from their migration from Warsaw, Poland to Miami, Arizona in the early 1900s. His mother's Goulding family came from Nova Scotia and B.C. Canada, and the Carr family, who came into this area as early as 1877-78. He tells the story of his father and brothers growing up in Miami, their father dying just as the Great Depression hit, and how they survived. Terry's father was in the CCC's before going to work for "Windy Bill" Sullivan at the Mine Supply across the street from the old Gila County Courthouse. Bill Sullivan had purchased the business from Governor Hunt, and then Terry's father bought it from him. Terry was in the middle between 2 brothers. Larry, the younger brother, went back east to become a chef, then returned to San Francisco to study law. Among his many interests, Ross served as Globe's vice mayor, mayor and city councilman for 17 years. He was inducted into the Globe High School Hall of Fame in 2011. Terry and his wife Roberta have also worked extensively in the mining industry. Roberta's career has taken her to various mines in Arizona and Colorado, and also to exotic places like Australia and Africa. Aside from working many years in the mining industry, Terry has held a variety of other positions in Arizona, but his most avid avocation has been writing. He is a prolific writer of both fiction and non-fiction stories, including some fascinating ones on Globe's history.

John Yanez, the son of Norberto and Lupe Vasquez Yanez, was born in 1946. He attended Globe public elementary schools, Noftsgar and Central Schools, and then attended Globe High School. Inspired by Mr. Loughran, Globe High School’s Social Studies and Civics teacher, John Yanez left Globe High School in 1964 to double-major in Social Studies at the University of Arizona. After obtaining his teaching degree, John student-taught one year in bilingual Spanish South Tucson and volunteered for the Boys and Girls Club. Next, he took a job teaching in Santa Ana, CA. He came home during the summer and got married to Irene Valenzuela of Miami. They moved to Earlimart, near Delano, CA where Cesar Chavez was active. John taught social studies for 3 years, translating for migrant students when needed. Just before their first son was born they decided to come back home to Arizona. They wanted to raise their family around their grandparents and other family members. John applied in Arizona and was hired to teach at Superior Jr. High School. He taught there for 3 years then a job at Miami High School opened up and he took it. In subsequent years, he excelled as an award winning teacher. Some of these recognitions included: (1986) was named “Globe-Miami Citizen of the Year,” (1987) was awarded the State “Apple Award” in education; (1990) The League of Latin American Citizens selected John as “Outstanding Hispanic Educator;” (1990) was a finalist for State Teacher of the Year. Throughout his teaching career, John was selected to be guest presenter at various national conferences relating to programs he had implemented. John implemented the first Practical Law Curriculum Program in Arizona and also started and successfully operated the first Teen Court Program in Arizona. It just completed 26 years. He also implemented the Education First Program, which involved taking students from Globe-Miami High schools to a weeklong educational program to Washington D.C. and NYC. John retired in

Cline Family History

In this oral history, Jo Baeza recalls her life, as well as that of her family’s historic hotel. She recalls the story of her family’s arrival in America, and their subsequent settling in Winslow within the Arizona territory. This interview was conducted by Joyce McBride.

In this oral history, Carmen Castillo Velasquez recalls her family life in McNary, Arizona, as well as descriptions of how the town has changed since she moved away. This interview was conducted by Joyce McBride.

Jake Jacobs came to Arizona August 1953 to help his in-laws move to Chandler with full intentions of returning to Indiana. While working in a service station to get enough cash to return, he met the Superintendent of McNary Schools, who was recruiting teachers. Jake applied and was hired as the new math teacher. Once he saw Pinetop and McNary, he lost all interest in living anywhere else. Jake also worked as a bartender at Charlie Clark's in the evenings where he became acquainted with his students' parents and everybody else in the two towns of McNary and Pinetop. During summer breaks, Jake also worked on the Apache Railroad, so he describes that work and Southwest Forestries, along with the unique culture involved in and around the timber industry. Sue was born a Penrod, the first family of Pinetop, so she eventually became a student of Jake's. After she graduated, she went away to school, got married, became a school teacher, and after her divorce years later, returned home to teach. She and Jake were reacquainted and married, and both continued teaching. Jake retired and they purchased the Mollie Butler Lodge in Greer. Sue and Jake successfully operated the historic lodge and restaurant and a variety of other small businesses associated with it for 25 years. They sold out in 1999 and returned to Pinetop where Sue operated her mother's store, the Crown Dancer, for many years. Jake and Sue continue to "summer" at the Country Club, and give an excellent history of Pinetop growing up.

