swa562
Junior Member
Posts: 72
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Post by swa562 on Jul 27, 2012 15:57:43 GMT -5
Does anyone have any pictures of Mickey Free or any information? Post the pics. Attachments:
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Post by gregor on Jul 28, 2012 3:53:34 GMT -5
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Post by dT on Aug 18, 2012 17:37:21 GMT -5
Mickey Free ... a person who seemed to upset everyone who knew him. Both Apache and White Men all agreed that Mickey Free had a personality that just rubbed people the wrong way. It is interesting when you find the same viewpoint from everyone who met him ... not just one group of people. It could be said about this person - that he was a catalyst for some very bad things that happened in his time. I would not want that for an epitaph :-)
However, apparently Mickey Free was an excellent tracker. This irritated One Who Yawns (Geronimo) to no end - undoubtedly Geronimo would have killed him if he had half a chance.
dT
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Post by gregor on Aug 19, 2012 3:30:03 GMT -5
Here are some additional infos on Mickey Free: Mickey Free was born in Santa Cruz, Sonora, about 1847, the son of Jesusa Martínez and Santiago Tellez. Tellez was reputed to be Irish, or part Irish. Tellez died when Mickey was just a child, and Jesusa lived with John Ward in the Sonoita Valley of Arizona. On 27 January 1861 Mickey was stolen by Pinal Apaches, and as a result, a series of tragic events occurred. When Carleton's California Volunteers arrived in Arizona they learned of the capture of Mickey, and it was decided that they should try to retrieve him. Second Lieutenant George Bascom was in charge of the unit to carry this out. The Chiricahua Apache chief Cochise was blamed for the incident, and he was captured. Nevertheless, Cochise escaped, and this precipitated the killing of some of Cochise's men. Of course, Cochise became angry and, basically, a war resulted between Americans and Cochise. In the meantime, Mickey was freed and adopted by Nayundiie, a Western White Mountain Apache at San Carlos. Mickey's foster brother was the same man who was known as the famous Indian Scout, John Rope. John Rope in his old age was one of the principal informants of the anthropologist Grenville Goodwin. (There are many descendants of Rope today living on the San Carlos Reservation.) In 1872 Mickey became a sergeant among the scouts. He served until July 1893, often participating in expeditions against Geronimo. He was particular effective in General Crook's 1883 expedition into the Sierra Madre. Mickey was greatly feared by many, and he was often considered to be a man who enjoyed killing. Dan Thrapp, famous southwestern historian, however, believes that Mickey was never actually known to have killed anyone. Nevertheless, after his days as a scout Mickey retired to the White Mountain Reservation, where he married and had children (many of his descendants still live on that reservation). Mickey died in the summer of 1915 among his people near Whiteriver. An interesting book to read about Mickey Free is: Mickey Free: Manhunter by A. Kinney Griffith. It must be understood, however, that Griffith makes numerous errors, and also makes bogus claims in his book. Nevertheless, the final portion of Griffith's book does have some interesting, accurate information. As a child Griffith became acquainted with Mickey and was greatly impressed with him. It is unfortunate that Griffith's book is badly flawed about the early life of Mickey. Source: zybtarizona.com/free.htmThis is also interesting : truewest.ning.com/profiles/blogs/the-childhood-of-mickey-free
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Post by gregor on Aug 19, 2012 3:51:40 GMT -5
And here is an addition:
Dissertation of Victoria A. O. Smith
Title: White eyes, red heart, blue coat: The life and times of Mickey Free (Arizona, Geronimo)
