Child Captive of the Apaches & Army Scout. Free's birth name was Felix Martinez. In 1861, at 12 years old, Free was abducted from his stepfather's (John Ward) Arizona ranch by whom many believe were members of the Pinal Apache Band. Free's abduction led to a deadly encounter between the Chiricahua Chief Cochise & US Army Lieutenant George Bascom, which ignited a 20 year war between the U.S. & Chiricahuas. For many years Free was thought to have been either dead or beyond rescue. Approximately 20 years after his abduction Free's brother, Santiago Ward, heard that his brother was a famous army scout & living on the San Carlos Reservation. When Santiago visited the reservation, he discovered that his brother had no interest in returning to the family. On December 2, 1872, Free enlisted as a scout for the US Army. Free, who could speak English, Apache & Spanish, became a valuable & well known scout for his tenacity in the pursuit of hostile Apaches, including Geronimo, Chatto & Loco. General George Crook often used Free as a scout & grew to depend on him. On December 4, 1874, through Crook's influence, Free became an interpreter at Camp Verde AZ for the respectable sum of $125 per month. Free would accompany Crook on his mission to persuade Geronimo's first surrender , as well as numerous other pursuits of Apaches deemed hostile. In addition to being a scout for the Army, Free was also a member of the reservation police & at one time a spy. As a spy, he had reported to the army one of Geronimo's escapes from the reservation. Free ended his scouting career with the rank of first sergeant. In his later years Free settled with his family on the White Mountain reservation. Free, one of the last of the Apache War Scouts, died of old age near the White River, where he had lived in a one room sod and stone house. He was buried in the tradition of the Apache in a canyon near where house had stood. Free's descendants still reside on reservation.
Historian/Author Paul Andrew Hutton in his book "Apache Wars" does a great job of expanding what is known about Free's capture, early years with the Apache & his activities while an army scout.
In addition, Free has been written about in "Once They Move Like The Wind", by David Robert, "Gatewood & Geronimo" by Louis Kraft & "The Geronimo Campaign" by Ode Faul.
Non-Find a Grave Member, [email protected] submitted the following:
"It was the Aravaipa,Pinal, White Mountain Apaches and a Mexican man who was chief of the Aravaipa Apache people, who took part in the kidnapping of Mickey Free when he was a young man, taking him back to live with my ancestors he learn the Apache culture and the Apache language, before he ended up on the Fort Apache area."
∼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.htm
Historian/Author Paul Andrew Hutton in his book "Apache Wars" does a great job of expanding what is known about Free's capture, early years with the Apache & his activities while an army scout.
In addition, Free has been written about in "Once They Move Like The Wind", by David Robert, "Gatewood & Geronimo" by Louis Kraft & "The Geronimo Campaign" by Ode Faul.
Non-Find a Grave Member, [email protected] submitted the following:
"It was the Aravaipa,Pinal, White Mountain Apaches and a Mexican man who was chief of the Aravaipa Apache people, who took part in the kidnapping of Mickey Free when he was a young man, taking him back to live with my ancestors he learn the Apache culture and the Apache language, before he ended up on the Fort Apache area."
∼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.htm
Child Captive of the Apaches & Army Scout. Free's birth name was Felix Martinez. In 1861, at 12 years old, Free was abducted from his stepfather's (John Ward) Arizona ranch by whom many believe were members of the Pinal Apache Band. Free's abduction led to a deadly encounter between the Chiricahua Chief Cochise & US Army Lieutenant George Bascom, which ignited a 20 year war between the U.S. & Chiricahuas. For many years Free was thought to have been either dead or beyond rescue. Approximately 20 years after his abduction Free's brother, Santiago Ward, heard that his brother was a famous army scout & living on the San Carlos Reservation. When Santiago visited the reservation, he discovered that his brother had no interest in returning to the family. On December 2, 1872, Free enlisted as a scout for the US Army. Free, who could speak English, Apache & Spanish, became a valuable & well known scout for his tenacity in the pursuit of hostile Apaches, including Geronimo, Chatto & Loco. General George Crook often used Free as a scout & grew to depend on him. On December 4, 1874, through Crook's influence, Free became an interpreter at Camp Verde AZ for the respectable sum of $125 per month. Free would accompany Crook on his mission to persuade Geronimo's first surrender , as well as numerous other pursuits of Apaches deemed hostile. In addition to being a scout for the Army, Free was also a member of the reservation police & at one time a spy. As a spy, he had reported to the army one of Geronimo's escapes from the reservation. Free ended his scouting career with the rank of first sergeant. In his later years Free settled with his family on the White Mountain reservation. Free, one of the last of the Apache War Scouts, died of old age near the White River, where he had lived in a one room sod and stone house. He was buried in the tradition of the Apache in a canyon near where house had stood. Free's descendants still reside on reservation.
Historian/Author Paul Andrew Hutton in his book "Apache Wars" does a great job of expanding what is known about Free's capture, early years with the Apache & his activities while an army scout.
In addition, Free has been written about in "Once They Move Like The Wind", by David Robert, "Gatewood & Geronimo" by Louis Kraft & "The Geronimo Campaign" by Ode Faul.
Non-Find a Grave Member, [email protected] submitted the following:
"It was the Aravaipa,Pinal, White Mountain Apaches and a Mexican man who was chief of the Aravaipa Apache people, who took part in the kidnapping of Mickey Free when he was a young man, taking him back to live with my ancestors he learn the Apache culture and the Apache language, before he ended up on the Fort Apache area."
∼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.htm
Historian/Author Paul Andrew Hutton in his book "Apache Wars" does a great job of expanding what is known about Free's capture, early years with the Apache & his activities while an army scout.
In addition, Free has been written about in "Once They Move Like The Wind", by David Robert, "Gatewood & Geronimo" by Louis Kraft & "The Geronimo Campaign" by Ode Faul.
Non-Find a Grave Member, [email protected] submitted the following:
"It was the Aravaipa,Pinal, White Mountain Apaches and a Mexican man who was chief of the Aravaipa Apache people, who took part in the kidnapping of Mickey Free when he was a young man, taking him back to live with my ancestors he learn the Apache culture and the Apache language, before he ended up on the Fort Apache area."
∼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.htm
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