Mittie's ancestors came to Arizona to ranch on the Blue River in the late 1800s. Her parents met when her father was a bronco rider and her mother was living on her grandparents' ranch. After they married they traveled around Arizona and western New Mexico doing a variety of jobs, including ranching, logging, and farming. Mittie's earliest memories are of helping her father subsistence farm in Pinon, Arizona and going to a little one-room school. When she reached high school age, she and her mother came into Lakeside for her education. After she graduated she moved to McNary and got a job as a soda jerk in the McNary General Store Drugs and lived in the single women's dormitory. She later worked as a timekeeper for Southwest Forestries, ending up her McNary career working in the main office where James G. McNary himself occupied an office. After WWII ended, Mittie met her husband to be, returning soldier Joe Magill, and they were married in 1947. He got a job at Southwest Forestries and ended up working in heavy equipment for them his entire life. Shortly after they married, Joe helped haul up supplies to build Maverick and they moved there to live. While he worked in the woods, Mittie worked at the little store there. They raised their family in Maverick, and returned to Pinetop shortly before Maverick shut down in 1967. Joe continued to work for Southwest Forestries until the sawmill town of McNary was gone, and Mittie worked for the bank. She was working for the Interstate Bank in McNary when Joe died, and she continued to work there, and then to manage the Whiteriver branch until she retired in the 1980s. Afterward she worked for several other interesting places, and continues even now at 84 to be active, even chopping her own wood. She ends with telling of her and her husband's interest in rodeos, and of her bull riding days.

Jeff Larson tells of his great grandfather Mons Larson's family emigrating from Sweden to the United States for the purpose of settling as Mormons in Arizona. They were in the first group from Utah to encounter the Grand Canyon in Northern Arizona. Mons' son, Alof, and Mary Hunt Larson, Jeff Larson's paternal grandmother, settled in Snowflake and raised a family and a flock of sheep. Jeff's maternal grandfather Treet left Nova Scotia as a boy and worked his way across America to Flagstaff, Arizona, where he established a sawmill. His daughter Augusta was gifted both in music and in intelligence. Disappointing her father, instead of pursuing further education in music in an eastern college, she chose a career as an educator and moved to Holbrook. There she met and married Alof's son Wallace Hunt Larson, the railroad telegrapher. Wallace's brother Pratt Larson, one of five, was forming the settlement of Lakeside, and the newlyweds moved there to devote their lives to the little Mormon settlement. While raising a family and serving the community, Augusta taught school and tended the sick. Wallace was the school principal, and also put in a water system to replace the open ditches that fed the community. They later went to work in the nearby White Mountain Apache Reservation, Wallace working for the Bureau of Indian Affairs and Augusta as a teacher. Wallace then ran for the State Legislature and served there for several terms. When he died in office, Augusta stepped in to fill his shoes, then successfully ran again for two more terms. Jeff followed in his parents' footsteps as an educator and continues to manage the family's water enterprise and land.

Georgia gives the history of the Dr. Arnold H. Dysterheft family, of his life's work at the McNary, Arizona Hospital, a sawmill town that was once the social-economic hub of Northeastern Arizona. She credits him for his efforts to establish a regional hospital as McNary waned, first known as the Navapache Regional Medical Center, and now as Summit Hospital. Georgia goes on to tell the history of the Pinetop Lakeside Historical Society, of her personal influence in establishing the society and developing the museum, of which she is now the director.

Sue tells the stories passed down through her family of the history of Pinetop, Arizona from the earliest Penrod family settling the area to the recent past. She shares her childhood memories of growing up, the school, her friends and relatives and of the town's businesses and community activities. The settlement of Pinetop earned a reputation for wild entertainment and spirits from its conception. It was strategically located as the last (or first) "watering hole" for soldiers and travelers on the road between Holbrook and the White Mountain Apache Indian Reservation. When James G. McNary established the sawmill town of McNary on the apache reservation, the town was naturally "dry," so Pinetop became Southwest Forestries' weekend destination for the loggers and sawyers as well. Sue traces her life after graduating from McNary High School briefly until she returned as a schoolteacher. She became reacquainted with her old math teacher, Jake Jacobs, they married and continued working in education until retirement. Her story picks up in the Jacob's Family History.

