Peaceful farmers became warriors at Maricopa Wells

Descendants of the Hohokam, the Akimel O’Otham (Pimas) and Maricopas lived as extended families along the Gila River for centuries. 
 
At one time, the Maricopas lived and fought hostile tribes along the Colorado River, but grew weary of these battles and left their old adversaries, the Quechan and Mohaves to join forces with the peaceful Pimas near the Gila River. 
 
The Gila River provided water for not only Native Americans and residents at Maricopa Wells, but for the travelers and explorers who ventured through this sparsely populated area searching for gold or lost souls.  Spanish conquistador Francisco Vázquez de Coronado traveled the Gila River when he led an expedition through Arizona in 1540 searching for the Seven Cities of Cibola. Father Kino traveled the same river in November of 1694 with the purpose of building missions. 
 
The Maricopas lived on the north side of the Gila River in the two most northern villages near Maricopa Wells and Gila Crossing. The Pimas lived and farmed in several villages to the east of Maricopa Wells.  Father Kino described their houses as domed huts covered with mats. Each hut had a ramada and elevated granaries located a short distance from their neighbors.  
 
Their economy, based on agriculture, included watermelons, muskmelons, beans, pumpkins, corn, cotton, wheat and later barley. The Pimas used irrigation for watering their crops in the 1700s, and the Maricopas used the same process to water their crops by the 1800s.  Over the years, wheat became their major crop, and these ancestral farmers raised millions of pounds of grain that they were able to sell, not only to immigrants and investors, but also to the military, settlers, trading posts and millers. In addition, the Pimas and Maricopas frequently assisted immigrants who traveled the southern route. Without doubt, these peaceful farmers were major contributors to the settlement and growth of Arizona Territory and the southwest. 
 
After the Civil War, most of the settlers south of the Gila River had abandoned their farms and relocated to Tucson because of the Apache raids throughout Arizona.  With no military assistance, the governor of Arizona created a District of Arizona, and the first Arizona Volunteer Infantry (precursor to the Arizona National Guard) was sworn in at Maricopa Wells on September 2, 1865. Brigadier General John Mason headed the District of Arizona and immediately recruited five regiments composed of Hispanics and a few Anglo Americans, but the group consisted mostly of Pima and Maricopa farmers, including their chief, Antonio Azul.  These men enlisted for one year, at a time when the Tonto and Apache raids were at their peak in the central part of Arizona. 
 
The first plan of action was to restore order to the region. This plan included destroying the Apache crops, supplies and camps. Hence began a year of battles that turned the peaceful Pima and Maricopa farmers into fierce warriors. Peace was restored by the end of the year, and high praise was bestowed upon the Pima and Maricopa volunteers by the governor, press and legislature for their bravery and outstanding service that included pursuing the enemy sometimes barefooted and at other times with few rations. Their officers gave high praise for their dedication and unusual ability to mobilize so quickly to assume the offensive when given the command.  
 
Photo courtesy of Patricia Brock