Abstract: When Generals Crook and Miles conferred with Geronimo in 1885 and 1886, respectively, to negotiate terms of surrender for the renegade chief and his remnant band of Chiricahua Apaches, Geronimo claimed that he had repeatedly fled the reservation because of intimidation by a man named Mickey Free. Though Free had long been dubbed by Arizona historians as "the boy who started a war," little else was known about him until English Westerner Allan Radbourne published two journal articles in the 1970s on Free's life. Radbourne clarified the parental origins of Free, an Apache captive, and established a basic timeline for Free's subsequent career as an Apache scout, guide and interpreter. Radbourne, however, did not explore the dynamics of the relationship between Mickey Free and Geronimo. Historians have long believed that Geronimo was lying about Mickey Free, but a close review of documentary and scholarly sources reveals a much more complex relationship between Free and the Apache chief than has previously been understood. A reexamination of the ethnographical work of Grenville Goodwin, the premier Apache anthropologist of the 1930s, combined with more recent analysis of Indian scouts by scholars Thomas Dunlay and David D. Smits sheds new light on the nature of the antagonism between Free and Geronimo. This work concludes that the Western Apache clan system played a central role in constructing the antagonistic relationship between Geronimo and Mickey Free. Furthermore, the life of Mickey Free offers students of American Indian history insights into the phenomena of Indian police and interpreters, as well as the role of Indian women in the transition from pre-contact to reservation life. Additionally, Arizona historians may find that the life of Mickey Free affords opportunity to expand their understanding of many integral, but often overlooked, American characters who participated in the Apache wars. Perhaps most importantly, this work explores internal Western Apache power relations and sheds new light on the history of the Western Apache tribe, a history that has long been overshadowed by the more sensational history of their southern neighbors, the Chiricahua Apaches of Cochise and Geronimo.
It seems to be interestin to read more of this work.
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xframe
Junior Member
Posts: 66
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Post by xframe on Aug 19, 2012 5:18:42 GMT -5
And here is an addition: Dissertation of Victoria A. O. Smith Title: White eyes, red heart, blue coat: The life and times of Mickey Free (Arizona, Geronimo)Abstract: When Generals Crook and Miles conferred with Geronimo in 1885 and 1886, respectively, to negotiate terms of surrender for the renegade chief and his remnant band of Chiricahua Apaches, Geronimo claimed that he had repeatedly fled the reservation because of intimidation by a man named Mickey Free. Though Free had long been dubbed by Arizona historians as "the boy who started a war," little else was known about him until English Westerner Allan Radbourne published two journal articles in the 1970s on Free's life. Radbourne clarified the parental origins of Free, an Apache captive, and established a basic timeline for Free's subsequent career as an Apache scout, guide and interpreter. Radbourne, however, did not explore the dynamics of the relationship between Mickey Free and Geronimo. Historians have long believed that Geronimo was lying about Mickey Free, but a close review of documentary and scholarly sources reveals a much more complex relationship between Free and the Apache chief than has previously been understood. A reexamination of the ethnographical work of Grenville Goodwin, the premier Apache anthropologist of the 1930s, combined with more recent analysis of Indian scouts by scholars Thomas Dunlay and David D. Smits sheds new light on the nature of the antagonism between Free and Geronimo. This work concludes that the Western Apache clan system played a central role in constructing the antagonistic relationship between Geronimo and Mickey Free. Furthermore, the life of Mickey Free offers students of American Indian history insights into the phenomena of Indian police and interpreters, as well as the role of Indian women in the transition from pre-contact to reservation life. Additionally, Arizona historians may find that the life of Mickey Free affords opportunity to expand their understanding of many integral, but often overlooked, American characters who participated in the Apache wars. Perhaps most importantly, this work explores internal Western Apache power relations and sheds new light on the history of the Western Apache tribe, a history that has long been overshadowed by the more sensational history of their southern neighbors, the Chiricahua Apaches of Cochise and Geronimo.It seems to be interestin to read more of this work. Thanks for posting this Gregor. Very interesting read. Do you have access to the full work? Cheers from Frankfurt
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Post by dT on Aug 20, 2012 13:03:13 GMT -5
If you stop to look at the details in these different accounts - it becomes clear that many things are confusing about Mickey Free. Probably we will never know the real truth about him.