Hattie tells of her coming to work as a nurse at the little hospital in the logging and sawmill town of McNary, Arizona just after WWII. She describes the company town, tells us how she met and married her husband, and tells of their lives together under the town theater, which he owned and operated. She also tells of moving to Pinetop after McNary started to wane, and of their lives there running a restaurant and laundry and travel agency, while she continued to work as a nurse at the hospital.

Ray Lewis tells of his grandfather, James Lewis, coming to America from Wales, working in mines and finally arriving in the Arizona Territory in the 1870's or 1880's. While working in the Stonewall Jackson Mine in McMinnville, north of Globe, he and a partner started a horse ranch on the Horseshoe Bend of Salt River. The mining company he worked for sent him to Claiborne County, Alabama to work on a placer mine for a while, and he met and married there Arletha. They had 3 or 4 children there before returning to homestead at Quartzite, a little community north of Globe, Arizona. Ray's father was just a baby when James Lewis died of Miner's Consumption in 1910. Arletha later married a man named Buren Scarborough and the ranch became known as the LS Ranch. Ray tells the history of each of his aunts and uncles and their families, how they lived in Gila County as ranchers, miners, cooks, etc., through the Great Depression and later. He also shares his memories of other colorful local residents and neighbors of the Lewis family in and around Kellner Canyon.

Armer and Griffin Family History

Stewart and Tucker Family History

Griffin, John

Holder, Mitch

Bixby Family History

In this oral history, Glenn and Lonnie West tell the history of the Amos family, their great grandparents and grandparents on their mother's paternal side, and of the West family, their father's ancestors. This interview was conducted by Joyce McBride.

In this oral history, Diana Wilson Butler describes the landscape and culture of the sawmill town of McNary, Arizona, and the significant influence it had in the development of Arizona. She tells the family's history and stories that were passed down in the family of their affluent lifestyle, as well as those of early Arizona. This interview was conducted by Joyce McBride.

In this oral history, Kent Rhoton describes his family’s life in Arizona, and he speaks in great detail about the community of Lakeside of his childhood, the old pioneering families, the stores and street, and McNary, the heart of the area. This interview was conducted by Joyce McBride.

In this oral history, June talks about his family’s immigration to Arizona from Illinois, their subsequent move to Mexico, and their return to Arizona. He, along with his wife Cherie, goes on to speak about their marriage, the family they raised together, and their lives. This interview was conducted by Joyce McBride.

In this oral history, H.W. and Mary Lee Fisher give a history of the sawmill town of McNary, Arizona, from the African-American laborer's perspective. This interview was conducted by Joyce McBride.

In this oral history, Nella Frost recalls her family’s history, starting in Salt Lake City, Utah and detailing their subsequent moves to Lakeside, McNary, Taylor, Woodruff, and Indian Pine, all within the Arizona territory. This interview was conducted by Joyce McBride.

The Mounce family came to Globe in 1876 with an enormous herd of cattle. The original ranch ran cattle from the Salt River to the Gila River. Another Mounce family ranch was located in Geronimo, AZ. The family's ranching lifestyle continues today, now skirting the San Carlos Indian Reservation east of Globe on Hwy 60. Joe and Christie's father, "Buster" Mounce, owned and operated the stockyards next to the railroad in Globe, holding cattle from the ranches for shipping. He was also the Gila County cattle inspector. And as a cattle broker he procured bulls for ranchers and auctioned cattle at sales. Buster Mounce was instrumental in starting and participating in early Gila County rodeos. He also helped start the local 4H Club, building stall type corrals and donating land for community use. He established Gila County Bred and Fed program to encourage raising quality steers locally. Joe and his sister continue the ranching tradition.

