The San Francisco River Backcountry
author: O'Connor, Michael
source date: 2014
availability: web

Detailed exploration of the San Francisco (Frisco) River Backcountry in the Gila National Forest, approximately 200 square miles between US 180 and the Arizona state line. Covers the Mogollon Culture's use of the river as a north-south trade route with villages farming maize, beans, and squash; archaeological evidence suggesting Coronado's 1540 expedition followed this route; Apache use of the trail system through Apacheria for 200+ years; Sergeant James Cooney's 1876 prospecting and the Cooney Camp mining boom (300-400 residents); the founding of Mogollon town (population 6,000); Victorio's attack on the Cooney Mine and Alma on April 28, 1880; Chief Ulzana's ambush at Soldier Hill on December 19, 1885; the WS Ranch and Captain William French's memoir "Some Recollections of a Western Ranchman" describing Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid working as WS Ranch wranglers; the Boot Hill cemetery; the WS Ranch Cemetery near Alma.