For example, look at these words: "Mickey Free was born in Santa Cruz, Sonora, about 1847, the son of Jesusa Martínez and Santiago Tellez. Tellez was reputed to be Irish, or part Irish. Tellez died when Mickey was just a child, and Jesusa lived with John Ward in the Sonoita Valley of Arizona. On 27 January 1861 Mickey was stolen by Pinal Apaches"
If this account is true, then Mickey Free was the son of a Mexican mother and a father who was either Mexican or Mexican-Irish (confusion exists about this). Later his mother became a common law wife for a Caucasian rancher. But at no time did Mickey Free have Apache blood. So in that case, how did he become an Apache scout? And why did he later retire to live out his life on the land of the Western Apache's?
Some accounts say that Mickey Free's father was Apache and not Mexican - that would explain some things. But it seems to be in conflict with some historical research.
If you look at things from this perspective, it's not hard to understand why One Who Yawns (Geronimo) was unhappy with Mickey Free. In fact, the word unhappy would be a major understatement! No doubt he saw the man as an imposter, and not someone who was devoted to the traditional Apache lifestyle.
In addition, you have to wonder whether Mickey Free was feeding information directly back to General Crook - regarding the "hostiles" (e.g. Gernomino) and their activities while at San Carlos.
And finally, it is possible that Mickey Free got detailed knowledge of the Apache hiding places (like the Sierra Madre in Mexico). More than anything else, this knowledge held by a few Apache Scouts is what eally brought down Geronimo. If Geronimo, Lozen and others had been able to take refuge in these lost places and remain undiscovered - they could probably have avoided the US Cavalry indefinitely.
It is possible that Mickey Free learned about the hiding places in Mexico while he spent time with the Pinal Apache's who captured him during his youth. Certainly Chatto, who turned against Geronimo in later years, knew about the Sierra Madre from his upbringing. So these two men were hated by Geronimo because the secret knowledge they had about hidden strongholds and tracking methods.
Lots of speculation exists about Mickey Free - but the truth is hard to know.
dT
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Post by Gary on Aug 21, 2012 11:41:53 GMT -5
The best book on Mickey Free - by a mile - is "Mickey Free: Apache Captive, Interpreter, And Indian Scout" by Allan Radbourne. This the blurb from the Arizona Historical Society website:
WINNER! Western History Association Robert M. Utley Award; American Association for State and Local History Award of Merit. On January 27, 1861, an Apache raiding party attacked John Ward’s ranch in the Sonoita Valley of southeastern Arizona and carried off Ward’s thirteen-year-old stepson, Felix Telles. Thus began a remarkable odyssey. A young Mexican American boy was transformed into an Apache warrior and eventually served as Indian Scout for the U.S. Army. Nicknamed “Mickey Free,” after a popular fictional character, he moved effortlessly between three cultures and became a major participant in the Southwest Indian conflicts. In this thoughtful and engaging biography, Allan Radbourne employs three decades of research in archival records, printed sources, and Apache oral tradition to tell the story of Mickey Free and the Indian Scouts who played hitherto unappreciated roles in the Apache wars of the 1870s and 1880s and the application of reservation policy. 6 ¼” by 9 ¼” hardcover ISBN 0-910037-46-9 328 pages, maps, illus., notes, biblio., index. Price: $34.95
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Post by cinemo on Aug 24, 2012 15:03:19 GMT -5
In the most scources has been reported, the John Ward - Ranch raid occurred in the late January 1861. I think, this is a great mistake. Probably, the raid occured in late October or December 1860. I found this in various ( online ) scources and in a german Mickey Free biography by an german autor. One day in October, 1860, Apache Indians raided the ranch of John Ward on Sonoita Creek, plundered his house, took his son Mickey Free, and ran off all of his stock. John Ward was absent at the time of the raid. Upon his return, Ward immediately rode to Fort Buchanan, twelve miles to the northeast, at the head of the Sonoita Valley, and reported the raid to the Commanding Officer, Lieut. Col. Pitcain Morrison. Nothing was done at this time, the reasons to this day are unknown, but a guess would be due to the lack of troops present for duty. No reason was ever given and the pursuit of the raiders was not undertaken until January 29, 1861, three months later. www.militaryhistoryonline.com/civilwar/southwest/bascom.aspxIn the second Link, please see page 23 www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/fobo/utley.pdfGreetings from Germany - cinemo
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swa562
Junior Member
Posts: 72
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Post by swa562 on Sept 28, 2012 21:36:41 GMT -5
Greeting friends,
And thank you for your thoughts and research and interest in Mickey Free. I continue to do research on him because I am doing research on my family.