Seven generations ago, Jayne's great-great grandparents Cornelius and Parmelia Jackson and her great grandparents, Texas Ranger Will and Ellen Jackson Neal, and her father Neely Jackson and family left Texas in the late 1880s looking for good cattle country and a fresh start in a hurry. They ran into a range war in New Mexico, were forced to stay there a couple years, and in so doing, lost most of their cattle. They stopped in Globe and after they recuperating their losses by rustling horses and cattle, they moved on to settle in the little Mormon settlement of Gisela in the Tonto Basin. Tonto Basin was still a remote area requiring settlers to raise their food and improvise anything they required, but the Apaches living in the area were willing to trade with them. Jayne's grandmother was so content to live there she didn't leave for 30 years. Jayne's grandfather Hale and his brother came into the area as geological surveyors. They met two of the Neal sisters, married them and settled down. The Peace family left a horse ranch on the Texas-Mexican border to come to Arizona. Al Griffin, Jayne's grandmother Peace's father, was also a Texas Ranger. He moved to Pleasant Valley and worked as a constable, a cattle inspector and ranched on Cherry Creek. Jayne's father, Calvin Peace was born in Young. He met Anna Mae Hale at one of the Young dances. They married and bought the old Sam and Isabella Haught ranch (Papa Sam's parents) in Gisela. They kept cattle and he worked for the sawmill etc. They later sold out and moved into Payson, where he started an excavation business for new homes. Jayne now lives in Payson and is married to Jinx Pyle. She is the editor for the Payson Roundup, writes historical books and publishes books for Gitarope Publishing with Jinx.

Duane Reece is a cattleman, and also a gifted cowboy poet. He begins with a poem skillfully describing his life as a young cowhand. Duane grew up in the Great Depression on ranches along the Gila River that bordered the San Carlos Indian Reservation in Southern Gila County. Both of his grandparents came to Arizona in the 1910s, his mother's parents from Texas and his father's from Montana. They settled in Arivaipa Canyon on adjoining ranches. His father filed a homestead and they were married circa 1934. To subsidize their ranch, Duane's father captured wild horses, broke and sold them. Her mother trapped fur animals during the winter for sale. Duane and his sisters grew up with their father caretaking 3 ranches. The proximity of the Gila River and the Reservation caused problems unique to most Arizona ranchers. Before the Coolige Dam was built, the river often flooded their home. Then in 1968, the US Government ordered the ranchers to remove themselves and their cattle from the Mineral Strip on the Reservation. It took years for people to be reimbursed for their deeded lands and improvements. Also, this area differs from other ranches because the Forest Service isn't so restrictive. This area is very rough country, adequate for cattle, but many ranches also ran Angora goats because where the price of cattle fluxuated, the goat market was stable. At one time, Duane reports there were over 10,000 head of goats running in the area. Everyone had hogs, not for sale, but for personal use. He says hog meat is what won the West, not beef. Without electricity, hog meat can be smoked and/or stored better than beef. Duane reports the presence of lions, javalinas, elk, and other wildlife in this area south of the Pinal Mountains. Duane returns to describe his father as a class athlete with an unerring instinct for a cow or a horse, so he had a reputation for being one of the best cowboys in the country. Living so remote, it wasn't until around 1940 before he got to his first r

George R. Dempster worked for B.I.A. as an irrigation pump operator in Coolidge, Arizona when Tom was born. When Tom was in the 5th grade, the Dempster family relocated to the Coolidge Dam on the San Carlos Indian Reservation, where George worked the remainder of his career. Tom recalls a happy childhood growing up in the country, as his father advanced up the ranks to the position of Superintendent of the Dam. All the children who lived on the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation at that time were bussed into Globe to attend public schools, so he remembers his school days from this perspective. Upon graduation from Globe High School, Tom attended NAU in Flagstaff, a small college at that time. He preferred NAU because of the low teacher-student ratio. Once he attained his B.A., Masters and credentials in Elementary Education, Tom returned to his childhood home to teach 5th grade Self-Contained for 11 years among the Apaches.

Leroy tells his mother's grandparents, David and Josephine Bean Harer, the first white family to settle in Greenback Valley and the Tonto Basin in the mid 1870s. His mother was a Conroy. His father, Gabriel Kendrick Tucker, came to Globe with his parents circa 1900s. He first worked as miner, then as a cowhand at various ranches. Leroy's parents met and married, first worked in a silver mining camp, and then worked for the A Cross. They bought their first ranch in Greenback Valley, the J Slash X, and this is where Leroy was born. Leroy recalls his childhood growing up on a ranch and describes the ranching lifestyle unique to the Roosevelt Lake area of Gila County. Velma also grew up in the Roosevelt Lake basin, but they began their courtship at a rodeo in Snowflake where he had entered as a roper. After they married they ranched and he continued his career in rodeo roping to supplement their income. Leroy owned several ranches, one even in California. But Arizona being their home, they returned and bought back their ranch. Leroy has been an active leader in the Gila County Cattle Growers Association for many years. He is proud of his efforts on the Five Slash in cross breeding Brahma bulls with Hereford cows, called F1s. He tells of owning the Bar Eleven Ranch, and of buying and selling "Starvation" or Gleeson Flats, and other such real estate. Leroy remains active on his ranch, in cattle management and in stewardship of the land.

Frank Chapman tells of his mother's LDS ancestors, the Crismons, migrating to Arizona from Salt Lake City, UT. She met and married Frank's father and the family moved to Pleasant Valley where they purchased one of the Tewksbury ranches and settled. Frank now lives on John Rose's ranch, and operates the Tewksbury Museum. He tells the history of the feud between the Grahams and Tewksburys that flamed into the Pleasant Valley War in the late 1800s. He talks about his roots in Mormonism, his involvement as a Mason, and of the U.S. Forest Service.

Eddie Dale tells of his Swiss and German ancestors emigrating to America, meeting and marrying in New Jersey. His grandfather worked for railroads, then eventually moved west. Rudy Blumer, Eddie Dale's father, was born in Globe, AZ and likewise Eddie Dale. This narrative is a great series of colorful and mostly humorous stories about early homesteaders, ranchers and the US Forest Service personnel living in and between Globe and Young, Arizona.

Tom first tells of his mother's Zacharie family coming from Denmark to America, working their way west to Gila County, Arizona in the cattle business. Tom's grandfather, young Fred Zacharie, came from New Mexico to the Pleasant Valley area in pursuit of stolen horses. He abandoned the search and got a job working on a ranch. He went back to Virginia, married and brought his bride back to Pleasant Valley. Rufus Grantham came to Texas from Georgia after the Civil War, married and then brought his large family to Tonto Basin. Rufus met Ed Mann, Tom's grandfather in Globe. His family had come from Texas with a trainload of horses for remount horses for the US Army at San Carlos Reservation. Ed married Mamie Grantham and their son Marion, married Marie Zacharie. Tom recalls growing up on the old Ellenwood Ranch immersed in the customs of these early ranchers, of being home schooled, then thrust into the big city of Globe when it was time to go to high school. He met and married Rena and raised a family working for the County Highway Dept., always yearning to return to the ranch. When his parents moved to Texas to ranch, Tom and his brother joined them, but needed to supplement their living working for the County in Texas. Now he is retired and back, living again in Pleasant Valley, Young, AZ.

Haught Family History

Wheeler Family History

Seeley Family History

David A. Foil, Jr. was born in Bogalusa, a sawmill town in Louisiana in 1922. This is his story.

Pete was born the end of 1928 and grew up during the Great Depression like his neighbors, on a subsistence farm and running cattle for cash income. This is his story.

Val Reidhead's family was always in the sawmill business. He remembered growing up in lumber camps around Linden and Pinedale, Clay Springs and all over the country. This is his story.

In this oral history, Easther McNeil Lee recalls her family history, their lives in early Arizona, and their Mormon heritage. This interview was conducted by Joyce McBride.

In this oral history, Zina Porter recalls growing up in Mexico and their subsequent move to Arizona. Among other details, Porter speaks about a trip later in life back to Mexico with friends and family in search of the mountain where Joseph Smith reported receiving the Book of Mormon. This interview was conducted by Joyce McBride.

Bill and Dot remember their families' histories of migrating to Arizona before the days of Statehood. Dot's family eventually came to Claypool and retailed lumber. Bill's family came from Texas during the Great Depression and ranched. He tells of growing up riding horses over Pioneer Pass, over the Pinal Mountains to Dripping Springs and spending his weekends with Lynn Sheppard on his ranch. Dot was in the eighth grade and Bill was in the tenth when they met. Bill went in the Army just as WWII was getting over and when he returned they lived on the Pinals, fighting fires for the Forest Service the first two years they were married. Later, Bill worked on a ranch for a time, then went to the State, working at the Flying V briefly. He then went to work for the Webb ranch near the infamous Top of the World. The Webbs loaned Bill out to Leroy Tucker when his father died, and then they went to the A Cross Ranch, and the Bar Eleven Ranch. Dot first home schooled her son, but then moved into Globe during the school year. Bill finally moved into Globe in 1959 where he worked for Gila County for the next 15 years. They bought property in Wheatfields and built a trailer park. At that time and for the next 20 years Bill, Dot and their sons raised, trained and raced horses.