My family is from Tucson, Arizona and Sonora, Mexico. I believe we are Pima Indians. The tribe was separated with the border from the United States and Mexico. This occurred during the Gadsden Purchase of 1853.
You see, I know a little bit about Mickey Free. However about 20 years ago I couldn't do research because a lot of museums didn't have a website and the information about the United States Census wasn't available. Today, with the help of everybody I can figure things out about my family.
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swa562
Junior Member
Posts: 72
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Post by swa562 on Sept 28, 2012 21:45:55 GMT -5
This is a map of the territory of the Gadsden Purchase that was purchased from Mexico for 10 million dollars, and it was disputed that it isn't even Mexcio's land to sell. This map shows Arizona to the left and New Mexico to the right, United States of America. Attachments:
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swa562
Junior Member
Posts: 72
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Post by swa562 on Sept 28, 2012 22:13:43 GMT -5
Pima Indians where a peaceful tribe. They are known for making pima baskets, pottery, and farming. My family lived there in the Sonoita Creek area in the desert across from Tombstone and Fort Huachuca and Tucson in the 1850s and then the family went to Los Angeles in the 1920's.
Currently this year I contacted the Sharlot Hall Museum in Prescott, Arizona and I requested information on Mickey Free. They sent me the blue sheets: Mickey Free, from a speech given by Dr. Kenneth Calhoun at a Prescott Westerner's meeting. And he said something interesting. An 1860 Census listed Felix Martinez as a twelve year old male. This is the real name of Mickey Free. This Census was taken at Fort Buchanan. In January 27, 1861 the Ward ranch was raided, John Ward was in Sonoita at the time, and he was away from the ranch.
I checked the 1860 Census on Archives.com and here it is. It's public record so don't tell my family. I don't write this stuff. It was already written before I was born.
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swa562
Junior Member
Posts: 72
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Post by swa562 on Sept 28, 2012 22:23:14 GMT -5
Here is a copy of the 1860 Census of the Ward household. Attachments:
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swa562
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Posts: 72
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Post by swa562 on Sept 28, 2012 23:04:20 GMT -5
Mickey Free wasn't Irish. His step father John Ward was Irish and his mother Jesusa Martinez was Mexican/Indian perhaps Pima Indian who's territory was in Sonora, Mexico all the way up to Tucson, Arizona and along the Gila River.
Mickey Free always claimed to be mixed Irish and Mexican according to a "Descriptive statement of proposed changes in the Indian Police Force at San Carlos Agency" during November 30, 1882. In the beginning he was a Private making $15.00 dollars a month. He also was a Lieutenant making $20.00 a month and was reduced for disrespectful language to Chief. This record shows a descriptive statement of certain changes in the Police Force at San Carlos.
His cause was to scout for the military. His nation was Apache and the name of the tribe was Coyotero and the name of the band was Biulka birthplace Mexico. This record of Indian Police at San Carlos 1881 - 1882 Agency Arizona. In this record sheet you can see all the names of the Indian Police who have served the United States of America. There is about 99 pages maybe a thousand listings or more. Never seen the whole copy.
Legend says that once an Apache Warrior has died, that their name cannot be mentioned. I will honor their tradition and not list them.
His age at the time was 28 years old making him born in 1853 give or take a year. He was 5"- 8" height, 137 weight.
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swa562
Junior Member
Posts: 72
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Post by swa562 on Sept 29, 2012 2:00:37 GMT -5
Mickey Free wearing a sarape, bright colored woolen poncho. Attachments:
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