Beno's grandmother was Louzora Neal, whose family of women came from Texas and settled in Globe, Pleasant Valley and the Tonto Basin. She had several husbands, and Bud Jones was one of them. Bud Jones also a Texan, came driving a large herd of cattle with the Ellisons and Hazelwood. Bud and Lou married in Globe and Beno's father Roland was born in a tent in 1896 about where Cobre Valley Motors is now. Lou homesteaded Russell Gulch from the old Joseph Mast Homestead to the DeMarios. Their forest permit extended to the top of the Pinals. The VF Bar Ranch was later split between Beno's grandmother and his father Roland. The western half became the and it became the RJ Ranch. Roland's family moved off the Russell Gulch ranch to Arkansas Gulch, a mile from Miami. Beno talks about his father Roland, who at age 9 was struck by lightning while riding a horse, was left for dead, but miraculously survived. The lightning killed his horse, burned the seat of his saddle and a hole through his hat and down his back, leaving him hard of hearing but not slowed down. Roland also had spinal meningitis or polio as a child, that crippled his left arm. Roland met Beno's mother, Claudia Scarlett, in 1920. Beno was born on the ranch in Russell Gulch. Roland supplemented his income gathering wild cattle for ranches and during the Depression, worked for the W.P.A. Later Beno worked with his father on the RJ Ranch in Arkansas Gulch and his brother Elton work on another. Elton eventually became the Sheriff. After Roland died, Beno took over and operated the RJ Ranch. After he sold it he moved to Oklahoma to start another ranch, lived there about 20 years and then returned. Beno talks about the ranch, and tells of the challenges of ranching under the constraints of the U.S. Forest Service and encroaching civilization.

Following the Civil War, Colonel Jess Ellison moved to Texas. Feeling crowded there, he then drove a huge herd of cattle to the open spaces of the Tonto Basin and Rim Country of Arizona in the mid 1880s. He later established the enormous "Q" Ranch, bordering the White Mountain Indian Reservation from the top of the rim to the Salt River. His daughter Duett married George W. P. Hunt, the future first Governor of Arizona. Nathan and Lynna open up their photo album and memoirs of the Ellison family describing ranch life, relations with other ranchers and miners in the area, the Apaches and Indian agents, and land management in the early days. They discuss the Ellison verson of the Pleasant Valley War and how they participated as neutrals. Nathan's grandfather forsook the ranch in pursuit of prospecting, and they discuss uranium mining in the area. Nathan has devoted his life to hunting professionally as a wild game guide and as a lion hunter, has killed approx. 400 lions. They also discuss the U.S. Forest Service, droughts, and other detriments to ranching. Six generations later, Nathan is proud of his grandson for being entered in Archery in the Olympics in China.

Kendrick's grandparents John and Sarah Holder and brother brought Angora goats to Arizona from New Mexico. He started several post offices in New Mexico and Arizona and consequently named several towns. They lived in the Prescott and Payson areas. Frank Holder was Kendrick's father. He was a cattle and horse rancher in the Tonto Basin and Payson area. Kendrick grew up helping his father on the ranches and in their subsistence farm during the Great Depression. His mother was Naomi Mary Stuart. Her father Sam Stuart, owned 320 acres of land where Payson is now. Kendrick recalls early ranching customs of the area, the roundups, and neighboring ranchers. After high school he punched cows on ranches for a while, then went to San Diego and got a job working for Ryan Aircraft. Goodyear Aircraft started up in Phoenix so he moved back to Arizona. He met Laura Mae Clark Haught at a dance in Payson, but they didn't get together until 1943 while working for the war plant making airplanes. They have four children. Kendrick and Laura Mae moved back to Payson and operated a general store. They then bought and operated the Flying H Ranch on Cherry Creek until 1956. They sold it and moved to ranch in California for a year, then returned to operate the ranch they now live on off of Highway 60. The U.S. Forest Service has so limited the number of cattle there is no way to make a living, so he decided to sell out to the Mines. They now live on a remaining 150 acres of land.

Sheppard Family History

At the time of this interview, Leland Nikolaus was 90 years old, and had the distinction of being the oldest living resident having been born in Show Low, Arizona. This is the story of his family.

David C. was born in 1926, and he grew up one of six boys and two girls on the subsistence farm during the Great Depression. This is his story.

Show Low Irrigation Company. MP3 Clip is 3 minutes of 60 min. interview (1 cassette).

Experiences as a youth growing up in Show Low, AZ, as well as his Professional Life Experiences.

This oral history covers the early timber industry career of Butler in the White Mountains Arizona, as well as information about early law enforcement.